Examples of Japanese Military Strategy Essay examples

Iwo Jima was known for one of the most bloody battles in not just the Marine but American history too. The battle began on February 19, 1945 as part of the campaign of the Pacific theatre, and lasted for thirty-six days. Around twenty six-thousand Marines were wounded, which caused Union losses during the battle at Gettysburg. Near the beginning of summer of 1944, American B-29 bombers were ruining the islands. “Iwo Jima proved itself an indispensable asset to the Pacific command.” “Thousands of fighters took off from its runways, and this ‘stepping stone’ served as a staging ground for countless Allied advances.”

On the Japanese side of intelligence, Yamamoto believed to have the element of surprise at Midway, which was thought to draw the Americans out of Pearl Harbor. Yamamoto had numerical naval superiority in the Pacific to defeat the Americans at sea but remained unaware that the code breakers ascertained its operational and strategic plan to attack at Midway. Spector argues that Japanese submarines knew the American forces were planning something at Pearl Harbor, but the intelligence was never passed on to Yamamoto. Additionally, Yamamoto believed that two of the American carriers were sunk at Coral Sea, which the Yorktown was hastily being repaired in Pearl Harbor. In reality, the Japanese had no idea where the American fleet or carriers were leading up to the Battle of Midway.

In February of 1944, the U.S. launched Operation Detachment, an effort to seize control of an important island close to Japan. Iwo Jima could provide a launching point for bombers flying to the Japanese Home Islands and help to defeat the Japanese.

The purpose of this investigation is to go beyond the perceived thoughts and facts about Iwo Jima, but instead, looking at first person accounts and eyewitnesses. Iwo Jima is known as “Thirty Six Days of Hell” which takes place from the 19th of February in 1945 to the 26th of March, 1945. During these thirty six days the goal of this battle was to obtain the island because of the location and how they would be able to utilize it for a landing strip for damaged aircrafts and replenishment. The scope of the investigation will be understanding what life was like for the soldiers on both sides throughout the battle. The method of this investigation will be using interviews, secondary sources with eyewitness accounts,

“An old order . . . is now crumbling” (Doc A). This quote was taken from the Japanese novel The Way of the Subjects. It proves how aggressive and serious Japan was about creating a new rule in the world. Japan attacked Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. Pearl Harbor was an American naval base. 361 Japanese planes launched from six carriers to deliver the surprise attack. Japan attacked the naval base for three main reasons: a plan for a new world order, the United States oil embargo against them, and the United States naval fleet expansion.

On November 26, 1941, the Japanese Task Force comprised of six aircraft carriers. A support force, which included two battleships, three cruisers, nine destroyers, three submarines, escorted it and eight oil supply ships, began their trek to Hawaii. They must travel four thousand miles across open sea and remain undetected by the UNITED STATES Forces. (Wisniewski 20) The UNITED STATES Military knew a surprise attack by Japan was possible and they thought they were prepared. Adm. Husband E. Kimmel and Lt. Gen. Walter C. Short, the commanders of the UNITED STATES Naval and Army forces in Hawaii, respectively, had regularly scheduled training exercises and had taken many precautions to avert disaster. (Pearl Harbor’s History, Filmstrip)

On December 7, 1941 -- the day that will always be commemorated as “the date which will live in infamy” by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt. On this day Japanese airplanes made a surprise attack on the US Naval base in Pearl Harbor. They destroyed many ships and killed many soldiers. It was this attack that forced the United States to enter World War II. Why did Japan attack Pearl Harbor? Japan attacked Pearl Harbor for three main reasons which are The New Order, US Oil Embargo, and US Fleet Expansion.

