The IJN suffers a significant and humiliating defeat while the IJA racks up a surprisingly easy victory in China and is on the verge of overrunning the Australians and Americans at Port Moresby.
The major units of the 4th Fleet, BATDIV 3 (Yamashiro and Fuso), CRUDIV 3 (Tone, Chikuma, Chokai, and Haguro), and CRUDIV 4 (Aobe, Furutaka, Kako and Kinugasa), with their DD divisions as escorts, were preparing to bombard Port Moresby in support of the Army's major offensive. They had done so a week before with significant success; however, recon aircraft sighted a suspicious build-up of Allied shipping at Cairns, what appeared to be ten cruisers in multiple taskforces. It seemed likely the enemy would try to make a high speed run from Cairns timed to catch the bombardment taskforces low on ammo. The fleet was ordered to patrol off Port Moresby instead, and torpedo bombers were loaded with their deadly fish while Zeros prepared to sweep the skies. The IJA had 2 BBs, 8 CAs, and 12 DDs. The enemy strength was estimated at ten CA/CLs and 10 DDs, and they would be without aircover.
The IJA would outgun the enemy and cripples would be easy prey for the fliers. Or so it seemed.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Time Surface Combat, near Port Moresby at 98,130, Range 16,000 Yards
Allied aircraft
no flights
Allied aircraft losses
SOC-1 Seagull: 1 destroyed
Walrus II: 1 destroyed
Japanese Ships
CA Tone
CA Chikuma, Shell hits 3, heavy fires
CA Chokai, Shell hits 2, on fire
CA Haguro, Shell hits 2
DD Hamakaze
DD Tanikaze
DD Natsugumo
DD Yamagumo, Shell hits 2
Allied Ships (I presume DW had this TF lead as a soak-off unit)
CL Leander, Shell hits 10, heavy fires
CL Achilles, Shell hits 39, and is sunk
CL Detroit, Shell hits 32, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
Maximum visibility in Overcast Conditions: 20,000 yards
Range closes to 16,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 16,000 yards
Japanese launch Long Lance torpedoes at 16,000 yards before allies detect Japanese presence
CA Haguro launches Long Lance Torpedoes at CL Detroit at 16,000 yards
CA Haguro launches Long Lance Torpedoes at CL Achilles at 16,000 yards
CA Chikuma launches Long Lance Torpedoes at CL Detroit at 16,000 yards
CA Tone launches Long Lance Torpedoes at CL Detroit at 16,000 yards
DD Yamagumo launches Long Lance Torpedoes at CL Achilles at 16,000 yards
DD Hamakaze launches Long Lance Torpedoes at CL Detroit at 16,000 yards
Range closes to 10,000 yards
CA Haguro engages CL Detroit at 10,000 yards
CL Detroit engages CA Chokai at 10,000 yards
CL Leander engages CA Haguro at 10,000 yards
DD Yamagumo engages CL Detroit at 10,000 yards
DD Natsugumo engages CL Detroit at 10,000 yards
CL Achilles engages DD Tanikaze at 10,000 yards
Range closes to 7,000 yards
CL Detroit engages CA Haguro at 7,000 yards
CA Haguro engages CL Achilles at 7,000 yards
CA Chikuma engages CL Leander at 7,000 yards
CA Tone engages CL Detroit at 7,000 yards
CL Detroit engages DD Yamagumo at 7,000 yards
DD Natsugumo engages CL Detroit at 7,000 yards
Range increases to 9,000 yards
CA Haguro engages CL Detroit at 9,000 yards
CA Chokai engages CL Achilles at 9,000 yards
CA Chikuma engages CL Detroit at 9,000 yards
CL Detroit engages DD Yamagumo at 9,000 yards
CL Detroit engages DD Tanikaze at 9,000 yards
DD Hamakaze engages CL Detroit at 9,000 yards
Range increases to 12,000 yards
CL Detroit engages CA Haguro at 12,000 yards
CA Haguro engages CL Achilles at 12,000 yards
CL Leander engages CA Haguro at 12,000 yards
CA Tone engages CL Detroit at 12,000 yards
CL Detroit engages DD Yamagumo at 12,000 yards
DD Tanikaze engages CL Detroit at 12,000 yards
CL Detroit engages DD Hamakaze at 12,000 yards
Range closes to 11,000 yards
CA Haguro engages CL Detroit at 11,000 yards
CL Detroit engages CA Chokai at 11,000 yards
CA Chikuma engages CL Leander at 11,000 yards
CL Detroit engages DD Yamagumo at 11,000 yards
CL Detroit engages DD Natsugumo at 11,000 yards
CL Detroit engages DD Tanikaze at 11,000 yards
Range closes to 9,000 yards
CA Haguro engages CL Detroit at 9,000 yards
CL Detroit sunk by CA Chokai at 9,000 yards
CL Leander engages CA Haguro at 9,000 yards
CL Leander engages DD Yamagumo at 9,000 yards
Range increases to 10,000 yards
CL Achilles engages CA Haguro at 10,000 yards
CA Chokai engages CL Achilles at 10,000 yards
CA Tone engages CL Achilles at 10,000 yards
CL Achilles engages DD Yamagumo at 10,000 yards
CL Achilles engages DD Natsugumo at 10,000 yards
DD Hamakaze engages CL Achilles at 10,000 yards
Range closes to 9,000 yards
CA Haguro engages CL Achilles at 9,000 yards
CL Achilles engages CA Chokai at 9,000 yards
