Gaishu Isshoku: John 3rd vs Cribtop Between the Storms

[John 3rd]

Last screenshot and we're done with this regional update. Here is the current VP Screen

[ny59giants]

Burma - Push up to Mandalay and have one tank headed up coast towards Akyab. Get the oil from Magwe now.

All those years of telling you to use those Command HQ WITH an Army or Corp HQ is paying off in Malaya, I hope. [:D]

[John 3rd]

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

Burma - Push up to Mandalay and have one tank headed up coast towards Akyab. Get the oil from Magwe now.

All those years of telling you to use those Command HQ WITH an Army or Corp HQ is paying off in Malaya, I hope. [:D]

TO: Former Economics and Military Adviser Sensei

YES!

FROM: Grand Adm. Cochran

[John 3rd]

January 3, 1942

The pieces are all in place. The Japanese CV TF moves due east and all the aircraft are prepped and ready to go. Detach a STF of 1 CL and 4 DD to sweep ahead making sure that Umnak is clear. The Umnak and Cold Bay Invasion Forces get the go ahead to quit loitering and move to their destinations. A Chutai of 12 Mavis arrive at Amchitka and light up the area next turn for air search. Lets see what MISTER CRIBTOP has up here in this part of the world!

[John 3rd]

January 3, 1942

The Commerce Raiding version of KB lights up the sky with search planes and immediately spots a target. Reported as 20+ ships, a TF is headed to Tahiti. The CV TF move accordingly while a pair of BC move in on Tahiti. Could be exciting!

[John 3rd]

January 3, 1942

The far eastern prong of the Japanese KB spots and attacks two convoys ESE of Tahiti. Morning strikes are cancelled due to bad weather but two small strikes fly in the afternoon sinking a nice AP, a YO, and an AK. The entire force drifts down about eight hexes to see if more can be added. AOs are approaching for a final refueling before heading back to Christmas for R&R (as well as fuel).

[John 3rd]

It is now January 7, 1942 and my opponent is not cooperating! Could some of you get over and Post onto Cribtop's AAR to please jump through the hoops and traps that I lay for him? Darned inconvient if you ask me...

I am CERTAIN their are enemy warships in the Aleutians. I've had planes SPOT them but then they disband into Ports and I cannot HIT them. Well...we land tomorrow...it should force him to tip his hand and, perhaps, open himself up for attack. I've forgotten just how quick the SYS Damage piles up when you operate up there in the winter. NASTY! The Japanese will land, secure the important bases, and high tail it back home for repairs.

No other really serious news to report. Am grabbing bases left-and-right for little cost. NO aerial opposition whatsoever. Think he has taken pages from Michael's game plan and fallen back to a few choice locations, is training up his planes, and then will come back out.

The Deep Strike around Tahiti is going to sidestep towards the east some and then move north for refueling near Christmas. Not a terrible bag gained: 4 AP, 3 YO, 2 TK, and 3 AK. The KB's SYS damage is fantastic for so long of steaming.

[John 3rd]

January 8, 1942
Aleutians

After spotting and then losing an Allied TF over the last couple of turns, I decide to commit. The Kawafuto Brigade lands at Dutch Harbor while an SNLF Assault Brigade lands at Cold Bay. I chose to detour the Kawafuto unit due to it prepping for Umnak since Dec 7th. Think this is what Cribtop was banking on so, THEREFORE, I chose to change my targets. Four turns of recon over Dutch Harbor revealed no units present so this helped make my decision.

The landing at Cold Bay found--naturally--no opposition.

The landing at Dutch Harbor--in the middle of WINTER--finds THREE units present. A small Inf Reg, CD unit, and a Base Force. SO MUCH FOR AERIAL RECON! Fortunately these Sakhalin men are up to the challenge. Six DDs counter-fire the CD unit successfully. The troops come ashore with hardly any disruption. NICE! The Brigade will rest a day and then feel out the defenses.

In anticipation of an American counter, I order the Invasion Force to raise anchor and merge with Cold Bay's TF. The DDs who depleted a good chunk of their main gun ammo depart to merge into the CV TF screen. Also heading for the CV TF is a pair of spanking new DDs. They will merge with the TF as well bolstering it somewhat.

If I get no interruptions then the enlarged Cold bay TF will pick-up the SNLF Assault Brigade and add it to the attack on Dutch Harbor (if needed).

At Paramushiro Jima, a TF finishes loading 6 engineering units to deposit at the new bases. Additionally, an AS and six Ro- Boats depart to Amchitka.

[John 3rd]

I just spent 45 minutes writing a detailed update on the campaign, forgot to copy it, hit Post, and lost all of it.

CRAP!

Sorry. Will try again tonight...

[John 3rd]

Combat Report
January 11, 1942
The FAR SE Pacific

Patience is a virtue. I have kept the KB of cruise speed down N--NE--E of Tahiti for quite some time. While hunting was initially good, I suspected that there was more shipping waiting for my to clear the area. The First Striking Force went 'dark' for two days and organized itself to form a Scouting Line east of Tahiti. The 3rd day saw the three TF's move east and light up their Jakes and Kates for Air Search.

