Wait, I can't read Cuttlefish's new AAR? - Cribtop (J) vs CF (A)

[Cribtop]

September 20, 1942

Subs

No contacts. We continue to form a mighty sub picket line stretching from Noumea to Sydney and the Bass Strait as part of Operation Trident.

4th Fleet

We sweep Baker Island, but the P-40s have left the building - a bit chastened methinks. Bettys from TB port attack the island in search of the damaged AP, but no joy. The mystery is explained later in the turn as we are rewarded with sinking sounds - almost surely the valuable assault transport on the way to its permanent home.

SE Fleet

Recon of Noumea shows 4 LCUs present, but DL is low. This is a common problem with Glen recon, even with the crack pilots we are flying off I-34. Realistic, though, for a one seater without a camera. We will try again tomorrow, but bottom line is that 4 LCUs presents a more defensive posture.

Southern Army

Toboali is occupied without the need to invade. This concludes DBCL work throughout the Empire. Only two green bases are left inside the perimeter - uninvadeable Kalao (sp), a dot base near Makassar, and Sinkep in the interior of Borneo. We know CF has stashed some remnants here but are saving it for use as a bomber training base. The fall of Toboali also eliminates the last Dutch flag from the map. Visually pleasing to the Emperor.

We are vigorously sucking the DEI dry of excess Oil and Fuel now. Only Palembang and Singers have big caches at this point. We also note that fuel and resources continue to creep around the land route, increasing stocks at Port Arthur and Fusan now. Nice.

15th Army

It appears the enemy recon regiment has stopped moving, but we will check again to confirm. What is CF up to here? Is this an LCU dangled before us as a CAP trap? A forerunner of invasion (seems unlikely given the lack of new LCUs in Assam)? A decoy designed to pull forward reserves prior to an invasion of Sumatra or the Kra Isthmus? Hard to say.

China

We bomb and bombard Changsha daily, awaiting the next offensive. We aren't usually fans of bombarding poor quality troops, but it is burning supply and doing a surprising amount of damage. 38th Division has arrived on scene, the battered 3rd Division is pulled back a hex to refit. We also have enough PPs to buy out another Manchurian division to add to the fire.

Combined Fleet

The sub picket is almost in place. The next leg of the force protection stool for Operation Trident, 3 Jake equipped AMCs, transits the Solomons near Shortlands to take up positions in the Coral Sea. These ships will sweep ahead of the carriers to ensure there are no surprises.

[Cribtop]

September 21, 1942

Subs

Sturgeon duds on an ASW DMS near Palembang, return DC attacks are ineffective. A Formosa Ann is damaged by sub AA fire trying to attack a USN boat near Batan Island.

4th Fleet

We pull the second Daitai of Zeros back to their usual base at Roi Namur as the dust has settled at Baker. If CF wants to improve the 1(0) airfield there more power to him.

SE Fleet

Glen recon of Noumea is scrubbed. Pity.

Suva makes level 8 airfield, Auckland level 9. We continue to see asymmetrical base construction efforts out of the enemy pointing toward work in India, Burma and SWPAC/SOPAC, but not much elsewhere.

Southern Fleet

Recon of Normanton pushes the DL high enough to eliminate the theory is is a secret Allied sub base.

All but one of the Allied LCUs parked 1 hex SW (map) of Daly Waters pull back one hex to the south. They are probably trying to improve their range to Tennant for LRCAP, but we will keep an eye on them as they could move from that hex down a trail leading to Wyndham and eventually Derby.

15th Army

Recon shows the enemy recce unit is still on the march through the Arakan jungles. Hmmm.

Constant efforts to launch a night raid on Ledo meet with success about one night in four or so despite improving weather and good moonlight. Such is life. Meanwhile, the real counter to the air bridge over the hump, namely construction of an airfield at Lao Cai for LRCAP over Kunming, proceeds.

China

No change.

Combined Fleet

The fleet at Truk receives a warning order - tomorrow MKB, the Fleet Oilers and a dedicated ASW TF will launch! Banzai!

Tanaka Force will stay at home as we have no intention of any bombardments or surface actions (and we have a solid escort for the CVs in the surface combat department). No sense wasting fuel.

[Cribtop]

September 22, 1942

A ridiculously quiet day. The calm before the storm of Operation Trident?

SE Fleet

Noumea recon still shows only a few LCUs and no anchor or airfield symbol.

Combined Fleet

All elements of the sub and AMC picket lines are in place. The existing picket line of PBs has not been detected by Allied aircraft in months. We hope to make the enemy pay for the failure to put up appropriate patrols by smashing shipping at Sydney, which so far is the only large concentration of LCUs and vessels discovered by Japan outside of CONUS, Pearl Harbor and India.

All hands salute as Kido Butai, quiet for months after its non-stop cruise from Pearl Harbor to Colombo, once again sets sail. The first day out Jakes detect two USN subs that can be avoided. We are concerned about subs, both per se and as eyes of the enemy that could warn of our approach. Work in the map room estimates that we will reach the final rendesvous point before the attack in 7 days. Banzai!

[obvert]

Interested to see if you can sneak in there with no warning the forces in Sydney. I've always been seen at least a day if not two days ahead of the attack.

Are your AMC pickets the ones with Jakes? Pretty valuable for picket ships!

[Cribtop]

Obvert,

Candidly I still would expect a 50/50 chance of an abort. The whole Op is premised on the almost inexplicable lack of search planes in the area. I've had subs and PBs combing back and forth through the approach for weeks and not one has been sighted, but it's still hard to believe. However, this same pattern occurred in other instances in this game. I may have to change the AAR title to "The Port Attack War." [:D]

I am concerned that the approach will be detected, we will abort, and thus give up the location of KB for no real gain. However, if we do slip through, the payoff could be substantial in terms of destroying shipping, particularly assault shipping, and delaying an enemy offensive.

As to the AMCs, yes they are valuable ships, but they will sweep down toward "Point Neptune" in such a way that they will be outside DB range of any base. The hope is to re-confirm lack of search a/c or, if spotted, to avoid giving away KB's position.

Finally, the intention is to re-fuel, then make a flank speed move to a 7 hex range from Sydney on D-Day. This will hopefully minimize the chance of a last second spotting. On D minus one we will have two Glens recon Sydney to re-confirm lack of CAP (also inexplicable, IMHO), and just for fun will send in a mini sub on D-Day as well.

I am wrestling with the thought that we are just "doing something" because CF has not moved over to the offensive yet. However, weighing against that is the fact that there are at least cruisers and in all probability assault ships present in numbers. Further, if you look at the map, Sydney is the only large concentration of Allied LCUs spotted between Pearl and India. Sounds like the gathering point for whatever CF has in the works to me.

Oddly, by waiting he is making an error. We're almost finished with Changsha. Capture will release 4 crack divisions to our strategic reserve and will set conditions of supply in China to the point that over time we can draw out multiple divisions to the perimeter. Further, capture of Changsha will get the land route open for war material to move on "unsinkable transports" to Fusan. IMHO CF would have been better served launching an Operation Watchtower type move prior to the fall of Bataan. He let me get away with leaving the PI uncaptured until July, in effect.

[Cribtop]

A short break in the game as the fam is in San Antonio looking for a new house in the awesome Texas hill country.

Just reporting I'm drinking a fine IPA while watching "A Bridge Too Far" - one of my favorite war movies. Banzai!

[Cribtop]

OK, so far my two weeks off have consisted of dragging 3 kids to look for houses and packing away our own house and performing minor repairs to put it on the market. It has been the hardest working vacation evar!

That said, we are through the hard part (found a house in Boerne, ours goes on the market Friday, I bought beer in quantity, etc). Thus, tomorrow I will catch us up as the AAR is 5 days behind the game.

PS - Quiet turns so far.

PPS - Oh, yeah, last turn I think I found CF's carriers near the Santa Cruz Islands and KB is in position to ambush them.

[Grfin Zeppelin]

ORIGINAL: Cribtop


PPS - Oh, yeah, last turn I think I found CF's carriers near the Santa Cruz Islands and KB is in position to ambush them.

Yer baaaad. Stop teasing -.-

[Mike Solli]

ORIGINAL: Cribtop

PS - Quiet turns so far.

PPS - Oh, yeah, last turn I think I found CF's carriers near the Santa Cruz Islands and KB is in position to ambush them.

Oh yeah, that's quiet. [:D]

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: Cribtop

Oddly, by waiting he is making an error. We're almost finished with Changsha. Capture will release 4 crack divisions to our strategic reserve and will set conditions of supply in China to the point that over time we can draw out multiple divisions to the perimeter. Further, capture of Changsha will get the land route open for war material to move on "unsinkable transports" to Fusan. IMHO CF would have been better served launching an Operation Watchtower type move prior to the fall of Bataan. He let me get away with leaving the PI uncaptured until July, in effect.

