Olorin
Posts: 1019
Joined: 4/22/2008 From: Greece Status: offline
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Invasion of Western Australia Here things were more complicated than the east coast. The invasion was not as well organized or protected as I would have liked, but I gambled that Michael's strategic withdrawal in every theater so far would mean that no BBs or CVs would interfere. If they did, they could have caused serious carnage, during the early stages of the invasion. But first, I must mention that Northern Australia had already fallen to my hands, Carnavon included. I only used very light forces to do that. When the invasion was launched Carnavon’s airfield was only lvl2, but with the 21st Air flotilla HQ there, it could provide decent air cover for my transports. 100 zeros were available, plus KB2. My transports hit the shores of Geraldon on April 7. The invasion bonus was gone by then. Michael had foreseen the invasion and had reinforced Geraldon with the 13th and 30th Australian Brigades, plus CD guns. Again, his subs caused some damage during the unloading phase. Michael also sent a cruiser force to mess with me. I had two strong surface taskforces, one with 2 BBs, 2 CAs and 4 DDs, the other one with 2 CAs, 2 CLs and 4 DDs. Did they protect the troops transports ! Of course not! They let the enemy cruisers in and out, to unload their ammo on my poor transports at their leisure: quote:
Day Time Surface Combat, near Geraldton at 49,141, Range 17,000 Yards Japanese Ships CM Itsukushima, Shell hits 36, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk DD Mochizuki DD Asakaze, Shell hits 6, on fire DMS W-8, Shell hits 7, and is sunk DMS W-10, Shell hits 16, and is sunk AK Arima Maru, Shell hits 20, and is sunk AK Awazisan Maru, Shell hits 11, and is sunk AK Azumasan Maru, Shell hits 16, heavy fires, heavy damage AK Aratama Maru, Shell hits 11, heavy fires, heavy damage Allied Ships CL Danae, Shell hits 1 CL Dragon CL Durban CL Dauntless, Shell hits 2 DD Stuart, Shell hits 1, on fire DD Kortenaer DD Scout DD Tenedos Luckily, the troops were already ashore (21st Inf.Rgt, 1st and 2nd Raiding Rgts). This was only the first wave though. The second wave was comprised by the Imperial Division and the 4th Guards Division. It hit the shores on April 9 and again the allied cruisers intervened. My BBs AGAIN did not angage them, but my cruisers did. Here is the result: quote:
Night Time Surface Combat, near Geraldton at 49,141, Range 7,000 Yards Japanese Ships CA Myoko, Shell hits 3 CA Nachi, Shell hits 15, Torpedo hits 1, heavy fires CL Isuzu, Shell hits 2, on fire CL Yura, Shell hits 1 DD Shiratsuyu DD Murasame DD Yamakaze DD Kawakaze, Shell hits 1, on fire Allied Ships CL Danae, Shell hits 1 CL Dragon, Shell hits 5, heavy fires CL Durban, Shell hits 2, on fire CL Dauntless, Shell hits 1 DD Stuart, Shell hits 17, and is sunk DD Kortenaer DD Scout, Shell hits 1 DD Tenedos, Shell hits 1 Maximum visibility in Overcast Conditions and 39% moonlight: 8,000 yards CA Nach was later sunk while trying to make its way to Soerebaja. I think I sunk CL Dragon and one DD. One of subs later caught CL Dauntless off Albany and sunk her. Overall though, I think losing a CA made this engagement an allied victory. KB2 did not launch a strike, as it was LRCAPing my ships from 10 hexes away... When this was happening. The third wave was just southeast of Java (48th Div, 7th Ind.Tank Bde, 2nd and 8th Tank Rgts, plus all the artillery, air HQ and other support units). After the 2nd wave landed at Geraldon, it mopped the floor with the two Australian brigades. The 3rd wave landed shortly afterwards and everyone is marching south, to Perth. My tanks caught the fleeing enemy just east of Perth and destroyed what was left of the Aussie brigades. In Perth itself, my recon planes show a garrison of 25.000 men, 350 guns and 150 AFVs. I won't know what's actually there until I enter the city, which will happen in two days. Albany (port 5, airfield 3) is also defended by 5000 men, probably a brigade. I should also mention that I made two failed attempts to take Kalgoorlie and Cunderdin by para airdrops. The Kalgoorlie paras were destroyed; the Cunderdin paras were saved by my armor.
< Message edited by Olorin -- 9/21/2012 2:48:09 AM >
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