The US and Britain were planning a pre-war military strategy to deter Japan. The US was making their front at Pearl Harbor, the naval base in Hawaii, while Britian made their’s Singapore. So the Japan thought bombing Pearl Harbor would one, eliminate one of their fronts, and two, get revenge on the US for not selling them any steel, oil, and other supplies. They aimed to destroy their airforce and the Navy’s

suffered a major defeat at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto, the commander-in-chief of the Combined Fleet, took advantage of the situation the U.S. was put in after its losses during Pearl Harbor (“Japs Risk Large Naval Units...”). With the backbone of U.S. Pacific Fleet torn out, Japan made several attempts to dominate the Pacific. Japan was anxious to settle their differences with the U.S., so they began risking large naval units in Pacific battles. An article posted in the Los Angeles Time, “Japs Risk Large Naval Units in Blows at U.S.” says, “For the sixth time in six months Japan made a deadly bid to capture the mastery of the Pacific, and for the sixth time she has failed after paying a price that is fast becoming prohibitive,” (“Japs Risk Large Naval Units...”). This article was posted days after the Battle of Midway, on June 7th, 1942 reflecting the actions of the Japanese Navy in the previous months. The Japanese were anxious to pounce on the weakened U.S. after Pearl Harbor, backing their attacks with large naval units. The Japanese felt that they needed to take over Midway Island in order to claim dominance over the U.S. in the Pacific.

As conflict increased, the Japanese Prime Minister urged to make an agreement with America, but the Japanese army and navy believed that the time had come to go to war to end American power in East Asia. American military officials captured secret messages from Japan during this time. They learned that Tokyo was planning some type of attack unless the United States suddenly changed its policies. However, the American officials could not discover exactly where or how the attack would be made. The attack, took place on the morning of December 7, 1941 on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.

December 7th, Japanese artillery made a surprise attack on American soil. Japanese fighter planes attacked at Pearl Harbor, the American naval base in Hawaii. It was a devastating attack that lasted for nearly 3 hours. Tons of American ships and planes were destroyed, and over 2,000 sailors were killed during the attack. Just the day after the attack, Franklin D. Roosevelt wanted congress to declare war of Japan.

To the Japanese, Pearl Harbor was an irresistible target. Everything was close together, it only took one bomb. Japan’s plan was plain and simple. They wanted to destroy the Pacific Fleet. Then, Americans would not be able to fight back as Japan’s armed forces spread across the South Pacific.

Brown led the Army’s 7th Division of three regiments of infantry, four battalions of artillery, the 13th Combat Engineer Battalion, and the attachment of the 50th Combat Engineer Battalion.1 Nearly a year before the battle took place, June 3rd, 1942, the Japanese seized Attu with only natives living there. The Japanese reestablished a base on Attu on October 29, 1942 under the leadership of Lieutenant Colonel Hiroshi Yanekawa.1 The Japanese set up strong defensive positions with antiaircraft and numerous caches of arms, ammunition and food spread across different locations on the island. U.S. forces did not have such advantage and had a difficult time with logistics due to the unforgiving elements. The islands beaches consisted of muskeg which created very difficult circumstances for U.S. vehicles that the engineers were crucial in resolving. Although the harsh climate and terrain caused many problems for both sides, it was more impactful against the Japanese due to the long period of acclimation they endured.2

On December 7th, 1941, Pearl Harbor was attacked by the Japanese. The attack on Pearl Harbor angered the U.S. and it immediately brought us into the war. “The attack killed 2,403 U.S. personnel, including 68 civilians, and destroyed or damaged 19 U.S. Navy ships, including 8 battleships.”(National WW2 Museum). There were many factors that had apart in the destruction of Pearl Harbor most of them could have been prevented with a simple command. Very little preparations were made for if there was an attack on Pearl Harbor. Even though the U.S. was expecting an attack on Pearl Harbor. Simple negotiations were turned down by the U.S. which angered the Japanese government.

On May 4-6th General Ushijima ordered his troops to commence a land and sea kamikaze air counter offensive. The impossible purpose behind this was to recapture all ground lost to the Allies. All efforts ended in extreme disappointment to the General. The kamikazes were annihilated and their land troops devastated by mortar, artillery, and machine gun fire. Col. Hiromichi