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Cuttlefish -> RE: Small Ship, Big War (3/3/2008 5:21:02 AM)
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November 18, 1943
Location: 50 miles east of Reef Island
Course: South
Attached to: TF 4
Mission: Air Combat
System Damage: 1
Float Damage: 0
Fires: 0
Fuel: 332
Orders: Engage enemy forces attacking the New Hebrides
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“Report from Junyo, sir,” says a voice from the speaking tube on the bridge. “Several enemy warships, probably destroyers, are 275 miles south of our position. Aircraft have been ordered to intercept and destroy them.”
“Thank you,” says Captain Ishii. “Let me know if there are further sightings.” He turns to Lieutenant Sugiyura. “No point in lurking here any longer,” he says. “I imagine we will be ordered south soon.”
“Good,” says Sugiyura. “I think everyone is tired of waiting.”
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One person not tired of waiting is Commander Thomas McMasters, in command of DesDiv 48. McMasters and his four Fletcher-class destroyers are anchoring the north flank of the Allied forces attacking Efate. The far north flank; his task force is in fact cruising north of Luganville. If the Japs do what they did at Noumea, he knows, they will come straight down from the north, and the first thing their carriers and battleships will find is DesDiv 48. He has no illusions about the fate of his ships should this occur.
He has his flag in the lead ship, DD Harrison. Behind him in the column are destroyers Hazelwood, Pringle, and Fulham. So far there has been no sign of the enemy. This suits McMasters just fine. He is not afraid of a fight, but he hates this exposed position and is worried about the ships and men under his command.
At 1120 hours his worst fears materialize. A Jap plane, probably a Val, is reported overhead. There are no Allied fighters in evidence, so the plane gets a good long look. Less than two hours later they have Jap planes on radar to the north. A lot of planes, and they are all coming straight at him.
McMasters radios a report to Noumea and then waits for the enemy to arrive. There is nothing else to do, really.
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“The targets are reported destroyed, sir,” comes another report from the radio room. Captain Ishii acknowledges it. Not long after that a signal light on Shokaku begins to flash. Hibiki and the rest of the Japanese ships are ordered south.
The enemy has powerful surface forces and large transport fleets around Efate. This time they have no hope of escaping; the Japanese are too close and coming too fast. If the enemy carriers are nearby and close enough to intervene they will have to do so now.
The Decisive Battle is at hand.
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