Air Raid Pearl Harbor (Navy CPO vs Imp AI)

[ChiefOC]

"Wait for him, wait...now! Right full rudder, steady, meet her....a bit more to starboard helmsman..."

"Torpedo passing down the side sir!", reported bridge lookout.

"Resume, base course. Bridge to radio, send to Pearl have been attacked by carrier aircraft. In pursuit. Don't code it. I think they know where we are."

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

24 Jun 1942

Having stomped down towards Canton Island with my CTF, I had just reversed back to Pearl, when scout planes in the search phase spotted carriers. I had stood down all my strike aircraft, but had my CAP on alert. My Wildcats traded one F4F for one Zero, and eight Kates, but four torpedo planes broke through. Enterprise gunners got one, and the other three missed. In Similar fashion, Allied scouts had spotted one IJN CV, two CS with DDs. I put my strike birds back on and plotted an intercept course. I sent two thirds of my F4Fs with the strike. I was taking a chance in sinking a carrier that seemed out of strikes/aircraft. Some would say I gambled right. Don't tell Nimitz. Now to get my boogie on to get back to Pearl. I would miss the big show.

6/23 CVL Ryujo and DD Sawakaze sunk by airstrike
6/24 CA's Tone and Chikuma sunk by airstrike.

CTF 568 RTB

Back at Pearl, PBY's had a firm spotting on a IJN Surface group, probably headed for Midway. With Sara and Lex in the yards, Yorktown, Enterprise and Hornet romping and stomping down south and lots of shipping in and around Midway, a surface action was looming.

I sortied BB's Idaho and Mississippi, with a CL and 6 DDs - all that were on hand. My Midway aviators had probs forming up and figuring out weather and would play no part. I had no idea what the IJN was up to, but was praying Kido Butai was not involved either.

Idaho took several 36cm (14") hits doing mostly structural damage while Mississippi must have taken a couple 36cm hits to the waterline. Flooding and engine damage. Funny all the small fry were banging about and firing torpedoes but no damage to either side. BB Hiei though was finished, hopefully. Multiple 14" hits wrecked her topsides, heavy fires, with engine and flooding damage. TF's disengaged. I limped my surface group back to Midway. After augmenting their ASW they will go to Pearl. Once there, I will form both up to go back to the West Coast as they are overdue for refit, again to keep Pearl's yards free for my two dock queens. Subsequent air, sub and surface search only located the withdrawing DESRON. Intel says Hiei sank from 14" gunfire.

[ChiefOC]

6/30/42

Well, June of '42 closes with a bang, or several large booms or both.

In an effort to keep the lights on in Port Moresby, I sent a TF led by USS Minneapolis and seven DD's to do something to open the blockade or interdict IJN traffic. Surprise. IJN BB Haruna had other plans. Minneapolis got a severe drubbing, luckily mostly above the waterline while Clemson Class APD Whipple was sunk. Haruna had her upper decks worked over but nothing too serious - unless you count her using all 14" ammo with DD Tanikaze sunk. Now to get Minni down to an OZ shipyard b4 she is spotted by Bettys. PM's supply level increased to 5,581 - a big increase from zero.

Speaking of southern shipyards, CA Pensacola made it to Auckland without incident where the yardmaster says he wants her for 53 days.

I'm booting Pennsylvania outta Pearl tomorrow. She should reach San Fran ok doing 17 knots and watched over by 4 DDs. Just a wee bit worried about her 51 topside damage. Magically, California's repair estimate went from 900 plus days to 585. Mississippi made it Stateside ok after her little dance with a IJN BB. Twelve days left to fix her, but she starts her refit July (tomorrow), so who knows.

Adak is now a level 4 port, and Lahina is 99% towards a level 5 port.

Outside of Columbo, an IJN sub launched six torpedoes at SS British Energy (a 28 pt tanker) empty and headed home. Two hits were sufficient to sink her. At least she got her fuel unloaded.

Out East, Bettys sank two small AKs trying to get supplies into Port Blair. Meanwhile the Japanese got in a 2 ship convoy which dropped @300 troops on Port Blair's porch. I only have 600 Engineering types there. Good news, HMS Formidable was in the area (a bit too late) and her torpedo planes sank the two IJN ships. Maybe the invaders will give up.

