Rising Sun over the Rockies - F.K. vs OSO - Wake captured by US

[thegreatwent]

Ouch the x-wing has arrived. Still it is better than losing navy pilots.

[FeurerKrieg]

X-wing indeed. Thankfully we do have this house rule:

2. No Corsair's allowed on US CV's until 1/44 except for air transport missions.

[FeurerKrieg]

February 22nd, 1943
Our Oscars in China today flew LRCAP over Chungking and managed to tangle with some P-43's escorting SB-2cs. None of the bombers went down, but we did get 5 of the Lancers in exchange for 2 Oscars.

[center]
Air combat in China[/center]

[FeurerKrieg]

February 23rd, 1943
Little action today, but our Sallys and Helens on ASW at Midway spotted many many submarines headed west. Also, our Emilys spotted a convoy of a couple cargo ships escorted by several destroyers between French Frigate Shoals and Laysan. Bettys have flown to Wake from the Marshalls in case this convoy drifts a little to far west.

[center]
A few subs are spotted[/center]

[FeurerKrieg]

February 24th, 1943
Quiet day today. Destroyers and transports spotted at Laysan. All those submarines move to the northwest. Either they are heading into the shipping lanes between the Home Islands and Midway/Wake/Pacific - or they are preparing a screen to intercept our own ships if the US attacks Midway. We'll continue to watch these subs as best as possible.

Tomorrow, our Oscars will attempt another sweep over Laysan while our bombers will try and attack the surface ships near the island. We may take some significant losses to the Oscars but if the bomber can get some ships it will be worth it.

I forgot to mention it yesterday, but CL Oyodo was entered into active service.

[center]

[/center]

The Ōyodo design was approved under the 1939 4th Replenishment Program as an enlarged and improved version of the Agano-class. It was designed to be the flagship for attack groups of submarines. Initially, plans were made for eight vessels in the class. However, only two ships were actually authorized, of which only one, Ōyodo, was laid down; the second ship was to be named Niyodo. Immediately after Ōyodo was completed, all available shipbuilding resources at the Kure naval yard were diverted to build more aircraft carriers.

Although the same general hull design as for the Agano was adopted, with flush deck and bulbous bow, the armament differed both in layout and weaponry, and the armor protection was reduced.

In line with contemporary Japanese submarine tactics, the Ōyodo class was to be the flagships of scouting submarine flotillas. To this end, the Ōyodo class was to operate up to six of the upcoming Kawanishi E15K1 Shiun floatplanes; however, the requirements for these planes were issued only in mid-1939.

Ōyodo's main armament comprised six 155 mm (6.1 inch) 60 caliber 3rd Year Type guns in two triple-gun turrets arranged in conventional superfiring fashion. This gun was originally developed as a dual purpose (anti-surface and anti-aircraft) weapon for the Mogami-class cruisers; when those ships underwent reconstruction in the 1930s and had their triple 155 mm turrets replaced with 203 mm (8 inch) twin turrets, the now-surplus triple 155 mm turrets were mounted on Ōyodo (as well as the Yamato-class battleships). Their slow rate of fire (5 to 6 rounds per minute) and limited elevation (up to only 55 degrees) made them unsuitable for the anti-aircraft role, but they were excellent anti-ship weapons.

The main armament was all located forward of the superstructure, much like the British Nelson-class battleships, French Dunkerque and Richelieu class and the Japanese Navy's own Tone-class heavy cruisers. Like the Tone class, the Ōyodo-class ships were intended to be scouting cruisers and hence the entire deck of the ship aft of the superstructure was devoted to aircraft facilities. Indeed, again in view of their intended role, no torpedo tubes were fitted, making the Ōyodo class the sole class of cruisers in the Imperial Japanese Navy without these weapons. The weight thus saved was invested instead in increased floatplane capacity (up to six) and a heavy-duty 45 m (148 ft) catapult that was necessary for the new E15K1 floatplane.

