The Shattered Sword: John 3rd vs. Anachro--BTS

[John 3rd]

July 8, 1943

Damn but the enemy comes on this turn.

Having sent the Kongo TF into the waters of chance, I watched the turn unfold with all sorts of trepidation. Troops are unloading as fast as possible at Aitape (they were heading for Madang but I diverted them) and Wewak. Grabbing a cup of tea, I sit as the turn starts.

Turn begins with two Japanese TF hitting Manus. The two TFs had already hit Hansa Bay the day before so they don't have too much ammo but still hit the Port pretty good and nearly 100 Cas.

Japan has a limited number of MTB in this game and I have deployed them for the first time at Umboi and Finschaven. As expected, the enemy comes through Umboi (two mine explosions!!) and tangles with five MTB. Lose two for no effect on the CA--CL TF.

At Rabaul, another CA-CL TF finds four CM dropping off mines. Two are sunk with another damaged.

BOTH TFs get in to Bombard Madang and Rabaul. YUCK! Where be my BCs? The two bases take serious damage. After sinking 4 AKL at the Port (get another mine explosion!), Madang loses 32 Planes Destroyed, a bunch damaged, 589 Cas, and Runway 38 hits. Rabaul sees less but still significant damage: 27 Planes, 68 Damaged, 245 Cas, 8 Guns, and 57 Runway hits.

Just...plain...OUCH!

As the sun begins to rise, my BCs finally show up and hit the CA--CL TF departing Madang. Since they have already used most of the ammo, my BCs fire away. The Myoko takes a Torp and is damaged but that is it for the Japanese. The Allies see substantial hits to 2 CA, 3 CL and all 5 DD. Bet on a few sinkings as they retreat. Kongo TF retires to Madang but Myoko splits off with an escort DD.

DAYTIME

Madang is a shambles and I wait for the killer airstrike to sink the BCs. NOTHING HAPPENS! Glorious...

CA Myoko is attacked twice in the AM and PM by 18 F6F 12 SBD and 17 F6F 12 SBD. The strikes are met by 15-20 Fighters and get mauled pretty good with NO DAMAGE occurring to the Japanese.

Th enemy is sitting in the Umboi hex and does nothing other then those two small strikes.

ORDERS
The Japanese move planes out of Madang to allow for some CAP over Wewak and Aitape.

Order the BC TF to get the HE** out of there and return to Truk.

Bring the CVs in closer for possible action.

Have no real Infantry at Fincshaven so order 62 Transports to begin flying troops into the base in case the enemy tries to land here.

Really needed 3-4 more days as I have a pair of CD units almost at this base and Umboi. They are not spotted and order them to begin unloading at Aitape and Wewak. Well..order them to head there. We'll see if they unload or not.


What will Sean do?

ELSEWHERE
Diego Garcia
The enemy 20th Indian and an Aussie Brigade are on shore here. Their Shock Attack yesterday lowered the Forts to 4 but their Deliberate Attack does NOTHING. The enemy moves his shipping away.

Hmmmm...I have a Brigade and six fast AP/AK at Sabang...ORDER them to start loading and head for DG.

The Japanese CTF departs Oosthaven and makes for DG.

China
LOTS of movement throughout the whole front. Will Post a screenshot to show the changes.

[John 3rd]

July 9, 1943

Wild turn.

The Kongo TF TRIES to withdraw but instead finds itself locked toe-to-toe with an American Bombardment TF at Madang. Though low on ammo, the TF gives a good account of itself as it sinks multiple DDs and cripples the Washington with 4 14" Shells and a Long Lance.

NO American CV Flights this day and they are at Manus. I'll take a blessing and scoot the remainder of the TF away ASAP!

More details after the next turn.

[Canoerebel]

Bagdad John: "gave a good account of itself..." "...sank multiple DDs and crippled Washington...." with no info about what damage the IJN suffered, including apparently a lost BC?

[Chickenboy]

via Imgflip Meme Generator

[Canoerebel]

[8D]

[John 3rd]

Funny--Funny: NOT!

The jury is still out. Been waiting on the next turn. Haruna sank but everyone else got away when they should not have. My CVs ended up ONE HEX from strike range of the entire Allied CV Fleet.

Not sure of American sinking other then three DDs. Washington is a mess but might get away. This is why I need one more turn...

[John 3rd]

July 10, 1943
Coral Sea--SoPac

This screen shot should say it all. The Allied CTF end up at Manus with 5-6 other TFs. We have Allied TFs moving North and South at the same time.

Madang and Finschhafen have DB/TB move in this turn with ranges set to four so they don't touch the CV CAP. Ditto for Rabaul.

Japan's CVs will move due east and then angle south to get behind the lines again. He didn't cover this last time and we'll see if he does this time.

The Kongo TF moves straight North heading for Saipan.

The RED Circles are all Japanese TFs unloading troops and/or supplies.


It is a MESS!

[John 3rd]

July 10, 1943

The Japanese CVs are SUPPOSED to high-tail it NE towards Eniwetok the night of the 9th and morning of the 10th. Evidently they choose not to and only move 7 hexes instead of the 11 they should have.

The Allies sense opportunity and aggressively move away from Manus.

DAWN

The Japanese TF spots the Allied TFs and--despite orders to the contrary--move TOWARDS the enemy. Range is four hexes.

The Japanese launch a strike of 50 Zero, 44 DB, and 57 TB. They meet a CAP of 211 Fighters. Surprisingly, 24 planes get through and hit HMS Illustrious 2 500Kg Bombs setting her a fire. A CVL takes a Torp.

Japan done.

Allied Strikes
#1: 246 Japanese Fighters vs 70 F, 44 DB, and 57 TB. The strike is mauled but 19 DB and 18 TB get through:

BB Musashi 1TT
BC Chichibu 1B
CVL Nisshin 1B
CVL Kushiro 1B
CVL Chiyoda 1B

Nothing serious.

