The Arsenal of Idiocracy - Cribtop (A) vs John 3rd (J) - BTS Mod

[paullus99]

Japanese refitted BBs, like the Fuso & Kongo's, left a lot to be desired when it came to structural stability and resilience...as evidenced by what it took to sink them during the war.

They cannot really be compared to what it took to take out an equivalent US BB (or British, for that matter).

[Cribtop]

Week of 14 – 21 December, 1941

NOPAC

CL Anchorage, CL Helena and 4 DDs are headed to Dutch Harbor. Intention is to sink stuff when John shows up in the Aleutians. He’s not invaded anything up here yet, which is a bit of a change from his last games. He likes to take Umnak Island, which is a good airfield. Since he’s delaying, we are considering plopping a regiment and some support on Umnak as it would be a nice foundation for future offensive moves. Hard part is finding a spare regiment, though.

CENTPAC

As mentioned, John invaded both Palmyra and Canton and was stopped on the beaches in both efforts. Our ability to respond is limited by lack of forces and by the probable presence of the 4 CVs and 2 CVLs of KB-1 and KB-2. They may be headed elsewhere, but we have to assume they are still close by. At least it appears a quick Hawaii invasion is not developing.

We are sending sub and air re-supply to Palmyra. Southern Cross Force, now at full strength with 2 strong SCTFs and the 4 CAVs in support, are nosing over from Noumea in case opportunities present at Canton, but honestly I’m pretty risk averse given the possible IJN CV presence. We’re using 3 DDs as pickets to minimize the danger and are still 40 hexes away. S-boats are also converging on Canton.

SOPAC

Tahiti and Pago Pago are building up. Still too early to tell if John has major designs on the area.

SWPAC

The Oz bastions are in great shape, with practically all the available troops bedded down and building forts at Sydney and Melbourne. The survivors of the Thundering Herd are approaching the latter base with about 80K fuel from the DEI. In addition, the PI air groups that were bought out are arriving daily by rail from Alice Springs. Another set of air groups moving to Melbourne consist of the survivors of the Malaya air force. They will transition to India via Cape Town in time.

ABDA

John is moving fast, taking several bases around Palembang, Samarinda, and air dropping on a lot of unoccupied bases in Celebes. Ambon, Manado, Makassar and Kendari are still in Allied hands, but no doubt that will change. His DEI carriers are currently supporting what appears to be an invasion of Balikpapan, and as a result we have a sub carpet in place trying to catch them.

The enemy is sweeping Batavia and recently began bombing. We played possum and on the 21st caught the bombers coming in ahead of the sweepers in a CAP trap that downed 6-8 enemy 2E bombers.

John also para dropped on the base inland of Balikpapan, but it has a Dutch Commando with about 27 AV that stopped the attack. Tiny victories are all we have!

SigInt and air patrols show an invasion force headed for Boela and perhaps Ambon. The Dutch cruisers and Force Z plan to hit this attack hard if possible.

Burma

IJA troops just popped into view near Moulmein. A vast army of British trains will soon convey our forces in Southern Burma toward the Indian frontier.

India

Again, Bombay and Karachi are now well-defended, and the AVG, Indian and Burmese air forces are gathered and training. Eastern Fleet is at Colombo practicing its fleet in being skills for the moment.

China

This front is finally getting organized on the key defensive points. Lusu War Area forces are moving into the interior SW of Peking in hopes of disappearing until a guerrilla war is begun.

Planning

QE is moving to San Diego to transport a Marine regiment to Pago Pago. How much more heads that way is dependent on John’s aggressiveness in SOPAC.

We are really hoping to bag some prey in NOPAC with those nasty CLs. John’s tardiness up here may cost him. Then again, does his tardiness indicate a different plan than the norm for him? Hmm.

[Cribtop]

Two interesting things to report as I send off orders for Dec 23rd:

1) SigInt was spot on and we sight a big, slow convoy 1 hex NE of Boela. Force Z is disbanded at a dot base 2 hexes SE of Boela. Needless to say, we are going in! Should be fun.

2) SigInt detects that a tank regiment is prepping for Normanton. It's only one data point on John's Phase II intentions, but IMHO it's a strong one. Using a tank unit for deceptive prep seems less likely than using a division for the same purpose, and Normanton is a very believable landing point for an invasion of NE Oz because of the good road leading from there all the way to Townsville. Add all that to John's aversion to land war on the Asian continent and we have a working hypothesis that he is going for Oz and/or SOPAC. Keep in mind he can't bomb the industry until July '43 by house rule, so at least that fear is off the table. We may choose to keep the former Malaya air force in Australia after all.

[Cribtop]

Ahh, Good times… [&o]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Dec 24, 41
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Night Time Surface Combat, near Boela at 82,110, Range 5,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
PB Busho Maru, Shell hits 7, and is sunk
PB Keiko Maru, Shell hits 3, and is sunk
xAK Kizan Maru, Shell hits 2
xAK Konan Maru, Shell hits 1, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
xAK Nanko Maru, Shell hits 2, and is sunk
xAK Minryo Maru
xAK Shozan Maru
xAK Turusima Maru
xAK Tainichi Maru, Shell hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Tofuku Maru, Shell hits 4, and is sunk
xAK Tosei Maru
xAKL Nichiryo Maru
xAKL Fukkai Maru
xAKL Totai Maru
xAKL Bichu Maru
xAKL Ryuto Maru
xAP Horai Maru, Shell hits 12, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAP Takatiho Maru, Shell hits 4, heavy fires

Allied Ships
BB Prince of Wales
BC Repulse, Shell hits 1
DD Vampire
DD Tenedos
DD Express

And, one of the survivors doesn’t get far…

Submarine attack near Boela at 82,110

Japanese Ships
xAP Takatiho Maru, Torpedo hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage

Allied Ships
SS KX

xAP Takatiho Maru is sighted by SS KX
SS KX launches 4 torpedoes at xAP Takatiho Maru

[ny59giants]

Maybe a question already answered someplace else, but where did the two American BFs loaded at Darwin go?? I think I should have sent mine to Java.

[Cribtop]

I actually sent them to Melbourne, which is a very conservative choice in some respects, but I'm assuming John is going to go hard in SOPAC and thus they will be available for mischief there while in the meantime supporting a huge air defense of the Melbourne/Sydney bastion.

[ny59giants]

Construction Engineers - I send the EABs to Cape Town and eventually India. The SeaBees stay in Pacific and Australia. Eventually, you will have enough in India.

Speaking of India, what troops have you send to Cape Town?? Even if they don't end up there, its good to have a force there that just needs PPs before being sent.

[Cribtop]

Good question. I am just now beginning to receive the white restricted divisions in CONUS, which in turn frees up yellow units to move out. Not sure what I'm sending to Cape Town as the signs point to a move other than India. However, I have a vague plan to ship a US Division and to use the Aussies that arrive from the Mid East in India for now.

I am also toying with reinforcing Umnak Island, using the third element of the division intended for Pearl plus some coastal arty and a base force.

Since my last update, KB-1 and KB-2 popped up raiding off Pago Pago (there was nothing to hit), and Kongo class KB escorts raided Tahiti, sinking a lone AMc there. This reduces further the odds of a crazy Hawaii venture and continues to reinforce that OZ and SOPAC are his main targets.

[zuluhour]

With the Line Islands under pressure and Oz as a possible strategic target, are you considering a SoPac depot to relay fuel, refuel convoys to the land down under? Where are his subs showing up? I seem to remember John uses them on combat Ops more than sea lane interdiction.

[Cribtop]

Well, I was planning on Tahiti for that, but latest SigInt shows radio call signs of xAKs just north of the Marquesas (great Crosby, Still & Nash song about those islands). If John takes them, then everything is cut off between Oz and CONUS. In that case, I would probably abandon my SOPAC plans revolving around Tahiti and Pago Pago and supply the Oz bastions via Cape Town.

[Cribtop]

OK, so I assume John will seize the Marquesas and much of the rest of SOPAC soon. That means I will concede much of this area and focus on NOPAC (AO of opportunity as John hasn't done squat in this area) and Johnston Island. If I can retain Johnston it can serve to support future moves to retake the Line Islands and into the Gilberts and Marshalls. We will supply the Oz and Indian bastions via Cape Town and fully expect NW, NE and western Oz to fall.

[Capt. Harlock]

We will supply the Oz and Indian bastions via Cape Town and fully expect NW, NE and western Oz to fall.

That seems a bit pessimistic. And, if the entire west and north of the continent are in Japanese hands, couldn't Netties cut off the supply routes from Cape Town?

[Cribtop]

Perhaps you're right...

December 25, 1941
1100 Hours
Canton Island

“Fire for effect on preset Yankee 3! I repeat… fire for effect on preset Yankee 3!” First Lieutenant Anthony Smith’s voice screamed into his radio handset.

Canton Island was under attack again, as the second Japanese landing force in a week (or was it the third?) stormed ashore. Japanese marines moved inland with professionalism, heedless of casualties inflicted by the makeshift American defenses.

“Damnit, LT, there are just too many of ‘em,” called out Pvt 1st Class Sam Johnson, another member of the artillery battalion that represented the only real soldiers on Canton. Numerous engineers, cooks and other second echelon units made up the bulk of the atoll’s defense. “Where the hell is the Navy?”

“Who knows, Johnson. You have another idea about how to defend this rock?”

“Sorry, Sir. But we’ve stopped two attacks in as many days. We need some relief.”

A third voice, that of Staff Sergeant “Mule” Anderson, interrupted the most unorthodox exchange. “Get down! Aircraft approaching, Sir.”

“Oh, great!” yelled Johnson as he ate the deck.

A silver blue single engine bomber arced over the invasion beaches, seeking a target. Lt. Smith remained standing, much to the horror of his men.

“LT, all due respect, but get down!” screamed Sgt. Anderson.

The young Lieutenant rarely defied the more experienced NCO, but this time he only laughed. “Sergeant, do you see those markings? That’s a biplane of the Royal Australian Air Force! It’s one of ours!”

As if to punctuate the greenhorn officer’s point, the ancient stringbag released a torpedo straight into the midships of a Japanese transport. The resulting explosion lifted the enemy ship briefly before she began to settle, her back broken. Seconds later, more Imperial transports blossomed into flame as 1,000 lb bombs from Dauntlesss dive bombers found their marks.

Just like that, the impetus of the Japanese attack faltered.

Sergeant Anderson found his voice. “Pour it on ‘em, boys!”

The enemy troops suddenly broke and ran for the pitiful cover of the beaches. Canton Island would hold another day.

CAV Charlotte, Flagship, Southern Cross Force, 120 nm NW of Canton Island

“Strike planes are secure, Sir. What are your orders?”

Rear Admiral Wilson Brown watched as the last Dauntless caught a trip wire on the deck below. His brow furrowed as he spoke. “What news from Canton?”

“Canton Defense Command reports the enemy assault is broken, Sir. Japanese troops are hunkered down on the beach under withering fire.” Captain Steven Halstrom responded with a smile.

“Then our work here is done, Captain. Set course for Pearl Harbor. And Captain… inform the surface combat forces they are welcome to visit Canton before they rendezvous with us at Pearl.”

“Aye, Sir.” Captain Halstrom’s voice had the confident tone of the victor. It was a far cry from the shock of December 7th. The Allies had begun to fight back.

[Cribtop]

Merry Christmas!!

Another fun day… [;)][&o]
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Night Time Surface Combat, near Namlea at 76,108, Range 8,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
DMS W-7, Shell hits 6, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAP Dairen Maru, Shell hits 3, on fire
xAP Hoten Maru, Shell hits 9, heavy fires
xAP Tsingtao Maru
xAP Taizan Maru, Shell hits 1
xAP Keihuku Maru
xAP Ussuri Maru, Shell hits 3, heavy fires
xAP Kasado Maru, Shell hits 3

Allied Ships
CL Java, on fire
CL De Ruyter
CL Tromp
DD Piet Hein
DD Kortenaer
DD Evertsen
DD Witte de With
DD Van Nes
DD Banckert
DD Van Ghent

Japanese ground losses:
168 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 5 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 6 disabled
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Sub attack near Canton Island at 153,143

Japanese Ships
xAK Ehime Maru, Torpedo hits 1, heavy damage
PB Fukui Maru
xAK Yosida Maru #1
xAK Nitiryu Maru
xAK Nissho Maru
xAK Akasi Maru
xAK China Maru
xAK Nanman Maru
PB Kohuku Maru
PB Kaikei Maru
PB Ikunta Maru

Allied Ships
SS S-18

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Morning Air attack on TF, near Canton Island at 153,143

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 18,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes

Allied aircraft
F2A-3 Buffalo x 8
SBD-1 Dauntless x 12
F2A-3 Buffalo x 7
Swordfish II x 6

No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
xAK Nitiryu Maru
xAK Kyosei Maru, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires
xAK Atlantic Maru
xAK Shofuku Maru, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires
xAK Venice Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
xAK Kogyoku Maru
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Ground combat at Canton Island (153,143)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 418 troops, 9 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 121

Defending force 1509 troops, 18 guns, 15 vehicles, Assault Value = 3

Assault collapses, survivors seek cover

Japanese ground losses:
581 casualties reported
Squads: 41 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 4 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 11 (11 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units destroyed 1

Assaulting units:
1st Maizuru Assault Division
53rd Nav Gd /5
52nd Naval Guard Unit
24th JNAF AF Unit /1

Defending units:
260th Field Artillery Battalion
142nd USN Stn Base Force
45th Base Group
[&o]

[Cribtop]

ORIGINAL: Capt. Harlock

We will supply the Oz and Indian bastions via Cape Town and fully expect NW, NE and western Oz to fall.

That seems a bit pessimistic. And, if the entire west and north of the continent are in Japanese hands, couldn't Netties cut off the supply routes from Cape Town?

To make a more substantive response, even if John owns Perth, unless he controls bases on the eastern side of the Great Australian Bight I believe we could avoid Netties by diverting to the south map edge and come up just west of Tasmania.

That said, obviously not an ideal solution, but assuming the Japanese have the Marquesas (which John likes to do when he goes heavy SOPAC), I don't see any way to slip past toward NZ or Oz from the east. I also see no way of stopping him from holding the Marquesas for the forseeable future.

However, his big move into SOPAC actually plays well into my overall war strategy, and without taking China or strat bombing in Oz (prohibited by house rule through July '43) I can't see him getting to auto victory.

[zuluhour]

Nice invasion interruptus! [&o]

[Cribtop]

Thanks. Here is a look at the CVL Charlotte, one of the four small "CAVs" that make up the heart of Southern Cross Force. They have good speed, some armor, a nice suite of 6 and 5 inch guns, and two small squadrons of aircraft. All in all a useful asset, if fragile.

My fear is that the enemy CVs raiding between Pago Pago and Fiji, which have disappeared from the map, catch us tomorrow with a speed run. However, we have picket DDs posted S, SW and SE of Canton and they were not overflown by enemy aircraft on the 25th, so hopefully we get away cleanly.

[zuluhour]

What are there upgrades for them? I have to find the scenario info again.

[Cribtop]

December 22 – 30, 1941

This is slightly more than a week, but Thanksgiving got in the way of regular updates.

NOPAC

We have taken advantage of John’s lack of movement up here to re-supply and shore up the Canadian coastal bases and improve air patrols. Anchorage got a good fuel delivery and will soon get some supplies as well.

Of even more interest, the lack of attacks on Hawaii convinced Cribtop HQ to divert the Pearl regiment that starts at San Francisco to Umnak Island. Rationale is that Umnak plus Dutch Harbor provide a nice forward base pair and that winter rules mean that a regiment on Umnak secures it until April. We also have a bunch of Canadian xAPs heading to San Fran to pick up various support units (base force, AA, coastal arty).

There may be a race to Umnak, however, as John lands by FT TF on Amchitka late in the week. He forgot to attack and thus hadn’t taken the base as of the Dec 30 replay. Our NOPAC cruiser force is just a few hexes away and is waiting for a chance to pounce on an invasion of Adak or the islands nearby.

CENTPAC

The first run of supplies and reinforcements arrive at Pearl tomorrow. We had a small convoy of xAKLs out ahead of this TF to sniff out Japanese monsters on the route, but they found nothing.

Southern Cross Force has been the source of action and consternation. After the nice intercept at Canton, our BC force ran into 2 IJN DDs near Christmas Island and damaged one. The CA force intercepted a bombardment TF based on one of the older IJN BBs and several CLs. After a few rounds without much joy either way, both forces disengaged. All 3 elements of the SC Force then retired and will arrive at Pearl soon. They will refuel, refit, and head south toward Tahiti. Interestingly, the move of this force to Canton and Palmyra was interpreted by John as an abandonment of SOPAC by yours truly. In reality, it was an aggressive action and an effort to avoid his raiding carriers that popped up off Pago Pago a while back. John claims he will re-evaluate his plans for SOPAC as a result. The more he heads in that direction, the happier I’ll be.

We are reinforcing Johnston Island with a Marine Defense Battalion. No idea whether John wants this base too.

Repairs at Pearl are going well. We will soon have a second BB ready for action (Oklahoma came out of repairs a few days back and Idaho is next). All non-Battleship assets will be finished with repairs by around the end of January.

SOPAC

John lands more forces at Canton and Palmyra and overruns the brave defenders here. At least we made his life difficult, sank some ships and trashed several SNLF units. No move on the Marquesas after all (yet), so our convoys resume movement toward Tahiti. Contrary to John’s assumptions, we have committed 2nd Marine Regt to Tahiti. It should arrive on the QE soon, and ultimately will move to Pago Pago. Suva is starting to receive reinforcements out of the normal queue and is up to more than 200 AS without any real effort on my part.

SWPAC

John invades Buna and takes Milne Bay. He also bombs the crippled CL Perth hiding at Buin and forces her to run. She promptly sinks. On the upside, CL Adelaide was hiding at Vella LaVella and jumps an invasion TF landing troops at Buin. In two engagements, we believe she sank 3 PBs and 3 xAKs. Adelaide is now retiring to Oz. Score another hit for Operation Groundhog.

The Oz bastions are fully formed, with Sydney and Melbourne each sporting 1,000 ish AS. In addition, the refugee air forces from the PI and Singers have collected at Melbourne and are training up. Finally, the survivors of the Thundering Herd dropped about 90,000 tons of fuel as they pulled into Melbourne. Time to think about garrisoning Noumea soon. Force Z will arrive at Sydney in a few days. I will have to decide where to send them and whether to ship the former Singers air force to India or stay in Oz. Currently leaning toward the latter course.

ABDA

The Dutch surface fleet splits in the face of the Hiryu/Soryu task force and both get away! One element is disbanded at Normanton while the enemy scours the Gulf of Carpentaria for them. The other flees west toward Soerabaja.

The Japanese continue to steamroll over the Dutch, taking Samarinda and Balikpapan despite the efforts of a million Allied subs. He is consolidating his hold on southern Sumatra and has begun sweeping Java in small numbers. The line is breached here, no surprise.

Singers is buttoned up tight and made forts 3. We await the final assault.

Burma

John seized Moulmein, although we got even the Tavoy forces out first. This was the trigger to flee to Mandalay, so we did. Rangoon will fall as soon as the IJA can march there. We have a single harassment unit that snuck into Thailand from the rear and is threatening the bases near Rahaeng. Fun!

India

18th Division safely arrives at Karachi, as does the first big fuel TF from Kuwait. Everything here looks good. We may scrape up something to try to hold Akyab for a while, but this effort will not decrease the Karachi or Bombay garrisons.

China

Things are almost organized here as the truce continues through Jan 8th. The fight begins soon. It will be interesting to see whether John puts much effort into this front, he usually doesn’t.

Other

We tried to get clever, sending the 6 inch gun subs (Narwhal and Nautilus) into Japanese home waters. Intention was for the subs to catch unescorted merchies and hope the subs attacked on the surface using their guns instead of the crappy USN torps. Narwhal finds an unescorted ship near Sakhalin Island but unfortunately launches two rounds of dud torps instead of using guns. This tactic may yet bear fruit. Perhaps wildly aggressive sub skippers would help?

[HansBolter]

ORIGINAL: Cribtop

Thanks. Here is a look at the CVL Charlotte, one of the four small "CAVs" that make up the heart of Southern Cross Force. They have good speed, some armor, a nice suite of 6 and 5 inch guns, and two small squadrons of aircraft. All in all a useful asset, if fragile.

My fear is that the enemy CVs raiding between Pago Pago and Fiji, which have disappeared from the map, catch us tomorrow with a speed run. However, we have picket DDs posted S, SW and SE of Canton and they were not overflown by enemy aircraft on the 25th, so hopefully we get away cleanly.

Don't forget to examine their upgrade.

They lose the foredeck guns and acquire a full flight deck and increased aircraft capacity to become full CVLs.

I believe its a 4 month down time.

And a very big YES on wildly aggressive sub commanders.

I have seen players complain that the Dutch subs never use their guns.

I have never had that problem. Give them 70+ aggression commanders and they WILL use their guns.

And don't overlook the Surcouf with its pair of 8" guns. This is a truly marvelous unit as it also has a cargo capacity of 250. Couple it with the US SSTs and you have an ability to land some supply with your paratroop raiders along with the 8" gun support it provides.