CL Achilles engages CA Chikuma at 9,000 yards
CL Achilles engages DD Yamagumo at 9,000 yards
CL Achilles engages DD Tanikaze at 9,000 yards
CL Leander engages DD Hamakaze at 9,000 yards
Range increases to 11,000 yards
CA Haguro engages CL Achilles at 11,000 yards
CL Leander engages CA Haguro at 11,000 yards
CL Achilles engages CA Tone at 11,000 yards
CL Achilles engages DD Hamakaze at 11,000 yards
Range increases to 12,000 yards
CL Achilles engages CA Haguro at 12,000 yards
CA Haguro engages CL Leander at 12,000 yards
CL Leander engages CA Chikuma at 12,000 yards
CL Achilles engages CA Tone at 12,000 yards
DD Natsugumo engages CL Achilles at 12,000 yards
CL Achilles engages DD Tanikaze at 12,000 yards
CL Achilles engages CA Haguro at 12,000 yards
CA Chokai engages CL Achilles at 12,000 yards
CL Achilles engages DD Tanikaze at 12,000 yards
CA Haguro engages CL Achilles at 12,000 yards
CA Chokai engages CL Leander at 12,000 yards
CL Achilles engages CA Chikuma at 12,000 yards
CL Achilles engages CA Tone at 12,000 yards
Range increases to 15,000 yards
CL Achilles engages CA Haguro at 15,000 yards
CA Chokai engages CL Leander at 15,000 yards
CA Chikuma engages CL Achilles at 15,000 yards
CL Leander engages DD Natsugumo at 15,000 yards
CL Achilles engages DD Tanikaze at 15,000 yards
Waters, O.D. orders Allied TF to disengage
CA Haguro engages CL Achilles at 15,000 yards
CA Chokai engages CL Achilles at 15,000 yards
CA Chikuma engages CL Achilles at 15,000 yards
CL Achilles engages DD Tanikaze at 15,000 yards
Range closes to 13,000 yards
CL Achilles engages CA Haguro at 13,000 yards
CL Achilles engages CA Chokai at 13,000 yards
CL Achilles engages DD Tanikaze at 13,000 yards
Range closes to 9,000 yards
CA Haguro engages CL Achilles at 9,000 yards
CL Leander engages CA Haguro at 9,000 yards
CL Achilles engages DD Natsugumo at 9,000 yards
CL Achilles engages DD Tanikaze at 9,000 yards
CL Achilles engages CA Haguro at 9,000 yards
CA Haguro engages CL Leander at 9,000 yards
CL Achilles engages DD Hamakaze at 9,000 yards
Range closes to 7,000 yards
CL Achilles engages CA Chokai at 7,000 yards
CA Chikuma engages CL Achilles at 7,000 yards
CL Achilles sunk by CA Tone at 7,000 yards
Range increases to 12,000 yards
CL Leander engages DD Yamagumo at 12,000 yards
Range increases to 18,000 yards
CA Chokai engages CL Leander at 18,000 yards
Range increases to 24,000 yards
Range increases to 30,000 yards
CA Chikuma engages CL Leander at 30,000 yards
CL Leander engages CA Tone at 30,000 yards
Task forces break off...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Time Surface Combat, near Port Moresby at 98,130, Range 16,000 Yards
Allied aircraft
no flights
Allied aircraft losses
SOC-1 Seagull: 2 destroyed
Japanese Ships
BB Fuso, Shell hits 4, on fire
BB Yamashiro, Shell hits 9
CL Sendai
DD Yukikaze, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Tokitsukaze, Shell hits 3, heavy fires
DD Isonami, Shell hits 1
DD Uranami, Shell hits 1, on fire
Allied Ships
CL St. Louis, Shell hits 6, heavy fires, heavy damage
CL Helena, Shell hits 6, and is sunk
DD Cummings, Shell hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Stuart, Shell hits 7, heavy fires, heavy damage
Maximum visibility in Overcast Conditions: 20,000 yards
Range closes to 16,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 16,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 16,000 yards
BB Yamashiro engages CL Helena at 16,000 yards
BB Fuso engages CL Helena at 16,000 yards
DD Uranami engages DD Cummings at 16,000 yards
DD Isonami engages DD Cummings at 16,000 yards
DD Tokitsukaze engages DD Cummings at 16,000 yards
DD Cummings engages DD Yukikaze at 16,000 yards
Range closes to 10,000 yards
BB Yamashiro engages CL Helena at 10,000 yards
BB Fuso engages CL Helena at 10,000 yards
DD Stuart engages DD Tokitsukaze at 10,000 yards
DD Uranami engages DD Stuart at 10,000 yards
DD Isonami engages DD Cummings at 10,000 yards
DD Tokitsukaze engages DD Cummings at 10,000 yards
DD Yukikaze engages DD Stuart at 10,000 yards
Range closes to 8,000 yards
BB Yamashiro engages CL Helena at 8,000 yards
BB Fuso engages CL Helena at 8,000 yards
DD Yukikaze engages DD Stuart at 8,000 yards
DD Isonami engages DD Cummings at 8,000 yards
DD Stuart engages DD Isonami at 8,000 yards
DD Tokitsukaze engages DD Stuart at 8,000 yards
DD Yukikaze engages DD Cummings at 8,000 yards
BB Yamashiro engages CL Helena at 8,000 yards
BB Yamashiro engages CL St. Louis at 8,000 yards
DD Stuart engages DD Tokitsukaze at 8,000 yards
DD Tokitsukaze engages DD Cummings at 8,000 yards
DD Isonami engages DD Cummings at 8,000 yards
DD Cummings engages DD Tokitsukaze at 8,000 yards
