Lorks-a-lordy, my Empire is on fire! GBL vs 1EyedJacks - Nemo's mod

[goodboyladdie]

DEI, PI and India

A B-19A was damaged by an Oscar over Georgetown. No bombs hit the intended target. Todays raid on Miri also score no hits, but it is amusing to watch all the Zekes being unable to reach my B-17s. Does it adversely effect their morale? I am sure my smile will be removed when Mike starts deploying his Ki-109s later in the war...

Manila took three raids (the last from CVA), Bataan two and Clark one. I lost no bombers on the ground, but Mike lost a total of 5 Bettys with 13 damaged and 1 Val, with 7 damaged. Manila is 0/16/8, Clark 0/34/0 and Bataan is undamaged. SB-2s hit AK Siberia Maru with three bombs off Aparri. I have started to move an SB-2 unit with low morale back to Chungking and elements of an SB-2M squadron and a Pe-2 unit are coming the other way. I made a boo boo with the SB-2M. It has longer legs etc, but carries only 100kg AP bombs instead of the 250kg boys dropped by the basic SB-2. They'll still bring a lot of pain to the light forces seen around the PI, but I will probably change a squadron or two back. 6 P-40Es from 17th PS have moved into Manila as an ambush. A Jap Division shock attacked into the Balinta Pass North of Clark. I have three Pp Bns there (2 have already suffered retreats) and a US Tank Bn. The Assault points were 225 (16) to 100 (190) with level 3 forts. The Japs took 1415/27 casualties to my 12/1. The Brigade that I was originally going to use here is guarding the beaches East of Manila.

My entire strike from Tarakan at shipping off Brunei toady was chopped down by a massive Zeke CAP. Mike seems to have over 100 fighters there. That spells brewing trouble....

S-38 has disbanded at Bataan to control her flooding (24/85).

DD Michishio was sunk by 2 torps off Kota Bharu. 22nd Australian Brigade is starting to unload at Trincomalee and the damaged warships that started the war in Singapore have disbanded for repair in Aden.

[goodboyladdie]

China and the Soviet Union

34th PS upgraded to the P-40B in Chungking. I will take the range/height hit in the hope of getting a better aircraft into Mike's training missions. When I get more P-40Es China will definitely be needing some, but the poorer range may mean I cannot get them engaged...

[goodboyladdie]

26/12/41

CenPac and West Coast

VMF-211 has moved to Hilo as part of the anti-para defence plan. ML Oglala will mine PH after she stalled when I gave her orders for Kona.

On the West Coast USS Enterprise is now ready for action again. A new AVD type, USS Casco, commissioned at Seattle and is cruising to SF to join the escort pool assembling there. 183rd FA Rgt came under SWPAC with orders to plan for Townsville and is moving from Seattle to SF to await transport. The rest of 201st RCT is unloading at Dutch Harbor.

[goodboyladdie]

DEI/PI/Malaya and Burma

I received SigInt that 3rd Mountain Gun Rgt is on an AP bound for Kota Bharu. AP Kensyo Maru hit a mine at Kota Bharu and is on fire.

27 Sqn finally got some success overnight, hittiing Tavoy airbase facilities with one bomb. The day raid by B-19s on Georgetown resources again achieved no hits.

Zekes appeared over Bataan in numbers. A Lily and 3 Sallys were damaged by flak. A Betty was destroyed and a Nell damaged over Clark, with a Pe-2 destroyed on the ground. Mike is obviously getting annoyed with these Chinese bombers and I am getting the reaction I was seeking...

A Nate was damaged in return for an SB-2M destroyed with a further one damaged over the Pescadores. In the plus column an SB-2M raid hit AP Oigawa Maru at Aparri. No fires were observed. Then the Pe-2s and the bigger bombs of the SB-2 made themselves felt at Aparri: AK Gyoku Maru (1 bomb, on fire), AK Enzyu Maru (2 bombs, heavily damaged) and AK Kazuura Maru (1 bomb, on fire).

Clark is the only damaged airfield with 0/38/13. 28th BS (B-25D) has moved to Manila from Singapore and 2 Sqn RAAF (Beaufort VII) has moved to Clark. S-38 is in Bataan and is 24/83.

