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

[bigred]

43-4-26b:

[BBfanboy]

Holey Socks! Looks like KB has been de-fanged! [X(]
Never saw such heavy losses without any carriers going down.

[John 3rd]

To say that the Japanese are FULLY engaged is an understatement! Just got Day TWO of the Battle of the Line Islands done and sent it back to Paul. HOLY CATS!

Don't have time for a full Posting but will when I get back from the store.

How about a tease???[:D]


BANZAI!

[John 3rd]

April 25, 1943
Setting the Stage

We're going to walk through how Japan gets to the 27th of April. The Kaigun was already 'leaning' towards the Line Islands prior to spotting the enemy approaching.

There are two major elements of the Kido Butai. The first--we'll call Force A--was running roughly a day ahead of the other. Force B had to refuel and it cost a day prior to this screen shot. If BOTH could have been together, it might have been even better then it turned out.

The lines and arrows point to the planned movements of the two TFs.

At this point, air search had NOT shown the enemy heavy carriers. Resistance had only been shown thru CVEs.

Mistake on my part but, thankfully, and cost is NOT in carrier decks!

[John 3rd]

2nd Battle of the Line Islands, Day ONE
April 26, 1943

Japan gets off very lightly in what COULD have been a catastrophic day. Force B only moves 50% of it projected total (CRAP!) and Force A moves about 75% of the way. At first, this is terrible but as it works out, I am thankful.

ALL of the Allied Fleet appears to be here and the Japanese strikes are badly shredded. Force A loses 226 aircraft--57 Zero, 78 Judy, and 91 Jill. OUCH! The two strikes that hit the Allies are 96 Zero, 25 DB, and 50 TB vs 249 Fighters then the PM strike totals 98 Zero, 65 DB, and 73 TB. vs 217 Fighters. While losses are TERRIBLE, strike planes get thru in the PM phase. Those few planes do outstanding work! CV Lexington is hit by 2 TT, CV Indomitable takes 1 Bomb (Ammo Storage Explosion) and 1 TT for HEAVY DAMAGE, and CV Ranger gets a 500KG bomb.

It is a lot of planes for 3TT and 2B!

PLANNING: LOTS of TFs moving back-and-forth. Order Force B to move NE and Force A to move NW towards the other section of Kido Butai.

[John 3rd]

April 27, 1943
2nd Battle of the Line Islands, Day TWO

This TIME Japanese moves go their full amount and the two TFs reach their (rough) assigned areas. To my great surprise, there are TFs EVERYWHERE. Many are highly sought after types of shipping (READ: APAs). Unfortunately--or FORTUNATELY--Force B launches AM and PM strikes at the Allied Carrier Fleet. Small strikes fly against vulnerable shipping.

This is the order of strikes and results:
AM Phase
4 Zero and 14 DB hit 2 APA with 2 and 3 500 KG Bombs
8 Zero and 14 TB hit two APAs with 1 and 2 TTs
89 Zero, 32 DB, and 26 TB attack the Enemy Fleet. They encounter 220+ Fighters. Only a few Judy get through and they miss their strikes.
27 Zero and 17 DB strike an LSI(L) with 5 Bombs and two DMS with 1 and 2 Bombs respectively

PM Phase
4 Zero and 8 DB hit BB Mississippi with 1 Bomb
8 Zero and 10 TB SINK 2 AP and smack another AP with 1 TT

THE BIG ONE! 85 Zero, 61 DB, and 62 TB vs 230 CAP Fighters.

Don't know what happens. The weather this day is really CRAPPY with a number of planes getting lost or can't find target messages occurring. After just a short time fighting, the Attack Aircraft burst thru the enemy Fighters. Fully 50% of the planes get thru to attack. AS I prepared to sacrifice a cat here, the Dive and Torpedo Planes attacked. The results are FANTASTIC!

