Malta Convoy - August 12, 1942 - 0500 hours

Malta Convoy - 12 August 1942, 0500 hours

"At dawn, jolted by the sound of sirens. Enemy planes spotted, yelled another. And indeed, it will be a long day." - Excerpts from a journal found on-board HMS Nelson.

After a successful defense from Axis air raids the evening before, their will to stop the convoy from resupplying Malta resumes.

For this round, the Axis air asset consist of 5 dive bombers and 7 level bombers attributing from the Kreigsmarine along with 2 waves of Italian planes involving 2 torpedo bombers and 5 level bombers. All escorted by 1 flight of CAP.

Note house rules: Attributing to difference in Axis air strike type and grouping, total Force Z's AA value were divided, as per player choice.

"I want those bombers up there 10 minutes ago!!" - Aboard HMS Victorious.

Axis surface ships were detected and it’s within the operational range of Force Z. All level bombers available from Force Z’s aircraft carriers were launched; escorted with a flight CAP.

"Re-direct all planes to Gibraltar." - HMS Eagle upon the destruction of its flight deck.

Despite having CAP presence above Force Z and coupled with numerous AA guns at their disposal; it proved insufficient to deter Axis level bombers from scoring hits to all 3 aircraft carriers. No hits recorded for other ships present.

HMS Victorious and HMS Eagle were squarely hit by the Axis level bombers; resulting bombing run damages the all important flight deck; effectively putting both aircraft carriers out of flying action.

HMS Indomitable, however, registered a non-penetration hit by the level bombers. Subsequent to that, they were hit by Axis torpedo bombers; in which resulted the ship to catch on fire. This was quickly extinguished by the well trained crew.

"That must have hurt!!" - excerpts from Royal Navy's torpedo bomber.

All available torpedo bombers from Force Z aircraft carriers managed to inflict a significant blow to the Kreigsmarine surface fleet; registering hits and successfully destruction of both Z10 and Z15 destroyers.

Scharnhorst was also not spared by the torpedo bombers, recording a penetration hit and subsequently caused flooding. Damage control checked on-board managed to contain it.

The setup

"They are there, somewhere, just can't see it Chief. It's just too dark" - reported a seaman on-board HMS Quentin.

Note house rules: Attributing to dawn battle, the first 2 turns were conducted as though its a night battle, at turn 3 onward, day battle. Spot & detection applies.

Force Z moving forward

"What is that? Up there?" - Right before the sinking of HMS Westcott.

The first 2 surface turns been a quiet affair and having all ships in Force Z moving forward, Scharnhorst's reconnaissance plane spotted HMS Westcott at turn 3, and took almost no effort in sinking it. 

Attributing to that, all remaining war ships in Force Z were able to spot Scharnhorst, however, they were only able to return fire at turn 4; proved to be costly.

Force Z continuous advancement while Kreigsmarine plotted across from their starting position

Force Z was unable to spot any Kreigsmarine surface warships mainly due to lack of reconnaissance planes available. They were able to spot them, only when both fleets reaches the minimum threshold of view range - 20 inches.

"All ships continue advancing. The enemy is not going to escape." - Ordered the Admiral Eric Lew on-board HMS Rodney.

Scharnhorst continues its destruction, taking out HMS Wilton, while she and her escorts continued to plot their way out of battle area.

Kreigsmarine about to make an exit

The head strong forward march by Force Z proved ineffective as Scharnhorst once again claimed its next victim, HMS Zetland, at turn 5.

Final action of the phrase

Force Z, on the other hand, managed to lay waste on Kreigsmarine light cruiser Emden, also in turn 5, with shots coming from HMS Nelson.'

"Alright boys, call off the chase." - Admiral Eric Lew

By turn 6, Kreigsmarine had left the battle area, and thus end the surface action and thus end for this phrase.

Rear Admiral Hyiktsay was once again mobbed by the press and this time, the concerned press asked for the fate of the Kriegsmarine Commerce Raider group, who coincidentally is down to just the Scharnhorst - "Is that true? Is the end of Germany?"

The enemy only manages to hit our weakest state ship, BUT, where we took 3 of their healthiest ship without a fight. Bear in mind, their 2 main aircraft carriers were disabled thanks to our ever furious Luftwaffe, and our Italian compatriot Even with Scharnhorst alone, they still will face the furious of Valderland itself!!

HEIL HITLER!!!

Dave was not available for the game attributing to “important operation”.