Canoerebel
Posts: 21100
Joined: 12/14/2002 From: Northwestern Georgia, USA Status: offline
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06/27/42 A sharp surface battle took place at Oosthaven as Mutsu, Nagato, four CAs, and 10 DDs clashed with three Allied combat TFs that included four BB, one BC, and a large number of CA, CL, and DD. The successive battles were bloody for both sides. More Allied ships suffered damage, but more big Japanese ships suffered major damage: Allied Ships in Sinking Condition: CA Astoria, DDs Parrot and Evertson, DMS Southard. Allied Ships Requiring Yard Work: BB New Mexico, BB Royal Sovereign, BC Repulse, CAs San Francisco, Devonshire, and Indianapolis, CLs Achilles, Java and Leander; and DDs Perkins and Preston. Japanese Ships Sunk: BB Mutsu, CA Chokai, DDs Tatsuzuke and Hatsukaze. Japanese Ships in Sinking Condition: CA Kumano, DD Unyuko. Japanese Ships Requiring Yard Work: BB Nagato, CA Takao, CA Atago. What this Means for the Allies: The Allies originally had eight BB/BC available in the DEI. That number is down to four (BB Ramilles has been at Capetown for months with two months of repairs to go). Most of the ships engaged will have to retire to Colombo to replenish or for repairs. While they are absent, the Allies have three other combat TFs, though smaller, that will have to handle the defense of Sumatra. What this Means for Japan: The Japanese will actually have a window of opportunity while Allied combatants replenish at Colombo, but I don't think Steve will realize this, nor is he prepared to exploit it. He was not expecting such a battle (he's lamenting his poor patrols in an email). He will not trust his patrols to tell him what's in the vicinity. More importantly, this is a serious attrition of IJN sea power. To this point, Japan has lost three BB and four CA, with a BB and two more CA possibly needing yard work. With four CAs committed in NoPac, and another plus a BB in SoPac, plus whatever is escorting the KB, Japan's sea power in the DEI has eroded considerably. What this Means for the Game: To be candid, this was a major blunder by Japan. Steve has been proceeding very carefully in the DEI since the very bad (for him) Battle of Andaman Sea in April. I was worried that his next move would be coordinated, overwhelming, and decisive. Instead, it turned out to be probing, risky, and underwhelming. Two months after Andaman Sea, it seems that he isn't sure how he is going to handle Sumatra. That uncertainty cost him. More about the turn tomorrow morning.
< Message edited by Canoerebel -- 8/27/2011 8:16:14 AM >
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