Rising Sun, Falling Skies: BTSL Bigred vs John 3rd

[bigred]

42-6-26:
Another day at the ranch.

[bigred]

42-6-26b:

[bigred]

42-6-27: John really likes to chase allied shipping. Really becoming a problem.

[bigred]

42-6-28: IJA presses at Kodiak. I may lose Kodiak but I hope those IJA divisions are trashed.

[RangerJoe]

Just tell the Kodiak Bears that the Japanese are Sitka Deer . . . [:D]

[bigred]

ORIGINAL: RangerJoe

Just tell the Kodiak Bears that the Japanese are Sitka Deer . . . [:D]

Invite the Polar bears to come on down!!!

I heard another division is on the way... so no luck.

[John 3rd]

June 30, 1942
Kodiak, Alaska

After a hard fought battle of nearly a month, the Japanese RISING SUN flag is raised over the battered remnants of Kodiak!

BANZAI! BANZAI!! BANZAI!!!

Just as my opponent noted, it took the efforts of four fully prepped Infantry Divisions to do the work. With the landing of the 7th ID, a Japanese Shock Attack finishes resistance.

JSA: 15-1 J 1857 Cas, 20 Gun, 3 Vehicles---Allied Losses are 13,93, 353 Guns, and 420 Vehicles. A total of 15 units surrender.

Two of the four ID are already being loaded, as of yesterday, for some hard fought R&R. They will also begin prepping for a new Northern target..

[bigred]

42-6-30: busted

[bigred]

42-6-30: Almost July, and allies nailed a CVL.

[RangerJoe]

That is a very nice attack by an S-Boat!

[bigred]

42-7-6: Bombs away at Changsha. First IJA attack to clear the hex results in 2 divisions disabled. With the Dababes city stack rules Changsha will be a very tough nut to crack. Even with daily bombing by probably over 200 LBA Changsha units seem unaffected by the bombardment. The Kwangtung artillery has arrived so we will see the effect going forward.
My thinking is Changsha is a must clear hex for the IJA. With the additional problems in Burma John needs the rail Line to move units and supply back and forth. He can go by sea but that will tie down his transport fleets.

[bigred]

42-7-7: Seems John3rd now has a6m2 stationed on Kodiak, dispite my daily night bombing. Today he put 50 ftrs on sweep and went after my PTs at Seward.

[bigred]

Lack of a large CAP gave allied b17s a green light to bomb IJN TFs at Kodiak.

[John 3rd]

My opponent THINKS I am afraid of the developments in Burma?? NOT! There is always opportunity. One simply has to find it and then TAKE IT!

The whole map is pretty active right now:
1. We have the winding down of the Kodiak capture with LOTS of TFs moving about moving, loading, unloading, prepping, and pretty much getting ready for the next phase of operations.
2. Australia is very much active and moving in all sorts of directions. The capture of Horn Isle and Merauke revealed no troops at Portland Roads. Heck YA! I'll take a free, uncontested July 42 landing. Now troops moving down from there.
3. Burma is CRAZY. Cannot begin to count the amount of troops that have moved in there. Have made a tactical withdrawal from Myitkyina down to Katha. Troops holding the hexes west and SW of Lashio. Pulled back from Chittagong and re-organized the western coast (Akyab and surrounding bases).
4. China has the effort around Changsha and Langchow in the north. One provides some oil and industry to China and the other IS the industry of China.

Pretty exciting action all the way around.

[John 3rd]

July 11, 1942

A small detachment of three American destroyers are on ASW duty NW of Seattle (Japanese subs have been annoying along the entire West Coast) when their radar picks up several contacts. While asking for identity and making queries to their local HQ, it suddenly dawns on the Americans that these are JAPANESE aircraft!

Claxons sound General Quarters but it is already too late. The force of 36 Zero escorting 26 Vals strike the American warships and conduct a CLINIC in dive-bombing. FIFTEEN hits are scored sinking two of the three DDs and leaving the 3rd severely damaged.

A later raid by 13 Kates comes up against just the one remaining DD.

Recon, belatedly, spots the Japanese carriers to the SW.

[bigred]

42-7-8: yep, John is shutting down the northwest passage. Tough situation. Good news was the B5n2 Kates where at extended range and used bombs. It could have been worse. Because of so much pressure being placed on the allies John will not receive a turn tonight.

[John 3rd]

Shut down the NW Passage? WHO? ME??!!

Naaaa...that would be rude...

[John 3rd]

Well...that was a TERRIBLE Super Bowl. Guess we'll have to look forward to next year for CHIEF'S Kingdom.

Warned Lew and Paul that they better look out. Will, probably, do something stupid with the current turn.

[bigred]

42-7-15:
nailed a CM in Kodiak, but IJN sank a Dutch sub in same area. USAAF B17s pound the 48th ID on a run thru NW AUS.

[bigred]

42-7-17: