12/01/42
S-51, on a minelaying mission to Wake, attacked a Jap surface force. She was sunk in the counter attack.
As if that was not bad enough the KB turned up just West of Palmyra. The force that had just transported an RCT to Canton Island was overwhelmed. DD Perkins (2 bombs, 4 torps), AP Jagersfontein (11 bombs, 2 torps), DD Cushing (2 bombs, 2 torps) and AP Barnett (5 bombs, 4 torps) were attacked by 45 Zekes, 4 Rufes, 101 Vals and 110 Kates. There were two follow up raids, but for some strange reason they could not find the US task force...
All convoys are routing around the area. Kittyhawk and her precious cargo are running North. The biggest danger, if Mike keeps going East or turns South East, is to the task force carrying 2nd US Marine Div. It is very slow and is on the edge of the East no go zone. Fingers crossed Mike will turn back before he finds them. I have them running due South to keep the maximum vector away from the KB. A resupply ship heading to Christmas Island with 200 tons of supplies has diverted to PH.
At PH all units are set on Naval attack with a range of 4 to ensure that if Mike comes visiting he faces a co-ordinated attack.
Yet again this was a surprise. Mike is well behind schedule in the DEI so I would have thought the KB would have been there. Either Mike has no plan and is just raiding aimlessly or he is building up for an offensive in the Central Pacific and is using these raids to hamper my build up. Time will tell...
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