Closing Rabaul

7/30/2019 Closing Rabaul

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CLOSING RABAUL

Once they had secured Guadalcanal, the Allied focused on the great Japanese naval base at Rabaul. Operationsagainst this base proceeded along two lines. From the south, forces commanded by General Macarthurconsolidated their hold on New Guinea and applied steady pressure. From the southwest, forces under AdmiralHalsey pushed their way up the Solomons chain in a series of leapfrogging invasions.

With the U.S. Navy planning a vast campaign in the Central Pacific, Halsey’s forces at Guadalcanal assumed a bitof a step-child status. Seldom did his available warships amount to more than a collection of destroyer andescort craft leavened with a few light cruisers. But Halsey was adept and aggressive at using the forces athand, and kept the Japanese continuously engaged.

Fortunately for Halsey, the Nihon Kaigun was also biding its time and husbanding its forces. The battles aroundGuadalcanal had seriously strained the Japanese Navy. Particularly hard hit were the Japanese carrier air units,which the Japanese recognized were crucial to their plans to fight a vast, decisive battle with the Americanswhen the U.S. Navy did attempt to force its way into the Central Pacific.

Even though the main naval forces of both sides were building for new efforts in other theatres, Halsey’s pushup the Solomons precipitated a series of sharp night naval actions that recalled the actions off Guadalcanal.There was a crucial difference though: these actions show the steady evolution of a coherent and effective setof American night combat tactics.

Kula Gulf -- The Japanese try to run reinforcements to a beleaguered island garrison, but the Americans bringtheir 6 inch gun cruisers into play.

Kolombangara -- Another night-time melee between cruisers and destroyers.

Vella Gulf -- American destroyers are finally untied from their cruisers' apron strings and loosed on the TokyoExpress.

Action off Horaniu -- A Japanese-American night destroyer battle in 1943.

Vella Lavella -- Outnumbered Americans, with the hope of reinforcements, struggle to derail the Tokyo Express.

Empress Augusta Bay -- The Japanese attempt a reprise of their initial success against an Allied landing in theSolomons.

Cape St. George -- American destroyers steam almost to the gates of Rabaul.



Action off Enogai -- The Japanese intrude on an American bombardment mission.

Ormoc Bay -- Skirmishing off Leyte, later in the war.

Action off Manila -- Another late war destroyer action.



Kula Gulf

USS Helena and St Louis firing, just before Helena was hit and sunk.

SETTING:Date: 6 July 1943, 0140 Location: Kula Gulf between New Georgia and Kolombangarain the Solomon Islands.History: When the Americans invaded New Georgia, theysubjected the Japanese garrison on the neighbouring island ofKolombangara to a vigorous naval bombardment. Upon hearingreports of a Japanese attempt to run reinforcements down toNew Georgia, the American bombardment force dashed off tointercept the Japanese column.Conditions: The visibility conditions are a calm, partly cloudy,moonless night , base range 8,976 yards(35.90 inches) Victory Conditions:Victory is decided on points:a) 1 per Japanese Division 1 destroyer sunk;b) 2 per Japanese Division 2 destroyer sunk;c) 1 per American destroyer sunk or American cruiser torpedoed

but not sunk;d) 2 per American cruiser sunk.Game Length: 24 Turns

SCENARIO RULES:

1. All Japanese ships are alert.2. All U.S. ships have SG search radar, CICs and Mk 8 or Mk 12fire control radar.3. Japanese Division 2 has troops aboard. As a result, it may notreload torpedo mounts.4. (Optional.) The Japanese destroyers Mochizuki, Mikazuki(Mutsukis) and Hamakaze (Kagero) were unloading troops tothe south. Mochizuki passed back through the battle area afterthe main engagement. Roll two dice in each Visual SightingSegment; if a three or less is rolled; one of this group enters as aseparate division on the south edge and 20,000 yards from thewest edge.

UNITED STATES NAVY:USN Division 1:Rear Admiral Walden L. Ainsworth

Nicholas (Fletcher - flag)O'Bannon (Fletcher)

USN Division 2:

Honolulu (Brooklyn - flag)

Helena (St. Louis)St. Louis (St. Louis)

USN Division 3:

Jenkins (Fletcher - flag)Radford (Fletcher)

The Americans begin on a course of 300 degrees with divisionsin line ahead. Nicholas is the leading ship.

The American friendly edge is the east edge.

