Naval History Forums

dunmunro wrote:PoW's log show that she averaged 28.4 knots from 0600 to 0700.

I didn't know that Interesting .Is that log online?

The difference is that Wake was first attacked by 36 Japanese medium level bombers with poor accuracy. In Midway the Kido Butai could use 300 tactical bombers and then a heavy naval barrage. How many of the 1,000 defenders would still be alive by the time the Japs being to land?

I think there is another option we didn't think about. It would be possible to supply Midway by air from Wake Island once it is taken. Midway is closer to Wake than to Oahu and it would be only a one way flight. How did the Japanese send supplies to Wake from 1941 to 1945?

I think you forget something. POW can't open the range with Bismarck if she decides to pursue. POW speed decreased to 27 knots because of 600-tons flooding after underwater hits from Prinz Eugen. Bismarck on the other hand could make 28 knots. In fact Bismarck maintained a speed of 28 knots that mor...

Yes Bgile, that's the idea. Take Midway and leave a garrison to dig in so the US has to focus there and not somewhere else.

I haven't read Shattered Sword. Do the authors really consider the Japanese taking Midway in Dec. 1941?

lwd, I think you are expecting too much of the US response to a surprise attack on Midway. I have done some reseach. First of all, Midway invasion should be relatively easy. Remember, it is a surprise attack! The war starts with the first air raid on Midway so the alert status is minimal. How many U...

I have just read that on December 7th Midway was indeed attacked by the Japanese destroyers AKEBONO and USHIO that destroyed a hangar and inflicted 14 casualties. Here: http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USMC/Midway/USMC-M-Midway-2.html At that time Midway was defended by a battalion with other smaller...

Come on lwd! Let's just for the sake of the thread imagine that the Japs are successful and take Midway, ok? A surprise attack on Midway on December 7th with 350 planes in two waves would have reduced the small island to ashes. On December 7th, the nearest US warship from Midway was USS Lexington an...

Ok let me rewrite this scenario again. Let's say that instead of attacking Pearl the Japanese attack and invade Midway just like Bgile suggested. Everything else goes as historically. Questions: 1. When could the US retake Midway and how long would this delay its offensive in the Pacific? 2. In hind...

Bgile: What was the US strategy to follow in case of a Japanese attack on the Philippines? I think the pre-war plan was to defend the Philippines. I just don't know how effectively would be done because there were only 3 carriers in the Pacific: Lexington, Enterprise and Saratoga (in San Diego). The...

December 1941, the Japanese start the war just as they did historically but Instead of attacking Pearl Harbor they keep the Kido Butai in reserve to intercept the US Navy counter attack to relieve the Philippines. Kimmel sends Enterprise, Lexington, the 8 old battleships, cruisers and destroyers. So...

I agree with most of what Karl said above. Repairing the 4 CVs would take at least 6 months. No chance to be ready for Eastern Solomons and later in the war there is little they can do against the many newest US warships (they might contribute to win some isolated battles though). However it would b...

Based on what Nagumo knew at the time I think his decision to return to Japan after the second strike was understandable. He didn't know where the American carriers were and he was expecting as many as six. Nothing to reproach there. But in hind sight considering that only the Enterprise was in posi...

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