The first 48 hours of The Battle of Teloekbetoeng straights has been a bloody costly one.
Bad weather results in what can be called a Royal Navy victory. After a fierce bloody carrier battle the Junyo and Ryujo are sunk and the Chuyo and Hosho lie cripplied. Evidence if any was needed that stacking carriers favours the player with Hellcats more.
The first day of combat looked like this.. [8|]
Day Air attack on TF at 21,59
Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zeke x 64
Allied aircraft
F6F Hellcat x 24
Hellcat II x 49
Barracuda x 22
TBM Avenger x 11
Avenger II x 17
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5 Zeke: 49 destroyed
Allied aircraft losses
F6F Hellcat: 6 destroyed, 2 damaged
Hellcat II: 21 destroyed, 3 damaged
Barracuda: 1 destroyed, 4 damaged
TBM Avenger: 1 destroyed, 5 damaged
Avenger II: 2 destroyed, 8 damaged
Japanese Ships
CVE Taiyo, Torpedo hits 2, on fire
CVL Ryujo, Torpedo hits 1
CVE Chuyo, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
CVL Ryuho
CVL Zuiho, Torpedo hits 1
CV Junyo, Torpedo hits 1
CVE Hosho
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Teloekbetoeng at 19,58
Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zeke x 17
D3A Val x 27
D4Y Judy x 17
B5N Kate x 56
B6N Jill x 32
Allied aircraft
F6F Hellcat x 31
Hellcat II x 24
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5 Zeke: 17 destroyed
D3A Val: 13 destroyed, 1 damaged
D4Y Judy: 17 destroyed
B5N Kate: 48 destroyed
B6N Jill: 29 destroyed WTF! [:@]
Anyway, bad weather somthered Palembang for most of the day, so the battle wasnt going to be won in the air, at least not today, so it was up to Tanaka to force a glorious victory on the seas, the surface combat was bloody and will go down as legend in British and Japanese history books. Unfortunately unless the weather clears over Palembang and Teloekboeteng can hold for another turn, it will go down as a Royal Navy victory.
Out of the mighty taskforce that steamed into the straights. only the Mighty Musashi and the cruiser Tone came out.
The Hyuga sucummbed to torpedo hits from brave British destroyers
And the Chokai and Kako where sunk by admittedly impressive accurate gunning from thier Cruiser counterparts on the Royal navy side.
The Destroyer escort was also completedly destroyed.
The Royal navy also took considerable losses though, around a half dozen surface combats where initated against the Royal Navy, as Tanaka ruthlessley tried to break through to the Carriers or at least the transports.
The Royal navy stood firm however, in the end it was a brave plucky taskforce lead by the Light cruiser Glasgow that forced Tanaka to turn back, the stuff of legend perhaps. As two light cruisers and several destroyers turnt back the Musashi and saved the transports or indeed carriers from slaughter.
The royal navy losses where as follows.
BB Ramilles
CA Canberra
CL Glasgow
More importantly when you consider Rob still has no port nearby (although he landed another 600 assault points out of nowhere) several other ships where heavily cripplied including the Royal Sovereign.
If the bad weather lifts over Palembang tomorrow, these crippled ships will have to contend with around 350 torpedo bombers of some description...if the bad weather lifts, if we're gonna win this battle it will have to be on the 9th-10th as im pretty sure Teloekbetoeng will fall giving him a level 3 port.
The Kido Butai passed north of Luzon and it will be needed to force a complete victory now, its headed full speed to Brunei now to pick up more fuel before heading into the Java sea, looking at the situation its first job may be to launch a port attack on Teloekbetoeng.
Sorry for lack of screenshots but i was too gripped. Heres another overview 48 hours later...
Numbers and results wise, the RN has won today, but due to the situation of this battle its a battle of attrition that the Japanese can win. Also im being quite liberal in my use of force, as i cannot let him get this close to Palembang without a bloody nose at least. Im gonna sleep before i give orders.
Elsewhere in the paicfic i also managed a surface intercept on robs carriers outside Iwo!
4 Pg's had a fleeting shot at the Yorktown before being beat down by its escorts. [:D]