Ōyodo's heavy anti-aircraft battery comprised eight 100 mm (3.9 inch)/65 caliber Type 98 guns in four twin mounts. These guns are the same as that carried by the Akizuki-class destroyers and the never-built B64 class cruisers. The performance of this weapon was superb, and it is considered to be the best Japanese heavy AA gun of the war. Their main fault was a rather short service life, the result of a high muzzle velocity (1,000 m/s) and a fast rate of fire (15–20 rounds per minute).

The remaining AA armament consisted of the ubiquitous (in the Japanese Navy) 25 mm/60 caliber Type 96 AA gun, which was based on a French Hotchkiss design but was a very mediocre AA weapon with a low effective rate of fire, slow elevation and training, and lack of effective remote power control.

[FeurerKrieg]

February 25th, 1943
Our attack on Laysan was mildly successful today.

First, 65 Ki-43-IIa Oscars flew sweep over the beaches and engaged the P-38's and Corsairs. The Corsairs got two Oscars and the P-38s another two. We did take down 3 P-38's though. More importantly, while those enemy fighters were climbing to some 30,000 to engage our sweep, our bombers arrived on the scene at 6K an 10k feet.

[center]
Bombers work to penetrate enemy CAP[/center]

The first wave consisted of 26 Liz, 13 Sally and 19 Helen bombers. A couple Corsairs brought down a Sally and a Helen and several of the Sally's headed for home. The rest pressed on and a TF of 5 APDs was spotted. A Helen managed to put a 250kg AP bomb into APD Crane but the other bombers missed.

On their heels, was a second strike of 13 Liz bombers and 5 Sallys. The Corsairs got two Liz bombers, and the rest found a small TF of two Minesweepers. The MSW Bellechase was pounded with a 500kg AP bomb and 3 250kg bombs and sunk quickly.

In the afternoon, our bombers reloaded and return to try and get those APD's. 21 Liz, 9 Sally and 9 Helens came in again. They largely eluded the local CAP and only lost one Sally. They managed to find the burning APD Crane and put three more bombs into it, including a 500 kg AP bomb from a Liz. Crane should sink soon.

[center]
Enemy ships are hit at Laysan[/center]

Overall we lost 5 fighters and 8 bombers for an APD, MSW and 3 enemy planes.

The enemy ship count decreased at Pearl Harbor significantly, and the enemy CAP was much higher. It is possible the US CVs are putting to sea. We will continue to watch and look for a threat.

[FeurerKrieg]

February 26th, 1943
The Allies strike back today as 108 Hudson twin engine bombers from Johnston Island show up over Midway. As our fighters lounged around on the ground, bombs began to fall. Thankfully, damage was not as bad as one might think.

[center]
Attack on Midway[/center]

9 Oscars, 7 Liz, 3 Sally and 1 Helen are destroyed on the ground. A Sentai of Tojos from Wake will fly in to provide CAP while these units reorganize and replacement aircraft are flown in.

One AA gunner was awake at least and brought down one of the Hudson bombers.

Once the Oscar units are refilled some CAP will be maintained at all times, even when resting for the next strike.

Our subs tried to get four minesweepers crossing the Bay of Bengal, but couldn't get into good position. One sub was attacked by a MSW, but dodged all the DC's. Some Betty's at Port Blair apparently can't get a good fix on the ships' location and haven't attempted an attack yet.

[FeurerKrieg]

February 27th, 1943
In the Bay of Bengal, SS-165 fires a spread of torps at the aptly named sub chaser Investigator but misses. The sub then dodges most of the DC's but takes some pressure hull damage from one of the near calls. The sub will head to Rangoon for repairs.

In China, over the course of yesterday and today, the pocket in the mountains near Sian finally surrenders. Over the two days approximately 20,000 starving Chinese soldiers hand over their rifles. The only troops remaining outside of Chungking now is a single command unit on the trail west of Chengtu. An SNLF unit has just arrived there to force this final unit to surrender.

Quiet in the Pacific - nothing concrete but seems like the US might be up to something. Just a feeling for now, though. In another week, two rebuilt CD units from the Line Islands will arrive at Canton Island to bolster the defenses there.

[FeurerKrieg]

February 28th, 1943
The final day of February ends well. Our Oscars at Changsha fly LRCAP over Chungking and bring down 5 I-153c, 1 P-43 and 1 SB-2c.

