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Canoerebel -> RE: Operation Solar Flair (6/23/2008 2:59:08 AM)
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10/15/43 to 10/18/43
After the Mid-Pacific Carrier Battle: While the Allied carriers, combat ships, and transports (most of them anyhow) headed toward Iwo Jima, John sent his carriers after some cripples and a few TFs that headed east; he also sent a combat TF after transports, with initial success but ultimate anhilation. On the 15th, the KB picked off a few insignificant ships (an already crippled AK and a DE) and applied the coup-de-grace to the mortally wounded CVE Casablanca. On the 16th, a combat TF led by CA Kumano intercepted a replenishment convoy, sinking a few DEs, but otherwise not doing much. On the 17th, the KB caught up with an 8-ship TK convoy and sank or mortally wounded all of them. But the Kumano TF ended up within range of the US CVs. CL Natori took 3 TT and 4 bombs; CL Sendai 2 TT and 6 B; CA Kumano 6 TT and 10 B; and four DDs were sunk or badly damaged. The KB continued moving SE toward Midway (and is about 10 hexes NW as of the 18th), but it doesn't look like she'll be able to pick off the last plum - heavily damaged CA Salt Lake City is now within LRCAP range of the base. So, the final (or nearly final) tally for this big battle: The Allies lose CV Intrepid, CVL Langley, CVE Casablance, BB Alabama, 8 TKs, three or four AKs, two crated fighter squadrons, and a few DEs. The Japs lose CA Kumano, CL Sendai, CL Notori, and probably 3 of the four damaged DDs.
Iwo Jima: While the U.S. carriers were away, John sent in his big BBs against Iwo four successive days. I was concerned about the surface combat fleet left to guard the base - it had plenty of fast BBs (five, I think), but was lightl on CAs, whereas John has vast numbers of BBs and CAs. So for three days I sent my combat ships a hex out of port each night, and a cargo TF carrying crated aircraft spent this period a hex away under LRCAP provided by one squadron of Corsairs. So the defense of Iwo Jima was left largely to PT boats, which did an incredible job. On the 16th, the PTs sank a DD while two PTs went under and on the 17th, 11 PT boats went down, but the fiesty ships put a TT into BB Ise, 2 into DD Satsuka, and another into DD Nenohi (which later took another TT from a sub. Ise and Hyuga also took 500 pounders from PBY4s out of Iwo, but they caused deminimus damage. John's ships damaged many cargo ships in port at Iwo, though only one or two may sink. Then things really heated up on the 18th:
Naval Battle of Iwo Jima: This time I decided to leave my combat ships at Iwo. The Japs returned for another raid, with many BBs including Yamato, Hiei, Haruna, and Kongo. There were two rounds of capital ship combat, three rounds with PTs, and then the aftermath with LBA and subs:
Round 1: The Allied TF came out on top, scoring four hits on CA Hagura and setting her afire. DD Sheranuki took six hits and heavy damage. Other Japs ships were lightly hit. On the Allied side, the only ship hit hard was DD Brownson, which took a TT and is afire.
Round 2: The two fleets really fought this time. BB Haruna 4 hits afire; BB Hiei 3 afire; CA Hagura 5 and heavy damage; CA Aoba 4 and on fire; CLs Kinu, Kuma, and Abukima afire; four DDs heavily damaged. On the Allied side, BB Indiana took 3 hits afire; CA Pensacola 3 TT and heavily damaged; CL Perth and CL St. Louis some hits and a TT each and both afire; and two DDs heavily damaged.
Round 3: 3 PTs put another TT in BB Haruna. No PTs damaged.
Round 4: 3 PTs put 3 TTs in DD Hamikaze, which sinks. No PTs damaged.
Round 5: 5 PTs put a TT into CL Kuma and 2 into DD Minegumo, which sinks. No PTs sunk.
Aftermath: Air strikes inflict more damage on CL Kuma and CA Aoba; BB Haruna takes four more 500 pounders, which probably didn't affect her (but she made just one hex on the day, so she's hurt bad). Then SS Haddock put 3 TT into CL Kinu and she went under.
Results: This battle was an decisive Allied victory. CA Pensacola should go down, but no other ships suffered even moderate damage. On the Jap side, BB Haruna will either sink or is out of the war a long time; BB Hiei is probably out for a little while; CAs Hagura and Aoba are either mortally wounded or dry-dock bound; CLs Kinu, Abukima, and Kuma either went under or should be out of the war; and five DDs went under.
What does it all mean: The Allied loss of Intrepid, Langley, Casablanca, and Alabama was painful, but they died protecting an important convoy that will soon reach Iwo, relatively unscathed (yes, I lost 10 tankers and a few AKs carrying crated aircraft, but this convoy is huge, and none of the troops ships was touched). The loss of the capital ships hurts, but the arrival of the convoy is important. Moreover, this directly led to two battles in which the Japs may have lost a BB (Haruna), two CAs (Kumano and Hagura), five CLs, and 5 DDs, with BBs Hiei and Ise and CA Aoba damaged. That's enough that the carrier battle no longer is so painful. So, the Allies plan to unload everything at Iwo and then hold on tight while I see if the KB takes any further offensive action. IE, the Allies won't go anywhere in the short term.
Australia: Having liberated Brisbane, the Aussie army will reach Rockhampton in two or three days. I don't yet know how strongly held this city is.
Burma: The multitude of armored unit reinforcements arrived in Aden, embarked on transports, and are headed for Colombo. About half are prepping for Port Blair, the other half for Tavoy. CVE Battler arrived too, and will join the main RN concentration at Colombo. The invasion of Port Blair should take place within the month.
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