West Wind, Clear - Rybka (J) vs. Skipjack (A)

[zamli]

So this is what will come in your game against me [:(]
I better conquer the whole map till then [8D]

[Skipjack]

3/15/42: I'll let Rybka sum up this turn:

After some failures, eager naval pilots looked for revenge for unlucky Shokaku. And they soon got chance. Patrol aircraft detected US carriers near American Samoa. Kido Butai got off port immediately and headed for enemies. But they were prepared and launched the first wave. After dramatic air combat, ony 14 SBD broke through CAP and atacked ships. They scored some hits, but none critical.
Shortly after, Japanese wave reached TF 50. A few Wildcats couldn´t stop our men and they showered carriers with bombs and torpedos. According to their report, Yorktown-class ship was sunken, the second was hit eight times, but probably escaped, covered by black cloud. Later, ships caught a message from attacked fleet, mentioning death of great admiral Spruance.

[Capt. Harlock]

According to their report, Yorktown-class ship was sunken, the second was hit eight times, but probably escaped, covered by black cloud. Later, ships caught a message from attacked fleet, mentioning death of great admiral Spruance.

D**n!! Too bad the airfield couldn't lend a hand . . .

[Skipjack]

ORIGINAL: Capt. Harlock

D**n!! Too bad the airfield couldn't lend a hand . . .

My thoughts exactly ... the initial focus was American Samoa but with CV50's reaction move, the combat took place off Canton, where I only had PBYs. I was hoping for surprise on the radar-less KB but no luck there, a swarm of A6Ms was waiting to slaughter my air strike ... at the end of the turn, I staged in all the LBA I could to try and hit back at KB - Warhawks, B17s and B26 Marauders. I was hoping KB would hang about to try and finish the Lexington. My plan didn't disappoint [8D] - based on the sunk menu it looks like the Marauders got the Zuikaku and the Hiryu [8D] - the sacrifice of Yorktown and Spruance was not in vain [:)]

[Skipjack]

The B26 - not as well known as the B25, but it earned it's keep in WWII - a bonny beautiful aircraft IMHO [:)]

[Rybka]

I wanted to take screen of this combat, but vrc playback don´t show any hit! Evidently, IJN is trying to conceal it´s losses in face of Tenno.

I think, it was the first combat of Marauders. They couldn´t have better introduction.

[Capt. Harlock]

The B26 - not as well known as the B25, but it earned it's keep in WWII

That it did -- and it was even capable of dropping torpedoes. Still, it's not realistic to have the Marauders around in the later game. IRL they were harder to keep combat-ready than the Mitchells in the tropical heat and sea air of most of the Pacific theater.

[Skipjack]

3/29/42:

North and Central Pacific, all is quiet.
South Pacific - both sides manage to disengage their CVs and head for friendlier waters.
India: Japanese troops landed in Vizgapatam last week - overcoming a Bde guarding it previously rescued from Malaysia. Now those Jap troops are marching on Ranchi and Calcutta - its looking grim for the British Empire in Gandhi's homeland [:(]

[Skipjack]

4/5/42:
Bataan surrenders with massive losses.

4/12/42:  Jorhat and Dacca fall - Britons are on their last legs in India.   Air duels over Australia and New Hebrides going Japan's way, but the Allies have managed to inflict some damage in return.   Damaged U.S. CVs have got back to friendly ports for repair - but little remains to challenge Combined Fleet's latest adventure - will have to see how it goes.  With at least a portion of the Jap BBs bombarding Calcutta every turn, some interesting surfact combat could happen any time [;)].

[Skipjack]

4/19/42: Allied Signal Intelligence is spotty at best - several TFs are spotted in Lunga by coastwatchers, but only the destination of 1 can be determined with any certainty - 1 Div embarked for New Caledonia. The other piece of intel indicates 17th Army is targeting Espirtu Santo. Allied planners decide to dedicate SCTFs to Noumea, since there is definite intel about Jap intentions. Espirtu will have to hold on with what air power and ground forces it has.

Results: It turns out the IJN sent a lot more towards Noumea than what SIGINT revealed - fortunately the bulk of Allied TF strength was sent there. The only problem was the allied planners thought they would be fending off transport TFs primarily instead of a main assault by combined fleet.

Combat 1: Admiral Crace arrives off Noumea with his SCTF (CAs - Pensacola, Portland, Chicago and Indianapolis; CLs - Perth, Hobart Achilles, Detroit and Raleigh) - they run into a Jap SCTF with Yamato, a Kongo-type BB, two Fusos, CAs, CLs, etc. Pensacola, Portland, Hobart, Achilles and Detroit lost as the Jap TF pounds away at Adm Crace's TF. The Aoba is claimed in return.

Combat 2: As the Jap SCTF pummels Crace's TF, Admiral Scott arrives with a BB TF - Colorado, Arizona, Ohklahoma, Ramilles, Royal Sovereign and Revenge. The Allied TF fires first and inflicts serious damage; in round 2 the BBs exchange fire again and the Colorado goes under after sustaining an 18" projectile below the waterline [:(] In return, 3 Jap BBs and a CA are sunk.

Meanwhile, KB tries to strike the Allied TFs but Adm Yamaguchi air raids airfields instead - 1 CVL/CVE appears to have been damaged by allied LBA. The Hornet, trying to stage into the area to contest the Japanese operation, was struck by a sub off America Samoa and is now moderately damaged - leaving little for Carrier coverage in the South Pacific [:(] The good news is Noumea and Espirtu are left in Allied hands after a major Jap offensive. Jap ground forces landed on Espirtu but the AUS units based there stopped them from taking the base [8D] Stay tuned ...

[Capt. Harlock]

In return, 3 Jap BBs and a CA are sunk

Great surface combat! I'm guessing the surviving Japanese BB is the Yamato, and she'll be in the body and fender shop for a while. Apparently those WWI-vintage heavy guns can still work!

[Skipjack]

ORIGINAL: Capt. Harlock

Apparently those WWI-vintage heavy guns can still work!

Do they ever! Either that or Admiral Scott is getting everything possible out of his '7' Naval rating. The next turn heavily damaged ships are detached and sent to Fiji, while Scott's TF53 takes everything else to Espirtu Santo. I was hoping he would either stop additional troops from landing, or bombard Jap troops already landed, or stop IJN bombardment - I got the latter, in a big way [8D]. TF53 really went to town, apparently - too bad the VCR didn't show it

[Capt. Harlock]

I was hoping he would either stop additional troops from landing, or bombard Jap troops already landed, or stop IJN bombardment - I got the latter, in a big way

That helps make up for the heavy losses earlier! It's only May '42 and the Japanese have lost several CV's and BB's. Not looking good for the Sons of the Emperor in the long run.

[zamli]

several CV's and BB's lost for Japan? Can you post sunken ships for both sides?

[Skipjack]

Sunk ships as of 5/17/42:




As you can see, the Japanese Army is working on the land of Oz overland, I'm attempting to hold off a march on Townsville. Meanwhile the bulk of the operational IJN surface power (4BB, 9CA) is working over Calcutta weekly. I tried contesting with Allied air in Townsville and Calcutta, but Jap LBA slapped me down hard last turn - their are lots of Jap aces left, apparently [:(]

Losses (Jap/Allied)
Squads 184/48
AFV 7/33
Guns 22/79
AC 91/349

[Capt. Harlock]

Wow -- some pretty significant losses. among other things, those sunk Japanese AP's must be hurting operations a bit. But why so few submarines lost so far?[&:]

[Skipjack]

ORIGINAL: Capt. Harlock

Wow -- some pretty significant losses. among other things, those sunk Japanese AP's must be hurting operations a bit. But why so few submarines lost so far?[&:]

I've been trying to keep my subs moving about to avoid losses - and the I-boats have been elusive as the loch ness monster - when not hitting my ships, like Hornet and Helena.[:@]

[Skipjack]

5/24/42:  Japanese continue to work over the British forces in Dacca, but the 18th Div and Gen Hutton continue to hold out.  AUS/NZ Bdes continue to work over the Jap units stranded in Espirtu, but no significant progress there, either.

Cairns - lots of Jap LBA present, which again savages the allied squadrons in Townsville, but the Royal Navy hits back - 60+ aircraft destroyed on the ground as the BBs bombard, a few hits on a BB, 2CLs but nothing serious.

[Rybka]

Too many fighters and too little bombers. After one error I didn´t have any usable naval bomber group. It was sad watching groups of 40 - 50 fighters circling uselessly round RN ships.

[Skipjack]

Update as of the end of June:
Northern Oz: A6Ms rule the skies here - allied squadrons have withdrawn south to regroup and retrain. Japanese Inf Divs attack regularly in Cairns, but 3 AUS Bdes are holding off their advance.

Espirtu: 2 Jap SBFs and a SNLF are stranded here; a U.S. Inf Div, AUS Armoured Bde, NZ Bde are trying to wear them down. U.S. BBs bombard occasionally. Combined Fleet's CVs hover near at Guadalcanal while allied CVs keep watch from Fiji - neither side is quite willing to charge in and initiate another CV duel.

India: 15th Army advance has slowed way down - Calcutta and Kunming still holding while the British 18th Div continues to contest Dacca - despite massive assaults and bombardment. Recently 15th Army lost it's prized commander - Gen. Mutaguchi went down from friendly fire - the Nagato's shelling apparently was off target.

In the meantime, the Pacific Fleet tried to get some of the damaged survivors of the Noumea surface clash back to the U.S. West Coast for repairs - in hindsight, that was folly; IJN subs picked off the CA Indianapolis and an Omaha-type CL en route. Since I'm sitting here watching "Jaws", I thought I'd mention that [;)]. Only this time some Dutch DDs were along to pick up survivors.