Bring me the head of Diego Garcia...and the Mayor of Addu Atoll too!

[Cap Mandrake]

I made a map of the 2nd battle of the Banda Sea...twice....and my 10 year old computer ate it..twice. I blame Stalker Girl, of course, for using IE instead of Firefox. I therefore have elected to describe the battle in words.

Upon the approach of the Grey Funnel Line, the Japs bugged out of Kendari on the night of 12-27/28, retreating some 120 miles to the NE. Force Z and the Dutch force reached an empty harbour and turned about without firing a shot.

TF Enterprise (Halsey), stopped to refuel the DD's, reaching only 160 mi SE of Kendari by daylight. TF Lexington, refueled somewhat later and was 80 miles ESE of Kenadari by daylight. Catastrophically, Lexingon was unable to launch any CAP or conduct strikes. Shortly after dawn 23 Bettys showed up from Manado with 8 Zeroes in escort. Lexington had no air cover from Enterprise as they wre separated in the night. One Betty scored a torpedo hit. A small attack of Kates (presumably from Ruyjo 100 miles away did no damage. In the interim, Enterprises dive bombers found Ruyjo at extreme range and reported four hits each on Ryujo and Taiyo, with each burning heavily. A weak group of Kates approched Enterprise but were destroyed by the F3F CAP. In the afternoon, 3 Bettys again found Lexington dead in the water and scored another torpedo hit. Enterprises dive bombers scored 2 more hits each on Ryujo and Taiyo (probably fatal damage on both).

At nightfall, Lexington had 47% flooding and a fire level of 7. She is unable to refuel from her sister ships, presumably from the fire.

Enterprise will join her to provide CAP as she limps to port. The B-17's at Balikpapan will try to supress Manado on the 29th. Recon of Kendari shows only 6 fighters. The greatest threat to Lexington will likely be Jap subs but the weather is clear so the Bettys will be back.

[fflaguna]

Good news, we don't need Plan R to stoke a fire in the engines! Unfortunately, the Foreman Grills have already passed their fail-safe points.

[sprior]

28/12

The Dutch ulgofortresses show what happens when you take a big oil field in range of them and don't defend the place. So far they've caused 138 points worth of damage.

Moulmein falls but Rabaul hangs on for another day.

[Cap Mandrake]

Indeed, the Militaire Luchtvaart van het Koninklijk Nederlands-Indisch Leger has done fantastically well at Palembang. I have never seen even heavy bombers score that many hits in 2 days on an oil facility. If it were up to me I would say Clog Day for everyone and a primo parking space for anyone who can actually say "Militaire Luchtvaart van het Koninklijk Nederlands-Indisch Leger".

Meanwhile, while Lord Admiral Sprior is trying to win the game, I am trying to lose it. Ryujo and and CVE (not Taiyo as intial reports indicated) are confirmed sunk, but, barring a miracle, Lexington will be swimming with the fishes shortly. Jap carriers are trying to enter the battle scene via the Ceram Sea. This is very sneaky as they absolutely did NOT ask permission.

Never heard of the Ceram Sea, you say? Map to follow

[Cap Mandrake]

Le map. Looks like authentic USS Lexington ash trays are going WAY up in value here soon.

This I find annoying as the Lexington completely draining her fuel bunkers so some DD's could be at 80% fuel load seems kind of unrealistic to me. Oh well, there is no crying in AE

[Cap Mandrake]

ORIGINAL: fflaguna

Good news, we don't need Plan R to stoke a fire in the engines! Unfortunately, the Foreman Grills have already passed their fail-safe points.

I think that would be Wing Plan R for Robert:

Ripper:

Group Captain, I'm afraid this is not a exercise.

Mandrake:

Not an exercise, sir?

Ripper:

I shouldn't tell you this, Mandrake, but you're a good officer and you have a right to know. It looks like we're in a shooting war.

Mandrake:

Oh, hell. Are the Russians involved sir?

Ripper:

Mandrake, that's all I've been told. It just came in on the Red Phone. My orders are for this base to be sealed tight, and that's what I mean to do: seal it tight. Now, I want you to transmit plan R, R for Robert, to the wing. Plan R for Robert.

