Vettim89 vs Greasylake - Reversal of Fortunes

[vettim89]

ORIGINAL: Capt. Harlock

I had sent a mixed TF of Dutch, Kiwi, Aussie and USN DD's into Dadjangas to scout ahead. They ran afoul of a similar Japanese TF.

Okay, strictly speaking the enemy TF was not similar, since all one nationality. But an exciting surface scrap nonetheless!

Definitely - tin cans duling it out in the late war. Larry has not shown any cowardess that's for sure. He keep trying to get a blow in now and then but there is just too much opposing him. It is scary to think how divided my forces are now. I have CV's in the PI region, Marcus, and heading towards Malaya from two different directions. If this force was to all join up as one large force, it would be scary.


On that note CV Indefagitable arrived Aden this turn and is sent to Colombo to meet up with the just now repaired Illustrious. This two will head south with BB King George V as a consort. CV Essex II and CV Bon Homme Richard have arrived at Panama and are heading to PH. CVL Belleau Wood has recovered from the TT damage suffered off TImor and is approaching Midway.

I do not use tracker much but thought I would include this image. Note that in roughly the last 45 days I have added 5000 points to my total with 3100 coming in Japanaese air losses alone. As you can see a 1.5 to 1 margin is just beyond my reach right now.

[vettim89]

17-20 October

Finally all is in place. The Iwo Force with almost 150k troops has left Midway. Long trip to cover.

Simultaneously a force leaves Menado for Cebu.

Things are heating up indeed

[HMS Resolution]

Just wanted to say, Tim, I am still really enjoying this AAR.

[vettim89]

Thanks. This time has been hard with Larry recovering from his injury. He had a plate put into the leg yesterday. Don't expect much to happen fro a few days. I sent a subliminal message in my last e-mail to him hoping the narcotic induced haze might be used to my benefit. Told him to load up four or five divisions and scrape together his remaining surface and CV force and head to Marcus Island. Here's hoping

[JeffroK]

I would have thought that being laid up with a bung leg would see turns flying thick & fast.

Of course you would have to have the time to reply, cant you toss in your day job?

Where would Larry put another 4-5 Divs on marcus?, in those secret underground barracks?

[vettim89]

ORIGINAL: JeffK

I would have thought that being laid up with a bung leg would see turns flying thick & fast.

Of course you would have to have the time to reply, cant you toss in your day job?

Where would Larry put another 4-5 Divs on marcus?, in those secret underground barracks?

Undersea cave beneath the island. The point wsa that with 12 CV's and 9 CVL they wouldn't have made it that close.

21-26 October 1944

The Iwo force is slowly inching along. Still more than two weeks away. The CVTF sortied and will rendevous with them in two turns.

The forces started landing on Cebu and find a SNLF and a full ID. Still will have nearly a 3 to 1 advantage in AS. Davao is a tough nut but was able to reduce forts to 8 on last deliberate attack. My AS is growing here and the RN BB's are pounding the base every other day.

The RN found a surprise at Brunei. They are escorting supplies to Malaya and tripped upon three small SCTF trying to refuel at Brunei.

AN amalgam of the Day Air attacks on TF, near Brunei at 33,56

Japanese Ships
DD Inazuma, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
CA Kako, Bomb hits 1, on fire
DD Sugi, Bomb hits 1, on fire
DD Yakaze, Bomb hits 6, on fire, heavy damage
CL Oi, Bomb hits 1, on fire
CL Jintsu
CA Kako, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
DD Momi, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
DD Tachikaze, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
CL Oi, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
DD Suzukaze
DD Yakaze, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage

Yakaze has already sunk. I suspect at least Oi is is extremis.

[vettim89]

27 October 1944

CL Oi is torpedoed by a USN fleet boat and sinks. Image shows the situation at Davao. Just missed 2 to 1 and forts are now 7. Cebu forces are about unloaded but supplies are slow to get ashore.

The Hydra.1 force is 9 days away.

RN CVTF and its convoy turn north toward Ban Don. I am hoping the 110k of supplies will break this stalemate. Lift approaching Banka for jump to Malaya.

[vettim89]

28-29 October 1944

On the 28th I realized a SCTF was shadowing my convoy to Malaya. The Avengers on the RN CV's roughed it up enough to send it running to Singers. On the 29th they met their doom. Peter, I'll take 2000 lb bombs for the win. Two more DD's sink and CL Jintsu goes down taking the other Adm. Yamamoto with her (K. was the initial not I.) Like I said Larry keeps trying.

