Let's teach that Jap a lesson!

[String]

So this is my AAR thread vs Roger Neilson. The scenario is the Pacific Jutland one and I'm playing the Brits and I'm on the defensive.


I'll do the first update when I recieve the turn and when I've done with setting my orders.

[CMDRMCTOAST]

Give it hell..

[String]

[center]The Situation in South China Sea.[/center]


Seems like the japs are at it again, after capturing the Philippines they move on and are starting to threaten our holdings in SEAC area. Although no official declaration of war has been recieved the Admirality has sent the majority of our fleet units to Singapore and Hong Kong. The French and Dutch, both alarmed at the speed of Japanese advance in the Philippines have agreed to lend their old colonial ships to our use. The dutch submarines should prove especially useful

Defence of Hong Kong

Major fleet assets are based here. The defence of this base depends almost solely on the actions of our fleet as the garrison here is small and low on supplies. Ten destroyers based currently in Saigon have been tasked with delivering ammounition and supplies to this base to relieve immediate shortages. Further supplies are being loaded in Singapore

Four taskforces have been created for the defence and actions in the immediate area.

Force H - CPT Shannon, R.

• BB Iron Duke
• BB Benbow
• BB Marlborough
• BB Empress of India
• BB Erin
• BB Canada
• 3 destroyers for escort

Force J - RADM Patterson, W.R.

• BC Hood
• BC Repulse
• BC Renown
• 2 destroyers for escort
  
  They will shortly be joined by
• CL Courageous
• CL Glorious
• 3 Hawkins class light cruisers

Force K - CPT Gilmore, A.

• BB King George V
• BB Ajax
• BB Centurion
• BB Orion
• BB Thunderer
• BB Conqueror
• BB Monarch
• 5 destroyers for escort

Force L - CPT Elrich, N.F.

• BB Agincourt
• 7 "V" class destroyers for support

The battleships are of the older Iron Duke and Orion classes with some individual ships included. They mostly employ 13.5" guns as main armament.

Defence of Singapore and Malacca

Due to our heavy coastal defence guns in Singapore we presume that the enemy will try to land somewhere else in Malacca. The core of the defence here is formed by five brand new Queen Elizabeth class battleships, the pride of the fleet. They are supported by one aircraft carrier, HMS Argus(curiously enough, the name means cowardice in estonian), monitors Terror and Erebus, and the Dutch coastal battleships along with the french ships will also be based to here.

No taskforces have been formed for the defence of the immediate area, but the battlecruisers here have left for Saigon. Only BC Inflexible remains as escort for CV Argus.

Force F - RADM Spooner, S.

• BC Tiger
• BC Lion
• BC Princess Royal
• BC Australia
• BC New Zealand
• BC Indomitable
• 4 destroyers for escort

They will meet five Royal Sovereign class battleships, equipped with 8x15" guns each in Saigon and their further movement will be decided when the japanese direction of attack becomes apparent

Force G VADM Jellicoe, J.

• BB Royal Oak
• BB Revenge
• BB Royal Sovereign
• BB Ramilles
• BB Resolution
• 3 destroyers for escort

A dozen destroyers have been assigned to scouting duties in the south china sea, and all submarines have been ordered to form picket lines around our bases and along probable japanese movement routes.

[String]

[center] War report 03/01/24[/center]

K-14, one of our steam powered fleet subs based from Hong Kong torpedoed the old japanese CL Hirado only 60 miles southeast of Hong Kong today afternoon. Secondary explosions were reported.

Our flying boats flying from Hong Kong reported other japanese cruisers in the area as well. All ships have been under full alert






K-14 during fleet maneuvers off Canton last year

[Andy Mac]

Good luck

[String]

[center]War report 03/02/24[/center]

Night Battle at Hong Kong!

At 0220 Force K, on patrol southeast of Hong Kong under CPT Gilmore, detected enemy ships barely 7000 yards away. It turned out to be a japanese fleet of 11 pre-dreadnought battleships, 5 armoured cruisers and 9 destroyers.

