1275psi
Posts: 7979
Joined: 4/17/2005 Status: offline
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19/6/44 Based on no intelligence at all -other than the fact that another invasion "was due", the empires fleet sailed cuatiously, with plans to gather some 300 miles east of legaspi What fuel that could be gathered, had been, some more would come, but with all the tanks finally filled, and the small number of AOs remaining topped up, the fleet sailed from the scattered ports . It would, it was hoped, form 3 main fleets A decoy fleet -in 3 small Task forces- CVL Ryuho, BB Ise 3dds, BB yamarishio,3dds, and a single 5000 ton AO The main fleet, again in a number of Task forces Under ADM Yamamoto himself - CVs Akagi, Kaga, taiho, CVEs, taiyo, unyo,chuyo,shinyo,kaiyo, BB yamato, Mushia, Nagato, Mutsu, and just 5 DDs Under now Admiral Tanaka -CAs Tone, chikuma,myoko,hagura,ashigara,mogami,mikuma,suzuya,kinugusa and 4 dds. And a third fleet, again a number of task forces Under RADM Yamamoto.k. - CVs, shokaku, zuikaku,unryu,amagi,katsaguri, CAs furatuke and kako -and 6 dd under RADM Abe - CVLs Chitose, chiyoda,ryujo, hiyo, junyo, cl naka, 11 dd under Capt Komatsu - BB harana, Kirishima, cl noshiro,sendai,nagara,kiru,abukuma, and 15 dds A final small task force - another "bait" would lead the way -CV Hiryu and 2 DDs The plan was basic -get tanaka into range -and release him and Komatsu against the invasion fleet. some 6 ASW groups were already at work -the greatest losses would probably occur leaving japan -so many SS lurked off its coast now, too get through unscathed would be a miracle.
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