AE Historical Game Project. Cantona2 (allied) vs Fletcher (Jap)

[LoBaron]

As always a pleasure to read your AAR Ramon!

One interesting thought: It was hinted somewhere else that to simulate Monsoon season one could set all planes in the theatre
to 80%, or even 90% rest.
This could simulate small gaps in the cloud coverage where quick missions are possible while the major engagements have to wait until Monsoon is over.

Please note this is not my idea but of ecwgcx, though personally I would prefer "rest" instead of his proposed "training" setting.

Contrary to completely suspend air ops it could simulate the small scale air war that was possible during those months.

[Fletcher]

Lobaron, thank you very much is an excellent idea !
I will suggest inmediately to Jonathan.

Thank you very much for your and ecwgcx, I´ll sent him a p.m. to request his permission

Best of wishes.
Ramón

[Fletcher]

FROM: VADM TSUKAHARA, 11ST AIR FLEET CINC. RABAUL.
TO: ADM. ISOROKU YAMAMOTO, COMBFLEET CINC. KURE.
SUBJECT: NDENI
DATE: JUNE 16TH, 1942

Several strikes against Ndeni Island, like bellow:

- 4 A6M2 swept Ndeni.
- 17 A6M2 swept Ndeni.
- 38 A6M2 escorted 26 G4M1 to strike Ndeni reporting 6 enemy casualties.
- 36 G4M1 strike Ndeni AF reporting 11 casualties, 3 airbase, 1 airbase supply and 23 runway hits.
- 6 A6M2 swept Ndeni.

Total of 127 sorties over enemy base.
Heavy naval activities around Vanikoro Island was reported by our recon assets.

Long Live to the Emperor !
END//

[Fletcher]

FROM : VADM HOSOGAYA. 5TH FLEET CINC. OMINATO
TO: VADM. JISABURO OZAWA, SOUTHERN FLEET CINC. ASW COMMAND. CAMRANH BAY.
SUBJECT: HIJMS AKIZUKI
DATE: JUNE 16TH, 1942

With only 4 days at service with Imperial Navy and just arrived to Kushiro port, HIJMS AZIKUKI have shown her value at ASW duties. An enemy boat was pinged off Kushiro and engaged with our new Type-2 Depth Charges at shallow waters. 5 hits or near misses reported over enemy boat. Orders to our valuable destroyer have been dispatched to shadow and destroy enemy submarine.

Aceleration rate of building for this Class of Destroyers in our naval shipyards is a must !

Long Live to the Emperor !
END//

[Fletcher]

FROM: CDR. K.MATSUMURA, I-21 C.O. SUBDIV 3. SUBRON 1. GILBERT WATERS.
TO: CAPT H.SASAKI. SUBDIV 3. SUBRON 1. KWAJALEIN ISLAND.
SUBJECT: ENEMY SHIP SUNK
DATE: JUNE 17th, 1942

At night time enemy ships were spotted at anchor off Arorae Island, Southern Gilbert. Landing forces enemy ship was torpedoed at periscope depth reporting 1 torpedo hit. Enemy ship was sunk with vehicles on oboard. (2 vehicles reported destroyed).

Another troop transport was engaged at early morning. Identified like AP HEYWOOD was torpedoed off Arorae with 1 torpedo hit reported. Human casualties from ground units were reported too.

I hope to shadow enemy carriers in the area to get a major prize.

Long Live to the Emperor !
END//

[Fletcher]

FROM: I-28 C.O., GILBERT SOUTHERN WATERS.
TO: VADM. SHIMIZU, 6TH FLEET CINC. KWAJALEIN IS.
SUBJECT: ENEMY HEAVY CRUISER SUNK
DATE: JUNE 17TH, 1942

At early morning enemy carrier force was spotted with heavy ASW escort. After a hard close movement I get position to fire my forward tubes against an enemy cruiser. Two torpedoes were launched with two hits reported at 1,000 yds. Enemy cruiser sunk under heavy blows.

