Naval Analysis Division
Contents
Foreword Acknowledgment I. Japanese Naval Planning 1-12 Foreword 1 The Naval Planning Organization 1 The Basic Plan for the Greater East Asia War 2 Operational Plans Formulated Throughout the War 6 II. Japanese Attack on Pearl Harbor, Planning and Execution 13-25 Appendixes: 1. Organization of Pearl Harbor Task Force 21 2. Task Force Track Chart 22 3. Aircraft Attack Organization 23 4. Combat Air Patrol Organization 24 5. Aircraft approach to Oahu 25 III. The Japanese Invasion of the Philippines, the Dutch East Indies, and Southeast Asia 26-51 Introduction 26 Japanese Plans 26 Commencement of Hostilities 27 Occupation of the Philippines 28 Malaya Operations 28 The Organization of the Allied Command 28 The Japanese Occupy Celebes and Borneo 29 Allied Counteroffensive Efforts 29 The Java Campaign 30 Battle of the Java Sea 31 Employment of Japanese Carriers and Battleships 31 Conclusion 32 Bibliography 33 Appendixes: 6. Table of Allied Naval and Air Forces 34 7. Table of Japanese Forces 36 8. Table Showing Allied Naval Losses 38 9. Table Showing Japanese Naval and Merchant Ship Losses 40 10. Chart Showing Japanese Southern Advance, 8 December 1941-10 March 1942 41 11. Chart Showing Movement of Japanese Main Body 2d Fleet and Carrier Attack Forces 42 12. Central Agreement Between Japanese Navy and Army Established November 1941 (Translation) 43 13. Imperial Navy's Course of Action in Operations against United States, Great Britain and Netherlands. Formulated in November 1941 (Translation) 47 14. Japanese Naval Despatches Ordering Commencement of Hostilities 49 IV. The Battle of the Coral Sea 52-57 Plans 52 The United States Attack on Tulagi 52 The Coral Sea Battle 52 Consequences of the Engagement 53 Bibliography 53 Appendixes: 15. Table of Forces Involved 54 16. Table of Detailed Losses (United States and Japanese) 55 17. Track Chart of Shoho (CV) (Port Moresby Occupation Force) 56 18. Sketch of Hits on Shoho (CV) Coral Sea, 7 May 1942 57 V. The Battle of Midway 58-77 Japanese Plans 58 United States Defensive Efforts 58 The Battle 59 The Japanese Retirement 59 Consequences of the Battle 60 Bibliography 60 Appendixes: 19. Sketch of Hits on Japanese Occupation Force Midway, 3-4 June 61 20. Track Chart of Japanese Submarines (Battle of Midway, 3-7 June 1942) 62 21. Track Chart of Japanese Forces (Battle of Midway, 4-6 June 1942) 62 22. Action Chart of Japanese First Air Fleet (Battle of Midway, 5 June) 62 23. Summary of attacks upon First Air Fleet, Striking Force, Battle of Midway (Translation) 63 24. Table of Forces Involved 74 25. Table of Detailed Losses 77 VI. The Aleutian Campaign 78-104 Preliminary Events and Planning 78 The Japanese Occupation 79 Expulsion of the Japanese 81 Pressure on the Kuriles 82 Comments and Conclusion 83 Bibliography 86 Appendixes: 26. Chart of Movement of Japanese Forces, Aleutian Campaign 1942 88 27. Kiska Island, Showing Track of Evacuation Force, 29 July 1943 88 28. Table of Summary of Air Effort, Japanese Attack on Dutch Harbor 89 29. Table of Summary of Air Effort Against Kiska and Attu 90 30. Table of Summary of Air Effort for the War in the North Pacific 91 31. Table of Chronological Summary of Japanese Warships Sunk or Heavily Damaged in the North Pacific 92 32. Table of Chronological Summary of the United States Ships Sunk or Heavily Damaged in the North Pacific 94 33. Translation of Japanese Report of Activities and Losses in the Kuriles 95 34. Table of Organization of Japanese Forces for the Occupation of the Western Aleutians, June 1942 99 35. Table of Organization of United States Forces in the North Pacific, 1 June 1942 101 36. Table of Organization of