Storm in the South Pacific (A dramatised report)
Posted: Thu Jun 06, 2002 7:04 pm
Calm before the storm: July 1942
Since the interdiction of the IJN bombardment group by the carriers Enterprise and Hornet an eerie peace had settled over the south pacific.
Neither of the BB's had been reported sunk but they had certainly suffered substantial damage and whilst both Hornet and Enterprise had been damaged in the counter strike from Rabaul both were safely in dry dock at Townsville whilst their planes were being used to bolster the air defences of New Guinea.
Since then IJN activity had dropped remarkably. No further attempts had been made to get supplies through to the 2,000 starving Japanese troops on Guadacanal whose only respite from their hunger pains were the daily air bombardments from the US carriers Lexington, Yorktown, Saratoga and Wasp backed by B17's and Havoc's from the new base on Santa Cruz. Not that there was much left to bomb as both the airfield and port at Lunga were 100% out of commission.
The daily attacks on Gilli Gilli by Japanese aircraft from Rabaul had also dwindled away and then ceased as the number of fighters flying CAP over New Guinea gradually rose to outnumber the Zero's and the number of Nell's and Betty's sank to single figures and then none at all.
Even the volume of sighting reports dwindled and then ceased altogether. Shortland Harbour normally a bustle of IJN TF's was reported to be empty. In fact not an IJN convoy or barge was moving and not a plane was flying.
What did this mean?
Nimitz tried to suppress his rising hopes.
 Had the Japanese given up and withdrawn on Truk?
According to his intelligence the IJN had lost 95 vessels so far since the start of May about 70 of which were AP's. Perhaps they could no longer support their forward bases. (The Allies had lost 15 ships mostly AK's.)
 Had they run out of planes?
According to intelligence the Japanese had lost 208 planes including 102 Zero's, 39 Nell's and 46 Betty's. Perhaps they had just run out of planes or pilots.
Strategy Review
As the days slipped past and nothing happened Nimitz began to review his strategy. Perhaps it was time to take the offensive.
Guadacanal had been useful as a lure to force Japanese convoys under the planes of his carrier strikes but now no more convoys were coming down the slot perhaps it was time for the Marines to earn their pay and renew their residence.
Likewise the Japanese garrison at Lae had been starving for months and the port was just about out of commission perhaps it was time for that to receive a visit by the 3rd Australian Div.
He began to muster his transports re-assigning them from routine convoy duties and marshalling them in Noumea and Brisbane. Whilst the carriers bombarding Guadacanal were ordered back to Lunganville to replenish and prepare for their support role in the planned invasion.
The fighter pilots on New Guinea settled back to enjoy some well earned R&R only the Bombers were kept busy pounding the Japanese troops around the port of Lae.
The Storm Breaks
First indications of something brewing came from the submarines on patrol in the slot who reported multiple convoys heading down the slot towards Guadacanal (AP's, PC's, an AV, DD's and a CS). Bigger than anything that had come down for weeks and more importantly immediately behind this armada was the IJN Super CV TF in close support.
Later the same day coastwatchers and submarines around New Britain reported similar large convoys heading for Lae escorted by several CA's.
Moresby caught by surprise
Then the first air strike hit Port Moresby. A convoy was unloading much needed supplies in the harbour as the strike came in. It caught PM with its pants down, all the FB's that normally provided LRCAP for the base were off bombing Japanese troops at Lae. Only the 19 veteran RAAF pilots stationed on LRCAP at Buna were available to fend off the incoming bombers.
But the enemy air strike was massive over 100 zero's including 25 of the dreaded white one's that everyone thought had been completely destroyed swamped the Kittihawks of the RAAF.
The Japanese pilots were inexperienced and many zero's spun into the jungle between Buna and the port but there were just too many. Flt Lt Gilchrist the highest scoring ace in the South Pacific was shot down and killed somewhere south of Buna after clocking up at least two more kills.
