I will mention at this time that I lived in the Houston (Texas) area for about 28 years but I have never even visited Louisville or Boise
Eisenhower in the Pacific: Part 1 The Shoestring Warriors of Luzon
- Thread starter galveston bay
- Start date
I will mention at this time that I lived in the Houston (Texas) area for about 28 years but I have never even visited Louisville or Boise
The Battle of Albay Gulf: Fleets and the Ships
Battle of Albay Gulf December 10-11, 1941
Even as the climax of the Battle of the Hawaiian Islands is underway far to the north and east, the Japanese and American navies are engaging in a fierce action off the coast of southern Luzon.
Japanese Forces
South Philippines Cover Unit
CA Nachi, Myoko, CVL Ryujo (15 Claude fighters, 12 Kate bombers, 4 spares each), CL Jintsu, DD Shiokaze, Hayashio, Kuroshio, Natsushio, Oyashio, Amatsukaze, Hatsukaze
Having attacked Davao on December 8, the Cover Unit steams north to move into position to cover the landing at Legaspi. Supporting the Japanese are flying boats from Palau which along with Kate's from the Ryujo are conducting searches in the waters of the Central Philippines to look for any American warships
Legaspi Invasion Group (V Adm Takahashi)
escort force: R Admiral Kubo
CA Ashigara, Cl Nagara, DD Kawakaze, Suzukaze, Yukikaze, Umikaze, Yamakaze, Tokitsukaze,
invasion force
Seaplane Tender (CVS) Chitose (16 Pete Floatplanes, 4 Jake floatplanes), Mizuho (16 Pete floatplanes, 4 Jake floatplanes), minelayer Aotaka, 2 PC (subchasers), 2 minesweepers (AM), 10 transports carrying Kure 1st SNLF (Navy), construction brigade (Navy), Kimura Brigade (2 inf battalions, 2 engineer companies, 1 artillery battery w 4 75 mm guns)
American Forces
Asiatic Fleet Surface Force: R Admiral Glassford
CA: Houston, Louisville, CL Boise, destroyers Paul Jones, Stewart, Bulmer, Barker, Parrott
support: several PBY Patwing 10,
air cover: 7th Pursuit (PAAF) w 18 CW21 Demon fighters, VMF112 (USMC) w 16 P40B Warhawks
air striking force: 19th Bomb Group w 6 RB17C, 18 B17D, 27th Bomb Group w 36 A24 Banshee, 8 AT6 Texan
The Ships
Japanese ships
All 3 Japanese heavy cruisers are Myoko class ships at 13,000 tons, capable of 36 knots and armed with 10 x 8 inch guns (3 forward, 2 rear turrets), 8 x 5 inch AA guns, 2 heavy machine guns, 12 torpedoes in 12 tubes (3 quad launchers amidships),
the Jintsu is a Sendai class light cruiser at 5500 tons, capable of 35 knots and armed with 7 x 5.5 inch guns (single mounts), 12 light AA guns, and carrying 24 torpedoes
the Nagara is the class name of her class, has 5 x 6 inch guns (single mounts), 24 light AA guns, but only carries 8 torpedoes
the Japanese destroyers are all similar in capability and in two classes and have 4-5 x 5 inch guns and 6-8 torpedo tubes.
The Japanese have 9 floatplanes (Pete type) aboard their various cruisers
The American Ships
the 2 American heavy cruisers are Northhampton class cruisers and are treaty cruisers at under 10,000 tons, capable of 32 knots and armed with 9 x 8 inch guns (3 triple turrets), 4 x 5 inch guns (single mounts), 2 x quad mounted 1.1 inch guns, 4 heavy machine guns, and their aircraft have been taken off and are being supported by seaplane tenders at Panay which are being used for local patrol and search
the Boise is a very modern Brooklyn class cruiser at close to 12,000 tons and capable of 32 knots armed with 15 x 6 inch guns (5 triple turrets), 8 x 5 inch guns (single turret mounts), 8 heavy machine guns, and her aircraft too have been taken off
All 4 American destroyers are all Clemson class 4 Stack destroyers, a bit smaller than their Japanese opponents, older, but capable of 35 knots and armed with 4 x 4 inch guns (single mounts), 1 x 3 inch (AA mount), and 12 torpedo tubes equipped with Mk 8 torpedoes which have half the range and warhead of the Japanese torpedoes but unlike the more modern torpedoes carried by the US Fleet submarines and more modern destroyers do not have the reliability problems that are already plaguing American submarines.
situation 2300 Hours Dec 10, 1941
American approach is in Red, The Southern Cover force is moving up from the south (in black) while the invasion fleet is moving from the east (in black)
Even as the climax of the Battle of the Hawaiian Islands is underway far to the north and east, the Japanese and American navies are engaging in a fierce action off the coast of southern Luzon.
