Choke Hold: The Attack on Japanese Oil In World War II
Abstract
After WWI, Army airmen like Billy Mitchell, in a bid for service independence, touted land-based air power's dominance over ships. Later, airmen at the Air Corps Tactical School developed a theory of independent air power application based on strategic bombing. These airmen persuaded Congress to purchase the tools to implement strategic bombing-fleets of heavy bombers-by citing these aircraft as optimum for defending the US coasts against enemy ships. However, when the opportunity to test the efficacy of bombers against ships presented itself in WWII's Pacific Theater, Army Air Force (AAF) leaders proved reluctant to throw their full support behind such an effort. A key aspect of the US Navy's Pacific strategy was an intense campaign against Japanese commercial shipping. This blockade, primarily targeting oil after late 1943, was spearheaded by US Navy submarines. A blockade proved the most effective means of attacking Japan's oil, although AAF leaders preferred strategic bombing of the Japanese home islands, including oil facilities, over blockade support. This thesis analyzes the campaign against Japanese oil to explore why an oil blockade was effective against Japan and, more important, to examine how service parochialism distorted the development of a rational military strategy in the Pacific Theater. The US will not likely enjoy such luxury again. Hence, this study's implications and recommendation concern the future of the Air Force's maritime role. After WWII, the USAF let their maritime capability atrophy. The USAF and US Navy, fearing an emergent Soviet naval threat, revitalized USAF maritime capabilities in the 70s and 80s. However, with the Cold War's end, the emergence of "hyperwar" airpower theory, and slashed defense budgets, the USAF now finds itself with little maritime capability once more. While this may be an appropriate course for today, tomorrow's strategic environment may require the USAF to maintain a robust, fast response maritime capabil7
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 01, 1994
- Accession Number
- ADA425684
Entities
People
- Stephen L. Wolborsky
Organizations
- Air University