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

[FeurerKrieg]

November 2nd, 1943
Same as yesterday, except our raiders are farther south.

It is really quiet. Nothing flying anywhere... makes me think something is up. Maybe I'm just paranoid.

[FeurerKrieg]

November 3rd, 1943
Finally a bit of action. Our fighters flew patrol over Chungking. 5 P-40N attempted to put a dent in our patrol group. They took down 4 Nicks and 1 Oscar. However, the other 80 or so Japanese planes that were in the air, found some transports flying in and shot down 13 C-46 cargo planes. The 5 P-40Ns all were shot down as well.

[center]
Curtiss C-46 Commando, used by Allies to fly over the hump[/center]

[FeurerKrieg]

November 4th, 1943
And another quiet day. Another 2 or 3 days should see our raiders past the Line Islands and into safer waters.

[FeurerKrieg]

November 5th, 1943
Quiet day, artillery shells fly at Chungking, but that's it.

[FeurerKrieg]

November 6th, 1943
Quiet again, a repeat of yesterday.

[FeurerKrieg]

November 7th, 1943
Our fighters fly a sweep over Chungking. We lose 6 Nicks and take down 6 P-43A and 3 P-40N Warhawks.

CVL Ibuki is entered into fleet service today. It will sail empty to Truk and then join the fleet at Kwajelein. There is a Sentai of 27 A6M5 fighters at Kwajelein that can base on the Ibuki. 38 more days until our last three carriers hit the seas.

[center]
The last CVL in the pipeline[/center]

The Ibuki was the result of Japan's carrier losses as the war waged on in the Pacific. Originally laid down and launched as a Mogami type heavy cruiser, it was decided to convert her into a carrier in November of 1943. She had two lifts that serviced a single hangar and a flight deck that ran 672 1/2 feet. She was never completed. Construction halted in March, 1945, and she remained only 4/5ths complete by the end of the war.

[center]
The real life unfinished Ibuki in 1946[/center]

[FeurerKrieg]

November 8th, 1943
The US submarines are getting more bold. Today one entered the shallows around Wake and put two torpedoes into the lone minesweeper on duty there. The small ship sunk quickly.

Also in the Coral see, near Milne Bay, MSW Wa 7, on its way back to Japan for conversion to a subchaser, was attack by the SS S-18. Thankfully the sub missed. Hopefully after conversion this ship will be able to exact some revenge.

[rominet]

Very nice photo of the Ibuki.
I took it for my own AAR, when it will be time for. [;)]

[Alikchi2]

Still steaming along nicely, I see. Hard to believe that you'll get ALL Japanese CVs (i'm assuming except Shinano) before 1944. That's some impressive industrial management.

[paullus99]

Your opponent needs to make some thrusts Southwest of Hawaii - move to cut your current Empire in half. The Solomons, New Zealand, etc. don't really do you much good & tie down good troops, if he can put together a really well supported strike into your interior lines.

[FeurerKrieg]

I'm a bit behind the game as usual, but my next few posts will show where the next hammer blow is landing, and I'll discuss what my next broad moves are on the strategic level at that point.

@ Alikchi - correct, no Shinano. In this mod it is available as a BB and a CV. I think if I were going to build it at all, I'd do the BB, but at this point, I'd have to accelerate it to get it in late 45, and accelerating that big of a ship would cost me far more destroyers and submarines that I want to pay. I think it will be Dec 15 when those three CV's are done. So yes, all CVs less Shinano (not built) and Junyo, Hiyo and Soryu (lost at Johnston Island) will be in the combined fleet.

On a side not, my four I-400 class subs should be done by summer 44. They each carry 3 Serian torpedo float planes, so will be interesting to send them along with my raiders and see what they can accomplish. Especially considering the US supply lines should be getting longer by then.

[FeurerKrieg]

November 9th, 1943
The boring days have come to an end!

First - Magwe is hit by 7 B-17Es. Our fighters in China sweep Chungking taking down 4 P-43A Lancers and losing none of their own number.

In the Solomons, SS S-23 torpedoes one of our old smaller PC's, which sinks. Another PC with the group hits the S-23 with a depth charge though.

Big news of the day - enemy fleet spotted 300 miles from Wake Island! The force spotted seems small, as though it is not the entire US fleet, so I am slightly wary that this is a feint to draw us away from an attack on Canton Island or something like that. It could also be poor recon and nothing more.CV Bunker Hill was positively identified though.

In any case, the enemy carriers launched a sweep of 29 F6F Hellcats which came up against 7 Oscar IIs, 13 Tony and 13 Tojo. These were not our best pilots and we only shot down 2 F6F, while losing 6 Oscars, 4 Tojo and 1 Tony.

Next came a larger attack of 115 SB2C Helldivers and 30 TBM Avengers escorted by 63 F6Fs. Our fighters did manage to drop a couple Helldivers as well as taking down 2 more F6Fs. Most of the bombers did get through, but the damage inflicted was rather light. The AA unit at Wake scored several hits on the low flying dive bombers.

Total losses in the area were:
A2A and Flak
Japan
Ki-44-Ib Tojo 11
Ki-43-IIa Oscar 12
Ki-61-Ib Tony 12

Allies
SB2C Helldiver 10
F6F Hellcat 4
TBM Avenger 2

Ground
Ki-44-IIb Tojo 5
Ki-43-IIa Oscar 4
Ki-61-Ib Tony 3
Ki-21-II Sally 2

Our AE parked at Wake was hit by the bombers, but our AR was missed thankfully. Both ships will try to get to safer waters, but there are a ton of enemy submarines in the area so it will be tough.

The plan for Wake is to obtain "low risk enemy losses". With our 3 CVs so close to completion, it would be a terrible blow to lose even a couple carriers now when we are very close to maintaining parity into early 44. The Essex class carriers don't start to really fly out of the shipyards until mid-44, so if there is a time to make a real stand against the US fleet, it will be in late Feb when we have all our carriers and they have all upgraded to Grace DBs and TBs. Also, there are a ton of submarines around, so fleet movements in general will be dangerous.

Wake has a lot of guns and about 12,000 mines. So while it won't be able to hold out for very long, I suspect we will be able to take out several ships, even if they are small ships. The KB will mobilize, just in case the enemy gets fancy and splits his CV fleet, or in case he launches an attack on Canton Island or Baker. But mainly, the Vals on the KB will be hunting submarines, our ASW ships in the area will be hunting submarines, and our troops on Wake will wait for evacuation by submarine after their shore guns are knocked out.

I have been waiting for an attack against Wake for some time. 9 submarines are at Kwajelein and will head to Wake to evacuate units as soon as the fight looks lost. Some Army DBs may be flown in for a little surprise attack in case any enemy TFs end up without air cover due to weather or logistical difficulties.

Wake is also a tripwire. Once it falls, most units will be pulled out of New Zealand and moved to the Carolines, Marshalls and Mariannas. New Zealand has served its purpose of isolating Australia for long enough. The enemy won't know that we have evacuated right away, and still has to sail there and take it back. This means the we can count on no assault on the Solomons/New Guinea until at least early 1944.

The Bonins and Mariannas are all well defended and we are ready for any attempts at a deep strike also. Marcus cannot hold many troops, but it also cannot support Allied 4E bombers, so if they take that, it isn't the end of the world either.

Will be interesting to see how well all these mines do at Wake.

[center]
Enemy carrier planes attack Wake Island[/center]

[paullus99]

Of course, he could pull a "Deep Strike" and go directly for the Kuriles or something similar. Not that many players can pull off the Hail Mary attack, but we've seen it done before - especially if he's had the opportunity to pull together significant assets (because of all the territory he lost & doesn't need to support - kind of an overstretch, but in reverse - you have more ground to cover with less resources, while he has almost unlimited resources, but many fewer bases to garrison).

Just a thought.

[FeurerKrieg]

That was my concern for a while, but now that area is well defending, and we are in the winter months. If he was going there, I think he would wait until March, and by then I'll have even more assets in that area.

[FeurerKrieg]

November 10th, 1943
Akyab is hit in Burma and in China our bombers hit Chungking.

Allied heavy bombers return to Hanoi with P-38J escorts. We manage to take down 3 Liberator III, 2 B-17E and 3 of the P-38J for no loss of Japanese fighters. Resources are hit again, although damage is not very heavy.

[center]
Enemy attack on our resources[/center]

At Wake, 98 Helldivers hit the island and damage is moderate. The airfield is still functional and the few planes left continue to evacuate. Three Ki-21 Sally bombers are destroyed on the ground, but our AA gunners take down 6 of the Helldivers.