Japanese Forces
South Philippines Cover Unit
CA Nachi, Myoko, CVL Ryujo (15 Claude fighters, 12 Kate bombers, 4 spares each), CL Jintsu, DD Shiokaze, Hayashio, Kuroshio, Natsushio, Oyashio, Amatsukaze, Hatsukaze
Having attacked Davao on December 8, the Cover Unit steams north to move into position to cover the landing at Legaspi. Supporting the Japanese are flying boats from Palau which along with Kate's from the Ryujo are conducting searches in the waters of the Central Philippines to look for any American warships
Legaspi Invasion Group (V Adm Takahashi)
escort force: R Admiral Kubo
CA Ashigara, Cl Nagara, DD Kawakaze, Suzukaze, Yukikaze, Umikaze, Yamakaze, Tokitsukaze,
invasion force
Seaplane Tender (CVS) Chitose (16 Pete Floatplanes, 4 Jake floatplanes), Mizuho (16 Pete floatplanes, 4 Jake floatplanes), minelayer Aotaka, 2 PC (subchasers), 2 minesweepers (AM), 10 transports carrying Kure 1st SNLF (Navy), construction brigade (Navy), Kimura Brigade (2 inf battalions, 2 engineer companies, 1 artillery battery w 4 75 mm guns)
American Forces
Asiatic Fleet Surface Force: R Admiral Glassford
CA: Houston, Louisville, CL Boise, destroyers Paul Jones, Stewart, Bulmer, Barker, Parrott
support: several PBY Patwing 10,
air cover: 7th Pursuit (PAAF) w 18 CW21 Demon fighters, VMF112 (USMC) w 16 P40B Warhawks
air striking force: 19th Bomb Group w 6 RB17C, 18 B17D, 27th Bomb Group w 36 A24 Banshee, 8 AT6 Texan
The Ships
Japanese ships
All 3 Japanese heavy cruisers are Myoko class ships at 13,000 tons, capable of 36 knots and armed with 10 x 8 inch guns (3 forward, 2 rear turrets), 8 x 5 inch AA guns, 2 heavy machine guns, 12 torpedoes in 12 tubes (3 quad launchers amidships),
the Jintsu is a Sendai class light cruiser at 5500 tons, capable of 35 knots and armed with 7 x 5.5 inch guns (single mounts), 12 light AA guns, and carrying 24 torpedoes
the Nagara is the class name of her class, has 5 x 6 inch guns (single mounts), 24 light AA guns, but only carries 8 torpedoes
the Japanese destroyers are all similar in capability and in two classes and have 4-5 x 5 inch guns and 6-8 torpedo tubes.
The Japanese have 9 floatplanes (Pete type) aboard their various cruisers
The American Ships
the 2 American heavy cruisers are Northhampton class cruisers and are treaty cruisers at under 10,000 tons, capable of 32 knots and armed with 9 x 8 inch guns (3 triple turrets), 4 x 5 inch guns (single mounts), 2 x quad mounted 1.1 inch guns, 4 heavy machine guns, and their aircraft have been taken off and are being supported by seaplane tenders at Panay which are being used for local patrol and search
the Boise is a very modern Brooklyn class cruiser at close to 12,000 tons and capable of 32 knots armed with 15 x 6 inch guns (5 triple turrets), 8 x 5 inch guns (single turret mounts), 8 heavy machine guns, and her aircraft too have been taken off
All 4 American destroyers are all Clemson class 4 Stack destroyers, a bit smaller than their Japanese opponents, older, but capable of 35 knots and armed with 4 x 4 inch guns (single mounts), 1 x 3 inch (AA mount), and 12 torpedo tubes equipped with Mk 8 torpedoes which have half the range and warhead of the Japanese torpedoes but unlike the more modern torpedoes carried by the US Fleet submarines and more modern destroyers do not have the reliability problems that are already plaguing American submarines.
situation 2300 Hours Dec 10, 1941
American approach is in Red, The Southern Cover force is moving up from the south (in black) while the invasion fleet is moving from the east (in black)
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The Americans are outnumbered somewhat better than 2:1 in surface ships. The air cover is advantage Americans both in number and quality (Claudes vs P-40s), the issue will be getting air coverage when and where needed for the US since it is land based and probably further away than the Japanese carrier aircraft. IMHO the only effective offensive Japanese aircraft here the Kate bombers. The floatplanes are good for recon, but against warships have no effective attack role (and bombs carried are small), and the Claudes are meat for the P-40s. Of course if Japanese aircraft from Formosa get in the mix, that is another story.
