A different Leyte Gulf-Redux

[johnboy]

1316 24 October 1944

Rear Admiral Ralph Davison smiled. 28 Hellcats, 23 Helldivers and 18 Avengers. 16 of the Hellcats carried bombs since little air opposition was now expected. Sherman had reported the the Japs had sortied their carriers. Sure would be nice to know where they were. In the meantime, these battleships were in for a nasty surprise. It would also be interesting to hear the results of his first strike when they returned. Was the Southern force still plowing on towards Surigao Strait? He had received no recent intelligence on that.

 

[johnboy]

1316 24 October 1944

Saburo Sakai was fighting for his life. His own plane and the three A6M's had escorted the strike planes to within 30km or so of the American fleet when they had been "bounced" by six US Hellcat fighters. One A6M and three D4Y had spiraled downwards. He has destroyed one American machine and had managed to dive and break away. As he looked around all he could see was himself, a lone A6M and four B6N torpedo bombers.

1323 24 October 1944

He was doing his best to keep yet another group of six American fighters off the torpedo bombers, which were making their run. He wrenched the fighter into a sharp right hand turn and almost immediately there was loud bang and control seemed lost. Looking to the left he noticed most of the wing missing and a stricken American Hellcat also plunging downwards, a large section of it's tail and rudder missing. He had made his last "kill".

1324 24 October 1944

Commander Yoriie Sakakibara grimaced, trying to shake off the American fighter. All of the other planes had been destroyed. A large battleship loomed, the largest he had ever seen, larger than all those at Pearl Harbour. He pressed the release button just as he heard what sounded like a massive ripping sound and his B6N hit the sea hard at speed.

 

[johnboy]

1351 24 October 1944

Ozawa did not really know whether to be pleased or not. Either way, they had finally been detected by an American recon plane. It seemed about time after the efforts they had gone to to be detected. The C in C of Northern Force remained blissfully unaware that the radio transmitter aboard his flagship had been malfunctioning and that none of his outward transmissions had been heard at all by either friend or foe.

 

[johnboy]

1353 24 October 1944

Bogan had another strike airborne. 16 Hellcats, 12 Helldivers and 13 Avengers. It would have to be the last one for the day as these would not return to the carrier until 1700 or even later. It may go some way to avenge the damage to the Iowa. The practically new battleship had taken a torpedo well forward. Whilst much of the blast had spent upon the underwater protection and she was in no danger whatsoever of sinking(in fact her combat readiness was still fine), the damage to the bow meant her speed was reduced. The last Jap pilot had bored in to suicidally close range and seemed to have a charmed life as far as avoiding AA was concerned. He was distracted by a communication being passed. Direct from Halsey stamped "Most Urgent".

 

[johnboy]

1350 24 October 1944

Admiral William "Bull" Halsey was an even happier man. He looked at the contact report again. 6 CV, 1BB, 10DD. Near Cape Engano, which tallied well with the direction of the strike on Sherman. His first priority had to be to engage and destroy the Japanese Fleet. They had missed their chance last time and who knows when it might come again. Their presence constituted the largest danger to the landings by far and six CV's could and probably would do a lot of damage to the landing's shipping if not destroyed. It was a substantial force that would require a large strike to hurt badly. The Philippines Sea had resulted in only one enemy carrier being lost. It had to be more destructive this time. He wrote a brief communication. It was time for the fleet to concentrate in force.

 

[johnboy]

1400 24 October 1944

Saburo Sakai was seemingly passing in and out of consciousness as he bobbed in his life preserver at the mercy of the sea. He had hit his head on the side of the cockpit upon contact with the sea and he thought that only the intense pain had kept him going.

Perhaps his luck that had lasted so long and so well had abandoned him at last. He was drifting in his thoughts, which although confused always rather disturbingly seemed to come back to sharks. He would be the first to admit later he experienced latent panic when he felt himself grabbed from behind. However, he had been hauled aboard a large boat by an enormously beefy and immensely tall blonde man. Perhaps the gods of luck had favoured him one last time.

 

[johnboy]

1508 24 October 1944

What Kondo had most feared had finally happened. A large enemy strike of around 70 planes had arrived. The fleet had virtually no air cover at all, aside from four IJA Oscars that had answered his frantic calls for assistance. As if sensing that the Shinano was already lamed(in fact she was noticeably down by the bow), nearly all enemy attacks had concentrated on her.

He had Captain Ito's damage report. It made depressing reading. Firstly, a dud had penetrated two upper decks, demolished a crew space and exited above the waterline. A second bomb had struck portside ahead of a 100-mm AA gun, penetrated two upper decks exploded on the middle deck. Fragments had ruptured a steam pipe in engine room directly below. This engine room and the adjacent boiler room have filled quickly with superheated steam and had been abandoned at this stage. The damage resulted in the loss of the port inboard shaft.

