Mogami v DadMan: The Wonder Years...

[Admiral DadMan]

aY YAE YAE

Mogami and his singing...

[Admiral DadMan]

31 DEC 41

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Japanese TF with BB Yamashiro and Fuso Surface Night Time Combat, near Rabaul blows up MSW Penguin, then blasts the crap out of Rabaul.

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Allied Day Air attack on two TF 200nm NNE of Singapore,

Japanese AP Daifuku Maru, Bomb hits 1; AP Nojima Maru, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage; AP Tatuho Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire;

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Japanese G3M Nell Day Air attack on TF near Tarakan, DD Evertsen, Torpedo hits 1, on fire

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Japanese Ground forces CAPTURE Malacca

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Ground combat at Menado begins…

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Looks like the assault toward Rabaul/New Guinea is about to begin. I'm beginning to understand Mogami when he says that he holds what he can and pays no attention to what he could not have defended anyway.

[Admiral DadMan]

1 JAN 42

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Japanese Ships conduct ASW attack on Allied sub Spearfish near Morotai, inflicting damage

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Japanese carrier aircraft Day Air attacks on Allied TF 180nm ESE of Kendari; DD Vendetta, Torpedoed

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Japanese G3M Nell Day Air attack on Allied TF, near Rangoon AP Dardanus, Torpedoed

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Japanese Ground forces CAPTURE Roxas, Amboina, Menado, and Bulla

IJN CVLs Ryujo and Zuiho took a swipe at my SurfAct TF patrolling the area near Kendari and hit a DD. Tough little ship. If she isn’t hit again, she’ll make port.

I wish I had a good fix on where the First Mobile Force was. I’m hesitant to really commit my carriers to any thing much until I get better intel on his.

[mogami]

Hi, Just to prove something I always say. ("When you don't know where the enemy CV are they are always where they can do the most harm"
Just send your CV anywhere you want and see if you don't find mine. )

[Admiral DadMan]

ORIGINAL: Mogami

Hi, Just to prove something I always say. ("When you don't know where the enemy CV are they are always where they can do the most harm"
Just send your CV anywhere you want and see if you don't find mine. )

Now I'm worried to open the next turn...

[Admiral DadMan]

3 JAN 42

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Allied KXI Sub attacks Japanese AP Nojima Maru 60nm E of Kuantan Torpedo hits, on fire, heavy damage

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Japanese Sub attacks Allied TK Gertrude Kellogg, 60nm WSW of Pontinanak, Borneo; Torpedo hits, on fire, heavy damage

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Japanese Sub attacks Allied ML Pro Patria 180nm SSE of Palembang. Torpedo hits, and she is sunk.

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Allied aircraft Day Air attack Japanese TF near Tarakan, Borneo strafing 2 DDs

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Allied DD Evertsen intercepts Japanese Invasion Fleet near Tarakan. Damages 1 PG, 1 PC, 4 APs. She herself takes 30 plus hits and succumbs to her injuries.

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Japanese Ground forces CAPTURE Changsha, China; Sorong, New Guinea.

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Fighting continues around Moulmein, Clark Field, and Manila.

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Dutch Ground forces drive off Japanese paratroops at Palembang

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Ryujo/Zuiho TF is dangerously close to my Heavy Surface Action TF headed south in the Banda Sea toward Darwin.

After failing to stop the landings at Ambonia, or even to engage enemy Surface forces, “Force K” (as I call it) led by BC Repulse is withdrawing to Darwin for fuel.

For the past 3 weeks, I have been slowly moving Lexington and Enterprise TFs across the Pacific to protect Austraila. After calling at Brisbane for supplies, I began moving them toward the Java area.

He has moved Ryujo/Zuiho TF west toward Kendari, and I had been retreating that way initially. If he sees me retiring Force K toward Darwin and gives chase, he’s going to be in for a shock.

[mogami]

Hi, If you don't know where the enemy CV are. Assume they are where they can do the most harm.

[Admiral DadMan]

ORIGINAL: Mogami

Hi, If you don't know where the enemy CV are. Assume they are where they can do the most harm.

