Gentlemen, please make yourselves comfortable, the briefing I am about to give is one of the most bloody engagements, or series of engagements we are ever likely to hear of. We have called the Japanese Operation 'Balaclava'. There was a reason for this. They had obviously had enough provocation of the Allied bases crawling ever nearer to their Northern cities and decided it was, or perhaps is (we are not over yet) time to stop us. Like a massed cavalry charge they have risked so much on one action. here is the story so far.
Phase 1. Around Etorofo Jima : Southern Prong
A large Japanese surface force with the Flag on BB Kirishima was detected by our CA/DD Tf who intercepted but failed to stop the enemy who were then engaged by PT squadrons and managed to hit our MWS forces also. We have estimated damaged of the following:
Japanese Ships
BB Kirishima, Shell hits 2
BB Fuso, Shell hits 4
CA Kumano, Shell hits 7
CA Aoba, Shell hits 7
CL Noshiro, Shell hits 1
DD Niizuki, Shell hits 18, on fire, heavy damage
DD Kazegumo, Shell hits 1
DD Shigure, Shell hits 12, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
DD Harusame, Shell hits 3
DD Akatsuki
DD Yugiri
DD Akebono, Shell hits 3, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
DD Mikazuki, Shell hits 2
DD Kuri, Shell hits 14, on fire, heavy damage
Allied Ships
CA Quincy, Shell hits 1
CL Tromp
CL Glasgow, Shell hits 5, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
DD Halford, Shell hits 1
DD McKee, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Ringgold
DD Schroeder, Shell hits 4, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
DD Terry, Shell hits 2, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk
DD Thatcher
DD Sampson
DD Banckert, Shell hits 1
PT PT-335, Shell hits 4, and is sunk
PT PT-336, Shell hits 5, and is sunk
PT PT-342, Shell hits 114, and is sunk
PT PT-344, Shell hits 9, and is sunk
PG Vancouver, Shell hits 3, and is sunk
PG Moncton, Shell hits 5, and is sunk
MSW Canso, Shell hits 12, and is sunk
MSW Guysborough, Shell hits 7, and is sunk
MSW Igonish, Shell hits 7, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
MSW Lockeport
A follow on PG Tf ran into our CA/DD Tf and the results of that were:
Japanese Ships
PG Aso Maru, Shell hits 1, on fire
PG Edo Maru
PG Fukui Maru
PG Heijo Maru, Shell hits 2
PG Kozan Maru
PG Nikkai Maru, Shell hits 4, on fire
PG Seisho Maru, Shell hits 2
PG Shoei Maru, Shell hits 5, on fire
PG Shosei Maru, Shell hits 2, on fire
PG Tatsumiya Maru, Shell hits 2, on fire
PG Tosho Maru
PG Toyotsu Maru
PG Yoshida Maru
PG Zuiko Maru
Allied Ships
CA Quincy
CL Tromp
CL Glasgow, Shell hits 6, on fire, heavy damage
DD Halford
DD McKee, Shell hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
DD Ringgold, Shell hits 2, on fire
DD Schroeder, Shell hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
DD Thatcher, Shell hits 1
DD Sampson, Shell hits 2, on fire
DD Banckert, Shell hits 1, on fire
As far as we can tell this ended the advance of their southern thrust, all these units are now reported retiring westwards.
Phase 2: North of Ketoi: Northern Prong
Here the enemy had further to travel and the weather broke in our favour. What resulted was a series of interceptions thoughout the day of their Invasion Tfs and their support Surface TF.
TF 'Kashii'
Day Air attack on TF at 79,35
Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 36
FM-2 Wildcat x 35
TBF Avenger x 178
P-40E Warhawk x 9
PB4Y Liberator x 12
Allied aircraft losses
TBF Avenger: 1 destroyed, 21 damaged
Japanese Ships
AP Giyu Maru
CL Kashii, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
AP Akashisan Maru, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
DD Sawakaze
AP Kenshin Maru, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
DD Amagiri, Bomb hits 2, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
CL Agano
AP Keisho Maru, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
CL Kashima, Bomb hits 1, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
AP Heiku Maru
AP Kiko Maru, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
AP Bokuyo Maru, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
AP Kasuga Maru, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
AP Jinsai Maru, Torpedo hits 4, on fire, heavy damage
AP Hie Maru, Torpedo hits 1
AP Kogi Maru
AP Jinshu Maru, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
AP Kamo Maru, Torpedo hits 2, on fire
AP Hotsukawa Maru, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AP Heiwa Maru, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
AP Hakozake Maru, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
