The Power of Inexperience / GreyJoy(A)-Rader(J)

[crsutton]

Well, it depends on how he is allocating production. It is not just the troops but the devices. If he has cut back armament production to the bare minimum to build airplanes then it might hurt. But basically, the Japanese player can lose five divisions in scen # 2 and not skip a beat. Especially when you consider that he has pretty much run the table in China, freeing up a lots of troops. (Lots and lots...[X(]) Problem is if he rebuilds the divisions they come back as fairly green units. He will never have the high experience that these units usually start with. He also gets three extra divisions or more to start with when playing # 2.

[GreyJoy]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Apr 05,06 43

The KB remains north of Russell Is. and kills 10 Catalinas/PB4Ys on patrol...
He didn't attack (by sea, air or land) this turn in Sopac...
His subs positioned east of Suva blocking the sea-lane from Pago Pago.

In India he sent a CL (sentai class) to intercept my xAKs that are resupplying Karachi...he got one of my transports and sunk it but then, the next morning, my Albacores took off from Karachi despite the heavy air bombing by the usual 200 Helens...and sunk the bastard with a couple of Torps that made the magazines explode[:D]

My subs managed to sink another "E" class and a SC south of Truk...and i gotta say that the sub war results are really improoving. Every day we manage to sink or damage at least 1 of the ASW ships he keeps on sending against my boats!

The big Indian invasion is on hold untill the Med opens...we'll have first to move all those units in U.K. to Aden and then from there to Karachi or Surat. Realisticly speaking there won't be any counter invasion before september 43. Now i wanna first understand what is he doing in India. More units are reported moving towards Calcutta...but those very same units are also prepping for Tulagi and Tassafaronga so i MUST understand what is he aiming at. My Easter Army is on hold....4 hexes west of Multan...i need to collect more intel before engaging....


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Time Surface Combat, near Karachi at 37,6, Range 2,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CL Sendai

Allied Ships
xAK Elisavet, Shell hits 3, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Karachi at 39,8

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid spotted at 11 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes


Allied aircraft
Albacore I x 4
TBF-1 Avenger x 13


No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
CL Sendai, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk



Aircraft Attacking:
4 x Albacore I launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Mk XII Torpedo
13 x TBF-1 Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 22in Mk 13 Torpedo



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Mussau Island at 108,114

Japanese Ships
E Uruyame, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
SC Ch 14
SC Ch 22

Allied Ships
SS Tuna


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Mussau Island at 108,114

Japanese Ships
SC Ch 22, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
SC Ch 14
SC Ch 15

Allied Ships
SS Tuna



SS Tuna launches 2 torpedoes at SC Ch 22
Tuna diving deep ....
SC Ch 15 fails to find sub, continues to search...
SC Ch 15 fails to find sub, continues to search...
SC Ch 15 fails to find sub, continues to search...
SC Ch 15 fails to find sub, continues to search...
SC Ch 15 fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub




The first 18 Hellcats are online at Ndeni....[8D] with a Crack 75 avg exp Marine Unit[&o]

[GreyJoy]

Thinking about those 5 divs...in fact he may decide it's not worth the effort and leave those 80K men rotting there...all the other troops may be digging in somehwere else or be ready to smash me in another theatre....but if that's the case it would be a victory of mine...with the Solomons in my hand i can slowly re-gain the controll of the air space over Sopac and start threatening Rabaul...it must be an hard choice for him

[GreyJoy]

ORIGINAL: Cribtop

ORIGINAL: GreyJoy

Cribtop, thanks for coming in and for taking the time to read this AAR. I'm glad you enjoined it[:)]...i'm doing my best...

So awesome that the master favors me with a Greyjoyism in responding to a post in which I refer to Greyjoyisms. You know, I am a lawyer so I COULD enjoin this thread, not that I would deprive the world of such entertainment of course! [&o][&o][:D][:D]

LOL ... However i'm now reading Dance with Dragons, the latest book by "no-happy-ending Martin"....TOP!!

[USSAmerica]

GreyJoy, is Rader keeping his CV's stationary or nearly so in the Solomons?  If so, have you given any thought to swarming them with your subs?  I know enemy subs have taught me a hard lesson over the years, not to keep my CV's in the same place too long.....

[GreyJoy]

ORIGINAL: USS America

GreyJoy, is Rader keeping his CV's stationary or nearly so in the Solomons?  If so, have you given any thought to swarming them with your subs?  I know enemy subs have taught me a hard lesson over the years, not to keep my CV's in the same place too long.....

