Blackwatch_it -> Dec 11-14 Naval Battles of Balikpapan. (5/4/2005 1:21:42 AM)
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Several surface combats take palce along four day near Balikpapan. On the first night a small Japanese Tf lead by CL Naka and including 7 DDs metts two Allied TFs. Two engagements against a TF composed of three CLs and seven DDs. Japanese Ships CL Naka DD Natsugumo DD Minegumo DD Asagumo DD Murasame DD Harusame, Shell hits 1 DD Yudachi DD Samidare, Shell hits 1 Allied Ships CL Java, Shell hits 1 CL De Ruyter, Shell hits 1 CL Tromp, Shell hits 1, Torpedo hits 1, on fire DD Banckert DD Van Nes DD Witte de With, Shell hits 4, on fire DD Evertsen DD Kortenaer, Shell hits 1, on fire DD Piet Hein, Shell hits 1 DD Van Ghent Japanese Ships CL Naka DD Natsugumo, Shell hits 2, on fire DD Minegumo, Torpedo hits 1, on fire DD Asagumo, Shell hits 3, on fire DD Murasame DD Harusame DD Yudachi DD Samidare Allied Ships CL Java, Shell hits 2 CL De Ruyter, Shell hits 2 CL Tromp, Shell hits 2, on fire, heavy damage DD Banckert DD Van Nes DD Witte de With, Shell hits 2, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk DD Evertsen DD Kortenaer, Shell hits 2, on fire DD Piet Hein, Shell hits 1, on fire DD Van Ghent Naka's group performs well sinking one DD and damaging CL Tromp. But a second TF shows. Night Time Surface Combat, near Balikpapan at 31,64 Japanese Ships CL Naka, Shell hits 3, on fire DD Natsugumo, Shell hits 7, on fire DD Minegumo, on fire, heavy damage DD Asagumo, on fire DD Murasame DD Harusame DD Yudachi, Shell hits 2 DD Samidare Allied Ships CA Houston, Shell hits 1 CL Marblehead, Shell hits 3 CL Boise, Shell hits 2 DD Barker DD Bulmer, Shell hits 1, on fire DD Paul Jones DD Parrott DD Stewart Japanese Ships CL Naka, Shell hits 3, on fire DD Natsugumo, Shell hits 2, on fire, heavy damage DD Minegumo, Shell hits 21, on fire, heavy damage DD Asagumo, on fire DD Murasame DD Harusame DD Yudachi DD Samidare Allied Ships CA Houston, Shell hits 1 CL Marblehead, Shell hits 1 CL Boise DD Barker, Shell hits 1 DD Bulmer, on fire DD Paul Jones, Shell hits 1 DD Parrott DD Stewart Houston makes the difference against a battle tired groups that menages anyway to inflict soem damage. Moreover only some PT are able to attack the convoy inflicting no damage. On day 2 (Dec 12) a stronger Japanese TF is patrolling the waters before Balikpapan. Again four separate engagements happens in the night. Japanese Ships CA Myoko CA Haguro CA Nachi, Shell hits 1 CL Kinu CL Oi DD Oyashio DD Natsushio DD Hayashio DD Amatsukaze DD Yukaze Allied Ships CL Tromp, on fire, heavy damage DD Bulmer, Shell hits 8, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk DD Kortenaer, Shell hits 33, and is sunk DD Piet Hein, Shell hits 24, and is sunk Japanese Ships CA Myoko CA Haguro CA Nachi, Shell hits 1 CL Kinu CL Oi DD Oyashio DD Natsushio DD Hayashio DD Amatsukaze DD Yukaze Allied Ships CL Tromp, on fire, heavy damage DD Bulmer, Shell hits 8, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk DD Kortenaer, Shell hits 33, and is sunk DD Piet Hein, Shell hits 24, and is sunk Tromp and escort are totally erased. Japanese Ships CA Myoko CA Haguro CA Nachi CL Kinu CL Oi DD Oyashio DD Natsushio DD Hayashio DD Amatsukaze DD Yukaze Allied Ships PT TM-4, Shell hits 12, and is sunk PT TM-5 PT TM-6 PT TM-7 Japanese Ships CA Myoko CA Haguro CA Nachi CL Kinu CL Oi DD Oyashio DD Natsushio DD Hayashio DD Amatsukaze DD Yukaze Allied Ships PT TM-4, Shell hits 12, and is sunk PT TM-5 PT TM-6 PT TM-7 In total only two hits scratched Nachi paint. Dec 13 is a quiet day, the Allied are in control of Balikpapan and the IJN doesn't show. DD Evertsen leaving Balikpapan meets the convoy and eventually sinks. On Dec 14 we have the most important battle when a five CAs ts meets POW and escort. Japanese Ships CA Chokai, Shell hits 5 CA Mogami, Shell hits 4 CA Mikuma, Shell hits 2, on fire CA Suzuya, Shell hits 2 CA Kumano, Shell hits 1 CL Sendai, Shell hits 5, on fire DD Maikaze, Shell hits 9, on fire DD Nowaki, Shell hits 2, on fire DD Arashi DD Hagikaze DD Shinonome, Shell hits 1 DD Isonami DD Sagiri DD Yugiri DD Otori DD Hayabusa Allied Ships BB Prince of Wales, Shell hits 9, Torpedo hits 1, on fire CA Houston, Shell hits 5 CL Java, Shell hits 11, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk CL De Ruyter, Shell hits 8, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage CL Danae, Shell hits 3, Torpedo hits 1 CL Marblehead, Shell hits 12, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage CL Boise DD Barker DD Paul Jones DD Parrott DD Stewart, Shell hits 2, on fire DD Banckert DD Van Nes DD Van Ghent The Japanese surprise the Allied fleet and the result is the end of Tom attempts to defend Balikpapan. The total losses of the four days battles are: Allied three CLs, five DDs and two PTs Japanese one CL and eight DDs Several ships are more or less damaged after the combats. Tom is acting very aggressive in the opening moves, let's see if this will be the right choice.
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