Would an American Yamamoto help or hinder in the Pacific War?

Inspired somewhat by the pre-1900 thread on what an Americanized Erwin Rommel might have accomplished.

Given racial prejudices of the period I can't realistically see the actual man attaining a position of senior leadership in the USN prior to or during the Pacific War, but what about an American equivalent heading the Pacific Fleet? Basically someone who embodies the same qualities of taking gambles, planning complex and far-reaching attacks, prioritizing carriers and making the most of his resources against the enemy.

So, exactly what it says on the tin: would an American equivalent of Isoroku Yamamoto in charge of the Pacific campaign have helped or hindered the progress of the USN?
 
An American born Japanese Issei (1st Generation) or even a Nisei (2nd Generation) would have to somehow get into America's Naval Academy at Annapolis with the best and highest grades possible and recommendations from Senators or a high-level politician that thought the person had the Right Stuff....

Like get into the Acadamy somehow during the early 1900s or 1905 so that he would be prepare to be a low-level officer on a destroyer during the 1st World War when America finally got involved in 1917-1918 and help in sinking a German U-Boat or did something heroic during that time to be noticed by the press and the Admiralty...

He would then somehow get himself involved in the Naval Aviation program and the young Naval Officers promoting building Carriers to extend the military influence and firepower of the Navy under the Battleship Admirals...

He would have to active in promoting his ideas of making America's Navy strong with a good number of Carriers and Aircraft that can land and fly off the flattops... and have some good tactical ideas in how to use them while either placating the Battleship Admirals or getting the ear of a powerful politician with excellent naval credentials and forewarn the American Public on the deadly threats that are being striven by Imperial Japan with their own Carrier program and the Kriegsmarine and Italy's attempts to build Carriers likewise..

meh...
 
Good ideas all, but it doesn't even necessarily have to be a Japanese or Japanese-American citizen, just someone who employs the same mindset as Yamamoto. Maybe someone who spent an extended study period abroad in Japan, getting a very clear picture of the Empire's capabilities and attitude and certainly not operating under any illusions of 'little yellow men flying useless scrap'.
 

CalBear

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Inspired somewhat by the pre-1900 thread on what an Americanized Erwin Rommel might have accomplished.

Given racial prejudices of the period I can't realistically see the actual man attaining a position of senior leadership in the USN prior to or during the Pacific War, but what about an American equivalent heading the Pacific Fleet? Basically someone who embodies the same qualities of taking gambles, planning complex and far-reaching attacks, prioritizing carriers and making the most of his resources against the enemy.

So, exactly what it says on the tin: would an American equivalent of Isoroku Yamamoto in charge of the Pacific campaign have helped or hindered the progress of the USN?

Chester Nimitz? Well, he won the war.

Be fore you protest Nimitz

1. Attacked the Japanese at every opportunity from the minute he assumes command, including ordering unrestricted submarine warfare.

2. Green lit the Doolittle Raid.

3. Went against the Kido Butai at Coral Sea even though two of his four decks were off DOING the Doolittle Raid (with his top carrier commander) knowing the Japanese could have as many as six carriers to oppose his force.

4. Went all-in at Midway based on the word of a COMMANDER (who lounged around his duty station in a smoking jacket) whose best evidence was that, based on the 15% of the enemy's messages he could read, that "AF" meant Midway. By doing so, he left the CONUS exposed and put the defense of Hawaii in the hands of the USAAF.

5. ATTACKED with his ONLY mobile force and only amphibious formation before a single fast BB or any of the new carriers had reached his command.

6. Relieved a theater commander and replaced his with an officer who was supposed to be doing an inspection tour. Immediately instructed this officer to go onto the offensive despite being materially deficient in every equipment category.

6. Faced down his Army rival despite the fact that the Army officer had been a flag officer with SEVEN Silver Stars to his credit before Nimitz made Commander.


The reason that no one thinks of Nimitz as a gambler is that, unlike Yamamoto, he won the war. He was also far less showy, emotional or hungry credit than most officers of his rank, he willingly let Halsey and Spruance get the headlines as long as they also got results.
 
Didn't Nimitz also, (right before Midway?) deliberately have Halsey reveal his fleet to the Japanese so Halsey could be recalled to Pearl? (and when Adm King wanted Halsey in the Central Pacific?)
 
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