Da Babes Guadalcanal Scenario 34 - Ale (JAP) vs Anachro (Allied)

[AlessandroD]

I know that most of the people out there are not interested in small scenario but I'm willing to write this DAR anyway because it is fun to read after the game is end (and maybe learn something new by you).

Da Babes Guadalcanal adds more flavour at this scenario because several things have been modified: map a little bigger, detailed OOB, more restricted units and a revised logistic area (it won't be possible to move all combat ships every turn or to have plenty of supply in all base).

Anachro will be my esteemed opponent, good luck and have fun! [:)]


Soon will follow my plans (a sort of).

[BBfanboy]

I like the Guadalcanal Scenario and have never seen or played the DBB mod for it. Will be following one side or the other - depending who tells the best AAR story! To me that means maps about once a week, summaries once a month, and only posting the significant combat reports, not every little skirmish.

[Anachro]

Good luck! I don't think I will be writing a AAR for this myself as I need to catch up on my other one....maybe I will, but I shorter one if any.

[AlessandroD]

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

I like the Guadalcanal Scenario and have never seen or played the DBB mod for it. Will be following one side or the other - depending who tells the best AAR story! To me that means maps about once a week, summaries once a month, and only posting the significant combat reports, not every little skirmish.

Roger!

ORIGINAL: Anachro

Good luck! I don't think I will be writing a AAR for this myself as I need to catch up on my other one....maybe I will, but I shorter one if any.

No problem, I hope to see your comments after the game then!

Anachro, after this post the thread is off limits [8D]

[AlessandroD]

The first WWII American offensive is going to be carry out, Guadalcanal is the target and their forces are overwhelming in this early phase.

Lunga and Tulagi are the obvious choices and I have nothing that can really stop this invasion, of course there are other juicy targets like Buin and Kwajalein bases but they are under the Bettys cover, even if three CVs can handle my bombers I don't think he is willing to risk his major ships there.

I don't know him therefore I have no idea how he will lead his actions, always nice play with new guys [:)]

Logistic
My main forward base, Rabaul, lacks the necessary supply and fuel to feed the units for a prolonged war and the rear bases are not in good shape either; I have immediately started a collecting operation, i.e. send ships around the map to pick them up.

OOB
Naval
5 CA, 4 CL, 17 DD and 11 SS
Most of them are outdated especially the destroyers, only 6 can sustain a fight in even terms.

Air
The situation is good, about 120 Zeros and 120 Bettys, plus several long range patrol aircrafts, also the pilots are very good, only recon is scarce.
Unfortunately some air groups won't stay enough time in this theatre.

Army
Only three regiments of the 17th Army and two of them are in the Buna - Port Moresby area, five Special Naval Landing Forces (35-50 AV) and some Naval Guards. Very few soldiers even for defensive operations.

Of course some reinforcements are coming but for two weeks they are all my assets.

Plans will follow.

[BBfanboy]

Port Moresby is the other major target for Japan. Does it give you as many points as Lunga/Tulagi? Can you put together a surprise operation to take it?

[AlessandroD]

PM is the main target for both combatants, here a more clear picture:

At start
Japanese score: 6333
Allied score: 4856

Best score bases
Port Moresby: 8000 (J) / 2000 (A)
Milne Bay: 1600 (J) / 400 (A)
Lunga: 4800 (J) / 1200 (A)
Tulagi: 1200 (J) / 300 (A)
Noumea: 105 (J) / 2100 (A)
plus few important Australian bases.

I really like this VP system because focus the player to follow a historically path, in fact if the Japanese take back Guadalcanal there are high chance that the game will be a draw, but if he is looking for a victory he has to control PM, really challenging against a competent player.


Surprise operation: not really at this stage, my only air cover come from Rabaul and I don't have enough ships/troops to attempt an amphibious landing when his CVs are away (and not so far, one turn at flank speed is enough to interdict naval operations).

[Skygge]

I know that most of the people out there are not interested in small scenario

In my opinion the best of the small scenarios. I look forward to see how it goes.

Good luck

[AlessandroD]

ORIGINAL: Skygge

I know that most of the people out there are not interested in small scenario

In my opinion the best of the small scenarios. I look forward to see how it goes.

Good luck

Thanks, and I agree Guadalcanal is the more interesting among others.

[AlessandroD]

Bases
First and foremost: say goodbay to Tulagi and Lunga, no choice.

Then I selected the locations that are worth to build up, given that I have very few supply is not possible to expand them all.
I need a level 2 airfield close to PM where launching the A6M3 sorties, Lae is already built but lacks the necessary AV support and is more difficult to haul supplies and men, a vulnerable position.
Therefore I'll increase the Gasmata airfield to 2 because I can cover this base from Rabaul if needed, even if several engineers are already in place it will be a long task anyway.

