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

[Cribtop]

December 10, 1942

Subs

Subs

We have a line of subs formed up near Exmouth and "behind" the advancing Allied carriers, hoping to hurt CF even if he retires or finish him after a CV engagement.

Combined Fleet

The enemy dodges West, and thus the relative positions of the CV Fleets closes up only slightly. Disappointing. Is CF withdrawing or chasing IJN picket ships he previously spotted? He may call whatever he has planned off as Emilys from Java have him at full DL. Alternatively, if this is a feint it may have served its purpose. Cribtop HQ puts commands in the Pacific on alert for a move.

4th Fleet

10 Bettys miss a few juicy APs unloading at Funafuti.

SE Fleet

PM is hit again, again for minimal damage.

Southern Army

In NW Oz, LRCAP Nicks damage 8 B-17s, several of which do not make it home.

[Cribtop]

December 11, 1942

Surface Action!

Subs

Snapper duds on a slow AO near Kendari. The AO and her TF sailed with MKB for Operation Bismarck and are now headed back to Truk the long way around New Guinea.

Combined Fleet

Enemy CVs and a small convoy of xAPs are spotted by subs fleeing toward Perth. Unfortunately, the subs fail to intercept. MKB will linger a day or two just in case, but it appears the enemy is bailing out here. A wise decision.

Cribtop HQ considers a port raid on Perth but the Strike Force's ships and planes are worn out and the risk/reward ratio isn't good. If only CF had pressed on, the Decisive Battle may have come to pass!

4th Fleet

Shortly after the invasion of Funafuti, we ordered a force of 6 CLs and 4 DDs into a holding pattern NNW of the island, hoping to zoom in on any convoys landing supplies or the second wave. Yesterday's failed Betty attack justifies sending them in, and we hit pay dirt. When the smoke clears, the IJN has sunk the very valuable AP Hunter Liggett (reflect that CF has now lost 4 or 5 of these key ships that convert to APAs), and 1 DMS while heavily damaging another DMS and lightly damaging a second AP. Banzai!

Southern Army

Sallys destroy 19 vehicle devices in the beleaguered 632nd TD Bttn.

Other

Since the fall of Kukong, more stuff is piling up at Fusan. However it appears most of the goodies are moving to Hong Kong. The ratio may flip as we are rapidly building up the port at Fusan.

[Cribtop]

December 12, 1942

Subs

I-172 is chased away from a tanker TF by escorts near Pearl, but the skipper is persistent and attacks again, sinking the big tanker Mobilefuel.

IJN subs spot a big TF of xAPs and DDs fleeing SW near Geraldton. This sighting increases the likelihood that the latest enemy CV moves near Oz were covering an aborted invasion rather than a feint.

Combined Fleet

MKB is spotted by suddenly active PBYs NNW of Exmouth. All signs indicate the USN is retiring. MKB will make its way to Singapore to refit ships and air groups and prepare for Operation Whirlwind.

Other stuff

Kusaie forts go to four. Namatanai's airfield goes to two.

Tojo IIc advances R&D. Nice.

[Cribtop]

December 13, 1942

Subs

IJN convoy escorts chase off Sunfish near Kagoshima. Blackfish duds on an xAK near Waigeo. We are relieved that Porpoise duds on a big xAP transporting 17th Army LCUs to Singers for Operation Whirlwind.

4th Fleet

Something Allied sinks. Cribtop Intel believes it's the DMS damaged at Funafuti on the 11th.

Southern Army

Lots of action in the skies. First, B-17s visit Daly Waters and find a full group of Nicks on CAP. Many passes are made thanks to an early intercept allowed by the recent upgrade to Type 3 radar. In total, 7(!) Fortresses are destroyed. Next, B-24s that usually raid PM from Cooktown attack and get good hits on a previously untouched tank regiment guarding the eastern flank of Daly. Finally, Sallys from Darwin inflict 21 destroyed vehicles with no disablements on the 632nd TD Bttn. After the replay, this Allied LCU is no longer on the map, making it the second Allied ground unit destroyed by this crack IJAAF force in NW Oz.

