1943 May 23
INVADED
Urumchi, Taung Gyi are invested.
CHANGED OWNERSHIP
Overall
• A good day.
West Coast USA, Alaska, Hawaii
• CV Essex will pull into Pearl Harbor in 3 days. There are additional escorts there waiting for her.
Pacific
• The subs were there but played a small role. During the movie (I like Moose's lingo for that) I saw an IJN TF far SE or Truk, SW of Ponape I think. Could that be more carriers coming to reinforce the group engaged today? Too late!
000001 ASW attack 1943-05-23 138,118 Maloelap
ASW attack near Maloelap at 138,118
Japanese Ships
SS I-166
Allied Ships
DD Buchanan
DD Sims
SS I-166 launches 3 torpedoes at DD Buchanan
I-166 diving deep ....
DD Sims fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Sims fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Sims fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Sims fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Sims fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub
000002 ASW attack 1943-05-23 112,109 Truk
ASW attack near Truk at 112,109
000002 ASW attack 1943-05-23 112,109 Truk
ASW attack near Truk at 112,109
Japanese Ships
PB Tama Maru #8
PB Toshi Maru #3
Allied Ships
SS Tautog
SS Tautog is located by PB Tama Maru #8
Tautog diving deep ....
PB Tama Maru #8 fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Tama Maru #8 fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Tama Maru #8 fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Tama Maru #8 fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Tama Maru #8 fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub
• Narrative contains spoilers.
North of the Marshalls there is at least one carrier TF, but quite possibly two as it looked like air strikes harried our destroyers from two vectors (one bomb hit on one destroyer out of four, we were lucky), although there was one attack from a Nell and I might have thought that was the different vector. Either way, if the carriers in that area had been with the carriers engaged to the south, things down there would have been much more even.
The IJN air strike arrived first and it looked like a well coordinate alpha-strike. Even though our fighters tore through them, more than 40 bombers made attack runs. Flak was good and aim was spoiled. Saratoga took one bomb hit.
Our morning strike was also cohesive, and with a large Hellcat escort. The Hellcat's suffered badly, as escorts usually do, but more than 140 bombers made attack runs. Hiyo, Junyo, and Ryujo were wrecked, and Hiryu holed with a torpedo but no fire noted. Soryu and Taiho were not hit.
The IJN carriers in the south made no afternoon strike, possibly because they were under severe storms when they needed to launch.
Our afternoon alpha-strike was also well coordinated, and again the escort was fairly savaged, but more than 100 bombers got through. Soryu and Junyo put up CAP, so Hiryu must have been damaged too badly for flight operations. Soryu, Junyo, and Hiryu were hit hard; Taiho again escaped damage.
000010 Morning Air attack 1943-05-23 132,118 Ailinglaplap
Morning Air attack on TF, near Ailinglaplap at 132,118
Weather in hex: Overcast
Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 30 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M3a Zero x 33
A6M5 Zero x 21
B5N2 Kate x 52
B6N1 Jill x 8
D3A1 Val x 23
D4Y1 Judy x 26
Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 24
F6F-3 Hellcat x 99
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3a Zero: 7 destroyed
A6M5 Zero: 2 destroyed
B5N2 Kate: 12 destroyed, 4 damaged
B5N2 Kate: 3 destroyed by flak
B6N1 Jill: 2 destroyed
D3A1 Val: 5 destroyed, 3 damaged
D3A1 Val: 1 destroyed by flak
D4Y1 Judy: 10 destroyed, 3 damaged
D4Y1 Judy: 1 destroyed by flak
Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat: 1 destroyed
Allied Ships
CV Wasp
CV Saratoga, Bomb hits 1, on fire
CLAA Atlanta
CVE Sangamon
DD Grayson
CLAA Juneau
CLAA San Juan
Aircraft Attacking:
2 x D3A1 Val releasing from 1000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg GP Bomb
2 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 45cm Type 91 Torp
2 x B5N2 Kate bombing from 15000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
4 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 1000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg SAP Bomb
6 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 45cm Type 91 Torp
3 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 45cm Type 91 Torp
2 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg SAP Bomb
2 x D3A1 Val releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg GP Bomb
9 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 45cm Type 91 Torp
2 x B6N1 Jill launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 45cm Type 91 Torp
6 x D3A1 Val releasing from 1000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
2 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg SAP Bomb
1 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg SAP Bomb
CAP engaged:
VF-3 with F6F-3 Hellcat (2 airborne, 12 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 4 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 10000 and 12000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 19 minutes
12 planes vectored on to bombers
VF-6 with F6F-3 Hellcat (0 airborne, 12 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 6 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 6000 and 11000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 31 minutes
4 planes vectored on to bombers
