two Germans in the Pacific - Sc17

[fuelli]

Yep, that was exactly the problem. The first bombardemnt was revealed by my scouts and I was able to ppull out the trasnbport convoy in time. This time I was completely unaware of whats coming. I´m in desperate need of better escorts for my convoys.
Nevertheless only a part of a baseforce got drowned and PM is now up and running. GG already feels the little stitches that will come in the near future.

[RGIJN]

while everything remains pretty silent in the skies and on the seas, happy natives welcome the troops of the Emperor which just set foot on Russell Isl. Though an allied S-type ubaot managed to send a fish into one of my transports the damage is rather slight (to my surprise). After some welcome party with the folks on this paradisaic island they are going to help fixing the hole our freighter.

[fuelli]

It looks pretty calm but as far as I´m concerned I know that there is lot of activitiy behind the curtain. PM gets in better shape from day to day. The last reinforcemnts came through without beeing disturbed or even detected.
In the east we have a far different picture. In quick succession the enemy has taken Irau, Nevea and Gavigamma. Luganville alreday suffered first losses from bombardments but the dimensions of the craters revealed that the Japanese is still missing his big guns . Nothing that can´t be brought in order with a simple shovel.

[RGIJN]

oh, these visits were just for fun. Want to prevent the "hot" crews of my ships making a mutiny due to boredom. Japan does not send its best stuff down there in the Nan´Yo just for holiday. At least not with me in Command... [:-] So you wanna get more...?


It will be a different kind of war than the historical fought one. Though I do mindfully respect Adm. Yamamoto Isoroku, I never agreed with most of his strategies. Above all, the "Operation MI" (the darn complicated Midway plan) and the trickling commitment of warships in the struggle for Solomons 1942. Of course I am aware of the very difficult supply situation and fuel was one of the most crucial points in those days. But IMHO, there were some things he could have done otherewise. I´ll try to make it happen.

[RGIJN]

today the first bold air attack was to take place. Results were okay, but at the expense of tremendous Betty & Nell losses. Ridicoulous! It will take about three weeks to restock. [&o]
Anyway, CA CHESTER sank right away in the afternoon.



AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 06/04/42

Weather: Overcast

Sub attack at 10,61

Japanese Ships
SS I-27

Allied Ships
AK Diomed, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage


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Air attack on TF, near Port Moresby at 10,40

Japanese aircraft
G3M Nell x 11
G4M1 Betty x 25

Japanese aircraft losses
G3M Nell x 1 destroyed
G3M Nell x 7 damaged
G4M1 Betty x 6 destroyed
G4M1 Betty x 22 damaged

Allied Ships
CA Chester, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
CA Portland
CL Hobart
CA Chicago, Torpedo hits 2, on fire


Allied ground losses:
Men lost 75

Attacking Level Bombers:
1 x G4M1 Betty at 200 feet
2 x G4M1 Betty at 200 feet
4 x G3M Nell at 200 feet
4 x G4M1 Betty at 200 feet
3 x G4M1 Betty at 200 feet
3 x G3M Nell at 200 feet
4 x G4M1 Betty at 200 feet
4 x G4M1 Betty at 200 feet
3 x G3M Nell at 200 feet
2 x G4M1 Betty at 200 feet

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

[fuelli]

This ridiculous incident is the result of order disobedient by the Fast Transport TF Commander.
Orders were:
Arrive at night
Fast unload
Sprint away from hex
And not arrive at night, do nothing and stay during daylight with the "hit me here" mark painted on the deck
Of course, not having Cap ordered up for PM is another story......
On the other hand, someone really earned is medal for extraordinary AA handling.

[RGIJN]

Frank successfully managed to intercept my small FT TF. Though I had the advantage of first sighting his big ships dodged my Long Lancers. Unfortunately...
However, at least I depth charged one of his pesky S-class subs! [:D]




AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 06/13/42

Weather: Thunderstorms

Night Time Surface Combat, near Efate Port Vila at 55,57

Japanese Ships
CL Sendai, Shell hits 25, on fire, heavy damage
DD Maikaze, Shell hits 1
DD Urakaze, Shell hits 2, on fire

Allied Ships
CA New Orleans, Shell hits 3
CA Astoria, Shell hits 2
CA Minneapolis, Shell hits 2
CL Honolulu
DD Hughes, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
DD Cummings
DD Lamson, Shell hits 1


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Efate Port Vila at 55,57

Japanese Ships
CL Sendai, Shell hits 15, and is sunk
DD Maikaze, Shell hits 27, and is sunk
DD Urakaze, Shell hits 14, on fire, heavy damage

Allied Ships
CA New Orleans, Shell hits 3
CA Astoria
CA Minneapolis
CL Honolulu
DD Hughes, on fire, heavy damage
DD Cummings
DD Lamson


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naval bombardment of Luganville, at 53,53

Airbase hits 6
Runway hits 22


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Sub attack at 19,42

Japanese Ships
DD Shigure

Allied Ships
SS S-41, Shell hits 2, on fire


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[RGIJN]

just a brief overview of the situation by Mid-June 1942.

