Et tu brute - KenchiSulla (A) vs MrKane (J)

[KenchiSulla]

And we hit the replenishment jackpot.. This is a very important strike, more then 70k fuel capacity gone before Christmas.. That will have an effect on his carrier operations! Cruisers have distance from KB and will find a way out....

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Dec 20, 41

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Night Time Surface Combat, near Ontong Java at 113,127, Range 2,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
AO Ken'yo Maru, Shell hits 1
AO Kokuyo Maru
AO Kyokuto Maru, Shell hits 1
AO Nippon Maru, Shell hits 12, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
AO Shinkoku Maru, Shell hits 13, Torpedo hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
AO Toei Maru, Shell hits 17, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
AO Toho Maru, Shell hits 26, heavy fires, heavy damage

Allied Ships
CA Louisville
CA Australia
CA Canberra
CL Leander
CL Achilles
CL Perth
DD Stuart
DD Le Triomphant

Low visibility due to Thunderstorms with 3% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Thunderstorms and 3% moonlight: 2,000 yards

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Day Time Surface Combat, near Feni Islands at 113,126, Range 6,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
AO Ken'yo Maru, Shell hits 14, and is sunk
AO Kokuyo Maru, Shell hits 15, and is sunk
AO Kyokuto Maru, Shell hits 34, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk

Allied Ships
CA Louisville
CA Australia
CA Canberra, Shell hits 2
CL Leander
CL Achilles
CL Perth
DD Stuart, Shell hits 1
DD Le Triomphant

Reduced visibility due to Thunderstorms
Maximum visibility in Thunderstorms: 6,000 yards


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Morning Air attack on TF, near Port Moresby at 98,130

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid spotted at 38 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 14 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 36
B5N2 Kate x 70
D3A1 Val x 56

Japanese aircraft losses
B5N2 Kate: 1 damaged

Allied Ships
xAP Sarpedonia, Bomb hits 5, heavy fires
xAK Anshun, Bomb hits 2, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
xAK Ludington, Bomb hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage
AMC Westralia, Bomb hits 2, Torpedo hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
AM Lithgow, Bomb hits 4, and is sunk
xAK Beltana, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
xAK Yochow, Bomb hits 1, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
PG Moresby, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
xAK Momba, Bomb hits 3, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
xAP Rangitata, Bomb hits 1, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
xAP Rangitiki, Bomb hits 6, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Yunnan, Bomb hits 3, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk

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Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Port Moresby at 98,130

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid spotted at 23 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 36
B5N2 Kate x 9
D3A1 Val x 33

Japanese aircraft losses
D3A1 Val: 1 damaged

Allied Ships
AMC Westralia, Bomb hits 8, and is sunk
xAK Ludington, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
xAP Sarpedonia, Bomb hits 6, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAP Rangitata, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
11 x D3A1 Val releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
9 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 45cm Type 91 Torp
5 x D3A1 Val releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
4 x D3A1 Val releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
5 x D3A1 Val releasing from 1000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
8 x D3A1 Val releasing from 1000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring xAP Sarpedonia
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring AMC Westralia
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring xAP Rangitata




As a sort off revenge KB strikes my transports at Moresby (after unloading reinforcements so it is just hulls)

[BBfanboy]

I'd say you came out ahead on that exchange, regardless of the victory points for either side. KB is hobbled without fast AOs.

[JocMeister]

That is a nice haul CF. Well done! [:)]

[Encircled]

They are his fast ones as well

Thats really going to put a big hole in whatever he has got planned.

Well played!

[KenchiSulla]

Thanks guys.. MrKane took a huge risk with those tankers.. He had no search or intel in the area.. I expect the carriers to move past Horn Island and into the Java Sea. If that happens I'll have to withdraw shipping.... But at least he'll have a refueling problem for a while!

[Encircled]

If he didn't manage to refuel the KB before you hit his oilers, then he'll be really hurting for fuel.

He starts with a lot of fuel at Truk, so he'll probably have to head for there.

He can't risk getting caught in the DEI if fuel is an issue.

[KenchiSulla]

Well, once the next turn comes in I'll know for sure.. I think he refueled about a week ago (judging by a rendevue I witnessed and the fact that at least one tanker was empty when hit) so he would have had full bunkers then...

He won't be able to sprint, that is for sure. That in itself should make sure I won't lose valuable ships...

[ny59giants]

Fast Transport TF - The Allies have few ships that can perform this mission which does hurt at times. I have started to gather all my AMCs and added those little APDs (mostly Clemson DD converted) to this mission. Right now both my games have a FT TF in operation and it does help. Something to consider.

