(5) the BB Valiant TF arrives to late to get in on the action 9but will pursue the depleted enemy TF tonight).
Valiant Vs. Musashi -- that should be interesting..
I have to wonder about including a CLAA in your force. (Granted, it has the speed, but not the armor or shell weight.) Let's hope most of the 33 hits on Musashi did *not* come from Juneau.
It does have torps though........very few other Allied cruisers have them...........
The vast majority of hits on Musashi were 8" shells from San Fran and Pensacola. The shells actually took out some weapons, so I think Musashi might need a brief spell in the yards.
"Rats set fire to Mr. Cooper’s store in Fort Valley. No damage done." Columbus (Ga) Enquirer-Sun, October 2, 1880.
As for including CLAAs in my combat TFs, you're not the first to comment on this. I do it for a couple of reasons:
1) It "feels" right. They were used in combat during the war.
2) The Allies are rotating combat ships in and out of the DEI pretty quickly, meaning I have to employ everything I can get my hands on. The Allies are winning nearly every battle, but every battle means a number of combat vessles require a long journey to the yards at Colombo for weeks of repairs.
"Rats set fire to Mr. Cooper’s store in Fort Valley. No damage done." Columbus (Ga) Enquirer-Sun, October 2, 1880.
I have to wonder about including a CLAA in your force. (Granted, it has the speed, but not the armor or shell weight.) Let's hope most of the 33 hits on Musashi did *not* come from Juneau.
It does have torps though........very few other Allied cruisers have them...........
I think you mean US cruisers. Most other nations, including Britain, put TT on their cruisers. The only US cruisers having them were the early Atlanta CLAAs and the WWI era Detroit/Richmond/Marblehead etc class. Both these groups were originally supposed to be Destroyer Leaders, as the Japanese CLs were.
No matter how bad a situation is, you can always make it worse. - Chris Hadfield : An Astronaut's Guide To Life On Earth
1/7/43
BB Valliant may have earned the MVP of the War award, and Japan may have suffered a mortal blow.
Battle of Singkep: BB Valiant leads a TF that manages to intercept the massive and depleted IJ combat TF retiring from the previous day's enagements. The resulting battles are devastating to the Japanese warships and probably to whatever hopes Steve had of remaining competitive at sea:
Roune One Night Time Surface Combat, near Tandjoengpinang at 50,86, Range 8,000 Yards
Japanese Ships
BB Hiei, Shell hits 40, and is sunk
BB Musashi, Shell hits 84, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk
BB Yamashiro, Shell hits 5
CA Kinugasa, Shell hits 14, heavy fires, heavy damage
CL Agano, Shell hits 6, and is sunk
CL Kiso, Shell hits 5, and is sunk
CL Tenryu, Shell hits 8, and is sunk
DD Yugumo, Shell hits 1, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
DD Akigumo
DD Kazegumo, Shell hits 2
DD Makigumo, Shell hits 5, on fire, heavy damage
DD Kagero, Shell hits 1, heavy damage
DD Yukikaze, Shell hits 3
DD Hayashio, Shell hits 18, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Amatsukaze, Shell hits 7, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Samidare
DD Yamakaze, Shell hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
DD Kawakaze, Shell hits 2, on fire
DD Nenohi, Shell hits 5, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
DD Hatsushima, Shell hits 6, and is sunk
DD Uranami, Shell hits 13, heavy fires, heavy damage
Allied Ships
BB Valiant, Shell hits 46, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
CA Dorsetshire, Shell hits 7, heavy fires
CL Helena
DD Meredith
DD Gwin, Shell hits 2, on fire
DD Grayson, Shell hits 9, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
DD Monssen, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
DMS Long
Japanese aircraft losses
E7K2 Alf: 1 destroyed
F1M2 Pete: 4 destroyed
Allied aircraft losses
Walrus II: 1 destroyed
[The Following information is excerpted:]
CONTACT: Allies radar detects Japanese task force at 23,000 yards
Allies open fire on surprised Japanese ships at 8,000 yards
CA Dorsetshire launches Torpedoes at BB Musashi at 8,000 yards
DD Monssen launches Torpedoes at BB Musashi at 8,000 yards
CL Kiso sunk by BB Valiant at 8,000 yards
Range closes to 4,000 yards
CL Tenryu sunk by BB Valiant at 4,000 yards
CL Agano sunk by BB Valiant at 4,000 yards
DD Monssen sunk by DD Uranami at 4,000 yards
DD Hatsushima sunk by DD Grayson at 2,000 yards
DD Yugumo sunk by DD Gwin at 2,000 yards
DD Nenohi sunk by DD Grayson at 2,000 yards
DD Kazegumo collides with DD Yamakaze at 50 , 86
DD Grayson sunk by DD Kawakaze at 2,000 yards
Round Two -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Night Time Surface Combat, near Tandjoengpinang at 50,86, Range 2,000 Yards
Japanese Ships
BB Yamashiro, Shell hits 28, heavy fires
CA Kinugasa, Shell hits 5, and is sunk
DD Akigumo, Shell hits 1
DD Kazegumo, Shell hits 5, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Makigumo, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Kagero, Shell hits 5, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Yukikaze, Shell hits 5, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Hayashio, and is sunk
DD Amatsukaze, Shell hits 7, and is sunk
DD Samidare
DD Yamakaze, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Kawakaze, heavy fires
DD Uranami, Shell hits 4, and is sunk
Allied Ships
CA Pensacola, Shell hits 11, on fire, heavy damage
CL Detroit, Shell hits 1
Japanese aircraft losses
E13A1 Jake: 1 destroyed
[The Following information is excerpted:]
Lee, Willis "Ching" crosses the 'T'
DD Amatsukaze sunk by CA Pensacola at 2,000 yards
DD Uranami sunk by CA Pensacola at 4,000 yards
Capital Ship Losses: By my count Japan lost two BB, one CA, three CL and 5 DD and the Allies one BB and two DD. In the war to date, Japan has only four BBs remaining (Yamashiro and Yamato are in the yards for awhile; Hyuga and Kongo should be available). Japan has, at most, seven CA and two CS remaining.
Impact: I think we've reached the point where the Japanese navy is too weak and spread too thin to be effective. Steve will have a hard time countering Allied operations in the DEI and it will be very difficult for him to mount any kind of amphibious operation against Paramushiro and Onnekotan. The KB remains strong (missing two fleet CV and three CVL), but escorts are few. Japan was already in a strategically impossible situation, but now operationally and even tactically Steve has reached the point where it will be tough to offer serious operation to Allied advances in the DEI. He can still fight, but he'll often be outnumbered and can't afford to lose anything. He's got to be thinking about whether he can continue to play the game.
Sumatra: The Allies are victorious at Sibolga, taking this important "bridge" airfield. Now the Allies can move RAF fighters from India to Sumatra by air. This will be a big help.
Burma: The Allies are also victorious at Moulmein, throwing back a weak enemy force. The attack at Magwe destroys a Japanese unit, but still isn't able to vanquish that besieged army.
"Rats set fire to Mr. Cooper’s store in Fort Valley. No damage done." Columbus (Ga) Enquirer-Sun, October 2, 1880.
Seems like another case of overloading his TF, if these guys had come in 3 different TFs the battle might have been very different. As is stands, Valiant lived up to it's name.
Steve must not be familiar with TF size and how it affects combat. He is only around the forums infrequently and doesn't seem to be one who has time to scour for information.
"Rats set fire to Mr. Cooper’s store in Fort Valley. No damage done." Columbus (Ga) Enquirer-Sun, October 2, 1880.
Capital Ship Losses: By my count Japan lost two BB, one CA, three CL and 5 DD and the Allies one BB and two DD.
Now there's an exciting turn!
The loss of Valiant is well worth the end of two Japanese BB's, and it looks to me like at least three more IJN DD's will go under. Are the Japanese suing for peace yet?
IRL, the two American CLAA's that participated in surface combat were promptly sunk. Atlanta succumbed to a storm of shells both enemy and friendly, and took an admiral down with her. Juneau was literally blown out of the water by a torpedo to a vital spot.
True, they carried torpedoes. But let's remember that those were American torpedoes . . .
Civil war? What does that mean? Is there any foreign war? Isn't every war fought between men, between brothers?
Superb positioning of your TFs to get that result - using up most of his ammo and torps in previous actions and then having these follow-on TFs to close the deal - brilliant!
Other notable points - Allies achieve surprise, allies score 6 torp hits and allies cross the "T". I can understand the last item with all the damaged Japanese ships and Willis "Ching" Lee in command, but wondering if Andrew Cunningham was in charge of the Valiant TF and if so, did her survive? [Best Admiral in any navy in WWII IMO]
No matter how bad a situation is, you can always make it worse. - Chris Hadfield : An Astronaut's Guide To Life On Earth
Well done, sir. The Valiant certainly lived up to its name. Multiple small-sized surface TFs are clearly the way to go as you have so aptly demonstrated.
Eastern DEI: Allied TFs continue to move undetected and unmolested. Airfield construction is halted at Morotai, Boela, Taberfane and Suamlauki with each at about 97%. Sorong is still something like 40%, so the work continues.
