Killing Casey Kasem-Marianas style (CB v. Cap'n Mandrake)

[Chickenboy]

WAKE UP! [:D]

I've only had one turn since the last update. I'll post a two-turn update after I get the next.

[rtrapasso]

The symbolism of "[>:] [>:]" refers to YOU, sleepyhead... you have been asleep at the switch! [:-]

If it makes you feel any better, the same message was posted on Mandrake's AAR. [;)]

[Chickenboy]

Hey-you didn't even answer my human placental cotyledon question on THE THREAD yesterday, why on Earth should I wake up for you? [:D]

[rtrapasso]

ORIGINAL: Chickenboy

Hey-you didn't even answer my human placental cotyledon question on THE THREAD yesterday, why on Earth should I wake up for you? [:D]

er... what exactly was the question? [&:]

[Chickenboy]

ORIGINAL: rtrapasso

ORIGINAL: Chickenboy

Hey-you didn't even answer my human placental cotyledon question on THE THREAD yesterday, why on Earth should I wake up for you? [:D]

er... what exactly was the question? [&:]

fb.asp?m=2832237

[rtrapasso]

OK - depends on how you want to define cotyledon, i.e. if it has to make complete septae or not:

"The limited contact surface between mother and child, as occurs with a discoid placenta, is compensated by an intensive interdigitation between the two surfaces. In humans one finds the villus placenta that is constructed out of a highly complex system of interdigital folds (septa). The septa are thin, long and branched. The section comprised between two septa is called a cotyledon.

Since in a human placenta these septa do not divide up the placenta completely, one also speaks of the pseudocotyledon in the human placenta."

So, if you insist that there has to be complete division by the septae to form cotyledons, no - rather there are pseudocotyledons. If you DON'T insist on complete division, then yes.

[Chickenboy]

IJN June 12-13 Update:

June 12th was largely uneventful for the IJN. Allies continue to pull away from the Marianas, mostly vectoring back to Pearl and surrounds.

Interesting recon from a Glen-equipped boat on June 12 identified a "CVE CA DD, etc." equipped TF at Eniwetok and another "CV CV CA" TF to the SE of Eniwetok 2 hexes distant. The Glen was destroyed by CAP, thus limited its recon benefits for the next day. This is relevant...see below. The submarine is in place still, but of decidely less value without its eyes.

June 13th is of interest. I'd like the peanut gallery's take:

Betty recon over Eniwetok on the 13th increases the detection level to 8/8. Pretty good for planning purposes, although not perfect. Some 51 ships are in port awaiting their fate. See below for recon mouseover. There are no TFs noted at Eniwetok.

The Allied airforces noted at Eniwetok are much more formidable than those identified on June 12th. The air contingent here looks like the default OOB, including a couple squadrons of LBY recon, 3 or 4 squadrons (this is a guess) of USMC Corsairs and some recon assets. That's a guess. However, in considering the opponent-I'm prone to believe that is the case here. My interpretation is that the Eniwetok air contingent has been left to its own devices whilest Pagan has been preferentially reinforced from elsewhere.

Still, 76 fighters at the base gives one pause. Is this the default OOB or a surge in strength since yesterday? Was the "11 or 12 fighters" on duty yesterday just so much FOW baloney because of the low DL from the Glen overflight? If there was a significant increase in fighter (and bomber, etc.) strength, was that due to pre-positioning of forces towards reinforcing the Marianas or is it in response to a detection of my CVTFs?

SigInt identifies a couple large TFs moving East from Eniwetok towards Pearl. These could be CVTFs making their way back to Pearl for replenishment. This interpretation may jibe with the disappearance of the two CVTFs noted at or near Eniwetok yesterday.

So...the age-old quandry: New information reaching commanders the day before battle. It paints the battlefield in a different light than expected. How to react? What do I do now? Withdraw or proceed into danger and the unknown?

God, I love this game. [&o]

I haven't sent back the turn yet, but I think I've decided. What do you think, reader?

[Chickenboy]

IJN June 13 update:

No reader comments, eh? Alright, we'll forge onwards. I'm going forward with the carrier strike on Eniwetok in spite of the new information.

Why?

1. If Allied Eniwetok AF is default, it suggests that the Cap'n is unaware of my presence and is sticking with 'status quo' on the island. I know he's using some of the B-24s there to bomb Wake regularly (including this turn), so it's not like he's swapped out all the B-24s for Dauntlesses as a trap, for example.

2. I believe that even with seventy plus fighters at the base, that CAP will be set at less than 40%. He's saving up those important Corsairs for the Marianas-maybe even training them to give himself a little edge once they get there. Flying CAP on Eniwetok is a waste of time for these guys. So let's say-worst case scenario-35 Corsairs on CAP. Manageable.

Plus, Eniwetok's size 3 AF is terribly overloaded-with heavy bombers no less. It's no guarantee that all theoretically available CAP scrambles to intercept the raiders.

3. I've ordered 3 of the A6M2 Sen Baku units onboard the carriers to sweep before the main strike goes in. Hopefully these 40+ aircraft will take out a portion of the CAP before the strike package comes in.

4. My gut says the carriers have moved East. This may be reversed when KB is detected, but I don't believe I've been spotted. Yeah, I know, gut feelings are very dangerous...but sometimes that's all ya got.