And when you do know where they are, you can do 1 of two things:

---Either build a stronger CV TF and smash his,

or

---RUN THE HELL AWAY!!!

[Admiral DadMan]

4 JAN 42

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Japanese TF bombards Kendari, causes light damage

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Allied aircraft Day Air attack Japanese TF near Tarakan, Borneo. Strafe 2 DDs.

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BATTLE OF THE BANDA SEA

The Banda Sea is a 150,000 square nautical mile expance of loveliness reaching to Kendari in the Northeast, the tip of the New Guinea "bird" to the West, Darwin, Australia to the South, and Timor to the Southeast. It is here that great ships meet to transact an awful business - the buisness of war.

Through broken clouds and thunderstorms, an Imperial Japanese Light Carrier Task Force built around Ryujo and Zuiho seek out an Allied Battle Force known as "Force K", built around powerful British Battlecruiser Repulse. Though not engaging any Japanese ships, threat of such, is causing headaches for the Japanese High Command. In the early days of January 1942, Ryujo and Zuiho mark Force K for termination.

Unbeknownst to the Japanese, American carriers Lexington and Enterprise, survivors of Pearl Harbor, have been quietly making their way across the Pacific, moving into position to intercept and defend any incursion directed toward Australia. On 1 January, 1942, Ryujo and Zuiho were detected again aproaching Kendari in support of landings in the area. Force K, on its way to make contact with those forces, must duck away to keep out of range of the deadly B5N "Kate" torpedo bomber. Darwin provides the nearest safe haven.

Enter Lexington [/i] and [/i]Enterprise.

Allied SBD Dauntlesses from Lexington Day Air attack on Japanese TF 500nm SSE of Kendari.
-CVL Zuiho, 1 Bomb hit;
-CVL Ryujo, 3 Bomb hits, on fire

Allied SBD Dauntlesses from Enterprise Day Air attack on Japanese TF 500nm SSE of Kendari.
-CVL Zuiho, 3 Bomb hits;
-CVL Ryujo, 3 Bomb hits, on fire

Japanese Day Air counterstrike on Allied TF 300mn NNE of Darwin. Lexington and Enterprise dodge torpedoes from 7 B5N Kate (out of nearly 30 in the strike).

In the afternoon, SBD Dauntless from Lexington and Enterprise return for the screening forces:
DD Oyashio, Bomb hits 4, on fire, heavy damage
DD Amatsukaze, Bomb hits 6, on fire, heavy damage
CS Chitose, Bomb hits 2, on fire

Allied Hudsons from Darwin get into the act near missing Japanese CS Mizuho

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Japanese G3M Nell Day Air slam Allied merchant ships near Palembang
AK Siberoet, Torpedoed, on fire, heavy damage
TK Semiramis, Torpedoed, on fire, heavy damage
TK Iris, Torpedoed, on fire, heavy damage

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Japanese escort ships ASW attack Allied sub S-40 near Amboina. No further contact. Overdue, presumed lost.

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Allied DD Jupiter intercepts IJN invasion TF near Tarakan, Borneo. She engages ML Ikitsushima and DD Wakatake, scoring hits, but is herself severely damaged. For the second time in 2 days an IJN landing force has been turned back at Tarakan.

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Allied Sub KXIV attacks IJN TF near Tawi Tawi. IJN DD Tsuga is Torpedoed

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Ground combat continues at Johore Bahru, Moulmein, Clark Field, and Manila,

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Japanese Ground forces CAPTURE Sansapor and Wasile

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This is not a big loss for Mogami. Neither carrier has shown up as "sunk", and I did jump him at 2:1 odds. I was DAMN lucky not to have taken a torp in one of my carriers on the counter strike.

This just means that Mogami is more likely to commit 2 bigger carriers to this sector. I would guess that the Fifth Carrier Division (Shokaku and Zuikaku) would be on their way. This would be a bad thing for me should I decide to linger. I am not interested in a one-to-one carrier battle with him. He can bring more to bear in terms of skilled airmen and quality aircraft.

