See you in Tokyo Bay - Apbarog(A) vs Walker(J) DBB-B Scen28

[apbarog]

11 Apr 43

The Tabiteuea invasion task forces arrive at Arorae, 3 hexes away from the target. They find I-30, and a subchaser group pummels the sub, forcing it to surface and hitting it several times with guns. Contact is lost, so a sinking is not confirmed, but its a probable sinking in my book.

Some minor bombing on enemy troops near Buna, and on Fenton's airfield.

Today we find what could be a carrier task force near Ambon. US carriers will move 8 hexes to the northwest, screening a big supply task force that is heading to Timoeka. Timoeka has fighters now, but little supply. There's a chance of a carrier battle tomorrow.

I've been flying more Indian paras into Babar, using big Coronado flying boats. Combat value is up to 60 now, and forts just built to 1.

My plan is to force supply into Timoeka, have my carriers move west and support reinforcements into Babar, then have the carriers screen reinforcements coming into Darwin by ships.

My 3 big C-47 units are now flying in parts of a huge naval support unit, going to Darwin. xAKs will bring the non-troop portion.

One Corsair unit has moved to Darwin, and will fly LR CAP over Fenton, checking for enemy tranport planes. Walker has to be flying troops out of Fenton to Timor. Let's see if we can catch some.

My damaged CVEs that safely made it from Milne Bay to AUstralia awhile back, will now start heading to Pearl Harbor for repairs and refit. It's a long trip, but these ships are clogging up my Australian ports, and I'd rather keep Brisbane and Sydney available for more important repairs and upgrades. The important fact is that the CVEs were saved. When I get them back operational is of lesser importance. Their air groups are all on land, being used for ops or for training.

I have something to bring up for discussion. In this game with Walker, I've noticed many times that there are enemy subs at enemy bases. Sometimes more than one, and sometimes in task forces containing two subs. I can't figure out how they are being used.

For example, for days (maybe weeks), I've seen multiple sub task forces at Umboi Island. Today there are 3 task forces. 2 have 2 subs in it. I've thought that maybe they are mining the base, or bringin supply. But they seem to stay. And there are many other examples. Today there are subs at Torokina, Shortlands, and Namatanai. I don't know what they are accomplishing sitting there. There in case I move ships in? There in case we have an air battle and they can help save his pilots? I don't know. But it's very common to see them at his bases, and not just the important bases. It's an interesting puzzle to me. Any thoughts?

[BBfanboy]

I think those subs are indeed minelayers, but he is holding off dropping the mines until he knows there is heavy traffic coming. Then he will sprint the subs to the target hex and let them drop. Mines are too scarce to drop them at a place just on speculation that an enemy TF might come that way before the mines all drift away.

[apbarog]

12 Apr 43

Some minor sub action at Tabiteuea, but nothing major occurs.

At Tabiteuea, the Allies invade, and actually put boots on the ground, finally! Simultaneously, troops land an adjacent, and Allied, dot base.

The first enemy air activity is a Zero sweep of Arorae. My one fighter squadron isn't on CAP, so nothing is found. A bit of luck that this enemy squadron didn't contribute at Tabiteuea.

At Tabiteuea, the enemy attacks by air. A squadron of F2A-3 Buffalos is all that is there, flying LR CAP from Arorae. 11 Buffalos go up against 6 A6M2 Zeros, and 13 A6M5 Zeros (first appearance), escorting 19 Bettys. The fighters are tied up, with a couple of Zeros downed for the loss of one Buffalo. Torpedoes miss CL Perth, a couple of subchasers, an LCI, and an xAP. One torpedo hits xAP Illisos, a small transport. Bad weather prevents reattacks during the afternoon.

Illisos has moderate damage. xAP Deosthenes, however, grounds on the reef, and is in grave danger of sinking. It stays and tries to unload the rest of its troops.

Finally the Allies shock attack. All that is defending is I/84th Naval Guard Unit. It's an overwhelming victory, eliminating the enemy. It's nice to note that the same Mountain regiment was used that attempted to land here earlier, and lost 3/4 of its strength on ships that were sunk.