NIHON KAIGUN: NK Division 1: Rear Admiral Akiyama Teruo

Niizuki (Akitsuki - flag)Suzukaze (Kagero)Tanikaze (Kagero)

NK Division 2:

Amagiri (Fubuki - flag)Hatsuyuki (Fubuki)Nagatsuki (Mutsuki)Satsuki (Mutsuki)

The Japanese begin in a line ahead formation, with Division 2following Division 1 on a course of 360 degrees (due north).

The Japanese friendly edge is the north edge and the northern15,000 yards of the west edge.



AFTERMATH:The opposing ships closed and traded shells and torpedoes at 7000 yards range. When the firing stopped, Niizuki had beenannihilated by six inch shells and Helena sunk by a Long Lance in her vitals.





AFTERMATH:American radar-controlled gunfire blotted out Jintsu, while Japanese torpedoes took Leander out of the battle. Ainsworth chased theretiring Japanese, but the American pursuit ended when the Japanese reloaded their torpedo tubes. The Japanese riposte sankGwin and damaged both Honolulu and St. Louis.



Vella Gulf

USS Sterett.

SETTING:Date: 18 August 1943, 2330 Location: Vella Gulf, between Kolombangara and Vella Lavella,Solomon Islands.History: When Admiral Wilkinson caught wind of a Japaneseattempt to run reinforcements down to Kolombangara, he

decided to let a force of six American destroyers deal with it.This was the first time in the Solomons campaign that Americandestroyers were used independently against the “TokyoExpress;" previously, they had been tied rigidly to their cruisers.The American destroyer-men had trained in radar-directedtorpedo tactics. They would now have a chance to use them.Conditions: The visibility conditions are moonless and squally ,base range 2,244yards(8.98 inches) Victory Conditions:Victory is decided on points:Score one point for each ship torpedoed but not sunk and twopoints for each ship sunk.

Game Length: 24 Turns

SCENARIO RULES:

1. All American ships have SG search radar and Mk 4 firecontrol radar. Maury has a CIC.

2. Because they are carrying troops, no Japanese ships otherthan Shigure may reload torpedo mounts.3. Shigure trails the other ships of her division by 3,000 yards atthe start.4. The Japanese must hold their course and maintain a speed of24 knots until they sight the Americans.

UNITED STATES NAVY:USN Division 1:Commander Frederick Moosbrugger

Lang (Benham refit - flag)Sterett (Benham refit)Stack (Benham refit)

USN Division 2:

Dunlap (Dunlap - flag)Craven (Gridley)Maury (Gridley)

The Americans start in two parallel lines, with Division 1 3,000yards southeast of Division 2. The flagships are leading, andboth formations are steaming on a course of 45 degrees.

The playing surface is limited to a width of 28,000 yards fromeast to west. Both the east and west edges are land.The American friendly edge is the south edge.

NIHON KAIGUN: NK Division 1: Captain Sugiura Kaju

Shigure (Shiratsuyu)Kawakaze (Shiratsuyu)Arashi (Kagero)Hagikaze (Kagero - flag)

The Japanese start in line, with Hagikaze leading, on a course of160 degrees (due south).

The playing surface is limited to a width of 28,000 yards fromeast to west. Both the east and west edges are land.The Japanese friendly edge is the north edge.



AFTERMATH:Moosbrugger's force fought a near-perfect battle, sinking three of four Japanese destroyers in a surprise torpedo attack.Only Shigure escaped, and she took a dud torpedo through her rudder. There were no American losses.



Horaniu

U.S. destroyers (from right to left): O'Bannon , Chevalier , and Taylor head towards Tulagi harbour, two days before engaging in theBattle off Horaniu.

SETTING:Date: 18 August 1943, 0500 Location: Off Vella LavellaHistory: On August 15, 1943, American forces landed on theisland of Vella Lavella. The landings provoked a Japaneseresponse two nights later, when a convoy of small craft escortedby four Japanese destroyers headed for the island. An Americanscout plane spotted this sortie, and four destroyers weredispatched to thwart it. The two forces collided off Horaniu.Conditions: The visibility conditions are a clear sky, a full moonand a calm sea , base range 13,600 yards(54.40 inches) Victory Conditions:Victory is decided on points:Score one point for each ship torpedoed but not sunk and twopoints for each ship sunk.


