Officer of the Watch Log, USS Enterprise, 28th January 1942
13:42 TF enters Aleutian Islands area, LRCAP from Dutch Harbour reported approaching from East, General stations sounded as sub recon reports aitcraft based at Attu Island.
14:06 Saratoga reports launch of Search planes. Air control Dutch Harbour confirms Catalina flight AT-78 in air in our vicinity.
14:15 Enterprise launches Search planes North, and North West
15:00 Weather Report: Thunderstorms and Rain. Heavy seas, swell 7 ft
17:15 Jap search plane deteced, all AA guns engage target. CAP grounded due to weather. Jap plane disappears behind cloud cover.
17:59 Signal received from Dauntless JT-04, "Jap ships spotted 240 NM away, No positive ID on type of ships due to weather.
18:25 Return of patrol craft. Weather prevents launch of attack aircraft.
20:23 All patrol craft accounted for. Captain orders return home. Dutch Harbour notified of Jap presence.
1966 was a great year for English Football...Eric was born
Signal operators at Batavia and Sorebaja simultaneously received the same hurried message from the coast watchers at Kragen;
***MASSIVE JAPANESE ARMADA OFF COAST***TRANSPORTS UNLOADING TROOPS ASHORE***AT LEAST ONE SMALL CARRIER***HEAVY SURFACE UNITS PRESENT***ABANDONING POST & DESTROYING EQUIPMENT***OUT
The Battle of Java was about to begin.
1966 was a great year for English Football...Eric was born
ORIGINAL: cantona2
Thing is despite over 15k supply and 3 engineer units at DH, the pace of airfield construction is sllllloooooooooowww. Any tips here guys?
Yes. Read chapter 12 of the manual and wait for spring. [;)] Besides, DH is AFAIK a 0(0) airfield, so it takes 10x longer than normal to increase the size to 1.
Good luck for the upcoming Battle of Java. Did you reinforce the island?
ORIGINAL: cantona2
Thing is despite over 15k supply and 3 engineer units at DH, the pace of airfield construction is sllllloooooooooowww. Any tips here guys?
Yes. Read chapter 12 of the manual and wait for spring. [;)] Besides, DH is AFAIK a 0(0) airfield, so it takes 10x longer than normal to increase the size to 1.
Good luck for the upcoming Battle of Java. Did you reinforce the island?
Thanks VSWG.
As regards Java, i have well supplied and fortified positions at Batavia and Sorebaja. It was always my intention to lose Java bur i wanted these two bases to die hard. Sorebaja AF has been closed down and the only reinforcement i put into Java (Hudsons from OZ) have been pulled out. I also pulled out all the AR and As from Sorebaja and they are now safe at Colombo. MOst of the Dutch units that start on Java are holed up in the two bases, most of the engineers are in Port Moresby or building ip the bases on Northern Oz. There are, however, enough eng's to mess up instalations when Java falls.
I predict he will easily cut the island in two but will hopefully bleed himself against my fortified places. A RN CV TF is close by as i cant see the KB and so far only one CVL has been spotted. My hunch is that the KB is either upgrading or about to be employed elsewhere. Needless to say i shall not be risking the RN CV at this point. Hopefully i can tie him down for a few weeks in Java while Northern Oz completes it fortification and reinforcement programme.
1966 was a great year for English Football...Eric was born
High above the Java sky the camera on the Dornier on recon patrol clicked away as down below more and more Japanese troops gorged out of the massed transport ships outside Kragen. To the North thick, black, rolling clouds could been seen along with the flash of lightning and a rumble of thunder could be heard even at this distance. Batavia was 'socked in', as American flyers would say. Its bombers, fully loaded, would have to wait for a break in the weather to launch a strike.
Suddenly the radio barked into life as the pilot picked up a distress signal. Though crackling and weak, a mayday from a submarine in the area had been picked up. The pilot banked his aircfraft to the South West and began to relay the message to the various commands in Java.
The end of KXI
ASW attack near Kragen at 22,64
Japanese Ships
PG Kaikei Maru
PG Hong Kong Maru
PC Kunashiri
PC Hachijo
APD Patrol Boat No. 36
DD Nowaki
Allied Ships
SS KXI, hits 6, on fire, heavy damage
1966 was a great year for English Football...Eric was born
The naval attache ran into General Blamey's office,
"Sir, pardon the language, but the shit has hit the fan." He slammed down the latest reports fed to him by the signallers then suddenly remembered were he was, smartend up and slauted his commanding General.
"Really McGowan, thats very unnavy like," mumbled Blamey as he leaned foward to grab the papers on his desk. He scanned his eyes lazily over the typed words but as he read he realised that his attaches rather unsavoury descritption of the situation was the most apt. He sat up straight in his mahogany wood chair and sloely took a long drag of his brandy glass.
"You mean to tell me that the whole of the Northern Covering force has been sunk in Darwin harbour?
"Yes sir, thats the short of it," replied the still standing to attention McGowan. "The Japs sneaked in during the hours of darkness and engaged the NCF before bombarding Darwin base. Though our ships fought back they were outnumbered though we have the confirmed sinking of two Jap destroyers and the CA Maya is as good as sunk as well."
"Damage reprots?" barked the General.
"Extensive fires to port areas, but airfields were only hit lightly. Indeed, Sir, Swordfish and Dauntless aircraft struck the retreating Jap force and extensively damaged the Maya, last reports have her floundering and burning."
"So bottom line is the whole of the Northern coast is bereft of Naval protection other than the destroyers at Broome?" asked Blamey.
"That is correct Sir, though the Navy High Command has authorised the CL Perth and DD Le Triomphant to leave Sydney and make full steam to reinforce the CL Durban and the survivors of the NCF. Force Y, with BB Resolution, DD Foxhound, CL Emerald and DD Griffin is steaming from Aden and we have requested the release of CL's Australia, Leander and Achilles once the Norfolk Operation is done."
"Well done Commodore, now have the the Northern air forces on full alert and lets try and get one more strike on these jap ships while they are still in range. Now go and tell Jones out there to get a direct high priority line to Kimmel at Pearl Harbour, i want o see if the Yanks have some ships they can throw our way."
1966 was a great year for English Football...Eric was born
Comabt report excerpt for above
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Darwin at 36,84
Japanese Ships
CL Sendai
DD Arashi
DD Minegumo, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Yamakaze, Shell hits 2, on fire
DD Kawakaze, Shell hits 1
DD Umikaze
DD Usugumo
DD Ayanami
Allied Ships
CL Dragon
CL Durban, Shell hits 4
DD Scout, Shell hits 2, on fire
DD Thanet, Shell hits 3, on fire
DM Thracian, Shell hits 2, on fire
MSW Deloraine, Shell hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
MSW Maryborough, Shell hits 2, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Darwin at 36,84
Japanese Ships
CL Sendai
DD Arashi
DD Minegumo, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
DD Yamakaze, on fire
DD Kawakaze
DD Umikaze
DD Usugumo
DD Ayanami
Allied Ships
MSW Bendigo, Shell hits 4, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
MSW Burnie, Shell hits 12, and is sunk
MSW Goulburn, Shell hits 2, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Darwin at 36,84
Japanese Ships
BB Kongo
BB Haruna, Shell hits 5
CA Takao
CA Atago
CA Maya, Shell hits 4, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
CA Chokai
CA Suzuya, Shell hits 7
CA Kumano
CL Natori
CL Yura
DD Nenohi
DD Wakaba
DD Sanae
DD Kasasagi
Allied Ships
CL Dragon, Shell hits 70, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
CL Durban
DD Scout, Shell hits 10, and is sunk
DD Thanet, Shell hits 2, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
DM Thracian, on fire
MSW Deloraine, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naval bombardment of Darwin, at 36,84 - Coastal Guns Fire Back!
