Speedy vs Fabertong: Death to the Penguin!

[Rob Brennan UK]

Good luck speedy !

anyway why not airlift in a BF ? always seem to move the AV support first and could save on the merchant losses.

[Speedysteve]

Hi all,

Hi Rob. Firstly thanks [8D] I have airlifted in most of the aviation support to Attu but I figured since i'm going there with 1000's of toness of supply and fuel I may aswell take the rest by ship and use the Catalina's for scouting.

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Well things are getting potentially VERY interesting.

Today Japanese LBA from Kiska sent in several waves of planes against my TF's. The CV CAP performed well overall despite some tough battles against the Tony's. A few leakers did get though and targetted the BB Colorado but no hits were sustained. The fiercest action took place late morning:

Day Air attack on TF at 96,34

Japanese aircraft
D3A Val x 18
B5N Kate x 6
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 24
Ki-61 KAIc Tony x 44

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 131

Japanese aircraft losses
D3A Val: 3 destroyed, 1 damaged
B5N Kate: 4 destroyed
Ki-44-IIb Tojo: 22 destroyed
Ki-61 KAIc Tony: 35 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat: 37 destroyed, 7 damaged


Overall by the end of the day losses were as follows:

Allied: 49 (44 x Wildcats)
Japanese: 119 (49 x Tony, 30 x Tojo, 18 x Kate, 12 x Val)

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Here's where it gets interesting. Look at the map below. The TF spotted near Petropavlovsk contains CV KAGA. The is clearly KB heading towards the battle.

The TF halfway between Attu and Paramushiro contains BB Mutsu. Clearly a SC TF.

As such I have to be prepared for mass sea and air battles tomorrow.

My TF's should all being well reach Attu tomorrow. I have 7 x BB's in 2 SC TF's to hopefully deal with Mutsu & Co. My CV planes are set to 50% CAP and all bombers ready for naval strikes.

On Attu itself I flew in a further 36 x Wildcat and 72 x P40 from Dutch for CAP purposes.

If only my Corsairs could be there (currently repairing in Anchorage and transfering to Dutch).................

Tomorrow could be one of the most important days of the war.

[Mike Solli]

This is getting very interesting. It's really fun to be a fly on the wall. Go Japanese! Oh wait, wrong thread.[:D]

[Rob Brennan UK]

LOL mike


yep sure is hotting up speedy .. looks like a big battle may ensue shortly .. [8D]

BTW i was referring to baker as an airlift target ? unless im geting my threads mixed up [;)]

[Speedysteve]

Hi all,

LOL guys. Thanks for the hype! It could well be. I thought today may bring that battle but KB sailed upto the NW of the Komandorski Islands. As such the air action was focussed on raids from Kiska.

My CV and Attu based CAP proved formidable today and nothing got through. An example of my massed strength:

Day Air attack on TF at 93,34

Japanese aircraft
D3A Val x 6
B5N Kate x 14
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 3
Ki-61 KAIc Tony x 25

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 175
P-40E Warhawk x 56

Japanese aircraft losses
D3A Val: 2 destroyed
B5N Kate: 12 destroyed
Ki-44-IIb Tojo: 3 destroyed
Ki-61 KAIc Tony: 24 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat: 1 destroyed
P-40E Warhawk: 10 destroyed, 4 damaged

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The other big air action was over Lunga. I decided to send 2 x B24 BG's from Luganville to bomb the airfields there. His fighters did well and shot down 22 of my heavies. Several enemy planes were destroyed on the ground though.

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The question is now what does KB do? I am 60 miles out of Attu. I have ordered all TF's into Attu except a BB bombardment group which will hit Kiska. I have a LOT of planes ready to rock and roll. Especially including Attu. The planes there really could tip the balance if he decides to play..................

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Air losses for the day:

[Capt. Harlock]

The question is now what does KB do? I am 60 miles out of Attu. I have ordered all TF's into Attu except a BB bombardment group which will hit Kiska. I have a LOT of planes ready to rock and roll. Especially including Attu. The planes there really could tip the balance if he decides to play..................

My advice is to pay close attention to the weather. If storms move in, we could see BB vs. CV surface combat. Maybe Akagi and Kaga can use those 8" guns . . .

[Speedysteve]

Hi all,

LOL Capt. I don't think Faber is that desperate yet [;)]

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Well still no Midway battle! PBY's report KB 1 + 2 are heading back to Japan and are 120 miles east of Petropavlovsk. All airgroups are prepped and ready in case he comes back east quickly.

All TF's have reached Attu and the transports are unloading their vital cargo's. By end of play tomorrow enough spare planes and ammo should be ready to re-equip all depleted units. This means that in my mind Faber either hits me tomorrow or he's had it up there. For example i'll be receiving another 40ish Wildcats, 15 P38's and 5 Kittyhawks alone.

