Islands of Destiny: RA 5.0 Japanese Side

[John 3rd]

ORIGINAL: CaptDave

ORIGINAL: John 3rd

There is now no doubt that we have Union Pacific caboose number 25251!

Sorry to hear that! (Just had to say it. [;)] UP is to railroads as Notre Dame is to college football: if you care at all, you either hate them or you love them. Having grown up in WP and SP territory, UP is not exactly my favorite railroad.)

Capt Dave:

Obviously you suffer from Union Pacific envy. When you are THE big boy...I can understand the issues of jealousy! [:D]

[John 3rd]

ORIGINAL: pws1225

OT: The caboose is good on the outside! Do you have any pics of what she's like on the inside?

When we get windows and the smokestack back on life shall be pretty good. The exterior is now almost mint July 1952. We are excited about that. The inside? I'll Post a couple of shots.

[John 3rd]

Here is the Brakeman's side and his desk:

[John 3rd]

Shot from where the stove WILL be! Looking down the other side through the hallway:

[John 3rd]

Here is one side looking up into the cupola.

The GOOD news is that we have all the pieces for the inside. Bad news is that it came unassembled! [;)]

[crsutton]

Some assembly required. Here is a shot of a caboose at the B & O Museum in Baltimore.

[pws1225]

That's going to be cool when finished. Good luck, though it looks like more than a simple weekend job.

[John 3rd]

Mr. Sutton: That is a GREAT shot!

Wish ours was made from the same wood but, instead, we have plywood. They weren't called 'crummies' for a reason!

[John 3rd]

Combat Report
December 18-20, 1941

Action continues and figuring Dan's play style out for this game is getting to be an interesting process. I EXPECTED a massed brawl for Palembang...

North Pacific
CarDiv1 has done its job. The Aleutians are falling with no interference. The CVs refuel just south of Adak and head for Wake. Need those babies in the South Pacific.

Umnak falls on the 20th.

Central Pacific
The Midway Invasion Force lands on the 19th and gets a bad initial roll for the landing scoring a 1-2 result. Disruption is not bad--thankfully--and so it attacks again on the 20th and gets a 2-1 result. Much BETTER. Midway shall fall tomorrow.

This attack will conclude the Central Pacific Offensive. I will place an Atoll Defense Unit here along with an SNLF and Base Force unit to be right at the 6,000 troop mark. Will expand the Forts to 6 and the Port to 2 and use it for my SS Operations.

South Pacific
CarDiv5 arrives at Truk on the 18th and picks up food, fuel, 9 planes, and 18 pilots. It is joined by the two CVLs, a CS, and departs the 19th heading SE.

PLAN:
I want to try and lure Dan into a Trap. He is probably too smart for this but it is worth a try. Create two Cargo TF for Kavieng and Madang. They are small AKLs and won't be much of a loss. They depart of the 19th. The 20th sees the formation of a Bombardment TF using 4 CA, 3 CL, and 5 DD. It will hit Rabaul. Will try to sneak the CVs through the edge of the Solomons and swing in behind any force dealing with my TFs. It is worth a try. The CVs are on total EMCON: No air search and all Zeros just flying CAP. Will light them up when I pass through the Solomons into the Coral Sea.

Philippines
Total air control throughout the area. Pull out the naval Aircraft for better use elsewhere.

Take Zamboanga, Lingayen, and Bayombong.

Doesn't look like Mr. Roper has made up his mind on where to fight. Troops keep shuffling between Bataan, Clark, and Manila.

Mindanao will be finished within about 7 days. Just got to do the marching.

Eastern DEI
Land at Ambon on the 18th and falls on the 20th. Planes move in. I expected to see US CVs but nothing yet.

My little CVEs provide Cover over the Ambon Force and then stumble on an American STF. The 18th and 19th see CL Marblehead take 1 Torp and 2 Bombs. She MIGHT sink. DD Bulmer took a pair of bombs so the same might be said for that ship. Order the CVEs back to Ternate on the 20th.

The Koepang Invasion Force is NE of Ambon. Will land at Dili and the other base FIRST so I can get a surrender out of Koepang.

Little to no resistance in this area. Strange.

Central DEI
Nothing going down the middle yet. This will change in about a week. Will go after Tarakan and Balikpapan at that point.

