I-80 border war: Condor vs. TabPub

[Shadow of the Condor]

Standard settings with TabPub playing the IJN. In this game, I’m playing TabPub, who happens to live about 25 miles from me. [:)] For those of you not familiar with I-80, it’s an interstate highway just south of Chicago, running east/west across the country. TabPub lives about 10 miles north of the highway, and I live about ten miles south of it.

Which means, of course, my #1 sub commander, Captain Munson in S-38 , wastes no time to welcome him to our game properly…

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 05/01/42

Weather: Thunderstorms

Sub attack near Rabaul at 21,28

Japanese Ships
CL Tatsuta, Torpedo hits 2, on fire

Allied Ships
SS S-38

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Needless to say, Munson scoots away for deeper water. The escorts that prosecuted him after the attack were three patrol gunboats.

I’m sure my opponent also has a welcome in store for me…

[tabpub]

Hi All!

While I am a decent writer, I don't have nearly the imagination nor skill to do the "narrative" form very well, but I shall give it a try.

Japanese Ships
CL Tatsuta, Torpedo hits 2, on fire [X(]

Msg-
To: Commander, Eighth Fleet
From: CinC Combined Fleet
Subj: Tatsuta Torpedoing

Mikawa, what in the name of His Imperial Majesty(HIM for short...ed note) is going on down there! I told you to stay tied up and wait for Takagi! Can't you do ANYTHING right! I know that you are related to HIM, but I can't have you losing HIM's ships to those roundeye rustbuckets that they call submarines. Straighten up your act down there and get your house in order, or you will be visiting with your ancestors sooner than you expected, if you get my drift...

Msg ends

Msg-
To: CinC Combined Fleet
From: Commander Eighth Fleet
Subj: Deployments

I abase myself to both HIM and yourself. I deserve to be whipped like a dog thru the streets of Nagoya. I did not check to see if proper orders had been issued and the flotilla commander had taken it upon himself to sail beyond the AS nets and "work up" his command in a thunderstorm, to get them some operational practice. Fortunately, the roundeye torpedoes do not have much striking power; Tatsuta will have the holes patched and the compartments drained in 1 week, the base engineer assures me. She will then make way to Tokyo for refit. I expect that her absence will not affect the success of our plans in this region and this shall serve to make our men more aware of the fact that this will not be a "walk in the park" as the Americans would say. Preliminary planning has been done; the initial operations shall begin soon. Do you have a tenative date on which I can expect Chuchi-san to arrive?

Msg Ends

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Ah, looks all right...
I wish the settings could be adjusted for more bulldozers...imagine the Nipponese with some D6 Caterpillars and some graders <drool>....add some cement mixers and I could turn some of these "bases" into mini- Iwos; ah, that would be something else then...oh, and a proper fleet train while I am asking...I have a taste for some Ice Cream...

[LordHawke]

ORIGINAL: tabpub
Japanese Ships
CL Tatsuta, Torpedo hits 2, on fire [X(]

Msg-
To: Commander, Eighth Fleet
From: CinC Combined Fleet
Subj: Tatsuta Torpedoing

Mikawa, what in the name of His Imperial Majesty(HIM for short...ed note) is going on down there! I told you to stay tied up and wait for Takagi! Can't you do ANYTHING right!

Hi tabpub,

I'm your esteemed opponent's opponent in a concurrent game. Just peeking in here to see what alternative history is being written.

I see you've hit a spot of bad luck. [:(] Ouch! I had a much quieter 1st turn, *whew*.

Wonder which of us will nail the Lex first? [:D]

Happy hunting!

[Shadow of the Condor]

6 May 42
Wx: Clear

Absoultely no sign of my opponent anywhere south of Vila island, let alone Guadalcanal. Buna, GG, Lunga, Tulagi...all remain in Alied control...Air search reports some ship activity at Rabaul but that's about it. E-mail intercepts by the crack intelligence staff reveal traffic between Truk and Tokyo wondering why they received so many tankers, yet so few capital ships. Probably a ruse, but no matter. I don't really anticipate going on a tanker hunting mission with my carriers.

