Shattering the Sword. Cantona2 (a) vs Herbiesan (j)

[cantona2]

ORIGINAL: gladiatt

ORIGINAL: cantona2

Just noticed over 10,000 hits. Many thanks to all the readaars [&o]

Thanks to you. YOU made it interessting ! [:)]

Many thanks gladiatt. I shall endeavour to make sure it continues so! [:)]

[cantona2]

15th Decemeber 1942

Another day passes with no sightings of any sort of Japanese ship or plane anywhere near or around Exmouth. The Dorsertshire TF will bombard the Japanese troops on land and will then head to Broome to refuel. The weather is clearing up so I am expecting the B-24's from Broome to hit Exmouth hard tomorrow. The 23rd AIF Brigade is enroute from Darwin and its is hoped that a lack of supply in Exmouth itself may allow for a quick mop up of these units. Two British carriers and one light carrier are steaming south through the Indian Ocean while the Warpsite has just cleared Adelaide. The atmosphere at ANZAC Command is very tense but General Blamey is aware that he cannot only concentrate on the Exmouth/Perth area and ignore the other flashpoints in this theatre.

The Marblehead launched her Seagull float planes early this morning. One flew a search pattern 45degrees to the north while the second one flew over Exmouth taking photographs of Japanese positions there. The information gathered will be radioed over to the Dorsertshire's fire control officers in order to be able to process as an accurate bombardment as possible.

[cantona2]

Elsewhere in the theatre:

The AK Seiko Maru sank at Nicobar Islands after being hit a few days ago. She joins a MSW that was sank by the SS S-KIX at Port Blair yesterday.

Reinforcements for Western Australia are being railed and sailed in. The hopes of the ANZAC Command are pinned on the 4th Australian Division in Perth holding if attacked.

Operation Stepping Stone gathers pace. Once again Canton Island acts as the staging point for an offensive in the Central Pacific, just as she was for Operation Morsel. The carriers have arrived and awaits the invasion and follow up forces.

In the Western Solomons the IJN is running a large number of resupply convoys into Lae. As can be seen from the screenie below a large number of Allied submarines are on the hunt for them!

[cantona2]

18th Decemeber 1942

The Dutch Patrol Boat Beneb had yesterday reported being attacked by short ranged float planes and had radioed Commander Dockery, Captain of the Light Cruiser Marblehead for help. TF 1115 at the time was 180 miles off the coast at Exmouth using her SOC-3 Seagulls to recon the Japanese positons inland. Upon receipt of the signal Dockery called the captains of his destroyers onto the Marblehead to discuss the new sitaution. It was stipulated that maybe Japanese cruisers were marauding to the north and the decision was made to stop the recon mission and begin an aggressive sweep to the north. The ships ploughed through the dark and into the nascent dawn when the Marblehead once again received a signal from the Beneb, this time an SOS after a submarine attack 480 miles to the west of Broome. There was little Dockery could do because at the same time his radar operators had picked up a contact 80 miles to his north-east!

The end of the brave picket ship PC Beneb, lost with all hands off the coast of North Western Australia on 8/12/1942


The blip on the radar was indeed an enemy vessel but not the expected cruisers. A float plane tender of the IJN was suddenly surprised by TF1115 as she was in the process of preparing her planes for a dawn lauch. Dockery gave the orders to engage and the Marblehead's main batteries opened fire scoring several direct hits, several float planes were seen to be blown off the deck of the tender. Her destroyer escorts raced forward into torpedo range and fired a spread of tinish, one of which scored a direct hit on the enemy ship amidships. She sank shortly after and the critical hit was credited to the DD Lamson. Dockery then orders his ships south back to Perth to rearm and refuel. He was a satisfied man as he had been able to blind the enemy and reduce his recon potential in the area.

[cantona2]

The situation around Exmouth is starting to escalate. Three Royal Navy carriers sortied from Colombo three days ago and are now in the southern Indian Ocean, steaming past the tip of Sumatra enroute to the battle zone. Though to Japanese carriers have yet been sighted the presence of the AV suggests an escalation of events.