DD Cummings engages DD Yukikaze at 8,000 yards
Range increases to 11,000 yards
CL Helena sunk by BB Yamashiro at 11,000 yards
DD Tokitsukaze engages DD Cummings at 11,000 yards
DD Isonami engages DD Cummings at 11,000 yards
DD Tokitsukaze engages DD Stuart at 11,000 yards
DD Cummings engages DD Yukikaze at 11,000 yards
BB Yamashiro engages CL St. Louis at 11,000 yards
DD Cummings engages DD Yukikaze at 11,000 yards
DD Stuart engages DD Yukikaze at 11,000 yards
Range increases to 13,000 yards
BB Yamashiro engages CL St. Louis at 13,000 yards
BB Fuso engages DD Stuart at 13,000 yards
DD Tokitsukaze engages DD Cummings at 13,000 yards
DD Uranami engages DD Stuart at 13,000 yards
DD Isonami engages DD Cummings at 13,000 yards
DD Cummings engages DD Yukikaze at 13,000 yards
Range increases to 14,000 yards
BB Yamashiro engages CL St. Louis at 14,000 yards
DD Isonami engages DD Stuart at 14,000 yards
DD Tokitsukaze engages DD Cummings at 14,000 yards
DD Stuart engages DD Uranami at 14,000 yards
DD Isonami engages DD Cummings at 14,000 yards
DD Cummings engages DD Tokitsukaze at 14,000 yards
DD Cummings engages DD Yukikaze at 14,000 yards
Range increases to 16,000 yards
BB Yamashiro engages CL St. Louis at 16,000 yards
DD Isonami engages DD Stuart at 16,000 yards
CL Sendai engages CL St. Louis at 16,000 yards
DD Cummings engages DD Uranami at 16,000 yards
DD Cummings engages DD Isonami at 16,000 yards
DD Cummings engages DD Yukikaze at 16,000 yards
BB Yamashiro engages CL St. Louis at 16,000 yards
BB Fuso engages CL St. Louis at 16,000 yards
CL St. Louis engages CL Sendai at 16,000 yards
DD Stuart engages DD Isonami at 16,000 yards
DD Cummings engages DD Tokitsukaze at 16,000 yards
Hoover, G. orders Allied TF to disengage
BB Yamashiro engages CL St. Louis at 16,000 yards
BB Fuso engages CL St. Louis at 16,000 yards
CL Sendai engages CL St. Louis at 16,000 yards
DD Isonami engages DD Stuart at 16,000 yards
DD Yukikaze engages DD Cummings at 16,000 yards
BB Yamashiro engages CL St. Louis at 16,000 yards
BB Fuso engages CL St. Louis at 16,000 yards
DD Uranami engages DD Cummings at 16,000 yards
DD Isonami engages DD Cummings at 16,000 yards
DD Stuart engages DD Tokitsukaze at 16,000 yards
DD Yukikaze engages DD Cummings at 16,000 yards
BB Yamashiro engages CL St. Louis at 16,000 yards
CL Sendai engages CL St. Louis at 16,000 yards
DD Isonami engages DD Cummings at 16,000 yards
DD Tokitsukaze engages DD Cummings at 16,000 yards
Range increases to 18,000 yards
BB Yamashiro engages CL St. Louis at 18,000 yards
DD Stuart engages DD Isonami at 18,000 yards
CL Sendai engages CL St. Louis at 18,000 yards
DD Uranami engages DD Cummings at 18,000 yards
DD Stuart engages DD Isonami at 18,000 yards
DD Cummings engages DD Yukikaze at 18,000 yards
BB Yamashiro engages CL St. Louis at 18,000 yards
DD Stuart engages DD Yukikaze at 18,000 yards
DD Tokitsukaze engages DD Cummings at 18,000 yards
DD Cummings engages DD Uranami at 18,000 yards
DD Isonami engages DD Cummings at 18,000 yards
Range increases to 23,000 yards
BB Yamashiro engages DD Stuart at 23,000 yards
BB Yamashiro engages DD Cummings at 23,000 yards
Range increases to 29,000 yards
BB Yamashiro engages CL St. Louis at 29,000 yards
BB Fuso engages CL St. Louis at 29,000 yards
Shimamoto, Mantaro orders Japanese TF to disengage
Task forces break off...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Time Surface Combat, near Port Moresby at 98,130, Range 20,000 Yards
Allied aircraft
no flights
Allied aircraft losses
SOC-1 Seagull: 2 destroyed
Japanese Ships
CA Aoba
CA Kinugasa, Shell hits 2, heavy fires
CA Furutaka, Shell hits 2
CA Kako
DD Kagero, Shell hits 1
DD Hayashio
DD Isokaze, Shell hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Shiranui
DD Urakaze
Allied Ships
CA Indianapolis, Shell hits 16, on fire, heavy damage
CA Louisville, Shell hits 6, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
DD Helm, Shell hits 25, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Mugford, Shell hits 7, heavy fires, heavy damage
Maximum visibility in Overcast Conditions: 20,000 yards
Range closes to 20,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 20,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 20,000 yards
O'Neill V. crosses the 'T' (DW apparently had some excellent TF commanders, since the Japanese TFs were well led)
CA Kinugasa engages CA Louisville at 20,000 yards
CA Indianapolis engages CA Kinugasa at 20,000 yards
CA Aoba engages CA Indianapolis at 20,000 yards
CA Indianapolis engages DD Shiranui at 20,000 yards
CA Indianapolis engages DD Isokaze at 20,000 yards
DD Hayashio engages CA Indianapolis at 20,000 yards
