Racing the Sunrise: RA 4.0 --The Allied side

[khyberbill]

They will either be trailing KB or meeting up North or Northwest of Hawaii. If I were a betting man, I would think that KB is heading towards Midway to meet up with the Midway invasion. And is hooking around Hawaii to bag any BB's heading back to WC for repair or supply ships. I ultimately had to send supplies via Hiva Oa to Oz to avoid his rampaging CVs.

[hades1001]

sry wrong thread

[AdmNelson]

ORIGINAL: khyberbill

They will either be trailing KB or meeting up North or Northwest of Hawaii. If I were a betting man, I would think that KB is heading towards Midway to meet up with the Midway invasion. And is hooking around Hawaii to bag any BB's heading back to WC for repair or supply ships. I ultimately had to send supplies via Hiva Oa to Oz to avoid his rampaging CVs.

On a straight line it would take the KB 4 days to reach Midway. That take the KB between Johnson Island and PH. Midway Invasion force looks as if it is maybe three days out. BBs are staying at PH. They didn't take alot of damage in the first day strike.

[AdmNelson]

We are making changes to RA4.0 so there will be a restart. I will update some of where we were.

Dec 17

Palembang invasion begins-- Imperial Army Division 4 lands
KB2 blasting ships in Batavia and Java Sea
Dili falls --Lautern fell last turn
More surface action in the Soloman Sea with Allied and Imperial CLs
Hong Kong Falls

Dec 18

Palembang falls
KB3 shows up in the Soloman Sea. I didn't see this at all. I was monitoring KB1 South and East of Pearl. Lexington is all right this day.

Dec19

Lexington sunk as it makes it run to leave the Soloman Sea. 3 other CAs and 2 CLs sunk as well in separte TFs trying to leave the Soloman Sea.

Dec 20-- Last turn before restart

Midway-- Invasion force lead by CA Kinugasa in a bombardment Tf is engaged by the CA New Orleans and CA San Francisco. In the battle the CL St. Louis is sunk. The Kinugasa does not bombard Midway. This follows in a day engagement

Day Time Surface Combat, near Kure Island at 156,91, Range 19,000 Yards

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
F1M2 Pete: 1 destroyed

Japanese Ships
CA Aoba, Shell hits 42, and is sunk DD Kikuzuki
DD Oite, Shell hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Hayate, Shell hits 15, and is sunk PB Toshi Maru #3, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
PB Tama Maru #8, Shell hits 3, and is sunk PB Shonon Maru #15, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
PB Takunan Maru #2, Shell hits 2, and is sunk AMC Kinryu Maru, Shell hits 7, on fire, heavy damage
AMC Kongo Maru, Shell hits 13, on fire
xAK Hokkai Maru, Shell hits 14, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Kunitu Maru, Shell hits 15, and is sunk xAK Ryunan Maru, Shell hits 17, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Kazan Maru, Shell hits 13, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Eizan Maru, Shell hits 17, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Yae Maru, Shell hits 27, and is sunk xAK Daihachikyo Maru, Shell hits 10, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Daijukyo Maru, Shell hits 9, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Hokuzyu Maru, Shell hits 5, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAKL Konsan Maru, Shell hits 10, and is sunk
Allied Ships
CA New Orleans
CA San Francisco, Shell hits 1
CL Helena, Shell hits 2, heavy fires
DD Bagley
DD Blue, Shell hits 1
DD Helm, Shell hits 2, on fire
DD Mugford, Shell hits 1
DD Ralph Talbot, Shell hits 4, on fire
DD Henley, Shell hits 2

Japanese ground losses:
3261 casualties reported
Squads: 72 destroyed, 64 disabled
Non Combat: 99 destroyed, 81 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 1 disabled
Guns lost 111 (57 destroyed, 54 disabled)

This doesn't quite make up for the loss of Lexington, but it was fun to watch

[AdmNelson]

Since there will be a restart I need to start plannning again.

Overall Japanes moves first game

KB1 with 4 carriers hit Pearl Harbor and KB2 with 2 carriers hit Manilia all on turn 1-- MKB was around Minando on turn one.

Japanese landings -- two para drops on turn one Sorong and Terante

Over the 14 days of the game. Japanese landings
Banda Sea area--were at Ambon and Lautern and Dili with a landing on the last turn at Koepang
Miri
Singkawang and Palembang

Not to many landings but does give an idea of overall thoughts by John. Not sure if I have missed anything. I think he was planning on isolating Northern OZ quickly. Plus with just the Singkawamg and Palembang, I think he was going hit Java quickly The Rabaul landing was disrupted and the Midway landing destroyed. I cannot count on either of those two happening again

My thoughts are John will not change plans as much as modify them. So Midway will be a target, Rabaul will see carriers from IJN. How to combat them is a big question.

[AdmNelson]

We are away with the restart. Turn sent to John. Will await the new Japanese attacks. Plans will be adjusted after seing opening moves.

First turn Only Allied TFs at sea can move no air transfers--- Japanese can attack more than one port, but only from carriers.

First turn TF moves--

Lexington will be sent west towards OZ away from Pogo. Enterprise will move south away from KB if attacking Pearl Harbor

Force "Z" sent to Singkawang first turn with return to Batavia along with the two CLs at Palembang.

Penscola at Manilia sent to Legaspi with return to Cagayan-- Both Houston and Boise high tailing to Balikapapan.

Turn 2 will be the usual --EVERYTHING MOVES AND RUNS

[AdmNelson]

Haven't update in awhile. We are on Dec 16

Wake Island, Singkawang,Ternate, Kavening have all fallen as have some of the northern bases in ythe Philippines.

Cotabato, Butuan, and Dadjanges have falllen to isolate Cagayan where I have the 40+ P-40s and 20 B-17s.

Two groups of A-24s are at Batavia as well as the PBYs from the Philippines.

Allied ships lost of note
CA Penscola --at Legispi Dec 8
CLs--Marblehead, Maritius, and Adelaide

Japanese ships lost of note--FOG
CVL Zuiho not sure about this Dec 15 Battle of the Western Java Sea
BB Kongo not this either-- Fleet battle of Singkawang "Z" Foce with the BB Fuso, Shell hits 2
BB Yamashiro, Shell hits 16, heavy fires, heavy damage Dec 12
CL Abukuma



CVL Shoho, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage plus this---Fuel storage explosion on CVL Shoho Love to see that
CVL Zuiho, Torpedo hits 2, heavy damage

IJN Carriers Soryu and Hiryu plus MKB IN the Western Java Sea.
KB sighted Dec 14th south and west of Midway by PBYs at long range

[denisonh]

What were the losses on your strike on the Jap CVLs? What was the cost in a/c and pilots?

My experience has been I expend about 2/3 of the a/c in losses and net nothing (40-50 fighters lost at least with 70 of 130 A/c gone and another 30 damaged) against a 3 CV equivalent. You got some leakers. Any good tactical advice for getting through the Japanese ubercap with buffaloes, stringbags and PBYs?

ORIGINAL: AdmNelson

Haven't update in awhile. We are on Dec 16

Wake Island, Singkawang,Ternate, Kavening have all fallen as have some of the northern bases in ythe Philippines.

Cotabato, Butuan, and Dadjanges have falllen to isolate Cagayan where I have the 40+ P-40s and 20 B-17s.

Two groups of A-24s are at Batavia as well as the PBYs from the Philippines.

Allied ships lost of note
CA Penscola --at Legispi Dec 8
CLs--Marblehead, Maritius, and Adelaide

Japanese ships lost of note--FOG
CVL Zuiho not sure about this Dec 15 Battle of the Western Java Sea
BB Kongo not this either-- Fleet battle of Singkawang "Z" Foce with the BB Fuso, Shell hits 2
BB Yamashiro, Shell hits 16, heavy fires, heavy damage Dec 12
CL Abukuma



CVL Shoho, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage plus this---Fuel storage explosion on CVL Shoho Love to see that
CVL Zuiho, Torpedo hits 2, heavy damage

IJN Carriers Soryu and Hiryu plus MKB IN the Western Java Sea.
KB sighted Dec 14th south and west of Midway by PBYs at long range

[AdmNelson]

Central Pacific--Moving the 34th combat eng from Pearl to Midway plus a sq of SBDs. This will give me a AV of 100 plus more engineers to dig in with. PBYs will be transporting since I don't have enough Aps and I am concerned about the KB.

South Pacific--Lexington is in the Coral Sea and the Enterprise is moving in support of the Lexington.
I plan on making the Rabaul landings difficult for the Japanese until the KB comes in range if it does.
Baseforce has already landed at Noumea.

Austrailia-- 1st AUS Div is in Townsville and the 2nd, plus the 3rd are headed to Alice Springs. When I can I will send as much as I can to Port Morseby particularly as many CD guns as possible-- two CD regs of 34 6" guns should help.

DEI-- Houston and Boise are now raiders. In Batavia is most of the Mayala Air Force with A-24s and PBYs from the Philippines. Two plus british brigades are moving to Cocos Island. The Malaya Air force will transfer there when Java is about to fall

[AdmNelson]

ORIGINAL: denisonh

What were the losses on your strike on the Jap CVLs? What was the cost in a/c and pilots?

My experience has been I expend about 2/3 of the a/c in losses and net nothing (40-50 fighters lost at least with 70 of 130 A/c gone and another 30 damaged) against a 3 CV equivalent. You got some leakers. Any good tactical advice for getting through the Japanese ubercap with buffaloes, stringbags and PBYs?

ORIGINAL: AdmNelson

Haven't update in awhile. We are on Dec 16

Wake Island, Singkawang,Ternate, Kavening have all fallen as have some of the northern bases in ythe Philippines.

Cotabato, Butuan, and Dadjanges have falllen to isolate Cagayan where I have the 40+ P-40s and 20 B-17s.

Two groups of A-24s are at Batavia as well as the PBYs from the Philippines.

Allied ships lost of note
CA Penscola --at Legispi Dec 8
CLs--Marblehead, Maritius, and Adelaide

Japanese ships lost of note--FOG
CVL Zuiho not sure about this Dec 15 Battle of the Western Java Sea
BB Kongo not this either-- Fleet battle of Singkawang "Z" Foce with the BB Fuso, Shell hits 2
BB Yamashiro, Shell hits 16, heavy fires, heavy damage Dec 12
CL Abukuma



CVL Shoho, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage plus this---Fuel storage explosion on CVL Shoho Love to see that
CVL Zuiho, Torpedo hits 2, heavy damage

IJN Carriers Soryu and Hiryu plus MKB IN the Western Java Sea.
KB sighted Dec 14th south and west of Midway by PBYs at long range

Right about 50% --His carriers have been flying sorties every day for 8 days runing -- I would guess that there is fatigue setting in

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 60

Allied aircraft
Vildebeest III x 10
75A-7 Hawk x 11
PBY-4 Catalina x 12


No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Vildebeest III: 7 destroyed
75A-7 Hawk: 4 destroyed
PBY-4 Catalina: 2 destroyed, 2 damaged

Japanese Ships
CVL Shoho, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
CVL Zuiho, Torpedo hits 2, heavy damage

[denisonh]

I think the 8 days running missions CAP may be the key, my opponents have not gone that deep for that long, so never accounted for that. I think you timed it right.

Well done. The question is what harm did you actually do? The fact you had leakers that potentially damaged CVLs is definitely a psychological impact. Will read with interest.

