Defending the Malay Barrier: Turn 6, 1st - 15th March, 1942. Japanese Patrol intercepts US Sweep

 The rules used throughout the campaign is General Quarters 3 (GQ3).

The remnants of the Japanese Distant Cover Group newly transferred from the WAF, mount a patrol tasked with intercepting any allied forces attempting to attack one of the invasion convoys. Despite the poor weather, a Force 7 near gale with visibility limited to 19,000 yards, they spot the allied East Group steaming north.

The small Japanese force consisting of the heavy cruiser Atago and destroyers Oshio and Ikazuchi, move to intercept the allies.

East Group lead by the light cruisers USS Boise and HMNZS Leander escorted by 8 Clemson class destroyers, Stewart, Edwards, Alden, Whipple, John D Ford, Pope, Peary and Pilsbury, are steaming north when they spot enemy ships approaching from the north west.

The poor weather will adversely affect the accuracy of gunnery and torpedoes and speed is limited to 25 knots on both sides.

The first sighting of the enemy!

Continued -

East Group with Boise leading Leander in the centre.

The now small Japanese Distant Cover Group.

Turn 1 - 4

The early turns consisted mainly of manoeuvre with long range shots proving ineffective due to the poor weather. 

The US destroyers sought to close the gap as quickly as possible enveloping the outnumbered Japanese force. Although they have to conserve as many of their torpedoes as possible for the invasion convoy, they will take any opportunity for a limited torpedo strike. They need to cancel out the threat posed by Atago as quickly as possible.

The photo shows the situation at the end of turn 4, a turn in which hits began to be registered by both sides. Oshio launched her Long Lance torpedoes towards the allied cruisers before the guns opened up. 

8" shells from Atago struck Boise destroying 'A' turret and causing hull damage. Return fire from Boise' 6" guns knocked out Atago's 'Y' turret along with it's port secondary armament. 

Turn 5

An overview at the end of turn 5

Ikazuchi leads Atago in a turn to port. The former is not equipped with Long Lance torpedoes and seeks to close on the allied cruisers in the hope of making their inferior torpedoes count. 

Boise is straddled by an 8" salvo from Atago knocking out Y turret, destroying a float plane causing a fire and damage to its engineering. Neither Boise or Leander register any meaningful hits on the Japanese cruiser. 

The torpedoes launched by Oshio missed their targets although one salvo bracketed Boise. The rough seas saved the US cruiser affecting as it did their accuracy and they slid harmlessly by. 

Turn 6

Ikazuchi makes a hard turn to port and ploughs through the seas to close on the allied cruisers. Atago has fired its port torpedo mounts and also makes a turn to maintain contact with the cruisers. 

Ikazuchi inadvertently screens Atago limiting its fire to Leander. An 8" shell takes out Leander's 'A' turret suffering no damage from return fire.

At the top of the photo Oshio makes a brave run down the flank of the US destroyer division firing broadsides into them as they pass. The US destroyers respond in kind but both sides are badly affected by the weather greatly limiting the effectiveness of their gunnery. Pope suffers and engineering hit and Ford loses its aft turret. In return Oshio's 'Y' turret is destroyed. 

Boise fails to extinguish its fire resulting in more damage as both cruisers turn to maintain their broadsides on the Atago. 

Turn 7

A dramatic start to turn 7! The 2 allied cruisers found themselves in the path of both salvos of Long Lance torpedoes launched by Atago. Both ships took evasive action and Leander almost succeeded but was struck by a single torpedo. 2 further torpedoes struck Boise.

The result was catastrophic for the allies. Both cruisers suffered severe damage and began sinking. 

Elsewhere ships exchanged gunfire but once again adverse weather severely impacted on accuracy and no hits were registered. 

The loss of the cruisers brought to an end East Group's involvement in the campaign. On seeing the devastating loss and their gunfire having virtually no effect, the US destroyers disengaged. The Japanese were content to let them go having neutralised the threat to the invasion convoy.

The only hope now for the allies is the Dutch Central Group which will be covered in the next post.