Range closes to 15,000 yards
CA Kinugasa engages CA Louisville at 15,000 yards
CA Furutaka engages CA Indianapolis at 15,000 yards
DD Hayashio engages DD Mugford at 15,000 yards
CA Aoba engages CA Indianapolis at 15,000 yards
DD Helm engages DD Shiranui at 15,000 yards
DD Isokaze engages CA Indianapolis at 15,000 yards
DD Helm engages DD Hayashio at 15,000 yards
DD Helm engages DD Kagero at 15,000 yards
Range closes to 11,000 yards
CA Kako engages CA Louisville at 11,000 yards
CA Kinugasa engages CA Indianapolis at 11,000 yards
CA Indianapolis engages CA Kinugasa at 11,000 yards
DD Isokaze engages DD Helm at 11,000 yards
DD Urakaze engages DD Helm at 11,000 yards
CA Indianapolis engages DD Shiranui at 11,000 yards
DD Helm engages DD Isokaze at 11,000 yards
DD Hayashio engages DD Helm at 11,000 yards
Range closes to 8,000 yards
CA Louisville engages CA Kako at 8,000 yards
CA Indianapolis engages CA Furutaka at 8,000 yards
DD Mugford engages DD Hayashio at 8,000 yards
CA Indianapolis engages CA Aoba at 8,000 yards
DD Helm engages DD Shiranui at 8,000 yards
DD Mugford engages DD Isokaze at 8,000 yards
DD Hayashio engages DD Helm at 8,000 yards
DD Kagero engages DD Mugford at 8,000 yards
Range increases to 13,000 yards
CA Kinugasa engages CA Louisville at 13,000 yards
CA Furutaka engages CA Indianapolis at 13,000 yards
DD Kagero engages DD Mugford at 13,000 yards
CA Aoba engages DD Helm at 13,000 yards
DD Helm engages DD Urakaze at 13,000 yards
DD Shiranui engages DD Mugford at 13,000 yards
DD Isokaze engages DD Helm at 13,000 yards
CA Indianapolis engages DD Hayashio at 13,000 yards
DD Kagero engages DD Helm at 13,000 yards
O'Neill V. orders Allied TF to disengage
Range increases to 16,000 yards
CA Kako engages CA Indianapolis at 16,000 yards
CA Indianapolis engages CA Furutaka at 16,000 yards
DD Kagero engages DD Mugford at 16,000 yards
CA Aoba engages CA Indianapolis at 16,000 yards
DD Shiranui engages DD Helm at 16,000 yards
DD Mugford engages DD Kagero at 16,000 yards
Range increases to 18,000 yards
CA Louisville engages CA Kinugasa at 18,000 yards
CA Furutaka engages CA Indianapolis at 18,000 yards
DD Hayashio engages DD Mugford at 18,000 yards
CA Aoba engages DD Helm at 18,000 yards
DD Mugford engages DD Urakaze at 18,000 yards
DD Mugford engages DD Shiranui at 18,000 yards
DD Isokaze engages DD Mugford at 18,000 yards
DD Mugford engages DD Hayashio at 18,000 yards
DD Helm engages DD Kagero at 18,000 yards
CA Kako engages CA Indianapolis at 18,000 yards
CA Furutaka engages CA Indianapolis at 18,000 yards
DD Urakaze engages DD Mugford at 18,000 yards
DD Helm engages DD Isokaze at 18,000 yards
DD Kagero engages DD Mugford at 18,000 yards
Range closes to 17,000 yards
CA Louisville engages CA Kako at 17,000 yards
CA Furutaka engages CA Indianapolis at 17,000 yards
CA Indianapolis engages CA Kinugasa at 17,000 yards
CA Aoba engages CA Indianapolis at 17,000 yards
DD Helm engages DD Shiranui at 17,000 yards
DD Isokaze engages DD Helm at 17,000 yards
DD Hayashio engages DD Helm at 17,000 yards
CA Louisville engages CA Kinugasa at 17,000 yards
DD Isokaze engages DD Mugford at 17,000 yards
DD Urakaze engages DD Mugford at 17,000 yards
DD Isokaze engages DD Helm at 17,000 yards
DD Helm engages DD Kagero at 17,000 yards
Range closes to 13,000 yards
CA Furutaka engages CA Indianapolis at 13,000 yards
DD Mugford engages DD Isokaze at 13,000 yards
DD Kagero engages DD Helm at 13,000 yards
DD Urakaze engages DD Helm at 13,000 yards
DD Shiranui engages DD Mugford at 13,000 yards
DD Mugford engages DD Isokaze at 13,000 yards
DD Helm engages DD Kagero at 13,000 yards
Range closes to 10,000 yards
CA Indianapolis engages CA Kako at 10,000 yards
CA Kinugasa engages CA Indianapolis at 10,000 yards
CA Kinugasa engages CA Indianapolis at 10,000 yards
DD Shiranui engages DD Mugford at 10,000 yards
DD Isokaze engages DD Mugford at 10,000 yards
DD Helm engages DD Kagero at 10,000 yards
Range closes to 9,000 yards
CA Kako engages CA Indianapolis at 9,000 yards
CA Indianapolis engages CA Furutaka at 9,000 yards
DD Mugford engages DD Kagero at 9,000 yards
CA Aoba engages CA Indianapolis at 9,000 yards
DD Shiranui engages DD Helm at 9,000 yards
DD Kagero engages DD Helm at 9,000 yards
Range increases to 12,000 yards
CA Kinugasa engages CA Louisville at 12,000 yards
CA Furutaka engages CA Indianapolis at 12,000 yards
DD Mugford engages DD Hayashio at 12,000 yards
CA Aoba engages DD Helm at 12,000 yards
DD Shiranui engages DD Helm at 12,000 yards
DD Isokaze engages DD Helm at 12,000 yards
DD Kagero engages DD Mugford at 12,000 yards
CA Kako engages CA Louisville at 12,000 yards
