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I'm just trying to think out their objectives clearer, Charles. Yes, all that makes perfect sense to me, too.Midway, had the Japanese taken it, would have been a refueling stop for submarines or flying boats on their way to harass Pearl Harbor. It could also have been a place from which to watch the U.S. fleet go by. Other than that, I see no real importance. They could not have amassed enough forces to use it as a kick off point for the invasion of Pearl Harbor.
Charles
The only thing I can think had they taken the Island is they could have held back some of the Striking Force to defend it. Coupled with the occupation, that would have given them a respectful defense. Still, over the long-haul, I agree with what Zoomar said, it would have been very difficult for them to keep up and maintain. I don't think we'd have let any such occupation stand for very long, however, anyway. At the right opportunity, with perhaps half that Striking Force gone, I think we'd have hit them there with everything we had.i dont think they would have abandoned it completely...i believe they would have kept a small garrison on there for what ccheese said...fuel up subs and float planes, etc.. it would have been a forward observation post that would extend their sphere of observation... that being said..i doubt they would have defended with any tenacity were it to be attacked.
Coles, give them the six carriers. We don't snap at the bait. Now where are they? That Striking Force has been at sea for quite some time. Do they go looking for us at Pearl? If they just turn for home their Occupation Force at Midway is a goner. They go for Pearl. And, that's one big "aircraft carrier," isn't it? That's how they'd see Pearl, I'm saying. And I just don't think they were ready to tangle with our carriers and Pearl. That's why they tried to draw us out at Midway, and not Pearl. Does that make sense?
New Caledonia had ore they could have used in their war effort, plus a fair number of Japanese citizens working the mines there.Bob, why would you say that? I think their whole objective was to try to draw us out. They just didn't think we'd be right there on the doorstep waiting for them. Yamamoto's reaction when he heard about that is well-documented. "Oh ship(sp?)!"
PS: Well, maybe not in those exact words.
if yamamoto was going to entice the us fleet to come out the "cheese" would have to be something they ( the us ) thought was strategically important to protect/defend. and it would have to be far enough away from a land mass that could launch a mass air bombardment from fleet of B 17s or 24s. so i would think another attack against pearl or the us west coast would be out. even though midway had some B 17s were any even used against the IJN?
Would it not have made more sense to go after New Caledonia rather than Midway?