ROUTES Project

Interestingly enough, it wasn’t the USS Vincennes that fired on the Nitto Maru, it was the USS Nashville. Both ships look similar because they are registered as light cruisers. Here’s an excerpt describing that same event, but from the Vincennes’ point-of-view:

But on the morning of the 18th, while the ships were plowing through a fairly heavy sea, a small Japanese craft, probably a fishing or patrol boat, was sighted on the Nashville’s bow. That cruiser immediately began firing at the Jap, which, Captain Riefkohl states, “acted like a loon: in trying to dodge the fire by appearing to duck behind the swelling water. Evidently the Nashville hit her target, but soon dive bombers from the Enterprise circled over the helpess craft and put an end to it. Shortly thereafter another small enemy boat appeared, and it was disposed of in a like manner.

Source: Donald Hugh Dorris et al., A Log of the Vincennes (Louisville: Standard Printing Company, 1947), 199.

Halsey actually ordered the Nashville to fire on the craft. CAPT FS Craven, the Nashville‘s commander, asked by flag hoist to fire on the craft at 0750. Halsey responded at 0752 and the carrier violently engaged. What Doc White describes is the Nashville‘s six-inch gun fire. The cruiser depleted 928 rounds, and took 29 minutes to sink the Nitto Maru. Craven blamed the length of time on heavy swells of 20 feet, and the lack of experience by his gunnery-crews.

Source: Clayton Chun, The Doolittle Raid 1942: America’s First Strike Back at Japan (Campaign) (Osprey Publishing, 2012), kindle edition.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:USS_Vincennes_%28CA-44%29_bombards_Guadalcanal.jpg

Trivial note: “Limey” doesn’t technically work here, as it actually refers to sailors (who consumed limes to ward of scurvy). Given that there wouldn’t have been sailors anywhere near the Fullujah area…

Another note on Puchong: To confuse things further, there is Putian which is in Fujian.

Quong Sah could be Quanzhou if he was indeed in Fujian. If, however, he was off to the Nanchang in Jiangxi this is all likely incorrect.

Lung Twang… maybe this is Lianjiang county, which is located in Fujian??

It threw me off that he might be referring to a province here rather than a unique city, but Fujian is the most likely candidate for “Puchong”. Fuzhou may have been a possible stop, it’s almost exactly 300 km from Lishui, which is quite consistent with this account.

• Yung Kong = Yongkang to the north.

• Kinwah –  Probably Jinjua, which is north of Lishui. A little research might reveal something interesting about the battle here.

• Tsing Yung – I suspect this is Jinyun, which is about 45 Li (15 miles) from Huzhenzhan. If so, this confirms that Huzhenzhen is Hwotsing.