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ORIGINAL: Cribtop
The breathing space gained at Exmouth will make it easier to accomplish this, but I won't lose my head and invade California or anything.

Invade Hawaii. [:D]

Operation Hang-10! [:'(]

Great trade! Anytime you can trade limited surface assets for CV's, you take it. This will set back allied timeline considerably. Sounds like allies lost some planes and pilots as well.

February 4, 1943

And now the report of everything else that happened on this eventful day. As if Exmouth weren't enough, the Royal Navy is on the move in the Bay of Bengal!

Subs

I-162 misses a DD in a surface combat force near Vizgapatnam. Two R class BBs, 1 CA, 2 CL and numerous DDs are present. As the enemy turns toward the coast of Assam, I-27, lurking in the next hex over, torpedoes BB Ramilles, although the damage does not appear to be serious. Our subs also report a follow on convoy of xAKs near Viz, as I-165 is chased off by convoy escorts. Cribtop Intel estimates CF is trying to bombard Cox's Bazaar as he attempts to either reinforce or re-supply Chittagong. We will unleash LBA on this force tomorrow from Prome. The BBs end 9 hexes from CB, too far out for the R class ships to make a bombardment run. Our subs may have screwed up CF's plans in that regard at least.

Near Exmouth during the night phase I-156 tangles with escorts of the enemy CVTF. This little action burned some Ops points and may have contributed to the overall result. As soon as I saw this part of the replay, I knew from the position of the enemy that battle would be joined later in the day.

After the surface engagement between the IJN cruisers and the CVTF, I-35 missed a DD in what appeared to be an escort TF of damaged DDs that broke off from the USN carrier force.

Very late in the turn, I-30 then misses a DD in the battle hex. At this point it was hard to tell where this DD originated due to the high number of escort TFs for both sides. I bet this came from the enemy cruiser force as by now the CV escorts were sunk except for one cripple.

IJN ASW ships harass Growler near Formosa.

4th Fleet

Ponape makes forts four.

Combined Fleet

We know what happened here. One correction, however. In reviewing my notes only 2 IJN destroyers, not three, sank as a result of the various surface engagements. Nice.

I also will point out that all four CVTFs involved in the battle (3 IJN and 1 USN) reacted to one another, closing the range from 6 hexes to four.

Orders for tomorrow. KB will close the range with Broome, using an oblique path in case CF tries for an intercept with his cruiser force (which we doubt he will). All carrier torpedo planes and all relevant LBA are ordered to Nav Attack/Port Attack with target set for Broome. Our two big SCTFs will also close up on Broome but won't be in a position to do much until the 6th. The Air HQ finished unloading at Koepang, which makes Nav Attacks and escort duty easier and sets up a major air base within range of IJAAF bombers once we switch to closing the Broome airfield. The Denpasar Nells will watch the corner of Oz in case CF gets snarky with his cruisers but are in range for port attacks on Broome if not otherwise occupied.

The surviving ships of our brave cruiser force move in various directions, with the most damaged limping for Port Hedland, while the less battered ships make for Soerabaja. We break off a CA and 2 DDs from KB's organic escorts to sweep the approach path into this base. Why? The damaged CA Canberra and a DD are crawling West, and we don't want this ship to finish off an IJN CA that might otherwise survive. A sub is also detailed to sweep into the Canberra's position.

In Napoleonic terms, Operation Katana has entered the pursuit phase. Banzai!

Southern Army

Palembang makes forts 5.

Burma

As we continue to march on Chittagong, our armor units ahead of the main force may get a shot at a straggler tomorrow if it doesn't vacate the hex.

In central Burma, the two Indian divisions near Prome have turned and are now withdrawing north. The combination of bombing runs and the appearance of the IJA 1st Armored Division across the river was enough.

The Indian Divisions may have been a feint all along, as an Australian Division enters the Taung Gyi hex ahead of a good-sized Allied army. We will bomb the follow on forces with every IJAAF plane available. Taung Gyi has 500 AS in X3 terrain with level 4 forts. A second IJA division is marching up the road to reinforce and is about 6 days out.

A British Divsion is approaching Lashio, which will be abandoned tomorrow. The other Brit Division stayed at Bhamo, indicating CF's offensive here is running out of steam.

The good people of Seto-town wish blessings and success for the fighting men of the 17th Army. A thousand years for the Emperor! Banzai!!

Two things about the write up of the Battle of Exmouth.

First, can anyone identify the message from the cruisers about a Heaven sent opportunity to engage enemy carriers? Come on, this one is pretty easy.

Second, the scenes in the Akagi's flag bridge were designed to be reminiscent of the Japanese admirals receiving damage reports in Tora! Tora! Tora!

Your writing is really good, Cribtop. Less basking and more warring and we're all happy champs, I'm sure...

February 5, 1943

We confirm that much of the UK battle line is trapped at Broome.

Subs

I-27 sinks CM Willem van der Zaan near Vizgapatnam. I-35 misses both a DD and the damaged CL Achilles near Carnarvon. May be time to replace her skipper.

Truant is chased off from a convoy near Groot Natoena.

SE Fleet

Torokina goes to airfield 4. The Bougainville bases are now staffed with the engineer groups pulled out of fully built up Munda Point and Tulagi, and the pace is thus accelerating along the second line.

Combined Fleet/Southern Army

Sadly, the crippled CA Myoko and an equally damaged DD are intercepted by the undamaged CL Adelaide. We thought sightings of Adelaide were misreports of the damaged CA Canberra, but obviously not. Adelaide makes short work of both ships, but then is herself quickly sunk by the not quite in time arrival of the cavalry in the form of the sweeping CA Maya and two DDs. Still, Myoko had 77 fires and probably was a goner anyway. So our losses are now officially up to 2 CA and 3 DD.

On the other hand, Haguro and 3 DDs make Port Hedland and should survive, while even less damaged Nachi and another DD make for Soerabaja without incident.

Bettys, Kates and Nells attack transport shipping at and near Broome, sinking a total of 8 more transports, all with troop losses. This action has officially destroyed the invasion shipping already savaged by yesterday's attacks.

Meanwhile, a small strike of 12 Vals finds CA Canberra near Port Hedland and quickly sinks her with five successive bomb hits. KB pilot quality is just getting silly, with most groups off the charts in EXP and skill.

We then shift to port attacks in the PM phase. Unfortunately, the LBA groups don't fly as they all engaged in naval attacks, and 2/3rds of KB's Kates don't fly due to weather. Still, 49 Kates damage BC Repulse, BB Royal Sovereign and BB Valiant, damaging several important systems such as radar, AA guns and even turrets.

Tomorrow two groups of Bettys will be on port attack only to ensure 800 kg bombs hit these big targets. The Nells and KB will stick to Nav Attack/Port Attack in case CF runs. Recon shows 20 ships in harbor, most identified as BBs and DDs. We hope to bag just about every single one.

Burma

17th Army tanks DA the 77th Heavy AA Regt again one hex out of Chittagong and easily force another retreat. The unit isn't destroyed but must be pretty close to it.

Nells out of Prome catch the withdrawing BB Ramilles and crush the ship with 6 torpedo hits. She quickly sinks. It looks like the rest of the enemy forces diverted toward Calcutta.

China

Changsha goes to airfield 5.

Analysis

Another 11 ships sunk, including 1 BB, 1 CA, 1 CL and eight partially loaded transports. We must prevent the RN battle line from escaping Broome but like our plan, which is designed to destroy anything that either stays in port or runs West. If CF runs East for the Torres Strait, we will re-position our four big LBA groups and catch him between the Air HQs at Koepang and Meruake. Subs are headed for the Torres Strait from SE Fleet AO just in case.

We are also toying with a bombardment mission of Broome by Yamato and Mushashi. 18 inch shells lobbed into a full anchorage could be, err, impactful.

OMG [X(]

Yeah, good times for me, tough replays to watch for CF. The losses for the Allies from this will really hurt as far as future invasions. The point score after the 4th was 26,000+ to 10,000 ish. I wonder what they will be in a week? Nowhere close to auto-victory, but yikes.

Man, that's amazing. Poor Cuttlefish....

Congrats!!!
 

Nice.......

Checked and VPs swung about 1,300 points. We gained just over 1,000, he lost a couple hundred. Not sure how that loss occurred, we didn't take a base. Ratio is 3:1.

He might have spent some PP's.

I didn't know they were worth VPs, Pax. Learn something new every day.

ORIGINAL: Cribtop

Checked and VPs swung about 1,300 points. We gained just over 1,000, he lost a couple hundred. Not sure how that loss occurred, we didn't take a base. Ratio is 3:1.

Your right there in the range of AV for 1944 .. the demoniator is key in my opinion ..

Along with ship, aircraft, and troops losses, and the direct occupation of bases, one should look at the supply situaiton for bases. If a "big" base worth lots of points suddenly becomes less than supplies needed the victory points adjust accordingly. In this case the demoninator. The same thing happends is the opposite is true.. A base worth points now gets supply is its full value the points will adjust suddenly and dramatically. Then there is the base upgrades thing that can change points like building an airfield on Rangoon or Singapore. This in the light of ship, aircraft, and troops losses can cause bit one turn swings. As a note, I have never noted PP expenetures to influence VP's.

Crackaces, many thanks. I knew about the supply impacts on VP, but your post plus CF's constant efforts to re-supply NE India by sea of late combined to give me a thought. Could it be that high point bases in Assam and Burma are losing value as their supply status degrades? Who knows, but if so that is very good news indeed.

Amazing! Always learning something new even after countless hours immersion.

I owe you guys an update, but it will probably be tomorrow as Mrs. Cribtop's favorite Austin restaurant just opened a franchise near our new home, so it's date night. Mrs. C is a red head and obedience is wisdom. [:D]