Racing the Sunrise: RA 4.0--Japanese Side

[aztez]

Your opponent is way over his head on this one... odd decisions and to be honest don't think he will ever make an comeback even in later years.

[John 3rd]

Getting stranger...

[John 3rd]

May 31, 1942
Battle off Enggano--Day 5

Just don't know how to describe watching these turns. Another excellent day for the Japanese:

My little STF of CL Sendai and 2 DD encounter picket DD USS Balch and sink her during the night.

Morning Air Patrol shows that the Allied CV TF CLOSES the range and positions itself a few hexes from Sumatra. Distance is just far enough away from the Japanese Carriers not to invoke the reaction move. Too BAD! I had it set for the full 6 hexes but they were at about 9.

GOOD NEWS: The Japanese unify their Carriers in the morning and four TF settle into their cruising disposition with mighty Yamato leading SIX Battlewagons. Five CVs and 3 CVL commence daily operations along with 4 BC and 6 CA. Nearly 30 DD scurry around their larger charges. The BAD NEWS is that weather is terrible in the morning so no strikes fly from the CVs for the early air phase.

This is OK because EVERYTHING else flies and goes after Allied shipping in and around Benkoelen. A total of 11 strikes fly and they sink an AP and damage another 19 vessels. Major targets hit include BBs New Mexico and Idaho, CL's Hobart and Emerald as well as DDs Pakenham and Morris. There are troops casualties listed with nearly every strike.

The afternoon sees the Carriers throw their full weight into the attack. The result is a massacre. Nine ships are sunk (DD Foxhound, a large AMC, an AKV (with a Wellington Squadron on board!), 3 large AP, and 3 AK) with another 12 damaged (CL Dauntless, BB Ramilles). The key part of these strikes is the masses of troops killed on the sinking and damaged ships. Nearly 6,000 men are massacred while trying to get to the deathtrap that Benkoelen shall be.

The Allied CVs make their presence felt by throwing two strikes causing the first Japanese casualties of this very lopsided battle. CL Sendai finds itself and 2 DDs only 60 miles from the carriers so they get struck by 15 Fighters, 17 SBD, and 35 TB. Sendai takes 3 Bombs and each DD gets tagged with a single bomb. Pretty lousy results. All three ships look OK and are ordered to Oosthaven. The second strike is important. I have dangled a couple of AK at Padang while basing one of my best Oscar Sentai there. The Allies attack and my 32 fighters jump 8 Wildcats, 16 SBD, and 6 Albacore. Excellent results are achieved with the Allies losing 7 Fighters, 6 SBD, and all the TB. NICE!

Decisions:
1. My CVs are together and I still have a good load of Torpedos. Time to attack. Order Nagumo and Yamaguchi to move due north and try to engage the Allied CVs. The 8 CVs carry 450+ Planes with solid pilots. CAP is between 60-70%. Any strikes that come in shall be destroyed. If he moves away then the CVs are still positioned to hit Benkoelen as a fallback.

2. It is time to commit the BBs. Order Tanaka and Komatsu to bust up the shipping at Benkoelen. A total of 6 BBs, 4 CLs, and 14 DDs will attack tomorrow night and then head for Oosthaven. It should be delightfully BLOODY!

3. Michael may be right that he wants Palembang. Some armor is present and it moves into the hex east of Benkoelen. Order my 3 Sentai of Sally--Lily to concentrate on troops and the Port. Bring up 60+ Lily to Soerabaja and prepare to add them to the land side of the battle.

4. Shall begin loading 2/3 of the Imperial Guards ID at Port Blair and all of the 33rd ID at Rangoon to go to Palembang. Another Brigade and Regiment are already on the way. Should be enough to hold for the moment...

Allied Strike:


2.

[John 3rd]

Was going back through the turn replay and saw that at least 15-18 of those damaged ships took torpedo hits. Many of them are doomed from the hits. I am sure Lew will disband some into Benkoelen's Sz-1 Port and so a full Sentai of Sally were ordered to hit the Port. Since the three New Mexico BBs pulled away from the base, I feel absolutely confident my BBs can wade into the anchorage without much fear of taking serious damage. TTs are always a worry but I am so close to my home Ports this should not be an issue.

Planning ahead:
1. I have 3 AKE heading towards the tip of Sumatra so I can replennish my Torps on the CVs.
2. Fuel is a concern but shouldn't be too bad for at least 5-7 days.
3. Picked up an Air Flotilla in Koepang and an Air Division at Darwin to land and support aircraft at Oosthaven and Palembang.

