Blundering in the pacific...bobo's struggle against his incompetence!!!

[bobogoboom]

China situation

[bobogoboom]

Updates for 2/20/42-2/24/42

North Pacific.
Nothing to report going to start moving some engineers around to build up bases next turn

Central Pac.
All 4 American CVs will meet up tomorrow with the indomitable I was sending from India. Will probably use them to raid Canton Island. Seabees are about 5-10 turns out from the Line Islands.

South Pac.
First boat load of the americal landed on Suva. Over the next week the rest of this division should be landed. Also first troops are 7-10 days from Noumea

Southwest Pac.
Evacuation of Timor is proceeding. He will land on Amboina next turn. I have sent all my subs around Timor so it gives the appearance that I am trying to defend it even though I am not. He went for an unairescorted invasion of PM and his invasion fleet was shot up by my A24s so he diverted the force to Milne bay not sure if he will be able to take it with the forces he landed but he probably will.

BI.
Mini KB is raiding Colombo and caught a 3 ship supply convoy and sunk 2 of the aks. I have moved fighters into this area for protection. Hermes arrives at tricomolee in 6 turns so I am hopeful that this is just a short raid or Hermes is toast. Also this could be a prelude to the invasion of Ceylon. I do not consider this island to be strategic and am willing to lose it and reduce it by airpower. Landings also today at port Blair. Enemy units have also moved into Myitkyina and Lashio

China.
Yenan Fell 2 days ago. Pulling all troops back to Sian Hopefully I can keep him out of Sian with level 7 forts and him having to shock attack across the river. I have 4 corps in Sian plus the retreating units from yenan and the corp I am sending from Honan and a gorilla corp.

DEI.
Tjilitjap Falls. This was expected though Pamakasan still holds. enemy kb pounds sojo.

AP Hakusan Maru, Mine hits 1 at Merak

Jap
19 Bomber
Allies
2 Fighter

Shipping losses.
Allied
1ss(sunk in port during Colombo raid)
2ak
Jap(forgot to keep track but I think)
2ak

Cities that have fallen
Yenan
Tjilitjap
Christmas Island
Iloilo

Cities about to fall in the next 1-5 turns.
Pamakasan.

Expansions
Sian expands airfield to size 2
Ichang expands airfield to size 2
Truk expands airfield to size 6

Overall thoughts India is a little concerning. I am not sure if he is landing of if he is just bluffing to draw troops away. Either way I have to defend everything which means no area is as defended as I would like. Hopefully his plans become more obvious in the next few days. Any thoughts on things I am doing wrong or better strategies are welcome.

I am going to be on vacation this week so updates will be a little sparse.

[Grotius]

You don't look incompetent to me! Look forward to reading more.

[bobogoboom]

Thanks i try.[8D]

[bobogoboom]

Well i have always liked febuary 24th as it is my birthday. And febuary 24th 1942 seems to have been an especialy good day for the allies. Our tea drinking breateren across the pond have scored a victory. In activity that can only be seen as some sort of invasion about to happen a jap cvtf consisting of the cvls zuiho ryujo and shoho attacked colombo. In a move that can only be seen as lucky for us the cvtf moved 1 hex into swordfish torp range and ryujo took 2 torps and subsequently sank. The next day the cvtf could be seen making a run back towards rangoon. I assume the other 2 cvs are now overloaded and heading back to offload aircraft. One can only assume that this will bring the full kb into the indian ocean.

[bobogoboom]

This was the airforces that faced off against each other.


and these were the losses
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed, 2 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Swordfish: 3 destroyed, 3 damaged
Wirraway: 2 destroyed
Buffalo I: 5 destroyed
Vildebeest IV: 8 destroyed, 10 damaged
Blenheim IV: 2 destroyed
P-40B Tomahawk: 12 destroyed

[bobogoboom]

Updates for 2/24/42-2/25/42

North Pacific.
Nothing to report.

Central Pac.
American Carriers and Indomitable have rendezvous and now are headed back to pearl. I wanted to raid canton but feel one of my best assets right now with the Indian op going on is him not knowing where my carriers are.

South Pac.
The reinforcement ops continue in Suva. Noumea reinforcements should arrive in the next 5-7 days. Am thinking of shifting my cvs to Auckland to support the defense of this area once my next American cv arrives latter this month.

Southwest Pac.
Evac of Timor continues have gotten most of my units out if I can have another 8 turns I should have everyone out to safety. I have moved all useful air units out of Amboina assume he will assault it next turn with the force on the ground. It should fall. The unit that landed at Milne bay retreated towards Buna after a failed shock attack. I get another coy in Sidney in 2 turns and will be moving it to Milne ASAP. The longer I can make him fight for this the longer it keeps PM safe.

BI
Port Blair is captured I feel he will be trying a seaborne invasion but the question is where. I will just have to wait and see. I feel I can defeat any attacks in the Bay of Bengal. But feel Ceylon is vulnerable. Lashio was attacked today but the japs only achieved a 0to1.

China.
Nothing to report here I am falling back and repositioning troops in the north.

DEI.
Troops finally moved into sojo. I feel in will fall in the next week or 2.

CA Chikuma, Mine hits 1 at Batavia(I love O19 and O20)
AK Iwashiro Maru, Shell hits 6, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage and is sunk By O16

Aircraft losses - most of the Jap losses are from the sinking of ryujo she took a lot of planes down with her.
Jap
32 Fighters
26 Bombers
2 Recon
Allied
26 Fighters
14 Bombers

Shipping losses
Jap
3AK
1AP
1PC
1CVL

Cities that have fallen
Port Blair
Pamakasan

Cities about to fall in the next 1-5 turns
None[:D]

Expansions
Lunga expands airfield to size 1
Derby expands airfield to size 2
Shanghai expands airfield to size 7
Lunga expands port to size 1
Suva expands airfield to size 3

Overall thoughts again India is the main concern I need to know what he is up to here will just have to wait the next couple of turns to see.

[bobogoboom]

and now for some screens

[bobogoboom]

2

[bobogoboom]

3

[bobogoboom]

Short update because I drank too much tonight and forgot to keep track of shipping loses and AA loses

North Pac.
Sending supplies and engineering units to all the bases west of Dutch harbor.

Central Pac.
Nothing of note here carriers are almost back at Perl. And Seabees are almost at Christmas Island.

South Pac.
Americal division is almost all unloaded on Suva. 2 fighter’s squads and an a24 squad are 10-15 days out.
also first units offloaded at Noumea most of the rct are here now.

Southwest Pac.
Large parts of the 7th AIF are now at Perth and the last units were moved off Timor today.

BI.
japs moved me out of Myitkyina(of course into the jungle instead of towards my base). I am now formulating a play to try and reopen the Burma Road.

DEI.
Sojo I s about to fall 1-3 turns at the most.

China.
All is calm here.

Cities that have fallen
Myitkyina
Amboina
Boela

Expansions
Chittagong expands airfield to size 4
Asahigawa expands airfield to size 2
Karachi expands airfield to size 4
Iwo Jima expands airfield to size 1
Wyndham expands airfield to size 2
Christmas Island expands port to size 2
Fanning Island expands airfield to size 1
Hilo expands airfield to size 3

from the records I keep I count 3 jap aks to 1 allied ak in the past 4 turns

Will promise to do a better job from here going forward.[8D]

[bobogoboom]

03/04/42-03/08/42

North Pac.
Just getting bases supplied and build up

Central Pac.
Again getting bases prepared Seabees landed at Christmas Island and are building forts/airfield.

South Pac.
Sub activity is increasing around Suva he has 2 subs operating in the vicinity and has already hit the island with the kb once. I expect an invasion here but am kinda in a dilemma all of my DD's upgrade on 4/1 plus the brit carrier has 15 sys damage from her trip so I don't think I can sortie my carrier forces at full strength till mid next month plus I have either wasp or hornet that shows up at panama in a few days. Any thoughts on what I should do? Otherwise americal is fully landed and is entrenching and I am sending supplies from oz.

Southwest Pac.
Most of 7th AIF is now entrenched at Perth. I will probably leave this unit here to deter any sort of Perth invasion. I feel Perth is important and am taking steps to make sure it is ready incase of invasion.

BI.
Nothing of note here my forces are about to move back to Myitkyina hopefully they can expel the defenders.

DEI.
Soerabaja will fall next turn.

China.
Nothing to report here

PI.
Very interesting thing happened here. he decided to offload units directly from ship at Bataan and manila and took horrible loses I guess he thought he had neutralized the harbor defenses I don't understand why he didn't land these units on the base hex he controlled next to it and march his troops overland. I don't like people landing on non bases hexes but if you already have control of a base hex why wouldn't you land there instead. I think he is trying to push now to mop up PI and Singapore so hopefully these 2 places by me an additional month or so of prep.
Naval Gun Fire at Bataan (42,51) - Coastal Guns Fire Back!

40 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Japanese Ships
AK Shunsei Maru
AK Shingetsu Maru, Shell hits 7, on fire, heavy damage
AK Kashu Maru, Shell hits 7, on fire, heavy damage
AK Hide Maru, Shell hits 7, on fire, heavy damage
AK Takegawa Maru, Shell hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AK Genkai Maru, Shell hits 1, on fire
AK Toa Maru, Shell hits 1, on fire
AK Keiyo Maru, Shell hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
AP Heiku Maru, Shell hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AP Genoa Maru, on fire, heavy damage

Aircraft Losses
Jap
21 Bomber
2 Fighter
3 Recon
Allied
3 Fighter
1 Bomber

Shipping losses
Japan
7AP
12AK
Allied
None

Bases That have fallen
Padang
Sorong
Babo
Koepang

Cities about to fall in the next 1-5 turns
Soerabaja

Canberra expands airfield to size 5
Alice Springs expands airfield to size 2
Tsitsihar expands airfield to size 3
Port Moresby expands port to size 2
Admiralty Islands expands airfield to size 1
Cold Bay expands airfield to size 2

[Yava]

Babo

Good that it's not Bobo[:D]

[bobogoboom]

Yes. Me being captured would not be a good thing.

