20 October 1943
USS Raton forced to surface by depth charging, but survives
CVBG replenishment underway
Palau Islands
Interesting submarine engagement here. USS Raton attacked a convoy, striking a cargo ship with a Mk14. Probably a kill. Two Kaibokans prosecute the Raton, and they quickly score two solid depth charge hits plus a few damaging near misses. Raton forces to surface. It trades fire with the Kaibokans, hitting one of them with its deck gun and taking at 2-4 hits from the various guns aboard the skimmers. Then Raton is able to break contact. I'm not sure how...the top speed of these ships is 19 knots; considering that the Raton was taking on water its top speed was lower than that. So it looks like they got things under control enough to dive again. Current damage report from Raton is that they have significant flooding but have it under control, they're expected to make it back to base.
China
The enemy 11th Tank Regiment has been destroyed near Nanchang.
Enemy troops are advancing from Hangkow to Sinyang, probably trying to break the stalemate there. They have to cross open ground to get there and are now a bomber priority.
The enemy has also quietly increased their forces in the small mountain base hex of Tisatso. I'm thinking the high defensive bonus will help me hold out if he's planning on that hex becoming an active front.
CENTPAC
I've decided it was a bad call to only retreat half my carrier forces--he's not going to fall for it and the KB is lurking. Admiral Halsey is taking all remaining US warships back to Wake for replenishment and to rendezvous with the reinforcements from Guadalcanal. Along the way, the task force spotted a Japanese sub trying to penetrate the screen, and the escorting destroyers drove it off while inflicting serious depth charge damage. That left the sub vulnerable to the next task force coming through, one of the amphibious groups. The destroyers in that task force finished the enemy boat off.
The first carrier task force to retreat has fully replenished their fuel and aircraft fuel/bomb/torpedo supplies. All ships except Yorktown have taken enough replacement aircraft to return to full strength; Yorktown's attack aircraft are mostly replaced but fighter aircraft will take longer; I'll probably have to fly some from Wake to her once she heads back.
Reinforcements
PF San Pedro arrives at Mare Island
6th PG/25th PRS arrives at Eastern USA
58th FG/69th FS arrives at Eastern USA
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