Shattering the Sword AE Edition MkII

[cantona2]

After the release of Patch 2 Herbie and I will restart our game. In a first, out of three games, for Herb he has struck at Pearl Habrour rather than Singapore or Manila. It will mean a change in strategy for me. I also feel he will go for a forward line of defence that will target Wake Island and the Line Islands. Aerial activity over the PI's was minimal with just two strikes at Clarke Field. Early indicators are of a push in China as he already has more planes there that in our last AE game.

AAR will start in earnest soon, once the turns start rolling.

[cantona2]

Extract, The Pacific War 1941-45, J McNeice, Osprey, 2009.

Dawn, 7th December 1941 and the European War becomes a world war with the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbour. The combined force of 6 aircraft carriers strike at the US Pacific Fleet at anchor in Ohau. Though the number of ships sunk was embaressingly low, on that first day on PT Boat was obliterated by a 250lb bomb and one light minesweeper sunk, the Japanese had ushered in a new era of naval warfare. Carrier borne planes could best the steel behemoths that had regined supreme until now. A few minutes after the first wave struck orders went out to all US troops across the Pacific calling them to battle stations. Long drilled plans went into action and immediate evacutaion of important shipping started all over the Phillipines. Hours after the attack at Pearl Harbour, Empire and Dominion troops at Hong Kong reported heavy aerial attacks from Japanese planes based in mainland China. At the smae time the 8th Indian Brigade reported it was under heavy attack at Khota Bharu in Malaya. It seemed that the Japanese High COmmand had planned the assualt for months. Contemporary views of the Japanese as an inferior, yellow species of human being was put to sleep after a few weeks of precision attacks and assaults all over the South China Sea. The Ducth enclaves in the area also came to battle readiness as it was clear to them that their oil rich lands would be the objective for the Japanese thrusts. The biggest intial problem for the Allies was the vastness of the Pacific and the fact that their troops had been caught flatfooted by their enemy.

[cantona2]

FROM: ASIATIC FLEET, MANILA.
TO: SUBCOM MANILA
DATE: 7-12-41
SUBJECT: DEPLOYMENTS

YOU ARE HEREBY ORDERED TO DEPLOY ALL 'S' CLASS BOATS TO PATROL THE STRAITS BETWEEN FORMOSA AND NORTHERN LUZON WHILE ALL FLEET BOATS ARE TO BE ORGANISED INTO THREE BOAT PACKS. PACKS TO PATROL AND AGGRESSIVELY ENGAGE ENEMY SHIPPING OFF THE JAPANESE MAINLAND, CAM RAHN BAY, FORMOSA, THE APPROACHES TO LUZON. THREE BOATS ARE TO BE BASED AT CAGAYAN

[cantona2]

Eastern Command at Calcutta was a flurry of activity. Urgent telex's from the Admiralty in London were flying in on an hourly basis demanding sitreps. The attack on Hong Kong and Malaya had meant that the British and Commonwealth forces in the region could expect attack at any time. The first thing EASTCOMM orgainsed was the mass redployment of merchat shipping to Cape Town and Aden. The prime supply hubs and troop arrival points for the region. Within India itself, troops began to deploy south to protect the border with Burma and the main industrial sites in the south. Likewise orders were given to the Rangoon reinforcement convoys at sea to divert to Chittagong and unload their troops there in order to bolster India's southern flank.

[cantona2]

The damage reports were coming in late into the day on December 7th. Thankfully no major capital ship was sunk though several were very heavily damaged, no doubt several months of yard time in San Francisco beckoned. The air fields had been prety badly shot up and a significant number of planes destroyed on the ground. Uncomfirmed reports were also coming in of the Maryland being hit by a torpedo well before any planes had been seen or heard. DD Ward, on patrol at the harbour mouth, also reported several explosions inisde the defensive minefield perimeter. Had the enemy inifiltrated a number of submarines in the hours before the dawn attack?

[cantona2]

FROM: CAT-23/E VP-12
TO: CINCPAC, PEARL HARBOUR
DATE: 7-12-41
SUBJECT: ENEMY SHIPS SIGHTED

***ENEMY CARRIERS SPOTTED***180 MILES NNW OF HAWAII***SHIPS APPEAR TO BE ON A SE HEADING***PROCEEDING TO SHADOW***OUT

When Admial Kimmel read the message he felt the tingle of fear and expectation travel down his spine. Were the Japanese about to launch on a second day? Orders were drafted and the search efforts, well those assets stil available, intensified.

[cantona2]

Aborad the CV Enterprise Admiral Halsey could not believe the orders he had been handed. The enemy ships that had pummelled Pearl had been sighted and a Catalina was shadowing them. Rather than being ordered to engage the enemy he was told in no uncertain terms to steer to the NW, for Midway. CINCPAC believed the enemy resupply force was in the vicinty of Midway and a crippling strike there could hamstring the Japanese effort in these waters. He crumpled up the paper and threw it overboard and ordered his captain to turn his ships around. He would run today but he sure as hell would not run next time!

[Rob Brennan UK]

Im very much looking forward to what happens in china primarily, but i do like vicariosly reading PBEMS untill i get my own going.

Good luck.

[cantona2]

Thanks Rob

[cantona2]

The question on the lips of CINCPAC was 'Where have the Japanese gone?'

