Speedy vs Fabertong: Death to the Penguin!

[Speedysteve]

Hi Sneer,

Faber is using the high ASW rating PC's for ASW duty as well as DD's. His convoy escorts range from 2-10 ships - NORMALLY PG/PC/MSW and occassionally DD's.

He has Sally, Helen, Lilly, Alf, Jake, B5N on ASW Patrol around PI/Formosa/Iwo Jima/Marianas.

As for breaking him i'm not sure personally. When I next get a Japanese turn i'll tot up the number of TK's I have and what I receive.

The Japanese do have LOTS of AK's so no problem there and alos IIRC they receive a lot of TK's later on in the game. I do think 60+ TK's is a big hit. I guess Faber doesn't have to perform a lot of fleet movements nowadays though............

[castor troy]

I use TKs for moving fuel only rarely. Lots of AKs can move quite some fuel to the place where it´s needed. But I need my TKs for transporting oil and couldn´t effort losing 60. I never have 60 TKs in port waiting, perhaps 30 and the rest is out moving oil.

[Speedysteve]

Hi all,

Interesting sighting..........

SS Grayling fired 4 torpdoes at DD sagi 180 mils SE of Tori Shima.....they missed. She was lightly damaged in return. Interestingly CA Chokai was also spotted + 2 other TF's. I conclude these are Combined Fleet units moving to either the Mariana's or the Marshalls.

SS S-38 missed AK Teikin Maru with 4 torpedoes in the Macassar Strait.

SS Permit sank the empty transport Ryugi Maru 240 miles south of Truk. I am thinking Faber is either reinforcing, or more likely, moving units out of the south Pacific now.

SS Snook damaged AK Onoe Maru with a torpedo 240 miles SE of Okinawa.

Sub sightings: 12
Air attacks: 1

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Majuro reached level 3 airfield today. Corsairs patrol the skies over both Majuro and Wotje. Over the next week I expect bombing missions to be launched from these bases.

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My fleets continue to move back to PH for R & R.

An AK, LST and DE arrive in theatre tomorrow as does 116th RAC Tk Rgt.

[Speedysteve]

Hi all,

I like this one:

Sub attack at 67,78

Japanese Ships
ML Tsugaru, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

Allied Ships
SS O24

Sink you bugger[:)]

SS Dragonet saw her first action of the war hitting the empty AP Oigawa Maru with a torpedo 120 miles SE of Palau.

SS Pargo played cat and mouse with a 5 x DD ASW TF 240 miles south of Iwo Jima. She evaded 10's of DC's and still managed to put a fish into DD Kikuzuki[8D]

SS Thresher blew up AK Dainiti Maru with 4 torpedo hits ovrer 2 attacks 240 miles SE of Hong Kong.

SS Permit was attacked by an APD 240 miles south of Truk. Moderate damage caused and returning to Brisbane.

Air sightings: 12
Air attacks: 2
SS Hake hit returning to Darwin for repair.

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I'm ordering my P38J FG at Attu to sweep the skies of Paramushiro Jima. See if he still has fighters there.

Usual bombings over Burma and the Marshalls (Tarawa from Makin). A PB4Y group will fly Naval Search from Wotje today. Their first air operations. Enemy shipping can now be spotted well to the west of Eniwetok.

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2 x AK and a LST arrive in theatre tomorrow as does a Beaufighter VIF Squadron.

[pauk]

damn! i never thought that i could learn something from your AAR[;)][:'(] but i have to admit: I've never seen such expert in subs warfare[&o] (of course, you are totally aware that this is cowardly tactic and real grognards like me despise it[:'(])

[DuckofTindalos]

Said the Japan-only player...

[Speedysteve]

Hi all,

Why thank you Pauk. Most gracious of you[;)]

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No sub attacks today.

Air sightings: 11
Air attacks: 1

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Some decent air attacks today.

My heavies took off from Darwin for Kendari. They encountered 70ish fighters on CAP but only lost 3 planes to Faber's 13. Minor damage to resource production though.

My sweep of Paramushiro was successful. I lost 2 Lightnings to Fabers 17 Tonys and Tojos.

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2 x AK, an LSD, DE, MSW and DD arrive in theatre tomorrow as does a P47C FG.

You want to see the ultimate ML....I present to you Terror........100's of mines and a good AA complement too!

[Miller]

840 mines? Is that right?[X(]

[DuckofTindalos]

Forget it...

[castor troy]

ORIGINAL: Miller

840 mines? Is that right?[X(]

What a mess I can´t build 20 of them for the IJN. [8|]

[Speedysteve]

Hi all,

With Mk 18 mines too. T how many of these do I get?

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SS Permit let me down today. She missed ML Hirashima with 2 torpeodes 240 miles south of Truk.

SS Haddock performed better hitting TK Amatsu Maru with a torpedo 120 miles east of Tarakan.

SS Mingo heavily damaged the probably resource laden freighter Nittai Maru with a torpedo east of Batavia.

Air sightings: 10
Air attacks: 1

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Slowly but surely the relentless air attacks at Mandalay are taking their toll. The AV was at 5150 a month agao:

Ground combat at Mandalay

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 146919 troops, 1379 guns, 979 vehicles, Assault Value = 3646

Defending force 258078 troops, 1320 guns, 388 vehicles, Assault Value = 5075


Japanese ground losses:
127 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

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CV and Invasion TF's moving back to PH. Just passing Johnston Island.

Thinking of invading with SEAC forces within 2 months. I think I will attack up there in conjunction with the Australian attack on Timor. Attacking from 3 directions then.

Some goodies arrive soon.....San Jacinto.....Franklin[:)]

[DuckofTindalos]

She was the US Navy's only purpose-built minelayer

One.

[Capt. Harlock]

ORIGINAL: Speedy



Slowly but surely the relentless air attacks at Mandalay are taking their toll. The AV was at 5150 a month agao:

Ground combat at Mandalay

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 146919 troops, 1379 guns, 979 vehicles, Assault Value = 3646

Defending force 258078 troops, 1320 guns, 388 vehicles, Assault Value = 5075

Oh goody. Only 5-and-a-half years to go at this rate...

[Mike Solli]

[:D]

[Rob Brennan UK]

ORIGINAL: Capt. Harlock

ORIGINAL: Speedy



Slowly but surely the relentless air attacks at Mandalay are taking their toll. The AV was at 5150 a month agao:

Ground combat at Mandalay

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 146919 troops, 1379 guns, 979 vehicles, Assault Value = 3646

Defending force 258078 troops, 1320 guns, 388 vehicles, Assault Value = 5075

Oh goody. Only 5-and-a-half years to go at this rate...

gonna need a lot of

[Speedysteve]

[:D]

Hi all,

I know Capt. BUT it will whittle away faster now. For example 11 AV points were lost today. I am currently outflanking Mandalay from the west with 2 x Division + 2 x Brigade. 2 x ARM units will join in due course. The will move in ernest in conjunction with my Amphib landing (destination will be announced in due course) + my Timor venture = a 3 pronged attack.

T - interesting. Never knew that. Thanks.

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Well guys I have done some calculations. As at 05/42 the IJN posses 93 x AO/TK. They produce a further 27 of these from then until January 1944 (excluding acceleration) = 120. I have sunk 63 so far = 57 remaining roughly give or take 5.

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A small Dutch submarine did well today. Nearing Bingo fuel, SS KXI, west of Georgetown surfaced and blew up AK Hitati Maru with 5 x shell and 3 x torpedo.

SS S-38 did well in sinking the already damaged TK Amatsu Maru with 2 x torpedo 120 miles SE of Tarakan.

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4 x BF were embarked today preparing for Eniwetok.......the future.

Corsairs are to patrol over Maloelap and Kwajalein for the first time tomorrow to intercept any enemy planes.

Ventura's will launch their first mission from Wotje tomorrow against Kwajalein.

You know I love these guys right.........[8D]

[Speedysteve]

Hi all,

Well it's confirmed. Faber is trying to evacuate troops from Maloelap and Kwajalein. Patrolling Corsairs intercepted Tabby's and Mavis'.

Mandalay is receiving a thorough pounding nowadays. For once i'll post elements of the CR for you to see daily life for the Japanese:

Day Air attack on Mandalay , at 33,30


Allied aircraft
Spitfire VIII x 17
Liberator VI x 98


No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
36 casualties reported

Airbase hits 14
Airbase supply hits 4
Runway hits 184

Aircraft bombing at 8000 feet

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Day Air attack on 21st Division, at 33,30


Allied aircraft
Spitfire VIII x 7
Beaufighter VIC x 24
Beaufighter Mk 21 x 20
P-38G Lightning x 46


No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
55 casualties reported
Guns lost 3

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Day Air attack on 55th Division, at 33,30


Allied aircraft
Spitfire VIII x 8
Vengeance I x 37


No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
93 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 55th Division, at 33,30


Allied aircraft
Liberator VI x 13
P-38J Lightning x 51
F-5C Lightning x 1
B-25J Mitchell x 23
B-24J Liberator x 13


No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
47 casualties reported

Aircraft Attacking at 10000 feet

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 18th Division, at 33,30


Allied aircraft
Liberator VI x 23
P-38J Lightning x 14
F-5C Lightning x 2
B-25J Mitchell x 28
B-24J Liberator x 25


No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
180 casualties reported
Guns lost 8

Aircraft bombing at 10000 feet

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I feel something has changed with Faber's convoys. Either he is sailing fewer of them or he has changed his routes. Need to give it a week or two and if still few contacts then we relocate more dramatically.

Today SS Swordfish blew up PC CH 13 in the Macassar Strait with a torpedo.

SS Crevalle was hunted by an ASW TF 120 miles east of Saipan. Light damage was caused.

Air sightings: 9
Air attacks: 1

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2 x AK, a DE and an SS arrive in theatre tomorrow.

Also a huge TF is sailing from San Francisco to PH consisting of CVE's (7), DD's, DE, LSD, LCI, AP, MSW, DMS, AGC craft that will redistribute amongst my fleets.

[Onime No Kyo]

*droool* Cant wait for '43.

[Speedysteve]

Hi all,

Well another day of no sub contacts. This is really strange. I can't believe that Faber has totally avoided all of my subs. I have so many that at least a few convoys would be spotted. I really wonder whether he has stood everything down or whether he has totally avoided me? I am sending out further subs to choke points - places where he HAS to pass somewhere in a 240 miles radius.

Air sightings = 14
Air attacks = 0
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More bombing in Burma and at Tarawa and Kwajalein.

A DE arrives in theatre tomorrow.

[Speedysteve]

Hi all,

Well I think it's located the Combined Fleet. SS O19 on a minelaying mission to Guam spotted several cruisers and flat tops........screenshot attached.

SS Cuttlefish and SS O24 located a vconvoy 240 miles east of Truk but failed to attack[:-]

Air sightings = 14
Air attacks = 2

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I'm starting to think about Timor now. My US based reinforcements for Australia thence Timor are just passing Noumea.

In preparation for offensive operations the 7th Australian Division is moving from the Cairns to Darwin.

Several air units - Spits, Beaufighters, Kittyhawks, Mediums are being briefed on the upcoming offensive.

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My CV fleets should reach PH within 3-4 days.

CVL San Jacinto arrives tomorrow with an LST.