Guadalcanal Campaign - Eastern Solomons (IJN 1 : 1 USN)

Comments · 885

• DR

  @Drachinifel · 5 years ago · pinned

  Pinned post for Q&A :)

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• CP

  @cp1cupcake · 5 years ago

  &quot;it is recommended that these guns be installed in every available space on board all ships.&quot;<br><br>American AA defense ww2 manual.

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• PE

  @peterdavy6110 · 5 years ago

  &quot;In conclusion, I must emphasise that I am in no way connected with, or invested in, the manufacturers of the 20mm anti-aircraft gun.&quot;

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• MR

  @Mr.Beauregarde · 5 years ago

  <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jV4m_thoDAM&amp;t=1659">27:39</a> &quot;these conditions are pointed out in no spirit of criticism&quot;<br><br>Holy shit, promote this sailor.

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• MA

  @marshja56 · 5 years ago

  The quality of writing in the Enterprise after-action report is impressive. Somebody onboard knew how to use the English language very effectively.

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• PH

  @Philistine47 · 5 years ago (edited)

  The really impressive thing about Eastern Solomons, IMO, is VAdm Fletcher&apos;s learning curve. Fletcher had commanded at every CV vs CV battle in the history of the world up to that point, and you can see his progression from Coral Sea to Midway, and from Midway to here, as he identified mistakes made in his earlier battles and worked to avoid repeating them. All of this in under 4 months, while commanding a CV task force which was on active operations for the bulk of that period. It&apos;s really a shame that Morison decided (for whatever reason) that he didn&apos;t like Fletcher, so that a lot of people to this day think of Fletcher as &quot;an American Nagumo.&quot;

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• ST

  @strawberrydragon1 · 5 years ago

  Failing to kill Enterprise, part 1

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• VR

  @VRichardsn · 5 years ago (edited)

  <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jV4m_thoDAM&amp;t=115">1:55</a> <br><br>Japanese air crews were under a lot of stress indeed. Saburo Sakai provides a great account of the grueling experience that was fighting those engagements: from Rabaul to Guadalcanal it was over 1,000 km <i>one way only</i> . You then have to account battle time <i>and</i> the return trip, another 1,000 km back. On one famous incident, he was struck in the head by a bullet fired from a Dauntless when in air combat over Tulagi. Half blind, losing blood, his left side paralised, his aircraft shot up, he had to fly the return trip of over 1,000 km all by himself. He somehow managed to bandage himself (no easy feat, considering that he only had one hand usable, and needed it to pilot the aircraft) and tried to head for home. Several times, he fell unconscious, and woke up seconds later to find his aircraft flying inverted. After puking his lunch over the instrument panel, he managed to find his navigation chart, covered in blood. Spitting on it, he managed to clear the blood and with difficulty managed to read his compass and estimate his position, making a bee line for the islands on the way to Rabaul. Shortly afterwards, the engine started to cough: the main fuel tank was empty. It was too late to use the automatic fuel pump to shift tanks: it had already been sucking air, so he had to do it manually. Once again, with only his right hand, which he needed to pilot the aircraft. Compounded even more by the controls being on the left side. It seem ridiculous that something as mundane would demand such a herculean effort, yet Sakai noted how frustrating it was that the most simple of tasks was so difficult to perform. Activating the manual pump, the engine once more roared with life. But he still had a long a way ahead, and the only chance was to fly in such a way that it would mean the utmost fuel economy. By reducing propeller speed and altering the fuel mixture to make it as lean as possible without choking the engine, Sakai managed to land by the time the fuel gauges were showing empty , after a 4 hours and 37 minutes flight. He died in September 2000, 84 years old.

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• BI

  @Big_E_Soul_Fragment · 5 years ago (edited)

  <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jV4m_thoDAM&amp;t=1896">31:36</a> &quot;and it is recommended that these guns be installed in every available space on all ships&quot;<br>TF2 engineer approves

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• HE

  @Heegaherger · 5 years ago

  A lot of the After Action Report can be summed up the simple statement of: &quot;Give us shit that actually works!&quot;

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• MR

  @MrGouldilocks · 5 years ago (edited)

  Those after-action reports and recommendations by the Enterprise officers goes a long way to explaining why it was such a successful ship and crew. And it really feels like the Enterprise itself was the prototype and model for American Carrier doctrine. &nbsp;<br><br> I&apos;d imagine that if the Japanese got a hold of that report, they would be extremely concerned about their chances of winning the war. &nbsp;The report demonstrates the US. Navy had extremely proficient and insightful officers that were willing to admit their deficiencies. And they were determined &nbsp;to make the changes necessary to be successful in the future.

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• GR

  @grondhero · 5 years ago

  <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jV4m_thoDAM&amp;t=1116">18:36</a> &nbsp;&quot;This defensive barrage was added to by &apos;Lucky,&apos; <i>Atlanta&apos;s</i> dog, who decided to spend the assault barking furiously in what one assumes were canine curses at the Japanese navy pilots.&quot;<br><br>Little known after action reports:<br><b>Lucky:</b> My barking has protected us from mailmen, fishy fish, and the Japanese. &nbsp;The <i>Atlanta</i> was undamaged in today&apos;s attack. &nbsp;We have my barking to thank for that.<br><br><i>Atlanta&apos;s</i> <b>Captain Jenkins:</b> &nbsp;Lucky was a good boy today. &nbsp;We rewarded him with raw meat, cooked meat, one scoop of ice cream and belly rubs from over a dozen sailors.

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