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

[Fletcher]

FROM: RADM. TAMON YAMAGUCHI, 1ST AIR FLEET CINC. ABOARD HIJMS AKAGI
TO: ADM. ISOROKU YAMAMOTO, COMBFLEET CINC. KURE.
SUBJECT: SUBSEQUENT AIR STRIKES OVER BOMBAY PORT.
DATE: AUGUST 31ST, 1942


1. 1st Morning Wave against Bombay targets:

15 A6M2, 38 B5N2, 26 D3A1

Own losses: 2 D3A1 downed by Flak.

Enemy reported damages:

- 6 cargo ships reported hit (xAK Jalakrishna, xAK Wing Sang, xAP Poelan, xAP Tilawa, XAK Florence Luckemback and XAP Lanchashire).

- 1 corvette hit (HIMS JASMINE)

2nd Wave, Afternoon Strike:

15 A6M2, 39 B5N2, 38 D3A1

Own losses: N.A.

Enemy reported damages:

- 3 ship at anchor heavily damages or sunk (XAK HAVILDOR, XAK VARSOVA, XAP DUNERA)
- 5 freighters docked damaged (XAK BELRAY, XAP DOUMER, XAK VARELA, XAP LANCASHIRE, XAK FLORECE LUCKEMBACH)
- 1 Tanker reported hit (TK BRITISH CONFIDENCE)

3 Shipyard repair hits.

Other enemy ship sunk

AMc Baroda and AMc Amritsar were sunk by torpedo attack from B5N2 (HIJMS RYUJO).

We will proceed to a deception withdraw to come back and strike another potential targets (i.e. Karachi). We have more than 50% missions ready to be launched with more than 50 torpedoes on the deck of HIJMS HIRYU - HIJMS SORYU. We hope enemy thinks we are withdrawing to Home !

Long Live to the Emperor !!!
END//

[Fletcher]

FROM: VADM. CHUICHI NAGUMO. CARDIV3 CINC. ABOARD HIJMS JUNYO.
TO. ADM. ISOROKU YAMAMOTO, COMBINED FLEET CINC. KURE.
SUBJECT: ENEMY TRANSPORT TASK FORCES ENGAGED !!
DATE: SEPTEMBER 2ND, 1942

CARDIV3 - CARDIV4, indirect cover force for TPM-02 and THM-01 convoys, have launched several floatplanes to scout our route to Horn island-Merauke island and two hours later they reported enemy ships steaming north-northeast !. Several large attack transport were reported and I take decision to launch a first wave to engage the enemy.

24 A6M2 escorting 14 D3A2 and 20 B5N2 have dogfighted with 18 enemy fighters (3 P-40E and 15 P-39D) on CAP over enemy ships. 1 A6M2 and 2 P-39D were downed.

Our new D3A2 dive bombers performed a marvellous mark: 14 bombs hit enemy.

Enemy ships damage report:

- XAP BLOEMFONTEIN, 2 torpedoes, heavily damaged (dead on water?)
- XAK MANOA, 2 bombs and 1 torpedo, sunk under pilot´s eyes.
- PG MORESBY, 4 bombs, probably sunk.
- XAP KOTA RUDJA, 5 bombs and 2 torpedos, sunk ?
- DD JOHN D. EDWARDS, 3 bombs, heaviy damaged.

656 enemy casualties (44 enemy squads and 49 vehicles destroyed)

WHERE IS GOING THE ENEMY ? IS THAT A LANDING FORCE TO PORT MORESBY? OR HORN ISLAND-MERAUKE ISLAND ?. IS THAT A REINFORCE FORCE FOR DARWIN ? ...

OUR FORCE WERE COVERING THE TRANSIT FOR TWO VALUABLE CONVOYS HEADING PORT MORESBY AND HORN ISLAND-MERAUKE ISLAND and WE WILL GO ON AHEAD TO ACCOMPLISH OUR MISSION. TPM-02 CONVOY IS DELIVERING SUPPLIES AND REINFORCEMENTS TO PORT MORESBY, AND THM-01 CONVOY WILL ARRIVE TO HORN ISLAND TOMORROW AT EARLY MORNING.

MORE NAVAL SEARCH MISSIONS WILL TAKE OFF TO SPOT ENEMY SHIPS AROUND PORTLAND ROADS AREA.

LONG LIVE TO THE EMPEROR!
END//

[Fletcher]

PORT MORESBY AREA,
SEPTEMBER 2ND, 1942

ENEMY LANDING FORCE INTERCEPTED BY CARDIV3-CARDIV4 MEANWHILE ESCORTING PORT MORESBY - HORN/MERAUKE ISLANDS CONVOYS.

[Fletcher]

FROM: VADM IBO TAKAHASHI, SOUTH WESTERN FLEET CINC. SOERABAJA.
TO: ADM. ISOROKU YAMAMOTO, COMBFLEET CINC. KURE. SUBJECT.
SUBJECT: ENEMY ENGAGED NEAR COX BAZAR.
DATE: SEPTEMBER 5TH, 1942


INDIRECT COVER GROUP NEAR AKYAB HAVE ENGAGED TWO ENEMY DESTROYERS 40 NM WEST OF COX BAZAR. OUR WARSHIPS ESCORTING A "TOKYO EXPRESS" GROUP TO REINFORCE AKYAB HAVE TRY TO INTERCEPT ENEMY SHIPS AROUND COX BAZAR THINKING THEY WERE ENEMY LIGHT FORCES OR LIGHT FREIGHTERS.

ENEMY DESTROYERS IDENTIFIED LIKE HMS NIZZAN, HMS NORMAN. LAST ONE WAS HIT BY OUR DESTROYER DIVISION. OUR FORCES REPORTED LIGHT DAMAGES ON HIJMS AKEBONO (11 SYSTEM DAMAGED)

FOR THE OTHER HAND, OUR CARRIER STRIKING FORCE REPORTED 5 ENEMY WELLINGTON TWIN ENGINE BOMBERS HAVE BEEN DOWNED OVER THE FLEET IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INDIAN OCEAN.

LONG LIVE TO THE EMPEROR !
END//

[Fletcher]

FROM: CDR. U HORI.
TO: RADM. TAMON YAMAGUCHI. CARDIV 1 CINC. ABOARD HIJMS AKAGI.
SUBJECT: OFFENSIVE RECON MISSION WESTERN INDIA.
DATE: SEPT 7TH, 1942

TODAY, AT EARLY MORNING WE HAVE INTERCEPTED A LARGE AMC SHIP ARRIVING TO BOMBAY. SHE WAS AMC MANOORA, ONE HIT WAS REPORTED AFTER TWO TORPEDOES WERE LAUNCHED. I HAVE SPOTTED 24 ENEMY SHIPS DOCKED AT YARD, WITH HEAVY BLAZES ON THE DRYDOCKS. ONE MINELAYER IS AT ANCHOR WITH LIGHT SHIPS ON PATROL DUTIES.

I WILL FOLLOW ON WITH MY RECON MISSION ON WESTERN INDIAN PORT.

LONG LIVE TO THE EMPEROR !
END//

[Fletcher]

FROM: LTGEN KORECHIKA ANAMI, 2ND AREA ARMY HEADQUARTER, RABAUL.
TO: GEN. HAJIME SUGIYAMA. IJA GENERAL STAFF CHIEF. IGHQ. TOKYO.
SUBJECT: HORN ISLAND CAPTURED BY ENEMY
DATE: SEPTEMBER 11th, 1942

AFTER LANDINGS, THE ENEMY HAVE LAUNCHED AN ARMOURED ASSAULT AGAINST OUR WEAK POSITIONS WITH THE NAVAL GUNFIRE SUPPORT OF ONE BATTLESHIP (USS COLORADO WAS REPORTED. THE LAST MESSAGE FROM 1ST SNLF INDPT COY WAS "WE WILL LAUNCH A BANZAI THIS NIGHT FOR THE GLORY OF THE EMPEROR!". THE GARRISON HAVE FIGHTED TO THE END. COMUNICATIONS WERE CUT OFF AND NO MORE NEWS INCOME FROM OUR RADIO STATION THERE.

