WAR PLAN ORANGE: Spruance(A) vs Przemcio231(J)

[Nikademus]

ORIGINAL: Capt. Harlock

CV Lexington swapped out the Buffaloes for F4F-4s.

Are F4F-4's really available in mid-December '41? I would have thought you would just have the F4F-3's at this point. (Not that they aren't an improvement on the Buffaloes.)

They are in stock. However the F4F-4 did not begin replacing -3 varients of the active VF squadrons aboard the CV's until march - april 42. The plane was 'technically' available around 2/42 but initially started equipping sqaudrons in the States.

[racndoc]

SITUATION REPORT: 12-17-41


MALAYA:

The Vildebeests based at Johore Bharu find the Japanese BBs at Mersing with minimal CAP. The 12 newly arrived Vildebeests from India go in first but score no hits:

Day Air attack on TF, near Mersing at 23,49

Japanese aircraft
A5M4 Claude x 9
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 4

Allied aircraft
Buffalo I x 8
Vildebeest IV x 12

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Buffalo I: 1 damaged
Vildebeest IV: 3 destroyed, 6 damaged

Japanese Ships
BB Kongo
BB Haruna

The 2nd wave with the 8 veteran Vildebeests goes in scoring 3 hits on BB Haruna and leaving her ablaze, heavily damaged and taking on water:

Day Air attack on TF, near Mersing at 23,49

Japanese aircraft
A5M4 Claude x 7

Allied aircraft
Buffalo I x 5
Vildebeest IV x 8

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Buffalo I: 1 destroyed
Vildebeest IV: 2 destroyed, 4 damaged

Japanese Ships
BB Haruna, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage



Farther south in the Java Sea, the IJN 2 CV TF has AGAIN reversed course and is now moving north back into the South China Sea. Now that the IJN CVs are gone, Admiral Paliser's Force Z has been ordered to re-enter the Makassar Strait.

[racndoc]

SITUATION REPORT: 12/18/41- 12/19/41


PI:

A massive Allied counterattack proceeded by bomber ground support routs the IJA 48th Division at Clark Field and throws it back across the river into Lingayen. It will be awhile before we hear from the 48th again.

Japanes capture Lamon Bay and Davao.


SOPAC:

Japanese capture Gasmata and Shortlands.

Bettys and A6M2s flying out of Rabaul are bombing Port Moresby on a daily basis.


SEAC:

Japanese capture Mersing after almost a weeklong battle.

The IJA offensive into Burma commences with the capture of Victoria Point and Tavoy.



CENTPAC: The US Pacific Fleet battleline...9 BBs... escorted by 3 CVs is now en route to New Caledonia.


CHINA:

Hong Kong finally falls to the Japanese after holding out for a week.

Yenen is a stalemate but the Japanese continue to elevate the experience levels of the Chinese by providing daily bombardments.

COMMENTS:

No IJA attempt on Changsha yet but the Chinese have massed over 200,000 troops there. With Wuchow and Changsha free of IJA troops and the Burma Road open, Chinese supply is building up and understrength Corps are rapidly taking on replacements.

The Yenen front has been stabilized and I may be able to pull out a couple of Corps there if an emergency arises.

It appears that the IJA is going after Ichang instead of Changsha. At Ichang now there are about 40,000 troops on each side....but IJA reinforcements will arrive before the Chinese do. If the Japanese breakthrough at Ichang I may let them continue their offensive up the road towards Chungking....and then counterattack NE out of Changsha with 200,000 well supplied troops once the IJA is overcommitted.


Force Z has been committed yet again to the Makassar Strait and over 30 torpedo bombers have been staged into Balikpapan including the brand new Beaufort V-IX. The IJN CVLs have been sailing away to the NE and the CV Zuikaku/Shokaku TF is up in the South China Sea so no interference is expected for this vital operation.

The plan for tomorrow will be a night raid by Force Z on the IJN BBs at Samarinda followed during the day by a big torpedo bomber raid. The RN night fighting experience is extremely high(high 70s and 80s) and Adm Paliser has the best leader rating in the British Navy. The USN CLs and CA accompanying Force Z have poor night experience so hopefully they stay out of trouble and dont get in the way of the big boys.

