The Ne(i)lson touch

[Roger Neilson]

Day 34 and interesting developments. Subs continue on both sides their game of cat and mouse with ASW TFs... but off bataan some enemy MLs appear.... off my jolly airplanes go on a sortie!

Day Air attack on TF, near Bataan at 42,51

Japanese aircraft
Mitsubishi 1MF2 x 2
Mitsubishi B1M1 x 14

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
ML Empire Bronze
ML Empire Beaver
ML Empire Lynx
ML Empire Resistance

Aircraft Attacking:
4 x Mitsubishi B1M1 launching torpedoes at 200 feet
2 x Mitsubishi B1M1 launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x Mitsubishi B1M1 launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x Mitsubishi B1M1 launching torpedoes at 200 feet

Staggeringly good torpedo runs they were!

Otherwise there is an interesting sighting on a 3 BB plus CA TF approaching Lingayen from the north... maybe tomorrow there will be some action.... maybe my carpet of submarines might actually hit something?

All other allied ship sightings are subs, just in case you are wondering....

[Roger Neilson]

Okay, overconfidence or merely wanting a close look with some aircraft? One hex out of Manilla CV Argus presents a nice target. She already collected one torpedo about a week ago, wonder if this is enough?

Day Air attack on TF at 42,52

Japanese aircraft
Mitsubishi 1MF2 x 12
Mitsubishi B1M1 x 14

Allied aircraft
Sopwith 2F1 Camel x 3

Japanese aircraft losses
Mitsubishi B1M1: 1 destroyed, 4 damaged


Allied Ships
CV Argus, Torpedo hits 2

Aircraft Attacking:
4 x Mitsubishi B1M1 launching torpedoes at 200 feet
2 x Mitsubishi B1M1 launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x Mitsubishi B1M1 launching torpedoes at 200 feet
3 x Mitsubishi B1M1 launching torpedoes at 200 feet

Dampening my enthusiasm a little is the following though:

TF 68 encounters mine field at Bataan (42,51)

Japanese Ships
CA Iwate, Mine hits 1

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

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Day Air attack on TF, near San Jose at 41,53


Allied aircraft
Sopwith Cuckoo x 8


No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
DD Momo, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damageSinks later
DD Hinoki

Aircraft Attacking:
4 x Sopwith Cuckoo launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x Sopwith Cuckoo launching torpedoes at 200 feet

Cheers

Roger

[Roger Neilson]

Hmmm, either torpedoes are not very effective against CVs or my pilots exaggerated. Planes from the Argus continue to be a pain. Memo, minelaying is also a right pain for the opposition!

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 04/06/24

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TF 5 encounters mine field at Bataan (42,51)

Japanese Ships
DD Akikaze
AE Kashino, Mine hits 1, on fire
AK Sansei Maru, Mine hits 1

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near San Jose at 41,53


Allied aircraft
Fairey IIID x 2


No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
DD Kashi

Aircraft Attacking:
2 x Fairey IIID bombing at 1000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near San Jose at 41,53


Allied aircraft
Sopwith 2F1 Camel x 4
Sopwith Cuckoo x 8


Allied aircraft losses
Sopwith Cuckoo: 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
DD Yanagi
DD Hinoki, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
4 x Sopwith 2F1 Camel attacking at 100 feet
4 x Sopwith Cuckoo launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x Sopwith Cuckoo launching torpedoes at 200 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near San Jose at 41,53


Allied aircraft
Sopwith 2F1 Camel x 4


No Allied losses

Aircraft Attacking:
4 x Sopwith 2F1 Camel attacking at 100 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Lingayen at 44,50

Japanese Ships
TK San Luis Maru

Allied Ships
SS K-8

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Lingayen at 44,50

Allied Ships
SS K-8

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack at 41,52

Japanese Ships
SS No. 47

Allied Ships
DD Watchman
DD Whirlwind
DD Walrus
DD Wakeful
DD Walpole
DD Walker
DD Voyager


Other than that, nothing, but I guess String is happy to just wear me down gradually - why waste his assets when the subs and mines and aircraft are doing such a good job?

Roger

[Roger Neilson]

Developments aplenty.....

In the south suddenly his troops are landing at Lagaspi, in the north a great mass of ships heading for manilla I assume?

