[Molon Labe]

15 September 1943
KB somehow avoids serious damage as constant raids wear down their fighter screen - but PT boats cause serious enemy troop losses on the beach.


DEI
SS KXII took some depth charge damage off Kendari from an ASW patrol. Didn't take them long to get another one there after losing one a few days ago.

I attempted a rare night torpedo attack with 3 Beuforts against shipping at Ambon. They attacked a troop transport and missed, 1 was lost to flak.

The Akagi--still at Ambon (I actually thought they pulled out yesterday)--hit a mine.

Next a PT squadron arrived after heading north from Babar. At the cost of 8 of the 12 PT boats, we scored several hits on transports getting loaded up on the beaches:


CL Katori
DD Urakaze
E Manazuru
E W-16
E Naryu
AK Sasako Maru, Shell hits 2
AK Kaga Maru
AK Kinka Maru
AK Tosan Maru, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
AK Ayatosan Maru, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
xAP Tatsuta Maru, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
xAP Terukuni Maru
xAP Hakone Maru
xAP Hakozaki Maru
xAP Hakusan Maru, Shell hits 4, on fire
xAP Kashima Maru, Shell hits 7, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
xAP Husimi Maru, Shell hits 3, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
xAP Suwa Maru, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
xAP Buenos Aires Maru, Shell hits 4
xAP Horai Maru, Shell hits 1
xAP Yoshino Maru, Shell hits 1
xAP Ukishima Maru, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
Japanese ground losses:
7560 casualties reported

So I guess the PTs did what the dive bombers couldn't, making sure Ambon was a grave for as many Japanese soldiers as possible. I wish it could have been more.

We did follow that up with another air raid, 34 Hellcats and 18 P-40s escorting 35 Avengers, 3 SBDs, and 3 Beauforts. Enemy CAP strength was 80! Despite having the Shokaku pounded and the Akagi now hit twice! Only 8 Avengers got through, firing torpedoes at Ise, Zuikaku, and Akagi--no hits. We lost 4 Hellcats, 5 P-40s, all 3 SBDs, 2 Beauforts, and 28 of the Avengers. Our fighters only shot down 1 Nick during this raid!

B-24 raids on Ambon resumed now that those squadrons have had time to repair their planes from the Kendari strikes. 2 were shot down--and they got two Zeroes. Damage to the port facilities were minimal.

A sweep by 24 P-47s arrived next, finally we got some enemy fighters shot down. No P-47 losses, the enemy lost a Nick, a George, and 5 Zeroes. Enemy CAP strength was down to just 8 planes prior to the fight.

32 SBD-5s arrived next unescorted, but by this point the enemy CAP was worn down to just 1 Zero, which shot down just 1 SBD. These bombers attacked Zuiakaku, Shokaku, Akagi, and Musashi--and all missed. 2 more were lost to flak. 9 Beauforts then attacked at low level, firing torpedoes at the Mushashi, Ise, and Shokaku, and again all missed. 2 were shot down by flak.

Next 15 Hellcats and 19 P-40s arrived with 19 SBD-5s. At this point there was no enemy CAP left. The bombers attacked Haruna, Mushashi, Ise, Shokaku, and Akagi, scoring just 1 hit on Mushashi and 3 hits on Ise (starting a fire). Damage did not appear serious.

In the afternoon, Boela tried to attack again with what was left of its Avengers--just 3--escorted by 11 P-40s and 21 Hellcats. The enemy CAP had recovered at this point and was back up to 37 aircraft. Only 1 Avenger got through, firing a torpedo at Zuikaku, which missed. The raid cost 6 Hellcats, 2 P-40s, and all 3 Avengers. Our fighters brought down a Nick and 2 Zeroes.


Reinforcements
DD Kimberly arrives at Eastern USA