History 500 Carrier Warfare Focus questions

In this independent course study I will specifically explore two aspects of the general use of the aircraft carrier as both a defensive weapon and an offensive weapon.

The Carriers defense

• Placement and function of escort ships in the carrier battle group in the task force
• CAP Combat Air Patrols function in defending the fleet
• Deck guns
• Recon methods by both planes and old fashioned binoculars
• US use of Radar and why the IJN failed to utilize it:

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The Carrier as an offensive weapon

• 3 airplane types with separate doctrine of attacks

1. Dive bombers
2. Torpedo Bombers
3. Fighters

• How Carriers respond to damage deck fires and flooding with all that fuel and airplanes on it

• The displacement of the Battleship as being the top strategic and decisive navel weapon

An analysis of the evolution of the Aircraft Carrier as a whole will be conducted with a close look at the advantages and disadvantages of each class.

Various Types of Aircraft Carriers

CV Fleet Carriers

CVL Light Carriers

Jeep Carriers

Admiral Nimitz was a key influential figure in the operation of the US pacific Navel fleet. I will look further at the role of the man who had the experience needed to lead the fleet and his relationships with his commanding staff and the people who he reported to being Ernest King the head of Department of the Navy. Nimitz hands leadership. Eisenhower as a diplomat

Ryan Evans

History 500 WW2 Carrier Warfare in the Pacific

Thursday, April 03, 2008

American Mistakes:

Chain of Command Alert system failed

Misinterpretation of incoming radar intercept for the flight of B-17s coming from the mainland

New of the sinking of the Japanese mini sub came too late

Planes were clustered close together to protect from sabotage which made them perfect targets for aerial bombardment

It was a Sunday putting the lowest alert for American Military Forces

America expected hostilities elsewhere such as in the Philippines.

Japanese Aircraft usage for Pearl Harbor[1]

Japanese Carrier Planes used:

143: Nakajima Type

97: B5N2 Model 11 Bombers

129: Aichi Type

99: D3A1 Model 11 Dive Bombers

78: Mitsubishi Type 0 A6M2 Zeke

Ryan Evans

On December 7^th 1941 the Japanese attacked the United States at dawn at Pearl Harbor. Thinking that it would pacify the Americans by destroying their immediate capability to wage war in the Pacific by destroying a large portion of their capital ships including their all important Battleships it turned out to backfire. The code messages took to long and the declaration of hostilities was told to late and America saw it as an unprovoked sneak attack and the entire American nation was swept up into a storm of fury. It was the complete anger and determined will stirred by this attack that helped for the American mentality to be stirred to fight until absolute victory to avenge the attack. The attack completely took them by surprise it was on a Sunday morning and early in the morning. Most of the men on the ill fated battleships were asleep below decks in their bunks. Many were not phased by the explosions for they had been on alert and had been used to drills. It took a great effort for the ships communication to envoke that it was no drill America was under attack which in some instances brought about panic.

Comdr Takahisa Amagai the air offier on the Hiryu carrier was in charge of the planes. He had to get up early and was responsible for checking the planes insuring their operational status. He also needed to fully brief all the pilots and aircrews making sure everyone had the latest info. His last task was to make sure that all the planes were ready to launch [1]

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[1] , Gordon W. Prange December 7th 1941: The Day The Japanese Attacked Pearl Harbor. (New York:Warner Books, 1988), 75.

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[1] John Kuborn and Leatrice Arakaki. 7December 1941 The Air Force Study.(Hickam Air Force Base Hawii: Pacific Air Forces Office of History: 1991), 61.

World War II Pacific Carrier Warfare History 500

World War II Pacific Carrier Warfare 500

GRN#23773

(in addition to WWII Pacific 390)

5 credits

Spring 2008

Ryan Evans

Dr. Louis Truschel

Western Washington University

Syllabus

This 500 level independent study is going to focus on both American and Japanese Aircraft Carrier Warfare during 1941-1945, examining numerous aspects of the use of military technology and the decisions of both sides in the main battles including the battles of Pearl Harbor, Coral Sea, Midway, the Solomons, the Philippine Sea, and Leyte Gulf. While I intend to read the books listed here in their entirety or in part, I will also read relevant professional journal articles. Based on my readings, I will discuss these sources with Professor Truschel and write a historiographic essay, of approximately twenty pages, based on these readings. I will also write short three page overview analysis of five of the battles and post it onto a website that the class History 390 The Pacific War can view for additional information. There also will be a few lecture opportunities in addition to the research paper.

