Lambs to the slaughter (Lowpe (J) vs Jocke; BillBrown (A)) Finished

[Lowpe]

I got the turn back to Jocke...spent a fair amount of time on the turn but not as much as I wanted to.

So much to do, so many notes to keep track of, so many things to double check.

The first group of major Iboats for the West Coast have left today. There are some on station now with plentiful fuel.

[Lowpe]

2nd Week of Dec, 1942

Wolves are in the sheep fold!

Japanese destroyers off Diamond Harbor take advantage of the low moonlight (14%) and savage an Allied ASW task force. But we are after bigger game, far bigger.

[Lowpe]

Not the bigger game we wanted...four of the pesky little critters are dispatched.

[Lowpe]

Still no joy, but we need to get out of here pronto...

[Lowpe]

My night search spotted one CV group, but none of the destroyer squadrons moved to engage...there are 3 CV groups here![X(]

Goodness gracious. All my destroyers safely back or close enough to safety. Chittagong bombed heavily by Allied bombers. I am seriously thinking of stuffing Chittagong full of fighters for a day as the runway is pristine. Would rely up destroyers to protect the base...

Is is doable...all the damaged fighters would likely be destroyed if the Allies tried to play games.

I wonder?

[Lowpe]

I have wiped out two dedicated ASW groups here, and with the low moonlight am thinking of sending in a sub rush against his carriers...the lousy British are good at ASW, and there are a lot of planes flying ASW off those carriers so it wouldn't be pretty.

Only the western sub has an DL on it...so I probably could get in and out without too many losses.

Something to ponder.





I am guessing my destroyers reacted to the MTBs rather than the CVs.

I checked the name of those two KV...flowers. The Fritillary is nicer I think while the Genista is yellow and I don't really like yellowish flowers that much.

Sutlej is a river in the Punjab. I wonder if there is any sport fishing there? In the 1970's I met an Indian hunter that shot the then largest female bengal tiger. He gave me a claw or a tooth from her.

[Lowpe]

Ok, I am doing it. I stuffed Chittagong with 300 fighters. 9 Destroyers protecting the port behind a screen of two hexes with freshly dropped sub minefields.

Bloodbath tomorrow.[:)] But for whom?

[Lowpe]

2nd Week of Dec, 1942

Chittagong, the scene of big dogfights...not a single Hurricane actually swept.

[Lowpe]

Always happy to trade close to 1-1 in a defensive fight. Allies have fresh lightning and P40 squadrons to throw in, plus carrier planes if they want to.

[Lowpe]

Although supplies show red at Chittagong, there is 5000 supply in the port plenty for troops and planes.

The worry is a British bombardment.

[Lowpe]

Dec 14, 1942

Half over...

Four or five or six waves of Allied bombers run into Chittagong,and are met by a strong CAP. Unfortunately many withdraw due to no escorts.

[Lowpe]

Allied sweeps come last and the cooperation is really great.

One sweep of Lightnings and 40s and a second sweep of 4 P40 squadrons. Well done, Allies.

No damage on the runways, and only 6 planes lost on the ground. I suspect the Allies will sweep again tomorrow and hold off on the bombers.

Still, a good day. I will need to decide on whether we fight in the air here again. My thinking is yes -- and I can structure my fighter defense to anti fighters only.

[Lowpe]

A lot of Allied PT strength is here....as planned.

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

I checked the name of those two KV...flowers. The Fritillary is nicer I think while the Genista is yellow and I don't really like yellowish flowers that much.

Flower class. Lots of pretty names. [:)]

Here is Fritillary.

[Lowpe]

Two Allied Carrier Task Forces are here.

This is so much better than I had planned.[;)]



I could strike at them, but I prefer keeping my forces intact. I fear severe losses on my part might encourage the Allies to actually do something. So, as long as they are here I am happy. Everything is subordinate to the West Coast Op.

I will take pains to show more planes and perhaps prepping troops for here...let him think I am in a buildup. The more he ships here, the better I like it. I might come to change my opinion on that, but for now I am pleased as punch.

[Lowpe]

ORIGINAL: obvert

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

I checked the name of those two KV...flowers. The Fritillary is nicer I think while the Genista is yellow and I don't really like yellowish flowers that much.

Flower class. Lots of pretty names. [:)]

Well, I did know it was not named after a campfire pancake.[:D] Pretty picture, the 12.7 cm hits on her must really have left a mark!

[Lowpe]

Dec 14th, 1942

The British come calling at Chittagong.

[Lowpe]

A second engagement and we strike with a torpedo.

[Lowpe]

A third fight during the daytime and we swap destroyers I think.

Allied CVs TF just outside of Diamond Harbor. I am not sure if any of the Allied ships hit minefields....

Slow turns for a few more days...

[Lowpe]

Dec 16, 1942

Back and running turns.[:)]

Today, I thought I would test the Allies air strength in the Bay of Bengal and set two squadrons on naval attack: one Betty and one Val (model 1). Good pilots. Heavy escorts, the Betties at 20K and the Vals at 15K flying from different bases.

In the morning a strike at the shipping in Calcutta...





That is my last squadron of Oscar Ic's. Still using them![;)]