ChiefOC
Posts: 13
Joined: 8/3/2002 From: Carrollton, TX Status: offline
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SitRep 02/28/42 Grab a cup of Navy Jo (named for SECNAV Josephus Daniel's prohibition of booze on USN ships to make coffee the strongest drink onboard) and let me tell you part of a tale, the tragedy of SS Automedon. As we would say in the Navy, this is a No (CENSORED), er no-pooper, that is it is a true account. The British Admiralty wanted a survey to ascertain His Majesty's forces and prospects in the Far East in case of war. Dutifully, a comprehensive report of every aircraft, artillery piece (and which way it was pointed), bag of bullets, bushel of feed, machine gun, rifle, tank, truck, estimates of resisting attack etc regarding Singapore and put it in writing. The report would be placed in the hands of the Master of SS Automedon. At approximately 0700 on 11/11/1940 Automedon was fired upon by an unknown vessel. Although a RRR (similar to an SOS) was sent out, the Admiralty presumed Automedon was lost at sea with her secrets. Not so. The German Raider Atlantis took Automedon as prize NW of Sumatra, including her hidden dispatches in their weighted bag. In short, Atlantis' captain sent the captured intelligence to the German Embassy in Tokyo and a copy would go to Japanese government. In any case Automedon's failure was now complete. Singapore has fallen and lost were a dozen units, some damaged aircraft and 10 ML's under construction. Strategically, this opens the door to Japan to get out of the Java sea and beyond. Plus it's huge port and resources. Bugger. On the note of the Motor Launches lost, during my scramble, I had all the small launches etc with ASW 4 or more linked like remora fish to convoys that departed to safer waters. No sense in throwing away strong, at this phase, ASW assets. The "Remora" thus escorted the convoys, while refueling from them. Points are points. The next day more disaster. Resistance collapsed at Manila and Clark and most units therein were destroyed or crawled into Bataan. A couple small units escaped to make nuisances in parts of the PI. Likewise, a few units are holed up on the smaller islands waiting for hope. And now some good news. The day after the fall of Singapore, Dutch Submarine 021 put three torpedoes into CV heavyweight Akagi in the Java sea. A bit south, another Dutch sub likewise put three fish into light cruiser Oi. Exploding boilers, collapsing bulkheads were heard and both ships were claimed sunk. [Yeah right. I can believe Oi reached her final berth in DJ's Locker, but Akagi is too tough a bird to cook with 3 torps. At least I know she can't be fixed in Singapore, leastwise not her floatation damage.] North of Koepang, USS Sailfish hit a troopship with two torpedoes, and both exploded! Not satisfied, Sailfish's skipper fired two more fish, two more explosions. A PB forced Sailfish deep, but breaking up sounds were heard. However, a IJN SNLF, at least part of one, is locked in combat on Koepang. That place needs to hold. Much further east, Canton Island also has uninvited guests, but just a small party. I did squeeze in a Base Defense Force and an AA unit prior and the issue is undecided. USS Porpoise helped by sinking a destroyer escorting the party. The next day, Porpoise repeated her success, two IJN DD's in two days. Nice. The IJN force was evac'd the second day, no complaints here, but a few questions. Hmmm. Let's sea ;). In Papua, C and D Company are retreating to Port Moresby. Lark Battalion, showed some cheek and retook Gasmata on New Britain after the IJA left for parts/reasons unknown. Hey. Go Lark Battalion!, at least what's left of it. Far West, way far west, HMS Repulse, her damaged escort HMS Jupiter and xAKL Proteus are 8 days out from Cape Town. In "Home" waters, Damaged ships Chicago and destroyer Phelps are passing Johnston Atoll headed to Pearl. Likewise, badly damaged USS Salmon, bombed by Japanese aircraft a few weeks ago will make Pearl tomorrow. Well done to Captain and crew. At Pearl, the only seriously damaged ships present are crippled Honolulu and floating wrecks California and New Mexico - hardly touched since December 7th due to all the other lesser damaged ships. To help Pearl, Lahaina Seaport is making advances. It now is a level 4/2 port and A/F 4/7. Another month or so and it will be a level 5 port hopefully, to help with upgrades and lesser damaged ships. Hilo is Port 2/2 and A/F 2/5. Midway will welcome New Mexico's SAG tomorrow as it returns from it's first bombardment of Wake. Mississippi, St. Louis and 4x DD's make up the rest of the force. Midway is a port 2/1, A/F 4/1 currently boasting five squadrons - DB, TB, PA, B17bs and P-40s. TF 65 (Enterprise and Yorktown) covered Mississippi's Surface Action Group, bagging a handful of Betty's, a couple Zeros and a a few Vals. A quick note on Operation Northern Lights. Naval Station Adak - Port 1/5 received it's first task force. This is supplies and some engineers. Following are convoys of more troops, fuel, and more fuel, a few tenders, and 8 submarines, all bringing supplies. Included are "Cruiser" subs Argonaut, Narwhal and Nautilus. These three should be fun to watch. They were built to treaty limits, especially in one department, similar to the French Surcouf. Argonaut, Narwhal and Nautilus all have 2x 6 inch guns. Some subs have a 3" or a 4" deck gun. Two 6"s ought to make an impression. End of month (unofficial stats) I say unofficial as they are what is in the Intel report which claims Akagi sunk, which I don't believe, and way too many Marus are not included amoung the sunk which I believe did not/will not make their full circle trip. Stats Allied A/c pts lost 866 IJN/IJA a/d pts lost 1461 Allied Army pts lost 4294 IJA/IJN Army pts lost 1776 Allied ships sunk 89 (+23 from last month) Pts for sunk ships 379 IJN ships sunk 362 (+157 from last month) Pts for sunk ships 2576 PP = 2582 Japanese score 9536 Allied score 14093
< Message edited by ChiefOC -- 8/8/2021 11:26:29 PM >
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Chief O'C
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