An Interrupted Journey

Okay, so here's a bit of fun .... a lot of 'what if', a bit of Marine aviation wanking, and of course, an interrupted journey to set it all up .... This is not likely to be a long TL ... just a bit of action relating to an event many years past ... I hope you find this of interest.

An interrupted Journey

Preamble

HMCS Prince Robert, an armed merchant cruiser of the Royal Canadian Navy, had sailed from Vancouver on the night of October 27th, 1941. The ship was escorting the liner M.V. Awatea, which was carrying the men of Force C to bolster the garrison at Hong Kong. The motor pool for the two regiments and their support troops had not arrived in time, so these vehicles would follow on another vessel as soon as they were collected. The first leg of the voyage to Hawaii was uneventful, and other than the rather coarse mutton based diet available to the troops on the Australian liner, things had moved along, as they should.

On November 2nd, Prince Robert and her charge, arrived at Pearl Harbour, where the merchant cruiser refuelled and completed a bit of light maintenance, before proceeding out on the 3rd. They were due at Manila on the 14th, where they were to be met by the British light cruiser Danae, which would bolster the escort for the final leg to Hong Kong. However, three days out of Pearl Harbour, a steam line burst on Prince Robert, and in the ensuing moments, an engine suffered damage, along with injuries to the crewmembers present.

With it quickly being deduced that proper speed could not be maintained and signals were exchanged with Esquimalt, it was decided that the best course was to return to Pearl Harbour for proper repairs before continuing the journey. While the interim repairs were being effected, it was decided that Awatea would take on the injured crewmen and make best speed back to Pearl. Upon completion of her repairs, Prince Robert would follow. The USN at Pearl sent out a pair of destroyers to assist. One, USS Bagley, would gather in Awatea, while the other, USS Monahan would stand by Prince Robert in case of further troubles. Awatea would arrive back at Pearl Harbour on the 7th, while HMCS Prince Robert would limp in three days later.

By the time both vessels had arrived, arrangements had been made between the Canadian Government and the US Army for housing for the men of C Force at Schofield barracks, while a barracks barge and a cutter was made available to Prince Robert for her crew while repairs were undertaken. On the morning of the 12th, repair staff from USS Medusa came on board to examine the damage and set about plans to make repairs. On the 15th of November, Prince Robert was moored alongside Medusa and her repairs were commenced. However, while at first the damage was believed to be just the ruptured steam lines and engine repairs as first understood, several other defects in an engine and boiler were discovered in series, which in turn dragged out the proceedings much longer than expected, so the delay at Pearl would be extended somewhat longer.

With the members of C Force now safely ashore, Commander Hart could concentrate on his ship and crew. With repairs underway, Hart took time to visit his injured crewmen at the naval hospital. The exemplary care provided for them by the doctors and nurses of the US Navy was very much a bright spot in an otherwise rather trying time for Commander Hart. For while he had been managing the affairs of his ship and company, He had also had to provide input and advice for Force C and the transport SS Awatea, which his ship had been originally escorting to Hong Kong via Manila.

As well, He now had the steamer SS San Jose to deal with. This ship had left Vancouver on November 4th, carrying the 212 vehicles of C Force, which, due to some oversight, had not been ready to load on the Awatea when the ship had departed Esquimalt. Because of the delay caused by the breakdown in Prince Robert, it had been decided that Don Jose would divert to Pearl. If time permitted, her cargo would be transferred to Awatea there, allowing C Force to arrive fully equipped. Don Jose had arrived at Pearl in due course on the 16th, and with some rather imaginative effort over the next week, the vehicles of C Force had been crammed into the holds and on the decks of Awatea.

However, for Commander Hart, the stay was much more business-like, and even somewhat worrisome. There was still 14 days steaming to reach Hong Kong, and with each passing day the war clouds were gathering. He had made a good study of the American’s seemingly continuous exercises and training regimens. While it did calm him somewhat, he was still concerned with getting his defenceless charge safely to Hong Kong. While his command was one of the larger ships in the Royal Canadian Navy, it would be of little use if placed up against even a smaller unit of the Imperial Japanese Navy. With a good portion of the coming voyage running near the Japanese mandates, the chances of an encounter with the Japanese would be high, particularly if the current situation went hot.

It had been rather a relief for him when it had been decided that Prince Robert and Awatea would accompany a US navy convoy, escorted by USS Pensacola, to Manila. Here HMS Danae and HMS Dragon, which would then meet them to help escort the Awatea the rest of the way to Hong Kong. Space was found on the US Navy transport USS Republic for the troops from C Force that had journeyed thus far on Prince Robert. It was felt that by removing these soldiers from Prince Robert would allow her to be better able to operate in her primary role if the situation arose.

So it was that on November 29th, HMCS Prince Robert and MV Awatea, joined what came to be known as the ‘Pensacola Convoy’, and followed the US Navy cruiser and her charges out of Pearl Harbour.

By the end of the day on December 1st, the Canadian Navy was reconsidering sending Prince Robert all the way to Hong Kong. As the troops she had been carrying originally were now onboard Republic, and with the availability of the two British cruisers which would be meeting them in Manila to bolster the escort for the rest of the voyage, it was felt that there might be an option to have Prince Robert return to Esquimalt early. The process of inquiry was begun, and after discovering that the US Navy was more than happy to get Awatea to Manila, while at the same time the Royal Navy agreed to lift the excess 155 soldiers from Manila to Hong Kong on the two escorting cruisers, HMCS Prince Robert would be free to return to the west coast.

With the wheels of command working at their best through the trails of three different nations, it wasn’t until 1100 hrs on the 3rd that HMCS Prince Robert received orders to come about and set course directly for Esquimalt. From her current position just under 300 miles south of Midway, Prince Robert fell out of the convoy and set a course to the northeast and home.

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December 6, 1941
2230 hrs
HMCS Prince Robert was approximately 450 nautical miles north of Oahu and being rather badly handled by the stormy Pacific. She was not a particularly good sea boat in rough weather, but the crew was doing its best with the situation at hand. With the heavy swells, intermittent driving rain and mist, visibility would range from poor to nearly non existent, as the cruiser made her way home. While uncomfortable, there was no real danger at hand, and the crew had settled into their routine earlier in the evening.

At 2235 hrs the routine took a much different bent, when in a rare momentary patch of better visibility, a destroyer came out of the haze and darkness no more than three thousand yards off their starboard bows. Almost immediately, the two rear turrets of the destroyer fired on Prince Robert. Orders were immediately given for a change of course and full emergency power was rung up. As the cruiser heaved about to port, the crew raced to their battle stations. There was a momentary respite as Prince Robert slid into the darkness once more as signals were sent off reporting the situation.

But that respite would not last long, for the Japanese destroyer Tanakaze, part of the starboard screen for the Kido Butai, was also reporting her contact, which in her initial report, identified Prince Robert as a Pensacola class cruiser. Tanakaze had come about in pursuit the interloper, while onboard the flagship of the Kido Butai Vice Admiral Nagumo was giving orders for the heavy cruiser Tone, along with the destroyer Urakaze, to join Tanakaze in her action.

