A Japanese sub in the Makassar straits puts a torpedo into the AK escorting/towing the Dewey dry-dock. Damage is light to moderate so I dispatch a new tow ship from Soerabaja to head out and replace the stricken cargo vessel. I also create a couple ASW task forces to head out and hunt for the sub to try and keep its head down.
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Sub attack near Tandjoengselor at 68,95
Japanese Ships
SS I-121
Allied Ships
xAK Tantalus, Torpedo hits 1
AM Whippoorwill
SS I-121 launches 2 torpedoes at xAK Tantalus
I-121 diving deep ....
AM Whippoorwill fails to find sub, continues to search...
AM Whippoorwill fails to find sub, continues to search...
AM Whippoorwill fails to find sub, continues to search...
AM Whippoorwill fails to find sub, continues to search...
AM Whippoorwill fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub
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I rebased the Marine Corp dive bombers back to Singkawang last turn due to the fact recon spotted a Japanese task forces heading towards Kuching. I guess my opponent sent a bombardment group towards Singkawang and it didn’t quite reach the base ending its turn at sea one hex northeast of the base.
The Marines launched two attacks on the surface group that went in unopposed, but only managed to hit a CL in the fleet. It’s reported sunk on the ships list, but there are two fleets in the hex at turn start and damage did not look too severe in the combat replay, so I think that’s a false report.
The two dive bombers sent after the invasion fleet were lost due to LRCAP over the fleet. I do have fighters at Singkawang, but none flew for some reason.
My small Wirraway squadron at Kuching launched a few attacks in the area as well but failed to hit anything and was torn up by the LRCAP.
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Morning Air attack on TF, near Singkawang at 56,87
Weather in hex: Partial cloud
Raid spotted at 18 NM, estimated altitude 18,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes
Allied aircraft
SB2U-3 Vindicator x 16
No Allied losses
Japanese Ships
CA Chokai
CL Isuzu, Bomb hits 4, on fire
Aircraft Attacking:
8 x SB2U-3 Vindicator releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
4 x SB2U-3 Vindicator releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
4 x SB2U-3 Vindicator releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
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Morning Air attack on TF, near Kuching at 59,88
Weather in hex: Partial cloud
Raid spotted at 7 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 3 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 6
Allied aircraft
Wirraway x 3
No Japanese losses
Allied aircraft losses
Wirraway: 2 destroyed
CAP engaged:
Tainan Ku S-1 Det B with A6M2 Zero (6 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
6 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 10000.
Raid is overhead
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Morning Air attack on TF, near Singkawang at 56,87
Weather in hex: Partial cloud
Raid spotted at 10 NM, estimated altitude 3,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes
Allied aircraft
Wirraway x 3
No Allied losses
Japanese Ships
CL Isuzu, on fire
Aircraft Attacking:
3 x Wirraway bombing from 2000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 100 lb GP Bomb
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CL Isuzu
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Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Singkawang at 56,87
Weather in hex: Severe storms
Raid spotted at 13 NM, estimated altitude 21,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes
Allied aircraft
SB2U-3 Vindicator x 14
No Allied losses
Japanese Ships
CA Chokai
Aircraft Attacking:
10 x SB2U-3 Vindicator releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
4 x SB2U-3 Vindicator releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
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Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Kuching at 59,88
Weather in hex: Moderate rain
Raid spotted at 14 NM, estimated altitude 19,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 6
Allied aircraft
SB2U-3 Vindicator x 2
No Japanese losses
Allied aircraft losses
SB2U-3 Vindicator: 1 destroyed
CAP engaged:
Tainan Ku S-1 Det B with A6M2 Zero (6 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
6 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 10000.
Raid is overhead
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With fatigue high and a bombardment fleet one hex away, I pull the dive bombers off of Singkawang for now. I hate not opposing the landing at Kuching next turn but I cannot afford to lose any planes to shore bombardments as I have no replacements currently.
A second Marine Corps dive bomber squadron arrives in the DEI’s this turn and is sent to Kendari for now. With two dive bomber squadrons operating in theater now, my opponent will probably bring KB in soon to start to cover his naval moves.
Japan lands at Manado this turn and finds the base unoccupied. No landing occurred at Cagayan, so I guess the battleships were just hunting for victims last turn.
Jim