Long Live to the Emperor !
END//

[Fletcher]

FROM: RADM T. SATO, SUBRON 1 CINC. KWAJALEIN ISLAND.
TO: VADM. SHIMIZU, 6TH FLEET CINC. KWAJALEIN ISLAND.
SUBJECT: ENEMY CARRIER ENGAGED
DATE: JUNE 17TH, 1942

I-31 was reported engage by heavy ASW forces after launched a salvo of torpedoes against USS ENTERPRISE, 40 NM northeast of Arorae Island, at southern Gilberts. Our boat was heavily pressed and was forced to surface when whe was unrestless fired by USN warships in an example of war crimes at Sea.

I hope our boats in the South Seas can revenge the lost of the courageous captain, officers and sailors of the I-33 submarine.

END//

[Fletcher]

FROM: VADM. SHIMIZU, 6TH FLEET CINC. KWAJALEIN
TO: ADM. ISOROKU YAMAMOTO, COMBFLEET CINC. KURE.
SUBJECT: HEAVY ENEMY PRESS ON SOUTHERN GILBERTS
DATE: JUNE 17TH, 1942

After five enemy carriers have been spotted with one of them identified like USS ENTERPRISE, unsuccesfully engaged by the unlucky I-31 (sunk by enemy escorts), I am in a must to request any available help to support my two submarine divisions working hard on this area.

Enemy landed at Tabituea Island few days ago with landings at Arorae Island now. These island are unready to host aircrafts and not will be usefull for americans like reference ports... Any transfer to this Command will be greatly wellcomed.

A new submarine will arrive to the landing area tomorrow at morning.

Long Live to the Emperor !
END //

[Fletcher]

FROM: VADM. TSUKAHARA, 11ST AIR FLEET CINC. RABAUL.
TO: ADM. ISOROKU YAMAMOTO, COMBFLEET CINC. KURE
SUBJECT: NDENI
DATE: JUNE 17TH, 1942

Enemy fighters based probably at Vanikoro take off to defend Ndeni air space.
Our strikes like bellow:
- 4 A6M2 swept NDeni to dogfight with 12 p-40E on CAP over enemy base. 1 P-40E was downed.
- 12 A6M2 swept Ndeni to meet with enemy CAP. 1 A6M2 and 1 P-40E were downed.
- 42 A6M2 escorted 35 G4M1 to dogfight with 3 P-40E. No enemy air losses in A2A combat. 1 PBY5 was destroyed on ground. 6 casualties, 7 airbase, 2 airbase supply and 27 runway hits were reported at enemy bases.
- 16 G4M1 strike NDeni to report 1 P-39D destroyed on ground, 1 airbase supply, 11 runway hits and 1 port supply hit.
- 6 G4M1 strike Ndeni to reporte 2 airbase supply and 9 runway hits.
- 6 A6m2 swept Ndeni reporting no enemy fighters on CAP.

Enemy strikes over Southern Sea Bases, like bellow:

- 9 Hudson III LR strike Horn Island at low altitude. 2 airbase, 1 airbase supply and 17 runway hits. Damage report 11 runway and 6 service.
- 6 LB -30 strike Milne Bay, in a second wave 6 B17E strike the same base. Damage report: 9 service and 16 runway.

- 3 B-17E were intercepted over Munda by 14 Ki-45 KAI. Enemy aircrafts turned back without bombs dropped over our runway.

Long Live to the Emperor !
END//

[Fletcher]

FROM: GEN. SHUNROKU HATA, CHINA EXP ARMY CINC. SIAN FRONTLINE
TO: GEN. HAJIME SUGIYAMA, IJA GENERAL STAFF CHIEF. IGHQ. TOKYO.
SUBJECT: ARMOURED OFFENSIVE IN THE NORTHERN BANK
DATE: JUNE 17TH, 1942

Our forces at northern bank of the river have stormed enemy defensive positions. Four enemy corps defended the enemy line.
Under heavy close air support, like bellow, our forces start their armoured offensive:

- 82 IJA level bombers strike 76th Chinese corps to report 217 casualties (!!)
- 13 IJA KI-48-Ib bombers strike 76th Chinese corps reporting 5 casualties
- 30 IJA level bombers strike sian AF reporting 6 runway hits.
- 27 IJA Ki-27Ib straffe Sian AF.
- 19 IJA level bombers strike 57th Chinese corps and reported 13 enemy casualties.

