Banzais Don't Make Victories - Anachro (A) vs John 3rd (J) BTS 5.7

[Bif1961]

Talk about a Luke Skywalker - Deathstar torpedo you must have sent it down the exhaust tube. [&o]

[Anachro]

A testament to its seaworthiness (somewhat) was that Yamato did not sink immediately, but even fired off a few salvos after her magazine explosion before she sank beneath the waves. My carriers have successfully gotten back towards Ceylon, but have no movement for the next turn and some are in need of small repair. We might bide our time for 3-4 days to refuel, re-arm, and replenish before our next invasion force goes off. Moreover, additional carrier reinforcements are currently on their way, transiting between Australia/Perth and India.

Unfortunately, in this mod Japan gets the option to build like 2-3 additional Yamato-class BBs should she want to. I also think the Shinano in this mod retains its Yamato-class BB designation and is not a carrier. So, at the very least, John will still have BB Musashi and BB Shinano, if not more.

[Chickenboy]

Glad to see you back as well. [8D]

Sinking laden troop convoys is my second favorite thing in this game. Sinking laden CVs being the first. Well done liquidating that troop convoy! [&o]

[BBfanboy]

It just occurred to me that John shot himself in the foot by putting his carriers in the port hex, cutting their launch ability in half! Little things like that are what make this game so dang dangerous to play when you are tired or distracted.

[RangerJoe]

3 DDs for the Yamato, you should be shouting happy!

[Anachro]

Yes, and during the day bombers put 30-35 500GP bombs onto the stricken BC Ishitaka, which was last seen heavily damaged and, more importantly, heavily burning. The following day (next turn) saw only the DD Fujinami in port, which was promptly sunk. While we have no confirmation that the BC Ishitaka sunk, we did hear various sinking sounds in the night/between phases which could be a number of ships. We suspect the BC did indeed sink, which would confirm the tally of 2xBCs and 1xYamato lost, in addition to 1 and possibly more DDs.

Morning Air attack on Ramree Island , at 54,48

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 6,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Japanese aircraft
N1K2-A George x 5

Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 6
B-17F Fortress x 6
B-24D Liberator x 6
B-24D1 Liberator x 6
B-24J Liberator x 37

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
B-24D Liberator: 1 damaged
B-24D1 Liberator: 2 damaged
B-24J Liberator: 6 damaged

Japanese Ships
BC Ishitaka, Bomb hits 30, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Fujinami, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage

Of course, this is not the whole story, in night engagements around Ramree Island, I lost two minor old CLs (an American and Dutch), as well as a 3-4 DDs to put 3 torpedoes into BC Ishitaka, forcing her to seek nearby shelter from heavy damage. Of course, I'll gladly sacrifice a few DDs and CLs as the Allies in return for Japanese BBs and BCs.

[GetAssista]

Good to see you back! This game was exciting before the AAR hiatus

[CaptBeefheart]

Welcome back! And well played in the Bay of Bengal.

Cheers,
CB

[Elessar2]

Quick question for the curious: does the game (or mod) model the Yamato's defective underwater protection scheme? It would appear that this one data point might indicate that it does. If that is the case I'm not sure I'd spring for the massive things.

[Anachro]

I don't believe the way the system is designed allows for such specificity, other than through the categories that apply to all ships: belt armor, deck armor, and tower armor. As you can see below, the Yamato-class is stronger than other Japanese BBs in all three. I should note though, there is a famous PBEM where the Allied player sank the BB Yamato in a similar circumstance using one torpedo to cause a magazine explosion, but that time the doer of the deed was a mere PT boat.

[RangerJoe]

ORIGINAL: Anachro

I don't believe the way the system is designed allows for such specificity, other than through the categories that apply to all ships: belt armor, deck armor, and tower armor. As you can see below, the Yamato-class is stronger than other Japanese BBs in all three. I should note though, there is a famous PBEM where the Allied player sank the BB Yamato in a similar circumstance using one torpedo to cause a magazine explosion, but that time the doer of the deed was a mere PT boat.

I believe that was Greyjoy in his famous match. Greyjoy was also noted for his unique spelling.

