The Power of Inexperience / GreyJoy(A)-Rader(J)

[GreyJoy]

.

[Nemo121]

Bullwinkle,

Just a question from left field . . .

Left field? No, the unseen fulcrum ( or at least it will be at some temporal remove ).


SoliInvictus202,
Alfred presents commentary without mollycoddling or the lubrication of praise which Western societies have become used to utilising to make every truthful comment seem saccharine sweet. It may seem to some that this rejection of the current attempt to make all critique positive is akin to being rude but that isn't really the case at all. It is simply neither unjustifiedly saccharine nor rude. It simply is an untempered analysis of the objective reality of the situation.

You are, of course, more than welcome to view it in a different light. I would never try to interfere with that but I do think there is some merit in explaining to you the why of the manner of the saying as I think:
a) you're reasonable and
b) I believe you honestly didn't view it in that way.

You may still believe his approach was wrong but I do hope you'll see the honest integrity behind it.


Re: Melpomeneanism...
It has also come to my attention that some have interpreted my "greek tragedy" line to refer to Greyjoy. This isn't correct, I do not believe this AAR qualifies as a greek tragedy. The greek tragedy line was simply a joke aimed at Alfred referring to Melpomene - the muse of tragedy ( I refer here to her later association and not the initial association with singing and dancing etc ) and also, in the ancient world, the muse of good things well said.

So, translation, I was merely conveying to Alfred in a jokey way that I thought what he said was well said ( in other words, Melpomenean ) and then referencing another well known Greek piece of mythos in which those who speak the truth are doomed not to be listened to - I refer her to such simple things as the gross errors in valuation of garrison requirements and Alfred's highlighting of the use of supposition rather than analysis as the basis for far-reaching strategic conclusions etc etc etc.

So, a simple classical in joke, nothing more. Certainly not some sort of jibe at Greyjoy - which some seem to have thought it was. Unfortunately I've ruined the joke by having to explain it now though in order to avoid running the risk of it being misrepresented.


And with that said I'll leave you to your AAR again.

[GreyJoy]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Feb 14, 15 43

This turn was Japanese time to send his SCTFs to raid my shippings at Tulagi.
A strong TF composed of CLs Kuma and Tama, supported by 5 DDs entered in the waters of Tulagi at night, sinking the AM Starling lingering there and 4 PTs.
They arrived just in time to meet another allied DD TF composed of the old british Stuart and U.S. Buchanan DDs, which substitued the previous 5 DDs that got safely back to Ndeni.
Our TF, outgunned, wasn't able to be good as the lonely wolf jap DDs (those who sunk the BB at Tulagi 3 weeks ago)...


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Time Surface Combat, near Tulagi at 114,137, Range 11,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CL Kuma
CL Tama
DD Makigumo
DD Suresushio
DD Myojinami
DD Suruyame, Shell hits 3, heavy fires
DD Tadeyame

Allied Ships
DD Buchanan, Shell hits 2, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
DD Stuart



Then the Japs air force stomed Russell Island, with sweeps and heavy escorted Helens (115 of them) who levelled the base and my 2 Para units (which were being transfered back to Ndeni by Catalias).

Usual sweeps over Tulagi and Lunga didn't fin any allied opposition.

While again i ordered my P-38s to sweep Russell Island. Today they found Nicks and Tojos and the battle raged with fury (losing 3 P-38s for 4 japanese a/c). Then the 4Es arrived again to be sure that the base remained closed.

My 2Es bombed his troops at Thousands Ships Bay (he managed to bring there with fast transports 5 units for 3500 men!!! [X(]...right under my nose), escorted by some Corsair based at Lunga, while some 15 B-26s paid their daily visit to his beachheads at Tulagi.

My subs are getting into positions and are starting to find some contacts between Rabaul and Truk...2 torpedo went dud against a big xAK...not good, but we're getting better!

Another jap sub was located and badly damaged west of Suva, by a coordination of air and naval ASW effort.


My CVs are ready at Suva by now. The Hornet has joined the party and i have now all my 6 fleet carriers, divided in 3 Air TFs, each of them with 20 ships in it (2CVs, 1 fast BB, 2 CLAAs, 3 CAs and 12 DDs) and at least 90 ASW value.
The CVs will follow an ASW TF composed of 4 of my best DDs, with aggressive leaders.
They will stay there for the moment, under a HUGE umbrella of air ASW, with Catalinas, PB4Ys and the newly arrived Conrados searching for any possible naval raid, while dedicated air ASW missions will be performed by Kingfishers, B-25s and Hudsons (LR). Cannot do better than that.

[GreyJoy]

ORIGINAL: Nemo121

Bullwinkle,

Just a question from left field . . .

Left field? No, the unseen fulcrum ( or at least it will be at some temporal remove ).


SoliInvictus202,
Alfred presents commentary without mollycoddling or the lubrication of praise which Western societies have become used to utilising to make every truthful comment seem saccharine sweet. It may seem to some that this rejection of the current attempt to make all critique positive is akin to being rude but that isn't really the case at all. It is simply neither unjustifiedly saccharine nor rude. It simply is an untempered analysis of the objective reality of the situation.

You are, of course, more than welcome to view it in a different light. I would never try to interfere with that but I do think there is some merit in explaining to you the why of the manner of the saying as I think:
a) you're reasonable and
b) I believe you honestly didn't view it in that way.

You may still believe his approach was wrong but I do hope you'll see the honest integrity behind it.


Re: Melpomeneanism...
It has also come to my attention that some have interpreted my "greek tragedy" line to refer to Greyjoy. This isn't correct, I do not believe this AAR qualifies as a greek tragedy. The greek tragedy line was simply a joke aimed at Alfred referring to Melpomene - the muse of tragedy ( I refer here to her later association and not the initial association with singing and dancing etc ) and also, in the ancient world, the muse of good things well said.

So, translation, I was merely conveying to Alfred in a jokey way that I thought what he said was well said ( in other words, Melpomenean ) and then referencing another well known Greek piece of mythos in which those who speak the truth are doomed not to be listened to - I refer her to such simple things as the gross errors in valuation of garrison requirements and Alfred's highlighting of the use of supposition rather than analysis as the basis for far-reaching strategic conclusions etc etc etc.

So, a simple classical in joke, nothing more. Certainly not some sort of jibe at Greyjoy - which some seem to have thought it was. Unfortunately I've ruined the joke by having to explain it now though in order to avoid running the risk of it being misrepresented.


And with that said I'll leave you to your AAR again.

Never intended that joke was against me FWIW Nemo[:)]

And you're always welcome here, as a reader or contributer. And i thank you too, as i thank Alfred, for all your suggestions and insights, which were and are alwyas much appreciated

[GreyJoy]

And again about NZ. It's not well defended, i grant it. But it's not so weel defended, i admit that. But again i don't think he'll be able to land there untill my CVs are afloat and unitll he hasn't broken my line in SOPAC. He'd need to bypass the Solomons, Ndeni, Lungaville, Noumea...and all these areas are well defended and supplied and cannot simply be left behind like me think. He will find himself half the world away from his bases with enemy's strongpoints right in his communication lines...i think it's too much even for a bold player like Rader.
And if he really comes there...well...i won't lose anything important there... i'd fear more an invasion of Suva or New Caledonia

[ny59giants]

My CVs are ready at Suva by now. The Hornet has joined the party and i have now all my 6 fleet carriers, divided in 3 Air TFs, each of them with 20 ships in it (2CVs, 1 fast BB, 2 CLAAs, 3 CAs and 12 DDs) and at least 90 ASW value.
The CVs will follow an ASW TF composed of 4 of my best DDs, with aggressive leaders.
They will stay there for the moment, under a HUGE umbrella of air ASW, with Catalinas, PB4Ys and the newly arrived Conrados searching for any possible naval raid, while dedicated air ASW missions will be performed by Kingfishers, B-25s and Hudsons (LR). Cannot do better than that.

