Why the Japanese Lost: The Red Sun's Setting by Bryan Perrett

Author:Bryan Perrett
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Tags: Bisac Code 1: HIS027100, HISTORY / Military / World War II
ISBN: 9781473839588
Publisher: Pen & Sword
Published: 2014-06-29T22:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 9

The Last Notes of the Victory Song

During the early days of June 1942 the most popular songs to be sung in the home islands of Japan were those of victory, of celebrating the superiority of the Japanese race and how it had triumphed over so many enemies who had proved to be contemptible opponents. After all, Japan had conquered a huge area of East Asia and in six months the Imperial Navy had become the dominant force in an area stretching from the Central Pacific to the Indian Ocean, an achievement unequalled by any other navy in history. Given that the enemy’s main force had yet to be encountered this was an unhealthy attitude, described by Rear Admiral Chuichi Hara as the Victory Disease, a term taken into general use after the war by Japanese historians, including Masanori Ito, the author of The End of the Imperial Japanese Navy. It was, of course, quite wrong for the ruling establishment to allow such an outlook to remain unchecked when the most critical days of the war lay ahead, but throughout the war the need to preserve face remained of paramount importance in the government’s dealings with its people.

Anyone who, like Yamamoto, was familiar with the United States would by now be aware of America’s iron determination to punish Japan for her act of treachery, and punish her severely. They would also be aware of the American expertise in matters of mass production and be aware that along the coasts of the United States yards had begun to turn out fleet carriers, escort carriers, cruisers, destroyers, destroyer escorts, submarines and landing craft in quantities that Japan could never equal, to say nothing of the tools of land warfare being turned out by heavy industries across the country. In addition, the enormous number of recruits required for the vastly expanded Navy, including its air arm, received a thorough training in the technical aspects of their work, whereas the wartime graduates of Japanese training establishments were generally less proficient.

Since the attack on Pearl Harbor there had been a number of changes in the American command structure. Admiral Ernest J. King had become Chief of Naval Operations in Washington, and Admiral Chester W. Nimitz was the new commander of the Pacific Fleet. Of necessity, this was having to be rebuilt, but the public was anxious that some active measures be taken against the Japanese. Some of the damaged battleships were undergoing repair but any effective counter-strike would have to be delivered by the fleet’s three carriers, Lexington, Saratoga and Enterprise. Unfortunately, Saratoga had sustained torpedo damage from a Japanese submarine on 11 January and while she was undergoing repair the fleet’s ability to strike was reduced by one third.

Nevertheless, under Vice Admiral William F. Halsey, Enterprise and Yorktown inflicted damage on Japanese bases in the Gilbert and Marshall Islands on 1 February and returned safely to Pearl Harbor. Between 24 February and 4 March, Halsey employed a task force led by Enterprise to attack

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