John 3rd
Posts: 17178
Joined: 9/8/2005 From: La Salle, Colorado Status: offline
|
October 10, 1943 Wake Island Area The uneasy calmness that has surrounded Wake Isle for the last ten days or so is shattered by developments on October 10th. Though the two Allied Regiments ashore could have taken the base at any point since the landing they have not attempted to do so (AV only 55). Imperial HQ had directed two Fast TF to try to get in and land elements of the 48th ID as well as 8th CD. The 8th CD (aboard CL Sendai and 6 DDs) was scheduled to be delivered the 10th with the 48th (on 5 DDs) arriving the day after. Allied AMs and some small ships are spotted approaching Wake on the 9th so three I-Boats are vectored in for an intercept. The Fast TF are warned that there might be a hot reception for them when they arrive. Meanwhile--to the north--two Japanese Carrier TF move slowly NNE towards Midway with plans of dropping into the sealanes between Midway and Wake. The Carriers are hunting the American battleships that hit Wake and then return to Midway for replenishment. Surface Action As expected, an American STF of CL Phoenix and 5 DDs intercepts the Sendai Group. There is lots of shooting and torpedoes flung at each other but very little damage. Sendai takes 2 6" hits and that is about it. The Americans do force the Fast TF to abort its mission though... Japanese Wolf Pack It is a GLORIOUS day for the Imperial Submarine Fleet! As said many times earlier, the Japanese Sub arm has had an outstanding war. This day exceeds all that have proceeded it. The Boats: I-159 LCDR Hosakawa I-183 LCDR Ishikura I-190 LCDR Hirakawa I-190 spots the leading American Task Force and calmly sinks DE Griswold just one hex SE of Wake. The Torp splits her in half. I-159 hears the hit scored by her sister then raises her periscope to find a group of CVEs nearby. Quick maneuvering around escorts brings her into firing range of CVE Casablanca. Four TTs are fired and one scores a direct hit followed by a fuel storage explosion. NICE! Escorts pounce on the hapless sub and force it to the surface. As the sub is pounded, her deck gunners hit DD Satterlee with two shells damaging the DD. Shortly thereafter, I-159 makes its final dive to the bottom. I-183 is a newer boat and wants to get into action. She does this through spotting the smoke from the burning Casablanca. Slowly moving in, she launches four TTs at the damaged Escort Carrier and quickly blasts her with two hits and another fuel storage explosion. CVE Casablanca sinks. LCDR Ishikura reloads his tubes, decides to stay deep for two hours and then move back into the numerous American formations. The successful I-190 has reloaded her tubes and gone deep to do so. Hearing powerful screws above her, Hirokawa slowly eases the boat up and raises his periscope. Only 1,000 yards away is CV Wasp. With planes on her decks it is obvious she is preparing to launch an early morning strike. Once again four TTs are launched and one of them smacks Wasp on her starboard side. A massive ammo storage explosion then rocks the carrier. Escorts drive the sub down and away from the Task Force. Hirokawa's sub is not seriously damaged but he does point the bow west and make for Saipan with no torps remaining. Hearing the massive explosion aboard Wasp, I-183 moves towards it. Just an hour after dawn, the periscope rises to find the damaged Wasp moving slowly south towards friendly bases in the Marshalls. She is still burning with two DDs alongside helping to fight the fires. ALL eyes are on the Wasp. They do not see the Japanese shark approaching. Closing in to point-blank range, I-183 launches her final four fish at the American Fleet Carrier. Not one! Not TWO!! THREE TTs SMASH INTO WASP!!! Two enormous explosions follow and the WASP sinks in only a few minutes. The loss of life is quite high. The joyous crew of this defiant sub dives deep and gets away with no damage...they live to fight another day. Sub Score for October 10, 1943 I-190 sinks DE Griswold and damages CV Wasp I-159 is sunk while damaging CVE Casablanca and DD Satterlee I-183 SINKS TWO CARRIERS--CVE Casablanca and CV Wasp BANZAI!
Attachment (1)
_____________________________
|