Meridian to Majestic: Hartwig (Lokasenna) (J) vs obvert (A) (Bullwinkle's from 7/41-11/44)

[obvert]

Next up the Yamato and company run across USN CAs ,and I’m fearing the worst. The CAs trade shots though and disengage without major results for either side.

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Night Time Surface Combat, near Samah at 71,68, Range 12,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
BB Nagato, Shell hits 4
BB Yamato, Shell hits 2
CA Takao
CA Chokai
CA Nachi, Shell hits 2, on fire
CL Agano
CL Noshiro, Shell hits 2
CL Sakawa, Shell hits 2
DD Shimakaze
DD Arikaze
DD Takakaze, Shell hits 1
DD Ishikaze
DD Tagokaze, on fire
DD Benigumo, Shell hits 1, on fire

Allied Ships
CA Indianapolis, Shell hits 2
CA Baltimore, Shell hits 2, on fire
CA Boston, Shell hits 2
DD Abbot
DD Bell, Shell hits 2
DD Bennion
DD Clarence Bronson
DD Daly, Shell hits 1
DD Albert Grant
DD Harrison, Shell hits 2, on fire


Maximum visibility in Partly Cloudy Conditions and 64% moonlight: 11,000 yards
Range closes to 24,000 yards...
CONTACT: Allies radar detects Japanese task force at 24,000 yards
Range closes to 18,000 yards...
Range closes to 12,000 yards...
CONTACT: Allies radar detects Japanese task force at 12,000 yards
BB Yamato engages CA Boston at 12,000 yards

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[obvert]

Then the Iowas find the Yamato and Nagato! This is the one we want to see, but unfortunately it’s not decisive for either side. The two IJN BBs do take some big 16inch shells and have heavy fires after the battle though.
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Night Time Surface Combat, near Samah at 70,68, Range 12,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
BB Nagato, Shell hits 8, heavy fires
BB Yamato, Shell hits 4, heavy fires
CA Takao
CA Chokai, Shell hits 2, on fire
CA Nachi, on fire
CL Agano, Shell hits 1
CL Noshiro
CL Sakawa
DD Shimakaze
DD Arikaze, Shell hits 1
DD Takakaze, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Ishikaze
DD Tagokaze, Shell hits 1, heavy fires
DD Benigumo, Shell hits 3, on fire

Allied Ships
BB Iowa
BB New Jersey, Shell hits 4
BB Wisconsin, Shell hits 4
BB Missouri, Shell hits 6, on fire
DD Tingey
DD Trathen
DD Van Valkenburgh
DD Wadleigh
DD Watts, Shell hits 1
DD Wedderburn
DD Wren
DD Yarnall, Shell hits 2

Maximum visibility in Partly Cloudy Conditions and 64% moonlight: 11,000 yards
Range closes to 24,000 yards...
CONTACT: Allies radar detects Japanese task force at 24,000 yards
CONTACT: Japanese radar detects Allied task force at 24,000 yards
Range closes to 18,000 yards...
CONTACT: Allies radar detects Japanese task force at 18,000 yards
Range closes to 12,000 yards...
CONTACT: Allies radar detects Japanese task force at 12,000 yards
BB Missouri engages BB Yamato at 12,000 yards

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[obvert]

The effects of many TFs instead of a few massive ones begins to become apparent in the next fight. The four fresh USN CLs find a tired and worn Yamato TF and pour 110 hits into the IJN ships, including 60 into Yamato!

The two BBs are left with heavy fires, heavy damage as are CA Chokai and CL Noshiro. Two other DDs are also likely in trouble, while the USN takes only 8 hits and disengages with all ships in good fighting shape. I'm hoping the heavy shells of the Iowas did the major damage and the multiple hits of the CLs pushed up system damage and fires to critical levels on the BBs.
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Night Time Surface Combat, near Samah at 71,68, Range 12,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
BB Nagato, Shell hits 13, heavy fires, heavy damage
BB Yamato, Shell hits 60, heavy fires, heavy damage
CA Takao, Shell hits 2
CA Chokai, Shell hits 5, heavy fires, heavy damage
CA Nachi, Shell hits 4, heavy fires
CL Agano, Shell hits 1
CL Noshiro, Shell hits 11, heavy fires, heavy damage
CL Sakawa, Shell hits 4, on fire
DD Shimakaze
DD Arikaze, Shell hits 1
DD Takakaze, Shell hits 2, heavy fires
DD Ishikaze
DD Tagokaze, Shell hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Benigumo, Shell hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage

Allied Ships
CL Pasadena
CL Wilkes-Barre
DD Mannert Abele
DD Samuel Moore
DD Rose, Shell hits 2
DD Bloomquist, Shell hits 1
CL Charlottesville, Shell hits 1
CL Athens, Shell hits 4

Maximum visibility in Partly Cloudy Conditions and 64% moonlight: 11,000 yards
Range closes to 24,000 yards...
Range closes to 18,000 yards...
CONTACT: Allies radar detects Japanese task force at 18,000 yards
CONTACT: Japanese radar detects Allied task force at 18,000 yards
Range closes to 12,000 yards...
CONTACT: Allies radar detects Japanese task force at 12,000 yards
CONTACT: Japanese radar detects Allied task force at 12,000 yards
BB Yamato engages CL Athens at 12,000 yards

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[obvert]

The Iowas run into a small 3 CL/3 DD TF that is perfect for this kind of battle, and the IJN hit Missouri with a long lance. She’ll be okay but will need some yard time. The IJN likely loses CL Tokachi.
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Night Time Surface Combat, near Quinhon at 70,69, Range 8,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
DD Shirakumo
DD Uranami, Shell hits 7
DD Shikinami, Shell hits 1
CL Tokachi, Shell hits 7, heavy fires, heavy damage
CL Kushida
CL Rishiri

Allied Ships
BB Iowa
BB New Jersey
BB Wisconsin
BB Missouri, Shell hits 4, Torpedo hits 1, heavy fires
DD Tingey
DD Trathen
DD Van Valkenburgh, Shell hits 1
DD Wadleigh
DD Watts, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Wedderburn, Shell hits 1
DD Wren
DD Yarnall

Maximum visibility in Partly Cloudy Conditions and 64% moonlight: 11,000 yards
Range closes to 24,000 yards...
CONTACT: Allies radar detects Japanese task force at 24,000 yards
Range closes to 18,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese radar detects Allied task force at 18,000 yards
Range closes to 12,000 yards...
Range closes to 8,000 yards...
CONTACT: Allies radar detects Japanese task force at 8,000 yards
BB Missouri engages CL Tokachi at 8,000 yards

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[obvert]

After a few rogue IJN DDs are sunk fresh CAs find another BB TF roaming around, the old ladies Fuso, Yamashiro and Ise with three CAs. Louisville takes the brunt, going under after 8 shells and a long lance.

There is some damage to the IJN though, which is good considering the next encounter!
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Night Time Surface Combat, near Samah at 70,68, Range 12,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
BB Fuso, Shell hits 5
BB Yamashiro, Shell hits 3
BB Ise, Shell hits 2
CA Kinugasa
CA Furutaka, Shell hits 4, on fire
CA Kako, Shell hits 1
DD Satsukaze
DD Hikokaze
DD Susukaze

Allied Ships
CA Louisville, Shell hits 8, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
CA San Francisco, Shell hits 3
CA Wichita, Shell hits 4
DD Ingersoll
DD Irwin
DD Johnston
DD Leutze
DD Ross, Shell hits 1
DD Rowe
DD Sproston


Maximum visibility in Partly Cloudy Conditions and 64% moonlight: 11,000 yards
Range closes to 24,000 yards...
Range closes to 18,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese radar detects Allied task force at 18,000 yards
Range closes to 12,000 yards...
CONTACT: Allies radar detects Japanese task force at 12,000 yards
CA Furutaka engages CA San Francisco at 12,000 yards

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[obvert]

