Lorks-a-lordy, my Empire is on fire! GBL vs 1EyedJacks - Nemo's mod

[goodboyladdie]

The Japs hit Singapore twice, losing 2 Lilys, 2 Sallys and 4 Nells. Supplies: 97,519 tons. They hit Manila three times, losing a Lily. Supplies: 42,527 tons.

My Blenheims flew 4 raids over Toungoo and caused 40 casualties to IJA 55th "Division" Brigade. If this keeps up I will hopefully knock their morale down so low they cease to be a good assault unit.

Davao was hit again. I don't think he has seen me after all, or he would not be wasting his precious sorties. Hermes and her task force, with USS Marblehead now attached, are steaming to a point south of Jolo to act as a decoy. The Dutch are going into Balikpapan to refuel.

[goodboyladdie]

WO Hashiguchi of 24th Sentai achieved kills 3, 4, 5 and 6 today. His victims were Lancers over Sinyang. 2 Marys fell in return. I also lost an I-153c to a Nate over Honan. Tomorrow my LRCAP I-16 sqn will be back over Honan. I am also moving my P-39s into Changsha to attack the Nanchang raid. That cannon should do some damage there...

Heading back to CONUS, BB Colorado finally dropped to 3 points of damage at Seattle and took her 1/42 upgrade. The results are a bit disappointing (AA-wise), but she only took an additional point of damage.

[goodboyladdie]

ORIGINAL: goodboyladdie

The Japs hit Singapore twice, losing 2 Lilys, 2 Sallys and 4 Nells. Supplies: 97,519 tons. They hit Manila three times, losing a Lily. Supplies: 42,527 tons.

My Blenheims flew 4 raids over Toungoo and caused 40 casualties to IJA 55th "Division" Brigade. If this keeps up I will hopefully knock their morale down so low they cease to be a good assault unit.

Davao was hit again. I don't think Mike has seen me after all, or he would not be wasting his precious sorties. Hermes and her task force, with USS Marblehead now attached, are steaming to a point south of Jolo to act as a decoy. The Dutch are going into Balikpapan to refuel.

[goodboyladdie]

Doh! Quoted instead of editing!

[ny59giants]

Why do you own so much of the SRA (viewing your screenshot) in early March 42??

Where are Mike's forces concentrated at??

[goodboyladdie]

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

Why do you own so much of the SRA (viewing your screenshot) in early March 42??

Where are Mike's forces concentrated at??

I'm afraid you'll have to ask Mike that. I have been waiting for him to come for ages, but he is messing around in the Central Pacific and China. He is also working on Manila and Singapore and has a few major field units in Burma. When I queried his apparent lack of a coherent strategy, he indicated that all his pieces are nearly in place...

The Carrier battle has taken place. I will not be posting anything until I get the actual turn and get a chance to analyse the combat replay, hopefully late tomorrow...

[goodboyladdie]

04/03/42

Mike has established a Zeke CAP at Wake, so my daily B-24 recon sorties will need to go in higher. They are useful for building experience. 4 squadrons of B-26As have arrived at Pearl Harbor and are unloading. 200 tons of supplies have arrived at Johnston Island from PH. Christmas Island is now 58/58/35.

Here is a screenie showing the daily losses. It shows how interesting life got South of Davao...

[goodboyladdie]

Kota Bharu port is now size 2.

Mike lost 2 Sallys and a Nell in two raids on Singapore. He also lost 2 Liliys in two raids over Manila. Supplies on hand at Manila: 42192 tons. At Singapore : 97132 tons.

My four raids on 55th "Division" Brigade at Toungoo caused 34 casualties.

I shall post the combat reports with notes and screenies for the CV battle as it gets complicated by the intervention of LBA from both sides...

