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BANZAI!

Operation Downfall
November 3, 1944

(Off the Coast of Trivandrum, India)

The old R Class battleships have been relegated to convoy duty since the war swept into Malaya and southern China. This morning finds the HMS Ramilles sailing with a convoy of 6 AK at a leisurely 10 Kts as the Captain stares at the sighting report from the previous day.

TO: All Commanders, India Command
FROM: India C-In-C

"Sighting of possible Japanese Carrier TF by PBM SW of Columbo yesterday morning. Be on Guard and take all precuations within your best judgement."

FROM: India C-in-C

Passed over for Flag rank, this Captain does not take the warning seriously. At 0700 a Japanese Search Plane flies over the samll convoy and the Captain begins to wonder if perhaps he should put in to Trivandrum's port. He calmly sips his morning tea and contemplates radioing the development to High Command when radar picks up a large formation of planes approaching from the SW.

Bellowing "Battle Stations" at the top of his lungs, the Captain spots what appears to be a an inbound strike of carrier aircraft. "How can that be possible HERE?" he cries out. "Radio---send to all stations in the clear 'HMS Ramilles under attack by Japanese carrier aircraft 10 miles SW of Trivandrum' and try to muster up some fighter cover for us." In a sickening moment he realizes there are NO fighters in Columbo.

The attack that kicks off the last Japanese Offensive of the war is--appropriately enough--headed by Strike Commander Captain Fuchida and the Akagi/Kaga veteran pilots. 8 Zero, 22 Judy Dive Bombers, and 43 Grace TB calmly line up their attacks. The Ramilles doesn't stand chance. While the Judy dive in to split the BB's AA fire, the TB sweep in at wave top level. Within 10 minutes the Battleship rolls over and sinks having taken 6 Bombs and 6 Torpedo hits. She becomes the 13 Battleship or Battlecruiser to be sunk during the war.

Operation Downfall has begun.

Throughout the western side of India distress calls ring out across the sea. Results look good for the initial attacks. The Japanese hit 16 AK and 2 TK with 7 Freighters sinking.

The CV Admirals get their orders for Day 2. Two CTF are to combine and hit Columbo's Port after launching any morning strikes that are needed. The two northern Carrier TF move closer together and keep up the hunt. The CVE TF move towards Columbo as well.

Addu is invaded in the late afternoon and will be taken over in the morning.

The only concern for the operation is that there is ONE Allied unit at Trivandrum. Doesn't make much sense but it is there nonetheless. Two TF will begin unloading 60,000 troops to immediately push this unit out of the town. A pair of Battleships will sweep in and lend bombardment to the landing.

Here is the map:

Nice opening!

What's an R-Class BB doing way down there? Seems odd, unless it repaired and was in transit to the front.

Oh well, you'll take it!

ORIGINAL: veji1

All you have to do is change the command of the most battered division you can find an you save PPs...

which is gamey IMO and that´s why I don´t do such things as you can have a totally wrecked div back at 100% strenght within 2 months.

ORIGINAL: castor troy

ORIGINAL: veji1

All you have to do is change the command of the most battered division you can find an you save PPs...

which is gamey IMO and that´s why I don´t do such things as you can have a totally wrecked div back at 100% strenght within 2 months.

Gamey yes, although I think if they are over 90% it is fair to buy them out. Besides - my whole point isn't so much that you can get TONS of troops out of China - you can get some, 5 divisions is 1 division on 5 critical islands - but that you are able to prevent 60-120 large Chinese units from fighting alongside the British.

ORIGINAL: Feurer Krieg

ORIGINAL: castor troy

ORIGINAL: veji1

All you have to do is change the command of the most battered division you can find an you save PPs...

which is gamey IMO and that´s why I don´t do such things as you can have a totally wrecked div back at 100% strenght within 2 months.

Gamey yes, although I think if they are over 90% it is fair to buy them out. Besides - my whole point isn't so much that you can get TONS of troops out of China - you can get some, 5 divisions is 1 division on 5 critical islands - but that you are able to prevent 60-120 large Chinese units from fighting alongside the British.

well, 90% is not quite what I would think about "the most battered division". [;)]If you change a 90% div, I don´t have a problem with that, will still cost something like 2800 or more pp.

And yes I agree, I´m always trying to make the Chinese more or less incapable of launching an offensive from 43/44 on.

In my game against Mandrake I converted 6 Inf Div from China Command to Southern Area Army.  They had been knocked down over 50%.  Converted them moved them to Burma and let them rebuild a bit before committing them up there.  Dodn't think too much about it at the time but now would see in generally Castor's way.

I left for a couple of hours and haven't seen a turn back.  I imagine that Allied HQ is in a state of consternation.  If he doesn't realize how big of land component is involved he may simply ignore the Naval Attacks, rush ships to port, and see how long I hang around.  There is no reason for him to think I am staging anything but a hit-and-run attack with a possible landing.

