BTS/BTSL against John 3rd: What was Kitakami thinking?!?!?!?

[Kitakami]

Philippines:

Much air action, not much land action. Batan Island fell, as expected. Cotabato fell to an air assault. Besides that, this is the result of the air attacks:

Clark Field:

Japanese aircraft
***** A6M2 Zero x 81
***** G3M2 Nell x 27
***** G4M1 Betty x 27

Allied aircraft
***** P-40B Warhawk x 4

Japanese aircraft losses
***** G3M2 Nell: 2 damaged
***** G3M2 Nell: 1 destroyed by flak
***** G4M1 Betty: 1 destroyed by flak

Allied aircraft losses
***** P-40B Warhawk: 1 destroyed, 2 damaged
***** P-40B Warhawk: 2 destroyed on ground
***** P-40E Warhawk: 1 destroyed on ground

Allied ground losses:
***** 19 casualties reported
******** Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
******** Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
******** Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Airbase hits 43
Airbase supply hits 8
Runway hits 75

Iba:

Japanese aircraft
***** A6M2 Zero x 9
***** G4M1 Betty x 27

Allied aircraft
***** P-40E Warhawk x 12

Japanese aircraft losses
***** G4M1 Betty: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
***** P-40E Warhawk: 1 destroyed, 3 damaged

Airbase hits 13
Airbase supply hits 7
Runway hits 53

Iba:

Japanese aircraft
***** G4M1 Betty x 27

Allied aircraft
***** P-40E Warhawk x 10

Japanese aircraft losses
***** G4M1 Betty: 13 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
***** P-40E Warhawk: 1 damaged

This second, unescorted Betty attack at Iba, at least, was a breath of fresh air. Not so much for the planes, but for the pilots lost.

Manila:

Japanese aircraft
***** G4M1 Betty x 27

Allied aircraft
***** no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
***** G4M1 Betty: 2 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
***** PBY-4 Catalina: 41 damaged
***** PBY-4 Catalina: 1 destroyed on ground
***** P-40E Warhawk: 21 damaged
***** P-40E Warhawk: 1 destroyed on ground
***** SOC-1 Seagull: 1 damaged

Airbase hits 27
Airbase supply hits 9
Runway hits 43

Clark Field:

***** G3M2 Nell x 27

Allied aircraft
***** P-40B Warhawk x 1

Japanese aircraft losses
***** G3M2 Nell: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
***** P-40B Warhawk: 1 damaged

Airbase hits 12
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 17

Manila:

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 30 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes

Japanese aircraft
***** A6M2 Zero x 55
***** B5N2 Kate x 59
***** D3A1 Val x 45

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
***** SS S-38, Bomb hits 2
***** AM Bittern, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires
***** SS S-41, Bomb hits 4, and is sunk
***** SS S-37, Bomb hits 2
***** SS Sealion, Bomb hits 2, heavy damage
***** SS Skipjack, Bomb hits 1, heavy damage
***** PG Isabel, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires
***** SS Swordfish, Bomb hits 1
***** SS Spearfish, Bomb hits 2, heavy damage
***** SS Searaven, Bomb hits 1
***** SS Sailfish, Bomb hits 1
***** PG Tulsa, Bomb hits 1, on fire
***** SS S-40, Bomb hits 1
***** AO Trinity, Bomb hits 2, on fire
***** PG Asheville, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
***** SS Seal, Bomb hits 1, heavy damage
***** AS Otus, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires
***** TK Manatawny, Bomb hits 1
***** xAP Candesa, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
***** xAP Elcano, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk

Port hits 4
Port fuel hits 1

Lost SS-41, and 2x xAP. Could have been worse, submarine-wise.

All in all, a decent turn, with the exception of airfield damage. Iba: Service Damage 21, Runway Damage 46; Clark Field: Service Damage 70, Runway Damage 98; Manila: Service Damage 33, Runway Damage 43.

[Kitakami]

ORIGINAL: BillBrown
Well, the bad news isn't too bad, yet. I agree that your airframe losses are light, that will be useful, especially the Cats.

My fear is that there will be a second round, something I am not prepared for... but since I have no control over that, I need to think about things I CAN control, I guess

[Kitakami]

Malaya:

These are the REALLY bad news. Not a turn one Mersing Gambit (TM), but close to it. Singapore might fall sooner that historical if I don't play this right (and even if I do).

Georgetown:

Japanese aircraft
***** Ki-27b Nate x 44

Allied aircraft
***** Blenheim IF x 6
***** Buffalo I x 12

Allied aircraft losses
***** Buffalo I: 1 destroyed

attack on TF, near Ulan Melintang ***** THIS WAS MY MISTAKE. I SHOULD HAVE FLED SOUTH WITH THIS TF!

Japanese aircraft
***** G4M1 Betty x 27

Allied Ships
***** CL Dauntless, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
***** xAP Khandalla, Torpedo hits 4, and is sunk

Singapore:

Japanese aircraft
***** G3M2 Nell x 9

Allied aircraft
***** Buffalo I x 16
***** Hurricane IIb Trop x 10

Japanese aircraft losses
***** G3M2 Nell: 4 destroyed

Can't complain about this. Hopefully Japanese air attacks will continue to be uncoordinated with their escorts.

Georgetown:

Japanese aircraft
***** Ki-27b Nate x 35

Allied aircraft
***** Buffalo I x 1

Alor Star:

Japanese aircraft
***** Ki-21-IIa Sally x 21
***** Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 24

Allied aircraft losses
***** Blenheim I: 18 damaged, 1 destroyed on ground

Airbase hits 4
Airbase supply hits 3
Runway hits 23

Georgetown:

Japanese aircraft
***** Ki-21-IIa Sally x 27
***** Ki-27b Nate x 12
***** Ki-48-Ib Lily x 55

Allied aircraft
***** no flights

Allied aircraft losses
***** Buffalo I: 1 damaged, 1 destroyed on ground
***** Blenheim IF: 6 damaged, 1 destroyed on ground

Airbase hits 13
Airbase supply hits 9
Runway hits 66

Kota Bharu:

Japanese aircraft
***** Ki-21-IIa Sally x 22

Allied aircraft losses
***** Hudson I: 4 damaged

Allied ground losses:
***** 10 casualties reported
******** Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled

Airbase hits 2
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 8

Kota Bharu:

Japanese aircraft
***** Ki-21-IIa Sally x 31

Allied aircraft losses
***** Vildebeest III: 1 destroyed on ground
***** Hudson I: 9 damaged

Airbase hits 8
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 22

So far, so good. What worries me is this:

Pre-Invasion action off Kuantan

52 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Japanese Ships
***** DMS Shimushu
***** xAP Meiji Maru
***** CM Kamome

Japanese ground losses:
***** 45 casualties reported
******** Squads: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
******** Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled

DMS Shimushu fired at enemy troops
Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 6,000 yards
Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 1,000 yards

Amphibious Assault at Kuantan

TF 94 troops unloading over beach at Kuantan

Japanese ground losses:
***** 161 casualties reported
******** Squads: 9 destroyed, 0 disabled
******** Non Combat: 4 destroyed, 0 disabled
******** Guns lost 1 (1 destroyed, 0 disabled)

12 troops of a IJA HMG Section lost in surf during unload of 55th Div
10cm T91 Howitzer damaged beyond repair during unload of 55th Div /2
15 Support troops accidentally lost during unload of 55th Div /3
17 troops of a IJA Inf Squad lost from landing craft during unload of 55th Div /4
17 troops of a IJA Inf Squad lost in surf during unload of 55th Div /5
17 troops of a IJA Inf Squad lost from landing craft during unload of 55th Div /7
15 Support troops lost from landing craft during unload of 55th Div /7
17 troops of a IJA Inf Squad lost overboard during unload of 55th Div /9
15 Support troops lost in surf during unload of 55th Div /10
17 troops of a IJA Inf Squad accidentally lost during unload of 55th Div /11
17 troops of a IJA Inf Squad lost from landing craft during unload of 55th Div /12
15 Support troops lost in surf during unload of 55th Div /15

Pre-Invasion action off Kuantan

53 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Japanese Ships
***** PB Heiei Maru #7
***** SC Ch 8
***** APD Fuji
***** AV Sanyo Maru

Japanese ground losses:
***** 46 casualties reported
******** Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
******** Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled

PB Heiei Maru #7 fired at enemy troops
SC Ch 8 fired at enemy troops
Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 6,000 yards
Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 1,000 yards

Amphibious Assault at Kuantan

TF 97 troops unloading over beach at Kuantan

Japanese ground losses:
***** Vehicles lost 1 (1 destroyed, 0 disabled)

Motorized Support accidentally lost during unload of 5th Field Const Bn
15 Aviation Support troops lost in surf during unload of 84th JAAF AF Bn /3

This spells ill for me. If this is the preamble for an assault on Mersing in a turn or two, I am in deep trouble here.

[jwolf]

I'm curious about the fate of BB Washington. My ignorance of the details of the mod is confusing me. But it looks like the Americans get BB Washington much earlier ... just so it can be blown up in the initial PH attack? [&:]

[Kitakami]

Is it me, or were Allied air losses rather light on turn one:

[Kitakami]

These were the ships lost. Not too bad... yet. Now comes the Flight of the Thundering Herd (TM), which is the Allied equivalent of the Great Marianas Turkey Shoot, I guess.

[Lecivius]

In this mod the Washington is an older BB, not a North Carolina class.

I read both AAR's, so I have to stay mum. John is aggressive, so you can count on him swinging for the fences. He loves to kill convoys. He learned a ton from his game with Dan, so don't expect him to make all of the mistakes he made earlier. That said, he IS Banzai John, so he will still be hyper aggressive. Keep that in mind [;)]

So far your losses are pretty standard. In fact, you kept afloat some of the better older BB's.

Loving this already.

[Kitakami]

That is it for me. If there is anything you'd like to know, I'll do my best to post it.

Tenno Heika Banzai!!! err... no... wrong side, I guess... Hooah!!! then ;p

[Lecivius]

.

[Kitakami]

ORIGINAL: jwolf
I'm curious about the fate of BB Washington. My ignorance of the details of the mod is confusing me. But it looks like the Americans get BB Washington much earlier ... just so it can be blown up in the initial PH attack? [&:]

In this mod, there are 4x Colorado-class BBs that have begun refit, and are thus the best of the battlewagons once they finish repairs: Colorado, West Virginia, Maryland, and Washington. As luck would have it, it was one of them that got sunk. The other three are in the West Coast (Maryland and West Virginia at Bremerton, and Colorado at Seattle), and the closest to finish repairs will be ready in almost 2 months. They have 8x 16in/45 Mk 5 rifles, 16x 5in/38 Mk 12 EBRs (1066 AA rating), 21 kts).

[Kitakami]

@Lecivius: Indeed!!!

[jwolf]

Thanks to both of you for clarifying the BB Washington situation. As for the opening attacks, it looks very rough on the ships at Pearl but not so bad -- yet -- otherwise.

[HansBolter]

Very strange design choice to nerf Washington into a 21 knot slow poke and stick her in Pearl to be sunk at the outset!

[Kitakami]

ORIGINAL: HansBolter
Very strange design choice to nerf Washington into a 21 knot slow poke and stick her in Pearl to be sunk at the outset

It is just a name change. BB Georgia, a North Carolina-class BB, arrives on August 28th, so there is no loss of a fast BB.

[HansBolter]

ORIGINAL: Kitakami

ORIGINAL: HansBolter
Very strange design choice to nerf Washington into a 21 knot slow poke and stick her in Pearl to be sunk at the outset

It is just a name change. BB Georgia, a North Carolina-class BB, arrives on August 28th, so there is no loss of a fast BB.

Only a died in the wool JFB could think there is nothing wrong with destroying the tradition of the battleship Washington.

Willis Lee is turning over in his grave.

[BBfanboy]

ORIGINAL: HansBolter

ORIGINAL: Kitakami

ORIGINAL: HansBolter
Very strange design choice to nerf Washington into a 21 knot slow poke and stick her in Pearl to be sunk at the outset

It is just a name change. BB Georgia, a North Carolina-class BB, arrives on August 28th, so there is no loss of a fast BB.

Only a died in the wool JFB could think there is nothing wrong with destroying the tradition of the battleship Washington.

Willis Lee is turning over in his grave.

Not so far fetched. The Mod is "Between the Storms" which uses ships that were cancelled by the naval treaties. So I think there was a Washington planned for the Colorado Class, IIRC. There are also US Battlecruisers in this mod. So John and others who worked on this mod started with an earlier date for development of the navy and newer ships had to be given new names.
Having said that, I agree that not having a North Carolina class Washington goes against my love of the history of that ship and crew. We'll have to see if BB Georgia can do as well!

[Lecivius]

Go Bulldogs!! [:D]

[ny59giants]

John used Georgia for a BB name because of Dan. [;)]

[Kitakami]

Will try to make all Southerners proud of my use of BB Georgia, that is for sure.

[BBfanboy]

ORIGINAL: Kitakami

Will try to make all Southerners proud of my use of BB Georgia, that is for sure.

Message to the Fleet from Canoerebel: Climb Mount Johns! Do the Blowtorch! (see Dan's AAR for explanation.) [:)]