Racing the Sunrise: RA 4.0--Japanese Side

[pws1225]

pssst, hey John, Hollywood's got starlets too. Think about it, starlets AND oil. What more could a 20th century samurai want?

[John 3rd]

June 7, 1942

Things are nearly done in the seas directly around Sumatra.

A STF of 5 DD sweep into Padang and sink DD Tenedos and 3 AP while BBs Hyuga and Fuso arrive at Benkoelen sink 2 AP and bombard the base.

Twenty units sit in Benkoelen while 6 have moved out towards Palembang. Palembang begins to receive its reinforcements tomorrow as the bulk of two Inf Div will begin unloading. This will serve to hold Palembang while we wait for reinforcements to arrive from Australia. With that theatre winding down, troops should begin moving from there within about 10 days.

Am going to let some of my aircrews rest and then send them against the troops and Benkoelen. Tome to concentrate all that firepower at what has survived the battle at sea.

We need to be straight here. Lew did manage to unload a ton of firepower. It cost him horrifically but those troops are THERE and shall take time to root out.

[John 3rd]

The Japanese APPEAR to have won the race to Ceylon. Five CVs place themselves directly between the retreating Allied Fleet and their home in Ceylon.

Fuel is getting scary. We have only 2-3 days to operate in this vicinity so we'll see what can be bagged before the CTF must return to Sumatra. A small STF of 5 DD prowls the area as well. At Sabang a group of 2 CA and 6 DD form-up to come out into this area as well to try and bag some serious game.

Are the CVs there? Don't know but we'll attempt to find out!

[John 3rd]

Sorry for no update over the last couple of day but Lew's son was competing in motorcross over the weekend about 200 miles from their place. Should have a turn tonight.

[John 3rd]

Lew and I are back at it.

No major action to speak of on June 8th; however, KB spots targets at Diego Garcia. The TF is on VAPORS right now so I have exactly ONE day to strike. The TF moves in and will attack in the morning...

[John 3rd]

Here is a screenshot of what remains of Australia. The Japanese (6 Inf Div and 3 TK Reg) are closing in for the kill...

[John 3rd]

Combat Report
June 8-9, 1942

The impact of the Battle off Enggano cannot be understated at this point. My opponent has lost so much troop lift capacity that I doubt if I need to be concerned about a serious Amphib Operation through the rest of 1942. This is not to say I think he'll try something more but it does mean I have a lot of liberties knowing what has been sunk.

Time for an around-the-map update.

North Pacific
I am reinforcing the three major Kurile Bases with a single Bn of those Inf that arrive in may 42. Will NOT neglect this area. A TF is currently unloading a CD unit at Umnak and I have CVE Unyo heading for Attu to re-size two Zero Chutai, two Val Chutai, and two Kate Chutai. They will be expanded from 9 or 12 to 27 each and form the aerial defenses of the Northern Pacific.

Central Pacific
The only serious component of the Kaigun NOT committed to the IO right now is a CTF comprising CVs Junyo and Hiyo and CVL Nisshin. They have 3 CA and 3 CL as well as about 10 DDs for escort and STF. The whole ensemble is moving from Truk to Jaliut for some serious raiding work. We KNOW all US CVs are either sunk or in the IO so why not?

Am moving a group of nearly 12 I-Boats into a position between Hawaii--WC and the Line Islands. Will see if we can bag anything.

South Pacific
Am gonna start Operational Planning for an invasion of New Zealand. Tentative date shall be August 1, 1942. Need supplies and fuel moved to support locations for this possible assault.

Australia
Charters Towers falls to the IJA on June 9th. Troops flee there moving towards Cairns.

Move a beat-up 33rd ID and a TK Reg for pursuit while bringing the 18th ID across the river to aid the assault on Townsville.

