Japanese Supersub???!!! - Page 2

krashkart · 05-05-10, 03:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AVGWarhawk

The Japanese tried the bombings but using balloons. I believe some of these balloons did make landfall on the west coast of the US.

Yes, but most landed in sparsely populated areas. There was one that made headlines when it killed someone in Washington state or Oregon(?). I remember reading about the story back in grade school but the details are fuzzy. Looking for it right now.

EDIT:

Here, a website dedicated to the subject:

http://www.japaneseballoonbombs.com/

EDIT 2:

It was in Oregon. I was close. http://www.japaneseballoonbombs.com/...ombdeaths.html

tater · 05-05-10, 04:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheSatyr

I dunno...a bombing raid with biological weapons on a West Coast city would have shocked the US nearly as much as Pearl Harbor did. Even if only 3 planes were involved.

Never underestimate the psychological and political effects of WMDs. Would it have won the war? Of course not. But,it might have caused problems politically for Truman.

It would have driven home the requirement that he destroy the japanese more than we were already doing. Nothing more. It's like smearing meat all over your body, then climbing into a tiger cage and poking him, lol.

There is nothing the japs could have done to win the war. Nothing at all.

Jimbuna · 05-05-10, 04:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Raptor1

Small scale WMD usage (As I pointed out in the numerous discussions about Germany winning the war) does not have the same effect on a victorious population as it does on a defeated population; if anything, it would've made the American public even more willing to defeat Japan.

Which is precisely what happened with the British populace when Hitler started the London Blitz.....not only did it fail to demoralise them but in fact it simply strengthened they're resolve.

05-05-10, 05:31 PM

Quote:

Even if only 3 planes were involved. Never underestimate the psychological and political effects of WMDs.

At one point the Marines wanted to dump some 2000 tons of Mustard gas onto Iwo Jima, a plan that was turned off at the White House level. A three plane chemical raid on any West Coast city would only have better facilitated the annihilation of Japanese civilians and would have been like bringing a stick to a gun fight.

nikimcbee · 05-05-10, 05:46 PM

Quote:

Seems to me our "science" channels are full of junk science and "history" channels are full of fables. Don't they have SOME responsibility to the truth? This sucker is on PBS, financed by dollars extracted from our pockets by force. We have no voice in what manner of nonsense they broadcast but are compelled to pay for it.

You are 100% right IMO. History channel is the worst culprit. But these "what if shows" have gotta go. Now even NatGeo is doing them

. But speaking of tax dollars wasted, I get more worked up over some of the art shows PBS has than the history ones. Example: Oregon art beat; exploring art made out of recycled garbage, or mud, or blah, blah, blah

.
Regarding changing the war, if they totally destroyed the Panama Canal, all it would have done is delay supplies, ship movements. It's like being down by 35 points in football with 30 seconds to go, and you run a trick play.

Quote:

Originally Posted by krashkart

Oh, that show airs tonight. I shall watch with much gleefulness and soak up everything that nutritious television has to offer me.

We found our sacrifical lamb to watch it.

nikimcbee · 05-05-10, 05:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by krashkart

Yes, but most landed in sparsely populated areas. There was one that made headlines when it killed someone in Washington state or Oregon(?). I remember reading about the story back in grade school but the details are fuzzy. Looking for it right now.

EDIT:

Here, a website dedicated to the subject:

http://www.japaneseballoonbombs.com/

EDIT 2:

It was in Oregon. I was close. http://www.japaneseballoonbombs.com/...ombdeaths.html

you are correct, I have a short book on the attack on the West Coast.

tater · 05-05-10, 07:20 PM

There is an exhibit on this at the International Balloon Museum here in Albuquerque, actually. Includes some actual bomb-balloon parts.

krashkart · 05-05-10, 07:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nikimcbee

We found our sacrifical lamb to watch it.

Glad I came back to this thread... I almost forgot to change channels.

EDIT:

Well, that was a disappointment.

Torvald Von Mansee · 05-05-10, 08:45 PM

Someone may have already mentioned this: bombing the Panama canal locks would have been a BIG mistake for the Japanese, as it would have delayed much needed aid they required to feed their people and rebuild their country (after they lost the war, of course).

