Japan attacks somewhere else other than Pearl Harbor?

Starforce

Starforce

Banned
Lets say that in this timeline, Japan still attacks the US. But they attack somewhere else than Pearl harbor, where would they likely attack, and how will the USA react to this?
 

bpbruce

I think if they'd just grabbed the Dutch East Indies they'd have won the war. Get oil, use it to take China, maybe offer some Zeroes to the Soviets. A thousand zeroes hitting Operation Barbarossa's airfields would made all the Stalin fans in FDR's administration give Japan steel again.
 

CV12Hornet

Cantra said:
Not the point, let's imagine those attacks also don't happen and they strike somewhere completely different. Could they have gone for the mainland?
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No. The Japanese were pushing their underway replenishment ability just to conduct the Pearl Harbor operation. They had no way to make an attack on the US mainland with anything other than submarines.
 
McPherson

McPherson

Banned
Midway, Guam, Wake, Philippine Islands. Not attacked, but the continental United States.
Cantra said:
Not the point, let's imagine those attacks also don't happen and they strike somewhere completely different. Could they have gone for the mainland?
Click to expand...
If they had the fleet trains. but...
CV12Hornet said:
No. The Japanese were pushing their underway replenishment ability just to conduct the Pearl Harbor operation. They had no way to make an attack on the US mainland with anything other than submarines.
Click to expand...
Exactly.
 

ivanotter

Maybe a landing in Oregon and then overland to Washington DC? That would be a surprise move indeed.

Or sneaking up on New York and invading from Long Island?

Sorry - just slightly sarcastic about this one.
 

Tibi088

ivanotter said:
Maybe a landing in Oregon and then overland to Washington DC? That would be a surprise move indeed.

Or sneaking up on New York and invading from Long Island?

Sorry - just slightly sarcastic about this one.
Click to expand...

With Godzilla. (sorry)

To add something constructive:
Attacking Pearl Harbor was an attempt to destroy the enemies fleet. Putting aside how wacky an idea to attack the USA was trying to take out their navy with a surprise attack in a naval war was a move that made sense. Attacking them only anywhere else would be much more stupid.
 
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No_Names_Left321

Cantra said:
Not the point, let's imagine those attacks also don't happen and they strike somewhere completely different. Could they have gone for the mainland?
Click to expand...
Japan couldn't go for the mainland, didn't have the logistics AND their fleet would be spotted, negating the element of surprise. Great news for the allies though, as a disaster worse than midway occurs for the Japanese and the USA has it's navy almost completely intact.
 

lionhead

Cantra said:
Lets say that in this timeline, Japan still attacks the US. But they attack somewhere else than Pearl harbor, where would they likely attack, and how will the USA react to this?
Click to expand...

Any other location to attack shy of the mainland would have less of an impact on the US. Pearl harbour was perfect, it was the home base for the pacific fleet afterall. Only other US targets they got would be the phoenix islands(nothing there) or Alaska(nothing there) and a waste of resources.
 

DougM

Ignoring how they could pull it off I just don’t see the logic of attacking anyplace else.
The point was to try and level the playing field. And no place else can they destroy the US Pacific fleet.
And if they hit the West Coast and leave the fleet at Peril they will be harassed the whole way home.
The problem is what can the accomplish anywhere else? It is not like they can pull off an invasio of the west coast. Well I suppose if the are insane they COULD land troops on the west coast or Alaska but it won’t last long as they can’t support them and the Pacific fleet and the Army would crush them in very short order.
So I just don’t think they in practical fact can attack anyplace else. Short of just hitting The Philippines.
 

The Tai-Pan

Cantra said:
Lets say that in this timeline, Japan still attacks the US. But they attack somewhere else than Pearl harbor, where would they likely attack, and how will the USA react to this?
Click to expand...

Do they have the same goals as OTL? They wanted to strike at the oil rich regions tot he south while WW2 meant the various European powers would be unable to respond.
 

CarribeanViking

When I timelined it, I assumed that thanks to greater participation in the First World War they did have the fleet train for it - the Kongos were present at the Battle of the Baltic Gates- and could strike at the mainland; and the target set was intended to cripple the American ability to make war in the near to medium terms. They went for the aircraft companies, their headquarters and design shops. Boeing, Chance- Vought, North American, Hughes, Consolidated, Douglas - all in Japanese naval aircraft range from the coast, and in addition to their value in themselves letting the IJN retain a qualitative edge for years to come, an excellent opportunity to tempt the Americans into the Decisive Battle.
The other side, of course, also got a vote.
 
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