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.

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