Items in Italic are the same as OTL
POD The Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) 25th Air Flotilla and 4th Fleet are brought up to strength in late December 1941 based on the fact that their area of responsibility is part of the front lines against USN attacks. This was part of the original prewar IJN strategy that they ignored in our time line (OTL). I have someone in the IJN having a good day and remembering their plan long enough to send the planned forces to the Marshal and Gilbert Islands. Along with being brought up to strength their orders reemphasize their role as “the shield of the empire, to attrit the United States Navy (USN) forces that might attempt to penetrate the defensive parameter and report such attempts to higher units.” Because of this they are patrolling more aggressively and are more alert.
January 2, Nimitz's staff recommended strikes against the Gilbert and Marshall Islands, but Vice Admiral William S. Pye - former commander of the Battle Fleet - raised the possibility of Japan expecting Samoa to be reinforced. Pye suggested, and Nimitz concurred, that a second carrier cover the Marines arrival in Samoa. Once the Marines were safely ashore, the two carriers would head towards the Gilberts to fend off any Japanese advance, or to strike at bases there should no opposition be met. A third carrier would strike Wake Island, while the fourth (including Yorktown, four U.S. carriers were available in the Pacific) guarded Hawaii. They spend the next 7 days working up plans for the reinforcement of Samoa and strikes against the Gilbert and Marshall Islands.
January 9, Nimitz gives Halsey orders, Halsey in command of Task Force 8 (TF8) Centered on CV-6 Enterprise accompanied by Task Force 17 (TF17) Centered on CV-5 Yorktown commanded by Rear Admiral Frank Jack Fletcher is to escort transports carrying the 8th Marine Regiment, 1st Battalion 10th Marine Regiment, and a divisional Artillery Battery from the 1st Marine Division. This unit was designated the 2d Marine Brigade commanded by Brigadier General Henry L. Larson with orders to defend Samoa and prevent the Japanese from cutting lines of communication between the US and Australia/New Zealand.
January 11, after loading previsions the previous day TF8 sailed separately from TF17.
January 23, TF8 and TF17 rendezvous 100 miles north of Samoa.
January 24, Marines are safely ashore and begin setting up defenses.
January 25, TF8 and TF17 set course of the Marshal Islands 1600 miles to the northwest.
January 26 - 27 Halsey, Fletcher and their staffs flesh out the details for the raid plan as laid out by Nimitz’s staff back at Pearl. TF17 less its cruisers would target Makin in the Gilbert Islands plus Jaluit and Mili in the southern Marshall Islands. TF8 reinforced by TF17’s cruisers would attack Wotje and Taroa (in the Maloelap atoll) in the northern Marshall islands. New intelligence received on the January 27th from the submarine SS-169 indicating that there was significate enemy air and sipping activity at Kwajalein Atoll 150 miles due west of Wotje. Halsey's chief of staff Commander Miles Browning convinced Halsey at the last minute to add Kajalein to the target list.
January 28th TF8 performs underway refueling until after 2200 necessitating continued use of running and communication lights. An H6K “Mavis” on patrol out of Makin Island spots these lights at the very edge of its patrol area, the H6K radios an initial report to Makin and begins shadowing the American force. In the confusion of the first wartime underway replenishment TF8 does not detect the short call from the Japanese flying boat.
The report from the is received on Makin and reported to the 4th Fleet and the 24th Air Flotilla (on Truk and Rabal respectively). Vice Admiral Shigeyoshi Inoue on Truk ordered a higher level of readiness with dawn fighter patrols in the Marshall, Gilbert and Solomon Island bases and to send out additional reconnaissance patrols. To prepare for strikes if the patrols report that the ships observed include American Capitol ships. In addition all ships are to prepare to get underway with 1 hours notice, destroyer squadrons to intercept the Americans, Transports to move away from battle.
January 29th TF8 and TF17 separate to approach their targets at high speed. With less than 24 hours remaining before their first offensive mission of the war, the men of Enterprise and her Air Group prepared. Fighting Six installed homemade armor - literally made of boilerplate - behind the seat of each Wildcat, a vital if weighty addition their Japanese counterparts would never consider. Halsey ordered each ship rigged for towing and for being towed, not wanting to waste a minute should any ship need help escaping after the raid. Navigators and airmen poured over aged maps, picking out reefs and targets. At 1830, Task Force 8 began its final run-in to the launching point, the ocean waves hissing past hulls at 30 knots.
The H6K has now been replaced with two more and they are circling 50 miles out from each US task force. The shadows are finally detected by the Yorktown at 2100 when they send their latest position report. Unfortunately for the Americans they do not have any night fighter capability at this point in the war, although this incident points out the need in a stark point. Since they were already detected Admiral Fletcher makes the call to break radio silence to inform TF8 but to continue with the mission but more cautiously.
Unfortunately TF8 does not receive the short message from TF17 and continues unaware that the IJN in the Marshal Islands are alerted.
January 30th 0115 American task forces cross the international date line it is now January 31st 0115.
January 31st 0220 TF8 officer of the watch reports feeling sand blowing in his face. Halsey orders the ships position double checked: its course based on old maps of questionable accuracy, the ships could be well off course and close to an uncharted atoll. The officer then thought to taste a few grains of the sand, finding them sweet he traced their source to a sailor on watch adding sugar to his coffee upwind of his position.
January 31st 0300 aircrews on-board the Enterprise and Yorktown awaken and begin preparing for their first strikes of the war.
January 31st 0400 aircrews in the Marshal and Gilbert Islands begin warming up their aircraft for launch. With the American Carriers pinpointed Rear Admiral Eiji Gotō of the 24th Air Flotilla has ordered full strikes. The destroyer squadron assigned to the Marshal Islands has already sortied in hopes of reaching position to attack any cripples left over from the air strikes. In addition a Task Force centered on the IJN 1st Carrier Division (CV Akagi and CV Kaga) along with the Battleships Kongo and Hiei were preparing to sortie from Truk. Here was an unexpected chance to sink some of the American carriers missed at Pearl Harbor.
January 31st 0415 first off the ground is a 16 plane Combat Air Patrol (CAP) of A6M2 “Zeke” Fighters from the recently upgraded Chitose Air Group, followed by 26 G3M “Nell” and 16 G4M “Betty” bombers and 24 A5M “Claude” fighters to escort them from Kwajalein. While a 10 plane CAP of A5M “Claude” Fighters followed by 15 G3M “Nell” and 8 G4M “Betty” bombers escorted by 16 A5M “Claude” fighters is launched from Wotje.
January 31st 0420 weather over the Gilbert Islands is bad enough that the commander of IJN forces calls off the attempt to launch a strike, assuming that the Americans will not be able to strike him in this weather. He still launches a defensive CAP of 16 A6M2 “Zeke” Fighters with orders to attempt to get above the storm, however this is considered by the pilots to be a very risky move by a ground officer who does not understand flight. But being orders they takeoff into the teeth of the thunderstorms moving over the islands.
January 31st 0430 Enterprise turns into the wind and begins launching aircraft, first off are the 6 F4F Wildcats of Fighting Six for the Combat Air Patrol (CAP) followed by 36 SBD Dauntless of Scouting Six and Bombing Six.
As the 6 Wildcats of the CAP reached altitude Ensign Todd Bartlett spotted a flash against the clouds to the east of the fleet. Radioing for permission he and his wingman closed on the position to investigate. Reaching 45 miles from the fleet in just over nine minutes Ensign Bartlett spots a Mavis flying boat silhouetted against the rising sun to the east. Calling tally-ho the two fighters close with the Japanese aircraft and easily shoot it down.
With the report of a snooper Halsey becomes aware that the IJN is probably aware of the raid, however he decides to press on with at least the initial strikes but calls back the cruisers that have been steaming forward to bombard the islands from short range.
January 31st 0450 Yorktown turns into the wind and begins launching aircraft first off are the 10 F4F Wildcats of Fighting 42 for the CAP followed by 11 TBD Devastators of Torpedo Five and 17 SBD Dauntlesses of Bombing five and an escort of 8 F4F Wildcats of Fighting 42 for the strike.
Immediately on launch two of the Wildcats of Fighting 42 headed for the snooper that the Yorktown’s radar had been tracking since 2100 at high speed. Shooting the Mavis down with ease, before it could get a report of the increased CAP off to the IJN 4th fleet.
January 31st 0500 A second strike of 9 TBD Devastators from Torpedo 6 and a single SBD delayed by engine trouble finish launching form up with the previously launched Dive Bombers and head for Kwajalein as planned. As the Bomber strike is on the way 12 Fighting Six F4F Wildcats are launched for Wotje and Toroa. One Wildcat pilot Ensign David Criswell apparently becomes disoriented on launch as his plane stalls shortly after takeoff and crashes into the sea, Ensign Criswell’s body is never found.
January 31st 0545 the IJN strike out of Wotje and USN TF8 Fighter sweep cross 200 miles out from TF8. Radioing a contact report to TF8 alerting them to the presence of at least one land-based strike incoming.The Wildcats dive to attack, for the first time in the war they are fighting air-craft that they completely outclass. Claude’s are a fine match for P26 Peashooters or F2A Buffaloes but the Wildcat is better in all categories. The Japanese pilots are more experienced but flying worse aircraft and tied to protecting bombers. Fighting 6 splits into two groups half attacking the fighters to keep them occupied and half diving for the bombers. Within minutes the first Japanese planes fall from the sky, victims of the stubby Grumman Fighters. A half an hour later all 23 Nell and Betty bombers and 10 of the 16 Claude fighters have fallen from the sky and the remaining Claudes are retreating to Wotje, for a loss of 4 Wildcats downed and 4 damaged. However the limits of the Grumman fighters now become apparent as they do not have the fuel to reach Wotje and return to Enterprise so they have to turn back to Enterprise.
