From Here to Eternity 1275psi (J) vs Cantona2 (A)

[cantona2]

Thanks for the discussion guys. Yes, it was colour on my part. Points taken. Thanks for reading AAR

[Bif1961]

I based my comments on doctrine employed by the opposing forces, Japanese night doctrine was to launch torpedoes and when they believed they should be arriving on target open up with guns and search lights. American PT boats didn't use search lights during attacks as it gave away their positions and their inherent advantage of low profile and many had radar. Japanese didn't have radar, especially smaller surface vessels earlier in the war.

[cantona2]

27th January 1942

The night was dark and still, the storms that had blasted the area around Bataan and Subic Bay had expended their energy leaving an unsettling calm. PFCs Miller and Jacobson stood guard looking over the calm and ebony sea grateful from a break from the incessant bombing from the air the Japanese had been subjecting positions on Bataan too. They smoked cigarettes, cupped in their hands to hide the glows, and chatted quietly about what their likely fate might be. A conversation that was cut short by an almighty explosion followed by a bright wave of light bathing both young soldiers.

Its source was out at sea. Rising from behind the impromptu cover of several palm trees Miller and Jacobson were treated to a pyrotechnics display that rivalled anything they had witnessed on any 4th of July. More explosions permeated the night and both began to wonder if ships had strayed onto the minefields protecting Manila Bay? The sound of gunfire now broke through the night as shore defences, especially those on Corregidor, opened up; star shells now revealing several vessels floundering offshore. Vessels that were begining to return fire as they sought to disentangle themselves from the minefield.

Both privates had a grandstand view of the action and both were awed by the sheer pwer unleashed by the shore guns. Hit after hit was witnessed on the enemy vessels and soon a plethora of cheers joined the two voices of Miller and Jacobsen as they revelled in the woes the Japanese ships found themselves in. It was a welcome joy for soldiers who had now suffered intensive Japanese aerial bombing for the past fortnight.

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Naval Gun Fire at Bataan - Coastal Guns Fire Back!

94 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Japanese Ships
CL Natori, Shell hits 2, Mine hits 2, heavy damage
DD Hatakaze, Shell hits 10, Mine hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Harukaze, Shell hits 12, Mine hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Nagatsuki, Shell hits 1, Mine hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
DD Fumizuki, Mine hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
DD Minazuki, Shell hits 2, Mine hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
DD Satsuki, Mine hits 2, on fire, heavy damage

TF 14 encounters mine field at Bataan (78,77)

Japanese Ships
CL Natori, Mine hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
DD Hatakaze, Mine hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage



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OT - this was a very uncharacteristic move by Herb. Either he misclicked plotting his orders or his surface task force reacted into the hex due to my MTBs attacking Iba.

[RangerJoe]

A very nice surprise!

This is why I like to send PT boats into suspected mined locations. Japanese LBs would work as well and not give away VPs.

[cantona2]

Jaluit Atoll

TF 286 (Lexington and Enterprise) had scoured the Marshall Islands for a week and found no targets of any note but as she swept out of the area SS Gudgeon reported shipping unloading at Jaluit Atoll. The carriers, almost out of fuel and steaming towards victuals in the Santa Cruz Islands were too far away to do anything about it.TF 172 under the command of Captain W.D.Stevens RN were withing striking range. A hotchpotch group of light cruisers and destroyers that had run from Singapore or Hong Kong were led by the HMS Mauritius and had trailed the carriers to sweep up anything they left behind.

As such the Royal Navy cruisers would not be feeding on morsels but actually have the main course. In the event it was not a large main course as the ships the Gudgeon detected were a number of light transports escorted by small patrol boats. But for these English sailors it was a chance for revenge. They had seen Hong Kong burn behind them or see the HMS Repulse go to its watery grave so any chance they had to stick it back to the Jap was welcome no matter how lopsided.

Lopsided it was, A swift 20 minute action that saw the Japanese vessels ravaged by gunfire and floundering and burning in the shallow waters of the atoll. One straggler, burning and adrift, was later spotted by the Gudgeon the rest consigned to the deep.

Night Time Surface Combat, near Jaluit at 134,120, Range 5,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
PB Heijo Maru, Shell hits 10, and is sunk
xAKL Shoan Maru, Shell hits 17, and is sunk
xAKL Katsuragisan Maru, Shell hits 22, and is sunk
xAKL Muko Maru, Shell hits 26, and is sunk
xAKL Tateyama Maru, Shell hits 9, heavy fires, heavy damage

Allied Ships
CL Danae
CL Dragon
CL Mauritius
DD Stronghold
DD Express
DD Jupiter

[cantona2]

Sea of Okhotsk, off Toyohara

HMCS Prince Henry had been a given secret but deadly mission a number of weeks ago and her intrepid captain, LCDR Chesire, grabbed his chance for glory with both hands. His mission was to use the heavy weather that covered the northern seas at this time of the year and penetrate deep into Japanese shipping lanes around the Kurile Islands. It took two weeks to transit from Vancouver to Japan but the ship had managed it without detection. It had even managed to patrol the line of the Kuriles for a week maintaining its location hidden from Japanese eyes.

