WW2 Quiz Part 6

Discussion in 'The Lounge Bar' started by spidge, Apr 17, 2006.

  1. machine shop tom

    machine shop tom Senior Member

    Ceylon YES! But Swordfish no...

    I'm not sure I would call it a debacle exactly............

    The aircraft looked something like this...

    AH! I had it in my mind it was a carrier plane.

    Oh well, give me 1/2 credit and I'll keep the beer and ale flowing.

    tom
     
  2. freebird

    freebird Senior Member

    Sure! :D Do you have a question in mind?
     
  3. freebird

    freebird Senior Member

    Sure! :D Do you have a question in mind?
    OK then I'll ask another, while we are on the subject of Aircraft Carriers in the Pacific/Indian Ocean theaters, since the British carried out the first (unsuccessful) attack on a Japanese aircraft carrier,


    (my question)
    What was the first Japanese or American Aircraft Carrier to actually be HIT by a bombing or torpedo attack? What was the aircraft that carried it out? :unsure:
     
  4. freebird

    freebird Senior Member

    Hey has nobody figured this one out? I'll give a hint, it was an American aircraft but not a carrier-based TB or SB aircraft.....
     
  5. spidge

    spidge RAAF RESEARCHER

    USS Langley Mitsubishi G4m
     
  6. freebird

    freebird Senior Member

    USS Langley Mitsubishi G4m

    I think the Langley was no longer an aircraft carrier by 1941, it had been converted to seaplane carrier, AV-3
     

    Attached Files:

  7. freebird

    freebird Senior Member

    It was US aircraft that bombed and damaged this Aircraft Carrier, about 2.5 weeks before Midway.
     

    Attached Files:

  8. freebird

    freebird Senior Member

    The leader of the squadron later went on to become commander of the 8th Air force....
     
  9. Rob Stuart

    Rob Stuart Junior Member

    Ceylon YES! But Swordfish no...

    I'm not sure I would call it a debacle exactly...

    (On the Royal Navy side it certainly was a debacle though)

    It was the third surprise attack on a major Allied Naval Base, (Pearl Harbour, Philippines, Ceylon) and it was the first time that the defending aircraft weren't 80-90% destroyed on the ground, and the first EVER attack on a major Japanese carrier. In each case (Pearl, Manila, Ceylon) the defenders had radar and prior warning of an impending attack. The first attack (Apr. 5 Colombo) the Japanese had the upper hand, but the second attack (April 9 Trincomalee) the Japanese were surprised to find the Hurricane warned and ready for them at altitude. (very important!) The Hurricanes were able to use proper tactics, diving down to attack, and shot down more Japanese on this day than they lost. The Ceylon attack cost the British about 44 total aircraft, while the Japanese lost at least 50 aircraft & 60 aircrew. (quite a few losses were damaged & unrepairable or fighters that ran out of fuel on the return trip when the carriers changed course)

    When the British radar on April 9 reported that the Japanese were heading for Trincomalee, The squadron leader decided to try a surprise attack on the Japanese carriers, 9 aircraft set out and found the surprised carriers at anchor & without any fighter cover. They bombed the Akagi & others but did not score a hit, due to the intense AA. Only 4 bombers made it back home.

    The aircraft looked something like this...
    Hello Freebird,

    The above is from #314. The Japanese did not lose nearly as many aircraft as you say in that post. They lost 7 aircraft on 5 April and 11 on 9 April, for a total of 18.

    As for the attack on the Japanese carriers, a total of 11 Blenheim IV's from 11 Sqn were sent to attack the Japanese, but 2 turned back with engine trouble, so 9 attacked. The Japanese were certainly not at anchor and they did have fighters aloft. The latter shot down four of the Blenheims and another was lost when the survivors encountered some Zeros returning from the attack on Hermes.

    Cheers,

    Rob
     

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