ORIGINAL: AdmNelson

ORIGINAL: denisonh

What were the losses on your strike on the Jap CVLs? What was the cost in a/c and pilots?

My experience has been I expend about 2/3 of the a/c in losses and net nothing (40-50 fighters lost at least with 70 of 130 A/c gone and another 30 damaged) against a 3 CV equivalent. You got some leakers. Any good tactical advice for getting through the Japanese ubercap with buffaloes, stringbags and PBYs?

ORIGINAL: AdmNelson

Haven't update in awhile. We are on Dec 16

Wake Island, Singkawang,Ternate, Kavening have all fallen as have some of the northern bases in ythe Philippines.

Cotabato, Butuan, and Dadjanges have falllen to isolate Cagayan where I have the 40+ P-40s and 20 B-17s.

Two groups of A-24s are at Batavia as well as the PBYs from the Philippines.

Allied ships lost of note
CA Penscola --at Legispi Dec 8
CLs--Marblehead, Maritius, and Adelaide

Japanese ships lost of note--FOG
CVL Zuiho not sure about this Dec 15 Battle of the Western Java Sea
BB Kongo not this either-- Fleet battle of Singkawang "Z" Foce with the BB Fuso, Shell hits 2
BB Yamashiro, Shell hits 16, heavy fires, heavy damage Dec 12
CL Abukuma



CVL Shoho, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage plus this---Fuel storage explosion on CVL Shoho Love to see that
CVL Zuiho, Torpedo hits 2, heavy damage

IJN Carriers Soryu and Hiryu plus MKB IN the Western Java Sea.
KB sighted Dec 14th south and west of Midway by PBYs at long range

Right about 50% --His carriers have been flying sorties every day for 8 days runing -- I would guess that there is fatigue setting in

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 60

Allied aircraft
Vildebeest III x 10
75A-7 Hawk x 11
PBY-4 Catalina x 12


No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Vildebeest III: 7 destroyed
75A-7 Hawk: 4 destroyed
PBY-4 Catalina: 2 destroyed, 2 damaged

Japanese Ships
CVL Shoho, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
CVL Zuiho, Torpedo hits 2, heavy damage

[AdmNelson]

ORIGINAL: denisonh

What were the losses on your strike on the Jap CVLs? What was the cost in a/c and pilots?

My experience has been I expend about 2/3 of the a/c in losses and net nothing (40-50 fighters lost at least with 70 of 130 A/c gone and another 30 damaged) against a 3 CV equivalent. You got some leakers. Any good tactical advice for getting through the Japanese ubercap with buffaloes, stringbags and PBYs?

I set all the aircraft at Batavia to be in the ML-KMIL command with Tinker as commander. He is 73 Air 60 admin and 67 agress. I am trying to kept as many air units as possibe in the same command as possible. In Sinapore to start the air units are between the RAF 223 and 224. It cost OPs to change, but I am seeing if this is going to gain some better results.

I don't think I quite answer your question denisonh, But now in Batavia are all the buffaloes and Malaya bombers, we will see if they can go against the Soryu and Hiryu.

[denisonh]

Actually, you have. Never looked at the commands assigned. Food for thought.

Look forward to the next round.[:)]

ORIGINAL: AdmNelson

ORIGINAL: denisonh

What were the losses on your strike on the Jap CVLs? What was the cost in a/c and pilots?

My experience has been I expend about 2/3 of the a/c in losses and net nothing (40-50 fighters lost at least with 70 of 130 A/c gone and another 30 damaged) against a 3 CV equivalent. You got some leakers. Any good tactical advice for getting through the Japanese ubercap with buffaloes, stringbags and PBYs?

I set all the aircraft at Batavia to be in the ML-KMIL command with Tinker as commander. He is 73 Air 60 admin and 67 agress. I am trying to kept as many air units as possibe in the same command as possible. In Sinapore to start the air units are between the RAF 223 and 224. It cost OPs to change, but I am seeing if this is going to gain some better results.

