Cap Mandrake
Posts: 23184
Joined: 11/15/2002 From: Southern California Status: offline
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******************Nov. 14, 1942(c)************** Oz: Quite an eventful turn. A Royal Navy group (Ceres and 5 DD's) under Somerville made for Exmouth. They were attacked by 3 Jap subs and roughed up or sank one. JJ sent in Matsukaze to kill shipping or bombard at Exmouth. She was met in a night battle under good visibility and was sunk, by a Royal Navy torpedo (those things actually work), with the loss of the entire crew, the captain, two cats, an Akita, 4 goldfish and 20 cases of salted sea urchin roe. Nestor was hit by two rounds. Somerville's group was then joined by two USN CL and 2 DD's coming up from Carnovan. The Allied carriers and Repulse were 40 mi to the SW. Yubari, perhaps already damaged, was hit by a single torp from USS Searaven near PH. When the sun came up, the first ground, port and airfield attack at PH was intercepted by Zeroes (presumably from the carriers). This chopped up the raid and 3 Bolingbroke were lost. 3 subsequent raids over PH didn't have trouble with the Zeroes and did quite a bit of damage. A late sweep by Beaufighters downed one Zero. Weather was very bad over the Jap carriers which were posted 120 mi NNE Port Hedland and 8 hexes from Exmouth and 9 hexes from the Allied carriers. They were still spotted and several disjointed raids from Carnovan followed with most of the bombers turning back. First 3 B-25's went after Zuiho. Morning Air attack on TF, near Port Hedland at 56,125 Weather in hex: Thunderstorms Raid detected at 39 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 11 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 36 Allied aircraft B-25C Mitchell x 3 P-38F Lightning x 21 Japanese aircraft losses A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed Allied aircraft losses B-25C Mitchell: 1 destroyed, 2 damaged P-38F Lightning: 4 destroyed Japanese Ships CVL Zuiho Then 4 B-26 went after the transports: Morning Air attack on TF, near Port Hedland at 57,127 Weather in hex: Heavy cloud Raid detected at 16 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 4 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 29 Allied aircraft B-26 Marauder x 4 P-38G Lightning x 10 No Japanese losses Allied aircraft losses B-26 Marauder: 2 damaged P-38G Lightning: 1 destroyed Japanese Ships xAP Teia Maru Then in the best chance, 4 B-25's snuck in without escorts. They miss but Kaga is smoking pretty good. Morning Air attack on TF, near Port Hedland at 56,125 Weather in hex: Thunderstorms Raid detected at 35 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 10 minutes Allied aircraft B-25C Mitchell x 4 Allied aircraft losses B-25C Mitchell: 4 damaged B-25C Mitchell: 1 destroyed by flak Japanese Ships CV Kaga Aircraft Attacking: 4 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 6000 feet Naval Attack: 6 x 500 lb SAP Bomb Carrier support unable to supply air cover.. JJ manages an afternoon raid with Kates armed with bombs and no escorts. They are met by a combined CAP of P-39's, Hurricanes, Kittyhawks and F4F's (from the carriers). It is quite a slaughter but 19 get through. Honolulu and Caldwell are hit by bombs. Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Exmouth at 50,129 Weather in hex: Clear sky Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 17 minutes Japanese aircraft B5N1 Kate x 8 B5N2 Kate x 39 Allied aircraft Hurricane IIc Trop x 14 Kittyhawk IA x 18 P-39D Airacobra x 11 F4F-4 Wildcat x 27 Japanese aircraft losses B5N2 Kate: 17 destroyed, 1 damaged No Allied losses Allied Ships DD Caldwell, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage CL Ceres CL Honolulu, Bomb hits 1, on fire CL Boise I don't think the transports reached Port Hedland. Exmouth reached level 2 and and Carnovan level 6. This could be interesting. The Jap CV's appear not to have torps, Kaga is smoking, their Zeroes may be fatgiued, probably 2 Daitai of Kates are wrecked psychologically....Exmouth can handle SBD's or TBF's......hmmmm.
< Message edited by Cap Mandrake -- 1/7/2012 6:32:17 PM >
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