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Midway revisited - 9/14/2005 8:05:54 AM

ChezDaJez

Posts: 3436
Joined: 11/12/2004
From: Chehalis, WA
Status: offline

This is an account of the new Battle of Midway 24-29 May 1942 that occurred during a scenario 15 PBEM between Lordmaul13 and ChezDaJez. I�ve chosen to write it in a �Victory at Sea� style and tried to make it an interesting read as it is lengthy. Hopefully you will enjoy it

First, let me present a little background on the events leading up to this battle.

Lordmaul 13 (Allies) and myself (Japanese) have the following options:
Sub doctrines and Varied setup- Off
FOW, Player Upgrades, Weather, Allied Damage Control- On
Historical First turn and 7 Dec Surprise- On
Replacements- Variable +/- 15 days

The following house rules were decided on:
1. Dedicated ASW TFs limited to 4 ships.
2. Night bombing limited to one bombing unit per target until B-29s become available.
3. Japanese carriers can not operate within 7 hexes of the southern and western map edges

Initial Japanese attacks were pretty standard and primarily limited to those areas at or near historically attacked ones. Pearl Harbor was a disappointment for the Japanese as no battleships were sunk and few heavily damaged. Only moderate damage was inflicted on his air forces there. The Allies lost only 1 ship, the AVD McFarland, to a submarine torpedo east of Hawaii that first day.

Immediately following the raid on Pearl Harbor, I decided that I would send KB north until out of range of his patrols, then turn east to try and find any damaged ships heading for the West Coast. Imagine my surprise when suddenly Saratoga and her TF showed up on 13 December enroute Pearl Harbor. KB immediately launched a full airstrike and put 4 torpedoes in her. Down she went. Completely surprised, Sara was unable to launch her aircraft. Needing fuel and not knowing where Enterprise and Lexington were, I chose to break off and head for home as fast as I could by the same route. I refueled well north of Hawaii and proceeded back to Japan.

For the next month, Japan launched her invasions throughout the Pacific area, without sighting any US carriers or other significant warships save those fleeing the Philippines and Dutch East Indies. Malaya, Borneo, Rabaul and much of the Philippines had fallen to the Japanese. In China, IJA troops had withdrawn from Yenen after a failed offensive there. Changsha had fallen but Chinese pressure on several points, notably Canton, forced the IJA into a defensive posture.

In the meantime, the IJN was on the move in the SW Pacific. Japanese troops, supported by land-based aircraft and the CVL Ryujo, captured Gili Gili on 11 January in preparation for an upcoming assault on Port Moresby and began expanding the airfield. This provoked an allied reaction as the US carriers Enterprise and Lexington operating in 2 TFs steamed north from Brisbane to engage my transports. Unknown to them, the entire KB was steaming near Rabaul for just such an event. On 13 January, Enterprise and Lexington launched airstrikes against my transports as KB steamed south at full speed to engage. Several transports were sunk or damaged but fortunately, all troops had already disembarked. The US carriers began a high-speed withdrawal with KB fast on their heels but still out of range. At this point, it looked as though they would escape. Unfortunately for Lexington, her escorts needed to refuel. This delay allowed KB to launch a full strike of over 300 aircraft. Lexington sank under the weight of 17 bombs and 11 torpedoes about 300 miles south of Gili Gili. Her counterstrike was quickly shot down.

More bad news arrived for the Allies just 6 days later as Japanese land-based airforces caught several major allied combatants operating near Maccassar. HMS Prince of Wales took 4 torpedoes and limped into Kendari, only to sink a few days later. Repulse was also attacked but escaped with minor damage. Several other allied CAs were damaged as well.

Since then the naval war has been pretty quiet. KB has conducted several raids off the Australian coast, in the South Pacific, the Bay of Bengal and attempted another foray into the eastern Pacific without major success. Except for occasional small transport TFs that were sighted and engaged, the allied fleet was not to be seen. Even his submarines weren�t detected though I suspect that he was using them for re-supply and evacuation of forces from the SRA. The only allied activity of note has been from the B-17s and Wellingtons operating from Darwin and Diamond Harbor who are bombing my oil resources in Burma and the SRA. He has also attempted to suppress Baker Island with B-17s and B-25s from Canton Island. Japan has established a defensive perimeter, basically Wake-Baker Isl-Nanomea-Guadalcanal-Port Moresby-Amboina-Maumere-Java-Sumatra-Andamann Isl-Rangoon-Mandalay-Myitkyna. It is very close to the Japanese historical expansion.

MIDWAY: Initial Planning

In mid-April, I decided to plan for the invasion and occupation of Midway Island using the code name �Operation Gooney Bird.� The purpose is two-fold: (1) draw the American fleet into battle and (2) remove Midway as a potential jump-off point for American operations in the Central Pacific. I reasoned that my opponent might be caught napping by this move as the war has been relatively quiet of late.

I know his Sigint reports might alert him as my troops begin planning for the attack but there is no way around that and it is a chance I am willing to take. Departure points are to be Wake Island for the amphibious and bombardment groups and Kwajalein for the carriers. It took nearly a month to gather the necessary naval and land forces but by 20 May 1942, everything is in place. I have also prepositioned 7 submarines along the most direct route between Pearl Harbor and Midway for early warning. Three of these boats are equipped with Glen search aircraft and should provide ample warning of an approaching fleet.

Four large fleet carriers, one small fleet carrier, two battleships are assigned to the operation. Zuikaku and Shokaku will continue operating off the Malayan coast while 3 CVLs and 1 CVE are assigned to the Southeast Fleet. Taiyo remains in home waters on ferry duty.

The following units are assigned to Operation Gooney Bird:

From Kwajalein:
Carrier Support Group 1: CVs Akagi, Kaga; CAs Maya, Ashigara; CLs Yura, Kinu, Kitakami and 6 DDs.
Carrier Support Group 2: CVs Hiryu, Soryu; CAs Kinugasa, Furutake; CLs Abukuma, Kuma, Tatsuta and 6 DDs.
Carrier Replenishment Group: 1 AO, 1 DD.