The downside, however, was that no enemy vessels had yet been detected and everyday in these waters increased the risk of detection far from home and harbour. That said Cheshire was determined to make his journey a worthwhile one. He ordred his ship almost to the coast of Sakhalin and inserted his vessel into the main Hokkaido-Shikuka shipping lanes. Snow blizzards and storms kept his ship hidden though at times Japan's shore was visible among the murk.

This move paid instant dividends as two separate enemy convoys were spotted on the 27th January. The first one disappeared into the heavy weather and the Henry could not engage. The second one however was engaged. A four ship task force of small submarine chasers was qucikly set upon by the Prince Henry that employed its 6 inch guns to good effect quickly sinking two before the weather closed in again and made accurate gunnery impossible. Small fry, yes; but morale soared among the crew with some even insisting the captain fly a Jolly Rodger along the ships colours!

Day Time Surface Combat, near Toyohara at 125,47, Range 4,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
SC CHa-3, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
SC CHa-6
SC CHa-15
SC CHa-18, Shell hits 2, and is sunk

Allied Ships
AMC Prince Henry

[BBfanboy]

A couple of pinpricks, but those usually cause a reaction and spread out the enemy forces. Good stuff! Congrats!

[RangerJoe]

Those small fry SCs are important!

[cantona2]

Invasion of Java D-Day +3

Both Japanese divisions remain in Merak digging in and recovering disruption while under a LRCAP umbrella of A6M2s. The transport ships retired north yesterday and no further incoming vessels have been detected. That said recon of Palembang suggest the gathering of many enemy vessels, possibly a second incoming wave or support troops. Search planes scour the seas to the north of Java waiting for the next blow.

There was action much to the south as a squadron of G3M2s targeted the port at Soreabaja. They came in unescorted and unfortunately for them detected by radar meaning that the CAP provided by 2-VI.G.IV (CW-21B Demon) and 3-VI.G.V (B-339D) was up and ready. It was slaughter with only two damaged bombers dropping their bombs wildy around the harbour to the cheers of the populace. It was the second time that Japanese bombers were falling from the skies of Soreabja and these Nells joined the Kates shot down a few weeks ago in the fields and waters around the city. Indeed the Demons were forging a repuation as bomber killers. Its roster had ranked up 14 kills and recently promoted 2Lt Dejalle one kill from attaining 'ace' status.

Morning Air attack on Soerabaja , at 56,104

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid detected at 20 NM, estimated altitude 17,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes

Japanese aircraft
G3M2 Nell x 15

Allied aircraft
B-339D x 6
CW-21B Demon x 9

Japanese aircraft losses
G3M2 Nell: 7 destroyed, 1 damaged

No Allied losses

[cantona2]

28th January 1942

Seaman Jones answered his captain once again, 'yes sir. I repeat it was a Japanese torpedo bomber, the same type that did us as Pearl. I can swear my life on it'.

The ship's XO lambasted the sailor, 'we are 800 miles away from pearl seaman, deep in our backfield; I repeat you misidentified the plane you saw. Sir, if I may, it is impossible...'

Captain Gruenther, O/C USS Arizona, stopped his XO by raising his hand, 'John I have already had my ship bombed and torpedoed under me, and like yourself every man on board lived through that day. Continue seaman.'

'Sir, I would recognise one of those bastards, pardon me sir, any day. It was one of those torpedo luggers. It hovered to our North and then steered away to our North West. I can bet my life on it sir!'

Gruenther paused. His ship was afloat and navigable but if the enemy had insereted carriers into the Pearl-West Coast shipping lanes his battered battleship was actually the lowest value target currently trasniting these lanes. Reinforcements, supplies and fuel laden ships, undefended merchantmen lacking his armoured carapce that would be easy and costly prey. His made up his mind instantly.

'Thank you seaman. You may have saved countless lives today. Dismissed.' With a curt salute the sailor left the captain's ready room.


Gruenther turned to his XO, his countenance serious. 'John you know how many of our vessels are near us sailing towards Pearl and points beyond. If this man is correct they are in serious danger.'

The XO's repsonse was stiffled by another raised hand, 'John, we said that Pearl was safe and that no Jap could get us there. Two months later and we are still suffering from that attack. I cannot risk it.'

