Typhoon of Steel: John vs. Bill--RA 3.0

[FatR]

I much prefer accelerating Unryus, personally. Otherwise they are available too late to be useful. Shokaku-kais alone cannot tip the balance of carrier forces in 1943, against a careful opponent, who adds CVEs to the Death Star.

[John 3rd]

I neglected to say that the back end Unryu's are accelerated.

[Cap Mandrake]

I almost needed an Operation East Wind as well. I had too much curry and chick peas at an Indian restaurant 2 weeks ago. I thought I was going to explode.


As for the attack on the Hawaiians, it seems to me the problem here was the passage of time between the Pearl Harbor raid and the follow up attacks, which allowed him to get back on his feet. Indeed a landing at Midway and Johnston could scarcely have telegraphed the final objective any more clearly. To his credit, he reinforced the island very aggressively. Early on it was necessary to sweep Pearl aggressively and begin to bomb the airfield with LBA. Of course, that is easy for me to say now. [:)]

He has some P-40's but is still relying on Brewsters and P-43's. That fighter trap was nice but he may not fall for that again. You could sweep Pearl with your carrier Zeroes. If he wont put up a CAP then bomb the airfield with carrier planes and use your range advantage to hit Pearl without a counterattack of SBD's.


Interesting situation. Can you imagine how the American public would have reacted in January 1942 to a Jap inavasion of the Hawaiians Is?

[John 3rd]

Hey Cap!

I came to a conclusion as I just finished our last turn with no new developments. There 100s of planes there but they are QUIET right now! Major revamping of plan. I am unloading 2/3 of the BF, Air Flotilla, and AA at Kona under cover of CAP. Once this is done and the base is operational then we'll move on to Lahaina and do the same thing. Finally, Morotai will be dealt with and we should be in great shape. One base at a time to get going and then roll back the Allies...

[John 3rd]

Operation Report
February 27-28, 1942

Things continue to develop on the Japanese side as Bill tries to figure out what he is going to do in Hawaii. If his aircraft been allowed to fly, both days migth have seen significant opportunities for an Allied victory. Since they haven't, my wayward TF have not been punished.

The Japanese continue to slip SE and begin to unload at Kona on the 28th. I have concentrated the TF so they will be able to rapidly repair the Base there AND thump aircraft pretty hard once AA is unloaded.

The KB continues to hover just south of the Big Island flying CAP 50% and LRCAP 50%. My pilot won't be able to take this for more then a couple of days but I need to cover the carriers as well as the TF. Vals and Kates are on ASW 50% and Search 20% at a range of 6. Any SS inside of 3 hexes will have some fun...

A small attack by 8 B-24 got smothered by 55 Zero on the 28th. Two were shot down and two cracked up on landing. The remaining four were all damaged. No fighters escorted the attack and I wish they would. My M2 would seriously chew into those P-36, P-400, and Buffalos.

I've got a a pair of TF headed to Hilo to help that base out as well. The 'Sunday Punch' of my Infantry wait SSW of Kona. Once I've got the first two bases up and operational then I will move on Morotai.

Other Areas:
North Pacific
A Daitai of Zeros and Kates move into Adak. AF should go up to 3 within about 10 days. A Chutai of Vals will join this small strike force when the base expands.

Central Pacific
I've got a group of 5 large AOs that just finished refuelling at Truk and they are headed to the Christmas Ilse area. Another group of 4 AO will reach Truk tomorrow and also head east. This should be enough fuel to keep operations rolling for the next 10 days or so.

South Pacific
No pertinent developments...

Australia
Will take Derby on March 1st. SIR ROBIN! I am nowhere even near Darwin yet Bill is racing all of his units south as fast as possible. Recon at Katherine picked up 21 units that had been at Darwin just 3 days ago.

Java
The entire stack of troops that completed the Java campaign arrive at Soerabaja. Transports and AP are waiting and will start loading tomorrow to move onto bigger game. Have to detach a force to take Christmas (IO) and Cocos as well as create a couple of Fast TF to take empty bases.

