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Post by vonfriedman on Dec 1, 2022 9:49:33 GMT -6
After a long attendance of this forum I am convinced that its participants can be roughly divided into two categories. The first and by far the most numerous are those who are passionate about naval technicalities, so to speak. The second is instead made up of those who are above all interested in the operational and tactical aspects of naval warfare. For the benefit of the latter, I propose to present a new SAI campaign, based on a premise, which I have already exposed here in the thread entitled "Pacific campaign game" and, in particular, with the term Gekokujō. Since it won't be very simple, before proceeding further I would like to know how many might be interested in downloading the relative campaign and ships files (when they will be - if they will be - ready) and try to play this campaign. My aim is not so much to attract the applause or boos of any players, but to show the further possibilities of SAI and above all of a further evolved SAI, which incorporates the RTW aeronaval simulation mechanics along with other improvements (eg. smoke screens), which some of us have long requested the NWS team to develop. On this occasion, I would also like to report some of my observations aimed at filling what seem to me gaps in the SAI campaign editor's user manual.
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Post by vonfriedman on Dec 4, 2022 4:53:44 GMT -6
At the time of writing, 29 people have visited this thread. They are four more than the 25 readers Alessandro Manzoni referred to in the incipit of his novel "I promessi sposi". As an armchair admiral I am also encouraged by what Admiral Reginald Aylmer Ranfurly Plunkett-Ernle-Erle-Drax (sic) said to Admiral Andrew Browne Cunningham, when as Captain he took command of HMS Rodney: ''Cunningham, on no account allow yourself to become entangled in the technicalities.” So I introduce you in an overview of this campaign, which takes place entirely around the Philippines. The USA - unlike historical reality - have already fortified the area around Manila, so as to make it capable of withstanding an attack from the land side, allowing the Pacific and Atlantic Fleets to bring relief in time. Historically US troops were able to hold Manila until May 1942; here it is assumed that they hold out to the end of the game, i.e. the date of the great Kantō earthquake that destroyed Tokyo. A "Land campaign" is indicated in the .crf file of a SAI campaign, but the user manual does not provide explanations about it. To overcome this difficulty, it is simulated here a succession of localities in the Philippines that are gradually conquered by the Japanese, who from the beginning control the port of Aparri in northern Luzon, where they landed. Later, the eastern port of Legazpi is also captured. The US ships based there are therefore withdrawn. From here on we will only be concerned with the naval aspects of the campaign. Since the availability of dry and floating docks in Manila is assumed to be limited, the repair capabilities of the two sides are more or less the same as in the Russian Japanese war (RJW) campaign, with an advantage for the Japanese. The aerial reconnaissance, although covering the entire area of operations, is not very effective, as in the North Sea campaign, a few years earlier. Both sides have few submarines and some minelayers. At the start of the game, the Japanese enjoy a naval superiority in the seas around the Philippines. In front of their four modern BBs and four modern BCs, all perfectly trained, are only six US Bs. Later the situation becomes more balanced. The Japanese, losses aside - e.g. due to minefields - will have to deal with the wear and tear caused by long round-trips (from Takao in southern Formosa/Taiwan to Manila there are about 500 nautical miles). Two or three months after the outbreak of hostilities, several modern BBs from Pearl Harbor will begin to arrive in Subic Bay together with escort DDs. These BBs are presumed not to have been sunk or seriously damaged while crossing the seas, east of the Philippines, where the Japanese have many bases. (These events are not included in the campaign except to establish a certain probability of appearing in the OOB). Still others US BBs will arrive later. Conversely, the Japanese will deploy the brand new BBs Nagato and Mutsu at about the same time. And now we are, ready to begin. Here you can admire the powerful BC Haruna of the 2nd Fleet commanded by Admiral Suzuki Kantarō and the USS Virginia, flagship of the Admiral William Ledyard Rodgers (note the unconventional placement of the secondary armament turret above the main one).