Despite their losses a few of the Kittihawks managed to get in amongst the bombers adding their wreckage to the trail of debris amongst the tree's
AA defences on the ships and the Port facilities added their own price to the carnage. Even so two AP's were sunk and one DD damaged in the attack.
When the fighter-bombers returned to Moresby they were immediately re-armed for fighter duties and put on LRCAP. The next strike from Rabaul found itself outnumbered by the Port Moresby air CAP and was shot to pieces. Only 6 bombers got through and no hits were scored.
Rabual switched targets to Gilli Gilli no doubt hoping for a softer target. But Gilli Gilli was playing host to the Wildcats from Enterprise and Hornet as well as its normal fighter compliment. The Japanese strike now only contained 63 Zero's and 3 Betty's and was outnumbered and outclassed by the defensive CAP. The Navy pilots lost a lot of planes but the Japanese failed to break through and suffered appalling losses.
The only good news for the IJN on this front was that the distraction of the air attacks allowed most of their ships to get through to Lae and only a few AG's were sunk on the way out again.
The Lunganville Mystery
As news of the armada moving down the slot reached Nimitz he realised that the invasion of Guadacanal would have to be postponed. He quickly ordered the Carriers Lexington, Yorktown, Saratoga and Wasp to refuel and put to sea. Whilst the bombers on Santa Cruz were switched to Naval Attack and fresh fighters flown in to protect the airfield, just in case.
However, Nimitz was in for a shock as reports from the dockyard claimed that there was not even enough fuel available at Lunganville to replenish the Saratogo Battle Group let alone the others.
Where had the fuel gone?
Nobody was saying but Lungaville was overflowing with it just before the IJN attack began and had been receiving regular shipments from Noumea for over a month. However, there was no time to speculate Saratoga was ordered to sea immediately Lexington and Yorktown followed with what little fuel they could obtain whilst Wasp was ordered south to Efrate Port Villa which still had 20,000+ in its storage tanks.
Meanwhile, Lunga harbour was so jammed with IJN shipping that it looked like an angry red boil on Nimitz map. Whilst the IJN Super CVTF was poised menacingly at the mouth of the slot.
Every submarine in the area was closing on the IJN carriers and an aborted torpedo attack by S-41 seemed to panic the Japanese TF commander.
At the crucial moment the IJN Super CVTF withdrew northward up the slot allowing Saratoga a free shot at the ships in the sound. The first strike sank the Japanese AV, which I think may have been carrying planes for the Lunga airbase.
A second strike hit the enemy scout cruiser and sunk an AP.
picture courtesy of: The Cactus Air Force
http://www.ixpres.com/ag1caf/cactus/cactus.htm
There were men in the water.
The IJN Super CVTF rushed back up the sound launching a hasty strike that disabled the Saratoga and forced her to be withdrawn transferring her planes to Lexington that was just arriving.
Lexington and Yorktown edged up under the Santa Cruz air umbrella and began launching long ranged strikes at the shipping in the sound backed by B17's from Santa Cruz. Chaos ensued, AP's and PC's were sinking everywhere, the sound was filled with hundreds of drowning Japanese soldiers. Some convoys abandoned their attempts to land troops and tried to put back out to sea leaving a trail of drowning men and supplies in their wake.
picture courtesy of: The Cactus Air Force
http://www.ixpres.com/ag1caf/cactus/cactus.htm
Unwilling to close within range of the LBA from Santa Cruz the IJN Super CVTF watched the slaughter impotently not even to using its fighters for an LRCAP. Two days later it withdrew back up the slot.
Aftermath August 1942
Relative peace has descended again over the South Pacific. Japanese soldiers on Guadacanal now with even more mouths to feed as a result of the partially successful landings are organising regular beachcombing patrols to try and rescue supplies from the water. They find mostly bodies.
A letter has been written to Vick Gilchrists family praising his professionalism and bravery in the unequal air battle on the first day of the assault. There are rumours of a posthumous VC.
The Enterprise, Hornet and Saratoga are in dry dock being repaired but will soon be back on station and an eerie silence has once more descended on the South Pacific.
