ORIGINAL: John 3rd
October 15-16, 1944
Naval Battles in the Formosa Strait
As detailed earlier, two STF departed Foochow on the 14th looking to try and penetrate the Allied STF screen hoping for fat, juicy targets. As expected, they cannot pierce the 547 STF that guard the good stuff. It is a NASTY night where every fight began at 2,000 Yds!
CA Tone and Chikuma + 4 DD encounter 4 American DD. DD Thatcher is sunk and two American Dds damaged in exchange for 2 TTs planted into the tender side of Chikuma. This pretty much puts the CAs out of further fighting. Though they only move 4 hexes back towards home, they are not attacked by aircraft on the 15th or 16th. It appears that Chikuma will survive--yet again as this is her third torpedoing--as she heads for Port Arthur with two damaged DDs.
CL Sakawa and Isuzu have four DDs with them as well and duke it out with multiple TFs. First the TF finds 2 US DD and sinks DD Wadleigh for little damage to themselves. The 2nd fight is then with 2 CLs and 8 DDs. CL Miami takes a Long Lance and 5 Shell hits and DD Halligan is sunk. Five other American Dds are hit and damaged. Sakawa and a DD are sunk in return.
As Isuzu attempts to retire she is sunk by SS Redfish. A--to this point--rare sinking by American SS of a Japanese warship.
The remaining 3 Japanese Dds fight four more engagements with various Allied units includingthe one pictured yesterday with BB Richeliu. Two of three DDs are sunk. The saddest example is DD Shiranui who dodges not ONE, NOT TWO, NOT THREE, but FOUR TT attacks by American Subs only to get hit by the FIFTH attack by the Tantalus. Too bad. After the third attack I was rooting her home!
Summary
For the loss of 2 CL and 4 DDs, the Americans lose 3 DDs and see damage to a modern CL and 7-9 DDs.
As stated when I sent these ships into Harm's Way, I did not expect any survives. Instead, we do get 2 CAs and 4 DDs back.
Very ggod results indeed, considered the odds!
But, ideally: could have been brought more raiding parties/fleets, including heavies, possibly even Musashi? And the greatest possible number of PTs flottillas; with the heaviest CAP you could gather?
Ideally, fleet commanders could have been choosen with low aggressivity, to aid to a "hit and run" raiding tactic; alternatively, a search pattern/line could be set with first end "inside" enemy's nest and the other further off toward home, mission or full speed and "low" threat setting;
and why not with night air attacks as well as dressing?
would you also consider one/more than one kami strikes of 100+ fast airplanes each, escorted by very big fighter formation (300-400 or more Franks/Georges/Sams), from high-very high altitude?