[bobogoboom]

3/9/42-3/13/42

shipping losses.
Jap
8AK
1TK
1SS
Allies
2AK
1AVD

Bases expanded
Sinyang expands airfield to size 3
Sian expands airfield to size 3
Ichang expands airfield to size 3
Newcastle expands airfield to size 3
Broome expands port to size 2
Dunedin expands port to size 3
Anchorage expands port to size 4
Toyohara expands airfield to size 2
Rangoon expands airfield to size 6
Tarawa expands airfield to size 3
Rabaul expands airfield to size 5
Rabaul expands port to size 5

Bases captured
Soerabaja
Manokwari
Dili
Lautem

Nothing much to report during this time until the 11th. When Japanese carriers showed up and raided shipping around Johnson Island. I formed up all my available CV’s into 5 tfs 1 CV per tf. Indomitable Enterprise Saratoga Lexington Yorktown and moved them all one hex northeast of pearl then slowly waited to see if the japs com into the area between Palmyra Johnson and Perl as they did I moved carriers south of kona. Then directed my carriers to move at full speed to try and get within 2 hexes of the japs.

All other theaters were relatively silent

[bobogoboom]

Carriers

[bobogoboom]

3/15/1942
Oh what a glorious day for the allies. We have struck a blow against the evil empire.

Our carriers moved south at flank speed and when daylight came we realized that we were in devastator range!!!!![X(]

The first attack was launched at the Jap fleet in the morning.
Sea Hurricane x 3
Fulmar x 10
F4F-4 Wildcat x 30
SBD-3 Dauntless x 32
TBD Devastator x 29
Albacore x 15
OS2U-3 Kingfisher x 8

Went up against
A6M2 Zero x 68

In the ensuing attack loses were quite high for 25 allied fighters destroyed we were only able to splash 8 zeros. But the brave sacrifice of our pilots was not in vein. Even though our bombers were ravaged by the Jap fighters the ones that got thought hit there mark. For loss of 34 bombers we put
Bomb hits 2, Torpedo hits 1 into CV Hiryu
Bomb hits 3, Torpedo hits 1 into CV Soryu
Bomb hits 1 into BB Ise
All bomb hits were 1000lb bombs[X(]

A follow on attack that didn't coordinate with the first attack then came in.
F4F-4 Wildcat x 16
SBD-3 Dauntless x 45
TBD Devastator x 15

Went against
A6M2 Zero x 34

The enemy cap was even less effective this time because of the preceding attack.
6 fighters and 8 bombers were lost for 9 zero's

But the damage this time was severe
Bomb hits 2 into CA Mogami one of which exploded the magazine and she immediately sank.
Bomb hits 1 into CV Soryu
Bomb hits 4 into CV Junyo
Bomb hits 1 into BB Ise
Bomb hits 1 into BB Nagato
Bomb hits 2 into CVE Taiyo


Then finally a 3rd wave hits again with good effect

F4F-4 Wildcat x 4
SBD-3 Dauntless x 45
TBD Devastator x 15

Vs
A6M2 Zero x 26

Enemy loses 1 zero we lose 1 fighter and 9 bombers.

Again the damage is major
Bomb hits 3 into Soryu
Bomb hits 2 into Nagato

But then comes the retribution
A Jap striker force of
A6M2 Zero x 22
D3A2 Val x 63
B5N2 Kate x 73

Flies into our cap of
Sea Hurricane x 12
Fulmar x 6
F4F-4 Wildcat x 57

Though our fighters perform admirably and shot down 17 zeros and a large part of the 17 Vals and 26 Kates that are destroyed in the raid for lose of 1 sea hurricane and 16 wildcats. A lot of dive bombers and torpedo aircraft get through.
Enterprise tapes 10 bomb and 4 torp hits and sinks immediately.
DD Mahan takes 1 torp
CL Poenix takes 2 bomb hits.

Then in the afternoon we press the attack home
Bomb hits 8, Torpedo hits 2 on CV Hiryu she sinks as the sun is setting
Bomb hits 4 on BB Nagato
Torpedo hits 3 on CV Taiyo.

Though the loss of enterprise is a though pill to swallow as the sun sets we have left only one jap cve out of a force of 3 cv's and 2 cve's able to still fly air ops and have sunk 1 cv and one ca. Allied command feels we were lucky we took a calculated risk thinking it was the whole kb and that maybe we could destroy a 2-3 of their carriers for a lose of 2-3 of our own. This was not the case and the destruction of this sizeable of a portion of the Jap CV fleet will slow their offensive ops.

[bobogoboom]

Air losses for the day.

[USSAmerica]

Nicely done, bobo! 

[bobogoboom]

thanks i am going to detail the second part of the battle when i get home today. And by saturday afternoon i should have the aar up to date.