Sunset in the East. DBB 30B. Open to Bibow

[kaleun]

May 25th
Kido Butai 2 makes an appearance south of Esperance:
AM Castlemaine
xAKL Burwah, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAKL Hetton Bank, Bomb hits 4, and is sunk
They will repeat the attack on this same task force on the 26th:
AM Castlemaine, Bomb hits 1, on fire
xAKL Coolana, Bomb hits 4, and is sunk

[kaleun]

May 28th
Talaud Eilanden and Tenate were captured by Japanese amphibious assault on the 26th and 27th.
Ledo hit again by Japanese bombers with great destruction of planes on the ground. Kalgoorlie hit as usual, and also as usual the 6th Division hit, by now near Cue.

Unbeknownst (hopefully) to the Japanese Admiral, a mighty carrier force assembled in Melbourne slips its moorings. CVL Hermes joins the force. The allied carriers split into two forces: Force 1 Formidable, Yorktown and Hermes, Force 2 Hornet Illustrious and Indomitable.

[kaleun]

May 30th Cry Havoc!

The Japanese strike first. 59 Zero escort 54 Kate and 38 Val bombers attacking the allied carriers. After what seems like months of hitting ground targets, or undefended merchants, the Samurai pilots must feel elated to, at last, have a fitting opponent. The radio crackles with their calls, their voices elated. 18 Martlet fighters and 11 F4F-3 rise to tangle with the strike package. So few fighters, but the enemy pilots do not let that bother them. Two Zero fall to the CAP as well as 15 Val damaged. Three dive bombers succumb to allied flak. The Zero fighters, concentrating on keeping the Martlets and Wildcats away from their bombers only score one Martlet killed. One Kate bomber dies from flak. CVL Hermes takes five bombs, all from Kates, one of them penetrates and an ammunition explosion follows the strike. CV Formidable takes four, but they bounce off the armored deck. CA Australia two. Yorktown escapes unscathed.
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 59
B5N1 Kate x 28
B5N2 Kate x 26
D3A1 Val x 38

Allied aircraft
Martlet II x 18
F4F-3 Wildcat x 11

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 2 destroyed
B5N1 Kate: 1 destroyed by flak
B5N2 Kate: 2 damaged
D3A1 Val: 15 damaged
D3A1 Val: 3 destroyed by flak

Allied aircraft losses
Martlet II: 1 destroyed

Allied Ships
CVL Hermes, Bomb hits 5, on fire
CV Formidable, Bomb hits 4
CV Yorktown
DD Inconstant
CA Australia, Bomb hits 2

[kaleun]

Step 2
The allied strike finds the enemy carriers, Zuikaku, Zuiho, Ryujo, and Shoho. 12 Albacore, 7 Swordfish, 27 SBD-3, and 12 TBD-1, escorted by 16 F4F-3. All the torpedoes miss, but the Dauntless bombs do not. CVL Shoho produces a most satisfying explosion after one of the bomb hits, attributed to fuel storage.

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid detected at 37 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 14 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 24

Allied aircraft
Albacore I x 12
Swordfish I x 7
F4F-3 Wildcat x 16
SBD-3 Dauntless x 27
TBD-1 Devastator x 12

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Albacore I: 2 destroyed, 2 damaged
Albacore I: 1 destroyed by flak
Swordfish I: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged
Swordfish I: 1 destroyed by flak
F4F-3 Wildcat: 1 destroyed
SBD-3 Dauntless: 1 destroyed, 5 damaged
TBD-1 Devastator: 2 destroyed
TBD-1 Devastator: 1 destroyed by flak

Japanese Ships
CVL Zuiho, Bomb hits 1, on fire
CVL Ryujo
CA Tone
CV Zuikaku
CVL Shoho, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires
CA Kumano

[BBfanboy]

Looks like he lost a few more aircraft than you did and only has one full-sized CV. I would try for a round 2 if you can dodge any SCTFs he sends your way.

[kaleun]

The next phase arrives in the afternoon. Once again, the Japanese afternoon strike arrives first.

