Defending the Malay Barrier: Turn 4, 1st - 14th February, 1942

A reminder of the situation at the end of turn 3. Japanese objectives captured are circled.

WAF has completed 2 tiers and the EAF 1.

 

Continued -

The current strength of both sides:

JAPANESE

WAF

Floatplane Carriers x 3
Heavy Cruisers x 4
Light Cruisers x 1
Destroyers x 17
LBA - 8 x fighters, 25 x bombers 

EAF

Aircraft Carriers x 1
Floatplane Carriers x 1
Heavy Cruisers x 3
Light Cruisers x 2
Destroyers x 20
LBA - 17 x fighters, 29 x bombers

ALLIED

ROYAL NAVY
Destroyers x 6 (2 in drydock)

DUTCH NAVY
Light Cruisers x 3
Destroyers x 8

US NAVY
Heavy Cruisers x 1
Destroyers x 8

ANZAC 
Heavy Cruisers x 1
Light Cruisers x 4
Destroyers x 3

As before, the following sequence of play is as detailed in the scenario book:

1. General Intelligence.

In Malaya, by mid-January, the Japanese reached the southern Malayan state of Johore; the Battle of Muar sees fierce fighting between Allies and Japanese. On Luzon, Japanese troops continue their assault on the Bataan peninsula. Supported by heavy carrier-based air raids, Rabaul and Kavieng were invaded and captured by the Japanese. U.S. carriers under Vice Admiral William F. “Bull” Halsey raid Japanese-controlled Marshall and Gilbert Islands. 

2. Japanese Theatre Events.

I-boat attack! Japanese submarine attacks random ABDA mission. 

3. Allied Theatre Events.

None

Carrier strike group cancelled as the 3 escorting 'N' class destroyers used as reinforcement the previous turn. (A big mistake by the allies!).

4. Weather Forecast.

Dice rolls were made to determine any adjustments to the weather during the engagements phase. For the WAF no change and the EAF -1 to be added to weather dice rolls. 

5. Japanese Command Decisions.

The Japanese receive 3 CD's (Command Decision points) for the WAF and 4 for the EAF to be split between the central and eastern axis. Each CD allows for one action. 

WAF
1. A very small invasion convoy to Sandakan, Borneo. 1 transport escorted by 2 cruisers and 3 destroyers.

2. A very small invasion convoy to Endau. 1 transport escorted by 2 floatplane carriers, 2 cruisers and 4 destroyers.

3. A patrol consisting of 1 heavy cruiser and 10 destroyers.

EAF
1. Carrier Group strike by the Ryojo on one of the allied sweeps.

2. A very small invasion convoy in the centre axis to Banjermasin, Borneo. 1 transport escorted by 1 cruiser and 4 destroyers.

3. A small invasion convoy on the eastern axis to Kendari, Celebes. 4 transports escorted by 1 floatplane carrier, 2 cruisers and 5 destroyers.

6. Allied Intelligence.

Intelligence of dubious value (i.e., none).

7. Allied Command Decisions.

A combination of losses, ships in repair and the requirement to provide convoy escorts has severely depleted the allied inventory. They receive 4 CD's and it is decided the emphasis will be on calling in reinforcements and transferring ships between commands. It is in this turn ABDA has been created allowing for the intermixing of ships from different nations. It takes a full turn for the reinforcements and transfers to take effect.

The Dutch fleet are the only force able to mount an effective sweep this turn so they will be the sole offensive unit.

The CD's are spent as follows:

WESGROUP ((Royal Navy) based in Singapore.
With Singapore likely to fall at the end of this turn it was decided that no chances would be taken and the 4 operational destroyers will transfer to Batavia and be placed under Dutch control.

CENGROUP (Dutch Navy)
Entire force of 3 light cruisers and 8 destroyers to sortie a sweep towards Malaya in a last ditch attempt to delay the fall of Singapore.

EASGROUP (US Navy) 
Sortie a sweep targeting the EAF centre axis. Will consist of 3 light cruisers (2 of which are RNZN) and 8 aging destroyers (there is a risk of one or more of these suffering a breakdown prior to departure).

