FeurerKrieg
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Joined: 6/15/2005
From: Denver, CO
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A good battle deserves a good story, right?
The Battle of Canton Island, Jan 30, 1942.
Late Jan 29, 1942, upon receiving reports of two US CVs just east of Canton Island, Adm Yamaguchi ordered the Kido Butai to make flank speed to an area approximately 60 miles south of Canton Island. Admiral Nagumo on the Kaga would also make for the same approximate location and the carriers would field a solid combat air patrol of Zeros through the day while they would both launch strike attacks if the US CV's were located in the vicinity on Jan 30. Orders had been relayed via Alf floatplane flying from Nagumo's task force to the KB to avoid any radio detection.
Spirits were high as an Operation that had been planned since over a month before seemed to have a solid chance of succeeding in two of its three stated objectives. The KB set of around midnight, 000 hrs on the 30th. After about 2 hrs of traveling, the heavy cruiser Tone reported problems with its boiler #2. The fleet was forced to stop for approximately 90 valuable minutes while repairs were effected. The KB was underway again by 0330 hrs, but it was clear it would not reach the rendezvous point until after dusk the following day. Due to radio silence orders, Yamaguchi was not able to warn Nagumo to sail further west to meet the KB, this would have consequences the following day.The five carriers of the Kido Butai.
Meanwhile, the Reserve landing forces made for the eastern side of Canton Island (see map) and began to disembark against significant coastal gunfire around 0400 hrs. Since two days before, the South Seas Detachment, and the 29th Base Force had secured their position on the southwestern corner of the atoll, putting their mortars and heavy guns within range of the Allied positions on either end of the airstrip. The 2nd Maizuru SNLF force had spent those two days securing the southeast corner of the island, and had not located any significant Allied forces. They had presumably retreated northwards to solidify their position at the airstrip, where the AA guns were positioned.Positional map of Canton Island.
At dawn, the guns of the S.Seas Detach and the Base Force began to trade shots with the guns of the 27th USA/C Div and also with some of the AA guns of the 76th Cst AA Regiment, which were being used to bring fire down up the Japanese invaders. While this firing was going on, the Nav Gard units, having completely unloaded within 3 hrs, began a slow crawl up the northeast side of the atoll towards the positions just east of the airstrip.
At sea, the sun rose, and carriers on both sides began launching aircraft. While the Allied forces were not yet aware of the proximity of the KB, they launched a strike of 16 SBD Dauntless dive bombers which attempted to locate enemy ships near Canton Island. Due to cloud cover, the Dauntlesses were unable to find their targets and began to head for their base carriers. After a short time, scouts from either the Yorktown or Enterprise, it is unclear which, spotted the Kaga making a large holding pattern approximately 75 miles south of Canton Island. The Allies began to prepare a strike to attack this valuable target that they had come to Canton Island to claim in the first place. Also, Alf float planes spotted the Allied carriers, and although the Adm Spruance (in charge of the Allied TF) believed it was from the Kaga, it was in fact flying from KB. It immediately headed back to report.Both sides worked hard to launch aircraft for the pivotal battle ahead.
On the island itself, the Nav Guard units, rested, fresh and fighting against tired and battered US forces were making progress. Around 1100hrs they were close enough to the airstrip to call in accurate mortar & Art fire from the SS Detach unit. Using this accurate fire, they managed to hit the main radio houses remaining at the airstrip, knocking out all ability for the US forces present to radio to the nearby carrier fleet. Sensing the possibility that the island may fall to the Japanese, the local Allied commander ordered all remaining aviation fuel dumped to prevent it from falling into enemy hands, another decision that would have consequences later that day.
About this time, the 2nd strike force prepared by the Allied had taken off and was on its way to attack the Kaga. At that same moment, the Alf spotter was just returning to the KB and reporting on its findings. Yamaguchi ordered his first strike to begin launching and forming up. Five carriers of the IJN began spitting out planes as fast as their crews could manage.
As the first strike from the US CVs was nearing the Kaga, the first wave of Dauntlesses had returned and was landed, refueled and sent off to also attack the Kaga. However, due to some navigational confusion, the force headed on a bearing much farther west than intended.
