Fletcher
Posts: 3386
Joined: 10/26/2006 From: Jerez, Spain, EU Status: offline
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FROM: RADM. RUITARO FUJITA, ZUIHO TF C-IN-C. SOUTHWEST BORNEO APPROACHES. TO: ADM. ISOROKU YAMAMOTO, COMBINED FLEET HQ. KURE. SUBJECT: RADIO MESSAGE INCOMING FROM RELAY NAVAL COMSTAT AT KUCHING. DATE: JAN 30th, 1942. SPECIAL COM ORDERS: KUCHING NAVAL COM. STAT MUST REALY THIS MESSAGE TO COMBINED FLEET KURE, 2ND FLEET SAMAH. 07:05z, HIJMS CHIKUMA BLINKER ENEMY AT SIGHT. TWO ENEMY DESTROYERS BEARING 270, SPEED 28 KNOTS, EXCELLENT VISIBILITY. 07:10z, HIJMS CHIKUMA OPENS FIRES AGAINST ENEMY DESTROYERS. ALL BATTLE LINE SCREENING CVL ZUIHO. 07:20z, HIJMS KISO LAYS DOWN SMOKE SCREEN. 07:35z, HIJMS MIKAZUKI LAUNCHES TORPEDOES. 1 TORPEDO HIT DESTROYER KORTENAER. ENEMY SHIP SINKS. 07.40z, THE OTHER ENEMY DESTROYER HAS COMMENCED RETIRING TO THE EAST ON COURSE 70 DEGREES, SPEED 30 KNOTS. 07:55z, ENEMY DISENGAGE. CONTACT BREAK OFF. At 11:05Z naval search float plane from HIJMS MAYA REPORTS "TWO ENEMY WARSHIPS SPOTTED OFF BALIKPAPAN, SPEED 4 KNOTS, BEARING 190. FIGHTERS AT CAP. I AM HAVING ENGINE TROUBLE AND I AM RETURNING". At 11:35z 9 B5N2 escorted by 3 A6M2 take off from HIJMS ZUIHO flight deck. 1 HOUR AND 20 MINUTES LATER, our aircraft radioed two enemy minesweepers sinks. Enemy ships were identified like AMc AROE and AMc Alor. 3 enemy fighters were at CAP over enemy ships and we lost 2 B5N2 with 1 enemy fighter downed by our Type-0s. I am heading North-Northeast, bearing 30, speed 20 knots. I hope to rendezvous with Balikpapan Landing force in two-three days to support landings there. Long Live to the Emperor !! END //
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< Message edited by Fletcher -- 6/8/2010 9:35:25 AM >
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WITP-AE, WITE
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