Derek Pullem
Donor
If there are still support ships there then Quincy's squadron will need to cover them. There is also the situation of the ground pounders who will need protection as well. So bugging out isn't always an option.
Keynes' Cruisers Volume 2
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Derek Pullem
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Yep - they sunk three escort carriers and a cruiser not far from there. They will be expecting something there.
This is absolutely superb. The episodic posting really lends itself to this sort of battle, and really illustrates the way information is slowly, painfully accumulated and acted upon. Loving it- in many ways feels like this is what the whole thread has been building towards.
I agree completely. I feel like an addict, when I click on and there isn't a new update I go.."Oh, come on..what the hell". I'm amazed by the skill of the writing, detail, breadth of knowledge...really amazing.
Can the IJN battleline reach the landing site under cover of darkness? If so, then night attacks are required to prevent this.
Story 1787
Central Java Sea, 1603 January 2, 1943
The small submarine, R-100, surfaced in the rain. She had received a position report of two enemy aircraft carriers to her northeast. She could motor on the surface while recharging her batteries and then dive until dark. Her hunt would resume with the aid of a sliver of the moon.
The small submarine, R-100, surfaced in the rain. She had received a position report of two enemy aircraft carriers to her northeast. She could motor on the surface while recharging her batteries and then dive until dark. Her hunt would resume with the aid of a sliver of the moon.
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Allowing for previous casualties and recovered orphans , TF-16 and Force Q combined currently have around 90+ Avengers and maybe 70 SBD that can be ready at dawn
That may seem a lot but it's definitely insufficient to turn the main body back en masse especially if it is reinforced by the 2 Kongos from the KB
iOTL it took ~ 12 bomb and 10 torpedo hits to cripple Musashi (and more again to sink him).
Properly directed the Allied strike could even the odds by concentrating on the weaker ships (2 Kongos and 3 14" BBs
but that would take time that simply is not there after dawn and is any case unlikely given the poor coordination e.g. at Sibuyuan Sea.
But again if properly directed the FAA could (probably) do most of that in the afternoon against the KB
with a second night strike against the main body.
Better not to wait ... as Bonaparte said "Ask me for anything except time"
(just because a man is a monster, doesn't mean he's not right on occasion)
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They need to hit the battleships if they can, the KB is now irrelevant in the short term.
They need to attrit the Japanese Battleships before they meet up with the allied battleline, and i’m Thinking that each carrier probably only carries enough ordinance for 2-3 maximum effort strikes.
They need to attrit the Japanese Battleships before they meet up with the allied battleline, and i’m Thinking that each carrier probably only carries enough ordinance for 2-3 maximum effort strikes.
radar gives the Allies a big advantage, not just at night - they are better equipped to be accurate at long range. Any damage on the battle line is a big help - if a few ships are slowed down they are either out of the fight or they control the SOA of the fleet. Japanese AA is not so great right now, so the Allies should do pretty well on ships with no air cover...
Story 1788
Aboard HMS Ark Royal, 1605 January 2, 1943
"Tea, please"
"Aye sir".
He had a few minutes to think. The torpedo bombers were not scheduled to take off for another fifteen minutes. They were currently planning to go after the enemy carrier force just after dusk. But the message from Quincy had been thrust into his hands a moment ago.
Tea would give him enough time to weigh the dice.
"Tea, please"
"Aye sir".
He had a few minutes to think. The torpedo bombers were not scheduled to take off for another fifteen minutes. They were currently planning to go after the enemy carrier force just after dusk. But the message from Quincy had been thrust into his hands a moment ago.
Tea would give him enough time to weigh the dice.
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Donald Reaver
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So battleships or damaged carriers. I agree from our far superior knowledge of what is happening go for the battleships.
You have to protect the beachhead. Attack the Japanese carriers tomorrow during daylight. If you damage the Japanese battleships enough, the carrier(s) must provide air support as the damaged battleships limp away.
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