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

[CapAndGown]

Oct. 17, 1943

Another allied sub sinks. Thought it might be mine, but when the turn was finished replaying I found that my crippled sub was still afloat. I decided to scuttle the cripple; it did not look like it was going to make it all the way home in the shape it is in.

Most of the survivors of the allied convoy heading to Darwin made good their escape, all except the DD Stewart which apparently had been slowed down by yesterday's damage and which succumbed to another 250kg bomb today.

The Tojo IIc was advanced to Nov. 1943! Finally, a somewhat decent plane. I am going to start pumping these out in large numbers in just 12 days. The R&D factories were switched over to other planes such as the Shinden, Ki-83 and Ki-84.

[CapAndGown]

Oct. 19, 1943

Another allied sub, the SS Seal, sunk by my ASW AC. (running tally: 12 subs sunk by AC, 10 in last 4-5 weeks) Interestingly, my surface forces cannot equal the success of the air forces. I have numerous ASW TFs around Singapore playing cat and mouse with the Seawolf and the Tally-Ho, yet they can never seem to make contact no matter how much they chase.

An unescorted convoy traveling between Capetown and Geraldtown (at least that is what I am assuming their route was) was attacked by the I-170. Both the xAK Testbank and xAK Tweedbank were hit. The Tweedbank ate 2 torps and sank right away. I think the Testbank may have sunk as well, judging by the sinking sounds.

The allied convoy hit by out airforces the other day is now at Darwin unloading supplies. I rushed a cruiser force into position (unfortunately, I had to use full speed, meaning the sys/engine damage skyrocketed). They were spotted by allied search AC but not attacked. I have 250+ fighters set to LRCAP Moa where the cruisers are basing out of. The allies have 300+ AC at Darwin. I think most of them are fighters flown in specifically to provide CAP for this convoy. There may not be that many attack AC there.

The cruisers will rush into Darwin tonight and I hope they will find the allied supply tf. I set up the cruiser force as a bombardment force so they could use mission speed instead of full speed. This helps alot in reducing the amount of sys damage taken. OTOH, I am not sure if they will react in order to intercept the xAKs in case they should decide to high-tail it. I have two sets of Jakes set to night naval search. I am hoping they can find any allied TFs and cause the TF to react. But most likely the cruisers will just head in for a bombardment and ignore anybody not at Darwin. I have seen before where a TF can react out of hex in time to avoid an incoming enemy surface combat group.

If this group is not able to hit the supply convoy, I have another cruiser TF nearby that I will bring into action the following night.

[aprezto]

Hopefully you have enough fuel in those DDs and they don't stop within allied airpower range to refuel...

[crsutton]

ORIGINAL: cap_and_gown

ORIGINAL: krupp_88mm

Are you concerned about the extreme flak at that altitude?

i think the results speak for themselves.. haha

I am going to agree with krupp. Besides, the Netties have it even worse: they have no armor and are flying in at 200 feet! That wouldn't stop me from using them, so why would it stop me from using armored Helen's at 1000 feet? A big part of my anti-invasion planning has been centered on using army bombers in large numbers to attack the invasion fleets. I have trained them on NavB, but I am not sure how much they can hit from 6000 feet. Watching the Dutch earlier in the game made it seem like bombing from 6000 feet might be kind of futile. So everyone gets trained in LowN. Basically, my training program for army bombers runs like this: Ground -> NavB -> LowN -> ASW. For each skill I aim for 60+ for the great majority of the pilots before moving on to training for the next skill.

Only draw back is that they (level bombers) only carry a half bomb load below 6,000 feet. However, if trained up I find that the increased accuracy makes up for fewer bombs.

[PaxMondo]

ORIGINAL: crsutton



Only draw back is that they (level bombers) only carry a half bomb load below 6,000 feet. However, if trained up I find that the increased accuracy makes up for fewer bombs.

Really? Where/When did I miss this? [&:] Dang, gotta pull out the manual again ..... [X(]

[CapAndGown]

Oct. 20, 1943

As I feared, the allied supply convoy at Darwin high-tailed it before I could strike. As a result, our cruiser TF only managed to sink a PT and destroy a couple of Spitfires based at Darwin's airbase. Another TF is moving into place in case those xAKs should come back. This time I am keeping the TF really small so it will be harder to spot: 1 CL and 2 DD.

One of our ASW TFs near Singapore finally caught up with the Seawolf and got one solid hit on it and 3 damaging near misses. The Seawolf is now retreating down the Java Sea (it is listed as sunk, which is obviously FOW) and our ASW TFs are in hot pursuit.

Up around Hokaido the Greenling found a TK convoy moving oil from Sakhalin to Honshu. The escorts sighted the sub and were able to hit it with two very solid blows and a couple of damaging near misses. So far so good, but then the sub was forced to surface. Ruh Roh!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Submarine attack near Wakkanai at 123,48

Japanese Ships
SC CHa-25
TK Noshiro Maru
PB Kyo Maru #11
PB Choyo Maru #2, Shell hits 1
PB Choun Maru #18, Shell hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage
PB Bisan Maru #3
TK Teikai Maru, Torpedo hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage

Allied Ships
SS Greenling, hits 9, heavy damage

Never approach a wounded sub, they are vicious! Both the PB and TK were lost.