[Anachro]

Feb.14, 1944

Another day, a nice little victory I guess, as well as some favorable land combat results. First, around Guinea I have been extracting forces from forward bases to rear ports/staging sites for future operations. Recently, this has been the 1st Marine Division at Finschhafen. However, as I did this over the past weeks, I also noticed that John had decided to station some sort of surface unit at Rabaul, so I sent a surface force of my own to cover my transports (also covered by numerous LBA). The LBA did its job and lot of Japanese LBA bombers have been shot down, but last turn I noticed the Japanese surface forces seeminly moving towards Finschhafen. Lucky for me, as I had transports sitting in port there preparing to move out the last half of the 1st Marine Division. Upon noticing this, I promptly disbanded the transports and sent the surface units back to Finschhafen (they had been covering other transports that had just left Finschhafen the day previous). The result was a nice little battle which saw the fearsome CL Oi and her many torpedo tubes sunk.

Elsewhere, my retreating Australians at Daly Waters had a nice little defense against John's forces.

[Anachro]

Elsewhere in India, at Port Blair, my stifled amphibious invasion held-off the tired defenders as they tried a shock attack to beat down my beleaguered units. This is a big debate for me as it seems John's own forces are exhausted and the reinforcements he planned to bring to finish off the battle were all sunk by my carriers. Initially, as I attempt my next punch I was planning to simultaneously extract my units here, as they are lacking in supply (which was the biggest factor in my failure here). However, I have additional forces prepped for Port Blair and the big debate is do I commit them and additional supply or do I extract and let my units rebuild. Decisions to be made, as John has three exhausted divisions here as well.

Along with my carriers already in the Indian theater, I have additional carriers currently west of the Japanese-held Cocos Islands on their way. This will bring my carrier totals to 13 CVs and 11 CVLs, which another CVL on the way, as well as a smattering of CVEs.

[BBfanboy]

You know the worm has turned when a US Sub gets two chances at the same Japanese DD and scores the second time! [:)]

Curious about the leader of that CA Australia TF that sank Oi. Can you name the leader and post his stats?

[Anachro]

CA Australia damage and captain, as well as commander of the SCTF. In the combat report, Oi was actually officially sunk by CL Columbia.

[BBfanboy]

ORIGINAL: Anachro

CA Australia damage and captain, as well as commander of the SCTF. In the combat report, Oi was actually officially sunk by CL Columbia.

Thanks - it was the TF leader Scott that I was interested in. His stats are mediocre in my books. It all fits with the ships and their captains having good leaders (accurate shooting during the battle, and presumably dodging long lances) while the Japanese TF got away after the most damaged cripple was abandoned. That Allied TF had the punch to sink them all but the low aggression of the TF leader probably made him too cautious.

[Chickenboy]

ORIGINAL: Anachro
I have additional forces prepped for Port Blair and the big debate is do I commit them and additional supply or do I extract and let my units rebuild. Decisions to be made, as John has three exhausted divisions here as well.

Your efforts here have led to the imprisonment of 3 Japanese divisions and the destruction, the destruction of another at sea and many enemy ships, including some tasty tasty capital ships. Your troops ashore have done yoeman's work in holding the enemy to a fixed point and bleeding him. IMO, this is more important than crummy 'ole Port Blair ever will be, particularly since you've got some of the Andamans.

Extract and rebuild your LCUs. Seal off Port Blair. Maybe bomb the **** out of it as a forward training base for LBA. Starve 'em out, bomb them into submission and render them inert and ineffective.

[Anachro]

Two days have passed, but I've been traveling in real life. I'll give an update on the next turn I receive. I should note, for the past two turns now I've completely forgotten to move the CA Australia TF from Finschhafen. Hopefully this doesn't bite me in the rear end this next turn.

[GetAssista]

ORIGINAL: Chickenboy

ORIGINAL: Anachro
I have additional forces prepped for Port Blair and the big debate is do I commit them and additional supply or do I extract and let my units rebuild. Decisions to be made, as John has three exhausted divisions here as well.

Your efforts here have led to the imprisonment of 3 Japanese divisions and the destruction, the destruction of another at sea and many enemy ships, including some tasty tasty capital ships. Your troops ashore have done yoeman's work in holding the enemy to a fixed point and bleeding him. IMO, this is more important than crummy 'ole Port Blair ever will be, particularly since you've got some of the Andamans.

Extract and rebuild your LCUs. Seal off Port Blair. Maybe bomb the **** out of it as a forward training base for LBA. Starve 'em out, bomb them into submission and render them inert and ineffective.

I'd say faint the continuing pressure and push John to scramble a relief/extract operation. It is pretty hard to say goodbyes to 3 divisions you know. Then you can kick him some more, as well as advance elsewhere

[Chickenboy]

ORIGINAL: GetAssista
I'd say faint the continuing pressure

[&:]