The Whale has Wings

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The Warspite had used the cover of darkness and her radar to close, and even as the Nachi's commander ordered star-shells to be fired, her second half-salvo arrived, straddling the cruiser. The third salvo from Warspite landed a hit from a 15" shell on the Nachi. The heavy shell was barely slowed by the cruisers armour, smashing through it to wreck her forward engine room. More were to follow, as the Warspite showed just why she was considered one of the best gun ships in the Royal Navy. In less than 15 minutes Nachi was a helpless burning wreck, already sinking into the Java Sea.

Meanwhile the allied cruisers had been exchanging fire with the Haguro and the Naka, both of which were already damaged.. With only star-shell to help either side, fire was inaccurate although Houston took one 8" hit, which temporarily knocked out her A turret. However neither Japanese cruiser was able to retire, and once the Nachi was helpless, Warspite turned both her main and secondary batteries on them. Neither cruiser lasted long.

As a result of the earlier torpedo actions, the only Japanese ship left with torpedoes was one of the destroyers. She had 3 left, as a result of a failure which had stopped them being launched earlier. As the battleship and cruisers were ignoring the destroyers (they were incapable of doing much damage without torpedoes), she managed to get into position behind the burning Nachi and attempted to launch all three at the Warspite. One torpedo failed to launch again, but the other two were successful. The Warspite was busy engaging the cruisers, and did not see the approach. One of the heavy torpedoes missed her, combing the water ahead of the ship, but the other hit her alongside the bridge. And failed to explode.

With his cruiser force destroyed, the remaining destroyers were ordered to withdraw while the cruisers tried to buy them time - even so, the Warspite, firing under radar control, sunk one of them as they made their escape.

Somerville's carrier force had been preparing to launch a new strike at the remaining Japanese light carrier. Just before midnight, the British fleet was sighted at long range by one of the Japanese patrol submarines. Although she was too far away to attempt an attack, she radioed a sighting report of 'two large carriers steaming east'. As a result of this, the Taiyo was ordered to turn back and head north - one light carrier, some planes already destroyed, was no match for two fleet carriers, and the reports from the landing site were already indicating there was no invasion fleet left to support.

March 24th

The Japanese begin an intense air and artillery bombardment of Bataan. Luzon-based Japanese Army and Navy aircraft begin a heavy bombardment of Corregidor, and night air attacks are conducted for the first time.

On Java, the Dutch forces, supported by Stuart tanks and with an Australian brigade in reserve behind them, attacked the Japanese landings. The Japanese fought fiercely but with little hope - they were outnumbered 4:1 and had little heavy equipment or supplies. The situation for them worsened that morning as the Warspite sailed close to the landing areas and started to drop salvoes of 15" shells on their positions. The shock caused by these was so great that many of the infantrymen under bombardment were shocked enough to surrender. The rest of the landing force fought almost to the last man, charging with bayonet and sword when they ran out of ammunition - a foolhardy waste, as the Dutch armour dealt with them easily. It did take two days to clear the landings, but after the morning of the 24th the final result was never in doubt.

While the landings were being destroyed, the Royal Navy was trying to save its damaged ships. The Exeter had been badly hit by two torpedoes, and even with HMS Dragon aiding her to pump water, she was slowly sinking even as she headed for Java. Fortunately the weather was calm, but she finally limped into Surabaya with her rear deck awash. Sadly although she had managed to make land, the damage to the small cruiser was so severe that she was declared a total constructive loss. She was however kept manned for some time, in case her 8" guns would be needed in defence or to support the army, but this proved unnecessary.

In Malaya the Japanese advance was still moving south, although slowing fast. Alexander and Blamey were happy with this - the further the Japanese pushed their head into the noose being created for them, the more of them they could destroy. By now virtually the entire Imperial Guards division was through the Australian lines, and an Indian division as well as the 1st Armoured, heavily supported by artillery, was waiting to engage them. Blamey estimated he would close the trap the following day, and hoped that as well as destroying a considerable part of the Japanese force facing him, would be in position to drive through the opening and take at least part of the Japanese lines from the rear.
 
