Fletcher
Posts: 3386
Joined: 10/26/2006 From: Jerez, Spain, EU Status: offline
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FROM: VADM.HOSOGAYA, 5th FLEET C-IN-C. OMINATO. TO: ADM. NAGANO, IMPERIAL JAPANESE NAVY GENERAL STAFF. IGHQ. TOKYO. SUBJECT: NORTHERN CONVOY ATTACKED. DATE: FEB 16th, 1942. SHIKUKA-OMINATO CONVOY number 212 was intercepted this morning by enemy raider, identified like AMC PRINCE HENRY (HMCS). Our convoy was in the returning way to Shikuka after download the resources load at Ominato. Convoy 212 DATA (09 Aden Cargo Class freighters) ETD SHIKUKA: FEB 5th, 1942 (Load: 42.030 tons of supplies) (Escort 1 SC -direct-, 1 AMC -indirect-) ETA OMINATO: FEB 9th, 1942 ETD OMINATO: FEB 13rd, 1942 ETA SHIKUKA: FEB 16th, 1942. AMC Awata Maru in indirect escort duty of this convoy was attacked one hour before enemy raider was insight by one enemy USN Submarine near Toyohara. Our auxiliar cruise had to avoid enemy torpedoes and began zigzagging with evasive maneuvers to avoid other sub attacks (1 dud hit her with no damages reported). At Early morning one of the head ships (xAK SINGAPORE MARU) blinker to others: "ENEMEY AUXILIAR CRUISER SPOTTED, 17 NM, BEARING 270, SPEED 20 KNOTS". Inmediatly our Subchasser CHA-21 tried unsuccesfully to cover our convoy with her light gun fire. CHA-21 was hit by 2 6" shells sinking quickly with all hands. Following freighters reported damages: - CEYLON MARU, 4 shell hits. - SINGAPORE MARU, 4 shell hits. - SYUNKO MARU, 5 shell hits xAK SINGAPORE MARU was reported sunk at afternoon when heading Shikuka. Last Position reported: 40 nm south Shikuka. AMC AWATA MARU will join with another AMC to chase enemy raider. 11st-12nd and 13rd Air Flotilla Assets have been alerted to take off if enemy ship is spotted by our naval search planned flights. (2) The action of the men of CHA-21, in their attempt to avoid enemy attack in spite of the hight gun supperiority of the enemy, must be commended highly. These men well represented our entire force. (3) it´s mandatory to reinforce our naval and air forces in Northern waters to avoid other raiders attacks like this. It´s not neccesary to say that this kind of attacks disturb all our resources shippings from Sakhalin Island to Honshu. Long Live to the Emperor ! END//
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