Someone can correct me if I'm wrong, but you will suffer air coordination penalties at this stage in the war for having over 150 aircraft operating from a single CV TF (pg 167 in manual - 100 in 42, 150 in 43, and over 200 in 44). Also, you get no AA benefits from having more than 15 ships in a single TF (only 15 ships will contribute to your AA/TF). I would have a single CV, 8 to 10 DDs, 3 and CLAA, CA and/or BB per CV TF.

[GreyJoy]

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

My CVs are ready at Suva by now. The Hornet has joined the party and i have now all my 6 fleet carriers, divided in 3 Air TFs, each of them with 20 ships in it (2CVs, 1 fast BB, 2 CLAAs, 3 CAs and 12 DDs) and at least 90 ASW value.
The CVs will follow an ASW TF composed of 4 of my best DDs, with aggressive leaders.
They will stay there for the moment, under a HUGE umbrella of air ASW, with Catalinas, PB4Ys and the newly arrived Conrados searching for any possible naval raid, while dedicated air ASW missions will be performed by Kingfishers, B-25s and Hudsons (LR). Cannot do better than that.

Someone can correct me if I'm wrong, but you will suffer air coordination penalties at this stage in the war for having over 100 aircraft operating from a single CV TF. Also, you get no AA benefits from having more than 15 ships in a single TF (only 15 ships will contribute to your AA/TF). I would have a single CV, 8 to 10 DDs, 3 and CLAA, CA and/or BB per CV TF.

Oh...but it takes 60 DDs for 6 CVs so...[:(] And no AA benefit? Ok mate, that was surely usefull, i'll change the disposition ASAP and see what i can do for those DDs...i'd need hundreds of them!

[ny59giants]

I edited my post as the manual states you get air coordination penalty for having over 150 aircraft per CV TF in 43. My understanding is you need 8 DDs to do well in sub suppression in your CV TF. Anything less and your risk factors go up (not in the manual, but from what I've read). DD allocation goes first to CVs and then AOs as you need them more than anything else, IMO.

[FatR]

I find air coordination penalties to large CVTFs negligible, as long as the TF itself and every ship in it have good commanders. Case in point: as far as I can judge, the majority of Japanese players operate the Pearl Harbor Six in a single TF for most of 1942, sometimes detaching one carrier division. Raid miscoordination seems to be relatively uncommon, and generally caused by many targets in radius.

[Crackaces]

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

I edited my post as the manual states you get air coordination penalty for having over 150 aircraft per CV TF in 43. My understanding is you need 8 DDs to do well in sub suppression in your CV TF. Anything less and your risk factors go up (not in the manual, but from what I've read). DD allocation goes first to CVs and then AOs as you need them more than anything else, IMO.

....and I have been reminded of the day/night Experience of each of the DD's in the task force. So not just at least any 8 DD's but I am thinking for CV TF's some of the most ASW experinced 8 or more ..

In my little campaign 8 inexperinced DD's on escort with an additional 4 DD's having sat in ASW patrol on the target hex ... The Lady Lex got wacked by a sub .. nobody responded having lost the contact ..a lesson learned to really focus on these details in this game ... The IJ subs are quite deadly in this game and although history supports 3 CV hits .. in two months of my campaign [ Its Jan 1942] the Subs have been extremely effective at avoiding the consequinces of their behaviors I would assume 1943 things get better but I would suppose that making sure the best of the best are escorting the CV's would be of just prudence ...

[Canoerebel]

Ah, I see GreyJoy has developed the super-secret "Conrado" long-range patrol/transport airplane.  He needs to base some of them at Scoodra.
 
[:'(]

[String]

ORIGINAL: GreyJoy

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

My CVs are ready at Suva by now. The Hornet has joined the party and i have now all my 6 fleet carriers, divided in 3 Air TFs, each of them with 20 ships in it (2CVs, 1 fast BB, 2 CLAAs, 3 CAs and 12 DDs) and at least 90 ASW value.
The CVs will follow an ASW TF composed of 4 of my best DDs, with aggressive leaders.
They will stay there for the moment, under a HUGE umbrella of air ASW, with Catalinas, PB4Ys and the newly arrived Conrados searching for any possible naval raid, while dedicated air ASW missions will be performed by Kingfishers, B-25s and Hudsons (LR). Cannot do better than that.

Someone can correct me if I'm wrong, but you will suffer air coordination penalties at this stage in the war for having over 100 aircraft operating from a single CV TF. Also, you get no AA benefits from having more than 15 ships in a single TF (only 15 ships will contribute to your AA/TF). I would have a single CV, 8 to 10 DDs, 3 and CLAA, CA and/or BB per CV TF.

Oh...but it takes 60 DDs for 6 CVs so...[:(] And no AA benefit? Ok mate, that was surely usefull, i'll change the disposition ASAP and see what i can do for those DDs...i'd need hundreds of them!

You get an AA benefit but it's just reduced

[Przemcio231]

hey is the list of jap sunk ships posted above fresh[&:]

[terje439]

I see brighter people than me worrying about NZ here. What is in that for Japan at this stage? It would give GreyJoy extra planes and a fresh division for the India theatre, as well as forcing Japan to commit atleast 2 divisions which then needs to be supplied? I do not see the gain for Japan by such a move, could someone enlighten me, is there more to it than cutting off Oz?

Terje

[GreyJoy]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Feb 16,17 43

We went again looking for his shippings at night north of Lunga-Tulagi.

DD Benham, Lang and Sterett managed to sink a PB delivering supplies to Thousand Ships Bay garrison, but the other ships fled suddenly at our arrive...

Then when the day come his betties and Kates came looking for us...luckly they didn't get our fast ships that were unable to get out of those dangerous waters in time...

then our Corsairs, escorted by P-39s, swept Rekata Bay (where a full regiment is reported) from Tassafaronga. We exchanged blows with a stiff enemy resistance, but we cleared somehow the way for our 4Es...


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Rekata Bay , at 113,134

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 106 NM, estimated altitude 37,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 39 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M3 Zero x 22
A6M3a Zero x 34
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 16
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 2



Allied aircraft
P-39D Airacobra x 20
P-400 Airacobra x 10
F4U-1 Corsair x 17


Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3 Zero: 3 destroyed
A6M3a Zero: 4 destroyed
Ki-43-IIa Oscar: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-39D Airacobra: 2 destroyed
P-400 Airacobra: 3 destroyed
F4U-1 Corsair: 1 destroyed


That arrived just in time to deliver their bombs...however losses remain pretty high with 4Es...i should be giving them some more rest, but i badly need them too...tough calls!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Rekata Bay , at 113,134

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 123 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 33 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M3 Zero x 11
A6M3a Zero x 15
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 12
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 1



Allied aircraft
B-17D Fortress x 11
B-17E Fortress x 3
B-17F Fortress x 12
B-24D Liberator x 26
B-24D1 Liberator x 5
P-400 Airacobra x 2


Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3a Zero: 1 destroyed on ground
Ki-43-IIa Oscar: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
B-17D Fortress: 2 damaged
B-17F Fortress: 1 destroyed
B-24D Liberator: 2 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
7 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled



Airbase hits 12
Airbase supply hits 13
Runway hits 31



Then our 2Es bombed the Thoisand Ships Bay garrison again, opening their way thorugh a light leaky CAP...


Our subs are finally starteing to find contacts but he's chasing them down with the brand new "E" types between Rabaul and Truk. I need to keep them moving.... however we got an AK, in exchange of the Tunny SS lightly damaged. He'll be back to Lungaville for R&R


The day was a mixed one. We bombed his garrisons at Tulagi, Thousand Ships and we mauled the new base of Raketa Bay. Our losses however remain too high every time we go on sweeps...i cannot stand the 1-1 ratio we're obtaining in those missions...we need at least a 1-2 if not a 1-3!

He swept Lunga and Tulagi for no opposition and heavily bombed the light garrison we left at Rennell Island, where our paras (or what is left of them) have been evacuated by catalinas...





AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Feb 18,19 43

Then he decided to get rid of our pesky PTs at Tulagi using Oscars on strafing mission. He delivered few hits, but he lost 2 oscars by our .50 cal AA fire [:D]

he bombed with 80 Helens an empty Tassafaronga (moved back our brave fighters) and swept Lunga for no gain.

We bombed again thousand Ships bay garrison with our 2Es, finding a very light opposition, and again another group of Maradeur made its usual bombing run over Tulagi beaches

His subs laid a minefields at Karakira who got one of my APDs delivering supplies to Tulagi (we already dispatched a strong AM TF to clean that pesky minefield).

Then our SS Herring attacked 4 times the jap DD Suruyame, but 2 torps went dud and the others missed...however we're clearly growing boldly with sub warfare!

He then ordered a bombardment attack with a unit of his at Tulagi, resulting in a fierce counterbattery response which caused 56 casualities among the japanese for none on my side[8D].

The situation now however is the following:

He has developed new bases which are already full of fighters and bombers...and he's getting closer and closer. My goal is to keep Russell island shut and Thousand ships bay non operative for his planes.

The process of building up the Espiritu Santu is going on, but my first goal is to keep The Solomons a constant threat for him.

Tomorrow we'll move a strong fighter CAP composed of P-40Ks, Kitty III, Spits VIII and Spits Vc over Tulagi...an important cargo is arriving with the 148th Infantry Rgt and some 5000 supplies. I need to get it safely ashore.
A SCTF composed of the CL Honolulu (Brooklin Class) and 6 DDs (mostly Bristol Class) will move in cover towards Tulagi.
I chose carefully the TF leader and the captains...i don't think he's expecting this move so we can probably bait him there in a CAP trap...

Another important action is ordered: the 2nd USMC para Bn will attack the dot-base called Auki, north of Thousand Ships bay. A strong air bombardment is ordered...let's see if i can dupe the success of rennell Island.

Fight him back everywhere! That's the code-word!

[crsutton]

ORIGINAL: FatR

I find air coordination penalties to large CVTFs negligible, as long as the TF itself and every ship in it have good commanders. Case in point: as far as I can judge, the majority of Japanese players operate the Pearl Harbor Six in a single TF for most of 1942, sometimes detaching one carrier division. Raid miscoordination seems to be relatively uncommon, and generally caused by many targets in radius.

The coordination penalty is not bad enough to warrant splitting your carrier TF. I use one six carrier TF with fast BBs in it. For one reason. There is nothing worse than having one small carrier TF react toward the enemy and get creamed. Better to suffer the coordination and be assured of the massed CAP and the bomb soaking protection of the BBs.

[GreyJoy]

Feb 20, 21 1943

A bloody two-days indeed. But overall i'd say a good turn.

At night my Honolulu CL was attacked at Tulagi by 7 Mavis on night torpedo attack...luckly we went away without any prorblem...then it begun the unloading operations of the cargo screened by the Honolulu TF...unloading supplies and the 148th RCT.

...the enemy was close...i could even sniff it!

However th dawn came without any sight of enemy combat ships...

...and with the day they arrived...the jap bombers!

Rader didn't sweep Tulagi this time and the CAP trap worked as intended. Betties, Kates and Vals arrived in waves escorted by Tojos, Zeros and Oscars. ...and the waves broke on my CAP wall made up by Australian pilots with their new Kitty III, by Yankees with their P-40Ks and by brave red jackets with their spitfires.
100 of them didn't come back to kiss their childs and are now part of the Tulagi Coral Reef. We lost 2 SpitsVIII, 3 Spits Vc and a bunch of Kitties and P-40s, but only 1 pilot was KIA, while 4 were WIA...not bad at all!!!
My ships went unscratched, safe for CM Terror that got a couple of 250kg bombs...but he managed to get back at Ndani and, above all, he delivered nearly 200 mines to Tulagi!

Then the night arrived...and with the night my transports moved 1 hex south even if their operations weren't finished...an enemy's SCTF was reported approaching...
The CL Honolulu and its DD escort moved into position using the Radar.... however the japs, using the moolight, managed to cross the T and opened immediately fire...2CLs and 4DDs...suddenly a number of fishes came out from the Kikitami and one of those hit the Honolulu...what a mess!!![:@]...my flagship was burning like a torch in the night...and became the target of all enemy ships...so my DDs moved on to cover their "mother"...and they started to reply...one shot after another we managed to get back on the fighting pit...a torpedo hit the Tama, who then started to burn and to slowly sink...another torpedo hit the Tadeyame who exploded where it was...then the Japs decided they had enough and moved away with their leading ships moving slowly...our DDs got closer so...and managed to hit again the Suresushio and the Kikitami...but that bastard, fleeing, managed to deliver another torp to the Honolulu...which was already struggling to remain afloat...there was no hope to save her at that time...we disengage...with the sight of our brand new cruiser getting beneath the waves... But then we heard the typical sound of a sinking ship....i bet CL Tama sunk near Tassafarong few minutes after that...


Night Time Surface Combat, near Tulagi at 114,137, Range 11,000 Yards

Allied aircraft
no flights

No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
CL Tama, Shell hits 4, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
CL Kitakami, Shell hits 3
DD Arashio, Shell hits 4
DD Suresushio, Shell hits 6, on fire
DD Tadeyame, Shell hits 3, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk

Allied Ships
CL Honolulu, Shell hits 8, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
DD Laffey, Shell hits 4
DD Duncan, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Anderson
DD Hammann
DD Blue, Shell hits 2, on fire
DD Arunta



Improved night sighting under 96% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Clear Conditions and 96% moonlight: 12,000 yards
Range closes to 23,000 yards...
CONTACT: Allies radar detects Japanese task force at 23,000 yards
Range closes to 17,000 yards...
Range closes to 11,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 11,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 11,000 yards
Nishimura, Teiji crosses the 'T'
CL Honolulu engages CL Kitakami at 11,000 yards
CL Tama engages CL Honolulu at 11,000 yards
DD Blue engages DD Tadeyame at 11,000 yards
DD Suresushio engages DD Blue at 11,000 yards
DD Anderson engages DD Tadeyame at 11,000 yards
DD Duncan engages DD Suresushio at 11,000 yards
DD Laffey engages DD Suresushio at 11,000 yards
Range closes to 5,000 yards
CL Tama engages CL Honolulu at 5,000 yards
CL Honolulu engages CL Tama at 5,000 yards
DD Tadeyame engages DD Anderson at 5,000 yards
DD Arashio engages DD Blue at 5,000 yards
DD Suresushio engages DD Duncan at 5,000 yards
DD Tadeyame engages DD Laffey at 5,000 yards
CL Honolulu engages CL Kitakami at 5,000 yards
CL Tama engages CL Honolulu at 5,000 yards
DD Laffey engages DD Tadeyame at 5,000 yards
DD Suresushio engages DD Anderson at 5,000 yards
DD Arashio engages DD Blue at 5,000 yards
DD Tadeyame engages DD Duncan at 5,000 yards
DD Arashio engages DD Laffey at 5,000 yards
Range closes to 4,000 yards
DD Tadeyame engages DD Arunta at 4,000 yards
DD Arashio engages DD Blue at 4,000 yards
DD Hammann engages DD Suresushio at 4,000 yards
DD Arashio engages DD Anderson at 4,000 yards
DD Arashio engages DD Duncan at 4,000 yards
DD Tadeyame sunk by DD Laffey at 4,000 yards
Range closes to 3,000 yards
CL Honolulu engages CL Kitakami at 3,000 yards
DD Arunta engages DD Suresushio at 3,000 yards
DD Blue engages DD Suresushio at 3,000 yards
DD Suresushio engages DD Hammann at 3,000 yards
DD Suresushio engages DD Anderson at 3,000 yards
DD Arashio engages DD Duncan at 3,000 yards
DD Laffey engages DD Suresushio at 3,000 yards
Range increases to 4,000 yards
CL Honolulu engages CL Kitakami at 4,000 yards
DD Arunta engages DD Arashio at 4,000 yards
DD Blue engages DD Suresushio at 4,000 yards
DD Suresushio engages DD Hammann at 4,000 yards
DD Suresushio engages DD Anderson at 4,000 yards
DD Suresushio engages DD Duncan at 4,000 yards
DD Suresushio engages DD Laffey at 4,000 yards
Range closes to 3,000 yards
CL Kitakami engages CL Honolulu at 3,000 yards
CL Tama engages DD Arunta at 3,000 yards
DD Duncan engages DD Suresushio at 3,000 yards
DD Arashio engages DD Hammann at 3,000 yards
DD Laffey engages DD Arashio at 3,000 yards
Range increases to 4,000 yards
CL Kitakami engages CL Honolulu at 4,000 yards
CL Tama engages CL Honolulu at 4,000 yards
DD Suresushio engages DD Laffey at 4,000 yards
DD Blue engages DD Arashio at 4,000 yards
DD Anderson engages DD Arashio at 4,000 yards
DD Arashio engages DD Duncan at 4,000 yards
DD Laffey engages DD Arashio at 4,000 yards
Range increases to 6,000 yards
CL Kitakami engages CL Honolulu at 6,000 yards
CL Tama engages CL Honolulu at 6,000 yards
DD Suresushio engages DD Blue at 6,000 yards
DD Arashio engages DD Laffey at 6,000 yards
DD Anderson engages DD Arashio at 6,000 yards
DD Duncan engages DD Suresushio at 6,000 yards
DD Suresushio engages DD Laffey at 6,000 yards
Range increases to 7,000 yards
CL Kitakami engages CL Honolulu at 7,000 yards
CL Tama engages CL Honolulu at 7,000 yards
DD Suresushio engages DD Laffey at 7,000 yards
DD Hammann engages DD Arashio at 7,000 yards
DD Suresushio engages DD Anderson at 7,000 yards
DD Duncan engages DD Arashio at 7,000 yards
DD Laffey engages DD Arashio at 7,000 yards
CL Honolulu engages CL Kitakami at 7,000 yards
DD Suresushio engages DD Arunta at 7,000 yards
DD Suresushio engages DD Blue at 7,000 yards
DD Hammann engages DD Suresushio at 7,000 yards
DD Suresushio engages DD Anderson at 7,000 yards
DD Duncan engages DD Suresushio at 7,000 yards
DD Laffey engages DD Suresushio at 7,000 yards
Range closes to 5,000 yards
CL Honolulu sunk by CL Kitakami at 5,000 yards
DD Arashio engages DD Arunta at 5,000 yards
DD Suresushio engages DD Blue at 5,000 yards
DD Arashio engages DD Anderson at 5,000 yards
DD Suresushio engages DD Anderson at 5,000 yards
DD Duncan engages DD Suresushio at 5,000 yards
DD Arashio engages DD Laffey at 5,000 yards
Range closes to 3,000 yards
CL Kitakami engages DD Arunta at 3,000 yards
CL Tama engages DD Anderson at 3,000 yards
DD Suresushio engages DD Anderson at 3,000 yards
DD Suresushio engages DD Anderson at 3,000 yards
DD Suresushio engages DD Duncan at 3,000 yards
DD Arashio engages DD Laffey at 3,000 yards
Range increases to 6,000 yards
CL Kitakami engages DD Duncan at 6,000 yards
CL Tama engages DD Blue at 6,000 yards
DD Suresushio engages DD Anderson at 6,000 yards
DD Arashio engages DD Blue at 6,000 yards
DD Suresushio engages DD Duncan at 6,000 yards
DD Laffey engages DD Arashio at 6,000 yards
Nishimura, Teiji orders Japanese TF to disengage
Range increases to 10,000 yards
CL Kitakami engages DD Laffey at 10,000 yards
CL Tama engages DD Blue at 10,000 yards
DD Laffey engages DD Suresushio at 10,000 yards
DD Anderson engages DD Suresushio at 10,000 yards
CL Tama engages DD Duncan at 10,000 yards
DD Arashio engages DD Laffey at 10,000 yards
Range closes to 9,000 yards
CL Kitakami engages DD Blue at 9,000 yards
CL Tama engages DD Arunta at 9,000 yards
DD Arashio engages DD Hammann at 9,000 yards
DD Anderson engages DD Arashio at 9,000 yards
DD Laffey engages DD Suresushio at 9,000 yards
Hanson, E. orders Allied TF to disengage
Range closes to 5,000 yards
CL Kitakami engages DD Duncan at 5,000 yards
DD Hammann engages DD Suresushio at 5,000 yards
DD Duncan engages DD Arashio at 5,000 yards
DD Laffey engages DD Suresushio at 5,000 yards
Range increases to 11,000 yards
DD Suresushio engages DD Arunta at 11,000 yards
DD Suresushio engages DD Hammann at 11,000 yards
Task forces break off...

overall a good engagement. We were not lucky with those damned torps of his CLs...but we exchanged 1 CL for 1 CL and 2 DDs...which is a good result imho...and, above all, we gave Rader the message that there is no more walk in the park for him against my ships...we're growing stronger!!


The day ended with a couple of 4Es missions (followed by P-38s on sweep) against Russell island...not a good deal indeed...we lost more than what we chewed...and our 4Es and P-38s badly need some rest...

Oh, and our paras went without the proper preparation at Auki and didn't achieve the goal...they face more than double their number...ok, we're evacuating them...we'll be ready to use them again soon enough...

[pws1225]

overall a good engagement. We were not lucky with those damned torps of his CLs...but we exchanged 1 CL for 1 CL and 2 DDs...which is a good result imho...and, above all, we gave Rader the message that there is no more walk in the park for him against my ships...we're growing stronger!!

First Karachi holds, and now no free ride in the Solomons. Could this be the 'end of the beginning'? Perhaps so.

[GreyJoy]

ORIGINAL: pws1225

overall a good engagement. We were not lucky with those damned torps of his CLs...but we exchanged 1 CL for 1 CL and 2 DDs...which is a good result imho...and, above all, we gave Rader the message that there is no more walk in the park for him against my ships...we're growing stronger!!

First Karachi holds, and now no free ride in the Solomons. Could this be the 'end of the beginning'? Perhaps so.

That's the plan...to finally stop the tide...

However yes, that list of sunk jap ships was updated...

The only good thing is that Rader told me in a mail that the CV Hiryu got really hit by 2 fishes during his last raid at Ndani...i was out of synch so i didn't get it...he reports that she made it back to japan but her damages were extensive...so Japan is probably now short of one CV...

Ok, i followed NY59Giants suggestion and divided my CVs in 6 different TFs...no matter what my CVs will remain in cover for the moment.

Another SCTF is ordered to cover Tulagi tonight...Releigh CL, escorted by 3 DDs of Fletcher Class...brand new...with good captains...let's see if he dares again.
The plan is to arrive at night at flank speed, cover the unloading operations and then retire by the dawn...there will be no CAP today to help the ships cause i foresee a stong japanese reaction for tomorrow after the defeat they suffered today, so i retreated my fighters back to ndeni, while i moved to karakira 45 P-40Ks in order to cover the landings there (moving there a Marine Def unit, along with a strong USAFF base force and 3 Seabees units).
if everything goes as i wish by the end of Feb we'll be able to oppose 650 AVs at Tulagi, with more artillery and more fresh troops (we managed to evacuate the raiders, substituted by the 148th US). 2Es will bomb Tulagi again tomorrow, while the 4Es will rest along with P-38s and Corsairs.

[GreyJoy]

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel

Ah, I see GreyJoy has developed the super-secret "Conrado" long-range patrol/transport airplane.  He needs to base some of them at Scoodra.

[:'(]