[dragoon500ly]

Operation Downfall was actually implemented, in part. In March, 1945 Operation Starvation, the mining of the Japanese coastal waters was launched. This was designed to isolate Japan from the rest of its empire and to paralyze much of its transport. Even through the mining campaign sunk very few ships, it was effective in that the IJN had to mount minesweeping operations for several days prior to any convoy, this would alert American reconnaissance aircarft and air strikes would sunk yet more of Japan's shrinking minesweeper force

Starvation cut Japan from its overseas supply of resources. The lack of oil crippled the IJN and their air forces. Because of fuel limitations, the Japanese could not train their pilots, and major fleets were forced to remain in port, to be raided at will by American air power. Food shortages led to general malnutrition in the civilian population.

At the same time, the B-29 force launched the first of its incendiary attacks against industrial cities. They destroyed the centers of Tokyo, Nagoya, Kobe, Osaka and Yokohama in massive firebombing raids which killed over 300,000 civilians.

Beginning in May 1945, Admiral Halsey's Third Fleet was ordered to "attack Japanese naval and air forces, shipping, shipyards and coastal objectives." The Third Fleet, with the attached British Pacific Fleet commenced operations on July 1, 1945. First gaining air superiority by destroying 550 Japanese aircraft in air-to-air combat and in raids on their airbases. Airstrikes were also launched in the warships of the IJN, this resulted in the loss of many warships and effectively ended the threat of the IJN. THe Americans and the British also used naval gunfire to bombard Japanese coastal fortifications.