SCENARIO RULES:

1. Although the Japanese forces are not considered alert untilthey sight an American ship, they are aided by a spotter plane.To simulate this, roll one die during each Sighting Segment. Ona roll of 1, the American ships are all considered to beilluminated by star-shell.2. All American ships have SG search radar, CICs and Mk 12fire control radar.

UNITED STATES NAVY:USN Division 1:Captain Thomas J. Ryan

Nicholas (Fletcher - flag)O'Bannon (Fletcher)Taylor (Fletcher)Chevalier (Fletcher)

The Americans enter the map on game-turn 1 on the east edge26,000 yards from the north edge. They enter in line aheadformation in the order listed, steaming on a course of 300degrees.

The American friendly edge is to the east

NIHON KAIGUN: NK Division 1: in line ahead formation, on a course of 300degrees.Rear Admiral Ijuim Matsuji

Sazanami (Fubuki - flag)Hamakaze (Kagero)

NK Division 2: is not currently a formation. Shigure is12,000 yards from the north edge and 15,000 yards from theeast edge; Isokaze is within 2,000 yards of Shigure. Roll one dieand multiply the result by 60 to determine the course of eachship.

Shigure (Shiratsuyu - flag)Isokaze (Kagero)

The Japanese friendly edge is to the west

AFTERMATH:Although a furious action was fought at long range, neither side inflicted serious damage. The Americans scored hits on Hamakazeand Isokaze; the Japanese convoy dispersed and -- for the most part -- escaped.





Vella Lavella

USS Chevalier.

SETTING:Date: 6 October 1943, 2203 Location: Off Vella Lavella, Solomon Islands.History: In October of 1943, the Japanese high command sentthe "Tokyo Express" to evacuate Vella Lavella. When aerialreconnaissance spotted the Japanese sortie, Admiral Wilkinsonordered two separate groups of destroyers to intercept it. One ofthe forces made contact, and attacked.Conditions: The visibility conditions are clear with a moon , base range 13,600 yards(54.40 inches) Victory Conditions:Victory is decided on points:Score one point for each ship torpedoed but not sunk and twopoints for each ship sunk.


SCENARIO RULES:

1. Japanese forces are all alert.

2. All American ships except Selfridge have SG search radar,CICs and Mk 12 fire control radars. Selfridge has SG and Mk 3radars.3. The Japanese have a float plane which can place a star-shellat any location on the playing surface in any Sighting Segmentin which the Japanese player rolls 2 or 1 on a die.4. Optional (but recommended): Both the Japanese and theAmericans had unengaged forces in the vicinity of the battle.Either could have joined. Each side rolls two dice at the start ofeach turn to determine whether these forces engage.

(a) On a roll of 4 or less, American Division 2 appears on theeast edge at any point selected by the American player.Division 2 consists of: Ralph Talbot (Bagley - flag), Taylor(Fletcher) and LaVallette (Fletcher). The Fletchers have SG andMk 12 radars; Ralph Talbot has SG and Mk 4.

(b) On a roll of 3 or less, Japanese Division 3 appears on thewest edge at any point selected by the Japanese player.Division 3 consists of: Fumizuki (Mutsuki - flag), Matsukaze(Kamikaze), Yunagi (Kamikaze).

UNITED STATES NAVY:USN Division 1: in line ahead formation with Selfridge leading.They are on a course of 240 degrees.

Captain Frank R. Walker

Selfridge (Porter - flag)Chevalier (Fletcher)O'Bannon (Fletcher)

The American friendly map side is the east side.

NIHON KAIGUN: NK Division 1: is in line with Akigumo leading. Its course is 030degrees.

Rear Admiral Ijuin Matsuji

Yugumo (Yugumo)Kazegumo (Yugumo)Isokaze (Kagero)Akigumo (Yugumo - flag)

NK Division 2: is steaming in line ahead formation -- withShigure leading -- on a course of 210 degrees.

Samidare (Shiratsuyu)Shigure (Shiratsuyu - flag)

The Japanese friendly map side is the west side.



AFTERMATH:Fighting at two to one odds, Walker's force succeeded in sinking Yugumo. The Japanese torpedo riposte blasted Chevalier andblew off Selfridge's bow. O'Bannon, fighting in her fifth surface action since the First Naval Battle of Guadalcanal almost a yearpreviously, suffered minor damage in a collision with the disabled Selfridge.