Burma

Lashio makes level 4 airfield. We have a heavily LRCAPed tank division in the clear and adjacent to an advancing Allied stack in hopes of ambushing CF's bombers, but so far he won't bite. The tanks will have to fall back soon to ensure the enemy stack doesn't catch them. In fact, phase 1 of Operation Whirlwind will soon begin. We will make ready to abandon the central Burma river valley, egging CF forward to make re-positioning back into the Assam impossible once the landings occur.

[Cribtop]

December 14, 1942

ALERT! Enemy surface forces approaching the lower Solomons!

Subs

Swordfish, part of a wolf pack operating in the South China Sea, takes a run at the 17th Army convoy but fortunately chooses to attack a DD escort and misses.

SE Fleet

Bettys out of Munda spot two enemy TFs in the Coral Sea west of Guadalcanal today. They attack the first TF, missing CAs Pensacola and Chicago but oddly hitting the nimble DD Coyningham with a TT. The second TF consists of lots of reported APDs and looks like an invasion fleet. Probable targets include Lunga and the various islands to the south of Guad, but we hope they're going for heavily defended Tulagi.

Cribtop HQ now orders implementation of the Scorpion Plan for defense of the Solomons. Cribtop Intel always believed that Cuttlefish's preference for a more historical game increased the likelihood of American counter-offensives in SE Fleet and 4th Fleet AOs. We analyzed the historical Guadalcanal campaign and concluded that a major liability for Japan was the failure to build significant airbases in the Upper Solomons until it was too late. The essence of the Scorpion Plan is thus to situate major bases for LBA at Munda and Shortlands, with supplementary bases on Bougainville for additional search, recovery and LRCAP missions to support the big bases. Tulagi is a fortified outpost and sea plane base. Naturally, Rabaul is the main rear area base.

We deploy a 45 plane Betty Hikotai at Munda with a 36 plane Zero group for escort. Crack Nicks operate as CAP to protect Munda from 4E raids. A 36 plane G3M3 group will fly from Rabaul while 30 Zeros based at Shortlands will escort. Another 36 long range Nells and 45 elite Zeros are the LBA reserve.

On the naval side the IJN moves out from Truk. Specifically, we sortie Tanaka Force, with 2 Kongos and 4 DDs, as well as Sawa Force, with 4 CAs and 4 DDs. Support is provided by a slow Oiler TF and a scratch force based around the almost fully repaired CVL Ryujo, which sails from Rabaul accompanied by 4 DDs. Yamato and two slower BBs are at Truk as a reserve.

Behind this armada, 20th Division is put on alert and will load on transports ready to move to the invasion site if warranted. 48th Division, 14th Army HQ and several arty units are also available.

The watchword for all of the shipborne assets is to move into position but not commit until the presence and strength of enemy carriers is known. We are comforted by the confirmed sighting of several CVs near Oz recently. No way CF has all his carriers to support this Op.

In short, we are about to enter into our first opposed Allied invasion of the war. This should be interesting.

Charter Towers makes airfield 6.

Southern Army

A PB on picket duty near NW Oz again reports sighting enemy DBs overhead. It could be CF has turned his CVs around, but Cribtop Intel is betting this is a misidentified land based search plane.

Sabang makes forts 5.

Burma

Bit of a snafu today as Warazup makes forts 1. We recently moved in minor reinforcements to allow this base to serve as a speed bump. The new arrivals had engineers and reveal we made the mistake of assuming organic engineers in the existing garrison had pushed forts to level 3. However, the LCU originally present had no engineer squads and thus no forts had been built. Oops.

Other

HI pool went over 800K today and is rising faster than ever.

[Cribtop]

December 15, 1942

Subs

Forgot to mention yesterday that we sortied a bunch of subs to the lower Solomons from Rabaul.

SE Fleet

The CA SCTF attacked by the IJNAF yesterday bombards Munda tonight. Subs positioned to intercept such a move epicly fail to even engage. Sigh. It looks bad on the surface with many planes damaged. However, the facilities are in good shape because we had three big engineer units driving the forts toward level 6, and a lot of aviation support that cleans up most of the damaged a/c. This may mean that CF assumes Munda is nuked when in fact it's operational. Hmmm. The bad news is the Bettys don't strike the attackers today once the sun rises. A TF reported as 9 APDs has moved East toward Guadalcanal. The entire lower Solomons waits for the hammer to fall.

Shortlands makes forts 5.

Combined Fleet

MKB nosed back toward the NW corner of Oz just in case, but we spot nothing other than a few AMcs at Exmouth. Our carriers are not spotted in return.

Burma

We sweep over advancing enemy troops near Akyab. There is no CAP and our bombers fail to launch.

Other

Fusan makes port level 7.

[Cribtop]

December 16, 1942

The calm before the storm...

Subs

We now have a wolf pack of 8 subs in place around Guad and Tulagi.

5th Fleet

Recall that in response to the torpedoing of BB Mississippi we sent surface assets to the Aleutians (errr I mean the Aleutinas if GreyJoy is reading). Intention was to allow enemy search planes to spot two slow BBs, hope to get the enemy SCTF up here to react to protect Dutch Harbor, then send in an SCTF based around the two Kitakami torpedo CLs in hopes of a night engagement. None of this came to pass as CF wouldn't come out to play. Today the CLs spot what they report as an Allied carrier plane overhead. Cribtop Intel is dubious as the TF is within range of PBYs based at Umnak Island and frankly there's no good reason to send CVs up here in the dead of winter. Still, we can't entirely discount the possibility something is brewing.

4th Fleet

Bettys out of TB spot and torpedo an xAP at Funafuti with troop losses. Nice.

SE Fleet

No invasions today, but a BIG TF is spotted SSW of Guadalcanal moving NE. It may be story time tomorrow.

Efate makes airfield 3 for the enemy.

Burma

Blenheims bomb the Imperial Guards near Akyab but we shrug it off. The two Brit Divisions move to only 1 hex NE of Warazup today. Again the IJAAF ground attack missions are scrubbed. Dry season my a$#!

China

We send a big raid at Kweiyang today after recon spotted numerous enemy air groups present. Many KMT planes are damaged on the ground. Without a rail line, they will never leave.

Lao Cai, used as an IJAAF base to hit the Chinese bases in the mountains West of Kweiyang, goes to airfield 4.

[Cribtop]

Oh my. We will indeed have first person "story time" tomorrow! [&o]

[DTurtle]

Looking forward to it, you tease

[Cribtop]

December 17, 1942

Kawashi Hideyoshi, commanding officer of the 251st Kokutai, scanned the partly cloudy skies around his A6M2 fighter plane with the calm efficiency of an ace pilot in the Imperial Naval Air Service. There was only one problem - he was not in fact an ace.

[Three]

It was a ritual for Kawashi to constantly remind himself of the number of his confirmed kills during a flight. For months, the number remained at three. For months, his unit had remained at Munda Point in the Solomons training, flying combat air patrol, and occasionally attacking the small American base at Ndeni. Since the Japanese conquest of this beautiful and miserable corner of the world in early 1942, there had been no one for him to fight, much less shoot down.

All that had changed over the past 48 hours. American warships shelled the airfield at Munda during the night of the 15th, and this morning G4M bombers on search missions had spotted a large enemy task force sailing for the Japanese outpost at Tulagi, covered by another group containing both warships and escort carriers. The latter force was the target of a raid by 30 G4Ms, escorted by 33 A6M fighters under Kawashi's command. His plan was for most of the Imperial fighters to fly above and slightly behind the bombers, while a single Chutai under Kawashi's personal direction would take position a thousand feet higher and a short distance to the West. The intention was to have American fighters engage the main force, then for Kawashi's Chutai to dive on them out of the afternoon sun, quickly dispatching attackers in the first deadly pass.