A sweep by the AVG killed 60 Japanese fighters for 10 Lightnings. I only lost 4 pilots though.

Meanwhile the 7th Fleet CV's are out hunting and will hopefully take out a SCTF near Jessleton next turn then turn north as I am getting a SCTF at Manilla too.

[vettim89]

30 October 1944

I see my opponent posted his great victory. While My CV's were out hunting SCTF, the Japanese went after the invasion force at Cebu. CVE Santee was sunk by Kamikaze's and another is about to go down. I augmented the Cap with LRCAP from Dadjangas plus I sent the Superbees at Rangoon to hit Clark Field where the bulk of the attackers originated.


That's okay because the 27 TF's with the Iwo landing force are 10 hexex away and have not yet been spotted. That is not a Typo 27 TF's!!!!!!!!

The RN arrives Ban Don next turn. This will free about 300 transports that were supplying this offensive by air to start hauling supplies into China. May yet get an offensive going there. A convoy is loading at Sabang. When the 80k supply load is aboard, it will move down to Bankha. Once there, the troops will start loading for the jump to Malaya.

[vettim89]

31 October 1944

Well after yesterday's massacre, the game returns to its normal pace. Deliberate attack at Cebu does nothing. Deliberate attack at Davao reduces forts to 6. A solid 1 to 1 atttack at Davao. LBA out of China raids Takao and shoots down a bunch of fighters then mauls three poor little ML's. CV air hit two DD's at Manila. Unfortunately weather prevented the Superbees from hitting CLark. Here's hoping for next turn

The TF arrives at Ban Don and for the first time in a long time all the units there are filling up with supplyies. Transports are transferred to Ledo to start an earnest lift of supplies into China. Hoping to at least make some noise on this front. The TF at Sabang has 60 k of the 80 k supplies it is going to load.

I-40 tried to penetrate the screen of the "Blob" east of Iwo and got a few TT's off before dieing. LBA NavSearch also picked up this group. So I have been seen but I am only four turns away now. Bracing for some sort of reaction from Larry. Of note the Combat Replay said the sub hit an AGC which made me nervous but no ships were hit. FOW for the win.

Tense few turns coming up as I wait to see if Larry makes an attempt at interfering with Iwo.

[Canoerebel]

Good luck at Iwo, Vettim. Big invasions = big stakes = stress. Iwo is a stake in the heart of the Japanese player.

[vettim89]

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel

Good luck at Iwo, Vettim. Big invasions = big stakes = stress. Iwo is a stake in the heart of the Japanese player.

At work so can't see the turn but Larry commented that one Kamikaze penetrated the CAP via a weather assist but did not hit anything. Need a nail biting emoticon. Three hours before I can see the turn

[Capt. Harlock]

Need a nail biting emoticon. Three hours before I can see the turn

Well, there's always this one:

[vettim89]

1 November 1944

Not much of a response so far. Three week raids all brushed aside. The TF's got separated by a hex preseumably due to refueling. So the PM raids founda weak CAP but only one leaker. Discoverd I had the FM-2 CAP set at 30% - now 90%. That will help. Three more days. Hopefully everybody will bunch up again

The real action was to the SW and W of Iwo. LBA out of Hengchow again assualts the two remaining ML at Takao. Most importantly here is the loss of Japanese fighter a/c trying to defend the litttle guys.

Raid on Clark Field went off and cost me 24 Superbees. But:

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-61 KAIc Tony: 3 destroyed
Ki-84-Ia Frank: 13 destroyed, 4 damaged
Ki-51 Sonia: 3 destroyed
Ki-49 Helen: 5 destroyed
P1Y Frances: 5 destroyed
Ki-102a Randy: 2 destroyed
Ki-44-IIb Tojo: 9 destroyed
G4M2 Betty: 3 destroyed
B7A Grace: 7 destroyed

110 Runway hits to boot. The AB symbol is pinker now. Japanese lost 149 a/c today to 40 for Allies which means only 16 non-Superbee losses. Most important point: no Navy fighters lost this turn. That's right none, nada, zip, zilch. Well you get the picture

Also the CVE I was sure I was gonna lose seems to be holding up. About five hexes to go to make port but FLOT is stabiled at 82. Here's hoping. Av support lands next turn at Dadjangas which will move to Catabato. THis shouls allow better LRCAP as I move up the PI. Recon is showing quite a few empty of lightly held bases in central PI. Only Cebu and Iliolo are garrisoned in strength. Davoa forts are now 5 and my repeated deliberate attacks are not weakening my forces very much. The capture of this base is the linch pin for the PI offensive. Once these troops are released, I will be able to move on Luzon

[vettim89]

2-3 November 1944

Little to knwo action over two turns. The Japanese do not oppose the Iwo force any further. Bracing for a major go when the troops start hitting shore

Deliberate attacks at Davao reduce the forts to 4 with a 5 to 1 atack and at Band Don reduce the forts to 8 with a 3 to 1 attack. Progress on those fronts.

