Matrix Games Forums

Posted: **Tue Nov 16, 2010 2:05 pm**

This is a Scenario 28 V04 (Da Big Babes) 1x1 PBM between myself, witpqs, and fellow forum member vicberg. I hope you will find it entertaining at least. Vic, alas, will have to wait until the end of the contest, but such is the fate of opponents in AAR's. This AAR will contain some information subject to opsec, loose lips sink ships!

Comments welcome. Settings and house rules are attached to this post, next post will report on turn 1.

Posted: **Thu Nov 18, 2010 10:23 pm**

In the early morning hours of the mid-Pacific, an explosion racked the BB USS Pennsylvania. Sailors on watch reported seeing a shadow 300 yards off the beam prior to the blast.

Dawn has broken. As a damage control crew works on patching the wound, a short, wiry man wearing a beard and unkempt hair finishes taking measurements read though his wire-rimmed spectacles. He stands back and begins furiously figuring from his notes, flipping the pages of his hand held notebook - stenciled "OSHA" on the cover - like a man possessed. He stops, then looks at the Chief in charge of the work party.

Screwing his face into a contemptuous scowl and pitching his voice in a combination of disdain and mockery he screeches "THIS was no boating accident!"

The Chief contains himself long enough to notice the Captain in his peripheral vision. The Captain points toward the man-from-the-agency-that-does-not-yet-exist, then points toward the water. The Chief smiles.

Many hexes away, er, miles away, the skipper of USS S-38 sleeps fitfully until the XO shakes him awake. Pennsylvania has been torpedoed! As the skipper reaches the control room, sonar announces a contact. Shallows have distorted the sound until the contact is nearly upon them. The scope is raised as torpedoes are readied. The skipper can't believe his eyes - an IJN aircraft carrier! Soryu class by the look of her. All forward tubes fire. Wait, wait, wait... Two tremendous explosions! S-38 evades reprisal and finds the stricken Soryu again. Two more torpedoes find their target! S-38 has avenged Pennsylvania.

Bathed in sweat, the skipper of S-38 wakes to find the XO shaking him urgently. "Captain, the Pennsylvania has been torpedoed inside Pearl Harbor. Captain, we're at war!" As he enters the control room, sonar announces a contact. The skipper is overcome by an intense feeling of deja vu. The scope is raised as torpedoes are readied. As he looks through the rising scope the skipper can't believe his eyes. "Where's the carrier?" Transports move away in the distance as angry escorts rush straight for the would-be avenger...

Posted: **Thu Nov 18, 2010 10:32 pm**

Pennsylvania sustained only modest damage. This business of no Pearl Harbor attack is new to me. I have 7 BB's at PH that will get 1/42 upgrades, but usually those are tacked onto about a year's worth of repairs. BB Pennsylvania will head to the west coast with the others and receive repairs and upgrade at the same time.

The attack on Manila was devastating, but ironically a bit less lethal than the first start where Soryu's planes were unavailable. 20 subs were sunk outright and others damaged. Two escaped harm and are proceeding on war patrol.

Large air strikes hit Manila, Hong Kong, Georgetown, and Kuantan with great carnage at all. Invasions are ashore (or in one case from the air) at Kota Bharu, Vigan, Laong, Aparri, Jolo, and Cagayan. That last one hurts, as one B-17 group will likely be lost when the base falls tomorrow.

Here is a list of ships sunk on turn 1:

Posted: **Thu Nov 18, 2010 10:34 pm**

KB held north of Luzon this time, avoiding the wrath of S-38.

Posted: **Thu Nov 18, 2010 10:36 pm**

The thrusts in the southern Philippines are of most concern. With KB in theater, the eastern DEI will likely be an almost immediate target.

Posted: **Thu Nov 18, 2010 10:51 pm**

Why can't you just rebase the B-17s?

Posted: **Thu Nov 18, 2010 11:40 pm**

ORIGINAL: cap_and_gown

Why can't you just rebase the B-17s?

Almost all were damaged in the invasion bombardments. One group got a plane or two out. The other, none ready. [:(]

Posted: **Sat Nov 20, 2010 3:24 am**

1941-12-08

The War Rages in the Orient A second day of strikes on Manila adds mayhem on top of devastation. A small KB made an appearance SE of Mindanao, attacking fleeing noncombatants. Guess that word is obsolete. Ungarrisoned Jolo fell today. Cagayan resisted, but the hordes rolled the defenders out into the jungle. Kota Bharu busted too. Where's the Royal Navy?

Unlikely Hero xAKL Cetus - little Cetus the sea monster - went head to head with another sea monster in the biggest battle since Godzilla vs King Kong. Three times during the night - three times - she attacked the enemy's main KB, scattering escorts and setting mighty carriers to flight (but not the kind they're used to). DD Shiranui and CA Tone felt the mighty mite's wrath on the second pass. Alas, the third time was too many. The whale sleeps with the fishes.

Enemy KB Crushed! So says the War Department. Fresh from its ordeal with fierce Cetus, the KB was set upon from the air. A full squadron of navy SOC-1 Seagulls heavily escorted by army fighters swooped in through the clouds. The surviving Seagull pilot could only say "Carnage!" The War Dept. announced that intelligence analysts have determined the IJN KB must have been badly mauled and is no longer an effective fighting force. This reporter has doubts.

Morning Air attack on TF, near Catanduanes at 83,80

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid spotted at 40 NM, estimated altitude 6,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 20 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 42

Allied aircraft
P-40B Warhawk x 11
P-40E Warhawk x 30
SOC-1 Seagull x 7

The War Career of Cetus, xAKL

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Aparri at 83,73, Range 12,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CV Kaga
CV Hiryu
CV Soryu
CV Shokaku
CV Zuikaku
CV Akagi
BB Hiei
BB Kirishima
CA Tone
CA Chikuma
CL Abukuma
DD Akigumo
DD Kagero
DD Isokaze
DD Shiranui
DD Urakaze
DD Hamakaze
DD Tanikaze
DD Arare
DD Kasumi

Allied Ships
xAKL Cetus

Improved night sighting under 85% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Overcast Conditions and 85% moonlight: 8,000 yards
Range increases to 12,000 yards...
Both Task Forces evade combat

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Aparri at 84,74, Range 8,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CV Kaga
CV Hiryu
CV Soryu
CV Shokaku
CV Zuikaku
CV Akagi
BB Hiei
BB Kirishima
CA Tone
CA Chikuma
CL Abukuma
DD Akigumo
DD Kagero
DD Isokaze
DD Shiranui
DD Urakaze
DD Hamakaze
DD Tanikaze
DD Arare
DD Kasumi

Allied Ships
xAKL Cetus, Shell hits 1, heavy fires

Improved night sighting under 85% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Overcast Conditions and 85% moonlight: 8,000 yards
Range closes to 8,000 yards...
Range closes to 6,000 yards...
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 6,000 yards
Allied TF attempts to evade combat
Range increases to 7,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 7,000 yards
Range increases to 8,000 yards...
DD Shiranui engages xAKL Cetus at 8,000 yards
Range increases to 11,000 yards
DD Shiranui collides with CA Tone at 84 , 74
CV Akagi engages xAKL Cetus at 11,000 yards
Task forces break off...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Tuguegarao at 83,76, Range 12,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CV Kaga
CV Hiryu
CV Soryu
CV Shokaku
CV Zuikaku
CV Akagi
BB Hiei
BB Kirishima
CA Tone
CA Chikuma
CL Abukuma
DD Akigumo
DD Kagero
DD Isokaze
DD Shiranui
DD Urakaze
DD Hamakaze
DD Tanikaze
DD Arare
DD Kasumi

Allied Ships
xAKL Cetus, heavy fires

Improved night sighting under 85% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Overcast Conditions and 85% moonlight: 8,000 yards
Range increases to 12,000 yards...
Both Task Forces evade combat

Posted: **Sun Nov 21, 2010 5:59 pm**

1941-12-09

Mysteries Collide Where is the Royal Navy? Where is the IJN deploying its submarines? Two mysteries solved at one time. Just south of the western end of Borneo, the Royal Navy engages in a running battle with IJN submarines. The RN lashes out first with it practiced ASW, but counter attacks from beneath the waves are the blows that land. Repulse is savaged by 5 torpedo hits.

