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ORIGINAL: John 3rd

Damn. Today was like the old days. I was home with NOTHING to do. Dan and I have done three turns and I'm waiting for number 4 presently.

COOL!

We're at December 2, 1943.

[:)]

I was home with NOTHING to do.

How about getting Tracker up and running rather than keep running your economy by the seat of your pants, Admiral?!?

It is good to hear you have time to say send me more Americans!

December 4, 1943
Western New Guinea/Dutch East India

The Allied CV TF and many other TF depart Boela, Timor and move to the NW corner of New Guinea. Is this another Invasion Force or are they retiring on the long journey home? Don't really know or care. Re-Route TF away from the threat. It will not be contested.

Meanwhile...

This move opens up the South/Southeast areas of the Allied Assault. Three TF have been waiting for the opportunity to bring in reinforcements and supplies to all the bases circled. An Inf Brigade will add to the troops holding at Dobo and drive them into the nearby hex with the Japanese in pursuit. Several Base Forces and a pair of CD units will add to Gove and Merauke. Supplies go to all the above as well as Horn Isle.

That is IF Horn Isle is around at that point...see next Post.

December 4, 1943
Eastern New Guinea/Coral Sea

December 3rd saw air search pick-up multiple TF moving up the Eastern Aussie Coast. Looked interesting so I began 'leaning' that way with my aircraft. Order nine I-Boats to the Horn Isle area. The 4th saw an I-Boat MISS CVE Copahee (DRAT!) but it confirmed the CVE and BB Pennsylvania. Three other TF accompany this unit.

We're NOT messing with the Allied Fleet to the west but we WILL ATTACK this one!

More airpower pours into the Lae AF complex. Lae--Nadzab--and the other two bases next to it have all been built up and are at Sz-3+ for their AFs. There has been about 125 Fighters based here harassing the Allied bomber campaign pounding Port Moresby, Merauke, and Horn Isle. That number of fighters DOUBLE to nearly 250 while bombers move into Kavieng, Rabaul, and Madang. The bomber contingent shapes up to be nearly 250 planes as well with Bettys, Judy, and Helen (low level) about evenly split. The 5th will see Fighters move into the Lae complex and all of them shall be set to a range to covers one hex from Horn all the way around.

To send a message, the Japanese had stood down their existing Daitai and Sentai at Lae for 4-5 days. December 4th sees them--in force--over the skies of Port Moresby and Horn Isle. The planes clobber some B-24s and plaster two groups of B-25s. Message sent.

I expect Dan to SWEEP both bases with his P-38s on the 5th. They shall find nothing.

Shift all Fighters to rest/CAP over the Lae complex.

If Dan moves up the coast tomorrow then we'll know what is going on. The 6th COULD be a big fight against a PORTION of the Allied Fleet.

ORIGINAL: John 3rd

Here is an image that NO Japanese Player likes to see! We, unfortunately, have to get used to it at this stage but totally depressing. The Saury puts two fish into Junyo. Damage: 26 SYS 51 FLOT 31 ENG--She can move 3 hexes a turn. Not good at all. The CV picks up two DDs and head for Guam. That base is eight hexes away. I give her about a 20% chance...

It really is interesting to view the perspective from a Japanese standpoint. Any Allied ship with that sort of damage is almost a sure thing to make it to port. I don't think twice about moving a ship from Columbo to Capetown with 60 flotation damage on it. Moved a couple of BBs from Pearl to the WC with close to 80 flotation. (Not to say I did not sweat it out.)

If it is Japanese and has a FLOT of 30 or higher--or FIRES--I really sweat it.

Junyo made it to Saipan and has brought her SYS under 20 and I intend to bring her home within the week.

Got some time today to flip turns with Dan. Plan to update between those turns. Course that statement works if MICHAEL doesn't chew up 45 minutes of time calling to bounce thoughts around! [8|]

December 1-15, 1943
SS and Sinkings Report

Since pulling back the Fleet and letting Dan do his thing, I have worked to aggressively use my SS and try to hit him with LBA whenever possible. Have adopted a more passive form of attritional warfare that is very NOT ME! Course I don't have too many choices presently with the Fleet repairing, training, and waiting for new construction...