Intel states Allied losses as following:

1 CA
1 MSW
1 DMS
7 AP/AK
4 SC

80 a/c

The Japanese hold entire Solomons, Northern PNG coast incl Buna & Dobadura, GG, Rossel, and several Islands in the Hebrides.
PM situation seems resilient for the Allies, he has based quite a few A/C there and some of his convois got thru. Still... [8D]

[fuelli]

Just a little detail that needs to be mentioned: The little FT TF that got smashed was supposed (according to allied intelligence no reinforcements were on board the sinking ships) to evacuate a unit that got trapped on Efate. This was the first failed attempt of the japanese to sneak-occupie one of my bases. The victory sickness seems to show its first symptoms.

The situation in PM looks pretty god for me in the first view. But I know that against a competent opponent, and as far as I can judge right now this is axectly what I have to deal with, PM is hard to hold. But it will be up to me put a price tag onto this base. And the price is supposed to be very high.

[RGIJN]

I would not rate it as failed occupation. Of course the evac operation failed indeed. Have that many of these NavGsn units, they need something meaningful to do. Hope I can reveal the exact meaning later in the game.
I´m gonna try to negotiate the "price" for PM with you. Will send major fleet units to you as negotiator...

[AbeSimpson]

Hi!

Hope you both keep this AAR going, sounds very funny........Germans in the Pacific.
Some screenshots would be nice, if possible. Its hard for me to follow because I
have litte idea about the game (bought UV two day ago and just finished the manual).

GL & HF

Abe

[fuelli]

I´m gonna try to negotiate the "price" for PM with you. Will send major fleet units to you as negotiator...

First Tender will be send in several 500lb bombshells[;)]

[bigbaba]

Hope you both keep this AAR going, sounds very funny........Germans in the Pacific....

well, there is something true in this statement.

the solomon-islands were a colony of the german empire before they were took away by the british in WW 1. that was something completly new for me just few weeks ago.

[RGIJN]

Rabaul at New Britain (Neu Pommern / New Pomerania back in those days) was the headquarter of Deutsch Neu Guinea. Truk, Ponape and other areas were german mandatories too until 1914. Interesting fact: there is a german dialect still spoken in this vicinity! (Rabaul Creole German)

So I understand this game as kinda repossession... [;)]

[bigbaba]

ORIGINAL: RGIJN

Rabaul at New Britain (Neu Pommern / New Pomerania back in those days) was the headquarter of Deutsch Neu Guinea. Truk, Ponape and other areas were german mandatories too until 1914. Interesting fact: there is a german dialect still spoken in this vicinity! (Rabaul Creole German)

So I understand this game as kinda repossession... [;)]

there is a german dialect still spoken in this vicinity! (Rabaul Creole German)

OMG. i would realy like to hear this dialect...as long as it does not sound like sächsisch or so.[:)]

[RGIJN]

ORIGINAL: bigbaba

OMG. i would realy like to hear this dialect...as long as it does not sound like sächsisch or so.[:)]

Are there any sensitivities with the sound of Sächs´sch? Since I come from Thuringia, which is pretty close to Saxonia...

[RGIJN]

ORIGINAL: fuelli



First Tender will be send in several 500lb bombshells[;)]

REJECTED! [:-]

[RGIJN]

Here you can see one of the A5M used by the Tainan AG in the first weeks of the conflict. Reinforcements now allowed an upgrade and the pilots are hot & eager to show what is in them and their new toy - the A6M2 ReiSen.
The old birds are called back, you see them in front of the hangars somewhere in the Philippines while preparing for the next leg to their new station. Green aviators will sow their wild oats on these a/c now back in Japan, grewing to killers for another day of combat soon to come...

[fuelli]

I wish they could have stayed longer...

Air attack on TF, near Lae at 9,33

Japanese aircraft
A5M4 Claude x 15
A6M2 Zero x 9

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 8
P-40E Kittyhawk x 36
B-25D Mitchell x 5

Japanese aircraft losses
A5M4 Claude x 3 destroyed
A6M2 Zero x 1 destroyed

I wish´em all the best and hope to see them soon again when imperial reinforcements need to use everything they´ve left

[fuelli]

This mornings report revealed a fortunate surprise for me:
My carrier force which was send out to stop the routine bombardments run by growing more and more stronger enemy forces had a huge success. All participants on US side did their duty with brilliance and bravery of its own class. First the scouts nailed down the position of the Fleet with detailed information about composition and also a few shipnames were identified. My Carrier Force had manuevered itself into perfect attackposition. Only the weather prevented that the first strike hit the main target. Dark clouds above the enemy force let the flightcommander decide to punish a lone ML off GG first. But in the afternoon everything worked according to the book. A huge coordinated strike smashed the enemy TF. SBD planted their bombs with terrfic precision and even the Devestators were able to score a few hits. Target selection was brilliant. 90% of the ordenance rained down on the two battleships Kirishima and Kongo as well as on the cruiser Aoba. Aoba sank ouright after the battle while at least one of the battleships is reported with multiple torpedo hits and supposed to not reach rabaul anymore. The other BB is definatley renderd useless for a couple of months.
A bootle of homebrown Rum from NG has been sent by the commander in Chief of PM to M.Mitscher. He and his engineers will have now a littlebit more breathing time in between bombardments to make everything look nice again. A job they have done with lots of success in the past by the way.