User talk:Imp dean/sandbox
Shinten Seiku Tai draft[edit]
Hi, I'd like to offer the following comments on the draft Shinten Seiku Tai article
- The lead should make it clearer that these units were introduced due to the failure of Japan's conventional air defences
- Likewise, this topic should be discussed in the 'Formation' section. It's interesting that the Japanese introduced dedicated ramming units before the main attacks from the Marianas - presumably the ineffective Operation Matterhorn attacks were enough to demonstrate to the Japanese that their air defences were grossly inadequate
- "Bombing raids by B-29s on the Japanese home islands were increasing in the final years of World War II" - I'd suggest spelling out how the attacks evolved, given that the Operation Matterhorn attacks were infrequent and generally unsuccessful
- I'm not sure if blow by blow accounts of each success by these units is needed, and this risks obscuring the fact that these units weren't actually successful. Instances of the tactics failing should also be covered appropriately.
- "General Haywood S. Hansell, who was involved in the planning of strategic air attacks on Japan," - he actually commanded them
- "although the dedicated ramming units were being phased out from March 1945" - I presume that this is linked to the Japanese decision to stop contesting the air raids in order to preserve fuel and aircraft for use against an Allied invasion of the home islands?
- " Maj. Gen. Yoshida recorded sixteen bombers destroyed by the end of 1944 whereas a US assessment counted nine B-29 Superfortresses destroyed by ramming including thirteen damaged with the loss of 21 Japanese fighters." - this seems to be the nub of the matter. Given that the Americans had hundreds of bombers, these losses weren't significant at all. Nick-D (talk) 06:11, 15 November 2020 (UTC)