East Wind Rain - Forcast; stormy - a Dan vs Strawb pbem

[strawb]

A month or so into war and situation is;

Pearl Harbour - a ineffective strike by IJN CVs saw only 2 BB go down. A sweep round Midway by that CV TF found BUT DID NOT attack a USN CV force (*****! said an un-named IJN Admiral)

Brave work by a 4 (or rather two by the time they fired) USN destroyers off Kenadari crippled one of 4 IJN CAs (my CAs getting a kicking again...), while IJN light forces intercepted various RN TFs moving south past Java, sinking a previously damaged RN BB.

Midway falls to heavy assult, situation in doubt on Johnson Island. The Canton gambit fails (*****! said an un-named IJN Admiral, it always worked in planning) when 4 USN CAs turn up and ambush the CL support force. (Must have had a top quality commander leading that lot). The following trans TF aborts and then US CV planes sink remaining IJN CLs (nice work Dan , through grited teeth ) BUT defending that will cost elsewhere eg Midway/Johnson. And the allied BB count in now 4 sunk, but 4 IJN CL vs 2 Allied).

Usuals progress in Burma, Palembang, Java, Borneo, Guadalcanal etc etc Taken Kendari turn 2 and used it as base for several TF on reaction and Auntie Betty to catch fleeing TFs (quite succssfully).

Outlook - Imperial staff suspect a well executed evacuation of key forces and assets has taken place form Java and Phillipines, with major RN redeployment to Northern Australia. KMT forces also seem to be pulling back to concentrate forces. They suspect top quality code breaking has taken place rading IJN plans, to a level that makes MAGIC look like a cheap conjurer. OR I need to change my plans form those vs Hans.... (see 'Day of Infamy Take 47 thread).

I must go - have invasion of Australia to plan using only 2 CA and rowboat while facing most of Indian Ocean RN.

Later....

[daniel123]

Flash Message:

Japanese army of 3 divisions lands at Oahu. The divisions have been identified as the 4 - 7 - 56 infantry divisions. The landings were proceded by air attacks and bombardment from heavy surface forces. The army and marine units have held, causing heavy losses to the invaders. a marine unit continues to hold out on johnson island.

Japanese units continue to advance in the south sea area and along the new guinea coast. port moresby and milne bay have fallen.

The japanese navy has landed army units on many of the islands of the dutch east indies.

US army units continue to hold out on luzon.

British army units continue to hold the southern parts of malaysia. British army units are being pushed back into india.

Chinese cities are falling to the invading units.

[Capt. Harlock]

An invasion of Oahu already?! If the manual is still accurate, that should speed up the arrival of the US reinforcements. (Maybe we'll see the "Essex" before the end of 1942...)

[strawb]

I was trying to use a different strategy as Dan has read my Hans game reports - forgot about early Essex bit... But hey, if I take PH, where they going to base form?

And you really don't want to know how thin my forces are every where else to be able to take Johnson, Midway and threaten PH....

[daniel123]

The only suprise was that I thought, a landing would occur on one of the unoccuppied Hawiian islands first. Then bring in some zero's to gain air superiorty. This should help me in holding Austrialia and India.

[daniel123]

Flash Message

Johnston Island fell it took 1 inf/div 1 bde 2 reg to dig the marines out.

Oahu 2 more japanese infantry divisions landed. the 38 and 55. the Japapese units lost over 57 units the usa about 50 units.

the south pacific area is fairly quite, only 2 landings.

the DEI area is winding down also.

japanese units have moved into the norther route to india.

[strawb]

I attach some scores/losses and a map of Cental SW pacific; Midway is off map but is Japanese.

I tried to surprise PH forces hence straight there rather than other island - as it is I can just about keep my 5 divs resupplied vs US two and one third Divs, and Dan is surely not getting any reinforcements with Yamato and friends always offshore.

India - yes Dan having trouble finding forces to keep my usual pro India strategy at - to many mountain passes and jungle tracks to cover in N Malaya. But still slow progress.

Note that for every sunk IJN CL/CA/DD five are very bent and off to shipyards - the SBDs off PH and Hawaii are being highly effective. Sadly the CV & CVL sunk are RN - Hermes and Illustrious class after an ill judged RN sortie of Andaman Islands.

[strawb]

Japanese bogged down (due to bad logisitics play and strong allied air play) in Hawain Islands and on New Caladonia

US still hold out in Phillippines, some of Solomons yet to be mopped up.

