Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 1:53:13-1:53:41

How Japan could hunt Hood as a commerce raider

Japan first has to locate and catch a fast Hood, making carrier aviation or several Kongō-type fast capital ships the likely response.

Aircraft CarriersBattlecruisersCommerce RaidingHMS HoodImperial Japanese Navy
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Question

What could the Imperial Japanese Navy use to stop Hood from raiding its commerce?

Short answer

It would first have to find and catch Hood, probably with a carrier group or a concentration of its fast Kongō-type ships.

Notes

The answer makes detection and interception the first problem rather than beginning with a gun comparison. A rebuilt Hood raiding Japanese commerce would be difficult to catch because of its speed and freedom to choose routes. The Imperial Japanese Navy could concentrate its fast Kongō-type capital ships, but a carrier group would offer the better chance to search a wide area and slow or damage the raider. Only after fixing Hood's position could Japan bring enough force to stop it. The exchange shows why commerce-raiding scenarios turn on scouting and operational reach before the decisive battle.