[racndoc]

SITUATION REPORT: 12-20-41(NIGHT) NAVAL BATTLE OF SAMARINDA....THE SURFACE ACTION


Admiral Paliser's Force Z cruised up Makassar Strait at full speed....27 knots....reaching the bay off of Samarinda shortly after midnight on the 20th of December. It was a very black night....no moonlight...and lookouts at full alert could not spot anything in the blackness. Suddenly BB Prince of Wales picked up enemy ships 7000 yards off the bow. Smaller radar blips appearing to be transports lay to the port side while much larger blips appearing to be BBs and CLs ( the ones reported by intelligence to be present) lay off to the starboard about 20,000 yards distant. Admiral Paliser made the decision to immediately engage the nearby transports before they could alert the nearby surface ships:

Night Time Surface Combat, near Samarinda at 31,63

Japanese Ships
CL Naka
DD Natsugumo, Shell hits 2, on fire
DD Minegumo
DD Asagumo
DD Murasame
DD Harusame
DD Yudachi
DD Samidare, Shell hits 3, on fire

Allied Ships
BB Prince of Wales
BC Repulse
CA Houston
CL Danae
CL Dragon
CL Durban
CL Marblehead
CL Boise, Shell hits 1
DD Tenedos
DD Electra
DD Express
DD Jupiter

The contact was short and violent as Force Z sped ahead to engage the surface combatants. Japanese lookouts could see the muzzle flashes briefly at long distance but they were no match for the British radar as Force Z achieved surprise:

Night Time Surface Combat, near Samarinda at 31,63

Japanese Ships
BB Yamashiro, Shell hits 11, on fire, heavy damage
BB Hyuga, Shell hits 11, on fire
CL Kitakami, Shell hits 3
CL Oi, Shell hits 20, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
DD Yukaze
DD Wakatake, Shell hits 3, on fire
DD Kuretake, Shell hits 11, on fire, heavy damage

Allied Ships
BB Prince of Wales, Shell hits 1
BC Repulse, Shell hits 5, on fire
CA Houston
CL Danae
CL Dragon, Shell hits 1
CL Durban, Shell hits 2
CL Marblehead, Shell hits 1
CL Boise
DD Tenedos
DD Electra
DD Express
DD Jupiter

Again and again, 15" shells from BB PoW and 14" shells from BC Repulse found their mark on BB Hyuga and BB Yamashiro. After the IJN BBs had suffered tremendous punishment, 2 14" shells finally found BC Repulse and penetrated her engine room starting fires and slowing her down. BC Repulse fell out of line and in the ensuing confusion the IJN TF managed to break off. However the Royal Navy quickly reacquired the IJN TF on their radar and achieved surprise as the battle resumed....this time at a distance of only 2000 yards:

Night Time Surface Combat, near Samarinda at 31,63

Japanese Ships
BB Yamashiro, Shell hits 46, on fire, heavy damage
BB Hyuga, on fire
CL Kitakami, Shell hits 3
CL Oi, Shell hits 8, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
DD Yukaze
DD Wakatake, on fire
DD Kuretake, Shell hits 8, and is sunk

Allied Ships
BB Prince of Wales, Shell hits 1
BC Repulse, Shell hits 1, on fire
CA Houston
CL Danae
CL Dragon, Shell hits 1
CL Durban
CL Marblehead
CL Boise
DD Tenedos
DD Electra
DD Express
DD Jupiter

By this time BB Yamashiro is a floating hulk burning stem to stern as CL Oi and DD Kuretaka slid beneath the waves. Admiral Paliser breaks off the action to head back down the Makassar Strait at full speed to put some distance between himself and Japanese naval bombers to the north.

