The title of the thread sort of says it. After the decisive Battle of Midway, was there any real chance of Japanese victory in the Pacific Theatre? It would seem unlikely, particularly with the eventual development of the atomic bomb. Anyway, I'm curious about thoughts on the topic. Also, if anyone knows of texts that explores this question, it would be of interest. Thank you.
You might enjoy a particular book by Phillip K. Dick called "The Man in the High Tower". It is fiction, postulating an America after a Japanese/Germany victory. The author does not dwell on how this came about, but does allude to the assasination of FDR in his first term. The only chance for Japan, or Germany, after Midway might come as the Allies (mostly USA) did a series of really dumb decisions, such as to tell both Japan and Germany their signels were compromised. Most people do not realize the Allies got much of the best information and intelligence regarding Germany from the Japanese ambassador in Berlin Ohara. He held long conversations with Hitler and other top leaders, then sent long detailed messages to Tokyo in codes which the Americans could easily read. It is from Ohara we learned of the V-1 and V-2. Same for "the Final Solution". With leaks like that we hardly needed spies.
Though the IJN was than stood as a temporary ruler of the PTO, after the great blow it received at Midway Atoll, never been managed to recover its loss throughout the War. A very good portion of Japan's able and trained seamen, most experienced navy pilots been struck off from the service list. It was just unbearable and these losses never been recoverd. Their careers, cruisers etc were combined to form one of the finest nave available in the world. Mighty naval guns, torpedos (like Long Lance, a 1/2 ton warheaded long rang torpedo), their navy planes and pilots once dominated the PTO. But after Midway, the US turned the tide with her mass production and by uplifting the standard of equipments, which was just impossible for Japan to cope with the demand, since the sources of raw-materials have been shrinking as well as absence of new line of production remained limited. Till the end of the war which caused her suffering a lot. Here are a couple of sources, if you are interested to understand the IJN and IJNAF, you could understand their losses that been never filled up : https://sites.google.com/site/davidijn/home http://combinedfleet.com/battles/battle_of_midway http://www.combinedfleet.com/ijna/ijnaf.htm
A reason the Midway defeat was so catastrophic was the Japanese believed in creating an elite corps of flyers, the best in the world. Instead of training a lot of them, they wanted the crème de la crème.This winnowing process achieved its objective and they were unrivaled in their Zeros, also the best in the world at the time. Flyers and planes alike went to the bottom with the carriers. Under the spell of Mahon's Big Gun theory, IJN war planners had built battleships instead of carriers and this proved a fatal mistake. Midway hastened the inevitable, but defeat was foretold. Japan was an impoverished nation that had tried to starve itself to greatness by pouring its resources into militarization at the expense of its people. They believed their indomitable spirit would be enough to offset any material difference that existed with America. This too proved wrong. I think the blow to Japanese pride was irrevocable and explains their long demographic decline. Barring change, the last Japanese will be born in about a hundred years. http://www.amazon.com/Great-Liars-They-knew-knew/dp/0989826902/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1422809838&sr=8-1&keywords=jerry jay carroll&pebp=1422809841282&peasin=989826902
Once they tried to convert 4 battleships into carriers but due to inadequate time and infrastructure, they unable to complete the task. Very next what I can call that the ongoing rivalry inbetween the IJNAF and IJAAF, which remains non cooperative till the end of War. Logistical nightmare ended alongwith the capitulation! Throughout the PTO, inadequate spare parts, service station and personnel, lubs, aviation fuel etc etc never been provided which they received during the very begining. One IJNAF ace wrote that due to unavailabity of spare parts, servicing of aircraft and technicians, sometimes they had to abandon their low servicable aircrafts! Captured logistics however can not be a mean backup in the name of long run for the vast scatterd fronts of the PTO.
You are right, relations between the IJN and the IJA were venomous to the point of murderous. At one point, Admiral Yamamoto was ordered to sea in order to prevent assassination at the hands of the army. http://www.amazon.com/Great-Liars-T...=1422905589&sr=8-1&keywords=jerry jay carroll
Were one to invest the time to study the battle of Midway, one would discover that Japanese losses in terms of pilots and air crews were not as devastating as the pop histories might lead you to believe. The great killing ground for the IJNAF, that is where the losses of pilots and crews tipped them beyond any possibility of recovery was in the Solomons during the back half of 1942 and into 1943. Was there any possibility of an ultimate Japanese victory in the Pacific after Midway? No, of course not . . . but no such possibility existed before Midway either. In retrospect, the Japanese losing the war was a foregone conclusion . . . it was just a matter of time.
Indeed, I've read that one. It is one of the classics of alternative history. For those that haven't yet had a chance, it is worth picking up.
Although the Japanese naval air arm received the direct hit at her back-bone at Solomon, and never returned to the strength as shown earlier at 'surprise' attacks they did. From my point of view towards Midway, it is remarkable and a spectacular victory too, for the allies against mighty Yamamoto alongwith his force in the PTO, since their victory at PH till Nimitz turned the tide here at Midway, the strategic pivot of the on going conflicts. The Hypos', a great deed, ofcourse to support Nimitz; you must recall Lt Cmdr J J Rochefork's spirt to broke into Yamamoto's code AH, Nimitz confirmed for the Japanese target over MW Atoll and planned accordingly. He was about 1:3 to the available warships to Yamamoto. He intercepted cautiously and attacked IJN from N and NW to protect Midway and got it. After the battle the Japanes had no further military achievement throughout the PTO, though tried many times even in several ways, including Kamikazé, like the Zondarcommando Elbe, over Germany! Midway was the beginning of their end ... IJN's steam for Rollen on PTO vor, been vented out here, after the Coral Sea (early May'42). Rabaul, Tarawa, Iwo J, Okinawa, bla bla bla everywhere no positive achievement established by them. Since the allies lost only one carrier at MW, Nimitz abled to work with his 4 carriers for Gw C, the other bloody battle of the PTO! Success for the dive bombers here at MW, anybody can recall .... Some important notes are here for the interested one : http://ibiblio.org/hyperwar/AAF/USSBS/IJO/index.html
