Speedy vs Fabertong: Death to the Penguin!

[DuckofTindalos]

ORIGINAL: Speedy

Hi Niceguy - there are some comical names IMO.

The Pyro and the Crater are two. Waahoo is pretty giggly...

[Speedysteve]

You have better results with your subs?[:'(]

[Nikademus]

ORIGINAL: Terminus

ORIGINAL: Speedy

Hi all,

Hi T - Pffft. As I say the price you pay for not being diligent.

More like the price you pay for not being too bright...[:'(]

Dar......my name Speedy......i make things go.....

[DuckofTindalos]

ORIGINAL: Speedy

You have better results with your subs?[:'(]

I play the Japs, so no...

[Speedysteve]

Hi all,

Rangoon's B29's struck out at Lanchow, China today damaging 85 of the 120 oil production there.

Faber is clearly aware I am going for oil now. Fine by me. He either disperses his air assets to cover all of the production locations or lets me squash them.

---------------------

4 x Beaufighter FB Squadrons arrived at Darwin today for upcoming deployment to the SRA and anti-troop missions.

An enemy ASW TF tracking SS Trenchant was attacked by Mossie FB's and TBM's from Pontianak. PG Chiyo Maru was left heavily damaged after taking 4 bombs and a torpedo. 2 x PC also took shell hits from the Mossie's.

Enemy Barges at Toboali and Singkawang. I will receive some PT's at Pontianak tomorrow to deal with these pests.

Bad weather meant Koepang B29's did not hit Tarakan's airfields. A further B29 BG has arrived at Koepang giving me 144 x B29 there.

------------------

Bad weather meant Saipan's B29's did not hit Niigata today.

------------------

SS Corvina was sunk by 5 x ASW vessels today 60 miles west of Manila. 5 x DC hit, 12 x DC near miss. R.I.P.[&o]

SS Becuna evaded 4 x ASW vessels 60 miles SW of Camranh Bay.

SS Trenchant missed PG Chiyo Maru (a targetted ships today after later probably being sunk by LBA from Pontianak) 180 miles ENE of Palembang.

Air sightings = 14
Air attacks = 4

SS Paddle and SS Sailfish both sank today as well making it a bad end to the month with 3 x SS sunk in 3 days.............

-----------------

An AK, LST and a DE arrive in theatre tomorrow as does a B29 BG

[Speedysteve]

Hi all,

Points:

Japanese: + 1618
Allied: + 4402

Bases:

Japanese: - 9 (+163 points)
Allied: + 9 (+1698 points)

Planes:

Allied lost: 494
Japanese lost: 710

Troops:

Allied lost: 285 points
Japanese lost: 1052 points

Ships:

Allies lost: 41 ships - 677 points - The main contributor here is CV Intrepid[:@] along with 5 x SS the rest must be from the Saipan invasion.

Japanese lost: 67 ships - 485 points - Submarines accounted for 26 of these ships. The rest mainly by my CV raids near Okinawa and Legaspi.

Strategic points: 462

-----------------------

Thoughts:

Overall an average month in terms of objectives completed - Saipan taken. Borneo NOT oroken as expected. Only a partial breakthrough in Burma but the Capital Rangoon was liberated.

It is time to re-galvanise things and strike again. I will list my thoughts over the next few days.

[castor troy]

ORIGINAL: Speedy

Hi all,

Points:

Japanese: + 1618
Allied: + 4402

Bases:

Japanese: - 9 (+163 points)
Allied: + 9 (+1698 points)

Planes:

Allied lost: 494
Japanese lost: 710

Troops:

Allied lost: 285 points
Japanese lost: 1052 points

Ships:

Allies lost: 41 ships - 677 points - The main contributor here is CV Intrepid[:@] along with 5 x SS the rest must be from the Saipan invasion.

Japanese lost: 67 ships - 485 points - Submarines accounted for 26 of these ships. The rest mainly by my CV raids near Okinawa and Legaspi.

