Damn the torpedoes, Full speed ahead! - dennishe vs njp72 - early 1944

[dennishe]

After being isolated from the outside world for more than 10 months and after more than 6 months of heavy fighting, it is becoming difficult for the USAFFE to keep the Japanese troops out

[dennishe]

There are many active AARs on the forum (of which I follow quite a lot silently) making me having to scroll back quite far everytime I want to update mine.

[dennishe]

I seems we are heading towards our weekly naval battle [:D]

[GreyJoy]

Always apleasure to read this AAR!
Love it!

[dennishe]

ORIGINAL: GreyJoy

Always apleasure to read this AAR!
Love it!

Thanks!.

I just realized that in October 1942 production of the B17E and B17F has stopped and that I'm only getting 15 B24Ds per month. If I had known that I would definitively have pulled the B17Es from Tarawa when I saw the Japanese BBs coming. Now I figured that 4 CAs were sufficient to block them. Unfortunately they were not and I lost a month supply of heavies. [:@] Daily bombardments may become too costly soon [:(]

[Crackaces]

I note no mines at Tarawa .. mines, a dutch sub, CD guns, and SAG's all combine together to discourage bombardment ... and I have found it takes a couple of punches to the nose for the IJ to change their strategy .. Just a thought ...

[cantona2]

Love this AAR style
Id just like to add a PT squadron to crackaces suggestions

[Crackaces]

ORIGINAL: cantona2

Love this AAR style
Id just like to add a PT squadron to crackaces suggestions

Oh yes .. PT boats on moonless nights .. nothing like it to make the IJN's day ...[:D]

[dennishe]

ORIGINAL: Crackaces

I note no mines at Tarawa .. mines, a dutch sub, CD guns, and SAG's all combine together to discourage bombardment ... and I have found it takes a couple of punches to the nose for the IJ to change their strategy .. Just a thought ...

Thanks for the advice. So far the CM's have passed by Tarawa but not for much longer. CD guns are present but were unable to damage the BBs.

[dennishe]

ORIGINAL: dennishe

For some reason either my naval commanders are total cowards and are the first ones to jump off a burning ship, or for some reasons naval captains are no longer being removed from the game after their ship sinks. RADM Shafroth should have went down with his ship, the CA Houston and indeed is no longer aboard any of the ships that still remain in the task force. However, one can still pick him from the list of commanders to command a new TF. I had the same thing with VADM Philips, whose ship the BB Repulse sank while he was on it. Do naval commanders still die in beta?

Earlier I ranted about captains being the first one to jump of a sinking ship rather than going down with it. With recent events I guess WITPAE works fine as this is accurate:


DF: Hello. I am... Commander.

FS: Good evening, Commander.

DF: I am Di Falco from Livorno. Am I speaking with the Commander?

FS: Yes. Good evening Commander Di Falco.

DF: Please tell me your name.

FS: I am Commander Schettino, Commander.

DF: Schettino?

FS: Yes.

DF: Listen Schettino. There are people who are trapped on board. Now you go with your lifeboat under the bow. There is a Jacob's ladder. You go up that ladder and get on board the ship. You go on board and you then tell me how many people there are. Is this clear? I am recording this conversation, Commander Schettino.

FS: Right, Commander. I have to tell you something.

DF: Speak loudly.

FS: The ship now...

DF: Commander, please speak loudly. Put your hand round the microphone and speak loudly.[Background talking possibly between FS and people with him but unclear]

FS: Commander, right now, the ship is inclined.

DF: I have understood that. Now, listen to me, there are people who are coming down that ladder. Now you go up that ladder instead, you go on board and you tell me how many people there are and what they have on board. You tell me if there are children, women or people who need help. And you tell me the number of people in each of these groups. Is that clear? Listen Schettino, you have saved yourself but I will make sure that you will be in serious trouble. Go on board, for ***** sake.

FS: Commander, please...

DF: No please. Now you go on board. Please reassure me that you are going on board.

FS: I am going with the rescue boat. I am under here.

DF: What are you doing, Commander?

FS: I am here to coordinate the rescue operations.

DF: What are you coordinating? Go on board and coordinate rescue operations from there. Are you refusing to do so?

FS: No, no, no, I am not refusing to go on board.

DF: Are you refusing to go on board, Commander?

FS: [inaudible]

DF: And tell me the reason why you are not going on board.

FS: I am going there because there is the other lifeboat[inaudible].

DF: You go on board. It is an order. You don't need to carry out any assessment. You declared "ship abandoned". Now I am in charge. You go on board. Is that clear?

FS: Commander

DF: Can you not hear me?

FS: I am going on board

DF: You go

FS: [inaudible]

DF: You call me immediately when you are on board. My rescuer is there.

FS: Where is your rescuer?

DF: My rescuer is at the bow. Go on. There are already some bodies, Schettino. Go on.

FS: How many bodies are there?

DF: I don't know. I am aware of one. You will tell me their number, for Christ's sake.

FS: But do you realise that it is dark and that we cannot see anything?

DF: And what do you want to do? Go back home, Schettino? Go to the bow of the ship by going up the ladder and tell me what can be done, how many people there are and what they need. Now.

FS: Commander unclear

DF: What?

FS: I have the second in command here.

DF: You both go up, then. Both of you. What is the name of the second in command?

FS: [inaudible]

DF: What is the name of the second in command?

FS: His name is Dimitri...

DF: Dimitri what?

FS: Dimitri [inaudible]

DF: You and your second in command go on board. Now. Is that clear?

FS: Commander. I want to go on board. But the other lifeboat, the other rescuers are here and it has stopped, it has stopped.. Now, I have called other rescuers...

DF: You have been telling me this for the last hour. You now go on board. Go on board. And you tell me immediately how many people there are.

FS: That's ok, Commander.

DF: You go, immediately.

[dennishe]

The US I Corps has started operation Whiskey in the Jar to take back New Caledonia. Updates will follow after a delay as I do not want to give any details away to my opponent.

[dennishe]

Since the US I Corps has taken La Foa and the Japanese troops know who is involved in the attack there is no longer reason for absolute secrecy.

[dennishe]

about 20 Catalinas are stationed at La Foa, all on 100% naval search. If KB shows up we want to know it in time

[bigred]

Go get those nasty japs!

[dennishe]

So far operation "Whiskey in the Jar" is going very smoothly

[dennishe]

ORIGINAL: bigred

Go get those nasty japs!

Soon

[dennishe]

The war is really tough for the poor Chinese troops. Now a bunch of guys is cut off between the Burmese jungle and the Himalaya.

[dennishe]

This could turn ugly...

[dennishe]

The battle for Noumea is escalating...

[dennishe]

I start to believe that the Whiskey doesn't fall well and the Jar is by far not empty.[:(] Tomorrow the US I Corps is going to do a deliberate attack at Noumea. If that goes well, it may al just work out. Otherwise this will be a long campaign. Interesting is that the Japanese troops need the presence of KB to be dominate in this area. Therefore it cannot leave and cannot support other operations [:D]