Why the Submarine is the unsung hero at Midway -- true story.

Admiral Von Gerlach · 04-03-12, 10:41 PM

This thread has been an interesting read and several cross winds are blowing thru many of the posts.

Fact is that the Imperial Japanese Navy was far superior to the USN thorughout the war in every way except materiel, in that area alone the USN won the war, they out built and out manned the fleet and IJN had never a chance to replace war losses...and the IJN submarine campaign was a total mis use of a fine fleet arm. To belittle the abilities of the IJN High Command has been the traddional approach to Japan from the Commodore Perry expedition in the 1800s which most western nations found to their loss over the decades since.

They have in fact a superior culture in many ways, our country lacks much of the moral fibre that allowed us to prevail in that war...but our services did their best. Facts in action are hard to establish at times for many reasons. One must assume people do their best in their own way.

Yamamoto counted on the Japanese Diplomatic service to serve the Declaration of War BEFORE the attack on Pearl, when they failed in this the attack was rendered a disaster, no matter what the results were. He knew that and knew what the result would be.

Though I lost family members in the war and had many others who served, most of them in the Navy and Marines, we never had illusions about the enemy, or their abilities or their honour and worthiness.

04-03-12, 10:41 PM	#20
Admiral Von Gerlach Seasoned Skipper Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Colorado and California Posts: 726 Downloads: 358 Uploads: 0	This thread has been an interesting read and several cross winds are blowing thru many of the posts. Fact is that the Imperial Japanese Navy was far superior to the USN thorughout the war in every way except materiel, in that area alone the USN won the war, they out built and out manned the fleet and IJN had never a chance to replace war losses...and the IJN submarine campaign was a total mis use of a fine fleet arm. To belittle the abilities of the IJN High Command has been the traddional approach to Japan from the Commodore Perry expedition in the 1800s which most western nations found to their loss over the decades since. They have in fact a superior culture in many ways, our country lacks much of the moral fibre that allowed us to prevail in that war...but our services did their best. Facts in action are hard to establish at times for many reasons. One must assume people do their best in their own way. Yamamoto counted on the Japanese Diplomatic service to serve the Declaration of War BEFORE the attack on Pearl, when they failed in this the attack was rendered a disaster, no matter what the results were. He knew that and knew what the result would be. Though I lost family members in the war and had many others who served, most of them in the Navy and Marines, we never had illusions about the enemy, or their abilities or their honour and worthiness. __________________ Erlaubnis an Bord zu kommen.