The ship has also been the victim of a "hammer and anvil" attack by the American torpedo planes. Three hits had been taken to Shinano's starboard amidships areas that caused a 6-degree list. The first torpedo had hit abreast the A turret. The second flooded the hydraulic machinery compartment No. 3 and the third torpedo flooded engine room No. 3. Nearby compartments had to be shored up and the main guns switched over to reserve hydraulic pumps. After immediate counter-flooding, the list had been reduced to two degrees starboard, but the giant battleship is down about 7 feet by the bow. Her three remaining three propellers are throttled up for maximum speed and a speed on 20 knots can still be maintained.

He had also experienced war more personally himself, the Yamato being hit by a smaller caliber bomb that had luckily deflected off B turret, not penetrating the heavy armour. The heavy cruiser Chikuma had received a direct hit to the bridge, killing her command personnel. The ship itself, was still operable, however.

Only seven American planes had been shot down, at a cost of all four fighters defending the fleet. The much vaunted San Shiki shells had been a major disappointment. He ordered the fleet to reduce speed to 20 knots to accommodate the Shinano. What else could be done.

 

[johnboy]

1528 24 October 1944

Yet another raid had been seen off, this one much smaller than the last and consisting of only about 40 planes or less. None the less, the damage was again grievous. Again the American planes had swarmed the Shinano, labouring at the rear of the First Striking Group.

This damage report again made unedifying reading. Three more hammer and anvil attacks had scored three more torpedo hits. The first and second torpedoes had hit port forward of the main gun turret A. The blast from them had penetrated fuel tanks and watertight compartments. The third torpedo had hit starboard forward of the main gun turret A. Next dive bombers had scored four bomb hits, all port side near main gun turret A.

Counter-flooding had again reduced the heavy list to port to two degrees. The ship was now down 15 feet by the bow with all trim tanks and voids filled. She had reported that, despite the damage, she was able to make 18 knots, a remarkable achievement but still depressing reading, though Kondo.

 

[johnboy]

1552 24 October 1944

What to do now, thought Kondo. Yet another huge American raid had arrived. Over 70 were involved in the fifth and sixth attacks on Kondo's fleet, both waves not more than 5-6 minutes apart. The Shinano, trailing and obviously leaking oil had been their target. Four more army fighters had again arrived, but these had been brushed off by the US forces with no losses.

First another five dive bombers scored bomb hits. The first three had struck in the port bow area and caused damage below decks. The entire damage control team working on shoring up the bow had been annihilated. The fourth bomb had hit amidships and a fifth had struck a glancing blow on the aircraft crane aft. Secondly, more torpedo bombers again launched a hammer and anvil attack and scored three torpedo hits. The first two torpedoes had hit the bow from both sides. The third had hit port abreast the funnel, flooding the port hydraulic machinery compartment. Leaks had started in Main Damage that were being shored up.

The ship, well down by the bow, had been reduced to making 14 knots on three shafts. After a final effort at counter-flooding, her starboard list was again reduced to 3-4 degrees, but her speed had fallen off to 10 knots. Next three dive bombers, seemingly between the two groups, had attacked and hit her again with two bombs amidships.

Finally the last attack had arrived. Firstly a bomb had penetrated the bridge. Both the bridge and the adjacent operations room were set afire. Many enlisted and officers were killed although remarkably her Captain was unhurt at this stage. Next three hits detonated in a row portside on the forecastle deck, abreast the forward main gun turrets. They knocked out the main communications room. The blast also penetrated boiler rooms 4 and 7. Two more bombs hits had been taken on the forecastle deck starboard, abreast the superstructure. A seventh bomb had hit in the temporary hospital with terrible results. An eighth and ninth bomb both struck the forward main gun turret No. 1. A tenth bomb exploded starboard in the officer's wardroom. Finally, an eleventh and last bomb had smashed the aircraft catapult.

The ships speed had dropped to 6 knots and she was no longer able to dodge and was an easy target for the marauding torpedo bombers. Two torpedoes had struck to port and two to starboard almost simultaneously, causing extensive damage and flooding in all areas areas. The next four torpedoes had all struck port, further flooding in boiler room No. 7 and 8 and the aft magazine. Three of these four torpedoes had struck in the same area and a 12 metre long section of the ship's side had been opened up. The engine room had flooded causing her to lose all her port side shafts. The ships speed had dropped to one or two knots, barely steerage.The next two torpedoes had struck port aft flooding the 100mm AA magazine. Finally, another torpedo had struck directly under the funnel but only partially exploded.

