10/2/43
A terrible, terrible ASW turn -as tabpub E mails me -he can smell oil on the water[:(]
not one, but three tankers are torpedoed on the main convoy route -in a savage pack attack
Too painful -OH ouch!,
In china some oscars tangle with I-16s -and lose 1 for 1.
pagan is hit
massive fleet at Akyab today.
I really feel that a amphib assualt is on the cards
And it begins in the south
Area1
The battle to save haranua continues -she is at 76 flood today
Wellingtons attack moulmien -tojos savage them -good
I have 2nd div coming back from the front to rangoon -it may go here.
My troops on the road north of Akyab have surprised him -he did nt send enough 1st time to clear them.
Area2
lautern bombed again
A quiet day -training, forming ASW groups
Area3
6 helen and 36 zero sweep Ndini -8 w/c, 3 fighters lost both ways -we will have another go tomorrow
the big news is PM is absolutely given a max effort by tabpub -
95 liberators, 46 forts,22 hudsons and 13 P38
So -a lot of P38 on LRCAP perhaps?
because allied ships approaching thursday island
Orders are this - a 2CL, 5dd, TF based at woodlark (this includes the OI) is sent at max speed towards thursday
4th yokosuka SNLF at wewak loads onto air transport -and will go to thursday
majority of air is told to sit tight -lets see what happens.
Area4
trying to form several ASW groups
Area5
Industry is recovering HI - but the main focus is ASW -I am trying to reform ASW groups, 6 new PGs, MSWs in 2 days, i cannot afford another tanker day like today!
Herb VS Tabpub
Moderators: wdolson, Don Bowen, mogami
I hope this is it!
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
Guided missile liberators
11/2/43
well the nibble feels more like a bite -yet tabpub warns today was a mere snack compared to what awaits me -and i regret to say -he's probably right.
But what really worries me is Tabpub says he is trying to give up smoking -his third day -and he is feeling really mean and nasty [:(][:(]
11000 troops invade at Thursday island -11000!!!
masses of APDs and DDs and PTs
My CL task force sees dawn just 2 hexes short -OH OH!
lautern bombed
109 B17s hit lunga -21 Tony damage 20 odd, shoot down 6 for the day
Mu LRCAP of the task force is blown away -the force is attacked by 31B17, 16 hudson and 15 liberators at 7000 feet.
The hudsons miss the liberators hit everything they attack -
DD -7 hits -sunk
DD -2 hits-45/11/15
DD - 1hit- 40/30/39
CL OYODA is hit 3 times -and she too will not get home.
very annoying
In for a penny -in for a pound -CL OI and 1 DD will press the attack -suicide -but OI might get a few torps in.
Days orders
Area1
Pretty quiet -haranua 71 flood today
31 days until new troops
Mandalaby has now 17 units in it -not long now, and he will pour across the river i feel
Area2
The DEI are quiet
Area3
In two minds over Thursday island
The fleet is all but concentrated at palua - along with 3 divisions, transport and fuel.
Very , very tempted to send them via the timor straight -and begin a struggle here -will see what tomorrow brings -and make the decision.
locally only going to send 1 bomber unit, 1 fighter unit at very high altitude against Thursday -the idea is to fatigue his LRCAP tomorrow -and begin bombing properly in a day or two.
I suspect though that no matter what I do -my airforce will be destroyed in the week ahead.
Area4
ASW forces getting together
Area5
nothing to report today
well the nibble feels more like a bite -yet tabpub warns today was a mere snack compared to what awaits me -and i regret to say -he's probably right.
But what really worries me is Tabpub says he is trying to give up smoking -his third day -and he is feeling really mean and nasty [:(][:(]
11000 troops invade at Thursday island -11000!!!
masses of APDs and DDs and PTs
My CL task force sees dawn just 2 hexes short -OH OH!
lautern bombed
109 B17s hit lunga -21 Tony damage 20 odd, shoot down 6 for the day
Mu LRCAP of the task force is blown away -the force is attacked by 31B17, 16 hudson and 15 liberators at 7000 feet.
The hudsons miss the liberators hit everything they attack -
DD -7 hits -sunk
DD -2 hits-45/11/15
DD - 1hit- 40/30/39
CL OYODA is hit 3 times -and she too will not get home.
very annoying
In for a penny -in for a pound -CL OI and 1 DD will press the attack -suicide -but OI might get a few torps in.
Days orders
Area1
Pretty quiet -haranua 71 flood today
31 days until new troops
Mandalaby has now 17 units in it -not long now, and he will pour across the river i feel
Area2
The DEI are quiet
Area3
In two minds over Thursday island
The fleet is all but concentrated at palua - along with 3 divisions, transport and fuel.
Very , very tempted to send them via the timor straight -and begin a struggle here -will see what tomorrow brings -and make the decision.
locally only going to send 1 bomber unit, 1 fighter unit at very high altitude against Thursday -the idea is to fatigue his LRCAP tomorrow -and begin bombing properly in a day or two.
I suspect though that no matter what I do -my airforce will be destroyed in the week ahead.
Area4
ASW forces getting together
Area5
nothing to report today
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
RE: Guided missile liberators
12/2/43
The decision to press the attack was a disaster -yet I had little choice -as the day showed.
CL OI and 2 DD atacked the enemy at Thursday island -CA Quincy and CL raleigh and only 5 DDs responded
Sometimes when you see that as Japan you do hope to inflict a good bit of damage.
It was a slaughter -all 3 japanese ships sunk -with hardly a hit on the enemy.
OI took 150 plus hits!!!
and my torps missed -his did not.
Then the silly CL Oyoda got involved -she too was sunk
Dawn saw his LBA attack the cripples left over from yesterday -no escape -all sunk
So I think OI would not have got away anyhow.
A bad beginging of the defence -2 CL, 5 Dd lost for 3 enemy DDs scratched
Burma front
2nd division arrives in rangoon -hope to recieve some reinforcements -if not, I will send it back to the front, or moulmien, not decided yet.
Haranua 63 flood! -might save her yet
DEI
he lightly bombed maumere -10 b17 vs 3 zeros -this is interesting indeed -tells me that he does have intentions here -but to what level?
lautern got its daily hammering
Solomons/PNG
the 30th aust brigade -2 base forces, 1 EAB and a hq? landed at thursday island, no attack yet, expect it this next turn.
My sweep over the place encountered no CAP -very strange!
In for a penny -tomorrow the Army bombers will attack -and 1 unit of betties.
low experience zeros to escort
I think this is a real diversion, so I am adopting a wait and see attitude
Saipan, palua, the phillipines
Dig, dig, dig.
Home front -China
Some training flights, and the ASW war begins -most ASW groups reformed
BIG LESSON -escorting convoys does not help to well at the moment -one has to escort them with a ASW group.
Industry is recovering -but is still very, very sick.
What next
So far my thinking has gone from - lets counter attack the 1st opportunity we get -to, lets fight every foot of the way without committing too much -too lets use the CVs now -and the BBs now -to lets keep a fleet in being.
