Typhoon of Steel: John 3rd vs. Kitakami

[John 3rd]

FINALLY have the turn.

We may get a glimpse of my opponent's style with Turn TWO.

[durnedwolf]

Ahhhh - turn 2! Just think how much older you will be when this game finishes. [;)]

[John 3rd]

December 8, 1941
Sub OPs

Got the turn in yesterday and sent it back to Jorge without issue.

Pretty good Turn Two.

We'll start in the area of Submarine Operations. We had one heck of a good first day for Japan's Sub Arm:

I-166 SINKS AP Kedah with 1 Shell/1 TT near Palembang
I-159 SINKS AS Janssens with 2TT near Merak
I-121 SINKS AP Hong Siang with 2 TT near TJB
Ro-33 SINKS AKL Fortuna with 2 Shells and 2 TT near San Jose
I-155 hits AKL Lematang with 10 Shells near Oosthaven
I-6 SINKS AP Poelauhaut with 2TT near San Luis Obispo
I-122 hits AK Wing Song with 1 TT near TJB
I-160 SINKS AKL Chaksong with 2 TT AND SINKS AK Chilka with 2 TT
I-126 SINKS AP Kelantan with 3 TT and hits AK Demosthenes with 3 Shells near Singapore
I-153 SINKS TK Djirak with 3 TT near Bandjermasin

Total Allied losses for one day: 4 AP, 1 AS, 1 AK, 1 TK, 2AKL with damage done to 2 more AKs and an AKL.


Allied Subs hit AP Meiji Maru with 2 TT

Very promising start to the Japanese SS Arm.

[John 3rd]

December 8, 1941
Hawaii

The Kido Butai has a solid day as well. Japan's Striking Force hits PH with a Sweep and get hit back by 4EB from Pearl.

SWEEP
69 Zeros flying at 15,000Ft engage 44 American Fighters over PH. Japan loses 2 Zero in exchange for nearly 20 Fighters. NICE!

American B-17 Attack
Groups of 18 and 6 B-17s attack the carriers. They are met 53 Zeros on CAP--15,000 Ft. WE get excellent results with 2 B-17 down in ATA and 3 more destroyed by AA. Love to see Fortresses FALL! No damage taken by the carriers.


Plans
OK. I concur that a second strike (with Japan having less experienced pilots in this Mod) might be worth the risk. Move the CVs NW so they end up seven hexes due north of PH. All Kates ordered to attack at 11,000 Ft and CAP is set for 15,000 Ft again. Set for 40% so there should be plenty of Escorts. Morale with the American pilots is bad so I expect the Kates to get through fairly easily. AA will SUCK. Predict losing 20+ Kates out of 100 committed. Vals are set for anti-shipping attacks.

After this attack, the Kido Butai will move off so it cannot be spotted and refuel. WE will then go quiet and try to ambush anything moving between the WC and Hawaii.

[John 3rd]

December 8, 1941
Surface TF Actions

The seas around the DEI are filled with Japanese STF prowling around for helpless Allied shipping.

STF--Chokai This group of 2 CA and 4 DD get lots of action sinking 3 AKL, 1 AK, and AO Pecos

The 4 BC sink AS Holland

Next turn will see six separate STF attacking shipping around the Philippines and east of Borneo.

[John 3rd]

December 8, 1941
Philippines and Malaya

Philippines
Two ID, 65th Brigade, and about a dozen other units begin loading at Formosa and Pescadores for taking Luzon.

Manila is hit by 88 Zero and 85 Bombers. Results are crappy with hits scored on 2 SS and a PG. A group of 17 P-40 fly CAP and get crushed.

Iba sees for the second day in a row a Japanese Daitai get mauled by 18 P-40s. Lose nine bombers and that sucks!

Malaya
Kuantan is taken in a 7-1 assault. The AF is undamaged so I fly in 100 Fighters immediately.

Mersing will be invaded tomorrow by the 4th ID. I kept that TF and the BB TF at Kuantan and now order them to invade that base. The 3 CVLs will be providing direct CAP as well as from Kuantan.

Malacca will get the attentions of Japanese Paras tomorrow and that SHOULD stop any form of retreat down the peninsula. Only need the hex contested for 2 or more days before my troops cross from Mersing. If we have any luck, this will make the job MUCH EASIER taking Singers and the troops in the peninsula.

