Historical AE. Cantona2 (A) vs Fletcher (J)

[traskott]

I should move it to Noumea, but it just personal preference.

[cantona2]

Turn Synopsis 19th April 1942

Allied INTELL services reported to General MacArthur at his SOPAC HQ, still at Brisbane, the likey presence of Japanese carrier assets at Rabaul. This coincides with the spotting of a topredo bomber (B5N2 class) by the SS Grenadier patrolling off New Britain. This news was immediately dispatched to Efate and to the Yorktown, still holding its position off Luganville and now joined by the Horent. The landings on Ndeni would commence in the next few days. Three destroyer minelayers had also been dispatched from Pearl Harbour. Two will carry out a high speed, nocturnal mine laying operation at Tulagi while the third will lay a defensive field at Ndeni that would be maintained by an ACM enroute from Pearl.

Much further to the North, the AMC Corfu made a raid on enemy shipping unloading in the Lesser Andanmans. It engaged a Japanese force consisiting of a destroyer, a patrol boat and a couple of transports. The Corfu received three hits from the destroyer, causing light damage but heavily damaged the patrol boat and hit the destroyer with its first salvo. As it left the scene the flames on the patrol boat triggered off a massive explosion and observers also saw, thanks to the light from the inferno, that the destroyer was also quite damaged. It was expected that the Corfu would make Colombo in 5 days.

[cantona2]

ORIGINAL: traskott

I should move it to Noumea, but it just personal preference.

Thanks for the input traskott

[cantona2]

April 20th was a quiet day. Two submarines, a Dutch and a Royal Navy one, reported the sinking of a merchant off Kuching and a destroyer to the north of Timor. Batavia was once again bombarded and the endgame was being played in Southern Java.

Once again it was Japanese Activity over Ndeni that worried US Commanders. Three times during the day, Japanese planes were seen flying over the Island. MacArthur has given the order for the occupation of Ndeni to start post haste. Hornet has begun to escort the transports carrying the 2nd Marine Defence Battalion to Ndeni in order to have some combat troops on the ground before the support units land.

Sightings over Ndeni as reported by Coastwatchers 19-4-42

Japanese Aircraft sighted over Ndeni
Japanese Level Bomber sighted over Ndeni
Japanese Level Bomber sighted over Ndeni

[cantona2]

Turn Synopsis 22nd April 1942

A few days since the last update.

Reports of a Japanese commerce raider in the Bass Straits were confirmed when convoy CT-2X4 inbound from Cape Town reported being attacked by an enemy auxiliary cruiser. A massive air search mission was conducted from Melbourne and Hobart, this operation being the debut of the Beaufighter MkI in the Pacific Theatre. These efforts were rewarded with a sighting of an unidentified ship on the morning of the 20th April. The CA Houston, fresh for her refit at Melbourne sallied force and in a very imbalanced encounter sunk the enemy ships with several salvoes from her main guns.

The Japanese submarine menace was also making itslef felt again. Ships having being sunk off Ceylon and attacks made on destroyers protecting the Lexington's anchorage at Pago-Pago. Heavy presence of enemy submarines around Luganville and the task forces of Ndeni Force. At least one submarine has been sunk and two others attacked by SBC-4s off the Hornet. The landings on Ndeni and its surrounding islands, codenamed Operation Launchpad, will commence tomorrow. CVs Yorktown and Hornet provide the carrier support.

[cantona2]

Extract from Naval War in the Pacific Vol 2 1942- Japan Ascendant
RADM Collins USN(ret)
Columbia Press
2001



Chapter 14 April:The Month of the Raider

...not only the Japanese as the AMC Corfu showed in the Adamans. However it was the Erie Class gunboat, Charleston that showed the potential of one ship surface raiding force. Having tried and failed in early March on attack on the Japanese anchorage at Kushiro (Hokkaido), she returned to Japanese home waters on the 18th April 1942 having refuelled and carried out light reapirs at Dutch Harbour. The weather aided her approach as she sailed undetected until Japan's very shores. Snowy swells and some spectacular Northern Pacific storms hid her from any aerial eyes the Japanese had. Regular contacts with SS Cuttlefish, whose mission was to patrol the Senadi-Kushiro convoy route, assured the Charleston of a target rich environment. The night of the 21st April her crew made ready for action as the Captain had ordered a full speed sweep of the approaches to Sendai and had calculated a route almost to the harbour's entrance and then a speedy return east.

