In The Finest Traditions Of The Navy...

[ctid98]

Scen 15
AI opponent - Hard
As Allies

Just thought I'd post a quick report to sing the praises of a fine ship and crew....

HMAS Adelaide sailed from Port Moresby bound for a position approximately 240 miles south of Rabaul with orders to intercept any Japanese attempts to expand into the region. Knowing they would be operating alone for several days before reinforcements arrived they took up position.

With the reinforcements from Brisbane only a day away a Hudson scout plane from Rabaul spotted the enemy task force sailing on a direct course for a landing on Rabaul. After reacting to the enemy task force a fierce engagement ensued where the HMAS Adelaide was heavily out numbered but never wavered. The follwoing after action report was logged by the ships Captain:

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Day Time Surface Combat, near Rabaul at 61,88

Japanese Ships
PG Koei Maru, Shell hits 3, on fire
PG Nikkai Maru, Shell hits 2
PG Seikai Maru, Shell hits 10, on fire, heavy damage
ML Takashima
ML Kurosaki, Shell hits 7, on fire, heavy damage
PC Toshi Maru #3
PC Tama Maru #8
PC Shonon Maru #15, Shell hits 1, on fire
PC Takunan Maru #2, Shell hits 1, on fire
AP Chichibu Maru
AK Hokkai Maru

Allied Ships
CL Adelaide, Shell hits 15

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Suffering only minor damage and fires HMAS Adelaide drove off the enemy landings which resulted in the ML Hurosaki later being reported as sunk. Truly a fine ship and crew.

[&o][&o][&o]


Okay, okay, I know a light cruiser shouldn't have any problems pounding Patrol Gunboats from 20,000 yards but the fact that they hit 6 ships, 2 severely, causing 1 to sink, and prevented the landings all by themselves made this a proud moment for me.

As it now stands in my Campaign this enemy TF came back a further 4 times before all ships were sunk, by which time the Adelaide was joined by other ships, and now a second TF with 7 transports and troop ships has shown up with 10 escorts that has been trying itself for the last 4 days to land at Rabaul but has been driven off each night. Not bad going considering its now early January '42.

There are however a few problems starting to appear:

1) My ships have been patrolling for a month now and all fuel and supplies in near by ports is used up. If I need to refuel and re-arm its a good week to ten days round trip to be back on station. Also, with damage to ships starting to take its toll how long can they last. I have a large TF with 4 BB and 6 CA plus DD heading from Pearl but they're at least 2 weeks away, I hope they can hold out.

2) Now that I've stopped the invasion of Rabaul, all other invasions for the Japanese seem to have been halted, normally I would expect Lae and Shortlands to fall also, it appears they want Rabaul first. This is good, it means I can move to secure them first and with a CV force from Pearl 2 days sailling away shouldn't be a problem, except I have no troops or supplies to move! I don't want to take troops out of Australia and weaken them but the only alternative is to ship troops from the West Coast.

I hope I can hold the Japanese long enough to come up with a plan on how to move troops, base forces and supplies to Lae, Shortlands and the 'Canal', plus reinforcing Rabaul before the Japanese grow tired of this thorn in their side and slap me senseless with the KB. If I can figure it out I'll let you know.

Still, heres to HMAS Adelaide, I hope she survives the war....