1/144 USS Charles Ausburne DD-570 - Unofficial GB.

[Lucky13]

User Name: Lucky13
Name: Jan
Kit: Revell
Scale: 1/144
Accessories: Me is thinking some P/E, using that black thread looks too tedious to use...

Plan is to have her built as she looked at the night of 1/2 of November 1943 and the Battle of Empress Augusta Bay....

 

[Wurger]

Looking nice. However we will have to go through the long post on each page of the thread again and again. But I have asked for.....

http://www.ww2aircraft.net/forum/group-builds-official/first-post-each-gb-entry-39804.html

 

[vikingBerserker]

Great choice!

 

[Lucky13]

USS Charles Ausburne (DD-570), USS Dyson (DD-572), and USS Claxton (DD-571) engage and sink the Japanese destroyer IJNS Yugiri in "The Little Beavers at the Battle of Cape St. George".
By aviation artist R.G. Smith.


The Battle of Empress Augusta Bay, on 1–2 November 1943—also known as the Battle of Gazelle Bay, Operation Cherry Blossom, and in Japanese sources as the Sea Battle off Bougainville Island (ブーゲンビル島沖海戦)—was a naval battle fought near the island of Bougainville. The naval battle was a result of Allied landings on nearby Bougainville in the first action in the Bougainville campaign of World War II and may also be seen as part of the Solomons and New Guinea campaigns. The battle was significant as part of a broader Allied strategy—known as Operation Cartwheel—aimed at isolating and surrounding the major Imperial base at Rabaul. The intention was to establish a beachhead on Bougainville, within which an airfield would be built.

On 1 November 1943, the U.S. 3rd Marine Division landed at Cape Torokina in Empress Augusta Bay. The bay had been chosen because it was at the outer limit of Allied fighter plane range, and because the numerically-superior Japanese 17th Army was concentrated at other, more strategic sites in the north and the south. The Marines were backed by Task Force 39, composed of cruisers and destroyers, commanded by Rear Admiral Aaron S. "Tip" Merrill.

Naval Battle
The Japanese responded with air attacks and a powerful naval force from Rabaul commanded by Admiral Sentaro Omori: Cruiser Squadron - heavy cruisers Myōkō and Haguro, 10th Cruiser Squadron - light cruiser Agano, destroyers Naganami, Hatsukaze, and Wakatsuki, 3rd Destroyer Squadron - light cruiser Sendai, and destroyers Shigure, Samidare,and Shiratsuyu. The Japanese formation was hastily assembled from whatever ships were on hand, many which had never trained or fought together before.

The U.S. Task Force 39 consisted of CruDiv 12 - USS*Montpelier(CTF39/CL57), Cleveland (CL55), Columbia (CL56), Denver (CL58.) and two destroyer divisions: DesDiv 45 - USS*Charles Ausburne (CDD 45/DD570), Dyson (DD572), Stanley (DD478.), Claxton (DD571) and DesDiv 46 - Spence (CDD 46/DD512), Thatcher (DD514), Converse (DD509), Foote (DD511).

The Americans evacuated most of their landing craft and troop transports, assembled their ships to the southwest of Empress Augusta Bay and steamed slowly northward. CruDiv 12 would maneuver in a race track pattern, blocking the entrance to Empress Augusta Bay. The Japanese approached from the northwest and would try to bombard the invasion force in their transports and on the shore.

On 2 November at 0130 Haguro was struck amidships by an American aerial attack. The resulting damage necessitated a significant reduction in speed for the entire formation.

The Americans made radar contact at 0230 on 2 November. From the leading position in the American formation Commodore Burke sent the four destroyers of DesDiv 45 forward for a torpedo attack and at 0245 fired a salvo toward the enemy. Almost simultaneously, the Sendai-led division fired 18 torpedoes. Each attack was detected and both groups maneuvered away from the torpedoes. 3rd Destroyer Squadron turned southward into the path of Cruiser Division causing havoc in the Japanese formation. The Japanese fleet became separated in the confusion into three groups, north, center and south.

Admiral Merril then ordered DesDiv 46 to attack. Unprepared, Foote misinterpreted the command and was separated from the other ships. Despite her captain's best efforts Foote was unable to effectively rejoin the fight and was in some danger of colliding with other friendly ships.

Once it became apparent that DesDiv 45's torpedo attack had failed to achieve complete surprise, at around 0250, the American cruisers opened fire, quickly disabling Sendai. DesDiv 45 maneuvered north and concentrated on the northern group, DesDiv. 46 engaged the center group while the cruisers divided their fire between all three groups.

After firing its torpedoes, Samidare collided with Shiratsuyu. Samidare and Shiratsuyu were subsequently forced to retire from the battle with Samidare receiving 5 in. hits at 0300. Myōkō also collided with Hatsukaze, slicing off her bows. Myōkō had significant damage from this collision including loss of a torpedo launcher. She was next hit by 6 cruiser shells, only two of which detonated, causing even more damage.

The Japanese ships were equipped with ineffectual Type 21 Radar and they were forced to rely on optical tracking of their targets. With difficulty they pinpointed the American cruisers and at 0313 they opened fire. At 0320 Cruiser Squadron fired a total of 10 torpedoes at CruDiv 12. At 0327 numerous hits on CruDiv 12 were erroneously reported to Omori - all missed their targets.

The Americans were also having problems as the Spence and Thatcher also collided but were able to continue in the battle. The Foote was struck by a torpedo which blew off the stern of the ship, leaving 19 dead and 17 wounded. Subsequently, the drifting Foote became a navigational hazard to the other ships adding to the confusion of the battle. Foote was busy for the remainder of the engagement trying to stay afloat and fighting off an enemy aircraft attack.

Without radar, the Japanese depended heavily on flares to illuminate their targets. CruDiv 12 repeatedly maneuvered to avoid starshells fired by the opposing ships but was finally successfully illuminated by brilliant flares dropped by Japanese snooper aircraft.

Between 0320 and 0325 Denver received three 8in. hits which failed to detonate. Also, while closing with a group of Japanese destroyers in the center the Spence was hit at the waterline by a shell that failed to explode. As was common during World War II, the thin-skinned destroyers were not tough enough to detonate armor piercing ammunition designed to penetrate heavily armored battleships. At this point the Japanese fire was heavy and increasingly accurate. In response, the American cruisers began maneuvering behind a smoke screen which successfully interfered with the Japanese gunnery.

All during the battle the American destroyers experienced difficulty maintaining contact with each other and several times came close to firing on friendly ships, underscoring the difficulty in fighting night actions even when equipped with radar and IFF (Identification Friend or Foe) systems. A later evaluation of the battle revealed that DesDiv 46 missed an opportunity to torpedo the center group of enemy ships because of uncertain identification. DesDiv 46 then turned north and concentrated fire on the Sendai.

By 0337, Omori, believing that he had sunk a heavy cruiser and worried about being caught in daylight by U.S. carrier aircraft, ordered a retreat. 10th Cruiser Squadron fired a salvo of 8 torpedoes at CruDiv 12 from extreme range at 0340 but missed. Omori received another erroneous report of torpedo hits at 0354.

Merrill's cruisers closed to bombard the retreating Cruiser Division to the south but difficulties in positive identification hampered this effort and CruDiv 12 turned away to the north allowing the Japanese cruisers to slip away in the darkness.

0400: DesDiv 45 and 46 were engaged in a confused melee with retreating Japanese stragglers - sinking the Sendai and driving off the remaining northern group ships. At 0410 Spence lost speed due to water in the fuel line and fell out of formation. The American ships reported many hits on the enemy contacts but unfortunately at 0438 DesDiv 45 fired on the limping Spence in error while causing no damage.

At 0510 CruDiv 12 and Spence engaged an enemy straggler. Unable to distinguish between the straggler and Spence the cruisers ceased fire. By 0519 DesDiv 45 came to the aid of Spence which by this time had almost exhausted its ammunition. The Japanese straggler, the heavily damaged Hatsukaze, exploded and by 0542 sank.

At daylight the pursuit was broken off and all ships, many low on fuel and ammunition, were ordered to rendezvous with the hapless Foote. The rest of the day was spent defending the landing beaches from air attack.

After the Japanese ships returned to Rabaul, they were joined by four cruisers and more destroyers from Truk for another attack on the Allied landing forces at Bougainville. On 5 November, however, two U.S. aircraft carriers raided Rabaul, heavily damaging four heavy cruisers, which had to withdraw to Truk. This ended the Japanese warship threat to the Allied landing forces at Bougainville.

USS Charles Ausburne (DD-570) Receiving mail by highline from USS Columbia (CL-56), while steaming in the Solomon Islands, 27 September 1943. On the night of 27-28 September, shortly after this photograph was taken, Charles Ausburne's gunfire sank two Japanese barges off Vella Lavella.

 

[Lucky13]

Fiddled a wee bit, as I'm trying to stay up....

She's massive, see if I can find something as a comparison...

 

[Wurger]

Thank you Jan. Well done.

 

[Lucky13]

Never a problem my friend, you're most welcome!

 

[Wurger]

 

[javlin]

You mean Jan is going to build something Looking foward to the build.

 

[Vic Balshaw]

Looks like he is…………………………………….in with a splash you could say!

Ok I'm going

 

[vikingBerserker]

 

[Lucky13]

Those just.....those just deserve a torpedo salvo!

 

[Wurger]

Torpedo los !!!

 

[Lucky13]

Torpedo Los!!

 

[Wurger]

Torpedo los !!!

Well, there are three ones running at the moment . Usually we name it a torpedo salvo. So your wish came true.

 

[Lucky13]

Followed your lead my friend!

Next time!

 

[Wurger]

 

[Wayne Little]

Look forward to this Jan...

 

[Lucky13]

Cheers Master Wayne....

See if I can work my way around the colours, as it seems it all, well almost all, need be mixed!

And looking at her, I'd guess that she'd be wearing, looking at Revell's paint chart, the 'E', which is 40% Blue, 10% Tank Grey and 50% White....

There's must be an easier, better way!

 

[Lucky13]

THE SECRETARY OF THE NAVY
WASHINGTON

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION to the

DESTROYER SQUADRON TWENTY THREE consisting of the USS CHARLES AUSBURNE, USS CLAXTON, USS DYSON, USS SPENCE, USS CONVERSE and USS STANLY

for service as set forth in the following CITATION:

"For extraordinary heroism in action against enemy Japanese forces during theSolomon Islands Campaign, from November 1, 1943, to February 23, 1944. Boldlypenetrating submarine-infested waters during a period when Japanese naval and airpower was at its height, Destroyer Squadron TWENTY THREE operated in daringdefiance of repeated attacks by hostile air groups, closing the enemy'sstrongly fortified shores to carry out sustained bombardments against Japanesecoastal defenses and render effective cover and fire support for the majorinvasion operations in this area. Commanded by forceful leaders and manned byaggressive, fearless crews the ships of Squadron TWENTY THREE coordinated as asuperb fighting team; they countered the enemy's fierce aerial bombing attacksand destroyed or routed his planes; they intercepted his surface task forces,sank or damaged his warships by torpedo fire and prevented interference withour transports. The brilliant and heroic record achieved by Destroyer SquadronTWENTY THREE is a distinctive tribute to the valiant fighting spirit of theindividual units in this indomitable combat group and of each skilled andcourageous ship's company."

For the President,

James Forrestal
Secretary of the Navy​