January 31st 0617 the IJN strke out of Kwajalein crosses paths with the unescorted bomber strike from TF8, the A5Ms split half of them climbing to attack the USN strike and half of them continuing with the IJN strike. The IJN bombers call in a contact report to Kwajalein. This group of Claudes don’t have to contend with fighter escort but SBD Dauntless are almost self escorting against A5Ms. Unfortunately for the Americans they don’t spot the approaching fighters until they are less than a minute out. There is a scramble as nine SDBs of Scouting Six turn into the approaching fighters attempting to defend the rest of the formation without loosing their bomb-load. However the Japanese pilots are experienced, the Americans are scout pilots, the battle would fairly even but for the bombs slung from the American scout bombers. As it is the Americans are shot down for damage to several of the Japanese aircraft but none shot down. As the Japanese fighters close on the bombers the rest of Scouting Six having seen what happened to their fellows jettisons their bomb load and turns to defend the formation. Without bomb loads and with more warning the second half of Scouting Six has a much better time of it staying together and fighting in pairs, forcing the Japanese to come into the range of their rear gunners, by the end the Americans are down to three escorting Scouts but they have driven off or shot down all twelve of the Claudes.
January 31st 0627 Lookouts on IJN DD Mutsuki spot what appears to be a Cruiser sized ship silhouetted on the horizon to the east. This information is reported to the other 6 destroyers in formation with IJN Mutsuki. They accelerate to 30knots and spread out keeping close watch for other targets, planning to launch torpedo attacks when they are sure of the range.
January 31st 0645 Aircraft formation from the Yorktown are flying through heavy storms approaching Jaluit Atoll. Making a single high speed pass over the islands they see few worthwhile targets and take only light sporadic fire dropping bombs on two likely buildings near the port and the single wharf. The escorting fighters briefly strafe the light anti-aircraft locations doing minimal damage, one F4F fails to pull out at the end of their run either due to weather or a lucky shot by the anti-aircraft fire. Two SDBs turn back and bomb that AA location completely destroying it. By 0700 they have turned toward Mili Atoll to continue their strike.
January 31st 0700 TF8s strike on Kwajalein approaches the atoll. They discover that the CAP here is of a different type than the escorting Claudes they encountered earlier. These were new delivery A6M2 fighters that were planned to upgrade all of the front-line units. It was just bad luck for the Japanese - and good luck for the Americans - that not all units had been upgraded, but this squadron had. These Japanese pilots were less experienced than the earlier A5M pilots but they were still highly skilled and experienced, they ripped through the startled USN formation. The Americans forced through dropped their bombs doing minimal damage and exited the battle area with only 8 Dauntless left, all battle damaged.
Lookouts on USS Northampton finally spot the oncoming Japanese Destroyers. Rear Admiral Spruance orders a radical turn to clear guns, fire as weapons can be brought to bear. Destroyers fall back on the enemy ships for torpedo attacks. All ships accelerate to war emergency power. Within 10 minutes the USN ships had accelerated and turned to clear weapons, unfortunately, the IJN Destroyers had launched torpedoes less than 5 minutes after the Americans had spotted them. DD Ellet caught two torpedoes meant for USS Northampton and disintegrated when one of the two hit her forward magazine. USS Chester avoided the first two torpedoes then caught the third just forward her number 1 turret slowing her to 14 knots and starting a 4degree list to starboard. USS Northampton avoided the rest of the first wave of torpedoes more by luck than skill because she had to turn unexpectedly hard to avoid the Chester, all of the remaining torpedoes targeted at her missed astern. Then the American Cruisers opened fire on the six attacking Japanese along with the two remaining American Destroyers. Under the hail of 5 and 8 inch gunfire the Japanese Destroyers, fired another volley of torpedoes, made smoke and weaving to avoid the fire dashed away. One damaged by two hits from the Chester, and one coming apart under a full broadside from the Northampton when they dodged port when they should have ducked starboard. Then the Japanese torpedoes arrived, the Chester taking three more hits and beginning to settle fast. DD Dulap taking one hit but still able to steam, and CA Salt Lake City taking a near miss aft that broke the shaft barrings on the first starboard shaft and jammed the prop on the second starboard, slowing her maximum speed to 20 knots with a very bad vibration at anything above 12 knots. Again USS Northampton avoided the four torpedoes targeting her. She following the Japanese DD squadron for another 15 minutes firing to make sure they were not going to turn back to finish off the damaged ships, before turning back to escort the damaged Salt Lake City and Dunlap hopefully out of danger.
The interrupted Fighter sweep from TF8 arrives back over the task force, and Enterprise turns into the wind to begin recovering fighters.