Torvald Von Mansee · 05-05-10, 09:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rockin Robbins

This sucker is on PBS, financed by dollars extracted from our pockets by force. We have no voice in what manner of nonsense they broadcast but are compelled to pay for it.

^^^^^^^^wonders if this guy has bitched about our bloated military spending, or the no-bid contracts to Halliburton. My guess is no.

Sledgehammer427 · 05-05-10, 09:28 PM

Quote:

well, that was a disappointment.

the lamb has spoken!!
:P

fred8615 · 05-06-10, 08:09 AM

I found that while the promos played up the "war changing" aspect, the show itself didn't push that theme too much. Other than the biological attack scenario, it seemed to say these subs were intended more for their psychological effect than any real attempt at winning the war.

I did yell at my TV though when they called a B-25 a B-29!

krashkart · 05-06-10, 05:45 PM

I didn't see the "what-if's" as much, either. I did miss the first half of the show, though. They called a B-25 a B-29? That's almost worthy of a boycott in my book.

tater · 05-06-10, 06:09 PM

That Ken Burns WW2 show on PBS claimed the whole point of Midway was to take Hawaii, too, which is nonsense. They never had operational plans to move farther East. The point of Midway was to bait the US fleet into "decisive battle."

Like every single large battle the japs lost at sea, they failed to realize that they'd just had another of their "decisive battles"—and lost.

krashkart · 05-06-10, 06:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tater

That Ken Burns WW2 show on PBS claimed the whole point of Midway was to take Hawaii, too, which is nonsense. They never had operational plans to move farther East. The point of Midway was to bait the US fleet into "decisive battle."

Like every single large battle the japs lost at sea, they failed to realize that they'd just had another of their "decisive battles"—and lost.

Gods. What's the point of teaching research skills in schools if nobody uses them anymore?

05-05-10, 08:45 PM	#24
Torvald Von Mansee Sea Lord Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: CA4528 Posts: 1,693 Downloads: 3 Uploads: 0	Someone may have already mentioned this: bombing the Panama canal locks would have been a BIG mistake for the Japanese, as it would have delayed much needed aid they required to feed their people and rebuild their country (after they lost the war, of course). __________________ "You may not be interested in war, but war is interested in you" - Leon Trotsky

05-06-10, 08:09 AM	#27
fred8615 Saint of the seas Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Sorrento, Louisiana Posts: 1,320 Downloads: 265 Uploads: 127	I found that while the promos played up the "war changing" aspect, the show itself didn't push that theme too much. Other than the biological attack scenario, it seemed to say these subs were intended more for their psychological effect than any real attempt at winning the war. I did yell at my TV though when they called a B-25 a B-29! __________________ Frederick J. Barnett Radio Stations & Music Captain's Desk Photos FJB Camera Pre Pearl Harbor Career Start Office links, Info Boxes, & 50 cal Crew Rank Fix Sub Class Info Real Subs SH4 Randomizer Sub Images Office Images Sub Pinups & Pics 24 Hour Clocks Office Posters Nav Map Make-Over Add-ons FJB Navigation Maps Office Window Chronographs Someone's got to take the responsibility if the job's going to get done! Do you think that's easy?! - Gregory Peck, The Guns of Navarone.

05-06-10, 05:45 PM	#28
krashkart Navy Seal Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 5,292 Downloads: 100 Uploads: 0	I didn't see the "what-if's" as much, either. I did miss the first half of the show, though. They called a B-25 a B-29? That's almost worthy of a boycott in my book. __________________ sent from my fingertips using a cheap keyboard

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05-05-10, 07:20 PM	#22
tater Navy Seal Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: New Mexico, USA Posts: 9,023 Downloads: 8 Uploads: 2	There is an exhibit on this at the International Balloon Museum here in Albuquerque, actually. Includes some actual bomb-balloon parts.

05-06-10, 06:09 PM	#29
tater Navy Seal Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: New Mexico, USA Posts: 9,023 Downloads: 8 Uploads: 2	That Ken Burns WW2 show on PBS claimed the whole point of Midway was to take Hawaii, too, which is nonsense. They never had operational plans to move farther East. The point of Midway was to bait the US fleet into "decisive battle." Like every single large battle the japs lost at sea, they failed to realize that they'd just had another of their "decisive battles"—and lost.