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

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Gasmata fell early November 1943 and soon enough USAAF planes drove what was left of the IJN from the Bismarck Sea. Transports had been seen airlifting troops from Rabaul and soon P-38's would be carving a deadly swathe through them. Likewise barges were seen congregating on Tallasea, a bountiful harvest for the Thunderbolts at Gasmata. If the IJA wanted its men back it would have to run the gauntlet for them

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Solomons

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Developments in Burma while fighting was going on in the Solomons

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Allied planners begun to put the second phase of Operation Gearheart into action. Two divisions began to move east from Gasmata to Rabaul while two engineer units embarked for Samo with a view of setting up a fighter strip there to harass Kaveing from a second angle. More men and machines were unloading at Gasmata daily and two corps worth of power were onland with antoehr waiting at Shortlands. The 6th Infantry was also on the move towards Buna and things looked promising. 12th November 1943, however, brought sobering news. Radio intercepts during the Bismarck battles had been fully decoded and several titbits of information pointed towards an enemy operation codenamed Sho-Go 1. Likewise several units had Munda as their destination. A wider picture of Japanese intentions was being put together. Crushing the allied carriers in the Solomon Sea and a strike along the Solomon flank. Luckily the quick capture of Gasmata had made the Jap think twice and withdrew his forces. This now left Allied High Commands wondering what next?

The enemy had several options:

1) A further strike on the Solomons with the knowledge that I have been weakend on sea, but certainly not on land or the air.
2) A deep raid into my Pacific sea lanes with a full complement of carriers.
3) An attack on my Marshall enclaves, though these bases are mutually supportive of each other.
4) Lend carrier support to the stalemate at Port Blair and thus reinforce his position there.
5) A strike against Darwin and other northern Australian bases.

What would happen next?

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Anticipated frontline by latest January 1944 in Solomon Islands

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20th Indian Division liberate Mandalay from Japanese occupation, 13th November 1943.

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The Kito Butai showed itself to the north of Broome yesterday morning. It had been spotted leaving the Soemba region and had been shadowed by the SS Tarpon. At daybreak it was 240 miles NW of Broome.

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The first enemy strike was reported coming in at around 10:35am. The CAP was scrambled and in place to intercept the Japanese planes. A mass of enemy aircraft filled the sky like an angry swarm of bees and into the darted, like firey lances, the planes of the RAAF and USAAF and one sqaudron of Marine Corsairs. A terrific dogifht ensued in whcih 50 enemy planes were shot down by sheer weight of numbers soon told and the Japanese fought through to several task forces at Broome.

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Damage was extensive and two light cruisers had been lost but as the day progressed it was clear by the smaller number of enemy planes that we had managed to hurt he Jap. The CVE Long Island, who had for over a year been carrying out diversionary moves along the Austrlaian coast, launched its Helldivers in a futile attempt to stike at the enemy carriers. A mass of A6M5's saw to them. The Long Island herself was also sunk late in the afternoon despite sterling service by RAAF Hurricanes to protect her.

[cantona2]

Further to the East, and near to Ponape a second, less expected carrier action was fought in which a Japanese fleet carrier was sunk for the first time in the war. The Vicotrious and the Bellau Wood had been chasing a float plane carrier north. Its floatplanes had attacked the Victorious yesterday and the RN wanted revenge. The first reports of enemy carriers came when Kingfishers flying from the West Virginia first reported being engaged by carrier borne fighters and then actually spotting two enemy carriers. The allied flight decks made ready and in 45 minutes a strike package had been launched northwards.

Range was short so soon enough reports of Avengers having sighted and attacked enemy ships began to filter in. Elements of 832 Squadron FAA reported one hit on an enemy carrier and several losses to flak.

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The second wave of planes, a mixture of FAA and USNAF, hit the bullseye. Escorting Hellcats and Corsairs ploughed through a flimsy CAP of Zekes and the Avengers were able to sink 4 torpedoes into the CV Hiyo, sinking her after 17 minutes of action. A massive sense of revenge, no matter how small, swept through the surviving allied flyers as they flew back home the burning remains of the Hiyo disappearing slowly under the surface. The Jap carrier force would no longer have it all its way!

Home was burning however. The Japanese strike package had hit the Victorious. Her armoured carpace had made small work of the light bombs dropped by Judy's but she was hit by one torpedo, like the West Virginia. Damage was quickly brought under control and a good head of steam was achieved. After the planes had landed the WeeVee was detached and made for Lunga,at moderate speed, while the carriers made to Abemama at flank speed.

[cantona2]

First of all apologies for the non posting but I really have little time to dedicate to an AAR of a high standard. I will give, through bullet point, a synopsis of what has happened since the Victorious sunk the Hiyo.

• Solomons Campaign gathered pace. Gasmata developed into a major base and Finchshafen occupied. Landing made by 37th Division on Lae, which is being contested. Invasion of Madang had gathered pace and bombardment units enroute ahead of landings.
• Maleolap captured by 1st Marine Division, attoning for its failure at Majuro and avenging those POWS shot by the Japanese. Central Pacfiic thrust halted, though after softening up Wotje may made attacked once I have recovered a few carriers from dry dock.
• Japanes Army landed collaborationist Indian Brigades on Port Balir and has for a week unsuccessfully tried to destory British and Indian troops that are well entrenched. Stalemate is the order of the day and this is to our advantage as those troops are pinned there and out of Burma. IJN carriers. that covered the landings have withdrawn and P-38s from Akyab tussle and shoot down the IJAAF fighters over Port Blair. An attempt by the recently repaird Formidable to attack bombarding IJN battleships resulted in her taking one torpedo hit and shes back in dry dock!
• Burma has seen developments. Lashio was outflanked by troops from Mandalay and a Japanese attack to throw British armour back over the Irrawaddy failed. The 6th AIF Australian Division is attacking Lashio, soon to be reinforced by the 20th Indian Division. A second 14th Army offensive will begin soon, via the Akyab Axis.
• A japanese offensive in China, origintating in Indo-China, seems to have stalled just west of Nanning. Resolute chinese defending and superior strength in the air has meant that the Japanese advance on Nanning and Pakhoi was stopped well short of the city. Like in Burma, the Japanese have a new plane to fear alongside the P-38, the Thunderbolt.