[LeafsFan]

Originally Posted by Pants

It all comes down to tactics really..Japanese AC and subs were quite capable of inflicting serious damage to Allied subs and merchants, however the high command wanted them to concentrate on warships due to the japanese Doctrine that they wanted the one decisive battle, to bring the US to settle for piece talks.
When used correctly..look what happened in the indian ocean from march 31st to april 10th 1942
Combatants
Allied Forces
United Kingdom
Austalia
NetherLand

Axis Forces
Japan

Allied Strength 3 carriers, 5 battleships, 7 cruisers, 15 destroyers, 100+ planes, 30 small warships, 50+ merchants
Japanses Strength 6 carriers, 4 battleships, 7 cruisers, 19 destroyers, 5 submarines, 350 planes

Allied Casualties 1 carrier, 2 cruisers, 2 destroyers, 1 AMC, 1 corvette, 1 sloop, 23 merchant ships sunk, 40+ planes destroyed

Japanese Casualties 20+ planes destroyed

Yes but none of that is relavent to the discussion at hand, i.e. IJN ASW. The Japanese felt that ASW work was beneath the best officers, and in many respects was a waste of time, remember they were planning on a war that was to be very short and followed by a peace settlement. They felt that efforts directed towards ASW could be better expended on offensive efforts which could bring the war to a swifter conclusion.

HB