Blue Skies and Blood: John 3rd vs 1275psi

[John 3rd]

February 7, 1942
Gulf of Alaska

I had clearly stated a few Posts ago that bagging a Battleship would serve as a nice cherry on top of the cake. Well...we got one this day! Was it CarDiv5? No. Was it BBs Yamashiro/Fuso? NO! It was a lowly SS!

Blocking the entrance to Anchorage
I-5 raises its periscope NW of Kodiak and spots the profile of several American Battleships. A quick scan of his intel ship shilouettes reveals the ship to be New Mexico-Class. Old but still useful. The Commander watches as the TF moves closer and launches 4TT at 2,500 Yds. As he dives, two Torps smash into their target. Surpisingly no escorts find him so he waits 30 minutes and then comes back to periscope depth and finds the BB--now revealed as Mississippi--still moving slowly towards Anchorage. Another spread of Torpedos is launched this time he watches them streak into the Port side of his target. Multiple hits are observed and to his ever-lasting surprise, the mighty vessel SINKS!

BANZAI!

A radio message is then transmitted of the contact. Commander Yuzuma then orders his crew to proceed towards Anchorage. There are two more battleships to attack...

Cold Bay
The action here starts off during the night as CL Isuzu and 3 DD move towards the anchorage. They spot two large American Transports and two smaller AKLs. In a brisk action, all four ships are sunk for no damage to the Japanese. Another contact report is sent.

CarDiv5 gets reasonably clear weather this day to fly. Lying 160 miles due east of Cold bay, they are able to get two strikes off before thunderstorms close the decks. The strikes of 28 Zero, 9 Val, and 9 Kate followed by 28 Zero, 20 Val, and 20 Kate find two large Canadian AMCs. Both are damaged in the first attack then finished in the second. Nice work.

Recon reveals ships hiding in Port at both Kodiak as well as Cold Bay. CarDiv5 shifts all of her Kates over to Naval Attack/Port Strike for tomorrow's action. Additionally BBs Yamashiro and Fuso are directed to sit at Cold Bay to await develops. Will the Allies attempt to break out or be damaged/sunk in Port? Tomorrow will reveal this answer...


Tally for the day is: BB Mississippi, two American President-Class AP, two large Canadian AMCs and two smaller AKLs. Good day of work up North...

[pws1225]

Nice work. And glad to see that you are keeping the AAR going. It is much appreciated. [:)]

[John 3rd]

Figure it will serve to foreshadow events in his narrative. In the other AAR, his narration always ran a week to ten days behind game time so this should help to place his AAR in context.

[Canoerebel]

Here's why I think John will become a legendary figure in the annals of AE (sorry, John, for embarrassing you by calling you an eventual legend, but it's an honest sentiment intended not to puff up but to celebrate). Everybody on the forum is very well acquainted with John's massively aggressive tendencies in 1942. Yet even experienced, capable players - most recently NYGiants and Herbie - have have fallen victim to his strategies.

We know what John's going to do, we know how to avoid or counter it, and yet he still sneaks up and gooses us repeatedly.

John's leaving quite a trail of Allied wreckage and evidences of a distinctive legacy. Here's to you, John, you ridiculous Japanese Attila!

[John 3rd]

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel

Here's why I think John will become a legendary figure in the annals of AE (sorry, John, for embarrassing you by calling you an eventual legend, but it's an honest sentiment intended not to puff up but to celebrate). Everybody on the forum is very well acquainted with John's massively aggressive tendencies in 1942. Yet even experienced, capable players - most recently NYGiants and Herbie - have have fallen victim to his strategies.

We know what John's going to do, we know how to avoid or counter it, and yet he still sneaks up and gooses us repeatedly.

John's leaving quite a trail of Allied wreckage and evidences of a distinctive legacy. Here's to you, John, you ridiculous Japanese Attila!

Thank You My Friend. May just have to call you and say Happy TURKEY DAY!

You hit on a real point here. Herbie had to have KNOWN I would come up here in force. Think he did manage to get confused as whether or not I had heavy CVs available to get to the Aleutians. I allowed the piecemeal actions to occur--though they hurt in terms of a few more losses--so I could wind up for a serious swing at Allied Shipping and Troops out in the open in early-42.

Well..."Attila the John" certainly added more wreckage to this arena on February 8, 1942.

[John 3rd]

February 8, 1942
The Great White North

Throughout the night and day, Japan continues to deliver hammer blows to Allied shipping throughout the area.

SS Operations:
I-26 sinks AKL Tennessean with 9 Shells near Bella Bella
I-5 (Conqueror of BB Mississippi) adds to her laurels in sinking DD MacDonough with TWO TT near Kodiak.

Surface Operations:
BB Fuso and Yamashiro, a CL, 5 DD sink 4 small Task Forces totaling 5 KV and 3 YP. LOVE SINKING THOSE KV! The Allies have very few useful ASW Ships this early in the war.

Two CL and 4 DD detach from CarDiv5 and race towards Anchorage sinking DD Kane less then 40 miles from that city. The citizen's of Anchorage must be in panic when they hear naval gunfire that close to their precious city!