The last series of torpedo hits had landed a series of fatal blows. Hit by 22 bombs and 21 torpedoes, she was doomed. Down by the bow more than 31 feet and listing 7 degrees to port the great ship was enjoying her last few minutes in the sun. Kondo ordered the fleet to sheer off whilst he broadcast to First Air Fleet and even Fourth Air Army for any assistance that could be provided. Only five enemy planes had been shot down, a pathetically small amount.

 

[johnboy]

1609 24 October 1944

Vice Admiral Shigeru Fukudome scanned the report with barely concealed horror. Such losses. This morning First and Second Air Fleets had a nominal strength of 241 aircraft that were combat ready. Now that numbered only 102, and that number included 20 refugees from Ozawa's carriers that had flown on to his airfields. Of those 102 planes, 18 were too badly damaged to see combat in the immediate future, leaving only 84. Of those 84 airframes, 51 were A6M's with one lonely A5. Only 32 strike planes remained, three of those 2 P1Y's and his own G4M which were unsuited to attacking a well defended enemy.

What could he do with that? Yet now Kondo was calling for air support yet again. Perhaps he could provide a small CAP. He had tried, he really had, but there seemed little more he could do.

 

[johnboy]

1632 24 October 1944

Admiral William "Bull" Halsey smiled broadly at the recon report in his hands. The Japs had clearly had enough. The enemy force heading for the San Bernadino Strait had turned back and was running. With no air cover, their land based air forces smashed, one of the Jap super battlewagons and their only carrier sunk, as well as three heavy cruisers by submarines with another damaged by air attack it could hardly be any other way. It appeared the Southern Force was still coming on but Jesse Oldendorf had a nasty surprise that he arranging for them. That just left Northern Force unscathed and truly in the battle.

His operational orders at the start of the day that he had transmitted to all Task Force commanders had indicated that Task Force 34 would guard the San Bernadino Strait. That was clearly unnecessary now. Best to take the battleships North where they could be used to smash any cripples with Northern Force after the air strikes had gone in and deal with the Jap battlewagon with this force. It would mean the Jap force currently running would get away but he could only be in one place at a time. His first mission was to destroy the enemy fleet and clearly six carriers were the most dangerous part of it.

He would have to detach the Iowa with her damaged bow under escort back to Leyte. She could join the Birmingham in a convoy back to Ulithi tomorrow. In the meantime a solid night's steaming should put him well within range for an early morning strike on those six carriers. He was looking forward to the morrow.

 

[johnboy]

1702 24 October 1944

Vice Admiral William Augustus "Ching" Lee Jnr was concerned about Halsey's orders. To take not only TG 38.2, 38.3 and 38.4 North but Task Force 34 with all of it's five remaining battleships seemed foolhardy.

He had diplomatically worded such a communication to Halsey, also expressing his own opinion that the Jap carriers must surely be short on aircraft after the last two great battles and may only be paper tigers. He had expressed his concern that the Jap task force could still come out of the San Bernadino Strait and that the original plan that detailed Task Force 34 to guard the Strait may be more prudent. However, this had been brushed off by either Halsey or his staff who stated that "they were confident this enemy was retiring and no longer a threat". Bogan had made a similar inquiry, with a similar result so it appeared. So be it.

 

[johnboy]

1844 24 October 1944

The I-162 had a dream target. A large convoy, heavily escorted, seemingly nearly all large tankers. It had been a fortunate interception, the American convoy virtually coming straight at him via a late zag. He was able to stay silent, hardly making way in his older submarine. He was only going to get one shot with an American destroyer running down near his port side.

All four tubes were flooded. Fire! He gave the order. Now to swing and fire the rear tubes. Almost immediately his sound man Onoshi was yelling. One of the fish had malfunctioned and was going circular! The very lack of momentum of the boat was going to count against them. As I-162 struggled to gain depth, the last sound they heard was a large explosion before there was another huge blast and water started pouring into the control room. I-162 made it's way slowly to the bottom of the Pacific.

 

[johnboy]

1849 24 October 1944

Kondo stared at the message from Tokyo and Toyoda. He had, of course, informed them of his change of course he had thought needed to get out of air attack range and was now steaming at 18 knots to the North West.

1st Air Fleet had promised him air cover, but it was the message received that rested in his hand that was most galling. "Trusting in divine assistance, all forces are to dash forward to the attack. Toyoda."

Clearly the tone of the message and the preamble indicated that Toyoda felt that any delays were not to be tolerated. Divine assistance. Well there had been plenty of things descending from the heavens today, he mused, most of them bearing American stars. He gave the necessary orders to turn the fleet around and increase speed to 22 knots. Center Force had been steaming West for less than two hours.

