| Japanese Strategic Planning For The Pacific (1905-1940) |
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Japan 's victories and defeats in the Second World War can be traced back to pre-war planning and lessons learned from previous conflicts. Despite having a heavily militaristic culture and aggressive leaders, Japan was not ready to fight a modern war against Western powers due to lack of heavy tanks and artillery. Japanese training stressed a strong espirit de corps rather than a heavily mechanized fighting force unlike most European powers. This can be traced back to victories in the First Sino-Japanese War and the Russo-Japanese War where Japan defeated numerically or technologically superior foes. JAPANESE ARMY STRATEGY The Japanese mind-set seemed reaffirmed after victories in China in the Second Sino-Japanese War in which smaller Japanese armies routed their Chinese counterparts. However, Chinese soldiers were often poorly trained and lacked a modern Air Force or Navy . In skirmishes with the Soviet Union in 1939, the Japanese were crushed by the Soviets' superior armour and artillery. In the early stages of the war against the United States, the Japanese scored early victories when facing off against poorly-equipped outposts but fared poorly later in the war against superior numbers and technology. JAPANESE NAVAL STRATEGY During the 1930's, Japanese Army and Navy leaders were involved in a debate over funds and strategy. The Army argued that it needed more men and equipment to defend against Soviet Russia. The navy argued for the "South Seas" operation in which Indochina, Malaysia, and the Dutch East Indies would be brought into the Japanese sphere of influence. In a fool-hardy move the Japanese government endorsed both strategies which put a severe strain on the armed forces. The Navy believed that a large naval battle would be the key to success as it had been in 1905 at the Battle Of Tsushima . Early naval plans had the Army occupying Guam and the Phillipines, then luring the United States Navy into a decisive battle. Although that plan was abandoned, the idea of a grand naval battle influenced the attacks on Pearl Harbor and Midway. |
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