|
wdolson -> RE: IRL Strategy question - Formosa or Luzon? (12/24/2010 11:55:22 PM)
|
The invasion of Leyte came about because a Hellcat pilot got shot down over the PI during one of the carrier raids during the summer of 44 and was picked up by natives off Leyte. The natives told him that the Japanese presence on Leyte was very thin. When he was picked up by a sub and reported his intel, the invasion of the PI was switched from Mindanao to Leyte. Mindanao had advantages because it was the closest large PI island to New Guinea and there was a strong partisan presence there. Leyte was a better strategic choice because it enabled US air cover to shut down traffic throughout the PI.
There was a plan to take Formosa to enable the US to supply China directly through the few ports the Chinese still controlled, but the Japanese offensive in 1944 took those ports and made the invasion of Formosa moot.
The Japanese became very food at predicting the pace of American operations and guessing the next target. For September/October 1944 they figured that the next target would be one of three: the PI, Formosa, or Okinawa and drew up "Go" plans for each. In preparation for the Leyte landings, Halsey conducted a major raid on Formosa to eliminate air power all around the PI. When his attacks started, someone in Imperial HQ misread the intentions and thought that Formosa was the next target. He ordered all available air power to Formosa to protect the island, which was most of the carrier groups in training.
The carrier groups were decimated, which left Ozawa with only 100 aircraft for his carriers when the next invasion did come in October. The carriers had to act as just bait and hope the BBs could do the job. Ironically, Ozawa chose to situate his carriers off Point Egano, which means Point Deception in Spanish.
Bill
|
|
|
|
