Wild Sheep Chase - obvert (J) vs JocMeister (A)

[Historiker]

Did you add the base sizes as well?

[koniu]

ORIGINAL: Historiker

Did you add the base sizes as well?

He only add circles and red dots.
Maps are available to download in this forum.

Check this threat
tm.asp?m=2189709

[Historiker]

Nice!
Thanks!

[obvert]

[font="Times New Roman"]26 September 1942[/font]
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

subs: The SCTF patrolling near Anatom is challenged by S-33. The sub misses with 4 torps at CL Isuzu and takes 7 hits (one penetrating and causing an explosion) from the DDs following that. It'll probably make it back to base though.

Seadragon is right on line for hitting the troops coming from Hong Kong to Tulagi, but luckily duds on an AK.

RO-64 finds a rather large probably troop carrying TF South of Fiji. She can't hit it, but this is good intel at least. More subs will give it a shot tomorrow. I thought of shooting the 2 CL 3 DD TF in for a look to Suva, but they are about 14 hexes out and wouldn't get out of range for the day phase air attacks, most likely. With all of those combat ships, this must be a valuable ground unit moving into the area.

[font="Trebuchet MS"]--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack near Kandavu Island at 130,164

Japanese Ships
SS RO-64

Allied Ships
DD Bagley
CL St. Louis
CL Mauritius
AM Matai
xAP Aloe
xAP Republic
xAK Am. Leader
xAK Am. Packer
xAK Am. Manufacturer
xAK Lillian Luckenbach
xAK Lewis Luckenbach
xAK Horace Luckenbach
DD Le Triomphant
DD Encounter
DD Electra


SS RO-64 launches 2 torpedoes at DD Bagley
DD Le Triomphant fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Encounter fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Electra fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Encounter fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Encounter fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Encounter fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub


-------------------------------------------------------------------------[/font]

So Pac: During the day a rollover near the spot of the TF sighting by RO-64 shows not AP/AK/DD ships but CA CL DD DD DD DD. Hmmmmmm. Is this the protection for that convoy? Now the SCTF will move in for a shot at a night engagement. Another bigger 2 CA CL 4 DD TF will approach from Noumea.

Heavies hit Noumea again, doing decent damage to the fields, but destroying no planes as there are none there.

The KB is put into ready state. The dispersed planes around the Solomons begin to move back on to the carriers. The ships prepare for a move to Tulagi to be with a 1-2 day strike distance of Fiji and Anatom.

An Oscar unit at Rabaul changes over to Tojos. Yes!

Burma: Nothing.

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________


___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: koniu

ORIGINAL: Historiker

Did you add the base sizes as well?

He only add circles and red dots.
Maps are available to download in this forum.

Check this threat
tm.asp?m=2189709

Glad the maps look good. Does anyone have thoughts about the placement of HQs?

(Don't worry Torsten, if I'm lucky enough to own these bases against you, I'll choose a different defensive arrangement. Or will I?) [;)]

[obvert]

[font="Times New Roman"]27 September 1942[/font]
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________


subs: No contacts.

So Pac: The only action today was the field at Noumea getting crushed again.

but, our CL TF is sitting right next to an Allied TF a few hexes South of Anatom. It didn't have enough left to react apparently, but contact should be made tomorrow. I'm fairly confident that this is a SCTF now. Should be some fireworks!

Burma: Nothing.

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

[obvert]

[font="Times New Roman"]28 September 1942[/font]
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

A very fun replay to watch today. As anticipated there was a big naval scuffle in the area South of Anatom. This is the kind of turn that reminds me why I love this game so much and is so much more satisfying than the ground campaigns that have dominated most of 42.

subs: Seadragon nearly gets the second troop convoy from Hong Kong as well, even though I'd tried to steer it around the previous day's sub spotting. Lucky again. Won't be so lucky in a few months when the torps work. Today was another dud.

So Pac: CLs Isuzu and Tama with DDs Urakaze, Hamakaze and Wakaba met a larger and more heavily armed Allied TF in the night. Good moonlight allowed the IJN spotters to get a first strike in and go toe to toe with 2 CA, 2 CL (including Phoenix) and 4 DD. The IJN came out ahead in this one, (although losing any major ships might be seen as losing a battle for the Japanese) and strategically kept control of the area.

