Psych Ops: BTS "Lite" NY59Giants (A) vs John 3rd (J)

[ny59giants]

I want to see what these two subs can do as my ONLY recon assets for the eastern Pacific. Since I have limited number of bases to even have PBYs at - Dutch Harbor, Kodiak, then nothing until you get to Tahiti (4 PBYs only), and Suva. I hate being so blind as I usually get pretty OCD about my naval search. [:(] I need these two to be part Vulcan...live long and prosper.

[ny59giants]

May 7th & 8th

Usual bombing in China. I think John is not going to be too aggressive here going forward as he likes to use this theater to use PP to pull out troops for other theaters.

Marquesas Islands - Hiva Oa is now his. Plans are for to come back here in a few months. Right now, lots of assets moving to Port Stanley and I'll go from there after I see how much further in SE Pacific John goes.

INTEL: 2nd ID at Pearl; 36 Constr moving to Broome; 2 Ind Mortar loading for Darwin (I only have the static CD there)

I-10 gets TT hit on AS Fulton as she heads to Panama (I move my B-18 HQ groups to San Diego to fly ASW towards the northern most hexes that lead off map)

I-32 is 3 WSW of Gerladton as 4 old Clemson DDs cannot find her.

Lots of logistics going on right now.

[ny59giants]

Just reviewed Intel Reports and Combat Reports since March (notes from turns I make).

April:
6 - Imp Gds prepping for Geraldton (misinformation)
11 - 5 ID, 21 ID, 38 ID, 55 ID at Batavia
13 - 1st China AD (Assault Div) at Hawaii
16 - 1st Raiding Rgt prepping for Raipur (misinformation)
18 - 4 ID & 65 Bde at Malang
20 - 33 ID prepping for Albany
21 - 11 Tank prepping for Prince Rupert
25 - Gds Mix Bde at Hawaii
26 - 38 ID at Soerabaja
27 - 90 Inf Rgt prepping for Port Hedland

May:
3 - 4 ID & 21/A ID prepping for Geraldton
4 - 23 Tank prepping for Prince Rupert & 48 ID prepping for Nadi
5 - Imp Gds ID at Akyab
7 - 2 ID at Pearl
8 - 2 Ind Mortar loading for Darwin
9 - 5 ID prepping for Albany

Conclusion: Western Australia is next!! [:(]
4 ID & 21 ID for Geraldton
5 ID & 33 ID for Albany

[ny59giants]

May 9th:
China - Sallys now added to 1e bombers on stack 1 NE of Wenchow; lightly escorted bombers over Changsha (in response, two P-40E groups from Chungking sent down)
Roxas - 33rd ID eliminates the last LCU in Philippines

May 10th:
Changsha - CAP trap meets sweeps!! My P-40s are eventually worn down by both Zeros and Oscars with a few bombers thrown in. Losses are close - 26A vs 28J, but John claims victory as I lose fighters while he loses more bombers. However, I have only one pilot KIA.
Cold Bay - Liz group from Pearl is now up in Aleutians; I still expect an invasion as Intel shows 14 Army HQ on way to Akutan; I now have refueled Mini-DS (CV Hornet & Yorktown with CVL King's Mtn) at Prince Rupert and moved them west to be one day away from strike range IF full speed used.
Transports spotted by few PBYs flying out of Tahiti just south of Caroline Island headed east (Marquesas Is)

May 11th:
I-29 run over by transports east of Seward as they hug coast on way to Kodiak with Inf Rgt
Changsha - 27 Zero, 36 Oscars, and 30 Oscars sweep empty base.
1 NE of Wenchow - shock attack gets 2:1 odds and pushed out BF and HQ, but Chinese Corp remains in bad shape due to being behind level 3 forts.
Intel - 5 Tank prepping for Cocanada; Mouseover at Pearl shows 20F, 49B, 51 Aux

[ny59giants]

Details are NOT coming out here anytime soon on my SNAFU. If you want them quicker, read John's AAR!

[Lowpe]

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

Details are NOT coming out here anytime soon on my SNAFU. If you want them quicker, read John's AAR!

You will bounce back! Chin up!

[Mike McCreery]

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

Details are NOT coming out here anytime soon on my SNAFU. If you want them quicker, read John's AAR!

I feel for you man... Nothing is harder than self criticism at these times...

Payback is a mutha!! ;]

[obvert]

Happens to us all. Keep plugging away. Time for small-ball, but that can be very fun too! [:)]

[JocMeister]

Ouch, been there done that. [:(]

I know moral will be low after this. But keep in mind that in the big scheme of things this will have little impact on the overall war.

[vicberg]

It's a challenge now. You're good enough to rise to it.

[Lowpe]

ORIGINAL: JocMeister

Ouch, been there done that. [:(]

I know moral will be low after this. But keep in mind that in the big scheme of things this will have little impact on the overall war.

True, as long as you avoid autovictory.

[ny59giants]

I never have and never will play for auto victory. We are playing until April '46 or when Japan surrenders.

I hope to update the battle, such as it was, over the next few days in between getting turns out and RL work. I'm not happy with my play as I had though of John coming in from NW which he did, but it occurred sooner than I thought. I didn't have pickets of any type and not enough NavS going on.

