The Accidental War Obvert vs Lowpe

[Lowpe]

First attack on Shanghai by joint British/Commonwealth/Yanks/Chinese.

[Lowpe]

So the Rufes got only one beast, but a few Hudsons but lose 2 to ops.

The Americans did send a destroyer task force forward...but we managed to dodge it for now. So we have a good chance of evacuating 10,000 combat troops which will go die against the Soviets.[;)]

Out of the frying pan and into the fire!

[Lowpe]

This plucky squadron was involved in four clashes with PT boats. Here you can see the importance of having forward facing guns in a surface action group...

[Lowpe]

But you never know, this little squadron had only two engagements but they fired a lot from the rear guns. Perhaps because they were set to follow a troop convoy?

[Lowpe]

The two merchant convoys were involved in 3 and 2 engagements respectively, and they primarily fired from the rear facing guns.

Here is the damaged AK

Night Time Surface Combat, near Shanghai at 93,55, Range 2,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
SC Ch 22
AK Tosan Maru, Shell hits 3, Torpedo hits 1
xAK Ayatosan Maru
xAK Zenyo Maru, Shell hits 3
xAK Kosin Maru
xAK Nozima Maru
xAK Nitisan Maru
xAK Shinanogawa Maru
xAP Montevideo Maru
xAP Teibi Maru
SC Ch 29
SC Ch 33

Allied Ships
PT-166
PT-167, Shell hits 3, and is sunk
PT-168
PT-169
PT-170

Japanese ground losses:
36 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled

Low visibility due to Rain with 0% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Rain and 0% moonlight: 2,000 yards
Range closes to 9,000 yards...
Range closes to 8,000 yards...
Range closes to 7,000 yards...
Range closes to 6,000 yards...
Range closes to 5,000 yards...
Range closes to 4,000 yards...
Range closes to 3,000 yards...
Range closes to 2,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 2,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 2,000 yards
PT-170 engages AK Tosan Maru at 2,000 yards
PT-169 engages AK Tosan Maru at 2,000 yards
PT-168 engages AK Tosan Maru at 2,000 yards
PT-166 engages AK Tosan Maru at 2,000 yards
PT-169 engages xAK Shinanogawa Maru at 2,000 yards
PT-170 engages xAK Zenyo Maru at 2,000 yards
Range increases to 4,000 yards
SC Ch 33 engages PT-170 at 4,000 yards
SC Ch 22 engages PT-170 at 4,000 yards
PT-170 engages xAK Shinanogawa Maru at 4,000 yards
Range closes to 2,000 yards
AK Tosan Maru , xAP Teibi Maru screened from combat
- escorted by SC Ch 33
PT-170 engages SC Ch 29 at 2,000 yards
SC Ch 22 engages PT-170 at 2,000 yards
Range increases to 3,000 yards
PT-170 engages SC Ch 29 at 3,000 yards
PT-167 sunk by AK Tosan Maru at 3,000 yards good shooting!
Perez, P.S. orders Allied TF to disengage
AK Tosan Maru screened from combat
PT-170 engages AK Tosan Maru at 3,000 yards
PT-168 engages SC Ch 22 at 3,000 yards
PT-170 engages xAK Shinanogawa Maru at 3,000 yards
Task forces break off...

[Lowpe]

Jan 7, 1943

Thunderstorms, no moon, .... a close in fight!

[Lowpe]

The next fight, in the morning is this one, which is really bad, because it means the Kongo is detached to an escort TF and probably going to stay at Shanghai...where there is no LRCAP!

Day Time Surface Combat, near Shanghai at 91,55, Range 5,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CL Yura, Shell hits 4
DD Arashi
DD Arare
DD Yunagi

Allied Ships
CL Perth
CL Hobart, Shell hits 2
DD Stack, Shell hits 2
DD Sterett, Shell hits 2, on fire

Poor visibility due to Thunderstorms
Maximum visibility in Thunderstorms: 5,000 yards
Range closes to 23,000 yards...
Range closes to 17,000 yards...
Range closes to 11,000 yards...
Range closes to 7,000 yards...
Range closes to 5,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 5,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 5,000 yards
Asakura, Bunji crosses the 'T'

[Lowpe]

Uh, oh! Here comes the bombers on Honshu....and I am 7 days or so away from having the Jack. The fighters here are for show, so there is no opposition. Big fires, but only about 200 VP.