Large numbers of IJN ship losses (and you should SEE the repair yards...) plus rash impatience (IJN CV strike rather than waiting on reaction around US held Fiji) speeds up the CV imbalance.

On up side, Chinese and Indian theatres going well.

But overall - Japan is neither attcking and keeping US off balance BUT nor is it digging in and planning defensive yet - not good for 1943 we think.

Maps and (gory) stats attached.

[daniel123]

05/24/42

Allied press release


The British have held the Japanese at the gates of India. At present no ground warfare. The pilots on both sides are fighting for air control, but its a stalemate.

The islands of the DEI have fallen. There has not been a invasion of Australia as of yet.

The USN reports disaster in the south Pacific. A TF of 3 CV was escourting a convoy to New Caledonia was surprised by land based bombers and suffered terrible lost. 2 CV sunk and 1 damaged. This will set back the time table for a counter attack.

The Hawiian islands are the black hole of the Japanese Navy/airforce and army. The American air units are taking a toll on Japanese shipping trying to resupply the army units. The navy has lost 2 CV and 1 BB plus a number of DDs, MCS's. Nither side has the army units availble to attack with.

[daniel123]

06/14/42


India

the air war continues. the british airmen are slowing gaining control of the skies. Japanese air losses are increasing with every week. British squardrons experiece is increasing.

Hawaiian islands

the USN has delivered USA reinforcement to the island of Hawaii. The USA will begin attacks on the Japanese divions next week. a Japanese supply convoy to Oahu has been hit hard and is still at sea. the USA and USN air crews are ready to make new attacks next week.

South Pacific area

the Japanese carriers have raided New Caledonia. a British reinforcement convoy was caught in unloading and lost 7 ships. another convoy with better air protection lost 2 APs.

[daniel123]

07/12/42

India

Army units are attacking a japanese brigade trapped at Calcutta. This will enable an increase in experience with minimal loses. the air war continues with british airmen gaining the upper hand. onward to Rangoon.

Hawaii

USA units continue to attack on the island of hawaii, the army units are suffering minimmual loses. The Japanese have not sent any resupply mission in the last 2 weeks. the japanese army may have written off these units.

South Pacific

the island of new caledonia continues to hold out. the island of efate was just captured by the japanese. allied forces continue to build up in this area, just waiting for naval forces to become available for a counter attack.

[daniel123]

09/27/1942

India

The ground campain continues, with the Japanese and British forces trading loses. The air war has been won by the British airmen. The air crews are now attacking Japanese airfields.

South Pacific

The Japanese have withdrawn from New Caledonia. The airwar is still a seesaw afare.

Central Pacific

The Japanes aircraft carriers have show up again after being in port for several months. The USN carriers are staying out of their way. The islands of Palmyra and Christmas have fallen to Japanese invasion.

[strawb]

Maps and gory stats attached.

Maps include latest Imperial GHQ plans for modest future operations ...arhumm...

Stalemate in China/India but statc IJA resources hold out against increasing allied ones.

Successful (BUT expensive) evacuation(s) of forces on Pearl lead to dramatic sweep south cutting off Aussie - but probably too late to stop large resources and units deploying to SWPac. But all convoys/replacements will have to fight way through now.

IJA continues guerilla campaign on PH, slowing US reaction.

Sadly phillipine army also continues guerilla campaign in Manila!
:rolleyes:

IJA lands in North Aussie, issue in doubt

IJN pays for failure to take all three of the Espratu/New cal/Efete triangle at same time, as snow size 8 allied airfield on New Cal , two BB TF and THE allied 4xCV TF roam area at will.

USN LBA now VERY GOOD!

Overall - US/CW geographic positon difficult but forces probably close to unstoppable once rolling due to hugh IJN losses (esp in MCS and Transports and their escorts), and once IJN/IJA run out of PPs to do the unpredicable(ie rash) every so often to keep US unbalanced.

While IJN CVs playing at being where US CVs are NOT on purpose, it may be crucial to try to cripple/sink a US CV or two NOW to keep US down to one CV TF for a bit longer. Various ruses to get US CVs in poor position so far failed due to Dan being too smart.

Still see US victory early in 1944. Over to Dan for a view.

S

[daniel123]

11/15/42

India

The British army is waiting on reinforcements to begin the ground campain.