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Post by vonfriedman on Dec 4, 2022 11:25:42 GMT -6
AAR Report - 1st monthly turn, December 1Q21 – War declared. Japanese troop land in northern Luzon and seize the port of Aparri. The Japanese HQ requests to send 2CLs to intercept US merchants on the eastern route Guam-Legazpi. Four Kongo class BCs sail from Takao to protect the landing zone from a possible US bombardment raid. Shortly after their departure a SIGINT report is received about 5 enemy Bs W of Luzon. The 2nd (old) BC squadron is activated in emergency. Shortly after, the Kongos, in full daylight, engage a US force composed by 4 old battleship (Virginia class, 4x12” guns each) plus CLs and escorting DDs. Firing near the maximum range of their eight 14” guns, in a rather long gun battle ending at nightfall, the Japanese BCs manage to sink two enemy battleships (USSs Vermont and Virginia) and the DD Lamb before exhausting their ammunition. At a certain phase of the battle JIS Haruna needs to be temporarily detached owing to heavy flooding. The two old Japanese BCs arrive too late to participate in the day battle and do not dare to risk a night battle with the surviving American pre-dreadnoughts and DDs retreating to Subic Bay. In the meantime two Japanese CLs sailed from Palau are unable to find enemy TRs in the objective area and being short of fuel at nightfall return home. Three Japanese BCs receive medium battle damage and two of them need rather long repairs. Moreover, owing to bad weather, some DDs are damaged. Japanese major victory, about 45000 victory points gained.
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Post by vonfriedman on Dec 5, 2022 15:46:21 GMT -6
AAR, January 1Q22 – The Japanese HQ requests to bombard land targets on the western coast of Luzon to support the Japanese troops advancing towards Manila. Because three modern BCs out of four of the 2nd Fleet are still in repair, two Ise and two Fuso class BBs with CLs and escorting DDs of the 1st Fleet sail from the base of Keelung in northern Formosa,to carry out the envisaged operation. Two enemy land targets are destroyed. The Japanese force then continues sailing south, hoping to engage battle with capital American ships from Subic Bay. In full daylight they meet two patrolling DDs and sink both of them. The result of this costly sweep (12 ships in total) seems at first rather unsatisfactory, because the American capital ships apparently refuse to leave their base, which is protected by a large minefield and also by some forts. Moreover, no American merchant ship sailing to or from Manila is intercepted. Being short of fuel (the DDs in particular), the Japanese at night reverse course and head towards Takao. After dawn, unexpectedly four American DDs returning to Subic Bay are sighted. It appears that they have sailed the day before from Subic and have performed a failed raid against Japanese merchant ships between Takao and Aparri. After several attempts to carry out a torpedo attack, the American DDs are one by one sunk by the combined fire of the Japanese BBs, CLs and DDs. Finally, as the Japanese ships approach Takao, the DD Akikaze, which had separated from the main force being particularly low on fuel, strikes a mine but manages to return to port. One of the Japanese CLs is also lightly damaged by gunfire. The Japanese admiral, while admiring the courage of the enemy sailors, criticizes the choice of the American DDs to attack in full daylight, the weather being also clear. The Japanese reconnaissance and SIGINT organization are also to be criticized, because the American ships (2 old CLs were also at sea) have operated undetected for an entire day at relatively short distance from two Japanese bases. Japanese victory, about 20000 victory points gained. In the attached image you can see the battleship Ise departing from the Keelung base.
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Post by vonfriedman on Dec 6, 2022 12:41:57 GMT -6
AAR - 3rd monthly turn, February 1Q22 – Raids against enemy merchant traffic both by Japanese and by US The recently promoted Rear Admiral Yamamoto sets sail NE with his two Chikuma class CLs from Palau, towards the objective. In the meantime, because two of his modern BCs are still in repair, Admiral Suzuki decides to sail for a protective cruise N of the landing zones with Haruna and Kirishima together with the two old BCs of the Ibuki class. He assumes that his force would be able to deal with the few US Bs remaining in Subic Bay. He also sends some submarines NW of Subic Bay hoping (in vain) to obtain early sighting reports. As soon Suzuki arrives near Aparri, an attack of several US ships on Japanese merchant ships south of Formosa is reported in the afternoon. Suzuki immediately speeds N with his fast BCs, the Ibukis being too slow to keep in formation with them. SIGINT operators being better than the month before, the US force (1 CA, 1 CL, 2 DDs) is later reported at short distance NE of Suzuki’s battlecruisers. Just after nightfall a ship is sighted by the scouting Japanese CLs. Shortly after she is identified as a battleship and fire is opened by both parts. In short time the hapless old CA USS Brooklyn is crippled and finally blows up. The other US ships manage to escape undetected. No damage to Japanese warships but a TR is sunk. Yamamoto is less lucky, being unable to find any enemy merchant ship, notwithstanding repeated SIGINT reports about them. Moreover while returning home CL Hirado falls out of formation and she is subjected to wear and tear being late in returning to port. Finally, the Japanese Intelligence Service detects four modern US BBs just arrived in Subic Bay, while others will probably arrive soon, even if they have been attacked with some success by light Japanese forces near Guam. Japanese victory, about 20000 victory points gained.