Elimination Duty Throughout the Philippines and the northern DEI all manor of Allied vessels are felled by submarines, warships, and air attacks. There is even a carrier staked out east way into the Philippine Sea playing goal tender.

Portents The KB has been sighted near Davao. Meanwhile enemy LBA seems to be ready at Jolo and Cagayan. Pray for rain.

Posted: **Sun Nov 21, 2010 9:10 pm**

ORIGINAL: witpqs

1941-12-09

Mysteries Collide Where is the Royal Navy? Where is the IJN deploying its submarines? Two mysteries solved at one time. Just south of the western end of Borneo, the Royal Navy engages in a running battle with IJN submarines. The RN lashes out first with it practiced ASW, but counter attacks from beneath the waves are the blows that land. Repulse is savaged by 5 torpedo hits.

Elimination Duty Throughout the Philippines and the northern DEI all manor of Allied vessels are felled by submarines, warships, and air attacks. There is even a carrier staked out east way into the Philippine Sea playing goal tender.

Portents The KB has been sighted near Davao. Meanwhile enemy LBA seems to be ready at Jolo and Cagayan. Pray for rain.

5 torps? [&:][X(] I am guessing from the lack of a report otherwise that the Repulse survived.

Posted: **Sun Nov 21, 2010 10:16 pm**

1941-12-10

The Roundup Repulse crawls for safety but only a hex at a time. The destruction of the merchant fleet and support train continues as individual ships flee. At least one enemy sub has penetrated the Sunda Strait, but she'll run out of torpedoes before she runs out of targets. KB lingers SW of Davao, taking target practice but perhaps also guarding the surface forces hunting in the Sulu Sea. Enemy air pounds troops retreating to fortress Singapore. Clark and Manila air bases are virtually shut down. An enemy sub's radio beacon was being tracked headed for the west coast, but contact is lost. All ships are alerted.

Small Boats Win Big Victory Enemy ships unloading at Laoag are set upon in the dark of night by a quartet of deadly mosquito boats. The transports and their lone escort are caught practically at anchor. Four torpedoes strike home, sinking the escort and a transport and leaving another sure to sink. The mighty mites then move in and rake the columns with auto cannon fire, managing to set ablaze two more of the Empire's invasion bringers.

Night Time Surface Combat, near Laoag at 81,72, Range 4,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
PB Chohakusan Maru, Shell hits 3, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
xAK Brisbane Maru
xAK Sydney Maru
xAK Hawaii Maru, Shell hits 1
xAK Arizona Maru
xAK Anyo Maru
xAK Akiura Maru
xAK Kazuura Maru
xAK Kumagawa Maru
xAK Keiyo Maru
xAK Tatukami Maru
xAK Okiyu Maru
xAK Kosei Maru
xAK Kotoku Maru
xAK Sanko Maru
xAK Keisho Maru, Shell hits 3
xAK Matsukawa Maru, Shell hits 1
xAK Takao Maru
xAK Hokuan Maru
xAK Maya Maru, heavy damage
xAK Takaoka Maru
xAK Atlas Maru
xAK Kamoi Maru, Shell hits 2
xAK Shinyubari Maru, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
xAK Bunzan Maru
xAK Shirogane Maru
xAK Shinko Maru
xAK Tenzan Maru
xAK Yamadori Maru, Shell hits 7, heavy fires
xAK Karachi Maru
xAK Ohio Maru
xAK Pacific Maru
xAK Kuwayama Maru
xAK Siraha Maru
xAK Yuzan Maru, Shell hits 4
xAK Anzan Maru #2, Shell hits 5, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAKL Kurama Maru
xAK Oigawa Maru
xAK Chuko Maru, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

Allied Ships
PT-32
PT-33
PT-35
PT Q-112

Allied Ships Reported to be Approaching!
Japanese TF suspends unloading operations and begins to get underway
Allied Ships Reported to be Approaching!
Maximum visibility in Partly Cloudy Conditions and 57% moonlight: 11,000 yards
Range closes to 10,000 yards...
Range closes to 8,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 8,000 yards
Range closes to 6,000 yards...
Range closes to 4,000 yards...
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 4,000 yards
Range closes to 2,000 yards
PT Q-112 engages PB Chohakusan Maru at 2,000 yards
PB Chohakusan Maru engages PT-33 at 2,000 yards
PT Q-112 engages xAK Yamadori Maru at 2,000 yards
xAK Siraha Maru collides with xAK Maya Maru at 81 , 72
PB Chohakusan Maru engages PT-35 at 2,000 yards
PB Chohakusan Maru engages PT-33 at 2,000 yards
PT Q-112 engages xAK Yuzan Maru at 2,000 yards
PT Q-112 engages xAK Keisho Maru at 2,000 yards
Range increases to 3,000 yards
PB Chohakusan Maru engages PT Q-112 at 3,000 yards
PB Chohakusan Maru engages PT-35 at 3,000 yards
PT Q-112 engages xAK Brisbane Maru at 3,000 yards
Range increases to 4,000 yards
PB Chohakusan Maru engages PT Q-112 at 4,000 yards
PT Q-112 engages xAK Chuko Maru at 4,000 yards
PB Chohakusan Maru sunk by PT-33 at 4,000 yards
Range closes to 2,000 yards
PT Q-112 engages xAK Anzan Maru #2 at 2,000 yards
PT-32 engages xAK Shinyubari Maru at 2,000 yards
PT Q-112 engages xAK Chuko Maru at 2,000 yards
PT Q-112 engages xAK Anzan Maru #2 at 2,000 yards
PT Q-112 engages xAK Yuzan Maru at 2,000 yards
PT Q-112 engages xAK Takaoka Maru at 2,000 yards
PT Q-112 engages xAK Matsukawa Maru at 2,000 yards
Range increases to 3,000 yards
xAK Anyo Maru collides with xAK Maya Maru at 81 , 72
PT Q-112 engages xAK Yuzan Maru at 3,000 yards
Range closes to 2,000 yards
PT Q-112 engages xAK Chuko Maru at 2,000 yards
PT Q-112 engages xAK Anzan Maru #2 at 2,000 yards
PT Q-112 engages xAK Yuzan Maru at 2,000 yards
PT Q-112 engages xAK Takaoka Maru at 2,000 yards
Range increases to 3,000 yards
PT Q-112 engages xAK Chuko Maru at 3,000 yards
PT-35 engages xAK Shinyubari Maru at 3,000 yards
Range closes to 2,000 yards
PT-35 engages xAK Kamoi Maru at 2,000 yards
PT-32 engages xAK Maya Maru at 2,000 yards
PT Q-112 engages xAK Okiyu Maru at 2,000 yards
PT-35 engages xAK Chuko Maru at 2,000 yards
PT Q-112 engages xAK Hawaii Maru at 2,000 yards
Vazquez S. orders Allied TF to disengage
PT Q-112 engages xAK Kamoi Maru at 2,000 yards
PT-35 engages xAK Kamoi Maru at 2,000 yards
PT Q-112 engages xAK Anzan Maru #2 at 2,000 yards
PT Q-112 engages xAK Yuzan Maru at 2,000 yards
Range increases to 8,000 yards
PT Q-112 engages xAK Chuko Maru at 8,000 yards
Range increases to 12,000 yards
PT Q-112 engages xAK Oigawa Maru at 12,000 yards
PT Q-112 engages xAK Yuzan Maru at 12,000 yards
Task forces break off...

Posted: **Mon Nov 22, 2010 4:44 am**

1941-12-11

Monotonous Mayhem The submarine Sunda Shooting Gallery is open for business, while the South China Sea sees battleship big gun practice on anything that happens by. Repulse is moving at rowboat speed toward its fate. KB is south of Jolo guarding the foxes as they raid the chicken coup. Tandjoengselor - a small town 40 miles distant from Tarakan - is invaded and will serve as a springboard toward that oil center. Hong Kong is fully invested and must soon feel the force of ground attacks. Rumors of maneuvers and battles inland in China. Nothing concrete, but more IJ steamrolling.

Posted: **Tue Nov 23, 2010 2:10 am**

1941-12-12

Alas, Alor Star The boys in Alor Star have been cut off but good. Enemy units moving faster from Patani, aided by air strikes on the good guys, have blocked the road.