First, the initial two raids on the Japanese task force:
Day Air attack on TF at 44,63

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zeke x 21
F1M2 Pete-FF x 2
A6M2-N Rufe-FF x 3

Allied aircraft
Albacore x 43
Fulmar x 4
Martlet III x 4
Seafire II x 2
Sea Hurricane x 3

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zeke: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged
A6M2-N Rufe-FF: 3 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Albacore: 12 destroyed, 17 damaged Flak just as deadly as the fighters - the Jap flak in this mod is better than mine
Fulmar: 1 destroyed
Martlet III : 2 destroyed

Japanese Ships
BB Nagato
CVE Taiyo
CVE Chuyo [Nitta Maru], Torpedo hits 1, on fire
CVE Unyo [Yawata Maru], Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
1 x Albacore launching torpedoes at 200 feet
2 x Albacore launching torpedoes at 200 feet
3 x Albacore launching torpedoes at 200 feet
1 x Albacore launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x Albacore launching torpedoes at 200 feet
2 x Albacore launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x Albacore launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x Albacore launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x Albacore launching torpedoes at 200 feet
3 x Albacore launching torpedoes at 200 feet
3 x Albacore launching torpedoes at 200 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 44,63

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zeke x 29
F1M2 Pete-FF x 2

Allied aircraft
Beaufort VII x 10

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zeke: 3 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Beaufort VII: 7 destroyed 2 RAAF squadron from Manado

Japanese Ships
CL Yura

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x Beaufort VII bombing at 5000 feet

[goodboyladdie]

Day Air attack on TF at 43,64

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zeke x 3
D3A2 Val x 5

Allied aircraft
Fulmar x 5
Martlet III x 5
Seafire II x 10
Sea Hurricane x 6

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zeke: 1 destroyed
D3A2 Val: 4 destroyed


Allied Ships
CV Formidable

Aircraft Attacking:
1 x D3A2 Val bombing at 2000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 39,61

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zeke x 2
D3A2 Val x 3
G3M2 Nell x 8

Japanese aircraft losses
D3A2 Val: 1 damaged
G3M2 Nell: 1 damaged

Allied Ships
CVL Hermes, Bomb hits 1 The decoy force doing it's job by drawing off some Jap LBA, 1 250kg bomb hit

Aircraft Attacking:
4 x G3M2 Nell bombing at 9000 feet
3 x D3A2 Val bombing at 2000 feet
4 x G3M2 Nell bombing at 9000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 43,64

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zeke x 10
B5N2 Kate x 14

Allied aircraft
Fulmar x 5
Martlet III x 5
Seafire II x 10
Sea Hurricane x 6

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zeke: 5 destroyed
B5N2 Kate: 6 destroyed, 2 damaged


Allied Ships
CV Indomitable
BB Prince of Wales, Torpedo hits 1 A belt penetration, but minimal damage

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
3 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
2 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 43,64

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zeke x 8
B5N2 Kate x 14

Allied aircraft
Fulmar x 5
Martlet III x 5
Seafire II x 10
Sea Hurricane x 6

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zeke: 3 destroyed
B5N2 Kate: 7 destroyed


Allied Ships
CV Indomitable, Torpedo hits 1, on fire The point at which the Japs started to get more out of the battle than me...
BB Prince of Wales

Aircraft Attacking:
1 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
1 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
3 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
2 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet

Day Air attack on TF at 43,64

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zeke x 7
D3A2 Val x 14
B5N2 Kate x 14
G3M2 Nell x 6

Allied aircraft
Fulmar x 3
Martlet III x 3
Seafire II x 10
Sea Hurricane x 6

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zeke: 3 destroyed
D3A2 Val: 1 destroyed
B5N2 Kate: 5 destroyed, 4 damaged
G3M2 Nell: 5 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Fulmar: 1 destroyed

Allied Ships
BB Prince of Wales
CV Indomitable, Torpedo hits 1, on fire Double ouch - see screenie - both hits same result
CL Glasgow

Aircraft Attacking:
2 x G3M2 Nell bombing at 9000 feet
3 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x G3M2 Nell bombing at 9000 feet
2 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet

Day Air attack on TF at 44,63

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zeke x 4
F1M2 Pete-FF x 2

Allied aircraft
Albacore x 6
Fulmar x 3
Martlet III x 3

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Albacore: 1 destroyed, 3 damaged

Japanese Ships
DD Minegumo
CVE Taiyo

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x Albacore launching torpedoes at 200 feet
2 x Albacore launching torpedoes at 200 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 44,63

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zeke x 4
F1M2 Pete-FF x 2

Allied aircraft
Beaufort VII x 3

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Beaufort VII: 2 damaged

Japanese Ships
BB Fuso

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x Beaufort VII bombing at 5000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 43,64

Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 4

Allied aircraft
Fulmar x 4
Martlet III x 4

No Japanese losses

No Allied losses

Allied Ships
DD Jupiter

Aircraft Attacking:
4 x G4M1 Betty bombing at 15000 feet

[goodboyladdie]

The Jap LBA seemed to come from Cotabato.

Hermes has damage of 26/0/7 and is running for Soerabaya. Indomitable is in quite a bad way with 24/48/19 and is running for Kendari escorted by all other ships. I will rustle up some ARs to go to her assistance and some CAP. Her airgroup is spread over many bases, including some damaged planes at Davao. I will have to fly some aviation support in to get them back out again. POW only has one point of system damage. The Dutch striking force will return to Kendari.

733 sqn FAA (Beauforts) and 32 sqn RAAF (Hudsons) have flown into Manado to try to intervene, as 2 sqn RAAF retreats to rebuild. 98th BS is flying supplies into Tarakan to support the forward deployment of 28th US BS (B-25s) and the crack 13 sqn RAAF (Hudsons).

HMS Truant has completed repairs at Colombo and is heading to Trincomalee to load mines. The firts three Infantry cadres evacuated from Singapore are unloading at Madras - they will head inland to rebuild and cover unoccupied bases.

[goodboyladdie]

My P-39s produced a nasty shock for Mike over Nanchang, downing 4 Marys, 4 Lilys and 2 Sallys. Tomorrow AVG/3 will provide top cover. Over Honan he lost 4 Nates and I lost an I-16 mod 24. Flak at Wuchow downed 2 Sonias and a Lily.

Mike has more units across the ferry at Xuwen.

[goodboyladdie]

And last, but not least, a FAA pilot in the marvellous Seafire Mk II became my first "Ace in a Day".

[witpqs]

If she makes it back to safety then you just might be ahead 1 small carrier for the battle. And, I'll bet you scared the pants off of him! That will count down the line.

[Nemo121]

Hermes is worth less than one of those CVEs really but even not counting that you will force the Japanese to now properly protect every invasion etc. In the long run this means that he will be able to mount fewer invasions per unit time --- something which really helps you over the next year.

[goodboyladdie]

"If she makes it back to safety then you just might be ahead 1 small carrier for the battle. And, I'll bet you scared the pants off of him! That will count down the line."

I am more worried about Indomitable than Hermes. I have done the next turn, but do not have time to update at the moment. Scaring the pants off him was part of the intention. In our attempts at RHS he often made the same mistake. Having said that I have had to relearn the lesson about sending baby carriers to do fleet carrier work many times myself...

"Hermes is worth less than one of those CVEs really but even not counting that you will force the Japanese to now properly protect every invasion etc. In the long run this means that he will be able to mount fewer invasions per unit time --- something which really helps you over the next year."

I would still rather not lose her as all decks are irreplaceable. Forcing him to spread out his main force is what I have been trying to do from the start. It will allow me opportunities like this to do harm to detached elements. It also helps me realise that before I can get more Seafires into the fleet in May, I should be careful not to be too brave. I appear to have drawn him into over-committing in China at the expense of where he should be moving, which is great. As you say, it all helps buy the most precious commodity in the Allied armoury for 41/42 - time.

