Shattering the Sword. Cantona2 (a) vs Herbiesan (j)

[cantona2]

Ah i see lol. [:D]

[cantona2]

The morning papers across the United States all carried the same headline:

[font="Times New Roman"]'Victory at Wake'[/font]

The defenders of Wake had braced themselves for the worst after yesterdays actions. Coastal gunners manned their posts awaiting the invasion force with trepidation. VMF 211 and the recently arrived VMF 121, it had flown off the decks of the CVE Long Island yesterday evening, rose up early with the full knowledge that the sky would soon be full of the A6M2's of the Japanese Navy. The bombers at Wake stood ready to take to the air as soon as the Catalina's of VP-12 brought news of the approaching battleships. Wake Island was ready, but as it turned out, it was ready for nothing.

No Japanese planes dove out of the sky, no shells rained on the Wake's airfield an no troops landed on the beaches. By midday it was clear that the Japanese had turned back. VP-12 broadend its search arc in the afternoon and its shift in course was soon rewarded. One plane came across several Japanese destroyers heading south west. Several were burning and gushing smoke, no doubt the ships that had brushed against the minefields last night. Coordintes and headings were quickly relayed back to Wake and two waves of planes headed out to the ships. The first wave consisted of 2 SBD3's from VMSB-241, 7 B-25c's from 13th Bombardment and 9 B-26b's from 71st Bombardment escorted by 5 F4F-4's from VMF-211. In their eagerness to hit the ships they approached from the wrong vectors and all bombs missed their targets.

Day Air attack on TF at 84,76


Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 5
SBD-3 Dauntless x 2
B-25C Mitchell x 7
B-26B Marauder x 9


No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
DD Uranami
DD Asashio, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x B-25C Mitchell bombing at 7000 feet
3 x B-26B Marauder bombing at 5000 feet
3 x B-26B Marauder bombing at 5000 feet
2 x SBD-3 Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
3 x B-26B Marauder bombing at 5000 feet
4 x B-25C Mitchell bombing at 7000 feet

Half an hour after the first strike, the second wave began to descend on the Japanese ships. 4 F4F-4's of VMF 211 escorted 3 Mitchells and 15 Dauntless's to the fleeing destroyers. The level bombers managed several close hits but it was the dive bombers that scored hits on two already visibly damaged destroyers. Having fropped all their bombs they returned back to base.

Day Air attack on TF at 84,76


Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 4
SBD-3 Dauntless x 15
B-25C Mitchell x 3


No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
DD Asashio, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
DD Uranami, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
DD Shirayuki, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x SBD-3 Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
3 x B-25C Mitchell bombing at 7000 feet
4 x SBD-3 Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
4 x SBD-3 Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
4 x SBD-3 Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet

Similar orders were given to the submarine tender Holland and her escort, the gunboat Sonoma, to abort their heading to Midway and return back to Wake at flank speed.

[cantona2]

Elsewhere in the theatre,

August 1942 came to a close and its safe to say that unless Herb puts in a massive effort Tarawa will remain in Allied hands. Several newly arrived sqaudrons of heavy bombers have been transferring their way to Australia via Suva and Noumea and soon enough they will be ranging over New Guinea once the base at Portland Roads is built up.

In China both sides are moving their froces around to strengthen hitherto weakend flanks and i have a feeling he will once again move on the centre. G5N bombers have hit Kweiyang for the third day and several ammunition factories were hit and damaged. 21st CAF Sqaudron (P-43), No 27 Squadron RAF (Blenheim IF) and the elite 1st/AVG (P-40B) will try and spring an ambush over the city tomorrow should the Japanese bombers make another appearance.

On a lighter note the BB Maryland steamed into San Francisco today banners flying. She recevied the Baker Island Battle Honour to her pennant and a Presidential Unit Citation Award for her role in the sinking of the Nagato. She had been in San Diego patching up the hole in her hull and was now in San Francisco for final repairs before returning to the line of duty. Her arrival in conjuction with the victory at Wake bolstered morale across the shipyards.


BB Maryland sailing into San Francisco 31st August 1942.

[cantona2]

8/42 Scorecard. Very high ops loss for the Allies this month.

[cantona2]

The planes at Wake Island once again take several pot shots at the floundering ships limping their way back to the Marshalls. SIGINT picked up two very clear and distinct mayday calls from the Uranami and Ashashio. The former had been hit by several SBDborne 1000lbers while the latter is suspected to have sunk sometime during the night. All in all a very satisfactory conclusion to a local action that had set off several alarm bells across the allied high command.