Here is the first report.

[font="Trebuchet MS"]--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Anatom at 124,162, Range 11,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CL Isuzu, Shell hits 2, heavy fires
CL Tama, Shell hits 17, Torpedo hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Urakaze, Shell hits 3, on fire
DD Hamakaze, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Wakaba

Allied Ships
CA Australia, Shell hits 1
CA Canberra, Shell hits 5, Torpedo hits 1
CL Adelaide, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
CL Phoenix
DD Parrott, Shell hits 5, on fire
DD Peary, Shell hits 2, heavy fires
DD Pope, Shell hits 3, on fire
DD Tenedos, Shell hits 13, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk


Improved night sighting under 89% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Partly Cloudy Conditions and 89% moonlight: 11,000 yards
Range closes to 17,000 yards...
Range closes to 11,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 11,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 11,000 yards
CL Tama engages CA Canberra at 11,000 yards
CL Tama engages CA Australia at 11,000 yards
CA Canberra engages DD Wakaba at 11,000 yards
DD Urakaze engages DD Tenedos at 11,000 yards
DD Urakaze engages DD Pope at 11,000 yards
DD Urakaze engages DD Peary at 11,000 yards
DD Parrott engages DD Urakaze at 11,000 yards
Range closes to 6,000 yards
CA Canberra engages CL Tama at 6,000 yards
CA Australia engages CL Tama at 6,000 yards
CL Tama engages CL Phoenix at 6,000 yards
DD Parrott engages DD Hamakaze at 6,000 yards
DD Pope engages DD Urakaze at 6,000 yards
DD Pope engages DD Wakaba at 6,000 yards
DD Peary engages DD Hamakaze at 6,000 yards
DD Parrott engages DD Urakaze at 6,000 yards
Range closes to 4,000 yards
CL Tama engages CA Canberra at 4,000 yards
CA Australia engages CL Isuzu at 4,000 yards
DD Parrott engages DD Wakaba at 4,000 yards
CL Tama engages CL Adelaide at 4,000 yards
DD Urakaze engages DD Parrott at 4,000 yards
DD Pope engages DD Urakaze at 4,000 yards
DD Wakaba engages DD Peary at 4,000 yards
DD Wakaba engages DD Parrott at 4,000 yards
Range closes to 2,000 yards
CA Canberra engages CL Tama at 2,000 yards
CL Isuzu engages CA Canberra at 2,000 yards
DD Wakaba engages DD Pope at 2,000 yards
DD Hamakaze engages DD Tenedos at 2,000 yards
DD Tenedos sunk by DD Hamakaze at 2,000 yards
DD Urakaze engages DD Pope at 2,000 yards
DD Urakaze engages DD Peary at 2,000 yards
DD Urakaze engages DD Parrott at 2,000 yards
Range increases to 3,000 yards
CA Canberra engages CL Tama at 3,000 yards
CL Isuzu engages CA Canberra at 3,000 yards
CL Phoenix engages CL Tama at 3,000 yards
DD Urakaze engages DD Peary at 3,000 yards
DD Hamakaze engages DD Peary at 3,000 yards
DD Parrott engages DD Urakaze at 3,000 yards
Range increases to 5,000 yards
CL Tama engages CA Canberra at 5,000 yards
CL Phoenix engages CL Isuzu at 5,000 yards
CL Phoenix engages CL Tama at 5,000 yards
CL Tama engages CL Adelaide at 5,000 yards
DD Pope engages DD Urakaze at 5,000 yards
DD Peary engages DD Hamakaze at 5,000 yards
DD Parrott engages DD Urakaze at 5,000 yards