[JocMeister]

I just caught up with your AAR! Well played and very entertaining AAR! [:)]

But this Benkoelen invasion in May 42!? Nuts! [X(]

[John 3rd]

Just got off the phone with my most senior and trusted Miltary--Economic Advisor (Mr. Benoit) and he suggests a fairly demented and crazy possibility. Use this opportunity to crush the Allied Fleet, take Cocos, destroy the troops at Benkoelen and then INVADE CEYLON. This thought massively APPEALS to me. One can see all the units he landed comprising a large amount of his mobile infantry. There are additionally two ID on Cocos that shall be eliminated when that location is retaken. The Line Islands Operation was decided upon so that a Fleet Action might be forced. This is no longer needed because the fight is HERE. The 4 ID dedicated to Line Islands can shift their prep to Ceylon tomorrow...

Potentially we could seriously examine the possibilities of invading Ceylon, Addu, etc... in a FALL 1942 Campaign.

How 'bout that??!!

[janh]

After your last post I thought of suggesting something more daring such as Ceylon as well, yet for a different reason. Lew is obviously trying to push things to the limit, maybe see what an Allied player can achieve with some luck, or rather not. That's the only way I understand this bold venture of his. I am a bit worried that he might fold the cards if this goes as bad as it would seem it will -- i.e. if he loses a couple of CV now as well. So I think it would keep the game going and make it even more interesting to try something almost as bold as his actions now.

Anything goes as long as KB stays intact. Ceylon is a valuable target, a good choice. Yet I would not cancel the Line Islands Ops for that target. The latter will help to protect your gains in OZ by lengthting his route to NZ, allow some raiding, and quite certainly will also protect CentPac against amphibious operations. There will be more CV clashes to come, and PzB has shown twice how dangerous it is for an Allied fleet to clash around the LI. It think it will pay off better than Ceylon in the long run.

[John 3rd]

Janh: I will ponder that thinking. It is well thought out and--perhaps--Line Islands should stay. We have the day (prior to Lew's turn coming tonight) to decide. Only have so many Inf Div to use. Got to say though that the XP level of my Aussie IDs is FANTASTIC. There are 11-12 ID and Brigades with experience well into the high-70s---80s--and two in 90s. GREAT!

As to Lew folding up and quitting I doubt if that will happen. In our prior campaign I sank nearly the entire Allied CV Fleet in a wild IO Battle and he stayed in until 1943 when we shifted to the updated RA.

[wsoxfan]

Victory Disease Much?[:D]
But seriously, I count 6 BB/BC sunk or very heavily damaged, and another 3 BB damaged. And if he's going for a CV engagement then he's screwed. He should have just pulled out after the element of surprise was lost(The Resolution Heavily Damaged and the Roval Soverign sunk). If you can get a CV engagement, then Ceylon(and the game) is yours.

EDIT: I've been wondering-why have his CVs not been giving CAP for his Battleships? That on it's own would be enough to hold against LBA(but not LBA and the KB)

[John 3rd]

Victory Disease? YES! Got Australia, will destroy this offensive, and then move onto the attack by Fall. It shall be crazy!

As to LRCAP. Don't know. I have now managed to attrit his fighters by about 25 or so as well as take down about 18-20 of his DB-TB. He is weakening and the time is NOW to strike.

[MAurelius]

thanks for the update... can only say... [X(] - simply hurts seeing such beautiful ships being wasted...

[Cribtop]

This is bizarre, probably a desperation move as previously stated. Whatever the reasons, press on! Crush him and use this total de-navyfication of the Allies to push the envelope and make it a very long, hard slog to Tokyo.

[MAurelius]

if this goes on like this you can park a few xAKs just outside of plane-range off West Coast and he won't be able to engage you [:D][:D]

[Lcp Purcell]

well I think an auto victory is coming, and your opponent is waiting for that to happen to bow out, so do one more bit of exciting stuff.

[John 3rd]

You want to SEE the VP score? Take a look!

[John 3rd]

Yum! A lovely sight to see my readers...

[John 3rd]

June 1, 1942
Battle off Enggano: Day SIX

This is turning into a true grueling battle at sea. We see BIG BOYS fight and the CVs engage this day with very good results but it is not one-sided.

The night begins with a surface brawl between BBs Mutsu--Nagato, 2 CL, and 6 DD vs. BBs New Mexico--Idaho, CAs Salt Lake City, Vincennes, New Orleans, and Devonshire, 2 CL, 6 DD. Looks pretty bad in terms of numbers but the Japanese get the drop on the Allied TF on Turn One (6,000Yds). Nagato and Mutsu SINK New Mexico with 8 16" hits on the first TURN: BANZAI! The battle then turns into 9 Round brawl that sees Mutsu crippled (5 14" hits and 1 TT) and CL Sendai mauled. In return Idaho takes 3 large shells and a Torp, Devonshire and DD Cushing are sunk. CA Salt Lake City takes a couple of hits and a Long Lance. Not too bad...