I have 3 Divisions with transports, the entire fleet and fuel for one big op all at Palua
Options
Crush thursday island
Do nothing yet
Or -look very carefully at the reinforcement schedule -a lot of troops -a lot -are due to arrive in Burma , malaya in the next 6 months -but if they are lost I do not get them.
So i could send the troops -or some of them there -mandalaby now has 17 units in it so he's going to come hard and fast south very soon!
2 divisions more in burma would really help (curse that missing unit bug[:@][:@][:@]) - now the 2 missing divisions really bites -Im sure Tabpub does not even notice 2 missing from his OOB now.
I will make my decision tonight
Option1 -send 2 divs to burma
Option2 -send 3 to thursday island
Option3 -wait -and reinforce in dribs and drabs against his main thrust.
AAAARRRGH -command is so tricky!
The decision to press the attack was a disaster -yet I had little choice -as the day showed.
CL OI and 2 DD atacked the enemy at Thursday island -CA Quincy and CL raleigh and only 5 DDs responded
Sometimes when you see that as Japan you do hope to inflict a good bit of damage.
It was a slaughter -all 3 japanese ships sunk -with hardly a hit on the enemy.
OI took 150 plus hits!!!
and my torps missed -his did not.
Then the silly CL Oyoda got involved -she too was sunk
Dawn saw his LBA attack the cripples left over from yesterday -no escape -all sunk
So I think OI would not have got away anyhow.
A bad beginging of the defence -2 CL, 5 Dd lost for 3 enemy DDs scratched
Burma front
2nd division arrives in rangoon -hope to recieve some reinforcements -if not, I will send it back to the front, or moulmien, not decided yet.
Haranua 63 flood! -might save her yet
DEI
he lightly bombed maumere -10 b17 vs 3 zeros -this is interesting indeed -tells me that he does have intentions here -but to what level?
lautern got its daily hammering
Solomons/PNG
the 30th aust brigade -2 base forces, 1 EAB and a hq? landed at thursday island, no attack yet, expect it this next turn.
My sweep over the place encountered no CAP -very strange!
In for a penny -tomorrow the Army bombers will attack -and 1 unit of betties.
low experience zeros to escort
I think this is a real diversion, so I am adopting a wait and see attitude
Saipan, palua, the phillipines
Dig, dig, dig.
Home front -China
Some training flights, and the ASW war begins -most ASW groups reformed
BIG LESSON -escorting convoys does not help to well at the moment -one has to escort them with a ASW group.
Industry is recovering -but is still very, very sick.
What next
So far my thinking has gone from - lets counter attack the 1st opportunity we get -to, lets fight every foot of the way without committing too much -too lets use the CVs now -and the BBs now -to lets keep a fleet in being.
I have 3 Divisions with transports, the entire fleet and fuel for one big op all at Palua
Options
Crush thursday island
Do nothing yet
Or -look very carefully at the reinforcement schedule -a lot of troops -a lot -are due to arrive in Burma , malaya in the next 6 months -but if they are lost I do not get them.
So i could send the troops -or some of them there -mandalaby now has 17 units in it so he's going to come hard and fast south very soon!
2 divisions more in burma would really help (curse that missing unit bug[:@][:@][:@]) - now the 2 missing divisions really bites -Im sure Tabpub does not even notice 2 missing from his OOB now.
I will make my decision tonight
Option1 -send 2 divs to burma
Option2 -send 3 to thursday island
Option3 -wait -and reinforce in dribs and drabs against his main thrust.
AAAARRRGH -command is so tricky!
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
RE: Guided missile liberators
My honourabril opponent. Thursday may indeed be a diversion but if he builds the place up landings on PM will have Land based fighter cover. B-17s from here can also hit Rabaul...sooooooo
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RE: Guided missile liberators
Good advise wobbly old chum.
Nice to have someone test run the herb defence tactics for you?[:'(]
13/2/43
A really strange day.
iether tabpub has really made a mistake -or -well I do not have a clue
A Grand strategy decision was made
KB will remain as a fleet in being.
It is ordered home
The CVEs will get busy and thursday will be fought for -bitterly
A division begins to load at palua.
4 BBs begin to raise steam at menando
tankers head towards the timor sea.
operation quicksand begins.[8|][8|][8|]
Area1
daily bombing of taung gyi - he might still have hopes of throwing me out of here -doubt it!
rangoon bombed - of no consequence to me now[8|]
Area2
As described, 5th div begins to load at palua, and the route to thursday island is lined with fighter groups to provide LRCAP
Mini KB is nearing Jolo -obviously the counter stroke is going to take a while.
Area3
17 helen attack 4 AKs at thursday -hit one
53 sallies hit his troops
No CAP[&:]
This is wierd
and then the attack -a deliberate one -that gives him a 0 to 1
SO
Now what?
I re order troops flown into thursday -the rest of the snlf should go tomorrow.
More bombing ordered
OK -it must be a diversion -but i HAVE NOT HAD TO DIVERT ANYTHING
Im going to fight for the place -hopefully turn it into a quicksand pit.
Nice to have someone test run the herb defence tactics for you?[:'(]
13/2/43
A really strange day.
iether tabpub has really made a mistake -or -well I do not have a clue
A Grand strategy decision was made
KB will remain as a fleet in being.
It is ordered home
The CVEs will get busy and thursday will be fought for -bitterly
A division begins to load at palua.
4 BBs begin to raise steam at menando
tankers head towards the timor sea.
operation quicksand begins.[8|][8|][8|]
Area1
daily bombing of taung gyi - he might still have hopes of throwing me out of here -doubt it!
rangoon bombed - of no consequence to me now[8|]
Area2
As described, 5th div begins to load at palua, and the route to thursday island is lined with fighter groups to provide LRCAP
Mini KB is nearing Jolo -obviously the counter stroke is going to take a while.
Area3
17 helen attack 4 AKs at thursday -hit one
53 sallies hit his troops
No CAP[&:]
This is wierd
and then the attack -a deliberate one -that gives him a 0 to 1
SO
Now what?
I re order troops flown into thursday -the rest of the snlf should go tomorrow.
More bombing ordered
OK -it must be a diversion -but i HAVE NOT HAD TO DIVERT ANYTHING
Im going to fight for the place -hopefully turn it into a quicksand pit.
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
RE: Guided missile liberators
14/2/43
Operation quicksand continues to gather pieces required
Burma front
2nd div is ordered to tuang gyi
more bombing in burma -tomorrow some tojos will try to oppose -and we will do some of my own
DEI
quiet -
Solomons
No attack at thursday from him
I get another SNLF flown in
The transports move to PM -will fly yet another in from here
Lots of fighters move to PM, and some VALs
Bombers everywhere are ordered to bomb thursday
The CAs go home to Truk -going to re organise the surface groups -learnt a few things since they were formed -a BB in a group is essential -Mutsu and nagato are at truk
Lots of subs are returning to the field
Home front
A completely new convoy system is instituted, with totally new routes, gathering points, and escort philosophy.
