Q-Ball
Posts: 7336
Joined: 6/25/2002 From: Chicago, Illinois Status: offline
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Combat Report, June 1, 1943: COMMENTS: I should have sent the CV's forward, but I didn't have a surface combat TF to cover them. If they stumbled into an IJN surface force, and there were plenty, then it would have been ugly. That's the only reason, because I didn't fear an air threat. On the Turkey Shoot? Not sure why our shooting was so good. We had alot of Hellcats, good pilots, everyone rested, maybe those were factors. Night Battle of Jolo: This round went to the Empire. A large BB force engaged my 3 RN BBs, in a flat-out square off. First though they raked a cruiser TF, sinking Astoria and Exeter, along with a USN DD. They next bumped into the BBs, sinking Resolution outright, and damaging Royal Sovereign to the point that I'll probably just withdraw it (she was due in a few months anyway). Only 1 R-Class BB emerged unscathed. Oh yeah, they did also sink 6 LSTs unloading, but thankfully I had withdrawn the precious APAs. I can affort LST losses. During the day phase, we did inflict some pain back, sinking 3 damaged ships; 2 modern DDs, plus CA Maya. Overall, 1 lost 2 CA, 1 DD, and a BB, in exchange for 1 CA and 2 DD. I lost, but the BB is no big deal (she is due for withdrawl anyway), and those IJN CAs are valuable; I want to take down all I can. Next Steps: The good news is that Jolo should fall shortly; first attack was 2-1 and dropped the forts. The landing on Tawi Tawi was successful and noone is home, so that falls tommorow. I have support TFs that will start unloading at both bases in a couple days. I am moving back the CVs, to cover a landing on Ketapang. Cuttlefish needs to re-load KB, and I think I can get to Ketapang before that happens. If that base falls, I will be within Beaufort range of Palembang, if I can get an AIR HQ there.
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