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**Mike Irwin** · February 26, 2024, 04:23 PM

Attu was finally retaken in May 1943, and the Japanese evacuated their remaining troops from Kiska in late July 1943.

The original intention of the Aleutians occupation was to draw off US Naval forces so that they couldn't interfere with the occupation of Midway Island and, when the American Navy did turn towards Midway, the Japanese would pounce on them and finish off the Pacific fleet in the "one great battle" that Alfred Thayer Mahan predicted as the necessity for gaining command of the sea over an enemy.

But, the Japanese didn't know that the US had broken their codes and were in fact wise to the dual operation, so the Aleutians strike was largely ignored until after the Midway battle.

The Japanese were only intending on holding the Aleutians for a few months but, after Midway, decided to keep them as part of their defensive ring. They thought that the United States would hopscotch down the Aleutians chain from base to base as a means of invading Japan.

No one in US ever even considered that to be remotely possible because of the horrific weather.

February 26, 2024, 04:23 PM	#32
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 13, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 41,427	Attu was finally retaken in May 1943, and the Japanese evacuated their remaining troops from Kiska in late July 1943. The original intention of the Aleutians occupation was to draw off US Naval forces so that they couldn't interfere with the occupation of Midway Island and, when the American Navy did turn towards Midway, the Japanese would pounce on them and finish off the Pacific fleet in the "one great battle" that Alfred Thayer Mahan predicted as the necessity for gaining command of the sea over an enemy. But, the Japanese didn't know that the US had broken their codes and were in fact wise to the dual operation, so the Aleutians strike was largely ignored until after the Midway battle. The Japanese were only intending on holding the Aleutians for a few months but, after Midway, decided to keep them as part of their defensive ring. They thought that the United States would hopscotch down the Aleutians chain from base to base as a means of invading Japan. No one in US ever even considered that to be remotely possible because of the horrific weather. __________________ "The gift which I am sending you is called a dog, and is in fact the most precious and valuable possession of mankind" -Theodorus Gaza Baby Jesus cries when the fat redneck doesn't have military-grade firepower.