Here is a day-by day summary of losses for the first half of December:

December 1st
Japan
Lose AK to SS
Allies
Nothing

December 2nd
Japan
Lose small TK and 2 AK to SS
Allies
Nothing

December 3rd
Japan
Nothing
Allies
I-8 sinks LCT-139 at Dobo

December 4th
Japan
Nothing
Allies
Two LCI lost at Kwajalein

December 5th
Japan
Lose PB and I-36
Allies
Ro-65 sinks LCT 469 at Gebe

December 6th
Japan
Nothing
Allies
Nothing

December 7th
Japan
Nothing
Allies
I-169 sinks LCM-542b (with troops) at Sansapor

December 8th
Japan
Nothing
Allies
I-175 sinks AP Clan MacPherson off Manokwair

December 9th
Japan
Nothing
Allies
Mines sink a ship at Ambon

December 10th
Japan
Nothing
Allies
Nothing

December 11th
Japan
Nothing
Allies
I-184 hits AP Etolin with a TT at Taberfane

December 12th
Japan
Nothing
Allies
I-172 sinks LCT-320 (with troops) at Misool
I-178 sinks LT-350 at Boela
I-17 sinks DD Boyd off Boela

December 13th
Japan
Lose a PB to SS
Allies
I-30 hits AK Indus off Dbo
I-43 sinks DMS Trevor at Dobo
I-175 sinks the crippled AK Indus off Gorong

December 14th
Japan
Lose an AK t7o SS
Allies
Lose an LST and 2 LCT at7 Saumlaki by air attack.

December 15th
Japan
Lose 3 AK at Manado to Air Attack. Lose AKL t7o SS
Allies
Nothing

That is the first half of December's sinkings. Just got a turn from Dan and will Post7 more after running it.

December 15, 1943
Eastern DEI

Dan is an absolute witch as he can get into my head and read my thoughts. He has the advantage of interior lines within the lodgement he has created. It has taken me FOREVER to move troops down to Darwin/Koepang to attempt a counter move and deny him bases.

This has been the case with Dobo (now lost), Saumlaki (now lost), and Babar (now lost). I have gotten two Brigades and an Ind Regiment moved to Darwin/Koepang with plans to land them at these three locations. TFs began loading on the 13th and moved to be within one day's sail of their targets. At that point--VOILA!--Dan shows up with minimal Invasion Forces (500-1000 men) and grabs the bases. CRAP!

We are now working on implementing a plan I have had for a while. From Ternate, Kendari, Koepang, Lautem, and Darwin, Fighters and Attack planes (250 F and 300 Attack Planes) are given the orders to hit anything within a controlled range of 7-8 hexes. The Allied fighters are not everywhere. Figure there will be success in 1-2 areas and heavy resistance in the same amount of space. Perhaps we can get some punches in with controlled loss of aircraft.

While this is happening I am hoping to slip in a surprise with BB Nagato and 6 DD sweeping into Babar. They move in first and then an Invasion Force of fast AK/AP carrying the 90th Regiment will attempt to strong landing. Four 42 plane Frank Sentai are tasked with LRCAP with some George support as well.

Further complicating the picture are two supply convoys moving to Gove and Merauke. The Merauke TF is just carrying supplies while the Gove TF has two Base Forces, an Engineer unit, and supplies. With all the action about to occur west of these locations I truly hope to slip them in with minimal resistance.

Here is the screenshot:

December 16, 1943
Battle for Babar

The turn does not go according to plan, however, it is highly entertaining to watch.

The Landing Force carrying the 90th Inf Reg runs into three separate small STF and battles them. The escort for the TF is an older DD and two 'E'-Class ships. Considering they fight 2 DDs, then 2 more DDs, and finally CLAA Richmond and a DD they do OK. Three of the American DDs are hit pretty hard with one in sinking condition. Japanese losses amount to a DD, an AK, and an AP at this point. The landing Force turns back and heads for Darwin.

Into this melee comes a Japanese BIG BOY--Nagato, 2 CL, and 4 DDs. Nagato--probably--sinks CLAA Richmond with 4 16" shells and a DD. Two more DDs are hard hit. This TF then heads for Darwin as well.

To the north, I-43 tangles with an American ASW Group and the hunted becomes the HUNTER. I-43 SINKS TWO ASW ships--DE Hastings and AM Starling. Pretty impressive.

DAY
BB Nagato takes a TT from an Avenger that gets through her protective CAP.

The 90th Reg TF comes under attack and the 29 F6F and 11 Avengers are met by 48 Franks. There are no American survivors. All the Hellkittens get shot down and 9 Avengers get through hitting two APs and sinking them. The Avengers are then set upon by the Franks and destroyed.

Two Japanese strikes sink a pair of AKs at Babar. Should be noted that the Japanese ARMY gets its first sinking through low level (1,000 Ft) attack. Two more Aks are hit as well.

The Gove TF begins unloading.

Merauke is hit by several B-24 raids and 38 Georges manage to shot down over a dozen of the big bombers. The Merauke relief force will arrive tomorrow.

Total Losses:
Japan
DD Asanagi, 4 AP, and 4 AKs

Allies
CLAA Richmond, 2-3 DDs, a DE, an AM, and 2 AKs.

Lost about 60% of the 90th Inf Reg but will rebuild it at Darwin.

Those are the events of the day...

not a bad day all things considered. Shame you guys sank so many of each others ships. These tight waters are perfect for CA's

December 31, 1943

I do not have much time to do updates for the AAR but I am trying to occasionally get in there so you guys have some of the Japanese perspective. Doing a short Post today and hope to add to it later on as well as do a BUNCH tomorrow.

1943 comes to a close with a good and bad day for Japan.

BAD:
1. CVL Zuiho is sunk by an SS as it and most of the Kaigun approach Truk.
2. The Allies raid Darwin with both a DD Sweep and CV Air. Japan loses 4 PB, 2 SC, and 4 AKs. Saw the chance of this and had pulled most of my shipping out a few turns ago.
3. Lose I17 to ASW at Ambon.
4. Airlifting out elements of troops from Ambon.

GOOD:
1. Air Strikes hit the Allied Fleet at Babar and at see.

BABAR: A strike of 41 Franks and 29 Betty fight through 75 F6F and manage to torpedo an AM and 2 APs. Casualties are inflicted and the AM sinks. Most of Japan's planes don't survive.

AT SEA: An un-escorted group of 25 Jills completely avoid Allied CAP (39 Hellkittens) and PLASTER a Troop Convoy. A DE, AR, and AP are sunk with another AP left in sinking condition. A whopping 5,088 Casualties are reported. NICE!

Planning
Am mounting a major operation to withdraw most troops from Kwajelein and Roi Namur. Have already successfully evacuated Tabiteau, Ocean, and Nauru.

Within 12 days Japan shall receive a major reinforcement of 4 CVs, 1 CL, and 6 DDs. I have timed all this production to come in together. Once these ships are gathered they shall depart to join the Fleet. The Combined Fleet will then meet the Allied Carriers in a death match sometime in January--February 1944.

Nice work by those Jills. [8D]

Nice work by those Jills.

More like falling into the creek and coming up with a pocketful of trout![:D]

Good Day All.

Have some time to do some Posting so here we go.

Against all odds, we've reached 1944. I say that considering that Dan left the game for nearly a year-and-a-half then I took time off for nearly three months. That we cross over into this HUGE year is amazing.

Thought I would Post the overall VP Page for January 4, 1944. Take a look. I have circled and marked some very telling differences within our match.

This shot shows where the economy is at:

Operations
January 1944

As alluded to in earlier Posts, the Japanese have been quietly in the process of withdrawing troops along the perimeter. As mentioned, we have taken troops from Tabitueau, Ocean, and Nauru Isle. At each location a 'holding' force has been left to make the enemy take the base honestly.

Attention now shifts to the garrisons at Kwajelein, Roi Namur, and Eniwetok. For this withdrawal to occur the Fleet has sailed to Truk and will provide direct cover. We are just two short weeks from a HUGE reinforcement of the Kaigun. The plan is to take out about 80% of the troops from these locations but still leave those hold forces.

The Fleet:
KB-1
CVs: Shokaku, Renkaku, Taikaku, Ryukaku (117 Z, 117 Judy, 78 Jill: 312 planes)
CB, 2 CA, 8 DD

KB-2
CVs: Hiryu, Soryu, and 3 CVLs (125 Z, 49 Judy, 57 Jill: 231 planes)
CA, 2 CL, 7 DD

STF: 2 CA and 5 DD

STF: 2 BC, 2 CA, and 4 DD

From Rabaul comes over 35 AK/AP to make the lift fast and then scurry away.

Augmenting the movement will be 200 land-based Fighters...


The known enemy forces include BB Colorado and about ten or so smaller surface ships.

Providing a good result of the Operation the transports will return to Rabaul. Once unloaded the units will be re-organized for deployment into threatened areas.

Here is the Fleet Reinforcement and Repair situation:

Reinforcements:
Within the next twelve days, the following ships enter service: 4 Unryu (252 Planes), 2 CL, and 5 DD. The CLs are accelerated and SHOULD enter into the Fleet before we sail...


Repairs:
Ships re-entering service within the next twelve days: CV Akagi, BB Musashi and Ise, BC Kongo and Hiei, and 3 DDs.

Waiting:
The warships waiting for these reinforcements and repaired vessels are 3 CA, CL, 5 DD

Totals:
5 CV
2 BB
2 BC
3 CA
3 CL
13 DD


The Marshall's Operation CANNOT see large losses. When this massed reinforcement arrives to join the Kaigun the stage shall be set for the Sho Operation (might as well keep the old operational name!). It is time for a 'decisive' battle...

Here are my top Army Fighter units: