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

[Skipjack]

10/4/42: Japanese ground troops take Colombo, effectively ending British resistance in India - air combats in the south pacific go well for Japan, but a U.S. Gato-class sub scored this turn's prize: The Hiyo goes to the bottom of the Japan trench [8D]

[Skipjack]

10/11/42: South Pacific command launches an assault on Guadalcanal - 3CVs and a CVL to provide air cover, BBs for surface combat cover and bombardment, and newly arrived P38s and B24s to strike the airfield. And every B17 I've been able to miser over the past few months (90+ in 3 squadrons) also assisted from Espiritu. And I landed all the divisions I could scrape up - well, to make a long story short, Rybka had the place stacked with defenders - even more than SIGINT revealed. Even so, it was close - but not enough. The Japanese hold [:(] And they sink the Hermes, to boot [:@]

[zamli]

interesting.......... do you play the version where more than one division is allowed per landing force? (i always have to refer to house rules myself);

anyway - thats the biggest concentration of american divisions I have seen so far! and their experience is terryfying [:(]

[Capt. Harlock]

And every B17 I've been able to miser over the past few months (90+ in 3 squadrons) also assisted from Espiritu. And I landed all the divisions I could scrape up - well, to make a long story short, Rybka had the place stacked with defenders - even more than SIGINT revealed.

Not enough preliminary bombardment! But I'm impressed you managed to land an armoured brigade -- that must have taken a lot of AP's.

[Skipjack]

ORIGINAL: Capt. Harlock
I'm impressed you managed to land an armoured brigade -- that must have taken a lot of AP's.

Yes, the Empress-type (10 x 250 lift capacity) are needed to get it loaded.

ORIGINAL: zamli
interesting.......... do you play the version where more than one division is allowed per landing force?

House rules for this game apply the 1 Div per landing rule to Atolls only (Terrain 1)

[Skipjack]

10/25/42:

After failing to take the airfield at Guadalcanal, allied troops were evacuated to refit in New Hebrides and New Caledonia.  South Pacific Command determines to continue to test the Japanese defenses in the Solomons - this time Rennell Island.

Another maximum effort is sent - IJN TF2 aborts as the Allied SCTF arrives, then the G4Ms swarm in - CV Hornet takes heavy damage and retires, 4 APs sunk.  Fortunately no Allied TFs abort and the troops land - first Turner lands his Divisions, then Crutchley lands the remaining forces and the base is taken.  Now the surviving engineers need to get the airfield built ASAP!

[Capt. Harlock]

ORIGINAL: Skipjack

Now the surviving engineers need to get the airfield built ASAP!

Can't argue with that! But you are going to need massive quantities of supplies -- and rebuilding your units, especially the one with only eight squads left, is going to suck up those supplies like an industrial-strength vacuum cleaner.

[zeke99]

is going to suck up those supplies like an industrial-strength vacuum cleaner.

LOL but true. It is better to move such units to a nice and quiet place.[;)]

[Skipjack]

Well, I probably should have pulled them out to a quiet place, but I left them there to work on the airfield - hopefully there is a Jeffrey Hunter-type Engineer left amongst the 8 surviving squads (for those of you that remember the end of "The Longest Day" [;)])

BTW, the manual says a replacement infantry squad only takes 1 supply point - so with 100 SPs, that unit could be back to full strength!!  But of course those squads will suck up there share of points for readiness (they probably arrive with readiness 9 [:(]) BTW2, they received 20 replacement squads on 11/1/42)

[Skipjack]

11/8/42:  Adm Halsey knows the second week of the Rennell Island operation will be a significant test - and he directs his staff accordingly.  The South Pacific Fleet forms 2 SCTFs to cover re-supply TFs, air cover will be provided by Indomitable and Saratoga.   The IJN figthts back fiercely - KB awaits and strikes the retiring assault ships, then the arriving supply TFs.  I-boats also take their toll as they lurk off Rennell.

Adm Mitscher takes the KB and LBA strikes as they stand off Rennell, and the Japanese aviators strike home - Saratoga takes heavy damage and is disabled, Indomitable also suffers but her armored flight deck helps somewhat.

As 'Ching' Lee's SCTF arrives, he realizes the Japanese resistance allocated was the max - Musashi and 3 Kongos arrive to contest the resupply.  Massive gun fire is exchanged, but the first shots are the most significant - South Dakota manages to score a '****' hit on Musashi, effectively removing her from the battle.  New Mexico suffers a critical hit and is lost; an Aoba CA is claimed in return.

[Skipjack]

Adm Willis's SCTF arrives next, and find easier pickings - 3CLs accompanied by weak IJN DDs (Minekaze/Wakatake) - the Ramilles BBs with U.S. escorts take a heavy toll on them with little loss.

Air strikes claim several MCS, but some supplies do get through - Kudos to Adm Crace and Callaghan.

[Capt. Harlock]

As 'Ching' Lee's SCTF arrives, he realizes the Japanese resistance allocated was the max - Musashi and 3 Kongos arrive to contest the resupply. Massive gun fire is exchanged, but the first shots are the most significant - South Dakota manages to score a '****' hit on Musashi, effectively removing her from the battle. New Mexico suffers a critical hit and is lost; an Aoba CA is claimed in return.

Nice shooting! I notice, though, that the IJN TF's don't appear to have commanders. Is this a problem with DOSBOX?

[Rybka]

For that first surface combat, my Kitakami cruiser crews claimed a Northampton-class cruiser sunken by torpedos at the end of battle. It can´t be displayed, because the list is too long.

TF3 commanded Nishimura and TF4 Tanaka. I hope they didn´t sleep during the battle. My report don´t mention them too and I´m playing in MS-Dos under Win98.

Japanese pilots are consternated by survivability of allied carriers. They claimed 7 hits on each ship, but they escaped.

[Skipjack]

ORIGINAL: Rybka

For that first surface combat, my Kitakami cruiser crews claimed a Northampton-class cruiser sunken by torpedos at the end of battle. It can´t be displayed, because the list is too long.

TF3 commanded Nishimura and TF4 Tanaka. I hope they didn´t sleep during the battle. My report don´t mention them too and I´m playing in MS-Dos under Win98.

Yes, I re-watched the VCR and Northampton-class CA went down - this time it showed a Ramilles BB and Northampton CA (both long lance victims) vs. a Myoko & Aoba CA - U.S. torpedoes from DDs. The VCR is providing Fog-of-War [&:]. I think I will look at the sunk menu before-and-after to get an accurate feel for the losses.

I noticed in the non-Dosbox replay the IJN TFs do not show a commander - I wonder if this means the commander was not able to influence the battle (like Kurita at Leyte Gulf, or Callaghan in Guadalcanal I). Anyone know?

ORIGINAL: Rybka

Japanese pilots are consternated by survivability of allied carriers. They claimed 7 hits on each ship, but they escaped.

Well, they survived (barely). Saratoga, Hornet and Indominable will be out-of-action for a while [:(]

[Skipjack]

11/15/42:  Adm. Halsey and his staff sort though the latest decrypts:

[font="courier new"]"... CVL **garbled** failed to arrive at ... all ships report last contact ... advance at best speed to become land battery ..."[/font]

Halsey sums up: "We may have done better then we hoped off Rennell Island - ask for conformation from our coast watchers ..."

Sunk menu shows these losses from 11/8/42 -
IJN:  1 CVL, 2 BB, 1 CA, 3 CL, 9 DD, 1 DE, 4 MCS, 1 SS
Allied:  1 BB, 1 CA, 2 DD, 8 MCS, 1 SS

[Skipjack]

12/13/42:  Air combat only the past few weeks as the Allies try to gain control of the skies over Guadalcanal and Cairns - P38Gs from Santa Cruz are starting to have some success.  Rennell Is has a 3-factor air field but supplies are running short.  South Pacific command sends a resupply effort - two Transport TFs covered by the only CV available - the Wasp.  It is a dangerous assignment considering the number of airfields the Japanese have in operation - in addition to Guadalcanal, New Georgia, Shortland and Nauru will threaten the TFs.  Wasp is given 4 CLAAs and 36 DDs to maximum Flak protection, and bombardment will hit 'canal to further suppress the enemy air.

