Very good presentation on an interesting subject. I need to read the thesis. One comment on the strategic value of the Solomons campaign. The USA recognized the danger to shipping a Japanese airfield on Guadalcanal would pose. This developed before the USN &. USMC were ready for such an operation. We were faced with a choice of invading before we were ready, vs waiting until after the Japanese airfield was in operation, which would make defending the sea lanes to the south much more difficult. In my opinion King made the right decision, take the initiative as soon as possible. This was costly, but a calculated trade-off. This original decision was defensive, protection of shipping to Australia. As things develop, the best defense is usually a good offense.
Great video! I’m curious about what the speaker thinks of Jon Parshall’s argument that the Solomons campaign was the key to the Pacific War because it fastened down Japanese attention in the South Pacific, and ended up attriting the best of the IJN DD force. As was said in the video, the US lost a lot of ships I would need to replace, but the IJN lost about as many ships, with the difference being it couldn’t afford to replace them at the same rate.
Very good presentation on an interesting subject. I need to read the thesis.
One comment on the strategic value of the Solomons campaign. The USA recognized the danger to shipping a Japanese airfield on Guadalcanal would pose. This developed before the USN &. USMC were ready for such an operation. We were faced with a choice of invading before we were ready, vs waiting until after the Japanese airfield was in operation, which would make defending the sea lanes to the south much more difficult. In my opinion King made the right decision, take the initiative as soon as possible. This was costly, but a calculated trade-off.
This original decision was defensive, protection of shipping to Australia. As things develop, the best defense is usually a good offense.
Great video! I’m curious about what the speaker thinks of Jon Parshall’s argument that the Solomons campaign was the key to the Pacific War because it fastened down Japanese attention in the South Pacific, and ended up attriting the best of the IJN DD force. As was said in the video, the US lost a lot of ships I would need to replace, but the IJN lost about as many ships, with the difference being it couldn’t afford to replace them at the same rate.