From Wake:
Bombardment Group: BBs Kongo, Haruna, CA Takao, 5 DDs.
Bombardment Replenishment Group: 1 AO; 1 ML

From Wake:
Amphibious Cover Group: CV Junyo, CL Sendai, 3 DDs.
Amphibious Group 1: 1 DD, 4 APs with 3400 troops from the 19th, 41st, 48th and 86th Naval Guard units.
Amphibious Group 2: 2 DDs, 10 APs with 9800 troops from the 136th IJNAF BF, 15th Engineer Rgt, 61st Naval Guards.
Amphibious Group 3: 1 AV, 3 MLs, 4 APs, 3 AKs with 4900 troops from the 85th and 86th Naval Guard units.
Amphibious Group 4: 3 MSWs, 3 APs with 2450 troops from the 43rd, 44th and 46th Naval Guard units.
Amphibious Group 5: 2 PGs, 2 APs with 1800 troops from the 101st IJNAF BF.

My biggest concern is that I am going in blind, without a clear intelligence picture as to what enemy forces are in place on Midway. I also have no clear idea where his remaining 3 carriers were (Sound familiar?). Enterprise was last seen months ago running from the Battle of Milne Bay and is believed to still be in the area, possibly joined by Hornet, Yorktown or even both. I decide that either Yorktown or Hornet is operating in Hawaiian waters. On 20 and 21 May, I attempted to recon Midway using Emilys from Wake but these flights fail to report any significant findings, probably due to thunderstorms. They do report a level 6 airfield and an airbal of 16. Hopefully, these same storms should also reduce his ability to locate my forces until it is too late to react. His submarines are a mystery as I have located very few since January though I suspect he is using them to keep isolated outposts supplied in the SRA and for evacuation.

I estimate that Midway forces probably consist of at least 1 base force, an USMC CD unit and possibly a USMC RCT. I also estimate his airpower as probably being 1-2 VP squadrons, 1-2 VF/VMF squadrons and possibly a Dauntless squadron. I estimate that there aren�t any B-17s on Midway as they seem to be operating primarily from Canton and Darwin however there may also be a group in Hawaii. He can certainly transfer those at Canton but they have been in combat with my fighters at Baker Island so I estimate many are damaged and can�t fly. If he gets wind of the operation from his sigint, the Americans may possibly position additional troops and aircraft at Midway. If it appears Midway is too heavily fortified, I will call off the invasion. Another unknown is whether Midway has been mined. Guess I�ll find out when I arrive. I also do not know if Midway is mined but will place MSWs in the advance force.

The Battle for Midway

21, 22 and 23 May: The majestic Japanese ships depart their respective bases (Kwajalein and Wake) with the CVs and bombardment group leading the way. The ships will refuel about 480 miles east and southeast of Midway. The plan is to move the bombardment force to a point 300 miles east of Midway undetected. They will then begin a high speed run to Midway and conduct a night bombardment with 4 fleet carriers launching a massive airstrike from a point 120 miles SW of Midway the following morning following a high-speed night dash. Bombardments and airstrikes will continue until the airfield is suppressed. Two days later the transports will approach Midway under the cover of darkness and begin unloading. If my reasoning is correct, Midway should be in my hands before the enemy can bring in reinforcements from Hawaii.

That�s the plan but I have a nagging feeling. What�s that old saying? Something like �battle plans go out the window on contact with the enemy?� Or the other one, �The best laid plans of mice and men�.� Too late now, the battle is joined�.

_____________________________

Ret Navy AWCS (1972-1998)
VP-5, Jacksonville, Fl 1973-78
ASW Ops Center, Rota, Spain 1978-81
VP-40, Mt View, Ca 1981-87
Patrol Wing 10, Mt View, CA 1987-90
ASW Ops Center, Adak, Ak 1990-92
NRD Seattle 1992-96
VP-46, Whidbey Isl, Wa 1996-98

Post #: 1

RE: Midway revisited - 9/14/2005 8:07:20 AM

ChezDaJez

Posts: 3436
Joined: 11/12/2004
From: Chehalis, WA
Status: offline

24 May: Yamamato paces the deck in deep thought. His mind going over all the points of his plan, searching for weakness. �Have I forgotten anything?�, he wonders. He mentally ticks off each point. �No.�, he thinks, �The plan is a good one.� A staff officer approaches and hands the admiral a message. It is from the bombardment group. The force, 420 miles west of Midway, reports sighting a PBY. �Have they been detected?�, he wonders aloud, �We will soon know, I think�. His answer comes shortly as the battleships report enemy aircraft in sight. On the Kongo, bugles blow calling all hands to action stations as the sky fills with enemy aircraft. 99 B-25C bombers and 13 P-40B escorts attack the battleships still 360 miles west of Midway. So much for the cover of thunderstorms. Battleship Haruna takes a bomb! First blood goes to the enemy! An antiaircraft gun is destroyed but damage is otherwise superficial. Now Kongo is hit but also incurs little damage. Intense AA fire damages 10 of the enemy bombers but none are downed. The force must still move 60 miles closer before beginning their run-in to bombard. It will be dark soon

25 May: Morning arrives and air attacks against the bombardment force, now 300 miles out, continue. This time 171 B-25Cs attack with 29 escorting P-40Bs. Where is Junyo�s CAP? A B-25C is destroyed by AA fire with 6 more damaged however Haruna is smothered by 6 bombs. Kongo does not escape the enemy�s attention either as 4 bombs strike her. The bombers return in the afternoon. Junyo�s CAP appears overhead! A second air attack consisting of 108 B-25Cs and 16 P-40Bs is intercepted by 14 A6M2 Zeros. The fighters tangle� 6 P-40Bs fall and 2 more limp away. The Zeros go after the bombers and 3 B-25s go down with 4 others damaged. But there are too many and the bombs fall. Haruna takes 3 more bombs and is afire. Kongo also receives 3 bombs but shrugs them off. The bombers disappear over the horizon. Haruna�s speed is now down to 18 knots with moderate flooding. Her AA batteries are largely destroyed with the rest low on ammunition. There is no choice, she must withdraw. She turns west with a single DD escort. Kongo, though damaged, can still move at full speed and her main guns are operational. She will begin her high-speed run to bombard. Reports filter in� US PBYs have also located Junyo and the transports! My fleet carriers do not yet appear to have yet been detected.

_____________________________

(in reply to ChezDaJez)

Post #: 2

RE: Midway revisited - 9/14/2005 8:09:00 AM

ChezDaJez

Posts: 3436
Joined: 11/12/2004
From: Chehalis, WA
Status: offline

26 May: Kongo�s main guns light up the night sky as shell after shell is hurled against Midway. The Takao and destroyers join in. Fires rage everywhere. However, only minor damage (3 runway hits, 54 casualties) is observed. One B-25 and a A-20 Boston are seen burning. Kongo is ordered to remain at Midway. This is a calculated risk as some of Kongo�s antiaircraft guns are damaged and the rest are low on ammo. Daylight will surely bring more attacks and Kongo will probably be at least critically damaged but the airfield must be suppressed.