The Jap CV force is now East of Borneo/North of Jolo and heading South East. I don't know what Mike is up to, but I have disbanded ships at Tarakan and Balikpapan, just in case...

China and the Soviet Union

I am attempting an ambush at 48,36 and have restarted the bombing of Ichang.

A Jap "CA" is 2 hexes off Vladivostock in Soviet waters. I have 2 subs in that hex and the Japanese have been warned to move...

Edit Here is one of the screenies I could not put on before - units present at the Balinta Pass

[goodboyladdie]

And here is the latest postion of what I think is his CVL force. I do not know where the KB is. I thought I saw the CVA head over to join this force about a week ago. The strike this force delivered on Bataan AF a couple of turns back consisted of 8 Zekes and 25 Vals, so it does not really give away much...

Edit Bugger - it's not the one I thought it was. This is from 2 turns back. The force is now due East of Sandakan showing a heading of South East...

[goodboyladdie]

27/12/41

The KB hit Johnston with 96 Vals and 132 Kates, escorted by 9 Zekes. 1 Val was destroyed, with 2 and a Kate damaged. The port and port fuel/supplies were heavily hit and Johnston is now 45/0/0. The KB is shown heading East (see screenie). In case he is going after a raid on my shipping lanes I have turned 2nd Marine Div back North and have adjusted tracks of other convoys. I have disbanded ships at PH just in case and havd restricted all bomber and fighter ranges to 4 hexes, to try to ensure that whatever I do is concentrated.

The sub contact near Brisbane is still being chased.

[goodboyladdie]

USS Seawolf fell in with a convoy on her way (with 3 other subs) to mine Cam Ranh Bay. She took no real damage.

Kuala Lumpur was hit with 2 raids and I just remembered that I did not evacuate my Vildebeest last turn [:@]. I lost 4 on the ground in the second raid by 114 (!) Sallys. Miri Oil took no hits, but Brunei Oil took 2. Damage is now 37, so I either hit a previously damaged one or Mike is investing in repairs.

CVA swept Tarakan, destroying 4 of the Brewsters on CAP for no loss. A later bombing raid 23 Vals and 25 Zekes destroyed another and a Martin 139 in exchange for a Val. Tarakan is now 0/6/7. The mini KB looks like it is hanging around, so I moved some of my air units away and disbanded the remnants of the Brewsters into the sqaudron at Batavia. My M-139s will continue their recon of Miri and the patrol planes are staying. 2 M-139s were destroyed and a T-IVA damaged in a failed attack on MSW W.15 over Miri, but then O-19 put 2 toprs into her and sank her. I am tempted to move Force Z over to attack what I think is the mini KB, but as I only have one RN Fleet CV I am loathe to risk her with no decent LBA around to help out...

Manila, Clark and Bataan were raided. I had a small CAP over Manila. 4 Bettys were destroyed with 5 damaged, in return for 3 P-40Es damaged. 2 more Bettys and a Beaufort were destroyed at Clark. Clark is now 0/41/39.

Chinese/RAAF/US aircraft out of the PI did some damage: DD Yamakaze (1 bomb, on fire) at Legaspi; AK Norway Maru (1 bomb, on fire), AK Kohuku Maru (2 torpedoes, heavy damage) and AK Gyoku Maru (another bomb, now heavily damaged) just North of Vigan. Zekes attacked PT Q112 at Bataan and she is disbanded with damage 25/7/5.

A Jap force attacked the retreating 107th RAF Base Force North of Tavoy and caused a further retreat.

[goodboyladdie]

In China 2 Nates were shot down performing a low level attack at 48,36 by Flak.

A serious incident occurred off Chosin. The Soviet sub L-7 sank AK Natisan Maru in Soviet waters. Mike was warned, so we'll have to see what happens. He might be wanting to pick a fight. It will dilute his attacks still further if he does and I think this would be ill-advised...

Just in case all Soviet fighters are on CAP 90 and another LaGG-3 unit has moved to Vladivostock. 4 DDs there are moving North out of range.

