Shattering the Sword. Cantona2 (a) vs Herbiesan (j)

[cantona2]

CL Kenya, the hero of the Battle of the Bay of Bengal.

[cantona2]

CL Capetown, lost at Port Blair 14-8-1943.

[cantona2]

Elsewhere there was carnage in the skies as the enemy is reported to have lost over 80 planes in the air, on the ground and to flak. An intial assault on Japanese positions on Port Blair was bloodily repulsed and reinforcements were on their way.

More bloody battles over the skies of Port Moresby as well. The crippled Princeton inched her way to Townsville and the damage control crews had begun to win the battle against the flooding. Tired P-38 sqaudrons were hit badly and reinforcements flown in from the Solomons, where Tulagi was also taken and intial moved made on Munda. On the ground the main assault force (16th Infantry and 1st Australian Divisions) had been landed and a preliminary bombardment ordered as B-24's, B-17's, A-20's and B-25's roared overhead delivering high explosive aplenty!

[Local Yokel]

ORIGINAL: cantona2

CL Kenya, the hero of the Battle of the Bay of Bengal.

Whoa! Hold on! Think that's actually HMS Blake - Tiger class cruiser in pre-helicopter cruiser incarnation. Most unfair to beat up Herbie with a ship that wasn't even launched until December '45!

(Robert Blake was from Bridgwater: our local boy made good. Flew a whip at his masthead to show he'd whip Tromp from the seas after Tromp lashed a broom to his mast, seeking to indicate that the Dutch would sweep the English from the seas)

<edit> Beg pardon, wrong pennant number; Blake was C99. This is, in fact, HMS Tiger herself (pennant number C20) </edit>

[cantona2]

LOL ok John, bad labelling on websites. I know pretty little about ships other than the bow and the prow!!! Now get me a panzer and we're talking.

Here is a picture of Kenya in the thick of it off Port Balir!

[cantona2]

Extract from 'The Pacific War', Chapter IX 1943 Hits and Misses.

'...they had tried and tried hard to disrupt the landings at Port Balir repeatedly but by late August had failed. The last two attacks, one more successful than the other were led by the Mutsu and Yamashiro respectively. The Mutsu went in during the early hours of 15th August. She blew aside the thin screen of minesweepers and patrol craft but not before she had lost one of her destroyer escorts. Thankfully most of the transports hab already unloaded and cast off for Madras and the only target her guns found were broken and burning hulks of previous waves. After about an hour of a lopside fight Mutsu took her charges back to Victoria Point as the Yamashiro headed north.

This second Japanese force, however, would not find easy pickings as the last Royal Navy reserve was throen in. The CA Devonshire led her task force into the approaches to Port Blair and due to a combination of well employed and radar, in the guise of unexplained silence from the Yamashiro's main batteries, was able to hit first and hit hard. The IJN lost another destroyer, bringing the total to 9 lost during the struggles for Port Blair, and the Yamashiro was hit but not heavily damaged.

The Royal Navy could take great pride in the fact that for the loss of the Capetown they had sunk 9 destroyers and heavily damaged two heavy cruisers, but two problems lingered on the horizon. The first was the critical fuel sitiaution on the carriers. They had enough gas for two more days before they would need to wheel north west to rebunker. But unitl then they would need to provide cover for the 75th British Brigade, the floating reserve, that was about to join the battle. Secondly, Yamamoto still had not comitted his carriers, that had not been since the Battle of Majuro, though the intelligence services had occasionally picked up nuggets of references to them as they scanned the air waves.

Around Port Moresby things loked brighter. A combination of heavy bombers from bases in Australia and FAA and USN fighters had shattered the Japanese air forces in southern PNG. The first assault spearheaded by the 1st Australian Division was about to go in and Munda was about to fall meaning that if both operations were successfully concluded Rabaul would be in range of heavy bombers for the first time...'

