Feinder(A) v Bilbow(J) CHS - The winds of war are constantly changing

[Feinder]

After "Operation nanny-nanny boo-boo", I promised a follow-up operation...

"Operation stick your head in doo-doo":

[Fletcher]

That sounds very interesting!... Any screenshot will be available from this galant operation ?
I am amazed with your style non-txt AARC
Cheers !

[Feinder]

A screen shot of...  the DBs bombing the factories?  The strat bombing screen is just like the AF attack screen = boring.  But yes, I will do a map for this one as well. Altho the route displayed will be "conjecture", the actual route has not been released to the press - classified, you understand [;)])

It's actually been a "very eventful" week, not just the raid on the Mitsu factories.  We just concluded the week tho, and frankly, "The Battle of the Bismark Sea" continues - so I might wait until that's settled down before producing that one.

-F-

[Feinder]

Just a quick "update on updates" (or rather lack thereof) -

Had a real-life crisis come up, had to take of that. Everybody is doing fine. I should be able to update the AAR sometime this weekend.

The short version of the AAR for last game week -
a. Halsey's raid on Toyohara is a huge success (Mitubishi factories are damaged by 57 of 80), without the loss of a single aircraft.
b. IJA troops gather their strength for the assaults on Singapore and Manila.
c. The "Battle of Bismark Sea" (contested invasion of Rabaul) demonstrates once again the Allies will continue to resist Japanese aggression. The battle is violent and fairly inconclusive (losses on both sides), until Japanese naval aviation again shows up to to close down the party.
d. And "other dark portents" loom on the edge of PBY range...

-F-

[Feinder]

01-08-1942 thru 01-15-1942

A - Using a heavy storm front as cover, the carriers Enterprise and Saratoga slip past the Japanese patrols guarding the entrance to Japan's home waters. Initial recons sent over Toyohara are mistaken by Japanese observers to friendly combat air patrols. Halsey then launches his dive-bomers which pound the Mitsubishi factories. For two days, he maneuvers his task force among the storm fronts which helps to conceal his task force from enemy bombers, all the while lauching strikes against the Japanese installations. On January 11th, the front begins to move south, and Halsey decides to return to the friendly waters of the Aleutians.
-F-

[Feinder]

01-08-1942 thru 01-15-1942

A - Japanese marines storm ashore at Rabaul. The NVGR Btn puts up a stiff fight, but they are quickly overwhelmed by the Japanse onslaught.
B - Adm Reese leads mixed TF of US and Australian cruisers and steams at full speed to intercept the landings at Rabaul. Having been assigned as Naval Attache' in Tokyo, Adm Reese has first-hand knowledge of the Japanese prowess at night fighting and their liberal use of torpedos. He elects to time his attack for first light, when he can make best use of guns at range. The Allied TF spotted just before dawn by patrols from the HMJS Ryujo, and Adm Ugaki orders a strike. While several Japansese torpedo bombers are brought down, the USS Louisville and HMAS Australia and Canberra each sustain torpedo hits. However, they are still able to make 26kts, and Adm. Reese presses the attack. The surface engagnment is violent and costly for both sides. The Japanese heavy cruisers Ashigara and Kako both sustain heavy damage. The USS Louisville suffers another torpedo, and quickly takes on a fatal list. Adm. Reese is forced to transfer his flag to the USS Boise. As the battle rages past noon, the Japanese have lost 4 destroyers in the melee. Meanwhile the HMAS Australia and Canberra sustain heavy damage. Before giving the order to retire at dusk, the Allied task force has also set ablaze the light cruisers Kuma, Tenryu, Tatsuta, and Yubari.
C - Making best speed towards Noumea Adm. Ugaki pursues the retreating Allied cruisers. The next morning, Japanese bombers manage to catch the heavily damaged HMAS Canberra. Their attacks are relentless and by mid-morning Capt Brooke is or forced to abandon ship.
-F-

[Feinder]

01-08-1942 thru 01-15-1942

A - Japanese forces crush the remaining pocket at Kuala Lumpur, and continue to build their strength across the straights from Singapore. Aided by a well coordinated attack by 5th columnists, a bombardment by Japanese naval forces causes substantial damage to the facilities at Singapore. An ammuntion dump sets off a chain rection with nearby planes that were inadaquately disperesed - 40 aircraft are destroyed. Japanese shells also manage to collapse one of the fortification's main tunnels, trapping many defenders without ventelation. Despite determined efforts to free those trapped, the muffeled cries for assistance fall silent after 2 days.
-F-

[Feinder]

01-08-1942 thru 01-15-1942

A - Japanese Army units are able to push back the defenders of Clark Field, while Japanese aircraft continue to pound the beleagured defenders for Manilla. Manilla and Bataan now stand alone and separated against the might of the Japanese invasion.
-F-

[Feinder]

