Canoerebel
Posts: 21100
Joined: 12/14/2002 From: Northwestern Georgia, USA Status: offline
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4/13/42 Those Japanese TFs hung a left turn, made for Port Blair, and sailed right into disaster. Bombardment Run: First, a big bombardment TF including BBS Kongo, Ise, and Haruna hit Port Blair, sinking an xAKL and doing some damage to the facilities. Allied Carrier Strikes vs. Combat Ships: The Allied carriers were in perfect position to hit everything, beginning with IJN combat ships. During the day, Kongo took 1 torpedo and seven bombs; Ise 4 T and 11 B, Haruna 2 T and 9 B, CA Kako 5 B, CA Furutaka 1 B; and DD Umikaze 1 B. Allied Carrier Strikes vs. Amphibious Ships: 9 xAP, 4 xAK, one APD and 2 xAKL were damaged or sunk. Groud troop casualties: Infantry squads 19 destroyed, 33 disrupted; non combat 59 destroyed, 59 damaged. What Next? I haven't seen the combat replay or turn file yet, so I'm not sure the relative positions of the enemy ships. The Allies will try to finish off as many enemy ships as possible. I'm nearly positive this puts a stop to the invasion of Port Blair, which is a signal victory in and of itself. But the damage to the enemy combat line is decisive. More about that below. Singapore: To add to Japan's woes, a B-17 strike against the Port of Singapore was highly effective despite CAP contriubted by CVs Akagi, Kaga, Hiryu and Soryu. Believed sunk: CL Kashii, DD Tachikaze, DD Hasu, and three xAK. An AV was damaged. Some of these ships had suffered damage during yesterday's highly successful RN CL/DD raid on this port. Oosthaven: To add further to Japan's woes, enemy air sortied in large numbers against the RN CL/DD force as it pulled into Oosthaven. Japan lost something like 40 Nells and Zeros. Strategic Impact: Now that I know how badly Steve wants Port Blair, the Allies will reinforce with a Brit brigade that's just a day or two away. More importantly, Japan just suffered a major blow to its capital ships, and this could/should play a major role in the Battle of Sumatra. When the Japanese invasion finally gets under way, at least these three BBs should be missing, making the Allied combat TFs that much more menacing by comparison. To be honest, the Battle of Port Blair may be the crescendo to all the other Allied victories up to this point. I'm wondering if Japan can recover now. Japanese Carriers: That at least four fleet carriers are near Singers makes for a little drama. Will Japan dare to send them up the contested Malacca Straights to try to engage the Allied carriers? I doubt it, but the Allies would accept battle if the Japanese indeed bring just the four. Theb Allies would have four American and two RN fleet carriers plus CVL Hermes. But they'll first need to retire to Colombo briefly to replenish, assuming there are more naval strikes against the tattered, stricken IJ invasion fleet tomorrow.
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