Herb VS Tabpub

[1275psi]

9/3/44
marianas SS war is HOT!
tabpub has at least 8 boats I know of near the islands -4 in one hex -i send 3 ASW groups in, 3 ss attacked today, 1 sunk I think

In malaya things went...............different
POW, repulse, renown bombard Vic point, and queen elizabeth, valiant Sabang.
MY surface TFs are all missed, and miss, and remain under clouds

7 kamis attack -all but 1 shot down by CAP -it misses
His BBs are all attacked ............and missed by the Jills...poo
And Im getting penguin disease..........must resist.

I order my DDs to flee
Fortunately the bad weather is hiding the evac from timor -20000 troops being loaded, and all reserve planes I have are capping it.

[1275psi]

10/3/44
time ticks on -tabpub writes that my ASW is hurting.
CRAP -my DDs react to sabang shipping
3 DDs race in -meet 4 PT -lets guess what happens next
1 pt hit
3 DD vs another 4 PT -and YEP -1 DD slotted by a torp
Then 3 old slow MSW actually get past the PTs, and attack 3 unescorted AKs -and leave 2 burning, very nice to see the smallest ship in my navy taking on a 7000 tonner[:)]

But its all relative.
The last 5 days has seen a classic convoy battle.
Departing Miri -15 AKs, and 12 , yes 12 escorts.
A pack of ss has hunted it all the way to legaspi -2 ss damaged, but 6! Aks lost so far, all in 5 days[:(]

At sabang tabpub is obvously stuck, his AV is barely ahead of mine.
IF ONLY I HAD FUEL to come to this bases aid
Nevertheless some 6 DDs, a CA are relaesed from refit yards today -destination Singapore.
FORCES for A -GO 1 will not be touched

Timor evac continues
A new Hong Kong tokyo express forms up.
Planes to singapore from training field -exp a whopping 50

And the highlight of the day -37 george and 33 zeke over songhilia vs a straffing mission of 11 spit, 39 beufighters, 29 T bolts
1 george, 9 zeke lost, for 7 spits, 21 beus, 18 T bolts shot down

A air win in 44!!! yippeeeee.

Then of course the liberators arrive, with more buefighters -14 allied planes down, for 11 lost
a draw

The george unit is my crack unit -experience only about 60 odd -but 60 odd pilots at this level -I might even get 2 or 3 days fighting out of this unit[:'(]

he bombs the usual routine places all over the pacific -the convoy battle continues, local action in China.
I believe Tabpubs invasion fleet i spotted in the pacific is waiting for signs of a naval presence in the malacca straight -well it all got sunk today, the msw, 2 DDs -before he commits it to iether Truk or Wake -or both.

Looked at troop reinforcements -3 months to massive troop arrivals, 4 until the phillipine troops arrive

Plans for evac of Thialand troops is well advanced, ships coming from all over the shrinking empire.
Trying to build fleet fuel reserves -hard job, the BBs swallow it as quickly as I deliver it!
Overall, I still have confidence -I can hurt tabpub still.
I predict an invasion of raba in the next 2 months at most -and I am acting on that, raba won't be so innocent by 2 weeks time.
he must tackle Siapan in the next 3 months -at latest -he must.
Franks coming.
And this slow pace of operations is allowing me to at least keep up with most losses.

[1275psi]

11/3/44
Another Ss sunk near Siapan!
The entire map bad weather

A few minor raids here and there over the map-but the weather stops most action.
Timor evac, and other things use the storms well.

I wonder what would happen if 20 CVs/CVls/ and CVes appeared suddenly of the west coast of America?[;)][:D]

[1275psi]

12/3/44
As the bad weather continues I am re starting big time a lot of industry, trying to churn out a good number of PGs andPCs that have been on hold for a while
6 Aps pull into Camrah bay -and smack -liberators from China get 3 of them
Siagon recieves some CAP, and i see tabpub, sabang invasion , wave 2 coming, I little to combat it with, but I move what I have..........

[1275psi]

14/3/44
Lost a day?
does not matter, depressing turn as 3 weeks production of francis bombers wipe themselves out as corsair fodder, and a lot of Kamis make craters in ..........airfields[:@]
the georges though as LRCAP over songhilia do OK, 1 for 1 losses against spits and T bolts.
This unit is my crack unit -64 pilots left, average now 70, only 30 planes left out of a possible 54, we fight 2 more days, then will have to retire I think!