[center]
Fighter training continues in China[/center]

Thursday Island airfield can now support torpedoes in Bettys. Two Sentai arrived yesterday and tomorrow they will bomb war material centers in central Australia.

Enemy ships, mostly small craft, crossing the Bay of Bengal are again left along by our Bettys at Port Blair. A new commander has been put in charge - we'll see if he generates results. Our subs also continue to infest those waters.

[FeurerKrieg]

The end of February signal another round of stats! Since February was quiet, the submarine logs stay the same as well as the strategic map. If you wish to review either check out the info on the January stats report.

[center]










[/center]

[FeurerKrieg]

Input welcome -

I just ran a turn and spotted CV Hornet east of Midway. However, I only spotted 2 TF's. It could be there are more, but usually when OSO invades there is a PILE of TF's. So either

- these CV's are probing to see what the reaction will be
- or they are a decoy for a push towards Canton Island
- or this is an invasion of Midway that hasn't been fully spotted

I am inclined to let Midway go with little fight. Akagi and Hiryu just upgraded today at Tokyo, so they are not with my fleet. More importantly, in 45 days I'll have two new CV's (Unryu's) to add to the KB. I don't want to lose a couple carriers now when I'm so close to fielding a very strong force.

If it was Canton Island, I have more bases in range to help with the defense and the same goes for Wake. But Midway is just so far out there.

And a last reason for not fighting at Midway is that each invasion I have brought out the KB - if I don't bring it out - then maybe I stay harder to predict.

What do you guys think? Send KB to Midway or let him take it? Anything else I should be considering?

Here is a pic of the situation:

[FeurerKrieg]

March 1st, 1943
CV Hornet is spotted by Dinah recon plane east of Midway and heading west.

In the Bay of Bengal, I-153 hits PC Pansy with a torpedo and then evades a massive amount of depth charges. 20 near misses are enough to heavily damage the sub and it will have a tough time reaching Rangoon. As PC Pansy falls behind the main group of Allied ships, I-174 later hits it with another torpedo. The ship was seen listing and on fire, but not confirmed sunk yet.

[center]
Submarine action[/center]

Our own ASW group of 4 APDs searches for the SS Pike but cannot get close enough to target to bother dropping depth charges.

The J2M Jack goes into production today. Although the Jack factory is small at the moment (16) it will be expanded over the next month or two so we will have adequate supplies of this excellent point defense fighter. A factory in Osaka has been converted from producing Nick 'B' to Nick 'C' - a night fighter variant. Expansion on our Tojo plant has also begun due to adequate supplies and the plans for the Tojo plant to eventually be converted to a plane currently in planning - the Ki-84. The lack of fighting for the past year has provided the Home Island with a significant amount of materials with which to undertake these industrial expansions. (4.8 million supplies in the Empire)

Also, Hiryu and Akagi today installed new AA guns. Although the guns are not fully functional yet, the necessary hardware has been loaded on the carriers and they will complete the upgrade work once they reach Kwajelein.

[center]
AA upgrades for two carriers[/center]

[bigbaba]

great AAR to read, krieg. and glad that the jack makes it to the front slowley. in my game as the japanese player, i also have alot of hope that the jack (which is early available compared to george, frank&co.) will save some pilots and espacialy make long range 4E raids even more expensive for the allied.

[Local Yokel]

I agree: first class AAR, and your accomplishments in China are truly impressive. I was a bit surprised to find you hadn't increased the number of Raiden factories, but in CHS 160 you may be finding that your fighters' armament is good enough to bring down the 4-engine heavies. In our CHS 157 PBEM (Nik Mod) I find I'm only inflicting damage, so the heavier punch of the Raiden is eagerly awaited.

On Midway: As I read your situation, you retain 5 of your 6 original fast fleet carriers, but two of these are too far away to intervene. With only three fleet carriers available you could find yourself confronted by, what, six American fleet carriers, assuming Essex is in commission? These don't look like good odds to me - I don't see a basis on which you can bring enough muscle to the point of contact. So I think your instincts to make Midway a major confrontation are sound.

