Historical AE. Cantona2 (A) vs Fletcher (J)

[cantona2]

Turn Synopsis 1st February 1942

The storm is breaking over the skies of Java. The unstoppable might of the Kito Butai is parked just off Batavia and is closing down field after field as the Dutch air force fails, or refuses to launch an attack. Oosthaven has fallen to the 38th Infantry Division and this unit now moves north to relieve the paras to the south of Palembang. A PT attack on the landing forces resulted in one PT sunk and all torpedoes fired missing their mark! I have reinforced Merak and hope to bloody his nose if he lands there. Several large task forces have been seen crossing the straits moving West into the Indian Ocean. Is Ramon intending to land at Tjilitjap and outflank Batavia?

A game of cat and mouse is being played in the seas to the west of Timor. An enemy light carrier is chasing several RNN and RN crusiers that were hoping to interfere with landings at Koepang. Aerial recon on the base suggests that the Japanese ships have moved off but reports from 22nd Bomber Squadron (7th BG) who raided Koepang from Darwin indicate that damaged ships are berthed there. A nocturnal bombardment of the base has been ordered once the location of the erstwhile carrier can be established.

Rangoon has fallen in Burma and two columns of refugees are marching north through the Arakan until they make Akyab. Toungoo is also going to be assaulted as an enemy battalion approaches from the south. Hurricanes of No 232 Sqaudron made their first kills escorting Hudsons who attacked this enemy unit. They tussled with Ki-43c's of an unidentified enemy unit. Further to the north 46th Indian Brigade marched into Burma from India and is making for Schwebo.

The undersea war is also hotting up, for exmaple i recorded 12 dud hits this last turn!!!! At least the SS Porpoise, lurking off Cagayan was able to find one fucntioning torpedo that she sank into the flank of the CL Kuma with great aplomb. A wolf pack of at least 3 I-Boats are staking out Sydney as the Enterprise and Saratoga approach. An intensive aerial and naval ASW effort is under way to make sure the carriers are safe. Likewise sub contacts persist around Canton Island, the main West Coast ports, Noumea and Pearl Harbour. A squadron of OS2U-3s is approaching Wallis Island, the AVD McFarland is also in the same task force and she will provide support for these planes that will extend the search umbrella into the sea lanes approaching Espiritu Santo.

At Efate three engineer units and the 2nd Marine Defence Batallion are already ashore and expasion of the base is underway. 134th USA Base Force, destined for Luganville is 5 days out of its destination as the build up continues. The main garrison for this base, 2nd Marine Regiment, is steaming past Christmas Island along with 1st USMC Air Wing, the main air support unit for Efate.

The IJA is also carrying a large number of offensives in China. Chengchow has been occupied but the main garrison was evacuated to Loyang to avoid encirclement. The main body of the Chinese army in this area has been ordered to Sian!

B-17s attack Koepang

[cantona2]

End of January Scoreboard. He has certainly sank a lot of ships, though I am sure I have sunk a few more than shown here. If i take the average allied merchie that sinks after one torpedo hit, or a couple of bombs, then if what i see in the replay is correct many Japanese ships lie at the bottom. My air losses will surely rise once he makes a definite land fall in Java.

[cantona2]

Allied Marksmen of the air, I'm sure going to miss those AVG pilots when it withdraws? Can the AVG pilots be sent to the General Reserve pool? Or will they return once the AVG rentres the theatre in its new guise?

[Alfred]

Haven't yet tried with AVG pilots but with other pilots from units scheduled to be forceably withdrawn, the answer is yes...you can send them to General Reserve (or even directly transferred to other units). You will need to replace them with green pilots first as the transfer to General Reserve is only possible on pilots above 25 in number.

Alfred

[cantona2]

So Alfred what you're sying is that i cannot remove pilots from Squadrons unless there are 25 already in place for squadrons that require that number? 12 for those that need 12 and so on?

[Alfred]

Yes if the intention is to send them directly to General Reserve (via two clicks, first to Group Reserve, second click to General Reserve). However if you merely send them to Group Reserve (ie they have a "1" delay") you can them go to another unit and via the "request veteran pilot" transfer them to the other unit. Of course it might take some time for the pilots to get to the new unit.

