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

[bigred]

43-4-3:

[bigred]

43-4-5: Allies request confirmation from IJN that a PT .5cal shell set fire to the Junyo.

[BBfanboy]

Looks like one CVE and two DDs are missing from the second combat picture.

[bigred]

43-4-7: ALWAYS FUN DOWNING KI44 IN LARGE QUANTITY.

[bigred]

43-4-7: LIKE SHOOTING DUCKS IN A BARREL:

[bigred]

43-4-10:

[ny59giants]

John truly HATES P-38s. [:@] It's not just a figure of speech from him. In one of our abbreviated games, I did what you are doing with them set for high altitude sweeps....kill numerous Tojos in masse with few losses.

Kudos!! [&o] [&o]

[John 3rd]

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

John truly HATES P-38s. [:@] It's not just a figure of speech from him. In one of our abbreviated games, I did what you are doing with them set for high altitude sweeps....kill numerous Tojos in masse with few losses.

Kudos!! [&o] [&o]

HATE THEM!

[John 3rd]

April 13, 1943

The Japanese always look for opportunity in the Spring of 1943. Three Raids are launched from various locations. Two are discovered as a STF is spotted approaching the West Coast of Canada and America. It turns back. The second is spotted between Ceylon and Diego Garcia. Carriers are reported in the TF. It turns back as well.

The 3rd set of raiders are not spotted until...


It is a lovely day in the deep South Pacific. The damaged DD Buchanon is shepparding a good-sized convoy of of ships east towards Tahiti and then on to the Panama Canal. Though heavily cloudy, lookouts spot a bogey approaching on radar. The plane comes into visible range and it identified as a Japanese sear aircraft. Ominously, it is not a Japanese float plane (like their subs carry). This has to be carrier launched.

General Quarters is sounded and all hands go to battlestations.

The morning sees a small strike of 8 Kates approach and make ineffective runs on two AKs. Thirty minutes later a large Daitai of Judy DB appears. Two dozen Judy dive in groups of 2-4 planes each. The accuracy of the bomb drops is excellent. The Buchanon is hit by 2 500 Kg bombs and staggers to a halt. Five AK take 1-5 bombs each with three in sinking condition. Time passes. Three hours later, seven Kates re-appear and make excellent bomb runs hitting two more AK with 2-3 250 Kg bombs each.

What sits out there? How close is it?

Distress calls fill the airwaves as the sun sets...

[RangerJoe]

ORIGINAL: John 3rd

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

John truly HATES P-38s. [:@] It's not just a figure of speech from him. In one of our abbreviated games, I did what you are doing with them set for high altitude sweeps....kill numerous Tojos in masse with few losses.

Kudos!! [&o] [&o]

HATE THEM!

P-38s are very useful. Put with your keys so that you can open a can of food when you want to with less hassle if you do not otherwise have a working can opener.

[BBfanboy]

ORIGINAL: RangerJoe

ORIGINAL: John 3rd

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

John truly HATES P-38s. [:@] It's not just a figure of speech from him. In one of our abbreviated games, I did what you are doing with them set for high altitude sweeps....kill numerous Tojos in masse with few losses.

Kudos!! [&o] [&o]

HATE THEM!

P-38s are very useful. Put with your keys so that you can open a can of food when you want to with less hassle if you do not otherwise have a working can opener.

You open cans with a P-38?!!

[RangerJoe]

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

ORIGINAL: RangerJoe

ORIGINAL: John 3rd




HATE THEM!

P-38s are very useful. Put with your keys so that you can open a can of food when you want to with less hassle if you do not otherwise have a working can opener.

You open cans with a P-38?!!

Issued with the C-ration anti-diarrhea boxes, they are small yet sturdy. I remember reading about a couple in Czechoslovakia who received a couple with some C-rations after WWII. They used them for years before sending one of them back stating that they never needed another can opener and to put that one in a museum or something like that.

