Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 2:13:13-2:13:43

Would Germany seek Japanese naval design help?

A question about Japanese carrier and long-range-submarine expertise becomes a lesson in institutional confidence and racial barriers inside the Axis.

Carrier DevelopmentGerman Japanese RelationsI-400 Class SubmarinesNaval Technology TransferNazi Racial Ideology
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Question

Would Germany ask Japan for I-400-class submarine designs or carrier expertise?

Short answer

Probably not; German confidence in its own submarine knowledge and racial prejudice made serious reliance on Japanese naval expertise unlikely.

Notes

The viewer points out that Germany did not seek Japanese carrier expertise even though Germany lacked comparable operating experience. German planners would be unlikely to ask for I-400-class design help while regarding themselves as the leading submarine specialists. Racial prejudice in German attitudes toward Japan would further obstruct cooperation. Formal alliance did not guarantee that expertise would move between the two navies when professional pride and ideology worked against it.