Thanks. The thing about the S boats assigned is that both of them need major work. It was doubtful that new boats would be assigned to replace either of them. All that Guam could do was send one boat at a time back to Pearl which is what they did. So from late August until mid-November the Island had only one S-Boat on station. That allowed the Japanese to build up on Saipan with out being seen.
WI Guam
- Thread starter kent
- Start date
Yeah, remember that subs in the Pacific War were often very useful as pickets and scouts.
BTW, might want to avoid using the term 'group' in reference to USAAF aircraft; I saw that and my first thought was "they sent three or four full squadrons?!!?"
Thanks chaged the wording to squardon. Didn't think about what group vs.squadron would imply.Yeah, remember that subs in the Pacific War were often very useful as pickets and scouts.
BTW, might want to avoid using the term 'group' in reference to USAAF aircraft; I saw that and my first thought was "they sent three or four full squadrons?!!?"
It is a very minor nit at most; I doubt most people would actually think of a Group vs. a group.
I agree about Wake being a potential Midway...
But could we find out if the whole Battalion has been sent? And is Cunningham in charge? If the Radar is there, then 7 out of 12 Wildcats won't be smashed on the ground. That would be a BIG difference to the battle. And if the 2nd invasion force decides not to go, then Wake WILL be reinforced. And the Chitose air group in the Marianas will be chopped out of the sky.
But could we find out if the whole Battalion has been sent? And is Cunningham in charge? If the Radar is there, then 7 out of 12 Wildcats won't be smashed on the ground. That would be a BIG difference to the battle. And if the 2nd invasion force decides not to go, then Wake WILL be reinforced. And the Chitose air group in the Marianas will be chopped out of the sky.
Japanese plans
By September 1941 in was becoming obvious that the Japanese 18th Naval Air Unit on Saipan was attempting reconnaissance of Guam and the US navy units assigned to it. While they did not attempt to over fly Guam, the Japanese were flying around that island at a distance of about 30 miles from shore. The float planes from Saipan were intercepted by fighters when ever they attempted to close to closer than 30 miles. So the Japanese knew there were now fighters on Guam. They just didn’t know how many. It was also unknown if the Japanese knew about the A-20s.
By November of 1941 the Japanese war plans were being flushed out.
The 55th Infantry Group under the command of Maj. Gen. Fomitaro Horii was organized as the South Seas Detachment with the mission to seize Guam and the Bismark Islands. They were reinforced with 400 sailors trained as marines from the Saipan garrison. Not knowing for sure what the United States had on Guam as each attempt to land intelligence agents Northern Chamorros from Saipan or Japanese intelligence agents onto Guam had failed. For these reasons a very strong landing force was planned along with a very strong navy force of 4 Heavy Cruisers, 4 Destroyers, 2 Gunboats 6 Submarine chasers 2 Mine sweepers along with 6 to 9 transports to move the Infantry for the invasion. the Japanese air assets were not as strong only 18 floatplanes (that were both scouts and bombers), 12 bombers (Kates) and 15 fighters (Type96). The plan was for the fleet units with transports to
arrive off Rota and move on Guam after the attack at Pearl Harbor.
United states reactions to these reconnaissance missions was to order the Guam command to stock caves with food and water to act as civil defense shelters for the population. On October 17th the order was given to evacuate dependents on the island back to Hawaii. American wives, children and non American females and children from other nations were sent to Hawaii on the APL SS President Polk. Escorting the Polk back to Hawaii was the USS Shaw . Two patrol boats the YP-16 and 17 were fitted out with machine guns, 30cal to act as escorts for the fishing fleet.
Once again both the Army and Navy in Hawaii said no to giving Guam artillery. Plans were made to position the 5 tanks near the most likely landing beaches. Two near the Orote peninsula, 2 near the Barrigada airfield and one at the Lupog airfield. Orders were given to the radar crew to insure that if it looked that they would be overran to destroy all manuals and blow up the SCR-270. Japan did not have radar so far as the United States knew and those manuals or the equipment could give them a big intelligence find. One squad of Marines was reassigned from the Cosos Lagoon unit to the radar as extra security. By mid-November, Guam had 2 Submarines the S-41 and S-43, One Destroyer, one Submarine tender, one Mine Sweeper and two patrol boats; 20 P-40s, 10 A-20s, 8 PBYs. Three Marine Infantry Companies with 5 attached tanks. One Security Company with 4 attached quad 50s mounted on trucks. Plus the radar section. The dance was soon to begin.
