Scott1964 vs stldiver The War of the Samurai

[stldiver]

Back from vacation and just ran May 22nd 1942.

Pretty quiet,

PC CH6 sinks in formosa from B-17 raid I think about a week ago, the only confirmed sinking but then again it was a psychological attack! We will go with that.

My subs spotted Kates and Vals west of Marcus a few days ago and today another sub spotted a kate at location 84,52 this coincides with the earlier data which means the KB is headed to the Aluetians! This is approx 22 hex's SW of Adak so 2 full speed days of travel more likely 3, I doubt he has moved enough fuel in the area to support full speed operations but we are planning on possible 2 days, probable 3 days arrival time.

My 4 old BB's pound Ogliaupu or whatever the name in the aluetians where I have 2 RCT working over a SNLF unit. Its days are numbered but with the KB coming I will be sure to move those BB's elsewhere. In the mean time we will try and prepare a good reception for our uninvited guests!

[stldiver]

May 23rd to 27th.

North Pacific
After several Naval bombardments and 1 air attack my 2 RCT's attack and destroy Kure 3rd SNLF on Ogliuga Island which is now fully in allied control. As the commander views the island he things "Who wants it?"

The KB planes spotted another sub around 91,50 approx again meaning they had pulled back from Aluetians to their previous position, Why?
1) Waiting to refuel possible
2) Waiting for transports to arrive for North or Midway? could be.
3) Lost! Probable [:'(]

Central, South and Southwest Pacific

I sink SS 1-174 180 miles east of Baker other then that notta, nothing no movement spotted what so ever. Pretty much tanning on the beaches.

Bornea and Northern Australia

Scott takes Aru (undefended) and cleans up several other bases, he has not attacked Soerabaja again. Probably waiting for another division from Manila to finish my last stronghold off.

India, Burma
I hit Meiktila every few days with B-17's and Wellingtons to harras the 2 divisions there plus two other units, he covers with fighters from Rangoon, its a slow attrition in my favor. Once again probably waiting for divisions from Manila to make a push on Mandalay.

China
I learned something new but not sure what it was. The 70th division was supposed to arrive at Nanchang but since I captured it I was not sure where it would show. Well a couple of weeks ago some transports start unloading it at Wenchow [&:], so I'm thinking it must have shown up in Japan and Scott brought it back home. Needless to say I had 1 Corps there that bombarded for about a week but due to its flank exposed and it was in great shape I withdrew it back to the next line of defense. Thus the Japanese have captured Wenchow.

On the plus side I have moved forces into Hankow, which produces over 21 HI and 202 Resources, this is also a city hex. It is my understanding that this stop producing for Scott since I entered. This will be a serious drain on his supply in the area. There are 18 units there of which 2 are divisions and various SNLF's and support units. I cannot take the hex and only bombard, but then he cannot kick me out!

All in all I believe we may have just reached the front that the war will stabilize on for a while. As I see no real weakness in his lines and there are none in mine. Only Airpower or reinforcements can change this and I don't believe either of us has the desire or supplies to bring this about with more important theatres.

Here is a picture of the Chinese front

[scott64]

Somewhere in a very cold place.

"Our next secret weapon is almost ready to be launched."
"Excellent" Faber said as he rubbed his flippers together in anticipation.
"Sir, our cloaking devise needs some work."
Feurer Krieg said "Leave that to me."
"Stealing parts off unsuspecting capitalist merchants." exclaimed thegreatwent as he riased an eyebrow.
"The only way to fly." [:'(]




Seams we have some ship names that wanted more action.[X(]

[scott64]

A secret meeting place somewhere in the Pacific.

The two figures meet in a washed out cave on a nondescript island.

"We must open another front."
"Ja"
"We will land here." the masked figure pointed to an old map with an X on it.
"Those cliffs look like a massive engagement."
"Child's play."
"One of your secret weapons, perhaps?"
<evil laugh> [:'(][:D]

[stldiver]

CDR Vaden peered thru the binoculars into the early morning night it was very difficult to make out any ships against the black coastline but he knew they were there.

