Princep Bolton rose ponderously from his lofty perch, sword in hand. Recently cleaned and polished, the sword glimmered in the light. Before him knelt a handsome, if somewhat battered, young man in grey and black with white highlites. On his tunic was the image of a great sea kraken lunging at a floundering ship of war. His helm rested under his arm and his fair haired head was bowed. The room, though filled to overflowing with all the members of the forum, was utterly silent.
Bolton lifted the gleamming sword and lightly touched it to the young man's right shoulder. He proclaimed, " I, PrincepBolton, dub ye, Greyjoy of the Iron Isles, a knight of Dreadfort. No more will you be called anything other than Ser Greyjoy of Dreadfort. You shall have all the rights of noble knighthood and enjoy the new lands I have bequeathed to you and your future heirs. Arise great warrior and rejoice with your peers and people".
The great room burst into tumultous cheers for the conqueror of the Kuriles. It was duly noted that princepBolton smiled and then steered his new knight to a great table occupied by the best ladies, heaped high with the bounty of empire and served by the most fetching of wenches.
And a good time was had by all.
My sword is yours My Lord. My Sword, my crippled body, and my faithfull soul[&o]
now i beg you to tell to Damon-Dance-With-Me to stop watching at me with that nasty smile...makes me feel unconfortable
Having about 100 CAP up over a convoy can be a deterrant or make it expensive to try.
Well it they won't stop the KB, but it will keep those long range Betty's at bay and will allow you to take more direct routes. Between those the LBA, you should have few problems except the KB
My CVEs, all togheder, have nearly 400 fighters and 150 Torpedo Bombers...not that they can compete with the KB but i bet that a couple of fishes into the stomache of a jap CV in the middle of the ocean isn't something Rader would like to see...
And, anyway, once my CVs are free...my plan is to use my CVs in a distant escort role...moving in parallell with the convoys but being closer to Jap's perimeter...
In a week we'll leave the North...and we'll get back with more forces within 40 days[8D]
I was mistaken. Got another bloody nose.... 1-2 back again...and 1 unit destroyed...the 209th combat eng BN is no more....[:o]...i need the guys from the sky to support my advance...if not i will never be able to break through....
However not only bad news today. Finally we started to arras his barges at Shortland and at Hakkodate...not exactly a total victory but some bastards are now food for fishes
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Shortlands at 109,131, Range 9,000 Yards
Japanese Ships
E Sado
E Amakusa, Shell hits 5, and is sunk
E Awaji, Shell hits 18, heavy fires, heavy damage
LB-102, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
LB-103
LB-104
LB-105
LB-107
LB-108
LB-109
LB-110
LB-111
LB-112
LB-119
LB-121
LB-135
LB-501
LB-162
LB-165
PB Nikki Maru, Shell hits 1
PB Uchide Maru, Shell hits 2, on fire
LB-227
LB-228
SC CHa-12
SC CHa-58
Allied Ships
CL Richmond
DD Walke
DD Blue
DD Helm, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Jarvis
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Shortlands at 109,131, Range 8,000 Yards
Japanese Ships
E Sado, Shell hits 7, heavy fires, heavy damage
E Awaji, Shell hits 9, and is sunk
LB-103
LB-104, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
LB-105, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
LB-107
LB-108
LB-109
LB-110
LB-111
LB-112
LB-119, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
LB-121
LB-135, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
LB-501, Shell hits 1, heavy damage
LB-162, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
LB-165
PB Nikki Maru, Shell hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage
PB Uchide Maru, Shell hits 1, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
LB-227, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
LB-228, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
SC CHa-12
SC CHa-58, Shell hits 3, and is sunk
Japanese ground losses:
497 casualties reported
