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

[Local Yokel]

Interesting thing about that first shot of Yorktown is that she is making a good speed ASTERN!

[cantona2]

Might be a reveresed neagtive?

[cantona2]

Allied planners now considered two new proposals put foward by SOPAC and ANZAC Commands respectively. One, titled Operation Continuation, required an attack on Tulgai and Munda to further increase pressure on the Japanese in the Solomons. Two was an attack on Port Moresby by the 1st Australian Divsion, recently redeployed from Merauke, and the 6th US Infantry, both currently acting as a floating reserve.

Both had their merits as close support from LBA was at hand from Lunga for one and the large array of Australain air bases covering PNG.

[cantona2]

Developments on the Akyab front of late.

The IJA is hell bent on recapturing Akyab and daily recon of its poisitions are yeilding a large amount of intell that is allowing the British to construct a fairly accurate picture of the OOB.

The first thrust, spearheaded by the 6th Tank Regiment and supported by the 5th AF Construction Battalion, was slowed and then halted by a massive aerial assault. Its intended target was to cut off Akyab. The terrain, the incoming monsoon and allied air power bought enough time for the 7th AIF Division to setup a defensive front behind Akyab. The 2nd Infantry Division is holding fast at Cox's Bazaar. The 7th Armoured Brigade is supporting the Aussies.

Further south, picket subs picked up a number of large convoys heading into Rangoon over the past few weeks. As such its fighter airfeilds were pummelled by the heavies stationed at Dacca. Radio intercepts confirmed large numbers of enemy planes destroyed, indeed the elite 47th Fighter Sentai was rumoured to have suffered heavy loss of material. Attention was then paid to the docks and several ships were reported hit by observers. This, however did not stop the Japanese from landing their redeployed divisions. These reinforcements were seen on the advance, heading to the 14th Indian Division's positions south of Akyab. The 14th was ordered to fall back on the better defensible terrain of Akyab leaving an Indian Brigade as a rearguard. So far two independent heavy artillery units have been idnetified as well as the 38th and 61st Infantry Divisions. It also seems that the enemy has also been reinforcing his air power in the region with IJN Type A6M fighters seen engaging P-38's for the first time in months over Burma.

[Local Yokel]

I did a bit more research and tracked down a copy of the photograph here on the Naval History and Heritage website. This is Run #41 on Yorktown's Prelim. Standardization Trials in 1937 and she's making 17.5 knots astern; proof she could launch over the stern and take landings over the bow. Great ship!

[cantona2]

The 16th July was a pivotal day in the air war over Burma. The IJA's Ki-44 had reigned supreme unitl this day. Though the worlds attention was gathered at a place in Russia called Kursk and most Allied eyes in the Pacific were turned to the Solomons, the RAF and the USAAF in Burma slashed the cream of the IJA aviation in Burma. Plane after plane were shot down in a perfectly laid ambush over the advancing Japanese divisons south of Akyab. The RAF and RIAF Spitfires were the bait the first wave of enemy CAP took, and though 11 brave pilots made the ultimate sacrifce American pilots reaped a terrible harvest through the enemy fighters. As the day wore on 327th Fighter, recently trained in the P-38 having being equipped with the Airacobra, escorted the daily bomber run and smacked into the second wave of Japanese CAP, some bearing battle damage from the earlier engagement. By days end as many as 50 enemy planes, most Ki-44's but some navy types as well, had come down over the advancing Japanes infantrymen that surely knew that their air cover would be much reduced the following day.

Four days later the 'Stars and Stripes' feted the 'Ace in a Day' Lt N.Lopez of the 327th fighter. The Burma Turkey shoot they called it but the British and American pilots did not like this monicker as their opponent had proven to be an honourable and skilled one. Just as they had lost comrades in arms so now the enemy was too. Young, eager talented fliers, killer to a one, but very much the same mould of cocky, brass fighter pilot that populated the Allied squadrons that left a family or loved one behind.

Late on the 9th July a single P-38 of the 326th Fighter flew over the main fighter field at Rangoon, the young American pilot staring in awe at the damage from recent Liberator raids, and dropped a baseball bat wrapped in a Japanese flag. Written on the bat was a message to the Japanese pilots to the effect that the second half of the game would be different. The message written on the flag, however, abated the ire felt by many after the bat had been retrieved. It simply said 'Soar into the heavens, brave samuraii. The 326th Saulte you'

[cantona2]

A view of the Japanese perimeter after the events of July 43.

[cantona2]

Two operations were about to get the green light. First Operation Imperator, the invasion of Port Blair. This was purely to be a Royal Navy operation.

[cantona2]

The second Operation Agrippa. The invasion of Port Moresby. An Allied operation in essence. The Australian 1st Division, fresh from its Merauke ops will join the US 6th Infantry along with both USN and Royal Navy carrier support, still in the area of operations after Operation Wasp.

