Malta Convoy: August 11, 1942 - 1700 Hours to 2000 Hours

August 11, 1700 hours:

"Sound the alarm! All hands on deck! Axis planes spotted!" - Aboard HMS Wescott, part of Royal Navy's Force Z.

Axis air forces spotted at the horizon and its making their way towards Force Z's formation. 

The Axis air assets consist of Kreigsmarine's 9 level bombers and 5 dive bombers. While on the Italian side, consist of 4 level bombers and 2 torpedo bombers. Both air forces were escorted with only 1 flight of CAP.

"You heard the man, all AA guns starboard" - HMS Rodney upon receiving orders to provide anti air support to its aircraft carriers.

Superior Axis CAP managed to disperse the Royal Navy air patrol above Force Z's formation.

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

"Well done lads!!" - On-board HMS Tartar on successfully destroying one Kreigsmarine's dive bombers and dispersing another.

4 separate waves of Axis air groups met Force Z head on. Thanks to the superior AA, the Royal Navy managed to deal a major noteworthy blow to the Axis air forces; attributing to the delay in the next Axis air attack.

"That was close" - much to the crew's relieve on-board HMS Victorious as an Italian torpedo bomb miss.

The Axis air strikes proved to be a failure, as none of their planes managed to hit their mark, while sustaining losses of varying degrees of damages to their air assets.

Royal Navy's Force Z managed to escape unhurt along with a good morale boost to soldier on. 

No axis surface fleet spotted.

Scharnhorst and escorts

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August 11, 2000 hours:

"People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf." - George Orwell

No activities recorded for the period.

La Gazza's reporter Puccini approached Comandante David Khoo as he was seen stepping out from Rotiserrie, the latest fine dining restaurant in town, with 2 beauties on both of his arms.

"Comandate! A word please. I heard that the Luftwaffe had absolute control over the Regia Aeronautica and a lot of our brave pilots were shot down. How can you relinquish your control over such an important operation?"

Guastafesta! Can you not see that I have two very important operations hanging on either arm? The mission of the Regia Aeronautica is to fight the enemy and as always, they have done an exemplary job sinking and crippling many, many Inglese ships. There is absolutely no truth to the rumor that the Luftwaffe had control and in fact, the truth is that our brave Regia pilots were teaching the Luftwaffe pilots in the proper techniques to sink Inglese ships. Now, if you will excuse me, I need to get back to these other important operations. (In his own words)

And finally, David was not available that afternoon.

Malta Convoy: August 11, 1942 - 1100 Hours to 1400 Hours

August 11, 1100 hours: 

It was a very peaceful morning in the open seas. I even had time for coffee and some toast, right before the Chief walks in and started yelling at everyone for their slumber. Well can’t blame him, we are in the middle of enemy territory.

Then again, ever since the incidence outside Tobruk; he had been very particular with our readiness and discipline. Perhaps the uneventful torpedo hit by the Italians does leave a mark on us permanently.

Its been hours sitting on the deck, not a single enemy fighter plane, not even one warship, NOTHING~~!!

Excerpt from a seaman aboard HMS Phoebe. – Meeting its end few hours later, on a contra to its real service history.

A very peaceful 1st phrase of the campaign - no sight of the Axis anywhere~~!! 

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Post August 11, 1400 Hours

 

As Admiral Hyiktsay disembarks from the flagship Scharnhorst, a reporter from Panzerschiffe asked the following question: I heard that 2 British ships were sunk and we had 3 destroyers sink. Is that true? How will it affect our morale? 

 

"While our force engagement was a minor lost, we were able to cripple and damage their main fleet, which will slow their progress towards Malta, and bear in mind that our objectives is to prevent them from reaching at all cost so that our Fuhrer vision and Third Reich will continue forever!!

HEIL HITLER~~~!!!"

HMS Rodney - Nelson class Battleship. In Mediterranean service camouflage

Transmission begins: Vice Admiral Eric Lew, report casualties and state confidence level of achieving mission.

"Dear Sirs, on August 11, 1400 hours, we were attacked by the combined arms of the Axis forces, consisting of various fighter planes, warships and submarines.

Along with Vice Admiral YS Oon, we decided to divide our fighter planes to provide combat air patrol to our fleet, while our torpedo bombers were sent to hunt down the Axis warships.

As we scramble to aim our anti-air guns onto the approaching Axis air assault, however, they still managed to find their mark onto our warships, Force X, damaging both HMS Nigeria and HMS Kenya; puncturing the deck and causing severe listing to the later. With our superior crew expertise, we managed to contain it and sail on.

Soon later, Force Z managed to detect the incoming submarines patrolling the area. Among the waves of torpedoes, HMS Eagle, an aircraft carrier, was squarely hit. The damaged caused fire to breakout but thankfully, the crew managed to contain the fire before it is able to spread and create more harm.

In the middle of the jumble, Force Z at the lead role, encountered a fleet of Kreigsmarine Mediterranean Raiders, lead by the battleship Scharnhorst, consisting of 9 warships, fierce surface battle ensured.

Scharnhorst Class Battle Cruiser

The skirmish lasted about 20 minutes before they withdrew from combat. Despite that, we suffer the loss of HMS Phoebe, a CLAA Cruiser, and suffering damages to destroyer HMS Tartar. 

Kreigsmarine Formation

Royal Navy - Force Z Formation

Despite the loss, we were able to sink both cruiser Leipzig and Z15 destroyer, and hence, successfully reducing the German naval power in the area. Only time will tell exactly when we will meet them, this time, we are more than ready.

Force Z charging into Kreigsmarine formation

After several super structure repairs on the damaged ships, the convoy continues its journey.

Both Vice Admiral YS Oon and I believe that the convoy will succeed in delivering the cargos and reinforce Malta."

 

Stepping out from the Regia Aeronautica office, Comandante David was swamped by a journalist from La Scala Aero. The question was simply: Was our air force superior?

“Si, si, mucho presto superior. After all, we eat spaghetti, they don't.”