Mogami v DadMan: The Wonder Years...

[Admiral DadMan]

28 SEP 42

[font="Courier New"]Quiet day. Tomorrow Raider BB Group will head for Baker (again)[/font]


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29 SEP 42

[font="Courier New"]B-17E Fortress Day Air attack on Tavoy

8 A6M2 Zero destroyed on the ground

26 Japanese casualties reported

Airbase hits 14 Airbase supply hits 4 Runway hits 49

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The hunter becomes the hunted:

An IJN H/K TF looking for US subs finds Guardfish

PG Oi Maru finds a Torpedo; it hits. PG Oi Maru is on fire, heavy damage[/font]

[Admiral DadMan]

[font="Courier New"]30 SEP 42

Allied Sub Guardfish is pounded in ASW attack off Honshu

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Allied B-17E Fortress from Akyab Day Air attack on Tavoy

8 Japanese casualties reported
Airbase hits 2 Airbase supply hits 2 Runway hits 19

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Allied B-17E Fortress from Canton Day Air attack on Baker Island

59 Japanese casualties reported Guns lost 3
Airbase hits 6 Airbase supply hits 6 Runway hits 42

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Japanese G3M Nell G4M1 Betty from Tarawa Day Air attack BB Raider Group TF off Baker Island

BB Maryland, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
CL Concord, Torpedo hits 1, on fire[/font]

Maryland and Concord are forced to retire. The rest of the TF presses on to engage the IJN Surface Action TF that I suspect he has lurking to the West of Baker.

I forgot to mention that about 2 weeks ago, I moved the British Eastern Fleet Battle Line with 4 BBs from Diamond Harbor down to the Northern coast of Australia. When Mogami goes to take Koepang on western Timor, he’s going to be in for a hell of a shock…

[Admiral DadMan]

September 1942

A more forgettable month for me.
Losing 5 cruisers off Port Moresby sucked big time.
Getting Yorktown torp’d off Gili Gili puts her in the yard for a time
The loss of Hornet still stings (sorry about the pun).

Hiryu is laid up again taking another 2 bombs and a torp
Baker Island is reasonably untenable due to occasional raids by Surface groups.

So I must start the build up for the next phase of operations:
-Retake the Solomons, Gilberts/Marshalls, and New Guinea.

There is currently a truce in China. I’m not too bothered about it. He’s not trying to take India, and I’m not pushing back toward the sea. It works for us.


SCORE: (Previous month not colored)
Allies: 8630 -8286
Japan: 22095 -20870

BASES Controlled/Points
Allies: 145/3204 -149/3177
Japan: 303/4104 -299/3852

AIRCRAFT LOSS Points
Allies: 2980 -2800
Japan: 2009 -1832

TROOP LOSS Points
Allies: 10383 -10207
Japan: 329 -307

SHIPS/POINTS
Allied: 279/4582 -266/4012
(5 CV, 5 BB, 4 CA, 12 CL, 39 DD, 21 SS, many AP/AK/TK/AO)
CV Hornet is the big name this month

Japan: 178/3088 -162/2970
(5 CV, 3 CVL, 1 CS, 1 CA, 2 CL, 30 DD, 8 SS, more than 25 AP/AK/TK/AO)



To date, Dutch subs have sunk more ships than my fleet boats and S boats combined. Either the I’m not setting patrol stations properly, or something (no gameplay ranting).

After the loss of Port Moresby, Lexington and Yorktown stand watch near Australia for signs of a Mogami move there. I doubt he has designs on Oz.

Saratoga continues to be laid up. Progress is slow.

Fast BBs Washington and South Dakota are in theater now, and soon some of the slow BBs will be ready for action.

October will be the month that I begin setting up offensive ops. I plan to keep Mogami from taken Koepang, Timor for as long as possible. An airbase for him there would severely hamper operations in northern Australia. I will deny him.

Enjoy the fireworks…

[Admiral DadMan]

(1) Gilbert/Marshall Island chain
(2) The Solomons, namely Guadalcanal
(3) Canton Island
(4) Espiritu Santo
(5) Port Moresby
(6) Koepang, Timor

Carrier Battles
(a) Banda Sea
(b) Kendari
(c) Nanoumea
(d) Baker Island

[Admiral DadMan]

[font="Courier New"]1 OCT 42

Patrol planes reported CAs in the IJN TF lurking nearby Baker, so BB Raider Group is allowed to press ahead to bombard. [/font]

What they ran into almost made my heart stop.

All six of Mogami’s slow BBs were waiting to pounce me. IJN reacted, but USN radar finds them first and achieves tactical surprise

[font="Courier New"]Japanese Ships
BB Nagato, Shell hits 16, on fire, heavy damage, sank later that night, CO killed
BB Mutsu, Shell hits 2
BB Fuso, Shell hits 9
BB Yamashiro, Shell hits 1
BB Ise, Shell hits 5
BB Hyuga, Shell hits 4
DD Shiratsuyu, Shell hits 28, and is sunk
DD Harusame, Shell hits 21, and is sunk
DD Samidare, Shell hits 1
DD Yamakaze, Shell hits 2
DD Kawakaze, Shell hits 5, on fire
DD Ariake, Shell hits 45, and is sunk
DD Hibiki, Shell hits 9, on fire, heavy damage
DD Shigure

Allied Ships
BB West Virginia, Shell hits 11, on fire
BB Idaho, Shell hits 1
CA Portland, Shell hits 18, on fire, heavy damage, sank during the night.
CA Chicago, Shell hits 7, on fire, heavy damage, sank later that day
CA Chester, Shell hits 6, on fire, heavy damage
CA Northampton, Shell hits 1
CA Astoria, Shell hits 7
CA Pensacola
CL Boise, Shell hits 1
DD Grayson, Shell hits 13, on fire
DD Sims
DD Mustin, Shell hits 3, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
DD O'Brien, Shell hits 3, on fire
DD Mugford, Shell hits 1
DD Craven, Shell hits 1
DD Benham
DD Stack
DD Porter, Shell hits 1
DD Selfridge
DD Balch, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Clark
DD Hull


West Virginia and Nagato swapped punches at 4000 and 2000 yards
One of Nagato’s final acts was for the 25mm mg to take out WeeVee’s SC Radar…
Portland and Fuso traded at 2000 and 8000
Chicago and Hyuga at 2000
Idaho then paid back both Hyuga and Fuso at 8000 yards.[/font]

It was quite a sight to see. The final score:
[font="Courier New"]IJN:
1 BB, 3 DD sunk. 2 more DD would sink in later days IIRC.

USN:
2 CA, 1 DD sunk. 1 BB, 1 CA, 4 DD moderately damaged.[/font]
It looks like a draw to me. I’m not unhappy about it.

[font="Courier New"]--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Japanese G4M1 Betty Day Air attack on Koepang
Runway hits 4

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Allied B-17E Fortress Day Air attack on Baker Island
Airbase hits 1 Runway hits 4[/font]

[Admiral DadMan]

[font="Courier New"]2 OCT 42

Snapper receives ASW attack from MSW Senyu Maru #2 after transiting the Sulu Sea

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G4M1 Betty Day Air attack on Koepang

No damage.[/font]

The Koepang Invasion is approaching Timor. The British Eastern Fleet Battle Line has been dispatched to intercept…

[Admiral DadMan]

[font="Courier New"]3 OCT 42

Japanese TF unloading troops over beach at Koepang
DD Asagao, Shell hits 3
DD Yukaze, Shell hits 1
1230 Japanese casualties reported Guns lost 24

PG Hashidate, Shell hits 4
DD Asagao, Shell hits 7
DD Yukaze, Shell hits 1
513 Japanese casualties reported Guns lost 2

PC Ch 10, Shell hits 10, on fire
759 Japanese casualties reported

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Japanese G4M1 Betty Day Air attack on Koepang
Runway hits 2

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Beaufort I Day Air attack on TF, near Koepang
AP Keisho Maru, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
AP Josho Maru, Torpedo hits 1, on fire

Hudson I
AP Somedono Maru, Bomb hits 2
29 Japanese casualties reported

AP Dainiunyo Maru, Shell hits 4, Bomb hits 2, on fire
AP Haguro Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire[/font]

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Here is the fun part. The British Eastern Fleet Battle Line comes rocketing up from Derby to hit the transports. Had the transports been spotted a day earlier, I would have been waiting for them.

