Zuluhour vs Zigurat666: 1943

[DOCUP]

Kurt: Big ole Balls. Looks like you did pretty good here. I need more updates. Sitting on the edge of my seat right now.

[obvert]

Thought I had posted this earlier, and it may be too late now, but I wanted to say don't rule out the option of surface intercept for either side at night. If the Japanese send their fast BBs that could be trouble, but if they do retire and try to cut losses, a well placed CA/CL TF could really do some damage to the cripples. A hard choice as you would stand a good chance to lose those ships.

As for your CVs I'd mainly be concerned with getting them to safety, but flanking out the health TF might be excessive as they could still hit any IJN surface elements coming in hard. I would definitely stand them back a bit, but my guess is he won't have the strike force to really go for you tomorrow in the air and will chose to withdraw.

For the APs I'd get out in as opposite a direction as possible.

[zuluhour]

No time to post until tonight. Really bad day in the Gilberts.

[zuluhour]

August 11, 1942

NorPac: Additional air defense units arrive. No Zeros.

CenPac: Disaster at sea. The Kido Butai moves several deck loads to the east of Tabiteuea in the night. The Kates really do the hurt. Our CAP is meager and most of the raiders attack unmolested. The battle starts in the evening as PT boast spar with IJN destroyers. They survive the night, but at daybreak the plywood navy gets whooped. Five of six sunk for no damage. Even though we clear over one hundred orphaned carrier planes from the island, only the CATS fly. The Enterprise and Yorktown, undiscovered yesterday are ambushed. They do get the first strike in. It was a frustrating effort. The favor returned is decisive. Saratoga is directly in the path of the big guns of the IJN and is helpless some 100nm to the west. Hornet may be able to slip away…The Enterprise goes down in front of the Japs while leaving the scene, and Yorktown is in bad shape.

SoPac: The orders go out for a reinforced Americal division to advance on Suva. A side show now.

SwPac: The IJA has cut off Darwin by land.

Burma: For some reason, I know I’m going to regret, the IJA has abandoned the river line at Akyab completely.

China: The large defeat on the Yangtze two days ago may have bought enough time to reorganize another line. The Chinese are counterattacking at various pockets where the IJA is believed to be cut off as well.


Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Nikunau at 140,134

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid detected at 60 NM, estimated altitude 17,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 23 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 43

Allied aircraft
F4F-3A Wildcat x 17
F4F-3 Wildcat x 21
F4F-4 Wildcat x 10
SBD-3 Dauntless x 45

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 2 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-3A Wildcat: 3 destroyed
F4F-3 Wildcat: 8 destroyed
F4F-4 Wildcat: 1 destroyed
SBD-3 Dauntless: 4 destroyed, 7 damaged

Japanese Ships
CV Soryu
BB Kirishima, Bomb hits 1
CV Akagi, Bomb hits 2, on fire
BB Kongo
CA Mikuma

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Arorae at 143,137

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid detected at 78 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 29 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 36
B5N2 Kate x 53
D3A1 Val x 69

Allied aircraft
F4F-3A Wildcat x 8
F4F-3 Wildcat x 9
F4F-4 Wildcat x 9

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 2 destroyed
B5N2 Kate: 1 destroyed, 9 damaged
B5N2 Kate: 1 destroyed by flak
D3A1 Val: 4 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-3A Wildcat: 2 destroyed
F4F-4 Wildcat: 2 destroyed

Allied Ships
CV Enterprise, Bomb hits 5, Torpedo hits 4, and is sunk
CA Chicago, Bomb hits 5, Torpedo hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
CV Yorktown, Bomb hits 6, Torpedo hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Mustin
DD Hammann
DD Lardner
CL St. Louis, Bomb hits 1, on fire

[zuluhour]

Well, I'm screwed....

[Capt. Harlock]

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 98
E13A1 Jake x 1
F1M2 Pete x 1

Allied aircraft
F4F-3A Wildcat x 20
F4F-3 Wildcat x 49
F4F-4 Wildcat x 101
SBD-3 Dauntless x 181
TBF-1 Avenger x 14

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-3 Wildcat: 1 destroyed
F4F-4 Wildcat: 5 destroyed
SBD-3 Dauntless: 13 destroyed, 31 damaged
SBD-3 Dauntless: 2 destroyed by flak
TBF-1 Avenger: 2 damaged

Hindsight is 20/20, as they say. For whatever reason, the USN fighter pilots aren't ready yet for the KB flyboys.

[JocMeister]

ORIGINAL: zuluhour

Well, I'm screwed....

Ouch, thats a bad blow. So you will now only have the Hornet until the Essex arrives? If she makes it that is. Its a gamble taking on the KB this early. Success and you gain a year. Failure and you lose two...