[goodboyladdie]

05/03/42

Darwin airfield is now size 5.

USS Trigger was dodging Kates all day as she approached Kwajalein, so at least one of Mike's KB task forces is present. 41st Division is imloading at Kona. Christmas Island is now 58/58/33. 2,000 tons of supplies from PH are unloading at Fanning Island.

The large TK convoy arrived at San Diego and is loading fuel. 2 10,000 ton TKs are loading fuel at Seattle for Petropavlovsk. 10,000 tons of supplies have arrived at Melbourne from Capetown. 3,500 tons of oil from Perth is unloading at Brisbane, while 2,000 tons of supplies from Brisbane arrive at Port Moresby.

Here is a before/after for the New Orleans class cruiser.

[goodboyladdie]

Manila was bombed 3 times for no direct losses. The Japs did lose a Nell over Singapore. Manila has 41,589 tons of supplies; Singapore has 96,749 tons. My raids on IJS 55th "Div" at Toungoo only caused 9/1 casualties - the Japs are obviously getting better at ducking...

My plans went awry off Mindanao. None of my ships would follow the wounded Indomitable and started to sail for their "home" port via the more direct route North of Celebes. Formidable took a 250kg bomb from Nells, but only has 4 points of system damage. All ships will head for Kendari. Poor Hermes was furthest to the North and on fire, so she did her job of protecting Indomitable the hard way. She took another 250kg bomb and now has damage 58/16/18. She too is running for Kendari, but has no DD escort because there were no spare DDs for her task force. Indomitable is now 27/51/6. 3 Dutch ARs are heading for Kendari from Soerabaya at full speed and escorted by 4 US DDs. 2 US fighter units are also flying in to provide CAP. On the plus side my crack RAAF Hudson unit from Tarakan put 4 bombs into CVE Unyo.

My Soerabaya B-17s will bomb Cotabato. I will risk sending them in at 15,000 ft to attempt to do more damage. My Batavia B-17s (2 squadrons here will eventually transfer to SEAC) will bomb Johore Bharu airfield to try to use up supplies intended for the Japs at Singapore.

[goodboyladdie]

Over Nanchang the reinforcement by AVG/3 paid off. The Japs lost 5 Nates, 10 Marys, 4 Lilys and a Sally. 1LT Irwin and FO Vebber of AVG/3 each got their 6th kill. From the same unit 1LTs Conkling and Peck got 7 kills, while my first Ace 1LT Gray got kills 10 and 11 to become my second double Ace. I will stand down this ambush in case Mike brings in Zekes again.

My attempted bombings of Swatow and Nanking airfields to use of Mike's supply (as he is very successfully doing to me) achieved nothing. Over Honan Mike lost a Lily to my CAP, while 2 Sonias went down to flak at Wuchow.

I believe the "new" units at Xuwen are actually the small air dropped units that I ejected from Xuwen earlier moving back.

[goodboyladdie]

06/03/42

USS Trigger was attacked by virtually every type of plane that Mike has present at Kwajalein. but was not hit. She observed a formed carrier task force, so Mike might be about to sail...(see screenie)

Christmas Island is 58/58/31. The slow rate of repair is a pain beacsue my PBY units are having their morale sapped. USS Barracuda, with 17 points of system damage, disbanded at the fleet sub repair facility at San Diego. 2,000 tons of supplies from San Francisco arrived at Anchorage.

[goodboyladdie]

TK Orca was sunk by I-8 off Adelaide. The Hudsons of 6/2 Flight RAAF have flown from Hobart to Adelaide to provide search planes and ASW forces have been despatched. The closest ship was the DMS escorting the RN PTs up the coast, but I am not sure she will be able to do much on her own. 10,000 tons of fuel from CONUS are unloading at Townsville.

The first reconstituted Dutch air units have arrived. They are all low on experience so will need training. I have bomber units arriving next turn - it will be interesting to see what planes they arrive with.