Hailstones, and Lotus Blossoms -Admiral Mitscher(A) vs Richard III(J)

[Admiral Mitscher]

ORIGINAL: zuluhour

allow time for wrist cramps

Yes the right wrist, and my eyes that are giving problems, I need my ex-office assistant back I do. [:D]

[Admiral Mitscher]

Just an update on my game against Rich; we are going to do a restart of the game, and in Vanilla Scen 1. The reason is that we both overlooked the withdrawal option, me in the agreed HR's, settings, and options txt. Then Rich overlooked the No Withdrawals setting on the actual game set-up, and you guessed it, it was set to NO.

So we are starting again, and Rich is just finalizing the settings and options. I will the check them, and he will then work up the first turn. I will probably then have the write up for the first turn in two weeks maybe. Sorry about the break in my AAR, but I will make it upto you, by learning how to do and post screenshots. [;)]

[Admiral Mitscher]

Update to Thoughts on Strategy.

Malaya, Borneo: I think from reading some of the current JFB’s AARs; that it would appear that the Mersing landing gambit is back in vogue. There could then be the distinct possibility of Rich landing a division sized force at Mersing, in the first few days.

This will offcourse force me to change my plan, for withdrawing the 2 Australian infantry brigades. I will now have both these brigades at Mersing as soon as possible, to cover any early landing. This is a damn shame, as I had planned to redeploy these 2 units to Burma. But my thinking is that it is better for the overall situation in Burma, to hold Singapore for as long as possible.

My original plans for the deployment of airpower in Malaya will stay the same, as I was always going the redeploy my ‘Stringbags’ and ‘Beasties’ back on Singapore. The Problem here would be fighter escort for my naval attack, and ground attack aircraft. Because he would at the very least have a LRCAP from Kota Bharu, with some possibility of a carrier.

I will still have Force Z rebased at Batavia, which is within two days steaming of Mersing. But I will watch to see if Rich deploys a carrier to cover any operation at Mersing. As there is no good reason to throw away these valuable ships for no good purpose. If a carrier was present, I would look at CL, DD, and MTB sweeps of his landing convoys.

Elsewhere my strategy will remain the same, with offcourse some flexibility to react to Rich’s early moves. But one little side operation I tried, I will not repeat in this restart. That is a raid by the 3 Hong Kong DD's on the Port at Samah, as Rich had a strong covering SCTF present there.

Marc.

[zuluhour]

first turn in two weeks maybe

Lets see....a turn every two weeks......war goes to August '45.......18,690 days later......Ill be 102 years old!!!!![X(]

[Admiral Mitscher]

ORIGINAL: zuluhour

first turn in two weeks maybe

Lets see....a turn every two weeks......war goes to August '45.......18,690 days later......Ill be 102 years old!!!!![X(]

No no.... two weeks for Rich's part of the turn, the two weeks for my part, so a full game turn will take a month. A good well thought-out slow game, that will take around two centenaries to complete. [:D]

[CaptBeefheart]

Damn, this is starting to get metaphysical. Will medical technology keep pace to allow us to see this one out?

Cheers,
CC

[zuluhour]

[:D]

[Admiral Mitscher]

The 208 Years war. [;)]

[Admiral Mitscher]

Day 1, December 7th, 1941.

The war has begun with Rich launching a sneaky morning air-raid with his main carrier force, on my main Pacific base at Pearl Harbor. He has also attacked my forces in the Philippines and Malaya, with land-based aircraft raids from his bases in Thailand and on Formosa. While he has landed troops on Batan Island in the Formosa strait, and along the eastern coast of Malaya as far south as my airbase at Kota Bharu. There were also air-raids by Japanese land based aircraft against Changsha, Chengchow, Hong Kong, Nanchang and Changsha in China.

Thought-out the day there has been extensive reconnaissance aircraft over-flights of my bases in China, Malaya and the Philippines. Enemy reconnaissance aircraft have also been detected in northern Borneo and southern Burma, so I must surmise that Rich has operations planned in these areas.

Pearl Harbor.
The Pearl Harbor raid was the most damaging raid overall, with a DD, DM, SS, and a PT boat being sunk. But there will be some more sinking’s in the days to come for sure, with 8 BB, 2 CA, and a CL receiving damage and flooding from multiple bomb and torpedo hits.
The airfields around Pearl Harbor were also hit by enemy carrier borne dive bombers, and number of aircraft were destroyed and damaged, along with damage to the runways and airfield buildings. Rich lost only 4 dive bomber and 4 torpedo bombers in the raid and returning to the carriers.

