FeurerKrieg -> War Report 2/24/42 (4/15/2006 6:21:01 AM)
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War Report 2/24/42 Thunderstorms continue to dampen action in China and Burma. Airstrikes launched at Manilla, Clark, and Palembang. Alfs from Rangoon took some shots at a ship near Akyab, but no hits were landed. Allied air units hit Tarakan, Salamaua and attacked the battleships at Menado. Feurer Krieg Area Report The action of the day was near Lunga. As planned Admiral Yamaguchi moved into position south of Lunga. However, what was not planned was a convoy carrying a large portion, if not the entire, 12th Australian Brigade. Although orders had been given to target destroyers and personnel transports at Lunga, spotter planes radioing back to Yamaguchi indicated there appeared to be a loaded convoy heading northeast towards the island. Not wasting the opportunity to sink valuable Allied cargo in deep water, Yamaguchi altered the orders of his strike force. At approximately 0900, the main strike force of 88 Kates, 58 Vals, and 15 Alfs (escorted by 25 Zeros) launched to find the convoy. It was located a short time later, approximately 150 miles west of the KB, and 90 miles southeast of Guadalcanal. As the Zero's circled, they spotted no enemy air cover, and no armed ships defending the convoy. It was a good day to be a Japanese bomber pilot. The cargo ships were mercilessly pounded by many torpedoes and 250kg AP bombs. Subsequent strikes launched later in the morning and afternoon confirmed all seven cargo ships sunk. Radio intercepts throughout the day indicated that the 12th Aus Bde had been onboard the cargo ships and with no friendly ships in the area (the ships at Lunga had problems of their own), none of the Bde that had been onboard were rescued. While Yamaguchi's fleet was doing it work, the CS Mizuho, rendezvoused with the surface units from Makin and Truk northeast of Lunga. With the small fleet brought together, travel was stopped and 16 Alf floatplanes were launched towards Lunga.[image]http://bfeurer.home.comcast.net/mizuho.jpg[/image] The CS Mizuho. Thus it was that throughout the day, Alfs from Munda, Nells and Zeros from Rabaul, and more Alf's from the Mizuho attacked the Destroyers and cargo ships at Lunga. Several hits were landed, including a torpedo hit on the DD Dunlap. While the 30 kg bombs of the Alf's were not fatal, they caused sufficient damage that we are confident our surface force of one CL and 4 destroyers will be able to move in tomorrow and finish off any ships that do not flee the area. If they attempt to flee south, they will be hit by Yamaguchi, if they flee east they will be hit by the Mizuho (which will move to the southeast through the night), and if they flee west, the Nells at Rabaul will get them.[image]http://bfeurer.home.comcast.net/lunga2.jpg[/image] Airstikes in the south Solomons. Sub Ops: The I-2 continues to bring flooding under control as it heads west for the Home Islands. Non-Ops Air Losses Allies None. Imperial Air Force A6M2 Zero - 1 At-Risk Damaged Ship Report I-2 19/38/0 (West Coast US) [image]local://upfiles/17027/4474186CEFEA4D698D2F706DD6B5636F.jpg[/image]
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