The scene at Wake can be seen below. The Carrier fleet is standing off for now while enemy transport groups make their way to the attack.

[center]
Wake Island area[/center]

[FeurerKrieg]

November 11th, 1943
Hanoi is hit again today, but no fighters on escort. First 24 B-24D Liberators attacked, then 36 Liberator III and 16 B-17Es came in. We managed to take down 3 of the B-24Ds, 2 B-17E and 1 Liberator III. Resources in the area were again the target.

Akyab was hit as well.

Our bomber hit Chungking, destroying 1 SB-2c on the ground.

At Wake, it was all quiet as enemy transports continue to close in.

[FeurerKrieg]

November 12th, 1943
A good day for US submarines today.

First the SS Scamp manages to get into the KB and puts a torpedo into heavy cruiser Mikuma. Damage is manageable (20/17/0) but she will fall out of line and head to safety at Truk.

[center]
Enemy sub hits CA Mikuma[/center]

Later, SS Dragonet hit the DD Fubuki while Fubuki and company were looking for enemy submarines. This ship is in worse shape, but it will attempt to reach Makin for repairs.

Akyab was bombed again, and it was quiet elsewhere.

[FeurerKrieg]

Sorry for the lack of posts. I've had partys, family visits and the Great American Beer Festival all interfering with my AAR work. Good distractions for sure, but now I should be able to get back to it!

November 13th, 1943
Today, as our fighters at Kweiyang rested, P40Ns out of Chunking flew a sweep and Liberator IIIs from India bombed the base. Damage was relative light (14 sup/24 runway) but 13 fighters were destroyed on the ground.

Akyab was also bombed.

Enemy fleets continue to close in on Wake. The airfields have largely been repaired, and some IJA dive bombers will be moved in to look for some luck. Odds are they will find enemy fighters, but hopefully they will turn around before all are lost.

[FeurerKrieg]

November 14th, 1943
In the night, 4 American Battleships and escorts closed on Wake to shell the island. They receive a large amount of fire from our shore guns, but nothing seemed to penetrate their tough armor. Three destroys stuck mines, though. DD Sigsbee was on fire and heavily damaged, DD Stanly struck 3 mines and sunk immediately, while DD Renshaw struck one mine but seemed lightly damaged.

The airfield was not shut down though, and in the daylight, 27 Ann dive bombers attempted to find some undefended ships. They failed, and were set upon by enemy carrier fighters. 21 of the Anns were shot down and the rest headed for home.

[center]
Our old dive bombers fail to find any openings[/center]

[FeurerKrieg]

November 15th, 1943
The Allied ships again close on Wake, this time trying to clear some of the minefields. 13 minesweepers came into the approaches, however the coastal defense guns were still in operation. A few flare shells were all that was needed for our guns to zero in on the minesweepers. All 13 were struck repeatedly and sunk. Afterward, two groups of Battleships, one of 4 and one of 2, came in to shell the island. In the process DD Boyd, DD Brownson, and DD Bennett all struck one mine each, although Bennett was the only one on fire. DD Aaron Ward struck 2 mines and was heavily damaged and burning. Finally, the Battleship Arizona struck a mine and it also was on fire.

Many enemy short range float planes flew recon missions over the island and about 4 were shot down. No ground troops were landed yet, but we have to assume they will arrive soon.

Elsewhere, Akyab was bombed again, and Nicobar Island airfield was opened (sz 1).

MSW Zeal, Shell hits 11, on fire, heavy damage
MSW Vigilance, Shell hits 37, on fire, heavy damage
MSW Velocity, Shell hits 31, on fire, heavy damage
MSW Tumult, Shell hits 66, on fire, heavy damage
MSW Strive, Shell hits 46, on fire, heavy damage
MSW Champion, Shell hits 39, on fire, heavy damage
MSW Chief, Shell hits 23, on fire, heavy damage
MSW Impeccable, Shell hits 43, on fire, heavy damage
MSW Starling, Shell hits 64, on fire, heavy damage
MSW Sage, Shell hits 40, on fire, heavy damage
MSW Revenge, Shell hits 20, on fire, heavy damage
MSW Requisite, Shell hits 32, on fire, heavy damage
MSW Pursuit, Shell hits 30, on fire, heavy damage

Results of enemy minesweeping efforts