Day Air attack on TF at 84,78


Allied aircraft
SBD-3 Dauntless x 16


No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
DD Uranami, Bomb hits 3,  on fire,  heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
4 x SBD-3 Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
4 x SBD-3 Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
4 x SBD-3 Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
4 x SBD-3 Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
--
Day Air attack on TF at 84,78


Allied aircraft
B-25C Mitchell x 11
B-24D Liberator x 4


No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
DD Uranami, Bomb hits 4,  on fire,  heavy damage
DD Shirayuki,  heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
4 x B-25C Mitchell bombing at 7000 feet
4 x B-24D Liberator bombing at 15000 feet
3 x B-25C Mitchell bombing at 7000 feet
4 x B-25C Mitchell bombing at 7000 feet

The ambush over Kweiyang only resulted in one downed Japanese bomber but several of them were seen to be damaged and two wrecked bombers were found behind the lines at Kweilin. Im disappointed with the results as i expected the 1st/AVG at least to reap a decent harvest. Once again ammunition factories were hit and damaged. Hopefully the Japs will rethink their unescorted bomber raids strategies or shift some front line fighters to escort duties.

My raids on Koepang are starting to have a very important effect. At least 7 G3M's were destroyed today and this has, according to photographic recon, forced the Japanese to retire their torpedo bombers from this base. As such a supply convoy docked at Broome will push onto Darwin under a protective umbrella provided by fighters at Broome, Derby, Wyndham and Darwin.

[goodboyladdie]

Returning the bump...

I like the real pictures you add by the way. They really add to the atmosphere.

[cantona2]

ORIGINAL: goodboyladdie

Returning the bump...

I like the real pictures you add by the way. They really add to the atmosphere.

Cheers GBL

[cantona2]

The war has taken a quiet turn for about a week and the most notable encounters have happened over the Marshalls, China and Indochina.

Excerpts from Intelligence Memos Sept 1942

Marshalls

High increase of IJA fighters over the Marshall. New type fighter, codename TOJO, previously seen in China has engaged fighters and bombers over Majuro. Unit previously deployed in Canton (China) identified as well as another unit deploying said fighter.

China

Japanese high level four engined bombers, codename LIZ, engaged in bombing strategic assests in western China. Fighter training programme increased on orders of Joint Allied Airforce Command.

High indications of Japanese two pronged attack in direction of Changsha. Chinese corps are taking up strong defensive positions around city approaches. Ichang airfields developed enough to cater for heavy bombers RAF asked to spare sqaudrons from India Command.

India

No 8 RAF Squadron tasked with bombing of factories in Hanoi. Raids have met with relative success and with little oppsition so far. New type ZERO fighter identified in last raid. Gunners on Liberators confirm increased speed of new type but seen to damage as easily as early type ZERO.

APPENDIX A

New Type ZERO attacking Liberator OZ-A1. Photograph taken from starboard machine gun postion by flight-sergenat Thoms. 4-9-1942

[cantona2]

[font="Times New Roman"]After Action Report.
Captain J.A.S.Eccles OC CV Indomtiable and TF1123 Royal Navy

In repsonse to reported sightings of enemy armed merchants a 3 carrier strong force departed Colombo three days ago on a NW heading. Friendly indigenous inhabitants on Addu Atoll in the Maldives had radioed in with the sighting of two unidentified ships on a NE heading on the morning of 10th September. Later on the same day a Catalina of No 413 RCAF Squadron, flying out of Trivandrum, confirmed the location of the ships. CV's Indomitable, Illustrious and Formidable immediately steamed at flank speed towards the Maldives. The ships had been lost on the 11th but had been rediscovered by an Albacore of No 817 Sqaudron FAA (CV Indomitable) on the 12th. Steam was raised by my ship and her consorts and a strike was readied for the morning of the 13th as the weather forecast was for an abating of the storm front.[/font]

Location of Japanese ships, 10th and 12th September 1942



[font="Times New Roman"]The day indeed dawned somewhat brighter but still with some residual rain. Squadron Leader Sugden confirmed his planes were ready and a strike force of 19 Albacores (817th FAA) and 10 Martlets (800th FAA) took off at 10:46. They headed off in a NE heading and were vectored into the target by PO Goodwin that was tagging the enemy ships in Albacore U-12. According to the debrief the strike force reached its target at 12:23. No enemy aircraft were obsereved and while the fighters took a high station Sugden gave the order for his planes to initiate their attack.[/font]



[font="Times New Roman"]Two enemy armed merchant cruisers were attacked and 5 torpedo hits were recorded, three on one ship, two on the other. The enemy ships took immediate evasive action but it was clear to the pilots that their original heading had been NE, ie into our main shipping lanes from Arabia. The strike force had finished its attack by 13:08 and one ship was confirmed sunk while the other was burning intensively, later also confirmed sunk by PO Goodwin. [/font]



