alternatehistory.com

I don't think that the Japanese naval forces around the Philippines could have achieved anywhere near the decisive success that they wanted, the IJN did have some luck at Leyte, managing to get a fleet near to the landing fleet without encountering the USN carriers. Then getting another fleet to get the drop on a group of escort carriers when their ships slipped out of the Sibuyan Sea when it wasn't covered.

While the Japanese ultimately proved doomed, how many other mistakes could have been made by US forces to allow for some damaging looses to the landing fleet around the Philippines?

Or rather if the Japanese Sho plan had gone off just as planned what would the USN have had to have done wrong to allow for minor IJN success?
Top