Carriers
Enterprise takes 2TT and is ON FIRE with heavy engine damage.
Ranger takes 2 more bombs (3 total now) and is ON FIRE
Hornet is SMACKED with 1 Bomb, 3 TTs, and a Fuel Storage Explosion--Heavy Damage
Wasp takes 2TT with heavy engine damage.

Other Ships
BB South Dakota takes 2TT for Heavy Damage
BC Strasbourg takes 2 Bombs
CA Devonshire gets 2 Bombs and is ON FIRE

GLORIOUS!

[John 3rd]

Forgot to list plane losses for the day!

36 Zero, 70 DB, and 64 TB

Not bad for the RESULTS!

BANZAI! BANZAI!! BANZAI!!!

There is BLOOD in the water...

[bigred]

Japs will loose alot of good pilots(470). Allies will loose alot of Cvs, seems like the IJN has alot of CVs.

[/quote]

[Nomad]

Did the USN not fly this turn? [&:]

[John 3rd]

Not a single US Sortie EITHER day.

[John 3rd]

Japan has not lost a single carrier whatsoever to this point in the war.

I provided the Japanese current Order-of-Battle several months ago in game time.

[John 3rd]

April 28, 1943

Don't even know where to start. This will be a LONG series of entries.

Suffice it to say that April 28, 1943 was a VERY GOOD day for the Empire of Japan!

[John 3rd]

April 27, 1943
Orders for April 28th

With the success of the afternoon air strike on the American carriers, Japan shifts its thinking for the upcoming turn. There is a HUGE amount of vulnerable shipping nearby and it can be GOBBLED UP!

From Force B, two STF are created:
1. BC Hiei and 3 DDs are dispatched directly towards Palmyra.
2. CA Niitaka and Suzuka (Niitaka-Class CAs--not the Tone-Class CAs) are sent slightly to the east of the venerable BC.

A separate STF of a CA, CL, and 3 DD come in from the NW and their destination is set for Palmyra itself.

In the SE of the Line Islands, a set of 6 DDs had arrived to form a small strike force. That strike force is flung directly at Fanning Isle.

The two Kido Butai TFs move NE in preparation for a massed attack as they fly off battered air groups and fly in fresh ones...

This is the PLAN for April 28, 1943.

[John 3rd]

The Surface TFs move thru the night to attack the enemy and find multiple major targets as they get to experience days and feelings not felt since the early days of World War Two as Allied ships desperately try to escape.

The Kongo-Class Battlecruiser is my favorite class of Japanese warship. Tonight finds the Hiei and her 3 DDs full of fight and ready to go. Throughout the late night and early morning the small TF engages enemy ships. By sunrise, the warships have sunk a DMS, two BIG APAs, 2 SC, an AP. damaged a DMS, and crippled another APA.

The pair of modern CAs sweep to the east and do a credible job as well. They engage and sink 2 APA, an LSI(L), and damage another APA.

The prize for these three TFs goes to the Myoko-Class Abashiri and her four escorts. In the distress signals flooding the airwaves and chaos being created to the east of them, this TF slips into the waters of Palmyra UNNOTICED. It is here that they pounce on an anchored Invasion TF featuring BB West Virginia and about 20 other ships. The aggressive Japanese are in the mood for knife-fighting as they rapidly close to 2,000 yards range. During the fight, BB West Virginia is smashed by 8" gunfire and 3 Long Lance TTs. It SINKS! With her goes 2 APA, an AM, 4 LST, an LCI, and AP. Two more LST and three AP are hit and heavily damaged as the TF turns back for the sea. THOUSANDS of American troops are killed and left to drown in the seas.

BANZAI!

The morning finds the three TFs moving NW and they are not engaged through the day's air action. NONE Of these ships take any significant damage.

Goodness...

[bigred]

ORIGINAL: John 3rd

The Surface TFs move thru the night to attack the enemy and find multiple major targets as they get to experience days and feelings not felt since the early days of World War Two as Allied ships desperately try to escape.

