World War II, analyzed!

Hi,
Over some beers last night some friends of mine-all WWII afficiandos-were specualting about how the Kamikazes could have been better exploited by the Japanese in various ways, for example, in battles where they were not actually used or against non-ship targets. Do you have any thoughts on this issue or do you know of any websites/books/articles that discuss this?

Rob Davis

Hmm, tricky.

I believe it is a case of getting your money's worth.

The only way the US could treathen Japan and most of its occupied territories was by sea or by air.

Carrying troops and equipment by air was very uneconomical and pratical (in some cases downright impossible).

So sea being the obvious choice, it also had some drawbacks. Sea transport is slow, ships make large targets, troop transports are packed with soldiers which you can take out in one blow.

So kamikaze against ships makes a lot of sense. Take out one ship and you probably take out a couple of tank platoons, a couple of hunderd soldiers, fighter cover, fire support, ammunition supplies or any other much needed military supply.

Kamikaze against a plane? ok, you down a plane, gain: one plane and if you are lucky a crew.

Kamikaze against ground troops? Waste of resource... you use a much needed resource and perhaps take out a tank or a platoon of men.

Nope, I believe it to be "value for money".

Kris