Singapore
With this base in my hands, my Convoy System can now go fully operational. I had been running TK to Cam Rahn Bay and then on to Hiroshima. Now everything can shift to Singapore.

I've got the BIG Tonan Maru TK in one TF as well as two TF of large TK shuttling fuel and oil to Japan. I'm getting the 7950s together as well as the 1250s. They will split between the smaller oil bases and move fuel to Singers.

Burma
Am seeing some air action over Magwe and Mandalay. Some Hurricanes and a detachment of AVG are active and getting pummeled by a Daitai of Zero and 2 Sentai of Oscars.

38th ID is unloaded at Rangoon and going to take the rails up to Mandalay.

China
My force is two days from arriving at Sian. We'll see at that point...

SS Action
I-25 sinks AKL Mauna Loa NE of Pearl
I-154 sinks TK British Unity off Geraldton, Aust

ASW Damages KXIV (Pearl) and Narwhal(Kona). Narwhal puts a TT into a CM before ebing damaged.

KB-2
Shokaku is done to Sys-5 in damage. Junyo and Nisshin just arrived at Yokohama joining Zuiho and Shoho.

NEWS: 9 18" Rifles join the Fleet at Hiroshima! She sets out to join the CVs and then the TF will depart for action.

Engineering:
Tinian AF-4
Adak Pt-2
Singapore AF-7
Lunga AF-1
Yokohama Pt-9

[John 3rd]

March 4, 1942
NE Hawaii

Unknown to the Americans, several Japanese raiding TF slipped into the sealanes between PH and the West Coast. The goal of the Hawaiian Operation is to force the Americans into a Naval Battle and attrit their Fleet. Here is an example:

Just after dawn on March 4, 1942 CA Chokai and 3 DD are sailing NE on patrol about 225 miles NE of Pearl Harbor. The enemy is detected about 7:30am and the aggressive Japanese Captain orders the Tf to engage. IT is quite stormy and this adis the Japanese approach. Thinking they are stocking an American CA, they are shocked to see that their 'prey' is the USS Colorado and 4 DD! Crap...

In the immortal spirit of the Kaigun the cry BANZAI rings out. At the range of 16,000 Yards, the Chokai begins flinging her deadly Long Lance missiles at Colorado. Amazingly one hit to open the action on the surprised enemy. A split second after the hit a MASSIVE secondary explosion rocks Colorado and she loses speed rapidly.

Keeping the range between 8-11,000 Yards for nearly an hour, the Japanese pummel the entire American line. Chokai lands no less then 15 8" hits while only taking a single large caliber shell. Each of the American DDs take between 4-6 shell hits are all heavily damaged and DD MacDonough sinks.

In addition to Chokai's single hit taken each of the 3 DDs takes a hit. None are significantly damaged as they breakoff and head for Midway. WELL DONE!

1640 Hours 75 miles NE of Pearl Harbor sits Ro-67. This ship has already sunk an AK early in the war and is stunned to see the crippled Colorado cross into its crosshairs. Four Torpedos are launched and the Captain calmly watches as the first misses slightly ahead of the BB but then the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th missiles detonates along the armored hide of the Battleship.

BANZAI!

USS Colorado sinks in 12,000 Ft of water! How about that?

[John 3rd]

Operations Report
March 1-4, 1942

Things keep right on rolling! Am mindful of the date and know I have one or two more destinations to land at prior to the Invasion Bonus going away.

North Pacific
Adak is about to receive another BF which should make it so I can operate the 78 planes destined to fillout that base.

Very quiet and have seen no sign of the American CVEs or BB Warspite.

Hawaii
Operation Eastern Wind appears to be a success as some control is re-established over the big island and Lahaina is brought into the fold with its AF getting Base Force support. Kona immediately jumps to Lvl-4 and Hilo is nearly fully repaired at Lvl-3. Some engineers are moving over there to help with base construction. Intend to begin digging in as well. Between the bases there is now nearly 100,000 supply. My Fighters that had been pounded into the ground at both locations are now uncrating their new Zeros and are slowly coming back into the equation. Sinse Bill has shifted to night attacks again this is a welcome development.