'Order our escorts to fan out to the North West at full speed and locate and engage any enemy ships they find. I also want you to order signals to radio on an open frequency to all ships nearby that enemy carriers are in our lanes. Disperse to the North or south of our position. I know it will make our position known but if it means that our sacrifice saves those ships carrying the means by which we will take the fight to the Jap then so be it!'

[witpqs]

[X(]

How was the enemy TF spotted?

[cantona2]

B5N2 spotted over Arizona TF message. Yesterday's turn had Fighter Bomber over TF message. But thats it as the Arizonas search planes are fixed forward at 100% ASW. I have no search resources near the location of the Jap CVLs so maybe some signal intel (which I also checked and there was nothing). A pity as Yorktown and Saratoga left Pearl 4 days ago. They would have been in an ideal position to move into a position between the CVLs and home/replenishment. His oilers must be somewhere North of Pearl and East of Midway and i am sending DDs and CLs to scout the area. Tense times.

[RangerJoe]

Fun times!

[cantona2]

The First Year - 1942
Princeton Press
Published 1987
Chapter 13 The Last Charge of the Four Stackers

Once Gruenther had made his decsion Commander Clarkson (USS Chew) took command of the small destroyer squadron as the damaged Arizona steamed to the south east. He gathered his small fleet and steamed to the North North West at full speed. His mission was akin to finding a needle in a haystack, four small World War One vintage destroyers in the vastness of the Pacific ocean looking for an allusive, maybe imaginary Japanese carrier group.

Yet, imaginary it was not. 3 small light carriers the Ryujo, Shoho and Zuiho along with a the venerable Hosho had penetrated into the American's backfield. Yamamoto had done it again. 8 weeks after Pearl Harbour he had inserted his carriers through the air search gap using the vastness of the ocean to his advantage.

Whether Providence guided his ships or not Clarkson made a bullseye, an impossible bullseye! Early on the 29th January 1942 the USS Hatfield, steaming in the van of the formation, spotted a large group of enemy vessels steaming East on a calm moonlight night. Using the element of surprise LCDR Grower immediately opened fire scoring the first, and only US hit of the battle on the IJN Yukikaze. The rest of the squadron sped up to battle speed 1 and launched a torpedo broadside against the hapless Japanese carriers.

Sailors and officers alike gasped in anticipation of the telling explosions that would herald the striking of torpedoes but alas the night did not turn into day. Instead the Japanese began to shift their formation as the destroyers Kuroshio and Hayashio began to screen the carriers while the attending cruiser Nachi and the Yukikaze trained their guns on the advancing American destroyers. At this stage of the war the IJN was still the master of night fighting and it did not take them long to demonstrate their superiority.

The Nachi's main battery scored a heavy hit on Clarkson's ship as 3 eight inch shells hit her bridge and forward guns. The Chew begin to burn and smoke but still it plowed ahead, its 5 inchers seeking the enemy carriers. It was at this time that the Japanese destroyers launched their long lances. They did not miss. The Chew seemed to suddenly disappear in a cacophany of fire and steaming water as a torpedo literally split her two. At this the American formation broke and it turned into a brawl. The Hatfield and Kane were hit as they closed on the Hosho but no hits were recorded on the carrier. Commander Hufnagel on the USS Schely had taken command upon the Chew's sinking and ordered his ships to break contact and break to the north east.

The Americans at the time were surprised at the fact that the Japanese did not press on their attack considering that none of their ships were really damaged. Post war analysis of the action, once historians were given access to Japanese records reveal that the Chew's charge had caused some panic among the Japanese carriers. The Captain of the Hosho steered hard to port to avoid the incoming Chew and it slammed headlong into the Hayashio leaving the latter heavily damaged and the carrier itself unable to perform aerial missions.

Though unable to damage or ultimately sink any enemy vessel the 'four stackers' had caused enough disruption with their charge to allow the Arizona, but more importantly the transport convoys time to steam away from the possible danger. As the sun rose on January 30th 1942 no carrier borne Japanese plane was to be seen over any American vessel in the area.

Night Time Surface Combat, near Lahaina at 201,93, Range 8,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CVL Ryujo
CVL Shoho
CVL Zuiho
CVE Hosho
CA Nachi
DD Kuroshio
DD Yukikaze, Shell hits 1
DD Hayashio

Allied Ships
DD Chew, Shell hits 4, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
DD Schley
DD Hatfield, Shell hits 2
DD Kane, Shell hits 1

[cantona2]

End of January Sit Rep

Japanese forces continue to invest the DEI and they made landfall on Java by taking Merak. The two divisions there however have remained put and not advanced further inland yet. The last few days in January saw the Kido Butai supporting the landings on Timor and the Celebes. The Japanese army has also began its long awaited move on Burma.

