ORIGINAL: Capt. Harlock
Ouch! And some of your CVE's were sunk, too, which makes it harder to put together hunter-killer ASW TF's. Have you received any Fletcher class DD's yet?
A couple of Fletcher DDs just arrived. They soon will have work enough.
Here is the latest update from the Japanese perspective - thanks to Rybka:
8/16/42:
General Hara was looking at the message from Tokyo pensively. Did Tojo get crazy? This was the hardest order, which he had ever received:
"We are concerned for Your lack of activity after the fall of Calcutta. There are still strong British bases on Ceylon; they have to be eliminated. Naval forces promise to provide every possible help. We expect You fulfill this order by the end of September."
General Tojo
Hara waved at the Port disgustedly. Every possible help! There were harboured a handful of cruisers. Most of them had been in service nearly 20 years. How can these "old hookers" guard his forces? It´s clearly suicide. Maybe admiral Kimura will do a miracle, but if all Kamis weren´t with us ...
Even admiral Kimura was confused. But he prepared an invasion plan after some long days and sleepless nights. He led his fleets personally from on board the cruiser Suzuya. Kimura reserved the most dangerous mission for himself - attack on Colombo and lure most of British air and naval forces away from the transport fleets.
A few days later fleets cleared harbour and steamed to Ceylon. Kimura got to Colombo and began bombardment, but endless stream of planes turned his fleet into burning wrecks quickly. Even his own Suzuya exploded after bomb hit, but admiral was luckily rescued by Natori. This was a debacle, but maybe the sacrifice will save the main invasion fleets.
In the meantime, slow transport fleets just reached their destination (Triconmale). Vigilant patrol boats detected them and soon admiral Kajioka observed a black cloud of british planes coming to them. Suddenly, many silvery birds flew through this cloud, some enemy planes decorated fire and smoke and they fell to the sea. Some sailors begun exult. It´s our Reisens! But how is it possible? The nearest base is thousands miles far and all carriers are in Pacific. Which kamikaze did blow them here?
But despite this miracle, many bombers get through and attack. Fortunately, they noticed only supply ships and so all troops landed safely. For a while, Triconmale was ours!
