LargeSlowTarget
Posts: 4443
Joined: 9/23/2000 From: Hessen, Germany - now living in France Status: offline
|
The Battle of the Andaman Sea Aug 26 - 29, 1943 On Aug 24, 43 Nells on naval search covering the better part of the Andaman Sea, spotted a gaggle of enemy TFs entering the area northwest of Trinkat. Ship types indicated CVs, surface combattants and AP types - another invasion force. Possible targets included Trinkat, Nicobar and Sabang, or less likely a port on the mainland. All potential taget - except Sabang - have garrisons in place to prevent the Allies from taking them on the cheap, although none strong enough to resist a formal invasion. Trinkat has a Naval Guard Unit, Nicobar a Garrison Brigade. At Sabang only a base force is providing AV support for float planes. Sabang air base has not been build-up on purpose and is only level-1. It is a potential level-7 airbase, but I simply don't have enough infantry units to cover all bases. Units in the reinforcement queue are earmarked for Sabang, but won't arrive before December... Combined Fleet - or what is available, with most surviving BBs in the repair yards - received orders to sortie from Singers and to take position to cover the weakest and "worst case" target - Sabang. Air units and AV support received orders to concentrate at Victoria Point, Alor Star, Medan, and some fighters were sent to Sabang to provide some local CAP. Submarines were ordered back from the Bay of Bengal into the area between Trinkat and Sabang and minelaying subs held in readiness at Georgetown sent to mine the second-weakest target, Trinkat. My opponent decided to play it save and went for Trinkat. AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Aug 26, 43 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Pre-Invasion action off Trinkat (44,64) 17 Coastal gun shots fired in defense. Allied Ships CA Frobisher CL Danae DD Nizam DD Nestor DD Vampire APA Fayette CA Frobisher firing at 91st Naval Guard Unit CL Danae firing at 4th Naval Construction Battalion DD Nizam firing at 91st Naval Guard Unit DD Nestor firing at 91st Naval Guard Unit DD Vampire firing at 91st Naval Guard Unit Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 5,000 yards Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 2,000 yards -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Amphibious Assault at Trinkat (44,64) TF 368 troops unloading over beach at Trinkat, 44,64 Allied ground losses: 113 casualties reported Squads: 2 destroyed, 13 disabled Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 24 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Guns lost 11 (1 destroyed, 10 disabled) Vehicles lost 16 (2 destroyed, 14 disabled) 13 troops of a USA 43 Rifle Squad accidentally lost during unload of 7th Infantry Div /1 Motorized Support lost overboard during unload of 7th Infantry Div /4 Motorized Support accidentally lost during unload of 7th Infantry Div /6 M4 81mm MMC accidentally lost during unload of 194th Tank Bn 11 troops of a Can Inf Section lost overboard during unload of 18th Canadian Bde /2 15 Support troops accidentally lost during unload of 7th Infantry Div /7 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Invasion Support action off Trinkat (44,64) 11 Coastal gun shots fired in defense. Allied Ships CA Frobisher CL Danae DD Vampire APA Fayette DD Nizam Allied ground losses: 17 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 0 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled CA Frobisher firing at 91st Naval Guard Unit CL Danae firing at 91st Naval Guard Unit DD Vampire firing at 91st Naval Guard Unit Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 2,000 yards The enemy carriers covering the invasion discovered my SAG off Sabang, but launched only relatively weak attacks: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on TF, near Sabang at 45,70 Weather in hex: Overcast Raid