Command Decisions: Samurai vs. Yeomen RA 6.4

[John 3rd]

I agree. They seem to be getting organized and I even let them know--with the Johnston Isle Battle done--that are gonna get a short respite from any 'new' operations.

The SS Numbers are strong and look GREAT. I've ordered back nearly 20 boats so they can work off system damage and prepare to initiate the true commerce war around Hawaii. We'll see how that works out.

[John 3rd]

Combat Report
January 13-18, 1942

We've been getting in a turn a day so the game is back up and running now that Jim has his computer fixed. Jim told me that he and Larry changed responsibilities and have shifted things around so they can get things better under control. This decision by them coincides with the end of PHASE ONE Operations so it works well for them to have some time before I really start to deliver more PAIN!

North Pacific
After the sinking of the two Four-Pipers at Dutch Harbor there has been no noticeable Allied activity. Umnak and Attu have Engineers digging and getting the AF worked on. A trio of two ship AK TF have arrived and are unloading at all three bases.

On the 18th I form to Fast TF at Paramushiro Jima and send them to take Amchitka and another base near there. They will take all bases and dot hexes from Umnak west.

Central Pacific
The Japanese work to extricate their various TF from the Johnston area. All 14 SS are recalled to either Midway or Palmyra to refuel, reprovision, and work off some SYS Dam. Will keep everyone in port for a week and then release them to take-up positions between Hawaii and the West Coast. About six SS at Palmyra will go south to raise some HELL down there prior to the landings at Pago Pago and Nadi.

Johnston Isle
All sorts of issues here to start with. The SNLF ASsault Brigade landed in terrible shape and takes nearly five days to sort itself out. Regular B-17 Raids occur over the base each day. Finally the troops launch their much belated attack and easily capture the Isle on the 16th.

From Tokyo departs two convoys carrying a Naval Pioneer Company and Base Force Coy for both Midway and Johnston. These are small units but the Pioneer unit has some engineering vehicles and can help with base work. Will show a screenshot of them in a bit.

By the 15th, CARDIV5 arrives at Kwajalein and CARDIV1 makes it there on the 18th. Time for some R&R for the CVs. Strength: 4 CV, 2 CVL, 3 BC, 2 BB, 2 CA, 5 CL, and 22 DD. The two CVE are heading to the Eastern DEI to help there.



Taking a break to get the boys to bed and will then finish this update with a second Posting.
.

[John 3rd]

SE Pacific
There is Allied shipping moving around here again. Have 6 SS down in this area and will move the Kaigun in this initial direction starting the 22nd.

South Pacific
Port Moresby
Definitely know different hands are working the other side as those damned A-24 Banshees make an appearance out of PM. I had detailed a cruiser TF to sweep along the New Guinea coast and Bombard PM. This doesn't happen nearly 36 A-24s appear and manage to plant single bombs on 3 CA and a CL. CRAP! Pull the TF back and plan to send two of the CAs to the yards in the Home Islands.

Regroup the remaining ships at Manus whose AF is nearly 3 and form a Fast TF to take a Base Force and Construction Bn to Lae. This group is attacked by the A-24s as well but a dozen Zeros flying CAP manage to make the planes pay a little bit (shoot down 6). the TF safely unloads and scoots back to Truck. Move 27 Zero and 9 Mavis to Lae for search purposes. These planes immediately spot shipping moving along the Aussie Coast.

Spot CLV Charlotte and a STF east of Rabaul on the 18th. Would love to bag that ship!

Philippines
Nothing major. I am going to pull out the 48th ID as well as 2nd ID to aid and strengthen the Western Australia Invasion. Two ID and lots of Artillery will keep the Allies pinned at Manila.

Am getting all the main units in Mindanao together at Davao to begin the Offensive to grab Ambon, Timor, and threaten Darwin.

Java
Manage to hold Merak with a Brigade and then the 4th ID arrives so we move on Batavia. The first attack is rough but then the Allies pull out and we take it CHEAP. Starting a slow movement eastward to take the Isle.

