Blue Skies and Blood: John 3rd vs 1275psi

[John 3rd]

I've got Diego Garcia presently and am building it up. Need to grab Cocos as well.

Lowpe: Thought a bunch about that idea. This game is for PURE FUN and not heavy thought (my opinion). I want his AAR to be a blast to read so my thoughts run as to how accomplish that. I've taken NZ once (as well as Australia) before and that was a bunch of fun...

Emergency Reinforcements? HAH! More guys to bury under 16,000 Ft of water: SIMPLE!

BANZAI!

[Lowpe]

It is a blast![&o]

[Lecivius]

This will definitely be fun

[John 3rd]

I've begun working on my OOB for 3rd Phase Operations. Just got done walking around the entire map writing down large Inf/Art/Eng/TK Units, their strength, Army HQ, and current Prep Target. This took a while! Am currently going through the Armies and will give them their assignments for the upcoming next six months of the war.

While getting rolling on that, I thought it might be good to Post some of the 'big picture' stuff to show where we are to date. Here is the overall VP State:

[John 3rd]

Here is the ship sinking chart. I've marked ships that are FOR CERTAIN sunk:

[John 3rd]

Greetings All.

I am Posting this in all three of my AARs so different readers can catch it.
As most of you know, I have elected to re-start my game with Canoerebel (Dan) that ended over two years ago. In doing this I shall have three serious matches running (vs. Michael--NY59Giants--w/Between the Storms—Lite, my vanilla Scenario 1 in Letters From the PM, and the Reluctant Admiral game with Dan). To keep the games going, work at the store, and balance family, I will have to cutback on my AAR work. Have decided to abandon the BTS: L AAR, Post about every two weeks on the PM AAR, and attempt to keep something going with Dan’s game.

Apologize to readers about this but I felt helping Dan come back into the AE Community was far more important than keeping up the AARs. Greatly appreciate the comments and Postings from all the watchers and fellow players!

[John 3rd]

March 22, 1942

The war is about to move into the BIG Spring Offensive as a huge Japanese Army prepares to land along Australia's West Coast. We've done as much as possible to 'sell' and India landing. Three days from now it will be obvious where Japan is coming. I'll wager everything my opponent has put together for India will then immediately head for Burma or Sumatra or Australia. His incredibly aggressive nature pretty much means it will be the first or the second.

Two ID are moving to Rangoon to raise the Burma commitment to three ID while 3 ID are headed to Rabaul and Lunga preparing for the New Caledonia Operation.

Meanwhile, the GREAT WHITE NORTH heats up again as CarDiv5 finds an EMPTY (crap!) Transport TF of 2 AMC, 6 AP, several fast AK with minimal escorts. Two raids go in: Morning---19 Zero 32 Kate and Afternoon---28 Zero 66 Kate. The Kates carry Bombs and plaster nearly every ship in the TF. NICE! Wish I could have caught them fully loaded though...

[John 3rd]

March 25, 1942
West of Australia

The Spring 1942 Offensive opens with KB spotting and crushing an Allied convoy carrying fuel for Kangaroos. The 5 CV and 2 CVLs throw most of their strike aircraft at this plump target sinking 15 AK and the modern Light Cruiser Glasgow. NICE!

Invasion of Busselton in two days and the invasion of Esperance in five.

Air Search lights up at Diego Garcia as well as Cocos watching for the Allied carrier fleet.

GAME TIME!

[John 3rd]

March 30, 1942
The Aleutians

The Allies chose to make the Great White North a battleground and it really continues to cost them. Today sees the surrender of 6,726 Men at Cold Bay.

NICE!

Time to disengage CARDIV5. We are sending them to far WARMER weather...

[John 3rd]

Landing at Dutch Harbor April 5, 1942. Here is the next set of Allied POWs:

[John 3rd]

April 7, 1942
Australia

The Japanese Army easily storms ashore at Busselton and Esperance. Paras land to interdict the railline as long as possible. Troops come south from Carnavon.

The beginning looks like a Sir Robin but Japan knows better. The Aussies shall fight. After nearly a week, Perth and Cunderdin fall with troops advancing on Albany and a pair of ID moving north towards Kalgoorlie. The Aussie 2nd ID appears there this day. YES! The Aussies shall fight. We want to CRUSH them at Kalgoorlie.

Japan has committed 4 ID and 2 TK Reg to the ground with lots of Artie and support. Another ID and 2 TK Reg are at sea and on the way. That shall be enough to do what needs to be done.


Elsewhere
The Kido Butai--seeing no true threat--returns to Soerabaja and departs this day heading for Diego Garcia. The Allies--it appears--have split their Carrier Force up. Time--perhaps--for a little LUNCH!

A full Inf Div lands at Cox's Bazar this day. WE want to keep up a 'creditable' threat to India for as long as possible...

Here is Australia:

[traskott]

Suscribed...

Be careful with Perth. Can be a trap for the Japanese

[John 3rd]

I concur with that worry/thought!

April 9, 1942

As the Australians work to reinforce Kalgoorlie with two full ID (thus setting up a great big noose for them to swing from) a nice event occurs up North.

The garrison of Dutch Harbor surrenders to two Japanese Inf Div. Five units with nearly 5,000 troops turn in their rifles, cannons, and canteens. Scratch another Ind Army Reg, Marine Defence Btn, and three other units...absolutely love wearing down these units and capturing them. Total haul in POWs up north is now well north of 15,000+ men.

Kodiak next? Hmmm...maybe...bet THAT would freak him out...

[John 3rd]

Good day all.

If you have been reading in my AAR with Dan (Canoerebel) I have too much going on to maintain three games presently. I have decided to seek a replacement in Herbie's game. It is Scen ONE pure vanilla. Intend to do a complete update so a person knows what he is getting into.

Who might be interested?

My plan is to keep the game for the next two weeks of turns (to about July 15th, 1942) and then bring in the new player so he can spin up on the hows and whys of the current situation.

Herbie is a CRAZY player who has lost a crap ton of shipping and warships...

[Canoerebel]

I'm sorry to hear you're resigning the game John. Reading Herbie's AAR is a lot of fun, partly because of your aggressive attack in Oz. I hope you'll be able to find a good replacement. Perhaps Nemo would step in? I know he's been long gone, but that sure would be fun.