The KXVI had prowled the Ceram sea for two weeks and finally the last few days had finally struck blows to the enemy, not four days ago coast watchers on Morotai had radioed the japanese were invading one of the last dutch possesions. He was given immediate orders proceed at full speed.

When they arrived all troops had been unloaded but Vaden was happy to unload two torpedo's into the AP Fusemi Maru which promptly went down without a fight.

Shortly after this encounter another alert came from Weda, a larger force was landing there. Vaden gave orders to proceed at full speed and had arrived just before sunrise. The coastwatcher had said over 6000 troops from the 4th division were already ashore. The question was could Vaden do anything.

Suddenly he spots a ship not 2000 yds away, quietly he orders the crew on deck to ready to gun for combat. Below he gives bearings for the torpedoes. Slowly KXVI closes untill 3 soft trails of bubbles release fromt he bow traveling towards the Japanese transport. After the torpedo's launch he orders the gun crew to fire shortly they are rewarded with a solid hit.

Searchlights suddenly start appearing from numerous ships previously hidden. He gives the order to secure the gun and retreat and full speed.

Then the night is illuminated with 3 simultaneous explosions the Transports lifts out of the water briefly then dissapears in smoke and haze. His first officer comes up and says "From the illuminations I believe that ship was the AP Sanura Maru".

CDR Vaden smiles as the Dutch sub pulls away, thats two in two nights what will the next few days bring.

History Fact:
K-XVI . This submarine was successful in sinking the destroyer Sagiri off the coast of Borneo on 24 December 1941, but was itself torpedoed and sunk, with the loss of all hands, the following day by the Japanese submarine I-66.

K-XVI during the daylight run at full speed from Morotai to Weda

[scott64]

Secret meeting place[:'(]

[scott64]

The beach we will be landing on. [X(][:'(][:D]

[scott64]

The four men walked into the top secret bunk.

"How goes the new front."
"A few weeks and those capitalists will be pulling their hair out."
"A diversion?"
"Maybe, maybe not." [:D]

[stldiver]

May 1942 has come to and end and I will show below the current states.

As you can see the only significant change is in ships.

Scott only sank 2 ships this month vs 37 of the Japanese vessels going under. Most of these occured in the Aluetians when my 3 CV's arrived and sank approx 20 plus transports then the CVL Shoho, CVE Unyou and CVE Taiyo. As to the CV Saratoga she is very heavily damaged still has flotation damage that goes up and down but we feel the worst is over. Although my subordinates kept showing the commander in chief these drawings of an Essex class carrier with the name Saratoga on them almost daily! If she does survive and its not 100% she will be in drydock for many months.

You can see below the status of the Islands in the North. The Central, South, Southwest, Borneo, Burma and China area remain relatively quiet.

This appears to be our doldrums, Scott declares another movement and we have detected some activity (I will not say where).

We also have our plans going forward and this month is significant as I have just been shown the 1st new carrier torpedo planes coming off the production lines! These will have increased range then the older models which did serve our carriers well in the first 6 months of the war.
I have ordered all Carriers upgraded as soon as possible, but am told we only produce 3 of these planes a day so no need to rush all the Carriers into port to get them. But I am assured by the end of the month all will be equipped.

Thus we wait for Scott's next move if none, then our carriers will be upgraded with planes to go along with their April AA upgrades.

Bring on the Samurai, its been to long since he's shown his sword. Does he cower to the Tiger!

[stldiver]

Edge walked up to Gifford "Well Mate, you ready for some combat!"
Gifford smirked "We haven't seen action since that last battle in April, just sitting on our duffs in India is fine with me, why did CIC tell us all to fly to Mandalay, must be over 100 Hurricanes sitting on this field"

Edge "Well its like this, those Yanks were flying their B-17's like regular clockwork attacking Meiktila 120 south of Mandalay here, when the last 3 days some zero's show up to defend the base flying from Rangoon."

Edge "Them Yanks are not the quickest brutes, it wasn't till yesterday and the Japs shot down 17 B-17s as well as other bombers that they decided they might rest thier blokes, as for us the same day those Japs hit Mandalay with Sally's, Nells and other assorted, and they came in unescorted. So CIC thinks we can fly in here real quick and catchem before they use escorts"

Gifford "I just hope were not in a slaughter house like last time"

Edge laughs "Ain't lost your stomach have ya! Don't worry the No 605 Sqd already has 20kills by the end of the day well show them a thing or two"

Edge turns and heads towards his Hurricane at the end of the day his kill record would be 8 and the No 605 Squardron will have 28kills.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 06/06/42
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Mandalay , at 33,29

Japanese aircraft
G3M Nell x 45
Ki-21-II Sally x 63
Ki-46-II Dinah x 5
Ki-15 Babs x 6
Ki-48-II Lily x 23

Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIb x 75

Japanese aircraft losses
G3M Nell: 11 destroyed, 14 damaged
Ki-21-II Sally: 30 destroyed, 3 damaged
Ki-48-II Lily: 17 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Hurricane IIb: 2 destroyed, 43 damaged


Allied ground losses:
21 casualties reported

Runway hits 2

One of the Sallys inbound

[stldiver]

The aide walks up to ADM Kimmel and waits patiently.

Kimmel looks up weary from the tension of the last few days. "Well do you have the summary of what happened?, we need to update the president"

The aide hands the dossie to Kimmel who takes it and barks, just give me the details I don't have time to read.

The aide's mind races trying to remember the events of the past few days.

"Well sir it all began on June 9th and the SS Thresher spotted and was attacked by escorts to the CV Soryu NW of Midway, at few hours later Catalinas from Midway spotted a cruiser force about 180 miles west of Midway and 18 SBD Dauntless took off and put 2 bombs into the Chikuma leaving it heavily damaged on one bomb into the CA's Furutaka and Haguro both were on fire. We were surprised but our forces drew first blood."

"The next day saw the cruiser force of Furutaka, Hagura with CL Tama and 8 Destroyers bombard Midway with little affect, our shore guns manage to set 3 destroyers on fire. The SBD's once again took off but in less numbers and managed to put 3 bomb hits on CL Tama. The Japanese landed 3 SNLF's th 47th, 86th and 88th. They had 4 AP's heavily damaged from mines and shore guns and had to be surprised by the stiff defense we put up, as their initial assualt withered"

"The 11ths saw the KB level Midway airfield, the japanese reloaded their troops and began to sail away."

"Yesterday the SS Thresher managed to sink one of the damaged transports and rescued one of the survivors of the 47th SNLF"

Kimmel "Very good, now what do you attribute to the reason the Japanese pulled out after only one day? The airfield is no longer functional and they can land and bombard at will"

Aide "Well sir even though we where surprised, Midway has been heavily fortified. We believe they did not bring enough troops as they found Midway defended by the 4th and 6th Marine Defense Battalions as well as the 25th USA division. That combined with our fortifications meant they needed a lot more troops so they withdrew"

Kimmel "Very well, What do we expect the losses to be?"

Aide "Well our losses are minor with just a few SBD's and Catalinas lost. The land combat amounted to 3 of their SNLF's being badly mauled. At sea we have already confirmed 3 AP's have gone under with a possible 3 more to follow. In the Big ship catagory the CA Chikuma was heavily damaged and so far from port may not make it, as well as the CL Tama. Of those destroyers we are not sure, it depends on how good their damage control is, but they headed NW towards Tokyo and thats a long way."

Kimmel "Excellant any other news we can give the president"

Aide "Yes Sir the CL Marblehead participated in a British, Dutch and US surface raid on the Java Port Malang, apparently the Japanese are landing reinforcements to take Soerabaja. The CA Essex, CL Marblehead 3 other CL's and 2DD's encountered and drove off a force of 45 transports and 10 patrol craft. 2 of the transports were heavily damaged with another 3 on fire. This happened on the 11th"

Kimmel "Very good news indeed. The president will be happy."

SBD's over midway heading for CA Chikuma

[scott64]

Top Secret Bunker, somewhere in Tokyo

"Why did our transports not wait up for the rest?"
"Emperor, It seams a few adventurous men decided to spice up their saki. They got very drunk and poured the concoction into the engine."
"This better be good."
"The concoction made the engines go very fast. They went 300 miles overnight."[X(]
"But?"
"It left the other invasion craft far behind."
"Sentence those men to 30 days hard labor."
"Banzai."