Alfred

[cantona2]

Thanks Alfred. I was aware of the delay of getting pilots to a new unit, I wasnt aware that the transfer of the pilot to the reserve pool was instant if the number of pilots in the squadron was maxed out!

[cantona2]

Turn Synopsis 3rd February 1942 Focus on China

The Chinese theatre of operations has been a hive of activity lately. Three distinct areas in particular. In the west, Japanese units have moved from the Pakhoi area to the Nanning road. A second enemy cloumn has also been spotted moving to Kweilin from Wuchow. In the centre, Japanese forces reorganise after the Nanchang Offensive while the 40th Infantry Division holds onto its positions in the forests south of Changsha. Thankfully all units made it out of Nanchang. In the north a massive Japanese offensive is under way. Chengchow has been taken and the Loyang Army Group has started to fall back. Movements north of the Luo River are threatening this Army Group with encirclement and it is conducting a disciplined withdrawal to the West with all of its combat and support formations intact.

The early successes of the CAF are now a distant past as the IJAAF improves the quality of its planes in China as well as increasing its numbers. It is only the dwindling numbers of AVG planes that put up a fight against the Ki-43cs so prevalent over the front. The Japanese are also pursuing a tactic of terror bombing to break the will of the people to fight, especially at Luichow which has been gutted by repeated incindieary attacks over the past fortnight.

The Situation around Loyang.

[cantona2]

Turn Synopsis 4th February 1942.

Pearl Harbour, Darwin and now Soerbaja have all felt the might of Japanese carrier power. A couple of support ships and three submarines in dry dock were all sunk by carrier borne bombers today. A plethora of small ships were also destroyed, and it would have been much worse had Soerbaja's harbour not been emptied a few days ago. The Dutch air force put a valiant, but ultimately futile attempt to keep the waves of Japanese aircraft at bay. Thankfully a sqaudron of PT Boats moored at the harbour were left well alone and they will attempt an ambush on the main Japanese fleet during the night. Unfortunately the loss of most fighters has meant that Ramon has achieved aerial superority over Java.



As we have had several nights of full moon several raids were launched (HRs prevent night air attacks when there is <50% moonlight) and the carrier Tahio was identified at Ambon. SS Seadragon, the scourge of the Japanese AO fleet, was intercepted by her escorts and hit with a depth charge. Yet the presence of the carrier means that despite the destroyers, SS O-23 has been ordered into Ambon to hunt and sink the carrier.

The RNN finally came into play. Having missed the Japanese ships at Koepang by a day or two, the task force headed by the CL Java were ordered to bombard the Japanese positions at the base. A hitch in the second boiler of the CL Tromp meant that the ships made the base mid afternoon rather than at dawn. As such they were spotted and at around 14:32 the task force was attacked by G4M1s, probably from Ambon. This is when a remarkable sequence of events began. First of all a solitary, and very obsolete CXI-W float plane based on the Tromp and flying CAP over the ships, engaged a flight of 14 Betties. The gutsy pilot was able to damage two bombers. Then the AA gunners on the ships came into their own. 1 plane was shot down and all other 13 missed, depsite arrow straight attack runs amid the exploding ack ack. As the planes withdrew the cruisers let rip with thier main 15cm guns.



At approximately 16:00 a second wave of G4M1s attacked the Dutch ships and once again the solitary guardian angel raked the attacking planes with its machine gun. Once again the AA gunners shot down a second Betty while all torpedoes missed their mark. A truly remarkable day and one the task force commander was keen to avoid as he ordered all ships to build a full head of steam and to set a course for Broome.

Japanese landings at Balikpapan were once again dispruted by aggressive fire from the shore batteries. having already been attacked by submarines yesterday, and run the first gauntlet of shore guns, the Japanese troops still continued to land. Several escort and ladning ships were burning andmore hits were recorded on a transport ship that appeared to be carrying fuel judging by the smoke gushing from it.

Further to the south a SOC-1 Seagull from the cruiser Louisville spotted Japanese ships unloading at Shortlands. her captain, Captain Jeffries, ordered a full steam ahead course straight into Shortlands in order to be able to engage the enemy vessels there.