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Esperance at 59,160

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid detected at 77 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 28 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 42
B5N1 Kate x 15
B5N2 Kate x 26
D3A1 Val x 27

Allied aircraft
Sea Hurricane Ib x 3
Martlet II x 6
F4F-3 Wildcat x 2
F4F-4 Wildcat x 11

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 3 destroyed
B5N1 Kate: 1 destroyed, 2 damaged
B5N2 Kate: 5 damaged
B5N2 Kate: 2 destroyed by flak
D3A1 Val: 1 destroyed, 14 damaged
D3A1 Val: 2 destroyed by flak

Allied aircraft losses
Martlet II: 1 destroyed
F4F-3 Wildcat: 1 destroyed

Allied Ships
CV Hornet, Bomb hits 1
CV Illustrious, Bomb hits 3
CV Indomitable, Bomb hits 2
Twelve unescorted Kates arrive later and lose eight of their number to two Martlet and 5 F4F-3

[kaleun]

Step 4
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Esperance at 56,158

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 39 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 19

Allied aircraft
Albacore I x 6
F4F-3 Wildcat x 11
SBD-3 Dauntless x 24
TBD-1 Devastator x 10

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Albacore I: 3 destroyed, 1 damaged
F4F-3 Wildcat: 1 destroyed
SBD-3 Dauntless: 1 destroyed, 8 damaged
TBD-1 Devastator: 1 destroyed, 4 damaged
TBD-1 Devastator: 1 destroyed by flak

Japanese Ships
CVL Ryujo
CVL Shoho, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
CV Zuikaku, Bomb hits 2, on fire
DD Tachekaze
CVL Zuiho
DD Nenohi
Followed by step five:
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Esperance at 56,158

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 38 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 14 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 10

Allied aircraft
Fulmar II x 9
Sea Hurricane Ib x 5
Martlet II x 4
Swordfish I x 12
F4F-4 Wildcat x 16
SBD-3 Dauntless x 27
TBD-1 Devastator x 12

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Fulmar II: 1 destroyed
SBD-3 Dauntless: 3 damaged
TBD-1 Devastator: 2 damaged

Japanese Ships
CV Zuikaku, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires
CVL Zuiho, Bomb hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage
CVL Ryujo, Bomb hits 1, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
CA Kumano
CVL Shoho, heavy fires, heavy damage
CS Chitose, Bomb hits 2
DD Hatsushima
DD Ariake

[kaleun]

And step 6, the Albacores prove their mettle.

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Esperance at 56,158

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 41 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 24 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 9

Allied aircraft
Albacore I x 18

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 2 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Albacore I: 2 destroyed, 2 damaged

Japanese Ships
CA Tone
CV Zuikaku, heavy fires
CVL Ryujo, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
CVL Zuiho, Torpedo hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage

The allied task forces now reassemble. Hermes with 36% system damage, 5% flotation and 4 engines is deemed unable to continue in combat and is sent back to Melbourne. Her planes transfer to Illustrious. The allied carriers will give chase.


The 32nd Infantry Division unloaded at Wellington takes train to Auckland. More troops unloaded at Tahiti include the 147 and 24th Sep Infantry regiments. The 1st USMC Parachute battalion arrives at the East Coast and takes train for San Diego. Two tank battalions, the 762nd and the 763rd transfer to SWPAC command and prepare to be sent to Australia.

[BBfanboy]

Well done! Great to see the combo of British CVs with working torpedoes and armoured decks working well with effective US CV with numbers of DBs and good fighters. [&o]

[JocMeister]

Really nice work there. Congrats!

[HansBolter]

Bravo!

I just LOVE seeing the Allies win carrier battles.

[kaleun]

May 31st

The Japanese task force, what remains of it, tries to escape seeking to get into range of their land based torpedo bombers. For once, the allied tactical plan unfolds as planned. It is a Dutch submarine, KVII that spots the enemy near Albany. The captain fires first and reports second, reporting one hit on Zuikaku. KXI misses on CA Tone.
The Japanese also have submarines here, I-164 fires and misses on DD Cassin near Esperance.
And the final act on this event, the allied air strike. This time the allied pilots are the elated ones, giddy with their recent victory, and finding no opposition, they line up and come in.
Morning Air attack on TF, near Albany at 52,155

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 39 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes

Allied aircraft
Fulmar II x 9
Sea Hurricane Ib x 4
Martlet II x 4
F4F-3 Wildcat x 7
F4F-4 Wildcat x 13
SBD-3 Dauntless x 30
TBD-1 Devastator x 7

Allied aircraft losses
SBD-3 Dauntless: 3 damaged

Japanese Ships
CV Zuikaku, Bomb hits 5, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Hibiki, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Yugure

[BBfanboy]

Too bad that torpedo was one of the small 45cm ones. By the screen shot Zuikaku had the previous heavy fires down to minor fires when torpedoed, and the 5 new bomb hits put her back up to heavy fires plus heavy damage. That kind of cumulative damage + heavy fires + any flooding at all is usually fatal for an IJN CV. If there were any secondary explosions from those bombs I am certain she is gone.

