Figure 1.--

Japan in 1941 had a massive superority in carrier forces. The extent of this superiority and importance was before Pearl Harbor not fully appreciated by the U.S. navy, nor did many Japanese naval commanders fully appreciate it. The Japanese superiority was staggering. The Imperial Navy's was composed 10 aircraft carriers and 1,500 meticulously trained aviators. Japan not only possesed the most carriers, but the most effective carrier-based fighter (the Zero) and the best trained and most experienced pilots. The Imperial Navy, partly because of the Wasington Treaty limitations, had been a pioneer in naval aviation. The Imperial Navy built the first carrier designed yo be a carrier from keel-up, the Hosho. The Imperial Navy during the 1920s and 30s placed great emphasis on naval aviation. The fleet carrier arm was impressive. It consisted of six large carriers and several more light carriers, Akagi Class: Akagi (1927). Kaga Class: Kaga (1928). Ryujo Class: Ryujo (1931). Shokaku Class: Shokaku (1941) and Zuikaku (1941). Soryu Class: Soryu (1937) and Hiryu (1939). Taiyo Class: Taiyo (1941). The Japanese were not only numerically superior, but entirely unappreciated by the U,S. Navy was the competence of the Japanese aviators. The Japanese had a rigorous pilot training program which produced the most skilled naval aviators in the world who were equipped with the most effective fighter. At it would be the First Air Fleet with six carriers that would strike the American Pacific Fleet anchored at Pearl Harbor. Only by chance did the Japanese find the American carriers wee not at Pearl.

Washington Naval Conference

The redusal of Americand Britain to give Japan parity with their fleets infuriated the Japanese military establishment. It also signifucantly shaped the development of the Imperail Fleet. The Imperial Navy, partly because of the Wasington Treaty limitations, had been a pioneer in naval aviation. The Imperial Navy during the 1920s and 30s placed great emphasis on naval aviation. New construction of carriers like battleships were limited by the Treaties. Carriers were placed on the list primary out of concern that a country would launch a carrier hull and then convert it to a battleship. There were, however, two loopholes. One, there was no limits on converting existing vessels to carriers. Americand and Britain also did this, primarily to save hulls for destruction. (As a result of the Treaties, bith countries had to destroy many battleships.) Two, there were no limit on building a new category of vessel--seaplane carriers. Several of these vessels were converted to aircraft carriers.

Massive Superiority

Japan in 1941 as a result of convesion and new consruction had a massive superority in carrier forces. The extent of this superiority and importance was before Pearl Harbor not fully appreciated by the U.S. navy, nor did many Japanese naval commanders fully appreciate it. The Japanese superiority was staggering. It is not that the carriers themselves were superior, in fact they had some serious weakenesses, but the Japanese had: 1) a well thoughout tactical dictrine, 2) better aircraft, especially the Mitsubishi A6M Zero, 3) superbly trained air crews, and 4) the highly effective long lance torpedo.

Japanese Carriers

The Imperial Navy pssessed 10 aircraft carriers. The Imperial Navy built the first carrier designed to be a carrier from keel-up, the Hosho. The fleet carrier arm was impressive. It consisted of six large carriers and four light carriers, Akagi Class: Akagi (1927). Kaga Class: Kaga (1928). Soryu Class: Soryu (1937) and Hiryu (1939). Shokaku Class: Shokaku (1941) and Zuikaku (1941). There were also four light carriers. Ryujo Class: Ryujo (1931). Taiyo Class: Taiyo (1941). Even ignoring the light carriers, Japan had six heavy carriers, giving them a two to one carrier advantage.

Japanese Pilots

The Japanese had 1,500 superbly trained naval aviators. These were the best trained and most experienced naval pilots in the world. They were also experienced and well drilled. The pilots had seen action along the China coast before the Pacific War and once the War began (Pearl Harbor, Dutch East Indies, Darwin, Indian Ocean, and other operations.)

Japanese Air Craft

Japan not only possesed the most carriers, but the most effective carrier-based fighter (the Zero). The Kate and Val torpedo and dive bombers were comparable to American craft with varying speeds and ranges. It was the Zero, however, that provided an edge for the Japanese in carrier engagements. The American F4F, Grumman Wildcat fighter was slowe and less manuverable, although better armoured. The British amazingly were still using Fairy Swordfish biplanes. Incredably they managed to sink Itlalian battleships at Toranto (October 1940) and stop the Bismarck (May 1941). They proved effective against the Mimarck because its anti-aircraft guns were programmed for modern fighter speeds. The Germans did not think that anyone would be so silly to attack with slow biplanes.

