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Molon Labe · 10-20-21, 12:05 PM

11 June 1942
Imperial Guards Division lands at Oosthaven, Enterprise Running the gauntlet

Sumatra
The Imperial Guards landed at Oosthaven, which probably means this is the main force. The western landing is probably to contain my troops and/or neutralize alternate airbases.

30 Sallies attacked Bengkalis unescorted; fighters came all the way from Singapore to take advantage--we shot down 6.

Bengkalis was captured.

Malaya
Wirraways returned to Kuantan and bombed a troop-carrying cargo ship, inflicting heavy damage. They made a second sortie and hit the same ship again.

Solomon Sea
2 destroyers approached Normanby Island, where the enemy landed troops a long time ago and pretty much left them there, stranded. These DDs were probably trying to evacuate them.

Milne has long been a base to USMC Vindicators, and this has more recently been supplemented by Banshees from Noumea as part of a greeting party for the KB should it attempt to go to Darwin. We also have B-26s in Port Moreseby that are in range. The strikes were embarrassingly uncoordinated in the morning, the dive bombers often arriving just 2 or 3 at a time. But the Vindicators managed an early hits on both of the DDs, and by late morning, the Banshees managed to hit one of them as well. In the afternoon, their attacks were more organized, and the Marines and Army bombers together scored 3 more hits on one and 5 on the other for confirmed kills.

China
We got two more Zeroes that were trying to keep my bombers away from their troops near Nanyang.

Timor Sea
The Enterprise is underway, currently under the protection of land-based aircraft from Darwin (including its own VF-6), Hudson bombers providing ASW support along its immediate path, with Hornet providing ASUW protection to its flank and several minesweepers and destroyers providing ASW support further along its intended path. The scale of this operation is massive:

Darwin Assets:
ASW:
4 AVDs (1 sunk by submarine)
1 Dutch CM (sunk by submarine)
3 AM
2 YMS
18 AUS Wirraways
13 AUS Hudsons
VT-6: 15 Avenger

AAW:
VF-6 - 27 F4F
3 P-39 Squadrons: 55 total aircraft
1 AUS P-40 squadron: 16 aircraft
4 B-17s squadrons (offensive counter air vs Koepang) - 36 aircraft

ASUW:
VS-6: 18 SBDs
VB-6: 18 SBDs

Transport: Bringing in extra dockworkers for repairs
4 Dragons
11 C-47
1 DC-2
7 C-33

Hornet Battle Group--protecting Enterprise northern flank from surface attack
1 CV
2 CA
10 DD, plus 4 detached to Enterprise
VF-8 - 27 F4F
VT-8: 15 Devastator - ASW
VS-8: 18 SBCs - ASUW
VB-8: 18 SBCs - ASUW

Supplemental surface forces
2 AM, 1 DD, 2 DMS - Advance ASW on Enterprise's path
2 CA, 2 CL, 3 DD - supplemental escorts for Enterprise, rendevous in Arafura Sea.

KB Greeting Party
3 DM - Laying mines in Horn Island chokepoint
3 US and 4 Dutch submarines
8 PT boats
8 LB-30 Liberators
26 B-26s
19 Hudsons
16 Beaufighters for low-level attack
15 A-24 Banshees
12 Vindicators
40 US P-40Es
16 AUS P-40s

Search aircraft
32 Catalinas (Dutch, AUS, and US)

Totals:
Fighters: 191
Bomber/Attack: 265
Transport: 23
Search: 32
CV: 1 (Enterprise doesn't count)
CA/CL: 6
DD: 18
Other ASW: 14
DM: 3
SS: 7
PT: 8

So if this doesn't work out, don't fault me for not trying, this might be my biggest op so far.

We're going east. I only have two choices, and the fact that our B-17s are not neutralizing Koepang means that the big E and Hornet would be under escorted Betty attacks for several days if we went west, and he could reinforce his numbers during that time. It's very likely he'd break through, putting both carriers at risk. Losing both is completely unacceptable. Going east is risky too-he has at least 2 submarines waiting in that direction, and search aircraft are keeping a very close eye on Darwin. I can reasonably assume that the KB will probably reappear uncomfortably close a day or two after we depart. If that happens, the Hornet will cut and run, and I'll try to draw the KB to my greeting party to make him pay a cost for finishing off the Enterprise. Both options suck, but the eastern route is less bad.

One of the subs we went after to keep it off Enterprise sank the AVD that went after it.

Hornet found a CL and 2 DDs lurking north of our path. We attacked with 25 Helldivers and 4 Devastators (armed with bombs as they are mainly tasked to ASW right now), but the wiggly little bastards managed to evade every bomb.

The Enterprise did not report being sighted by scoutplanes and did not encounter any submarines leaving the base. This is a great start, as it means if the KB is planning on appearing when we leave, he might not know we left yet, so we're getting a head start. But the amount of naval activity in the area is probably a big hint.

Reinforcements
No.118 Sqn RCAF arrives at Canada (fighter pilot training)
Eastern Army arrives at Madras (Command HQ - headed for Calcutta)
39th Can (Militia) Brigade arrives at Vancouver (restricted)
BB North Carolina arrives at Balboa - Maybe she'll join the Wasp, they have similar top speeds.
DD Buchanan arrives at Balboa

10-20-21, 12:05 PM	#266
Molon Labe Silent Hunter Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Along the Watchtower Posts: 3,810 Downloads: 27 Uploads: 5	11 June 1942 Imperial Guards Division lands at Oosthaven, Enterprise Running the gauntlet Sumatra The Imperial Guards landed at Oosthaven, which probably means this is the main force. The western landing is probably to contain my troops and/or neutralize alternate airbases. 30 Sallies attacked Bengkalis unescorted; fighters came all the way from Singapore to take advantage--we shot down 6. Bengkalis was captured. Malaya Wirraways returned to Kuantan and bombed a troop-carrying cargo ship, inflicting heavy damage. They made a second sortie and hit the same ship again. Solomon Sea 2 destroyers approached Normanby Island, where the enemy landed troops a long time ago and pretty much left them there, stranded. These DDs were probably trying to evacuate them. Milne has long been a base to USMC Vindicators, and this has more recently been supplemented by Banshees from Noumea as part of a greeting party for the KB should it attempt to go to Darwin. We also have B-26s in Port Moreseby that are in range. The strikes were embarrassingly uncoordinated in the morning, the dive bombers often arriving just 2 or 3 at a time. But the Vindicators managed an early hits on both of the DDs, and by late morning, the Banshees managed to hit one of them as well. In the afternoon, their attacks were more organized, and the Marines and Army bombers together scored 3 more hits on one and 5 on the other for confirmed kills. China We got two more Zeroes that were trying to keep my bombers away from their troops near Nanyang. Timor Sea The Enterprise is underway, currently under the protection of land-based aircraft from Darwin (including its own VF-6), Hudson bombers providing ASW support along its immediate path, with Hornet providing ASUW protection to its flank and several minesweepers and destroyers providing ASW support further along its intended path. The scale of this operation is massive: Darwin Assets: ASW: 4 AVDs (1 sunk by submarine) 1 Dutch CM (sunk by submarine) 3 AM 2 YMS 18 AUS Wirraways 13 AUS Hudsons VT-6: 15 Avenger AAW: VF-6 - 27 F4F 3 P-39 Squadrons: 55 total aircraft 1 AUS P-40 squadron: 16 aircraft 4 B-17s squadrons (offensive counter air vs Koepang) - 36 aircraft ASUW: VS-6: 18 SBDs VB-6: 18 SBDs Transport: Bringing in extra dockworkers for repairs 4 Dragons 11 C-47 1 DC-2 7 C-33 Hornet Battle Group--protecting Enterprise northern flank from surface attack 1 CV 2 CA 10 DD, plus 4 detached to Enterprise VF-8 - 27 F4F VT-8: 15 Devastator - ASW VS-8: 18 SBCs - ASUW VB-8: 18 SBCs - ASUW Supplemental surface forces 2 AM, 1 DD, 2 DMS - Advance ASW on Enterprise's path 2 CA, 2 CL, 3 DD - supplemental escorts for Enterprise, rendevous in Arafura Sea. KB Greeting Party 3 DM - Laying mines in Horn Island chokepoint 3 US and 4 Dutch submarines 8 PT boats 8 LB-30 Liberators 26 B-26s 19 Hudsons 16 Beaufighters for low-level attack 15 A-24 Banshees 12 Vindicators 40 US P-40Es 16 AUS P-40s Search aircraft 32 Catalinas (Dutch, AUS, and US) Totals: Fighters: 191 Bomber/Attack: 265 Transport: 23 Search: 32 CV: 1 (Enterprise doesn't count) CA/CL: 6 DD: 18 Other ASW: 14 DM: 3 SS: 7 PT: 8 So if this doesn't work out, don't fault me for not trying, this might be my biggest op so far. We're going east. I only have two choices, and the fact that our B-17s are not neutralizing Koepang means that the big E and Hornet would be under escorted Betty attacks for several days if we went west, and he could reinforce his numbers during that time. It's very likely he'd break through, putting both carriers at risk. Losing both is completely unacceptable. Going east is risky too-he has at least 2 submarines waiting in that direction, and search aircraft are keeping a very close eye on Darwin. I can reasonably assume that the KB will probably reappear uncomfortably close a day or two after we depart. If that happens, the Hornet will cut and run, and I'll try to draw the KB to my greeting party to make him pay a cost for finishing off the Enterprise. Both options suck, but the eastern route is less bad. One of the subs we went after to keep it off Enterprise sank the AVD that went after it. Hornet found a CL and 2 DDs lurking north of our path. We attacked with 25 Helldivers and 4 Devastators (armed with bombs as they are mainly tasked to ASW right now), but the wiggly little bastards managed to evade every bomb. The Enterprise did not report being sighted by scoutplanes and did not encounter any submarines leaving the base. This is a great start, as it means if the KB is planning on appearing when we leave, he might not know we left yet, so we're getting a head start. But the amount of naval activity in the area is probably a big hint. Reinforcements No.118 Sqn RCAF arrives at Canada (fighter pilot training) Eastern Army arrives at Madras (Command HQ - headed for Calcutta) 39th Can (Militia) Brigade arrives at Vancouver (restricted) BB North Carolina arrives at Balboa - Maybe she'll join the Wasp, they have similar top speeds. DD Buchanan arrives at Balboa __________________ Last edited by Molon Labe; 10-20-21 at 12:28 PM.