Western DEI
The BATTLE OF PALEMBANG is not. I expected a massed furball of everything the Allies have to attack the Invasion Force prior to landing and then while landing. Doesn't really happen. A single Squadron or so each day attacks and is wiped out. I keep moving KB-2 so the SS cannot concentrate and it appears to be working for the moment.

Land on the 19th and attack on the 20th. Take a look on the screenshot for resistance. The attack just MISSES a 3-1 result and so the Forts drop to ZERO and it shall fall tomorrow. Makes me very nervous for my refineries when Palembang doesn't fall on the FIRST attack. may have to prepare to sacrifice one of the family cats!

The 18th sees a heck of a nice development. My Kates attack shipping at Batavia (Range 8) and plaster a batch of Allied warships. A Strike of 25 Zero and 61 Kate arrive to fight their way through 51 Fighters (YIKES!) and pounce. Unfortunately range states no TTs but they do just fine. For the loss of 7 Zeros and 5 Kates (shooting down 16+ Allied Fighters) this is what we got:

Prince of Wales--Six Bombs--On Fire
CA Pensacola--Two Bombs--On Fire
CA Houston--Two Bombs
CL Boise--3 Bombs--On Fire

If he isn't fighting in the air for Palembang then perhaps it shall be for western Java. I have the 21st and 4th Mixed Brigades heading for Merak and Oosthaven. I want to 'bounce the barrier' and head for Cocos.

Want see if he'll fight here so I try to get clever. Detach 3 DD and order them to move to 3 hexes NW of Batavia. Set-Up about 50 Zero to fly LR CAP and try to perform a CAP Trap. We'll see if that scores before the Invasion Forces go in...

Malaya
Everyone is moving South. Total air supremacy here as well.

Port Blair
Looks like Dan is beefing up this base Move Oscars, Kates, and a Betty unit to Victoria Point. Want to hit these ships and troops.

Burma
My TK Regiment moves into Moulmein. It is followed by an Inf Reg, Army HQ, and two Base Forces.

China
A full fledged SIR ROBIN is in progress by my Allied Opponent. He is retreating faster then I can advance!

Take Chengchow, 83,55, Wenchow, and 85,46.

SS Ops
12-19 I-9 has a BANNER day near Coal Harbour sinking AKL's Malama and Tennessean as well as KV Chilliwack: NICE!
12-19 Ro-68 sinks AK Corinda AND damages AP Murada
12-20 Ro-66 sinks Ro-66 near Yasawa

Those are the developments!

[John 3rd]

Action Report
December 21, 1941

With a deep, relieved sigh, Palembang falls WITHOUT ANY DAMAGE! Hosannah!! From RA's point of view this capture is the single biggest of the war. One HAS to have the facilities due to not having much of a cushion at war start.

North Pacific
Troops unloading at Umnak and Adak.

Central Pacific
Midway---grrrrrrr---I EXPECTED a simple capture on the second attack and instead I deal with the assault collapsing and getting a 1-2 result. Order the TF to go back to unloading supplies and rest the troops for a day. We'll see. I have the Assault Strength just didn't get a good result. Solution: CHANGE the Commander. The previous one is ordered to fall on his sword. Unlike Wake's CD, Midway extracts some blood as two AKs slip beneath the waves.

South Pacific
The bait is now dangling as Allied air search spots the approaching convoys bringing supplies to Kavieng and Madang. The Bombardment Force is not spotted. The KB shall pass through the Solomons next turn. We're going on a BEAR hunt...

Philippines
Attack at Malaybalay and get a 1-1 dropping Forts to 0. Should fall tomorrow.

Eastern DEI
Troops unloading at Ambon. Koepang IF about to pass by Ambon. As said earlier small TF for Dili and Lautem are loading to time this attack together.

Central DEI
The CVEs find their apparent nemesis in the form of CL Marblehead (for the 3rd time). A single bomb hit is scored out of 22 tries. NICE! [:o] CVE's retiring up the central slot their and will meet a pair of AOs for fuel.

Western DEI
Palembang's troops are hit by 54 Betty and then 61 Kates. The attack goes in and scores a 4-1 result! A TK Reg follows the survivors in pursuit.

