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

[bigred]

42/12/8A: Finally got a read on the CV types. Yep, instead of the singing to "Sink the Bismark", we may be singing to "Sink the Shokaku"!!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M1Ufc2hI4FM

[bigred]

Yep, instead of the singing to "Sink the Bismark", we may be singing to "Sink the Shokaku"!!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M1Ufc2hI4FM

[BBfanboy]

ORIGINAL: bigred

Yep, instead of the singing to "Sink the Bismark", we may be singing to "Sink the Shokaku"!!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M1Ufc2hI4FM

Pre-emptive apologies to Johnny Horton ...

The year is 1942, John sails the ocean blue
John has the biggest carrier force, guarded by the biggest guns
The KB is the meanest thing to ever sail the seas
With its bombs as big as steers and torps as big as trees.

Out of the dark and stormy night came the CL Lamotte-Picquet
To deal out a nasty sting that John would not forget
We have to sink a carrier, the heart of the KB!
But when the sun came up again the CL had to flee.

Yet behind her was a carrier slewing in the dark
One of the CL's torpedoes had really found its mark
Now bigred is on the hunt to get this enemy
And end the reign of the Japanese Carrier Force, AKA KB!

[bigred]

42/12/9:

[bigred]

42/12/9b:
Enemy locations, general quarters, all hands to your stations.

[John 3rd]

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

ORIGINAL: bigred

Yep, instead of the singing to "Sink the Bismark", we may be singing to "Sink the Shokaku"!!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M1Ufc2hI4FM

Pre-emptive apologies to Johnny Horton ...

The year is 1942, John sails the ocean blue
John has the biggest carrier force, guarded by the biggest guns
The KB is the meanest thing to ever sail the seas
With its bombs as big as steers and torps as big as trees.

Out of the dark and stormy night came the CL Lamotte-Picquet
To deal out a nasty sting that John would not forget
We have to sink a carrier, the heart of the KB!
But when the sun came up again the CL had to flee.

Yet behind her was a carrier slewing in the dark
One of the CL's torpedoes had really found its mark
Now bigred is on the hunt to get this enemy
And end the reign of the Japanese Carrier Force, AKA KB!

THAT was funny! Nicely attempted Sir.

[John 3rd]

Plan on doing a long AAR Post once things are settled. Stay Posted and we'll get it out as soon as it is safe to do so.

[CaptBeefheart]

Cheers,
CB

[bigred]

42/12/12:

[bigred]

12/12:

[John 3rd]

ORIGINAL: bigred

42/12/4:

The attack on the Japanese AOs occurred on Dec 4, 1942. We are now at December 21, 1942. The TF, as seen above, had TEN of Japan's big AOs in it. The enemy's attack and subsequent action caused SEVEN of the TEN to sink. Three made it back to Christmas and they are now headed west for repairs.

I got damned lucky. The AOs had just emptied themselves into the Japanese CTF and were retiring. Had that fuel not been transferred, Japan would have/should have lost five Feet Carriers as well as all four Kongo BCs.

The fuel allowed for a big circle to be done around Hawaii. The CTF headed towards the West Coast, then three days north, and then four days to Midway. Nearly every turn I waited for the CVs to be clobbered by the combined Allied CTF. Thankfully, that never happened.

The loss of these AOs will greatly curtail Japanese operations for the near-future. It is a pain-in-the-ass!!!

Tip of the hat to my opponent for catching the AOs! Am purplexed as to why a Fleet Engagement did not happen but am very thankful to get away with the heavies.

[bigred]

42/12/22:

[John 3rd]

December 24, 1942
Cairns, Australia

There has been a lot of aerial fighting and sparring over Australia. Rarely has there been an outstanding day for either side. That thought disappears on Christmas Eve 1942 when Allied Fighters and Torpedo Bombers are drawn north to Cairns where a Japanese STF of 4 CL and 8 DD protect a convoy that is unloading.

Just the day before, the American 32nd ID was mauled by the Japanese 48th ID forcing it to retreat. All the LR CAP over that ID was redeployed to cover Cairns. The normal 40-50 Japanese Fighters on CAP double with this change of orders. Against nearly 100 Japanese Fighters, several Allied strikes bore in going after the shipping. To say that it is a disaster for the units involved is an understatement.

[John 3rd]

Here are the losses for the day:

[bigred]

42/12/27:

[bigred]

no action, The cvtf turned west. according to a cbt report i read at work.

[bigred]

42/12/29: But wait. John3rd orders a sub set of his CVTF to shell Tahiti on this third day in the area as the CVTF goes SW after transports.

[bigred]

42/12/29b: Bombardment TF left with no air cover. The CV TF likes to chase after transports.

[bigred]

double post

[BBfanboy]

Looks like Nachi should sink overnight, and Myoko and Kamikaze are badly enough damaged to not clear beyond strike range tomorrow. Much drama for the peanut gallery!