The Battle at Dawn: The first battle between the United States and Japan December 7-10, 1941

[galveston bay]

For the tankers, call it about 150 tons transferred per hour per tanker in good weather, with 8 tankers, or 1200 tons per hour. In lousy weather, anywhere from 0 tons to 150 tons per hour. So what does this mean? It means, if he's relying on the tankers, he wants his tanker train out of the crappy weather, more to the south, out of B-17 range of Oahu so at least 600nm west of Oahu. Now, Johnston is a complication (it's right near where he wants to refuel, so guess what? He'll plan on doing an air raid on that base to neutralize it).

As for the destroyers, these were intended to be refuelled from the capital ships when necessary.

you mean Midway, Johnston Island is south of Hawaii

but otherwise, pretty close to what I plotted

the historical refueling point (for exit) was posted earlier... its 200 SSW of the Bonin Islands

that tanker group in this timeline is north of Wake and east of Marcus Island (roughly 900 miles west of Midway on a converging course at best economical cruise for the tankers and escorts as of December 7)

keep in mind in the forces employed that the historical number of tankers assigned for the Japanese was increased too (which does have some consequences)

 

[NHBL]

IIRC, the Japanese refueled over the stern.
The point about damage to fuel supplies is important, torpedo hits can easily bust fuel bunkers.
I think ther's a very good chance that fuel will bite Japan hard somewhere along the line.
Refueling speed is very slow, and straight line as well. Not ALL American fish are duds--and if a S-boat finds the carriers, the fish probably will not be duds,

 

[Logan2879]

Any new update soon? Really enjoying it alot. Also are you going to write on Force Z?

 

[Glenn239]

At this time did the Japanese refuel alongside underway, or trailing over the stern?

With light ships (DD), either method, but mostly alongside. With capital ships, bow to stern, I think.

 

[Glenn239]

Plus, you likely aren't transferring fuel while clipping along very fast, especially with cripples. The problems compound themselves.

Refuelling speed was about 10kt IIRC.

 

[galveston bay]

Any new update soon? Really enjoying it alot. Also are you going to write on Force Z?

planning an update this weekend depending on how much time my wife allows me (she has plans for me today involving a 'honey do list')..so maybe today, more likely tomorrow

I will not be going into detail regarding Force Z but they will get a mention

 

[zert]

Good luck with the chores so you finish the important stuff.

Like our update.

 

[Driftless]

planning an update this weekend depending on how much time my wife allows me (she has plans for me today involving a 'honey do list')..so maybe today, more likely tomorrow

I will not be going into detail regarding Force Z but they will get a mention

Oooh, the Christmas "honey-do list". A mile long and rivals the Labors of Hercules. Your brethren here commiserate and share your burden.

 

[Alanith]

IIRC, the Japanese refueled over the stern.
The point about damage to fuel supplies is important, torpedo hits can easily bust fuel bunkers.
I think ther's a very good chance that fuel will bite Japan hard somewhere along the line.
Refueling speed is very slow, and straight line as well. Not ALL American fish are duds--and if a S-boat finds the carriers, the fish probably will not be duds,

I just read Shattered Sword and you're absolutely right about the over the stern method of refueling.

 

[galveston bay]

A Breaking Dawn
0345 Hours
Aboard the carriers Akagi, Kaga, Soryu and Hiryu, the aircrew of the First Wave man their planes and start engines.

The Plan for the First Wave
Impressed by the success of the night attack on Taranto, Yamamoto pushed Genda to revise his attack plan after news of Fleet Problem XXII reached him from intelligence sources. The older four carriers all have air groups trained in night flying. A torpedo attack just before nautical twilight is possible. There will be sufficient darkness to reduce visibility for anti-aircraft gunners, while all reports are that Hawaii has not instituted black out procedures so the towns and cities on Oahu will be brightly lit and indeed reports are that the fleet base is still lit up at night. The ships being targeted will be back lit by harbor lights, and their size will make them obvious, standing out from the shadows. The biggest difficulty will be avoiding crashing into the harbor waters if the approach is misjudged, or hitting a crane or another ship. To reduce the chances of that, a special mission will attack the aviation storage facility on Ford Island which will create flames that will bounce enough glare off the water to give the pilots something to orient themselves with. It will also provide some extra illumination of Battleship Row. Between that and the first bit of daylight, the pilots should be able to see their targets and the water, while the lights on buildings should enable them to avoid those obstructions.