[Cap Mandrake]

See the daytime CA vs CV duel below




Day Time Surface Combat, near Namlea at 76,107, Range 17,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CV Kaga, Shell hits 1
CV Akagi, Shell hits 4
CA Tone, Shell hits 18, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Hamakaze, Shell hits 1
DD Tanikaze, Shell hits 2
DD Hatsuharu
DD Nenohi, Shell hits 7, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
DD Hatsushima
DD Wakaba
DD Katsutade

Allied Ships
CA Portland, Shell hits 2
CA Indianapolis
CA Chester
CA Pensacola, Shell hits 1
CA Salt Lake City
CA Astoria
DD Ellet, Shell hits 5, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Dunlap, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Fanning, Shell hits 2, on fire
DD Lamson, Shell hits 2, heavy fires



Maximum visibility in Clear Conditions: 30,000 yards
Range closes to 17,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 17,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 17,000 yards
Scanland, F. crosses the 'T'
CA Astoria engages CV Kaga at 17,000 yards
CA Tone engages CA Astoria at 17,000 yards
CA Astoria engages DD Katsutade at 17,000 yards
DD Wakaba engages DD Dunlap at 17,000 yards
DD Dunlap engages DD Nenohi at 17,000 yards
CA Portland engages DD Hatsuharu at 17,000 yards
DD Nenohi engages DD Dunlap at 17,000 yards
Range closes to 13,000 yards
CA Tone engages CA Astoria at 13,000 yards
CA Salt Lake City engages CA Tone at 13,000 yards
CA Tone engages CA Pensacola at 13,000 yards
CA Tone engages CA Chester at 13,000 yards
CA Indianapolis engages CA Tone at 13,000 yards
CA Portland engages CA Tone at 13,000 yards
DD Katsutade engages DD Lamson at 13,000 yards
DD Dunlap engages DD Hatsuharu at 13,000 yards
DD Tanikaze engages DD Dunlap at 13,000 yards
Range closes to 12,000 yards
CA Pensacola engages CV Akagi at 12,000 yards
CA Pensacola engages CV Kaga at 12,000 yards
CA Tone engages CA Pensacola at 12,000 yards
DD Katsutade engages DD Dunlap at 12,000 yards
DD Dunlap engages DD Wakaba at 12,000 yards
DD Lamson engages DD Nenohi at 12,000 yards
DD Hatsuharu engages DD Dunlap at 12,000 yards
DD Tanikaze engages DD Dunlap at 12,000 yards
DD Ellet engages DD Katsutade at 12,000 yards
Range closes to 11,000 yards
DD Lamson engages CV Akagi at 11,000 yards
CA Portland engages CV Kaga at 11,000 yards
CA Tone engages CA Pensacola at 11,000 yards
DD Ellet engages DD Katsutade at 11,000 yards
CA Indianapolis engages CV Akagi at 11,000 yards
DD Lamson engages DD Hatsushima at 11,000 yards
DD Hamakaze engages DD Lamson at 11,000 yards
DD Nenohi engages DD Fanning at 11,000 yards
DD Tanikaze engages DD Dunlap at 11,000 yards
DD Ellet engages DD Wakaba at 11,000 yards
Range closes to 7,000 yards
CA Tone engages CA Salt Lake City at 7,000 yards
CA Tone engages CA Pensacola at 7,000 yards
CA Indianapolis engages CA Tone at 7,000 yards
CA Portland engages CA Tone at 7,000 yards
DD Nenohi engages DD Ellet at 7,000 yards
DD Fanning engages DD Hatsuharu at 7,000 yards
DD Fanning engages DD Tanikaze at 7,000 yards
DD Nenohi engages DD Ellet at 7,000 yards
Range increases to 10,000 yards
DD Ellet engages CV Akagi at 10,000 yards
CA Salt Lake City engages CA Tone at 10,000 yards
CA Pensacola engages CV Akagi at 10,000 yards
DD Lamson engages DD Katsutade at 10,000 yards
DD Wakaba engages DD Dunlap at 10,000 yards
DD Lamson engages DD Hatsushima at 10,000 yards
DD Nenohi engages DD Lamson at 10,000 yards
DD Fanning engages DD Hamakaze at 10,000 yards