By September 1941 in was becoming obvious that the Japanese 18th Naval Air Unit on Saipan was attempting reconnaissance of Guam and the US navy units assigned to it. While they did not attempt to over fly Guam, the Japanese were flying around that island at a distance of about 30 miles from shore. The float planes from Saipan were intercepted by fighters when ever they attempted to close to closer than 30 miles. So the Japanese knew there were now fighters on Guam. They just didn’t know how many. It was also unknown if the Japanese knew about the A-20s.
By November of 1941 the Japanese war plans were being flushed out.
The 55th Infantry Group under the command of Maj. Gen. Fomitaro Horii was organized as the South Seas Detachment with the mission to seize Guam and the Bismark Islands. They were reinforced with 400 sailors trained as marines from the Saipan garrison. Not knowing for sure what the United States had on Guam as each attempt to land intelligence agents Northern Chamorros from Saipan or Japanese intelligence agents onto Guam had failed. For these reasons a very strong landing force was planned along with a very strong navy force of 4 Heavy Cruisers, 4 Destroyers, 2 Gunboats 6 Submarine chasers 2 Mine sweepers along with 6 to 9 transports to move the Infantry for the invasion. the Japanese air assets were not as strong only 18 floatplanes (that were both scouts and bombers), 12 bombers (Kates) and 15 fighters (Type96). The plan was for the fleet units with transports to
arrive off Rota and move on Guam after the attack at Pearl Harbor.
United states reactions to these reconnaissance missions was to order the Guam command to stock caves with food and water to act as civil defense shelters for the population. On October 17th the order was given to evacuate dependents on the island back to Hawaii. American wives, children and non American females and children from other nations were sent to Hawaii on the APL SS President Polk. Escorting the Polk back to Hawaii was the USS Shaw . Two patrol boats the YP-16 and 17 were fitted out with machine guns, 30cal to act as escorts for the fishing fleet.
Once again both the Army and Navy in Hawaii said no to giving Guam artillery. Plans were made to position the 5 tanks near the most likely landing beaches. Two near the Orote peninsula, 2 near the Barrigada airfield and one at the Lupog airfield. Orders were given to the radar crew to insure that if it looked that they would be overran to destroy all manuals and blow up the SCR-270. Japan did not have radar so far as the United States knew and those manuals or the equipment could give them a big intelligence find. One squad of Marines was reassigned from the Cosos Lagoon unit to the radar as extra security. By mid-November, Guam had 2 Submarines the S-41 and S-43, One Destroyer, one Submarine tender, one Mine Sweeper and two patrol boats; 20 P-40s, 10 A-20s, 8 PBYs. Three Marine Infantry Companies with 5 attached tanks. One Security Company with 4 attached quad 50s mounted on trucks. Plus the radar section. The dance was soon to begin.
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I have to find more data on them. I discovered while reading that the YP-16 and 17 were assigned to Guam but I have as yet not found any more data on them. I think they must have been small Coast Guard type launches. But they were not ided as CG units so I just not sure. Once I find out more I will up date with types.
First Steps
After the war warning sent on the 25th of November, The Pacific Fleet Headquarters ordered that the remaining destroyer USS John Paul Jones, to relocate from Guam back to Pearl Harbor. for now the Submarine Tender USS Seawall was to remain in Agana Bay because it was also acting as the depot for the PBYs. Dawn, noon and sunset air patrols were set for the PBYs and fighters. Vigilance was the word of the day for the radar unit and both the S-41 and S-43.
At 0400 (Guam time) 0800 Hawaii, 7 December (Hawaii), morning of the 8th (Guam) the radio communications duty Petty Officer was shocked by the announcement of Air Raid Pearl Harbor, this is no drill. The duty PO called both airstrips, the radar unit and the Governors office. Plans after the first shock wore off were rapidly put into place. Ten of the P-40s were scrambled to act as a combat air patrol over the island airstrips and harbor. The A-20, Havoc Attack Bombers were armed with the 500lb AP Bombs and prepared for possible anti-ship attacks. At 0450 the radar site reported that they had a possible target approaching from Saipan that looked like 15 to 20 aircraft. The remaining 10 P-40s were scrambled and vectored to intercept the approaching Japanese aircraft. The 4 quad 50s were positioned into their firing pits around the two airfields.
