Shattering the Sword (AE Edition), Cantona 2 (A) vs 1275psi (J)

[cantona2]

Elsewhere in the theatre.

The enemy sub at Bataan had left a minefield in its wake which was rapidly swept by 4 small MSW's from Manila, this right under the nose of the KB that for some reason attacked Iba rather than hitting Manila again. Unfortunately one sweeper hit a mine and sank with all hands. As the forecast for tomorrow is for bad weather a small sortie will begin from Manila headed by the DD Pillsbury.

The AMC Kanimbla was torpedoed in two seperate attacks upon leaving Singapore and sunk, intensive search missions will be carried out by the Vildebeestes stationed there. Thankfully Force Z arrived at Batavia unscathed but will need to proceed onto Sorebaja to refuel as the port in Batavia cannot handle the Prince of Wales. It is imperative that the Japanese submarines are swept from the sea as there is currently a lot of maritime traffic in this area ferrying troops, resources and supplies.

A6M2's carried out aggressive sweeps over Iba but the P-40e's there gave a good account of themselves while in Malaya the main air battles where over Kota Baru. More enemy troops came ashore but the town is still in British hands.

[cantona2]

Synopsis of Turn 2

Malaya

Ships continue to leave the area some carrying supplies, others docking at Palembang and Medan to fill up on fuel or oil and thence onto Australia or Ceylon. The move south continues under the air cover provided by Buffaloes. I expect an intesification of the air war once Kota Bharu falls.

DEI

Minefields are being laid in several key bases and AMc's at Sorebaja are being deployed to maintain these as there isn't an unlimited supply of mines in AE. The surface assets in the DEI are being concentrated in Sorebaja (RN/RNN) and Balikpapan (USN) while submarines are moving into the South China Sea and Sulu Sea.

China

Hong Kong was once again attacked by air and chinese troops on the move are being harrassed by Japanese dive bombers. Guerrilas are sabotaging rail roads and blowing up bridges before the IJA clears them from their rear. A further two artillery battalions were released by Central China for the Southern Front.

Off Board Areas

There is a massive move of ships heading to Aden and that other base, cant remember the name ATM, and Cape Town. Most of the shipping in New Zealand and Australia has sailed to the US West Coast. As a number one priority both Addu and Diego Garcia will be supplied and garrisoned to secure the route in and out of Cape Town.

[cantona2]

@Fletcher: as for Force Z it all depends on what opportunities arise in the SRA for it to get involved. With the KB in these waters it may well have to seek an Australian port to shelter in! I might send the Cape Town reinforcement for Singapore to Java but I am diverting the other two reinforcement convoys to Chittagong and Akyab as I am pretty sparse on the ground there at the moment.

[erstad]

ORIGINAL: cantona2

DEI

Minefields are being laid in several key bases and AMc's at Sorebaja are being deployed to maintain these as there isn't an unlimited supply of mines in AE.

AMc's are local minesweepers. The ACM's are the minefield tenders

[Fletcher]

Amazing work with your RN DD division into enemy waters !. I wait your comments about Grand Strategy and your defense of Malaya and DEI.
Best wishes.
Fletcher

[cantona2]

ORIGINAL: erstad

ORIGINAL: cantona2

DEI

Minefields are being laid in several key bases and AMc's at Sorebaja are being deployed to maintain these as there isn't an unlimited supply of mines in AE.

AMc's are local minesweepers. The ACM's are the minefield tenders

Doh!

[Smeulders]

Great work on the DD raid, never mind the PBs you sank, those ground troop losses are severe if correct. That's a couple of LCU's out of combat for some time, then some xAKs that will probably sink. Hope those ships make it to a friendly port to receive their medals.

Edit : Aren't there 4 DDs that start off in Hong Kong ?

[cantona2]

ORIGINAL: Smeulders

Great work on the DD raid, never mind the PBs you sank, those ground troop losses are severe if correct. That's a couple of LCU's out of combat for some time, then some xAKs that will probably sink. Hope those ships make it to a friendly port to receive their medals.

Edit : Aren't there 4 DDs that start off in Hong Kong ?

I think one is under repair

[Xxzard]

Talk about giving medals, thats a great attack. I hadn't thought of doing that with those DD's.

