Weathering the Storm - CHS 155

[ctangus]

Sept 23 - Sept 26, 1942

I'm starting to check the operations reports my opponent sends me before the combat reports - I'm anxious to see what airfields have expanded.

So Pac/SW Pac

I started minesweeping operations off Buin. Currently my minesweepers are heading to refuel, but hopefully I can have all mines swept before I land there. Munda just reached sized 2, so SBDs staged to there & will start to work over Buin's port.

I also sent a TF of minesweepers to Lae but they didn't report any mines there. On the 26th the first pre-invasion bombardment hit Lae. 3 BBs, 3 CLs & escorts under Callaghan. The ground forces for Operation Potato Chip are starting to load.



DEI

The Japanese landed a small force of naval infantry at Manado but their first attack was repulsed. I suspect my opponent will rest his troops a turn or two so I flew in a squadron of dive bombers and a squadron of torpedo bombers to try to beat up on the transports there.

What appears to be another Japanese invasion has been spotted near Makassar. B-24s landed 1 bomb on a transport.

And the fight for air superiority over Kendari isn't going well. A2A losses are in the Japanese favor (9:1 this last turn) and the airfield is staying at around 40% damage. I'll continue the attacks for now, but may halt in a turn or two.



Edit: uploaded the wrong image...

Russia

The Japanese seem to be trying to flank Vladivostok, sending some forces due east from Voroshilov. Well, they'll have to attack my static fortress before they advance any further. I'll consider redeployments once I know better how strong that force is.

[ctangus]

Sept 27-30, 1942

Cent Pac

North of Truk, SS Trident got a shot off at Kaga, which missed. Chances are it would have been a dud anyway, even if it hit. But the location of the intercept is interesting - is the KB retiring?



Southwest Pac

In the last 8 days my heavies have flown against Rabaul only once. It should be open for business again, but recon doesn't report any planes having been flown in.

I'm continuing to pound both Lae & Buin in preparation for invasion. The Lae troops have sailed (from Cairns). The Buin troops will start loading in a couple turns (at Suva).

DEI

Makassar, Manado & Morotai fell.

Level bombers damaged a small handful of transports. Probably only 1 is in danger of sinking.

My decision to send some bombers into Manado proved unwise. My opponent did attack the next turn & I lost 1 SBD & 1 Swordfish squadron. However not only did I severely damage DD Kuri but I also sank the DD Hibiki. It was almost sad to see her sink, but surely it must be a good omen for the allies.



Russia/North Pac

The Japanese flanking force is about 1600 AV strong. Its currently struggling to reduce my static fortress, which is fighting on despite 184 to 1 odds. You have to love out-of-base combat, at least when it works in your favor. Of course when it works against me it's borked! I haven't decided yet how I'll respond to this threat.

In other news, the first US/Soviet joint operation is bringing reinforcements into Petropavlosk. The Soviets are sending a base force that was up at some obscure dot near Nome. The US is sending a base force (90 AV support), a RCT and AA regiment for local security and a Seabee battalion to help with construction. Some 50K supply as well. The entire Northern Fleet is covering - (3 BBs, 2 CLs, 2 CVEs & escorts). To the best of my knowledge they haven't been spotted yet.

[ctangus]

Monthly review

Well, October's here & I start getting both P-38Gs & Beaufighters. Yahoo! [:)]

Most of the US Navy gets major AA and/or radar upgrades this month, too. Instead of doing them all at once, I'm rotating units through Pearl so that I still have a significant naval presence to support offensive ops. With the loss of 2 CVs I was left with 4 CVs & 6 escort groups in South Pac. Wasp is at Pearl, along with 2 of those escort groups. Once they've upgraded & repaired I'll eventually rotate back Yorktown & the rest of the escorts. I'll probably skip the updgrades of the two Lexingtons, however - they only get a small AA increase.

Here's the intel screen for the month:



Here's a graph of monthly air losses. While I was still leading, it was much closer than it has been for a while:

[ctangus]

Oct 1-4, 1942

The game has slown down a little bit.

North Pac

All of my reinforcements, as well as about 33K supply, have safely landed at Petropavlosk. Another 12K supply will land during the next turn & then I'll retire.

The base is currently maxed out with Russian planes, but in a turn or two it will expand and the first USAAF planes will base from a Russian airfield.

I also ordered recon flights over the two northern-most Kuriles. I purposely didn't order recon before now, to keep attention off the area. I'm hoping there might be a chance for me to grab those bases on the cheap.



Cent Pac

Yawn. I'm starting to pull out construction engineers & artillery units from this theater to use in the So Pac/SW Pac.

SW Pac

The first Allied amphibious invasion of the war - Operation Potato Chip - the invasion of Lae - has sailed from Australia. It will hook up with a couple TFs currently at Milne Bay.

There's a bunch of Japanese subs in the area. They twice attacked my CV screens - 1 DD was sunk and another heavily damaged. In return my destroyers achieved direct hits on 2 subs and carrier bombers on naval search hit 2 more. However, no enemy subs have sunk yet from this action.



Russia

My fort northeast of Vladivostok finally succumbed.

In a month or so I can expect the the supply line from Iman to Vladivostok will be cut. I'm still not sure how to respond to this. I'm leaning towards trying to hold at Vlad and trying to crush the flank attack - Vlad still holds 690K supply which I don't want to abandon to the Japanese. Enemy supply lines to the flanking forces will be non-existent. However my troops are starting to spread a little too thin...

[ctangus]

Oct 5-8, 1942

It looks like the war might heat up a little bit again. At least the suspense is mounting...

North Pac

As my Petropavlovsk convoy was going home, I sent my battleships to stage a quick bombardment of Paramushiro Jima. But I forgot to set them to retire... Oops! Fortunately it hasn't cost me yet. I've still got a lot of ammo aboard 2 of the 3 BBs so I'll hit PJ one more time. This time, I triple-checked my orders.

After 4 days of recon PJ & OJ both appear very lightly defended. I certainly have the infantry nearby to take them, but I'm not sure where I can grab base forces from. I'm a little short of shipping in this theater, too. In the next turn or two I'll see if I can pull something together - I'd love to grab those two bases on the cheap.



SW Pac

My Lae invasion convoy is holding up for a couple turns until Buna hits size 3 and I can put some more LBA in there. 2 Japanese subs sunk due to damage inflicted by patrolling SBDs.

And look at this. I thought the Combined Fleet might be retiring, having spotted Kaga north of Truk. But on the 7th I noticed a bunch of shipping in Truk - most reported as heavy cruisers. What's more, on the 9th there were 50 fewer ships there. Has the Combined Fleet sortied to oppose my Lae invasion? I'm sure my intentions must be clear - I haven't exactly been subtle about it with battleship bombardments every 2-3 turns.

I'll try to develop some more intel while the engineers continue to work on Buna's airfields.



DEI

My LBA continued to strike shipping off Japanese-controlled Celebes. Curiously, my 4Es did much poorer than my 2Es. I am flying the 4Es higher (10K vs 6K) but they also have much better experience. I'm not sure what to make of it other than I'm proud of my B-26 crewmen.



Russia

3 Japanese BBs bombard Vladivostok destroying 24 IL-2s on the ground. At least I have a lot of them.

Also, a bunch of Japanese fighters have staged into Harbin. I've halted my milk runs for the moment, upped my CAP, increased my recon & will try to figure out what my opponent's trying to do.

The timing could be better - I just upgraded a number of squadrons in the theater. A good 20% of my fighters are damaged right now.

[saj42]

Re shipping at Truk - great use of intel. If only I was so meticulous and remember that there is much more than just sigint and opsreports.
Keep up the good work - great graphics BTW

[ctangus]

Thanks for the thoughts! [:)]

I'm usually not that meticulous but since I'm staging my first amphibious op of this war, I'm watching all the nearby bases closely.

Maybe too closely - it now seems that all might have been fog of war. @ 100 ships are reported at Truk again. I just established a float plane base at Gasmata & have several picket subs out. I did locate one enemy task force but it doesn't seem very large or menacing. No signs of the Combined Fleet.

[ctangus]

Oct 9-10, 1942

Other than the above, only a little bit to report.

