Hunting the Hibiki: Q-Ball (Allies) v Cuttlefish (Japan)

[Q-Ball]

Thanks everyone for the comments! There is no doubt that dual AARs are the most informative for the reader. Thanks for not tipping anything off, I am glad folks are careful. Loose Lips sinks Virtual Ships and all.....

Combat Report, Oct 2, 1942

Still no Kido Butai! That's the big news of the day. Not sure why. There can only be a few reasons:

1. I was wrong about KB being at Truk on the 28th; that means Searchlight worked better than I expected
2. Cuttlefish is holding back KB for something, or
3. KB is approaching from the NorthWest, rather than Northeast

Not sure what, I suppose #1, but who knows. I still expect them to show-up any day....

Unloading: This is taking a long time. Needless to say, I am presenting a "target rich" environment, so whenever the IJN shows up SOMEONE is going to get toasted. I am counting on the fact that he can't toast 5 invasion fleets at once, which is why I am landing in 5 places.

KOEPANG: Assault troops basically ashore, we attack today. Hope it falls quick.
ENDEH: Falls. Engineers unload today.
MAUMERE: Same as Endeh; it's done
LOMBLEN: Will fall tommorow, troops unloaded, noone home
WAINGAPU: There is an SNLF there, but should be easy work for the 2 UK Division. Should fall tommorow

I really really really need to get some aircover over all this mess; I will feel better once I have some base troops ashore. Then, even if KB shows up, I will have enough there to at least get some airfields built and bring in more troops with some aircover.

Stay tuned, map on the next turn

[Canoerebel]

This is the turning point of the war.  To get ashore in big numbers, with interlocking airfields that can be built nicely, is a hammer-blow to the Japanese.  Well done, Q-Ball.

[aztez]

Intresting move!
 
This will either win you this war or severely put you behind.
 
It is still early and he can bring a lot of airforce plus ground units. So, I still think it will be an close call to say either way.

[witpqs]

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel

Like Chickenboy, I am reading and enjoying both AARs, but unlike Chickenboy I can't control myself:  Q-Ball, please be aware that Cuttlefish is prepping his troops to invade Fort Ord, Corvalis, and Myrtle Beach, and the KB is currently on weather duty near the Ross Ice Shelf. 

Yesterday I was tempted to post here that intel had located the KB at 37d 49' 04.51" N, 122d 28' 47.56" W and let Q-Ball Google it. [:D]

[Canoerebel]

ORIGINAL: aztez

Intresting move!

This will either win you this war or severely put you behind.

It is still early and he can bring a lot of airforce plus ground units. So, I still think it will be an close call to say either way.

He's already in position to win the war although there's alot of hard fighting ahead. No way Cuttlefish can dislodge a force that powerful - especially given the interlocking airfield coverage and the proxmiity of the Oz bases. No question that this is a decisive strategic victory no matter what happens henceforth.

[Smeulders]

Look at the difficulty he had dislodging a single US division from an isolated Noumea, retaking bases that are defended by 2 divisions is virtually impossible for the Japanese at this stage of the war, especially with all the nearby bases providing support.. The Allies seem to be there to stay.

[Capt. Harlock]

I would also complement the peanut gallery for keeping their mouths shut.

It has NOT been easy! Both these gallant souls have been opening their thoughts and plans to we lucky readers. I often read one AAR in the morning, and the other in the afternoon, so I can respond without knowledge of what the other has posted.

[Swenslim]

Real war has begun ! Now you should wait a lot of girls knocking you doors I meen Sally, Lily, Betty, Helen ))

[Capt. Harlock]

KOEPANG: Assault troops basically ashore, we attack today. Hope it falls quick.
ENDEH: Falls. Engineers unload today.
MAUMERE: Same as Endeh; it's done
LOMBLEN: Will fall tommorow, troops unloaded, noone home
WAINGAPU: There is an SNLF there, but should be easy work for the 2 UK Division. Should fall tommorow

Thoughts on aircraft: do you have transport planes standing by in northern Australia?

And how did you get TBM squadrons at this date? Or were your losses actually TBF's?

[Q-Ball]

Combat Report, Oct 3, 1942

Thanks for the comments everyone, I will respond more later, figured I would get a small update out.

Harlock, in response to your questions, they are AVENGERS, whatever the designation...I guess that's TBF. Point being, not Devastators. I have a few transport aircraft, but need airstrips first......

Fall of Koepang: 1222 Allied AV conducted a 34-1 attack on the garrison; 4500 were killed, and the rest driven off into the jungle. I suppose that was overkill, but better safe than sorry. Absolutely nothing is worse in WITP/AE then stranding an invasion force. Trust me, I've been there, and probably you have to.

All the other objectives were taken, the only other resistance being an SNLF on Waingapu.

Where is the IJN?: I fully expect them to show-up at this party any day. There are so many targets, they are sure to toast some ships. I can't really prevent that; leaving isn't an option, and he can't sink EVERY transport, so I may as well stay and take my lumps. Unfortunate, but there it is.

The most probable strike point is Lomblen, so I have a BB TF there, and I have CAP over it, but a determined attack will cause alot of Allied sunk ships. I can afford some losses.

Unloading: Unloading will take forever. I at least have some eyes now, with an active PBY unit at Lomblen. Koepang is a mess, but that should be cleaned-up and active in a couple days. That will take alot of pressure off.

Here is the latest map:

[Cap Mandrake]

Santa Maria, Madre de Dios! That was slick.

