The Story of Galloping Ghost... Subchaser Keep Out:)

[Przemcio231]

28th December 1941

TF: Force Z
Location: 240 Miles E from Batawia
Course: ESE
Speed: 20 knots
Mission: Surface Combat
Sys Damage: 5
Orders: Procced to Belikapan and Refuel.  

[Przemcio231]

29th December 1941

TF: Force Z
Location: 200 Miles W from Belikapapan
Course: E
Speed: 20 knots
Mission: Surface Combat
Sys Damage: 5
Orders: Procced to Belikapan and Refuel.  
 
Houston Travel's in Formation her crew got the word why they need to depart so quickly, they are worried a bit becouse this may be their first action in the War but they are Confident that they will get the upperhand.

[Przemcio231]

30th December 1941

TF: Force Z
Location:Belikapapan
Course: N/A
Speed: 0
Mission: Surface Combat
Sys Damage: 5
Orders: Await Further orders.
 

 

[Przemcio231]

I had hell of a time at university and it will continue for like another month or two but i will try to keep constant update
 
31st December 1941 to 4th January 1942

Huston spend those days in Belikapapan toghter with the Force Z not much was happening the Crew enjoyed the Sun and New Years Eve Celebrations but now order came to move to Soreboja as Many enemy ships were spotted in Saigon.

[Przemcio231]

5th January 1942

TF: Force Z
Location: 200 Miles W from Belikapapan
Course: W
Speed: 15 knots
Mission: Surface Combat
Sys Damage: 5
Orders: Proced Soreboja and await further Orders

Force Z steams W in weary bad weather its raining and strong wind's make walking on the deck a bit hazardus. Meanwhile in Capatains Cabin:
- Lt. Carlson: Sir why are we heading for Soreboja? weren't we suppose to interfere if the enemy will land in Tarakan? This is strange we just cruise around from one place to another.
-Capt. Riker: Well RAdm Paliser got a word that Dutch Flying boat as well as some Army Recon Plane spotted many Ships in Saigon Harbor so ABDA command thinks they might be going for Kuching any time soon, from Soreboja we will be able to intercept if Japs land in Kuching or Tarakan.
- Lt. Carlson: well maybe but i think Tarakan might be to far away.
- Capt. Riker: I think so to but ABDA command thinks that ouer Air force can effectivly delay enemy landings to give us time to intercept.
- Lt. Carlson: Come on Capt. have you seen those planes flying over to Belikapapan some British 2E bombers and coupple of obsolete Biplanes i dubt they will do any good.
- Capt. Riker: No worries i heard that 2 squadrons of A-24's Dive Bombers reached the Area and those can be really dangerous with their 1000 lb's plus within a week we should have 2 Bristish CV's leaving Aden to join us up. 
- Lt. Carlson: With all due recpect but remeber when i told you about those B-17 guy's that i flew in from the States, they say they will sink any japanese ship aproching the Philippines and look now Manila is under sige and i think it will fall sooner or leater with that i really dubt that ouer magnificent air force can do much to help us out.

[Przemcio231]

6th January 1942

TF: Force Z
Location: Docked at Soreboja
Course: n/a
Speed: 0
Mission: Surface Combat
Sys Damage: 6
Orders: Proced Soreboja and await further Orders

Entire Force Z enters Soreboja Harbor. The Port is Busy as numerus transports load and unload their Cargo. While numerus planes fly over the port. Some Dutch Civilians observe the mighty ships hoping they will defend them from the Japanese conqest.

[Przemcio231]

7th January 1942

TF: Force Z
Location: Docked at Soreboja
Course: n/a
Speed: 0
Mission: Surface Combat
Sys Damage: 6
Orders: Await further Orders


Lt. Carlson's Diary:
... another quiet day, so i decided to take a walk throught Soreboja Naval Base. It's not as big as US Bases but the facilitis are adeqed to accomodate Light Cruisers and smaller ships. There is a number of US subs from Asiatic Fleet in the docks all of them are damaged. As far as i found out non of them made a kill yet. One of the skippers told me that Japanese planes are the worst threat they encountered. His sub was damaged by a near miss but he hopes to go back to sea soon. I saw many planes on a nearby airfield with many P-40's, i wounder how did they got here.  