Next turn the blob will hit Iwo and a large combined Commonwealth/US force will hit Molacca. Have not yet decided if the Molocca force will head south or north once ashore. Leaning towards south.

[vettim89]

4 November 1944

D-Day Iwo Jima! All in all not a bad day. Lost only one ship to mines/CD. Have 4 TK, an AO, and two DD's very badly roughed up. They are making for Marcus unescorted. While this might draw some fire from the Japanese air forces, better to disapate it on stricken vessels then the ones carry valuable cargo. No air attacks at Iwo. The AV so far is 2600 to 1076 in Allies favor. I still have quite a bit to unload. This will be a grind for sure but I have no doubt I brought enough to secure a victory.

At Molucca, unloading is proceeding. Only a single weak BGD opposes me here (AS of 73)

Deliberate attack at Ban Don came off at 2 to 1 and reduced forts to 7. Casualties were 4000 Allies to 2000 Japanese so it is costing me here. At Davao another 2 to 1 attack reduces forts to 3. Just a few more days and this battle will be won

[vettim89]

5 November 1944

Unloading proceeds at Iwo and Molucca. CD is becoming less effective. No air attacks on either invasion. What is going on here? Larry had mentioned feeling the pinch in plane production. Perhaps his pools are empty and there is just nothing left.

Troops depart Dadjangas for Butuan. CVE Anzio makes port and disbands at Dadjangas with 83 FLOT damage. I had written that ship off. Using a fast Tran TF to take empty Zamboanga. San Jose Bueanavista is empty and will be occupied as soon as the carriers return from Butuan. San Jose is held by a single BF. I have a lot of paras at Dadjangas and am contemplating an airborne attack. The battle for the central PI is shaping up.

The odd thing is that battles still rage in the air over Formosa. Why is Larry disapating forces here instead of at Iwo? I have no plans to invade here so this is wasted effort. Losses were 46 Japanese fighters including 20 Franks to 6 P-38J's.

Considering the almost abscent response to my moves on Ban Don, Molucca, and Iwo, I think the Japanese are at the end of their rope. Only going to get worse.

[vettim89]

6-8 November 1944

Just a quick note before I run and get my kids

Both Ban Don and Davao fall to the Allies on the 8th. Chija Jima should fall next turn. Zamboanga fell this turn too. Butuan should fall next turn also. First Deliberate Attack goes off at Iwo next turn.

Kami's hit an LST and an LCI at Chich Jima.

That is all for now

[vettim89]

9 November 1944

Chich Jima is now Allied. Technically it is the first of the seven heads of Operation Hydra to fall even though Iwo Was invaded first. The Deliberate attack at Iwo came off horribly 0 to 1 but Forts fell to 8 and the Japanese suffed more casualties than the Allies. Got a spare division that was tagged for Chichi Jima that will be addded to the Iwo force. That is now just leaving the HI. Three more CV's en route to the battle zone.

Butuan on the NE corner of Mindanao is now Allied with the SNLF being destroyed by the 4th Aus ID. This force now starts for Cagayan. The engineers will be lifted off Talaud Island and taken to Zamboanga to build an AB there.

[vettim89]

10-18 Novemeber

The game has been about reducing Iwo and the forces at Davo until the 18th when Larry invaded Okha and Suchan. Okha is a goner as only a BF is there. Suchan will hold is my reinforcements can get there in time. The Soviet AF is activated for whatever good it will do. The large army up north is sent south towards Manchuko to raise some Havoc. I am worried about oversommiting to Suchan for fear of opening my flank up. If I can stabilize the situation I may be able to turn this to my advantage. Never use the Sovs before so hard to say what to do. The army units seem huge!

Meanwhile the forts at Iwo are now 6 with another deliberate attack ordered this turn.The forces at Davao are taking forever to go away. Troops that landed at Malacca are split up heading north and south. Larry retreated a large force to SIngers - 18 units. I plan to Isolate them while working on the northern half of the Malaya Army.