Chinese Plans Go Awry in the Centre

An unfortunate and unforeseen set of circumstances involving the conscripted civilian ships delayed the Chinese central force of two rather elderly frigates deploying into an effective firing position which left them in the full ECW and sonar glare of the two (now alerted) patrolling Taiwanese centrally placed destroyers. Consequently the Chinese failed to get off any parting shots before seeing the incoming missiles bearing down on them. Taiwanese new technology blasted the these venerable Chinese ladies to pieces. Elsewhere missiles were inbound in great quantity.

The layered defence systems of the more Westernised ships performed admirably, but alas the Western Taiwanese destroyer force was simply overwhelmed by numbers and were lost with all hands. Their Chinese "immediate" opponents were left crippled though, one in a state of sinking the other in a very damaged state. As already mentioned the Taiwanese central patrol dispatched their Chinese opponents for no loss. At the Eastern end (see above) the US DDG reduced six vampires to four, close defence took another two, chaff another one but that still left one to get through meaning ... an anxious 'wargaming' dice roll for the American player (see below):

Don't roll a one (and he did), not good, a magazine explosion and the USS Long Island Tea was torn apart. The traumatised American player had to sit down and grope for his drink. Meanwhile those two parting Harpoons shots were causing the Chinese destroyers to very rattled, somehow they just kept coming closer and closer, sniffing them out. Their point defence weapons missed and a huge explosion sent one destroyer to the bottom, only the handy and voluminous use of chaff saved the other, just.

After all that what was left afloat? In a matter of real-time seconds two powerful fleets had just disappeared.

The Battle of the Java Sea: Last Dice and Darkness

"Japanese light cruiser closing, sir! Guns says she's at extreme range now, but we've got the shot lined up when you want to take it sir." The captain paused only briefly to take stock of the situation before replying, "Tell Guns to wait. We've not got anything left to waste. When we shoot we have to hit, no point making the bugger look more important than she is!" "Aye, aye Captain."

Minutes passed with the Japanese light cruiser edging closer. The posturing seemed seemed to last an eternity.

"Guns reports, Japanese cruiser opening fire sir. Guns says she's well within our effective range now sir, permission requested to open fire sir?" A barely audible sigh, then the captain of the HMAS Perth replied, "Permission granted," then adding to those within earshot "She's a persistent little Sheila that one, doesn't get the hint, but she needs to know we're not interested in her. Earlier in the dance I'd have given her my full attention, but right now I'm just after her pretty little sisters over he horizon." There was a grim chuckle from around the bridge and a few wry smiles but no real laughter.

The encounter was brief, a resounding crash amidships and damage control reported "X" turret was out of commission (another half armament box damage, leaving the Perth at exactly half strength), however no hull or engine damage meant that HMAS Perth could charge on. Collectively the bridge knew the last real moment of crisis was over and the tension slackened. 'Guns' then again earned his months pay. The first full salvo from HMAS Perth straddled the IJNS Naka and wrought considerable damage to her hull. From that point on she was in no position to give serious chase to the much faster HMAS Perth. With one last fling of the dice the IJNA Naka rolled a last straddle on the HMAS Perth, but it resolved to no actual damage inflicted, in return HMAS Perth was content to  "Check Fire" simply to conserve her precious ammunition for better things. As HMAS Perth moved out of her range, and with darkness fast falling the best the IJNS Naka (bottom right below) could do was interpose herself between the last American WWI destroyer (top left below) also trying  to reach the 'over the horizon convoy' (see below).
 

The last act of the Battle of the Java Sea were the two dull explosions only faintly heard on the bridge of HMAS Perth. One "coup de grace" for HMS Exeter (despite 'damage control' having regained 2cm of "creep speed") being despatched with a close range Long Lance torpedo and the other for the Dutch Java, at likewise short range but from a combination of gun and torpedo. Guessing the cause of these ominous explosions the Perth's captain visibly shook with rage. "That makes us the Wolf now gentleman, rest assured we have a long and bloody night ahead of us gentlemen" being his final comment to his officers.