[FeurerKrieg]

Thanks guys.

Regarding factories - As a way to temper the Japan economy, we have a house rule about the starting R&D factories. So those we pretty much all reduced to zero at game start. So when March 1 hit, I only had 16 Jack factories, because I haven't expanded them more than what was repaired and R&D repair slowly. Now that that the factory is active though, I've expanded it significantly (to 70 something I think).

I like this rule as it 'feels' more proper. A new aircraft comes on-line and you have to ramp up the production as opposed to one day you are building zero - and the next you are cranking out 2-4 planes a day.

RE: Midway - I have moved some transport planes to Wake so if an invasion does materialize, I'll evacuate what I can. This worked well at Palmyra and Christmas Island, as two of the CD units that were there will be arriving at Canton Island in just a couple more days.

[FeurerKrieg]

Invasion of Midway is definitely on the way. Our Army planes & Liz bombers take crack at the carriers but can't make it through the CAP. About half the planes at Midway were lost, but the island itself was not attacked yet.

Most of the plane will leave before the enemy arrives. We will rely on the 6,000 mines to do what they can.

---
I'll have the full update later tonight. Housework calls... [:(]

[FeurerKrieg]

March 2nd, 1943
PC Pansy was reported sunk today. For being a subchaser, the ship was pretty decent sized (5 VPs). The two sub will split credit for the kill. I-153's situation continues to deteriorate.

In Australia, 47 Bettys from Thursday Island attack Cloncurry, but miss any significant targets.

At Midway our recon planes did a much better job today spotting a large armada of ships. Several small strikes and a couple large ones were launched from Midway. Liz and Helen bombs escorted by Oscar IIs and Tojos tried to get to the enemy ships but could not. Thankfully, many turned around rather than continue on suicidal missions. Losses were still very heavy though. The silver lining is that when it comes to large battle, we continue to focus both branches of our military against only the Navy and Marines of the US. The longer we can keep the USAAF out of the fight, the better. Intel has reviewed the surviving pilots accounts and put together a list of suspected carriers present. Also spotted were FM-2 Wildcats, although none were engaged, so no evaluation of them can be offered yet.

[center]
Morning strike[/center]

[center]
Afternoon strike[/center]

Most of our planes will leave Midway asap. Transports at Wake will attempt to evacuate some troops tomorrow. There are 20,000 troops on Midway at the moment along with 32 5.5" guns and 48 4.7" guns. I suspect that enemy battleships will render most of these guns non-operable.

Air losses:
Ki-43-IIa Oscar: 41
Ki-44-IIb Tojo: 29
G5N Liz: 19
Ki-49 Helen: 13

F4F-4 Wildcat: 16

Suspected enemy carriers present:
CV Lexington
CV Saratoga
CV Yorktown
CV Enterprise
CV Hornet
CVE Chenango
CVE Sangamon
CVE Suwanne
CVE Nassau

[center]
Enemy fleet near Midway[/center]

[Alikchi2]

Good God that's quite a force.

[FeurerKrieg]

It is a big force - thankfully it is only in one spot on the map. Plus, it takes a few weeks between each time OSO sallies forth the fleet. The last major assault was about 8 weeks ago. As long as I don't have to defend against a SWPac offensive, it will be hard for OSO to go deep and try to his Iwo Jime or the northern HI - which only leaves Wake or farther south. All of those places are easy for me to defend at.

If the next attack takes 8 weeks - I'll have two more fleet carriers added to the KB, although Essex might be in service by then as well.

[FeurerKrieg]

March 3rd, 1943
Enemy battleships close on Midway in the night and shell the island. A few of the remaining planes are destroyed, and the docks wrecked, but the airfield is nearly usable. In the process, several US destroyers hit mines, and DD Allen struck two mines and sunk - the first casualty of the reoccupation of Midway. Also, our shore guns hit a light cruiser several times, setting the ship on fire.

APD Chase, hit a few days ago by our bombers, was reported sunk near Hawaii today.

Two of our mine laying submarines have changed course and will head to Midway to assist with the evacuation process, and to lay mines for the enemy ships to hit.
[center]

Enemy ships shell Wake[/center]