The Italian Job 2- Gen.Hoepner(J)-vs.-Mc3744

[jwilkerson]

When I approach a battle like this - I leave my main force air completely off ... kind of the equivalent of modern force turning off all active sensors ... of course this is only good idea if you have OTHER MEANS of adequately searching the areas that need to be searched .. but if you have this .. then "off" is the way to go ... even the sea planes ... they show a "shadow" ... and you wanna be totally dark if you can. Of course the turn you attack ... everything is on and you move as fast as you can ... but therein is the "art" .. judging the right time .. but ideally you will develop the intel picture much further over the next 1-2 turns ...

[Gen.Hoepner]

ORIGINAL: jwilkerson

When I approach a battle like this - I leave my main force air completely off ... kind of the equivalent of modern force turning off all active sensors ... of course this is only good idea if you have OTHER MEANS of adequately searching the areas that need to be searched .. but if you have this .. then "off" is the way to go ... even the sea planes ... they show a "shadow" ... and you wanna be totally dark if you can. Of course the turn you attack ... everything is on and you move as fast as you can ... but therein is the "art" .. judging the right time .. but ideally you will develop the intel picture much further over the next 1-2 turns ...

I really put some big hopes in the abilities of my Emilies chutais based at Christmas IO. They should be already in range to spot the enemy's ships by now. Tomorrow, if nothing changes and he keeps advancing like this, i'll activate all my air groups, refuel one more time manually, and move westwards. But first i need to know how many capital ships he has there....cannot go blinded! If he really has his CVs, he's probably already having his air groups activated...so maybe the fatigue will be on his side this time.
This can be a turning point in the war. If i lose my CVs i'll be forced to play in defence and won't be able to counterattack "en masse".
If i succeed i'll keep the dominion of the seas for some 6 more months....

The question is: why is he doing such a thing? Why in the world sweeping the sea with his DDs?! What's the goal? If he wanted to transfer his war fleet in the Bengal Bay he could have made a fast run from Perth to Colombo, at Max speed...and probably i would not have been able to intercept him, while he's advancing with APs and slow ships at a speed somewhere between 7 and 12....this is weird.

However surprise will be everything. Gotta risk something, i know....the big gamble time has finally come!

BANZAI

[Gen.Hoepner]

It's obvious that with the forces i have at my disposal i won't be able to face the whole american carrier fleet(6 CVs). I need to know
if he has carriers( I THINK SO) but above all how many of them he has with him for this adventure.
Considering that he has 90 planes for each carrier, i will be able to face nothing more than 3, maximum 4 carriers at once with a slight
margin of chances of success, assuming that my zeros are still superior to his wilcats. I need to know.
Tomorrow i really hope my Emilies and alfs will do a fair job, spotting with a certain degree of certitude his real forces.
What makes me hope is that two months ago( in June) some 5 major ships ( 2 of them surely BBs) have been spotted and followed by my glen-equipped subs going from
PH to New Caledonia and that during operation Sideshow-Red Castle, 2 weeks ago, what could have been at least a BB ( because was using kingfishers) have been localized going from Christmas Island to Bora Bora.
so: he has moved ( 2 months ago or in the last weeks) his BBs without any carrier coverage or he has divided his naval assets. Tertium non datur.
But it's useless to speculate now....we just need to wait and hope for a better recon.....







[center]"TSUNAMI" Operation

Japanese OOBs[/center]



1st Carrier Division:
Leader: CPT. T.Abe

combat planes : 193
float planes : 40

CVs:Zuikaku(72)
Hiryu(63)
Hiyo(53)

BBs:Hiei
Kirishima

CAs:Maya
Chokai
Myoko
Haguro
Nachi

CLs:Abukuma
Kikitami

CSs:Chitose

DDs:4 Kagero class
3 Kamikaze class
2 Fubuchi class
3 Hatsugaru class

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


3rd Carrier Division:
Leader: RADM. S.Yamada

combat planes : 202
float planes : 49

CVs:Shokaku(72)
Soryu(63)

CVL:Soho(30)

CVE:Chuyo(27)

BBs:Yamato
Haruna

CAs:Tone
Chikuma
Takao
Atago
Ashigara
Kumano

CLs:Sendai
Jintsu

CSs:Nisshin

DDs:3 Yagumo class
2 Kagero class
4 Fubuki class
1 Mutsuki class

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

Light Carrier Division:Leader: CPT. N.Furuichi

combat planes : 67
float planes : 5

CVEs:Hosho(9)
Unyo(27)

