Japanese interservice rivalry duplicated capabilities and obstructed coordination

Democratic services also disputed duplication, but they could challenge overlapping capabilities without turning every disagreement into a political blood feud. In one British example, the army questioned a Royal Navy commando capability and received a defined explanation of its separate purpose. The Japanese army and navy instead built parallel air, ground, and maritime capabilities rather than trusting the other service. The criticism applies to the political climate of this period. One interpretation is that fears for national survival and cultural identity made internal disputes extreme enough that officers could face personal danger for opposing powerful factions. That environment made consolidation and honest criticism much harder even when commands such as Second Fleet were working competently.