Defender of the British Commonwealth - Scn 42 Empire

[deaniks]

Due to my opponent Cavalry corp starting an AAR I figured why not start one as well.
This AAR will only focus on Naval operations and Amphibious landing's by the British Empire and its dominion's I'll also include the Dutch and French as well since their navy and armies were in close cooperation with the British early on and throughout the war

Realism setting's



Also, we're using scenario 42 no carriers at PH

[deaniks]

December 7th-8th

Well, for ship losses the Britsh and its commonwealth (when I say commonwealth just assume I mean Dutch and French as well, it's simpler this way I feel)
got off very lightly only two British ships were sunk from Manilla which was a Xak and a Tanker.

At this point with DEI in Danger, all cargo ships were scattered due to the possibility of Japanese surface vessel's incoming. All nonessential cargo ships were moved out of the area filled up with fuel and shipped off to India or Aussie.

Force Z was Also in Danger due to Japanese air dominance over Malaya. Force Z moved down to SoeraBaja where it was going to Rendavero with Dutch combat ships and coordinate strikes against the Empire.

Colombo: Carrier battle group Ark Royal Created. Job Find and eliminate any German presence in the Indian ocean due to hindsight and knowledge of the general location of where the german ships start Ark Royal and her task force steamed south in hopes of catching a target.

Sydney: Battlegroup Australia created containing the Hood/Howe as capital ships. Job try and engage any Japanese landing force's Near Papua New Guinea

[deaniks]

9th-10th

Ship losses



British and her commonwealth weren't so lucky on turns 3 and 4 but could be a lot worse.

Australia
Battlegroup Australia already ran into trouble on their first day at sea with BC Howe suffering one torpedo hit since the proximity of the task force to port Howe was detached with a small escort back to Sydney for repairs. The rest of the task force steam's north. I forgot to mention this as well since I did this turn a few days ago, but another task force from Syndey was created as well Leader CL Newcastle same job As Hood's Taskforce now.
Also, operation reinforce Noumea was commenced with DD Stuart escorting several Troop transport's hauling the 164th Vol Inf Regiment and 22nd Fled RAA Regiment heading for Noumea.

Hong Kong
Taskforce Dover was formed. Job bombardment of Takao and Harassment of Shipping to the Philippines.

Kuching
Dragon and Durban with several DD's escorts Amphibious Taskforce Monarch loading troop's from Kuching to Oosthaven.

[deaniks]

December 11th-12th

The morning started off with Combat near Soc Trang were a French CL task force escaping from Kwangchowan was attacked by Japanese Crusier's



Later that morning a French DD task force also escaping attacked and most likely killed one Japanese DD



During the morning air phase, Dover's task force wasn't so lucky for some odd reason they weren't able to make it to Takao possibly scared off by a surface threat, not too sure anyway's Airpower crippled one CL and damaged another both will return to Manila and then to Darwin



Commonwealth ship losses

[deaniks]

December 13th-14th
Cl Danae was split off from task force Dover to hopefully let escape the rest of the ships it was a well-advised move as in the night phase an IJN Cruiser force found and Sank Danae
Night Time Surface Combat, near Hong Kong at 76,64, Range 2,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CA Chokai
CL Sendai
DD Hatsuharu
DD Usugumo
DD Shirayuki
DD Hatsuyuki

Allied Ships
CL Danae, Shell hits 4, Torpedo hits 5 and is sunk

The next night phase Battlegroup hood was diverted to ontong Java where Japanese landing happened a few days ago. Hood engaged A Japanese Taskforce and I would say I might have come out slightly ahead with hood only suffering around 41 says 59(35) flood

Night Time Surface Combat, near Ontong Java at 115,131, Range 1,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
BC Kirishima, Shell hits 8, Torpedo hits 2, on fire
CA Aoba, Shell hits 8
CA Kinugasa, Shell hits 2
CA Furutaka
CA Kako
DD Oboro, Shell hits 1
DD Uzuki
DD Kikuzuki
DD Yuzuki

Allied Ships
BC Hood, Shell hits 12, Torpedo hits 3, heavy damage
CL Yelverton, Shell hits 6, heavy fires
DD Thomas J, Shell hits 1
DD Voyager
DD White Tip

Then a small Patrol taskforce also engaged with no effect since their gun's don't do much damage

Night Time Surface Combat, near Ontong Java at 115,131, Range 5,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
BC Kirishima, Shell hits 1, on fire
CA Aoba
CA Kinugasa
CA Furutaka, Shell hits 2
CA Kako
DD Oboro
DD Uzuki
DD Kikuzuki
DD Yuzuki

Allied Ships
DD Journeyman, Shell hits 2, on fire
PC Finch, Shell hits 2, and is sunk
PC Goose, Shell hits 1
PG King Island, Shell hits 1, and is sunk

One last thing to note Admiral sheer was spotted off the coast of Port Hedland where a TK was sunk where could she be going.

