Page 257 - 1992 - XVIII Congresso Internazionale di Storia Militare

Pacitìc .1nd Centrai P.tc•fìc forccs. From thc Marianas, by Novcmb~r long-rnn~e
B·29s bcjpn winging rhcir way nver Japan.
In lour Jays. 23·26 Ouobcr. rhc j.1panesc losr 305 71 O rons of com ha t ship·
ping. Am('rll:lns but )6()UU rons. The lmpcri.liJ.•p.t•lese N:tvr h:tJ cc.tseJ w t'lOSt
as a fì~hung team. anJ the Unucd t.ucs had ''''ln concrol of the bro.1d Pacifìc
from rhcn on, no true n~ engagement "'·ould be fought, butJapancse suic1de planes
would scvcrcly damage Amencan nav.ll forces during rhe rest of thc war.
By capturing lwo Jim.•. che Unire-d tares .ICquired airfieJds from which B·29s
could be esconcd hy fìghu:rs on rheir runs co Japan. By seizing Okinawa, ir had
ampi~ land for .urfìelds. army insralhltlons. ami porrs from which ro :mack southern
Japan. The suicide raid 3!,'3tnSt rhe American beachhead at Okinawa by a force
led by rhe superb:mleship l 'amato on 8 Aprii 19<15 was repulsed. lnJuly, rhe rcm·
nanrs of the Japaoc:se Navy were sunk or damaged. In Junc.-. meanwhilc.-. Empcror
Hirohm1 soughr .1 pian for ending rhe wur. Acring on a misunderscanJ ing <lf thc
J.tp.<nese l.tngu.1gc rhe Unirt·d Sr:ucs Jmpped an .lt<lmic bomb on Hiroshima. (l
Augusc .• tnJ .1 wconJ ma· un tht· cighth. thc s.1me d.•r Russia dcd.Hcd w.tr and
rhe Red Army mMcheJ 1nru Man~huna. A l'C'.lSe·IÌre <lrder wus issued un 15 Au·
gusr; che surrenJca ctremony occurrcd un 2 Sepcembcr.
How did rhe United Starcs ubra in vicwry in che Pacifìc~ le dt!aytd operati n!:
thc.-rcm unril industriai producrion made offensive anion possible. !t secured a path
ro Japan by c:1pruring kcy bascs. ncurralizing orhers, and bypassing srill ochcrs in
a classic examplc of che principlcs of economy o( force, mobiliry. and concentra·
tion. Amcrican amphibious assault. subm:trincs, and nircrafr were the chree most
signifìcant F.lccors mjJpan's dcfeat. Armies. Jleets. and aircrafr r:Hhcr than a single
force produced \'ICtOC)'· lronically.Japan contributed to ics own dcfeat by utmcking
Pearl Harbor. Amcncan isolarionisrs joined inrerventioniSts m avengt: cht· mortai
insulr. A uniceJ Amcric.tn publil rhen providec.l rhe logistic supporr ncc:dcù by che
milit::!C)' fon:es co Jefe-Jc J.lp.tn.