Imamura took a deep breath, thinking to answer, but Yamamoto intervened. “We do not look to assess blame here, only to ascertain the course we must now take to assure victory. General, my real question is this—should we continue to contest Viti Levu and further strive to clear and occupy the other nearby islands, particularly Vanua Levu? The enemy has now built at least two more airfields, and the ground action on the main island has made use of the fields there… problematic. Without well defended local airfields, we must maintain a constant carrier presence to contest air superiority. This, too, is problematic, and now this news of the American invasion at Efate is most disturbing.”
“Why was it aloud to proceed?”
“Frankly, it came as a surprise to us all. We knew the Americans had relieved their Marines with Army troops, but did not expect they would use them in an offensive action again so soon. Now Efate is under threat of enemy occupation, and yes, it will require hard fighting Japanese troops to prevent that. Unfortunately, both Soryu and Kaga took damage in the recent action, and so this left our 1st Carrier Division with little striking power. It was therefore necessary to redeploy those ships here to Rabaul to begin repairs immediately, and to replenish the air wings, which were badly depleted in the recent engagement with the enemy.”
“Admiral, sir,” came another voice, low and gruff. It was Admiral Chuichi Hara, the bull necked man the navy had come to call ‘King Kong.’ He had been listening quietly from his seat at the far end of the table, but now he was compelled to speak.
“My 3rd Carrier Division was not engaged in the recent action, and Akagi was not damaged from Nagumo’s 1st Division. Why not permit me the honor of settling this matter, at least from the standpoint of the Navy. Simply transfer Tosa and Akagi to my division, and I will deal with the Americans.”
Yamamoto smiled, nodding appreciatively. Thus far, Hara had been the Navy’s most reliable carrier commander. He had 5th Division at Pearl Harbor, fought well in the Java Sea operations, and most recently, he had conducted the very successful Indian Ocean Operation that delivered the ripened fruit of Ceylon to the Empire. What Hara set his mind to do, was as good as finished, and Yamamoto had invited him to this meeting for precisely the action he now proposed.
“Admiral Hara,” said Yamamoto, “I would be honored if you would undertake this mission, as long as you bear in mind that we will not have Soryu back for two weeks, and Kaga for another month. Under these circumstances, I cannot afford to lose another fleet carrier, even if we were to sink two such ships on the enemy side in exchange. The production capability of our enemy is not something we can underestimate ever again. Look how they have already replaced all the carriers we sunk last year, even giving them the same names, as if to taunt us. We cannot hope to keep pace with them if they continue to build ships this quickly, so if we fight, we must be very skilled, and win without losing.”
Win without losing—in that twisted phrase, the Admiral had placed his finger clearly on the heart of the matter. Japan could not afford further losses to her hard-pressed Navy, even in victory.
“Admiral,” said Hara. “If you allow me to strike, I can guarantee you that we will win, and the enemy will do the losing.”
Yamamoto was silent for a time, then he nodded. “Very well,” he said. “Tosa and Akagi will be transferred to 3rd Carrier Division with all available strike planes. Admiral Ugaki, will you see the proper orders are given?”
Ugaki offered a shallow bow in confirmation, and Yamamoto detailed the operation he envisioned. “Muster near the American held island of Ndeni, but not close enough for their coast watchers to spot you. Reconnoiter the airfield, as we believe many enemy planes may have been diverted there after that last engagement. Strike that airfield, then move south to destroy the American invasion convoy. This will clear the way for us to move additional forces to Efate. I think we can all agree that island must be contested, neh?”
Everyone was in agreement. Efate flanked Noumea, and if it fell, it would put enemy fighters within range of Noumea and Luganville on Espiritu Santo, and offer the enemy a base from which they could attack either of those outposts. Efate was the center of the board in this chess game, and Yamamoto was still impressed with the boldness the Americans had shown.
“I might remind you that this Admiral Halsey has returned—the ‘Fighting Admiral,’ or so he is called in the American newspapers. He was able to beat Nagumo when our 1st Carrier Division engaged him last week. The Americans have three new fleet carriers, and new planes as well, particularly the new fighter they call the Hellcat, which our pilots say is very good. So, we will try again, as we must, and send our own Fighting Admiral—King Kong.”
Hara smiled, bowing his head appreciatively.
“Yet I have not yet heard an answer from General Imamura concerning the overall strategic situation. Should we continue to leave two full divisions, and two additional regiments on Fiji? Are we overextended?”
“Are you suggesting we withdraw?” Imamura finally used the word, just as Yamamoto had in his discussion with Ugaki.
“I suggest nothing. I ask the Army’s opinion of the situation. Is that where you wish to fight? Is Fiji to be the all or nothing turning point of this war?”
“The army is already there. Moving it elsewhere would be… problematic.”
“Perhaps, but if you felt the need to redeploy to the New Hebrides to reinforce the French garrisons, the Navy would do whatever was necessary to see that was carried our satisfactorily.”
“I could not contemplate such a redeployment without the approval of the Imperial General Staff, and perhaps even that of the Emperor himself.”
In all this inquiry, Imamura said nothing of what he had shared with 17th Army Commander Hyakutake. Things were afoot that would soon bring considerably more Army troops to the South Pacific, but he did not wish to disclose this until that was confirmed and announced by Imperial General Headquarters. Yet Imamura was not being entirely truthful. The arrival dates for units being transferred from China were uncertain. In the meantime, the situation required… Flexibility. He would later make a quiet request to Yamamoto that fast destroyers be made available in order to redeploy certain units to New Caledonia and better balance his overall force structure.
“I see… Of course,” said Yamamoto. “However, unless and until you deem it necessary to seek permission for a larger redeployment, I must assume that you are wholeheartedly committed to the Fiji operation. That being the case, General, can you be as direct as Admiral Hara here and promise the Emperor a victory?”
“I can promise him we will do all in our power to achieve that—even if it means we fight to the last man.”
Yamamoto did not like the sound of that. “I asked Admiral Hara to win without losing,” he said, “yet to fight to the last man would surely be to lose without winning. It may sound honorable and brave, but in the end, it is nothing more than seppuku. If we lose all those troops on Fiji, what then? Is the 20th Division enough to hold the New Hebrides, New Caledonia, Tulagi, Buin, Buka, the Shortlands, and all the rest? Surely we must find a different way of pleasing our Emperor.”
“Admiral,” said Imamura. “I would no sooner see the 38th and 48th Divisions lost in battle as you would welcome the loss of two more fleet carriers. Yet there we are, and there we fight. I will raise the question of the wisdom of holding Fiji with the Imperial General Staff, and they will decide the matter, not I.”