[font="Times New Roman"]All planes landed back safely by 15:46, PO Goodwin the last to return at 16:22. New course set SE back to Colombo to rearm and refuel. CV Formidable ordered South to partol approaches to the Maldives while Illustrious is ordered to hold station around Addu for a couple of days should more enemy shipping be in the area.[/font]

CV Indomitable collecting its Albacore's after launch against Japanese Commerce Raiders, 13-9-1942

[cantona2]

Extract from debriefing of Sgt Jones, 7th Photo Recon, Abemama, Target Kwajalein.

[font="times new roman"]"...three transports, several small landing craft and im sure i saw a couple of cruisers too Sir. Japanese fighters still patrolling the air in large numbers, and erm pardon me Sir, but I'm sure one of those Japs was flying upside down as he led a flight of seven planes on a sweep at about 10,000..."[/font]

Recommendations from MO Peters

Sgt Jones is exhibiting clear exhaustion and fatigue from constant high level long range flights. Recommend he take two week furlough to rest and recover operational readiness.


For those of you following this and Herbs AAR id thought id give Hyakutake cameo appearance in here!

[cantona2]

Consternation was flowing through the offices of Australian I Corps currently based at Townsville. Reports had been coming as from first light from 104th RAAF Base Force, currently building up Portland Roads into a forward base of operations, of Japanese parachute drops and of assaults on their perimeter that had been beaten back. The reports were met with scepticisim at first but when No 75 RAAF Sqaudron (Kittyhawk I) based at Coen began to report interceptions of Japanese transport planes over Portland Roads the high command galvanized into action. It was now clear that the Japanese wanted to disrupt the recon flights being carried out by the Empire Flying Boats of 33rd RAAF Squadron from Portland Roads

The 104th was ordered to stand fast and hold onto their positions. The 2nd New Zealand Cavalry brigade was ordered into Portland Roads from Coen at full speed. 332nd Fighter (P-38) was transferred to Cooktown to fly LRCAP over Portland Roads while a sqaudron of US Navy Wildcats transferred from Brisbane to Coen to add some more firepower to the CAP the Kittyhawks were flying over Portland Roads. The Marines had been finishing off training before deployment ot the Marshalls, their baptism of fire would come sooner than expected. With a solid fighter unmbrella established the next priority of the I Australian Corps was to find any troops availble to quickly lift into Portland Roads in case the para drops were the spearhead of an amphibious landing.

L3Y Tina's enroute to Portland Roads

[Alfred]

What is the ETA of the New Zealanders.
 
Alfred

[cantona2]

Alfred, at this rate of marching 18 days, i think im going to ship a marine para btn from Noumea then have them drop into PR, it might be quicker!

[cantona2]

The sudden and unexpected arrival of paratroopers in Portland Roads had awakened a theatre of operations that had remained silent since the battles for Thursday Island and Port Moresby. It was imperative that the Japanese not be allowed to gain a foothold on the Australian mainland!

Just before first light 18 bombers took off from Cooktown airfield and headed over the Coral Sea and into New Guinea. Their target Dobodura and the Japanese fighter fields there. 319th Bombardment (B-24D) and 403rd Bombardment (B-17E) arrived over the target to the sounds and sights of anti-aircraft fire. They dropped from an altitude of 32,000 feet, though no fighters seemed to be covering the base. Dobodura was on the priority list of targets fron ANZAC command as it hosted the main fighter base for the Japanese in New Guinea. Recon flights had been intercepted by the planes here and post raid recon revealed an extensive network of runways and base installations.

The bombers approach their target...

[cantona2]

At about the same time the Japanese paratroopers were hit by the A-20B's of No22 RAAF Squadron based at Coen. As the bombers approached their target they could see friendly fighters bussing around the sky over Portland Roads ready to intercept any more Japanese transports that might be delivering more troops. They dropped to their bombing height of 2,000 feet and raked known Japanese positions with 500lb bombs.



Though the Japanese did not launch an attack on Portland Roads like they did yesterday, aggressive patrols on the hunt for a 'tongue' were able to bring in several prisoners and according to their papers the unit was identified as the Yokosuka 1st SNLF.

In a secondary action G4M1 bombers based in New Guinea launched an attack against an ASW task force returning to base in Cairns. Despite the early warning the Japanese bombers were able to hit the minesweeper Bunbury, which later sank. This was inspite of the CAP that was in the air over Cairns provided by the USAAF's 16th Sqaudron (P-40B). Questions were being asked by the RAN commander at Cairns as to why the unescorted bombers were not even approached by the American fighters and an investigation will be carried once operations are over.

