Blue Skies and Blood: John 3rd vs 1275psi

[John 3rd]

January 24, 1942
North Pacific

We have a building situation in the North Pacific. While in the midst of terrible winter weather, the Americans attempt a counter-landing at Umnak. They land portions of an Inf Reg. While achieving tactical surprise (thank goodness I just landed an engineering regiment there for base construction) the actual landing is a disaster. BB Colorado covers the amphibs and one has to expect Warspite to be close by...

Immediate reaction is to send 2 CA, 2 CL, and 3 DD that were at Wake north. A whole bunch of small engagements have ensued with the culmination being a pair of US DDs sunk on the 24th. No real Japanese losses except for CA Furutaka taking a Torp causing moderate damage. The CA will make it home without issue and head for Japan for repairs.

As always, ANYWHERE the Allies to choose to fight in early 1942 is an oppertunity for Japan. Reinforcements heading here are now:

1. Two Infantry Regiments from China (already bought out when the current fight began) heading in to garrison Umnak and Adak.
2. BB Ise and Hyuga with eight escorts are almost to Tokyo while heading for the Aleutians.
3. CarDiv5 (Shokaku/Zuikaku), 2 CA, and 4 DDs) have departed Kwajalein and are headed north. New CVL Shoho will link-up and add her firepower to theirs.

American CVs are int he south. We figure Lexington and Enterprise are at New Zealand or southern Australia. Saratoga has probably joined them. She could show up in the north and, if so, 2 CV and 1 CVL should easily put her down.

[John 3rd]

Have been debating if there is any point in keeping this side of the AAR up? Herbie's AAR is going to be exciting to read and fun. Does it serve to have a regular styled AAR going for comparison to his narrative? Need some input her please...

[paradigmblue]

ORIGINAL: John 3rd

Have been debating if there is any point in keeping this side of the AAR up? Herbie's AAR is going to be exciting to read and fun. Does it serve to have a regular styled AAR going for comparison to his narrative? Need some input her please...

I much prefer reading your updates, if you have time to continue them, please do.

[pws1225]

+1

I truly enjoy reading your AARs, even if they are occasionally posted. They are my primer on how become a more aggressively minded JFB. [:)]

[PaxMondo]

John,

As you note, the styles contrast sharply ... keep it up if you can ...

[HansBolter]

Third call for it to continue.

While the drama of storytelling is compelling, the details and maps of a more traditional approach to an AAR are the bread and butter of wargamers.

Some of us also enjoy reading the reporting of both sides of a game while observing OPSEC requirements.

[wernerpruckner]

John,
please continue
you are providing the history to herbie-san´s storyline

[witpqs]

ORIGINAL: HansBolter

Third call for it to continue.

While the drama of storytelling is compelling, the details and maps of a more traditional approach to an AAR are the bread and butter of wargamers.

Some of us also enjoy reading the reporting of both sides of a game while observing OPSEC requirements.

Agree. In this case, I am reading only this side.

[Lecivius]

ORIGINAL: witpqs

ORIGINAL: HansBolter

Third call for it to continue.

While the drama of storytelling is compelling, the details and maps of a more traditional approach to an AAR are the bread and butter of wargamers.

Some of us also enjoy reading the reporting of both sides of a game while observing OPSEC requirements.

Agree. In this case, I am reading only this side.

Also agree. But I am reading both, so no comments from the peanut gallery [:'(]

[janh]

I'm following your AARs regularly and must concur with the others. Your AAR style makes for a very good read and it would be a loss if you stopped. After all, that not to many people do reply to your entries doesn't mean you don't have many readers. Just reading both sides, so probably better to stay silent...

[ny59giants]

Just stay away from those very nasty P-38s.

[Bearcat2]

I appreciate the time and effort it takes to post your updates. I like your approach to the game, definitely more aggressive than mine.

[John 3rd]

January 31, 1942
Diego Garcia

OK. We'll keep this rolling.

I've feared my opponent bringing his American CVs to the DEI--IO area. We've had CV Kaga, CVL's Zuiho and Ryujo, and CVE Hosho out attacking shipping and covering the Diego Garcia Landing. On the 30th, a full Brigade, an engineering unit, a large Base Force, and smaller Base Force land under the cover of BB Nagato and Mutsu's guns. The base falls easily and life LOOKS good.

