Bloody Shambles: BossGnome vs. Oleg

[Oleg Mastruko]

His comments accompanying 2nd Nov turn:

"do you really think you could've invaded eniwetok in this wave? You might have noticed but by the time you left I had another surface TF in the area, the size of the other one, only exept it wasn't the old battleship fuso in charge it was the yamato. I also had another (3rd!) surface TF 2 days away that was about to reach kwaj... no BBs in that one but I think retreat was the wisest option in your case... "

Meanwhile, kleinkrieg continues:

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 11/02/42

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 46,55

Japanese Ships
TK Kaijo Maru, Shell hits 3, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage

Allied Ships
SS KXVII

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 1014 encounters mine field at Marcus Island (75,56)

Allied Ships
DMS Wasmuth
AK Empire Prairie, Mine hits 1, on fire
DD Porter, Mine hits 1, on fire


Allied ground losses:
13 casualties reported

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 1082 encounters mine field at Marcus Island (75,56)

Allied Ships
DMS Zane
DD Downes, Mine hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Bonin at 65,52

Japanese Ships
ML Kyosai
ML Niizaki
ML Ishizaki

Allied Ships
SS Grayling

I am running resupply and reinforcement TFs to Marcus, and of course, laying minefields (also hitting his mines, but very soon I'll have much more of my own mines there har har har)

[Oleg Mastruko]

My mail reply to his "do you really think you could've invaded eniwetok in this wave?" comment:

"Of course I could have invaded Eni, the place is empty, I was one hex away with my conwoy (which, I think, was bigger then you thought), I was chased away once and deliberately manouvered after that. My moves were based on the presumption you won't use your CVs at all, and if you do, they will arrive on day 2-3 not at Marcus, but at Eniwetok, because it's closer. I assumed you base 80% of your stuff including Cvs at Truk. In this I was wrong, as CVs appear to have arrived from Japan itself.

Surface forces - I never even thought about it, and they were more numerous at Eni than I thought.

All I did wrong, was concentrated on one single day, when I lost CV + BB, everything else was very good. Still, knowing my mistakes, I could have done even worse, losing all CVs plus big Eni conwoy. I outsmarted you with Fuso TF on a second day drawing you to attack empty Eni hex thinking conwoy would be there (and you lost a BB + smaller stuff as result). That was the idea for that day, and it worked fine.

Marcus conwoy was irrelevant, as it already unloaded when it was attacked, so you sunk just empty transports (and not even all of them). I thought you will know that you're late to stop Marcus invasion, and move CVs to attack still full Eni conwoy next day. So, even though I already decided to pull back there, I didn't run away wildly, I kept CVs to provide cover for retreating conwoy if your CVs arrive. This proved to be my worst mistake, because your CVs never went for Eni, as I thought they will. Had they gone south, I might have easily lost more CVs and Eni transports. So, I saved 95% of Eni conwoy (which is important for me) but lost CV + BB, which was definitely stupid.

I wonder how would historians judge this operation had it happened in real history? I guess as Allied victory, since history is written by victors, and I will be victor in this war [:D] [8D]

I see we both lay massive minefields at Marcus - be my guest [8D] "

[Oleg Mastruko]

His comments on recent events:

"Well, here were my thoughts on the past campaign. After Wake, I knew the next logical targets would be either Marcus or Eniwetok. The problem was, I didn't know which.

I had time to move about 70% of my forces, including CVs, from their previous base of operations at Rabaul and shortlands up to Saipan, which was a base about mid way between the two islands on which I thought there might be an attack. Kwajalein had a surface TF assigned (the fuso one), and it was ordered to move to Saipan.

Then, 1-2 days later, I see that you planned not 1 invasion, like I thought, but 2 at the same time! I knew I could never get there in time to save marcus. All i had had time to do was hastily drop some engineers off to prevent the "sub commando" type operation that I thought you might try. (Oleg: BTW I never do "sub commando raids" it's against my rules and I told him so later) However, my recon failed to spot your CVs. I had no idea where they were (that is if they were in the marcus operation, or if they were in the eniwetok operation, or both). So this is what I thought.

I had to counterattack into both places. Just 1 counterattack would leave you totally free to do whatever you wanted at the place I didn't counterattack at. My plan, since I didn't have time to get any ground troops in, would be to fight you with surface combat Tfs. however this is WITP, not WPO, and so for surface combat tfs, you need aircover. I figured that the Kwajalein part of my counterattack already had good land based air cover. However, for marcus island, if your Cvs were there, my surface tfs (one gone from tokyo and the other from saipan) would get slaughtered. I thus decided to send my CVs for Marcus, to have some aircover on both counterattacks.

I also think I benefited from allied bad recon on my part. Your fleet was 1 hex northeast of Eniwetok, and my Fuso fleet (having been hastily recalled from Saipan) was 3 hexes west of Eniwetok, moving full speed, and unnoticed. This was great luck on my part."

[Oleg Mastruko]

With that, we entered another phase of war. In Wake-Marcus-Eniwetok operations, so far, I lost a CV, a modern BB, old CL, at least 10 or so DDs, and dozen or so empty transports, and - apart from aircraft that sunk with the CV - not very much aircraft. Some BBs, CAs, and CV are moderately damaged.

He lost a BB, couple valuable CLs, several DDs, and at least 150 assorted naval aircraft with pilots (Bettys and Zeros), he also lost two very valuable bases, which were the very reason for the whole operation.

I now have 3 regiments on Marcus, and am unloading base forces to support fighters there. I started a major resupply-reinforce-bring-more-engineers operation for Marcus, which will be supported by surface TFs. Aircover will have to be provided by Wake and Marcus based fighters, as I have no CV force to use for now.

This is the situation on 2ns Nov, I am running conwoys for Marcus, to the N there is surface TF (I am keeping it not too close to Marcus, but close enough to react). Minelayers are running minelaying operations.... Damaged stuff goes back to Midway (two ARs there) and further back to PH etc. for permanent repairs. Wake is still only port 2 and airfield 3.

[Oleg Mastruko]

It was obvious we are both planning to return to fight around Marcus, this is just a temporary respite, some time for him to bring reinforcements to Bonin islands (he now has 20+ units in Bonin, 20+ on Iwo Jima - I don't know if those are planed to re-invade Marcus, or is he just boosting his defences, fearing Bonin and Iwo are next?), rest and refuel CVs and surface forces etc.

On 4th it was his turn to hit mines:

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 11/04/42

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 106 encounters mine field at Marcus Island (75,56)

Japanese Ships
DD Shiokaze, Mine hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
DD Fumizuki, Mine hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
DD Ushio, Mine hits 1, on fire, heavy damage


His comment for the day:

"hmmm...could marcus island become our guadalcanal? [:D]"

[Oleg Mastruko]

No reactions, no posts, does anyone read this and find it even remotely interesting?[&:]

[Nikademus]

Isn't marcus a little far out to try to hold in 42?

[Oleg Mastruko]

ORIGINAL: Nikademus

Isn't marcus a little far out to try to hold in 42?

It's not if USN commander is bold and very smart bordering on genius.

Next question please [:D]

[Nikademus]

how will you supply it genius? [:D]

[Oleg Mastruko]

Troops there will live of the land. What? Don't tell me 1,2 square kilometers of this tiny island are not able to support 50k troops? [:D]

They will produce aircraft bombs and torpedos using Ron's patented "Toboali whine" method, I guess by destilling coconut oil and turning it into explosives or something.

[Speedysteve]

Seems logical to me O.

More than enough fodder for troops there.

No qualm here. Move along move along[;)]

[Oleg Mastruko]

All joking aside, I will find a way to supply the island (some of this will be explained in the posts to follow), but now that you mentioned it, and since you're beta (edit: this was reply to Nik)....

I do think some ultra-tiny islands are just a tiny bit over-priced in WITP. Marcus is 1(1)/1(1) at start which, given it's position, makes it VERY valuable. But it's very tiny, 1,2 square kilometers. Compared to it, even Wake, generally considered small, is relatively big with its 6,5 sq km.

It is not a problem that one could build a level 4 airfield with lots of work (it most certainly could be done). Having port level 3 possible there would be bit more of a problem (considering Marcus does not have a lagoon, like Wake or Midway). But the biggest problem is rationalizing having 2 divisions worth of troops in this place.

Personally, I'd rate Marcus port 0(0), air 1(0) at start (thus, air already being overbuilt to level 1, making 3 max level possible, with enormous work).

