We face the delicate question of the diplomatic fencing to be done so as to be sure Japan is put into the wrong and makes the first bad move. ... The question was how we should maneuver them [the Japanese] into the position of firing the first shot.
No doubt, I know they were pushed into it, but just like the Confederates at Ft Sumter, they still fired the first shot. Furthermore, they didn't think strategically when it came to target selection at Pearl Harbor, they left the fuel oil tanks alone, and completely ignored all shipyard facilities. They should have sent a third wave to hit those targets, but Nagumo was too timid.
What they should have done was not attack America at all and just gone for the Dutch East Indies and maybe British Malaya. Then pray to God America not get involved. Then if America gets involved their strategy of making it a bloody slog to the point Americans can accept a negotiated peace, instead of unconditional surrender is much more plausible. Getting revenge for Pearl Harbor is a huge motivator. Fighting for some Dutch colonies isn't. The whole time making it clear they don't/didn't want war with America and only want peace.
I also think Japan could have done far more harm to America's Navy early on. Most of the ships at Pear Harbor were recovered do to the shallow waters and the Carriers weren't present. Yamamoto understood the importance of Carriers early on and the Japanese sailors and pilots were more experienced. Japan could have sunk a lot of those ships in much deeper waters like they did to the British during the Indian Ocean Raids.
"Japan committed horrible war crimes and saw the sun twice because of it"
--something I was told on another win a few weeks ago
I've been to Hiroshima, stood in front of the bombed out Observatory. What was I thinking?
"Don't start what you can't finish."
---Henry L. Stimson Secretary of war
Who started it again?
No doubt, I know they were pushed into it, but just like the Confederates at Ft Sumter, they still fired the first shot. Furthermore, they didn't think strategically when it came to target selection at Pearl Harbor, they left the fuel oil tanks alone, and completely ignored all shipyard facilities. They should have sent a third wave to hit those targets, but Nagumo was too timid.
What they should have done was not attack America at all and just gone for the Dutch East Indies and maybe British Malaya. Then pray to God America not get involved. Then if America gets involved their strategy of making it a bloody slog to the point Americans can accept a negotiated peace, instead of unconditional surrender is much more plausible. Getting revenge for Pearl Harbor is a huge motivator. Fighting for some Dutch colonies isn't. The whole time making it clear they don't/didn't want war with America and only want peace.
I also think Japan could have done far more harm to America's Navy early on. Most of the ships at Pear Harbor were recovered do to the shallow waters and the Carriers weren't present. Yamamoto understood the importance of Carriers early on and the Japanese sailors and pilots were more experienced. Japan could have sunk a lot of those ships in much deeper waters like they did to the British during the Indian Ocean Raids.