[cantona2]

After three days of resistance the garrison at Kota Bharu has finally been forced out of the town and sent southwards in a rout. The 8th Indian Brigade managed to maintin some coherence and was able to withdraw in good order though. Higher Command expects the Japanese to make good use of the aerodrome at Kota to establish air superiority of Malaya and the RAF Squadrons are bracing themselves for a stiff fight.

The strategy in Malaya is now one of phased withdrawl back upon Johore and Singapore itself. The first line of defence will anchor itself on Kuala Lumpur and Temuloh. Dense jungle protects the right flank of this line. It is hoped to stall the Japanese here until all units North of this line are behind it. THen a rearguard action will be fought until the Johore Line with Fortress Singapore being the last line of defence. It is hoped that enough supply can trickle in from Java in order to keep the Fortress fighting. Reinforcements are enroute but their ultimate deployment will be dependant on the flow of and outcome of the battle.

[cantona2]

Enemy submarines have struck three heavy blows in the Bangka/Toboali area. The CM Willem v d Zaan, a fuel laden TK Manvantara and the xAK Demodocus have all fallen prey to the Jap undersea pirates. An intensive ASW air and sea effort will be put in to sweep the seas of this menace in order to allow for a safer passage of ships to and from Java and Singapore.

[cantona2]

[font="Times New Roman"]Top Secret, CINCPAC Eyes only, Admiral Kimmel

Yesterday afternoon a 'mini' submarine was found grounded on a beach a few miles south of the Pearl Harbour anchorage. Two dead Japanese seamen were found inside this remarkable machine. Our engineers believe that the submarine ws launched from a 'mother' submarine and then tried to bypass our defences to strike at shipping in the harbour. It is not expected to encounter these type of vessels on the high seas but Task Force commanders must be extra vigilant when entering or leaving hitherto assumed safe anchorages...[/font]

[Blind Sniper]

Hi cantona2,

The first line of defence will anchor itself on Kuala Lumpur and Temuloh. Dense jungle protects the right flank of this line. It is hoped to stall the Japanese here until all units North of this line are behind it.

Good place for a defence but if enemy landing at Mersing are you able to withdraw these units?

Good luck!

[cantona2]

Elsewhere in the theatre:

Japanese air attacks continued over Iba. A6M2's carried out aggressive sweeps followed by waves of level bombers. Our CAP performed admirably against the Zero's but were in no condition to meet the bombers. The bad weather also hampered our attempts at interception. 6 P-40e's were destroyed on the ground and the runway was closed down, which meant CAP fighters being diverted to Clark Field. It is hoped that the weather tomorrow closes the Japanese fields in order to give our pilots a much need rest. That said 5 A6M2's were confirmed shot down during the day.

Likewise Buffaloes of the RAF were busy over Singapore shooting down 15 enemy bombers of the Nell and Betty type. Unescorted bombers were targetting the CL Danae, recently out of dry dock, but the RAF fighters were quick to rise and dispatch most of the attackers. PO G.Underwood had his second and third kills confirmed over Singapore today making him the highest scoring pilot in the Pacific to date. Over Rangoon the H81-A3's of the I/AVG also shot down 3 enemy bombers of the Nell type that had attacked from the Bangkok area. Unfortunately the RAF fighters did not fare too well over Kota Bharu were they lost 4 of their number to Ki-43's.

At Makin Atoll the Louiseville stumbled its approach to the Japanese ships and careless light discipline revealed its location to the Japanese lookouts. The Japanese were able to abandon their landing and steal away into the night. Though their operations were disrupted this is being viewed as a missed opportunity.

The Wren Bn detachment on Nauru Island also reported Japanese landings. The Penascola has been dispatched post haste though nothing has been heard from Nauru since after midday and the worst is feared.

[cantona2]

The RN DD sqaudron lived a hectic and dramatic day. It once again was persued by surface elements of the IJN and was persistently hounded by the IJA based in China. The DD Thracian, already damaged from the action at Takao was the first to go down after receiveing a torpedo hit amidships.

Night Time Surface Combat, near Hong Kong at 78,62, Range 2,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CL Naka
DD Natsugumo
DD Minegumo
DD Asagumo
DD Murasame
DD Harusame
DD Yudachi
DD Samidare
DD Ikazuchi
DD Inazuma

Allied Ships
DD Scout
DD Thanet, Shell hits 2
DD Thracian, Shell hits 1, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk

The Japanese ships bravely followed the Royal Navy destroyers all the way to the Hong Kong minefields. Reports state a ship hitting a mine but no visual as of yet. CDR Powers gave the order to burn the last fuel heading east away from the Naka TF.