A few hexes to the east a crippled Repulse is spotted and plastered by Kates carrying bombs. She takes 15 hits during the morning and afternoon. I HOPE she sinks!

A Hoste a Allied SS follow the Japanese movements and THIS TIME the Japanese score some damage on 3 Dutch SS and manage to SINK KXII after she sinks an AK carrying 250 troops.

Fighters immediately move into Palembang and 3 TF carrying engineers and base Forces can now move in and unload.

The CAP Trap DDs are not spotted just 3 hexes from Batavia. I split the Merak and Oosthaven IF and provide Cover Forces. Both TF has 4 DMS to remove mines. They will land at their objectives in two days. KB-2 Covers this move as she can now move freely. Kates are set for naval Attack and we'll see what happens.

Burma
Rangoon has a TF unloading and it is hit by Nells from Victoria Point. Two AKs are damaged.

Port Blair's shipping is hit as well and 2 APs get hit. One is nailed four times and might sink.

Moulmein falls to a solitary TK Reg.

China
Lots of movement.

SS Ops
I-155 sinks AKL Bust at Oosthaven

[John 3rd]

Combat Report
December 22-23, 1941

Everything is rolling along quite presently except for one area. I've got a BURR under my saddle and its name is MIDWAY! Past that Life is looking better and better for the steamroller...

North Pacific
CarDiv1 is now 50% of the way to Wake.

Have got several convoys moving to Attu, Adak, Amchitka, and Umnak. Once they unload there will be NOTHING more sent up there until the Spring. We're done up there as of right now. Just need to dig and build some runways.

Central Pacific
As mentioned earlier, I replace the commander of the 1st Maizuru SNLF Assault Brigade at Midway. Finish unloading and lose 2 more AKs to CD (4 total now). The SNLF has plenty of supplies and disruption is donw below 10. Order an attack and maybe we can wrest the atoll away from the Allies. Order a large Base Force (AV 30) and a Naval Guard (AV 60) to load and head for Midway.

There may be a serious opportunity created here. The hang-up has got to be drawing Dan's attention and I'd wager he'll try to send something to cause trouble. This would probably be a bombardment group and/or Saratoga perhaps. Order CarDiv1 to shift towards Midway and LURK a bit. Need to think on this some but I might place it NE of Midway to try and catch some warships. Want to be VERY careful as a 2-1 CV Fight be OK, however, if I am to take any damage then life would be fairly scary getting back to the nearest base. If he is moving Lex and Ent back towards PH--this is a possibility due to an SS attack that missed--then I do not want to play up there...

South Pacific
A couple of days ago I had an SS make an attack on a DD that missed, however, it was then pummeled by 6 DDs. Location in the SE Pacific might indicate a the movement of CVs back towards PH. This attack occurred several days ago and has had me thinking. Dan loves to keep his CV together so it might be a realistic possibility. At ANY rate we should know fairly soon due to Coral Sea Operations.

KB-1 moves through the Solomons into the Coral Sea. We are not spotted and several SS Attacks indicate shipping in the Luganville--Efate--Noumea area. Send the CVs there for some hunting. Will be in position tomorrow. My Sea Eagles are tan, rested, and ready for some action.

Cargo TF unload at both Kavieng and Madang. Bombardment TF about to hit Rabaul. Order the South Seas Regiment to load along with another small Infantry unit and large Base Force. They depart for Rabaul on the 23rd.

Philippines
Cabanatuan falls on the 22nd.

Lucena falls on the 23rd.

Eastern DEI
All TF for Timor are loaded and moving. Landings shall start on Christmas Day.

The two BB TF and CVE TF are both refueling and replenishing at Ternate right now.

Sumatra--Java
No serious air opposition continues to occur.

Landing at Merak occurs on the 23rd and the Base Force present there will be driven out tomorrow. Landing Force is a Brigade, Inf Reg, and Special Base Force. Nine Dutch Bombers try to penetrate 18 Zeros and don't live to tell about it.

The Oosthaven Landing will happen tomorrow. Surprisingly there are no mines in the Strait. This Landing has a Brigade, 3 Base Forces, and some Construction units.

Through the gap I shoot a pair of STF heading for Christmas and Cocos.

