RGIJN vs Stingray

[a1981stingray]

Imperial Japanese Navy declares war on the United States of America!

RGIJN has invited Stingray to participate in an historical event: to recreate the War In The South Pacific.
The terms: Scenario 19, Ship Commitment 200% IJN / 140% USN, Fog of War, Variable Reinforcements.

Note to reader:
There are many "gamey" tactics that players can use against each other. We prefer the "historical approach" that if those units didn't really do that, then we don't do that. We like to Command with the belief of issuing the orders according to historical rules of engagement and every asset is not expendable

[a1981stingray]

USN Day 1
The South Pacific is quiet and there is nothing except Thunderstorms and Rain.
Supplies are low, but gradually being stockpiled. Troops are eager for some action.
HQ has defined the mid '42 objectives and issued the Deployment Orders.

USN Day 2
The Search Planes and Submariners [Wolf Packs] continue to look for the enemy IJN.
Battle Maps cover the war room tables and walls with "chess like" troop movements and "what if" scenarios. HQ awaits the red blips on the radar screen...

[RGIJN]

In early April, 1942 the honourable Emperor of Japan, the cabinet and the joint HQs of the IJN and IJA approved war plan 02/IVB with the intention to gain control of the Southern Seas and to cut the vital lines between the USA and Australia in particular.
Due to to several other operations in the Philippines and Dutch East Indies still underway or in their final stages, only minor forces could be allocated for the moment.

But the fine 5th carrier division plus surface units are deemed sufficient to deal with the task to establish power down in these areas. All vessels left port two days ago in order to support the initial moves.
The main body of the fleet, along with 1st and 2nd carrier divisions is already scheduled to arrive on scene ASAP. IJA HQ is going to step in with major elements of the army.

The combined efforts will deal the enemy a heavy blow he won´t recover from.

First battle reports will follow up soon...

[RGIJN]

first enemy bases have fallen already... others will follow soon...







AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 05/03/42

Weather: Partly Cloudy

Ground combat at Gili Gili

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 978 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 0 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles

Japanese assault odds: 6 to 1 (fort level 0)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Gili Gili base !!!



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Ground combat at Buna

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 812 troops, 6 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 0 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles

Japanese assault odds: 21 to 1 (fort level 0)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Buna base !!!



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Happy POW were asked to establish a new Japanese HQ command post somewhere in the South...

[a1981stingray]

USN Day 3
HQ reports USN Search Planes have spotted IJN Fast Transports unloading IJA Garrisons on Guadalcanal. Redirecting all USN assets into the immediate area.
Aircraft continue to be allocated to appropriate airfields. Transport Convoys have been loaded.
Note:
The Wartime Intelligence Department back in The States have come across some vital information.
tm.asp?m=1835932
Unfortunately, some valuable documents were also found, in the same area. This intel means that both sides have knowledge of what the other is doing - no surprises.....for now...
tm.asp?m=1951333&mpage=1&key=?

[RGIJN]

this knowledge should have known to the local commanders in any case, but somehow it seems the particular information wasn´t forwarded from Tokyo to Rabaul in time...
So it happend that the Allies were sneaking in and thwarted our initial landings at Guadalcanal in a daring raid. Dozens of enemy divebombers attacked the invasion convoi, resulting the two ships sunk...

Ordered the immediate dismissal of the responsible frontline commander already. He was quite too fast with his landings anyway, not patient enogh to wait for backup.

[a1981stingray]

[font=arial]USN Day 4[/font]
[font=arial]US Commanders in Noumea, patiently waiting for more reports of impending doom as Allied bases continue to be captured, are unexpectedly surprised to receive 2 reports.[/font]
[font=arial]REPORT 1. The Sub S-47 lurking near Russell Islands NW of Guadalcanal breaks radio silence to inform HQ of inflicting heavy damage, with a single torpedo, to a large AP Transport Koei Maru carrying supplies and troops. Enemy troops seen abandoning ship.[/font]
[font=arial]REPORT 2. The Combined Fleet sailing Northwest towards Guadalcanal, begin questioning previous orders from Command to "inflict harm on the invasion task force, but not to incur harm to oneself". On a cloudy morning with thunderstorms on the horizon, Yorktown and sister carrier Lexington prepared their squadrons for an early morning raid over Guadalcanal. Both Carriers launch all their aircraft and form into a very large and cohesive strike group. The Air Wing Commanders, hoping to have the sun to their backs, approach from the east. The first group of SBDs unload their ordinance on a unsuspecting Minesweeper Rokko Maru and send it into the depths of the shallow sea. Several other SBD groups drop their 500lb bombs but miss. These fresh green recruits from the US Navy Academy will have more training the next few weeks to sharpen their skills. The last SBD group release (15) 500lb'ers onto AP Azumasan Maru and permanently send it to a watery grave. To the surprise of the CV Task Force Commanders, all their aircraft return with no damage.[/font]
[font=arial]REPORT 3. USN Search Planes, low on fuel with the sun setting fast, spot several IJN Heavy Cruisers and several support ships pulling into the harbor at Lunga and unloading troops and supplies. It appears that the IJN and IJA are unable to coordinate their invasions task forces and use a fragmented strategy. Lunga will be captured tonight.[/font]
[font=arial] [/font]
[font=arial]USHQ Commanders in every location receive updated orders and prepare their forces. More aircraft are relocated to bases  and transport ships continue sailing slowly towards their destinations.[/font]

[a1981stingray]

Sometime very soon I will begin to post my strategy along with some details of the units/divisions/ships that will comprise my initial objectives. I am positive no one will be surprised as to where my troops will show up. I will keep my CV TF(s) in stealth mode
 
currently in strategy and deep thought mode........
 
Open to ideas / thoughts / comments from readers :::
 
1.  How will IJN / IJA support the "East to West Chain of Island Bases" with enough supplies and support units?
 
2. Which Supply Routes will be the busiest and most important to keep going?
Truk to Rabaul to Gili-Gili/Buna/Rossell
Truk to Shortland Is to Lunga/Tulagi
 
 

[a1981stingray]

Latest Intel from SoPac: IJN Ships continue their run up and down The Slot. Russell Islands appear to have IJA units, and may be the survivors from the Troop Transport sunk by S-47.
Latest Intel from SwPac: Woodlark Island is captured, bonfires on the beaches seen from miles away - reports S-46 "fire pit and roast beast" could be the natives?
 
USN continues to transport troops and supplies to vital bases to prepare for 4E & 2E Bombers soon to be allocated to forward areas.
USAAF reports 15 Dakota Transport Aircraft have been lost. Mostly due to fatigue and inexperienced pilots. In addition, 7 Long Range PBY Flying Boat Patrol Aircraft have been lost at sea, last communications were reporting altering flight path to avoid severe thunderstorms. Still no report - possible they landed at sea and are now drifting with the ocean currents.
 
USHQ reports that vital ships, equipment and troops will soon arrive. These resources should be used to retake the captured Allied Bases from the IJA, and should be the first priority over any other commands.
 
 

[RGIJN]

busy times...

IJA missed to coordinate their moves with the navy so some disarray occured indeed. However, Lunga has fallen finally and other crucial spots are already scheduled to get captured. To the IJHQs utmost relief the torpedoed cargo ship made port, hence able to save desperately needed ENG troops. Even the ship will survive, due to the foul fishes the enemy has in use.

In the meantime we noticed the increasing losses of allied Airlift, assuming they´re about to deploy forward. Though we´re marveled the Americans are able to put up some resistance, we´re eager to doom such activities with all power at hand.

Chief of staff, Combined fleet HQ is expected to vistit forward areas soon. Unquestionably, this is going to speedup reinforcements and will augment their strength too.

[a1981stingray]

NEW Orders from USHQ:
Hostilities between SwPac and SoPac Commanders will cease immediately! SwPac is ordered to release a task force, with enough capacity to lift an entire division, for use in the SoPac area.
 
