Tokyo Rose was a Hussy! Chez (J) vs. Canoe (A)

[Canoerebel]

Yes, I should be able to do both.  Both games will be played at one turn per day max, so that's about right.  I would've started a second game earlier, but I didn't want to have two ongoing that were close in game date.  Having one in 1943 and the other near the start of the war should work well.

[Hortlund]

But I will read this AAR and learn all about your tricks! [:@]

(if that is ok with you)

[Canoerebel]

You're welcome to read it, PH.  But I won't read your AAR vs. Nemo.  I kinda just want to be surprised.

[Hortlund]

Oh man, now I feel bad about reading the first few pages here.

You are right, I'll stay out of this one. Although I feel I should inform you that Im aware of your love for the northern strategy now. An with this post, I leave this thread.

[Capt. Harlock]

Also present are CAs Hawkins, Penscola, San Francisco, Dorsetshire, Cornwall and Canberra.

A very useful post -- my compliments for your kind attention to we readers. (Though personally, I wouldn't consider the Hawkins as a capital ship. Where are the Brooklyn class CL's?)

[Canoerebel]

ORIGINAL: Capt. Harlock
A very useful post -- my compliments for your kind attention to we readers. (Though personally, I wouldn't consider the Hawkins as a capital ship. Where are the Brooklyn class CL's?)

Hawkins has been doing some good duty in the DEI - she flags a TF that just ate up some IJ merchant shipping at Kuching a few days ago. Japan has lost so many capital ships that any Allied capital ship is a serious threat now - Steve can't afford to suffer any damage, so even a ship like Hawkins poses a heightened threat to him.

The Allies have two Cleveland class CLs - Columbia is at Paramushiro about to engage in the first raid on IJ shipping at Shimishura Jima (as mentioned in my post above for 12/20). Cleveland is enroute from the USA to Capetown, ETA sixteen days.

As for the Brooklyn class: Nashville and Boise are just about ready for active duty at Colombo; Honolulu is in a TF with CA Cornwall (commanded by Reeves) at Billiton Island.

[BBfanboy]

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel

Wishing She was at Colombo:  Heavily damaged CA Salt Lake City is at Cocos Island.  Every time she leaves, she leaks like a sieve, so she might be stuck here until an ARD arrives in a year or so.  [:(]

Is SLC setting out alone? I think I saw somewhere that escorting ships can help with flooding control and fire suppression to a small extent. Perhaps an escort would get her back to a bigger port on Sumatra?
Also, I know that the systems damage has to be virtually nil to have any hope of pumps working but you probably already know that.

[Canoerebel]

Salt Lake City took heavy damage while in port at Oosthaven months ago - I think she took two or three sub torps.  She remained disbanded in port for months while SYS damage was repaired to zero.  Then she was escorted by a DD to Cocos Island, making the short trip without incident.  When I sent her from Cocos towards Colombo, she sprung a major leak one day out - her FLT damage going from 65 to 79 in one turn.  So I'm kind of nervous about trying that again! She has a good captain, SYS was zero, and she was set to "cruise", but none of that proved effective.  I think she had a DD escort leaving Cocos, but I can't swear to it now (I can't imagine, though that I'd send a heavily damaged capital ship through dangerous waters without escort).

[Galahad78]

So, are we going to have two Canoerebel AARs going at the same time? Life is good [:)]

[Canoerebel]

Yes.  I'm not sure why, but I love writing AARs.  [:)]

[vettim89]

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel

Salt Lake City took heavy damage while in port at Oosthaven months ago - I think she took two or three sub torps.  She remained disbanded in port for months while SYS damage was repaired to zero.  Then she was escorted by a DD to Cocos Island, making the short trip without incident.  When I sent her from Cocos towards Colombo, she sprung a major leak one day out - her FLT damage going from 65 to 79 in one turn.  So I'm kind of nervous about trying that again! She has a good captain, SYS was zero, and she was set to "cruise", but none of that proved effective.  I think she had a DD escort leaving Cocos, but I can't swear to it now (I can't imagine, though that I'd send a heavily damaged capital ship through dangerous waters without escort).