The strike force did not have to wait long after clearing the southeastern coast of the island of Guadalcanal. Hideyoshi was brought to full alert as numerous Japanese pilots reported about 24 Wildcats approaching dead ahead over their rather unreliable radio sets. Just as Kawashi hoped, the American carrier pilots closed in on the bombers, ignoring his 9 A6Ms. Waggling his wings to signal his Chutai, Hideyoshi increased throttle. Approaching via a looping dive, Kawashi found himself behind an F4F whose pilot was too fixated on his target to notice the sleek Zero. After a short burst from his 7.7s ensured he was on target, Kawashi fired his 20mm cannon, shredding the enemy plane's fuselage and putting it into a smoking tailspin.

[Four]

Snapping his head around quickly, Kawashi looked for threats first and targets second, spotting a flight of American fighters that hadn't fallen for his trap. The bombers were now dropping into their torpedo runs and made excellent targets. Several G4Ms were quickly consumed by flames and went into the Pacific. A6Ms from the main escort engaged the interlopers, but the leader separated from his fellows and kept after the twin engine attackers. Kawashi was surprised at the Wildcat pilot's persistence - usually fighter planes of both sides cleared out once bombers entered the envelope of ship borne anti-aircraft fire, but this flyer was heedless of the possibility of falling to an errant flak burst from his own side. Kawashi admired the pilot's fighting spirit, willing to sacrifice himself for the mission. Noticing that the enemy plane was pursuing a G4M making a run on one of the two American escort carriers present, it occurred to Hideyoshi that this man was fighting to protect his home. Unfortunately, it was Kawashi's job to protect the bombers trying to sink it.

Putting the stick down, Kawashi raced for the deck, flak exploding all around his Zero. His only chance to hit the Wildcat before it fired on the G4M was to attempt a difficult deflection shot. Lining up ahead of the enemy machine, he opened fire with a long burst. As is so often the case with deflection shots, Kawashi's aim was off. Instead of striking the engine of the Wildcat as intended, his bullets and shells shattered the canopy, no doubt grievously wounding the American pilot, who lost control and went in hard.

The G4M dropped its torpedo against the CVE, and it was immediately clear that the already damaged ship was going to take another hit. The bomber broke left, but flak from an escort vessel sheared off its starboard wing near the engine and she cartwheeled over the surface of the water.

Kawashi broke right and roared past the stern of the enemy carrier, choosing to wait before gaining altitude in order to hopefully duck some of the murderous AA fire. He saw a flash to his left a moment before his Zero was bucked wildly to the right. Struggling for control, he scanned his surroundings for an attacker, pulse racing. What he saw instead would stay with him for years and forever convince him of the horror of war. The CVE (the Copahee, he later learned) was gone. Not burning, not sinking, just gone - destroyed by a magazine explosion touched off by the doomed G4M's torpedo striking home. Hideyoshi was shaken to realize that he may well be the only man still alive out of the hundreds who had occupied a circle 300 meters or so in diameter just two minutes ago. He continued on a southeasterly course until he cleared the battle zone, then turned for home.

[Five]

All in all, it was a hell of a way to become an ace.

[Cribtop]

December 17, 1942

Subs

Lots of action as CF sends a powerful SCTF through our sub screen to bombard Tulagi. First, DDs chase off RO-62. Then Ha-10 gamely shoots at a DD but misses. As it withdraws, the enemy TF is engaged unsuccessfully by I-19 near Rennell Island. Great job, guys. [8|]

5th Fleet

Attu builds a level 1 airfield to extend the reach of our recon planes.

4th Fleet

Bettys from TB sink the big xAP President Madison with troop losses at Funafuti.

SE Fleet

The main event. For reasons unknown, CF's bombardment TF visits Tulagi but doesn't bombard. He may have set waypoints - I heard that messes up the routine. I advise CF of this by e-mail and he thinks that was the problem. The bombardment force runs into mines at Tulagi, but whatever took the hit keeps sailing.

