Intellectus Ex Nihilo (Wal-Mart on Ice)

[Canoerebel]

10/31/44

South China Sea: With the new day beginning it seems that Japanese forces are zeroing in on the hex that Dave projected as a transit point for DS & The Herd.

[Canoerebel]

10/31/44

DEI: Allied 4EB strike airfields at Singapore and Johore Bharu effectively. The former may be close to inoperational; the latter should be almost fully operational.

[Canoerebel]

10/31/44

South China Sea: Enemy search aircraft find DS early and often; many are downed; these are naval strike aircraft; KB is likely close, but where and how close? DS strike aircraft are set to range 6 (to avoid CAP trap over Singapore).

[Canoerebel]

10/31/44

South China Sea: Allied search aircraft are downed, by the dozen, by CAP over Groot Natoena. That's almost certainly KB...and the audio confirms - "Sighted enemy carriers!"

What is Dave doing posting his carriers in a base hex (again)? Natoena has a level 3 airfield but that can't offset the halving penalty for carrier flight ops in a base hex.

[Canoerebel]

10/31/44

Battle of South China Sea: Allies get in the first strike but it looks like part of DS has reacted. Gulp.

[Canoerebel]

10/31/44

Battle of South China Sea: DS Right launches its strike.

DS is configured for offense (range 6) but a fair number of strike squadrons were pulled off and replaced by fighters. So these strikes aren't particularly large and don't have enough fighter escort. But the focus was on making sure DS can continue on its major mission.

[Canoerebel]

10/31/44

Battle of South China Sea: First strike from KB takes on DS Left - hey, a CVE TF reacted! I've never seen that before.

This CAP isn't nearly as robust as I would have expected, but no harm done this time. More is coming but I'm also wondering if Singers or Johore are going to contribute in big ways.

[Canoerebel]

10/31/44

Battle of South China Sea: The second enemy strike takes on DS Right, which is the much larger of the two, it would seem from the amount of CAP.

[Canoerebel]

10/31/44

Battle of South China SEa: The morning ends and afternoon begins. The Japanese get in the first strike - it appears KB has now split, with part moving a hex SW of Groot. This strike force is fairly potent and targets DS Left, the less powerful of the two....but no harm done.

[Canoerebel]

10/31/44

Battle of South China Sea: Second afternoon strike targets DS Right, the stronger element, and fails.

[Canoerebel]

10/31/44

Battle of South China Sea: KB Rear sends strike vs. DS Right. An apparently strong package that also whiffs.

Usually, in battles like this, some strike aircraft make it through and some losses are taken. That's often the case even in lopsided CAP situations. Here I think IJN pilot quality, which must be pretty low at this point, must be having a large impact.

[Canoerebel]

10/31/44

Battle of South China Sea: LBA from Singers whiffs. Thank goodness weather allowed the two major Allied strikes there the past two nights.

There are other, smaller enemy LBA strikes during the day, but all are treated rudely.

[Canoerebel]

10/31/44

Battle of South China Sea: First Allied strike of the afternoon whiffs. Not enough aircraft less to punch through, and the surviving pilots probably have low morale.

[Canoerebel]

10/31/44

Battle of South China Sea: Too many losses, too few successes.

[Canoerebel]

10/31/44

Battle of South China Sea: Modest package discovers that KB Rear is unprotected.

[Canoerebel]

10/31/44

Battle of South China Sea: 100 strike aircraft vs. just three CAP....but just one hit. Arg!

[Canoerebel]

10/31/44

BAttle of South China Sea: The enemy keeps coming and keeps whiffing.

This turns out to be the final sortie of the day.

[Canoerebel]

10/31/44

Battle of South China Sea: Japanese air losses are devastating. Allied strike aircraft losses are heavy and probably mean DS has minimal strike capability for the balance of this mission (though I will bring in replacement squadrons). But DS remains potent with strong CAP. So of course DS & The Herd will move forward. DS will take a position near KB's position today, with strike aircraft set to range 6. Hopefully there be cripples out there.

This battle was tantalizingly close to utter destruction of the Japanese carriers. As it is, KB is further weakened and the Allies should be able to proceed with the invasion of Malaya. And future ops should be that much easier, facing a somewhat reduced carrier OOB and a much weakened air arm.

[HansBolter]

Another Turkey Shoot and damaged enemy carriers heading for repair yards.

Pilot quality will surely be a factor from here on.

Well executed sir.

[BBfanboy]

2 CVL seen to sink and a third one likely did (Nisshin). CV Unryu is in trouble with HF/HD. He has to be drinking heavily about now, unless there is some kind of synch bug to spoil the party.