Spidery
Posts: 1821
Joined: 10/6/2012 From: Hampshire, UK Status: offline
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April 25th 1942 Air Losses: 1 Japanese, 1 Allied, 0 Pilots Japanese occupy: Allies occupy: Japanese land at: China An attack shows promise in the woods West of Ankang. Burma Drive the 9th Burma Rifles Battalion back across the river near Imphal. East Pacific A most peculiar series of surface combats somewhere East of Pearl. It starts with: quote:
Night Time Surface Combat, near Hilo at 196,116, Range 9,000 Yards Japanese Ships DD Samidare, Shell hits 1, on fire AMC Asaka Maru AMC Kiyosumi Maru AMC Nosiro Maru, Shell hits 1 AMC Saigon Maru Allied Ships CV Formidable Improved night sighting under 75% moonlight Maximum visibility in Clear Conditions and 75% moonlight: 12,000 yards CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 9,000 yards CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 9,000 yards Range increases to 10,000 yards DD Samidare engages CV Formidable at 10,000 yards DD Samidare engages CV Formidable at 10,000 yards Range increases to 12,000 yards AMC Nosiro Maru engages CV Formidable at 12,000 yards AMC Nosiro Maru engages CV Formidable at 12,000 yards AMC Asaka Maru engages CV Formidable at 12,000 yards Allied Task Force Manages to Escape Task forces break off... Continues with a series of battles during the night from which the Formidable flees while inflicting significant damage with its 4.5 inch guns. The DD Samidare launches its torpedoes in the first attack but misses. A single 15cm hit is scored on the Formidable. In the day the combat is: quote:
Day Time Surface Combat, near Hilo at 196,114, Range 18,000 Yards Japanese Ships AMC Asaka Maru, Shell hits 12, on fire, heavy damage AMC Kiyosumi Maru, Shell hits 3 AMC Nosiro Maru, Shell hits 1, on fire AMC Saigon Maru, Shell hits 2 Allied Ships CV Formidable, Shell hits 1 [a belt armour hit from a 15cm gun] This time the CV doesn't flee but instead closes the range and rains shattering fire on the AMC. One of the AMC still has its torpedoes on board never using them through 5 engagements. A couple of the ships may be able to make it to safety if not attacked again but most are doomed. Why is the Formidable traveling unescorted? I conclude that AMC do not make effective raiders. South Pacific American carriers raid Noumea. SS I-160 (in for repairs) and 2 AMc are sunk outright and an AV takes serious damage. Despite having 50 heavy AA guns at Noumea, no Allied planes are shot down by flak. The Nells and Zeroes at Noumea fail to launch any attacks. Engineering Shimushiri-Jima airfield expands to 3. Lots of expansions by Allies. Suva reaches level 8. Chittagong level 6.
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