[cantona2]

Turn Synopsis 5th February 1942

A bitter sweet turn. Two Dutch submarines were lost today to hunter killer ASW groups of the IJN. One was lost off Batangas and another attacking shipping off Oosthaven. Furthermore another submarine was heavily damaged at Ambon. Yet SS Tarpon was able to torpedo a destroyer escorting the KB and a combined naval and aerial effort seems to have heavily damaged a submarine loitering in the immediate envrions of Sydney.

Soerbaja was once again attacked by the aircraft of the KB and the remnants of the Dutch airforce swatted aside like a harmless fruit fly! Java is bracing itself for the inevitable Japanese assault. Yet the Soerbaja PT squadron chanced upon the main Japanese carrier fleet in the early hours of 5th February. Despite the glorious sight, no attack was launched as Japanese ships covered the sea like an unsightly rash!



Meanwhile the cruiser Louisville was investigating sighting reports of enemy ships unloading at Shortlands. The bravery of her captain was rewarded by the sinking of a Japanese merchant ship and its escort. The enemy ships proceeded to leave their mooorings as the Luisville bore down on them with its main armament blazing. Several hits on both enemy ships soon saw them aflame and then gradually sink. Captain Jeffries had his ship a long way away from the combat zone but combat readiness had to be maintained as a circling, droning H6K4 float plane was spotted tailing the Louisville as she made her way south west through the Coral Sea. No doubt enemy torpedo bombers at Rabaul had been given her coordinates but as dusk settled on the 5th no attacks had been forthcoming. Jefferies had alomst been tempted by his XO's suggestion that a makeshift Jolly Roger should be flown from the main mast in celebration of the Louisville's succes.

Night Time Surface Combat, near Shortlands at 109,131, Range 7,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
xAK Imizu Maru, Shell hits 9, and is sunk
PB Fukuei Maru, Shell hits 2, and is sunk

Allied Ships
CA Louisville, Shell hits 1



Allied Ships Reported to be Approaching!
Japanese TF suspends unloading operations and begins to get underway
Improved night sighting under 85% moonlight

[cantona2]

Turn Synopsis 10th February 1942

Java is under siege. Oosthaven now hosts a squadron of A6M2s and thye have wrested control of the skied from the Dutch air force and those RAF refugees from Singapore that made Java. As of yet no massive aerial campaign has been launched against Java since the departure of the main Japanese carriers but the island braces itself for the inevitable assault. Yet each day they fight means an extra day for forces in Australia and Fiji.

The past week has been a quiet one as the Japanese take a breath before their next moves. In China Loyang was successfully evacuated and the Loyang Army Group is repoisitioning its main fighting units while covering the retreat of valuable support units east. The southern Japanese attack also seems to have stalled as the frontlines have remained static for the past few days.

In Burma, the IJA is on the move east and north from Rangoon. 2 Battalions are being chased north to Meiktila while an enemy Brigade seeks to cut off units that are trying to escape into the Arakan via Bassein. The Japanese occupation of Prome makes this endeavour somewhat more difficult. An Indian Brigade and two armoured regiments have just crossed the Indian border into Burma as reinforcement for the Shwebo area.

North of Rabaul SS Triton radioed in a report of an attack on a light carrier, seemingly escorting convoys into Rabaul. Unfortunately the attack was a failure as once again the chronic failure rate of USN torpedoes came to the fore as two hits were recorded as duds. The presence of enemy carrier forces in the Solomon Sea area was relayed to all area commands, and to the Enterprise, loitering off Cairns prepping its planes for a strike on Port Moersby.

[cantona2]

Post Action Report 10th February 1942
CV 6 Enterprise, 80 NMs due west of Cairns.


Following intelligence gathered by N0 20 Sqn RAAF (Buna) and 7thBG/88th RS (Townsville), Admiral Halsey had ordered TF 406 to move within range of the Japanese occupied base of Port Moresby. Ships of diveres types had been spotted and photographed by search and recon planes over the past 48 hours. VF-6, VB-6 and VS-6 had all been ordered to have all planes ready for launch by 07:30 with a 30% CAP to be flown by elements of VF-6. All planes launched by 09:00 with the first reports being received from VS-6 as its planes crossed the New Guinea coastline at approx 13:14.

The first action reports were received from VF-6 stating that escorting F4F-3As had come under attack by enemy Type 0 fighters approximately 40 nms south of Port Moresby. Coastwatchers at Wau later confirmed that these planes came from the direction of Lae. In a short dogfight one of our planes was shot down and the pilot posted MIA, beleived KIA, while Lt. Allison claimed on confirmed enemy plane shot down, thus claiming the first air-air kill for VF-6. Despite carrying very distinctive markings no id could be made on the parent sqaudron of the enemy figters though intell has advised that IJNAF presence in New Guinea could be of upto squadron strength.



As the fighters warded of the enemy planes VS-6 (SBD-3) and VB-6 (SBD2) attacked two enemy vessels anchored at Port Moresby. One was identified as an enemy destroyer, and confirmed sunk after two bomb hits. The second vessel was a large merchant type on an indeterminte class, this second ship was also claimed sunk after at least 8 bomb hits from VS-6. All planes returned to base by 17:45. All our planes accounted for except for one F4F-3A shot down, and two SBD3s with damaged undercarriages after faulty landings.



General quarters is still ordered for tomorrow as the Task Force sails back to Sydney at flank speed. VF-6 is tasked with maintaining CAP for the hours of daylight.

[cantona2]

It was what was later referred to as the Timor Disaster and what left classified until well into the 1960's. The destruction of Force D, the D class cruisers Danae, Dragon and Durban, off Koepang was a massive blow to Royal Navy morale and power in the Timor sea area. Force N had been tasked with shelling Japanese positions in and around Koepang on the night of the 10th February 1942. Escorted by three destroyers Force N was to sweep in from the south east, bombard the enemy and then make a full steam swoop back to Broome to refuel. Everything went according to plan. The cruisers and escorts arrived off Koepang as planned just afte nightfall, ship logs record 26% of moonlight making it a perfect night for bombardment ops. All ships then proceeded to open fire and a steady shelling of the port, town and outlying IJA positions was carried out. This was to continue for the duration of the night. Yet the fatal flaw was made by Capatain Cazalet who decided, against direct orders, to hold position at Koepang as he still had ammunition for his main guns. The folly of this order was compounded when a clear, crisp dawn broke and along with it came thre swarms of Japanese torpedo bombers that through out the day sank all three D Class Cruisers. It was a good thing Cazalet went down with his ship as no doubt a court martial and an dishonourable discharge if not imprisonment would surely have followed had he survived

[vettim89]

ORIGINAL: cantona2

It was what was later referred to as the Timor Disaster and what left classified until well into the 1960's. The destruction of Force D, the D class cruisers Danae, Dragon and Durban, off Koepang was a massive blow to Royal Navy morale and power in the Timor sea area. Force N had been tasked with shelling Japanese positions in and around Koepang on the night of the 10th February 1942. Escorted by three destroyers Force N was to sweep in from the south east, bombard the enemy and then make a full steam swoop back to Broome to refuel. Everything went according to plan. The cruisers and escorts arrived off Koepang as planned just afte nightfall, ship logs record 26% of moonlight making it a perfect night for bombardment ops. All ships then proceeded to open fire and a steady shelling of the port, town and outlying IJA positions was carried out. This was to continue for the duration of the night. Yet the fatal flaw was made by Capatain Cazalet who decided, against direct orders, to hold position at Koepang as he still had ammunition for his main guns. The folly of this order was compounded when a clear, crisp dawn broke and along with it came thre swarms of Japanese torpedo bombers that through out the day sank all three D Class Cruisers. It was a good thing Cazalet went down with his ship as no doubt a court martial and an dishonourable discharge if not imprisonment would surely have followed had he survived

Have had that happen a few times myself. I wish there was a second button on the bombardment screen right below the "escorts bombard" button: run away!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

"Where's the override?!?!?!" - Khan, Star Trek 2: The Wrath of Khan

[cantona2]

