How Did Wargaming Shape the War in the Pacific? (US vs Japan)

We explore the historical role of US and Japanese wargaming in shaping the War in the Pacific from the strategic to the tactical level. Thanks to the US Naval War College for hosting me on their campus!

In this interview, US Naval War College Museum Curator, Rob Doane, talks us through the naval history of wargaming in the 20th century. We begin by discussing US navy planning in the lead up to war which includes the eventual rainbow plan and war plan orange. We then look at how wargaming influenced naval warfare from the strategic to the tactical level. These impacted battles like Pearl Harbor, Midway, and the Island Hopping campaign across the Pacific. Finally we discuss the specifics of US vs Japan naval wargaming conducted by both the US Navy and the Japanese Navy.

A big thanks again to the US Naval War College for helping to produce these educational history videos on the US Navy and Naval History. This will be very relevant to the upcoming Midway 2019 movie.

#Wargaming
#History

[InvictaHistory]

Timestamps:
0:14 - How The War in the Pacific Was Planned
3:50 - Strategic Role of Wargaming
6:00 - Tactical Role of Wargaming
10:18 - US Wargames vs Japan
15:12 - Japan Wargames vs US

[InvictaHistory]

I love taking a look under the hood of history to see how things really work. This particular interview about how wargaming influenced the decision makers of WW2 was a real joy for me and I hope you get a lot out of it!

[lennyjay]

Now I really want to watch a whole wargaming session

[bilhardenberger]

This entire series has been excellent... thanks for putting it all up, it's fascinating.

[dalerobinson]

Re: The Japanese wargaming Midway. Their mistake was not overruling the carrier losses but ignoring the "American" player's surprise appearance on their flank about where the real American carriers did show up. Their wargame anticipated the very disaster that befall them. It's not that they didn't see it coming; they had "seen" it coming but ignored the possibility.

[idunbeezasmart]

The reason Japan didn't wargame at the strategic level was because that DLC was locked behind a paywall.

[schlirf]

BINGO! Read that during the Franco/Prussian war the Prussians were wargaming (Kriegspiel) each and every move, including having an OPFOR cadre.

[floydkershner]

This is outstanding. You have made me want to plan a visit to the college

[mexicoball]

Wall was added to the game after Nimitz cheated and sunk 4 carriers

[misomiso]

btw - if you havn't done one already, it would be great if you could do a video on 'Millenian Challenge 2002', the Iran-US wargame where a US general beat the Iranians but was overruled and had to start the game again.


Would be cool

[winomaster]

Re: How well the US anticipated the tactical dimension of the war.

Did they anticipate how inadequate Japanese use of Radar would be. (Significant)

Did they anticipate US development of Radar tipped AA shells?Japanese deemphasis of search planes. (Critical in light of radar failures.)

[TheTrollTeamNL]

Invicta's audio quality left the game in this video

[jeremygibbs]

Instantly had a weitd al song pop into my head. Thanks for doing these vids invicta!

[hawkeye]

Idk why but now I want to know what Invicta thinks of Ender's Game as it pertains to the future of wargaming. Lol

[paulh]

Thanks gentlemen. Good video. Unfortunately the sound was not the greatest. The walls echoed, and made it difficult to hear both of you clearly.

[Zajuts]

I'm curious if the US Navy had any units that did wargaming to develop tactics after battles to counter Japanese techniques and technology, like the British had in WATU(Western Approaches Tactical Unit), especially after the result of the Battle of Savo Island.

[mcashw]

Love the content

But the audio quality is a little rough

[command_unit]

If people gonna learn strategy from HoI4 then we are all doomed...

[FinnGriffin]

Good discussion but sadly no unpacking of Operational Art. Recommend the book Carrying the War to the Enemy by Matheny. Still very glad the video was produced as it generates dialogue. Thank you.

[misomiso]

yeah but what about the Emperoer and his Space Marine? Couldn't they have been deployed alongside the Titan Legions to help with Island Hopping strategy?


They have a toughness of 4 so can last a bit longer against the Japanese guns.