Greyjoy(J) vs. Obvert(A) - The air war in China- DBB, SLs, PDU OFF

[koniu]

ORIGINAL: GreyJoy

Let's hope for the afternoon, right? It cannot be raining forever...

Instead of the great raid I expected... ONLY 13 Jills take off (13!?!?!? Com'on!), escorted 40 Zeros...a useless massacre for no gain at all!

And that's all!... you would imagine my anger, right !?

Welcome in the club.
It is almost like over KB or over target it s alway bad weather.

Last week i feel the same anger when from 1200 KB planes less that 50 fly.

[Lowpe]

It does seem like it takes 10 tries before the planets line up and everything works.

[GreyJoy]

Yes, unfortunately, weather is always the worst enemy of any CV-operation plan.
Luckly it works like that both ways!!!

However, the allied power remains untouched in the pacific. I had hopes of slowing them down here with this ambush, but no joy. Now they will simply hide back under their >CAP umbrella and wait few more days to get Maloep and Wotje.

During the same turn an AMc managed to reach Torokina and to sweep some mines before being attacked and sunk by my D4Y1s based at Rabaul, while more mines are dropped at Umboi and Rabaul itselef. Sub-laying mines are enroute for Torokina too. Umboi recieves 7,000 supplies from a fast transport TF.

Another SNLF unit, after a long march from India, is now being moved to Port Blair. Betties are re-based at Port Blair too with the pourpose of raising my Naval search capabilities in the Bay of Bengal.

A 18 Mavis squadron is moved to Cococ Is, along with 14,000 supplies and some more soldiers.

88,000 supplies are being unloaded at Truk, along with 40,000 tons of fuel.

Allied CVs still MIA....[:-]

[MrBlizzard]

So even a light rain prevents planes from finding CV targets; at the beginning I used to believe that only thunderstorms and heavy rains were a problem for CV strikes; now after several times that planes didn't fly added to your experiences I guess that is a chance planes can fail in finding target even with cloudy weather.
I wonder if this has changed with a beta, I don't remind such a high frequency of aborted flies in first Years of play.
I wonder also if increasing the number of searching bombers (to 30%?) could improve the average striking package?

[ny59giants]

Weather and Air Strikes: After playing WITP and now AE for over 10 years, I've learned that weather is my other opponent. [:D] Most of us have read "Shattered Sword" and see how poorly coordinated those strikes were in decent weather. To some degree you have to win the war without relying upon air power.

In modern times, there are still few Air forces outside the USA that have all weather type aircraft.

[MrBlizzard]

Yeah you're right,
it could depend by the age, I'm becoming older and things looked better when I was younger (or also memory that begins to lack) [:D]

[GreyJoy]

Just a small breaking news.

June 21, 1943

Night action at Torokina.
2 Japanese TFs (in total 5 Japanese BBs and several DDs) encounter 3 allied cruiser TFs (3 CA and 5 modern CLs plus several fletchers)...
Massive battles occur


When the sun raises over the seas of the Solomons, 3 allied cruisers, 5 DDs and 2 DMSs are on the bottom of the ocean, while Japan loses only 1 Kagero Class DD.
The Battleships are still the masters of the seas...at least until the skies are safe!

And tomorrow it will be Tanaka's day again!


BANZAI!

Later i'll come up with a comprehensive report

[GreyJoy]

so...

Jun 21, 43

The night was dark (and full of terrors), even if the moon was at 85%.... the rain covered the moon...
The allies arrive at Torokina, probably to wipe out the japanese fleet defending Bouganville and the western door of Rabaul...

Poor visibility due to Rain with 85% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Rain and 85% moonlight: 6,000 yards

The TF composed of BB Ise, BB Hyuga, and the DDs Amatsukaze, Urakaze, Hamakaze, Arashi, Hagikaze, Murasame, Samidare, Yamakaze, Umikaze and Nenohi, arrives at night from Rabaul for the usual daily trip guarding Torokina...

The allies arrive and, thanks to the rainy night, detect the japanese ships way before we could spot them...