[cantona2]

Operation Imperator was go. The armada had left Madras two days ago and today the IJAAF struck. Planes from Port Blair and Victoria Point attacked the invasion forces but for the first time in the war the FAA showed its teeth. Nearly 60 enemy planes were shot down by the Corsairs, Hellcats and Seafires of the two RN carriers supoorting the operations. Land based bombers had hit Tavoy yesterday and USAAF P-38's had been able to achieve air superiority over Rangoon which meant that the Japanese had been deprived of two bases near the action. D-Day was two days away and it was hoped that good fortune would still shine on the British and Indian troops about to hit the beaches.

Thousand of miles to the south the elements comprising Operation Agrippa were gathering off the coast by Coen. They would be hitting the defences at Port Moresby pretty much at the same time as Imperator was hitting Port Blair.

One question occupied Eastern Command in Ceylon. What would the enemy carriers do?

[cantona2]

The first ships begin approaching Port Blair early on the morning of August 10th 1943. The small group of minesweepers taked with clearing shipping lanes immediately come into contact with enemy minefields and start clearing a way for the main bulk of the invasion forces.



Liberators from Cuttack strike Port Blair airfield rendering it unusable to the enemy. USAAF B-24's from 492nd and 493rd Bombardment Squadrons joines the Liberators of No 36 Sqaudron RAF in destorying several enemy planes on the ground.

[cantona2]

Yet the Japanese had more than one airfeild in the immediate Port Blair area. Though Rangoon was also closed down Victoria Point brought its planes to bear today in several waves. Though the decision to keep the CAP over the slower moving transports lacking a day behind meant that Japanese torpedo bombers had a clear run at Port Blair, it was a wise choice at the end of the day. A flight of G4M2's started a day that saw a MSW, a PG and one AK succum to aerial attack

[cantona2]

The largest strike of the day targetted the RN carriers covering the invasion force. A single mass of escorted bombers escorted by over thirty A6M2's from Victoria Point attacked the CV Indomitable and the BB Revenge. By the end of the attack 24 enemy planes had been shot down and the Revenge had her paint scratched by a near miss. For a second day the pilots of the FAA had bested those on the enemy's side. For a second day, however their opponents were not eney carrier pilots.

[cantona2]

By mid afternoon the 75th Indian Brigade, tasked with securing a beach head was ashore despite heavy and intense fire from the shore that severly crippled the already damaged AK Jalapalaka. Yet despite the enemy's best efforts the hardy Indian soldiers managed to maintain a hold on the bloody sands as behind them a further three brigades and two divisions awaited to alight in the early morning.

The Japanese garrison on Port Blair

[cantona2]

Status of Operation Agrippa

[cantona2]

The second day of the Battle of Port Balir saw no aerial attack over the invading armadas but that did not stop the FAA pilots from gathering a reaper's harvest of transport planes as the IJA High Command sought to fly in reinforcements.

[cantona2]

Gradually we build up our strength

[cantona2]

How many more planes can the Japs throw at us? That was the question the RN top brass was asking themselves as for a third day another 40 or so planes were lost over Port Blair. The unloading had gone off with minimal losses and so far no enemy carriers were in sight. An attempt to reinforce by air had been shredded and the USAAF in Burma once again closed Rangoon airfield. On the ground the stroy would be something else as extensive defence lines had been built and an elite formation (16th Infantry as deduced by intell from POW's) defended Port Blair. It was about to turn bloody!

[cantona2]

Operation Agrippa was GO!

USN battleships bombarded Port Moresby ahead of landings on the morrow. Unfortunately the scheduled CAP did not fly and Betty bombers were able to hit the Tennessee and California with one torpedo each. Lightly damaged, they lent their tubes to the bombardment and now start their way back to Townsville for initial repairs. The Hellcats of VF-23 (CL Princeton) will cover the ships until they enter the protective umbrella of LBA in Australia. 9th Fighter (P-38G) based at Portland Roads has been taken off sweep patrols over Lae and will LRCAP Port Moersby as the ships hit the beaches.

Damage on Battleships.


Status of Operation Agrippa main forces.

[cantona2]

The Battles of the Bay of Bengal and Port Blair August 14th 1943.

The RN and IJN fought a series of battles that proved to be the most intense since the Allied debacle at Majuro. The first inkling that something was up came the day before the battles as picket submarines engaged at hit the CA Atago emerging from the straits by Georgetown. Just after midnight on the 14th, British radar deteced an incoming force bearing down on the Illustrious task force. Fire plotters on the Revenge soon had a firing solution on an incoming enemy formation that was soon spotted and identified as two heavy cruisers and a destroyer. An intense and feroucious firefight broke out, first by the Revenge's big guns and then at almost point blank range as the Japanese cruisers sought to close the gap with the RN carrier. The CL Kenya, whose skipper was awarded the Victoria Cross for his actions during the first Battle of the Bay of Bengal,excelled her self in a one on one gun duel against the CA Atago, that seemed to show no damage from the torpedo that hit her the night before. Though a couple of destroyers were hit, the enemy ships came off the worst of this intial round with both capital hits burning after torpedo hits and the DD Hato was sunk.