01-08-1942 thru 01-15-1942

A - Japanse forces land at Macassar, Aru and Lautem. After a month of heavy casualties, the RAF, RAAF, and RDAF can only offer a token resistance. They have been bolstered by the recent arrival of a few squadrons of American B-25s, but the effort appears to be too little, too late. The landings at Mcassar are opposed, and a few transports are damaged by bombers, but the Netherlands East Indies is quickly collapsing. Even the Allied submarines, who have thus far exacted a heavy tool in enemy ships, are being beaten thru attrition.
B -
Sgt Daris is the radio operator assigned to Cherry-7, an American PBY squadron VP-101. The squadron has recently transferred to Darwin, and he is the newest member of the 5-man crew. Cherry-7 has been orderd to report the status of Japanese invasion at Lautem, where only yesterday, a Dornier flying boat did not return from it's patrol. Lt. Craig is a veteran pilot tho, and uses the scattered storm clouds as cover as he approaches the island of Timor.
Sgt Daris - "Hey skipper! I see 'em. Wow! There must be hundreds of 'em!"
Lt. Craig - "Daris, pull Anders away from his charts. We're only going to get one run at this. I'm gonna grab some clouds and altitude, before we make our run. And RUN is what I mean. You're only going to get about 90 seconds before their Zeros are on us. The faster you count, the faster we get outta here. Alright...? Good... Then here we go..."

Flt Lt. Jacobs of the RAAF reads the moring patrol repot. It is has just been delivered, and is only minutes old. Cherry-7 re-established contact with the Japanese invasion at Lautem. They were able to send their transmission, before their radio stopped transmitting. Flt Lt. Jacobs says a silent prayer, that it was only the radio that was hit, and that Cherry-7 will return safely by mid-morning. The report is puzzling tho. His brow furrows with concern, and he bursts into the office of Maj. Olders, OIC of intel.
Flt Lt. Jacobs - "Sir, I'm sorry to barge in. But you need to take a look at this... It's this morning's patrol reports."
Maj Olders - "What is it?" as he skims over the document. "This can't be right. Why would they need so many ships at Lautem? Even they know the Dutch have already begun to collapse. Even we can barely get bombers in the air to oppose them."
Flt Lt. Jacobs stands mute in front of Maj Olders. He grave expression continues unabated.
Maj Olders looks up Lt. Jacobs and sees the concern, and a forboding sweeps over him. - "You're sure there's no error in the decrypt?"
Flt Lt. Jacobs - "Sir, it was plain English. No doubt they were being attacked before their radio went dead. I bunked with Lt. Craig at West Point, during a exchange program with the USAAC. He is my friend and an excellent pilot, and I'm sure he wouldn't allow an in-accurate report to be sent.


It has only taken 2 hours from Cherry-7s initial report, to the time it's un-edited script reaches the desk of Vice Adm. Connel. As his eyes sweep down the page, his face becomes ashen.

"Many ships Lautem. 6 enemy CVs, 10+ heavy units, many escorts, and est 60 transports. Speed 10kts. Course SE".

"My God. Get me the Prime Minister. They're going to invade Darwin..."

-F-

[Helpless]

Using a heavy storm front as cover, the carriers Enterprise and Saratoga slip past the Japanese patrols guarding the entrance to Japan's home waters. Initial recons sent over Toyohara are mistaken by Japanese observers to friendly combat air patrols. Halsey then launches his dive-bomers which pound the Mitsubishi factories. For two days, he maneuvers his task force among the storm fronts which helps to conceal his task force from enemy bombers, all the while lauching strikes against the Japanese installations. On January 13th, the front begins to move south, and Halsey decides to return to the friendly waters of the Aleutians.

Bravo!

..it appears it is possible to understand WITP weather system.. [:D]

[Capt. Harlock]

"Many ships Lautem. 6 enemy CVs, 10+ heavy units, many escorts, and est 60 transports. Speed 10kts. Course SE".

"My God. Get me the Prime Minister. They're going to invade Darwin..."

An invasion of Australia in January? Can't fault Bilbow for being unambitious!

[Feinder]

Hit list as of 01-15-42 (best viewed in Internet Explorer)

I'm glad my naval units are hitting, because as you can see, my planes aren't doing squat...

-F-

Let me try posting this as a gif for the Firefox users. It's a bit of work to convert the xls file to gif tho, so I'm not sure I'm going to continue posting as gif. I'm having to screen shot each piece of the xls, paste into Paint (do so about 10 times to get all of the list), then save gif. I anyone has an easier way to convert the xls to gif tho, please feel free to share.

[castor troy]

wow, bombing the Mitsubishi factories? [X(] If Bilbow is ambitious then I would call that super ambitious! [:D] Would love to see one of my opponents trying that! Wonder why most (or many?) PBEM players leave the home islands uncovered and pull out everything.

If my planes would spot the Allied CVs I would bet that in 80% of the time I would destroy or heavily damage them with the available strike planes that are always guarding the home islands.