#2: 178 Fighters vs. 57 F, 75 DB, 42 TB. This strike is mauled worse then the first one and only 11 DB and 9 TB get through:

CVL Nisshin takes a 2nd bomb
CV Zuikaku 1B
CVL Ryuho 1B
CVL Ryujo 1B

There is serious after drop fighting in both attacks where more planes are dispatched.

Afternoon
#3: 51 F, 58 DB, 29 TB vs. 191 CAP. It is terrible to watch. Only 11 Strike planes get through and half are blasted by Japanese AA. No hit scored.

#4: 92 F, 12 DB, 28 TB vs. 120 CAP. The Japanese Fighters punch right through the American Fighters and shoot down EVERY Attack Plane! NICE!

Sun sets.

Damage
No one is in sinking condition whatsoever.

ORDERS
Order the CV TF to make for Saipan at FULL SPEED. Detach BB Tosa and Yamato, 2 CL, and 6 DD to lunge directly at the enemy TFs.

From Truk:
Form three STF to make FULL SPEED dashes down the three hex columns hoping to catch the enemy. TF-1 BB Mutsu, Nagato, 3 CL, and 10 DD, TF-2 6 CA and 10 DD, and TF-3 2 CA, 3 CL, and 10 DD.



We simply cannot punch through each other's CAP with enough force to crush either side. CRAZY!

[John 3rd]

July 10, 1943
Aerial Losses

Holy Cow!

[John 3rd]

July 10, 1943
Ship Losses

Proof as to shipping losses:

[John 3rd]

July 10, 1943
Tracker Details

Air Losses by type:

[John 3rd]

July 10, 1943
Ace-in-a-Day

Here are my celebrating Fighter pilots:

[John 3rd]

July 11, 1943
Planned Moves

Here is what SHOULD happen tomorrow. I figure the enemy will try to close and catch the CVs. NOPE! I want to catch his...

[John 3rd]

Turn sent to my aggressive opponent!

Comments?

[Chickenboy]

ORIGINAL: John 3rd

Turn sent to my aggressive opponent!

Comments?

A few:

1. Staggering A2A losses there. Amazing. Carnage. Atta boy. [8D]

2. With such little damage to the enemy flattops, I would not have thrown my surface forces at them. Perhaps if there were a few cripples or those with too much damage to mount flight operations. But all he's got to do is sidestep your reposte and you'll be in for a beating with perfectly good ships in the morning for naught.

3. What sort of antiship aerial platforms do you have at Rabaul, Kavieng and Truk? If you've effectively deplaned his main CV fleet, it may be "Netty time" for some of those Allied ships in the Bismarck Sea and surrounds as well as the deplaned CVs near Truk.

[Canoerebel]

With those air losses, Anachro's carriers should be pretty weak. He'll have to retire.

[HansBolter]

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel

With those air losses, Anachro's carriers should be pretty weak. He'll have to retire.

Yes, but it was clearly an Allied tactical victory.

Far more Japanese ships took hits than Allied ships.

JIII can ballyhoo the Allied air losses all he wants, but it doesn't change the fact that his ships got hit harder.

And I seriously doubt the Allied main fleet has been deplaned.

I bet they still have enough teeth left to put a hurting on whatever comes chasing them.

[Canoerebel]

My comment was limited to what Anachro would do with his carrier TFs tomorrow, not to the outcome of the battle. With those air losses, I think he'll retire.

[John 3rd]

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel

My comment was limited to what Anachro would do with his carrier TFs tomorrow, not to the outcome of the battle. With those air losses, I think he'll retire.

My bet is he won't. He is too aggressive to stop.

The STF I sent out all have the steaming ability to make it back to Truk without issue. Have 200+ Fighters at Truk and have some on LRCAP to protect any damaged/straggling ships.

The CVs will be well north of Truk and still have nearly 225 Fighters that will be set on 90% CAP. He can come again and I will finish off his striking power.

As to Chickenboy's thoughts, Planes were moved into Hollandia, Madang, Finschhaven, and Lunga. See if we can hit anything not involved at the moment.

Hans: As normal you are a font of joy, I didn't claim a victory. YET AGAIN I have crippled his airpower (3rd time this has happened) but not been able to do effective work against his actual CVs. Frustrating but it could be much worse. Yep--you are correct--he has a tactical victory in that my CVs are damaged and he has the sea. BUT he will have to withdraw to replenish and then I shall go back to work on his units...

Really want to know what his goals are here? No new landings. Looks like he supplied Manus because the unit count has not changed at all and I am doing recon there every turn.

Aitape, Wewak, and Hollandia all got their troops unloaded.

Got to see how this plays out...

[John 3rd]

ORIGINAL: Chickenboy

ORIGINAL: John 3rd

Turn sent to my aggressive opponent!

Comments?

A few:

1. Staggering A2A losses there. Amazing. Carnage. Atta boy. [8D]

2. With such little damage to the enemy flattops, I would not have thrown my surface forces at them. Perhaps if there were a few cripples or those with too much damage to mount flight operations. But all he's got to do is sidestep your reposte and you'll be in for a beating with perfectly good ships in the morning for naught.

3. What sort of antiship aerial platforms do you have at Rabaul, Kavieng and Truk? If you've effectively deplaned his main CV fleet, it may be "Netty time" for some of those Allied ships in the Bismarck Sea and surrounds as well as the deplaned CVs near Truk.

By TRACKER, these are the losses in the CV Fight over the KB: Japan loses 52 M5 and 13 M5a while the Allies lose 62 Fighters, 164 DB, and 126 TB.

His Fighter strength is largely unaffected but his striking power is probably reduced--what do you think??--50%.