Her first engagement came at around 02:34. Visual contact was made with a mass of Japanese ships that were soon lost in the darkness and weather. By 04:23 she had made the immediate environs of Sendai. The captain had ordered her searchlights on and the sight that beheld him was one of a large convoy of light merchantmen at berth. He immediately ordered open fire with the Charleston's main 6 inch armaments. Her first salvo totally destroyed a small To'Su Class escort vessel and damage was also recorded on several other ships. Aware of the danger to his ship the captain ordered the Charleston out of harms way.



Her third encounter of the night with Japanese vessels came when she unexpectedly bumped into the Yachiyo Maru, another To'Su Class escort vessel. Post war analysis of Japanese records show that the vessel was engaging on ASW duties, no dobut searching for the Cuttlefish staking out Sendai. Two 6 inch hits soon sent the enemy vessel to the bottom of the sea.



However the most spectacualr encounter was yet to come, and with it the ultimate doom of the Charleston. Now solidly steering eastwards back to the Aleutians, her unbelieving crew once again stubmled upon a numerous convoy heading into Sendai. Had the Japanese not alerted all shipping of the Charleston's presence or were they operating with radio silence due to the presence of submarines? Whatever the case the Charleston's six inchers were once again wrecking havoc on unsuspecting Japanese ships confident of their safety against American surface attack. Her third victim of the night was a third To'Su escort vessel, the Tokuho Maru #5, sunk after one shell exploded her small ammo storage. Bereft of one escort the small merchant ships began to scatter but the Charleston was awash with flame and death. All of her main armament engaged mutliple targets and soon enough at least 5 enemy ships were burning. The first to flounder was the Miyati Class Biyo Maru of 2050 tons. Her sister ship Taganoura Maru soon joined her and mayday calls were intercepted from the Batavia Maru. The impending dawn made the Charleston disengage, surprise had been complete and only her paint had been scratched by and 8cm gun from one of the To'Su's. Yet the dawn would bring reckoning.

The Wolf among the Sheep.


Alerted by the havoc she caused, every single plane on Japan's eastern seaboard was up bright and early on the search. She was spotted by a recon plane 200 nautical miles east of Sendai. The Charleston was able to put 40 more miles between her and Japan when the planes were spotted. 18 G4M1's from mainland Japan responded to the call made by their merchant comrades and were vectored in to their target by the circling float plane shadowing the Charlseton. Their first sweep was meet by raking anti aircraft fire from her machine guns. Light damage was recorded on one bomber that started to limp home, four torpedoes slid past harmlessly. Their second sweep however caught the Charlseton sqaurely in its sights. Three of the four torpedoes hit her amidships and despite her successful attacks and bravery it took her less than two minutes to sink with all hands on board. Her bravery and sacrifice are remembered in a small memorial just off the main Seattle Harbour, her first base during the Second World War

Even the Wolf must respect the Shark
a

[cantona2]

Operation Launchpad was underway.

Orders had been sent to SOPAC and forwarded to Efate. The message was then sent to CARDIV 2 (Yorktown and Hornet) to begin the steam north west towards the Santa Cruz Islands. The first landings were carried out on Vanua Lava one day before the main landings were to depart. A USAAF base unit was to establish a basic fighter strip before expanding the base facilities fully. P-40e fighter planes from Luganville were flying daily LRCAP missions over the unloading transports. The main body of ships, including Ndeni force and the base unit for Vanikoro all left on the morning of 22nd April. Wildcats from both carriers, including the operational debut of the F4F-4, covered the mass of ships. Both carriers would take a position about 80nms off both target islands. One battlegroup would remain with the carriers while the replenishment oilers would wait in a position close to Funafuti. The ships carrying Ndnei Force plus the attached 2nd Marine Defence Battalion and the 2nd USMC Engineer Regiment would be escorted ino Ndeni by a screening force composed of a light cruiser and her destroyers. Wildcats would then provide the aerial umbrella these ships would operate under. SOPAC is aware of the recent presence of Japanese planes in the area of operations and is in no doubt that the Japanese will try and inerfere with the landings. Most of the submarines in the Solomon Sea have redployed into the likely sea routes from the Solomon Islands to the Santa Cruz Islands. The first landfall on Ndeni is expected in the next 24 hours.

[traskott]

Good luck !!!

[cantona2]

Thanks traskott

Screenie for post above

[traskott]

It is very close of Guadalcanal !! No risk of Nells, Bettys or so ? In AE I have seen that almost every air attack pass through the CAP, so be careful !!!

