AEHGP2 Traskott (A) vs. Seydlitz (J) Japanese side AAR

[seydlitz_slith]

Near Sydney, I-10 was on the surface charging her batteries when the aft lookouts spotted a shadow on the horizon in the dead of the night.
Turning bow on to the contact, the tracking crew quickly set up to track the target. After forty five minutes, the crew had worked the base course and speed needed to conduct an approach. Even though the target was making only 7 knots with a moderate zig zag pattern, the sub had to do a two hour end around to reach a firing position. The Captain elected to make a submerged approach since the target had been identified as a Tribal class destroyer. However, during one of the periscope observations it was realized that the ship was not a 2000 ton destroyer, but rather a 9,000 ton Leander class cruiser. Furthermore, the vessel appeared to have a slight port list and was sitting lower in the water than normal.

The error in target identification, easy to make on a moonless night, meant that the wrong mast head height had been used, and that meant that any torpedoes fired using that solution would be misses. The executive officer worked furiously with the tracking crew to work out the correct solution with the new target data. The error in the mast head height meant that the range to target was greater than anticipated. Lowering the periscope, the Captain had to make a high speed run to reach the newly calculated firing position. This nearly exhausted the battery since the sub had just been in the process of starting her nightly charge when the target had been sighted. Luckily, the target's zig zag pattern held to prediction and the submarine was able to loose a full spread of torpedoes at the target from a range of 1500 yards.

One hit was observed, and after which the target's engines and propellors were heard to stop.

Through the periscope the Captain could see the fires burning on the cruiser, highlighting the details and camoflague pattern. At this point he realized that the vessel was the same ship that they had torpedoed and reported sunk two days earlier. While disappointed that this was not a second Leander class cruiser, he was still grateful to know that he had indeed put the Achilles under, even if it took three days to do so.

Again, though, he was unable to stay on the scene until the cruiser sank. The batteries were nearly flat and with their proximity to Sydney, they would have to pull away from the cruiser, surface, and charge their batteries before sunrise. The dawn would surely bring a swarm of hunting aircraft and possibly rescue vessels to the scene.

[bklooste]

ORIGINAL: seydlitz

On the land front, we captured Wenchow, Chaochow, and Davao. My forces at Clark are resting for a few days to remove fatigue and disruption after the battle there. Meanwhile, my bombers continue to pound Bataan each and every day. Dugout Doug is getting his teeth rattled daily by around 100 bombers releasing their bombs over Bataan and Corregidor.

Make sure you pull the good pilots out of your Nell Daitai its pointless loosing them for simple bombing and in 43 you will really need those better pilots.

[seydlitz_slith]

ORIGINAL: bklooste
Make sure you pull the good pilots out of your Nell Daitai its pointless loosing them for simple bombing and in 43 you will really need those better pilots.

Good point. I haven't pulled any pilots yet from any units, but I am being very careful with them. I won't fly any missions except in an emergency if the air group has over 16 fatigue at the start of the mission. I figure that I will do some mass rotations after the Java campaign, although your point with the Nell pilots is valid and I may want to do those now.

I have actually been using 3 Nell Datais out of Takao to provide all of the bombing power for the Luzon campaign and also using them for forays over China. I plan to keep using them over China but there is the risk of running into the AVG there. So I will have to decide whether I want the higher def skill of the experienced pilots or if I want to go ahead and pull them for lesser experienced pilots. By March this answer will be easier as several of my training classes on the home islands will have graduated and I will have several dozen decently skilled pilots.

FWIW, I also found the optimum setting for training ASW crews. The formula is 20 or 30% ASW with 50-60% train on ASW. Units set to this mix seem to be gaining skill in ASW very quickly.

[seydlitz_slith]

ORIGINAL: bklooste

Interesting..

If he hasnt moved them is it worth going after the training squadrons on the ground  ? Going after US airframes is the best thing you can do IMHO in early 42.

I have been pondering the same thing. I can not get a good recon in on any of the California cities even though I have been trying with my sub based Glens. I would love nothing better than to roll in with a major attack on one of his training bases and tear up three or four months worth of fighter production.

