Understanding the Marshals Raid 2/1/42

[R Leonard]

Yeah, but it was the only ship (even though in the vernacular submarines were called "boats") that the B-17s bombed that actually went under the water, and in record time of about 45 seconds!

 

[R Leonard]

And commanders making decisions based on who they had . . . classic is the Yorktown's VB-5 afternoon search for Hiryu on 4 June.

Fletcher held his search squadron in reserve, remembering the rude surprise of not having a strike group available when needed at Coral Sea. Listening in on the circuits, once the excitement had died down, he orders the launch of a ten plane search group in a general west-north-west direction around to north-north-west where his command group believes the fourth carrier has moved. LCdr Oscar Pedersen, the CYAG, with the squadron commander, Lt Wally Short, makes the search arc assignments. Without going through the whole exercise, each two-plane search section was to cover a twenty-degree arc out 200 miles. The southernmost arc, deemed by the brain trust to be the most likely to result in contact with the Japanese went to Short and his wingman. To his right, the next two search arcs are assigned to his two most experienced pilots and their wingmen. This was this not a lucky accident; it was deliberate assignment to put the best people in the most critical positions. They certainly did not draw straws for search assignments. Short does not find the Japanese. He was a little too far south. Hiryu is found by the next section to his right led by Lt Sam Adams, he of some three years with the squadron.

 

[Brady]

And before anyone gets carried away with the disaster looking for a place to happen of 40% of men in the YAG designated as Naval Aviators AFTER December 1940, note that -

VB-5 had 24 aviators, 15 of whom were designated on or before December 1940, 9 of whom after and two of them had 5 months MOB. The squadron had only 18 aircraft.

VS-5 had 25 aviators, 13 of whom were designated on or before December 1940, 12 of whom after, eight of them had at least 6 MOB. Just like VB-5, only 18 aircraft.

VT-5 had 11 aviators, 9 of whom had been designated on or before December 1940, 2 of whom after, except one of them was a former NAP and, obvious from his MOB pretty long serving. Without bothering to look it up I believe VT-5 had but 10 serviceable TBD at the time of this report. (In those days an NAP accepting a warrant or a commission had to be checked and designated as a Naval Aviator and no longer a Naval Aviation Pilot . . . a legal quibble, nothing to do with whether or not one can fly, but everything to do with one's legal status.)

VF-42 had 19 aviators, 14 of whom were designated on or before December 1940, 5 of whom after, two of them had been with the squadron as AvCads and their DORs reflect back dating to their completion of flight training, thus being in the squadron for about a year each, and, just like the SBD squadrons, only 18 aircraft.

Kind of stuff a commander has to think about, especially the first time his squadron goes into action. I'll let someone else figure out who flew what mission, but how many short term ensigns do we suppose got left on the ship during strikes?

Ya that's a good point, but if they did allow the junior piolets to fly it would help explain things like this:

At 0630hrs, Yorktown began launching what would be the first of four strikes. The first wave included 28 dive-bombers and 12 torpedo bombers. No fighter escort was provided as no air opposition was expected. The attack began at 0820hrs. Large targets were few with the large minelayer Okinoshima and two destroyers being the most valuable. The most notable result of the first strike was the damaging of destroyer Kikuzuki, which was later beached and lost. The same aircraft were turned around for a second strike with 27 dive-bombers and 11 torpedo bombers attacking again just after noon. Later, a third wave was sent in with 21 dive-bombers, departing Yorktown at 1400hrs and returning at 1630hrs. The results of this intense effort, and of a wave of four fighters launched to strafe the Type 97 flying boats located in Tulagi harbor, was very disappointing. Fletcher claimed that two destroyers, one freighter and four patrol craft had been sunk and a light cruiser driven aground. The real tally was much less. In addition to the destroyer Kikuzuki, three small minesweepers and four landing barges had been sunk. Perhaps the most important result was the destruction of the five Type 97 flying boats. Total Japanese casualties were 87 killed and 124 wounded.

76 SBD's...

4 May:
0530: KIKUZUKI went alongside the starboard side of OKINOSHIMA to refuel. Division mate YUZUKI refueled from port.
Action:
- 0615 A surprise attack by a large number of enemy carrier aircraft struck the invasion force. Aircraft bore in on the refueling destroyers from the starboard bow. KIKUZUKI immediately cast off and began to maneuver. YUZUKI followed suit.
- 0622 KIKUZUKI straddled by bombs around the fantail. Seven torpedo planes than assault the destroyer in an "anvil" attack as she tried to work up speed.
- 0624 KIKUZUKI struck in starboard side aft by torpedo which exploded between the No.3 boiler room and the starboard engine room. The destroyer began to list to starboard and went dead in the water.
- 0800 Auxiliary submarine chaser No.3 TOSHI MARU took in tow. Because the machinery spaces were flooding rapidly and it could not be stemmed by the crew, it was resolved to take the destroyer into the shallows to the east.
- 0858 Beached just south of Halavo village in Halavo Bay, Florida Island. Comdesdiv 23 (Commander Shimazui) transferred to YUZUKI; Lieutenant Commander Mori (to C.O. YUZUKI) also among survivors. With a second enemy raid approaching, YUZUKI then evacuated westward from the anchorage with OKINOSHIMA.
- 0940 Second group of aircraft attacked, but no further damage received. However, flooding aft of amidships continues and the stern rode low in the water with only the bow aground. Twelve men had been killed with twenty-two wounded. The crew spends the night pumping and attempting temporary repairs.

YUZUKI, damaged by strafing

Fourteen SBD-3s from VB-5 (YORKTOWN's second strike) sink the auxiliary minesweepers Wa-1 and Wa-2

AZUMASAN MARU, no bomb hits listed

KOEI AMRU, No bomb hits listed

TAMA MARU, Near Miss


IDK that and of these ships were actually hit by bombs, a few near misses yes. I did not see anything the described the fates of Wa-1 and Wa-2 though apart from them being sunk, if they were hit by bombs, they would be the only hits achieved from 76 SBD's.

 

[GrauGeist]

Yeah, but it was the only ship (even though in the vernacular submarines were called "boats") that the B-17s bombed that actually went under the water, and in record time of about 45 seconds!

My Uncle recounted several instances where the boat's crash dives saved their hides.

The most notable (and harrowing) occasion where they were on the surface (at night) attacking a convoy.
To their horror, one of their fish went rogue and circled back.

 

[Brady]

My Uncle recounted several instances where the boat's crash dives saved their hides.

The most notable (and harrowing) occasion where they were on the surface (at night) attacking a convoy.
To their horror, one of their fish went rogue and circled back.

Tang

 

[GrauGeist]

Tang

And USS Tullibee (SS-284), too.