Konpeki no Kantai::Volume1 Chapter4

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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."

Takano gave a deep bow.

In the case of the Japanese Navy, it was normal to think of having submarines present in fleet actions, and to have them participate in naval battles. For that reason, many submarines were made, both cruisers and for the high seas, and able to keep up with fast fleet actions.

However, this had virtually no effect. This was because they were uneasy with regards to the antisubmarine tactics of the American Navy, the case in point being the ring shaped battle formation they had thought up. What's more, when their high performance radar was deployed, the damage to submarine forces was markedly increased.

In the end, using submarines for transport of supplies to Guadalcanal and other such places was the utmost in stupidity.

To be sure, the situation left them with little choice in the matter, but Japan of year 18 was backed into a corner, and yet who was to blame for having brought that situation to pass? Their vision for the great war had been inconsistent.

The excellent members of the Deep Blue Society's think tank had diligently investigated the matter. Everyone had racked their brains. Then they found a way to win.

With the 12/8 project plans in hand, our future world's Japan Navy faced the start of the war.

2

As the war opened, the Japanese side's Southern Strategy was put into action. This time, in what quite literally a breakthrough, a small fleet assisted the Army in capturing the Philippine Islands, Malaysia, Wake Island and the Gilbert Islands. In addition, there was the southern force of two battleships stationed in Kaohsiung, Taiwan.

However, in addition to these, stationed in the Seto Inland Sea, there was the main fleet, what should be referred to as the nucleus of the Japanese Navy.

The battle formation consisted of six battleships, two aircraft carriers, two cruisers and thirteen destroyers. This great fleet, with its flagship the battleship Nagato, was not being used for the start of the war.

Certainly, setting them for rear guard duty just in case things went south… he could understand such thinking.

This, the Nagumo Battle Fleet, would be for the theoretical case that the attack on Pearl Harbor failed.

But for Japan the start of the war with America was an all or nothing gamble. It was a make or break moment. They couldn't afford to lose their nerve.

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