Yamamoto: The Man Who Planned Pearl Harbor

Lack-lustre biography of Japanese naval hero from a person considered to be doyen among World War II historians.Japan's rapid industrialisation and decision to carve out empire in China brought Tokyo into a collision course with US and other Western powers.I feel Pacific war need not have been fought if America had been willing for a compromise.Build-up of events prelude to Pacific war show Jaanese leader Hideki Tojo was willing to relinquish control over IndoChina and scale down troop presence in China provide US lifted oil embargo imposed upon Japan.But Washington chose to humble and humiliate Japan.Sec of Sta Cordell Hull instead isued a ultimatum demanding Tokyo withdraw unilaterally from China and revoke its pact with Germany.This no country having an iota honour pride could hope to accept. About Yamamoto ,I doubt wheather he can be regarded as a great naval strategist though he pioneered the evolution of naval air power.Decision to attack Pearl Harbor was stupid. Japanese strategy had been to forge a huge defence perimeter by capturing the outlying islands in the Pacific.The defence perimeter would be so strong that Americans will find exceedingly difficult in breaching it.Battered,exhausted Tokyo thought Americans would sue for peace.Here Nipponese made a serious miscalculation.At that time Japan was engaged in a protracted war to subdue china.How did it expect Americans to react differntly when it itself was keen to stake its honour in China rather than withdrawing and courting humiliation. Under the circumstances best thing for the Japanese to do create conditions where by America is bought to war grudgingly.This would have sowed the seeds of exhaustion which would have germinated during the course of time.Here it must be said majority of American people were isolationist though that cannot be said of the President.Pearl Harbor attack was a bolt from the blue for the Americans;a blunder of first magnitude.It inflamed public opinion in the country;imbued now with resolve they were determined to bring culprit to book.Irony of the situation Yamamoto knew America its vast economic and industrial might having served there as a naval attache.The Yanks had resources and determination to overcome any obstacle hinged upon space and time.Americans were dynamic and mechanically -minded people capable of considerable violence when aroused.Instead of attacking Pearl Harbor if IJN had stuck to the plan conceived by the Japanese Navy General Staff of intercepting and engaging the US Fleet on the approaches to Japanese islands chances were that Tokyo could have effected a second Tsushima. Then at Midway Yamamoto committed the cardinal error of splitting up IJN thus courting destruction.Wiser disposition of forces would have led to different outcome of the battle.If Yamamoto and Nagumo had operated together former big battleships would have screened the carriers.Their tremendous firepower would have diverted American dive bombers from ill-fated carriers.To be fair to Yamamoto he was served by a man who was timid by nature.Remember during Pearl Harbor raid despite repeated pleas bt Cap Fuchida for destroying oil storage tanks and dock yard facilities in a second strike, Nagumo retreated.This helped USN to quickly regain strength.Further ability of US naval intelli to read Japanese navy's operational codes seriously compromise its ops. I am unable to comment upon Adm Yamamoto conduct of ops in the south Pacific.My knowledge on that aspect of Pacific war is not sufficently deep.But reasons are not far to seek.Japanese suffering from victory disease;arrogant overconfidence,showing contempt for enemies.This explains why they intially used a small contigent of troops[Ichiki detachment]in trying to dislodge US marines firmly entrenched at Henderson airfield ,Guadalcanal.