Defending the Empire (No Xarguns)

[rroberson]

ORIGINAL: Nomad

Congradulations Rob

I hope you copied down all the settings you had. [:D]

Run Xargun out of New Caldonia while you're at it. [:)]

That is the intention. Im taking the so-called southeastern option...

[rroberson]

Audacious

Well I'll give old Xarg this...he doesn't lack balls. I have found two of his other Carriers...OFF THE COAST OF JAPAN! I saw them yesterday, but my search registered them as transports. Being the smart guy I am I sent the ISE battlegroup out to greet them...opps. 3 waves of bombers later and ISE is sinking 2 Cruisers are in trouble and man oh man am I irritated.

Thats okay, vengence will be mine...I still have enough long range bombers (bettys/Nells) to harras him all the way out of my waters...so focused on the submarine threat I had the majority of them set to that mission. No more. I have also shifted kates and dive bombers to that part of the island. Come and embrace me you evil man you.

In the south I finished off a destroyer and am returning my attention to Amida...my two injured carriers (KAGA and SORYU) turned east to avoid his submarine screens...SORYU's fires are pretty low now, and her flooding is at 12...40 system though..ouch.

[Nomad]

I would expect him to be 12 hexes to the East of where he launched that turn. Then, he could try to hit Tokyo, he only has to move 8 hexes and blast away. [:D]

[rroberson]

Id love that. I have enough nell/betty squadrons to give him hell if he stays within there range. if he closes on Tokyo..that could hurt (mostly fighters there)...but...to risk 2 of his remaining 3 carriers this way...insanity.

[rroberson]

That's dissappointing.

2 Waves of Betty/Nell/Kate/Sally bombers go against his flattops. Break the CAP. Not even a near miss. Granted these home island groups aren't exactly frontline...BUt we didnt even shake the rivets of his carriers. I can only hope that he remains within range...he is so far from home, one bomb in a flight deck will be death for HORNET and ENTERPRISE.

[rroberson]

wtf!

I ordered Kaga and Soryu north 2 days ago. I then saw a enemy submarine 60 miles north of them (one hex), so I ordered them to turn east to avoid said submarine. I intended to turn them north again today.

I opened my turn and saw that instead I going east they ran SOUTHEAST. WTF? Why this hurts is Soryu is slowly sinking, up to 18 float damage now. I am turning them north, but I dont dare run to port or Soryu will never make it. THat one day going the wrong way hurt.

I AM SURE that I ordered these 2 east. Chalk it up to the game engine I guess.

On a sad note..ISE who was running for port ran into one of his S-boats...and of course the torpedo went off. SO far Xarg's northern excursion has bagged a Battleship...ouch.

I won the A2A today 25 kills to his 22. A lot of my losses were those inexperienced home defense units.

In other news I need to get some sort of Naval defense in DEI. If Xarg's run north has showed me anything Im not in good shape at all defense wise. Few aircraft, no warships and not enough troops. After Amida is complete I will spend a couple months building that area up...if Xarg knew how bad off I was...he'd roll right in.

[rroberson]

A mostly quiet day as the primary action came between submarine forces. Xarg bagged a tanker, a troop transport (off Koepang) and another Oiler. Is S boats are raising hell with my AMIDA task forces off Lunga.

His ASW forces of Australia bagged one of my I-boats.

My Amida forces have made several landings in and around Lunga today. Follow up landings at Ndini and Lunganville should come in the next week, at which point I will retire my carriers north to truk for fuel and ammo.

KAGA and SORYU are making a slow glide to Kwaj. Nice port there..will let me work the float issues on SORYU down and allow me to avoid what is appearing to be a massive submarine presence north of Lunga.

The Royal Navy showed its teeth today bombarding Andaman Island off Rangoon. Not a lot of damage but he was in and out so quickly I may not be able to catch him with JUNYO which was steaming just south of the island. She is screaming north now and IM hoping those British heavies go slow enough to let me get in range or between him and Ceylon.

The American navy is steaming away from the Japanese Islands...too bad really, now that my air groups are better rested I was hoping to take another poke at them. Xarg was going for a city strike, but is afraid to close the range now that I am alerted..(he said he couldnt target a city out of range and didnt want to stay for 2 days.)

I have sent 3 or 4 subs to try and catch him, unlikely they will.

[rroberson]

Sorry about that...had the wrong date yesterday on the masthead.

Mostly quiet turn today as the American navy has no doubt turned for him (or fuel )

JUNYO (Nagumo) caught that Royal Navy group from behind, but was mostly ineffective due to the amount of flak (those CLAAs put up some metal). I did manage 2 bombs into warspite...so I guess thats some punishment. I doubt I will see the RN very soon...but with Xarg who knows. Either way Junyo is retiring to Singapore to refit (down to just 2 kates).

2 out of 3 of my phase 1 Amida op goals are complete as Tassa and Tulagi are in my hands...I forgot to order the attack on Lunga or it would be 3 for 3. Phase is underway as Carrier planes and a bombardment group will hit Ndini tomorrow...and follow up with attacks against Luginville. After that the troops land.

My mining program showed some nice results today 3 of his vessels hitting mines off New Calendonia. Unfortunetly I struck another one of my own mines at Lunga...win some lose some.

[rroberson]

3 days have past with mostly no action. My carrier planes have taken to pounding the airfield at Ndini where the bulk of his orphaned carrier birds have taken nest. Today I landed troops there and the island will be in my hands by tomorrow.

I have ordered an operational pause of phase 2 of Amida while my carriers all refuel. I their next target will be Lunganville, as I continue to work my way down the chain.

SORYU and KAGA are now a day out of Kwaj. MY ASW forces went to work there clearing out US S-boats, badly damaging one. SORYUs float problems jumped up to 24 yesterday, but are now down to 22, so it looks like I will win that battle. MY next worry is mines...I saw a lot of subs at Kwaj, no doubt leaving me gifts. I have minesweepers out...hopefully I can pick up a few before either carrier finds them embedded in their hulls.

Production of Nakajima engines is a concern. I'm losing ground there despite switching a hell of a lot of factorys over to them. Not sure why but I will continue to watch this (it could be supply levels slowing down the conversions).

I did dispatch 4 BBs towards Balikpapan a few days ago. The idea of having zero combat power in DEI was really bothering me. Don't want Xargun to get any wierd ideas.

Junyo is almost back to Singapore. I will have Nagumo refreshen her air groups and send her back to the IO.

China is a mess...as always...tinkering around with a few ideas. THose level 9 forts are damn intimdating.

[rroberson]

A very quiet turn today as I refuel my carriers and prepare to continue Amida to the south.

[rroberson]

Amida phase 2 continues...

[rroberson]

Mostly quiet day as Amida continues. My carriers are begining to run out of fuel...I think I have maybe one more day on station before I will have to retire to truk. This may cause a delay of phase 3. He hurt me badly in the opening days of Amida attacking one of my replenishment groups. Both Lunganville and Efate should be in my hands in 2 days. I may still hurl the 65th at New Calendonia depending on my fuel statis. MY main goal of this operation has already been partially accomplished (2 CVs knocked out)and based on that I may just retire north and call it an op. We will see.

[BossGnome]

rob, I should tell you that you are waaaay too scared about your carriers. Usually, after a Carrier battle, my carriers have somewhere around 55-75 system damage, and over 40 float damage, plus 20 fires... and I still manage to save them 4 times out of 5 as the Japanese!![:D]

[rroberson]

ORIGINAL: BossGnome

rob, I should tell you that you are waaaay too scared about your carriers. Usually, after a Carrier battle, my carriers have somewhere around 55-75 system damage, and over 40 float damage, plus 20 fires... and I still manage to save them 4 times out of 5 as the Japanese!![:D]

Usually mine are on the bottom of the ocean. My duel with him was my first carrier to carrier victory in 2 years of playing this game [:D]

[rroberson]

No new major action today. Todo TF9 savaged a small destroyer sweeper group south of New Cal today sinking 3 of the four ships there. She also caught CURTIS fleeing southward and sent her to the bottom.

By tomorrow Espiritu and Efatu should be in my hands.

I have ordered the 65th to go forward with their landings at Noumea (New Cal). Based on the very weak response from his air assets (his Hudsons continue to go after my heavies bombardment group) I believe at most he has is support troops there. Im going with a smash and grab.

TF9 is redlined on fuel. I have ordered the group North to refuel though they remain in range of Noumea in case he tries to slip in with shipping. I have also ordered my bombardment group south to strike New Cal and prep it for the 65th. In about 3 days this operation should be complete.

I have split off two of my small carriers and sent them to truk to rearm.

One of his S boats attacked and put a torpedo into ASW destroyers at Ndini...

I have about 200 K worth of troops hiting Yenen in China tomorrow. My first push to drive his horde backwards there.

No pics today...not much different from yesterday.

[rroberson]

Loud, surprising, but a generally satisfying day.

First the bad news. Amida phase three has been canceled. He surprised me with many many more troops at New Cal then I expected. Based on what I am seeing from my recon he has something in the neighborhood of 45K of troops there. I don't have enough guns in this party to take it.

He also has the 124th RCT and about 8K worth of troopers at Efate. I have diverted both task groups bearing the 65th (8 hours sailing time) to Efate and intend to secure that. It should be a tough fight but winnable. Once Efate is secured I must decide whether to fortify it or withdraw my troops to Lunga. The main problem with fortifying is while its a nice airfield...we all know that in six months his army air power will be scary. And Efate is not defendable as long as he has Noumea. Now I could attempt to wrest Noumea from him, but at what cost? I don't think its worth the loss of troops and shipping to take it. We will see what I decide once Efate is in my hands.

On to the good news, he had a troop task force at Koumac. I couldnt understand why they weren't fleeing with TF 9 bearing down on New Cal. Well TF 9 caught them and pounded them hard. Not many ships (10 AKs and 4 DDs) will walk away from Koumac. My guess is he intended this TF to land troops at Lunga. I beat him there...he retreated to a safe harbor and began landing of his combat strength at New Cal and wasn't done. Either way a number of destroyers and transports should be at the bottom soon as I will follow up the attacks.