Squads: 16 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 34 destroyed, 9 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 27 (27 destroyed, 0 disabled)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Shortlands at 109,131, Range 3,000 Yards
Japanese Ships
E Sado, Shell hits 14, and is sunk
LB-103, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
LB-107, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
LB-108, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
LB-109, Shell hits 2, and is sunk
LB-110, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
LB-111, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
LB-112, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
LB-121, Shell hits 2, and is sunk
LB-501, and is sunk
LB-165, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
PB Nikki Maru, Shell hits 2, and is sunk
SC CHa-12, Shell hits 2, and is sunk
Japanese ground losses:
1450 casualties reported
Squads: 38 destroyed, 39 disabled
Non Combat: 69 destroyed, 25 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 16 (16 destroyed, 0 disabled)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Hakodate at 119,53, Range 4,000 Yards
Japanese Ships
LB-5008
LB-5011
LB-5012
LB-5013
LB-5014
LB-5015
LB-214
LB-219
LB-220, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
LB-221
LB-222
LB-557
LB-558
LB-559
LB-561
LB-562
LB-563, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
LB-564, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
LB-1201
LB-1202
LB-1203
LB-1204
LB-1209
LB-1212, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
LB-1213
LB-1214
LB-1215
LB-1216, Shell hits 1, heavy damage
LB-1218, Shell hits 2, and is sunk
LB-1219, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
LB-1220, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
Allied Ships
DD Stephen Potter
DD Halsey Powell
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Time Surface Combat, near Hakodate at 119,53, Range 3,000 Yards
Japanese Ships
LB-5008
LB-5011, Shell hits 10, and is sunk
LB-5013, Shell hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
LB-5014, Shell hits 13, and is sunk
LB-5015, Shell hits 3
LB-214, Shell hits 2, and is sunk
LB-219
LB-221
LB-222
LB-557, Shell hits 3, on fire
LB-558, Shell hits 2
LB-559, Shell hits 9, heavy fires, heavy damage
LB-561
LB-562
LB-1201, Shell hits 2, on fire
LB-1202, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
LB-1203
LB-1204, Shell hits 1
LB-1209, Shell hits 3, heavy fires
LB-1213, Shell hits 2, and is sunk
LB-1214, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
LB-1215, Shell hits 3, and is sunk
Allied Ships
PT-257
PT-279
PT-282, Shell hits 1, heavy fires
Japanese ground losses:
6026 casualties reported
Squads: 67 destroyed, 291 disabled
Non Combat: 40 destroyed, 47 disabled
Engineers: 7 destroyed, 54 disabled
Guns lost 63 (20 destroyed, 43 disabled)
Vehicles lost 6 (1 destroyed, 5 disabled)
Units destroyed 2
Allied ground losses:
4248 casualties reported
Squads: 24 destroyed, 287 disabled
Non Combat: 67 destroyed, 104 disabled
Engineers: 91 destroyed, 46 disabled
Guns lost 82 (3 destroyed, 79 disabled)
Vehicles lost 127 (17 destroyed, 110 disabled)
Units destroyed 1
Assaulting units:
18th Combat Engineer Regiment
32nd Infantry Division
5th USMC Tank Battalion
632nd Tank Destroyer Battalion
38th Infantry Division
43rd Infantry Division
7th Infantry Division
193rd Tank Battalion
93rd Infantry Division
754th Tank Battalion
8th Indian Division
41st Infantry Division
9th Australian Division
XIV Corps Artillery
Eighth US Army
10th USMC Field Artillery Battalion
33rd Medium Regiment
148th Field Artillery Battalion
181st Field Artillery Regiment
XXI Indian Corps
Defending units:
81st Division
57th Depot Division
I/19th Naval Guard Unit
III/84th Naval Guard Unit
77th Division
51st Depot Division
56th Depot Division
1st Mobile Brigade
4th Depot Division
2nd Amphibious Bde /1
43rd Ind.Mixed Brigade
86th Division
Guards Depot Division
II./4th Infantry Battalion
2nd Depot Division
11th Div /1
5th Area Army
Is there any practical limit on the IJN's ability to produce barges?
Possible to run him out or need to constantly interdict the straight to prevent infinite barges from moving across?
I will try to devote more efforts in barge killing now. Won't use my air force cause he still has the total air control of the air space over Ominato...but my PTs and my DDs, now that some mines are gone, should do a decent job. And, while doing that, i'll keep on pushing on the contested hex.
To lose an Combat eng unit is a PITA...never thought i could have a unit vaporized...have to use my LCU more wisely...
Anyway, my divisions are in a decent shape again. Most of them are between 80 and 90% of their combat strenght so i think, with all the new fresh units comin in, i'll be able to do that.
My bombers will hit again tomorrow...let's see how much damage i can take.
P-47s will sweep and Corsairs will escort and LRCAP
My CVs are ready to be dismissed from the theatre...in 2 days we'll leave...
Another surface offensive ordered for tomorrow, both against Bouganville (Shortland, Torokina and Buka) and against Hakkodate. Let's see what we get
Curious to see if he is moving EVERYTHING to the HI. I wonder if there are many planes in the Solomons or the DEI any more. Are you seeing any air activity?
Today I come bearing an olive branch in one hand, and the freedom fighter's gun in the other. Do not let the olive branch fall from my hand. I repeat, do not let the olive branch fall from my hand. - Yasser Arafat Speech to UN General Assembly
Another surface offensive ordered for tomorrow, both against Bouganville (Shortland, Torokina and Buka) and against Hakkodate. Let's see what we get
Curious to see if he is moving EVERYTHING to the HI. I wonder if there are many planes in the Solomons or the DEI any more. Are you seeing any air activity?
In the Solomons he has something like 200 fighters and 200 bombers. in the DEI nothing i can see directly...but i bet he's taking a strategic reserve somewhere...
However i'm pretty sure, for what concerns the air force, he has moved the 90% of it back to the HI...
We're also slowly replacing our best fighters committed in the secondary theatres in order to give to the front line squadrons (those based in NOPAC) a better ride.
Don't wanna see no more P-39s or P-40s up there!
Now an important choice i have to take...how to organize our supply convoys to Okkaido...
Here's the problem:
I have to leave in the area enough strenght not to weaken my defences, but at the same time i have to make at least 800 ships to get back to the US in a safe trip.
I don't care about subs...i have more than enough DEs and PFs to keep my fleet secure...
I care about the KB...
Here's what i think i'm doing:
Air TF built around CV Wasp II, and 280 planes strong will move to Addak Island, escorting a TF with 300k supplies and 200k fuel.
At the same time several TFs, composed of 750 transport ships will move, escorted by 20 CVEs (360 fighters and 180 TBs) and towards Addak.
My CVs will cover this movement and will join the WaspII TF at Addak. There the Yorktown class CVs will proceed towards Seattle in order to take their upgrades, while the rest of the CVs will escort the supply convoy towards Okkaido.
My 800 ships will load at Seattle 3 Divisions and several support units, along with 200 fighters and 2,000,000 supplies.
With their CVE escort they'll get back to Addak and there they will meet the CVs again and will move to Okkaido.
The idea is to always keep the CVs close enough to NOPAC and to use the CVEs for the long trip....
He will surely be able to committ the KB...but i have a strong and impenetrable shield of subs and picket TFs from Tarawa up to Okkaido...he won't pass through unseen....
Why send the Yorktowns out of theatre for AA upgrades? You don't want to be be sending any valuable ships away for upgrade at this critical time in the game!
Air TF built around CV Wasp II, and 280 planes strong will move to Addak Island, escorting a TF with 300k supplies and 200k fuel.
At the same time several TFs, composed of 750 transport ships will move, escorted by 20 CVEs (360 fighters and 180 TBs) and towards Addak.
My CVs will cover this movement and will join the WaspII TF at Addak. There the Yorktown class CVs will proceed towards Seattle in order to take their upgrades, while the rest of the CVs will escort the supply convoy towards Okkaido. My 800 ships will load at Seattle 3 Divisions and several support units, along with 200 fighters and 2,000,000 supplies.With their CVE escort they'll get back to Addak and there they will meet the CVs again and will move to Okkaido.
