Fabertong vs Speedy: The view from the Pole

[fabertong]

Dec. 17th 1943.......

Chiyoda was hit by another torp.......she has 99sys 96flt and a speed of zero........she was scuttled and her surviving crew transfered to the escorts..........


Otherwise the bombing by Speedy continues around the clock....all around the map..........

Kaga down to 19 sys...........

[fabertong]

Dec. 18- 20th 1943........

Wake carries on being pounded ............supply down to 9,000

Speedy raids Amboina....my Zeke 5c.......enter combat for the first time....pilot exp 70......of the 48 aircraft 24 enter battle .......12 shot down by lightnings...more destroyed on the ground.....he comes the second day.......and I had removed all servicable aircraft........3....... and all the damaged aircraft left were destroyed...........of the 48 pilots.....39 survive and are withdrawn to Tarakan.........

I have lost 4 AKs to subs ...........

SAG -1(2BBs, 2CAsand escorts) is heading for Timor........LRCAP covers.......what will I find.........

CV task forces refueling at Guam......

Lack of TKs is starting to effect Ops........

[Capt. Harlock]

ORIGINAL: fabertong

Dec. 18- 20th 1943........

Wake carries on being pounded ............supply down to 9,000


Lack of TKs is starting to effect Ops........

It's a shame about the lack of TK's. The one good thing about Wake is that Speedy is being so slow and methodical, you have a good read on the location of his CV's and BB's . . . and where they're likely to be for the near future.

[fabertong]

21-22nd Dec. 1943........

Speedy's forces have left Wake.......to refuel and re-arm.......then I suspect back for more.....

SAG-1 had a nose around Timor....but having been spotted Speedy's transports withdrew........

Otherwise yet another day in the war..........

Here is a look behind the scenes......

[fabertong]

24th Dec. 1943.....................

Speedy has reconed Sebang...........

For a good few months now I've thought he would launch a flanking attack around Burma..........and I feel it may well be near..............

SAG-1 is moving to Palambang........

48th Div will move from Manila to Singapore.........leaving the Phils without a dedicated Inf. Div..........I hope to replace it in 60 days when I recieve major reinforcements........

3x Betty2s........3xZekes moving to the Theatre.......this has forced me to upgrade some training squadrons sooner than I had wished..........

SAG-2(Kirishima, Hiei, and escorts) under the command of Tanaka moving from Gaum to Balik.....to replace SAG-1

Fleet carriers will remain on station at Gaum or environs.........with SAG-3 for company........

SAG-4(Fuso and Ise + escorts)....will assemble in the HIs in the next two weeks to join the main fleet at Guam........

Kaga still not quite ready.....but also should be ready in a month.........

I think Speedy's plans are right.......he is stretching my limited forces and making me make decisions about where to commit........

Will post a map later with a look at Malaya,,,,,,,,,and Sumatra...........this is where he will hit next

[fabertong]

26th Dec. 1943.........

Speedy's subs hit and dadly damage a CL...the name of which escapes me.......from SAG-1 off the coast of Borneo....I doubt she will make Balik.......

His subs also caught one of my remaining TKs.........off Sasebo....she should make port.......the Sub achived the hit despite 8 escorts......and a dedicated ASW TF in the same hex........and then scuttled away undamaged........grrr......

Other than his non-stop bombing in Burma a quiet turn.........while he gathers his strength for Wake........

His APs return to Timor.......but I have no way of hurting him at present.........

[fabertong]

27th Dec. 1943.......

I had hoped to trap Speedy on his return to Wake..........I hoped the sight of my transports would mean he would rush back and risk a bit of disorder....but alas....he came back before even spotting my AKs........

So my carriers are running away...flank speed......I don't think he knows I'm there.........and it was tempting to see if I could catch him attacking Wake while I went for his carriers........but I think it's the wrong fight for the wrong place and at the wrong time........

I am sending in 4 1500-APs they will get one night to offload there cargo before die-ing.........

[fabertong]

31st Dec. 1943......

The year ended on a poor note for this penguin.........largely of my own making.....

Speedy caught not only my sacrificial APs at Wake....and with a surface TF....meaning no meaningful supply was landed.......but a fast transport TF of 5DDs also caught at wake......my mistake....I thought they had dropped off the night before........the upshot was the loss of 9 ships in one day.......along with a bumper day for Speedy's subs as they Badly damaged 2 of my remaining TKs and sank an AK and a AP..........

