March 21/42:
Fiji
Suva falls to a shock attack so all New Zealand resistance ends on Fiji. Pago Pago next?
Timor:
Koepang falls to Japanese assault. Scattered remnants of Dutch forces remain south of Dili, but for all intents and purposes Timor is in Japanese hands.
Well, the Allied surprise fizzles. Only the British carrier TF completes the full speed movement putting it within range of Koepang at 7 hexes. The American CV's come up short by 4 hexes for some reason. I knew I needed to be lucky, but still disappointing that the strongest part of my force failed to reach their assigned attack position.
CV
Indomitable launches both morning and afternoon strikes, but only the latter finds a target. Sadly, the closest Japanese force is attacked, which consists of two DD's, rather than the massed transports and supporting SCTF's near Koepang. One Japanese DD is torpedoed twice by Albacore's, but the second torpedo duds. That's it.
Thoughts:
Decision time. Missing a chance to strike at numerous Japanese naval assets completely lacking CAP was frustrating, but I realize the odds of everything going according to plan was doubtful. I faced two choices while completing my orders for today which were to withdraw or attempt another strike. Being a non-beta stock game I was able to see that Andre moved auxiliary aircraft to Koepang, but no fighters. I can move the Allied CV's to a position that is directly 6 hexes southwest of Koepang and exceeds Zero LRCAP range from Makassar and Kendari, so if Betty's or Nell's sortie they will need to travel 16 hexes unescorted. With this in mind I'm risking another strike. I've detached two British CL's to interdict Japanese naval forces at Koepang and hopefully cause some reactions that draw Japanese ships towards my CV's. There is a risk of Andre sending SCTF's southwest to try and interdict the British, but will he do so without fighter coverage?
I have no idea where CV
Kaga and friends are, but I suspect they were at Singapore. SigInt radio traffic indicates a Japanese TF eight hexes southeast of Singapore which I suspect are the Japanese CV's moving to intercept my forces. They will need to make a few full speed runs to catch me if this TF is indeed the carriers. Fuel is an issue for the British TF, but if all goes well, I should be able to bug out after a second strike and refuel off the northwest coast of Australia. Another British CV TF is moving east to join my forces, bringing my total strength to 2 American CV's and 2 British. The next few days are going to be interesting.
I'm taking a big risk, but feel I've read the tea leaves correctly. I imagine the High Command's reaction to not attempting another strike against so many Japanese targets would be rather critical. The American CV's are undetected and my gut tells me Andre expects me to quickly withdraw as I have after every initial combat to date. Let's see if he has discounted the possibility of American CV's lurking just over the horizon. Of course, I could be completely wrong in my analysis and just sacrificed half of my available CV force.
I've attached a rare screenshot showing the position of my carrier TF's and the gaggle of Japanese TF's around Koepang which indicate a target rich environment of 25+ enemy ships.
Still waiting for a turn. Andre tries to send one daily if possible, but with his busy schedule turns sometimes are 2-3 days apart.
