Scott versus Kaleun. Major Victory!

[obvert]

You seem to be doing very well. It's interesting that the IJN has used their carriers in separate TFs, not applying dominant force. Makes for an interesting game for sure, but I keep wondering how the masses of surface ships near Koepang are not getting hit by what is left of the KB? Maybe he's gunshy after the Solomons battles?

Anyway, you've gotten a good foothold in the Solomons as well as keeping Timor for now. Looking good for the Allied side.

[kaleun]

Thanks Obvert.
Some of the secret of this good results is that early on, I managed to score a few good punches that delayed Japan's expansion enough that, when he finally made it to the Solomons, I was ready to counterattack.
To keep KB together does allow for Nippon to apply massive force wherever he is but also means that the allies are free to raid wherever it is not.
Anyway, thanks for reading.

[kaleun]

October 27th 42

Finally, the time that Nimitz, Mitscher, and the whole ComSPac were waiting for has arrived. Vice Admiral Mitscher sails from Pearl with Wasp and Hornet. The task force sets a course for Canton Island at a leisurely 13 knots. There is no rush, no need to stress the ship’s machinery. The transports will take their time in arriving at the rendezvous point; in any case, they have just begun loading the 1st Marine Division at Luganville. The coverage force led by CA Quincy and SFCO heads for the rendezvous point too.

It is said that in the business of war, the same trick does not work twice, or thrice, or four times. The Imperial Japanese Navy felt compelled to support its doomed troops at Koepang. Rather than admitting defeat, it tried once more to reinforce and resupply them. The allies had not been idle since the Japanese began this harassment technique. The 56th Coastal artillery, recently arrived from Noumea, had nevertheless the time needed to zero in their guns. CA Aoba took 4 hits, Suzuya 13, Mikuma 17, Haguro 5, DD Akebono 9, Kagero 4 and Tokisukaze one. Later in the day, Mikuna took 3 more hits, Mogami e and Haguro another 4.

Later in the day, the allied attack caused 1300 casualties among the demoralized invaders.

[1275psi]

This game feels a lot like the one I am playing against bbbf, him as allies. You have a tremendous foothold north end of PNG, and at Koepang, a drive straight towards Davao is worth a thought, too many places for Japan to cover now the crust is broken

A good, consice AAR, from what sounds like a good game!

[kaleun]

Thanks 1275.
The game is now less than a month behind game time. Operation Flying Lantern will launch on November 1st when the assets will be assembled. At the same time, preparations are made for Operation Guinea Fowl and two smaller follow up ops on Flying Lantern.
I must wait until Guinea Fowl is completed before continuing the AAR. (Hopefully within the next week or two)

[kaleun]

October 30 1942
US submarines, operating in Japanese waters, obtain some successes and sink a couple of cargo ships right on Tojo’s backyard.

November 1st 1942

Operation Flying Lantern’s assets are all in place or as nearly so as makes no difference. Tomorrow, the three task forces will start to advance against the enemy island.

[kaleun]

November 2nd
The last enemy forces in Koepang destroyed. The battle for Timor is officially over.

Australian forces for operation Guinea Fowl arrive at Port Moresby.

In Darwin, a small sail ship flying the Swedish standard enters the harbor. The small wooden ship winds its way through the crowded anchorage. The harbor master looks in amazement as a fat white man steps out of the craft.

“Hi there old boy,” the newcomer says.

“VanAllen,” the harbor master says, surprise in his voice, “I thought you were killed when the Japs sunk your ship.”

“I survived, like most of my crew. I now trade in this relic and since my mother was a Swede, I put a Swedish flag on her; the yellow buggers seem to ignore me most of the time.”

“What brings you here?”

“I come to deliver a message. Do you know that little island, right north of the entrance to Soerabaja? Well, there is a little Dutch garrison there, has been mostly ignored by the yellow bastards; they’ve been busy subduing Soerabaja and now they are chasing the Soerabaja garrison around the island.

In any case, back to the little island. The garrison there is out of supplies, they have ammunition, but they’ve been eating taro roots for months. They could use some supplies from you guys.”

“And you are just the man to take it to them.”

“God forbid,” VanAllen said, “I trade only with the natives.”

In the evening, two submarines, loaded with supplies leave Darwin to investigate that little island and their Dutch garrison.

[kaleun]

November 5th

The allied coverage force, CA Quincy, San Francisco, CL Mauritius and escorts bombard Tarawa. The First Marine Division lands on the island as a single H4 Mavis flies overhead. As the Marines approach the landing beaches, 66 SBD 3 dive bombers roar overhead. The Marines cheer as the Dauntless dive on the enemy positions and drop their ordnance on their targets. Under the onslaught of the dive bombers, the defenders, later identified as the 53 Naval Guards are too busy to interfere with the Marines who land and overwhelm the defenders. Tarawa falls. The total allied loses are 69.

In the Andaman Sea, enemy carrier airplanes attack shipping at Sabang. The few Hurricanes that rise to defend the task force are quickly swept away by the enemy Zero fighters. The results are predictable:
DE Sutlej sunk by 5 bomb hits. DD Barker 1 bomb hit, CL Birmingham takes 4 bomb and one torpedo hit. 5 AKs and AKLs sunk.

The second wave brings 24 D3A1 dive bombers. Birmingham is the center of attention and sinks after 7 direct bomb hits; Barker follows her to the bottom after 2 strikes.

[kaleun]

November 6th 42

The British effort in Northern Sumatra stalls at Langsa where the 2nd British Division, the 22 E African Brigade and the 16th British Brigade are forced to withdraw towards Sabang.

Naval Intelligence confirmed today that the enemy carriers Akagi, Soryu, Junyo, Hiyo, Zuiho and Shoho, as well as the super battleship Yamato sunk during or as a result of the September carrier battle off the Solomons.

November 8th 42

CV Formidable arrives at Pearl. The Admiralty has been demanding the return of the stricken carrier to support British naval efforts on the Atlantic. The fact that, with a damage of 59 to flotation and 33 to the engine spaces it is no more than a barge doesn’t keep Mr. Winston Churchill from docking all kinds of political points every day. This is even more unfair because the Royal Navy refuses to take the ship with the damage it has. The carrier will enter dry dock to be fixed up before its transit to San Francisco.

“It might have been better to scuttle her in the Indian Ocean,” Nimitz was heard to say.

In Tarawa, their mission accomplished, the 1st Marines re-embark on their transports. They will return to Espiritu Santo and await their next mission.

[kaleun]

November 10th 42

The first Marine Division finished loading at Tarawa and returns to Luganville. At the same time the Marines leave, VP51 arrives at the island. The seaplane base is now operational with eleven Catalinas searching the seas for enemy activity, and their pesky subs.

VMSB 142 equipped with SBD3s arrived at Shortlands, Its first order of business will be to attack Rabaul in the morning.

In Luganville a new operation is hatched: Ocean Flower. It will involve the 2nd Marine Raider battalion, and the 138 USA Base force. They begin loading into their transports. Their objective: Nauru Island.
Mischer’s carriers will wait for the Marines midway between Espiritu Santo and Ocean Is. and escort them all the way there.

The 3rd Marine Division and the 22nd Marine Regiment begin preparations for Operation Tropical Jasmine; the target, at this time, is classified.

[kaleun]

November 11th 42

The airfield at Shortlands mounts its first operation. 16 SBDs with 22 F4F-4 escorting attack Rabaul harbor. 9 Zeros intercept. One dive bomber lost and 5 damaged. Target bomb assessment shows no effect.

In Koepang, the 27th Infantry Division, originally loaned to the Australians for the defense of Timor, its mission accomplished, begins loading on transports to return to Darwin. From there, the plan is to return them to Luganville or Noumea, to refit and replenish prior to the next offensive.