My carriers are in position 120 miles SW of Midway. The first strike of 38 Zeros, 90 Vals and 90 Kates launch a devastating strike on Midway�s airfield. Ten F4F-4s valiantly take to the air but are overwhelmed. 4 are immediately shot down with another trailing smoke. My bombers score time and again. At least 6 P-40Bs, 21 B-25s, 2 A-20Bs, 2 PBYs, an A-24, a SBD and a B-17 are destroyed on the ground. The airfield is severely cratered with 102 runway and 16 airbase hits. Ground casualties appear light however. AA fire was both intense and accurate. 4 Zeros, 15 Vals and 7 Kates fail to return but mechanics quickly work to repair the 28 Vals and 13 Kates damaged in the strike. Midway is still operational however and launches a counterstrike of 12 SBDs, 12 A-24s, 13 A-20Bs, 29 B-25s and 3 B-17s. They target the approaching transports still 120 miles west of Midway. Three APs are hit, 2 critically and the other is on fire. A DD takes a bomb but is not seriously damaged. Casualties are heavy among the jammed packed troops, 179 die.

Midway continues to launch strikes in the afternoon. The first is directed against Akagi and Kaga. 51 Zeros intercept 26 F4F-4s, 18 P-40Bs, 57 B-25s and 6 B-17s. The sky fills with twisting and falling aircraft. A Zero is lost and 6 more damaged but the experienced pilots inflict significant punishment on the allied airforce. 15 F4F-4s, 15 P-40Bs and 2 B-25Cs are shot down. Ten B-25Cs and a B-17 are damaged. The survivors release their bombs but they miss! A another American strike with only 3 P-40Bs and 4 B-25s sneaks in unchallenged and targets Kongo. Two bombs hit! The damage is accumulating fast. Nine B-25s appear overhead unescorted and but are driven off by 16 Zeros. 1 Zero is destroyed and 1 damaged. A bomber trails smoke. A last airstrike strikes a transport group. 22 A-20Bs manage to hit 2 APs with a bomb each. Fortunately, damage is relatively light.

So far, the fleet has managed to absorb the allied air attacks and inflict substantial air losses in return. Kongo is hurt and several AA guns destroyed. Main gun and AA ammo is also running low. Several APs are damaged, 2 severely. But the fleet is largely intact and the carriers undamaged. Midway will again see a 1-2 punch from the sea and the air. The enemy�s attacks during the afternoon appeared greatly reduced in numbers from the morning�s raids. The last few airstrikes were uncoordinated and Midway appears to running short of fighters. Tomorrow should see the effective destruction of the defending air forces. Banzai!

Recon finally provides some intelligence and it isn�t good. It indicates about 30 fighters and 70 bombers remain on Midway. 6 LCUs are also reported on the island. Composition and troop totals are unknown but the landings will proceed tomorrow.

_____________________________

(in reply to ChezDaJez)

Post #: 3

RE: Midway revisited - 9/14/2005 8:10:06 AM

ChezDaJez

Posts: 3436
Joined: 11/12/2004
From: Chehalis, WA
Status: offline

27 May: The Kongo bombardment group delivers another punishing attack destroying 4 fighters and 6 bombers on the ground. Fires flare everywhere as 6 airbase and 14 runway hits are observed. Two APs strike mines with heavy damage to both but they continue to unload nonetheless. Japanese troops storm ashore and are met by withering fire from 455 coastal guns and suffer very heavy casualties. DD Kamo rushes close inshore to deliver pinpoint naval support. She is torn apart as by 5 mines and quickly sinks. There are no survivors.

Morning arrives with red skies filled with smoke and flame from land and sea. The air attacks resume. A force of 15 Vals and 15 Kates gets separated from its escorts and is bounced by 9 Wildcats and 4 P-40Bs. 9 Vals and 3 Kates are quickly slaughtered but their bombs manage to destroy 2 bombers and a patrol plane on the ground. Runways and airbase facilities receive 3 more hits each. More Japanese planes arrive as 34 Zeros, 64 Vals and 33 Kates attack. 5 Wildcats and 1 P-40B rise to amid the falling bombs to intercept. The Zeros pounce and 6 enemy fighters fall into the sea. The Japanese bombers swarm the field and deliver another devastating attack. 7 more Wildcats, 2 P-40Bs, 11 B-25s, 3 A-20Bs, 2 B-17s and 2 SBDs are destroyed on the field. 43 additional runway and 4 airbase hits are seen. 1 Zero and 5 Vals are lost to the intense AA fire. 24 Vals and 7 Kates return to carriers damaged. Our planes repair and rearm. Soon they are off again for this afternoon�s strikes. The transports continue to unload. Victory is nearly at hand.

Suddenly, the radio comes alive. YORKTOWN is sighted by search planes 120 miles east of Midway and only 240 miles ENE of our carriers! The radio crackles again. A second carrier may also be present! More search reports flow in fast and furious. Al least 4 battleships are also sighted along with transports in the same location! The admiral is worried. The Americans must have deduced our plans. What other surprises are waiting out there?, he wonders. The staff attempts to recall the airgroups but they are already in action over Midway and cannot react to this new threat! Our search planes report many enemy aircraft heading for our carriers. AA gunners anxiously scan the skies for any sign of the enemy. Flight decks are alive with frenzied activity as fighter after fighter launches to meet the threat! A shout from a lookout! Here they come, 20 Wildcats and 67 SBDs inbound! Bugles sound �General Quarters� throughout the ships! 47 Zeros rise to intercept and a wild melee ensues. 2 Zeros are destroyed and 2 damaged but down 16 Wildcats and 17 SBDs in return. The sky is filled with falling and smoking aircraft; 32 more SBDs are damaged but there are too many. Kaga is hit! And hit again, and again. Flames rise up. Now its Akagi�s turn. Her AA guns barks continuously. This intense AA fire drives off all but one bomber. The pilot valiantly presses home his attack and plants a bomb on Akagi�s flight deck! Smoke and fire quickly billow up but just as rapidly diminish. Akagi comes through OK! Kaga is another matter but the fires seem to be dying down and her hull appears relatively undamaged. The airwings return to their carriers. News comes in from Kaga. It�s questionable though as to whether she can launch aircraft.