As it is, I plan to try the fighter sweep gambit in a turn or two. I pulled out to about 15 hexes from the coast so that I could stand down the crews and remove all fatigue before running back in to combat. If I can put about 80 zeroes in the skies over Frisco I should be able to chew his fighter force up pretty good. Do this a couple of times and he will have to pull his cap back to save the planes. That is when I start rolling in with the strike packages. I really don't plan to sail the KB for home until the bomb magazines are empty.

[seydlitz_slith]

Turn 44 19 January, 1942

Something, somewhere, hit a mine at the start of the turn. I heard the explosion sound byte followed not too long afterwards by the sound byte that plays when a ship goes down. I checked my messages and shipping and it wasn't one of my ships.

I had recently laid a minefield at the channel islands off the coast of California so maybe a sailboat or great white shark bumped into one.

Speaking of mines, two turns ago I-121 hit a mine off Perth before she could sow her own field there. The ship had 94 float and 56 system damage.
I checked on her this turn after my ops reports listed at least 6 messages ordering her to return to Davao for damage repairs.
When I checked, she had finally moved 1 hex north from Perth. She had a speed of 1 knot, system damage was 58, still 94 float, and 4 engine damage. I really doubt that she will make it but I will pull for her.


Off Sepandjang, I-165 encounted a British task force in the middle of the night and managed to torpedo and sink one of the light cruisers. The experienced escorts worked her over pretty well but she should be able to stay on station.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Sepandjang at 61,107

Japanese Ships
SS I-165, hits 4

Allied Ships
CL Mauritius, Torpedo hits 1
CL Durban
CL Dragon
DD Piet Hein
DD Kortenaer
DD Evertsen
DD Banckert
DD Express
DD Encounter
DD Electra
DD Stronghold

[seydlitz_slith]

Off the California coast, the weather has finally cleared. Glens flying off my subs have spotted several PT boats far out at sea searching for my ships.
Meanwhile, the air crews have completed their day of rest, and I am now moving the carriers in to about 11 hexes off the coast. The zeroes are set to 10% cap with sweep orders at 19000 feet over San Francisco. We will see what kind of fighter cap he has up there.

The vals are set at naval bombing, 20% search with all 360 degrees covered between the units, with a set altitude of 12,000 feet, max range 7. Kates are set at naval attack, 7,000 feet, use bombs only, max range 7, 0% search.

My thoughts are as follows:
Only his B-17s and Catalinas will have the range to hit me if they even spot my ships. His fighters and most bombers won't have the range.
My bombers can clean up anything that is at sea within 4 hexes of the coast and I doubt that his cap would cover out that far.
That is the plan, at least.

[seydlitz_slith]

In other news, I am fighting in Moresby, but disrupted and fatigued just enough that I can't get the deal done. I will defend with one unit and put the other two into reserve for a couple of turns to pull the disruption levels down. Meanwhile, I have Mavis seaplanes flying in additional rice rations and bullets.

I continued to bomb Bataan with Nells.

I did a fighter sweep over Rangoon and bagged a buffalo or two.

[seydlitz_slith]

Now on to a bit of summary information regarding the submarine war.

First off, here is a list of subs from both sides that have been lost in the war to date. I have only lost one, although I may lose I-121 in the next few turns.

[seydlitz_slith]

Here is a map of the home islands. As you can see I have a lot of ASW hunting groups at sea. Most are very inexperienced, but they will gain experience by staying at sea hunting subs. I am running a lot of convoys into the Pacific coast cities on Honshu from Port Arthur, Hakodate, and Shikuka. I also have the standard military traffic sailing from port. All convoys are heavily escorted and where possible, I use faster ships and escorts for the military convoys.

14th Sentai, flying Sallies out of Sasebo has scored two sub kills even though the overall experience for the unit is only in the low fifties.

Sub Chaser CH-23 also has two sub kills while escorting the same convoy. It sank the O-16 off Cam Ranh Bay on christmas day, and then sank USS Thresher off Yokohama on January 15th as she shepharded her convoy into the approaches to Tokyo Bay.