KB-2 picks-up 25 planes and 16 pilots at Singakwang and refuels on the 22nd-23rd. It is ordered to enter the IO through the Strait as well and SINK SOME SHIPS! The TF will pass through tomorrow.

Suspecting something, I order a BB Bombardment of Batavia and SCORE on the 23rd. Yamashiro and Fuso CRUSH the AF and destroy nearly 40 planes on the ground. A lot of Buffalos, AVG, and Transports planes are trashed. Nice work.

Malaya
Troops on the move towards Georgetown and the base SE of there from the north and from Temoluh to Malacca in the central portion of the peninsula.

No aerial opposition.

Burma--Pt Blair
A Zero Chutai Sweeps into Pt Blair and down 4 AVG for no cost: NICE!

SS OPs
12-21 I-16 sinks AKL Hamakua at Luganville
12-22 I-16 sinks AKL Darvel also at Luganville

Engineering
12-21 Nagasaki AF-4, Jehol AF-5, San Fernando Pt-2
12-22 Sinyang AF-2

NOTES:
Finally have enough political points to buy the lean and mean 14th Infantry Division at Pt. Arthur. APs are waiting so I load it for Rabaul. It will be a foundation piece for the Eastern Australia invasion. As a piece of devious plotting, this unit is prepping for Viza in India but will land in Australia. HOPEFULLY Dan will get this through intelligence and THINK I am NOT going into India...

[Chickenboy]

ORIGINAL: John 3rd
12-20 Ro-66 sinks Ro-66 near Yasawa

Those are the developments!

Circular torpedo run? [X(]

[MAurelius]

ORIGINAL: Chickenboy

ORIGINAL: John 3rd
12-20 Ro-66 sinks Ro-66 near Yasawa

Those are the developments!

Circular torpedo run? [X(]

weapons test... must have been

[John 3rd]

You guys are FUNNY. Had a good laugh.

Haven't Posted for a few days due to a Family trip to Denver. We saw Hobbit, shopped around, did the Zoo Lights, and then shopped around some more.

Home and sent Dan the Dec 27th turn. Lots to write about and will do that tomorrow morning while Paula is working at the School District.

[John 3rd]

Combat Report
December 24-27, 1941

Lordy. The action continues and is pretty good all-around (EXCEPT one little atoll! [:@]) with the Steamroller really gathering steam.

North Pacific
Land at the last major base desired: Amchitka. Will just run some engineers to Umnak, Amchitka, and Attu then sit until March. This is about as far as I plan to go. Dan loves the Northern Offensive route and this will provide some depth for me to work with if he decides to go this route to the Kuriles and Sakhalin. Don't plan on any major Inf commitments up in this region except the the SNLF Assault Brigade and Kawafuto Brigade that starts belonging to 5th Fleet.

Central Pacific
Even after changing the commander of the 1st Maizuru Assault Brigade NOTHING changes! Must have gotten three of the worst die rolls on the planet with the Midway Operation! The Brigade is wiped out from attrition on the 26th. CRAP.

Dan will try to reinforce here so I move CarDiv1 to an extreme range of 9 hexes to catch any shipping that arrives over the next two days.

I ordered a Naval Guard and large Base Force to load and move out a few days ago. It is now NE of Kwajalein headed in Midway's direction. I pull 4 CA from the Coral Sea as well as KB-1.

Perhaps there is opportunity here. I don't know where the US CVs are but I SUSPECT they are at the Line Islands and/or moving to PH. If he sends anything to Midway then CarDiv1 announces its presence throwing down the gauntlet. He will see two CVs. Perhaps he shall be willing to gamble with Lex and Big E? Saratoga won't be too far behind. What might happen if he moves forward with that force and runs into SIX Japanese CVs? Hmmm...

Thoughts here? Any commentary would be appreciated. For now I shall operate on joining up the CVs and preparing to hit Midway again.

South Pacific
Land at Rabaul on the 26th and attack on the 27th. Get a 1-1 and drop Forts to 0. Will take it tomorrow.

Lae landing about to happen.

KB-1 spotted before high-tailing to Kwajalein and Midway.

Philippines
Things are going swimmingly! Take Mauban on the 26th. Iba and Batangas goes on the 27th. Drive out a Base Force and Inf Div both times. This is nice as it weakens the defense even more. The 48th ID and 5 Artillery units arrive at Clark and begin bombarding.