It did not take Tanakaze long to reacquire Prince Robert, however as she resumed her intermittent fire, the closed up mounts on Prince Robert were returning broadsides as well, though the Japanese guns had better fire control and were landing hits much sooner than the old mounts on Prince Robert. However, the Canadian gunners did their best, but without getting a clean withdrawal, the situation was grim. In the first 15 minutes, Prince Robert was hit five times. Her foremost mount was disabled and two of the hits had punched through her high thin sides and burst between decks amidships, while the last pair had smashed boats and started a blaze on the upper deck.

In return, the Japanese destroyer had only been hit once, well forward on the forecastle. The old shell had punched in one side and out the other without detonating. But the hit was close enough to the waterline that there was some flooding forward.

The Japanese destroyer was closing aggressively, and the results of this showed in the savaging Prince Robert was taking from her guns. Badly holed amidships, with fires raging across her upper decks and both her forward guns silenced, Prince Robert returned fire as best she could. At 1155 hrs, with her second last salvo, a 6” shell from the battered merchant cruiser struck the forward torpedo mount of Tanakaze, and detonated two of the oxygen-fuelled torpedoes there. The Japanese destroyer was literally torn in two as a result of the explosion, and was last seen from Prince Robert wallowing in two parts in a trough between the waves.

There was no real time for Prince Robert to take any satisfaction, for almost immediately four large waterspouts leapt from the sea as the first salvo from the Japanese cruiser Tone landed close inboard. A last radio message was sent at 0005 hrs, reporting the ship was under fire from a Japanese heavy cruiser before the next salvo struck home. Three of the four shells hit, the first just under the bridge, while the next pair burst deep in engineering, snuffing out boilers and blowing a large hole in the bottom, just below the turn of the bilge. As the speed fell off, two more salvoes smashed into Prince Robert as she lost headway and lurched over on her starboard side as the sea poured into her. At 0018 hrs, slowed nearly to a complete halt and unable to make way, she was beam on to the next wave, which keeled her over on her beam ends as the last Japanese salvo came on board. The shattered ship capsized, then disappeared quickly by the bows.

Even if conditions had allowed it, or had the Japanese been disposed toward such matters, there was no time to search for survivors from either of the sunken ships and the Tone and surviving destroyer had disappeared, leaving those few surviving to their fate.

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Part two

By the first few minutes of December 7th, the US Navy on and around Oahu, was coming to life. The first signal from Prince Robert had caused confusion at first, mainly due to the belief that the Canadian ship was still with the Pensacola convoy. It was shortly before the final garbled report from Prince Robert that they were under fire from a Japanese heavy cruiser that it was understood that the ship had detached from the convoy and was proceeding independently back to the Canadian west coast. By the time Admiral Kimmel had arrived at Pacific Fleet Head Quarters at 2330 hrs, the first orders had already gone out and the Army had been brought in on the situation.

As the patrols covering the channel and outer area beyond had already been warned and bolstered, and orders had been sent to bring all ships in harbour to condition Zed, Kimmel was able to spend a few minutes on a situational review and prepare a signal to Washington, before settling in to the task at hand.

His first order of business was to find out just who or what was north of Hawaii. By midnight, the first of the PBY’s were ready to take off, and at 0005 hrs, the lone short notice amphibian at Ford Island was opening its throttles as it began to race across the calm waters of Pearl Harbour. It was followed shortly after by seven more PBY’s from Kaneohe, with all eight aircraft headed north to search the ocean north of Oahu.

With the initial search launched, orders were sent to all task forces at sea in, or close to, Hawaiian waters. The Task Force first contacted was TF 12, which was centered on USS Lexington. With the carrier, three heavy cruisers and five destroyers, TF 12 was en route to Midway to deliver 18 Marine dive-bombers. However, new orders were cut, bringing the Task Force about to the Southeast to close the contact reported by Prince Robert.

Task Force 3, consisting of the heavy cruiser USS Indianapolis and five destroyer-minesweepers was ordered to close with TF 12 at best speed and join with them.

Admiral Halsey’s TF 8, consisting of the carrier USS Enterprise, three heavy cruisers and nine destroyers, was at that point two hundred and eighty miles west of Oahu, returning from Wake Island. Orders had been sent to USS Minneapolis, along with a destroyer and four destroyer-minesweepers operating within eighty miles of Oahu to join with Halsey’s Task Force as they closed on Oahu. Halsey in turn was ordered to move toward Nihau and be prepared to launch aircraft as early as possible.

There were four submarines at sea in the general vicinity of Pearl Harbour, USS Pollack and Pompano to the northeast, USS Plunger patrolling off Diamond Head, and USS Thresher, returning from operations off Midway. All of these subs were ordered north of Oahu at best speed, in an effort to make contact if possible.

Of the ships in harbour, the battleships of Pacific Fleet Battle Force were his main concerns. Of the eight battleships present, USS Pennsylvania was in dry dock, USS California was in a very vulnerable state due to being opened up for comprehensive inspection, while USS Arizona was berthed with the repair ship USS Vestal and was due to start a seven day tender upkeep. USS, Oklahoma and USS Nevada had just returned from operations with Halsey’s TF8 the day before. USS West Virginia had been moved alongside USS Maryland to facilitate an inspection of Maryland by command staff of Division 4 on Sunday, and some material efforts had been undertaken on Maryland to facilitate this as well. That left only USS West Virginia and USS Tennessee being in most respects ready.

While orders had been sent to all the battleships to go to condition Zed, USS Pennsylvania would not – by nature of her being dry docked – be able to fulfill those orders. The crew of California would do their utmost to comply, however it would take several hours at least to get her back to operational levels. Arizona was closer to Zed status, but some efforts had been made to prepare her for her tender upkeep, and the crew was making efforts to remedy those as well.

This left Kimmel with the option of sailing his battle line with six battleships, possibly seven with the remote opportunity of California joining them. Even with that, it would take at least four to five hours to get the battleships out of harbour.

Of the cruisers in Pearl Harbour, the two heavy cruisers – USS San Francisco and USS New Orleans – were both undergoing serious repairs or major overhaul. They would not be moving any time soon. The picture with the light cruisers was brighter. Among the heavier warships in harbour, the six light cruisers in harbour were among the first vessels in all respects ready.

Out of the twenty-nine destroyers present, at least 20 should be able to sail in a reasonable period of time as well. Of the four submarines at Pearl, three could be out of harbour by daybreak as well.

After this, it was a matter of the various tenders, support craft and lighter vessels, such as mine craft. There were even six of the 12 PT boats of the 1st PT Boat Squadron.

One ship in harbour that was of concern to Kimmel was the fleet oiler USS Neosho. Neosho was the largest tanker in the world when completed, and currently she was sitting at the Ford Island Dock, unloading the last half of its load of aviation fuel into the storage facility at Pearl Harbour NAS. It was not likely to be completely unloaded until 1000 hrs on Sunday. Along with every other detail to be considered, the Neosho would need some thought as well.

As to the air assets of the Navy, the bases on Ford Island, as well as Kaneohe and the Marine field at Ewa, were fast becoming hives of activity. The patrol bombers were the main focus at the air stations, as their respective ground crews spared no effort to get them ready. At the same time, the air crews were gathered up, briefed and otherwise prepared for action.

The carrier planes on Ford Island, whether they were from the various carrier based squadrons, located on Ford for repair or storage, were looked over and prepared as well. For aircraft assigned to the Fleet Battle Force, it was the same thing. While this jumbled selection of carrier types were organized, available pilots and crews were looked for as well.