CONTACT: Allies radar detects Japanese task force at 23,000 yards
Range closes to 17,000 yards...
CONTACT: Allies radar detects Japanese task force at 17,000 yards
Range closes to 11,000 yards...
Range closes to 7,000 yards...
Range closes to 5,000 yards...

The allies get close... untill we finally see them among the rain showels...

CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 5,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 5,000 yards

Immediately we see there are 3 big american CAs escorted by several fletchers DD....very close...

We both open fire

DD Anderson is immediately hit by a 36cm shell from Hygua and sunk right after, while the Chigago hits the Amatsukaze with several 8inch shells...


DD Anderson sunk by BB Hyuga at 5,000 yards


The allies close the range again....3,000 yards...

Range closes to 3,000 yards


From now on it's a close battle...a real fight... the 2 japanese BBs do wonders and sink the CA San Francisco, while more enemy's ships are damaged or sunk... we only lost one DD before the allied commander ordered to disengage


Draemel, Milo F. orders Allied TF to disengage
Task forces break off..

Night Time Surface Combat, near Torokina at 109,130, Range 5,000 Yards

Allied aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft losses
SOC-1 Seagull: 2 destroyed

Japanese Ships
BB Ise, Shell hits 2
BB Hyuga, Shell hits 1
DD Amatsukaze, Shell hits 8, and is sunk
DD Urakaze
DD Hamakaze, Shell hits 1
DD Arashi
DD Hagikaze
DD Murasame, Shell hits 2
DD Samidare, Shell hits 1
DD Yamakaze
DD Umikaze, Shell hits 2, on fire
DD Nenohi

Allied Ships
CA Louisville, Shell hits 2
CA Chicago, Shell hits 2, on fire
CA San Francisco, Shell hits 13, and is sunk
DD Lansdowne
DD Woodworth
DD Bailey, Shell hits 15, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
DD Bancroft, Shell hits 4, heavy fires
DD Hughes, Shell hits 1
DD Anderson, Shell hits 1, and is sunk

[GreyJoy]

But it's not over...

Another allied TF arrives unseen at Torokina and detects another BIG japanese TF, composed around the BBs Musashi (Flagship), Fuso and Yamashiro.
The allies have their best Cleveland Cruisers with them... but, thanks to their radar, spot the japanese and decide it's better to flee [:D]



Night Time Surface Combat, near Torokina at 109,130, Range 29,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
BB Musashi
BB Fuso
BB Yamashiro
DD Shimakaze
DD Akatsuki
DD Inazuma
DD Yugiri
DD Amagiri
DD Akebono
DD Sazanami
DD Ushio
DD Uruyuke
DD Kosugiri

Allied Ships
CL Honolulu
CL Nashville
CL Columbia
DD Chevalier
DD Waller
DD McCall
DD Balch

Reduced visibility due to Rain with 85% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Rain and 85% moonlight: 6,000 yards
Range closes to 27,000 yards...
CONTACT: Allies radar detects Japanese task force at 27,000 yards
Range closes to 25,000 yards...
Range closes to 23,000 yards...
CONTACT: Allies radar detects Japanese task force at 23,000 yards
Range closes to 21,000 yards...
CONTACT: Allies radar detects Japanese task force at 21,000 yards
Range closes to 19,000 yards...
CONTACT: Allies radar detects Japanese task force at 19,000 yards
Range closes to 17,000 yards...
CONTACT: Allies radar detects Japanese task force at 17,000 yards
Range closes to 15,000 yards...
Range closes to 13,000 yards...
Range closes to 11,000 yards...
Range closes to 10,000 yards...
CONTACT: Allies radar detects Japanese task force at 10,000 yards
Range closes to 9,000 yards...
CONTACT: Allies radar detects Japanese task force at 9,000 yards
Range closes to 8,000 yards...
Range closes to 7,000 yards...
Range closes to 6,000 yards...
CONTACT: Allies radar detects Japanese task force at 6,000 yards
Allied TF attempts to evade combat
Range increases to 11,000 yards...
Range increases to 16,000 yards...
Range increases to 21,000 yards...
Range increases to 26,000 yards...
Range increases to 29,000 yards...
Allied Surface Combat TF evades combat

[GreyJoy]

But there's a third allied TF...led by a much more aggressive Commander...
This is composed around 2 Helena Class CLs... and they take the Musashi's TF by surprise, while the Japanese ships are looking the former allied SAGs fleeing from the field...

