Matrix Games Forums

Do you mind me asking why you sent your CVs so "deep"? By making them sprint so much you minimise the ops points available for launching strikes etc.
 
Would moing just 6 to 8 hexes not have been sufficient to "get in amongst the chickens" as it were?

ORIGINAL: Nemo121

Do you mind me asking why you sent your CVs so "deep"? By making them sprint so much you minimise the ops points available for launching strikes etc.

Would moing just 6 to 8 hexes not have been sufficient to "get in amongst the chickens" as it were?

exactly what I´m thinking too! Going 6 hexes and then running North the turn after would be my choice. If you really end up where you want to, then the Allied CVs can chase you and they are faster and can hold more fuel then yours. You of course will have a 50/50 chance when you run then, either he goes the wrong direction or he gets you (if he even will try to which could be doubted as he has to defend his remaining transports).

Still, I wouldn´t go that deep.

Wow! It actually worked---now--RUN AWAY!

Would love to give full descriptions but I am almost late for treatment tonight. This should be enough of a teaser to get everyone clucking:

GREAT!!!!!!! Been waiting for this. Hurry back and post the report.......must be nice.

Combat Report
June 4, 1944
Kaigun

After Vice-Admiral Nagumo's order to set course 135* at Flank Speed, a number of Destroyer Captains signal that they need fuel NOW if they are to maintain pace with the heavy ships of the Fleet.  Reluctantly Nagumo gives his approval for a very FAST refueling of the DDs.  This decision cuts the Japanese move off by about 120 miles placing them NW of his original plotted course.  That this happened coudn't be avoided and only the dawn will provide answers.

Morning Weather
Sunrise is spectacular.  To the east is clear skies but towards Wake is heavy clouds and a storm front.  This storm front will be important for the strikes of the day.

0200 
At Wotje 3 full Chutai of Emily (27 planes) take to the skies flying search vectors ranging from 320--045*

0400 
Surrounded by nearly 100 warships, Wake launches 12 Jakes and Alfs ranging from 0-135* for 300 miles.

0500 
The Fleet heavy cruisers launch their 16 Floatplanes flying from 0-135* for 300 miles.

By 0530 hours the Japanese have 55 search planes in the air looking for the American TF spotted on the previous days.  Adm Nagumo, at the behest of Adm Yamaguchi, has full decks of armed planes WAITING for the contact messages to start.

0600 
Wake Radio reports being under heavy bombardment by a French Battleship, 3 CA, 1 CLAA, and 13 DD.  This force had been with the American Carriers previously and Nagumo sees it as potential good news that the Americans have seen the 50 planes that flew into Wake from Marcus the previous evening.

0615-0645 
Numerous contacts are made with two east-bound American convoys.  Within minutes of these reports, Nagumo turns his Fleet into the wind and the carriers launch their first attacks.  Many of these men are still veterans of Pearl Harbor and none can remember the sight of 13 CVs launching at the same time.  It is quite a sight.  Commander Fuchida, as he has done hundreds of times before, forms his Daitai up and moves out to the east.

0730-0745 
The full remaining attack strength of the Kaigun is brought up on the carrier's decks and launched as a second wave.

0800-0820 
Fuchida looks down upon the American TF and sighs.  The Large TF he sees is riding high in the water.  It is empty.  Targets are targets and so he orders an immediate attack by TF Order.  The American TF numbers at least 30 ships ranging in size from large AP to small LCI. 

The massive Japanese Attack Force numbers 135 Zeros, 140 Judy, and 126 Jill.  Put simply...they massacre the American shipping.  Fuchida tries to count the hits and sinking and has great diffictuly in doing so.  Only later will the tallies come out to 4 DE, 5 AP, 10 LCI, 8 LST, and a MSW hit.  American AA does not show much skill from these support ships.  One Judy and 2 Jills fall to AA.

As the Attack Force makes course to rendezvous with Nagumo's Fleet, Fuchida has his pilot fly 60 miles NE to a second spotted convoy.  Sadly it too is made up of empty ships.  Using his radio he guides the 2nd Wave to its targets.