Forces at the Battle of the Komandorski Islands--United States and Japanese 102 37. Table of Organization of Forces at the Battle of Attu--United States and Japanese 103 VII. The Solomons Campaign 105-172 Introduction 105 Initial United States Landings 105 Battle of Savo Island 106 Appendixes: 38. Table of Forces and Detailed Losses of Battle of Savo Island, 8 August 1942 108 39. Track Chart of Battle of Savo Island, 8-9 August 1942 109 Battle of Eastern Solomons 110 Appendixes: 40. Table of Forces and Detailed Losses of Battle of Eastern Solomons, 25 August 1942 112 41. Track Chart of Japanese Forces Battle of Eastern Solomons, 23-25 August 1942 114 Battle of Cape Esperance, 11 October 1942 115 Appendixes: 42. Table of Forces and Detailed Losses of Battle of Cape Esperance, 12 October 1942 117 43. Track Chart of Japanese Forces Battle of Cape Esperance, 11 October 1942 118 Battle of Santa Cruz, 25-26 October 1942 119 Appendixes: 44. Table of Forces and Detailed Losses of Battle of Santa Cruz, 25-26 October 1942 122 45. Track Chart of Japanese Forces Battle of Santa Cruz, 21-26 October 1942 124 Battle of Guadalcanal, 12-15 November 1942 125 Appendixes: 46. Table of Forces and Detailed Losses of Battle of Guadalcanal Cruiser Night Action, 13 November 1942;
Night Battleship Action, 15 November 1942127 47. Track Chart of Battle of Guadalcanal (9 Charts), 12-15 November 1942 130 Battle of Tassafaronga, 30 November 1942 139 Appendixes: 48. Table of Forces and Detailed Losses of Battle of Tassafaronga, 30 November 1942 140 49. Track Chart of Battle of Tassafaronga, 30 November 1942 141 Occupation of New Georgia 142 Battle of Vella Gulf 143 Battle of Vella Lavella 143 Appendixes: 50. Table of Forces and Detailed Losses of Night Action Vila-Stanmore, 5-6 March 1943 144 51. Track Chart of Vila-Stanmore, 6 March 1943 145 52. Composition of Task Forces New Georgia Campaign, Solomon Islands, Vella Gulf, 6-7 August 1943 146 53. Track Chart of Battle of Vella , 6-7 August 1943 147 54. Table of Forces and Detailed Losses of Battle of Vella Lavella, 17-18 August 1943 148 55. Table of Forces and Detailed Losses of Battle of Vella Lavella, 6-7 October 1943 149 Bougainville Campaign 150 Appendixes: 56. Table of Forces Buka-Nomis Air Strikes, 1-2 November 1943 151 Battle of Empress Augusta Bay 152 Appendixes: 57. Table of Forces and Detailed Losses for Battle of Empress Augusta Bay 1-2 November 1943 153 58. Track Chart of Battle of Empress Augusta Bay, 2 November 154 Air Strikes on Rabaul 155 Appendixes: 59. Table of Forces and Detailed Losses of Rabaul Carrier Strikes, 5 November 1943 156 60. Table of Forces and Detailed Losses of Rabaul Carrier Strikes, 11 November 1943 157 Battle of Cape St. George 158 Appendixes: 61. Table of Forces and Detailed Losses of Battle of Cape St. George, 25 November 1943 159 Conclusion 160 Bibliography 160 Appendixes: 62. Graph of Monthly Combat Losses Japanese Naval Aircraft and Disposition of 11th Air Fleet Land-Based, August 1942-February 1944 162 63. Graph of Japanese Navy Air Force Strength August 1942-February 1942 Graph of Japanese Navy Air Force Strength August 1942-February 1942 162 64. Table of Japanese Naval Losses in Solomons Campaign, 4 May 1942-17 February 1944 Table of Japanese Naval Losses in Solomons Campaign, 4 May 1942-17 February 1944 163 VIII. The New Guinea Campaign 173-190 Introduction 173 Beginning of the Allied Offensive 173 Japanese Attempts to Reinforce Lae and Salamaua 174 Shipping Strike in the Bismarck Sea, 1-4 March 1943 174 Strategic Situation, Spring 1943 175 Japanese Air Activity, March-June 1943 175 The Allied Landings on Woodlark-Kiriwina Islands and Nassau Bay, 30 June 1943 175 