DD Wakaba engages DD Dunlap at 10,000 yards
DD Hatsuharu engages DD Ellet at 10,000 yards
Range closes to 8,000 yards
CA Astoria engages CA Tone at 8,000 yards
DD Ellet engages CV Kaga at 8,000 yards
CA Chester engages CA Tone at 8,000 yards
DD Katsutade engages DD Lamson at 8,000 yards
CA Indianapolis engages CA Tone at 8,000 yards
DD Hatsushima engages DD Lamson at 8,000 yards
DD Nenohi sunk by DD Ellet at 8,000 yards
DD Wakaba engages DD Fanning at 8,000 yards
DD Ellet engages DD Hamakaze at 8,000 yards
DD Fanning engages CV Akagi at 8,000 yards
CA Tone engages CA Salt Lake City at 8,000 yards
CA Tone engages CA Astoria at 8,000 yards
DD Dunlap engages DD Wakaba at 8,000 yards
DD Hatsushima engages DD Fanning at 8,000 yards
DD Lamson engages DD Hamakaze at 8,000 yards
DD Hatsushima engages DD Fanning at 8,000 yards
DD Tanikaze engages DD Ellet at 8,000 yards
Range increases to 10,000 yards
CA Astoria engages CA Tone at 10,000 yards
CA Tone engages CA Salt Lake City at 10,000 yards
CA Tone engages CA Pensacola at 10,000 yards
DD Katsutade engages DD Fanning at 10,000 yards
DD Hatsushima engages DD Lamson at 10,000 yards
DD Hatsuharu engages DD Dunlap at 10,000 yards
DD Katsutade engages DD Fanning at 10,000 yards
DD Wakaba engages DD Dunlap at 10,000 yards
DD Tanikaze engages DD Ellet at 10,000 yards
Range increases to 13,000 yards
CA Tone engages CA Astoria at 13,000 yards
DD Ellet engages CV Kaga at 13,000 yards
CA Tone engages CA Portland at 13,000 yards
DD Katsutade engages DD Dunlap at 13,000 yards
DD Wakaba engages DD Ellet at 13,000 yards
CA Portland engages DD Wakaba at 13,000 yards
DD Hatsuharu engages DD Lamson at 13,000 yards
DD Katsutade engages DD Dunlap at 13,000 yards
DD Hamakaze engages DD Ellet at 13,000 yards
Range increases to 17,000 yards
CV Akagi , CV Kaga screened from combat
- escorted by DD Hatsuharu
CA Salt Lake City collides with CA Portland at 76 , 107
CA Astoria engages CV Kaga at 17,000 yards
CA Salt Lake City engages CV Kaga at 17,000 yards
CA Pensacola engages CV Kaga at 17,000 yards
DD Hatsushima engages DD Fanning at 17,000 yards
CA Indianapolis engages CV Kaga at 17,000 yards
DD Lamson engages DD Tanikaze at 17,000 yards
DD Fanning engages DD Wakaba at 17,000 yards
DD Dunlap engages DD Wakaba at 17,000 yards
DD Hatsushima engages DD Ellet at 17,000 yards
Range increases to 22,000 yards
CV Akagi , CV Kaga screened from combat
- escorted by DD Hatsuharu
CA Salt Lake City engages CV Kaga at 22,000 yards
CA Pensacola engages CV Kaga at 22,000 yards
CA Indianapolis engages CV Kaga at 22,000 yards
CA Portland engages DD Hamakaze at 22,000 yards
Range increases to 25,000 yards
CA Astoria engages CA Tone at 25,000 yards
CA Tone engages CA Salt Lake City at 25,000 yards
CA Tone engages CA Chester at 25,000 yards
CA Astoria engages DD Katsutade at 25,000 yards
CA Portland engages DD Wakaba at 25,000 yards
CA Tone engages CA Portland at 25,000 yards
CA Astoria engages DD Tanikaze at 25,000 yards
CA Salt Lake City engages DD Hamakaze at 25,000 yards
Range increases to 29,000 yards
CA Salt Lake City engages CV Akagi at 29,000 yards
CA Tone engages CA Pensacola at 29,000 yards
CA Chester engages DD Katsutade at 29,000 yards
CA Indianapolis engages DD Wakaba at 29,000 yards
CA Portland engages DD Hatsushima at 29,000 yards
CA Salt Lake City engages DD Hatsuharu at 29,000 yards
CA Indianapolis engages DD Hamakaze at 29,000 yards
Task forces break off...

[Chickenboy]

Impressive aggressive defense, you two.  Nicely done.

[sprior]

The Porpoise Driven Life

[sprior]

Oh well, there is no crying in AE

Stiff upper lip old chap. Don't let it go wobbly in front of the children or servants.

[Cap Mandrake]

ORIGINAL: sprior

The Porpoise Driven Life

[:D][:D] I have been to the author's megachurch (for a Christmas show..fantastic music). I even donated $5 because I felt guilty.


The crew of USS Porpoise deserve a whole month of free dress days. In addition to two confirmed torpedo hits, Akagi was hit by a third dud torpedo from Porpoise and two duds from S-37. I think Akagi is hit pretty bad. Had I moved Enterprise's F3F's to Ambon I think we woudl have 2 junked Jap carriers. Musn't be greedy, though.

Havent's seen the game turn file yet, but it looks like Lexington is still afloat too.

[Onime No Kyo]

Looks like it could have been much worse. [&o]

[Smeulders]

If Lexington manages to make it somehow, this can even be classified as a good victory. What are the losses now ? 1 Japanese CVL and CVE and damage to a large carrier in return for Lexington heavily damaged ?

[sprior]

Yep, thats about it.

[Onime No Kyo]

ORIGINAL: Smeulders

If Lexington manages to make it somehow, this can even be classified as a good victory. What are the losses now ? 1 Japanese CVL and CVE and damage to a large carrier in return for Lexington heavily damaged ?

I am keeping in mind that at this point in time there is not a port the IJN could use to stabilize the damage anywhere in the vicinity.

[Smeulders]

But neither is there a port nearby that could be considered safe for the Lexington to stabilize

[Cap Mandrake]

********Bridge of Akagi, 18:20, December 29, 1941********


Captain Hasegawa paces nervously despite the 6 degree list. His brow is furrowed in worry. A great asset has been entrusted to him and he has failed. He laments quietly to himself, "oh why did I let them start the new hull insignia in honor of the Emperor's birthday...I should have made sure there was enough red paint first...oy..."

[Cap Mandrake]

UPDATE, Dec. 29. 1941: Lexington lives, although the fire level has increased and she is still limping along at 1 hex/turn. I have her headed toward Ambon despite the fact the place has only a level 2 port and is very dangerous. She cant make anywhere else.

It looks like Akagi is quite heavily damaged, as she has apparently been detached from Kaga. Jap transports are spotted about 200 miles NE of Ambon. If that is a landing attempt I think it will have to be called off with just one operational carrier in the area, with USN planes operating from Ambon and the uncertain position (from the Japs standpoint) of Enterprise. In fact, Enterprise has flown off her fighters to Ambon as well and wont be doing any fighting.

Indianapolis has about 30% flooding from her torpedo hit. The other cruisers of the Ambon intercept force are in good shape but in need of ammo and fuel (and DD's) so they will retire to the South. Porpoise has no forward torpedoes left and S-37 is dry as well. The other USN subs will move East to intercept the damaged Akagi as she will likely go back out through the Ceram Sea, again running a deadly gauntlet.
Tone is probably a wreck too.

Boise and her escorts will refuel at Darwin and Force Z and the Dutch at Koepang for possible employement at Ambon if the Japs push on.

[Cap Mandrake]

Lexington finally succumed. [:(]

The Japs chose to go West and North around Halmahera, evading two US subs and avoiding the gauntlet to the East. The few remaing SBD's at Ambon with a very tired F3F escort tried to attack Akagi but achieved no hits. Akagi had a good fighter escort. Either she is able to conduct flight ops or is under the CAP from Kaga or from Zeroes from Menado. I estimate she is making 5-7 kts.

A dozen PT boats at Ternate will try to intercept her at night as she skirts the coast and 10 USN and RNN subs are converging on the escape route. We shall see. They might make for Menado but it is only level two.

A Jap surface force reported to be 7 CA's in about 160 miles NE of Ambon. I suspect they are DD's but they might be an escort for a bombardment force for Ambon or even another carrier.

Did I mention I want Akagi to die?

I would just love to see one of the PT boats put a fish in her but I think the Jap team would need a couple of weeks off for R&R afterward [:D]

[Chickenboy]

Man, you've got to love the knife fight in the dark that is carrier warfare in the DEI. Close range, brutish, kill or be killed.

Damn, I love it!