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While the navy was preparing, the Army was sorting out its operations. On the airfields, there was feverous activity, as available ground crews swarmed over aircraft in an effort to get as many ready as possible. When the alert had sounded, less than half the fighters on Oahu were actually available for duty once fuelled and armed. However, many of the remaining fighters, while not showing as available, were actually just marked down for general maintenance and light repairs. With the concerted efforts of the ground personnel, many of these could possibly be brought up to active status if the effort was spent on them. It was the same for the bombers, and as the night progressed toward morning, the fitters, mechanics, technicians and armourers would set to work, to get as many planes as possible repaired, readied and dispersed.

While the Army Air Corps was busy, the rest of the Army was answering the call. While the various batteries of the Coastal Artillery were either manning their guns for the fortified mounts, or moving their mobile batteries into place, others were drawing out the needed ammunition to feed those batteries.

The regular line units of the army were starting their deployments too, whether by vehicle or on foot. Probably, the most obscure selection of army personnel were the relatively small number of technicians that were quietly loaded into trucks and cars to be sent out to bring the six portable radar sites on Oahu on line. Another group would gather at a little known locale known as the Airborne Information Center.
No matter what their trade or vocation, across Oahu the Army was coming to life and doing its best to perform their duties as specified.

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While the encounter with the enemy cruiser would throw off the original plans, Admiral Nagumo knew that for Japan’s efforts to succeed across the Pacific, the forces under his command would still have to carry out a successful strike on Pearl Harbour.

Yamamoto had been very specific in his orders. At least four of the American battleships of the Pacific Fleet must be destroyed. Only through their loss in such numbers would the American people be shocked enough to demand that their government come to a settlement advantageous to the Japanese. While there would be other targets, possibly even aircraft carriers in the area, and each of these in their own right would be valuable, the priority would be the American battleships, even if it meant jeopardizing his force to achieve that aim.

For it was understood by most in the Japanese command structure that the only way to have a successful end to the war that would soon be starting would be to hit the Americans so hard off the start that they would not pursue the conflict. However, those proponents of sea based aviation argued their opinion that the carrier was now the supreme naval asset, the real strength of a nation’s navy was, at that point in time, its battleships. Whether either argument was correct or not, for the plan to succeed, a large proportion of the battleships of the US Navy would have to be destroyed.

With that in mind, Nagumo and his staff gathered to adjust their plans to the new situation. Vice-Admiral Nagumo was fairly well certain that the cruiser his screening ships had sunk had gotten off a signal, therefore his position must be known. While the Americans were not likely to know the composition of his force, or indeed, what they might be up to, He did know they would be looking for whoever caused the demise of their compatriot.

More importantly however, in all likelihood, the hoped for surprise by the Kido Butai would be lost, and the airstrikes would be going in against a prepared and ready foe. However, the plans had been firm that even if they were discovered anywhere during the last twenty-four hours of their advance on Pearl Harbour, the attack was to continue. Too much was at stake at too many locations across the Pacific to attempt to pull back at that point.

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Kimmel in turn was pushing ahead with plans of his own. To be sure that his fleet units could safely egress from the harbour in the next few hours, orders were given for more destroyers, minesweepers and other needed craft to bolster the patrols in the channel out of the harbour, as well as the exclusion area beyond. This was bolstered by patrol bombers as they became available. A half dozen destroyers and four more minesweepers were underway to join USS Ward and her compatriots already on duty.

At the various army installations around Oahu, the security had been beefed up substantially. This allowed the airfields to take more precautions with their aircraft, allowing many to be placed back into revetments or otherwise dispersed. A few of the planes not deemed worthy of salvage attempts had been left where they were in exposed positions. This was not so much by design as it was more due to a lack of manpower and time.

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With the sudden activity at Pearl Harbour, as well as across Oahu, many civilians were beginning to sense something was afoot. Among the civilians was one Takeo Yoshikawa, an employee of the Japanese consulate. After a short period of observation, he made one last signal.

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While many would make much of the efforts made by the US Military’s efforts to pull themselves up to a proper active status that night, there would be many pitfalls. One of the first problems noticed was the lack of personnel, as many from all services were adrift when the first calls went out. Personnel would make their way to their various posts steadily through the next hours, however many would not be where they should be by the time the action began.

The lack of technicians and command staff in several locations would prove detrimental as well, particularly at Wheeler and Hickman Fields, where large percentages of the available first-string aircraft had been out of service for maintenance and light repairs, after a steady period of training cycles and war warnings. A strong effort to get as the men available in the early hours of the morning had made many aircraft as possible ready, and by 0330 hrs, most of the haphazard initial approach to the problem had become better organized. However, when the first fighter patrols would begin to take off at 0430 hrs, out of the 138 first line fighters at Wheeler Field, only 83 P-40 and 27 P-36 pursuits would be ready. Another ten of the older P-26 fighters backed up those planes, although these planes, being much slower, would only be of limited value.

Elsewhere on Oahu, a further dozen fighters were readied at Haleiwa, giving a total of 91 P-40s and 31 of the P-36s, plus the ten P-26s, with most of these planes being at Wheeler, but two dozen of them being split between Haleiwa and Bellows Field.

While the preparatory aircraft work had been going on getting as many fighters as possible ready at Wheeler, over at Hickman Field the bombers were being prepared as well. Just after 0300 hrs, the first trio of B-17Ds had departed Hickman to join the PBYs already searching to the north of Oahu. Out of the remaining nine available of that type, three more were armed and ready shortly after, while another pair would be ready by 0500 hrs.

There were 33 B-18 Bolo’s based at Hickman as well, and by 0500 hrs, 19 of these would be fuelled and ready for operations. The last type available in some numbers was the sleek new A-20 light bomber, of which thirteen were on the ground at Hickman, with nine of them ready for operations by 0500 hrs.
It was at 0305 hrs that came the now famous message from one of the searching PBY’s north of Oahu:
“... under fire from Japanese warships north of Oahu ... taking evasive action ...”

Moments later came an expanding report, which confirmed three aircraft carriers a battleship and numerous cruisers and destroyers. The aircraft, which had come out of the overcast almost directly over the Japanese fleet, had been hit by AA fire. However, it managed to limp back to Oahu and safely beach at Kaneohe shortly after 0500 hrs. Further PBY’s were called in to monitor the Japanese Fleet as it moved on toward Pearl Harbour.

Even as the first reports on the Japanese fleet were coming in, further action had started much closer. The first of the Pacific Fleet heavy vessels had begun to move out of Pearl Harbour at 0230 hrs, when Kimmel had ordered a dozen screening destroyers, along with the six light cruisers to put to sea. While somewhat slower than hoped for, the process was orderly and without any problem in the first stages.

The battleships were beginning to move as well. The big surprise was that Admiral Kidd’s Battleship Division 1 was actually the first of the battleships to get under way. While not ready for extended operations, Kidd had no intention of his ships getting caught in port, and had pushed hard to get his command ready to sail. By the time Kidd’s battleships were ready to move, West Virginia and Tennessee were ready to cast off as well once tugs were available to shift them into the channel. Maryland would bring up the rear, while with the uncertainty of California’s status, it was uncertain when she might sail.