To hit the transports, the Battle Line must get past the Covering Force. It’s 5 DD that were originally reported as CAs. All IJN DDs are sunk. The Battle Line isn’t even scratched.

[font="Courier New"]DD Sawakaze, Shell hits 15, and is sunk
DD Okikaze, Shell hits 10, and is sunk
DD Akikaze, Shell hits 15, and is sunk
DD Yakaze, Shell hits 3, and is sunk
DD Otori, Shell hits 17, and is sunk[/font]

The TF then tears into one of the Transport Groups. All of the IJN escorts are wiped out along with 9 APs:
[font="Courier New"]
DD Yukaze, Shell hits 8, and is sunk
DD Asagao, Shell hits 12, and is sunk
DD Fuyo, Shell hits 24, and is sunk
DD Tomozuru, Shell hits 10, and is sunk
MSW Wa 3, Shell hits 11, and is sunk
PG Hashidate, Shell hits 22, and is sunk
PG Kaikei Maru, Shell hits 21, and is sunk
PC Nichi Maru #1, Shell hits 15, and is sunk
PC Showa Maru #5, Shell hits 9, and is sunk
AP Choko Maru, Shell hits 20, and is sunk
AP Hokuhi Maru, Shell hits 18, and is sunk
AP Jinsan Maru, Shell hits 18, and is sunk
AP Josho Maru, Shell hits 18, and is sunk
AP Kamikaze Maru, Shell hits 12, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
AP Kamo Maru, Shell hits 21, and is sunk
AP Karachi Maru, Shell hits 3, on fire
AP Kasima Maru, Shell hits 15, and is sunk
AP Keisho Maru, Shell hits 20, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
AP Kanko Maru, Shell hits 8, on fire, heavy damage

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Allied Bombardment attack at Koepang
Attacking force 17023 troops, 265 guns, 0 vehicles
Defending force 30396 troops, 302 guns, 13 vehicles

83 Japanese casualties reported Guns lost 10 Vehicles lost 2[/font]


He’s lifted 2 Divisions over the beaches in a very short span of time. He couldn’t have expected me to be waiting for him like that. It’s going to get worse for me before it gets better.

For those of you at home tallying, that’s 14 DD lost by the IJN in the last 3 days…

[ADavidB]

Here is the fun part. The British Eastern Fleet Battle Line comes rocketing up from Derby to hit the transports. Had the transports been spotted a day earlier, I would have been waiting for them.

To hit the transports, the Battle Line must get past the Covering Force. It’s 5 DD that were originally reported as CAs. All IJN DDs are sunk. The Battle Line isn’t even scratched.

I'm astounded that he would go in there with no serious surface combat fleet to cover and without any carriers near by...[X(]

Never-the-less, great play and great shooting on your part! You definitely deserve a cold one:

Dave Baranyi

[Admiral DadMan]

ORIGINAL: ADavidB

I'm astounded that he would go in there with no serious surface combat fleet to cover and without any carriers near by...[X(]

Never-the-less, great play and great shooting on your part! You definitely deserve a cold one:

Dave Baranyi

My guess is that he didn't suspect/detect the Battle Line's presence, as most of our attention was focused on the Baker/Canton area.

Fear not, a major screw up by me is not far in the offing...[8|]

[Capt. Harlock]

West Virginia and Nagato swapped punches at 4000 and 2000 yards
One of Nagato’s final acts was for the 25mm mg to take out WeeVee’s SC Radar…
Portland and Fuso traded at 2000 and 8000
Chicago and Hyuga at 2000
Idaho then paid back both Hyuga and Fuso at 8000 yards.

It was quite a sight to see. The final score:
IJN:
1 BB, 3 DD sunk. 2 more DD would sink in later days IIRC.

