We found him determined and especially strong in the air.ĭuring the last 6 months of 1942 we took the offensive, stopping the enemy's threat to Australia by invading Guadalcanal, and initiating a second front in North Africa.ĪA. Hit-and-run tactics by light task forces built around one or two carriers characterized our actions during the following 6 months as we felt out our enemy. It was the Navy's most overwhelming defeat. 50-caliber machine guns, 8 with 5-inch, 6 with 3'/50 and 2 with 1'.1. An estimated 43 planes were shot down, 27 of them with. Attacks were made by skillfully handled planes in large numbers. Many guns were not manned, and ships were at anchor. Actionsįirst year of war.-At Pearl Harbor ships' gunfire was of little help in their protection. That the Japanese plan of defense, built around her unsinkable aircraft carriers, was defeated, was due to an important extent to effectiveness of fleet AA. After sinking the major part of our fleet at Pearl Harbor, she quickly acquired an island empire in the North, Central, and South Pacific, and built scores of air strips from which to attack our fleet, if and when it recovered.

Japan's strategy for conducting the Pacific war soon became clear.

Whereas Germany placed emphasis on the use of the submarine to prevent logistic support of our allies, and later of our own forces, the Japanese relied chiefly upon their air power to protect their island empire. For example, between 7,500 and 8,000 enemy aircraft-enough to sink any fleet in the world but our own-got through our air cover to attack our surface vessels between Pearl Harbor and the end of the war.

However, much of the defensive effort against these weapons devolved upon the ships themselves. The Navy's own air arm played a major role in the defeat of both enemy weapons. Surface vessels during World War II fought and won two major defensive battles-one against submarines and the other against aircraft. Note.-Distribution List is included on page 23. Table of Contents and List of Effective Pages When destruction is ordered, or becomes desirable, it shall be destroyed by burning. It shall not be carried for use in aircraft. This bulletin is a confidential, nonregistered publication and shall be safeguarded as required by U. UNITED STATES FLEET HEADQUARTERS OF THE COMMANDER IN CHIEF NAVY DEPARTMENT WASHINGTON, D.C.Īntiaircraft Action Summary October 1945 is issued for the information of the Naval service.

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