I did not realise I was wasting 3 minelayers on sub patrol missions - they will return to Vlad to pick up mines.

What will happen next?

[ny59giants]

Russia - I'm playing with them active for the first time.
I would use this time of "peace" to transport fuel from Vlad to your northern ports and the one off the east edge of your screen shot (cannot remember the name). If war breaks out, you may try to send your DDs this way. They have very short legs and will need fuel stops along the way.
Your L-class subs are very good minelaying subs. Use them and then your MSW/DDs to mine all your ports.
Can you use this time of peace to transport supplies, LCUs, and ships to the dot base across the straits from Nome to build it up (it has a BF only now)?? If war comes, it might be a nice base to have built up. [;)]

[goodboyladdie]

Hi Michael

I will not waste the effort on the dot hex. If war comes, Mike has not planned for it, so I have a real chance to do him some serious damage. Anything I can do to slow him down here will restrict his options elsewhere. I think Mike is suffering from a lack of a real plan. The KB turning up in the Central Pacific again is a real shock. He is struggling to subdue the PI and has not landed enough troops to do the job. He is heavily invested in Malaya/Burma, but is struggling to supply his troops. His air power is here there and everywhere, but is not strong enough to put me away for good in any one theatre. I would have left Russia well alone while I threw everything into grabbing Malaya and the DEI as quickly as possible. I'd have also gone hell for leather for Clark. Clark unlocks the rest of the PI. Once you have it you can leave the rest to take at your leisure, because that size 6 airfield means you can keep him isolated quite cheaply.

If he comes, I'll leave enough in Vlad for him to have to fight hard and long to take it. I'll pull the bulk of my forces back North into the hinterland to await the opportunity to counter attack. The subs will stay working out of Vlad as it means he cannot control his own backyard. He does not have enough sea-lift to do everything he wants at once and it is these valuable ships that I am making sure I hurt. Having Soviet subs fighting a general war just lets me choke him sooner. If he gets into a fight in Russia I intend to make him pay dear. My B-19s will also be earning me some straegic points from bases in the Soviet Union.

[ny59giants]

Carl,
You will want to save your L-Class subs just for their mine laying abilities. If you keep them and most of your subs operating out of Vlad, he will place too many LBs on ASW missions and you will lose them for little gain. I had mine run full speed to all three exgress points. Both the Russian MSW and DDs carry mines. This is something your other Allied ships of these types don't.
I was just offering options as I don't know how much time you will have to move things once war is declared. Is there a 2 week window between war being declared and actual shooting?? If so, then you could get them to safer areas. I got more out than I thought I would and now the first Russian subs have stopped and refitted at Pearl. [:D]
I was amazed to find plenty of Russian mines and torpedoes stored at Pearl. [;)]
I would still move some of your fuel to other ports.

[goodboyladdie]

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

Carl,
You will want to save your L-Class subs just for their mine laying abilities. If you keep them and most of your subs operating out of Vlad, he will place too many LBs on ASW missions and you will lose them for little gain. I had mine run full speed to all three exgress points. Both the Russian MSW and DDs carry mines. This is something your other Allied ships of these types don't.
I was just offering options as I don't know how much time you will have to move things once war is declared. Is there a 2 week window between war being declared and actual shooting?? If so, then you could get them to safer areas. I got more out than I thought I would and now the first Russian subs have stopped and refitted at Pearl. [:D]
I was amazed to find plenty of Russian mines and torpedoes stored at Pearl. [;)]
I would still move some of your fuel to other ports.

Hi Michael

I just had my logistics guys check and we seem to have Soviet mines everywhere too... I was going to see what happens and get them out of Dodge when damage starts to build up. For now, a backyard full of hostile subs and a base 1 day away will cause Mike maximum consternation. I have no idea if and when he will strike - it's just something he was toying with, but having this AK run the gauntlet when he knew I was looking for an incident seems more than coincidental. All my DDs are already heading North, ready to run...

I really appreciate you taking the time to post these suggestions. I did not know the DDs could lay mines until you said. Thanks for all the e-mails btw. I don't check my g-mail that often, but there is a mine of insight there!