Morning Air attack on Pearl Harbor , at 180,107
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Raid detected at 113 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 42 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 52
B5N2 Kate x 90
D3A1 Val x 101
Allied aircraft
no flights
Japanese aircraft losses
B5N2 Kate: 4 damaged
D3A1 Val: 5 damaged
D3A1 Val: 1 destroyed by flak
Allied aircraft losses
PBY-5 Catalina: 68 damaged
PBY-5 Catalina: 3 destroyed on ground
R3D-2: 4 damaged
B-17E Fortress: 6 damaged
B-18A Bolo: 20 damaged
B-18A Bolo: 2 destroyed on ground
P-40B Warhawk: 13 damaged
P-40B Warhawk: 2 destroyed on ground
B-17D Fortress: 17 damaged
B-17D Fortress: 2 destroyed on ground
SBD-1 Dauntless: 15 damaged
SBD-1 Dauntless: 1 destroyed on ground
C-33: 2 damaged
A-20A Havoc: 16 damaged
O-47A: 5 damaged
O-47A: 2 destroyed on ground
P-36A Mohawk: 6 damaged
P-36A Mohawk: 1 destroyed on ground
F4F-3 Wildcat: 1 damaged
Allied Ships
BB Maryland, Bomb hits 5, Torpedo hits 1, heavy fires
BB Nevada, Bomb hits 3, Torpedo hits 2, on fire
DM Sicard, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
PT-22, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
BB Pennsylvania, Bomb hits 2, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
BB Arizona, Bomb hits 2, Torpedo hits 3, heavy damage
BB West Virginia, Bomb hits 2, on fire
BB Oklahoma, Bomb hits 1, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
BB Tennessee, Bomb hits 3, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
CA San Francisco, Bomb hits 2, Torpedo hits 2
DM Breese, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires
BB California, Bomb hits 1, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
CL Honolulu, Torpedo hits 1
DD Helm, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
CA New Orleans, Torpedo hits 2, on fire
CL Phoenix, Bomb hits 1
Allied ground losses:
13 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Repair Shipyard hits 2
Airbase hits 19
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 27
Port hits 14
Port fuel hits 6
Port supply hits 1

As you can see overall it is not too bad of a result for me, and my air power is still intact, especially my fighter forces. My hunch is that he will strike again tomorrow for effect, and even though I dread losing more ships. I know it will cost him in aircraft and aircrew big time, if he does strike again. So over night I took the precaution of sending 3 task forces of undamaged CA’s, CL’s and DDs away to the south to mitigate the damage to my fleet.

Meanwhile my 2 air combat task forces that are operating from Pearl Harbor are in the process of clearing the area for the time being. The Lexington task force will be about halfway between Midway and Wake Islands in the morning. Lexington will fly on the Wildcats currently based on Wake, she will then head well to the north of Midway. While the Enterprise task force will be just to the south Johnston Island, and will continue on to Pago Pago.

Philippines.
There were air raids by Japanese LBA from Formosa on my airbases at Iba, Clark Field, and Manila, but here again I seem to have got off lightly, with the damage and aircraft losses again low. So in the Philippines my fighter forces are also basically intact, and when Rich attacks again tomorrow he will suffer.

[zuluhour]

I hope they cancel training and shore leave for the P40 fighter jocks at Pearl Admiral.

[Admiral Mitscher]

ORIGINAL: zuluhour

I hope they cancel training and shore leave for the P40 fighter jocks at Pearl Admiral.

All leave is cancelled with all pilots are on deck, set on 50% CAP and staggered between 18000 and 15000 feet. With all fingers crossed, as I know he will probably strike again tomorrow. But I am confident that my AA, and fighters will make him pay heavily in airframes this time.

Marc.

[zuluhour]

My God man! Wheres the turn? I especially like the first three weeks and read every AAR for December '41.

[Admiral Mitscher]

Day 2, December 8th, 1941.

Central Pacific Area.

No repeat airstrike on Pearl Harbor by KB, and today’s air search reveals the enemy carrier force steaming away to the west. This is a surprise to me, as I was sure Rich would strike again at Pearl Harbor for effect. But more importantly it means that KB’s air groups are only down a few aircraft (10 I think), and I would have gladly traded a battleship, or two for 20 to 40 of KB’s aircraft and Pilots.

One of my SCTF’s that had left Pearl Harbor overnight ran into trouble after the CA Minneapolis took 2 torpedoes from an enemy submarine in the morning. With the CA heavily damaged this force was unable to clear the area, before being spotted by KB’s morning air search. In the air strikes that followed, the CA and 3 destroyers (Blue, Cassin, and Mugford) were sunk and 2 destroyers (Phelps, and Ralph Talbot) were heavily damaged.

All the damaged ships at Pearl Harbor are now under repair, and I am confident can be saved. That is apart from the BB California, which still has some fires burning (35), and therefore cannot have the flooding (94) pumped out yet . So there is a distinct possibility that the California could sink overnight, but still considering the number of torpedo and 600kg bomb hits on battleship row, I have got off lightly.

Meanwhile most of the damage to the airfield and port infrastructure at Pearl Harbor has repaired, and is now down to 23 port damage, 22 airfield service damage, and 0 airfield runway damage. Most of the aircraft have also been repaired, with only 7 fighters, 3 divebombers, 8 level bombers, and 6 patrol, reconnaissance, and patrol aircraft remaining in a damaged condition. There are now 143 modern fighters, 13 heavy bombers, and 26 PBY patrol aircraft available for action. Also 26 more PBY patrol aircraft have been deployed to the out-laying sentinel Islands, to beef –up their air search.

Southwest Pacific Area.

Today 10 USAAF B-17D Fortress heavy bombers launched a raid on the Jap port at Babeldaob from Mindanao, causing only a few (9) casualties to the enemy. The B-17s Forts were intercepted by 3 enemy Claude fighters, that were patrolling over the target. These enemy fighters managed to damage 3 of my Forts, and unfortunately 1 of these was destroyed when landing back at their airfield at Cagayan.

Meanwhile on Luzon, Rich launched air raids on Clark Field again from his airfields on Formosa. These raids began with a fighter sweep by 20 of his Zero land based naval fighters, which resulted in the loss of 9 of my P-40B and P-40E fighters for the loss of only 1 his Zero. Then there was a raid by 40+ Betty medium bombers, escorted by 25+ Zero fighters on the airfield destroyed an aircraft, while bringing the damage up to 30 service, and 50 runway. This last raid cost the enemy no aircraft, as none of my fighters were available to intercept it.

I had the fighter squadron of 20 P-35A’s based at Clark Field set on naval attack, at 4000 feet. They launched a raid on a Jap convoy off Cagayan Island, in the Formosa Strait, managing 1 100lb bomb hit on a Jap cargo Maru. But unfortunately there were 3 enemy Zero fighters patrolling over this convoy, and the Jap fighters managed to down 2 of my P-35A’s.

One of my evacuation convoys of cargo and service ships that left Manila overnight was attacked by Jap Kate carrier aircraft off Busuanga Island in the afternoon. These aircraft are from a Jap CVL which is operating to the east of Legaspi, and they sunk 3 cargo ships (Ethel Edwards, Tantalus, and Capillo) with their torpedoes.

There was also the reported signing of a Jap CV off the Northern Coast of Borneo near Brunei by a Dutch flying boat. Don’t know whether to believe this report or not, but have beefed-up the air search in the area tomorrow.

Rich has mined Bataan at the exit of Manila Harbor and 2 of my SS’s (Seadragon, and Seal) were damaged by mines as they were leaving Manila to deploy onto their war patrols. These 2 large fleet boats will have to return to Manila to stabilize their flooding, and enough temporary repairs that they travel to Pearl Harbor.

Also Rich took Aparri on the Northern Luzon Coast today, by a landing with naval parachute troops. My guess is that he will land by sea, or fly in an airfield unit in the next few days. So that he can base his fighters there, to protect amphibious troop landings on Northern Luzon.

Southeast Asia Area.

Heavy air raids by Jap land-base Army Air Force aircraft based in Indochina, continued today on my airfields in Northern Malaya, and my troop positions defending Kota Bharu. The raids against the RAF fields resulted in damage to the runways at Alor Star, Georgetown, and Kota Bharu. But there was no loss of Commonwealth aircraft, as all equipment from these RAF stations have been evacuated to Southern Malaya.

There were casualties to my ground units defending Kota Bharu, as the Jap aircraft struck in support of their troops assaulting the town. Then the expected Jap ground assaults were held (1 to 1) today by the defending British and Indian units, but at very heavy loss (120 to 789).

China Area.