CA Kinugasa engages CA Indianapolis at 12,000 yards
DD Hayashio engages DD Mugford at 12,000 yards
DD Hayashio engages DD Helm at 12,000 yards
DD Kagero engages DD Helm at 12,000 yards
Range closes to 11,000 yards
CA Louisville sunk by CA Kako at 11,000 yards
CA Furutaka engages CA Indianapolis at 11,000 yards
CA Kinugasa engages CA Indianapolis at 11,000 yards
CA Indianapolis engages DD Shiranui at 11,000 yards
DD Mugford engages DD Kagero at 11,000 yards
Range closes to 8,000 yards
CA Kako engages CA Indianapolis at 8,000 yards
CA Indianapolis engages CA Furutaka at 8,000 yards
CA Kinugasa engages DD Helm at 8,000 yards
CA Aoba engages CA Indianapolis at 8,000 yards
DD Shiranui engages DD Helm at 8,000 yards
DD Kagero engages DD Helm at 8,000 yards
Range increases to 12,000 yards
CA Furutaka engages CA Indianapolis at 12,000 yards
CA Indianapolis engages CA Kinugasa at 12,000 yards
CA Indianapolis engages CA Aoba at 12,000 yards
DD Urakaze engages DD Helm at 12,000 yards
DD Mugford engages DD Isokaze at 12,000 yards
DD Mugford engages DD Hayashio at 12,000 yards
DD Kagero engages DD Helm at 12,000 yards
Range increases to 14,000 yards
CA Kinugasa engages CA Indianapolis at 14,000 yards
DD Shiranui engages DD Mugford at 14,000 yards
CA Indianapolis engages CA Kinugasa at 14,000 yards
DD Helm engages DD Shiranui at 14,000 yards
DD Kagero engages DD Helm at 14,000 yards
Range increases to 16,000 yards
CA Kinugasa engages CA Indianapolis at 16,000 yards
DD Mugford engages DD Shiranui at 16,000 yards
DD Hayashio engages DD Mugford at 16,000 yards
DD Mugford engages DD Kagero at 16,000 yards
Range increases to 17,000 yards
CA Kako engages CA Indianapolis at 17,000 yards
CA Indianapolis engages CA Furutaka at 17,000 yards
DD Urakaze engages DD Mugford at 17,000 yards
Range increases to 21,000 yards
CA Kako engages CA Indianapolis at 21,000 yards
Massive explosion on DD Mugford
CA Kinugasa engages DD Mugford at 21,000 yards
CA Kinugasa engages CA Indianapolis at 21,000 yards
Range increases to 24,000 yards
CA Kinugasa engages CA Indianapolis at 24,000 yards
CA Indianapolis engages CA Furutaka at 24,000 yards
CA Indianapolis engages CA Aoba at 24,000 yards
Range increases to 28,000 yards
CA Indianapolis engages CA Kako at 28,000 yards
CA Furutaka engages DD Mugford at 28,000 yards
CA Kinugasa engages DD Helm at 28,000 yards
CA Aoba engages CA Indianapolis at 28,000 yards
Task forces break off...
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Day Time Surface Combat, near Port Moresby at 98,130, Range 20,000 Yards
Japanese Ships
CA Tone, Shell hits 3, heavy fires
CA Chikuma, Shell hits 12, heavy fires, heavy damage
CA Chokai, Shell hits 2, heavy fires
CA Haguro, Shell hits 14, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Hamakaze, Shell hits 4, heavy fires
DD Tanikaze
DD Natsugumo, Shell hits 4
DD Yamagumo, Shell hits 4, heavy fires
Allied Ships
CA Pensacola, Shell hits 2, heavy fires
CA Minneapolis, Shell hits 6, on fire
DD Ralph Talbot, Shell hits 11, and is sunk
DD Henley, Shell hits 5, heavy fires, heavy damage
Maximum visibility in Overcast Conditions: 20,000 yards
Range closes to 20,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 20,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 20,000 yards
Lowry, F. crosses the 'T' (Again, the Allied TF Commander is more skillful, or perhaps the IJA TF was slowed significantly at this point from damage)
CA Haguro engages CA Minneapolis at 20,000 yards
DD Yamagumo engages DD Ralph Talbot at 20,000 yards
Range closes to 15,000 yards
CA Haguro engages CA Minneapolis at 15,000 yards
CA Minneapolis engages CA Chokai at 15,000 yards
DD Tanikaze engages DD Henley at 15,000 yards
CA Minneapolis engages CA Tone at 15,000 yards
DD Yamagumo engages DD Henley at 15,000 yards
DD Henley engages DD Natsugumo at 15,000 yards
DD Tanikaze engages DD Ralph Talbot at 15,000 yards
DD Henley engages DD Hamakaze at 15,000 yards
Range closes to 13,000 yards
CA Minneapolis engages CA Haguro at 13,000 yards
CA Pensacola engages CA Chokai at 13,000 yards
CA Minneapolis engages CA Chikuma at 13,000 yards
DD Yamagumo engages DD Henley at 13,000 yards
DD Natsugumo engages DD Ralph Talbot at 13,000 yards
DD Tanikaze engages DD Ralph Talbot at 13,000 yards
DD Hamakaze engages DD Henley at 13,000 yards
Range closes to 10,000 yards
CA Haguro engages CA Minneapolis at 10,000 yards
CA Chokai engages CA Minneapolis at 10,000 yards
CA Minneapolis engages CA Chikuma at 10,000 yards
CA Tone engages CA Minneapolis at 10,000 yards
DD Yamagumo engages DD Ralph Talbot at 10,000 yards
DD Natsugumo engages DD Ralph Talbot at 10,000 yards
DD Ralph Talbot engages DD Tanikaze at 10,000 yards