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Post by vonfriedman on Dec 7, 2022 12:13:50 GMT -6
4th monthly turn, March 1Q22 – The Japanese HQ demands to send a troopships convoy to Aparri. While 4 troopships, escorted by DDs, sail from Takao, the 1st Battleships Division (N.1 Senkan Sentai) with CLs and DDs sails from Keelung in order to provide a heavy escort to this important convoy. After having made contact off the SE Formosa coast, the Japanese battleships and the troopship proceed to Aparri, where the troops are successfully landed. Later, while the BBs are patrolling the zone, the DDs of the convoy escort sight several American ships NW of Aparri and in a chase fight succeed in sinking the minelayer USS Pluto, whose mines explode. Two US DDs are later sunk by the approaching Japanese BBs. Afterwards the Japanese BBs sail S towards Subic Bay in the hope to find some US ships reported by SIGINT but no sightings occur. Conversely, during the night a US cruiser force is reported S of Formosa, where several Japanese merchant ships are sailing to and from Aparri. Two fast BCs are activated in a hurry and sent from Takao to hunt the enemy, while the BBs reverse course and sail N at maximum speed, but the American ships are not found. In this month the Japanese intelligence service fails to obtain new information on the American BBs present in Subic Bay, even if there are reports of attacks carried out by Japanese light forces against heavy American naval forces apparently coming from Pearl Harbor. Minor Japanese victory, about 10000 points gained.
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Post by vonfriedman on Dec 8, 2022 9:24:28 GMT -6
5th (two weeks) turn, March 1Q22 – The Japanese HQ demands to send a second troopships convoy to Aparri. Moreover, at least one land target on the W coast of Luzon must be destroyed.
Admiral Suzuki sails with his four BCs and four troopships, escorted by CLs and DDs, from Takao. After an uneventful navigation, the troops are safely landed in Aparri. Leaving there the merchant ships, Suzuki sails W and then S towards the enemy port facilities of Vigan, which are destroyed as specified by his orders. Later he proceeds further S hoping to find some enemy weaker detachment. He is determined to retreat if a stronger force of modern US BBs is encountered. Nothing happen. While returning to base, the Japanese BCs destroy also an enemy battery in Bolinao. Unfortunately both SIGINT and the aerial reconnaissance fail to report about an US cruiser force in the same area.
No further information is received about the US modern battleships whereabouts.
About 10000 victory points gained for obtaining the aforementioned objectives.
6th (two weeks) turn, April 1Q22 – Third troopships convoy sent to Aparri plus minelaying operation.
Admiral Suzuki repeats almost exactly the previous operation plan sailing with his four BCs and four troopships, escorted by CLs and DDs, from Takao. The Japanese troops are disembarked in Aparri without opposition. Then Suzuki sails towards the area where two of his CLs perform the prescribed minelaying. Later he carries out a sweep W of Manila without results. While returning home, SIGINT reports the presence of at least one enemy capital ship in the area of the previous sweep. Suzuki then reverses course, but he is only able to find and sink three enemy MSs. The Japanese ships are late in returning home and suffer tear and wear. Sailing behind the BCs owing to fuel shortage and being quite scattered, the isolated Japanese DDs are lucky in not being intercepted by a strong American DDs force from Subic Bay that apparently was hunting them. The Japanese Intelligence Service reports about seven modern US BBs in Subic Bay. In the meantime, the American and Philippine troops defending Manila are attacked for the first time, without success, by Japanese troops.
About 5000 victory points gained.
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Post by vonfriedman on Dec 9, 2022 8:40:55 GMT -6
These AARs are temporarlily (?) suspended because the files of this campaign need a little tweaking.
