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4/6/44

Battle of Timor Sea: This action indicates that DS & The Herd have made it at least this far, which is excellent (the hex to the NW is the target hex for the day, and there's still time to make it).

Already, there have been many clashes between subs and dedicated or imbedded ASW ships and TFs. Mostly, a hit or two scored on subs - perhaps enough to give them high visibility if Dave doesn't withdraw them.

4/6/44

Battle of Timor Sea: Confirmed kill.

4/6/44

Battle of Timor Sea: And a second.

This action shows that DS (& presumably The Herd) are at the target hex).

4/6/44

Battle of Timor Sea: For the most part its a quiet turn with excellent progress and circumstances to press the invasion.

The answer to those key questions:

1. DS & The Herd properly followed the ASW TF, and steamed six hexes to the target.
2. Enemy subs failed to score any hits. Allied ASW sank to subs and damaged a couple of others.
3. It appears that KB is holed up at Soerabaja (see graphic).

Soera is only 17 hexes from Koepang, so all heck may break lose tomorrow...or not.

DS & The Herd to take station NW of Koepang, in a blocking/protecting position.

D-Day at Koepang tomorrow.

This has gone remarkably well and feels right, for what it's worth.

4/7/44

Battle of Timor Sea: The new turns begins with a long series of messages about ASW TFs reacting to enemy subs south of Koepang and this, the first altercation.

4/7/44

Battle of Timor Sea: Next come messages of AMs sweeping mines at Koepang, and an LSL hitting a mine there. So The Invasion Herd has arrived off the beaches for D-Day.

Next comes this action, with the PFs sinking a bad guy. (I-2 took a few hits yesterday, causing a bit of damage and increasing visibility, making it an easier target.)

4/7/44

Battle of Timor Sea: This is a pretty strong bombardment, by the standards typically achieved [underachieved] by my bombardment TFs.

Note that there's no indication of aircraft spotting. I "always" set the spotter planes, and I distinctly remember doing so here. When I open the turn file, I'll check to see what might've gone awry. (User error, you say?)

Here, I elected to go with a modest-strength BB force, choosing to keep the big USN BBs fresh. Why? I felt like Dave was unlikely to load up Koepang's airfield, fearing big bombardments, but that he might well commit a lot of combat TFs. Bombardment uses up so much ammo that it basically neuters a TF from that point forward, so I don't use them unless I'm sure there won't be a more pressing need soon.

4/7/44

Battle of Timor Sea: In the flurry of issuing orders and clicking, I forgot to consider the 4EB at Darwin. They'd have been better off today resting. Auxiliaries at Koepang aren't a threat, and the heavy bombers may be needed for other missions, soon.

4/7/44

Battle of Timor Sea: A lot of altercations like this going on throughout the early phases of the turn. Keep 'em away from the carriers and the assault shipping, boys!

4/7/44

Invasion of Koepang: D-Day begins with the landing of 11th Australian Division, in good order. This is the first of several detailed messages indicating the infantry, armor, artillery and HQ units are coming ashore with modest disablements. Prep is mostly 70% to 80%. No shore guns. No interference from enemy combat ships. Promising.

4/7/44

Battle of Timor Sea: Another wolf sniped...but what in the world is the TF doing SW of Koepang. It's part of DS, and DS is supposed to be two hexes NW of the base, in a strong blocking position.

4/7/44

Battle of Timor Sea: Keep on wolf-sniping, boys!

This is before the a.m. air search phase begins, but thus far no indications that there might be enemy combat ships or carriers about to pounce.

4/7/44

Battle of Timor Sea: The a.m. air phase opens with Japanese search, and this suggest that Allied naval deployment is proceeding according to plan. DS to the NW of Koepang, with patrolling combat TFs between DS and the enemy.

4/7/44

Invasion of Koepang: The morning and afternoon phases unfold quietly - no enemy air attacks, no enemy TFs nearby, no further sub altercations. As the day draws to a close, more troops and supplies come ashore.

4/7/44

Invasion of Koepang: Enemy garrison at Koepang is modest. Few engineers, so forts shouldn't be more than six. This looks manageable.

4/7/44

Battle of Timor Sea: The map looks good. No proximate enemy threats. Good distribution of Allied subs and combat TFs around DS.

But the separation of the CV/CVL TFs from the CVE TFs is troubling. There was nothing to cause it, that I know of. The ability to confidently arrange carriers (and combat TFs) is critical to a player, so I'll give this close scrutiny. At this point, I thin there's an anomaly here or some failure in issuing orders - i.e., I still have confidence in the ability to keep carriers together, barring only the unpredictable react routine that's hardwired into the game.

I think Dave was right in his summary of the big fight: close but edge goes to you. Strategically, it looks (so far) like a major victory since you are able to continue operations and the enemy has (so far) withdrawn to lick his wounds. Kudos to both of you for a really great game.

Congrats Dan,

Looking at the battle it looks like it's victory for you, at this stage 50/50 results or in the neighborhood are a win.

Your engineers are better, your damage control is better, your land troops have better firepower, you're able to replenish from the air replenishment CV's, etc.

Your presentation of the battle has been very entertaining and informative.[:)]

Thanks for reading, gents. I'm glad you're enjoying it. I am too.

4/7/44

Battle of Timor Sea: SigInt reports a Taiho class CV at Culion, which is a small island SW of Manila. The working hypothesis is that this could be CV Aso, gravely damaged and disbanded as an emergency measure.