kaleun -> RE: Niitaka Yama Nobore. Son of Heaven Vs Buttsworth (1/23/2008 8:45:32 PM)
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Showa 17 nen Shigatsu ju yokka (April 14th) Nagumo hides his frustration well. Again yesterday, the torpedo bombers failed to fly. Only the dive bombers flew and scored scores of hits on the enemy combat ships; most of the hits did not penetrate and only Marblehead suffered any real damage. The highlight of the day was the signal from Manila that Shokaku, Hiryu and Zuikaku had refitted and resupplied at Manila and would slip their moorings that night to rejoin with KB. “KB will be again a mighty force” Ito says “Nothing the enemy has can stand against us, once they join” Nagumo disagrees “Our carriers are worn and in need of repair. As soon as the three join us, I shall have to release one, or more likely two carriers to repair at Manila” During the night, the Balikpapan invasion fleet arrives. The extensive minefield fails to protect the doomed harbor as the invasion fleet is provided with many minesweepers that soon clear and widen safe paths through the minefields. The sun rises and with it, the patrol planes take off from KB and from land bases all around the area of operations. Ito joins Nagumo and his entourage in a terse vigil around the radio. If the radio operator is made anxious by all the brass around him, he doesn’t show it. The first news comes from G3M bombers off Singkiawang: “Have attacked enemy ship formations in Makassar strait. BB Resolution and CA Cornwall. No hits” The enemy, at least partially located, Nagumo orders all his attack planes aloft. The torpedo bombers accompany them this time. The results are impressive. As the reports come back, the gathered officers resist the temptation to cheer with each torpedo hit. The enlisted men do not. Over the PA system, against all regulations the results are broadcast to the men on Akagi. Doubtless the same thing happens in the other ships of the task force. BB Revenge: Two bomb hits, two torpedo hits. Royal Sovereign four torpedo hits, sinking; Resolution, two bomb hits and five torpedo hits, sinking. Light cruisers De Ruyter one torpedo hit, CL Boise, one bomb hit, CL Enterprise, one torpedo hit, CL Marblehead two torpedo hits and two bomb hits, reportedly sinking [image]local://upfiles/6626/67B7A7DE2D02432BB9E4161311A3209B.jpg[/image]
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