To me it looks like the USA can hurt the Japanese, if lucky possibly sink some of the transports, but the odds are against many of the US ships surviving.
To me it looks like the USA can hurt the Japanese, if lucky possibly sink some of the transports, but the odds are against many of the US ships surviving.
The Battle of Albay Gulf: Far East Air Force attack
Prelude December 10, 1941 Daylight hours
American and Japanese search planes spot the opposing forces over the course of the day, but American and Japanese fighters each shoot down a float plane. The Japanese carrier force, under Admiral Takagi, is within air strike range, but the appearance of American fighters makes him loathe to commit his small force of bombers until they are within range of his comparatively short range fighters.
As night fall approaches at 1700 hours, it is clear that the American surface fleet is on a heading to attack the Invasion Force.
But that is not all the Americans are planning.
The 27th Bomb Group attacks 1505 Hours December 10
The Americans have 36 A24 Banshee bombers armed with a single 500 pound bomb each (as there are no heavier bombs available) and 8 AT6 Texans each carrying 4 light 100 pound bombs. While the Banshee are capable of dive bombing attacks the Texans are only capable of glide bombing. To escort them Colonel George sends 4 CW21 Demon fighters from the 7th Pursuit and 8 P40B fighters from VMF112. The Warhawks will deal with any enemy aircraft, while the Demons provide back up and if their help is not needed, strafe the enemy seaplane tenders. Texans will also hit the seaplane carriers, while the Banshee attack will focus on the enemy cruisers. Their specific orders are to “attack the biggest ships they see with guns on them” as Colonel George is well aware that his Army pilots are terrible at ship identification.
The Japanese have 12 of their Pete floatplanes in the air, which can be used as area defense fighters, up as a combination anti-submarine patrol and combat air patrol. The rest of their float planes have already been recovered or in the case of their Jake floatplanes, due to return for recovery at dusk. The Japanese are too far away for fighter protection from either Formosa or the Ryujo but as far as the Japanese know, there are no bombers likely to be within range of them either. Indeed the only air contact so far was a SOC Seagull that was shot down by a pair of Pete aircraft at 1458 hours. The Japanese failed to spot a PBY that flew overhead a short time later, only picking up its radio signal and it transmits a position report.
The American and Filipino aircraft arrive together flying at 11,000 feet, and the Warhawks and Demons immediately swarm to the attack and within a few minutes have shot down all 12 of the Japanese float planes in the air. While the Marine and Navy pilots fly back up to altitude in case any Japanese fighters show up, the Demons and Texans swarm in on the seaplane tender Mizuho, strafing it heavily and igniting 2 float planes on her deck and inflicting light damage but numerous casualties. Japanese fire is heavy, and 1 of the Demon fighters and 3 of the Texans are downed (all 4 pilots are killed) and 2 of Texans are forced to crash land on Leyte as they attempt to return home. The dive bombers meanwhile concentrate on the biggest ship spot as they approach, with both the 16th and 17th squadrons concentrating on the Nagara, failing to spot the Ashigara until the 16th has already begun their dives, and heavy fire and orders to concentrate their attack causes the squadron commander of the 17th to commit his aircraft to the same target.
The American Army pilots have been trained to attack ground targets, not ships, and most of thrown off by the desperate evasive action by the Japanese cruiser. Of 36 bombs dropped, only 4 hit her, but they hit her hard. The high explosive bombs (as the Army lacks armor piercing bombs) blast apart her torpedo tubes, starting fierce fires amidships, another kills most of the men manning her aft guns, and a final hit blasts apart her middle stack and briefly snuffs out her boilers. The Japanese manage to get her fires out and restore power by 2114 hours but she is need of repairs and will need to return to Japan for those.
Japanese fire has been fierce in return however, and less well trained than Navy Dauntless pilots, the Army Banshee's attack at a shallower angle and pull up sooner, exposing them to anti-aircraft fire longer than Navy planes would have to face. This is a costly lack of training for 5 of the American aircraft which are all forced to crash land on their way home, although all of their crews are recovered. The 17th suffers the entirety of this loss as their aircraft came in behind the lead squadron and the Japanese had more time to react. Several more of the bombers return to base with bullet holes and other light damage but remain combat worthy.