CVL: Ryuho(30)

CLs: Yura
Kino
Kuma
Kiso

DDs: 1 Yagumo class
3 Asashio class
4 Shiratsuyu class
1 Fubuki class
3 Tomotsuru class
4 Othori class


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

So a gran total of 5 CVs,2 CVLs, 3 CVEs, 4 BBs, 11 CAs, 8 CLs, 38 DDs, 2 CSs; 462 combat planes and 94 float planes

the air strenght is so divided as following:

fighters(zeros): 214
dive bombers(vals): 119
torpedo bombers(kates): 108

[Gen.Hoepner]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 09/07/42

ALLIED CARRIERS SPOTTED!

They are far southwards from the leading cargo...and at this point i assume the gargo and the sweepers are just a bait...well...i'll eat it[;)] 20 kates are ordered to naval attack at 5 hexes of range. Only few zeros( 15) are on escorts, the rest will stay at 40% CAP at 0 range...just in case.
The carriers attached one of my milk cows...only with one SDB group....we're playing the same game[:D]

Really late...gotta go to work...
later i'll try to better describe my movements

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 4,79


Allied aircraft
SBD Dauntless x 17


No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
AK Kinrei Maru, Bomb hits 7, on fire, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
1 x SBD Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
4 x SBD Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
4 x SBD Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
4 x SBD Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
4 x SBD Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet

[jwilkerson]

Of course, showing your carriers at this point - lets him know they are there - and let's him decide whether or not to continue and engage or to turn and run. But you've been far too successful up to this point to get second guessed ...you "know your man" better than us kibitzers !

[Gen.Hoepner]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 09/08/42

Tsunami operation is aborted. The Yanks are retreating[:D][:D][:D][:D][:D][:D][:D][:D]
That means that it was nothing more than a trap...but the bait did not work as expected by the white subhumans[8D].
Indian Ocean is now free again. More time has been gained. Time that i need to fortify my positions and move my troops ( men and ships comming back from Red Castle operation, men flowing towards Singapore and Sebang, ships upgrading...and so on).
I managed to lose a RO class sub, an AV and an AK in this operation...but who cares? My main ships are safe and the yanks did not move a step forward!

Now, the cvs in the IO will move to Sosarbaja, while some more troops arrive at Singapore. Next operation scheldued is CounterStrike ( see yesterday updates) to repulse any british attempt of taking Port Blair.

I need also to reinforce the southern perimeter around Tarawa. Nanoumea is chosen as active defence fortress. Base forces,garrisons and guns are comming from Japan.

In China it's taking forever to move out from Tsuyung...


Kurulies ( sp?) isles need to be garrisoned .

Zero daitais need to be trained...

many things to do...

[Gen.Hoepner]

just thinking....

I've been too scared this time. I hate to feel the fear in my vains. Next move will be to recombine the KB. And i mean...the WHOLE KB!
I really hope he's comming for Port Blair now. There i can give him a very nice surprise..[;)]

However, Kaga and Akagi need some R&R and some AA upgrades. Next months most of my BBs will need to be upgraded too...gotta plan very well the timing not to be caught with my underwear down[:'(]

[jwilkerson]

Steady state going forward, KB will almost always have a ship or 2 needing repairs or upgrade ... so unless the Allies are stagnant ... the "whole KB" ... will usually be a bit short ... though for a while ... that is still a good bit larger than the US can muster ... good job "staring him down" !

[Gen.Hoepner]

ORIGINAL: jwilkerson

Steady state going forward, KB will almost always have a ship or 2 needing repairs or upgrade ... so unless the Allies are stagnant ... the "whole KB" ... will usually be a bit short ... though for a while ... that is still a good bit larger than the US can muster ... good job "staring him down" !