Range closes to 6,000 yards
CA Haguro engages CA Minneapolis at 6,000 yards
CA Chokai engages CA Pensacola at 6,000 yards
CA Chikuma engages CA Minneapolis at 6,000 yards
DD Natsugumo engages DD Ralph Talbot at 6,000 yards
DD Henley engages DD Yamagumo at 6,000 yards
DD Natsugumo engages DD Henley at 6,000 yards
DD Ralph Talbot engages DD Tanikaze at 6,000 yards
DD Hamakaze engages DD Henley at 6,000 yards
Range increases to 7,000 yards
CA Haguro engages CA Minneapolis at 7,000 yards
CA Pensacola engages CA Chokai at 7,000 yards
CA Chikuma engages CA Minneapolis at 7,000 yards
DD Natsugumo engages DD Ralph Talbot at 7,000 yards
DD Yamagumo engages DD Ralph Talbot at 7,000 yards
DD Tanikaze engages DD Henley at 7,000 yards
CA Pensacola engages CA Haguro at 7,000 yards
CA Chikuma engages CA Minneapolis at 7,000 yards
DD Yamagumo engages DD Ralph Talbot at 7,000 yards
DD Yamagumo engages DD Ralph Talbot at 7,000 yards
DD Natsugumo engages DD Ralph Talbot at 7,000 yards
DD Tanikaze engages DD Henley at 7,000 yards
DD Ralph Talbot engages DD Hamakaze at 7,000 yards
CA Chikuma engages CA Minneapolis at 7,000 yards
CA Haguro engages CA Pensacola at 7,000 yards
DD Henley engages DD Yamagumo at 7,000 yards
CA Tone engages CA Minneapolis at 7,000 yards
DD Yamagumo engages DD Henley at 7,000 yards
DD Ralph Talbot engages DD Tanikaze at 7,000 yards
DD Ralph Talbot engages DD Hamakaze at 7,000 yards
Range increases to 8,000 yards
CA Haguro engages CA Pensacola at 8,000 yards
DD Ralph Talbot engages DD Yamagumo at 8,000 yards
DD Ralph Talbot engages DD Natsugumo at 8,000 yards
DD Ralph Talbot engages DD Tanikaze at 8,000 yards
DD Henley engages DD Hamakaze at 8,000 yards
Range closes to 7,000 yards
CA Haguro engages CA Minneapolis at 7,000 yards
CA Pensacola engages CA Haguro at 7,000 yards
CA Minneapolis engages CA Chikuma at 7,000 yards
CA Tone engages CA Minneapolis at 7,000 yards
DD Yamagumo engages DD Henley at 7,000 yards
DD Ralph Talbot engages DD Natsugumo at 7,000 yards
DD Hamakaze engages DD Henley at 7,000 yards
Moizumi, Shinichi orders Japanese TF to disengage
Range closes to 6,000 yards
CA Minneapolis engages CA Haguro at 6,000 yards
CA Pensacola engages CA Haguro at 6,000 yards
CA Tone engages CA Minneapolis at 6,000 yards
DD Yamagumo engages DD Henley at 6,000 yards
DD Ralph Talbot engages DD Natsugumo at 6,000 yards
DD Tanikaze engages DD Henley at 6,000 yards
DD Ralph Talbot engages DD Hamakaze at 6,000 yards
Range closes to 5,000 yards
CA Minneapolis engages CA Haguro at 5,000 yards
CA Pensacola engages CA Chokai at 5,000 yards
CA Tone engages CA Minneapolis at 5,000 yards
DD Henley engages DD Yamagumo at 5,000 yards
DD Natsugumo engages DD Henley at 5,000 yards
DD Tanikaze engages DD Ralph Talbot at 5,000 yards
DD Hamakaze engages DD Henley at 5,000 yards
Range increases to 6,000 yards
CA Tone engages CA Minneapolis at 6,000 yards
CA Haguro engages CA Pensacola at 6,000 yards
DD Tanikaze engages DD Ralph Talbot at 6,000 yards
DD Ralph Talbot engages DD Yamagumo at 6,000 yards
DD Ralph Talbot engages DD Natsugumo at 6,000 yards
DD Ralph Talbot engages DD Tanikaze at 6,000 yards
DD Hamakaze engages DD Henley at 6,000 yards
Lowry, F. orders Allied TF to disengage
Range increases to 7,000 yards
CA Pensacola engages CA Haguro at 7,000 yards
CA Chikuma engages CA Minneapolis at 7,000 yards
CA Tone engages DD Ralph Talbot at 7,000 yards
DD Yamagumo engages DD Henley at 7,000 yards
DD Henley engages DD Natsugumo at 7,000 yards
DD Hamakaze engages DD Henley at 7,000 yards
Range increases to 12,000 yards
CA Haguro engages CA Minneapolis at 12,000 yards
CA Chokai engages CA Minneapolis at 12,000 yards
DD Tanikaze engages DD Henley at 12,000 yards
DD Yamagumo engages DD Ralph Talbot at 12,000 yards
DD Henley engages DD Yamagumo at 12,000 yards
DD Tanikaze engages DD Ralph Talbot at 12,000 yards
DD Henley engages DD Hamakaze at 12,000 yards
Range increases to 17,000 yards
CA Haguro engages CA Pensacola at 17,000 yards
CA Chikuma engages DD Henley at 17,000 yards
DD Natsugumo engages DD Ralph Talbot at 17,000 yards
DD Henley engages DD Tanikaze at 17,000 yards
DD Hamakaze engages DD Henley at 17,000 yards
Range increases to 22,000 yards
CA Chikuma engages DD Henley at 22,000 yards
CA Pensacola engages DD Yamagumo at 22,000 yards
CA Minneapolis engages DD Natsugumo at 22,000 yards
Range increases to 25,000 yards
CA Minneapolis engages CA Haguro at 25,000 yards
CA Chokai engages CA Minneapolis at 25,000 yards
Range increases to 28,000 yards
CA Pensacola engages CA Haguro at 28,000 yards
Range increases to 30,000 yards
CA Tone engages CA Pensacola at 30,000 yards
Task forces break off...
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Day Time Surface Combat, near Port Moresby at 98,130, Range 19,000 Yards
Japanese Ships
CA Aoba
CA Furutaka, Shell hits 1
CA Kako
DD Kagero
DD Hayashio
Allied Ships
CL Leander, Shell hits 10, heavy fires, heavy damage
Maximum visibility in Overcast Conditions: 20,000 yards
Range closes to 23,000 yards...
Range closes to 21,000 yards...
Range closes to 19,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 19,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 19,000 yards
CA Kako engages CL Leander at 19,000 yards
CL Leander engages DD Hayashio at 19,000 yards
CA Kako engages CL Leander at 19,000 yards
CA Furutaka engages CL Leander at 19,000 yards
CL Leander engages CA Aoba at 19,000 yards
Range closes to 17,000 yards
CA Furutaka engages CL Leander at 17,000 yards
CA Aoba engages CL Leander at 17,000 yards
Range closes to 14,000 yards
CL Leander engages CA Aoba at 14,000 yards
Range closes to 12,000 yards
CA Kako engages CL Leander at 12,000 yards
CA Furutaka engages CL Leander at 12,000 yards
CA Aoba engages CL Leander at 12,000 yards
CL Leander engages DD Kagero at 12,000 yards
Range closes to 10,000 yards
CL Leander engages CA Kako at 10,000 yards
CA Aoba engages CL Leander at 10,000 yards
CL Leander engages DD Kagero at 10,000 yards
Range closes to 8,000 yards
CA Aoba engages CL Leander at 8,000 yards
CL Leander engages DD Hayashio at 8,000 yards
CL Leander engages DD Kagero at 8,000 yards
Hisamune, Yonejiro orders Japanese TF to disengage
Range closes to 6,000 yards
CA Kako engages CL Leander at 6,000 yards
Range increases to 13,000 yards
CA Kako engages CL Leander at 13,000 yards
CL Leander engages CA Furutaka at 13,000 yards
Range increases to 19,000 yards
CA Kako engages CL Leander at 19,000 yards
Range increases to 26,000 yards
CL Leander engages CA Kako at 26,000 yards
Task forces break off...
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Day Time Surface Combat, near Port Moresby at 98,130, Range 26,000 Yards
Japanese Ships
CA Tone, heavy fires
CA Chikuma, heavy fires, heavy damage
CA Chokai, heavy fires
CA Haguro, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Hamakaze, heavy fires
DD Tanikaze
DD Natsugumo
DD Yamagumo, heavy fires
Allied Ships
CL St. Louis, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Cummings, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Stuart, heavy fires, heavy damage
Maximum visibility in Overcast Conditions: 20,000 yards
Range increases to 28,000 yards...
Range closes to 27,000 yards...
Range closes to 26,000 yards...
Range closes to 25,000 yards...
Range closes to 23,000 yards...
Range closes to 21,000 yards...
Range closes to 20,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 20,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 20,000 yards
Both TF attempt to withdraw!
Range increases to 26,000 yards...
CA Chokai engages CL St. Louis at 26,000 yards
CL St. Louis engages DD Natsugumo at 26,000 yards
CL St. Louis engages DD Hamakaze at 26,000 yards
Task forces break off...
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Day Time Surface Combat, near Port Moresby at 98,130, Range 20,000 Yards
Japanese aircraft
no flights
Japanese aircraft losses
F1M2 Pete: 1 destroyed
E13A1 Jake: 2 destroyed
Japanese Ships (The CRUDIV is doomed when damaged and out of ammo, it is unable to avoid two fresh CLs)
CA Tone, Shell hits 6, heavy fires, heavy damage
CA Chikuma, Shell hits 15, and is sunk
CA Chokai, Shell hits 7, heavy fires, heavy damage
CA Haguro, Shell hits 28, and is sunk
DD Hamakaze, Shell hits 7, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Tanikaze, Shell hits 6, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Natsugumo, Shell hits 1
DD Yamagumo, Shell hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
Allied Ships
CL Phoenix
CL Honolulu
DD Patterson, Shell hits 2
DD Jarvis, Shell hits 1, on fire
Maximum visibility in Overcast Conditions: 20,000 yards
Range closes to 24,000 yards...
Range closes to 22,000 yards...
