30 March 1943
Major setback in Java Campaign: surface task force sent to interdict reinforcements hit by Betties
Celebes Sea
USS Herring hit a military cargo ship with 2 (detonating) torpedoes off Davao for a confirmed kill.
Luzon Strait
USS Snapper torpedoed an escorted tanker just south of Taiwain. The damage appeared lethal.
Java
I had intended for my heavy surface task force to interdict a task force unloading at Batavia, but they moved slower than I realized. Probably my fault. Sunrise came, they got spotted short of their goal, and really in the worst possible spot because they were as far away from our supporting bases as they'd ever be on their trip. The further away, the less planes we can maintain on CAP. The first raid was 42 Zeroes escorting 28 Betties vs 4 P-40s and 9 Wildcats. One Zero went down along with 2 Wildcats. It wouldn't get any better. By day's end, these were the hits:
Wave 1:
BB Nevada, Torpedo hits 1
Wave 2:
BB Revenge, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
BB Nevada, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk
Wave 3:
CA Portland, Torpedo hits 1
Wave 4:
CA Vincennes, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
Wave 5:
BB Revenge, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
Wave 6:
CA Portland, Torpedo hits 1
A replenishment group was also hit. Our peak CAP was 12 planes while their peak escort was 39 fighters. Our defense was much better here despite the similar numbers. Enemy losses: 12 Zeroes, 1 Oscar, 2 Kates; we lost 2 P-40s.
Wave 1:
AO Cimarron, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AO Platte, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
Wave 2: AE Lassen, Torpedo hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
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