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Bullwinkle58 -> RE: Nothing Up My Sleeve: Magical Moose Tricks--Bullwinkle58 vs.1EyedJacks (10/23/2012 10:53:05 PM)
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December 17, 1941
It Ain't Easy Bein' Dutch . . .
Woulda, coulda, shoulda. Not an auspicious day for the Allies, or their commander. Guessing wrong to do something useful, I instead volunteer for a woodshed session.
1) Near Palembang yesterday BB Haruna and DD Hibiki were sighted and missed by a Dutch sub. Thinking they could be leading an amphib TF headed for Palembang, since Mike is nearing the oft-repeated danger zone for Allied reinforcements to begin a Fortress P., I form a surface TF of CLs and DDs at Palembang. Hoping to gain two kicks at the cat if a landing up-river is coming, and thinking BBs couldn't go up-river and thus getting a 50% "freebie" on the patrol route, I set a patrol zone for them of one hex north of Muntok, then back to Palembang where BBs would not pursue.
Imagine my surprise and chagrin when this the enemy TF morphs into two BBs (Haruna, Kongo) and two DDs (Hibiki,Akatsuki) which pounce on an xAKL alone, evac-ing troops from NE Borneo. This was attack, and Ops Points, use #1. xAKL sunk.
Then the TF reacts onto my TF just reaching its first waypoint off Muntok. It is a slaughter.
Day Time Surface Combat, near Muntok at 49,89, Range 25,000 Yards
Allied aircraft
no flights
Allied aircraft losses
C.XI-W: 1 destroyed
Japanese Ships
BB Kongo, Shell hits 2
BB Haruna, Shell hits 2
DD Akatsuki
DD Hibiki, Shell hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage
Allied Ships
CL Java, Shell hits 12, and is sunk
CL Tromp, Shell hits 4, on fire, heavy damage
CL Dragon, Shell hits 5, on fire
CL Durban, Shell hits 9, and is sunk
DD Van Nes, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Evertsen, Shell hits 9, heavy fires, heavy damage
Maximum visibility in Partly Cloudy Conditions: 28,000 yards
The only consolation is that Hibiki should sink. Oh, also that I have found an ingenious way to make the IJN heavies expend scarce main battery ammo. This is attack #2. Ops points must be low, right?
Another pass, #3:
Day Time Surface Combat, near Muntok at 49,89, Range 28,000 Yards
Allied aircraft
no flights
Allied aircraft losses
C.XI-W: 1 destroyed
Japanese Ships
BB Kongo
BB Haruna
DD Akatsuki
Allied Ships
CL Tromp, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
CL Dragon, on fire
DD Van Nes, on fire
DD Evertsen, heavy fires, heavy damage
The cripples are running for Palembang's river. But it isn't over. Attack #4:
Day Time Surface Combat, near Muntok at 49,89, Range 30,000 Yards
Japanese Ships
BB Kongo
BB Haruna
DD Akatsuki
Allied Ships
CL Dragon, on fire
DD Van Nes, on fire
DD Evertsen, heavy fires, heavy damage
And yet again, #5:
Day Time Surface Combat, near Muntok at 49,89, Range 24,000 Yards
Japanese Ships
BB Kongo
BB Haruna
DD Akatsuki
Allied Ships
CL Dragon, on fire
DD Van Nes, heavy fires
DD Evertsen, Shell hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
And again, #6:
Day Time Surface Combat, near Muntok at 49,89, Range 24,000 Yards
Japanese Ships
BB Kongo
BB Haruna
DD Akatsuki
Allied Ships
CL Dragon, on fire
DD Van Nes, heavy fires
DD Evertsen, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Evertsen sinks later.
This debacle was completely my fault, and it has ramifications. First, Palembang is essentially undefended. I have some ships at Singers and Soerbaja, but I need them there. I also have Force Z out in the IO. Thinking it might be needed to deal with a landing I ordered it to a new, closer patrol zone last turn.
[image]local://upfiles/31387/27F86CA3371E4C37B4709AB14CFF83DD.jpg[/image]
So, now that I know the IJN is short of rounds, I expect it will withdraw. To where? Cam Rahn? Formosa? Other? Opinions welcome.
And should I expose Force Z in pursuit? I might find it, I might not. If I do Z could be clocked, or it might bag me a rare Japanese BB in exchange for yard time. I could swallow hard, let the BBs go this time, and maintain my fleet-in-being for the inevitable need around Java/Sumatra.
It's hard being an AFB sometimes.
2) The rest of the day was pretty pedestrian. Just as I send out about nine single-ship resupply misisons to Alaska and the Yukon, a lone I-boat shows up. Today it takes on an xAKL on the surface, scores 12 hits, and submerges, out of ammo.
3) At Rangoon, I am bringing in both troops and supplies in multiple TFs, and the piers are crowded. I moved another detachment of the AVG down from repairs at Mandalay, and they beat off multiple attacks and sweeps at the cost of 8 of their own. CL Dauntless, the lone escort for multiple unloading TFs, does duty as an AA platform, scaring and confusing more than hitting anything. But the unload continues with only two bombs finding targets. I won't be able to force as much supply through Rangoon as I hoped unless I want to squander ships, but with the Chinese coming to the supply I might get by with less than a "classic" amount shoved up the Burma Road, which is still open. No paras have shown themselves since war's start.
4) Attrition warfare continues in the PI. I fly bigger Cat naval attacks, and do no damage.
5) Bombing of road-march Indian units in Malaysia intensifies. I am counter-bombing his units on the central road with all my Blenhams, and doing little damage, but maybe disrupting.
6) Miri attacks continue with Oscars rising as CAP, disrupting the first strike, and trying the second. One point of Oil damage is recorded. I need to rest these planes.
7) Vacant San Fernando falls.
8) In the mountains near Chengting the Japanese attack yet again, odds falling to 1:2, casualties 275 (J) to 221 (A). He really, really wants this hex cleared.
9) Bataan forts go to 3.
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