detected at 78 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 28 minutes Japanese aircraft Ki-44-IIc Tojo x 22 Ki-61-Ib Tony x 9 Allied aircraft F6F-3 Hellcat x 71 SBD-5 Dauntless x 36 Japanese aircraft losses Ki-44-IIc Tojo: 1 destroyed Ki-61-Ib Tony: 5 destroyed Allied aircraft losses F6F-3 Hellcat: 2 destroyed SBD-5 Dauntless: 7 damaged SBD-5 Dauntless: 1 destroyed by flak Japanese Ships BB Hyuga, Bomb hits 7 CA Atago CA Myoko, Bomb hits 1 CA Kumano CA Mogami, Bomb hits 2, on fire -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Sabang at 45,70 Weather in hex: Severe storms Raid spotted at 13 NM, estimated altitude 4,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 5 minutes Japanese aircraft Ki-44-IIc Tojo x 19 Ki-61-Ib Tony x 7 Allied aircraft TBF-1 Avenger x 4 No Japanese losses Allied aircraft losses TBF-1 Avenger: 2 destroyed The CAP seems to have prevented worse damage, but the Tonies do not cover themselves in glory. I use the at 10k in their best maneuver band, but they still suck. Next day started badly for my submarines: AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Aug 27, 43 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ASW attack near Trinkat at 42,63 Japanese Ships SS I-182, hits 7, heavy damage Allied Ships DD Lamson -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ASW attack near Trinkat at 44,64 Japanese Ships SS I-122, hits 15 Allied Ships DD Aylwin -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ASW attack near Trinkat at 44,64 Japanese Ships SS I-121, hits 16 Allied Ships DD Aylwin DD Hammann -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TF 516 encounters mine field at Trinkat (44,64) Allied Ships YMS BYMS-2055 YMS BYMS-2043 7 mines cleared So, one of the minelaying subs managed to drop the eggs, which of course were promptly swept. Next, a minesweeper fleeing the battle area was hunted down by the enemy surface cover in a short night action: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Night Time Surface Combat, near Trinkat at 44,64, Range 2,000 Yards Japanese Ships AMc Keijin Maru, Shell hits 1, and is sunk Allied Ships CA Shropshire CA Sussex CA Cornwall CL Achilles CL Newcastle DD Anthony DD Bennett DD Norman DD Redoubt DD Relentless DD Roebuck DMS Wasmuth Next came numerous small night air attacks on TF at Trinkat by a total of five groups of Netties - I skip the details, targets included 2 CVEs but no hits for 6 planes lost. I have lauched numerous night naval attacks in the Burma area and the Solomons, for nothing but losses. I still hope to get lucky one day... The rest of the day was calm, except another weak strike by the enemy carriers against my SAG loitering near Sabang. My own carriers were hanging back a bit near Georgetown and did not react. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Sabang at 45,70 Weather in hex: Partial cloud Raid detected at 70 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 25 minutes Japanese aircraft Ki-44-IIc Tojo x 21 Ki-61-Ib Tony x 7 Allied aircraft F6F-3 Hellcat x 60 SBD-5 Dauntless x 30 Japanese aircraft losses Ki-44-IIc Tojo: 7 destroyed Ki-61-Ib Tony: 2 destroyed Allied aircraft losses F6F-3 Hellcat: 3 destroyed SBD-5 Dauntless: 13 damaged Japanese Ships CA Mikuma BB Hyuga, Bomb hits 6 CA Kumano, Bomb hits 2, on fire CA Atago Next turn, I decided to throw-in everything I have in the area against the invasion forces. KB1 and KB2 were ordered up to a position near Phuket, halfway between Alor Star and Victoria Point - six hexes from Trinkat but as far away from the enemy fleet carriers as possible, in order to strike the CVEs and transports. I did not seek a fight against the covering Allied CVs, but as a precaution assigned Zeros and my lone George group at Victoria Point and Oscars from Alor Star to fly LRCAP over my carriers. Ed must have been aware of their presence, as both KBs showed DLs. Most of the 1000 