PLEASE no one let the cat out of the bag in the other AAR!

It should be an interesting move.  I am prepared to go over and attack at several points if he moves a ton of airpower to the west.  Expect to have a good idea within 1-3 turns.  Nice thing is that he cannot get fighters present for at least 2 turns due to the long range.  Whatever does show up will be highly fatigued from the flight.  Should be exciting...
 

nobody's going to give you away, John. Reading both your AAR's is just too funny to spoil it

Operation Downfall
November 4, 1944

In the approach to Ceylon the Japanese PRAYED and sacrificed all sorts of animals to the Gods for BAD weather.  Now--we need the opposite!  This day finds bad weather moving in throughout India.  In a move that defies the imagination, NO Japanese strikes fly for the morning!  The afternoon provides another story though:

Columbo, Ceylon
An afternoon strike of 24 Zero and 28 Grace appears over the harbor of this port.  To the stunned surprise of the Japanese 44 Allied Fighters greet them as they approach their target.  Unlike nearly everywhere else in Japan, the Fighters of the CV Daitai are still of GOOD quality!  The Zeros manage to shoot down 9 Fighters in exchange for 4 of their own and 2 Torpedo planes.  These pilots seek to make it two Battleships in two days as they find BC Repulse sitting damaged in the Port.  Two more Torpedo planes fall to AA but the remaining 24 make a show of aerial Horizontal Bombing.  From 10,000 Ft they hit the elderly veteran with TEN 800 Kg Bombs!  Six of these bombs penetrate the decks of the ship leaving her heavily damaged.

Carrier TF 7--Rear-Adm Kakuta
These 3 small CVE get greeted in the afternoon by 7 B-24 flying from Columbo.  The first five miss but the last two manage to plant 2 500lb bombs on the small Shimane Maru.  Though wounded the ship still is able to fly off its 9 Judy to CV Taiho as it limps due south.

Trivandrum
Unloading carries on throughout the day as a TK Div, Inf Div, and 3 TK Reg are deposited on the beach.  To the surprise of nearly everyone the disruption is pretty low.  A Shock Attack is scheduled for tomorrow in the hope (PRAYER) to dislodge the Allied unit holding the town.  Two more Inf Div will begin landing to aid the attack.

As the unloading occurs the troops and merchant ships watch the awesome spectacle of a Japanese Battleship (there are only 3 left total) and Heavy Cruiser destroying a small convoy trying to reach the 'safety' of the harbor.

Mannargundi, India
A Glen spots that this port in empty of all units...

CV Orders
CV TF 1, 4, and 6 will combine in the hex South of Trivandrum tomorrow.  The combined force will have 4 CV, 2 CVL, and 3 CVE to defend itself and attack with.  All Judy Dive Bombers are ordered to Ground Attack to help the land assault. 

CV TF 3 and 5 will unite west of Bombay and stage a Port attack there. There is shipping present so we'll see what this might stir up.

Bombardment TF
The Japanese form a Bombardment TF of Hiei, Hyuga, a CA, and 5 DD to hit Trivandrum during the day and evening.

Sinkings:  4 AK and 1 TK

Other Developments:
Canton
The Allies attack getting a 3-1 result and driving Forts down to 2.  The Japanese exact a severe cost though:
Japan--1,542 Cas, 36 G,  1 Vehicle            Allies--12,105 Cas, 122 G, and 36 Vehicle

This is what the sailors and troops off Trivandrum watched:

I forgot to note two things in the Daily Report:

1.  British CVs were spotted at Singapore.  I might assume this is the Formidable and Benngton Force spotted about 10 days ago.  If they venture out I will engage and sink them.

2.  Addu Atoll fell and 32 Emily immediately moved in to stage Naval Search tomorrow.
 

Just sent this note to Dan with the next turn:

Good GAWD DAMN!  You had to have known.  Why else would a BB be parked where I plan to land?  How would an Inf Div be where I planned to land??  I'll wager there are no other Infantry in India. 

Someone had to have leaked this plan to you.  I prepped NO ONE for this target.  No Intel warning was possible.  It has only been in the works for 10 game weeks...

I am slightly perturbed at the moment.  Cannot believe that this is coincidence.

Three weeks ago I had an I-Boat sit in the hex for 4 days--no unit present.  I did a Glen recon at the same time with 4 other Indian Ports (to hide my plan) and NOTHING was spotted.  Not only is the 221st RAF BF (a large BF) at Trivandrum but also the 82nd Africane Inf Div.  I partially unloaded 40% of my force prior to finding this out.  Got a 1-1 and Lowered Forts to 8. 

Well...this is a mission of the Samurai.  I order EVERYTHING to unload.  Will not attack tomorrow but will shock attack the day after.  Divide the Landing TF into about 20 TF of 5-8 ships to lesson the airpower attacks coming.