One move of note was the transferring of the 93rd Bomb Squadron to Port Moresby. 6 B-17s will aid the search effort there. Two PBY squadrons search from Luganville.

Subnet has been deployed. One S-boat reports 2 SYS damage, all others have 0. [:D]

I can't believe my opponent is not going to attack. So far, however...nothing.

[neuromancer]

A first turn sub hit? On a light cruiser yet!

Lucky bugger...!
[:D]

[Shadow of the Condor]

originally posted by neuromancer

A first turn sub hit? On a light cruiser yet!

Lucky bugger...!

I was actually going for an MSW, but since the cruiser wandered into the scope who am I to argue? [;)]

Hope that kind of luck holds out [:D]

[tabpub]

Date: May 6th, 1942
Subject: Press Release


Toyko- IJN HQ

Today, the first blow in the upcoming campaign to rid the South Pacific of the Western imperialists was struck by the G1 Squadron of the 4th Daitai. These intrepid pilots, learning of the presence of unknown naval units near the Port Moresby base struck in two waves. Pressing thru the flak of the task force, they reported hitting two cruisers heavily. Losses were not reported, but this reporter presumes that the men who died did not sacrifice themselves in vain.

Details follow:

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 05/06/42

Weather: Clear

Air attack on TF, near Port Moresby at 10,40

Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 15

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty x 2 destroyed
G4M1 Betty x 16 damaged

Allied Ships
CA Australia, Torpedo hits 1
CA Chicago, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage


Allied ground losses:
Men lost 82
Vehicles lost 1

Attacking Level Bombers:
2 x G4M1 Betty at 200 feet
3 x G4M1 Betty at 200 feet
4 x G4M1 Betty at 200 feet
4 x G4M1 Betty at 200 feet

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF, near Port Moresby at 10,40

Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 5

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty x 1 destroyed
G4M1 Betty x 5 damaged

Allied Ships
CA Australia, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
DD Farragut

Attacking Level Bombers:
3 x G4M1 Betty at 200 feet
1 x G4M1 Betty at 200 feet


Further information on the campaign is not forthcoming at this time. Combined Fleet has issued a blanket “No Comment” on the current plans in this area. They assure us that we will be informed as conditions warrant.

[Shadow of the Condor]

CAP? What's CAP?

Caught with my proverbial pants down, my opponent gets revenge for his cruiser being torpedoed.

Thunderstorms arrive and I may just be able to limp the wounded back. Chicago is hurt, but SYS <60. We'll see. Kudos to tabpub for the attack!

[tabpub]

Rabaul, May 7th:

Attempting to emulate the IJN strike on PM, a handful of Hudsons drop bombs on the shipping at Rabaul. There is no aircover up here either, as the pilots had referred to Clause 7 of the pilot code..none shall be asked to fly in thunderstorms unless in emergency situations. Thankfully, the bombs were ineffective; clause 7 has been stricken and the air commander chastised.

Vila, May 7th:

American underwater bandits were reported in the area, but it seems that they don't want to press the issue, as no hits were reported. One contact was engaged around Bougainville and reported sunk. Debris indicates S40 was the bandit sunk. Bounty on S44 has been announced by the commander of the IJN Tatsuta, in an attempt to regain face and reputation.

[Shadow of the Condor]

Okay, okay I got it. Shortlands = sub graveyard. [:@] 'nuff said. First sinking of the action goes to tabpub. Of course, S-44 gets Azumasan Maru in his sights twice and misses.

Hang on, boys...it's going to be a bumpy ride... [;)]

[Shadow of the Condor]

9 May 42
Wx: Overcast

1000L…Carins harbor

The harbor master looked over the repair list and shook his head. He already had a gang onboard both the American and Australian ships. The ships’ crewmen had been fighting flooding and fires all the way in from New Guinea. What amazed him was the fact either ship actually made it to port. The last attack put another torpedo into the Australia at the edge of the Reef! The bloody Australian Reef!

