Halsey Strikes First

[Ariosto]

In the days before the attack on Pearl Harbor, William Halsey had grown paranoid regarding a possible Japanese Carrier attack, and gave his men shoot on sight orders if any vessel flying the Rising Sun were spotted. It never stumbled across the fleet then steaming to Pearl.

Now, suppose Halsey stumbles across the Kido Butai while en route to Wake or, if that is not truly possible, en route back to Pearl. What kind of scenario do we see develop?​

 

[Ghost 88]

In the days before the attack on Pearl Harbor, William Halsey had grown paranoid regarding a possible Japanese Carrier attack, and gave his men shoot on sight orders if any vessel flying the Rising Sun were spotted. It never stumbled across the fleet then steaming to Pearl.

Now, suppose Halsey stumbles across the Kido Butai while en route to Wake or, if that is not truly possible, en route back to Pearl. What kind of scenario do we see develop?
​

If the Japanesse fleet has orders to continue the mission regardless Halsey and the Enterprise are feeding the Fishes. If Halsey fires first he and the Enterprise are feeding the Fishes. In the second case it falls to the orders the Kido Butai has regarding being sighted. If Halsey fires first outside of territorial waters which the Kido Butai never entered that is an act of war against Japan, this could lead to Japan claiming the right to bomb Pearl as Self-Defense and cause much grief to Roosevelt's desire to enter the war.

 

[phx1138]

If the Japanesse fleet has orders to continue the mission regardless Halsey and the Enterprise are feeding the Fishes.

If they were spotted far enough out, Nagumo's orders were to turn back.

If Halsey fires first he and the Enterprise are feeding the Fishes. ...If Halsey fires first outside of territorial waters which the Kido Butai never entered that is an act of war against Japan, this could lead to Japan claiming the right to bomb Pearl as Self-Defense and cause much grief to Roosevelt's desire to enter the war.

I don't think it's going to make a lick of difference to the U.S. if Halsey shot first, tho.

It does mean Kimmel gets way more warning than OTL, tho...which could be very, very bad for the Fleet, since he's extremely likely to sortie the BBs after Nagumo & divert Lex to intercept.

Does this ultimately force the PacFleet to rely more heavily on subs? (I know, an old dream of mine.)

 

[mattep74]

Lets say his scouts find the japanese fleet and Halsey decide to follow them and at the same time sending intell to Hawaii. Hawaii then contacts Washington. Washington then asks Japan WTF they are doing. Japan does what?

 

[phx1138]

Lets say his scouts find the japanese fleet and Halsey decide to follow them and at the same time sending intell to Hawaii. Hawaii then contacts Washington. Washington then asks Japan WTF they are doing. Japan does what?

If they were spotted far enough out, Nagumo's orders were to turn back.

 

[CalBear]

In the days before the attack on Pearl Harbor, William Halsey had grown paranoid regarding a possible Japanese Carrier attack, and gave his men shoot on sight orders if any vessel flying the Rising Sun were spotted. It never stumbled across the fleet then steaming to Pearl.

Now, suppose Halsey stumbles across the Kido Butai while en route to Wake or, if that is not truly possible, en route back to Pearl. What kind of scenario do we see develop?​

Well, Wake was more or less 180 degrees from where the Kido Butai was.


The Japanese approached the Hawaiian Chain from the Northwest, with most of the approach running along a line at approximately 43 degrees North and then moving Southeast to the launch point at ~24 North.

Wake is at 19.15 North, 166.42 East. Halsey was never closer than 500 miles to Nagumo's force.

 

[Ariosto]

Halsey was never closer than 500 miles to Nagumo's force.

Well that would certainly pose a problem.

So now the question is moot.
​

 

[mattep74]

Yes, i know that. But in my scenario i assume that the japanese are unaware of Halsey