Planes didn't fly again. 

I had 2 CTF get attacked by 126 Fighters and THREE B-24 versus my CAP of 106 Zero.  I lost 72 Zero (48 Pilots) in exchange for 59 Fighters.

Will post a screenshot in a moment.
 

This is the movement of the Fleet planned for tomorrow.

Recon spotted Brit CVs again at Singapore. I will gather the Kaigun at Addu and make a command decision as to movement at that point.

That TF you pounded by surface ships was carrying that div.......I have seen nothing in his AAR to suggest any give away. He might have ordered the unloading the moment your CV's popped up on radar to try and save them.
 
 

Man if that is what happened it is really something.

I am frustrated at the events for the moment.

Why was that BB present?  Was Ramilles headed to Singapore and just happened to be there?  Don't know...

I'm not real clear on what you are frustrated about. You sunk a BB, hammered another, and if only a BF and Div are in Triv you'll force them to retreat soon and that is one less effective division for you to fight since they take so much disruption and such on retreat. Plus, you hit some AKs with troops - that's always a sweet prize in my book.

Very few ops go 100% as planned - I think this one has already done far better than I expected it would.

You are probably right.  I had hoped for a simple landing but we'll bull our way through. 

Thanks for the reality check.  I think I'm just whining and will admit that!  [:D][:'(][:D]

I concur with Feurer Krieg and his assessment of your position.  So far you have done outstandingly well and Dan must surely be wondering what to do about this sudden onslaught.  Maybe you flew off the handle a bit in your text regarding your concerns of having the plan leaked.  This AAR has been great to read and the looming battle promises to be a show case of the skills of both combatants.  Perhaps a little humble pie from yourself to Dan would go a long way.  I've stopped reading Dan's AAR since I started posting on your AAR but I'm guessing that your concerns as expressed could hurt the gaming relationship the two of you have built up.  I hope it hasn't but I can see the potential for this to aggravate the enjoyment both of you have been getting out of this game. 


Things are going well... don't let some unexpected obstacles upset you.... keep up the I don't care about those carriers attitude... I'll sink them anyway.[:D]

John,

I read both AAR's. If Dan had been tipped, it wasn't through the AAR. That doesn't mean some one didn't PM him but I really don't think that happened. When you get a chance to read his AAR, I think you will come to the same conclusion. Let's just say two days ago Dan was pretty smug about his current position; so, if he had a spy, he did a very good job of hiding it. I think the point about that ID is right - it was the one aboard the transports you hit. Also, Dan did indicate the BB had just arrived at Aden as a reinforcement and was on the way to the front. You got a bonus. I normally would not post this type of message but I really don't want you to feel Dan was fed illicit info because I do not feel that is true.

All in all I think the forum posters did a pretty good job. If Dan got a sniff of anything it may have been that the readers of his AAR have been largely silent of late. I think we were as a group so afraid we would give something away that we said nothing.

Tim

Thanks for the note.

Dan and I have been writing back-and-forth tonigth and everything is cool.  I was just being hyper-sensitive about things.  The plan was SOOOO bold I could not imagine anything being in that hex when we appeared.  This was a poor case of Operational Fixation.  Am over that and will be good to go from this point on.

I think it is relevant to throw real life in for a moment.  Those of you who have been with this AAR over the long haul know that I have no issue disclosing the low point my life has been in for nearly 2 years.  I have been indebted to over a dozen of you who have personally emailed and/or PM'd me during this time and your support has helped me get through this.  We are approaching the nadir of this experience. 

The decision has been made for me to self-revoke my Probation and throw myself on the mercy of my Judge here in Greeley.  When we chose to take the Plea Bargain (a horrible choice looking back on it) we felt that life could be fairly livable.  I had to move out for a 'short time' while an evaluation was done.  This short time has now lapsed into SIX+ months.  My wife and I see each other 3-4 hours a week and I cannot see my 5 and 2 1/2 year-old sons.  It is a crock of *hit.  I've found 6 jobs over the months and have had them all rejected.  We're nearly bankrupt with no help in sight.    This is what leads us to the decision we (my wife, attorney, and I) have made.

There is the real probability that I will 'disappear' for a while.  You may read into that whatever you wish.  Could be anywhere from 6-24 months.  This will happen within the next 2-3 weeks.  If things go badly Paula (my wife) will jump on and leave a note letting people know what happened.

We reached this choice this afternoon and it partially led me to be where I was with the game.  My emotions are strung out and I reacted badly to a stupid game!  I feel terrible about and apologise to anyone who might have been offended.

John III

PS  Now I will leave this depressing life story and return to the attempted invasion of India. 

Good God John! Sorry to hear about for you, but especially for the family. Gotta do what's right. Be strong. We'll all be here for you.[:(]