10 March 1944
Well, almost every one moved where they were supposed to with the exception that the Pinrag troops just spu circles i the Java Sea - didn't even move one hex. The my US CVTF were in perfect poistion to slaughter the shippig fleeing through the Strait of Makassar but didn't fly one sortie. That said, this was the side show.
The IJN came calling at Padang and a slug fest ensued. I would have to call this one a draw but I still have a lot of firepower left. Five rounds of combat - summary below:
First Round - RN SCTF vs IJN SCTF (RN is hurt here and RN BB's can't seem to find Hiei)
BB Hiei
CA Myoko, Shell hits 2
CA Suzuya, Shell hits 1
CL Agano
CL Abukuma, Shell hits 4, on fire
DD Naganami
DD Asashio, Shell hits 2
DD Isonami, Shell hits 2, on fire
DD Asagiri, Shell hits 1
DD Kikuzuki, Shell hits 2, on fire
DD Asanagi
DD Tachikaze
DD Hasu
DD Kari, Shell hits 1, on fire
Allied Ships
BB Warspite
BB Queen Elizabeth, Shell hits 5
BB Resolution, Shell hits 2
BC Renown
CA Shropshire
CL Sumatra, Shell hits 2
CL Enterprise, Shell hits 1, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
CLAA Ceres, Shell hits 2, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
DD Pathfinder, Shell hits 1
DD Quality, Shell hits 5, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
DD Queensborough, Shell hits 1
Second Round (RN finds the range)
Japanese Ships
BB Hiei, Shell hits 3
CA Myoko, Shell hits 5, and is
sunk (internal explosion)
CA Suzuya, Shell hits 1, on fire
CL Agano, Shell hits 2
CL Abukuma, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Naganami
DD Asashio, Shell hits 2, on fire
DD Isonami, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Asagiri, Shell hits 2, on fire
DD Kikuzuki, Shell hits 4, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
DD Asanagi, Shell hits 3, on fire
DD Tachikaze
DD Hasu, Shell hits 1
DD Kari, Shell hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
Allied Ships
BB Warspite, Shell hits 4
BB Queen Elizabeth, Shell hits 5
BB Resolution, Shell hits 6, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
BC Renown, Shell hits 4
CA Shropshire, Shell hits 6, Torpedo hits 3, and is
sunk
CL Sumatra, Shell hits 1
CL Enterprise, Shell hits 2, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
CLAA Ceres, Shell hits 6, on fire, heavy damage
DD Pathfinder, Shell hits 3, on fire
DD Quality, Shell hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
DD Queensborough, Shell hits 3, on fire
Third round - fought at 9000 yds
Japanese Ships
BB Hiei
CA Suzuya, Shell hits 1, on fire
CL Agano
CL Abukuma, on fire
DD Naganami
DD Asashio, on fire
DD Isonami, on fire, heavy damage
DD Asagiri, on fire
DD Kikuzuki, on fire, heavy damage
DD Asanagi, on fire
DD Tachikaze
DD Hasu
DD Kari, on fire, heavy damage
Allied Ships
CA Hawkins
CL Honolulu
DD Cassin, Shell hits 1
DD Decoy
DD Fortune
DD Griffin
DD Isis
Fourth Round - These are Hermes undamaged escorts
Japanese Ships
BB Hiei, Shell hits 2
CA Suzuya, Shell hits 2, on fire
CL Agano, Shell hits 4
CL Abukuma, on fire
DD Naganami, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Asashio, on fire
DD Isonami, Shell hits 4, on fire, heavy damage
DD Asagiri, on fire
DD Kikuzuki, and is
sunk (magazine explosion)
DD Asanagi, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Tachikaze
DD Hasu
DD Kari, on fire, heavy damage
Allied Ships
CL Durban, Shell hits 1
CLAA Caradoc, Shell hits 2, on fire
DD Norman, Shell hits 4, on fire
DD Petard, Shell hits 23, on fire,
heavy damage (crippled and scuttled)
DD Relentless
Fifth Round - These are Hermes' damaged escorts
Japanese Ships
BB Hiei, Shell hits 1
CA Suzuya, Shell hits 1, on fire
CL Agano, Shell hits 1
CL Abukuma, on fire
DD Naganami, on fire
DD Asashio, Shell hits 2, on fire
DD Isonami, on fire, heavy damage
DD Asagiri, on fire
DD Asanagi, on fire
DD Tachikaze
DD Hasu
DD Kari, on fire, heavy damage
Allied Ships
CL Kenya, Shell hits 1
CL Glasgow, Shell hits 10
Daylight saw massive air attacks. One breaks through the CAP and CV Illustrious, CV Formidible, and DD Kimberly are all hit by Kakikazes. The two CV's are dinged but remain on station. Kimberly is sent to Padang while a CL and DD are sent to replace her. Lots of damaged ships at Padang with likely more to sink. The AB should go to level 2 next turn and two sq of AVG are in position.
Avengers run down CA Suzuya (4 TT), CL Abukuma (5 TT) and DD Asashio. Suzuya and Abukuma sink. So confirmed losses so far are one RN CA, one RN DD, two IJN CA, one IJN CL, and oe IJN DD. I am sure there will be some more to follow.
Air losses were 208 to 18 this turn. How long can this keep up? I need to get the RN CV's into Padang to rebuild the Corsair sq but don't think I dare quite yet.
Lastly, there are two IJN convoys just south of Padang now running South. Another convoy is spotted just South of Palembang heading SW toward the Sunda Strait. I think Larry may be trying to counter invade. I have a full ID equivalent behind level 3 forts. I hope that is enough. I am moving the one land based Avenger II sq down to Padang next turn. This is going to be dicey. I may need to send the US CV's over to turn the tide. For the first time, I am really concerned about this operation being a flop.