USN:
2 CA, 1 DD sunk. 1 BB, 1 CA, 4 DD moderately damaged.
It looks like a draw to me. I’m not unhappy about it.

IMHO what saved the USN's bacon was 1) Achieved surprise 2) More ships than the IJN 3) No IJN cruisers present.

[Admiral DadMan]

ORIGINAL: Capt. Harlock

IMHO what saved the USN's bacon was 1) Achieved surprise 2) More ships than the IJN 3) No IJN cruisers present.

1) Gotta love RaDAR
2) Don't do anything by halves
3) Cruisers serve a purpose

[Admiral DadMan]

[font="Courier New"]4 OCT 42

AK Raizan Maru encounters mine field at Baker Island, Mine hits 1, on fire

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Allied Beaufort I Day Air attack on TF, near Maumere

AP Tacoma Maru, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
41 Japanese casualties reported

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Japanese TF unloading troops over beach at Maumere
1178 Japanese casualties reported

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Allied Deliberate attack at Koepang

Attacking force 18556 troops, 267 guns, 104 vehicles
Defending force 30340 troops, 291 guns, 12 vehicles
Allied assault odds: 1 to 1

739 Japanese casualties reported, Guns lost 13, Vehicles lost 2
228 Allied casualties reported, Guns lost 9, Vehicles lost 2[/font]

[Admiral DadMan]

[font="Courier New"]5 OCT 42

Japanese TF unloading troops over beach at Maumere
32 Japanese casualties reported[/font]

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4 Cruisers and 12 DD are sent back to Baker to shell the place and kill some transports. Unfortunately on the way in I had forgotten about the minefield that I dropped the previous turn:

[font="Courier New"]DD Sims encounters mine field at Baker Island, Mine hits 1, on fire[/font]

The TF then finds two transports:
[font="Courier New"]
AK Tsuneshima Maru, Shell hits 18, and is sunk
AK Urashio Maru, Shell hits 31, and is sunk[/font]

Finally, they just plain bloody the place:

[font="Courier New"]340 Japanese casualties reported Guns lost 9

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Allied Beaufort I from Koepang Day Air attack on TF, near Maumere
AP Kasui Maru, Torpedo hits 1, on fire

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Argonaut is caught laying mines near Truk, she takes 2 hits, on fire

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Allied Deliberate attack at Koepang

Attacking force 18230 troops, 256 guns, 101 vehicles
Defending force 29474 troops, 252 guns, 10 vehicles

Allied assault odds: 1 to 1

361 Japanese casualties reported, Guns lost 17
373 Allied casualties reported, Guns lost 17, Vehicles lost 4

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Japanese forces occupy Maumere[/font]

[Admiral DadMan]

[font="Courier New"]6 OCT 42[/font]

I will now begin to pummel those who dared land on Koepang:

[font="Courier New"]Allied B-17E Fortress from Darwin Day Air attack on 18th Division at Koepang

29 Japanese casualties reported, Vehicles lost 1

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Allied Deliberate attack at Koepang

Attacking force 17605 troops, 237 guns, 90 vehicles
Defending force 28893 troops, 225 guns, 9 vehicles

Allied assault odds: 1 to 1

231 Japanese casualties reported, Guns lost 15, Vehicles lost 1
170 Allied casualties reported, Guns lost 5, Vehicles lost 5[/font]


Small ships are reported near Baker Island. I can’t help myself. TF 85 the CA/DD force is on the way again…

[Admiral DadMan]

[font="Courier New"]7 OCT 42

Japanese MSW encounters mine field at Baker Island

Allied B-17E Fortress Day Air attack on Baker Island ,
72 Japanese casualties reported
Airbase hits 6 Airbase supply hits 2 Runway hits 42

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Allied Hudson I B-17E Fortress from Akyab Day Air attack on Tavoy
Japanese 33rd Division, 76 casualties reported Guns lost 1

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Allied B-17E Fortress from Darwin Day Air attack at Koepang

Japanese 18th Division, 35 casualties reported Guns lost 2
Japanese 56th Division, 21 casualties reported

Allied Deliberate attack at Koepang

Attacking force 17301 troops, 225 guns, 83 vehicles
Defending force 28246 troops, 187 guns, 7 vehicles

Allied assault odds: 0 to 1

270 Japanese casualties reported Guns lost 4 Vehicles lost 1
447 Allied casualties reported Guns lost 17 Vehicles lost 1[/font]

Direct attacks will now cease, as my units need a rest.



