dinsdag 24 november 2015

The Second Battle of Rotuma (March 3rd 1932)

The Great Pacific War: A History of the American-Japanese Campaign of 1931-1933 

The Second Battle of Rotuma (March 3rd 1932)

Location of the battle

Location: Near Rotuma Island.

Date of the battle
March 3rd 1932.

Introduction

With the sinking of Albany-class light cruiser USS Columbia a day earlier in the First Battle of Rotuma the United States Navy warned by the USS Columbia before it was sunk are determined to intercept and destroy the Imperial Japanese Navy: Samoa Expeditionary Force.

Order of battle

Imperial Japanese Navy: Samoa Expeditionary Force

Izumo-class armored cruisers: Iwate (flag) and Izumo.

Yakumo-class armored cruiser: Yakumo.

Azuma-class armored cruiser: Azuma.

10 destroyers.

10 transports.

United States Navy: Asiatic Fleet

Albany-class light cruiser: USS Albany.

Wright-class seaplane carrier: USS Wright.

18 destroyers.

Outcome of the battle

First major United States strategic and tactical victory.

Losses suffered during the battle

The Imperial Japanese Navy: Samoa Expeditionary Force losses all four armored cruisers, ten destroyers along with three transports. The remaining seven transports surrendered and were escorted to Tutuila. The United States Navy lost only five destroyers sunk. This was the first significant United States victory of the Great Pacific War.

Casualties

United States Navy: Asiatic Fleet: 400 sailors and officers killed.

Imperial Japanese Navy: Samoa Expeditionary Force: 3,000 sailors and officers killed.


zondag 15 november 2015

The First Battle of Rotuma (March 2nd 1932)

The Great Pacific War: A History of the American-Japanese Campaign of 1931-1933 

The First Battle of Rotuma (March 2nd 1932)

Location of the battle

Location: Two hundred nautical miles northwest of Rotuma Island.

Date of the battle

March 2nd 1932.

Introduction

The defeat of the Bonins operation brought major changes to the United States Navy high command, including a new CNO and a new commander of the United States Fleet. The United States Navy also undertook a new line of operations, emphasizing the interruption of Japanese overseas commerce while preparing to seize the island of Truk as an advanced base. To this end a number of cruisers and destroyers were based at Tutuila in Samoa to interrupt the extensive Japanese commerce with Australia. The Japanese, aware of the potential threat, prepared an expedition to seize Tutuila.

Order of battle

Imperial Japanese Navy: Samoa Expeditionary Force

Izumo-class armored cruisers: Iwate (flag) and Izumo.

Yakumo-class armored cruiser: Yakumo.

Azuma-class armored cruiser: Azuma.

10 destroyers.

10 transports.

United States Navy: Asiatic Fleet

Albany-class light cruiser: USS Columbia.

6 destroyers 

Outcome of the battle

Japanese victory.

Losses suffered during the battle

Albany-class light cruiser USS Columbia captain ordered the six destroyers to escape while USS Columbia remained to engage the Japanese,all six destroyers escaped successfully. Columbia was sunk in the battle, but not before severely damaging Azuma-class armored cruiser Azuma and one destroyer.

Casualties

United States Navy: Asiatic Fleet: 300 sailors and officers killed.

Imperial Japanese Navy: Samoa Expeditionary Force: 97 sailors and officers killed.

Read more: Alternate Timelines Forum

vrijdag 6 november 2015

The Battle of the Bonins

The Great Pacific War

The Battle of the Bonins (January 8th 1932)

Location of the battle

Location: Pacific Ocean east of the Bonin Islands.

Date of the battle

January 8th 1932.

Introduction

In December 1931, the United States began preparations for a daring offensive against the Japanese-held Bonin Islands. The attacking forces would be divided into three groups: one consisting of the transports with a reinforced army division, one with the aircraft carriers, and the last with the battleships.

Order of battle

Imperial Japanese Navy: South Sea Squadron

Kuma-class light cruisers: Chitose (flag) and Oi

Ashigara-class light cruisers: Yoshino and Kasagi.

United States Navy: Asiatic Fleet

Albany-class light cruisers: USS Minneapolis (flag).

Omaha-class light cruisers: USS Marblehead, USS Concord and USS Cincinnati.

Lexington-class aircraft carrier: USS Saratoga.

18 destroyers

United States Navy Convoy

12 destroyers

22 Transports

Outcome of the battle

Japanese victory.

Losses suffered during the battle

The United States Navy: Asiatic Fleet losses Omaha-class light cruiser USS Marblehead, Albany-class light cruiser USS Minneapolis, eight destroyers and three transports carrying almost 4,000 men. The Imperial Japanese Navy: South Sea Squadron losses Kuma-class light cruisers Chitose and Oi and Ashigara-class light cruiser Kasagi. The badly damaged Omaha-class light cruiser USS Concord is sunk by a Japanese submarine the following day. The convoy eventually managed to join up with elements of the main fleet on January 11th.

Casualties

United States Navy: Asiatic Fleet: 4,000 killed including those who were on aboard the transports.

Imperial Japanese Navy: South Sea Squadron: 1,200 sailors and officers killed.

dinsdag 3 november 2015

The Battle of Yangste River (December 29th 1931)

The Great Pacific War: A History of the American-Japanese Campaign of 1931-1933

The Battle of Yangste River (December 29th 1931)

Location of the battle
Somewhere on the Yangste River.

Date of the battle
December 29th 1931.

Introduction
With war having broken out between the United States and the Empire of Japan several months earlier, tension between the two country on the Yangste River considered a neutral passageway is high. When a Japanese merchant captain believing that he is followed by the Palos-class river gunboat USS Palos fire on the schip, the situation escalates drawing in two Japanese river gunboats and the USS Palos into a fight.

Order of battle
Imperial Japanese Navy: 11th Gunboat Sentai
Fushimi-class river gunboat: Fushimi

Seta-class river gunboat: Hozu

United States Navy: Yangtze Patrol
Palos-class river gunboat: USS Palos.

Outcome of the battle
The two Japanese river gunboats severely wreck the USS Palos who is force to beech herself, intervention by the Chinese forces the two Japanese river gunboats to redrawn.

Losses suffered during the battle
USS Palos wreck beyond repair while Fushimi and Hozu suffer damage.

Aftermath of the battle 
After the Battle of Yangste River the Chinese pressured both the United States and the Empire of Japan to have the Yangste incident as it is called be investigated by the British who are neutral in the ongoing war between the United States and the Empire of Japan. After the British where done investigated they discover that the captain of the Japanese merchant tanker was to blame for the Yangste incident. After some negations both United States and the Empire of Japan agreed to let the British be informed of any movement of their gunboats on the Yangste River so they could inform the two sides of the whereabouts of their gunboats so to avoid any future incident from taking place.

Casualties

United States Navy: Yangtze Patrol: 27 sailors and officers killed.

Imperial Japanese Navy: 11th Gunboat Sentai: 14 sailors and officers killed.

Read more: Alternate Timelines Forum