Yes, i know, but i would like to keep my KB as united as possible. Now that he has all his CVs equipped wth the avengers i will be a problem to face them. I'd need the whole death star. The problem is that at the moment i cannot be everywhere! I have to chose which sector of my perimeter worth an active defence and which is not.
The main threat i see is at port Blair. If he managed to get there he will be able to threaten my oil sources and flank my Burma/Indochina defensive line.
So, probably i'll keep my KB somewhere between Sosarbaja,Balikapan and Manila, in order to get there asap if needed but also to be not too far away if a problem in the south pacific arises.
Need to mantain a certain degree of flexibility....cannot just hope in the static defence

[Gen.Hoepner]

IJAAF Status:

Since July, when the first Tonies went into production, the IJAAF strenght has enormously augmented. Now( mid-semptember)
we can easily say tha IJA has filled the gap that divided its performances from the ones of IJN. Probably at the moment the fighting
abilities of IJAAF pass the ones of IJN.
At the moment, there are 12 Sentais ( 36 planes each) and 5 Chutais ( 12 planes each ) equipped with KI-61c Tony.
These new-high-performance fighters are distributed as follows:
-China(kungchang and Kweyang):6 sentais and 2 chutais for a total of 240 Tonies
-IndoChina(Hanoi and Bankok):4 sentais and 3 chutais for a total of 180 Tonies
-Australia(Daily Waters):1 chutai for 12 Tonies
-Paramushiro Jima:1 sentai for 36 Tonies

The overall experience of these airgroups is quite high, if we do not consider the sentai based at Paramushiro: between 77 and 83!

Then we have the other new fighter model, especially stdied to intercept the 4E bombers that fly over 36k ft.: the Tojo KI-44
In one month of production we've been able to equipp with this good fighter 5 sentais and 2 chutais so distributed:
-China:2 sentais and 2 chutais
-Indochina:1 sentai
-PI:1 sentai ( training)
-Rabaul:1 sentai

the experience is very high here also. execept for those 36 tojos training at Manila, the other have their ratings far above 75 exp.


We still have to upgrade 4 sentais and 2 more chutais in the next weeks. Then the whole IJA will be fully upgraded and ready to face the allies!

The idea is to leave the whole defence of the skies of China and Daily Waters to the IJAAF, freeing up the Navy for training and escort duties.

[Gen.Hoepner]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 09/09/42

A very boring turn. Nothing happened. It's confirmed that the americans are going back to Oz.

Probably because it was so boring i decided to write a brand new plan:
Code-Name: Calypsus

This won't be a very deep and involving strategic operation, but something similar to the Doolittle's raid. The target is MC's morale and confidence[:D]
Simple, easy and low risking.
4 CVs will move from Java to a place 6 hexes north of Exmouth, somewhere in the I.O. They've been equipped only with zeros. No kates or Vals aboard. Here they will meet with a 4 AOs replenishment group to refuel.
The next day of good weather forecasted, they'll move at max speed till 2 hexes north of Exmouth, performing a LRCAP with 100 zeros over the named base. Here they should meet this bad guys:
Allied aircraft
Brewster 339D x 91
Hudson I x 7
B-25C Mitchell x 36
who are happily training here from Geroldtown[:D].
Funny hu??[;)]

Let's see if i can ruin his day a bit[:D]

Tomorrow a HUGE LRCAP will be performed over Chungking. 27 zeros,80 Tonies and 40 Tojos will try to intercept his b-17s flying supplies into the besieged city.
Everywhere else is moving troops,fortifying,moving oil,supplies and resources...and training air crews,obviously[;)]

[Gen.Hoepner]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 09/10/42


Nothing happened. To report only that my LRCAP at Chungking was a failure[:(] Seems that only the zeros are able to intercept the b-17s...very strange! 30 Tonies and 20 Tojos did not engage, while 9 zeros did[&:]...results were poor. 2 fortress shot down in exchange of 3 zeros...[:@]

Everywhere else is quiet. Calypsos still on the run.

[Gen.Hoepner]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 09/11/42

Calypsos goes on.4 days and we'll launch this operation.
What appears to be a consistent TF is moving from Akyab to Port Blair. I do not think it's the invasion, cause he will surely use the RN to cover it, while at the moment his Fulmar squadrons are training in Burma. However 130 Nells/bettis are ready at Sebang and the operation CS can be launched in every moment.

in china everything is so sloooooww...and i'm ging out of supplies again:-(

He sent another Sub Commando...this time at Sebang to see what i had there...the sub hit a mine and the commando vaporized[:D][:D][:D][:D][:D]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 1018 encounters mine field at Sabang (19,41)

TF 1018 troops unloading over beach at Sabang, 19,41[:-][:-][:o]


Allied Ships
SS O20, Mine hits 1, on fire


Allied ground losses:
16 casualties reported[:D][:D][:D][:D]

[Gen.Hoepner]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 09/14/42

Ok, i had the morale boost i was waiting for. Operation Calypsos was a complete success, even if losses on his side could have been higher if only the majority of those coward duches did not go back when they saw my zeros.
However, the CVs went unseen going at full speed during a night race. 179 zeros were on CAP when the sun set.
35 vs 2 is the A2A ratio for today. Not bad. I have some new aces now[;)]

WO Kubota K. of F2/Tainan Daitai is credited with kill number 10[:)]

Now my CVs are moving back to Sosarbaja and the CVs based at Truk are moving towards Palau. The reunification of the KB will be at Borneo ( Balikapan ) in 1 week i hope.

We keep on bombing Chungking and Sining but my army at Tsuyung refuses to move more than 2 miles per day[:(]

A intense sub activity around Sebang can mean that he's tasting my defences in the area for his forseen push towards Port Blair. I'm almost ready to welcome him[:'(] In 2 weeks i can have the whole KB in those waters and 2 complete armies are almost ready to counterattac[;)] BANZAIIIIII



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Exmouth , at 11,86

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 179

Allied aircraft
Brewster 339D x 75
B-25C Mitchell x 28

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 2 destroyed, 2 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Brewster 339D: 23 destroyed, 13 damaged[:D]
B-25C Mitchell: 9 destroyed, 7 damaged[:'(]

[Gen.Hoepner]

Another day in Semptember passes by and nothing seems to happen at port Blair. He keeps sending subs, but nothing more...not a single bomber south of Rangoon[&:]
What trills me now is Cooktown. My Emilies at PM spotted several ships comin' and going from there. The base is growing...and i know what that means: b-17s flying from there and pounding the whole NG...then fast transports at Gili gili...as usual...like the last match we played.
Gotta study a plan for this....but the point is: how can i keep the KB united and defend the whole perimeter at the same time?

[Mike Solli]

ORIGINAL: Gen.Hoepner

Gotta study a plan for this....but the point is: how can i keep the KB united and defend the whole perimeter at the same time?

Ahh, that's the problem. If you figure it out, please let me know.

I'd recommend that you concentrate your LBA in certain strategic locations to counter his naval units, if possible. How strong is his carrier fleet? If your LBA is strong enough to do that, then maybe they can hold off the Allies long enough for KB to arrive and save the day.

[Gen.Hoepner]

My LBA is almost intact. All my Betty/Nells daitais are between 78 and 85 exp. The problem is that at the moment there are at least 3 spots where he can easily threaten my defensive perimeter:
NG, Fiji and Pago Pago( going then north towards Tarawa) and Port Blair ( so, southern Burma).

Port Blair is probably the best protected but if i want to counterland i need the aircover of my CVs.....
and if my CVs are there they won't arrive at any time soon enough to save the day at Gili Gili or at Suva...[:o]

[1275psi]

Nice move the LRCAP ambush

very nice move.[:D][:D][:D]

[Gen.Hoepner]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 09/17/42

I know this guy[:D]

Look at this:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 108 encounters mine field at Milne Bay (57,96)

Japanese Ships
MSW Togo Maru


When he starts mining something means he's interested ( see Port Blair )[;)]

4 Nells Daitais are en route for Rabaul, Green Island and Buin.
6 Land based zero daitais ( training at the moment in different places ) will be moved withing 10 days to Rabaul and Buin.

I finally made up my mind with KB. The meeting base will be Palau. From there it will be moving where its help is needed first( North Sumatra or New Guinea).

I went few pages back and took a look at what was my plan for the solomons area. It's completed[8D]
We have at the moment 2 AF with level 4 at Bouganville ( Buin and Torokina); Green Island at level 4; Rabaul and Gasmata at level 6 and 3; Savo which is building; shortland at Level 4.
CD guns everywhere. 2 Air HQ ( Rabaul and Buin)
the 17th Army is ready at Truk ( 2 Divisions, 2 artillery units, 3 engeneers, the 56th Bde and the South Sea Det.)
The 18th Division with 2 more arty units can be replaced from Java if needed.
4 Emilies chutais in the area.
36 Tonies and 36 Tojos.
Soon 4 IJAAF experienced sentais will be on patrol.

He won't caught me with the slips down[;)]

BANZAI

[Gen.Hoepner]

ORIGINAL: 1275psi

Nice move the LRCAP ambush

very nice move.[:D][:D][:D]

Thanks[&o]