Namatanai fell today. Kaga was sighted and attacked, but proceeded to points unknown unharmed. Is Kaga with KB? Has KB come to hunt Allied combat ships? Has KB come to suppress Allied fighters on Java? Both have been troublesome. Today's events might influence EHQ's plans for KB, whatever they were last turn!
S-36 caught what must have been a laden TK Matsumoto Maru and set her afire with heavy damage with one torpedo. While Hurricanes battled roughly evenly with sweeping and escorting Imperial fighters over Toungoo, they also penetrated to the raiding Sonias and shot down 10 of 19. The Empire has landed an unknown number of troops at GR55,54 which is 40nm SE Rangoon and SW Pegu. The Allied position was already undermined and an orderly withdrawal underway, but if it wasn't this maneuver would have presented significant peril.
Force Thunder, the Australian led raiding force (and including New Zealand, French, Dutch, and British combat assets) sent against the Koepang invaders, scored big.
Night Time Surface Combat, near Pantar at 69,114, Range 5,000 Yards
Japanese Ships
CL Kinu
DD Hishu
DD Susuki, Shell hits 5, heavy fires, heavy damage
PB Aso Maru #3
PB Suyozai Maru, Shell hits 1, on fire
xAK Kikukawa Maru, Shell hits 1
xAK Matsukawa Maru, Shell hits 1, on fire
xAK Eihuku Maru
xAK Koto Maru, Shell hits 4, Torpedo hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Maya Maru, Shell hits 2, on fire
xAK Rokko Maru
xAK Yasukawa Maru, Shell hits 5, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Meiyo Maru, Shell hits 2
xAK Hakonesan Maru, Shell hits 4, on fire
xAK Hakubasan Maru
xAK Igasa Maru, Shell hits 9, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
xAK Zyuyo Maru, Shell hits 8, heavy fires, heavy damage
Allied Ships
CA Australia
CA Canberra
CL Leander
CL Achilles
CL Java, Shell hits 1
CL De Ruyter, Torpedo hits 1, heavy damage
CL Perth
DD Stuart
DD Voyager
DD Witte de With
DD Van Nes
DD Electra
DD Encounter, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Express
DD Le Triomphant
Reduced sighting due to 0% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Overcast Conditions and 0% moonlight: 5,000 yards
Range closes to 21,000 yards...
Range closes to 19,000 yards...
Range closes to 17,000 yards...
Range closes to 15,000 yards...
Range closes to 13,000 yards...
Range closes to 11,000 yards...
Range closes to 10,000 yards...
Range closes to 9,000 yards...
Range closes to 8,000 yards...
Range closes to 7,000 yards...
Range closes to 6,000 yards...
Range closes to 5,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 5,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 5,000 yards
Higgins J. crosses the 'T'
CA Canberra engages xAK Igasa Maru at 5,000 yards
DD Susuki engages CA Australia at 5,000 yards
CL Perth engages xAK Igasa Maru at 5,000 yards
CL De Ruyter engages xAK Igasa Maru at 5,000 yards
CL Java engages xAK Igasa Maru at 5,000 yards
CL Java engages xAK Zyuyo Maru at 5,000 yards
DD Susuki engages DD Le Triomphant at 5,000 yards
DD Express engages xAK Hakonesan Maru at 5,000 yards
DD Encounter engages xAK Meiyo Maru at 5,000 yards
DD Encounter engages xAK Yasukawa Maru at 5,000 yards
DD Witte de With engages DD Susuki at 5,000 yards
DD Van Nes engages xAK Koto Maru at 5,000 yards