AP Daihachikyo Maru, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AP Kashu Maru
AP Jouban Maru, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
DD Tachikaze
AP Kasima Maru, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
AP Hokoku Maru, Torpedo hits 1, heavy damage
TF 'Mutsu'
Day Air attack on TF at 78,34
Allied aircraft
F4U-1 Corsair x 13
SBD Dauntless x 51
P-40B Tomahawk x 8
P-47C Thunderbolt x 32
B-25J Mitchell x 21
B-24D Liberator x 2
Allied aircraft losses
SBD Dauntless: 1 destroyed, 10 damaged
P-47C Thunderbolt: 1 damaged
B-25J Mitchell: 4 damaged
B-24D Liberator: 2 damaged
Japanese Ships
BB Mutsu, Bomb hits 4
BB Yamashiro, Bomb hits 3, on fire
BB Hiei, Bomb hits 1
BB Musashi, Bomb hits 5, on fire
CA Suzuya
DD Manazuru
Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 47
FM-2 Wildcat x 46
TBF Avenger x 133
P-40E Warhawk x 11
PB4Y Liberator x 11
Allied aircraft losses
TBF Avenger: 1 destroyed, 10 damaged
PB4Y Liberator: 2 damaged
Japanese Ships
BB Hiei, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
BB Musashi, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
CA Suzuya
BB Yamashiro, Torpedo hits 2, on fire
BB Mutsu, Torpedo hits 3, on fire
CL Oyodo
TF 'Kashii' was then intercepted by out CL/DD squadron
Japanese Ships
CL Kashima, Shell hits 82, on fire, heavy damage
CL Kashii, Shell hits 35, and is sunk
CL Agano, Shell hits 35, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
DD Murakumo, Shell hits 18, and is sunk
DD Amagiri, Shell hits 8, and is sunk
DD Sawakaze, Shell hits 13, and is sunk
DD Tachikaze, Shell hits 13, on fire, heavy damage
AP Akashisan Maru, on fire, heavy damage
AP Amakasu Maru #1
AP Bokuyo Maru, on fire
AP Daigen Maru
AP Daihachikyo Maru, on fire, heavy damage
AP Daijukyo Maru
AP Giyu Maru
AP Haaburu Maru
AP Haguro Maru
AP Hakusan Maru
AP Hakusika Maru
AP Haruna Maru, Shell hits 1, on fire
AP Hasuna Maru
AP Heian Maru
AP Heiku Maru
AP Heiwa Maru, on fire, heavy damage
AP Hie Maru
AP Higashiyama Maru
AP Hino Maru #3
AP Hokoku Maru, on fire, heavy damage
AP Hotsukawa Maru, on fire, heavy damage
AP Humburugu Maru
AP Husimi Maru
AP Jinshu Maru, on fire
AP Jouban Maru, on fire
AP Kaedesan Maru
AP Kaijo Maru #2
AP Kaimyo Maru
AP Kaito Maru
AP Kamakura Maru
AP Kamo Maru, on fire, heavy damage
AP Karimo Maru
AP Kansan Maru
AP Karachi Maru
AP Kashi Maru
AP Kashu Maru
AP Kasima Maru, on fire
AP Kasuga Maru, on fire, heavy damage
AP Katsuragisan Maru
AP Keisho Maru, on fire, heavy damage
AP Kenshin Maru, on fire, heavy damage
AP Kiko Maru, on fire
AP Kiri Maru
AP Kisaragi Maru
AP Koan Maru
AP Kogi Maru
AP Kogyo Maru
AP Komeyama Maru
Allied Ships
CL Montpelier, Shell hits 10
CL Mobile, Shell hits 1
CLAA Van Heemskerck, Shell hits 24, on fire, heavy damage
DD Boyd, Shell hits 1
DD Brownson
DD Dashiell, Shell hits 1
Meanwhile, lurking in the background at least one CV with supports made an appearance:
Day Air attack on TF, near Etorofo Jima at 76,37
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 4
A6M5 Zeke x 7
B5N Kate x 22
No Japanese losses
Allied Ships
MSW Lockeport, Bomb hits 7, on fire, heavy damage
Day Air attack on TF, near Etorofo Jima at 76,37
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 4
D4Y Judy x 5
B5N Kate x 24
No Japanese losses
Allied Ships
LST LST-344, Bomb hits 1, on fire
LST LST-343, Bomb hits 4, on fire, heavy damage
LST LST-342, Bomb hits 5, on fire, heavy damage
LCI LCI-333, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
Aircraft Attacking:
4 x B5N Kate bombing at 5000 feet
1 x D4Y Judy bombing at 2000 feet
4 x B5N Kate bombing at 5000 feet
4 x B5N Kate bombing at 5000 feet
4 x B5N Kate bombing at 5000 feet
4 x B5N Kate bombing at 5000 feet
4 x B5N Kate bombing at 5000 feet
4 x D4Y Judy bombing at 2000 feet
What do we make of this?
1. We were fortunate, had the weather stayed foul then his substantial invasion forces would be untouched.
2. We have severely wounded the southern prong which has all turned back, if the weather stays fair tomorrow will be a killing ground. if the weather worsens then it will be up to our naval forces to contest the area alone - that will be a much closer run thing.
3. We do not know if there are more on the way, we had not detected the size of the force that was to be flung on us. It may be that there are significant new forces still to be thrown in in what must be seen as a last gasp attempt
4. We can take comfort from the knowledge that every ship sunk takes with it fighting troops who will not be available to defend the Home Islands..... when that time comes.
Gentlemen, a momentous day, with, I feel, more to come.
It's getting hot Roger... waiting for the next installment.