Range increases to 8,000 yards
CA Australia engages CL Tama at 8,000 yards
CL Tama engages CA Australia at 8,000 yards
CL Phoenix engages DD Wakaba at 8,000 yards
DD Wakaba engages DD Pope at 8,000 yards
DD Hamakaze engages DD Peary at 8,000 yards
DD Urakaze engages DD Parrott at 8,000 yards
Kawabata, Masaharu orders Japanese TF to disengage
Range increases to 10,000 yards
CL Tama engages CA Canberra at 10,000 yards
CA Australia engages CL Isuzu at 10,000 yards
DD Wakaba engages DD Parrott at 10,000 yards
CL Adelaide sunk by CL Isuzu at 10,000 yards
DD Peary engages DD Urakaze at 10,000 yards
DD Wakaba engages DD Peary at 10,000 yards
DD Urakaze engages DD Parrott at 10,000 yards
Range increases to 13,000 yards
CL Isuzu engages CA Canberra at 13,000 yards
CL Tama engages CA Australia at 13,000 yards
CL Phoenix engages CL Tama at 13,000 yards
DD Pope engages DD Wakaba at 13,000 yards
DD Urakaze engages DD Peary at 13,000 yards
DD Hamakaze engages DD Parrott at 13,000 yards
CL Tama engages CA Canberra at 13,000 yards
CL Isuzu engages CA Australia at 13,000 yards
CL Isuzu engages CL Phoenix at 13,000 yards
DD Pope engages DD Urakaze at 13,000 yards
DD Urakaze engages DD Peary at 13,000 yards
DD Wakaba engages DD Parrott at 13,000 yards
CL Tama engages CL Phoenix at 13,000 yards
CA Australia engages CL Tama at 13,000 yards
DD Peary engages DD Wakaba at 13,000 yards
DD Hamakaze engages DD Peary at 13,000 yards
DD Urakaze engages DD Peary at 13,000 yards
DD Urakaze engages DD Parrott at 13,000 yards
Range closes to 12,000 yards
CL Tama engages CA Canberra at 12,000 yards
CA Canberra engages CL Isuzu at 12,000 yards
CL Isuzu engages CL Phoenix at 12,000 yards
DD Hamakaze engages DD Pope at 12,000 yards
DD Urakaze engages DD Peary at 12,000 yards
Range closes to 9,000 yards
CA Australia engages CL Tama at 9,000 yards
CL Isuzu engages CA Australia at 9,000 yards
DD Wakaba engages DD Peary at 9,000 yards
DD Urakaze engages DD Peary at 9,000 yards
DD Wakaba engages DD Parrott at 9,000 yards
Range increases to 12,000 yards
CL Tama engages CA Canberra at 12,000 yards
CA Australia engages CL Tama at 12,000 yards
CL Tama engages CL Phoenix at 12,000 yards
DD Pope engages DD Hamakaze at 12,000 yards
DD Wakaba engages DD Peary at 12,000 yards
DD Hamakaze engages DD Parrott at 12,000 yards
CL Tama engages CA Canberra at 12,000 yards
CL Isuzu engages CL Phoenix at 12,000 yards
DD Wakaba engages DD Pope at 12,000 yards
DD Urakaze engages DD Parrott at 12,000 yards
DD Hamakaze engages DD Parrott at 12,000 yards
Range closes to 11,000 yards
CL Tama engages CA Australia at 11,000 yards
CA Australia engages CL Tama at 11,000 yards
CL Isuzu engages CL Phoenix at 11,000 yards
DD Hamakaze engages DD Pope at 11,000 yards
DD Hamakaze engages DD Peary at 11,000 yards
DD Hamakaze engages DD Parrott at 11,000 yards
Range closes to 9,000 yards
CA Canberra engages CL Tama at 9,000 yards
CL Isuzu engages CA Australia at 9,000 yards
CL Isuzu engages CL Phoenix at 9,000 yards
DD Hamakaze engages DD Pope at 9,000 yards
DD Pope engages DD Urakaze at 9,000 yards
DD Wakaba engages DD Parrott at 9,000 yards
Task forces break off...


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------[/font]

Tama was obviously seriously wounded in this battle, but at the price of sinking a small Allied CL and severely wounding another CA plus sinking a destroyer and disabling several others. The Phoenix (curse all modern US CLs!) did well and came out with NO damage.

The next round included only a portion of the Allied ships. This one did not go as well for the IJN, with both Tama being sunk and Isuzu in sinking condition.

[font="Trebuchet MS"]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Anatom at 123,162, Range 11,000 Yards

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
E13A1 Jake: 1 destroyed

Japanese Ships
CL Isuzu, Shell hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
CL Tama, Shell hits 11, and is sunk
DD Urakaze, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Wakaba

Allied Ships
CA Australia, Shell hits 1
CA Canberra, Shell hits 2, on fire
CL Phoenix
DD Parrott, on fire
DD Peary, heavy fires
DD Pope, on fire



Improved night sighting under 89% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Partly Cloudy Conditions and 89% moonlight: 11,000 yards
Range closes to 21,000 yards...
Range closes to 19,000 yards...
Range closes to 17,000 yards...
Range closes to 15,000 yards...
Range closes to 13,000 yards...
Range closes to 11,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 11,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 11,000 yards
CL Tama engages CA Australia at 11,000 yards
DD Pope engages DD Wakaba at 11,000 yards
CL Tama engages DD Parrott at 11,000 yards
Range closes to 9,000 yards
CA Canberra engages CL Tama at 9,000 yards
CL Isuzu engages CA Canberra at 9,000 yards
CL Phoenix engages CL Tama at 9,000 yards
CL Tama engages DD Peary at 9,000 yards
DD Parrott engages CL Isuzu at 9,000 yards
Range closes to 7,000 yards
CL Phoenix engages CL Tama at 7,000 yards
CA Australia engages CL Tama at 7,000 yards
DD Urakaze engages DD Parrott at 7,000 yards
DD Urakaze engages DD Peary at 7,000 yards
Range closes to 4,000 yards
CA Canberra engages CL Tama at 4,000 yards
CA Canberra engages CL Isuzu at 4,000 yards
CL Phoenix engages DD Wakaba at 4,000 yards
DD Wakaba engages DD Pope at 4,000 yards
DD Urakaze engages DD Peary at 4,000 yards
DD Urakaze engages DD Parrott at 4,000 yards
Getting, F.E. orders Allied TF to disengage
Range closes to 3,000 yards
CA Canberra engages CL Isuzu at 3,000 yards
CL Isuzu engages CA Canberra at 3,000 yards
DD Urakaze engages DD Peary at 3,000 yards
DD Wakaba engages DD Parrott at 3,000 yards
Range increases to 8,000 yards
CA Canberra engages CL Isuzu at 8,000 yards
CL Isuzu engages CA Australia at 8,000 yards
CL Phoenix engages DD Urakaze at 8,000 yards
DD Wakaba engages DD Pope at 8,000 yards
DD Wakaba engages DD Peary at 8,000 yards
DD Parrott engages DD Urakaze at 8,000 yards
Task forces break off...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------[/font]

Then the heavies got involved. The second IJN task force with CA Mikuma and CA Suzuya as well as CL Sendai took on the damaged Allied ships, sinking CA Australia and giving Phoenix heavy fires.

[font="Trebuchet MS"]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Anatom at 123,161, Range 10,000 Yards

Allied aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft losses
Seagull V: 1 destroyed

Japanese Ships
CA Mikuma, Shell hits 2
CA Suzuya, Shell hits 1, on fire
CL Sendai
DD Fubuki
DD Shinonome
DD Isonami
DD Shirayuki
DD Murakumo

Allied Ships
CA Australia, Shell hits 11, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
CL Phoenix, Shell hits 5, heavy fires



Improved night sighting under 89% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Partly Cloudy Conditions and 89% moonlight: 11,000 yards
Range closes to 16,000 yards...
Range closes to 10,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 10,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 10,000 yards
Dechaineaux, E.F.V. crosses the 'T'
CA Suzuya engages CA Australia at 10,000 yards
CA Mikuma engages CL Phoenix at 10,000 yards
CA Australia engages DD Shinonome at 10,000 yards
Range closes to 4,000 yards
CA Mikuma engages CA Australia at 4,000 yards
CL Phoenix engages CA Mikuma at 4,000 yards
CA Australia engages CL Sendai at 4,000 yards
CA Australia engages DD Shirayuki at 4,000 yards
DD Fubuki engages CA Australia at 4,000 yards
Range closes to 2,000 yards
CA Australia engages CA Suzuya at 2,000 yards
CA Mikuma engages CL Phoenix at 2,000 yards
CL Sendai engages CA Australia at 2,000 yards
DD Shirayuki engages CA Australia at 2,000 yards
DD Shinonome engages CA Australia at 2,000 yards
Range increases to 4,000 yards
CA Australia engages CA Suzuya at 4,000 yards
CA Mikuma engages CL Phoenix at 4,000 yards
CA Australia engages DD Murakumo at 4,000 yards
CA Australia engages DD Shinonome at 4,000 yards
DD Fubuki engages CA Australia at 4,000 yards
Range increases to 9,000 yards
CA Australia sunk by CA Mikuma at 9,000 yards
CL Phoenix engages CA Mikuma at 9,000 yards
Range closes to 8,000 yards
CA Suzuya engages CL Phoenix at 8,000 yards
CL Sendai engages CL Phoenix at 8,000 yards
DD Isonami engages CL Phoenix at 8,000 yards
Dechaineaux, E.F.V. orders Allied TF to disengage
Range increases to 12,000 yards
CL Phoenix engages CA Suzuya at 12,000 yards
CA Mikuma engages CL Phoenix at 12,000 yards
CL Phoenix engages DD Shirayuki at 12,000 yards
DD Isonami engages CL Phoenix at 12,000 yards
Task forces break off...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------[/font]

