Worst military mistakes.

[Ludens]

The Japanese got lucky because of 2 typhoons, over use of non-ocean going ships, and sabotage of Mongol ships by Chinese and Korean shipbuilders.

The Japanese were lucky the first time, but the second time they managed to contain the invasion force even before the typhoon struck. Off course, it helped that the Mongols were out of their element, and many of their men didn't feel strongly about the Mongol cause. As for the Song, yes they lost, but given that they gave the Mongols a hard time as well it may not have been a mistake on their part.

[russia almighty]

It's actually believed if the harbor had been put on high alert that week, it could have totally wrecked Japan's early war effort.


Honestly, I don't believe in the conspiracy theorists opinions on it (mainly due to many having fringe political beliefs). I seriously do believe we knew there would be an attack, but we miscalculated where it was going to be. The army and the navy believed the Philippines would be the first American holding to be attacked. Not Hawaii due to the sheer distance away from Japan.


Lets think here, even using a carrier based attack force, how far away is the Philippines from the nearest Japanese holding vs. the Hawaiian islands? Letting the Japanese attempt to attack Hawaii and messing up the attacking force would still work into Roosevelt's want for us to get into the war. If anything, it would be better due to the sheer morale boost of thrashing the Japanese navy, and possible subsequent successful defense of the Philippines.

[Intranetusa]

The Japanese were lucky the first time, but the second time they managed to contain the invasion force even before the typhoon struck. Off course, it helped that the Mongols were out of their element, and many of their men didn't feel strongly about the Mongol cause. As for the Song, yes they lost, but given that they gave the Mongols a hard time as well it may not have been a mistake on their part.

True, but the force they 'contained' was an expeditionary force. For some reason, the Mongols decide to camp out in their ships and not deploy the majority of their army. sucks for 'em when the typhoon came