Japan hits Singapore instead of Pearl Harbor
Re: Japan hits Singapore instead of Pearl Harbor
A Japanese carrier strike on Singapore was of course possible but pointless. It is unlikely that they would be able to achieve the surprise they had at PH and so the question is , what would such a strike achieve? as they were going to Invade Malaya and Capture Singapore anyway, the last thing they wanted is two sunk capital ships in the base causing problems. PH was designed to neutralise the main threat to Japan, the US Pacific Fleet, there was no mission at Singapore that needed a multi carrier strike force.
Re: Japan hits Singapore instead of Pearl Harbor
Pointless within the context of the actual Southern Operation invasion plan. But, if the plan had been to invade Java directly from Indochina in December 1941, then Japanese carriers would need to attack - and totally neutralize - Singapore.aghart wrote:A Japanese carrier strike on Singapore was of course possible but pointless.
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maltesefalcon
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Re: Japan hits Singapore instead of Pearl Harbor
I want to make sure I understand the premise of this What If?
Would the Singapore attack be prior to any attacks on US bases, Pearl Harbour in particular? If so, the US forces would likely be in a higher state of readiness for any attack, although I'm not convinced the US would immediately declare war on Japan if only British forces were attacked.
If the Singapore raid was in lieu of war with the USA, Japan would be in a predicament. The US was a major thorn in Japans side with the embargoes in place. Plus any significant US Naval presence in the Far East would certainly pose a constant threat to Japans goal of taking over the colonies of France, UK and Netherlands.
Sooner or later these powers would bump heads and war would erupt. By not eliminating major US forces in 1941 along with their attack on Singapore, Japan would doom itself to a long drawn out campaign they could not win.
Would the Singapore attack be prior to any attacks on US bases, Pearl Harbour in particular? If so, the US forces would likely be in a higher state of readiness for any attack, although I'm not convinced the US would immediately declare war on Japan if only British forces were attacked.
If the Singapore raid was in lieu of war with the USA, Japan would be in a predicament. The US was a major thorn in Japans side with the embargoes in place. Plus any significant US Naval presence in the Far East would certainly pose a constant threat to Japans goal of taking over the colonies of France, UK and Netherlands.
Sooner or later these powers would bump heads and war would erupt. By not eliminating major US forces in 1941 along with their attack on Singapore, Japan would doom itself to a long drawn out campaign they could not win.
Re: Japan hits Singapore instead of Pearl Harbor
Don't all versions of the story end that way though?maltesefalcon wrote: By not eliminating major US forces in 1941 along with their attack on Singapore, Japan would doom itself to a long drawn out campaign they could not win.