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Battle in the Mariana’s
At 21:00 GMT several unfortunate events unfolded in the Pacific Theater, the first a meeting of several US naval task forces and a chance meeting of those forces meeting Japanese Cruiser group commanded by Admiral Osami.
IJN Chokai CA
IJN Mogami CA
IJN Suzuya CA
The US Carrier forces were returning home for refit and R&R, and met at an unfortunate crossroads heading home after carrying out reprisals against Japanese positions.
At 21:00 the following task groups were sailing east near the Mariana’s Islands and fell into the general command of Admiral Fletcher:
Task Group 58.4 Commanded by Admiral Fletcher
USS Essex CV
USS Potomac CV
USS Houston CA
USS San Diego CA
USS Miami CA
USS Vincennes CA
10th, 11th, & 12th destroyer groups
Task Group 58.1 Commanded by Admiral Kimmel
USS Concorde CV
USS Yorktown CV
USS Hornet CV
USS Baltimore CA
USS Canberra CA
USS Oakland CA
USS Boston CA
1st, 2nd & 3rd Destroyer Divisions
Task Group 58.2 Commanded by Admiral Hart
USS Jamestown CV
USS Bunker Hill CV
USS Wasp CV
USS Biloxi CA
USS Mobile CA
USS San Juan CA
4th, 5th, & 6TH Destroyer Divisions
Task Group 58.3 Commanded by Admiral Nimitz
USS Enterprise CV
USS Lexington CV
USS Coral Sea CV
USS Indianapolis CA
USS Birmingham CA
USS Cleveland CA
USS Montpellier CA
USS Reno CA
7th, 8th & 9th Destroyer Divisions
Task Group 58.2 Commanded by Admiral Hart
USS Bunker Hill CV
USS Wasp CV
USS Jamestown CV
USS San Juan CV
USS Santa Fe CV
4th, 5th & 6th Destroyer Divisions
Despite the massive confusion caused by so many ships operating so close, the carrier’s planes were having a devastation effect on the IJN. Within the first hour the Chokai received several direct bomb nits from planes from the Lexington. Massive explosions erupted from the cruiser as she broke in two and went down. Suzuya was burning out of control after being spotted by a squadron of Helldivers from the Bunker Hill.
As Admiral Osami prepared to withdraw, three IJN destroyer divisions joined him in a desperate attempt so save the remaining cruisers. The effort was ineffective; unable to evade the planes Suzuya received two torpedoes amidships and was destroyed. Mogami also came under heavy fire, form a squadron from the San Juan and went down.
As the aircraft returned to refuel, the fight turned to a naval battle, under relentless fire the destroyers were forced to withdraw.
At 21:00 GMT several unfortunate events unfolded in the Pacific Theater, the first a meeting of several US naval task forces and a chance meeting of those forces meeting Japanese Cruiser group commanded by Admiral Osami.
IJN Chokai CA
IJN Mogami CA
IJN Suzuya CA
The US Carrier forces were returning home for refit and R&R, and met at an unfortunate crossroads heading home after carrying out reprisals against Japanese positions.
At 21:00 the following task groups were sailing east near the Mariana’s Islands and fell into the general command of Admiral Fletcher:
Task Group 58.4 Commanded by Admiral Fletcher
USS Essex CV
USS Potomac CV
USS Houston CA
USS San Diego CA
USS Miami CA
USS Vincennes CA
10th, 11th, & 12th destroyer groups
Task Group 58.1 Commanded by Admiral Kimmel
USS Concorde CV
USS Yorktown CV
USS Hornet CV
USS Baltimore CA
USS Canberra CA
USS Oakland CA
USS Boston CA
1st, 2nd & 3rd Destroyer Divisions
Task Group 58.2 Commanded by Admiral Hart
USS Jamestown CV
USS Bunker Hill CV
USS Wasp CV
USS Biloxi CA
USS Mobile CA
USS San Juan CA
4th, 5th, & 6TH Destroyer Divisions
Task Group 58.3 Commanded by Admiral Nimitz
USS Enterprise CV
USS Lexington CV
USS Coral Sea CV
USS Indianapolis CA
USS Birmingham CA
USS Cleveland CA
USS Montpellier CA
USS Reno CA
7th, 8th & 9th Destroyer Divisions
Task Group 58.2 Commanded by Admiral Hart
USS Bunker Hill CV
USS Wasp CV
USS Jamestown CV
USS San Juan CV
USS Santa Fe CV
4th, 5th & 6th Destroyer Divisions
Despite the massive confusion caused by so many ships operating so close, the carrier’s planes were having a devastation effect on the IJN. Within the first hour the Chokai received several direct bomb nits from planes from the Lexington. Massive explosions erupted from the cruiser as she broke in two and went down. Suzuya was burning out of control after being spotted by a squadron of Helldivers from the Bunker Hill.