Its BIG convoys, with ASW group escort .
Must slow the losses down, must especially in tankers.
japan is now filling fast with ships requiring repair.
Operation quicksand continues to gather pieces required
Burma front
2nd div is ordered to tuang gyi
more bombing in burma -tomorrow some tojos will try to oppose -and we will do some of my own
DEI
quiet -
Solomons
No attack at thursday from him
I get another SNLF flown in
The transports move to PM -will fly yet another in from here
Lots of fighters move to PM, and some VALs
Bombers everywhere are ordered to bomb thursday
The CAs go home to Truk -going to re organise the surface groups -learnt a few things since they were formed -a BB in a group is essential -Mutsu and nagato are at truk
Lots of subs are returning to the field
Home front
A completely new convoy system is instituted, with totally new routes, gathering points, and escort philosophy.
Its BIG convoys, with ASW group escort .
Must slow the losses down, must especially in tankers.
japan is now filling fast with ships requiring repair.
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
RE: Guided missile liberators
15/2/43
a really wierd turn
The 2nd division is in the hex north of rangoon -i call it the twilight zone hex
I click on the unit there -and up pops the IMPERIAL division! -missing since early 42!!!!!
NO SIGN OF THE 2ND But!
OH crap, i think, another unit swallowed by the bug
I try to move the imperial -all i get are messages about no supply trail?
Then POOF -they both disapear.
more frantic clicking, and POOF -the 2nd comes back.
Its ordered to such and such hex, all to follow
very wierd
it would ber nice if the imperial returned though -I NEED IT!
Area1
Pagan Hit
lots of places in burma hit
the poor 35 brig blocking the road is really distracting him -99 to 1 today -the troops hang on!
Area2
its all about convoys and ASW today
Area3
The operation quicksand sails -lots of shiny ships and planes and troops headed south
I bomb thursday -so does he
the biggest shock is a raid on ships at Munda -how far can a liberator fly!!!
Area4
convoys are organised!!!
Area5
Again, its institute a new convoy system
overall the operation at thursday must be a diversion -thats ok -if he's trying to drag assetts away from the tarwana area -so what -the whole area is empty -so that the solomons have become an absolute quagmire (i hope)
a really wierd turn
The 2nd division is in the hex north of rangoon -i call it the twilight zone hex
I click on the unit there -and up pops the IMPERIAL division! -missing since early 42!!!!!
NO SIGN OF THE 2ND But!
OH crap, i think, another unit swallowed by the bug
I try to move the imperial -all i get are messages about no supply trail?
Then POOF -they both disapear.
more frantic clicking, and POOF -the 2nd comes back.
Its ordered to such and such hex, all to follow
very wierd
it would ber nice if the imperial returned though -I NEED IT!
Area1
Pagan Hit
lots of places in burma hit
the poor 35 brig blocking the road is really distracting him -99 to 1 today -the troops hang on!
Area2
its all about convoys and ASW today
Area3
The operation quicksand sails -lots of shiny ships and planes and troops headed south
I bomb thursday -so does he
the biggest shock is a raid on ships at Munda -how far can a liberator fly!!!
Area4
convoys are organised!!!
Area5
Again, its institute a new convoy system
overall the operation at thursday must be a diversion -thats ok -if he's trying to drag assetts away from the tarwana area -so what -the whole area is empty -so that the solomons have become an absolute quagmire (i hope)
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
RE: A naval battle at last!!!!!!
16/2/43
4 pt boats stage a cheeky raid into PM -sink a AK
If this is not a heads up that PM is next -what is[8|][8|][8|]
pt boats at thursday too -and APs
stupid vals from PM cannot find their targets
plenty of bombing in burma -and at pagan it is hurting
I bomb thursday -he bombs it too
Lunga -3 APs hit by liberators -my Tonies are doing very poorly
Most of the day spent getting about 11 DDs sent home for upgrades -only ships left that do not need em.
4 pt boats stage a cheeky raid into PM -sink a AK
If this is not a heads up that PM is next -what is[8|][8|][8|]
pt boats at thursday too -and APs
stupid vals from PM cannot find their targets
plenty of bombing in burma -and at pagan it is hurting
I bomb thursday -he bombs it too
Lunga -3 APs hit by liberators -my Tonies are doing very poorly
Most of the day spent getting about 11 DDs sent home for upgrades -only ships left that do not need em.
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
RE: A naval battle at last!!!!!!
17/2/43
Tabpub reckons he made a mistake with thursday -not so sure on that.[8|]
A SS hits a fuel filled AK of operation quicksand near menando -so not a good start
18 Val again fail to find a target!
Lots of bombing burma -particularily pagan -112 mitchells -nearly 200 bombers all up
lost quite a few fighters over burma today
At thursday a squadron of zeros attacked pt boats -sinking a few
PM was hammered- almost felt the Vals deserved it[:@][:@]
The CAP was not good enough, and I lost 30 planes on the ground all up
Thursday -I now have 2000 troops to his 4000
Area1
The troops at Pagan are suffering -so i order a rotation
haranua is at 46 flood, she is looking good
Convoys up and running
Area2
Is quiet -the convoys are up and running, training continues
I move a few squadrons about getting ready for the ships of operation quicksand
Area3
Ships of operation quicksand wait at Ambonia for the troop ships
An advance unit of 5 DD with troops is at babo island -it awaits some more fuel -then its a sprint in with another SNLF
2CVL, 3CVE, 4 BB constitute the fleet committed to this op
Rest the bombers today, rotate a few about
Pull out of PM, and the transport units are destroyed, they have to rebuild
troops at palua -a NG unit sail for wewak -a back stop unit -if thursday holds a bit longer
I might gather the paras and deploy them to this theatre too
Area4
very pleased with the convoys now
Area5
Industry working again
Tabpub reckons he made a mistake with thursday -not so sure on that.[8|]
A SS hits a fuel filled AK of operation quicksand near menando -so not a good start
18 Val again fail to find a target!
Lots of bombing burma -particularily pagan -112 mitchells -nearly 200 bombers all up
lost quite a few fighters over burma today
At thursday a squadron of zeros attacked pt boats -sinking a few
PM was hammered- almost felt the Vals deserved it[:@][:@]
The CAP was not good enough, and I lost 30 planes on the ground all up
Thursday -I now have 2000 troops to his 4000
Area1
The troops at Pagan are suffering -so i order a rotation
haranua is at 46 flood, she is looking good
Convoys up and running
Area2
Is quiet -the convoys are up and running, training continues
I move a few squadrons about getting ready for the ships of operation quicksand
Area3
Ships of operation quicksand wait at Ambonia for the troop ships
An advance unit of 5 DD with troops is at babo island -it awaits some more fuel -then its a sprint in with another SNLF
2CVL, 3CVE, 4 BB constitute the fleet committed to this op
Rest the bombers today, rotate a few about
Pull out of PM, and the transport units are destroyed, they have to rebuild
troops at palua -a NG unit sail for wewak -a back stop unit -if thursday holds a bit longer
I might gather the paras and deploy them to this theatre too
Area4
very pleased with the convoys now
Area5
Industry working again
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
RE: A naval battle at last!!!!!!
18/2/43
Tabpub e mails -says he feels he might be a day late at thursday island -I think he expects KB or heavy units to turn up today -unfortunately no
he has been very shy with his CVs -not a sign of them -obviously trying to confirm the location of mine, or draw them out before his next Op
He called this A1 op -A2 is to come he says -reading between the lines -the heavy bombing of PM, its constant recon, the PT boat -the thursday OP -well its not hard to guess I think
Today KB was sighted by a sub just outside Tokyo -he must guess thats KB leaving for waters south -in fact I have no intention of sailing KB until mid 43 now -not until it is zeke fitted at least
Today most action was around Thursday
2 DDs missed one of my SS off the base -the waters are thick with subs now
another ss missed an AK of his -surviving the counter attack
Taung gyi bombed -he seems to be hitting a lot of jungle lately -not many men
However -there is very little recon iether -and I think this does affect results -so Im not blaming the game at all for his 30 odd days of bombing for little effect
i sent 14 sallys and 12 oscars north in burma -15 spits only hit 1 sally
Then at thursday 26 betties and 26 zero attacked the CA chicago, CL helena and a DD
CA chicago took 3 torps -and sunk
helena dodged well
1 betty lost -22 damaged
He hammers PM again 17 planes destroyed all causes there - for me Tonies are not doing so good
and elsewhere the new ASW goups get a kill -the new convoy system is fully operational now.
Area1
No new orders issued -troop rotations going on -and some movement
16th div was stalled in thialand -gave it a new destination -and hey presto -it now is headed to the front at last
haranua is 41 flood!
Area2
Convoys, convoys, convoys, training of fighters
Area3
Operation quicksand
The fleet still awaits the troops to arrive at Ambonia
some DDs have started a shuttle run of troops to babo? -the base north west of thursday
tenibar island also has some shipping there -the trick is to make sure the carriers DO NOT attack it as they sail south
the betties are told to try again tomorrow -a mass of shipping now at thursday island
Tomorrow all the Army bombers will be activated in the theatre - thursday must fall tomorrow, and I hope to catch the fighters that will fly in on the ground -and keep them on the ground
A lot of bombers have not flown yet
My reserve of 100 betties will have a crack -a once only attack, then back .
All that shipping is too tempting
Area4
Im sure that if the gilberts are the target -now that KB is sighted he might go for it
all else is quiet
Area5
the home front is very quiet -a mass of ships in repair and upgrade
Yammato even finally gets home tomorrow -into refit again[8|][8|][8|]
Tabpub e mails -says he feels he might be a day late at thursday island -I think he expects KB or heavy units to turn up today -unfortunately no
he has been very shy with his CVs -not a sign of them -obviously trying to confirm the location of mine, or draw them out before his next Op
He called this A1 op -A2 is to come he says -reading between the lines -the heavy bombing of PM, its constant recon, the PT boat -the thursday OP -well its not hard to guess I think
Today KB was sighted by a sub just outside Tokyo -he must guess thats KB leaving for waters south -in fact I have no intention of sailing KB until mid 43 now -not until it is zeke fitted at least
Today most action was around Thursday
2 DDs missed one of my SS off the base -the waters are thick with subs now
another ss missed an AK of his -surviving the counter attack
Taung gyi bombed -he seems to be hitting a lot of jungle lately -not many men
However -there is very little recon iether -and I think this does affect results -so Im not blaming the game at all for his 30 odd days of bombing for little effect
i sent 14 sallys and 12 oscars north in burma -15 spits only hit 1 sally
Then at thursday 26 betties and 26 zero attacked the CA chicago, CL helena and a DD
CA chicago took 3 torps -and sunk
helena dodged well
1 betty lost -22 damaged
He hammers PM again 17 planes destroyed all causes there - for me Tonies are not doing so good
and elsewhere the new ASW goups get a kill -the new convoy system is fully operational now.
Area1
No new orders issued -troop rotations going on -and some movement
16th div was stalled in thialand -gave it a new destination -and hey presto -it now is headed to the front at last
haranua is 41 flood!
Area2
Convoys, convoys, convoys, training of fighters
Area3
Operation quicksand
The fleet still awaits the troops to arrive at Ambonia
some DDs have started a shuttle run of troops to babo? -the base north west of thursday
tenibar island also has some shipping there -the trick is to make sure the carriers DO NOT attack it as they sail south
the betties are told to try again tomorrow -a mass of shipping now at thursday island
Tomorrow all the Army bombers will be activated in the theatre - thursday must fall tomorrow, and I hope to catch the fighters that will fly in on the ground -and keep them on the ground
A lot of bombers have not flown yet
My reserve of 100 betties will have a crack -a once only attack, then back .
All that shipping is too tempting
Area4
Im sure that if the gilberts are the target -now that KB is sighted he might go for it
all else is quiet
Area5
the home front is very quiet -a mass of ships in repair and upgrade
Yammato even finally gets home tomorrow -into refit again[8|][8|][8|]
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
RE: A naval battle at last!!!!!!
19/2/43
febuary slides past quickly
A pretty good weekend of turns
today lots more enemy troops arrive at thursday -another aussie brigade
helped by a light naval bombardment from a CA, CL and DDs
A sub misses a tanker near tarakan -long time since Ive seen one there
AM phase
daily raid taung gyi
26 zeros -6 spits -no losses each side
Sallies bomb lashio
he bombs thursday (PM is being left alone now) 30 liberators, Mitchells, hudsosn, P 38s
And again -more Liberators
South of rangoon mitchells hit 2 DD that wander into the danger zone (on follow orders -not happy Jan!)
They are in big trouble
PM phase -
he bombs all the burma front again
Burma:
16th div is on strike -32 miles covered
haranua -41 flood
I will keep trying to sweep isolated hexes -just to force him to maintain some CAP
DEI
Just convoys
Solomons
Operation quicksand is getting there
Tomorrow a big effort to support the troops at thursday -5 betty,4 sally,3 helen units ordered to attack -5 fighter units to escort, and 2 more on CAP
The whole north coast of PNG is alive
Phillipines
Building away here
Home front
Sorting out the ships to ship yards -I do not understand the mechanics that well -big ships, big yards I suppose -little uns to little yards!
febuary slides past quickly
A pretty good weekend of turns
today lots more enemy troops arrive at thursday -another aussie brigade
helped by a light naval bombardment from a CA, CL and DDs
A sub misses a tanker near tarakan -long time since Ive seen one there
AM phase
daily raid taung gyi
26 zeros -6 spits -no losses each side
Sallies bomb lashio
he bombs thursday (PM is being left alone now) 30 liberators, Mitchells, hudsosn, P 38s
And again -more Liberators
South of rangoon mitchells hit 2 DD that wander into the danger zone (on follow orders -not happy Jan!)
