2 6

Japanese Oil Situation (1942)(in Million U.S. Barrels)Estimated Annual NeedArmy 5.7Navy 17.6Civilian Economy 12.6Total 35.9

Annual ProductionHome Crude 1.6Synthetic 1.6Total 3.2

Deficit 32.7

Stocks on Hand(1941) 42.7

Annual ProductionDutch East Indies 65.1

Japanese occupy French Indo China (Sept 40-July 41) and the US emplaced an Oil EmbargoJapanese Oil Reserves will run out in 1942 Another source of fuel must be found. The Dutch East Indies appear to have a more than adequate quantity for the taking. However, MacArthur and American troops are stationed there.The US Naval Fleet is stationed at Pearl Harbor

Comparison of Major Vessels, December, 1941

Japan

Carriers - 6

Battleships - 11

Hvy Cruisers - 18

US

Carriers - 7

Battleships - 17

Hvy Cruisers - 18ATLANTIC

ATLANTIC

ATLANTIC

ATLANTIC

These figures are deceptive however: ½ of the US Navy is in the Atlantic Japanese Plan:(1) Destroy US fleet. (2) Rapidly take oil fields and establish a defensive perimeter. (3) Defeat anything entering perimeter. (4)Negotiate peace, keep oil fields.

RESULTS OF STEP 1:

RESULTS OF STEP 1:

2 US Battleships Destroyed (AZ, OK) 4 US Battleships Heavily Damaged (TN,NV,WV,CA)

Japanese Expansion/US Defense

2

6

Akagi

Kaga

Soryu

Hiryu

Shokaku

Zuikaku

Carrier Division 1

Carrier Division 2

Carrier Division 5

Enterprise 6

Hornet 8

Wasp 7

Saratoga 3

Lexington 2

Yorktown 5

Carrier Groups

Lexington Class

Yorktown Class

12

5

ATLANTIC

ATLANTIC

7

8

5

3

ATLANTIC 7

ATLANTIC 8

ATLANTIC 5

DAMAGED 3

7 December – all three Japanese Carrier Divisions attack Pearl Harbor. Japan then conducted an Island ‘blitzkrieg’8 Dec – Land north portion of Malaya Peninsula 10 Dec – Land on Luzon (Philippians held out until April ‘42)10 Dec – Guam – Gilberts 10 Dec - Japanese Airpower sunk two British Battleships 15 Dec – Saratoga arrives from San Diego; 20 Dec – Mindanao 23 Dec – Wake Island fell to a second Japanese attack 25 Dec – Hong Kong invaded

11 Jan: Saratoga damaged by Jap sub and goes to Sand Diego for repairs19 Jan – Borneo Falls 22-23 Jan – CD#1&5 supported seizure of Rabaul 24-25 Jan - CD#2 supported seizure of Amboina Americans began a series of raids to pull Japanese efforts away from the East Indies and give flyers experience, while still defending Pearl Harbor/Midway line with the few remaining capital ships (Carriers)1 Feb – Enterprise & Yorktown (#5): Marshall/Gilbert Raid (CD #1 & 5 attempted to intercept but both US Carriers escaped)15 Feb – Singapore fell – HUGE UK defeat (100,000 troops captured)

19 Feb CD 1 & 2: Darwin Raid20 Feb – Lexington moves to raid Rabaul but was forced to abort 24 Feb - Enterprise raids Wake & Raids Marcus Islands (4 March)3 Mar – CD 1 & 2 supports the fall of Java 8 Mar – Rangoon falls (Burma) and invasion of New Guinea (Japanese had unprotected ships unloading troops and supplies at Lea and Salamaua10 Mar – Lexington &Yorktown raid of Japanese landing force at Lea-Salamaua – The carriers launched from south of Papua and planes flew over the Owen Stanley Mountain range to conduct the attack

Japanese Indian Ocean RaidUS Doolittle Raid

Akagi

Kaga

Soryu

Hiryu

Shokaku

Zuikaku

Carrier Division 1

Carrier Division 2

Carrier Division 5

Enterprise 6

Hornet 8

Wasp 7

Saratoga 3

Lexington 2

Yorktown 5

Carrier Groups

Lexington Class

Yorktown Class

125 2

6

5

DAMAGED 3

ATLANTIC 7

ATLANTIC 8

The Japanese sent carriers to the Indian ocean to assist in the effort to occupy Burma and thus cut off China’s last life line with the Allies – the Burma Road.

