NAZI TANKS PUSH TOWARD TOBRUK (5/29/42)

Microfilm-New York Times archives, Monterey Public Library | 5/29/42 | Joseph M. Levy, Ralph Parker, Daniel T. Brigham, Hanson W. Baldwin

[Homer_J_Simpson]

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[Homer_J_Simpson]

Free Republic University, Department of History presents World War II Plus 70 Years: Seminar and Discussion Forum
First session: September 1, 2009. Last date to add: September 2, 2015.
Reading assignment: New York Times articles delivered daily to students on the 70th anniversary of original publication date. (Previously posted articles can be found by searching on keyword “realtime” Or view Homer’s posting history .)
To add this class to or drop it from your schedule notify Admissions and Records (Attn: Homer_J_Simpson) by freepmail. Those on the Realtime +/- 70 Years ping list are automatically enrolled. Course description, prerequisites and tuition information is available at the bottom of Homer’s profile. Also visit our general discussion thread

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Selections from West Point Atlas for the Second World War
Southwest Russia, 1942: German Summer Offensive, Operations, 7 May-23 July 1942
North Africa, 1940: Rommel’s Second Offensive, 21 January-7 July 1942

[Homer_J_Simpson]

2 Thrusts in Libya (Levy) – 2
Russians Press Offensive; Fight Off Attacks in South (Parker) – 3
6 in Czech Family Executed by Nazis (Brigham) – 4-5
War News Summarized – 4
The R.A.F. Again Spots and Bombs the Prinz Eugen (photo) – 5
War Plans Being Revised (Baldwin) – 6
Submarine Denies Water to Victims – 6
The Texts of the Day’s War Communiques – 7-8

[Homer_J_Simpson]

http://www.onwar.com/chrono/1942/may42/f29may42.htm

Soviets lose 250,000 men
Friday, May 29, 1942 www.onwar.com

Soviet soldiers captured by German forces [photo at link]

On the Eastern Front... The German forces (6th Army and 1st Panzer Army) close their encirclement west of the Donets River resulting in a Soviet loss of 250,000 men.

In North Africa... The Italian Trieste Division, fighting through British 150th Brigade, temporarily secure a critical life line for the Afrika Korps. The British armored attack around the Knightsbridge Road junction area fails to reach its objectives.

[Homer_J_Simpson]

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/andrew.etherington/frame.htm

May 29th, 1942

UNITED KINGDOM:
ASW trawler HMS Dunkery commissioned.

Destroyer HMS Nepal commissioned.

Minesweeping trawler HMS St Kilda launched.

Submarine HMS Trespasser launched. (Dave Shirlaw)

FRANCE: Paris: Jews are ordered to wear the six pointed yellow star, as in Germany and Poland. This star, the width of a man’s palm, is embroidered with the word “Juif” and must be worn on the left side of the jacket or overcoat, in the region of the heart. Textile ration coupons had to be traded in exchange for the star. A couple of dozen arrests are made of men and women who express solidarity with the Jews by sewing on the star although they are not Jewish, or ridiculing it with some other word, for instance “Français” or “Goy”, the Yiddish for Gentile.

GERMANY: U-969, U-970 laid down.

U-184 commissioned. (Dave Shirlaw)

U.S.S.R.: The Germans complete encirclement west of the Donnets. 250,000 Russian soldiers are lost.

MEDITERRANEAN SEA: U-568 sunk in the Mediterranean NE of Tobruk, in position 32.42N, 24.53E, by depth charges from destroyer HMS Hero and escort destroyers HMS Eridge and Hurworth. 47 survivors (No casualties). (Dave Shirlaw)

NORTH AFRICA: The British fail to develop a coordinated attack. The German antitank guns are very effective.

INDIAN OCEAN: Diego Suarez: About ten miles from the harbour entrance, the Captains of the Japanese submarines I-16, I-18 and I-20 were ordered to launch their Type “A” midget submarines. I-18’s midget took no part in the attack because the launching machinery failed to work properly. The I-18 Mother submarine with its midget still on board was therefore forced to return to the armed flotilla support ships Hokoku Maru, 10,438 tons and the Airoko Maru, 10,437 tons, for maintenance. The other two midgets were successfully launched and started their mission.