Nimitz is holding his breath.
Since the interdiction of the IJN bombardment group by the carriers Enterprise and Hornet an eerie peace had settled over the south pacific.
Neither of the BB's had been reported sunk but they had certainly suffered substantial damage and whilst both Hornet and Enterprise had been damaged in the counter strike from Rabaul both were safely in dry dock at Townsville whilst their planes were being used to bolster the air defences of New Guinea.
Since then IJN activity had dropped remarkably. No further attempts had been made to get supplies through to the 2,000 starving Japanese troops on Guadacanal whose only respite from their hunger pains were the daily air bombardments from the US carriers Lexington, Yorktown, Saratoga and Wasp backed by B17's and Havoc's from the new base on Santa Cruz. Not that there was much left to bomb as both the airfield and port at Lunga were 100% out of commission.
The daily attacks on Gilli Gilli by Japanese aircraft from Rabaul had also dwindled away and then ceased as the number of fighters flying CAP over New Guinea gradually rose to outnumber the Zero's and the number of Nell's and Betty's sank to single figures and then none at all.
Even the volume of sighting reports dwindled and then ceased altogether. Shortland Harbour normally a bustle of IJN TF's was reported to be empty. In fact not an IJN convoy or barge was moving and not a plane was flying.
What did this mean?
Nimitz tried to suppress his rising hopes.
 Had the Japanese given up and withdrawn on Truk?
According to his intelligence the IJN had lost 95 vessels so far since the start of May about 70 of which were AP's. Perhaps they could no longer support their forward bases. (The Allies had lost 15 ships mostly AK's.)
 Had they run out of planes?
According to intelligence the Japanese had lost 208 planes including 102 Zero's, 39 Nell's and 46 Betty's. Perhaps they had just run out of planes or pilots.
Strategy Review
As the days slipped past and nothing happened Nimitz began to review his strategy. Perhaps it was time to take the offensive.
Guadacanal had been useful as a lure to force Japanese convoys under the planes of his carrier strikes but now no more convoys were coming down the slot perhaps it was time for the Marines to earn their pay and renew their residence.
Likewise the Japanese garrison at Lae had been starving for months and the port was just about out of commission perhaps it was time for that to receive a visit by the 3rd Australian Div.
He began to muster his transports re-assigning them from routine convoy duties and marshalling them in Noumea and Brisbane. Whilst the carriers bombarding Guadacanal were ordered back to Lunganville to replenish and prepare for their support role in the planned invasion.
The fighter pilots on New Guinea settled back to enjoy some well earned R&R only the Bombers were kept busy pounding the Japanese troops around the port of Lae.
The Storm Breaks
First indications of something brewing came from the submarines on patrol in the slot who reported multiple convoys heading down the slot towards Guadacanal (AP's, PC's, an AV, DD's and a CS). Bigger than anything that had come down for weeks and more importantly immediately behind this armada was the IJN Super CV TF in close support.
Later the same day coastwatchers and submarines around New Britain reported similar large convoys heading for Lae escorted by several CA's.
Moresby caught by surprise
Then the first air strike hit Port Moresby. A convoy was unloading much needed supplies in the harbour as the strike came in. It caught PM with its pants down, all the FB's that normally provided LRCAP for the base were off bombing Japanese troops at Lae. Only the 19 veteran RAAF pilots stationed on LRCAP at Buna were available to fend off the incoming bombers.
But the enemy air strike was massive over 100 zero's including 25 of the dreaded white one's that everyone thought had been completely destroyed swamped the Kittihawks of the RAAF.
The Japanese pilots were inexperienced and many zero's spun into the jungle between Buna and the port but there were just too many. Flt Lt Gilchrist the highest scoring ace in the South Pacific was shot down and killed somewhere south of Buna after clocking up at least two more kills.
Despite their losses a few of the Kittihawks managed to get in amongst the bombers adding their wreckage to the trail of debris amongst the tree's
AA defences on the ships and the Port facilities added their own price to the carnage. Even so two AP's were sunk and one DD damaged in the attack.