They are in big trouble
PM phase -
he bombs all the burma front again
Burma:
16th div is on strike -32 miles covered
haranua -41 flood
I will keep trying to sweep isolated hexes -just to force him to maintain some CAP
DEI
Just convoys
Solomons
Operation quicksand is getting there
Tomorrow a big effort to support the troops at thursday -5 betty,4 sally,3 helen units ordered to attack -5 fighter units to escort, and 2 more on CAP
The whole north coast of PNG is alive
Phillipines
Building away here
Home front
Sorting out the ships to ship yards -I do not understand the mechanics that well -big ships, big yards I suppose -little uns to little yards!
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
RE: A naval battle at last!!!!!!
20/2/43
tabpub spots DDs headed south east towards th island -I need him to think I am merely garrisoning merauke to the north of Thursday
Some SS operating in the yellow sea!
Lots of shipping at thursday still!
The big news for me today was hanoi is hit heavily -61 mitchell from Kwielang
The 18 tomahawks brush aside the 15 oscar CAP -21 hits to the HI
THIS IS VERY< VERY BAD NEWS
Burma is bombed again
Am
a minor fight zeros verses spits in burma, lost 2 to his 4
he also switches the daily attack at taung gyi to resources -maybe he thinks I will commit to defending them -nope!
I bomb thursday island
18 sally, 16 helen
34 sally, 16 helen
13 sally, 6 helen
9 sally
31 betty attack the shipping, 1 lost
Dd perkins 1 torp
Cl raliegh -is very promptly sunk
AP katoomba -a torp as well
A second strike sinks the perkins, and another AP is hit
PM
A ss of mine is hit by liberators
pagan suffers a huge raid
A tanker is hit near bataan island
And teneibar island goes size 1
The piorities tomorrow -do something about hanoi!
Burma front
16th div moves 2 more miles
haranua is 32 flood
And most of the air force moves to hong kong -and hanoi and that general area.
DEI
The invasion fleet passes babo island -lots of LRCAPing at the moment
I order tenibar to be bombed -but Im not confident about it
Solomons
While the operation against thursday island gathers speed -tanaka sails from truk, and other warships sail south
I intend a preemptive strike on Ndidni -hes gathering there -lots of LCMs spotted headed North towards it.
targets!
Routine stuff every where else
tabpub spots DDs headed south east towards th island -I need him to think I am merely garrisoning merauke to the north of Thursday
Some SS operating in the yellow sea!
Lots of shipping at thursday still!
The big news for me today was hanoi is hit heavily -61 mitchell from Kwielang
The 18 tomahawks brush aside the 15 oscar CAP -21 hits to the HI
THIS IS VERY< VERY BAD NEWS
Burma is bombed again
Am
a minor fight zeros verses spits in burma, lost 2 to his 4
he also switches the daily attack at taung gyi to resources -maybe he thinks I will commit to defending them -nope!
I bomb thursday island
18 sally, 16 helen
34 sally, 16 helen
13 sally, 6 helen
9 sally
31 betty attack the shipping, 1 lost
Dd perkins 1 torp
Cl raliegh -is very promptly sunk
AP katoomba -a torp as well
A second strike sinks the perkins, and another AP is hit
PM
A ss of mine is hit by liberators
pagan suffers a huge raid
A tanker is hit near bataan island
And teneibar island goes size 1
The piorities tomorrow -do something about hanoi!
Burma front
16th div moves 2 more miles
haranua is 32 flood
And most of the air force moves to hong kong -and hanoi and that general area.
DEI
The invasion fleet passes babo island -lots of LRCAPing at the moment
I order tenibar to be bombed -but Im not confident about it
Solomons
While the operation against thursday island gathers speed -tanaka sails from truk, and other warships sail south
I intend a preemptive strike on Ndidni -hes gathering there -lots of LCMs spotted headed North towards it.
targets!
Routine stuff every where else
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
RE: A naval battle at last!!!!!!
21/2/43
Tabpub says in his e mail that he is pleased tenibar island is up and running -"now i can impliment phase 2"
This is too much info.
Im going to punt on this tiny little clue
The majority of my reserve troops at palua begin to load -a mobile reserve that will sail south -target iether tenibar -or timor
I buy today the imperial regiment from home -it too loads for timor
In China -i have resorted to very, very desperate tactics
25 zero, 72 nates (yes, Im still forced to use them in 43 -just not enough oscars coming off the lines!) and 12 sonia attack wuchow airfield
20 P40s
20 zeros a,d 60 nates survive the encounter -the Nates STRAFE the field, the sonias attack
5 zero lost, 15 nates lost, 1 sonia lost
1 p 40 lost[:(]
36 sonia attack -the p 40s have a party -9 sonias die
then 52 zero attack -47 sallies attack
better results, 10 tomahawks die -and a good strike on the field -only 2 zero lost
he attacks Hong kong from kweiang -11 HI hits -so his new tactic is revealed
I try to stop him in Burma -7 tojo on LRCAP die today -as raehang is bombed as expected -But Im gone from here
At thursday -a ss finishes off a AP from yesterday
Betties sink a AP, and a DD? (FOW)
2 SS actions today
he deliberates at thursday -2 brigades, 1 EAB, 1 AT, 2 BF -I have 5 units of dribs and drabs -still flying in troops!
0 to 1!!![:D] - forts still 5
Tomorrow the battle for wuchow in the air really begins
Tenibar will be taken back!
I reshuffle the bombers -most betties back to reserve at palua -no ships at Thursday now
The Ships and tanaka head south.
I still think tabpub is foxing at thursday -well, OK then.
Im going to make it an expensive diversion
remeber -the gilberts some 6 months ago were aboandoned -if he's aiming for there -good luck.
Tabpub says in his e mail that he is pleased tenibar island is up and running -"now i can impliment phase 2"
This is too much info.
Im going to punt on this tiny little clue
The majority of my reserve troops at palua begin to load -a mobile reserve that will sail south -target iether tenibar -or timor
I buy today the imperial regiment from home -it too loads for timor
In China -i have resorted to very, very desperate tactics
25 zero, 72 nates (yes, Im still forced to use them in 43 -just not enough oscars coming off the lines!) and 12 sonia attack wuchow airfield
20 P40s
20 zeros a,d 60 nates survive the encounter -the Nates STRAFE the field, the sonias attack
5 zero lost, 15 nates lost, 1 sonia lost
1 p 40 lost[:(]
36 sonia attack -the p 40s have a party -9 sonias die
then 52 zero attack -47 sallies attack
better results, 10 tomahawks die -and a good strike on the field -only 2 zero lost
he attacks Hong kong from kweiang -11 HI hits -so his new tactic is revealed
I try to stop him in Burma -7 tojo on LRCAP die today -as raehang is bombed as expected -But Im gone from here
At thursday -a ss finishes off a AP from yesterday
Betties sink a AP, and a DD? (FOW)
2 SS actions today
he deliberates at thursday -2 brigades, 1 EAB, 1 AT, 2 BF -I have 5 units of dribs and drabs -still flying in troops!
