raharris1973
Well-known member
What's the minimum number of preparatory steps needed to get the US in position to invade the Japanese mainland while destroying as much as possible of the forces that could stiffen the home islands' defenses?
In OTL there was a strategic debate between advocates of seizing Luzon or Taiwan as a major stepping stone to Japan in late 1944. Could the allies have been even more economical, and arranged to bypass both the larger islands,and seized Okinawa from launching pads in the Marianas, while simultaneously arranging for having a decisive Leyte Gulf style battle there instead of off Philippine waters? Presumably, audacity and bypassing will make Okinawa riskier, however, there should be more of a surprise advantage and less time for fortification compared to OTL.
Finally, was Okinawa a large enough staging ground for an invasion of the home islands? That is, was there going to be some operational need for a large landmass like Luzon as a place to mass troops where they could still train a bit? Or is Okinawa just fine as an air and naval base to support the landing of troops from as far away as the states and New Guinea?
Anybody know if there were airfields or ports on Tsushima island or Cheju-Do/Quelpart island? Just wondering if there would have been any utility to the allies in seizing either of those territories in the Pacific war to seal off Japan from transferring forces home from the Asian mainland.
In OTL there was a strategic debate between advocates of seizing Luzon or Taiwan as a major stepping stone to Japan in late 1944. Could the allies have been even more economical, and arranged to bypass both the larger islands,and seized Okinawa from launching pads in the Marianas, while simultaneously arranging for having a decisive Leyte Gulf style battle there instead of off Philippine waters? Presumably, audacity and bypassing will make Okinawa riskier, however, there should be more of a surprise advantage and less time for fortification compared to OTL.
Finally, was Okinawa a large enough staging ground for an invasion of the home islands? That is, was there going to be some operational need for a large landmass like Luzon as a place to mass troops where they could still train a bit? Or is Okinawa just fine as an air and naval base to support the landing of troops from as far away as the states and New Guinea?
Anybody know if there were airfields or ports on Tsushima island or Cheju-Do/Quelpart island? Just wondering if there would have been any utility to the allies in seizing either of those territories in the Pacific war to seal off Japan from transferring forces home from the Asian mainland.