[kaleun]

November 12th 42

Continued sweeps on Rabaul precede the air raids by the dive bombers out of Shortlands.

CV Formidable continues her repairs at Pearl. Her systems are down to 2 damage, flotation shows a 57 major damage and the engine damage is at 33.

In the PIs the Japanese find that at Cebu the Philippine garrison holds out against them much longer and harder than they expected.

November 13th, 42

Japanese recon seaplanes spot the invasion fleet for operation Ocean Flowers. The 1st Marine Division returning from Tarawa unloads at Espiritu Santo.

In Sidney, the details for Operation Guinea Fowl are finalized. The objective is to free New Guinea of the remaining Japanese garrisons. It will consist of two waves. The first wave, with the 30th Australian Brigade, the 2nd Heavy AA and the 20th RAAF base force will land and occupy Lae. Shortly thereafter, the second wave will land the 2/4 infantry coy at Lae, 2/7th at Finschafen and 2/8 at Salamaua. The 30th brigade will be available to assist the Finschafen and Salamaua invasions if needed.

[kaleun]

Operation Guinea Fowl. 1st Wave.

[kaleun]

November 14th 1942
15 Marine SBDs, escorted by 7 F4F4 and 7 P40 attack the airfield at Rabaul. The enemy scrambled 20 Zeros. In the ensuing battle, a single Zero was destroyed for a loss of one F4F and one P40. All the bombers got through, however the flack was heavy and accurate with 4 dive bombers lost and 4 damaged.

November 15th
CV Formidable, SD 2/FD 56/ Eng 33 abandons the dry dock at Pearl. She will transit to San Francisco prior to being withdrawn out of theater.

At the small island of Nauru, TF 68 CA Quincy flag, bombards the small. The 2nd Marines raider battalion and the 138th USA Base force disembark and capture the ungarrisoned island.

Mitscher orders his carriers to Espiritu Santo for fuel and supplies.

[kaleun]

November 16th 42

Wars are concerned more with housekeeping than battles. The most important events today were Task force #30, a transport TF taking the 143 and 140th USA Base forces to Darwin. From there they will redeploy at Koepang/Dili and expand those airfields to base heavy bombers there. The enemy ports in Celebes: Makassar and Kendari will then come under heavy bomber attack. The same task force will pick up the US 27th Division that will be returned to SWPAC command.

In Port Moresby, the first phase of Operation Guinea Fowl commences. The 20th RAAF base force, 30 Australian brigade and 2nd Australian heavy AA load into their transports to set out for Lae.
The 2nd phase awaits the return of those same transports. The 2nd RAAF M?W and 2/4 Infantry Coy will garrison Lae. 2/7 coy is to garrison Finschafen and 2/8 Salamaua. All of them will debark at Lae from where they will be transported to their respective destinations.

In Sidney, SCTF # 57: Oklahoma, Idaho, Mississippi, cruiser Pensacola and Vincennes under Rear Admiral Arden forms up to provide cover for Guinea Fowl.

The best laid plans of mice and men…

The pig boat was old, smelly, dirty and completely inadequate for tropical front line service, or any service, but as far as lieutenant commander Laing’s concern went, it was his boat, his first command and, adequate or not, he was taking her into combat.

She is on the surface at night, her batteries already charged. The eastern sky begins to lighten and soon the boat will submerge for another fruitless day of patrolling.

“Captain on the bridge!” One of the lookouts spotted something.

The skipper looks at the western horizon. Yes, there is something there, something big. Coming his way.
He cannot believe his eyes as a city rushes towards him, a bone in its teeth. His submarine, dwarfed by the enormity that’s coming towards him.

He sets up the shot. He cannot miss at this distance, or at this angle.

"Fire one! Fire two! Fire Three,
Dive! Dive! Dive!"

Three explosions shake the old boat.

“We got her!”

Then come the depth charges. The Japs are mighty pissed and want revenge.

