Racing the Sunrise: RA 4.0--Japanese Side

[John 3rd]

As you have read, my wife and I had a problem going on the last few weeks and it appears to now be solved. Short story is that we bought a Union Pacific caboose back in May and got the town's permission to bring it into our yard. They then, after a substantial investment of time and money, stopped us when we were days from having it craned in. This got, hopefully, settled last Tuesday night when we went before the Town Trustees, did a full dog-and-pony show, and got agreement to allow us to finish the move.

It is stupid to buy something like this but my wife and I are train enthusiasts and historians. The caboose itself was about to be parted out and so we bought 50,000lbs of metal for a low price and then began the restoration. It greatly appealed to us to save and restore a piece of vanishing American history. Here is the caboose currently (waiting on the decals and windows):

[John 3rd]

Paula and I got donations from a number of companies in constructing a bonafide railbed. Youa re looking at 25 TONS of roadbase, 20 donated ties from Union Pacific, 2 donated rails from UP, and 10 TOns of ballast. This shot looks from the corner of our yard towards the new garage and driveway. The railbed is quite clear!

[John 3rd]

With this excitement now finally winding down, we will be able to return to war with Lew. Just ran the July 2, 1942 turn last night and things continue to roll along. It has been a long enough pause in updates that I will probably do a region-by-region discussion so everyone is up to speed. Thanks for my reader's patience during this time and I'll get back to the war...

[John 3rd]

Paula and I got donations from a number of companies in constructing a bonafide railbed. You are looking at 25 TONS of roadbase, 20 donated ties from Union Pacific, 2 donated rails from UP, and 10 TOns of ballast. This shot looks from the corner of our yard towards the new garage and driveway. The railbed is quite clear!

[zuluhour]

You have been busy! What a cool "dog house", you know, should you ever be in one.[;)]

[pws1225]

Every man needs a caboose! Congrats.

[John 3rd]

I've always liked my wife's caboose!

It was a crazy decision that my wife instigated when she saw it go up for sale. We bought it in May and didn't start work on it until August when our work here was wrapping up. Took two weeks to sandblast and buff out four layers of UP paint, old signs, and dirt/grime. When we put on the primer the thing looked like a Sub or Battleship! The paint went on perfectly and it is now painted just as when it was built in July 1952.

[John 3rd]

Here is the first one-ton rail we swung over my brand new garage and then settled onto the ties. I worked the guide rope as the good UP man ran the crane. Was pretty cool and cannot describe my relief when we put the level on the rail and saw we had it dead-center bubble!

[John 3rd]

The last comprehensive update I did was roughly 10 game turns ago and so I think we'll travel region to region for updates.

North Pacific
A rather large supply convoy travelled up to the Aleutians and dropped off 10-20,000 supply at Umnak, Attu, and Amchitka. Several strikes were flown by PBYs at Umnak but my Zeros flying from there bagged the vast majority of them without issue. All AF and Ports are where I want them and so all the troops up there are doing is digging Forts. Brought up my one operational CVE and re-sized 2 Zero, 1 Val, and 2 Kate units to 27 plane Daitai. Have them working on 3-% traning as well as other missions. Roughly 150 planes are up in this theatre.

The Kuriles are in good shape with Forts and AFs being expanded. Will NEVER leave myself vulnerable in this area so there are a good amount of engineers and CD at major points on the island chain.

Current naval commitment is only 8 DDs.

[John 3rd]

Central Pacific
June 24-July 2, 1942

Central Pacific is in solid shape. Have supplies moving around to make sure the major garrisons are in good shape. Fuel is a little thin but not horrible.

Have 2-3 small AKL TF moving resources from Nauru and Ocean to Truk. Truk is taking on a new mission in this game. Large resource convoys arrive from Australia 2-3 times a week. These convoys bring anywhere from 30-80,000 resources from Sydney. Australia shows no sign of a resource draw down so these convoys are getting it to Truk. Add the Nauru and Ocean TF and one can see that lots of stuff is flowing into this base. Two large TF (100,000+ Tons) carry the resources from Truk to the Home Islands. Functioning pretty well right now as everything enters into a regular pattern.

Stage a disastrous mission with my KB-3 moving around the Line Islands. Junyo--Hiyo--Nisshin, 3 CA, 1 CL, and 10 DD swing south and then due east of Christmas looking for vulnerable TF. As they move north of the Line Islands an American SS HITS Hiyo with a Torp. Flooding starts at about 25 and so I shift to cruise speed and try to bring her home. I forget about the range from Christmas and a group of 12 F4F and 14 Avengers attack the TF. They are met by 42 Zero who shot down ALL the F4F but NONE of the Avengers. They plant 2 500lb bombs on Hiyo and 1 on Nisshin. CRAP! Hiyo hangs on for two more days but then I have to scuttle her (immediately buy back the planes). Nisshin is OK but damaged Sys 25%. Lucky hit by the SS led to the misjudgement of bringing the TF directly home. Good lesson here. No matter how well things are going SOMETHING can really change that fast. Hate to lose a CV over something like this but that is the reality.

Have an element of the Jaliut Striking Force (1 CL and 5 DD) about to hit shipping at Pago Pago.

[John 3rd]

South Pacific
June 24-July 2, 1942

Have some SS action south of New Zealand but not much of anything else.

New Caledonia--Efate--Luganville are looking pretty tough right now. They form my eastern line of defense if my opponent gets frisky.

[CaptBeefheart]

I am amazed at some of the things I see on this forum. Color me surprised one more time. Excellent!

EDIT: In relation to the caboose restoration, that is.

Cheers,
CC

[John 3rd]

NE Australia
June 24-July 2, 1942

LOTS of action happening here.

Townsville falls just prior to this entry. Portland Roads falls on July 1st. The only Australian town left up here is now Cairns.

Fifteen units retreated to the beach hex SE of Townsville and two Infantry Divisions pursued them. The 27th sees a 15-1 attack here and 4,275 Aussies are crushed forcing the units to retreat SW to the road. One ID arrives in this hex on the 2nd and will force another retreat tomorrow.

Several other units are being pushed back to Cairns by my armor. Infantry advancing on Cairns. There are five units present there and we have yet to ascertain who they are. Don't expect it to be much but we shall see.

Japanese LBA has been active here with nearly 100 bombers hitting troops every day.

Townsville is repaired and aircraft move into it on the 1st. Transports are coming up from Sydney to pick-up a pair of Inf Div to haul over to Java so they can then land at Cocos. This will leave 2 Inf Div and 5 TK Reg operating up here to finish off the Aussie resistance.

[John 3rd]

Central Australia
June 24--July 2, 1942

Oodnadatta and Alice Springs are all that is left in central Australia. Aerial Recon places 5 units at Oodnadatta and 12 at Alice.

The 65th Brigade, an Army HQ, 3 Construction units, and 3 BF at at Tennant Creek. Nearly 100 transport planes are flying supplies in to keep things happening. AF is about to go to 2.

Advancing from the south is the 2nd ID, 13th ID and 3 TK Reg.

9th Air Fleet and an Air Flotilla just arrived at Augusta. Planes will arrive over the next few days and serious bombing campaign can develop from here at those two bases.

I figure these bases have just enough supply to help the base troops hold against a couple of attacks and that should about be it.

Biggest surprise comes in finding out that there are 45 4EB present at Alice! They have flown a few sorties and I was stunned when I realized where they are coming from. Recon shows over 150 planes at Alice! Can't have enough supply to keep them going AND fight the Infantry.

Order the troops to begin squeezing the area. We'll try for Oodnadatta first...

[John 3rd]

Enough for tonight. Beddy Bye time!

[obvert]

Wow! Love the caboose! Amazing! Every kid in the area is going to want to go inside!