First Air Fleet

The Japanese, largely under the leadership of Admiral Yamamoto, gave primacy to their carrier force and grouped the most powerful naval force in the world--the First Air Fleet. This was a policy to the German Pazer formations, the carriers were grouped together rather than dispersed throughout the fleet. The First Air Flleet consisted of the six heavy carriers ( Akagi, Kaga, : Soryu, Hiryu, Shokaku, and Zuikaku. The light carriers might be dispersed to various naval units, but the six heavy carriers were assigned to the First Air Fleet to be used together to amass overweaming force for major operations. It was the First Air Fleet with its six carriers that would strike Pearl Harbor. All six were to be used at Midway, only two (Shokaku, and Zuikaku) and their air crews had been damaged in the Coral Sea. A military historian explains the mismatch at the onset of the Pacific War. "At a time when the US Navy was still trying to operate multiple carriers in a single formation and whether this was even desirable under wartime condition, the Imperial Japanese Navy had created a revolution in naval warfare by combining all its fleet carriers into a single firmation. The triking power of this unitwas unsurpassed, and when combined with excellebt aircaft and highly trained air crew, the Japanese began a rampage through the Pacific and Indian Oceans. The carrier was suddenly cast as the centerpiece of the US Navy -- a situation that remains unaltered today." [Green]

U.S. Navy

The American Navy had placed an emphasis on carriers, although there were still many admirals who still judged the strength of the Pacific fleet on its nine big-gun ships at Battleship Row at Pearl Harbor. Budget restrictions had limted maval construction. Japanese construction had finlly resulted in a Naval contruction bill in the 1930s that would buld a few nodern carriers. It would be these carrires that would stop the Japanese at Midway. The problem for the Americans was the small number of carriers, the obselence of the Wildcat, and the inexperience of the pilots. To battle harden the American carrier pilots, Admiral Halsey conducted raids on Japanese held islands (Kwaelein, the Gilberts, amd others). But at the time the two flkeets met (Coral Sea and Midway), the American pilots had little battle experience against Japanese planes and carriers.

Royal Navy

The Royal Navy was the first Navy to deploy an aircraft carrier. The hear and soul of the Royal Navy, however, was its battleships. The Admiralty at the time of World War II was not yet sold on carriers and dod not yet have modern aircraft for its carriers. The Admiraly even after Pearl deployed two if its best battleships (Prince of Wales and Repulsewithout air cover to stop the Japanese with disatrous consequences (December 1941).

Allied Assessment

The Japanese were not only numerically superior, but entirely unappreciated by the U,S. Navy was the capability of the Zero and the competence of the Japanese aviators. The Japanese had a rigorous pilot training program which produced the most skilled naval aviators in the world who were equipped with the most effective fighter. One of the reasons that the Americans were urprised at Pearl Harbor is that did not think that a carrier-based fighter existed that was the match for the land-based fifgters that protected Pearl. Thus American Naval planners believed it would be suiside for Japan to bring its carriers within range of American aircraft on Oahu.

Pearl Harbor (December 7, 1941)

It would be the First Air Fleet with six carriers that would strike the American Pacific Fleet anchored at Pearl Harbor. The Japanese air assault was the most devestatingly effective carrier attack in naval history. It was also the most stategic military error in the history of warfare. The Japanese attack brought a reluctant and divided United States into the War with a steely, united resolve for vengence. Only by chance did the Japanese find the American carriers were not, as anticipated, at Pearl. The Japanese sank every battleship anchored at Battle Ship Row (but only destroyed two). Two their surprise, however, the carriers were at sea.

Conspiracy

So poweful was the American underestimation of the Japanese that it continues to this day in the form of conspiracy absurd theories. In the face of overwealming evidence, conspiracy theorists continue to believe that the Japanese were incapable of launching the attack without the trearchery of President Roosevelt. Actually President Roosevelt was the most effective war leader of all the great powers. Such was the hate that some Americans had for the President, however, that conspiracy theories suited their outlook.

Sources

Green, Michael. Aircraft Carriers of the United States Navy (2015), 200p.

Created: 1:31 AM 11/15/2004
Last updated: 2:38 PM 6/6/2015