0850-0945
Flying to the targets in three smaller groups, these planes fall upon a pair of eastbound convoys.  A total of 13 Zero, 58 Judy, and 69 Jills smash another 2 DE, 2 LST, 1 LCI, and 12 AK.  AA is about the same as two more Jills are shot down.

0930-1130
Recovery of both strikes waves with immediate re-arming occurs at a feverish pace. 

At 1130 the question arises as to where the next strike will fly.

Afternoon Weather
The skies clear to the west.  Reports rapidly come in that the American CV have held their position and are too far away to interfere. 

More importantly another large convoy is spotted 180 miles to the west...

1200-1245
In one MASSIVE wave the Japanese put every flyable plane into the air.

1400-1435
Commander Fuchida smiles this time from his specially rigged Jill.  Four lines of 5 heavily loaded AK steam beneath him and his Aerial Armada.  HERE is what he has wanted to see since the weeks leading up to the invasion of Iwo Jima 9 months ago.  Terribly vulnerable, fully loaded American merchantmen.  Very carefully coordinating his Air Groups (137 Zero, 183 Judy, and 146 Jills), Fuchida watches the American TF be wiped out.  He knows that thousands of soldiers are dying as his planes mercilessly hit the shipping and then fly low to strafe the survivors in the water.  It is a slaughter.

1600-1700
All Japanese planes land and quick tallies reveal only a single Jill missing from the afternoon strike.  At least 18 of 20 merchantmen were hit and left in sinking condition.

1730
Knowing that the Americans will most likely come after him with everything they have, Nagumo orders his Fleet to turn NW and boost speed to Flank.  IF they can move a full 600 miles before dawn then the Japanese have a very good chance of having achieved a solid victory against the Americans.  While the Fleet is boisterous at the course of events this day, Nagumo is wise enough to know that he needs to repeat this same day 8-10 more times before Japan has a serious chance of turning the tide; however, he doesn't dampen the enthusiasm of his staff, crew, or cocky pilots.

He thinks to himself "let them have this night to celebrate.  Who knows what fate might bring with tomorrow's dawn..."    

How about that??!!

Nemo and Castor were right about concerns in moving too far into enemy country.  For some reason the stupid game decided to refuel my DDs even though I had expressly clicked 'do not refuel' on every TF.  Instead of moving 10 hexes SE the Fleet moves 8 and is perfectly positioned to strike.

Confirmed Sinkings:  13 AK, 2 DE, 1 LCT, 10 LCI, 1 AP, and 3 LST.  Fully an equal number of ships were damaged and SHOULD sink tomorrow.

The fully loaded TF hit in the Afternoon carried the 511th Parachute Regiment and 188th Glider Regiment.  They were decimated.  There were 20 AK in the Fleet and my flyers hit all but ONE of them!  Safe to say that there is one American Division (is that the 11th Airborne??) that will not fight until mid-1945.

The day could not have gone any better from my perspective. 

I order into the mess nearly 10 Japanese SS and expect sinkings from them.

As long as no one decides to refuel without orders again, Nagumo should be far enough away that the American Fleet cannot hit him.  Midway might but not the American CV.  I doubt if Dan will make a bold move anyway since he is tied to Wake and its Invasion Forces.  With the CAP ordered to 60% that should mean nearly 200 Zero in the air.
 

June 2, 1944
Gumma, Japan

(this event is two days BEFORE Nagumo's surprise attack)

Many of the pilots sitting around Gumma's AF have not participated in the two big battles over the aircraft factories in the preceding weeks.  Lessons have been learned about fighting the new American tactics.  There is an even mix of Tony, Jacks, Tojo, and George's present as this day dawns.   This translates to 2 Daitai (Jack and George) and 2 Sentai (Tojo and Tony) present for the battle.