I-16s midget submarine was crewed by Ensign Katsusuke Iwase as Captain and Petty Officer Takazo Takata as the navigator, both single men. I-20’s midget submarine was crewed by Lt. Saburo Akieda as Captain and Petty Officer Takemoto as the navigator. They were both married men and each had a family. The story continues tomorrow. (Denis Peck)

CHINA: Kinhwa: More than 40,000 Japanese troops supported by aircraft have overrun Kinhwa, the capital of Chekiang province, 200 miles south-west of Shanghai, as a new Japanese offensive in eastern China gathers pace.

During the fighting 1,500 Japanese were killed crossing a minefield. At Lanch’i, 20 miles north-west of Kinhwa, Chinese troops claim to have repulsed ten enemy attempts to cross the Lan river. Poison gas was used in one attack, disabling, but proving too weak to be fatal. The Japanese advance in Chekiang began five days ago with the capture of Chu-chi followed by the fall of Lungyu two days ago.

PACIFIC OCEAN: At French Frigate Shoals, Territory of Hawaii, the seaplane tender (destroyer) USS Thornton (AVD-11) arrives to relieve the light minelayer USS Preble (DM-20). Later that day, the Japanese submarine HIJMS I-123 also arrives. The Japanese had intended to use the shoals as a refuelling stop for Japanese seaplanes flying reconnaissance missions over Pearl Harbor; the aircraft would be refuelled by submarines. The presence of the U.S. ships prevents this operation and the Japanese never learn that two of the USN’s aircraft carriers have already departed Pearl Harbor.

The seaplane tender (destroyer) USS Ballard (AVD-10) arrives at Midway with eleven motor torpedo boats (PTs) of Motor Torpedo Squadron One (MTBRon 1).

The USN’s Patrol Squadron Seventy One (VP-71) based at Noumea, New Caledonia on the seaplane tenders USS Curtiss (AV-4) and USS Tanigier (AV-8) with PBY-5 Catalinas joins RAAF Catalinas in bombing Tulagi Island in the Solomon Islands. (Jack McKillop)

AUSTRALIA: The Commonwealth Boomerang, Australia’s first home-designed and built, aircraft of the war, has its first flight.

The Japanese submarine HIJMS I-21 launches a Yokosuka E14Y1, Navy Type 0 Small Reconnaissance Seaplane, Allied Code Name “Glen,” to fly a reconnaissance mission over Sydney, Australia. (Jack McKillop)

U.S.A.: The great actor John Barrymore dies in Los Angeles, California, of pneumonia and cirrhosis of the liver. John, and his siblings Ethel and Lionel Barrymore, were legendary stars in Hollywood during the 1920s, 30s and 40s. John made his stage debut in 1900 at age 18 and became a major Broadway star in 1909. His first “official movie” was made in 1914 and during the early 1930s, he was cast as a romantic leading man. However, his drinking, which began when he was a boy, began to take its toll and he became an old man before his time and his last few films were distasteful. (Jack McKillop)

The first North American P-51 Mustang destined for the RAF makes its first flight. (Jack McKillop)
Submarine USS Raton laid down.

Destroyer USS Barton commissioned. (Dave Shirlaw)

ATLANTIC OCEAN: SS Western Head sunk by U-107 at 19.57N, 74.18W.

At 0103, the unescorted Norman Prince was torpedoed by U-156 about 60 miles west of St. Lucia and sunk by a coup de grâce at 0137. 14 crewmembers and two gunners were lost. The master, 24 crewmembers and seven gunners were picked up by the French merchantman Angouleme, landed at Martinique and were interned by the Vichy French authorities. The radio officer Hubert John Tanner was rescued after two and a half days by the USCGC Unalga.

At 2137, the unescorted Allister was torpedoed and sunk by U-504 54 miles south of Grand Cayman Island. 15 crewmembers were lost. Eight crewmembers landed at Port au Prince, Haiti. (Dave Shirlaw)

[PzLdr]

Trieste’s actions accomplish two things. First Rommel now has a direct supply line to his rear, a much shorter one, and he has a ‘bridgehead’ through the British ‘box’ line, a bridgehead not covered by British artillery.

Second, Bir Hacheim is now isolated. Rommel can concentrate on offense there, and concentrate on defense in his bridgehead.

[PzLdr]

“Teh British fail to develop a coordinated attack. the German anti-tank guns are particularly effective”

The Brits NEVER developed coordinated attacks. It wasn’t part of their tactical system. Armor fought its battle, the infantry fought theirs, and never the twain shall meet.

British armor fought in ‘penny packets’, i.e brigades. Their division commanders were invariably in the rear [until Rommel and the boys brought the front to them]. The brigades almost always fought without mutual supporting attacks. Conccentration never seems to have entered their minds.

At Gazala, Rommel used his ATs, especially his 88s, to guard the backdoor [front door of the offensive], while he took Bir Hacheim. British tanks were shot to hell, driven into minefields and generally neutered until Rommel turned his attention to them again.

At Knightsbridge, you have classic Rommel. He used his panzers and a feigned retreat to lure the remaining British armor on to a screen of 88s and other ATs. While the guns wreaked havoc on the British armor, the panzers regrouped and attacked their flanks and rear. Result? By the end of the battle, Rommel had destroyed virually what was left of the British armored force that existed when he had swept around the southern flank. Some 800 or so tanks had bee destroyed. With no secure rear area, the Infantry and artillery fell back to the east. Richie ordered a withdrawal, which turned intio a rout. And Rommel now set his sights on the prize that had eluded him the year before. Tobruk.

[BroJoeK]

---

May 29 , 1942:

• "Vichy France forbids Jews access to all restaurants and cafes, libraries, sports grounds, squares, and other public places.

• "Three thousand Jews led by Asher Czerkaski resist Germans at Radziwillow, Ukraine; 1500 are killed but the others melt into nearby forests.

• "In the Warsaw Ghetto, an ill Jewish man is tossed through a window to the ground, where he is shot."

"Waffen-SS and SD officers force Jews to dig their graves before being shot.
Such scenes were common in Russia in the months following the German invasion.
Forcing the victims to dig their own graves not only lightened the workload for many of the perpetrators--many of whom were too drunk to dig--but was also a final humiliation for those about to be murdered."

---

[dfwgator]

6 in Czech Family Executed by Nazis (Brigham) – 4-5

I'm afraid there will be more to come, especially if Heydrich dies.

[BroJoeK]

Headline: "STRIKE THREATENED BY 14,000 MILKMEN ON DELIVERIES CUT"

Who would ever disagree that the best way for 14,000 milkmen to save their jobs over the long-term, is to go on strike for more work.

You see, if they go on strike often enough, then in 25 or 50 years the children and grandchildren of these, ahem, milk deliverers, can still be working those jobs, right?

On the other hand, maybe these guys should be thinking about some new careers.
I understand there is a lot of hiring now in national defense.

[CougarGA7]

• The last two groups sortie for the Midway operation. The Main Body of the Midway Invasion Force under Vice Admiral Kondo, and the Main Force under Admiral Yamamoto depart in the early hours from Hashirajima.

[CougarGA7]

With the entire Japanese force now en route to Midway and the Aleutians I thought I'd take a moment to post a composite of the Japanese force that is about to be involved in what I consider the most important naval battle in naval history. I don't think that many really understand just how large this attacking force was and just what a near thing this really was for the U.S. Navy.

Combined Fleet

MAIN FORCE (First Fleet) - Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto

MAIN BODY - Admiral Yamamoto

BATTLESHIP GROUP (BatDiv 1), Admiral Yamamoto

Yamato, Captain Gihachi Takayanagi
Nagato, Captain Hideo Yano
Mutsu, Captain Teijiro Yamazumi

CARRIER GROUP, Captain Kaoru Umetani

Hosho (CVL), Captain Umetani

Air Unit (8 bombers), Lieutenant Yoshiaki Irikiin

Yukaze (DD), Lieutenant Commander Shizuka Kajimoto

SPECIAL FORCE, Captain Kaku Harada

Chiyoda (seaplane carrier), Captain Harada
Nisshin (seaplane carrier), Captain Katsumi Komazawa
* Both the Chiyoda and the Nisshin were serving as tenders and carried midget submarines for this operation

SCREEN (DesRon 3), rear Admiral Shintaro Hashimoto

Sendia (CL, flagship), Captain Nobue Morishita

DesDiv 11, Captain Kiichiro Shoji

Fubuki, commander Shizuo Yamashita
Shirayuki, Commander Taro Sugahara
Hatsuyuki, Lieutenant Commander Junnari Kamiura
Mukakumo, Commander Hideo Higashi

