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I can't really make any observations as I'm reading both threads, I just wanted to make clear that I, at least, remain riveted.

You are riveted and I am going insane.

Keep TRYING to do SOMETHING and am having no success. Need to isolate a battlefield section and then exploit it. I keep finding myself looking up north at Adak OR looking at Tarawa. Both could be sectioned off, semi-isolated, and then reduced. Another thought is to stage surprise sea-born attacks on the flanks of the Marshalls thrust by grabbing Baker, Canton, and Johnston. There are troops prepping in all these directions. Don't know if I'll get a chance tot ry any of these ideas but Dan KNOWS I am trying to counter-punch.

Like I said---going INSANE!

We have a turn fest scheduled for tomorrow. I am off work and the family will be gone for four hours. I hope we can get 4-5 turns in during that time...

Tell Dan to STOP posting on his AAR long enough to send me the turn. Appreciate it!

Hahaha. It must be a really interesting feeling to see so much posting going on in your opponent's thread (and frustrating). I wish I could get a similar experience, but probably never will. That is, unless I can eventually find an opponent willing to do dual AAR's with me.

Looking forward, as always, to the coming turn-fest. I think I will now solely view this AAR and avoid the other for opsec reasons. Give me a little bit of time to wait, and then I will start posting my reactions. Forgive me, however, for any bad advice or thoughts I might give.

Seems to me this is the happy days for the A6M8![:)]

Yaaa...

Here is a teaser of the first turn of the morning. Just sent it back to Dan with little comment:

The aircraft losses speak a story...

[X(][X(][X(]

Plans for next movement:

Uh-oh! CV planes lost on the ground.

Doesn't look good.[:(]

Some flak losses, looks like you made some bomb runs.

Oh dear. So at least a CVE lost (and probably more given that stike size and lack of allied losses), plus a hell of a lot to CAP. Any positives to the turn?

Just registered here to give you some moral support. This was pretty brutal (and I don't even want to think about pilot losses) but it looks like the core of KB is still okay. It looks like you got 8 hexes from the Allied CVs, though? Since there are no Allied flak losses, I'm guessing the planes on ground is from an Allied sub putting torps into a CVL or maybe Hiryu/Soryu.

Although since the Allied CVs were out of range, that would mean KB would be facing the concentrated Uber CAP... ugh!

Since joining the Forum eleven years ago I have never truly lost a carrier engagement. Had some massive draws but never an outright defeat. Sure looks like that is about to happen presently.

After all the crying and whining I have gotten here and over in the Development side of the Forum about the unbalanced nature of Reluctant Admiral 5.0 (don't get me wrong--it IS!) this turn proves that it is BOTH ways when it comes to things. Holy CATS!

OK.

I will try to detail events.

The three CTF and CVE TF of Kido Butai have slowly--due to fuel--been retiring back towards Wake. All four TF had been set to follow the CVEs (18 Knots) at cruise speed. My most seriously short on fuel had re-fueled the previous day from five small AOs (20,000 Fuel) that gave them enough fuel to make it to another set of AOs steaming east (with 50,000 Fuel) from Saipan.

The turn is cloudy and somewhat stormy when my CVEs sheer off from the remainder of the KB and start reacting towards the entire Allied Navy. The Kido Butai itself does not re-act whatsoever. Kind of weird. I backed up a turn to look and re-act was set to ZERO along with all the other TFs. The Admiral was aggressive and I guess he over-rode orders.

Through the morning and afternoon I watch Judy and Jill after Judy and Jill impale themselves on Allied CAP during air search. Must have lost 50 Attack Planes before strikes flew. Moths to flame they were.

Morning Phase
Four Japanese Strikes fly (51 Z--12 Judy--9 Jill, 56 Zero--13 Judy--9 Jill, 21 Zero--14 Jill, and 37 Zero--`6 Judy--18 Jill). They attempt to hit the outlying elements of the massed fleet only to encounter 158 Fighters over the northern TF and 148 Fighters over the eastern TF. The strikes are eaten up and spit out. What were they attacking you ask? Subchasers, YMS, and other useless TFs designed to soak off Japanese sorties. My commentary here is unprintable and has been an issue since nearly day one of the war so I shall say nothing. It is what it is.

Two of these small strikes came from my CVEs and two from the Main Body of Kido Butai.

No American Strikes at the Japanese. I begin to think it is a brilliantly conceived CAP Trap.

Afternoon
More Judy and Jill impale themselves on the Allied CAP.

Finally see a massed Japanese Strike came in against the actual Allied warships. The strike is pretty good-sized with 100 Zero, 90 Judy, and 87 Jill going in. They find--get this--375 Allied Fighters on CAP. I figure that 150 Fighters to the north, 150 Fighters to the east, and 375 Fighters over the actual CVs that this must be a CAP Trap. Well...the raid goes in and 43 Judy and 33 Jill make it to their drops. The fight is not all one-sided because a few hits are scored:

BB Massachusetts takes 1 B--2 TT
CL St Louis take 1 TT
CV Hornet 1 Bomb
CVL Princeton 1 Bomb

Raid Two: 55 Zero--23 Judy--17 Jill is eaten by CAP.

