Clancy, Tom - Jack Ryan 02 - Patriot Games by Clancy Tom

Author:Clancy, Tom [Clancy, Tom]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

"But there wasn't a threat," a mid objected.

"That's correct. Which is to say we know that now. But how did it

look

to Spruance? He knew what the Japanese fleet had in surface ships.

What if

they had come east, what if the recal order had never been issued?"

Jack

pointed to the diagram he'd drawn on the blackboard. "There would

have

been contact at about oh-three-hundred hours. Who do you think would

have

won that one, mister?"

"But he blew his chance for a good air strike the next day," the

midshipman persisted.

"With what? Let's look at the losses in the air groups. With al the

torpedo craft lost, just what losses do you think he could have

inflicted?" Jack asked.

"But --"

"You remember the Kenny Rogers song: You have to know when to

walk

away, and know when to run. Buck fever is a bad thing in a hunter. In an

admiral commanding a fleet it can be disastrous. Spruance looked at his

information, looked at his capabilities, and decided to cal it a day. A

secondary consideration was -- what?"

"To cover Midway?" another mid asked.

"Right. What if they had carried on with the invasion? That was

gamed

out at Newport once and the invasion was successful. Please note that

this

is a manifestation of logic overpowering reality, but it was a possibility

that Spruance could not afford to dismiss. His primary mission was to

inflict damage on a superior Japanese fleet. His secondary mission was

to

prevent the occupation of Midway. The balance he struck here is a

masterpiece of operational expertise . . . " Ryan paused for a moment.

What was it that he'd just said? Logic overcoming reality. Hadn't he just

come to the logical conclusion that the ULA wouldn't -- no, no, a

different situation entirely. He shook off the thought and kept going on

the lessons from the Battle of Midway. He had the class going now, and

ideas were crackling across the room like lightning.

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