[Roger Neilson]

And I get the sense of the final act..... landings at San Marcellino backed up by very strong naval forces.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 04/08/24

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 5 encounters mine field at Bataan (42,51)

Japanese Ships
DD Akikaze
DD Shimakaze, Mine hits 1, on fire
AP Santos Maru, Mine hits 1, on fire

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack near Aparri at 46,49

Japanese Ships
DD Amatsukaze
DD Kaba
DD Warabi
DD Tsuta
DD Ashi
CL Nagara

Allied Ships
SS K-2, hits 1

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack at 42,50

Japanese Ships
SS No. 24

Allied Ships
DD Yarra
DD Torch
DD Violent

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Vigan at 44,49

Japanese Ships
DD Tachikaze
DD Hokaze
DD Tsubaki
DD No.3

Allied Ships
SS K-6

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naval bombardment of San Marcelino, at 43,50 - Coastal Guns Fire Back!

10 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Allied Ships
BB Agincourt
BB Monarch, Shell hits 1
BB Thunderer, Shell hits 2
BB Centurion, Shell hits 3

Japanese ground losses:
286 casualties reported
Guns lost 3

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Lingayen at 44,50

Japanese Ships
AR Kwanto Maru, Torpedo hits 1, on fire

Allied Ships
SS K-8

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 1010 troops unloading over beach at San Marcelino, 43,50



Allied ground losses:
1281 casualties reported

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 1010 troops unloading over beach at San Marcelino, 43,50



Allied ground losses:
744 casualties reported

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 42,52


Allied aircraft
Sopwith 2F1 Camel x 4
Sopwith Cuckoo x 8
Fairey IIID x 2


Allied aircraft losses
Fairey IIID: 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
AO Notoro, Shell hits 4
CA Kasuga, Torpedo hits 2, on fire
AS Komohashi
AK Sanuki Maru, Torpedo hits 2, on fire

Aircraft Attacking:
4 x Sopwith 2F1 Camel attacking at 100 feet
4 x Sopwith Cuckoo launching torpedoes at 200 feet
2 x Fairey IIID bombing at 1000 feet
4 x Sopwith Cuckoo launching torpedoes at 200 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 42,52


Allied aircraft
Sopwith 2F1 Camel x 4
Sopwith Cuckoo x 7
Fairey IIID x 2


No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
AO Sunosaki Maru
AS Komohashi, Torpedo hits 1
AO Notoro
AO Ermo, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
4 x Sopwith 2F1 Camel attacking at 100 feet
3 x Sopwith Cuckoo launching torpedoes at 200 feet
2 x Fairey IIID bombing at 1000 feet
4 x Sopwith Cuckoo launching torpedoes at 200 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naval bombardment of San Marcelino, at 43,50 - Coastal Guns Fire Back!

3 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Allied Ships
BC Renown
BB Revenge, Shell hits 1
BB Marlborough
BB Royal Oak
BC Hood
BB Erin
BB Royal Sovereign

Japanese ground losses:
95 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Port hits 2
Port fuel hits 4
Port supply hits 1

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 42,52

Japanese Ships
AK Sanyo Maru, Torpedo hits 2, on fire
DD Akikaze

Allied Ships
SS K-VII


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Legaspi

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 166 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 0 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles

Allied assault odds: 3 to 1 (fort level 2)

Allied forces CAPTURE Legaspi base !!!

Well were his torpedo planes suddenly very acurate or what?

Ok, all my available surface shipping, even those close to sinking are heading for a final 'kamikaze' battle. Its got to the stage where I may as well end it all now rather than a long drawn out suffering... and you never know... I might just - and pigs might fly!


Roger

[Roger Neilson]

Ok, apologies, my last Tfs have yet to arrive in the slaughter area.... but some activity to be going on with.... subs enjoy themselves.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 04/09/24



Sub attack near San Marcelino at 43,50

Japanese Ships
SS No. 73

Allied Ships
DD Torch, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
DD Yarra
DD Violent
BB Agincourt

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near San Marcelino at 43,50

Japanese Ships
SS No. 73

Allied Ships
BB Orion, Torpedo hits 1
DD Vanoc
DD Vanity
DD Whitley
DD Vidette

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Time Surface Combat at 43,55

Japanese Ships
AD AD-3162, Shell hits 15, on fire, heavy damage
AO Sata
AD Isusan Maru, Shell hits 6, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
ML Ninoshima Maru
ML Yenoshima Maru
AO Muroto, Shell hits 1
AP Achou Maru
AP Arugun Maru
AK Asaka Maru
AK Alaska Maru
AP Ayo Maru
AK Columbia Maru
AP Genkai Maru
AP Ginyo Maru
AP Gokoku Maru
AP Heian Maru
AP Heiku Maru
AP Heito Maru
AP Hotsukawa Maru
AP Humburugu Maru
AP Jinshu Maru
AP Jusan Maru
AP Kaimyo Maru
AP Kamakura Maru
AK Kano Maru
AP Kansan Maru
AP Kashu Maru
AP Keiyo Maru
AP Kenshin Maru
AP Kirishima Maru, Shell hits 2, on fire
AK Komaki Maru
AP Komeyama Maru
AK Kozan Maru
AP Kyuden Maru
AK Lima Maru
AP Minto Maru
AK Momoyama Maru
AP Montoiru Maru
AP Nagano Maru
AP Netsuda Maru
AP Reiyo Maru
AP Ryuosan Maru
AP Shinai Maru
AP Shirashika Maru
AK Sinko Maru
AP Suwa Maru
AP Taigen Maru
AK Tamon Maru
AP Teikei Maru
AP Tempei Maru
AK Toa Maru
AP Tsuiba Maru
AK Unyo Maru
AP Yawata Maru
AK Yuri Maru
AP Zenoa Maru
AP Zinzan Maru
AK Eizan Maru
AK Shunsei Maru
AK Showa Maru
TK Funakawa Maru, Shell hits 3, on fire

Allied Ships
DD Winchelsea, Shell hits 2

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack near San Marcelino at 43,50

Japanese Ships
SS No. 73, hits 4, on fire, heavy damage

Allied Ships
DD Turquoise
DD Wren
DD Parramatta
DD Witch
TB Z1
DD Warwick
TB Z6
TB Z2
DD Westcott
DD Winchester
SC Ch112
SC Ch111
SC Ch107
SC Ch106
AS Koning Nederlanden
TB Z8
TB Z3
DD Waterhen
DD Valkyrie

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 41,50

Japanese Ships
SS No. 43

Allied Ships
DD Voyager, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
DD Watchman
DD Whirlwind
DD Walrus
DD Wakeful
DD Walpole
DD Walker


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at San Marcelino

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 10428 troops, 71 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 1006 troops, 1 guns, 0 vehicles

Allied engineers reduce fortifications to 2

Allied assault odds: 151 to 1 (fort level 2)

Allied forces CAPTURE San Marcelino base !!!


Japanese ground losses:
102 casualties reported

Allied ground losses:
11 casualties reported


Defeated Japanese Units Retreating!

My BBs will arrive one day late, maybe we will still catch stuff unloading... maybe not?

Roger

[Roger Neilson]

Well here you go, a massive set of engamemts off San Marcellino, my last chance to stop String invading the north of the island.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 04/10/24

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Sub attack near Manila at 43,52

Japanese Ships
AK Sanuki Maru, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage

Allied Ships
SS L-54

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Night Time Surface Combat, near San Marcelino at 43,50

Japanese Ships
CL Yahagi
CL Tsushima
CL Tama, Shell hits 1, on fire
CL Kitakami, Shell hits 1
CL Oi
CL Kiso
CL Nagara
CL Isuzu, Shell hits 2, on fire
CL Natori
DD Amatsukaze, Shell hits 1
DD Ashi
DD Tsuta
DD Warabi
DD Kaba
DD Nowaki, Shell hits 1

Allied Ships
BB King George V
BB Orion
BC Lion, Shell hits 3
BC Indomitable, Shell hits 4
CL Caroline, Shell hits 1
CL Cleopatra
CL Comus
CL Conquest, Shell hits 2
DD Turquoise
DD Vanity
DD Vidette
DD Whitley

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near San Marcelino at 43,50

Japanese Ships
CL Yahagi, Shell hits 2
CL Tsushima
CL Tama, Shell hits 5, on fire, heavy damage
CL Kitakami
CL Oi
CL Kiso
CL Nagara
CL Isuzu, Shell hits 1, on fire
CL Natori
DD Amatsukaze
DD Ashi, Shell hits 2, on fire
DD Tsuta, Shell hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
DD Warabi
DD Kaba
DD Nowaki, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

Allied Ships
BB King George V, Shell hits 3
BB Orion, Shell hits 2
BC Lion, Shell hits 1
BC Indomitable, Shell hits 5
CL Caroline, Shell hits 1
CL Cleopatra, Shell hits 1
CL Comus, Shell hits 1
CL Conquest, Shell hits 2
DD Turquoise, Shell hits 8, on fire, heavy damage
DD Vanity
DD Vidette
DD Whitley, Shell hits 3, on fire

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near San Marcelino at 43,50

Japanese Ships
CL Yahagi
CL Tsushima, Shell hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
CL Tama, and is sunk
CL Kitakami, Shell hits 4, on fire
CL Oi
CL Kiso, Shell hits 1, on fire
CL Nagara, Shell hits 1
CL Isuzu, Shell hits 2, on fire
CL Natori
DD Amatsukaze, Shell hits 3
DD Ashi, on fire
DD Tsuta, Shell hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
DD Warabi
DD Kaba, Shell hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
DD Nowaki, on fire, heavy damage[/color]

Allied Ships
BB Warspite, Shell hits 1
BB Valiant, Shell hits 4
BB Queen Elizabeth
BB Malaya, Shell hits 1, Torpedo hits 1
BB Barham, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
CL Champion, Shell hits 2
DD Valorous, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Vampire
DD Torrens
DD Windsor
DD Wanderer

And now for the main event.
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Night Time Surface Combat, near San Marcelino at 43,50

Japanese Ships
BB Tosa
BB Hyuga, Shell hits 4, on fire
BB Yamashiro
BC Kongo
BC Hiei
BC Kirishima
BC Haruna
DD No.3, Shell hits 2, on fire
DD Hokaze
DD Tachikaze
DD Tsubaki, Shell hits 1
DD Hayate

Allied Ships
BB Warspite, Shell hits 2
BB Valiant
BB Queen Elizabeth, Shell hits 2
BB Malaya
BB Barham, on fire
CL Champion, Shell hits 4, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
DD Valorous, on fire
DD Vampire
DD Torrens
DD Windsor
DD Wanderer, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near San Marcelino at 43,50

Japanese Ships
BB Tosa, Shell hits 2
BB Hyuga, Shell hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
BB Yamashiro
BC Kongo, Shell hits 1
BC Hiei, Shell hits 1
BC Kirishima
BC Haruna
DD No.3, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Hokaze
DD Tachikaze
DD Tsubaki
DD Hayate

Allied Ships
BB Agincourt
BB Centurion, Shell hits 2
BB Thunderer, Shell hits 3
BB Monarch, Shell hits 4
DD Yarra
DD Vanoc
DD Violent

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Night Time Surface Combat, near San Marcelino at 43,50

Japanese Ships
BB Tosa, Shell hits 6
BB Hyuga, Shell hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
BB Yamashiro, Shell hits 3, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
BC Kongo, Shell hits 2
BC Hiei, Shell hits 2
BC Kirishima, Shell hits 5
BC Haruna, Shell hits 2
DD No.3, Shell hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
DD Hokaze, Shell hits 2
DD Tachikaze
DD Tsubaki
DD Hayate, Shell hits 3

Allied Ships
BB Agincourt, Shell hits 2, on fire
BB Centurion
BB Thunderer
BB Monarch, Shell hits 5, on fire
DD Yarra, Shell hits 2, on fire
DD Vanoc, Shell hits 1
DD Violent, Shell hits 3, on fire

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 43,48

Japanese Ships
SS No. 18

Allied Ships
BB Centurion

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 43,47

Japanese Ships
SS No. 34

Allied Ships
DD Violent, on fire

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 43,49

Japanese Ships
BB Yamashiro, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
DD Tachikaze

Allied Ships
SS K-14, hits 3

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack near Manila at 43,52

Allied Ships
SS L-54

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 42,50

Japanese Ships
SS No. 24

Allied Ships
DD Turquoise, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near San Jose at 41,53


Allied aircraft
Sopwith 2F1 Camel x 4
Sopwith Cuckoo x 8


No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
DD Kashi, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
4 x Sopwith 2F1 Camel attacking at 100 feet
4 x Sopwith Cuckoo launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x Sopwith Cuckoo launching torpedoes at 200 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 43,47

Japanese Ships
SS No. 34

Allied Ships
BB Thunderer, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
DD Vanoc

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Lingayen at 44,50

Japanese Ships
BC Haruna
DD Tsubaki

Allied Ships
SS M-1

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Lingayen at 44,50

Japanese Ships
DD Hokaze
DD No.3, on fire, heavy damage

Allied Ships
SS M-1

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 41,52

Japanese Ships
SS No. 47

Allied Ships
DD Whirlwind
DD Watchman
DD Walrus
DD Wakeful
DD Walpole
DD Walker


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Naga

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 177 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 0 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles

Allied assault odds: 9 to 1 (fort level 3)

Allied forces CAPTURE Naga base !!!



Although the above might suggest a reasonable parity in hits, the replay tells a story or repeated japanese hits on belt armour and allied hits that penetrate, even with lage calibre guns on Cl armour I was not getting penetrations.

I have nothing above a CL now that is undamaged... I have offered my surrender to String.

I have my own ideas about why I was wiped out in the campaign, but I'd really like to open this up now to others to comment.

I look forward to some postings.

Roger

[Miller]

I am having similar luck as the IJN in my Jutland PBEM. Not even a month into the scenario and I only have three of my original 12 modern BB/BC still afloat.

The allies simply have numbers on their side.

Thirteen 15" gunned ships vs four 16" IJN ships

Sixteen 13.5" gunned ships vs eight 14" IJN ships

Five modern 12" gunned ships plus a few pre-dreds against approx twelve IJN pre-dreds

I grouped my fleets as Tankerace suggests, 4 BB/BC plus escorts per fleet. However against a fleet consisting of as many as 15 BB/BC they were simply swamped....

In CL/DD combat however the IJN seems to perform much better than the RN as he has lost three times as many DD's as me.....I fight on to the death[:@][:@]

[KofK]

As a British player of this scenario who got his arse handed to him, the key as the Japanese is to focus strength on destroying the British piecemeal. Take advantage of the British initial dispositions and try to hit the British squadrons in Hong Kong first to reduce the British numerical advantage.

The Japanese also seem to do better at night fighting in my experience.

[Roger Neilson]

That's comforting to know, I thought I was just totally crap! I did try to hit HK first, but had the wrong ships with the wrong TF organisation.

OT didn't young Michael do well on Saturday?

Most people on the forum won't understand that at all!

Roger

[KofK]

ORIGINAL: Roger Neilson

That's comforting to know, I thought I was just totally crap! I did try to hit HK first, but had the wrong ships with the wrong TF organisation.

Yes, I think from the empirical evidence of my game and the AARs that I've read, that task force compsition is rather important. I certainly seemed to have a mirror image game to yours in that the Japanese gunfire appeared much more deadly than that of my British battleships.

[Roger Neilson]

String has offered to swap sides and rerun the game, I'm currently 'thinking' about it.

Roger

[Miller]

ORIGINAL: Roger Neilson

That's comforting to know, I thought I was just totally crap! I did try to hit HK first, but had the wrong ships with the wrong TF organisation.

OT didn't young Michael do well on Saturday?

Most people on the forum won't understand that at all!

Roger

He certainly did.....well worth 17 million [&o]

[Roger Neilson]

My mother, 84, does some voluntary work at a local hospital. The other day she rang me to say she'd been on a ward when a lot of nice young men had appeared. As she does she offered them all sweets and one 'very nice young man' refused saying the manager wouldn't be happy if he took one! Later she found out that she'd been talking to Michael Owen - and had to be told who he was and what he did!!!!!!!!!

I must say I was way on holiday in Dublin when the transer occurred and I did have my doubts.... but I readily admit I'm often completely wrong on many things. Roll on the Liverpool match.

For non English people they won't have a clue what all this is about - but it adds a frisson of mystery to their lives doesn't it?

Cheers

ROger