Fighters are moved into Tabiteuea. Invasion shipping leaves, even though not unloaded completely. Some go to Arorae, some further south, to unload an be brought in a little at a time. I expect an enemy cruiser force to appear out of nowhere. With no carrier support here, I find it wise to leave now that the base is mine. Some fragments will be flown in.

West of New Guinea, 5 US carriers moved northwest of Merauke, supporting a cargo task force with xAKLs heading toward Timoeka. The carriers are spotted. An enemy task force is seen, now southeast of Ambon. I see lots of surface combatants, but no carriers. But they could be there.

Today, the xAKLs will make it all the way to Timoeka. They will rely on fighters bases at Timoeka. If I lose some, no great loss. I need supply there.

I move my carriers northwest, aggressively, hoping to engage the spotted enemy task force. Ships in the Gove area will start to move north to land at Babar. Other ships destined for Darwin are still loading.

Hopefully B-17s at Merauke will hit Taberfane today. Weather prevented this yesterday. I see only fighters at Taberfane today. Ambon has both fighters and bombers. P-38s at Wesel Island will sweep Taberfane.

South of Darwin, I see troop movement out of Fenton, to the southeast. May be the first indication of enemy movement down to the trail, then west to Wyndham on the coast.

Wasp, North Carolina, and Washington arrive at Sydney for refit.

In the far north, invasion shipping bound for Attu moves to the southwest of Adak, setting up for a 6 hex move, then a 3 hex move to Attu. Part of a B-24 unit flys from San Francisco to Adak to start bombing tomorrow. Its a unit that just arrived by rail from the East Coast, and planes are still repairing.

[BBfanboy]

apbarog: Part of a B-24 unit flys from San Francisco to Adak to start bombing tomorrow.

[X(] Yowzers! That is one looooooong distance transfer! Are you sure the fatigue level of the pilots will let them bomb effectively tomorrow?

[apbarog]

I didn't notice unreasonable fatigue from the transfer, but I'll look again. It's probably more of an issue that just 6 or 7 planes made the transfer. But I will be 2 turns from invading, so it's time.

Upon further review, I don't think those are enemy carriers near Ambon. Or if there are some there, there aren't many. I had just seen a big carrier task force arriving at Soerbaja. If the ships go to Boela, I'll be 7 hexes from them and could strike them. Of course, Boela would then have heavy fighter protection, but I would hope to still go after them.

[apbarog]

13 Apr 43

Sub Nautilus finds an xAK task force south of Balikpapan, misses a patrol boat, and thankfully avoids depth charges in the shallow waters. It's very dangerous for the subs in the shallows. It seems that I always pay a price for risking a sub in the shallows.

Near Ambon, sub Swordfish finds CL Kinu and 7 destroyers, and takes minor damage from depth charges.

At Tabiteuea, APD Litchfield is torpedoes by RO-64 and is sunk. Litchfield was the last ship there, so the sub survives.

During the day, 14 Zeros sweep Tabiteuea but find that P-40Es are now on CAP. Several Zeros are downed.

At Timoeka, 28 Oscars sweep, finding 25 Sea Hurricanes. The Oscars do an excellent job, downing 14 Brit planes, for the loss of one or two. I move in P-38s today.

At Taberfane, P-70s sweep, finding Zeros. A couple of planes are lost on each side. Then P-38s sweep, downing about 10 Zeros for no loss.

Then near Saumlaki, 22 Bettys escorted by 29 Zeros attack the US carriers. 108 F4Fs and 19 F6Fs are on CAP. Many planes are downed, but not enough. 6 Bettys make it through, and one torpedo finds carrier Hornet. Damage is not severe though. 4 SYS/17-9 FLOT/2-1 ENG. Hornet will stay on station.

At Taberfane, 32 B-17Es hit the airfield, finding that the CAP had been cleared. Substantial damage is done to the field, and 1 Topsy is destroyed on the ground.

B-25s bombed enemy troops at Fenton, Australia. It appears that they are entraining to head south, then take the long trail west to Wyndham.