He's a smart man, and I'm sure to get my little po-po spanked soon.

[Ron Saueracker]

Right on Dadman. Time to scoot outa there for awhile.[:)]

[mogami]

Hi, It's a nice story and I'm sure Johnny Horton will make a song out of it but the IJN CVL were not chasing any enemy TF "K". They were covering IJN operations. Had they been chasing the force K they would have been far more to the south of the location the strikes occured. Dadman timed his movements well. The IJN air cover had not yet moved forward (Why the CVL were where they were) Ambonia Island has not yet provided air patrol. Kendari has yet to be taken.
One result to the Japanese Operational plan directly resulting from this engagement is alloting time for both CVL to upgrade their A5M groups to A6M2. The Claude has failed to protect it's last TF. Hence forth after covering the intial landings at Davao the CVL will remain in port for their fighters to upgrade. Japan will confine operations to the area between Legaspi and Davao (more then enough to keep things moving)

[Admiral DadMan]

ORIGINAL: Mogami

Hi, It's a nice story and I'm sure Johnny Horton will make a song out of it but the IJN CVL were not chasing any enemy TF "K". They were covering IJN operations. Had they been chasing the force K they would have been far more to the south of the location the strikes occured. Dadman timed his movements well. The IJN air cover had not yet moved forward (Why the CVL were where they were) Ambonia Island has not yet provided air patrol. Kendari has yet to be taken.
One result to the Japanese Operational plan directly resulting from this engagement is alloting time for both CVL to upgrade their A5M groups to A6M2. The Claude has failed to protect it's last TF. Hence forth after covering the intial landings at Davao the CVL will remain in port for their fighters to upgrade. Japan will confine operations to the area between Legaspi and Davao (more then enough to keep things moving)

It was a thing of beauty to watch on the replay. I must admit to being very anxious on the Kate counter strike. Thought for sure I was going to take a torp or 2.

I was damn lucky.

[mogami]

Hi, I would have considered it a fair trade to score just 1 hit. Sadly the CVL Kate groups while contributing much to operations in SRA have been attrited down in quality and size.
The TF could have held 86 aircraft (almost a full USN CV) but it began the Ambonia operation with just 59 Of these 25 were A5M.
It never occured to me the USN CV would ever go near Japanese LBA. However the battle occured just a few hundred miles beyond my range (since I don't allow the groups to fly extended range) Also the short range of my fighers meant the Kate groups had their range reduced to 3 hexes rather then 5. But I don't often allow them to fly 5 hexes even with A6M2 escort but I do let them fly out to 4.

I am seeing that Dadman is quite willing to play as if there is no tomorrow. I will adjust accordingly and see if I can't make that the case. One of his surface TF engaged me yet again at Tarakan and that is well within airrange. However the weather gods are favoring him for the moment. (It would have been so sweet to have discovered his CV and been covered by clouds on mine)

There is one thing I don't think I need go into here. I know where the USN CV are at the moment. Japanese operations in other locations have been moved forward since the aircover required can be reduced. And there has been a change to the movement orders of several TF directly as a result of finding the USN CV. Those CV will look pretty silly up in Ceylon. And they have pretty much boxed themselves into that remaining the only course open to them to avoid KB.

[Capt. Harlock]

Well played, and well written, Adm. DadMan! Of course, some of the description of the Japanese TF turns out not be true, but as they say "History is a set of lies generally agreed upon".

To Mogami, yes, you have a good read on the location of the US CV's. But it seems DadMan will shortly have a good idea of the location of the KB.

[mogami]

Hi, Well it required 4 or 5 days of trying and 3 different TF to land troops at Tarakan and 8 DD several AP 1 ML were lost but Tarakan was captured. Approx 30 Allied ac were detroyed on the ground. In the surface battles (a nightly event) at least 1 Allied CL was sunk along with a DD or two. Japanese LBA has not been able to intervene even though every day I wait for retribution. I am so silly sometimes. The TF used at Tarkan were originally heading for Kendari. When Force "K" was spotted I rerouted them to a "safer" target. The screening force remained behind to cover Ambonia. (Lucky for me those USN CV were too far away to hit them along with my CVL.)
So they did nothing of importance while the TF they were supposed to protect were hammered by enemy TF.
It now appears that I should have protected Ambonia with the CVL and escorted the transports. The CVL should have remained 120 miles to the east of Ambonia under aircover from Palau. (where they were stationed prior to Force "K" making it's appearance)
I was not chasing Force "K" but I was trying to persude it to go away.

[Admiral DadMan]

5 JAN 04

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Allied SBD Dauntless Day Air attack from Lexington on IJN Carrier TF in Banda Sea
CVL Ryujo, Bomb hits 4, on fire, heavy damage
CVL Zuiho, Bomb hits 4, on fire, heavy damage

Both carriers still afloat, the attack was from extreme range as I did not want to invite a Nell/Betty counter strike by over-pursuit.

Allied SBD Dauntless Day Air attack from Enterprise on IJN Carrier TF in Banda Sea
CS Chitose, Bomb hits 8, on fire, heavy damage

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Allied Cruiser Force intercepts IJN Invasion Force near Tarakan, sinking 5 IJN DDs.

A great tactical victory for the Allies, but the Japanese succeeded in preventing a breakthrough to the transports.

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Japanese forces continue landing at Tarakan.

(That's one gutsy commander.)

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Ground combat at Clark Field, Manila, Georgetown.

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Japanese Ground forces CAPTURE Moulmein!!! Rangoon is likely next.

[Admiral DadMan]

6 JAN 04

Allied Surface Action TF “Force A” attacks IJN Invasion Fleet in the wee hours near Tarakan.

IJN loses 1 PC, with 1 DD, 2 PGs, and 3 APs hit.

Allied forces lose Dutch CL Tromp with heavy damage to CL HMS Enterprise.

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Force A encounters an IJN DD group attempting to escape Tarakan. 6 IJN DDs, 1 ML, and a PG are shot up, 5 DDs sink. Some of the Allied cruisers take an odd shell.

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Allied BB HMS Revenge and CL HMS Glasgow bombard recently taken city of Moulmein, and chew up some ground meat.

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Coastal Guns firing at TF unloading at Brunei.

CL Kashii, DD Yakaze, and DD Yukaze, take hits

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Allied Sub Plunger attacks Japanese Ships 180nm SSW of Honshu; TK Ayazono Maru, Torpedoed

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Allied P-40B Tomahawk Day Air attack on Japanese TF near Tarakan; AP Toyo Maru #2, hit, on fire

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Allied Day Air attack on Japanese TF near Kuantan; AP Tazan Maru, hit, on fire; AP Meiyo Maru, hit

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Allied Martin 139 Day Air attack on Japanese TF off Tarakan; ML Ikitsushima, hit, on fire

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Japanese Ground forces CAPTURE Tarakan!!!

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Ground combat at Clark Field, Manila, and Georgetown

Hopefully Force A managed to delay the Tarakan timetable a day or two. Kendari is likely next on the list. Darwin is likely to become too hot to use as a base when Ambonia is up and running with Nell/Betty bombers. Force K will need a new home.

[madflava13]

Great AAR guys - I'm learning a lot and applying it in my own games... thanks!

[mogami]

Hi, Tarakan has been taken ahead of schedule. The forces employed there were supposed to have taken Kendari. Force "K" and the USN CV disrupted that plan. Tarakan was not supposed to be an opposed landing. The sequence was to have been Kendari and then Macassar then Balikpapan cutting off Allied forces to the North East. Airfields at Kendari/Macassar/Balikpapan will drive the Allied ships from the SRA.

Plans have been readjusted.

[Admiral DadMan]

7 JAN 42

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Japanese Ki-48 Lily Day Air attacks on TF near Manila; AP Van Diemen and AP Kanimba are caught trying to in bring supplies.

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Japanese Ground forces CAPTURE Brunei base !!!

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Ground combat at Clark Field, Manila, Taiping (north of Singapore)