Question: Imperial Japanese Interservice Competition

So, I know that relations between the IJA and IJN were very poor, to the extent that the IJA had to purchase a few of it's own aircraft carriers to protect it's own supply shipping, being unable to rely on the IJN. But here's a question for you experts: -To what extent would the Army and Navy co-operate in the event that Japan was involved in a single front defensive war on the Asian mainland? In Manchuria for example, or Korea. To clarify, this would be in 1940/41.
 
Well, that entirely depends on who are they fighting against. IIRC (and you mention it also) IJA had their own fleets of supply ships, so in that aspect they were totally independent. Given that Korea is at spitting distance from Japan, I imagine most of the time they could be protected by land based airplanes, controlled by the Army. I don't really see anyone with enough sea power to challenge their supply train, which I presume would be the only important thing in such a war. The only power that could actually challenge Japanese on Asian mainland in Korea and Manchuria was USSR.

USSR probably had a number of subs in Pacific fleet, so, I take it for granted that they would attempt to interdict the shipping supplying Kwantung army. How successful would they be? I'll go out on a limb and without really thinking about it, I'll declare that it would not be decisive. Specifically, I do not see the war lasting long enough for the effect of interdiction to come into play, if the USSR starts it and is fully prepared.

IJA, if it starts will most probably be slaughtered as at Nomonhan.

IJN would make it a matter of principle to clear the seas around Japan, regardless of their relation with the Army, while they will both (Navy and Army alike) probably bomb Vladivostok, where subs are based and attempt to make it impossible for them to sail.

But most likely, the effect will not be important, since Red Army will sweep the Japanese off the continent.

I do not see who else could make war against IJA in Manchuria, except Chinese, eventually if the US is not at war. By the time this would come to pass and if the Chinese are able to endanger Japanese positions in Manchuria and Korea, I presume Japanese Army will be in no shape to offer any meaningful defense. EDIT: Oh, forget the last paragraph. I didn't see the 1940/41 part.
 
Last edited:
But in the even of a defeat by the Chinese on the mainland, would the Army Air Force and Navy Air Force co-operate closely in air defence for the Kwangtung Army? And would the Navy attack cities etc. on the Chinese coast? Just raid them? Invade Hainan? And was the Army, or the Navy in charge of defending Taiwan/Formosa?
 
But in the even of a defeat by the Chinese on the mainland, would the Army Air Force and Navy Air Force co-operate closely in air defence for the Kwangtung Army? And would the Navy attack cities etc. on the Chinese coast? Just raid them? Invade Hainan? And was the Army, or the Navy in charge of defending Taiwan/Formosa?

I am deeply skeptical this is possible, without a POD waaay back.

IMHO, whatever differences IJA and IJN had amongst each other would be patched up quickly in order to defend their own territory. There might be a slight possibility that an officer or two from the IJN could say 'We told you so. Now brew in your own sauce!' and end up dead, instead of ignored. This sparks up an outrage in the Navy and they say that they won't lift a finger to defend Imperial Japanese Army territory on the mainland China. IJA still has enough shipping to supply their forces. The war in China was never being won by the Navy.

As for Formosa, did the Chinese have the capacity to threaten Formosa OTL? No. Again if the Chinese are able to pose a credible threat to Formosa, Japanese would already be in a chin deep sh*t without the regard to any cooperation (or lack of it) between the Army and the Navy
 
Last edited:

sharlin

Banned
The Japanese military regarding its interservice competition wasn't just argumentative it was downright dysfunctional. It was made even worse with Yamamoto in command who threw his weight around in such a way that the Combined fleet was dictating policy to those who were suppose to dictate policy.

Japanese superiors were unwilling to rein in those below them because of the risk of loosing face and in Japan at the time and especially in the military, loosing face was a MASSIVE no no. It reflected on them, their branch of the military, the country and by that means, the Emperor.

Just look at the Mukden incident, a war with China was started by a Lt Colonel and his staff who were sure that their seniors and commanders would not give them the bollocking and disgrace they would have got with any other powers military because they would loose face. And they were right.
 
Top