This is an after action report of the Pearl Harbor Advance Notification scenario from John Tiller's Naval Campaigns Midway playing as the US player against the computer playing the Japanese. The hypothetical scenario presupposes that the United States was made aware of the Japanese plan to attack Oahu with naval aircraft from the six aircraft carriers (CV) of the Japanese Carrier Striking Force, the Kido Butai. The Pacific Fleet, to include the battle line three CVs (Saratoga, Lexington and Enterprise) and a squadron of submarines, sorties and is at sea awaiting the Japanese attack. The Japanese are aware that the US is aware, so are not constrained to attacking the air and naval bases on Oahu. The scenario is six hours long, from 0400 to 1000. Initial visibility is only 3.5 miles. The wind is from the North, which means the US CVs have to head towards the Japanese to launch and recover aircraft while the Japanese can head away from Oahu to do the same.  This is my first time playing this scenario, so while I have a good idea of the Japanese forces involved, their exact location and attack plan is unknown.

0400 - 0600 - Not sure how close the Japanese Task Force is so sent Subs and surface fleet North at top speed. Didn't really think this through as with a top speed of 20.5 knots, the battleships can only go 120 miles in 6 hours, so chances of them getting into action are pretty slim. Put up a fighter combat air patrol (CAP) over each airfield, CV and the Opana radar station on the northern end of Oahu. Kept the pregame PBY searches from Kaneohe and Ford Island, but was nervous about slow speed; only 110 knots compared to 150 for SBD searchers. Saratoga and Lexington task force started picking up Japanese Kate search planes at around 0515; those guys definitely got up early. Shot down 3, but lost 3 F2A Buffalo fighters doing it. Headed all the CVs North, which is direction needed to launch aircraft, and put out a 315-045 SBD search from Lexington. No sign of searchers around the Enterprise task force (TF) yet.

0600 - Incoming! A little after 0600, a Japanese strike force of close to 100 aircraft is sighted by a PBY around 100 NM to the NE of the TF containing Lexington and Saratoga. I launch all the fighters on both CVs to reinforce the CAP, but things look grim as the Japanese strike has 30 fighters as an escort and half of my CAP consists of obsolescent Buffalo fighters. In an example of probably the most annoying AI behavior in the game, the entire Japanese fighter escort (30+) goes after first the PBY and then a search SBD also in the vicinity. They will attempt to rejoin the strike force after toasting the SBD, but in this case it may help me as my CAP may get a chance at the dive bombers if the escort is still lagging.

With visibility still less than 10 NM, I turn Lexington and Saratoga  south at flank speed while I spot the rest of the aircraft on board, hoping to have time to launch all if the Japanese strike is indeed headed towards the two CVs.

0618 - Radar picks up an air contact closing the Enterprise TF. Looks like my initial reliance on the PBY search was misplaced; will now launch a search from Enterprise. Wildcats from Enterprise splash the Japanese searcher, hopefully before it spots Enterprise.

0630 - A Japanese heavy cruiser (CA) is sighted by the submarine (SS) Dolphin about 200 NM north of Oahu.  I decide to launch strikes from Oahu, assuming I can redirect if a better target presents itself. From Ewa field go SB2U Vindicators and SBD Dauntless dive bombers, escorted by F4F Wildcat fighters. From Hickam, the B-17 Fortress, B-18 Bolo, and A-20 Havoc bombers are flushed, to be escorted by P-36 Hawks. Once they are all in the air, Ill spot the rest of the fighters at Wheeler in expectation of a Japanese strike on the Hawaiian airfields.

SS Dolphin also spots 2 destroyers (DD) and a light cruiser (CL). The cruisers head north to get out of visual range and the DDs close on the sub as soon as the CA is out of range, Dolphin dives to periscope depth, but is hit hard before she can get under, knocking out her sonar, so contact is lost. I redirect a PBY to try to reacquire the CA, but the low visibility will make that problematic.

0637 - SS Dolphin picks up the 2 Japanese DDs approaching and maneuvers to launch 4 torpedoes. Radar picks up air contacts closing the Lexington and Saratoga; time to launch as many aircraft as possible before the attack. Disdaining the AI fighter control, I send my CAP forward at full speed to maximize engagement time.

0640 - The PBY I sent to reacquire the Japanese CA discovers 6 CVs about 225 miles north of Oahu and about the same distance NE from Enterprise! Due to the low visibility, 2 lines of PBYs had already passed them; should have sent out more searches earlier. Time to redirect the strike forces forming up on Oahu and get the dive bombers from Enterprise on their way as well. I don't have time to wait for the Enterprise torpedo planes to be spotted, so they will go in later. Whatever I can get off Lexington and Sara before they get hit will also head in.

0642 - One of Dolphins torpedoes hits and sinks a ship most likely one of the DDs chasing her, I confirm by checking the sunken ships status. Bit of a cheat there, as having dived deep with sonar knocked out, the sub cant confirm. Meanwhile, SS Cachalot sights another Japanese strike force of around 90 aircraft that is about 150 NM from Lexington and Saratoga and appears to be headed their way.

0644 -Tally Ho! The CAP from Lexington and Saratoga sight the incoming Japanese strike. Ill try to ignore the escorts, which have managed to rejoin,  and go right for the dive bombers and torpedo planes.

0649 - In quick order, the US CAP is either shot down, out of ammo, or wandered off despite my best attempts at direct control. They accounted for about 10 enemy aircraft, but that still leaves about 50 incoming dive and torpedo bombers. Now it is up to ship maneuver and anti-aircraft.

0650 - Lexington is the target of two waves of dive bombers. Multiple hits quickly reduce the ship to less than 50 percent effectiveness. A third wave of dive bombers and a torpedo attack sinks Lady Lex with many aircraft still on board.

0653 - Saratoga is left burning and flooding after a couple of bomb and one torpedo hit. Damage is currently at 76%, so if it doesn't get worse, flight ops are still possible once fires are put out and flooding controlled. But another wave of attackers  is coming in.

0654 - About 30 SBD Dauntless dive bombers made it into the air before the CVs got hit and they head off towards the Japanese CVs. Without some retribution, I'm headed to a major defeat.

0657 - Sara drops below 75%, so the ship can no longer conduct air operations. 2 Wildcats and 2 Buffalos circle as CAP while the TF limps away at 4 knots.

0700 - SS Narwhal, the only sub possibly in a position to intercept the Japanese CVs, is taken under fire by 2 DDs. I dive to periscope depth and then turn North, though the slower submerged speed may doom the attempt to close with the enemy CVs. SS Dolphin comes back to periscope depth to find the second Japanese DD right on top of her. Too close for a torpedo shot, Dolphin dives again in an attempt to avoid an attack.

0704 - The Japanese CV TF turns from W to WNW, probably to avoid the SS Narwhal. The Japanese CAP moves to attack the PBY spotters in the vicinity.

0708 - Further adding to my woes, SS Dolphin is sunk by the Japanese DD.

0710 - The first US bombers arrive in the vicinity of the Japanese CV TF, a flight of VS-2 SBDs that had been launched earlier in a search from Lexington. VS-2 will be coming in from the NW two at a time, so will be easy pickings for the Japanese CAP, but hopefully will draw their attention away from the more cohesive strikes coming from SW, S and SE.

0715 - SS Narwhal launches torpedoes at the two Japanese DDs closing and hits one, then dives to reload.

0720 - Japanese fighter escorts from the second strike heading towards Saratoga intercept the SBD strike group and shoot down half of them things just keep getting better

0738 - SS Narwhal finishes reloading torpedoes and comes to periscope depth right in the middle of the Japanese CV TF. 4 torpedoes are launched at a CV, but they all miss. Bummer

0742 - SS Cachalot sunk by Japanese DD.

0747 - SS Narwhal reloads two torpedoes and comes up again, launching at the nearest CV, then dives again. A hit! Hopefully it will at least slow the CV down.

0748 - The second big Japanese strike reaches the Saratoga. The two remaining valiant Buffalo fighters get a dive bomber before being shot down, but the Saratoga goes down under a fusillade of bombs. The remaining Japanese bombers and torpedo planes go after the USS Lamson, a US DD, though they had the firepower to sink most of the remaining US ships. The AI gave me a break there.

0749 - SS Narwhal picks up the CV that was torpedoed on sonar. Still making 27 knots, but flooding resulted in medium damage, which corresponds to less than 75%. No more flight ops for that CV!

0750 - Took a look at the current score. At -3350, I'm 1850 points PAST a major defeat! The Enterprise dive bombers have their work cut out for them

0751 - Lost in the clutter, too late I see that a bunch of Kate torpedo bombers had kept their weapons and launched at the cruiser USS Portland. The ship takes several hits, but looks like it will survive. That TF, having lost both its CVs, retreats to the South.

 

0800 - More submarine action. SS Narwhal comes up one more time and pops two torpedoes at another CV. Launched too far away! The CV turns and gets off scot free. Meanwhile, SS Tautog is at periscope depth looking to launch torpedoes at the DD that sank Cachalot. Another miss and Tautog dives deep in an attempt to avoid the inevitable counterattack.

0805 - The first substantial US strike, 12 Dauntless dive bombers from Lexington coming from the SE, has the Japanese CV TF in its sights. Unfortunately, six A6M2 Zero fighters from the Japanese CAP are closing in as well. Meanwhile, the Enterprise dive bombers, with fighter escort, are 50 miles SW and 18 B-17 bombers are 50 miles to the South. Can they take advantage of the Japanese CAP being drawn to the East?

0806 - Literally in a minute, all 12 SBDs are splashed by the Japanese CAP, with no losses. At least the enemy fighters should be short of ammunition by now

0814 - The SS Narwhal locates the CV hit earlier; now dead in the water (DIW) with heavy damage and a sitting duck. 3 torpedoes are launched in an attempt to finish the CV off and the Narwhal dives deep again to avoid the DD in the vicinity and reload more torpedoes. Meanwhile, the far too efficient Japanese CAP shoots down another PBY searcher and another flight of SBDs.

0816 - Success! The disabled Japanese CV is dispatched to the bottom by SS Narwhals torpedoes. But a PBY spots two flights of Kate torpedo bombers heading toward the last US CV, USS Enterprise. A flight of F4F Wildcats is dispatched for a long range intercept.

0822 - The US CAP shoots down all six of the Kate torpedo bombers attacking the Enterprise TF, but 3 Kates manage to launch their torpedoes. Enterprise maneuvers to the West at full speed in an attempt to avoid. 150 miles to the NE, the Wildcats escorting the Enterprise dive bombers engage part of the Japanese CAP. More Zeros move to intercept the dive bombers as the enemy CVs maneuver to avoid. The B-17s continue to close from the South.

0825 - The Japanese CAP proves to be too strong as none of the escorting US fighters can match the A6M2 Zero fighters. All of the Dauntless dive bombers from the Enterprise are shot down short of their targets. The P-36 Hawk fighters escorting the B-17 bombers are also dispatched, but the B-17s get through and get at least one hit on a CV, leaving it burning.

0828 - Wildcats from the Enterprise mix it up with the Zeros on CAP, taking out a couple before being destroyed. Six more air strikes are on their way B-18 Bolos, SB2U Vindicators, SBD Dauntless, and A-20 Havocs from Oahu as well as Dauntless dive bombers and Devastator torpedo bombers from the Enterprise. US aircraft losses stand at 150, three times as many as the Japanese have lost, and its going to get worse.

0834 - The B-18 Bolos drop lots of bombs and get a hit on an enemy CV, while a lone SBD finally gets through to dive bomb another CV, but it misses.

0838 - The SB2U Vindicators try to bomb the same CV hit by the B-18s, but draw a blank. The A-20 Havocs are next up and they score a hit, but the 500 pound bomb only does light damage. The SBD dive bombers from Oahu close in for another try.

0839 - The 4^th time is a charm and the SBD dive bombers disable the enemy CV with heavy damage. If it doesn't sink on its own from additional fire damage, one of the two US subs in the area should be able to send it to Davy Jones locker. Lexington and Saratoga are revenged!

0853 - The Dauntless dive bombers from the search squadron on USS Enterprise approach the Japanese CVs. They are vectored to attack the CV with the most planes on deck. Ten Wildcats remained in the vicinity and move to intercept the Japanese CAP.

0856 - Despite the escort, the Japanese CAP downs a third of the dive bombers, but the rest get through and hit the enemy CV with a couple of bombs, leaving it burning. Its now up to the torpedo bombers from the Enterprise to close the deal by sinking one of the two damaged Japanese CVs.

0910 - SS Narwhal, dogged by 3 Japanese DDs, comes up to periscope depth and launches 3 torpedoes at the disabled CV.

0911 - Another Japanese air strike is detected heading towards USS Enterprise. 16 P-40 Warhawks have joined the TF as additional CAP. We will see if they are enough.

0912 - SS Narwhal now has 2 CVs sunk to its credit as two torpedo hits send the disabled CV to the bottom.  I'm feeling better now that each side has lost two CVs and two of the four remaining Japanese CVs are damaged, but the last US CV is about to be attacked and the Enterprise torpedo planes are the last attackers I have left.

0916 - The twenty fighters of the Enterprise CAP engage the incoming Japanese strike, eighteen Kate torpedo bombers escorted by six Zero fighters. Eight Kates are shot down, leaving ten to bore in on the Enterprise.

0922 - Anti-aircraft fire splashes two more Kates, but Enterprise takes one torpedo hit in the resulting attack.

092 -6 TBD Devastator torpedo planes from USS Enterprise approach the Japanese CV TF. Their target is one of the CVs damaged by previous attacks. I have some Wildcats escorting them, but given the Japanese CAPs track record, expect to lose much of the attack force before they can get in range.

0931 - Nine TBDs survive the CAP and release their torpedoes, but at the wrong angle. The enemy CV merely turns away and makes it a stern chase the torpedoes lose.

0940 - The last US CV, USS Enterprise, has been reduced to 21% effectiveness and is disabled due to flooding from the torpedo hit. Big E will need a tow home.

0942 - Four US Destroyers come within sight of the three Japanese DDs hunting SS Narwhal. The sub maneuvers to launch torpedoes once again. The DDs commence exchanging gunfire.

0944 - SS Narwhal does it again! Two torpedoes sink a Japanese DD, leaving two to face four US DDs.

0953 - Both Japanese DDs are at medium damage, while only USS Farragut has been hit for light damage. Another US formation, led by the light cruiser USS Raleigh is almost in range.

0956 - Bracketed from two sides, the two damaged Japanese DDs are sunk by gunfire.

0959 - CL Raleigh is hit by a torpedo launched from the dying Japanese DD. Should have altered course earlier.

1000 - The end. A major US defeat.

Post Mortem: The final score is -1904, with the computer Japanese player amassing 500 more points than required for a major US defeat. Ship losses by class were fairly equal, with each side losing two CVs and the Japanese loss of five DDs being partially offset by the US loss of two submarines and one DD. The US lost over twice as many aircraft as the Japanese (220 to 109), including all but a few planes from the three air wings embarked on Lexington, Saratoga and Enterprise. As for damaged ships, The US has one CV at heavy damage and a CA and CL at medium damage, while the Japanese have two CVs at medium damage. There is no target damage as the bases on Oahu were not attacked.

Part of the point disparity is explained by victory points being awarded based on the size of the CV. Lexington and Saratoga are 38K tons while Enterprise is 25K tons. Unfortunately I sunk the Hiryu and the Soryu, both around 20K tons. So while the numbers looked okay, the loss of the larger CVs and 500 more points of aircraft doomed my efforts.

In hindsight, my mistakes were many, but here are a couple of the more egregious:

Lack of scenario situational awareness: The implications of a six hour scenario starting at 0400 with almost all the US aircraft still in their hangers escaped me until far too late. I was going to get one strike in within the time limits so I needed to get everything prepped and the long range bombers in the air sooner rather than later. Instead I dawdled, especially with the Oahu air forces. I also did not take into account that the Japanese might start the scenario with their aircraft already spotted and would focus all their attention on the US CVs. Lexington and Saratoga were caught with a lot of their air wing still on board when the Japanese attack arrived. I probably should have started launching as soon as possible after the first Japanese search aircraft were spotted at before 0600. A classic example of not guarding against the worst case enemy plan.  

Poor use of search aircraft: I did not realize until too late the impact of the low visibility on search ability. After launching the preset PBY searches, I did not take advantage of the numerous search aircraft still remaining on Oahu, resulting in the Japanese TF being missed by the PBYs. I should have launched successive waves of searchers from Oahu as soon as they were ready, rather than wasting the SBD VS squadrons on the CVs.  

Poor strike coordination: With the exception of the B-17s and the Enterprise SBD strike groups, the air strikes arrived separately. In most cases, this resulted in the Japanese CAP being able to wreak havoc on the incoming aircraft, though the Oahu strikes arrived while the CAP was either busy or out of ammo. Given the superior performance of the Japanese fighters, I needed a lot more escorts for the strikes and I did not properly utilize the numerous P-40 Warhawks that were available in Oahu.  My poor handling of the TBD torpedo attack was especially disappointing. The prior depredations of the Japanese CAP affected my actions here as I rushed the attack rather than take the time to set up an anvil approach from front and side.  US air attacks did inflict damage on three Japanese CVs, but submarine torpedoes were the real ship killers for the US.

I would be interested to play this scenario again edited for a longer time frame to allow for the possibility of a second strike from both sides. With the focus of the Japanese computer player on the high VP US CVs, the bases on Oahu remained untouched and the US Army Air Forces never got to test their mettle against a coordinated Japanese naval air strike.

In the end, despite being trounced from a scenario standpoint and essentially losing all three US CVs, I did take consolation in reducing the Kido Butai from six to two operational CVs. Overall for me this is an interesting hypothetical scenario that has the potential for replay as both sides can try different attack strategies. 

AAR written by: Al Berke, Staff Writer

Bio: Al Berke is a retired US naval officer currently working for the US Navy in Singapore. He has been an avid board and computer gamer for more than 40 years and a contributor to Wargamer since 1999.