Strategic points: 462

-----------------------

Thoughts:

Overall an average month in terms of objectives completed - Saipan taken. Borneo NOT oroken as expected. Only a partial breakthrough in Burma but the Capital Rangoon was liberated.

It is time to re-galvanise things and strike again. I will list my thoughts over the next few days.

I must say I´m surprised that Faber´s still able to get a 1:1,5 kill ratio in planes this month. [X(] And of course your subs are doing good (better say only average if I compare the kills to earlier months.. [;)])

[Speedysteve]

Hi all,

Hi Castor - The majority of my plane losses are from ops nowadays. Take the last day for example: I lost 23 planes. 18 of which were due to ops. Faber just doesn't challenge any airbase within fighter range (wisely IMO).

As a final addendum 304 of my 494 plane losses were due to Ops last month.

I am launching betyween 600-8000 sorties a day against:

LCU's in Burma
Macassar
Kendari
Bali
Singkawang
Balikpapan
Tarwa
Kwajalein
Eniwetok
Marcus Island
Tinian
Onnetokan Jima

Etc..............

-------------------

I shelled Tavoy during the night with Queen Elizabeth and Renown TF. Just to keep Faber honest[:)]

Rangoon B29's will hopefully hit the small oilfield at Sian, China tomorrow.

-------------------

Mossie's and TBM's sank 2 barges near Singkawang and damaged 2 more.

Bad weather again grounded both Banja and Koepang.

-------------------

Niigata was attacked by 112 x B29. 48 x Jack were on CAP and did well in shopotding down 34 x B29 for the loss of 9 x Jack. 62 x B29 bombed and damaged 40 of the 100 oil there.

Not great but at least damage was done to the oil production.

-------------------

SS Tinosa played cat and mouse with 2 x MSW, 2 x PG, 1 x PC 240 miles south of Camranh Bay. By the end of the day she was unscathed and sank MSW Choun Maru #6 with 2 torpedoes.

SS O23 was attacked by convoy escorts 120 miles ENE of Jesselton. 1 x DC near miss - 4/0/0.

Air sightings = 8
Air attacks = 0

---------------------

CVE Munda, CVE Hollandia and an AK arrive in theatre tomororw.

[Speedysteve]

Hi all,

Sian's oil production is no more. B29's took care of that today. They will rest tomorrow.

Check out this for a nice LCU bombardment NE of Moulmein:

Ground combat at 30,34

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 324218 troops, 1679 guns, 974 vehicles, Assault Value = 6702

Defending force 362777 troops, 1865 guns, 685 vehicles, Assault Value = 7357


Japanese ground losses:
1433 casualties reported
Guns lost 28

Now on to my thoughts for Burma:

As you can see where are deadlocked (again) NE of Moulmein.

In the next 2 months I receive 3 x Division, 1 x RCT at Karachi. Resting at Rangoon are 1 x Division, 2 x Bde, 4 x ARM. At Moulmein are 1 x Division, 4 x Bde, 4 x ARM.

When I have assmebled all of these forces AND IF the situation is the same NE of Moulmein it will be time for another seaborne invasion. I will have 2 x Brit CV and 3 x CVE by then.

-----------------------

In the SRA lots of naval activity between Borneo and Sumatra.

Weirdly my PT's didn't attack the Barges?[&:]:

Night Time Surface Combat, near Singkawang at 25,57

Japanese Ships
AG AG-5067
AG AG-5068
AG AG-5069
AG AG-5070
AG AG-5071
AG AG-5087
AG AG-5088
AG AG-5089
AG AG-5090
AG AG-5091
AG AG-5112
AG AG-5113
AG AG-5114
AG AG-5115
AG AG-5116

Allied Ships
PT PT-183
PT PT-184
PT PT-185
PT PT-186
PT PT-187
PT PT-188
PT PT-189
PT PT-190
PT PT-191
PT PT-196
PT PT-219
PT PT-220

No ideas why.

During the day an AG was sunk by a TBM, AK Korei Maru was heavily damaged by 12 x shells + 2 x bombs from Mossie 120 miles SW of Singapore and the best action was on a convoy NW of Borneo:

Day Air attack on TF at 24,54


Allied aircraft
TBM Avenger x 3
Mosquito FB.VI x 3
P-47D Thunderbolt x 48


Allied aircraft losses
P-47D Thunderbolt: 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
AV Sanyo Maru, Shell hits 12, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
PC Kyo Maru #6
MSW Musashi Maru
AK Nittai Maru
AK Naruo Maru
MSW Takashima Maru, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
MSW Tama Maru #5
MSW Tokuho Maru #5, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

Will AV Sanyo Maru sink?

Bad weather again prevented B29's at Koepang from taking off[8|]

I have moved a Helldiver Squadron into Pontianak to add more anti-shipping capability up there.

Now my plans for SRA:

We are in deadlock at Balikpapan and I plan to leave it there for now.

I want to focus on west Borneo - Singkawang and Kuching. Singkawang can be taken since Faber only has 420 AV there and can't get more in. I have 830 AV there + ARM Bn 10 miles away. I have an RCT, + ARM Bn en route from Banja. I hope this will be enough to take him.

I have 5 x Australian Division + 1 Australian Cav Bde en route to Darwin. 5 of these 6 units need to be transfered from Australian Command first. I don't want to use these on Borneo if I can help it.

In due course I may even launch a 2 pronged attack on Malaya - from Moulmein via sea and from Singkawang by sea. Just thinking aloud here.

------------------

SS Tantalus finished off the damaged MSW Takashima Maru with 2 torpedoes.

Air sightings = 9
Air attacks = 2

I have launched a further 10 x SS patrol from Darwin bound for the Hong Kong/Formosa area.

------------------

2 x AK, an LCI(G) and a DE arrive in theatre tomorrow.

[castor troy]

ORIGINAL: Speedy

Hi all,

Hi Castor - The majority of my plane losses are from ops nowadays. Take the last day for example: I lost 23 planes. 18 of which were due to ops. Faber just doesn't challenge any airbase within fighter range (wisely IMO).

As a final addendum 304 of my 494 plane losses were due to Ops last month.

I am launching betyween 600-8000 sorties a day against:

LCU's in Burma
Macassar
Kendari
Bali
Singkawang
Balikpapan
Tarwa
Kwajalein
Eniwetok
Marcus Island
Tinian
Onnetokan Jima

Etc..............

-------------------

that puts your losses under another light...

[Speedysteve]

Hi all,

Along with the LCU bombing in Burma I have started to flatten Rahaeng as a supply depot for his massive Burma force. Liberator VI's from Mandalay will target this place from now on.

------------------

There is something wrong with PT's and barges - they just don't attack them. Happened again today. Luckily the RCT/ARM Bn convoy approaching Pontianak has 2 x DE as escorts. These will be detatched to attack his barges if they are still around.

Allied LBA from Pontianak attacked cargo ships near Toboali and more so near Kuching:

Day Air attack on TF at 27,55


Allied aircraft
TBM Avenger x 6
Mosquito FB.VI x 9
P-47D Thunderbolt x 35


No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
AK Naruo Maru, Shell hits 4, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
AK Nittai Maru, Shell hits 24
PC Ch 2
MSW Tama Maru #5
PC Kyo Maru #6, Bomb hits 1, on fire
MSW Tamozono Maru #2
MSW Banshu Maru #56
MSW Shawa Maru #10, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage

MSW Shawa Maru #10 was confirmed sunk as was AK Akagisan Maru west of Toboali.

Havocs and Mitchells are at Bulla to attack Amboina's airfield.

--------------------

A mixed day in th submarine war.

SS Tang damaged AK Asakaze Maru with a torpedo 60 miles west of Lingayen.

SS Pargo missed AP Satsuma Maru 120 miles west of Tori Shima.

