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May 19th, 2nd day of the Battle of Andaman Sea

Summary:
Allies lost CA Devonshire, DD Inconstant and Foxhound. CV Formidable torpedoed by submarine I-32; it is damaged but still in action
5 Albacores, 6 Martlets, 2 SeaHurricane lost, naval strikes scored no hits

Japan lost Jurassic era destroyer Karii. CL Isuzu was heavy damaged, CA Ashigara and CL Sendai lightly damaged
Both Mutsu and Shoho are still afloat, limping to the east towards Pt Blair
Around 5 Zeroes and 6 Kates lost, naval strikes also scored no hits


Night naval battle
I knew this was not going to end pretty, but I had no other option other than sending the cruisers/ destroyers against superior forces, otherwise there was a chance of getting the carriers under the gun.
Tomorrow it is the battleship's turn, so I expect to get some revenge.



Then more bad news, CV Formidable got torpedoed by I-32, this after a 1st failed attempt.
Damage is 10 system, 22 float (9 major), 10 engine (8 major); it will not withdraw


Night Time Surface Combat, near Little Andaman at 38,60, Range 7,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CA Ashigara, Shell hits 2
CA Mikuma, Shell hits 1
CA Suzuya, Shell hits 2
CL Sendai, Shell hits 3, on fire
CL Naka
CL Isuzu, Shell hits 5, on fire
DD Kazegumo
DD Hasu
DD Hishu
DD Kiku
DD Karii, Shell hits 3, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk

Allied Ships
CA Devonshire, Shell hits 19, Torpedo hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
CL Hobart, Shell hits 6
DD Arrow
DD Decoy
DD Encounter
DD Fortune, Shell hits 1
DD Foxhound, Shell hits 13, and is sunk
DD Griffin
DD Inconstant, Shell hits 7, heavy fires, heavy damage

Reduced sighting due to 17% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Partly Cloudy Conditions and 17% moonlight: 9,000 yards
Range closes to 17,000 yards...
Range closes to 11,000 yards...
Range closes to 7,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 7,000 yards
Japanese open fire on surprised Allied ships at 7,000 yards


Sub attack near Car Nicobar at 35,61

Japanese Ships
SS I-32

Allied Ships
CV Formidable, Torpedo hits 1
CA Dorsetshire
CL Newcastle
CL Glasgow
CLAA Van Heemskerck
DD Nestor
DD Isis
DD Hotspur
DD Tjerk Hiddes
DD Isaac Sweers

SS I-32 launches 2 torpedoes at CV Formidable
DD Isis fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Hotspur fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Tjerk Hiddes attacking submerged sub ....
DD Tjerk Hiddes cannot establish contact with SS I-32
SS I-32 eludes ASW attack from DD Tjerk Hiddes
DD Isaac Sweers fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Isis fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Tjerk Hiddes fails to find sub and abandons search
Escort abandons search for sub

Heck of a fight you have going! Giving about as good as your getting - bad luck with Formidable getting a torp. Any Allied subs in the area to get at Shoho and Mutsu??

After the battle, DD Fortune and DD Griffith detached as "escort TF" and decided to withdraw north on direction to Madras.
Very stupid move, as they got pelted by the very significant number of LBA squadrons at Trincomalee. This however was of no consequence, as the bombers were armed with torpedoes, which are easily dodged by destroyers.

Afterwards, Japan launched its carrier strike. My estimate of 6 to 8 Kates was accurate; there were 6 in total,
Zeroes did a great job; they bounced my CAP resulting in severe losses to Martlets and Sea Hurricanes, losing 4 and 2 planes respectively, but at the end it was the same; 6 Kates came, 6 were shot down either on the AA or post strike Air combat.