Allied aircraft
no flights
Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 1 destroyed
Brewster 339D: 1 destroyed
B-17D Fortress: 1 destroyed
Hawk 75A: 1 destroyed
Hudson I: 1 destroyed
Swordfish: 1 destroyed
21 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Japanese Ships
CL Yura, Shell hits 3, on fire
CL Natori, Shell hits 1
CA Kumano
CA Suzuya, Shell hits 4
CA Chokai
CA Atago
CA Takao
BB Haruna
BB Kongo
Allied Ships
AD Black Hawk, Shell hits 4, on fire
AK Koolinda, Shell hits 4, on fire, heavy damage
TK Longwood, Shell hits 2, on fire
AV Langley, Shell hits 9, on fire, heavy damage
AK Barossa, Shell hits 2
AK Valentijn, Shell hits 3, on fire
TK British Judge, Shell hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
AVD Childs, Shell hits 5, on fire, heavy damage
AK Ben Nevis, Shell hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
AK Patras, Shell hits 1, on fire
AS Holland, Shell hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
AK Tarakan, Shell hits 2, on fire
TK George G Henry, Shell hits 2, on fire
AK Malaita, Shell hits 2
AK Van Swoll, Shell hits 1
AK Both, Shell hits 1, on fire
Allied ground losses:
4085 casualties reported
Guns lost 89
Vehicles lost 8
Airbase hits 11
Airbase supply hits 3
Runway hits 28
Port hits 3
Port fuel hits 3
Port supply hits 2
1966 was a great year for English Football...Eric was born
China Sit Rep
Local has eliminated all but one of the chinese guerillas operating behind his lines and a solid frontline is being formed. For a month his units have been observed moving West and there is a concentraion to the West of Nanchang as shown below. Im rushing reinforcements to the area but there are solid entrenchments behind that area as well as substantial, and well supplied air support from Hengchow and Kwelin. A Chinese Expeditionary Corps is helping shore up the British left flank in Burma/India and a squadron of Hurricanes is based at Tsuyung before being moved foward to the frontline. A second squadron of Hurri's has just left Aden and is earmarked for service in China.
1966 was a great year for English Football...Eric was born
Captain Getting finished the night watch on the bridge of the CA Canberra. They had passed Thursday Island a few hours ago, as the sun broke the eastern horizon. He scanned the sea around his ships and was relieved by his second. He rubbed his tired eyes and decided that a cup of tea before a few hours sleep would be a great idea. Darwin, his destination, was still a two day sail away and despite the fact that Japanese soldiers soiled Australian soil, he was confident his ships could dent any supply missions once the Jap carriers headed back to their base ports.
One hour twenty five minutes into a restless sleep Captain Getting was awoken by a consitent, and thoroughly annoying rap on the door. He opened the door in a daze and saw Able Seaman Waugh had him a note, salute briskly and dash off without being dismissed. He was about to reprimand the sailor when he caught sight of the message written in the handwriting of his XO, Leiutenant Ponting.
'Empire FL-06 out of PM reports 10 Jap ships 60 NM SE of our position. Heading SW'
"Thats a dead straight run into Thrusday..." he said out loud. He dropped the note on the floor, grabbed his cap and ran up to the bridge in his breeches, boots, cap and with his binoculars around his neck.
Upon arrival there, and it was a most unnavylike arrival, he barked out his orders to his second and instruced the signals man to order the flotilla to turn around hard to port, heading 135 degrees and that battle stations were to be adopted.
He quickly ran out to the viewing platform and began to scan the horizon as the claxons sounded across his ship, these were soon joined by the claxons of the other ships aroud him. His second joined him and joined the search.
"Johnny, this could be it! Our first real action of the war!!!" he remarked somewhat excitedly.
"Indeed Mike, just pray that the fly boys havn't missed one of their carriers!"
Around them TF 1268 began to turn around to hopefully engage and thwart another landing on the Australian coast. Broome had been lightly defended, but his forces could add the firepower so crucially missed up north. Or so Captain Greening hoped.
1966 was a great year for English Football...Eric was born
Sit Reps for February, my thanks to Fletcher for loaning me the spreadsheet and Roger Neilsen for originally come up with it. A LOT has happend in the game this month and i will update the AAR with maps/stories when time permits.
First a general points/overview
Attachments
Feb1942.jpg (153.9 KiB) Viewed 667 times
1966 was a great year for English Football...Eric was born
Captain Getting of the CA Canberra was disappointed to say the least. His task force had not been able to make contact with the Japanese forces sailing through the Torres Straits. His initial assumption that Thursday Island would be the target was wrong as a massive Japanese assault was currently underway at Port Morseby. It was obvious that the Japs wanted to cut off Darwin from supply from Southern Australia. Broome still held out bravely but the omens were not good. His task force had docked in Darwin during the night and the port's bunkering services were replenishing his ships.