DesDiv 19, Captain Ranji Oe

Isonami, commander Ryokichi Sugama
Uranami, Commander Tsutomu Hagio
Shikinami, Commander Akifumi Kawahashi
Ayanami, Commander Eiji Sakuma

1ST SUPPLY UNIT, Captain Shigeyasu Nishioka

Naruto (oiler), Captain Nishioka
Toei Maru (oiler)

GUARD FORCE (Aleutians Screening), Vice Admiral Shiro Takasu, in Hyuga

BATTLESHIP GROUP (BatDiv 2), Vice Admiral Takasu

Hyuga, Captain Chiaki Matsuda
Ise, Captain Isamu Takeda
Fuso, Captain Mitsuo Kinoshita
Yamashiro, Captain Gunji Kogure

SCREEN, Rear Admiral Fukuji Kishi

CruDiv 9, Rear Admiral Kishi

Kitakami (CL, flagship), Captain Saiji Norimitsu
Oi (CL), Captain Shigeru Narita

DesDiv 20, Captain Yuji Yamada

Asagiri, Commander Nishaburo Maekawa
Yugiri, Captain Masayoshi Motokura
Shirakumo, Commander Yoyoji Hitomi
Amagiri, Captain Buichi Ashida

DesDiv 24, Captain Yasuji Hirai

Umikaze, Commander Nagahide Sugitani
Yamakazi, Commander Shuichi Hamanaka
Kawakazi, Commander Kazuo Wakabayashi
Suzukaze, Commander Kazuo Shibayama

DesDiv 27, Captain Matake Yoshimura

Ariake, Commander Shoichi Yoshida
Yugure, Commander Kiyoshi Kamo
Shigure, Commander Noboru Seo
Shiratsuyu, Lieutenant Commander Kimmatsu Hashimoto

2ND SUPPLY UNIT, Captain Matsuo Eguchi

San Clemente Maru (oiler), Captain Eguchi
Toa Maru (oiler)

FIRST CARRIER STRIKING FORCE (First Air Fleet) - Vice Admiral Chuichi Nagumo

CARRIER GROUP, Vice Admiral Nagumo

CARDIV 1, Vice Admiral Nagumo in Akagi

Akagi (CV), Captain Taijiro Aoki

Air Unit, Commander Mitsuo Fuchida

21 Zero fighters, Lieutenant Commander Shigeru Itaya
21 dive bombers, Lieutenant Takehiko Chihaya
21 torpedo bombers, Lieutenant Commander Shigeharu Murata

Kaga (CV), Captain Jisaku Okada

Air Unit, Lieutenant Commander Tadashi Kusumi

21 Zero fighters, Lieutenant Masao Sato 30 torpedo bombers, Lieutenant Ichiro Kitajima

CARDIV 2, Read Admiral Tamon Yamaguchi, in Hiryu

Hiryu (CV), Captain Tomeo Kaku

Air Unit, Lieutenant Joichi Tomonaga

21 Zero fighters, Lieutenant Shigeru Mori
21 dive bombers, Lieutenant Michio Kobayashi
21 torpedo bombers, Lieutenant Rokuro Kikuchi

Soryu (CV), Captain Ryusaku Yanagimoto

Air Unit, Lieutenant Commander Takashige Egusa

21 Zero fighters, Lieutenant Masaharu Suganami
21 dive bombers, Lieutenant Masahiro Ikeda
21 torpedo bombers, Lieutenant Heijiro Abe

SUPPORT GROUP, Rear Admiral Hiroaki Abe, in Tone

CRUDIV 8, Rear Admiral Abe

Tone (CA), Captain Tametsugu Okada
Chikuma (CA), Captain Keizo Komura

2ND SECTION, BATDIV 3, Captain Tamotsu Koma

Haruna, Captain Koma
**Guess Captain Colin P. Kelly didn't get it after allKirishima, Captain Sanji Iwabuchi

SCREEN (DesRon 10), Read Admiral Susumu Kimura

Nagara (CL, flagship), Captain Toshio Naoi

DESDIV 4, Captain Kosaku Ariga

Nowaki, Commander Magotaro Koga
Arashi, Commander Yasumasa Watanabe
Hagikaze, Commander Juichi Iwagami
Maikaze, Commander Seiji Nakasugi