American APs - You will have about 20 of these ships that I would suggest you withdraw from operations until they can upgrade to APAs in 3/43. Outside of your CV and fast AOs (16 knots or 18 knots) these are your most precious ships in early '43.

KUDOS on getting his AOs. That will leave a mark!! [&o][&o]

[KenchiSulla]

Thanks for the tips on FT.. I've never really considered them playing as the allies, converting most of the old DDs to the DE role...

[SuluSea]

ORIGINAL: ny59giants



KUDOS on getting his AOs. That will leave a mark!! [&o][&o]

Yeah, ditto... That's the Allied early war dream scenario.

Great job at being at the right place at the right time and making it happen!

[KenchiSulla]

And I managed to lose track of KB... I've got most of the area covered but by 4 plane groups... Right now I am assuming KB moved into the DEI area OR south towards Brisbane.. If south happens, I'll have a pair of AO in the open.. They might get wacked..





Some good news in China: four Chinese corps beat back 13th Division, inflicting around a regiment worth of losses (squads destroyed)...

[Mundy]

How's the base situation north of Townsville?

Don't forget Portland Roads. Despite the crappy road there, it seems to stay supplied well enough without needing convoy visits.

[Canoerebel]

That's a battle with a pretty strategic impact, I think. What were AOs doing out there without Nav Search and KB?

My memory is that Mr. Kane is a highly regarded player - very highly regarded. What do you know about him? What is your impression thus far? Asking such a question might put you in an awkward position of commenting on your opponent, but I'd be interested in hearing. As stated, I have only second-hand info from years back.

[BBfanboy]

ORIGINAL: Mundy

How's the base situation north of Townsville?

Don't forget Portland Roads. Despite the crappy road there, it seems to stay supplied well enough without needing convoy visits.

He's only two weeks into the game, so I expect he has other priorities before sending troops to remote locations. Mr. Kane could have Australia's main cities in his plans ...

[KenchiSulla]

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel

That's a battle with a pretty strategic impact, I think. What were AOs doing out there without Nav Search and KB?

My memory is that Mr. Kane is a highly regarded player - very highly regarded. What do you know about him? What is your impression thus far? Asking such a question might put you in an awkward position of commenting on your opponent, but I'd be interested in hearing. As stated, I have only second-hand info from years back.

Yes, Mr Kane seems to be very capable. His AO move, however, seems a bit strange. He might have just retired them to Truk leaving the AI to do the routing? He should not have left them in hostile waters without partrol coverage...

He is not making many other mistakes though.. The rest of his campaign so far is pretty solid. He'll have some trouble with Singapore. I've got experience defending it and right now the AV there is up to 900 with forts up to 3 (My game vs Quixote opened my eyes.. Defending Singapore early is very important) .. There are two flying tiger squadrons there (1 P40B and 1 P40E) and I've disbanded my first hurricane squadron to equip Singapore with some...

[KenchiSulla]

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

ORIGINAL: Mundy

How's the base situation north of Townsville?

Don't forget Portland Roads. Despite the crappy road there, it seems to stay supplied well enough without needing convoy visits.

He's only two weeks into the game, so I expect he has other priorities before sending troops to remote locations. Mr. Kane could have Australia's main cities in his plans ...

At game start there is not enough construction to go around so I'll stick to the most important hubs for now. Early expansion will depend on Mr Kane's strategy..

[Encircled]

If he was going for a strategic bombing campaign in Oz, then the loss of the oilers stops that one for at least a couple of months.

He's have to take Rabaul, haul fuel to it, and then keep hauling fuel to it.

Can you reinforce it in anyway? (V tough I know but if that is his aim, then that would slow him down even more)

[KenchiSulla]

Still a missing KB.. I honestly don't know what happened, perhaps he found a blind spot...

With regards to Rabaul, I'm not sure what his aim is at the moment. The only forces I could get to Rabaul are battalion sized so no real point in doing that.. He'll only need a brigade (65) or a regiment to take it at this stage...

One thing is for sure, MrKane didn't show his hand yet...

[BBfanboy]

KB's disappearance is strange. The only places he could go that have limited search right now are west of Oz and in the IO toward Ceylon. Both of those directions should need AO support, or be very brief raids.
Perhaps he is hunting PoW and Repulse at Colombo? (not sure where they are at the moment, or even if they are afloat!)

[KenchiSulla]

Soryu, Hiryu, Zuikaku and Shokaku were 6 hexes south of Prt Moresby two days ago.... Without tankers they should be around 18 hexes of the last sighting.. I'll take a screenshot



Looking at the arcs, a move into the coral sea and then east is most likely to stay unspotted....