The initial engagement was short, with both sides exchanging sporadic gunfire. After BB Kashima was hit and set on fire the japanese destroyers laid smoke and the japanese fleet tried to withdraw. Utilizing their superior speed our battleships moved to intercept them and caught them the second time.

This time the gunfire was more accurate. BB Suwo, leading the japanese battleline was taken under accurate fire from BB Centurion and suffered four large calibre hits, and finally a torpedo hit from our battleship. CA Ibuki was also damaged by our battleships. In return the japanese destroyers charged and in the confusing action that followed, managed to torpedo three of our battleships, the King George V, Centurion and Conqueror, the latter suffering almost no damage. A japanese destroyer was sunk whilst charging.

CPT Gilmore decided to disengage and withdraw, whilst directing Force H to intercept the japanese again.

The third engagement of the night was between Force H and the japanese battleships, which were now easily detecteable as several of them were on fire. CPT Shannon boldly engaged with his ships, crippling CA Ibuki and damaging CA Ikoma, BB Hizen and BB Iwami in the process. However BB Mikasa, the veteran of russo-japanese war and battle of Tsushima, managed to put several 305mm shells into BB Iron Duke, damaging her enough to make her lose speed, and not wanting to leave her alone. CPT Shannon decided to disengage

The final score

• Japanese ships sunk
• 1 DD
• Japanese ships damaged
• 6 BB to various degrees, 1 heavily
• 2 CA, 1 very heavily

and

• British ships damaged
• 3 BB, moderately
• 2 DD, moderately

Outside Hong Kong, little happened. Only noteable action was the torpedoing of CL Abukama by dutch submarine K-III 200 miles northeast of Brunei.

[String]

Hmh, i'll try to get the turn processed soon (read tech support on my problems).

But meanwhile, the other AAR seems to be getting a lot more feedback... any suggestions on how to improve mine?

[Terminus]

Not really... You're doing okay, both game and AAR-wise.

[String]

[center]War report 03/03/24[/center]

Only major action occurred 120 miles east of Hong Kong where the battlecruisers of Force J chased down and sank the damaged CA Ibuki and BB Suwo. It should be noted that the "cruiser" employed 12" guns whilst the "battleship" had 10" guns.. it did have better armor.

Regardless, both are now in the bottom of the sea. No damage to our ships.

Our submarine reported some cruisers, 180 miles southeast of Saigon, heading northwest. Force F , which previously had been patrolling southern china sea west of the submarine picket line, has been ordered full speed back to Saigon, to support the 'R' class battleships of Force G there.

Another concentration of ships has been located just 120 miles southeast of Hong Kong (again). Our ships remain ready as ever.

Also, a new taskforce has been formed

Force E - VADM Layton, H.

• CV Argus
• BC Inflexible
• CL Caroline
• CL Carysfort
• CL CLeopatra
• CL Comus
• CL Conquest
• 4 destroyers for escort

This taskforce is currently patrolling the south china sea, to detect enemy fleet movements.

[Fishbed]

Fantastic pic String, which seems to highlight very well the new situations players have to face in WPO... Indeed you take off the planes, and it seems like just a new game [:)]

good luck!

[steveh11Matrix]

Good stuff, String. You're maintaining the finest traditions of the RN, and handing the IJN a sound walloping!

Steve.

[Vyshka]

Enjoying the AAR String. Keep up the good work.

[String]

Thankyou all for the support, todays first turn was quite interesting with lots and lots of action.

[String]

[center]War report 03/04/24[/center]


Night battles near Hong Kong!!!

• First battle

Force H was given the night patrol duty off Hong Kong tonight, and as expected the japanese tried to dash past and bombard Hong Kong again. Tonight however, the venerable great war battlewagons had to face the finest and latest of the IJN.

Against our battleships Benbow, Marlborough, Empress of India, Erin and Canada the japanese had sent four 16" battleships, Tosa, Kaga, Mutsu, Nagato, four 14" battleships Ise, Hyuga, Fuso, Yamashiro and three older pre-war battleships, Aki, Satsuma and Settsu.
Accompanying them were four battlecruisers, Kongo, Hiei, Kirishima and Haruna and armoured cruiser Kurama with eight destroyers

Our ships managed to ambush the japanese fleet and HMS Marlborough hit BB Kaga with her first salvo. At close range even the armor of the new japanese dreadnought was no match for the 13.5" guns of our mighty ships. Kaga was then taken under fire from HMS Canada and HMS Erin, all together suffering thirteen 13.5" and 14" hits. She was seen retiring from battle area listing heavily and burning like a torch.



Enemy battleship Kaga hit by HMS Marlborough

BB Mutsu covered her retreat and suffered three penetrating hits from HMS Erin. Aside from a hit on one of our destroyers our ships suffered no damage.



Enemy battleship Mutsu being hit by HMS Erin

• Second battle

Japanese battleline then ran into Force K, which was approaching them from NW. Again the first salvo hit, this time HMS Thunderer destroying the B turret on BB Mutsu. The japanese destroyers then laid smoke, and retreated. CPT Gilmore, in command of Force K, then sent his destroyers to harass the retreating japanese but they were withdrawn after destroyers Swan and Warrego were sunk.



HMS Thunderer eliminating japanese firepower

• Third battle

Finally, the destroyers of Force L tried to intercept the japanese but were driven back, with the loss of destroyer Versatile. No hits were achieved on the enemy.

Night battle at Taytay

In an attempt to intercept enemy merchant shipping, light cruisers Castor and Champion, leading a flotilla of 8 dutch torpedo boats, were surprised by two japanese cruiser squadrons, consisting in total of 11 light and 2 armoured cruisers + accmompanying destroyers. Although CA Kasuga was damaged and a destroyer sunk we lost a torpedo boat and light cruiser Castor. This result was clearly unsatisfactory.

Night battle near Formosa

A part of Force J, consisting of light cruisers Courageous and Glorious with three Hawkins class CL's and several destroyers, made a sweep near the western coast of Formosa. They met and engaged 5 old pre-dreadnoughts and two cruisers and heavily damaged one of them, BB Hizen, whilst suffering no damage.

Our spies reported that BB Mikasa hit a mine while returning to Pescadores harbor. Said minefield was laid there by our submarines


Day time battles near Hong Kong!!!

• First battle

The same part of Force J, while returning from Formosa ran into the japanese battleline near Hongkong. It was already dawning and our ships were surprised and taken under heavy and accurate fire from enemy ships. Although HMS Glorious and HMS Courageous were armed with 15" guns the enemy still had superiority, as both light cruisers were poorly armoured. HMS Courageous along with 5 destroyers was sunk, while the rest of the ships were damaged. In return, BB Nagato was heavily damaged by HMS Glorious



Ambushed!!!



But the Royal Navy will always fight back!

• Second battle

After BB Nagato was damaged the japanese retreated again, but our ships were then engaged by a total of 14 enemy destroyers, which resulted in the loss of light cruisers Frobisher and Hawkins and one destroyer. 4 enemy destroyers were sunk in return and several damaged. Only HMS Glorious and HMS Effingham managed to dock in Hong Kong, both heavily damaged.



HMS Courageous two days before being sunk

Those ships were only saved by the swift actions of CPT Gilmore and his Force K, which swept in and quickly sunk the remaining japanese destroyers and the two minesweepers that accompanied them



The Royal Navy crushing its enemies



HMS Monarch doing gunnery practice on enemy destroyers


Day time battle near Hong Saigon!!!

The final action of the day took place near Saigon, where the battlecruisers of Force F engaged and sank one enemy light cruiser and 9 destroyers. One of our destroyers was damaged



Royal Navy reigns supreme!

[String]

Ugh.. i just spent over an hour putting together that last AAR report

[Erik Rutins]

Amazing job, String, quite a successful turn.

[Fishbed]

Ugh.. i just spent over an hour putting together that last AAR report

Yep, your bad habits are coming back, for our pleasure
Does it mean you may go on with your WitP AAR, or is this WPO one a single exception?

[String]

[center]War report 03/05/24[/center]


Night Battles near Hong Kong!!!

• First battle

Tonight it was again the turn of Force H to patrol the waters. HMS Iron Duke and HMS Ajax (formely from Force K) having undergone quick repairs were added to this force to boost its firepower. The crews of Force H have become quite skilled in night combat by now, and when the japanese made their nightly appearance, this time with 5 pre-dreadnoughts and 3 cruisers, they were greeted with accurate gunfire.

HMS Benbow raked BB Shikishima with 12 13.5" hits and finally set off a spectacular magazine explosion which wiped the japanese ship off the surface. BB Mishishima and CA Asama were engaged by the rest of the force, and both were heavily damaged. However the japanese weren't without luck either. BB Katori managed to take HMS Iron Duke under fire and damaged her very heavily with several 305mm hits. Her engine was wrecked and only one boiler remained operational, burning badly and taking on water she was forced to limp back to Hong Kong with destroyer escort. HMS Empress of India was torpedoed by one of the japanese battleships and took on some water, causing her to list to starboard, and also forcing her back to the port of Hong Kong. Luckily there was little mechanical damage and she should be operational soon.

• Second battle

The damaging of two battleships forced a temporary lull in the battle but soon the japanese were engaged again, this time by Force K. Armoured cruiser Asama and battleship Mishsishims were sunk and battleship Katori with two destroyers were heavily damaged. Our own ships suffered no damage



Japanese battleships steaming towards Hong Kong to be sunk


The day saw BB Katori torpedoed by our submarine L-2 and BB Fuji torpedoed by submarine K-2. It is hoped that Katori won't make it to port.

K-2 also observed the final minutes of BB Kaga as she foundered 120 miles SE of Hong Kong. K-2's captain, in a gentelmanly manner didn't attempt to intervene with her rescue operations.


Carrier battle near Taytay!!!

Force E, with carrier Argus had sailed at full steam towards Taytay during the night to attempt to bomb some of the japanese shipping there. In the morning our planes detected a japanese carrier, CV Hosho only 60 miles away however, so only three Fairey IIID bombers were launched vs Taytay and the rest of the bombers were concentrated vs the japanese carrier. Sadly no hits were achieved and one Sopwith 2F1 Camel was lost to enemy fighters.



Sopwith Cuckoo making its torpedo run

[String]

ORIGINAL: Fishbed

Ugh.. i just spent over an hour putting together that last AAR report

Yep, your bad habits are coming back, for our pleasure
Does it mean you may go on with your WitP AAR, or is this WPO one a single exception?

don't think so. WPO is my passion right now, and witp seems sooooo booring [:'(]

[Fishbed]

Carrier battle near Taytay!!!

THE COMPLETE HISTORY OF NAVAL WARFARE, 2005

May 3rd 1924 was to become an important date in the naval warfare timeline. For the first time in history, two carriers waged war against each other in what was to be called later on "a battle beyond the horizon", with not a single naval gun involved in the fightings.

Back then, a few British airmen from HMS Argus assaulted the brand new IJN carrier Hosho and a fierce battle followed, with no more consequences than a single Sopwith Camel lost to the Japanese fighter planes. The lack of results condemned once for all the use of aircraft carrier as an offensive weapon throughout the naval headquarters all over the world, which commonly thought that these units were definitely not worth the price they costed (" what an awful big piece of useless crap!" Sir Admiral Jellicoe stated). In the following days, every serious nation in the world laid plans for converting the already laid-down carriers hulls into new dreadnoughts, badly needed after the losses of the first days of fighting.

HMS Argus, to be the last carrier of the Royal Navy, survived the Pacific War and is now anchored as a museum in a yard of Portsmouth.

[:D]