Within a week my Corsairs will have repaired and been readied for Arctic conditions to be able to operate from Attu.

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My SC fleet that sailed to say hello to Kiska found 10's of barges dotted around the island! My destroyers dispersed and had a field day sinking 23 of the buggers.

Nevada apparently hit a mine but damage was non-existant. Must have been a dud! Due to the barge cionsumption not much time was available for shelling Kiska before dawn. My fleet will return tomorrow hopefully.

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SS Whale patrolling east of Formosa attacked a skulking Patrol Craft and blew up the small hulled ship with a torpedo. The brave sub eluded the other PC's..........

[Speedysteve]

Hi all,

The men on Attu can breath easier at last! In my view they are now safe from any Japanese reprisal. During the 18th 10's of thousands of tonnes of supply, material, food, planes, ammo was moved through the port facilities. All squadrons are upto strength and are ready for action.

Good news from North Pac HQ is that the first Corsair squadron should be arriving within 3-4 days now! [8D]

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KB continued to move back towards Paramushiro (see screenshot below).

In many ways it's been a bit of an anti-climax since when I saw him heading towards me I was hoping for the mother of all battles. I can see why he would not want to challenge me though. This was todays strike from Japanese held Kiska:

Day Air attack on TF, near Attu Island at 92,34

Japanese aircraft
B5N Kate x 5
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 3
Ki-61 KAIc Tony x 25

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 144
Kittyhawk I x 6
P-40E Warhawk x 33
P-38G Lightning x 31

Japanese aircraft losses
B5N Kate: 2 destroyed
Ki-44-IIb Tojo: 3 destroyed
Ki-61 KAIc Tony: 23 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat: 1 destroyed
P-40E Warhawk: 5 destroyed, 1 damaged

In total 42 enemy planes were destroyed today to my 12.

I was thinking on it though and in some ways surely now would be the best time for him to strike back. If he waits i'll be getting replacement corsairs in 2 weeks time, more Essex CV's, Hellcats etc..............

[Speedysteve]

Hi all,

An interesting day on all fronts!

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Under the sea 2 of my submarines launched successful attacks today.

SS Whale patrolling near Okinawa attacked and hit the large TK Nippon Maru with 1 torpedo. A couple of Patrol Craft escorts attempted in vain to find my sub.

SS Albacore patrolling 240 miles north of Pagan found a lone small tanker (Kaijo Maru) and surfaced. The skilled crew quickly put 4 shells into the ship and hit her with 3 torpedo's. The empty tanker quickly sank.........

SS Finback patrolling 120 miles from Batan Island was attacked by a low flying Lilly aircraft today. A bomb hit nearby and caused some minor damage to the hull. As such she is returning to Darwin for repairs.

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On thre ground Faber attempted to storm Chungking but failed miserably. My men are rested, well in supply and fortified. Unless he brings up more men I doubt he'll take me here:

Ground combat at Chungking

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 458963 troops, 4533 guns, 612 vehicles

Defending force 233556 troops, 404 guns, 0 vehicles

Japanese assault odds: 0 to 1 (fort level 8)


Japanese ground losses:
29377 casualties reported
Guns lost 859
Vehicles lost 58

Allied ground losses:
1777 casualties reported
Guns lost 16

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In the air Faber attempted to surprise me by basing some fighters at Lae. Up until now I had been bombing PM, Buna, Gili Gili and Lae with impunity with 4 x heavy BG's from Cooktown. Today he attemtped to contest it but still lost a lot of planes:

Day Air attack on Lae , at 54,87

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 43
A6M3 Zero x 20
A6M3a Zero x 4

Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 131
B-24D Liberator x 11

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 10 destroyed, 24 damaged
A6M3 Zero: 6 destroyed, 8 damaged
A6M3a Zero: 3 destroyed
C5M Babs: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 10 destroyed, 47 damaged
B-24D Liberator: 1 destroyed, 4 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
22 casualties reported

Airbase hits 2
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 9

Aircraft bombing at 10000 feet

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Interestingly a PBY spotted a TF heading EAST towards Attu. I have decided to abandon my bombardment runs on Kiska for now incase it is a SC TF attempting to sneak in.

I've also moved up a further P38 FG and the CORSAIR Squadron into Attu early (still some damaged planes to be bought in).

Here's today's air losses:

[Rob Brennan UK]

20 b17 in one day !! .. thats nasty, regardless of zero losses your morale must be in the toilet after that .. so much for more free lunches ..

anyway

1) shame no battle in the aleutions ..

2) your now safe there

3) i guess he did not want to have to go through your awsome land based air power . why he continues to attack from kiska?? is beyond me ! ( if i was a penguin i'd be speeding south, the north pole is no place for penguins )

[Speedysteve]

Hi all,

A quieter day compared to the last one!

SS Pomponm achieved the sole undersea success today. PAreolling 120 miles of Sakashima she surfaced to fight the AK Iwashiro Maru. Unfortunately only 5 x 4" shells hit the freighter as it steamed on into the night..........

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I decided to pay Lae a visit again from Cooktown with limited success:

Day Air attack on Lae , at 54,87

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 33
A6M3 Zero x 6
A6M3a Zero x 4

Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 92
B-24D Liberator x 43

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 9 destroyed, 16 damaged
A6M3 Zero: 2 destroyed, 2 damaged
A6M3a Zero: 1 destroyed, 2 damaged
H8K Emily: 1 destroyed
C5M Babs: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 1 destroyed, 14 damaged
B-24D Liberator: 4 destroyed, 11 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
165 casualties reported
Guns lost 4

Airbase hits 2
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 15

Aircraft bombing at 10000 feet

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Still no movement from Faber towards Attu. The TF I spotted yesterday appears to have retreated back to Paramushiro

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China - His first air attack towards Chungking came from Kweiyang today. Over 70 fighters were on a sweep mission. Luckily all of my planes were set to bomb his troops! Accordingly tomororw i've ordered the fighters on training missions whilst the SB2's try to bomb Kweiyang. Hopefully he won't be home!

I'm feeling a bit happier on the ground now. I can't see Chungking falling. Supplies continue to rise. Almost 20,000 now. ALmost level 9 forts.

Kunming is looking better too! Supplies are growing! Are upto 5,000 now.

I have spotted a possible flanking move by Faber from Hanoi towards Yunan. 3 units spotted. Gives me plenty of time to react if needed.

[Speedysteve]

Rob -

I guess he was trying to fight at Kiska to wrestle air supremacy friom me. I do believe that is impossible now what with Attu in complete supply with several fighters present (P38's, Corsairs) + my CV presence.

[Speedysteve]

Hi all,

Forget Kaiten. 2 RO class submarines attempted to sneak into Attu harbour during the day of the 21st. Crazy I tell you. With 10's of destroyers, MSW, SC patrolling the place it ammounts to suicide which it was with both submarine's being located in the shallow waters and sunk with all hands............

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My reprisal raid on Kweiyang from Kunming succeeded! 30 x SB2 bombed the airfields causing light damage but destroying 6 x Sallies and 2 x Tony's on the ground[8D] Tomorrow we go back to bombing troops.

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Kiska received a huge pounding from the sea during the early hours of the day. With the daily recon of the place more precise targetting was achieved and over 2000 casualties were reported. Also 60 enemy aircraft were torched on the ground!

------------------

Strangely enough no PBY spottings up north today. Hmm. Has KB left for Japan or to come east or perhaps I just missed them.

[Speedysteve]

Hi all,

Today will focus solely on the Aleutians region.

The IJN is moving east to engage me in battle!

PBY's spotted at least 3 TF's 360 miles west of Attu Island. Throughout the day several enemy FP's were zoomign around the area. My fighters had a field day shooting down 9 of the pests.

Time for action!

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Fortunately all transports have just finished unloading their war material. As such both transport TF's are ordered back to Dutch.

This leaves me with my 3 CV TF's and my 2 SC TF's.

My 3 CV TF's have been ordered 60 miles NW of Attu.

Both SC TF's will remain at Attu ready for combatting any enemy SC TF's

ALL bombers on my CV's and Attu under orders NOT to attack any enemy TF's further than 240 miles away (4 hexes) to prevent TB's using bombs.

Attu's fighters have been divided. The P40's will provide CAP for my CV's. All P38's and Corsairs will provide CAP for Attu and escort for LBA.

--------------

SO IT BEGINS.............

[Speedysteve]

Hi all,

Well Armageddon might have been approaching but it didn't happen in a major way today. Most things went as planned from my side - CV's moved in location, BB's at Attu ready, planes ready...........

Firstly, SS S-42 had fun with the IJN throughout the morning. She was sighted by IJN CV escorts, dodged them, rejoined the fray firing torpedo's at Shokaku which MISSED!! Finally she was cornered by escorts and was sunk will the loss of all hands. Brave fellows [&o]

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Onto the air action!

As predicted Faber moved further east towards Attu but NO SC TF's moved into duel with my battlewagons. Instead an IJN CV TF decided to break off from the main force and move a further 60 miles east.

Weather was atrocious and only one strike was launched by either side - an IJN strike vs my CV fleets:

Day Air attack on TF at 91,33

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 37
D3A Val x 96
B5N Kate x 66

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 216
P-40E Warhawk x 39

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 37 destroyed
D3A Val: 64 destroyed
B5N Kate: 66 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat: 12 destroyed, 13 damaged
P-40E Warhawk: 18 destroyed, 3 damaged

Say no more..............

