WesWorld

On 20 August 1924, somewhere in the Indian Ocean, something unusual (and possibly unique to Wesworld history) happened.

The Indian aircraft carrier Otta launched a strike of twelve Dhairya scout-bombers against a formation of Danish cruisers, destroyers, and torpedo-boats steaming for Siam. The Danes spotted the Indian aircraft, and engaged them as the Indian aircraft went from low-level to medium level for a level-bombing attack. Four aircraft were shot down or forced to ditch; one bomb struck a destroyer, damaging it and forcing it to abort to its base. The remaining aircraft returned to Otta, but could not be repaired, re-armed, and re-fueled in time to launch a second strike. This was in no small part to the difference in speed: the Danes could reach 30 knots or more; Otta, an ex-collier, could reach about 16 knots on a good day.

My question to you: when your naval intelligence types look at this battle, what will they conclude? And how will it affect your carrier programs?

Quoted

My question to you: when your naval intelligence types look at this battle, what will they conclude? And how will it affect your carrier programs?

"Carrier Program! Full Speed Ahead!!"

One thing Rocky forgot to mention, the D13, the DD that got hit, was the only vessel NOT carrying A/A guns!

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One thing Rocky forgot to mention, the D13, the DD that got hit, was the only vessel NOT carrying A/A guns!

"Anti Aircraft gun Program! Full Speed Ahead!!"

No impact whatsoever apart from confirming the Italian opinion that bombers are useless for sea strikes;

too small bombs - 250kg + are really needed

too inaccurate

Hence, as before, the Aeronautica dela Marina will focus primarily on torpedo bombers.

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Hence, as before, the Aeronautica dela Marina will focus primarily on torpedo bombers.

"Torpedo Bomber Program! Full Speed Ahead!!"
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This could end up in the collapse of Japanese Industry if I went on like that. :-)

FINK has studied the battle and determined that no change in the Filipino doctrine is necessary: an aircraft carrier makes a nice "bonus" scout cruiser, and little (if not nothing) more.

There has been some discussion with the Indians regarding a joint carrier-building programme, but so far nothing has been signed.

Filipino carriers, when built, will carry light cruiser armament (pre-1936, 152mm; post-1936...??? ).

Quoted

Filipino carriers, when built, will carry light cruiser armament (pre-1936, 152mm; post-1936...??? ).

Post 1936, 51 cm ;-)

concluded long ago that at present, carrier aircraft are useful mainly for scouting. Level bombing, even against targets not utilizing A-A armament, is a highly questionable proposition. Torpedo bombing seems a better prospect, but present slow aircraft are vulnerable to A-A fire as they approach.

However, aircraft engine power is increasing rapidly, so faster airplanes and heavier, long-range torpedos are clearly on the way.

Quoted

Post 1936, 51 cm ;-)

The Philippines is looking at 180mm-190mm for CLs, but none of you heard that.

(Am I possibly getting ahead of myself)

Chilean Minister of the Navy sits in his chair, still amazed at the number of ships his small nation has managed to purchase with the success of the War of the Pacific (Nitrate War), and now has plans on building ships of its own.

Upon reading an article in Jane's about this Indian Air Strike on a Danish Force, the Minister wonders if anyone in the Military has seriously considered training pilots. It seems to him that a good number of airplanes would be idea for scouting for ships that are faster than your primary warships. Not only would this be good for locating your enemies for attacking them, but also for defending against them (ie. running away).

He decides to write a letter to the President and ask if the Navy can aquire a few squadrons of aircraft for testing out theories of scouting and possible striking ability of the airplane on smaller faster target (destroyers and torpedo craft).

On a side note, the Minister suggests that, if at such time the Navy requests to build an aircraft carrier, or convert an existing vessel, that it have a high speed, as the Minister concludes that had the Indian carrier been a faster vessel, that it might have managed one or two more strikes before running out of planes, and even at a rate at one bomb hit per four bombers lost, and added an increased hit rate for the pilots as they increase there skill after each try at hitting one target, the Danish Navy might have lost a destroyer without putting any Indian ships directly at risk. "In combat, the less lives on your side lost is better", he finishes.

Iberia scratches it's collective head, decides that the standard ration of 12 57 mm AA per warship guns should suffice and goes back to trying to figure out what to do with Navarra and La Mancha.

The fears of the Atlantian fleet admirals have subsided with the knowledge that the Arrogant class Carriers have a sufficient number of aircraft to launch a second strike in the event of an "Otta senario".

The initial fears of the admirals were that the Arrogant class CV's were too large and were a bad trade for the loss of 3 capital ships. With the "otta senario" the admirals fears were put to rest. The size of the arrogant class carriers allows for follow up strikes, a sizable anti air defence capability and an adequate speed to maintain contact with the enemy fleet.

The fact that a destroyer was hit with one bomb from an airgroup of 12 aircraft proves that at present, dispite the fact that level bombing is extremly dangerous for the pilots who fly the sorties, hits can be achieved. Faster aircraft will inevitably be produced, and Torpedo bombers are already a significant threat.