1011L, Aitkenvale Wier airbase, near Townsville…

The men and planes of #76 RAAF Squadron had just arrived from Archer Field weeks ago. They were supposed to fly training missions in anticipation of an attack against their homeland. The commander had just briefed them on a new deployment. It seems the reports of an IJN submarine torpedoing Australia were true, as the cruiser – along with the American Chicago - was now crippled and defenseless at Cairns. They were being deployed to provide protection from long range bombers who might just want to finish off the wounded ships. The training was to take on a new phase…

1400L…onboard USS Lexington…at sea…

Admiral Mitscher reviewed the message. Two cruisers tasked to defend the waters off Australia were hurt. And nothing more than a few downed bombers were the cost. The report of a sub torpedoing the cruisers was unconfirmed (how in the hell do you ‘confirm’ being hit by a torpedo?) but he had no illusions. Subs were the one thing he did worry about. Reports of the new Fletcher class destroyers were encouraging with their ability to provide ASW support – but they were at least two months away.

Neosho and her ever-present escort Sims were pulling away, having transferred fuel oil to the ships in his task force. It had been an all-day job, and he had been surprised no planes had spotted them. Mitscher didn’t like being tied down, even for a refueling operation. Now, however, he was free to maneuver. He was a bit disappointed at not contacting the IJN carriers reportedly headed for the New Guinea peninsula. He had been in position SSE of Gili Gili for two days but had retired east to refuel. The attack squadrons had been at standby for both of those days, but were now able to stand down for the day. Tomorrow, however they would be back at standby…waiting for a contact report…



The Combat Report:

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 05/08/42

Weather: Thunderstorms

Sub attack at 8,55

Japanese Ships
SS I-21

Allied Ships
CA Australia, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[Rocco]

I live about 30 miles south of I-80 on I-57 [:)]

Just thought I'd pop in to say Hi to some local guys.

Rocco

[Shadow of the Condor]

13 May 42
Wx: Thunderstorms

0800L...30 miles NE of Cairns harbor...Australia...

The fires had been out for two whole days now, and the dockworkers we're beginning to make headway pumping the two cruisers dry. LT JG Eddie Lee was flying off a runway now for a few more days, his Seagull keeping a watch for submarines in the area. He knew that the two cruisers would soon be cleared for a trip back to Pearl. He just hoped he could go as well...

2200L...60 miles east of Gasmata...onboard submarine S-37...

Commander Reynolds leaned against the edge of the conning tower while his sub was surfaced. A chance to recharge his batteries and let the crew take turns on the deck was always welcome. He was wary, having received the alert about the sinking of S-40 earlier while at the Shortlands. Laying low in this part of the ocean for the better part of three days hadn't produced much of anything in the way of enemy shipping. He had leeway to move his position as he saw fit, and had worked out two alternate ambush spots with the fleet staff officers before he left. It was time to head to the first alternate. He looked at his watch and took one last deep breath while topside and then climbed back down the ladder...

[marky]

ORIGINAL: Shadow of the Condor

CAP? What's CAP?

Caught with my proverbial pants down, my opponent gets revenge for his cruiser being torpedoed.

Thunderstorms arrive and I may just be able to limp the wounded back. Chicago is hurt, but SYS <60. We'll see. Kudos to tabpub for the attack!

CAP - Combat Air Patrol

or -

Captain

[tabpub]

Toyko:

The war continues quite favorably! Troops continue to advance in Burma, driving the British Colonialists back toward their lackeys in India.

Meanwhile, Eighth Fleet reports the capture of a insignificant base in the South Pacific. It's name is Tulagi. Captured there were 4 nuns, a blind man and a goat. The goat was executed as a spy and eaten by the command staff of the 5th Saesbo SNLF. The goat/spy had the final revenge, as the entire staff is now suffering from dysentery.

In other news....

[Shadow of the Condor]

originally posted by marky...

CAP - Combat Air Patrol

or -

Captain

Thank you, sir. In a botched attempt I made at humor, your answer is a refreshing counterpoint of logic.

1433L...Port Moresby airfield "5-mile drome"...

Lt. Matthew Brors jogged back from his plane to the squadron "office" which was an embodiment of a supply clerk's form: Tent, GP small, olive drab, 1 each; table, wood, folding, 1 each; chair, metal, folding, 3 each. Also included was the mosquito netting, insect repellant, and a five gallon water dispenser.

Not to be found on the supply clerk's form would be the major sitting on one of the government issue chairs.

"Matt, get some sleep. I've been hearing the raid didn't get much." The major had a gift for understating things, but Brors let it go.

"No sir. We were too high. The Japs had AA up, but it wasn't that. We just need to get down lower so we can get a better look at the targets."

The major smiled. "And you will. You're going out again. This time at 6000 feet. The Ozzies are going back to search, so it'll be just us this trip."

Brors cringed inside. The AA had been ineffectual, but at 6000 feet, his bomber would be an easy thing to get into a set of crosshairs. He almost didn't hear the major's last words.

"Be here tonight at 2230."

1600L...Operations Building briefing room...Noumea, New Caledonia...

The Admiral secretly wondered why the enemy waited so long to move south. Tulagi was taken, and Lunga had to be next. Reports from Port Moresby weer encouraging, if not good. The Lae raid was a wash...no real damage done, but no real losses either. The crews did get some experience, however. There was also the report that the Japanese didn't have fighters up over Lae. That surprised him. And where were the carriers...?

He had sent for Admiral Spruance. He wondered what he would think of his plan...

[tabpub]

May 16th-Rabaul
Lt Moritoma of the 4th Daitai heard the report from a Mavis patrol come over the radio
"One US submarine on the surface, 90 km SSW Rabaul. Am at 6,000m, unable to prosecute.
"Get the planes formed up and crewed in 20 minutes, we have a target today."

Same day-Truk

Admiral Roboya stormed around his palatial office. "What are those idiots back in Tokyo thinking of! I have MORE than enough merchant bottoms for the operations that are in effect now! Why send another 1/4 of a million tonnes of shipping here, for the love of the Emporer! I need fighting ships!"

The admiral's aide, Toadysaka, replied "Well, they have sent Mutsu and her escort squadron..."

"MUTSU! She was a pig when I commanded her in '28! She uses more fuel than a destroyer flotilla! ARGH!" <runs into washroom to cry and break things>

[tabpub]

Off Townsville:
Hunting the crippled Cruisers that were reported in the area had been fruitless. But the radio room had picked up that reconaissance planes had seen a group of shipping in Townsville harbor. I-29 lurked just outside the reef, a metal version of the Great White that frequents these parts....
05/17/42

Weather: Thunderstorms

Sub attack at 10,61

Japanese Ships
SS I-29

Allied Ships
AP Katoomba, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The captain led 162 men ashore. 'Now I know how the early explorers felt', he thought, as he claimed this island for the Emperor. The only witnesses were some gulls and 2 cleverly hidden natives.....

Ground combat at Lunga

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 163 troops, 5 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 0 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles

Japanese assault odds: 8 to 1 (fort level 0)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Lunga base !!!



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[Shadow of the Condor]

18 May 42
Wx: Overcast

0022L…on board submarine Greenling…code name Acorn…30 miles SW of Truk…

The contact report had gone out. 5 more PCs were out into the ocean. Designed for long distance operations, the fleet sub was there to monitor shipping and report it back to Noumea. The crew imagined someone there kept track of such things, and settled back into their hole in the ocean to keep watch…

0211L…onboard submarine S-41…60 miles SE of Shortland Is…

It was hard to tell in the dark. An enemy barge was spotted. Attacking a barge was risky, but Commander Holley was surfaced, and ordered his gun crew to fire. They got one round off before reporting the gun had jammed. Holley ordered a torpedo salvo to be fired on the surface. The barge had not returned fire, but Holley was already down the ladder and ordering a dive. Two explosions punctuated that order. Grinning, the helmsman acknowledged the order…

0530L…Flight deck…USS Yorktown…

2Lt Garrett’s SBD was last to take off of Scouting Five. Admiral Spruance was sending everything the two carriers had against the contacts reported at Tulagi. Coastwatcher reports of “troop transports” got everyone’s hopes up of an easy mission. They had made it into the waters of San Cristobal undetected as far as they knew. The pilots were briefed on the mission, and the targets reported to be 150 miles away. They were to be the first return blow offered by the American carriers…

0730L…17,000 feet over Tulagi harbor…

The radios were alive with amazement. First, there was disappointment that the “troop transports” were merely barges and not worthy of the 1000 lb bombs slung by the SBDs. Then the entire squadron saw it almost at once. An IJN tanker was below, with only three small escorts. And no fighters protecting this valuable target. LtCdr Burch, the squadron leader, wasted no time, and ordered the attack on the tanker. Garrett was the last of the 9-plane attack wave. He saw explosions on the ship below, and was about to release his own bomb when the biggest explosion he had ever seen was fireballing straight up towards him. He quickly dove to the right and leveled off his dive. Apparently, the tanker was transferring fuel to the newly occupied IJN base when the planes caught her. Continuous attacks were made, until the squadron flew home, leaving a burning hulk of a tanker and a destroyed PC gunboat behind them. They would, however, be back…

1200L…Onboard USS Yorktown…

Spruance received the attack reports with aplomb. He was happy with the results of the attack…one enemy tanker burning badly and a gunboat sunk. He ordered the second strike on the shipping, and decided he had better not press his luck. He had caught the enemy flat-footed, but he could imagine the land based bomber crews at Shortland and Rabaul running to their planes now, trying to get an attack off on his carriers.

1212L...radio intercept station...Townsville, Australia...

"'Ere it is, sir...'ave a listen:"

......"..oomba, at 148'25 W, 17'22 S, severely damaged and we are abandoning ship. ...repeat... mayday... mayday... mayday...we are HMAS Katoomba, at 148'25 W, 17' 22 S, severely damaged and we are abandoning ship ... repeat... mayday... mayday... mayday......"......

The officer cranked the phone and asked for base operations...and yes, it was an emergency...

1600L…Onboard USS Yorktown…

The last of the planes was back, and the replenishment task force they encountered 9 hours earlier was gone. The claims were set at one tanker and three escorts. No fighters, and very little AA was encountered. They were headed home.

1300L...over last reported position of HMAS Katoomba...

The PBY circled and saw the men were almost all in lifeboats. A good sign, and an orderly evacuation. White towels frantically waved until he flew low directly over the survivors. He reported in, confirmed the position, and silently prayed thanks that the ship wasn't fully loaded when it was torpedoed...

2156L…”the Slot”…onboard submarine S-44…

Commander Moore had just finished off a gunboat that crossed his sights. Another had chased him for about an hour, but had given up. Moore wondered how long the Japs were going to use these gunboats to hunt him instead of their more effective destroyers…


The CR:

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 05/18/42

Weather: Overcast

Sub attack at 19,3

Allied Ships
SS Greenling


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Sub attack at 30,35

Japanese Ships
AG 2050, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage (sunk)

Allied Ships
SS S-41


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Air attack on TF, near Tulagi at 38,39


Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 9
SBD Dauntless x 58
TBD Devastator x 24


no losses [:)]

Japanese Ships
PC Ch 10, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage (sunk)
TK Toho Maru, Bomb hits 14, on fire, heavy damage
PC Ch 12
PC Ch 11


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF, near Tulagi at 38,39


Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 4
SBD Dauntless x 55
TBD Devastator x 24


no losses [:)]

Japanese Ships
PC Ch 11, Bomb hits 6, on fire, heavy damage (sunk)
TK Toho Maru, on fire, heavy damage (sunk)
PC Ch 12, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage (sunk)


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 36,38

Japanese Ships
PC Ch 23, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage (sunk)

Allied Ships
SS S-44


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[tabpub]

Admiral Roboya barely blinked when Toadysaka gave his morning briefing

"So, the American carriers showed up? How badly did the "Cranes" damage them?

Toadysaka cringed
"Um, not at all. They were retiring to cover the transports that had just left. The first knowledge that they had were the attack reports. By then it was too late to pursue; a Nell patrol spotted the Americans far to the south the next day.
Addtionally, there is an American submarine presence in the Vila area; Mikawa wants to know what to do?"

The Admiral, in an even tone
"I am surrounded by idiots and incompetents. Tell Mikawa to increase air patrols for now. I shall get him some vessels in the near future. They don't grow on trees and we have many irons in the fire right now. What with Chuichi returning from his Indian Ocean adventure recently, we shall have more to work with soon. For now, make do!