5. My ability to do damage to a large number of soft-skinned ships is only detered by around 35 CAP Corsairs and the element of surprise. I seem to have the latter and the former can be managed. Here's the take-home message: I will be more capable of doing significant damage to my opponent's forces here and now than a toe-to-toe, mano-a-mano exchange later. I'd rather try to punch through 35 Corsairs to deliver death and terror than punch through 175 Hellcats and thick AAA to try later. Sure-I can try against the landing forces or the carrier escort later if my air groups are intact too, but you only get so many chances to port attack such juicy targets as this.

What are your orders, sir? I'm ordering the CVTFs and supporting SCTF to move to a position 13 hexes WSW of Eniwetok (see screenshot below). They should be out of the nominal 12 hex maximum naval search capabilities from Eniwetok. Next turn, I'll order them to a position 5 hexes due West of the target Atoll.

Because I have a bunch of D3A2 Vals (regular range=5), I need to get in knife-fighting close to let them use their main armament most effectively. That's a problem with this eclectic mix of strike aircraft-I have very short range antiquated DBs, a bunch of 'regular' planes for the time period in question and some really nice range torpedo aircraft (Jills with extended range of 10 for torpedo carriage=yummy). I have to revert to the lowest common denominator here to get some 35 D3A2s into the fight.

All attack planes are set to Naval attack primary / Port attack secondary at this time. I hope I can respond to a surprise incursion of an unexpected Allied SCTF or CVTF in the area, were one to materialize. Tomorrow we'll find out if the operation continues or if the jig is up. Here's hoping for more 'heavy rain' to obscure my approach....

[rtrapasso]

No reader comments, eh?

Probably you are not going to get a lot of comments since folks are also reading Mandrake's account on this.

[Chickenboy]

Yeah, I know. Still, one can hope for a breach of OPSEC, can't one? Unfortunately, the forum regulars are just too darn good at not betraying OPSEC... [:(][:D]

[Chickenboy]

Allied June 10-11 update:

Allied carriers return to Eniwetok. Should make port tomorrow.

All Guam invasion TFs are at Eniwetok and ready to disembark. Rota's invasion TF arrives Eniwetok tomorrow. These will go in 1-2, Rota first just in case there's a major IJN response to the invasion TF.

A raft of Allied ASW TFs spread out from Eniwetok to canvas the route of the carrier's return. Several IJN subs are hammered by shipborne ASW during the 10-11th. Several more are claimed 'hit' by carrier aircraft on June 10-11th. An RO boat is hammered below the surface and confirmed sunk.

Minesweeping TFs arrive at Guam and clear some 25 mines. They also kill two minisubs and damage another.

Several TFs are seen to depart Iwo with a WSW heading. SigInt informs that one of these TFs contains a specific PB boat with a specific destination hex (at sea). A USN fleet boat is sent to the destination hex to sniff around some more. Not sure if the other is the KB and company, but this will be investigated. The ASW / Minesweeping TF at Guam should be OK for another day. Another two minesweeping TFs are incoming with some 'expendable' AM class ships.

[rtrapasso]

ORIGINAL: Chickenboy

Yeah, I know. Still, one can hope for a breach of OPSEC, can't one? Unfortunately, the forum regulars are just too darn good at not betraying OPSEC... [:(][:D]

[:-] [:'(]

[witpqs]

ORIGINAL: Chickenboy

Still, one can hope for a breach of OPSEC, can't one?

OK: Mandrake is having wolf problems.

But you didn't hear it from me.

[rtrapasso]

ORIGINAL: witpqs

ORIGINAL: Chickenboy
[:D]
Still, one can hope for a breach of OPSEC, can't one?

OK: Mandrake is having wolf problems.

But you didn't hear it from me.

[:D] [:D] [:D]

[Chickenboy]

ORIGINAL: witpqs

ORIGINAL: Chickenboy

Still, one can hope for a breach of OPSEC, can't one?

OK: Mandrake is having wolf problems.

But you didn't hear it from me.

Your secret is safe with me. Note new subject line.

[Chickenboy]

IJN Update June 14, 1944:

During the night, the RO-47 puts a tin fish into the side of the BB Pennsylvania. It explodes nicely. That's the third capital ship my forces have put a nick on. [8D]

In the morning, Eniwetok's detection level is 10/10. Now there's 99 fighters on the base. Things that make you go hmmm...

In for a penny, in for a pound. I order the CA-heavy SCTF to sweep into the harbor at full speed, and retreat to Truk....

...then I check on the CVTFs. Damn. Not sure what happened, but one of the three CVTFs has a DL of 10/10. I'm spotted. There's nothing in the replay or the OPS report that says that, perhaps some errant radio call has benefitted the Allies' maddening SigInt. Harumph.

This changes everything. I'm not going to order my tender airwings into battle against 99 fully alerted USMC Corsairs. Not prudent.

I order the carriers to rendevous with their replenishment AO SW of Truk. They'll return (roundabout) to Babeldoap. Disappointing. [:(]

[Kapitanma]

ORIGINAL: Chickenboy

Yeah, I know. Still, one can hope for a breach of OPSEC, can't one? Unfortunately, the forum regulars are just too darn good at not betraying OPSEC... [:(][:D]

...I heard his ships are somewhere wet, although by this stage of the war you should probably be watching out for the flying battleships...

[USSAmerica]

ORIGINAL: rtrapasso

No reader comments, eh?

Probably you are not going to get a lot of comments since folks are also reading Mandrake's account on this.

That's my story, anyway. [:D]

I am enjoying both of your AAR's, however.

[witpqs]

HBD, CB! [:)]

[Chickenboy]

Thx witpqs. [8D]