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Iron Storm again!

Feurer Krieg and I are going to be playtesting the second version of Iron Storm, my alternate history scenario. I will be playing the Allies, and Feurer Krieg the Japanese. This will be a joint AAR, although I will be doing most of the posting – so I will be keeping a few secrets from FK, and the public. [:D]

Iron Storm is basically a “what if” scenario – set up supposing that some historical events had gone differently. I’ve tried to keep my changes to history plausible. The website has the full story – link is >>>here<<< - but I’ll try to sum it up in a paragraph.

The Washington Treaty went slightly differently, allowing the Japanese, British and Americans to complete a few of the battlecruisers they had under construction at the time. The Japanese have a somewhat larger and tougher fleet (thanks to a hypothetical Admiral Shimizu) and a better starting position in Southeast Asia, having occupied Thailand. The Italians have signed an armistice after a series of defeats to the British, who now have the resources to massively reinforce the Far East. The Dutch have German-made battlecruisers on the prowl.

It is now early morning, December 7th, 1941. The carriers of the First Air Fleet under Admiral Ozawa are within striking range of their target...

A lot has changed from default WitP. I’ll go into more detail in the following posts. Stay tuned!

Game Settings

Version: 1.795 beta
Scenario: Scenario 50 (Iron Storm v2 Beta)
1 day turns
Player defined upgrades – ON
Sub doctrines – OFF
Fog of war – ON
Advanced weather effects – ON
Allied damage control – ON
Historical First Turn – OFF (for Japan)
Vary setup – OFF
December 7th Surprise – ON
Reinforcements – STANDARD

House Rules: IJAAF Lt. Sentais stay as single-engined bombers.
Allied 2E bombers stay as 2E bombers.

The turn is still in Feurer's hands, so I think I'll give you guys some background information! I'll start by working through the Allied position in the Far East. Counter-clockwise, starting with India.

[center]Allied Forces in the Far East - 12/6/41

India[/center]

[center][/center]

Not a whole lot different here - most British and Commonwealth reinforcements have been sent to Singapore. However, there are a few scraps and tidbits leftover from the Italian armistice, and others that are still in transit to Malaya.

"1" on the map marks the naval base at Columbo. The battleship HMCS Canada, light carrier HMS Eagle, and a mixed bag of mostly old cruisers and destroyers are at anchor here as part of the Slow Escort Force. Their job is to coperate with the RAF in escorting troop and supply convoys through the Indian Ocean.

"2" marks both Calcutta and Dacca. Both bases have a squadron of Hurricanes and Blenheims. No.242 Squadron RAF (16x Hurricane) and No.14 Squadron RAF (12x Blenheim) are at Calcutta. No.17 Squadron RAF (16x Hurricane) and No.13 Squadron RAF (12x Blenheim) are at Dacca.

Also at Calcutta is the 4th Indian Division, returned from the now-peaceful Mediterranean to assist in the recruitment and training of new Indian divisions.

"3" marks the Middle East and Aden bases - this game is being played on the latest version of Andrew's Extended map. Another pair of Hurricane and Blenheim squadrons is at Aden, waiting for transport to Singapore.

Everything else is as per standard CHS.

[center]Burma and the Andaman Islands[/center]

[center][/center]

Again, not too many changes here - dribs and drabs. Rangoon has been slightly reinforced relative to history (1 new brigade and RAF squadron only). Most of the resources diverted to this theatre are being focused on Port Blair in the Andamans, where a seaplane base is being established.

"1" on the map marks Port Blair. British engineers are putting the finishing touches on the facilities necessary for a seaplane base here, and have enlarged the airfield. A squadron of Catalinas has already been flown in. At anchor in the harbor is the seaplane carrier HMS Albatross, currently operating ten Spitfire Type 355s - a Spitfire on floats.

[center]
HMS Albatross' Type 355s.[/center]

"2" marks Rangoon. Rangoon Force and both Indian Brigades defending the town proper have been brought up nearly to full strength. Available on the airfields are No.16 Squadron RAF (16x Hurricane) and No.48 Squadron RAF (16x Hudson).

"3" marks Mandalay. The AVG is here, as usual.

[center]Malaya and Singapore

[/center]

Most of the interest definitely lies here. The end of the war in the Med has allowed the British to transfer large reinforcements to the theatre. The effective Japanese occupation of Thailand has only spurred on that movement. General Slim commands the large and well-equipped Malaya Army, while Admiral Cunningham controls the British Eastern Fleet from his headquarters in Singapore. Veterans of the Desert War stare across the Thai border at China-hardened Japanese troops.