The slow BBs caught up to one of the big CV TFs here in the night and spread around a little fear, engages at 10k to start off and getting as close as 5k before the escorts drove them back and the CVs put on full steam to get outta dodge. Only minor damage here and the Allies are fortunate it wasn’t worse.
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Night Time Surface Combat, near Samah at 70,68, Range 10,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
BB Fuso, Shell hits 1
BB Yamashiro
BB Ise, Shell hits 15
CA Kinugasa
CA Furutaka, heavy fires
CA Kako, Shell hits 1
DD Satsukaze, Shell hits 2, heavy damage
DD Hikokaze
DD Susukaze, Shell hits 2, on fire

Allied Ships
CV Essex
CV Bunker Hill
CV Intrepid, Shell hits 1
CV Hancock
CV Enterprise, Shell hits 1
CVL Monterey
CVL Cabot
CVL San Jacinto, Shell hits 1
CV Victorious, Shell hits 1
CV Valley Forge, Shell hits 2
BB South Dakota, Shell hits 2
CLAA Oakland
CLAA Phoebe
DD Ault
DD Brush
DD Kidd, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Stembel
DD The Sullivans
DD Twiggs
DD Waller
DD Wickes
DD Cassin Young


Maximum visibility in Partly Cloudy Conditions and 64% moonlight: 11,000 yards
Range closes to 25,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese radar detects Allied task force at 25,000 yards
Range closes to 20,000 yards...
CONTACT: Allies radar detects Japanese task force at 20,000 yards
CONTACT: Japanese radar detects Allied task force at 20,000 yards
Range closes to 15,000 yards...
CONTACT: Allies radar detects Japanese task force at 15,000 yards
Range closes to 10,000 yards...
CONTACT: Allies radar detects Japanese task force at 10,000 yards
CONTACT: Japanese radar detects Allied task force at 10,000 yards
BB Ise engages CV Valley Forge at 10,000 yards

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[obvert]

Some fresh cruisers then ran into the CL TF again, but only put good damage on CL Rishiri.

A second combat with another group of USN cruisers left one DD sunk and rishiri in sinking condition.

That was the end of a wild night (and morning) of surface combat and carnage. The Allies come out losing BB Alabama and CA Louisville, and it looks like the IJN could lose at least one if not 2-3 BB, plus two CA and two CL.
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Night Time Surface Combat, near Quinhon at 71,70, Range 8,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
DD Shirakumo
DD Uranami, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Shikinami
CL Kushida, Shell hits 4
CL Rishiri, Shell hits 11, on fire, heavy damage

Allied Ships
CA Chester, Shell hits 2
CL Columbia, Shell hits 1
CL Montpelier, Shell hits 1
DD Aulick
DD Bennett
DD Claxton
DD Dortch
DD Foote
DD Franks
DD Guest

Maximum visibility in Partly Cloudy Conditions and 64% moonlight: 11,000 yards
Range closes to 24,000 yards...
Range closes to 18,000 yards...
Range closes to 12,000 yards...
Range closes to 8,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 8,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 8,000 yards
Shock, T. crosses the 'T'
CL Rishiri engages CA Chester at 8,000 yards

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Day Time Surface Combat, near Samah at 72,70, Range 24,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
DD Shirakumo, Shell hits 5, on fire
DD Uranami, Shell hits 6
DD Shikinami, Shell hits 11, and is sunk
CL Kushida, Shell hits 3, on fire
CL Rishiri, Shell hits 25, heavy fires, heavy damage

Allied Ships
CA Indianapolis, Shell hits 1
CA Baltimore
CA Boston, Shell hits 2
DD Abbot, Shell hits 1
DD Bell, Shell hits 1
DD Bennion, Shell hits 2
DD Clarence Bronson
DD Daly
DD Albert Grant
DD Harrison

Maximum visibility in Partly Cloudy Conditions: 28,000 yards
Range closes to 24,000 yards...
CONTACT: Allies radar detects Japanese task force at 24,000 yards
CA Boston engages CL Kushida at 24,000 yards
CA Boston engages DD Shikinami at 24,000 yards
Range closes to 18,000 yards
CL Rishiri engages CA Boston at 18,000 yards

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[obvert]

In the day the CVs or their potential targets must have been under some weather because several groups of damaged from both days of combat were in range but only a few scattered planes flew. I’ll have to look but it seems some were from the CVEs.
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Morning Air attack on TF, near Samah at 71,68

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid detected at 46 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 20 minutes

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft
F4U-1A Corsair x 22
F6F-5 Hellcat x 22
TBM-1C Avenger x 15

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
TBM-1C Avenger: 2 damaged
TBM-1C Avenger: 1 destroyed by flak

Japanese Ships
BB Kongo
BB Kirishima, Torpedo hits 4, and is sunk

Aircraft Attacking:
14 x TBM-1C Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 22in Mk 13 Torpedo

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Morning Air attack on TF, near Cam Ranh Bay at 64,72

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 20 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes

Allied aircraft
F6F-5 Hellcat x 39
SB2C-1C Helldiver x 18

Allied aircraft losses
SB2C-1C Helldiver: 2 damaged

Japanese Ships
xAK Malta Maru, Bomb hits 4, and is sunk
PB Shonan Maru #2, Bomb hits 3, and is sunk
PB Yahada Maru, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
PB Chosa Maru, Bomb hits 5, heavy fires, heavy damage
PB Tama Maru #8, Bomb hits 2, and is sunk

Aircraft Attacking:
10 x SB2C-1C Helldiver releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb, 2 x 250 lb SAP Bomb

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Morning Air attack on TF, near Samah at 71,68

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid detected at 33 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 14 minutes

Allied aircraft
F6F-3 Hellcat x 24
F6F-5 Hellcat x 25
SB2C-3 Helldiver x 19

Allied aircraft losses
SB2C-3 Helldiver: 6 damaged
SB2C-3 Helldiver: 2 destroyed by flak

Japanese Ships
BB Kongo, Bomb hits 6, on fire

Aircraft Attacking:
7 x SB2C-3 Helldiver releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb, 2 x 250 lb SAP Bomb

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[obvert]

The RN TF somehow didn’t get the change in code from a few days ago and stayed put a few hexes from Manila with no CAP cover. I got lucky here as only CA London was hit and went under after three torpedoes.

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Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Boac at 80,80

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 39 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M8 Zero x 76
A7M2 Sam x 18
B6N2a Jill x 66
Ki-44-IIc Tojo x 28
Ki-84r Frank x 70

Japanese aircraft losses
B6N2a Jill: 1 destroyed, 15 damaged
B6N2a Jill: 1 destroyed by flak

Allied Ships
DD Thomas O'Malley
CA London, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk

Aircraft Attacking:
66 x B6N2a Jill launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo

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[obvert]

Furutaka and another two IJN DD were also sunk in the day.

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Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Samah at 72,68

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid detected at 75 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 32 minutes

Allied aircraft
F4U-1A Corsair x 20
F6F-5 Hellcat x 22
SB2C-3 Helldiver x 27

Allied aircraft losses
SB2C-3 Helldiver: 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
CA Furutaka, Bomb hits 6, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Susukaze
DD Satsukaze, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
12 x SB2C-3 Helldiver releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb, 2 x 250 lb SAP Bomb
7 x SB2C-3 Helldiver releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb, 2 x 250 lb SAP Bomb
8 x SB2C-3 Helldiver releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb, 2 x 250 lb SAP Bomb

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CA Furutaka
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring a Mutsuki class DD

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Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Iba at 73,74

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid spotted at 12 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes

Allied aircraft
F4U-1A Corsair x 11
F6F-5 Hellcat x 22
TBM-1C Avenger x 15

Allied aircraft losses
TBM-1C Avenger: 2 damaged

Japanese Ships
DD Nagatsuki, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk

Aircraft Attacking:
15 x TBM-1C Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 22in Mk 13 Torpedo

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[obvert]

After the carnage the Allies look to be in a good position to pick off a few more damaged and straggling ships. If these only moved a few hexes over night, and are still in air strike range, they should also be in range tomorrow.