When the fighter-bombers returned to Moresby they were immediately re-armed for fighter duties and put on LRCAP. The next strike from Rabaul found itself outnumbered by the Port Moresby air CAP and was shot to pieces. Only 6 bombers got through and no hits were scored.
Rabual switched targets to Gilli Gilli no doubt hoping for a softer target. But Gilli Gilli was playing host to the Wildcats from Enterprise and Hornet as well as its normal fighter compliment. The Japanese strike now only contained 63 Zero's and 3 Betty's and was outnumbered and outclassed by the defensive CAP. The Navy pilots lost a lot of planes but the Japanese failed to break through and suffered appalling losses.
The only good news for the IJN on this front was that the distraction of the air attacks allowed most of their ships to get through to Lae and only a few AG's were sunk on the way out again.
The Lunganville Mystery
As news of the armada moving down the slot reached Nimitz he realised that the invasion of Guadacanal would have to be postponed. He quickly ordered the Carriers Lexington, Yorktown, Saratoga and Wasp to refuel and put to sea. Whilst the bombers on Santa Cruz were switched to Naval Attack and fresh fighters flown in to protect the airfield, just in case.
However, Nimitz was in for a shock as reports from the dockyard claimed that there was not even enough fuel available at Lunganville to replenish the Saratogo Battle Group let alone the others.
Where had the fuel gone?
Nobody was saying but Lungaville was overflowing with it just before the IJN attack began and had been receiving regular shipments from Noumea for over a month. However, there was no time to speculate Saratoga was ordered to sea immediately Lexington and Yorktown followed with what little fuel they could obtain whilst Wasp was ordered south to Efrate Port Villa which still had 20,000+ in its storage tanks.
Meanwhile, Lunga harbour was so jammed with IJN shipping that it looked like an angry red boil on Nimitz map. Whilst the IJN Super CVTF was poised menacingly at the mouth of the slot.
Every submarine in the area was closing on the IJN carriers and an aborted torpedo attack by S-41 seemed to panic the Japanese TF commander.
At the crucial moment the IJN Super CVTF withdrew northward up the slot allowing Saratoga a free shot at the ships in the sound. The first strike sank the Japanese AV, which I think may have been carrying planes for the Lunga airbase.
A second strike hit the enemy scout cruiser and sunk an AP.
picture courtesy of: The Cactus Air Force
http://www.ixpres.com/ag1caf/cactus/cactus.htm
There were men in the water.
The IJN Super CVTF rushed back up the sound launching a hasty strike that disabled the Saratoga and forced her to be withdrawn transferring her planes to Lexington that was just arriving.
Lexington and Yorktown edged up under the Santa Cruz air umbrella and began launching long ranged strikes at the shipping in the sound backed by B17's from Santa Cruz. Chaos ensued, AP's and PC's were sinking everywhere, the sound was filled with hundreds of drowning Japanese soldiers. Some convoys abandoned their attempts to land troops and tried to put back out to sea leaving a trail of drowning men and supplies in their wake.
picture courtesy of: The Cactus Air Force
http://www.ixpres.com/ag1caf/cactus/cactus.htm
Unwilling to close within range of the LBA from Santa Cruz the IJN Super CVTF watched the slaughter impotently not even to using its fighters for an LRCAP. Two days later it withdrew back up the slot.
Aftermath August 1942
Relative peace has descended again over the South Pacific. Japanese soldiers on Guadacanal now with even more mouths to feed as a result of the partially successful landings are organising regular beachcombing patrols to try and rescue supplies from the water. They find mostly bodies.
A letter has been written to Vick Gilchrists family praising his professionalism and bravery in the unequal air battle on the first day of the assault. There are rumours of a posthumous VC.
The Enterprise, Hornet and Saratoga are in dry dock being repaired but will soon be back on station and an eerie silence has once more descended on the South Pacific.
Nimitz is holding his breath.