However, plans began to unravel at 0309 hrs when USS Raleigh, which was following USS St. Louis out the channel, was struck amidships by a torpedo. Almost immediately, USS Ward sighted a small submarine broaching nearby and promptly brought it under fire, before depth charging the area after it sank from view. Shortly after that, USS Bagley sighted another passing through the wake of USS Helena, which was the next cruiser in line after Raleigh. Bagley came about and rammed the sub, finishing it off.

What had begun as an orderly operation quickly became a muddled affair for the Pacific Fleet. Another pair of torpedoes passing across the wake of the next cruiser, USS Phoenix, brought the submarine ambush panic to a crescendo, as those ships already in transit out of the harbour did their level best to get by this new unknown foe, while the patrolling destroyers aggressively began to hunt for more. The fear of submarine ambush became reality shortly after, when at 0327 hrs, two torpedoes slammed into the port side of USS Arizona as the battleship was about to turn to enter the channel out of Pearl Harbour. The first struck just forward of the foremost main turret, while the second struck under the bridge.

As Arizona began to flood forward and list to port, the crew began their efforts to contain the damages, while her Captain ordered a turn to starboard. As Arizona sheared off from the channel toward Ford Island, the destroyer Monahan ran down her assailant, which had broached after firing its torpedoes. In the confusion, and with Arizona’s sudden turn to starboard to stay in port, USS Oklahoma continued into the channel, followed by USS Nevada.

In those few short minutes, the USN Battleship force was thrown into total confusion. In the absence of Admiral Anderson – who was at home for the weekend and still not back at the time of sailing – Admiral Pye moved his sea going flag from California to West Virginia. When Arizona was torpedoed, USS West Virginia was just starting to be nudged away from USS Tennessee. However as news of the attack came in, that effort was halted, and by 0400 hrs, West Virginia was once more moored alongside Tennessee, as fears of more submarine attacks tempered the decision to sail.

USS Arizona, down by the bows and listing to port, had come around Ford Island to berth at the location just vacated by USS Helena.. The light cruiser Raleigh had limped back into port as far as Hospital point where it was beached as it had lost power from flooding and damages to her engineering spaces. Outside the harbour, the five light cruisers that had made it out of Pearl just before them gathered in Oklahoma and Nevada. Along with a screen of a dozen destroyers, this interim task force was ordered to set course to the northwest to join Halsey.

Inside the harbour, the scene was best described as confusing. Any of the fleet units remaining were either in no material condition to sail due to repairs and maintenance, or, as in Arizona and Raleigh, due to damage already sustained. The destroyer Monahan had dashed back into the harbour and ran alongside Arizona, to pick up Admiral Kidd to transfer him to USS Oklahoma.
The only other ships to leave Pearl were two submarines, Dolphin and Narwhal, with orders to patrol beyond the harbours entrance for enemy submarines.

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The Army Air Force pursuit pilots that had been gathering in since the first moments of the new day had been briefed as best as possible, given the confusing situation. While there was still no real firm intelligence on the intent of the approaching Japanese fleet, educated guesswork left little doubt as to what was coming. One old briefing officer remembered the words of Claire Chennault when he had given a briefing of his own when passing through Pearl Harbour some months earlier, regarding the agility of the Japanese aircraft and the abilities of their flyers. He was very firm in his opinion not to attempt to dog fight, but instead to use the tactics which had been put forward by Chennault. How well this reminder was received would remain to be seen if and when the Japanese aircraft were engaged.

By 0430 hrs, the Army Air Force was beginning to launch its first aircraft. While the first fourteen pursuits were lifting off from Wheeler, eighteen B-18’s were beginning to leave the ground at Hickman Field. Four B-17s, then a final group of A-20’s, all of which would be airborne by 0530 hrs, would follow them. By 0530 hrs, there would be 57 pursuit aircraft airborne from Wheeler, with another forty ready to launch as needed.

The Navy and Marine flyers had not been idle either. Shortly after 0500 hrs, 18 SBD’s, 7 Vindicators and 11 F4F Wildcats had begun to lift off from Ewa. They were followed out by 4 F4Fs and 3 SBD’s from Ford Island as they formed up and headed north to seek out the Japanese fleet.

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On the Enterprise, Admiral Halsey was trying to make sense of the situation as well. While he had given orders to begin preparing strike plans for his strike aircraft, He also had to deal with the Task Force that had managed to leave Pearl Harbour and was coming to join him. Task Force 8 had been steaming hard since receiving the first reports of the Japanese presence, and Halsey felt that he could hopefully get a strike off by 0800 hrs. However, having to deal with the battleships and cruisers coming from Pearl would severely limit his action As a result, he ordered the Pearl Force to steam a direct route to a point west of Niihau where both forces could then join. When the range closed sufficiently, Halsey would provide them what air cover could be spared.

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Further north, Task Force 12, centered on the carrier USS Lexington, was moving to the southeast, and preparing its air group for searches and strikes against the Japanese. This search effort was backed up by PBY’s out of Midway. Task Force 3, centered on the Heavy Cruiser Indianapolis, was pushing up from Johnston Island to join them. As more information on the Japanese came in, it was hoped that strikes might be able to be launched by mid morning.

By 0530 hrs, reports from the patrolling PBY’s had further illuminated the size and particulars of the Japanese force. It was reported to include six large aircraft carriers, along with at least five heavier escorts, including battleships. However, this was to be the last accurate report for a while, as fighters from the carriers were airborne by that time, and the lumbering amphibians were either forced off or shot down for the most part.

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By 0530 hrs, Vice Admiral Nagumo had his attack forces re-configured for an attack against a prepared target. If his command had not been discovered, the two planned attack waves would have been balanced with a large portion of fighters with each one. The original first wave was to include level and torpedo bombers for attacking the battleships and carriers, along with dive-bombers to attack the main air bases and carriers. The second wave would have consisted of dive and level bombers to not only strike at any carriers, cruisers, and destroyers, but to finish the destruction at the various air bases as well.

However, with the Americans now alerted, the plan was shifted to an alternate format. The first wave would be led by the bulk of the fighters available for the attack. The role of these fighters would be to sweep any defending fighters from the sky, before strafing airbases and suppressing anti-aircraft sights. On the secondary targets, 30 dive-bombers would bolster the fighters. With the defending fighters and anti-aircraft dealt with, the combination of high level and torpedo bombers could strike the primary target of the mission, the battleships of the Pacific fleet.

The second wave would follow close behind, with its level bombers concentrating on the various air bases, and the dive bombers seeking out priority targets listed as carriers, cruisers and destroyers in that order. After that, targets included further strikes on airbases and auxiliaries as available.

A final message from Yamamoto confirmed his belief that there would be no surprise, and while he held some reservations, realistically he felt that the Americans would not have had enough time to do anything much more than a very basic response. As long as his aircrews hit hard and fast, the battle would still be won.

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Part three

The first of the Japanese fighter patrols had originally been planned for 0500 hrs, which would allow the first strike to begin launching at 0600 hrs. As with all plans, uncontrollable variables forced change. In this case, it was a combination of weather and the American patrol planes, which were around the fleet.

There were 48 Zeros available for this duty, but while it would have been preferred to have these fighters airborne earlier, the sea state precluded launch until 0530 hrs. Initially a full 36 aircraft were to be launched, leaving a dozen back to rotate as needed. However, out of the original 36, there were two aborts, and another which crashed shortly after taking off.

However, by 0535 hrs, the first of these Zero’s were setting out after the PBY’s which had been dogging the Japanese for the past two hours. In those first moments of pre-dawn twilight, it was a challenge for both hunters and hunted alike, as both sides sought out their opponents. While it was somewhat easier for the American planes to simply dodge into the overcast, the Japanese pilots managed to down two of the amphibians while damaging another pair, having three of their own damaged in return. The last PBY found safety in the clouds and managed to hold on in the area, helped by the fact that the fighters that had been pursuing it had discovered the trio of B-17’s which had been searching further west, but had finally arrived, coming in from the northwest of the Japanese formation.

As a dozen of the Zeros had pounced on the big American bombers, the B-17’s had fought back. Even though they were the older D model, they gave a good account of themselves as they turned in on the Japanese fleet to begin their bomb run. Two of the big bombers would fall to the guns of the Japanese fighters, while the third would salvo its bombs and turn away badly damaged with a swarm of fighters after it. However, the Japanese pilots had a quick lesson in the strength and firepower of these big planes, losing three of their number downed and three more damaged. The last B-17 would finally shake off its pursuers, making it back to crash land at Hickman shortly before the attacking Japanese planes would arrive.

While the first initial American planes were being dealt with, the Japanese first wave was taking off. The first wave was to have comprised 189 aircraft. However, aborts and malfunctions reduced that number to 184. The strike comprised 49 Kate high-level bombers, 39 Kate torpedo bombers, 27 Val dive-bombers and 68 Zero fighters. By 0615 hrs, the first strike was on its way, but before the second strike could be spotted, 14 of the Zeros from the CAP had to land and be struck down, and a dozen more launched to take their place. The second wave would not begin to be spotted until 0730 hrs.

As the first wave made its way toward Oahu, it spotted the B-18s flying north to seek out the Japanese fleet. Twenty-one of the Zeros broke off and pounced on the Bolo’s, and in their first pass they shot down nine of the lumbering bombers for the loss of three of their own and two more damaged. After the second pass, another seven would fall in exchange for two more damaged Zeros. The last pair of the luckless bombers were knocked down as they tried to break off. While those Zeros which had taken damage or had expended their ammunition turned back to their carriers, ten headed back to rejoin the strike.

The four B-17s, which had launched after the B-18s had been flying higher and to the east, and had managed to avoid the Japanese formation, as had the nine A-20s, which were further west. The B-17s had radioed in the report on the inbound strike as they had continued on north.

The Zeros over the fleet had been busy chasing off PBY’s in the interim. While they had located and downed another pair, for a damaged plane in return, the result of the action was that they were well scattered as the nine A-20s raced in. While the Zeros that could came after them, the bombers were over the fleet before the fighters could catch them. Braving the concentrated anti-aircraft fire, they closed on the lead carrier in the right hand column. One of the bombers took a fatal hit from anti-aircraft fire and two more were damaged and forced off. However, the remaining six successfully dropped their bombs on target, before scudding off to the southeast with a gaggle of zeros in pursuit.

Their target, Nagumo’s flagship Akagi, had a blossom of waterspouts along its starboard side, but none found the carrier. However, two bombs were close enough that three aircraft spotted on her deck were damaged by splinters. The Zeros caught the two damaged bombers and quickly dispatched them as the six attackers made good their escape. While the Zeros were occupied with the A-20s, the four B-17s appeared at a much higher altitude and dropped their bombs, which were easily avoided, after which they too made good their escape.

With their defending Zeros further scattered and low on ammunition, lookouts called out upon spotting another flight of inbound American aircraft. The escorts fired their main armament in the direction of the attackers to alert any of fighters, which had not seen the approach as the dark blotches of anti-aircraft artillery began to fill the sky. Out of the 25 Zeros, which were at that point airborne over the Japanese fleet, only nine were close enough to intercept initially.

The American aircraft, which were the Marine flyers from Ewa, bore in on their target. The F4Fs moved to counter the approaching Zeros, while the SBD’s and Vindicators picked their targets. As the SBD’s split into two groups – with nine targeting Soryu and the other nine heading for Akagi- the seven Vindicators picked Kaga as their target, and they settled into their target runs.

The escorting Wildcats did their level best to fend off the Zeros, shooting down four for the loss of five of their own, and damaging three more. Only one of the Zeros was able to fire on the dive bombers, before it too was caught and dropped by the stubby Grummans. With more Zeros closing, the dive-bombers tipped over into their attacks on the carriers below.

The Japanese carriers, their decks full of planes for the second strike, began to manoeuvre wildly to throw off their attackers. The anti-aircraft was heavy, and losses were taken, nevertheless the Marine flyers came on. The nine SBD’s diving on Soryu lost two of their number to flak, while two more were damaged and broke off, while another accidently dropped early, leaving just four to continue in. The first of these released its 500 lb bomb, which had been aimed for the aircraft even now warming up on the rear half of the deck. The bomb missed to starboard, detonating close inboard and tossing spray and splinters across the deck and gun galleries. The next plane’s bomb missed as well, fifty yards to starboard. The last pair, coming in together, found their target, and both bombs struck in the crowded aft deck. The first punched through the deck to detonate in the hangar below, while the second hit a Val, then detonated as it struck the flight deck. As the four surviving SBD’s dashed out of the area on the deck, Soryu erupted in a hellish ball of fire, smoke and explosions.

The nine SBD’s targeting Akagi lost two of their number, but gained five hits, and as with Soryu, Akagi was very soon a pyre, as her crowded flight deck soon became an inferno. The older Vindicators did their best to eke out the same result on the Kaga. However, they were not as experienced as the SBD crews, and their dives were rather more shallow. Three were shot down as they came in, while two more were damaged sufficiently that they broke off, jettisoning their bombs in the process. Out of the last pair, the first missed slightly forward, while the last one took sufficient damage that its pilot must have been killed or otherwise incapacitated, for it followed its bomb into the deck and was destroyed in a fiery explosion, which soon had Kaga burning fiercely as well.

While the surviving Marine flyers were doing their best to make a successful departure, the remaining Zeros set off after them with a vengeance. In their retreat they lost two more SBD’s and a pair of Wildcats while three more Zeros were lost in return.

While the last act was being played out with the Marine flyers, the three SBDs and four Wildcats from from Ford Island arrived unannounced. The first they were seen was when the SBDs dived on the Zuikaku. In a perfect textbook attack, all three bombs detonated among the aircraft on the rear deck of the big carrier. As the dive bombers scooted back to the southwest with their escorting Wildcats above them, Zuikaku too was soon a mass of flames.

In a matter of less than 10 minutes, the once proud Kido Butai was reduced to a shattered shell. As the last of the American planes darted away, four huge columns of smoke billowed into the sky, marking the end of two thirds of the Japanese fleet carriers.

However, even as their mortally wounded compatriots blazed and brewed, The last desperate strike was ordered off. Led by twelve Zeros, 27 Kate level-bombers and 30 Vals set off to try to add their efforts to what was hopefully a successful first strike.

