WI: Kimmel Is Not Relieved By Pye?

[Dave in St. Louis]

What if Admiral Kimmel stays on until Admiral Nimitz shows up on December 31, 1941?

The reason I ask is Vice Admiral Pye was considered overly cautious and cancelled the attempt by USS Saratoga to relive Wake that Kimmel had set in motion. If Kimmel stays, that operation is more likely to go forward.

[Tom_B]

http://www.lulu.com/product/paperbac...elieved/612331

[Jim Smitty]

Originally Posted by Dave in St. Louis

What if Admiral Kimmel stays on until Admiral Nimitz shows up on December 31, 1941?

The reason I ask is Vice Admiral Pye was considered overly cautious and cancelled the attempt by USS Saratoga to relive Wake that Kimmel had set in motion. If Kimmel stays, that operation is more likely to go forward.

Wkae would held out till at least the end of Feburary now, if the Sara and the relieve group made it to Wake before Dec 20. Maybe a small naval battle happens if the Sara is in the area on the 22/23, and sinking a few more destroyers and/or a light curiser or two.

If they could keep Wake supply till the end of 42 it would be out of danage of falling to the Japanese, after a Midway type battle happens there. In the lng run Wake helps with US morale in the early days of the war where everything was so black. It will also be turn into a submarine and air field stopping point for the rest of the war.

[Dave in St. Louis]

Originally Posted by Tom_B

http://www.lulu.com/product/paperbac...elieved/612331

The computer system here at the National Institutes of Health/National Cancer Institute does not seem to like that URL. Apparently I will have to wait until I get home to see it.

[mattep74]

When i read about the begining of the Pacific war it always strike me that the US could have sent a TF there and saved Wake. The japanese didnt send any CVs there, right?

What did the US CVs did between Dec 7 and the fall of Wake?

[Gridley]

Originally Posted by Dave in St. Louis

What if Admiral Kimmel stays on until Admiral Nimitz shows up on December 31, 1941?

The reason I ask is Vice Admiral Pye was considered overly cautious and cancelled the attempt by USS Saratoga to relive Wake that Kimmel had set in motion. If Kimmel stays, that operation is more likely to go forward.

Should this be a DBWI? Adm. Pye recalled the force because the 2nd Japanese wave had landed.

And if the US had pressed on, they'd have encountered the Hiryu/Soryu force supporting the landing.

[Commissar]

Originally Posted by Gridley

Should this be a DBWI? Adm. Pye recalled the force because the 2nd Japanese wave had landed.

And if the US had pressed on, they'd have encountered the Hiryu/Soryu force supporting the landing.

Both of which had already used up the last of their AVGAS and had to withdraw lest they be sunk.

[Gridley]

Originally Posted by Commissar

Both of which had already used up the last of their AVGAS and had to withdraw lest they be sunk.

That's right, I'd forgotten they hadn't gotten back to Kure to refuel until AFTER the Wake strikes. They were probably short on ordnance, too.

[eltf177]

Originally Posted by Gridley

That's right, I'd forgotten they hadn't gotten back to Kure to refuel until AFTER the Wake strikes. They were probably short on ordnance, too.

Correct on both counts, the Wake Invasion Commander was told that he was only going to get a few sorties before Hiryu and Soryu (escorted by CA's Tone and Chikuma plus 2 DD's) had to retire to refuel and replenish.

[Dave in St. Louis]

Originally Posted by Tom_B

http://www.lulu.com/product/paperbac...elieved/612331

That is nice, but I don't have the $20 just lying around. Care to summarize?