Shattering the Sword. Cantona2 (a) vs Herbiesan (j)

[cantona2]

Quiet lies the Pacific Ocean. Its warm waters caress its many islands and atolls like a lover. The sun's warm takes them in an amorous embrace.

Idyllic scenes are played out across its many shores as the sun sets in the West, beyond the bustling docks of Pearl Harbour. The West, where half a globe away a titanic struggle engulfs Europe. Its old nations shattered by war and the Soviet Union crumbling on the verge of defeat as Hitler's Wehrmacht knocks on the gates of Moscow threatening to establish a New World Order.

But that is half a globe away. In the placid warm waters of the South-East Pacific peace regins. All is calm and queit from the Raj to Sydney. From Wellington to San Diego. From the icy Aleutians to the sun kissed Fijian beaches. The only rumble of war is the Sino-Japanese conflict that has ripped China apart since July 1937. Old established colonial powers like the UK and the Netherlands still hold onto their possesions, their asiatic inhabitants a secondary class of citizen beneath their white overlords. Australia and New Zealand, more autonomous since the end of the Great War, have already sent their sons to die once again for a distant King, only this time its in the heat of Cyrenaica rather than the mud of Flanders. The other power in the Pacific boasts a magnificent fleet that shines under the Hawaiian sun. Its seamen enjoy shore leave, surfing among the waves and the willing females attracted by the smart glittering uniforms. War indeed feels far away in Europe and the cold Atlantic Ocean. In the Pacific all is calm.

Yet in the East, as the new sun rises, war is gathering like an unsightly cloud spreading its tentacled arms across this Paradise. Sleek ships and silver aircraft are the point of a sword determined to slash across the Pacific and bring War to this side of the globe. From the East the cry of the God of War will echo and resonate like thunder and life as the inhabitants of the Pacific know it will come to a shattering and sudden end...

[cantona2]

Turn 1 sent. This is a 1275psi free zone. Comments are welcome by all and sundry.
Cheers

[Nemo121]

Which mod is this being played under?

[cantona2]

CHS Scen 157 2.08c + Nikmod

[Saso]

Edit: wrong thread

[cantona2]

Cheers

[cantona2]

Signaller Holmes pressed the ear piece hard against his ear and frantically repeated his request,

'Repulse repeat last, I say again Repulse please repeat last.' For the last ten minutes he had been receiving and responding to messages for the battlecruiser Repulse that had reported being under heavy attack by what appeared to be Japanese aircraft described as small torpedo and bomb carrying single engined aeroplanes. His first reaction was disbelief because the Japanese did not have any bases that could have supported these aircraft, unless...

'Not possible,' he said out loud. Unless, a carrier force of substantial strength was lying incredibly close to the coast of Borneo and therefore the docks of Singapore. With this thought in mind he once again began to relay signals. Twenty minutes later he gave up. Two things could have happened. A malfucntion at either end or the Repulse had been sunk. He called over the watch duty and NCO and passed on his transcript. He was relieved by the afternoon signals officer punctually at 13:00 hours. He went outside, his mind reeling from the mornings events. Despite the magnitude of what had happened his rumbling stomach soon took his mind off the events. Some chow, a cold beer in the mess and some sleep would help.

He saluted a naval officer that ran past him, down the corridor. Such was his haste he didnt acknowledge the salute. 'Bloody officers,' mouthed Signaller Holmes. He reached into the pocket of his fatigues, found the packet of smokes he was after and gingerly placed a cigarette between his lips. He opened the door to the signal building and was met with a bright, almost blinding Singaporian sun. He walked down the stairs and patted his pockets looking for his zippo lighter that he had bought in Batavia during his last furlough. He used his other hand to shield him from the sun as he looked across over the bustling Singapore harbour. The battleship Prince of Wales, recently arrived from the Home Fleet, was proudly berthed there, flags waving resplendant in the sun.

Signaller Holmes never got to light his fag, as his eyes scanned the battleship they soon began to track small black objects that didnt seem to belong in the blue canvass of the sky, approaching from the south east. First a few of them, then what seemed like hundreds of them, like bees swarming after the disturber of their hive. They zeroed in on the large ship while smaller groups of planes, the dots now took on a more distinctive shape, peeled off left and right converging on the plentiful targets.

The cigarette hung there in his lips, unlit and limp. Eventually it fell to the ground as Signaller Holmes's mouth opened wide in awe and fear of the spectale unfolding in front of him. He saw, heard and felt the impact of the bombs on the mighty battleship's hull and superstructure. He saw RAF Buffalo fighters trying to hold back the massive horde of planes that were pillaging across the ships at berth, though he saw a fair few enemy planes shot down sheer weight of numbers soon told. Explosions, bangs, the crack of AA fire and the air raid sirens filled his ears. It seemed to go on for ever...

[cantona2]

A first for me in PBEM's, a KB strike on Singapore and the end of Force Z Not having to deal with this before any strategic advice will be very welcome. With the KB loitering about, my usual strategy of, what i call a 50% Sir Robin, in this area might not be feasible. Is an early push into the central pacifc with the US Pacific Fleet now possible?

Elsewhere in theatre. Usual landings in Guam, Tarawa, Malaya and Northern PI. A dutch submarine put a torpedo into one of the troop transports heading to Kota Bahru while CL Java, heading to Batavia, was missed by a Japanese submarine, only to probably fall to the KB tomorrow. The escort destroyers of the CV Enterprise hit a Japanese sub shadowing the carrier force. China was strangely very quiet. My other opponents have usually began bombing China to the stone age from turn 1. The good thing is that the sub fleet in Manila is at 100% strength and ready for deployment.

[cantona2]

Action packed 9th December 1941.

The CA Houston intercepted Japanese landings in Butuan and things were going fine and dandy with the DD Chidori sunk and the APD Patrol Boat No2 left burning and floundering. All long lances launched missed until range was reduced to about 2,000 yards when 3 hit her in quick succession. I've not got the turn yet, just the replay, so i cannot tell how much damage she recieved. CL Boise is poised to hit the japanese transports again tomorrow.

A sortie from Manila met strong, hitherto undetected, Japanese surface forces at the mouth of Manila Bay. 2 MSW's went down and the DD's John D Ford and Pope left heavily damaged and limping back to port, not before the Pope managed to score a heavy hit on the DD Satsuki. 3 PT boats that followed met a similar fate with only one returning.

Hong Kong harbour was pounded and all RN ships returning from sorties were hit, flak was conspicuous by its absence! In the waters around Hong Kong a large number of merchant shipping came under attack, both belligernent and neutral. Further North, the IJAAF began to attack chinese positions but with little effect.

In Malaya the IJA made landfall at Kota Bharu, so far 18th Division and a support unit have been identified. Zeroes and Nates were flying CAP over the task force but one Blenheim was able to put a 500lber on the BB Kongo.

DMS's out of Pearl Harbour managed to heavily damage the SS I-175 at Johnston Island and another ASW TF is enroute to Palmyra where another jap sub is staking out the atoll. A Japanese float plane, identified as a Glen, was seen droning over a task force carrying P-40B's out of Los Angeles. An intense serach and destroy mission will be mounted to ferret this underwater pirate out.

Aparri, Guam, Butuan, Laoag, Vigan were all occupied.

[String]

It's hard but try to delay him in DEI. Keep your planes and ships away from the KB, hunt it with submarines. Hit him where he isn't

At the same time put together an invasion force, or atleast a raiding force, for Kwajalein and start harassing him in the pacific.

[cantona2]

Ive spread out my DEI naval forces across the dutch territories. I have surface combat TF's at Kendari, Balikpapan, Sorebaja and Koepang. The reasons for dispersal is two fold. One, with the KB in these waters i dont want him going on a jolly around Java and Borneo and sinking everything he sees. Two, once he commits his carriers and i can then move TF's outside the range of his a/c. Thus only one TF (hopefully) will suffer while the others might help in slowing him down.

Lexington TF is heading due south from Wake Island after no attack happend there, despite SIGINT indicating it would. Big E is steaming back to Pearl and the Saratoga is also steaming out of San Diego. Once they are both in Pearl i shall see how clear the sea is of his subs before comitting to any attack or raid. For the time being i have sent planes (Catalina/P 40/Bolo) to the Line and Phoenix Islands to act as an early warning system should he stick his neck out. Once reinforcements arrive they will be shipped out ASAP. At the moment the units in the area are focused on ASW and Search missions to try and locate his subs. I know theres one, probably 2, operating in the approaches to the West Coast and so far one sub is staking out Baker, Palmyra and Canton Islands respectively.

[cantona2]

After reading in many AARS of the exploits of the CL Boise i finally see her in action in one of my games and ploughs into the Japanese ships at Butuan.



