Tale of the Sheep! - JocMeister (A) vs. Lowpe (J)

[JocMeister]

[font="Verdana"]KB[/font]
_____________________________________________________________________________

Wow, I really, really don´t feel too well today. [>:]

[Bif1961]

Looks like the boom is about to be lowered by the marauding KB; good luck!

[zuluhour]

FAF
flee at flank
[;)]

[poodlebrain]

How confident are you about the 71 fighters the KB is reported to have? If you are confident in that number, then this may be as much an opportunity as threat.

[JocMeister]

Sent the turn back to Jeff but I´m to tired and hungover to update!

Bed here I come! [&o]

[JocMeister]

[font="Verdana"]Bay of Bengal[/font]
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Guess I shouldn´t complain after dodging the KB strike last turn. But a bit disappointed about the day here. For weeks I have been dangling a CL TF in front of Jeff hoping to trigger a reaction.

4 hexes behind that CL TF the British navy reinforced by Hornet and and Enterprise have been lurking. I had hoped that Jeff would surge forward with the Kongos...he did this turn. But everything fizzled.

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Vizagapatnam at 44,41

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 2

Allied aircraft
Martlet II x 3
F4F-3 Wildcat x 18
F4F-4 Wildcat x 18
SBD-3 Dauntless x 33
TBF-1 Avenger x 12

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
SBD-3 Dauntless: 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
DD Shiokaze
DD Kosugiri, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
DD Suruyame
DD Hatakaze

This looks like a small ASW TF moving ahead of the main fleet. The main sits 3 hexes south of this TF. Completely untouched! Not a single strike flew against them. [:(]

Pretty disappointed. Now that Jeff knows the danger he will surely move in under his LBA umbrella where I can´t touch him. Dang.

At least things went my way in SOPAC. Not a single ship lost this turn.

[obvert]

Must have been weather. I notice thunderstorms there nearby.

I'm guessing his DDs did not get wiped in a later sortie, but if not, they're also damn close to your CVs. That would make me nervous, especially with the number of Japanese subs also lurking.

[JocMeister]

ORIGINAL: obvert

Must have been weather. I notice thunderstorms there nearby.

I'm guessing his DDs did not get wiped in a later sortie, but if not, they're also damn close to your CVs. That would make me nervous, especially with the number of Japanese subs also lurking.

Nope, the attack I posted was the only one throughout the entire day. [:(]

More scared about the subs then his DDs actually. Pulling back to the shallows and increased Search/ASW a lot. Wouldn´t be surprised if I lose a CV to Japanese SSNs tomorrow... [:(]

[JocMeister]

[font="Verdana"]Japanese intentions[/font]
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I´m getting a lot of strange SIGINT recently. For whatever reason Jeff is starting to move significant forces to PH. Prior to this he has been moving a lot of heavy artillery there including some siege guns. This is now being followed by this just the last 4 turns...

6/12th Division is loaded on a Aden Cargo class xAK moving to Lahaina.
4th Tank Regiment is located at Pearl Harbor
4th/A Division is located at Pearl Harbor
5th Air Division is loaded on xAP Teikyo Maru moving to Lahaina.
2/6th Guards Division is loaded on xAP Ukishima Maru moving to Pearl Harbor.
2/4th Ind Engineer Regiment is loaded on xAK Tateisi Maru moving to Lahaina.

Just reinforcing his defensive perimeter. Or something else?

[JocMeister]

[font="Verdana"]11th September -42[/font]
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Short update to catch up.

------------------------
NORPAC/WC
------------------------
Nothing.

------------------------
India
------------------------
The fleet disengage without incident and withdraw towards Madras behind a massive ASW screen. Jeff is trying to cut of the Ledo defenders. He will probably be successful. But I will punish him in the process which I hope will make it a VP positive event.

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SOPAC
------------------------
I get away without further losses. Jeff has established a Mavis base on Ndeni. He has a AV there and two units. I´ll let him be there in piece for a while. Hopefully he will reinforce with more.

I have a pretty big hammer prepped for Ndeni. 2nd Marines.

No screen because I´m lazy tonight. [:D]

[Uncivil Engineer]

ORIGINAL: JocMeister

[font="Verdana"]Japanese intentions[/font]
_____________________________________________________________________________

I´m getting a lot of strange SIGINT recently. For whatever reason Jeff is starting to move significant forces to PH. Prior to this he has been moving a lot of heavy artillery there including some siege guns. This is now being followed by this just the last 4 turns...

6/12th Division is loaded on a Aden Cargo class xAK moving to Lahaina.
4th Tank Regiment is located at Pearl Harbor
4th/A Division is located at Pearl Harbor
5th Air Division is loaded on xAP Teikyo Maru moving to Lahaina.
2/6th Guards Division is loaded on xAP Ukishima Maru moving to Pearl Harbor.
2/4th Ind Engineer Regiment is loaded on xAK Tateisi Maru moving to Lahaina.

Just reinforcing his defensive perimeter. Or something else?

I would bet he's sure you want to recapture PH and intends to make it as hard as possible. As others have said, there's really no good reason that you have to retake it. He could be assembling a WC invasion force, but I would think that HIGHLY unlikely.

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: JocMeister

[font="Verdana"]11th September -42[/font]
_____________________________________________________________________________

Short update to catch up.

------------------------
NORPAC/WC
------------------------
Nothing.

------------------------
India
------------------------
The fleet disengage without incident and withdraw towards Madras behind a massive ASW screen. Jeff is trying to cut of the Ledo defenders. He will probably be successful. But I will punish him in the process which I hope will make it a VP positive event.

------------------------
SOPAC
------------------------
I get away without further losses. Jeff has established a Mavis base on Ndeni. He has a AV there and two units. I´ll let him be there in piece for a while. Hopefully he will reinforce with more.

I have a pretty big hammer prepped for Ndeni. 2nd Marines.

No screen because I´m lazy tonight. [:D]

You're getting old. One night out and you're a wreck for days! [;)]

THEN you don't even post abut the evil substance that did this to you! [:-]

By the way. Heading to Scotland this weekend with 5 friends for a manly Scotch tasting trip. Right into the heart of the Speyside at Craiggalachie. Getting excited!

[poodlebrain]

ORIGINAL: JocMeister

[font="Verdana"]Japanese intentions[/font]
_____________________________________________________________________________

I´m getting a lot of strange SIGINT recently. For whatever reason Jeff is starting to move significant forces to PH. Prior to this he has been moving a lot of heavy artillery there including some siege guns. This is now being followed by this just the last 4 turns...

6/12th Division is loaded on a Aden Cargo class xAK moving to Lahaina.
4th Tank Regiment is located at Pearl Harbor
4th/A Division is located at Pearl Harbor
5th Air Division is loaded on xAP Teikyo Maru moving to Lahaina.
2/6th Guards Division is loaded on xAP Ukishima Maru moving to Pearl Harbor.
2/4th Ind Engineer Regiment is loaded on xAK Tateisi Maru moving to Lahaina.

Just reinforcing his defensive perimeter. Or something else?

It's got to be something else. If he was establishing and reinforcing his defensive perimeter he should be pulling back to defensible positions in the North Pacific. What indication do you have that he plans to defend bases in Alaska that will prevent flanking of Hawaii? What indications do you have that he is reinforcing bases in the South Pacific and Southwest Pacific for defensive purposes? So why would Hawaii rate special treatment in preparing defenses? He probably has offensive intentions for the forces moving to Hawaii, and that can only mean an operation on the West Coast aiming for an automatic victory.

I guess it is time to ask again. How do your defenses look for each of your West Coast bases? How will they look on December 1, 1942 and January 1, 1943? How quickly can they be reinforced? What air units are you using for pilot training on the West Coast, and can they be committed to battle if necessary? How can your ship upgrades be coordinated with the possible need to defend the West Coast in December 1942 and early 1943?

[JocMeister]

His bases in Alaska are seriously under defended. This could be a move to reinforce them although I think going via PH is quite a big detour rather then going straight for Alaska from the HI? Another possibility is that he is preparing the defense of PH and/or Christmas Island. Although I honestly fail to see the point of that. Then again he doesn´t know I have zero interest in recapturing PH unless I get into a VP cringe.

Regarding the WC I did check up on that a couple of months ago. Can´t remember the details but I remember not being worried. I think there was around 6-8000 Allied AV on the WC and it will only grow until Torch kick off when a couple of IDs leave. Forts are between 7-9 at all major AC factories and currently working on important shipyards like Alameda and Portland.

[BBfanboy]

I wouldn't over-read the strategy behind reinforcing Hawaii. He wants to keep it as long as possible so he is making it a major PITA for the Allies to take back. He doesn't want the allies to use it as a springboard to get into SOPAC or CENTPAC.

[JocMeister]

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

I wouldn't over-read the strategy behind reinforcing Hawaii. He wants to keep it as long as possible so he is making it a major PITA for the Allies to take back. He doesn't want the allies to use it as a springboard to get into SOPAC or CENTPAC.

Well, I don´t need it for SOPAC and I have no intention of going CENTPAC. Not before 44 unless I need the VPs. And by then having PH as the Japanese is more of problem then anything else. [:)]

[Xilana]

ORIGINAL: JocMeister

Well, I don´t need it for SOPAC and I have no intention of going CENTPAC. Not before 44 unless I need the VPs. And by then having PH as the Japanese is more of problem then anything else. [:)]

You've previously stated that PH has not affected your convoy routing bu much time. You state above that you have no plans on going Centpac and don't need PH for Sopac. You mention his Alaskan holdings are not well defended. So is it your conclusion that he's defending against an Allied run against Centpac and leaving the door open for a run at Norpac?

What are your thoughts as to the value of PH for Japan prior to it becomming a problem in 1944?

[poodlebrain]

Reinforcing Hawaii just means more mouths to feed in a location that is completely dependent on imported supplies and/or resources. Hawaii will also require fuel for ASW operations to keep the sea lanes open to bring in the supplies/resources. How are the Japanese going to get all of those troops out of Hawaii if Hawaii gets bypassed?

[Bullwinkle58]

ORIGINAL: poodlebrain

Reinforcing Hawaii just means more mouths to feed in a location that is completely dependent on imported supplies and/or resources. Hawaii will also require fuel for ASW operations to keep the sea lanes open to bring in the supplies/resources. How are the Japanese going to get all of those troops out of Hawaii if Hawaii gets bypassed?

Hawaii makes a little supply. Hilo has the Resources.

[Uncivil Engineer]

ORIGINAL: poodlebrain

Reinforcing Hawaii just means more mouths to feed in a location that is completely dependent on imported supplies and/or resources. Hawaii will also require fuel for ASW operations to keep the sea lanes open to bring in the supplies/resources. How are the Japanese going to get all of those troops out of Hawaii if Hawaii gets bypassed?

They're not getting out. PH will be the Rabaul of the real war.