Greenville
Banned
What if the United States prior to 1941 maintains the Pacific Fleet in its original homeport of San Diego, California instead of moving it to Hawaii?
What if the United States prior to 1941 maintains the Pacific Fleet in its original homeport of San Diego, California instead of moving it to Hawaii?
Why would take the risk of going as far as Pearl for quite a small pay off?Japan attacks Pearl Harbor but flattens the repair yards and the oil storage yards.
Taking out Pearl's support facilities would seriously hinder the US Navy's ability to protect power into the PacificWhy would take the risk of going as far as Pearl for quite a small pay off?
Why would take the risk of going as far as Pearl for quite a small pay off?
Potentially its a huge payoff
Catch the carriers in port and the "running wild" time goes up from 6 months to 18
... perhaps more if the USN tries to intervene in early '42 using the BBs brought forward from San Diego
Even if all that us done is to destroy Pearl as a base (practically or even psychologically)
and there is still a gain of time equivalent to OTL
At some point, we will move these ships to active theaters and do a big push. May 1942 is not unreasonable. And then there will likely be the decisive battle the Japanese sought, with maybe even some main battle line fighting. Japan crushed by the weight of American production.
The OP has the pacific fleet in San Diego which means no carriers to attack
Even if all that us done is to destroy Pearl as a base (practically or even psychologically)
and there is still a gain of time equivalent to OTL
Taking out Peal's support facilities would seriously hinder the US Navy's ability to protect power into the Pacific
There is NO significant American capital ship production in Q1 & Q2 of 42.
From the new BBs NC is unfit for real use, Washington might be available but untried. SoDak is definitely too late.
As to carriers, Essex herself does not arrive at the Fleet till Q1 43 and her sisters till much later (most in 1944).
A straight up fight in Q2 or Q3 42 will be with existing assets... not always a good prospect for the USN
Very true, however the Japanese Navy did not seem to think that way based on their planning and discussions leading to planning regarding the attack on Pearl Harbor.
Our plans for the first weeks of the war was to send a couple of BB to Samoa for a month or two, and build up for the thrust towards the PI.
OTL plans thought that perhaps but any thrust back from Pearl .. with a fully operating, fully stocked base
ATL with that gone ... May is a pipe dream ...
August at the earliest ... (remember that the USN insiders called Watchtower , Shoestring)
By that time the IJN has Wake, Midway, the Solomons and New Guinea locked down
It won't do them any good in the long run, as long as the American nerve holds, but the way back
(whether from Australia or Hawaii or both)
that will be (the Canal + Tarawa + Iwo ) raised to the nth power.
2) If not, or if the IJN is unaware of this, do they attempt an aggressive move at Hawaii? A Midway type engagement in December. Perhaps the move against the Phillipines is delayed with a concentration at Hawaii?
No. The Philippines HAD to be taken. They sat squarely on the IJN supply routes for oil from the DEI. The US could interdict oil shipments at will from there. There is no way the Japanese would try and occupy HI with the Philippines free to go after their supply lines