The immediate environs of Exmouth are very busy with allied surface and subamrine traffic as an all out effort is carried out to ascertain what the Japs are upto. A squadron of B-24's from Broome has stopped its bombing runs and started to patrol the surrouding seas, their longer legs augmenting the Catalinas already flying from Broome. The BB Warspite is just about to clear The Great Australian Blight and the CVE Long Island follows behind. Japanese submarines, other than the one that sank the Beneb, have been spotted and a dedicated ASW task force is enagaing in stringent seek and destory missions.

[cantona2]

Extract from Defending Our Shores, by Major R.T.Stevens (ret)

'...the question of Exmouth still vexed high command as we landed on the beaches on that December morning. We disemabrked admist gunfire from the shore, low calibre mortar shells and some field artillery. Off shore we could still see the burning Japanese ships our escorts had bumped into on the way in. What we didnt learn until later was the fate befallen to some of the brave destroyer crews that run the gauntlet of Japanese submarines in the area. Despite the sinking of two of the underwater pirates yesterday, two Royal Navy 'L' Class destroyers were struck by torpedoes. It made us want to fight all the hardest that these hardy seamen were ready to fight an unseen foe in order to get us safely to our target. Unknown to us at the time we would soon be receiving the support of three Royal Navy aircraft carriers. At the time the only thing we were concerned about was keeping our heads down as we consolidted the beach in preparation for pushing inland and ejecting these interlopers on Australian soil. Though not many in number, their reputation as soldiers preceeded them as we began to engage. The Jap soon found as well that the Aussie could dish it out just as well...'

[cantona2]

Ive not run the turn yet because i'm at work but i am vey worried about this move. Herb has moved in with no apparent carrier or heavy support. I initially thought it was a diversion but its not like him to throw troops away. His last email made a reference to a carrier making a killing off Exmouth, to be honest it would! The destroyers escorting the 23rd AIF to Exmouth bumped into two AP's and a PG which hadnt been spotted and i don't know whether they were delivering supplies or were there to extract the Jap marines. I'm wondering whether Perth is his target and that maybe the KB is out there with no search planes or carrier aricraft on the search to maintain tactical surprise. Its a very tense game at the moment! Loving it though!

[cantona2]

20th/21st December 1942

The night of the 20th of Decemeber 1942 belonged to the destroyers of the Royal Navy, though later events would event the score somewhat. A group of four destroyers enroute to Exmouth made repeated sonar contacts along the shallow coastal waters of the north west of Australia. Around 03:15 a definite and constant contact was made and a depth charge attack carried out by the destroyers Arrow, Lightning, Lightfoot and Laforey. 45 minutes later wreckage rose to the surface after what appeared to be a massive underwater explosion. The ships' crews congratulted themseleves and stole onto Exmouth.


Sub attack at 17,85

Japanese Ships
SS RO-64, hits 13, on fire, heavy damage *sinks*

Allied Ships
DD Arrow
DD Lightning
DD Lightfoot
DD Laforey

Unfortunatley for the crew of the Lighting a second Japanese submarine was able to surprise the Royal Navy ships, no doubt using the noise of the explosion and the sinking sub as cover from the British ASDIC. At approximately 04:53 a torpedo struck the Lightning just forward of the number one turret. Though not mortally hit she slowed down immediately gushing dark, oily smoke. Her sisters turned on their searchlights that criss crossed the murky sea, searching, prowling for the silent hunter. The sonarman on the Arrow reported contact and once again depth charges flew into the air and into the dark depths. Though several loud bangs were heard by the sonar operators noe apparent evidence of any ships sinking was heard, though a large blob of balck oil was seen to break the pre-dawn surface. The Lighting was deatched and sent back to Broome while the other ships headed on to Exmouth. It was the last time the Lightning would be seen.


Sub attack at 13,85

Japanese Ships
SS I-27, hits 5, on fire, heavy damage

Allied Ships
DD Lightning, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
DD Lightfoot
DD Laforey
DD Arrow

[cantona2]

As the 21st of December dawned the remaining destroyers sped into Exmouth Bay and met up with the transports and escorts ferrying the 23rd AIF Brigade. Almost immediately radar contacts were made with enemy vessels to the east. The destroyers sped off to engage. Two Japanese transports ships, probably the ones that had brought the Jap marines and a patrol boat skulked in the dawn shadows. Hidden but not invisible to the radar on the British ships. Achieving surprise the first salvo of shells and torpedoes raked one of the transports and the Patrol Boat. Fires broke out on the Japanese ships but the brave patrol boat built up what speed it could and put itself between the British ships and the transports it was protecting. Her bravery was admirable but in such a one sided encounter there was only one outcome. She sank 10 minutes into the engagement while the destroyers brought their guns to bare on the transports  



Night Time Surface Combat, near Exmouth at 11,86

Japanese Ships
PG Fukui Maru, Shell hits 18, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
AP Argun Maru, Shell hits 3, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AP Haisho Maru, Shell hits 1

Allied Ships
DD Arrow
DD Laforey
DD Lightfoot

[cantona2]

At this junction of the battle the submarines of the IJN once again made themselves known. Having exhausted much of their anti-submarine ordinance, the hunters became the hunted. As they withdrew from the burning Japanese ships, the DD Laforey was suddenly engulfed in flame. On the water on her port side the wake of the torpedo that struck her, and the wakes of the three other that missed, were clearly visible in the glow.



Sub attack near Exmouth at 11,86

Japanese Ships
SS I-3

Allied Ships
DD Laforey, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
DD Lightfoot

Notwithstanding the obvious subamrine menace, the transports carrying the 23rd AIF Brigade began to unload their cargo. There was some fire coming from the foxholes the Japanese had dug into the beach and some mortar shells were coming from the high ground to the south. Despite some casualties the landing was largely uneventful



Further out in Exmouth Bay the Laforey was falling way behind her two sisters now heading back to Broome to rearm. Once again she was engulfed in flame as a second torpedo obliterated her side armour and exploded inside the boiler room. The ship went up in a ball of flame that were only extinguished as she sank beneath the waves a mere three minutes after being struck.


Sub attack at 11,85

Japanese Ships
SS I-176

Allied Ships

The long eventful dawn was not yet over for the handful of destroyers. As they stole away to the West, their radars once again became alive with contacts. The AP Haishu Maru was also trying to steal away, most probably to the dry docks at Sorebaja, but was once again under the guns of the Royal Navy. This time the destoryers finished off the job and delivered a final coup de grace to the damaged merchant that saw her flounder and sink 120 miles off the Australian coast.



Day Time Surface Combat, near Exmouth at 11,86

Japanese Ships
AP Haisho Maru, Shell hits 9, on fire, heavy damage

Allied Ships
DD Arrow
DD Lightfoot, Shell hits 1
DD Laforey, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage *sinks*

Further to the West the Lightning, hit the previous day by a subamrine, was limping her way back to the relative safety of Broome. Due to the damage already incurred her sonar arrays were inoperable and she fell to a second torpedo strike. Fortunatley the majority of the ship's complement were able to abandon ship in good order. Catalinas from Broome fighing them out of the water before midday.



Sub attack at 15,85

Japanese Ships
SS I-164

Allied Ships
DD Lightning, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage *sinks*

By midday the 23rd AIF Brigade had consolidated its small bridgehead and was subjected to a light bombardment, which its mortars responded to with some effect.


Ground combat at Exmouth

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 1608 troops, 4 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 44

Defending force 1884 troops, 17 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 67


Japanese ground losses:
31 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

[cantona2]

Elsewhere in the theatre,

Operation Stepping Stone has officially begun. The bulk of the invasion forces have left Canton Island and the 8th New Zealand Brigade has left Tarawa and will become the standing garrison for Nauru Island. The 1st Marine will spearhead the landing but will later leave and the follow up forces will garrison and build up Nauru. Minesweepers, battleships, crusiers, destroyers, APD's, two fleet carriers plus the combined air power on Tarawa and Abemama will support the Nauru landings and it is hoped we catch the Imperial High Command off guard as its eyes are turned towards Australia.

Just north of Exmouth the Hermes, Formidable and Illustrious will be coming into striking range tomorrow and some more Japanese ships are still spotted at Exmouth. One sqaudron of B-24's had been ordered to start dropping supplies from Broome and it is hoped that the 23rd AIF Brigade will be able to attack the day after. Lots of subamrines appear to be spotted in Exmouth Bay so I am wondering if Herb is extracting his forces. As of yet, once again, no aerial Japanese presence of any sort!

[cantona2]

Christmas Eve 1942

The aircraft carriers of the Royal Navy entered the fray that historians would call the Exmouth Raid. After no more sightings of Japanese ships on the 23rd December the carriers changed to course heading for Broome before refuelling and returning to Colombo. HMS Hermes has detached herself from the task force and was heading to Perth instead.

The first sign that something was afoot was when radar first, then lookouts spotted a Japanese floatplane droning in and out of the clouds above one of the myriad of RN and RA ships in the area. The carriers were immediately alerted and soon enough an Albacore on a scount mission brought the news of Japanese float plane tenders 60 miles to the north west. Both the Illustriuos and the Formidable laucnhed a coordinated strike that took barely an hour to approach and reach its target.

Two float plane tenders were circling defensively below the approachin Fleet Air Arm planes. The Martlet escorts climbed higher and wacthed over the torpedo bombers as they dropped to wave height, each plane carrying a deadly, sliver torpedo lashed to its underbelly. Unopposed, they zeroed in on both ships and a classic hammer and anvil attack. The southern most AV took the first wave as 5 torpedoes hit, both port and starboard. It seemed the Japanese had been caught in complete surprise as no ack ack answered the Albacore's and Swordfih's challenge.



The second AV also took three torpedoes amidships from three Swordfish that almost tore the ship apart. It almost seemed too easy! No planes flew CAP over the ships and it appeared that the IJN High Command had not counted on the presence of Allied carriers, or had they?

The second AV takes a pounding.


The absence of any planes flying CAP was explained almost at the same time as the torpedoes were slamming into the AV's, but 60 miles to the south east. Two groups of float planes, no doubt originating from the hard pressed AV's, launched a brave but futile attack on the escort ships of the British carriers. Their flimsy frames were no match for the amount of anti-aircraft fire that the cruisers were able to put into the air. What little bombs they carried fell harmlessly into the sea far from their intended targets. What th Japanese pilots didn't know was that their floating homes were no more, having being sunk by the FAA. Gradually, one by one, the Japanese planes ditched into an unwelcoming and unfriendly sea as their fuel tanks emptied.



Day Air attack on TF at 15,81


Allied aircraft
Martlet x 6
Swordfish x 17
Albacore x 17


No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
AV Sanuki Maru, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
AV Sanyo Maru, Torpedo hits 5, on fire, heavy damage

[cantona2]

On land the 23rd AIF Brigade drove the Japanese marines out of Exmouth. As they did parachutes opened in the skies above them and the aussie troopers feared a parachute reinforcement for their enemies had arrived. As the chutes landed the soldiers were relieved to find a cannister attached to it not an elite enemy soldier. B-24's from Broome and B-17's from Perth were dropping the supplies the 23rd would need to finish off the job and mop up. So it seemed that the raid on Exmouth was just that, a raid to test and probe the defences of Australia. Yet it was a costly raid for the Japanese. For the cost of 2 destroyers, a transport and one Dutch picket ship, the Allies had been able to sink three float plane tenders and their complement of planes. Two confirmed submarines, two more were also hit, 2 transports and a gun boat escort. What was the Jap upto? had this been a lure for some carriers? Was Darwin threatened while attention was on the West?

Whatever the case, Operation Stepping Stone was at D-Day minus 4 as the bulk of the flotilla gathered around Abemama and began to head north west...

[cantona2]

As the action dies down in the Exmouth area Operation Stepping Stone enters its initial stage as the invasion task force leaves Abemama and two days later lies about 500 miles off Nauru Island. Further north the CL Helena and the PC Seneb, part of the Wake Island Security Force, are carrying out diversionary movements off Marucs Islands. A Dinah scout plane spotted the Helena yesterday and a SOC-3 Seagull flew a recon mission over the island. The Seneb is going to carry out a zig-zagging maneouver tpo the East of Marcus Island while air attacks from Wake will be stepped up. I want the Jap High Command to believe that Marcus is the target and in his last mail the Jap commander was hoping it was a raid not an invasion. So far so good, however...

[cantona2]

...a flight of G4M's from Lunga tried an attack on the Nauru task force. It totally missed the ships as the early warning the radar of the capital ships gave was enough to assure a course change away from the approaching bombers. Landings are 2 days away and shore based P-38's will support the Wildcats of the two fleet and one escort carrier that accompany the invasion force. As from tomorrow air raids will resume in earnest after they had been scaled down in the past few days while other islands had been targetted. Long range bombers from Lunganville have been ordered to hit the Lunga airfields in order to disrupt any attack from that flank.

[cantona2]

Operation Stepping Stone is at D-Day minus 1. Minesweepers are about to sweep the southern approaches to Nauru Island ahead of the main landing forces. I have the Lexington and Saratoga plus a CVE and 72 P-38's flying cover from Tarawa and Abemama. A Dauntless wing of each carrier will carry out a combat support mission as the troops hit the beaches while the other Dauntless wings and the Avengers of the fleet and escort carriers keep a look out for enemy shipping. A bombardment force will also hit Nauru. Recon still suggests only one unit and radio intercepts suggest the Saesbo 5th NLF is the unit garrisoning the island. SS Dolphin staking out Marcus Island reported being attacked by a B5N2. Has Herbie taken the bait. Marcus is a size 1 airfield so he cannot base torpedo planes there. Tension is high on the eve of the second allied landing of the war...

[cantona2]

December 30th 1942

As the last but one day of 1942 dawns, the ships carrying the units of Operation Stepping Stone begin to land on Nauru Island in what was to be an action fuelled day. Due to an administrative cock up, the MSW's tasked with sweeping the approaches to the island carried out aggressive ASW patrols instead and as such the ships carrying the troops, and their escorts, hit a number of Type 93 mines. Not withstanding, the BB Indiana appraoched unscathed and led a ferocious bombardment of the shore defences as the ships began to approach.



Once the big guns had done their job, and began to retire, the 8th New Zealand Brigade hit Dog Green, while elements of 1st Marine Division landed at Dog Yellow.
TF 1030 encounters mine field at Nauru Island (77,95)

TF 1030 troops unloading over beach at Nauru Island, 77,95


Allied Ships
AP Rangatira, Mine hits 2, on fire
DD Downes


Allied ground losses:
50 casualties reported

Coastal Guns at Nauru Island, 77,95, firing at TF 1030

Allied ground losses:
255 casualties reported
----------------------------
TF 1030 encounters mine field at Nauru Island (77,95)

TF 1030 troops unloading over beach at Nauru Island, 77,95


Allied Ships
DD Downes
DD Selfridge, Mine hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AP Canberra, Mine hits 1


Allied ground losses:
32 casualties reported

Coastal Guns at Nauru Island, 77,95, firing at TF 1030

Allied ground losses:
240 casualties reported
----------------------------
TF 1035 encounters mine field at Nauru Island (77,95)

TF 1035 troops unloading over beach at Nauru Island, 77,95


Allied Ships
AP Meigs, Mine hits 1


Allied ground losses:
32 casualties reported

Coastal Guns at Nauru Island, 77,95, firing at TF 1035

Allied ground losses:
185 casualties reported
----------------------------
TF 1068 encounters mine field at Nauru Island (77,95)

TF 1068 troops unloading over beach at Nauru Island, 77,95


Allied Ships
AP Tasker H. Bliss, Mine hits 1, on fire


Allied ground losses:
21 casualties reported

Coastal Guns at Nauru Island, 77,95, firing at TF 1068
1 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Allied ground losses:
533 casualties reported
Vehicles lost 1

As the troops consolidated the immediate landing zone, VB-3 from the decks of the Saratoga began to deliver a series of clinical airstrikes on known enemy positions inland. The weeks of recon missions paid off handsomly as the Dauntlesses rained death upon the Japanese defenders.



As the day wore on more troops were landed and more air strikes came in. The earlier success of Operation Morsel had allowed Tarawa to be developed into a major airbase and her Mitchells (13th Bombardment) and Liberators (320th/321st Bomabrdment) roared overhead and inland to pound the Jap artillery into the gorund, just as the first patrols were scouring the treeline for enemy troops.



The second major Allied base in the area, Abemama, was also proving of great support to the landing forces. Just after midday a third wave of American air strikes hit Nauru. This time 48th Bombardment (A-29) and 371st Bombardment (B-24D) targetted the remaining Japanese supply dumps ahead of the main assault by the ground troops.



These air strikes, and the ones that had come before them seemd to have had the desired effect. The veteran 8th NZ Brigade (Tarawa) spearheaded the 1st Marine's in their first action as they stormed the Japanese lines. In a couple of hours the Sasebo 5th Nlf had ceased to exist as a cohesive fighting force and Nauru Island had been liberated from Japanese oppression.



Ground combat at Nauru Island

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 7072 troops, 57 guns, 11 vehicles, Assault Value = 377

Defending force 1075 troops, 2 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 32

Allied max assault: 332 - adjusted assault: 158

Japanese max defense: 16 - adjusted defense: 1

Allied assault odds: 158 to 1 (fort level 0)

Allied forces CAPTURE Nauru Island base !!!


Japanese ground losses:
1654 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Allied ground losses:
24 casualties reported



Yet a crucial action had been fought out earlier in the day and further to the north east, just off Marcus Island. As part of the deception to throw the Japanese scent off Operation Stepping Stone, the CL Helena and the PC Sonoma, had been carrying diversionary recon patrols and maneouvers off Marcus inorder to convinve the Japs that Marcus was indeed the target. Radio intercepts had noticed new units reinforcing the island and the SS Dolphin had recently reported attacks by carrier borne planes. As the Sonoma began to plot a course to return back to Wake Island, she was pounded upon by Japanese carrier bombers. Her brave captain put up what little fight he could, a smattering of 20mm anti-aircraft fire, but more importantly got a radio message off to Wake and the CL Helena alerting them to the presence of enemy carriers. His small ship took a pounding before she sank with all hands but her noble sacrifice had meant that the eyes of the Combined fleet had been on Marcus Island and not Nauru. The CL Helena, for her part, ordered full steam ahead to Wake Island and her protection in the form of F4F-4 Wildcats!



Day Air attack on TF at 77,61

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 97
D3A2 Val x 21
A6M3a Zero x 11
B5N2 Kate x 15

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
PC Sonoma, Bomb hits 13, on fire, heavy damage *sinks*

[cantona2]

31st December 1942

Phase 1 of Operation Stepping Stone is complete. The 1st Marines have finished rembarking on their transports and will head to Canton Island for some RnR before redployment. The 8th New Zealand Brigade will act as garrison along with a field artillery regiment and a naval base force. The 2nd Marine CD is enroute from Palmyra as well. No sign of any Japanese counter move yet, though G4M's were seen flying over Nauru Island at high altitude. The minesweepers did a much better job of sweeping today and both damaged and undamaged ships are making their way back to Abemama. As of yet no ships have sunk and only one destroyer has flotation damage above 50 from a mine hit. An APD squadron is ferrying supplies to Nauru to augment the aerial supply bridge currently supporting Nauru. I expect the Japs to hit with full force in the next days so all heavy surface units and carrier units will be hanging around the area of operations.

[cantona2]

End of 1942 and the first full calendar year of war. December has been characterised by the ascendancy of the P-38 over the A6M variants and the Oscar II. Allied pilots are finally becoming proficient hunter killers. They have certainly earned their stripes in the defence of Thursday Island and their aggressive sweeps over Merauke. Likewise the bombers of the USAAF have begun to score ground kills in December.

December's highlights have to include the operations near Exmouth, which accounted for most of the IJN ships sunk in the month, and the reoccupation of Nauru Island late in the month in a relatively bloodless enterprise. The Silent Service has also begun to hit back in the last week of the month with 6 transports sunk and a few others hit.

January 1941 sees the arrival of Avengers on RN Carriers and Corsairs for the Marines on land. Likewise the torpedo dud rate drops so I am hopeful for an increased protracted submarine campaign around the HI's and the SRA.

[cantona2]

High time for an update.

The end of January 1943 is almost upon us. The Allied forces are quietly building up for their next offensive moves while at the same time probing at the Japanese defensive perimeter.

Three areas are of primary concern. First, the Northern Australian Coast. Having repelled the Exmouth Raid, ANZAC Command set its eyes on Timor. BUt the events of the recent weeks have been a cause for concern. Timor and Soemba have been reinforced by the Japs and recent bombing attacks have come up against A6M3s, Oscar IIs and Tojos. Likewise Timor also has an offensive capability as D4Y dive bombers plastered a resupply convoy that was snaking its way along the caost from Broome to Darwin. Any prosepctive invasion would have to have substantial support from carrier forces as well as from the well established bases in Australia.