Morning Air attack on Fukuoka , at 103,57

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid spotted at 23 NM, estimated altitude 37,550 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes

Allied aircraft
P-38F Lightning x 22

No Allied losses

Aircraft Attacking:
22 x P-38F Lightning sweeping at 31550 feet *



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Fukuoka , at 103,57

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 48 NM, estimated altitude 36,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes

Allied aircraft
P-38F Lightning x 18

No Allied losses

Aircraft Attacking:
18 x P-38F Lightning sweeping at 33000 feet *

[Lowpe]

Poor girl takes three more torpedo hits from biplanes...

[Lowpe]

So, I am going all out to save the stricken Kongo. I am sure it is a mistake to do so.[X(] Even if I get her to survive, she will never fight in this war again.

7 Days for Jack to arrive, and then it would be 80 days or so to get the J2m3 and I doubt the game will still be going on then, so I will dump all research into production of Jack.

[Lowpe]

Jan 9th, 1943

Operation save the Kongo, starts off well avoiding Allied subs, and then surprising some PT boats...

[Lowpe]

Night bombing has started by American beasts. Allies will get 10K vp very easily by targeting Osaka or Tokyo...but for now they are probing. Still, they pick up 500 vp over the last two days.

[Lowpe]

KB rushes into Singers, along with a gaggle of other shipping, and the expected sweeps arrive...but no Lightnings, and no bombers they had other targets today.

So the first day of save the Kongo is a success. But now, can the Haruna run the gauntlet of PT boats and submarines to make it back to Honshu? Doubtful.[:(]

[Lowpe]

Jan 10, 1942

Save the Kongo, Day 2...

[Lowpe]

Oh, no the PT Boats surge past our blockers...

Tricksy Allied dogs dropped at minefield at Ningpo...

[Lowpe]

But there is a few squadrons protecting the Haruna...

10% moonlight, and thunderstorms, oh, what a night!

[Lowpe]

OH, my![X(]

The PT Boats find the Kongo! The Haruna's belly is full of water, she is ripe for the taking!!!!

A destroyer tries to screen and dodges the first torpedo spread...

[Lowpe]

2000 yard, then 3000 and furious torpedo spread is fired, but none at the Haruna, then 4000 yards and then 5000 yards and Haruna is looking safe...but then the PT Boats surge and close back to 4000 yards...

[Lowpe]

And the Haruna fires a few rounds, she will go down swinging when the task forces suddenly break off.

Haruna yet lives!

Night Time Surface Combat, near Shanghai at 93,55, Range 2,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
BB Haruna, heavy damage
DD Oyashio
DD Tachikaze
DMS W-6
PB Hakkai Maru
PB Kyo Maru #2
PB Bisaku Maru

Allied Ships
PT-31
PT-33
PT-43
PT-120, Shell hits 1
PT-121
PT-124
PT-171
PT-172
PT-173
PT-174, on fire

Reduced visibility due to Thunderstorms with 10% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Thunderstorms and 10% moonlight: 2,000 yards
Range closes to 11,000 yards...
Range closes to 10,000 yards...
Range closes to 9,000 yards...
Range closes to 8,000 yards...
Range closes to 7,000 yards...
Range closes to 6,000 yards...
Range closes to 5,000 yards...
Range closes to 4,000 yards...
Range closes to 3,000 yards...
Range closes to 2,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 2,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 2,000 yards
PT-174 engages PB Hakkai Maru at 2,000 yards
DMS W-6 engages PT-120 at 2,000 yards
DMS W-6 engages PT-33 at 2,000 yards
DD Tachikaze engages PT-174 at 2,000 yards
DD Oyashio engages PT-174 at 2,000 yards
PB Hakkai Maru engages PT-120 at 2,000 yards
Range increases to 3,000 yards
BB Haruna engages PT-120 at 3,000 yards
DMS W-6 engages PT-173 at 3,000 yards
DD Oyashio engages PT-174 at 3,000 yards
PB Bisaku Maru engages PT-120 at 3,000 yards
PB Kyo Maru #2 engages PT-124 at 3,000 yards
PB Hakkai Maru engages PT-124 at 3,000 yards
PT-120 engages DMS W-6 at 3,000 yards
DMS W-6 engages PT-43 at 3,000 yards
DMS W-6 engages PT-31 at 3,000 yards
Range increases to 4,000 yards
DMS W-6 engages PT-172 at 4,000 yards
PT-31 engages PB Hakkai Maru at 4,000 yards
DMS W-6 engages PT-31 at 4,000 yards
DMS W-6 engages PT-33 at 4,000 yards
Range increases to 5,000 yards
DMS W-6 engages PT-174 at 5,000 yards
DD Tachikaze engages PT-173 at 5,000 yards
PB Bisaku Maru engages PT-120 at 5,000 yards
PT-31 engages DMS W-6 at 5,000 yards
Range closes to 4,000 yards
DD Tachikaze engages PT-172 at 4,000 yards
DD Oyashio engages PT-172 at 4,000 yards
PT-120 engages DMS W-6 at 4,000 yards
DMS W-6 engages PT-33 at 4,000 yards
BB Haruna engages PT-173 at 4,000 yards
DD Oyashio engages PT-174 at 4,000 yards
Task forces break off...

[Lowpe]

The Haruna is not attacked at night, a big fear...but blunders into another PT boat squadron, and the old girl just can't keep afloat, too much flooding in the fore compartments, her pumps fail, and she goes down.[X(]


Night Time Surface Combat, near Shanghai at 93,55, Range 2,000 Yards

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
E13A1 Jake: 1 destroyed

Japanese Ships
BB Haruna, and is sunk
DD Oyashio
DD Tachikaze
DMS W-6, Shell hits 1
PB Hakkai Maru
PB Kyo Maru #2
PB Bisaku Maru, Shell hits 1, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk

Allied Ships
PT-142
PT-143, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
PT-147
PT-164, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
PT-169
PT-170

Poor visibility due to Thunderstorms with 17% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Thunderstorms and 17% moonlight: 2,000 yards
Range closes to 8,000 yards...
Range closes to 7,000 yards...
Range closes to 6,000 yards...
Range closes to 5,000 yards...
Range closes to 4,000 yards...
Range closes to 3,000 yards...
Range closes to 2,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 2,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 2,000 yards
DMS W-6 engages PT-170 at 2,000 yards
PT-170 engages PB Bisaku Maru at 2,000 yards
DMS W-6 engages PT-143 at 2,000 yards
Range increases to 3,000 yards
BB Haruna engages PT-170 at 3,000 yards
DD Tachikaze engages PT-170 at 3,000 yards
PT-164 sunk by DD Oyashio at 3,000 yards
Range closes to 2,000 yards
DMS W-6 engages PT-170 at 2,000 yards
DD Tachikaze engages PT-170 at 2,000 yards
PB Bisaku Maru sunk by PT-147 at 2,000 yards
BB Haruna engages PT-170 at 2,000 yards
DD Tachikaze engages PT-147 at 2,000 yards
DMS W-6 engages PT-147 at 2,000 yards
PT-142 engages DMS W-6 at 2,000 yards
DD Tachikaze engages PT-142 at 2,000 yards
PB Kyo Maru #2 engages PT-169 at 2,000 yards
PT-143 engages DMS W-6 at 2,000 yards
Range increases to 3,000 yards
PT-143 sunk by DD Tachikaze at 3,000 yards
PT-169 engages DMS W-6 at 3,000 yards
PT-142 engages PB Hakkai Maru at 3,000 yards
Buzzell, F.Z. orders Allied TF to disengage
DMS W-6 engages PT-170 at 3,000 yards
DMS W-6 engages PT-169 at 3,000 yards
DMS W-6 engages PT-147 at 3,000 yards
PB Hakkai Maru engages PT-142 at 3,000 yards
Task forces break off...