Nothing Up My Sleeve: Magical Moose Tricks--Bullwinkle58 vs.1EyedJacks

[Lokasenna]

Gutsy moves in sticking with it. I like it.

[Bullwinkle58]

July 14, 1942

Big-E Lost; Rota Falls

1) Enterprise goes under from massive fires and flooding. Yorktown does not. Will be interesting to see how fires have progressed there. Northhampton also sinks en route Eniwetok. Also DD Woodworth. Should have scuttled her, but I wanted the torpedo target. Doesn't happen.

2) Mike's email suggests frustration that the KB was unable to find gold today. The biggest asset now is the Sara/Lex and the Americal. They are headed NE to vamp for time. Replenishment TF heading that way as well. I am flooding the Marshalls and the water toward Ponape with every sub I can vector on fuel remaining. I want the KB to give me a three-day window. Rabaul will go to AF 4 tomorrow and the Forts may fly on Truk, complicating the KB's home base situation a bit. Hoping. Everything I can do with my meager resources is devoted to making Mid-Pac a not-nice place for Japan to be this next week.

3) AP President Jackson, retreating from Eniwetok with escort, is set upon by S-11 several times. Finally sinks. APs are not to be wasted as they grow up to be APAs. Every one lost hurts.

4) SS Pollack and Skipjack feast on barges between Kwaj and RN.

5) A 4-DD TF is sent west from Eniwetok to attack incoming xAK TF from Truk. A risk, but I don't want to turtle up and look too weak over the next few days. The smaller Japanese carrier TF used before the KB showed up has gone west as far as Kusaie I., but the planes have enough range to reach that far north. I assume Mavis search out of Truk is near perfect. The DDs dodge and weave through several attacks, but eventually the Kates get to DD Farragut. She sinks. Previously a Nell strike, presumably from Truk, is roughed up by this TF as well; two are downed. The xAKs are never engaged.

Overall the situation in the Marshalls is in flux, with the initiative on Japan's side. They can bag more ships if they want to stay, but at risk of a lucky sub shot, plus the limited air assets at Eniwetok. And they also know at least one undamaged carrier is somewhere NE of Roi-Namur, with Wake beyond holding a fair amount of LBA.

6) Interesting action at Loemadjang in SE Java. One IJN DD has been attacked at least six times by air. I think this is a 1-ship TF left there as an F-U after our disagreement over 1-ship TFs. I've bombed and bombed it. Zilch. Today the Dutch have had enough.

Sub attack near Loemadjang at 56,106

Japanese Ships
DD Michishio, Torpedo hits 1, heavy damage

Allied Ships
SS O16

7) PBang repairs gained some room today, with runways down to 19% and AF at 100%. Without sustained, daily saturation bombing the AF can repair pretty quickly. Multiple Bettys are lost or damaged here today. Fort building has stopped for quite some time, but the troops are untouched, with great morale and fatigue levels. Supply rebuilds after every air campaign. PBang has to be taken the old-fashioned way.

8) Even more heavy bombing at Rangoon after yesterday's failed Japanese attack. In the urban terrain, with local forts at least Level 1 and decent supply, the troops are hanging in there. Internal AA is very robust in the Indian and British units and scores of 2E are destroyed or damaged. Supply must be a consideration soon. If I can get the Big Stack down and take Pegu it will be a serious situation requiring sea supply. Holding Tavoy and investing Moulmein with the Chinese complicate the Japanese problem.

It is clear that Japan is seeking to make supply a reason for the Allies to withdraw from Rangoon. The carrier TF on the Burma coast is now seen as Junyo and Hiyo, too much for Wasp to tackle alone. It proceeds farther north, attacking Calcutta. Every plane there is on alert or set for naval attack and a large number fly. Three Zeros are downed for five mixed-model Allied. Subs are vectored to cover the carrier withdrawal south. For the moment the supply line from Calcutta to Chittagong is closed.

9) Night strat bombing fails. Day strikes on Tjepoe fail except one. I have never seen a combo report on a City target with an AF like this.

Morning Air attack on Tjepoe , at 54,103

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 36 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes

Allied aircraft
Hudson I x 8
B-26 Marauder x 7

Allied aircraft losses
Hudson I: 2 damaged
B-26 Marauder: 1 damaged

Refinery hits 8
Airbase hits 3
Airbase supply hits 4
Runway hits 9

Aircraft Attacking:
8 x Hudson I bombing from 8000 feet
City Attack: 4 x 250 lb GP Bomb
7 x B-26 Marauder bombing from 8000 feet
Airfield Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb

10) Kanga Force lands on Rota in the Marianas and takes the base. A wake-up call, not a huge victory. It will need to be re-taken and a force left against re-re-taking. A spread of Japanese forces, more supply runs. Taking something in the Marianas was a core goal of SNAGLEPUSS, but not in this limited way. It has now been done, so . . . "check" . . . but it's just a demonstration at this point. A pin-prick, a hassle for Japan. But not free to address either.