[Feinder]

Bombing Toyohara was "a calcualated risk".
 
Frankly, I just wanted to make him snort his beer as he watched the replay, but I also considered the fact that (at least in CHS), the only airfield capable of holding torp-totin' 2e bombers was Ominato.  I figured his Zeros were mostly off playing with the RAF and Dutch, so his 2es would be unescorted if they launched.  I actually did expect to get attacked, but I also figured that it would probably amount to 30x 2e bombers vs. my 54 Wildcats at high %-CAP, and that should be sufficient.  Ends up, nothing launched, so I didn't complain, and bugged off before my luck ran out.
 
It was a bit of a nail-biter, but most definately a lot of fun.  I might even wager to say that it's in-game effect to be on-par with the the real life Doolittle Raid (exactly my intent).  Bilbow has to wonder if/when I'll be back, and it now he gets to "properly" garrison the Home Islands, which draws off squadrons from elsewhere.
 
-F-

[castor troy]

ORIGINAL: Feinder

Bombing Toyohara was "a calcualated risk".

Frankly, I just wanted to make him snort his beer as he watched the replay, but I also considered the fact that (at least in CHS), the only airfield capable of holding torp-totin' 2e bombers was Ominato.  I figured his Zeros were mostly off playing with the RAF and Dutch, so his 2es would be unescorted if they launched.  I actually did expect to get attacked, but I also figured that it would probably amount to 30x 2e bombers vs. my 54 Wildcats at high %-CAP, and that should be sufficient.  Ends up, nothing launched, so I didn't complain, and bugged off before my luck ran out.

It was a bit of a nail-biter, but most definately a lot of fun.  I might even wager to say that it's in-game effect to be on-par with the the real life Doolittle Raid (exactly my intent).  Bilbow has to wonder if/when I'll be back, and it now he gets to "properly" garrison the Home Islands, which draws off squadrons from elsewhere.

-F-

This attack had surely an effect! [:D][&o]

[bilbow]

ORIGINAL: castor troy

ORIGINAL: Feinder

Bombing Toyohara was "a calcualated risk".

Frankly, I just wanted to make him snort his beer as he watched the replay, but I also considered the fact that (at least in CHS), the only airfield capable of holding torp-totin' 2e bombers was Ominato.  I figured his Zeros were mostly off playing with the RAF and Dutch, so his 2es would be unescorted if they launched.  I actually did expect to get attacked, but I also figured that it would probably amount to 30x 2e bombers vs. my 54 Wildcats at high %-CAP, and that should be sufficient.  Ends up, nothing launched, so I didn't complain, and bugged off before my luck ran out.

It was a bit of a nail-biter, but most definately a lot of fun.  I might even wager to say that it's in-game effect to be on-par with the the real life Doolittle Raid (exactly my intent).  Bilbow has to wonder if/when I'll be back, and it now he gets to "properly" garrison the Home Islands, which draws off squadrons from elsewhere.

-F-

This attack had surely an effect! [:D][&o]

Sure did have an effect. A number of search unit commanders were fired. Pleanty of assets around, but they can't attack what isn't spotted.

Cool move though.

[GordoNZ]

Man I would love to see the combat replay of that [:D]

[Feinder]

While it was quite successful (I certainly wouldn't take it back), the practical draw-back of bombing Toyohara is that tied up two of my CVs for a while (and it's a long trip from Toyohara to Pearl). I actually do use my CVs early game, and sending two of them off to bomb the home islands tied them up for 2 weeks up and 2 weeks back.

Frankly, Halsey is kinda p1ssed that he -wasn't- at Noumea when Japan came at Rabaul. Combined with the cruiser engagement, I could have soundly stomped that invasion, and probably bagged a (small) enemy flight-deck or two.

But my CVs can only be one place at a time, and Halsey was already in Northern Waters by the time the attack on Rabaul started to unfold, so there was no chance (or point) to diverting them.

It's certainly an interesting game. I did -not- expect to see an invasion fleet show up off the coast of Darwin (this early). I think we're both going to manage to surprise each other many more times in the game to come.

-F-

[Feinder]

01-16-1942 thru 01-25-1942

A - Allied bombers pound ports and strategic facilities at Ban Don, Bankok, Saigon, and Hanoi. The Japanese fighter defense at first is taken by surprise, but squadrons are returned from the front to defend Japan's industrial centers.

-F-

[Feinder]

01-16-1942 thru 01-25-1942

A - Japanese Army units tighten their siege at Singapore. The fortress is pounded continually by land-based bombers in the day, and by heavy bombardment forces at night. In a disgraceful logistical SNAFU, the much publicized 15" coastal defense batteries have only been supplied with HE ammunition and are powerless to stop the nightly bombardments by Japanese battleships. Meanwhile, the first Japanese brigades cross the Straights of Jahore and successfully establish a beach-head.

-F-