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MUHAMMAD ZARRAR HAIDER analyses the operational leadership of Japanese Admiral Yamamoto in World War II according to Operational Leadership model devised by US Naval War College Professor Dr Milan Vego.
Admiral of the Fleet Isoroku Yamamoto (1884-1943) is among the famous Japanese admirals of World War II. He has the distinction of being the architect of the attack on Pearl Harbour, defeat at Battle of Midway by inferior forces and his assassination over Bougainville while travelling by air.2 He is considered among those visionary admirals who realised the changing nature of naval warfare from primacy of battleships to effectiveness of maritime air power.3 Although he had significant experience of naval warfare, Midway was the only battle when he actually commanded the Combined Japanese Fleet.4 Due to ill planned operation which resulted in dispersion of the force, the Japanese suffered their first defeat at sea since the sixteen century.5 It was a turning point for war in the Pacific and its tremors were felt in Europe by Allied and Axis forces alike. In order to analyse the operational performance of Yamamoto in the Battle of Midway, Australian Defence Leadership Framework6 and Operational Leadership model by Dr Milan Vego7 were considered. However, the leadership model presented by Milan Vego has been used for analysis as it is principally devised for naval environment.8 The naval operational leadership framework is based on personality traits, professional knowledge, command style, decisiveness and operational tenets.9 Various parameters of leadership model have been explained and operational performance of Yamamoto has been evaluated in ensuing paragraphs. The analysis of operational leadership of Yamamoto reveals that he possessed all the necessary qualities required for a successful operational leader but he failed on informational decisions and operational tenets during the Battle of Midway.
Personality traits include character, intellect, creativity and boldness.10 Yamamoto possessed admirable character, high intellect and creativity. He was highly respected as fleet commander by friends and enemies. A testimony of his creativity was the naval sides of Japanese invasion of Philippines, Malaya, and Netherland East indies which were brilliantly planned and executed.11 He was a bold leader with courage to oppose the idea of war with US even in the face of danger to his life. He wrote to one of...