1275psi
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A nice big post for you guys to begin the week with................
Extract from ‘Shattering the Sword’ a cantona production
…….before we examine the first naval battle of Admiralty island, we need to convey to you the reader, the impact of ‘a tropical storm’ –and its effects on both radar and tactics.
On the night of the tenth, 2 intense storm fronts dominate the battle. The invasion fleet lay some five miles to the north of the invasion beaches –three DDs, Harrison, Helford and Chevelion patrolling to its north.
Here, One mile to their North –the first heavy intense storm, some 2 miles thick, and sluggishly moving east.
North of this front, 3 miles of brilliantly clear weather –and 6 patrolling MSW.
North of them, 2 miles away, and clearly visible – BB Washington, Cruiser Vincennes, Marblehead, DD’s Haven, O Bannon, and Balch –slowly moving North towards the next great storm front –another literal wall of water 3 miles thick.
This night these two fronts totally blanked out all radar pictures, reducing any technological advantage the Allies should enjoy in 44.
And Steaming south hard to the Northern edge of this front, Captain Ujiure in CL Isuzu is counting on this…………….
1200 hrs
Ujiure takes a deep breathe.
Ahead deep, deep darkness –5 minutes more and they plunge into the unknown
He turns from his bridge wing –and glances aft.
Isuzu leads Jintsu, Kiso, Tatsuta and 9 destroyers in line ahead.
He notes grimly that orders are being followed –the formation is insanely closely gapped –“each ship will hang off the tail of its leader come hell or high water –200 yards -no more! If you lose the formation – south –head south!”
He turns again to his bridge crew ‘ready men?”
Nods –nods all round –and eagerness. “”Alright then –lets see what the Gods have for us -stern lights on! –2 points to port –full ahead flank!”
Abruptly the rain begins – the torrent -drowning out all noise –all sight – swallowing up his formation into wet, wet, cloaking darkness………….
Extract from ‘Shattering the Sword’ a cantona production
…and at 1205 the Japanese formation plunges into the first front –all that is except DD Ariake –she veers 2 points to STBD –and as Ujiure plunges through the storm, this destroyer skirts its Western Flank –in clear bright moonlight – struggling with her steering.
The steering failure is human error, a minor
Thing, but on minor things sometimes the fate of many can hang…………
Memories of Mayhem
Interviews with veterans of the battle of Admiralty island
Amazon books
Even at 86 , you can see the remnants of what once must have been a very handsome and proud face. Mr Sutton is a proud man, proud of his service in the war, and prouder still of the Washington “a damn fine ship” –but even now, his hatred “of those little yellow barsteds” burns brightly.
We let him take up his tale
“ On this night, I was gunnery director for the Starboard battery of five inch secondary guns –I should have had the Port guns –but Jim –that Jim Hancock – was already in that particular director working on another of those goddamn gitches when we went to general quarters –so I ended up in the wrong Goddamn director”
He pauses, lights another of the interminable stream of cigarettes he smokes, and that dark night seems so far away from this sun drenched Texas ranch.
“So you knew the Japs were coming? –when was that?”
he scratches –‘Oh – gee –we knew the monkeys were coming well before dusk – coming hard –we were spoiling for a fight too –and we had radar –and were bloody confident too –“
“So what happened?” it is a delicate question. I ask it gently –and with out any tone of accusation –we all know ‘what happened’ – I try to imply –I would like to know –why did it happen?
‘lets see –it was just about half midnight –and we picked em up –big fat blob of targets –coming straight at us –and skipper was so pleased – we turned Northeast, and bought the guns to bear – but I wasn’t so happy –that left me on the disengaged side to speak.”
‘And then?’
“well then that great bloody great storm broke –and we lost track –all except what appeared to be several cruisers now moving to our left –going around the storm”
Extract from ‘Shattering the Sword’ a cantona production
At 1210 hours Ujiure is halfway through the front –and Ariake is 2000 yards of her stbd bow –but in the clear . Washington, leading her task force begins to swing hard North –and brings all guns to bear on “the cruisers” bearing down her left flank.
And then, at 1212 precisely, The Jintsu bursts clear of the storm – a mere 2000 yards from her STBD Flank………..