Had a very RUDE surprise on the 7th. As mentioned earlier I had loaded an Inf Div and 2 BF at Rockhampton so I could take Cairns and the towns north of there. As my TF split-up, one of them was jumped by both SBD Squadrons from poor sunk Lexington. I had thought these planes were shattered and gone. Man was I wrong. Lost 6 AK and nearly 6,000 men. CRAP! OK. Withdraw TFs back to Bowen to unload what's left there. Move engineers up to Bowen and start expanding the runway...

Two Inf Div reached 100% prep for Cocos this turn.

DEI
Cleaning up islands, bases, and dots throughout the Central and Eastern DEI region.

Order all damaged warships back to Soerabaja and Singapore for repairs. This is a fairly substantial number of ships: Soryu, two CVLs, 3 BBs, 2 CAs, and 6-8 DDs. Once at both bases several ships (mainly Yamato) will be sent home.

Prior to that, Soryu gets in one more sting when her air group sinks an AK and AP about 12 hexes from Sumatra. Both ships were carrying troops.

Palembang is looking nicely secure as the balance of an Inf Div lands to shore up defenses. Two elements of Imperial Guards begin to unload tomorrow. Engineers and Construction units moving in to help with base and fort work.

IO
Diego Garcia
The KB (four CVs and a CVL) launch a pair of massed attacks at shipping located here. The morning sees 58 Z, 35 V, and 67 K while the afternoon has 54 Z, 63 V, and 63 K come in. Both attacks are met by a mix of Allied fighters including F4F and Martlets. Either I just MISSED the CVs or they are disbanded in the Port. The attacks do excellent work as numerous TK and AK are hit while a BUNCH of Support Ships (AG, AKE, AS) get clobbered as well. The sees the loss of 9 Z, 3 V, and 13 K for 5 AG, 2 AKE, 2 TK, and 3 AK sunk with another 9 AK, 8 TK, several APs, and several more AKE/AG seriously damaged. Should note that CA San Francisco is hit with a TT.

Order a STF of 3 CA and 6 DD to detach and hit the survivors. The KB moves slightly away and towards Sumatra preparing to leave for fuel. Should be able to attack again tomorrow. Order 2 Daitai of Kates to hit the Port and see what might be there...

Burma
The Monsoon rules are now in effect. I have Myitkyina but not the dot north of there. All units shift to training and R&R while the Monsoon grounds and stops everything for the next few months. Have just one ID and 3 TK Reg present in theatre.

China
Still cleaning up the area between Shanghai and the big cities to the west.

Those are the events for the last couple of days.

[janh]

ORIGINAL: John 3rd
Either I just MISSED the CVs or they are disbanded in the Port.

Might be he disembarked his air wings and moved the CVs toward Aden or Port Elizabeth, keeping Diego Garcia in between him and you? Wouldn't be the worst thing to do as long as his CV still make a few knots.

[John 3rd]

Concur that it might be a good idea, however, I am sticking around one more day to see if anything is there worth hitting. Bagging all those support ships is quite nice but I would like something...BIGGER!

[John 3rd]

Combat Report
June 10, 1942

The ships keep right on sinking. Let us add another 20+ Allied Ships to the Japanese total this day.

It is a quiet turn throughout the map with the notable exception being around Diego Garcia.

Diego Garcia
Adm Yamaguchi detaches a trio of Japanese Heavy Cruisers (led by the veteran Maya) to tangle with Allied shipping at Diego Garcia. A group of 4 DDs are to join and provide some screening for these valuable ships. Unfortunately they don't make the rendezvous initially so the trio of CAs charge into the anchorage. The Japanese find three TF anchored there and the fight begins. The outer TF has CA San Francisco, CL St Louis and 4 DD providing cover for it. The Japanese heavies sweep in and CRUSH the American Heavy Cruiser in only two gunnery rounds. Maya lands no less then 12 8" hits! The San Francisco explodes when a magazine is hit and down she goes.

Continuing their charge, the CAs find a TF that had been badly damaged during the air raids the previous day. Very quickly an AS, an AG, an AKE, and an AK are sunk. Confusing the situation are the 4 DDs entering the fight from a different attack angle to the Japanese CAs. These Dds sink 2 AG, 2 AKE, and an AK prior to joining up with their larger brethren.