So finally end'eth The Battle of the Java Sea:

Result: 

ABDA [Minor] Strategic Victory as there is the (Opportunity) for ABDA via HMAS Perth to attack the convoy ABDA has exceed her historical counterparts and has the opportunity to attack the invasion convoy. This will dislocated the Japanese invasion schedule by weeks rather than days, plus there is a lot of very badly damaged Japanese ships that will be heading back to The Sea of Japan for repairs, making them unavailable for use elsewhere.

IJN: Although a "Major Tactical" victory by essentially sinking ABDA (even HMAS Perth is unlikely to survive through the next morning), it is a very short-lived success considering the major mission objectives were to protect the convoy from harm.

This may well lend itself to a solo naval game, I'll have to put my thinking hat on. The Japanese invasion of Java will likely be delayed by a week as the Japanese forces regroup and take stock of the situation.

Thank you for you patience in reading about it all, I hope you found it as enjoyable as I did in the tale telling

:)

The Battle of the Java Sea continued: The Kraken Awakes

At the head of the ABDA formation stand the last two ABDA "modern" destroyers with offensive capability (see below). To the left is HMS Jupiter down to just over half strength (but with a loaded torpedo mount intact), and on the right the Dutch Kortenaer having "just to say" some fighting ability, but left with no torpedoes (thanks to the earlier attentions of the IJN heavy cruisers).

(Top above) In the distance the IJNS Nachi pulls across the path of the stricken IJNS Hagero and starts laying a protective smoke screen.

Back on the bridge of the De Ruyter, Admiral Doorman was vexed by his inability to control or participate in the battle. HMS Exeter had taken the van, passing the De Ruyter with all guns blazing in fine style. De Ruyter's engineers worked valiantly amidst the steam and flame below but were crucially precious minutes away from restoring power when a cry of alarm came from a starboard lookout.

Swinging round from his preoccupation of the Japanese heavy cruisers fire, Doorman could not believe the sight multiple white tracks heading towards his ship. The enemy had no destroyer within effective (ABDA) torpedo range, so had he blundered into a cleverly sighted submarine trap? He was in the middle of the ocean, surely impossible? With the few seconds before impact all he could think of was the haunting sea shanty of the "Deadly Kraken off Java that ate unwary sailors". Doorman now saw her evil teeth but there was nothing he could do to save himself or his crew.

The huge explosion that signalled the loss of the De Ruyter with all hands shocked the ABDA line. De Ruyter disappeared in a towering plume of white water in a fantastic series of explosions, some eight separate hits all told (bottom middle: see the cluster of brown explosion markers). The ship disintegrated within the space of two minutes (enough GQII damage to sink the De Ruyter in her damaged state six times over!). ABDA had lost her first line-of-battle ship. Only the existing physical momentum took the ABDA line forward. Anxiously all hands scanned for signs of further danger. The Dutch light cruiser Java at the back of the ABDA line was the only ship to see the cause, additional malevolent torpedo tracks harmlessly passing parallel to her. Unbeknownst to HMS Exeter by choosing to close the range with the Nachi she had successfully evaded the Long Lance torpedoes aimed at her.

Meanwhile another drama was unfolding of the port flank of the ABDA line, with the USS Houston becoming the fixated object of hatred to the IJNS Urakaze (middle left above). Removed of her torpedo armament by enemy gunfire, her captain had the intent to make her a floating ram. In a scene reminiscent of the IJNS Hagero versus HMS Encounter the two ships closed on a collision course, the difference being the USS Houston still answered her helm. This meant all the guns on the Houston were focused on trying to sink the Urakaze leaving nothing to assist HMS Exeter in her moment of need. The Houston's gunfire rolls were atrocious and the Urakaze would get her "ramming" chance. Meanwhile heavy cruisers exchanged hard blows at the head of the ABDA line.

Next: HMS Exeter v IJNS Nachi