0++++0

While the Marine and Navy fliers were wreaking destruction on the Japanese carriers, The first wave was approaching the coast of Oahu. Having been picked up on Radar some time before, the initial wave of American fighters, numbering 47 P-40s and 18 P-36s were ready for them. With the height advantage, the P-40s bore through the Zeros, knocking down nine in the first pass. The P-36s slashed into the bombers, killing seven Vals and six Kates. As the fight continued, the Zeros came into their own, shooting down eight P-40s and six of the P-36 in the next few minutes. The bombers claimed a further pair of the agile Hawks as well, while losing seven of their number, along with four more Vals and eight Kates. After another few minutes combat, the Americans would lose a further nine P-40’s along with three P-36, In exchange for seven Zeros, five Vals and six Kates.

As the Americans attempted to break off, the Zeros followed after them, while the bombers carried on to their targets. Now outnumbered and running low on ammunition, the American fighters did their level best against the Zeros, knocking down seven more, while losing a further eleven P-40s and two more P-36.

However just when all seemed lost Twenty-four additional P-40s arrived, shooting down a dozen Zeros, and scattering the rest, and allowing the last of the original fighters to break off.

0++++0

As the surviving Zeros swirled into a fight with the fresh P-40s, the Bombers continued on their way. The 12 surviving Vals headed for their targets, 9 for Ford Island and three for Wheeler, while the Torpedo and Level Bombers swung out to the west and headed for Pearl Harbour.

The Three Vals headed for Wheeler were soon on their target. However the anti Air craft fire was intense. Two planes managed to drop their bombs, while the third crashed into a barracks after sustaining critical damage, none would survive to make it back to the carriers. The Vals headed for Ford Island fared no better, and while they managed three hits of little consequence, only two would struggle back to Hiryu.

The surviving 32 level bombers under Fushida, pushed on toward Pearl Harbour, however they were intercepted west of their target by nine P-36 and a half dozen P-40s. Only nine of them managed to survive to reach the harbour, and of those, two more were shot down by anti aircraft before they could bomb the battleships. Out of the seven Kates that bombed, a remarkable four hits were achieved, two on California and another pair on Maryland. Sadly, out of those four hits, two were duds and the third was a low order explosion. The one hit that detonated hit USS California forward. The blast caused heavy structural damage to the bows, as well as igniting flammable materials forward, which burnt out the bows before it was properly extinguished.

Only three of the level bombers would make it back to the carriers, Commander Fushida’s plane would not be among them.

0++++0

The 15 surviving torpedo planes made their way to Pearl Harbour as well. Coming in over Hickman Field, four were swatted down by anti-aircraft fire there, while two more were shot down by aircraft. Another four were destroyed by fire from the ships and base facilities as the streaked in toward the battleships moored along Ford Island. The last five managed to launch their torpedoes, gaining three hits on California, and another on West Virginia, before the last of them were destroyed by anti aircraft and roaming fighters as they departed the harbour area.

0++++0

As the last of the first Japanese strike cleared off for their carriers, the surviving American aircraft filtered back to their bases as well. As the ragged selection of P-40s and P-36s landed, they were quickly seen to. Those that were still fit to fly were hurriedly re-armed and refuelled. Some of the pilots were lucky enough to get a quick coffee and even a sandwich in a few cases, while for others it was simply a cola or a canteen of water. When ready, they took to the sky once more to meet the expected second wave. Most were still climbing to altitude when the radar stations picked up the next wave, this time approaching from the northeast.

The American fighters were not as formally organized for this strike as they had been for the last one, with the survivors of the various squadrons simply operating in groups ranging in size from two to seven. All told there were 17 P-40s and 7 P-36, and even 11 of the older P-26, pursuits who would be the first to make contact. As the battle progressed, it was hoped other American fighters be able to join in as they became available, however for now, the fate of the Pacific Fleet and the surrounding airbases and support facilities would be dependent on this muddled collection of fighters.

The Japanese raiders were met off Kaneohe, and led by the P-40s, the American flyers tore into the Japanese formation. The twelve escorting Zeros did their best to stop the Americans, and for the loss of 7 of their own, 9 P-40s and three of the P-36 fell to their guns. However, their gain did not hold, and in the next few minutes, four more zeros would fall, in exchange for three more P-40s.

While the Zeros were being marked down, the Japanese bombers were set upon by the fighters, which had made it past the Japanese fighters.
In one of the type’s last real engagements, the eleven Peashooters tore into the Kates and Vals. Six Kates and three Vals would fall in the first pass, in exchange for a pair of the nimble little P-26s. As the scrum continued, the last Zero fell to a P-26, and the remaining Army Air Force pursuits savaged the Japanese bombers, dropping eleven Kates and eight Vals, for the loss of two P-40s, a P-36 and three Peashooters.

The surviving Japanese flyers were scattered and sought out targets of opportunity as the struggled to break away from the American fighters. The Naval Air Station at Kaneohe was the handiest, and it took damage from seven Kates, as they dropped their bombs before attempting to flee to safety.

A group of 9 Vals made it to Pearl Harbour. Two were lost to Anti-aircraft fire, but the remaining six set their sights on USS Arizona, which was moored adjacent to the 10-10 dock. Four bombs found their targets, and while one was a dud, the other three did considerable damage amidships. The last plane, struck by AA fire, never pulled out of its dive, and ploughed into the ship on the port side of the Bridge structure. The resultant blast and fire, while spectacular, did not jeopardize the vessel. As with the other hits, the damage from the explosion was kept out of the armoured citadel.

Three of the Kates had made it almost to Hickman Field before being shot down. One fell in open country and another scattered itself across the environs of the Air base. The last one however, fell amongst the confines of the fuel tanks of the Pacific Fleet’s storage facility. The wreckage hit a tank in the middle of the farm, breaching the side of the huge structure. In the resultant explosion, the heavy bunker oil was ignited. As it spilled forth in a fiery mass, it gave the initial impression of an impending disaster of untold consequence. However, the inferno was contained by the dyke structure, and even as the blaze roared to life, the personnel of the facility were quick to engage the sprinkler systems and other protocols for such events. It would be an epic feat, but by the morning of the 8th, the fire would be out.

The only other damage from the strike would be the bombing of two hangars at Hickman field by a pair of Vals, of which only one would make it clear to return to its carrier.

0++++0

Bravo Sir you got a good TL here, Subbed and I will be watching for more .

I'm intrigued...

... I am too, Zheng ... I acquired a new book on Pearl Harbour, and that in combination with the historic position of HMCS Prince Robert just begged for something different to happen.

It took a bit of juggling to move Prince Robert about 600 miles or so, but it allows an interesting pod.

part four

By 1200 hrs, the Nagumo’s shattered force was struggling to salvage what they could of the situation. Nagumo himself had been forced to leave Akagi, and had arrived on board the battleship Hiei by 1150 hrs. With only a smattering of aircraft left after the survivors of the two strikes had filtered back to the two carriers that were still in operation, Nagumo had ordered his command about and was heading to the northwest at the maximum speed of his remaining ships.

On the four damaged carriers, the situation was grim, with massive fires, bolstered by the detonation of munitions, stifling any attempts to save them. Soryu had already sunk after a magazine had detonated, blowing out a large portion of her port side. With massive flooding, along with the fires in her upper decks, the carrier succumbed quickly in the heavy seas.

The Carrier Akagi’s fires were soon out of control as well, and her lower decks became untenable as the fires spread unchecked. Follow on explosions as fuel and munitions ignited forced her abandonment soon after 1200 hrs.

