Great Pacific War: A History of the American-Japanese Campaign of 1931-33 by Hector C. Bywater Page B
Authors: Hector C. Bywater
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having been practically blown to pieces. There were only six survivors besides myself. The Admiral had gone down with the ship; probably he had been killed by the shell that knocked me senseless. Someone must have dragged me out of the conning-tower, but I never discovered who it was.
From our boat we could see the Japanese sweeping up the remnants of our squadron. Shortly before the flagship went down, the Frederick had blown up with all hands. We could see the Denver lying over on her beam ends, on fire from stem to stern. Near by was the Galveston in action with Japanese light cruisers, which were absolutely pumping shell into her. Even as we watched she put her bows deep under, the stern came up, and she took her last dive. About four miles ahead a fierce fight was raging between five of our destroyers and thrice that number of enemy boats, but we could see little of the details. We heard afterwards that only four of the thirteen destroyers and light mine-layers that came out with us ever got back to Cavite.
While watching this scene we heard the drone of airplanes above us, and looking up saw four machines which someone in the boat said were ours. They were, in fact, torpedo-planes from the Curtiss , which ship, seeing herself about to be attacked by Japanese cruisers, had flown off all the planes then on deck. The Curtiss was sunk by gunfire shortly afterwards, but meanwhile her planes were having a last try for the enemy. We could see them making straight for the Japanese battle-cruisers, which were just visible from the boat. As we heard subsequently, two were shot down before reaching their objective; but one of the remaining machines got her torpedo fairly home on the Hiyei , while the other, by great good luck, torpedoed and sank the scout cruiser Tatsuta . The Hiyei , though seriously damaged, appears to have returned to Japan under her own steam.
At 2.30 p.m. the Japanese destroyer Yanagi bore down on our boat and took us on board, whence we were transferred that evening to the battle-cruiser Kirishima , and treated with all proper courtesy. Such was the Battle of Lubang, as I saw it. Our squadron had been wiped out, and upwards of 2,500 gallant comrades had fallen, but at least we could say that we had upheld the honour of the flag. The only Japanese ships sunk were the Tatsuta and two destroyers. Their casualties throughout the fleet were returned as 600. But considering the enormous disparity between their force and ours it was remarkable that they suffered any loss at all.
During the action itself none of the American submarines had found an opportunity to attack. But at 10 o’clock the same night, submarines S 18 and S 23 , being then in company some thirty miles S.S.W. of Subig Bay, observed several large ships steaming towards them and promptly dived to attack. These were the Japanese battle-cruisers going north again, at low speed, on account of injuries to the Hiyei . In spite of a strong destroyer screen both submarines carried out their attack, firing six torpedoes in all. One of these struck the Kirishima , but so far forward that the damage was inconsiderable. Two torpedoes from S 18 , aimed at the Kongo , passed astern of her and hit the large destroyer Hamakaze , which sank in a few minutes. Although many depth charges were dropped, both submarines made good their escape.
The destruction of Admiral Ribley’s squadron left the way open for the invasion of the Philippines. Ere yet the last battered American ship had vanished from sight a radio message from the Japanese Commander-in-Chief set in motion the fleet of transports which had been lying at Kure and other ports for some days past, with a hundred thousand fighting men on board. The whole convoy, with its naval and air escort, was under way at dusk on March 6. Steaming south at a speed of twelve knots, it was timed to reach the shores of Luzon in four and a half days. And except for a few destroyers and submarines the nearest American
From our boat we could see the Japanese sweeping up the remnants of our squadron. Shortly before the flagship went down, the Frederick had blown up with all hands. We could see the Denver lying over on her beam ends, on fire from stem to stern. Near by was the Galveston in action with Japanese light cruisers, which were absolutely pumping shell into her. Even as we watched she put her bows deep under, the stern came up, and she took her last dive. About four miles ahead a fierce fight was raging between five of our destroyers and thrice that number of enemy boats, but we could see little of the details. We heard afterwards that only four of the thirteen destroyers and light mine-layers that came out with us ever got back to Cavite.
While watching this scene we heard the drone of airplanes above us, and looking up saw four machines which someone in the boat said were ours. They were, in fact, torpedo-planes from the Curtiss , which ship, seeing herself about to be attacked by Japanese cruisers, had flown off all the planes then on deck. The Curtiss was sunk by gunfire shortly afterwards, but meanwhile her planes were having a last try for the enemy. We could see them making straight for the Japanese battle-cruisers, which were just visible from the boat. As we heard subsequently, two were shot down before reaching their objective; but one of the remaining machines got her torpedo fairly home on the Hiyei , while the other, by great good luck, torpedoed and sank the scout cruiser Tatsuta . The Hiyei , though seriously damaged, appears to have returned to Japan under her own steam.
At 2.30 p.m. the Japanese destroyer Yanagi bore down on our boat and took us on board, whence we were transferred that evening to the battle-cruiser Kirishima , and treated with all proper courtesy. Such was the Battle of Lubang, as I saw it. Our squadron had been wiped out, and upwards of 2,500 gallant comrades had fallen, but at least we could say that we had upheld the honour of the flag. The only Japanese ships sunk were the Tatsuta and two destroyers. Their casualties throughout the fleet were returned as 600. But considering the enormous disparity between their force and ours it was remarkable that they suffered any loss at all.
During the action itself none of the American submarines had found an opportunity to attack. But at 10 o’clock the same night, submarines S 18 and S 23 , being then in company some thirty miles S.S.W. of Subig Bay, observed several large ships steaming towards them and promptly dived to attack. These were the Japanese battle-cruisers going north again, at low speed, on account of injuries to the Hiyei . In spite of a strong destroyer screen both submarines carried out their attack, firing six torpedoes in all. One of these struck the Kirishima , but so far forward that the damage was inconsiderable. Two torpedoes from S 18 , aimed at the Kongo , passed astern of her and hit the large destroyer Hamakaze , which sank in a few minutes. Although many depth charges were dropped, both submarines made good their escape.
The destruction of Admiral Ribley’s squadron left the way open for the invasion of the Philippines. Ere yet the last battered American ship had vanished from sight a radio message from the Japanese Commander-in-Chief set in motion the fleet of transports which had been lying at Kure and other ports for some days past, with a hundred thousand fighting men on board. The whole convoy, with its naval and air escort, was under way at dusk on March 6. Steaming south at a speed of twelve knots, it was timed to reach the shores of Luzon in four and a half days. And except for a few destroyers and submarines the nearest American
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