Morning Air attack on TF, near Car Nicobar at 36,61

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid detected at 67 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 29 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 17
B5N1 Kate x 3
B5N2 Kate x 3

Allied aircraft
Sea Hurricane Ib x 12
Martlet II x 16

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed
B5N1 Kate: 1 destroyed
B5N1 Kate: 1 destroyed by flak
B5N2 Kate: 2 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Sea Hurricane Ib: 1 destroyed
Martlet II: 1 destroyed

Allied Ships
CV Formidable
CV Indomitable

Aircraft Attacking:
2 x B5N1 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 45cm Type 91 Torp
3 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 45cm Type 91 Torp

CAP engaged:
No.880 Sqn FAA with Sea Hurricane Ib (0 airborne, 8 on standby, 0 scrambling)
4 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 11000 , scrambling fighters between 4000 and 8000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 20 minutes
No.135 Sqn RAF with Martlet II (0 airborne, 11 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 5 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 8000 , scrambling fighters between 8000 and 15000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 19 minutes

British decided to focus on the cruisers instead of the carriers [:@]

I lost 2 Martlets and 5 Albacores (3 to Air, 2 to flak) and scored no hits
I guess at least I got less CAP this time; I bet CAP over the carriers would had been severe
CAP encountered was from "Tainan Ku"; I bet he moved Zeroes to Pt Blair


Morning Air attack on TF, near Little Andaman at 38,60

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid spotted at 19 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 8

Allied aircraft
Albacore I x 19
Martlet II x 4

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Albacore I: 2 destroyed, 4 damaged
Albacore I: 1 destroyed by flak
Martlet II: 2 destroyed

Japanese Ships
CL Naka
CA Ashigara
CL Isuzu
CA Mikuma

Aircraft Attacking:
7 x Albacore I launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Mk XII Torpedo
2 x Albacore I launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Mk XII Torpedo
5 x Albacore I launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Mk XII Torpedo

CAP engaged:
Tainan Ku S-1 with A6M2 Zero (8 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
8 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 10000.
Raid is overhead

ORIGINAL: IdahoNYer

Heck of a fight you have going! Giving about as good as your getting - bad luck with Formidable getting a torp. Any Allied subs in the area to get at Shoho and Mutsu??

Yes I have some, and I will elaborate on the plan for round 3 soon;

I am kind of frustrated on my incapability to "close the deal" on so many engagements so far, I can hit him, but other than DDs or CLs, his important damaged ships always manage to run away
And I am not too confident on the submarine forces; their performance had been abysmal so far, maybe with the exception on Drum torpedoing Junyo


So to answer your question, yes, hopefully tomorrow they will meet submarines; and more over, by comparing yesterday's and today's CV TF position, I know its heading (east) and speed (4 hexes per day; or around 7 knots). Thus submarines are being vectored to places were they will have good chances of scoring

I will post the plans for submarine, surface and air combat for day #3. Let's start with submarines:

Really not a lot more to say, I hope the Dutch find them!

The plan for the surface forces is also very simple; send the battleships and a newly formed cruiser SCTF to attack. This TF is a detachment of escorts from the carrier TF.

The 3 carriers will be temporarily low on escorts with only CLAA Van Heemskerck + 3 small destroyers (Vampire, Vendetta, Isis) escorting them. But later on, the survivors of yesterday's battle will merge.

Although this is risky, it is the best chance of harming multiple enemy cruisers. The good news is that yesterday was a long battle, likely the Japanese are already low on ammo, thus a perfect target for my 2 intact and fully loaded TFs,

Air operations for tomorrow:

Carriers will move east, they will try to catch the enemy carriers. And if not, then they will be in a good position to go after the cruisers

What is left?

Hermes:
- 11 Martlets ready, 3 damaged. ---> mission: escort

Indomitable:
- 8 Albacores ready, 5 damaged ---> 2 for NavSearch, 6 for Naval attack torpedo
- 8 Sea Hurricanes ready, 5 damaged ---> mission: CAP

Formidable:
- 8 Albacores ready, 4 damaged ---> mission: low naval attack: bomb
- 2 Martlets ready, 5 damaged ---> mission: escort

I will try bombing this time; as the most likely targets will be cruisers/ destroyers.

Also notice I have reduced CAP and increased escort. This because I don't think he has a lot more left to throw me

3rd day of battle was a complete disappointment.

- One inconclusive naval battle:
CL Newcastle sunk, while Japan left clean; all hits bounced. Only CLs fought and 6' guns were not enough. Big CA Dorsetshire acted like a tourist. It was a big mistake to combine cruisers with different gun calibers.
From now on all TFs will be "same caliber" ships + DDs. The exception will be tomorrow as I simple don't have enough ships to keep the fight unless I mix again.

- Carrier strike found strong opposition:
Total strike force was 13 Albacores, 14 Martlets, only 2 broke through CAP, both missed CVL Shoho
Total losses: 11 Albacores, 9 Martlets destroyed.

- Battleships, once again, failed to do anything.



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Day Time Surface Combat, near Little Andaman at 45,60, Range 23,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CA Ashigara, Shell hits 5
CA Mikuma, Shell hits 2
CA Suzuya, Shell hits 2
CL Sendai, Shell hits 4
CL Naka, Shell hits 1, on fire
CL Isuzu, Shell hits 3
DD Kazegumo, Shell hits 1
DD Hasu, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Hishu, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Kiku

Allied Ships
CA Dorsetshire
CL Glasgow, Shell hits 3
CL Newcastle, Shell hits 14, Torpedo hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Nestor
DD Napier, Shell hits 1
DD Nizam
DD Norman, Shell hits 1
DD Isaac Sweers
DD Tjerk Hiddes
DD Hotspur

Maximum visibility in Partly Cloudy Conditions: 28,000 yards
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 23,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 23,000 yards
Task forces break off...

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Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Port Blair at 45,59

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid detected at 35 NM, estimated altitude 2,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 20 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 42
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 26

Allied aircraft
Albacore I x 13
Martlet II x 14

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Albacore I: 7 destroyed, 2 damaged
Martlet II: 5 destroyed

Japanese Ships
CVL Shoho

Aircraft Attacking:
2 x Albacore I bombing from 1000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
Tainan Ku S-1 with A6M2 Zero (21 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
21 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 10000.
Raid is overhead
Shoho-1 with A6M2 Zero (0 airborne, 5 on standby, 0 scrambling)
5 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 2 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 10000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 16 minutes
Zuiho-1 with A6M2 Zero (2 airborne, 5 on standby, 0 scrambling)
7 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 3000 and 4000.
Raid is overhead
Hosho-1 with A6M2 Zero (2 airborne, 5 on standby, 0 scrambling)
7 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 1000 and 10000.
Raid is overhead
2 planes vectored on to bombers
59th Sentai with Ki-43-Ic Oscar (26 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
26 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 20000.
Raid is overhead

Plan for tomorrow (day 4):

- Carrier TF will go North East, with all Albacores left on Naval Search, then withdraw.
This is done to give the SCTF a chance to react

- Cruiser TF will patrol Port Blair, then withdraw. This is the final try.

- Battleship TF will bombard Port Blair, if these guy don't want to fight, at least they will bombard the planes at Pto Blair. then withdraw

- Submarines will patrol Pt Blair

Never give in, never give in, never, never, never, never – in nothing, great or small, large or petty – never give in except to convictions of honor and good sense.”
Sir Winston Churchill

Finally, after 4 days and nights of fighting, CVL Shoho is sunk
A picture is worth a thousand words:


Summary of Japanese losses:
CVL Shoho, DD Yudachi, PB Seki Maru sunk
DDs Arashio, Hibiki probably sunk

CA Mikuma damaged by 2 15' hits; "massive explosion" message
CAs Suzuya, Takao damaged by one 15' hit each
CL Jintsu hit multiple times by 4.7' and 6' guns, on fire
CVL Zuiho, hit twice (both 15' and 6') on fire

Summary of Allied losses:
DE Pillsbury sunk
BB Royal Sovereign seriously damaged, and being so far away from home, there is little chances it will make it
CA Dorsetshire, CL Glasgow, DDs Tjerk Hiddes and Nestor seriously damaged
almost everybody else damaged

Well done! [&o]

I like that the BB Revenge was involved ;]

Thanks, and lets call it "Operation Revenge"

To go into details, there were 5 naval engagements on the 4th day of battle, all happened at nighttime:

The first two were slugfests between the 2 Cruiser TFs; with the British taking the far worst beating. Final results were:
DD Arashio likely lost
DD Hibiki under heavy fires, will sink with some luck
DD Nestor collides with Tjerk Hiddes. Nestor heavily damaged

CL Jintsu, CA Dorsetshire, CL Glasgow are all on fire, but should survive



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Night Time Surface Combat, near Port Blair at 45,59, Range 11,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CA Takao, Shell hits 1
CA Mikuma
CA Suzuya, Shell hits 1
CL Jintsu, Shell hits 4, on fire
DD Arashio, Shell hits 5, on fire
DD Yudachi
DD Samidare
DD Hibiki, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Asagiri
DD Yugiri

Allied Ships
CA Dorsetshire, Shell hits 5, on fire
CL Glasgow, Shell hits 2, on fire
DD Nestor, Shell hits 3, on fire
DD Napier
DD Nizam
DD Norman
DD Isaac Sweers
DD Tjerk Hiddes
DD Hotspur

Maximum visibility in Partly Cloudy Conditions and 39% moonlight: 11,000 yards
Range closes to 17,000 yards...
CONTACT: Allies radar detects Japanese task force at 17,000 yards
Range closes to 11,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 11,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 11,000 yards
CA Suzuya engages CA Dorsetshire at 11,000 yards

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Night Time Surface Combat, near Port Blair at 45,59, Range 11,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CA Takao, Shell hits 2
CA Mikuma, Shell hits 1
CA Suzuya
CL Jintsu, on fire
DD Arashio, Shell hits 5, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Yudachi
DD Samidare
DD Hibiki, Shell hits 5, heavy fires
DD Asagiri
DD Yugiri

Allied Ships
CA Dorsetshire, Shell hits 2, on fire
CL Glasgow, Shell hits 2, on fire
DD Nestor, Shell hits 1, heavy fires
DD Napier
DD Nizam
DD Norman
DD Isaac Sweers
DD Tjerk Hiddes, Shell hits 1
DD Hotspur


Maximum visibility in Partly Cloudy Conditions and 39% moonlight: 11,000 yards
Range closes to 17,000 yards...
Range closes to 11,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 11,000 yards
DD Nestor collides with DD Tjerk Hiddes at 45 , 59
CA Mikuma engages CA Dorsetshire at 11,000 yards

After these 2 battles, the Allied cruisers had enough, and left. But the Battleships took over in this long distance relay race:

Battleship TF engaged in 3 naval battles:

The 1st against the battered cruisers, already tired and low on ammo, and likely no torpedoes left

then they engaged and destroyed a lone ASW patrol boat, Seki Maru



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Night Time Surface Combat, near Port Blair at 45,59, Range 11,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CA Takao, Shell hits 1, on fire
CA Mikuma, Shell hits 3, on fire
CA Suzuya, Shell hits 1
CL Jintsu, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Yudachi, Shell hits 3, and is sunk
DD Samidare

Allied Ships
BB Revenge, Shell hits 3
BB Royal Sovereign
DE Stewart
DE Pillsbury, Shell hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
DE Starling


Maximum visibility in Partly Cloudy Conditions and 39% moonlight: 11,000 yards
Range closes to 17,000 yards...
Range closes to 11,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 11,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 11,000 yards
Trent M. crosses the 'T'
BB Revenge engages CA Suzuya at 11,000 yards
Range closes to 3,000 yards
Massive explosion on CA Mikuma
BB Royal Sovereign engages CA Mikuma at 3,000 yards
Omi, I. orders Japanese TF to disengage
Task forces break off...


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Night Time Surface Combat, near Port Blair at 46,58, Range 7,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
PB Seki Maru #3, Shell hits 11, and is sunk

Allied Ships
BB Revenge
BB Royal Sovereign
DE Stewart


Maximum visibility in Partly Cloudy Conditions and 39% moonlight: 10,000 yards
Range closes to 17,000 yards...
Range closes to 11,000 yards...
Range closes to 7,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 7,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 7,000 yards
Trent M. crosses the 'T'
BB Royal Sovereign engages PB Seki Maru #3 at 7,000 yards
PB Seki Maru #3 sunk by BB Revenge at 4,000 yards
Combat ends with last Japanese ship sunk...

Then the last and most wonderful battle [;)]

After days of frustration and pain, the battleships finally got in carrier range!

Battle started with a surprised Japanese TF; then for a few moments the battleships shot the carriers unopposed.

CVE Hosho nimbly dodged all the shots fired at it

CVL Zuiho received 2 hits; the 1st one was a 6' hitting the flight deck while the 2nd one a 15' penetrating and severely damaging its engines
It ended on fire, so there is always a chance that damage control parties might failed to control it. Fingers crossed

CVL Shoho got the lion share, and after repeated high caliber hits that ignited ammo storage, it sunk

Just a few moments after Shoho sank, the Japanese cover forces started shooting back, and boy they were very angry!![:D]
BB Mutsu in particular was very active and accurate, a night fighting champion. It is unbelievable to think it got hit by two torpedoes just a few days ago, it certainly didn't show today.
BB Royal Sovereign got the worst of it, and it also took a torpedo. It didn't sink but it is by all purposes already lost. I think I will use it to absorb as many hits as it can while the rest of the fleet tries to flee
BB Revenge was barely damaged, it will run full speed to get some distance from pursuers, then it will join the carriers.

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Night Time Surface Combat, near Port Blair at 46,58, Range 8,000 Yards

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 5 destroyed
B5N1 Kate: 2 destroyed

Japanese Ships
CVL Shoho, Shell hits 8, and is sunk
CVL Zuiho, Shell hits 2, on fire
CVE Hosho
CS Chiyoda
BB Mutsu, Shell hits 2
CA Ashigara
CA Kumano
CL Sendai
CL Kinu
DD Kazegumo
DD Makigumo
DD Nenohi
DD Shikinami
DD Ayanami
DD Kiku

Allied Ships
BB Revenge, Shell hits 1
BB Royal Sovereign, Shell hits 10, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
DE Stewart


Maximum visibility in Partly Cloudy Conditions and 50% moonlight: 11,000 yards
Range closes to 18,000 yards...
Range closes to 13,000 yards...
Range closes to 8,000 yards...
CONTACT: Allies radar detects Japanese task force at 8,000 yards
Allies open fire on surprised Japanese ships at 8,000 yards
BB Royal Sovereign fires at CVL Zuiho at 8,000 yards
Ammo storage explosion on CVL Shoho
BB Revenge fires at CVL Shoho at 8,000 yards
Range closes to 5,000 yards
BB Royal Sovereign engages CVL Shoho at 5,000 yards
Ammo storage explosion on CVL Shoho
CVL Shoho sunk by BB Royal Sovereign at 5,000 yards
BB Royal Sovereign engages CVE Hosho at 5,000 yards
CL Kinu engages BB Royal Sovereign at 5,000 yards
BB Royal Sovereign engages CL Sendai at 5,000 yards
BB Revenge engages DD Ayanami at 5,000 yards
BB Revenge engages DD Shikinami at 5,000 yards
DD Makigumo engages BB Royal Sovereign at 5,000 yards
Trent M. orders Allied TF to disengage
Range closes to 4,000 yards
BB Mutsu engages BB Royal Sovereign at 4,000 yards
BB Mutsu engages BB Revenge at 4,000 yards
DE Stewart engages CVE Hosho at 4,000 yards
BB Revenge engages DD Ayanami at 4,000 yards
DD Shikinami engages BB Royal Sovereign at 4,000 yards
Range increases to 9,000 yards
BB Royal Sovereign engages BB Mutsu at 9,000 yards
BB Revenge engages BB Mutsu at 9,000 yards
BB Royal Sovereign engages BB Mutsu at 9,000 yards
CA Ashigara engages BB Royal Sovereign at 9,000 yards
CA Ashigara engages BB Royal Sovereign at 9,000 yards
Task forces break off...

Look how ugly this thing was

Then the air action.

The enemy air strikes were of little consequences, but they hinted on what is coming in the next few days.

First, a Nell scored a hit on CA Dorsetshire, but it was with a 60 kg GP bomb, so no damage. Likely because of lack of supply or air support. Maybe he just rush the planes into some undeveloped or unsupported airfield.