January 31st 0717 Fighter control on Enterprise begins tracking unknown targets 50 miles out closing at 200 mph. Landing operations are discontinued and all fighters are vectored on the approaching bandits. The escorting Japanese Fighters focused on the large slow group of Wildcats climbing out of the traffic pattern near the Carrier, apparently missing the middle and high level CAP. The mid-level CAP moved to intercept the fighters hoping to give the climbing Wildcats time to get in position to assist. While the high CAP lead by Ensign Todd Bartlett was in best position to intercept the bombers, over 5000 feet above the bombers with the sun behind them. Ensign Bartlett didn’t even hesitate ordering a diving attack, having his wingman separate for the first pass to do the most damage possible. The first diving pass through the formation sees Ensign Bartlett shoot down two Nells and his wingman one, diving through and pulling up in a zoom-climb to gain altitude they swoop in for another pass this time shooting down one Nell each. Then seeing that the fighter duels between the climbing Wildcats and the defending Claudes reaches the bombers Ensign Bartlett and his wingman continue their dive to gain maneuver room. A Claude avoiding another Wildcat turned in front of the two diving fighters, Bartlett reacting without thinking took the snapshot and the A5M came apart under the hammer of four .50-caliber machine-guns giving him his fifth kill of the day. In the end only 10 bombers made drops, and 6 Bettys made it through the gauntlet of American fighters. However two of the bombs and one torpedo found targets on the Enterprise along with one near miss on DD USS Maury. The three hits on Enterprise were all well forward, one on the forward elevator damaging it and starting fires on the hanger deck the other just forward of the island destroying two forward 5-inch anti-aircraft guns, starting fires and damaging the bridge, forcing control of the ship to be moved to Auxiliary Control, the torpedo hit was the most dangerous hitting the forward aviation fuel storage tank and producing a 3-degree list and bursting seams on the tank letting aviation fuel vapors fill the lower levels of the ship.
January 31st 0730 the strike from Yorktown approaches Mili Atoll through sever tropical storms, the raid leader makes the decision that they would drop all their ordnance on any targets here and return to Yorktown rather than risk continuing to Makin Island through the storms. Even with the warnings the strike came as a surprise to the Japanese at Mili, they had decided that the Americans would not brave the storms to strike. Because of this there is still a minesweeper and a small freighter in the lagoon waiting out the storm along with three flying boats and two sea-planes tied up a the wharf. The Devastators of Torpedo Five made text book runs on the two Japanese ships sinking them in the lagoon, while the Dauntless of Bombing five bombed the flying boats, sea planes, wharf and warehouses near the wharf. The fighters circled above trying to keep watch for any Japanese aircraft. The only opposition was scattered light anti-aircraft fire, and the weather, two Dauntless and one Devastators were hit by lightening during their runs and failed to pull out crashing into the island or the lagoon, one Wildcat was hit by anti-aircraft fire but was able to continue. The remaining aircraft from the Yorktown raid turn for their carrier leaving burning wreckage behind them in the rain.
January 31st 0735 Additional Japanese reconnaissance aircraft are launched to track the American Fleet and to try to find the second carrier. After the first strike reports sinking one Carrier. Last known American position reported to IJN First Carrier Division, currently steaming east at 27 knots still over 1200 miles west of Kwajalein atoll well out of range of the Americans but closing fast.
January 31 0740 Enterprise damage control crews have the fires were under control, counter flooding to offset the list so that landing operations could be resumed and have filled the area with aviation fuel fumes with CO2 before starting to seal the damage to reduce the chance of fire. Damage Control working to restore the ability to launch aircraft and seal the hull breach.
January 31st 0835 USS Salt Lake City damage control crews detach drive from both starboard shafts giving her the ability to reach 25 knots and reducing vibration. Northampton and detached task group increase speed to 25 knots and changes course to shorten their time before reaching TF8.
January 31st 0945 Enterprise damage control crews finish welding forward elevator in place making it possible to launch aircraft as well as recover aircraft. Enterprise launches 6 plane CAP. Damage control crews also finish draining the damaged Av-gas storage tank, and flushing the area with CO2 eliminating the danger of explosion from that source.
January 31 0955 Enterprise Fighter Control picks up incoming unknowns and vectors two planes from CAP to investigate. It is the remains of their strike on Kwajalein followed at a distance by a Japanese E7K2 “Alf” Seaplane trying to follow the strike home. The two fighters of the CAP made short work of the Alf but it got off a position report letting the Japanese commanders know that there was at least one remaining US carrier since the shorter ranged Wildcats would not still be in the air without some place to refuel.
January 31 1004 Enterprise turns into the wind and begins recovery of the Kwajalein strike. Then turns to the south east away from the Marshal Islands, still only making 20 knots to allow Northampton and detached task group to catch up.
January 31 1010 Japanese launch 3 H6K flying boats armed with two torpedoes each from Ailinglaplap atoll and 14 G3M bombers and 6 G4M bombers escorted by 6 Zeros from Kwajalein toward the reported position of the new American Carrier.
January 31 1120 Northampton and detached task group rejoins TF8. TF17 now within fighter range, continuous CAP over both carriers, continuous radar watch by all ships.