I'll most likely move just close enough to be in potential range and out of CAP trap territory on as many sides as I can avoid. A lot of big Japanese air bases in the area though.

[obvert]

Here are the air losses. The IJN lost either one big CV or some combination of smaller ones. The rollovers still show one CV out there crawling toward Samah. I'll see if strike scan find it tomorrow. plenty of surface cover still so why not give it a shot?

Plenty of Jakes went under too. Looks like two BBs and two CAs for sure, plus some CLs.

[BBfanboy]

Congrats on a well-planned battle of attrition! For sure the IJN is much more hurt than your navy. [:)][&o]
Good luck and good hunting!

[obvert]

Here are the losses as accounted for immediately, and of course there will be more added. The Kongo is questionable, but it was detached for damage already when hit by air strikes. So maybe. The Chokai should be here soon too.

[BBfanboy]

Looks like you sank everything from Choko Maru#5 to DD Kamikaze twice! Good trick to increase your VP haul![:D]

I think CL Noshiro should be on that list, and probably BB Yamato instead of Kongo. BB Nagato is also a "maybe" in my estimation.

You were unfortunate in the gunnery duel vs the Kongo class BBs, but OTOH you suffered few long lance hits for the number of tubes he had in play. Must have been a great show to watch it all play out.

[CaptBeefheart]

Well done. Let's hope your CVs launch good strikes on the morrow.

Cheers,
CB

[Bullwinkle58]

Epic battles that I could never seem to get close to pulling off. Bravo Zulu. Your TF mixes are so different than what I would try and I have studied them for high-low mixes.

An aside, since this navy you fight with was edited by moi . . .

The USN ship names that can be changed were. There are locations that are important to my past--Athens, Charlottesville--as well as ex-girlfriends and one ex-wife. I see in the CR that DD Thomas O'Malley made it through. He was the greatest cat I ever knew, a rumbling ginger stray who came into our apartment after being abandoned by moving owners, and he fought another male twice his size to a standstill for a chance to survive and prosper. Just a brawler, and his namesake DD is as well.

If you come across USS PaxMeatSandwich, know that she is named for the nickname of the most gentle, wonderful golden retriever of all time. Please use her wisely.

[&o]

[CaptBeefheart]

I once named some DDs after friends and family and then I was afraid to use them. Now I usually just keep the "II" designation.

EDIT: CAs and CLs I do tend to name after cities in the States I've lived in.

Cheers,
CB

[Bullwinkle58]

I am careful with my dad's boat (USS Bluegill.) But he also served in USS Orion, and I ran around that ship as a kid on his duty days, hanging out in the machine shops watching the men work. I don't feel the same attachment to her though.

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: Bullwinkle58

Epic battles that I could never seem to get close to pulling off. Bravo Zulu. Your TF mixes are so different than what I would try and I have studied them for high-low mixes.

I try to maximise for night battles, so mostly a lot of smaller TFs and keeping ship types (for gunnery range) in the same TFs. There is no perfect method, as some of the big brawling IJN TFs with mixed types do well against the smaller 8 ship TFs.I'm also still learning what works for the Allied side in different periods of the game.

In the end the number of them engaging makes a difference as the IJN breaks up and has reduced ops/ammo for the later battles.

Curious what you mean by "high-low" mixes?

An aside, since this navy you fight with was edited by moi . . .

The USN ship names that can be changed were. There are locations that are important to my past--Athens, Charlottesville--as well as ex-girlfriends and one ex-wife. I see in the CR that DD Thomas O'Malley made it through. He was the greatest cat I ever knew, a rumbling ginger stray who came into our apartment after being abandoned by moving owners, and he fought another male twice his size to a standstill for a chance to survive and prosper. Just a brawler, and his namesake DD is as well.

If you come across USS PaxMeatSandwich, know that she is named for the nickname of the most gentle, wonderful golden retriever of all time. Please use her wisely.

[&o]

Cool. Love the personal details. I often use road names I've lived on, my grandfathers and uncles for DDs, trying to find good unused Revolutionary War battle names for the CVs.

I did see PaxMeatSandwhich and wondered! [:)]