DD Stuart engages xAK Koto Maru at 5,000 yards
DD Express engages xAK Matsukawa Maru at 5,000 yards
DD Express engages xAK Kikukawa Maru at 5,000 yards
Range increases to 6,000 yards
CA Canberra engages xAK Matsukawa Maru at 6,000 yards
DD Encounter engages DD Susuki at 6,000 yards
CL Perth engages xAK Hakonesan Maru at 6,000 yards
CL Achilles engages xAK Zyuyo Maru at 6,000 yards
DD Van Nes engages xAK Igasa Maru at 6,000 yards
DD Express engages DD Susuki at 6,000 yards
DD Encounter engages xAK Kikukawa Maru at 6,000 yards
DD Le Triomphant engages xAK Yasukawa Maru at 6,000 yards
CA Australia engages xAK Maya Maru at 6,000 yards
DD Voyager engages xAK Matsukawa Maru at 6,000 yards
Range closes to 5,000 yards
CL Kinu engages CA Australia at 5,000 yards
DD Hishu engages DD Van Nes at 5,000 yards
CA Canberra engages PB Suyozai Maru at 5,000 yards
CL Java engages xAK Koto Maru at 5,000 yards
xAK Igasa Maru sunk by CL Leander at 5,000 yards
DD Le Triomphant engages xAK Koto Maru at 5,000 yards
DD Encounter engages xAK Hakonesan Maru at 5,000 yards
DD Express engages xAK Meiyo Maru at 5,000 yards
DD Electra engages xAK Yasukawa Maru at 5,000 yards
CL Achilles engages xAK Rokko Maru at 5,000 yards
DD Van Nes engages xAK Maya Maru at 5,000 yards
DD Van Nes engages xAK Matsukawa Maru at 5,000 yards
Range closes to 4,000 yards
CL Kinu engages CL De Ruyter at 4,000 yards
DD Susuki engages DD Van Nes at 4,000 yards
DD Hishu engages DD Encounter at 4,000 yards
CL De Ruyter engages CL Kinu at 4,000 yards
CL Kinu engages CL Java at 4,000 yards
CL Achilles engages xAK Zyuyo Maru at 4,000 yards
DD Encounter engages xAK Hakonesan Maru at 4,000 yards
DD Encounter engages xAK Yasukawa Maru at 4,000 yards
DD Electra engages DD Hishu at 4,000 yards
CL De Ruyter engages xAK Maya Maru at 4,000 yards
DD Electra engages xAK Eihuku Maru at 4,000 yards
DD Susuki engages DD Stuart at 4,000 yards
DD Stuart engages xAK Kikukawa Maru at 4,000 yards
Range closes to 3,000 yards
CL Kinu engages CA Canberra at 3,000 yards
Japanese Task Force Manages to Escape
Task forces break off...
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Night Time Surface Combat, near Pantar at 69,114, Range 2,000 Yards
Japanese Ships
DD Hishu, Shell hits 15, and is sunk
DD Susuki, Shell hits 10, and is sunk
xAK Koto Maru, Shell hits 3, and is sunk
xAK Yasukawa Maru, Shell hits 8, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
xAK Hakonesan Maru, Shell hits 16, and is sunk
xAK Zyuyo Maru, Shell hits 12, and is sunk
Allied Ships
CA Australia
CA Canberra
CL Leander
CL Achilles
CL Java
CL Perth
DD Stuart
DD Voyager
DD Witte de With
DD Van Nes
DD Electra
DD Encounter, on fire
DD Express
Reduced sighting due to 0% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Overcast Conditions and 0% moonlight: 2,000 yards
Range closes to 21,000 yards...
Range closes to 19,000 yards...
Range closes to 17,000 yards...
Range closes to 15,000 yards...
Range closes to 13,000 yards...
Range closes to 11,000 yards...
Range closes to 10,000 yards...
Range closes to 9,000 yards...
Range closes to 8,000 yards...
Range closes to 7,000 yards...
Range closes to 6,000 yards...
Range closes to 5,000 yards...
Range closes to 4,000 yards...
Range closes to 3,000 yards...