DESDIV 10, Captain Toshio Abe

Kazagumo, Commander Masayoshi Yoshida
Yugumo, Commander Shigeo Semba
Makigumo, Commander Isamu Fujita

DESDIV 17, Captain Masayuki Kitamura

Urakaze, Commander Nagayoshi Shiraishi
Isokaze, Commander Shunichi Toshima
Tanikaze, Commander Motoi Kasumi
Hamakaze, Commander Tsuneo Orita

SUPPLY GROUP, Captain Masanao Oto

Kyokuto Maru (oiler), Captain Oto
Shinkoku Maru (oiler)
Toho Maru (oiler)
Nippon Maru (oiler)
Kokuyo Maru (oiler)
Akigumo (DD), Commander Shohei Soma

MIDWAY INVASION FORCE (Second Fleet) - Vice Admiral Nobutake Kondo

INVASION FORCE MAIN BODY, Vice Admiral Kondo in Atago

CRUDIV 4 (less 2nd Section), Vice Admiral Kondo

Atago (CA), Captain Matsuji Ijuin
Chokai (CA), Captain Mikio Hayakawa

CRUDIV 5, Vice Admiral Takeo Takagi

Myoko (CA), Captain Teruhiko Miyoshi
Haguro (CA), Captain Tomoichi Mori

BATDIV 3 (less 2nd Section), Rear Admiral Gunichi Mikawa

Kongo, Captain Tomiji Koyanagi
Hiei, Captain Masau Nishida

SCREEN (DesRon 4), Read Admiral Shoji Nishimura

Yura (CL, flagship), Captain Shiro Sato

DESDIV 2, Captain Masao Tachibana

Murasame, Commander Naoji Suenaga
Samidare, Commander Takisaburo Matsubara
Harusame, Commander Masao Kamiyama
Yudachi, Commander Kiyoshi Kikkawa

DESDIV 9, Captain Yasuo Sato

Asagumo, Commander Toru Iwahashi
Minegumo, Commander Yasuatsu Suzuki
Natsugumo, Commander Moritaro Tsukamoto

CARRIER GROUP, Captain Sueo Obayashi

Zuiho (CVL), Captain Obayashi

Air Unit

12 Zero fighters, Lieutenant Moriyasu Hidaka
12 torpedo bombers, Lieutenant Kaji Matsuo

Mikazuki (DD), Lieutenant Commander Saneho Maeda

SUPPLY GROUP, Captain Jiro Murao

Sata (oiler), Captain Murao
Tsurumi (oiler), Captain Toshizo Fujita
Genyo Maru (oiler)
Kenyo Maru (oiler)
Akashi (repair ship), Captain Tsunekichi Fukuzawa

CLOSE SUPPORT GROUP, Vice Admiral Takeo Kurita

CRUDIV 7, Vice Admiral Kurita

Kumano (CA, flagship), Captain Kikumatsu Tanaka
Suzuya (CA), Captain Masatomi Kimura
Mikuma (CA), Captain Shakao Sakiyama
Mogami (CA), Captain Akira Soji

DESDIV 8, Commander Nobuki Ogawa

Asashio, Commander Goro Yoshii
Arashio, Command Hideo Kuboki
Nichiei Maru (oiler)

TRANSPORT GROUP, Rear Admiral Raizo Tanaka

TRANSPORTS

Kiyozumi Maru
Zenyo Maru
No. 2 Toa Maru
Argentina Maru
Brazil Maru
Azuma Maru
Keiyo Maru
Goshu Maru
Kano Maru
Hokuriku Maru
Kirishima Maru
Nankai Maru
Patrol Boats Nos. 1, 2, and 34 (carrying troops)
Akebono Maur (oiler)

ESCORT (DesRon 2), Rear Admiral Tanaka in Jintsu

Jintsu (CL), Captain Torazo Kozai

DesDiv 15, Captain Shiro Sato

Kuroshio, Commander Tamaki Ugaki
Oyashio, Commander Tokikichi Arima

DesDiv 16, Captain Shiro Shibuya

Yukikaze, Commander Kenjiro Tobit
Amatsukaze, Commander Tameichi Hara
Tokitsukaze, Commander Giichiro Nakahara
Hatsukaze, Commander Kameshiro Takahash