Britsh and her Commonwealth ship losses


Indian Ocean
So with the knowledge of where the Sheer is now Ark royal will head to North Australia hoping to catch her.
DEI
lot's of ships are seeing coming and going out of Kota Bharu New Dutch Taskforce was created Battlegroup William III will head to Singapore and possibly make a daring bombardment of Kota Bharu

[RangerJoe]

Well . . .
At least the PC Goose was not burned!

[deaniks]

Yes indeed her men will be given medals of honor for there bravery

[deaniks]

December 15th-16th
December 15th
The night phase started off with the remnant's of Taskforce Dover running into I will assume Mini KB

Night Time Surface Combat, near Culion at 73,77, Range 11,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CVL Ryujo
CVL Shoho, Shell hits 1
BC Haruna
DD Kuroshio
DD Oyashio, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
DD Hatsukaze, Shell hits 2, on fire
DD Natsushio
DD Hayashio
DD Amatsukaze

Allied Ships
CL Dover, Shell hits 3, on fire
DD River J, Shell hits 7, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD River K, Shell hits 6

The very next combat saw taskforce Dover running into A cruiser taskforce

Night Time Surface Combat, near Puerto Princesa at 72,79, Range 8,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CA Haguro
CA Nachi
CL Tenryu
DD Kisaragi
DD Yayoi

Allied Ships
CL Dover, Shell hits 8, and is sunk
DD River J, Shell hits 6, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
DD River K, Shell hits 4, and is sunk

On the previous day, Japanese ships were spotted heading towards Suva. Cl Auckland went in to investigate spotted and heavily damaged one of the taskforce's

Day Time Surface Combat, near Suva at 132,160, Range 16,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
AMC Tosa Maru, Shell hits 19, heavy fires, heavy damage

Allied Ships
CL Auckland, Shell hits 2

Later that day reports came in that airpower sank the other remaining Japanese task force.

16th

The night say Admiral Sheer pounce on a small tanker convoy near Darwin

Night Time Surface Combat, near Darwin at 74,123, Range 2,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CB Admiral Sheer

Allied Ships
AO TAN 1, Shell hits 6, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
TK Josefina, Shell hits 16, and is sunk

Admiral sheer again struck again at a small Amphibious taskforce

Japanese Ships
CB Admiral Sheer

Allied Ships
xAP Klang, Shell hits 2, and is sunk
xAP Kinta, Shell hits 7, and is sunk
xAP Hong Kheng, Shell hits 3, and is sunk

Britsh and her Commonwealth Ship losses



Admiral sheer is now in a predicament surrounded by allied bases All I need to do is put air power and surface power in the area.
Objective cutoff admiral sheer's escape Force Z will split into two groups and make patrols near Port Hedland about 5 to 6 tiles north while Ary Royal steam's south in anticipation. Naval bombers will be flown into Koepang Darwin and Ambon to make sure no escape to the Pacific ocean or back into the China Sea

[deaniks]

December 17th-18th
17th
The night start's off with Admiral Sheer running into another amphibious task force

Night Time Surface Combat, near Lautem at 74,114, Range 7,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CB Admiral Sheer

Allied Ships
AM Toowoomba, Shell hits 2
AM Ballarat
PG Herald, Shell hits 3, and is sunk
PG Dulverton, Shell hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Neleus, Shell hits 1
xAK Silverbeech
xAP Matang
xAP Kepong
xAP Sin Kheng Seng, Shell hits 2, and is sunk
xAK Zannis Cambanis, Shell hits 5, and is sunk

I didn't mention it last report, but Taskforce William made it to Singapore and set sail from there to launch an attack on Kota Barhu here are several engagements from this battle

Night Time Surface Combat, near Kota Bharu at 51,75, Range 1,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
PB Naruto Maru #3, Shell hits 19, and is sunk
PB Tokotsu Maru, Shell hits 23, and is sunk
PB Fuji Maru #3, Shell hits 11, and is sunk
PB Shonan Maru #6, Shell hits 1, and is sunk

Allied Ships
CL Java
CL Sumatra
CL De Ruyter, Shell hits 1
CL Tromp
CL Amsterdam
DD Ph.van Almonde
DD Piet Hein
DD Kortenaer
DD Evertsen
DD Witte de With
DD Van Nes
DD Banckert
DD Isaac Sweers
DD Tjerk Hiddes
BC William III
BC Wilhelmina

