Naval Historical Society of Australia
Preserving Australia's Naval History
Inoue Shigeyoshi and the Air Power Navy
Wed 17 Sep, 10:30 am - 12:30 pm
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Overview:
In January 1941 Vice-Admiral Inoue Shigeyoshi of the Imperial Japanese Navy issued a call for a radical change of Japanese naval policy, including the abolition of the construction of the Yamato-class super-battleship program then underway. Arguing that traditionalists within the Navy were reacting blindly to American naval rearmament plans, Inoue, one of the senior airpower advocates within the IJN, argued that control of the air and thus the sea could be achieved by a land-based air force without the need for surface ships, including Japan’s own aircraft-carrier fleet.
This podcast will explore Inoue’s proposal and its reception by renowned American post-war historian Mark Peattie, detailing Inoue’s ideas on the domination of naval warfare by aircraft in partnership with submarines, and the applicability of his ideas to Japan’s military situation in the Second World War. After due and fair consideration, Peattie characterised Inoue’s concept as overly simplistic misunderstanding of carrier warfare. Did the circumstances which prevailed following the great carrier battles of 1942 support this view, or was Inoue correct in believing that Japan’s situation demanded such a far-sighted solution.
Presenter – Angus Britts
Angus is a qualified historian who has authored three books about military history, the third of which, Ikara: Australia’s Cold War Wonder Weapon, has been published on behalf of the Naval Historical Society of Australia. His principal areas of research involve the development of the ‘Singapore Strategy’ from 1921 – 1942, and the rise of airpower at sea during the same period. A volunteer with the Society, his other interest include politics, international relations, and the ongoing trials and tribulations of Australia’s national cricket and rugby teams. He is 57 years of age, and resides in Neutral Bay, Sydney.
Currently writing his latest book Let Fall the Sakura: The Decimation of Japanese Naval Airpower on behalf of Naval Institute Press in the United States, current NHSA member Angus Britts will deliver the podcast.