SS Trenchant finished off AK Korei Maru with 3 torpedoes 120 miles NE of Palembang.

SS Pilotfish performed BRILLIANTLY today. Patrolling 120 miles WNW of Aparri she located a large TK convoy escorted by CVE Unyo, 3 x DD, 12 x MSW and 5 x PC. She slipped through the escorts and heavily damaged the oil laden TK Tatekawa Maru with 2 torpedoes. She received 6 x DC near miss AND evaded attacks by 2 x Judy and 1 x Grace throughout the day - 15/9/0. Trying to track the convoy further east[&o]

Air sigthings = 9
Air attacks = 3

-----------------------

I have started to form up shipping at PH to send back to San Francisco to pick up the Iwo Jima invasion troops.

Am sending a CV division from Saipan to investigate a PBY contact NE of Yap.

-----------------------

4 x LCI, an AO, APD, DE and an AK arrive in theatre tomorrow.

[Speedysteve]

Hi all,

The Japanese position NE of Moulmein in untenable IMO. A further 1000 enemy casualties by LCU bombardment alone today.

I have ordered Rangoon B29's to hit Saigon's airfields.

Heavies from Moulmein will hit Bangkok's airfields as Faber has tried to sneak back in 50ish fighters according to recon.

-----------------

Weather played it's part in SRA today. My P38J's were grounded at Banja so the B29's took from Koepang without escort finding 60 enemy fighters on CAP over Tarakan. I lost 40 x B29 today but managed to destroy 35 enemy planes in the air and on the ground. I have ordered Banja P38J's to sweep the place for a few days now. Then the B29's will go back to take out the oil.

Pontianak struck out at enemy shipping sinking an AG and 2 x MSW. A further 2 x MSW and 2 x AK were left holed by shells.

-----------------

My CV division fpund no enemy shipping near Ulithi today. An enemy airstrike of Tony's, Tojos and Helen's failed to get through the CAP costing them 68 planes to my 3 x Hellcat. LtJg Clark of VF-3 lost his life today though after scoring his 19th kill[&o]

My leading ace Doner scored his 40th kill.

I'm heading back to Saipan since I found no ships and no doubt Faber will try his luck with high altitude Kamis.

All damaged ships at Saipan have been emptied of water and all 35 of them will head back to San Francisco.

As well as the Iwo Jima invasion I am allocating a Division + 4 x RCT to clear out the enemy stragglers in the Marshalls and in time the Solomans/PNG. They will head to Apamama first over the next 2 months. A CVE TF will provuide air support.

------------------

SS Capelin had a field day waiting for the damaged enemy convoy to enter Kuching. She sank AK Naruo Maru with 3 torpedoes and then took out PG Kyo Maru #6 with 2 torpedoes bnefore the other ships entered the safety of the harbour.

Air sightings = 12
Air attacks = 1

-------------------

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

[Speedysteve]

Hi all,

Heavies hit Bangkok today escorted by P38J's. There was surprisingly no enemy fighter cover and 40 enemy planes (Zeke, Tojo, Jack, Tony and Topsy) were destroyed on the ground.

-------------------

My P38J's swept the skies clear over Tarakan. They claimed 28 enemy planes destroyed for the loss of 2 x P38J.

Pontianak's LBA hit out at a Tony CAPped TF inbetween Singapore and Palembang losing me 1 x Mossie and 5 x SB2C. In return shells and bombs hit 4 x AK for light damage.

AK Nittai Maru was finished off by 2 bombs from a section of SB2C's at Kuching.

------------------

The hunters turned the hunted:

SS Pargo sank PC CH 20 with a torpedo 60 miles west of Tori Shima. In return she received 3 x DC near miss. 15/27/0. Returning to Saipan with light damage and low fuel.

SS Growler sank PC Shonon Maru #3 with a torpedo 60 miles east of Taytay. In return she received 3 x DC near miss. 12/8/0. She is on her way back to Darwin with low fuel.