pound SAP bombs had left no impression on tough old Hyuga and the cruisers, except for damaged Kumano which I ordered to retire to Singers. Hyuga was ordered to join the carriers, being too slow for a dash to Trinkat. The cruisers, including slightly damaged Myoko and Mogami, were sent full-speed to Trinkat, although many of the DDs were low on ammo for their 5inch DP guns and light AA due to the air attacks suffered during the past two days. You have to use what you have. Never have I sent a turn with more frightened anticipation than this one... The replay started promising with my handicapped cruiser SAG teaching the Allies a lesson in night-fighting: AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Aug 28, 43 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Night Time Surface Combat, near Trinkat at 44,64, Range 11,000 Yards Allied aircraft no flights Allied aircraft losses Seagull V: 2 destroyed Japanese Ships CA Takao, Shell hits 2 CA Atago, Shell hits 3 CA Myoko, Shell hits 2 CA Mogami, Shell hits 2 CA Mikuma DD Yugumo, Shell hits 1 DD Akigumo DD Takanami DD Hayanami DD Kiyonami DD Hamanami, Shell hits 1, on fire DD Asashimo DD Asashio, Shell hits 1, on fire DD Oshio DD Michishio Allied Ships CA Shropshire, Shell hits 14, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk CA Sussex, Shell hits 19, heavy fires, heavy damage CA Cornwall, Shell hits 1 CL Kenya, Shell hits 1 CL Newcastle, Shell hits 1 DD Anthony DD Monssen, Shell hits 1 DD Carmick DD Redoubt DD Roebuck, Shell hits 3, on fire DMS Wasmuth, Shell hits 5, and is sunk Reduced sighting due to 3% moonlight Maximum visibility in Partly Cloudy Conditions and 3% moonlight: 11,000 yards Range closes to 23,000 yards... CONTACT: Allies radar detects Japanese task force at 23,000 yards Range closes to 17,000 yards... CONTACT: Allies radar detects Japanese task force at 17,000 yards Range closes to 11,000 yards... CONTACT: Allies radar detects Japanese task force at 11,000 yards Allies open fire on surprised Japanese ships at 11,000 yards Range closes to 4,000 yards Range closes to 2,000 yards Range increases to 6,000 yards CA Shropshire sunk by CA Mikuma at 6,000 yards Range increases to 8,000 yards DMS Wasmuth sunk by CA Mogami at 8,000 yards Range increases to 9,000 yards Hirata, Noboru orders Japanese TF to disengage Range increases to 11,000 yards DD Roebuck collides with CL Kenya at 44 , 64 Task forces break off... With dawn breaking, the Allied carriers in blind vindictive rage launched a strike against my retiring cruisers. The enemy had come further south from their covering position near Trinkat to a position just off Sabang - apparently hoping to finish-off cripples from my SAG group which had been attacked in that area during the past two days. Well, the enemy strike ran into thunderstorms and a strong leaking CAP from my carriers just one hex away. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on TF, near Phuket at 48,69 Weather in hex: Thunderstorms Raid detected at 75 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 27 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M5 Zero x 77 A6M5b Zero x 15 A6M5c Zero x 23 Allied aircraft F6F-3 Hellcat x 72 SBD-5 Dauntless x 25 TBF-1 Avenger x 15 Japanese aircraft losses A6M5 Zero: 6 destroyed A6M5b Zero: 3 destroyed A6M5c Zero: 1 destroyed Allied aircraft losses F6F-3 Hellcat: 1 destroyed SBD-5 Dauntless: 8 destroyed, 3 damaged SBD-5 Dauntless: 1 destroyed by flak TBF-1 Avenger: 6 destroyed, 1 damaged Japanese Ships CA Atago CA Mogami DD Kiyonami Apparently the enemy carrier TF leader was not aware of the presence of my carriers, since the only other strike in the morning phase was directed against a group of small tankers at Medan: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on TF, near Medan at 46,76 Weather in hex: Clear sky Raid detected at 26 NM, estimated altitude 17,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 