Begin loading of 3 IDs and about 15 support units are Samah to head for Malaya.

[John 3rd]

December 8, 1941
Other Happenings

Land at Miri and Guam. Will take them tomorrow.

Have started tinkering with the economy and aircraft production. I plan to discuss these moves with readers so newer players may gain some serious insight into running the Japanese economy.



OK. That is the second turn. Sound off!

[Chickenboy]

ORIGINAL: John 3rd

December 8, 1941
Other Happenings

Land at Miri and Guam. Will take them tomorrow.

Have started tinkering with the economy and aircraft production. I plan to discuss these moves with readers so newer players may gain some serious insight into ruining the Japanese economy.



OK. That is the second turn. Sound off!

I fixed that for you. [:'(]

[John 3rd]

Got the turn and will run it today.

Am leaving to go visit my Mother this weekend so there will be no action Fri-Mon due to that.

Will Post when the turn is run...

[crsutton]

ORIGINAL: John 3rd

No takers? I see...

Have to say that I was amazed at how Marvel could bring all these super-sized egos...I mean actors...and make it work! Excellent film with great HOLY COW ending.

Kitakami is taking FOREVER to get Turn Two done. Always kid people that the only thing worse then Turn ONE for Japan is Turn TWO for the Allies. Talk about 'click' fatigue!

I am sure it is good and entertaining but I have lost my desire to see big budget special effects blasts. I really think that it has taken a lot out of film making and there is an over reliance on digital effects these days. Even in war films. I have sort of turned to watching more indie stuff and old classics.

[John 3rd]

Got the turn done and sent back but have not enough time for a serious set of updates.

Do any of you have a wife who stresses over packing. I mean STRESSES! Paula was freaked out that I hadn't packed for the weekend. I planned to throw everything in about half an hour before I left but she couldn't handle it and spent 45 minutes packing my stuff for a 4 day trip to my sister's house with no real need of preparing for anything special. My plan was to throw everything in in about 5 minutes and be happy. Now the wife is happy and I have clothes and who-knows-what for ANY possible event!

[Lecivius]

I pack in 5 minutes. The wife takes 5 days. So far, I have not wanted for anything important [;)]

[tarkalak]

I rather pride myself on my packing. Packing is one of those many things that I feel I know more about than any other person living. (It surprises me myself, sometimes, how many of these subjects there are.) I impressed the fact upon George and Harris, and told them that they had better leave the whole matter entirely to me. They fell into the suggestion with a readiness that had something uncanny about it. George put on a pipe and spread himself over the easy-chair, and Harris cocked his legs on the table and lit a cigar.

Jerome K. Jerome

[AcePylut]

I pack in 5 minutes, but I overpack, by far.... I'll have 2 suitcases for a 1 day overnight lol. Never know when I might need that 5th pair of underwear (A pair for the roadtrip, a pair to change into when I get there, a pair for the night, a pair after morning shower, a pair after the morning activity, etc. lol). My wife packs in 4 days, but packs "just right".

[tarkalak]

I made the habit of taking some washing powder so I never need more then 5 pairs of socks, T-shirts and underwear. Well except that time when I went on swing dance camp and burned through 5 shirts a day.

[JohnDillworth]

Ah...It is not a question of your packing. You did not pack ahead of time so your wife could check your packing and put in all the stuff you missed! We have the same name and approximate age so this is how I would pack:
1 pair of socks and 1 pair of underwear for each day
It's not a wedding (10 minutes extra) so 2 pairs of pants , 4 shirts. 2 with buttons, 2 pullovers
1 pair of running shoes
1 pair of all purpose hiking/walking type boots
1 pair of sweat pants which double for any gym that might be found or a pajamas
1 sweater
1 coat of appropriate seasonal weight
1 belt
bathing suit as required
NO LAPTOP!!!!! (not for family trips!)
medication as required
toiletries
1 Amazon Kindle
1 Smartphone
1 Fuji X100F camera
chargers or wires as needed
1 Swiss Army knife
1 wallet with cash, debit & credit cards
car keys
1 baseball cap with BASEBALL TEAM OR SPORTS TEAM LOGO (no political affiliation on the hat!)
subtract what ever you are wearing on your back (1 shirt, 1 pair socks, 1 pair underwear, 1 belt, 1 baseball cap, 1 pair of pants


there.....10 minutes.....did I miss anything?

[AcePylut]

Toilet Paper Mr. Dillworth. Toilet Paper. Always bring a roll.

[John 3rd]

I made it out without issue to lovely--hotter then HOLY HE**--Wichita. How can it be in the mid-90s in the middle of May??!! I am used to 35% humidity--NOT 90%!!!

Appreciate the very considerate words about packing. Think that I tend to overpack when I wait to the last minute. That being said, I do not stress about it. Paula does.

[John 3rd]

December 9, 1941

Am at my sister's place in Wichita, KS and wanted to do my Day Three update only to find that I left my notes back at home. STUPID!

Want to hit some of the major points of the day and will then come back for an in-depth set of reports.

The Thundering Herd
Jorge sends all the shipping in the Philippines on a pell-mell run-for-your-life set of orders. No less then six Japanese STF and CARDIV2 await them as they run. Nearly 30 ships are sunk including Brit DDs Thanet and Scout an AVP, an AS, and several APs. Two of the six TFs run out of ammo and are ordered to CRB for re-supply.

The wildest fight that occurs is between USS Boise and the four modern US DDs sent to bolster the Asiatic Fleet. This TF tangles with BC Kirishima, Hiei and 3 DDs. There are three separate night encounters as the Americans try to move south and the Japanese react back into them. A final daylight encounter then occurs before the two TFs separate and head for home. Through the course of the battles, all four American DDs take serious damage and Boise gets hit by 4 14" shells and 8-10 other shells for heavy damage. Those damned 6" shells from Boise make total chaos out of Kirishima's upperworks. She takes 51 SYS and no FLOT damage. YIKES! Evil American CL!!

The afternoon sees a strike by Hiryu Vals plant bombs on three of the damaged DDs as well as two 250KG bombs onto Boise. One might THINK this finishes the CL. We;ll see...

Sub OPs
Nearly another dozen Allied ships are sank by Japanese SS during the course of the turn. These specifics will be reported when I have the paper in front of me.

Pearl Harbor
Against my better judgement I ordered all my Kates to attack PH. Bets were at least 20% casualties. This bet was under what actually happened. THe strike consists of 60 Zeros and 120 Kates. They encounter nearly 70 American Fighters. My Zeros pounce and quickly shot down over a dozen fighters before waving the red cape and allowing near 40 planes through to attack my bombers. We lose over 30 planes at this point. Nearly 90 still drop their bombs from 11,000 Ft but only FIVE score hits. CRAP! Two 800G hit Idaho and two more hit Arizona while Minneapolis gets a single strike. Horse poo-doo!

The end of the day reveals over 40 Kates lost for the effort. GOOD news is that we only lose about 24 pilots. Don't know how that math works out but I am happy to confirm by going through the KB TB Daitai. Could be worse I suppose...

This strike was launched from seven hexes due north of PH. Instead of retiring north, The KB shuts down all searches and strikes (Leaving only CAP up) and retires ENE to link up with my AOs. This should place the CV out of air search range. We'll refuel and then move towards the WC to try and catch some convoys before returning to cover the Midway invasion.

Manila
Contrasting the PH disaster is a very good attack on Manila Bay. A force of 40 Zero and 80+ Bombers smash damaged shipping in the port sinking four Fleet Subs and damaging another 6-8 ships. GOOD!

Ground
Malaya
Mersing
The 4th ID lands without issue at Mersing. Three BBs cover the landing that has ZERO interference. We shall shock attack tomorrow and capture the base driving out the two Brit Brigades present in the hex. To ensure this, nearly 100 bombers and all three BBs will hit the hex before the attack.

Malacca
Paras land at Malacca and force six units to stop in their strategic movement. The assault gets an 18-11 AV result for 1-1. Just miss the needed 2-1! The rest of the Paras will land tomorrow and, hopefully, we'll gain the base. All that truly matters is stopping the retreat long enough to come over from Mersing. We shall see...

Those are High/Low points of the turn.

[John 3rd]

Almost slipped to the 2nd page. CANNOT have that!