1942 February 02
The Empire captured:
Torokina
Torres Islands
The Allies captured:
There were Imperial amphibious operations at:
Mangole
Kolaka
There were Allied amphibious operations at:
The Battle of Groundhog Day. The Allies were taken by tactical surprise at the eastern end of the Java Sea as the full KB appeared at GR 60,105, 160nm NNE Denpasar. To their east an IJN cruiser/destroyer force went through an xAKL convoy bringing supplies to Kendari like a light-saber through a wookie. The KB itself, possibly expecting to find the hopefully irksome Allied warships in and around Soerabaja and the islands to the east of Java instead found some small tankers and too many small merchants in the waters near Denpasar, all thought to be far enough away from the Imperial surface threat to the north and the small Imperial carriers to the west.
Looking back, it was January 29th that Allied search/Intel thought the KB was sighted in the Arafura Sea, but contact was lost with a vengeance thereafter. Concern about the fall of Singapore allowing an Imperial naval move into the Andaman Sea had, just the day before on January 28th, prompted orders to begin the repositioning of Force Z to that area. Still en route (currently 520nm W Padang), Force Z might instead have been at Bima and caught by the KB's stealthy arrival. As the sKB moved down the Java Sea with its wards (the presumed invasion convoys) other Allied surface task forces were sent into the Indian Ocean, and at least one is within the KB's attack range as we speak but protected from Imperial eyes by weather.
sKB and its charges moved to GR 53,98, 160nm E Batavia, nearly a perfect target location for the fully prepared Allied aerial defenders on Java. The day began with mines being cleared at Tjilatjap and various submarine encounters on both sides. Then came the surprise - and unopposed - invasion of Kolaka by the Empire. Supplies will not reach Kendari for the foreseeable future.
Day Time Surface Combat, near Salajar at 66,107, Range 17,000 Yards
Japanese Ships
CL Kinu
DD Hakaze
DD Hokaze
Allied Ships
xAKL Regulus, Shell hits 17, and is sunk
xAKL Compagnia Filipinas, Shell hits 4, and is sunk
xAKL Dos Hermanos, Shell hits 5, and is sunk
xAKL Fortuna, Shell hits 8, and is sunk
xAKL Princess of Negros, Shell hits 7, and is sunk
Maximum visibility in Overcast Conditions: 20,000 yards
Range closes to 19,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 19,000 yards
Range closes to 17,000 yards...
Japanese open fire on surprised Allied ships at 17,000 yards
DD Hokaze fires at xAKL Dos Hermanos at 17,000 yards
DD Hokaze fires at xAKL Compagnia Filipinas at 17,000 yards
DD Hokaze fires at xAKL Regulus at 17,000 yards
Range closes to 15,000 yards
Massive explosion on xAKL Fortuna
DD Hokaze engages xAKL Fortuna at 15,000 yards
DD Hokaze engages xAKL Dos Hermanos at 15,000 yards
Massive explosion on xAKL Compagnia Filipinas
CL Kinu engages xAKL Compagnia Filipinas at 15,000 yards
DD Hokaze engages xAKL Regulus at 15,000 yards
Range closes to 13,000 yards
CL Kinu engages xAKL Compagnia Filipinas at 13,000 yards
DD Hakaze engages xAKL Dos Hermanos at 13,000 yards
DD Hokaze engages xAKL Compagnia Filipinas at 13,000 yards
Range closes to 10,000 yards
CL Kinu engages xAKL Princess of Negros at 10,000 yards
DD Hokaze engages xAKL Fortuna at 10,000 yards
DD Hakaze engages xAKL Dos Hermanos at 10,000 yards
DD Hokaze engages xAKL Compagnia Filipinas at 10,000 yards
DD Hokaze engages xAKL Regulus at 10,000 yards
Range closes to 7,000 yards
Massive explosion on xAKL Regulus
CL Kinu engages xAKL Regulus at 7,000 yards
xAKL Dos Hermanos sunk by DD Hakaze at 7,000 yards
DD Hakaze engages xAKL Regulus at 7,000 yards
DD Hakaze engages xAKL Princess of Negros at 7,000 yards
DD Hokaze engages xAKL Princess of Negros at 7,000 yards
DD Hakaze engages xAKL Fortuna at 7,000 yards
Range closes to 6,000 yards
xAKL Fortuna sunk by CL Kinu at 6,000 yards
DD Hokaze engages xAKL Regulus at 6,000 yards
Range increases to 7,000 yards
DD Hakaze engages xAKL Princess of Negros at 7,000 yards
xAKL Princess of Negros sunk by DD Hokaze at 7,000 yards
Range closes to 6,000 yards
DD Hokaze engages xAKL Regulus at 6,000 yards
Massive explosion on xAKL Regulus
xAKL Regulus sunk by DD Hokaze at 6,000 yards
Combat ends with last Allied ship sunk...