9 minutes Japanese aircraft Ki-61-Ib Tony x 9 Allied aircraft SBD-5 Dauntless x 33 TBF-1 Avenger x 18 No Japanese losses Allied aircraft losses SBD-5 Dauntless: 7 destroyed, 3 damaged TBF-1 Avenger: 1 destroyed, 2 damaged Japanese Ships DD Hokaze PB Heimei Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire TK Matsumoto Maru, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage PB Hayakafuku Maru, Bomb hits 1 TK Moji Maru TK Fujisan Maru, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage TK Nissan Maru TK Azuma Maru #2, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage In the afternoon, the main show opened - not against the invasion forces as I had prepared for, but against the enemy Death Star off Sabang. Luckily my strike went in first: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Sabang at 43,69 Weather in hex: Severe storms Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 31 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M5 Zero x 157 A6M5b Zero x 32 A6M5c Zero x 57 B6N1 Jill x 87 B6N2 Jill x 69 D4Y1 Judy x 141 D4Y3 Judy x 30 Allied aircraft Martlet IV x 14 F4F-4 Wildcat x 23 F6F-3 Hellcat x 89 Japanese aircraft losses A6M5 Zero: 2 destroyed A6M5b Zero: 2 destroyed A6M5c Zero: 1 destroyed B6N1 Jill: 16 destroyed, 13 damaged B6N1 Jill: 5 destroyed by flak B6N2 Jill: 21 destroyed, 8 damaged B6N2 Jill: 1 destroyed by flak D4Y1 Judy: 20 destroyed, 15 damaged D4Y1 Judy: 13 destroyed by flak D4Y3 Judy: 1 destroyed, 2 damaged D4Y3 Judy: 1 destroyed by flak Allied aircraft losses F6F-3 Hellcat: 1 destroyed > my escorts must have been prevented from doing their job by the weather! Allied Ships CV Hornet CV Enterprise, Bomb hits 3, on fire CA Northampton BB Massachusetts CV Long Island II, Bomb hits 1, Torpedo hits 1, on fire DD Brownson CV Wasp, Bomb hits 1, on fire BB South Dakota, Bomb hits 5 CVL Independence, Bomb hits 2, on fire CV Victorious CV Yorktown, Bomb hits 1, on fire CV Saratoga BB Indiana CA New Orleans DD Pringle, Bomb hits 1 DD Russell CL Montpelier DD Downes CA Wichita CA Chester Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CVL Independence Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CV Enterprise Ammo storage explosion on CV Wasp Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CV Long Island II Several carriers on fire - the Allied counter-punch was much reduced: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Phuket at 46,69 Weather in hex: Moderate rain Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 29 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M5 Zero x 105 A6M5b Zero x 27 A6M5c Zero x 41 N1K1-J George x 2 Ki-43-IIIa Oscar x 14 > includes some LRCAP from Victoria Point and Alor Star Allied aircraft F6F-3 Hellcat x 58 SBD-5 Dauntless x 40 TBF-1 Avenger x 65 Japanese aircraft losses A6M5 Zero: 5 destroyed A6M5b Zero: 3 destroyed A6M5c Zero: 2 destroyed Ki-43-IIIa Oscar: 1 destroyed Allied aircraft losses F6F-3 Hellcat: 4 destroyed SBD-5 Dauntless: 14 destroyed, 8 damaged SBD-5 Dauntless: 2 destroyed by flak TBF-1 Avenger: 43 destroyed, 2 damaged TBF-1 Avenger: 2 destroyed by flak Japanese Ships CV Kaga CV Unryu CV Katsuragi BB Nagato CV Akagi CV Hiryu CV Amagi CA Tone Not a scratch on my flattops! In desperation, the enemy carriers, launched some unescorted bombers in the afternoon - to die bravely: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Phuket at 46,69 Weather in hex: Moderate rain Raid detected at 45 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 16 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M5 Zero x 74 A6M5b Zero x 12 A6M5c Zero x 27 N1K1-J George x 1 Ki-43-IIIa Oscar x 6 Allied aircraft SBD-5 Dauntless x 24 No Japanese losses Allied aircraft losses SBD-5 Dauntless: 7 destroyed -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Phuket at 46,69 Weather in hex: Moderate rain Raid detected at 18 