Defending the Malay Barrier: Turn 6, 1st - 15th March, 1942. Anglo/Dutch Sweep intercepts WAF Invasion Convoy

Doorman successfully intercepts the WAF Invasion Convoy heading for Batavia having evaded aircraft and sea patrols. The scene is set for the final surface action of the campaign. 

The weather is a force 5 'Fresh' with squalls. Visibility is a limited 19,000 yards.

The allied CenGroup consists of the Dutch light cruiser Von Heemskerck, destroyers Van Ghent, Piet Hein, Witte de With and Isaac Sweers. They are joined by the Royal Navy 'S' class destroyers, Stronghold, Tenedos and Thanet together with the Australian V&W class destroyer Vampire.

The Japanese escorts for the invasion convoy consists of the heavy cruiser Mogami, light cruiser Sendai, floatplane carriers Kamikawa Maru and Sanyo Maru, and Fubuki class destroyers Hatsuyuki, Fubuki, Shirayuki and Asagiri. 

The convoy transports consist of 2 x large, 8 x medium and 2 x small transports. The invasion is cancelled if they lose at least 4 transports.

Overview at the start with CenGroup in the foreground heading north west. The WAF convoy in the distance is heading due east. For the purpose of this game due north is to the right. A single rain squall is being pushed north by a 20 knot southerly wind.

Continued -

Details of participating warships:

Allies

Von Heemskerck    10 x 4" (5 x 2)

Van Ghent              4 x 4.7" (4 x 1) 6 x torpedoes (2 x 3) 

Piet Hein                4 x 4.7" (4 x 1) 6 x torpedoes (2 x 3) 

Witte de With         4 x 4.7" (4 x 1) 6 x torpedoes (2 x 3) 

Isaac Sweers         6 x 4" (3 x 2)  8 x torpedoes (2 x 4)

Stronghold            2 x 4" (2 x 1)

Tenedos                2 x 4" (2 x 1)  2 x torpedoes (1 x 2)

Thanet                  3 x 4" (3 x 1)  4 x torpedoes (2 x 2)

Vampire                4 x 4" (4 x 1)  6 x torpedoes (2 x 3)

Japan

Mogami                10 x 8" (5 x 2) 8 x 5" (4 x 2)  12 x Long Lance Torpedoes (4 x 3)

Sendai                   7 x 5.5" (7 x 1)  8 x Long Lance Torpedoes (2 x 4)

Kamikawa Maru    2 x 4.7" (2 x 1) 3 x floatplane flights

Sanyo Maru,          2 x 4.7" (2 x 1) 3 x floatplane flights

Hatsuyuki              6 x 5" (3 x 2) 9 x torpedoes (3 x 3)

Fubuki                   6 x 5" (3 x 2) 9 x torpedoes (3 x 3)

Shirayuki               6 x 5" (3 x 2) 9 x torpedoes (3 x 3)

Asagiri                  6 x 5" (3 x 2) 9 x torpedoes (3 x 3)

The allied CenGroup with the Heemskerck in the foreground leading the Dutch destroyers with the RN and RAN destroyers to their right.

Mogami and Sendai lead the invasion convoy.

A first outing for my model floatplane carriers. 1/3000th scale aircraft from the Navwar range have been added. On a separate note I have slimmed down the ship labels by removing their national flags making them less conspicuous. Something I should probably have done earlier!

Turn 1

CenGroup accelerates towards the squall intending to use the reduced visibility as an aid to get closer to the convoy without suffering too much damage. If it can get close enough then all available torpedoes will be launched towards the collection of lumbering transports.

The Japanese warships are having to accelerate from a more sedately 11 knots with the transports ordered to make a turn to starboard away from the oncoming allies.

Turns 2 - 3

Turn 2 proved to be uneventful with no hits scored from long range gunnery. This is the situation at the end of turn 3 with the allies racing into the rain squall.

Japanese warships, still accelerating, rush to intercept the allies before they can inflict any damage on the convoy. In the foreground, Mogami fires its two forward facing 8" turrets towards Piet Hein scoring the first hits of the game. A shell strikes the Dutch destroyer knocking out 'Y' turret but more importantly penetrating a bulkhead causing flooding.

