After supporting damaged ships, Gloucester became the target of the German StG 2 bombing wing. Several bomb hits forced her crew into the sea. Fiji passed close enough to drop floats, but stopping would have exposed another cruiser to the same air attack. One survivor observed that water pleasant for bathing became dangerous when endured for a day and night. The survivor's experience gives the ammunition and force-allocation decisions a human cost.
Chapter · 31:52-33:55
Gloucester's sinking left survivors a day and night in the sea
Concentrated German bombing sinks Gloucester, while Fiji's inability to stop leaves floats as the only immediate aid for survivors facing prolonged immersion.