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 6 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M5 Zero x 65 A6M5b Zero x 10 A6M5c Zero x 27 N1K1-J George x 1 Ki-43-IIIa Oscar x 6 Allied aircraft SBD-3 Dauntless x 36 No Japanese losses Allied aircraft losses SBD-3 Dauntless: 13 destroyed, 2 damaged Japanese Ships CV Kaga With this encouraging result ended the first round of the carrier clash. In the meantime, the invasion forces took Trinkat without much trouble: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ground combat at Trinkat (44,64) Allied Deliberate attack Attacking force 17821 troops, 285 guns, 239 vehicles, Assault Value = 607 Defending force 2760 troops, 15 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 55 Allied adjusted assault: 414 Japanese adjusted defense: 13 Allied assault odds: 31 to 1 (fort level 3) Allied forces CAPTURE Trinkat !!! Combat modifiers Defender: terrain(+), forts(+), preparation(-), fatigue(-) experience(-) Attacker: Japanese ground losses: 985 casualties reported Squads: 21 destroyed, 33 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 25 disabled Engineers: 11 destroyed, 1 disabled Guns lost 11 (4 destroyed, 7 disabled) Allied ground losses: 75 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 8 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled Assaulting units: 7th Infantry Division 194th Tank Battalion 18th Canadian Brigade > Canucks in the IO? Now that shows that the CBI is REALLY my opponent's Schwerpunkt... XXXIII Corps Engineer Battalion 30th USN Special Construction Battalion Defending units: 91st Naval Guard Unit 4th Naval Construction Battalion The next day brought more exchanges of air-delivered ordnance, with appreciated results: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Aug 29, 43 Morning Air attack on TF, near Sabang at 43,69 Weather in hex: Heavy cloud Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 31 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M5 Zero x 107 A6M5b Zero x 12 A6M5c Zero x 17 B6N1 Jill x 36 B6N2 Jill x 10 D4Y1 Judy x 54 Ki-44-IIc Tojo x 10 > Sabang CAP fighters joining in! Allied aircraft Martlet IV x 13 F4F-4 Wildcat x 22 F6F-3 Hellcat x 72 Japanese aircraft losses A6M5 Zero: 1 destroyed A6M5b Zero: 1 destroyed B6N1 Jill: 17 destroyed, 2 damaged B6N1 Jill: 1 destroyed by flak B6N2 Jill: 3 destroyed, 1 damaged B6N2 Jill: 1 destroyed by flak D4Y1 Judy: 19 destroyed, 7 damaged D4Y1 Judy: 5 destroyed by flak Allied aircraft losses F4F-4 Wildcat: 1 destroyed > WTF have the escorts been doing again while the Allied CAP slaughtered the bombers?!? Allied Ships CV Enterprise CV Saratoga CV Hornet BB Indiana, Bomb hits 1 BB Massachusetts CV Yorktown, Bomb hits 1, on fire -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on TF, near Phuket at 47,69 Weather in hex: Heavy cloud Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 29 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M5 Zero x 95 A6M5b Zero x 25 A6M5c Zero x 40 N1K1-J George x 2 Ki-43-IIIa Oscar x 14 Allied aircraft F6F-3 Hellcat x 20 SBD-5 Dauntless x 6 Japanese aircraft losses A6M5b Zero: 1 destroyed A6M5c Zero: 2 destroyed Allied aircraft losses F6F-3 Hellcat: 3 destroyed SBD-5 Dauntless: 3 destroyed -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on TF, near Phuket at 47,69 Weather in hex: Heavy cloud Raid detected at 79 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 29 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M5 Zero x 83 A6M5b Zero x 18 A6M5c Zero x 29 N1K1-J George x 1 Ki-43-IIIa Oscar x 9 Allied aircraft SBD-3 Dauntless x 11 SBD-5 Dauntless x 4 No Japanese losses Allied aircraft losses SBD-3 Dauntless: 2 destroyed SBD-5 Dauntless: 1 destroyed -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on TF, near Sabang at 42,70 Weather in hex: Heavy cloud Raid detected at 117 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 30 