Another battle in China went our way.
Tarawa went well, the only downside being that the base is trashed. Repairs begin at once.
One IJN subs fired two torpedoes at Hornet, but missed. Other subs attacked the landing forces but also missed.
Meanwhile, the IJN took advantage of the known location of major USN units. This force was not seen coming. There was a search report yesterday of a small TF of a PB and 3 x AS just north of Munda. The submarine tenders turned out to be battleships!
Day Time Surface Combat, near Ndeni at 120,143, Range 18,000 Yards
Japanese Ships
BB Kongo, Shell hits 4
BB Haruna
BB Kirishima
DD Makinami, Shell hits 4, on fire
DD Onami, Shell hits 2
DD Samidare, Shell hits 3, on fire
Allied Ships
CL Java, Shell hits 6, on fire, heavy damage
CL Sumatra, Shell hits 13, and is sunk
DD Piet Hein, Shell hits 2
DD Kortenaer, Shell hits 4
DD Evertsen, Shell hits 2, on fire
DD Witte de With
DD Van Nes, Shell hits 1
DD Banckert, Shell hits 3, on fire
DD Van Ghent, Shell hits 1, on fire
Maximum visibility in Overcast Conditions: 20,000 yards
Range closes to 18,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 18,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 18,000 yards
De Walt S. crosses the 'T'
BB Kongo engages CL Sumatra at 18,000 yards
DD Samidare engages DD Banckert at 18,000 yards
DD Samidare engages DD Van Nes at 18,000 yards
DD Evertsen engages DD Samidare at 18,000 yards
DD Samidare engages DD Kortenaer at 18,000 yards
DD Piet Hein engages DD Samidare at 18,000 yards
Range closes to 11,000 yards
BB Kirishima engages CL Sumatra at 11,000 yards
BB Haruna engages CL Sumatra at 11,000 yards
DD Samidare engages DD Banckert at 11,000 yards
DD Samidare engages DD Witte de With at 11,000 yards
DD Samidare engages DD Evertsen at 11,000 yards
DD Piet Hein engages DD Samidare at 11,000 yards
Range closes to 5,000 yards
BB Kirishima engages CL Sumatra at 5,000 yards
BB Kongo engages DD Van Ghent at 5,000 yards
DD Banckert engages DD Samidare at 5,000 yards
DD Piet Hein engages DD Onami at 5,000 yards
DD Witte de With engages DD Samidare at 5,000 yards
DD Evertsen engages DD Samidare at 5,000 yards
DD Kortenaer engages DD Samidare at 5,000 yards
Range increases to 11,000 yards
BB Kirishima engages CL Java at 11,000 yards
BB Haruna engages CL Sumatra at 11,000 yards
BB Kongo engages CL Sumatra at 11,000 yards
DD Samidare engages DD Banckert at 11,000 yards
DD Makinami engages DD Evertsen at 11,000 yards
DD Evertsen engages DD Onami at 11,000 yards
Range increases to 13,000 yards
BB Kongo engages CL Sumatra at 13,000 yards
BB Haruna engages CL Java at 13,000 yards
BB Kongo engages DD Van Nes at 13,000 yards
DD Samidare engages DD Banckert at 13,000 yards
DD Van Nes engages DD Samidare at 13,000 yards
DD Onami engages DD Witte de With at 13,000 yards
DD Evertsen engages DD Onami at 13,000 yards
BB Kongo engages DD Kortenaer at 13,000 yards
DD Onami engages DD Piet Hein at 13,000 yards
Range closes to 12,000 yards
CL Sumatra engages DD Onami at 12,000 yards
BB Haruna engages CL Java at 12,000 yards
DD Samidare engages DD Van Ghent at 12,000 yards
DD Banckert engages DD Samidare at 12,000 yards
DD Onami engages DD Piet Hein at 12,000 yards
DD Makinami engages DD Witte de With at 12,000 yards
DD Evertsen engages DD Samidare at 12,000 yards
DD Makinami engages DD Kortenaer at 12,000 yards
DD Onami engages DD Piet Hein at 12,000 yards
BB Kongo engages CL Sumatra at 12,000 yards
CL Java engages DD Makinami at 12,000 yards
CL Sumatra sunk by BB Kongo at 12,000 yards
DD Banckert engages DD Samidare at 12,000 yards
DD Van Nes engages DD Onami at 12,000 yards
DD Makinami engages DD Kortenaer at 12,000 yards
DD Samidare engages DD Evertsen at 12,000 yards
DD Makinami engages DD Kortenaer at 12,000 yards
DD Samidare engages DD Piet Hein at 12,000 yards
