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Originally posted by T. A. Gardner:
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Guadalcanal isn't really a good example of Japanese use of submarines for supply. As to numbers, the Japanese built several hundred submarines particularly, their 2nd class types (Kaitokuchu) like the R0's and late war Sentakasho (fast small type) Ha's. They didn't build as many of the larger fleet type submarines (these displace about half again to double what German boats did) Sensuikan Kadai and Junsen types simply because these were expensive, long term builds compared to the second class boats (which compare with the German Type VII).
At Guadalcanal, the Japanese supply line was maintained by a combination of destroyer delivered supplies and gross wastage in merchant shipping. The later was usually simply run aground and emptied as best as the troops could manage. On the whole, the Japanese supply attempts at Guadalcanal were ill-conceived and poorly carried out. [/quote]
While Guadalcanal wasn't the best example of the Japanese using submarines to resupply their troops during the war toward the end of that campaign they did nevertheless make a number of resupply runs before Operation "Ke" which had the Tokyo Express (in which destroyers acted as transports) made runs to evacuate what remained of the Japanese Army from Guadalcanal.
I believe I remember either reading a book or maybe even one your earlier posts that the Japanese had modified one of their large "I" class fleet boats to carry 2 or 3 naval patrol bombers with the original intent to attempt a bombing of the Panama Canal close to the beginning of hostilities with the hopes of closing it so that the US could not transfer forces from the Atlantic to the Pacific without making the long trip around South America.