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Old September 14th, 2006, 10:46 PM
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Hmmmm
Interesting for sure.
I suppose you are speaking of Enterprise, Yorktown, Hornet, Saratoga, and Lexington?
Correct?
There are also Langley, Ranger, and Wasp.
Not as big, not as mean, but Carriers.
Big if, that all (first five) were in Pearl (like they'd fit) and completely standing down, (no CAP, no Search).
Let's suppose all this is true.
Would the Japanese have enough bombs/torpedoes to sink them? Given the extra F4Fs and anti-aircraft guns? Counter attacks?
Suppose they did, and all else happened besides.
No Coral Sea, Santa Cruise, Midway.
Austrailia/New Zealand fall (except for resistance everywhere) and the Japanese are on Midway. With 5 and 1/2 carriers they would have lost, and only 3 medium to small U.S. ones to oppose them.
Ouch!
Many Carriers of that year were not purpose built (from the bottom up) as carriers. Alot were yes, but I believe all Countrys had the conversions,
Kaga...Battleship
Akagi, Lexington, Saratoga...Battlecruisers
Once America got motivated it would turn out "Jeep" carriers like "Liberty" ships...one a day. The Japanese would have to go a long way to get more bombs/torpedoes/fuel/food/fresh water through an angry network of "Pig-Boats", more every day.
Americas other war production remains the same, unhampered, except for sugar cane and pineapples.
The Hawaiian islands would be an airfied of immense proportion, like Okinawa was during Vietnam.
Un Approachable.
It would delay the inevitable, cost more lives, but would ultimately change ... not much.
Even this much (what if) damage would not/could not force a surrender/negotiated(compromised) peace.
The American anger of that "Sneak" attack pre-dertermined an unconditional surrender by the Japanese.
No matter what.
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