.......The enemy BBs were already in firing position to plaster Sadogashima...
Palliser didn't think twice...he put all his ships into a double line and placed himself between the 360cm guns of the japanese BBs and the island...
It was like a dance...the two opposed TFs were moving in two double lines facing each other (the japs in the typical firing position)...
Despite the sudden manouvre, the japs were fast and immediately re-locate their aiming...
The first 360 cm bullet immediately exploded aboard the Kenia...a couple of hits and the brand new ship's magazines created a massive explosion that made trumble the whole allied formation...
Palliser's ships started to fire furiously to avenge their sister but their guns were simply too little to create any concern to the enemy's giants...
The battle raged for half an hour...but Palliser knew he didn't stand any chance...his formation had been immediately broken by the precise and deadly japanese heavy fire...
He almost cried when he saw Jonhston, the commander of DD Owen, moving out of the line formation and, despite the orders, charge the Hyuga that was slaughtering at close range the NewFoundland...
However...at 2:30 A.M. Palliser knew he had no choice but retire...2 of his ships have already sunk and 4 more would be sinking in the next few hours...
He gave the signal...and retired...
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Sadogashima at 114,56, Range 2,000 Yards
Japanese Ships
BB Hiei
BB Fuso, Shell hits 2
BB Yamashiro, Shell hits 6
BB Hyuga, Shell hits 21, on fire
CA Mikuma
CA Kumano
CL Agano
CL Noshiro, Shell hits 1, on fire
CL Abukuma
DD Ikazuchi
DD Inazuma
DD Usugumo
DD Shikinami
DD Sagiri
DD Akebono
DD Suresushio, Shell hits 3, on fire
CL Teshio, Shell hits 2
DD Tagonami
DD Hikokaze
DD Takatakaze
DD Myojinkaze
DD Yamanakaze
Allied Ships
CL Gambia, Shell hits 5, on fire, heavy damage
CL Ceylon, Shell hits 7, on fire
CL Kenya, Shell hits 16, and is sunk
CL Newfoundland, Shell hits 15, Torpedo hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Murray, Shell hits 2
DD Owen, Shell hits 17, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
DD William Porter, Shell hits 10, on fire
DD Smalley, Shell hits 2
DD Twiggs, Shell hits 1
DD Wedderburn, Shell hits 5
DD Grayson
DD Thompson, Shell hits 3
DD Endicott
DD McCook, Shell hits 1
DD Frankford, Shell hits 6, on fire, heavy damage
Poor visibility due to Thunderstorms with 53% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Thunderstorms and 53% moonlight: 1,000 yards
Range closes to 24,000 yards...
CONTACT: Allies radar detects Japanese task force at 24,000 yards
CONTACT: Japanese radar detects Allied task force at 24,000 yards
Range closes to 18,000 yards...
CONTACT: Allies radar detects Japanese task force at 18,000 yards
CONTACT: Japanese radar detects Allied task force at 18,000 yards
Range closes to 12,000 yards...
CONTACT: Allies radar detects Japanese task force at 12,000 yards
CONTACT: Japanese radar detects Allied task force at 12,000 yards
Range closes to 10,000 yards...
CONTACT: Allies radar detects Japanese task force at 10,000 yards
CONTACT: Japanese radar detects Allied task force at 10,000 yards
Range closes to 8,000 yards...
CONTACT: Allies radar detects Japanese task force at 8,000 yards
Range closes to 6,000 yards...
CONTACT: Allies radar detects Japanese task force at 6,000 yards
Range closes to 4,000 yards...
CONTACT: Allies radar detects Japanese task force at 4,000 yards
CONTACT: Japanese radar detects Allied task force at 4,000 yards
Range closes to 2,000 yards...
CONTACT: Allies radar detects Japanese task force at 2,000 yards
CONTACT: Japanese radar detects Allied task force at 2,000 yards
Massive explosion on CL Kenya
CL Kenya sunk by BB Yamashiro at 2,000 yards
BB Fuso engages CL Ceylon at 2,000 yards
BB Hiei engages CL Gambia at 2,000 yards
DD Akebono engages DD Frankford at 2,000 yards
CL Teshio engages CL Ceylon at 2,000 yards
BB Fuso engages DD Thompson at 2,000 yards
CL Gambia engages CL Noshiro at 2,000 yards
BB Yamashiro engages DD Wedderburn at 2,000 yards
DD Wedderburn engages DD Yamanakaze at 2,000 yards
DD Yamanakaze engages DD Smalley at 2,000 yards
DD Yamanakaze engages DD William Porter at 2,000 yards
BB Yamashiro engages DD Owen at 2,000 yards
DD Murray engages DD Yamanakaze at 2,000 yards
DD Owen sunk by DD Suresushio at 2,000 yards
BB Hyuga engages CL Newfoundland at 2,000 yards
BB Hyuga engages CL Ceylon at 2,000 yards
BB Fuso engages CL Newfoundland at 2,000 yards
BB Hiei engages DD Frankford at 2,000 yards
DD McCook engages DD Suresushio at 2,000 yards
BB Hyuga engages DD Endicott at 2,000 yards
CL Teshio engages CL Newfoundland at 2,000 yards
CL Newfoundland engages CL Abukuma at 2,000 yards
DD Suresushio engages DD Wedderburn at 2,000 yards
DD Suresushio engages DD Twiggs at 2,000 yards
DD Yamanakaze engages DD William Porter at 2,000 yards
DD William Porter engages DD Suresushio at 2,000 yards
DD Suresushio engages DD Murray at 2,000 yards
DD Frankford engages DD Hikokaze at 2,000 yards
DD Akebono engages DD Smalley at 2,000 yards
DD Twiggs engages DD Inazuma at 2,000 yards
Range increases to 3,000 yards
BB Hyuga engages CL Newfoundland at 3,000 yards
BB Yamashiro engages CL Newfoundland at 3,000 yards
BB Hyuga engages CL Gambia at 3,000 yards
CL Gambia engages CA Kumano at 3,000 yards
DD Suresushio engages DD Endicott at 3,000 yards
DD Thompson engages DD Inazuma at 3,000 yards
DD Akebono engages DD Grayson at 3,000 yards
DD Wedderburn engages DD Suresushio at 3,000 yards
CL Agano engages DD Twiggs at 3,000 yards
DD Smalley engages DD Suresushio at 3,000 yards
DD Myojinkaze engages DD Frankford at 3,000 yards
DD Takatakaze engages DD Murray at 3,000 yards
DD Suresushio engages DD Frankford at 3,000 yards
DD Frankford engages DD Akebono at 3,000 yards
Range increases to 5,000 yards
BB Hyuga engages CL Newfoundland at 5,000 yards
BB Yamashiro engages CL Ceylon at 5,000 yards
BB Hyuga engages CL Gambia at 5,000 yards
CL Newfoundland engages CA Kumano at 5,000 yards
DD Myojinkaze engages DD Endicott at 5,000 yards
CL Teshio engages DD Thompson at 5,000 yards
DD Hikokaze engages DD Grayson at 5,000 yards
CL Noshiro engages DD Wedderburn at 5,000 yards
DD Twiggs engages DD Suresushio at 5,000 yards
DD Suresushio engages DD Smalley at 5,000 yards
DD William Porter engages DD Suresushio at 5,000 yards
DD Myojinkaze engages DD Murray at 5,000 yards
DD Akebono engages DD William Porter at 5,000 yards
DD Frankford engages DD Usugumo at 5,000 yards
DD Inazuma engages DD Frankford at 5,000 yards
Task forces break off...