I think things would probably go pretty much as our timeline - scrap the completely knackered and obsolete ones after hostilities end and keep the remainder ticking over into the mid-50s but with no more after that.
Which basically means scrap everything but the KGVs as soon as the war's over right?

As for the update, Are the Japanese now going to realise just how bad their position is anytime soon, or do they still have delusion of grandeur?
 
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HJ Tulp

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Marching captured Japanese soldiers through Surubaya and Batavia will do a lot to lift the spirits of the KNIL and give the Gouvernment-General (the colonial government) much needed legitimacy.
 
Pretty much. Although with less enemy BB's to look out for, the RN has been able to do proper maintenance and refits on its BB's, so they will end the war in much better shape.
The KGVs are still the only truly modern British BBs though, the rest are just updated teen-eras or Nelrods.
 
Seems like the Dutch land forces are being blooded and may be able to stand on their own before the campaign is over. What is the likelihood of a Dutch contribution to the European theater once the DEI are secured? Perhaps something in time for whatever comes after Sicily?
 
Astrodragon

Good update and a simple matter of the application of overwhelming force.;) Had me a bit nervous with the torpedo attack and thought Warspite would take some damage but fortunately she got through. Pity about the Exeter but at least she earned some more battle honours before effectively being retired.

One boot has dropped in Java, the other in Malaya is just about to fall. If the Imperial Guard division is totally destroyed I wonder at the effects on Japanese moral. Think it had little real combat before the Malaya campaign, being more a prestige unit but the name will mean its loss will have an effect. Also the Japanese will realise that their plans in Malaya are coming apart, albeit they might not have much time to do anything before Alexander's counter-offensive turns a defeat into hopefully a fall disaster.

What is happening in Europe at this time? Pretty much as OTL, other than at sea or any significant butterflies.

Steve
 
So just about the time the Japanese are concluding that at least things are going well in Malaya Blamey drops the hammer? Shame:rolleyes:

You would .like to think that some realism might creep into the Japanese plans after this but looking at OTL doesn't give much cause for confidence.
 
You would .like to think that some realism might creep into the Japanese plans after this but looking at OTL doesn't give much cause for confidence.
Actually, they might be thinking more realistically now, what with the Java now down the drain, and Malaya about to be flushed, they've taken heavier losses than OTL, and have gained much less territory. You can now probably kiss good bye to Coral Sea and Midway since the Japanese no longer have the resources or inclination for them.
 
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Well they managed to ignore the evidence from our timeline, even the sinking of the largest of them all the Yamato, and kept a number of them around until the 50s plus completing HMS Vanguard. I think things would probably go pretty much as our timeline - scrap the completely knackered and obsolete ones after hostilities end and keep the remainder ticking over into the mid-50s but with no more after that.

[FONT=&quot]From D K Brown's 'Nelson to Vanguard.

'Pound's successor, Cunningham, was also a battleship enthusiast. Goodall was given a retirement lunch on 25th January 1944 when Cunningham said that'....there wont be an aircraft carrier afloat in twenty years time. I said I thought the battleship was dead. We are poles asunder.'

[/FONT]
 
Well, Hood should have finished her US refit/rebuild soon....:)

Yes, after this the Japanese are finally going to have to redraw their plans. Up till now it hasn't been too bad for them - the only real problems have been in Malaya, and using Yamashita to tie down twice his number of Imperial troops allowing the Japanese army to advance west through the DEI still looked reasonable.

However their problem is that they dont have air superiority, thanks to the relative calm in the Med, they dont have naval superiority in the area (thanks again to the Med and the RN carrier force), and the DEI campaign has just crashed and burnt. They can of course turn it into an air campaign, but this causes two serious problems. The allies (in particular the US) will be happy to go into an attritional air battle as they can outproduce Japan in the air by a silly margin; second it doesnt get them any oil.

A major army-navy fight resulting in new plans is going to take place soon...
 
Actually, they might be thinking more realistically now, what with the Java now down the drain, and Malaya about to be flushed, they've taken heavier losses than OTL, and have gained much less territory. You can now probably kiss good bye to Coral Sea and Midway since the Japanese no longer have the resources or inclination for them.