DARWIN (RAN)
Sortie a sweep towards the EAF eastern axis. consisting of 1 heavy cruiser, 2 light cruisers and 3 destroyers.

8. Japanese Intelligence.

Signals intel! Add or deduct 1 to any one IJN roll for CG, LBA or Patrol forces contacting/detecting any ABDA Sweep mission, decided before the die is rolled.

9. Engagements.

Planned ship movements. Does not include any air attacks at this stage.

Prior to working through the engagement phases there is the issue of a Japanese submarine attack from their Theatre Events. The target is chosen at random from a dice roll which determines that the Dutch CenGroup is at risk. A further dice roll will provide from one of the following results: Attack/Report/no contact. The Dutch force sails on by unmolested oblivious to a nearby sub. The Japanese I-boat fails to make any contact whatsoever.

A reminder of the engagement phases to be worked through:

i  CG v CG
II CG v Surface
iii LBA v CG or Sweep
iv Patrol v Sweep
v  Sweep v Convoy
vi CG v Crippled/Disabled Group
vii LBA v Crippled/Disabled Group

i. N/A

ii. The Ryojo orders a carrier strike on the Australian 'Darwin' group. 3 x Kate torpedo-bomber flights escorted by 3 x Claude fighter flights, successfully locate the Australians under clear blue skies.

The approaching Japanese aircraft.

The torpedo bombers swoop in targeting the flagship HMAS Australia. They are met with close range AA fire from the flagship and long range from 4 of its escorts. The combined AA fire succeeded in destroying one of the attacking flights. The remaining two dropped their torpedoes (3 each as they represent a flight of 3 aircraft). All missed their target. Despondent Japanese pilots make their return journey to the Ryojo.

I should add here that the rules I am using are the campaign version in GQ3 rather than the tactical version. Basically a slimmed down version for faster play. I shall continue using this version for any forthcoming air strikes this turn to speed things along. 

iii There are two Land Based Air attacks this turn. Starting with the WAF, a LBA successfully made contact with the Dutch CenGroup and launched an attack.

CenGroup consists of 3 light cruisers escorted by 8 destroyers with reasonably good AA capabilities for ships at this stage of the war.

20 bombers escorted by 6 Zero fighters flying from the east conducted a high level bombing run. Dice rolls were made to determine how many aircraft targeted individual ships with the flagship De Ruyter being the centre of attention. 

The attacks broke down as follows: 6 on the De Ruyter, 4 on the cruiser Java, 4 on the cruiser Heemskerk, 4 on the destroyer Evertsen and 2 on the destroyer Isaac Sweers.

Through very accurate AA fire the Dutch were congratulating themselves on shooting down 3 bombers as the medium bombs began to fall. Most fell harmlessly as usual but 2 found their mark. 1 struck the Java causing relatively minor damage with just one hull box marked off. It would be able to continue with their mission.

Another bomb found the De Ruyter with much more serious consequences. 3 out of its 6 hull boxes were crossed off leaving the ship disabled. It will now have to abandon the mission and return to port for repairs. The flag was transferred to the Java.

The EAF LBA attack focused on the USN's EasGroup.

17 bombers escorted by 6 Zero fighters located the US force in good weather. Flying from the north east.

EasGroup had left port with one destroyer down. The elderly Peary brokedown and had to be left behind for repairs. This left the force with the flagship, a heavy cruiser, USN Boise, the 2 New Zealand light cruisers Leander and Achilles, escorted by 7 elderly '4-stack' destroyers, the latter with very poor AA cover.

Although Boise was the primary target dice rolls dictated 6 bombers would target that ship, 8 the Leander (the lead cruiser on the left in the photo), and 3 the Achilles. One of the bombers attacking Boise was shot down but the remaining 5 gave the crew a fright with 2 near misses. This damaged the hull costing them one box.

The 8 dropping their bombs on Leander scored one near miss, again knocking off one hull box. The Achilles escaped unscathed.

The damage was not sufficiently serious to prevent any ships continuing with their mission.

I will move on to the surface v surface actions in the next post.