Historical AE. Cantona2 (A) vs Fletcher (J)

[cantona2]

Status update on CV Lexington.

CV Lexington was torpedoed off the Samoa Islands about a fortnight ago. She was hit by two torpedoes and was heavily damaged. Doding other submarines that circled her like sharks she made the relative safety of the base at Pago-Pago. She has remained ther since. The first task of the damage control personnel was to extinguish the small fires the explosions had caused. The Lex carried a full complement of planes and ammo as well as AVGAS. THe damage to her plane lifts was such that the planes could not be disemberked. A such the main priority was stop the fires before either the magazines or fuel stores went up. The week long fight with the fire was finally won. The primitive facilities at Pago-Pago made the work all the more difficult and as such orders were drafted by CINCPAC to transfer the Auxiliary Repair Ship Vestal from Pearl Harbour to Pago-Pago to help make the Lady seaworthy once again in order to transfer her to the large dry docks at Portland. The Vestal, under heavy escort, is a few days out, and though flood water has started to be pumped out of the Lexington, her presence will be of the most welcome kind.

[cantona2]

10th March 1942

The length of the Northern Australian coast as been subjected to a week of very heavy and intense air raids. The KB is still pumelling Darwin and Katherine and land based bombers from Timor have hot Broome quite heavily. Fighter reinforcements from ABDA command have been rushed north to relieve the already battered and in some cases shattered fighter units in the Northern Australian area.

Japanese troops are positioning themselves to start assaulting Batavia and Soerabaja. The Dutch airforce still tries to have an impact on the battle, but its dwindling number of planes have as much effect as a mosquito biting an elephant.

In Burma the AVG and RAF are starting to lose the battle for air superiority. Ki-43cs are now operating in large numbers and recon has confirmed that Magwe is now an operational Japanese base. Hurricanes have proved equal to the Ki-43 but not at odds of 4-1. A rotation system of bringing in fresh squadrons from southern Indian bases into the fray has kept the RAF squadrons relatively fresh, but the rate of battle is beginning to tell.

AR Vestal finally docked at Pago-Pago yesterday and immediately set about to assist in the reducing of flood waters on the Lexington. The aim is to make her seaworthy as soon as possible so she can start limping her way to the north. CV Hornet, meanwhile arrived at Balboa to join her escort of a light cruiser and destroyers and has started to make her way to San Diego.

[cantona2]

11th March 1942

US submarines finally wake up after what seems weeks of ineffective strikes. A small patrol boat was sunk by an S Boat in the approaches to Kwajelein while the SS Narwhal all but sunk a light freighter off the coast of Northern Japan with its deck armaments. It is hoped that their fellow catpains take these sinkings as inspiration to get the Silent Service back sinking ships aplenty! SIGINT has also intercepted several transmissions out at sea near Iwo Jima. One boat is being sent to patrol the area should we have inadvertently stumbled upon one of the enemy's shipping lanes.

Funafuti is now fully operational as a float plane base as a complement of Kingfishers supported by the AVP Thrush are now flying search missions from the small island meaning that the area in which Japanese subs can operate undetected in is gradually being squeezed. II Fighter Command has also become operational at Efate and if the Japanese do launch an attack on Luganville, it is hoped that our aerial defence will be coordinated enough to repel any such invasion. CV Yorktown is slowly approaching the area as well and a cruiser task force will soon be patrolling the area. Further troops have also been released by New Zealand for the defence of New Caledonia. A RNZAF unit has started to land on Tanna and construction on a fighter strip will soon start. A further engineer batallion will soon disembark on Noumea and then march to La Foa to also start a fighter strip there.

A titantic battle is being fought in the woods to the south of Sian. The beleaguered Army Group that has been pushed North all the way from Nanning is still fighting hard, it will be reinforce by the Loyang Army Group, fresh battle ready troops, in two days.

The 7th Australian Division has finished concentrating at Bombay and has started to entrain to Calcutta. It will join I Australian Corps in Jessore and act as strategic reserve for the Southern Indian Area.

[cantona2]

12th March 1942

Japanese troops have crossed the Yellow River to the East of Sian and have pushed the two Chinese Corps defending the bank into Sian. This means that Japanese units are now in a position to outflank Sian to the North East. Three further Chinese Corps of 7th Group Army are moving their positions 46 miles to the south west to cover the rail road leading from Sian into the Northern China area. Terror raids continue against the civilian population in Chungking and the CAF has been derided for not being able to protect the people of China against the indiscriminate bombing by the IJAAF.



In Burma recon missions suggest that Japanese troops are advancing on Mandalay from the West. BFF Brigade has been ordered north into the captial from Meiktila while 106th RAF Base Force has almost crossed the Irrawady to its new base at Shwebo. Marauders of the 22nd Bomber Group struck heavily against a Japanese Brigade pursuing the 2nd Burma Brigade up the Arakan. A Punjabi Battalion will act as rearguard as the 2nd Burma makes its final crossing into Akyab before heading North into India to rest and refit. On a similar not, airfields have started to be developed in Silchar and Tezpur. The potential of these locations to host large bomber formations has been recognised and work has begun post haste. The existing airfields in the border region are in an advanced stage of development, particularly at Dimapur where RAF Command wants to setup an aerial transport hub to ferry supplies into China.

Northern Australia was once again pummelled by aerial assault, both by land based bombers and carrier borne planes. Darwin, again, and Katherine aerodromes were shut down and it is estimated that it will be roughly 8 days before they become operational again. General Blamey has called an emergency meeting to address this situation. It will be mooted that the Northern Coast be held by a skeleton garrison and build up the bases futher away from the coast instead. The obvious counter arguement to this is that is will invite a Japanese landing in Northern Australia, something that will surely have a very detrimental effect on morale in the country, indeed the voracity of the aerial attacks have prompted calls in parliament for the transferring of the 7th Australian Division from India back home. On a more positive note, the first US division, Americal Division, is approaching Australia. The Queen Elizabeth, that carries the bulk of the division, is already in Fijian waters and making good speed westwards. Her ultimate destination is Sydney where the Americal will be billeted and start an intesive training programme as the unit might spearhead the recapture of Port Moresby.

[cantona2]

US Submarines, well one in particular are the harbringers of good news today. SS S-23 whose patrol zone includes the island of Jaluit stumbled upon a small Japanese convoy. The waning moonlight gave the sub perfect cover but her catpain, Commander Keller, elected not to waste his remaining torpedo on the small transports. Following the convoy's lights he trailed it into Jaluit where he was confronted by a target rich environment. He ordered the sub to surface as there was less than 10% moonlight. He stealthily steered his boat into the anchorage and engaged the nearest transport with his deck gun while his XO gave him a firing solution with his last fish. Once the plot was given the order followed and into the cold, dark Pacific water went the Mk 10. 45 seconds later a fireball meant that whatever cargo the enemy vessel was carrying had gone up, while the ship went in the opposite direction. As search lights began to search for his craft, Keller gave the order for full reverse and then to submerge and set a course back to Canton Island where the tender Fulton would replenish his load of torpedoes.



But the day goes to Commander Jones on the SS Argonaut. This venerable submarine held a one sub duel with the IJN in the waters in and around Tulagi! She was tasked with patrolling the waters between Thousand Ships Bay and Tulagi after the latter had been occupied by the Japanese not so long ago. She was part of a two boat wolf pack, the other being the Dutch KXVII. The first inkling of what was to come was an attack by several light gun boats. Several depth charges were dropped but none near his sub. Once the sonar man gave the all clear, Jones levelled his sub at periscope depth with his fore tubes flooded and loaded. As the scope broke the surface he had a Fubuki Class destroyer in the middle of his crosshairs. The order was given immediately, followed by a quick dive. Several minutes later, sonar reported an explosion followed by pings and more depth charges in the water. This time the Argonaut was not as lucky as she was rattled by several close misses, setting off leaks in the main engine room and conning tower. Yet despite this the sonar man once again reported the turning of large screws on a bearing of 236 degrees, a juicy target was up there for the taking.



