Banzais Don't Make Victories - Anachro (A) vs John 3rd (J) BTS 5.7

[Bif1961]

I would say a Division in the 2nd one and a large base force in the first. I am sure you can go back and look at your SIGINT hits and see if any of those ships you sank was listed carrying certain units. That would be the best way to identify who you just gave impromptu Artic Sea swimming lessons.

[modrow]

ORIGINAL: dave sindel

ORIGINAL: zuluhour

[X(]SWEET SPOTTED THAT ONE! I would take loaded transports every day. A lesson on how to use the USN
in '42.

+1 - nicely done

Sean,

another great job (including great strike coordination, much better than what I typically obtain, so I must be doing something wrong) . John may have felt more pyschological pain had you killed combat ships, but I think he will miss all those transports you have sunk so far.

Did he offer comments in his mail accompanying the turn?

Hartwig

[Anachro]

John quotes are as follows:

Email Last Night

Now where might your CVs be? They should be to the IO or Aleuts anytime now. Perhaps still in the SE Pac? Wager we’ll see within 1-3 days…’

Boy--I was right about your CVs! There was as action this day. Watched the turn but don't have time for orders. Will send tomorrow morning...

Email 1

Think you pulled the trigger one day early. Could have done much better then you actually did. KNEW you were coming but the damned Emily/Mavis let me down.

Oh, well…

Email 2

Thanks. Didn't help that TF headed east. I knew the Aleutian Offensive would be a draw for you... didn't expect you to bring ALL your CVs since you knew this wasn't a very strong force...

I actually have 2 USN CVs and a British CV at Capetown.

[Canoerebel]

This is quintessential John: "Could have done much better than you actually did" plus he "knew" you were coming (but forgot to allow for it and get the heck out of the way).

As you know, these are admissions as to just how irritated he is with himself and with your success.

[Lovejoy]

Well done! Hopefully those trashed LCUs and the lost AKs and APs will throw his timetable for NorPac out of wack.

[Anachro]

I forgot to note John's reply when I sent him my turn last night before he had reviewed to turn.

Now where might your CVs be? They should be to the IO or Aleuts anytime now. Perhaps still in the SE Pac? Wager we’ll see within 1-3 days…’

So he was right that he expected the carriers somewhere, but as you can see from the above, he had no idea if they were in the IO, SoPac, or heading for the Aleutians.

[adarbrauner]

Terrible....[:(][:(]

[Anachro]

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy
Now excuse me while I go polish my balls ...

Just noticed this gem and thought it worth pointing out for all of posterity. A good signature.

[jwolf]

That op went very well, Anachro. I would guess the loss of transports and the troops will slow down the Japs more than crippling or sinking a few capital ships. If John is really going strongly for India, he might not have enough left to make a serious push through the Aleutians (beyond what he already has).

[Anachro]

@jwolf thanks, but today didn't go so well. [:@]

Shameless plug, but I'm looking for an opponent to take control of a pickup match in my other PBEM. My opponent dropped out. Please see situation here: CLICK HERE

Mar 19, 1942

After last turn, I elected to send my carriers 9 hexes west in the hope of catching fleeing ships. I wake up this morning to an email from John:

Got to admit that I really LIKED this turn. Somewhat sad and twisted manner but I did like it. - John 3rd

This of course immediately evokes within me the cold internal sensation of nervousness in my head and stomach that something has gone horribly wrong. Did John manage a surface action on my carriers? Did I lose some? I tell you, the moments between getting the email and running the turn after such words, which John uses frequently, always are filled with terror. Nonetheless, the turn wasn't as bad as I would've imagined.

John sends a single DD and sinks a transport, destroying a Marine Defense Battalion that will have to be rebuilt. Moreover, while my carrier planes strike a number of shipping at Attu Island, it seems to run into a surprising amount of CAP. Were his carriers hiding in port there? The airfield level is only at level 1. Despite the number of escorts, a decent chunk of planes go down and I am at ~250 aircraft on my carriers whereas yesterday I had ~300. Luckily, most pilots survive. Nonetheless, I do manage to sink a number of boats, including an AV I believe, as a number of petes are listed as destroyed on the ground.

Day Time Surface Combat, near Yunaska Island at 167,52, Range 6,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
DD Yakaze

Allied Ships
PC Onondaga, Shell hits 2, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk

Maximum visibility in Overcast Conditions: 20,000 yards
Range closes to 12,000 yards...
Range closes to 8,000 yards...
Range closes to 6,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 6,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 6,000 yards
Range closes to 3,000 yards
PC Onondaga sunk by DD Yakaze at 3,000 yards
Combat ends with last Allied ship sunk...


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Time Surface Combat, near Umnak Island at 169,51, Range 12,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
DD Yakaze, Shell hits 1

Allied Ships
KV Wetaskiwin, Shell hits 26, and is sunk
xAP Poelau Laut, Shell hits 27, and is sunk

Allied ground losses:
1309 casualties reported
Squads: 33 destroyed, 49 disabled
Non Combat: 26 destroyed, 27 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 85 (65 destroyed, 20 disabled)
Vehicles lost 15 (8 destroyed, 7 disabled)

Submarine attack near Adak Island at 162,51

Japanese Ships
DMS W-20, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

Allied Ships
SS Silversides

Japanese ground losses:
18 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Morning Air attack on TF, near Attu Island at 153,49

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid spotted at 36 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 14 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 14
A6M3 Zero x 11
A6M5 Zero x 14
F1M2 Pete x 4

Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 31
SBD-2 Dauntless x 13
SBD-3 Dauntless x 53

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3 Zero: 1 destroyed
F1M2 Pete: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-3 Wildcat: 5 destroyed
SBD-3 Dauntless: 4 destroyed, 5 damaged
SBD-3 Dauntless: 1 destroyed by flak

Japanese Ships
xAK Belgium Maru, Bomb hits 2, on fire
xAK Turuga Maru
AKE Yamabuki Maru, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Seikyo Maru
xAK Durban Maru
xAK Teisin Maru, Bomb hits 3, on fire
xAK Ronsan Maru, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Dakar Maru
xAK Saiho Maru, Bomb hits 2, on fire
xAK Tokati Maru, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires
AV Kimikawa Maru, Bomb hits 2, on fire - This sunk based on a/c destroyed on ground
xAK Tyoyo Maru, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Nagato Maru, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires
xAK Kaisyo Maru, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
AG Soya, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Tusima Maru, Bomb hits 2, on fire

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Attu Island at 153,49

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid spotted at 36 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 14 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 13
A6M3 Zero x 9
A6M5 Zero x 14

Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 23
SBD-3 Dauntless x 37

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-3 Wildcat: 1 destroyed
SBD-3 Dauntless: 4 destroyed, 10 damaged

Japanese Ships
xAK Florida Maru
CL Oi
AV Kimikawa Maru, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Kaimei Maru
DD Usugumo
AKE Terukawa Maru
AG Soya, Bomb hits 2, and is sunk
xAK Nichiryo Maru

I elect to move my carriers back south out of range of his patrol craft where I have a number of AO's waiting for refueling. Might send them back north if there is some opportunity, but if not they might head towards Seattle to restock on planes/pilots and upgrade. Before I upgrade though, I want to clear and reinforce the Aleutians. A number of bombardment forces and minelayers are heading to Umnak Island.

Elsewhere, my British fighters sweep Akyab and clear it in the morning, but my bombers don't arrive until the afternoon, by which time his CAP is back up. Lost ~90 planes to ~40 for Japan today.

[modrow]

1) A6M5 in March 42 . That's more than a year acceleration in just 4 months of game time in stock IIRC (not sure about this mod), and quite possibly a waste of assets bearing in mind that George is carrier capable and will likely show up before the end of 42. Can IJ afford that waste in this mod?

2) My try at E-mail interpretation: John says he was caught flat-footed not in position to counter, but thought you would run after the first strike. But he likes that, because he concludes that he can use this sticking around next time against you.

3) Plane losses - you have to break eggs to make an omelet. I think the result is worth the losses.

Just my views

Hartwig

[Bearcat2]

A6M5 is 10/42 in version 5.4 BtS, maybe he made it available even earlier in his latest BtS version

[Anachro]

Wow, I didn't even notice the A6M5. Nice spotting guys. This mod certainly gives some nice early advantages to the Japanese. I also agree in your assessment, modrow. My carriers will withdraw south hopefully out of range and re-fuel. I don't mind losing the planes; I do like sinking more of his transports plus the AV and slowing down operations. The AG also sank and hopefully the AKE will too.

[JohnDillworth]

1) A6M5 in March 42 . That's more than a year acceleration in just 4 months of game time in stock IIRC (not sure about this mod), and quite possibly a waste of assets bearing in mind that George is carrier capable and will likely show up before the end of 42. Can IJ afford that waste in this mod?

I'm sure the Allies get some extra stuff in this mod too. I think the Japanese get 1 year acceleration on all aircraft, plus 4 CV's and the Allies get to convert a single xAK to a Seaplane tender or something.

[Lecivius]

I whined at John enough that he increased some of the base airframe production, too. Only game play will tell if it's enough (I actually thought his initial change was on the high side, and I'm an AFB [:'(] )

[adarbrauner]

Don't understand what does John have to like this action; it's just a minor disaster if compared to the previous for him; [&:][&:]

[jwolf]

ORIGINAL: adarbrauner

Don't understand what does John have to like this action; it's just a minor disaster if compared to the previous for him; [&:][&:]

Maybe he just likes to see a lot of action.

[Anachro]

Mar 20-21, 1942

Quick update on the game while I await the next turn. John said he'd do 2-3 turns today, but so far I've gotten nothing, so I'll update quickly. Maps to be provided upon receipt of next turn. As for content, my carriers moved south on the 20th and were undetected, then moved east and are now sitting directly south of Umnak about 15-16 hexes away. They were spotted last turn, but I'm hoping the no spot, then spot indication as to my carriers trajectory will make John think the are headed down to Hawaii. They were refueled last turn and will continue east out of range of his patrol craft and hope some more opportunity comes. If not, they will move to Seattle for rearm / potential refit.

In Indian theater, Colombo falls on March 21st. I do believe his main invasion of India will start soon.

Ground combat at Colombo (29,48)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 52959 troops, 534 guns, 116 vehicles, Assault Value = 1511

Defending force 29649 troops, 377 guns, 379 vehicles, Assault Value = 225

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 0

Japanese adjusted assault: 1075

Allied adjusted defense: 338

Japanese assault odds: 3 to 1 (fort level 0)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Colombo !!!

Combat modifiers
Defender: experience(-)
Attacker: shock(+)

Japanese ground losses:
3309 casualties reported
Squads: 4 destroyed, 255 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 17 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 32 disabled

Allied ground losses:
24705 casualties reported
Squads: 446 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 1919 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 57 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 414 (414 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Vehicles lost 420 (420 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units destroyed 12

Assaulting units:
18th Division
55th Division
33rd Division
2nd Division
3rd Medium Field Artillery Regiment
25th Army
3rd Mortar Battalion

Defending units:
Colombo Fortress
17th Australian Brigade
16th Australian Brigade
100th Indian Brigade
222 Group RAF
22nd Light AA Regiment
2nd Ceylon H AA Regiment
23rd AA Bde
Eastern Fleet
1st RM Heavy AA Regiment
Ceylon Command
222 RAF Base Force /1

Oh, and Manila still holds in the Philippines, of course. He isn't attacking it, but seems to content to bomb it out and kill supply.

Night Naval bombardment of Manila at 79,77

Japanese Ships
BB Tosa
BB Mutsu
BB Nagato
DD Shiokaze
DD Akikaze
DD Okikaze
DD Minekaze
DMS W-19
DMS W-18
DMS W-17

Allied ground losses:
591 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 20 disabled
Non Combat: 14 destroyed, 38 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 1 disabled
Guns lost 8 (3 destroyed, 5 disabled)
Vehicles lost 10 (4 destroyed, 6 disabled)

Heavy Industry hits 1
Repair Shipyard hits 1
Light Industry hits 1
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 8
Port hits 3
Port fuel hits 1
Port supply hits 1

[ny59giants]

I'm the main person who gives input to John when it comes to Japanese airframe changes. My last game with these mods (BTSL) went to Dec '43 before my opponent quit (Gen Patton/btd64). When it came to what IJN fighters to build and make CV capable, it was his final decision. Now we play a few games with those changes and tweak it from there. Since I'm playing Allies now, will the Hellcat be too outclassed by what Japan will be able to produce in mid-43? Will the 2nd gen Corsair be able to combat the IJN fighters in '44 and beyond?

[Lowpe]

My recollection is that the CV capable George is outclassed by the improved Zeroes.