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Post by vonfriedman on Dec 10, 2022 8:17:00 GMT -6
AAR 7th turn, May 1Q22 - The Japanese must bombard a land target in W Luzon and also sink at least 2 TRs sailing along the eastern US traffic lane. Admiral Suzuki sails from Takao with all his BCs (4 modern + 2 old), 3 CLs and several DDs with the aim to bombard the enemy facilities in Vigan and also to find and to engage enemy weaker forces. His choice to bring along the slow, old ships of the Ibuki class is a mistake, since this will make it difficult to disengage form any enemy force composed by those modern US battleships that are known to have recently reached the base of Subic Bay, overcoming the perils of the long navigation from Pearl Harbour. Shortly after his departure, a SIGINT report is received about an enemy BB course north, E of Luzon, presumably a ship from the US base in Legazpi. Suzuki duly alter course to intercept this force, that is later sighted NE of Aparri. A gun battle follows, and the entire US force, composed by USS Huron (an old CA) and two DDs, is sunk, at the cost of the CL Kitakama, torpedoed by an enemy DD. Suzuki after having used up half the ammunition of his BCs (245 hits on the unfortunate Huron !), sails W and then S in the hope to find a weaker enemy force somewhere NW of Manila, before going to bombard Vigan. Several US BBs are then sighted by the aerial reconnaissance. Admiral Suzuki no longer has time to ask for the emergency activation of the distant Japanese battleships, still in port: in a short time, in fact, the two opposing fleets are facing each other. The Japanese admiral, sailing at the maximum speed of his capital ships (22 knots) is able to cross the T of a US battleship division composed by USSs Mississipi, Idaho, Wyoming and New Mexico, but decides soon to disengage, because the IJS Hiei has received a single 14” hit that caused heavy flooding. Moreover the two Ibukis are at risk of being rapidly disabled by the gunfire of the US battleships. By means of a simulated torpedo attack of his DDs, Suzuki succeeds in disengaging. Luckily for him the American admiral does not pursue the fleeting Japanese BCs, which are later compelled to proceed at slow speed to their base, owing to flooding risk in Hiei and also in one of the remaining CLs. The Japanese admiral considers that the American BBs remained almost undamaged in the brief gun battle (as a fact only USS New Mexico received two heavy hits) and, being East of him, could set an ambush off Vigan, which therefore is not bombarded. The first objective of the operation therefore is not achieved. The US ships instead sail towards a zone N of Aparri, where they sink two Japanese merchant ships and destroy the facilities of the Japanese base in Basco, in the island of Batan, S of Formosa. In the meantime, a Japanese CL force from Palau is only able to find a US large merchant ship E of the Philippines and to sink her. The second objective of the specified operation (sink 2 TRs) is also not achieved. Minor US victory. In the attached image you can see the USS Mississippi, flagship of Adm. Hugh Rodman, sailing along the Luzon coast, off Subic Bay Having achieved the aim of showing you how a Philippine SAI campaign (based on a counterfactual history described above) takes place I will stop here, remaining available to any interested people.
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Post by cwemyss on Dec 11, 2022 23:13:28 GMT -6
That's a great pic of the Mississippi!
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Post by vonfriedman on Dec 12, 2022 2:50:19 GMT -6
I would have liked to insert it full page, together with the maps and more, but I don't know how to do it: I only know how to insert attachments. Can you teach me? Two more questions: Would you like these AARs to continue? And how about playing this campaign?
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Post by cwemyss on Dec 12, 2022 8:40:29 GMT -6
I would have liked to insert it full page, together with the maps and more, but I don't know how to do it: I only know how to insert attachments. Can you teach me? Two more questions: Would you like these AARs to continue? And how about playing this campaign? Sent a PM with "how I do the pics", though as I said I'm sure it's not the best way... I am no master of anything digital. Re the campaign, if be all for seeing more of it!! I don't have SAI, so it'll be tough for me to play it. Total side note, I'd love to see some of its mechanisms ported over to wartime in the RTW family... 2 week timescale vs monthly, more "mission execution" and less "roll the dice and see if you get a cruiser or a fleet battle", etc.
