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Fulton -> An interesting engagement (Exeter vs KB) (6/18/2010 11:48:40 PM)
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Just wanted to drop a line. It's been a while since i've played with any tenacity. I recently gave in and was inspired by a good book. (Halsey's Typhoon) This is truly still the best game I've ever played. I find my imagination stretched and can be found frequently at 2am thinking about strategies. I'll try and get up the courage to start another PBEM soon but for now I have a single player game as the Allies.
I came across an interesting engagement last night. I have rounded up all my DEI, Malay and Manila forces to the island of Java. Called operation "coffeebean" I feel like I can hold out some time here. Anyway, the Japs started sailing the slightly weakened KB (from its 3 day pearl harbor visit!) up the Makassar Sea near sotuthern Borneo. I threw all my land based bombers at it (including some of Mac's B-17's now based at Soerabaja) and launched my Hermes task force in a last dich hopeful knockout blow. My efforts were completely wasted with no hits and several casualties on my side including a small hole in Hermes.
I sent a well capped Hermes home with its tail between its legs but decided to leave its undamaged escorts out and see if they could do some damage. I also had some PT boats doing some brave patrolling in the Java sea.
Here is what happened:
Night Time Surface Combat, near Kangean at 62,104, Range 12,000 Yards
Japanese Ships
CV Hiryu
CV Soryu
CV Zuikaku
BB Kirishima
CA Nachi
DD Natsushio
DD Hayashio
DD Isokaze
DD Amatsukaze
DD Urakaze
DD Kasumi
Allied Ships
PT TM-4
PT TM-5
PT TM-6
PT TM-7
PT TM-8
PT TM-9
Improved night sighting under 100% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Overcast Conditions and 100% moonlight: 8,000 yards
Range increases to 12,000 yards...
Both Task Forces evade combat
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Night Time Surface Combat, near Kangean at 62,104, Range 8,000 Yards
Japanese Ships
CV Hiryu, Shell hits 5
CV Soryu, Shell hits 1
CV Zuikaku, Shell hits 3
BB Kirishima
CA Nachi, Shell hits 4
DD Natsushio, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Hayashio, Shell hits 1
DD Isokaze
DD Amatsukaze
DD Urakaze
DD Kasumi
Allied Ships
CA Exeter, Shell hits 6, on fire
CL Enterprise
CL Ceres
CL Mauritius
CL Glasgow
DD Peary, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Isis, Shell hits 1
Improved night sighting under 100% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Overcast Conditions and 100% moonlight: 8,000 yards
Range closes to 18,000 yards...
Range closes to 13,000 yards...
Range closes to 8,000 yards...
CONTACT: Allies radar detects Japanese task force at 8,000 yards
Allies open fire on surprised Japanese ships at 8,000 yards
CL Enterprise launches Torpedoes at CV Zuikaku at 8,000 yards
CL Glasgow fires at CV Zuikaku at 8,000 yards
CA Exeter launches Torpedoes at CV Hiryu at 8,000 yards
CL Ceres launches Torpedoes at CV Hiryu at 8,000 yards
CA Exeter launches Torpedoes at CA Nachi at 8,000 yards
DD Isis launches Torpedoes at CV Hiryu at 8,000 yards
DD Isis fires at DD Urakaze at 8,000 yards
DD Isis fires at DD Amatsukaze at 8,000 yards
Range closes to 4,000 yards
CA Exeter engages CV Hiryu at 4,000 yards
CA Nachi engages CL Ceres at 4,000 yards
CL Enterprise engages CA Nachi at 4,000 yards
DD Urakaze engages DD Isis at 4,000 yards
DD Isis engages DD Amatsukaze at 4,000 yards
DD Isokaze engages CA Exeter at 4,000 yards
DD Hayashio engages DD Isis at 4,000 yards
CA Exeter engages DD Natsushio at 4,000 yards
Range closes to 2,000 yards
CA Exeter engages CA Nachi at 2,000 yards
CL Glasgow engages CA Nachi at 2,000 yards
CL Mauritius engages CV Hiryu at 2,000 yards
BB Kirishima engages CA Exeter at 2,000 yards
CA Nachi engages CA Exeter at 2,000 yards
DD Hayashio engages DD Isis at 2,000 yards
DD Peary engages DD Isokaze at 2,000 yards
DD Amatsukaze engages DD Isis at 2,000 yards
DD Isis engages DD Isokaze at 2,000 yards
DD Hayashio engages DD Peary at 2,000 yards
DD Natsushio engages DD Peary at 2,000 yards
Range increases to 4,000 yards
CA Exeter engages CA Nachi at 4,000 yards
DD Isis engages CV Soryu at 4,000 yards
CL Mauritius engages CA Nachi at 4,000 yards
BB Kirishima engages CA Exeter at 4,000 yards
CA Nachi engages CA Exeter at 4,000 yards
DD Isis engages DD Hayashio at 4,000 yards
DD Hayashio engages DD Peary at 4,000 yards
DD Peary engages DD Amatsukaze at 4,000 yards
DD Isokaze engages DD Isis at 4,000 yards
CL Ceres engages DD Hayashio at 4,000 yards
DD Natsushio engages DD Isis at 4,000 yards
Range increases to 8,000 yards
CA Nachi engages CA Exeter at 8,000 yards
CL Glasgow engages CV Soryu at 8,000 yards
Japanese Task Force Manages to Escape
Task forces break off...
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Submarine attack near Soerabaja at 57,103
Japanese Ships
SS I-122
Allied Ships
CVL Hermes
CVL Hermes is sighted by SS I-122
SS I-122 launches 4 torpedoes
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I love that the Herm avoided those torps as I feel like I probably deserved to get hit considering the chance I took. I also like the idea of a one two punch from the PT's as a distraction from my main force. I can also hear Churchill giving a 4 hour speech (longer than the actual battle) about it.
What would you do from there? Pursue? Count blessings? Am I as lucky as I think? Seems like radar made the difference too.
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