ALL AVAILABLE FORCES FROM 2ND AREA ARMY (4TH, 8TH, 9TH, 10TH, 14TH INFANTRY DIVISIONS) HAVE BEEN PUT ON READINESS CONDITION TO LAUNCH A MASSIVE COUNTERSTRIKE IF NEEDED. IJAAF WILL COLABORATE WITH IJNAF 11ST AIR FLEET TO FIGHT FOR THE AIR SUPREMACY AT PORT MORESBY AREA (HEAVILY FORTIFIED AT SIZE 5). STRATEGIC RESERVES HAVE BEEN ASSEMBLED AT BABELDAOB - TRUK AREA AND WILL BE REQUESTED IF NEEDED.

IT IS A MUST TO REQUEST SUPPORT TO COMBINED FLEET HEADQUARTER FOR AMPHIBIOUS OPERATIONS IN A NEAR FUTURE.

END//

[Fletcher]

FROM: ADM. HUSIMI NAGANO. IJN STAFF CHIEF. IGHQ . TOKYO
TO: ADM. ISOROKU YAMAMOTO, COMBINED FLEET CINC. KURE.
SUBJECT: ORDER TO COMBINED FLEET #6
DATE: SEPTEMBER 11TH, 1942

YOU WILL EMBARK AT HIJMS KAGA AFTER DRYDOCK WORKS END IN FEW DAYS TO COMMAND THE NEXT OPERATION AGAINST ENEMY FOR THE NEXT NAVAL OPERATION. THE TARGET WILL BE SENT IN FEW DAY, WHEN YOU WILL BE ABOARD.

ORDERS TO ASSEMBLE THE FOLLOWING COMBINED FLEET UNITS HAVE BEEN DISPATCHED:

1ST AIR FLEET (CARDIV 1, CARDIV 2, CARDIV 3, CARDIV 4 AND CARDIV 5)
1ST BATTLERON (HIJMS YAMATO, HIJMS NAGATO AND HIJMS MUTSU)
4TH BATDIVISION (HIJMS HIEI, HIJMS KIRISHIMA)
3RD BATDIVISION (HIJMA HYUGA, HIJMS YAMASHIRO)
2ND FLEET CRUISERS AND 1ST AND 2ND DESTROYER FLOTILLAS

ORDER TO UPDATE CARRIERS DIVE BOMBERS DAITAI TO D3A2 IN INDIAN OCEAN STRIKING FORCE SHIPS. ALL CARDIV3 CARRIERS HAVE BEEN UPDATED YET.

ESCORT CARRIER TAIYO AND UNYO WILL COOPERATE IN TRANSFER OF LAND BASED IJNAF AIRCRAFTS.
HIJMS HOSHO IS AT DRYDOCK TO REFIT AND UPDATE.

TRAIN OF THE FLEET: 06 FLEET OILERS WITH 50.000 TONS OF FUEL.

ENOUGH ATTACK TRANSPORT WILL BE PUT UNDER YOUR COMMAND TO EMBARK CRACK IJA TROOPS (TWO INFANTRY DIVISIONS AND 1 TANK REGIMENT) AND SEVERAL IJN LANDING FORCES.

LONG RANGE H8K1 PATROL FLYING BOATS WILL PUT UNDER YOUR DIRECT COMMAND FOR STRATEGIC RECONNOISANCE MISSIONS.

6TH FLEET SUBMARINES WILL BE DEPLOYED IN THE FORWARD AREAS FOR PICKET DUTIES.

IJA KI-44IIA DAITAIS (3 WITH NEAR 70 ACs) WILL BE SHIPPED FROM HOME TO SOUTHERN AREAS TO ENGAGE ENEMY HEAVIEST BOMBER STRIKES OVER OUR FORWARD BASES IN SOUTHERN PERIMETER.

MORE ORDERS WILL INCOME IN FEW DAYS.

LONG LIVE TO THE EMPEROR !

[traskott]

OOOOOH, THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK !!! [:D][:D][:D]

[Fletcher]

ORIGINAL: traskott

OOOOOH, THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK !!! [:D][:D][:D]

OF COURSE, MY SON!

[Fletcher]

FROM: VADM SHIMIZU, 6TH FLEET CINC. KWAJALEIN IS.
TO: ADM ISOROKU YAMAMOTO, COMBINED FLEET HQ ABOARD HIJMS KAGA, SASEBO DRYDOCK.
SUBJECT: ENEMY LANDING FORCES ENGAGED.
DATE: SEPTEMBER 14TH, 1942

I-34 C.O. reported several minesweepers (7) offshore Guadalcanal Island at 03.05Z. One hour later our boat torpedoed xAP PRESIDENT TAYLOR, a large transport attack. At morning, the same boat at picket duties around Guadalcanal-Tulagi torpedoed another large transport attack, XAP PRESIDENT MONROE.

Orders to SUBDIV 1, 2 AND 9 CinCs have been dispatched to put on patrol another 9 boats. They will departure tomorrow from Truk Naval Base.

Long Live to the Emperor !
END//

[Fletcher]

FROM: VADM. TSUKAHARA, 11ST AIR FLEET CINC. PORT MORESBY.
TO: ADM. ISOROKU YAMAMOTO, ABOARD HIJMS KAGA, SASEBO DRYDOCK.
SUBJECT: AIR STRIKES OVER ENEMY LANDING FORCES
DATE: SEPT 14TH, 1942

After be spotted by our submarines and LR naval search patrol flying boats, our striking assets were put on readiness condition to launch as many strikes over enemy as possible.

First to take off, our first wave with 7 A6M2 and 6 A6M2-N escorting 18 G4M1 -bombs- reported 12 F4F4 and 4 SOC-1 Float Planes at CAP over enemy ships. 2 F4F and 2 SOC were downed by our pilots.
CL MARBLEHEAD, XAP KOTA AGOENG and CL SUMATRA were spotted and attacked, but no hits reported in this firs strike.

A Second Strike with all available A6M2 (44) take off from our bases to escort 5 D3A2, hitting with 1 bomb CL ADELAIDE and reporting another 4 bomb hits on AP THOMAS JEFFERSON (65 USMC casualties were reported).

A Third strike with 18 A6M2 and 5 A6M2-N escorting 3 new dive bombers D3A2 reported no hits over AP REPUBLIC. 1 D3A1 was lost by Flak.

Enemy launche a 47 dive bombers strike over 20th Engineers Regiment (20th I.D -2nd Army-)
A sweep with 6 A6M2 reported 4 F4F4 over Lunga reporting 1 enemy fighter downed.

At afternoon our first wave with 6 A6M2 escorting 18 G4M1 (bombs) reported no hits on CL MARBLEHEAD and CL ST.LOUIS.
Our second wave with 21 A6M2 escorting 5 D3A2 reported 4 bomb hits over CL ADELAIDE.

Tomorrow all availabe assets will fly to launch a TO-ZAN strike over enemy

Long Live to the Emperor !!
END//

[Fletcher]

FROM: VADM. CHUICHI NAGUMO, ABOARD HIJMS JUNYO. SOUTHERN SEAS.
TO: ADM. ISOROKU YAMAMOTO, COMBINED FLEET CINC. ABOARD HIJMS KAGA. SASEBO
SUBJECT: COUNTERSTRIKE PLANNED
DATE: SEPTEMBER 14TH, 1942

PLAN TO-ZAN 2 TO COUNTERSTRIKE ENEMY LANDINGS AT GUADALCANAL ISLAND.

O.O.B.

CARDIV 3
HIJMS JUNYO (FLAG) & HIJMS HIYO, 36 A6M3 FIGHTERS, 24 D3A2 DIVE BOMBERS AND 12 B5N2 TORPEDO BOMBERS.

CARDIV 4
HIJMS SHOHO, HIJMS ZUIHO, 24 A6M2 FIGHTERS, 18 B5N2 TORPEDO BOMBERS.

CRUDIV 2

HIJMS NACHI, HIJMS MIKUMA, HIJMS MOGAMI, HIJMS MYOKO.

DESRON 2

HIJMS NAGARA, 10 FLEET DESTROYERS.

DIVERSIONARY STRIKE TO PROVOKE ENEMY CARRIERS TO REACT AGAINST US, MEANWHILE CRUDIV8 WITH HIJMS AOBA, HIJMS KINUGASA, HIJMS KAKO, HIJMS FURUTAKA WITH 3 DESTROYERS UNDER RADM. KURITA STRIKE HARD ENEMY LANDING FORCES.