[seydlitz_slith]

Here is a list of allied sub successes to date. There have been many more attacks, but these are the only ones that resulted in damage.

[seydlitz_slith]

Here is the list of Japanese submarine successes to date. Sinkings only in this case as I have many more. Just in case you didn't figure it out in the last post, greyed boxes in the VP and Tonnage columns as well as D in the sunk column mean the target was damaged only, and not sunk.
On this list, everything is a sinking. I have an additional half page of damages, but no point in showing them. The list is sorted by sub making the kill as I like to keep track of which subs are doing well.

[seydlitz_slith]

Turn 45 20 January, 1942

Well, as it turns out, CL Mauritus was not dead after all. The turn began in the night phase with I-162 spotting the damaged cruiser escorted by one destroyer trying to make it back to Balikpapan. I-162 sealed her fate by putting three fish into her side. No way the old girl could survive the damage of four torpedo hits.

[seydlitz_slith]

Off California, the zeroes of the Kido Butai conducted a sweep of San Francisco Bay at 19,000.
The first wave of 16 Zeroes from the Soryu encountered a CAP consisting of 50 P-43 Lancers and proceeded to tear into them. Several Soryu pilots scored kills including three pilots who had already scored earlier in the war.

PO2 Harada, K. of Soryu-1 is credited with kill number 2
LT Fujimatsu F. of Soryu-1 is credited with kill number 3
PO2 Okano U. of Soryu-1 is credited with kill number 3
PO2 Harada, K. of Soryu-1 is credited with kill number 3

The other waves from the carriers arrived as a group of 16, then a group of 32. However, by the time the last group had arrived, the skies were clear as the Soryu pilots had shot down or damaged most of the Lancers, leaving only 12 for the second wave.

Sadly, even though only one zero was lost during the battle, additional planes were lost during the long flight back to the carrier.

A6M2 Zero from Soryu-1 is written off
A6M2 Zero from Soryu-1 is written off
Damaged A6M2 Zero from Soryu-1 shot down on way home, pilot reported killed (PO2 Okano U. who had 3 kills)
Damaged A6M2 Zero from Soryu-1 does not return, pilot reported killed (Lt. JG. Fujita, I.)
Damaged A6M2 Zero from Soryu-1 is missing, pilot reported killed (Lt. Suganami, M.)
A6M2 Zero from Shokaku-1 is damaged on landing

Still, the tally for the sweeps turned out to be 20 Lancers compared to 6 zeroes

[seydlitz_slith]

During the confusion of the fighter sweeps, my sub based Glens performed some naval attacks and recon of their own. In fact, the Glen from the I-15 reported that it had bombed and hit a Canadian Pacific type commercial transport just outside San Francisco Bay.

E14Y1 Glen from I.15-1 has spotted an Allied xAP at 218,70
a Canada Pacific class xAP is reported HIT
E14Y1 Glen from I.15-1 has spotted a Cockatoo class AMc at 218,70

We are not sure, but this may have been the S.S. Empress of Asia, a 16,909 ton liner built in 1913.

[seydlitz_slith]

His B-17s attempted to bomb Kuching, but he scored only one port hit because I had a Datai of Oscars on patrol when he arrived, and they shot down two of the fortresses before they could drop their bombs.

[seydlitz_slith]

Also worth mentioning is the last surviving American fighter on Luzon. A week ago there were two fighters left but evidently one has gone non-functional or has crashed. However, this last plane has flown cap every day. I was forced to begin escorting my Nells with zeroes again after the P-40 shot down 3 of them on the 17th. I have been sweeping with both Nells and Nates, but the wily pilot avoids the zeroes and only makes quick slashing attacks on the Nates if the thinks that he has an advantage. We have not been able to locate the field that he is flying out of and think that he may be operating out of a farm field or plantation in the Bataan or Manila area. We have troops scouring the countryside trying to locate where the plane is flying from, and a $1,000 reward has been offered for the capture of this air pirate.

