HMS Invincible

[Lord Wyclif]

Sunday April 5th

00:15 Sommerville's Fast Carrier Force sailed from Addu Atoll on a course of 70¼ at 18 knots towards the enemy position.

01:00 An RAF Sunderland piloted by Flight Lieutenant Bradshaw of 240 Squadron, took off from Koggala for a patrol a sector south to south-east of Ceylon.
05:15 Nagumo's carriers were 120 nautical miles, launched 36 D3A2 Val dive bombers and 53 B5N2 Kate torpedo bombers, escorted by 36 Zero fighters. The attack was led by Captain Mitsuo Fuchida, the same officer who led the air attack on Pearl Harbor.
05:34 Bradshaw spotted the Japanese aircraft heading towards Colombo. They in turn alerted six Whirlwinds from Invincible's 803 Squadron which were patrolling an established track coast-to-coast to the south of Colombo. Flying just below the cloud line at 2000ft. After an uneventful dawn patrol they were now heading back to the China Bay airfield.
06:45 the carriers Formidable and Fortitude launched six Fairley Swordfish each to scout ahead for enemy submarines. They also lunched a pair of Airspeeds to track the Japanese surface fleet.
06:55 The mobile radar station established at the Royal Colombo Golf Course Colombo picked up the Japanese aircraft 63 nautical miles of Dondra point.
06:58 the RNAS Whirlwinds had gained enough height and swooped in amount the formation of B5N2 torpedo bombers. Three Japanese aircraft were shot down before some of the Zeros joined the fray. The Kate's scattered, a further half-dozen were damaged along with two zeros. The torpedo bombers dropped their cargo and fled for home. Three of the Whirlwinds received battle damage, but were able to return to China Bay Aerodrome.
07:00 the Battle of Malta veterans 261 Squadron with Hurricane IIb, were scrambled from China Bay.

07:05 at Ratamala 30 squadron with 21 Hurricane iib's cleared the runway and began to climb into the sky.

07:15 the formation of 70 Japanese aircraft crossed over the coast at about 8000ft.
07:23 A flight of Japanese bombers attacked Ratmalana airfield and railyards. The Hurricanes engaged at 5000ft. The dogfight was short but intense. Not knowing the formidable low-speed characteristics of the Japanese Zero, the RAF pilots sought to engage in the same way they had significantly less manoeuvrable German and Italian fighters .30 Squadron's tally was six kills, six probables and five damaged. 261 squadron claimed eight kills, two probables and four damaged. The two squadrons lost a total of 27 aircraft lost. As in the Battle of Britain the RAF pilots were engaging over home territory most of them were able to bale out and return to their respective airfields.
07:50 The Japanese strike force made its way to the dockyards, but the Val dive bombers were surprised to find it almost empty. Over Colombo six D3A were destroyed and seven more damaged, along with one A6M and three damaged. The destroyer HMS Tenedos, the submarine tender HMS Lucia and the armed merchant cruiser Hector were sunk. The naval repair shops were destroyed, but the port facilities remained largely untouched.
08:30 Ten Blenheims of 11 Squadron RAF were fueled and loaded up with 500lb semi-armour piercing bombs managed to get into the air, hoping to catch Nagumo’s carriers in the midst of landing-on his returning strike force.

08:36 the action was over. The Japanese aircraft streamed out to sea, returning to their home ships.

08:53 Nagumo, on the advice of Fuchida, rearmed his ready anti-ship aircraft for a follow-up attack on Colombo.

08:55 one of Fortitude's AS10's located the Japanese aircraft 76 degrees 150 miles from the Royal Navies carrier task-force.

10:00 the AS10 reconnaissance aircraft placed the Japanese Fleet of 5 Aircraft Carriers, and escorting Destroyers at position 05-00N, 78-00E, and approximately 120 miles from the British Fleet.

10:03 a float plane from the battleship Haruna had radioed it had found a carrier and three destroyers steaming south. Nagumo was put in a bind: He had kept back a strike force of bombers for just such a situation, but they were armed for another assault on Colombo. Now he had aircraft low on fuel, and some damaged, urgently needing to land. His returning pilots had reported that the Eastern Fleet had not been in Colombo harbour.

