Fabertong vs Speedy: The view from the Pole

[Capt. Harlock]

I did sneak a 4xDD SAG into Kuching past his 2 carrier groups.........all four were lost in a night action against the allied SAG including 1 CA 1CL and 6 DDs....one of his DDs was badly damaged....

May one offensive move is AAG 1 3x Unryu class CVs.....which for the last 3 weeks has sat between Wake and Saipan..........today it's prey arrived.......a troop and supply convoy......sadley my 70+ pilots failed .......and only hit 4 x AKs in his convoy.........AAG 1 will now have to retire full speed........as Speedy will try and catch me as I retreat......very disappointing....

Man -- your dice are really rolling low. The IJN shouldn't be that bad in a night action yet, unless Speedy achieved surprise. That CA and CL in Speedy's SAG weren't exactly top of the line, if I can say so without giving too much away. And 70+ exp pilots should really do better than that. Maybe Speedy had some high-flak escort ships?

[fabertong]

Hi Capt. I've clearly done something to upset the wargaming gods........as luck for the last 2 gaming months with Speedy has been a cruel mistress.....

In the last 2 turns.........sorry I can't remember the date....must do better.....I've sunk 2 of Speedy's subs......he, in turn ....has sunk around 20 transports all trapped at Brunei......he has another 15 trapped there.......

The main action is the chase in the CENPAC....as he has 3-4 carrier groups chasing AAG 1........who may not get away.......

Kuching will fall in the next 2 days..............

Watch this space for a proper update in the next few days...............if I ever leave work.......

[fabertong]

Here is a much promised map............

From Kuching Speedy could move on any of Malaya.....or bases in Indochina.....I lack the troops to garrison all bases......and almost all the airfield you see are closed...........

[rtrapasso]

fabertong should be returning soon...

[fabertong]

I'm back...................and the war will continue..............as soon as I shake off the jet lag.........................

[fabertong]

Sept.19th 1944..................

Well.............the chase ended badly............as my carriers....refueling.........at Etorofo Jima..........were caught by one of Speedy's carrier groups............Katsuragi is sunk.........and the other 2 badly damaged ................and disbanded to port...............to be finished off, I fear.............along with the 3 CAs on escort.............all other ships are moving away at full speed....................a poor result from my deep raid......................and this has caused me to stop all CV/CVL/CVE production.........aprat from 1 CV due in 16 days...................


My dying AAG did launch a 200 plane counter attack................but alas.............no hits and all planes dead...............the pain........the pain................

Kuching alos fell today..................

on the plus side I sank 3 of Speedy's subs..................as his subs are cramped into well protected waters.....................

[fabertong]

Sept. 2oth/21st.................

The weather held back Speedy's carriers on the 20th but today the sky's cleared and they sank the Amagi................the Unryu will follow........but 2 CAs used the weather to escape..................

With the fall of Kuching.........Speedy has a several options...........if he has the strength ........then a landing in Indochina or Malaya.......are the more interesting options...........although ...............I feel.....he will carry on pushing across Northern Borneo.......attacking Brunei next........then on to the Phils....via Jessleton..............there is little I can Do as 2 AAGs are in position off Brunei............

Bonin has been Bombed in the last 2 turns................I had 4 days ago removed all air groups............so now Iwo and environs are alone...................

I am continuing the move of AA units and Av. Reg. from Manchuria to the HI...............I should have done this 6 months ago.............as it is now clear that I will not last to see the Russians activated...............

[fabertong]

Sept 22nd 1944.............

I-53 was hit hard by the destroyers escorting his Carriers off Brunei.............has 50 flt.....and a long way from a safe harbour........

The ships trapped at Brunei were again pummeled by his Carriers..........I'll be glad when they are gone..........but I refuse to scuttle at this point..............I want to keep his eyes fixed on those ships..............so My airfields stay open.............you may well ask why as for the last 8 turns over 200 Kamikazis have steadfastly refused to fly............but this turn one groups of 19 Georges......escorted by a handfull of Tony's did attack........I lost all 19 Georges(and most of the Tony's)........but did manage a hit on the Hancock............an ammo explosion was noted....but the damage looked slight...........

His other carrier groups hit Bonin/Iwo and Etorofo Jima...................the Unryu still floats............but only just.......again....I will not scuttle in hopes that the 50 Kami'z will fly........but for the last 4 turns they have not............slackers..................

Pagan was subjected to a Naval Bombardment......destroying some left over bombers I had there...............one DD hit a mine on the way in..................it is shocking to see how the mines drift away................a month ago there were 2,00 mines at Pagan............when the ships went in only 120.....................

[fabertong]

Sept. 23rd 1944...............

Not much action today.............apart from the endless allied bombing raids................

More ships sunk at Brunei........

Unryu still alive due to heavy weather over the base.............but will be sunk in the next turn or 2 as Speedy won't move away.............

2 x AA regs moved from Manchuria to the HI.............