Despite all this Wasp takes several torpedoes and goes down - the Bombardment TF loses a BB (Revenge) as well [:(].  Rennell receives supplies, but at a heavy cost.

[Capt. Harlock]

Despite all this Wasp takes several torpedoes and goes down - the Bombardment TF loses a BB (Revenge) as well .  Rennell receives supplies, but at a heavy cost.

Hmm. What a pity the Allies don't have Tokyo Express TF's.

[Skipjack]

12/20/42:  KB reacts to Transports leaving Rennell Is. and their strikes plus Jap LBA claim a few MCS & APs - Air strikes from Rennell (airfield just increased to 4 factors, now sporting 3 Corsair, 1 SBD and 1 PBY squadrons) hit back, but they can only damage a CVE.

12/27/42:  Allied dawn patrols reach Guadalcanal and Cairns to find a shocking site - clear skies.  The P38s and Corsairs have forced Jap LBA to night missions only [:)].  Transport TFs are now within range 1 of Espirtu, so South Pacific command orders them to break up and head for various ports (Espirtu, Noumea, Fiji) for repairs and new missions.  Too soon!  Betties from the Shortlands find them and sink an MCS and the CL Perth - 8 Warhawks show up on long range CAP but it was not nearly enough [:@].

1/3/43:  1943 starts fairly quietly - air missions by Allied squadrons try to disrupt units and supply at Cairns, 'Canal and New Georgia.  Jap LBA strike Townsville and Rennell Is. at night.  Allies focus their attention on repairs, sub patrols, and planning their next move.

ORIGINAL: Capt. Harlock

Hmm. What a pity the Allies don't have Tokyo Express TF's.

Yes, some better way of getting supplies through would help. Perhaps some Goonie Birds can assist.

[Skipjack]

1/17/43:  U.S. strikes on Jap airfields stepped up with 4E bombers directed at 'Canal and New Georgia, which enjoyed some success.
1/24/43:  Target airfields increased - 18 AC destroyed on the ground at New Georgia, 35 at Tarawa, 28 at Nauru - B24s have really hit back well the past couple of weeks [:)].

Losses (Jap/Allied) on 1/24:
Squads   2/0
AFVs    16/2
Guns     12/16
Aircraft  96/11
Ships      1/0
 

[Skipjack]

2/15/43:

South Pacific Command:  Over the past few months, extensive analysis has gone into the failed attempts to take Tarawa.  One of the major problems of past operations was TFs originating from multiple bases - exposed to attack before CV cover arrived, they either aborted or were heavily damaged on the way in.  A new plan is devised to make a massive effort to take the base:  Maximum effort (5 Divisions) would be employed; 6 Transport TFs would be covered by SCTF, Bombardment and CV TFs.   All TFs should originate from the same base - Santa Cruz.  Operation "Kidney Stone" is approved - despite heavy casualty estimates.

The operation is launched - but the third attempt for Tarawa was not the charm.  2 TFs fail to arrive, apparently too slow.   The 4 Divisions do arrive and land in sequence, but command/control fails miserably - despite selecting the best Amphibious commanders available (Turner, Barbey, Wilkerson, Crutchley) the first 3 waves are commanded by Halsey, and are ground to pieces.  Admiral Crutchley arrives with the 4th wave but cannot overcome the defenders and the survivors are evacuated.   CV Enterprise is lost to torpedo hits.

Some crumbs of comfort:  B17s stage a fantastic raid of Nauru - 70+ enemy AC destroyed in the air and on the ground for 6 bombers lost.
The Lexington earns the title "Waltzing Matilda" as she and endures the enemy air attacks while covering the evacuation - many bombs and torpedoes dodged as the allies slink away from Tarawa to recover.

I'm having terrible luck with TF commanders taking command of landings - what to do?  Should Turner be the SoPAC commander?  Maybe the Transport TFs should be attached to a ground HQ (SWPAC)?  Maybe I just need 7th Fleet.