Soerabaja
Notice Dutch Fighters over this base so i sweep it with Zeros and recon. Spot ships disbanded in the Port and roder 36 Betty-Nell to attack from Balikpapan. They do so twice on the 16th and 18th and manage to sink FOUR Dutch SS! Down go: KXVI, KVIII, KXI, and KXIV. How about four more SS to the cause??!! BANZAI Baby.

Malaya
Allies resistance is nearly done here. Three pockets surrender during the five day period of this entry. There are now just four units left and they shall be gone pretty quickly. Once done, the two ID here will move to take Pt Blair and aid Burma.

Sumatra
Have taken all bases on the eastern side from Langssa down.

Australia
CARDIV2 makes its appearance just off of Exmouth and sinks a CM and 2 CMc on the 18th. Other shipping in the area and we elect to move south towards Perth to see what might be caught.

Burma
In another GIFT, the Allies pull out of Rangoon and I get it for free on the 17th!

Toungoo falls on the 18th.

The Invasion of Burma has been done with an Army HQ, 5 TK Reg, 2 Artillery units, and 2 Base Forces. I should have been stopped cold!

China
The Allies continue the retreat fest and I take full advantage:
1. Capture CHANGSHA with only two ID. Shouldn't have been able to take it for months.
2. Follow that up by gaining Kweilin (15th), Kanhsien (16th), Pingsiang and Chengchow (17th), and Siangtan (18th).

EASY AS PIE! Nearly no casualties to do this. They should have fought for the Changsha area. My troops commitment was pretty minimal to say the least.

SS Ops
1-13 I-153 SINKS AG Gold Star off Denpasar

Engineering
Ichang AF-3
Paramushiro Jima AF-3
Shanghai AF-5
Chengteng AF-4

[John 3rd]

Have tallied the reasonable listing of CONFIRMED Sunk Allied Warships. This is the total as of January 18th:

CV Enterprise
BB Prince of Wales, Mississippi, and Oklahoma
BC Repulse
CA 5 US and 1 Brit
CL 3 US and 9 Allied
DD 18 US and 6 Brit
SS 24 US and 6 Dutch

These are serious losses but nothing the Allies cannot recover from. They need to get their act together and respond in strength---not piecemeal.

Japanese Losses are:

CAs Takao and Furutaka
CL Tenryu
DD 5 (2 Newer and 3 Old)
SS 2

NICE!

[CaptBeefheart]

Good to see those guys are doing some reorganization. They are great troopers.

Cheers,
CC

[John 3rd]

I mentioned a couple of Posts above that I'd love to bag CLV Charlotte. Well...

Take a look at the lovely Lady as Kates rained down 4 250 Kg Bombs on her at Rabaul. Don't think they guys had a clue that Manus is Sz-2--nearly 3. Have an Air Flotilla headed here so we get Torps and make the whole area untenable as I prepare to take Rabaul.

[John 3rd]

We have officially started the Commerce Raiding Campaign.

This little TF managed to sink a nice fat AK prior to bagging YET ANOTHER AP!

[John 3rd]

January 23, 1942

The Kaigun's Fleet Boats continue to score as seen by this shot:

[John 3rd]

I just got back from a three day road trip (1800 miles) back-and-forth to Iowa getting parts for our caboose. HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL! That is pretty country. SE Iowa with the small towns, Amish, and Mennonites make for a very pastoral trip. Have decided to return there in the Spring for a family trip (and to get more parts) to explore and truly enjoy the area.

We're at January 25th and I need to do an extensive update. PHASE TWO is about to commence with troops beginning to load in Singapore and Christmas Isle. Time to ratchet up the Fleet after 10 or so days of R&R.

[John 3rd]

January 27, 1942

I've had a pair of Raiding TF set-up NE of PH. The TF consisted of an AMC and 2 DDs. Have been using the AMCs to fuel the DDs. On the 26th, air search spots of TF coming in from the WC. Form the DDs into a single TF and move the AMC away. The intercept comes off in perfection. The DDs find an Allied Transport TF of DD's Harwood and Paulding escorting seven large APs and an AKL. Though the Allied DDs put up a good fight, the Japanese smack each DD three times and inflict serious damage on 4 APs leaving them On Fire and two Seriously Damaged. We our happy to hear the EVER-DELIGHTFUL sinking sounds later in the turn. The battle nets the loss of 120 Vehicles in the convoy.

