Beer gives you the wobblies

[herbieh]

26/10
partly cloudy
15 betties bomb gg at night

then a massive battle, 9CA,1CL, 11 dd vs 1BB, 1CL, 6dd
Cl Helena wont fight again, and 3 allied dds are sunk for sure, bb south dakato only gets scratched
CA tone falls out of line, as does another CA

BUT 2 FULL REGIMENTS ARE LANDED AT GG , and will shock attack next turn, lots of base forces , but no combat troops.
has it been worth it?, you reader probably already know the answer to that, isnt FOW great?!!!

day combat, Cv strikes both ways, with wobbly concentrating on.............Shoho!. She is sunk, but hiyo ( looked very badly hit) has only 4 system damage, and 3 hits on Zuikaka still didnt close her flight deck!!!
In return Im told my pilots hit saratoga 3 torps, and a bomb, and enterprise witha bomb

wobblies other CVs were too faraway, hitting munda transports instead.
Oh well, still gazzillions of them left.
The barges seduced all dobadura air strikes, but still landed troops enough for a capture tomorrow of the hex to the east of GG, thats one less minefield I have to worry about
I think i sank a sub there as well.

Total plane losses, me 58, wobbly 65

Hiei was hit hard, poo.

Thunderstorms tomorrow
And Ive ordered every retiring ship in the navy to turn around and revisit GG

Will it be enough.

Oh, a million planes on LRCAP over gg tomorrow, and munda now has the rest.

[herbieh]

Thunderstorms
7 CA, 1 CL,9DD sweep back into GG, and encounter BB South Dakato and 4 DD
In the absolutely most bruising and long battle over 2 rounds BB South Dakato and all escorts are sunk outright

108 runway hits, 5 supply hits and 20 airbase hits damage and destroy30 odd aircraft

I loose, or will lose 1 dd, and 2 CA

Wobbly moves his 2nd CV force deep into the solomon sea to "finish of " my crippled carriers, his strike hits nothing!
And all those planes Ive moved to munda actually fly
Cv wasp takes 5 bombs and 3 torpedoes, Cl Boise a bomb.
Another Cv out, thats 2 in 2 days and enterprise hurt, against 1CVL sunk and 1 Cv hurt

basilaka island falls
Then the intercept messages of C47s over GG begin to flow in
The Shock attack at GG fails, only the airlift has defeated the effort
At PM I deliberate attack, just to remind wobbly that is not the place to draw reinforcements from

My Ca,s and DDs, still 6CAs running, 10 or so DDs in theatre are racing back to Munda for another big lift
Hiyo retitres for one day, then back into the fray I will throw her, again like Shoho way down south, I think its 1 CV on 1 at the moment, and I think I may now hold a very small surface vessel advantage
Time to pile it all on.

Now Im not going to say the game is brocken, but I would love to see a change made somehow to prevent instant troop airlift, say if you select a unit for troop airlift it takes 24 hrs to get them organised before the lift begins.
Still I no complain, I knew wobbly would try it as soon as he guessed, the long range cap I designated iether was insufficient or just didnt fly(too exhuasted)


Anyway I claim a moral victory at the moment, and I am really really encouraged for WITP, with full control of forces I now believe savage and deadly counter attacks are achievable in late 42 to mid 43, and if the allies are slack will severly upset their plans.

Finally again I will repeat this, Long range bombers and medium range bombers are not game breakers, the way this game is modelling just trying to keep em supplied must be driving wobbly nuts.
And betties are definately not uber weapons, the losses they have suffered this month for results gained do reflect real life


Fog of war is faboulous, i saw Shoho take about 11 bombs and sink immediately, in E mail wobbly tells me only 3 hits reported, he also says he thought Mushia got away very lightly, shes in Kavieg now with 76 system, 72 flood damage!

Poo.

[herbieh]

Even though the grand Grab Gilli GIlli plan hasnt come of exactly as planned, I still have to be pleased.
I have for the last 2 months of game time been shuffling squadrons from place to place, also many of the squadrons from the carriers sunk have been hordered, and it has all paid off this battle, I think I said that I believed wobbly had over extended too fast, and now for a brief period I must make him pay.