That said, you pilots must be getting tired - from 30 DBs, only five bomb hits against a damaged CV with no air cover. Not sure if heavy cloud interfered or not.

Looks like Chitose slipped away?

PS - Given the location on the first map and the Allied custom of naming naval battles for the nearest land feature, can we call this the Second Battle of Cape Esperance?

[Bif1961]

Looks like the Japanese met their Waterloo off the coast of western Australia. Seems he didn't have torpedoes, as he never hit with any. This will go a long way to an early allied offensive once your carriers repair their minor damage and replenish their air groups.

[kaleun]

Thanks y'all. Here's more

[kaleun]

June 1st

The allied carrier force turns around. They will not get into range of the feared Nell bombers, not for a few enemy escorts and a seaplane carrier. The battle is done. The enemy lost three carriers, one of them, Zuikaku, a modern fleet carrier. The allied losses, negligible. Hermes will spend some time in a shipyard, but the small, slow CVL will survive.
The news goes out on the wireless and, but minutes later is released to the press for distribution to a country, Australia, thirsty for any good news.
Farther to the north, at Kalgoorlie, the next act of the tragedy opens.
Ground combat at Kalgoorlie (56,147)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 75430 troops, 714 guns, 577 vehicles, Assault Value = 2508

Defending force 48006 troops, 700 guns, 356 vehicles, Assault Value = 1030

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 3

Japanese adjusted assault: 2465

Allied adjusted defense: 867

Japanese assault odds: 2 to 1 (fort level 3)

Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 3

Combat modifiers
Defender: forts(+), preparation(-), experience(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
7266 casualties reported
Squads: 140 destroyed, 372 disabled
Non Combat: 11 destroyed, 63 disabled
Engineers: 26 destroyed, 31 disabled
Guns lost 60 (12 destroyed, 48 disabled)
Vehicles lost 28 (14 destroyed, 14 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
3230 casualties reported
Squads: 28 destroyed, 293 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 37 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 51 disabled
Guns lost 96 (5 destroyed, 91 disabled)
Vehicles lost 13 (1 destroyed, 12 disabled)

Yes, the attack is repelled, but the enemy will try again.

North of Esperance, the US 24th Division will try and dislodge the enemy armor from the railroad. The Japanese tanks are worthless, unless you do not have tanks of your own to oppose them, then they are murderous. But the 24th will not face the enemy armor, just the 2nd Recon regiment, and forces them off the railroad on the 2nd. The men receive their baptism of fire and now feel optimistic. Pity that reality will catch up with them soon.
The 163rd regiment will arrive at Esperance on the 3rd and begin loading up on the awaiting transports.

[kaleun]

June 3rd.
With the papers full of the amazing victory off Esperance, the next shock to the system passes unnoticed. An enemy carrier force appears out of nowhere in the Tasman Sea. The bombers hit CA Indianapolis with 6 bombs and xAK Panaman with 4. Signal Intel places Kaga in this TF labeled KB 1. Indianapolis is scuttled later in the day. R. Adm Boyd, commanding the allied carriers returning from Cape Esperance prepares his carriers and depleted air groups to face KB 1 if it decides to seek battle off Southern Australia.




B17s based in Auckland hit Norfolk and Raoul Islands.

[kaleun]

June 4th

Enemy submarine I-9 spotted off Sydney comes under attack by DD Tjerk Heddes. Three reported depth charge hits.

Dutch Harbor bombed.

A Japanese attack at Kalgoorlie is repelled and CVL SHoho is reported sunk.

June 5th

TF 35 at Esperance loads the 132nd Infantry regiment.
Despite the extensive search pattern, the enemy carriers disappear into the wide ocean.
The victorious allied Car 2 task force drops anchor at Melbourne. There is no time for celebration or shore leave as Hornet and Yorktown upgrade their TBDs to TBFs. Hermes’ swordfish fly off to Sydney to take replacements.

