Originally Posted by
dawg80
Did the Japs draw up the attack plan on Pearl Harbor from scratch? We know they had spies in Hawaii. In fact, and this an aside for another post, but the FBI knew of a prominent Japanese spy, but left him alone. Why? because he was a loyal Democrat and contributed to "the right people" in both national and local politics. As you know, Hawaii was not yet a state at that time. But, the Japs did not draw their plans from info provided by spies, although they used such data for up-to-the-minute changes. So, where did the Japs get their battle plan for their attack on Pearl? Why, from an American admiral. I want to say it was Rear Admiral Fletcher. Fletcher developed a battle plan to attack Pearl and used it in a complete surprise, and War Game winning tactic, in 1932.
The US Navy conducts war games for the purpose of training personnel and, more importantly, to test tactical and strategic theories. It was during a series of such games that Fletcher, in command of the Blue Side, devised a plan to attack the base of the Red Side, HQ'd at Pearl. On the Blue team were the carriers Lexington and Saratoga, while the Red team had the other three Pacific Fleet carries, Enterprise, Hornet, and Yorktown. Fletcher used a clever ruse to fool the Red Team's commanders into thinking he was gonna attack the Red's 2nd surface fleet, with his two carriers, posted just south of Alaska. They took the bait and went to set an ambush on an attack that would never come. Instead, the Blue's two carriers steamed at full speed, south, toward Hawaii. Three days later, a stunned Red Team watched helplessly as planes from Lexington and Saratoga soared overhead, attacking Battleship Row with dummy bombs and torpedoes. The attack approaches, the two main waves, the prioritizing of targets, was EXACTLY the same as the Japs would use just 9 years later, December 7, 1941. Did the Japs steal the plans? Nope! they were readily shared by American naval intelligence during a joint US-Japan navy war game, in 1933. These plans, were one of 38 such tactical plans, and the attack on Pearl was number 13.
This attack plan was actually developed by then retired Admiral Harry Yarnell. Yarnell was written off as a nut case, just a crazy old officer who needed to be retired, which he was in 1932. But Admiral Fletcher didn't think he was a nut, and proved Yarnell's theory correct by using his plan, to the letter. Incredibly! the US navy commanders, the War Department, thought it was "interesting" and congratulated Fletcher for his winning that particular war game scenario. One year later, in a political move, designed to appease the Japs and ease tensions between the two nations, the two sides shared information and agreed to "cooperate" for the mutual benefit of each one. It should have alerted someone, anyone! when the Jap navy planners asked about the 1932 war games, specifically the successful air attack on Pearl. Jap spies had watched and noted said war games, and alerted their government. We said, oh those old things? Sure, here ya go! But we have to warn ya (with a chuckle) they are the brainchild of an old crazy fellow, a retired admiral. Not worth the paper they are written on. WE HANDED THE COPIES TO JAP NAVAL PLANNERS.
In 1932 Pearl was just one of several bases of our Pacific Fleet. In 1941, FDR had moved Fleet HQ, and the carrier task force: Enterprise, Hornet, Yorktown, to Pearl. In 1932 no more than about 50 US Navy ships were assigned to Pearl. In 1941, that number topped 180, including the 3 carriers and their support vessels. Ironically, the carrier task force: Lexington and Saratoga, was maintained in San Diego for "protection of the US west coast, and for the safety of the task force against a surprise attack at ….[drum roll please]...Pearl Harbor."
It should be noted that neither Yarnell nor Fletcher gloated on December 8, 1941 with a "told ya so!" It is said they both openly wept for the loss of American lives and ships. Sometimes it hurts to be proven right.