Raid Three: 18 Zero--14 Judy score a hit on CV Enterprise and is consumed by CAP.

Its a CAP Trap--Right? NO! The CVEs who had re-acted both phases are absolutely crushed by a massed strike of 240 Fighters--272 DB--174 Avengers. Talk about the opposite of the Japanese Strikes. 686 planes ONE STRIKE! Damn. That is impressive. Well done to the Allies. The Japanese lose 8 CVE and 7 DDs. Ouch! Guess that Admiral deservedly goes down with his flagship. Stupid twit. He would have been ordered to commit Seppuku anyway!

Those are the events.

Fuel is low and Dan can crush the Japanese Fleet if he simply moves slightly north. I order the Kido Butai to move NNW to try and escape. Fly off most of the fragments to Rio Namur, Kwajalein, Wake, and Eniwetok. Will sort everyone out later. Add 125 M8 Zeros to the CVs bringing the Fighter total up to about 500 on the carriers. Set CAP to 100%, Range ZERO at altitudes of 11,000 and 21,000 Feet. The war could be over next turn boys and girls!

Guess every Admiral needs to lose a CV engagement and this one is it.

The CVEs reacting and horrible raid coordination made this far worse then it needed to be. Dan's style of play--with the outlying small ships--soaked off 154 Zero--45 Judy--29 Jill and destroyed them dropping my Fighter count for the bigger strikes in the afternoon. That tactic worked quite well for him. Add the loss of nearly 50 Judy/Jill on Air Search and one can see the serious attrition inflicted before the larger strike flew. The size of the Fleet--including the British--showed at least 975 Fighters--275 DB--175 TB. Damn. Those are serious numbers! What a clobbering. Am fearful of the next turn!

C'est la Guerre.

Can you send off any decoy ships to perhaps soak up or slow down his fleet from moving north? Maybe a DD that he can react too? Or would that be too gamey? It's hard to figure out what to do in this situation. What I might do, and I am a total novice compared to the rest of this forum:

1. Use decoy and speed it to his most obvious line of intercept, then speed the carries away from likely intercept. Maybe have two separate decoy forces: one north and one south at likely intercept courses.

2. Take the course of least expectation for your CVs. In this case, I would either go west directly into where his forces are, but maybe a little south of them. This has the advantage of being right where he is least likely to be and where he least expects. It is risky, however, and who is to say he doesn't use some of his SF covering force, if any, to protect against this course of action. You could even get extra air cover from the islands to your west.

3. Alternatively, I might send my CV's south-east.

You might need to use your tankers to quickly refuel the CVs as they are low on fuel. This is the part that makes it even more difficult of an extraction. Good luck.

Thought about doing that (sending ships in for suicide). Course all I have are WARSHIPS out there so that isn't a big deal. Could do that if needed.

I think the main thing is to figure out where you definitely think Canoerebel will go and then go opposite. You might know his mind well-enough to determine this. Always risky, however. But its far better to take indirect course then the direct course. In this case the direct path would be most logical for your carriers to take, north, but his positioning gives him the advantage in intercepting you.

This is why I would advocate a south-west or south-east movement.

Decisions, decisions.

One thing that strikes is me is the absolutely poor showing of Japanese AA gunners?[&:]

No matter the outcome the game isn't over -- unless of course you want it to be. Japan can be quite fun playing without CV. It is a learning experience.[;)]

What do you accredit your poor strike coordination to? How strong was the naval search, day and night? During the day it seems strong with your previous comment, but was there any night search?

Bad weather?

Poor leaders?

Morale/Fatigue?

Too many CVs in a task force?

I thought you lost maybe two to three baby carriers....shocked I am at the report.[X(]

Did the battle come as a surprise?

How good was the Allied DLs on your ship yesterday?

ORIGINAL: Anachro

I think the main thing is to figure out where you definitely think Canoerebel will go and then go opposite. You might know his mind well-enough to determine this. Always risky, however. But its far better to take indirect course then the direct course. In this case the direct path would be most logical for your carriers to take, north, but his positioning gives him the advantage in intercepting you.

This is why I would advocate a south-west or south-east movement.

Decisions, decisions.

His movement is done, and sent to the Allies....a not too often realized strength of the Allies is fuel bunkers on ships.

I guess we will see how bloodthirsty CR is...it seems in the past he has been rather deliberate.

ORIGINAL: Lowpe
His movement is done, and sent to the Allies....a not too often realized strength of the Allies is fuel bunkers on ships.

I guess we will see how bloodthirsty CR is...it seems in the past he has been rather deliberate.

Ah, well then. We shall see whom chance favors on the next round. Had read it as "planned" but not yet executed moves. Either way, I echo your questions form your first post. Would be interested to know.