Another air attack came in at Kalidjati and mostly served the purpose of distracting some Allied fighters, destroying a few. The attacks on sKB began. Here are all of them.
Morning Air attack on TF, near Kalidjati at 53,98
Weather in hex: Partial cloud
Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 4,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A5M4 Claude x 9
A6M2 Zero x 23
Allied aircraft
139WH-3 x 16
CW-22 Falcon x 9
L-212 x 8
Wirraway x 4
P-40E Warhawk x 23
No Japanese losses
Allied aircraft losses
139WH-3: 11 damaged
139WH-3: 1 destroyed by flak
CW-22 Falcon: 1 damaged
L-212: 1 damaged
Wirraway: 2 damaged
P-40E Warhawk: 6 destroyed
Japanese Ships
CVL Zuiho, Bomb hits 2
CVE Hosho, Bomb hits 2, on fire
CVL Ryujo, Bomb hits 1
CVE Taiyo
Aircraft Attacking:
9 x 139WH-3 bombing from 1000 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 300 kg SAP Bomb
3 x 139WH-3 bombing from 1000 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 300 kg SAP Bomb
9 x CW-22 Falcon bombing from 1000 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 50 kg GP Bomb
8 x L-212 bombing from 1000 feet *
Naval Attack: 1 x 15 kg GP Bomb
1 x 139WH-3 bombing from 1000 feet *
Naval Attack: 1 x 300 kg SAP Bomb
4 x Wirraway bombing from 1000 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 100 lb GP Bomb
2 x 139WH-3 bombing from 1000 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 300 kg SAP Bomb
CAP engaged:
Kawai Det with A5M4 Claude (2 airborne, 4 on standby, 3 scrambling)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 10000 and 32150.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 32 minutes
9 planes vectored on to bombers
Tainan Ku S-1 Det A with A6M2 Zero (1 airborne, 4 on standby, 1 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 4000 and 32810.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 24 minutes
6 planes vectored on to bombers
Ryujo-1 with A6M2 Zero (1 airborne, 4 on standby, 1 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 2000 and 32810.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 36 minutes
1 planes vectored on to bombers
Zuiho-1 with A6M2 Zero (1 airborne, 4 on standby, 2 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 1000 and 32810.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 19 minutes
2 planes vectored on to bombers
Hosho-1 with A6M2 Zero (1 airborne, 2 on standby, 1 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 5000 and 32810.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 29 minutes
2 planes vectored on to bombers
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Kalidjati at 53,98
Weather in hex: Partial cloud
Raid detected at 39 NM, estimated altitude 4,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 14 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A5M4 Claude x 9
A6M2 Zero x 18
Allied aircraft
Buffalo I x 11
139WH-3 x 3
P-40E Warhawk x 19
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed
Allied aircraft losses
Buffalo I: 2 destroyed
139WH-3: 2 damaged
P-40E Warhawk: 3 destroyed
Japanese Ships
CVE Hosho, on fire
Aircraft Attacking:
3 x 139WH-3 bombing from 2000 feet
Naval Attack: 3 x 300 kg SAP Bomb
CAP engaged:
Kawai Det with A5M4 Claude (7 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
7 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 11 minutes
2 planes vectored on to bombers
Tainan Ku S-1 Det A with A6M2 Zero (4 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
4 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 2 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 21 minutes
Ryujo-1 with A6M2 Zero (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
3 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 7000 and 10000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 38 minutes
4 planes vectored on to bombers
Hosho-1 with A6M2 Zero (3 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
3 plane(s) intercepting now.