Range closes to 2,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 2,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 2,000 yards
Higgins J. crosses the 'T'
DD Hishu engages DD Encounter at 2,000 yards
DD Susuki sunk by CL Perth at 2,000 yards
DD Encounter engages xAK Hakonesan Maru at 2,000 yards
xAK Koto Maru sunk by DD Encounter at 2,000 yards
DD Hishu engages DD Voyager at 2,000 yards
DD Express collides with CL Leander at 69 , 114
CA Canberra engages DD Hishu at 2,000 yards
DD Voyager engages xAK Zyuyo Maru at 2,000 yards
CL Perth engages DD Hishu at 2,000 yards
DD Voyager engages xAK Yasukawa Maru at 2,000 yards
DD Hishu engages DD Van Nes at 2,000 yards
DD Hishu sunk by CA Canberra at 2,000 yards
DD Van Nes engages xAK Yasukawa Maru at 2,000 yards
Range increases to 3,000 yards
CL Perth engages xAK Hakonesan Maru at 3,000 yards
CL Leander engages xAK Hakonesan Maru at 3,000 yards
DD Van Nes engages xAK Hakonesan Maru at 3,000 yards
xAK Yasukawa Maru sunk by DD Witte de With at 3,000 yards
DD Voyager engages xAK Zyuyo Maru at 3,000 yards
xAK Zyuyo Maru sunk by DD Witte de With at 3,000 yards
xAK Zyuyo Maru sunk by DD Witte de With at 3,000 yards
Combat ends with last Japanese ship sunk...
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Day Time Surface Combat, near Alor at 69,113, Range 19,000 Yards
Japanese Ships
CL Kinu, Shell hits 19, on fire, heavy damage
PB Aso Maru #3, Shell hits 14, and is sunk
PB Suyozai Maru, Shell hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Kikukawa Maru, Shell hits 16, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Matsukawa Maru, Shell hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Eihuku Maru, Shell hits 6, heavy fires
xAK Maya Maru, Shell hits 8, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Rokko Maru, Shell hits 20, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Meiyo Maru, Shell hits 7, on fire
xAK Hakubasan Maru, Shell hits 8
Allied Ships
CA Australia
CA Canberra
CL Leander
CL Achilles
CL Java
CL Perth
DD Stuart
DD Voyager
DD Witte de With
DD Van Nes
DD Electra
DD Encounter
DD Express
Maximum visibility in Overcast Conditions: 20,000 yards
Range closes to 21,000 yards...
Range closes to 19,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 19,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 19,000 yards
Higgins J. crosses the 'T'
CL Perth engages PB Aso Maru #3 at 19,000 yards
CL Java engages xAK Rokko Maru at 19,000 yards
CA Canberra engages xAK Rokko Maru at 19,000 yards
CL Kinu engages DD Electra at 19,000 yards
CA Australia engages xAK Kikukawa Maru at 19,000 yards
Range closes to 16,000 yards
CA Canberra engages CL Kinu at 16,000 yards
CA Canberra engages PB Suyozai Maru at 16,000 yards
CL Kinu engages CL Java at 16,000 yards
CL Kinu engages CL Achilles at 16,000 yards
CL Leander engages xAK Rokko Maru at 16,000 yards
DD Express engages xAK Kikukawa Maru at 16,000 yards
DD Witte de With engages xAK Rokko Maru at 16,000 yards
DD Stuart engages xAK Rokko Maru at 16,000 yards
Range closes to 12,000 yards
CA Canberra engages CL Kinu at 12,000 yards
CA Australia engages CL Kinu at 12,000 yards
CL Perth engages PB Aso Maru #3 at 12,000 yards
CL Kinu engages CL Java at 12,000 yards
DD Electra engages xAK Rokko Maru at 12,000 yards