[racndoc]

SITUATION REPORT: 12-20-41(DAYTIME)....NAVAL BATTLE OF SAMARINDA: PURSUIT IN THE MAKASSAR STRAIT

Task Force Z was retiring at full speed down the Makassar Strait as the night ended. At first light Allied Catalinas took off looking for the scattered remnants of what had been a powerful IJN surface TF. IJN ships were quickly spotted limping north towards Tarakan and the Allied torpedo bombers based at Ballikpapan were launched to engage them. This was the first combat of the war for the Beaufort V-IX and they proved to be invaluble even in small numbers. First the Beauforts struck BB Yamashiro:

Day Air attack on TF at 32,64


Allied aircraft
Beaufort V-IX x 3


No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
BB Yamashiro, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

Other Allied torpedo bombers found some transports:

Day Air attack on TF at 32,64


Allied aircraft
Swordfish x 7
CW-21B Demon x 6
Vildebeest IV x 6
T.IVa x 6
Beaufort V-IX x 3


Allied aircraft losses
Swordfish: 1 damaged
T.IVa: 1 destroyed

Japanese Ships
AP Hikade Maru
AP Meiten Maru, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
AP Hakusika Maru, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
AP Hokuhi Maru, Torpedo hits 1
AP Meisho Maru, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
AP Koshu Maru #3, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage

Then the Beauforts found BB Hyuga:

Day Air attack on TF at 33,63


Allied aircraft
Beaufort V-IX x 3


No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
BB Hyuga, Torpedo hits 1, on fire

The British tropedo bombers applied the coup de grace to BB Yamashiro:

Day Air attack on TF at 32,64


Allied aircraft
Swordfish x 5
Vildebeest IV x 6


No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
BB Yamashiro, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

BB Yamashiro quickly sank as the Beauforts got in a final shot on a DD:

Day Air attack on TF at 34,62


Allied aircraft
Beaufort V-IX x 3


No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
DD Natsugumo, Torpedo hits 1, heavy damage

[racndoc]

SITUATION REPORT: 12-21-41


DEI:


BC Repulse, very low on fuel and slowed down to 20 knots from engine damage suffered in the Naval Battle of Samarinda, had made its way to Balikpapan to refuel last night. Now BC Repulse will make its maximum speed down the Macassar Strait and cross the Malay Barrier SE of Timor. The rest of Force Z, also low on fuel heads at full speed to Koepang where it will refuel tonight.

Meanwhile, CV Shokaku, CV Zuikaku and CVL Ryujo come charging south down the Java Sea sinking Allied shipping as they go in an attempt to exact revenge on Force Z. The Japanese also stage 30 fighters and 18 bombers into Kuching as well as more aircraft into Kendari and Jolo in an attempt to find and destroy Force Z. AVG squadrons B and C are staged to both Koepang and the airbase at the SE tip of Timor to provide LRCAP for the withdrawing RN BBs.

With targets of opportunity now at Kuching(Japanese AC), all the B-17s are odered on their 1st mission of the war...about 30 B-17s from Batavia are ordered to hit the airfield at Kuching as are about 40 Martin 139s based at Palembang.

Now that the IJN CVs are no longer covering their invasion forces at Mersing, Allied Vildebeest and Beaufort torpedo bombers are staged into Singapore to look for IJN BBs and transports. Their escort will be provided by the first newly converted squadron of Hurricanes in the Pacific.


On Borneo, Singkawang falls to the Japanese.


CHINA:

Another deliberate attack at Yenen costs the IJA 2500 casualties vs 700 Chinese.

Allied attempts to CAP trap Japanese air attacks have so far been unsuccessful as the Japanese have done a good job of rotating their targets. The AVG Squadron"A" will be withdrawn to Burma as the Japanese offensive there is gaining momentum.


MALAYA:

Japanese capture Malacca.


PI:

Tuguegarao falls to the Japanese onslaught.