ORIGINAL: vettim89

ORIGINAL: cantona2

It was what was later referred to as the Timor Disaster and what left classified until well into the 1960's. The destruction of Force D, the D class cruisers Danae, Dragon and Durban, off Koepang was a massive blow to Royal Navy morale and power in the Timor sea area. Force N had been tasked with shelling Japanese positions in and around Koepang on the night of the 10th February 1942. Escorted by three destroyers Force N was to sweep in from the south east, bombard the enemy and then make a full steam swoop back to Broome to refuel. Everything went according to plan. The cruisers and escorts arrived off Koepang as planned just afte nightfall, ship logs record 26% of moonlight making it a perfect night for bombardment ops. All ships then proceeded to open fire and a steady shelling of the port, town and outlying IJA positions was carried out. This was to continue for the duration of the night. Yet the fatal flaw was made by Capatain Cazalet who decided, against direct orders, to hold position at Koepang as he still had ammunition for his main guns. The folly of this order was compounded when a clear, crisp dawn broke and along with it came thre swarms of Japanese torpedo bombers that through out the day sank all three D Class Cruisers. It was a good thing Cazalet went down with his ship as no doubt a court martial and an dishonourable discharge if not imprisonment would surely have followed had he survived

Have had that happen a few times myself. I wish there was a second button on the bombardment screen right below the "escorts bombard" button: run away!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

"Where's the override?!?!?!" - Khan, Star Trek 2: The Wrath of Khan

Especially when its the mouse holding Supreme Commander who forgets to set retirement allowed rather than Remain on Station!

[cantona2]

Turn Synopsis 12th February 1942

Daily Briefing, Eastern Fleet HQ, Colombo.

As the brass sat down and the noise gradually settled the adjutants prepared their files and folders and all the area commands reported the situations in their respective theatres during the past twenty four hours.

Royal Navay Command - Colombo

USN SS Pickerel and HMS Trusty in Colombo's dry dock repairing moderate battle damage.

RNN SS O20 is scheduled to arrive tomorrow for repairs.

TF 169 formed with HMS Indomitable, HMS Hermes, HMS Dorsetshire, HMS Cornwall, HMAS Hobart, HMAS Nizam, HMAS Nestor, HMAS Napier and HMIS Jumna. TF 169 is to sail south into the Indian Ocean to a point 200 nms north of Cocos Island to be in position to strike at the Japanese operations off Oosthaven.

Eastern Command - Calcutta

Elements of I Australian Corps have started to concentrate at Jessore.

Arrival of USAAF 22nd Bomber Group completed. Elements at Kohima have started to engage Japanese troops advancing on Meiktila.

Burma Command - Mandalay


Japanese infantry approaching positions of 6th Burma Rifles Battalion, to the south of Meiktila. Two seperate enemy columns have been spotted leaving Prome, one to the north west, the other north east. 2nd Burma Brigade confirms the cuttinf off of the Akyab-Prome road by Japanese infantry, as such the following units have been cut off to the north of Bassein: 1st Gloucstershire Battalion, 27th Indian Mountain Gun Regiment, 2nd Kings Own Yeomanry Light Infantry Battalion, 4/8 Gurkha Battalion, 9/11 Sikh Battalion and the Rangoon BAF Battalion.

46th Indian reported it has made the Myitkyina-Shwebo Road and is marching south.

Coperation with AVG and USAAF units in the theatre is excellent. 1/AVG escorted 113 Squadron and 139 Squadron on an attack on the Japanese spearhead south of Meiktila. Enemy fighters were encounterd flying CAP, these identified as Ki-43 type planes. One was confirmed shot down by observers on the ground. Elements of 67 Squadron also escorted B-26s of 33rd Bomber Squadron (USAAF) in an attack on Japanese positions. Units cut off at Bassein report heavy attacks by enemy dive bombers. Aerial recon suggests that Chiang Mai is being used as the main enemy base for aerial ops in southern Burma.

[cantona2]

'This is the BBC.

This morning Japanese troops entered Singpaore after receiving the surrender of the commander of the fortress. Few details are as of yet known but the Prime Minister will be addressing the nation tonight at 6:00pm...'

[cantona2]

Admiral Halsey had great reason to be very pleased with himslef. Not only had he disagreed with the Enterpise's Captain about the need to head to Sydney for repairs but his hunch that the Japs would try to force another convoy through to Port Moresby was proved to be correct. Picket submarines around Milne Bay had detected ship movements through the area and, though aerial search had found nothing Halsey trusted his gut instinct and ordered the Enterprise north to a position off Cairns. Scout bombers from VS-6 soon proved the wily old sea devil correct. Three Japanese ships spotted anchored at Port Moresby and seen to be unloading cargo and troops. A light CAP of Type Zero fighters was also observed.

Once again the Big-E tacked into the wind and launched her attack planes. The long hours of waiting on board were soon broken by the first action reports from the dive bombers who soon reported hit after hit on the by now burning and sinking enemy vessels. The 8 escorting Wildcats of VF-6 tussled in the New Guinea sky with a number of A6M2s and they were able to guarantee the Dauntlesses a clear attack run on their targets.

Once the last plane had touched down and the pilots debriefed, Halsey took stock. Two enemy ships sunk, one left heavily damaged presumed sunk, Japanese attempts to reinforce Port Moresby once again thwarted and all for a few more loose electrical wires and one F4F lost to a landing malfunction. A good days work indeed he thought. He would now order the Enterprise south to Sydney for repairs and give his crews a well earned rest in the arms of Australia's beauties.

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Port Moresby at 98,130

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid spotted at 28 NM, estimated altitude 17,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 3



Allied aircraft
F4F-3A Wildcat x 8
SBD-2 Dauntless x 14
SBD-3 Dauntless x 16


No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
SBD-3 Dauntless: 3 damaged

Japanese Ships
AMC Bankok Maru, Bomb hits 6, and is sunk
E Susuki, Bomb hits 5, and is sunk
AK Kinka Maru, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage

Japanese ground losses:
Guns lost 2 (0 destroyed, 2 disabled)
Vehicles lost 15 (3 destroyed, 12 disabled)

[cantona2]

Turn Synopsis 15th February 1942

Allied forces in the DEI/Burma area await the nest move the Japanese make after the fall of Singapore. Yesterday afternoon, elements of Japanese advance units entered the outskirts of Palembang. This coincided with heavy air raids from Malaya, no doubt the enemy is alreayd staging his planes from Singapore's airfields.

Despite this it has been a quiet few days since the Enterprise struck at Port Moresby, recent recon suggests that enemy planes are now based at Port Moresby so the Big E got out of Dodge in the nick of time. This detection of enemy air forced a reinforcement of the fighter groups on the eastern Australaian seaboard with two further squadrons being moved up from the Darwin area.

Burma has seen a recent flurry of activity. Part of an enemy batallion has pushed itself to the gates of Meiktila but this is where the IJA's cake walk stops. A brigade and two battalions hold firm here and the main line of resistance lies behind this position. In the skies the RAF, ably assisted by the 1/AVG has maintained a deadly battle with the IJAAF. Over 50% casualties were inflicted on a unit of Ki-27bs that were escorting dive bombers to Magwe. This is the second day RAF fighters get in among the pigeons, yet we await the redeployments of Ki-43 squadrons from the Singapore area of operations to bloster their advance in Burma.



An onverview of frontline dispositions in Burma. 10 B-26s are also based at Imphal, 10 more in reseerve at Dimapur. 7 Hudson IIIs at Lashio and two squadrons of Hurricanes are ready on the Indian border to relieve burnt out or tired formations.

[cantona2]

The hustle and bustle on the dock was obvious for all to see. The ship, her lines majestic and graceful was ready for its first time war time action. Its luxury fittings had been ripped out, its pools emptied ready to receive military equipment, its luxury apartments ready to be filled by the commanding officers of the Americal Division that the SS Queen Elizabeth would be transporting across the Pacific Ocean to its new deployment in Australia. 6 Farragut Class destroyers were finishing off their recent upgrades in the dry docks and they would escort the massive liner during its long journey. It would make the Pacific traverse once then head to Aden and Cape Town as orders for her new deployment back to Great Britain had come through.

The Americal Division had been formed from the 132nd, 164th and 182nd Infantry Regiments and it would constitue the first divisional sized unit that would be deployed into the Pacific in this war. As such the escort of her movement was given the highest prority by West Coast Command. Despite the obvious security threat, the public fanfare surrounding the embarkation of such a large body of men was tolerated because of the obvious positive impact it had on morale.