[DuckofTindalos]

Rude of people to linger where they're not wanted...[:D]

[fabertong]

Something tells me he is going to visit Tokyo uninvited................now that is rude...............

[fabertong]

Sept. 24th 1944..................

In an attempt to disrupt Steven's build up for his Iwo Invasion........a 5 destroyer Kamikazi TF entered Saipan Harbour tonight just after midnight...............and surprise was achieved ........the destoyers closed to within 4,000 yards before being spotted......by a surface TF consisting of BBs West Virginia/Nevada/California and 3 CAs 3CLs and 6 DDs.....in the initial combat phase........West Virginia wa hit by a torp as was the Pensacola....sadly no severe damage was noted.............the BBs were also hit by about 15 5-inch rounds..........the US forces then fired back......Hibiki was destroyed by accurate gunfire from the CL Santa Fe.......Ariaki was hit by 1 14inch shell and blew up................then multiple hits destroyed the other 3 in subsequent combat phases...........all in all about what I had expected ........clearly I had hoped for a lucky Torp. to do Critical damage ....but alas........no.......

Bad weather meant Unryu is still floating...........how much longer can the cloud cover hold.........

Moved 2 airgroups out of Batavia........as I slowly evac what I can from Java...........not much reason to hold troops there.....but can't get much out.................

PC ch 22..............hit by a subs..............she will sink...............

[fabertong]

Sept 26th 1944..............

Unryu was sunk today by Speedy's northern carrier group...............

Today all across the map..........my Kamikazi groups finally flew.........some 200 aircraft........achieving 6 hits.........4 just bounced off........and the other 2.....although penetrating........caused what looks like minor damage...............60 escorts that flew with them were lost............


Speedy swept Palambang today with Lightnings....and P51s!..............I lost a lot of planes........I would be more spacific...but the combat report has long since been overwritten........I think it was 70 of mine lost to 10 of his..........I had Frank/Tony/Randy mixed about double his planes............

As part of long term startegy......I'm thinking about disbanding all of my bomber airgroups.............they are now just cannon fodder..........as his tokyo raid showed.........I launched 2,000 aircraft for no hits................I don't think 6,000 will make any difference...............then stop building all bomber types.................and concentrate on fighter/fighterbombers.............as these will be the only usefull aircraft for the last 6 months of the war.........................but as this seems a bit drastic..............I consider it for the next week..........any thoughts welcome................

[fabertong]

Startagy......should in fact be.........strategy................

[DuckofTindalos]

ORIGINAL: fabertong

Sept 26th 1944..............

Unryu was sunk today by Speedy's northern carrier group...............

Today all across the map..........my Kamikazi groups finally flew.........some 200 aircraft........achieving 6 hits.........4 just bounced off........and the other 2.....although penetrating........caused what looks like minor damage...............60 escorts that flew with them were lost............


Speedy swept Palambang today with Lightnings....and P51s!..............I lost a lot of planes........I would be more spacific...but the combat report has long since been overwritten........I think it was 70 of mine lost to 10 of his..........I had Frank/Tony/Randy mixed about double his planes............

As part of long term startegy......I'm thinking about disbanding all of my bomber airgroups.............they are now just cannon fodder..........as his tokyo raid showed.........I launched 2,000 aircraft for no hits................I don't think 6,000 will make any difference...............then stop building all bomber types.................and concentrate on fighter/fighterbombers.............as these will be the only usefull aircraft for the last 6 months of the war.........................but as this seems a bit drastic..............I consider it for the next week..........any thoughts welcome................

Seems rather extreme. I say Kamikaze them and give them a chance for a quick and noble death...

[fabertong]

At the risk of destroying my post/view ratio....................the only way to get a historical level of Kamikazi through the Hellcat uber-cap is by flying over the CAP canopy...................the bombers just end up as debri.......................

[DuckofTindalos]

So they're debris at the bottom of the ocean instead of debris littering the Home Islands...[:D]

[fabertong]

OOOps......just dropped an s.................debris............

[Capt. Harlock]

ORIGINAL: fabertong

As part of long term startegy......I'm thinking about disbanding all of my bomber airgroups.............they are now just cannon fodder..........as his tokyo raid showed.........I launched 2,000 aircraft for no hits................I don't think 6,000 will make any difference...............then stop building all bomber types.................and concentrate on fighter/fighterbombers.............as these will be the only usefull aircraft for the last 6 months of the war.........................but as this seems a bit drastic..............I consider it for the next week..........any thoughts welcome................

My thought would be to at least hang on to the G4M airgroups -- they're the ones that can launch the Ohkas.

[fabertong]

Thanks for the input Capt..............It had also slipped my mind that I will still require some Helens for ASW work............but I will disband some airgroups........as part of a streamlining of my air-force..............


Sept 27th 1944..........

Speedy bombarded Iwo today with two TFs........6 of his ships hit mines.............5 DDs and a CA ....one of the DDs sank.........but the others sped away ....so not much damage then.......