| mrstickball said: The US occupied the Philippines due to the Spanish War. It was a huge launch pad/stronghold for the allies during World War 2, and I would assume the Japanese knew they would have to occupy it to dimish US influence in their theater of war. Do not forget that they were fighting the US-backed Chinese to a stalemate, so they had to do something to turn the tide. Why not attack Russia too? That is a very good question. It would of opened up a new front, but alleviated the Soviet's one-front war effort. Its not surprising that the Soviets steamrolled the Japanese at the end of the war. The Russians had figured out how to beat the world's best land force in Germany. Japan's land force in Manchuko was poor by comparison. Japan had no tanks of note, no significant arms to deploy combined arms, and had little in the way of re-inforcements. Comparatively, the Soviets learned long and hard from their last war with Japan over Mongolia in 1938-39 and had vastly, VASTLY improved tactics and weapon systems. You were pitting T-34-85s and IS-2 tanks against men in ditches with bombs and hammers. It was a tactical nightmare waiting to (and did) happen.
According to the ORBAT, the Soviets had 1.6 million troops, 26,000 pieces of artillery, 5,600 SPGs and tanks, and 5,500 aircraft against just 1.2 million troops, 5,400 artillery pieces, 1,200 tanks and 1,600 aircraft. Then (as noted) consider the abilities of Soviet tanks and doctrine against Japan... Complete slaughter. |
Some nice info on troop and weapon strength. With Germany gone it was easy for Russia/Soviets to shift most of their units to the east for the attack on Japan's holdings. I was just thinking Japan should have attacked Russia first causing Russia to be in a two front war. After Russia collapse they then could have focused on USA. I suppose everything is easier to look at in hindsight but there were plenty of military blunders during WW2. I gotta go for now since a friend just came over but I'll be back in this thread after work.