It is in addition to the regular course in that it goes beyond to cover aircraft carriers and to satisfy the 500 level.

The course will be evaluated by the essay of approximately twenty pages, the short three page overview analysis of the five battles.

Reading List

1. Murray, Williamson and Allan R Millet. A War to Be Won: Fighting the Second World War. Cambridge: Belknap Press, 2000.

2. Keegan, John. Collins Atlas of World War II. New York: Harper Collins Publishers, 2006.

3. Hornfischer, James D. The Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors: The Extraordinary World War II Story of the U.S. Navy's Final Hour. New York: Batam Books 2004.

4. Morison Samuel Elliot. The Two Ocean War A Short History Of the United States Navy in the Second World War. Annapolis: Naval Institute Press 1963. (Multi-Volume)

5. Tillman Barrett Clash of the Carriers: The True Story of the Marianas Turkey Shoot of World War II New York: Calibir 2005.

6. Willmott H.P. The Battle Of Leyte Gulf: The Last Fleet Action Indianapolis: Indiana University Press, 2005.

7. Dull Paul S. A Battle History of The Imperial Japanese Navy 1941-1945 Annapolis: Naval Institute Press 1978.

8. Stille, Mark. Imperial Japanese Navy Aircraft Carriers 1921-1945. New York: Osprey Publishing 2005.

9. Prange, Gordon W. December 7th 1941: The Day The Japanese Attacked Pearl Harbor. New York: Warner Books, 1988.

10. Millot, Bernard A. The Battle Of the Coral Sea. Annapolis: Navel Institute Press,1974.

11. Stewart Adrian. The Battle of Leyte Gulf. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons,1979.

12. Thomas J Cutter, The Battle of Leyte Gulf. Annapolis: Naval Institute Press, 1994.

14. Bradley, James. Flyboys: A True Story of Courage. Boston: Back Bay Books, 1992.

15. Okumon Masatak Zero The Story of Japan's Air War in the Pacific 1941-1945.

16. Burns Ken and Geoffrey C. Ward. The War an Intimate History 1941-1945. New York Alfred A Knopf, 2007.

17. Cawthorne, Nigel. History's Greatest Battles Masterstrokes of War. New York: Barnes and Nobel 2005.

18. Mitsuo Fuchida and Masatake Okumiya. Midway, the Battle that Doomed Japan; the Japanese Navy's Story, Annapolis: Naval Institute Press: 1955.

19. Prange William Gordon. Miracle at Midway. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1982.

20. Bishop, Chris The Encyclpedia Of Weapons of World War II The comprehensive Guide to over 1,500 Weapons Systems, Including Tanks, Small Arms, Warplanes, Artillery, Ships, and Submarines. New York: Metro Books,1998

I. Pearl Harbor

Dull

Morrison 46-49

Prange, Gordon W. December 7th 1941: The Day The Japanese Attacked Pearl Harbor

Emily S. Rosenberg A Date Which Will Live in Infamy

II. Coral Sea

Millot The Battle of Coral Sea

Dull 123

Morison 137-160

Millot, Bernard A. The Battle Of the Coral Sea

III. Midway

Dull 137-147

Morison 147-166

Prange William Gordon. Miracle at Midway.

IV. The Solomons

Dull 189-199

Morrison 275

Dan Van Der Vat 225

V. The Philippine Sea

Morrison 476

Dan Van Der Vat 343

VI. Marianas Turkey Shoot

Tilleman

Morrison 318-340

Dan Van Der Vat 316

VII. Leyte Gulf.

Dull 314

HP Willmott Battle Leyte Gulf

Adrian Stewart

Morrison 421-470

Thomas J Cutter, The Battle of Leyte Gulf.

Lecture: 1 hour elements on 2 of the battles which notes and structure of content will be put to review.

Resume

http://myweb.students.wwu.edu/evansr7/dreamweaver1/