I think she'll fit into the big floating dry dock you should be getting soon. Of course it will take months to get it all the way to the Cocos

[vettim89]

Voice of experience speaking, she will fit into the dock at Melbourne too. Perhaps you can shuttle her to Exmouth then down the Australian West and South coasts

[Canoerebel]

12/21/42
 
NoPac:  Japan's northern fleet attacks the same day and in the same place the Allied northern fleet does.  The two TFs tangle in several places ending up near Paramushiro.  The Allies are outgunned and lose CL Mauritius, CLAA Atlanta, and two DD, with three more DD taking heavy damage.  The IJN TF includes BB Hyuga, CA Nachi and an escort of DDs.  The Allies will send in BB Tennessee and CA Houston to protect the port.  Knowing where Hyuga and Nachi are is helpful.

Eastern DEI:  Allied transport TFs at Sorong and Morotai have not been detected.

Western DEI:  Allies continue working to garrison Sampit - the force there is still vey weak, but won't be much longer.  SigInt that Japan is reinforcing Tarakan.  Lots of Allied transports carrying mainly engineers and base forces will be arriving at Oosthaven in the next few days.

Burma:  Big news as the Chinese are able to wrest Moulmein away from the Japanese.  The Allied force there is strong enough (and will be reinforced) that I don't think Japan can reclaim this base without a major undertaking, which is unlikely at this point since Burma isn't as important as many other hotspots.  The Allies probing attack at Magwe comes off at 2:1 and does about equal damage to both sides.  But this is encouraging - it means the end may be in sight for the two IJ divisions here.  Wiping out all resistance, which will take awhile, will free up a large Allied force that can then help attend to Rangoon and other points.

[Crackaces]

ORIGINAL: Panzerjaeger Hortlund
Although I feel I should inform you that Im aware of your love for the northern strategy now. An with this post, I leave this thread.

In poker we call this thinking what the opponent is thinking that you are thinking about what he his thinking ... [8D]

It does not matter when staring at 15 Essex class CV's full of death from above .. [:D]

[Canoerebel]

12/22/42
 
Bay of Bengal:  A stout combat TF led by CA Tone tangles with several smaller combat TFs at Port Blair.  The CL Sumatra TF put up a good fight.  Sumatra and Tromp took light damage and managed to heavily damage an IJN DD.  Then Tone came in and blasted CA Frobisher out of the water (a Long Lance strike) plus DMS Zane. Steve continues to commit fairly stout forces into the Andaman Sea even though it's base of operations (Singapore) is no longer safe.  Hopefully I can benefit from this situation.  I think Steve may be desperate enough over the loss of Moulmein and the dire situations at Rangoon and Magwe tro try something fairily big up here.
 
Burma:  The Allied army at Magwe will attack again tomorrow.  A second Chinese division will reach Moulmein in a couple of days.
 
Eastern DEI:  Lots of IJ shipping in the South China Sea including a sub-sighting of BB Yamashiro up near Manila.  I'm expecting some kind of major effort here - perhaps a transport convoy to Kuching or maybe even a counterinvasion of Singkawang.  The Allies have quite a bit of combat shipping divided between Singkawang and Billiton Island.  This is near the frontier - on the margins where a sudden enemy attack en masse can result in big losses, but so be it.  I'd like a crack at more IJN capital ships.
 
Western DEI:  Troops ashore at both Morotai and Sorong without detection.  The most advanced base force in the eastern DEI is at Sorong, which currently has a level one airfield.  I've stopped all airfield construction at Taberfane, Saumlaki and Boela just before each base reaches level one.  I don't want to tip off Steve about what's happening.  As soon as he notices activity, I'll resume building the airfields.  Right now it's more important to get garrison troops to these bases.  I'm even trying to put together a force to go to Talaud Eilanden, the island just south of Mindanao.  I need more political points!
 
 
 

[Canoerebel]

12/23/42
 
Bay of Bengal:  Lots of IJ bombers attending to Moulmein, and I think enemy ships are on the way.  Steve doesn't intend to give up this base.  I'll have two Chinese divisions on site, so it won't be easy for him to reclaim, but I need to work this hard to prevent him from retaking it.  I may need to transfer some of the units from up at Magwe.  I think I can spare some from the "liquidation of the isolated IJ army effort."  Today's attack at Magwe achieved 4:1 odds, so the IJ army is breaking.  A TF made up of CA Devonshire and CL Boise will report from Colombo to Port Blair to provide protection for in incoming troop convoy carrying, among others, 50th Indian paratroops.
 
NoPac:  Tennesee and Houston are on station with Quincy and two DDs on the way from Adak.
 
