The Battle of Cocos Island
Posted: Wed Apr 18, 2012 1:58 pm
Combat Report
Carrier Clash
Cocos Island
March 4-5, 1942
Rr-Adm Yamaguchi Tamon is thrilled to be back out to sea after spending nearly a month in Batavia. His mission to interdict shipping while the defenses of Cocos Island are 'felt out' by a landing there is right to his liking. The enemy has shown a strong desire to keep shipping in the area and his fliers are rested and ready. The only true concern this Admiral has is that his Hiryu and the undersized Ryujo are all he has to strike with. Considering the knowledge that Enterprise has been in this area and the very real probability that the British have reinforced the Indian Fleet makes this assignment rather potentially hazardous. To counter this, the Admiral orders an early morning search by every floatplane in the Task Force as well as 3 Val and 3 Kate.
It is a beautiful day. The planes are launched without issue and so the daily game begins.
After only about 50 minutes of flight a Val on air search makes contact with an enemy TF and he reports what appears to be a combined British-American TF due west of the Yamaguchi's CVs. A few minutes later the report is amplified to state that there is an American carrier, British CV, and a smaller CV escorted by 12 cruisers and DDs.
This is a sobering report. Yamaguchi--ever aggressive--orders the on-deck strike launched as fast as possible. He MUST get in the FIRST Strike!
0655 Amplified Contact Report received
0705-0715 Combined Strike launched consisting of 18 Zero, 22 Val, 22 Kate.
0740-0745 CAP raised to 33 Fighters. Hiryu's fly top cover at 20,000 Ft while Ryujo's are low at 10,000 Ft. The ring of 2 CA, 1 CL, and 6 DD prepare for the inevitable strike from the Allies.
0830-0840 The Japanese Strike spots the Allied Carriers and finds only American F4Fs flying CAP. Cmd. Tomonaga issues orders for 1 Chutai of Val to Atack the American CV, 1 Chutai to attack the smaller CV, and the remaining DB to hit the British armored deck CV. Kates are to concentrate on the two largest carriers. The Zero immediately engage the 16 F4F and with the exception of a single American fighter manage to protect the Strike from any harm. Two Zero, 1 Val, and 2 Kates are lost in the approach while 9 American fighters are shot down.
0841-0858 "All Planes Go In."
These pilots from the Hiryu are the BEST Dive-Bombing pilots in the world and they demonstrate that skill in this opening attack. Nine Vals attack CV-6 USS Enterprise and THREE of the first four drops score hits on the American carrier. The ship staggers under the pounding. Little Hermes watches as nine Vals hold their dives to the last moment and see there carrier CRUSHED under the weight of SEVEN bomb hits. Another hit is added to CA Salt Lake City by a stray pilot. 21 Vals attack and score 11 hits: EXCELLENT. The Kates don't fair quite so well. Enterprise dodges the 8 TTs launched at her, while CV Indomitable is saved from certain damage when CL Capetown interposes itself and takes a pair of TTs meant for the carrier she protects. Capetown explodes and sinks instantly.
Justly proud of his pilot's work, Tomonaga clearly sees Enterprise burning and Hermes in sinking condition. He reports it as so. Losses for the strike: 3 Val and 3 Kate with many damaged due to AA. Finishing the report he is told that HIS TF is under attack.
0904-0918
CL Agano's radar picks up the incoming strike and reports it in plenty of time for the Japanese CAP to be in position and ready to meet the attack.
The Combined Strike from the three Allied carriers is quite impressive in size and composition. 11 F4F protect 30 SBD, 15 TBD, and 12 Swordfish. They are met by over 30 agile Zeros. The dogfight is pretty one-sided. The Zeros make short work of the Wildcats and slash in among the bombers. Once reports are filtered through, it is believed that 6 F4F are shot down in dog-fighting while 5 SBD and 6 TB are added to the list.
This still leaves over two dozen SBDs and 20 TB to attack two Japanese CVs: NOT GOOD.
0918-0932
What happens at this point is somewhat difficult to describe. A total of 12 SBD attack Ryujo with 11 attacking Hiryu. Inexplicably the vast majority of the TB attack screening vessels. The Dauntless's pummel CV Ryujo with 3 1,000lb hits. Luckily two of the bombs burst with low-order explosions while the 3rd does serious damage. She is out of the fight but saveable. Across from her the Hiryu rings up flank speed and hits nearly 36 knots. The nimbleness of this CV confounds the American's aim and NO HITS are scored on her vulnerable flightdeck! One flight of TB do, however, attack her and hit her with a TT. Luckily--this is an American TT--so it does not explode! CA Atago also takes a stray 1,000lb bomb during the attack. Several more Allied aircraft are shot down during the assault.
End of morning with the resulting looking pretty favorable to the Japanese. Enterprise hard hit with 3 Bombs, Hermes in sinking condition, but Indomitable in fine fighting form. Japanese have Ryujo out-of-action but Hiryu still in the fight undamaged. What does the afternoon bring?
1012-1038
Japanese strike and CAP are recovered on Hiryu. Many planes from Ryujo join the Hiryu's landing circle keeping her fighting complement at above her rated full strength of 69 planes. The problem is that many of these planes are damaged.
1325-1348
Everything that can fly is put together into a combined strike of 8 Zero, 14 Val, and 21 Kate. Tomonaga leads this strike as well.
1503-1528
NO CAP greets the Japanese strike as it arrives over the Allied carriers! Good News to say the least. Of Enterprise there is no sign so he elects to send one group of Kates to finish Hermes and everything else against Indomitable. Once again the Val pilots demonstrate their skill as the British CV is hit by 6 Bombs. Some damage is done but not much. Hermes is finished by a pair of TT hits. The British make stout, fast CVs as Indomitable then avoids all 10 TT aimed at her. It is a somewhat disappointing strike but it still manages to inflict damage.
There is NO return strike from the Allies.
Summation/Plans:
After shuttling some aircraft to Batavia, Yamaguchi has 70 planes available for action. What should he do? His natural impulse is to charge into the enemy, however, he is down to only one deck. He elects to order the two BC, 2 CA, and escort ships at Cocos to charge into the midst of the Allied Fleet while he retires towards Australia for the evening. If the Allies retreat that direction he'll be in position to hit them. If they run for Ceylon the big surface ships will have a chance and then he can pursue the next day.
Ryujo is capable of 18 knots and is at 39 SYS, 30 Flot, 7 Eng but there are NO fires! She and 2 DD are set to cruise speed and dispatched Christmas Island (hopefully out of the way of any Allied warships. Solid chance of saving her.
March 4th-5th
The orders are issued about 1750 hours that night. At Cocos two STF are formed with a BC, CA, CL, and 2 DD. They are to steam directly towards the Allied Fleet and attack anything they can find. Before they can fully depart, a small reinforcement convoy is spotted approaching Cocos and BC Hiei's TF easily sinks 3 AK as they depart on their mission.
To say that they have an eventful night is an understatement.
BC Kirishima, CA Haguro, CL Kinu, and 2 DD exchange shots with CA Northampton, CL Dauntless, and 2 DDs in an inconclusive engagement. Beneficially this probably twarts the Allied hopes of encountering the Japanese CVs. Near dawn, the TF spots another Allied TF of CA Cornwall and CL Emerald. This time Hiei's guns thunder out for effect with Cornwall being hit by 4 14" shells and 3 8" shells. She is believed to have sunk.
BC Hiei, a CA, and 2 DD find BIG GAME! They fight three differing engagements against CV Indomitable, CA Salt Lake City, and a DD. In those fights, Indomitable is hit by a 14" Shell, 3 8 Shells, and several smaller 5" shells. Salt Lake City is hit by 1 14", 2 8", and 4 5" rounds. The DD is crippled. Have assume there is significant damage to the Brit CV.
As these TF are searching for shipping, 3 more CAs punish Cocos's AF and destroy several SBDs and Swordfish there. Does that mean Enterprise is hit harder then I imagined? Hmmm....
CV Ryujo makes 8 hexes and damage does not get worse. This is a good sign. Two days will have her home. MAYBE!
Yamaguchi gives orders to pursue and attack!
BANZAI BABY!
Carrier Clash
Cocos Island
March 4-5, 1942
Rr-Adm Yamaguchi Tamon is thrilled to be back out to sea after spending nearly a month in Batavia. His mission to interdict shipping while the defenses of Cocos Island are 'felt out' by a landing there is right to his liking. The enemy has shown a strong desire to keep shipping in the area and his fliers are rested and ready. The only true concern this Admiral has is that his Hiryu and the undersized Ryujo are all he has to strike with. Considering the knowledge that Enterprise has been in this area and the very real probability that the British have reinforced the Indian Fleet makes this assignment rather potentially hazardous. To counter this, the Admiral orders an early morning search by every floatplane in the Task Force as well as 3 Val and 3 Kate.
It is a beautiful day. The planes are launched without issue and so the daily game begins.
After only about 50 minutes of flight a Val on air search makes contact with an enemy TF and he reports what appears to be a combined British-American TF due west of the Yamaguchi's CVs. A few minutes later the report is amplified to state that there is an American carrier, British CV, and a smaller CV escorted by 12 cruisers and DDs.
This is a sobering report. Yamaguchi--ever aggressive--orders the on-deck strike launched as fast as possible. He MUST get in the FIRST Strike!
0655 Amplified Contact Report received
0705-0715 Combined Strike launched consisting of 18 Zero, 22 Val, 22 Kate.
0740-0745 CAP raised to 33 Fighters. Hiryu's fly top cover at 20,000 Ft while Ryujo's are low at 10,000 Ft. The ring of 2 CA, 1 CL, and 6 DD prepare for the inevitable strike from the Allies.
0830-0840 The Japanese Strike spots the Allied Carriers and finds only American F4Fs flying CAP. Cmd. Tomonaga issues orders for 1 Chutai of Val to Atack the American CV, 1 Chutai to attack the smaller CV, and the remaining DB to hit the British armored deck CV. Kates are to concentrate on the two largest carriers. The Zero immediately engage the 16 F4F and with the exception of a single American fighter manage to protect the Strike from any harm. Two Zero, 1 Val, and 2 Kates are lost in the approach while 9 American fighters are shot down.
0841-0858 "All Planes Go In."
These pilots from the Hiryu are the BEST Dive-Bombing pilots in the world and they demonstrate that skill in this opening attack. Nine Vals attack CV-6 USS Enterprise and THREE of the first four drops score hits on the American carrier. The ship staggers under the pounding. Little Hermes watches as nine Vals hold their dives to the last moment and see there carrier CRUSHED under the weight of SEVEN bomb hits. Another hit is added to CA Salt Lake City by a stray pilot. 21 Vals attack and score 11 hits: EXCELLENT. The Kates don't fair quite so well. Enterprise dodges the 8 TTs launched at her, while CV Indomitable is saved from certain damage when CL Capetown interposes itself and takes a pair of TTs meant for the carrier she protects. Capetown explodes and sinks instantly.
Justly proud of his pilot's work, Tomonaga clearly sees Enterprise burning and Hermes in sinking condition. He reports it as so. Losses for the strike: 3 Val and 3 Kate with many damaged due to AA. Finishing the report he is told that HIS TF is under attack.
0904-0918
CL Agano's radar picks up the incoming strike and reports it in plenty of time for the Japanese CAP to be in position and ready to meet the attack.
The Combined Strike from the three Allied carriers is quite impressive in size and composition. 11 F4F protect 30 SBD, 15 TBD, and 12 Swordfish. They are met by over 30 agile Zeros. The dogfight is pretty one-sided. The Zeros make short work of the Wildcats and slash in among the bombers. Once reports are filtered through, it is believed that 6 F4F are shot down in dog-fighting while 5 SBD and 6 TB are added to the list.
This still leaves over two dozen SBDs and 20 TB to attack two Japanese CVs: NOT GOOD.
0918-0932
What happens at this point is somewhat difficult to describe. A total of 12 SBD attack Ryujo with 11 attacking Hiryu. Inexplicably the vast majority of the TB attack screening vessels. The Dauntless's pummel CV Ryujo with 3 1,000lb hits. Luckily two of the bombs burst with low-order explosions while the 3rd does serious damage. She is out of the fight but saveable. Across from her the Hiryu rings up flank speed and hits nearly 36 knots. The nimbleness of this CV confounds the American's aim and NO HITS are scored on her vulnerable flightdeck! One flight of TB do, however, attack her and hit her with a TT. Luckily--this is an American TT--so it does not explode! CA Atago also takes a stray 1,000lb bomb during the attack. Several more Allied aircraft are shot down during the assault.
End of morning with the resulting looking pretty favorable to the Japanese. Enterprise hard hit with 3 Bombs, Hermes in sinking condition, but Indomitable in fine fighting form. Japanese have Ryujo out-of-action but Hiryu still in the fight undamaged. What does the afternoon bring?
1012-1038
Japanese strike and CAP are recovered on Hiryu. Many planes from Ryujo join the Hiryu's landing circle keeping her fighting complement at above her rated full strength of 69 planes. The problem is that many of these planes are damaged.
1325-1348
Everything that can fly is put together into a combined strike of 8 Zero, 14 Val, and 21 Kate. Tomonaga leads this strike as well.
1503-1528
NO CAP greets the Japanese strike as it arrives over the Allied carriers! Good News to say the least. Of Enterprise there is no sign so he elects to send one group of Kates to finish Hermes and everything else against Indomitable. Once again the Val pilots demonstrate their skill as the British CV is hit by 6 Bombs. Some damage is done but not much. Hermes is finished by a pair of TT hits. The British make stout, fast CVs as Indomitable then avoids all 10 TT aimed at her. It is a somewhat disappointing strike but it still manages to inflict damage.
There is NO return strike from the Allies.
Summation/Plans:
After shuttling some aircraft to Batavia, Yamaguchi has 70 planes available for action. What should he do? His natural impulse is to charge into the enemy, however, he is down to only one deck. He elects to order the two BC, 2 CA, and escort ships at Cocos to charge into the midst of the Allied Fleet while he retires towards Australia for the evening. If the Allies retreat that direction he'll be in position to hit them. If they run for Ceylon the big surface ships will have a chance and then he can pursue the next day.
Ryujo is capable of 18 knots and is at 39 SYS, 30 Flot, 7 Eng but there are NO fires! She and 2 DD are set to cruise speed and dispatched Christmas Island (hopefully out of the way of any Allied warships. Solid chance of saving her.
March 4th-5th
The orders are issued about 1750 hours that night. At Cocos two STF are formed with a BC, CA, CL, and 2 DD. They are to steam directly towards the Allied Fleet and attack anything they can find. Before they can fully depart, a small reinforcement convoy is spotted approaching Cocos and BC Hiei's TF easily sinks 3 AK as they depart on their mission.
To say that they have an eventful night is an understatement.
BC Kirishima, CA Haguro, CL Kinu, and 2 DD exchange shots with CA Northampton, CL Dauntless, and 2 DDs in an inconclusive engagement. Beneficially this probably twarts the Allied hopes of encountering the Japanese CVs. Near dawn, the TF spots another Allied TF of CA Cornwall and CL Emerald. This time Hiei's guns thunder out for effect with Cornwall being hit by 4 14" shells and 3 8" shells. She is believed to have sunk.
BC Hiei, a CA, and 2 DD find BIG GAME! They fight three differing engagements against CV Indomitable, CA Salt Lake City, and a DD. In those fights, Indomitable is hit by a 14" Shell, 3 8 Shells, and several smaller 5" shells. Salt Lake City is hit by 1 14", 2 8", and 4 5" rounds. The DD is crippled. Have assume there is significant damage to the Brit CV.
As these TF are searching for shipping, 3 more CAs punish Cocos's AF and destroy several SBDs and Swordfish there. Does that mean Enterprise is hit harder then I imagined? Hmmm....
CV Ryujo makes 8 hexes and damage does not get worse. This is a good sign. Two days will have her home. MAYBE!
Yamaguchi gives orders to pursue and attack!
BANZAI BABY!
