Japan's Fuel Supply 1942

[Wizard]

Worth a look for the inert gas differences between US and Japanese aircraft carriers in WWII. See second paragraph in 2 No Reaction for 30 Years http://www.c4tx.org/ctx/pub/igs.pdf

I believe that, during WW II, inerting of fuel tanks (and fuel distribution lines) was applied only to the aviation gas tanks on aircraft carriers. The Japanese navy did not fully address this issue until the war generation of carriers, such as the Taiho, were built. To the best of my knowledge, there was no inerting system applied to bunker fuel tanks on WW II aircraft carriers or other warships in either navy. This was because both USN and IJN warships were designed to burn only low sulfur content refined bunker fuel which did not justify the expense and complexity of an inerting system.

The USN, at least, was sensitive to bunker fuel sulfur content because of potential damage to boiler tubes when burning fuel with a higher sulfur content.

[Carl Schwamberger]

Was unable to monitor this thread the past few months. Quite a bit of good information presented. Thanks to all for sharing here.

If the informations still available, how long did it take to return the Balikpapan refinery to full production? What refrences can anyone recomend for the prewar location of these refineries & their production capacity?

Thanks

[Deaf Smith]

Well here is some interesting information on it.

This series of raids were in September 30th, 1944.

http://bayourenaissanceman.blogspot....apan-raid.html

And it looks like production did get up very well but by then they didn't have enough tankers for transporation (I think the U.S. sub fleet was targeting them.)

Tarakan oil field production did reached 350,000 barrels per month by early 1944.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tarakan_Island

and here is the log of IJN KOKUYO MARU and her many trips there for oil.

http://www.combinedfleet.com/Kokuyo_t.htm

[Carl Schwamberger]

I have to thank everyone who contributed information. The remarks about the fouling of the boilers by the unrefined fuel is especially interesting. Refrences to any documents on this would be welcome.

Thanks again