Operation Downfall invasion of Japan (1 Viewer)

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The Basket

Senior Master Sergeant
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Jun 27, 2007
Invasion of Kyushu in November 1945. Kyushu is the most southern of the home islands so not exactly Difficult to work out first target. Japanese troops supposed to be 600,000 and allied casualty rate of the charts.
Odd that the atomic bombs were actually thought about used as tactical nukes to attack military targets on Kyushu.
Regardless, loss of life would have been terrible. And this is the first island.
Although the Japanese would have used what remaining strength defending Kyushu so if that was taken then no reserve left for further battles. It turns my blood cold even thinking about it.
 
Odd that the atomic bombs were actually thought about used as tactical nukes to attack military targets on Kyushu.

That was not the recommendation of the targeting committee as of June 1st.

"Mr. Byrnes recommended, and the Committee agreed, that the Secretary of War should be advised that, while recognizing that the final selection of the target was essentially a military decision, the present view of the Committee was that the bomb should be used against Japan as soon as possible; that it be used on a war plant surrounded by workers' homes; and that it be used without prior warning."

And on June 21st.

"...that the weapon be used against Japan at the earliest opportunity, that it be used without warning, and that it be used on a dual target, namely, a military installation or war plant surrounded by or adjacent to homes or other buildings most susceptible to damage."

It is surely no coincidence that this choice of target matches exactly those recommended immediately after WW1 and then during WW2 for Britain's conventional strategic bombing force. It quite literally defines 'area bombing', made easy by the use of one atomic bomb rather than thousands of conventional weapons. It does not in any way match any notion of tactical bombing. The mention of a war plant or military installation was a means of diverting criticism from the moral crusaders who were free to express their views in our democracies, unlike in Nazi Germany or Japan at the time, but it didn't fool anybody.

Cheers

Steve
 
The surrender of the Japanese certainly meant that the atomic weapons were not used as tactical nukes but had the invasion occured then certainly the use of biological chemical and atomic weapons were certainly considered
 
... had the invasion occured then certainly the use of biological chemical and atomic weapons were certainly considered

It was by the military men, but Truman modified the original order for the use of the weapons 'as they became available' so that they could only be used on his order. The prospect of MacArthur (along with the admirals and army/airmen) with a nuclear box of toys in the Pacific probably spooked the civilian administration :)
Subsequent developments ensured that the military men did not have the ability to use or control the developing nuclear arsenal in the same way as they did and do conventional weapons.
Cheers
Steve
 
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Kyushu invasion was dated 1st November 1945.
Invasion of Honshu which is the main island where Tokyo is was dated March 1st 1946. Typhoon season is July to October so no amphibious operations then.
 

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