Hours later, SS S-30 comes to periscope depth. The sea is empty.

“Have torpedoed Battleship Yamato, 3 torpedo hits. Sunk.”

SS-S-30 returns to the depths to complete its patrol.

In Pearl Harbor, the teletypes transcribe the contact report.

“Lazarus returning from the dead,” Nimitz says when he reads the report, “Good thing we killed him again.”

The irony of the comment is not lost on his aides.

Yamato was leading a bombardment force to harass the marines at Shortlands. Without the big battleship’s guns CA Maya, CL Kitakani and CL Nagara approach the base. In a duel with the coastal guns, Maya suffers 3 hits, Kitakani one and Nagara 2.

“Tell Arden to wait for Mitscher’s carriers before he commits the forces for Guinea Fowl,” Nimitz orders before retiring.

[kaleun]

November 17th 42

There is something strange, unusual, happening in the outskirts of Colombo. The sound of earthmoving machinery, concrete trucks, and shovels and picks is absent. The city’s fortifications, the location of frantic at first and steady building later are quiet.
The British command has decreed that, after achieving sixth level, there is no need to increase their strength any further as the IJN is not deemed capable of mounting an assault on the island anymore.

Far to the East, at Lunga in Guadalcanal, Major General Willis H. Hale looks on the busy harbor through his binoculars. Cargo ships unload a never ending stream of supplies, food, building materials, beans, guns, ammo; all the things that make war possible. He frowns a little seeing a different, never ending stream of small wooden boats, out of place in this military and naval outpost. They bring a different cargo and belong to a different people.
The natives, a group of men and women that have withstood the Japanese and the allies, like they did with the evangelical preachers that came before them. Like the coconuts on the beach, they let the hurricane winds blow over them, bending in the gale but, after it is over, remaining standing where stronger trees are but lumber on the sand.
Now they come bringing, in their pangas, fruit, coconuts, that supplement the GIs diet. The local trees have been stripped of their fruit long ago. Sometimes they bring a little information about what the enemy is doing, information that is never trustworthy and seldom timely. They also bring small black pigs; his mouth waters at the memory of the last squealer he ate not two days ago, at a luau with some other staff officers. They leave with cigarettes, beer and other stuff the soldiers are so good at liberating from his storage depots.

One of those Pangas is entering the harbor as he looks on. A little sturdier than usual, it sits low in the water, burdened by its load of pigs and, he notices, a white man in the center of the canoe.

He watches the native craft as it enters deeper into the anchorage. He sees the stout man sitting in the center of the boat, the tattered remnants of a naval shirt clinging to his chest.

“Truck me!” he says, amazed.
Then he runs to the pier.

“Admiral,” he salutes, “we thought you were dead.”

Admiral William ‘Bull’ Halsey stands up, leaning on a native crutch.
“The news of my death has been greatly exaggerated.”

“Tell me, how goes the war.”

[kaleun]

November 18 1942

The news spreads like wildfire. Halsey is back! After being blown out of his bridge by an enemy bomb, he drifted, unconscious, saved by his life jacket. He landed on a small island of the Solomon chain, with numerous scratches and a broken leg but otherwise not much worse for the wear. A native found him and dragged him to his village where the healer splinted his leg and attended to his wounds. When he was finally able to travel, he was transported from village to village, by canoe or panga, until they finally delivered him to the US Navy at Lunga.

His stay was brief, catching the first Catalina back to Luganville where he expected to resume his command of the US Navy’s only carrier task force.

At the northern tip of Sumatra, a world away, an air battle rages on for the control of the air. Eleven Oscars sweep and are met by 24 Hurricanes and 18 P40s. The aircraft dogfight for interminable minutes and, when all is said and done, and the machines retire, low in fuel and ammunition, one Oscar fails to return to the enemy. Throughout the morning, in dribs and drabs, enemy fighters come, are met and withdraw. Two more Oscars fall in flaming spirals to the ground, and two P40E are also lost.

