Turn 2 Battle Report - Sector 44

Award Ceremony and Engagement Report

Fregattenkapitän Hans Leuters

Battleship Gneisenau, Chief Gunnery Officer

Spring 1941 Operational Sector 44

Konteradmiral Strauss:  Fregattenkapitän, please give your report of the engagement.

Fregattenkapitän Leuters: Thank you, sirs.

Our formation was defending our base in Sector 44 when our scout planes reported an enemy formation approaching.  Our three Atlantis class armed merchants immediately deployed forward in a skirmish line of sorts while our warships deployed by our base.  The smaller Japanese formation, supported by a submarine, deployed in the Northeast in a defensive shell.

     Our warships advanced while the Japanese remained in place, with a two Köln light cruisers leading our attack.  Our merchantmen even closed on the enemy.  With both sides having aircraft carriers and supporting land-based air, the initial air attack was furious.  The Japanese flak was especially effective and we only had reports of a single bomb hit on the enemy carrier.  The Japanese, on the other hand, were able to land torpedo hits on a Köln and the Z-25, sinking the latter, and bomb hits on the other Köln and on the Z-28.

     Despite our losses, we continued to advance.  The Japanese torpedo boats leave their formations to hunt our armed merchantmen.  The next round of air attacks only managed a single bomb hit, but it sank the Z-28.

     At this point, I had the Japanese Aircraft carrier lined up at extreme range and we took the shot.  The next thing we saw was a large explosion.  When the smoke cleared enough to get a better view, the carrier’s bow was already rising out of the water.  Unfortunately, we didn’t see any aircraft on the deck when it went down.  The uncrippled Köln sinks one of the torpedo boats and the Atlantis closest to the enemy formation lands both guns and a torpedo into one of their cruisers, sinking it.  The return fire from the Japanese is devastating to the lightly armored merchantmen though, sinking two of them and heavily damaging the last one.

     Desperate at this point, the Japanese torpedo boats charge our heavy ships while the remaining units consolidate around our last Atlantis.  Now with air superiority, our aircraft act with good effect, sinking both torpedo boats.  The Japanese fire everything they have, managing to sink both the crippled Köln and cripple the last Atlantis.

     I line up our guns on the last Japanese cruiser and our shots, literally, blow the ship to pieces.  We are then forced to watch helplessly as the Japanese submarine lands a torpedo in our last Atlantis, sinking it.

     The submarine attempts to run, but the Z-20 and our flight of BV138s manage to catch and sink it before it can escape.    

Konteradmiral Strauss:   Excellent Report, Leuters.  Your Iron Cross is well deserved for shooting like that.

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Japanese Forces

Hiryu (Soryu class Carrier)

 - A6M2 'Zeke'

 - D1A2 'Susie’

 - B5N2 'Kate'

Jintsu (Sendai class Cruiser)

Myoko (Myoko class Cruiser)

T51B TP Boat (x3)

I-25

H8KI Type 2 'Emily'

G3M 'Nell'

G4M 'Betty'

G4M1 'Betty'

German Forces

Gneisenau

Graf Zeppelin

 - Ju-87D

 - Me-155

Admiral Hipper

Prinz Eugen

Kőln (x2)

Z-20 Karl Galster

Z-25

Z-28

Ju-87B (x2) (1 sector distant)

Bf-109 (x2) (1 sector distant)

Bf-110 C-4 (x2) (1 sector distant)

BV138 (x2)

Japanese Losses

Hiryu

Jintsu

Myoko

T51B TP Boat (x3)

I-25

German Losses

Kőln

Z-25

Z-28

Atlantis (x3)

Turn 2 Battle Report - Sector 42

Spring 1941 Operational Sector 42

Engagement Report

Kaigun Daisa Arihito

Battleship Nagato, Operations Staff

Assembled by order of the Emperor, our glorious battle fleet advanced into the border with our dishonorable German neighbors.  Our large fleet was assembled across our center while the smaller German fleet deployed into two formations.  With plenty of daylight left to catch any fleeing foes and only a single squall for them to hide within, we felt confident.

     The German force, deployed in two formations of two ship each advanced to the south of the island.  Except for the two Aircraft Carriers, our force charged to engage the enemy at maximum speed.  A veritable horde of aircraft, from our two carriers and nearby land bases swarmed toward the enemy ships, completely ignoring the two insignificant squadrons of German aircraft that arrived from a distant base to meet them.  The squadron of German fighter, while potent, was not able to cause any lasting damage and the gunners on the Chikuma were able to send off the German dive bombers.   Our aircraft met with far more success.  Our torpedo planes sunk the light battleship and crippled the heavy cruiser while bombers damaged the light cruiser and crippled the destroyer.