The convoy continues to make its laborious turn. Both floatplane carriers have now readied their aircraft for takeoff and merely await the turn into the wind to be made.

Turn 4

Now screened from the heavier Japanese vessels, the allied force sails at maximum speed due west. The Japanese have also increased to maximum speed and hurriedly move to intercept the allies.

HMS Stronghold performs exceptionally well using rapid fires its forward single 4" gun turret at a Japanese destroyer crossing its bows at close range. 2 shells hit the Hatsuyuki damaging its hull and breaching a bulkhead. 

The convoy continues to make its turn as the last of the Japanese warships leave them to intercept the allies.

Turn 5

Stronghold and Hatsuyuki both make hard turns to starboard. Seeing a great opportunity Stronghold successfully rams the Japanese destroyer. Both lose 2 hull boxes but the Japanese can ill afford to lose another destroyer.

The better torpedo equipped Dutch destroyer division are ordered to make an immediate turn to port taking them back through the rain squall seeking to outflank the Japanese warships. As they emerge from the rain the Witte de With is hit by a lucky shot from the forward turret of a Japanese destroyer knocking out one of its two torpedo mounts and causing a fire (bottom right). 

The Japanese were determined to prevent any allied warships from getting anywhere near the convoy. Prior to making its turn, Hatsuyuki had fired all 3 torpedo mounts to towards the onrushing Royal Navy destroyers. Tenedos, now the lead destroyer, sailed into the mass of torpedoes. An attempt to evade them proved unsuccessful with a single torpedo hit blowing the destroyer out of the water. The second destroyer in the line, Thanet, had a lucky escape narrowly avoiding the torpedoes. 

The torpedoes had not yet reached the rearmost destroyer, HMAS Vampire, who was now exchanging broadsides with the light cruiser Sendai who had emerged from the rain squall. 5.5" shells pummelled the Australian destroyer causing extensive hull damage but not escape unharmed. A 4" shell knocked out its aft turret.

In the middle of the photo, Heemskerck engaged in a very one-sided firefight with Mogami. 8" shells rained down on Heemskerck with 5 hits registered. It suffered hull damage, a destroyed bridge, 'Y' turret destroyed and its bulkhead breached causing flooding. Its 4" shells in return merely bounced off Mogami's armour.

Turn 6

At the bottom of the photo Stronghold and Hatsuyuki are dead in the water following their collision while their engineers hurriedly examine the extent of damage to both ships. In the meantime their gunners exchange fire with a hit registered on Stronghold's engineering.

Bottom left, Sendai performs a hard turn to port to intercept the British destroyers closing in on the convoy narrowly avoiding Hatsuyuki's torpedoes in the process. Vampire and Thanet each fire a single mount of torpedoes in the hope of a lucky strike against a Japanese warship, or failing that one of the convoy at extreme range.

An overview of the convoy situation with Dutch destroyers (bottom right) racing to intercept them.

Zooming in on the action, Dutch destroyers exchange broadsides with Japanese destroyers. Witte de With has failed to extinguish its fire but so far it has not impeded its performance.

In the middle of the photo Fubuki fires 2 of its 3 torpedo mounts before coming under sustained concentrated fire from the Dutch destroyers. Multiple hits are registered causing 2 fires, a bulkhead breach, 2 torpedo mounts destroyed including the one still containing its torpedoes, and significant hull damage.

In its exchange of fire, Fubuki scores a lucky hit on Van Ghent (bottom right) jamming its rudder to port. 

Isaac Sweers tries its luck firing a 4" broadside into the convoy successfully hitting Nichiwa Maru destroying a cargo hold. The floatplane carrier Sanyo Maru has two 4.7" guns mounted on its deck (middle of photo) and uses these in reply but fails to score any hits. 

Turn 7

At the top of the photo, Van Ghent fired its two torpedo mounts towards the direction of the convoy immediately prior to suffering the consequences of its jammed rudder circling to port. An initial attempt to repair it had failed. Unfortunately for the Dutch destroyer Japanese torpedoes were streaking towards it. Unable to take any evasive action one of the torpedoes struck Van Ghent sending it to the bottom.

