Buried in the Sunset (Marbakka [A] vs. Texas_D [J]) - Reluctant Admiral 4.1

[marbakka]

Combat Report - 3/23/1942

IJN sent 2 BBs and 2 CAs to bombard Brisbane. They did minor damage and CA Kinugasa took a shell for her trouble. Later in the day, that same base launched 32 Banshees armed with 1000lb bombs. With 1 lost and several damaged, they scored 3 bomb hits on the BB Nagato and set her afire. We should be able to launch another attack in the morning unless they move off at a considerable rate in the night.

My own bombardment of Moulmein had little to show for it. I forgot to set it on bombardment for a day so there was 1 day of bombardment, a day of rest, then today's bombardment. That allowed him to evac his ~70 Oscars. My TF will return home to rearm. There are now 2 AVG squadrons in Rangoon ready to sweep Moulmein and Chiang Mai. This is a pretty high priority for me right now ever since I realized that he probably plans to drop paratroops in my retreat path.

I now have a much better picture in SOPAC. He has a combat TF screening him from any Aussie threats (none exist) and he has his KB parked south of Fiji. I'm puzzled as to what he plans on doing here. Sure, he is disrupting my operations, but he is not exactly bleeding me, and when Hornet arrives in a week or so, he may regret just hanging around and doing nothing. On the other hand, this could easily be a precursor to something bigger - an invasion of NZ, Australia, or Fiji perhaps.

[BBfanboy]

Any invasion of this area or Eastern Oz would require assembly of a huge invasion fleet in the Truk/Rabaul area. Is there any SIGINT showing heavy radio traffic in those areas?

[marbakka]

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

Any invasion of this area or Eastern Oz would require assembly of a huge invasion fleet in the Truk/Rabaul area. Is there any SIGINT showing heavy radio traffic in those areas?

I'm not at home, so I can't really say for sure. There has been a TON of ASW activity at Truk for the past week, and since I frequently pick up radio trans. there and in the Gilberts, I'm sure I've had some this week. I have assumed that those were associated with the KBs activities.

[marbakka]

Combat Report - 3/24/1942

Not a lot happening. He appears to have landed all the troops on Ambon that he can, but it is only about half of what I have in place. I'm tempted to conduct a deliberate attack, but I don't trust any of my troops on offense.

The KB moved north toward Luganville, as if to leave the area. It's Combat TF (CTF) is paralleling about 5 hexes to the west of it. I'm still puzzled as to what he wanted to accomplish on this little foray. Of course, it could easily be a feint in the hopes that I will send all my transports back into Suva just in time to have him swoop back in. Not going to happen. In fact, I've pretty much decided to base all my empty transport ships in NZ and bring them up to Fiji only when needed.

I did, however, order my troop transports to relocate from Fatu Hiva to Bora Bora so that they will be a little closer when I do pull the trigger and have them come pouring in. This has worked in my favor in some ways because Luganville has had time to improve its infrastructure a bit.

USS Hornet is 2 days out from Pearl Harbor. I expect she will stay there for about a day before making the 3-4 day sail down to SOPAC to join her sisters.


Did I mention that I REALLY don't like the KB in my face?

[marbakka]

Combat Report - 3/25/1942

The KB continues northbound cutting between Noumea and Luganville. I expect he'll bomb Luganville on the way past, so I'll move the search planes for a turn. He bombarded Noumea with his CTF, but he didn't have much ammo (or so he told me) and only scored 2 runway hits and 7 casualties. He is showing every sign of withdrawing, so I will start moving my transports closer. When the KB gets far enough away that I can feel safe about it, I will start putting the troops down in their assigned ports, first at Suva, then Noumea, and finally Luganville (the order that they should be out of sight for him).

I failed to mention yesterday that Kukong fell to IJ forces in Southern China. I was forced to withdraw my garrison there because he was racing troops up from Canton to cut off their retreat. I will have to abandon my other bases and the border with Thailand in order to form a defensive line. Southern China is lost.

[John 3rd]

ORIGINAL: marbakka

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

Any invasion of this area or Eastern Oz would require assembly of a huge invasion fleet in the Truk/Rabaul area. Is there any SIGINT showing heavy radio traffic in those areas?

I'm not at home, so I can't really say for sure. There has been a TON of ASW activity at Truk for the past week, and since I frequently pick up radio trans. there and in the Gilberts, I'm sure I've had some this week. I have assumed that those were associated with the KBs activities.

With Stacking limits Truk is fairly useless for build-up. Rabaul is slightly better.

Intel didn't (evidently) tip off my opponent that I was bringing 12+ Inf Div to Australia.

[BBfanboy]

ORIGINAL: John 3rd

ORIGINAL: marbakka

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

Any invasion of this area or Eastern Oz would require assembly of a huge invasion fleet in the Truk/Rabaul area. Is there any SIGINT showing heavy radio traffic in those areas?

I'm not at home, so I can't really say for sure. There has been a TON of ASW activity at Truk for the past week, and since I frequently pick up radio trans. there and in the Gilberts, I'm sure I've had some this week. I have assumed that those were associated with the KBs activities.