And on Java, two Battalions of Aussie Infantry supported by a BN of Armoured cars, raced up into Buitenzorg - only to find it unoccupied and liberated it. Hmm. I'm formulating a plan to retake my ports, and cut supplies to all these dozens of IJA troops in Northern Java.

Scoresheet

Allied a/c pts lost: 1874
IJA/IJN a/c pts lost: 3731

Allied army pts lost: 7969
IJA army pts lost: 3545

Allied ships sunk: 145
Pts for sunk Allied ships: 781

Japanese ships sunk: 753
Pts for sunk IJN ships: 6,045

Political points avail: 1163

Japanese score: 17,312
Allied score: 20,844

[BBfanboy]

That upgrade to BB Mississippi is only 21 days and will probably accomplish all the other repairs during that period too. Sometimes the unrepaired damage cannot all be fixed concurrent with the upgrade so it extends a bit.
Watch carefully before the next series of upgrades for the old BBs. They can run as high as 270 days for Tennessee (a major rebuild), 210 days for Nevada and Oklahoma, and 120 days for Pennsylvania. Sometimes you just want to use that old BB to support a landing before sending it to the dockyard for such a lengthy refit.

[ChiefOC]

Copy that, BBfanboy.

[ChiefOC]

Ship losses

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Ship losses

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Java

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7/31/1942

"Admiral, Rosie was just blabbing on the radio saying we lost two more carriers and a battleship", want me to reach out to PAO with the true skinny?"

"No Chief", said Admiral Nimitz. "Let it play. Matter of fact we are going to use that. Let's put together a list, Port Ops, Base Housing, PAO etc, and get a War Council together in a few days. But first have your wife call emergency Wives Club meetings and clue them in we are going to temporarily change Yorktown, Enterprise and Hornet's homeport to Sydney, to let it seem we lost the carriers. Let the ladies know in fact we are going to leak to the press and then publicly announce the Navy will offer free transport back to the states for families of the carriers sunk. It takes too much time, gas and wear and tear to get our carriers running back and forth down under. The Japanese carriers need a wakeup call, and best they get a chance to let down their guard."

"Aye, aye Admiral"

- - - - - - - - -

Not too much news to report, except a few highlights.

Not much change in the BTO, or DEI. Still SNAFU. A few PBYs flying out of Dawin sank a few IJN transports with torpedoes that thought the skies belonged to them. Up around Java, the IJN carriers in fact do control the skies - sinking and damaging several transports I tried to get into port. Vals and Kates both aiding Bettys in their carnage. Near Sydney, an IJN "I-boat" sank a transport loaded with supplies headed to PM. The I-Boat also dropped three or four midget subs for additional terror, but not scoring any hits.

And for extra fun, the IJN sent three small Tin Can-types towards Pearl for some reason, maybe drop mines or attack shipping. Still a bit short on enough escorts for all the to and from traffic on both fronts. The three Yorktowns were in the yards, while Sara and Lady Lex were making a sweep near Canton. Wasp's CVTF has been drawing squares in the ocean training up her airgroup, so that led to another small surface action. All three IJN DD's were sunk the old fashioned way with guns.

And for extra credit, The rescued/relocated Tarakan Coastal Gun BN in Soerbaya is filling in it's thinned ranks, and has even scrounged a pair of 6" guns. But we, won't ask from where.

[ChiefOC]

12 Aug 1942

SS Luckenbach enroute to San Francisco

Radioman Apprentice Smith was monitoring frequencies, when he noticed the increased tremor in the ship, which meant the ole girl increasing speed. Suddenly, the First Mate slammed open the door of the radio room.

"Sparks, send SOS, in the clear! PE2359 under air attack, two ships on fire, many planes, Send help! Send it NOW!"

- - - - - - - - - -

Captain's Cabin, USS Seahorse three days from Pearl Harbor

(Captain writing in Log)

12 August, 1942

All conditions normal, aside from the usual bruised shins and egos of the new hands. No contacts. No clouds, just lots and lots of water. Just another routine...

Squirt, Squirt, Squirt the intercom interrupted

"Captain, XO. We are getting an SOS."

"What's it say?"

"PE2359 under air attack, two ships on fire many - message stopped. Just static now, sir. Best guess, it is North and East of us."

"Hell's bells. How is that even possible? Bring us around on a starboard heading, then bring us up to full speed. Set Lifeguard stations, and tell the extra lookouts to take up the fifty-cals. I'll be right there."