[thegreatwent]

TGW reads a report in his lab. Puzzled he radios secret HQ.

Secret fuel recipe intended for tankers bring oil to HI STOP not intended for transport of troops STOP if attempting to use in DDs stop STOP could cause catastrophe STOP

After sending the coded message TGW returns to his lab. "There must be some new gadget I can devise to aid our valorous troops" he thinks. (the lab fills with the sound of tinkering)

[scott64]

Situation War Room&nbsp; Tokyo

"Report"
"Two of our secret weapons have arrived in the past few weeks." [:D]
"Junyo is down 20% to 30% in damage." [8D]
"A few more weeks and one set of our new fighters will be rolling out of the factories." [:)]

[scott64]

Burma Area HQ Rangoon

The aide bows to the Admiral. "A sighting Sir."
"Report."
"Sighting of three Royal Navy Battleships; Royal Sovereign, Ramillies, and Resolution."
"How many planes do we have?"
"About 65 Dive Bombers, 100 Level Bombers and assorted escorts."
"Any ships?"
"We have 4 subs in the area, assorted surface ships and, Task Force Saki is vectoring to the area."
"Banzai."

[FeurerKrieg]

Can we use this fuel to get those slow battleships up to 30 knots?

[stldiver]

1 British and 1 Australian Bde's land and recapture Port Blair. The defense was very stiff and there were high causalties. Most came from the trained crabs that pinched and threw our soldiers onto the rocks. After that the liberators had to deal with dysentaria as it appeared the watersupply had gone bad from the Japanese lack of cleanliness and upkeep.

The Airfield was undamaged but the port will need some repair due to a recent softening bombardment by the Royal Navy. The Navy claims causualties would have been higher but 4 battleships pounded most of the crabs into crab rangoon. Not to be confused with the crabs Scott is training for the defense of Rangoon.

The mission would be a complete success except 3 ladies Nell, Sally and Helen showed up and decided to spread fuel oil about the beaches sending 4 tankers to an early grave possibly 2 more. Once again the Japanese have no respect for the environment let alone tampering with the wildlife.

Further South, We find the Zuiho and Hosho showing up south of Java and sending several transports under the waves. One of which was carrying 12 Dutch fighters recently loaded at Soaerabaja. The fighter pilots were never seen again.

Below are the viscous defenders of Port Blair capturing a british stenographer who unwisely landed with the troops.

[scott64]

mmmmmm....tasty[:'(][:D]

[stldiver]

The lightning pace of the allied liberation continues.

On June 22nd it was reported that the 2nd Marine Para unit, paradroped at Portland Roads (Northeaster Australia) and liberated it from the clutches of the evil empire. No causalties were noted but many paratroopers insisted the mosquitos were murderous. Once again the latrines were in a bad state of repair and had not been cleaned in months.

One Paratrooper exclaimed at this pace we will be in Tokyo by July!

In other news a small Japanese paper reported the CA Chikuma surrendered to the seas after damaged inflicted during the Midway battle. The next day the paper was no longer in print.

Below is a picture taken just as the Dive bombers began their dives on the Chikuma

Historical Fact
Chikuma was completed at Mitsubishi Nagasaki shipyards on 20 May 1939
Chikuma was designed for long-range scouting missions and had a large seaplane capacity. She was extensively employed during the World War II in conjunction with an aircraft carrier task force, or as part of a cruiser squadron with her sister ship, Tone.

Battle of Midway
Chikuma's floatplane found the USS Yorktown, and shadowed the carrier for the next three hours, guiding the bombers that attacked Yorktown that evening. Two other floatplanes from Chikuma continued to observe the heavily damaged Yorktown through the night, during which time one plane and crew were lost. Chikuma then directed the submarine I-168 to find and attack the Yorktown the following morning.