SoPacHQ has idle troops that are greatly needed in The Solomon Islands to halt the spread of the IJA.
SwPacHQ current operations progressing towards Papua New Guinea, will reorganize their Fleet in order to transfer a task force into SoPac immediately.
 
An Allied Bases was captured, Tulagi. USN Search Planes spot IJN ships all around The Solomon Islands unloading troops. This must be a top priority to reclaim those bases.
 
Radio broadcasts:
SwPacHQ to SoPacHQ:
"Use your Fast Transports "CA/DD" to move your troops until our operations are completed."
 
SoPacHQ to SwPacHQ:
"What are you crazy!!! And leave the Yorktown and Lady Lex defenseless, while their support ships transport troops into hostile waters without any protection from their aircraft?"
 

[RGIJN]

putting aside Allied broadcasting, we can publish assured facts: more green bases & dots were turned into red. Tulagi, Dobadura and Woodlark Isalnd fell to the triumphant troops of the Emperor.

We got word from HQ today about the proposed itinerary of the Chief of Staff. We´re looking forward to present him even more success than he might envisage... Most of our available forces are slated for this matter.

Meanwhile, Kido Butai and other vital parts of the Nihon Kaigun are on their way back to Kure to replenish and refuel in time to get underway ASAP to the southern areas. Its said they will sail under the able command of Admiral Yamaguchi Tamon. It couldn´t be better!

[a1981stingray]

USN Search Planes from Port Moresby have spotted the CVL Shoho sailing around in circles just North and East of Buna approximately 150 nautical miles.
 
There will be some CV action today or tomorrow as the Fleets move closer to each other in a cat-n-mouse game...

[RGIJN]

quite strange behaviour of the Allies, maybe they´re confused...[&:] Two ENG units and two escort vessels sighted at Lea Lea, that tiny spot right next to PM.

In the meantime, their carriers were spotted lurking three hexes southwest of Guadalcanal. Obviously they were hoping to sneak in and pummel some helpless juicy troopships or other surface TFs. Wisely, those are busy elsewhere. But there is still a nice barge convoy in reach of enemy destructive means...[;)]

Last night an advance party of the Chief of Staff, Combined Fleet, boarded a Kawanishi flying boat at Kure Naval base. They´re expected to arrive in Truk lagoon in the very next hours, immediately joining the daily briefing.

[a1981stingray]

Yes the ENG at Lea Lea are building a beachfront cabana and a small tropical bar and grill for the USO show... they were supposed to march to Wau but caught sight of some beautiful naked native ladies sun bathing on the sandy beaches and got hypnotized... I suppose it's better than fighting in the malaria ridden jungles of Papua New Guinea. USHQ intercepts disgruntled IJ Search Plane Pilots chatter of why must "they" fly around spying, if the enemy is relaxing on the beach with the ladies?

In other areas, the USN CV TF(s) are on shakedown cruises training green pilots, as you may see in your Intelligence Briefings the number of Allied Sortied Aircraft are much higher than the IJA/IJN. In Fact the IJN/IJA have only about 100 missions flown, which means that their pilots or aircraft are on holiday leave and only their Search Planes have been working overtime...


It will be a real surprise to the IJ Chief of Staff when he realizes that there could have been more advances in captured bases farther south had the IJA/IJN coordinated their efforts. It's possible, I strongly believe, that they could have invaded some small bases on New Caledonia and begun a push towards Noumea had they consolidated all their troops and HQ units. I suspect that the forward commanders will be required to sepechu with their Katanas.


USHQ additional information update soon to follow... mass transport task forces of vital supplies, equipment, troops, and fuel soon to arrive in ports...

[a1981stingray]

Intel Reports loss of life - non-combative units ruthlessly killed by IJN.
Port Moresby: before sunrise, the air raid sirens blasted out the cool quiet morning, as IJN Kate Torpedo Bombers clipped the treetops over the tip of the Owen Stanley Mountain Range to the East. Chaos ensued the troops stationed at Port Moresby, but soon their fears were realized that the enemy planes flew past them and were headed to their favorite cabana bar and grill... you know the rest... 3 ships sunk, huge loss of life... those survivors now want revenge for their fallen compatriot...

