In December 1941, Japanese naval might is striking everywhere. Off the coast of Malaya, British Force Z represents the last, best hope to maintain the British Empire. HMS Indomitable Departing under limited cover of land-based air, but with the carrier Indomitable along to protect to Repulse and Prince of Wales, Force Z heads north to intercept the Japanese Invasion Force before amphibious landings at Kota Bharu can begin. Can the Imperial Japanese covering force of cruisers and destroyers drive off the British dreadnoughts and protect the Emperor’s soldiers? Or can Force Z stop the unstoppable Japanese Navy and protect Singapore from the doom an invasion will bring? This is a true test of quantity versus quality in a Pacific surface battle to the death! Introduction Indo-China Sea, Dec 7, 1941, 1430 hours local time. This is a modified ‘what if ’ scenario developed especially for Historicon 2003. Environment: Wind is at 12 knots from 220°, sea state 4. Heavy overcast with frequent sudden showers. Visibility 25%. Sunset is at 1800 hours. Operational Situation: The plan for Imperial conquest against the Western powers is in motion. Invasion forces are enroute to land in Siam and northern Malaya under the protection of the Imperial Navy while a powerful air strike from Imperial carriers will destroy the American Fleet at Pearl Harbor. At the same time, land-based bombers will strike at Singapore and attack the British forces there. However, recent reconnaissance flights have reported that the British capital ships Prince of Wales, Repulse and Indomitable have left Singapore undetected and are loose somewhere at sea. To protect the secrecy of the Japanese invasion force, the decision was made to shoot down British reconnaissance planes after the initial spotting of the invasion force by a long range Hudson aircraft from Kota Bharu midday on Dec 6 th . Consequently, very early on Dec 7 th , when a returning Japanese scout plane discovered a British Catalina closing on the invasion convoy the Zero reconnaissance plane shot down the flying boat in the first aerial combat in the Pacific. The war was now underway. Tactical Situation: The Japanese invasion force approaching Kota Bharu is in jeopardy from approaching British ships. A scout plane from Chokai sighted the British force one hour ago to the south east on a northwesterly course. An intercept position has been determined and Japanese units are proceeding towards rendezvous with Chokai. The 22 nd Air Flotilla in Saigon has been alerted to the threat of the British Fleet and is ready to divert four squadrons from invasion missions to attack Force Z when requested. Meanwhile, after sighting the enemy scout plane to the northeast, a scout plane was launched from Indomitable and quickly sighted the Chokai and Sagiri 70 nm away. A further search to the northwest discovered a force of destroyers escorting three transports on a southerly course. An air strike has been prepared to attack the transports. However, another Hudson reconnaissance patrol has just detected a force of ships 80 nm to the east before heading back to Kota Bharu. Japanese Orders: Protect the Kota Bharu invasion transports from attack by the British fleet. If possible sink or cripple British capital ships to assist attack by Imperial aviation or battleships sometime tomorrow. Japanese Forces: Malaya Invasion Force: Command Force Chokai (Takao class CA) Sagiri (Fubuki class DD) Covering Force 7 th Cruiser Squadron: Kumano, Mikuma, Mogami , Suzuya (all Mogami class CA) 11 th Destroyer Division: Fubuki (Fubuki class DD) Hatsuyuki (Fubuki class DD) Shirayuki (Fubuki class DD) Escort Force 1 3 rd Destroyer Flotilla: Sendai (Sendai class CL) 12 th Destroyer Division: Murakumo, Shinonome, Shirakumo (all Fubuki class DD) 19 th Destroyer Division: Isonami, Uranami, Shikinami, Ayanami (all Fubuki class DD) 20 th Destroyer Division: Amagiri, Asagiri, Yugiri (all Fubuki class DD) Note: At this time, Chokai and the Fubuki class