The hours ticked by as the sonar man guided the sub, silently and stealthily behind its target. Assured that no escorts had once again detected him, Jones once again gave the order to take the sub to periscope depth. This time the flames of the burning destroyer presented the perfect shilouette of the target, a Kamoi AV Class seaplane tender. Four torpedos sped from the sub to the target, two large explosions were recorded and the last thing Jones saw before the sonar man bellowed was the enemy vessel broken in two sinking at a rapid rate. Several escorting ships were speeding towards the Argonaut. The flames that had aided her firing solution were now making its scope's wake visible. For the following three hours charge after charge rattled the submarine, one scoring a direct hit on the fore quarters forcing jones to shut the bulkheads and seek the not so deep bottom of these waters. By daybreak either the escorts had run out of charges or they had assumed the sub sunk. Jones immediately set a course for Sydney for emergency repairs and sent a message to the KXVII as well as to the troops on Efate and Luganville of the developments in the southern Solomon Islands.



Status of SS Argonaut morning of March 13th 1942. 28 major flood damage.

[cantona2]

The Argonaut's signal was received by Captain R.Ferguson, c/o of the Penascola and Commander of TF 44. Ferguson thus ordered his ships to set a course to a point just off Kirakira on San Cristobal. They would arrive during the late afternoon of the 14th. If enemy shipping was still at Tulagi he would then order his ships to carry out a full speed sweep of the base during the night hours before retiring back to Noumea.

[traskott]

Put the SS Argonaut at cruise speed, it will improve her survability. 

[cantona2]

ORIGINAL: traskott

Put the SS Argonaut at cruise speed, it will improve her survability. 

Will do, thanks for heads up

[cantona2]

Excerpts from ships War Diary, CV-3 Saratoga March 14th 1942

[font="Times New Roman"]10:09 Reports form SDB from VS-3 of enemy ships approaching Wake Island from the South.

11:23 Reports confirmed by signal from Wake Island calling for assistance, enemy ships bombarding shore defences.

12:24 VS-3 reproting turning back after spotting large CAP over enemy vessels.

13:02 VB-3 pressing on with attack. Heavy casualties reproted. 3 planes return with damage.

13:45 VF-3 engage incoming enemy torpedo bomber strike. 15 B5 Type bombers shot down. No attacks made on TF.

14:45 VS-3 reports attacking enemy ships after passing through heavy CAP. One 1000lb hit recored on CA while one enemy CVE missed by 4 SBD's. 4 planes return.

16:54 Emergency signal from Wake Island desperately calling for assistance as enemy assault overwhelms defence positions.

17:34 No more transmissions from Wake. Island presumed to have fallen to enemy.

17:55 Order given to proceed NNE at flank speed before wheeling E towards Midway. VF-3 ordered to maintain 100% CAP over TF. VB-3 at 22% strength. VS-3 at 16% strength.
[/font]




PS Screenie taken from turn before attack. Was too excited during turn to take screens.

[cantona2]

15th March 1942. The Battle of Tulagi

The cruiser Louisville sailed quietly into Tulagi anchorage leading its charges and its radar already having warned of the presence of Japanese ships at anchor. Battle stations had already been ordered across all the ships in the task force and it was the Penascola that opened fire with a tremendous broadside on two small enemy patrol boats that were screening an unloading transport. Several 8 inch shells hit the closest enemy ship and she was soon set aflame. The Louisville soon followed suit and was joined in with the destroyer Walke in setting the second enemy vessel on fire. Soon enough the USN Squadron was sailing past the burning, sinking IJN ships and closed in on a merchant ship that was desperate to get away.



Such an uneven contest only had one outcome. Not only was she outnumbered and severley outgunned, the Japanese ship was still in the process of unloading troops ashore. Several short salvoes from the Penascola soon sent the merchant and its cargo to the bottom to join its escorts. The American ships then turned away and headed back to Espiritu Santo at full speed to put as much distance between themselves and Rabaul as possible before sunrise.

[cantona2]

Elsewhere in the theatre:

Two Japanese submarines are still at work around Ceylon accounting for three British ships. ASW assets are being transferred from Calcutta and a 4 plane flight of Blenheims I is also being transferred to Colombo via Madras in order to raise ASW efforts and detection levels around this island that sees a very high daily level of maritime traffic.

CV Saratoga made her first waypoint safely and it appears that the light carriers of the IJN battlegroup did not give chase. The Task Force slowed down to mission speed and has started to make for Midway Island. The CAP level was reduced slightly but still most of the Sara's Wildcats are flying over the carrier ensuring its safety. Likewise, ships leaving the Wake Island area were not attacked by any sort of Japanese planes. The AM Minesweeper has been ordered to Midway while the resupply convoy will unload at Johnston Island before heading back to Pearl.

I have started a conversion programme of several AKLs into APs. They will help in ferrying the small units rather than using a larger AP or xAP. Though they are quite short legged attaching a big AK to each convoy will allow them to move further distances. This turn has also seen the first large withdrawal of allied planes. A lot of P-40e and Banshee squadrons attached to ABDA were forced to withdraw, what I didn't now was that thier planes return to the pools. P-40es now stand at a healthy 80 planes in the pool which will allow for some timely upgrading. Likewise the released A-24s allowed for a reinforcing of the 3rd Bomber Group at San Francisco. The 3rd has boarded transports and is making its way to the Noumea-Efate-Luganville area to add its punch to the defences there.

CV Formidable had arrived at Cape Town but will remain there for a couple more days as it awaits the arrival of the last of its escorts before making its way to Colombo. In Burma Japanese troops entered Mandalay at the same time as the BFF Brigade, a timely reinforcement!

[Galahad78]

Nice AAR!!!

Appreciate the work!!

[cantona2]

ORIGINAL: Galahad78

Nice AAR!!!

Appreciate the work!!

Many thanks Galahad!

[cantona2]

16th March 1942

A relatively quiet turn but one where I've asked Ramon to reconsider some of the HRs we suggested at the start. Strat bombing in China was limited to Manpower only and Ramon has been proceeding to do so with great aplomb. However, the supply situation has gone critical in a matter of turns! Once healthy units are now in the red and red exclamation marks are appearing all over the map. Now I understand that cut off units will get supply hits but those in major cities I do not see why they should! I have requested that we stop all strat bombing in China in order to see if this has an effect no the supply situation. For my part I am about to start air transport shipments from Dimapur to Chengtu, though I only have on squadron of transport so I cant see how much of an impact this will have. If the supply situation doesnt improve China is a cake walk for Japan, ie make a massive stack and plough your way along your chosen Axis of attack ala Risk. Any suggestions on China please post!

On the war front a dutch coastal sub sinks another PB off Palembang, one less ASW asset for Ramon, while an S Boat hits a fuel carrying AO in the approaches to Roi-Namur, part of the replenishment force of the Wake Task Force? Further reinforcements are approaching the Suva-Noumea area with an infantry regiment and CD unit for Suva and a combat engineer unit is disembarking at Luganville. Another squadron of P-39s is also close to the area and an ABDA cruiser force has just left Melbourne to add some more firepower. The Penascola Group made Luganville safely and are now heading to Suva to refuel. Flotation damage on the Lexington is down to 45 and we hope to have her under heavy escort and at sea very soon. Two more Pearl battleships are approaching San Francisco, though they will head to Seattle's large dry docks to complete their repairs. The Enterprise Battle Group will dock at Los Angeles were here ships will be repaired and refitted in LA and at San Diego.

[Alfred]

If you have repair turned off for Allied manpower in China, Japanese bombing of manpower centres would have no impact on Allied supply. OTOH, Allied bombing of Japanese manpower will have an impact on the Japanese economy. Hence I think you are making a mistake in requesting this HR change.

Alfred

[cantona2]

Thanks Alfred. Then what could be affecting the detrimental supply level? Rangoon has fallen so the effects of the Burma Road are gone but surely that would not have such a drastic effect!

The strat bombing was in reference to China only not all across the board though

[Alfred]

The Burma Road provides 500 supply daily. That alone would be equivalent to fully maintaining about 20 Chinese divisions (each of about 140-150 AV). Also check that you actually do have repir turned off for your Chinese industry.

With subsequent patches the distribution of supply in China has moved to focussing on resupplying LCUs rather than the depots in the bases. If you check you should find that base with a red asterisk may have its garrison units in a relatively better supply situation than the base visual cue would suggest. In any case China is first and foremost War with Logistics.

Alfred

[cantona2]

Thanks again.

Indeed it is a war of logisitcs that the Japanese find it much easier to win that the Allies at this time. I am going to turn ALL chinese repair off, initially i had the main centres to repair on and see what happens from there. I shall also be taking a closer look at the units asyou suggest

[Alfred]

Taking into account your HR of no strategic bombing in China )other than manpower centres) I would suggest that you prioritise the repair of industry as follows (of course after you have stabilised your current supply difficulties).

1. There is no need to repair resource Centres at all. You should receive sufficient resources to maintain your Heavy and Light Industry.
2. If subsequently you have a surplus of supply and consider it safe to repair Resource Centres, taking into account your LOCs, you should focus in sequential order on Chungking and thence Changsha.
3. No Chinese oil/refinery starts off damaged. There is however due to the quality of the road distribution network in the north, very limited value gained in repairing Chinese Oil/Refinery Centres should they subsequently become damage. The one exception is Sian which actually does manage on a regular basis to transfer fuel to feed the Heavy Industry of Chungking and to a somewhat more irregular degree, Changsha.
4. Provided you retain the capacity to import fuel, repair of Heavy Industry at Chungking should take priority over Light Industry. This is because Heavy Industry generates 2 supply points whereas Light Industry only 1.
5. Luckily Kunming starts off with no damage to its Heavy Industry because it very rarely, if ever, receives any fuel from China to the east. Hence in the event that it's heavy Industry ever gets damage, its repair is quite a luxury.

Noting point 5 above, another factor which may be affecting your current supply difficulties may be that no fuel from Burma is now flowing to maintain Kunming's Heavy Industry.

Alfred

[cantona2]

ORIGINAL: Alfred

Taking into account your HR of no strategic bombing in China )other than manpower centres) I would suggest that you prioritise the repair of industry as follows (of course after you have stabilised your current supply difficulties).

1. There is no need to repair resource Centres at all. You should receive sufficient resources to maintain your Heavy and Light Industry.
2. If subsequently you have a surplus of supply and consider it safe to repair Resource Centres, taking into account your LOCs, you should focus in sequential order on Chungking and thence Changsha.
3. No Chinese oil/refinery starts off damaged. There is however due to the quality of the road distribution network in the north, very limited value gained in repairing Chinese Oil/Refinery Centres should they subsequently become damage. The one exception is Sian which actually does manage on a regular basis to transfer fuel to feed the Heavy Industry of Chungking and to a somewhat more irregular degree, Changsha.
4. Provided you retain the capacity to import fuel, repair of Heavy Industry at Chungking should take priority over Light Industry. This is because Heavy Industry generates 2 supply points whereas Light Industry only 1.
5. Luckily Kunming starts off with no damage to its Heavy Industry because it very rarely, if ever, receives any fuel from China to the east. Hence in the event that it's heavy Industry ever gets damage, its repair is quite a luxury.

Noting point 5 above, another factor which may be affecting your current supply difficulties may be that no fuel from Burma is now flowing to maintain Kunming's Heavy Industry.

Alfred

Acted on some the points above Alfed in the last turn, thanks