But hey, who am I to argue? Since it's 1/1 I WILL take it, and defend it with 2-3 divisions of troops. It may be somewhat hard to rationalize, but our battles are decided by navy and naval air anyway, I hope he will not land 4 IJA divisions there, which I would have real problems imagining in the real world. For as long as the campaign remains purely naval-air, it works fine.

I am also not arguing having "stacking limits" for troops as it would complicate things. But I do consider land campaigns for such small islands largely on abstract level, ie I do not think 3-4 divisions could really wage a campaign, or even live, in a place this small.

O.

[Nikademus]

Personally, i have never liked the overbuild system in the game. My opinion, its too elastic being able to expand any airfield/port to 3 sizes over its alleged "max size" value. In my mod i have already reduced SPS for several airbases but so far only in the India/Burma area. (i had thought in the distant pass that maybe 1 overbuild would be more appropriate.....either that or increase the cost rate and slow the build rate by at least 100% when overbuilding)

For Allies especially, overbuilds are no prob....land 4 Seebee units and you'll have that 2E bomber (4E in some cases) in no time flat.

It will be interesting to see how you acomplish this. In the older days it would be fairly easy as one could simply use the Kamakaze AK tactic. Now with supply hits possible with merchants, its a tad bit tougher.

[Oleg Mastruko]

Okay so do you want another update? I SAID DO YOU WANT ANOTHER UPDATE (drum solo)?

<crowd yells, bitches scream & throw undergarments on the stage> YEEEEESSSSS!

OK SO WE'LL GIVE YOU ANOTHER UPDATE!

<crowd goes WILD> YYYEEEEAAAAAAA....

guitar intro....

Last report was for 4th Nov 42, with all the important action concetrated around Marcus island. Everything seemed peaceful as my resupply-reinforcement-bring more engineers (R-R-BME) conwoys for Marcus sailed thru quiet Pacific waters when, suddenly...

5th Nov 42:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 76,58

Japanese aircraft
A6M2-N Rufe x 10
A6M2 Zero x 49
A6M3 Zero x 11
D3A Val x 77
B5N Kate x 63

Japanese aircraft losses
D3A Val: 2 damaged
B5N Kate: 1 destroyed, 5 damaged

Allied Ships
AP Pijnacker Hordijk, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AK Foch
AK Empire Cougar, Bomb hits 3, on fire
DD Lardner
MSW Swallow, Bomb hits 1, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AK Empire Zephyr, Bomb hits 2, on fire
AK Empire Razorbill, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
AK Empire Puma, Bomb hits 3, on fire
DD Mugford, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
AK West Shipper, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AP Mijer
AK Empire Parsons, Bomb hits 2, on fire
MSW Pursuit
DMS Long
AK Dukat
AK Empire Oryx, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
AK Gran, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AK Empire Baxter, Bomb hits 1
AK West Planter, Bomb hits 3, on fire
AK Empire Faith
AK West Portal, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
AK Haraldsvang, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
AK Empire Success, Bomb hits 1
AK Empire Rennie, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
DD Lamson, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
DMS Perry
AK Empire Heath, Torpedo hits 2
AK Empire Moonrise


Allied ground losses:
859 casualties reported
Guns lost 7
Vehicles lost 1

and again

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 76,58

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 3
B5N Kate x 12

Japanese aircraft losses
B5N Kate: 2 damaged

Allied Ships
AK Sage Brush
AK Gran, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
AK Empire Parsons, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage


Allied ground losses:
102 casualties reported
Vehicles lost 1


and yet again (STAY AWAY FROM MY BBS!!)

Day Air attack on TF at 77,59

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 50
A6M3 Zero x 9
D3A Val x 21

Japanese aircraft losses
D3A Val: 5 destroyed, 11 damaged

Allied Ships
BB New Mexico, Bomb hits 1
BB Pennsylvania
BB Mississippi


Damn KB!!! My idea for R-R-BME was simple enough: as soon as KB and surface guys disappear, I'll run high speed conwoys to Marcus.

Since by now I had servicable floatplane base there, idea was that my patrols will spot his units as soon as they leave their bases at Bonin and Iwo - as they surely will - and then I will stop unloading, run high speed to the east, wait for the fury to pass, and then come back and continue unloading. He can bombard the island for as long as he pleases, I have just one fighter squadron there (+ 2 PBY sqdns). If he tries to reinvade, I'll sortie the Mother of All Reinforcement Efforts from Wake and we'll have a massivest, baddest, bloodiest melee Marcus island has ever seen.

Fairly simple plan, that should work, as there are I think 11 hexes between Bonin and Marcus, and Boss Gnome appears being too afraid to wander too far to the east (he never crossed the invisible line that connects Marcus and Wake, and I don't think he intends to).

Well, my patrols simply MISSED his CV TF and two surface TFs, of which one appears to be massive in size, day ago. That is all there is to it. I didn't see them when they were leaving Bonin. I see them very well today (as visible on the picture below) but it's too late to run away now.

[Oleg Mastruko]

So, this was the toughest day so far for me, because I had some hard decisions to make. Two huge IJN surface forces were approaching to bombard Marcus. KB came to the party as well.

I had two surface TFs able to react in time: one based around two modern BBs in the north (with some transports nearby), and another based around 4 older BBs SE of Marcus (this is the one attacked by Vals in the above report - fortunatelly, with no consequences).

I also had two medium sized conwoys already unloading at Marcus, plus one massive conwoy, that was already subjected to KB attacks in above report (two hexes SE of Marcus).

Marcus was defended by one F4F Marine unit.

So what do I do? Do I run away, with half damaged conwoy, risking his CVs will pursue, and probably sink it all, and allow him to bombard Marcus?

No, I decided to accept the battle. See how tough, balsy and smart I am? No CVs and I accept the battle on IJN terms.

So, I run both heavy surface TFs to Marcus full speed, I order transport forces at Marcus to continue unloading, and I order massive conwoy to leave damaged stuff behind and run for Marcus high speed as well (damaged ships will limp to Marcus too, if they can, but slower, not to slow down the rest of the conwoy).

I also bring every available fighter from wake to Marcus to provide CAP for tomorrow's expected CV strikes vs my (primarily) BBs and transports.

This was very risky decision, and I fully expected bloodshed of massive proportions in the next combat report. I was mentally prepared to see possible USN disaster.

In the best case scenario, my BBs defeat and repulse his night bombardment forces, and my CAP shreds his CV strikes tomorrow.

In the *worst* case scenario, he first enters the battle with Yamato-based surface TF, smashes my both BB TFs (I've seen it happen), then runs his other, bombardment TF, destroys 100s of fighers on the ground and closes the airfield, and his CVs (+ Bettys from Bonin) massacre my surviving BBs and other ships, unprotected by non existing CAP, during the whole day...

[Oleg Mastruko]

So, basically, there was no way for me to win, as in "HAHA I SUNK YOUR CV LOLz0rz dude!!", but a draw, combat-wise, would mean my resupply run, the crux of the whole operation, would succeed, and Marcus would have been made into unpenetrable fortress, with enough supplies to last for weeks, and enough engineers to build mighty forts (and level 2 airfield, capable of operating SBDs).

I was pleased weith the results of this, most crucial day:

It started with me hitting some mines (some of them my own), and losing some subs in unrelated incidents:

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 11/06/42

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 1003 encounters mine field at Marcus Island (75,56)

Allied Ships
DD Meade, Mine hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 1062 encounters mine field at Marcus Island (75,56)

Allied Ships
MSW Pursuit
DMS Long
DD Lardner
AK Empire Impala, Mine hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 1082 encounters mine field at Marcus Island (75,56)

Allied Ships
DMS Zane
CA Quincy, Mine hits 1, on fire
DD Worden, Mine hits 1, on fire

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack near Bonin at 65,52

Japanese Ships
ML Niizaki
ML Ishizaki

Allied Ships
SS Grayling, hits 5, on fire, heavy damage


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack at 75,57

Japanese Ships
DD Hayate
DD Yuzuki
DD Mikazuki
DD Uzuki
DD Yayoi
DD Kisaragi
DD Sazanami
DD Sagiri
DD Shirakumo
DD Hibiki
DD Samidare
DD Asagumo
DD Natsugumo
DD Arashio
DD Tanikaze
DD Oyashio
DD Kazegumo
CL Agano

Allied Ships
SS Tunny, hits 2, on fire

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 1138 encounters mine field at Marcus Island (75,56)

Allied Ships
DMS Perry

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack at 75,57

Japanese Ships
DD Hatsukari
DD Hayate

Allied Ships
SS Tunny, hits 4, on fire, heavy damage

There was NO night combat, obviously he was placing his TFs to deliver the damage next day, no?

With daylight, came CV strikes:


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Marcus Island at 75,56

Japanese aircraft
A6M2-N Rufe x 10
A6M2 Zero x 47
A6M3 Zero x 6
D3A Val x 61
B5N Kate x 72

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 93

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2-N Rufe: 10 destroyed
A6M2 Zero: 27 destroyed
A6M3 Zero: 2 destroyed
D3A Val: 16 destroyed, 25 damaged
B5N Kate: 33 destroyed, 6 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat: 37 destroyed, 14 damaged

Allied Ships
BB South Dakota, Bomb hits 4, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
CA Vincennes
BB Washington, Bomb hits 3
CA San Francisco
CL Phoenix


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Marcus Island at 75,56

Japanese aircraft
A6M2-N Rufe x 4
A6M2 Zero x 36
A6M3 Zero x 6
D3A Val x 5

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 42

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2-N Rufe: 4 destroyed
A6M2 Zero: 10 destroyed
D3A Val: 2 destroyed, 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat: 31 destroyed

Allied Ships
BB New Mexico, Bomb hits 2


He lost many KB aircraft - 145 to 70 USN (but all of his were CV pilots, 42 of them very valuable Kates, mine were Marine landbased F4Fs), and I am sure he rejoices at having my modern BB sunk.

But it wasn't so. Led by superior damage control parties, South Dakota wasn't sinking - yet, though it was very close (45-63-25).

After today's losses, and after I smashed his CV Zero squadrons previously, when they were used in land based role (explained in some of previous posts) I fully expect KB to be nothing more than paper tiger by now. If faced with any opposition, I expect KB to crumble. Well, now I just have to find 2-3 CVs in operational state to actually make it happen LOL.

There was no other choice for me but to continue what I already set out to do. Now I had TONS of transports unloading at Marcus, I kept my BB protection, and Marine fighters - reinforced in as much as I could, as CAP umbrella above. His surface units didn't come last night but will surely come tonight, and I will have one less USN BB to stop them as I must run the gauntlet of CVs and submarines with heavily damaged South Dakota, to try to send it towards Wake or Midway.

Wake was still port 2, building towards 3, Midway was level 3. Midway had 2 ARs to help with damaged ships, Wake had 3. I sincerely hoped to build Wake to level 3 by the time South Dakota limps there (if it ever gets there at all) to help.

(All this time I fly heavy ASW patrols from Wake to help cleaning subs for my retreating ships and this works.)

[Oleg Mastruko]

On the night of 7th, his surface forces attack:

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 11/07/42

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Marcus Island at 75,56


Allied aircraft
no flights


Allied aircraft losses
SOC-3 Seagull: 4 destroyed

Japanese Ships
BB Mutsu, Shell hits 8, on fire, heavy damage
BB Ise, Shell hits 6, on fire
BB Hyuga, Shell hits 5, on fire
CA Maya, Shell hits 2
CA Mogami, Shell hits 4, on fire
CL Agano, Shell hits 3
DD Kazegumo, Shell hits 1
DD Oyashio, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
DD Tanikaze
DD Arashio, Shell hits 2
DD Natsugumo, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Asagumo
DD Samidare
DD Hibiki
DD Shirakumo
DD Sagiri, Shell hits 1
DD Sazanami
DD Kisaragi
DD Yayoi, Shell hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
DD Uzuki
DD Mikazuki
DD Yuzuki
DD Hayate
DD Tsuga
DD Hatsukari, Shell hits 2, on fire, heavy damage

Allied Ships
BB Idaho, Shell hits 8, on fire
BB New Mexico, Shell hits 10, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
BB Mississippi, Shell hits 11, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
CA Portland, Shell hits 2, and is sunk
CA Northampton
CL Honolulu, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
DD Nicholas, Shell hits 8, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
DD O'Bannon
DD Duncan, Shell hits 1
DD Lansdowne, Shell hits 5, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
DD Walke, Shell hits 13, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Marcus Island at 75,56

