Stopping the Juggernaut - Cruft vs Alikchi II (CHS)

[Captain Cruft]

Japanese cruisers pull off "nuclear" bombardment

Palembang airbase is no more. Or at least it's no longer of any use.

For days now I have been running airfield attacks and sweeps from Johore Bharu (IJA) and Singkawang/Kuching (IJN). To little effect. OK, lots of Allied fighters have been shot down but so have lots of Japanese fighters and bombers. In fact, I was losing the air war in terms of numbers. A naval bombardment by CAs and CLs under an Admiral whose name I can't even remember was a bust, being disrupted by mines, PT boats and air attack.

I would like to say that this was all a deliberate ploy in terms of creating a false sense of security in my opponent, but that would not be true. Genuinely struggling I was.

Salvation arrived this turn though in the form of one Adm T. Nippa. Using the exact same force of cruisers as before he managed to deliver a night-time bombardment of apocalyptic proportions. Something like 90 odd planes were destroyed on the ground!

Now, it must be said that this time conditions were more favourable. Firstly, I have had a mine sweeping TF at Palembang for a few days. Not only has this cleared paths through the 1,100 mines present (special intel from Alikchi) it has also soaked up air attacks and despatched the pesky PT boats. MSW W.4 even sank one with its 4.7in gun, which I enjoyed hugely Secondly, I remembered to LRCAP the bombardment TF this time so it did not suffer any damage from the air attacks. Thirdly, I upped the recon over Palembang to two planes per phase (high exp naval Babses from Singkawang). Fourthly, I believe that the constant flying over of my fighters and bombers may have helped in increasing the detection levels.

Anyway, regardless of why this happened I am very pleased. Not a single plane at Palembang flew on CAP today, which allowed the tired 3rd Air Army from Johore Bharu to do a bit more damage. Recon shows "fighters" at the base to have gone down from 53 to 6.

All in all, cool. Nay, very cool

BTW this event shows both the advantages and disadvantages of my opponent's concentrating tendency.



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The 3rd Air Army can now go back to its proper job which is attacking Singapore. I tried a deliberate attack here a day ago which got 2 - 1 odds so there would seem to be hope for my "not really big enough" force.

[Captain Cruft]

20 Dec 1942

It just keeps getting better.

Singapore fell today. 8 - 1 odds (forts 5) on a deliberate attack. I was not expecting that! Perhaps it helped having 25th Army HQ in the hex with 100 prep points? The isolated and by-passed garrisons at Malacca and Kuantan probably were a factor too.

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I also landed an SNLF at Shortlands today, where the escorting DDs took out some mines and prevented damage. My opponent is becoming all too pesky with the round spiky objects

In case I didn't mention Tulagi was taken ages ago by the 6th NLF from Kwajalein. Elements of the 6th Base Force have also been installed via sub transport. There are now two Mavis chutais at the base performing search ops.

My plan is to follow the line of the Solomons and head for Luganville, Efate and Noumea next so that my rear at Suva is not threatened. Rabaul will also be attacked soon, the Kongo and CAs have already eridicated it as an offensive air base.

Port Moresby will be left alone except for sub minelaying and, at some point, air attacks. I just don't have the firepower to take it without abandoning Neck Tie. Especially with my "no Southern Area Army LCUs in the NG/Solomons area" house rule.

[Captain Cruft]

21 Feb 1942

Overall this was a very quiet turn compared to what has been happening recently. Most pleasing was the sinking near the Home Islands of US submarine SS Sturgeon, which had received a "Spotted ... Hit" last turn from a G5N Liz (operating out of Ise). The Intel Report confirms that it was a 500kg AP bomb which did the damage. It seems like my theory about using these planes in this role might have been a good one Of course you could say that carrying this type of bomb on an ASW mission is BS, and you'd be right. The way I look at it though is just that the plane can carry a lot of depth charges (same capacity as a B-24).

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Unoccupied Shortlands fell to the Kure 3rd SNLF. Since the base is now ours we can see that there are 303 mines present. How Alikchi managed to get them there is beyond me but well played anyway! An AP (20kts jobbie) hit one today but is not too badly damaged.

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Things will probably be quiet for a bit while I move troops out from Manila etc. The next happenings will be at:

Palembang: 35th Brigade (at least)
Rest of Southern Sumatra (SNLFs, fast transport)
Merak (next to Batavia, unoccupied therefore open to paratroop landing) - Java beach-head.
Balikpapan (via road from Samarinda)
Banjarmassin, Macassar and Kendari will follow after Balikpapan. SNLFs currently preparing.

I suppose I am being a bit slow in the DEI but I really don't think it matters too much. In other games I have waited until May to land on Java and it doesn't make much difference. Of course this is assuming the island hasn't been reinforced from Australia or something. CHS makes this quite a lot more difficult though ...