Kaga fared somewhat better, and her fires were being successfully fought, however her flight deck would need heavy yard work before being able to conduct air operations again, and there was far more damage below.

Fires ravaged Zuikaku as well; her flight deck distorted and collapsed by the fires and ordinance explosions, and heavy flooding and smoke had severely hampered her engineering spaces ability to function properly.

With the speed of both Kaga and Zuikaku reduced to little over twenty knots, Nagumo knew that to try to keep them with his force would only bring about further attacks on his remaining ships. To add to that, his few surviving aircraft available would not be able to defend the force if further American air attacks found them.

At 1240 hrs, a aviation fuel explosion on the damaged Zuikaku forced his decision, and he ordered both the damaged carriers to have their surviving crews removed and scuttled.

0++++0

On Oahu and at Pearl Harbour, the Americans in turn were scrambling to make some headway out of the bedlam. As the surviving aircraft of the previous strikes came in, those that were in condition to were re-armed and readied to strike again. At Ewa, the surviving Marine fliers were busy getting their planes ready for another sortie, while at the Army Air Force fields, both pursuits and bombers were being gone over as well.

In the harbour, a massive effort was being made to save the ships damaged in the attack, while those ships still remaining in harbour that were able to put to sea did so.

Of those units already at sea, USS Enterprise was launching a strike to seek out the Japanese fleet, while the composite battleship/cruiser force was making best speed north as well.

At about the same time that the Enterprise strike was lifting off for their attack, nine SBD’s, three Vindicators and six Wildcats were taking off from Ewa for another strike on the Japanese carriers to the north.

At the same time, three torpedoes from I-72 slammed into USS Oklahoma. Moments later, another pair struck USS Nevada. While destroyers came about to seek out the offending foe, the stricken battleships began their struggle to save themselves. As the afternoon dragged on, that effort would prove to be futile. By the time the Japanese submarine was located and successfully prosecuted, USS Oklahoma was already being abandoned, while USS Nevada would succumb to her flooding just short of Perl Harbour.

0++++0

It was an hour and a half after the orders were given to scuttle the two damaged carriers that another strike was seen approaching the remnants of Nagumo’s command.

The unknown aircraft spotted by the Japanese were the surviving Marine aircraft that had been re-armed at Ewa, and were now about to strike again. Out of the surviving Japanese fighters, only six were in place to intercept the Marines as they approached. The Japanese fliers did their savage best, downing four of the escorting F4F’s, along with two of the Vindicators and a Dauntless. However in the skirmish, four of their own were lost and the remaining pair seriously damaged.

Three more airborne Zero’s were closing in on the American planes, and another trio were taking off from Shokaku when the Marine dive bombers began their attack on that carrier. The trio of Zeros tried to follow the dive bombers down, however they were forced to brake off after one was downed by AA fire and the other pair shot up by the gunners on the dive bombers.

Of the American attackers, two of the Dauntless would be struck down by anti-aircraft fire and another pair broke off damaged. Of the four that managed to bomb, the first one put its 500 lb bomb through the forward elevator, which dismounted the structure, and started a serious fire in the hangar deck. The next pair missed, and the last one succeeded in striking the carrier alongside the island, causing further damage. The lone surviving Vindicator eked out a hit as well, striking the carrier close to her stern and causing further damage to the deck and hangar.

As the Marine fliers dashed off to their base with three Zeros in pursuit, they left Shokaku burning and damaged sufficiently to preclude her from further offensive action, but in no danger of sinking.
0++++0
While the situation had deteriorated further for Nagumo, He was still determined to shepherd the survivors of his force to the north and safety. Within an hour of the last attack, the fires on Shokaku were near being extinguished, and the destroyers that had gathered in the survivors from the sunk and scuttled carriers had rejoined.

With only four Zeros left, augmented by a trio of Vals and four Kates, Nagumo’s fliers did their best to chase off the interloping PBY’s and B-17’s that were watching them, but there was little success for them. Two more of the PBY’s were shot down, while three more were damaged. In return, a further Zero and a pair of Vals being used as interim fighters were lost in return. These were losses that at that point could not be allowed.

So it was that at 1435 hours when more planes were spotted approaching from the southwest that the Japanese defensive aircraft airborne only consisted of three Zeros and a pair of Vals. The four remaining Kates were spotted on the deck of Hiryu, and were to be used as a last ditch cover to protect the carriers, while the Zero’s and Vals were down for refuelling when the time came. However, with the new unknown strike approaching, these last remaining aircraft were quickly launched in a forlorn attempt to further bolster the CAP.

While the Japanese were struggling to meet this new unknown group of attackers, the American Navy fliers, from the carrier USS Enterprise, came on. 18 SBD’s, 12, TBD’s, covered by 8 F4F Wildcats bore in on the Japanese fleet. The Dive-bombers and fighters were coming in high and in the lead, with the torpedo bombers behind and very low. The Japanese fighters had not seen the torpedo bombers and were headed after the main strike, however they first had to deal with the escorting fighters, which had spotted them in turn and moved to parry their attack. The five defending Japanese planes were easily countered by the 8 Navy fighters, and although they accounted for three of the Wildcats, all the Japanese planes were destroyed.

The SBD’s split into two groups of nine, with each group targeting one of the remaining carriers. As they closed in the Japanese anti aircraft fire hammered at them, and three planes from the Shokaku group and another from the Hiryu group were struck.

However, despite the fire, the dive bombers began their attacks. The group targeting Shokaku struck first, and planted three more hits on the big carrier, while those attacking The Hiryu managed five.

As the dive bombers were breaking off the Devastators began their runs. Finally spotted when in their last approach, they came under murderous fire from both light and heavy fire from the escorting vessels. Four of their number were quickly knocked down, while the rest scattered. Unable to close further they settled for attacking the escorts. Three of them launched on the Heavy cruiser Tone, but the agile cruiser managed to avoid being hit. The remainder concentrated on the battleship Hiei, and out of the five torpedoes launched, three struck home, although only two detonated. As the surviving aircraft struggled free, the four remaining Kates attempted to intercept them, but were destroyed by the escorting Wildcats.

The surviving Navy planes formed up and set a course for Ewa. Out of the original strike six SBD’s, seven TBD’s and four of the Wildcats had been lost. However, the results of their attack had seen the destruction of the last available Japanese strike aircraft, as well as serious damage to the two remaining carriers and heavy damage to the battleship Hiei as well.

Of the damaged Japanese ships, Hiryu was the recipient of the heaviest damage. The battered ship had fires raging below as her crew struggled to save her, but it would prove to be a lost struggle, as the flames could not be contained. She would be in her death throws when the following strike from Enterprise arrived.

Shokaku was once more ablaze, however her crew would soon have the damages contained. Hiei had taken two torpedoes. The first had struck amidships, however this was mainly contained by her bulges and torpedo protection. The second had caught her aft, destroying her port side shaft skeg, dismounting the shaft and allowing a flow of sea water into her engineering spaces that was unstoppable. Slowed and settling by the stern, the battleship was soon lagging behind the rest of the fleet.

