Free French-Costly Sortie
VAdm Godfroy was not a happy camper as he steamed North into the Makassar Strait. When Force X had been sent East, he had visions of Tahiti and its beaches. Instead, he was based in Darwin an unnatural selection to his thinking. But no matter, Aussies were to be preferred as Singapore and the God Damms had been the alternative. It was 2000 hours. Godfroy considered himself too old for the night life.
Force X was in a column with Cruiser Division 2 leading except for the destroyer division in line abreast, 3,000 yards ahead as a sub screen. Someone needed to explain to those Sons of Nippon that subs were meant to hunt commerce and not involve themselves with the real navy. Godfroy flew his flag in Suffren and missed the comforts of Lorraine (she was still in the Med.). Duquesne, Tourville and Duguay-Trouin followed. The Aussie light cruisers Perth and Hobart under Commodore Collins came next. Collins had wanted to lead, something about the radar on Perth. Godfroy was too old and too French to put up with that. Admiral Hart had offered him a division of American destroyers with their 4” popguns. He was just fine with his L’Adroits and did not want his Flag Lt. burdened with another set of foreign signals.
The wind was a Force 5 from the North at 20 knots. Smoke would not last long in this. The weather seemed strangely neutral. The sky was mostly clear with about 40% coverage. The moon was full, it was a not so dark night. No fog, not with that wind but there were squalls, he could see two ahead. There was a slight break between them, but otherwise they were large enough to extend beyond his vision to the east and to the west.
Godfroy ordered his Flag to make turns for 25 knots as he ruefully looked at the cup of coffee being offered to him. He was drawing almost everything from the Americans as far as fuel and food went. Mon Deu he missed Lorraine where his steward would made him an espresso.
RAdm Takagi’s convoy escort was steaming at 11 knots on a heading of 135 degrees. DesFlot 4 (RAdm Nishimura) lead the way. Naka (flag) was in the lead by 3,000 yards and centered on his three destroyer divisions, arrayed from west to east; 2nd (Murasame, Harusame, Samidare & Yudachi), 9th (Asagumo, Minegumo, Natsugumo & Yamagumo) and the 24th (Umikaze, Kawakaze, Suzukaze & Yamakaze).
The 5th Cruiser Squadron (Myoko flag & Nachi) followed 3,000 yards behind and centered. The 16th Cruiser Squadron (RAdm Hara) Nagara with the AV Chitose followed. 8 APs in two columns of 4 trailed after.
The Japanese had a very sharp-eyed group of lookouts (they rolled 2, 3, 4 and 6 respectively) despite Godfroy’s belief that they were collectively very near sighted. The French on the other hand had leading seaman Hare. Hare while dreaming of Jethro Tull had lost his spectacles and was quite blind (he rolled a 12).
The two forces at 2000 hours had been 20,000 yards (40 inches at 1:18,000) apart although neither knew this. The closing speed was 36 knots (or 12 inches a turn). But Naka, DesDivs 2 and 9 picked up on the French destroyers right away. Nishimura relayed the acquisition to Takagi and received the order to engage.
2003 hours, DesFlo 4 accelerated to 16 knots and then 35 knots (Naka at 21 knots would fall in astern DesDiv 24) and turned 90 degrees to a heading of 225 degrees. By now DesDiv 24 had also acquired the French destroyers and the rest could now make out the French cruisers.
2009 hours, The Japanese were now passing the French to port and fired every TT that would bear. But they got within 8,000 yards of Suffren and she acquired them. At the same time, now that the Japanese had unmasked themselves, Perth picked them up on radar and also visually acquired them.
Naka missed Fortune. But Yamakaze hit Forbin twice sinking her. Suzukaze hit Basque twice sinking her. Kawakaze hit Suffren twice causing 6 hull and a fire, sinking her. Umikaze hit Duquesne twice sinking her. Yamagumo missed Tourville. Natsugumo hit Duguay-Trouin once for 4 hull and an engine hit. Minegumo hit Perth once for 3 hull and her forward turrets. Asagumo hit Hobart twice for 3 hull, setting her afire and knocking out her FC. Yudachi hit Tourville twice for 6 hull and a fire sinking her. Samidare hit Duguay-Trouin once for 6 more hull sinking her. Harusame hit Perth thrice for 11 hull sinking her. Murasame hit Hobart once 3 more hull and a fire sinking her.
Fortune made smoke and ran for Darwin. Ambon fell.
WMC