Night Bombing

--NIGHT AIR OPERATIONS PHASE
AIR NIGHT STRIKES
3 x No.11 Sqn RAF Blenheim IV stray due to night
3 x 11th BG/98th BS B-17E Fortress stray due to night

--Night Air attack on Miri , at 64,87

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid spotted at 49 NM, estimated altitude 5,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes

Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 3

No Allied losses

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 1000 feet * Oil attack on very large oil fields. 1000 feet, no hits.
City Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb

[Encircled]

Ouch! Hang on in there, you still got a lot to play with

[Bullwinkle58]

ORIGINAL: Encircled

Ouch! Hang on in there, you still got a lot to play with

I'm doing the turn now. Fires are out everywhere except on a DD at Eniwetok. Yorktown should easily make Pearl if she isn't found. Long Island is amazingly intact for a CVE. Enterprise has emotional impact, but it's not as bad as I thought two days ago. Lots of lessons learned.

Plus, I'm back in the Marianas in July 1942! Is that a record? [:)]

[Encircled]

It is now!

Dunno who posted it, but if he's fighting you in the Marshalls, then he's running the risk of not securing the DEI.

And Rabaul, well, its one of the best bases in the SW Pacific, and its still yours.

I'd rename all your returning cruisers after all the bases he's not taken, just to rub it in[:)]

[witpqs]

ORIGINAL: Encircled

It is now!

Dunno who posted it, but if he's fighting you in the Marshalls, then he's running the risk of not securing the DEI.

And Rabaul, well, its one of the best bases in the SW Pacific, and its still yours.

I'd rename all your returning cruisers after all the bases he's not taken, just to rub it in[:)]

Good one! [:D]

[Bullwinkle58]

ORIGINAL: Encircled

It is now!

Dunno who posted it, but if he's fighting you in the Marshalls, then he's running the risk of not securing the DEI.

And Rabaul, well, its one of the best bases in the SW Pacific, and its still yours.

I'd rename all your returning cruisers after all the bases he's not taken, just to rub it in[:)]

I'm delivering two more units of tanks to Rabaul right now.

OTOH, just ran the movie and it was very bad. Not going to do the write up tonight.

[JocMeister]

Just caught up again after a very busy weekend. Sorry to see there has been some bad days. [:(]

Hang in there. There will be good days to come! [:)]

[Bullwinkle58]

July 15, 1942

KB Moves East; Yorktown Lost

Another very bad day. Hard decisions are upon me.

1) Subs continue to rake the barges in the Marshalls. A large TF is docked at Kwaj now, delivering bad news for the Allies I'm sure. It's unclear to me at this point how much value Roi-Namur will have in the next six months. Too much opportunity to strengthen Kwaj has come and gone. At this point keeping Eniwetok might be hard to do.

2) The Arleigh Burke-led DD TF out to the west looking for the incoming AKs finds the TF and attacks.

Day Time Surface Combat, near Truk at 116,110, Range 20,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
DD Akatsuki
AK Kyushu Maru, Shell hits 4
AK Tosan Maru
E Ishinui, Shell hits 1

Allied Ships
DD Drayton
DD Conyngham
DD Cassin, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Aylwin, Shell hits 1

The AK should sink, but the Akatsuki is a very good shot. Cassin's hit is penetrating and explosive.

3) The jailbreak retreat from the Marshalls does not go well. Damaged Hornet is in escort of a bleeding but not burning Yorktown. Slow speed though. I route north to try to get closer to Wake and buy time. Many players would go hard for Pearl, but I expect that's what he thinks I'll do, so I trade time for search uncertainty. It doesn't help.

Morning Air attack on TF, near Taongi at 134,105

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid detected at 78 NM, estimated altitude 19,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 29 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 45
B5N2 Kate x 29
D3A1 Val x 55

Allied aircraft
F4F-3A Wildcat x 2
F4F-3 Wildcat x 19
F4F-4 Wildcat x 1

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed
B5N2 Kate: 1 damaged
D3A1 Val: 10 damaged
D3A1 Val: 1 destroyed by flak

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-3 Wildcat: 4 destroyed

Allied Ships
BB California, Bomb hits 16, on fire
CV Hornet, Bomb hits 10, heavy fires, heavy damage
BB Tennessee, Bomb hits 1
CV Yorktown, Bomb hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage (sinks)
DD Monssen, Bomb hits 1, on fire
DE Kennison, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage

Adding insult to injury, the replenishment group was sent north to servie this TF as well as the incoming Americal TF which has been on Full speed for several days. The replenishment TF is found as well.

Morning Air attack on TF, near Taongi at 134,106

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid detected at 39 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 16 minutes

Japanese aircraft
B5N2 Kate x 7

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
AO Cuyama, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires
AO Kaskaskia, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires

Aircraft Attacking:
7 x B5N2 Kate bombing from 9000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb

Carrier support unable to supply air cover..


Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Taongi at 134,106

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid detected at 39 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 14 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 25
B5N2 Kate x 24
D3A1 Val x 61

Japanese aircraft losses
B5N2 Kate: 1 damaged
D3A1 Val: 14 damaged

Allied Ships
DD Case, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AO Platte
AO Tippecanoe, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires
APD King
APD Sands, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires
DD Flusser, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
AO Guadalupe, Bomb hits 5, Torpedo hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage

Carrier planes also find fleeing transport TF and sink another AP.

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Wake Island at 136,102

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid detected at 19 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 17
B5N2 Kate x 23

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
AP J. Franklin Bell, Bomb hits 11, heavy fires, heavy damage
AP Heywood, Bomb hits 2, on fire
DMS Lamberton
AP William Ward Burrows

Hornet is 95% gone after this. California might be too.

I have some analysis to do before the next turn and the biggest decision of the game to date to make. Still mulling. Whether I do it or not, the game has changed in a very structural way this week.

4) The Allies have a few successes today.

--Sub attack near Taliaboe at 72,105

Japanese Ships
DD Kasumi, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

Allied Ships
SS KVII

--Morning Air attack on 26th Indian Division, at 54,53 (Rangoon)

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 32 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes

Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 27

Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIb Trop x 1
Mohawk IV x 1

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 2 destroyed, 8 damaged

No Allied losses

--Daytime Oil strikes on Miri and Balikpapan do not run into CAP and do 5 Oil hits combined.

-- Morning Air attack on TF, near Eniwetok at 127,108

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid detected at 39 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 16 minutes

Japanese aircraft
B5N2 Kate x 11
D3A1 Val x 7

Allied aircraft
P-36A Mohawk x 8
F4F-3 Wildcat x 5

Japanese aircraft losses
B5N2 Kate: 5 destroyed, 3 damaged
D3A1 Val: 4 destroyed

No Allied losses

5) PBang costs Japan over 20 2E bombers destroyed/damaged. Runways are down to 16% damage. Rangoon bombing costs Japan more bombers for about 200 casualties.

The IJN carriers off Burma are still north and rest today. The Tavoy TF is a day out with Wasp still sitting quiet. No D/L on these three TFs. I am considering how to posture the carriers when the unload starts. I would lose the landing for a chance to get at the CAs which I think are south of here. But I have to be wary of the two fleet carriers up north.

Allied LCUs at Rangoon sit and take it again. Aussie 7th Div. is making slow progress to join the stack. I'm trying to get more B-26s to Pt. Blair as I expect seaborne supply to try for Rangoon soon. But there are few 2E units in range or available at all really.

6) Rabaul AF goes to 4. Perhaps I can make life interesting at Truk. Although it is very extreme range and my B-17 pools are flat.

So, it's off to Archive to count assets lost and plan tomorrow. At his point I'm numb about losing carriers, and running isn't working. So . . .

=============

No Night Bombing Today

[Encircled]

Double ouch!

I'd turn back the Americal, unless you are very confident in 1942 Allied LBA

[Bullwinkle58]

ORIGINAL: Encircled

Double ouch!

I'd turn back the Americal, unless you are very confident in 1942 Allied LBA

What's that? [:)]

[Canoerebel]

Hey, Moose, you've been playing a near error-free game. I mean, to hold Rabaul and Palembang this late into 1942 is remarkable. If you continued to steamroll without any decent opposition, it just wouldn't be fun or challenging enough (though who wan'ts "fun" and "challenges" in the form of sunk carriers?). Basically, what I'm trying to say is: You're doing great. We know you'll shake off one bad day (hey, it's like Alabama fumbling in the third quarter after building a 47-0 lead) and drive you team to victory.

[Bullwinkle58]

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel

Hey, Moose, you've been playing a near error-free game. I mean, to hold Rabaul and Palembang this late into 1942 is remarkable. If you continued to steamroll without any decent opposition, it just wouldn't be fun or challenging enough (though who wan'ts "fun" and "challenges" in the form of sunk carriers?). Basically, what I'm trying to say is: You're doing great. We know you'll shake off one bad day (hey, it's like Alabama fumbling in the third quarter after building a 47-0 lead) and drive you team to victory.

Thanks, man. This period has made me think about a lot of things. It's just embarrassing to be a sailor and lose one's navy. [:)] I'll know better next time.

Hey, Nemo always says carriers are a luxury, right? [;)]

[Bullwinkle58]

Deleted

[Bullwinkle58]

ORIGINAL: Bullwinkle58

As seen at the top Hornet is a goner. But look at California. Compare to number of bombs taken yesterday. Amazing.

Cassin not too bad either.

[Bullwinkle58]

Just sent the turn back. Trying one of the most bizarre moves in the history of AE. If it works it could be wonderful. Chance of it working--20%. Stay tuned.

[Encircled]

Airstrikes from sunken carriers?

Para drop of Tanks?

The mind boggles!

[Bullwinkle58]

ORIGINAL: Encircled

Airstrikes from sunken carriers?

Para drop of Tanks?

The mind boggles!

Just got the movie back; Mike's email asks about how one becomes a writer. So maybe it didn't work. [:'(]

Off to watch, then Labor Day rib feast. The State Fair ends in five hours and I'm sad. The Official End of Summer in MN.

[Bullwinkle58]

Movie not bad.

My "bizarre" move did not come about, but some good things happened. AAR tomorrow.

[JocMeister]

ORIGINAL: Bullwinkle58

Movie not bad.

My "bizarre" move did not come about, but some good things happened. AAR tomorrow.

After rain comes sunshine! [;)]