Banzais Don't Make Victories - Anachro (A) vs John 3rd (J) BTS 5.7

[RangerJoe]

Maybe it is time for paratroopers in Burma . . .

[Anachro]

I've been thinking about a use for the British paratroopers. I'm securing airfields near the border as I advance. Then there are my plans for Ceylon as well which will make operating a navy in the area much easier.

[Canoerebel]

It's John Cochran, but Corcoran sounds like a good US Navy name too.

John is a great guy, but he has an interesting and (seemingly) unusual outlook on things. Here I think he's subconsciously assert the illusion of control over events: everything went just as he expected, even though he presumably didn't anticipate utter disaster for the Japanese army.

[Anachro]

November 20th, 1942

It seems John is doubling down on his Christmas Island bet and will be landing there in force once again, this time with the 12th Division on its way (I'm not even sure the 12th is prepped for Xmas, might be prepped for Palmyra). KB sticks around for the day, no doubt to cover the landings, and John also appears to be bringing some surface ships along the way to bombard the island. I'm guessing both the one spotted west of Christmas Island and the one currently accompanying John's KB will bombard.

This opens up interesting possibilities for me the longer John sticks around. If his planes are flying at 50% CAP, etc. they will be building up pilot and aircraft fatigue. His bombers are also no doubt on nav search / ASW. I have also noticed over the past week that Japanese naval recon is a bit porous along John's southern flank around the Ellice Islands and perhaps Tabiteuea. There is a possibility to surprise John by approaching from this vector, perhaps I can hit some of his surface or carrier forces as they return home. If his carriers stick around to cover while the battle is being fought, I can perhaps hit his surface forces as they return from bombardment.





Meanwhile, in the Santa Cruz Islands in the South Pacific, I am well on my way to shutting down Ndeni as an airfield, leaving it at the mercy of my air and naval forces. John should probably evacuate his troops here. My bombardments and bombings destroy a number of planes on the ground again and inflict some casualties. THere was still some CAP, however, so I lose some of my 2E bombers.

[Anachro]

Meanwhile, in other news, as John's carriers are 64 hexes away. There are certain landing possibilities.

[CaptBeefheart]

Cue the theme from Jaws.

Cheers,
CB

[Bearcat2]

Have you changed the leader on Christmas Is? the one you had in the combat report was bad.

[Bif1961]

The classic Texas League motto, "hitt'em where they ain't."

[Anachro]

Yes, Xmas Island leaders are now generally competent. Also, someone please remind me, can replenishment carriers be used as regular CVEs if you take off one of their wins so they are at 28/28 instead of 48/28 in plane complements? I don't think they can, but not sure.

[Canoerebel]

Yes, CVEs that come into the game overloaded with replacement aircraft, and so designed to be used in replenishment TFs, can act as regular CVEs. As you note, just remove enough aircraft to fall within the limit that permits full air operations.

[Anachro]

November 21th, 1942

A very deep raid southeast of Hilo between Panama and Hawaii appears. Very deep. This hurts me as John manages to hit a number of task forces he had no D/L on. Very lucky for him. Very sad for me. This should be a morale booster for him. The losses and tankers can be replaced pretty easily, but this hurts nonetheless. I now really regret not having my carriers at Tahiti now where I was initially sending them. However, with this carrier force so far away to the east, there is a very real possibility of intercept even with my carriers currently being at Auckland. Wonder if I should try. This is an isolated group not near its brothers around Christmas Island


The main component of KB is heading west. It seems ALL of John's carriers are somewhere in the SoPac. This means Ceylon/India is very open. Given how spread out these ships are as well, I could go for one of these units instead of his carriers in the west. So I have a decision to make, definitely. In fact if my scouts are right, I can take on this whole SoPac force with my combined carriers...interesting. This is very interesting to me. John might have achieved a tactical success with his surprising raid so deep again near Panama, but it opens up disaster if I can get my carriers in position. As I said, there are is porous Japanese nav search in this area.

Also, a couple subs attacked Japanese carriers this turn. Of course, no results.



