The Shattered Sword: John 3rd vs. Anachro--BTS

[John 3rd]

Thanks ZULU.

If I was to get people to read just four books on the Imperial Japanese Navy, they would be Shattered Sword, Kaigun, Zero! and Japanese Destroyer Captain. Those would pretty much do it. If you could read only one, it would be Shattered Sword.

[John 3rd]

My opponent appears to be a pretty good kid. Here is an exchange of email last night prior to getting the turn I am about to run:

Before we input orders into the turn, I need to verify something. I believe I discovered an error/bug in the game as some shipping that in the previous turn was off map for Capetown seems to have warped to Bombay this turn and is now sitting there near your KB. I can give an image from the previous turn to readers in my AAR to verify this. What should we do? I can send it back off map without unloading so as to keep the cargo delayed in arriving as it should be. It was literally a weeks or more away and somehow warped to Bombay in on turn.

What should we do?
Sean


My reply and the next comment from him:

Go with it. Document and Post it for the forum input. KB will ignore it. How about that?


I posted it on the forums and got a reply from BBfanboy:
"Monkeying with the movement orders (other than speed) of a ship in transit between off-map and on-map confuses the game engine which does not use a hex count to track the TFs in the off-map holding box. Instead it calculates an arrival date and hex for the TF to appear on-map and does not otherwise track it. When you change direction/target port for a TF already on-route, the game engine does not know where it is during its transit (not counting hexes, remember) so it might send it anywhere."
So, I think we should ignore it and what I'll do is keep the ships where they are for 7 days docked but will not unload the contents. Does that sound fair?
Sorry if I'm being a bit burdensome! I'm taking all the suffering I can get in China and don't need additional suffering from game bugs. Argh!
Sean


Pretty good opponent to handle this issue. Kudos to him and BB Fanboy.

[John 3rd]

After cranking out seven turns on Fri--Sat, we have gotten nothing done today. My Best Friend staged a surprise visit and so the second half of the day (after church) went POOF!

We'll have to see if the American/Allied Fleet makes a successful interception of the Japanese Raiders. Tabitueau and Baker spotted multiple TFs coming down from Palmyra last turn. My 4 AOs can only do 13 Knots so that doesn't look good. The CVLs should be OK. Am routing them towards Tulagi/Lunga instead of Tabitueau. Begin a concentration of aircraft at Lunga just in case I get a shot at the enemy.

I open the store tomorrow so we'll run the turn early. Will Post if possible.

[John 3rd]

June 26, 1942

Looks like the kitchen sink coming down from the south. At least 4-6 carriers and LOTS of surface ships.

The CVLs are angling to pass Suva on the north side and SHOULD be OK. The AOs don't look as good. Those four plodding 8,000T ships are moving as fast as possible. Will see what happens...

[adarbrauner]

Uh oh uh.....

[Bif1961]

I think I can, I think I can.

[John 3rd]

June 27,1942

The Japanese warships and support ships escape to live at least 24 more hours.

The CVLs hug the northern edge of the Suva Islands and the Allies attempt to take a swipe at them. From Suva rise 66 Fighters and 22 Dive-Bombers. They have a comparatively short flight and find the Japanese Carrier Force prepared for action. As they angle for a good attack position, the Allies are best upon by 49 Japanese Zeros.

On this day, the CAV's Daitais fly at 20,000 Ft while the two CVLs Zeros fly at 10,000 Ft. These pilots have been in constant action for nearly seven months. They are FINE warriors. The Sea Eagles attack with gusto and smash their way through the Allied Escort Fighters. Though it is a spirited fight with nearly 20 Allied Planes downed, 20 of the 22 DB get through.

They dive. (CRAP!)

All four flightdecks are targeted as well as mighty Yamato. Though a number of huge bombs slashes erupt around the fast moving ships, NONE are hit. Japanese AA manages to actually shoot down five planes. NICE!

The afternoon sees a second strike of 46 Fighters and 12 DB. They get easily mastered by 46 Fighters. NONE get through.

We live for another day...

[John 3rd]

Here is a screenshot of the action.

RED The CVLs move due west. Plan to move towards Noumea and then due north next turn towards Lunga. The Kates are sitting in the hangars. Will fly them off to Lunga next turn.

There are nearly 200 aircraft at Lunga right now.

PINK These are STFs moving to confuse the enemy. The one leaving the CVLs is just 2DD that are fairly low on fuel. They head for Ndeni.

In the middle of the screen is a set of 4 TB moving due west.

Just off the screenshot is a STF of 1 CL and 3 DD about to hit Suva and then move west.

ORANGE These are the AOs I expect to lose. The Allied CVs are just outside of strike range. Decide to try to run due north and let the thundering Allied Fleet move on by SW. It is the eastern Allied TF that concerns me with this move. There is at least one Brit CV here. Those ships launched a small strike at Canton's port this day.



The best guesses I have for the Allied Forces are listed on the screenshot.

