Singapore
With the Japanese fleet located, planes from five US carriers north of Singapore seek out the enemy flattops but come up empty. They return to find a carrier and cruiser in flames. Dive-bombers and torpedo planes from the four Japanese light carriers had pounced on the US task force. Three enemy air SPs were shot down while the US lost four. The light carrier Cowpens and the “storied” cruiser New Orleans were hit multiple times and will soon be abandoned and sunk.
A second US CV force south of Singapore launches planes that fly in behind the first attack wave. They adjust based on the failure of the lead attack and find the Japanese carriers of the 1st fleet division. Enemy CAP and flak are heavy but only three air SPs are lost while the enemy loses one. The mighty BB Musashi and the battleship Nagato are targeted with both ships taking hits but managing to stay afloat. During this attack, enemy bombers target the CV Wasp doing extensive damage but lose 3 SPs. However, the carrier stays in the fight and retains the majority of her 83% experienced air units.
Planes launched from the British fleet fly over the Singapore Strait in route to the last know location of the enemy carriers. The burning battleships act like a beacon and the UK bombers are quick to sink the monster battleship Musashi and cause greater damage to the BB Nagato. In a counter action the battle cruiser Repulse is hit but suffers little damage.
The southern US taskforce launches a second strike against the hammered Japanese carriers. Enemy CAP is ineffective allowing Helldivers to swarm the BB Ise scoring two hits amidships but let her slip away. The burning Nagato is a sitting duck and soon sunk by Avenger torpedo planes. Two friendly air SPs are shot down by enemy triple A while the rest return to their carriers unharmed. A-20 Havocs from Borneo join the fight doing little damage but manage to shoot down two enemy air SPs.
After reports from a PBY from Borneo, B-24 bombers target the untouched Japanese 2nd naval division to the west of the recent conflict. The group contains three light CVs and seven battleships. No ships are damaged but seven enemy air SPs are destroyed during the three sorties. Rather than retreat, the northern most US CV group manages to put the last of their planes into the air and take one more shot at the Japanese carriers. The damage is minimal but two more enemy SPs are shot down with no loss of US planes. This is an important accomplishment as that should reduce planes of 2nd division of the Combined Fleet to about 11 SPs thus limiting the danger in a counterattack.