[cantona2]

It is indeed close but he will have to fly from Munda as Tualgi cannot host betties or nells yet. Fatigue will have an effect on his fighters and bombers. 

[traskott]

Good luck !!!! 

[cantona2]

Our eyes in the skies over the southern Solomons, operating out of Efate and Luganville

[traskott]

But they are trained in recon or in Ground Bombing ? [:D][:D]

[cantona2]

Had some training in recon on the WC before shipping out

[cantona2]

Operation Launchpad enters its crucial phase as the landing forces enter waters which are within range of enemy bombers. TF 113 carrying the 118th USAAF Base Force has detached itself from the main body and set a course for Vanikoro to land its troops there. 5 Wildcats from VF-42 (F4F-3) will fly LRCAP over these ships as they carry out their mission. The rest of the Task Force will continue to a point 120 nms ESE of Ndeni. Here the carriers will remain on over watch while the CL Helena leads the landing forces upto Ndeni. The New Mexico Battlegroup stands with the carriers to provide security against surface attack. VADM Mitscher, in overall command of the operation has ordered a full alert status for the morrow. The enemy threat has been assessed as land based bomberd flying at range from Munda and the possibility of enemy carrier intervention, though the British submarine Trusty, heavily damaged off Soerabaja, identified B5N type bombers flying overhead two days ago.

[cantona2]

Elsewhere in the theatre, 24th April 1942.

A dutch submarine reported the sinking of a small coastal tanker at Port Blair. Observers on the sub record the tanker as carrying some sort of fuel or oil as it burned brightly for many hours after being hit.

Intensive enemy air raids over the Burmese-Indian border as well. Imphal was subjected to dive bomber attack under heavy fighter escort for a second day and a raid of 80+ level bombers hit Chittagong. A squadron of Indian Mohawk IV fighters has been moved up to Jorhat to help the RAF in its defence of Indian skies. Recon suggests that Magwe is being used to host bomber attacks. A night raid by Wellingtons, Blenheims and B-26s had been ordered in the hope of catching enemy planes on the ground.

Japanese submarines once again interdicted light transports off Ceylon and four different ASW task forces have been set with rooting out these undersea devils.

[traskott]

KILL JAPS, KILL MORE JAPS !!!!


 Enough said [:D]

[cantona2]

ORIGINAL: traskott

KILL JAPS, KILL MORE JAPS !!!!


Enough said [:D]

[:D]

At the moment the opportunites are few and far between

[cantona2]

28th April 1942

Day 2 of Operation Launchpad. Landings continue on Vanua Lava, Vanikoro and Ndeni. A large amount of Japanese submarines have concentrated on the area and are sniping at our ships. Torpedoes have missed the Yorktown and the Takser Bliss. However the xAK Am Leader was hit on the 26th and the Henry S.Grove was sunk at Ndeni, though it had already unloaded its troops, the supplies and fuel on it went to the bottom however. VADM Mitscher remonstrated with his captains about his disappoinment with the ASW efforts provided by escorting destroyers. At least three submarines had been engaged but yet sunk. Aerial ASW efforts were also intensified on day 2 as the number of enemy submarines covering the sea was dense! Reports of increased maritime traffic in the Rabaul area and stirrings in the direction of Nauru Island set off alarm bells among the Allied high command. Subamrines in the Solomon Sea were asked to scour the sea and skies for evidence of movement of either capital ships or enemy carriers.



Search arcs over the Santa Cruz Islands



Operational reports detailing submarine contacts!

