Sink 'Em All - Godefroy(A) vs Chicago227(J) - no Chicago227 please

[godefroycz]

September 19 - 20

I launched an air campaign against northern Australia. 25 P-38Fs and 60 B-17s take off against the Japanese base at Daly Waters. It appears that after only two days the Japanese are withdrawing their aircraft and the ground troops are retreating to Darwin. I will try to exert a little pressure with limited forces.
I have reassigned 4 squadrons of P-40Es to China and are trying to stop attacks on units near Xi'an. Unfortunately, the airport in Sian is size 1 and there is not much inventory, so any damaged aircraft will be difficult to repair. I caused some losses to the enemy, but I can't do it long term.


I quite like the total losses for 9 months of war.

There is still fighting in the Aleutian Islands. The Japanese destroyed my supply convoy at Amchitka. A total of 5 small cargo ships. On the contrary, my cruisers were sunk by two large cargo ships off Canton Island in the central Pacific.

[godefroycz]

September 21 - 23

Not too much action happening. the Japanese have redirected the main airstrikes again to the hex northeast of Sian and I can't do anything about it. Submarines are slowly starting to improve. USS Pollack torpedoed another ship off the coast of Japan and USS Halibut torpedoed a large AP off Tarawa

On September 23, an event is coming that I am not happy about. Japanese aircraft carriers appeared off Colombo. Apparently they're looking for the damaged Illustrious. He is already out of reach and so comes the raid on the port in Colombo. There are no fighters in the air, so only anti-aircraft defenses are used. More than 50 attackers are shot down, but the losses are unpleasant. And I'm lucky that 4 battleships left two days ago, because I had some inkling that Colombo was not safe yet.




I have no idea how the enemy got into position. The damaged Illustrious can be seen to the northwest

Afternoon Air attack on Colombo , at 29,48

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 109 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 40 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 33
B5N2 Kate x 55
D3A1 Val x 27
D3A2 Val x 53

Allied aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
B5N2 Kate: 9 damaged
B5N2 Kate: 10 destroyed by flak
D3A1 Val: 11 damaged
D3A1 Val: 5 destroyed by flak
D3A2 Val: 20 damaged
D3A2 Val: 5 destroyed by flak

Allied aircraft losses
Blenheim IV: 1 damaged

Allied Ships
AO Olwen, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Annalock, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
ML No. 200, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
AS Colombia, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
SS KIX, Bomb hits 2, and is sunk
SS KXI, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
DE Jumna, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Maridal, Bomb hits 1
KV Thyme, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
xAK Steaua Romania, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Uffington Court, Bomb hits 1

Airbase hits 2
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 7
Port hits 4

[godefroycz]

September 24 - 27

I sent TF to shell Tarawa and verify that there were no ships. I was almost surprised by the enemy because some aircraft carrier is waiting at Baker Island. Fortunately, all the torpedoes missed and I prefer to withdraw. The opponent is very active in the Indian Ocean. On September 26, he sends more planes to Colombo. This time the fighters are on standby and just two hits from my ships are paid dearly. The enemy again lost more than 50 aircraft.

Morning Air attack on Colombo , at 29,48

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid detected at 84 NM, estimated altitude 33,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 27 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 15
B5N2 Kate x 26
D3A2 Val x 31

Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIb Trop x 15
P-38E Lightning x 24

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 4 destroyed
B5N2 Kate: 3 destroyed, 7 damaged
B5N2 Kate: 6 destroyed by flak
D3A2 Val: 2 destroyed, 8 damaged
D3A2 Val: 5 destroyed by flak

Allied aircraft losses
P-38E Lightning: 1 destroyed

Allied Ships
xAK Deslock, Bomb hits 1
TK Saidja, Bomb hits 1, on fire

At the same time, a TF with battleships is operating at Akyab. I send about 70 bombers from ground bases in several waves. The result is zero. Oh no. Frustrating.
A day later the TF sails past Yamato towards Colombo and bombards the base. The losses are minimal, the airfield and the port are not affected at all. More aircraft carriers appear near Akyab. I'm pulling the planes to the airfields inland, the ports are empty, so there's no danger. I can't see the transport ships yet, so I don't know if it's just a hit and run event or an invasion is coming.

[godefroycz]

September 28 - October 7

I won't say that nothing happens, but only very briefly. The Japanese successfully landed at Akyab. There were only weak forces because I can control the base from the air. In addition, the Japanese also landed only about 100 AS. I'm waiting to see what happens next. They have nowhere to go yet, plus the success was bought with ship losses and my P-38Es are now regularly visiting the base and sweeping up the Japanese fighters. The Japanese also captured Myitkyina. The units were already very weakened and I counted on that loss. Burma is thus entirely in Japanese hands.

There have been several successful US submarine attacks in the Pacific. The biggest catch is probably AV Kamoi. In addition, a TF of cruisers apparently thwarted the evacuation from Canton Island and sank a large Japanese convoy. And this despite the presence of Japanese aircraft carriers. Probably bKB.

The main event takes place on October 7. The Soviet Union entered the war.
I don't know yet if it was intentional, but I'm guessing not. I don't want to spoil the game so I'm thinking what to do. Should I pretend nothing is happening? Any experience?

[BBfanboy]

Other people have had accidental triggering of the Soviet Union. The players discussed it and IIRC, one PBEM decided to continue with the Soviets activated and in another case they elected to re-do the turn with the only change being whatever triggered the Soviets.
If you decide to play on ...
I presume you have already had your Soviet troops training and building some bases. Now they need to be redeployed to either defend against a Japanese drive or to concentrate tanks and artillery for a Soviet breakthrough somewhere. You can cross a lot of rivers where there is no base and no IJ troops to resist, and Japan does not have enough recon planes to check everywhere for your deployments.

The Soviet navy and merchant ships should show up in the turn after or the one after that. I sent most merchants to Prince Rupert to load up supplies, and used a few to sea-lift troops from remote locations. The Japanese can easily smash the Soviet DDs and AMs so I moved those to an obscure base until Japanese intentions could be discerned. The Soviet subs have working torpedoes and some of their skippers are very good too!

Also note - once the Soviets activate, some supply comes down from Alma Ata to N. China if the Chinese still hold bases there. You can even march troops from Alma Ata into China!

[godefroycz]

Supplies are definitely needed. I hold the entire route from the USSR to Sian. The Japanese are symbolically laying siege to Lanchow. We will not return the move, rather I was thinking that we would make the USSR inactive for the time being, with the Japanese activating it with some non-violent action. I don't want another Pearl Harbor. I would like the Soviets to be free to move their troops, ships to transport supplies and troops to their bases and if the Japanese attack me we will show them what it means Нас много.

It will be a bit realistic with the possibility of accidentally attacking neutral vessels Of course I won't be moving in combat zones.
I don't even know if the Soviets are self-sufficient in supplies.

[BBfanboy]

The Soviets get enough supplies for base building and even filling out some TOEs. Their air force suffers from lack of pilots so taking on more planes is unnecessary unless you are losing some planes but saving the pilots. Of course pitched battles will use up the Soviet supply faster than it comes in, but the Japanese will have the same problem. Holding the main rail lines connecting north and south SU is critical.