Buin: very important for a shortened Zero escort flight, but I need to improve the fortification a little first, it should be possible building a level 4 within few months.

I need a backup for Rabaul when Allied bombers will start to drop bombs every day:
Wewak has a good level 4 airfield but lacks a decent port, moreover I need to bring everything there (supply, AV and naval support);
Kavieng can be a good alternative, more close to my rear lines and more difficult for the enemy to attack, unfortunately the airfield level is 1, another long task because also engineer units are in low numbers.

Air Warfare
I don't like very much but I have to use my Bettys in ground bombardment missions, especially for closing enemy airfields. Port Moresby is the main target now.
Of course hunting ships but no CV attack behind fighters escort.

Land Warfare
Horii group will ingage the enemy in the jungle, also I want to reinforce him with the other troops located in Buna and attack PM...by land!
Pros
safest route: the sea is too risky, no real chance for a landing until his CVs are operational and therefore I have no idea when I will able to launch an amphibious invasion
time: the enemy will be under pressure since day one, he has to reinforce this base and maybe I can intercept some convoy
distraction: maybe his bombers will hit these guys instead my runways, worst case they will go back if badly mauled.
Cons
longest route: high fatigue and disruption when PM will be reached (if ever)
enemy reaction: plenty of time to reinforce the base before my units can be a real threat
easy to stop: terrain and enemy bombers are big obstacles.

In fact the odds are against my plan, code name: "Gambling".

Naval Warfare
Reading the Overall Situation post, waiting the CVs should be the wise strategy but I'm not so inclined to give up without a fight.
My oldest ships are sailing to Kusaie Island waiting for a mistake during the enemy offensive, I'm not willing to sacrifice them for nothing therefore if no chance will arise they will heading for Kwajalein, code name: "Tempting".

Some ships from Cruiser Division 6 e 18 plus Destroyer Division 30 will be my Strike force B heading towards the enemy.

All the rest will stay at Rabaul at the moment.

Submarine Warfare
Submarine Division 21 (2 RO Class) stays around PM, all the rest will steer towards Guadalcanal.

[AlessandroD]

The Combined Fleet has every right to be worried and angry, the enemy has landend at Lunga and Tulagi and our troops don't even sighted a single ship!
Patrol aircrafts were spread among 4 bases and only a couple of Mavis has been launched, in fact I'm totally blind.

My fighters tried to intecept the enemy CAP but no one has been found, the recon says about 50 fighters in the PM airfield therefore he is waiting, the "CAP and mouse" game is started!

The only positive note, the landing at Tulagi hasn't been so smooth:
Allied ground losses:
589 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 87 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 35 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 11 (0 destroyed, 11 disabled)
Vehicles lost 11 (0 destroyed, 11 disabled)

13 troops of a USMC 42 Rifle Squad lost in surf during unload of 2nd Marine Rgt

[AlessandroD]

Buin has been hit by several CAs and these ships also sunk a transport TF returning at home with some engineers on board.
This raid was a surprise because gave me a beautiful target without escort (maybe a long range CAP) therefore I watched the turn replay waiting the Bettys attack but nothing happened.
I correctly made all settings but I forget to switch in Naval attack the mission!! [:o]

Also the TF loss was a big mistake, an enemy run wasn't so unlikely and a more carefull planning could have saved it

PB Seikai Maru, Shell hits 24, and is sunk
xAKL Kiri Maru #5, Shell hits 2, and is sunk
xAKL Mogami Maru #3, Shell hits 2, and is sunk
xAKL Keihin Maru, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
xAKL Nan-Ho Maru, Shell hits 3, and is sunk

[AlessandroD]

I managed to catch his CAP this time and the outcome has been good, about 10 Kittyhawk IA have been shut down for 1 Zero.

Moreover the first reinforcements have arrived:
35th Inf Brigade HQ arrives at Rabaul
35th IB/124th Inf Regiment arrives at Rabaul

Now I have two good units (the other is the 28th (Sep) Rgt) that I can use to stop the enemy advance at Tassafaronga, this base has 6 forts and I'm willing to use them, maybe is a mistake, we shall see.

Question for you veterans:
I have two different reports about air losses, which is the more accurate?

[AlessandroD]

The first American ship has been sunk, a little freighter heading to PM.

Another operational plan has been issued, Tassafaronga has high priority and this base must be defence at all cost, code name: "Fortress"
If I can send enough troops there my opponent will be forced to keep a big garrison at Lunga.