The admirals fears have now shifted from "are these carriers really worth the cost?" to "do these ships have adequate AA capability's?"

Quoted

Originally posted by The Rock Doctor

My question to you: when your naval intelligence types look at this battle, what will they conclude? And how will it affect your carrier programs?

well, Netherlands announced that works are to start in the conversion of one collier into an experimental carrier...previously there was no planning to do something similar.

I'd say it's not a coincidence .

The ones responsible for naval aviation in the Admiralty raised an eyebrow when they got first reports regarding that incident. On first glimbse the attack looked like a failure but when taking all circumstances into account some officers soon rated it a success. With limited assignment of men and machines Otta managed to seriously damage and endanger an enemy warship.

However, before a detailed analysis can be done more information has to be gathered via SPEARFISH. Such as size of bomb, height from which it was dropped, number of bombs dropped, bombsight used, distance to be travelled once enemy opened fire, size and number of guns used by the Danes for AA fire, effect/damge done by AA fire against planes, general effectiveness of AA fire regarding number of hits and distraction of pilots, level of training on both sides, exact weather conditions, visual range etc.

Probably this is worth an essay on the next Indian Ocean Symposium.

In my last post, I mentioned how there was no change in the Filipino position - regarding carriers. Regarding AA defense, however...

Making note of the fact that the crippled destroyer was the only Danish ship lacking AA protection, the Marina de Filipinas will promptly modify all 2-pdr mountings for high-angle fire (roleplaying only - no sim impacts) and the Panabo design's 130mm guns will be modified for dual-purpose use (also roleplaying - they were Spting*'d that way from the start ).

Thanks for your comments and perspectives thus far.

A follow-up question:

How would the events of 23 August - that is, before and during the battle of Ko Racha Yai - have played out if Otta had been attached to Rear-Admiral Sikdar's blockade squadron?

Uh, that´s a difficult question. Without a detailed track chart and map showing where each units was at what time this can hardly be answered...

Perhaps, and lord knows I don't have those handy.

I'll elaborate instead, and ask folks to see the after-action reports from both sides on the first page of the Andaman Sea Situation thread.

The Indian commander figured that the Danes would sortie, to take advantage of poor visibility. India therefore deployed its four cruisers on a wide arc west of Phuket, figuring that the Danish convoy would encounter one or two cruisers and be delayed long enough for the others to arrive.

The Danes, meanwhile, decided to send the bulk of their warships as a covering force. Three Gotha aircraft at Phuket told the Danish commander approximately where to expect each Indian cruiser - so he headed for the old Chennai and the inexperienced Trincomalee, rather than the substantially more capable Hyderabad.

The actual convoy sortied in a different direction, and came close to evading detection. It was seen by the most southerly of the Indian cruisers, Delhi, which then interdicted the convoy (and was sunk by MAS boats, but that's another thread).

The main cruiser action, on the whole, went to the Indians. Although the initial Danish 3:2 advantage helped damage both Indian CL's, the arrival of the Indian CA turned the tables, costing the Danes a CL sunk and another reduced to an aircraft-carrier-to-be.

So:

-If Otta had been present, and her fighters able to interdict the Gothas, would that have been significant?

-If Otta had been present, and her scout-bombers (whether eight or twelve) available to check out Danish dispositions - or try attacking them - would that have been significant?

-If the Danes knew Otta was near Phuket, what could/should they have done about it, and how would Otta cope with that response?

If I'm still clear as mud, feel free to just pass on the question!

Commodore - have I accurately summed up the situation?

Thanks for the summary. It´s accurate enough even without a track chart.

The planes of the era we´re talking about had no or no powerful radio. So the plane had to get back to report.

If Otta had been there intercepting the Gothas with her fighters it would have made a significant difference. Even if only one plane would have been shot down the Danes wouldn´t have known where exactly they had to aim for to hit the Indians weakest point.

If Otta had been there she would have had a good chance - better than the cruisers - to find and shadow the convoy.

If Otta had been there, would she have been around alone or would she have been accompanied by a cruiser to provide some cover against danish aggression. I assume the latter which means the Indians intercepting the Danes are down a cruiser before the fighting begins.

I assume Otta wouldn´t have been with the frontline units here. If not - she´s with the cruisers - she would have slowed the Indian forces down and once detected by enemy cruisers or MAS boats would have been in real danger of getting cought.

I´m not sure if her scout bombers could have made much of a difference. However, you´ll never know what that kind of unusal attack (remember, early 20s) achieves. Could confuse the Danes and negate their advantage of having more units. Could land a lucky hit probably further compensating the difference in shell weight thrown at the Indians (still assuming one CL with Otta and not in the battle line).

Obviously the most likely result of having Otta with the Indian Fleet would have been an early detection of the direction the Danes were aiming and thus a chance to rearrange Indian forces.

Hopefully this is the kind of input you expected...

HoOmAn