Can you think of a way Japan could have successfully invaded the US mainland?

[Finnish Dragon]

I think that in WWII there was no chance that Japanese invasion on US mainland would have been successful. Admiral Yamamoto knew that on his famous quote:

Should hostilities once break out between Japan and the United States, it is not enough that we take Guam and the Philippines, nor even Hawaii and San Francisco. To make victory certain, we would have to march into Washington and dictate the terms of peace in the White House. I wonder if our politicians, among whom armchair arguments about war are being glibly bandied about in the name of state politics, have confidence as to the final outcome and are prepared to make the necessary sacrifices.

Admiral Yamamoto was the former Japanese naval attache in Washington. Because of that he knew his US enemies well. He knew that they were wealthy and powerful. Because of that the only way for Japan to defeat US was to quickly de-moralize US military forces which would force them to negotiate peace with Japan.

Generally, if you expect tough fights and you need to launch an amphibious landing then you will need a supply base relatively close to the landing zones. You need to ship fresh troops and new supplies quickly. Where would be the Japanese forward supply base for the invasion on US mainland?

 

[gagenater]

I think that in WWII there was no chance that Japanese invasion on US mainland would have been successful. Admiral Yamamoto knew that on his famous quote:



Admiral Yamamoto was the former Japanese naval attache in Washington. Because of that he knew his US enemies well. He knew that they were wealthy and powerful. Because of that the only way for Japan to defeat US was to quickly de-moralize US military forces which would force them to negotiate peace with Japan.

Generally, if you expect tough fights and you need to launch an amphibious landing then you will need a supply base relatively close to the landing zones. You need to ship fresh troops and new supplies quickly. Where would be the Japanese forward supply base for the invasion on US mainland?

Yamamoto also went to Grad school at Harvard. He and some other Japanese who knew the U.S. well were dubious (at best) about how the coming war would go down. Some were optimistic, but most were resigned to things going awry at some point and hoping for the best.

 

[Andre Bolkonsky]

Yamamoto also went to Grad school at Harvard. He and some other Japanese who knew the U.S. well were dubious (at best) about how the coming war would go down. Some were optimistic, but most were resigned to things going awry at some point and hoping for the best.

Exactly, and to piggy back on FinnishDragon's thoughts, look at how much trouble the US had in setting up the logistical and military infrastructure to invade the Japanese Home Islands, which are a minute fraction of the size of the United States. Can they land troops on US soil, certainly; can they take and hold anything of consequence, absolutely not.

 

[gagenater]

Exactly, and to piggy back on FinnishDragon's thoughts, look at how much trouble the US had in setting up the logistical and military infrastructure to invade the Japanese Home Islands, which are a minute fraction of the size of the United States. Can they land troops on US soil, certainly; can they take and hold anything of consequence, absolutely not.

You don't even have to go to the invasion of the Japanese home islands. Look at Okinawa - the largest preliminary for that campaign. It already featured by far the largest naval fleet in history as well as the largest amphibious invasion in history.

 

[toroltao]

....about 10,000 troops at a time, due to the extreme transport and supply issues. It's POSSIBLE that Japan could have invaded the US mainland with a few thousand troops. It's NOT possible that they could have gotten, and then held, a foothold long enough to return all the way to occupied Hawaii for more troops to reinforce the invasion.

The initial landing would not include heavy weapons or artillery, not that the Japanese had all that much to spare. The US would be using land-based air, armor, and artillery to hit the landing zone, and the fleet conducting the landing. I can't see it ending well for the Japanese.

Once China is conquered, sue for peace with US or else massacre Chinese. Industrialize. Get nuclear bomb secrets and icbms. Nuke America. Land once US is dead. Win.

 

[gagenater]

Once China is conquered, sue for peace with US or else massacre Chinese. Industrialize. Get nuclear bomb secrets and icbms. Nuke America. Land once US is dead. Win.

That's not WWII - that's a different version of the cold war.

 

[keynes2.0]

Once China is conquered, sue for peace with US or else massacre Chinese. Industrialize. Get nuclear bomb secrets and icbms. Nuke America. Land once US is dead. Win.

Or even more cunningly:
1) Ally with Germany
2) Attack US so Germany is drawn into war and the US starts developing nukes to hit Germany
3) Draw the war out long enough that the US finishes nukes and uses them, thus starting the nuclear age
4) Give up holdings in China to the communists so ideological enemies of the US control the world's most populous nation
5) Sell the Chinese industrial equipment so they become a super power and develop nukes
6) Wait for the US and China to nuke each other
7) "Humanitarian" intervention to establish Great East Asian Co-Prosperity Sphere.