The Lae Operation 176 The Finschhafen Operation, 22 September 1943 177 The Advance into New Britain and the Admiralty Islands 177 The Landings in the Hollandia Area, 22 April 1944 179 The Landing at Biak 27 May 1944 180 The Japanese Attempt to provide Reinforcements--The "Kon" Plan 181 The Morotai Landings, 15 September 1944 182 The Allied Invasion of Borneo, May-July 1945 182 Air Operations in Western New Guinea 184 The Japanese Army Air Force in new Guinea 184 Conclusion 185 Bibliography 186 Appendixes: 188 65. Chart of Allied Advance Along New Guinea Coast 188 66. Graph of Japanese Army Air Force Strength New Guinea Area, 1943-1944 189 67. Graph of Japanese Navy Air Force Strength, August 1942-February 1944 190 IX. Central Pacific Operations from 1 June 1943 to 1 March 1944, Including the Gilbert-Marshall islands Campaign 191-203 Introduction 191 United States and Japanese Plans 191 Preliminary Operations 191 Occupation of the Gilberts 192 Buildup and Subsequent Planning 193 Occupation of the Marshalls 193 Seizure of Eniwetok 194 Carrier Task Force Raids 194 Conclusion 195 Bibliography 195 Appendixes: 68. Table of Strength of Opposing Ground Forces, Casualties and Japanese Garrison Strength in The Central Pacific 197 69. Extracts from Official reports of the Imperial Japanese Government Concerning the Gilbert-Marshall Campaign 198 70. Charts Showing the Principal movements of Major Japanese Naval Vessels in the Central Pacific, November 1943 through February 1944 202 X. The Central Pacific Campaigns, 1 March to 1 September, Including the Occupation of the Marianas 204-272 Strategic Situation at Beginning of Campaign 204 Early Japanese Plans and Dispositions 205 United States Operations--The Preparatory Phase: Shore-Based Air 206 Carrier Attack on Western Carolines, 30 March-1 April 1944 207 Death of Admiral Koga, Commander in Chief Combined Fleet 207 Fifth Fleet Support of the Hollandia Operation, 21-24 April 1944 208 Second Carrier Attack on Truk, 29-30 April 1944 208 Carrier Air Attack on Marcus and Wake Islands, 19-23 May 1944 209 The Invasion of the Marianas: United States Directives: Situation and Strength 209 Japanese Directives: Situation and Strength 210 Strategic Importance of the Marianas 211 The Capture of Saipan, 15 June-9 July 1944: Preinvasion Strikes 211 The Landing 212 Battle of the Philippine Sea, 19-20 June 1944: Movements of the Japanese Fleet 213 Task Force 58 213 Attack on Task Force 58, 19 June 1944 214 Attack on the Japanese Fleet, 20 June 1944 214 Pursuit of the Enemy Fleet 215 Covering operations, 22 June-9 July 1944 215 The Occupation of Guam and Tinian: Assault and Capture of Guam, 21 July-10 August 1944 216 Assault and Capture of Tinian, 24 July-1 August 1944 217 Continuing and Concurrent Operations: Carrier Attack on Western Carolines, 25-28 July 1944 218 Carrier Attack on Iwo Jima and Bonin Islands, 4-5 August 1944 218 Shore Based Air--Marianas 219 Marshall Islands Bases 219 Southwest Pacific 219 Comments and Conclusions 219 Bibliography 220 Appendixes: 71. Combined Fleet Operation Order No. 73 ("Z" Operation) dated 8 March 1944; and Imperial headquarters Directive No. 358 ("TO" Operation) dated 22 March 1944 with subsequent orders relating thereto (Translations) 221 72. (1) Imperial Headquarters Directive No. 373
(2) Combined Fleet Operations Order No. 76 ("A" Operation) dated 3 May 1944 (Translation)
(3) Imperial Headquarters Directive No. 426, dated 18 July 1944225
226
