Beans, Bullets and Black Oil :: obvert (A) vs Lowpe (J)

[witpqs]

ORIGINAL: obvert

ORIGINAL: witpqs

ORIGINAL: obvert




What do you mean? [&:]

The First Naval Battle of Guadalcanal, aka The Battle of Friday the 13th.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naval_Battle_of_Guadalcanal

Oh, okay. Yeah, I guess I don't see the connection. No ships on either side were sunk last turn as far as I can tell. [;)]

Cruisers on battleship(s)! Slugging it out at close range, no less.

[witpqs]

I should add, your cruisers dished out a beating, yes?

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: witpqs

I should add, your cruisers dished out a beating, yes?

Gotcha. Yeah, they did well, and are seriously experienced now. Still, it's frustrating not to be able to deliver the decisive blow to actually sink something. I'd bet about half the BB and CA afloat have been significantly damaged, but I can't then put them down.

I have a feeling he's now stashing ships at smaller ports because some just disappear after battles. I'll start having more of a look around, although recon sucks at this point.

[obvert]

This was my last view of the mini-KB up in the North a few turns back. What you can't see is that about 18 hexes to the South Sara and Hornet stalk quietly.

I had hoped too try to intercept the IJN CVs after their mission was accomplished with CAP reduced and/or strikes not set. It was a long shot. I didn't want to risk a direct confrontation 2 vs 2 at this stage with marginally trained pilots, only Wildcats and Buffs on CAP and escort, and in an area that favours the IJN for proximity to escape and shipyards.

So we waited and moved stealthily to the West. My prediction was that these ships would move to the Tokyo area to refuel and head South to join up or support more work in the DEI, So Pac or other destinations.

[obvert]

Instead of catching the CVs we stalked in close, had a thought about hitting some industry, and decided to be (slightly) prudent for once! [:D]

After my early moves I'm betting he has a ton of Nates and Claudes around at least, flying CAP, and some Netties/TB to strike out. I had a good look around though, and would have most likely gone for Osaka or Koba had I decided to make a run in. Tokyo would be the obvious target, but the shipyards in those bases, and/or a manpower strike at Osaka, could have been a decent possibility.

Unseen at 13 hexes from Tokyo I decided to see if the CVs might still be hiding to the East or Paramushiro, waiting for a challenge to the forces at Attu.

The next turn, on the 18th, we were sighted (although just the ASW DDs showed a 2/2 DL) and I decided to make a dash North. This was to both get out in case CVs or surface forces moved toward our reported position and to get in position to intercept the shipping known to be up North.

I just saw the replay and got the report. Interestingly, nothing seems to have happened up here last turn. Curious to see what search has possibly picked up and what might be in range tomorrow. I'll spend one day trying to hit stuff, then move back SE to meet the oilers and head home. I'm sure there are some subs around and it would be best to stay out of their way for now! [;)]

[obvert]

Back down South subs run interference for the Cruisers, which I set to go back into the maelstrom at Singers. I didn't like the air support around Java right now, and thought I might catch some DD/TB hanging around. They're also set to bombard Sinkep to limit its use as an escort and CAP base.

I'll move the P-40E, P-40B and the Buffs back into Singers, but I'll leave out the P-38E for now. Too precious in case another bombardment is coming. I may have some surprises for future incursions. [:)]

Perth and the Achilles with their DDs will head out to the end of Sumatra and hopefully out of Nettie range. Even more subs will be coming into the area dn the few that were damaged last turn will try to quickly repair at Singers. The KB has disappeared into the South China Sea somewhere. I'll have to let it go for now, although there are a few subs posted around Hong Kng should they try to move into that area.

[obvert]

The night sees subs starting the action, and luckily the cruisers miss a big TF with 2 x BB and 2 x CL, although at least the Hiei might be low on ammo.

[font="Trebuchet MS"]
ASW attack near Lingga at 50,87

Japanese Ships
BB Hiei
BB Haruna
CL Yura
CL Sendai
DD Umikaze
DD Amatsukaze
DD Sanae
DD Hayate
DD Kamikaze
DD Akebono

Allied Ships
SS KXVII, hits 1

SS KXVII is sighted by escort
KXVII bottoming out ....
[/font]

[obvert]

Another missed target by Permit near TayTay.

[font="Trebuchet MS"]--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack near Taytay at 73,78

Japanese Ships
xAK Hokumai Maru
PB Santo Maru

Allied Ships
SS Permit

SS Permit is sighted by escort
Permit diving deep ....[/font]

Then the cruisers sneak into Sinkep and bombard to medium effect. Not sure how they didn't wipe the board here if there were planes on the level 1 field, but maybe these were damaged leftovers after the main group moved.
[font="Trebuchet MS"]
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Night Naval bombardment of Singkep at 49,87

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 2 damaged

Allied Ships
CA Houston
CL Phoenix
CL Honolulu
CL Marblehead

Japanese ground losses:
178 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 6 destroyed, 6 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 4 (2 destroyed, 2 disabled)

Resources hits 1
Airbase hits 4
Runway hits 15
Port hits 3
Port supply hits 3

SOC-1 Seagull acting as spotter for CA Houston
CA Houston firing at Singkep
CL Phoenix firing at Singkep
CL Honolulu firing at Singkep
CL Marblehead firing at Singkep[/font]

[obvert]

Swordfish finds another big TF near Balikpapan, the same that was attacked by Wildebeests the previous turn. She is sighted before firing, unfortunately.
[font="Trebuchet MS"]
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ASW attack near Balikpapan at 64,98

Japanese Ships
BB Mutsu
BB Kirishima
CL Abukuma
DD Minazuki
DD Kasumi
DD Tanikaze
DD Hamakaze
DD Kuretake
DD Yunagi
DD Ayanami
DD Samidare

Allied Ships
SS Swordfish, hits 1

SS Swordfish is sighted by escort
Swordfish bottoming out ....
DD Kuretake attacking submerged sub ....[/font]

[obvert]

The reduction in A6M2 numbers seems a premature assumption as at least four groups fly today from the Palembang area and one defends Balikpapan. Two sweep empty air at Batavia, which is nice. Glad I didn't opt to go that direction with the cruisers.

The first strike at Singers today is Nells escorted by Oscars bombing the port from 14k. Bad timing, as the CAP of 55 P-40 and 9 Buffs got to them quickly and shot down 2/3 of the group. I watched the replay and the Oscars defended extremely well, hitting a lot of P-40s for damage, but not being able to knock them out. Once the numbers were up the Allied planes broke through.
[font="Trebuchet MS"]--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Singapore , at 50,84

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 31 NM, estimated altitude 17,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes

Japanese aircraft
G3M2 Nell x 30
Ki-43-Ia Oscar x 16
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 16

Allied aircraft
Buffalo I x 9
P-40B Warhawk x 13
P-40E Warhawk x 42

Japanese aircraft losses
G3M2 Nell: 14 destroyed, 3 damaged
Ki-43-Ic Oscar: 2 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-40E Warhawk: 1 destroyed

Aircraft Attacking:
11 x G3M2 Nell bombing from 14000 feet
Port Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb, 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb[/font]

[obvert]

The IJN flyers get to the CAP in a big sweep and do lessen the defences significantly for later strikes. The defenders do also take out about 6-8 A6M, which likely means that many expert pilots.

[font="Trebuchet MS"]--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Singapore , at 50,84

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 36 NM, estimated altitude 25,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 43

Allied aircraft
Buffalo I x 6
P-40B Warhawk x 13
P-40E Warhawk x 39

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 4 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-40B Warhawk: 3 destroyed
P-40E Warhawk: 6 destroyed

Aircraft Attacking:
15 x A6M2 Zero sweeping at 21000 feet[/font]

[obvert]

Vals are next up, and the depleted CAP actually does an amazing job here of fighting through the escorts to get to them, lessening the strike against the cruisers. Still, one does get a bomb onto the Houston, which already had taken a few shots in the previous day's battle. It took out an 8inch gun mount and penetrated, which isn't positive.

[font="Trebuchet MS"]--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Singapore at 50,84

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 36 NM, estimated altitude 18,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 13 minutes

Japanese aircraft
D3A1 Val x 15
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 23

Allied aircraft
Buffalo I x 2
P-40B Warhawk x 4
P-40E Warhawk x 7

Japanese aircraft losses
D3A1 Val: 1 destroyed, 10 damaged
D3A1 Val: 1 destroyed by flak

No Allied losses

Allied Ships
CL Honolulu
CL Marblehead
CA Houston, Bomb hits 1, on fire

Aircraft Attacking:
14 x D3A1 Val releasing from 1000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb[/font]

[obvert]

The CAP again does well to get to some Sallys who come over next. They get in some shots on the ships in the shipyards though. One bomb each, and because there is a sin problem, I don't know if they had extra messages or not.

Amazing only three hits from 48 Sallys! [X(]

[font="Trebuchet MS"]--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Singapore , at 50,84

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 38 NM, estimated altitude 17,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-21-IIa Sally x 48
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 6

Allied aircraft
Buffalo I x 2
P-40B Warhawk x 3
P-40E Warhawk x 5

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21-IIa Sally: 2 destroyed, 13 damaged

No Allied losses

Allied Ships
CL Boise, Bomb hits 1
CA Chester, Bomb hits 1, heavy damage
CL Achilles, Bomb hits 1

Port hits 2

Aircraft Attacking:
16 x Ki-21-IIa Sally bombing from 14000 feet
Port Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb
29 x Ki-21-IIa Sally bombing from 14000 feet
Port Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb[/font]

[obvert]

The very meagre remaining Dutch and RAF fighters sweep Balikpapan to thin out CAP for a possible 4E strike against port and oil. They haven't flown on these same orders for three days but ...

[obvert]

... finally they make it! [8D]

[font="Trebuchet MS"]--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Balikpapan , at 64,97

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid spotted at 37 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 3

Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 14

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
CM Shirataka, Bomb hits 1, on fire

Oil hits 7
Port hits 2

Aircraft Attacking:
5 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 8000 feet *
Port Attack: 4 x 500 lb GP Bomb
7 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 8000 feet *
City Attack: 4 x 500 lb GP Bomb
2 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 8000 feet *
City Attack: 4 x 500 lb GP Bomb[/font]

[obvert]

A total of 11 oil hits and several mine and support ships hit. The cruisers and other ships that are damaged are sitting in the hex in TFs.

[font="Trebuchet MS"]--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Balikpapan , at 64,97

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid spotted at 6 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 1 minutes

Allied aircraft
B-17D Fortress x 6

No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
CM Kamome, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires
AKE Kureha Maru #3, Bomb hits 1, on fire
CM Shirataka, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage

Port hits 2

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x B-17D Fortress bombing from 8000 feet *
Port Attack: 4 x 500 lb GP Bomb
[/font]

[obvert]

[font="Times New Roman"]Jan 18, 1942[/font]

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[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]SUBS: [/font] A few subs join in to scout the North, and the RN subs just on map are running fast to the DEI. No good hits this turn. Still haven't lost a sub outside of port this game. (A few did go under at Manila).

Soon his ASW air will pick up skill, but I'm committed to using subs throughout the game very aggressively. I have some ideas about what to do in the middle game, but that's still a long way off!

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]DEI: [/font] One last strike came through and meant a few more Oscars and Vals were splashed.

The fields at Singers were not hit at all, so if air crews can patch up some planes about 25 should be up for CAP tomorrow I'd guess. I can fly in the P-38Es but I have to see what is in the area first. If there are more bombardment scares that's not a good plan. Maybe the AKE we hit the previous night was intended for Sinkep, or a nearby port to Singers, and that could mean those BBs and CLs found by subs might be heading off to replenish. The BBs cannot get main armament shells anywhere nearby, so maybe they're off to Cam Ran Bay or even Hong Kong.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]PACIFIC: [/font] There were no fireworks up North. A sigh of relief as the CVs made it through to near Paramushiro, and they'll now head East. Hopefully Tone will not escape.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]CHINA: [/font] Not much going on.

[font="Trebuchet MS"][/font]
[font="Trebuchet MS"]--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Jan 18, 42
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Singapore at 50,84

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid detected at 33 NM, estimated altitude 18,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes

Japanese aircraft
D3A1 Val x 5
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 22

Allied aircraft
Buffalo I x 5
P-40B Warhawk x 1
P-40E Warhawk x 9

Japanese aircraft losses
D3A1 Val: 4 destroyed
Ki-43-Ib Oscar: 1 destroyed

No Allied losses
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------[/color][/font]

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[font="Trebuchet MS"]Tone has a little smoke, so probably isn't at full speed. Curious to see if anything is near where the CVs ended up near Paramushiro Jima. [/font]

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[paullus99]

This is fascinating - a really good look at how bloody the first few months of the war can really be.

Of course, I am reminded that the IJN was actually projecting something like 50% losses in their conquest plans, but again, they were also expecting that the Allies (and the US) would sue for peace too (rendering those losses moot).

[BBfanboy]

That thin smoke with no orange for fire commonly denotes only systems damage ~ 10. That would do nothing to affect the ship's speed. However, if he ran the Tone at high speed and that caused the system damage, Tone may also be short on fuel.

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

That thin smoke with no orange for fire commonly denotes only systems damage ~ 10. That would do nothing to affect the ship's speed. However, if he ran the Tone at high speed and that caused the system damage, Tone may also be short on fuel.

In my experience it also means there might be a point or two of engine damage, especially having been traversing the arctic for a month during winter. Just a hope, anyway, that she can't scuttle past the CVs to safety.