9th, 12nd, 4th , 10th and 11st Tank Regiment deliberated attack four chinese corps (57th, 33th, 29th, 76th Chinese Corps). We lost 4 tanks and 77 disable vehicles vs 1.928 chinese killed or captured by our forces !. In the enemy counterstrike, another 8 japanese tank were destroyed with another 132 chinese casualties.

Reinforces will arrive soon to support our tanks in their enclose movement over Sian northern approaches.

Long Live to the Emperor !
END//

[Fletcher]

FROM: LTGEN IMMAMURA, XVI ARMY CINC. NEAR LIUCHOW.
TO: GEN. SHUNROKU HATA, CHINA EXP ARMY CINC. NEAR SIAN.
SUBJECT: LIUCHOW OFFENSIVE
DATE: JUNE 17TH, 1942

11 Ki-27 escorted 39 Ki-51 to strike Liüchow. 3 soviet built fighters were on CAP. 15 casualties were claimed from 55th Prov Division (Chinese).
6 Ki-51 strike 52nd Chinese Corps reporting 13 casualties.

Our ground forces stormed Licuhow. Enemy forty was reduced to size 2. 829 IJA casualties were reported vs. 2.012 chinese men killed or captured by our victorious forces.

In few days, Liüchow will become in part of the Empire !
LONG LIVE TO THE EMPEROR !
END//

[Fletcher]

SOUTHERN CHINE OFFENSIVE BY I.J.A.
STRATEGIC SIT MAP REPORT FROM SUPREME COMMANDER COUNCIL.
GREAT OFFENSIVES OF IJA. SUMMER 1942.

[Fletcher]

FROM: VADM. CHUICHI NAGUMO, 1ST AIR FLEET CINC. ABOARD HIJMS AKAGI. GILBERT WATERS.
TO: ADM. ISOROKU YAMAMOTO, COMBFLEET CINC. KURE.
SUBJECT: COUNTERSTRIKE AT GILBERTS
DATE: JUNE 18TH, 1942


HIGH PRIORITY MESSAGE /
EYES ONLY /

1. DIRECTION OF OPERATIONS BY THE COMMANDER AND HIS MOVEMENTS

The 1st Air Fleet departed Truk at 0600 14th June. Maintaining strict anti-sub screen and a rigid radio silence, the force headed for the area to the northwest of Arorae Island following course 140 as given in 1st Air Fleet Secret OpOrd#5.

On June 16th all ships were refueled by CombFleet Oilers before steam into the "yellow route 1".

Visibility steadily increased the last two days in our transit with good weather for long range naval search missions. Visual signal coul be employed during this period with not problems.

On June 18th, E7K2 recon flight from HIJMS TONE reported:

" Enemy Task Force with 1 Battleship identified off Arorae, several minor warships around her ".

At 10:25Z on the 18th, under command of flight officer of the Akagi, Organization #2 with 21 B5N2 from HIJMS AKAGI - HIJMS KAGA take off escorted by 43 A6M2.

Our striking wave reported: "ENEMY BATTLESHIP STRUCK BY ONE TORPEDO AMIDSHIP, TWO DESTROYERS AROUND HER, A LIGHT CRUISER -4 STACKS- ATTACKED TOO. A SECOND WAVE IS A MUST. NO ATTACK TRANSPORT IDENTIFIED OFF ARORAE".

With No enemy CAP over our target, the main threat was under cover. Where were the enemy carriers?. A massive naval search operation was planned at once, like bellow:

- Between 10:30Z - 12:50Z, 2 float planes each from HIJMS TONE - HIJMS CHIKUMA (distance 300 miles, to the left 60), and 1 Type-95 Float Recon from the HIJMS KUMANO - HIJMS MOGAMI - HIJMS SUZUYA - HIJMS MIKUMA took off to in search of enemy task forces to the South and to the East.

Our second attack wave with 12 B5N2 and 12 D3A1 reported: 6 bombs struck USS PRESTON, another 3 bombs hit on USS SMITH. Both destroyers heavily damaged. Battleship was not spotted.

A Third wave was ready at CARDIV 5 with 24 B5N2 from HIJMS ZUIKAKU. Escorted by 33 A6M2, our pilots reported bomb hits over an enemy destroyer (USS PRESTON identified).

The fourth wave from CARDIV 2 with 37 B5N2 from HIJMS HIRYU - HIJMS SORYU - HIJMS ZUIHO reported torpedo hits on two enemy destroyers, both of them sent to bottom.

2. OWN LOSSES

05 B5N2 were lost by Flak in our first wave against USS MISSISSIPPI. Enemy Battleship probably withdrawing to east - south east at flank.


3. NEXT STEP

Our Carriers will be reinforced by MOBILE FORCE tomorrow, and we will seek and destroy enemy task forces around Southern Gilberts. After the destruction of enemy carrier in the area, Arorae will be come back to the Stone Age under a rain of bombs from our Striking Force.

IJA forces have been deployed under XVII ARMY and put at readiness condition to be shipped if needed. 4TH FLEET CINC reported enough landing ships are available to embark the forces from LTGEN HYAKUTAKE.

I hope to announce tomorrow a great victory for the Glory of our Empire and his Highness the Emperor !

LONG LIVE TO THE EMPEROR !
END//

[Fletcher]

2nd Wave from CARDIV 2 sinks USS PRESTON - USS SMITH.

[Fletcher]

GILBERTS, SOUTH MAP REPORT

24TH AIR FLOTILLA HAVE BEEN HEAVILY REINFORCED TO COUNTERSTRIKES WITH LBA AGAINST ENEMY INTRUDERS.
1ST AIR FLEET UNDER CHUICHI NAGUMO SHOWS THE IJN POWER IN THE SOUTHERN SEAS.
XVII ARMY PUT UNDER GENERAL QUARTERS AND READINESS CONDITION TO BE SHIPPED IF NEEDED.

JUNE 18TH, 1942 - BATTLE FOR SOUTHERN GILBERTS -

[Fletcher]

FROM: VADM TSUKAHARA, 11ST AIR FLEET CINC - RABAUL
TO: ADM. ISOROKU YAMAMOTO, COMB FLEET CINC. KURE
SUBJECT: SOUTHERN SEAS LBA OPS
DATE: JUNE 18TH, 1942

25th AIR FLOTILLA COUNTERSTRIKES:

- 22 A6M2 swept Ndeni reporting no enemy fighters on CAP.
- 20 A6M2 swept Ndeni reporting no enemy fighters on CAP.
- 7 A6M2 escorted 47 G4M1 to strike Ndeni facilities, reporting 5 casualties, 1 airbase supply, 20 runway hits, 1 port hit and 2 port supply hits were claimed too.
- 29 A6M2 escorted 9 G4M1 to strike Ndeni facilities and report 5 casualties, 1 airbase, 1 airbase supply and 11 runway hits.
- 5 A6M2 swept Ndeni.

24th AIR FLOTILLA COUNTERSTRIKES:

One A6M2 and one G3M3 Daitai have been redeployed under 24th Air Flotilla at Marshalls to begin with counterstrikes against enemy intruders at Souther Gilberts.

Our first strike with 3 A6M2 in a offensive flight over Arorae. No enemy were spotted on CAP.

H8K1 and H6K4 flying boats will patrol on the south-southeast approaches to spot any enemy ships in the area.

Long Live to the Emperor !
END//

[Fletcher]

FROM: LTGEN. IMMAMURA, XVI ARMY CINC. AT LIUCHOW CITY.
TO: GEN. HAJIME SUGIYAMA, IJA GENERAL STAFF CHIEF. IGHQ. TOKYO
SUBJECT: LIUCHOW FALLS !!!
DATE: JUNE 18TH, 1942

I AM PROUD TO ANNOUNCE THE FALL OF LIUCHOW CITY. BANDITS HAVE FLEE IN ALL DIRECTIONS. ENEMY LEADERS HAVE BEEN JAILED AND WILL BE SENT TO TOKYO TO BE JUDGED UNDER WAR CRIME CHARGES.