23173. General Directive to Combined Fleet from Commander in Chief, dated 4 May 1944 (translation) 233 74. Table of United States Forces in Occupation of the Marianas 234 75. Chain of Command, Japanese Forces in Marianas-Carolines, 1 June 1944 236 76. Order of Battle, Defense Forces in the Ogasawara-Marianas-Carolines, 1 June 1944 237 77. Assigned Strength, Table of Base Air Forces, Marianas and Carolines, 1 June 1944 238 78. Table of Japanese Task Organization First Mobile Fleet 239 79. Detailed Battle Report of "A" Operations, Battle is Seas West of Saipan from 13 June to 22 June 1944, issued by First Mobile Fleet Headquarters (Translation) 241 80. Excerpts from the Battle Reports of 601st Air Group (13-14 June), 652d Air Group (18-21 June), 653d Air Group (13-22 June), War Diaries of 252d Air Group and 22d Air Attack Force, Combined Reports of War Diaries of Shokaku, Chitose, Chiyoda, 5th Sentai, DesRon 10 249 81. Outline of Program of task Force Operations and Battle Impressions and Lessons "A" Operations dated 1 November 1944 (Translation) 260 82. Chart of Disposition of Japanese Fleet, forenoon 19 June and afternoon 20 June 1944 (Translation) 270 83. Track Chart of United States and Japanese Forces Battle of Philippine Sea, June 1944 271 84. Track Chart of Japanese Flagships 1st Mobile Fleet 13-22 June 1944 (Translation of Japanese Chart) 272 XI. The Western Carolines Operations 273-279 Introduction 273 Covering Operations 274 Palau Landings and Occupation of Ulithi 275 Conclusion 275 Bibliography 275 Appendixes: 85. Table of United States and Japanese Forces 277 86. Chart of the Western Carolines Operation, September 1944 279 XII. The Philippine Campaign 280-319 Introduction 280 Japanese Situation and Plans 280 United States Situation and Plans 282 Preliminary Raids 283 Battle for Leyte Gulf 283 Leyte and Ormoc 286 Mindoro 287 Lingayen Gulf 288 Conclusion 289 Bibliography 290 Appendixes: 87. Imperial Headquarters Directive 431 of 21 July 1944: General Policy for Urgent Operations 292 88. Excerpts from Imperial Headquarters Directive 435 of 26 July 1944: Designation of Urgent Operations as SHO Operations 294 89. Excerpts from Battle Summary of First Diversion Attack force in SHO Operation 295 90. Excerpts from First Mobile Fleet Report of SHO Operations 308 91. Table of Comparative Forces, Leyte Operation 315 92. Table of Comparative Combatant Ship Losses 317 93. Chart of Battle for Leyte Gulf, the Approach of the Japanese Forces 15-25 October 1944 318 94. Chart of Battle off Samar 25 October 1944 318 95. Graph of Estimated Japanese Air Strength in Philippines, 1944-1945 319 XIII. The Iwo Jima Campaign 320-323 Bibliography 321 Appendixes: 96. Table of Forces Involved 322 97. Table of Detailed Losses 323 XIV. The Okinawa Campaign 324-338 Action Details 326 Bibliography 328 Appendixes: 98. Table of Forces Involved 329 99. Table of Detailed Losses 331 100. Track Chart of Yamato Group 6-7 April 1945 332 101. Track Chart of Yamato 7 April 1945 333 102. Yamato's Battle Chronology 334 103. Action Report of 2d Destroyer Squadron 337 XV. Final Naval Operations 339-377 Damage to Major Japanese Warships in Kure Area 340 Appendixes: 104. Table of Forces Involved 350 105. Table of Detailed Losses 351 106. Sketches of Ships Damaged at Kure (12) 352 107. Photographs of Ships Damaged at Kure (24) 365 108. Chart of Locations of Sunk and Damaged Ships at Kure Area, 6 October 1945 377 XVI. The Campaign to Destroy Japanese Shipping 378-390 Bibliography 382 Appendixes: 109. Graph Total Japanese Merchant Shipping Tonnage Sunk and remaining Available 384 110. Graph of Monthly Comparison of Sinkings of Japanese Merchant Ships by three Principal Agents 385 111. Graph Showing Cumulative Tanker Sinkings by Agent 386 112. Reply of Japanese Government to U.S.S.B.S. Questionnaire Nav Number 24 regarding Japanese Shipping Escort Organization, Including Charts 1, 2, and 3 387