A surface TF of a Brit CL and 4 Dds is attacked at extreme range with no results. Figuring he'll run those ships in at Full Speed to Diego Garcia, I disband the shipping into the freshly taken Port and bring the carriers closer to DG.

The 31st spots enemy shipping AT DG and I am surprised to see CA Australia and Canberra along with DDs. Two strikes are flown (Morning--12 Z, 13 Val, and 29 K//12 Z and 53 Kate in the Afternoon). A pair of DDs take some damage while Canberra is hit by 5 Bombs and Australia gets 3 hits. Both CAs are heavily damaged.

Seeing this TF gets me to thinking that the last time I saw these valuable warships was around Lae/PM/New Caledonia. Suddenly my SPIDER SENSES start tingling and sense great danger. I become immediately convinced that the US CVs are not far away.

1. Form the BBs and order a HIGH SPEED withdrawal towards Sumatra. A pair of CAs and DDs get the same order.

2. The carrier force is in a much more dangerous location being so close to the edge of the map. Order them to move towards Addu Atoll, bump CAP, and await developments.

Move a Mavis and a Jake group to Diego to fly air search tomorrow.

Thoughts
A. If US CVs are closing in, this should give me the chance to move AWAY towards the NW and still be able to make a FULL SPEED run towards safety tomorrow.
B. If I am wrong then the CVs are positioned to sink ships retiring towards Ceylon.

I have roughly 180 planes on board so if there is an engagement, it shall be a guarantee of being quite bloody. Figure Lex and Ent at a minimum but I'd bet Sara is present as well. If all three are together then I can only hope to die valiantly and GET LUCKY if forced to fight.

Am Posting this BEFORE I run the turn to see what happens. Always think it is good for readers to be inside the head of the writer/player BEFORE action occurs.

OK. That is it. Running turn now...

[John 3rd]

February 1, 1942
Diego Garcia

I KNEW IT!

Sure enough. All THREE US CVs have arrived near Diego Garcia. Let us hear it for spider senses!

As the Japanese warships attempt to nighttime breakout, there is a sharp surface action just 40 miles from Diego. Two Japanese CAs, a CL, and a DD mangle a TF containing the already damaged HMAS Australia and Canberra who are escorted by four US DDs. Canberra takes 11 Shells (7 8") and is left in sinking condition. Australia takes four hits and is heavily damaged. Two US DDs get five hits each and are a bit of a mess.

The Nagato and Mutsu make good their flight and are not seen.

The CAs clear the path for 6 valuable 18 Knot AKs, 2 APs, and an LSD.

So Far...so good.

DAYLIGHT
The Americans, evidently, don't fly any search patterns. EVERY Japanese ship that left does not have to deal with a single American aircraft. Two CM laying a minefield (and are sacrificial) are attacked in the morning by USS Enterprise's air group. They are sunk but manage to siphon off some sorties...

The Japanese Carriers make their move and are not spotted. Hossanah!

Plans
The small TF that escaped continue on their path towards Burma--Malaya. They will all move 9-14 hexes tomorrow and--barring an aggressive move by the Americans--SHOULD make good their escape. The carriers will continue moving towards Moulmein skirting south of Ceylon. Debate on going full speed but think I am OK for the moment.

Zeros and Bettys begin landing at Moulmein's AF. An Air Flotilla just unloaded there and we have TTs present. Range shall be set to 14 (max Zero Range) to see if the Americans decide to move in too close.

[John 3rd]

Here is the current screenshot:

[John 3rd]

February 2, 1942
Indian Ocean

Herbie taunted me in his message this turn about my running away revealing my real strength to him. My response back to him with the results of the turn was 'don't ASSUME anything!'

The Japanese BBs/CAs/AKs/APs make good their escape from the American Carriers. Thank Goodness.

As hoped, the Japanese CVs find themselves placed far enough away to not be terrified of the American Carriers. Ohhhhhh....excuse that should be corrected to calm--confident--spoiling for a fight and CERTAIN of Japan's VICTORY! As I mentioned in the planning Post, they would ALSO be placed in perfect position to pick off anything damaged or heading for Ceylon.

They do that this day. The former escorts of HMAS Australia and Canberra are plastered by two air strikes during the day. Down go American DDs Aylwin, Farragut, and Dewey. NICE!