Australia

The Japanese have landed 2 div 2 brg 1 rmt at Darwin. The Dutch infantry have held out against the invaders and bombardment TF. The Japanese TF has taken some major damage.

South Pacific

The Japanese have the momentium, with both side leary of puttin their CVs at risk. The airwar over New Caladonia has been won by the allies. US and British naval forces are attacking the islands of Espertu Santo and Efate.

Central Pacific

The wait for new CVs continues before a counterattack can begin

[deVada]

Emperor has a hard situation now, but I believe that Strawb will continue to slauhter the alliance well into early 1943 ...

His gesture of revealing strategical plans to public must be a extremally clever intelligence trick ...
:p

How many carriers do allies have in line on New Caledonia ?
4 ?
maybe they're from Royal Navy ?

which Japanese carriers were doomed ?

[daniel123]

12/6/1942

India

The British army has been attacking the Japanese trapped at Rachi for the last two weeks. The loses on both sides are small, but the JA unit only has 13+ units. This is allowing the British units to gain experience at little cost.

Phillippines

The last allied units at Manila have surrenderd. This will free up 2 div, 2 brg, 1 reg for the Japanese.

South Pacific

Allied naval and LBA continue to attack Efate and Espertu Santo

Centeral Pacific

The JN cv units are hanging around and the allies dont have the naval power to send against them.

[strawb]

Dan wrote:
'The JN cv units are hanging around..'

Excuse me but the IJN never 'hangs around' anywhere without
purpose.

Devada wrote:
'which Japanese carriers were doomed?'

None as it happens;

In a near perfectly executed trap , several IJN CVs of various shapes, sizes and damage, move in on the 4 CVs of the US TF. The glorious Zeros of the Imperial forces let only a few bombers through and non hit a Japanese ship.

The Japanese Return strike was some 240 aircraft of which over 150 got through BUT Dan's AA gunners were HOT because we hit only two CVs and crippled (4* hit) one :rolleyes: IJN land based air failed to follow up as planned. All in all disappointing but shows that IJN can still float like a butterfly and sting like a bee when needed.

Oh yes and mortified that devada has seen through my carefully thought out and subtle misinformation campaign.....

[Capt. Harlock]

This is what comes of carrier battles in late 1942, when the USN starts converting to the dreaded 40mm AA gun. I personally think it's best for the IJN to wait out November and December, and attack in January, when the Japanese radar comes on-line.

Mind you, detecting the incoming strike doesn't seem to have been a problem in this particular battle!

[daniel123]

1/17/43

India

The British army is on the move. British divisions have captured Diamapu from the Japanese 3/33 brig. A reduced Japanese unit continues to hold out at Ranchi, but is reduced to 9 sqd.

Australia

The Japanese landings at Darwin have proved successful. Allied units have withdrawn to Cloncurry. Broome fell last week, but all allied units had withdrawn. Japanese units have advanced to Cloncurry where Australian units are holding the line.

South Pacific

Japanese CV s are in the area. The allies continue to control the skies over New Caladonia and Efte.

Centeral Pacific

Allied air units continue to attack Japanese army units at Oahua.

North Pacific

Flash message!!!!

A Japanese TF has landed the 17 and 51 infantry divisions and the 27 SBF at Dutch harbor. Allied units continue to hold.

[daniel123]

02/14/43

India

British army units have advanced to Imphal-Khoma and Jorhat. Imphal-Khoma has fallen without fighting, but a HQ was destroyed. British army units are building up at Jorhat.

Australia

Aussie counter attack at Cloncurry is a disaster, over 300 sq lost. Japanese naval units CV and surface bombed Cairns to cover a invasion of army units. (3 inf div, 2 inf brg, 1 rgmt). The loses to both sides was about even over 100 sq.

South Pacific

Air attacks continue against Japanese islands

Centeral Pacific

quite

Northern Pacific

The Japanese army is bottled up on Dutch Harbor. US ground forces have reinforced the island. Japanese unit have landed on Adak island, the regiment there was able to hold out against a SNLF unit.

Flash!!!!

Surface battle around Dutch Harbor. A Japanese surface taskforce has encountered a USN TF made up of modern BB's. Japan has lost 2 BB, 1 CA, 1 CL and 2 DD. USN units suffered minimual damage. USN surface units are now bombarding Japanese army units.