066 - Skirmishes at Sea

Attack on Christmas Island

Throughout the first three months of the Pacific War, the Japanese Carriers were seldom apart, serving as Kido Butai, or “Strike Force One”. However, as the first major task of securing Southeast Asia was complete and land-based operations got underway, the Carriers were broken off into the smaller Carrier Divisions to protect the various thousands of islands throughout the Pacific.

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The Soryu and Hiryu, lead ships of Carrier Division Two, made base at the Japanese Naval Station of Staring Bay on the Island of Sulawesi. From there they roamed the Dutch East Indies, defending against threats to the Japanese Fleet.

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Late on the morning of February 27^th, the Aircraft Carrier USS Langley was spotted by Japanese planes. Three successive waves of “Val” Dive Bombers attacked her and pierced the wooden deck with bombs. In the ensuing explosions, the Langley’s deck was consumed in flames and the ship became lopsided, taking on a 10-degree list to her port side. Her Destroyer escorts were ordered to scuttle the Langley, sinking her so she could not be captured for Japanese use. The surviving crew were transferred to the 

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On March 1^st, another Dive Bombing Squadron sank the Oil Tanker USS Pecos, which crippled refueling operations for the Allied Fleet.
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As part of the counter-strike to the Japanese Landing at Salamaua-Lae two Dive Bombing Squadrons of 6 planes each from the Yorktown and Saratoga sand the Japanese Oil Tanker Tenyo Maru on March 10h. However, by this time, the Soryu and Hiryu had retired to their base in Sulawesi, preparing for the next big attack by the Kido Butai.

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