0 to 1!!![:D] - forts still 5
Tomorrow the battle for wuchow in the air really begins
Tenibar will be taken back!
I reshuffle the bombers -most betties back to reserve at palua -no ships at Thursday now
The Ships and tanaka head south.
I still think tabpub is foxing at thursday -well, OK then.
Im going to make it an expensive diversion
remeber -the gilberts some 6 months ago were aboandoned -if he's aiming for there -good luck.
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
RE: A naval battle at last!!!!!!
tabpub swears to step up a gear
22/2/43
SS grouper gets run over by a battle group off japan
A victory at Wuchow -his planes have run away
18 sally, 27 sonia,23 lilly,25 nate,25 zero attack -32 hits
14 sally and 3 tojo add to the damage -no CAP
Thursday island -another solid day of bombing -54 sally,33 helen
He sinks a AK near Tavoy
Pagan is pounded
Lae is attacked -liberators after the shipping -the tonies perform poorly again
A SS gets a AP off legaspi -one of the last non convoy ships out there
he deliberates again at thursday -no pre lim bombing -and gets a 0 to 1 -YAH!, now he gets just a taste of the frustration I felt at soerabaya[:'(]
Im going to keep flying troops in -long live airlift!
had a look at losses so far
Allies
2cv
3bb
4CA
14Cl/claa
31 dd
15ss
4850 planes
Japan
1cve
1cs
8cl
29dd
8apd
19ss
4854 planes - so we are neck and neck[8|]
Area1 -burma
18 units in mandalaby now -soon the shock attack must come -a real all or nothing i think!
haranua is at 27 flood -the AR ship saved the day
16th div is still crawling towards bangkok - cannot figure out why so slow!
Area2
the tension is rising
For tenibar a DD force is getting fuelled, bombers won't fly, and 2 divisions are enroute......
The div for thursday approaches Merauke -i have 3 options
1/unload here -and fast transport using 5 DDs to thursday
2/unload here and use the BBs to fast transport to thursday
3/sail on to thursday -hoping his liberators will pick on the BBs -and allow the transports a free run
Its going to be costly though
If the place holds -its option 2 for me
Can I hold thursday 3 more days -i hope so!
tanaka is at shortlands, and a 3cl, dd force creeps south of lunga -very heavy LRCAP.
Tons of shipping south to attack.
I await thunderstorms!
Area4
Phillipines recieving more new base forces
Home front -still trying to fill A/C pools!
22/2/43
SS grouper gets run over by a battle group off japan
A victory at Wuchow -his planes have run away
18 sally, 27 sonia,23 lilly,25 nate,25 zero attack -32 hits
14 sally and 3 tojo add to the damage -no CAP
Thursday island -another solid day of bombing -54 sally,33 helen
He sinks a AK near Tavoy
Pagan is pounded
Lae is attacked -liberators after the shipping -the tonies perform poorly again
A SS gets a AP off legaspi -one of the last non convoy ships out there
he deliberates again at thursday -no pre lim bombing -and gets a 0 to 1 -YAH!, now he gets just a taste of the frustration I felt at soerabaya[:'(]
Im going to keep flying troops in -long live airlift!
had a look at losses so far
Allies
2cv
3bb
4CA
14Cl/claa
31 dd
15ss
4850 planes
Japan
1cve
1cs
8cl
29dd
8apd
19ss
4854 planes - so we are neck and neck[8|]
Area1 -burma
18 units in mandalaby now -soon the shock attack must come -a real all or nothing i think!
haranua is at 27 flood -the AR ship saved the day
16th div is still crawling towards bangkok - cannot figure out why so slow!
Area2
the tension is rising
For tenibar a DD force is getting fuelled, bombers won't fly, and 2 divisions are enroute......
The div for thursday approaches Merauke -i have 3 options
1/unload here -and fast transport using 5 DDs to thursday
2/unload here and use the BBs to fast transport to thursday
3/sail on to thursday -hoping his liberators will pick on the BBs -and allow the transports a free run
Its going to be costly though
If the place holds -its option 2 for me
Can I hold thursday 3 more days -i hope so!
tanaka is at shortlands, and a 3cl, dd force creeps south of lunga -very heavy LRCAP.
Tons of shipping south to attack.
I await thunderstorms!
Area4
Phillipines recieving more new base forces
Home front -still trying to fill A/C pools!
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
RE: A naval battle at last!!!!!!
23/2/43
The moment of truth approaches
A enemy SS off bataan -I must kill it -it got another AK today
Big fleet sighted near tricomalee
I bomb Wuchow airfield again -no enemy CAP -and he has stopped trying to hit my HI
I am pleased with this
He continues to bomb in burma very heavily, and I continue to bomb thursday island
Tenibar has Demons and Kittyhawks on it
And masses of shipping gathering at Ndini
Area1
16th div still crawling along[:@]
haranua gained flood today[:@]
And i begin an airlift of troops to andaman island
Area2
maumere is size 4 -will be very important for the defence of Timor
Area3
Meruake will be the key -tomorrow the convoy should get there.
It remains unsighted.
tabpub has confessed that he underestimated my ability to fly in troops -so there might be time yet!
ITS ALL ABOUT TIME NOW
(I have a very bad habit of being just 1 day late with most operations -always just 1 day[8|])
Near Lunga -and I cannot wait to see what happens iether 2 things will happen -I will have a great win -or his CVs are going to turn up and destroy me.
Tabpub also tells me the next plan has been launched -but where?
hosogaya with 3 cls and 5 dds will attack Ndini -he is south of Lunga -looking like a submarine -he is ordered to attack!
Yamata in the nagato with 4CA,4dd is at Lunga -getting ready to attack
Tanaka with 7CA,1CL and 4dd is also in the area -attack!
Of course if the CVs turn up today -its going to be a disaster -no matter how much CAP I have
I hope he is still wary of the betties
Area4
troops heading south
Area5
Nothing much happening
The moment of truth approaches
A enemy SS off bataan -I must kill it -it got another AK today
Big fleet sighted near tricomalee
I bomb Wuchow airfield again -no enemy CAP -and he has stopped trying to hit my HI
I am pleased with this
He continues to bomb in burma very heavily, and I continue to bomb thursday island
Tenibar has Demons and Kittyhawks on it
And masses of shipping gathering at Ndini
Area1
16th div still crawling along[:@]
haranua gained flood today[:@]
And i begin an airlift of troops to andaman island
Area2
maumere is size 4 -will be very important for the defence of Timor
Area3
Meruake will be the key -tomorrow the convoy should get there.
It remains unsighted.
tabpub has confessed that he underestimated my ability to fly in troops -so there might be time yet!