CarDiv5:
Bad weather closes things off in the morning but the afternoon sees an effective Port Strike nail Cold Bay with 28 Zero and 43 Kate. DD Reid, 3 large AP, and an AMC each take multiple bomb hits. At least one or two targets sink later in the day.

February 8th Totals: 2 DD, 5 KV, 3 YP, and an AKL plus damage to shipping in Cold Bay.


Planning:
1. SS continue to fill the arena. Now have over 18 I-Boats prowling around seeking targets.

2. The BBs will bombard Cold Bay hoping to damage shipping trapped there even more. The CL TF will return and link-up with the carriers.

3. A convoy of tankers is spotted near West Coast. Sho--Zui--Shoho will move east and engage that TF.

4. Order Recon of Kodiak and Anchorage. If there are Battleships in Port we shall strike them!

[John 3rd]

Now...I get all riled up and call MISTER Dan Roper at work and GUESS WHAT? The man isn't there! Guess it is good to be the owner and King of that most excellent, Southern Periodical. Will say that I spoke to a good and fine Southern Lass who remembered me from previous calls as 'that gentleman from Colorado.'

Made me smile and laugh!

Always remember readers that great relationships are possible with people on this Forum. I count Dan and Michael as two friends who have become that due to years of interaction with this great game.

[John 3rd]

Very slow turn production over the last couple of days. Herbie had a two day course he was attending and that stopped things cold.

[John 3rd]

Intend on making a lengthy Post but thought I might entice you with this screenshot.

We found BBs Colorado, Warspite, and New Mexico. They are a little worse for the wear of several 250KG and 800KG bombs SMACKING EACH of them!

[John 3rd]

February 19, 1942
Alaska

Looks like I can only SMACK American BBs with multiple TT Hits from my I-Boats. BB New Mexico flees the trap that is Anchorage Harbor and is immediately torpedoed TWICE (plus Engine Room damage!) by I-5.

A few hexes SE of New Mexico, I-20 SINKS DD Downes with a Torp.

There are SEVENTEEN I-Boats on the hunt for BB Colorado, BB Warspite, and BB New Mexico.

CarDiv5 refueled and re-provisioned at Adak this day. They take off heading east hoping for a piece of the action as well.

[John 3rd]

OK. The game freezes for two weeks while Herbie and his wife take two weeks off and do some traveling. This will provide time for a complete AAR update AND have some fun getting input into the Campaign. WE are at almost a perfect breaking point between the initial Japanese conquest and BIG DECISIONS on where to go with the next Phase of Operations.

What I am looking for is input into what you--as readers-- would like to see? Since this is a 'unique' AAR/Game due to Herbie episodic AAR I want to provide as much entertainment as possible for the Herbie side of the production. Soooooooooooo...where do we go?

OPTIONS:
1. Ceylon
2. Eastern India
3. Ceylon--Eastern India
4. Strong Australia: Take EVERYTHING to the Emergency Reinforcement line.
5. All-In Australia: Swing for the FENCE BABY! Take it all.
6. New Zealand

If you have another idea, PLEASE sing out!

I plan on the following minimum:
1. Take NW Aussieland through Tennant Creek.
2. Take Anchorage.

Here is your chance to 'help' write the future script over on Herbie's side of the AAR! Jump in early and often...

[Bif1961]

Take China then invade and conquer Russia. Once you do that then you can devote the massive free-up manpower for defense in depth. That would also fee up your Navy to do it's traditional southern and southwestern offensives.

[John 3rd]

China and Russia are off the board.

Do plan to bomb China's HI and Resources to absolutely cripple it for the war. Herbie insisted on no HR and then has tried to bomb my DEI Oil Facilities. Well...he gonna be hurting in China pretty soon.

[Dauntless42]

As an avid reader of past and present AAR's by both you and your worthy opponent, I would suggest that an all-out effort to conquer Australia would produce the most spectacular material that would play right into the theme of Letters from a Prime Minister. I think we would all relish those last communiqueés from the PM's isolated command bunker, deep beneath the smoldering ruins of Sydney...

[John 3rd]

Lordy. I like that thinking. Certainly would add to the script and make a for a BUNCH of fun...

[PaxMondo]

ORIGINAL: Dauntless42

As an avid reader of past and present AAR's by both you and your worthy opponent, I would suggest that an all-out effort to conquer Australia would produce the most spectacular material that would play right into the theme of Letters from a Prime Minister. I think we would all relish those last communiqueés from the PM's isolated command bunker, deep beneath the smoldering ruins of Sydney...

+1

Go for the fence ...

[John 3rd]

...the fence it appears to be...

[pws1225]

ORIGINAL: PaxMondo

ORIGINAL: Dauntless42

As an avid reader of past and present AAR's by both you and your worthy opponent, I would suggest that an all-out effort to conquer Australia would produce the most spectacular material that would play right into the theme of Letters from a Prime Minister. I think we would all relish those last communiqueés from the PM's isolated command bunker, deep beneath the smoldering ruins of Sydney...

+1

Go for the fence ...

+2

That is a great idea! [:D]

[Lowpe]

Well, I was going to vote for taking New Zealand and isolating Oz first before conquering her.[:(] Heck with the emergency units.[;)]

[ny59giants]

If you go 'all in' for Australia, then Diego Garcia becomes a must have. Needed to base subs and surface raiders up to northern map edge.