Intellectus Ex Nihilo (Wal-Mart on Ice)

[Canoerebel]

Dave had a ton of subs waiting at Wake Island and at Milne/Port Moresby. There was no choice but to proceed, and Allied ASW did good work, whittling away his subs. By the invasion of Rabaul, there were only a few left to contend with. But his subs picked off the CVE, an AO and PF, and sniped most of the merchants damaged by shore guns at Ponape.

[Canoerebel]

2/3/44

Whither the Heck KB? How did Dave's carriers just disappear? A few turns back, they were lurking near Kavieng. Then, Poof!, they were gone. There are four Allied invasion fleets at sea all over the place....but KB properly positioned could interdict any of them. The only one I'm comfortable proceeding with at the moment is Lunga, with 1st Cav. Div. aboard transports with DS, and 2nd Marine Div. aboard transports not far from Lunga. I think the sudden move SE is a good idea, so that's the revised plan.

BB South Dakota suffered only light damage. She could remain on station if needed, but BB New Jersey just arrived. So SD will report to Pearl for repairs. Colorado only has modest damage. She'll accompany DS to Lunga and then make for Pearl.

[Canoerebel]

2/3/44

Battle of Rabaul: First deliberate attack does very well. The enemy AVs dropped precipitously. Barring reinforcements, the base should fall within the week.

[jdsrae]

Good stuff! Which Generals did you pick for II Corps and the Divs?

[Canoerebel]

The Aussie commanders look pretty good.

[jdsrae]

The Divs look well under strength so fair to have a few BRIGs in command, but if you fill them out and feel they are worthy of having a MGEN one day then Vasey was 6 and 7 Div commander. Bridgeford was GOC 3 Div in Bougainville. I know rank makes no difference to the die rolls and you might have better things to spend th PP on.

[Canoerebel]

Until recently, those three divisions had been quietly posted in Oz, prepping and still with their original 1941 squads. Perhaps a month ago, when Milne Bay invasion was greenlighted, the divisions were upgraded. Two of them were used at Milne Bay and took some disablements. The third, I think, was in Oz in reserve. When Milne fell, all three switched prep to Rabaul and came ashore at about 55% prep. When fresh, each only had about 325 AV (due to the recent upgrade from '41 squads, I think). That's why their now at less than 200 AV.

[SuluSea]

Very enjoyable reading the past few pages. Will be reading the rest with great pleasure.

Best of luck!

[Canoerebel]

2/4/44 and 2/5/44

KB: Dave made it vanish, creating unease at Allied HQ. Three invasion forces are at sea but in holding patterns, until things develop a bit. The fourth is approaching Lunga, with D-Day perhaps the day after tomorrow. If Dave waves a wand, pulls a yak out of his top hat, and KB appears at Tulagi, I will being drinking bourbon. But Allied subs and ships and patrols have the area well covered, so I just don't think that's possible.

Rabaul: Today's 1:1 attack dropped forts to 1. AV of Dave's two fighting units dropped to 0. My infantry is moderately fatigued now, but it's worth another try tomorrow. Take this base and Dave's garrisons at Lae and (retreating from) PM are isolated, and the Allied front lines take a major step forward.

Wear and Tear: Allied carriers and combat vessels have accumulated some damage during their extended campaigning, but a survey shows it's not a long-term issue. Mostly its SYS damage scattered here and there. A few days or a week at Townsville will be sufficient for all ships. Perhaps one or two will need time at Brisbane or Sydney. So the foot won't be taken off the gas pedal. After Lunga, DS will stop at Townsville for quick repairs and to take on aircraft replacements (fighter squadrons have lost perhaps 60 aircraft over the last two months).

[Canoerebel]

ORIGINAL: SuluSea

Very enjoyable reading the past few pages. Will be reading the rest with great pleasure.

Best of luck!

It's great to have old timers along for the ride, Sulu, thanks.

Newcomers too.

[Crackaces]

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel

2/1/44

Battle of Rabaul: The daylight phase ends on a high note.

….wait, that means South Dakota avoided air strikes! But she's way out in Indian country now.

That picture I think is before the torps made their mark? I deduce fires between 21-40, and systems damage 21-40 before those torps hit. Clearly 2 small torpedoes are not going to sink the Mutsu, but she is on fire and has major systems damage. (Forget the flooding damage unless CR noted messages of "Major engine damage" or something like that ..) But this picture shows in my worldview that the Mutsu has to find a port and put the fires out, with some probability due to the systems damage that things could spin out of control.

To verify this .. go into the directory with the animations and you will see animation overlays for fires and systems damage. I do not have my game handly .. but I think each increase by 20% is represented by an animation. so 1%-20%, 21%-40% etc. Smoke animation is representative of systems damage and fires jumping toward the sky is of course fire damage. The more smoke and fire the more systems and current fires. The keen WITP AE player does not gloss over the animations, but uses this information to a strategic and operational advantage. (Over the player that hits the escape key to get into the combat reports.)

The Mutsu is going to eventually need Yokohama .. if she can make it without burning to the water line. There is a higher level of systems damage needed to put out fires and now control flooding. I have to think the IJ will pullout DD's to escort her to a safe haven to extinguish the fires. All the Allies need is a couple of "pumps fail" and conflagration messages, and the Mutsu is history [8D] [:D]

[Canoerebel]

Well, yer telling me a lot more than I knew. I'm still amazed at how many people know so much more than I do. I've only been playing this game (and it's ancestors) for 17 years!

IIRC, Mutsu showed a message of critical engine damage but no ammo storage explosion. I don't recall if this graphic was before or after the torp hits, but I do think you're estimate on her pre-sub damage is probably about right.

[Crackaces]

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel

Well, yer telling me a lot more than I knew. I'm still amazed at how many people know so much more than I do. I've only been playing this game (and it's ancestors) for 17 years!

IIRC, Mutsu showed a message of critical engine damage but no ammo storage explosion. I don't recall if this graphic was before or after the torp hits, but I do think you're estimate on her pre-sub damage is probably about right.

That critical engine hit means at least 1 engine major damage .. maybe 10! [I would not expect more from a 'S' class submarine]. We can hope she is not only on fire and venting to the sea ..but limping a bit as well!

[BBfanboy]

Getting that ARD at Truk is a coup - I don't think Japan has any others. Any IJN flotation damage (on subs or DDs or smaller) over 5 will now require leaving the theatre for a distant shipyard. [:)]

No D/L on your TFs in the IO/Bay of Bengal?

[Canoerebel]

Ten turns back, Dave got 1/0 detection on a TF in the IO on back-to-back turns. It was a troop transport convoy toating units from one end to the other. As best I can tell, he didn't sortie anything to intercept. He mightn't have even noticed.

But to answer your larger question, no detection on the main force in the IO. But Dave is expecting something here, so I'll be surprised if I achieve surprise. It may be that this serves as nothing more than a diversion, allowing Allied moves elsewhere (as a short-term purpose).

[Canoerebel]

2/6/44

Rabaul: Allied attack takes this key base. Patrols come forward. Units switch prep to distant targets.

Lunga: D-Day tomorrow.

R&R: BB Colorado TF will break for Pearl tomorrow. BB South Dakota broke several days back. Some DDs with elevated SYS damage break off and make for Sydney. Other than those guys, the rest should be good to go. Next stop Townsville to take on replacement aircraft, to deal with whatever SYS issues there are, and to then go on the next adventure (as soon as I decide exactly where that will be).

KB: I'll know exactly where as soon as KB is located.

[BBfanboy]

What a whirlwind you have thrown at him! Kudos on making it all come together so well!

[Canoerebel]

It sure has been fun. A series of nights with very little sleep.

[Canoerebel]

2/7/44 and 2/8/44

Guadalcanal: D-Day goes without a hitch. D+1 Allied general assault shows 8 forts (!), comes off at 1:2, and doesn't touch those forts. But enemy AV drops markedly and the outlook is promising. DS will remain on station one more day. The troops will rest a day. Then, on D+3, a BB TF will bombard followed by another attack. On that day, DS will retire towards Tonwsville.

KB: No sign of it. Effective work by Dave.

China: MLR intact.

[Canoerebel]

If Lunga was his Gibraltar, he was counting on it to stop a linear Allied advance from Luganville or the Gilberts. But the non-linear Allied attack came in behind Lunga, leading Dave to withdraw most of his garrison.

Here's to non-linear attacks!