On 25 October 1944, during the Battle off Samar, Chikuma engaged U.S. escort aircraft carriers, helping to sink USS Gambier Bay, but came under fire from the American destroyer USS Heermann and heavy air attack. Chikuma inflicted severe damage on Heermann, but was soon attacked by four TBM Avenger torpedo-bombers, one of which succeeded in hitting her stern port quarter with a Mark 13 torpedo that severed her stern and disabled her port screw and rudder. Chikuma's speed dropped to 18 knots, then to 9 knots, but more seriously, she became unsteerable. At 1105, Chikuma was attacked by five TBMs from USS Kitkun Bay. She was hit portside amidships by two torpedoes and her engine rooms flooded. At 1400, three TBMs from a composite squadron of ships from the USS Omanney Bay and the USS Natoma Bay led by Lt. Joseph Cady dropped more torpedoes which hit Chikuma portside. The destroyer Nowaki took off survivors from Chikuma, and then scuttled her at 11?‹25?ŒN 126?‹36?ŒE&#65279; / &#65279;11.417, 126.6 in the late morning of on 25 October 1944.

On 26 October 1944, Nowaki was sunk by gunfire from USS Vincennes, Biloxi and USS Miami and DesDiv 103's USS Miller, USS Owen and USS Lewis Hancock. It sank 65 miles SSE of Legaspi, Philippines with about 1,400 men including all but one of Chikuma's surviving crewmen.

[stldiver]

June 23rd thru 28th.

North Pacific
Very little has happened over these days. I Japanese sub was sunk just south of the chain of islands. Liberators begin to hit Attu. A claude and couple of kates are destroyed on the ground indicating some CVL squadrons landed here when their ships went under.

Attu has 8 units and so far 17k worth of troops, it is currently a level 2 airfield for Scott.

Central Pacific

All has gone quiet, the butchers bill so far as I can tell for the aborted strike on Midway is
CA Chikuma, CL Tama, DD Neoho and 4 AP's. DD Neoho sank just as it arrived at Tokyo harbor, SS Thresher witnessed the dimise


South & Southwest Pacific




SRA
Soerabaja falls with loss of approx 19k troops, it held for a good while, the engineers were in good shape and did over 50% damage to the resources, oil etc.

Burma

This is where the action is

For 3 days there was intense airbattles over Port Blair, Akyab and Rangoon, from 20 to 50 planes went down approx each day each side. Most days I lost more, but on a B-17 and Liberator raid on Rangoon vs a light cap I caught back up some.

Then there was several days of silence, as Scott reinforced Rangoon with over 120 fighters, 100 bombers and 200 extras (recon tells me this).
I guess he didn't like my raid.

Then today the Yamato shows up with 3 cruisers and escorts and puts a lights out message to my troops on port blair! [X(]
Lucky for me the Hurricanes or what was left of 3 squadrons had been lifted off by transports the previous days.
Can we say Port Blair is non operational!
I wonder if he will invade, as he will need carriers to counter the british CV's
Then again maybe Rangoon can provide cover, but one must not forget the 4 BB's the british have in the area. I figure Scott is not happy with my control of Port Blair!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naval bombardment of Port Blair, at 23,34

Allied aircraft losses
Catalina I: 3 destroyed

Japanese Ships
DD Hatakaze
DD Mochizuki
DD Fumizuki
DD Yamagumo
DD Tokitsukaze
DD Amatsukaze
DD Hatsukaze
DD Oyashio
DD Kuroshio
DD Yugumo
CL Natori
CA Kako
CA Aoba
CA Myoko
BB Yamato

Allied ground losses:
1255 casualties reported [X(]
Guns lost 4
Vehicles lost 2

Airbase hits 26
Airbase supply hits 8
Runway hits 95
Port hits 1
Port supply hits 4

This is one area the fuse is lite and both sides are primed for combat.

In the air front, All CV's have been upgraded to the new torpedo bombers they surprisingly have a range of 5 in CHS not 4 as I believed.
In addition Liberators are starting to fill out squadrons in North Pacific and Burma, they have a range of 14!

It has been reported by a west coast newspaper that the CV Saratoga has entered harbor and the dock crews are beginning to scramble over her battered hulk. It is estimated in many months for repair but the Essex ship yard was reported unhappy and tore up plans for a new Essex named Saratoga.

The dreaded offender of peaceful dreams