Finally, the SS Stealhead found a convoy of AKs north of Hollandia and put two torps into one. I scuttled her. There is large contingent of allied subs north of New Guinea. The allies have been bombing the airbases there. Perhaps the reason they are bombing those bases is to keep my P-3 Orions from being based there.

[CapAndGown]

Oct. 22, 1943, Part I

Here it comes. The allies are moving on Ponape. I am assuming this is an invasion, even though I have not spotted the amphibious TFs. I suppose it could be a carrier raid meant to sink some TFs at Truk, but I doubt it. Either way, this is the moment I have been waiting for. The KB will move to engage!

The KB consists of 5 Air Combat TFs and 1 Surface Combat TF which the ACTFs follow. Overall, the KB has 15 CV, 6 CVL, 6 CVE, 1 CS, 4 CLAA/CL, 4 BB (Kongo's), and ~55 DD. Generally, each TF has about 15 ships and each ACTF has 280-300 AC. Overall, there are 550 Fighters (almost all A6M5, with the exception of 3 groups of A6M5c, 1 group of A6M5b, and 3 groups of A6M3a [on the CVEs]), 450 Judy's (most D4Y1, but with one group of D4Y3), and 350 Jill's (mostly B6N2).

In observing allied behaviour during invasions of Enewetok and Kusaie, I am going to gamble that I can guess where the allied CVs will be tomorrow. I am going to place the KB 8 hexes from the expected position of the allied CVs. If I am right, then the KB will be able to strike at the allied CVs without suffering a return strike. If the allies are 9 hexes away, then nothing will happen except that I will lose some sacrificial ships. If they are only 7 hexes away, then we will have an all out CV duel.

My planning has focusing on getting my naval strikes through the allied CAP. This has entailed multiple different components. First, Jakes have been doing night naval searches. Some Nells have also be set to night naval attack in the past. This is to encourage the allies to divert at least one of the fighter squadrons to night CAP duties. Another element of my plans for reducing the CAP is to provide some targets for the allied CVs to strike. To this end, two TFs consisting of SCs and xAKLs have been sent out to attract a strike. Hopefully, any strike on these TFs will be accompanied by some escorting fighters which will naturally not be able to fly CAP. For the KB itself, my fighter squadrons have been set to just 30% CAP. This will mean a large contingent of fighters will be available to escort my strikes. To make up for some of the CAP that this will cost me, 150 fighters based at Truk will provide LRCAP over the KB; call it an increment of 50 fighters at any one time. Another piece of planning has involved increasing the effectiveness of both escorts and CAP. I am using both multi-level strikes and multi-level CAP. Most CAP/escorts are set to 25k feet (HR limit), but one squadron from each TF is set to 10k feet to provide for a split CAP and to go after low flying bombers. My strike AC are also split up, with most Jill's flying at 6k feet, all Judy's flying at 10k feet, and one contingent of Jill's from each TF flying at 16k feet.

This situation is not ideal since the increment of LBA support is limited to one base (Truk). Nevertheless, if I can pull off a one-sided strike, we have the potential for achieving a great victory.

In addition to the air action, I am moving a TF of cruisers into place to hit the allied invasion forces the day after tomorrow.

[CapAndGown]

Oct. 22, 1943, Part II

Meanwhile, the supply convoy that I tried to intercept at Darwin two turns ago is back. Unfortunately, my surface action group was spotted. Thus, I believe there is a good chance that the convoy may retreat again and escape my grasp. Because of this, instead of ordering a bombardment of Darwin, I have ordered a high speed dash to the hex where I believe the convoy may retire and have set reaction to 3. I also have the 2 Jakes on the Oyoda set to night search. This may turn up nothing, OTOH, we could see a nice open sea battle (slaughter!).

[janh]

15 CV? ... ? ...   ?? ... ???  ...   ??????  What CVs are with your KB now?

[CapAndGown]

ORIGINAL: janh


15 CV? ... ? ...   ?? ... ???  ...   ??????  What CVs are with your KB now?

6 Pearl Harbor
6 Unryu
Taiho
Junyo, Hiyo

[veji1]

can't wait to see the result... I accused you of being too timid last time, but if you score big this time, i'll happily eat some humble pie.

[krupp_88mm]

just curious how you know hes going to be on the forward side of the island, isnt he more likely to make base on the opposite side of the island? wouldnt it be safer that way since hes farther from truck and closer to friendly air support, unless hes going to invade truk, why dont you wear down his cap first this time since you have transports available to cap, how many carriers do you estimate he has? this could be the biggest carrier battle ive ever seen! GL

[PaxMondo]

Wow.  Really waiting to see this one.  Got my seat and beverage.  Let's GO!!!! 

[CapAndGown]

Oct. 23, 1943

One right guess, one wrong. The right guess resulted in the slaughter of the supply convoy unloading fuel at Darwin. Most of these xAKs went up like torches from their fuel cargo:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Darwin at 73,125, Range 10,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CL Oyodo
DD Shimozuki
DD Hayashimo

Allied Ships
DD Rotherham, Shell hits 2
xAK Edward Luckenbach, Shell hits 3
xAK Caithness, Shell hits 1
xAK El Madina, Shell hits 4, on fire
xAK Itola, Shell hits 2
xAK Jalayamuna, Shell hits 8, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Elmdale, Shell hits 5, heavy fires
xAK Lulworth Hill, Shell hits 3, heavy fires
xAK Umtali, Shell hits 1
xAK Alphard, Shell hits 11, Torpedo hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Toendjoek, Shell hits 3, heavy fires
xAK Tarifa, Shell hits 13, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD La Triomphant, Shell hits 11, on fire

As to Ponape, I guessed wrong about where the allied CVs would end up. So no attacks today. The allies launched an attack against one of my sacrificial TFs. Interestingly, 6 Hellcats were ops losses today. I suspect their fatigue is rather high. They have not had a rest since the beginning of September.

Now I have to decide how to approach this situation. I have not made up my mind yet. I am considering a surface engagement with both cruisers and battleships. I am still looking for a way to arrange a one-way strike. Surprisingly, the KB was not spotted! So its position is still a secret and I can still take advantage of the element of surprise. I am thinking about an approach that will allow me to at least attack the forces invading Ponape, if nothing else. I will have to mull this over.

The Seawolf continues to evade my surface forces. It has made it to the eastern end of the Java Sea now. My ASW forces will continue their pursuit!

It is amazing how all the allied subs disappeared after I moved my ASW Helen unit off of Truk to make way for more fighters. Naval Search is obviously not nearly as effective at spotting subs.

I will update this later after thinking about what to do about Ponape.

[krupp_88mm]

why not just move 2 hexs forward if u can do that you may strike his carriers with no retaliation, and send in the surface fleets too just in case hes in range it may distract strikes and finish of some cripples go for the jugular

also its worth noting if next turn hes invading he may have some fighters on striking the island or sweeping it

[cookie monster]

Excellent AAR good use of pictures and reporting.

I like your style.[:'(]

[FatR]

I would send battleships to engage. If nothing else, they might draw some airstrikes to themselves. And if you're lucky, they might score against enemy carriers. This is the Decisive Battle (tm) Japanese navy dreamed about, and circumstances probably are as good as they will ever get, so don't hold anything back. Send all available subs right in the likely combat zone as well.

[CapAndGown]

Decisions, decisions.

I decided to go ahead and try for a surface engagement. The negatives to this are the lack of moonlight (17%) and lousy weather forecast. This may give the allies an advantage with their radar. All my destroyers involved have radar (7 DD escort the 4 Kongo's, and 4 E and 3 DD escort the cruisers) but the capital ships do not. I have yet to see Japanese surface radar find anybody, although I have seen it in other AARs. I hope that surface search radar did not get broken along with land based radar. Another factor that could be either and advantage or disadvantage is that whatever fight occurs is going to be at very close range. This could be a plus for my cruiser force if they run into allied BBs since they may be able to put a torpedo into one. OTOH, my own BBs will be vulnerable to the same treatment. Another negative is that we will probably be out numbered.

Hard to say how the surface engagement will turn out. I am also unsure how this will impact the invasion. Will allied troops be able to start unloading? Or will they be forced back out of the hex?

More importantly, what will the allied CVs do? I don't really know. What I decided to do is leave the KB right where it is. If the allied CVs move into range, that will be fantastic. If not, then I will have the option of moving into range next turn. Another reason to hold position was to provide cover for the surface action groups retiring from Ponape. I gave both groups a home port of Truk, so they should either make it back to Truk (10 hexes from Ponape) or the hex where the KB is. Either way they will have air cover.

I also moved in another squadron of fighters to provide LRCAP over the KB and moved out the Francis squadron to make room for the new arrivals. 190+ fighters will now be on LRCAP over the KB at a 60% level. Call it 50-60 fighters.

I know everyone wants to see lots of blood. I just want to make sure most of it is the other guy's. [;)]

[CapAndGown]

A note on allied CV set up:

By my count, the allied OOB includes 10 CV, 2 CVL, and 9-11 CVE. Some of the CVE are probably being used as replenishment carriers. At least 4 CVE can be expected to accompany the invasion forces. The allied Fleet CVs seem to be broken up into 3 TFs with 3 CV and 1 CVL in two TFs and 4 CV in the third. The allies also seem to have a battleship and a cruiser TF providing cover for the CVs, plus another surface group to provide cover for the invasion forces.

[Nemo121]

Nice work, there's some good planning going on here. If I were you I would seek to do just what you're doing. Surface COmbat TFs into Ponape to intercept and disrupt his amphibious TFs ( possibly driving some out into open waters where your strike groups can get at them without CAP interfering ) while your CVs hover just outside of range of his CVs and try to strike at the forces in Ponape hex and neighbouring hexes ( where they might get scattered ). Be sure to leave enough surface combat ships for a 2nd SC TF tomorrow night though. If you disrupt him he'll have to come back tomorrow and that'll pay even more dividends.