Using a Fast TF of 1 CA, 3 CL, and 8 DD I successfully move an Air Flotilla and large Base Force to Lahaina making it operational. This FTF had an encounter with an American CA. CL, and 2 DD but it was inconclusive. The same FTF is now loading most of CCB of the Sendai to land at Molotai tomorrow.

The action has shifted over the something happening at Pearl Harbor. A large group of TF began either departing PH or are working to reach PH from the NE. Finally having some operationally Mavis has helped and so I detach two small STF of a CA and 3 DD as well as a CL and 4 DD to enter into the sealanes. Additional Subs slip into this newly found corridor as well. My CVs are quite low on fuel so I take those with the most and send them NE to see what can be found. This is done on the 3rd and I hope it surprises Bill. The CVs have been tied to covering the landings for nearly a week. Three CVs move out to go hunting. The other three head for the barn at Christmas.

Should note that while their Val and Kate flew ASW, a total of 9 SS hits were recorded by their aircraft. NICE!

The movement of STF into the lane as well as SS immediately proves itself to be a good idea as BB Colorado is sunk (detailed above). Additional ships are sunk in this area as more SS arrive:

March
1st I-9 sinks AK Arizonan
2nd I-9 scores again sinking AG Crown City
2nd Ro-63 sinks an AKL by gunfire SW of Port Moresby
3rd I-25 sinks DD Mugford NE of Pearl
4th Ro-67 sinks BB Colorado NE of PH
4th I-173 sinks DD Benham NE of PH

Four days sees a BB, 2 DD, an AG, an AK and an AKL crushed! Nice work...

Christmas Isle
In a VERY rude surprise, I spot a STF approaching this base on the 3rd. The Lvl-3 AF is crammed full of planes training and/or resting. Stupid of me to do this but I pay for it. A force of 2 CA, 3 CL, 5 DD bombard the Island getting nuclear results destroying over 60 aircraft. CRAP! Live and learn. Need to watch out being cocky and remember my opponent is quite crafty and fiendish. The 3 CVs heading for home amy present an interesting moment if he tries to return immediately...

Australia
Broome, Derby, and Wnydham are mine. I have an Inf Div and 6 Tk Reg heading for the last of those three where they will then move east for Katherine and Darwin. Bill is in full retreat so he'll gain the Aussie hinterland and sit around rotting for all I care. Got to have that buffer in NW Australia.

Bataan
The 5th ID unloads at Iba on the 1st and should be at Bataan on the 5th. Will attack and take the base that day.

Burma
A small scale air battle is taking place over Magwe and Mandalay. I am seeing Hurricanes and some AVG. The numbers are small enough that I drive them from the sky each day without loss while shooting down 2-4 of them. Sort of strange. The 38th ID arrives at Mandalay on the 3rd and has to shift from Strategic Mode then will move on Schwebo. Two Tk Reg are due west of the town and getting ready to enter into it.

To keep Bill guessing as to my intentions, I land two Regiments at Cox's Bizar on the 3rd. Take the base on the 4th. One Regiment heads for Akyab and the other stays put. Should serve to keep him on his toes for a possible India attack. NOT! Ain't gonna do that...

China
Have driven several units away from Sian to the North and NW. There are 43 units present within this base! [:'(] Wow. We'll see what happens there. My Army arrives at Sian on the 4th.

In something I haven't done before, the Japanese capture Yenan on March 2nd.

Here is a list of base captures:
March 1st--Derby, Australia
March 2nd--Yenan, China
March 4th--Lolobato, Cox's Bizar

Land at Pamekasan, Jv on the 4th

Engineering:
1st--Rangoon AF-5
2nd--Saigon AF-7
3rd--Saipan AF-6, Kona AF-4, Lautem AF-3
4th--Kaifeng AF-4, Bihoro AF-5

[Cribtop]

Now you're back on track. Way to recover and press forward.

[John 3rd]

Don't celebrate YET Cribtop! I have to have seen this sort of bombardment result at least 6-8 time sin the last month:





What am I doing wrong? Sz-4 AF with roughly 100 Zeros. That's it!