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Post by vonfriedman on Dec 13, 2022 10:30:58 GMT -6
The other side of the horizon: an US AAR - May 1Q22 Thanks to Station Hypo (the US Navy Intelligence and codebreaking unit) Admiral Rodman learns that the Japanese are preparing an operation. At the same time, the Army generals, in Manila, demand that the Navy bombard the enemy port of Aparri, through which passes the bulk of the reinforcements of the Japanese troops who are advancing in Luzon and are already attacking the external defenses of Manila. Furthermore, two CLs must carry out a raid E of Formosa, trying to intercept Japanese merchant ships which usually pass through that area. The American admiral decides to put to sea with all the BBs available, which are not many (delaying the work planned for USS Idaho, he can deploy seven battleships) and, above all, these ships are not well trained, due to both the partial inactivity and the lack of suitable facilities in Subic Bay. The surviving old pre-dreadnoughts would only be a burden and a worry in case of battle, so despite Admiral Rodgers' insistence, they are left in port. Another headache for Adm. Rodman is the lack of CLs suitable for scouting. Admiral Gleaves, in Legazpi, has only two old CLs, which he must allocate to the foreseen raid E of Formosa. Some of the few American submarines can be deployed to form a chain to SSW of the Japanese base of Takao. Preceded by two old CAs that serve as scouts, USSs Mississipi, Idaho, New Mexico (6th Battle division) and Wyoming, Arkansas, New York, Texas (7th Battle division) with a dozen escort DDs depart Subic Bay heading north, while two CLs depart from Legazpi. SIGINT and aerial reconnaissance do not provide information, also because the weather is rainy (due to the summer monsoon these are the rainiest months). Arriving off Maira-ira Point, the northernmost tip of mainland Luzon, the American battleships head E towards Aparri, which they bombard, destroying the port, depots and an artillery park. Admiral Rodman decides then to sweep northwards, with the aim of finding and sinking any Japanese merchant ship and also to protect the mission of the two CLs, which are arriving from the south. Due to a certain delay in navigation, in the meantime it was getting dark, just as the first reconnaissance reports arrive, indicating the presence of Japanese battleships NE of Legazpi. The American admiral doesn't have much time to study the situation, because suddenly one of the forward screen DDs sights unidentified ships ahead. A confused night action follows, during which the DD La Vallette manages to hit a Japanese BC with three torpedoes before being overwhelmed and sunk by the concentrated fire of many enemy guns. On board the USS Mississippi, the gunners glimpse the silhouette of an Ibuki-class BC in the glare of the artillery salvos and manage to place a few hits before the action is suspended, for fear of an attack with torpedoes from the Japanese DDs. In the calm that occurs, Admiral Rodman is uncertain whether to head towards the area where the enemy BBs had been sighted, towards which the BCs just faced were most likely bound to join, or to continue the sweep, ensuring protection to the CLs from Legazpi which, having completed their mission, could provide by daylight the much desired scouting function in a search for the enemy NE of Luzon. The admiral decides in favor of this second option. The sweep and raid are unsuccessful, but while sailing north, the crippled battlecruiser IJS Hiei is sighted and further hit, so that she is eventually sunk. The American battleships then head E of Luzon, but due to the shortcomings of the reconnaissance and also the rainy weather, they do not encounter the enemy, which however is present in the area with all the BBs and Bs coming from the distant base of Oroku, in Okinawa. Finally, after reaching Legazpi, the American BBs and their escorts reach their base in Subic Bay sailing through the San Bernardino Strait. Only the brave La Vallette is absent (see attachment). "A disappointing action", Admiral Rodman would say later, anticipating by 18 years the similar sentence uttered by the British Admiral Cunningham after the brief and inconclusive Battle of Calabria.
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Post by vonfriedman on Dec 15, 2022 8:27:39 GMT -6
US AAR - July 1Q22 Admiral Rodman suffers from Jutland Syndrome After more than a month of inconclusive operations, with the creation of a minefield and fruitless raids against Japanese merchant traffic, the problems created by long navigations, related wear and tear with poor repair facilities, are starting to make themselves felt and the number of BBs available tends to decrease. At the beginning of July, while Legazpi was already abandoned by Admiral Gleaves' squadron, in order not to end up under the gunfire of the now nearby Japanese artillery, a sweep with maximum possible forces is decided, directed towards an area just E of Luzon, where Japanese ships were periodically sighted, presumably committed to support land operations. At the same time the Americans want to repeat a raid with some CLs against the merchant ships traffic between Takao and Aparri. Admiral Rodman sails from Subic Bay with eight BBs, as a third division has been added to his two. As a consequence he can also deploy USSs Pennsylvania, Arizona and Oklahoma, more than making up for the absence of other battleships under repair. While he sails north, the CLs proceed parallel, towards the area S of Takao assigned to them as an objective. The American admiral decides to attack and destroy the Japanese facilities in Aparri, also with the aim of attracting the enemy and engaging in battle, if possible, the enemy BCs or BBs separately, because the two main Japanese forces depart from different and distant bases. For 24 hours, day and night, the Americans wreak havoc among Japanese merchants, small island bases and flotillas of minesweepers along the stretch