And then, the surprise. A large strike is detected approaching. All the available fighters, ten Hurricanes and 8 P40Es scramble to find the sky filled with enemy machines. The allied fighters burn in to engage the enemy cover. Zeros! Twelve of them. Two zeros fall in flames to the allied machine guns as does a single Hurricane. The allied fighters splash two torpedo bombers and one Val. Unfortunately there are 12 more Kate and 25 more Vals that push through the CAP. Two AKs unloading at the harbor are struck, one 4 times and the other three. Fortunately no torpedoes find their targets.

The evening raid swats the fighters aside and the enemy Kate hit xAK Oregonian with two torpedoes. 42 Kate bomber attacked. The enemy lost one Zero fighter. 1 bomber and 14 were damaged.

[kaleun]

After a long delay, the war has advanced a little and we can resume.


November 19th 1942.

Halsey arrived at Luganville and stepped off the Catalina flying boat that brought him in. At the pier, a young ensign escorted him to a waiting Jeep and drove him to the SWPAC headquarters. As soon as he entered, and after the official courtesies had been exchanged, an officer handed him a sealed envelope. He knew, of course what the envelope’s content was. He had deciphered it himself.

From: COMPAC
To :Vice Adm William Halsey.

RE: Command of Carrier force 1

Upon receipt proceed soonest Pearl Harbor. Do not repeat not assume command of Carrier force 1. VAdm Mitscher to remain command Carrier force. End. Nimitz.

Since the signals officer had taken the precaution of ordering all enlisted men and junior officers out of the room prior to handing Halsey his orders, there were no other witnesses to the Admiral’s response, and he’s not telling.

Halsey looked out of the window, his hands clenched into fists. At the horizon, he saw what had to be ships approaching. He picked up a pair of binoculars and raised them to his eyes. Carriers, two of them and a slew of escorts. He put the binoculars down and stepped out of the office.

Hornet tied down to the pier late at night. Already, hoses fed aviation and bunker fuel to the thirsty carrier while a few aircraft were transferred on board to replace the few loses suffered on the recent campaign. Mitscher closed his sea bag and hid it behind his desk. He’d heard on the radio about Halsey’s reappearance and this was confirmed by blinkers when the task force approached the anchorage. He had no illusions about William Bull Halsey allowing him to continue in command of the carriers. The ship’s speakers announced the arrival of Adm Halsey on board. He stepped out on the quarterdeck.

Halsey exchanged salutes with his fellow admiral.

“The rumors of my demise have been wildly exaggerated,” he said.

“We were so happy to hear you were OK.”

“I came to wish you good luck,” Halsey said, “Nimitz wants me at Pearl, so there I go. Go hit them.”

And he turned around and went down the gangway.

Far away, in Colombo, the 18th British Division begins prepping for Sabang. When transports will be available is a different question.

[1275psi]

You are doing well!

yamato[:(][:(]

[kaleun]

November 20th 1942

The air battle over Sabang rages on. An enemy carrier task force appears in the vicinity and is promptly attacked by 5 Blenheims with eleven P40-E escorts. The enemy CAP of 2 Claudes and 5 A6M2 destroys 5 P-40s and damages 2 bombers; 5 Blenheims attack CV Shokaku and miss. Carrier aircraft from Shokaku and its consorts attack shipping at Sabang. The old Battleship Valiant falls to 4 torpedoes and 9 bimbs; other ships are also in for punishment. DD Vendetta 1 bomb, DD Banckert 2, and the transports did worse: xAK Montgomery sinks after 10 bomb strikes, xAK Toendjek sinks from a single torpedo, xAK Harper falls to three enemy bombs.


Later, 4 Blenheims and 6 Hurricanes find the carriers and barrel in through 2 Zeros to attack CVL Ryujo and miss. An unescorted flight of 3 Blenheims finds Zuikaku and attacks missing again


A later Japanese attack further damages the ships in harbor and DD Vendetta is ordered scuttled.