Then in the afternoon, US carrier aircraft finds an enemy task force just one hex west at Saumlaki.

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Saumlaki at 78,117

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid spotted at 18 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 18
F4F-4 Wildcat x 36
SBD-3 Dauntless x 108
TBF-1 Avenger x 36

Allied aircraft losses
SBD-3 Dauntless: 2 damaged
TBF-1 Avenger: 2 damaged

Japanese Ships
CL Kuma, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
CL Natori, Bomb hits 2, and is sunk
CA Kinugasa, Bomb hits 6, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Shiranui
CL Nagara, Bomb hits 3, on fire
CL Tama, Bomb hits 3, on fire
DD Hatsukaze, Bomb hits 1, on fire
DD Makigumo
DD Arashi

No TBF torpedoes find their target. Results are good, but could have been better. Natori is definitely sunk. Kinugasa and Kuma probably won't make it. I was a bit surprised that the task force had disappeared afterwards. I had good recon of Saumlaki. I will bomb the port today just in case something is now there.

xAKLs are now at Timoeka and will start unloading supply. P-38s will be on CAP, but I expect bombers today.

US carriers rendezvous with shipping heading to Babar. Lots of ships start toward Darwin. Minesweepers will run into Darwin to clear the way.

2 Australian brigades at Milne Bay start prepping for Wyndham and Fenton. They will trap the Japanese retreating south of Darwin.

[BBfanboy]

Nice intercept. You got a lot of very useful cruisers there. If I was him I would send those 3 undamaged DDs out hunting for your carriers at night. They can usually dodge air attack during the day phase.

[apbarog]

Was odd that I lost visibility of those ships. I always thought that if you got an afternoon strike in, the enemy ships have already stopped moving there. Anyhow, I don't hope that his destroyers go looking for me, but if they do, I have BC Repulse in a small task force escorting, and I also have 10 or so Fletchers in a separate task force, hoping to go run down something or another.

Getting stuff into Babar is risky, but the rewards for boosting the defense make it worth the try. And reinforcing Darwin is of primary importance.

[BBfanboy]

Alfred has pointed out a couple of times recently that all DLs are set to 0 at the beginning of the next turn (although there is still a decaying MDL). He and others mentioned that night search is necessary to get a DL on the enemy again before any morning strikes can happen.

[apbarog]

14 Apr 43 - North of Australia

US carriers forces run over I-27 and get one good depth charge hit. No torpedoes fired. Then the same task force runs over RO-60. Minor damage to the sub. Then the same group sights I-157. Unfortunately, the same destroyer engaged all 3 subs, and had almost nothing left for I-157. I-157 then lines up DD Mahan, in another carrier task force, but misses with 2 torpedoes.

I knew there were enemy ships at Tarawa, so I expected a response at Tabiteuea. A cruiser and a few destroyers bombarded, doing decent damage considering. All US ships had already left. Another cruiser task force is spotted to the north, so another attack may be coming soon.

At Taberfane, P-38s sweep again, but find no CAP. 32 B-17s hit the airfield, doing moderate damage.

The usual bombing of the enemy troops south of Darwin. They continue to head south and are showing movement west still.

Today ships will arrive at Babar, covered closely by US carriers. Other ships will arrive at Darwin. And unloading continues at Timoeka.

[apbarog]

14 Apr 43 - The Aleutians

Invasion task forces approach Attu.

Bolos and a handful of B-24s bombed Attu, doing minimal damage to the airfield. No CAP. With the invasion being spotted and being imminent, I don't expect aircraft to appear there today.

I'm not using overwhelming force here. My invasion task force has a light cruiser and a couple of destroyers. I have an escort group of 4 destroyers. That's it. No bombardment task force. Recon shows 2 units there, and not a lot of men, but my recon has been pretty poor with previous invasions (e.g. Tabiteuea invasions 1 through 4), and recon in the Artic has proven to be particularly difficult.

I do think I will be bringing enough ground troops though. Armor is included.