of sea between Luzon and Formosa, unopposed. After some time, however, the American SIGINT finally shows up, reporting the presence of various Japanese BBs off Legazpi. Admiral Rodman hurries in that direction, recalling the CLs with the aim of increasing his scouting capacity, but these ships, being rather slow (they are the old USSs Salem and Chester) are incapable of reaching and overcoming the main American force. Instead, the old CA USS Missoula, which has remained separate and sails behind the battleships, suddenly sight six Japanese BCs, with CLs and DDs as escorts (see attachment). As Rodman reverses course and heads to the rescue, the hapless Missoula is disabled and sunk. In this way the Americans also lose contact with the enemy, which however is sighted again by Salem and Chester, arrived just in time, who bravely challenge the big Japanese guns in order to allow the US battleships to approach. When in turn Admiral Rodman sees the enemy, who is chasing the two American CLs, he can hope to take advantage of his numerical superiority and to damage a large enough number of Japanese BCs to prevent them from using their higher speed to escape. In any case he thinks he will be able at least to sink the two old and slow BCs of the Ibuki class, who follow in line the four modern Kongos. Perhaps due to the poor training of the American ships, their deployment is slow and somewhat confusing. The ensuing gun battle doesn't last long because the Japanese admiral soon begins to disengage and, above all, because the sun is now going down (see attachments). Adm. Rodman gives chase, hoping to make up the distance that separates the American BBs from the retreating Ibukis, which should be even slower due to some hits received. When night falls, however, the Japanese DDs manage to get a torpedo hit on the USS Mississippi and disappear into the darkness, even though one of them is sunk by American guns. The American fleet is thus forced to fall back at low speed towards the San Bernardino Strait and its base, which it reaches without further trouble. The Mississippi is put out of action for at least 11 weeks, and probably even more because various problems now arise all at once and in the repair yards the battleships damaged in this battle are joined by a few others, worn by previous use. The next morning, Admiral Rodman finds himself with only five battleships available. How many Japanese battleships and battlecruisers will be ready to operate at this time?
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Post by vonfriedman on Dec 16, 2022 10:27:49 GMT -6
US AAR - August 1Q22 A day with both good and bad news Although the high command would like to send 8 BBs to sweep towards the Japanese mainland, the situation of the US naval forces in the Philippines does not allow for it. Operations were resumed with raids against the traffic of merchant ships directed to Aparri and the laying of a minefield near that port, without any clashes with enemy naval forces. In the month of August, finally, Admiral Rodman can deploy a consistent number of battleships, which are required to repeat a bombardment of the facilities of the port of Aparri, while some CLs have to hunt down Japanese merchant ships in the same area. During the night, at Subic Bay, nine BBs weigh anchor and head NNW with the usual escort of DDs and with two old CAs acting as scouts. At the same time, USS Chester and Birmingham, two old Admiral Rodgers' CLs, also leave port. Shortly after the start of navigation, a screening DD hits a mine and quickly sinks. At daybreak, the American BB's turn to the right and head for Aparri, which they subject to a destructive bombardment, while the light cruisers search for enemy merchant ships. Shortly after SIGINT reports on the presence of at least one Japanese CL W of Luzon, so Admiral Rodman takes a W course, hoping to intercept the enemy formation on its return to base. His hope came true, when the CA Brooklyn sight several Japanese capital ships bound for N. This is a quite large formation, made up of both modern BBs as well as older ships. The two fleets soon take a parallel course and the gun battle begins, with shooting distances gradually decreasing (see attachment). For this reason the American ships, although shooting less accurately than the Japanese BBs, score several devastating hits on the leading Japanese battleships. The heavy armor of the American battleships is able to take enemy hits, without too much damage, so that they can continue fighting without even reducing their speed. After some time the Japanese admiral tries to break off the action moving away to the W and SW (see attachment), but some of his ships are so badly damaged that they are unable to outdistance the pursuing American battleships. As a result, one after the other, the battleships Ise, Yamashiro and the predreadnought Aki are sunk. The modern Japanese BCs from Takao arrive too late to participate in the battle and one of them, the IJS Kongo is badly damaged, it is not clear whether this is due to mines or submarines or US guns. The American lead ships also suffer damage, so that Admiral Rodman must transfer his flag from USS New Mexico, detached to Subic Bay with medium flooding, to USS Idaho. In the reduced visibility of the smoky battlefield, the Japanese ships finally manage to get away, also favored by the evening darkness. The fleet returns, with exultant crews, to its base in Subic Bay, in the belief that the US Navy has acquired a decisive superiority over the enemy. The CLs were also quite successful in their hunt for Japanese merchant ships. A few hours after returning to port, chilling news arrives. Two brand new Japanese battleships, the IJSs Nagato and Mutsu, armed with 16" guns, have just anchored in the base of Keelung, north of Formosa, more than compensating for the loss of Ise and Yamashiro. To worsen American morale, the fall of Legazpi into Japanese hands is also confirmed.
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