Re:We only ever talk about the third attack on Pearl Harbor
by jabl on Monday May 31, 2021 @03:55PM
(#27347551)
They didn't completely rely on that though, as they, for instance, ordered the Yamato class battleships in 1937, at great expense and years after the wargames mentioned.
The IJN seems to have been quite obsessed with their Kantai Kessen doctrine, where battleship fleets would slug it out in one decisive battle.
Re:We only ever talk about the third attack on Pearl Harbor
by protomyth on Monday May 31, 2021 @06:06PM
(#27348531)
To be fair, some American Admirals believe in battleships fleets slugging it out. I cannot remember which battle, but it was basically caused by an American Admiral moving his BBs for just such a battle.
Re:We only ever talk about the third attack on Pearl Harbor
by aphextron on Monday May 31, 2021 @08:14PM
(#27349484)
> So, yes, that seems to have been a good strategy
The point though is that this was a massive gamble on Japan's part in the 1930's. They had no idea if it would actually work.
Re:We only ever talk about the third attack on Pearl Harbor
by mannykannot on Tuesday June 01, 2021 @12:10AM
(#27350658)
One can equally say that those who assumed airplanes did not present an existential threat to battleships were taking a massive gamble - it just did not seem like it to them.
On the other hand, it is worth noting that Japan’s early enthusiasm for aircraft carriers was partly driven by the terms of the Washington and London naval treaties, which limited its battleship fleet.
As for having evidence that a successful attack on Pearl Harbor could be made, its planners looked at not only the exercises described here, but also the British attack on the Italian fleet in Taranto harbor in 1940.
Per the fine article, Japan did devote their preparations to air superiority and carried out exactly the attack forewarned by the 1932 war games. So, yes, that seems to have been a good strategy.