I am pretty serious about raiding the west coast -very shortly Tabpub death star will descend on truk -and be tied there.
If I could scrape up enough fuel -would it be a worth while project -even hitting pearl -come on allied fan boys -those that are in 44 -just how well is pearl protected with the war so far away?

[stldiver]

Well my current PBEM is in March 44 and for the last 6 months pearl has just been a way station, frankly ships don't even stop there anymore they bypass it for destinations further out, and I don't protect the convoys from the west coast to pearl, as I figure I am giving my opponent to much trouble at the point of my spears for him to bother with a raid such as you say.

It was always in the back of my mind as a possiblity, my biggest fear was him hitting my transports as they were leaving an invasion ( I always protected on the way in and shortly on the way out), and going to pick up more troops and supplies.

Thus from this Allied player a pearl strike would not be devastating but catching my supply stream of ships heading to the front, would have forced me to race my CV's back, and send my transports in all directions for a week or more till the situation stabalized, thus probably gaining
you about a month, that is what the japanese are playing for is time.

I can tell you we had our Marianas Turkey shoot in the southern PI in Jan 44 and he lost 9 CV/CVL's to none lost by the allied fleet and we learned then it is no use fighting the allied CV's directly at this stage of the war, but your plan would pull them from the front, but make sure
you have enough fuel for a high speed run back.

Good Luck, I will be very interested in the results. Only the bold can reach the top.

[1275psi]

herbiesan mulls over the advice from above
Think Ill take it up!

Well today was the 14th, amazing, into mid march.

My ASW groups in the siapan area suffer a bad day -they all pull into port to fuel, and enemy mines take out 3 ships, but 2 more ss are killed today.
Looks as if tabpub is piling the SS into this area!
The weather breaks slightly in malaya -and the george unit suffers 10 planes lost for 3 spits -I will have to pull it out
Timor/lautern is being pounded
3 liberators flying from derby sink 3 ak at raba -man this is tough stuff

Overall, a new jap strategy is forming, forced by allied pressure, and herbiesan long term plans
Thaialnd, vietnam, burma army has to be saved, or as much as possible -so many, many ships are headed towards siagon from all over the map.
Hong kong tokyo express is still running -and the supply levels there are going up slowly -but going up!
And timor has to be reduced, with troops moved north.
And of course there is the pacific, no sign of it yet -but the next big op must soon be due -Truk -wake-wewak?
On the advice from above -if I can get some more fuel -the Northen fleet -the majority of my CVs, are going east for a raid -hopefully as he is busy elsewhere.

[1275psi]

15/3/43
sabang stalemate
some Tojos in malaya smashed
A fast transport run arrives in honkers -I will have to cover it tomorrow with air
On the - look at our version of the western front/somme battles- 6 chinese corps go "over the top " atHoman -my 3 divs stop em cold
Its a crazy sight -a continous line of engagements right along the length of china -and all bogged..
Not much else.

[1275psi]

16/3/44
a big day -as it spells the true beginging of the end of the empire.

Its one of those days where one scans the map -looking for miricles -and finds none[;)][8|]

Sabang is crapolladed (a new herbiesan word)[8|] as 5 british BBs pound away -and another brigade is unloaded -and i have nothing left to throw at it.
Thailand army is bombed terribly, and I cannot do anything about it.
The evac policy is now fixed -as the first division is loaded at Siagon, for the DEI -probably batavia.
The terrible news is spotted north of rabual, at least 5 huge task forces headed north east, I suspect some one is bringing all his toys.


I have to -have to concede Truk -unthinkable 12 months ago -but now necessary.
For herbiesan the logic is simple -itll take 2 weeks to take, another 2 weeks for tabpub to regather -thats a month, another month the oil route is free.
Another month to prepare operation A GO-1.

But in the meantime KB, fleet north, sails east.
A huge risk -but it might buy me more time. And I might even have enough fuel!