I don't think I quite answer your question denisonh, But now in Batavia are all the buffaloes and Malaya bombers, we will see if they can go against the Soryu and Hiryu.

[AdmNelson]

I am sure one one of the CVLS is sunk or will not make it back-- The Shoho had an fuel explosion.

John's note to me was "have to adjust plans" --psychological impact works for me.

[denisonh]

The Doolittle raid worked the psychological angle in RL. Certainly has an impact.........

ORIGINAL: AdmNelson

I am sure one one of the CVLS is sunk or will not make it back-- The Shoho had an fuel explosion.

John's note to me was "have to adjust plans" --psychological impact works for me.

[AdmNelson]

ORIGINAL: denisonh

The Doolittle raid worked the psychological angle in RL. Certainly has an impact.........

ORIGINAL: AdmNelson

I am sure one one of the CVLS is sunk or will not make it back-- The Shoho had an fuel explosion.

John's note to me was "have to adjust plans" --psychological impact works for me.

And maybe both CVLs will go down and the impact grows.

[AdmNelson]

Quiet Day-- Japanese needs medication from the stress.

Western DEI--Air battles with the IJN carriers continues-
A6M2 Zero x 39
VS
Allied aircraft
Buffalo I x 21
Vildebeest III x 8 ( 4 made thru cap)
PBY-4 Catalina x 18 (6 made thru cap)
No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Buffalo I: 3 destroyed
Vildebeest III: 5 destroyed, 1 damaged
PBY-4 Catalina: 1 destroyed, 5 damaged
PBY-4 Catalina: 1 destroyed by flak

Japanese Ships
CV Soryu Miss here with torpedos
CV Hiryu Miss here also with Torpedos
CVL Ryujo Sister ships Zuiho and Shoho seam to be missing MKB is now KB2 plus one

Palembang invasion is now on-- 4th Inf Div ashore
Mines help here
CL Kitakami, Mine hits 1
DD Hagikaze, Mine hits 1, heavy damage
xAK Daigen Maru, Mine hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

All other fronts pretty quiet this turn -- Scary

[AdmNelson]

Dec 21

Palembang has fallen

KB1 near Midway and invasion fleet spotted.
KB2 still near Singkawang
CVE Hosho, Torpedo hits 1 -- South of Soerabaja by PBYs

Central Pacific-- All DMs have left for Austrailia to lay mines at Port Moresby
Midway has 80AV and 2 SBDs sq

Banda Sea-- Lexington has moved from Coral sea into to attack invasion forces at Ambom. This should catch John off guard

Dec 22 should have some fire works

[AdmNelson]

Dec 22

Banda Sea--

Lexington finds some transports

Japanese Ships Round 1

xAK Bisan Maru, Bomb hits 4, and is sunk
xAK Kuraido Maru, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Nishimi Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
xAK Naniwa Maru, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Daifuku Maru, Bomb hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage

Japanese ground losses:
793 casualties reported
Squads: 13 destroyed, 20 disabled
Non Combat: 19 destroyed, 18 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled


Japanese Ships-- Round 2
xAK Kuraido Maru, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
xAK Naniwa Maru, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk

Japanese ground losses:
867 casualties reported
Squads: 11 destroyed, 34 disabled
Non Combat: 26 destroyed, 44 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 1 disabled
Guns lost 2 (2 destroyed, 0 disabled)


Lexington now will move forward to take out as many transports as possible



Houston TF to move to Kendari to attack landing force

[AdmNelson]

Dec 23

KB1 and KB2 a long way from the Banda Sea. KB2 will have to move past Soerabaja where the Dutch and Malaya Air Forces are if it wants to engage the Lexington. Probably 4 days away from the Banda Sea.

CVE Hoshu and what looks like two CSs have a surprise coming and it is not the Lexington.

Central Pacific -- can expect the Midway landings in two more days. SBDs set to range 3