Typhoon of Steel: John vs. Bill--RA 3.0

[John 3rd]

Operations Report
March 4-8, 1942

Have been detailing Hawaii so don't need to do too much there.

North Pacific
No developments. I now know that the shipping that was located up in this region is now in Hawaii.

Central Pacific
Just brought my 8 AOs out of Truk carrying fuel for the fuel. They are headed for Midway (2 of them) and Christmas (6). These should provide enough fuel for the remainder of the month. Have two TK TF moving between DEI and Truk getting the fuel to this point. LOGISTICS!

Hawaii---Am pulling out my Zero units to Johnston, Midway, and Line Islands so I can rebuild them and place them on my carriers. Will pull off all Vals and replace with all Zeros. We will then make a major Fighter Sweep over Pearl.

The Allies currently have (identified) 4 BB, 8 CA, and 9 CL running bombardments from Pearl Harbor.

KB Actions:
5th---My Carriers (Akagi/Kaga/Ryujo) miss the old Idaho-BBs as they head for Pearl but they do find a major TF carrying several Base Forces. During the morning and afternoon the carriers crush the entire TF sinking 3 DD, 4 AK, and 6 AP. The reports listed over 8,000 troops killed. BANZAI!

8th---Just watched something delightful! As my 3 CVs were passing the east side of Hawaii they stumbled on YET ANOTHER American TF and plastered it sinking 4 DD (NICE!) and 5 AK. There were troops on those ships as well. The TF was wiped out.

South Pacific
No developments.

Philippines
I was certain that adding another ID would finish off Bataan but it didn't happen. Shock Attack on March 7th netted a 1-2 and did not lower Forts. CRAP!

Java and Singapore
Convoys hauling out troops and am setting up the TK and Resource TF.

8th--Landing start at Christmas Isle IO.

Australia
Major reinforcements landing at Wyndham with an Inf Div and 5 TK Reg. He has left the area but I am in no hurry and don't want to lose anything to Darwin's guns.

Burma
The 38th ID makes its debut and blasts the 3 British units trying to hold Shwebo. Next stop is Katha.

China
Sian: HUGE news. I choose to attack the stack of 43 units. On March 7th the Japanese score a 1-1 dropping Forts to 2. Troops aren't in too bad of shape so I decide to Shock Attack on the 8th and get a 1-1 again reducing Forts to 1. How about that? The boys need to rest a couple of days and will attack again on the 10th or 11th. If I could force a retreat by that entire stack....hmmm...

Engineering
Ominato AF-3
Sinyang AF-3
Koepang AF-6
Adak AF-3
Rabaul Pt-6
Soerabaja AF-5
Rangoon AF-6

[Cribtop]

Great news off Hawaii and at Sian. Making 41 LCUs retreat in China would be devastating to the enemy.

[FatR]

If you manage to rout the defenders of Sian (and then it is vital to rout them again by a river-crossing attack, before they reach rough terrain) I strongly advise to march on Lanchow and conquer the entire north (while executing diversionary operations in the south to tie down Chinese forces), which will open the way for complete subjugation of China.

[John 3rd]

I think it is now possible to contemplate taking all of northern China. Wouldn't mind gaining the oil and resources up there!

[John 3rd]

Operational Report
March 9-11, 1942

Turns have slowed the last few days due to my coming out to Manhattan, KS to see my Mom. She fell and broke her knee about a month ago, had a replacement, and isn't moving very well. Thought a little son support might be a good idea.

No major developments so I'll go around the regions for anything pertinent.

North Pacific
Umnak--Saw that the AF went to 5 so decided to Sweep it with my Daitai of Zeros. They did well shooting down 8 P-36 for only a single loss. Hit is againg the next day and found NO planes.

Got another small BF landing at Adak on the 11th. Have make sure enough support is present if I move more planes up there.

Central Pacific
Hawaii--Bill rotates his bombardments around my four bases and I am watching Kona and Hilo slowly approach operational status. If a Bombardment TF doesn't arrive a group of his 60+ 4EB are bound to arrive and pay the other bases a visit.

Just refuelled my two groups of 3 CVs and plan to move them back into a blockade position East and NE of Pearl. What will become KB-3 (Junyo and 3 CVL) should arrive at Midway in a couple of days. Four AO will meet them and refuel the TF. I detach Yamato to go on the Christmas so form a much stronger STF that will attempt to smash one of the Bombardment TF at Hilo in a few days.

MINES: Have a CM, an AMC, and 3 I-Boats sow a Minefield of 165 Mines at Kona. Of course the CM and AMC stay there during the day and get sunk...however...we'll see if the mines serve as a warning the Americans.

Pago Pago--I form a powerful STF of 3 BC and escorts and send them down to bombard Savaii and then--perhaps--Pago Pago. I keep spotting ships down there through my Air Search at Canton as well as SS attacks. Will pay them a visit...

South Pacific
No developments

Philippines
Order another attack at Bataan for the 12th.

Have got everything in Mindanao except that central base. My Inf Brigade is now present so we'll see if that is enough to get a surrender from the 6 units present there.

Australia
All 5 Tk Regiment move out from Wyndham heading for Katherine.

Sumatra
The last base in the interior is taken on the 10th. Nothing left of the Allied presense there now.

Christmas Isle IO falls on the 9th and the TF immediately loads for Cocos.

I form up a total of 3 TF carrying Inf to begin mopping up all the bases in the area: Denpasar, Kolaka, and Mataran are taken.

Burma
Shwebo falls on the 9th and my 38th ID and 2 Tk Reg move north towards Katha.

Have a very good air day on the 9th. A group of 11 Fulmar arrive over Shwebo and get crushed by 27 fighters. These planes are followed by 23 Blenheim and Hudson. They got creamed as well. Always nice to bleed the Allied AF!

Land at Akyab on the 11th and see my Inf Reg maul a Tank unit between Cox's Bizar and Akyab. Appears he was trying to reinforce these bases as 5 units just entered into the hex just NE of Cox's. In anticipation of some reaction, I divert the Imperial Guard to Akyab to see if we can get a favorable result.


Ooopps got to go for a minute will Post this and then finish with China, Economy, and SS.

EDIT: OK. Took care of Mom and now back to the program.

China
Bill is trying to flee Sian with his massed stack. Attack on the 11th and miss a 1-1 by a lousy 12 points! Still I massively disrupt the stack again. Will wait a day and then attack on the 13th. WANT TO FORCE A RETREAT HERE! It would be outstanding.

SS Action
3-10 I-170 sinks an AK by guns and Torps at Cold Bay
3-11 I-5 sinks an ACM NE of Lihue

Good ASW Day for the Allies on the 10th with Ro-67, I-164, I-166 all taking damage from attacks.

S-18 (damned S-Boats!) sinks an AK at Johnston.

Economy
Michael helped me get Tracker up and running for this game on the March 8th turn. Have loaded every day since then and am getting a good idea of things. Only major things of note was that I was running a pretty big deficit in Naval Points and have a HUGE surplus in Merchant Points. I slow some of the warship construction and accelerate every TK and AO in current production.

[seille]

The minute is over John [:D]

[John 3rd]

ORIGINAL: seille

The minute is over John [:D]

POSTED Mister!

[seille]

John,

If possible it would great to have a map. I´m very interested in Sian area.
In which terrain did you fight the big stack ? Direct at Sian ? In the clear hexes north from ?
What about the losses in your current 1-1 attack ? Do you use air support there ?

[John 3rd]

Here is China.

The troops coming down from Yenan are 5 Inf Brig and Regiments.

I've pushed the Chinese away North and NW of Suan.

You see the stack in Sian and I have two more Brigades coming up the road from the SE.

Right now 45 Bombers and 60 Fighters are hitting the AF and troops in Sian trying to keep the Forts down and slow his retreat. Supplies look OK. I am using the river to bring supplies in as far as possible.

[ny59giants]

Seille does not need any help in China. I'm dying a slow death here.

He does need help with his ASW as they have trouble hitting anything. [;)]

[John 3rd]

THAT is the Japanese lot in life!

[seille]

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

Seille does not need any help in China. I'm dying a slow death here.

He does need help with his ASW as they have trouble hitting anything. [;)]

1. I want to see the chinese dying much faster. Think i can always improve something there.

2. My ASW is a problem, but a real problem it will be after the US torps start exploding.

[seille]

ORIGINAL: John 3rd

Here is China.

The troops coming down from Yenan are 5 Inf Brig and Regiments.

I've pushed the Chinese away North and NW of Suan.