Range closes to 20,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 20,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 20,000 yards
CL Honolulu engages DD Natsugumo at 20,000 yards
CL Honolulu engages DD Tanikaze at 20,000 yards
Range closes to 19,000 yards
CL Honolulu engages CA Haguro at 19,000 yards
CL Honolulu engages CA Chokai at 19,000 yards
CL Honolulu engages CA Tone at 19,000 yards
DD Yamagumo engages DD Jarvis at 19,000 yards
Range closes to 16,000 yards
CA Haguro engages CL Honolulu at 16,000 yards
CA Haguro engages CL Phoenix at 16,000 yards
CA Chikuma engages CL Honolulu at 16,000 yards
DD Patterson engages DD Natsugumo at 16,000 yards
DD Yamagumo engages DD Jarvis at 16,000 yards
DD Natsugumo engages DD Jarvis at 16,000 yards
DD Hamakaze engages DD Jarvis at 16,000 yards
Range closes to 14,000 yards
CA Haguro engages CL Honolulu at 14,000 yards
CA Chokai engages CL Phoenix at 14,000 yards
DD Yamagumo engages DD Jarvis at 14,000 yards
DD Yamagumo engages DD Jarvis at 14,000 yards
DD Natsugumo engages DD Jarvis at 14,000 yards
DD Patterson engages DD Tanikaze at 14,000 yards
DD Hamakaze engages DD Patterson at 14,000 yards
Range closes to 12,000 yards
CA Haguro engages CL Honolulu at 12,000 yards
CL Honolulu engages CA Chokai at 12,000 yards
CA Chikuma engages DD Jarvis at 12,000 yards
CA Tone engages CL Honolulu at 12,000 yards
DD Jarvis engages DD Yamagumo at 12,000 yards
DD Patterson engages DD Natsugumo at 12,000 yards
DD Patterson engages DD Tanikaze at 12,000 yards
DD Hamakaze engages DD Jarvis at 12,000 yards
Range closes to 8,000 yards
CL Honolulu engages CA Haguro at 8,000 yards
CL Phoenix engages CA Haguro at 8,000 yards
CA Chikuma engages CL Honolulu at 8,000 yards
DD Patterson engages DD Yamagumo at 8,000 yards
DD Jarvis engages DD Natsugumo at 8,000 yards
DD Jarvis engages DD Tanikaze at 8,000 yards
DD Hamakaze engages DD Jarvis at 8,000 yards
Range increases to 10,000 yards
CA Chokai engages CL Honolulu at 10,000 yards
CA Chokai engages CL Honolulu at 10,000 yards
CL Honolulu engages CA Tone at 10,000 yards
DD Natsugumo engages DD Patterson at 10,000 yards
DD Jarvis engages DD Natsugumo at 10,000 yards
DD Patterson engages DD Tanikaze at 10,000 yards
DD Hamakaze engages DD Patterson at 10,000 yards
Range closes to 8,000 yards
CL Honolulu engages CA Haguro at 8,000 yards
CL Phoenix engages CA Chokai at 8,000 yards
CA Tone engages CL Honolulu at 8,000 yards
DD Yamagumo engages DD Patterson at 8,000 yards
DD Natsugumo engages DD Patterson at 8,000 yards
DD Tanikaze engages DD Patterson at 8,000 yards
DD Hamakaze engages DD Jarvis at 8,000 yards
Range closes to 6,000 yards
CL Honolulu engages CA Haguro at 6,000 yards
CA Chokai engages CL Honolulu at 6,000 yards
DD Jarvis engages DD Natsugumo at 6,000 yards
DD Jarvis engages DD Natsugumo at 6,000 yards
DD Patterson engages DD Tanikaze at 6,000 yards
DD Hamakaze engages DD Jarvis at 6,000 yards
Range closes to 4,000 yards
CA Haguro engages CL Honolulu at 4,000 yards
CA Haguro sunk by CL Phoenix at 4,000 yards
CA Tone engages CL Honolulu at 4,000 yards
DD Yamagumo engages DD Patterson at 4,000 yards
DD Patterson engages DD Natsugumo at 4,000 yards
DD Hamakaze engages DD Patterson at 4,000 yards
Task forces break off...
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Morning Air attack on Port Moresby , at 98,130
Weather in hex: Overcast
Raid detected at 31 NM, estimated altitude 35,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 40 (Zeros clear the skies for the torpedo bombers)
Allied aircraft
Seagull V x 2
SOC-1 Seagull x 8
No Japanese losses
Allied aircraft losses
Seagull V: 1 destroyed
SOC-1 Seagull: 3 destroyed
Aircraft Attacking:
37 x A6M2 Zero sweeping at 32000 feet
CAP engaged:
VCS-9/3 with SOC-1 Seagull (0 airborne, 3 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 5000 , scrambling fighters to 14900.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 24 minutes
VCS-9/5 with SOC-1 Seagull (0 airborne, 3 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 5000 , scrambling fighters to 14900.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 37 minutes
No.9 Sqn RAAF S-1 with Seagull V (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 5000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 5000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 15 minutes
No.9 Sqn RAAF S-2 with Seagull V (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 5000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 5000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 2 minutes
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Port Moresby at 98,130
Weather in hex: Partial cloud
Raid detected at 119 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 47 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 22
G3M2 Nell x 12 (the bombers were all weathered-in during the morning, and only a few fly in the afternoon)
Japanese aircraft losses
G3M2 Nell: 1 damaged
Allied Ships
CL Honolulu (And they hit nothing)
CA Canberra
Aircraft Attacking:
12 x G3M2 Nell launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
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Sub attack near Port Moresby at 97,130
(Then things go from bad to awful)
Japanese Ships
BB Fuso, Torpedo hits 2, on fire
DD Yukikaze
Allied Ships
SS S-28
SS S-28 launches 4 torpedoes at BB Fuso
DD Yukikaze fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Yukikaze fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Yukikaze fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Yukikaze fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Yukikaze fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub
Meanwhile, the IJA is successful in its first full assault at Tsiaotso and does not seem to suffer from the lack of naval support at Port Moresby.