[cantona2]

Crunch time had arrived. The Royal Navy carriers had to wothdraw to refuel and for a few days Port Blair would be berfet of aerial cover as well as naval support. Port Moresby's defenders showed signs of weakening, the hard Aussie troopers of the 1st ruthless in action were in the fore. Over Munda enemy transport planes had been intercepted and its was feared that a para unit was being brought in to reinforce Munda. 48 P-38's would be put on the hunt for transport planes. notwithstanding, the 195 RCT would be redeployed from Lunga after having recovered from its ops there. The 3rd Marine was also ready to be redployed with a move to the central Solomon Sea being mooted!

[cantona2]

I've negelected this AAR due to lack of time so I'm posting a few screenies and comments to bring it up to speed.

First Burma where the Chindwin was crossed by the Japanese at two points, a brigade from the 2nd Guards Division tried to get two respective bridgeheads but were heavily repulsed. Especially the northern brigade that smacked into the well prepared defensive positons of the 26th Indian Divison. Reinforcement are on their way before throwing the Japs back across the river.

[cantona2]

Operation Imperator has reached stalemate. My two RN carriers have provided sterling service in terms of CAP, LRCAP and naval strikes. The BB Fuso was sunk by FAA Barracudas and they are making Port Blair a Japanese scrapyard. Japanese CVLs escorted the bulk of the 12th Infantry Divison to reinforce the Port Blair garrison. A frontal attack, largely on the 5th Indian Division front was repulsed leaving nearly 5,000 Japanese soldiers dead or injured.

[cantona2]

Operation Agrippa was a resounding success on many fronts. Its stated aim, the recapture of Port Moresby, was achieved. Losses were a few transports and escort vessels only. The IJAAF over New Guinea was almost destroyed and our carriers retreated to Townsville successfully. I now have 1 RN fleet carrier, 1 Essex Class, 2 CVls, 2 CVEs and the Hermes in theatre to support actions in the Solomon Islands. Port Moresby once again sports Allied bombers ready to strike across the Solomon Sea and conduct a pincer air attack on Rabaul.

[cantona2]

Finally operations in the Solomons have also moved at a good rate. Lunga, Tulsagi and now Munda have been retaken. Rennel Island sports a fighter base with P-38's providing long range cover to add to the shorter range Corsairs and Wildcats. Munda and Lunga host PB4Ys, that will join Port Moresby's bombers in starting the air campaign against Rabaul. I have 6 divisions, 5 veteran, in the theatre and carrier support with more units arriving from the West Coast. Its going to be an interesting time in the Solomons. Radio intelligence suggests the crack 47th Sentai is in Rabaul and more worrying the Combined Fleet has set sail on some major operation. The Indian Ocean was a ruse so the main Japanese effort must come here. Dauntlesses, Helldivers, Lightnings, Mitchells, Liberators all await them. A bit further to the North East, Mili has been built up and the rebuilt 25th and 1st Marine Divisions will once again assault Majuro with a view of a strike on Kwajalein before the end of the year.

[cantona2]

Order of the day 330th Fighter Squadron

'Tigers spotted in the area, good hunting! Tame the beast!"

[cantona2]

All Quiet on the Pacific Front.

The Japanese incursion over the Chindwin river was sent packing by two Indian Divisions that now had orders to relieve the tank regiment cut off further south. SEAC was still directing the Port Blair battle but a lack of free divisions was curbing the offensive power there. the 7th AIF was considered but it held the Akyab flank so it was deemed essential to keep the aussies in the Burmese jungle for now.

The mass of American firepower in the Solomons was primed for another attack but the USAAF was exhausted after Munda and Port Moresby. A further week of rest and refit was needed and crated up reinforcements were being unloaded at Ndeni, Vanikoro and Rennel. An aviaition regiment was being unloaded at Lunga which meant the freeing up of several aviation support units for the bases around the Solomon Sea. The question was where to next. Two immediate targets stood out. Milne Bay and Shortlands. 4 divisions for each assault could be spared meaning that the odds were stacked against the Japanese. The dirth of fleet carriers, just two battle worthy ships in the area, also put a delay on ops.

