Speedy vs Swift - Jap perspective. Fight to the death

[Speedysteve]

Hi all,

The calm after the storm now. Thousands of tonnes of Supplies and Fuel are being moved through Wake's port and into the various dumps and silos.

KB has moved to the north-east of Wake in search of the remaining Americna CV. No joy so far but 2 TF's have been spotted. She is low on fuekl and will move at full speed tomorrow to try and tag the carrier. After that she will retire to Wake to refuel. From there I will return Soryu and Zuikaku to Japan to repair their damage (Zuikaku still on 11 from when leaving the repair yards to help in the Wake Operation. Soryu is a5 25 SYS damage from the 1000lb bomb hit.)

I've attached a shot of the damaged ships in Wake's port. As you can see quite a few are heavily damaged either from CD fire, mine hits or bomb hits from the American CV's. The 2 notable inclusions are the CA Takao (damaged by 8" hits from CA Indianapolis) and CVL Zuiho (hit by a 1000lb bomb).

Steven

[ADavidB]

Ouch - that's a lot of damaged ships! [X(] It's a good thing Wake is a level 3 port. I suspect that you will still lose a lot of those ships.

In retrospect - are you still happy with the results (particularly since you sank a couple of US carriers) or do you think that you would have been better off isolating Wake and letting it starve?

Thanks again -

Dave Baranyi

[fabertong]

This looks like a result for Speedy to me......if he can get his crippled baby flattop home.......Steven has managed to do at Wake what Yamamoto tried to do at Midway.........

[Speedysteve]

Hi Dave,

Yes there are quite a few ships but to be honest I only really care about Zuiho and Takao.

I'm still VERY happy with the results. Sure I will potentially lose another 10 or so Auxillaries and at worst case Zuiho and Takao BUT:

I have wiped out 2 more CV's = free reign for me for until mid-43 (he'll only have Hornet, Yorktown and Wasp)

200+ aircraft gone for good.

Over 40,000 Allied casualties and 1 less division to have to face in the future.

On a scale of 1-100 (100 being a perfectly executed plan with low losses) I would give this an 80. Could have been a lot worse.

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KB didn't find any more ships so she's returning to Wake to refuel. Then most forces will have R & R for a month or so whilst men and material move to Truk for operations in the South Pacific.

Thoughts all -

My Malaya forces have had their R & R and are ready for future deployment. There are 4 divisions/RGT's + ART + ARM + ENG. I'm unsure what to do with them? I think I will send some forces ot Burma to strengthen 33rd and 55th Divisions. Where shall I send the rest? South Pacific too?

Java - A small update there. My men control the northern 1/3 of Java and are advancing on Tjiltjap. Once conquered these men will move to Truk - a regiment to mop up some Islands.

Steven

[String]

Consider that he may invade Malaya in the future, you might want to keep a nice garrison at Singapore

[witpqs]

No, no. I thought there was something I [&:]completely[&:] failed to understand - range, location, carrier reaction... relieved it was a typo! [8D]

[witpqs]

Almost forgot - very nice going, Speedy.

Looking at all those wounded ships, you might even pull them out of wake one hex until Zuiho stops flooding - just in case!

[Rob Brennan UK]

Congratulations !

2 Carriers as well is a real bonus, hope the CVL survives, she looks pretty beaten up. just as well he'd enlarged the port for you [:D]

The problem as allies is you really dont have that many troops to be able to garrison with 3-4 divs everywhere, My sop is have maybe 1 in outlying areas ( RCT is good for this) and a big lump with AP's ready to go back when the dust settles. you lose less men this way i find.

anyway sorry drifting off topic there ..

whats the date by the way ?

[Speedysteve]

Hi all,

The date is 26th March 1942.

String - A fair point. I have decided what I will do with the men in Malaya. I have tallyed what I have in total up there:

Imperial Guards Division
4th Division
5th Division
4th Mixed Brigade
21st Mixed Brigade
4th Mixed Regiment
ARM, ART and ENG units

I will leave the 4th Mixed Brigade in Singapore. 4th Mixed Regiment will clear the western ports of Sumatra and then return to Malaya for local defense.

IGD, 4th Division and 21st Mixed Brigade + ARM, ENG and ART units will move in Burma. I will try and push up through Imphal/Kohima but if the going is too tough I will move back to Myitkina/Mandalay.

I currently have IJA planes at Mandalay. I also plan to move up 2 Nell and 2 Zero Daitai from Palembang to Rangoon for 'sea defense'.

5th Division will move to Truk for the capture of Port Morseby. 10th Division and 1st Guards Mixed Brigade (both transfered from restricted commands to compensate for losing 2 diviasions to the warping bug of v1.6) will also plan to capture Port Morseby.

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KB has reached Wake and is taking on fuel and ammunition. Despite it being a successful operation most air groups needed to take on 1/3 inexperienced pilots........

Werner had been flooding the area with subs (I count at least 10 to date). Accordingly I ordered all of KB's Vals to search for and destroy the blighters. A successful day:

S42 - 2 bomb hits
Triton - 1 hit
Argonaut - 1 hit
S43 - 1 hit
Trout - 1 hit

Also guys i've just noticed i'm already at the 4:1 point margin! 16,100 to 3,900

Below is the updated list og ships in Wake's port. 3 more ships sank yesterday (PG, AK and TK).

Come on men pump those ships dry!

[Speedysteve]

Hi all,

The past few days have been relatively quiet. My focus has currently shifted to Java, China and Burma.

Java - In Java my forces are enterting the coastal town of Tjilatjap. Resistance is being encountered but should be subdued within a few days.

China - I have moved well in China and have taken a fair bit of the rail. Changsha, Hengyang and Yenen are mine. My men are currently assaulting Wuchow. I should take this within a couple of weeks hard fighting. I plan to just take the reailroad cities and leave the rest to rot.

Burma - now i've decided to move some additional forces to Burma i'm more focussed on here now. Werner had marched the 20th Indian Division to Myitkina. The 55th Division was despatched from Mandalay to take care of the situation. It did that admirably and rapidly pushed the Indians back up the Ledo trail. I am following them up there. The 33rd is moving up the rail from Mandalay to cover any intervention from Imphal/Kohima.

When my additonal forces arrive I will decide then on which route to push up.

---------------

Captain Muramoto was viewing the turbulent seas through the periscope of the C1 class submarine I-20. She had been on partrol in the region 420 miles ENE of Christmas Island for 1 1/2 weeks and had seen nothing of interest. Today was different!

Upon scouring the seas Muramoto noticed funnels on the horizon bearing 10 degrees. Upon closer inspection it turned out to be an American Convoy! The TF was not mopving away at high speed and Muramoto did not appear to have been detected.

Muramoto plotted an intercept curse and within the hour was in a perfect position to attack one of the AK's. 4 torpedo's were let loose at the unaware ship..........

With what seemed like an eternity the crew waited for the tell tale explosions which would indicate their fish had hit home and there it was a rumbling that lasted for seconds and at the same time another loud deep rumbling. 2 fish had hit home!

Muramoto plotted an escape vector and was surprised to find the escorting destroyers did not vigorously search for him. He watched the striken Merchant from a safe distance. The ships settled to starboard and slowly but surely sank beneath the waves.

A good days work Captain!

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Wake - several ships still in port. The important ones Zuiho and Takao are styill afloat but have similar flooding levels to what they did 3 days ago. Come on men work harder!

2 US subs that have lingered have been despatched to a watery grave............

[Speedysteve]

Hi all,

The past few days have seen action in Burma and Java.

In Java, my Army has taken Tjitatjap and is marching fourther south. I will take this sialand and its oil for my families in Japan. The war effort will appreciate it too.

Burma - LGEN Terauchi, commanding officer of 55th Division, haslodged a complaint with GHQ! [:-]

He apparently deems it futile to advance up through Jungle, valleys, mountains between Myitkyina and Ledo! The audacity of the general. I respedt his abilty at controlling a duivsions but for him to question GHQ and its foresight! 55th had pushed the 20th Indian Division out of Myitkyina and purused it through dense jungleon the trail to Ledo. The Indians were in disarray and Terauchi easily caught up with them yesterday. The Indians didn't appear to notice any danger! Terauchi ordered a deadly Japanese night attack which captured 600 men and pushed the Indians further up the trail.

GHQ then ordered him to pursue the Indians upto Ledo! He though this preposterous. He had his orders re-read anmd is following as planned.

He doesn't understand that 33rd is covbering his left flank on the raikl near the trai lto Imphal and that 2 more divisions, 1 brigade, 1 Engeineer Rgt, 1 ARM Rgt and 4 further Art units are en route from Malaya

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The wider war -

KB is moving back to Japan to leave Zuikaku and Soryu for repairs.

At Wake - Zuiho and Takao are still afloat. Zuiho is at 58 Flt, Takao 68 Flt. Both have had some water pumped out over the past few days. Keep it up boys.

Hiryu - after repairing at Okayama she is now ready for active duty again and will join KB along with the NEW CV Hiyo (due in 6 days time from sea trials).

-------------------------

Below is a photo of Terauchi drinking morning Saki on 1st April 9142. He was lucky it wasn't his last Saki.....................

[Speedysteve]

Hi all,

Been a busy couple of days and as such less time for PBEM and updates.

Across the theatre things are progressing fine.

Burma -

I have decided to apply a little pressure on Werner from Burma ALREADY. The 4th Mixed Brigade and 4th Division are on transports and en route to Rangoon. The IGD will follow with engineers, armour and artillery. In the meantime the 33rd is making its way up the trail from Myitkyina to Ledo. The 55th is in place to block any movement from Imphal/Kohima to the rail cionnecting Mandalay to Myitkyina.

2 x Zero Daitai and 2 x Nell Daitai have flown into Rangoon's airfields for future use.

IJA units made their first attack for a while in Burma! They bombed the retreating Indian Division near Ledo. With a bit of luck Werner may move reinforcements over there and I can potentially deploy 4 division to an area where he is weaker.

SRA -

Forces are 60 miles from Djokjakarta.

Lots of oil and resources are being moved back to Japan to keep the 'fires burning'

South Pacific -

I have started to fly sweeps from Rabaul with F4/Toko Daitai over PM. The Wirraways there have taken a terrible beating losing roughly 20 of their number for no lost 0's.

I want Werner to wonder where the hammer will fall next - Burma? S Pacific? etc etc.

I-124 will arrive at Truk soon and take on board mines. They will then be deployed at Noumea as a little surprise [;)]

Wake -

All the capital ships are still afloat still being in the 50-60's FLT! Port is 66% on its way to a size 4.

Japan -

KB will arrive at Okayama within 2 days. At the same time the new IJN carrier - Hiyo will set sail from Tokyo to join them.

New slightly more manueverable Zero's (M3's) are being built now. I plan to use these in areas where distance if less of a problem - Burma and New Guinea.

After Werner's foray in the Kurile's im mining the area and keeping Zero's/Bettie's up there just in case.

China -

Here 's the real deal for now. Action across a lot of the rail and urban areas. See the attached map below. Wuchow is the next major target whic hshould fal within a week or 2. That just leaves Kweilin to clear but there appear to be a lot of Chinese units there.....

Steven

[Speedysteve]

Hi all,

The past 3 days have seen relatively quiet times across the Pacific.

Werner appears to have mined a few ports. DD Samidare hit a mine whilst searching for a sub near Merak, Java. She limped into Batavia harbour later on in the evening with a large hole in her starboard bow. Emergency teams are in the hull and are attemtping to pump out all of the flood water.

My Army will reach Djokjakarta tomorrow. The ratplace should fall soon.

Burma -

I instructed the IJA to attack the airbase at Ledo for the first time in the war. 60 bombers were escorted by 14 Oscars. I did not expect to find much opposition. The weather was clear and the journey uneventful..........until upon nearing the airbase 16 enemy aircraft appeared on the horizon! What this should not be happening. My escorts reacted sluggishly and the enemy fighters had dived through my bomber formation before the Oscars had reacted. The first and only pass shot down 4 Sallies and then thye were gone as fast as they had appeared. Little damage was caused to the airbase.

Wake -

Situation is still the same. An TK sank yesterday but the capital ships are still the same all 3 of them are low in the water (60ish FLT) but men are working feverishly hard to clear the ships of water. Engineers on-shore have worked double time to create extra port facilities and they should be in use to aid the ships tomorrow (Port size 4).

KB -

Has just docked at Okayama. They will remain there for about a week for a bit of R & R. The operational ships will then move to Truk for the southern attack. In preparation of that many transports from across the Empire are moving men and material to the bastion of Truk for future operations...........


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All - I am all of a sudden temoted to launch KB on a hunting mission either inbetween Hawaii and US or to Columbo BEFORE the southern operation. What do you all think?

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A picture from Akagi approaching Japan. Taken on 5th April 1942........

Steven

[ADavidB]

All - I am all of a sudden temoted to launch KB on a hunting mission either inbetween Hawaii and US or to Columbo BEFORE the southern operation. What do you all think?

Ship hunting those two areas will possibly get you some points, but it will also get you a lot of wear and tear on your AC TFs that might slow you down at a critical part of your plan.

Right now your opponent is pretty gunshy of the KB - why not send out a "noisy" AC TF containing your CVL's and some CS's with everything flying at extended search range. It will scare your opponent and cause him to scatter his TFs everywhere, thus disrupting his plans. It will also act as a good cover for your southern plan.

Have fun -

Dave Baranyi

[Speedysteve]

Excellent idea Dave, excellent.

I like it and I will execute accordingly -

KB will consist of:

Akagi
Shokaku
Zuikaku
Hiryu
Junyo
Hiyo

Within 6-8 weeks Kaga and Soryu should be repaired and ready for action.

Mini-KB (decoy operation):

Shoho
Hosho
Ryujo
Taiyo
Chitose

They will proceed well north of Midway and head for the West Coast. They will let loose when KB nears Truk. KB will leave Japan within 2 weeks. The main delay now is getting the divisions from Malaya and Wake to Truk. It works out well though since it allows some R & R for KB in Japan.

----------------------

I-2 bagged another TK today 360 miles south-west of San Francisco [:)]

Steven

[DuckofTindalos]

Every time I hear the words "decoy operation" in conjunction with Japanese carriers, I think of Ozawa's poor bastards at the Battle of Leyte. Tread carefully, young Padawan.

[ADavidB]

ORIGINAL: Terminus

Every time I hear the words "decoy operation" in conjunction with Japanese carriers, I think of Ozawa's poor bastards at the Battle of Leyte. Tread carefully, young Padawan.

True enough, but Speedy's opponent doesn't have much to throw after a diversion at this point. And those Japanese CS ships can be quite nasty in their own way...[;)]

Cheers -

Dave Baranyi

[Speedysteve]

My intel guys worked overtime yesterday...........

"Radio transmissions detected at United States."

Thanks guys [:D]

[Speedysteve]

Hi all,

Whilst things are in a relatively quiet phase (apart from taking the rest of Java and hopefully clearing the rail line in China) I have been looking at production (i'll post a screenie and my thoughts on that after the next day), have upgraded a few groups (4 Mavis groups to Emily's for example) and have been thinking on Burma.

What do you think?

I know from my Allied PBEM games how many LCU's and airgroups the Brits will get from now on and I am thinking it may require an ALL OUT effort rather than devoting 1/3 of my IJA to moving through Burma.

At present i'm probing Ledo with the 33rd Division whilst I move other forces into Rangoon.

Here is what I will have in Burma within 2 weeks:

21st Mixed Brigade
4th Division
Imperial Guards Division
55th Division
33rd Division
+ several ARM, ENG and ART units.

In Java once that is completely overrun I have:

65th Brigade
48th Division
38th Division
35th Brigade
1st & 2nd Parachute Regiments

I planned on leaving a Brigade in Java as garrison and then moving the rest to the South Pacific.

I'm undecided as to whether to really go for it in Burma or whether I could just push through up past Imphal/Kohima and in effect tie this move in as a diversion whilst I move in the South Pacific. There are several different routes.

What do you think?

Steven

[ADavidB]

What do you think?

I wouldn't bother putting any troops into the jungle at all. Put them all into the naval invasions, grab those four bases and cut off the Brit troops. Why let your good units waste away in malarial jungle? You can't supply them and they won't recover losses.

Cheers -

Dave Baranyi