In China the Japanese have launched a powerful offensive to the North and South of Sian and Chinese forces scramble to avoid encirclement. The Japanese have also launche on offensive in the far North and have caught Communist forces off guard.

The Allies have made the decision to consolidate the Solomons and New Guinea before the enemy moves into the area in force.

Pilot Class of January 1942

USAAF: 26 pilots
USMC: 36 pilots

[cantona2]

2nd February 1942

The Japanese light carrier force that had been spotted in the Pearl-West Coast shipping lanes were sighted again on 1st February by Kingfishers from the USN Idaho. The battleship was leading four more of her sisters and her attendant destroyer escorts to Pearl as part of their redployment to the South Pacific.

Intelligence had suggested that the Japanese carriers were steaming home following their encounter with the destroyers under Commander Clarkson but it was clear the Japanese had penetrated further to the East almost bumping into the Idaho Task Force. Captain Kingman, O/C USN Idaho, eager to avenge Pearl Harbour and keen to simulate the destroyer's actions two days earlier ordered his ships to steam at full speed to the south east of their current position. Clarkson had reported only one cruiser escorting the flatops so Kingman was confident his four battleships would wreck havoc if they caught up with the Japanese.

Alas it was not to be. Post war analysis of TROMS suggested that both groups of ships bypassed each other at night, almost as close as 80 nautical miles from each other. Daylight saw the USN battlewagons searching an empty sea with the occasional plane droning above them. Why the carriers didnt launch their planes has been a matter for conjecture since.

[cantona2]

and it begins....

[cantona2]

11th February 1942

The slow Japanese advance continues. Dutch search planes located the bulk of the enemy's Combined Fleet at Balikpapan. Interceptong fighters from the Japanese main fleet carriers have been identified flying CAP and yesterday came the reports that the enemy's main surface strength was also located. All indications are that they will make entry into the eastern end of the Java Sea as the anvil to the two divisions investing Batavia.

[cantona2]

14th February 1942

With the lack of ANY Japanese moves in the South Pacific COMSOPAC has ordered the building up of Rabaul as a forward base now that Port Moresby has been declared secure. A marine raider battalion, a base force and several sqaudrons of fighters and dive bombers have been diverted to Rabaul from Australia to reinforce the meagre garrison at the base. Rabual itself is within range of the Japanese base at Truk and bombers based there launched an unescorted daylight raid on transports unloading at Rabual. They were met by an assorted bunch of P-40s, some of which were veterans of Pearl Harbour (6th Pursuit Squadron). Thought the Japanese bombers were able to land a bomb on one transport the fighters were able to down a substantial number of bombers and the unloading operation continued apace. USS Yorktown and USS Saratoga stand off Bismarck Archipelago providing distant cover. A sighting brought in by a RAAF Catalina late in the day of enemy ships at Ponape has raised concerns though!

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Rabaul at 106,125

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid detected at 32 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes

Japanese aircraft
G3M2 Nell x 20

Allied aircraft
P-40B Warhawk x 2
P-40E Warhawk x 8

Japanese aircraft losses
G3M2 Nell: 4 destroyed, 2 damaged

No Allied losses

Allied Ships
DMS Hovey
xAP Kota Agoeng, Bomb hits 1

Allied ground losses:
8 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Aircraft Attacking:
13 x G3M2 Nell bombing from 7000 feet *
Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb

[cantona2]

21st February 1942

The war continues its slow pace. Several events of note have happened since the last report.

Manila and Clarke Field fell to the enemy leaving Bataan as the sole bastion on Luzon. Singapore still holds on and its two Indian divisions have bloodily repulsed three Japanese assaults. Its daily aerial punishment continues but its flak gunners continues to attrite the fleets of enemy bombers.

The IJA finally entered Burma on the 17th February and its 33rd Infantry Division is at the gates of Rangoon. The skies above the city were testament to savage battles between Ki-43s and the 1/AVG and Buffaloes refugees from Singapore. Not an enemy bomb has yet fallen on the city thanks to the selfless action of these brave fliers.

There is more worrying news from the South West Pacific though. Both the Saratoga and Yorktown were hit by submarines in the shallow waters off New Britain. Though both were initally lightly damaged, the Sara took a second torpedo enroute away from the area and she is currently in a very bad state in a seculed location as her damage control parties fight for their ship.

The Japanese invasion of Java has unexpectedly stalled. The KB has vanished off allied search vectors and no more troops have been landed despite the spotting of many transport ships at Palembang and Balikpapan. Despite the 4th and 21st Infantry Divisions investing Batavia there has been little else in support. Indeed constant recon of Merak indicated it was either lightly held or none at all. As such B Squadron, 3rd Hussars carried out a flanking maneouver around Batavia to cut off the Japanese from their only source of supply on Java.