Have you had luck with the land route supply to Fusan previously? In mine this route has been open and ready for several months now but nothing has moved. I've heard it takes a while to get going, but curious if you know more or have any tips.

Sounds like your KB move might have put you in position for an even more juicy target.

[Cribtop]

@GZ and Mike S. [:D][:D][:D]

@obvert - So far it appears that fuel, resources and supplies are already flowing to Hong Kong (so much so that if the full route to Fusan fails to open I'll have to form some HK to Home Islands convoys). I've never pulled off the land route, but believe I can take Changsha soon and the fact that HK is a fat tick already is an encouraging sign.

[FeurerKrieg]

Hi Cribby - Are you (or any other IJN folks hereabouts) using stockpiling flags to assist in the land move in anyway? Or is it just naturally pooling up in those cities (Fusan/Hong Kong)?

Thanks!

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: Cribtop

@obvert - So far it appears that fuel, resources and supplies are already flowing to Hong Kong (so much so that if the full route to Fusan fails to open I'll have to form some HK to Home Islands convoys). I've never pulled off the land route, but believe I can take Changsha soon and the fact that HK is a fat tick already is an encouraging sign.

Are you pulling anything from HK now? In mine the route there has been open for a long while, almost three months, and it's only a trickle. But I'm only pulling out a trickle in the form of one CS for fuel (1 TK) and one CS (7AKL) for resources.

[Cribtop]

First off, apologies, but the "Great Catch Up" will have to wait until tomorrow. Last step to put the house on the market was [shudder] gardening and mulching. Nightmare fail. [:@]

FK - I am not doing anything, stuff is pooling at HK by itself. And we are talking deep end pooling here. 250K fuel, 250K supply and 1.3 million resources out of nowhere!

obvert - I'm not pulling out of HK yet as I believe Changsha falls soon (just waiting for another division to march into the hex for another DA, forts are down to 3 from 5). I expect the pool will migrate to Port Arthur or Fusan next once Changsha falls. If for some reason Changsha can't be taken, I'll start pulling everything out of HK in the hopes that my South China Sea runs become Palembang - Singers - HK - Nagasaki.

[Cribtop]

September 23, 1942

At last our house is listed for sale and the Great Catch Up can begin.

Subs

We have a new wolf pack astride the SLoC from CONUS to Pearl. Today RO-34 is rewarded for our efforts with a face full of DCs by escorts of a tanker convoy. At least the Allies have the courtesy to miss. My subs are poo in this game. [8|]

Sturgeon duds on a DMS in an ASW TF near Palembang. A Nell out of Port Blair reports a hit on a sub nearby. They also report that the Earth is shaped like a big burrito (*bonus points if anyone catches this obscure reference).

4th Fleet

Our incredibly useful AV and seaplane base at Nukufetau continues to pay dividends. Today the seaplanes recon Suva and report 3 LCUs present, along with a light anchor and airfield symbol. No evidence of a big push here yet.

SE Fleet

Recon of Noumea continues to show a small force with some aircraft as the DL improves.

Everything else

[>:][>:]

[Cribtop]

September 24, 1942

Subs

I-23 misses an AM in the enemy's Brisbane sub patrol TF.

Seawolf duds on a DD in a tanker TF near Palembang. Return DC fire dishes out two penetrating hits. Nice. Finback duds on an SC near Formosa.

4th Fleet

No change.

SE Fleet & Combined Fleet

We'll report these two together to allow for a coherent picture as things get VERY interesting out of nowhere.

Two of our longstanding PB pickets suddenly report overflight by Allied aircraft after weeks of dormancy. One of them reports the enemy plane as a dive bomber. Even taken with a grain of salt this is interesting given the lack of available bases for land based search in the area.

While approaching the Solomons for Operation Trident, MKB search planes (mostly Jakes on the two CS to avoid arousing too much suspicion) find numerous USN subs blocking all paths through the Solomons. At first we are mightily disappointed as the combination of search planes in the gap between the Solomons and Santa Cruz Islands and these subs effectively kill Operation Trident. The risk of detection on approach for no gain skyrockets.

Then we realize that KB might have stumbled on the very beginning of an Allied Op in the Solomons, possibly including CVs! [X(] Talk about luck! MKB and the horde of former Trident subs are ordered to assume positions in range of any enemy move on the lower Solomons, with especial focus on Rennell and Lunga as those are the largest potential airfields. Meanwhile, we move in a full Zero Hikotai to escort the Nell Hikotai at Munda Point. Well, well. This could be fun. [;)]

Southern Army

No change.

