The defensive sequence began with carrier fighters breaking a large raid into smaller formations. Heavy AA fire then divided those groups further, leaving medium weapons such as 40 mm guns to engage individual aircraft or pairs. Explosions, damage, and the loss of formation support added psychological pressure as crews approached their targets. Without a carrier, this first defensive layer was missing. Against raids arriving in only ones, twos, or a few aircraft, heavy AA could still perform much of the initial disruption because the attack was already small enough for it to break up.
Notable Point · 1:00:59-1:02:48
How fighters and AA guns broke up an incoming raid
Layered defense aimed to fragment a raid before its final attack, with heavy AA able to disrupt small formations even without carrier fighters.