With Stacking limits Truk is fairly useless for build-up. Rabaul is slightly better.

Intel didn't (evidently) tip off my opponent that I was bringing 12+ Inf Div to Australia.

Wasn't thinking of loading the transports at Truk, just assembling the convoys and escort as they arrive from diverse locations. Fuelling up as close to the front as prudent is also an important step and Truk usually has a good supply. I guess most signals could be passed by lamp, but surely some ships have to call ahead for spare parts before they arrive.

[marbakka]

Combat Report - 3/26/1942

The KB stayed in place (or perhaps moved slightly SW) to attack Noumea. They didn't do much damage and I'm happy to see them expend some sorties. I believe this is their 3rd port attack during this deployment.

He has landed paratroopers in Ambon. This is comforting because a) he didn't attack with them from the air (no bonus?) and b) it means they aren't in Burma.

I misjudged how long it would take Hornet to arrive in PH. She should get there tomorrow evening. Any tips on how to arrange 5 CVs for an attack (as in how many per TF and how many TF per hex)?

[BBfanboy]

A lot depends on how many escorting cruisers and destroyers you have [& BB North Carolina should be in play]. I would want at least two fast BB/Cruisers per TF for their AA and to draw some of the air attacks to themselves. AA may not be greatly effective in downing planes at this stage but it sure helps throw them off their aim. Then you want 6-8 DDs per TF.

Going on my own experience at this stage in the game their aren't enough escorts for single CV TFs, so I had two CVs per TF, and later added a CVL when they were available. As for best arrangement, Whether you place the TFs in adjacent hexes or in the same hex, you should be able to get overlapping CAP with a range of 1 hex.

[marbakka]

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

A lot depends on how many escorting cruisers and destroyers you have [& BB North Carolina should be in play]. I would want at last two fast BB/Cruisers per TF for their AA and to draw some of the air attacks to themselves. AA may not be greatly effective in downing planes at this stage but it sure helps throw them off their aim. Then you want 6-8 DDs per TF.

Going on my own experience at this stage in the game their aren't enough escorts for single CV TFs, so I had two CVs per TF, and later added a CVL when they were available. As for best arrangement, Whether you place the TFs in adjacent hexes or in the same hex, you should be able to get overlapping CAP with a range of 1 hex.

My current setup is to have each CV in its own TF accompanied by 4 CA/CL and 8 DDs, and then have all 4 of those TFs in the same hex. Hornet is in PH picking up her last two CAs before moving south to join them. That will mean 5 nearly identical TFs.

I confess that I'm stretched a bit thin where DDs are concerned, but I don't have another CV coming in until the end of July I think.

[marbakka]

Combat Report - 3/27/1942

Another attack on Noumea - this time against the airfield. He was more successful this time, but still failed to destroy any of my search planes, which is all that is there. I'm disappointed that the KB did not move further north, but not especially surprised. If he keeps this up, I'll be able to get Hornet down at which point I'll feel comfortable with a confrontation. Before that, I'll need to refuel my CVs. I'll do that tomorrow or the next day depending on Hornet's expected arrival.

In Southern China, I'm having a bit of trouble getting the Kukong garrison up to the new defensive line. They got cut off by a large force out of Canton and I don't know that I can get around them.

In Ambon, I have 403 AV to his 117. Most of my troops are garrisons and BFs while he has an Assault division and paratrooper division. I've been bombarding him every turn to widdle down his numbers with some success, but I'm debating a deliberate attack. That may be what he is hoping for.

[BBfanboy]

You have done well to assemble that many escorts for your CVs. Putting 2 CVs together would free up some for a surface combat group to guard against his raiders or perhaps attack a convoy without revealing your carriers.

Speaking of carriers, he really does not seem to know where yours are and his half-hearted actions seem to suggest he is waiting for you to show up and fight. You have ID'd one strong surface group with KB and there may be another. The idea would be to lure you into a confrontation with KB while the surface groups close in from the flank. Or perhaps mini-KB is waiting in the wings to close the trap? I think you are wise, waiting for Hornet and for KB to expend most of it's operations points.

As for layout of the TFs - I am surprised no one else has offered more experienced advice. You could do a search in the WAR ROOM forum where advice on many topics is debated.

[marbakka]

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy
Speaking of carriers, he really does not seem to know where yours are and his half-hearted actions seem to suggest he is waiting for you to show up and fight. You have ID'd one strong surface group with KB and there may be another.

I'm about 90% sure that he knows exactly where my carriers are. For one thing, he has mentioned them to me personally (though that could always be his propaganda), but also I think he has some search plane coverage from somewhere south of Tarawa. I've been sending out recon, but it could be any of the dot bases. Add to that the fact that his submarine was spotted shadowing the fleet a day or so ago, and I'm fairly certain he knows we are there. I doubt he knows how many I have or that another is on its way to join them, though.

[marbakka]

Combat Report - 3/28/1942

The KB has moved north from his previous position. He is parked about 4 hexes directly west of Luganville. His combat TF (BBs) is well to the north and headed toward Truk. Here is hoping that he's going home.