Japanese Ships
BB Mutsu, on fire, heavy damage
BB Ise, on fire
BB Hyuga, on fire
CA Maya
CA Mogami, on fire
CL Agano
DD Kazegumo, Shell hits 1
DD Tanikaze
DD Arashio, Shell hits 1
DD Natsugumo, on fire
DD Asagumo
DD Samidare
DD Hibiki
DD Shirakumo
DD Sagiri
DD Sazanami
DD Kisaragi
DD Yayoi, on fire, heavy damage
DD Uzuki
DD Mikazuki
DD Yuzuki
DD Hayate
DD Tsuga
DD Hatsukari, on fire, heavy damage

Allied Ships
PT PT-124
PT PT-125
PT PT-126
PT PT-128
PT PT-151
PT PT-152
PT PT-153, Shell hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
PT PT-154
PT PT-155, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
PT PT-156
PT PT-157, Shell hits 5, and is sunk
PT PT-158
PT PT-159
PT PT-160, Shell hits 22, on fire, heavy damage
PT PT-161
PT PT-162, Shell hits 6, and is sunk


BB Mutsu heavily damaged, some other ships hit or sunk, but my BBs heavily damaged in return, CA sunk, couple DDs sunk.

But hey, he DIDN'T bombard. Either his TF got scared or it didn't have time (it had to go thru multiple combat rounds).

As the day came, KB was in full retreat - after losing 140+ aircraft yesterday, he was obviously in no mood to repeat the ordeal even if it meant letting my transports and BBs go unmolested by air! A victory! Unlike at Eniwetok, when I said I managed to snatch a defeat from the jaws of victory, I believe this time I snatched a victory from the jaws of defeat.

Marcus was safe for now, solidly reinforced, but I had no less than 4 damaged BBs (two of them very heavily, in danger of sinking - I am sure he considered at least one of them as already sunk).

[Oleg Mastruko]

In the "LOL dude could you believe?" section:

IL-4c has spotted Myoko at 29,34
Myoko is reported HIT

PB2Y Coronado has spotted Hatsukari at 73,54
Hatsukari is reported HIT
PB2Y Coronado sighting report: 9 Japanese ships at 66,43 , Speed 7 , Moving Northeast
PB2Y Coronado has spotted Yamato at 66,43
Yamato is reported HIT

[:D]

[Oleg Mastruko]

On the 8th, his forces were in full retreat. I noticed one small BB + escort TF is retreating very slowly, one hex per phase, and I assumed it must be BB Mutsu, the only BB I managed to damage heavily. Every sub within 1000 miles of Marcus was tasked with locating and hunting down this ship.

In other news, I invaded empty Baker island, unloading Americal division, fresh from Australia, there:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Baker Island

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 6159 troops, 51 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 0 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles

Allied assault odds: 114 to 1 (fort level 0)

Allied forces CAPTURE Baker Island base !!!

His coment on this was:

"see, my predictions on you going towards Tarawa proved correct!!"

I hate to admit he's right. I will have to go for Tarawa. I hate it when I am too obvious, and when I fight battles relying on attrition and/or brute force. I much more love to do unexpected stuff, that is why I planned to reconquer Gilberts/Marshalls coming via Eniwetok (no one expects the Spanish Inquisition there), but hey it didn't work, so I'll have to use Baker Tarawa route.

One GOOD side to this, is that it'll be a much shorter way for my South Seas units, coming en masse from Australia (where my predecessors sent them).

OK so Baker is taken and one air regiment + many Sea Bees are already en route to the place.

[Oleg Mastruko]

Not much happens on 9th, except for this:

Wake Island expands port to size 3

South Dakota was still 5 hexes away with sys 60, float very unsettling at 79, but at least now I knew I'd have level 3 port to disband the damaged behemoth if it gets there.

New Mexico was also in very bad state with sys 45 and float 64 and even longer way to go. I had to reroute most of my damaged ships more than once, in order to avoid subs.

If IJN subs do ANYTHING well, it's hunting down damaged Allied ships. When playing as IJN my subs always do very well when hunting damaged ships: it is so very frustrating to have damaged ship survive a battle, only to be sunk by a sub when you thought it is on the way to safety.