Strategic Map of locations

[Anachro]

I suppose what happens over the next couple days will decide which carriers I go after, but I will go after them. Greater chance of getting the closer ones, but greater risk of discovery/John having LBA cover. I'm really kicking myself for not having my carriers at Tahiti; I had set them to move there, but then was dissuaded by 1) John's carriers initially being northwest of Palmyra and 2) voice on here suggesting better use for them.

BUT JOHN IS A RAIDER! [:D]

[BBfanboy]

The numbers of Kates and Vals in those strikes on your TFs indicate more than just the CV/CS shown in the graphic. Looks like the equivalent of three full sized carriers or 6-8 CVEs.
You keep indicating John's carriers are west but mapwise they are east of your carriers, and near the eastern map edge.

A lot of carriers in the TFs shown in the second screenshot. Given John's mod to give Japan extra goodies, he must have the whole passel of them out here. Are you sure the Allied carriers can take on even a part of them without getting caught by the remainder once they expose themselves? Any cripples from the initial clash will be in jeopardy for sure, but I don't know how strong your refuge ports are to stand up to the full IJN coming to get vengeance.

[Anachro]

I've never said John's carriers are in the west. I've said they are "southwest" of an island or heading west directionally. They are clearly to the east on the map position-wise. As for your second point, you offer a good insight about revenge. It probably makes more sense to hit John's exposed carriers in the east rather than hitting the center and being between a rock and a hared place with cripples; we'll see what opportunities present themselves in the coming days. I'd imagine John recombined his carriers near Christmas or Canton. If I can hit his easternmost fleet while it remains isolated if he allows such, I will. If he keeps his carriers somewhat separately positioned as shown in the second picture, I might hit that. Or I might hit nothing at all.

I'm going to try and make John move his carriers before they recombine with his eastern fleet. I hope to distract him with some landings to the west of his carriers, both in the South and Central Pacific.

[BBfanboy]

Anachro: However, with this carrier force so far away to the west

The above line, just after you were talking about your carriers and Tahiti, made me think you were talking about the relative bearing of your forces and his.
I am now guessing that you were referring to his groups of carriers that were west of the one that hit your TFs?

[Anachro]

Nah, that one would be a typo. Meant east there. Fixed.

[Anachro]

I'm really annoyed as if I had followed my initial plan, I'd be in good position to kill John's exposed group. I know the maxim about not planning according to perceived or estimated enemy intentions, but for John appears to be a strategy. I.E. If you see John moved his carriers into an exposed raid or mission such as the above, shadow with your own carriers and see if he presents any opportunities.

[Canoerebel]

Annoyment (is that a real word?) is a dangerous emotion to tolerate. Don't dwell on what might have been, lest ye be prodded into improvident action.

You're fine. John is making a typical noisy raid that has no strategic bearing on the game unless you choose to give battle and he wins. You can close on him or move elsewhere, as you see fit, because he's not going to accomplish anything that will mean the slightest thing in six weeks, six months, or two years.

I know you've considered all the angles, possibilities, etc., but what would DS mean to you if you moved it to the IO or Bay of Bengal. If John is leaning so far right, could you swing from the left? (That's easier said than done, as movements of that nature take a long, long time and require other assets to be in place, sometimes prep to be advanced, etc.).

[Anachro]

I've already planned to shift assets over to India after my initial CenPac/SoPac operations. Invasion of Ceylon is fully prepped and ready to go. 2 American divisions arrive at Capetown in the week 100% prepped. I have two CVLs (British) finishing their conversions there in 10 days, these will be reinforced by some carriers and battleships. This will open up John's flank and he will need to shift some assets...maybe. The idea is to continually hit him from the east and west. Right now, everything is definitely concentrated in the central/southern Pacific.

Rest assured I won't attack John from annoyance, but only if the opportunity seems right. I lost a few tankers, a FA unit and Marine Defense Battalion - so what?

[Lecivius]

ORIGINAL: Anachro
I lost a few tankers, a FA unit and Marine Defense Battalion - so what?

Probably means something to those little electrons swimming with the sharks right now [;)]

Just joshing, btw[:'(]