Introduction: Part of the initial Japanese offensive after Pearl Harbor was an attempted invasion of Wake Island, held by a US Marine defense battalion. The invasion force consisted on a light cruiser and several destroyers, along with the troops assigned to capture the island. Overconfident, the Japanese were repulsed by the defenders. After word was received of the Marines’ resistance, Admiral Husband Kimmel dispatched a task force under Rear Admiral Frank Fletcher to reinforce the garrison. Fletcher had a “thing” about refueling. He was always concerned about his ships being low on fuel when battle commenced. Due to heavy weather, the task force had a difficult time refueling and therefore was delayed. During the delay, Kimmel was replaced by Admiral Pye, a less-than-stellar leader who had doubts about the ultimate success of the mission. Pye therefore recalled the task force, and what could have been a great US victory at a time when one was needed (or yet another defeat in a list of defeats that would grow with time) went into the realm of the could-have-beens. Location: Pacific Ocean, 20° N latitude, 170° E longitude (about 210 nm NE of Wake Island), 23 December 1941, 0812 hours local time. Environment: 100% Overcast at 3000 m altitude. The wind speed is 25 kts from 045 °, sea state 5, 40% day visibility. Sunset is at 1725 hours. Operational Situation: This scenario assumes that Fletcher did not waste time refueling and that, even in the heavy weather, both the Japanese task force under Admiral Yamaguchi, built around Hiryu and Soryu, and Fletcher’s task force built around Saratoga sighted each other and launched strikes. In the heavy swell, torpedo bombing was miserably inaccurate and losses were heavy, but dive bombers on both sides managed to score big. Soryu took three bombs wrecking the entire flight deck but sustained little damage to the vital parts of the ship. Hiryu’s flight deck forward was penetrated by one bomb, wrecking it completely and preventing any further launches. Saratoga took two bombs, one forward and one aft, making aircraft launch and recovery impossible. On their return, the US air groups ditched into the sea or . ew on to Wake. Both sides believed that they had sunk all of the opposing carriers. Yamaguchi ordered Rear Admiral Kajioka to complete the landing operation and then finish off the remaining US surface units. To accomplish this task, Kajioka split his force into a bombardment group and a screen (under Rear Admiral A. Goto) which would interpose itself between the US task force and the island. Meanwhile, Fletcher decided to retire Saratoga (which actually was flying the flag of Rear Admiral Aubrey W. Fitch) while Vice Admiral Wilson Brown brought a new Task Force (TF 11) built around Lexington as support. While TF 11 came up, Fletcher decided to “run-in” the seaplane tender Tangier, loaded with marines and equipment with a substantial escort to Wake. Tactical Situation: This scenario assumes the Japanese covering force and the Task Group containing Tangier run headlong into one another. The U. S. was under the impression that there were no major Japanese surface units about and the Japanese believe that they are on a “mopping up” operation. The individual intelligence is included in the orders for each side. Japanese Orders: With the forces at hand, prevent any interference with landing operations by enemy forces and destroy any remaining US surface units. Japanese Forces: Screen (RADM A. Goto) Aoba, Kinugasa (both Aoba CA) Furutaka, Kako (both Furutaka CA) Yunagi, Asanagi (both Kamikaze DD) Japanese Intelligence: The Japanese Task Force under Admiral Yamaguchi built around Hiryu and Soryu, and Fletcher’s Task Force built around Saratoga, sighted each other and launched strikes. Saratoga and New Mexico were sunk. Two other unidentified US ships were heavily damaged. One US DD took a near miss as well. Japanese Victory Conditions: Decisive: Both U. S. cruisers sunk or crippled (greater than 50% damage) and no Japanese cruisers sunk or damaged greater than 50% . Tactical: Both U. S. cruisers damaged greater than 50% regardless of Japanese losses. US U. S. Orders: Assure that Tangier reaches Wake and unloads safely and assist the Marines in repelling the Japanese invasion. U. S. Forces: Task Group Wake (RADM F. J. Fletcher) San Francisco, Minneapolis (both New Orleans CA) Bagley, Henley, Helm (all Bagley DD) Selfridge (Porter DD) Tangier (Tangier AV) U. S. Intelligence: The Japanese Task Force under Admiral Yamaguchi built around the Hiryu and Soryu, and Fletcher’s Task Force built around the Saratoga, sighted each other and launched strikes. Soryu and Hiryu were sunk. U. S. Victory Conditions: Decisive: Tangier is damaged less than 10% and has a 5 knot or greater advantage in speed over the entire enemy force and both US CAs and 2 DDs have less than 25% damage. Tactical: Tangier has a 5 knot or greater advantage in speed over entire enemy force, is less than 25% damaged, and at least one U. S. CA and two U. S. DDs have better speed than Tangier . Setup: Each side draws up a cruising formation for their task force. The U. S. forces are deployed on course 300° true. The Japanese forces are on course 000° true and bear in a random direction from the U. S. task force (roll a D6*60° or a D12**30 °) . Put the two closest ships (based on the formations) at the limit of their sighting range. They will automatically sight one another on the first turn. All other ships roll for sighting normally. BT Back to The Naval Sitrep # 26 Table of Contents Back to Naval Sitrep List of Issues Back to MagWeb Master Magazine List & copy Copyright 2004 by Larry Bond and Clash of Arms. This article appears in MagWeb.com (Magazine Web) on the Internet World Wide Web. Other military history and related articles are available at http://www.magweb.com