To be continued...
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POD The Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) 25th Air Flotilla and 4th Fleet are brought up to strength in late December 1941 based on the fact that their area of responsibility is part of the front lines against USN attacks. This was part of the original prewar IJN strategy that they ignored in our time line (OTL). I have someone in the IJN having a good day and remembering their plan long enough to send the planned forces to the Marshal and Gilbert Islands. Along with being brought up to strength their orders reemphasize their role as “the shield of the empire, to attrit the United States Navy (USN) forces that might attempt to penetrate the defensive parameter and report such attempts to higher units.” Because of this they are patrolling more aggressively and are more alert.
January 2, Nimitz's staff recommended strikes against the Gilbert and Marshall Islands, but Vice Admiral William S. Pye - former commander of the Battle Fleet - raised the possibility of Japan expecting Samoa to be reinforced. Pye suggested, and Nimitz concurred, that a second carrier cover the Marines arrival in Samoa. Once the Marines were safely ashore, the two carriers would head towards the Gilberts to fend off any Japanese advance, or to strike at bases there should no opposition be met. A third carrier would strike Wake Island, while the fourth (including Yorktown, four U.S. carriers were available in the Pacific) guarded Hawaii. They spend the next 7 days working up plans for the reinforcement of Samoa and strikes against the Gilbert and Marshall Islands.
January 9, Nimitz gives Halsey orders, Halsey in command of Task Force 8 (TF8) Centered on CV-6 Enterprise accompanied by Task Force 17 (TF17) Centered on CV-5 Yorktown commanded by Rear Admiral Frank Jack Fletcher is to escort transports carrying the 8th Marine Regiment, 1st Battalion 10th Marine Regiment, and a divisional Artillery Battery from the 1st Marine Division. This unit was designated the 2d Marine Brigade commanded by Brigadier General Henry L. Larson with orders to defend Samoa and prevent the Japanese from cutting lines of communication between the US and Australia/New Zealand.
January 11, after loading previsions the previous day TF8 sailed separately from TF17.
January 23, TF8 and TF17 rendezvous 100 miles north of Samoa.
January 24, Marines are safely ashore and begin setting up defenses.
January 25, TF8 and TF17 set course of the Marshal Islands 1600 miles to the northwest.
January 26 - 27 Halsey, Fletcher and their staffs flesh out the details for the raid plan as laid out by Nimitz’s staff back at Pearl. TF17 less its cruisers would target Makin in the Gilbert Islands plus Jaluit and Mili in the southern Marshall Islands. TF8 reinforced by TF17’s cruisers would attack Wotje and Taroa (in the Maloelap atoll) in the northern Marshall islands. New intelligence received on the January 27th from the submarine SS-169 indicating that there was significate enemy air and sipping activity at Kwajalein Atoll 150 miles due west of Wotje. Halsey's chief of staff Commander Miles Browning convinced Halsey at the last minute to add Kajalein to the target list.
January 28th TF8 performs underway refueling until after 2200 necessitating continued use of running and communication lights. An H6K “Mavis” on patrol out of Makin Island spots these lights at the very edge of its patrol area, the H6K radios an initial report to Makin and begins shadowing the American force. In the confusion of the first wartime underway replenishment TF8 does not detect the short call from the Japanese flying boat.
The report from the is received on Makin and reported to the 4th Fleet and the 24th Air Flotilla (on Truk and Rabal respectively). Vice Admiral Shigeyoshi Inoue on Truk ordered a higher level of readiness with dawn fighter patrols in the Marshall, Gilbert and Solomon Island bases and to send out additional reconnaissance patrols. To prepare for strikes if the patrols report that the ships observed include American Capitol ships. In addition all ships are to prepare to get underway with 1 hours notice, destroyer squadrons to intercept the Americans, Transports to move away from battle.
January 29th TF8 and TF17 separate to approach their targets at high speed. With less than 24 hours remaining before their first offensive mission of the war, the men of Enterprise and her Air Group prepared. Fighting Six installed homemade armor - literally made of boilerplate - behind the seat of each Wildcat, a vital if weighty addition their Japanese counterparts would never consider. Halsey ordered each ship rigged for towing and for being towed, not wanting to waste a minute should any ship need help escaping after the raid. Navigators and airmen poured over aged maps, picking out reefs and targets. At 1830, Task Force 8 began its final run-in to the launching point, the ocean waves hissing past hulls at 30 knots.
The H6K has now been replaced with two more and they are circling 50 miles out from each US task force. The shadows are finally detected by the Yorktown at 2100 when they send their latest position report. Unfortunately for the Americans they do not have any night fighter capability at this point in the war, although this incident points out the need in a stark point. Since they were already detected Admiral Fletcher makes the call to break radio silence to inform TF8 but to continue with the mission but more cautiously.
Unfortunately TF8 does not receive the short message from TF17 and continues unaware that the IJN in the Marshal Islands are alerted.
January 30th 0115 American task forces cross the international date line it is now January 31st 0115.
January 31st 0220 TF8 officer of the watch reports feeling sand blowing in his face. Halsey orders the ships position double checked: its course based on old maps of questionable accuracy, the ships could be well off course and close to an uncharted atoll. The officer then thought to taste a few grains of the sand, finding them sweet he traced their source to a sailor on watch adding sugar to his coffee upwind of his position.
January 31st 0300 aircrews on-board the Enterprise and Yorktown awaken and begin preparing for their first strikes of the war.
January 31st 0400 aircrews in the Marshal and Gilbert Islands begin warming up their aircraft for launch. With the American Carriers pinpointed Rear Admiral Eiji Gotō of the 24th Air Flotilla has ordered full strikes. The destroyer squadron assigned to the Marshal Islands has already sortied in hopes of reaching position to attack any cripples left over from the air strikes. In addition a Task Force centered on the IJN 1st Carrier Division (CV Akagi and CV Kaga) along with the Battleships Kongo and Hiei were preparing to sortie from Truk. Here was an unexpected chance to sink some of the American carriers missed at Pearl Harbor.
January 31st 0415 first off the ground is a 16 plane Combat Air Patrol (CAP) of A6M2 “Zeke” Fighters from the recently upgraded Chitose Air Group, followed by 26 G3M “Nell” and 16 G4M “Betty” bombers and 24 A5M “Claude” fighters to escort them from Kwajalein. While a 10 plane CAP of A5M “Claude” Fighters followed by 15 G3M “Nell” and 8 G4M “Betty” bombers escorted by 16 A5M “Claude” fighters is launched from Wotje.
January 31st 0420 weather over the Gilbert Islands is bad enough that the commander of IJN forces calls off the attempt to launch a strike, assuming that the Americans will not be able to strike him in this weather. He still launches a defensive CAP of 16 A6M2 “Zeke” Fighters with orders to attempt to get above the storm, however this is considered by the pilots to be a very risky move by a ground officer who does not understand flight. But being orders they takeoff into the teeth of the thunderstorms moving over the islands.
January 31st 0430 Enterprise turns into the wind and begins launching aircraft, first off are the 6 F4F Wildcats of Fighting Six for the Combat Air Patrol (CAP) followed by 36 SBD Dauntless of Scouting Six and Bombing Six.
As the 6 Wildcats of the CAP reached altitude Ensign Todd Bartlett spotted a flash against the clouds to the east of the fleet. Radioing for permission he and his wingman closed on the position to investigate. Reaching 45 miles from the fleet in just over nine minutes Ensign Bartlett spots a Mavis flying boat silhouetted against the rising sun to the east. Calling tally-ho the two fighters close with the Japanese aircraft and easily shoot it down.
With the report of a snooper Halsey becomes aware that the IJN is probably aware of the raid, however he decides to press on with at least the initial strikes but calls back the cruisers that have been steaming forward to bombard the islands from short range.
January 31st 0450 Yorktown turns into the wind and begins launching aircraft first off are the 10 F4F Wildcats of Fighting 42 for the CAP followed by 11 TBD Devastators of Torpedo Five and 17 SBD Dauntlesses of Bombing five and an escort of 8 F4F Wildcats of Fighting 42 for the strike.
Immediately on launch two of the Wildcats of Fighting 42 headed for the snooper that the Yorktown’s radar had been tracking since 2100 at high speed. Shooting the Mavis down with ease, before it could get a report of the increased CAP off to the IJN 4th fleet.
January 31st 0500 A second strike of 9 TBD Devastators from Torpedo 6 and a single SBD delayed by engine trouble finish launching form up with the previously launched Dive Bombers and head for Kwajalein as planned. As the Bomber strike is on the way 12 Fighting Six F4F Wildcats are launched for Wotje and Toroa. One Wildcat pilot Ensign David Criswell apparently becomes disoriented on launch as his plane stalls shortly after takeoff and crashes into the sea, Ensign Criswell’s body is never found.
January 31st 0545 the IJN strike out of Wotje and USN TF8 Fighter sweep cross 200 miles out from TF8. Radioing a contact report to TF8 alerting them to the presence of at least one land-based strike incoming.The Wildcats dive to attack, for the first time in the war they are fighting air-craft that they completely outclass. Claude’s are a fine match for P26 Peashooters or F2A Buffaloes but the Wildcat is better in all categories. The Japanese pilots are more experienced but flying worse aircraft and tied to protecting bombers. Fighting 6 splits into two groups half attacking the fighters to keep them occupied and half diving for the bombers. Within minutes the first Japanese planes fall from the sky, victims of the stubby Grumman Fighters. A half an hour later all 23 Nell and Betty bombers and 10 of the 16 Claude fighters have fallen from the sky and the remaining Claudes are retreating to Wotje, for a loss of 4 Wildcats downed and 4 damaged. However the limits of the Grumman fighters now become apparent as they do not have the fuel to reach Wotje and return to Enterprise so they have to turn back to Enterprise.
