27 May 1942
Enterprise hit by Japanese submarine, Hornet between two fires as KB reappears near Noumea
Timor
The Enterprise and Hornet had been lurking near Koepang looking to strike the substantial naval forces that had been congregating there. This area is, however, infested with enemy submarines. Despite ASW air patrols from Darwin, from the TBD squadron on Hornet, and 14 destroyers screening the task force, the I-20 penetrated the screen and put a torpedo into Enterprise's side. The explosion set off secondary avgas explosions, causing fires and flooding that threaten to destroy the ship.
The I-20 escaped without damage, none of my destroyers even got close enough to drop a pattern.
The AI isn't helping. The Enterprise detached from the task force with just one destroyer to try to make Darwin, which is just inviting another submarine to finish it off. The Hornet aborted its mission and started heading back east, which you'll see in following sections is a really, really stupid idea. And not because by turning around it was going right back to the I-20. Which did happen--but this time the escorts weren't sleeping and drove it off. Anyway, I've had to order it back west, right back into the submarine operating area.
And as it turns out, the enemy task forces we were hunting appeared at Koepang today--so, because the Enterprise is out of action and the Hornet gave up and turned around, we're not going to get an attack on them for at least another day or two, if at all.
Enemy land forces attacked Koepang and reduced the forts to nothing. This is going to be an enemy airbase very soon.
Japan
USS Seal attempted and failed to torpedo the IJN CVE Unyo outside of Kyoto.
China
We both sent escorted bomber raids to Kaifeng. We lost a P-40 and two Chinese Lancer fighters, plus a B-25 to flak. He lost 2 Zeroes.
At Chusien, Nate fighters shot down one of my SB-IIIs that I sent there in a probing attack.
Thailand and Burma
We had heavy losses over Tavoy today as the Nicks continue to work out well and as our fighter-to-bomber coordination is starting to break down again. 5 Blenheims and a Hudson lost, just one Oscar shot down by our escorts.
Strait of Malacca
The Brit CVBG, with the battleships heading to port to rearm, got some playtime near the Strait by itself, but the result was rather disapointing. We only found a single AMC and it wasn't carrying troops. Swordfish torpedo bombers hit it 4 times and sent it to the bottom. A second attack targeted 4 destroyers and a cargo ship--all torpedoes missed.
SouthPAC
The KB is back, this time at Noumea, probably my most important forward base with Pearl neutralized. It struck in force, hitting a CAP that was weakened to try to fill in gaps at Pago thanks to the KB's damage there. 3 P-39s were shot down along with 3 Zeroes; we never got to the bombers. The bombers focused on the airbase and caused significant damage, but we're still in operation. There was also a SNAFU on his side--a flight of Kates went to Efate unescorted and got bounced--21 shot down.
An attempted strike on the KB resulted in 4 P-39s shot down along with 3 A-24 Banshee bombers; 8 Banshees got through and attacked Shoho, Hiryu, and Shokaku but all missed.
I can reasonably expect the KB to start heading west to finish off Enterprise and contain Hornet.