John 3rd -> Battle off Enggano: Day SIX (9/3/2012 7:42:38 AM)
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June 1, 1942 Battle off Enggano: Day SIX This is turning into a true grueling battle at sea. We see BIG BOYS fight and the CVs engage this day with very good results but it is not one-sided. The night begins with a surface brawl between BBs Mutsu--Nagato, 2 CL, and 6 DD vs. BBs New Mexico--Idaho, CAs Salt Lake City, Vincennes, New Orleans, and Devonshire, 2 CL, 6 DD. Looks pretty bad in terms of numbers but the Japanese get the drop on the Allied TF on Turn One (6,000Yds). Nagato and Mutsu SINK New Mexico with 8 16" hits on the first TURN: BANZAI! The battle then turns into 9 Round brawl that sees Mutsu crippled (5 14" hits and 1 TT) and CL Sendai mauled. In return Idaho takes 3 large shells and a Torp, Devonshire and DD Cushing are sunk. CA Salt Lake City takes a couple of hits and a Long Lance. Not too bad... BB Yamato's TF sweeps into Benkoelen and finds NOTHING. It does not react to the 50+ vessels moving slowly up the coast just to the north. Daylight Morning Air Strikes sink CA Salt Lake City, DD's Morris and Dale as well as hits BB Idaho with 3 more bombs. Bad weather keeps most planes from flying from Batavia and Oosthaven. CRAP! CV Action The KB-2 (CarDiv2, Zuiho, Shoho) launch a serious strike of 29 Zero, 44 Val, and 58 Kate at the Allied CV TF. They are met by 18 F4F. Most of the Allied Fighters are shot down as the Vals and Kates assault the CVs. Results could be a lot better but they are decent as Yorktown takes 2 Bombs and has an Ammo Storage Explosions leaving her on fire, near her the Hornet takes a much stronger 3 Bombs and a Single TT which also brings on an Ammo Storage Explosion, and at the edge of the formation HMS Formidable has her paint scratched by 3 bombs. A CA and CL each take a bomb. Pretty sad results but Hornet is in trouble and Yorktown has issues as well. The Allied CVs launch their counter-strike of 16 F4F, 26 SBD, and 27 TB. Luckily this strike fragments and comes in piecemeal. There are 43 Zeros on CAP when 16 F4F, 17 SBD and 21 TBD attack. The Wildcats do a good job of protecting their charges with 7 F4F, 3 SBD, and 4 TBD shot down before they can attack. Considering everything they fairly well. Hiryu takes a 1000lb bomb, Shoho gets a TT, Zuiho receives a single bomb and BC Kirishima takes a TT as well. Some damage is sustained but everyone looks OK for the afternoon which SHOULD finish the American CVs. Second strike of 9 SBD is wiped out by 31 Zero and a Third Strike of 6 Albacore is also destroyed by 25 Zero. Weather closes in so the Japanese launch a massed strike of 24 Zero and 58 Kates at Allied shipping near Benkoelen. CRAP! Afternoon EVERYTHING flies in the afternoon. Nearly 450 planes attack the Allied shipping prior to sunset and they do quite well. Vessels confirmed sunk: BB Ramilles, 6 AP, 1 AMC, 4 AK with another 16 vessels damaged and perhaps sinking. As said the KB-2 launches at the Merchants and NOTHING flies from the Allied CVs. As the sunsets the Japanese take their only serious loss to this point when BB Mutsu sinks while trying to reach Oosthaven. Too bad. HATE losing a BB! Final Results for June 1st: Japanese SUNK: BB Mutsu, heavy damage to CL Sendai, moderate damage to CV Hiryu (25 SYS with 0 Fires!) and CVL Shoho (12 SYS and 8 Flooding), light damage to BC Kirishima and CVL Zuiho. CV Plane losses amount to 7 Zero, 3 Val, and 10 Kate. Allies SUNK: BB New Mexico and Ramilles, CAs Devonshire and Salt Lake City, 3 DD, 6 AP, 1 AMC, and 4 AK. DAMAGED: BB Idaho is a mess, CV Hornet seriously damaged and CV Yorktown moderately damaged. CV plane losses are 19 F4F, 14 SBD, 14 TBD/Albacore. Damned nice results for the day's work. I cannot even keep track of his losses at the moment. Will total everything once the battle is finished but I think this makes 6-7 BBs sunk so far over the last 6 days... Seriously think about how far I want to push this and finally decide to move KB-2 up the coast but ending only a few hexes from a friendly Port. They will try to finish off the American CVs. KB-1 is set for Full Speed and should engage as well. Should be interesting... The BBs will unite and prowl looking for a bunch of tasty morsels! [image]local://upfiles/18041/9563F553CCCB453882666442A2EFD9AA.jpg[/image]
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