The 4 DDs move to merge back with the AMCs and head for Midway. One DD took moderate damage while another was lightly damaged. NOT BAD!

[John 3rd]

January 27, 1942

Throughout the DEI, Japanese troops begin filling APs and converted AKs. The Hammer is about to descend on Australia.

Operation Maikaze

This is the advance into the eastern DEI and capture of Broome--Exmouth--other points along NW Australia

FORCES: 16th Army, 56th ID, 21st ID, 90th Inf Reg, 65th Inf Reg, SNLF Assault Brigade and SNLF Assault Paras.

TARGETS: Makassar--Kendari, Bali and the Malay Barrier, NW Australia

FLEET: 2 BB, several cruisers, and about 12 DDs.

Operation Shimakaze

Loading at Singapore there are two large Invasion Forces destined for Geraldton and Esperance Australia.

FORCES:
Geraldton--25th Army, 5th ID, 38th ID, 1st Para Raiders, 3 Artillery Units, an Air Division HQ, and 2 Base Forces.
Esperance--18th ID, 55th ID, 1st TK Reg, 4 Artillery Units, 2 Base Forces.

TARGETS:
Geraldton--Move East and South. Paras to take Kalgoorlie ASAP to prevent reinforcements from arriving and close the back door on units trying to escape.
Esperance--Race north to Kalgoorlie and then wheel left to drive on Perth.

FLEET:
CARDIV2 (Hiryu, Soryu, Shoho, and Nisshin), 3 CA, 1 CL, and 8 DDs.
2 BB, 1 CL, and 20 DD.


Operation Maikaze will be immediately felt as these TF are loading and already moving towards objectives. They MUST pierce the Malay Barrier AND grab Broome (for the AF) so I can effectively shuttle aircraft into the combat zone. Shimakaze will be reinforced by Maikaze as units become available.

Figure these Operations will be concluded by March 30, 1942.

Concurrent Operations will take place in the South and Eastern Pacific.

[John 3rd]

January 27-29, 1942

The Japanese have been steadily working to improve their bases along the Line Islands. Two large Emily/Mavis FP groups operate from Palmyra and Christmas. Each base is currently overloaded with troops as the preparations for the Phase TWO Southern thrust is about to get underway. Nearly 100 ships sit disbanded in Christmas Isle's Harbor.

27th
Air Search pick-up an enemy TF approaching Christmas. It is reported as a STF of 8 ships. I prepare for a surface bombardment by having CA Kinugasa, CL Oi, and 6 DD prepare to defend the Isle. Two 4 SSX midget SS TF also sit here waiting. The AF is spitting distance from Sz-2 so nothing can be done to attack the approaching STF. Just to be safe I angle CARDIV1 from its approach to Johnston (covering a TF about to unload) to a SSE heading.

28th
Holy CATS! Recon is SOOOOOOOOO wrong it isn't even funny. All three US CVs are in the TF and they launched a pair of massed strikes in the morning and afternoon sinking CA Kinugasa, CL Oi, and 2 DDs. OUCH!

I've got 54 Zero at Kwajalein so they are too far away. Decide to be creative and send Akagi, Kaga, and Ryujo's Zeros to Christmas. These 80+ Fighters are reasonably elite so we can hope they will cause some chaos if Jim sticks around. CARDIV1 gets the 54 Zeros from Kwajalein as replacements and continues in an ESE direction.

CARDIV5 departs Kwajalein.

29th
A STF of 2 CA, 1 CL, and 6 DD bombard Christmas doing moderate damage. Three Zero and two Betty are damaged as well as 440 Casualties. Two TT shots are taken by SSX but they miss. The AF takes reasonably lite damage.

A single strike bores in from the CVs who close to a range of 4 hexes ENE. In comes 42 F4F and 36 TBD. They are met by 43 Zeros. The furball is not very impressive as the Zeros shot down 9 Wildkittens and 2 TBD in exchange for 3 Zero. The TBDs go after the Port and damage a CA, PB, and 4 AK. No strike is flown during the afternoon.