THE EMPIRE WILL LAUNCH A MASSIVE BLOW AGAINST THE INTRUDERS.

11ST AIR FLEET UNDER VADM. TSUKAHARA WILL COORDINATE LBA STRIKES OVER ENEMY SHIPS WITH US.

A URGENT MESSAGE HAVE BEEN SENT TO MOBILE FORCE AT TRUK AND FIRST AIR FLEET ASSEMBLED AT JAVA AFTER VICTORIOUS INDIAN OCEAN COUNTERSTRIKE.

ALL US WILL BLESS TO AMATERATSU FOR A GREAT VICTORY AGAINST THE DIRTY WESTERN POWERS.

LONG LIVE TO THE EMPEROR !!! BANZAI

END//

[1275psi]

[LoBaron]

ORIGINAL: 1275psi

This. [:D]

Good luck Fletcher!

[Durbik]

Is it only me?... As a JFB I have some baaaaaad feelings about this...

[traskott]

[:'(] Interesting.... [:'(][:'(]

[LoBaron]

Bad feelings? I sense explosions, dogfights, the sound of gunfire, torn metal and divebombers screaming from the sky.
I have no idea what you think is bad about this prospect. [:'(]

And the outcome will governed by how Ramon compensates for being outnumbered in flight decks (if this is the case).

[Puhis]

ORIGINAL: Durbik

Is it only me?... As a JFB I have some baaaaaad feelings about this...

Not just you. I have a feeling that almighty DIVE is going to shred japanese planes... I hope I'm wrong.

Definitely interesting!

[Durbik]

ORIGINAL: LoBaron

Bad feelings? I sense explosions, dogfights, the sound of gunfire, torn metal and divebombers screaming from the sky.
I have no idea what you think is bad about this prospect. [:'(]

And the outcome will governed by how Ramon compensates for being outnumbered in flight decks (if this is the case).

For every 2 banzai lovers there must be one whiner - in this particular case: ME [:D]

[Fletcher]

Thanks all of you for posting!

My counterstrike have been delayed due IJNAF unability to launch coordinated strikes against enemy fleet. I must to wait a heavier blow, but 8th CRUDIV and CARDIV3 will await at High Sea that enemy carriers withdraw to replenishment.

Yamamoto have left CombFleet HQ at Kure to put his flag aboard HIJMS KAGA. All Combined Fleet assets have been redeployed to launch a massive counterstrike:

8 Fleet Carriers (Akagi, Kaga, Hiryu, Soryu, Shokaku, Zuikaku, Hiyo, Junyo)
3 Light Carriers (Shoho, Zuiho, Ryujo)
4 Escort Carriers (Hosho, Taiyo, Unyo, Chuyo)
10 Battleships (with HIJMS Yamato)
12 heavy cruisers, 10 cruisers, 60 destroyers, 20 fleet submarines, 05 fleet oilers.

All carriers have been updated to D3A2 dive bombers daitais.

IJA have 9th infantry division in route to southern seas with 14th Infantry division at Truk (with 100 PP to Lunga). One infantry Regiment (78th) at Rabaul is ready to be shipped to south. One tank regiment have been shipped at Home to reinforce II Army. Those troops will be embark to be coordinated with IJN main strike.

IJAAF have shipped 3 Daitais with Ki-44IIa Tojo to Rabaul that will arrive at Truk with 60.000 tons of supplies and 50.000 tons of fuel. 5th Air Division (LT GEN OBATA) will deploy new assets (one Ki-43Ic Daitai, one Ki-21-IIa Daitai, one Ki-48-IIa Daitai, one Ki-46II chutai, and 3 Ki-44IIa Daitai)

IJNAF will be heavily reinforced with 23rd Air Flotilla (now 25th Air Flotilla with 11st Air Fleet HQs assets are flying at South Seas). More than 100 new aircrafts will be based (now 250 ready at Munda-Shortlands-Panggoe-Torokina-Vella Lavella AFs). All strategic bases heavily fortified (PM size 6, Munda size 5, Shortlands size 4, Rabaul size 4) with engineers working hard to upgrade ASAP.

I need time to coordinate all efforts to through out enemy from my southern perimeter. I need to send more and more supplies/fuel to launch a massive counterstrike, but it will be launched.

Best wishes.
Ramón