OUR XVI ARMY FORCES PURSUE ENEMY FLEEING FORCES IN THE ROAD OF KWEILING. IN FEW DAYS I WILL ANNOUNCE THE FALL OF THIS CITY.

HIGH MORAL IN ALL OUR FORCES. ENEMY IS FIGHTING IN THE AIR WITH SOVIET BUILD FIGHTERS.

WHEN WE END AT CHUNKING WITH THE CHIAN-KAI-CHEK REGIME, SOVIETS MUST BE SEVERELY CORRECTED.

TOMORROW OUR GARRISON FORCES AT LIUCHOW MARCH ON PARADE AT MAIN STREETS OF LIUCHOW. ALL CHINESE POPULATION MUST JOIN TO THIS CELEBRATION UNDER HEAVY PENALTIES.

LONG LIVE TO THE EMPEROR !!!
END //

[Fletcher]

FROM: VADM. CHUICHI NAGUMO, 1ST AIRFLEET CINC. ABOARD ON HIJMS AKAGI
TO: ADM. ISOROKU YAMAMOTO. COMBFLEET CINC. KURE
SUBJECT: KAGA TORPEDOED
DATE: JUNE 19TH, 1942

CarDiv 1 followed by CarDiv2 and CarDiv5 was under submarine attack. Our ASW screen was unable to detect enemy submarine. HIJMS KAGA following my flag ship -HIJMS AKAGI- was struck to the port side by 1 torpedo launched by a electric boat.

HIJMS KAGA Blinker to destroyers HIJMS YUDACHI and HIJMS SAZANAMI to alert them. General Quarters sounds at 03:05Z and all screening ships unsuccesfully began to search enemy submarine.

HIJMS KAGA C.O., Capt Jisaku Okada blinker damage report:

- SYSTEM DAMAGE: 10
- FLOOD DAMAGE: 26 (24 Major)
- ENGINE DAMAGE: 2
- MAX SPEED: 20 Knots.

After damage were reported by control teams I decide to follow on with air ops around Southern Gilbert and intercept if possible enemy carrier and battleship Task Forces.

Torpedoes available aboard HIJMS KAGA, HIJMS ZUIKAKU, HIJMS SHOKAKU, HIJMS HIRYU, HIJMS ZUIHO, HIJMS SHOHO.

HIJMS AKAGI and HIJMS SORYU without enough torpedoes for their B5N2 daitais, have been ordered to rearm their aircrafts with bomb payload.

HIJMS UNYO will deliver one B5N2 Chutai and A6M3 Daitai to Tarawa. She is steaming with several troops/supply convoys to Marshalls and will arrive to their launch position tomorrow at afternoon.

HIJMS RYUJO and HIJMS JUNYO are in transit to reemplace HIJMS KAGA, like ordered to CARDIV4 CINC.

The day after tomorrow HIJMS KAGA will withdraw under heavy ASW escort to arrive to Yokohama drydocks.

AT Tarawa (from 24th Air Flotilla), 27 G3M3 with 27 A6M2 are available to support our air ops over Gilbert.


Long Live to the Emperor !
END//

[Fletcher]

KAGA Torpedoed by Electric Boat
June 19th, 1942
South Gilberts, around Arorae Island.

[Fletcher]

FROM: LTCDR M. INABA, I-6 C.O. SOUTH SEAS
TO: VADM. SHIMIZU, 6TH FLEET CINC. KWAJALEIN ISLAND.
SUBJECT: USS MISSISSIPPI INTERCEPTED AND SUNK
DATE: JUNE 19TH, 1942

The last night, into our war patrol area we spotted a large TF steaming fast and heading south. The larger ship, a battleship identified like USS MISSISSIPPI was torpedoed and sunk, after two torpedoes were launched and struck her amidship.

Our position, 80 nm East nanumea Island.

LONG LIVE TO THE EMPEROR !
END//

Special Note for this Message:

- RELAY THIS POSITION TO 1ST AIR FLEET CINC -