"1" represents both the Allied position at Alor Star and the Japanese position at Singora. The unopposed Japanese occupation of Thailand has made a successful overland invasion of Malaya a distinct possibility. Intel reports that the Japanese 25th Army, under a General Yamashita, has taken position in Singora. It is composed of 2 or perhaps three divisions and an unknown number of supporting units. In response, General Slim's Malaya Army has been heavily reinforced along the northern border:

[center]
British and Commonwealth troops at Alor Star. This area was never heavily fortified pre-war, since the British planned for Thai neutrality. Slim's best troops, the 7th Australian Division, are here.[/center]

"2" represents RAF and Army dispositions across Malaya and Singapore as a whole. The Peninsula and the Island have been heavily reinforced by both services. This gives me a chance to post some OOBs! British and Commonwealth troop dispositions are as follows:

-- --

But that was just the ground troops. The RAF, RAAF, and RCAF dispositions in Malaya are as follows:

----

As you can see, the expanded British position in Malaya is probably the most significant difference between Iron Storm and history. If all goes well, the fight for Malaya will be a hard slog for Yamashita. [:)]

And FINALLY, "3" on the map marks Singapore Naval Base. Cunningham's Eastern Fleet is large and dangerous.

[center]
Capital ships at Singapore, 12/6/41.[/center]

Not shown: 13 cruisers (both heavy and light), 20 destroyers and 7 subs, mostly modern, supporting Cunningham's force. Also not shown are the battlecruisers HMAS Australia (ex-HMS Tiger) and HMS Repulse, returning from a visit to Australia. They are expected to return early December 9th.

----

Whew! I hope this post doesn't murder anyone's modem. My next will explain the changes in the NEI and the Philippines. The final post will cover everything else. [:)]

From the book, British Fortunes of War, chapter 4 "British Disaster at Singapore":

Prior to the surprise attack at Singapore, the British had been enjoying a string of successes from South America to the North Sea. The Japanese however had plans to change all that. Before we cover the details of the war in earnest, a brief review of some of the actions taken by the Japanese leading up to December 7, 1941.

Spring 1941 - Japan begins to plan for the conquest of areas needed to provide resources that will sustain its offensives in China. Plans are put in place to elimanate the threat of the US Fleet by attacking its primary base in Pearl Harbor.

Early Summer 1941 - With the setbacks suffered by their European Allies, the Japanese begin war planning based on a stronger British presense in the Pacific theater.

Summer 1941 - With intel reporting large amounts of British reinforcements entering Singapore, Burma and India, Adms Yamamoto and Shimizu begin discussions about altering the US first plan. After several days of discussion a new plan is formed. If the British Eastern Fleet is allowed to control the South China Sea, there is no possible way that resources could be transported back from the SRA, even if a route through the Phillipines was used to conquer the SRA. Therefore new plans call for a early morning attack against Singapore by the vast majority of carrier based Japanese airpower. The attack will be riskier due to the British being on a war footing already, but believing in the laxness of Allied defenses, it is felt that an early morning strike will catch the defenders of Singapore off guard. A small escort will be sent, with the majority of fighters kept ready and launched to fly an intense patrol over the carrier group to defend against an almost certain counter strike from the Malayan penisula.

September 1941 - The conquest of the Phillipines is planned and approved by upper command levels. Adm Shimizu successfully argues the point that carrier power will be sufficient to prevent the US Warships from reaching the Phillipine Islands and that a strong initial attack will be able overrun the island long before US reinforcements can hope to arrive. Plans are made for several landings to occur in the late evening of the morning following the Singapore raid.

October 1941 - Ships are prepared for their missions and begin moving to ports for final loadouts and stocking.

November - December 1941 - Moving singly or in pairs, the various IJN Carriers make their way westwards to various locations. The Singapore raid calls for these carrier groups to rendezvous 200 miles east of Singapore during the night of Dec 6, 1941, to launch strikes early in the morning hours. Later in the day, large airstrikes will hit Clark Field in the Phillipines, and landings will go ahead wherever possible throughout Borneo, the PI, and the Gilbert Island chain. Paratroops will secure some lightly held bases such as Jesselton, Victoria Point and Lamon Bay. Many aircraft will scour the South China Seas for enemy cargo ships and they will be captured or sunk by Destroy attack groups or land based bomber and fighter aircraft.