SUNRISE
The combined STF now runs into a single AK and sinks it. Trying to return to Sumatra the TF runs into yet another Convoy and rapidly expend their remaining ordinance sinking 4 AK, 1 AKE, and an AP. Nearly 1,000 soldiers go down with the AP!

Yamaguchi is retiring slowly towards Sumatra and manages to launch two strikes in the afternoon. 45 Zero and 36 Val blast past 7 Allied Fighters flying CAP. They smash St Louis with 4 Bombs, hit a DD with another, sinks an AMC with 6 hits, and plant 3 bombs on an AP. Just south of Diego a Strike of 8 Zero and 16 Kate sink an AG, an AKE, and an AK. Weather prevents more sorties...

Seeking to finish off his bag limit, Yamaguchi orders Tone and Chikuma, a modern CL, and 3 Moon-Class DDs to peel out of the screen to hit shipping another time as he retires towards Sabang. The 3 CA and 4 DDs that have done so well are ordered to re-join the KB's screen as soon as possible.

Total Sunk for June 10th:
CA San Francisco, 1 AMC, 1 AS, 4 AG, 5 AKE, 8 AK, and 1 AP. Total Losses: 21 Ships. Several more sank during the turn as that lovely sound was heard 3-4 times...


How about that???

BANZAI!

[MAurelius]

simply amazing... never seen anything quite like it :TOP:

[John 3rd]

It is CRAZY! Am beginning to be upset when I only sink 4-5 ships in a turn...

Have sent a TF of 2 CA and 6 DD from Sabang to sweep into Diego in 3-4 days.

[JocMeister]

Have your opponent disclosed any details on his reasoning around the almost suicidal invasion of Benkoelen? Was this a panic reaction to losing OZ?

[Cribtop]

Banzai! [&o]

How many AKEs do the Allies get? Never seen so many sunk.

[John 3rd]

Lew told me that it was his planning all along. He called it his 'Alpha Plan.' I am personally leaning towards it being called 'Omega!'

There are some more AKE present so I hope to nail them with the next STF sweeping into the area. Really liked bagging the CA and hope I put down St Louis. She was hit 3-4 times by the CAs and then took 4 Bombs from the Vals.

[John 3rd]

Maya's gunnery was magnificent in that fight. Decided she needed to get Posted with current crew experience. LOOK at her numbers! Ship took some licks in that fight last night but she is still rockin' and rollin.'

[ny59giants]

Allied AKEs - The Americans have multiple class of xAKs that can quickly convert over to AKEs in less than one month. So, they will not have a shortage of them.

[janh]

ORIGINAL: John 3rd
Lew told me that it was his planning all along. He called it his 'Alpha Plan.' I am personally leaning towards it being called 'Omega!'

There are some more AKE present so I hope to nail them with the next STF sweeping into the area. Really liked bagging the CA and hope I put down St Louis. She was hit 3-4 times by the CAs and then took 4 Bombs from the Vals.

Then Cocos was probably his staging grounds, perhaps also Diego? Good thing you were preparing to go for Cocos already, he might have caught you pants down if the OZ campaign had run into delays. I wonder what may be left on Cocos now? Maybe most is on the sea floor by now?

Another CA and CL would be icing on the cake. [8D] This must be very frustrating to watch for Lew. I wouldn't want to be in his shoes now. Do you presently have any replenishment/refuel TF in the IO?

[ny59giants]

Did you remember to convert some of your fast TKs to AOs??

[John 3rd]

Don't have any AOs immediately available. Have 3 8,000T moving up from Balikpapan. PLENTY of AKE are around so I can restore my Torps.

Haven't had a chance to get the TKs to a place to convert but I plan to do at least six so I have a second replenishment TF.

Lew's morale is pretty far down there. Totally understandable with the last couple of week worth of turns...