Quote:
Originally Posted by Pastiche
Actually the end of the battleship era was previewed in the Atlantic theatre where large battleships like the Hood and Bismarck were demonstrated to be pretty much useless. Battleships were all but obsolete in the Pacific Theatre as a result.
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I would agree with that, and probably ammend my statement, but I believet that the American's probably still thought that Battle Ships would carry the day in the Pacific so that they could have a easier transition over to carriers.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Pastiche
Ever wonder why there were no American carriers moored at Pearl Habour and they were all conveniently out for maintenance that day? Meanwhile all those shiny big battleships like the Arizona were there to be sunk. Many people think that that wasn't a coincidence.
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More long the lines of a bad failure by Japanese Intelligence then anything else. The American Navy had three carriers stationed at Pearl. Enterprise and Lexington were on a mission to Wake Island to deliver planes, they hadn't been in port for quite a while. Enterprise was actually scheduled back on the 6th but hit bad weather that delayed its return. Saratoga was in refit in Puget sound.
In terms of the battleship vs carrier you might want to read the Mahan Doctrine which was standard navy doctrine at that time. It veiwed battleships as key assets and carriers as scout elements.