Monday news

By tk
Monday, May 12, 2003

*Jasper County terminal faces ongoing opposition from Georgia, Charleston
-Beaufort Gazette, 5-12-03

*Port Royal Plantation's groin project will be argued before the state Supreme Court on Wednesday
-Hilton Head Island Packet Online, 5-12-03

*New manatee zones (Tomoka River) disturb some
-Daytona News Journal, 5-12-03

*Man vs. mosquito: Sprays just a start
-Missing teen feared drowned
-Daytona News Journal, 5-12-03

Leyte P 7

He had 2 Fleet Carriers, 2 Light Carriers, 2 Battleships, 2 Heavy Cruisers, and 11 Destroyers.

Halsey decides to sent off two groups to Ulithi to restore and rearm.
On the 22nd. of October, Halsey with somewhat unfortunate timing, decided to detach two of his Task Groups, namely:- Davison's TG 38.4 and McCains TG 38.12, ordering them to proceed to the US Fleet Base at Ulithi, to both restore and rearm their ships.

When Darter sent off her enemy report to Halsey that they were in contact with Admiral Kurita's Central Force, the Third Fleet Commander ordered Davison to about turn and bring his group back to rejoin him, but he allowed McCain's Task Group to continue on to Ulithi. TG 38.1 with 3 Fleet Carriers and 2 Light Carriers was by far the strongest of all the 4 Carrier Groups.

Halsey's decision to detach the two groups, but recall one, robbed the Third Fleet of almost 40% of its air power.

Kurita takes his Central Force Eastwards into the Palawan Passage.
The Japanese Admiral having regrouped after losing three cruisers from his force now entered the Palawan Passage aiming to pass through the San Bernadino Strait, sail down the east side of the Island of Samar, and set upon the American invasion force in Leyte Gulf.

On the 24th. of October, carrier aircraft from the Third Fleet found this large Japanese force, Bogan's Task Group was the closest to the enemy, his group also was the smallest, with one Fleet Carrier Intrepid and two Light Carriers.

The most northern of the Carrier groups was Sherman's TG 38.3, it was now heavily attacked by Japanese bombers land based on Luzon, three separate raids, each of which contained 50/60 incoming bombers. Although both the US carriers fighters and AA fire put up a valiant defence, one enemy dive bomber broke through, hitting the Light Carrier Princeton with a bomb, causing fires and a subsequent explosion in her torpedo stowage, and resulting in her abandonment.

The cruiser Birmingham alongside rendering assistance was caught up in the explosion, and suffered horrendous crew casualities. Six separate waves of US carrier aircraft pounded Kurita's ships inflicting major damage on his force.

Musashi, a sister ship to the mighty Yamato was pounded by successive waves of US carrier borne aircraft, a number of torpedo hits slowed her down , she dropped astern to become even more vulnerable, until finally at 1935 ( 7.35 PM ) she capsized and sank, reportedly hit by 10 bombs and up to 19 torpedoes.

Kurita could ill afford to lose one of his premier battleships, his pride already severely dented by having to swim for it after Darter sank his flagship under him. The heavy cruiser Myoko was forced to retire having taken a torpedo hit, several other of this group were hit by bombs by managed to stay and keep up with the force.

Although Kurita when attacked had turned away, he now resumed a course for San Bernadino Strait, still with a formidable fleet of 4 Battleships, 6 Heavy Cruisers, 2 Light Cruisers and about 12 Destroyers.

His Commander- in-Chief of the Combined Fleet, Admiral Toyoda sent Kurita a signal:-

"All forces will dash to the attack, trusting in divine assistance."

Something even more was going to be needed for Admiral Kurita and his ships!

But what about the Southern Japanese force?
Two separate groups, one with two old Battleships under Nishimura, and a smaller one under Shima were making for the Suriago Strait area in an attempt to fall upon the US