apbarog
Posts: 3769
Joined: 5/23/2002 Status: offline
|
24 Apr 43 An exciting day. At Batjan, a dot base just south of Ternate, destroyer Usugumo found a recently laid Allied mine. Batjan in on a possible naval route south to Boela, and finally a minefield works! Near Gove, subchasers go after I-22, but don't get it. The subs aren't seen today near Gove, but I think that weather played a part in that. With lots of shipping at Taberfane, I chose to run a cruiser force in and see what it could get. My wise opponent moved a combat task force just to the southwest, ready to intercept anything inbound. The fight occurs at night, with low visibility due to rain. The Japanese do very well. Night Time Surface Combat, near Taberfane at 82,118, Range 7,000 Yards Japanese Ships CA Chikuma, Shell hits 3 CA Mogami, Shell hits 2 CL Noshiro CL Sendai, Shell hits 4 DD Kiyonami DD Tanikaze DD Kasumi DD Akebono DD Uzuki, Shell hits 1, on fire DD Minazuki DD Shiokaze Allied Ships CA Minneapolis, Shell hits 2 CA Quincy, Shell hits 2, on fire CA Frobisher, Shell hits 11, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk CL Durban, Shell hits 18, and is sunk CL Capetown, Shell hits 14, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk DD Gillespie, Shell hits 1 DD Anderson, Shell hits 3 DD Mustin, Shell hits 4, on fire The Japanese torpedoes had a big effect. The Allies did have one of their torpedoes hit a Japanese destroyer, but it was a dud. 3 cruisers were lost. Then, at first light, as the Allies withdrew south toward Gove, the same enemy cruiser force chased them down for another engagement. The fight was less severe, probably due to ammo depletion, but the Allies did more damage in this fight, despite having 3 fewer cruisers. Day Time Surface Combat, near Taberfane at 81,119, Range 11,000 Yards Japanese Ships CA Chikuma, Shell hits 2 CA Mogami, Shell hits 4, on fire CL Noshiro CL Sendai, Shell hits 1 DD Kiyonami DD Tanikaze, Shell hits 2, on fire DD Kasumi, Shell hits 1, on fire DD Akebono DD Uzuki, Shell hits 2 DD Minazuki DD Shiokaze Allied Ships CA Minneapolis, Shell hits 2 CA Quincy DD Gillespie, Shell hits 1 DD Anderson, Shell hits 2 DD Mustin, Shell hits 4, on fire The remaining Allied ships should survive. They will run at full speed to leave the area. CA Minneapolis SYS-20, FLOT-1/0 CA Quincy SYS-17, FLOT-4/1 DD Gillespie SYS-20, FLOT-6/1 DD Anderson SYS-39, FLOT-15/8, ENG-7/4 DD Mustin SYS-37, FLOT-44/13, ENG-30/0 Off the north coast of New Guinea, sub Wahoo torpedoed an ACM. Near Taberfane, 3 Kingfishers, flying from Babar, attacked CM Natsushima, but missed. I can expect mines at Taberfane now. P-38s from Merauke swept Taberfane, finding Tojos and Oscars. Losses were light, a few enemy and 1 P-38. Enemy carriers were spotted at the eastern tip of Timor. Today I'm sweeping Taberfane again, and hopefully my B-24s will fly today to hit the airfield. Lots of shipping is leaving Gove, heading south. The enemy is within range of a strike at Gove, and all of my ships must be tempting. Even the carriers are within striking range. I'm sure that Walker is splitting the infantry divisions at Dobo, and probably at Taberfane, and probably loading them right now. The question is, where are they going? I expect a counter-invasion at Babar, but TImoeka could also be hit. With the carriers where they are, Babar is more likely right now. I can't rule out something more aggressive though, like strikes at Darwin, Wesel, Gove, or Merauke. But I still think Babar. Lexington made it to Normanton safely, and will stay there for a week or two repairing SYS damage. It will then move past Horn Island and start the long trek to Pearl Harbor. The 3 undamaged US carriers are still at Townsville. Soon there will be 4 fast battleships there. I'll form a 3 carrier task force with these battleships, and 2 CLAAs, and head to Gove. I'll have to be careful with just 3 carriers, but I may find an opportunity. At least I'd like to get another round of shipping into Darwin, carrying lots of stuff for the next round of invasions.
Attachment (1)
|