[RGIJN]

solved the "problem" at Lea Lea by sending a bold strike from Rabaul. This was also meant to fix the number of daily flight operations the enemy was wondering about... [;)]






AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 05/15/42

Weather: Partly Cloudy

Sub attack near Lea Lea at 9,39

Japanese Ships
SS I-28

Allied Ships
AP Katoomba


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Air attack on TF, near Lea Lea at 9,39

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 40
G3M Nell x 31
G4M1 Betty x 22

no losses

Allied Ships
PG Swan, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
AP Katoomba, Torpedo hits 4, on fire, heavy damage
SC 517, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage


Allied ground losses:
Men lost 40

Attacking Level Bombers:
4 x G4M1 Betty at 200 feet
4 x G4M1 Betty at 200 feet
3 x G3M Nell at 200 feet
4 x G3M Nell at 200 feet
1 x G3M Nell at 200 feet
4 x G3M Nell at 200 feet
4 x G3M Nell at 200 feet
4 x G4M1 Betty at 200 feet
4 x G4M1 Betty at 200 feet
1 x G3M Nell at 200 feet
4 x G3M Nell at 200 feet
4 x G3M Nell at 200 feet
4 x G3M Nell at 200 feet
1 x G4M1 Betty at 200 feet
2 x G3M Nell at 200 feet
1 x G4M1 Betty at 200 feet
4 x G4M1 Betty at 200 feet

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[RGIJN]

On the other side of the Coral Sea, the Allied flattops are still operating in the Tulagi vicinity, looking for some easy prey as we assume.

[RGIJN]

today more victims were found at the seas of the southern theatre of operations. Last few turns saw the spotting of several very suspicious movements by the allied forces. There were several smaller TFs scattered all around, south of Lunga and south of PM. Since major element of the fleet are still unavailable to our local command, we were forced to decide for just one of these enemy offers to attack with our naval air arm.

But this morning also the enemy ships sitting at Port Moresby´s deserted pier were struck by the elite Kokutais based at Rabaul. These poor sailors had not even a single CAP fighter overhead, protecting them from harm.
Fifth Carrier division got some pickings as well. They wiped out two enemy transport convoys. Most of the ships that were hit today outright hit the bottom, three cargo ships and several escort are reported to have slipped under the waves.

[RGIJN]

Three different TFs smashed on one single day, not bad for this early time and the limited forces at hand.
Of course the news spread quickly up to the higher echelons at Truk. CinC Combined Fleet approved additional handout of 1st class sake to the victorious units that contributed to this success.





However, on the quiet we´re wondering that all these enemy ships were empty with no troops onboard. Quite strange... We should further investigate this.





AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 05/20/42

Weather: Partly Cloudy

Air attack on TF, near Port Moresby at 10,40

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 36
G3M Nell x 5
G4M1 Betty x 25

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty x 1 damaged

Allied Ships
PG Kiwi, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
AK Demodocus, Torpedo hits 6, on fire, heavy damage
SC 520

Attacking Level Bombers:
4 x G4M1 Betty at 200 feet
4 x G4M1 Betty at 200 feet
1 x G3M Nell at 200 feet
4 x G4M1 Betty at 200 feet
4 x G4M1 Betty at 200 feet
4 x G4M1 Betty at 200 feet
4 x G3M Nell at 200 feet
4 x G4M1 Betty at 200 feet
1 x G4M1 Betty at 200 feet

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Air attack on TF at 41,50

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 16
D3A Val x 24
B5N Kate x 33

Japanese aircraft losses
B5N Kate x 1 damaged

Allied Ships
AP Orungal, Torpedo hits 5, on fire, heavy damage
SC 641, Bomb hits 8, on fire, heavy damage


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Air attack on TF at 41,50

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 7
D3A Val x 24
B5N Kate x 21

no losses

Allied Ships
SC 639
SC 637
AP Ormiston, Bomb hits 10, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage


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