Time to start planning how to go from now. CENTPAC will be impossible. Time to start looking for locations where you can move under LBA and/or by land. A very aggressive push into Burma might be doable if you go early 43 and achieve surprise. Easy to get bogged down though. I was stuck there for 2,5 years.

OZ->DEI or OZ->PM->NG is also doable.

Its a setback and worst case you traded 5 CVs for 3 CVLs and one one CV (Kaga). If its SCEN 2 you will truly have your hands full! One positive thing is that you are the allies and in mid 44 using CVEs you will be twice as strong as the KB anyway. Second positive things is that you can move perfectly fine under LBA. CVs are nice to have but not essential.

Good luck! [:)]

[obvert]

That is a hard result. When you have time and energy back it would be great to see some maps. I know the feelings, and it's not easy to lose all of that after so much positive the day before, especially.

Keep you're head up and see if your subs can at least pick off some cripples to even it all out.

[DOCUP]

Ouch. You can come back from this. Just hunker down. Hows the other damaged CVs?

[zuluhour]

August 12, 1942

Battle of the Gilberts

Day 3: All four submarines sent to Tarawa hit mines. The field must be huge. While night blankets the central Pacific, another carrier slips under the waves. Three gone, one leaking badly, two crippled, we pray for bad weather. All but one spotted. The logistical nightmare is only beginning to rear its ugly head. No reports of any Japanese ships down. We leak oil and commit sailors to the deep today. No enemy spots south or east of Tabiteuea.

Operation: DROPSHOT: Our tanks are within a mile of the Japanese perimeter at Suva, the infantry three miles behind.

China: The Yangtze line, rear guard, holds one more day. The retreat is orderly.

Australia: The RAAF loses badly to Tojos west of Darwin. B17s hammer IJA units in the open south of the port.

Burma: Akyab sector: The IJA is moving quickly back towards Rangoon and Ramree. ????

[zuluhour]

Campaign: The shock of the past three days in Op VOLLEY AO has sapped some will. It will pass. If we can survive the next 48 hours at sea we will take stock then. I just can't will myself to post positions and strategy with such valuable assets in dire jeopardy. I suspect a few beers over the weekend and some couch time is needed. Paul has proven aggressive and wise, he deserves some Kudos. I could have done some thing's different the first two days and maybe swung some momentum the allies way, but was stubborn. The spot by the CATS on Tabiteuea spotting the Kido Butai as two battleships and 6 others led me into the trap. I am at his mercy now.

[Quixote]

ORIGINAL: zuluhour

Campaign: The shock of the past three days in Op VOLLEY AO has sapped some will. It will pass. If we can survive the next 48 hours at sea we will take stock then. I just can't will myself to post positions and strategy with such valuable assets in dire jeopardy. I suspect a few beers over the weekend and some couch time is needed. Paul has proven aggressive and wise, he deserves some Kudos. I could have done some thing's different the first two days and maybe swung some momentum the allies way, but was stubborn. The spot by the CATS on Tabiteuea spotting the Kido Butai as two battleships and 6 others led me into the trap. I am at his mercy now.

1. Kudos to you for suffering SCLS and still posting. Manly, sir.
2. I'd recommend not waiting until the weekend to have a few beers. There's a football game on Thursday night. I couldn't begin to tell you who's playing, but I find it's usually a good enough excuse for the wife.
3. Your play style is both aggressive and fun. And you play the Allies. Far be it for me to actually encourage an AFB, but you can still win. Marathon, not a sprint...
4. Also, did I mention there was football and beer tomorrow night?


Salvage what you can, let the chips fall where they may, have a few beers, and take a fresh look at things in a couple of days.

[KenchiSulla]

Ouch Zulu... I feel your pain

[zuluhour]

August 15, 1942

CenPac: Three IJN carriers with battleship support are spotted just to the NNW of Saratoga. She has been limping pathetically slowly from the battle. She is finished off this morning. Tabiteuea was hit by the Yamato and others yesterday, pummeling the base.

Morning Air attack on TF, near Vaitupu at 138,144

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid detected at 61 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 26 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 23
B5N2 Kate x 5
D3A1 Val x 13

Japanese aircraft losses
D3A1 Val: 1 damaged

Allied Ships
CV Saratoga, Bomb hits 2, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
DD Maury
DD Gridley, Bomb hits 1, on fire

SoPac: It is day three in the battle for Suva. Bombardments the first day reveal a Rgt. and support troops, about 150av behind level three entrenchments. Day two is a draw, but the forts stay at three. Their supply is still good.