Nagumo’s force had been thrown into disarray, the Japanese covering force of battleships and cruisers had been left some 40 miles to the south east: The carrier group had been steering into the wind at 26 knots. He became convinced the whole Eastern Fleet was in the vicinity and he had no air over. His carriers were now only just starting to receive their aircraft.

10:23 Nagumo reversed the rearmament order for his dive bombers.

11:30 A reserve force of Val dive-bombers eventually took off with instructions to shadow the carrier until reinforcements arrived.

 

[Iron Sun]

Good update.

 

[dvyws]

Sunday April 5th

00:15 Sommerville's Fast Carrier Force sailed from Addu Atoll on a course of 70¼ at 18 knots towards the enemy position.

Hmm. You've never been at the wheel of a ship, have you?

In 10 years as a ship's navigating officer, I only ever ONCE plotted a course that included a fraction of a degree, and that was because I was in a sulk with the Captain...

 

[kessock]

Sunday April 5th

05:34 Bradshaw spotted the Japanese aircraft heading towards Colombo. They in turn alerted six Whirlwinds from Invincible's 803 Squadron which were patrolling an established track coast-to-coast to the south of Colombo. Flying just below the cloud line at 2000ft. After an uneventful dawn patrol they were now heading back to the China Bay airfield.

06:55 The mobile radar station established at the Royal Colombo Golf Course Colombo picked up the Japanese aircraft 63 nautical miles of Dondra point.

07:00 the Battle of Malta veterans 261 Squadron with Hurricane IIb, were scrambled from China Bay.

07:05 at Ratamala 30 squadron with 21 Hurricane iib's cleared the runway and began to climb into the sky.

An hour and a half warning. Miscommunication?

 

[Butchpfd]

Sunday April 5th

00:15 Sommerville's Fast Carrier Force sailed from Addu Atoll on a course of 70¼ at 18 knots towards the enemy position.

01:00 An RAF Sunderland piloted by Flight Lieutenant Bradshaw of 240 Squadron, took off from Koggala for a patrol a sector south to south-east of Ceylon.
05:15 Nagumo's carriers were 120 nautical miles, launched 36 D3A2 Val dive bombers and 53 B5N2 Kate torpedo bombers, escorted by 36 Zero fighters. The attack was led by Captain Mitsuo Fuchida, the same officer who led the air attack on Pearl Harbor.
05:34 Bradshaw spotted the Japanese aircraft heading towards Colombo. They in turn alerted six Whirlwinds from Invincible's 803 Squadron which were patrolling an established track coast-to-coast to the south of Colombo. Flying just below the cloud line at 2000ft. After an uneventful dawn patrol they were now heading back to the China Bay airfield.
06:45 the carriers Formidable and Fortitude launched six Fairley Swordfish each to scout ahead for enemy submarines. They also lunched a pair of Airspeeds to track the Japanese surface fleet.
06:55 The mobile radar station established at the Royal Colombo Golf Course Colombo picked up the Japanese aircraft 63 nautical miles of Dondra point.
06:58 the RNAS Whirlwinds had gained enough height and swooped in amount the formation of B5N2 torpedo bombers. Three Japanese aircraft were shot down before some of the Zeros joined the fray. The Kate's scattered, a further half-dozen were damaged along with two zeros. The torpedo bombers dropped their cargo and fled for home. Three of the Whirlwinds received battle damage, but were able to return to China Bay Aerodrome.
07:00 the Battle of Malta veterans 261 Squadron with Hurricane IIb, were scrambled from China Bay.

07:05 at Ratamala 30 squadron with 21 Hurricane iib's cleared the runway and began to climb into the sky.