26 March – 12 April – 5 Carriers moved to the Indian Ocean to Raid Ceylon (Kaga had returned to Japan for repairs). Intended to weaken the British forces in the area and further secure the Japanese hold on Burma. Japanese ground forces cut the Burma road by 1 May, and occupied all of Burma by 15 May.

With the Burma Road now cut - the only way to supply the Chinese was by air on a route over the Himalayas (which will receive the name: “The Hump”

18 April - Doolittle Raid is conducted with 16 B-25s off of Hornet (#8). Enterprise provides air support.

8

6

2

5

12

5

Enterprise 6

Hornet 8

Wasp 7

Saratoga 3

Lexington 2

Yorktown 5

Carrier Groups

Lexington Class

Yorktown Class

Japanese Strategic Dilemma

Akagi

Kaga

Soryu

Hiryu

Shokaku

Zuikaku

Carrier Division 1

Carrier Division 2

Carrier Division 5

New Carrier

Junyo

DAMAGED 3

ATLANTIC 7

CD 1 & 2 finally return to Japan for much needed repairs and a new Carrier (Junyo) is commissioned.

Japanese Dilemma – What is the next step?Now have the oil fields and defensive perimeter. Completed a 6 month plan in 90 days and are VERY overconfident.

Army General Staff concern: They want to dig in on the perimeter and concentrate on ChinaNavy General Staff Concern: Australia (It is a jumping off point against the southern perimeter. Invasion of Australia is not an option (insufficient troops):However, cutting it off from US Line of Communication is.Phase I – Attack Solomon's (Tulagi) then Port Morsby – Control Coral SeaPhase II – Attack New Caledonia and Fiji

Combined Fleet Commander (Yamamoto) Concern: The US fleet still lives. There is a wide gap between the Marshalls and Northern Japan which the Americans took advantage of in the Doolittle Raid. Yamamoto wanted to take Midway to fill the gap and simultaneously draw the US fleet into a trap to finally destroy it. By sheer force of will he inserted this plan between Phase I and II of the South West Pacific Campaign.

Japanese Phase I (Coral Sea)

12

Akagi

Kaga

Soryu

Hiryu

Shokaku

Zuikaku

Carrier Division 1

Carrier Division 2

Carrier Division 5

Enterprise 6

Hornet 8

Wasp 7

Saratoga 3

Lexington 2

Yorktown 5

Carrier Groups

Lexington Class

Yorktown Class

New Carrier

Junyo

5

8

6

2

5

DAMAGED 3

ATLANTIC 7

SUNK 2

DAMAGED 5

DAMAGEDAircraft Losses

Japanese send in CD 5 as a strike force to protect the invasion force. Since The US had broken the Japanese Code and they were able to determine their intentions and move Lexington & Yorktown to intercept them.

MAY 6-8: Battle of Coral Sea – 1st ever Carrier vs Carrier Battle – neither fleet ever sees each other. Results:Lexington sunk and Yorktown returns to Pearl to fix heavy damage.Japanese lose a light carrier. Heavy damage to Shokaku and Zuikaku air group depleted. Invasion force turned back.

This strategic loss for the Japanese is not a problem for the follow on Midway operation. However: The Japanese are still very overconfident from many victories prior to this – they knew their pilots and aircraft were far superior to the Americans. Plus they thought they had sunk BOTH Lexington and Yorktown and thus had a 2-1 advantage in Carriers alone (their Battleships were overwhelmingly superior to the US Cruiser forces).

5E

H

E H Y

Midway-The Japanese Plan

NF

1st CSF

INV

MAIN

Northern Force – Occupy Attu and Kiska (Aleutian Islands) – draw away enemy forces (w/ new carrier Junyo and Light Carrier

First Carrier Strike Force – CD 1 and 2 (Akagi, Kaga, Hiryu, Soryu) Raid Midway Invasion force (w/ one light carrier) moves forward from the Marianas and seizes Midway

The Japanese felt that the US Carriers would respond to this so they planned for a submarine screen to ambush them as they steamed toward Midway followed by a strike by their carriers.

