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Canoerebel -> RE: The Good The Bad & The Indifferent (1/22/2017 9:10:19 PM)
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4/11/44
Battle of the San Bernardino Strait: The first great battle of the Philippines takes place today. Today it is called the Battle of San Bernardino Strait, but it will probably be better known in history as the First Battle of the Philippines (I expect more).
The Set Up: You'll recall that nav search showed a combat TF NW of Mindanao that I believed to be a combat TF John was sending to Legaspi. I weighed whether to pull everything out of port so that he could "drill a dry hole" or whether to contest. I chose the latter. I already had a small CL/DD force at Legaspi, which I left there. I detached from Death Star the CA Baltimore TF and a TF taken from a BB TF, comprised of CL Phoenix and some Fletchers; these two TFs to patrol just west of the straits.
The Battle: John sent in a large TF (CL Chikuma, a CL, and nine DDs) and a four-DD TF (Oite being one). The Japanese TF must've had a very good and very aggressive commander, because it tangled with everything in sight and kept coming...and coming...and coming. There were a series of about five battles, with ships running low on ammo, retiring, re-engaging, etc. The battles were immensely long. CA Chikuma and the enemy CL took moderate damage and retired, leaving the field to the good IJN DDs. CA Baltimore took moderate damage and tried to retire but kept bumping into more of the enemy. Enemy DDs kept taking hits and giving some back. One USN DD (a Fletcher) and at least four enemy DDs confirmed sunk. A half-dozen IJN DDs completed the run and bombarded Legaspi, but to no effect (low on ammo, no doubt). The long series of engagements meant that the surviving enemy DDs were in range of Allied carriers at daylight. Dive bombers and bomb-toting TBFs sortied in pretty large numbers, sinking at least two more.
Losses: All told, I think John lost between six and 12 destroyers, most of them good ones (13- or 10-pointers). I lost one good one. CA Chikuma probably took at least moderate damage and should be out of action awhile. CA Baltimore took moderately heavy damage - no more action for her, but she's in good shape to make an ocean voyage if and when that day arrives.
Impact and Meaning: I'm pretty certain the Allies came out substantially ahead. If the highest objective (as stated) is to attrition the Kaigun efficiently, this was a big step in the right direction. I emerge from the battle weaker - Baltimore's unavailability will be keenly felt - but John might well have lost 10 destroyers, with Chikuma out of commission for a month or more. Tellingly, John was trying to conduct a bombardment mission without battleships. He was also trying to fight without committing his carriers, though the bombardment might've been to set the table for his carriers. Now what does he do? Does he become increasingly leery of committing combat ships? Does he become desperate enough to commit his carrier? I don't know yet - I don't have a hunch. But I'm hunkering down for a naval battle.
Fun House: Legaspi airfield at 4.66 (to five, tomorrow); Naga at 3.36. All ships still at sea with troops aboard to report to Legaspi tonight to unload. Also coming in will be a combat TF and several support TFs, including AKEs. SigInt of 48th Div. inbound to Manila (I think from the Marianas). John will build a massive army on Luzon, with good reason. But should he lose a carrier battle, the Allies can then impose an embargo and reduce the enemy army at leisure. Not saying that's going to happen, but that's the downside for him if it does happen.
Burma: An IJ tank regiment tried moving to re-secure the left flank of John's MLR, but evaporated in a cross-river attack against a USA RCT. On the right flank, a Thai Div./A arrived just in time to spoil an Allied attack.
Pacific: Lots of non-sexy wheels in motion. I'll report more later, when something meaningful happens.
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