The Story this tells

The Importance of Oil

Roger said it best. Japan needed oil to fuel their war in China. The decisions to invade Indonesia and attack America were because of oil. and Japan’s ultimate defeat was a result of their industrial capacity grinding to a halt.

The Navy and Submarines

Amateurs talk about tactics, but professionals study logistics.

Gen. Robert H. Barrow, USMC

Amateurs love this quote. When I think of the Pacific I think of Carrier operations at Midway or Marines storming beaches. Interestingly enough those pitched engagements were subordinate to the effort to blockage Japan from the sea and destroy their industry from the Air. US Submarines were critical in interdicting oil imports from South Asia. (See image above)

What Happens Next

Unlike the War in Europe. Much of the territory conquered by Japan wasn’t liberated. Another thing unique to the Pacific is the amount of Japanese Soldiers that refused to surrender. I try to put myself in their place and I just cant imagine my ass sitting in a jungle for 30 years.

Finally, how easily the Japanese rolled over the Allies early in the war showed how weak their hold was in Asia and dispelled any notions of European supremacy. There’s a apocryphal story from the Siege of Singapore after the British blew the bridges into the city. Someone asked what the explosion was and their friend said “the end of the British Empire.”