It was an hour and fifteen minutes later when the second strike from Enterprise arrived. With no covering fighters, the strike consisting of 6 TBD’s, 16 SBD’s covered by only four F4F’s bore in. The TBD’s set their sights on the damaged battleship Hiei, while eight of the SBD’s converged on the badly damaged Shokaku, while the remaining SBD’s chose the heavy cruiser Chikuma.

The final result of the attack would leave the Shokaku burning out of control, Hiryu a shattered wreck that was quickly to succumb to her damages, the Hiei dead in the water and sinking by the stern, and the Chikuma badly mauled from six solid hits, burning fiercely and dead in the water. The Enterprise strike would make it way home minus three TBD’s and three SBD’s.

Scattered attacks would continue until just after 1700 hrs, and see the Japanese fleet reduced to the moderately damaged battleship Kirishima, the heavily damaged heavy cruiser Tone, the light cruiser Abukuma and six destroyers. While with the attacks ending, the Japanese felt that the last of the attacks must be done, that was not to be the case come morning.

The offensive ability of the US military in the immediate area of Oahu was very much on the wane by this point in the day. While the surviving PBY’s, B-17’s and B-18’s were able to keep tabs on the withdrawing Japanese, there was little in the way of offensive strike capability left to hit the Japanese again.
The few remaining Navy and Marine fighters and SBD’s that were capable of continued operations were ordered out to join the Enterprise Air group, however they would only cover a portion of the losses taken by the Navy fliers off that carrier.

However, while the fighting was through for the day, Halsey had a bone in his teeth, and he was pushing hard to get as many of the American naval forces concentrated to finish off Nagumo’s forces come morning.

Halsey was pushing his task force north to join with Lexington and renew strikes come morning. By sunrise, the combined force would be preparing for the first strike on the battered remnants of the Kido Butai. As well, the light cruisers, which had made it out of Pearl, along with other cruisers and destroyers in the area, were forcing their passage to try to join in as well.

With the passing of the day it was now down to a gamble, would the Americans be able to find and strike at the Japanese come morning before the Japanese managed to take shelter under the stormy skies to the north.

Dang, this is going to go down as a bloody but glorious day in the history of US Marine Corps Aviation...

Zheng

Yes it should, showing up both the Navy and AAF should be good for morale in the Corps! Semper Fi!
All told though, about the only ones really smiling at the end of the day will be those Marines. There's going to be a lot of potential for confusion and misinterpretation of the results of this donnybrook. In a direct tactical sense, it should be seen as a pretty good American victory, but as you say it will be seen as a bloody one ... so a lot of questions may well pop up, and I'm thinking a few critters might be looking over their shoulders.

... and thanks for checking in, it's great to hear from you!

If Enterprise and Lexington continue the chase, they may well catch those fleet oilers that were supposed to refuel Nagumo's force. Losing them would strand the surviving Ships out of range of a friendly port. All in all a Black day for the IJN, I can only imagine the Hay that the IJA will make out of this.

Hi Fathoms ...

. those oilers would be a nice hit, however from the positions I have on them, they're probably at a distance that would preclude contact. Most of the American ships will have to be back to Pearl to refuel soon enough, as both of the carrier groups have been out for an extended period, Halsey's task force in particular.

The action on the 8th will be more centered on strikes from Lexington backed up by Enterprise ... a final drubbing before heading back to Pearl.

By now there are reports in from all over the Pacific, which for the most part little can be done about by the Pacific Fleet in the short term. However Wake is close enough to get assistance to, so once this days events are sorted out expect some action in that direction.

I'm thinking you're correct on just how the IJA will use this situation ... I'm thinking it was nasty enough between them when things were starting off good ... imagine what it might be like with things going south ...

Yeah at this point the main striking power of the IJN has shattered it's teeth, potting some oilers is somewhat superfluous. I await your next post, to see what mighty butterflies you have loosened over the Pacific.

given the state of tanker capacity in the IJN Fathoms, those Oilers are probably as valuable as the damned carriers!

As to the butterflies, well I'm thinking they'll be as big as house cats .... I'm hoping to get another up tomorrow night ... stay tuned!

Very interesting idea, Perky. The KB has essentially been destroyed, along with the IJNAF's best pilots and support crew. What lessons will be drawn from this? It's been conclusively demonstrated that surface fleets are horrendously vulnerable to aircraft, yet land based planes did the most damage. Will carriers be relegated to fleet protection, rather than offensive strikes? Airfields are going to be valued even more than they were in otl. Is this too late to change the actions of the commander of Force Z? The Pacific War has been covered in butterflies bigger than whales, and the differences in that campaign will have consequences in the Med, North Africa and Atlantic as units are deployed differently. I do hope the Canucks haven't reached Hong Kong. They were doomed otl, yet gave a decent account of themselves. Those lads could make a big difference somewhere else.

Keep up the good work!

Subscribed.

Keep up the good work Perky50.

Because I'm too lazy to go back and read the details, what is the status of the US battleline at this time? I know they are not doing so hot...

this might seem a bit disjointed ... I'm sitting on the side of the highway waiting for a maxi pot .... and I despise typing on the phone ...

okay ....
first off , battleline damage and losses
Nevada and Oklahoma sunk
Arizona and West Virginia moderate to heavy damage
California has very heavy damage
I'll have to double check on that

C Force are with the Historical Pensacola convoy and are now diverting to Australia ... and this time they are fully equipped. Im thinking Rabaul for them maybe

Most impacts of this will take a bit to fall into place, as the results will need some analysis .The Americans will be believers in carrier aviation ... within parameters .. they had good result ... however they will have major concerns with subs. the japanese will see their carrier aviation opinions rather discredited . the Royal Navy? Well being who they are, I'm thinking they'll just sort of stick to the program for the time being.
for the most part just think a lot of confusion ... there will be thought put I to what has happened ... but its going to take time ... and in that time a lot of new variables are going to skew the thought process further

Perky50 said:

this might seem a bit disjointed ... I'm sitting on the side of the highway waiting for a maxi pot .... and I despise typing on the phone ...

okay ....
first off , battleline damage and losses
Nevada and Oklahoma sunk
Arizona and West Virginia moderate to heavy damage
California has very heavy damage
I'll have to double check on that

C Force are with the Historical Pensacola convoy and are now diverting to Australia ... and this time they are fully equipped. Im thinking Rabaul for them maybe

Most impacts of this will take a bit to fall into place, as the results will need some analysis .The Americans will be believers in carrier aviation ... within parameters .. they had good result ... however they will have major concerns with subs. the japanese will see their carrier aviation opinions rather discredited . the Royal Navy? Well being who they are, I'm thinking they'll just sort of stick to the program for the time being.
for the most part just think a lot of confusion ... there will be thought put I to what has happened ... but its going to take time ... and in that time a lot of new variables are going to skew the thought process further

Click to expand...

Okay thanks, similar to OTL then. It seems one thing everybody will take away from this is that it is near suicide to attack a well defended base with carriers.

Some very interesting potential butterflies for the Royal Navy's Eastern Fleet once that get that assembled since obviously there will be no OPERATION C.

The more I think about this the more I think one of the big take aways for everybody will be the need to employ carrier based and land based air in a combined fashion.

We just had the world's most powerful concentration of ship based aviation get its rear end kicked good and hard by attacking a well defended land base that was supported by flight decks at sea.

That IJN submarines scored should be no surprise to anybody. The vulnerability of capital ships to submarines has already been demonstrated.