SBD-3 Dauntless reports submarine wake at 121, 145 near Vanikoro
SBD-3 Dauntless reports submarine at 120, 143 near Ndeni
SBD-3 Dauntless reports suspected submarine at 121, 145 near Vanikoro
SBD-3 Dauntless reports submarine at 121, 144 near Utupua
SBD-3 Dauntless reports possible submarine at 121, 144 near Utupua
SBD-3 Dauntless reports possible submarine at 120, 143 near Ndeni
SBD-3 Dauntless reports object near surface at 121, 144 near Utupua
SBD-3 Dauntless from VB-5 attacking SS I-7 at 120,143
SS I-7 is reported HIT
SBD-3 Dauntless reports possible submarine at 121, 144 near Utupua
SBD-3 Dauntless reports submarine wake at 121, 144 near Utupua
SBD-3 Dauntless reports oil slick at 121, 144 near Utupua
SBD-3 Dauntless reports possible submarine at 120, 143 near Ndeni
SBD-3 Dauntless reports submarine wake at 121, 144 near Utupua
SBD-3 Dauntless reports conning tower at 121, 145 near Vanikoro
SBD-3 Dauntless reports shadow in water at 121, 144 near Utupua
SBD-3 Dauntless reports submarine wake at 120, 143 near Ndeni
SBD-3 Dauntless reports conning tower at 121, 144 near Utupua
TBD-1 Devastator reports conning tower at 121, 144 near Utupua
TBD-1 Devastator reports object near surface at 121, 144 near Utupua
TBD-1 Devastator reports object near surface at 121, 145 near Vanikoro
SBD-3 Dauntless reports object near surface at 120, 143 near Ndeni
SBD-3 Dauntless reports object under water at 121, 145 near Vanikoro
SBD-3 Dauntless reports periscope wake at 121, 144 near Utupua
SBD-3 Dauntless reports periscope at 121, 144 near Utupua
SBD-3 Dauntless reports radio transmissions at 122, 144 near Utupua
SBD-3 Dauntless reports shape below surface at 121, 144 near Utupua
SBD-3 Dauntless reports object under water at 122, 144 near Utupua
SBD-3 Dauntless reports conning tower at 122, 143 near Duff Islands
SBD-3 Dauntless reports shadow in water at 121, 145 near Vanikoro
SBD-3 Dauntless reports periscope at 120, 143 near Ndeni
SBD-3 Dauntless reports suspected submarine at 122, 144 near Utupua
SBD-3 Dauntless reports possible submarine at 122, 143 near Duff Islands
SBD-3 Dauntless reports turbulence in water at 120, 143 near Ndeni
SBD-3 Dauntless reports diving submarine at 121, 144 near Utupua
SBD-3 Dauntless reports conning tower at 121, 144 near Utupua
SBD-3 Dauntless reports submarine wake at 122, 143 near Duff Islands
SBD-3 Dauntless reports radio transmissions at 120, 143 near Ndeni
SBD-3 Dauntless reports oil slick at 122, 144 near Utupua
SBD-3 Dauntless reports submarine at 122, 143 near Duff Islands
SBC-4 Helldiver reports oil slick at 121, 144 near Utupua
SBC-4 Helldiver reports object under water at 121, 144 near Utupua
SBC-4 Helldiver reports turbulence in water at 122, 144 near Utupua
SBC-4 Helldiver reports object under water at 120, 143 near Ndeni
SBC-4 Helldiver reports periscope at 121, 145 near Vanikoro
SBC-4 Helldiver reports radio transmissions at 121, 144 near Utupua
SBC-4 Helldiver reports periscope at 122, 143 near Duff Islands
SBC-4 Helldiver reports submarine at 121, 144 near Utupua
SBC-4 Helldiver reports periscope at 121, 144 near Utupua
SOC-1 Seagull reports radio transmissions at 122, 144 near Utupua
SOC-1 Seagull reports conning tower at 120, 143 near Ndeni
SOC-1 Seagull reports submarine at 121, 145 near Vanikoro
TF 427 observes Japanese Float Plane at 120,143 near Ndeni
TF 220 shadowed by Japanese Float Plane at 120,143 near Ndeni
SBD-3 Dauntless reports oil slick at 121, 144 near Utupua
SBD-3 Dauntless reports submarine wake at 121, 145 near Vanikoro
SBD-3 Dauntless reports submarine at 121, 144 near Utupua
SBD-3 Dauntless reports submarine at 121, 145 near Vanikoro
SBD-3 Dauntless reports submarine wake at 121, 144 near Utupua
SBD-3 Dauntless reports submarine at 121, 144 near Utupua
SBD-3 Dauntless reports possible submarine at 121, 144 near Utupua
SBD-3 Dauntless reports object near surface at 121, 145 near Vanikoro
SBD-3 Dauntless reports submarine wake at 122, 143 near Duff Islands
SBD-3 Dauntless reports oil slick at 121, 144 near Utupua