Reduced visibility due to Rain with 85% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Rain and 85% moonlight: 6,000 yards
Range closes to 23,000 yards...
Range closes to 17,000 yards...
Range closes to 11,000 yards...
Range closes to 7,000 yards...
CONTACT: Allies radar detects Japanese task force at 7,000 yards
Allies open fire on surprised Japanese ships at 7,000 yards
CL Helena fires at BB Musashi at 7,000 yards
CL Helena fires at BB Musashi at 7,000 yards

The Helena hits Musashi several times before the big ship understand there's a third allied TF firing against them!!!

The enemy are close...very close...too close!!!

The Helena and her escort gets to 3,000 yards...but now the Japs have reorganized themselfs and starts to fire


Range closes to 3,000 yards
BB Yamashiro engages CL Helena at 3,000 yards
BB Fuso engages CL Helena at 3,000 yards

2x46cm shells immediately hit the Helena, making her a flaming wreck!

Then, from now on...it's more or less a one way battle...the Helena enlights the dark sky and the japanese ships get the upper hand


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Torokina at 109,130, Range 7,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
BB Musashi, Shell hits 6
BB Fuso
BB Yamashiro
DD Shimakaze
DD Akatsuki, Shell hits 1
DD Inazuma
DD Yugiri, Shell hits 1
DD Amagiri
DD Akebono
DD Sazanami
DD Ushio
DD Uruyuke
DD Kosugiri, Shell hits 1

Allied Ships
CL St. Louis, Shell hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
CL Helena, Shell hits 9, heavy fires
DD Fletcher
DD Abbot
DD Ammen
DD DeHaven
DD Radford, Shell hits 6, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
DD Renshaw, Shell hits 1

[GreyJoy]

The Helena and St.Louis, badly damaged, try to get away...but the 2 japanese SAGs close all the ways out of th gulf of Torokina...it's a massacre...


Night Time Surface Combat, near Torokina at 109,130, Range 6,000 Yards

Allied aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft losses
OS2U-3 Kingfisher: 3 destroyed
Walrus II: 2 destroyed

Japanese Ships
BB Musashi, Shell hits 6
BB Fuso
BB Yamashiro
DD Shimakaze
DD Akatsuki
DD Inazuma
DD Yugiri
DD Amagiri
DD Akebono
DD Sazanami
DD Ushio
DD Uruyuke, Shell hits 2, heavy fires
DD Kosugiri

Allied Ships
CL St. Louis, Shell hits 6, and is sunk
CL Helena, Shell hits 12, and is sunk
DD DeHaven, Shell hits 2
DD Renshaw, Shell hits 1

Reduced visibility due to Rain with 78% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Rain and 78% moonlight: 6,000 yards

CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 6,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 6,000 yards
Nishimura, Teiji crosses the 'T'
BB Musashi engages CL Helena at 6,000 yards
CL St. Louis sunk by BB Musashi at 6,000 yards
CL Helena sunk by BB Yamashiro at 9,000 yards

Allied Task Force Manages to Escape
Task forces break off...


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Torokina at 109,130, Range 6,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
BB Ise, Shell hits 2
BB Hyuga, Shell hits 2
DD Urakaze
DD Hamakaze
DD Arashi
DD Hagikaze
DD Murasame
DD Samidare
DD Yamakaze
DD Umikaze, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Nenohi

Allied Ships
DD DeHaven, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Renshaw


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Torokina at 109,130, Range 29,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
BB Ise
BB Hyuga
DD Urakaze
DD Hamakaze
DD Arashi
DD Hagikaze
DD Murasame
DD Samidare
DD Yamakaze

Allied Ships
DD Woodworth
DD Bancroft, on fire


Allied Task Force Manages to Escape
Allied Escort TF evades combat


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Torokina at 109,130, Range 6,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
BB Musashi
BB Fuso
BB Yamashiro, Shell hits 2
DD Shimakaze
DD Akatsuki
DD Inazuma
DD Yugiri
DD Amagiri
DD Akebono
DD Sazanami
DD Ushio

Allied Ships
DD DeHaven, on fire
DD Renshaw, Shell hits 2, on fire


Allied Task Force Manages to Escape
Task forces break off...


