Book SummaryShattered Sword, by Jonathan Parshall and Anthony Tully

1-Page Summary1-Page Book Summary of Shattered Sword

Japan's military strategy was shaped by its historical importance, cultural context, and the internal debates and power struggles.

Parshall and Tully argue that to comprehend Japan's defeat at Midway, one must consider its deep-rooted military traditions instead of focusing solely on the specific strategies employed during the conflict. Japan's rapid transformation into an industrial nation starting in 1853 faced additional hurdles due to the restrictions of the Washington Naval Treaty, which the Japanese viewed as an unfair restriction on their maritime strength. The Japanese military grew reliant on aggressive tactics due to the perceived insights gained from their decisive victory in the Tsushima Strait.

The emergence of Japanese militarism as a defensive response to Western imperialism led to the adoption of a doctrine that excessively emphasized offensive strategies.

The authors note that a range of factors, including how they reacted to Western powers' advances in Asia, shaped Japan's military traditions. During the latter part of the 19th century, Japan underwent rapid transformations toward modernity, driven by the fear of succumbing to Western control, akin to the decline experienced by China. Japan avoided becoming a colony under Western control by significantly upgrading its arsenal with contemporary armaments. The belief that a strong offensive capability was essential to safeguard the nation had become a common sentiment within Japan's military hierarchy.

Japan's swift transformation post-1853 stemmed from a determination to avoid subjugation by Western colonial powers, a widespread worry across Asia.

Prior to the commencement of conflict in the Pacific, individuals born in most parts of Asia were generally subject to the rule of European colonial powers, either directly or through indirect control. The deeply rooted belief that Japanese society and its citizens were inherently equal to or surpassed Western nations stemmed from the pronounced disparities in economic and military alliances.

Commodore Matthew Perry's foreboding dark ships made their way into Edo Bay in 1853, signaling the start of Japan's trade with the West and suggesting the possibility of military force if required. The distressing experience was considered by many to be a significant breach, prompting Japan to quickly embark on efforts to modernize and transform its leadership. Through an extraordinary effort that included adopting Western techniques and heavily investing in industrial expansion, Japan rapidly transformed into a country with sophisticated industrial skills, a change facilitated by its citizens' readiness to withstand considerable individual difficulties. Within less than fifty years, Japan ascended to a status of dominance in the region, outstripping both China and Korea. During this period, their empire expanded through the incorporation of territories such as Taiwan and Korea. The Japanese perceived this extraordinary accomplishment as a manifestation of their distinct cultural identity. They circumvented the prospect of becoming a colony, not by engaging in ineffective negotiations with Western nations as China did, but by rapidly creating a powerful and contemporary armed force. Japan's military strategy going forward was deeply shaped by the conviction that national security hinges on the country's autonomy and its ability to exert influence globally.

The sense of humiliation arising from the limitations imposed by the Washington Naval Treaty fueled a determination to compensate for the shortfall in numbers by excelling in strategic and technological innovation.

Another factor driving Japan's militarism was resentment over a series of naval treaties in the 1920s and 1930s. Japan's discontent stemmed from the limitations imposed by the Washington Naval Treaty and the subsequent London Naval Treaty, which resulted in a naval hierarchy that placed Japan's fleet beneath those of the United States and Great Britain. The Imperial Navy's self-perception as an influential global force was diminished by the enforcement of naval treaties. Japan's maritime resources were considered insufficient to safeguard the country's mainland, exacerbating the situation. The Japanese perceived the limitations set by the Washington and London treaties not as consensual accords but as impositions enforced by the United States on Japan.

The escalating tensions between Japan and the United States throughout the 1930s were intensified by prejudicial treatment of Japanese immigrants in the US and the implementation of economic restrictions as a countermeasure to Japan's belligerent activities in China. Since 1937, Japan had been expanding its control over China, using severe methods to maintain its territorial gains. In response, America attempted to hinder these conquests by imposing economic sanctions specifically targeting Japan. Following Japan's occupation of French Indochina in July 1941, the United States implemented its harshest economic restriction, a rigorous embargo on oil. Japan clearly recognized an unmistakable indication. The United States' advantage was not just in the size and makeup of its naval forces but also in the extensive range of resources at its disposal.

Through the establishment of maritime agreements, the Japanese circumvented an arms race that they were not equipped to prevail in. Ultimately, fervent nationalistic fervor outweighed the limitations imposed by economic circumstances. After Japan exited the London Treaty in 1937, it embarked on a substantial enhancement of its maritime forces.

Japan's naval strategy was predicated on a set of core tenets aimed at offsetting the United States' greater industrial prowess, a country whose supremacy at sea was formally recognized as exceeding that of Japan by the stipulations of the Washington and London Naval agreements. They were compelled to upgrade their weaponry to ensure that their ships and aircraft...

Shattered Sword Summary The formulation and execution of Japan's Midway strategy, including its inherent flaws, intelligence-gathering techniques, decision-making processes, and the coordination of actions under pressure.

Yamamoto's strategy for the assaults on Midway and the Aleutian Islands was inherently unsound, primarily because of early errors in strategic judgment. The complex plan necessitated exact synchronization among widely dispersed forces, leading to the wasteful use of Japan's superior naval strengths. The strategy was undermined by the mistaken assumption that it was crucial to employ subterfuge to draw the U.S. Navy into battle. Nagumo's ability to respond to unforeseen occurrences was limited due to the potential of facing an opponent in the northern direction while he was deeply engaged in the Midway battle.

The strategy employed by Yamamoto in the Battle of Midway failed due to an overreliance on surprise, the dispersion of forces, and the creation of impractical timetables, leading to the squandering of the Japanese numerical superiority.

Admiral Yamamoto's strategic plan, according to Parshall and Tully, was overly intricate for its intended purpose. Under the guidance of Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto, the already intricate strategic landscape of prewar Japanese naval strategy became even more complex and multifaceted. His overall plan envisioned attacks on objectives in...