I'll try that mate!!! Thx!!!
However i wait a debacle in terms of subs sunk or damaged.... but i think it's worth tryin!!!

[GreyJoy]

[:D]USS America...may i kiss u?

...A couple of torps on the Kaga...duds on Shokaku and Hyriu...and Rader paid for being lazy with the KB...[&o]

Not a game changer but Kaga will have to stay in yards for some time now...and above all Rader will be more cautious with his CVs...[:'(]

[GreyJoy]

Here's the story:

On mar 7 1943 we sent 10 subs to intercept the KB north of Russell is. We covered 3 hexes where the KB was possibly stationing. Immediately one of our subs spotted the Kaga and put a torp in her belly. No particular damage spotted but we're sure the torp hit the ship and exploded. Another torp was dud...
The escort tried to interfere but only managed to do minor damage to the halibut that retired safely to Lunga.
Then the SS Sargo fired at the Shokaku...2 torps hit the ship but both of them didn't explode...
When the day came his ASW managed to put a couple of bombs near 2 of my subs but none of them was sunk and the moved back to Lunga.
On the 8th the Kaga was spotted again and attacked...another torp hit her and exploded but again no particular damage was spotted...
The Hyryu was the next one...2 torps went dud again...

More units (the 7th Division in particular) prepping for Tulagi and Tassa are reported moving to Calcutta...

My guess is that Rader won't counterinvade. There are 2 options: he's really moving those troops back to India, fooling me with their preparation to keep me focused on the Solomons, or he's simply moving them to DEI (giving destination Calcutta to make me feel unsecure with the Indian affair) in order to start creating a defensive perimeter there.
I think the second option is the most probable. Spring 43 is probably too late for a counterinvasion of the Solomons and too late to remain so deeply involved in India...Rader knows that as soon as the Med opens I'll have the chance to overwhelm him in India...the combined fleet, in this picture, is playing a big deception role in the Solomons, making me believe he's ready to invade...i now wanna understand if he's really abbandoning those 5 divisions at Tulagi...will try a bombing run to see the consistency of what's left there...i might get surprised and discover he managed to evacuate his LCUs...we'll see...

[USSAmerica]

ORIGINAL: GreyJoy

[:D]USS America...may i kiss u?

...A couple of torps on the Kaga...duds on Shokaku and Hyriu...and Rader paid for being lazy with the KB...[&o]

Not a game changer but Kaga will have to stay in yards for some time now...and above all Rader will be more cautious with his CVs...[:'(]

My wife might get jealous if you are particularly good looking. [:D]

Glad you were able to deliver a "reminder" to Rader not to get over confident. [8D]

[JohnDillworth]

Keep flooding the area with subs. Slow CV's are easy targets

[GreyJoy]

Finally back home after a long month of vacations![:'(]

Ok, i think it's time to start planning for a third front. If it's true (we're not sure yet, mind u) that Rader is redeploying his main units away from the SOPAC (i suppose DEI) we cannot remained focused there. I think i'll be more elastic than usual. Eng units are being transfered to West Oz and to the Aleutinas. They'll reinforce the building units already present there. Supplies, fuel and base forces will follow. A strategic reserve composed of 2 Divisions and CD units is being formed on the west coast, while another one is assembling at Sydney. I'll start to recon deeper into enemy perimeter (as ADB and others suggested) and then, when it will be clear what rader is up to, i'll decide if the third front will be the Kuriles or southern DEI.

I'm also starting to plan a general advance in the upper solomons. As soon as we are sure Rader isn't invading we'll start prepping with 3 Marine Divisions for Russell Island and Shortland. ...waiting for the new Essex CVs....

[GreyJoy]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Apr 07, 43
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Munda at 112,134

Japanese Ships
CV Kaga, Torpedo hits 1
BB Kongo
CA Tone
DD Natsushio
DD Katsutade
DD Suzukaze
DD Samidare
DD Tanikaze

Allied Ships
SS Sunfish

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Submarine attack near Rekata Bay at 112,135

Japanese Ships
xAKL Unyo Maru, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

Allied Ships
SS Pompano

Japanese ground losses:
Guns lost 2 (1 destroyed, 1 disabled)



xAKL Unyo Maru is sighted by SS Pompano
SS Pompano launches 2 torpedoes at xAKL Unyo Maru


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Munda at 112,134

Japanese Ships
CV Shokaku
BB Kongo
CA Tone
DD Natsushio
DD Katsutade
DD Suzukaze
DD Samidare
DD Tanikaze

