Quote:
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Originally Posted by Sailor Steve
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Not quite, according to this from the TROM for I19:
15 September 1942:
At 0950, while running submerged, the sound operator reports a contact with many heavy screws at 12-18S, 164-15E. Kinashi orders I-19 to periscope depth. He makes a sweep with his 'scope but no ships are in sight.
250 miles SE of Guadalcanal. Captain (later Admiral) Forrest P. Sherman's USS WASP and Captain Charles P. Mason's (later Rear Admiral) HORNET (CV-8) are escorting a reinforcement convoy of six transports carrying the 7th Marine Regiment from Espiritu Santo to reinforce Guadalcanal. The carriers are steaming in sight of each other about 8 miles apart. Each carrier forms the nucleus of a task force. Captain George H. Fort's (later Rear Admiral) battleship USS NORTH CAROLINA (BB-55) is with the HORNET task force to the NE of the WASP force.
At 1050, Kinashi raises his periscope again. This time he sees a carrier, a heavy cruiser and several destroyers (Rear Admiral Leigh Noyes' Task Force 18) bearing 045T at 9 miles. Kinashi estimates the task force's course at 330 and begins a slow approach. The Americans, zigzagging at 16 knots, change course to WNW. Then at 1120, the target group again changes course -this time to SSE. The WASP makes a slow left turn into the wind to launch and recover her aircraft - and heads toward the I-19.
Kinashi estimates that his target is on course 130 degrees making 12 knots. At 1145, from 50 degrees starboard, he fires a spread of six Type 95 oxygen-propelled torpedoes at the enemy carrier from 985 yards. Two or possibly three hit the WASP and start an uncontrollable fire.
The HORNET force continues a right turn to a 280 degree base course. Suddenly, an alarm is heard the tactical radio speakers from the USS LANSDOWNE (DD-486) in the WASP's screen "... torpedo headed for formation, course 080!"
At 1152, a torpedo from the I-19's salvo hits the NORTH CAROLINA in her port bow abreast of her forward main battery turret.*** The blast holes the side protection below the armor belt and the NORTH CAROLINA takes on a thousand tons of water. She takes on a five-degree list but counter flooding quickly levels her and she makes 25 knots.
At 1154, a torpedo hits the destroyer O'BRIEN's (DD-415) port quarter**** and another just misses the HORNET.
The I-19 dives to 265 feet under the carrier's wake. The first depth charge explodes six minutes after the last torpedo hit. Soon the depth charges were exploding all around. American destroyers try to surround the I-19 to attack together and finish her off. They rain down 30 depth charges.
At noon, the WASP's avgas tanks explode. At 1515, two cruisers and destroyers abandon the WASP and withdraw to the south. At 1520, Captain Sherman orders "Abandon Ship". The carrier is scuttled by five torpedoes from the LANSDOWNE and sinks by the bow at about 2100. The WASP suffers 193 killed and 367 wounded.