4 March 1942
Hawaii
4 BB bombarding Pearl, plus airstrikes
Malaya
HMS Trusty laid mines at Mersing, then surfaced to sink a cargo ship before slinking away.
Our airstrikes went to Kuantan instead of Mersing, which was bad news as there were more fighters there. We lost 5 Hudson bombers and a Hurricane with nothing to show for it. Naval attack orders have been cancelled.
Java Sea
The enemy carrier battle group is departing north through the Makassar strait.
5 March 1942
It's the Kido Butai after all!
Coral Sea area
Fresh out of upgrading its AA guns at Brisbane, the heavy cruiser USS Northampton was heading north to rejoin the Enterprise/Saratoga CVBG when it was torpedoed by a sub. It's only moderately damaged, but back to the shipyard it goes...
Philippines
A major operation to sweep my minefield out of Bataan is underway. It's dangerous work--one of the minesweepers hit a mine and was destroyed.
Sumatra
This had to be a mistake. 20 Betties attacked Palembang, unescorted, at 5000 feet. P-40 and Buffalo fighters cut down 9 of them. Flak probably added another 5. 12 bombers made it to their targets, bombing troops.
Malaya
Ida light bombers made an attempt on Singapore's ASW patrols. 6 were shot down by Hurricanes, flak added 1 more. The bombers didn't hit anything.
Java Sea
The retreating carrier division wasn't really retreating, it was just rejoining the KB. And the KB came right back into the Java Sea like it owned the place, but let's face it, it owns everyplace it goes. It launched an airstrike on ships at port in Surabaya, which included the HMS Hermes light carrier and the battleship Royal Sovereign. Our CAP shot down 6 Zeroes and 3 Vals with a loss of a P-40 and 2 Fulmars. They hit the Royal Sovereign with a torpedo and a bomb for moderate damage. 9 Kates split off and sank a minesweeper on ASW patrol outside of Surabaya's protective fighter bubble.
Using Surabaya as a bastion was working for this fleet when it was just CVLs or one fleet carrier, it's not going to hold out against 5 fleet carriers. I've ordered a retreat south.
Makassar Strait
Japan is deploying more ASW ships with deep-reaching depth charges, and this area is a priority for them right now. The KIX was hit in deep water and has been ordered to return for repairs.
Coral Sea
I had an idea I thought was clever; I deployed a pair of seaplane tenders to an empty atoll north of Luganville and sent some Catalinas there, giving myself a look into the blind spot I had north of the Solomons. The idea was to see if the KB was hiding there. But the KB just revealed itself in the Java Sea, so this was for nothing. Anyway, at least for the time being, carrier ops in this area can proceed.
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