As is becoming the normal American Attack a 4EB Strike with Escort comes in first from Iwo Jima.  The attack consists of 24 P-38 and 131 B-17 and Liberators.  They are met by 96 Fighters at altitude.  The Fighters duke it out in aerial chaos and then the Japanese suddenly overwelm the P-38 and concentrate on the Liberators (as usual).  Of the 130+ 4EB only 73 actually drop their bombs on target.  Happily the Japanese see that the target is actually the AF themselves.  Only 200 men are killed or wounded and there are just 11 American bombs that hit the concrete AF.  The raid cannot be judged as successful from the American point-of-view.  Losses end up at 16 Japanese Fighters (8 pilots) in exchange for 14 P-38, 3 B-17, and 9 Liberators.  Not too bad of result...

The B-29 strike arrives about 90 minutes later and 92 of the monstrous machines line-up to attack the factories.  The Tony stay down for this phase of the attack and, thus, only 58 Fighter challenge the massive bombers.  4 Fighters fall (3 pilots) in exchange for 7 Superfortress shot down and 17 more damaged.  Most (85) successfully drop their bombs but at 33,000 Feet they fall mainly wide of the mark.  The Peggy Factory takes 14 hits and that is it.

Gumma:  Round Three Totals---20 Fighters (11 pilots killed) for 14 P-38, 3 B-17, 9 Liberators, and 7 B-29.  Light damage to AF and Factories.  In a split decision of 3-2 the Judges award this round to Japan.

What will Round Four bring????  I don't even want to know!

Nice attack - always good to catch enemy troops at sea.

Will be interesting to see if Dan chases your CVs. If I were him I think I would. If he kills your CVs he can come back to Wake with another wave and not have anything to worry about.

Seems like a good time to put a bunch of DBs and TBs on Wake though. If he does give chase with his carriers, you could have a field day on his big ships there.

I have thought of that.  If he moves away then I will attack with my CVEs and Truk bombers as well as from Wake itself.  His bombardment did pretty decent damage to Wake with 12 planes destroyed, 102 Cas, and the AF took 101 hits.  He still had nearly 60 Hellkitties over the atoll during the 4th.  We'll see what he decides to do...

And what does this whole story tells us? Never move your invasion troops without a heavy CV escort into the invasion area... [:D]

well done!

ORIGINAL: John 3rd

Not to the American CVs!  We've climbed over the 50,000 view mark for the AAR.  Thank you guys.  I appreciate all the commentary, support, and interest.

John,

you are writing a great AAR now, much fun to read. I like the level of detail in which you share your considerations and feelings during turn preparation and when waiting for the result of your plotting.

Of course, it is even better to read how your plotting is rewarded as well. You show that the Japanese still have a potent sting in late war when using their assets prudently !

Keep on the good work in this AAR and in the game.

Hartwig

Thank you.  I truly wish I had started this AAR from the beginning of the war instead of six months into it.  One never knows where decisions will lead. 

Just as with teaching, I derive the most satisfaction not from the lesson but by the contribution and commentary of class as the lesson is being formed. Doing this AAR has been similarly rewarding.

nice little victory. about your DDs refueling, there is no way to stop them from doing that. the "do not refuel" button only stops a ship from refueling from a PORT. they will refuel from other ships whenever the AI thinks they need to. Happy hunting.

Color me stupid.  Thanks!  Either didn't know or had forgotten that.

ORIGINAL: John 3rd

Color me stupid.  Thanks!  Either didn't know or had forgotten that.

You have forgot! [;)] The third of fourth time already! [:D]

Maybe I just have some sort of blockage here!  Michael can you help with my diagnosis?  [:D][8D][:D]

Interesting Developments:





EDIT: the line should read utterly "bored"...

I have a 4 to 5 hour drive to Nashville to pick up a kid going to a potential foster home for a visit today, so you can expect a call in the next hours (after 10am your time).

The bigger question is what will Dan do now?? Will he still invade Wake?? Will he pull those troops back to Midway or push them through?? He has to figure out that he cannot leave bases like Wake by-passed and not expect to get hit by your carriers.

I do not not know his real reaction to this.

He cannot move quickly since those ships only move at a 2/2 speed.  My expectation is for him to follow through with the attack as I get away.  If he makes a bold move and guesses right Nagumo's words might be prophetic...

Got Dan's Official response to the drubbing last turn:  "YIKES!"  A man of few words.  [8D]   I like that.  Running the next turn now...