You see the stack in Sian and I have two more Brigades coming up the road from the SE.

Right now 45 Bombers and 60 Fighters are hitting the AF and troops in Sian trying to keep the Forts down and slow his retreat. Supplies look OK. I am using the river to bring supplies in as far as possible.

But a enemy stack with 42 units and your few brigades don´t go together for me. How much AV do you have overall in Sian? How much estimated your opponent ?
I hope you hit him hard and force him to retreat before he left the city. I´m probably the only one here, but i would like to see the combat log of your 1:1 attack in Sian a few turns ago.

more questions:
1. How do you use the river to bring supplies to Sian ?
2. You said you plan to capture the north of China. Want to go through the mountain terrain to Lanchow with the Sian troops ?

[Cap Mandrake]

One thing I have discovered in the Marianas scenario is how effective the suicide subs are in slowing down bombardment groups. I think fleet subs do the same but it seems they have to be spotted so subs in shallow hexes are much more effective.

Of course dedicated coastal guns help as do small patrol craft. I have even tried air groups in night attack setting. Mines would help too.

[John 3rd]

I tend to agree Mandrake. Those Midgets seem to take a little starch out of the TF. I've got mines going in on the east coast tonight so perhaps 200 there will help as well. Would love some CD but ain't go no...

As to landing supples I mean bringing it up the river and dropping it off in the Central China area. Seems to really help keep the troops at least somewhat supplied.

[John 3rd]

"Beware the Ideas of March!"

Michael and I were talking about how Bill was getting these CV planes into Hawaii without risk to his CVs. Well...I've got two groups of three now deployed with four more carriers leaving Midway this turn.

Had a hunch he would try to sneak something in and JACKPOT!

Hiryu, Soryu, and Zuikaku spot USS Yorktown attempting to shuttle aircraft into Hawaii. NOT! An afternoon strike of 23 Zero, 40 Vals and 24 Kate easily fight their way through 12 F4F and 6 F2A to attack. Yorktown takes SIX bombs and one Torp! The St. Louis gets 3 bombs and a DD (Perkins) is crippled by another.

There is no counterattack whatsoever and Tracker shows 34 Fighters lost (16 in A-t-A and 18 in Ops). We are cautiously optimistic...

BANZAI!

Not to be outdone, air search flying from Christmas Isle spots a Bombardment TF approaching and THIS time they are ready. A total of 21 Nell, 32 Kate, and 18 Val PLASTER a Cruiser Force SE of the Isle:

SUNK: CA Dorsetshire and CL Ceres
DAMAGED: CA Houston (2 Bombs), CL Leander (5 Bombs and 1TT), and CL Marblehead (1TT)

BANZAI! BANZAI!! BANZAI!!!

Let us go GET THEM on March 16th...

[Cribtop]

Banzai!

[John 3rd]

Sure is pretty. Now we just have to finish the job.

[seille]

Congratulations. I bet the Yorktown is gone.
Now destroy the bombardment group.

[John 3rd]

Operational Report
March 12-15, 1942

Bill and I haven't gotten too much done the 24 or so hours. I drove back from Manhattan, KS to La Salle yesterday while he fought off depression (Yorktown) and a Hurricane. Just got a communication from him that internet was down until just recently and so he is now working the follow-on turn after hitting Yorktown and the approaching Bombardment TF off Christmas Isle.

North Pacific
Very Calm.

Central Pacific
Having thought about events, I willing to bet that Bill was trying to fly more planes into Hawaii and was trying to 'time' my CV moves. I've had 3 CVs working NE of PH for a about 2 weeks and have generally left due east of Hilo open. His recon saw my CVs pass moving north two days ago and I'll wager he thought he could dart in a day, launch, and then retreat. OK. Plan would have worked if I had not sent my OTHER 3 CVs up to take station in this exact spot for blockade duty. This came as a very rude surprise to him. The CVs is crippled to say the least so we'll work to find and sink her tomorrow.

Ship Tally of the days of the report:
12th--1 AK
14th--2 AK
15th--AG with damage done to Yorktown, CL St. Louis, DD Perkins

I've gotten a few days off from the bombardments and have both Kona and Hilo operational for the moment. Mines are now at each location. Move in some actual BOMBERS in a highly optimistic mood. PERHAPS I can keep the AF open for a bit...

