Navy Batters Japs In South China Sea -- Smoking, burning ships dot the sea, their precious cargo of oil and other supplies lost forever to Japan's war needs.For the first time a task force of Admiral William F. Halsey's Third Fleet entered the South China Sea on January 11 (west longitude date) to send Japanese shipping reeling under the might of carrier based aircraft. In this smashing action, 41 ships were sunk, with 28 enemy vessels damaged. The haul included a light cruiser, destroyer escorts, oilers and cargo ships as Navy planes sent their bombs into four convoys along the coast of French Indo China. February 06, 1945. (Photo by Official U.S. Navy Photograph).