Konpeki no Kantai::Volume1 Chapter4

Status: Incomplete

5% completed (estimated)

   

Konpeki no Kantai Volume 1 Chapter 4

Chapter Four: The Deciding Battle at Pearl Harbor

1

Just what was the balance of power between the navies of Japan and America at the time the war started?

In December of the sixteenth year, the ratio of strength of America over Japan was narrowing. The official ratio of tonnage was 10 to 7. But, because there was a certain portion concealed, it was actually more like 10 to 8.

Indeed, if you took into account the firepower and degree of training, there were rumors that the Japanese Navy was many times better than the American Navy.

However, if you factored in the both countries shipbuilding capacity once the war started, the proportion of fighting power would rapidly open up, in year 18 to 10 to 5, and in year 19 to 10 to 3, but this was already predicted.

When you took that into account, the Japanese side needed to strike the enemy hard as possible at the start of the war. That meant they had to win all they could while they could win.

As it was, the Japanese were satisfied with their seven-minute win. The bad part of that was the rampant attitude of disdain towards their enemy.

In the case of the old Pacific War, that the Japanese did nothing special in the year following the start of the war (year 17) was a massive failure. During this time the American side steadily built up their forces for their long-awaited counteroffensive to start.

Takano Isoroku reflected to the utmost over the bitter experiences of his prior world.

For certain, his ideas about having a decisive battle using naval air were a success from the start. However, demonstrating this revolutionary tactic to the enemy was a strategic error.

"......Therefore, I think this time I would like fight with three things coordinated seamlessly: a naval air fleet, a battleship fleet and a submarine fleet."

Takano had been speaking to members of the Deep Blue Society.

Then,

"Your Excellency, we made an especially big mistake in making use of the submarine fleet," said Commander Genda, offering his opinion.

"I agree."

<~~5% Completed~~>

Back to Chapter 3

Return to Main Page