The Shattered Sword: John 3rd vs. Anachro--BTS

[John 3rd]

Good thought.

I am very aware of Paras as well. This is why there is some form of combat unit at nearly every base. No surprises are allowed from that perspective!

[RangerJoe]

Just think if someone had invaded Pegu in the Fall of 1942 instead of Sumatra . . .

[John 3rd]

That would have been BAD. Wouldn't have been able to rally enough troops/aircraft fast enough to form a serious counter. Not good.

[EwaldvonKleist]

Fine AAR. Found it by coincidence and the focus on the important action and the map&text based instead of log based style makes it fun to read for non-WitP people like me too.
Your rather aggressive style contributes its bit as well.
Good luck with your counter invasions in the pacific. As the defender it is always important to keep in mind that you can (and should) be active as well. Defence can use the same tools as offence, even if overall the purpose is negative (keeping instead of gaining).

[John 3rd]

Thank You Sir.

I hate the endless Combat Reports! They were the majority when I started my AARs 14 years ago. Now we have masterpieces where you can read the player's thoughts, plans, actions and sail with them to high-highs and plunge to their low-lows. If their opponent is writing as well then you get the best of both worlds. You know each other's plans and get to see the whole thing play out. Lots of fun. LOVE a good AAR!

Concur completely with your thoughts on an aggressive defense.

[John 3rd]

July 4, 1943

It appears that my opponent is coming for Addu in the IO. I've kept a Daitai of Nells back to try and lure him in so we'll see if some success can occur. Addu is solid right now with Forts--5, a Brigade, a CD unit, and an Air HQ. AV is about 160 presently with nearly 10,000 supply and 100% prep.

I could form up my CVEs and link-up Hiryu and Soryu for a brawl but think not for the moment. Want to lure my opponent into THINKING the CVs are gone...

Over at Madang, a strike of 32 Beaufighters runs into a wall of enemy fighters. These fast bombers are hit by 109 JACKS and GEORGES. None survive the experience. NICE!

[John 3rd]

July 5, 1943
Hansa Bay

Two full strength Infantry Divisions arrive at Hansa Bay and immediately bombard to feel out the enemy defenses/strength. As planned, there is only a Brigade (AV 150) holding the location. Several other units are present but the Brigade is the only unit with AV strength.

NICE!

There will be three straight days of bombardment coming for the base. A CA TF, BC TF, and then another BC TF will bombard. All LIZ and another 50 Bombers shift over to hitting the units present. The Inf Div will attack tomorrow to see what the Forts are and see if we can lower them. If we get exceedingly lucky, then the base will be Japan's in 3-4 days. Doubt that but we'll see...

Allied Response
The enemy attempts to mess with the Japanese Forces by sending 18--9--9 Liberators to attack. These bombers are met by 31 JACKs. Nine of the enemy bombers fall for a total 49 Japanese Cas.

If the enemy tries to rush some FTF or other shipping into the area, I order a CM to mine Umboi Isle with 200 more mines. Finschaven already has 250 or so and planting at Umboi will seal off the entry point for immediate relief. LRCAP the Isle with nearly 100 Fighters to cover the CMs.

Halfway down from the Marianas are two TFs carrying a CD unit each. I'll bring the CVs down for extra Fighter power while we onload those units at both Umboi and Finsch. While that is occurring, a large Fast TF will pick-up the remains of the other Japanese ID at Lae. IT will join the other large portion at Madang.

[John 3rd]

July 6, 1943
Hansa Bay

OK. I will admit that I was wrong on my Hansa Bay prediction. My guess was 3-4 days if all went well. Totally wrong. Japan will have it tomorrow!

Take a look:

[John 3rd]

The enemy is moving back into the area with strength. Must finish Hansa and then see what is on his mind. Can we get a solid whack at Manus? That is the prize...

[John 3rd]

July 6, 1943
Diego Garcia

The enemy lands the 20th Indian Division and 17th Aussie Brigade. An ineffectual bombardment by the Warspite and Mississippi does little to the defenders. Though outnumbered, the defense stands tall pushing a 1-2 result on the enemy. Japan loses 577 Cas and 29 Guns to the Allies 1,125 Cas and 18 Guns. Forts stay at 5 and supply is still over 7,000.

CD really put the hurt on a bunch of APs and AMCs. The West Point, Esperance Bay, and five others of similar size take anywhere from 3-8 shell hits each. Five of them are really hurt. We'll see what happens there.

At Oosthaven, CARDIV1 arrives and meet CARDIV2. The two TFs combine into a 19 ship CTF with 4 CV, 3 CA, 3 CL, and 9 DDs. Course is set. Doubt if we will get there in time but if we can do some serious damage to the enemy then why not??!!

[John 3rd]

July 6, 1943
Air Losses

Thought this was interesting. Here is the current aerial losses for the day but what got my attention was the totals on some of these airframes. Losses in ZEROs vs WILDCATS and that sort of thing can sometimes be interesting.

Top losses today occurred when 33 Liberators tried to push through 70 Fighters on CAP at Madang. It was GLORIOUS to watch all those big, bad boys get smacked! Sean has placed so much emphasis on India--Burma that he has nearly three times the 4EB in that theatre as opposed to the South Pacific. I have no issue with that whatsoever!

If I can avoid it at all, I want my IJN/IJA air units to stay out of heavy fighting. Within 6-8 weeks we have FRANK, FRANCES, and--hopefully--the next GEORGE. Those much better airframes will make a huge difference considering I've really managed to keep my pilot pools in pretty good shape.

[Chickenboy]

ORIGINAL: John 3rd

July 6, 1943
Hansa Bay

OK. I will admit that I was wrong on my Hansa Bay prediction. My guess was 3-4 days if all went well. Totally wrong. Japan will have it tomorrow!

Take a look:

Nice. Being as they have no LOS and won't retreat across a river, you should force surrender on some nice units.

[John 3rd]

ORIGINAL: Chickenboy

ORIGINAL: John 3rd

July 6, 1943
Hansa Bay

OK. I will admit that I was wrong on my Hansa Bay prediction. My guess was 3-4 days if all went well. Totally wrong. Japan will have it tomorrow!

Take a look:

Nice. Being as they have no LOS and won't retreat across a river, you should force surrender on some nice units.

Just as the Poultry Man SAYS. Japanese SHOCK Attack: 7-1 Hansa Bay FALLS!


BANZAI!!!

Entering Japanese Prisoner-of-War camps are 4,795 Cas, 195 Guns, and 121 Vehicles. Japan loses 647 Cas.


This is GREAT; however, here he comes again.

[John 3rd]

July 7, 1943
Coral Sea

Once again the Allied Forces move into the Coral Sea in great strength. Ahead of the the CV TF is a group of TFs numbering at least twelve in number. THIS TIME I saw the approaching TFs and cleared my own ships out of strike range.

Well...all but a group of 4 CM laying mines at Rabaul. They draw a solid American Strike of 48 F, 50 SBD, and 13 Avengers. Good-sized strike. They fly right into my CAP TRAP of over 120 Fighters (21 Jacks--72 M5--28 Tony). The enemy is CRUSHED with a total of 20 SBD and 6 Avengers getting through, they drop and hit one CM with 1 500 lb bomb, and then are attacked again as they leave. A further unescorted strike of 16 Avengers doesn't penetrate the CAP.

Take a look:

[John 3rd]

Here is the report from Tracker. Good, solid work.

Plans
Order a BC TF (2 Kongo, 1 CA, 1 CL, and 6 DD) to sweep down towards Umboi--Finschaven--Lae and then retire to Madang. It is a full speed run.

Mines and MTB defend Umboi and Finschaven.

Set all Fighters to CAP Trap Madang, Aitape, Kavieng, and Rabaul.

Form-up carriers at Truk with 4 CV and 6 CVL getting orders to prepare for movement.

A reinforcement convoy will begin unloading at Aitape tomorrow. Allow that to happen.

[Bearcat2]

Thank you for the AAR!

[ny59giants]

Don't forget to send me my royalty check at end of month for your use of Tracker in your screenshots. [;)]

[John 3rd]

July 7, 1943
New Guinea

LOTS of action in a wild, weird, and strange turn. Could have been better. Could of been much worse.

Wrote my opponent: "I am in the mood. Shall we settle the Pacific War this coming turn?"

[Bif1961]

Looks more like an Iron Bottom Sound image.

[John 3rd]

I would not have thought of that. Well done for making the immediate jump!