While the practice exercises did result in the lost of several aircraft and crews, by the time the fleet sailed the handpicked crews for the torpedo attack mission are ready. Genda and Murata (commander of the torpedo attack force) both feel that operational losses and losses to flak will be far less than attacking in daylight against an alerted fleet, which they feel is the most likely result. The only potential flaw is that if the Americans decide to install torpedo nets. As of the time the plan was drawn up and practiced, the Americans still had not done that, and indeed up to the last report on December 3 the intelligence reports are that they still have not done so. However, the Americans do frequently have auxiliary vessel alongside one of the battleships. The answer to that is to set the torpedo depth so that run below the draft of most of the American auxiliaries, 25 feet or so, and have them run at 32 feet (the draft of the American battleships run at 35-40 feet). The other option is to instruct the pilots to aim for the parts of the battleships not screened by the auxiliaries, such as the Vestal which is frequently anchored near one of the battleships conducting repairs.

(authors note: 1 torpedo ran underneath the Vestal and impacted on the Arizona, so the Japanese did indeed solve this problem in OTL).

Another problem is avoiding detection for as long as possible. While flying directly across the island would be relatively simple in terms of navigation, a better option would be to avoid preventable discovery. To do that requires navigation check points, and as it will still be dark for the duration of the approach, rally points for the final attack run. Two submarines are assigned the mission of surfacing off the western and southern coast of Oahu and to turn on a low power radio signal that will be brief enough that the Americans are unlikely to determine its location or purpose before the mission parameters are met. They will also turn on a search light aimed at the sky for 2 minutes to provide a visual cue for the aircraft. Yamamoto feels that both submarines will likely be destroyed but losing two submarines in exchange for serious damage to the American fleet is considered worth the cost.

The final rally points will be over Pearl City and Honolulu (depending on the group) which will likely still be showing lights in the early twilight. From there the torpedo planes will make their attack runs on the ships of Carrier Row, the 110 Dock, and Battleship Row.

First Wave takes flight
At 0405, the first planes take off, in spite of heavy seas and an overcast sky. One plane, the number 3 plane lifting off from the Kaga piloted by Shigeharu Sugaya is caught by a large wave that breaks over the bow of the Kaga as he takes off, and he and is two other aircrew are the first Japanese deaths in the Pacific War against the United States at 0406 hours.

The aircraft begin making their way in groups of threes, still using their running lights for the first hour of the flight. Their first check point is the destroyer Arare, 130 miles north of Oahu, which has its running lights on for 15 minutes before departing the area at its best speed to rejoin the fleet.

Pearl Harbor 0400- 0600 hours
Meanwhile, Admiral Richardson is still not done deploying his fleet. He orders the Utah moved up alongside the California, and orders the Oglala moved to East Loch as the possibility of Japanese submarines laying mines off the harbor entrance cannot be precluded and he wants Pacific Fleet Mine Force, Admiral Furlong and his ships ready to take action to once daylight makes operations practical. The destroyer Selfridge is ordered to move alongside the Oklahoma and to remain at ready status to reinforce the Blue, Helm and Ward should it be necessary, and the remaining destroyers of the fleet are to prepare to sortie once daylight begins.

At Ford Island, Lieutenant Commander Logan Ramsey is modifying the daily patrol plane and orders are sent to all patrol aircraft to be armed with depth charges or bombs and to attack suspected submarine contacts. A fleet message is sent to American submarines to remain submerged for the first few hours of daylight to avoid accidental attack by American aircraft, particularly Army planes who are less skilled in ship identification than Navy aircrew.

At the air defense command center, General McConnell is in command and has placed his pursuit squadrons and army anti-aircraft gun crews on alert. Even if the Navy is wrong, and whatever happened to the Gamble was an isolated incident or simply a submarine attack and not a prelude to an air attack, a full scale alert will be valuable practice.

At Wheeler Field, 2nd Lieutenant “Gabby” Gabreski of the 45th Pursuit Squadron is helping his mechanics make sure that the proper ammunition load is aboard his P-36 Hawk, while at Haleiwa Field Lieutenants Kenneth Taylor and George Welch of the 47th Pursuit are running similar checks on their P40B Warhawks. All three pilots are about to have a very big day.

Over the Pacific, a flight of 11 B17E Flying Fortress bombers are en route to Hickam Field under the command of Major Truman Landon receives a message to be prepared to land at Hilo if so directed. A final message will be sent at 0630 hours to allow them sufficient fuel for that alteration to their flight plan. However the music being broadcast by CBS Radio station KGMB continues to play to aid the aircraft in their navigation. It is also a useful navigation tool for the Japanese bombers already flying toward the island of Oahu.

The first light of dawn
At 0554 Hours, the USS Ward and USS Helm both pick up sonar contacts near the harbor entrance and the Helm moves into attack position. The target, a Japanese special attack midget submarine is trying to make its way to the entrance of the harbor.

The first shots of the Battle of Pearl Harbor are about to begin.....

another useful map
http://www.bouwman.com/world/Hawaii/Oahu-WWII.gif

 

[galveston bay]

Gabraski was the leading American ace in the European Theater in World War II, and then went on to score more kills in the Korean War

During the attack in OTL, he actually got his plane into the air, but too late to catch any of the attackers

He will have different opportunities here...

 

[StephenColbert27]

The anticipation is killing me. Can't wait to see how an attack on an alert Pearl Harbor pans out.

 

[kent]

Great lead up to the battle.....

 

[Lost Freeway]

IT BEGINS.

 

[galveston bay]

Japanese Forces assigned Operation AI

0400 Hours December 7, 1941
Kido Butai (First Air Fleet) (Striking Force)
(260 miles north of Oahu)
Carriers Akagi, Kaga, Soryu, Hiryu, Shokaku, Zuikaku, battleships Hiei, Haruna, Kongo, Kirishima, CA Tone (fleet flag Yamamoto), Chikuma, CL Abukuma, 14 destroyers, 12 fleet oilers, 414 combat aircraft (54 Zero fighters for fleet defense, 354 for striking force including 81 fighters, 143 B5N Kate torpedo/level bombers, 135 D3A Val dive bombers) plus 20 float planes for scouting

the fleet turns to the west to launch, then returns to its base course heading south so that by 0930 it will be 180 miles north of Oahu

as of 0400 hours
CL Abukuma, 3 destroyers are 30 miles in front of the fleet as an advanced screen
1 Destroyer (Arare) is moving south at 32 knots toward it's assigned mission position (which it will reach 130 miles north of Oahu at 0500 hours)
the I74 is in position 30 miles off the north coast of Oahu, off Kamuka Point
the I3 is in position 10 miles off shore in Walmea Bay

First Wave: spotted on deck (commander Lieutenant Commander Murata)
40 Kate torpedo bombers (12 each Akagi, Kaga, 8 each Soryu, Hiryu), 3 Val dive bombers (Kaga)

Second Wave: spotted on deck
(Strike Commander: Commander Fuchida)
9 Zero fighters (Kaneohe Bay attack)(Shokaku)
21 Kate Level bombers (air base suppression)(Shokaku)
9 Zero fighters (Air Cover)(Zuikaku)
21 Kate Level bombers (air base suppression)(Zuikaku)
12 Zero fighters (air cover)(Soryu)
12 Zero fighters (air cover)(Hiryu)
9 Zero fighters (air cover)(Akagi)
9 Zero fighters (air cover)(Kaga)

Second Wave: hanger deck (begin moving to flight deck after First Wave launched, which takes 30 minutes total)
15 Kate Level bombers (Akagi)(fleet attack)
15 Kate Level bombers (Kaga)(fleet attack)
10 Kate Level bombers (Soryu)(fleet attack)
10 Kate Level bombers (Hiryu)(fleet attack)
6 Val Dive bombers (Akagi)(special attack unit)
6 Kate reconnaissance scouts (Zuikaku)
6 Kate reconnaissance scouts (Shokaku)

Third Wave (hanger decks, spotted and launched 1 hour after Second Wave)
(commander: Lieutenant Commander Egusa)
Group 1 (Egusa)
18 Val Dive bombers (Soryu)(fleet attack)
18 Val Dive bombers (Hiryu)(fleet attack)
9 Zero fighters (Hiryu)
9 Zero fighters (Soryu)

Group 2 (Shimazaki)
9 Zero fighters (Akagi)
27 Val Dive bombers (Shokaku)(air base suppression)
18 Val Dive bombers (Akagi)(fleet attack)
Group 3 (Sakamoto)
9 Zero fighters (Kaga)
27 Val Dive bombers (Zuikaku)(air base suppression)
18 Val Dive bombers (Kaga)(fleet attack)

Fleet Combat Air patrol
6 Zeros each carrier (36 total), spotted and launched after Third Wave departs

(refueling forces, the 12 fleet oilers, along with 4 destroyers are organized into 4 refueling groups. One is already en route for home, having completed its mission on December 4 (3 oilers, unescorted, meeting with 2 additional destroyers en route). Another group completed its task on December 6, and is en route for home with 2 destroyers as escorts. The third group if midway between Marcus Island and Wake Island with 2 destroyers, while a fourth group, with 2 destroyers and 3 oilers, is attached to the Midway Assault Force below)

6th Fleet (submarines)
31 fleet submarines plus 5 special attack (midget) submarines

Midway Island Assault Force
CA Aoba, Furutaka, Kako, Kinugasa, 4 destroyers, 2 gunboats, 6 submarine chasers, 1 seaplane tender, 2 tenders, 9 transports, South Sea Force (4,886 troops)

Wake Island Assault force
this force is en route to Wake Island as of December 7
CL Yubari, Tatsuta, Tenryu, 6 destroyers, 2 destroyer transports, 2 transports, (450 naval Special Landing Force Troops)

 

[Not James Stockdale]

Were all four Kongos in the fleet in OTL? I thought only Haruna and Kirishima sailed with the carriers because Kongo and Hiei were down near Singapore covering against Force Z.

 

[galveston bay]

Were all four Kongos in the fleet in OTL? I thought only Haruna and Kirishima sailed with the carriers because Kongo and Hiei were down near Singapore covering against Force Z.

they were added, along with additional destroyers and oilers by Yamamoto as he does not anticipate getting surprise

They were replaced by the Nagato and Mutsu which takes their previous role in operations off Malaya. The oilers were also taken from that operation and replaced by tankers from the civilian merchant fleet. The Japanese simply don't have enough to tankers and oilers and had to make some sacrifices.

Some oil is not going to be delivered that would have otherwise been

 

[Lost Freeway]

 

[zert]

Cool update and the tension grows as the attacks grow closer. The changes in the torprdo depth setting may negate the American hope for the block ships to absorb torpedoes. The sublight to dawn attacks may cause more Japanese casualties though they may avoid some American fighters. At least for the first wave. If US patrols can get the guiding destroyer or subs before they can give the rally point to the attackers, this could throw a spanner into some of the flights.

I look forward to the next update when you have time. Keep up the good work.

 

[sloreck]

It appears the attack will be at dawn, not twilight. A twilight attack would be fine for the first wave, but anyone after that would be bombing blind - sure they could drop bombs on already burning targets, but otherwise... I doubt any but a few elite pilots are going to be able to fly back from Hawaii in the dark to their carrier and land safely. Of course there can be radio beam guidance and the carriers lit up, but that could attract unwanted attention and visitors.

Of course the Japanses do not know the Americans have radar - its not clear if the IJN knew the USA had any working radar at all. With the radar going 24/7 and the command center up and running...