Range closes to 8,000 yards
BB Kirishima engages CL Java at 8,000 yards
DD Van Ghent engages DD Makinami at 8,000 yards
BB Kongo engages CL Java at 8,000 yards
DD Samidare engages DD Witte de With at 8,000 yards
DD Onami engages DD Witte de With at 8,000 yards
DD Evertsen engages DD Makinami at 8,000 yards
DD Samidare engages DD Kortenaer at 8,000 yards
DD Makinami engages DD Piet Hein at 8,000 yards
Range closes to 6,000 yards
CL Java engages DD Makinami at 6,000 yards
DD Samidare engages DD Van Ghent at 6,000 yards
BB Kongo engages DD Van Ghent at 6,000 yards
DD Evertsen engages DD Samidare at 6,000 yards
DD Witte de With engages DD Onami at 6,000 yards
DD Onami engages DD Kortenaer at 6,000 yards
DD Piet Hein engages DD Samidare at 6,000 yards
Range increases to 9,000 yards
BB Kirishima engages CL Java at 9,000 yards
DD Samidare engages DD Van Ghent at 9,000 yards
DD Banckert engages DD Samidare at 9,000 yards
DD Samidare engages DD Piet Hein at 9,000 yards
DD Onami engages DD Kortenaer at 9,000 yards
DD Makinami engages DD Van Nes at 9,000 yards
DD Makinami engages DD Kortenaer at 9,000 yards
DD Makinami engages DD Piet Hein at 9,000 yards
Range increases to 11,000 yards
BB Kirishima engages CL Java at 11,000 yards
BB Haruna engages CL Java at 11,000 yards
DD Samidare engages DD Banckert at 11,000 yards
DD Van Nes engages DD Onami at 11,000 yards
DD Onami engages DD Banckert at 11,000 yards
DD Onami engages DD Evertsen at 11,000 yards
DD Makinami engages DD Kortenaer at 11,000 yards
Range increases to 14,000 yards
BB Kirishima engages CL Java at 14,000 yards
DD Banckert engages DD Onami at 14,000 yards
DD Van Nes engages DD Makinami at 14,000 yards
DD Onami engages DD Witte de With at 14,000 yards
DD Makinami engages DD Witte de With at 14,000 yards
DD Makinami engages DD Kortenaer at 14,000 yards
DD Piet Hein engages DD Makinami at 14,000 yards
Range increases to 18,000 yards
BB Kirishima engages CL Java at 18,000 yards
BB Haruna engages DD Piet Hein at 18,000 yards
BB Kongo engages CL Java at 18,000 yards
DD Onami engages DD Van Nes at 18,000 yards
DD Kortenaer engages DD Onami at 18,000 yards
DD Makinami engages DD Piet Hein at 18,000 yards
DD Makinami engages DD Kortenaer at 18,000 yards
DD Makinami engages DD Piet Hein at 18,000 yards
Range increases to 23,000 yards
BB Kirishima engages CL Java at 23,000 yards
BB Kongo engages DD Van Ghent at 23,000 yards
BB Haruna engages DD Banckert at 23,000 yards
BB Haruna engages DD Van Nes at 23,000 yards
BB Haruna engages DD Kortenaer at 23,000 yards
BB Kongo engages DD Piet Hein at 23,000 yards
Range increases to 29,000 yards
BB Kirishima engages CL Java at 29,000 yards
BB Haruna engages CL Java at 29,000 yards
BB Kongo engages DD Van Nes at 29,000 yards
BB Kirishima engages DD Kortenaer at 29,000 yards
BB Haruna engages DD Piet Hein at 29,000 yards
De Walt S. orders Allied TF to disengage
Task forces break off...
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Day Time Surface Combat, near Ndeni at 120,143, Range 18,000 Yards
Japanese Ships
BB Kongo
BB Haruna
BB Kirishima
DD Makinami, on fire
DD Onami
DD Samidare, on fire
Allied Ships
AM Ipswitch, Shell hits 2, and is sunk
TK Paula, Shell hits 6, and is sunk
Japanese Ships Reported to be Approaching!
Allied TF begins to get underway
Maximum visibility in Overcast Conditions: 20,000 yards
Range closes to 18,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 18,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 18,000 yards
Range closes to 16,000 yards
BB Kirishima engages TK Paula at 16,000 yards
TK Paula sunk by BB Kongo at 16,000 yards
DD Onami engages AM Ipswitch at 16,000 yards
Range closes to 13,000 yards
BB Kirishima engages AM Ipswitch at 13,000 yards
AM Ipswitch sunk by BB Kongo at 13,000 yards
Combat ends with last Allied ship sunk...