Albacore Sub attack AP Kinryu Maru
Growler ASW attack AP Ume Maru


What are those PT boats doing there? Ummm running out of fuel?
There's an oiler train trying to catch up to them, and is slow aproaching. The PT's took off 2 days too early...

[Admiral DadMan]

[font="Courier New"]8 OCT 42

Off the Home Islands:

Allied Sub Albacore attacks AP Chifuku Maru
Japanese ASW attack Tautog
Allied Sub Gunnel attacks AP Ryujo Maru

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TF 85 DD Benham encounters mine field at Baker. Mine hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

MSW Shonan Maru #7, Shell hits 32, and is sunk
MSW Tama Maru #3, Shell hits 6, and is sunk
MSW Tama Maru #5, Shell hits 4, and is sunk

AK Raizan Maru, Shell hits 34, and is sunk

Naval bombardment of Baker Island, at 94,92
391 Japanese casualties reported Guns lost 6
Airbase hits 1 Airbase supply hits 2 Runway hits 25
Port hits 13 Port supply hits 20

Allied B-17E Fortress Day Air attack on Baker Island
Runway hits 3

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Allied Hudson B-17E Fortress Day Air attack at Tavoy
Japanese 33rd Division 26 casualties reported

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Beauforts escorted by P-40E Warhawk from Koepang Day Air attack on TF at 29,73

Japanese Ki-43-Ib Oscar fly LR CAP

AP Hakutetsu Maru #13, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
14 Japanese casualties reported

Allied Ground Forces Bombardment attack at Koepang

Attacking force 200 guns, 0 vehicles
Defending force, 177 guns, 5 vehicles

89 Japanese casualties reported Guns lost 7


RN BBs return to Port for re-load.
TF 85 CA force to return to PH for upgrades.[/font]

[Admiral DadMan]

[font="Courier New"]9 OCT 42

In Empire Waters…
Runner attacks AP Ryoyo Maru

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Allied Hudson B-17E Fortress Day Air attack on Tavoy

Japanese 33rd Division, 26 casualties reported, Guns lost 1

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Allied Ground Bombardment attack at Koepang

Attacking force 14854 troops, 199 guns, 0 vehicles
Defending force 27680 troops, 168 guns, 5 vehicles

134 Japanese casualties reported, Guns lost 3[/font]

[Admiral DadMan]

[font="Courier New"]10 OCT 42

Allied Hudson B-17E Fortress Day Air attack on Tavoy

Japanese 33rd Division 25 casualties reported

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Allied Deliberate attack at Koepang

Attacking force 14900 troops, 201 guns, 0 vehicles
Defending force 27561 troops, 159 guns, 4 vehicles

Allied assault odds: 0 to 1

280 Japanese casualties reported, Guns lost 10
445 Allied casualties reported, Guns lost 15

[/font]

Ok, not a good idea...



PT Boats are refueled and headed to Baker Island to strike some shipping...

[Capt. Harlock]

Allied Deliberate attack at Koepang

Attacking force 14900 troops, 201 guns, 0 vehicles
Defending force 27561 troops, 159 guns, 4 vehicles

Allied assault odds: 0 to 1

280 Japanese casualties reported, Guns lost 10
445 Allied casualties reported, Guns lost 15



Ok, not a good idea...

No kidding! What happened to your vehicles? Until you get those operational, my two cents' is to stick to bombardment attacks.

[Speedysteve]

Interesting stuff Dad. I've only just read all of the stuff from Christmas Day due to me being away.

My take on the BB vs BB action is that for some reason IJN BB's don't seem to do well in surface combat. The CA and DD's seem to kick arse more often then not but the BB's just don't seem to.

Nonetheless a nice battle for you. 1 of the 2 x 16"'s gone for good [8D]