destroyers, had not been reequipped with Type 93 torpedoes. They carry Type 90 torpedoes. Invasion Transport Force (56 th Infantry Regiment, 23 rd Infantry Brigade HQ Support) Sakura Maru Awajisan Maru Ayatosan Maru (specs for all three ships are listed on page 10) 22 nd Air Flotilla (at Saigon) Mihoro Air Group 1 st Squadron (9 G4M1 Betty) 2 nd Squadron (8 G4M1 Betty) Each Betty carries one Type 91 Model 2 torpedo Genzan Air Group 5 th Squadron (8 G3M2 Nell) (each with two 250 lb bombs) 6 th Squadron (8 G3M2 Nell) (each with 500 lb bombs) Japanese Victory Conditions: Decisive: Two or more capital ships are sunk or crippled (greater than 50% damaged) and all three transport ships are damaged less than 25%. Tactical: Two or more capital ships are sunk or crippled or all three transport ships are damaged less than 25%. British Orders: Locate and attack the Japanese invasion force. British Forces: Force Z Prince of Wales (King George V class BB) Repulse (Renown class BC) Indomitable (Indomitable class CV) No. 800 Sqdn (12 Fulmar) No. 827 Sqdn (12 Albacore) No. 831 Sqdn (12 Albacore) No. 880 Sqdn (9 Sea Hurricane Ib) Express (“E” class DD) Electra (“E” class DD) Vampire (Admiralty “V” class DD) Tenedos (Admiralty “S” class DD) British Victory Conditions: Decisive: No capital ship is sunk or crippled (greater than 50% damage) and all three transports are sunk. Tactical: No capital ships are sunk and only one is crippled and all three transports are sunk or crippled. Setup: Chokai and Sagiri are on course 170° at 20 kts. The Prince of Wales bears 125° at 70 nm from Chokai. Sendai, 12 th Destroyer Division and transports are on course 180° at 12 kts headed towards Kota Bharu. The three transports are in column formation, 500 yds between ships. Formation is at player discretion, but all ships in company must be within visual signaling distance. Prince of Wales bears 130° at 110 nm from Sendai. 19 th Destroyer Division and 20 th Destroyer Division have left their invasion coverage and are on course 160° at 18 kts enroute to overtake Sendai. Formation is at the player’s discretion, but all ships in company must be within visual signaling distance. Sendai bears 130° at 25 nm from the lead destroyer. 7 th Cruiser Squadron and 11 th Destroyer Division are on course 270° at 25 kts enroute to provide support to Chokai and the invasion force as needed. Formation is at player discretion, but all ships in company must be within visual signaling distance. Prince of Wales bears 260° at 80 nm from Kumano. 22 nd Air Flotilla (at Saigon) bears 045° at 290 nm from Prince of Wales. Aircraft from 22 nd Air Flotilla are ready for launch at game start. Force Z is on course 300° at 25 knots. Formation is at player discretion, but ships in company are to remain within visual signaling distance. Attack aircraft from Indomitable are ready for launch at game start. A combat air patrol of 2 fighters is aloft over Force Z (type, altitude and formation are at player discretion). One Sea Hurricane is maintaining contact with the Sendai’s convoy, player’s discretion on contact location, course, speed and altitude. Statistics for the Full Force Z Scenario Transports Awajisan Maru, 9794 grt (111 dp), 17 kts, size class B Ayatosan Maru, 9788 grt (111 dp), 17 kts, size class B Sakura Maru, 7167 grt (92 dp), 18 kts, size class C Weapons (estimated): F/PW/SW/PA/SA/A (1)6 Type 89 5 in/40 C Area AA: (1)6 Type 89 5 in/40 (2.4) Area AA: (1)2 Tye 93 13mm (0.1) Remarks: All were built in 1939, and are general cargo vessels with no armor. Armament listed as six 5 in. Arc and gun model estimated. Merchant construction, special damage modifier of -50% BT Back to The Naval Sitrep # 25 Table of Contents Back to Naval Sitrep List of Issues Back to MagWeb Master Magazine List © Copyright 2003 by Larry Bond and Clash of Arms. This article appears in MagWeb.com (Magazine Web) on the Internet World Wide Web. Other military history and related articles are available at http://www.magweb.com