07:15 the formation of 70 Japanese aircraft crossed over the coast at about 8000ft.
07:23 A flight of Japanese bombers attacked Ratmalana airfield and railyards. The Hurricanes engaged at 5000ft. The dogfight was short but intense. Not knowing the formidable low-speed characteristics of the Japanese Zero, the RAF pilots sought to engage in the same way they had significantly less manoeuvrable German and Italian fighters .30 Squadron's tally was six kills, six probables and five damaged. 261 squadron claimed eight kills, two probables and four damaged. The two squadrons lost a total of 27 aircraft lost. As in the Battle of Britain the RAF pilots were engaging over home territory most of them were able to bale out and return to their respective airfields.
07:50 The Japanese strike force made its way to the dockyards, but the Val dive bombers were surprised to find it almost empty. Over Colombo six D3A were destroyed and seven more damaged, along with one A6M and three damaged. The destroyer HMS Tenedos, the submarine tender HMS Lucia and the armed merchant cruiser Hector were sunk. The naval repair shops were destroyed, but the port facilities remained largely untouched.
08:30 Ten Blenheims of 11 Squadron RAF were fueled and loaded up with 500lb semi-armour piercing bombs managed to get into the air, hoping to catch Nagumo’s carriers in the midst of landing-on his returning strike force.

08:36 the action was over. The Japanese aircraft streamed out to sea, returning to their home ships.

08:53 Nagumo, on the advice of Fuchida, rearmed his ready anti-ship aircraft for a follow-up attack on Colombo.

08:55 one of Fortitude's AS10's located the Japanese aircraft 76 degrees 150 miles from the Royal Navies carrier task-force.

10:00 the AS10 reconnaissance aircraft placed the Japanese Fleet of 5 Aircraft Carriers, and escorting Destroyers at position 05-00N, 78-00E, and approximately 120 miles from the British Fleet.

10:03 a float plane from the battleship Haruna had radioed it had found a carrier and three destroyers steaming south. Nagumo was put in a bind: He had kept back a strike force of bombers for just such a situation, but they were armed for another assault on Colombo. Now he had aircraft low on fuel, and some damaged, urgently needing to land. His returning pilots had reported that the Eastern Fleet had not been in Colombo harbour.

Nagumo’s force had been thrown into disarray, the Japanese covering force of battleships and cruisers had been left some 40 miles to the south east: The carrier group had been steering into the wind at 26 knots. He became convinced the whole Eastern Fleet was in the vicinity and he had no air over. His carriers were now only just starting to receive their aircraft.

10:23 Nagumo reversed the rearmament order for his dive bombers.

11:30 A reserve force of Val dive-bombers eventually took off with instructions to shadow the carrier until reinforcements arrived.

Sounds like an Indian Ocean Midway here, but with the Japanese 1 carrier stronger, but Ceylon much more powerful than Midway..

 

[Lord Wyclif]

Hmm. You've never been at the wheel of a ship, have you?

In 10 years as a ship's navigating officer, I only ever ONCE plotted a course that included a fraction of a degree, and that was because I was in a sulk with the Captain...

On your first point you are correct.

On the second, it's the joy of floating between Apple & Microsoft.

 

[Lord Wyclif]

An hour and a half warning. Miscommunication?

Times recorded are actual times quoted, as in OTL there is a time laps between the first sighting & the radar verification, but here the mobile site is working, so the RAF fighters can get airborne before the Japanese reach the airfield.

 

[James Ricker]

V. Good in principle, but there's the M-word. That is, where does the money come from? Or what does the Admiralty spare less on. One of these is going to cost as much as 2 or 3 County class cruisers. And a converted battlecruiser would make less efficient use of the available tonnage. Can you tweak it so that they were bespoke carriers that happened to have the same names as the G3s?

Though to be fair I have a Money No Object history of the RN 1919-39 on my laptop.

Just don't build the NelRods.And use any extra funds to refit the Hood and another Queen Elizabeth.

 

[Lord Wyclif]

For those of you who are following Zheng He's April 1942 story line, chatted at the week-end & he'll be back soon. I for one can't wait.

 

[Lord Wyclif]

Rear-Admiral Denis Boyd's two available aircraft carriers
HMS Formidable 11 Grendals, 806 Squadron, 24 Gallants, 12 in 800 and 12 in 880 Squadrons, 16 Swordfish in 827 and 831 Squadrons, 8 Bermuda in 813 squadron
HMS Fortitude: 6 Grendals from 885 Squadron, 20 Whirlwinds, 14 in 809 and six in 801 Squadrons, 12 Gallants in 832 , 12 Swordfish in 817 Squadron, 10 Bermuda in 884 squadron

11:45 110 miles south-east of Dondra Point a synchronised attack was carried out by the RAF. Two pairs of Blenheims attacked simultaneously, one pair from each side, and at the same time the rest of the squadron of Blenheims approached unobserved and carried out a high level bombing attack.