SBD-3 Dauntless reports shape below surface at 121, 145 near Vanikoro
SBD-3 Dauntless reports diving submarine at 121, 144 near Utupua
SBD-3 Dauntless reports object near surface at 122, 144 near Utupua
SBD-3 Dauntless reports object under water at 122, 143 near Duff Islands
SBD-3 Dauntless reports object under water at 121, 145 near Vanikoro
SBD-3 Dauntless reports shadow in water at 121, 144 near Utupua
SBD-3 Dauntless reports conning tower at 122, 144 near Utupua
SBD-3 Dauntless reports object near surface at 121, 144 near Utupua
SBD-3 Dauntless reports periscope at 121, 145 near Vanikoro
SBD-3 Dauntless reports turbulence in water at 121, 144 near Utupua
SBD-3 Dauntless reports turbulence in water at 120, 143 near Ndeni
SBD-3 Dauntless reports turbulence in water at 121, 145 near Vanikoro
SBD-3 Dauntless reports shape below surface at 121, 144 near Utupua
SBD-3 Dauntless reports submarine wake at 121, 145 near Vanikoro
SBD-3 Dauntless reports periscope at 122, 143 near Duff Islands
SBD-3 Dauntless reports oil slick at 121, 144 near Utupua
SBD-3 Dauntless reports submarine wake at 122, 144 near Utupua
TBD-1 Devastator reports object under water at 122, 143 near Duff Islands
TBD-1 Devastator reports periscope at 122, 143 near Duff Islands
TBD-1 Devastator reports periscope at 122, 144 near Utupua
TBD-1 Devastator reports conning tower at 122, 143 near Duff Islands
SBD-3 Dauntless reports periscope at 121, 144 near Utupua
SBD-3 Dauntless reports submarine at 122, 144 near Utupua
SBD-3 Dauntless reports conning tower at 122, 144 near Utupua
SBD-3 Dauntless reports periscope at 122, 143 near Duff Islands
SBD-3 Dauntless reports submarine at 121, 144 near Utupua
SBD-3 Dauntless reports periscope at 120, 143 near Ndeni
SBD-3 Dauntless reports submarine wake at 121, 144 near Utupua
SBD-3 Dauntless reports periscope wake at 121, 144 near Utupua
SBD-3 Dauntless from VS-8 attacking a Japanese SS at 121,147
SBD-3 Dauntless reports object under water at 122, 144 near Utupua
SBD-3 Dauntless reports submarine wake at 120, 143 near Ndeni
SBD-3 Dauntless reports suspected submarine at 121, 144 near Utupua
SBD-3 Dauntless reports object near surface at 121, 145 near Vanikoro
SBD-3 Dauntless reports object under water at 121, 144 near Utupua
SBD-3 Dauntless reports periscope at 121, 147 near Torres Islands
SBC-4 Helldiver reports shadow in water at 121, 144 near Utupua
SBC-4 Helldiver reports oil slick at 121, 144 near Utupua
SBC-4 Helldiver reports shadow in water at 121, 145 near Vanikoro
SBC-4 Helldiver reports submarine wake at 121, 144 near Utupua
SBC-4 Helldiver reports oil slick at 121, 144 near Utupua
SBC-4 Helldiver reports radio transmissions at 121, 145 near Vanikoro
SBC-4 Helldiver reports oil slick at 121, 144 near Utupua
SBC-4 Helldiver reports turbulence in water at 121, 145 near Vanikoro
OS2U-3 Kingfisher reports turbulence in water at 121, 144 near Utupua
OS2U-3 Kingfisher reports turbulence in water at 121, 145 near Vanikoro
SOC-1 Seagull reports turbulence in water at 121, 144 near Utupua
SOC-1 Seagull reports periscope at 121, 144 near Utupua
SOC-1 Seagull reports conning tower at 121, 145 near Vanikoro
SOC-1 Seagull reports radio transmissions at 122, 144 near Utupua
SOC-1 Seagull reports periscope at 121, 145 near Vanikoro
SOC-1 Seagull reports submarine wake at 122, 143 near Duff Islands
SOC-1 Seagull reports submarine at 121, 144 near Utupua
SOC-1 Seagull reports diving submarine at 121, 145 near Vanikoro
SOC-1 Seagull reports possible submarine at 121, 144 near Utupua
SOC-1 Seagull reports submarine at 121, 145 near Vanikoro
SOC-1 Seagull reports periscope at 120, 143 near Ndeni
SOC-1 Seagull reports submarine wake at 121, 144 near Utupua
SOC-1 Seagull reports shadow in water at 121, 145 near Vanikoro
SOC-1 Seagull reports periscope at 120, 143 near Ndeni
SOC-1 Seagull reports suspected submarine at 121, 145 near Vanikoro
SOC-1 Seagull reports possible submarine at 121, 145 near Vanikoro
SOC-1 Seagull reports diving submarine at 121, 144 near Utupua
SOC-1 Seagull reports turbulence in water at 122, 144 near Utupua