cap_and_gown(j) v witpqs(a) - no witpqs

[CapAndGown]

Sept. 11, 1943

I see this AAR has descended to purveying beefcake. [&:] Oookaaay.

Well anyway:

Let's take the turn in order and then discuss my plans for next turn.

During the night the KB ran over a US sub just north of Enewetok. Fortunately, nothing horrible happened:
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ASW attack near Eniwetok at 127,107

Japanese Ships
BB Haruna
CL Kitakami
DD Onami
DD Yamagumo
DD Hamanami
DD Kiyonami
DD Fujinami

Allied Ships
SS Paddle

A Japanese sub also ran across the Long Island and fired 6 torpedoes at it. Despite the Long Island being such a slow ship, none of the torpedoes hit:
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Sub attack near Maloelap at 139,116

Japanese Ships
SS RO-61

Allied Ships
CVE Long Island
DD Meredith

SS RO-61 launches 6 torpedoes at CVE Long Island


A Japanese bombardment force moving into position to bombard Merauke also ran across a US sub. This was rather unfortunate as I was hoping to avoid having this force spotted. During the day turn, allied search AC did not spot it, so I don't know what witpqs will make of the fact that his sub ran into some of my ships just north of the Kai Islands. Maybe he will think they are heading towards Darwin. At any rate, the bombardment will go ahead as planned.
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Sub attack near Kai-eilanden at 82,114

Japanese Ships
E Otori
CA Atago
E Sagi
DD Kikuzuki
DD Ushio
DD Akebono

Allied Ships
SS Halibut

SS Halibut launches 6 torpedoes at E Otori

Now to more interesting action:
It turned out I picked a bad turn to stand down my fighters. The allies chose to try a bombing mission this turn against both Wotje and Maleolap. If I had had fighters on LRCAP over those bases, I would have had the perfect opportunity to get the bounce on a bunch of allied CV AC since they all came in about about 10k feet. Rats!
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Morning Air attack on Maloelap Naval Fortress, at 136,117 (Maloelap)
Weather in hex: Partial cloud
Raid spotted at 19 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes

Allied aircraft
Martlet IV x 8
F4F-4 Wildcat x 13
FM-1 Wildcat x 4
F6F-3 Hellcat x 48
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Morning Air attack on Maloelap Naval Fortress, at 136,117 (Maloelap)
Weather in hex: Partial cloud
Raid spotted at 27 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 2
FM-1 Wildcat x 6
F6F-3 Hellcat x 50
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Morning Air attack on Maloelap Naval Fortress, at 136,117 (Maloelap)
Weather in hex: Partial cloud
Raid spotted at 46 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 19 minutes

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 6
FM-1 Wildcat x 10
F6F-3 Hellcat x 10
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Morning Air attack on Maloelap Naval Fortress, at 136,117 (Maloelap)
Weather in hex: Partial cloud
Raid spotted at 35 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 16 minutes

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 15
FM-1 Wildcat x 12
F6F-3 Hellcat x 10
TBF-1 Avenger x 8 bombers

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Morning Air attack on Wotje Naval Fortress, at 135,115 (Wotje)
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Raid spotted at 18 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 12
FM-1 Wildcat x 10
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Morning Air attack on Wotje Naval Fortress, at 135,115 (Wotje)
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Raid spotted at 14 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 20
F6F-3 Hellcat x 10
TBF-1 Avenger x 9 bombers

There are a few things about this raid that I find interesting, besides the fact that I missed out on a golden opportunity to get the bounce on allied fighters. First, why so few bombers? Second, at least some British fighters are confirmed as being present, though not, apparently, the majority of the British CV force. Third, why a morning attack and not afternoon? This last question may answer the first question: these bombers were given a primary mission of ground attack rather than being set to having a primary mission of naval attack with a secondary of ground attack. I wonder why witpqs would do that?

The bombing did not accomplish much and the allies did not follow it up with a ground assault. What it did accomplish is to run up the fatigue of the allied fighters and that is to my advantage.

PLANS

Very interestingly, the allies did not react to the spotting of the Japanese CVs. The fleet carriers maintained their exact same position they have held for the past few days. They are obviously there to provide CAP for the invasion forces. Yet even Spruance at Saipan was not this tied down in guarding the invasion. In addition, the task forces that were spotted yesterday east of the Marshalls did not move much either. They appear to have just moved one hex to the southeast. I am stumped as to what they are doing. Maybe they carry the planes that are meant to be landed on Wotje and Maleolap once those bases are captured.

At any rate, the allies apparent predilection for not moving their task forces around opens up the possibility for an attack on one part of their overall fleet instead of the entire shebang. I was going to gas up the KB and then await developments. But I have decided to try to exploit this apparent weakness in the allied doctrine.

For tomorrow, I have ordered the KB to move to a position 8 hexes northwest of Wotje. I have also set the AC in the KB to a max range of 8 hexes. If, tomorrow, the invasion forces, including the CVEs, are still at Wotje, it is my hope that the KB will launch a strike against just those forces and not any others. To support this strike, I have 4 sentai's of Tojo's and 3 sentai's of Zero's set to 100% LRCAP with a target of Wotje. At 8 hexes, the KB should be able to launch (though there is no guarantee) while the allied CVEs will be unable to launch. (According to michaelm, the max strike range for japanese carrier AC is 8 hexes, while for the allies it is 7 hexes.) The allied fleet carriers will be 9 hexes away (assuming they don't move) and so unable to strike.

That anyway, is the plan. It depends on the allies not moving their task forces around. It is also dependent on actually being able to launch from 8 hexes, which I am not sure will happen since my experience has shown that a strike from that range will frequently not launch.

Should this prove successful, we should be able sink a number of the allied CVEs and then retreat the KB back out of range and have it refuel to await further developments.

[aprezto]

Does this approach not contradict your goal of confronting and heavily damaging the US carriers as first target, and instead damage your attack ACs against whatever defends Wotje?
 
I kind of like the approach, but it just seems to contradict your previous goal is all.

[krupp_88mm]

Does this approach not contradict your goal of confronting and heavily damaging the US carriers as first target, and instead damage your attack ACs against whatever defends Wotje?

I kind of like the approach, but it just seems to contradict your previous goal is all.

you sound like president Lincoln trying to get George McClellan to go and fight.. lol

[krupp_88mm]

seems hes overstacking his carriers with fighters in hopes of attriting your carrier air

[aprezto]

ORIGINAL: krupp_88mm

seems hes overstacking his carriers with fighters in hopes of attriting your carrier air

Not sure he needs to be overstacking we are in late 43... He'll have about 12 fleet carriers and half a doz or so CVLs and who knows how many CVEs.

[CapAndGown]

Sept. 12, 1943

My plan worked.

ORIGINAL: aprezto

Does this approach not contradict your goal of confronting and heavily damaging the US carriers as first target, and instead damage your attack ACs against whatever defends Wotje?

I kind of like the approach, but it just seems to contradict your previous goal is all.

I had the opportunity to strike at the allies without them striking back. While we paid a steep price in carrier AC and pilots, sinking 1 BB, 2-3 CL/CLAA, 3 CVE, and numerous AKA/APA along with the troops on board without suffering any ship losses ourselves was, I believe, a good move.

More on that in a moment: First though, I thought I would mention that PT 109 was sunk today in our raid against Merauke:
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Night Time Surface Combat, near Merauke at 89,124, Range 9,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CA Takao
CA Atago
CA Chokai
CL Oyodo
DD Akebono
DD Ushio
DD Kikuzuki
E Otori
E Hato
E Sagi
E Kamo

Allied Ships
PT-62
PT-63
PT-107, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
PT-109, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
PT-110, Shell hits 1
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Night Naval bombardment of Merauke at 89,124

Allied aircraft losses
PBY-5 Catalina: 1 destroyed on ground
P-39N1 Airacobra: 1 destroyed on ground
P-47D2 Thunderbolt: 1 destroyed on ground

Japanese Ships
CA Chokai
CA Atago
CA Takao
CL Oyodo
DD Kikuzuki
DD Ushio
DD Akebono
E Sagi
E Hato
E Otori

Allied ground losses:
167 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 12 disabled
Engineers: 4 destroyed, 9 disabled
Vehicles lost 4 (4 destroyed, 0 disabled)

Airbase hits 8
Airbase supply hits 4
Runway hits 33
Port hits 16
Port fuel hits 1
Port supply hits 4

Now on to the main action!

This is the main strike in the morning Generally, we did very well with coordination, with only a few broken raids coming in late. I will not post those since none of them got through.
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Morning Air attack on TF, near Wotje at 135,115
Weather in hex: Heavy cloud
Raid detected at 160 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 41 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M3a Zero x 70
A6M5 Zero x 80
A6M5b Zero x 16
B5N2 Kate x 36
B6N1 Jill x 67
B6N2 Jill x 21
D4Y1 Judy x 196
D4Y3 Judy x 11
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 39

Allied aircraft
Martlet IV x 4
F4F-3 Wildcat x 4
F4F-4 Wildcat x 73
F6F-3 Hellcat x 193 Mary, Mother of God!

Allied Ships
CVE Sangamon, Bomb hits 10, Torpedo hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
CVE Suwannee, Bomb hits 5, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk
CVE Chenango, Bomb hits 5, heavy fires, heavy damage
BB Pennsylvania, Bomb hits 9, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
BB New Mexico, Bomb hits 6, on fire
BB Mississippi, Bomb hits 5, on fire
BB Arizona, Bomb hits 11, Torpedo hits 1, heavy fires
CL Concord
CL Nashville
CL Honolulu, Bomb hits 2, on fire
CLAA Reno, Bomb hits 5, heavy fires, heavy damage
CLAA Oakland, Torpedo hits 1
DD Renshaw
DD Ringgold
DD Saufley, Bomb hits 1, on fire
DD Spence, Bomb hits 4, and is sunk
DD Radford, Bomb hits 1
DD Laffey, Bomb hits 2, and is sunk
DD Ralph Talbot, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
DD Carmick

APA Zeilin, Bomb hits 3, on fire
APA George F. Elliot, Bomb hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage
AKA Libra, Bomb hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage

xAK Adelong, Bomb hits 4, and is sunk
xAK Echunga, Bomb hits 1
xAK Macedon, Bomb hits 1, on fire
xAK Dardanus, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Iron Warrior, Bomb hits 1, on fire
xAK Tambua, Bomb hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Dilga, Bomb hits 3, and is sunk
xAK Dundula, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage

AM Exploit
AM Dynamic
AM Firm, Bomb hits 3, and is sunk
AM Force, Bomb hits 4, and is sunk
PC Travis, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CVE Chenango
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring BB New Mexico
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring xAK Adelong
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring xAK Macedon
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CVE Sangamon
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CVE Suwannee
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring DD Laffey
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring DD Ralph Talbot
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring BB Arizona
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring AM Force
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring DD Spence
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Morning Air attack on TF, near Wotje at 135,115
Weather in hex: Heavy cloud
Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 31 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 40
A6M3a Zero x 17
A6M5b Zero x 14
A6M5c Zero x 14
D4Y1 Judy x 35
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 114

Allied aircraft
Martlet IV x 2
F4F-3 Wildcat x 2
F4F-4 Wildcat x 61
F6F-3 Hellcat x 135

Allied Ships
BB Arizona, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires
CLAA Reno, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
CVE Chenango, Bomb hits 2, and is sunk

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring BB Arizona
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CLAA Reno
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CVE Chenango


Here is the major raid in the afternoon Notice that the allies suffered a number of ground unit casualties. More on that in a minute. Also note the absence of any BBs or CVEs. One of the BBs and all three CVEs, I am fairly sure, were sunk. But where did the other CLAAs and BBs go? They may have been split off into an escort TF, but wouldn't that still be in the same hex? Certainly, 500kg bombs are not going to sink a BB unless the fires were totally out of control, which I doubt.
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Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Wotje at 135,115
Weather in hex: Moderate rain
Raid detected at 160 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 41 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 37
A6M3a Zero x 100
A6M5 Zero x 25
A6M5b Zero x 9
B5N2 Kate x 33
B6N1 Jill x 5
B6N2 Jill x 18
D4Y1 Judy x 86
D4Y3 Judy x 11

Allied aircraft
Martlet IV x 4
F4F-3 Wildcat x 2
F4F-4 Wildcat x 23
F6F-3 Hellcat x 143

Allied Ships
CL Nashville, Bomb hits 2
CL Concord, Bomb hits 5, heavy fires, heavy damage

APA Leonard Wood, Bomb hits 1, on fire
APA J. Franklin Bell, Bomb hits 4, heavy fires
APA W.A. Holbrook, Bomb hits 1

SC PC-776
AM Dynamic, Bomb hits 4, and is sunk
AM Exploit, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Dardanus, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Aeon, Bomb hits 1

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring APA J. Franklin Bell
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring a Luckenbach Cargo class xAK
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CL Concord

Allied ground losses:
73 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 4 destroyed, 3 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 1 (1 destroyed, 0 disabled)

Besides my own attack on the allied task forces at Wotje, the allies again launched small bombing raids against both Wotje and Maleolap. I was surprised to see that I had a CAP up over Maleolap since everyone had been order to LRCAP Wotje. I guess this was spill over CAP from Wotje. Our LRCAP ended up shooting down all the Avengers.
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Morning Air attack on Wotje Naval Fortress, at 135,115 (Wotje)
Weather in hex: Heavy cloud
Raid spotted at 16 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M3a Zero x 44
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 54

Allied aircraft
Martlet IV x 1
F4F-3 Wildcat x 5
F4F-4 Wildcat x 19
F6F-3 Hellcat x 37
TBF-1 Avenger x 9
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Morning Air attack on Maloelap Naval Fortress, at 136,117 (Maloelap)
Weather in hex: Heavy rain
Raid spotted at 34 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 16 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 38

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 8
FM-1 Wildcat x 9
TBF-1 Avenger x 8

I mentioned that the allied troop losses were interesting. That is because witpqs had pulled out some of the regiments he landed on both Wotje and Maleolap. He has left behind 1 regiment and 1 combat engineer unit on each atoll. I assume he did this because of the supply problems he was having, as indicated by his posting in the main forum. Turns out he picked the wrong turn to pull them out of Wotje since many of them ended up drowning!

Over all, the toll in allied ships was quite heavy. The intelligence screen only hints at the total number of allied ships lost today. More will be showing up as the days go by. I count the day's operation a success, although the KB will now need to retire and rebuild its air groups. On a note related to that, the CV Aso arrived today and the Ikuma will arrive in 4 more days. Thus, the KB is about to be augmented by 3 more CVs and 2 more CVLs.

[CapAndGown]

Here is the butcher's bill for today's air actions.

[jonreb31]

Very exciting. I think it was a good attack plan on your part. How many pilots did you lose? I hope you have a reserve of pilots that aren't rookies to refill your air groups, those are some heavy air losses.

[CapAndGown]

ORIGINAL: aprezto


Not sure he needs to be overstacking we are in late 43... He'll have about 12 fleet carriers and half a doz or so CVLs and who knows how many CVEs.

Currently, the allies have 10 CVs and 3 CVLs. Not sure how many CVEs. At least 3 fewer after last turn. [:'(]

[krupp_88mm]

id say it was well worth it, especially since you got those transports with their pants down, be careful though he probably thinks KB is weak now in air units, and probably mad for revenge he just might charge you

[CapAndGown]

ORIGINAL: JonReb

Very exciting. I think it was a good attack plan on your part. How many pilots did you lose? I hope you have a reserve of pilots that aren't rookies to refill your air groups, those are some heavy air losses.

117 KIA, 107 WIA. I imagine most of the WIA will eventually return. Since these were mostly navy pilots (I believe) I am in good shape. The Army has been taking the brunt of the casualties and so has fewer reserves than the navy. Last I checked, the navy had about 600 pilots in the general reserve and another 100 in TRACOM.

[PaxMondo]

Wow!! Very impressive.  All those fighters, the CV's have to be nearby.  Be careful! 

[veji1]

good move, Ideally you would want to follow up by a SCTF strike at Wotje covered by LBA LRCAP.... Can you flood the area with subs ? there might be easy pickings around (BBs...).

Now the priority is avoiding the KB's destruction, you might want to retreat to a safe base to replenish you Air groups, Would Truk or Palau do the trick ?

[krupp_88mm]

maybe put some subs where KB used to be in case he runs to that area, give him a nasty surprise

[FatR]

This is a massive tactical success for Japanese. And considering that your opponent prepared his offensive poorly and doesn't have enough men to overwhelm your island defenses while KB is our of the fight, this also might be a strategic win. Will you replenish KB planes at Truk?

[veji1]

have you sent land troops to Wotje and Maloelap to make sure he doesn't take them ?

[Q-Ball]

Nice job! You used the only IJN advantage at this point in CV actions: Superior Range.

Getting APAs is important; the Allies have unlimited AKs, but those APAs are like gold.

This also shows the hazards of parking ships for extended periods in enemy territory

[Ketza]

Well done!

[bklooste]

I also think his Cvs will go after  you not sure any significant surface action is viable as he will have BB escorts and sink anything durring the day. 

[CapAndGown]

I have sent off the turn to my opponent.

My biggest concern is that the KB is low on gas. I was just about to refuel when I opted instead to strike the allies at Wotje. So now a few of our ships are down to fumes. Because of this, I could not send in a surface force, although that would have been interesting. I also could not retreat at full speed. What I have done is ordered the KB north at cruising speed where it will meet up with a replenishment TF just west of Wake. For the allies to catch me they will need to move at full speed and head in the correct direction. Hopefully, if they do charge, they charge more west than north.

Meanwhile, everyone else is stood down this turn. I want to see what develops next turn and give my fly boys a much needed rest. Average fatigue for the fighter units in the Marshalls is in the 40s! [X(]