BB Yamato's TF sweeps into Benkoelen and finds NOTHING. It does not react to the 50+ vessels moving slowly up the coast just to the north.

Daylight
Morning Air Strikes sink CA Salt Lake City, DD's Morris and Dale as well as hits BB Idaho with 3 more bombs. Bad weather keeps most planes from flying from Batavia and Oosthaven. CRAP!

CV Action
The KB-2 (CarDiv2, Zuiho, Shoho) launch a serious strike of 29 Zero, 44 Val, and 58 Kate at the Allied CV TF. They are met by 18 F4F. Most of the Allied Fighters are shot down as the Vals and Kates assault the CVs. Results could be a lot better but they are decent as Yorktown takes 2 Bombs and has an Ammo Storage Explosions leaving her on fire, near her the Hornet takes a much stronger 3 Bombs and a Single TT which also brings on an Ammo Storage Explosion, and at the edge of the formation HMS Formidable has her paint scratched by 3 bombs. A CA and CL each take a bomb. Pretty sad results but Hornet is in trouble and Yorktown has issues as well.

The Allied CVs launch their counter-strike of 16 F4F, 26 SBD, and 27 TB. Luckily this strike fragments and comes in piecemeal. There are 43 Zeros on CAP when 16 F4F, 17 SBD and 21 TBD attack. The Wildcats do a good job of protecting their charges with 7 F4F, 3 SBD, and 4 TBD shot down before they can attack. Considering everything they fairly well. Hiryu takes a 1000lb bomb, Shoho gets a TT, Zuiho receives a single bomb and BC Kirishima takes a TT as well. Some damage is sustained but everyone looks OK for the afternoon which SHOULD finish the American CVs.

Second strike of 9 SBD is wiped out by 31 Zero and a Third Strike of 6 Albacore is also destroyed by 25 Zero.

Weather closes in so the Japanese launch a massed strike of 24 Zero and 58 Kates at Allied shipping near Benkoelen. CRAP!

Afternoon
EVERYTHING flies in the afternoon. Nearly 450 planes attack the Allied shipping prior to sunset and they do quite well. Vessels confirmed sunk: BB Ramilles, 6 AP, 1 AMC, 4 AK with another 16 vessels damaged and perhaps sinking.

As said the KB-2 launches at the Merchants and NOTHING flies from the Allied CVs.

As the sunsets the Japanese take their only serious loss to this point when BB Mutsu sinks while trying to reach Oosthaven. Too bad. HATE losing a BB!

Final Results for June 1st:
Japanese SUNK: BB Mutsu, heavy damage to CL Sendai, moderate damage to CV Hiryu (25 SYS with 0 Fires!) and CVL Shoho (12 SYS and 8 Flooding), light damage to BC Kirishima and CVL Zuiho. CV Plane losses amount to 7 Zero, 3 Val, and 10 Kate.

Allies SUNK: BB New Mexico and Ramilles, CAs Devonshire and Salt Lake City, 3 DD, 6 AP, 1 AMC, and 4 AK. DAMAGED: BB Idaho is a mess, CV Hornet seriously damaged and CV Yorktown moderately damaged. CV plane losses are 19 F4F, 14 SBD, 14 TBD/Albacore.

Damned nice results for the day's work. I cannot even keep track of his losses at the moment. Will total everything once the battle is finished but I think this makes 6-7 BBs sunk so far over the last 6 days...


Seriously think about how far I want to push this and finally decide to move KB-2 up the coast but ending only a few hexes from a friendly Port. They will try to finish off the American CVs. KB-1 is set for Full Speed and should engage as well. Should be interesting...

The BBs will unite and prowl looking for a bunch of tasty morsels!

[MrBlizzard]

Wow nice battle!!!
I think that what remains of his CV will try to return to Ceylon, direction NW, so probably you'll have a new chance to finish them next turn.
If he tries diffetent routes, ie West or SW, and you don't get them, you could divide your CV to cover every flee direction.
He's very weak now, IMHO you should dare and finish him in every way; this was a "lucky" turn for Allies that have not been annihilated... But now what can they oppone to you?

[John 3rd]

That was my thought as well.

Hit so many ships yesterday but I cannot even imagine what it had been like if the 150-200 bombers that didn't fly in the morning did! Could have added another 15-20 ships to the sunk list and an equal number to the damaged list.

[Cribtop]

Don't forget your subs, too. A line of them btw Ceylon and the battle site could finish a CV or two easily. Why did he stay? Looks like a Yamato death ride, but By the Allies!