Memories of Mayhem
Interviews with veterans of the battle of Admiralty island
Amazon books
………..” and then the slippery sh##s suddenly burst into view on the Stbd side –and…………
Mr Sutton pauses, and the clock ticks loudly in the quiet of the living room. But he is not here, he is back THERE –where I cannot ever go – in the dark –and the sudden, violent, violent night – in the crash of guns, and the screams of the dying
…….” And then they murdered us”
Another cigarette. We know now Washington took , in the space of 3 minutes, over 40 hits –mostly by low caliber shells –as the Japanese line steamed past in the opposite direction – but it was the long lance torpedos that Jintsu hit her with almost immediately that really did the damage
I ask him about them –about the hits. Surprisingly – he is quite factual about that –he might be telling me how he breaks his horses – so calmly he describes the damage .
“ Those first hits killed everyone on the bridge –I’m sure of that – and both 16 inch turrets went dead immediately –I couldn’t raise anyone – in fact the hits were so rapid it was hard to even see or hear anything –I just ordered engage –and tried my best –I know we hit the third F%$#$%er as she raced past – but Washington kept swinging hard to port, and we were slowing, and before I knew it –no targets –by then the fires were really going, and I was beginning to find out what a pot roast feels like…….
Ujiure grips his guard rail hard –excitement grips him. Isuzu is firing, firing – a thousand fireflies streaking towards the great mountain of steel lumbering past – the relative speed is stunning. Washingtons great bulk is veering away – a Cruiser is behind her, heeling away, trying to not collide. Her following destroyers too, wheel hard, and as they pass –Japanese ships slam shell after shell into the helpless ships –helpless, he notes with exultation, because their guns are pointing the other way!
They are past –two streams of ships heading in opposite direction…..
Must fix this –must finish them off –must kill them, kill them!
‘Hard to PORT –lets go again!”
Isuzu heals, heals, How bright the moon is! - and grimly he sees Kiso is burning.
“Anyone hurt?”
No! –
A cry of triumph from aft –yes –Washington is hit again –3, or 4 torpedos now?………
His formation comes round –and they attack again, overtaking, running parallel to the shattered allied column…………
Memories of Mayhem
Interviews with veterans of the battle of Admiralty island
Amazon books
…..well –that was us –all but finished already. Skipper dead. Front of the ship dead – Vincennes only escaped because we were between her and them –the destroyers though were between us and them………….they were smashed.”
He shakes his head
‘it was a goddamn mess’ All those years of training, all that work –and they killed us in less than 5 minutes………”
Extract from ‘Shattering the Sword’ a cantona production
Ujuire hits Washington 2 more times – leaves three destroyers sinking in his wake –and then continues the charge south.
So far only Kiso burns –hit repeat ably by washingtons 5 inch guns.
But they do not stop her.
In this clear area between fronts, the moon shines brightly – and for the 6 MSW in his path –there is no where to hide.
The task force sweeps past them –leaving four sinking, 2 burning –and then plunges again into the dark wetness of the second storm front
Memories of Mayhem
Interviews with veterans of the battle of Admiralty island
Amazon books
Captain Ujuire too is a proud man. But he holds no hatred ‘ for those brave fellows I sunk”
But I don’t condemn MR Sutton for that, nor do I give Ujuire any extra credit –its easier not to hate when victory is yours
‘I did not expect to repeat the surprise twice –but we did. We burst out of that second front still in tight formation –can you imagine that? – blinding rain, a battle, a complete 360 degree turn – and still they all followed me through that second storm
And then we were right in amongst them –3 fletchers –and we cut straight through them –heavens – I could see the sweat stains on the gunners of Harrison.”
He laughs “ I really could have used the kitchen sink – by then ammo was going out wards at rates you could not imagine –and they were sending it back too!
And then, just like Mr Sutton, he is not here with me in this little kitchen –but back THERE –on that bright night – and I realize , really realize -I won’t ever know what it was like.
These old men do – and we must never forget…………….
Extract from ‘Shattering the Sword’ a cantona production
The first battle of Admiralty island sees 4 lost Japanese destroyers, and the cruiser Kiso.
The allies lose 5 , and Washington staggers away – Fortunately for her, Rabual is close by.
But Ujuire has missed the escort carriers (hidden in those same storms), and damaged just two transports. As always – the invasion continues…………………
< Message edited by 1275psi -- 6/27/2010 4:30:47 AM >
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