USS Hornet has to stay at least one more day in Pearl while it waits for replacement planes. I accidentally requested the replacements while the unit was still on land, so the new planes weren't moved aboard the ship.

He bombarded Ambon. I think I've decided to just put my forces on defense and force him to bring more troops. No sense throwing myself on his bayonets.

Patrol sized vessels tangled near Moulmein. To the best of my knowledge, these are the only ships he has in the IO. Diego Garcia is vulnerable at the moment (only a small garrison there), but I do have my UK CVs over there to at least provide some warning of any large force there.

[marbakka]

Combat Report - 3/29/1942

The KB moved slightly north and has met another TF which came south to them. It has all the appearances of being a replenishment fleet. The question, though, is whether they are replenishing for the trip home or topping off before moving east to try to confront my CVs. I have a ton of subs in the area that are racing to get into position for a shot.

Pretty much a boring day otherwise. A mini-sub sunk while clowning around at Pearl Harbor.

[marbakka]

Combat Report - 3/30/1942

FINALLY, the AVG performed admirably in the skies above Changsha. They shot down probably a dozen or so aircraft including 8 of the pesky Oscars.

The KB moved a mere 2 hexes to the north which, as it happens, was just far enough to avoid my swarm of submarines. I'm still highly suspicious of what is going on here. Is he covering something? Distracting me while he is creepin' elsewhere? I'm not sure, and not being sure drives me crazy.

My own CVs are on their way to Canton Island where they will rendezvous with Hornet and 2 replenishment fleets. After we get sorted out, they will return the short distance to Suva/Noumea to cover landings and/or push for a decisive confrontation.

Well, well, well..[X(]..SigInt reports that the 11th Division is planning for an attack on Calcutta. I'll be doing some research to see what other reports I've had on this unit, but my suspicion is that this is a ruse. He has been dragging his feet in Burma and has yet to even make an attempt at Singapore, so I'd be surprised if India is his goal. That said, I'll be keeping a sharper eye on these reports now.

[marbakka]

Combat Report - 3/31/1942

Not much action today. AVG is back to stinkin' it up.

The KB has moved WNW of Guadalcanal and appears to be headed back to Rabaul. I'm fine with that and will now proceed to land my troops, but I'm not dumb enough to think that means he is done down here. He lost few if any aircraft and didn't even use many sorties. I expect him to refuel in Rabaul and perhaps shoot over to Truk and then come right back down there.

...and next time I'll have all 5 carriers ready to go.

[marbakka]

Combat Report - 4/1/1942

April Fools Day

An unescorted group of bombers out of Bangkok tried to sink a cargo convoy into Rangoon. They will have LRCAP tomorrow, so here's hoping he tries again.

The KB has disappeared, but a Val tried to attack one of my submarines up near Rabaul, so I have every reason to believe that he is continuing northbound. My own CVs are parked at Canton waiting for the replen fleets and Hornet to arrive. Should be a couple days.

In Southern China, I'm not sure if I'm going to be stuck in the hex or not, but he conducted a deliberate attack with a superior force against my fleeing Kukong army. I got 1 to 2 odds and dealt out far better than that. Maybe he'll let me pass. I hope so because those guys will be needed at the defensive line north of here.

[marbakka]

Combat Report - 4/2/1942

Big day for submarine action on both sides. It's weird how these things come in waves. He sunk an xAKL and xTK and I think I got a PB and an AK or two.

No sign of the KB. I have to assume he is in Rabaul for a day or two. I need at least that long to refuel my own carriers.

[marbakka]

Combat Report - 4/3/1942

He landed a second wave at Ambon. He definitely has enough to take it, though he suffered a good bit of disruption during his landing, so he will probably want to rest a few days before making his attacks.

Hornet has now joined Yorktown, Saratoga, Enterprise, and Lexington at Canton Island. They will refuel and then begin moving toward Suva to meet up with the transports that are now arriving from the east. The plan is to move them SE of Noumea while those troops unload and then get them flying CAP over Luganville while those 2-3 TFs unload there. The KB could arrive at any time, though I should get at least 1 day warning from search planes. I'll be prepared nonetheless. When this operation is complete, the CVs will return to Pearl and then most of them will be headed to various WC ports for their upgrades. Their next trip to SOPAC will be for the invasion of Ndeni and Tulagi (a couple months off at least!).

I was thrilled with the success of the bombardment of Moulmein. Actually, I had intended to stop the fleet and hit Tavoy instead because recon hadn't revealed any aircraft in Moulmein. I don't know if he moved them back on this turn or what, but I caught a good number of them there. In addition to the 11186 fires and 122 runway hits, 12 Oscars were destroyed and 69 were damaged. They also destroyed a total of 16 squads and 11 guns. Most were non-combat, but he has GOT to be annoyed enough to be either sending or thinking about sending surface support over here. He still has not attacked Singapore. My ships will expend the last of their ammo and then return to Ceylon for some repairs. They've done well and deserve some shore leave.