On the bright side:
Force Z with BC Renown, now included, got hit by just 1 bomb from Val.
Lady Lex is still afloat and able to make 21 knots. Her air groups on ashore.
A CAV is headed SW and hopefully to CT (sending transports out for CT to provide fuel).
My five big, fast, American AOs are still safe at Albany.
Old Churchill is pissed off at FDR after the British losses. Maybe that's a bad thing. [;)]

Plans are to recover and have everybody that is going to continue the war refuel, refurbish, and rest at Melboune. Then move over to NZ and await the Allied push from SE Pacific.

[HansBolter]

Does BTS Lite allow the conversion of quite a few of the AOs and AKVs to CVEs as BTS Basic does?

What was your total air platform loss, one CV and one CAV or CLV?

Hurts, I know, but still just a tactical victory you can obviously bounce back from?

Keep up the good fight!

[BattleMoose]

With Lexington still floating I really don't think this set back is that bad. The British CVs get recalled anyways? And what are CAVs, don't know this mod so well or all the new ships in it.

[ny59giants]

Warships sunk....

May 13th - CVL Hermes, Charlotte, Melbourne; CL Birmingham, DD

May 14th - CVL Wellington, CLAA van Heemskersk, 2 DD


Lady Lex's damage is 46-29(20)-12(1)-0; spd 21 knots

[BattleMoose]

Wow, considering the hits Lex took, she is in surprisingly good shape! And you seem to be really lucky that both Illustrious and Formidable are still floating, they are in port right? But, will you be able to repair them before they have to withdraw?

[ny59giants]

Time to catch up on my AAR as John is off to Las Vegas for Subway training with his boss...his wife. [:D]

May 12:
Aleutians - S-45 is hit by DDs with BB Ise at Akutan (she will head for Seattle for repairs); S-47 sinks a TB at Dutch Harbor that came through the hex on way to Akutan with lots of transports; 11 Betty & Liz hit AF at Cold Bay
China - Chungking is swept by the first time as 21 Zero and 74 Oscars find the skies empty; the remnants of Wenchow are finally defeated to NE of base when shock attack gets 3;1 odds
SE Pacific - Ua Pou (Marquesas Islands) is invaded
Intel - 20th ID is at Pearl; 15th Army prepping for Chittagong

May 13: KB shows up off SW corner of Australia and puts me in a very foul mood for most of the day [:@] [:(]
SW Australia -

Morning Air attack on TF, near Busselton at 42,156

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 30 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 158
B5N1 Kate x 22
B5N2 Kate x 150
D3A1 Val x 127

Allied aircraft
Sea Hurricane Ib x 8
Martlet II x 35
F2A-3 Buffalo x 24
F4F-4 Wildcat x 39
F2A-3 Buffalo x 12

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 2 destroyed
B5N1 Kate: 4 destroyed, 1 damaged
B5N1 Kate: 1 destroyed by flak
B5N2 Kate: 16 destroyed, 12 damaged
B5N2 Kate: 1 destroyed by flak
D3A1 Val: 9 destroyed, 29 damaged
D3A1 Val: 3 destroyed by flak

Allied aircraft losses
Sea Hurricane Ib: 1 destroyed
Martlet II: 2 destroyed
F4F-4 Wildcat: 1 destroyed

Allied Ships
CVL Melbourne, Bomb hits 1, on fire
CVL Hermes, Bomb hits 7, Torpedo hits 2, heavy fires
CV Formidable, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
CL Newcastle
CV Illustrious, Bomb hits 1, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
CVL Charlotte, Bomb hits 1, on fire
CVL Jacksonville, Bomb hits 4, Torpedo hits 1, heavy fires
CV Lexington, Bomb hits 6, Torpedo hits 2, heavy fires
CA Astoria, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
CA Pensacola, Torpedo hits 2
CA Salt Lake City
CVL Wellington, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Ellet, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires
DD Lamson
DD Cushing
DD Mahan
DD Drayton
DD Paladin, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Benham

Ammo storage explosion on CVL Jacksonville
Fuel storage explosion on CV Lexington
Ammo storage explosion on CVL Hermes
Fuel storage explosion on CV Lexington
Fuel storage explosion on CV Formidable
Fuel storage explosion on CVL Hermes
Fuel storage explosion on CV Illustrious

When I see Jakes dying from my CAP, there is the "Oh Sh!t" moment that all players experience. I had kept CAP up while my DBs and TBs continued to train.