Jap aircraft attacked Hong Kong in 3 raids, with one on the airfield, and 2 more on the Hong Kong Fortress. The raid on the airfield caused damage to the runway (9), while the raids on the Hong Kong Fortress inflicted over 50 casualties. Also several Jap ground units have been spotted moving on the Colony from the north.

There were also 2 air raids on the Chinese airfield at Changsha, which caused damage to the runway (26), and the loss of 1 Russian built medium bomber on the ground. Elsewhere in China, there does not seem to be any significant Jap troop movements at present.

[zuluhour]

I did not notice what version you are playing, are you using the Beta?

[Admiral Mitscher]

ORIGINAL: zuluhour

I did not notice what version you are playing, are you using the Beta?

We are using Beta 1108r6, which was current when we started. Also we agreed to keep-up with the patch releases. so I guess we will update when we get thought these big early turns. I could never have played a pbem grand campaign on an old official release, no with all these swell attributes that Michaelm has added. [&o][&o][&o]

[Admiral Mitscher]

Day 3, December 9th, 1941.

Central Pacific Area.

The DD Ralph Talbot sadly sinks to the west of Pearl Harbor, when the flooding becomes too much for her pumps to handle. But the other damaged DD, Phelps is in much better shape, and will make Pearl Harbor the day after tomorrow. I will take the precaution of sending a DD escort to meet Phelps tomorrow, as the sea approaches around Pearl Harbor are lousy with Jap Subs. I have also deployed 3 ASW task forces out of Pearl Harbor, to try and suppress the Jap Subs still in the area.

My air search out of both Pearl Harbor and Johnston Atoll has tracked KB well to the west of the Hawaiian Islands heading toward the Marshall’s and Wake Island areas. KB’s CAP unfortunately accounted for 2 of my shadowing PBY’s today, but I will have to bear these losses, as I need to track the Jap carriers for as long as possible. Also because the Jap Carrier force only appears to be steaming at 16knots, I am assuming that their replenishment force is in tow.

Rich makes his first amphibious move in the Pacific area, with a landing on Nauru Island in the Gilbert Islands. A Jap naval infantry battalion was landed from a transport convoy, supported by the old cruiser Tokiwa and 2 old destroyers. The Jap naval infantry easily overwhelmed the small Australian force defending the Island, and secured the Island later in the day.

Southwest Pacific Area.

A small Jap naval landing force appeared of the Dutch base at Sorong on the north eastern tip of New Guinea today, and stared to put naval infantry ashore. I expect that when the enemy assault the town tomorrow, they will take it easily. As it is only defended by a Dutch service unit, which contains no trained infantry.

This morning a large enemy naval transport force began landing troops and tanks, at San Fernando on the north western coast of Luzon. I had a Pilipino infantry division posted in this town, but had ordered it to withdraw south yesterday. So hopefully it is clear of the town by tomorrow, when I expect Rich to assault it. As I think he is landing at least an infantry brigade, and maybe even a division, which is supported by tanks.

Two of my fleet submarines Sargo and Swordfish, which have been deployed from Manila on their war-patrols into the Pacific. Decided while passing Laoag to come inshore and investigate a large Jap convoy there. Both submarines were immediately detected in the shallow waters, by a large number of enemy escort vessels. Then in the heavy death charge attacks that followed, both my fleet boats were heavily damaged.

My USN torpedo-patrol boat squadron from Manila, which I have deployed to Iba to patrol between Vigan and San Fernando, was off Vigan when it spotted a large Jap convoy. When it closed to investigate this convoy, the PT boats were driven off by heavy gunfire from a large escort. The PT boat squadron then ran south to San Fernando, were another enemy transport convoy was sighted. Because this Jap included a light cruiser and 4 modern destroyers, the PT boat squadron then withdraw to Iba.

In the air over Luzon Rich launched only 2 fighter sweeps on Clark Field today, with a total force of 16 naval Zero fighters being involved. These 2 sweeps cost me 2 of my P-40E fighters, for no known loss to the enemy. Also over Luzon I had 5 PBY bomb equipped flying boats, escorted by 8 P-40B fighters attack the enemy shipping off San Fernando. But unfortunately even after the escort lost 1 P-40B fighter while holding off the Jap Zero Cap, the PBY’s were unable to get any bomb hits in the heavy rain.

Southeast Asia Area.

My defending forces were driven out of Kota Bharu on the east coast of Malaya today, by a Jap shock attack. This action caused very heavy losses to my units (1513), while costing Rich very few casualties (65) at all. With most of the infantry of the 8th Indian brigade being either destroyed, or disabled. There is no movement of Jap troops, from their landings at Singora toward Alor Star yet, which makes me believe that Rich is going to land south at Kuantan and maybe even Mersing. I am evacuating Kuantan, which I think is undefendable, but are reinforcing Mersing, which I have to hold to protect my LOC with the north.