As Admiral Osami prepared to withdraw, three IJN destroyer divisions joined him in a desperate attempt so save the remaining cruisers. The effort was ineffective; unable to evade the planes Suzuya received two torpedoes amidships and was destroyed. Mogami also came under heavy fire, form a squadron from the San Juan and went down.
As the aircraft returned to refuel, the fight turned to a naval battle, under relentless fire the destroyers were forced to withdraw.
Favor
If you please, when listing a CV, include what type of air unit it has. That has me curious. Thanks. And keep up the good work!
If you please, when listing a CV, include what type of air unit it has. That has me curious. Thanks. And keep up the good work!
Back at Truk, Halsey suddenly faced a new dilemma with his aircraft engaged in bombing operations ashore; a carrier task force under command of Vice Admiral Hasegawa K. arrived.
Hasegawa had been looking at the Technology graphs and having seen that Japan had the most advanced navy in the world, issued massive amounts of alcohol to the members of his task force in celebration. In their drunken revelry the crews of the Shokaku, Zuikaku, Junyo, and the Hiyo pushed all the aircraft into the sea to make from on the flight deck for dancing.
Upon seeing the American task force, Hasegawa charged into action with every gun on his carriers blazing.
Zuikaku was quickly reduced to ash as Massachusetts fired as broadside from her 16” guns, Hasegawa took a massive pull on his bottle of sake and turned to attack one of the two battleships he saw, of course at this time he was seeing two of everything.
The crew of the Massachusetts, their ears ringing from the sound of machinegun fire bouncing from their armored ship decided to stop for lunch, and watch the Zuikaku slide under the waves.
Aboard the Hiyo, the crew thought this might be a good time to sing around the campfire, unfortunately a campfire on a wooden flight is not a good idea, and ship was soon burning nicely.
What Hasegawa lacked as a naval commander, he made up for in alcohol tolerance and after 6 hours of intense fighting he scored a massive hit on a carrier, sadly it was the Junyo. As his crew reloaded the guns he paused to watch the American planes land.
Finally at 0700 with his crew unconscious Shokaku and Junyo collided and sunk
I apologize for this, but I wanted to document naval operations in the Pacific. The 3 cruisers attacking most of the Pacific fleet was hard enough to justify, but I couldn’t make a serious attempt to find a reason for carriers to attack a task force without planes! I might try to find something else to write about.
Hasegawa had been looking at the Technology graphs and having seen that Japan had the most advanced navy in the world, issued massive amounts of alcohol to the members of his task force in celebration. In their drunken revelry the crews of the Shokaku, Zuikaku, Junyo, and the Hiyo pushed all the aircraft into the sea to make from on the flight deck for dancing.
Upon seeing the American task force, Hasegawa charged into action with every gun on his carriers blazing.
Zuikaku was quickly reduced to ash as Massachusetts fired as broadside from her 16” guns, Hasegawa took a massive pull on his bottle of sake and turned to attack one of the two battleships he saw, of course at this time he was seeing two of everything.
The crew of the Massachusetts, their ears ringing from the sound of machinegun fire bouncing from their armored ship decided to stop for lunch, and watch the Zuikaku slide under the waves.
Aboard the Hiyo, the crew thought this might be a good time to sing around the campfire, unfortunately a campfire on a wooden flight is not a good idea, and ship was soon burning nicely.
What Hasegawa lacked as a naval commander, he made up for in alcohol tolerance and after 6 hours of intense fighting he scored a massive hit on a carrier, sadly it was the Junyo. As his crew reloaded the guns he paused to watch the American planes land.
Finally at 0700 with his crew unconscious Shokaku and Junyo collided and sunk
I apologize for this, but I wanted to document naval operations in the Pacific. The 3 cruisers attacking most of the Pacific fleet was hard enough to justify, but I couldn’t make a serious attempt to find a reason for carriers to attack a task force without planes! I might try to find something else to write about.
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