VF-71 with F6F-3 Hellcat (0 airborne, 12 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 4 being recalled, 2 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 9000 and 12000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 23 minutes
6 planes vectored on to bombers
VF-37 with F6F-3 Hellcat (0 airborne, 8 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 3 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 8000 and 14000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 34 minutes
4 planes vectored on to bombers
VF-60 with F6F-3 Hellcat (0 airborne, 6 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 2 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 3000 and 15000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 28 minutes
3 planes vectored on to bombers
VRF-1F with F6F-3 Hellcat (0 airborne, 7 on standby, 16 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 3 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 10000 and 16000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 43 minutes
12 planes vectored on to bombers
VRF-6F with F4F-4 Wildcat (0 airborne, 7 on standby, 14 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 3 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 6000 and 13000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 36 minutes
4 planes vectored on to bombers
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring an Allied CV
000015 Morning Air attack 1943-05-23 131,121 Ebon
Morning Air attack on TF, near Ebon at 131,121
Weather in hex: Light cloud
Raid detected at 74 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 29 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M3a Zero x 41
A6M5 Zero x 27
Allied aircraft
F6F-3 Hellcat x 76
SBD-3 Dauntless x 92
TBF-1 Avenger x 64
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3a Zero: 1 destroyed
A6M5 Zero: 1 destroyed
Allied aircraft losses
F6F-3 Hellcat: 5 destroyed
SBD-3 Dauntless: 3 destroyed, 19 damaged
SBD-3 Dauntless: 1 destroyed by flak
TBF-1 Avenger: 2 destroyed, 15 damaged
TBF-1 Avenger: 1 destroyed by flak
Japanese Ships
CV Hiyo, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
BB Mutsu, Bomb hits 6, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
CV Junyo, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
CV Soryu
CV Hiryu, Torpedo hits 1
CV Taiho
CVL Ryujo, Bomb hits 4, heavy fires
BB Haruna, Bomb hits 3
BB Nagato, Bomb hits 1
CA Kinugasa, Bomb hits 1
DD Shiratsuyu
DD Arashi
Aircraft Attacking:
14 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
15 x TBF-1 Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 22.4in Mk 13 Torp.
8 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
18 x TBF-1 Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 22.4in Mk 13 Torp.
2 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
11 x TBF-1 Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 22.4in Mk 13 Torp.
8 x TBF-1 Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 22.4in Mk 13 Torp.
8 x TBF-1 Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 22.4in Mk 13 Torp.
8 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
17 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
17 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
3 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
10 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
4 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
CAP engaged:
Soryu-1 with A6M3a Zero (3 airborne, 8 on standby, 2 scrambling)
3 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 13000 and 15000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 33 minutes
Hiryu-1 with A6M5 Zero (0 airborne, 8 on standby, 2 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 3 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 4000 and 14000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 32 minutes
Ryujo-1 with A6M3a Zero (0 airborne, 6 on standby, 1 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 3 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 11000 and 15000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 28 minutes
Junyo-1 with A6M3a Zero (0 airborne, 6 on standby, 2 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 3 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 6000 and 10000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 20 minutes
Hiyo-1 with A6M3a Zero (0 airborne, 4 on standby, 1 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 2 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 6000 and 15000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 20 minutes
Taiho-1 with A6M5 Zero (0 airborne, 8 on standby, 2 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 4 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 10000 and 15000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 36 minutes
Fuel storage explosion on CV Hiyo
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CV Hiyo
Fuel storage explosion on CV Junyo
Ammo storage explosion on CVL Ryujo
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring a Mizuho class CVL
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CV Junyo
000021 Morning Air attack 1943-05-23 129,110 Bikini
Morning Air attack on TF, near Bikini at 129,110
Weather in hex: Moderate rain
Raid detected at 78 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 20 minutes
Japanese aircraft
B5N2 Kate x 2
No Japanese losses
Allied Ships
DD McCalla
Aircraft Attacking:
2 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 45cm Type 91 Torp
000022 Morning Air attack 1943-05-23 129,110 Bikini
Morning Air attack on TF, near Bikini at 129,110