January 31st 0617 the IJN strke out of Kwajalein crosses paths with the unescorted bomber strike from TF8, the A5Ms split half of them climbing to attack the USN strike and half of them continuing with the IJN strike. The IJN bombers call in a contact report to Kwajalein. This group of Claudes don’t have to contend with fighter escort but SBD Dauntless are almost self escorting against A5Ms. Unfortunately for the Americans they don’t spot the approaching fighters until they are less than a minute out. There is a scramble as nine SDBs of Scouting Six turn into the approaching fighters attempting to defend the rest of the formation without loosing their bomb-load. However the Japanese pilots are experienced, the Americans are scout pilots, the battle would fairly even but for the bombs slung from the American scout bombers. As it is the Americans are shot down for damage to several of the Japanese aircraft but none shot down. As the Japanese fighters close on the bombers the rest of Scouting Six having seen what happened to their fellows jettisons their bomb load and turns to defend the formation. Without bomb loads and with more warning the second half of Scouting Six has a much better time of it staying together and fighting in pairs, forcing the Japanese to come into the range of their rear gunners, by the end the Americans are down to three escorting Scouts but they have driven off or shot down all twelve of the Claudes.
January 31st 0627 Lookouts on IJN DD Mutsuki spot what appears to be a Cruiser sized ship silhouetted on the horizon to the east. This information is reported to the other 6 destroyers in formation with IJN Mutsuki. They accelerate to 30knots and spread out keeping close watch for other targets, planning to launch torpedo attacks when they are sure of the range.
January 31st 0645 Aircraft formation from the Yorktown are flying through heavy storms approaching Jaluit Atoll. Making a single high speed pass over the islands they see few worthwhile targets and take only light sporadic fire dropping bombs on two likely buildings near the port and the single wharf. The escorting fighters briefly strafe the light anti-aircraft locations doing minimal damage, one F4F fails to pull out at the end of their run either due to weather or a lucky shot by the anti-aircraft fire. Two SDBs turn back and bomb that AA location completely destroying it. By 0700 they have turned toward Mili Atoll to continue their strike.
January 31st 0700 TF8s strike on Kwajalein approaches the atoll. They discover that the CAP here is of a different type than the escorting Claudes they encountered earlier. These were new delivery A6M2 fighters that were planned to upgrade all of the front-line units. It was just bad luck for the Japanese - and good luck for the Americans - that not all units had been upgraded, but this squadron had. These Japanese pilots were less experienced than the earlier A5M pilots but they were still highly skilled and experienced, they ripped through the startled USN formation. The Americans forced through dropped their bombs doing minimal damage and exited the battle area with only 8 Dauntless left, all battle damaged.
Lookouts on USS Northampton finally spot the oncoming Japanese Destroyers. Rear Admiral Spruance orders a radical turn to clear guns, fire as weapons can be brought to bear. Destroyers fall back on the enemy ships for torpedo attacks. All ships accelerate to war emergency power. Within 10 minutes the USN ships had accelerated and turned to clear weapons, unfortunately, the IJN Destroyers had launched torpedoes less than 5 minutes after the Americans had spotted them. DD Ellet caught two torpedoes meant for USS Northampton and disintegrated when one of the two hit her forward magazine. USS Chester avoided the first two torpedoes then caught the third just forward her number 1 turret slowing her to 14 knots and starting a 4degree list to starboard. USS Northampton avoided the rest of the first wave of torpedoes more by luck than skill because she had to turn unexpectedly hard to avoid the Chester, all of the remaining torpedoes targeted at her missed astern. Then the American Cruisers opened fire on the six attacking Japanese along with the two remaining American Destroyers. Under the hail of 5 and 8 inch gunfire the Japanese Destroyers, fired another volley of torpedoes, made smoke and weaving to avoid the fire dashed away. One damaged by two hits from the Chester, and one coming apart under a full broadside from the Northampton when they dodged port when they should have ducked starboard. Then the Japanese torpedoes arrived, the Chester taking three more hits and beginning to settle fast. DD Dulap taking one hit but still able to steam, and CA Salt Lake City taking a near miss aft that broke the shaft barrings on the first starboard shaft and jammed the prop on the second starboard, slowing her maximum speed to 20 knots with a very bad vibration at anything above 12 knots. Again USS Northampton avoided the four torpedoes targeting her. She following the Japanese DD squadron for another 15 minutes firing to make sure they were not going to turn back to finish off the damaged ships, before turning back to escort the damaged Salt Lake City and Dunlap hopefully out of danger.
The interrupted Fighter sweep from TF8 arrives back over the task force, and Enterprise turns into the wind to begin recovering fighters.