[ny59giants]

Nell and/or Betty set for Naval Attack with 20 to 30% on Search. You can still have 20 to 30% on Naval Attack Training.

Do some cursor over some of those bases in the SE Pacific to see if he is building up a base to run those BB TF out of. If you were loading Tracker "every turn" you would have seen what bases he was building. Hint, Hint. [:D]

[FatR]

Well, while you are encountering some setbacks at Hawaii, so far you've succeeding in the most important thing: early attrition of the Allied fleet.

[John 3rd]

I am attriting him but he is also doing to the same to me. I cannot trade 1-for-1. Got to change this and fast. Lost a CA and CL due to SBDs last turn at Hilo. IT was a good round in that I shot down nearly 50 American planes, however, I cannot afford to lose the warships. Additionally, I just missed a TF containing the 3 Idaho-Class BBs. Two different SS took shots and missed. Not good. They will be joining in these bombardments guaranteed. I need mines and LOTS of them. Working on that as we speak. Additionally, I just got Shokaku back. Five CV/CVLs and Yamato are available.

He has gone 'all in' in Hawaii. Would an Alpha Strike by 11 CV/CVLs be enough to hurt PH? Would have nearly 600 planes to attack with. The other idea I have is to take these CVs and swing them down to Pago Pago where he is concentrating a bunch of the South and SE Pacific ships. I've spotted Houston, some British cruisers, and who knows what else. His CVs have NO PLANES. Going down here might be mightily profitable...

Hmmmm...

[John 3rd]

Just chatting with Michael for a couple of minutes and I will Post my concerns here to see if some good advise can be had. These bombardments are going to keep going and now BBs will be present.

Question: HOW do I stop it?

Facts:
My AF are getting closed after a SINGLE bombardment as shown above.
I do not have the Surface elements available to heavily contest them (3 BB in yards at Home, Yamashiro/Fuso in IO, I've got Ise and 3 BC) and--with my AFs crushed--I cannot control the air during the day.
His TF leave PH, strike, and return so I cannot hit them anywhere BUT PH.

Need help with this or I will have to retire from the enterprise before things go from OK to dire.

Thanks for the help!

[ny59giants]

"The Art of the Blockade"

Since you control Midway, Johnson, and the Line Islands, his ships, supplies, and reinforcements are coming in from the north to NE. To stop this from happening, KB (6 heavy CVs) would be operating to the SE area, in general, of the Big Island. It would support the CAP over Hilo and Kona.

I would move into Midway an AS, AD, AR, and multiple AKEs as Mini-KB would operate from here to cover the shipping lanes from USA to Pearl. Most of my subs would operate from here. I would max out the base and bring in fuel as it is closer to Japan vs going down to Christmas.

Some subs would be south of Christmas and Canton to protect that flank. Maybe a small CVE TF to go raiding.

Emily/Mavis on Canton, Christmas, Hilo/Kona, and Midway.

Any free Kate groups would be headed to Johnson so I could pull off Vals and replace. KB would have to be used at times for heavy CAP with extra Zeros and then a short move to pull them off and put on extra Kates.

ALL CV and CVLs will have to be around Pearl for the mother of all air battles. A heavy sweep of Pearl with carrier based Zero and those from Kona/Hilo followed by massive port attack to hit his ships.

SC TFs would be formed with your best torpedo carrying ships. Did you take out your two torpedo CLs with this mod?? I would keep KB to the SE of Hilo/Kona and LRCAP these SC TF and try to time them to arrive at night to face his "nuc" BB TF at a base.

Mine the bases, but don't forget to get those that he has to traverse to get to Hilo/Kona.

That's it for the moment, Sir John.

[seille]

Great AAR. Can´t await to see how it´s going on. Hopefully you find a solution to fight the
shore bombardments. When will you be ready for laying mines at your ports ?

[guctony]

ORIGINAL: John 3rd

Just chatting with Michael for a couple of minutes and I will Post my concerns here to see if some good advise can be had. These bombardments are going to keep going and now BBs will be present.

Question: HOW do I stop it?

