Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto

1884 – 1943
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Isoroku Yamamoto was born on April 4th 1884 in Niigata, a famous harbour town in Northern Japan. On December 16th 1901, Isoroku started his military service at the age of 17, and he served during the Japanese–Russian war. (1)

Isoroku rose in rank after the first World War, and during a period of sixteen years (from 1919 to 1935), he served in different capacities in foreign countries. His last assignment before the second World War, was as Navy representative in Washington (US). In 1935, Yamamoto attended an international Fleet Conference in the United Kingdom. Yamamoto was fluent in English, had a good education, and was familiar with all the aspects of the American and British Navy.

When in 1939 Japanese/US relations were brought to a decisive turning point, Yamamoto was selected to lead the Japanese Navy into a war against the United States. Yamamoto initially did not want to take the position, because he did not believe that Japan would be victorious in a draw out war. He said: “In the first six to twelve months of a war with the United States and Great Britain I will run wild and win victory upon victory. But then, if the war continues after that, I have no expectation of success.”

Yamamoto was promoted to Admiral and assigned as Supreme Commander of the Combined Fleet. In this capacity, Yamamoto carefully planned the surprise attack on the American Navy stationed in Pearl Harbor Hawaii. Together with Vice–Admiral Nagumo, Yamamoto lead the Japanese fleets of aircraft carriers into the Pacific. By maintaining constant radio silence, they sailed undected though American waters. On the morning of December 7th 1941, Yamamoto gave the order for an air raid on the American fleet stationed in Pearl Harbor. Eighteen American ships were sunk or heavily damanged, over two hundred planes were shot down, more than 2400 people were killed and some 1200 injured. The Japanese only reported minor losses and casualties were few. The attack was a success, but Yamamoto felt that it was not enough to disable the American fleet.

Yamamoto planned the assault on the Midway Islands, another important installation for the US War effort. Though the attack was carefully planned and had great potential, one of the Commanders under Yamamoto suddenly retreated and the battle was lost. Yamamoto hoped to get a peace agreement with the United States, but the Japanese Government was not convinced that it would be a good idea.

Yamamoto now turned his attention towards the Solomon Islands. He was relatively succesful, and hoped to renew the attack on the United States’ most vital islands. However, the Americans were able to decode a message regarding an inspection flight that Yamamoto would personally lead. During that flight, on April 18th 1943, Yamamoto was killed when the Americans ambushed his plane, he had no hope for survival. Because the American commanders felt that it was not right to assassinate enemy Commanders, the order for the assassination had to come directly from the President himself.

The death of the beloved Japanese Admiral Yamamoto was a great shock for the Japanese troops and civilians. His body was transported back to the Japanese mainland for a full burial ceremony. He was post–humously titled “Fleet Admiral”, and succeeded by his colleague Admiral Koga.

Admiral Yamamoto was brilliant in combining Naval and Air warfare, but he was remembered mostly for the insight on Japan’s situation and war opportunity. Initially, Yamamoto wanted only to cripple the United States, and then bargain for a peace treaty with favourable terms for the Japanese. However the regime of Prime Minister Tojo made such a deal impossible, and Yamamoto’s effort were in vain when the Japanese army collapsed under the weight of American superiority.

1: The Japanese–Russian war started in February 1904, and ended in September 1905. The Japanese, backed by their allies, the British, declared war on Russia to prevent them from taking control of trade in Manchuria and Korea. After an eight–month siege, the Japanese defeat the Russian fleet and forced the surrender of Port Arthur. Through intervention of President Roosevelt, the Russians were able to make peace, but were forced to give up Port Arthur, as well as the railroads leading into Korea and Manchuria. This war was essential for Japan’s later war efforts.(Return)

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