June 6th

The air battle over Kalgoorlie rages on. 25 Zero sweep, 13 P400 rise. One Zero destroyed, four P400 lost. 27 Sally and 49 Zero come in to attack the 4th Australian Division. 9 P400 rise and two are lost.
Japanese deliberate attack on Kalgoorlie. Forts degraded to level 1. 4975 Japanese casualties for 1746 allied.

June 7th

For the defenders at Kalgoorlie, the battle of Cape Esperance is as irrelevant as the weather in Alaska. Today they receive order to begin to abandon their positions rather than risk getting cut off. Under fire from enemy artillery, the defenders begin to pull out.

At Balboa, CV Wasp arrives and sets out for Pearl Harbor immediately.

June 8th

Japanese artillery continues to hit Kalgoorlie.

The 132nd Infantry regiment unloads at Adelaide. Ceduna’s airfield is now level two.
Indomitable changes her Fulmars for Sea Hurricanes.

June 9th

25 Sally bombers and 18 Zeros raid Dutch Harbor sinking S-35 and damaging SS Grenadier with one hit. It appears that Dutch Harbor will not be a feasible submarine base.

But it isn’t the news from the Aleutians that bother Knox, Stimson, and FDR. What is bothering them is something not unexpected.
“There are serious implications after this raid,” Knox says.
“What implications?” The president asks, “Some Japanese bombers sunk some cargo ships at Esperance. What’s so unusual that you want to abort Restore Comfort before we rescue the 24th?”
“Mr. President,” Stimson says, “The bombers were G3M2 Netties, their second best naval bomber. Torpedo bombers. We cannot risk our carriers within range of those machines. We can try to evacuate the 24th by land, better than seeing them sink in those waters.”
“I see,” FDR says rubbing his chin.”

At Kalgoorlie, a Japanese shock attack reduces the last remaining fortifications to rubble. The enemy suffers 7230 casualties and the allies 2729

The Sea Hurricanes on Indomitable expand their numbers from 9 to 13.

[kaleun]

June 10th

Reconaissance en force, the US Navy decides to begin probing the Japanese defenses. The 1st Marine Raiding Battalion departs Tahiti for Raoul Island. The estimate is that there are very few defenders on the island, just a base force to maintain the floatplanes stationed there. A fast, easy victory that will keep the newspapers happy when the elation of the recent carrier battle begins to die down. Four B17s from Auckland hit the airfield at the small island causing minimal, if any damage.

The 24th fails to clear the railroad south of Kalgoorlie.
Albany falls.

Carrier one departs Melbourne for New Zealand. The new area of operations will be the Tahiti-Pago Pago-Suva triangle.

[kaleun]

June 12th

Routines
Raoul island bombed yesterday and today by Auckland based B17s. Kalgoorlie bombarded as the defenders struggle to leave. The 24th US Infantry Division also bombarded the 16th and 2nd recon regiment, but lacking effective anti-tank equipment there wasn’t much of an effect.
In Tahiti the 1st Marine Division reformed and began prepping for Nadi. Not that there is much of a chance that they will see Nadi anytime soon, but they need to train, soldiers like that, and Nadi is as good a target as any.
In Pearl Harbor, Nimitz peruses the plans that Capt. Watanabe handed him. He’d asked the captain for a preliminary counteroffensive plan. Something small, that would attract the enemy’s attention; perhaps distract them from their current plans, make them react to the allied movements instead of the opposite. The plan is quite moderate.
Attack small islands that can be seized in a day or two, where the Japanese have posted pickets. Bring overwhelming force to bear, overpower the enemy garrisons fast, and withdraw the assault forces as fast as they land. Leave behind small, well supplied garrisons. Wait for the Japanese response, if any. Avoid naval engagements unless superiority is assured. Above all protect the carriers until the Essex begin to arrive in 1943.
Targets:
1st Stage
Raoul Island, (Nimitz smiles, the raiding force is already on their way) Toyapu and Eua in the Tonga islands, (Good bases to hit Suva) Hoorn Island, already within B17 range from Fiji.
2ns Stage
Ellice Island, Vaitupu and Funafuti, (Threatening the Marshalls from the south)
Nimitz nods, yes, this is what is needed. Small, easy victories, blood the Marines, raise their spirits. Wait for the Japanese to come out, and leave before they get there. Make them waste fuel, wear and tear. Play for time.

In China AVG2 withdraws. The pilots make their long, long way back to the US to join the growing reserve force of more or less experienced pilots that is bound to turn the tide of the air war.