P38s are entering the fray, so time is short!
Brand new unused carrier squadrons moved into Munda yesterday, while many shattered ones were rested.


There was little action overall, only Munda launching 2 strikes.
I knew Wasp was in trouble as soon as p38 LRCAP tried to save her.
She is gone for sure
Wobbly airforce spent the day disposing of a crippled DD, I scuttled 1CA, total losses for the battle so far I put at 1CA, 4 DD, 1CVL, to 2CV,1BB,1CL,1CA??and 5DD.
Japan declares a national holiday
Just about all the barges are now sunk, for very little point loss they have attracted dozens of P39s ect, planes that could have been hurting me badly.
my plans for the next few days....
Attack!
If GG falls (lots more troops I am trying to get there), another nasty plan is beginning to formulate in my mind.

Bad news, Mushia is docked at Kavieg, flooding seems to be out of control, I think she will founder

[herbieh]

6 dd sweep into GG, ambushed by 6 Pts, and i come off very badly

the big fast transport went to rabual ! bummer
worse Hiyo on follow went as well, and now is heading on home to truk full of holes , no cap of course, its all at munda

little else happening, still trying to ship in troops, and culling c 47s over GG

running out of options now, will commit a couple more regiments, then go back into my shell.
Oh well
thinking of a honourable surrender, and trying again , maybe with more luck.

[herbieh]

Got over the depression, we fight on
very quiet turn really, as we pause for breathe, the large CA fast transport is sighted and bombed for no hits, all the action next turn as it arrives GG
A 2nd smaller DD fast transport leaves munda as well.
seroisly thinking if anything survives this run, sending the next one to PM!

[herbieh]

SS pickeral joins the fishes at GG

7CA, 1CL and 10 Dd swarm into GG, sink 3 PT boats, and fail to unload. High command grits his teeth.

OK, if that place is too hot, then he directs the force, and other fast transport groups south, for a round about gamble, a troop lift to port moresby, where the shattered Buna troops arrive tomorrow.
A huge gamble!

Little else happening, Ive just checked pilot ratings at truck, one guy is rated 18 experience,. The writing is on the wall...


Hey matrix, did you ever dream a game could be giving so much fun so long after release!

[herbieh]

me thinks woodlark is next

During the night my submarines strike, 1 dd definately sunk, 1 AP also, as wobbly reinforcements flow into GG

My betties and nells continue to snipe at GG, a waste of time now, so Im changing them to a supply mission for PM

The desperate plan continues, 2 DD fast transports round the corner at GG. They are bombed but miraculously escape damage. I think Wobbly will be waiting at GG for them
The Cas are at the edge of the reefs to the west of GG, a long run to PM for them, fuel is a worry, Still the troops they carry may well help greatly.

Its the last roll I think, before the allied steamroller gets going.
Japan releases Shokaka, she can **** well go straight back now, too late to do any good.

[Luskan]

I turn my back for a measly couple of weeks and things get ugly around here!

If you've still got the firepower to send one of his cvs to the bottom and maybe another as well, you're not up against it yet. A good fight to the finish often teaches a player how to get the absolute most out of every single asset.

It is when the allied divisions start lining up at Rabaul that you've got to take stock.

[herbieh]

Some troops delivered by a DD run, but get hammered on the way back, as was the 2nd run. I think I will lose at least 3 DD out of this now I think about it silly move.
Unfortunately the CAs are committed, to PM they go. This Task force is literally all I have left at the moment.

On the plane front all groups are resting.

Ships are being released from Japan, this theatre will be the death of the fleet. But we fight on. Troops still arriving.
I have a very large number of barges at Gasmatta, if I can get some fuel there, they will head towards GG soon.

Iknew the GG attack was agamble, was fun while it lasted.

While all wobbly attention is fixated on GG, PM is my objective, Im flying in supplies, a trickle of troops, and will try to land more.
The poor sods at GG will just have to hang on.

[herbieh]

personally I think the next 2 days have the potential to be dramatic.
yesterday I spotted some ships south of PM, so I loitered the fast transport off port moresby, a real risk. Wobbly LBA sank 3 DDs in PM, after troop delivery, but left the cruiser task force alone.
Tonight it sails into PM, and I think so does a wobbly convoy. Ive put every available fighter onto LRCAP, or flown them into PM, yes, back up and running again, a full regiment will be delivered, maybe I can hit him hard.
Also, Buna is apparently empty, well recon shows zip troops, so Ive scrapped together 3 tiny fast transport groups, I wonder if I can capture the place on the cheap?