She made her approach using the cover of darkness and the low cloud. Still the Japanese lookouts, sharp eyed as ever and an the alert after the Houston's attack the night before, spot her and the Jap commander gives the order to disperes. But the Boise ploughs on and takes on two hits on her belt armour. Shrugging them off like a heavy weight boxer she turns her guns on her first target the DD Manazuru, which is soon left floundering and burning. An APD, already damaged by the Houston, is her second victim. Long Lances skim past her bow as her guns spit out more steel in the direction of the Japanese ships. Their crews are bravely sacrificing themselves to keep the US ship away from the transports, some also damaged by the Houston. As the task forces break off a mighty explosion rocks the DD Hatsukari, a departing gift from the Boise's last salvo. Taking advantage of her speed and the last hours of darkness she steals away into the night.



Dawn sees the Boise clearing Jolo Island steaming full ahead to Bailkpapan. But shes not safe yet, a Japanese Carrier Force hit Davao more or less at the same time as the Boise had arrived at her present position. Can she out run the Japanese carriers (Baby KB), will she reach safe harbours?

[cantona2]

Elsewhere the day goes to the Silent Service and the destroyers on ASW duty. SS I-175 hit at Johnston Island sunk enroute back to Kwajelein and the escort destroyers of the CV Saratoga, San Diego-Pearl, pummel the SS I-4 heavily. Another of the buggers is spotted due south of San Diego by a B-17 on naval search and destroyers are on the hunt. Canadain specialised ASW ships are heading towards San Francisco to reinforce the ASW effort and clear the western shipping lanes of this under sea menace.
 
Across the theatre our subs steal the day. SS O20 hits the AP Katori Maru with 3 torpedoes at Kuching and sends her and her cargo to the bottom. SS KXI at Kota Bahru hits two different ships ans SS S-39 hits another of the Butuan transport ships. Not a bad hit ratio [:D]
 
On a less positive note, the CA Houston was caught by the TF she engaged yesterday and sunk, while aircraft based in Formosa and Canton wreck havoc among among merchant and naval shipping in and around Hong Kong. In the air we achieve some parity today due to his high ops losses. Damn shame Vildebeeste are so light
 
All in all a good turn for the Allies, now all fingers crossed to make sure the Boise out runs the Baby KB [&o]

[cantona2]

Message received by USAFFE HQ Manila

***CL Boise reports safe arrival Balikpapan***STOP***Refuelling and steaming to Kuching to rendevous with CA Exeter***STOP***

Herbiesan didnt move the baby KB that stayed put south of Davao. Its Kates sunk two small coaster class AK's, im sure he'd have preferred the Boise instead. If my subs had last turn, his certainly had this one, especially the damn SS I-124 just south of Manila that sunk 6 torps into 2 seperate AK's sending them down to Davy Jones. Bastard sub is top of the 'depth charge his beehind off!' list.

Still an ASW TF pounded the I-168 at Palmyra and the sub detected off San Diego still hasnt moved and a DD TF out of San Francisco will hit it tomorrow. Unfortunately the SS KXIII failed to report back today and the worst is feared [:(]. SS Searaven hit an AP heading back to Formosa and a sub mine laying TF has split up into single ships for a patrol in the South China Sea.

Kota Bahru and Kuching have fallen to the Japs and im slowly evacuating planes from Malaya. A rebased squadron of Hudsons that moved to Rangoon will start a run of recon flights over his bases in Indo-China day after tomorrow after the crews get a bit of RnR.

In the South Seas, Lark Force will be moved to Port Morseby and has begun loading on transports. Long range recon of the Truk area still hasnt detected any movement though Nauru Island was occupied.

[cantona2]

Herb has dropped some paras in Lashio and i should have asked for my usual para drop rule. Im not a fan of dropping para units in places far from relief, suicidal missions by an elite trained unit would not have been considered in WW2. If the para drop is part of an obvious strategy then yes, and then within reasonable range. But as it stands he has no troops in Burma yet. A slight on my part and ill have to deal with it but ive asked him to consider the rule for future ops. If he doesnt then no probs and the game will continue at pace. A burmese brigade has been dispatched to deal with the paras and the AVG and Blenheim IV's from Dacca will hit it tomorrow.
 
The Baby KB is still south of Davao and two Dutch submarines are stalking it. With luck perhaps ill get a shot off at one of his carriers. Submarine warfare dominates this early part of the opening moves with the sub launched torpedo being the dealiest killer. Two more of my ships, and one more of his succumed to the underwater hunters, one of mine was a dutch ML that was heading to Ceylon. His sub south of San Diego had moved westwards and the ASW TF found nothing but shoals of Mackerel to depth charge [:(]
 
A unit of engineers landed in Wenchow yesterday (landing also cost him a DD to a mine hit) was thrown out of the city hex and supply will again continue to flow. His datai of Tojo's in Canton made an appearance, intercepting SB 2's with no success. The only A-A kills were the buffaloes flying CAP over Rangoon.

[cantona2]

Another day of carnage under the seas. Firstly the SS I-20 sinks an AK full to the brim with crated P-40's destined for Fiji Dutch subs once again hit Japanese AP's heading towards Kuching and a great big stack of ships is heading south-west downthe Java Sea spearheaded by the KB. I have move all surface TF's south to Northern Australia and hope to be lucky enough to score a torpedo hit form the subs shadowing this force.
 
At Davao, more Japanese troops land and he moved the Baby KB just as my submarines reached their last know whereabouts. Later in the day it was spotted 120 miles south of Jolo Island, seems to be steaming into the teeth of some subs in the Sulu Sea. Its big sister was responsible for the destruction of an escorted AS that was trying to spirit out of Singapore. It was caught at Merak and doen went the Wuchang, Stronghold, Express and Dragonfly. A secondary task force wil head north up the straits and the two CL's at Palembang will steam north too once the KB proceeds south west. I have plenty of fighters able to provide some air cover from Malaya.
 
In the air Buffaloes and Brewsters account for a couple of Nells over Palembang and Singapore. In the former the fighter pilots couldnt do enough to deter the sinking the of the Agwiworld loading oil in the port. In the latter the RAF was able to disrupt the attack and only a barge in one of the repair quay's was sunk. It was a very quiet day in the air as our only A-2-A loss was a P-40B flying CAP over clarke field.
 
Herbisan has a very different style of play to my other opponents and he is taking a slow but sure approach to the game, eg no attack yet at Rabaul, no massive troop movements detected in China. Other than the para drop on lashio he seems to adopt a conservative style of play. Now to find a strategy to turn that to my advantage.

[cantona2]

Japanese troops are spreading like an unslightly rash across the Pacific.
 
The IJN was able to carry out a surprise landing at Rabaul undetected by patrol planes. Such was the surprise that the CL Adelaide was hit 69 times
[:(] as she reached Rabaul at the same time as the IJN covering force. Though Wirraways have put a couple bombs into the transports, the main defence effort will come at Port Morseby.
 
The Japanese continued their landings at Davao but have not yet assaulted the Reserve Divison there. In Luzon, Bugio is being fortified and three lines of defence are forming with the Manila-Bataan line being the final stand line. Clark Field has finally cleared all of its fields of aircraft and they are now based at Cagayan, Manila and Cebu Island. Further north more and more Japanese transports run the gauntlet of my sub picket lines to bring in troops and hardware to the Battle of the Phillipines.
 
Unlike the previous turns both sides' subs have been very quiet this turn with only the SS KXI hitting and sinking an AP returning to Saigon. The wily skipper attacked the ship as it approached from the south. Though many contacts were reported, all torpedoes and depth charges fired missed or were way off the mark.
 
Of more gratifying news was the torpedo strike on the CA Atago by T-IV's out of Palembang. Despite the heavy flak put up by the CA and the battle force it accompanied the first aircraft in the flight of 5 hit with its only torpedo. The other planes missed but seeing the Japanese cruiser burn was worth the many holes the bulky biplanes brought back home. The Japs landed at Singkawang and its airfield was evacuated with the B-10's heading to Malaya, the Brewsters to Sorebaja and the Dorniers to Trincomalee.
 
Ive noticed that Herbie has aircraft based at Lashio. He must have flown in an air abse unit, or is the process of doing so. Both remaining AVG units at Mandalay will fly sweep and then LRCAP missions over Lashio in the hope of disrupting his supply and air landing efforts. Blenheims from Dacca and Hudsons from Rangoon will hit the airfield while Chinese aircraft from Tsyunug will aslo hit the air installations at Lashio before they become a pain in the a!$e [;)]
 
At the moment im on parity in air losses and 5-1 shipping losses, but other than Force Z and the Houston my shipping losses have not been too important.

[cantona2]

An action packed turn!

First Herbie pounds Palembang from the sea and then aircraft out of Singapore hit a big transport convoy heading West, no doubt the Palembang invasion force. The morning strikes by Vildebeeste and Swordfish find no enemy fighters covering the force and score hits on destroyers and transports. By the afternoon the KB's zeroes begin to cover the task force and prevent any significant attacks.