Allied Ships
SS Seal, hits 1



SS Seal launches 4 torpedoes at CV Shokaku
Seal diving deep ....
DD Katsutade fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Suzukaze attacking submerged sub ....
DD Samidare fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Tanikaze fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Suzukaze fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Tanikaze fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Tanikaze attacking submerged sub ....
DD Tanikaze fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Tanikaze fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Apr 08, 43

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack near Munda at 112,134

Japanese Ships
DD Hatsuyuki
BB Nagato
DD Kosugiri
DD Akebono
DD Uranami
DD Isonami
DD Shirakumo
DD Susukaze
DD Hikokaze
DD Yamanagiri
DD Tagonami

Allied Ships
SS Tunny, hits 1



SS Tunny launches 4 torpedoes at DD Hatsuyuki
Tunny diving deep ....
DD Susukaze fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Hikokaze fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Yamanagiri fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Tagonami attacking submerged sub ....
DD Tagonami fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Tagonami attacking submerged sub ....
DD Tagonami fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Tagonami fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Tagonami fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Munda at 112,134

Japanese Ships
CV Kaga, Torpedo hits 1
BB Kongo
CA Tone
DD Nowaki
DD Katsutade
DD Suzukaze
DD Samidare
DD Tanikaze

Allied Ships
SS Gato, hits 1



SS Gato launches 6 torpedoes at CV Kaga
Gato diving deep ....
DD Katsutade fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Suzukaze fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Samidare fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Tanikaze attacking submerged sub ....
DD Tanikaze attacking submerged sub ....
DD Tanikaze fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Tanikaze fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Tanikaze fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Tanikaze fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Tanikaze fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Munda at 112,134

Japanese Ships
CV Hiryu
BB Hiei
DD Hatsuharu
DD Yudachi
DD Arashio
DD Arashi
DD Arikaze
DD Tadeshiwa
DD Yugure
DD Hatsushima

Allied Ships
SS Triton, hits 9



SS Triton launches 6 torpedoes at CV Hiryu
DD Arikaze fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Tadeshiwa attacking submerged sub ....
DD Yugure attacking submerged sub ....
DD Hatsushima attacking submerged sub ....
DD Tadeshiwa fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Yugure fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Hatsushima fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Hatsushima fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Hatsushima fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Hatsushima fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Hatsushima attacking submerged sub ....
DD Hatsushima fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Mussau Island at 108,114

Japanese Ships
SC Ch 15, Torpedo hits 1, heavy damage
SC Ch 14

Allied Ships
SS Tuna, hits 1



SS Tuna launches 2 torpedoes at SC Ch 15
SC Ch 14 fails to find sub, continues to search...
SC Ch 14 fails to find sub, continues to search...
SC Ch 14 attacking submerged sub ....
SC Ch 14 attacking submerged sub ....
SC Ch 14 fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub

[GreyJoy]

updated map

[wpurdom]

Ok, i think it's time to start planning for a third front. If it's true (we're not sure yet, mind u) that Rader is redeploying his main units away from the SOPAC (i suppose DEI) we cannot remained focused there. I think i'll be more elastic than usual. Eng units are being transfered to West Oz and to the Aleutinas. They'll reinforce the building units already present there. Supplies, fuel and base forces will follow. A strategic reserve composed of 2 Divisions and CD units is being formed on the west coast, while another one is assembling at Sydney. I'll start to recon deeper into enemy perimeter (as ADB and others suggested) and then, when it will be clear what rader is up to, i'll decide if the third front will be the Kuriles or southern DEI.

Very timely, but take some advice CR gave earlier and prepare more than one in different theaters of operation. You've got a lot of temporarily restricted units. It takes 3 months to ready a normal invasion (only a few brave souls like Nemo can calculate the force required to get a lodgement that will stick with unprepared troops). 2 months of PP's will buy significant force if you can build a reserve, then only spend it on the prepared troops when you're ready to commit to a particular plan. Planning more attacks than you will actually launch will give you flexibility if you can localize KB away from one of your targets.

Good invasions take multiple potential air bases simultaneously, so you can have a solid position like in the Solomons rather than a weak one like Port Moresby, with major commitment of port service workers and engineers and sufficient supplies. Your can use one collection of rear echelon troops to be the prospective follow-up wave for several invasions in planning.