With your airpower & fresh troops, it won't take you too long to clear that roadblock - he's going to lose about a Division a day (in effectiveness).
With respect to closing the barge-bridge, PTs & low-altitude airstrikes are going to be key, along with mass attacks against the port facilities.
I believe Rader is overestimating the abilities of the troops he's moving into the theater & underestimating the capabilities of 1944 Allied troops (especially the armor). I don't think he has a prayer of stopping you from securing the entire island within the next few weeks.
The flip side of this is those Depot divisions will eventually get better if they see enough combat (like the chinese) so you don't want to get bogged down and let him set up trench warfare where he can train up his depot divisions.
Very true. It's important to kill them off or at the very least destroy most of their squads.
Why send the Yorktowns out of theatre for AA upgrades? You don't want to be be sending any valuable ships away for upgrade at this critical time in the game!
What are your thoughts on seeking out the KB and going toe to toe with it? You should have a ton of carriers and modern fighters, hopefully with high exp....
Life is tough. The sooner you realize that, the easier it will be.
April 21 22 1944
I have only seen the reply...Rader sent me the wrong turn file...but i can tell you that it's been a bloody terrible turn for the allies.
At first, in the solomons, we plastered Nazaeb (north of Lae) without any opposition.
Then we sent 5 CLs and 25 DDs, divided in 4 TFs to sweep and bomb everything between Buka, Torokina and Shortland. We killed a lot of PBs, xAKLs and MTs and few empty barges, but CL Detroit ate 2 sub torps and another DD got hit by a torpedo shot by an MT....the poor Detroit has eaten till now during the war 6 torps and 5 bombs...and she's always afloat [:)]...hope this isn't the last time!
Then at Okkaido, we sent more than 400 bombers, preceded by 100 P-47s and escorted by 80 fighters to plaster the enemy in the contested hex north of Hakkodate...but Lord, he had placed more than 500 fighters on LRCAP!!!.... losses were terrible and i fear i'll have to shift some of my squadrons back to training...[:(]
However our bombers in two days made more than 3500 casualities...and its combat AV has now dropped to 1500...while we have more than 4300 in the hex...time to attack back again!
Now the op Suddenly Hairy is almost over. After 1 month since our first landing we got more than what we expected...and it's time to stgart thinking about the next operation. In the GJ HQ generals are still debating wheater to call it "Hypertrichosis" or "Hirsute"...but we're at work nonetheless[;)]
Why send the Yorktowns out of theatre for AA upgrades? You don't want to be be sending any valuable ships away for upgrade at this critical time in the game!
I know...but i need those upgrades! They can be decisive in a CV battle!...and i don't think in the next months i'll have more "windows" open for this kind of job to be done...
Why send the Yorktowns out of theatre for AA upgrades? You don't want to be be sending any valuable ships away for upgrade at this critical time in the game!
I know...but i need those upgrades! They can be decisive in a CV battle!...and i don't think in the next months i'll have more "windows" open for this kind of job to be done...
Now when the KB may pop up anywhere at any time and theres a chance for an "accidental" CV vs. CV and LBA-involved battle, dont you think its probably more decisive to actually have those CVs there than to have them there a month late with a couple of % better AA armament... [;)][:'(]
Why send the Yorktowns out of theatre for AA upgrades? You don't want to be be sending any valuable ships away for upgrade at this critical time in the game!
I know...but i need those upgrades! They can be decisive in a CV battle!...and i don't think in the next months i'll have more "windows" open for this kind of job to be done...
Now when the KB may pop up anywhere at any time and theres a chance for an "accidental" CV vs. CV and LBA-involved battle, dont you think its probably more decisive to actually have those CVs there than to have them there a month late with a couple of % better AA armament... [;)][:'(]
mmmmmmmmm.............ok, you made up my mind folks! Mo CVs will be sent to drydocks!
I will only send the horrible Illustrious Class CV that i have....she has no radar and a capacity of 33 planes...she will get Radars and 54 planes...think this one is worth to be sent