China: US and Chinese nationals bag a couple of dozen bombers over Chungking. The battles rage from the far north to the central plains. In desert, mountain, rugged woodland, and cities. The struggle is titanic in its scope and pathetic in its goal.

[zuluhour]

Thank you gentleman for your support in this most trying time. A couple of beers and laughs in the O club (basement) over some very good billiards games went a long way last night, although work today was a buzz killer. [:D]

[zuluhour]

August 16-17, 1942

SwPac: Exhausted cadre of the Port Moresby defense reach Terapo. On the 17th the air raids cost the IJAF as P39s reach the fields and down them in droves. In the air yesterday and today we rack up over 100 IJ bombers and fighters.

SoPac: Many stragglers from the Operation VOLLEY area reach lagoons and piers.

Burma: P38s and B17s hit Rangoon. The heavies do little and lose of their own while the P38s get 3:1. The IJ have taken the bombers elsewhere.

China: Heavy bombing and ground attacks continue. More later.

[Quixote]

Glad to see you back in the saddle.

If your lagoons are remote enough, you may even end up with a couple of surviving CVs. Guess you'll find out how thorough your opponent is shortly.

Lastly, inflicting brutally one-sided air losses (at this stage of the game, anyway) is a good way to prove you've still got some fight left in you. (It's not a bad way to win the game, either...[:'(])

[SuluSea]

Hang in there Zulu.


I admire your stones but still think you may have had better luck after the September upgrades and carriers maxed out at 115%.


If you have some carrier air groups without their home or can buy them back with PP's at least you can set your USN Air up for the rest of the war. Make sure they're on the east coast and train away. I'd do the same with your CVE replenishment groups.


None the less keep your nose to the grindstone. What you learn going forward will only help your gameplay in the future.

Best of luck!![:)]

[zuluhour]

One can only learn from here on in.[8D] I have an idea. For now it shall be known in its infancy as Operation Widow. I'll post it next weekend. There is a logistic tail to work on now.

August 17, 1942

China: The Chinese hold off the IJA one more day.

Ground combat at 75,50 (near Kweiyang)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 30982 troops, 548 guns, 656 vehicles, Assault Value = 1154

Defending force 156758 troops, 1124 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 3967

Japanese adjusted assault: 462

Allied adjusted defense: 8137

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 17

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), experience(-), supply(-)
Attacker: shock(+)

Japanese ground losses:
5825 casualties reported
Squads: 248 destroyed, 270 disabled
Non Combat: 80 destroyed, 381 disabled
Engineers: 17 destroyed, 56 disabled
Guns lost 101 (61 destroyed, 40 disabled)
Vehicles lost 65 (11 destroyed, 54 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
1617 casualties reported
Squads: 11 destroyed, 162 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 42 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 14 disabled
Guns lost 24 (2 destroyed, 22 disabled)

SoPac: 1st Amphib. Corp. is ordered to attack at Suva.

CenPac: Small TFs advance into the forward areas with supply, fuel, and support.

NorPac: P40s have been busy against sweeping Zeros the past few days. A RCAF squadron arrived last night.

Australia: Air sparring.

[zuluhour]

August 19, 1942

China: Chinese forces being backed into the provincial capital of Chungking hearten to the news local forces have recaptured: Kashgar, Hami, Ansi, Kiuchan, in the north, and Pakhoi in the south. Pyric victories. US aviators must be eating into the IJAF, both squadrons near 100 kills for the month.

Burma: The IJA is still on the move from the Akyab. What’s he up to? I am reinforcing Ceylon and heavy reserves are in India. There are some small infiltrations behind the IJA lines in the northeast. I will try and cut supply to the units at the foothills of the Himalayas.

Australia: The Victoria Desert is quiet. The recon unit is bombed occasionally. Port cities are reinforced and there is a strong USAF presence. B17s regularly strike the IJA south of Darwin. The units are in the open. If they decide to march south, I’ll throw B26s and additional heavies into the action.

SwPac: The IJN responded rapidly to the Terapo force from Port Moresby, sinking a resupply ship today and peppering the base.

SoPac: Forts reduced to 1 at Suva. Casualties are light. The IJN has TFs in the southern Solomon’s. The carriers are protected by level 90 Flak with marine and army fighter cover. The submarine cordon is growing around the islands.

CenPac: IJN TFs with heavy BB support and oilers are near Ocean Island. Tabiteuea is digging in for a siege. We conceive three operations. SALT&PEPPER and WIDOW. The plans are crystalizing. Maps over the weekend as the OOBs are sorted out.

NorPac: Zeros come in again over Dutch Harbor just in time to meet the Canadians who promptly claim a few for no loss.