[Przemcio231]

8th January 1942

TF: Force Z
Location: Docked at Soreboja
Course: n/a
Speed: 0
Mission: Surface Combat
Sys Damage: 6
Orders: Await further Orders
 
Lt. Carlson's Diary: What crazy this war can be? we were informed to be ready to sail in 30 minutes and then the orders were canceled. It turned out that yesterday Japanese Carrier planes attacked Ambon and we were to support the southern Striking Force based at Kendari but in Confusion it turned out that japs are heading for Menado not Ambon and by some mistake some one ordered southern strike force to Soreboja!!!! some one will lose his head for that screw up.

[Przemcio231]

9th January 1942

TF: Force Z
Location: Docked at Soreboja
Course: n/a
Speed: 0
Mission: Surface Combat
Sys Damage: 6
Orders: Await further Orders
 
Lt. Carlson's Diary:
... Well Japs Landed at Menado so ouer Air Force was send to attack them from what ouer laison officer told us the US Army bombers faild to score any hits. Lucky for them all got back in one pice. Apparently ouer subs are in the area so maybe they can hit some Japs. Souther Striking force will be here tommorow. Im worried Dutch Dornier spotted some ships north of Borneo but faild to have a closer look but it appears that some Carriers are present in this Group. Ouer Inteligence estaminates that this may be the enemy fleet that attacked Hawaii.

[Przemcio231]

10th January 1942
 
TF: Force Z
Location: Docked at Soreboja
Course: n/a
Speed: 0
Mission: Surface Combat
Sys Damage: 6
Orders: Await further Orders

The day passes slowly for the crew of the Huston the only pice of enterteinment is the Arrival of US Army DB's who fly over the port doing some stunts in their planes.

[Przemcio231]

11th January 1942

TF: Force Z
Location: Docked at Soreboja
Course: n/a
Speed: 0
Mission: Surface Combat
Sys Damage: 6
Orders: Await further Orders
 
All of the Sudden Alarm go's off all over the harbor and captain of the Houston in called to RAdm. Paliser's Flagship. Meanwhile all civilian shiping is readying to leve the harbor as well as damaged submarines are begining to leave. The Crew is Puzzeled as well as the officers who Await the return of the captain. In the mean time they see many 2 Engine bombers landing at Airfields of Soreboja. Finaly Captain Riker returns and summons his officers to the bridge.
 
- Capt. Riker: Genetelmen there is an emergency, remember those enemy ships spotted of Borneo two days ago? they are the main japanese strike force! probably the same that attacked Pearl. They are now of Kuching heading SW so all civilian shipping is ordered either to Australia or Cejlon. The Air force will throw everything the got at the japs and we will sail probably tommorow to avoid this threat.
- Lt. Carlson: Captain what about the southern strike force that sailed yesterday? they went to Palambang right?
- Capt. Riker: Yes but they are ordered to come back here and will probably acompany us. The other bad news is that enemy has droped paratroopers in Burnei and Invaded Miri. and we can't do anything about that

[Przemcio231]

12th January 1942

TF: Force Z
Location: 210 Miles SW of Soreboja 
Course: SW
Speed: 20
Mission: Surface Combat
Sys Damage: 6
Orders: Proced to Perth.
 
Lt. Carlson's Diary:
 
... So we left Soreboja in a Hurry at least 6 enemy Carriers were aproching and the Air Force guy's said that they are unable to protect the Fleet. So ABDA command Decided its usless to keep the ships in the area as an easy pray for enemy Aviation and is sending us to Perth. I wounder what happend in Soreboja did japs bomb the port? I remeber some Freighters that were unable to go underway...

[Przemcio231]

13th January 1942

TF: Force Z
Location: 420 Miles SW of Soreboja
Course: SW
Speed: 20
Mission: Surface Combat
Sys Damage: 6
Orders: Proced to Perth.

Houston Procedes to Perth in a Thunderstorm while in same time on Soreboja Airfield:

Lt. Walker of the AVG is siting in the crowded BrifingRoom with him there are British and Dutch Pilots some of them are Fighter Pilots like himself but there are British Swordfish , US A-24's and other Bomber Crews. The Brifing is held in English but the Interpretors translate it for the Dutch. They are to Fly 160 Miles N of the Airfield and engage a Japanese Carrier Task Force. Every one is concentred on the task at hand there are no usual pilot joke's just Grim Determination...

Few Houers Later

Lt. Walker is in the cockpit of his P-40E flying at angels 15 slightly below he can se A-24 formation far below there is a squadron of Swordfish escorted by British Buffalos. There is also a squadron of mixed british and dutch 2E bombers and this one is covered by the mix of Dutch Fighters. Suddenly his Radio Cracks its the commander: Bandits lot's of them 12 o'clok below us and look there are 3 no sweet jesus 6 Jap Flattops...