Facts:
My AF are getting closed after a SINGLE bombardment as shown above.
I do not have the Surface elements available to heavily contest them (3 BB in yards at Home, Yamashiro/Fuso in IO, I've got Ise and 3 BC) and--with my AFs crushed--I cannot control the air during the day.
His TF leave PH, strike, and return so I cannot hit them anywhere BUT PH.

Need help with this or I will have to retire from the enterprise before things go from OK to dire.

Thanks for the help!

At this point eliminating Allied BBs should be your main concern. Besides that he will not have "yet" air force to contest you. Best passive way is to fulfill the bases with subs and midgets and mines. Also you need to have sacrifice goats. some units which will engage with bombardment task force to slow him down. If you form at least three different type of surface TF. You may slow it. One CL+DD groups one CA+CL+DD and one BB+CA+DD this would force him to stop BB runs because he cannot risk damage to BB for morning air attack. If he does it is permanent solution to your problem. My best bet is at least three CL+4DD group.and make one big KB stript of its vals they are no use fill empty space with more figters and Lcap your ships. and develop your air bases till they are at least 7. From 7 the damage is getting lower.

If he is willing for BB surface it is your best bet to lower his morale. This is the only avaible time frame for his BBs.

If he is defending it so aggrasive It is a good thing which probably means he is focused to area. But be carefull about darwin and java area. this his his bes tbet for counter attack. An do not dont split your KBs to smaller pieces. It is suicide.

[John 3rd]

Thanks for the opinions Gentlemen. Appreciate the time and ideas.

OK. I haven't run this turn yet so here are my plans:

1. Yesterday Junyo, 3 CVL, Yamato, 2 CA, and 9 DD departed home waters. Destination is Midway for the moment. Shokaku will need two more days then she will link-up with a CA and 4 DD. In about ten days I will have 6 CV, Junyo/Ryujo, and 3 CVL. Easy math makes for 627 Aircraft of which 50% would be Zero. I will use that force!

2. My 3 remaining ML SS are currently headed to the area to begin operations. I am gathering CM from the Invasion TFs and think I have 4 total present. I've got the support ships to keep the mines flowing.

3. Three full strength Inf Div are loading at Soerabaja, Singapore, and Shanghai. They go for Lihue.

4. All my current surface units out there will rendezvous at Christmas and then I will reform TF along some of the lines listed above.

5. Will redeploy all Ro-Class SS into the Hawaiian waters.

Will run turn now. Anything I miss?

[guctony]

ORIGINAL: John 3rd

Thanks for the opinions Gentlemen. Appreciate the time and ideas.

OK. I haven't run this turn yet so here are my plans:

1. Yesterday Junyo, 3 CVL, Yamato, 2 CA, and 9 DD departed home waters. Destination is Midway for the moment. Shokaku will need two more days then she will link-up with a CA and 4 DD. In about ten days I will have 6 CV, Junyo/Ryujo, and 3 CVL. Easy math makes for 627 Aircraft of which 50% would be Zero. I will use that force!

2. My 3 remaining ML SS are currently headed to the area to begin operations. I am gathering CM from the Invasion TFs and think I have 4 total present. I've got the support ships to keep the mines flowing.

3. Three full strength Inf Div are loading at Soerabaja, Singapore, and Shanghai. They go for Lihue.

4. All my current surface units out there will rendezvous at Christmas and then I will reform TF along some of the lines listed above.

5. Will redeploy all Ro-Class SS into the Hawaiian waters.

Will run turn now. Anything I miss?

one thing you can also try is to form a very high exprience torpedo bomber group with night attack posture. With patrol planes also in night research. Even in the case of unsuccesfull attack. You will force him to be more carefull.

[ny59giants]

Make a small list of your mines on hand and production of each. Then, double check that your minelayers can use those that you have the most of. Don't want to send some CMs to Hawaii and find out they have enough for a single use. [:(]

[John 3rd]

Just got turn done and checked my movement orders. This is the current OOB for Invading Lihue:

Leaving Shanghai (3-7): 68th Inf Div, 52nd, 56th, and 62nd Brigades
Leaving Soerabaja (3-6): 33rd Inf Div
At Christmas: 90th Inf Red and CCA Sendai Div