Very best regards

Carl

[goodboyladdie]

After an angry Diplomatic Exchange, the Japanese requested a safe shipping lane. Accordingly, when I finally get the next turn (Mike is a very busy boy) the first thing I'll have to do (forget otherwise!) is move my sub patrols back a hex. I think Mike must have read the AAR the other Michael is involved in and decided he is not quite bored enough to have Soviet subs active...[:D]

[ny59giants]

Another 50 subs might stretch his ASW forces to the breaking point. [:D]

[goodboyladdie]

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

Another 50 subs might stretch his ASW forces to the breaking point. [:D]

So I have you to thank for his hatred of of USS Boise AND his fear of Soviet submarines...[;)]

[ny59giants]

I've lost around 10% of my Russian subs to date as they have moved to warmer waters. That was Act 1.
Now, for Act II, they are going to make it very difficult in the eastern Pacific and further conquest in the SRA. Having over 100 subs and the new Gato class coming into service in the next few months will give what I have told Damain, a graduate level course in ASW tactics (he's a university professor). [:D]

I have 2 of the 3 Barracuda Class with their FP almost at Pearl. What trouble can I get in with them doing Recon for my B-19s and/or CVs?? [;)]

[goodboyladdie]

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

I've lost around 10% of my Russian subs to date as they have moved to warmer waters. That was Act 1.
Now, for Act II, they are going to make it very difficult in the eastern Pacific and further conquest in the SRA. Having over 100 subs and the new Gato class coming into service in the next few months will give what I have told Damain, a graduate level course in ASW tactics (he's a university professor). [:D]

I have 2 of the 3 Barracuda Class with their FP almost at Pearl. What trouble can I get in with them doing Recon for my B-19s and/or CVs?? [;)]

I could do with some of those FP subs, but they are not worth a restart. The lack of Grants may be an issue now that Mike seems to have focussed on a specific plan... (and he definitely does not want Russia involved! - Yet...)

[goodboyladdie]

I am getting very pissed off with Matrix logging me out halfway through posts! Grrr!!! [:@][:@]

[goodboyladdie]

28/12/41

Johnston was hit by a massive KB raid again - 9 Zekes, 116 Vals and 131 Kates. He lost 1 Val and I lost 9 SB2Us and a PBY and all supplies are gone. I will try to fly in some more to keep the PBYs flying. The remaining flyable SB2Us and all fighters and bombers have moved to PH. The B-26s and some supply ships heading for PH are going to Midway by a wide route instead. Johnston is 45/36/68.

Why do Lady Lex and Sara have different air groups? Lady Lex's Dauntless squadrons have 14 instead of 19 and I think they are a couple of fighters down too.

125th RCT arrived and transferred to Pac Flt with orders for Midway. In Seattle 110th and 113th USN Base Forces are planning for Cold Bay and Umnak respectively.

The US/ANZAC Cruiser Force has disbanded at Sydney, but HMNZS Leander seems to have repaired her turrets on the way down.

[goodboyladdie]

CPO Shiga of F1 Daitai/3rd Kokutai gained his 7th kill today. I missed 5 and 6, but they all happened very quickly over Singapore...

SS Gudgeon, after having laid a minefield off Japan, was hit by a Val and has 11 sys damage. She will proceed to Manila. SS Tautog, engaged on a similar mission, put a torpedo into AK Yasukawa Maru South of Japan. S-39 at Legaspi had obviously become too visible as she suffered 2 attacks and is retiring to Soerabaya with sys damage of 13. Moulmein was hit, so I am withdrawing 27 Sqn to Dacca. My B-19s at Singapore have transferred to SEAC and withdrawn to Calcutta. They cannot launch attacks as the AF is only size 4 - it's a waiting game...

40 Zekes swept Singapore losing 4 of their number but downing 17 P-40Bs, 9 P-40Es, 31 Buffs and 3 Wirraways. I will keep the CAP up tomorrow, but am preparing to abandon Singapore for a while as I cannot handle these losses at the moment. As you will see from the screenie, I already have a pilot crisis for my heavily engaged Australian units. I lost another 3 Vildebeest on the ground at KL.