If I recall correctly, the man who invented it let other companies make them with no profits for him. They cost less than 0.01 USD to make at that time.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/P-38_can_opener

[bigred]

43-4-14:

[John 3rd]

April 18, 1943
Port Moresby

Until the P-47 deploys, the P-38 is the BANE of Japanese fighter resistance in 1943. Considerable 'ink' has been used in the last couple of pages describing their amazingness. Well...there are ways to combat those Forked-Tail Devils. For the last 4-6 weeks, the Japanese have been improvising their aerial defense over the last bases in NE Australia. With the fall of Portland Roads, this has all changed.

The Japanese have replenished airframes, rested pilots, and prepared for a renewal of the fight. Quietly nearly 400 navy and army fighters begin redeploying into the area. The only thing needed is a good, strong test.

That test comes April 18, 1943.

At Port Moresby, radar picks up incoming waves of fighters and this provides ample warning as Allied Fighters Sweep into the area. A small standing combat air patrol is rapidly reinforced by dozens of planes. For this fight, they do not climb to any sort of altitude. Tony's set up at 11,000 Ft, Zeros at 9,000 Ft and Tojos at 7,000 Ft. By the time the first squadron of 23 P-38 arrive, 94 Japanese planes wait for them. The low altitude defense gives the enemy the bounce and that costs a few aircraft, however, at that moment the less agile P-38 are down where the Japanese are most dangerous.

The enemy squadron is beaten up badly, same for the next wave of 25, and the next wave of 22, and a final wave of 25 planes. The tallys look to be a near 1-1 exchange in planes. This is excellent since many Japanese pilots bail out over a FRIENDLY Base so only a few are lost. That cannot be said for the Allied pilots. Many are certainly killed, some taken prisoner, while other get lost in the jungle.

In terms of tactics, a 2-3 to 1 advantage in numbers, coupled to the low altitude spell relief and a little bit of hope to the Japanese defenses...just as importantly, a number of empty Allied pilot seats appear in four squadron's Ready Rooms.

NICE!

[John 3rd]

Turns have been slow as we each head into the Holiday with our jobs keeping things interesting...

April 23, 1943
Line Islands

The Allies arrive in strength and land at Fanning and Washington Isles. The 2nd one is not defended so it falls. Fanning is hit by 2 BB on a bombardment mission and then two Landing TFs that have BBs embedded as well. By the end of the day, Fanning falls to a 71-1 result. Not much there except a small SNLF unit and two small Base Forces...

Two Bombardment TFs arrive at Christmas and tangle with the minefields there. In the confusion of the moment, Ha-10 fires two TT at the side of BB North Carolina from a range of only 800 yards. The midget cannot miss and does not miss. TWO torpedoes slam into the new Battleship. Damage cannot be too bad but is a welcome surprise...

[bigred]

43-4-23:

[bigred]

4-23b: yep...

[bigred]

4-23c:

[John 3rd]

April 25, 1943
Line Islands

The Allies continue to pour in the troops.

4-24
Having taken Washington and Fanning, the Allies move into Palmyra on the 24th. The initial assault does not go well at 1-6 (despite two BB Bombardment TFs) and the American troops take 2,052 Cas, 22 Guns, and 118 Vehicles lost. The base at Palmyra (held by an SNLF Assault Brigade and large Base Force) HOLDS for 24 hours.

4-25
More troops begin unloading and numerous bombardments occur thru the night into the morning of the 25th. The odds swing totally over to the Americans as they achieve a 69-1 attack. The Japanese lose 6152 troops, 131 Guns, and 13 Vehicles while they exact a cost of 804 troops, 29 Guns, and 16 Vehicles from the landing force.

Everything, as expected, has fallen except the main base at Christmas.

This base is fully garrisoned at maximum capacity, has troops at 100% prep, lots of supplies and Forts 6. BRING IT ON!


The defense of the other islands has not been in vain for Japan. Several days have been bought for the counter-strike. A pair of American PT Boats (sitting IN THE MIDDLE of the ocean) are swept aside by a Japanese Carrier TF of 4 Heavy and 4 Light CVs. They broadcast warning the enemy is approaching.

Japanese planes return to the Christmas airfield this day and fly sorties putting 2 TT into BB West Virginia and 7 Bombs on USS Nevada.


Folks: The GANG is all here! We are locked, cocked and READY TO RUMBLE!


BANZAI!!!

Turn sent to Paul...

[bigred]

43-4-26: