GuadalCanal Remixed - Page 3

deadkenny · 03-28-2007, 09:54 AM

Not really an 'answer' per se, but really the Japanese were in way 'over their heads' to start with. Their strategy (which was basically, 'cripple' the American navy for a short time initially - grab what they wanted then establish a defensive perimeter and wait for the Americans to 'give up') was doomed from the start - on the basis of how they started the war. After Midway, the Japanese were definitely toast, and sooner rather than later. If that battle had gone 'radically' the other way (i.e. all American carriers engaged lost, with minimal loss to the Japanese) then the war may well have dragged on for a great deal longer. IMHO there wasn't much likely to happen on Guadalcanal that would have had a huge impact on the outcome. Sure, mistake were made (on both sides), but one has to appreciate that neither side had 'perfect' intel on the other side's forces or intentions at all times. So in speculation, especially in such a scenario, one has to be careful to differentiate between different approaches that might have been reasonably taken at the time vs. pure historical hindsight.

**TopHatter** · 09-08-2007, 18:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xerxes

just curious .... When did the existance of Yamato and Musashi became known to the Americans?

American naval intelligence had been aware only of 2 battleships being built and launched at Kure and Nagasaki for some time (the incredibly draconian security measures at Nagasaki were a pretty big clue that something major was being built there). Their actual details were completely unknown.

The first foreigner to actually see a Yamato-class battleship was Lieutenant Commander Eugene B. McKinney, CO of USS Skate when he torpedoed Yamato herself on December 25 1943.

Actual details about the ship were only estimates (ranging from pretty good to pretty lousy) until after the war.

Japanese security on the Yamatos was nearly perfect...which would have been decisive during World War I.

Shamus · 09-08-2007, 19:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TopHatter

American naval intelligence had been aware only of 2 battleships being built and launched at Kure and Nagasaki for some time (the incredibly draconian security measures at Nagasaki were a pretty big clue that something major was being built there). Their actual details were completely unknown.

The first foreigner to actually see a Yamato-class battleship was Lieutenant Commander Eugene B. McKinney, CO of USS Skate when he torpedoed Yamato herself on December 25 1943.

Actual details about the ship were only estimates (ranging from pretty good to pretty lousy) until after the war.

Japanese security on the Yamatos was nearly perfect...which would have been decisive during World War I.

Hey TH,check out the timeline and look at the 28 August 1942 entry Imperial Battleships interesting,no?

**TopHatter** · 09-08-2007, 19:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shamus

Hey TH,check out the timeline and look at the 28 August 1942 entry Imperial Battleships interesting,no?

Damn! Bad information on my part. Thanks for the correction Shamus

Quote:

Yamato is attacked by LtCdr (later Vice Admiral) Glynn R. Donaho's USS Flying Fish (SS-229). Since Donaho's ONI 41-42 "Recognition Manual" does not include the unknown Yamato-class, he identifies her as a "Kongo-class" battleship. Donaho fires four Mark 14 steam torpedoes and thinks that he sees two hits, but they are premature explosions. Yamato launches at least one E13A1 "Jake" floatplane to counter-attack. Flying Fish is bombed and depth-charged by four escorts, but makes good her escape.

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03-28-2007, 09:54 AM	#31 (permalink)
deadkenny Banished Join Date: 04-05-05 Posts: 428 Country:	Not really an 'answer' per se, but really the Japanese were in way 'over their heads' to start with. Their strategy (which was basically, 'cripple' the American navy for a short time initially - grab what they wanted then establish a defensive perimeter and wait for the Americans to 'give up') was doomed from the start - on the basis of how they started the war. After Midway, the Japanese were definitely toast, and sooner rather than later. If that battle had gone 'radically' the other way (i.e. all American carriers engaged lost, with minimal loss to the Japanese) then the war may well have dragged on for a great deal longer. IMHO there wasn't much likely to happen on Guadalcanal that would have had a huge impact on the outcome. Sure, mistake were made (on both sides), but one has to appreciate that neither side had 'perfect' intel on the other side's forces or intentions at all times. So in speculation, especially in such a scenario, one has to be careful to differentiate between different approaches that might have been reasonably taken at the time vs. pure historical hindsight.

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