Moving 2nd ID and 65th Brigade into Manila. They shall be followed by 2 more ID with days.

Butuan falls in Mindanao on the 26th. TK Reg headed for Davao and then Mindanao is finished. Figure this done by January 1st.

Eastern DEI
Land at Dili, Lautem, and Kopang on the 25-26th. Dili and Lautem fall on the 27th.

Send into the area between Western Aust and Java three small STF to raid. Add the pair of CVEs on the 27th as they depart Ambon.

CL Naka and 3 DDs crush 2 AVP and 8 AMc as well as an AKL on the 26th and then tangle with an AP TF on the 27th sinking a CM, AMc, and 2 AP. Add 2 AKL and 4 AP in various states of damage and one can see it is a profitable sortie!

Sumatra
Troops fan out from Palembang to take southern Sumatra quickly. Oosthaven and Praboemoelih falls on the 25th. Djambi goes on the 26th.

Java
Merak falls on the 24th. Two Brigades move out towards Batavia.

THIS is a KEY development. The moment BOTH Oosthaven and Merak Fall, I shoot two STF into the Rear Area there. One TF goes to Christmas and finds nothing while the second finds BIG game at Cocos. CA Mikuma, a CL, and 6 DD find the large AP Wakefield and an AK unloading troops. They are sunk and the combat report shows 9,121 Casualties, 155 Guns, and a few Vehicles. I find the number shigh but one has to assume I just destroyed most, if not ALL, of a Brigade heading to Cocos. GREAT! 4th ID is primed at Palembang and will start loading tomorrow for Cocos. Looks like they will have a fight on their hands with the landing but I'll try to pave the way with some bombardments and air strikes. I want that base.

Taking Cocos with a full Inf Div should begin to sell Dan that we are heading for Australia. Why else take it? Hopefully this begins to mask the true operational planning.

On the 26th, KB-2 shoots through the gap to add their Airpower to the hunt. They launch a combined strike of 26 Z, 33 V, 55 K and sink 3 AP, an AK, and 3 AKL close to Christmas Isle. I tell Dan in a note that I am trying to channel a little bit of Goerge Patton! [:D] The CA at Cocos bags two more APs (Dickman and Leonard Wood causing more Allied casualties.

Malaya
The leisurely tour of Malaya continues. We take the following bases with total aerial supremacy: 12-25 Kuala Lumphur, 12-26 Taiping, and 12-27 sees Georgetown fall.

Burma
Moulmein sees my TK Reg throw back a useless attack by a small Inf unit.

Planes keep hammering Pt Blair from Victoria. Will probably leave this base alone for the short run...

China
Dan is retreating SOOOOOO fast that I cannot keep up. The names of bases falling for no fight is amazing:
12-24 Tsiaotso, 86,45
12-26 Chuhsien and Kukong
12-27 Loyang

Insane moves in this Sir Robin but I LIKE IT! I know the Line I want to shift over to the defense on and it looks like I will get most of it without a fight. GREAT! I hate China and my land-fighting skills are my weakest within the game so this is a welcome development. Need to create the overall strategic vision here for where I want to be and how I'll deal with counterattacks. Any opinions from readers here is most welcome!

SS Ops
12-24 Ro-33 sinks CMc Pro Patria near Pamakasan
12-26 I-1 sinks AKL Surigao at Wellington

Engineering
12-24 San Fernando AF-4
12-25 Ponape AF-3
12-26 Ichang AF-2

There are the developments and thinking currently. Midway, Cocos, and China are open for comments, suggestions, and ideas!

[MAurelius]

at least you have been spared any circleing torps this time [:'(]

[John 3rd]

ORIGINAL: MAurelius

at least you have been spared any circleing torps this time [:'(]

FUNNY man...

[John 3rd]

Dan and I both have days open and so we have gotten three turns done so far this day. No major developments and I shall Post once we take a breather...

[John 3rd]

We've gotten three turns in with a 4th about to be run. Will do that and then do an extended Post. Got the request to chat about what I intend to research for airframes? Will cover that and other issues regarding the economy.

[John 3rd]

Finally starting my update.