Rich put medium bomber raids in on the airfields and ground units at Alor Star, Georgetown, and Kota Bharu today. With only the raid over Kota Bharu having a fighter escort, I might have a reception for one of his east coast raids tomorrow. As I still have a squadron of RAAF Buffalos still based at Taiping, which for some reason he hasn’t raided yet.

A Jap Submarine fired 4 torpedoes at my minelayer Kung Wo off Billiton early this morning, luckily all the torpedoes missed. Then the gunboat/survey ship HMS Herald which was escorting the minelayer, managed to hold the enemy sub down while Kung Wo escaped. The Minelayer and her escort were steaming to Batavia from Mersing, after laying a defensive minefield there.


China Area.

The only activity in China today was in the air, with air raids on airfields and ground units at Hong Kong, Changsha, and Wuchow. There will be a reception over Changsha tomorrow if Rich’s JAAF pays a visit, as the 2nd squadron of AVG arrived today.

[Admiral Mitscher]

Day 4, December 10th, 1941.

Central Pacific Area.

A major incident last night approximately 400miles west of Palmyra Atoll, when one of the large Jap I-boats manages to get into position to fire an 8 torpedo spread at USS Enterprise. Luckily only 1 of the torpedoes strikes the carrier, and the resulting damage is not too critical. But Enterprise has major system damage and flooding, needs repair yard time, and is a long way from those yards. So I will have to nurse her back to the US west coast, as Pearl Harbor is still surrounded by Jap Submarines.

Also just to compound matters, this morning’s air search sights KB only 2 days full speed steaming away to the north of Big E’s current position. So there is always the possibility that Rich could send KB or one division of KB south to sweep for my damaged carrier. So this possibility defiantly rules out returning directly to Pearl Harbor, and forces me into steaming due south for one day. Normally with a vessel, with the level of damage and flooding that Big-E is carrying. I would reduce the task force’s speed to cruise, to reduce the chance of further flooding. But with the proximity of KB to the north, Enterprise will have to continue at mission speed.

Southwest Pacific Area.

3 KMIL Do-24K-1 flying boats and 4 RAAF Hudson I medium bombers attack the ships of a small Jap convoy off Sarong today with some success. Whereas the Hudson’s which attacked at 1000 feet had no 250Ib bomb hits, the Do-24’s attacking at 2000feet scored 9 300Ib bomb hits. One Jap AK was hit 5 times and reported to have sunk, while another AK took 4 hits, badly damaging and putting the ship on fire.

I must thank the master ‘tc464’, for the idea of using the Dutch Do-24Ks in the naval attack role. Ted and I have been exchanging PM’s since I began this AAR, and has he supplied me with some excellent advice. So it was Ted that explained to me to try them on nav attack, and what was the best altitude.

A massacre today in the Sulu and northern Celebes Seas, when the Jap carrier I suspect was there materialises just north of Brunei. Also my guess that it is Kaga (since confirmed by Rich), because of the size of the strikes and the presence of Val’s (25Kates and 22Vals).

Unfortunately the pickings were good for Kaga’s aircraft, as I had routed the evacuation convoys from Manila to the west, because of the Jap CVL off Legaspi. The cost today from Kaga’s air groups was 2 TK’s, 2 AK.s, 6 AKL’s, a AS and 2 AM’s, with another, 2 AKL’s, a AS and a AM badly damaged.

One of the Manila PT boat squadron’s strike at Rich’s landing convoy off San Fernando at daybreak, and manages to sink a DMS, but at the cost of 3 PT boats.

[tc464]

Those Do-24's have been an excellent tool for me as well. If you keep them away from Jap air cover and do a fighting retreat, you can really pester your opponent in the opening days all the way from Malaya to Koepang. Those 300 kg bombs really do a number on Jap cargo ships. Just ask Mike Solli [:D]

[Admiral Mitscher]

Just a quick update....

I am going to concentration on pbem game against Rich solely, and let this AAR slip for a few weeks . I am finding there is a lot more planning and turn-time in playing a human opponent, than there was against the AI . Also it is becoming clear that Rich is an awesome opponent , and I need to put all my spare-time and energy into the game. But I will restart the AAR when things cool down, and I have my strategic and reinforcement planning done .

Marc.