They again meet Phoenix, but can't put her out of her misery. I feel this ship will make it back to Fiji and haunt us again.

[font="Trebuchet MS"]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Anatom at 124,161, Range 10,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CA Mikuma
CA Suzuya, Shell hits 1, on fire
CL Sendai
DD Fubuki
DD Shinonome
DD Isonami
DD Shirayuki, Shell hits 1
DD Murakumo

Allied Ships
CL Phoenix, Shell hits 6, heavy fires


Improved night sighting under 89% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Partly Cloudy Conditions and 89% moonlight: 11,000 yards
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 10,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 10,000 yards
CL Phoenix engages CA Suzuya at 10,000 yards
CA Mikuma engages CL Phoenix at 10,000 yards
CL Phoenix engages CL Sendai at 10,000 yards
CA Suzuya engages CL Phoenix at 10,000 yards
Range closes to 9,000 yards
CL Phoenix engages CA Mikuma at 9,000 yards
CL Phoenix engages DD Murakumo at 9,000 yards
CL Phoenix engages DD Shirayuki at 9,000 yards
Range closes to 8,000 yards
CA Mikuma engages CL Phoenix at 8,000 yards
CL Phoenix engages CL Sendai at 8,000 yards
CL Phoenix engages DD Shinonome at 8,000 yards
Range increases to 11,000 yards
CL Phoenix engages CA Suzuya at 11,000 yards
CL Phoenix engages DD Murakumo at 11,000 yards
CL Phoenix engages DD Shirayuki at 11,000 yards
Task forces break off...


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------[/font]

On the day the IJN lost 2 decent CLs. Not great. The Allied confirmed losses are; 1 CA, 1 CL, 1 DD. Possible losses include another CA, CL Phoenix, and DD Peary left with heavy fires.

It seems like a win for the IJN, but I hate to lose ships, so not an unqualified success. This does again confirm that the IJN controls these areas of ocean, and any interdiction will be met by multiple forces. If Jocke thinks we'll have to retire and he can sneak in more troops to Anatom he'll find a few surprises. A 3 DD TF will head South from Ndeni, and a massive fast transport is unloading a para-unit at Luganville and will be converted to several SCTFs to move into the area, first starting at Koumac and heading South as needed.

For tomorrow a 36 plane Betty group will be flown in to Koumac and set to max range (21 hexes) toward NZ in the hope of hitting something during the search phase or getting a lucky LR bombing attack. Another SCTF with 1 CL and 4 DD will race south as well to attempt an intercept. They are North of Anatom right now.

Burma: Nothing.

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

At least the Australian CA and CL won't be replaced in the queue with something much better for 2 years down the road.

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

[Historiker]

(Don't worry Torsten, if I'm lucky enough to own these bases against you, I'll choose a different defensive arrangement. Or will I?)

[:D][:D]

You gotta love the mind games.
Have I read all your postings in all your AAR, or haven't I?
If I have, do I take that into account on a strategic, or even on a tactial level?
Have I understood the way the play the game and thus know myself and the enemy (according to Sun Tsu)..

Questions over questions... [:'(]

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: Historiker

(Don't worry Torsten, if I'm lucky enough to own these bases against you, I'll choose a different defensive arrangement. Or will I?)