My patrol this time worked as intended and an enemy TF with several cruisers has been sighted southwest of Ndeni, probably a bombardment action or escorting some reinforcement at Guadalcanal.

SS I-122 launched two torpedoes and scored a hit on CA Salt Lake City, overall a good day for my subs!

[AlessandroD]

Given the previous turn intel I want to intercept his force after the mission (it was a bombardment strike), my Striking Force B moved in the south of Lunga and engaged the enemy, what a battle!

Unfortunately the BB North Carolina was in the group and my force was outgunned but they fought valiantly:

The location wasn't exactly Savo, just for historical flavour [:)]
Day Time Surface Combat, near Rennell Island at 114,140, Range 24,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CA Furutaka, Shell hits 7, and is sunk
CA Kako, Shell hits 5
CL Tenryu, Shell hits 8, heavy fires, heavy damage
CL Tatsuta, Shell hits 11, and is sunk
DD Mutsuki
DD Yayoi, Shell hits 6, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Uzuki, Shell hits 2
DD Mochizuki, Shell hits 14, and is sunk

Allied Ships
BB North Carolina
CA Portland, Shell hits 14, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
CA New Orleans, Shell hits 4
CA Astoria, Shell hits 12, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
DD Grayson, Shell hits 6, heavy fires
DD Monssen, Shell hits 3, on fire
DD Laffey, Shell hits 2, heavy fires
DD Ralph Talbot, Shell hits 1, on fire

Luckly for me the BB fired few salvos but luckly for him the torpedoes missed her, the Allied ships disengaged first and only with the last few salvos they managed to sink the CA Furutaka, after all it could have been worse and I would call this engagement a draw.

Effective losses (including the previous SS attack)
Allied
CA Portland, sunk
CA Astoria, sunk
DD Grayson, heavy damage (sunk?)
DD Laffey, heavy damage
DD Monssen, medium-heavy damage
CA Salt Lake City, light-medium damage
CA New Orleans, light damage
DD Ralph Talbot, light damage

Japanese
CA Furutaka, sunk
CL Tenryu, sunk
CL Tatsuta, sunk
DD Mochizuki, sunk
DD Yayoi, heavy damage (fire 68, maybe will sink next turn)
CA Kako, light damage
DD Uzuki, light damage

The operation "Tempting" is gloriously completed!

[Bif1961]

Considering the number of larger ships BB, CAs in each TF only 4 DDs each seem rather light. Normally each Japanese CL would have 2-4 DDs in each Division. Just think what might have happened if you had 8 DDs vice just 4? I would say a draw is correct but the Japanese equation for victory was 4-1.

[BBfanboy]

ORIGINAL: Bif1961

Considering the number of larger ships BB, CAs in each TF only 4 DDs each seem rather light. Normally each Japanese CL would have 2-4 DDs in each Division. Just think what might have happened if you had 8 DDs vice just 4? I would say a draw is correct but the Japanese equation for victory was 4-1.

Both sides are really short on DDs at this stage in the war. In RL at the battle of Savo Island the IJN had just one really old DD with their 5 CAs and a CL.

[AlessandroD]

ORIGINAL: Bif1961

Considering the number of larger ships BB, CAs in each TF only 4 DDs each seem rather light. Normally each Japanese CL would have 2-4 DDs in each Division. Just think what might have happened if you had 8 DDs vice just 4? I would say a draw is correct but the Japanese equation for victory was 4-1.

Hello,

unfortunately they were only few DDs available at Rabaul when the TF has been created.
About equation: do you mean for every capital ship (CA-CL-BB) are necessary four DDs as escort/support?

[AlessandroD]

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

ORIGINAL: Bif1961

Considering the number of larger ships BB, CAs in each TF only 4 DDs each seem rather light. Normally each Japanese CL would have 2-4 DDs in each Division. Just think what might have happened if you had 8 DDs vice just 4? I would say a draw is correct but the Japanese equation for victory was 4-1.

Both sides are really short on DDs at this stage in the war. In RL at the battle of Savo Island the IJN had just one really old DD with their 5 CAs and a CL.

And she didn't even fought during the battle (maybe few salvos against an enemy DD?)

[AlessandroD]

ORIGINAL: AlessandroD
Question for you veterans:
I have two different reports about air losses, which is the more accurate?

I found the answer, in this yeard old thread where Alfred said:

Assuming you have FOW on, the most accurate report (but still not 100%) is the daily recap via the intel screen. Combat reports are very much subject to FOW and it is always a mistake to turn off combat animations and rely solely on what is provided via the Combat Report.

That should be the first screen.