[cantona2]

Just a quick Sitrep for any remaining readaars.

Shortlands has been invaded by the Americal, redeployed aft r 'n' r in Lunga, and the 6th Infantry, recently arrived from the West Coast. Initial landings were not as heavily contested as they were on Lunga and Munda and the level of fortification does not seem as high. These landings are under the noses of any aircraft at Rabaul. Therefore 4 squadrons of P-38's provide long range cover while two of F4-U's provide short range cover from Munda. So far air attacks have been ineffcient with litte coordintation from either side. It is expected that though the Japanese high command was caught off guard tomorrows raids will come in hard, fast and aplenty. A heavily escorted convoy has also steamed into Rabaul, engaing one of our picket subs. Recon over Rabual will intensify incase the Combined Fleet, suspected to have been at sea for a while,is joining the party. Once operations conclude on shortlands, the 3rd Marines will invade Milne Bay to bring the number of fields bearing heavies within range of Rabaul to 5.

In Port Blair only one RN carrier remains, the other is nursing a torpedo hit in Colombo, light damage that will keep her out of the fight. No more reinforcement convoys from Victoria Point have been spotted but several minelayers have been engaged by our subs there. It is obvious that a stalemate has been achieved and the successful deposit of 20,000 tons of supplies on the island will keep our troops fighting for a long time. The 50th Indian Parachute is moving to Akyab and will be dropped into Port Blair to reinforce our positions and maybe tip the balance in our favour.

[cantona2]

On a sepearte note. I have a ton of LST's at Canton Island. What is the best way to use them. Load them up with troops and make sure there is an AK in the TF to ensure they get to their target, ie refule enroutr? Or just load them up and sail them into the guns straight away?

[Alfred]

ORIGINAL: cantona2

Just a quick Sitrep for any remaining readaars.

Of course you still have "readaars".

Just to prove it, I even went back to your post #453 to find any reference as to an Allied operation which would commence from Canton Island (in response to your post #515). Couldn't find one, so really can't comment on whether your LSTs should be accompanied by an AK or not. A lot would depend on how far away the target is.

Remember however, that in classic WITP, unlike in AE, ships at sea without fuel do not accumulate sys damage.

Alfred

[paullus99]

Waiting to see what happens!

[cantona2]

Transcript of orders issued over the past 24 hours.

To 254th Indian Tank Battalion: Carry out aggressive recon of enemy front, aerial recconaisance suggests Japanese have pulled back over the Chindwin.

To Americal Division Shortlands: Order to attack main Japanese line at first light has been issued. Americal to spearhead attack.

To 6th Infantry Division Kokoda Trail, New Guinea: Attack and destroy elements of enemy 1st Heavy Brigade dug in on ridges, before advancing on Buna.

[cantona2]

Ready Room, Broome Aerodrome.

"thats the fifth day in a row we've been recconed this week and the sightings of the sub yesterday," said WO Perkins.

"Not to worry boy," answered the Group Captain. "The Japs know our main strength is in the Solomons and will concentrate there or at Port Blair. They won't attack here."

"With all due respect sir in the past fortnight, Wyndham had been bombed, Derby recconed and we've also been attacked, its too much of a coincidence."

"Thats enough Perkins, your concerns have been noted!"

[cantona2]

Solomons Sit Rep

Shortlands now firmly in Allied hands though Japanese troops still resist. Airfield is being made ready while two small carrier groups, 4 CVL's in two TF's prowl tentatively in the Solomon Sea after shipping was seen moving between Buna and Gasmata. Port Moresby is now bringing its planes to bear on any Japanese shipping or airfield in or around New Guinea while stockplies of fuel and ammunition are being gathered with a view to the aerial assault on Rabaul.