"Aye, skipper. Sir, if we have to dive fast, we'll loose the fifties"

"I know XO, I'm sure we can get new ones at Pearl. Also pass the report to Pearl, and tell 'em we are going to assist, get on it."

"Aye, aye captain."

So much for routine, mussed the Captain.

- - - - - - - - -

When I ended the orders phase, I had hardly got back with a drink when an air attack was unfolding. First, I thought Yorktown and her sisters had found an IJN TF. Then, I noticed it was Vals and Kates attacking, and I freaked a bit - lessened somewhat when I saw the targets were merchies, not warships. WITFF?

It was an empty fast (14 knots) convoy bound for San Fran, south from Adak, and NEE of Pearl. Three big tankers and a medium AK. Mixed feelings about not having at given them a single escort. I cast a wide net with all avail long range air search and every sub 180 degrees North of Pearl. Only a single contact from Adak, including a single CV, but it completely disappeared. Well, disappeared after bombing Adak. Well played AI.

Sunk were:
xAK K. I. Luckenbach (12 pts)
TK Mobilgas (31 pts)
TK Connecticut (20 pts)
TK H. M. Story (30 pts)

CVTF 97, Yorktown, Enterprise, Hornet, three CAs and six DDs are headed to Sydney where they will refuel, provided gas enroute gets there. Then they are going up towards Darwin, the fast way. Been few long range Betty sightings and I gotta support Koepang. Koepang has been a giant speedbump for the Japanese advance. IJN CVTFs have been bombing just about everything in and around it. Of note, at least to me, they sank the wee Dutch AVP Bellatrix in Koepang. Many don't give much thought about the small/medium AVPs etc, but they can be very handy to tie up at any island and instantly support PBYs, etc. The Japanese CVs, to me, seem to have used a lot of sorties, ordnance and gas near Koepang. It is my intention to keep my CVs out of contact and my strike birds tied down and bushwhack the IJN carriers. Film at 11.

Meanwhile, a new Allied TF has been keeping Imperial HQ off balance (I hope). Combat experience in parens. HMS Royal Sovereign (76), HMS Dorcetshire (75), HMS Exeter(69),HMS Mauritius (92) with six DDs have been operating out of Cocos Island, aka Big Rock Candy Mountain. So far it/they have smashed/sunk three entire, albeit small, IJN/IJA Amphib groups near BRCM, Christmas Island and Tjilatjap in Java. BRCM is indeed a fort. An Indian ID is digging in (level 3 fort so far), and 24 P-40s, 32 Hurricanes, 11 Swordfish and 12 Brit Catalinas keeps the roof closed. Sub Tenders HMS Lucia and HMNS Lucia and the invaluable AE SS Ruth Alexander keep the ships fit. There is also @20K in fuel and @120K in supplies.

Other ongoing operations. A convoy is bringing in an Indian Inf Division into Port Blair, if they get in, that should settle that issue. CVs HMS Illustrious and Hermes with BB HMS Valiant are supposed to keep it safe. I also have the US 182nd IR headed to Soerabaja, from out of Perth of course.

A big surprise for everyone was when the US 32nd ID, with engineers, two FA BNs, and the 177th Base force landed in/on Espiritu Santo (Luganville). Covering force was CAs New Orleans and Quincy with seven DDs. I think it will be secured within a few days.

[ChiefOC]

30 Aug 42

Housekeeping

After the Hiryu's scare and massacre of a four-ship convoy and wraithlike disappearance, it was considered to be safe again for my surface ships. A bombardment force centered on BBs CO, MD, NM, TN and HMS Warspite shelled Wake. The heavies were covered by a sole CV, carrying three squadrons of fighters. There was no enemy contact. Warspite then headed south for Sydney with DDs Clark and Selfridge as escorts.

The US 32nd ID and friends did secure Espiritu Santo (Luganville). Likewise, the 7th Indian ID was disembarked without incident at Port Blair and wiped out the opposing IJA landing force. Port Blair is now secure, though supply lines to it are not.

The big event of the month was a two day CV vs CV battle just south of Koepang. I had brought Yorktown, Enterprise and escorts down toward Sydney. Then after a quick refuel, sprinted/hugged around Australia's N. Coast towards Darwin. All the while an IJN CVTF was bombing Koepang and it's defenders. A Dutch Sub and 5 PTs were lost keeping an eye on it. Then a quick run towards Koepang hoping for surprise. It appears my birds hit, while the Japanese were on another strike at Koepang.

Sunk:
8/26/42
HMNS Arend (AVP)
HMAS Platypus (AS)
HIJMS Hiyo (CV)
HIJMS Shoho (CVL)
8/27/42
HIJMS Soryu (CV)
HIJMS Asagao (DD)

But not without some damage. Yorktown took two torpedoes and a bomb. My CVTF is headed into Darwin to assess Yorktown. I flew in my wrecked squadrons in front of me to start taking reinforcements. The IJN group only had the three carriers and a handful of DDs. No wonder there on account of the number (10?) of IJN CA's I've sunk. Those tin cans have short legs, so not sure where/how they will get home.

Trying something new (at least to me).

End of month stats

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[BBfanboy]

Nice work ambushing those CVs/CVLs!
Beware staying at Darwin for more than a day - KB can easily trap ships there and bomb them in port - especially if the Japanese have Horn Island.

Those pictures of your monitor screen are hard on my eyes - do you know how to take a screenshot? Steps below in case you don't:

- get the image on your screen and press the Prt Scr key along the top of the keyboard. This copies the entire screen image to the clipboard. Do not copy anything else there until you have finished getting your screenshot edited and saved!

- open any graphics program that allows you to manipulate the image - I use Windows Paint 3D.

- start a new project in the graphics program and then PASTE the image from the clipboard on the blank project sheet. You can do that by right mouse button click and choose "paste" or press CTRL and V at the same time.

-use your graphics program to crop and annotate your image as you wish to present it, and save the image as a .jpg file (or even a .png which I think is acceptable on the new forum software) Take note of what folder you saved the image in, and what you named the file.

- do your forum post and at the end go to the Attachments tab at the bottom of the forum page. Add the file from your computer to the attachments list and submit the post.

[ChiefOC]

Aye, aye. BBFanboy.

Thanks for the info. I will follow your recommendations. Though, I will still use some of the uninformed photos, over the next few game months. I got sucked into the game over the last 3 weeks in real time, plus a lot of domestic stuff.
Then I will with much appreciation, use the method you passed. Thank you.

[ChiefOC]

15 SEP 42

Yorktown, with escorts St. Louis, HMAS Adelaide and two tin cans has departed heading to Columbo. She has @27 float damage and about @29 Structural damage, with a refit due next month. Columbo can deal with all that. HMS Warspite and her escorts are closing on Suva, part of Warspite's farewell tour. Enterprise and Hornet and their escorts are returning to Sydney.

The Issue is still in doubt regarding the island of Java. I have some serious reinforcements enroute, which will hopefully turn the tide there. Same with the BTO. I gotta get more air groups in there, and somehow develop a carrier group to support Amphip Ops way out west. J

Sara, Lex and Wasp are keeping an eye on Wake. I am a bit more secure now with three big IJN CVs at the bottom of the Pacific. Other plans in development, other than retaking Wake, are:

Retaking Efate, kinda equal ways from Noumea, Suva and Luganville, for the points.
Developing Tahiti into a waypoint/gas station.
Another IJN sub was making a pest of itself outside of SoCal, so Catalina and that other island are going to get beefed into Air Search and ASW bases.
Commissioning and developing Naval Air Station Exmouth, Australia. While heading NE, Yorktown spotted an IJN task force east of her. Therefore, I am going to make a place for long range recon to cover a large gap in my air perimeter.

[ChiefOC]

30 SEP 42

Not much has changed with regards to real estate. Java is still in doubt, as well as the BTO. Both sides are playing tag in China, and the Java Sea is seeing ships of both sides sunk by submarines. There are a few IJN Surface Groups hitting and running. My "Rebel" surface groups operating out of Soerbaja have destroyed several small IJN (three to five Marus) within their reach, so far being very lucky regarding avoiding Betty Bombers, as well dodging IJN CVBGs and Surface groups. Meanwhile Enterprise and Hornet are making pests of themselves east of Port Moresby bagging about a dozen small IJN Marus. There have also been a few light IJN Carrier Strikes at Koepang again and I wonder if they are another prelude to a KB seige.

Noteworthy recent actions:

British Carrier Group sank CA Aoba with CL's Kashima, Abukuma and Isuzu near Rangoon.
Yamato's Surface group obliterated two more two-ship Allied convoys trying to sneak into Port Blair on different days. Another IJN pair of BB's have also obliterated a pair of small Allied ships in different places. I need to find the Shangra La these heavies are operating out of.

[ChiefOC]

31 OCT 42

More of the same, and by that, not much has changed since last month. Some advancements in port and airfield construction, but only from 0 to 1s. While marginal improvements, but they allow speedier ship unloading or aircraft deployment depending on which of course. About 30 IJA/IJN merchies sunk this month and about 20 Allied ships sunk.

Significant actions included:

IJN Surface Action Groups (SAG) including battleships intercepted and sunk small relief convoys, again, bound for ports S of Calcutta. This included another token relief effort to Port Blair. Those things are getting on my nerves.

On the 2nd of October IJN Carrier based Vals struck at Koepang sinking the small Dutch Gemma and USN Whippoorwill.

On the 12th of October, IJN Heavy Cruisers and Destroyers ignominiously sank the Philippine AKLs Dos Hermanos and Luzon as they neared Koepang harbor carrying supplies from Darwin. Bit of a bummer, to have escaped the slaughter in and around the PIs to get sunk by ghosts.

Middle of the month saw SAGs led by USS Quincy out of Noumea likewise gobble up a handful of small IJN/IJA convoys near and around Efate. Efate, you just got added to the hit parade.

And the month closed with gunfire near Lihue in the Hawaiian Territory. Six IJN W-Class DMSs were sunk by 5-inch and 8-inch gunfire from Cruisers and Destroyers from Pearl. I will be glad when some more CVs move into Pearl. Seems like every time the Birdfarms are on patrol or training up airgroups SE of the Hawaiian Islands, the Imperial Navy shows up. Really don't understand where the little IJN tin cans came from. They don't have the legs to get to Hawaii, let alone get home. Time to push forward the retaking of Wake. And to put more S-boat submarine patrols in the island groups to the West of the Hawaiian Group.

[BBfanboy]

Because the game does not have true AI to make long range plans (only scripts for target bases and raiding), it has to "cheat" to offer a good game to the human opponent. It can teleport ships from one port to another so they can respond to scripted plans or allied threats. If you were playing a human player I would expect that they used an AO to help those DMS get close to Hawaii.

[ChiefOC]

Ahhhhh. Hmmmm. Copy that BBFanBoy. Interesting, and a wee bit alarming. Explains perhaps, how the IJN CVs keep showing up in the DEI, despite the lines of sub scouts I have out.

[ChiefOC]

30 NOV 42

Another month of mostly the same. I'm shuttling in troops to various places and supplying/upgrading various islands/outposts. No changes on the island of Java, though troops from Oz, NZ and the USA have been smuggled in. Hopefully I can soon make some permanent gains(liberations), reckon we'll see if they help turn the tide, or share the fates of those in Singapore and the PI.

At sea, again more of the same. As Yorktown's group passed west of Port Blair, Yorktown's DBs and TBs were flown off to PB to be of some use. Damaged Yorktown, from her tangling with the IJN CV's SSW of Koepang is now in Columbo's drydock. The Yard Master says early Jan should sea her right. Meanwhile, York's sisters Enterprise and Hornet have been earning their pay SSE of Lae etc having sunk about 20 small IJN/IJA merchies with a few PB's escorts. Speaking of CV's earning their keep, two small British AKs were sunk by CV based VAL aircraft as the convoy they were part of entered Tijalap. Near Port Blair, another pair of Brit ships (AP and AK) carrying a RAF base force were sunk by 14" gunfire and Type 93 (Long Lance) torpedoes of a IJN force including CA Chokai. Grrrr. On a bright note, Yorktown's beached Airgroup sank heavy cruiser Chokai. I think I would have preferred the base force arriving safely.

All in all, ships losses were about 10 Allied AKs/APs and a very nice Tanker (Mindano) sunk by an I-Boat near Sydney in exchange for @50 IJN/IJA AKs/APs etc along with 16 warships including Chokai, PBs, and midget subs.

[ChiefOC]

At Sea aboard HMS Hermes

"Squadron Leader, the reason I have not let your chaps come down yet, is because I don't know yet if the ship can be saved, and I am quite cross with them. I will let you know shortly, that is all", fumed the Captain. "Ahh, Mr. O'Brien, thanks for coming up. Tell me the good news."

"Sir, the torpedoes the Bettys hit us with did hurt the ole girl, including wrecking two of her boilers. But she's holding together. If we can get home, she'll live to fight another day. I can give you 10 knots now, maybe a bit more, sir."