[John 3rd]

Here are the ATA results today:

[John 3rd]

June 27 1942
India

The destruction of the 1st Burma ID has opened the RIGHT Flank for the Japanese movement.

The freshly arrived Japanese IDs move out of Calcutta. Four IDs at full strength move onto the arena.

The LEFT sees the 3 Japanese TK Reg escape the Allied attempts to corral them. Pretty good results with my 3 TK units over the last two weeks. They have destroyed two units (a US Tank Destroyer unit and a Brit Hussar Bn) and driven three more back out of a contested hex. NICE JOB boys. Should add that they have been under constant aerial assault during that time as well. They move out onto the valley floor where two Japanese ID are about to unite with them.

[John 3rd]

China looks GLORIOUS. The Chinese just got driven out of Ankang and have had their paaaa-tooty kicked out of two hexes in the south. To say that casualties have been pretty extreme for the Chinese is a bit of an understatement. I'll go back to the 20th:

20th 1 Corps Surrenders--355 Squads lost.
21st 1270 Squads destroyed as hexes 80,49 and 79,49 are taken.
22nd Capture 80,49 and drive more troops out of 79,49--total of 575 Squads with 2 Corps Surrendering
23rd Take Ankang in a 9-1 assault, drive out all Chinese inflicting 12,819 Cas with 952 Squads lost.

Total Squads destroyed in four days of operations: 3,152. Even for the Chinese---WOW!

Let us continue adding to this total:

24th 33 Squads
25th 257 Squads
26th 145 Squads

3,152 + 435 = 3,587 Chinese Squads Destroyed in SEVEN days.

[John 3rd]

I like to 'cluster' my warship construction. Usually I single out one major ship and then adjust construction around it. Some ships I shall accelerate and other I slow a few days or more. Here, I singled out Ryujo and BB Musashi to cluster my ships around. Just got a new DD today and look at what comes in close to these two vessels.

Within a ten day period Japan will gain 1 BB, 1 CVL, 1 CL, and 4 DDs.

[John 3rd]

June 28, 1942

The Allies do something not expected. They spread their fleet some out right-to-left (west-to-east). They seek to bar the door. The Japanese continue to slide step westward with the warship. The support ships, on the other hand, are not fast or maneuverable.

One TF of 2 AO and 2 PC gets nailed and sees all four ships sunk.

While sad, things look to improve as the STFs move east without interference. The CVLs make their move without issue. Their Kates are flown off to Lunga so the hangars are empty.

We're now getting close to Land-Based air. Nearly 60 Zeros move up from Lunga to Ndeni. The Sz-2 AF allows for LRCAP to fly.

Additionally, 18 Zeros fly to Canton where the surviving AOs will gain some LRCAP protection.

The next turn will dictate how this ultimately plays out.

[zuluhour]

Shattered Sword, I thoroughly enjoyed, Japanese Destroyer Captain sound like a good next though I just made it to the
1930's in Kaigun.

[John 3rd]

June 28, 1942

The Allies do something unexpected. They make a FULL SPEED jump and get ahead of the Japanese by placing themselves between Ndeni and Luganville.

A massed strike of 74 Wildcats and 73 SBD bore in on the Japanese CVLs. They are met by 59 Zeros. Numerous Wildcats fall and the fighters get into the American Dive-Bombers but 67 of them survive to tip over into their dives.

YIKES!

It should be horrific. Is is somewhat. Looks like the American bomber pilots haven't been doing too much in the way of training. Damage:

CAV Kushiro 1 Bomb, CAV Tokachi 3 Bombs
CLV Zuiho 1 Bomb, CLV Shoho 4 Bombs
BB Yamato (nearly 30 SBD dive on her!!!) 3 Bombs
CA Maya 2 Bombs

14 hits out of 67 drops.

If it can be believed, no one is in sinking condition. Shoho is bad at 60% SYS but still able to move 8+ hexes next turn.

Could be FAR WORSE!

Give orders to FULL SPEED run north to get under Ndeni and Lunga's LRCAP. Separate 3 CL and 4 DD to form a STF leading the rest of the carrier group. Tomorrow will tell the tale as to just how bad this turns out to be...

[John 3rd]

June 27, 1942

There is no way to call this a battle as my small CTF tries to survive the Allied assault. It is purely a defensive stand--until tomorrow--and so I've tried to judge the results to this point. For two days, the Allies have assaulted the CTF and been met with strong Japanese CAP as well as AA. Thought I would POst the ATA/ATS results before doing a serious update.

Here are the June 27th plane losses:

[John 3rd]

Losses for the 28th when the US CVs attacked during the afternoon phase:

[John 3rd]

Losses for the last turn (29th) where the CVLs were attacked in both phases of the turn:

[John 3rd]

Total three day losses among four US CVs:

77 Fighters
59 DB
32 TB

That is serious attrition.

I authorize Lunga to release its attack planes: 92 Zero, 48 BD, and 76 Betty/Nell. They have stayed in range for two days. If they do tomorrow then we shall see of possible redress of the balance sheets.

[AcePylut]

How many CV's went under? Any?