Fabertong vs Speedy: The view from the Pole

[fabertong]

Notice anything new.........

[fabertong]

and my current battlefleet..............

[fabertong]

Oct 4-6th 1943.....

Speedy begins raiding deeper towards Kwaj........causing me to pull out all shipping back to Einwetok....I think he feels that his carriers can now boss the situation.....and he's right......but will he go for a full blown invasion before he can run LRB missions?

His latest raid started on Tarawa..where he sunk four badly damaged subs......they were probably going to sink anyway......he is now moving north to Malolap.......where I have cleared the airfield of all but recon aircraft........

In 29 days I will have Chitose/Chiyoda conversions.........and all my carrier airgroups will have upgraded to Zekes....until then Speedy has the waters of the Pac. O. to himself.......

[fabertong]

Oct 6th 1943............

Speedy's carrier force within 4 hexes of Kwaj........no airstrike.....and I'm moving every ship apart from AS MLE AR support for now.....these ships are covered by 36 Tony......36 Tojo......and 60 Jacks..........

The good news is that a RO boat hit CV Bunker Hill with one torp........no bad damage....but some yard time and I hope Steven will pull out under cover of the rest of his Carrier TF........3 more subs are in good position to intercept.......sadly I'm running out of subs......and the RO boat which scored the hit is limping back to Truk.........touch and go......

I'm now thinking about withdrawing from the Solomans.......at least all my main LCUs and leave a thin force of NG and SNLFs...........will pull together some good Transports........early days ....but I don't want them to be cut off and wither on the vine..........

[fabertong]

7th Oct 1943.............

An I - boat hit CV Intrepid with one torp....causing only light damage I fear.......Speedy in an e-mail laughed off yesturdays hit on Bunker Hill.......must order bigger torpedoes........the I boat was sunk......

Speedy hit Kwaj......with 120 hellcats and about 250 mixed bombers........I lost 90 fighters....he lost about 15......and no bombers......the air seige of Kwaj has begun......

[fabertong]

8-9th Oct 1943.......

An I-boat sunk one of Speedy's destroyers.........by Malolap..........and is limping back to Truk........

Speedy is also showing new interest in Rangoon with a huge raid today.........50 Lightnings and 100 heavy bombers.....all but closed Rangoon..........I lost about 40 fighters....and am pulling out the airgroups......

[Capt. Harlock]

An I - boat hit CV Intrepid with one torp....causing only light damage I fear.......Speedy in an e-mail laughed off yesturdays hit on Bunker Hill.......must order bigger torpedoes........the I boat was sunk......

Speedy hit Kwaj......with 120 hellcats and about 250 mixed bombers........I lost 90 fighters....he lost about 15......and no bombers

Two fleet-size CV's hit is no laughing matter for the commander in charge of them -- your submariners are doing good service. Unfortunately, it is clear that Speedy still has plenty of aircraft available. (Any way of speeding up Ohka research?)

[castor troy]

ORIGINAL: Capt. Harlock

An I - boat hit CV Intrepid with one torp....causing only light damage I fear.......Speedy in an e-mail laughed off yesturdays hit on Bunker Hill.......must order bigger torpedoes........the I boat was sunk......

Speedy hit Kwaj......with 120 hellcats and about 250 mixed bombers........I lost 90 fighters....he lost about 15......and no bombers

Two fleet-size CV's hit is no laughing matter for the commander in charge of them -- your submariners are doing good service. Unfortunately, it is clear that Speedy still has plenty of aircraft available. (Any way of speeding up Ohka research?)

Ohka production is hardcoded and can´t be accelarated. And there won´t be more than 9 every month when they go into production. Someone posted that this could be another typo with the 0 of 90 lost....

[Onime No Kyo]

Is there anyplace left where your fighters can engage him on an equal footing?

[Capt. Harlock]

Ohka production is hardcoded and can´t be accelarated. And there won´t be more than 9 every month when they go into production. Someone posted that this could be another typo with the 0 of 90 lost....

I would certainly hope this is a typo! From my information, at least 800 Ohkas were built, with production starting around the end of 1944. A smart Japanese player can use the Ohkas to force the Allied player to use both CAP and flak to defend his TF's. (Flak alone allows the Betties to fight another day.)

[fabertong]

ORIGINAL: Onime No Kyo

Is there anyplace left where your fighters can engage him on an equal footing?

