26 November 1941
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Strike Force One, known to the Japanese as the “Kido Butai”, combined all of the Navy’s minor carrier fleets into one large fleet. Conceived by Captain Minoru Genda, Strike Force One would contain Japan’s six best aircraft carriers, two battleships, three cruisers, nine destroyers, and over 400 war planes.
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On November 25th, the captains of all six
aircraft carriers and commanding officers met aboard the IJN Akagi for a
banquet to celebrate the upcoming attack and future victory. The sailors of the
Kido Butai knew their months of intense training was about to pay off with to
the upcoming attack.
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Within days, the Kido Butai encountered stormy weather. The
smallest ships in the fleet, the destroyers, were tossed in the high waves.
Refueling was difficult and the orders from Yamamoto were to only attack with
carriers Kaga, Shokaku, and Zuikaku, which were larger and needed no refueling.
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On the 2nd of December, approximately 1000 miles
north of Midway Island, the fleet refuels and awaits further instructions. The
Akagi receives the coded signal: “Climb Mt. Niitaka!” The attack is on.
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The Japanese creeps ever closer to Pearl Harbor over the
next few days, remaining just out of range for the American scout planes. On
the morning of December 6th, the fleet is a mere 400 miles from
their target. They refuel and the oilers head west and south to meet the ships
on the evening of December 7th for refueling before heading home.
Meanwhile, the fleet waits for 2100 hours – 9:00 p.m.m, - when darkness falls
and the fleet will be hidden under cover of darkness.
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As the American forces slept, the First Striking Force was
closing in on Pearl Harbor and War with the United States.
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