Japan's wartime record of poor interservice communication makes a coherent response less certain in this scenario. During World War II, the Imperial Japanese Army and Navy often failed to share information, and commands within each service could be divided as well. If the same institutional problems were already present in January 1939, reports about a seized liner, attacks on Birmingham, and Akagi's operations might not be connected quickly. Command friction could delay or distort escalation even with ships and aircraft available.
Notable Point · 25:31-25:56
Fragmented Japanese command complicates the response
Poor communication between and within Japanese services makes a coherent reaction to the liner seizure and carrier threat less certain.