Rising Sun, Falling Skies: BTSL Bigred vs John 3rd

[Nomad]

[bigred]

43-3-5b: This is the 1st of six actions commanded by Burke. Note 2 CW CA, 2 CW DD, 3 dutch DD, and 5 Fletcher DDs.

[bigred]

43-3-5c:

[bigred]

43-3-5D:

[bigred]

43-3-5e: I wondered if the Burke TF would have any shells left to bombard Cooktown, which was the primary mission.

[bigred]

43-3-5f:

[BBfanboy]

Now there's a huge VP harvest! [&o]

Congrats for now - John may have some support nearby that gets some payback.

Odd that his xAPs seem to have got away with only one reporting heavy damage. Also odd that in all those encounters his massive TF did not have any collisions. Great ship captains and TF commander I guess.

[bigred]

43-3-5g: And Burke does have some ammo for his bombardment. Other news, the IJA incircles Sian.

[bigred]

43-3-5h: The IJA 2nd Div and the Parabrigade are on their last legs. A good POW camp being built in NE AUS.

[RangerJoe]

I like it when the PT boats get credit for the kills but they got an assist on another one for sure.

[bigred]

Wrong Day.
43-3-6:

[John 3rd]

March 7, 1943

That BURKE DUDE needs to be SHOT! Nice work by my opponent. Lose 3,500 men but pull out 17,000. For March 1943....guess I shall take those numbers.



In OTHER news, the Allied SS have been very active but it seems to me that the Japanese have submarines as well. The Allies grabbed Taongi--don't look for it because it is irrelevent--and use their CVs to get some aerial experience. Looking at theie strike and doing quick guesswork, eight Japanese I-Boats and RO- sprint south to try and catch the American CVs.

RO-61 DOES and successfully plant not one but TWO torps into the vulnerable side of USS SARATOGA. Though she takes a few damaging DC, she lives to tell the tale!

BANZAI!

[BBfanboy]

Congrats on the sub intercept of Saratoga. You have often guessed where valuable enemy ships are headed and their route - not an easy thing to do. [&o]

[John 3rd]

Thank You SIR!

March 8, 1943

The Japanese I-Boats strike a capital ship for the second day in a row. I-36 is on patrol near Tahiti when she spots an American TF. A spread of TTs are launched and a single torp hits BC Chesapeake. NICE!

[bigred]

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

Congrats on the sub intercept of Saratoga. You have often guessed where valuable enemy ships are headed and their route - not an easy thing to do. [&o]

I made it too easy. Lesson learned.

[bigred]

43-3-10: Coen is getting too hot for the 1st NZ AR BDE. Orders have sent to withdraw until reinforced with some AA.

[bigred]

43-3-11: Cooktown falls, light enemy pressure at Coen supported by Jap 4e's.

[bigred]

43-3-17: Coen is one of those nasty situations where you win or get destroyed. Hard to get to with leg infantry. 6 hexes from functional CAP. I am worried that my entire armored force of about 10 AR Bn's will be destroyed by the IJAAF. Initially Allies tried a quick seizure with the NZ 1st AR BDE which failed because of those damn 4e jap bombers(NZ BDE took about 30% casualties). So a retreat was called until my Para units could get into position at Cairns.
Then I got lucky because John ordered his one full strenght AR Regiment SE to save the surrounded 2nd Army. All this is in open terrain. So we both can get bombed to hell. The 503rd Para was flown into Coen 2 days ago and took 50% casualties on landing unsupported. Help was two days out with the 1st NZ BDE, 2/7AR and 637AR. Today Chesty Puller was assigned to the 1st Marine Para BN and dropped into Coen. The reinforcing Armor had arrived and sadly for John the level 4 fort did not hold enough troops.

Ground combat at Coen (90,134)

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 4547 troops, 15 guns, 332 vehicles, Assault Value = 239

Defending force 4428 troops, 11 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 65

Allied adjusted assault: 101

Japanese adjusted defense: 7

Allied assault odds: 14 to 1 (fort level 4)

Allied forces CAPTURE Coen !!!

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-61-Ia Tony: 6 destroyed
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 9 destroyed

Combat modifiers
Defender: preparation(-), experience(-), supply(-)
Attacker: shock(+)

Japanese ground losses:
1968 casualties reported
Squads: 45 destroyed, 20 disabled
Non Combat: 81 destroyed, 5 disabled
Engineers: 17 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 11 (4 destroyed, 7 disabled)
Units retreated 5

Allied ground losses:
238 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 16 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 11 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Assaulting units:
1st Army Tank Brigade
632nd Tank Destroyer Battalion
503rd Parachute Rgt /1
2/7th Armoured Regiment
1st USMC Parachute Bn /1

Defending units:
1st Para Assault Div /1
3rd Ind.Mixed Bde /7
Adachi JNAF
2nd JNAF Coy
15th Indpt SNLF Coy

[bigred]

43-3-18:
Portland Roads is the last exit port for the IJA in NE AUS. The IJA 2nd Army and support units are in full retreat from Coen. This IJN CL TF appears to be protecting portland roads from my naval bmbardments,

[bigred]

43-3-18b: