Old Breed General by Amy Rupertus Peacock & DON BROWN

Author:Amy Rupertus Peacock & DON BROWN
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Stackpole Books
Published: 2021-09-25T00:00:00+00:00

Diagram showing planned escape route of Japanese armada after the attack on Henderson Field. Diagram shows movement of US naval forces under Admiral Scott to cut off the Japanese advance of warships, cross the “T,” and open fire on Japanese naval forces.

Twenty-seven minutes later, at 2300 hours, search planes from USS San Francisco spotted the initial Japanese landing force under Admiral Jojima. The pilots reported this back to Admiral Scott, but no cruisers were sighted.

Scott’s cruisers could easily take out the Japanese destroyers, but he wanted to sink and disable Japanese cruisers. He needed to take out the cruisers to disable their naval threat.

In his gut, Scott knew that the Japanese warships would emerge through the clouds and rain squalls that dominated the night’s weather pattern inside the Slot. Patience.

Thirty minutes later, at 2333 hours—a breakthrough. “Admiral. Both USS Helena and USS Salt Lake City have radar contact. Contacts believed to be enemy heavy cruisers emerging from squalls, heading in this direction. Bearing one-three-five degrees. They’re coming out of the northwest, sir.”

“Very well. Sound General Quarters. Set course to two-three-zero degrees. All ahead full.”

“Aye, sir. Set course to two-three-zero degrees. All ahead full. Sound General Quarters.”

Scott’s task force executed a hard turn to the left. By setting a course for two-three-zero degrees, or southwest, Admiral Scott turned his ships into a line awaiting the Japanese column, to be prepared to cross the “T” as planned.

*****

Bridge, IJN Aoba

Approaching Savo Island

October 11, 1942

2343 Hours

“Admiral, our forward lookouts have sighted unidentified ships ahead. Our lookouts believe the ships to be American warships, sir.”

Gotō thought for a second. “American warships? That must be wrong. Admiral Jojima has radioed us that there are no American warships in the area. Plus, the Americans have proven themselves incompetent to fight on the open seas at night.”

He thought a bit more. Indeed, the lookouts were on edge and must be mistaken.

“The lookouts must have seen the rear ships from Admiral Jojima’s convoy and mistaken them for American warships. To be safe, slow our speed to 26 knots, flash identification signals, and let us see how they respond.”

“Flash identification signals?” said the commanding officer of the Aoba. “But Admiral, if our lookouts are right, and if the warships are American, would not flashing identification signals across the water help them target our position?”

Gotō smiled. “Captain, Admiral Jojima’s lead surface vessels have already crossed these waters and tell us that no American warships are in the area, and I believe that for many reasons, and that our lookouts are seeing the trailing ships of Jojima’s convoy.

“If we do not flash identification signals, we risk a collision at sea, which could affect our entire mission. The Americans are too far away to see our flashes. We will need the firepower of this cruiser and all the cruisers in our flotilla to destroy that airfield, which is our paramount goal.

“Now, Captain, please have your signal crew carry out my instructions to flash identification signals.”

“Yes, sir, Admiral.”

Admiral Gotō looked out to the water in front of the cruiser’s bridge, to see what the two lookout scouts were reporting.

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