My bombardment group will go in and hit Noumea. Even though I don't intend to land there now. I'd like to paralyze the airfield there and maybe kill alot of troops since he has them stacked up there so nicely.

TF9 is now refueled and can probably stay on station for 3 more days. TF 153 is running on fumes and wil refuel tomorrow. I hope to have efate in my hands in 3 days at which time I will make a decision about whether to stay or withdraw. Either way my flattops need to go home and rearm soon, they have been fighting way too long.

SORYU's float issues have been repaired at Kwaj and her and KAGA are headed home. They both picked up a system damage while docked....time for some serious yard time for each of them.

After 29 days of this campaign I still feel very very strung out troop wise. Still racing to get people in the right place.

[rroberson]

Fairly quiet day overall. TF9 (Todo) continue to pounded his transports north of New Cal. My battlewagons hit Noumea itself leveling the airfield and killing about 500 of his troops.

Landings by the 65th at Efate resulted in about 2000 dead guys for me..not a plus . Once I get the rest of the division ashore I will begin to reduce his defenses.

He is attempting to sneak a surface raider group into Lunga no doubt to get at my shipping. I was alerted to this inbound group by one of my submarine pickets. Needless to say my transports are all fleeing north from Lunga. I am sliding TF9 west to attempt to get behind his inbound surface vessels. I won't catch him tomorrow. But the next day should be good hunting for my fliers.

The rest of the Pacific remains very quiet. He doesnt appear to be moving much to PM...or atleast IM not seeing much arrive there. Burma he is dinking around here or there...same thing in China, but no major movements.

I received Yamato this turn. Not sure what to do with her frankly...maybe a side trip to Alaska.

[rroberson]

Not a happy day to be allied.

First Xarg surprised me and hit Shortlands instead of Lunga bagging a transport.

AK Azumasan Maru, Shell hits 33, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk.

Then my Surface group struck New Cal

AP Esperance Bay, Shell hits 26, and is sunk
AP Largs Bay, Shell hits 5, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
PT PT-60, Shell hits 1, and is sunk

Not as many transports there as I would of liked...he finally fled south with them.

And one of my subs caught one

AP Moreton Bay, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage (she sank)

But his choice at hitting Shortlands instead of Lunga...opps...Ill take the loss of the Tranports for this

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 30
G4M1 Betty x 27

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 2 destroyed, 23 damaged

Allied Ships
CA Canberra, Torpedo hits 4, on fire, heavy damage
CA Australia, Torpedo hits 1
CA Chicago
DD Cummings, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
DD Meredith

My Bettys returned that afternoon

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 18
G4M1 Betty x 12

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 3 damaged

Allied Ships
CA Canberra, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage (sunk)
DD Cummings, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage (sunk)

He sent more PTs in..this time at Efate

Now I missed it when I tried to make a screen capture. But apparently he had RA Spruance Admiral US Navy with this PT group. He's dead now.

PT PT-37, Shell hits 14, and is sunk
PT PT-38, Shell hits 19, and is sunk
PT PT-36, Shell hits 15, and is sunk
PT PT-48, Shell hits 1, and is sunk



On their way in his bombardment group caught one of my I boats...

Japanese Ships
SS I-6, hits 5, on fire, heavy damage

Allied Ships
DD Cummings
DD Mahan

My carriers didnt catch his bombardment group because he went further north then I thought. But Im happy with the work of my betties. Im very surprised that he even let his ships get within the Betty line of death. He knew I was staging them out of Rabaul.

Ill post a bit more about todays plan in the next post.

I'm pretty pleased with the action though.

[rroberson]

turn

[rroberson]

Been a couple game turn days since I updated. The situation in the Solomons really hasnt changed much. I have landed several units of naval troops to assist the 65th with their taking of Efate. I have close to 20 thousand troops on the island, but they remain very disrupted and unable to put together a decent attack against Xarguns 8000 infantry there. This is bad for a couple reasons. My naval forces have to retire to rearm and refuel. When they do I guarantee Xargun will shuttle more troops/supplies into his besieged units. I have ordered Togo North to Rabaul to rearm. TF153 is already on its way to Truk to do the same. But this puts both sets of carriers out of the battle for at least a week. If my troops are unable to take Efate in the next two days. It is unlikely they will and will have to be withdrawn. A defeat for the empire.

In other news...I have begun to send out false signal intellegence. I know Xargun reads the sigints so I have started to prep units for various islands I have no intention of ever invading. We will see what kind of fruit it bears.

Not much happening in Burma or China. I have a lot of divisions on the move in China for a hook I want to try. Ill try and get you guys a picture of it next turn. If it works it could crack Xargun's forces right down the middle (well thats how it works in my pea brain [8|]) But as bad as I am as an Admiral, I'm even worse as a general.

I hope I have stopped the bleeding on Nakajima engines...down to 32 now, but I expanded several factories and hope that turns around soon.

Like I said, its been a quiet 3 days overall...If I manage to get a location on his carriers...I will make some more noise.