Brady
Posts: 10701
Joined: 10/25/2002 From: Oregon,USA Status: offline
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Some time ago I pulled this off the J-Aircraft Sight, note this is not me talking, I offer it up hear for the consideration of all concerned: IMO, there is no truth to the suggestion that the TF lacked fuel resources for an extended stay at Hawaii. Combined Fleet had provided 80,000 tons of additional fuel oil, plus about 4,000t more on 2nd CAR DIV, Akagi and 8th CRUDIV. One of these tankers might have broken down, making it around 70,000 tons. 5TH CARDIV (about 11,000 tons internal capacity) returned to Japan with 1,700 tons of oil still aboard, but had only received 700 tons resupply during the entire operation. DD Akigumo burned 1,100 tons during the mission (her internal capacity was about 500 tons), meaning the entire DD force should not have taken on much more than 6,000-8,000 tons from the tankers during the raid. Kaga and the two battlecruisers had the range to perform the mission without refueling, so for these units and Akagi, refueling was also probably minimal. The destroyers also needed to make a 48hr run at 24-28kt to enter and clear the battle zone, but Nagumo was capable of resupplying these from his battleships and carriers. 5th Carrier used about 10,000 tons between Shokaku and Zuikaku for the entire mission. Figure Akagi and Kaga and the two BC’s to be heavier consumers and 2nd Car Div and the heavy cruisers to be lighter consumers than that. Each destroyer burned less than 1,200 tons and the light cruiser – call it 2,000 just to be on the high side. That’s 10 heavy units @ 50,000 + about 10 destroyers @ 22,000 + 1 light cruiser @ 2,000 = <74,000 tons. The attack unit could carry about 45,000 tons of fuel. Plus another 4,000 tons overloaded, plus 80,000 on tankers = 129,000 tons. The surplus is 59,000 tons, or 49,000 if one broke down. Nagumo could expend most of his ammunition and avgas in 3 days of intensive ops, so he had the fuel
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Beta Team Member for: WPO PC CF AE WiTE Obi-wan Kenobi said it best: A lot of the reality we perceive depend on our point of view
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