[racndoc]

SITUATION REPORT: 12-22-41


DEI:

Martin 139s and Blenheims from hit the Japanese airbase at Kuching in the 1st wave:

Day Air attack on Kuching , at 28,56

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 6

Allied aircraft
Brewster 339D x 1
Blenheim IV x 12
Martin 139 x 36

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 2 destroyed, 2 damaged
Ki-15 Babs: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Blenheim IV: 1 damaged
Martin 139: 1 destroyed, 5 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
40 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Airbase hits 7
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 15


Then the B-17s from Batavia come in on their 1st mission of the war:

Day Air attack on Kuching , at 28,56

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 6

Allied aircraft
Brewster 339D x 12
Hudson I x 22
B-17C Fortress x 18
B-17E Fortress x 9

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 4 destroyed
Ki-15 Babs: 2 destroyed
G3M Nell: 4 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Brewster 339D: 2 destroyed
B-17C Fortress: 2 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
48 casualties reported

Airbase hits 2
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 31

40 Japanese AC are destroyed to day....23 AC on the ground at Kuching including 10 A6M2s and 7 Nells.


MALAYA:

16 torpedo bombers(including 3 Beauforts) escorted by Hurricanes(on their 1st mission) flew out of Singapore today to attack Japanese shipping at Mersing. A Beaufort puts a torpedo in BB Kongo:

Day Air attack on TF, near Mersing at 23,49

Japanese aircraft
A5M4 Claude x 8

Allied aircraft
Hurricane II x 12
Vildebeest IV x 13
Beaufort V-IX x 3

Japanese aircraft losses
A5M4 Claude: 2 destroyed, 2 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Hurricane II: 1 damaged
Vildebeest IV: 2 destroyed, 9 damaged
Beaufort V-IX: 3 damaged

Japanese Ships
BB Kongo, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
CA Atago

The Beauforts also put a torpedo in an AP off Kuantan.



CBI(China Burma India) :


Another futile IJA attack on Yenen nets 4200 Japanese casualties vs 350 Chinese. Clearly the Japanese are losing the war of attrition in China.

The IJA storms across the Salween Rivewr into Burma 60 miles NW of Rahaeng and in the ensuing shock attack the 2nd Burma Brigade is forces to retreat towards Moulmein.

Here is a look at the situation in the CBI:

[Capt. Harlock]

Again and again, 15" shells from BB PoW and 14" shells from BC Repulse

Splendid work by the RN! But just to get technical, the Prince of Wales had the 14-inch guns and the Repulse had the 15-inchers. Mind you, the 14-inch guns were an advanced model that were actually better at punching though a battlewagon's armor than the WWI-era 15-inch guns of Repulse.

[racndoc]

SITUATION REPORT: 12-23-41 THE END OF BB HYUGA


ABDA COMMAND anticipated the heavily damaged BB Hyuga would attempt to escape either to the north through the Sulu Sea or to the east through the Celebes Sea. British and Dutch torpedo bombers are staged into Cotabato...the last operational offensive airbase in the PI south of Luzon. On the 23rd BB Hyuga was spotted and the torpedo bombers went to work:

Day Air attack on TF at 41,63


Allied aircraft
Swordfish x 7
T.IVa x 4


Allied aircraft losses
Swordfish: 1 destroyed, 2 damaged
T.IVa: 3 damaged

Japanese Ships
BB Hyuga, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage


Japanese troops were closing in on the base at Cotabato so the Allied torpedo bombers were staged back to Borneo as soon as they had finished their attack.


MALAYA:

The Japanese capture Kuala Lampur today.


DEI:

Force Z continues to withdraw towards western Australia(Perth) as CV Zuikaku and CV Shokaku follow in hot pursuit deep into the Indian Ocean.

B-17s from Batavia continue to pound the Japanese airfield at Kuching.

[racndoc]

SITUATION REPORT: 12-26-41


MALAYA:

Taiping and Alor Star fall to the Japanese as the noose tightens around Singapore.


PI:

The IJA again crosses the river from Lingayen into Clark Field in force and this time they are here to stay.


COMMENTS:

With the Japanese on Clark Field to stay, its time for the Allies to retreat to make their final stand in Manila. The HQ will move first to draw in all the supply from Clark and then the combatants will make the redeployment.

In the air war the B-17s and Martins alternate bombing Kuching every other day as Japanese AC losses pick up. The Japanese have now lost 40 A6M2s in 19 days and this really slows down the conversion of the Claude Squads. 22 Japanese AC are destroyed today vs 7 Allied and both sides have now lost 287 AC from all causes.