[:D][:D]

You gotta love the mind games.
Have I read all your postings in all your AAR, or haven't I?
If I have, do I take that into account on a strategic, or even on a tactial level?
Have I understood the way the play the game and thus know myself and the enemy (according to Sun Tsu)..

Questions over questions... [:'(]

Exactly! [:)]

I do try to provide good reading for you and all future opponents. The question is if I can be creative enough to find a best solution and still provide surprises. I think that is possible. So you may think you know me now, but perhaps I will not be the same player in the future.[:D]

[obvert]

[font="Times New Roman"]29 September 1942[/font]
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

This game is racing along. Almost to October.

subs: RO-61 finds damaged DD Parrot smoking near Nadi but can't hit her.

Tambor scares me by showing up near Wenchow right smack in the middle of a large TK TF. Luckily US torps suck.

O-19 continues to haunt the waters off Balikpapan and air ASW seems currently ineffectual. Do the low attack rules for 2E bombers affect the payload of ASW at 1k also. I may have to bring these planes up to 6k if that is the case. Otherwise no reason to use them with 1 250kg bomb.

Truant manages to hit an ASW TF DMS W-22 near Phuket. This sub is starting to annoy me now. The DMS goes down quickly.

Gar also sinks a Tosu PB near the HI in a big TK TF.

So Pac: No more sightings of the combatants from yesterday with either surface or air elements. I wonder if this means that the CA Canberra also went down. It can't be moving too fast after a Long Lance and 5 shell hits.

Burma: Nothing again.

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

I don't like it when these DMS get sunk. Some of my favorite IJN ships. Also, I just built a 1:700 model of one that I'm pretty happy with.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

[obvert]

[font="Times New Roman"]30 September 1942[/font]
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

subs: S-35 tries for the CL Sendai TF near Tanna, missing DD Fubuki with 2 fish.

Triton announces its arrival with a hit on Yamaoka Maru near Daito Shoto. Looks like the Jakes here didn't really thwart this attack at least. Later in the day Triton surfaces again and hits a second time. So 2 exploding torps out of 4. That makes up for a lot of misses lately. At least the ship was empty on it's way back to Borneo.

Seal also attacks a TK TF in the shallow water near Hong Kong. I have good ASW here as well. I'll be scraping up some surface forces to patrol this route.

So Pac: Heavies hit Noumea. This time they go for the troops. Only a few squads disabled. No sign of stragglers from the combat two days ago, so all hunter TFs will move back to Noumea to refuel.

Burma: Nothing happening.

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Type TL (Modified) Sugar Able Love
Gross tonnage: 10,000
Length, o. a.: 517'
Beam 67'
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

[Anonymous]

[Deleted by Admins]

[obvert]

[font="Times New Roman"]Angelina Lucky?[/font]
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

I opened the forum today to see angelina has posted in my thread. That was a welcome surprise. A lady? Interested in my babble and incessant posting of pictures of 70-80 year old ships? Alas, it was not to be. I opened the page to find only my latest post, (with its recently discovered and proudly displayed image of IJN standard tanker designs), but nothing else. Too sad. [;)]

Thank you to LarryFulkerson for posting on the main page to have the spam posts removed.


[font="Times New Roman"]1 October 1942[/font]
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

The year in game is passing quickly. The period of Japanese control is gently slipping away, and now I have to scurry to provide defenses to areas in the second tier of the Solomons, the Cent Pac area, Sumatra and the Andamans, as well as figure out what MLR I should use in Burma. Daunting tasks, but all part of the fun of playing Japan. I actually look forward to defense, but I'm also very aware I have little experience of it in this game. I hope I can figure parts of it out before there is a major shift in game balance.

subs: I also have to get some better coordination of ASW air and sea forces near the HI, where many new subs are popping up each turn.

Today Grayling goes for a tanker near Saisho To and is forced to dive by escorts before getting a shot off.

Near Samah, where the IJAAF 2E ASW group is upgrading planes to Sallys, the Swordfish attacks TK To a Maru in the shallows. not so good for the sub, as the extensive array of escorts pound her with 2 penetrating hits and 2 more damaging misses. This sub has a long way to go toward home.

MLs attack I-166 inconclusively near Karachi.

S-34 goes for a DD escorting CA Suzuya back to safety and repair. The sub misses.

