Pacific War without MacArthur thread #871

zert said:
No guesses but when more tankers, transports,and hopefully more IJN carriers are sunk earlier, the can Allies advance sooner. Taking an unqualified guess the Marianas might get taken in early 44. Especially if an alt Coral Sea can inflict more casualties and the US does not lose any carriers. If the Port Morsby invasion forces can be decimated so much the better.
Early '44 looks possible at first glance. IDK about "decimating", but more severe IJN losses at *Coral Sea is readily in reach, given Doolittle stays home (because the U.S. is doing better, there's no need for the morale boost: is that reasonable?)
 
MacArthur did not develop the island hopping strategy this came from Nimitz and his staff. Mac was continually trying to get more assets for his route to the PI, and he was concerned about leaving intact bases "behind the lines" especially if he thought they would interfere with the PI drive.
 
I wonder if more of New Guinea would have been skipped once Rabaul was isolated to allow more troops and assets to be used fro island hopping campaigns in the Central Pacific. By doing so may assist in getting to the Marianas sooner.
 
zert said:
I wonder if more of New Guinea would have been skipped once Rabaul was isolated to allow more troops and assets to be used fro island hopping campaigns in the Central Pacific. By doing so may assist in getting to the Marianas sooner.
I would expect no fighting in New Guinea at all, with Nimitz's focus on the Gilberts & Marianas.
 
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