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Carrier Striking Task Force Operations Order No. 1 [6]

23 November 1941
To: Carrier Striking Task Force

1. The Carrier Striking Task Force will proceed to the Hawaiian Area with utmost secrecy and, at the outbreak of the war, will launch a resolute surprise attack on and deal a fatal blow to the enemy fleet in the Hawaiian Area. The initial air attack is scheduled at 0330 hours, X Day. Upon completion of the air attacks, the Task Force will immediately withdraw and return to Japan and, after taking on new supplies, take its position for Second Period Operations. In the event that, during this operation, an enemy fleet attempts to intercept our force or a powerful enemy force is encountered and there is danger of attack, the Task Force will launch a counterattack.

2. The disposition of Force will be as shown on Chart 1.

3. The Operation of Each Force.

a. General

While exercising strict antiaircraft and antisubmarine measures and making every effort to conceal its position and movements, the entire force (except the Midway Bombardment Unit) in accordance with special orders will depart as a group from Hitokappu Bay at a speed of 12-14 knots. The force refueling en route whenever possible will arrive at the standby point (42 N, 165 W). In the event bad weather prevents refueling en route to the standby point, the screening unit will be

[6]. General outline.

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MAP: Planned Track of Carrier Striking Force For Pearl Harbor Attack.
(Will be uploaded soon.)

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CHART: Chart 1, Disposition of Forces.

Task Force

Classification: Air Attack Force
 
Commander: 1st Air Fleet Commander
 
Strength: 1st Air Fleet
            1st Carrier Division
                CV Akagi
                CV Kaga 
            2nd Carrier Division
                CV Hiryu        
                CV Soryu 
            5th Carrier Division
                CV Zuikaku 
                CV Shokaku
 
Duties: Air Attacks
 
Classification: Screening Unit
 
Commander: 1st Destroyer Squadron Commander
 
Strength: 17th Destroyer Division
            (Nagara Flagship)
          18th Destroyer Division
            (Akigumo Flagship)
 
Duties: Screening and escort
 
Classification: Support Force
 
Commander: 3rd Battleship Division Commander
 
Strength: 3rd Battleship Division
             (less the 2nd section)
          8th Cruiser Division
 
Duties: Screen and support
 
Classification: Patrol Unit
 
Commander: 2nd Submarine Division Commander
 
Strength: I-19 (Flagship)
          I-21
          I-23
 
Duties: Patrol
 
Classification: Midway Bombardment Unit
 
Commander: 7th Destroyer Division Commander
 
Strength: 7th Destroyer Division
             (less the 2nd section)
 
Duties: Midway air base attack
 
Classification: Supply Force 
 
Overall Commander: Kyokuto Maru Commander 
 
Classification: Supply Force (1st Supply Unit)
 
Commander: Kyokuto Maru Commander 
 
Strength: Kenyo Maru
          Kyokuto Maru
          Kokuyo Maru
          Shinkoku Maru
          Akebono Maru
 
Duties: Supply
 
Classification: Supply Force (2nd Supply Unit)
 
Commander: Toho Maru Inspector
 
Strength: Toho Maru 
          Toei Maru
          Nippon Maru
 
Duties: Supply

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ordered to return to the home base. Subsequent to the issuance of the order designating X Day (the day of the outbreak of hostilities), the force will proceed to the approaching point (32 N, 157 W).

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Around 0700 hours, X-1 Day the Task Force will turn southward at high speed (approximately 24 knots) from the vicinity of the approaching point. It will arrive at the take-off point (200 nautical miles north of the enemy fleet anchorage) at 0100 hours X Day (0530 Honolulu time) and commit the entire air strength to attack the enemy fleet and important airfields on Oahu.

Upon completion of the air attacks, the Task Force will assemble the aircraft, skirt 800 nautical miles north of Midway, return about X + 15 Day to the western part of the Inland Sea via the assembly point (30 N, 165 E) and prepare for Second Period Operations. In the event of a fuel shortage the Task Force will proceed to Truk via the assembly point.

The force may skirt near Midway in the event that consideration of an enemy counter-attack is unnecessary due to successful air attacks or if such action is necessitated by fuel shortage.

In this event, the 5th Carrier Division with the support of the Kirishima from the 3rd Battleship Division will leave the Task Force on the night of X Day or the early morning of X + 1 Day and carry out air attacks on Midway in the early morning of X + 2 Day.

If a powerful enemy force intercepts our return route, the Task Force will break through the Hawaiian Islands area southward and proceed to the Marshall Islands.

b. Patrol unit

The patrol unit will accompany the main force. In the event the screening unit is returned to the home base, the patrol unit

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will screen the advance of the main force and the launching and the landing of aircraft. After the air attacks, the patrol unit will station itself between the flank of the main force and the enemy. In the event of an enemy fleet sortie, the patrol unit will shadow the enemy and in a favorable situation attack him.

c. The Midway Bombardment Unit

The Midway Bombardment Unit will depart from Tokyo Bay around X-6 Day and, after refueling, secretly approach Midway. It will arrive on the night of X Day and shell the air base. The unit will then withdraw and, after refueling, return to the western part of the Inland Sea. The oiler Shiriya will accompany the bombardment unit on this mission and will be responsible for the refueling operation.

d. Supply Force

The supply force will accompany the main force to the approaching point, carrying out refuelings, separate from the main force, skirt 800 nautical miles north of Midway, return to the assembly point by 0800 hours, X +6 Day, and stand by.

4. The Task Force may suspend operations en route to the Hawaiian area and return to Hitokappu Bay, Hokkaido or Mutsu Bay, depending upon the situation.

Commander
Carrier Striking Task Force
Nagumo, Chuichi

(JAPANESE MONOGRAPH NO. 97)