May 30, 1942
Kendari Raid
1)The CA-escorted TF seen yesterday at Kendari is too fat to be ignored, A 3-CA TF is sortied from Soerbaja. In a few days two more CLs and some DDs would be ready, but the Allies can't wait. The unloading TF is caught in 100% moonlight and the battle is pretty one-sided.
Night Time Surface Combat, near Kendari at 70,106, Range 8,000 Yards
Japanese Ships
CA Kako, Shell hits 3, on fire
CL Katori, Shell hits 6, heavy fires, heavy damage
CL Abukuma
DD Hatakaze
DD Hakaze
TB Hato
AV Sanuki Maru
xAK Arizona Maru
xAK Tacoma Maru, Shell hits 2, heavy fires
xAK Anyo Maru
xAK Kinugasa Maru, Shell hits 6, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Kagu Maru, Shell hits 9, and is sunk
xAK Kirishima Maru, Shell hits 7, heavy fires, heavy damage
Allied Ships
CA Pensacola
CA Australia, Shell hits 4, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
CA Canberra, Shell hits 9, on fire
Allied Ships Reported to be Approaching!
Japanese TF suspends unloading operations and begins to get underway
Improved night sighting under 100% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Partly Cloudy Conditions and 100% moonlight: 11,000 yards
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 9,000 yards
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The ship-sunk sound is heard several times after the action. I think the IJN CL is gone, and at least one other very large xAK; possibly up to three depending on fires. CA Kako took one penetrating 8in hit. Other than the Long Lance strike the Allies would have been hardly mussed. Most of the hits were either AA calibers or stopped by armor. An Escort TF was formed on withdrawl, so I think flooding could be at least in the high 30s on CA Australia.
The heavy escort and large xAKs in this TF probably indicate an ID-plus being aboard. They seem to have been unloading at Kendari and not fueling. Possibly a stack build for operations on Timor, NG, or northern Oz. Don't know; there's lots of places they could be prepped for. But this raid messed up some of those plans at least.
2) Japanese sub ops up the Indian coast and near Chittagong continue and draw blood. Two merchants are sunk near Ramree and Diamond Harbor. Ramree is not necessary right now and with a Port=0 unloading takes half of forever with no LSTs. I do need to continue to shove supply into Chittagong. There are some ASW assets working--HMS Hotspur and a KV duel with subs--but there is next to no air assistance available for ASW.
3) Djambi oil strikes score 1 point of damage. CAP is still very anemic. The AF there is reported to go to Level 2 today. Escorted transports coming in there are intercepted by P-38s.
Flying Fortresses hit Balikpapan twice for the first time in weeks and do 9 Oil hits. There is no CAP, but three Forts are damaged by barrage balloons.
4) In the Chinese mountains a major change in the saga of the Big Stack is unfolding. It has been headed west at one mile per day on top of Tsuyung. Three LCUs had come out of the city to sit on the yellow road in its path. To the east on the road behind it a tank regiment has been drawing nearer, while to the west back toward Paoshan a Chinese corps has been coming to open a hexside. I had figured to come into the conflict hex and keep going, unless the 3-stack of Japanese wanted a fight. Instead, today, 27 LCUs are in the conflict hex in the path of the oncoming Big Stack. Tsuyung has only two LCUs remaining.
This will be interesting. In raw AV the Japanese have a big advantage. Supply as well, although as soon as the BS is in the conflict hex with an open hexside to the west supply from Burma ought to flow. But the Japanese have given up the city terrain advantage and are in equally bad terrain which disfavors whomever attacks. Also, the BS contains the Red Army HQ, a national command HQ, with a very impressive CO who is no longer Mao. If the Chinese are routed they will squirt down the yellow road toward Paoshan where they're going anyway (I have plans for them in southern Burma.)
If Japan does not fight and only follows them to Paoshan the BS can stop there behind the forts and fight on better ground. With the VP loss ratio even a rout, while bad, is not always a VP disaster if they get their licks in on the Japanese stack too. To me Japan would be better served letting them pass, then following for Paoshan, although Japan may not know the Paoshan fort levels and figure fighting on the road in mountains is still better (also closer to supply from Tsuyung.) Either way, another interesting chess problem for both sides.
5)The BS is bombed twice. Chungking is as well with 16 damaged IJA bombers. The three maneuvering corps near Rahaeng take their daily dose. Sabang as well; I think a landing there is coming Pretty Soon Now.
This one had, as they say, a high pucker factor for the Allies:
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Ramree Island at 54,48
Weather in hex: Thunderstorms
Raid spotted at 2 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 0 minutes
Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 18
No Japanese losses
Allied Ships
xAKL Katong
xAKL Belawan
Aircraft Attacking:
18 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo NO hits
6) Battle refugee report: Repulse is off map and 8 days from CT. Hermes and two more BBs are at DG waiting for fuel, 1-2 days out. All should make CT with no further damage. BB Royal Sov. at Pt. Blair has been left alone and has repaired two System points. The anchor there might be assumed to be an AKE or tender. I'm OK with that. Colombo is cranking on cruiser repairs. One CA is fully done; the others are coming along. The USN force sent from the Pac is a few days out from Colombo and will provide three more cruisers and I think about a dozen DDs. BB Oklahoma is on the way as well.
7) Construction: as above, Djambi AF to 2. Port Blair Forts to 4.