Adm Yamamoto reviews plans for the attack on the British Eastern Fleet:

Continuing counter-clockwise, we have the Netherlands East Indies and the Philippines.

[center]Allied Forces in the Far East - 12/6/41 - Part Two

The Netherlands East Indies[/center]

[center][/center]

There are few differences from default CHS here - at least relative to Malaya, thank God. Most of the changes have to do with ships, although the KNIL (Koninklijk Nederlands Indisch Leger, or Royal Dutch Indies Army) has received a slight boost in morale from the heavy British reinforcement of the SRA. Maybe they'll last an extra day or two! [:'(]

"1" on the map marks Palembang. Nothing has changed here (other than the absence of CLs Dragon and Durban), but I've marked it because it's an extremely important location - and it will be much harder for Japan to take. You'd have to be insane to try and go for it without Singapore falling. This applies to much of Sumatra and Borneo.. which means I have time to reinforce, at least theoretically.

"2" marks the Dutch airbase at Bandoeng. General Wavell's ABDA HQ is here, as well. I like this location because it's far north, but safe from bombardments. A couple of the Dutch airgroups have been shuffled around, but there's no real change in their composition. (The CW-21 Demon groups have better experience than usual. In Iron Storm, more Dutch pilots participated in the Battle of Britain instead of just a few combat observers.)

"3" marks the Naval Base at Soerabaja. I will go into the backstory some more later, but it has been expanded to a Level 9 port, to accomodate the three German-built battlecruisers the Dutch now possess. Also available are a few extra CLs and destroyers to complement the BCs. More on these guys in the future...

The Philippines[/center]

[center][/center]

Almost nothing changed here!

"1" marks Clark Field. An extra squadron of B-17s has been flown in, to represent American recognition of the larger Japanese threat in Iron Storm.. but that's all.


----

Okay, last post coming up in a bit. Will cover the rest of the Pacific. [:)]

Alright!. Looking good! You two are my favorite AAR authors![;)] Good luck to you both...

Alikchi is certainly a better writer than I. I don't have as much time these days, but I do hope to add some flavor now and then. Certainly there will be some falsehoods and propaganda from time to time since this is a shared AAR.

Ah shucks, I'm really not that good. Just long-winded. [:D] I admire Feurer's style.. that last post was excellent! And ominous.

I am looking forward to the propoganda, I have to say..

--

Leaving the SRA, here I'll detail changes to the Pacific Fleet at Pearl and the Royal New Zealand Navy at Auckland.

[center]Allied Forces in the Far East - 12/6/41 - Part Three

The Pacific Fleet[/center]

[center][/center]

The USN is slightly larger in Iron Storm than in reality - three battlecruisers larger, in fact. The "battlecruiser clause" in Iron Storm's Washington Treaty allows the USN to complete three of their five Lexington-class battlecruisers - Constellation, Constitution and United States. The other two, Lexington and Saratoga, are converted to CVs.

The battlecruisers are the only American capital ships speedy enough to keep up with the carriers and usually serve as escorts in carrier task forces. Constitution, for example, is almost always paired up with Lexington.

[center]
Capital ships of the Pacific Fleet at Pearl Harbor. Lexington and Constitution are preparing to make a run to Wake Island to deliver Wildcats there. Oklahoma has been sent to the West Coast for boiler repairs.[/center]

[center]New Zealand and her Navy[/center]

[center][/center]

The RNZN (Royal New Zealand Navy), along with the RAN and RCN, was allowed to keep one "Capital Ship" under the Washington Treaty, to serve as a flagship. New Zealand couldn't afford to buy a new ship from Britain, and so was forced to stick with the old Indefatigable-class battlecruiser HMNZS New Zealand.

[center]
HMNZS New Zealand.[/center]

The ship has actually turned out to be surprisingly handy. Although she essentially sat in mothballs through most of the 1920s, a major pre-war rebuild in Britain turned her into a powerful "light battlecruiser", and the perfect answer to Germany's "pocket battleships". She proved her worth at the Battle of the River Platte by pounding Graf Spee under the water with 12" "heavy" shells. Her task, along with light cruisers Leander and Achilles is to defend the sealanes between the US and Australia from Japanese AMCs.


----

I think that's enough for now - most of the changes to the Allies that impact the strategic situation have been listed above. You'll learn about the Japanese as I fight them. [;)]

Coming up soon - FINALLY - the actual game! [8D]

Here we go.. what a turn!

12/7/41 - Part One

The Japanese plans for this day were completely successful.

In the early hours of the morning, essentially all of Japan's carrier fleet approached to within striking distance of Singapore Naval Base.

[center]
The aircraft of Japanese First Air Fleet, or Dai-Ichi Kido Butai, begin their attack on Singapore Naval Base.[/center]

The RAF in Malaya was caught almost completely by surprise. The IJAAF had already begun launching airstrikes against Kota Bharu and Alor Star earlier in the morning, and their was much confusion in Air Marshal Park's headquarters. (All four squadrons based at Alor Star were nearly wiped out by the massive initial strike.) The majority of the Japanese carrier fleet was believed to be in Japan proper. The first sign the British had of the approaching Japanese strike was a massive "blob" on radar. Beaufighters and other aircraft were scrambled from Tengah Airfield, but not nearly enough, and not in time. Japanese dive and torpedo bombers began their runs at 7:26 AM Singapore time.

The elderly light carrier Hermes was the first ship to be effectively destroyed. She was in the Fleet Anchorage facing the naval base in the Johore Straits when a series of loud explosions shattered the morning silence - three 250kg bombs smashing through her unarmoured deck nearly simultaneously. A Kate's torpedo smacked into the burning ship almost immediately afterwards. Not being at full war stations, the old carrier was unable to control the situation and sunk in shallow water at 7:58.

[center]
The wreck of HMS Hermes obscured by smoke and flame. 8:15 (approx).[/center]

HMS Rodney was the luckiest battleship in Singapore on this day. The ship, well protected by her very accurate AA fire, still took one intial torpedo, one blowing a hole 45ft long and 30 feet high, but left the machinery intact. Rodney went underway in an attempt to escape - however, her status as a "moving target" attracted dive bombers to her. Multiple (6 or more) bombs completely wrecked the forward part of the ship. After taking two more torpedoes, she was forced to beach near Rambley Point.

Prince of Wales, anchored next to Rodney, was somewhat protected by that ship's bulk, at least before Rodney attempted to escape - enemy Kates had to loop around to perform a torpedo attack on her, although she was still vulnerable to Val attack. Both ships shot well, Prince of Wales shooting down two bombers and Rodney five. Still, one torpedo defeated Prince of Wales' flak and torpedo protection system, venting behind the belt and causing a severe internal fire. No less than 19 bombs (9x250kg, 2x800kg, and 8x50kg) impacted the ship's upper decks, causing many crew casualties, destroying the hangar, knocking out multiple secondary and tertiary weapons, and starting an enormous fire. Witnesses said they saw the starboard upper plating "peeled out like flower petals." Still, even with the very heavy damage, the ship was able to stay afloat.

Ark Royal and Formidable were anchored together, opposite Rodney and Prince of Wales. These fast, modern carriers were the core of Cunningham's fleet. Ark Royal had independently detected the incoming strike on her radar and was actually in the process of launching her Sea Hurricanes when the attack began. Formidable had only barely started.

[center]
Ark Royal before the war.[/center]

The Japanese aviators had been told to concentrate particularly on the carriers, and that they did. Four torpedos and a flurry of bombs slammed into Ark Royal's hull almost immediately after the attack had begun. Ark Royal's weak torpedo defences could not handle four torpedoes at one time, and she ponderously rolled onto her side, flinging aircraft into the water near Formidable, who wasn't doing so well herself. Six Kates scored four hits on Formidable, not quite sinking her, but severely damaging her, and forcing most of her crew to be engaged in damage control. The Kates swept off to strafe the nearby machine shops. Both stricken carriers sucked in dozens of small and medium bombs through the attack, although their crews were too busy fighting a losing battle against severe flooding to notice.

Malaya and Warspite were both anchored individually, although their stories were very similar. With no accompanying capital ship to shield them from torpedo or bomb strikes, these old WWI clunkers succumbed very early.

[center]
HMS Malaya under heavy attack by Val dive bombers of the carrier Kairyu.[/center]

Malaya was the first of the two to go. Multiple 250kg bombs smashed into her superstructure, although not penetrating the deck. They did suppress the old battleship's AA fire enough for a full daitai of Kates to begin their attack run on Malaya's area of the fleet base. Three torpedoes slammed into the ship, which was attempting to work up steam. The effect was severe. Both forward starboard boiler rooms were opened to teh sea, and the flooding spread through ruptured overheads on the lower deck. The bow submerged very quickly and the ship assumed an extremely heavy list, submerging the 6" battery casemates, which were far from watertight. Malaya lost all stability and collapsed in on herself in the process of rolling over.

The story of Warspite was far simpler. High level Kate bombers, carrying modified 16.1" battleship shells, attacked the ship at approximately 8:04. By then, Formidable was a burning wreck, Ark Royal and Malaya had capsized, Hermes had sunk in shallow waters, and all other capital ships had been more or less damaged.

The third plunging shell penetrated 'A' magazine and shell handling areas, detonating both forward magazines at 8:05. The entire forward half of the ship become a gutted, flaming inferno. Nearly three quarters of Warspite's crew did not escape.

[center]
Warspite explodes.[/center]

The confusion raised by the attack was enormous. Small boats and ships began to fire wildly on what they believe to be human torpedoes broaching the water. Admiral Cunningham immediately ordered all ships capable of movement to sortie. The Australian AMC Kanimba was attacked and sunk by a group of Akagi's Vals while she attempted to escape in this manner.

[center]
Kanimba takes a hit.[/center]

By 8:30 the initial attack wave had departed. Spitfires and Beaufighters had been launched throughout the attack and harried the enemy as he returned to his carriers. They found themselves out of position when more than seventy two-engined bombers appeared over Singapore at 8:53.

[center]
The second wave.[/center]

About half of the Nells attempted to bomb the anchorage from medium altitude, scoring multiple hits, while others came screaming in at 200 knots and 20 feet for their torpedo runs. This attack was somewhat less effective than the carrier strike, with multiple enemy aircraft damaged or destroyed by land-based AAA. Most of the ships already damaged took additional bomb hits at this point - including the destroyed hulks. Prince of Wales received another torpedo. Our Spitfires received target practice. The Nells did do a fair amount of damage to the King George VI Graving Dock and above-ground fuel tanks, however.

----

That's enough for tonight. December 7th, part two will show up tomorrow...

Before I go to bed - here's something I've had ready - a short OOB for Allied naval forces in the SRA, in Iron Storm. This does not show losses to Japan's Singapore strike.

Part two of 12/7/41 tomorrow!

--

[center]Major Allied Naval Forces in the SRA, 12/6/41

-ROYAL NAVY-[/center]

Singapore: Force Z – Task: To act as a constraint upon the activities of the Japanese, and attrit the IJN if the situation is favorable



Fast striking force:

CV Ark Royal, CV Formidable, CVL Hermes

BB Prince of Wales, BC Repulse, BC Australia

CA: Dorsetshire, Devonshire, Melbourne
CL: Perth, Hobart, Emerald, Enterprise, Mauritius, Sydney
DD: Hereward, Gallant, Fortune, Express, Electra, Ashanti, Nubian, Eskimo, Kipling, Kelvin, Vampire, Vendetta, Voyager, Stuart, Jaguar, Jackal

Slow striking force:

BB Rodney, BB Malaya, BB Warspite

CA: Frobisher, Hawkins
CL: Dragon, Delhi, Danae, Despatch
DD: Juno, Jersey, Jervis, Javelin, Janus, Jupiter, Ambuscade, Amazon, Anthony, Active


Mine defence force:

MSW: Maryborough, Bendigo, Cromarty, Romney
ML: Kung Wo, Abdiel, Manxman


Submarine group:

SS: Truant, Rover, Sealion, Ultimatum, Uproar, Urge, Unbeaten


Georgetown: Penang Naval Group (RAN Command) – Task: To cover merchant vessels (including rice ships from India) arriving at this important port that commands the Malacca strait

CL Adelaide (flagship)
DD: Thanet, Tenedos
DM: Stronghold, Sabre
AR Platypus, Ping Wo
Tanker Kurumba
MSW: Banka, Goulburn, Burnie

Columbo: Slow Escort Force – Task: To cooperate with the RAF for troop and supply convoy escort in the Indian Ocean

CVL Eagle

BB Canada

CA: Exeter
CL: Columbo, Ceres, Durban
DD: Kimberly, Kingston, Kandahar, Isis, Encounter



[center]-USN ASIATIC FLEET-[/center]


Manila Bay and Olongapo:

DesDiv 59 + Houston:

CA Houston (Flagship of Asiatic Fleet, currently at Iloilo)
DD: Pope, John D. Ford, Peary (under repair), Pillsbury (under repair).

Submarine force:

SS: S-37, S-38, S-40, S-41, Porpoise, Pike, Shark, Tarpon, Perch, Pickerel, Permit, Salmon, Seal, Skipjack, Snapper, Stingray, Sturgeon, Sargo, Saury, Spearfish, Sculpin, Sailfish, Swordfish, Seadragon (under repair), Sealion (under repair), Searaven, Seawolf.


Balikpapan:

DesDiv 57 + Boise:

CL Boise (flag – en route from Cebu)
DD: Whipple, Alden, John D. Edwards, Edsall
Tender: Black Hawk

Tarakan:

DesDiv 58 + Marblehead:

CL Marblehead (flag)
DD: Stewart, Bulmer, Barker, Paul Jones, Parrott



[center]-ROYAL NETHERLANDS NAVY-[/center]


Soerabaja:

Striking Force:

BC De Zeven Provincien, BC Wilem Warmont, BC Van Brakel

CL: De Ruyter, Eendracht, Kijkduin
DD: Banckert, Witte de With, Kortenaer, Piet Hein, Vlieland, Hertog Hendrik, Van der Heyden, Ijseelmer, Dordtrect, Noordbrabant

Scouting Force:

CL Tromp (flag)
DD: Van Nes, Evertsen, Van Speyk

Convoy Escort Force:

CL: Celebes, Java, Sumatra (under repair)
DD: Groningen, Katham Van Ghent (under repair),

Submarine Force:

K-7, K-8,K-9, K-10, K-11, K-12,K-13,K-14, K-15,K-16, K-17, K-18
O-16, O-17, O-19, O-20.

--

One word, two letters: O-W!

That was more destructive than any Pearl Harbor strike I've ever seen![X(]

You should have seen it in game! It was freakin' ridiculous!! [X(] Really!

2 CVs, one CVL, and two BBs sunk in port on one day with almost no losses to the enemy. The Eastern Fleet gutted. It was masterful and completely unexpected - kudos to FK! [&o]

I dunno how I'll react. I'd been banking on the two-weeks-or-so of time I would have before the KB showed up in the SRA to fortify the place and run supplies into Singapore. That time is gone, and I'm already feeling the crunch...

Well, he now more or less has the run of the SRA. The American Asiatic Fleet sure as hell isn't going to threaten the KB, and the Dutch battlecruisers have insufficient aircover. It'll be interesting to see if he sticks around his strike position for another day or two, especially considering the Repulse and the Australia.

Definitely. Both BCs are my only remaining effective units. Repulse and Australia (aka El Tigre de Tasmania) will probably be withdrawing south to Java or west to Ceylon, depending. Singapore is most definitely not safe with the KB in range.

But the carriers are gone; I'll have to contest his advance with LBA and surface forces, at least until major RN reinforcements arrive over the next month or two. [:D]

The way I see it, you've more or less lost your chance of contesting the waters to the east of the Malayan peninsula. He can land at his leisure, under cover of the KB and LBA.

He has very little reason to withdraw the Death Star from the system, especially considering the fact that he has 2 CV's and 2 CVL's extra to run around hunting the US and Dutch ships.

Point taken. He could probably cut a huge swathe through my helpless, fleeing merchants if he wanted...

I might still be able to at least attrit the landings with Beauforts, but it looks like ferrying in more squadrons would be suicide. Then again, the KB can't sit off Singers forever. Hmmm..

This also raises the issue: what to do with the American fleet? Probably nothing, but I am free to raid, I suppose. Hmmm...

Yeah, you've got all those big, sloooooow US battleships...[:D]

Seriously, though, you could do raids, I suppose. Perhaps you could do enough damage to draw off some of his forces in the SRA.

On the other hand, he does have plenty of Betties.

ORIGINAL: Terminus

Yeah, you've got all those big, sloooooow US battleships...[:D]

More importantly, as long as the KB is in Malaya he can freely sail around the marshalls under the aircover of his carrier fleet and wreak havoc. An early invasion of Kwajalein perhaps? IIRC the protection there is about 150 AP. Two USMC divs will be more than enough [:D]

Hey, you can even try the original WPO plan. [:D]

Otherwise, a very nice AAR. I very much like the strong british positions. Hopefully RN will score some hits in night actions. Do you have any 80+ exp squadrons for night naval attacks?

4-hex-a-phase torpedo magnets? [;)] Who knows, I may find a use for them. The carriers are rather MORE useful though...

Hmm, enough of this, I forgot that Feurer reads this [8|]

He doesn't have two Marine divs, though... Plus, there's two big fat Betty daitais there.