SWPac/Eastern DEI:  SigInt that a Jap recon unit is enroute to Rabaul, which to my way of thinking is an irrelevant place.  Forts at Morotai reach level one, with some bigger troop convoys getting closer - Morotai will get a Kiwi brigade (plus an Aussie brigade if my memory is accurate).  I don't think Steve is paying attention here at all.
 
Western DEI:  BB Indiana will reach Oosthaven in two days.  A long-range Liberator recon squadron has been on duty at Billiton for a week now, providing information about Cam Ranh Bay and Saigon.  The KB seems to be at the former, if the reports are accurate.  The Allies have two forces prepping for Balikpapan and Banjermasin, but I'm considering Miri also.  9th Aussie Division arrives at Aden in 19 days, so I think that's what it'll prep for.  Right now, the Japanese position at Miri is kind of isolated, what with the Allies still holding some bases in NW Borneo plus Puerto Princessa.  (It'd ridiculous that the Allies still have these bases, but that could also change at any minute.)
 
 

[Blackhorse]

I've stopped all airfield construction at Taberfane, Saumlaki and Boela just before each base reaches level one. I don't want to tip off Steve about what's happening. As soon as he notices activity, I'll resume building the airfields.

Clever, that.

[Canoerebel]

12/24/42
 
Burma:  I think Steve is panicked a bit over Burma and Malaya.  He realizes the close call he had at Victoria Point (SigInt reports troops on a maru bound for Georgetown).  He's bombing the port and airfield at Moulmein heavily (he wants to prevent fort building while he puts together a force to reclaim this base).  He's resorted to long-range CAP over Magwe from Rangoon (too late to save his beleagured army there).  The Allies will deliberate attack at Magwe tomorrow - IJ AV is below 800 now.  If this attack goes well, I might rest my guys for a couple of days and then shock attack.  As for Moulmein, Japan can't mount a timely ground campaign, so if Steve's coming he's got to come by sea.  The CA Devonshire TF will be tasked to stop any such effort.

Sumatra:  US tanks brush aside depleted opposition a hex east of Sibolga.  Now the tanks can move into the base to gauge enemy strength.  The Allies have 26th Indian Division on transports just to the south.  This force was originally slated for Singkawang (weren't needed there), then Victoria Point (couldn't get them in before I lost the base), and are now waiting to see whether Sibolga or Banjermasin/Balikpapan are better opportunities.

Eastern DEI:  Allied activity still undetected.  A transport TF carrying an Aussie brigade is inbound to Morotai - perhaps four days out.  This is a critical moment - if this unit gets ashore, the Allies have some staying power here (and also at Boela, where there's another Aussie brigade; and soon at Sorong, where Fiji brigade is about four days out).  At that point, it's no longer a matter of Steve dealing with annoying little incursions easily overcome.

[BBfanboy]

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel

12/24/42

Sumatra:  US tanks brush aside depleted opposition a hex east of Sibolga.  Now the tanks can move into the base to gauge enemy strength.  The Allies have 26th Indian Division on transports just to the south.  This force was originally slated for Singkawang (weren't needed there), then Victoria Point (couldn't get them in before I lost the base), and are now waiting to see whether Sibolga or Banjermasin/Balikpapan are better opportunities.

That's the stuff - keep your options open it good strategy. It keeps your opponent [and your AAR followers] guessing! [&:]

[Canoerebel]

12/25/42
 
Moulmein:  A big battle is shaping up.  A USN sub tangled with a very big transport TF including one heavy cruiser near Phuket on a northeast heading.  Steve's intent on retaking this base.  The Allies want to stop him.  CA Devonshire/CL Boise TF is already on station at Port Blair.  CA Chicago TF and BB Warspite TF depart Colombo tonight.  CV Saratoga and CV Illustrious TF are just east of Colombo, true, and make full steam into the Bay of Bengal.  The other three USN carriers are south of Padang and probably too distant to make it, but will give it the old college try.
 
Magwe:  Allied deliberate attack at 3:1 causes relatively light damage, but Japan takes the brunt of what there is.  The Allies will have to rest a few days with disruption in the 50s.  But Japan's army here is toast unless Steve can pull a rabbit out of a hat in short order.
 
Western DEI:  Fairly quiet at the moment as Steve is focusing on Moulmein.  The new Allied garrison at Sampit is up to 100 AV with good engineers present.
 
Eastern DEI:  The quiet continues.  Aussie brigade two or three days from Morotai.