Hello everyone,
At my high school we must accomplish a Senior Project. This takes the form of anything, such as Learning to become EMT Certified, Astrology, Tennis Training, Border-cross, Video Yearbook... Mine is "World War II: If the Victors had Lost- A counterfactual History Study in the BAttles of Dunkirk, Tobruk and Tarawa". I am starting with Tarawa, because I have a vetern to speak with from there. It'll be about a 20 page research paper. I plan on actually breaking a lot of ground with this since no one has really done an intense paper like this for Senior Project or in general, at least not these battles.
Anyway, the project in essence explains how the battle actually occured, how the Japanese could have been victorious, and what would the results have been.
We all know how the battle went down, and if you don't go check it out. I believe that the Japanese COULD HAVE sucessfully pulled off a win here if three things had changed. First, they needed to counterattack during the first night, which they didn't due to a lack of effective communication. Secondly, if the Imperial Japanese Navy had defended the island by the second day they could have coordinated a counter attack as well. Third is the culture. If a cornered Japanese soldier was cornered they committed ritual suicied or hari-kari. IF the remnants of the first day didn't do this and once again counter attacked they might have been able to inflict higher casualties.
The result: America would have to rethink their policies for invading Japanese held territory that wasn't held by Britain or America before the war. Since this was the first battle that America was on the offensive against Japan [and Tarawa was needed to take the Marshalls, the Marshalls were needed to take the Marianas and the Marianas were needed to take the Philipines (the big Prize)], then the Marine Corps and the NAvy would need to rehaul their evaluation of Island Hooping. This was one of the first battles with Amphtracs, higgins boats and naval power all in one. If the US had lost more men then they did on Tarawa then the american public would have gotten behind them and said no more.
Well, please give me your two, five, ten cent thoughts on this. PLEASE
!!! This is BIG! Stay relatively realistic and debate is welcomed! Anyhting can happen...If you know any place where good facts are located, then have at ME!
I thank you for your valuable input. THANK YOU!