 

[DarthJF]

Here's the real master plan on how Japan intends to take over the world.

 

[Fire_Unionist]

Here's the real master plan on how Japan intends to take over the world.

I'd prefer a Finnish girl.

 

[toroltao]

I'd prefer a Finnish girl.

What's the difference between a Finnish girl and Swedish girl?

 

[DarthJF]

What's the difference between a Finnish girl and Swedish girl?

"Sweden definitely has more 10's - drop dead gorgeous blondes that bring tears to your eyes. However, those 10's are few and far between, in both countries. In general there exists a fair number of eights in Finland, more so than in Sweden. And let's face it, Andrew from Cape Town will never land a ten in Sweden - he's got a better chance of landing an eight in Finland."

"Finnish girls appreciate the simple things in life. Instead of buying jewelry, write her a poem. Instead of a fancy dinner, how about a picnic in the park? Swedish girls grew up wealthy, their daddies traded in their furniture for better IKEA furniture. Your Velcro surfer-wallet can't compete with those high expectations."

"Nothing quite says you're a loser like, 'Daddy, can Patrick and I borrow 500 euros?' Swedes have close ties to family. Meanwhile, Finnish women HATE their families, especially their fathers. You and Mari will handle your own problems without the financial support of your in-laws."

Source:

 

[Amallric]

What is this sexist nonsense. Sweden doesn't even have euros.

 

[DarthJF]

What is this sexist nonsense. Sweden doesn't even have euros.

The writer is American. Can't demand too much.

 

[Andre Bolkonsky]

Am I the only one who finds the cover of that book . . . . interesting? Exactly who is the target audience?

 

[Ming]

Especially if you consider the author's name. Weird.

 

[gagenater]

Am I the only one who finds the cover of that book . . . . interesting? Exactly who is the target audience?

It's probably a weird fiction book about finding romance in the oddest ways while stoned on a drunken backpacking trip in Europe, and possibly based on a true story (Although the author can't remember all the details)

 

[Henry IX]

Aha! I've got it!

Step 1: Marry a Finnish girl

Step 2: ?

Step 3: Successful invasion of the US mainland by Japan.

I just need a little help with step 2. Any suggestions?

 

[Ming]

I'm not sure but maybe Martei tsurunen is working on it?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marutei_Tsurunen

 

[Andre Bolkonsky]

Aha! I've got it!

Step 1: Marry a Finnish girl

Step 2: ?

Step 3: Successful invasion of the US mainland by Japan.

I just need a little help with step 2. Any suggestions?

Step 2: In late 1941, a Japanese Ninja Sorcerer backpacking through Europe with a fanny-pack full of 'special brownies' marries a 'total 8' Finnish Girl, and uses her to spellbind the entire population of earth with an extremely potent Haiku and enchanted sushi. The citizens of the Earth are transformed into Samurai Zombies bound to the flag of japan, who are impelled against their will by the enchanted sushi to follow the directions of the Haiku and march upon America!

Fortunately, historical records tell of 2 dozen God-fearing 'muricans who resist the spell -- led by an intrepid sheriff named Andy Griffith who leads a Delta-quality strike force composed of Aunt Bea, Opie, Floyd the Barber and Otis the drunk -- and escape from CDC for the purpose of making their way to Fort Benning to prepare America's last line of defense . . . .

Week by week on their epic quest, the Sheriff and his Posse devise new and cunning way's to kill the Sushi Zombies without making any noise at all

In this week's episode, the Sheriff runs into a highborn bastard with a Valyrian sword and a Direwolf -- all dressed in black and riding a dragon named Rhaegal after his father -- who tells them the Ninja Socerer is actually the Nights King and related to Roose Bolton! They take shelter behind a large wall of solid ice reputed to be impervious to the march of the Sushi Zombies.

Or is it?

Tune in to find out, because this is the only way in Hell Japan would ever occupy the USA during WWII. And to make it work, the sushi zombies MUST figure out how to kill the dragon!

THE TRUTH IS STRANGER THAN FICTION!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Finnish Dragon]

I'm not sure but maybe Martei tsurunen is working on it?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marutei_Tsurunen

According to his Finnish wikipedia page, he retired from the politics when he wasn´t re-elected. He is 74 years old now, so I understand that decision.