Cash-Loaded Fleet

SECOND BATTLE OF OAHU | Chapter 60

Interceptor Force

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'If we had one more month, we could have incorporated two ships of the Essex-class and the Independence-class into the battle line, but...'

December 1, 1943. It's been almost two years since the war with Japan began. After the final meeting to confront the Japanese forces, Admiral Nimitz, alone in his office at the Pacific Fleet headquarters, vented his frustrations.

The US Navy completed the first ship of her class, the Essex, at the end of last year, and six more of the same class this year. However, the Wasp and Hornet were commissioned only about a week ago, so they were not ready for the upcoming battle.

The Independence-class aircraft carriers, utilizing the hulls of cruisers, have also seen nine completions. However, the Bataan and San Jacinto, like the Wasp and Hornet, were commissioned just last month, making them unavailable for use. The Essex-class carriers can operate around 100 planes, and the Independence-class can handle about 30 planes each, making a significant difference between having these four ships and not having them.

However, avoiding the battle is not an option. The Japanese Combined Fleet advancing eastward in the Pacific has already passed through the northern waters of Midway and will soon bring Oahu into its attack range. Defending against this is a strict order from President Roosevelt. With consecutive defeats like the Battle of the Marshall Islands, the Battle of Oahu, and the fall of the Philippines, President Roosevelt's approval rating was well below the danger level. If the Pacific Fleet avoids the battle and Oahu is once again plunged into the sea of ​​fire, both President Roosevelt and the Navy will likely lose the support of the public.

In this dire situation, there is still some good news. The latest F6F Hellcat fighters, which have been deployed since summer, have now reached all aircraft carriers. The heart of the F6F, the R-2800 engine, produces 2.000 horsepower, giving the heavy aircraft a top speed of over 600 kilometers per hour. On the other hand, the estimated speed of the Zero fighter is around 560 to 570 kilometers per hour, so there is no doubt about the superior speed performance of the F6F. In modern naval warfare, controlling air superiority is crucial for a significant advantage in battle. In terms of this crucial fighter, the Pacific Fleet has successfully secured a qualitative advantage over the Japanese.

On the other hand, the dive bombers remained SBD Dauntless. In reality, the US Navy had already officially adopted the SB2C Helldiver as the successor to the SBD. However, the SB2C had difficulties in takeoff and landing performance, and the feedback from the crew was not favorable. Furthermore, typical issues with new aircraft had not been completely resolved, and the concerns were too significant to use them in the upcoming decisive battle.

The battleships, the core of the surface striking force, consisted of four South Dakota-class and two Iowa-class, all equipped with nine 40-centimeter guns each. The 40-centimeter shells, known as SHS, are super heavy projectiles, weighing more than 20% heavier than those of the outdated battleships. Moreover, compared to the old battleships, which could only achieve a speed of around 20 knots, the South Dakota-class reaches 27 knots, and the Iowa-class even reaches 33 knots, significantly improving their maneuverability.

The cruisers included two Baltimore-class heavy cruisers, along with other new classes such as Cleveland-class light cruisers and Atlanta-class anti-aircraft cruisers. Alternatively, due to the sinking of pre-war heavy cruisers and Brooklyn-class light cruisers by the Japanese forces, only new classes remained now.

All destroyers were of the state-of-the-art Fletcher-class. While the number of anti-aircraft guns may lag behind the Akizuki-class, the Fletcher-class excelled in overall firepower, including machine guns and fire control systems. Furthermore, they boasted superior anti-submarine capabilities, and their torpedo capabilities and speed performance were unmatched.

'The problem lies in the air power of Oahu. Although we have gathered those who defend Midway or the West Coast, it remains uncertain whether they are reliable enough to entrust our backs to.'

In engagements with the Combined Fleet, the mobile force of the Pacific Fleet was positioned southeast of Oahu, while the surface striking force was deployed northwest. The mobile force aimed to minimize damage by using Oahu as a shield, while the surface striking force prepared for potential enemy ships that may launch artillery attacks against the island.

On Oahu, in addition to numerous fighters and bombers, patrol planes, observation planes, as well as transport and communication planes to maintain base functions were deployed at various airfields. However, Nimitz did not have particularly high expectations for them. Certainly, the Army's fighter squadrons were equipped with state-of-the-art aircraft like the P-38 Lightning and P-47 Thunderbolt. The Marine Corps also equipped the high-performance F4U Corsair, which was comparable to the P-38 and P-47.

However, the combat effectiveness of fighter aircraft is not solely determined by the aircraft itself. Just as important, if not more so, is the skill of the pilots. Both the Army and the Marine Corps have predominantly seasoned veterans with ample training. However, among them, those with actual combat experience are not as numerous. This is because Australia and the UK, where they were supposed to be deployed, unexpectedly withdrew from the war at an early stage. The situation is even worse for the Navy, as every single crew member who had been carefully trained before the war was lost either in the Battle of the Marshall Islands or the Battle of Oahu.

On the contrary, the Combined Fleet likely has numerous seasoned veterans who have navigated through the deadly waters of the Pacific and Atlantic multiple times. They were expected to compensate for the inferior performance of the Zero fighter with their outstanding skills.

'It's a competition of technology and technique.'

With superior aircraft performance on the American side and skilled pilots holding an advantage on the Japanese side, the outcome remained uncertain until the showdown. Nimitz believed this, but he was mistaken in thinking that the weapon in the air-to-air combat was only machine guns.

Pacific Fleet

- Task Force 58

-- Task Group 58.1

--- Fleet carriers Essex, Lexington

--- Light carriers Independence, Princeton

--- 2 light cruisers, 12 destroyers

-- Task Group 58.2

--- Fleet carriers Yorktown, Bunker Hill

--- Light carriers Belleau Wood, Cowpens

--- 2 light cruisers, 12 destroyers

-- Task Group 58.3

--- Fleet carrier Intrepid

--- Light carriers Monterey, Langley, Cabot

--- 2 light cruisers, 12 destroyers

-- Task Group 58.7

--- Battleships New Jersey, Iowa, South Dakota, Indiana, Massachusetts, Alabama

--- 2 heavy cruisers, 4 light cruisers, 16 destroyers

The fleet carriers carry 48 F6Fs, 36 SBDs, and 18 TBFs, while the light carriers carry 24 F6Fs and 9 TBFs.

Oahu Base Air Force

- 108 × P-38s

- 144 × P-47s

- 108 × F4Us

- 48 × PV-1 (night battle specification)

- 120 × B-24s

- 72 × A-20s

- 72 PBYs

In addition, there are observation planes, transport planes, communication planes, etc.