"Right then, I won't hold you any more, off you go. But I will be asking for that extra speed, as soon as we get pointed west."

"Aye, Captain."

As the Chief Engineer left the Bridge, Captain Onslow ordered the Officer of the Watch to increase speed to All ahead two thirds.
- - - - - - - - -
15 DEC 1942

Unlike the past few months, the past two weeks have been very busy across the board, pardon the pun.

Rangoon and Pegu were liberated. Rangoon has a force of about 11K troops, with 5K supply and a squadron of P-38s. Help is on the way. Holding my breath with Pegu, it only has a small blocking force. Next stop Moulmein.

A week ago, HMS Hermes was taking a squadron of Albacores to Port Blair (PB), when she was hit by land based a/c and took two torpedoes. Thank God only one exploded. USS Crescent City arrived the next day without incident at PB with 10th USAAF HQ to provide torpedo logistics. Hermes made it back to Columbo at 17 knots with 25 float damage. Unknown how long her refit will be, probably about a month. Columbo's focus is Yorktown, lady of the dockyard. 30 days will sea her rejoin the fleet.

Two days after Rangoon was liberated, IJA land based a/c attacked and sank two British AKs just outside of Rangoon taking their much needed supplies to the bottom. Grrr

On 12/10, PB took revenge. A/C found and successfully attacked one of the mystery IJN SAG's gobbling up my small supply convoys then disappearing. Sunk were BB Kirishima, CL Agano and DD Numakaze.

12/13 was a busy day. (HMAS) Australia's Avengers made a dash for Kokola (68,105). Search a/c reported a CVL, CS and CL. Set for a Shore bombardment, The Avengers found the mystery TF. Not a CVL, but four unescorted tankers. Sunk were Genyo Maru (28 pts), Nihon Maru (19), Ogura Maru (19) and San Louis Maru (19). The Avengers returned to Soerbaja without damage or incident. Speaking of Java, it is still contested, though it appears the Allies might be gaining ground. Tomorrow a small US TF carrying elements of an Arty unit and two Armored Regiments (10th and 11th) will be escorted into Soerbaja by ships from Soerbaja. Hopefully.

A bit further also on the 13th, my fleet sub USS Porpoise radioed in a surface contact including a carrier. Oddly, once again the carrier sighting was outside of Koepang. She has not reported back and is presumed lost. Bummer. Porpoise sank an IJN DD on two separate occasions while they escorted invasion efforts, both which subsequently failed. She is my third US Sub lost so far and will be missed.

Also on December 13th, there was a submarine scare in San Francisco. A Japanese fleet sub and a handful of midget subs attacked various ships without incident. Weird.

Let's see. Exmouth Naval Base is a Port 1, with airfield 1, operating a squadron of Hudson search planes.

Port Moresby is a Port 3, A/F 6 (w/one squadron of Dauntless DBs and Two Squadrons of P-40Es (44 operational).

The French Supply Port at Tahiti is a Port 1, A/F 1. No forts, no A/D, Just one lonely French DD, watching supply and tanker ships come and go.

And most notably I suppose, is Naval Base Adak. Now a Level 6 port, with a A/F 4 and level 5 Forts. Home to several Fleet Subs.

[ChiefOC]

16 DEC 42

With Porpoise having radioed a carrier sighting, once again near Koepang, I detached CAs Northampton, New Orleans and Louisville screened by DDs Russell, Stack, Selfridge, and Sterett from TF 68 (Enterprise and Hornet); and rushed them towards the contact. TF 68 had been patrolling nearby looking for another ambush opportunity. This left only venerable Houston and two DDs escorting the carriers.

Louisville's Sluggers made contact at night. IJN CV Shokaku and three DDs were engaged. Shokaku and Selfridge were sunk, with the IJN DDs and US DDs all taking a mauling. The Sluggers are steaming back to Darwin (Port 6) to replenish the cruisers and assess the DD's damage. Still no AR at Darwin, so I will likely blend The Sluggers back into TF 68 and trudge back down to Perth. Still, another KB CV has found her final berth.

[BBfanboy]

Nice going on that ambush of Shokaku! A human player would not leave carriers so poorly escorted, but if the computer opponent wants to stick its neck out, it's ok to give it a whack!

