Vettim89 vs Greasylake - Reversal of Fortunes

[vettim89]

18-21 March 1944

Several turns of low action until the 21st when all hell broke loose. The unimportant stuff first:

* LBA out of Kendari hit the TF's unloading off Pinrang and torpedoed a CA, a MSW, and 2 AK. MSW sank, others are fine. Unloading is almost complete here so I can move everything back to set up for next op

* US CVTF sweep into Marcus Island and hit the AB. Results are disappointing but still nice to hit Larry where he isn't thinking

* SS Haddock suffers multiple ASW attacks off the PI and likely will sink. Not sure if this was an ASW TF or something bigger

* IJN CV's disappeared after sighting a few days ago.

I had moved the RN CV's off to escort cripples out of Padang. They moved back in this last turn and were hit hard. None are in danger of sinking at the moment but this is a blow. To say this was a huge strike may be an understatement

[vettim89]

On the other hand, this has got to hurt:

[ny59giants]

While taking Padang is a good thing, not having another base to offer some support means he can focus on that one base and "try" to close it down. He went after your RN CVs this time, but will soon turn his attention onto the base. The sooner you can invade northern Sumatra, the better.   

[vettim89]

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

While taking Padang is a good thing, not having another base to offer some support means he can focus on that one base and "try" to close it down. He went after your RN CVs this time, but will soon turn his attention onto the base. The sooner you can invade northern Sumatra, the better.   

Well, the RN CV's are out of action for a while; so I think the northern Sumatra op is o hold for a while. I think the pressure will have to come from teh SE and it is about to happen. What amazes me is how resilent Larry's a/c pools have been as he has lost 2000+ air frames in the last month or so. You can see from the screenie he is building up for the next wave


22-23 March 1944

Two very slow turns. Almost no combat at all. Instead, I did some housekeeping

* Been movig so many units around of late I fially noticed Darwin's AB was horribly over loaded with over 500 a/c at a level 8 base. This is now corrected so maybe my 4E will fly

* Same thing happened at Padang but from CV air groups flying in rather than deliberately. I moved all the Avengers out temporarily. AB is 3(81%) and gaiing about 9% a day. Three more days max before it is a level 4 SB

* I have all the troops and over 60 K supply offloaded at Pinrang so I ordered all the TF back to Darwin

* Troops start loading next turn for the next op which is to take both bases directly across the Java Sea from Soerobaja

* RNAF F4U-1D sq are moving up to take position at Pinrang

* 31st ID begins loading at SF for SWPAC ops

* The fourth CVTF arrives Darwin next turn. I have plans for all my CV's in this area as soon as the home bound transports clear the Banda Sea

[vettim89]

24-25 March 1944

On the 24th 3 US Fleet Boats got hit hard by IJN ASW TF's. Other than that a quiet turn

The 25th is not marked so much by action as the sudden appearance of the IJN CV's in the Strait of Makassar. Fortunately I had already sent the TF at Pinrang back home. They are south of Makassar now in the Java Sea. THe CVTF and SCTF will sprint for Lautem. The transports will make for Maumere where the CAP has been augmented. The reason for this is the USN CAG's are worn down from fighting off Pinrang. The fourth US CVTF is at Darwin and will sprint north next turn. The other three will replenish their air groups and everybody will go bear hunting the turn after that. I do not think Larry spotted the fourth group as of yet. That will be a Nasty little surprise. Each CVTF has 82 F6F, 34 SB2C, 36 TBM. That makes 328 F6F, 136 SB2C, and 136 TBM. Plus I have lots of fighters at Maumere and Dili that can contribute. In addition, the bulk of the 4E at Darwin will be moved up to Lautem and Dili to add some punch. Next turn the KittyHawk IV at Pinrang will be switched out for RNZAF F4U-1D. Pinrang should go to a level 2 AB in two to three turns. I got some SBD and TBF units in theatre now for just such a contingency.

What is going on here? I have three theories:

1. Larry is trying to counter invade at Pinrang
2. Larry is trying to escort reiforcements into Makassar
3. Larry is trying to escort ships out of Soerobaja laden with Oil/Resources.

A fourth option may be that he is just trying to give battle or he was trying to hit shipping off Pinrang. If the latter is true, my "Spidy Sense" was tingling and I got the hell out of Dodge just in time (how's that for a blended cliche?)

Oh, I forgot, a US fleet boat put a TT into BB Mutsu in the Makassar Strait. Padang went to a level 4 AB too.

Next few turns should be interesting

[vettim89]

26 March 1944

Well it appears option 3 is the answer but the target is incorrect. There is a transport TF at Balikpapan. The Japanese CVTF are 120 nm SE of there. A few cursory strikes by B-25's out of Maumere got no hits but did cost Larry 3 out of 65 A6M5 on CAP. Ships attacked were CV Taiho, CV Amagi, and BB Musashi. The US CVTF are at Lautem and the air groups are rebuilt. Hopefully we'll get good repair results this coming turn. The fourth group is sprinting for Lautem this turn. If the air group repair is what I hope for, all four groups will sprint to 180 NM from the current IJN CV position the turn after.

Meanwhile the bulk of my 4E strength is moved up to Maumere, Dili, and Lautem. Hopefully they will at least deplete the IJN CAP next turn to make them ripe for the pickings. The KittyHawk IV at Pinrang are replaced with F4U-1D. This base is 81% to level 2. I have an SBD unit and a TBM unit forward deployed to move into this base when it makes it to Level 2

Larry has loaded up Bandjermasin with 95 Bombers plus some fighters. I assume these are Kamikazes for the US CV's as it is only a level 3 base. I will hit this base with the 4E next turn

A strike at Padang was a complete wip. This base is getting in order now

[ny59giants]

I would change the name of Padang to Fightertown, Sumatra. [:D]

Let him get wiped out by trying to get through your Lightnings and Corsairs. Unless he brings in a lot more fighters, its just target practice for you.

[vettim89]

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

I would change the name of Padang to Fightertown, Sumatra. [:D]

Let him get wiped out by trying to get through your Lightnings and Corsairs. Unless he brings in a lot more fighters, its just target practice for you.

Well especially because those aren't just any old P-38 pilots at Padang. They are the 51st FG and the AVG - the cream of the USAAF PTO fighter groups. On the above strike, only the Betty's turned back and then only after losing half their number

[vettim89]

27 March 1944

Ah man, he ran away. Clouds socked in weather almost all my AB or the hexes his units were in. Grr, I had him set up so nicely.

Transferred in 64 fully rested B-25J to Padang. They will go on NavAttack next turn. Soerobaja had over 100 ships in it a week ago and now its empty. I have no clue where they went. I suspect NW. I am moving my CVTF's out at mission speed. If I get a sniff, I am gonna sprint them up the Java Sea. They will all be in position if the IJn CV's reverse course.

I am very frustrated. I needed one more turn. Oh, well

Oe week before the first SilverBee BG arrives. In 25 days I will have 4 BG

[vettim89]

28-29 March

SLow days. The USN CVTF prowl the Java Sea. Think I found some targets. The Japnese flail helpless at US CV power. Image is the AM strike which was wiped. Two Betty's limped home in the PM strike. Good, I think Larry's few remaining Betty groups have some pretty crappy morale now. Will Hit the TF at Balikpapan next turn then swing around and head up the Java Sea looking for game

[vettim89]

This image is from the 28th. I figure I am not the first AFB to see this but: Jack and Jill went up the Java see to fetch some US carriers. Jack fell down and broke his crown and Jil came tumbling after in a deadly fireball of twisted wreckage

[vettim89]

30-31 March 1944

USN fleet boats and one S-Boat had a field day. No fewer than seven convoys were attack with at least thre AK/AP sunk. The USN Carriers attack shipping off Balikpapan. They will move NE a few more hexes as I know that at least some of the IJN CV's are at Manilla (CV Kaga spotted there last turn)

Just a quick score update as APril arrives

[vettim89]

Strategic situation with various commands current offensives. SEAC is still at Ban Don with little hope of progress. I doub't my theater reserve could make a differnce here. SoPac units are all near NE OZ heading for Darwin. SWPAC units are loading for Bandjermasin. CentPac is waiting for CV's to launch its next phase.

[vettim89]

1 April 1944

The US CVTF run amok and are hitting MS near Tarakan. One more turn and they head home. I need to escort the Bandjermasin TF to their destination. SHipping losses for teh Japanese are skyrocketing. I count 30 AP/AK lost in the last three weeks or so alone.

SUperbees arrive next turn. Should I commit the first group right away or wait until all four are ready to go. I am running out of places to put a/c. All the bases in SWPAC are overloaded to teh max allowed by HR. Getting Makassar will give me space for 300 more. Badjermasin can also hold 300 when fully expanded.

Air losses 90 to 22 today with most of mine being Chinese that suffered heavy losses attacking troops in northern China. I think I am killing the George's as fast as they are being produced.

[ny59giants]

Superbees arrive next turn. Should I commit the first group right away or wait until all four are ready to go. I am running out of places to put a/c. All the bases in SWPAC are overloaded to teh max allowed by HR. Getting Makassar will give me space for 300 more. Badjermasin can also hold 300 when fully expanded.

Psych Warfare 101....wait and hit him hard all at once. [:D]
Don't give him a chance to adjust before you can bring in your full force.

[JeffroK]

And once you get them going, keep him guessing by hitting a variety of bases, say 3 Gps on 1 target and 1 Gp on a different target.

Swap them around so he cant set up a strong CAP anywhere.

[vettim89]

2 April 1944

Well the US CVTF have cleared the Celebes Sea of all MS. Now the IJN CV's have appeared. Initially I set my carriers back through the Strai of Makassar figuring it would be prudent to take on the japenese this far north. I was about to hit "ENd Turn" when I though that I may not get another shout at the IJN carriers for a long time. Larry was doing me the favor of coming to me vice me having to chase them down. All teh TF have 94-95% sorties remaining. Only one CV has any significant level of damaged F6F-3. I out number him by at least 4 to 1. Seems like as good an opportunity as I am going to get early in 1944. So I let my CVTF drift a little NE. I am really going to have a hard time waiting on this turn to come back.

On the B-29 note, I agree. It means I have to wait 19 days but I think it will be worth it in the long run. Miri and Brunei are my first objectives.

[vettim89]

3 April 1944

The Japanese did not give battle. I think Larry was trying to maneuver some units around to create a Phillipine Sea scenario where he would come at me simultaneously with LBA and CV air. I decided I may be walking into a trap and sent my CVTF back towards the Straits of Makassar. With Larry's Carriers basing out of Manilla, it is a matter of time before I will encounter them. TIme to get my CV's back to port so I can start upgrading the F6F-3 to -5. Also, I have not converted any of the VF's to F4U-1D. Is that something I should be doing?

In other action, I have been moving so many air units around I failed to rest CAP in the Gulf of Carpentaria. I had 4 TK hit by LBA air out of Admiralties and Hollandia. Well I had a bunch of 4E's in the Gilberts not really doing much; so, there are now at PM. These air bases will now be hit continually. Meanwhile the 8 USN CVE are backtracking and will escort the high value convoys through this area.

Troops should be done loading in a turn or two for Badjermasin which is another reason to pull back my CVTF. They have work to do. CV Illustrius is done to 3 FLOT damage at Padang. The RB CVTF will depart soon to escort all the transports and cripple back to Ceylon. The first group of cripples is back there now and is being redistributed to Bombay, Colombo, Aden, and Diamond Harbor. I had sent a few dinged SS to AUckland to repair and they repped up very quickly. Sending a few more that way as some of the S-Boats still don't have RADAR installed. Fogto to grab a screenie of Karachi's AB which is now filled with 48 sleek looking silver monsters

[ny59giants]

In other action, I have been moving so many air units around I failed to rest CAP in the Gulf of Carpentaria. I had 4 TK hit by LBA air out of Admiralties and Hollandia.

An easy fix is to hit the "A" key and then sort by highest fatigue and/or lowest morale. This will take a minute or two per turn.

[vettim89]

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

In other action, I have been moving so many air units around I failed to rest CAP in the Gulf of Carpentaria. I had 4 TK hit by LBA air out of Admiralties and Hollandia.

An easy fix is to hit the "A" key and then sort by highest fatigue and/or lowest morale. This will take a minute or two per turn.

Did not know that. Thanks

4 April 1944

Well the Japanese attacked the US CVTF again and were wiped again. Larry had some success at Padang by marshalling a large force. He just keeps nickle and diming his forces away here. Another 40 or so dead Japanese fighters. I discoverd a convoy at Manado. LBA hit it this turn and sank an AP and a MSW, As it is along an alternate route back to Lautem, I redirected my CVTF and they should hit this TF next turn.

Admiralty Island (it should be The Admiralties or Los Negros), was hit by a modest force of Aussie 2E bombers. It will be hit hard by B-24J moved down from Tarawa next turn. I guess I will have to keep the pressure on these AB's a little more consistently now. I have already done this at Kwajalein and Maeolap as Larry sneaked some Betty's in there a while ago.

Just 17 days before I have a full four BG of B-29. I am gonna have some fun with those guys