Air sightings = 8
Air attacks = 0

-----------------------

Saipan's B29's will attempt to damage Akita's Oil production on Honshu during the day tomorrow.

-----------------------

3 x LST, an LSM, DE, AO, AK and a DE arrive in theatre tomorrow as does a Ventura squadron.

[Speedysteve]

Hi all,

Rangoon's B29's took off for the first raid on Saigon today. They encountered 33 x Zeke on CAP and lost 12 x B29 before destroying 50ish enemy planes on the ground (Zeke, Betty, Tina, Sally, Helen, Jack and Tojo).

-----------------

In the SRA bad weather meant the B29 follow up raid on Tarakan could not be launched.

My 2 x DE encountered a swarm of barges at Singkawang and only managed to sink 1 and damage another. They go back there tomorrow.

Pontianak LBA sank an AG and damaged an AK whilst losing 4 planes to enemy CAP.

Sorong and Amboina were bombed from Bulla and Babo as part of the new regular routine today.

------------------

Saipan's B29's took off for Akita's Oilfields today. They met 27 x Tony on CAP and lost 20 planes to the enemies 3. The good news is the Oilfields production was disrupted by 88% (88/100 damaged). Faber must be struggling to get oil in Japan now with a limited TK force and homegrown production down to about 15% production.

In total I lost 40 planes to 72 Japanese today.

-------------------

SS Mingo sank AG AG-5031 with 4 shells 60 miles west of Singkawang.

Air sightings = 15
Air attacks = 2

--------------------

3 x LST, 2 x MSW, an AK and an AP arrive in theatre tomorrow.

[Speedysteve]

Hi all,

Both Bangkok and Rahaeng were bombed by Heavies today destrotying a further 30 enemy planes on the ground. Bangkok looks to have been emptied for now so my Moulmein Heavies will go back to bombing IJA troops to the NE.

--------------------

In the SRA my 2 x DE sank an AG and damaged 2 more at Singkawang.

The IJN made a surprise appearance at Pontianak in the form of CL Sendai + 3 x DD. The encountered my PT's and sank 2 of them.

The weather was clear and Tarakan's Oil production damaged by 80% today. Just Miri and Brunei left in this anti-Oil operation[:)] It will then mean the only fully functioning Oil sites that Faber can get to are in Manchuria.

2 x AG were sank by Pontianak LBA.

My USA TD Bn has reached Singakawang which will be good to counter the enemy tanks. I plan to attack here in a couple of days.

--------------------

Quiet in CentPac as transports head to San Francisco to pick up troops for Iwo Jima.

--------------------

SS Pampanito was attacked by MSW escorts 120 miles NW of Bonin Island. 1 x DC near miss - 4/0/0

SS Escolar heavily damaged the fuel carrying AK Kainan Maru with a torpedo 180 miles NW of Bonin Island.

SS Finback sank AK Kenyo Maru with 2 torpedoes 120 miles SE of Davao.

Air sightings = 6
Air attacks = 0

--------------------

An LST, AK and an MSW arrive in theatre tomorrow.

[DuckofTindalos]

You've still got troops on the West Coast???

[Speedysteve]

Hi all,

Hi T - of course. In 44 it is amazing to think that as the Allies you struggle to have enough AP/AK. I have USMC, USA Divisions and RCT/Rgt in San Francisco that have arrived over the last 3 months whilst all of my AP/AK ships have been moving for Saipan, supplying bases or moving planes, men and material to the SRA.

----------------------

A 'quiet' day overall with the usual bombing of IJA troops in Burma, enemy airfields in SRA and 4 x AG were sunk. 3 by air and a by:

SS Mingo sank AG AG-5116 with 2 shells 60 miles west of Singkawang.

Air sightings = 8
Air attacks = 0

-----------------------

Some fleet re-organisation in San Francisco:

CV Hancock and CV Bennington are en route to PH with CL Trenton + 4 x DD. They will form a new CV TF which will head to the SRA for future operations. Soon to follow is a CVE TF.

