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

[bigred]

43-3-19:

[bigred]

43-3-22a:

[bigred]

3-22b:

[bigred]

3-22c: The ELITE IJA 2nd Div is isolated near Cairns w/ about 9k of troops. Objective is to grind it down to about 3k troops then garrison this POW camp for the rest of the war.

Elements of 2nd army will escape to Portland Roads. Some elements south of Coen may not make it on this Mogadishu mile 200k run.

[bigred]

43-3-23:
Recieved a message from John3rd.

Our time is closing out in NE Australia. The Empire thanks you for the entertainment and time well spent!

Your welcome, Y'all come back anytime.

[bigred]

43-3-24: Screenie of the Nagato included. I always like to track BB sightings.

[John 3rd]

March 28, 1943
Australia

There are times that I get totally fed up with being on the defense WAITING on the next Allied move.

The Japanese Fleet has been highly inactive for the last 3-5 months. At first it was due to a nasty fuel shortage that kept the fleet in port for nearly six weeks. Only had enough fuel to make one sortie and NOTHING else. I was really nervous that my noble opponent might sense this and get frisky. Luckily--this did not happen. Once fuel started flowing much more efficiently, the Kaigun returned to the Home Islands for badly needed routine repairs and--equally important--upgrades in AA and radar. As they did got needed R&R, the fuel kept right on flowing allowing for the creation of a serious fuel reserve at several locations an in the AOs.

During these months, the Allied counter-offensive gained steam in NE Australia. The move here was always intended to be a diversion away from other areas of the Empire and not a 'stand-and-die' scenario. While the enemy has managed to pin and/or destroy several Japanese IDs, the vast bulk have moved to new locations or are refitting at their actual 'stand-and-die' locations. As the Allies moved farther and farther north in NE Australia, opportunity could be sensed.

As quietly as possible, the Kaigun slipped its moorings at Kwajalein and headed south. Thankfully, no damned Allied SS caught the move!

We proceeded into the Coral Sea using Tagula as a shield and waited for a chance to lunge.

The 'go' order was sent two days ago.

March 27, 1943
The 27th saw the TFs move only 11 of 14 possible hexes and were too far out of range to do anything. Highly frustrating. Surprise was lost. What to do? Answer: Advance SW towards Brisbane. split the carrier TFs, and hit shipping as well as ports shipping might be hiding in.

March 28, 1943
The move works and the carriers go into launch operations:

Morning Strikes
18 Zero 12 Judy sink an AK
27 Zero 13 Judy sink an an AM and 2 AKL
24 Zero 13 Judy sink an AK

Afternoon Port Strikes
Townsville--31 Zero 46 DB 34 TB vs 15 Spitfires--Sink an AP and 3 AK
Bowen--8 Zero, 54 DB, 18 TB sink 2 AM
Rockhampton--64 Zero, 44 DB, 18 TB sink an AK and damage an AE
Bundaberg--17 Zero, 25 DB, 75 TB--sink 3 AKL, an AM, and damage an AK and 3 AKL

Counter Strikes
All Allied counter-attacks are against the CTF closet to Townsville. The CAP begins at 101 Fighters (A6M2 and Rex) and they are pressed by strikes of 12 F4F 11 Beaufort, 6 B-26, 4 F 4 Beaufort, and 6 Beaufort. The strikes are crushed with only a single bomber starting to make a bomb run prior to AA destroying it.

All-in-all a very good day with very minimal losses...

[bigred]

43-3-28a:

[bigred]

43-3-28b: Yep, been a rough turn. May have more pain.

[Capt. Harlock]

A nice AP bagged near Townsville.

As many Zekes lost to ops as to combat?? You must speak severely to your ground crews!

[John 3rd]

March 29, 1943
Eastern Australia

Japanese naval operations continue on the 29th. The emphasis shifts from the carrier to the surface fleet on this day.

From the north (Portland Roads) two TFs move south: a 4 DD Screening Force followed by a 4 CA and 5 DD Bombardment Force. Target COOKTOWN
From the Japanese Carrier TFs detach two TFs as well: a 2 CA and 4 DD Screen Force followed by a powerful 4 BC and 6 DD Bombardment Force. Target: CAIRNS

There is an immense amount of small shipping in this realm. I have been watching the build-up of lite invasion forces for a quite a while. Here is a chance to get at some of them while, at the same time, a chance to hit the AFs on the coast. The CTF move away to the NE and clear the air to rest the pilots a bit and see what transpires.

Up and Down the NE Australian Coast, small battle break out as the Japanese TFs advance on their targets. Bombardments are successfully carried out yet yield little serious damage. Many small ships are sunk with the day's total ending at about 5 PT, 7 LCT, 5 LCM, and 9 LCVP. Total might be a bit higher as the surface actions were many.

Allied LBA strikes the Haguro/Atago TF hitting Haguro with two bombs and Atago with a single bomb. No CAP from the nearby CVEs to protect the cruisers but the result is not bad at all.

It is a decent day for the Kaigun. What will tomorrow bring? Have no real clue at all. The turn has been sent and we'll see what the Allies do...

[bigred]

43-3-29a: I am pleased w the results.

[bigred]

43-3-29b:

[BBfanboy]

Takanami? Or did you mean Taikaku?

[John 3rd]

DD Takanami

[BBfanboy]

ORIGINAL: John 3rd

DD Takanami

I went back to the beginning of the previous page and read through - no mention of DD Takanami, so now I am curious how you know she is DIW, what caused that, and where abouts (there is no McKay on my map)?

[bigred]

I did not make a Screenie for this CBT report.

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

ORIGINAL: John 3rd

DD Takanami

I went back to the beginning of the previous page and read through - no mention of DD Takanami, so now I am curious how you know she is DIW, what caused that, and where abouts (there is no McKay on my map)?

Morning Air attack on TF, near Cairns at 92,139

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid detected at 27 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes

Japanese aircraft
N1K1 Rex x 1

Allied aircraft
A-24B Banshee x 13
P-38G Lightning x 20

No Japanese losses

No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
CA Atago
CA Haguro, on fire
DD Takanami

Aircraft Attacking:
2 x A-24B Banshee releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
7 x A-24B Banshee releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
4 x A-24B Banshee releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb

CAP engaged:
Atago-2 with N1K1 Rex (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 5000 , scrambling fighters to 20000.
Raid is overhead

Takanami dead in the water ...

[bigred]

43/4/1: Alot of sub action. John is using his sub planes to scout my Hawaii shipping. My sub torps an enemy AO around Baker island. Allies continue to kill off the Japs in NW AUS.

[bigred]

This is a situation where John is drilling down(or drooling) over Townsville. His CVs have parked 10 hexes away and his BCs have reloaded after his last botched port bombardment at Cairns. He knows what I have in and near Port. He knows I have many PT TFs in area. he is like a big cat fixated on his mouse prey.

[BBfanboy]

Hmmm - nothing with any AV in that hex along the Gulf of Carpentaria. I would send most of the reinforcements headed that direction elsewhere (unless you are trying to get them some battle experience clubbing puppies)[X(].

So you need to set up a CAT trap at Townsville? [8|]

He could be sizing up the TFs at Cairns too, I suppose.

** line deleted **