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

[bigred]

44-5-25/26:
1. Size 5 AF at Munda has been "aquired".
2. John's 5 div Sumatra campaign appears to be running on Fumes.

3. See panel #5.
Reminds me of the old saying " No plan survives initial enemy contact". (90xM4 shermans with 7000 .3 cal rounds each) hmm.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M4_Sherman
Secondary
armament
.50 caliber Browning M2HB machine gun (300–600 rounds),
2-4.30 caliber Browning M1919A4 machine guns (6,000–6,750 rounds) depending on variant[3][4]

[John 3rd]

May 28, 1944

Periodically, GOOD things can still happen commanding Japan versus the Allied juggernaut.

The 23rd saw a small CVE TF mauled south of Rabaul with two CVEs put in sinking condition by multiple 800KG hit. The 28th sees a similar event occur when 27 Franks escort 52 Judy into attacks vs 43 American Fighters. At cost, the raid gets past the CAP and manages to put FOUR 500KG bombs on CVE Wake Island and TWO 500KG Bombs into CVE White Plains.

Gonna claim TWO CVEs sunk and two CVEs crippled.

Additionally, planes flying from Wake hit a fully loaded pair of AOs trying to slip north towards NOPAC.

It really isn't much but it is SOMETHING!

5-28-44.jpg (233.87 KiB) Viewed 1315 times

[bigred]

44-5-28/29:

[bigred]

June 44:
VP's and John 3rd and FatR Fletcher class DDs arrive on map. Maybe John will try to avoid sinking them!!!

[bigred]

44-5-31and 6/1:

[bigred]

44-5-31and 6/1:

[bigred]

44-6-2:
John Crosses the river below Sabang and mauls another IJA Regiment.
The IJA 1st AR div is getting pursued south of Moulmein.
Landing at Dobyne, Long, Umboi, Kiriwina.
Try out this new video I made for my youtube channel. Objective is to get new players from Youtube.
https://youtu.be/wHhmJzksEUE
I dont do a good job editing video. !st time with clipmonkey. Will be a work i progress.

[bigred]

44/6/3:
John seems to be using the mini KB to shield a transport move into sabang. Intel reports 52nd div is on TRS into Sabang. Note the ships sitting on Sabang. I have been dropping m13 air mines on the hex and he has been clearing them.

Up north on the road to Tavoy 2 armored BDE and one allied infantry div are roughing up the IJA 1st ar div.

Further north note the move toward Raheing. Chaing Mai has fallen and the pocket closes.

[bigred]

44-6-5: making a new turn. Looking around the map and said 'O S___!!!" what are they doing down here.

[John 3rd]

That is a fairly appropriate response.

I greatly feared a group of American CVEs or CTF moving to interdict TFs moving between Truk and Rabaul the last 10-12 days. Taking a real risk, I moved 40+ AP/AK with some ASW protection into the northern Solomons, Lae area, New Guinea, and Rabaul. Don't know if Paul saw them or not but I just lifted out 3 ID, 3 Air HQ, and half a dozen other Engineer/Base Forces. We are talking about 50,000 troops. Took a risk and brought the actual CV TF over direct from Singers to the Truk area for emergency cover if needed.

It wasn't. Now I can truly reinforce my Inner Perimeter without taking from the Home Islands. Imagine a Kiska-style evacuation but 5-7 times larger. This is a pretty big deal to rescue these troops who were cut off and being left to whither on the vine.

VERY Nice! I will take it and be happy for small favors...

[John 3rd]

June 6, 1944

Here is a screenshot of the TFs withdrawing troops from the South Pacific. The 10th, 16th, and 54th ID plus nine other units are deploying having been rescued from their island/base prisons.

Very POSITIVE for later in the campaign.

6-6-44.jpg (152 KiB) Viewed 1024 times

[RangerJoe]

That is a fairly appropriate response.

I greatly feared a group of American CVEs or CTF moving to interdict TFs moving between Truk and Rabaul the last 10-12 days. Taking a real risk, I moved 40+ AP/AK with some ASW protection into the northern Solomons, Lae area, New Guinea, and Rabaul. Don't know if Paul saw them or not but I just lifted out 3 ID, 3 Air HQ, and half a dozen other Engineer/Base Forces. We are talking about 50,000 troops. Took a risk and brought the actual CV TF over direct from Singers to the Truk area for emergency cover if needed.

It wasn't. Now I can truly reinforce my Inner Perimeter without taking from the Home Islands. Imagine a Kiska-style evacuation but 5-7 times larger. This is a pretty big deal to rescue these troops who were cut off and being left to whither on the vine.

VERY Nice! I will take it and be happy for small favors...

If you are happy, think of what those digital troops feel!

That said, that is a very good job on your part. That can make it just a little bit harder on your opponent.

[John 3rd]

Correct.

This move was made possible by those CVEs of Paul's getting hit and/or sunk. I knew it would take time to redeploy some so I took the risk and rushed down there. Had moved everything to Saipan thinking about this possibility but really didn't think there would be a chance of success without a lot of cost.

[bigred]

Correct.

This move was made possible by those CVEs of Paul's getting hit and/or sunk. I knew it would take time to redeploy some so I took the risk and rushed down there. Had moved everything to Saipan thinking about this possibility but really didn't think there would be a chance of success without a lot of cost.

It will be a challenge tracking down those AP before they get to home.

[bigred]

44-6-6/7:
The japs are hard pressing on to relieve the Sabang Siege. The situation is deteriorating. In other news the road attack into Raheigh is stalled by overstacking on the mountain road. To the north the Chicoms seem to have alot of whipass as the come south toward Utterich.

The IJA 1st AR div has been pursued to NE of Tavoy.

[bigred]

6-8-44
Inbox

John Cochran
Attachments
10:48 PM (49 minutes ago)
to me

Had you not revealed that CV TF, you would have caught be absolutely flatfooted. I THOUGHT there were only CVEs around. Damn. It was a surprise! I now have OTHER places to be…

Turn just came in. Some surprising action to be posted.

[bigred]

44-6-7: Allies on the move in SoPac when Japs start moving transporters into the area. First we will see the replay. Then I will post a few jpegs of current options to deal with this new opportunity in CentPac.

[bigred]

44-6-8:

[bigred]

Centpac intel reports enemy ship locations, destinations, and possible refueling TFs. A frag order in the army was a fragmentation order. meaning add changes to the original mission and prepare to make a shift to a new task.

[bigred]

44-6- 6th and 7th:
Allies land on Sakhalin island with no jap air response.
Some relief at Sabang.
John torches 3 more AO.
This replay is a you tube video. https://youtu.be/EQqbFsjBEPw