alecsandros wrote:
I see the 2 Kates sent on patrol are sent to the south, with search direction to the north. That could mean they were helped by the movement of the MObile FLeet, which was somewhat approaching them, and shortening the return leg of their journey.
The 300/60nm search pattern for the Kates was ordered by 1st Air Fleet HQ on June 2nd. The next day, June 3rd, HQ issued this order for fleet movements,
For three hours and 30 minutes following the first wave's take-off, the fleet will proceed on course 135 degrees, speed, 24 knots. Thereafter, if the prevailing winds are from the east, course will be 45 degrees, speed 20; if west winds prevail, course will be 270 degrees, speed, 20 knots.
The Akagi Kate was flying south, doglegging left, then back towards its launch point. Nagumo's intention if the wind was coming from the east was to sail 135 degrees for 3.5 hrs, then turn 45 degrees (north east) and run at 20kt. The Akagi Search aircraft would presumably break for the expected location of the carriers after about 150 miles flying north into its return route. Call it 150 miles at course 350 then altering to course about 25 degrees to catch Nagumo. About 650nm total. Then, another 120nm (or so) because the Akagi search aircraft had to wait over the fleet before landing on Hiryu after 11am, for a total trip of about 770nm.
In this line of thoughts, check the northern-most floatplane, which was sent to scout for only 150nm. His search direction apparently puts him "behind" the movemetn of the Mobil Fleet, thus requiring more time (and thus space traveled) to get back to the carriers.
The shortened route for the last search line was because a short ranged seaplane was flying that mission. It only had about half the range of the other scouts.
Also, don't forget that all scout planes were expected to 'work' any contact discovered for over an hour. So, Tone 4 radioed the fleet at 0834 "I am homeward bound". This was after adding an hour to its flight time to look at the discovered contact. Tone then orders (8:55 and 9:07am) Tone 4 to not return and maintain contact. Tone 4 does so until 0930am, then radios it's fuel supply is low and it is returning. So Tone 4's scout added 2 full hours flight time to the scheduled mission. This reserve was built in for all the scouts - had Akagi's search aircraft spotted US carriers, it too would have had to work the contact for up to 2 hours.
Nonetheless, scouting does appear to have been a big weakness of Japanese carrier operations...
By the choice of the staff of the 1st Air Fleet itself, not because any higher HQ, doctrine, or equipment issue prevented the adaptation of better tactics.