In short.............no.

[Onime No Kyo]

Hmm...a sad prospect. Are you gonna keep sending 'em up and hope something good happens or avoid contact altogether?

[fabertong]

I try to fly in and surprise him.....and then fly out again...before he can hit me.....but against his mass carrier force....I'm screwed.........

[Onime No Kyo]

I think kami is the only answer. [:(]

[fabertong]

10-20 Oct 1943........

I'm still losing ships at the rate of 2-3 a day to Speedy's sub arm.....but my new ASW is damaging/though not sinking......1-2 subs a turn.......

The strategic withdrawel from the Solomans continues with the 8th Tank Reg.......on it's way to Pelau my staging base for the inner defence perimeter.......

5th Eng. reg. has left Paramishiro in the North also for Pelau(you know I'm not sure that's how you spell it....but what the h*ll)

Speedy's death star has been spotted returning to Kwaj. and it's environs.......I've pulled out all ships and all the airgroups that are servicable.....will he bring transports this time?

I'm also thinking about removing what few forces I have on Timor....though I doubt Speedy will let me do that Unscathed.....

Yamato at last upgraded to the late 42 upgrade...........hurrah...........

[fabertong]

20-30 Oct 1943......

As we wave goodbye to October.....I ask Myself where does Steven see his endgame.........He clearly will go for Kwaj. or one of the Islands around .....then on to Ein.......I suspect........and then the on to Saipan/Guam/Tinian....etc......he has learned from Wake to bypass my strongpoints.......but if he is going to press through the central Pac..........at some point he will have to Invade one of my heavily defended Islands......

I wonder if he is thinking of cutting off my oil and resources.......by opening new fronts....this, for him would be wise...this is the main reason for me to pull out most of my forces from the Solomans........the 23 mixed brig.......will leave Lunga this week to head for Sulawasi.........

I will abandon Timor.......and try to hold the Amboina/kendari/Bali line............

I am reinforcing Pedang..........

Will post a map over the weekend to show the line I will hope to hold until Feb..........

[fabertong]

2nd Nov......1943....

Steven landed and took Majuro....he hit a few mines on the way in....but no big damage.....

He also appears to have his eye on Wotje....which he has reconed the last few days......only 600 mines stand in his way....

Both Islands have no troops on.......but he is now clearly bypassing Kwaj/Malolap.......and the troops there will now be cut off......

I have 6 subs in the area.....and have already lost 2 of them....but hit a CLAA.........no serious damage reported........

I have transports flying in to Kwaj and Mal. taking off what troops I can before Speedy's LRCAP close down the airspace.....

The combined fleet HQ is moving from Truk to Pelau.............I have 7CVs/3CVLs/3CVEs gathering at Tokyo along with 2 SAGs each with 2 BBs.....they will move to Guam.......I'll then decide if I move to contest Ein......or wait till he comes for the Marianas.......

[fabertong]

Today in Tokyo Bay.......SAG 1....Yamashiro,Hyuga, and escorts
SAG 2....Kongo, Yamato, and escorts
SAG 3....Hieie, Kirishima, and escorts

AAG 1....Shokaku, Akagi, Taiho and Chitose........and escorts
AAG 2....Zuikaku, Unryu, Amagi and Chiyoda......and escorts


Left for Guam........to prep. for fleet operations in Defence of Ponope and Ein............map of current situation....many troops cut off......

[niceguy2005]

Faber, I think pulling out of the Solomons is a good move.

Any thoughts about laying a trap at Ponape? I would think about using the old "Help I'm wounded and vulnerable" manuever. Maybe send some transports to Ponape to make it look like an evacuation...have your two carriers groups waiting. A nice juicy target just begging for an Allied carrier raid.

[fabertong]

That a nice and evil plan.....niceguy.......I am trying to bring Speedy to Invade Ponape as part of my evil plan.....so I will leave only the 200ish av on the Island.......but there are 2xCD and 4000 mines....and Truk though light on aircraft now...can be quickly filled with Betty 2s.......I think I'll add your Idea into this basic plan........he must know my fleet is about to sail..........If he goes for Ein.....it will still be quite a fight.......he is running out of Islands to bypass......as for the Solomans....they will soon be effectively cut off.......and of no use to me.......how much can I get out before Steven realizes?....that is the big question.................