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Busselton at 42,156

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 30 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 130
B5N1 Kate x 14
B5N2 Kate x 99
D3A1 Val x 114

Allied aircraft
Sea Hurricane Ib x 2
Martlet II x 12
F2A-3 Buffalo x 1
F4F-4 Wildcat x 15
F2A-3 Buffalo x 6

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed
B5N1 Kate: 1 damaged
B5N1 Kate: 1 destroyed by flak
B5N2 Kate: 6 destroyed, 6 damaged
D3A1 Val: 3 destroyed, 36 damaged
D3A1 Val: 4 destroyed by flak

Allied aircraft losses
Martlet II: 2 destroyed
F4F-4 Wildcat: 1 destroyed

Allied Ships
CV Illustrious, Bomb hits 4, Torpedo hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
CVL Melbourne, Bomb hits 5, Torpedo hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
CA Astoria, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
CVL Wellington, on fire, heavy damage
CVL Charlotte, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk
BC Renown, Bomb hits 1
DD Pakenham
CLAA Van Heemskerck, Bomb hits 2, Torpedo hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Tenedos
CA Dorsetshire
CA Devonshire
CL Birmingham, Bomb hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage
CL Newcastle
DD Tucker, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires
CV Formidable, on fire, heavy damage
DD Conyngham
DD Drayton
DD Cummings
DD Panther, Bomb hits 1, on fire
BC Repulse
DD Greymouth
DD Norman
BB Prince of Wales, Bomb hits 1
DD Tamworth

Fuel storage explosion on CV Illustrious

Being only four hexes away did not help me.

Ships Sunk: CVL Hermes, Charlotte, Melbourne; CL Birmingham; DD Paladin

Landings - Christmas Island (IO); Wyndham; Darwin (Fast Transport with 3 CA, 5 CL, 8 DD, APD); CD guns sink 2 DDs [:)]

China - Chungking sees second day of sweeps;

NW Australia - 21 Betty from Port Hedland hits the escapees disbanded in port (CL Danae)


NOTES: I actually had thoughts about John possibly coming from the NW towards the SE corner of Australia at multiple times over the last few weeks (game wise) once Intel Reports showed multiple divisions prepping for based in western Australia. However, I denied that it would occur until June as it would occur with transports in tow. Adding insult to injury, I lost this area in my game vs Olorin and I failed to learn from that game here. I have plans to evac the bases as they are all clear terrain and cannot be defended with divisions that still are rookies (experience at 40) vs his well seasoned divisions that are probably 70 or better in experience.

[ny59giants]

May 14: Shock has lessened, but the cripples are hunted down and many are sunk by KB as she is divided into three TFs.

SW Australia - I will not go into every transport that is attacked

Night Time Surface Combat, near Busselton at 40,153, Range 1,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
SC Ch 4, Shell hits 10, and is sunk
SC Ch 17, Shell hits 4, and is sunk
AO Tsurumi, Shell hits 21, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk

Allied Ships
CA Dorsetshire, Shell hits 1
CA Devonshire
CA Cornwall
DD Kortenaer
DD Isaac Sweers
DD Express
DD Pakenham
DD Tamworth
DD Greymouth

Tried to run away to NW and ran into this small Replenishment TF. If it was all his AOs down here, I would have thought of jumping up and down with glee.

Night Time Surface Combat, near Busselton at 40,153, Range 1,000 Yards

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
E13A1 Jake: 1 destroyed

Japanese Ships
BC Haruna
BC Kirishima
BC Ishitaka
BC Kawachi
CL Agano, Shell hits 12, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
DD Nowaki
DD Arashi
DD Yamagumo
DD Kasumi

Allied Ships
CA Dorsetshire, Shell hits 3
CA Devonshire, Shell hits 2
CA Cornwall, Shell hits 7, on fire
DD Kortenaer
DD Isaac Sweers
DD Express
DD Pakenham, Shell hits 8, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
DD Tamworth
DD Greymouth, Shell hits 4, heavy fires

Low visibility due to Rain with 0% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Rain and 0% moonlight: 1,000 yards

Nice exchange of warships. His shiny new CL for an DD.

Cold Bay - just those few bombers

China - Changsha hit by over 75 Sally;

[Lowpe]

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

Ships Sunk: CVL Hermes, Charlotte, Melbourne; CL Birmingham; DD Paladin

If that is all you lost, and get everything back and away without further loss that isn't too terrible.

Be thankful, I think May is still way too soon to be out using Allied Carriers, unless you know exactly where the KB (KBs) are.

That is really easy for me to say![:D] Save the fleet carriers and you will rebound very nicely.

[ny59giants]

May 15:
Subs - I-29 is 1 East of Seward trying to gets some of my transports going to this base and Kodiak; S-46 is hit at dot base between Umnak and Adak;

Australia - weather can be your friend as it socks in his CVs air groups [:)]; 90th Inf Rgt lands at Port Hedland; Bettys from Broome hit port of Carnarvon and further damages an AVP and CL Danae; DD Panther cannot get to the safety of Perth as 2 DDs sink her in three round of combat

Aleutians - Col Bay is hit again by Liz & Betty from Adak

May 16:
Australia - while 2/3 of KB are at 10 South of Esperance (182F 198B 26 Aux); a TF of 4 DDs is further east sinking my transports (AMC, xAP, 2xAK); Carnarvon targeted again; Port Hedland (90th Inf Rgt) and Darwin (1st Kure AD) fall

China - Changsha is target #1 as over 80 bombers hit base;

Notes:
Despite the two fuel explosions, Lady Lex [46-29(20)-12(1)-0] is trying to sneak away to safety of Tasmania. Her TF is 33 hexes west of Hobart.

Foreshadowing - Esperance has 90 ships while Albany has 49 ships. I move fighters into Albany to bring total to 86.