AHC: The Biggest Possible Screw Up in the Pacific War by Americans
- Thread starter General Tirpitz
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BlondieBC
Banned
1) We leak we have the codes broken. We had it printed in a paper after Midway. One guy seized a maritime Jap code book prewar, so they changed their codes. It takes a minor flaw (POD) somewhere to let the Japanese learn of the broken codes. Then have it change some battle to a worse result.
2) Let the breaks go the way Japanese way at Midway. Slows down war effort for a while.
2) Let the breaks go the way Japanese way at Midway. Slows down war effort for a while.
Combine the two somehow, so the IJN is victorious at Midway, with 1-3 of the US carriers sunk?
BlondieBC
Banned
It would work pretty well. Japan learns of codes broken in April 42, sends fake plans to USA in codes, then wins the battle at Midway. I guess if they knew the carriers would show up, they could cancel the invasion force entirely for Midway and just send carriers. Give them a clean win of all 3 USA carriers, with they keep all 4. If we are going to load the dice, lets load them.
Then USA is months behind OTL until the new ships show up in 1943, and then the USA starts to catch up. We need to keep MacArthur in power, so we still do two prong USA attack. Maybe with busted navy cred due to Midway loss, Mac can get the Central Pacific part of warplan cancelled. Who knows, maybe Mac can attack into Indonesia since USN is "too weak" to take on IJN.It would work pretty well. Japan learns of codes broken in April 42, sends fake plans to USA in codes, then wins the battle at Midway. I guess if they knew the carriers would show up, they could cancel the invasion force entirely for Midway and just send carriers. Give them a clean win of all 3 USA carriers, with they keep all 4. If we are going to load the dice, lets load them.
If the dice are going to be loaded in this scenario, just have the IJN capture Midway after the victory. Load the island to the brim and hold on in an attempt to consolidate elsewhere.
Either way, the USSR is the biggest winner.
Shadow Master
Banned
How about, after winning at midway, but without replacing their air crew losses, Nimitz orderes the Enterprise and Hornet into the Aleutians in search of the Japanese fleet. And finds them.
IIRC, the US carriers were recalled before they actually got all the way up their, but what if....
Anyone have the names of the four Japanese carriers that were operating there at the time?
IIRC, the US carriers were recalled before they actually got all the way up their, but what if....
Anyone have the names of the four Japanese carriers that were operating there at the time?
The U.S. is not at war with Shinto.
A President of Hope and Change hears of the Pearl Harbor attack and vows to bring the perpetrators to justice. The FBI is directed to investigate the alleged attacks in Hawaii and the Philippines. He reaches out to the government of Japan and announces that, pending a thorough investigation that, perhaps, rogue elements of the Japanese military may have taken part in some "Lone Wolf" operations.
Rules of Engagement are drafted to ensure that no military operations may be conducted without direct West Wing clearance. Soldiers are given sensitivity training to ensure that there is no Asiatic-phobic or Shinto-phobic troops in military service.
What could possibly go wrong?
A President of Hope and Change hears of the Pearl Harbor attack and vows to bring the perpetrators to justice. The FBI is directed to investigate the alleged attacks in Hawaii and the Philippines. He reaches out to the government of Japan and announces that, pending a thorough investigation that, perhaps, rogue elements of the Japanese military may have taken part in some "Lone Wolf" operations.
Rules of Engagement are drafted to ensure that no military operations may be conducted without direct West Wing clearance. Soldiers are given sensitivity training to ensure that there is no Asiatic-phobic or Shinto-phobic troops in military service.
What could possibly go wrong?
There's an easier way, maybe, with bigger effects.
ONI used a lot of Japanese linguists, & a few Nisei (tho IDK exactly when that started). It doesn't take a huge step for Japanese intelligence in Hawaii to wonder about these whites speaking Japanese, or for an indiscrete somebody to let on what's up.
Do that, you've handed Japan a win at Coral Sea & Midway both, & then some.
One early option (but not sure if "screwup" fits): let Brown sail to relieve Wake, instead of having Pye lose his nerve. Meeting engagement between 2 U.S. & 2 IJN CVs, & USN loses?
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MacAurthur somehow gets his way and the central Pacific offensive is delayed for many many months, with the supplies and cargo ships space instead used to support his return to the Phillipines. Result is the US invades PI a few months early, but is just starting to capture island bases for the B29 and blockading Japan in 1945. Tens of thousands of additional US soldiers die eradicating Japanese soldiers from the forrests and hills of the PI while waitng extra months for Japan to be forced into surrender.