     Showing commendable spirit, the Germans continued to advance, though sought cover from the squall.  Our warships moved to meet them, entering gunnery range.  Our carrier aircraft, however, would have another change to finish the fight.  German anti-air fire was fierce, driving off a squadron of B4Y torpedo bombers and a strafing squadron of A5M fighters.  A squadron of D3A dive bombers landed a crippling hit on the light cruiser and the B4N2 torpedo bombers finished off the heavy cruiser.  As our warships prepared to give the brave Germans a burial of fire, their crippled ships fired and amazingly both managed to land hits on the Chikuma, despite the extreme range, crippling the important scout cruiser.  Our return fire easily finished off the enemy ships.

      This was a great victory for the Imperial Japanese Navy.   We not only captured this rich sector, but destroyed four enemy ships at the cost of only one crippled cruiser.

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Japanese Forces

Nagato (Nagato class Battleship)

Kaga (Kaga class Carrier)

 - A5M 'Claude'

 - D3A 'Val'

 - B5N2 'Kate'

Soryu (Soryu class Carrier)

 - A6M2 'Zeke'

 - B5N2 'Kate'

 - B4Y 'Jean'

Kinugasa (Aoba class Cruiser)

Suzuya (Magami class Cruiser)

Chikuma (Tone class Cruiser)

Shigure (Shiratsuyu class Destroyer)

T51B TP Boat (x2)

H8KI Type 2 'Emily'

Ki-43 'Oscar'

G3M 'Nell'

G4M 'Betty'

German Forces

Admiral Scheer

Blücher

Kőnigsberg

Z-25

Ju-87D (no rearming)

Me-155 (no rearming) 

Japanese Losses

Chikuma - crippled

German Losses

Admiral Scheer

Blücher

Kőnigsberg

Z-25

Turn 2 Battle Report - Sector 45

The following is a report from Rikugan Kaii Runoki, squadron commander of the 18th Fighter Squadron, Imperial Army Air Force.

Our intelligence reports had reported only a small enemy force in this sector and our squadron was assigned to support four flights of Naval bombers with the goal of sinking the entire enemy force.  To our surprise, the reported small force ended up being a light battleship, a cruiser, a destroyer and three submarines - far more than we could sink with a single strike.  We performed a strafing run on the cruiser, but its maneuvering, and the heavy flak, prevented us from doing noticeable damage. We did see the destroyer take a bomb hit, leaving it smoking, but the other bombers were unable to get through with successful attacks.  Unsuccessful and low on fuel, we returned to base.

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Japanese Forces

Ki-45 'Nick'

H8K1 'Emily'

G3M 'Nell'

G4M 'Betty' 

G4M1 'Betty'

German Forces

Adm. Graf Spee

Karlsruhe

Z-25

Losses

Z-25 - crippled

Turn 2 Battle Report - Sector 43

TRANSMISSION SOURCE: U-103

ATTN: U-BOOT KOMMANDANT

AT DAWN CAME UNDER AIRBORNE ASW ATTACK FROM 3 FLIGHTS.  STOP.  NEAR MISSES BUT ALL BOATS FULLY OPERATIONAL.  STOP.  CONTINUING MISSION.  STOP.

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Japanese Forces

G3M 'Nell'

G4M 'Betty

G4M1 'Betty'

German Forces

U-103

Type IX U-Boat (x2)

Losses

None

Turn 2 Battle Report - Sector 41

The following is a report from Rikugan Kaii Yamaji, squadron commander of the 17th Fighter Squadron, Imperial Army Air Force.

Our squadron of Ki-45 Fighters was assigned to meet with 3 flights of Naval bombers for a strike mission.  We arrived in the sector mid-day and quickly found the enemy formation consisting of an Aircraft Carrier, a light battleship, and a destroyer.  We immediately scanned the skies around us, looking for enemy fighters, but found none.  We had caught the enemy completely unaware and without their air support!  Our squadron flew low and poured heavy fire into the destroyer, leaving it burning.  The German anti-air was heavy, though, and we saw most of the bombers veer away.  One of them, however, landed a bomb in the middle of the light battleship, causing light damage.  Short on fuel we returned to base.

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Japanese Forces

Ki-45 'Nick'

H8K1 'Emily'

G3M 'Nell'

G4M 'Betty'

German Forces

Graf Zeppelin

Lützow

Z-20 Karl Galster

Losses

Z-20 Karl Galster - crippled

Turn 2 TacIntel - Summary

For those who want a less narrated view of the information, this table shows the scout planes each nation deployed, per sector, and what forces each nation had that were detected by the enemy (i.e., forces listed in each column belong to that nation).