[seydlitz_slith]

Most of the Val and kate losses that I have taken have been during my ground attacks on Moresby using planes flying off of the Kaga and Akagi.
I am pulling the carriers down into the center of the Coral Sea and discontinuing my air strikes on Moresby. My land units are recovering disruption pretty fast and should be able to attack again in a couple of days. the Mavis' flying from Manus and Rabaul have brought in enough supplies to statisfy the demands of the units.

[seydlitz_slith]

Since I haven't already mentioned it, here are my plans for the Kido Butai next turn.

I will rest most of the fighters (no sweep, 20% cap) next turn while I parallel the coast and run down towards San Diego and Los Angeles. I have the Vals and Kates on naval attack with the Vals also on search. If there is anything at sea within 7 hexes of my path I should spot it weather permitting. I did not want to fly fighters at long range or do a base strike given the weather forecast was once again thunderstorms in the carrier's hex.

This turn, the Vals found and sunk YP-73 with 4 well placed bomb hits.

[seydlitz_slith]

Also during the turn, I-168 suffered a stuck main induction valve when she dived following her battery charge two hours before dawn a few miles south of Oahu.
Commander Nakamura ordered an emergency blow as soon as it was clear that there was a problem. The sub was still on the surface at that time but had already started her dive. With the main ballast and negative already flooding for the dive, the sub had a momentum that would not be stopped. The Commander called for the collision alarm and ordered all back emergency on the electric engines, batteries switched from parallel to series to maximize their power.

Most of the watertight doors had been closed when the flooding through the induction hit the engine room in a cascade so strong that no one could keep their feet. With a shower of sparks and electrical arcing the circuit breakers tripped and all power was lost. The sub, which had been trembling from the sudden reversal of the engines stopped her violent vibrations as the engines died. The reversing had just started to kill the way on the boat and she still had a good four knots of momentum carrying her deeper into the depths with the water rolling in.

"Planes to manual, set to forward planes to full rise and aft planes to 10 degrees down."
"Get a battle lantern on. Pump all compressed air that we have into the forward tank and blow the negative."
Throughout the ship, scattered flashlights and battle lanterns were switched on by the experienced crew.
"She's passing 60 meters, will she stop?"
The crew could feel the way coming off the ship as the air vented into the forward ballast and negative tanks. The sub continued to sink, but now it felt as if the ship was mushing down in the center. As they passed 80 meters the down angle became an up angle. At 90 meters the descent stopped and the sub began to take a nose up attitude. The flooding did not stop, and the extra weight of water in the engine room accentuated the bow angle by dragging the stern lower.

Finally, the sub began to rise. 80 meters, then 70, then 60, then faster and faster as the fully blown tanks pulled the sub towards the surface at an ever steeper angle. By 40 meters, the up angle was so steep that the crew couldn't keep their feet. At long last the bow broke the surface followed by the rest of the sub, the entire forward 20 meters of the vessel breaking free of the water before crashing back heavily into the water as the momentum was lost.

Eventually the sub came to rest, barely on the surface, most of the main deck under water and with a 10 degree starboard list. But at least the flow of water through the main induction had stopped. Her situation was grave. she was powerless, unable to dive, about to sink if she couldn't get pumps started, and only a few miles off the south coast of Oahu where search planes would surely find her during the morning light.

Luckily the crew was experienced and soon had some of the emergency pumps running by connecting directly to the forward batteries. A repair crew quickly fixed the stuck flapper on the main induction valve, and within four hours the water had been pumped out of the engine room by a combination of pumps and a bucket brigade. Even more fortunate was the weather. Just as dawn broke a thick squall line rolled in over the sub, and it continued to rain throughout the day, protecting her from the searching aircraft. By evening, the exhausted crew had made enough progress that they were able to restart one of the diesel engines, and the sub was able to pump enough air into her tanks to bring her into a seaworthy trim.

Due to the amount of damage done by the accident, the sub turned her nose west, sitting a course for Kwajalein. The crew considered themselves lucky to have survived the day and sincerely hoped that their crippled ship would be fortunate to survive the voyage to port in her damaged condition.

[offenseman]

I really enjoy the flavor of this AAR.  Excellent work!