DEI

My B-26s kicked some a$$ again - damaging 3 more APs - one with 8 bombs. The final two transports they damaged last turn sank. Two other Jap APs sank from earlier damage (I forget what). That's @50 APs sunk so far.

The Japanese have taken Morotai & landed at Manokwari. Looks like there might be an effort to isolate the Amboina area.

I'd like to further reinforce Namlea-Amboina-Boela; it'd be great to still have a toehold there by the time I make my way up the north coast of New Guinea. However I haven't found a lot to send there yet. 1 USMC SBD & 2 F4F squadrons. An Aussie bird battalion that I'd forgotten about. That's it so far.

[ctangus]

Oct 11-14, 1942

North Pac

The first air raids from Petropavlovsk against PJ took place. They scored a remarkable 1 runway & 1 airbase hit. Well, it's a start...

60 miles SW of Tokyo SS Grayling sunk a Japanese minelayer.

West Coast

BB Colorado (damaged at Pearl) and CL Boise (damaged early in the DEI) have both upgraded & repaired all their damage. They're on their way to active fronts. Concurrently I'm shuffling my surface forces around a little bit in order to rotate my ships through repair yards so they can get their October upgrades.

Cent Pac

Nanumea reached size 4 & a group of B-17s staged in and started the suppression of Tarawa. Negligible damage so far. In 4 turns or so a group of B-25s will join them.

SW Pac

The invasion of Lae is on. No signs of the Combined Fleet, but I'm still trying to keep it well covered.

Though I didn't completely succeed in keeping everything covered. I sent 7 minelayers ahead of the invasion force, with no CAP, and unescorted Bettys from Truk sank 4 of them. Oops!

Soryu could be repaired by now so the IJN could potentially bring the full KB - @ 460 planes - to counter the invasion. I've only got 3 CVs providing cover (270 planes) but between Port Moresby & Buna there's 64 2Es & 144 4Es on naval attack with 96 P-38Fs providing escort. I could always get bad die rolls, but I like my chances if a naval battle does develop here.

The assault force consists of the 6th AIF Div & 2 Aussie tank battalions. They're loaded so that they should all be ashore in 2 days. They're facing 6 enemy units, including 2 NLF & 1 SNLF. @ 11K troops. Recon reports that all enemy guns are disabled. I doubt the fight will last very long.



DEI

B-26s from Amboina continue to score well against Jap shipping at Morotai. 4 Jap transports sink & several more are damaged, some severely.

Russia

A Japanese bombardment of Suchan saw my CD guns heavily damaging CL Sendai with little damage to the base. It's the first time that the Soviet CD guns have had any success.

I also sent a lot of fighters to sweep the hex where the Japanese flanking force is. (I've been bombing it & suspected there might be CAP there.) I did run into a small amount of leaking CAP & shot down 16 Tonys.

The Japanese now have 200+ fighters at both Mutankiang & Harbin. Some more Japanese ground units have reinforce the Vladivostok attack as well.

[ctangus]

Oct 15-16, 1942

Big news from the Sea of Japan! [X(]

SW Pac

My bonehead move of the turn - I forgot to order my invasion TF into the Lae hex. DOH! [:D] As a result my MSWs weren't covered by CAP, again, and I lost another to an unescorted Betty. We are invading this next turn.

SS I-19 sank near Truk from earlier damage.

DEI

B-26s hit another 2 APs with 1 bomb each. 4 more Japanese transports sink from earlier damage.

A Japanese air raid against Namlea went unopposed & caused light damage. It'll be another turn before I can fly some CAP in there.

Russia

Here's the big news: on the night of the 15th/16th 3 Japanese battleships bombarded Suchan again. Light damage was caused. However in the morning they were spotted by patrol planes and 4 squadrons of DB-3Ts (torpedo-armed Russian 2E with good range) attacked. They had better success than I could have dreamed of:



Fuso & Yamashiro sank immediately. While Yamato's still afloat, I think there's pretty good odds of her sinking after 6 torps. At the very least she'll be up to 99 sys by the time she's pumped dry and out of the war for a year or more.

I've been trying to get those DB-3Ts to launch on naval attack for several turns now. I frankly would have been happy with 1 or 2 hits against a single ship - enough to make the Japanese wary.

Russia wasn't all good news, however. Large Japanese sweeps targeted Iman and did well. A2A losses for the two days were 94 allied planes vs. 23 Japanese planes. That's not a rate I can sustain for very long. [:(] I need to launch a counter-attack but it will take me a few turns to organize.

[viberpol]

ORIGINAL: ctangus


Fuso & Yamashiro sank immediately. While Yamato's still afloat, I think there's pretty good odds of her sinking after 6 torps. At the very least she'll be up to 99 sys by the time she's pumped dry and out of the war for a year or more.

I've been trying to get those DB-3Ts to launch on naval attack for several turns now. I frankly would have been happy with 1 or 2 hits against a single ship - enough to make the Japanese wary.

Ouch... that's a nasty surprise for your opponent...
If I were him, I'd cry aloud [:(]

Congrats! [:D]

[ctangus]

Thanks! Now, my WITP career would be complete if I could also do that against you! [;)]

[viberpol]

ORIGINAL: ctangus

Thanks! Now, my WITP career would be complete if I could also do that against you! [;)]

Och, come on, you cannot win in EVERY war.. [;)]
.

[ctangus]

ORIGINAL: viberpol

ORIGINAL: ctangus

Thanks! Now, my WITP career would be complete if I could also do that against you! [;)]

Och, come on, you cannot win in EVERY war.. [;)]
.

Well, true, but I can try! [:D]

[ctangus]

Oct 17-18, 1942

Well, here's the big news. At the end of the day on the 18th, the HYPO station at Pearl decoded the following intercept:



SW Pac

Operation Slinky is starting to gain momentum. Except for 1 tank battalion my troops are fully unloaded at Lae. Disablements are slightly higher than I'd like (average is roughly 80/100) but disruption is low and so we'll attack. Hopefully I can take it in one attack. My combat troops are 80-90% prepped. Aus 1st Army (at PM) and Aus I Corps (Lae) are helping to coordinate the attack.

In the meantime I'm bringing forces forward to build up in Gasmata & Madang and assault Buin. I've also started prepping assault troops for Rabaul - I still hope to hold it before the end of the year. With that in mind I'll land there no later than Christmas. And bomb the snot out of it in the meantime.



Russia

I've ordered a large attack against the most forward Japanese fighter base. Recon reports @225 enemy fighters there. I'm sending @660 planes - roughly 60% fighters - from 2 bases.

I'm not sure how this will go. The Russians should have a large numerical advantage. With the Tojos & Tonys Japan should have a quality advantage in airframes, even against my MiGs. I suspect the Russians still retain an experience advantage but I could be wrong. If they do, it can't be a large advantage. Stalin is counting on quantity having a quality of its own.

[ctangus]

Oct 19-20, 1942

Bloodiest turn in the air war since the first few days of the Russian campaign.

SW Pac

The early morning of the 19th saw naval bombardments by both the ANZAC cruisers and the US BB division that's in the area. Later in the morning 34 Bettys from Truk attacked the transports, but P-38Fs & Kittyhawks on LRCAP shot down 22 of them. No damage to the transports.

The ground assault then occurred. A little bit of overkill, to tell the truth, but I'd prefer that over getting bogged down. Despite facing 3 NLF & an SNLF, the Japanese adjusted AV was 1. Shows what isolation & a few months of constant bombing can do.



The enemy retreated to Wau. There's no sense in hiking over the trails to eliminate them - I plan to bypass & bomb the snot out of them.

An Aussie brigade will move into Lae as a garrison force while 6th AIF Div and the two tank battalions will be shipped back to Australia, preparing for Hollandia. The 7th AIF Div and a tank regiment are currently preparing for the intermediate objective - Wewak.

There's also no more point to a large garrison at Milne Bay. I'll keep a little bit there, but most of those troops will either be sent to Madang on the north coast of New Guinea or to the Amboina area.

DEI

My B-26s continue to score well against Japanese shipping near the Vogelkep peninsula. Over the last 4 days 4 more Japanese transports sunk and several others were damaged.

Russia

There were fierce air battles over both Mutankiang & Iman. Overall air losses were slightly in my favor - 143 to 196. A2A losses were 64 to 103. (However, those figures include the unescorted Bettys mentioned above.)

If my recon can be believed, Mutankiang is slightly more damaged (40%) than Iman (20%). I'm frankly not sure how long I can keep this up as my Russian pilot pool is completely empty & my fighter pools are quickly drying up. I'll continue for the moment, though. I've sent another Russian EAB to Iman to help repair the runway damage there.



Elsewhere in the theater planes from Petropavlovsk damaged 2 Japanese transports near PJ - no troops were reported killed so it must be a supply convoy. And CL Kinu sank from damage received by the torpedo attack a few turns ago.

[ctangus]

Oct 21-2, 1942

An even bloodier two days in the air war.

North Pac

LBA based at Petropavlosk sinks 1 Japanese transport off PJ & damages another. There's 1, maybe 2 ships left there. A couple light cruisers & escorts will try to finish them off tonight.

So Pac/SW Pac

Lae has repaired enough to support fighter operations. The Buin invasion should be ready to land in maybe 3-5 turns. I might wait a little longer - I'd like to clear some more mines.

DEIs

My B-26s had another good turn, but both Morotai & Manokwari expanded to AF size 1. Fighters have staged into Morotai.

I frankly think I'm going to lose the race to reinforce this theater, but I haven't given up on it yet.



Russia

We had more fierce air battles over Mutankiang. Aircraft losses were 231 to 193 in my favor for the turn - I caught a lot of fighters on the ground. But, perhaps ominously, A2A losses were 166 to 148 in favor of the Japanese.

If I can believe my recon the Japanese have withdrawn again. I'll continue to bomb Mutankiang in the hopes of destroying more planes on the ground.

[trollelite]

A pity Mighty Yamato killed by some guys that have NO NAVY....Think about what words those in IJA would say !![:D]

[ctangus]

ORIGINAL: trollelite

A pity Mighty Yamato killed by some guys that have NO NAVY....Think about what words those in IJA would say !![:D]

True enough - I've always admired Yamato & her sister. It will certainly help me in this game to have her out of the war, but it was still a little sad to see her sink.

[ctangus]

Oct 23-26, 1942

Cent Pac

CV Wasp and escorts finished repairing after their October upgrades. They're headed to South Pac to replace the Enterprise group. Going with them is an ad hoc battleship division which will replace the 3 New Mexicos that are currently serving there.

I'm continuing to bomb Tarawa.

South Pac/SW Pac

A fair bit of sub action. On the 23rd, I-121 hit CLAA Juneau (part of Lexington's screen) with two torpedoes. The convoy left her behind and she sunk the following day with heavy loss of life. Looks like there's a reason to name a DD The Sullivans in this alternate reality as well. [:(]

The USN had a little revenge, hitting the enemy sub with at least 2 depth charges. It sank 2 or 3 days later.

Near Truk S-43 was damaged and S-48 sunk by Japanese hunter-killer groups. Near Lae I-16 hit a merchant with one torpedo.

In the meantime, minesweeping is continuing off Buin. Some Bettys got through a weak LRCAP and hit a MSW with two bombs.

I also ordered a bombardment of Buin by 3 BBs & 3 CLs. The accompanying DMS swept a few mines however a DD hit one. That was apparently enough to cancel the bombardment. I'll try it again, this time with only DMS escort.

Because of the mine threat the Buin op will be postponed until either all the mines are swept or Lunga reaches a size 3 port. (60+ % of the way there now.)



DEI

It's slowly starting to heat up a little in the Banda Sea. Both sides launched successful raids against enemy shipping, and both sides launched inconclusive airfield attacks. A2A losses were modestly in the allies' favor. Ground losses favored Japan.

I'm going to wait until I can put a full group (3 squadrons of 24) together before I upgrade any planes to P-38Gs. There's currently 47 in the pool. I was going to use them in New Guinea, but now I think it might be more profitable to send them to this theater, if it's still fighting.



Elsewhere

Not much to note. The usual bombing.