The Captain's mood improved greatly the following morning when he read the recon and intell reports from the past few days. No less that 6 japanese carriers had been sited in the Port Morseby area. Had his forces been in the area they would have been attacked by overwhelming odds. His new orders stated that he was to rendevous at Brisbane with the remaining destroyers and crusiers of the RAN as well as with a Carrier TF in bound from Suva. Latest recon of the Torres straits said they were clear and there had been no sign of the Japanese carriers for two days.
Suddenly the towns air raid sirens pierced the crisp morning sky. He ran out and looked skywards. Black tufts against the blue canvas background signified flak bursts and the roar of fighter planes announced the arrival of the 17th Fighter Squadron, tasked with CAP of the base. Higher above he spotted black dots that were gradually coming closer. Through his binocualrs he could see a mass of jap fighters covering 4 larger planes. The AA guns of the CL Durban, docked a hundred yards away, barked into life as the P-40's of the 17th began to tangle with Zeroes. As if in a trance, the larger dots suddenly dived low, alomst at wave height, and made a straight line for the Durban. On their undercariage he could see the sleek, shiny lines of a torpedo. Transfixed, he saw two of them lose their cargo at the same time as one crashed into the sea as a P-40 raked it with fire from its guns. A massive explosion came from the Durban, Captain Getting trained his glasses on the cruiser and could cleary see the billowing flames gushing from the wound on the ships sides. With a grimace he noticed the water rushing in but despite this its guns still engaged the japanese airmen. These having dropped their loads beagn to head North East followed by the P-40's of the 17th. Almost immediately smaller craft began to approach the Durban and give it immediate aid.
"Bloody war...bloody japs..." muttered Getting under his breath, thankful that his ship had not been the target.
1966 was a great year for English Football...Eric was born
A massive map of the Coral Sea dominated the briefing room. In the centre of the map was Port Moresby and all around the map different coloured arrows and ships icons painted a very sorry picture. It was 28th February 1942 and the situation was dire to say the least. For a week massive air and naval forces of the Empire of Japan had been assailing Port Moresby and Eastern New Guinea. The gathered officers, from all branches of service as well as of 5 different nationalities, studied the map intently. For the command of the newly created Southwest Pacific HQ this latest japanese offensive was providing an immense headche.
LtGen Brett suddenly entered the room. As one the assembled officers smartend to attention. At this the General said,
"Gentlemen we have no time for such frivolities at the moment. We stand with the katana poised delicately at our throats so all haste must be made to prepare our defences. As you may have gathered the whole of the damn Japanese Navy has been operating in the Coral Sea for the past week. We received the signal from the CA Canberra 7 days ago and since then events have unfolded that have had dire consequence. At this point I shall hand you over to Major Jackson. Major."
"Sirs," barked a rather short, but stocky Major in a very heavy New Zealand accent, "the enemy's carrier force has been roaming around the Coral Sea like a drunk in a whorehouse," this was met by some mutterings and gasps.
"They have effectively bombarded Port Morseby airfield to a pulp and have sunk a transport convoy returning from a resupply of Darwin. Likewise they have accounted for the ML Bungaree which means we have no minelaying resources in the South Pacific."
"Furthermore these yellow bastards have been using Rabaul airfield to pound the living hell out of our positions at Morseby and the latest report indicate that our ground units have sustained substantial casualties."
"We have been able to piece together their plan of atttack and let me tell you gentlemen that these monkies are clever monkies," this was again met by mutterings and some loud protests that were quickly quietened by General Brett. "A two pronged assault has surrounded Port Moresby. The first force, which we will call Northern Force, sailed through the Torres Straits, these were the ships sighted by the Canberra Task Force, and descended on Moresby. The second arm of the pincer, East Force, sailed through the Solomon Sea and approached Port Morseby from the south. It was this force that was covered by the jap carriers. Sirs, if these bastards had not come up with the plan i would have called it ingenious."
"Major!", this time it was General Brett
"Begging you pardon sir," retorted the Major. "Bottom line is that we are facing the more than real prospect of losing Port Moresby which will mean that the supply of Darwin will become difficult indeed. Broome still holds out but our defenders are outnumbered and we have had to divert the reinforcements that were enroute to Darwin, though the 31st Brigade will still proceed ahead. Secondly it places the whole of the Eastern Coast under direct Japanes threat. Luckily the Canberra Task Force was undetected by the carriers, as i speak they have finished bunkering at Darwin and are heading south."