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Torokina at 109,130, Range 6,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
BB Musashi, Shell hits 1, on fire
BB Fuso
BB Yamashiro, Shell hits 1
DD Shimakaze
DD Akatsuki
DD Inazuma
DD Yugiri, Shell hits 2, on fire
DD Amagiri
DD Akebono
DD Sazanami
DD Ushio

Allied Ships
DD DeHaven, on fire
DD Renshaw, Shell hits 3, heavy fires


Allied Task Force Manages to Escape
Task forces break off...



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Torokina at 109,130, Range 6,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
BB Ise, Shell hits 1
BB Hyuga
DD Urakaze
DD Hamakaze
DD Arashi
DD Hagikaze
DD Murasame
DD Samidare
DD Yamakaze

Allied Ships
DD Woodworth
DD Bancroft, Shell hits 5, and is sunk


Allied Task Force Manages to Escape
Task forces break off...

[JohnDillworth]

Well there ya go!! you earned a good day finally. Rarely see those big BB's in action and they did great. 3,000 yards is a knife fight. big guns win. Nicely done!

[GreyJoy]

ORIGINAL: JohnDillworth

Well there ya go!! you earned a good day finally. Rarely see those big BB's in action and they did great. 3,000 yards is a knife fight. big guns win. Nicely done!

Not something that i can be proud of... nothing of what we got here was because of my choices... just good luck i guess!
But i really needed some, so i guess i have now earned what Lady Luck did owe me [:D]

[GreyJoy]

Amazing how the Musashi, who got during the night several 6inches hits, ended the day with ONLY 5 sys damage[X(][&o][&o][&o][&o][&o][&o]

[Jorge_Stanbury]

Nice show

I guess the question is where are the Allied carriers!

[Lowpe]

ORIGINAL: GreyJoy

Amazing how the Musashi, who got during the night several 6inches hits, ended the day with ONLY 5 sys damage[X(][&o][&o][&o][&o][&o][&o]

In my game the Musashi was bouncing 8inch shells off her armor, was hit 21 times overall and you will need to check out my AAR to see the damage done to her.

Well done.

Get some subs in there looking for cripples.

[Sangeli]

Nicely done! That's a nice little setback to the Allies. But where ARE those CVs? On their way to Ceylon perhaps to get ready for Sumatra? Moving forward in the SoPac requires Allied naval superiority so if they can't win at sea you can keep them from moving forward.

[Lokasenna]

Most interesting to me is the 2 Walrus lost on one of those cruisers [:'(]. Nice, tidy victory!

[GreyJoy]

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

ORIGINAL: GreyJoy

Amazing how the Musashi, who got during the night several 6inches hits, ended the day with ONLY 5 sys damage[X(][&o][&o][&o][&o][&o][&o]

In my game the Musashi was bouncing 8inch shells off her armor, was hit 21 times overall and you will need to check out my AAR to see the damage done to her.

Well done.

Get some subs in there looking for cripples.

I read it every day! Seen what the Musashi has done in the Adamans[8D]

[GreyJoy]

ORIGINAL: Sangeli

Nicely done! That's a nice little setback to the Allies. But where ARE those CVs? On their way to Ceylon perhaps to get ready for Sumatra? Moving forward in the SoPac requires Allied naval superiority so if they can't win at sea you can keep them from moving forward.

My best guess is that they are in the I.O.. India, CT or Perth area.
The KB1 and KB2 are at Sosarbaja...but unfortunately he knows that...one of his subs has just spotted one of my TF...[:@]

In SOPAC he has much more naval assets than me. We all know the allies have a great number of cruisers and DDs that can be easily spent in a battle of attrition...a battle Japan cannot win...

So i need to be careful now. Don't wanna waste too many ships down there