 

[johnboy]

1856 24 October 1944

Commander Frederick Davidson of the destroyer Aylwin looked at the trail of debris, oil and (formerly)bubbles that marked a destroyed sub. It was the third Nip sub reported destroyed in the last 2 days. It had been too late for the oiler Neosho, however. Hit by one torpedo she had folded and was going down rapidly, the first ship sunk by a Jap sub in the campaign. It was the second oiler of that name sunk in this war, the other at the Battle of the Coral Sea. Perhaps the name was cursed?

 

[johnboy]

1857 24 October 1944

Halsey's staff reviewed all the information and poured over the charts. They could not launch a night strike as not enough pilots had been trained to do so. Under cover of darkness they would close the range and launch large strikes early. He had separated Task Force 34 into it's own separate unit under Lee to sweep up all the cripples that would be created.

The other enemy forces had obviously originally been on target to attack the shipping in the gulf not long after first light. The Southern Force was blocked and the Centre force had turned back. Even if they reversed course, they could not be expected to be in Leyte before noon on the 25th, leaving Jesse Oldendorf's older BB's time to block the Eastern entrance to the gulf. Old and slow they may be, they were a a very powerful force to combat an enemy already devastated by air attacks.

 

[johnboy]

1941 24 October 1944

Rear Admiral Gerald Bogan grimaced at the report in his hand. It had come from a recon plane from the Independence, operating in her capacity as a night carrier. "Enemy force containing heavy ships now heading East" . It also noted that for the first time since the landings that the navigation lights of the San Bernadino Strait had been illuminated, a point seemingly not appreciated by Halsey or his staff.

Halsey should already have this information. Getting on TBS, he needed to make sure. "Operations Officer", Commander Adams" came the reply from the New Jersey after being asked to be put through to Halsey. Bogan went over the contents of the report. "Sir, yes, yes, we have that information" returned what seemed like an inpatient voice. Still concerned, he hung up and then asked to talk to Commander James Flatley, Marc Mitscher's Operations Officer on board the Lexington. He agreed to raise it with Mitscher, even though he had retired early in anticipation of a long day tomorrow.

1946 24 October 1944

He had his answer. With a touch of annoyance Mitcher had asked "does Admiral Halsey have this information?". On the affirmative, he had apparently snapped "If he wants my advice he will ask for it". Bogan thought that Mitscher, usually a calm and reserved man, was probably more than a little annoyed that Halsey had been exercising tactical command all day and essentially bypassing him.

Never the less, he was somewhat mollified by a message that had arrived two minutes ago, routed to Kincaid, Nimitz, Macarthur and King detailing the contact with Northern Force and indicating "own force in three group concentrated in pursuit". At least it made their dispositions clear.

 

[johnboy]

1948 24 October 1944

Vice Admiral Thomas Kinkaid reviewed the communication: "Own force in three group concentrated in pursuit". So Halsey was going North after the Carriers in Northern Force. He looked back through the day's communications. Although not routed directly to him, only to 3rd Fleet units, it seemed Halsey had activated Task Force 34 under Lee. He grunted in appreciation. This was being detached to guard San Bernadino Strait as per yesterday's battle plan. If the Nips did turn back they would find themselves in trouble. It was a fatal assumption.

 

[johnboy]

1801 24 October 1944

Rear Admiral Jesse Oldendorf was more than happy with his plan. It was almost childlike in it's simplicity yet lethal in it's intent. His old BB's would form line ahead and circle slowly at not more than 5 knots between Dinagat and Leyte just North of Hibusan Island. The effect should be similar to "crossing the T" of any ships coming up the Strait. Now was the chance for these vessels to gain revenge for Pearl Harbour. He expected the West Virginia, Tennessee and California to do most of the heavy lifting, these ships being equipped with the vastly superior new Mark 8 Fire Control Radar.

He had deployed a left flank of three heavy and two light cruisers and a right flank of two heavy and two light cruisers. A division of destroyers supported the battleships.Two more destroyer divisions were stationed down the Strait to attack, with a third in support.

Since he had no radar equipped night flying airplanes to scout, he had deployed 39 PT boats further still down the strait to scout and report to him. They were then directed to attack independently as circumstances allowed. It should be a warm reception indeed.

 

[johnboy]

1815 24 October 1944

Commodore John Collins looked around at the four other ships comprising TG 77.3.2. His two heavy cruisers and three destroyers were dwarfed by the mass of the six battleships in line ahead to port of them. Surely nothing could survive steaming into this sort of firepower. His ship had always been known for her gunnery and the old girl had just received new fire control radar. From all reports there should be no shortage of targets which sounded fine to him.