Tomorrow the US Pacific Fleet battlewagons will go into action for the 1st time in the war. The USN BBs, covered by CV Lexington and CV
Saratoga, will bombard Japanese troops on Makin Island while the 2nd Marine Paratroop Bn will assault Tarawa.

[racndoc]

SITUATION REPORT:12-27-41 AM NAVAL BATTLE OF THE GILBERTS



The US Paciifc Fleet begins excecution of War Plan Orange with a combined naval/ground assault on the Gilberts. Aviation enginners are offloading on Apamama today to build an airfield and the Marines are scheduled to invade enemy held Tarawa tomorrow.

To cover this operation, the entire battleline of the US Pacific Fleet escorted by CV Lexington and CV Saratoga will bombard Makin atoll today.

The first TF of 4 BBs goes in to bombard Makin overnight:

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 12/27/41

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 36,55

Japanese Ships
TK Kaijo Maru #2, Shell hits 3, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage

Allied Ships
SS Sturgeon

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naval bombardment of Makin, at 85,89

Allied Ships
DD Hatfield
DD Jarvis
DD Patterson
DD Henley
DD Ralph Talbot
DD Mugford
DD Helm
DD Blue
DD Bagley
CL Detroit
CL Raleigh
BB Colorado
BB Maryland
BB Arizona
BB Pennsylvania

Japanese ground losses:
256 casualties reported
Guns lost 3

Port fuel hits 1


As daylight arrives in the Gilberts however, things do not go as planned by CINCPAC. 4 IJN CVs are sighted 180 mi SW of Makin closing at high speed. The hyperaggressive Admiral Halsey orders an immediate divebomber attack despite the heavy odds against him:

Day Air attack on TF at 83,91

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 36

Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 21
F4F-4 Wildcat x 14
SBD Dauntless x 54

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 3 destroyed, 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-3 Wildcat: 15 destroyed
F4F-4 Wildcat: 12 destroyed
SBD Dauntless: 12 destroyed, 17 damaged

Japanese Ships
CV Soryu, Bomb hits 1, on fire
CV Kaga, Bomb hits 6, on fire, heavy damage
CA Tone, Bomb hits 2
CV Hiryu, Bomb hits 2, on fire
BB Kirishima, Bomb hits 1
CV Akagi

2 critical hits are scored on CV Kaga( 2 Ammo Storage hits) and 2 critical hits are scored on CV Hiryu(1 Fuel Storage and 1 Ammo Storage).

Admiral Halsey's luck holds as the USN CVs have not yet been spotted by their IJN counterparts so a 2nd strike is ordered for the afternoon.

[Capt. Harlock]

Not even into 1942, and the Allies are making some strong moves. This game is going much differently than the Sneer vs. Raver AAR, which also featured no Pearl Harbor raid. Assaulting Tarawa with a single battalion sounds a bit risky unless you have solid intel about Japanese troop strength, IMHO.

[racndoc]

SITUATION REPORT: 12-27-41 PM NAVAL BATTLE OF THE GILBERTS


Admiral Halsey orders an afternoon attack by the divebombers but by now their numbers are becoming depleted:

Day Air attack on TF at 83,91

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 25

Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 11
F4F-4 Wildcat x 7
SBD Dauntless x 27

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-3 Wildcat: 2 destroyed
F4F-4 Wildcat: 2 destroyed, 1 damaged
SBD Dauntless: 12 destroyed, 3 damaged

Japanese Ships
BB Hiei
CV Akagi
CV Soryu, Bomb hits 1, on fire
CV Hiryu, on fire
BB Kirishima, Bomb hits 1


3 IJN CVs have been hit, 2 severely, but search radar on CV Lexington picks up a pattern of 150 incoming bogeys bearing 215 degrees 30 miles distant. All available fueled fighters are lauched into CAP, all other aircraft are stowed below decks, AA guns are armed, and aviation fuel hoses are drained and filled with CO2.