[1275psi]

tabpub writes to me today -he's going to have to russle up some more divisions to take sabang.
Good, more delays

17/3/44
Truk -the real beginging of the end.
I lose count of the air raids on the place -its a crescendo of heavies and medium bombers,with some helldivers thrown in.
Hids CVs are approaching as well

Also the bombing reaches a crescendo at Krung Thep, an attack coming there soon -ooops, spoke too son, allies shock attack, the river assualt hardly helps so heavy is the attack, and it falls.

Little else today
Orders
The grand strategy is simple, drag his attention back towards malaya, so that I can get as many troops out of Vietnam as possible.
To help this i am moving in some bombers-precious planes these -to malaya -and a single unit will move north from Songhalia -to test the waters north of there -I want to have tabpub thinking that Im going to counter attack here

Hong kong supply runs continue.

[1275psi]

18/3/44
Tabpub must be planning huge actions -he only posts AAR when he is winning -and he is doing a lot of that!!!![:D][:D][:D] (just kidding)

Truk subjected to 2 BB bombardments
The ASW battles continue -another new group at legaspi -and it immediately kills a SS
The newly re started naval production is concentrated on escorts, and a few are coming off the lines now, I think I will get about 30 more days of it before i have to shut it down again.

Minor battles over songhilia, and Truk continues to be pounded, his CVs joining in.

The worst news is today I think tabpub finally spotted, or workedout what is going on, as mitchells from Canton attack the fast transport DDs near Formosa -they miss today -but it looks like i am now riding my luck!

The eastern front in china sees another "over the top" attack at chenting -0 to 1, 1200 casos to his 7000.
3 betties scare the hell out of the arizona -but miss near truk

Plans continue -many ships at siagon, and the great move begins.
the raids ordered yesterday did not fly, lets try again tomorrow.
KB returns to IWO, as I deem the fuel usage just too high, and certain movements of the allied fleet, ie some parts of the death star last seen headed east at high speed, seem to indicate that KB might not meet empty sea lanes[8|] .

[1275psi]

19/3/44
The bombers fly in malaya
28 george escort 27 francis, 17 sally - meet 11 spits
3 George lost , 2 sallies - 2 spits knocked down -and 7 hits on bandao

another raid -7 zeke -23 tojo -27 bombers -9 spits -I lose 3 fighters, and 2 bombers, 1 spit down
Little damage today -but this should grab his attention -especially as troops have entered Bandou -and are marching on the trail to its west.

The Hong Kong express is bombed again today, again my luck holds.
Truk , I cannot count the bombers hitting that place!

Siagon evac continues undetected.

[1275psi]

20/3/44
The Hong kong express is terminated very painfully -all 4 DDs of one group struk by T bolts straffing them full of holes.

I am sure tabpub has all the details -the invasion of Truk begins, a huge army comes ashore -losses to landing craft, well so, so -still a good 2 dozen vessels damged -but not a carnage.
The numbers of bombers, troops and ships involved makes this the biggest tabpub op he has done -and i am well pleased.
1 naval guard unit, 3 base forces, several headquarter units -and 1000 troops of a detachment of the 48th div fight 3 divisions, 3 Amphib brigades, several tank units, and tabpub lands (at very heavy cost in transports 4 -yikes 4 para units
1573 AV to my 114
6 to 1, forts down to 3, 4700 japanese casos, and 1000 him
Tomorrow truk will fall


I bombard at Bandao -he has only 5 combat units -and not good ones at that there, so my army at Songhalia is orderd north, his AV is reported at 870 -mine is 4000 plus.
Now I actually do not care if this attack goes no where -its all about Thialand/vietnam, I now have got 2 divisions , a South sea detachment out, ready for deployment elswhere, and many more as well.

Normally one would hang on to these like grim death -but I look at the date, look at where I actually get oil from, and its a no brainer.
I can use divisions eleswhere -not trapped in this great trap vietnam now is.

Finally, a huge scare -CV Taiho and Zuikaka are attacked by SS today -and missed.
just of IWO jima, so maybe tabpub will think Im coming south from japan now.
Hope so.
War continues.
Frustrated I cannot attack -but i am really, really being patient, and waiting for my chance
How many other japanese players still have ALL there CVs, all their BBS, and all but a couple CAs available at this stage of the war? -and I still have a fair empire.
The battles for the inner ring will start soon though, and finally, finally, I promise to unleash MR Aggressive[:@][:@]

On form tabpub invasions follow such a formulea -i wont be surprised.
Finally -I almost find it ironic -playing japan -and here i am -seeking the decisive battle -complete with a detailed plan, full of deceptions, decoys, and elaborate multiple attacks[8|][8|][8|][8|][8D]

[1275psi]

21/3/44
what will tabpub do with truk in his hands?
I will have to watch carefully[8|]

The invasion continued all day -and C47s were shot down all day too!
Finally truk falls today with another shock attack.