Turn 2 TacIntel - British

Good morning, gentlemen.

The following is the combined report of the Fleet Air Arm and Naval Intelligence.

Radio traffic indicates small Japanese forces in Sectors 6, 19, and 36, with medium forces in sector 12.

Flight Leftenant Greeley, of the Fleet Air Arm, Reconnaissance Branch, reports sighting 1 Battleship, 2 Aircraft Carriers, 2 Cruisers, and 4 Destroyers in Sector 13.

Flight Leftenant Forrest reports sighting 2 Battleships, 2 Aircraft Carriers, 3 Cruisers, 4 Destroyers, 1 Torpedo Boat, and probable Submarines in Sector 27.

 

Flight Leftenant Wallace reports sighting a Destroyer and 3 Torpedo Boats in Sector 35.

 

On the German front, intercepted radio transmissions indicate small forces in Sectors 45, 58, 68, and 77 and a medium force in Sector 83.  Our intelligence indicates both a small force and the presence of bases in sector 75.

Flight Leftenant Humble reports sighting a Destroyer in Sector 47.

 

Flight Leftenant Sunderland reports sighting 1 Aircraft Carrier, 2 Cruisers, 1 Destroyer, and 1 Auxiliary unit in Sector 56.

 

Flight Leftenant Thompson reports sighting an Auxiliary unit and one or more land bases in Sector 56.

 

Flight Leftenant Adams reports sighting 3 Aircraft Carriers, 8 Cruisers, 3 Destroyers, and 3 Auxiiaries in Sector 56.

That concludes the briefing.

Respectfully yours,

Commander Colin Kingsley-Smythe

Naval Intelligence Liaison

Turn 2 TacIntel - Japanese

Kaigun Taisho-sama,
 

The 11th Air Fleet was honored to be able to serve the Emperor again.

In Operational Sector 27 a large British force was detected, consisting of 2 Battleships, 1 Aircraft Carrier, 3 Cruisers, and 3 Destroyers.

We thoroughly scouted Operational Sectors 12, 19, 20, 26, and 28 but detected no enemy formations.  Our coastal spotters did detect a small enemy force in Operational Sector 36 and a large enemy force in Operational Sector 46.  We were also able to ascertain that Operational Sector 47 contains both a large enemy formation and some land bases.

In Operational Sector 42 a medium German force was detected, consisting of 3 Cruisers and a Narvik-class Destroyer.

In Operational Sector 44, a large German formation was detected, consisting of a Battleship, an Aircraft Carrier, 4 Cruisers, 3 Destroyers, and 3 Auxiliary units. 

In Operational Sector 43, a force of German submarines was detected.

We also scouted Operational Sectors 32, 33, 34, and 35 but no enemy formations were sighted.  Our coastal spotters detected small German formations in Operational Sectors 45, and 47 and a medium formation in Operational Sector 41.

That concludes my report, Honorable Admiral.

Kaigun Chusa Honda
Kaigun Koukuu-tai
Navy Air Service Liaison

Turn 2 TacIntel - German

To: Oberbefehlshaber der Kriegsmarine

To: Chef der Operationsabteilung der Kriegsmarine

With lessons learned from the Winter, reconnaissance aircraft were deployed in a more efficient manner, with a goal to reduce flight time, and therefore turn around time for subsequent combat operations.

On the Northern Front, our main reconnaissance assets focused on sectors 41, 42, 44, and 45.  While no enemy formations were detected in 41 and 45, significant enemy formations were detected in the other two sectors.  We have reports of 1 Battleship, 2 Aircraft Carriers, 3 Cruisers, 1 Destroyer, and 2 Torpedo Boats in Sector 42 and a force consisting of an Aircraft Carrier, 2 Cruisers, 3 Torpedo Boat, and Submarines in Sector 44.

Our lighter assets report small enemy formations in sectors 32 and 36 with formations of medium size in sector 33 and 35.

On the Eastern Front, our focus was on sectors 56, 66, 67, 75, 83, and 90.  Only in 67 was an enemy formation detected, one consisting of 2 Battleships, 2 Aircraft Carriers, a Cruiser, and 6 Destroyers.  Our lighter assets report a small enemy formation in sector 57, a large formation in sector 46, and both a large formation and some number of land bases in sector 47.

Respectfully,

Oberstleutnant Hans Schlüsseler

Seeaufklärungsgeschwader Operations Liaison