Unfortunately it bumped into a Japanese destroyer squadron that was lying in wait.

Day Time Surface Combat, near Hong Kong at 78,61, Range 30,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
DD Yamagumo
DD Asakaze
DD Harukaze
DD Matsukaze
DD Hatakaze
DD Tachikaze

Allied Ships
DD Scout
DD Thanet



Reduced visibility due to Rain
Maximum visibility in Rain: 12,000 yards
Range closes to 28,000 yards...
Allied Surface Combat TF evades combat


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Time Surface Combat, near Hong Kong at 77,62, Range 30,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
DD Yamagumo
DD Asakaze
DD Harukaze
DD Matsukaze
DD Hatakaze
DD Tachikaze

Allied Ships
DD Scout
DD Thanet



Reduced visibility due to Rain
Maximum visibility in Rain: 18,000 yards
Range closes to 28,000 yards...
Allied Surface Combat TF evades combat

Thankfully, skillful navigation and overworked boilers were able to steer our ships out of immediate danger. This, however, meant that their fuel tanks registered empty 40 miles out of Hong Kong. During the afternoon they drifted aimlessly as three successive waves of enemy bombers tried in vain to sink them. As night fell they limped closer to Hong Kong aware that the next day both IJN destroyers and IJA aeroplanes were on the hunt for them!

[cantona2]

Status of DD's Thanet and Scout. As you can see if the IJN DD's catch up with them they will have to throw spanners and crockery at them!

[cantona2]

For a third day running Japanese submarines in the Bangka area strike at Anglo-Dutch shipping. That despite an intensive sea and air sweep of the area.

Submarine attack near Billiton  at 53,93
 
Japanese Ships
      SS I-157
 
Allied Ships
      xAKL Kwangtung, Shell hits 1, Torpedo hits 3,  on fire,  heavy damage
 
 
 
xAKL Kwangtung is sighted by SS I-157
SS I-157 attacking on the surface

Submarine attack near Billiton  at 52,91
 
Japanese Ships
      SS I-164
 
Allied Ships
      CMc Pro Patria, Torpedo hits 2,  on fire,  heavy damage
 
 
 
CMc Pro Patria is sighted by SS I-164
SS I-164 launches 2 torpedoes
 

[cantona2]

This time though the Jupiter makes sure one submarine does not resurface!

ASW attack near Muntok at 51,89

Japanese Ships
SS I-164, hits 13, heavy damage

Allied Ships
DD Jupiter

Furthermore the port detachment at Merak reports mine explosions in minefield MKA1. Later unconfirmed reports from 2-VI.G.III operating out of Palembang stated that a submarine was seen breaking apart on the surface near Toboali.

[cantona2]

Elsewhere in the theatre:

The KB is steaming westwards through the South China Sea. Her search aircraft were spotted over Tarakan, Brunei and Jesselton. Allied intelligence suspects that Singapore is the expected target but it will not be caught unawares. SS O19 is in a prime position to intercept the Japanese ships.

On the West Coast the following troop movements have been authorised:

112th Base Force San Francisco to Palmyra
111th USN Base Force San Francisco to Christmas Island
110th Base Force Los Angeles to Suva
101st USN Base Force San Diego to Suva
113th USAAF Base Force Los Angeles to Pago-Pago

In China the 26th Army Group reports having entered the suburbs of Ichang. Light skirmishers have broken out when contact was made with the Japanese troops still in the city. It was hoped the IJA would have pulled out of this exposed salient. It is obvious the Chinese will now have to assault the city. Aerial recon has provided scant detail of enemy troop strengths and divisional artillery has been given orders to bombard the initial line of defence prior to the first assault.

[cantona2]

The Kito Butai has parked itself to the north of Borneo and is covering landings at Miri, and no doubt soon at Brunei as well. The weather here has been atrocious, something that I am sure benefits me rather than the perfidious Jap. I was able to evacuate all surface ships concentrating at Balikpapan (Dutch/USN CA's,CL's and DD's) and sent them to Sorebaja. The longer the weather takes to break the better for me. As can be appreciated from the screenie several Dutch submarines will attempt attacks on Japanese shipping tomorrow.