Saratoga sank!!!!!!!
mushia is saved, flooding down to 20, and falling.
Wobbly deliberate attack at GG a miserable failure, as my subs continue to trickle troops and supplies in (that is their current task)

No CVs left in theatre, have sent Zuikaka and Hiyo home.
Gasmatta full of barges, and zeros, trying to get 2 large convoys into there, if only half the ships make it, Ill have a nice close fast transport base to work from.
Japan releases more ships, carrier to go home, its DDs, and CLs I want now

Dont know what wobbly is thinking, if this comes of it should be a rude shock, I for one will not become fixated on GG :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes:

[herbieh]

Give a million targets and not even wobbly can hit em all, and with 3 places suddenly critical, not all can be dealt with. :p
At Pm the Cas are now unloading, his convoy knowing that the harbour is full , lurks outside, where my LBA hammers a AK, and a AP, Ive moved the Betties back to Madang, maybe they will cause pain tomorrow.

PM has 2 squads of zeros on CAP
At GG another deliberate attack fails, another swarm of barges depart gasmatta, and a convoy with another regiment, 4 squads of zeros are on LRCAP over this force.
Severak DDs make lone runs to GG tomorrow with supplies, and subs continue to unload

Tomorrow a fast transport of 1DD,and 6PG arrive at Buna, still no sign of any troops there! Is it a trap!
And a big convoy will try to slip into Lea in the next 2 days or so.
So, what will wobbly use his LBA on?
Last attack was on ground troops, they also must be getting tired.
The battles are in balance, I continue to attack, as I think this is my last chance.
Fun Fun Fun

[herbieh]

His LBA hits troops PM
My troops arrivw buna, but blow it, he has 1 regiment there.
I oose a APD on its way out
Barges begin to flow south, many are sunk as they leave gasmatta, but the big convoy isnt attacked!
troops unload at PM
Im goint to send the cas home, via the hex wobbly convoy sits off PM

Its all too tense!

[herbieh]

its all going to pot
Although aussie based LBA appears exhausted, his air power in New G continues to kill me
Although a sub sinks a CLAA in GG it is little consolation as 4 of my Ca's are hammered to scap as they attempt to get home
Buna forces slaughtered
The transports at PM are unloading, so the Cas that survive will bombard GG on the way past.
GG troops hang in there, at PM i have 25000 to 12000, but combat troops and supplies are critical.1 last shock attack there, and its all over.

Basically the game is up, some more troops to gg in 1 last convoy ,and a convoy into lea, and Im withdrawing everything to try to recover some strength.
Oh well, it was a good try.

[herbieh]

A terrible day for the navy.
The bombardment group hit GG, sinking a DD on the way, but definately didnt close the field.
During the day I scuttled 2 Cas and a dd, so all in all Tanaka sailed from Munda last week with 9 Cas , and comes home with 2, only 2 others will fight again.
Wobbly scapes together a good sized force and crunches the transports at GG, and his LBA just sinks vessels left and right.
Id rested my air, but typically GG is the only field not closed by storms.

Typical.


At PM I shock attack, and throw Kanga force out of the place, its the last hurrah, still the troops there have covered themselves with glory.

Time to pull the head back in.
restock.
re appraise
And wonder how in the heck do i stop him now with no navy, army or airforce.
Spare tactical nuclear device anyone?

[herbieh]

Well the happy days are over, time to pay the bill
Allied surface forces slaughtered the convoy at GG, a regiment got ashore, not quite enough.
A sudden sprouting of units like a rash announce the arrival of wobblies forces that chased mine all the way over the stanly ranges from Buna, my last shock attack got a 1to1, not quite enough.