Empress Augusta Bay

A Japanese aircraft crashes (upper centre) into the ocean near the U.S. cruiser Columbia on November 2, 1943, during air attacks on Allied ships off Bougainville, a few hours after the Naval Battle of Empress Augusta Bay.

SETTING:Date: 2 November 1943, 0025Location: Off Bougainville, Solomon Islands.History: The invasion of Bougainville marked the end of theAllies' long climb up the Solomons chain towards Rabaul. After

this landing, the Japanese base would be left to wither on thevine. The Japanese response to this last invasion was the sameas the response to the first, at Guadalcanal fifteen monthsbefore. A scratch force was thrown down the Slot to attack theAmerican invasion fleet. This time, however, the Japanese facedan opponent that had learned its lessons on the slow push west.Conditions: The visibility conditions are calm and partly cloudywith no moon , base range 4,488 yards(17.95 inches) Victory Conditions:Victory is decided on points:Score 1 point for each destroyer sunk, 2 points for eachJapanese light cruiser sunk and 3 points for each American orJapanese heavy cruiser sunk. Score 2 points for each cruisertorpedoed but not sunk. Score 1 point for each Japanese lightcruiser and 2 for each Japanese heavy cruiser with functioningmain gun armament and at least capable of half speed exited offthe east edge.Game Length: 24 Turns

SCENARIO RULES : 1. All American ships have SG search radar, Mk 12 or Mk 8 firecontrol radar, and CICs. The Americans are forewarned of theJapanese approach, and may manoeuvre freely from turn 1.2. The Japanese are aided by a floatplane. In each turn's

spotting phase, the Japanese player rolls 2D6. If a "4" is rolled,one randomly selected American ship is illuminated by star-shell.

UNITED STATES NAVY:USN Division 1:Rear Admiral A. Stanton Merrill

Montpelier (Cleveland - flag)Cleveland (Cleveland)Columbia (Cleveland)Denver (Cleveland)

USN Division 2:Ausburne (Fletcher - flag)Dyson (Fletcher)Stanly (Fletcher)Claxton (Fletcher)

USN Division 3:Spence (Fletcher - flag)Thatcher (Fletcher)Converse (Fletcher)Foote (Fletcher)

NIHON KAIGUN: NK Division 1: Rear Admiral Omori Sentaro

Sendai (Sendai - flag)Shigure (Shiratsuyu)Samidare (Shiratsuyu)Shiratsuyu (Shiratsuyu)

NK Division 2: Myoko (Myoko - flag)Haguro (Myoko)

NK Division 3: Agano (Agano - flag)Naganami (Yugumo)Hatsukaze (Kagero)Wakatsuki (Akitsuki)



The American friendly edge is the east edge.

The Americans also begin in three parallel columns, all on acourse of 300 degrees.

The Japanese player may treat either the east or the west edgesas friendly.

The Japanese enter from the northwest corner in three parallelcolumns, all on a course of 120 degrees. Division 2 enters at thecorner, Division 1 10,000 yards to the east, Division 3 4,000yards to the south.

AFTERMATH:The Americans poured radar-controlled gunfire into Omori's columns, smothering Sendai and causing Shigure and Samidare tocollide. Hatsukaze was caught and sunk after colliding with Myoko. The Japanese succeeded only in putting a torpedo into Foote'sstern before retiring.



Cape St George

Captain Burke(reading) on the bridge of USS Ausburne

SETTING:Date: 25 November 1943, 0140Location: Off Cape St George, New Ireland, Solomon Islands.History: Admiral Kusaka laid on yet another run of the TokyoExpress in November 1943 to transport combat soldiers to Bukaand pull out rear-echelon troops. Five American destroyersmoved to intercept the Japanese force.Conditions: The visibility conditions are overcast and moonless ,base range 4,488 yards(17.95 inches) Victory Conditions:Victory is decided on points:Score 2 points for each destroyer sunk and 1 point for eachdestroyer torpedoed but not sunk.


SCENARIO RULES:

1. All American ships have SG search radar, CICs, and Mk 12fire control radar2. The Japanese destroyers in Division 2 may not use torpedoreloads, being burdened by troops.

UNITED STATES NAVY:USN Division 1:Captain Arleigh A. Burke

Ausburne (Fletcher - flag)Claxton (Fletcher)Dyson (Fletcher)

USN Division 2:

Converse (Fletcher - flag)Spence (Fletcher)

The American divisions are steaming in parallel columns, withboth flagships leading. Converse is 2,000 yards west of Dyson;Ausburne is 34,000 yards east of the east edge and 60,000yards south of the north edge. The columns are steaming on acourse of 360 degrees (due north).

The American friendly edge is the south edge.

NIHON KAIGUN: NK Division 1: Captain Kagawa Kiyoto

Onami (Yugumo - flag)Makinami (Yugumo)

NK Division 2:

Amagiri (Fubuki refit - flag)

Yugiri (Fubuki refit)Uzuki (Mutsuki)

The Japanese begin with only Division 1 on the playing surface.It begins in line ahead formation, with Onami leading, 10,000yards from the east edge and 46,000 yards from the north edge.Division 2 enters on the third turn of the game on the east edge48,000 yards from the north edge. It is also in line aheadformation, with Amagiri leading. Both columns are steaming on acourse of 270 degrees.

The Japanese friendly edge is the north edge.



AFTERMATH:Burke began by sinking the two Japanese screen destroyers with a surprise torpedo attack. He then gave chase to thetransport unit, sinking Yugiri in a running gun battle. The Americans steamed almost as far a Rabaul itself, and retired undamaged.



Action off Enogai

USS Strong

SETTING:Date: 5 July 1943, 0005Location: Off Bougainville, Solomon Islands.History: On July 5, 1943, American ships entered Kula Gulf toland troops at Rice Anchorage (on the island of New Georgia)and bombard Japanese positions at Vila and Bairoka. Theirmission coincided with a Japanese effort to reinforce the Vilagarrison.Conditions: The visibility conditions are overcast and moonless ,

base range 4,488 yards(17.95 inches) Victory Conditions:Victory is decided on points:a) 2 per cruiser sunk;

b) 1 per destroyer sunk;


SCENARIO RULES:

1. All USN ships have SG radar and CICs, and Mk 8 or Mk 12fire control radars.2. The Japanese are alert. The Niizuki has the equivalent of SGradar and a CIC.3. All American ships must bombard both Vila and Bairoka. Theformer is on the west edge 10,000 yards from the south edge.The latter is on the east edge 10,000 yards from the south edge.They must deliver the bombardment from within 10,000 yards ofeach place, and must spend 6 turns in total on the bombardmentmission (including transit time between the two). Of course, theyare considered to be firing while within 10,000 yards of eitherplace and engaged in the bombardment. While bombarding, theAmericans cannot use their SG radar and spot visually with a-2,000 yards spotting modifier.

4. There is a Japanese battery of four 6 inch guns (range 16,000yards) located at Bairoka. It will only fire at American ships thatare dead in the water or on fire.

UNITED STATES NAVY:

USN Division 1:Rear Admiral Walden L. Ainsworth

Nicholas (Fletcher - flag)Strong (Fletcher)

USN Division 2:

Honolulu (Brooklyn - flag)Helena (St. Louis)St. Louis (St. Louis)

USN Division 3:

Chevalier (Fletcher - flag)

O’Bannon (Fletcher)

The American divisions are steaming in order in line on a courseof 180 degrees.

For both sides, the friendly edge is the north edge.

NIHON KAIGUN:

NK Division 1: on a course of 180 degrees (due south)Rear Admiral Akiyama Teruo

Niizuki (Akitsuki- flag)Yunagi (Kamikaze)Nagatsuki (Mutsuki)

For both sides, the friendly edge is the north edge.



AFTERMATH:The Japanese spotted the American bombardment force and launched torpedoes at least 15 minutes before the Americans knewthat the Japanese were even there. One Long Lance torpedo slammed into Strong; she sank an hour later. Because the Japaneselaunched at a range or 11 miles -- far beyond the range of any American torpedo -- the Americans were left baffled at the cause ofthe Strong’s sinking. The authorities are at odds over the details of this action. Dull identifies the engaged ships as Niizuki, Yunagiand Nagatsuki, and says that the Niizuki fed target data from her radar to her consorts. 1 This is at odds with other data on Japaneseradar development, which suggests that the Japanese had no effective surface search sets at the time of this engagement. 2 Rohwerand Hummelchen list the Japanese ships in the action as the Mochizuki, Mikazuki and Hamakaze under Captain Tsuneo Orita --three older destroyer-transports that probably would not have had radar and may not even have had Long Lance torpedoes. 3 This

group was the “First Transport Unit” at the battle of Kula Gulf. Morison does not identify the Japanese vessels at all, writing only thatthe Americans had two radar contacts, and makes no reference to how the Japanese spotted their targets or laid their weapons. 4

Despite other data, Morison credits Niizuki with radar and says that she used it at the Battle of Kula Gulf (where she was sunk). 5

Morison’s account of that battle suggests that Niikuki’s set detected the presence of American ships 34 minutes before theAmericans SG radar detected the Japanese, and that the Americans were tracked down to a range of 12,000 yards. 6 Morison alsosays that the action off Enogai took place on a “dark, overcast night,” so it seems unlikely that Japanese optics outranged Americanradar in the engagement. 7 Based on this, I conclude that the Niizuki was present at this action, and that her radar data resulted inthe hits scored that night. An alternate explanation, which the players may wish to explore, is that the three Japanese destroyerswere hidden against the shoreline at Bairoka, launched torpedoes and then were spotted only when the exited the gulf.



Ormoc Bay

USS Cooper

SETTING:Date: 3 December 1944, 0030Location: Ormoc Bay, Leyte, Phillipines.

History: The American invasion of Leyte brought aboutconditions for Japanese reinforcement and re-supply missionsreminiscent of those seen in the Solomons in 1943. Using thecover of bad weather or night, the Japanese would slipreinforcements down the Phillipines archipelago from Luzon toLeyte. While Japanese tactics recalled 1943, the strongAmerican air and naval presence in the Phillipines made themvery costly. Although U.S. Army and Navy air units wreakedmost of the damage on these desperate Japanese efforts, oneJapanese supply convoy collided with USN surface units.Conditions: The visibility conditions are a clear night with theaction fought after the full moon had set , base range 4,488 yards(17.95 inches) Victory Conditions:Victory is decided on points:

Score 2 points for each destroyer sunk and 1 point for eachdestroyer torpedoed but not sunk.


SCENARIO RULES:

1. All American ships have SG search radar, CICs, and Mk 12fire control radar.

UNITED STATES NAVY:USN Division 1:Commander J. C. Zahm

Sumner (Sumner - flag)Moale (Sumner)Cooper (Sumner)

The United States friendly edge is the south edge.

NIHON KAIGUN: NK Division 1: on a course of 180 (due south) in line.

Kuwa (Matsu - flag)Take (Matsu)

The Japanese friendly edge is the west edge.

AFTERMATH:The Japanese were proceeding close by the Leyte shore, and this helped nullify the normal advantage conferred by American radar.In a confused action, the Americans sank Kuwa with gunfire and damaged Take, but Take in turn finished Cooper with a torpedo.Moale also took gunfire hits, but survived.





Action off Manila

HMAS Gascoyne

SETTING:Date: 5 January 1945, 1430Location: Off Cape St George, New Ireland, Solomon Islands.History: In January of 1945 a vast American fleet moved north

through the South China Sea to support the invasion of Luzon.As the fleet moved north, patrolling aircraft spotted twoJapanese destroyers making a break from Manila harbour toFormosa. Destroyer Bennion and two Australian escort vesselswere detailed to intercept them.Conditions: The visibility conditions are a clear day , base range 28,900 yards(115.60 inches) Victory Conditions:Victory is decided on points:Score 2 points for each ship sunk and 1 point for each destroyertorpedoed but not sunk. The Japanese player receives 1 pointfor exiting both Japanese ships off the south edge of the map.


SCENARIO RULES:1. Bennion has SG search radar, CICs, and Mk 12 fire controlradar. The RAN ships have 271 and 285 radars and CICs.

ALLIED FORCES:Allied Division 1: enters on the north edge on turn 1

Bennion (Fletcher – flag)

Allied Division 2: follows Division 1 in line.

Warrago (RAN) (Grimsby)Gascoyne (RAN) (River)

The United States friendly edge is the north edge.

NIHON KAIGUN: NK Division 1: on a course of 270 (due west) in line.

Hinoki (Matsu - flag)Momi (Matsu)

The Japanese friendly edge is the south edge.

AFTERMATH:The Japanese ships aborted their mission and ran for Manila, with Bennion in hot pursuit. In the gun battle that followed, Bennion hitMomi but both Japanese ships escaped. They did not last long; Momi succumbed to US aircraft later in the afternoon, while Hinokiwas put under by overwhelming Allied surface forces two days later.



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Closing Rabaul