I conduct small raids on sabang -he bombs all over the map.
Tainan gets a sweep today -p38s in china, 12 fighters lost there.

He keeps reconning taan -must get some troops there -i suspect the paras are preparing!

[1275psi]

22/3/44

Only one thing to report today
Tabpub posts on another forum -B29s in China in 20 days[8|][8|][:(]

Thanks for the heads up mate!

[1275psi]

23/3/44
sent tabpub a long mail today -basically taunting him to have a go -have a go at siapan.
he's too conservative, but he did agree to save the game at this stage for a later Siapan battle -3 months.
He has all but 2 Cvs of the war -and I have only lost the shoho -so it could be a great battle
make a good AAR at least

But back to this
My army in malaya has marched north!
Enters bandou -where i suspect i have double the AV to him
But the point is he is concentrating a lot of planes on this army........while divisions slip away from siagon[:'(]
Honkers also is nearly back to normal supply levels -the express gets another run in today

Some ss of siapan though today.
And a recon flight -I fly in more fighters, must protect the evac!

[1275psi]

24/3/44
I bombard at bandou -yes AV is superior, may be not enough, i will test the forts level shortly
The bombers give me a very hard time today.
The siagon evac has a bad day -2 AP sunk by SS, and mozzies and liberators attack the shipping and port.
Zeros are just no good against his heavies, more being shot down than shooting down

I will move in george fighters tomorrow

The evac continues
China is fairly quiet, truk is still un occupied by enemy planes.
bombers to naval attack!

[1275psi]

25/3/44
A fair day -he again attacks bandou heavily, ss off siagon.
I have 2640 AV to his 1295, probably not enough
Tomorrow tanks only attack -lets see his forts

sabang supplies go into the red -ss supply runs, and bombers on supply as well

The enemy ss claim 1 tanker, 2 AP and a AK today

The betties fly today -32 attack truk -no cap -2 AK, 1 MSW sunk, 1 AK straffed.
not sure why he has no planes based there yet[&:]

[1275psi]

26/3/44
Although one could say the war is slowly grinding on, in the background , grand strategy continues to be played out.

The mere prescence of KB on the map has prevented the deep CV raids that were happening in real life, thus the pressure on this empire remains acceptable
Also -i suspect that although his planes are so much better -in pilot experience I may be equal still -so little action has his CV planes seen this last year.

The ss war continues -another sunk of legaspi -my ASW groups are deadly now.
The Sallies I have on ASW also hit 2 today.

The grand things of the war is the movement of troops out of Saigon to various places all over the map -over 60000 so far taken out.
Today his liberators hit 4 AP in the middle of the south china sea -troops killed, I might get em in though
sallies attack rangoon, and OOOPS -meet T bolts -slaughter ensues.
The betties go to Truk again -this time CAP is present - and most are lost
I test the waters at Bandou -1 tank regiment attacks -and his adjusted AV behind level 7 forts is 8500.
So attacking here would be madness -the troops will retire to Songhilia again

This is being heavily bombed today -I watch the 21st regiment almost be destroyed as well under a rainstorm of bombs.

In China I go onto a bombardment offensive -no longer willing to be pushed around here -and actually push a chinese corp of the Homan intersection.
I must keep the chin up -and be patient -SIAPAN must be soon!

[1275psi]

27/3/44
wonder what TABPUB thinks of all the shipping milling about siapan?
Still, I have noticed a lot of troops on the raod from outside bangkok to bandou -and certaintly all his bombers are flat out there -and on Songhilia.
He sweeps siapan with 45 P38 today
30 george, 49 zeke, 16 tojo on CAP
11 P 38 shot down for 1 george, 17 zeke and 16 Tojo.
I can handle this - the george is proving good in good hands -the pilot experience is growing back towards the mid 60's again with them.

usual moving of stuff turn