Discuss the importance of air and sea power in determining the outcome of the war?

Question 1

sea

Answer 1

Played a huge role in the outcome of both wars

• Richard Evans: notes importance of tech –> British response to Ger submaries helped was effort with Q-ship and depth charges allowing them to counter U-boats

–> Success was seen in the Battle of the Atlantic

• Historians: early advantage of Japan countered- Japanese subs sank 2 US carriers early on, although this never materialised
• Once the US replaced navy in ‘43 with better torpedoes and range of ships, Japan struggled
• In both wars, early advantage of Japan + Ger countered by effective deployment of tech by Allied powers

Question 2

sea perspectives

Answer 2

It was not the naval tech but the strategy to counter it

• WW1, capacity of dreadnaughts between GB + Germany similar –> but it was effective blackoding of Germany by the British navy that was crucial
• Similarly in WWII, it was the US strategic shift to island hopping after Guadalcanal in Nov (‘42-‘49)
• US warships destroyed US 2 for Japan - that enabled them to overcome defensive positons and target supply ships from the air

Question 3

air

Answer 3

Air advances impact on the sea war-naval bombers 
WW1 
Little to no use except as reconnaissance- even then ineffective and isolated 

WW2 
Air power as the defining feature of the pacific war 

Advanced torpedo technology allowed Japanese aircraft to attack the Americans in the low water port of pearl harbour 

Japanese aircraft sink HMS repulse and HMS prince of Wales solely by themselves flying from 100,s of KM away 

Zero supremacy gives Japan advantage early war 

Advanced American carrier fighters allow American carrier supremacy for rest of the war 

Air Advances impact on the ground war-CAS and fighters 

WW1  

Played a part in the schlieffen plan –> Ger attempted to adapt plan –> Ger attack paris from the E –> Encircling Paris –> French Aircraft spotted this –> Ger Flank now exposed and defended Paris on the river Marne

Spotter planes allow Joffre to plan counterattack at the start of the war 

over 1800 allied aircraft being employed at Amiens leading to an ascendant allied control of the battlefield 

British aircraft devastate the aviation less ottomans, winning a battle through purely air power 

HOWEVER still of no use against armour by itself

However aerial recon

WW2 

Allied air supremacy crucial to controlling Japanese movement in Burma 

American ground attack aircraft use extensively in softening up islands for assault 

Now have armour attack capability, however of limited use in jungle environments 

Air Advances impact on bombing-long range bombers/long range fighters 

WW1 

Initial zeppelin raids proved effective at creating terror, but unable to affect large scale harm to industry 

Invention of incendiary rounds made zeppelins obsolete 

Gotha bombers created- well defended against slow moving fighters and had large bomb capacity- still not able to harm industry on a large scale 

WW2 

Long range strategic bombers allowed USAAF to massively disrupt Japanese industry civilian life and civilian lives from air bases far away (Mariana chain was close enough for B-29s) 

Doolittle raid- aircraft carriers modified to launch medium bombers 

P-51D meant bombers could be escorted all the way to their targets 

Modified B-29’s allowed for drop of nuclear weaponry into Japan 

Improved incendiary munitions allowed for firebombing/ greater bomber capacity meant more destruction possible.  

Atomic bombs!?