ITS ALL ABOUT TIME NOW
(I have a very bad habit of being just 1 day late with most operations -always just 1 day[8|])
Near Lunga -and I cannot wait to see what happens iether 2 things will happen -I will have a great win -or his CVs are going to turn up and destroy me.
Tabpub also tells me the next plan has been launched -but where?
hosogaya with 3 cls and 5 dds will attack Ndini -he is south of Lunga -looking like a submarine -he is ordered to attack!
Yamata in the nagato with 4CA,4dd is at Lunga -getting ready to attack
Tanaka with 7CA,1CL and 4dd is also in the area -attack!
Of course if the CVs turn up today -its going to be a disaster -no matter how much CAP I have
I hope he is still wary of the betties
Area4
troops heading south
Area5
Nothing much happening
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
A rush of blood
24/2/43
Task force 8 races into ndini -and the allies react all over the place.
OOOOOOOOOOOOOPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS
Well the rush of blood has been cured - the resultant battle is a disaster!
BB Colorado, maryland and West virginia and 10 DDs gain surprise
The battle lasts over 3 rounds -and Pts get involved as well -but his gunnery is just too good
The task force is annilated (spelling[8|])
destroyed
made no more
turned to reefs
In reply they manage to torp one of the BBs, and damage 3 DDs
I cancel anymore stupid ideas like that, tanaka turns north
heavy air fighting over Wunchow -he re challenges me -I lose 28 zeros, 5 sonias, 9 nates, to his 16 fighters in various battles
Im going to keep at it here though
The big news -Baker Island is invaded and falls.
I keep bombing thursday island, he keeps bombing Burma -over 100 mediums today, 60 heavies as well.
I send the haranua to singa's, and the merauke convoy will arrive tomorrow -a sub awaits me there -will have to deal with it
The BBs, CVEs are unspotted still.
CA's and DDs (a CV group?) is off cooktown, headed north, wonder what that is?
A terrible day for me.
If I can get troops ashore at Thursday Island, a lot will be re deemed.
Task force 8 races into ndini -and the allies react all over the place.
OOOOOOOOOOOOOPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS
Well the rush of blood has been cured - the resultant battle is a disaster!
BB Colorado, maryland and West virginia and 10 DDs gain surprise
The battle lasts over 3 rounds -and Pts get involved as well -but his gunnery is just too good
The task force is annilated (spelling[8|])
destroyed
made no more
turned to reefs
In reply they manage to torp one of the BBs, and damage 3 DDs
I cancel anymore stupid ideas like that, tanaka turns north
heavy air fighting over Wunchow -he re challenges me -I lose 28 zeros, 5 sonias, 9 nates, to his 16 fighters in various battles
Im going to keep at it here though
The big news -Baker Island is invaded and falls.
I keep bombing thursday island, he keeps bombing Burma -over 100 mediums today, 60 heavies as well.
I send the haranua to singa's, and the merauke convoy will arrive tomorrow -a sub awaits me there -will have to deal with it
The BBs, CVEs are unspotted still.
CA's and DDs (a CV group?) is off cooktown, headed north, wonder what that is?
A terrible day for me.
If I can get troops ashore at Thursday Island, a lot will be re deemed.
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
Operation quicksand
I have been hoping against hope to drag tabpub into some sort of guadacanal situation -out of reach of his LBA fighters, and after these 2 days to report, Im actually starting to believe i may get what i want.
25/2/43
he naval bombs Th island -just a single CA, a Cl and 3 DDs
regrettfully 5 DDs of mine react -but fail to intercept -come daylight they are still at thursday.[:@]
At Wuchow the air war begins to turn against me -2 big actions against the AVG -I lose some 20 fighters and bombers to his 13, one daitai of zeros is finished, and retires, can i crack him?
He bombs Thursday heavily, and all his LCVPs return to Ndini
10 kates fail to find the target -so I give that secret away
His heavies -attack -and 5 32 knot DDs are attacked from 15000 feet -3 are finished[:@][:@][:@] -1 will sink
Cursed heavies!!!!
he just bombards at thursday -and I am still flying troops and men in
At mearuke -I need 2 days to get the shuttle going, tomorrow is so critical!
26/2/43
All eyes on thursday island!!!
Burma is being bombed daily -and the rest of the war is quiet -except Chengsa, where i throw a chinese unit back -just a distraction
His B17s spot my CVE's -but no attack -instead his heavies and mitchells attack thursday
Then comes the paras -1st marine and 2nd marine
he must have come in low -the list of damaged dakatos goes on and on
The allies shock -0 to 1 YES!!, forts still 5
Tomorrow Thursday must be held, the whole herbie strategy is to intangle him in a "minor op", that turns into a major diversion of effort.
Already some benefits -PM is fully operational again
plans for tomorrow
I move rufes and Alfs into Thursday itself -limited CAP -dakato killers I hope, and the ALFs I hope will attack the PT boats
Port Moresby recieves vals for naval attack -and tojos to escort -vulnerable but a worthwhile risk
Gilli, Gilli has betties and zeros on strike
Lea has 5 army squadrons to bomb
Fincherson has 2 betty on strike
madang, has 2 sallies, and lots of transports still hard at work
3 Dd are bringing in troops from mearung -where the troops are unloading
1 seperate AP heads in -just as a lure really, and I order the BBs to bombard, and then return to Meaurang .
I risk the CVEs to his heavies -I have to -if the troops get ashore , I can set up a rapid shuttle with the DDs I have in theatre, and grow Thursday from what it is now to a very large lump of defence, and hopefully drag Tabpub into a morass.
Tonight is all out, may I please have some luck tonight!!!
25/2/43
he naval bombs Th island -just a single CA, a Cl and 3 DDs
regrettfully 5 DDs of mine react -but fail to intercept -come daylight they are still at thursday.[:@]
At Wuchow the air war begins to turn against me -2 big actions against the AVG -I lose some 20 fighters and bombers to his 13, one daitai of zeros is finished, and retires, can i crack him?
He bombs Thursday heavily, and all his LCVPs return to Ndini
10 kates fail to find the target -so I give that secret away
His heavies -attack -and 5 32 knot DDs are attacked from 15000 feet -3 are finished[:@][:@][:@] -1 will sink
Cursed heavies!!!!
he just bombards at thursday -and I am still flying troops and men in
At mearuke -I need 2 days to get the shuttle going, tomorrow is so critical!
26/2/43
All eyes on thursday island!!!
Burma is being bombed daily -and the rest of the war is quiet -except Chengsa, where i throw a chinese unit back -just a distraction
His B17s spot my CVE's -but no attack -instead his heavies and mitchells attack thursday
Then comes the paras -1st marine and 2nd marine
he must have come in low -the list of damaged dakatos goes on and on
The allies shock -0 to 1 YES!!, forts still 5
Tomorrow Thursday must be held, the whole herbie strategy is to intangle him in a "minor op", that turns into a major diversion of effort.