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TF 430 encounters mine field at Ndeni (120,143)
Japanese Ships
BB Kongo, Mine hits 1
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Morning Air attack on TF, near Ndeni at 120,143
Weather in hex: Thunderstorms
Raid spotted at 5 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 2 minutes
Allied aircraft
P-39D Airacobra x 4
P-40E Warhawk x 12
P-40K Warhawk x 17
TBF-1 Avenger x 9
No Allied losses
Japanese Ships
BB Kongo
BB Haruna
Aircraft Attacking:
9 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 5000 feet *
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
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Morning Air attack on TF, near Ndeni at 120,143
Weather in hex: Thunderstorms
Raid spotted at 14 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes
Allied aircraft
P-39D Airacobra x 12
P-40E Warhawk x 12
F4F-3 Wildcat x 14
SBC-4 Helldiver x 18
Allied aircraft losses
SBC-4 Helldiver: 2 damaged
SBC-4 Helldiver: 2 destroyed by flak
Japanese Ships
BB Kongo
BB Haruna
BB Kirishima
Aircraft Attacking:
12 x SBC-4 Helldiver releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
1 x SBC-4 Helldiver releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
4 x SBC-4 Helldiver releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Ndeni at 120,143
Weather in hex: Thunderstorms
Raid spotted at 18 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes
Allied aircraft
P-39D Airacobra x 8
P-40E Warhawk x 14
SBD-2 Dauntless x 27
Allied aircraft losses
SBD-2 Dauntless: 4 damaged
SBD-2 Dauntless: 1 destroyed by flak
Japanese Ships
BB Kirishima, Bomb hits 1
BB Haruna
BB Kongo, Bomb hits 1, on fire
Aircraft Attacking:
8 x SBD-2 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
10 x SBD-2 Dauntless releasing from 4000' *
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
4 x SBD-2 Dauntless releasing from 2000' *
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
3 x SBD-2 Dauntless releasing from 3000' *
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
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Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Ndeni at 120,143
Weather in hex: Light rain
Raid spotted at 18 NM, estimated altitude 6,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes
Allied aircraft
P-39D Airacobra x 14
P-40E Warhawk x 6
P-40K Warhawk x 17
TBF-1 Avenger x 9
No Allied losses
Japanese Ships
BB Kirishima, Bomb hits 1
BB Haruna, Bomb hits 1
Aircraft Attacking:
9 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 5000 feet *
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
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Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Ndeni at 120,143
Weather in hex: Light rain
Raid spotted at 18 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes
Allied aircraft
P-39D Airacobra x 8
P-40E Warhawk x 8
F4F-3 Wildcat x 14
SBC-4 Helldiver x 12
Allied aircraft losses
SBC-4 Helldiver: 3 damaged
SBC-4 Helldiver: 1 destroyed by flak
Japanese Ships
BB Kirishima, Bomb hits 1
BB Kongo, Bomb hits 1
BB Haruna
Aircraft Attacking:
1 x SBC-4 Helldiver releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
7 x SBC-4 Helldiver releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
4 x SBC-4 Helldiver releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Ndeni at 120,143
Weather in hex: Light rain
Raid spotted at 9 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes
Allied aircraft
P-39D Airacobra x 12
P-40E Warhawk x 12
SBD-2 Dauntless x 9
Allied aircraft losses
SBD-2 Dauntless: 4 damaged
Japanese Ships
BB Kirishima
BB Kongo
Aircraft Attacking:
5 x SBD-2 Dauntless releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
4 x SBD-2 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
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Day Time Surface Combat, near Ndeni at 120,143, Range 20,000 Yards
Japanese Ships
BB Kongo
BB Haruna
BB Kirishima
DD Makinami
DD Onami
DD Samidare
Allied Ships
PT-36
PT-37
PT-38
PT-39
PT-40
PT-43
PT-44
PT-45
PT-46
PT-47
PT-48
PT-59, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
Maximum visibility in Overcast Conditions: 20,000 yards
Range closes to 20,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 20,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 20,000 yards
BB Kongo engages PT-37 at 20,000 yards
BB Kongo engages PT-36 at 20,000 yards
PT-59 sunk by BB Kongo at 20,000 yards
BB Kongo engages PT-43 at 20,000 yards
BB Kongo engages PT-40 at 20,000 yards
Searles, J. orders Allied TF to disengage
Range closes to 19,000 yards
DD Samidare engages PT-48 at 19,000 yards
DD Makinami engages PT-48 at 19,000 yards
BB Kongo engages PT-40 at 19,000 yards
BB Kongo engages PT-37 at 19,000 yards
Range increases to 21,000 yards
BB Kirishima engages PT-48 at 21,000 yards
BB Haruna engages PT-48 at 21,000 yards
BB Haruna engages PT-39 at 21,000 yards
BB Haruna engages PT-37 at 21,000 yards
BB Kirishima engages PT-36 at 21,000 yards
Tanaka, Raizo orders Japanese TF to disengage
Range increases to 25,000 yards
BB Kirishima engages PT-48 at 25,000 yards
BB Haruna engages PT-47 at 25,000 yards
BB Haruna engages PT-36 at 25,000 yards
Task forces break off...
The Imperial battle wagons are still at Ndeni! At least Kongo should be slowed down by hitting that mine. Two separate TF, one with 2 x CL + 1 x DE and one with 2 x CA + 1 x DD are ordered from Luganville to Ndeni. One CL and both CA have torpedoes, and combined with the Dutch DD still at Ndeni they might get some hits in during a night battle. The TB group has moved from Luganville to Vanua Lava to get closer, but Ndeni is too close as it might get whumped.
Here is a look at the Intel screen. We just edged past the Empire in points for bases, and they are down to an even 500 bases held. That number might go up due to the situation in China.