REINFORCEMENTS:
A. Naval: CV Junyo and 3 CVL refuel and depart Midway on the 15th. They head due east to thicken the cordon around Pearl. CV Shokaku and BB Yamato move SE of Midway heading for Christmas Isle. I left Shokaku's planes here and so she'll pick them up and then rejoin her sisters.
B. Land--Infantry: The Inf Divisions for Lihue are at sea and moving towards their objective. The landing will be at the end of the month. We'll see if 3 ID, an Inf Reg, and a Combat Command is enough for the job. Got to be ashore by April 1st!
C. Land--Base Force: A slew of BG is headed to improve my base work in the Line Islands, Midway, and Johnston.

Christmas Island
Action Already described earlier but CA Dorsetshire and CL Ceres are gone. Another CA and 2 CL are hit. Formed a STF of BB Ise, BC Kongo, 1 CL. and 6 DD to protect Christmas and CRUSH the Allied Ships if they continue in. Airpower will deal with any cripples...

South Pacific
I bombard Pago Pago and Savaii on the 14th for NOTHING! His CAs and CLs get nuclear results and my 14" Rifles get CRAP! Breath in--Breath out...Breath in--Breath out...I'm OK now. It is this bombardment that probably makes him feel comfortable taking a crack at Christmas the following day.

Philippines
I have two Brigades that were resting in Manila now feeling better. They head for Bataan to lend weight to a--hoped for--FINAL attack.

Mindanao is now all mine except for the base in the Center. I have 4 Naval Guards just arrived at Tokyo and they are now loading to add 240 Assault Points to this attack.

Australia
My Armored Regiments are now moving rapidly east towards Katherine and points east.

DEI
Mopping Up: Mataram (3-12), Makassar (3-13), Batjam (3/15), Kendari (3/15)

Cocos Island
JACKPOT! I land at Christmas Isle IO and easily take that base and then move towards Cocos. Air Search picks up shipping nearby so I shed the 2 CAs that were imbedded in the TF to go hunting. They do WELL! The Heavy Cruisers sinks a large Tanker, small Tanker, 4 AK, and 2 AKL. My landing at the objective occurs on 2-13 and I find THIRTY-ONE LCU present that had been evacuated from the DEI. WOW!

Immediately load the Inf Reg back on the TF and divert a full Inf Div near Batavia to take the base and destroy these units. BBs Fuso and Yamashiro with 4 CA move straight to Batavia. The Fuso, 2 CA, 4 DD depart on the 14th to bombard the target. A similar TF leaves on the 15th for the same job. I WANT THESE LCUs!

For Cover I have CVE Taiyo (9 Zero and 18 Kate) plus 2 CS. They will project some aerial help.

Burma
Having grabbed Cox's Bizar a few days ago, I work to continue the effort of APPEARING to threaten India by grabbing Akyab on the 12th. Bill reacts as hoped by sending the 254th/255th Tank Brig (and another Tk unit) that drives my Inf Reg out of Cox's Bizar. I flee the site and head for Akayb! What he doesn't know is that Imperial Guards (fresh from Singapore) just unloaded at Akyab. I will allow them to enter the hex and then CRUSH them! We'll drive on Cox's Bizar again at that point to try and draw more units into the fight. We'll shot to hold Akyab only and move BF and Engineers there.

38th ID and two TK Reg are just a hex from Katha up north.

China
My noble opponent is trying desperately to leave Sian. I've got 2 Bomber Sentai hitting the AF and 2 more hitting his troops. I've got the 5 Inf Reg/Brigades coming down the road from Yenan as well as two more Brigades coming over from Loyang. The 14th see a Deliberate Attack that nets a 1-1 (1264-790) and lowers Forts to ZERO! Do the same attack on the 15th, get the 1-1 (897-805), and decide to rest the boys for two days before a--hopefully--final Shock Attack scheduled fro the 17th.

SS ACTION
Lose Ro-61 to ASW at Lihue. She limped halfway to Johnston before sinking.

I-164 HITS CV Indomitable with TWO Torps six hexes from Columbo on the 14th! WOW! Ahhhhh...did I mention that BOTH were DUDS. CRAAAAAPPPPP! At least I know where one of the Brit CVs is. Have concerns about Cocos so will be careful there. Don't want to hand the Brits a victory at this time.

Engineering:
3-14 Finschhafen AF-2
3-15 Christmas Isle AF-5