January 31st 0717 Fighter control on Enterprise begins tracking unknown targets 50 miles out closing at 200 mph. Landing operations are discontinued and all fighters are vectored on the approaching bandits. The escorting Japanese Fighters focused on the large slow group of Wildcats climbing out of the traffic pattern near the Carrier, apparently missing the middle and high level CAP. The mid-level CAP moved to intercept the fighters hoping to give the climbing Wildcats time to get in position to assist. While the high CAP lead by Ensign Todd Bartlett was in best position to intercept the bombers, over 5000 feet above the bombers with the sun behind them. Ensign Bartlett didn’t even hesitate ordering a diving attack, having his wingman separate for the first pass to do the most damage possible. The first diving pass through the formation sees Ensign Bartlett shoot down two Nells and his wingman one, diving through and pulling up in a zoom-climb to gain altitude they swoop in for another pass this time shooting down one Nell each. Then seeing that the fighter duels between the climbing Wildcats and the defending Claudes reaches the bombers Ensign Bartlett and his wingman continue their dive to gain maneuver room. A Claude avoiding another Wildcat turned in front of the two diving fighters, Bartlett reacting without thinking took the snapshot and the A5M came apart under the hammer of four .50-caliber machine-guns giving him his fifth kill of the day. In the end only 10 bombers made drops, and 6 Bettys made it through the gauntlet of American fighters. However two of the bombs and one torpedo found targets on the Enterprise along with one near miss on DD USS Maury. The three hits on Enterprise were all well forward, one on the forward elevator damaging it and starting fires on the hanger deck the other just forward of the island destroying two forward 5-inch anti-aircraft guns, starting fires and damaging the bridge, forcing control of the ship to be moved to Auxiliary Control, the torpedo hit was the most dangerous hitting the forward aviation fuel storage tank and producing a 3-degree list and bursting seams on the tank letting aviation fuel vapors fill the lower levels of the ship.
January 31st 0730 the strike from Yorktown approaches Mili Atoll through sever tropical storms, the raid leader makes the decision that they would drop all their ordnance on any targets here and return to Yorktown rather than risk continuing to Makin Island through the storms. Even with the warnings the strike came as a surprise to the Japanese at Mili, they had decided that the Americans would not brave the storms to strike. Because of this there is still a minesweeper and a small freighter in the lagoon waiting out the storm along with three flying boats and two sea-planes tied up a the wharf. The Devastators of Torpedo Five made text book runs on the two Japanese ships sinking them in the lagoon, while the Dauntless of Bombing five bombed the flying boats, sea planes, wharf and warehouses near the wharf. The fighters circled above trying to keep watch for any Japanese aircraft. The only opposition was scattered light anti-aircraft fire, and the weather, two Dauntless and one Devastators were hit by lightening during their runs and failed to pull out crashing into the island or the lagoon, one Wildcat was hit by anti-aircraft fire but was able to continue. The remaining aircraft from the Yorktown raid turn for their carrier leaving burning wreckage behind them in the rain.
January 31st 0735 Additional Japanese reconnaissance aircraft are launched to track the American Fleet and to try to find the second carrier. After the first strike reports sinking one Carrier. Last known American position reported to IJN First Carrier Division, currently steaming east at 27 knots still over 1200 miles west of Kwajalein atoll well out of range of the Americans but closing fast.
January 31 0740 Enterprise damage control crews have the fires were under control, counter flooding to offset the list so that landing operations could be resumed and have filled the area with aviation fuel fumes with CO2 before starting to seal the damage to reduce the chance of fire. Damage Control working to restore the ability to launch aircraft and seal the hull breach.
January 31st 0835 USS Salt Lake City damage control crews detach drive from both starboard shafts giving her the ability to reach 25 knots and reducing vibration. Northampton and detached task group increase speed to 25 knots and changes course to shorten their time before reaching TF8.
January 31st 0945 Enterprise damage control crews finish welding forward elevator in place making it possible to launch aircraft as well as recover aircraft. Enterprise launches 6 plane CAP. Damage control crews also finish draining the damaged Av-gas storage tank, and flushing the area with CO2 eliminating the danger of explosion from that source.
January 31 0955 Enterprise Fighter Control picks up incoming unknowns and vectors two planes from CAP to investigate. It is the remains of their strike on Kwajalein followed at a distance by a Japanese E7K2 “Alf” Seaplane trying to follow the strike home. The two fighters of the CAP made short work of the Alf but it got off a position report letting the Japanese commanders know that there was at least one remaining US carrier since the shorter ranged Wildcats would not still be in the air without some place to refuel.
January 31 1004 Enterprise turns into the wind and begins recovery of the Kwajalein strike. Then turns to the south east away from the Marshal Islands, still only making 20 knots to allow Northampton and detached task group to catch up.
January 31 1010 Japanese launch 3 H6K flying boats armed with two torpedoes each from Ailinglaplap atoll and 14 G3M bombers and 6 G4M bombers escorted by 6 Zeros from Kwajalein toward the reported position of the new American Carrier.
January 31 1120 Northampton and detached task group rejoins TF8. TF17 now within fighter range, continuous CAP over both carriers, continuous radar watch by all ships.
To be continued...
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