Already some benefits -PM is fully operational again
plans for tomorrow
I move rufes and Alfs into Thursday itself -limited CAP -dakato killers I hope, and the ALFs I hope will attack the PT boats
Port Moresby recieves vals for naval attack -and tojos to escort -vulnerable but a worthwhile risk
Gilli, Gilli has betties and zeros on strike
Lea has 5 army squadrons to bomb
Fincherson has 2 betty on strike
madang, has 2 sallies, and lots of transports still hard at work
3 Dd are bringing in troops from mearung -where the troops are unloading
1 seperate AP heads in -just as a lure really, and I order the BBs to bombard, and then return to Meaurang .
I risk the CVEs to his heavies -I have to -if the troops get ashore , I can set up a rapid shuttle with the DDs I have in theatre, and grow Thursday from what it is now to a very large lump of defence, and hopefully drag Tabpub into a morass.
Tonight is all out, may I please have some luck tonight!!!
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
RE: Operation quicksand
27/2/43
Howland island occupied by allies -where the hell is that?
the loss of air in china begins to bite -mitchells on search all over the place
My BBs announce themselves with a big naval bombardment -no pt boats -he has withdrawn them
15 sallies bomb wuchow -whoops, missed them
Raheag gets it today
12 mitchell, 16 hudson, 48 p38 th is - 6 oscar and some rufes die on CAP
I bomb him as well -37 helen, 58 sally, then 29 more sally
In the pm, more air battles over Th island, heavy liberators as well
His attention has been forced to thursday island, PM is repaired, and i still have a chance to get the troops in
South of Chengsa 5 of my divisions throw one of his of the road.
I plotted backwards today
Area5
The fleet is in refit and repair, 12 carriers and 6 Bbs under repair
Area4
scratching for tankers -the oil situation is grim, grim, grim
Area3
Operation quicksand!
Th island is still fort 5, and at 98% , can I get 6!
The BBs load 3500 men at Merauke, and 2 aps travle independently, 5th division is almost there.
Using BBs as fast transport is a great way to move a lot of men, fast!
All planes are iether bombing, or on supply runs
Tomorrow is the most critical of turns i can think of.
Area2
Convoys
Area1
16th div still crawling along
Howland island occupied by allies -where the hell is that?
the loss of air in china begins to bite -mitchells on search all over the place
My BBs announce themselves with a big naval bombardment -no pt boats -he has withdrawn them
15 sallies bomb wuchow -whoops, missed them
Raheag gets it today
12 mitchell, 16 hudson, 48 p38 th is - 6 oscar and some rufes die on CAP
I bomb him as well -37 helen, 58 sally, then 29 more sally
In the pm, more air battles over Th island, heavy liberators as well
His attention has been forced to thursday island, PM is repaired, and i still have a chance to get the troops in
South of Chengsa 5 of my divisions throw one of his of the road.
I plotted backwards today
Area5
The fleet is in refit and repair, 12 carriers and 6 Bbs under repair
Area4
scratching for tankers -the oil situation is grim, grim, grim
Area3
Operation quicksand!
Th island is still fort 5, and at 98% , can I get 6!
The BBs load 3500 men at Merauke, and 2 aps travle independently, 5th division is almost there.
Using BBs as fast transport is a great way to move a lot of men, fast!
All planes are iether bombing, or on supply runs
Tomorrow is the most critical of turns i can think of.
Area2
Convoys
Area1
16th div still crawling along
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
RE: Operation quicksand
28/2/43
tabpub tells me he thinks the BBs have shot their bolt -that they have, but they have a more sneaky use.
AM, ss hit by air, Im losing SS everyday to planes -all damaged
I bomb, and bomb, he bombs as well, destroying the air prescenec I have on thursday island -but the dakatos have stopped flying!
he bombs burma -and troops spotted on the road south of Akyab -OK, tabpub is trying something new.
Operation quicksand is working[:'(]
2000 5th div troops were unloaded on thursday island last night[:D]
Tonight 16 DDs and the 4 BBs will do another run.
The plan is simple
he will bring in more troops -and hopefully bounce of 5th division -which has mysteriously arrived[8|]
Then, as he gathers even more troops, overwhelming numbers, 5th will be pulled out
Hopefully this whole procedere has delayed him a month at least.[:)]
tabpub tells me he thinks the BBs have shot their bolt -that they have, but they have a more sneaky use.
AM, ss hit by air, Im losing SS everyday to planes -all damaged
I bomb, and bomb, he bombs as well, destroying the air prescenec I have on thursday island -but the dakatos have stopped flying!
he bombs burma -and troops spotted on the road south of Akyab -OK, tabpub is trying something new.
Operation quicksand is working[:'(]
2000 5th div troops were unloaded on thursday island last night[:D]
Tonight 16 DDs and the 4 BBs will do another run.
The plan is simple
he will bring in more troops -and hopefully bounce of 5th division -which has mysteriously arrived[8|]
Then, as he gathers even more troops, overwhelming numbers, 5th will be pulled out
Hopefully this whole procedere has delayed him a month at least.[:)]
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
RE: A naval battle at last!!!!!!
1/3/43
Submarines active off the china coast
I bomb thursday island heavily again
he bombs heavily as well
Its in china that things are going sour - -he bombs Kiungahan -the tojos there are in trouble, a AK is hit
Then the whole turn seems to be mitchells all along the southern railway cities attacking my convoys creeping along the coast
tanker is hit -terible news
This is a crises at the moment -several huge convoys are vulnerable -divert, duck, dodge!!!!
Burma -its not raining bombs now, its a torrent of them
Im doing a bit of shuffling
Lunga is bombed as well -77 B17s , 27 tony -, 5 tonies, and 5 heavies shot down
Area1
taung gyi is told to send 3 NG units towards the Akyab road, 16th div may make it in time, may not
Area2
Convoys
Area3
Operation quicksand is complete -100% successful, 10000 troops delivered.
The heavy units will retire, and some DDs will dtay to do supply runs.
All bombers switch to supply runs for a few days
Area4
The great convoy re route begins
area5
Scratching around for spare troops from china for burma..
Submarines active off the china coast
I bomb thursday island heavily again
he bombs heavily as well
Its in china that things are going sour - -he bombs Kiungahan -the tojos there are in trouble, a AK is hit
Then the whole turn seems to be mitchells all along the southern railway cities attacking my convoys creeping along the coast
tanker is hit -terible news
This is a crises at the moment -several huge convoys are vulnerable -divert, duck, dodge!!!!
Burma -its not raining bombs now, its a torrent of them
Im doing a bit of shuffling
Lunga is bombed as well -77 B17s , 27 tony -, 5 tonies, and 5 heavies shot down
Area1
taung gyi is told to send 3 NG units towards the Akyab road, 16th div may make it in time, may not
Area2
Convoys
Area3
Operation quicksand is complete -100% successful, 10000 troops delivered.
The heavy units will retire, and some DDs will dtay to do supply runs.
All bombers switch to supply runs for a few days
Area4
The great convoy re route begins
area5
Scratching around for spare troops from china for burma..
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt