On the 10th of January, the two sides suddenly became aware of each other’s presence. Halsey had been observing radio silence, so there was no SIGINT to tip off Yamamoto that something was up, but a long range naval search patrol out of Buin had stumbled across the US Fleet and reported carriers. That got the Admiral’s attention immediately, particularly since a patrol from Nandi had also reported two groups of US ships to the north of Fiji and moving west. The only thing west of that position was the New Hebrides, and the position of the reported US carriers looked suspiciously like a covering operation.
His own operation had just concluded. Japanese troops were landed safely at Lunga on Guadalcanal, and the aviation support elements had arrived at Tulagi. The Light Carrier Junyo was given the honor of sending its dive bombers to attack Ndeni in the Santa Cruz Islands, which was soon to be the target of the next Japanese move southeast once sufficient air operations capability had been established at Tulagi. Now these disturbing sighting reports were cause for some concern.
A signal was sent to Nandi on Fiji, where the Kawaguchi Detachment was slowly approaching the harbor, even as the land battle there drew nearer to that vital outpost. Commander Kanihira was to remain ready to abort his operation and immediately take his valuable transports and troops southwest on a roundabout return journey to Noumea. Then Yamamoto called for Ugaki and asked him to bring in the Captain and XO of Takami.
“Why do you summon those officers?” asked Ugaki with a frown.
“I know you think of them as junior officers, and beneath our considerations here, but I find their insight useful. Besides, I have a mission for their ship. They have long range search capability with those helicopters. I want them to verify this carrier contact.”
“Why not send our own planes?”
“Because their aircraft can be stealthy, and also have radars, while our own planes must visually sight the enemy. If they in turn are spotted, then the Americans will know we have carriers within range.”
As Fleet Admirals will always have the last word in any such discussion, Ugaki relented and summoned Harada and Fukada to Yamato. When they had arrived, Yamamoto explained the situation and told them what he wanted.
“You will detach from Carrier Division 3 and assume the role of a forward picket. Approach the location of this sighting and use your helicopters to determine the true composition of the enemy, if they are present as reported.”
“How far forward do you want us,” asked Harada.
“As far as necessary to accomplish this task. I will leave that to your judgment. In the meantime, I intend to take the Kido Butai west of the New Hebrides. If you can ascertain the location of the enemy, I am prepared to strike.”
“Will we remain in range of support from your carriers?”
“That I cannot guarantee. I would prefer to conceal the position of the Kido Butai as long as possible.”
“You believe the enemy plans a raid into the New Hebrides?”
“That is quite possible, but your reconnaissance will hopefully give us a clearer picture.”
“Very well, we will depart immediately.”
That was that, but Fukada had some misgivings that he did not voice at the meeting, wary of Ugaki’s disapproving stare. “We’ll be in harm’s way, that’s for sure,” he said to Harada as they boarded the launch to return to Takami.
“That’s the commitment we made when we decided to approach these men and offer our service. So now, like good little vassals, we do what this ship was built to do. Takami is as good a forward picket as anyone might find in this war.”
“They have to know where the Kido Butai is right now,” said Fukada. “Yamamoto just tipped his hat with that raid on Ndeni.”
“We don’t know what they know,” said Harada. “That raid could have been accomplished by a single light carrier, just as it was. Junyo sent only 15 planes in for that attack, and they busted up the airfield there pretty good just the same. That carrier could have attacked from anywhere in a 250-mile radius of that island.”
“True, but if the Americans are out there in force, they should take that raid as a wakeup call.”
“Then let’s go find them.” Harada was eager to get back to the ship.
Halsey knew more than Harada realized that hour. The coast watchers on Ndeni had observed both the approach and withdrawal of the planes that raided that island, which narrowed down the location of the enemy carriers that sent them.
“But it was just a pin prick,” said Captain Duncan on the Essex. “Word is they got hit with no more than fifteen to twenty planes.”
“Where there’s smoke, there’s fire,” said Halsey. “I want the scout carriers up that way to have a look. We’ve got ten fat transports heading our way, packed to the gills with supplies and the 8th USMC Regiment. I want them delivered in one piece, and with no surprises. Vice Admiral Morton is the convoy master. I think we’d better tell him that if we can confirm enemy carriers, we may have to hold off on Efate until we show them the door.”
That was going to send Captains Gorton and Herndon on the Vicksburg and Gettysburg northwest to have that look, and their high flying fighters would stand in for the long range radars that Takami would bring to the same duty they had been assigned.
That night Takami sailed southeast into harm’s way. The SH60J/K Seahawk was up off the deck before dawn, and looking for trouble. In little time they had a contact, several flights of airborne contacts starting to coalesce over a small surface contact bearing 230, just two discrete ships.
“What would a carrier be doing out there with no more than a single ship in escort?” said Harada.
Fukada was leaning over Lieutenant Ryoko Otani’s SPY 1 station as the data came in from the Seahawk. “It’s the contacts further south that I’m worried about,” he said. “They look a whole lot more dangerous. If I had to take a good guess here, I’d say the Americans are going to hit our bases in the New Hebrides.”
“I’ll pass that on to Yamamoto,” said Harada. “In the meantime, the ship will come to battle stations, and air alert 1. If that is a lone carrier to our southwest, it will be looking our way soon.”
It was two lone carriers, Vicksburg and Gettysburg, and they were fanning out their search planes to have that look. Yet Halsey was suspicious of a Japanese approach through the nice open sea lane between the Santa Cruz Islands and the New Hebrides. He had already ordered Spruance to send out a small strike group and look the area over. If nothing else, it would be a good live training mission. So not more than thirty minutes later, just after dawn, Otani had some more bad news.
“It looks like Commander Fukada was correct, sir,” she said. “I’ve got four airborne contacts heading our way now, and right on the heading he expected.”
That wasn’t news Harada wanted to hear. “How in the world did they find us out here, nothing has come close enough to spot us.”
“Who knows sir,” said Fukada. “But we’re right where I’d be looking for trouble if I were the Americans. This was route one for the Kido Butai if it was to continue south after hitting Ndeni. Yamamoto was cagey to sidestep west of the New Hebrides like that. For my money, the Americans could be taking a good guess with that package.”