A question about the Aleutians. Will you have a set date at which you'll pull back to the Kuriles, or do you plan to try to hold these as long as possible?

[John 3rd]

The caboose will be GREAT. My sons are soooooooooooo excited. We are expecting to swing it in on Thurs/Fri.

Defending the Aleutians is always a tough call. If there is no action up there through 1943, I would expect a slow withdrawal in '44. I like keeping it a fairly warm to hot theatre of operations.

[John 3rd]

Combat Report
June 24--July 2, 1942
The DEI

The action around Sumatra continues to accelerate as the Japanese troops drive the Allies steadily back to Benkoelen. Two Inf Div are now on the march to reach Benkoelen and, hopefully, DROP THE HAMMER! There is no AA fire over the base. NONE! Looks like the Allies have already eghausted their supplies. Ahhhhhhhhhh...this is just TOO BAD! Even as the Japanese advance on Benkoelen, the real show is about to open at Cocos as the Invasion Fleet begins to gather at Soerabaja. Life is looking pretty good here at the moment.

Events:
6-24 2 BC bombard Benkoelen.

6-26 2 BC bombard Benkoelen

6-27 2 BC bombard Benkoelen

6-28 2 BB and 1 CA bombard Cocos do massive damage and spot the 48th Gurka and 44th Indian Brigades as the main Inf Strength present

6-30 Troops capture hex 46,91 moving towards Benkoelen: 2-1 with Japan taking 1300 Cas and the Allies losing 4,836 with a Unit destroyed.

7-1 2 BC bombard Benkoelen causing high damage and smashing the crippled DD Nestor disbanded in the Port

Currently Bombardment TF are headed in to both Benkoelen and Cocos...

Carrier Operations
I had sent out CVs Kaga, Soryu, and Ryujo to do some raiding along the Columbo--Diego Garcia axis and they do quite well. Shipping is spotted throughout the area and several CA--DD TF are formed to sweep into Diego Garcia as the CVs go to work.

6-29 A CV Strike of 20Z, 34 V, and 48 K run into stiff fighter opposition over Cocos. Nearly 40 fighters rise to take on the Strike. Luckily the highly experienced Sea Eagles shot down nearly 7-1 but still a few fighters penetrate the escort and shot down several bombers. The remaining planes plaster shipping here sinking 2 AP and a TK while damaging 2 AP, 2 TK, and 2 PC. For nearly 20 Fighters the Japanese lose 3 Z, 3 V, and 7 K. Don't like those losses so the CVs move off towards Sumatra as the STF close in.

6-30 In an already detailed (in the AAR) event CAs Chikuma--Mikuma and 4 DD sink 2 PC, 8 AP, 2 AK, and CL Tromp. Little damage is taken. NICE!

7-1 The CVs head for home while CAs Mogami--Haguro and 5 DD sweep into the wreck infested area of Diego Garcia sinking an AM and 6 more AP.


After this raid, all warships are ordered back to Singapore for some R&R and reprovision as we prepare for the main event at Cocos...

[John 3rd]

Current screenshot of Sumatra. Known Allied Infantry units present (they have been forced to retreat anywhere from 1-3 times so far) are: 6th Aust ID, 44th Brit ID, 7th Marine Reg, 53rd Brit Brig, and 27th Rhodesian Brig.

There are 400 bombers of all types currently attacking the Allied Forces at Benkoelen and Cocos. It is NOT a NICE play to be!

[John 3rd]

Burma
Burma rests with all the attention elsewhere. We work with REAL tough Burma Monsoon rules. My troops (2 ID and 3 TK Reg) are bascially fixed where they are until the Monsoon clears. Little to no air activity and I truly welcome all these developments as I deal with Sumatra and Cocos.

China
The lines have stabilized and the only fighting is happening west of Chushien where the Chinese are being forced to retreat towards that river flowing past Changsha to the SW.

My aircraft all upgraded here so I've got Oscars flying with Lilys and Sallys instead of Nates, Sonjas, etc...