So Pac: The KB makes it down to Tulagi. No issues or sightings by subs thus far. The Judy recno planes are just beginning production (10 a month) and I am desperate to have them now to assess the strength of Nadi/Suva and see if it's possible to hit the 4E base there. With at least 80-90 planes, it would be great to knock some out and maybe hit the port to see if Phoenix and other damaged ships came back there. I don't want to stroll into a buzz-saw of 120 fighters though, so it would be great to have a quick look before committing.

Burma: Nothing.

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

[Erkki]

On the D4Y C series recon planes: have you noticed how few units can actually fly them? I have just ONE unit and another due to arrive in Spring 1943. The rest of the groups arrive from late 1943 onwards. And that one unit already active happens to be the Yokosuka Ku T-1 that flies the flying boats. The 1 or 2 groups you have that can fly the D4Y1-C are sizes 9 and 18 - are you sure that you want to produce 10 a month? [8D]

The J1N1-C Gecko is probably the better recon plane for the Navy, unless you want to have those handful on one of your carriers. The C5M2 groups you already have can fly it, and the same groups that can fly the D4Y1-C can also use it. It has better range, flies a little higher and uses the Ha-35 engine which you probably have and produce in hundreds but which you need less as new, better types of fighters become available, so production wise its better use of resources as you dont need to convert, expand and repair factories as much.

Of course you have probably already built the factory... [:(]

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: Erkki

On the D4Y C series recon planes: have you noticed how few units can actually fly them? I have just ONE unit and another due to arrive in Spring 1943. The rest of the groups arrive from late 1943 onwards. And that one unit already active happens to be the Yokosuka Ku T-1 that flies the flying boats. The 1 or 2 groups you have that can fly the D4Y1-C are sizes 9 and 18 - are you sure that you want to produce 10 a month? [8D]

The J1N1-C Gecko is probably the better recon plane for the Navy, unless you want to have those handful on one of your carriers. The C5M2 groups you already have can fly it, and the same groups that can fly the D4Y1-C can also use it. It has better range, flies a little higher and uses the Ha-35 engine which you probably have and produce in hundreds but which you need less as new, better types of fighters become available, so production wise its better use of resources as you dont need to convert, expand and repair factories as much.

Of course you have probably already built the factory... [:(]

Ha! Another one of those moments playing Japan where you just sit and think, 'Ahhhh, crap! lets make a note of that and figure out what to do next.'

Thanks Erkki. I never considered that the C5M2 groups wouldn't upgrade to the D4Y1-C. I just thought, Navy, recon, better range, build it.

I'll take a look through tracker and find out what to do next when I get to my game computer tomorrow again. If indeed I find no useful groups now to fly them (I can't take away a Mavis/Betty group for that task), I'll build 20-30 for the future, then check to see if the Irving recon plane that comes next month works in the groups I have now, and if not, I'll check the J1N1-C Gecko and see if that makes more sense. I didn't really look into the upgrade paths as I thought, well, there are only 3 starting groups of recon for the IJN, they must fly that plane. Live and learn.

It looks like for my intended task I may have to send Emilys in and hope they can pick up decent recon results.

[Erkki]

[;)]

J1N1-C Gecko = "Irving"!

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: Erkki

[;)]

J1N1-C Gecko = "Irving"!

Thanks. One less to learn!

I do have to say as a historian of Japanese planes and other fighting devices I am a bit of a novice. Part of what I like in playing this side is learning about all of the varieties. I just found a site that goes into some detail even about models that were planned but not built. Many of the stats seem nearly identical to the ones in game, which is different than some other sites I've seen.

http://www.daveswarbirds.com/Nippon/Japanese.htm

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: Erkki

On the D4Y C series recon planes: have you noticed how few units can actually fly them? I have just ONE unit and another due to arrive in Spring 1943. The rest of the groups arrive from late 1943 onwards. And that one unit already active happens to be the Yokosuka Ku T-1 that flies the flying boats. The 1 or 2 groups you have that can fly the D4Y1-C are sizes 9 and 18 - are you sure that you want to produce 10 a month? [8D]

The J1N1-C Gecko is probably the better recon plane for the Navy, unless you want to have those handful on one of your carriers. The C5M2 groups you already have can fly it, and the same groups that can fly the D4Y1-C can also use it. It has better range, flies a little higher and uses the Ha-35 engine which you probably have and produce in hundreds but which you need less as new, better types of fighters become available, so production wise its better use of resources as you dont need to convert, expand and repair factories as much.