[apbarog]

14 Apr 43 - West of Australia

I got a surprise at Geraldton today. Enemy carriers appear.

I had seen carriers at Java recently, so when my invasion task forces bound for Port Headland and Exmouth were spotted by a sub, I got cold feet and turned them around and went back to Geraldton. I thought that something may go near Exmouth and cut off any ships at Port Headland. I didn't expect Walker to be more aggressive and head south. My ships had been spotted at Geraldton, where they successfully unloaded both Aussie regiments, and just in time.

I had no fighters at Geraldton. Just didn't cross my mind that Walker would show up here. But he did. I have a few burning ships in port, and a couple more docked. Thankfully, all were completely unloaded. The small surface force that was the escort was Dutch. Other ships, that can, are running south to Perth.

I now have just 1 fighter squadron at Geraldton, and another at Perth, and neither have quality aircraft.

One xAP was sunk outright. Lots of damaged ships.

AM raid:
CL Hobart, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
DE Decoy
AMc Enggano, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
DD Warramunga, Bomb hits 1
xAK Nightingale
xAP Allara, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
xAK Am. Packer, Torpedo hits 1

PM raid:
DD Warramunga
CL Hobart, on fire, heavy damage
xAP Subadar, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires
xAP Allara, Bomb hits 2, and is sunk
LSI(L) Westralia, Bomb hits 4, heavy fires
xAP Tawali, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
xAK Am. Packer
xAP Iron Knob
DE Decoy, Bomb hits 1, heavy damage
LSI(L) Kanimlba, Bomb hits 3, on fire
APD Parrott
xAP Turing Mary, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage


I have to give Walker credit here. This attack was a surprise and was more aggressive than he has been in quite awhile. I've taken notice. learned something from it, and will be better prepared next time. It's always bad to lose ships but there's nothing on the list to be overly concerned with.

[jwolf]

Kudos to Walker for that strike. Western Australia does seem to be highly vulnerable to a sneak attack like that.

[Bif1961]

Seems you are quoting General Braddock, We will know better how to handle them next time." These were his last recorded words but you live to figh on.

[apbarog]

15 Apr 43

During the replay, I spot enemy ships moving into Geraldton. They don't bombard, and they don't find any task forces. The 2 burning ships in a task force reacted south a hex, then promptly sank. Probably would have sunk at dock anyhow.

North of Boela, sub Blackfish spots a cruiser task force, fires 4 torpedoes at CA Myoko, but all miss. Ships could be headed to Boela or Ambon.

Subchasers spot I-24 nosing around Horn Island.

Allied troops land at Attu. No interference. The Allies have superior forces, with armor. But the defenders have some level of forts built. 4 destroyers will bombard today. Hopefully my bombers will be more effective. Then we attack. Here's the order of battle for the attack, as listed in the mandatory defender artillery attack from today:

Ground combat at Attu Island (153,49)

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 1764 troops, 12 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 60

Defending force 4539 troops, 50 guns, 101 vehicles, Assault Value = 156

Assaulting units:
43rd Naval Guard Unit
13th Naval Construction Battalion
45th JNAF AF Unit

Defending units:
201st(Sep) Infantry Regiment
766th Tank Bn /1
3rd AmphTrac Engineer Battalion
15th USN Naval Const Rgt /1


I'm happy that my first use of APAs here worked well. All are unloaded and retiring. Some xAPs and xAKs still unload, but the important ships are bound for home.

B-17s on Nauru bomb Tarawa, finding Zeros. Many damaged bombers but none lost. Almost no airfield damage, with heavy rain, but 1 Betty is destroyed on the ground.

Today was one of those planning turns where I took a lot of time looking at what can be used where and when. I've planned on a couple of divisions staying on New Guinea, finishing Lae, clearing Finschafen, and moving north on the trail.

Major planning is now underway for the next phase of operations.

[apbarog]

There is one thing that I omitted from my last post. A slow moving Marine division finally moved from Buna to the coastal hex to the north, where the enemy concentration is. I start attacking today. I already have 2 armor units there. They have withstood enemy attacks very well. Now it's time to grind down the enemy, and the enemy division that is here. A victory will push the enemy inland, back to Kokoda. I don't know if this is good or bad. The Japanese still control Port Moresby and Kokoda.

My units that have been at Port Moresby continue to wait until armor arrives from the east, from Dobadura. That will open up a hexside and allow supply to flow from the east. Then I start grinding down the enemy here too.

Cleaning up this part of New Guinea will take some time, but I want to get my divisions out and redeployed for new operations. I may have to settle for an isolated enemy stack at Kokoda when this is all over. I don't think I want to take the time necessary to walk sizable units into Kokoda, fight, and walk out. Kokoda is just a dot base, so the only enemy resupply would be by airdrop, and I'll eliminate that possibility with ranged CAP.

[apbarog]

Walker has had real life commitments this week. We hope to resume a normal schedule on Monday.

[apbarog]

16 Apr 43

Almost a week without a turn! Today, lots of activity.

The landings at Attu continue, and are not interfered with.

I-5 spots the APAs retiring from Attu.

At Attu, I-3 is spotted, but ASW is poor today everywhere.

At Geraldton, cruisers Mikuma and Haguro bombard the base. I'm sure they were targeting the damaged ships in port, but they didn't find them. 4 ships are there. One xAP is in very bad shape, with its fire going down from the 60's to the 40's, but SYS damage went up to 80. All ships stay in port today too. Enemy carriers are not seen, nor are the bombarding cruisers. I think that the carriers continued south, west of Perth, and are near the SW tip of Australia. A big transport task force that was fleeing Perth is seen at the base to the SW of Perth. It will head back to Perth and hope for the best.

Back at Attu, 4 US destroyers bombard the island. It's all I have in the area for support. They do hit troops, the airfield, and the port.

My B-17s at Nauru attracted attention. Today, Zeros sweep Nauru, then escorted Bettys and Nells bomb the base. It's nice to see 2 bomber units here, and 2 or 3 fighter groups. This is a low priority area for me. I just want to keep the enemy's attention here somewhat, and that has worked.

At Babar, shipping is unloading, and a huge Fletcher task force is protecting. After some fighter sweeps that cleared out the carrier LR CAP, Lilys arrive, escorted by a highly trained Oscar group. They target an xAP and an SC, but miss both.

Back at Attu, Bolos bomb the troops, and B-24s hit the airfield.

In the afternoon, the same Oscar/Lily raid that hit Babar goes after my carriers 2 hexes to the west of Babar. Lots of Oscars are downed, and no Lilys survive to drop bombs. They attacked at 20000 feet, which was interesting.

Then 36 carrier SBDs, escorted by 31 F4F-4s go after a task force at Koepang. A small CAP of 11 A6M3a Zeros and 5 Tonys defend, but they are a fierce group, and chew up the US fighters. All divebombers get through, finding just a PB and an xAKL, sinking both. An expensive sortie.

The final air attack is 71 SBDs attacking the port at Lautem, on the eastern tip of Timor. I'd seen a port symbol there yesterday, and suspected that damaged ships were there from the earlier air attack at Saumlaki. The divebombers find no ships and do minimal damage to the port.

There were 2 Allied ground attacks today: Attu and near Buna. I list them both as I found them interesting.

Ground combat at Attu Island (153,49)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 5126 troops, 50 guns, 165 vehicles, Assault Value = 176

Defending force 3795 troops, 25 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 60

Allied adjusted assault: 54

Japanese adjusted defense: 157

Allied assault odds: 1 to 2 (fort level 4)

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), forts(+), leaders(-), disruption(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
464 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 21 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 13 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled

Allied ground losses:
145 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 10 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled

Assaulting units:
201st(Sep) Infantry Regiment
766th Tank Bn /1
3rd AmphTrac Engineer Battalion
15th USN Naval Const Rgt /1

Defending units:
43rd Naval Guard Unit
13th Naval Construction Battalion
45th JNAF AF Unit
******************************
Ground combat at 99,128 (near Buna)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 15523 troops, 208 guns, 274 vehicles, Assault Value = 490

Defending force 17776 troops, 106 guns, 20 vehicles, Assault Value = 364

Allied adjusted assault: 333

Japanese adjusted defense: 1291

Allied assault odds: 1 to 3

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), op mode(-), experience(-)
Attacker: fatigue(-)

Japanese ground losses:
559 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 7 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 19 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Guns lost 4 (3 destroyed, 1 disabled)
Vehicles lost 2 (1 destroyed, 1 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
217 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 32 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 13 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 2 disabled
Vehicles lost 26 (2 destroyed, 24 disabled)

Assaulting units:
1st Tank Battalion
3rd Marine Division
2/8th Armoured Regiment

Defending units:
Kure 5th SNLF
Sasebo 6th SNLF
9th Division
87th Naval Guard Unit
2nd Area Army /1
47th JNAF AF Unit
14th Naval Construction Battalion
58th Construction Battalion
19th Army
43rd JNAF AF Unit /1
5th Air Div /1
********************

Both attacks went well considering the odds. Attu still has 4 forts. I think that landing tanks is helping. I do expect a response from Japan soon. Attu could take awhile. The fight near Buna will take awhile, and be an attritional battle much like the fights really were on New Guinea.

Today, the Babar task forces and carriers will retire to the southeast. Carriers will be leaving the arrive, with all 3 missions complete: escort shipping to Timoeka, escort shipping to Babar, and protect shipping going into Darwin.

[Crackaces]

Both attacks went well considering the odds. Attu still has 4 forts

The results are not about odds .. its about firepower .. odds simply determine if the defense goes away or not ..

The IJ are disrupted and failed a leadership die roll .. taken more casualties from the fray ..

[apbarog]

17 Apr 43

Before the US carriers left the spot 2 hexes west of Babar, RO-62 lines up Lexington, fires 6 torpedoes, and hits with one. Damage is substantial with SYS 9, FLOT(36/34), ENG(32/22). Unfortunately, Lexington splits off with a CLAA and heads toward Darwin. The rest of Lexington's escorts follows the other carriers and heads southeast. Lexington will eventually head to Pearl Harbor, as it requires a shipyard bigger than anything in Australia.

A few more sub encounters occurs in this area, but the only notable engagements were I-157 getting one torpedo hit on AMC Chitral. The ship has moderate damage but will survive. The other engagement was I-172 being sunk by one of the carrier task force's escorts, combined with CA Vincennes pummeling it with guns when the sub surfaced.

Still during the night, Tabiteuea is bombarded by CA Atago, CL Yubari, and 3 destroyers. Some troops are disabled, and the airbase and port takes minimal damage.

At Attu, unloading continues. Bombers hit the troops and the airfield. The US troops do not attack today, but will tomorrow.

Yesterday I spotted a port icon at Mergui, far south on the Burma coast. At extreme range, B-24s fly from Chittagong, hoping to get some support shipping. They sink one ACM.

Some medium bombers hit enemy troops near Buna, and Port Moresby's airfield. Airfield damage appears to be mostly fixed, so I send the heavies in today. The base appears to still have supply.

Enemy carriers appear southwest of Perth, near the SW tip of Australia, as predicted. A strike of 23 Judys escorted by 30 Zeros hit a task force at Perth. The good news for me is that the task force consisted of just one AMc, which was sunk. The big transport task force that was to the southwest steamed into Perth and disbanded. I move the fighter unit from Carnavon to Perth, to augment the mighty B-339-23 fighters already there. 2 of these fighters were lost in the strike today, but they did down 2 Zeros. Hopefully Perth's port will not be hit today.

The badly burning xAP at Carnavon was scuttled today. 3 ships remain there, badly damaged.

If the Attu attack today doesn't show progress, I will reinforce with a combat engineer unit and an artillery unit in about a week. Both units were prepped for Attu but were overlooked when they garrisoned other Aleutian bases.

A big convoy at Townsville starts to load today. It will contain many units prepping for the next phase of invasions. The ships will go to Darwin.