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Battle of Kure Atoll (part 2)
Japanese Forces: Midway Bombardment Force (Cruiser Division 6 plus escorts)
The Japanese force is steaming due west at 30 knots and is not expecting to run into any enemy forces as none of been spotted. The last report was of a pair of old 4 stack destroyers anchored off Midway (spotted by search aircraft in the late afternoon) and they are not expected to remain in the area.
However, after the submarine attack on the 1st Air Fleet, and just in case the Americans are willing to fight with those old ships, Rear Admiral Goto has his two destroyers 5,000 yards ahead of his cruisers, with the Yugure south of the cruisers track at 2,000 yards (thus on his starboard side ahead) and the Shigure off to the north (thus port side) of the column.
The Yugure is a Hatsuharu-class destroyer
http://www.pwencycl.kgbudge.com/H/a/Hatsuharu_class.htm
The Shigure is a Shiratsuyu-class destroyer
http://www.pwencycl.kgbudge.com/S/h/Shiratsuyu_class.htm
in gun power the Japanese destroyers are markedly inferior to the American destroyers and indeed they carry about the same number of torpedoes. However they have far better weapons than the American torpedoes
The four cruisers are 1,500 yards apart in a line ahead formation. They are the Japanese 6th Cruiser Division, with years of working together and have been under Admiral Goto's command for 4 months.
In the lead (in the order indicated) are the Aoba and the Kinugasha, each are Aoba class heavy cruisers. This class is smaller than the American cruisers, have only 3 x 2 gun 8 inch turrets, but unlike the American cruisers carries 12 torpedoes.
(authors note: the Pacific encyclopedia neglected this class, so using wikipedia for those interested in them)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_cruiser_Aoba
next in line are the Furataka and Kako (in that order)
http://pwencycl.kgbudge.com/F/u/Furutaka_class.htm (number of 8 inch guns is incorrect)
these ships are the smallest of the Japanese heavy cruisers, and the oldest but while having only 6 x 8 inch guns they carry 8 torpedoes.
The Japanese force is steaming at 30 knots due west and expects to reach Midway around midnight. The cruisers have their aircraft aboard, and 1 Kawanishi E7K Alf floatplane on their catapults which they intend to launch once they are within 15 miles of Midway to drop flares and correct the ships bombardment of Midway.
Goto has instructions to neutralize the American airfield and the aircraft located on it, and to avoid pointless engagements with shore batteries and thus is to remain out of range of the American 5'inch guns expected to be there.
The Japanese force is steaming due west at 30 knots and is not expecting to run into any enemy forces as none of been spotted. The last report was of a pair of old 4 stack destroyers anchored off Midway (spotted by search aircraft in the late afternoon) and they are not expected to remain in the area.
However, after the submarine attack on the 1st Air Fleet, and just in case the Americans are willing to fight with those old ships, Rear Admiral Goto has his two destroyers 5,000 yards ahead of his cruisers, with the Yugure south of the cruisers track at 2,000 yards (thus on his starboard side ahead) and the Shigure off to the north (thus port side) of the column.
The Yugure is a Hatsuharu-class destroyer
http://www.pwencycl.kgbudge.com/H/a/Hatsuharu_class.htm
The Shigure is a Shiratsuyu-class destroyer
http://www.pwencycl.kgbudge.com/S/h/Shiratsuyu_class.htm
in gun power the Japanese destroyers are markedly inferior to the American destroyers and indeed they carry about the same number of torpedoes. However they have far better weapons than the American torpedoes
The four cruisers are 1,500 yards apart in a line ahead formation. They are the Japanese 6th Cruiser Division, with years of working together and have been under Admiral Goto's command for 4 months.
In the lead (in the order indicated) are the Aoba and the Kinugasha, each are Aoba class heavy cruisers. This class is smaller than the American cruisers, have only 3 x 2 gun 8 inch turrets, but unlike the American cruisers carries 12 torpedoes.
(authors note: the Pacific encyclopedia neglected this class, so using wikipedia for those interested in them)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_cruiser_Aoba
next in line are the Furataka and Kako (in that order)
http://pwencycl.kgbudge.com/F/u/Furutaka_class.htm (number of 8 inch guns is incorrect)
these ships are the smallest of the Japanese heavy cruisers, and the oldest but while having only 6 x 8 inch guns they carry 8 torpedoes.
The Japanese force is steaming at 30 knots due west and expects to reach Midway around midnight. The cruisers have their aircraft aboard, and 1 Kawanishi E7K Alf floatplane on their catapults which they intend to launch once they are within 15 miles of Midway to drop flares and correct the ships bombardment of Midway.
Goto has instructions to neutralize the American airfield and the aircraft located on it, and to avoid pointless engagements with shore batteries and thus is to remain out of range of the American 5'inch guns expected to be there.
- galveston bay
- Word Count: 460