Well, something close to Coral Sea is about to happen....:p
 
[FONT=&quot]From D K Brown's 'Nelson to Vanguard.

'Pound's successor, Cunningham, was also a battleship enthusiast. Goodall was given a retirement lunch on 25th January 1944 when Cunningham said that'....there wont be an aircraft carrier afloat in twenty years time. I said I thought the battleship was dead. We are poles asunder.'

[/FONT]

That's up there with the guy who rejected The Beatles! :eek:

Another great update BTW Astro! Seems like the next one is when the Japanese will have their Wile E Coyote running off a cliff moment! :D
 
[FONT=&quot]From D K Brown's 'Nelson to Vanguard.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]'Pound's successor, Cunningham, was also a battleship enthusiast. Goodall was given a retirement lunch on 25th January 1944 when Cunningham said that'....there wont be an aircraft carrier afloat in twenty years time. I said I thought the battleship was dead. We are poles asunder.'[/FONT]
Yes, whilst ABC was an excellent leader he does seem to of had something of a blind spot in regards to aircraft carriers. Odd really considering that he was in command of the Mediterranean Fleet during the implementation of Operation Judgement.

Aside from the battleships makes me wonder what might also happen to the cruisers as well. Granted you only get a main armament about half the size or less of the big boys but they also only take roughly half the manpower as well. Plus aside from the shore bombardment role they also had showing the flag duties around the colonies and world at large, having one of them turn up on your doorstep would be bound to have a discouraging effect on anyone thinking about trying anything.
 
Yes, whilst ABC was an excellent leader he does seem to of had something of a blind spot in regards to aircraft carriers. Odd really considering that he was in command of the Mediterranean Fleet during the implementation of Operation Judgement.

Aside from the battleships makes me wonder what might also happen to the cruisers as well. Granted you only get a main armament about half the size or less of the big boys but they also only take roughly half the manpower as well. Plus aside from the shore bombardment role they also had showing the flag duties around the colonies and world at large, having one of them turn up on your doorstep would be bound to have a discouraging effect on anyone thinking about trying anything.

He probably considered them too vulnerable and their aircraft too easily countered. Which might actually be somewhat reasonable... in a world without nukes. (Yes, there are other things which made aircraft so much more deadly but nukes are the big one and the immediate one. I mean the RAF might have been able to successfully hit water when dropping Fatmans.)

And the Allies can not only outproduce the Japanese during an airwar, their far better training regime will see Japanese losses skyrocket past Phase 3 or so.
 

perfectgeneral

Donor
Monthly Donor
The Stuart counter-attack was all too brief, but that was only to be expected. Invulnerable beasts sweep along the beach with heavy MGs.
A major army-navy fight resulting in new plans is going to take place soon...
Hard to assert your will with a submerged navy. I think the Army will argue that the Navy has let them down for long enough and that a really big push down the Kra will finish this.
 
Guys

Don't forget that as well as the coming 'successful breakthrough' in Malaya, as they possibly still see it, Astrodragon was saying there were two Japanese invasion forces, one heading for Java itself the other for Bali. One has crashed and burnt but what about the other? Given the report of two RN CV and probably that their attack on Colossus probably makes them think they have sunk at least one more fleet carriers do they withdraw or press on? They have two fleet carriers in the area as well and will be getting worried at the lack of progress so I suspect they will press on but might have a sudden outbreak of common sense. If they do press on I would expect the other invasion force to fail, especially as Somerville has 4 fleet and a couple of CVLs to play with but what happens to the Japanese CVs?;)

Also with hints about a Coral Sea equivalent I think we will have a IJN/USN clash of heads.

Steve
 
The force on Bali is about 3,000 men, it was split off from the main force.
They still have over 10,000 men as the second part, but the IJN is likely to refuse to even try for another landing so soon.

The Bali invasion can be dealt with once the main one is done. The Japanese could make an airstrip, but so close to allied air bases and with no supplies, it wouldn't be much use.
 
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