kokubokan25
Posts: 1252
Joined: 7/19/2004 From: Iliaca, Spain Status: offline
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OPERATION FLINTLOCK (PHASE THREE) THE CARRIER BATTLE OF GILBERT ISLANDS MAP KEY: (A): Halsey’s forces maintain your position near amphibious forces and replenishment ships the night of 27 but at dawn go to west to intercept Yamaguchi forces. (B): American CVE’s and transports return to Canton Island. (C): Position of the Rengo Kantai the night of 27. Yamaguchi forces: CVs : Akagi, Shokaku, Zuikaku and Amagi. CVLs: Ryujo and Zuiho. CVE: Taiyo. BB: Kongo and Nagato. CA/CL: Maya, Myoko, Ashigara, Oyodo, Noshiro and Niyodo. DDs: Hatsuzuki, Niizuki, Wakazuki, Shimozuki, Onami, Samidare, Suzukaze, Inazuma, Shinonome and Oboro. (D): Position of both forces the morning of 28. DAY TEN: 10/28/43 -In the first hours of 28, both forces found themselves only 60 miles away and attack the one to another at the same time. -The american first attack was definitive. 99 Dauntless and 36 Avengers with a escort of 66 Hellcats, 8 Corsairs and 3 Wildcats. The japanese CAP is formed by 57 zeros but is decimated in a few minutes. The japanese lost 56 fighters, the attackers only 11 fighters in this massacre. Without interference, the Dauntless and Avengers get multiple hits over the Rengo Kantai. CV Shokaku: 4 hits, some fires, speed reduced to 22 knots. CVL Ryujo: 1 hit, some fires CVL Zuiho: 4 hits, severe fires, flight deck closed CV Zuikaku: 4 hits, severe fires CV Amagi: 10 hits, out of control fires, flight deck closed, heavy damage BB Kongo: 1 hit, minor deck hit BB Nagato: 1 bomb hit and 2 torpedo hits, severe fires, speed reduced to 13 knots CA Myoko: 1 hit, minor damage on systems CA Ashigara: 2 hits, some fires -The american second raid complete the work. 32 SBD and 27 TBF with a escort of 36 Hellcats and 13 Wildcats. The japanese only get 1 zero on CAP and was shot down. This attack cost only three planes to americans, shot down by DCA. CVE Taiyo: 2 hits, ammo storage blow up, severe flooding, flight deck closed, speed reduced to 11 knots. CV Amagi: 4 hits, fires out of control, dead in the water CV Zuikaku: 1 bomb and 1 torpedo hits, heavy damage CVL Ryujo: 2 hits, severe fires BB Kongo: 1 torpedo hit, minor damage -American third raid; 27 Avengers and 9 Corsairs. No losses. CVE Taiyo, 1 torpedo hit, heavy damage CVL Zuiho: 1 torpedo hit, flight deck closed, speed reduced to 9 knots, severe fires -American fourth raid: 8 Avengers and 10 Wildcats. No losses. BB Kongo, another torpedo hit, substantial flooding -American fifth and last raid: 67 SBD and 60 TBF with a escort of 95 fighters; the japanese have no single plane on CAP. The attackers lost only three planes. CV Amagi: 8 hits and 1 torpedo hit, the ship capsizes and sinks. CV Zuikaku: 6 hits and 1 torpedo hit, flight deck closed, fires out of control, speed reduced to 8 knots BB Kongo: 1 hit, moderate fires and flooding, speed reduced to 15 knots. CVL Ryujo: 7 hits, forward main deck blow up, the ship sinks before sunset. The japanese attack. -The first raid: 72 D4Y, 88 B5N and 15 B6N with a escort of 85 zeros. The american task force maintain a CAP with 90 fighters, mainly Hellcats. The nipons are almost destroyed and lost 80 zeros, 43 bombers and 59 torpedo planes. The allied losses was 2 Wildcats, 18 Hellcats and five Corsairs. However, the japanese get through and the american carriers suffer moderate damage on ships. CV Saratoga: 2 hits, ammo storage explosion, speed reduced to 23 knots. CV Intrepid: 1 hit, minor damage on deck CV Enterprise: 2 hits, severe fires below deck CVL Monterey: 2 hits, speed reduced to 22 knots, some fires CV Yorktown: 2 torpedo hits, severe fires, moderate flooding, flight deck closed CL Australia: 1 hit, one 40mm AA mount destroyed, some fires -Second japanese raid: 25 D4Y, 17 B5N with a escort of 9 zeros; the americans react with 41 fighters and the japanese lost 34 attackers. One again, the nipons get through. CVL Princeton: 1 hit, speed reduced to 22 knots, some fires. End of action, the japanese try to return to Kwajalein and Halsey, with some ships with severe damage decide return to Canton island. -On Makin island, the japanese surrenders the 2.800 men of GD units to 2nd USMC division. BATTLE AFTERMATH 10/30/43: -The remnants of Rengo Kantai arrive to Kwajalein atoll. Only the CV Zuikaku, towed by DD Oboro, try to reach Jaluit and continue the fight to evade sinking. 10/31/43: -The Zuikaku’s captain, Yamakawa, give the order to abandon ship around 60 miles south of Jaluit, the ship went down during afternoon.
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