DD Encounter engages xAK Kikukawa Maru at 12,000 yards
DD Electra engages xAK Kikukawa Maru at 12,000 yards
DD Witte de With engages xAK Kikukawa Maru at 12,000 yards
DD Witte de With engages xAK Rokko Maru at 12,000 yards
CL Kinu engages DD Voyager at 12,000 yards
DD Stuart engages xAK Eihuku Maru at 12,000 yards
Range closes to 9,000 yards
CL Kinu engages CL Java at 9,000 yards
CA Canberra engages PB Aso Maru #3 at 9,000 yards
CL Kinu engages CL Achilles at 9,000 yards
DD Voyager engages xAK Rokko Maru at 9,000 yards
DD Witte de With engages xAK Eihuku Maru at 9,000 yards
DD Witte de With engages xAK Eihuku Maru at 9,000 yards
DD Stuart engages xAK Hakubasan Maru at 9,000 yards
Range increases to 11,000 yards
CA Canberra engages CL Kinu at 11,000 yards
CL Java engages PB Aso Maru #3 at 11,000 yards
CL Kinu engages CL Java at 11,000 yards
CL Kinu engages CL Achilles at 11,000 yards
DD Electra engages xAK Rokko Maru at 11,000 yards
DD Stuart engages xAK Maya Maru at 11,000 yards
DD Witte de With engages xAK Eihuku Maru at 11,000 yards
DD Witte de With engages xAK Maya Maru at 11,000 yards
DD Voyager engages xAK Hakubasan Maru at 11,000 yards
DD Stuart engages xAK Hakubasan Maru at 11,000 yards
Range increases to 12,000 yards
CA Canberra engages CL Kinu at 12,000 yards
CL Kinu engages CA Australia at 12,000 yards
CL Java engages PB Aso Maru #3 at 12,000 yards
CL Kinu engages CL Java at 12,000 yards
CL Achilles engages CL Kinu at 12,000 yards
CL Leander engages xAK Rokko Maru at 12,000 yards
DD Witte de With engages xAK Eihuku Maru at 12,000 yards
DD Electra engages xAK Kikukawa Maru at 12,000 yards
DD Witte de With engages xAK Eihuku Maru at 12,000 yards
DD Voyager engages xAK Maya Maru at 12,000 yards
DD Stuart engages xAK Eihuku Maru at 12,000 yards
Range closes to 11,000 yards
CL Kinu engages CA Canberra at 11,000 yards
CA Australia engages PB Suyozai Maru at 11,000 yards
CL Perth engages CL Kinu at 11,000 yards
DD Van Nes engages xAK Hakubasan Maru at 11,000 yards
CL Kinu engages CL Achilles at 11,000 yards
DD Electra engages xAK Maya Maru at 11,000 yards
DD Encounter engages xAK Hakubasan Maru at 11,000 yards
DD Voyager engages xAK Matsukawa Maru at 11,000 yards
DD Stuart engages xAK Hakubasan Maru at 11,000 yards
Range closes to 9,000 yards
CL Kinu engages CL Java at 9,000 yards
CA Canberra engages PB Suyozai Maru at 9,000 yards
CL Leander engages PB Aso Maru #3 at 9,000 yards
CL Achilles engages CL Kinu at 9,000 yards
CL Leander engages CL Kinu at 9,000 yards
DD Express engages xAK Hakubasan Maru at 9,000 yards
DD Encounter engages xAK Matsukawa Maru at 9,000 yards
DD Electra engages xAK Hakubasan Maru at 9,000 yards
DD Voyager engages xAK Kikukawa Maru at 9,000 yards
DD Voyager engages xAK Hakubasan Maru at 9,000 yards
DD Stuart engages xAK Kikukawa Maru at 9,000 yards
Range closes to 8,000 yards
CA Canberra engages CL Kinu at 8,000 yards
CL Perth engages PB Aso Maru #3 at 8,000 yards
DD Electra engages xAK Hakubasan Maru at 8,000 yards
CL Achilles engages xAK Hakubasan Maru at 8,000 yards
CL Leander engages CL Kinu at 8,000 yards
DD Stuart engages xAK Maya Maru at 8,000 yards
DD Encounter engages xAK Eihuku Maru at 8,000 yards
DD Electra engages xAK Kikukawa Maru at 8,000 yards
DD Stuart engages xAK Kikukawa Maru at 8,000 yards
DD Witte de With engages xAK Eihuku Maru at 8,000 yards
DD Voyager engages xAK Hakubasan Maru at 8,000 yards
DD Stuart engages xAK Eihuku Maru at 8,000 yards
Range closes to 7,000 yards
CL Kinu engages CA Canberra at 7,000 yards
CA Australia engages CL Kinu at 7,000 yards
CL Kinu engages CL Perth at 7,000 yards
CL Java engages xAK Hakubasan Maru at 7,000 yards
DD Encounter engages xAK Meiyo Maru at 7,000 yards
DD Voyager engages xAK Rokko Maru at 7,000 yards
DD Encounter engages xAK Maya Maru at 7,000 yards
DD Encounter engages xAK Matsukawa Maru at 7,000 yards
DD Witte de With engages xAK Meiyo Maru at 7,000 yards
Range increases to 8,000 yards
PB Aso Maru #3 sunk by CA Australia at 8,000 yards
CL Java engages CL Kinu at 8,000 yards
CL Achilles engages CL Kinu at 8,000 yards
CL Leander engages xAK Meiyo Maru at 8,000 yards
DD Express engages xAK Rokko Maru at 8,000 yards
DD Electra engages xAK Matsukawa Maru at 8,000 yards
DD Voyager engages xAK Rokko Maru at 8,000 yards
DD Stuart engages xAK Meiyo Maru at 8,000 yards
Task forces break off...
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Day Time Surface Combat, near Alor at 69,113, Range 19,000 Yards
Japanese Ships
CL Kinu, Shell hits 19, heavy fires, heavy damage
PB Suyozai Maru, Shell hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Kikukawa Maru, Shell hits 5, and is sunk
xAK Matsukawa Maru, Shell hits 13, and is sunk
xAK Eihuku Maru, Shell hits 8, and is sunk
xAK Maya Maru, Shell hits 20, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Rokko Maru, Shell hits 5, and is sunk
xAK Meiyo Maru, Shell hits 16, and is sunk
Allied Ships
CA Australia
CA Canberra
CL Leander
CL Achilles
CL Java
CL Perth
DD Stuart
DD Voyager
DD Witte de With
DD Van Nes
DD Electra
DD Encounter
DD Express
Maximum visibility in Overcast Conditions: 20,000 yards
Range closes to 21,000 yards...
Range closes to 19,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 19,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 19,000 yards
CL Java engages CL Kinu at 19,000 yards
Range closes to 16,000 yards
CA Canberra engages CL Kinu at 16,000 yards
CA Canberra engages xAK Meiyo Maru at 16,000 yards
CL Achilles engages CL Kinu at 16,000 yards
DD Van Nes engages xAK Rokko Maru at 16,000 yards
Range closes to 14,000 yards
CA Canberra engages CL Kinu at 14,000 yards
CL Kinu engages CA Australia at 14,000 yards
CL Perth engages CL Kinu at 14,000 yards
CL Java engages CL Kinu at 14,000 yards
CA Canberra engages xAK Matsukawa Maru at 14,000 yards
CL Achilles engages xAK Kikukawa Maru at 14,000 yards
DD Electra engages xAK Rokko Maru at 14,000 yards
DD Witte de With engages xAK Kikukawa Maru at 14,000 yards
DD Stuart engages xAK Meiyo Maru at 14,000 yards
Range closes to 13,000 yards
CL Java engages CL Kinu at 13,000 yards
CL Achilles engages CL Kinu at 13,000 yards
DD Van Nes engages xAK Matsukawa Maru at 13,000 yards
DD Witte de With engages xAK Meiyo Maru at 13,000 yards
DD Stuart engages xAK Matsukawa Maru at 13,000 yards
Range closes to 11,000 yards
CA Canberra engages CL Kinu at 11,000 yards
CA Australia engages CL Kinu at 11,000 yards
CL Kinu engages CL Perth at 11,000 yards
CL Achilles engages CL Kinu at 11,000 yards
DD Encounter engages xAK Matsukawa Maru at 11,000 yards
DD Electra engages xAK Meiyo Maru at 11,000 yards
DD Van Nes engages xAK Eihuku Maru at 11,000 yards
DD Voyager engages xAK Eihuku Maru at 11,000 yards
Range closes to 10,000 yards
CA Canberra engages CL Kinu at 10,000 yards
DD Witte de With engages xAK Meiyo Maru at 10,000 yards
DD Witte de With engages xAK Maya Maru at 10,000 yards
DD Encounter engages xAK Matsukawa Maru at 10,000 yards
DD Van Nes engages xAK Meiyo Maru at 10,000 yards
DD Voyager engages xAK Matsukawa Maru at 10,000 yards
Range closes to 7,000 yards
CL Kinu engages CA Australia at 7,000 yards
DD Electra engages xAK Meiyo Maru at 7,000 yards
DD Van Nes engages xAK Maya Maru at 7,000 yards
CL Achilles engages xAK Eihuku Maru at 7,000 yards
DD Stuart engages xAK Matsukawa Maru at 7,000 yards
DD Electra engages xAK Maya Maru at 7,000 yards
DD Van Nes engages xAK Meiyo Maru at 7,000 yards
DD Witte de With engages xAK Maya Maru at 7,000 yards
DD Voyager engages xAK Meiyo Maru at 7,000 yards
DD Stuart engages xAK Matsukawa Maru at 7,000 yards
Higgins J. orders Allied TF to disengage
Range closes to 6,000 yards
CA Canberra engages CL Kinu at 6,000 yards
DD Van Nes engages xAK Meiyo Maru at 6,000 yards
DD Electra engages xAK Maya Maru at 6,000 yards
CL Kinu engages CL Achilles at 6,000 yards
CL Kinu engages CL Leander at 6,000 yards
DD Encounter engages xAK Eihuku Maru at 6,000 yards
DD Witte de With engages xAK Meiyo Maru at 6,000 yards
DD Voyager engages xAK Maya Maru at 6,000 yards
Range increases to 11,000 yards
CL Kinu engages CA Canberra at 11,000 yards
CL Kinu engages CA Australia at 11,000 yards
DD Encounter engages xAK Meiyo Maru at 11,000 yards
DD Electra engages xAK Maya Maru at 11,000 yards
DD Voyager engages xAK Eihuku Maru at 11,000 yards
CL Leander engages CL Kinu at 11,000 yards
DD Encounter engages xAK Maya Maru at 11,000 yards
DD Electra engages xAK Meiyo Maru at 11,000 yards
DD Witte de With engages xAK Maya Maru at 11,000 yards
DD Voyager engages xAK Maya Maru at 11,000 yards
DD Stuart engages xAK Meiyo Maru at 11,000 yards
Range increases to 16,000 yards
CA Canberra engages CL Kinu at 16,000 yards
DD Electra engages xAK Maya Maru at 16,000 yards
xAK Eihuku Maru sunk by DD Encounter at 16,000 yards
DD Encounter engages xAK Maya Maru at 16,000 yards
DD Witte de With engages xAK Matsukawa Maru at 16,000 yards
Range increases to 22,000 yards
CA Canberra engages xAK Maya Maru at 22,000 yards
CL Leander engages CL Kinu at 22,000 yards
Range increases to 26,000 yards
Range increases to 29,000 yards
CA Australia engages PB Suyozai Maru at 29,000 yards
Task forces break off...
Damage to Allied warships is light with the exception of DeRuyter, which has heavy flooding and significant engine damage. She is in company a faithful destroyer making the long journey to Perth.
Force Thunder, while including other vessels, is primarily made up of those Australian and New Zealand warships that had been warding the main ports of Australia while the major actions of the DEI took place. These warships had earlier sallied along the northern coast of New Guinea in an effort to get behind sKB as it played cat and mouse with other Allied combat naval forces near the Spice Islands. Recall that they wound up sinking several ships that had just dropped off an invasion force, and thus discovered retired and aborted their primary mission.