I know you wiser heads would have just ignored everything except GG, get all troops there, but I just couldnt get my ships to unload, so I went all or nothing, nothing doesnt taste good!

so, all forces in retreat, what to do.
I have 2 lat regiments at sea, one near lea, another of rabual, what to do with them?
Buna has only 1 regiment, should I go for one last grab of glory?
By mutual agreement this game ends at Christmas real time as we will be going on holidays.
1CV, 2BB and escorts enroute to truk
I like keeping wobbly confused, so Im leaning towards some more UV madness

[Shaggy]

should I go for one last grab of glory?

BANZAI!!!!!

[herbieh]

massed shipping in gassmatta harbour, but all the wrong colour!!
After the carnage as a big task force sweeps the place clean, 3 tankers and 6 ags sunk
All the troop attacks at PM and GG failed, only a matter of time there.
On my side of the coin 2 convoys arriving at Buna, what aircover I can scrape together is providing LRCAP, dont have much to use as much of it lies very broken at gasmatta airstrip.

So doom and gloom.
What surface forces I have left are headed to GG, some ships are going in there, maybe I can cause some pain.

A break coming up due to wobbly holiday

[herbieh]

The situation as I see it
The wallabies will get crunched by the all blacks
If the wallabies win then Ive got a hope of winning this mess

Troops at PM are goners, 20000 allied troops are landed there, and 3 more battalions are at the next hex on the way to buna, blocking a retreat
IF, and ONLY IF Wobbly makes a mistake and marches those blocking troops into PM have I a hope, and only if Buna falls to me


SO, really they are doomed :p
GG troops are hanging in there, tieing down reinforcements

At Buna 2 Regiments are almost unloaded, and another will arrive tonight
Max aircover I can provide is flying
Unfortunately very little surface forces left, what I had bombarded the place last night, then retired, now too short of operation points after re fuelling to get there tonight, and Ive spotted 2CLAA and DDs of GG

Could get nasty

One thing for sure, all this carnage sure should have disrupted a lot of wobbly troops
His airforce is also looking very very tired

But for the big CV disaster, I really feel I could have given Wobbly a run for his money.

[herbieh]

Tanaka, KING OF THE SEAS!!!!

Well the CLAA, san diego and 8 dds swept into Buna bay, confronted by dozens and dozens of targets, and totally surprised by Tanaka in 2CA and 7DD

result over 3 slug fest rounds
1imperial dd sunk

1 CLAA and 7DD sunk

And there are zillions of troops ashore, more than enough to repel a desperate allied shock attack, Buna is mine tomorrow

And wobblies troops are now off the kokoda track!getting ready no doubt to capture PM tomorrow.
So.....
Tomorrow will be so interesting, if i capture buna, will he retreat to dobadura, or block the track, or will the PM battle happen 1st, leaving my troops with no where to go, or can they slip away?

The bluff continues, I have no surface ships left functioning for a week.
None, zip, nada
But I will keep on attacking!! :p
Sent Shokaka home, whats the use of a empty CV now.

[herbieh]

yesterday i again noticed a group of ships in GG, another raid on buna for sure.
Only 5 pgs and 2 scs to protect the entire invasion fleet.
Then i recalled how often only 1 or 2 aps seem to get attention, so, onwards.
And it pays off

wobbly is getting desperate, catalinas on naval strike, more decoy barges sunk

then the force arrives, 3ca and a screen full of dds and dms.
the pgs absorb ammo, and then as hoped only 2 aps cop a pounding
i am keeping those still to unload troops around for 1 more day

air combat over buna , losses acceptable, all up the invasion sees about 6 aps out of the action.

And my airforce again springs into action from PM, a top secret transfer last turn of a sq of oscars give 27 vals and 16 kates a escort, and and another wobbly invasion force is turned to scrap in PM harbour, i dont think there is room on the harbour floor for all the transports he has lost there (i calculate 7 to 8 aps, 4 sc )
BUNA falls
And the kokoda trail is clear, and I order the PM garrison to retire, such a heroic force deseves a chance at rescue

I now intend to turn Buna into another Guadacanal, i have nearly 3 regiments there, and after tomorrow I intend to set my eyes on Dobadura

About a week before wobbly cvs turn up I calculate, so 1 more day of LRCAP for the fighters, then another complete fighter and ship run away, as I plan more evil things for wobbly
Anyone care to guess where herbie will strike next?
O yes, heaps of reinforcements coming