Second, he launched Oscars on naval attack! I wonder why he did it, I mean the 50cal gun won't sink anything. My best guess is that he wanted to force CAP to engage the fighters so his bombers had a better chance
predictably, the Oscars didn't do a lot, they only scored one hit, but with a 15 kg bomb [8|]

Third, A new threat from the south, likely carriers appeared:
morning strike was 17 B5N1s attacking from low level, no damage
afternoon strike was 23 Zeros and 13 B5N1s, once again low level, this time DD Tjerk Hiddes was severely damaged by 2 250KG bombs
My best guess at this moment: this is Ryujo rushing to battle, or maybe Ryujo + Taiyo and likely still outside torpedo range


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Morning Air attack on TF, near Little Andaman at 43,60

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 71 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 28 minutes

Japanese aircraft
G3M2 Nell x 9

Japanese aircraft losses
G3M2 Nell: 3 damaged

Allied Ships
CA Dorsetshire, Bomb hits 1, heavy damage
CL Glasgow

Aircraft Attacking:
9 x G3M2 Nell bombing from 6000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb, 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb

Carrier support unable to supply air cover..


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Morning Air attack on TF, near Little Andaman at 44,58

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid detected at 61 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 21 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 19

Allied aircraft
Sea Hurricane Ib x 9
Martlet II x 5

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-Ic Oscar: 2 destroyed, 2 damaged
Ki-43-Ic Oscar: 1 destroyed by flak

Allied aircraft losses
Sea Hurricane Ib: 1 destroyed

Allied Ships
DD Isis
CV Formidable
DD Vendetta

Aircraft Attacking:
4 x Ki-43-Ic Oscar bombing from 100 feet

CAP engaged:
No.880 Sqn FAA with Sea Hurricane Ib (0 airborne, 6 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 3 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 8000 , scrambling fighters between 5000 and 30300.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 19 minutes
No.888 Sqn FAA with Martlet II (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 1 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 11000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 11000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 17 minutes
No.135 Sqn RAF with Martlet II (1 airborne, 3 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters to 7000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 8 minutes

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Morning Air attack on TF, near Car Nicobar at 42,61

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid spotted at 29 NM, estimated altitude 5,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes

Japanese aircraft
B5N1 Kate x 17

Japanese aircraft losses
B5N1 Kate: 1 damaged

Allied Ships
DD Tjerk Hiddes
DD Napier
DD Nizam

Aircraft Attacking:
17 x B5N1 Kate bombing from 1000 feet *
Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb



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Morning Air attack on TF, near Port Blair at 48,55

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid spotted at 1 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 0 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 3

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
BB Revenge

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x Ki-43-Ic Oscar bombing from 100 feet

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Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Little Andaman at 43,60

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 26 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 10

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-Ic Oscar: 5 damaged
Ki-43-Ic Oscar: 1 destroyed by flak

Allied Ships
DD Nestor
DD Hotspur
DD Norman

Aircraft Attacking:
9 x Ki-43-Ic Oscar bombing from 100 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 15 kg GP Bomb

Carrier support unable to supply air cover..


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Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Car Nicobar at 42,61

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid spotted at 10 NM, estimated altitude 6,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 23
B5N1 Kate x 13

Japanese aircraft losses
B5N1 Kate: 1 destroyed by flak

Allied Ships
DD Tjerk Hiddes, Bomb hits 2, on fire
DD Nizam
DD Napier

Aircraft Attacking:
12 x B5N1 Kate bombing from 1000 feet *
Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb



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Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Port Blair at 47,57

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid spotted at 28 NM, estimated altitude 6,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 2

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
BB Royal Sovereign, Bomb hits 2, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
2 x Ki-43-Ic Oscar bombing from 100 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 15 kg GP Bomb

Round #5 will be entirely at Japan's discretion, as the RN has no more offensive punch left

This is quite a feat of tactics and perseverance. Congratulations! I hope that Day 5 "run away" goes well for the RN.

Awesome! Quite an upset in May 1942!
Not a cheap operation but his losses will hurt more than yours!
Great Job! [&o]