11:48 the first two Blenheim's came in low and fast. They had managed to avoid the Zero's overhead. A barrage of 25mm shells from the Tone's AA guns streaked upwards and outwards bringing a quick death to all on board. The other two Blenheim's fared better managing to drop their payload on or close-by the Japanese cruiser. Captain Okada Tametsugu feared the worst, but the British aircraft dropped their ordinance too low and only one exploded taking out an AA gun position.

11:52 the other Blenheim's ran into the CAP of Zero's, which managed to successfully break up the RAF aircraft formation. Two were shot down and the remaining four dived to 100ft, jettisoning their cargo and returning to Ceylon.

11:55 James Borthwick in a cramped little room onboard HMS Invincible, watched his Main Air Display Plot. The carrier was now about 20 years old and was struggling to stay up to date with the latest fleet carrier operations. Her boilers and rudder were in a bad state of disrepair only permitting her to sail at 10 knots, to slow for flying off aircraft. The three Vals that were trailing the ship thought they were out of sight in the low thick cloud. It was a tight squeeze with the 4 feet diameter MADP in the centre of the room but the controller kept in touch with the the CAP, the fighters and controllers both having VHF radios.

12:00 . 8 RAF Hurricanes were flying above 20,000 ft, 4 RNAS Gallants at medium height and 2 Whirlwinds at low level all from the Ratamala airfield, were being guided to their prey. The three Vals met the Gallants. It only lasted a few seconds. They were gone before they could radio their position.

12:00 A strike force of 18 Vals from Soryu, 18 from Hiryu and 17 from Akagi were led by Lieutenant-Commander Takashige Egusa, Air Group Commander of Soryu’s wing. His pilots had all been carefully trained to sink the flat-tops of the US Pacific Fleet during the attack on Pearl Harbour. Missing out on the American carriers they were going to let the world know just how good the Kido Butai were as they disposed of the British carriers.

13:10 another reconnaissance Jake from the cruiser Mogami, radioed a comprehensive sighting report. A Gallant launched from HMS Pioneer at this time ditched when the port wing suddenly caught fire. Spontaneous combustion of incendiary ammunition was blamed.

13:15 the RAF Hurricanes were now low on fuel and began to return to the mainland.

13:25 Formidable's radar picked up aircraft at a range of 84 miles, 30 degrees from the carrier strike Force. These were the Val dive bombers that were attacking the Invincible.
The handful of British fighters in the air at the time were quickly reinforced by 15 Gallants and four Grendels, from Formidable and Fortitude. It only took ten minutes for the fighters to be launched and formed up, but it would take a further twenty minutes before they would reach Invincible and Ivanhoe.

13:40 Closed up at action stations and fully ready to repel air attack, Ivanhoe's lookouts saw the first Japanese bombers directly overhead and opened fire.
At the same time a second flight of three aircraft began their attack on Invincible. Despite an urgent turn to starboard, all three bombs hit her armoured deck. Her rudder once again jammed, and her boiler rooms struggled to make steam. The ship’s port catapult was ablaze and the radio room smashed – all within the opening minutes, Invincible lurched to a stop. A further three were engaged by the carrier’s 40mm and 20mm Oerlikon mounts as they dove towards the carrier from astern.
Three Vals dived on Ivanhoe from forward and out of the sun. The twin Hazemeyer 40mm Bofors from B position fired almost vertically at a rate of 80rpm along with the A mounting 4.5 inch single firing at 12 rpm effectively broke up the Vals dive forcing one to crash into the sea. The remaining pair were trailed by the six 20 mm Oerlikon AA guns. Smoke was seen coming from one of the aircraft as she sped away. During the attack the two ships fired over 2000 rounds of 4.5", 3,500 rounds of 40mm and 5000 rounds of 20mm, over 90% of their ammunition supply. Eight Vals were shot down but Invincible was hit twice more with another seven near misses.

13:48, Ivanhoe's bow lifted as her stern began to slip beneath the waves. Despite her valiant efforts, she was hit 13 times and with her back broke went under at 14:00 her AA guns still blazing.

13:50 the RNAS fighters arrived, the Gallants flew overhead as Invincible rescued over 100 survivors of the Ivanhoe. The Grendels pursued the fleeing Japanese dive-bombers shooting down another three and damaging a further five.

14:07 Nagumo launched another 19 Vals, 24 Kate's escorted by 16 Zero's.

14:35 the British cargo ships Dardanus and Gandara reported they were under attack from Japanese aircraft.

14:45 the cargo ship Harpasa came under attack by Japanese dive-bombers. The destroyer HMS Tenedos changer course and headed towards the location to pick up survivors.

14:50 The Japanese aircraft appeared on radar of HMS Powerful at a distance of 65 miles. Fighter Controllers on HMS Pioneer directed the air patrol to intercept the 24 Kate's 25 miles out from tMountbatten's convoy.

15:05 three Gallants intercepted the Kate's shooting down two plus an escorting Zero, damaging another six aircraft for the loss of two Gallants.

15:15 Sub Lieutenant Streathfield's AS10 made radar contact with the main Japanese fleet and was able to get off a detailed report. Somerville set course for his desired night intercept.

15:55 the Japanese began to recover the aircraft which sunk the Ivanhoe and crippled Invincible.

17;00 all the Japanese aircraft were recovered and aircrews were given time to relax. Tomorrow would be another busy day.

18:19 Sunset behind the two British fleet carriers. Rear Admiral Denis Boyd stood on the flag bridge of the HMS Fortitude and watched as the carrier's Fairey Swordfish torpedo bombers prepare for launch.

The Eastern Fleet and Nagumo’s strike force were just 180 miles apart.

The outcome of such an engagement was by no means certain – for either side.

 

[Lord Wyclif]

Possibly Nagumo would turn around and flee the Indian Ocean, out of fear he would loose one of his priceless flattops. (He had strickt orders to avoid damage to his vital carriers at all times, as the IJN Combined Fleet Command had other plans for the next stages in the war in the Pacific.) -(HMS Warspite from another thread.

19:30 hours a night search with A.S.V. equipped aircraft commenced to cover the section 345¼ to 030¼ to a depth of 280 miles.

20:17 airspeed AS10 reconnaissance aircraft of Grant-Sturgis reported five Japanese ships - including two carriers - were located 120 miles from the carrier strike force, steering to the south-east in order to rendezvous with an oil tanker and its support ships before launching an air strike on Trincomalee.

Somerville was convinced this was his chance to initiate a night action, so he also changed course into the wind.

The carriers were already at the ready. Torpedoes had long since been loaded on HMS Fortitude and Formidable's Swordfish and the aircraft had been waiting for the launch order, their crews awaiting the loudhailer's call to action.

21:45 after just over three hours of waiting the signal was given for take-off. Ten Bermuda's from Fortitude's 884 squadron were the first aircraft to be launched and were followed by 21 Swordfish of 817 Squadron launched from Fortitude and 827 and 831 Squadron departing from Formidable. Seven of the Swordfish were armed with a 1,600-pound bomb, and the remainder carried air-launched torpedoes. Once the bombers were airborne the escort fighters – 30 Gallants from 800, 832 and 880 squadrons – were launched. All the aircraft of the first wave were dispatched successfully, and the force completed forming up at 22:07. Flying conditions remained perfect, and Japanese forces had not detected the British fleet during its approach.

Believing the Japanese had radar the British aircraft flew at 50' above sea-level. Guided by the AS10 the strike force continued on until 20 miles from the Japanese fleet.

23:08 The fighters and dive bombers increased hight to 9,000 ' to begin their attack runs. The arrival of the British force caught the Japanese by surprise

 

[Some Bloke]

Gallants? Not Grendels? :-D

 

[jonnic123]

This shit just got real.

 

[merlin]

Why would they have fighter escort in the middle of the night?

 

[Lord Wyclif]

Gallants? Not Grendels? :-D[/QUOTE

Why would they have fighter escort in the middle of the night?

The reason will soon become apparent

 

[astor88]

Great story, keep it up

 

[Lord Wyclif]

22:11 the lookouts on the Japanese picket destroyers spotted the RNAS aircraft pass by, following the green phosphorous algae trail that was churned up by the carriers.

22:13 a message was transmitted to Admiral Nagumo of an immanent air-attack.

22:15 the Japanese went to action-stations.

22:16 as the Japanese sailors rushed to man the anti-aircraft guns the Gallants sped past guns blazing. 800 squadron attacked the Hiyō, 832 the Shokaku and 880 the Zuikaku. Casualties were heavy with dozens killed and many more injured. Crucially the AA guns were out of action and several small fires were started on the carrier decks. On Zuikaku two pilots were killed as the rushed to their parked Zero fighters. 3 fighters on the deck park were critically damaged rendering the flight-deck in-operable for several hours. On the Shokaku a Zero erupted in a fire-ball spreading burning aviation fuel over the flight deck. Fire crews were hindered in their work by the wrecked aircraft's ammunition exploding in the flames. On Zuikaku one of the Gallants riddled the bridge, taking out the night-time watch.

22:19 with several fires on board the Hiyō and Zuikaku were attacked by the Bermuda bombers. Both ships were hit once causing slight damage to their flight decks. There were also several near misses to each ship.

22:20 Japanese AA gunfire was starting to get co-ordinated as the Torpedo armed Swordfish arrived. Believing the Hiyō, Shokaku and Zuikaku to be heavily damaged and sinking they turned their attention to the escorting cruisers.

22:21 four torpedoes were launched against the Japanese cruiser Tone, all of which missed thanks to the skilful handling by Captain Tametsugu. The cruiser Chikuma was less fortunate being hit by one of three torpedoes launched against her.

22:24 the destroyer Kasumi was hit by a 1,600 lbs bomb dropped by a swordfish. Unfortunately for the British the bomb was dropped too low and failed to detonate. The swordfish was subsequently shot down by AA killing the crew.
22:29 the destroyer Akigumo was struck by a torpedo. That too failed to explode due to a faulty detonator. The destroyers Kuroshio and Oyashio were less fortunate. Both were hit by torpedoes and severely crippled.
22:35 with the bomber force withdrawing the fighters made their final swoop. The three burning carriers were again strafed with sailors caught in the open again casualties were heavy. However with AA posts now manned and operational they hit many of the RNAS fighters.
In total the RNAS lost five Swordfish, two Bermuda's and three Gallants. In all 15 of the 21 bombers managed to hit an enemy warship. The Japanese had three carriers superficially damaged, one cruiser ans a destroyer slightly damages and two destroyers out of action. More crucially the Japanese lost 244 sailors killed and 632 injured.
22:50 The destroyers HMS Inglefield and HMS Imogen, successfully took the carrier HMS Invincible on tow proceeding towards Port T as engineers frantically tried to repair her damaged rudder.
00:30 the two British carriers completed the recovery of their aircraft.
The British fleet having sped west at 24knots since 21:30 believed they had sufficient distance between themselves and the Japanese forces slowed to 18 knots to use up less fuel. They were now approximately 250 miles from the Japanese strike fleet. With a further 5 1/2 to 6 hours of darkness left before sun-up Sommerville believed his fleet would be at least 350 miles from the Japanese. Two AS 10's were launched to provide radar cover out to 170 miles and two Whirlwinds with drop tanks flew 100 miles astern to provide a distant protective cover.
With respite from attack the Japanese quickly got the fires on the carriers under control. Whilst the Hiyō, Shokaku and Zuikaku were out of action, Junyō launched 1/2dozen Zero fighters to provide aerial cover as they steamed south-east to rendezvous with their replenishment ships.

 

[Lord Wyclif]

April 6th


Admiral Somerville was now aware of a second Japanese raiding force roaming the Bay of Bengal. Signals reporting merchant ships under attack by aircraft or surface ships were coming in thick and fast. Vice-Admiral Ozawa’s cruisers, Chokia, Kumano, Mikuma, Mogami, Suzuya, Yura, several destroyers plus Karou Umetani's light carrier Hōshō with its seven Claud fighters and eight Jean bombers.

A flight of Swordfish were sortied at dawn from HMS Powerful at dawn to search for any Japanese ships they could find. Several Sea Hurricanes were in company, as escort, or on reconnaissance flights of their own.

 

[Zheng He]

Sounds like neither side achieved the results they were looking for...

 

[Lord Wyclif]

06:00 Split into three task forces, Ozawa's ships continued push through the sea toward the shipping lanes off the coast of India. Each of his heavy cruisers put up two Dave floatplanes, one for local ASW patrols and for searching ahead of the task forces. The floatplanes were all armed with small bombs so they could carry out their own attacks on British merchant ships and submarines as needed. Onboard the light carrier Hōshō, a shotai of A5M Claudes took off on the first combat air patrol of the day while in the hangar, crewmen wrestled bombs and torpedoes onto the carrier's 8 Yokosuka B4Y Jean torpedo bombers. Once the bombers were ready they would conduct attacks against British merchant ships and the port city of Visakhapatnam.

06:00 the seaplane base at Port Blair in the Andaman Islands was a hive of activity. Ground crews prepared six of the big H6K Mavis flying boats for the day's patrol missions and aircrews made their final preparations before heading to their aircraft moored in line in the harbor. The Japanese had been in possession of Port Blair for two weeks and already it was turning into one of Japan's more important outposts in the Indian Ocean. As the ground crews went about their business the quiet morning was interrupted by the drone of aircraft engines. Without much in the way of warning, four B-17E Flying Fortresses and one LB-30 Liberator of the US 10th Air Force appeared overhead and began their bomb runs at 3000 feet. The bombers had taken off from Asansol in India near Calcutta almost five hours earlier and made the difficult night flight to Port Blair with one B-17 aborting due to engine trouble. As the bombers approached the harbor they split up to make their bomb runs against their targets. Flying in the co-pilot seat of the lead bomber was the 10th Air Force's commander, Major General Lewis Brereton. His plane and a second B-17 targeted ships in the harbor lining up to drop their 500 pound bombs on what they believed were the most important targets. They managed to sink a harbour barge and score a damaging near miss on a minesweeper, reporting after the raid direct hits on a large merchant ship and a heavy cruiser. Two other B-17s dropped incendiary bombs on the flying boats lined up in the harbor and the belly turret gunners strafed the H6Ks with their .50 caliber machine guns. Finally, the lone LB-30 dropped a combination of incendiary and high explosive bombs on the docks and wharves, causing some small fires to start which were reported as large explosions by the bomber's crew. Brereton honoured D'Albiac's request to pay special attention to the seaplanes and ordered all five bombers to make a second run over the target so the gunners could strafe the seaplanes moored in the harbour. Fifteen minutes after the raid started, the bombers departed, with inaccurate anti-aircraft fire chasing the them as they headed for home. All five planes received some damage but nothing that could not be repaired.
The raid could have been worse. Damage to the docks was limited and the attacks against the ships in the harbor did not achieve much other than sinking a barge. Had all five bombers concentrated on the seaplanes the results could have been disastrous. As it was, the damage was bad enough. One bomb scored a lucky hit on a Mavis and easily sank the big flying boat while the concussion from a nearby bomb detonating in the water caused another one to flip over and sink. However, most of the damage done was from the strafing by the belly turret gunners. Three H6Ks were destroyed outright by the strafing gunners while five others received enough damage that they would need a day or so of repairs before they were ready to fly. Of the remaining six that were undamaged two were already down for maintenance, leaving four H6Ks ready to fly. Once the ground crews managed to sort things out and figure out which planes were still flyable, they resumed preparations for the days flights. With fewer assets to call on, the unit commander decided to concentrate his flights that day on the Bay of Bengal to help facilitate the mission of Ozawa's Malay Force. The pilots of the Mavis tasked to reconnoiter were given strict orders to avoid enemy fighters, the unit could not afford to lose anymore assets that day. - with kind permission - Zheng He.

06:45 Yokosuka B4Y Jean torpedo bombers took off from the Hōshō.

07:00 an ASV Swordfish from HMS Powerful's 788 squadron spotted Ozawa’s Northern Force sending out a sighting report, “Two cruisers, course 360, speed 15, 200 miles northeast of Visakhapatnam.”

07:05 an ASV Swordfish from HMS Perseus spotted Ozawa’s Centre Force and five minutes later broadcast a sighting, “One carrier, one cruiser, distance 180, speed 15.”

07:30. the Northern Force engaged a convoy of Dutch cargo ships SS Banioewangii, SS Batavia and SS Van Der Capellen that resulted in distress calls and position reports.
08:00 four H6Ks began their take off runs in Port Blair's harbour, their orders, find Mountbatten's amphibious fleet.

08:10 the three light fleet carriers turned into the wind. Ten 250lbs bomb armed Swordfish from HMS Powerful, ten Hawker Hendley's also with 250lbs bombs from HMS Perseus and twelve Swordfish torpedo bombers from HMS Pioneer along with six Gallants, for escorts, also from Pioneer were launched. Forming up into two different strike groups by 08:30 they set off after the two known Japanese flotillas.

10:00 Vizagapatam, a city of 70,000 was visited by the Jean torpedo bombers. The American cargo ship SS Bienville was torpedoed as it excited the harbour. The British cargo ship was hit with two torpedoes and sunk at her berth.

10:10 lookouts on the cruisers Mikuma and Mogami spotted the British dive-bombers.

10:20 the five swordfish dive bombers swooped down at an angle of 60 degrees releasing their payload of 6x250lbs bombs at an altitude of 1,800 feet. Of the 30 bombs dropped on the Mikuma ten missed completely, but the five hit her caused serious fires and the rest were near misses. One bomb hit the bridge injuring Captain Sakiyama. The Hendley's targeted the Mogami and hit her with six bombs. Her No. 5 turret was destroyed and 81 crewmen were killed.

10:35 the swordfish torpedo-bombers began their run in. Dropping to 18 feet they were met with a hail of AA gunfire. Two exploded before release as the other four dropped their fish at almost two miles out. Travelling at 27 knots they were easily spotted as both cruisers manoeuvred to avoid the torpedoes the two ships collided. With nothing better to do the Gallants sprayed both ships with 20mm cannon fire before they turned to go back to Mountbatten's fleet.

10:55 it was the turn of the Centre Force. As the Hendley dive-bombers lined up to attack, two A5M Claudes swooped causing them to disperse. They had already started their bombing runs. The Hōshō was missed completely. And the Claudes claimed one bomber and the AA guns claimed another. The escorting Gallants stayed with the slower Swordfish. As the Claudes were regaining height, climbing above the low clouds the Gallants opened fire. It was a no-contest as both Claudes burst into flames.

11:05 two Claudes had just cleared the flight-deck as the Swordfish bombers approached. AA fire claimed three RNAS bombers before they could release their pay-load. The other two scored direct hits with five of the six 250lbs available.

11:07 still low under the cloud the Claudes were sitting ducks for the Gallants and both were dispatched with in quick time.

11:10 it was only when they were in the final seconds of their run-in that the Japanese spotted the Swordfish torpedo-bombers. As the AA gunners changed their positions, but it was too late. Six fish were laid at 1 mile out and sped towards the carrier at 35knots.

11:12 three large explosions erupted from the starboard side of the light carrier. Realising his ship was doomed Karou Umetani orders abandon ship. Before he left his post Umetani sent a message, "Under attack by British carrier aircraft 17°50′N 94*50′E." The message was picked up by one of the H6K's flying out of Port Blair.

11:15 after a quick strafing run on the Chokai by the Gallants the British aircraft headed for home.

11:30 the Hōshō Disappeared beneath the waves taking just over 100 of her crew with her.

11:40 after much hard work by their crews the Mikuma and Mogami were able to get underway again. Due to the amount of damage to the bows of both ships they could only manage 10 knots.

12:00 All five of the American bombers returned to Asansol with Brereton's plane the last to touch down. As came out of the bomber he greeted the crews of the other four planes exclaiming, "Boys, bombing Japs makes me feel damned fine." Brereton was the highest ranking US officer to fly a combat mission up to that point in the war and he received a Distinguished Flying Cross for his efforts. While the crews over-exaggerated the amount of damage they had done, they had hit the Japanese reconnaissance unit at Port Blair with a pretty heavy punch. - with kind permission - Zheng He.

12:00 just over 1,500 miles to the south-east Admiral Nagumo and the replenishing Kido Butai received the news of the attack on Ozawa's ships.