Offenseman & Seydlitz(J) vs. LoBaron & Rob Brennan (A) Joint AAR

[offenseman]

For security reasons only a small area near Manado can be used to show current captures and landings. Manado was captured. Talaud-Eilanden, Sangi, Morotai, and Siaoe were landed upon.
The allied sub is a suspected Dutch submarine.

[offenseman]

This map shows the progress we have made in Borneo and southern Luzon and Mindanao. The Mindanao landing was limited in scope and meant more to control the airfield at Cagayan and not to continue the assault on the island. That assault will come later as our strategic objectives do not demand a fast liberation of Mindanao.

Miri was conquered (our first new oil/fuel source) and landings were made at Brunei, Beaufort, Jesselton, and Balabac.

To the north, one can see the blockade of Manila and the many Allied TFs at sea.

In the far south you can see the landing force that will amphibiously assault Tarakan in the coming day. It is well screened both from near and far because the location of the Dutch Navy, Houston, and Force Z is still unknown. However HMS Electra was spotted near Billiton moving north. The spotting was done by two separate submarines and is considered credible. It is my guess that Electra was escorting a group moving toward Singapore; possibly supplies or troop reinforcements coming from Java. It is a sighting that should prove to be valuable in the coming weeks.

[offenseman]

ORIGINAL: seydlitz
It also served to show that it is the Army and not the Navy that is looking to the protection of Japan's shipping.

I think the navy is off showboating around in their battleships and carriers drinking all of our precious fuel oil while the Army is tending to the true work of protecting commerce in the empire.[:D]

This much is is true, but after seeing the accuracy with which the Army aircraft bombed shipping in the first 4 days of the war, it was decided that the Navy would have to carry the load when it came to sinking enemy ships. That left little for the JAAF to do but drink all our precious Sake, fly out in a straight line and hope to be able to find home again later in the day. [;)]

[seydlitz_slith]

Turn 5 15-16 December, 1941

I-155 sank the transport Le Maire near Billiton with one well placed torpedo.

[seydlitz_slith]

Shortly thereafter, I had a missed shot at the transport Bloomenfontein in the same area.
Then, I -166 put one torpedo into the transport Kota Gede, also near Billiton.

[seydlitz_slith]

I-162 sank the transport Kota Pinang SE of Singapore with 4 torpedo hits.

[seydlitz_slith]

Near Lingga, the I-158 sank the transport Boschfontein with two torpedo hits.

It looks like Rob was rushing all of his available transports to Singapore, presumably to evacuate troops. Hopefully my well placed sub picket line will significantly reduce his ability to pull units out.

[seydlitz_slith]

The I-122 also sank the freighter Nanning near Soebi-besar with two hits.

[seydlitz_slith]

Of course, the action wasn't all one sided.

Near Babeldoab, dutch sub put one torpedo into the battleship Yamashiro. I forgot to check and see how bad the damage was (It's Mike's ship anyways [;)]) but I would assume that the torpedo blisters would have done their job of minimizing the damage.

[seydlitz_slith]

Finally,
Near Chi-Chi Jima a task force of several of Japan's largest tankers blundered into the Enterprise task force in the middle of the night.
Shockingly, the American task force broke off without engaging.

However, the next day, planes from what appeared to be two carrier groups sank all of the tankers and also hit a support task force in the same area containing an AR, AS, and AKE. None of them will likely make port.

This was a bold and gutsy move on the part of Lenny (LoBaron) and my hat is off to him. Now I will have to tell the Navy commander that I will need air cover before I try to move another convoy to Truk.

I also must consider that he may try to a quick strike at Honshu so I am preparing the defences for this possibility.

[offenseman]

ORIGINAL: seydlitz

Of course, the action wasn't all one sided.

Near Babeldoab, dutch sub put one torpedo into the battleship Yamashiro. I forgot to check and see how bad the damage was (It's Mike's ship anyways [;)]) but I would assume that the torpedo blisters would have done their job of minimizing the damage.

Yamashiro suffered only 7 (4 major) flood damage but the hit was in an engine room, wrecking it and causing 31 engine damage. Yamashiro is at anchor waiting until the USN CV group(s) is herded away from Japan, then will proceed to dry dock.

[offenseman]

December 17-18

Octopussy hit on this turn, making 6 simultaneous landings. Mussau, Manus, Shortlands, Green, Kavieng, and Rabaul were assaulted and another group will land at Buna in two days. The operation is supported by CVs, and two SCTFs.

[offenseman]

Part of the support included a raid on Rabaul's Port, Air base, and troops

[offenseman]

the CL Adelaide tried to intervene in the Shortlands operation and was set upon by the Assault force in a night action, leaving her wounded

[offenseman]

Imperial Japan commends the bravery of Adelaide. After the night action, it ran afoul of a small SCTF centered on 4 BBs. Adelaide did not survive this encounter

[offenseman]

Meanwhile back in Foochow. The glorious JNAF supported its Army comrades in arms.

[offenseman]

Over Foochow, the JNAF supported it Army comrades in arms

[offenseman]

The skies of Luzon have been swept clear of the enemy leaving encounters such as this being the norm. Both allied aircraft were shot down.

[offenseman]

In Borneo, the fight for Tarakan continues as landings have been made at Samarinda.

[seydlitz_slith]

Turn 6 17-18th December, 1941

The AVG flew on down to G-Town in Malaya where they intercepted my Ki-27 Nates on their sweeps at low altitude. Amazingly, my Nates held their ground pretty well (at the 8-9000 feet range) and in two days of combat I lost only 4 Nates to the AVG while shooting down one AVG P-40. I don't think that there is a person here who would call that a bad result.