Quote:
Originally Posted by August
Interesting. I imagine those illusions were pretty much dispelled by the fall of Bataan though.
|
The argument could be made that those illusions persisted until the Battle of Savo Island, in August 1942.
Admiral Turner after reflection on the defeat phrased thus,
"The Navy was still obsessed with a strong feeling of technical and mental superiority over the enemy. In spite of ample evidence as to enemy capabilities most of our officers and men despised the enemy and felt themselves sure victors in all encounters under any circumstances.......The net result of this was a fatal lethargy of mind which induced a confidence without readiness, and a routine acceptance of outworn peacetime standards of conduct. I believe this psychological factor as a cause of our defeat was even more important than the element of surprise.
Savo Island probably does mark the point where the US Navy got serious. In most surface ships they starting throwing all the fancy woodwork, trim and furniture in the officers quarters that had burned so easily overboard. Nice to have around in peacetime, not so much in war.