The australian force consolidate around the middle objective. The cautious Europeans turn Yavuz and Canaris north to take advantage of last turns smoke while the destroyers make a dash for the northern objective. Torpedo boats dash from cover to contest the middle objective, as overhead the landbased aircraft return.
Gotland sight Perth (Scout Cruiser)
CAP is raised over the colossus operation on its own, as it escorts defend the north objective, The blenhiem and ju88 are thrown against the Canberra on the middle objective, with buffalo and hurricane dogfighting overhead. the beaufighters make low level attacks against the pioron and stord on the north objective
Canberra at Ju88 2y3I7iU75d6 Nizam at blenhiem 5d6 Hurricane 1 at Ju88>blen 7d6
stord at beau 1 6d6-1 poirun at beau 2 5d6 buffalo at hurricane 6d6 edf5d6·5d6·7d6·6d6·5d6·6d6
Ok, so i confused the beaufighter with the beaufort. I was using the beafort attack stats however so its just typing error. Canberra and hurricane are ineffective at stopping the ju88. the nizam is more successful splashing the blenhiem. almost miraculously, both beaforts attacking the northern objective are turned back.
Ju88 makes a bomb attack against the nimzam(napier on map) LLeevU9Q8d68d6
Canberra is damaged by splinters. A brutal exchange on the top objective sees the perth, arunta, piorun and stord all destroyed. along with both motor torpedo boat units, allowing the australians to take the middle objective.
Europeans prospects of victory are looking slim, as the gotland is not powerful enough to stall the two county class cruisers if they make for the southern objective and the yavuz and canaris will be at long range attempting to slow them down and vunerable to the remaining australian destroyers.
The australians consolidate thier cruisers on the middle objectives while the destroyers push south. European decide to risk the yavus and move it just north of that location, independence and gotlant speed east to get a shot onto the southwards moving destroyers. While adrias endures strafing runs from the colossus's fighters.
Adrias at Seahurricane strafer 55GkKtM25d6-1 buffalo at seahurricane strafer 7d65d6·7d6
The rapid hail of gunfire concentrated on canaris is telling, first minor damage that slow her, before the australia delivers the knock out punch. Canaris, despite the damage manages to detonate the canberra's thinly protected aft magazine. resulting a massive explosion that disintegrates most of the ship aft the second funnel.
Yavus turns, to bring her guns to bear on Australia _tEyuoPw11d6/ conc 1d6 7d6/ conc 1d611d6·1d6·7d6·1d6