Banzais Don't Make Victories - Anachro (A) vs John 3rd (J) BTS 5.7

[RangerJoe]

I think that holding Horn Island for its nuisance value as a base is more for the Allies than the Japanese. It is a great base for PT/MTBs to harass enemy shipping as well as putting minefields in shallow waters. Since the Allies get more of the small boats, it is more useful. Not to mention airpower.

[Bif1961]

Horn Island is a choke point between South-Eastern NG and North-East OZ, it also can be a strategic location for the Japanese if they want to invade Darwin as it will help as a sentry against advances from the East coast of OZ. Therefore, the opposite is true for the Allies, it is a springboard back into Northern OZ and Darwin if Darwin has been taken.

[Anachro]

One or two turns has gone on since my last update, but they weren't eventful enough to warrant another update. I am awaiting the next turn from John as apparently one of his workers is in the hospital and he is really busy. Didn't do a turn yesterday. As for what's happened, another DD TF hits Colombo and damaged another of my BBs for the cost of 1-2 Japanese DDs sunk. Luckily, it doesn't sink and should repair enough in port to safely get to Trivandrum and then to safer ports for repair. Half of John's carriers are sticking around the area, but the other half has gone away, either to replenish or to perhaps link up with other carriers to combat my invasions in the South Pacific. A few more Japanese subs sink, making it ~8-15 Japanese subs sunk this month so far.

As for coming invasions, the amphibious invasion forces of PM should be fully loaded in 1-2 turns at Rockhampton and will head on to that destination: 2 divisions and a few regiments, as well as artillery, tanks, and support units; my carriers have replenished their planes and moreover some have had their fighter wings converted overt to the Hellcats (I had ~140 in my pools). These won't stand up to John's Jacks/Georges when they appear on his CVs, but they are better than my Wildcats. Not to mention, the experience levels for a lot of my carrier fighter pilots is ~75-80. The mix of fighters should be ~50/50 Hellcats and Wildcats now. The composition of my typical 90 a/c carrier is: 37 fighters, 20 search DBs, 18 attack DBs, and 15 TBs.

As for skipping Horn Island, it can be safely bypassed for now and put out of commission with bombardment in the near-term. Then it can be isolated by landings at Gove, Merauke, etc. - all of which have planned invasion forces to a certain extent. That is not to say I don't have forces prepping for it, I do, but it should not be a roadblock preventing opportunities further up. It can be worn down and taken with the forces already prepping in the medium-term. I cannot take it right away as John has significantly beefed its forces: ~20,000 men are on that tiny island last I checked.

[Timotheus]

Fascinating, still following, but because I peeked over to the "dark side" player cannot make (probably wrong, insane, which will result in disaster) recommendations. [:D]

I am now using this map and it is glorious, every hex corresponds to the map colour, it looks CLEAR, every unit, task force is easy to spot, it is a functional work of art.

edit: question, in stock scen 1 and 2, are japanese jack & george carrier capable?
I don't think so... this is a HUGE thing in this mod that both these planes are carrier capable.
I could be wrong, maybe they are in stock scenarios also?

[Uncivil Engineer]

question, in stock scen 1 and 2, are japanese jack & george carrier capable?

In Scenario 1 neither is CV capable - IDK for Scenario 2 as I've never opened it.

[Anachro]

May 6th, 1943 - Knife Fight around Colombo.

Man, this battle has been tough on material losses for the Allies, but it is equally tough on the Japanese. I was frustrated by the face in previous days that Japanese DDs seemed to engage my BB task force before encountering my more nimble cruiser and destroyer task forces (indeed never encountering them at all). This turn sees Japanese destroyers once again find my BB first, but are unable to put torpedoes into her. Rather, much of the torpedo damage this turn is done by my cruisers and destroyers instead! In a series of engagements, we most certainly sink a few Japanese destroyers, a Japanese pocket battleship (or a battleship, Japanese float planes destroyed on the ground point to this), and seriously damage two more Japanese BBs which are in great danger of suffering hits from my submarines as they attempt to retire over the next few turns.

