Nearly month after the war broke out, the Japanese HQ began operations to seize rabaul, first invasion wave was unsuccesfull so they commited more and more ground units to Rabaul. Japanese convoys began to reinforce their units embarked in Rabaul area to defeat allied forces there. CINCPAC (Comander-in-chief-Pacific=me) strategy in this first month of war was aimed to withdraw crucial forces from endangered area and harrassing japanese shipping by light forces (PTs and Subs).
The only forces available to harras japanese convoys to Rabaul at 4th january 1942 was TF 1138 anchored at Brisbane. TF consisted of CA Canberra, CL Perth, and three DDs. They immediately sail out to intercept convoy heading to Rabaul which consisted of 2x Large AKs, 4x Medium APs and six escort ships (4x PGs, 2x PCs).
6th january at 02:15 Allied lookouts spotted Japanese convoy. Japanese Task force was surprised and comanding officer began to spread out the convoy. Canberra opened fire at 2000 yards and destroyers released their torpedoes. One hit AK and second hit one PG. Both of these ships were also hit by some granades from Canaberra, Perth and destroyers.
Then from the darknes emerged lone shadow and began attacking CA Canberra claiming one hit to armor belt. The brave Capitain K. Ishimura comanding PG Choan Maru #2 tried to cover slower transport ships. All guns of allied task force were aimed at PG Choan Maru #2 and soon the sea around this little ship was boiling in rain of granades fired from all alied ships. With max speed around 15 knots the PG was not abble to withstand this kind of rain. Very soon grenades began to explode everywhere on the deck of a little ship. 8inch granade from Canberra hit the bridge killing all command staff, another exploded in engine room. Parts of steel plates began to fly around as more and more granades from 5 allied ships were sherding the PG to pieces. Guns of the little ship continued to fire even the flames were burning all around the ship and more and more grenades explodes on decks, in the hull or underwater crumbling the hull plates, untill another granade fired from CL Perth destroyed PGs main gun. Around 39 granedes hit this little ship, of which minimaly 1/3 was 8inches fired from Canberra.
Other japanese ships take an advantage that allied task force is crushing PG Choan Maru #2 and succesfully fleed from the battle.
At 04:35 as Allied lookouts cannot spot any other target, the TF 1138 began to withdraw back from waters endangered by Japanese Long range bombers from Truk.
On the surface of the see remained only parts of shipwreck of PG Choan Maru #2 and sailors from AK and another PG sunked at the beggining of battle.
Sailors of allied ships do not spare words of gallantry to Capitain K. Ishimura which sacrificed his ship to rescue convoy.
Later the CINCPAC asked a US foreign minister to deliver words about bravery of crew PG Choan Maru #2 by hidden diplomatic channel to Japan. Capitain K. Ishimura was posthumously promoted to the rank of Rear Admiral. [&o]
PS1: How that little can should absorb the huge amount of damage I cannot conceive. [X(][&:]
PS2: Excuse my english
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