In Burma the AVG intercepts the supply runs to Lashio but he already has Oscars based there and shot down 2 P-40B's for 2 of their own. The attacks against Lashio will intensify in the coming days and a brigade is on the rail line two days out. Fuel stocks from Rangoon are being evacuated to Trincomalee and Colombo to prevent him from getting them as movement has been spotted heading north in the rail lines leading out of Indo-China.

Yet again submarines are in intensive action. The only hits were scored on the DD Whipple on ASW duty outside Sorebaja. Dutch and US submarines miss targets all over the theatre but none as spectacular as this one [:(]


Wheres a Dutch sub when you need one!
 
Herb's troops also made landfall at Rabaul but the CD commander there had the troops well drilled as these excerpts from the CR reveal.

--------
Coastal Guns at Rabaul, 62,90, firing at TF 20
TF 20 troops unloading over beach at Rabaul, 62,90


56 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Japanese Ships
PC Ch 24, Shell hits 1
PC Ch 30, Shell hits 1,  on fire
PC Ch 29, Shell hits 1,  on fire
AP Maruse Maru, Shell hits 1,  on fire
PG Shotoku Maru, Shell hits 2
 
Japanese ground losses:
264 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

------------------------------------
Coastal Guns at Rabaul, 62,90, firing at TF 172
TF 172 troops unloading over beach at Rabaul, 62,90


98 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Japanese Ships
MSW Tama Maru #2, Shell hits 2,  on fire
AK Kanayama Maru, Shell hits 3
MSW Tama Maru No. 2, Shell hits 2,  on fire,  heavy damage
MSW Noshiro Maru #2, Shell hits 1,  on fire
AP Tonei Maru, Shell hits 2
MSW Hagoromo Maru, Shell hits 1
CL Kashima, Shell hits 2
 
Japanese ground losses:
671 casualties reported

Allied ground losses:
14 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

------------------------------------
Coastal Guns at Rabaul, 62,90, firing at TF 20
TF 20 troops unloading over beach at Rabaul, 62,90


8 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Japanese Ships
AK Venice Maru, Shell hits 2,  on fire,  heavy damage

Japanese ground losses:
35 casualties reported

------------------------------------
Coastal Guns at Rabaul, 62,90, firing at TF 172
TF 172 troops unloading over beach at Rabaul, 62,90


36 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Japanese Ships
AK Taga Maru
AP Daihachikyo Maru, Shell hits 1
 
Japanese ground losses:
266 casualties reported

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

In the PI's Davao has fallen and the fortification of Luzon is continuing in the face of Japanese lethargy in terms of their advance southwards.

The damaged CA Atago has been spotted heading towards Saigon and as the screenie  shows three submarines converge on her route. She came under aerial attack from Singapore with no hits, but she was still burning from yesterdays torpedo hit. Her coordinates and course were signalled to submarine captains in the area and they now vector in like a pack of wolves. SS KXI sits just outside Saigon harbour to strike as the cruiser approaches home, if she gets that far!

[cantona2]

Herbisan has taken Rabaul, Miri, and Singkawang. He has landed in Palembagn, where two of his troop carrying transports hit dutch laid mines. He has also landed at Legaspi and the PT's in Cebu Island will try and make a nuisance of themselves. The strategic map below shows the situation after the first few days of war. Whats worrying more than anything else is that despite not attacking PH, my P40B and P40E pools are at 0.

Subs on the Formosa-Luzon shipping lanes sunk an AP loaded with units from the 21st Division. That, along with the AP President Harrison were the only ship casualties of the day. H surprised me at Alor Star and lost 12 Blenheims on the ground and his Sonia's were once again shredded by flak over Hong Kong, 12 yesterday and another 4 today. There were around 10 sub conacts on the allied side, with a further two dud hits and plenty of misses. Im happy that my subs are getting plenty of contacts, not too happy about the miss ratio.

A RCT has embarked in Seattle heading towards Midway and a second one will head towards Wake, where no attack has yet materialised, when the shipping becomes available. Still early days!

[cantona2]

1st Burma Brigade reaches the Japanese positions in Lashio. A preliminary bombardment has been ordered for tomorrow in anticipation of a direct assault. Once again the AVG and Oscars tussle in the Burmese skies and japanese transports were once agin intercepted. Hudsons out of Rangoon hit the 1st Mtn Artillery Regiment on the Thai-Burma railway. The Battle for Burma has well and truly begun.