The Kongo-Class Battlecruiser is my favorite class of Japanese warship. Tonight finds the Hiei and her 3 DDs full of fight and ready to go. Throughout the late night and early morning the small TF engages enemy ships. By sunrise, the warships have sunk a DMS, two BIG APAs, 2 SC, an AP. damaged a DMS, and crippled another APA.

The pair of modern CAs sweep to the east and do a credible job as well. They engage and sink 2 APA, an LSI(L), and damage another APA.

The prize for these three TFs goes to the Myoko-Class Abashiri and her four escorts. In the distress signals flooding the airwaves and chaos being created to the east of them, this TF slips into the waters of Palmyra UNNOTICED. It is here that they pounce on an anchored Invasion TF featuring BB West Virginia and about 20 other ships. The aggressive Japanese are in the mood for knife-fighting as they rapidly close to 2,000 yards range. During the fight, BB West Virginia is smashed by 8" gunfire and 3 Long Lance TTs. It SINKS! With her goes 2 APA, an AM, 4 LST, an LCI, and AP. Two more LST and three AP are hit and heavily damaged as the TF turns back for the sea. THOUSANDS of American troops are killed and left to drown in the seas.

BANZAI!

The morning finds the three TFs moving NW and they are not engaged through the day's air action. NONE Of these ships take any significant damage.

Goodness...

IT WILL GOT WORSE FOR THE ALLIES. In decision process the allies were not aware of the 2nd KB approaching from the NW and some APA ran into the trap. Decisive Jap Victory.

[Nomad]

Why are the USN CVs not launching strikes?

[John 3rd]

Why indeed?

Let us TURN to those CVs...

[John 3rd]

Christmas Isle Special Attack Unit
April 27, 1943

Captain Sadatoma Miyomoto flies his flag on IJN Onami. This destroyer and three others slipped into Christmas Isle's anchorage when the Battle commenced two days ago. His quartet joined two older DDs and they form a small strike force ready for action.

Orders Arrive in the early evening. From Combined Fleet: "ENEMY CARRIERS STRUCK AND BURNING AT POSITION TO CHA WAA. CERTAIN THEY RETIRE TO FANNING ISLE. ENGAGE AND DESTROY."

Those are the type of orders ANY destroyerman can understand.

He orders a meeting of the Captains at 2000 with orders to leave at 2200. The Captain's Orders are simple. Single column following Onami. Get in Close. Get Hits. No retreat. Fight to the last shell and torpedo.

The knife-fighters depart at 2200.

[John 3rd]

2nd Battle of the Line Islands, Day THREE
April 28, 1943

Captain Sadatoma's unit advances at a steady 24 knots through a very dark and stormy set of seas.

Just four hours into the journey (0224 Hours) his lookouts spot the wakes of enemy ships. His unit is still 40+ miles from its target. With orders in mind, the Japanese try to evade the American TF but to no avail. Radar has spotted the Japanese. The range closes as the Japanese move in-and-out of rain squalls. At 8,000 Yard American guns open fire. Very quickly the Japanese realize they are up against some big guns as large shell splashes bracket the fast moving destroyers. Sadatoma orders the ship to go evasive and chase the splashes while preparing Long Lances for attack.

The range slightly closes to 7,000 Yards when the Japanese turn and launch a massed salvo of torpedoes.

They all MISS!

The Range starts to open as a hailstorm of shells fall everywhere BUT on the Japanese ships. The range grows 9,000, 11,000, 13,000, and finally 15,000 yards.

More Torpedoes are launched: MISS!!!

The engagement ends.

The Japanese have not been touched.

Later, it will be found out that the Japanese engaged BB New Mexico, CA Quincy, and escorting DDs. Through the confusion of the fight, the American radio Fanning that they have defeated a Japanese cruiser group sinking three of six targets.

Not true at all.

Though rattled and OUT OF TTs, Captain Sadatoma is made a far sterner stuff. He has orders. ATTACK!

Ladies and Gentlemen: The foxes are about to enter the hen house.

[John 3rd]

....sorry...have to go to work...