Early American Entry into World War II

On October 11, 1941, the U.S. Navy destroyer USS KEARNEY was torpedoed by a German U-boat and damaged, killing eleven American sailors. Then, on October 31, the USS REUBEN JAMES was torpedoed and sunk with the loss of the lives of over 100 American servicemen. In OTL, the attacks on the KEARNEY and the REUBEN JAMES, while causing much outrage, did not push the USA immediately into war with Germany. But what if?

Let's assume that the torpedo from U-568 which struck the KEARNEY on October 17 sunk the destroyer with the loss of all hands, instead of merely damaging it and killing 11. The outrage over this atrocity is still raging in the USA when news of the sinking of the REUBEN JAMES hits the newspapers on October 31. In less than two weeks, two American naval vessels and well over 200 servicemen have been lost. FDR, sensing that the fury of the American public is great enough to support a declaration of war, goes to Congress, and on November 4, 1941, the United States of America declares war on Germany. Italy declares war on the USA the next day.

What are the effects of this? One possible impact...Japan has not irrevocably committed to the Pearl Harbor operation. With America now on a full war footing and its military forces on high alert, do the Japanese proceed with the plan? If the Japanese cancel the operation, might a negotiated settlement of some sort in the Pacific, allowing the US to focus exclusively on Germany, be possible? Assuming such is the case, how much quicker can Nazi Germany be defeated if all of American resources are focused on Hitler?
 
On October 11, 1941, the U.S. Navy destroyer USS KEARNEY was torpedoed by a German U-boat and damaged, killing eleven American sailors. Then, on October 31, the USS REUBEN JAMES was torpedoed and sunk with the loss of the lives of over 100 American servicemen. In OTL, the attacks on the KEARNEY and the REUBEN JAMES, while causing much outrage, did not push the USA immediately into war with Germany. But what if?

Let's assume that the torpedo from U-568 which struck the KEARNEY on October 17 sunk the destroyer with the loss of all hands, instead of merely damaging it and killing 11. The outrage over this atrocity is still raging in the USA when news of the sinking of the REUBEN JAMES hits the newspapers on October 31. In less than two weeks, two American naval vessels and well over 200 servicemen have been lost. FDR, sensing that the fury of the American public is great enough to support a declaration of war, goes to Congress, and on November 4, 1941, the United States of America declares war on Germany. Italy declares war on the USA the next day.

What are the effects of this? One possible impact...Japan has not irrevocably committed to the Pearl Harbor operation. With America now on a full war footing and its military forces on high alert, do the Japanese proceed with the plan? If the Japanese cancel the operation, might a negotiated settlement of some sort in the Pacific, allowing the US to focus exclusively on Germany, be possible? Assuming such is the case, how much quicker can Nazi Germany be defeated if all of American resources are focused on Hitler?

I think you need a bigger event to get people to support war

I'll have to do some research on this for you... but around the end of oct/early nov 1941 a U-boat made it inside the ASW screen for a task force that had an American carrier (Yorktown I believe) and a Battlewagon (Texas I think, but again I have to double check and edit in) that was part of the "neutrality patrol"

you could have some American destroyers panic upon detecting the u-boat and form up to attack, and the U-boat in turn can panic and sink whatever capital ship was in front of it (say Yorktown)... now THAT would make people thirsty for blood
 
I think you need a bigger event to get people to support war

I'll have to do some research on this for you... but around the end of oct/early nov 1941 a U-boat made it inside the ASW screen for a task force that had an American carrier (Yorktown I believe) and a Battlewagon (Texas I think, but again I have to double check and edit in) that was part of the "neutrality patrol"

you could have some American destroyers panic upon detecting the u-boat and form up to attack, and the U-boat in turn can panic and sink whatever capital ship was in front of it (say Yorktown)... now THAT would make people thirsty for blood

The POD isn't really important. Whether its two destroyers being sunk or one carrier, the point is that the US declares war in early November 1941. What I'm looking for is a discussion of the possible consequences.
 
I can't speak to Japan's intentions

but Germany

1. Hitler had standing orders that U-boats where not to engage American ships under any circumstances; even if fired upon. He was furious with the Reuben James incident, but let it go since the war in Russia was reaching a critical point... if whatever naval incident (say sinking Yorktown) lead to an American DOW, he would completely flip out on the Kriegsmarine

Raeder would be publicly sacked, Donitz might also not escape with his job

2. In the ETO I can't see it being much of a difference. Its still winter weather; America still needs considerable time to mobilize and transport troops to the theater... it can't more the time table up by very much
 
If the USA gets involved earlier in the war one potential consequence might be Japan decides to go ahead with the Battle of Pearl Harbor anyway, seeking to keep the USA from shifting from Germany to itself. In the event Japan may well use the conditions of the Tripartite Pact to justify this. Another consequence will be what happens when the USA is able due to starting to re-arm for the war earlier to start sending more lend-lease to both the UK and the Soviet Union. If the Soviets have more of a logistical ability earlier in the war that has major butterflies for the late 1943-early 1944 battles.

Because if the USSR has the same mobility but larger manpower due to having it earlier, then the Soviet Union has a very different war in 1943 and 1944 and Germany is even more screwed than it was IOTL.
 
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