Imperial Lake The KB dances in the Celebes Sea while invasion forces move to and fro.

Philippine Squeeze The enemy moves down Luzon in force. Meanwhile, paratroopers land ahead of the main body, seizing Cabanatuan. Clark Field is non-operational, but most ground forces have made the haven. Forts will remain at level 1 as teaspoons for digging were left in Manila.

Subs Sally The IJN subs continue their work but activity levels were lower. They must be going back for reloads. A Dutch sub scored on an xAK. Keep hunting - there are more.

Posted: **Tue Nov 23, 2010 4:42 pm**

1941-12-13

The Roundup Georgetown fortress fought ferociously, finally fell. Hong Kong has withstood the enemy's assault, but maybe for the last time. Menado invaded! Highly skilled (36) Dutch jungle fighters are on scene. They'll hold. Rumors of bloody fighting at Ichang with Chinese attackers taking far more casualties than the occupiers. Still, forts are destroyed and the boys feel good. Tomorrow is the day. The enemy advance on Luzon continues, but the lost battalion of Bayombong will try to delay them. In five more days another division forms at Manila - that'll turn the tide. The big news today is from Rangoon, where Oscar and Sally came to visit. Oscar went home but Sally stayed. AVG/1st and 67 RAF were very persuasive. Repulse still floats on the tide, too massive for its tiny escorts to pull any faster. Maybe the enemy thinks she sunk already? Remember - loose lips, sink ships - hush, hush.

Posted: **Wed Nov 24, 2010 12:51 am**

1941-12-14

Ichang Interrupted The boys got smoked at Ichang. The IJA threw all the air it had at them and disrupted the attack fiercely. Casualties were near even but our guys need a rest. Bringing in some reinforcements too, then on with deliberate assaults.

The Fallen Guam, Bayombong, Lingayen, and Manado make up the list for today. The lost battalion is dancing behind the lines, but Luzon is kinda small.

NSJ The Celebes Sea has been renamed the New Sea of Japan. At least 6 large enemy task forces present or entering the newly proprietary body of water, and a large radio source is coming down from the Sulu Sea. The KB has already purchased real estate, so what is it? Godzilla?

Fortress HK Hong Kong holds another day. Surely that's more than we could ask.

Posted: **Wed Nov 24, 2010 4:11 am**

1941-12-15

Weathered In The Celebes Sea Celebrities have mostly vanished in the mist. Radio traffic fixes the KB near the entrance to the Makassar Strait. You know - the Dutch sub playground.

Hong Kong Holds I never get tired of hearing that! Rumor is the invaders have called for reinforcements.

Alor Star Lucky Star? The IJA has invested Alor Star, where our boys are cut off. They mean to do them in.

Posted: **Wed Nov 24, 2010 2:12 pm**

How do you know that is the KB in the Celebes? Does your sigint say there are carriers there, or just "heavy radio transmissions?"

Posted: **Wed Nov 24, 2010 4:21 pm**

They have been there - confirmed by sightings up through the previous turn - and this turn when most TF sightings in the CS disappeared (seemingly due to weather) there is a heavy radio source where I noted. Their location is not a certainty, but a reasonable likelihood. Other places they could have sprinted to without being detected are either less interesting or non-threatening in the immediate term. They could even still be in the CS but in a different locale, with the heavy radio source being the Godzilla-like radio source detected a turn earlier.

The enemy seem to have their eye on Balikpapan, giving it heavy air raids despite the continuing absence of planes and ships there. Two search groups are still operating from forward bases in the far-eastern DEI, and so far no sign of an incursion toward Ambon and/or Kendari. Tarakan is threatened by the forces marching from the adjacent base, so Balikpapan might well be next, although the same could be said for Ambon and Kendari after Menado's fall. No concrete information, though.

Posted: **Wed Nov 24, 2010 4:25 pm**

I understand going after KB with everything but the kitchen sink.  xAKLs are the kitchen sink.....

Posted: **Wed Nov 24, 2010 4:52 pm**

ORIGINAL: Mike Solli

I understand going after KB with everything but the kitchen sink. xAKLs are the kitchen sink.....

Why be so timid? I say, hell, throw in the kitchen sink! [:'(]

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