Below that, Piet Hein saw the torpedoes and attempted to take evasive action but failed and it too was struck by one sinking the destroyer. 

The 2 remaining Dutch destroyers fired on the convoy with a hit scored on Nichiwa Maru breaching a bulkhead causing flooding.

Nearest the camera, Thanet closes on the convoy hoping to get a firing solution for its 2 remaining torpedoes. On the left a Japanese destroyer rushes to intercept Thanet with Heemskerck between them attempting to screen the RN destroyer.

To their rear, Sendai exchanges broadsides with Vampire, both ships failing to score any hits. Top right, Stronghold gets underway following its collision.

An overview at the end of turn 7. Fubuki has extinguished one fire but is still trailing smoke from its second fire. Mogami follows both destroyers attempting to cut off the 2 remaining Dutch destroyers from the convoy. Mogami's gunfire is woeful having scored no hits on the enemy.

Turn 8

Hatsuyuki rapidly gains speed pursuing Stronghold determined to gain revenge. Stronghold fires its single operating 4" gun further damaging Hatsuyuki's hull. In response the Japanese destroyer knocks out the last of Stronghold's turrets leaving it defenceless.

Thanet succeeds in getting reasonably close to the convoy and rapid fires a broadside at the nearest vessel, Tosei Maru. Two hits are scored knocking out the bridge and WT. Crucially though it also breaches a bulkhead leading to flooding.

Heemskerck was battling, and failing, to repair damage to a bulkhead causing flooding. It is now reduced to 6 knots which was not ideal given the fact that 3 Japanese torpedoes are heading in their direction. By sheer good luck they streaked harmlessly by, but Sendai was sailing ominously across their sturn at close range. A broadside from their 5.5" guns put an end to Heemskerck's campaign. A shell caused more hull damage leading to her sinking. 

To the right, Vampire attempted to go some way into levelling the score firing its own broadside at Sendai failing to inflict any damage.

An overview at the end of the turn. Witte de With and Isaac Sweers in the foreground have unloaded their torpedo tubes at the convoy before swinging away to attempt an escape. Mogami (middle of photo) sets off in pursuit firing its 'A' and 'B' 8" turrets at the destroyers and missing. 

Fubuki has extinguished its last fire but is suffering flooding from a breached bulkhead.

The allies now have all their available torpedoes in the water and offers them the only realistic chance of success. The first 2 reach the convoy at the limit of their range but fail to hit anything. 

Turn 9

The first allied torpedoes strike home on the convoy. To the left Hofuku Maru, a medium sized transport, was fatally struck and began sinking rapidly. To the right another medium transport, Toyooka Maru, survived but suffered 2 bulkhead breaches leading to heavy flooding. The challenge for the crew is now to stop that flooding to save the ship.

Mogami cancels its pursuit of the 2 Dutch destroyers focussing its attention on purely protecting the convoy. It fired a broadside from both primary and secondary guns with the latter scoring a hit on Witte de With causing further hull damage. Return fire from its aft turrets failed to register any hits on the Japanese cruiser.

Top right - the duel between Sendai and Vampire continues with the latter suffering further hull damage reducing its speed to 14 knots.

Middle and bottom left - Thanet continues to fire its 3 x 4" guns using rapid fire towards the small transport Tosei Maru. Although no hits were scored, the transport failed to stem bulkhead flooding reducing its speed to 6 knots and raising the question of its survivability. The destroyer Asagiri rapidly closes to protect the transport from further damage firing on Thanet. Thanet's single 4" 'A' turret is knocked out.

Stronghold reduced to 15 knots and defenceless lays smoke in a last desperate act. Hatsuyuki, also reduced to 15 knots, fires at the British destroyer failing to register any hits. 

Turn 10

All those Dutch torpedoes that had hastily been fired towards the convoy now made their mark. 

To the right, the floatplane carrier Sanyo Maru, was the first to be struck leading to its sinking.

In the middle, Taizan Maru was struck by two torpedoes but miraculously survived. But with 3 bulkhead breaches and on fire it would be lucky to remain afloat for long.

On the left Akitsu Maru also survived a hit but with 2 bulkhead breaches and an engineering hit leaving it dead in the water.

Mogami pumps 6 x 8" shells into Witte de With (bottom of photo) ripping apart the Dutch destroyer signalling her demise.

Vampire scores an engineering hit on Sendai reducing her speed to 21 knots but may not be of much benefit to the Australian destroyer being that it is restricted to 15 knots itself.

Thanet proves to be a source of great annoyance to the Japanese. It uses the last of its 'rapid fire' ability scoring a hit on Toyooka Maru (bottom left) damaging a fatal bulkhead. With 3 bulkhead breaches the Toyooka Maru suffers catastrophic flooding leading to the loss of another transport.

Asagiri desperately attempting to intervene pumps 5" shells into Stronghold damaging its hull with its speed now restricted to 15 knots.

Turn 11

In the damage control phase Taizan Maru and Toyooka Maru fail to repair their bulkhead breaches. This results in a total of 3 transports lost. One more and the invasion convoy will fail and lead to a campaign victory for the allies. 

With all allied torpedoes expended without further hits, and gunfire all but eliminated as a threat to the convoy, it all rested on this ship, the Akitsu Maru to survive. The crew are attempting to repair two bulkhead breaches with a limit of one repair per turn. Each breach is one hull box lost and the ship has 5 hull boxes to keep it afloat. This turn no repairs were made reducing its hull box total to 3!

The one other transport in danger of sinking was Tosei Maru who successfully repaired its bulkhead breach with one hull box to spare.

The tussle between Sendai and Vampire continues with the latter losing it's 'A' and 'X' turrets and a lack of ammo losing its ability to rapid fire.

Stronghold continues its attempt to escape now benefitting from its smoke. No hits were sustained this turn.

Thanet's luck begins to run out being struck by two Japanese destroyers. It is reduced to just one 4" gun and on fire.

Turn 12

Akitsu Maru repairs one of its bulkhead breaches but the second leads to another hull box loss leaving 2 to keep it afloat.

Fubuki who had been struggling to repair its own bulkhead flooding failed leading to its loss. The first Japanese destroyer to be sunk in this battle.

The battles between Sendai and Vampire, and Hatsuyuki and Stronghold continue with no damage inflicted this turn.

Thanet's luck finally runs out. A shell to its magazine leads to a catastrophic explosion finishing off its heroic run. Considering its size it had inflicted a remarkable amount of damage on the Japanese vessels.

Turn 13

Akitsu Maru attempts to repair the bulkhead breach. It fails! Another hull box is lost leaving just one keeping her afloat and the difference between victory and defeat for the Japanese.

At the bottom of the photo 2 Japanese destroyers race to intercept the last of the allied destroyers.

In the middle, Sendai continues to exchange fire with Vampire destroying the Australian destroyer's bridge and sensors.

At the top, incoming Japanese shells cause a fire on Stronghold.

Turn 14

Stronghold successfully extinguishes its fire only to have a second break out from another hit from Hatsuyuki.

Vampire is pummelled again by Sendai who appear to be making up for its earlier gunnery failures. Reduced to just one operating 4" gun turret it is barely afloat having received more hull damage. It limps along at a paltry 5 Knots.

Sendai receives a message from Mogami. The transport Akitsu Maru failed to repair its bulkhead breach and has sunk! Disaster for the Japanese invasion convoy.

Turn 15

Admiral Hashimoto on board Sendai vows vengeance. There will be no mercy for the last of the allied destroyers. 

Shells pour into the crippled Vampire reducing her superstructure to twisted wreckage with a shell to her hull finishing her off.

A last desperate attempt by Stronghold to repeat her earlier success of ramming Hatsuyuki came close to success but could not quite make contact. It was to be her last act as she too was sunk by gunfire.

The action was brought to a close with just Isaac Sweers surviving of the allied ships. 

In total the Japanese lost 1 destroyer, 1 floatplane carrier and 4 transports with 1 destroyer and 1 transport crippled.

The allies lost 1 light cruiser and 7 destroyers.

A result of 22.25 Victory Points to the allies and 15 VP's to the Japanese.

This brings an end to the campaign which I will cover in the next post.