Aircraft Carrier Rivalry in the Pacific: Victory vs. the U.S. Navy in Distress.
When the storm of history swept across the Pacific Ocean, how could the US aircraft carrier battle group find a way out of the joy of victory and the dilemma of logistics?How do they establish themselves in inter-service competition and strategic decision-making?Let's look back on that magnificent journey.
The glory and defeat of the aircraft carrier.
In 1942, the Pacific War was raging. On the clear blue sea of the Coral Sea, the aircraft carrier "Lexington" was barely restored to combat capability after a round of Japanese torpedo attacks, but it was finally sunk by friendly destroyers due to internal sparks. Just a month later, the Yorktown suffered a series of heavy losses in the Battle of Midway, from the loss of boiler pressure to the paralysis of the communication system, and the captain could only give the order to abandon the ship in agony.
As the war progressed, during the Battle of Kuah Island, the "Wasp" was ambushed by a Japanese submarine while performing its mission, and the fuel supply system was uncontrollable, and was finally sunk by its own torpedoes.
And the "Hornet" was also hit by a torpedo in the same battle, which came to an end after being heavily tilted.
The legendary journey of the "Enterprise".
Compared to other unfortunate sister ships, the USS Enterprise has written a war saga. It participated in almost all the major battles in the first half of the war, and was unilaterally sunk by the Japanese army several times, but each time it miraculously returned to the battlefield. On May 27, 1943, General Nimitz presented the USS Enterprise with the "Unit Medal" on behalf of Roosevelt at Pearl Harbor in recognition of his outstanding contributions.
Logistical supply challenges.
However, war is not all about the glory of the front. With the rapid expansion of the Pacific Fleet, the problem of logistics and supply has become more and more prominent. Fleets fighting far from their homeland are constantly facing shortages of fuel, ammunition and food. In addition, the stability of the communication system has become a major problem, often leading to poor command.
Competition and strategic divergence between services.
In the European theater, the U.S. Army plays a leading role, while the Navy flexes more in the Pacific.
This pattern naturally leads to competition and strategic differences between the services. The Navy wants to take control of the war, while the Army is reluctant to give up easily. This rivalry was especially evident at the Joint Chiefs of Staff. For example, the Navy and Army have very different views on the timetable for the attack on Rabaul and whether the capture of the Gilbert and Marshall Islands should be prioritized.
Outcomes and Impact of the Pacific Operational Conference.
Against this background, the Pacific Operational Conference of 1943 was particularly important. The meeting ultimately decided to postpone the attack on Rabaul and agreed to Spruance's proposal to attack the islands of Attu and Gisca. These decisions had a profound impact on the subsequent development of the Pacific War.
Retrospect and outlook.
Looking back at that period of history, we see that the U.S. Navy suffered both brilliant victories and heavy setbacks in the Pacific War.
From the sinking of the aircraft carrier to the dilemma of logistical replenishment, to the competition between the services and the disagreement in strategic decision-making, every link has tested the determination and perseverance of this fleet. But in the end, it was through constant adjustment and learning that the U.S. Navy found its way to victory.
Today, we should draw a lesson from this: War is not a simple contest of forces, but a contest of various factors, such as comprehensive national strength, strategic planning, technological innovation, and logistical support. In the challenges ahead, we also need comprehensive preparation and unremitting efforts to ensure that the tragedies of history are not repeated and that the dawn of peace always shines on our land.
Questions lead readers to comment:
Looking back at the experience of the U.S. Navy in the Pacific War, what factors do you think were most critical to the ultimate victory?In the current international situation, how should we learn from historical experience to meet future challenges?