[cantona2]

Jap paras mysteriously disappear from Portland Roads but Empire's spot a large number of APD's at Port Morseby, has Herb carried out a daring night time extraction?

[cantona2]

After the excitement of Portland Roads the game hs generally gone quiet, here are the main theatres.

Burma/India

Massed fighter sweeps of Tonys and Oscars have torn into the Hurricanes providing CAP for my bases in southern India. That said however, my moan bomber base at Dacca is taking the fight straight back to Herbs main fighter base at Magwe. Likewise medium bombers are also regularly attacking Japanese front line positions from Akyab to Myitkyina.

China

Similar tale of massed fighter sweeps in China where most of the USAAF fighter units have been shredded and are now trying to recover in Chungking. i'm pretty thin on the ground as regards fighters with only the 1st/AVG and one RAF Hurricane sqaudron providing the most experienced and proficient units. A RAF Mohawk unit and severl P-66 CAF units on training provide the reserve. My bomber force in China, however, has been a success story. Blenheims out of Chagsha have hit Japanese ships at Foochow and these have been forced to move elsewhere. Likewise the three SB-2 units of the CAF all have experienced and proficient pilots. An RAF unit of Vengeances at Luichow has hit the port installations at Haiphong as well as providing CAS for the chinese units at Wuchow. A Japanese attempt to encircle Honan was beaten back emphatically. I'd like to think i'm holding my own but the IJA seems to be everywhere!

Australia

Northern bases have all received reinforcements and 3 of the 4 can now host and sustain heavy bomber raids that will come in useful when i target the DEI. A base force unit has also begun unloading at Tenimbar Island. The idea is to base float planes here to further extend the search arc and to allow for more recon of enemy bases in the area. Eastern bases closest to New Guinea have also received more base support units in order to be able to caryy the fight to the Japs on New Guinea.

Further South the transport Empire Lapwing succumbed to the damage received by a torpedo strike and she sunk in Newcastle harbour. This depsite the presence of the repair ship Platypus that had been dispatched from Sydney in order to get the Lapwing seaworthy again and into Sydney's repair yard.

Pacific

The Marshalls have gone somewhat quiet. 'Tojo's Tigers' have been able to intercept the bombers at 30,000+ feet while many of my subs are in high 20's SYS damage and need a rest, to the releif of Jap barge crews plying the routes to and from Kwajalein. Nauru Island is now being bombed by bombers from Tarawa and Abemama and the idea now is to attrite the enemy while we build up our own forces.

Further west i think the KB is holed up in Shortlands as Liberators raiding Munda from Lugnaville report being attacked by Navy fighters sporting the emblems earlier identified as those being adopted ny the Soyu's fighter wing.

Special mention however needs to go to SS Whale that in her tour of Japanese ports of the Home Islands has performed excellently. Despite faulty torpdeoes, aerial attacks and ASW efforts she has sunk 3 ships in 7 days in 3 different ports! Commander Azer has Balls of Steel or what!

[cantona2]

SS Whale yet again strikes, this time a merchant in Osaka. Her fearless crew are bordering on the reckless but she seems to lead a charmed life!

Tenimbar Island now hosts a Dutch Dornier unit that will allow for recon of Japanese bases in the Abon area, initial assessments show a ring of bomber bases on the north western New Guinea coast. B-17's from Darwin have been tasked with the bombing of the base at Sorong. Two recon flights have detected nice rows of bombers lined up BUT no fighter cover.

IL-4C's raid Haiphong harbour and a purely nuisance raid pays off with a solid hit on a merchant ship in dry dock. Once again Honan comes under threat of encirclement as Japanese troops come up against the Chinese positions to the north west of the city. Three Infantry Corps stand ready to once again repel the interlopers and get supply flowing into Honan.

Liberators over Munda have come back today with no sightings of enemy carrier planes. They were intercepted by A6M3's but not those based on carriers. Intel assumes that if the carriers were at Shortlands they have now moved again, possible destination Rabaul or Truk.

[CarnageINC]

Some of your subs are doing outstanding work!  I wish I would of kept better track of my subs, would love to see my star captains hang the broom sticks up as they come back to port [:'(]  Curious question, did you change out your captains at the beginning or you letting them develop?

[cantona2]

Hi Carnage

Nope still the same Captains that each subs starts/enters the theatre with.

Its about the only aspect of the game i more or less do well at but its at a price as a lot of subs are either in port with high SYS damage or providing a habitat for the local marine fauna.