[ChiefOC]

At the Northern tip of Java, there are growing numbers of small IJN amphip/resupply Task Forces. And efforting a complete naval blockade of Java is difficult. I only have a single CA (HMAS Australia), a few ABDA CLs, and several short-legged DDs - usually with a few in the yards homeported in Soerbaja. And the northern strait is just out of round-trip sortee range for them, leaving them more vulnerable to land based a/c outside of port. My airgroups are growing, but flying CAP over the strait is not yet possible. Nevertheless, help is desperately needed. Help would need to come from the Cocos Islands.

HMS Royal Sovereign, one of His Majesty's "standard" BBs, is Flagship at The Cocos with a few CAs, a couple CLs, and a handful of DDs. But a top speed of 20 knots for a Surface Action Group (SAG) is not ideal. But the order was given a few days ago to get underway.

17 DEC 1942

Action Stations, Action Stations!
All Hands to Action Stations.

Royal Sovereign's SAG included CAs Dorsetshire, Exeter, HMAS Canberra, CLs Leander and Mauritius, lightly screened by DDs Bagley, Inconstant, Maury and Isis. Sighting smoke, the formation altered course, and soon a pagoda mast was seen rising above the horizon. I was hoping for more easy transport convoys, but found a dangerous Task Force instead. Surface contact formation was formed. The IJN force was soon identified as a Fuso Class BB, with two heavy cruisers and three DDs. Battle was joined just SW of Oosthaven. Both Battleships took the brunt of fire and then action was broke off. BB Fuso and escorting DDs Yuzuki and Hokaze were sunk, with damage to a IJN CA.

Royal Sovereign took serious damage above and below the waterline. She and most of her group are crawling their way back to the Cocos at 13 knots. DD Bagley was badly mauled by the CAs. She has 50+ damage to both structure and floatation. She is following the main group at 11 knots, looks grim. Sadly, Dorsetshire was lost. After taking several consecutive 14" hits from Fuso as well as many 8" hits from cruiser fire, and then more 14" shells brave Dorsetshire sank. She is my largest ship lost to date. Still, a CA and maybe a DD for a BB and two DDs is a good exchange.

Sidebar. Yes Dorsetshire, the battleship hunter, did fire her torpedoes at Fuso. Don't know if they were hers, but torpedo hits were scored on Fuso. Also, the AI reports it was Yamato sunk by 1000 lb bombs, not Fuso.

Fuso battle

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[ChiefOC]

Kaga 2

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Accepted wisdom for the about past 30 or so years is battleships are the Queen of the waves. Then there were the USN Fleet Exercises in the last several years where Saratoga and Lexington struck Pearl Harbor with air strikes, the British air strike at Taranto, and of course the pinnacle Kidi Butai strike at Pearl Harbor shifting the crown to the aircraft carrier. Though there are still many, on both sides, arguing the point.

My father had a saying:

Use it up, wear it out.
Make it do, or do without.

Well that's what the ABDA Squadron at Soerbaja has been doing for the last year. No BBs and no Carriers. Just over working lightly armed CLs and Tin Cans for the most part.

Dutch aerial recon reported enemy ships east of Soerbaja at Makassar, consisting of one CV, one CVL, and one CA. My recon has been notoriously inaccurate. With no long range bombers, I've been suppressing Japanese land based bombers at Band Aid Bay, and Makassar with shore bombardment. Five inch and six inch guns don't do much against things much bigger than merchies and escorts, but they sure shoot up runways. Figuring this contact report was another resupply of the Makassar airfield, I prepared another shore bombardment, with max reaction, for Australia's Avengers. Good hunting ladies.

The Hat Trick.

20 DEC 1942

Action Stations, Action Stations!
All Hands to Action Stations.

Luckily HMAS Australia, CL Perth and US DDs have RADAR and intercepted the contact as it moved NNW away from Makassar. The bad news, no merchies. Unbelievably, another aircraft carrier, and just no carrier but one of the IJN monsters with belt armour equal to battleships. Long exhale.

After a long engagement, expending all torpedoes and ammo bigger than anti aircraft shells, three IJN DDs, were sunk and Kaga got away, albeit slowly and on fire. Kaga's hide is just too thick for pop guns.

Almost. The east most channel out of the Java Sea is being patrolled by one US Fleet Boat and Dutch subs O-21 and O-24. O-24 spotted burning Kaga, with no escorts. Firing three torpedoes, which all hit and exploded, finally ended Kaga's career of terror. She had been claimed sunk many times, but this time would be the last.