Burma

No change.

China

No change.

5th Fleet

Glens and Jakes in the Aleutians report the sudden arrival of a 2 ship TF reportedly flagged by a heavy cruiser. Is this the prelude to a grab at Adak? The warships of 5th Fleet will sortie to counter, while remaining cautious due to the theoretical threat of an enemy carrier up here.

Other

Lots of garrison units arrive today. They will free up some good units currently ensuring that things don't go boom in the night in the PI, Java, Sumatra, etc.

[Cribtop]

September 25, 1942

All nerves are on edge and all pilots in the ready room of their carriers... but nothing happens.

Subs

I-16 misses a DD near Karachi. Return DC is ineffective - a rarity for a UK tin can.

Two minelayer subs drop eggs at Noumea. If the enemy is planning something nearby this seems like the right time to throw a spanner into the works.

Combined Fleet

No sightings today by either side. Perhaps the "dive bomber" report was a mirage. Then again, perhaps not. Analysis indicates that the nearest airfield is Luganville (we assume flying boats out of Ndeni wouldn't be misreported as dive bombers), and that airfield is too far away to spot the northernmost PB spotted yesterday. Hmmm.

Combined Fleet and South Seas Fleet sortie from Truk in four powerful components. A 5 CL TF designed to lead and perhaps bombard Ndeni to poke the bear; a BB TF centered around Yamato; Tanaka Force with 2 Kongos and 2 CAs; and a cruiser force with 4 CAs. They will hang back a bit but be in position in case the enemy comes for the Solomons in force.

Whatever happens, Cribtop HQ officially cancels the original incarnation of Operation Trident.

Southern Army

Manila makes port level 5 to help with resource extraction and we get a ton of VPs as a bonus.

China

Shaoyang makes level 3 forts, which is nice since it's exposed to counterattack to relieve Changsha.

Other AOs

Nada city.

[Cribtop]

September 26, 1942

Enemy CV presence very likely confirmed! Alert!

Subs

IJN ASW harasses Sturgeon near Sinkep. K XV torpedoes an xAK near Pontianak. Our escorts do ok in prosecuting the sub, but no kill. We are lucky that the Japanese merchie only has 24 Flot damage. Pickerel torpedoes one of our big picket AMCs near Rennell Island. The big ship is alive so far but could be in trouble. Interesting that enemy sub activity near the Solomons is spiking just as we get tantalizing hints that something more substantial is up. Escorts chase Herring away from a convoy near Okinawa.

I-24, moving to try to sneak an SSX into Sydney, takes a penetrating DC hit before releasing her passenger. The big sub should make it barring another contact but will have to limp back to Rabaul.

4th Fleet

Roi Namur hits fort level 5.

SE Fleet

No change.

Southern Army

Lautern hits airfield level 4.

15th Army

Meiktila also gets to airfield 4.

China

A fresh division is bought out of Manchuria and heads for Changsha. We will resume DAs once they arrive. For now, each day we are hitting the airfield and troops with every IJAAF bomber in China.

We are annoyed that a small LRCAP over Changsha faces a rare uncoordinated attack, costing us 5 Helens until the escorted raid arrives and restores order.

5th Fleet

Glens report that the CA TF at Umnak has been joined by a 3 ship TF. We sent a sub into the Umnak hex but no joy. 5th Fleet continues to close on the Aleutians from the West. ETA 3 days.

Combined Fleet

It appears to be on. One of our picket PBs near Ndeni reports being overflown by 7 (!) enemy dive bombers, reported as SBD-2 or SBD-3 each time, all in the same phase. PB crews did ride the short bus to the Imperial Naval Academy, but not even they are bad enough to misreport seven different contacts. Sounds VERY much like the search squadrons of a USN CVTF. We gird for battle. Banzai!

Cribtop Intel analyzes the pickets sighted and not sighted and estimates enemy CVs likely to be present at the hex just NE (map) of the "Z" in the words "Santa Cruz" on the map (hex 125, 143). Ho boy. MKB will take up position for an 8 hex strike, but we can't venture too far south without exposing the carriers to certain spotting by Cats out of Ndeni.

[BigBadWolf]

Can we get a map of the area, Cribtop-san?

[Cribtop]

Sure - I'll post one later tonight.