Comments by "" (@BobSmith-dk8nw) on "HMAS Canberra (D33) - Guide 359" video.

  1. Most of the nations of WWII were somewhat incompetent when they first started out - but then - at the very beginning they were all incompetent at the same time. The Americans incompetence came after the British, Japanese and Germans were all veterans - who really made the Americans pay for it - one way or the other ... For the Americans - the first year of the war was to a large degree a rolling disaster - but for a good bit of luck at Midway. The big change - was Halsey coming into command. He was still afflicted by the incompetence of such a Callahan but just throwing his ships at the Japanese - had the effect of making them take casualties too - which they - unlike the Americans - could not replace. The other thing the Americans benefited from was the Japanese failure to understand Mahan. They only took "The Decisive Battle" from it - and not the fact that the important ships were NOT the Warships - but the Merchant ships and the cargo they carried. What good is a warship - except to protect it's own Merchant ships and destroy the enemies? What is it carrying that the nation needs? They're really expensive and they create no wealth - unlike Merchant ships. The Japanese NEVER got that - and thus sent their submarines after American Warships - rather than trying to cut Australia off the way the Germans tried to cut off Britain. Yes - they had some notable successes but made little or no effect on Allied Sea lanes to Australia. .
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