The pilots of VMF 112 score again as the force leaves the scene, running down and destroying 2 Jake float planes as they are returning to their ships. In all the engagement has cost the Japanese a light cruiser heavily damaged, a seaplane tender lightly damaged and 16 floatplanes, including 2 destroyed aboard their ship.
It has been a costly strike for the American and Filipino pilots however. 5 dive bombers, 1 fighter, and 5 light attack bombers, all precious and irreplaceable, are gone. VMF112, which has pilots trained in ship identification (indeed 2 of the pilots were dive bomber pilots before they volunteered for the AVG) report that one Japanese light cruiser has been heavily damaged and is likely out of action.
Luzon December 10
Meanwhile Japanese bombers hammer Del Carmen Field in the morning and Zablan Field in the afternoon, effectively destroying both fields. Chennault has kept the 17th, 74th and 75th Pursuit squadrons on strip alert ready to cover the evacuation of Subic Bay and although fighters are scrambled during both raids he orders them to remain over Subic.
Weather closes down Del Monte field in the morning, delaying the take off of bombers from Darwin until conditions clear and thus the B17Ds of the attack force commanded by Colonel Eubanks do not arrive until late afternoon, too late in the day to attack the Japanese in support of the 27th Bomb Group.
American and Japanese search planes spot the opposing forces over the course of the day, but American and Japanese fighters each shoot down a float plane. The Japanese carrier force, under Admiral Takagi, is within air strike range, but the appearance of American fighters makes him loathe to commit his small force of bombers until they are within range of his comparatively short range fighters.
As night fall approaches at 1700 hours, it is clear that the American surface fleet is on a heading to attack the Invasion Force.
But that is not all the Americans are planning.
The 27th Bomb Group attacks 1505 Hours December 10
The Americans have 36 A24 Banshee bombers armed with a single 500 pound bomb each (as there are no heavier bombs available) and 8 AT6 Texans each carrying 4 light 100 pound bombs. While the Banshee are capable of dive bombing attacks the Texans are only capable of glide bombing. To escort them Colonel George sends 4 CW21 Demon fighters from the 7th Pursuit and 8 P40B fighters from VMF112. The Warhawks will deal with any enemy aircraft, while the Demons provide back up and if their help is not needed, strafe the enemy seaplane tenders. Texans will also hit the seaplane carriers, while the Banshee attack will focus on the enemy cruisers. Their specific orders are to “attack the biggest ships they see with guns on them” as Colonel George is well aware that his Army pilots are terrible at ship identification.
The Japanese have 12 of their Pete floatplanes in the air, which can be used as area defense fighters, up as a combination anti-submarine patrol and combat air patrol. The rest of their float planes have already been recovered or in the case of their Jake floatplanes, due to return for recovery at dusk. The Japanese are too far away for fighter protection from either Formosa or the Ryujo but as far as the Japanese know, there are no bombers likely to be within range of them either. Indeed the only air contact so far was a SOC Seagull that was shot down by a pair of Pete aircraft at 1458 hours. The Japanese failed to spot a PBY that flew overhead a short time later, only picking up its radio signal and it transmits a position report.
The American and Filipino aircraft arrive together flying at 11,000 feet, and the Warhawks and Demons immediately swarm to the attack and within a few minutes have shot down all 12 of the Japanese float planes in the air. While the Marine and Navy pilots fly back up to altitude in case any Japanese fighters show up, the Demons and Texans swarm in on the seaplane tender Mizuho, strafing it heavily and igniting 2 float planes on her deck and inflicting light damage but numerous casualties. Japanese fire is heavy, and 1 of the Demon fighters and 3 of the Texans are downed (all 4 pilots are killed) and 2 of Texans are forced to crash land on Leyte as they attempt to return home. The dive bombers meanwhile concentrate on the biggest ship spot as they approach, with both the 16th and 17th squadrons concentrating on the Nagara, failing to spot the Ashigara until the 16th has already begun their dives, and heavy fire and orders to concentrate their attack causes the squadron commander of the 17th to commit his aircraft to the same target.
The American Army pilots have been trained to attack ground targets, not ships, and most of thrown off by the desperate evasive action by the Japanese cruiser. Of 36 bombs dropped, only 4 hit her, but they hit her hard. The high explosive bombs (as the Army lacks armor piercing bombs) blast apart her torpedo tubes, starting fierce fires amidships, another kills most of the men manning her aft guns, and a final hit blasts apart her middle stack and briefly snuffs out her boilers. The Japanese manage to get her fires out and restore power by 2114 hours but she is need of repairs and will need to return to Japan for those.
Japanese fire has been fierce in return however, and less well trained than Navy Dauntless pilots, the Army Banshee's attack at a shallower angle and pull up sooner, exposing them to anti-aircraft fire longer than Navy planes would have to face. This is a costly lack of training for 5 of the American aircraft which are all forced to crash land on their way home, although all of their crews are recovered. The 17th suffers the entirety of this loss as their aircraft came in behind the lead squadron and the Japanese had more time to react. Several more of the bombers return to base with bullet holes and other light damage but remain combat worthy.
The pilots of VMF 112 score again as the force leaves the scene, running down and destroying 2 Jake float planes as they are returning to their ships. In all the engagement has cost the Japanese a light cruiser heavily damaged, a seaplane tender lightly damaged and 16 floatplanes, including 2 destroyed aboard their ship.
It has been a costly strike for the American and Filipino pilots however. 5 dive bombers, 1 fighter, and 5 light attack bombers, all precious and irreplaceable, are gone. VMF112, which has pilots trained in ship identification (indeed 2 of the pilots were dive bomber pilots before they volunteered for the AVG) report that one Japanese light cruiser has been heavily damaged and is likely out of action.
Luzon December 10
Meanwhile Japanese bombers hammer Del Carmen Field in the morning and Zablan Field in the afternoon, effectively destroying both fields. Chennault has kept the 17th, 74th and 75th Pursuit squadrons on strip alert ready to cover the evacuation of Subic Bay and although fighters are scrambled during both raids he orders them to remain over Subic.
Weather closes down Del Monte field in the morning, delaying the take off of bombers from Darwin until conditions clear and thus the B17Ds of the attack force commanded by Colonel Eubanks do not arrive until late afternoon, too late in the day to attack the Japanese in support of the 27th Bomb Group.
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US aircrew in the Solomon Islands campaign were surprised by how aggressively the F1Ms were flown - they weren't sitting ducks. Read this in Morison, I think.
which is why it took several minutes for all of them to get bagged. They could have disrupted the American attack in spite of their speed disadvantage except for the fighter cover.
authors note: basically the Americans have inflicted a mission kill on a seaplane tender and a light cruiser. Also 11 more IJN pilots are gone (3 are rescued). The loss of the light cruiser will impact the action in the night surface engagement ahead.
Basically less torpedos in the water and less firepower.
At least the fighters got out pretty decently. They will be sure to be a storm cloud over Admiral Takagi's head.
forgot to put in the rest of the days action... which was the destruction of two more American airfields
that is it for the weekend.. hopefully more over the week but if not more next weekend
MacArthur isn't in the Philipines this time around. He's already dead.
From a car accident in NYC in 1937.
I know he's already dead. What I meant to say is will some other General officer like Ike leave Luzon in a similar way.
Another nitpicking, here is a photo on Navsource Houston, showing Houston inot spring 1941 with what appears to be a full 4x 5"/25 pre. broadside,and 2 gun tuBS, where 1.1" or 40 mm borfors per broadside..
Driftless
Donor
GB has structured the forces layout differently from history, with Ike having played a key role in preparation from Bataan to Cebu to Mindanao. Bataan's defense should be better, and there are better staged fall back points. Even without 20-20 foresight/hindsight, Ike's showing some skill in a tough spot. FDR & Gen Marshall probably want him extracted when the time comes.
We already know that Ike gets extracted, since he fights in the Pacific until he got shifted by high command to AFE in '43.
5 quad mounts of 1.1 guns made it to Cavite and in OTL 4 were installed on the Houston
in TTL 2 on the Houston, 2 on the Louisville, 1 on the DD John Ford
A bitter lesson for the USAAC pilots with bombing ships armed with guns. They did as best they could, but if they had been Navy trained then more Japanese ships could have been hit and maybe sunk. The next stage seems to be a night battle and I have my doubts on how well the USN will be against the Japanese forces.
If I remember correctly, all the US subs are heading north towards Lingayen. Shame that none could be there to assist the surface task force.
Well the night and the air battles on the 11th will show how much damage the US can inflict on the Japanese.
If I remember correctly, all the US subs are heading north towards Lingayen. Shame that none could be there to assist the surface task force.
Well the night and the air battles on the 11th will show how much damage the US can inflict on the Japanese.