Night Time Surface Combat at 22,33

Japanese Ships
CA Takao, Shell hits 14, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
CA Atago, Shell hits 47, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
DD Hato, Shell hits 5, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk

Allied Ships
CV Indomitable
BB Revenge, Shell hits 5
CA Hawkins
CLAA Columbo, Shell hits 1
CL Kenya, Shell hits 3
DD Napier
DD Nepal, Shell hits 2, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
DD Nestor, Shell hits 2, on fire
DD Nizam

Simultaneously two seperate Japanese task forces swept into Port Blair to engage transports still unloading there. What they did not count on was an Anglo-Dutch force giving the landings close support. The more dangerous of the two was a 5 ship force headed by the battleships Hyuga and Ise. They slammed into the covering ships but received incoming fire as once again radar provided a crucial early warning. HMS Cornwall and HNMS Java bravely engaged their upgunned foes and raked the Hyuga with devasting fire as the range closed. Only the CL Capetown was hit by the Japanese main armaments and, though damage was light, this was to have tragic consequences in the later engagement. The night however belonged to the escorting destroyers that accounted for two of their enemy counterparts and left two damaged enough to limp their way home and become prey for FAA Barracudas.



Night Time Surface Combat, near Port Blair at 23,34

Japanese Ships
BB Ise, Shell hits 10
BB Hyuga, Shell hits 6
DD Ushio, Shell hits 4, on fire
DD Uzuki, Shell hits 2, on fire
DD Hayabusa, Shell hits 3, and is sunk
DD Kari, Shell hits 11, and is sunk

Allied Ships
CA Cornwall, Shell hits 4
CL Java, Shell hits 1
CL Sumatra
CL Tromp
CL Capetown, Shell hits 2
CL Birmingham, Shell hits 1
DD Rocket, Shell hits 2, on fire
DD Isaac Sweers
DD Van Galen
DD Tjerk Hiddes, Shell hits 1

This same covering force was then engaged by 5 modern IJN destroyers that used the confusion of the battle with the battleships to close in to Long Lance range. The brave Capetwon, her steering somewhat sluggish aftet two direct hits from the Hyugs's big guns, stopped a torpedo amidships and quickly took on a list. The smaller vessels duelled with each other for over an hour and a terrible yet captivating contest. The warm August night was punctuated by the roar of the guns and falshes of bright, orange light as shells found their mark. As the Japanese ships withdrew the Royal Navy, true to the spirit of Nelson, gave chase and once more locked horns, ravaging two more IJN destroyers. The Capetown however joined her foes at the bottom of the Bay of Bengal. She was caught in a deadly crossfire between the Asagiri and Yugiri and as 5inch shells tore into her she slipped beneath waves carrying most of her crew.



Night Time Surface Combat, near Port Blair at 23,34

Japanese Ships
DD Hatsuyuki, Shell hits 10, on fire, heavy damage
DD Shikinami
DD Asagiri
DD Yugiri, Shell hits 3, on fire
DD Amagiri, Shell hits 1

Allied Ships
CA Cornwall, Shell hits 2
CL Java, Shell hits 4
CL Sumatra, Shell hits 6
CL Tromp
CL Capetown, Shell hits 3, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
CL Birmingham
DD Rocket, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Isaac Sweers
DD Van Galen, Shell hits 1
DD Tjerk Hiddes
---------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Port Blair at 23,34

Japanese Ships
DD Hatsuyuki, Shell hits 7, and is sunk
DD Shikinami, Shell hits 24, on fire, heavy damage
DD Asagiri, Shell hits 25, on fire, heavy damage
DD Yugiri, Shell hits 59, and is sunk
DD Amagiri

Allied Ships
CA Cornwall, Shell hits 15
CL Java, Shell hits 11, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
CL Sumatra, Shell hits 1
CL Tromp, Shell hits 5, on fire
CL Capetown, Shell hits 24, and is sunk
CL Birmingham, Shell hits 7, on fire
DD Rocket, Shell hits 3, on fire
DD Isaac Sweers, Shell hits 3, on fire
DD Van Galen
DD Tjerk Hiddes, on fire

By sunrise one Royal Navy ship had been sunk but 5 enemy destroyers had also been sunk. An extra one was claimed by the FAA later in the afternoon. Two heavy cruisers were heavily damaged and two battleships had also been hurt. About half of the ships involved however needed to head back to Colombo to either rearm or seek repairs. What would happen if the IJN came acalling again?