The initial strike found the Kaga at approximately 1000hrs. The strike of 14 SBD Dauntlesses and 15 TBD Devestators was met by approximately 10 Zeros, with more being launched to intercept. In the end 19 Zeros took part, but several were not able to get to altitude before the strike hit home. 2 SBDs and 5 TBD were reported destroyed, and many more damaged. Never the less about 2/3 of the strike was able to unleash their ordinance on the Kaga. Of the entire strike, 2 torpedoes found their mark, hitting the Kaga and starting fires in the lower decks. Admiral Nagumo, cautious as ever, immediately ordered as many aircraft aloft as possible and ordered them to find nearby bases to land in case things got worse. Damage control did its best, but within a short while the flight deck was no longer safe to use. A couple Kate torpedo bombers made it to Baker island, several Zeros landed at Tarawa, and a pair of Zeros managed to get airborne with fuel tanks aboard to continue to provide some degree of CAP. The Vals, which had been planned to launch last in any strikes, were not able to get off the Carrier before fires and smoke rendered the deck unusable.The Carrier Kaga burns after taking two torpedoes.
Around 1030hrs, Admiral Yamaguchi ordered his first strike away to attack. The strike consisted of 38 D3A Vals, 42 B5N Kates, 33 E7K2 Alfs and an escort of 45 A6M2 Zeros. The aircraft were flying in at 9,000 ft, with the escorts above around 11,000 ft. After the strike was on its way, CAP aircraft were rotated on all carriers, and by 1100 hrs, approximately 40 fresh Zeros swarmed the skies above the KB.
At 1115 hrs, the relaunched strike of 16 SBD bombers spotted a large TF and made to attack. As they neared their target, they spotted not one Kaga, but five fleet carriers of the IJN! Having traveled farther west, they had found the KB. As they prepared to attack, the Zeros on CAP at 14,000 ft dove down and devastated the strike group, nearly all the bombers were splashed, with two or three escaping and making their way back towards the US CVs. Once this threat was put down, Adm Yamaguchi ordered a second strike force to launch and form up.
Around 1130 the first strike from the KB found its target. Many F4F-3 Wildcats were airborne, and seeing the strike coming Adm Spruance ordered as many more as possible to launch. The Zeros increased speed to attempt to clear the skies before the bombers arrived and a tremendous air battle raged between 45 Zeros and 52 Wildcats. Within 10 minutes, nearly half of the fighters from both sides were reported downed. The remaining Zeros did their best to keep the pressure on the Wildcats, now slightly outnumbered, so that the bombers could make their runs. Diving down from 9,000 feet, nearly all the attack planes escaped the CAP (2 Kates, and 1 Alf having been shot down) however the flak put up by the US Carrier group was intense and damaged many planes, even destroying some. However, there were just too many planes for the flak to block them all and by the time the strike force was headed for home several Allied ships were burning wrecks.
This first strike had hit both the Yorktown and Enterprise as well as the CA Salt Lake City, CA Pensacola, and the CL Phoenix. Upon hearing word via radio of the success the strike had had, and the disablement of the Allied CAP, Yamaguchi began to fire off smaller strikes at a rapid pace. The next strike hit the Allies at 1220 consisting of 8 zeros and 22 Vals. The Zeros easily brushed aside the spent force of 9 Wildcats remaining, and the Vals hit both CVs and the Pensacola. Another strike arrive ten minutes after of 4 Zeros, 22 Vals, and 24 Kates, this one only facing 4 remaining Wildcats, 3 of which were shot down. This strike hit both Carriers and also hit the CA Chester with a torpedo. The last first round strike arrive around 100 hrs, consisting of 22 unescorted Kates. Three Wildcats managed to try to hit the Kates, but could only damaged them since they were nearly out of ammo. These Kates, unable to located the Enterprise, which had by now sunk, managed to put another torpedo into the Yorktown.The Yorktown (top) and Enterprise burn after taking hits.
Aboard the Allied Carriers, it was clear they were not going to survive the day as soon as the first strike started landing hit after hit. The last remaining armed Wildcats took off first and headed for the Canton Island airfield. Next various Wildcats, TBDs and SBD were also ordered to takeoff from both carriers and head to Canton. Several didn't make it off, but the ones that did flew to Canton and landed. Upon landing, they found they learned of the perilous situation the airfield was in. Although not able to refuel, several of the loaded SBDs did have enough fuel remaining to reach the Kaga and return to Canton. They launched this strike around 0130 hrs and found the Kaga quickly. The two remaining Zeros managed to knock down 5 SBDs, but against 22 bombers they could only do so much. The Kaga was then rocked by several 1000lb GP bomb hits, which although stoking large fires, and penetrating the flight deck did not do a catastrophic amount of damage. The two Zeros, now very low on fuel, could not reach Tarawa and instead flew to land on the Shokaku. Nagumo was ferried over to the CS Mizuho and flown by Alf floatplane back to Tarawa, to fly on back to HQ at Makin to prevent his being lost at sea on board the Kaga. The SBDs, also very low on fuel had no choice but the land on Canton, and with no fuel remaining there (having been dumped earlier) were stranded.
Gunfire continued on Canton Island throughout the day. Upon hearing the fate of the carriers, morale was at a major low among the Allied defenders. The Nav Gd units were making a constant advance from the east as artillery fire from the south was called down onto every position that caused difficulty to the advance. Using the radios on the aircraft, the ground forces were now able to communicate with the carrier fleet, but the news they were getting was distressing - it seemed that Yamaguchi was not finished for the day yet.
After gathering up all the aircraft that were returning from strikes, Yamaguchi order one last large strike prepared. Having sat in the middle of the ocean for nearly a week waiting for this moment, he was not about to let any more ships than possible slip away. A small group of Alf planes left first, to verify the location of the Allied ships. This group found them around 1545 hrs. These 17 floatplanes proceeded to report no sign of the Yorktown or Enterprise, both of which had by now sunk. They did report on the locations of other ships in the area however. At 1600, the rest of the strike force arrived and took targets based on the Alfs prior reports. This strike of 49 Zeros, 63 Vals, 75 Kates, and 23 Alfs mercilessly pounded any large ships they could find. The CA Chester and Pensacola were pounded repeatedly along with the DD McCall and DD Craven which received a torpedo and a bomb hit respectively. The CA Chester and Pensacola were both spotted slipping under the waves rapidly. Later interrogations on Canton Island would reveal that Adm Spruance was reported as going down with the CA Pensacola.
On Canton Island, the Allied defenders continued to be stuck between the guns of the SS Detach on the south, and the advance of the Nav Gd units on the east. Hearing of the fate of the Task Force and Adm Spruance, the Allied unit's morale and hopes fell dramatically. Having few large caliber guns left, and no hope of intervention in the near future, the local Allied commander signaled for a surrender as dusk arrived. The Japanese forces assumed control of the airfield and the engineers of the 28th Base Force moved up from the southern side of the atoll to begin work on the airfield immediately. Several planes were captured intact and will certainly assist with the Japanese research and doctrinal review efforts.
The Kaga is still able to move, although slowly, and she is headed for Makin. Crews on board are bravely fighting fires to attempt to save the ship, but there is a high probability she will not make it.
SUMMARY of Battle:
Ships hit/damaged:
CV Kaga, .......Torpedo hits 2, Bomb hits 6
CV Enterprise, Torpedo hits 8, Bomb hits 14 (sunk)
CV Yorktown, .Torpedo hits 4, Bomb hits 6 (sunk)
CA Pensacola, Torpedo hits 3, Bomb hits 2 (sunk)
CA Chester, ...Torpedo hits 8, Bomb hits 6 (sunk)
CA Salt Lake,. Torpedo hits 2, Bomb hits 0
CL Phoenix, ....Torpedo hits 0, Bomb hits 2
DD McCall, .....Torpedo hits 1, Bomb hits 0
D Craven, ......Torpedo hits 0, Bomb hits 1
A/C Destroyed
.......................AA....Flak....Ground....Ops
A6M2 Zero........12......0..........0..........3
B5N Kate............2......9..........0..........1
D3A Val..............0......7..........0..........1
E7K2 Alf..............1.....0..........0..........1
F4F-3 Wildcat.....46.....0.........8..........2
SBD Dauntless...17......4.......52..........0
TBD Devastator...2......3.......10.........15
SOC-3 Seagull.....0......0.........1..........8
B-17E Fortress.....0......0.........7..........0
PBY Catalina........0.....0..........2..........0
< Message edited by Feurer Krieg -- 2/4/2006 9:59:14 AM >
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