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War Log #19: The Tug of Shells

Nearing Guadacanal, November 1942

With Allied intelligence hacking and translating Japan's next operation, they began to send any available ships to Guadacanal as the Japanese began to prepare their plans to retake Henderson Field. The U.S. has sent Task Force 67, along with its 2 newest ships. The Task Force was a large reinforcement and re-supply convoy, split into two groups and commanded by Rear Admiral Richmond K. Turner to Guadacanal on November 11.

The supply ships are protected by two surface fleets/task groups. One was commanded by Rear Admirals Daniel J. Callaghan and Norman Scott and aircraft from Henderson Field.

The two ships which one of them was identified as Alaska was docked at Henderson field for naval bombardment and protection for any Japanese ships on sight.

The new ship was docked behind the newly constructed Wasp which was secretly rebuilt in the order of Admiral Guamo U. Higaraishi. 

Admiral Alaskio D. Higaraishi and Captain Lexiare M. Lisiaco were stationed there until they're ordered to do so.

From November 11 to 12, the transport ships were attacked by Japanese aircraft based in Buin, Bogainville in the Solomons, but most were unloaded without serious damage. Most of the supplies were in Henderson Field, by the order of the three, both USS Guam and USS Alaska are full of ammunitions while the USS Wasp has now new aircraft.

Captain Lexiare ordered most of her crew on her ship to take control of the newly reconstructed aircraft carrier. Many agreed however others were left behind inorder to take part in the new aircraft carrier.

The supplies are also filled with food, ammunition, and heavy artillery to which Admiral Alaskio ordered to be delivered to the marines as soon as possible.

With ongoing reports about the marines' amphibious assault on the Tulagi, Gavutu, and Tanambogo Islands, the Japanese are now on their tables with their cards, having beginning to lose their chances in winning against the Americans.

With the failure of the Japanese Army attack against Henderson Field at the end of October due to the large cruisers back in October 26 destroying more troop and transport ships as well as continuous naval bombardment around the island until this day.

Despite the recent losses back in Santa Cruz Islands, which the Japanese had made a huge disgrace upon finding out that the Hornet was retaken by the battleship. The US Navy had sent a task force of destroyers and cruisers. Their mission was trying to stop the Japanese bombardment on Guadacanal. 

The two large cruisers and two aircraft carriers are docked there but both Admirals knew about this trap so they ordered to keep everything ready as naval bombardments are going to happen.

On the night of November 13 at about 11:05, U.S. air squadrons are launched on Henderson Field and on the two aircraft carriers-ordered by Captain Lexiare, bombing most of Guadacanal to help the marines out in pushing the Japanese Army back.

At around 01:24, several US ships detected the approaching Japanese on radar, but had trouble communicating the information to Callaghan due to problems with radio equipment, lack of discipline regarding communications procedures, and general inexperience in operating as a cohesive naval unit. 

Messages were sent and received but did not reach the commander in time to be processed and used. With his limited understanding of the new technology, Callaghan wasted further time trying to reconcile the range and bearing information reported by radar with his limited sight picture, to no avail.

At 01:37, orders of the task force to turn north hoping to cross the "T" of the Japanese naval force. However, they didn't know that Rear Admiral Callaghan's task force was heading straight towards the Japanese fleet.