The next day his carriers moved west of Wake and found one of my troop convoys taking the 89th NG to Marcus.......I had seen him coming and re-routed all convoys....or so I thought .......but this one slipped through....and all ships 5 escorts including an APD....and 5 APs....and the entire 89 NG are lost.........

Apart from this mismanagement of forces in the last 3 turns or so.....I'm wondering if some of the last 3 months of long term planning has been flawed........

As 1944 arrives next turn ....I'm in an increasingly precarious postion........His CENPAC offensive may be the least of my worries...as he builds up Timor.....and I believe will look to flank Burma soon......he may then squeeze me out of the DEI and my lifebloodI'll post a full map and briefing of my situation.......and you can judge for yourselves..........

[fabertong]

1944.......... and a swift look around the map.............

Saturday night.....and after polishing off the best part of a rather nice Cote de Nuits-Village.....a bit of relection....

This is Timor....and the souther part of the DEIs........

I decided not to defend Timor......It's too easy to neutralize from Northern Oz........the problem is that I have just shifted my problem further north.........

I had moved 2 - AAGs to stop Speedy here....but my lack of TKs held back deploying the fleet....and I returned to Pelau at just the time he made his move......and my SAG nosed around to little value.........but there will now have another look........

This is more of a problem, I think, than his CENPAC attack.........

He will soon be able to close Kendari and Amboina.......

I will try to stop his invasion of Sulawesi....but LRB will soon be in control of this theater.....some 4 months before I have Franks............

I think that I should have fought at least a delaying action for Timor....time is precious........


Alas It's too late for that now...........

[fabertong]

Pretty map I meant to post with above....post.....

[fabertong]

Speedy's next front.......or at least I think so.....he has recon-ed this area......Sabang...and Vic. Point...............

I think he will go for Sabang.........makes sense....good airfield.....could close Singapore....most of Malaya......and maybe even Palambang........

I have moved SAG - 1 into the area.........and 4 - betty 2 sqdrns/4 Zeke sqdrns......I also have 6 Tojo/Tony sqdrns in the Theatre........

Sabang has fewer than 140 AV......700 mines.........Thread help me.......

[fabertong]

next 1944 look..........the Sols and NG..........

I had decided to evac..... this Theatre 4 months ago.....as Speedy has shown no interest in it...and his other moves have made it pointless......

But

Being seduced by such names as PM/Lunga/Shortlands/Etc........I didn't follow my gut feeling....

I've moved some forces......

But not enough......and now I will move all but a few BFs and SNLFs out and abandon this neck of the woods.......

Should have done this 3 months ago.........a good 1/8 the of my airforce is still based here.........

Shame on me............now as the arrows say....lets withdraw.......

[fabertong]

Last start of ' 44 look...........

Speedy's CENPAC attack........

His Carrier force has moved far deeper than I had expected.....so I will try to sneak AAGs 1 and 2 to hit his forces at Wake....while his Death Star hits my other shipping......


He will take Wake Is. this time........then.......?.......

[fabertong]

2nd Jan .....1944.......

Speedy's death star takes a swipe at Marcus............

With results like these he must be tempted just to sail up to Tokyo and see what I have in the Harbour........

All my pilots.....exp. 70-85.......dead

[fabertong]

Jan 3rd 1944..........


At least Tanaka found some prey at Timor.........

[Onime No Kyo]

ORIGINAL: fabertong
All my pilots.....exp. 70-85.......dead

One should complain with what you just did to my fighters at PM. [;)]

[Onime No Kyo]

ORIGINAL: fabertong
At least Tanaka found some prey at Timor.........

Anything aboard the prey?

[fabertong]

Sadly no.......maybe some supply......but no troops.......I'm moving another SAG into the area.........

[fabertong]

ORIGINAL: Onime No Kyo

ORIGINAL: fabertong
All my pilots.....exp. 70-85.......dead

One should complain with what you just did to my fighters at PM. [;)]

True....true....but 400+ CAP ....and all Hellcats......at least your P-40s can take a bite out of my Zero's on the way down.........nothing is going through that CAP........apart from debris.........

[BrucePowers]

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