"Most of the aircraft that survived Port Morseby are now based at Townsville and yesterdays reports state that another flight of 3 Hudsons landed there. Similarly two transports docked at Brisbane for San Fransico. They carried valuable P-40 fighters and Marauder medium bombers. Likewise two more B-17 squadrons landed from Suva, though it will be a few days before these are combat ready. If i may speak freely gentlemen, we have our arses against the wall and are in for one hell of a fight."
"Thank you Robert," said General Brett. "Skip, if you would like to take the podium." He gestured to a man in the uniform of a Captain of the US Navy who stood up, walked solemnly to the front of the room and began to address the assembled officers in a crisp southern US accent.
"Gentlemen, we are all in this grave moment together. We assure you that aid is forcoming. I can confirm that the crusiers New Orleans and Raleigh and their attendant destroyers are already steaming past Pago-Pago and that yesterday the Carrier Lexington Battle Group left Pearl Harbour and is heading towards these waters. The CV Wasp is also fast approaching the Panama Canal and will soon also be safeguarding your shores. The Americal Division is already enroute as well. The US will stand and fight with you."
He carried on rolling off a number of promises and assurances but the fact was that the Japanese sword hung menacingly over Australia and it would take all of that famous Aussie doggedness to prevent it from sweeping down in one deadly blow.
Attachments
PM.jpg (127.97 KiB) Viewed 667 times
1966 was a great year for English Football...Eric was born
Admiral Halsey had given the go ahead to Operation Warrior and the plan was now deep into its developmental stage. Allied morale was low, and was to get even lower as the fall of Palembang and Batavia had still not been made public. Major McNeice, Army General Staff, was compiling the maps the Admiral would be using to brief the commanders leading Operation Warrior. It was a rather mild March afternoon in Seattle, well mild in comparison to Dutch Harbour where he had been discussing the possibility of a launch against Attu Island, which subsequently came to nothing, only last week. One month of planning was suddenly cut short when a PBY Catalina landed in the harbour and a rider was sent to fetch him and fly him back to the West Coast under the express orders of Admiral Halsey.
The Admiral had underlined his desire to strike back at the Japanese, even if it was just a token gesture to raise the morale on the Home Front. For a month the island atoll of Tarawa had been reconnoitered from Catalina's based at Baker Isalnd. Recently a squadron of recon Lightning fighters had been able to provide reliable low level flying photographs of the base. The japanese had only stationed float planes at the base and SIGINT had established a garrison of about 5,000 men suspected to be mostly base force troops. Admiral Halsey had deemed it a suitable target for a lightning quick operation. Submarines had also been operating the sea lanes around Tarawa and had not come across much heavy traffic to and from the island, certainly not from Kwajalein. Though Major McNeice had his reservations, he had been ordered to plan the operation and present a feasble plan of action. The admiral had set mid-May as a tentative date for the launch. He believed that the japs would still be heavily engaged in the New Guniea area and would therefore be light on the ground around Tarawa.
For Major McNeice it meant a lot of work.
Spearheading the land invasion would be the 27th Infantry Division recently deployed to the theatre supported by the 279th RCT and the 754th Tank Brigade. Secondary landings would be made by the 2nd Marine Radier Battalion on the nearby Makin Atoll. Several engineer battalions would be ready to land on the atoll once it had been secured to immediately get the base up and running. At sea the carriers Enterprise and Yorktown groups would provide close air support while the Colorado Battle Group would provide close-in bombardment support. The CV Hornet would provide cover and the Warspite Battle group would safeguard the invasion fleets. Likewise the ComSub would release 6 long range boats to cover any possible Japanese reinforcements rushing to the area. Long-range bombers would be based at Canton Island and tasked with the supporting the landings while Baker would continue builiding its airstrip in the hope it would be fit to take medium range bomobers by the start of the operation. Surprise would play a key role in Operation Warrior and security was to be tight. The coming weeks, and the location of the japanese carrier force would be crucial.
1966 was a great year for English Football...Eric was born
. Lot of small AK's scuttled when Sorebaja fell.