1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 1000 and 7000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 18 minutes
2 planes vectored on to bombers
Zuiho-1 with A6M2 Zero (3 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
3 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Raid is overhead
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CVE Hosho
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Kalidjati at 53,98
Weather in hex: Partial cloud
Raid detected at 38 NM, estimated altitude 3,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 14 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A5M4 Claude x 8
A6M2 Zero x 13
Allied aircraft
Buffalo I x 17
139WH-3 x 6
B-339D x 12
P-40E Warhawk x 17
Japanese aircraft losses
A5M4 Claude: 1 destroyed
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed
Allied aircraft losses
Buffalo I: 1 destroyed
139WH-3: 3 destroyed
P-40E Warhawk: 1 destroyed
Japanese Ships
CVL Zuiho
CAP engaged:
Kawai Det with A5M4 Claude (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
6 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 3000 and 10000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 23 minutes
2 planes vectored on to bombers
Tainan Ku S-1 Det A with A6M2 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
4 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 4000 and 8000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 24 minutes
2 planes vectored on to bombers
Ryujo-1 with A6M2 Zero (3 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
3 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 1 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 19 minutes
Hosho-1 with A6M2 Zero (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 2000 and 5000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 14 minutes
Zuiho-1 with A6M2 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters to 8000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 10 minutes
2 planes vectored on to bombers
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------Morning Air attack on TF, near Kalidjati at 53,98
Weather in hex: Partial cloud
Raid detected at 20 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 13 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A5M4 Claude x 4
A6M2 Zero x 7
Allied aircraft
Vildebeest III x 18
No Japanese losses
Allied aircraft losses
Vildebeest III: 5 destroyed, 3 damaged
Japanese Ships
CVL Zuiho, Torpedo hits 1
Aircraft Attacking:
4 x Vildebeest III launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Mk XII Torpedo
CAP engaged:
Kawai Det with A5M4 Claude (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
3 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters to 1000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 83 minutes
Tainan Ku S-1 Det A with A6M2 Zero (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
2 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters to 1000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 18 minutes
Ryujo-1 with A6M2 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters to 1000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 13 minutes
Hosho-1 with A6M2 Zero (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Raid is overhead
Zuiho-1 with A6M2 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters to 1000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 27 minutes
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------Morning Air attack on TF, near Kalidjati at 53,98
Weather in hex: Partial cloud
Raid detected at 32 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A5M4 Claude x 1
A6M2 Zero x 2
Allied aircraft
139WH-3 x 6
No Japanese losses
Allied aircraft losses
139WH-3: 5 damaged
139WH-3: 1 destroyed by flak
Japanese Ships
CVL Zuiho
Aircraft Attacking:
6 x 139WH-3 bombing from 1000 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 300 kg SAP Bomb
CAP engaged:
Kawai Det with A5M4 Claude (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 10000
Raid is overhead
Hosho-1 with A6M2 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters to 4000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 23 minutes
Zuiho-1 with A6M2 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters to 4000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 28 minutes
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Kalidjati at 53,98
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Raid detected at 38 NM, estimated altitude 2,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 14 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A5M4 Claude x 9
A6M2 Zero x 19
Allied aircraft
Buffalo I x 14
139WH-3 x 18
B-339D x 10
CW-22 Falcon x 6
L-212 x 5
Wirraway x 3
P-40E Warhawk x 25
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed
Allied aircraft losses
Buffalo I: 1 destroyed
139WH-3: 5 damaged
CW-22 Falcon: 1 damaged
CW-22 Falcon: 1 destroyed by flak
L-212: 1 damaged
Japanese Ships
CVL Ryujo
CVE Taiyo, Bomb hits 2, on fire
CVL Zuiho
CVE Hosho, Bomb hits 1, on fire
Aircraft Attacking:
4 x 139WH-3 bombing from 1000 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 300 kg SAP Bomb
5 x 139WH-3 bombing from 1000 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 300 kg SAP Bomb
6 x 139WH-3 bombing from 1000 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 300 kg SAP Bomb
3 x 139WH-3 bombing from 1000 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 300 kg SAP Bomb
5 x CW-22 Falcon bombing from 1000 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 50 kg GP Bomb
5 x L-212 bombing from 1000 feet *
Naval Attack: 1 x 15 kg GP Bomb
3 x Wirraway bombing from 1000 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 100 lb GP Bomb
CAP engaged:
Kawai Det with A5M4 Claude (2 airborne, 4 on standby, 3 scrambling)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 3000 and 10000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 26 minutes
Tainan Ku S-1 Det A with A6M2 Zero (1 airborne, 3 on standby, 1 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 1000 and 32810.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 20 minutes
Ryujo-1 with A6M2 Zero (1 airborne, 3 on standby, 1 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 3000 and 32810.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 21 minutes
Zuiho-1 with A6M2 Zero (1 airborne, 4 on standby, 1 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 3000 and 32810.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 30 minutes
Hosho-1 with A6M2 Zero (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 1 scrambling)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters to 2000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 29 minutes
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Kalidjati at 53,98
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Raid detected at 39 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 25 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A5M4 Claude x 8
A6M2 Zero x 15
Allied aircraft
Vildebeest III x 7
P-40E Warhawk x 7
No Japanese losses
Allied aircraft losses
Vildebeest III: 3 destroyed, 2 damaged
P-40E Warhawk: 2 destroyed
Japanese Ships
CVE Hosho, Torpedo hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
Aircraft Attacking:
3 x Vildebeest III launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Mk XII Torpedo
CAP engaged:
Kawai Det with A5M4 Claude (0 airborne, 2 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
4 plane(s) not yet engaged, 2 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 1000 and 8000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 15 minutes
3 planes vectored on to bombers
Ryujo-1 with A6M2 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 4000 and 9000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 14 minutes
2 planes vectored on to bombers
Zuiho-1 with A6M2 Zero (1 airborne, 2 on standby, 1 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 6000 and 32810.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 15 minutes
4 planes vectored on to bombers
Hosho-1 with A6M2 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 1000 and 6000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 13 minutes
Tainan Ku S-1 Det A with A6M2 Zero (0 airborne, 2 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
2 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 5000 and 9000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 18 minutes
2 planes vectored on to bombers
Fuel storage explosion on CVE Hosho
More Imperial ships near Bandjermasin.
Morning Air attack on TF, near Bandjermasin at 58,99
Weather in hex: Severe storms
Raid spotted at 18 NM, estimated altitude 4,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes
Allied aircraft
B-339D x 4
CW-22 Falcon x 6
Allied aircraft losses
CW-22 Falcon: 1 damaged
Japanese Ships
BB Fuso
BB Ise
Aircraft Attacking:
6 x CW-22 Falcon bombing from 1000 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 50 kg GP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Bandjermasin at 58,99
Weather in hex: Overcast
Raid spotted at 2 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 0 minutes
Allied aircraft
A-24 Banshee x 5
Allied aircraft losses
A-24 Banshee: 4 damaged
Japanese Ships
BB Ise
Aircraft Attacking:
1 x A-24 Banshee releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
4 x A-24 Banshee releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
The KB was also - successfully! - attacked.
Morning Air attack on TF, near Kangean at 60,105
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Raid detected at 35 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 13 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 36
Allied aircraft
A-24 Banshee x 23
P-40E Warhawk x 10
No Japanese losses
Allied aircraft losses
A-24 Banshee: 6 destroyed, 5 damaged
A-24 Banshee: 2 destroyed by flak
P-40E Warhawk: 3 destroyed
Japanese Ships
CV Kaga
CV Shokaku
CV Soryu
CV Akagi, Bomb hits 1
Aircraft Attacking:
1 x A-24 Banshee releasing from 10000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
1 x A-24 Banshee releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
4 x A-24 Banshee releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
3 x A-24 Banshee releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
4 x A-24 Banshee releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
CAP engaged:
Akagi-1 with A6M2 Zero (2 airborne, 4 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters to 15000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 7 minutes
Kaga-1 with A6M2 Zero (2 airborne, 4 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters to 6000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 4 minutes
Soryu-1 with A6M2 Zero (2 airborne, 4 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters to 12000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 6 minutes
4 planes vectored on to bombers
Hiryu-1 with A6M2 Zero (2 airborne, 4 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters to 13000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 6 minutes
6 planes vectored on to bombers
Shokaku-1 with A6M2 Zero (2 airborne, 4 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters to 15000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 7 minutes
6 planes vectored on to bombers
Zuikaku-1 with A6M2 Zero (2 airborne, 4 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters to 12000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 6 minutes
4 planes vectored on to bombers
Interspersed with these attacks were the KB fliers slaughtering the merchants mentioned earlier and sKB fliers making attacks on merchants and warships at and near Tjilatjap. Merchants there were struck but no destroyers hurt.
The Intel screen shows no ground losses for Imperial aircraft, but Pontianak is only 8 hexes away from the location of sKB. CVE Hosho is the only IJ ship showing sunk today. Here is an amalgamation of the hits on Imperial vessels from the combat report.
CVL Zuiho, Bomb hits 2
CVE Hosho, Bomb hits 2, on fire
CVL Ryujo, Bomb hits 1
CVL Zuiho, Torpedo hits 1
CVE Taiyo, Bomb hits 2, on fire
CVE Hosho, Bomb hits 1, on fire
CVE Hosho, Torpedo hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
CV Akagi, Bomb hits 1
Hosho is certainly gone, and whatever is left of sKB is a mess. Akagi was hit by a 1,000lb SAP bomb but is stout and might have shrugged it off. It seems likely that KB will move to cover the invasion convoys now that sKB should be mostly hors de combat (the caveat being some small bomb hits). Perhaps the convoys will withdraw for now? KB could then go hunting in the Indian Ocean. A side note, it does appear that all 6 KB carriers are present as scouting estimates of the TF aircraft are F:105, B:304, A:14. The B-17s have been pulled from Soerabaja lest KB kill them on the ground. There are stragglers repairing and they have been railed to Tjilatjap.