Desperate radio reports are received from shore. The situation is grim. The IJA commander ashore indicates that 24000 US troops are defending the island. He is requesting immediate suspension of the landings and evacuation of all troops already ashore. The US forces unleash a huge artillery bombardment on our troops but casualties are surprisingly light. Suddenly, 700 IJA troops, cutoff from the main body, launch a shock attack against the defenders in a frantic attempt to link up. They are cut down in droves. Over 400 die in the attempt. Something must be done!

Kaga seriously damaged, Akagi damaged, Kongo nearly out of AA ammo and damaged. Carrier airgroups are depleted and tired, several APs are reduced to 5 knots or less. The troops ashore are being massacred� The word goes out� Withdraw! Evacuate all forces!

Kaga is detached with a DD escort to the east. Amphibious groups receive their orders: withdraw to Wake Island. Several transports are heavily damaged but they must be detached to fend for themselves. Better to lose 2 than subject the entire amphibious force to sustained air attack. One amphibious group will stay behind to evacuate the troops ashore and then withdraw. Junyo is ordered to cover the evacuation. Kongo will deliver one last night bombardment and withdraw at her top speed of 16 knots. Akagi, Hiryu and Soryu are ordered southeast to engage the US carriers. Tomorrow may spell the doom of Kido Butai. Will history repeat itself? The fate of the Empire rests on tomorrow�s battle.

_____________________________

(in reply to ChezDaJez)

Post #: 4

RE: Midway revisited - 9/14/2005 8:11:09 AM

ChezDaJez

Posts: 3436
Joined: 11/12/2004
From: Chehalis, WA
Status: offline

28 May: The exodus begins. Kongo is preparing to bombard and depart when her lookouts sight tall masts on the horizon. Bombardment operations are suspended and AP shells loaded. Closer the enemy comes� 20000 yards� 18000 yards� 16000 yards� and it becomes apparent that these are battleships approaching, 4 of them. Colorado, Pennsylvania, Idaho and New Mexico with supporting cruisers and destroyers; the US battle fleet has arrived! Kongo, damaged and afire, against 4 US battleships, she will do her best. Stabs of flame light the horizon� the shriek of falling shells is deafening. Kongo is hit again and again, 9 times in all by large caliber shells. Japanese torpedoes splash into the water. 13 medium caliber shells hit CA Takao hard. DD Nowaki is hit by a 5� shell but continues on. Colorado is hit once, so is Pennsylvania without visible effect. Japanese secondary guns strike at the speedy US destroyers hitting 2, flames erupt from one! Suddenly a bright flash and loud explosion comes from the horizon. A US DD is hit by a torpedo and is aflame! The US ships disengage temporarily to regroup and then come again. Kongo comes under withering fire once more. Time and time again she is made invisible by the tall waterspouts. There� a hit, and another, and another, 6 hits in all. CA Takao is reduced to a shambles, afire and drifting after 26 medium and large caliber shell hits. How she stays afloat is anybody�s guess. DD Nowaki is blasted apart by a tremendous explosion as 21 shells find their mark. She is gone. DD Hagikaze ravaged from 28 shell hits, plows under at full speed. Now it�s payback. Pennsylvania is hit! New Mexico too! But it�s not enough and the damage inflicted is minor. CA Portland suddenly is hit. A fire flares from her superstructure and dies to a dull red glow. The US battleships inexplicably depart, probably looking for the transports. The bombardment force is virtually destroyed with only Kongo and Takao surviving, though just barely. But they have done their job. They have bought valuable time for the transports. The evacuation is still incomplete but the transports must now withdraw or be destroyed. 1100 men are left on shore. Her forward main guns destroyed and the rear out of ammunition, Kongo limps away at 12 knots. Takao is dead in the water and must surely sink soon.

Daylight arrives. The amphibious fleets retreat, expecting to be attacked again, this time by land and sea-based air. Kido Butai will do all it can to protect them but the American fleet is strong and many of our ships are crippled and unable to defend themselves. Lookouts abruptly shout a warning! 9 Dauntless� and 15 TBDs are headed inbound escorted by 7 Wildcats. 34 Zeros engage in a wild, twisting ballet of fire and death. Like a child�s frenzied paint strokes, the sky fills with contrails. 4 Zeros break away, trailing smoke, but land safely. 2 Wildcats are destroyed along with 13 SBDs and 11 TBDs. Some many planes are falling, it is impossible to tell whose they are! The survivors launch their attacks. Soryu is targeted but the bombs miss! CL Tatsuta is not so lucky and takes a bomb. She shakes it off. The admiral breathes a sigh of relief as the American planes depart. Another warning as more American planes arrives. Again, 34 Zeros engage 8 Wildcats and 28 SBDs. 2 Zeros go down in flames but so do 3 Wildcats and 10 SBDs. The remainder launch their attacks against Hiryu and Soryu. They miss! More planes! 15 TBD Devastators are sighted on the horizon without escort! Could this be Torpedo 8? 26 Zeros quickly descend upon them and 11 TBDs are splashed. 10 TBDs manage to launch torpedoes but none find their targets. �These Americans attack like Samurai!�, the admiral muses.

Finally, the skies are clear and the Japanese carriers can launch and launch they do! 44 Vals and 51 Kates with 24 Zeros as escorts depart from Hiryu and Soryu to descend upon the American carriers. 10 Wildcats intercept but they are no match against the enraged IJN pilots and are blown from the sky! Antiaircraft fire fills the air! A Val goes down, then another, and another, 6 in all. 19 more damaged but they deliver their bombs! Hornet is hit, and again and again. Seven bombs explode on her decks and she erupts in flames! Yorktown�s turn is next. The bombs fall, 2 hit! Flame and smoke billow furiously! Now the Kate�s take their turns�. 1, 2, 3, 4 torpedo hits on Hornet! 6 torpedoes strike Yorktown! Yorktown shudders violently and rolls on her side. She quickly disappears beneath the waves in a maelstrom of frothing water. Surely Hornet must follow!

Akagi�s planes arrrive, thirsting to avenge Kaga. Her 22 Zeros, 14 Vals and 10 Kates easily locate the Hornet by her thick pall of black smoke. There is no CAP overhead. The planes go in. Hornet�s escorts open fire with a tremendous barrage of AA as the planes attack. One Val falls to the AA fire. 6 more are damaged as are 2 Kates. But they launch and their weapons are well aimed! Hornet reels under the impact of 3 more bombs and another torpedo. The attackers depart. When last seen, Hornet is aflame from bow to stern, dead in the water, down by the bow and listing heavily to starboard. She is doomed!

4 Vals, having gotten separated from the main group, sight the Colorado and attack! All are damaged but one bomb hits home. 8 Kates searching for the US carriers sight the West Virginia and attack. 10 Wildcats and 3 P-40s from Midway intercept. 5 Kates go down but not before they put 2 torpedoes in West Virginia�s side! She lists sharply to port and her speed drops. 120 miles to the west, 4 Kates stumble upon the crippled CA Portland and another torpedo rips open her hull.

The radio crackles. It is the IJA commander still ashore on Midway. �Banzai!� he shouts, �Long live the Emperor!� as the sound of gunfire in the background grows louder. Then the radio goes silent.

_____________________________

(in reply to ChezDaJez)

Post #: 5

RE: Midway revisited - 9/14/2005 8:12:11 AM

ChezDaJez

Posts: 3436
Joined: 11/12/2004
From: Chehalis, WA
Status: offline

29 May: Japanese naval forces are in full retreat towards Wake Island. Under cover of darkness, Akagi, Soryu and Hiryu take up station 240 miles south of Midway to cover the fleeing ships. Junyo and her escorts accompany the amphibious groups. Most are loaded with troops and must be protected. Several ships, badly damaged, move slowly westward, away from the battle area. But the battle isn�t over. Kongo limping along at 12 knots, 360 miles WSW of Midway, is heading for Wake. With her main armament out of action, she is defenseless. Suddenly, brilliant flashes of light stab the dark horizon as US cruisers open fire on the battered ship. The American radar-directed fire is superb! Kongo takes blow after blow, 64 shells and 2 torpedoes in all. In an instant she is gone. CV Junyo is close enough to see the flashes on the horizon. She turns away and successfully evades the menacing Americans. Further to the west, the American battleships locate AP Baikal Maru 240 miles WSW of Midway with 1100 troops aboard. She attempts to flee but is heavily damaged and limited to 5 knots. The hapless ship doesn�t stand a chance and absorbs 40 shells before sinking. All hands are lost.

Daylight arrives and now Junyo launches her aircraft in a desperate attempt to fend off the US ships. Two strikes go out. The first, with 7 Zeros, 8 Vals and 12 Kates finds the enemy cruisers 300 miles WSW of Midway. CA Louisville, CLAA Atlanta, and CL Nashville are the targets. Our planes swoop to attack. The cruisers, twisting and turning, put up a withering wall of flak in a desperate attempt to survive. 3 Vals and 2 Kates go down, 8 more Kates are damaged. The ships skillfully evade the bombs and torpedoes. But one bomb finally finds a target. Atlanta is hit but its effect is not observed.

More sighting reports arrive at Junyo�s combat center. More airstrikes are hurriedly prepared and launched. Junyo�s second wave locate the enemy, the same cruiser force attacked that morning. 9 Zeros, 20 Vals and 19 Kates attack. Again the sky fills with flak but this time the pilots are not to be deterred. Bombs rain down and torpedoes begin their deadly runs. Three Vals are quickly destroyed by antiaircraft, as are 2 Kates. CLAA Atlanta is hit again by a bomb, then 3 torpedoes! She erupts in flame and quickly begins to list. All power is lost and the crew prepares to abandon ship. The volume of AA fire from the fleet is markedly decreased. Now it�s Louisville�s turn. She dodges the torpedoes but 2 bombs hit as she fights for her life. DD Aylwin, struck by a bomb, sends a spurt of flame and smoke high in the sky. Then, as quickly as it began, the attack is over. But, Atlanta, burning fiercely and abandoned, is doomed and sinks in a hiss a boiling steam.

Soryu receives a report of a burning carrier 180 miles southeast of Midway. Surely, Hornet must have sunk by now. 14 Zeros, 9 Vals and 9 Kates launch to investigate. It is the Hornet! Listing, on fire and dead in the water, Hornet refuses to die. It is clear that she is unsalvageable but the planes take no chances. Hornet reels under 3 more bombs and a torpedo. She takes a further, more ominous list to starboard. The planes depart as Hornet�s flight deck touches the sea.

Junyo launches two afternoon strikes on the US cruisers 180 miles east of her but only CA Louisville and CL Nashville are found. They press home the attack with only 7 Zeros, 3 Vals and 2 Kates available. A bomb strikes Nashville but damage appears minimal. The second, stronger wave arrives with 8 Vals and 6 Kates and attacks. Nashville is hit twice more by bombs and fire gushes from her decks. Louisville staggers from a torpedo. Afire, she loses speed and begins listing. 1 Val is shot down and 2 damaged. A Kate is also downed with 3 others damaged.

Akagi gets in on the action and launches against on a report of a US battleship steaming 240 miles southeast of Midway. 9 Vals, escorted by 21 Zeros, find the BB Pennsylvania and attack. Two bombs hit but her armor holds. Her AA fire downs 3 Vals and damages 3 more.

Hiryu�s search planes locate 3 more battleships 240 miles SSW of Midway. They are at extreme range and only the Kates can reach them. There is no escort available so 27 Kates go alone. West Virginia, Oklahoma and Mississippi are each hit by a bomb without apparent result. The AA fire is intense but inaccurate and only 1 Kate is lost. 8 others are damaged.

The final action of the day is brief but just as violent. Two Vals locate the crippled cruiser, Portland. Two bombs deliver the coup d�gras. She is left drifting, on fire and sinking. Night approaches but no one knows what tomorrow will bring. Surely, though, it will be more death and destruction. But for whom?

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Post #: 6

RE: Midway revisited - 9/14/2005 8:13:38 AM

ChezDaJez

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30 May: The night passes slowly. Crews are exhausted and on edge. They work feverishly to put out fires and affect repairs to ship and plane. Time and again crews are called to action stations as weary eyes detect phantom shadows. But the night is quiet, though uncomforting, broken only by the roar of engines from search planes as they launch to find the enemy. Flight decks come alive as fighters and bombers are armed and positioned to launch if needed.

Dawn arrives with its customary brilliance as the fleet continues its slow progression westward towards safety. The sun, casting its golden rays, breaks the horizon. The sight is reminiscent of the Japanese naval ensign but no one notices.

The hours pass and all is quiet. Then Junyo receives a report. A damaged cruiser is sighted 120 miles east. Again, planes take off to do battle. Four Vals and four Kates locate the American. It is the heavy cruiser Louisville, heavily damaged and moving slowly east. Three planes are damaged as the AA guns bark in defiance but it is not enough. Two bombs hit and she goes dead in the water. She won�t last long.

31 May: The battle is dying down. RO-67 detects 4 destroyers 240 miles SW of Midway heading for Pearl. She hits DD Rathburne with one torpedo and the destroyer goes down fast. Her compatriots counterattack and unleash a severe depthcharging. RO-67 is hit 6 times and joins the Rathburne on the bottom.