Of course you have probably already built the factory... [:(]

I'm not sure if it's different in the scenario you're playing, Erkki, but I just double-checked and found that I hadn't been as careless as I'd thought. All three of the IJNAF recon groups do fly the D4Y1-C as well as the J1N1-C Gecko "Irving" later. So I may get some working in a week or two, which is great.

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

[Erkki]

Good!

I just checked out all the possible upgrades to my C5M2 and patrol units in the game, and not just in the Tracker. Unfortunately it seems that the DBB differs from stock game here, as only the Yokosuka Ku T-1 has the D4Y recon versions on their upgrade list. [:(]

Its the same thing with the C6N. I dont think either series are worth the R&D or production much in the da babes...

[obvert]

[font="Times New Roman"]2 October 1942[/font]
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

subs: I-2 is attacked by AMs near Port Kembla. No hits.

So Pac: A strong SCTF came into Noumea today unexpectedly. It must have shot up at flank speed from NZ. I had sent a sub after a reported CL there yesterday.

The Mauritius and CL St Louis caused havoc among the surprised IJN forces. On the day 4 DD were lost and CL Kuma went down. The Allies lost only 1 DD confirmed.

Strangely, in the second engagement, after retreating out of the Noumea hex, the IJN crosses the T but still does poorly against the Allied ships. Looks like we'll have to step up the level here and get some strong CA TFs into the area to keep control.

[font="Trebuchet MS"]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Noumea at 115,160, Range 8,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
DD Tokitsukaze, Shell hits 11, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
DD Sawakaze
DD Fuyo, Shell hits 15, and is sunk

Allied Ships
CL Mauritius
CL St. Louis, Shell hits 1
DD Bagley, Shell hits 3, on fire
DD Blue
DD Wilson
DD Preston


Maximum visibility in Partly Cloudy Conditions and 50% moonlight: 11,000 yards
Range closes to 20,000 yards...
Range closes to 14,000 yards...
Range closes to 8,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 8,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 8,000 yards
DD Fuyo engages DD Blue at 8,000 yards


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Noumea at 115,160, Range 8,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CL Kuma, Shell hits 2, on fire
DD Kagero
DD Nowaki, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Kamikaze
DD Asakaze
DD Karukaya
DD Karii

Allied Ships
CL Mauritius
CL St. Louis
DD Bagley, Shell hits 1, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
DD Blue
DD Wilson
DD Preston


Maximum visibility in Partly Cloudy Conditions and 39% moonlight: 11,000 yards
Range closes to 20,000 yards...
Range closes to 14,000 yards...
Range closes to 8,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 8,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 8,000 yards
CL Mauritius engages DD Karii at 8,000 yards


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Time Surface Combat, near Noumea at 116,160, Range 20,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CL Kuma, Shell hits 19, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Kagero, Shell hits 2, on fire
DD Nowaki, Shell hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Kamikaze
DD Asakaze, Shell hits 3
DD Karukaya
DD Karii

Allied Ships
CL Mauritius
CL St. Louis, Shell hits 1
DD Blue, Shell hits 1
DD Wilson
DD Preston, Shell hits 6, on fire



Maximum visibility in Partly Cloudy Conditions: 28,000 yards
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 26,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 26,000 yards
Range closes to 20,000 yards...
Komazawa, Katsumi crosses the 'T'
CL St. Louis engages DD Kagero at 20,000 yards


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------[/font]

Also, the KB is in position to hit some of the retreating slightly damaged Allied forces which appear to all have been heading toward Suva. It will move down from Tulagi and we'll begin to think about testing the defenses of Fiji for a strike there. There are sigint reports every day from Suva, so there is a potential for a good raid there.

Soryu is arriving post-upgrade near Rabaul and will join the KB after refueling.

Burma: With the added troops n the area supply is becoming a factor. I'll be sending some large shipments form the HI soon. Right now a lot of garrison units arrived so I need the supply to go with them. Some are coming to the Andamans.

Palembang has been providing top ups on supply until the main shipments can arrive.

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________