Battle of Empress Augusta Bay

[Bubblehead1980]

TMO RSRD USS Drum..November 2 1943

While en route to Truk from Brisbane., decided to patrol south of Rabaul to see if Japanese sortied anything in response to US landings(its RSRD so it mimics history usually) Sure enough, heavy cruisers and light cruisers sortied on morning of October 31, attacked and sank 1 heavy CA, damaged another. On noon of November 1, headed off Empress Augusta Bay, made approach on a TF that night, as was about to fire, spotted US flag in the TBT, almost fired on a US heavy cruiser.I then moved ahead of TF to scout.Around 230 on November 2nd, more radar contacts from the NW.Was attempted to close when gunfire erupted from the US ships, and then the Japanese, it was on.

A naval slugfest broke out, I rushed through the formation at flank speed, trying to get in position to make a torpedo attack on Japanese. I made it through and was about 6000 yards when I was forced to dive due to big shell splashes having me pegged, some were too close.Continued to close and fired from 5,500 yards at what looked like a heavy cruiser. The battle raged as two torpedoes hit something(assume the cruiser) After a while, the area was littered with ships from both sides on fire, burning.I never was able to reestablish contact with the ijn force.Dawn came to find several ships afloat but sinking.One of the more intense battles ive encountered in RSRD, first time I have been around for it as well.Just wish ships could accurately fire torpedoes on one another.