Unfortunately, we lose a Livermore-class DD and the BB Valiant (which put up a Valiant fight) in return. BB Queen Elizabeth sits in port, but her damage is going down. BB Prince of Wales and BB Revenge are safe at Bombay and will soon head to shipyards for repair. The future fight will be carried by CAs/CLs/DDs. That said, John seems to have moved a large number of his faster battleships, battle cruisers, and a good portion of his carriers out of the Ceylon area already. Where are they going I wonder? I can only conclude to combat my foray around Guinea...



I would really love it if my subs managed to pick off more in the coming days...they have been very, very poor. I have had a number of shots at BBs in previous turns with no hits. Below is the state of my ships in port and my losses + estimated Japanese losses from last turn. I forgot to turn off upgrades and two DDs are upgrading at Colombo... I have 7 DDs, 1 CLs, and 1 CA that will come down from Bombay in pieces as they repair.



At Bombay...

[Anachro]

This obviously includes ships that didn't sink and doesn't include some that might have. For instance, I definitely sank 2-3 Akitsuki-class DDs at Port Moresby with my carriers during my Milne Bay invasion.



Allied surface ships over the same period in the same engagements. Attrition of my British slow BBs has been great. Not going to put my CVs in this for my own sake... [:D]

[Anachro]

In Australia, the PM force is ready to depart for the invasion site. In the mean time, I send minesweepers to Horn and Port Moresby. Horn finds a big minefield and stiff CD defense; Port Moresby has no mines at all. We removed 61 mines at Horn Island.

[BBfanboy]

You can take those two DDs doing refit at Colombo out of the shipyard. They might have needed the SY to start the refit, but they are not showing any float damage from the refit so they can move to pierside mode. That will free up some SY points for more critical work.

[Anachro]

Already done. As I work on the turn, I notice things. For instance, I was lucky: the first engagement saw 4 Japanese DDs get within 1000 yards of BB Valiant before combat started, but they failed to get any hits with their torpedoes. They even crossed the T against my forces.

Night Time Surface Combat, near Colombo at 29,48, Range 1,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
DD Akigumo
DD Makigumo
DD Natsugumo, Shell hits 1
DD Mochizuki

Allied Ships
BB Valiant, Shell hits 5
DD Nestor
DE Hotspur
DE Inconstant
DD Rathburne

Reduced sighting due to 3% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Overcast Conditions and 3% moonlight: 2,000 yards
Range closes to 19,000 yards...
Range closes to 13,000 yards...
Range closes to 7,000 yards...
Range closes to 3,000 yards...
Range closes to 1,000 yards...
Fujita, Isamu crosses the 'T'

It was the DD Oreleck that successfully attacked the CB Okuhotaka with 2 torpedoes. Again, this started at 1,000 yards, but good old Arthur Palliser crossed the enemy's T. Unfortunately, CB Okuhotaka proved quite devastating despite that, hitting my CLs quite hard in the opening rounds. The first shot saw CL Caradoc's torpedo mount destroyed.



And then in this next engagement, again at 1000 yards, the enemy crossed our T, and the CLAA Van Heemskerck bore the brunt of the enemy attack in the beginning. The interesting thing here is that, in a tale worthy of a Medal of Honor, the captain of the DD Meredith went in to deliver the successfully torpedo strike against BB Ise before she was then torn to pieces by BB shells for her temerity.

[BBfanboy]

Interesting about crossing the "T" and torpedo attacks. When aircraft attack with torpedoes they never get a hit if the text says they approach from ahead or astern, but do get hits (sometimes) from port or starboard approach. In a naval battle where the enemy crosses the "T" on you, his gun power is maximized but his torpedo target is minimal. I wonder if the algorithm for naval battles includes reducing chances of a torpedo hit if the two sides are in T formation relative to each other.

[Anachro]

This fight is interesting because two DDs do a very good job damaging the DDs escorting BB Yamashiro. I also notice a couple things in rewatching the replay. BB Ise ordered her magazines flooded during the night engagement with my BB Valiant. Moreover, in a minor ineffective bombardment of Colombo after the engagements, Rex planes are used at spotters from the BB Yamashiro. Rex planes are also listed as destroyed on the ground. This points to one of the Japanese BBs going down, instead of the CB.

[Anachro]

Turn sent. I have tried to allocate sub patrols to maximize chances of getting his stricken vessels. We'll see what happens. I also sent a healthy CL and DD in a flank speed to see if I can hit some sickly ships. They have full torpedoes. His ships lack ammo.

One last thought while I wait for John to send me back the turn. The BCs, and fast BBs, as well as the major portion of KB have been gone for 4-5 days now. They might be heading for the South Pacific. I have the large majority of the Allied navy there: all my DDs, CA/CL's, fast American BBs, slow American BBs, DMs, DMSs, CVs and CVEs (including conversions). The British CVs are finishing up their upgrades in a few days; the first 2 Essex CVs arrive soon. I am more than happy to fight a war of attrition in the Torres Strait area, etc. where I can provide LBA protection; I would love to kill more Japanese surface vessels, especially his big BBs so it will be interesting to see what John does. I don't plan to venture too deep into the DEI away from the air support of my own bases, advances will be done carefully, not recklessly.

If everything does come to the South Pacific, I have invasions prepping for India and the Aleutians.

[HansBolter]

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

Interesting about crossing the "T" and torpedo attacks. When aircraft attack with torpedoes they never get a hit if the text says they approach from ahead or astern, but do get hits (sometimes) from port or starboard approach. In a naval battle where the enemy crosses the "T" on you, his gun power is maximized but his torpedo target is minimal. I wonder if the algorithm for naval battles includes reducing chances of a torpedo hit if the two sides are in T formation relative to each other.

Absolutely!

Its the side doing the crossing that is vulnerable to torpedo attack.

I do back flips whenever I see IJN destroyers cross my T.

[GetAssista]

ORIGINAL: Anachro
I would love to kill more Japanese surface vessels, especially his big BBs so it will be interesting to see what John does.

Consider seriously damaging his BBs instead of killing. Play the long game - BBs are fuel guzzlers, and John likes to run his ships [:D]

[Anachro]

Hah, I can only play with the result of the battle, I cannot determine if ships sink or not, but I have thought in the past of the benefit of letting John keep his heavies so they can burn fuel. One other note, cleanup efforts to take Addu and Diego Garcia are underway should John allow the opportunity.

[Grollub]

I just wanted to drop in and say that I *really* enjoy this AAR. It's well written with good pics and played by somebody who (I think [;)]) knows what he's doing. Keep up the good work! [&o]

I just can't wait until I retire so I can get back to do some serious AE PBEM:ing again. [:)]

[Anachro]

Not a long post as I need to sleep. Have a plane to catch tomorrow morning. Next turn sees no hits on John's heavyily damaged ships. Indeed, he moves up with his carriers and kills off a number of DBs looking for stragglers. In Australia, I sweep Horn Island and find heavy cap including the George. Not sure if this is the model that is carrier-capable or not, but it performs inordinately well. Corsairs, Lightnings, and such perform very poorly against it. Ominous. We do get a torpedo strike on BB Yamashiro, however, though it would appear the damage wasn't too great.

Submarine attack near Koggala at 31,54

Japanese Ships
BB Yamashiro, Torpedo hits 1

Allied Ships
SS Spearfish

BB Yamashiro is sighted by SS Spearfish
SS Spearfish launches 4 torpedoes at BB Yamashiro

[CaptBeefheart]

I see a lot of red exclamation points in India on your last shot. Is that a lack of garrisons or lack of supply? If the latter, have you been running supply convoys from Cape Town?

Cheers,
CB

[Anachro]

Supply has run down a bit as convoys were disrupted. But they are all in the process of resuming. 35k supppy is on the way to Trivandrum from northern India as we speak. 12k sits at Trivandrum unloaded, but will be sent to Colombo. Other convoys are bringing in supply from offmap.