Invasion of the Celebes: TFs carrying an Aussie unit slated for Waingapo and a Brit brigade prepping for Kendari are already at the rendezvous points. Loading begins for the bulk of the troops at Oosthaven. The invasion is designed to seize some Celebes bases that are still Allied controlled and to then move on either or both Makassar and Kendari if recon shows them weakly defended. The Allies will also occupy some of the islands to the south in in affort to create a safe path of transit into the Indian Ocean. This isn't as critical in this situation since the Allies have bases both tot he west (Sampit) and to the east (Saumlaki, etc.). I didn't have enough transports to carry everything I wanted in the first wave, but here's how it breaks down:
Eastern Arm of Celebes: 29th UK brigade; Barison KNIL unit; 46th Indian Brigade; 36th Sea Bees; 5/14 Punjab unit; Tarakan base force; Kendari garrison. This force will land at Allied-controlled Kolako. Most of the infantry will move on Kendari if that proves lightly held.
Western Arm of Celebes: 84th Indian brigade; 44th Indian brigade; Moteil Enlead armored unit; 131 Combat Engineers; I US Amphib HQ, 1393 Construction Battalion, 223rd US base force; Telekboetang base force; Rooden battalion, and two SeaBee units. These will land at Allied controlled Watampone. From there, they go to Makassar (if lightly held) and/or the bases to the north, including Madjene.
Islands to the South: First wave features an Aussie battalion at Waingapo; a dutch cav unit and an Indian engineering unit for Bima, and a Dutch battalion at Ruteng.
Banjermasin: An invasion force is already at sea, loitering near Billiton Island, awaiting a good opportunity to move. This move will be preceded by recon to evaluate whether the amphibious force is sufficient to do the job.
Balikpapan: A large force (1,000 AV) has been prepping for Balikpapan for weeks. This will be ready to go once the troop transports involved in the Celebes operation return.
How it Comes Together: The Celebes invasion force will "spring" into the region (Steve has poor recon, me thinks) with the American carriers providing CAP. Just prior to this, the Allies will stage forward recon and patrol aircraft to forward bases like Morotai, Talaud Eilenden, and Boela to provide information against any countermoves by the KB; at the same time, construction on all airfields will resume and each should immediately transition to level one. Fighters will move in from Merauke and Darwin. The effect should be that Steve will suddenly have an infestation throught the entire eastern DEI. If this succeeds, both Timor and Java will be isolated and can be reduced at the leiusure of the Allies. I think Steve will react violently by doing what he can to hold and counterinvade key places, which might create more opportunities for fighting on terms advantageous to the Allies.
"Rats set fire to Mr. Cooper’s store in Fort Valley. No damage done." Columbus (Ga) Enquirer-Sun, October 2, 1880.
1/9/43
Steve sends a gracious note to open discussions for Japan's unconditional surrender. We're actually planning to play for about six more days, up until my departure date on a long camping trip. He suggested that and I'm glad, for I have four major things I'm interested in seeing:
1. The main thing is the invasion of Celebes and the simultaneous disclosure of the Allied bases in the eastern DEI. I think I have just enough time to get this done. Maybe.
2. There is a major CHinese attack planned near Chengchow. That will take place in about three days.
3. I would love to finally eradicate the Japanese garrison at Magwe. I don't think that will happen.
4. I've been nursing a severely damaged CA Salt Lake City for many months. She's on her way to the yards at Colombo, but she might not make it. I wish I could find out, but she's too far away to make it in the time remaining.
"Rats set fire to Mr. Cooper’s store in Fort Valley. No damage done." Columbus (Ga) Enquirer-Sun, October 2, 1880.
1/9/43
Steve sends a gracious note to open discussions for Japan's unconditional surrender. We're actually planning to play for about six more days, up until my departure date on a long camping trip. He suggested that and I'm glad, for I have four major things I'm interested in seeing:
1. The main thing is the invasion of Celebes and the simultaneous disclosure of the Allied bases in the eastern DEI. I think I have just enough time to get this done. Maybe.
2. There is a major CHinese attack planned near Chengchow. That will take place in about three days.
3. I would love to finally eradicate the Japanese garrison at Magwe. I don't think that will happen.
4. I've been nursing a severely damaged CA Salt Lake City for many months. She's on her way to the yards at Colombo, but she might not make it. I wish I could find out, but she's too far away to make it in the time remaining.
"Rats set fire to Mr. Cooper’s store in Fort Valley. No damage done." Columbus (Ga) Enquirer-Sun, October 2, 1880.
.
