STEAMING TOWARD WAR: ON THE ROAD TO PEARL HARBOR THE JAPANESE AND AMERICAN NAVIES 1
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STEAMING TOWARD WAR: ON THE ROAD TO PEARL HARBOR
THE JAPANESE AND AMERICAN NAVIES
1
2
1922: The Washington Treaty Constrains Force Levels Battleship Ratio is 5 to 3 in Favor of the US Navy
Battleship Tosa, used as a target in 1924-1925
3
Battlecruiser Akagi being rebuilt as an aircraft carrier
The Two Navies Adapt
4
Japanese Naval Strategy: Initially Wait and React to US Move Japanese Operational Approach: Aggressive Defense Based on Cumulative Attrition of US Battleships Japanese Tactical Doctrine: Daytime Submarine Attacks and Night Torpedo Attacks by Cruisers and Destroyers
Heavy Cruiser Aoba
5
US Naval Strategy: Offensive, to Blockade Japan US Operational Approach: Aggressive Movement into Japanese Waters to Force an Major Fleet Engagement US Tactical Doctrine: Repel Torpedo Attacks; Maneuver Away from Japanese Night Battle Formations
6
The Clash of Battlefleets: Planned but Not Executed
7
Why Wasn’t It Executed? Air Power. Kaga 1937.
8
TBD-1s on Saratoga 1938.
9
Nevada at Pearl Harbor
6 IJN Carriers, 353 Aircraft
Learning to Fight: USN Interwar Doctrinal Development
Trent Hone @Honer_CUT
Trent Hone | @Honer_CUT
In the early years of the 20th century
the U.S. Navy developed
a sophisticated learning system
that led to repeated doctrinal innovations
How was this done?
The U.S. Navy’s Learning System
Trent Hone | @Honer_CUT
“Planning System”
Trent Hone | @Honer_CUT
Interwar Learning Cycles
Trent Hone | @Honer_CUT
Chief of Naval Operations
Fleet Command
Naval War College
General Board
Annual Cycles of Exercises
Trent Hone | @Honer_CUT
Fleet Problems
Trent Hone | @Honer_CUT
1919: Principles of War
1. The Objective
2. The Offensive
3. Superiority
4. Security
5. Surprise
6. Simplicity
7. Movement
8. Economy of
Force
9. Cooperation
Trent Hone | @Honer_CUT
New Tactical Approaches
Trent Hone | @Honer_CUT
1930: Vocabulary for Battle Plans
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Tactical Heuristics
• Aggressive Action to Seize the Initiative
• Attack Effectively First
– Long Range Gunnery
– Carrier Strikes
– Night Battle Practice
• Decentralized Decision-Making
(and Doctrinal Development)
Trent Hone | @Honer_CUT
By 1941…
• Learning system is well-established
• Doctrine presents a diverse set of options
Trent Hone | @Honer_CUT
1942: Carrier Raids
Trent Hone | @Honer_CUT
Remaining Options Exploited
1942: Guadalcanal
Trent Hone | @Honer_CUT
Heuristics Prove Effective
1943: Learning System
Trent Hone | @Honer_CUT
Lessons from First Year of War Exploited
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