[ny59giants]

Find ships that can fit below the port and/or ship size limit and form them in a separate TF for each port. Those that carry the highest priority items should go first that fit this guideline. It may not help much, but each of us will learn that the smallest ships need to get the highest priority units when we load them. They simply unload faster. 

[princep01]

Here I am, munching on peanuts and Mandrake says that! Thanks, Captain. I think I'll send an imperious, white haired, patrican officer by to see you. Nice job so far Adm Q-Ball. Many are feet dry and glad to be on terra firma already.

[Q-Ball]

Combat Report, October 4, 1942

REPRISAL: STILL no sign of Kido Butai.....Cuttlefish probably needs to attack soon, or face LBA from Koepang. I expect surface raiders any day, maybe tonight.

Koepang Airport is now open; there is still Service damage, but close enough, we'll keep repairing overnight. Most of the transports at Koepang are done unloading, and are already headed home to get more engineers at Port Hedland. At Port Hedland, I have an Air HQ, some SeaBees,4 more base force units, some AA.

The other bases are not close to level 1. I will feel more secure when I have airstrips all over, though I think with the number of troops I have at Koepang, it would take the whole Southern Area Army to re-take that base.

The CVs are still off Lomblen, guarding the landings on Flores and Soemba. One more turn, and I will probably withdraw them. Which means KB will probably show tommorow!

Elsewhere: More air attacks over Burma, but no ground attacks yet.

[Fishbed]

No strike on these two boats fleeing?

[Q-Ball]

ORIGINAL: ny59giants
Find ships that can fit below the port and/or ship size limit and form them in a separate TF for each port. Those that carry the highest priority items should go first that fit this guideline. It may not help much, but each of us will learn that the smallest ships need to get the highest priority units when we load them. They simply unload faster. 

Very true; I had used most of my small ships though for the assault waves on Koepang, like all the little Dutch xAPs and xAKLs. So most of what's left unfortunatley were larger ones. I can't wait for all those LSTs, LCIs, and other handy craft!!!!!!

No strike on these two boats fleeing?

No idea....I checked the search on the CVs. storm cloud perhaps? Barges? False sighting? Can't say.

What's Next: So, what now? Assuming KB doesn't show up tommorow and toast all my Carriers, I probably have the Empire in a pickle. No doubt frantic meetings are taking place in Tokyo to determine what the next steps are. This is certainly the #1 priority of the Empire now, to contain this particular breach in the perimeter.

First, probably any planned offensives are cancelled. That's a given. The bulk of the Imperial Fleet is on it's way to cause havoc and trouble, including probably Carriers and Surface units. The IJN is basically intact (only 3 CL and about 10 DD down), including all the LBA, which is also in great shape. The IJN has alot of strike power still.

The problem now, and what really attracted me to this area, is that there are multiple axis of advance, all of them potentially bad for the Empire. It's a defensive nightmare. I could go Northeast to Ambon, directly north over Celebes (my preferred choice), or Northwest toward Java. All of those are a direct threat to the Empire, particularly the last two.

I have to decide also if I am going to attack elsewhere, or pour more resources into this area. I am inclined to just feed this beast for now. I can land on Luganville or the Marshalls or whatever, but what's the point? I'm already closer to the Oil than those places. Sure, I have a long supply line, but I'm the Allies; I have a ton of shipping too, so who cares if it's a long trip? Fuel is the only thing that can put a break on this expansion.

Eventually, I will want to open a "2nd front", to get B-29s to the Mariannas. Until then, I think I'll ignore it all, and just go all-in in the DEI. I think there is more to gain there.

The Solomons, an area that were fought over to the death in the real war, are now almost completely irrelevant. Other than opening the Torres Strait, I won't attack in the Solomons unless the Japanese evacuate it.

[Swenslim]

Only problem for you will be supplying this place. When he will re-arange his forces and rebuild Makassar, Kendari, Ambon and some other bases this gonna be very hard fight for you. He will be able to sink supplying ships with Bettys and Nellys under cover of longlagged Zeroes.
And he can use around 250-300 army bombers to day-night bombings to bring Hell upon heads of this 2 divisions disrupting them completly.

And he has little advantage - all his damaged ships will have Soerabaja, Singapore, Saigon repairshipyards in there disposal.

[Canoerebel]

Once the Allies choose a major axis of advance it will always be a long, hard-fought battle.  Japan is powerful and, in this case, led by a most capable opponent.  Q-Ball faces many months, years even of difficult campaigning.
 
But make no mistake:  this campaign just won him the war.  It's 1942, for goodness sake, and the Japanese just found a massive, dangerous bulgeing hernea iprotruding right into their soft-underbelly.  The Allies will soon have a multitude of bases close the Japan's vital organs.  Q-Ball is right - he has many potential routes of advance now.  Lots of bases with big potential for nasty raids on the Japanese SRA.
 
It will take Q-Ball time to consolidate his gains, build his bases, organizie infrastucture, and fight off the inevitable Japanese counterattack, but my goodness what a position to be in!  Yes, he has a long, hard fight ahead, but he won this campaign in October 1942.

[Fishbed]

ORIGINAL: Q-Ball

What's Next: So, what now?

Tokyo Bay of course, you silly... And before Christmas, obviously. Get back to work now! [:D]

[Fishbed]

Well build the place up, build forts and bring more guys, because he's gonna throw the kitchen sink - that's what I'd do at his place anyway.
If you built up Darwin nicely, you can start to fly Dakotas groups for troop transfer from there. With sufficient CAP over Koepang, you will be able to tranfer divisions in a matter of days, while you may bring their heavy material by fast transport.