Further west, Junyo�s planes sight and attack and attack West Virginia and Oklahoma. Two bombs hit West Virginia with little damage noted.

Akagi, Soryu and Hiryu, searching for stragglers, are operating 180 miles north of Johnston Island. A lookout cries a warning, �Enemy aircraft approaching from the south!� Nine A-20s approach, escorted by 6 P-40s. 30 Zeros drive them off with heavy losses as 5 P-40s and 2 A-20s fall into the ocean. There is a momentary lull. Then another lookout shouts, �Enemy aircraft approaching!� Once again, the sailors bring their AA guns to bear. The Zeros climb desperately to engage. The Zeros tear into the escort of 54 P-40s as the 11 A-20s and 16 B-26 Marauders bore in. The sky is a massing of burning planes. Pieces flutter gently to the surface creating small splashes as they hit. Seven Zeros go down but not before 24 P-40s and a Marauder fall. 8 bombers are damaged but still they come. Soryu and Hiryu disappear as bomb splashes hide them from view. The founts of water subside and the ships emerge into view once more� and they are unscathed!

1 June: The sun is bright and warm as the heavy cruiser Takao limps at 2 knots towards Wake Island. Her superstructure is a shambles, half her crew dear or wounded and all but one AA gun out of action. Repair crews have been busy putting fighting fires and controlling flooding. Their efforts are just beginning to pay off when, suddenly, masts appear on the horizon. It is the enemy; 4 battleships and 2 cruisers with escorts. The captain issues a call for help and Junyo answers. The crew watches stoically as the enemy closes the range. The Americans obviously know Takao cannot fight back. The lead battleship, Arizona, opens fire from a range of 12000 yards. The first salvo misses but the second finds its mark. Three 14� shells hit the ship hard and she begins to sink. The Americans hold fire as Japanese sailors rush to abandon their dying ship. Slowly, but inexorably with her flags still proudly flying, she begins to roll to port and slides beneath the surface. The Americans, their job done, turn away to search for other targets.

The Junyo dashes west to the stricken ship. Her few remaining aircraft, armed and fueled, launch in a desperate attempt to help the Takao. But it is too late. The sea is dotted with survivors but no sign of the ship remains as the planes arrive overhead. They head north looking for the enemy. There on the horizon, the battleships have been spotted! Two Vals and 7 Kates prepare to attack. The AA blossoms around the planes as they head in. The Vals, damaged, drop their bombs but miss. Simultaneously, the Kates begin their attack runs. Several are hit but still they go in. A Kate goes down. Five Kates drop their fish but all miss. The last Kate bores in to 400 yards as the Arizona fills his windscreen. The pilot releases his torpedo. Suddenly, fire erupts from his wing and the plane cartwheels across the ocean, barely missing the great battleship. But his torpedo is well aimed and strikes the hull below the bridge. A fountain of water shoots high into the air. Smoke and flame gushes from Arizona but it quickly subsides and the ship continues on.

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RE: Midway revisited - 9/14/2005 8:18:53 AM

ChezDaJez

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Epilogue: It�s a victory, but for whom? The Japanese failed to capture Midway but sink Hornet and Yorktown. The US inflicted heavy losses on the Japanese fleet. Eleven ships sunk and seven damaged of the eighty-one that took part. Allied air losses were very heavy but only 4 ships are known to have been lost so far. There may be some that fail to reach port. Fourteen other ships were damaged.

Of the 321 aircraft onboard my carriers, 92 were lost for a loss rate of 28.7%. Aircraft losses break down as follows:
A6M2 Zero: 107 present 15 lost = 14%
D3A Val: 107 present 50 lost = 47%
B5N Kate: 107 present 27 lost = 25%

The following is a list of Japanese ships sunk and damaged:
BB Kongo- sunk
CA Takao- sunk
DD Kamo- sunk
DD Hagikaze- sunk
DD Nowaki- sunk
DD Minekaze- sunk
AP Baikal Maru (1100 troops) - sunk
AP Kashiwa Maru (1400 troops) - sunk
AP Hiyoshi Maru (750 troops) - sunk
AP Unkai Maru 6 (3400 troops- engineer regiment) - sunk
RO-67- sunk

Japanese ships damaged:
CV Kaga- moderate damage
CV Akagi- very light damage
BB Haruna- moderate damage
CL Tatsuka- moderate damage
DD Shiokaze- moderate damage
AP Mizuho Maru- light damage
AP Buenas Aires Maru- moderate damage

Other Losses:
1200 troops left behind on Midway
Total troops lost- approximately 7200

Allied planes present and the number lost is difficult to determine due to the fog of war but the following numbers should be reasonably close. The losses reported are from all causes (A-A, flak, ground, and operations)

P-40B: estimate 45 present, 38 lost- 85%
P-40E: estimate 37 present, 16 lost- 43%
F4F-4: estimate 78 present, 59 lost- 76% (Combined land and sea squadrons)
SBD Dauntless: 72 present, 45 lost- 63%
TBD Devastator: 30 present, 22 lost- 73%
B-25C: estimate 171 present, 45 lost- 26%
B-17E: estimate 12 present, 5 lost- 42%
A-20B: estimate 22 present, 8 lost- 36%
A-24 Dauntless: 12 present, 8 lost- 67%

I have since learned from my opponent that he repositioned every aircraft he could to Midway even though he only had sufficient base support for 30 aircraft. He recognized that they would not repair so were basically a one-shot deal. That explains why the airpower from Midway diminished substantially each day. It was a good, maximum effort tactic that paid off for him. Those 171 B-25Cs were responsible for a lot of hits on my transports. Of course, had my invasion been successful, he would have lost them all. He also confirmed that there was a full division (27th ID) of troops at Midway with 2 USMC CD units. I had no chance for a successful invasion given those numbers.

The following is a list of Allied ships sunk and damaged:
CV Hornet- sunk
CV Yorktown- sunk
CLAA Atlanta- sunk
DD Rathburne- sunk

Allied Ships Damaged (Estimated)
BB West Virginia- heavy damage
BB Colorado- light damage
BB Pennsylvania- light/moderate damage
BB New Mexico- very light damage
BB Oklahoma- light damage
BB Mississippi- light damage
BB Arizona- moderate damage
CA Portland- very heavy damage, probably sunk
CA Louisville- very heavy damage, probably sunk
CL Nashville- heavy damage
DD Meredith- light damage
DD Aaron Ward- heavy damage, possibly sunk
DD Morris- light damage
DD Aylwin- moderate damage

I hope you enjoyed this narrative as much as I did fighting the battle. It was a nail-biter especially when his carriers appeared. Now I know how the Japanese felt at the real Battle of Midway when the first reports of American carriers came in!

I do fear that my opponent has decided to take advantage of the situation to make a push on Andamann Island in the Bay of Bengal. My search planes have detected several carriers, battleships and transports moving SW from Ceylon. Duty calls...Shokaku and Zuikaku must make reaady for battle.

Chez

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RE: Midway revisited - 9/14/2005 12:01:39 PM

riley555a

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Well you failed in your objective. You failed in every way except the carrier battle. I'd say you won in the short run but lost in the long run. You were repulsed and pushed back, you didn't take Midway and you lost alot of ground men for no gain. In the long run the U.S. will probably hit back and win. I know you sunk 2 carriers but that isn't enough. Very entertaining report btw. Out of curiosity, how long did it take to write?

< Message edited by riley555 -- 9/14/2005 12:03:44 PM >

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RE: Midway revisited - 9/14/2005 3:55:13 PM

BaitBoy

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Very well written! It is one of the best battle reports I have read on this forum.

As for who won, I have to say that if I were the allied commander I would be satisfied with the results especially this early in the war. The allies have killed a lot of irreplaceable Japanese pilots and sent two carriers to the repair yards for several months. By the time they are back up to strength (repaired with trained air crews) the allies will have replaced their losses.
The problem, as I see it, was that you could not have won even if everything went as planed. Your poor recon doomed the invasion from the start. A Mavis or Emily recon mission from is an essential prerequisite for any Japanese island invasion after the allies have a chance to reinforce the island garrisons.

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RE: Midway revisited - 9/14/2005 4:03:25 PM

patrickl

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From: Singapore
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Hi,

Very good read!

I wish I could write like that. Beancounters like me can only play WITP and not write

! Too bad for Midway!

You deserve a better result for your courage and tenacity!

< Message edited by patrickl -- 9/14/2005 4:04:15 PM >

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RE: Midway revisited - 9/14/2005 5:57:25 PM

Tom Hunter

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Tactical defeat (since your goal was the island) and strategic draw because you sunk two CVs.

If you had sent 6 CVs and a larger landing force you would have hurt the Allies badly, they would have lost a month of aircraft production, 2 CVs, an infantry division and several of thier BBs as well.

On the other hand he has a lot of stuff concentrated in a place where it can't do much, His P40 losses will take over a month to recover, and with the two CVs gone you can operate with a much greater degree of freedom in other areas.

I am suprised that he did not send 3 CVs but that is his choice.

I you capitalize on his current position: no CVs, too much force at Midway, to make ground somewhere else you might even turn this into a strategic victory. If you remember back to my first AAR with Blackwatch I lost 2 or 3 (I don't even remember now) US CVs fighting KB in the Coral Sea, but while KB was pinned I droped 6 divisions and 500 aircraft into Malaya. KB got damaged but not sunk, but it was still a strategic victory because once the Brits got back into Malaya nothing would get them out.

So the battle of Midway creates an opportunity for Japan, now what will you do with it?

Very well written account, really enjoyed reading it.

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RE: Midway revisited - 9/14/2005 7:19:54 PM

bradfordkay

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From: Olympia, WA
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Of course, naming a project "Operation Gooney Bird" gave away the location of the target for that operation. He didn't even have to resort to any subtle ruses to figure it out! (I know, in WITP it has no effect, but I can't help but to think in a historical manner...)

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RE: Midway revisited - 9/14/2005 7:39:02 PM

ChezDaJez

Posts: 3436
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From: Chehalis, WA
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quote:

If you had sent 6 CVs and a larger landing force you would have hurt the Allies badly, they would have lost a month of aircraft production, 2 CVs, an infantry division and several of thier BBs as well.

On the other hand he has a lot of stuff concentrated in a place where it can't do much, His P40 losses will take over a month to recover, and with the two CVs gone you can operate with a much greater degree of freedom in other areas.

I am suprised that he did not send 3 CVs but that is his choice.

I think my main failure here was woefully underestimating the troop strength at Midway. I never expected to find a full division at Midway. I have a division sitting at Rabaul that could have been used if I had been a little smarter. Still, even with a division landing, it would have been a hard fight.

He only had 2 carriers available at Hawaii. Lex and Sara had previously been sunk and Enterprise is now operating with the Brits in the Bay of Bengal. So he now has no way of projecting airpower anywhere in the central and south Pacific. I am taking a long look at my options. I may decide to move south from Guadalcanal towards Noumea with that division in Rabaul. I may even make a move on Ceylon but I'm going to have to really think that one out. I don't want to get overextended. I figure this battle gives me about 12-18 months additional time to prepare for any offensive he plans in the central/southwest Pacific. He can still try to move in the SRA under cover of land based air but his options are greatly reduced.

We have also just fought a great battle near Andamann Island and that battle was almost a complete reversal of this one. He attempted to invade Andamann, I fought him off. However Zuikaku and Shokaku are hurt bad and their airwings destroyed. Enterprise took a torpedo and Formidible took 2 torps and a couple of bombs so they will be laid up for awhile. That leaves him with just Illustrious who is lightly damaged to cover the entire theater until Wasp arrives in August. He does have the Long Island but that is about useless for offensive operations.

Akagi is fully operational, below 10 sys dam points and I have plenty of trained air groups in Japan to replace air losses. Zuikaku and Shokaku's airwings won't be needed for quite some time (assuming the carriers make port) so I can refill and retrain them as needed.

Riley555, it took 2 days to write. It started out as an attempt to determine his exact losses I best I could but it grew and grew and grew into the final result. I had as much fun writing it as I did fighting it.

Chez

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RE: Midway revisited - 9/14/2005 7:40:48 PM

ChezDaJez

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quote:

Of course, naming a project "Operation Gooney Bird" gave away the location of the target for that operation. He didn't even have to resort to any subtle ruses to figure it out! (I know, in WITP it has no effect, but I can't help but to think in a historical manner...)

I actually tried to translate it into Japanese but couldn't find a site that recognized "Gooney".