JACKPOT!

Big time, HIGH PROFILE ships are discovered. Three of the President Line APs (Monroe, Jackson, and Polk) and the--are you ready???--the QUEEN MARY! CarDiv1 launches a pair of strikes during the day placing 8-10 250 Kg Bombs on EACH target! Got to imagine that they are sunk/sinking. NICE! The Queen Mary hides under squalls during both strikes BUT is hit THREE times by Kate's during the morning/afternoon searches.

Order the Striking Force to go after this great prize (Have never, EVER sunk her!). Detach three small STF to move for intercept (only 2-3 hexes away) and re-order the CVs to hit her wherever she might try to flee.

How about that??!!

BANZAI!

[John 3rd]

Combat Report
January 10, 1942
Horn Island

The 2nd Inf Div smashes ashore at Horn Island and crushes the resistance. The unit finishes unloading and now heads to Normanton, Aust. The deception plan fully commences at this point. Aussieland here we DON'T come!

[John 3rd]

Combat Report
January 12, 1942
East of Tahiti

Is this a GOOD or BAD thing??? [:'(]

[Capt. Harlock]

Is this a GOOD or BAD thing???

A bad thing. 25mm rounds do not have enough potency to seriously damage a ship that size. (Oh -- that's not what you meant? [;)])

[John 3rd]

Combat Report
January 13, 1942
NE of Tahiti

The HUNT for the Queen Elizabeth continues as the huge liner attempts to flee the Japanese net. If this ship is a cat, she has used up seven of nine lives. FIVE of them this day!

Two Japanese hunting groups of a CL and 2 DD as well as a CL and 3 DDs each make MULTIPLE intercepts of the ship.

CL Yubari and her two DDs catch her twice and CL Kiso and her three DDs catch her THREE separate times. The liner's exceptional speed makes for very difficult shooting but the hits and casualties (WHAT IS SHE CARRYING!!??) begin to pile up:

Yubari--Rd 1 2 Shells
Kiso--Rd 2 2 Shells
Kiso--Rd 3 7 Shells---36 Cas
Kiso--Rd 4 6 Shells---56 Cas--On Fire
Yubari--Rd 5 19 Shells---261 Cas--Hv Damage, On Fire

We are SOOOOOOOOOOO close to bagging this magnificent elephant! Move CarDiv5 into a better intercept position and return the two STF to this CarDiv's screen. Detach a CA and 2 DDs as well as a CA and 2 DDs to HUNT for this monster.

She WILL be bagged!

[Canoerebel]

John, you rascally Niponese agitator! I hope you don't get the QE. That's just one of those ships whose psychological import is vastly disproportionate to its actual worth.

I've never heard of a player actually losing the QE, though I'm sure it's happened now and again. I've had her damaged more than once, including our last game. I think I inadvertently put her in a slow convoy so that a sub put a fish in her near San Diego. However, the damage was slight enough that she still made several runs between Oz and the USA.

For Cribtop's sake, I hope the QE makes a miraculous escape. But if you get her, even Allied players will understand your ecstasy.

[Jellicoe]

Heart in my mouth watching this!! I can only imagine what John and Cribtop must be going through!

Update needed - suspense is killing me

[John 3rd]

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel

John, you rascally Niponese agitator! I hope you don't get the QE. That's just one of those ships whose psychological import is vastly disproportionate to its actual worth.

I've never heard of a player actually losing the QE, though I'm sure it's happened now and again. I've had her damaged more than once, including our last game. I think I inadvertently put her in a slow convoy so that a sub put a fish in her near San Diego. However, the damage was slight enough that she still made several runs between Oz and the USA.

For Cribtop's sake, I hope the QE makes a miraculous escape. But if you get her, even Allied players will understand your ecstasy.

My favorite SOUTHERN PADDLER! Merry Christmas to you and the Roper Clan. Blessings to you and yours.



YES: I WANT THAT SHIP!!!!

[John 3rd]

ORIGINAL: Jellicoe

Heart in my mouth watching this!! I can only imagine what John and Cribtop must be going through!

Update needed - suspense is killing me

Prompt my OPPONENT Sir. He is the one sitting on his turn...

[John 3rd]

Got the January 14, 1942 turn done and in the email was this delightful piece of news from Cribtop (pertaining to Queen Mary):

John,

Well, if you were listening for sinking sounds, you’ll know that cat ran out of lives after all.

The trip to Denver sounds great! Turns will probably be hard to come by until the 27th as we have lots of family in town for Christmas, but then I still have until the 5th of January off so we should make up ground thereafter.

Merry Christmas, John!

Looks like we bagged that bad boy! How many troops can she carry? I'll wager a full regiment/brigade went down with the ship. Got to LIKE that!

[ny59giants]

Protesters are now gathering outside 10 Downing Street in London demanding answers from Churchill.




Meanwhile, in Tokyo..... BANZAI!!