We have no AM strikes, but sight the CVE TF a few hexes off Tulagi as well as the invasion force itself in the base hex.

In the PM phase, Munda launches everything that can fly and 24 Bettys get through CAP. Numerous hits on CVE Copahee and CVE Prince William sink both ships, Copahee in spectacular fashion. In addition, we put a torp into CA Minneapolis. Losses for our planes and pilots are nominal. [&o]

In the last unloading phase, the Allies land part of the 2nd Marine/A Division. Auto bombardment shows they don't have enough combat power to go against our 165ish AS behind level 6 forts.

Merauke forts go to 4.

Southern Army

Denpasar makes forts 4 as well.

Burma

Blenheims and B-25s attack the Imperial Guards. Tojos on LRCAP destroy 6 bombers.

IJAAF ground attack near Akyab identifies 77th Chindit Bde, 111th Chindit Bde, 23rd British Bde and XXXIII Indian Corps.

China

Changsha makes forts 5.

[obvert]

Looks good so far. nice to get those better CVEs especially.

What response will the IJN make tomorrow?

[GreyJoy]

Aleutinas!!! [:D]

[Cribtop]

December 18, 1942

Day Two at Tulagi.

Subs

Allied escorts in the Tulagi invasion TF force RO-65 to the surface and sink her. We will pull our remaining subs out of the Tulagi hex and focus on the deep water approaches.

I-3 misses a DD near Dutch Harbor. It's the same SCTF based around BB Colorado and CA Quincy that has been up here for some time. Good to see BB Mississippi no longer present - proof she had to hit the Yards.

Glens spot a huge TK and xAK convoy at Perth. This is definitely where CF is funneling his logistical train and we will commit more subs down here.

SE Fleet

Something in the Allied invasion force hits a mine at Tulagi in the night. During the AM phase, a G3M3 Nell spots the retreating CA Minneapolis south of the Solomons and reports a hit. We'd normally discount this, but with the cruiser damaged and considering the quality of this Nell group, we may have increased the enemy's repair estimate.

The only disappointment from yesterday was the failure of the Rabaul Nells to launch. I discover that the escorting Zeros at Shortlands were set to a different altitude and fix that. Works like a charm as today both the Munda Bettys and the Rabaul Nells hit the invasion fleet. We are pleased that there is no CAP present - an indication that CF either lost all the CVEs he committed or that he pulled back the survivors and left the Marines on their own.

The Nells sink AP Fuller and an AK (the Alma-something, can't read my own notes there). Two more future assault ships killed! The Bettys screw around with wasted shots at DDs, but do sink the xAP Macdhui causing casualties of 1879(126) - probably the support echelons of the 2nd Marine/A unit. This unopposed carnage basically wipes out the invasion TF, leaving only escorts and a single xAP.

PM strikes by LBA unfortunately again expend too much ammo on unhittable escorts, but CVL Ryuho gets in the game and her Vals hit DD McCalla, inflicting critical and possibly mortal damage.

CF wisely sends B-24s against Munda but our Nicks are ready, shooting down 3 4Es outright and damaging 4 more enough that they become Ops losses for a total of 7 bombers. Under this harassment, the enemy strike is ineffective.

BA today shows raw AS of 178:136 in our favor in good terrain behind level 6 forts. CF will need more to take Tulagi.

Noumea airfield goes to 8. In our back lines, Woleai makes forts 5. At the rate we're going, CF will have to march over an endless chain of level 6 forts all the way to Tokyo.

I'd say all that deserves a hearty Banzai! [&o] The IJN surface forces are about two days out but honestly I think this invasion has been repelled already. Crack IJAAF bombers have moved over from Oz and will base at Shortlands to pound the Marines ahead of the counterattack to come.

Southern Army

44 B-17s hammer an IJA tank unit. Painful, but I prefer to lose a few tanks to massed air raids on more important targets.

Siboeret goes to airfield 1. The port of Perth goes to 6.

Burma

Today a previously unspotted LCU pops up 1 hex NW of Katha. More shrimps on the Barbie. Can there be anything left in India? This is an invasion with a capital "I." B-25s hit Warazup.

Other

Hornet drops off the sunk list and is replaced by Lexington. Given that we never engaged Hornet and last saw a heavily damaged Lex take a sub torp with ammo explosion, Cribtop Intel believes that this reflects reality.

[Capt. Harlock]

As is so often the case with deflection shots, Kawashi's aim was off. Instead of striking the engine of the Wildcat as intended, his bullets and shells shattered the canopy, no doubt grievously wounding the American pilot, who lost control and went in hard.

Rousing story, but one of the Zero's problems was the different ballistics of the machine guns and cannons. It would be quite realistic to have the bullets hit the engine while the shells hit the canopy.

[Cribtop]

Cool info, Harlock. We'll say the cannons hit the canopy and the bullets bounced off the engine. The IJN pilot just misreported the situation. [;)]

[Cribtop]

December 19, 1942

Subs

I-154 misses a DD at Funafuti. CF sure is paying a lot of attention to a 0 airfield. Presumably he wants a seaplane base.

IJN escorts chase off K XVI near Kendari and K XVIII near Balikpapan.

SE Fleet

Nells attack a group of DDs fleeing Tulagi and miss. Munda's Bettys go for the retreating invasion TF and nail the damaged DD McCalla but waste the rest of their attacks on undamaged DDs, allowing the xAP Bloemfontein, last transport alive, to escape.

The IJN surface forces arrive in the vicinity from Ontong Java, but with the flight of the enemy invaders the mission changes to protecting approaching transports carrying the IJA 20th Division, which will land on Tulagi and counterattack to clear the beachhead.

On Tulagi itself, the US Marines try a DA but it fails miserably, odds 1:35, casualties 352(2) vs 71(1). Our adjusted AV is 1210 off a raw AS of 178! CF comments by e-mail that he is shocked to find such a high fortification level.

Horn Island goes to forts 3.

Southern Army

Tjilatjap goes to airfield 4, Bataan to airfield 6.

Burma

A night raid on the crowded airfield at Chittagong destroys 1 Allied plane and damages 11. IJAAF bombers hit the troops near Katha and discover the 7th and 39th Indian Divisions. Time to abandon northern Burma. 33rd Division began to pull back from its position near Kalemyo some time ago and we are pleased to see the Aussie Division located there in pursuit. We want everything green and brown on the south side of the trackless jungle when we land behind them. Some trash troops will be left at Katha and Warazup to buy some time and will fall back toward Bhamo with the eventual intention of kamikaze guerrilla occupation of the key mountain hex with the road into China.

Combined Fleet

Forgot to mention it, but over the last few days MKB has been moving toward Singers to refit and fill out air groups in preparation for Operation Whirlwind.

Other

The end of the Blue Notebook. All three of the PBEM AARs I've written were based on notes from the replays kept in a beat up old notebook that was basically a poor man's Big Chief Tablet. Today's entry marks the last page in that notebook. Many victories and good times are recorded therein. So long, old friend! We journey on without you...

[Grfin Zeppelin]

Aaargh I finally catched up and nothing left to read about this fine AAR [:(]

[Cribtop]

Thanks and welcome back, GZ! Have no fear - we've stopped the Allies cold at Tulagi, but CF has more tricks up his sleeve. A 250,000 man army in Burma for starters! [:D]. This war is just getting to the good part, IMHO.

[ny59giants]

The best year of the war is from mid-42 to mid-43 before the Allies start to get too strong, IMO.

OT - I don't think either of us wants to talk too much about our football teams. The Giants injury list makes the inactive list for Sunday relatively easy. Both Safeties and our 3rd CB are out along with two WRs. [:(][:(]