DesDiv 18, Captain Yoshito Miyasaka

Shiranuhi, Commander Jisuo Akasawa
Kasumi, Commander Kiyoshi Tomura
Arare, Commander Tomoe Ogata
Kagero, Commander Minoru Yokoi

SEAPLANE TENDER GROUP, Rear Admrial Ruitaro Fujita

SEAPLANE TENDER DIVISION 11, Rear Admiral Fujita

Chitose (CVS), Captain Tamotsu Furukawa

16 fighter seaplanes
4 scout seaplanes

Kamikawa Maru (AV), Captain Tarohachi Shinoda

8 fighter seaplanes
4 scout seaplanes

Hayashio (DD), Captain Kiyoshi Kaneda
Patrol Boat No. 35 (carrying troops)

MINESWEEPER GROUP, Captain Sadatomo Miyamoto

MINESWEEPERS

Tama Maru No. 3
Tama Maru No. 5
Shonan Maru No. 7
Shonan Maru No. 8

SUBCHASERS Nos. 16, 17, 18

Soya (supply ship), Commander Toshi Kubota
Meiyo Maru (cargo ship)
Yamafuku Maru (cargo ship)

NORTHERN FORCE (Aleutians) (Fifth Fleet) – Vice Admiral Moshiro Hosogaya

NORTHERN FORCE MAIN BODY, Vice Admiral Hosogaya

Nachi (CA), Captain Takahiko Kiyota

SCREEN, Commander Hajime Takeuchi

Inazuma (DD), Commander Takeuchi
Ikazuchi (DD), Lieutenant Commander Shunsaku Kudo

SUPPLY GROUP

Fujisan Maru (oiler)
Nissan Maru (oiler)
3 cargo ships

SECOND CARRIER STRIKING FORCE, Rear Admiral Kakuji Kakuta

CARRIER GROUP (CarDiv 4), Rear Admiral Kakuta

Ryujo (CVL), Captain Tadao Kato

Air Unit, Lieutenant Masayuki Yamagami

16 Zero fighters, Lieutenant Minoru Kobayashi
21 torpedo bombers, Lieutenant Yamagami

Junyo (CV), Captain Shizue Ishii

Air Unit, Lieutenant Yoshio Shiga

24 Zero fighters, Lieutenant Shiga
21 dive bombers, Lieutenant Zenji Abe

SUPPORT GROUP (2nd Section, CruDiv 4), Captain Shunsaku Nabeshima

Maya (CA), Captain Nabeshima
Takao (CA), Captain Bunji Asakura

SCREEN (DesDiv 7), Captain Kaname Konishi

Akebono, Lieutenant Commander Minoru Nakagawa
Ushio, Commander Yoshitake Uesugi
Sazanami, Lieutenant Commander Hiroshi Uwai
Teiyo Maru (oiler)

ATTU INVASION FORCE, Rear Admiral Sentaro Omori in Abukuma

Abukuma (CL), Captain Seiroku Murayama

DESDIV 21, Captain Toshio Shimizu

Wakaba, Lieutenant Commander Masakichi Kuroki
Nenohi, Lieutenant Commander Saburo Terauchi
Hatsuharu, Commander Hiroshi Makino
Hatsushimo, Lieutenant Commander Satoru Migihama

Magain Maru (minelayer)
Kinugasa Maru (transport)

KISKA INVASION FORCE, Captain Takeji Ono in Kiso

CRUDIV 21, Captain Ono

Kiso (CL), Captain Ono
Tama (CL), Captain Masaharu Kawabata
Asaka Maru (auxiliary cruiser), Captain Jiro Ban

SCREEN (DesDiv 6), Captain Yusuke Yamada

Hibiki, Lieutenant Commander Hagumu Ishii
Akatsuki, Commander Osuma Takasuka
Hokaze, Lieutenant Commander Tomoo Tanaka

TRANSPORTS

Hakusan Maru
Kumangawa Maru

MINESWEEPER DIVISION 13, Captain Toshio Mitsuka

Kaiho Maru
Shunkotsu Maru
Hakuho Maro

SUBMARINE DETACHMENT, Rear Admiral Shigeaki Yamazaki in I-9

SUBRON 1, Rear Admiral Yamazaki

I-9, Commander Akiyoshi Fujii

SubDiv 2, Captain Hiroshi Imazato

I-15, Commander Nobuo Ishikawa
I-17, Commander Kozo Nishino
I-19, Commander Seigo Narahara

SubDiv 4, Captain Mitsuru Nagai

I-25, Commander Meiji Togami
I-26, Commander Minoru Yokota

ADVANCE FORCE (submarine) (Sixth Fleet) – Vice Admiral Teruhisa Komatsu

Katori (CL), Captain Noboru Owada

SubRon 3, Rear Admrial Chimaki Kono

Rio de Janeiro Maru (sub-tender, flagship, at Kwajalein)

SUBDIV 19, Captain Ryojiro Ono

I-156, Lieutenant Commander Katsu Ohashi
I-157, Lieutenant Commander Sakae Nakajima
I-158, Lieutenant Commander Soshichi Kitamura
I-159, Lieutenant Commander Tamori Yoshimatsu

SUBDIV 30, Captain Masao Teraoka

I-162, Lieutenant Commander Takaichi Kinashi
I-165, Lieutenant Commander Takae Harada
I-166, Lieutenant Commander Makio Tanaka

SUBDIV 13, Captain Takeharu Miyazaki

I-121, Lieutenant Commander Yasuo Fujimori
I-122, Lieutenant Commander Sadatoshi Norita
I-123, Lieutenant Commander Toshitake Ueno

SHORE BASED AIR FORCE (Eleventh Air Fleet) – Vice Admiral Nishizo Tsukahara at Tinian

MIDWAY EXPEDITIONARY FORCE, Captain Chisato Morita

36 Zero fighters, Lieutenant Commander Mitsugu Kokufuda
10 land bombers (at Wake)
6 flying boats (at Jaluit)

24TH AIR FLOATILLA, Rear Admrial Minoru Maeda at Kwajalein

CHITOSE AIR GROUP, Captain Fujiro Ohashi (at Kwajalein)

36 Zero fighters
36 torpedo bombers

1ST AIR GROUP, Captain Samaji Inouye (at Aur and Wotje)

36 Zero fighters
36 torpedo bombers

14TH AIR GROUP, Captain Daizo Nakajima

18 flying boats (at Jaluit and Wotje)

- Fuchida, Mitsuo and Masatake Okumiya, Midway: The Battle That Doomed Japan, the Japanese Navy's Story, Appendix 2.

[samtheman]

I thought the the siege of Tobruk was lifted in December, 1941. Was this a second attempt by the Nazis?

[TonyInOhio]

Superb work Homer, as always!

[BroJoeK]

CougarGA7: "...post a composite of the Japanese force that is about to be involved in what I consider the most important naval battle in naval history.
I don't think that many really understand just how large this attacking force was and just what a near thing this really was for the U.S. Navy."

In what ways were these forces larger, or smaller, than those the Japanese had in motion on December 7, 1941?

I would have guessed, all told, they were roughly the same.

[Homer_J_Simpson]

I thought the the siege of Tobruk was lifted in December, 1941. Was this a second attempt by the Nazis?

Yes, this is Rommel's second offensive. Things will move a little more quickly this time around.

[CougarGA7]

The Japanese force attacking Pearl Harbor did not include an invasion force. That alone makes the Midway force larger. That aside lets look at some particulars.

There were 6 front line carriers involved at Pearl. 4 of the same carriers were involved at Midway. Additionally, there were another 4 carriers of smaller caliber involved in this attack. All told, carrier compliments were about the same.

However, there was not nearly the surface compliment involved in Pearl Harbor as there was at Midway. Here we have sea tenders carrying midgets subs, a screen of submarines at about the same levels, 4 times as many cruisers, 3 times as many battleships, and a load of destroyers.

Pretty much the bulk of the Japanese fleet was committed to this attack, while when the Pearl Harbor attack took place the Naval General Staff still had enough sway over Yamamoto to keep some naval forces tied up in the southern advance. After the success of Pearl, Yamamoto pretty much had carte blanche.

[Godebert]

Erwin Rommel and his Afrika Korps (Full Color Video)

[samtheman]

Thanks. And thanks for all your interesting posts on the subject.

I just looked up Romme’ls second offensive. I never read much about the war in North Africa. Reading about it now I started thinking: imagine what it was like fighting in a tank, in the desert, in the summer. Must have been hell.