Weather in hex: Moderate rain
Raid detected at 68 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 17 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 9
A6M5b Zero x 9
B5N2 Kate x 7
D4Y1 Judy x 22
Japanese aircraft losses
D4Y1 Judy: 4 damaged
D4Y1 Judy: 1 destroyed by flak
Allied Ships
DD Duncan
DD Barton, Bomb hits 1, on fire
DD Lardner
Aircraft Attacking:
11 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg SAP Bomb
7 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 45cm Type 91 Torp
1 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 1000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg SAP Bomb
6 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg SAP Bomb
4 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg SAP Bomb
000025 Afternoon Air attack 1943-05-23 131,121 Ebon
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Ebon at 131,121
Weather in hex: Moderate rain
Raid detected at 76 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 30 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M3a Zero x 21
A6M5 Zero x 21
Allied aircraft
F6F-3 Hellcat x 70
SBD-3 Dauntless x 76
TBF-1 Avenger x 38
No Japanese losses
Allied aircraft losses
F6F-3 Hellcat: 15 destroyed
SBD-3 Dauntless: 10 damaged
SBD-3 Dauntless: 1 destroyed by flak
TBF-1 Avenger: 7 damaged
Japanese Ships
CV Soryu, Bomb hits 3, on fire
CV Taiho
CV Junyo, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
CV Hiryu, Bomb hits 3, Torpedo hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
BB Haruna
CA Chikuma, Bomb hits 1, on fire
CA Tone
BB Nagato
Aircraft Attacking:
16 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
12 x TBF-1 Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 22.4in Mk 13 Torp.
10 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
16 x TBF-1 Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 22.4in Mk 13 Torp.
8 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
10 x TBF-1 Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 22.4in Mk 13 Torp.
10 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
11 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
8 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
8 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
4 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
CAP engaged:
Soryu-1 with A6M3a Zero (3 airborne, 7 on standby, 11 scrambling)
3 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 7000 and 15000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 27 minutes
Taiho-1 with A6M5 Zero (0 airborne, 7 on standby, 11 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 3 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 5000 and 15000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 24 minutes
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring a Junyo class CV
Ammo storage explosion on CV Hiryu
000026 Afternoon Air attack 1943-05-23 129,110 Bikini
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Bikini at 129,110
Weather in hex: Heavy rain
Raid detected at 32 NM, estimated altitude 3,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes
Japanese aircraft
G3M3 Nell x 10
Japanese aircraft losses
G3M3 Nell: 1 damaged
Allied Ships
DD Barton, on fire
Aircraft Attacking:
10 x G3M3 Nell launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 45cm Type 91 Torp
000027 Afternoon Air attack 1943-05-23 129,110 Bikini
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Bikini at 129,110
Weather in hex: Heavy rain
Raid detected at 78 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 20 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 9
A6M5 Zero x 3
B5N2 Kate x 2
D4Y1 Judy x 6
Japanese aircraft losses
D4Y1 Judy: 2 damaged
D4Y1 Judy: 1 destroyed by flak
Allied Ships
DD Duncan
DD Barton, on fire
Aircraft Attacking:
6 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg SAP Bomb
2 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 45cm Type 91 Torp
000028 Afternoon Air attack 1943-05-23 132,121 Ebon
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Ebon at 132,121
Weather in hex: Light rain
Raid spotted at 10 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes
Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 11
TBF-1 Avenger x 6
Allied aircraft losses
TBF-1 Avenger: 6 damaged
Japanese Ships
BB Kongo, Torpedo hits 1
CA Mogami
Aircraft Attacking:
6 x TBF-1 Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 22.4in Mk 13 Torp.
Carrier support unable to supply air cover..
• Saratoga has only minor damage and can still make 30 knots and operate aircraft. In the south, surely Taiho is the only IJN carrier left operating. Are there others heading into battle from the direction of Truk? How many IJN carriers are there north of the Marshalls? The number of aircraft in the carrier strikes on our destroyer TF indicate more than just a lone CVE. In the south our aircraft also dished out punishment to IJN cruisers and especially battleships. Tracker says Hiryu, Soryu, and Junyo went down. The battle report from the first Allied strike makes me think Hiyo and Ryujo also went down.
• Tomorrow the fleet will move to a position one hex west of Wotje, passing through the Alinglaplap hex in the Process.
New Zealand, Australia, New Caledonia, New Hebrides, Solomons, Papua New Guinea, New Britain
Philippines
DEI, Dutch new Guinea, Borneo, Malaya
China
India, Burma, Thailand, Indochina
• Resolution is making her escape, and additional destroyers will meet up with her tomorrow.
Japan, Korea, Manchuria, Russia
Complete combat report attached.