Night Time Surface Combat, near Kota Bharu at 51,75, Range 6,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
PB Shonan Maru #2, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
xAK Zenyo Maru, Shell hits 9, and is sunk
xAK Johore Maru, Shell hits 6, and is sunk
xAK Fushimi Maru, Shell hits 13, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
xAK Toho Maru, Shell hits 22, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Kaiko Maru
xAK Mikasa Maru, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk
xAK Aso Maru, Shell hits 11, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Kyokusei Maru, Shell hits 10, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk
xAK Hokko Maru, Shell hits 1
xAK Zinzan Maru, Shell hits 8, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk
xAK Hakodate Maru, Shell hits 8, on fire
xAK Daigen Maru, Shell hits 19, and is sunk
xAK Kinkasan Maru, Shell hits 2, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
xAK Anbo Maru, Shell hits 13, and is sunk

Allied Ships
CL Java
CL Sumatra
CL De Ruyter
CL Tromp
CL Amsterdam
DD Ph.van Almonde
DD Piet Hein
DD Kortenaer
DD Evertsen
DD Witte de With
DD Van Nes
DD Banckert
DD Isaac Sweers
DD Tjerk Hiddes
BC William III
BC Wilhelmina

Night Time Surface Combat, near Kota Bharu at 51,75, Range 5,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
xAK Kaiko Maru, Shell hits 22, and is sunk
xAK Hokko Maru, Shell hits 28, and is sunk
xAK Hakodate Maru, Shell hits 25, and is sunk

Allied Ships
CL Java
CL Sumatra
CL De Ruyter
CL Tromp
CL Amsterdam
DD Ph.van Almonde
DD Piet Hein
DD Kortenaer
DD Evertsen
DD Witte de With
DD Van Nes
DD Banckert
DD Isaac Sweers
DD Tjerk Hiddes
BC William III
BC Wilhelmina

Night Naval bombardment of Kota Bharu at 51,75

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-51 Sonia: 17 damaged
Ki-51 Sonia: 1 destroyed on ground
Ki-15-II Babs: 1 damaged
Ki-15-II Babs: 1 destroyed on ground

Allied Ships
BC Wilhelmina
BC William III
CL Amsterdam
CL Tromp
CL De Ruyter
CL Sumatra
CL Java

Japanese ground losses:
325 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 23 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 10 disabled

Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 7
Port hits 6
Port fuel hits 4

A lot of action for task force William they were ordered to head home as soon as the bombardment completed

18th

the morning phase of the 18th started of with part of Force Z discovering a lone German AO

Day Time Surface Combat, near Broome at 59,124, Range 24,000 Yards

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
Arado Ar.196: 3 destroyed

Japanese Ships
AO Orion, Shell hits 21, and is sunk

Allied Ships
BB Prince of Wales
BB Beatty
CA Sussex
DD Vampire
DD Foxhound
DD Hotspur

Also, I won't do Air war much since that's not a part of this AAR, but it relates to the build-up for the look of Admiral Sheer.
Now today December 18th marks the end of the search of Admiral Sheer. British airpower patrolling the coast's of Timor discovered the ship escaping back into the Indian Ocean north of Koepang

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Roti at 66,115

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid spotted at 48 NM, estimated altitude 3,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 31 minutes

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft
Vildebeest III x 12

No Japanese losses

No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
CB Admiral Sheer, Bomb hits 4, and is sunk

Aircraft Attacking:
12 x Vildebeest III bombing from 1000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb

Magazine explodes on CB Admiral Sheer

British and her Commonwealth ship losses



Japanese ship losses (will do this time to time when large amounts of ship are sank by Britain)



A nice bag for the allies early on.

Indian Ocean

With Half of the German ship's dead the only things left are a German AMC and AS. The AS might be in the German naval base on the map so I'll leave that alone for now, but the AMC could be anywhere Force z will head back to Java for rearming while Carrier group Ark Royal steam's towards Australia seeing if I can catch the AMC

Malaya

Taskforce William will remain stationed in Singapore I might head them towards Miri and see if any ships are going to invade there soon.

Solomon Sea
Japanese ships have been spotted moving south-going for invasion of Port Moresby, Woodlark who knows A small Australian Taskforce guarding American CVL Charlotte task force will move North and see what the trouble is on their way's to Port Moresby.

[deaniks]

December 19th-20th
19th

Nothing much happened this night except AMC Thor engaged cargo ships outside of Perth

Night Time Surface Combat, near Perth at 46,147, Range 4,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
AMC Thor, Shell hits 2

Allied Ships
xAP Titanic
DE 43
xAK Modjokerto
xAK Sloterdijk, Shell hits 1

on the 20th large amount of British ship's escaping Hong kong after its capture were sunk

Britsh and her Commonwealth



Indian Ocean

Carrier group Ark Royal 600 miles north of Exmouth will head south for Perth hopefully catching the last German combat ship in the Indian Ocean.

South China Sea

Battlegroup William set sail from Singapore last turn and is heading for the tip of North Borneo where I hope to catch the Japanese off guard at Legaspi.

As a side note, I'm not fully up to date with this aar me and my opponent ae still about a week ahead and thing's will be kind of confusing as I try and catch for you guys on what's happening to the Britsh and Commonwealth Navy.