John 3rd
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Joined: 9/8/2005
From: La Salle, Colorado
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Combat Report
The Battle for Sabang
February 18, 1943
It is a good night for a fight. Moonlight is just strong enough to allow for Japanese spotters to look for enemy ship wakes while dark enough to allow for a decent opening range for gunnery and Long Lance TTs.
0100
Adm Kono is frustrated as he nears Sabang. The two Sweeping Groups have both become entangled with enemy submarines while on their approach course to the target. Each TF had to deal with 2-3 sub attacks and then--foolishly--conducted ASW attacks upon those targets. They will be tardy to the upcoming party.
0122-0145
The pensive Admiral, aboard mighty Yamato, is alerted to the persense of a large enemy TF at a range of 22,000. Radar from Agano makes the initial spot. Quickly his long-eyed observers pick-up the American TF. The powerful guns of Yamato, Nagato, and Fuso train to port tracking the wakes. The enemy appears to be sleeping. Sensing opportunity, the Admiral orders a 30* course correction to starboard. This move quickly brings the long line of American ships to a perpendicular position to his battlewagons and are closing the range. Kono crosses the T. At an astonishingly short range of 8,000 Yards he glances at Yamato's Captain and smiles tightly. "Captain--Open Fire."
0145-0219
Evidently 'Ching' Lee is sleeping. The Opening slavos score FIVE 14-18" shell hits upon the mighty Indiana BEFORE she can open fire. The battlewagon staggers from the first salvos. Examining the long American line, one can see Indiana, CAs Quincy, Wichita, Brit Hawkins, CL Cleveland, and 7 DDs. The Japanese have the 3 BBs, Agano, and 5 DDs. In what turns out to be a long surface battle (17 Gunnery Rounds) the Japanese sink BB Indiana halfway through the fight (17 Large Shell Hits) and pummel the Quincy and Hawkins. Four American DDs are in sinking condition. The Japanese lose the new Agano and three DDs. BB Fuso, the oldest BB in the Fleet, is taken down by a series of 4 16" shell hits that ignite a powder magazine and cripple the venerable battleship. She sinks at 0621.
At cost, BatDiv1 does the job. The DOOR IS OPEN for Rr-Adm Tanaka and his four Kongos!
0133-257
While the titans are exchanging fire, CL Sendai's Screening unit enters the area and immediately engages several Allied STF. The old Destroyer Leader with her 4 DDs quick sink DD Lansdowne and damage two more DD of a small 3 DD TF. They turn towards the battleship engagement and stumble upon the British CA Dorsetshire ans two DDs. Before Dorsetshire can open fire a pair of Long Lances SMASH her. She goes down under o a storm of 19 shells and the two TTs. A pair of quick engagements with groups of 3 and 6 PTs leads to lots of shooting and no damage to either side. For the loss of DD Shigure, this unit sinks a CA and DD while damaging 4 more DDs. They turn and head for Georgetown.
0201-0647
Like an American running back racing through a hole made by his blockers, Rr-Adm Tanaka shots his four Kongo-Class BCs through the gap made by the two TFs. After brushing past 6 PTs boats (sinking 1), 32 14" Barrels train to Port and open fire on the vulnerable American AF at Sabang. This massive AF (now Lvl-9) is packed with aircraft. The gunners have photos of their target and have practiced for days waiting for this opportunity. The gunnery is 'on target' as massive explosions and secondary explosions light up the horizon. Tanaka keeps the BCs shelling until they--literally--run out of bombardment Ammo.
The deed is done. No CD fire bothers the Japanese as they turn to starboard to leave the scene. Fires light up the sky.
Getting in was easy. Getting out is another matter.
Tanaka's TF fights no less then six separate engagements as it runs for Georgetown. Six PT Boats are sunk in the first fight. Two DDs are encountered with DD Duncan sunk and other crippled, one PT is sunk of a trio, The wounded Hawkins, Quincy and 4 Dds are encountered with DD Monssen sunk and every other ship heavily damaged, and finally CA Wichita, CL Cleveland, and 3 DDs are discovered. More damage done to them but none sunk. ALL 14" ammo expended and nearly ALL secondary ammo is used up during these engagements. Wow. The TF suffers very light damage with 3 DDs getting hit slightly. The BC's armor deflects nearly everything the Allies shot at them. NICE!
Dawn.
A massed Sweep of 121 Tojo's encounter 127 Allied Fighters. The Allied planes don't have the stomach for it and a very quick fight occurs with another 10-12 Allied fighters falling in exchange for only 3 Japanese. Rather disappointing!
As wounded ships head for Georgetown damage assessment is done. Everything LOOKS good. The AF has been hit hard. The American Battleship is sunk and nearly everything else protecting the base is crippled or in sinking condition.
The Japanese have Yamato and all four Kongo's available for a repeat once they re-arm and re-fuel.
Losses:
Japan:
SUNK: BB Fuso, CL Agano, and 5 DD.
Moderate damage to Nagato (STS 27(0), FLOT 27(7), and ENG 15(0), CL's Sendai and Sakawa, and 5 DDs.
Allies:
SUNK: BB Indiana, CA Dorsetshire, 4 DDs, and 9 PTs
DAMAGED: CAs Quincy, Wichita, Hawkins, CL Cleveland, and 10-15 DDs.
LETS GO!
< Message edited by John 3rd -- 1/26/2016 4:54:38 PM >
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RE: ...the Monkey Chased the Weasel - 
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