Finally, the Main Force of Battleships (following the Carrier Strike force) would enter the battle and finish off the Americans

The US intercepted the Japanese radio transmissions and was able to read portions of their code. They deduced the Japanese intention, and moved their carriers to the NE of Midway, to counter their attack instead of just reacting from Pearl Harbor.

8

6

5

Midway-The Battle

5

Akagi

Kaga

Soryu

Hiryu

Shokaku

Zuikaku

Carrier Division 1

Carrier Division 2

Carrier Division 5

New Carrier

Junyo

Enterprise 6

Hornet 8

Wasp 7

Saratoga 3

Lexington 2

Yorktown 5

Carrier Groups

Lexington Class

Yorktown Class

DAMAGED 3

ATLANTIC 7

SUNK

DAMAGEDAircraft Losses

SUNK

SUNKSUNK

SUNK 2

DAMAGED 5SUNK 5

Japanese ships were broken into many moving parts:-Medium Carrier to support the Northern force.-4 Carriers and two BBs (Battleships) in the 1st Carrier Strike Force.

4 BBs detached from the main force as a screening force for the Aleutian Island Strike.2 BBs escorted the occupation force.3 BBs (including the Super Battleship Yamato) were the Japanese Main Body.

None of these forces were in supporting distance of each other if, by chance, the US attacked the Japanese first.

26 May – Enterprise & Hornet departed Pearl Harbor.

27 May - Yorktown departed Pearl Harbor. Both groups reach the North East of Midway prior to the Japanese submarine screen getting on station to ambush them.

3 June – Northern force Bombs Dutch Harbor – Attu and Kiska are captured on 7 June.

4 June - Dawn, Japanese strike Midway

1000 – Dive Bombers and Torpedo Planes from three US Carriers strike and sink three Japanese Carriers.

Hiryu (last remaining Japanese Carrier) planes strike Yorktown which suffers heavy damage.

Enterprise & Hornet sent one last strike and sunk Hiryu.

That evening Yamamoto considered striking the Americans at night with his battleships. But the risk of losing all his Battleships the next day (if he was unable to locate the Americans that night) was too great and he withdrew all his forces.

6 June - The Saratoga arrived at Pearl Harbor.

7 June – Japanese submarines located the Yorktown being towed back to Pearl and sunk her.

Results

Japanese lose 4 carriers, 322 Airplanes, and 3,500 lives.

US lose Yorktown, 147 Airplanes and 307 lives.

Enterprise 6

Hornet 8

Wasp 7

Saratoga 3

Essex 9

Lexington 16

Yorktown 10

Bunker Hill 17

Intrepid 11

Wasp 18

Hornet 12

Franklin 13

Hancock 19

Ticonderoga 14

Bennington 20

Shangri-La 38

Randolph 15

Bon Homme Richard 31

Antietam 36

Boxer 21

Lake Champlain 39

Akagi

Kaga

Soryu

Hiryu

Shokaku

Zuikaku

Junyo

Lexington 2

Yorktown 5

Princeton 23

Cowpens 25

Monterey 26

Langley 27

28Cabot

29Bataan

Lost May 42 – Coral Sea

Lost June 42 – Midway

Lost Oct 42 – Santa Cruz

Lost Sept 42 – San Cristobal

24Belleau Wood

San Jacinto 30

Independence22

Lost Oct 44 – Sibuyan Sea

Comparison of Aircraft Carriers, June 1942-August 1945Lost June 42 – Midway

Lost June 42 – Midway

Lost June 42 – Midway

Lost May 42 – Coral Sea1942

1943

1944

1945

Shoho

Hiyo

Zuiho

Ryuho

Chitose

Chiyoda

Tiaho

Unryu

Amagi

Katsuragi

Shinano

Lost June 42 – Midway

Lost June 44 – P. Sea

Lost June 44 – P. Sea

Damage June 44 – P. Sea

Lost June 44 – P. SeaDamage June 44 – P. Sea

Lost Oct 44 – Cape ELost Oct 44 – Cape E

Lost Oct 44 – Cape E

Lost Oct 44 – Cape E

Japan USRyujo

Lost Aug 42 – E. Solomons