Marine and Civil Guard beach watchers took up their positions to watch for possible landings. All 8 PBYs were sent aloft to scout for any possible invasion fleet. The Japanese were about to find out that Guam had teeth.
The five floatplanes ,10 kates and 10 type 96 fighters, in the first wave were bounced by the 10 P-40s at about 15 miles out to sea, none of the floatplanes, only 2 of the kates and 3 type 96 got past the first group of American fighters. the 3 type 96 fighters attempted a strafing run on the airfield at Barrigada and found out that 2 quad 50s made Swiss-cheese of their planes. The 2 kates made a bombing run on the USS Seawall
but the P-40s flying CAP over the harbor made short work of them.
The complete lack of success by the 18th Naval Air Unit was unknown by the Japanese fleet units moving in from Rota Island. By 0700 The PBYs had discovered the Japanese fleet units and the 10 A-20 Havocs escorted by 10 P-40s went after them. Surprised by American Attack Bombers, Japanese Anti-Air was not very successful. But the American pilots were on their first mission and went after the war ships not the transports. Two of the Heavy Cruisers were hit as were 1 destroyer and 1 sub chaser. Two of the A-20s were damaged but were able to return to Guam. The Japanese fleet turned and fled towards Saipan and the waiting S-41 which put two torpedoes into one of the damaged heavy Cruisers.
At Saipan the Japanese command reported the failed air attack on Guam and the sinking of one Cruiser and the damage to another. Word was passed that one of the Japanese carriers would assist the next attempt with it’s A6M Zero fighters. But for now use what air units they had to keep the pressure on Guam.
No P-40s had been lost. Lt Col Nash wanted to raid Saipan with his 8 remaining A-20 Havocs, escorted by 10 fighters. The raid was planned for mid-afternoon 4 Havocs would have AP bombs the other 4 general purpose bombs. The crews of the 4 with general purpose bombs 100lb and 250lb were told go the transports. The fighters would fly a cap and strafe the airfields.
Word was being received by 1600(4pm) about the damage at Pearl Harbor and also at the Philippines. Brad and all his officers could not understand how such damage had happened, especially the aircraft losses in the Philippines. Reports from Pearl advised that the Japanese Zero was faster than the P-40, could turn inside it, could not climb as fast and was under gunned. Good thing we only had to deal with type-96 fighters.
By 1700 the attack force was back from Saipan. Two freighters were damaged, the airstrip on Saipan had been both bombed and strafed with at least 3 more aircraft destroyed on the ground. Col Nash reported that one more A-20 was damaged and two P-40s also had damage. This report along with the names of two of the P-40 pilots who had shot down 5 Japanese aircraft was sent to Pearl. The first day was over no one was sure what would happen next. For now Guam was holding and giving it back much harder than it was taking it.
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Bearcat
Banned
YPs are harbor patrol boats. Very light units. They won't last long once the shooting starts. I'd pull their machine guns off myself and mount them somewhere nasty and unexpected on land.
One typo: I think you mean A6M, not ASM6. Also, I don't think the Allies picked up on the Zero's strengths and weaknesses on the first day.
As Bearcat noted, YP's aren't going to be any good in a fight with anything larger than a sampan.
Which IJN CA bought it? If they're still running the OTL OrBat, CA Aoba, Kinugasa, Kako, and Furutaka were there.
If you haven't found it already, take a look here:
http://niehorster.orbat.com/014_japan/41-12-08_ops_01/pacific_guam.html
Edit: Hit 'post' too fast - BTW, I'm enjoying this greatly.
As Bearcat noted, YP's aren't going to be any good in a fight with anything larger than a sampan.
Which IJN CA bought it? If they're still running the OTL OrBat, CA Aoba, Kinugasa, Kako, and Furutaka were there.
If you haven't found it already, take a look here:
http://niehorster.orbat.com/014_japan/41-12-08_ops_01/pacific_guam.html
Edit: Hit 'post' too fast - BTW, I'm enjoying this greatly.
Thanks I corrected the A6M I thought I would use the YP Patrol boats as search and rescue units arround the Island.
Yup, they'll be good for that.
Did you pick a CA to sink? I'm very fond of details like that.
The Second Day
At 0430 the S-41 reported that the Japanese CA IJN Kinugasa had sunk and that it appeared that the CA IJN Kako had taken at least two bomb hits. The Japanese fleet was now in the Saipan anchorage with two destroyers covering the entrance. Orders were given to the S-41 to maintain it's coverage of Saipan to act as an early warning if the Japanese warships started back towards Guam.
The USAAC pilots wanted to hit Saipan again. A raid was planed for 0800 that would include the 7 Havocs and 14 of the P-40s. The remaining 5 serviceable P-40's would be kept as cover for Guam. The Havocs would hit the harbor area with 5 P-40s acting as cover, while the other 10 fighters would strafe the airfield and any troop concentrations.
More intelligence was being received that the Japanese Zero was a much better aircraft than the Type -96 fighters. Luckily for Guam, Saipan had not had any assigned to it.
When the raid returned at 1300, one P-40 was in trouble and the pilot bailed out over Agana Bay. The Patrol Boat YP-17, was able to pull him from the water.
Two more transports had been hit in the Saipan anchorage and 3 more Type-96 fighters shot down. The fighters acting as the cap for the Havocs strafed the floatplane base and report they had shot up 5 floatplanes. No warships except for the damaged IJN Kako were seen in the harbor. A search by the PBYs could not locate them. Col Nash made the decision that all remaining 500lb AP bombs would be held for a counter to a possible Japanese naval attack.
As long as Guam had air cover it was felt that the Island could hold. It was known that Wake Island had fought off an attempt to take it. But the Wake defenders had Coastal Artillery as well as fighters. Guam had fighters and the Havocs but no guns to secure the beaches. Airpower had to keep the Japanese from landing.
The S-43 was patrolling off Guam to cover the approach to Agana Bay. But no further contact from the S-41 off Saipan had been received by 1800. Had something happened to the S-41, they should have reported the Japanese warships exiting the Saipan anchorage. Then at 2200 the S-41 radioed in that it had damage from depth charges and was returning to Guam. The second day of the war ended with no new attacks on Guam. The crews of the PBYs were tasked to search the next day to find the missing Japanese warships. Also was the worry that with Japanese airpower on Saipan taken out would Japanese carriers attempt to raid Guam like they had Pearl.
The news reports in the United States told of great damage to Pearl Harbor and the Philippines but two rays of sunshine from Wake and Guam let the people know that we were fighting back. With the damage at Pearl to the fleet the defenders on Guam knew that what they had was all they would have for quite awhile.
Then like a slot machine giving a jackpot one lonely freighter steamed into Agana Bay at 2300. The SS Samuel Jackson had been on it’s way to the Philippines it’s cargo included two Batteries of 105mm field artillery and the unit of the Oregon National Guard assigned to them as well as one company of 81mm mortars.
Additional Bombs 100 and 250 general purpose as well as 50 more 500lb AP bombs.
Ten crated P-40’s and their crews and supporting ground service crews. Also was 10000 gallons of aviation fuel
Additional ammo and food The freighter had been strafed by a Japanese floatplane but luckily not bombed. When the attack on it happened it was 250 miles from Guam, so headed for Guam as the Capitan knew he could not make the Philippines and not be caught by the Japanese. All at once there was a good chance that Guam could hold off a Japanese landing.
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Thanks added 10000 gallons of avaition fuelYES!!!
Fate intervenes and unintended reinforcements arrives with needed supplies & weapons...
How about aviation fuel in the cargo hall of the SS Samuel Jackson...?
OK, where'd this come from? It sounds like part of Convoy 4002, but that didn't have an SS Samuel Jackson. In fact, I can't find an SS Samuel Jackson.
http://www.orbat.com/site/ww2/drleo/013_usa/_41_usn/z-convoys/convoy_4002.html
Convoy 4002 was about halfway to the PI from the West Coast; be a while before it could get to Guam unless it left early?
The monthly supply ship. It was not planned that the Oregon NG Unit would stay at Guam, but now they would have to.
note ship name came from out of thin air.
Bearcat
Banned
Wake used the William Ward Burrows for much the same purpose. We can assume ITTL the navy acquired another cargo ship for the run to Guam.