WWII after Pearl Harbor

[Platapus]

I always wondered why the Japanese did not bomb the fuel storage facilities or the repair facilities

[August]

Originally Posted by Sailor Steve

Not a mystery at all, in either case. Nagumo said himself that he knew the American subs would be looking for their fleet, now that they knew they were there. He cancelled orders for a third attack and headed home.

As simple as that.

Well there was also the threat of land based heavy bombers not to mention planes from the American carriers.

Bottom line the Japanese fleet was way out on a limb. They had made a successful attack yes but that would have been worthless if they had lost the carrier group in the process.

[TLAM Strike]

Wasn't the Japanese strike force running low on fuel after the attack? Sailor Steve has the right idea, the Japanese knew that if one of our subs nailed one of the tankers trailing the fleet they would have been in trouble. The fleet would have been required to slow and wait for tankers from Japan or maybe Truk to RV and replenish them leaving the fleet open for attack by anything that survived the attack.

[Heibges]

It seems part of the general pattern of Banzai Charges when the should be playing smart defense, and retreating when they should have persevered.