Chez

< Message edited by ChezDaJez -- 9/14/2005 8:58:43 PM >

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RE: Midway revisited - 9/15/2005 6:12:11 AM

riley555a

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Try taking Attu and then move onto Dutch harbor and Alaska. You should deathstar your carriers instead of dividing them and have them follow your invasion ships. Use 60,000+ men. I suggest first moving your carriers around in the Midway area and keep them bound East for one turn so he suspects Midway, Hawaii or even the west coast of America itself are under threat. Then move your carriers up north, meet up with an invasion fleet and take the Aleutians. There's another thing you can do... Take Lihu. Make sure to take the long northern route and go around Midway. Deathstar your carriers with nothing but Zero CAP and have them follow your invasion force to Lihu. Should work good if you avoid detection and I doubt he even reinforced Lihu (as a default it has nothing on it) and he won't think you're ballsey enough to attempt such an invasion. You just gotta be able to set up an airbase quickly and have fighters ready to fill up the airfield asap.

< Message edited by riley555 -- 9/15/2005 6:19:05 AM >

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RE: Midway revisited - 9/15/2005 6:37:01 AM

ChezDaJez

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quote:

Try taking Attu and then move onto Dutch harbor and Alaska. You should deathstar your carriers instead of dividing them and have them follow your invasion ships.

Unfortunately, I now find myself with a shortage of operational fleet carriers. Kaga is headed for Tokyo with 50 sys dam. Akagi needs to retrain her air wing after replenishing. Hiryu and Soryu are headed hell bent for the Indian Ocean as the Zuikaku and Shokaku just got blasted to bits again by the Illustrious, Formidible and Enterprise. Both should sink by the end of the next turn. Zuikaku has sys/flt/fire damage of 99/74/32 and she is the "lightly" damaged one. Junyo is heading for Truk. I still have my CVLs and CVEs but they aren't enough to conduct offensive operations against land-based air.

I started this operation with 7 fully operational fleet carriers. 2 are now sinking near Andamann and 1 will be in the yards for a long time. I'm not worried about the airwings, I have plenty of trained naval fighter groups in Japan (I use Mogami's training method. Vals and Kates will take a longer.

I will probably just strengthen my defensive line and do a little raiding in his shipping lanes for awhile.

Chez

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RE: Midway revisited - 9/15/2005 6:41:46 AM

Nikademus

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Nice one Chez...you obviously put alot of effort into this AAR.

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RE: Midway revisited - 9/15/2005 6:51:44 AM

ChezDaJez

Posts: 3436
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From: Chehalis, WA
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quote:

Nice one Chez...you obviously put alot of effort into this AAR.

Thanks, Nik. I appreciate the compliment.

I went back and reread it and looked at the numbers again. I consider myself extremely lucky to have gotten away with only the amount of damage I received. It could have been far worse.

If his first carrier strike had been just a little better (when my planes were busy bombing Midway) and hit Akagi with 2 more bombs, I think the whole battle would have swung his way and he wouldn't have lost his carriers. It probably would have ended up very similar to the original battle.

Chez

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RE: Midway revisited - 9/15/2005 10:52:23 AM

riley555a

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If he had simply brought up a 3rd carrier you'd be surrendering right now.

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RE: Midway revisited - 9/15/2005 1:38:54 PM

AmiralLaurent

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Very good AAR. It would be better if it was posted in the AAR section but it was fun to read.

I think you should consider the Midway and Andaman Battle as the same battle. Result is 2 CV lost and 2 CV damaged for each side, so it is an overall Japanese defeat.

Your CV groups are too scattered. The Southeast Fleet is useless, too weak to resist an Allied CV raid or to sail under LBA range, and its extra punch would have made the difference in both CV battles.
But more than CV you were lacking BBs. I don't know what is your BB situation but for Midway operation I would send 6 BBs rather than 2. Also after the first bombardment, BB have only 1/3 of the initial ammunition and are far less efficient.
In May 1942 and later you may assume that each atoll may be defended by a full division. It's better to bomb troops before the landing just to know what is waiting you.

It could have been worse. In the evening of the 27 I would have retreated my carriers if I was your opponent. At this date he knew that you had not enough troops to take Midway and he had hit two CVs while his were intact. On the other hand he had lost part of his airgroups. Sending the BBs to Midway was a good move but then using them to chase your damaged ships was overkill. Using CAs and DDs will have probably given the same result and with their greater speed they may be out of range of your CV AC after dawn. The best tactic IMOO would have been to set Midway as their home base with retirement orders and to put all remaining fighters on Midway on CAP 100% over the island. Your tired CV airmen will have suffered more losses and scored less hits.

But it is always easy to comment a battle after its end.

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RE: Midway revisited - 9/16/2005 7:00:53 AM

ChezDaJez

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You're probably right that I should have put it on the AAR forum. I just never thought of it as an AAR.

I pretty much agree with your assessment. I didn't bring enough to the battle to win.

Carrier wise, I thought that 2 were operating around the Brisane area. Now idea why I thought that but it was a hunch. Even still, I figured that if he did have all 3 fleet carriers available at Midway, my 4 fleet carriers and Junyo should be able to take care of them. Only one squadron was less than 90 experience and it was 84. So I was confident my carriers could handle whatever he brought and that turned out to be the case.

I kept the CVL/CVEs near Rabaul just in case Enterprise was down there. As it turned out, a lack of carriers wasn't the problem. Kaga was the only one hurt. Akagi took a bomb but her damage was only 6 pts. He lost two carriers for moderate damage on one of my.

I felt I had to keep two CVs in the Bay of Bengal to counter the Brit CVs there. His B-17s had been pounding my airfields and resources in Burma and I felt he might make a move on Andamann but I didn't determine that until it was too late to move additional troops from the DEI up there. The surprise was finding Enterprise with them. I never for a moment envisioned she was there. Her fighters kicked butt on my Bettys that first day. I had over 100 Betty/Nells available in Singapore ready to move to Rangoon on a moment's notice, which is what I did. However, they refused to fly after the first day and didn't play any significant part. Probably had their morale broken even though they averaged over 80 experience. In the end though, the presence of those CVs kept his invasion of Andamann from being successful. It wouldn't have been long before B-17s would have been operating from there and that would have been intolerable. You yeah it was an expensive victory but necessary.

The big mistake was not bringing enough troops to accomplish the job. I had a full division available in addition to the troops I brought in 4th fleet. Very stupid mistake. (I didn't have enough PP to move another one over) I also did not bring anywhere near enough battleships which was another huge mistake. Chances are it would have resulted in a major fleet action with his BBs. I could have brought Yamato (that would have been cool) but didn't. I had every major warship available. Prior to this battle the largest ship I had lost was a DD and the only ship that had damage at the start were DD size or smaller.

Anyways, live and learn.

Chez

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