No strikes were launched from my side which was good planning by Faber. If he moved a further 60 miles east all hell would have broken loose along with P38's and Corsair's from Attu!

Overall from memory 180ish enemy aircraft were lost to my 40ish.

I have ordered my CV's to move further west to strike a decisive blow. Now that Faber's CV's are weakened. Time for the kill! Hopefully Faber will stay on scene.

The next day is in my inbox. Time to find out [8D]

[Speedysteve]

Hi all,

Faber retreated at full speed with all of his forces into Festung Paramushiro!

A little frustrating but the cat and mouse of war continues I guess. As such no friendly or enemy strikes were launch in the Aleutians region. I'm not going to pursue him further west at this point since there is no real purpose to. It would bring my CV's into his LBA airspace and increase my risk.

My main mission has been accomplished in the region - the securing of Attu and the gaining of Air Supremacy. My CV's will move back to Atu and await a further large transport TF bringing in thousands of tonnes of supply and fuel.

MY CV's will wait for her to unload and then move back to the US for R & R. From there we move to Midway and invade Wake over the next few months hopefully.

In the meantime my BB's at Attu will continue to bombard Kiska. In due course Liberator's and Medium's will operate from Attu once my CV's have moved out of the area to supress Kiska also.

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Undersea War -

SS Truant moving through the Malacca Strait towards Palembang region was attacked and suffered 2 near bomb hits from Sallies today. Damage is critical and the crew have radioed back they will probably not reach Ceylon.

SS Wahoo patrolling inbetween Satawal and Guam attack an enemy convoy hitting the AK Noto Maru with a torpedo.

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Here's the CV's I receive in the near future. As you can see I still have to be careful since i'm not receiving anymore Essex CV's until 6 more months time.

[Speedysteve]

Hi all,

A 2 day update since the climax in the Aleutians appears to have come and gone.

My big supply convoy is about a week out of Attu. As I mentioned once thats unloaded my fleet is moving back to the US for R & R and then onto Midway for the Wake invasion.

In the meantime Kiska is being blown off the face of the earth by daily bombardments from 7 x BB's and 6 x Cruisers. On the 26th 53 x enemy aircraft were destroyed on the exposed runway of Kiska.

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In the South Pacific my Heavy bomber offensive from Cooktown against Lae has to be conceded. For a week straight I have been flying the heavies against Zero's on CAP. Overall I have lost about 1/3 more planes than he has in these battles. The men are weary and the planes need repairing.

--------------

CBI -

Myitkyina is still bombed from Imphal/Dimapur most days weather permitting. It's still a stalemate there and will be unless either side brings significant reinforcements into the fray.

My Kohima-Mandalay Op is still ongoing with troops moving from all over the place. At present 7th Armd, 2 x Ind Division + HQ are 40 miles SE of Kohima.

A further Indian Divison, UK Divison + Indian Armd Bde are moving from India.

China is still a stalemate with supplies and fortifications growing in both Kunming and Chungking.

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Sub War -

SS Truant succumbed to her wounds on the Sumatran Coast...........

SS Nautilus had fun with a convoy on the 25th near Tori Shima.

She fired 2 fish at an AP which missed. The escorts didn't detect her. She then fired 2 more, 1 of which it. She evaded the escorts and then fired 4 more fish which were duds!

-----------------------

Are there any particular screenies you would like me to show? Reinforcements? Planes? Ships sunk? Theatre maps?

[rtrapasso]

Man, i don't know if you can beat fabertong's crack troops...

http://www.funpic.hu/en.picview.php?id= ... s=dd&p=114

[Speedysteve]

LOL. It's going to be tough. I may employ similar trapping measures...........

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Hi all. We are nearing Corsair day! [8D]

The subjugation of Kiska continued today with my BB's smashing the place aorund. A further 20 enemy planes wre destroyed but recon indicates he has probabkly pulled out his serviceable aricraft. Don't blame him.

Tomorrow all the TBF's on my CV's and on Attu are to join to attack the land forces on
Kiska.

The only downer today was DD Dunlap hit a mine at Kiska and despite reaching Attu may not survive.

[Speedysteve]

Hi all,

Kiska is again pounded by the heavy ships of the USN. Today 28 enemy planes were confirmed destroyed on the ground.

Still no sign of Faber returning to figh tat Attu.

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My Ledo based P38's were ordered on a sweep over Mandalay. They encountered 23 x Tojo's. My men did fairly well downing 19 enemy aircraft for the loss of 6 of my own.

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No subs contacts....

Rest of the war = quiet for now.

Today's air losses: