065 - Combining Forces

Task Force 17

While the USS Hornet sped towards Tokyo, the remainder of the ABDA Naval Forces spearheaded a campaign to stop the Japanese advance through the South Pacific. They pooled their limited resources into the decently-sized Task Force 11, which included the Aircraft Carriers USS Lexington and USS Yorktown, Heavy Cruisers HMAS Canberra and HMAS Australia, 6 Light Cruisers, 14 Destroyers, and a full course of escort ships.

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Their goal was to attack the Combined Japanese Army, Navy, and Air Force Bases at Rabaul. However, on the morning of March 7^th, ABDA Command received news of the Japanese strike on the Eastern Edge of New Guinea, just south of Rabaul.

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Task Force Commander William Brown ordered the Combined Force to sail southeasterly, bypassing Rabaul and heading for the Australian Base at Port Moresby. From the Gulf of Papua’s protected lagoon-like structure, the ABDA Forces could protect their severely depleted Carrier Fleet while launching a powerful air strike.

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On the morning of March 10^th, the ABDA Counterstrike commenced from both airfields and carriers. The Yorktown and Lexington each launched a Fighting, Bombing, and Torpedo Squadron from their flat tops. Meanwhile, 9 RAAF Hudson Bombers and 9 USAAF B-17s launched from New Guinea airfields.

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While the older Hudson and B-17 Bombers weren’t able to inflict much damage to the Japanese Landing Forces, the SBD Dauntless Dive Bombers ruled the day, sending three transports ships to the sea bottom and damaging many of the other support ships, including Heavy and Light Cruisers, Minesweepers, Minelayers, and a Seaplane Tender.

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With over 100 Japanese Marines and Soldiers killed, the casualty rate was the highest for the Japanese since the beginning of Allied involvement in the Pacific War. However, three Japanese Transports successfully landed and the Japanese began construction of airfields at Salamaua and Lae, just across the island from the Royal Navy Sea Base at Port Moresby..

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