The STF is tracked moving north towards Pearl Harbor. Leave CARDIV1 Zeros at Christmas and add 18 Zeros to Ryujo from CVL Zuiho. Order CARDIV1 to make a high speed move between Johnston and Palmyra with the hope of crushing the STF and forcing the American CVs to pull away from Christmas. Don't want to fight 3 CVs with just 2 CV and 1 CVL but think I can nibble a bit more of their surface forces. We'll have to see what happens...

This is the situation when I sent the turn back two hours ago. HOPE to see another turn tonight!

[John 3rd]

I have a pair of AOs waaaaay down south and decided to probe the Allies at Tahiti. Detach 4 DDs and they sweep into the target's harbor on 1-29 to find a BIG TK and DD sitting there. The DDs gain surprise and sink TK Mobilstation and severely damage (possibly sink) DD Mustin.

[John 3rd]

Here is the screenshot for tomorrow's planned move. The turn just came in but it is beddy-bye time. Will TRY to show some control and run this in the morning.

[John 3rd]

January 31,1942

Some say that it is a game of INCHES. In this scenario the day is ruled by it being a game of hexes/miles. CARDIV1 lunges forward at full speed to intercept the Allied STF that bombarded Christmas Isle. They don't find it. Instead they spot the entire Allied Carrier Fleet. The match is CVs Akagi--Kaga and CV Ryujo vs. three full strength American CVs carrying at least 80 planes each. The battle would be TERRIBLE with significant Japanese losses.

NOT!

The Americans are spotted at a range of TEN hexes. Kates and Zeros are set for NINE hexes. The Americans do not see the Japanese and--thankfully--the Japanese do not react toward the Americans. No battle takes place this day and we can thank the Gods for that:

[zuluhour]

Quite a fearless duo your facing. It is fun to watch.

[John 3rd]

I don't know if fearless is the right word. It certainly surprised me. Doesn't impact my overall planning. We'll begin loading at Christmas next turn for Pago Pago and Tahitit...

[John 3rd]

Should note that I have ordered the 9th Air Fleet to move the HQ, 3 Air Flotillas, and 3 large Base Forces to Tokyo. It is time to get this force into the fight. The three Daitai of Zeros have deployed into China the last few days and are getting a good chance to shoot down AVG planes. The remaining Betty--Nell--Emily will make hops to the South Pacific. The Vals and Kates will load onto a CVE to move. The entire force is heading for the South Pacific.

[John 3rd]

With my esteemed opponents having revealed where ALL three US CVs are, I am reappraising my planning within the upcoming South Pacific Offensive.

Current Plans:
1. The 2nd ID will take Pago Pago. There will be 4 BBs laying in the bombardment and I KNOW the CD will be fierce. We shall also use the Kates of CARDIV1 and CARDIV5 to soften up the defense as much as possible. This shall be a roll of the dice. Have smaller forces detailed to grab Savaii and the other island nearby.

2. While the battle is shaping up at Pago Pago, the Imperial Guards Brigade will invade Tahiti. Barring a major surprise, this should be a fairly easy operation. These forces will use CAs for their protection/bombardment.

As this thrust is occurring...

3. An SNLF Assault Brigade will take Luganville.

4. Two Naval Guards are set for Efate.

5. Rabaul will fall with the next turn so then we'll use the Brigade at Rabaul to take Milne bay.

Should note that Western and NE Aussieland will be under attack at the exact same time. The Geraldton and Esperance Invasion Forces are already well on their way to target...

All the above operations are to be complete no later then the end of February. The goal will be to hit the Allies everywhere and force a piecemeal response and/or paralyze them. We KNOW where the US CVs are and they are not in the RIGHT place to interfere with operations. It makes things far easier. Once we have Tahiti and probably another point to the south, we'll have severed the Aussie supply lines. Beyond Emily--Mavis, I intend to bring down my soon to be 3 CVEs to serve as a Raiding TF hunting convoys.

Comments?

[zuluhour]

What I posted was kind'a mean, I retract it. You made me rethink my own CV search preferences though with that spot on the US carriers. While I tend to overload with spotting aircraft, I never look beyond that 280nm limit of the 1000lber. Now I wonder how to arrange my squadron missions to avoid this little faux pas.

ps. To John: I tried to PM you what I wrote in case you were curious, but your mail box is full!