cantona2
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The Battles of the Bay of Bengal and Port Blair August 14th 1943.
The RN and IJN fought a series of battles that proved to be the most intense since the Allied debacle at Majuro. The first inkling that something was up came the day before the battles as picket submarines engaged at hit the CA Atago emerging from the straits by Georgetown. Just after midnight on the 14th, British radar deteced an incoming force bearing down on the Illustrious task force. Fire plotters on the Revenge soon had a firing solution on an incoming enemy formation that was soon spotted and identified as two heavy cruisers and a destroyer. An intense and feroucious firefight broke out, first by the Revenge's big guns and then at almost point blank range as the Japanese cruisers sought to close the gap with the RN carrier. The CL Kenya, whose skipper was awarded the Victoria Cross for his actions during the first Battle of the Bay of Bengal,excelled her self in a one on one gun duel against the CA Atago, that seemed to show no damage from the torpedo that hit her the night before. Though a couple of destroyers were hit, the enemy ships came off the worst of this intial round with both capital hits burning after torpedo hits and the DD Hato was sunk.
Night Time Surface Combat at 22,33
Japanese Ships
CA Takao, Shell hits 14, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
CA Atago, Shell hits 47, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
DD Hato, Shell hits 5, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
Allied Ships
CV Indomitable
BB Revenge, Shell hits 5
CA Hawkins
CLAA Columbo, Shell hits 1
CL Kenya, Shell hits 3
DD Napier
DD Nepal, Shell hits 2, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
DD Nestor, Shell hits 2, on fire
DD Nizam
Simultaneously two seperate Japanese task forces swept into Port Blair to engage transports still unloading there. What they did not count on was an Anglo-Dutch force giving the landings close support. The more dangerous of the two was a 5 ship force headed by the battleships Hyuga and Ise. They slammed into the covering ships but received incoming fire as once again radar provided a crucial early warning. HMS Cornwall and HNMS Java bravely engaged their upgunned foes and raked the Hyuga with devasting fire as the range closed. Only the CL Capetown was hit by the Japanese main armaments and, though damage was light, this was to have tragic consequences in the later engagement. The night however belonged to the escorting destroyers that accounted for two of their enemy counterparts and left two damaged enough to limp their way home and become prey for FAA Barracudas.
Night Time Surface Combat, near Port Blair at 23,34
Japanese Ships
BB Ise, Shell hits 10
BB Hyuga, Shell hits 6
DD Ushio, Shell hits 4, on fire
DD Uzuki, Shell hits 2, on fire
DD Hayabusa, Shell hits 3, and is sunk
DD Kari, Shell hits 11, and is sunk
Allied Ships
CA Cornwall, Shell hits 4
CL Java, Shell hits 1
CL Sumatra
CL Tromp
CL Capetown, Shell hits 2
CL Birmingham, Shell hits 1
DD Rocket, Shell hits 2, on fire
DD Isaac Sweers
DD Van Galen
DD Tjerk Hiddes, Shell hits 1
This same covering force was then engaged by 5 modern IJN destroyers that used the confusion of the battle with the battleships to close in to Long Lance range. The brave Capetwon, her steering somewhat sluggish aftet two direct hits from the Hyugs's big guns, stopped a torpedo amidships and quickly took on a list. The smaller vessels duelled with each other for over an hour and a terrible yet captivating contest. The warm August night was punctuated by the roar of the guns and falshes of bright, orange light as shells found their mark. As the Japanese ships withdrew the Royal Navy, true to the spirit of Nelson, gave chase and once more locked horns, ravaging two more IJN destroyers. The Capetown however joined her foes at the bottom of the Bay of Bengal. She was caught in a deadly crossfire between the Asagiri and Yugiri and as 5inch shells tore into her she slipped beneath waves carrying most of her crew.
Night Time Surface Combat, near Port Blair at 23,34
Japanese Ships
DD Hatsuyuki, Shell hits 10, on fire, heavy damage
DD Shikinami
DD Asagiri
DD Yugiri, Shell hits 3, on fire
DD Amagiri, Shell hits 1
Allied Ships
CA Cornwall, Shell hits 2
CL Java, Shell hits 4
CL Sumatra, Shell hits 6
CL Tromp
CL Capetown, Shell hits 3, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
CL Birmingham
DD Rocket, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Isaac Sweers
DD Van Galen, Shell hits 1
DD Tjerk Hiddes
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Night Time Surface Combat, near Port Blair at 23,34
Japanese Ships
DD Hatsuyuki, Shell hits 7, and is sunk
DD Shikinami, Shell hits 24, on fire, heavy damage
DD Asagiri, Shell hits 25, on fire, heavy damage
DD Yugiri, Shell hits 59, and is sunk
DD Amagiri
Allied Ships
CA Cornwall, Shell hits 15
CL Java, Shell hits 11, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
CL Sumatra, Shell hits 1
CL Tromp, Shell hits 5, on fire
CL Capetown, Shell hits 24, and is sunk
CL Birmingham, Shell hits 7, on fire
DD Rocket, Shell hits 3, on fire
DD Isaac Sweers, Shell hits 3, on fire
DD Van Galen
DD Tjerk Hiddes, on fire
By sunrise one Royal Navy ship had been sunk but 5 enemy destroyers had also been sunk. An extra one was claimed by the FAA later in the afternoon. Two heavy cruisers were heavily damaged and two battleships had also been hurt. About half of the ships involved however needed to head back to Colombo to either rearm or seek repairs. What would happen if the IJN came acalling again?
< Message edited by cantona2 -- 1/7/2010 5:32:18 PM >
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1966 was a great year for English Football...Eric was born
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