HMAS Australia is spotted hugging the edge of the map crawling along at just a few knots. Might be fairly safe to say that Canberra is gone.

The American Carrier Fleet you ask? They withdraw AWAY from Diego Garcia about 10-12 hexes. GOOD. Is it to refuel? We'll see.

Planning:
1. Kaga and Company continue back towards the safety of Burma--Malaya. Need to re-provision and meet-up with friends.
2. CVs Akagi, Hiryu, and Soryu arrive at Singapore and re-provision. We'll re-organize the CVs into three TF (Akagi--Kaga--Ryujo//Hiryu--Soryu--Zuiho//Taiyo--Hosho) and then GO HUNTING!
3. There is a real possibility that he might stage a 'surprise' air strike against Palembang. Fits in his style currently. Begin gathering Fighters there to set-up a potential CAP Trap.

[John 3rd]

February 3, 1942
North Pacific

With all the focus going on over in the IO, one tends to forget that this game is a TWO WAY street.

Once it became obvious that Herbie wanted to FIGHT up in the Great White North, I have welcomed it. As normal it took a while for me to handle his suicidal commitment of shipping and warships but now things are pretty good. Losses have been higher then I want: an old CA, one even older CL, and 3 old DDs. (Am SICK of losing ANY DDs!) It seems that his ships only focus on these greyhounds instead of larger game. To a certain extent, I've purposely strung him along THINKING that I was piece meal committing to the theatre. Not much could be farther from the truth. The reality is that I have been stringing my opponent along until the Big BOYS could arrive.

By Big Boys I do not mean a pair of BBs. I've purposely allowed him to spot my BBs (they sank DD Shaw just off Adak on the 31st) so he thinks this is my serious commitment.

The reality is that I am doing the EXACT SAME THING he tried to do to me at Diego Garcia. Coming up from the south and heading into the Gulf of Alaska is a Carrier Battle Group. CARDIV5 (Shokaku-Zuikaku-Shoho) with CAs Tone--Chikuma. CL Isuzu, and nine DDs are fully fueled, sorties 100%, and TTs ready! We bring to the party 57 Zero, 54 Val, 68 Kate, and nine FP. I want to sink Warspite and/or Colorado as well as anything else I can fling my planes at. Cannot lose ships when you hit from 200 miles away and there is little-to-no chance of an American CV appearing since I now KNOW they are in the IO.

We're going hunting! Want to come along?

[John 3rd]

February 5, 1942
The Gulf of Alaska

Unlike the events that occurred at another corner of the map, THIS Carrier Strike Force achieves surprise and finds plentiful targets. Weather interferes with the morning strike but the afternoon strike finds inviting--fat--JUICY targets!

CarDiv5 swings into the bitter wind and launches a strike of 28 Zero, 40 Val, and 40 Kate. Only one portion of the Kates carry the deadly TTs. They find a TF of fully loaded AOs moving towards BB's Warspite and Colorado. The attack butchers the Task Force sinking a KV, a DD, and crippling/sinking THREE large American AOs. It hurts to lose those bad boys. NICE!

As mentioned air search picked up two TF containing at least a battleship each. Appears they were headed for Adak. Not now...

Orders:
1. Order Fuso--Yamashiro to go in and clean out the shipping around Umnak.
2. Two Light Cruisers and four DDs are sent to hit Cold Bay.
3. The CVs move SSE so as to NOT run into the those same BBs.
4. AOs moving up to refuel the TF tomorrow. Should still be in a delightful position to hammer more shipping.
5. The CVs detach a strike group of 1 CL and 4 DD to hit the APs at or near Cold Bay.

A Japanese ground attack occurs during that day and forces the surrender of 1,500 American troops on Umnak. Scratch one Regiment of Infantry. Pretty solid work doing that. For the moment Umnak is free of Allied troops.

[ny59giants]

All of us that play you should know about your tendency in the NoPac by now. Thankfully, winter weather helped me escape with minimal damage done to my fleet.

[John 3rd]

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

All of us that play you should know about your tendency in the NoPac by now. Thankfully, winter weather helped me escape with minimal damage done to my fleet.

It wasn't MY INTENTION to fight up here! Someone else drew me in and now life is pretty good.