Moving my 4 x Aleutian DD force into Onnetokan Jima again as an enemy TF is spotted there again.

[Speedysteve]

Hi all,

More 'barge busting' in the SRA with 4 more succumbing to TBM's and Mossie's near Singkawang.

I have decided to attack at Singkawang tomorrow with 2 x USA Division, 2 x ARM Bn and 503rd Para's. If recon is right facing me are parts of an IJA Division, SNLF, NLF and an ARM Rgt.

Along with CV Hancock and CV Bennington I have despatched 6 x CVE from San Francisco to sortie to the SRA for operations there.

--------------------

In CentPac I have ordered my 4 x B29 BG on Saipan to hit Kyoto's - Nakajima Engine plants, Tony plants, Nick plants and Oscar plants during the daylight.

--------------------

A very interesting series of surface combat occured during the night at Onnetokan Jima, Kuriles. My 4 x DD force held up well with only DD Erben being heavily damaged (85/68/16). DD Heywood Edwards is at 16/4/1. In return DD Hatakaze and DD Kamo were left heavily damaged.

Night Time Surface Combat, near Onnekotan Jima at 81,34

Japanese Ships
CL Naka, Shell hits 6
CL Oi, Shell hits 4
DD Matsukaze, Shell hits 4
DD Hatakaze, Shell hits 12, on fire, heavy damage
DD Kamo, Shell hits 8, on fire

Allied Ships
DD Heywood Edwards, Shell hits 2
DD Erben, Shell hits 13, on fire, heavy damage
DD Smalley, Shell hits 2
DD Twiggs

And:

Night Time Surface Combat, near Onnekotan Jima at 81,34

Japanese Ships
CL Naka, Shell hits 2
CL Oi, Shell hits 1
DD Matsukaze
DD Hatakaze, Shell hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
DD Kamo, Shell hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

Allied Ships
DD Heywood Edwards, Shell hits 1
DD Erben, Shell hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
DD Smalley
DD Twiggs

I have detatched CL Trenton from CV Hancock TF to head to Arttu Island. In due course other small surface vessels may be sent up here if Faber decides to escalate.

---------------------

No submarine attacks today.

air sightings = 10
Air attacks = 0

As expected submarine contacts are fewer as Faber's oilfields are smashed and his SLOC is diminished. I will be happy for 10 sunk ships a month from now on.

---------------------

SS Blower, an AVD, AK, LST and a DE arrive in theatre tomorrow as does 81st W. African Division at Karachi.

[Capt. Harlock]

ORIGINAL: Speedy


A very interesting series of surface combat occured during the night at Onnetokan Jima, Kuriles. My 4 x DD force held up well with only DD Erben being heavily damaged (85/68/16). DD Heywood Edwards is at 16/4/1. In return DD Hatakaze and DD Kamo were left heavily damaged.

Night Time Surface Combat, near Onnekotan Jima at 81,34

Japanese Ships
CL Naka, Shell hits 6
CL Oi, Shell hits 4
DD Matsukaze, Shell hits 4
DD Hatakaze, Shell hits 12, on fire, heavy damage
DD Kamo, Shell hits 8, on fire

Allied Ships
DD Heywood Edwards, Shell hits 2
DD Erben, Shell hits 13, on fire, heavy damage
DD Smalley, Shell hits 2
DD Twiggs

And:

Night Time Surface Combat, near Onnekotan Jima at 81,34

Japanese Ships
CL Naka, Shell hits 2
CL Oi, Shell hits 1
DD Matsukaze
DD Hatakaze, Shell hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
DD Kamo, Shell hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

Allied Ships
DD Heywood Edwards, Shell hits 1
DD Erben, Shell hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
DD Smalley
DD Twiggs

You were lucky. Isn't the Oi one of the two IJN CL's with the decks crowded with Long Lance tubes?

[DuckofTindalos]

Yep.