ORIGINAL: spence
How many bombs per plane are required to make an effective strike? It's not like Pearl's oil reserves were hardened targets.
If memory still serves me, Shattered Sword said the KB would launch half their aircraft in the first strike and then the other half in the second. The third strike would be just the first half of the carrier AC returning to be rearmed and refueled.
So are your sources saying that there wasn't enough bombs for half the KBs planes to return and take out a soft sitting target?
So the first strike consisted of 90 or more B5N torpedo bombers (40 carrying torpedoes and 50 more with 800 kg bombs plus whatever Cardiv 5 might have contributed (I don't know how many from Cardiv 5: Shokaku and Zuikaku). The were also some dive bombers but they only carry one bomb. That means that the first strike used up all (or close to all) of its Cardiv 1 and Cardiv 2 B5Ns so by your logic the Japanese were throw their own doctrine out the window to launch their 3rd strike using ALL of their best ship killers carrying 250 kg bombs while the location of the US carriers was unknown. NOT LIKELY.
But even if they had done so their bombs were only likely to seriously effect the fuel tanks if they scored a direct hit on the tank and then set it afire. That was not a certainty because, even though not specifically hardened, the fuel itself was not volatile at all. In addition, each tank had an earthen berm surrounding itself to contain the fuel in that tank AND to prevent the spread of fire. Obviously it did burn but one had to heat it to 140 degrees (NSFO) just to get it to act like a liquid.
So 90 B5Ns and some dive bombers (none falling victim to either American fighters or flak prior to dropping their bombs) with 2 250kg HE bombs each (or 1 bomb for the dive bombers) attacking by level bombing (per doctrine or would you rather throw that doctrine out the window too) at 8000-10000 ft and scoring a direct hit with every bomb that also manages to set the tank afire (the dive bombers dive bomb with greater accuracy but they only get one shot). Would you like to buy a bridge that I have for sale? Or maybe you'd like to bomb from a lower altitude and still count on no losses to flak or fighters. In fact, if you'd like, I can sell you a couple of bridges!
I'm not buying your bridges, or any of your arguments.
The IJN doesn't have to throw its doctrine out the window to launch a third strike with half its planes to hit stationary circles that resemble unpainted bullseye targets.
If the IJN aviators could get direct hits on battleships at anchor, land based fuel reserves should be easy targets for Val dive bombers armed with high explosives.
And there would be no need to send their best Kate "ship killers" for carriers that aren't even there.
Or are you confusing Pearl Harbor with Midway?
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