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M5 Zero x 28 A6M5b Zero x 16 A6M5c Zero x 28 B6N1 Jill x 12 B6N2 Jill x 16 D4Y1 Judy x 16 D4Y3 Judy x 7 Allied aircraft F6F-3 Hellcat x 17 Japanese aircraft losses A6M5 Zero: 2 destroyed A6M5b Zero: 2 destroyed A6M5c Zero: 2 destroyed B6N1 Jill: 1 damaged B6N1 Jill: 1 destroyed by flak B6N2 Jill: 6 damaged D4Y1 Judy: 3 damaged D4Y1 Judy: 4 destroyed by flak D4Y3 Judy: 3 damaged Allied aircraft losses F6F-3 Hellcat: 1 destroyed Allied Ships CVL Independence, Bomb hits 1, on fire CV Wasp CV Long Island II, Bomb hits 2, Torpedo hits 1, on fire CV Victorious, Bomb hits 2, Torpedo hits 1, heavy fires CA New Orleans BB South Dakota Ammo storage explosion on CV Victorious Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CV Victorious -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on TF, near Sabang at 42,70 Weather in hex: Heavy cloud Raid detected at 100 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 33 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M5c Zero x 10 B6N2 Jill x 7 D4Y3 Judy x 7 Allied aircraft F6F-3 Hellcat x 8 Japanese aircraft losses A6M5c Zero: 2 destroyed B6N2 Jill: 3 damaged D4Y3 Judy: 5 damaged Allied aircraft losses F6F-3 Hellcat: 1 destroyed Allied Ships CV Victorious, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires BB South Dakota CVL Independence, Bomb hits 2, Torpedo hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage And finally, just to show the Allies that they are not the only ones who have the guts to fly unescorted: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on TF, near Sabang at 42,70 Weather in hex: Heavy cloud Raid detected at 11 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 2 minutes Japanese aircraft D4Y1 Judy x 7 Allied aircraft F6F-3 Hellcat x 2 Japanese aircraft losses D4Y1 Judy: 1 destroyed, 2 damaged D4Y1 Judy: 1 destroyed by flak No Allied losses Allied Ships CL Honolulu CV Wasp -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on TF, near Sabang at 42,70 Weather in hex: Heavy cloud Raid detected at 44 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 14 minutes Japanese aircraft B6N2 Jill x 7 Allied aircraft F6F-3 Hellcat x 1 Japanese aircraft losses B6N2 Jill: 5 damaged No Allied losses Allied Ships BB South Dakota CV Wasp, Torpedo hits 1 Recap of the results: CV Hornet - operational CV Saratoga - operational CV Yorktown - probably still operational Bomb hits 2 on fire CV Wasp - probably unable to perform air ops Bomb hits 1 Torpedo hits 1 on fire Ammo storage explosion on CV Wasp CV Enterprise - likely unable to perform air ops Bomb hits 3 on fire Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CV Enterprise CV Long Island II - likely unable to perform air ops Bomb hits 2 Torpedo hits 2 on fire Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CV Long Island II CV Victorious - might go down Bomb hits 3 Torpedo hits 1 heavy fires Ammo storage explosion on CV Victorious Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CV Victorious CVL Independence - probably wo't make it Bomb hits 5 Torpedo hits 1 heavy fires heavy damage Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CVL Independence BB South Dakota, Bomb hits 5 BB Indiana, Bomb hits 1 BB Massachusetts CA New Orleans CA Wichita CA Chester CA Northampton CL Montpelier On my side, no ship hit, but offensive air power gutted - some bomber groups have one plane left, and none have more than 10 planes. I still have 2/3 of my fighters. I will switch air groups around according to torpedo stocks left and add three groups of Kates which have been on LBA ASW duty in the area for temporary carrier duty in order to pursue the action next turn. Netties will risk unescorted daylight attacks and two groups of Lily dive-bombers have been rushed to the front. Subs placed in the potential retreat paths. Fingers crossed for the next turn.
_____________________________
|