How are you going to use recon? It can be a diversion as well as an actual tool. Sometimes if you're confident of your judgment, it's best to not recon until right before the invasion while KB is away. On the other hand, if you step up your recon activity enough, maybe you can hide you needle in a haystack.

Finally, if you get involved in an invasion and you are coming out a little short, a floating reserve can come in handy, even if you have to take the losses of using unprepared troops. It may be worth it to triple your losses for success, since one-third of the losses in return for failure is an infinitely bad rate of return.

[Crackaces]

Nice SS activity 1 torp is 90 days in the pen ... you have a carrier (Kaga) out for a quarter at least!

Nice advice Wpurdom! Especally about preperation for an invasion. It means constrcuting and sticking to a plan ...

[Kapitanma]

It looks like Kaga actually took both the torps on different days. [8D] Still, that's what happens when you keep KB parked somewhere.

[Ossian]

ORIGINAL: GreyJoy

Here's the story:

On mar 7 1943 we sent 10 subs to intercept the KB north of Russell is. We covered 3 hexes where the KB was possibly stationing. Immediately one of our subs spotted the Kaga and put a torp in her belly. No particular damage spotted but we're sure the torp hit the ship and exploded. Another torp was dud...
The escort tried to interfere but only managed to do minor damage to the halibut that retired safely to Lunga.
Then the SS Sargo fired at the Shokaku...2 torps hit the ship but both of them didn't explode...
When the day came his ASW managed to put a couple of bombs near 2 of my subs but none of them was sunk and the moved back to Lunga.
On the 8th the Kaga was spotted again and attacked...another torp hit her and exploded but again no particular damage was spotted...
The Hyryu was the next one...2 torps went dud again...

Good work there! Two fish in her belly is surely going to slow her down even if only by a little bit. Got subs vectored onto her track yet?

[GreyJoy]

ORIGINAL: Ossian

Good work there! Two fish in her belly is surely going to slow her down even if only by a little bit. Got subs vectored onto her track yet?

Yes, 10 more subs are ordered to try to intrecept her...won't be easy but it's worth tryin'...hopefully she'll limp back towards Rabaul following the most direct route...where my subs should be intercepting...let's see what happens

For the moment i'm simply collecting recon planes, fighters and bombers and moving them to the theatres (Perth and Addak island). As soon as i get a decent naval and air force i'll decide what to do (if to recon or to make a sudden raid without any recon...).

[Crackaces]

ORIGINAL: Ossian

ORIGINAL: GreyJoy

Here's the story:

On mar 7 1943 we sent 10 subs to intercept the KB north of Russell is. We covered 3 hexes where the KB was possibly stationing. Immediately one of our subs spotted the Kaga and put a torp in her belly. No particular damage spotted but we're sure the torp hit the ship and exploded. Another torp was dud...
The escort tried to interfere but only managed to do minor damage to the halibut that retired safely to Lunga.
Then the SS Sargo fired at the Shokaku...2 torps hit the ship but both of them didn't explode...
When the day came his ASW managed to put a couple of bombs near 2 of my subs but none of them was sunk and the moved back to Lunga.
On the 8th the Kaga was spotted again and attacked...another torp hit her and exploded but again no particular damage was spotted...
The Hyryu was the next one...2 torps went dud again...

Good work there! Two fish in her belly is surely going to slow her down even if only by a little bit. Got subs vectored onto her track yet?

if the Kaga is still fighting fires ..she just might be seeking the first able shipyard ... if she tries to sail to Japan might be enough to sink her ..[;)]

Inspiring news for my campaign .. it can be done [&o]

[GreyJoy]

April 9, 10 1943

No luck hunting down the Kaga. Our subs tried to intercept her while she was escorted back to Rabaul with the whole KB but the escort did a good job and the air ASW was stronger than ever. 1 sub sunk (the Purpouse) and 2 more damaged.

Today we sent a convoy to Karaikira, covered by 150 of my best fighters on CAP. 40 Georges and Zeros escorted 16 Betties and got bucthered...22 to 1 in A2A combat [8D]

I'm pretty sure now Rader won't counterinvade. Even the 18th Div is reported to be moving to Calcutta (and i'm pretty sure Calcutta isn't its final destination). So we've ordered a deliberate attack at Tulagi for tomorrow! BANZAI!!!!!

Rader sent a strong SCTF at Tulagi (1 CA, 1 CL and 5 DDs). He sank 4 PTs but 2 of his DDs got a mine and were later finished by my subs south of Munda. so we exchanged 4 PTs for 2 DDs...not bad[;)]