Despite an intensive search effort the Japanese carriers that had struck at Pearl Harbour had disappeared. The impending attack on the Philippines had not materialised despite aggressive sweeps over Clarke Field. The South China Sea seemed empty of Japanese shipping. It was only in Malaya that Japanese aggression was felt. Khota Bharu was occupied by overwhelming force which was supported by modern fighters of the Ki-43 type. The fixed undercarriage Ki-27's were being deployed to cover the invasion fleets while the A6M2's and Ki-43's dealt with the Buffaloes covering Khota from Georgetown and any incoming bombers.

Where were the Japanese?

[cantona2]

This lack of Japanese action has me fearing a surprise landing somewhere. Herb has hinted at a new strategy. Could he be going for a direct landing on Clarke Field? The KB has disappeared off the scope. Is it heading south to support an attack on the Line Islands? Could a Japanese arrow be heading south into Fijian waters?

It promises to be an interesting game!

[erstad]

Could he be going for a direct landing on Clarke Field?

If he does, consider yourself very lucky. Between the minefields and coastal guns at bataan, any invasion force is likely to be hit hard.

[Fletcher]

Hi Jonathan,
Best of lucks with your new game. Consider me a reader
what are you thinking with AVG ? Could be interesting to defend Burma or Singapore skies better than dirty chinese skies.
Best of wishes.
Ramón

[cantona2]

Gracias Ramon

The 1st AVG has been deployed to Rangoon, the 2nd AVG to Hengyang, the 3rd is held in reserve at Toungoo for now!

[cantona2]

[font="times new roman"]War Diary Asiatic Fleet, 9th December 1943

Todays Weather: Rain
Tomorrow's Weather: Light Cloud.

Catalina's of VP-102, operating out of Bataan have reported the sighting of two Japanese task forces on a westerly and south westerly heading south of Formosa. Three battleships spotted.

RN destroyers Scout, Thanet and Thracian arrive at Iba after leaving Hong Kong.

xAKL Chengtu, another Hong Kong refugee, reports being engaged on the surface by an enemy submarine 180 nm NW of Iba. Skipper reports heavy damage but also reports scoring a number of hits on sub with deck guns, subsequently sub abandons attack and submerges.

1st PI MSW Squadron reports complete sweep of enemy minefield off Bataan. LCDR Appleton ordered to return to Manila for further orders. 1st PI ASW Sqaudron, also at Bataan ordered to Iba for 24 hours should contact be established with enemy submarine. 3rd Pursuit Sqaudron (P-40e) will provide CAP during daylight hours.

xAKL Sagoland reports loading complete at San Fernando. Ammo depot left by 11th PA Infantry Division loaded aboard, ETA at destination Manila 11th December.

7 B-17d's from 14th and 93rd Bombardment Squadrons (Cagayan) engage enemy destroyers off Bataan Islands. Two bombers return with light AA damage. No reported hits on enemy ships. Bataan Islands reported occupied by Japanese at about 14:00. Last contact received 13:47.

SS's Pike, 38 and 37 report arrival at patrol zones and will begin aggressive patrolling. SS's Seal and Sealion ordered to plot new course to intercept spotted Japanese convoys.






[/font]

[Treznor]

I'm tuning in for this one 

[cantona2]

Thanks Treznor

[bklooste]

What are you going to in CHina ,Historically many of the Chinese forces defeated at Ichang during its capture moved to Changsha so that these were 300K there they also moved the heavy artillary to Changsha so that when the Japanese attacked with 100K they took a beating and werent interetsed in fighting till 44. Changsha is critical to the Japanese as it blocks the Railway they want to Vietnam and you will need better than 3:1 and your best artillary to do it , its also the only place where i spend the supplies to build up forts it may be the difference you need to win that critical battle.  Also watch for a push on Xian that seems to be popular.  Also read the Nomahan Redux for the tips on Artillary and rotating units to reserve.

[cantona2]

@bklooste: China's main priority is the securing of Changsha-Liuchow line and the line Ichang-Nanyang-Chengchow. In our last game Herb pushed hard against this line afrom the south and east and i am preparing for this eventuality. The Japanese have just ecavuated Ichang and I shall need to be very careful about how I redploy the forces there.

[cantona2]

A selection of radio messages collected on 12th December 1942

From LCDR Snippe, O/C SS O20, to ABDA Batavia

[font="times new roman"]Launched 6 torpedoes at two targets, three hits recorded. Confirmed sinking of two ships. 1 APD class and one Yusen A Class. Position approx 60nm of Soc Trang.[/font]

From LTJG Farrell, O/C VP-102 Det Manila, to Asiatic Fleet Manila.

[font="times new roman"]Confirmed sinking of Std-C Cargo Class ship unloading at Aparri. Confirm success of torpedo carrying Catalina's[/font].

From CDR Swinely, O/C TF 103 enroute to Sabang, to Malaya Army, Singapore.

[font="times new roman"]Confirm loss of xAP Hong Kheng by torpedo bombers at Medan. Cargo unloaded successfully due to early air warning and stirling efforts of 488 Squadron. 224 RAF Group will be reboarded at Sabang.[/font]

From VADM Brown, O/C TF 405 CV Lexington.

[font="times new roman"]Arrived position 240nm NE off Roi-Namur. Strike launched tomorrow morning, course will be set for Pearl for rendevous with Enterprise.[/font]

From VP-21, Midway Island, to CINCPAC Pearl Harbour.

[font="times new roman"]Enemy carriers spotted 360nm NNE of Midway Island, heading North by North East. Will track and shadow enemy ships tomorrow. Request vectoring of submarines in the area.[/font]