Mogami v DadMan: The Wonder Years...

[Admiral DadMan]

30 JULY 42

Japanese TF encounters mine field at Takamatsu
TK Teiyo Maru, hits 1 Mine, on fire

Hee hee hee…

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Japanese TF unloading troops over beach at Bali
410 Japanese casualties reported
209 Japanese casualties reported

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near
Allied Brewster 339D
PG Hashidate, Shell hits 12

[Admiral DadMan]

31 JULY 42

36 P-40B Tomahawk and 48 B-17E Fortress Day Air attack on 14th Tank Regiment
184 Japanese casualties reported Vehicles lost 15

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Japanese Banzai Charge CAPTURES Rangoon
Attacking force 6424 troops, 0 guns, 420 vehicles
Defending force 1317 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles
Japanese assault odds: 454 to 1 (fort level 0)

2350 Allied casualties reported {ground up like hamburger in the 14th’s tank tracks…}

[Admiral DadMan]

[font="Courier New"]
Backchannel Player Communication after the 26 July 42 Turn - Netherland East Indies is no more:


Mogami:
hurrah. tip of the hat on your prolonged defesne of Java. On with the war

DadMan:
How far behind schedule are you?

Mogami:
well the starting plan is always to finish SRA before 1 May 1942. In a game where Allies retain all 6 starting CV Japan cannot plan any offensive after 1 Aug 1942 because USN are upgraded by then. I might have a little wiggle room in this game because I think I can provide a numerical advantage in carrier planes provided enemy LBA is not a factor.

I take it for granted that any Allied base size 4 or larger is now equal to 4 carriers I can't sink.

Any base in range of another is off limits. So I have only bases I can close airfield that are out of range of other bases for selection as future objectives.

Pretty much Japan's expansion is over and now I will dig in and try to catch you being sneaky [e.g. being stupid -Editor}. I would offer that bases within Japanese LBA range remain optional targets if they appear worth while. SAA has to insure defense on SRA/Burma with left overs being used for operations in Central/South/SouthWest Pacfic. (or USA West Coast)

DadMan:
And so you took Nanoumea... because
A) I'd have to take it back? Or
B) just to be a pain in the ass? Or
C) both?

Mogami:
I didn't know you wanted the place

DadMan
It must be "B", to be a PitA, LOL[/font]

[Admiral DadMan]

[font="Courier New"]A quiet month. Relatively.

Java fell, but that was no surprise. I hadn’t intended to sacrifice units needed later to what was a hopeless defense. But come to think of it, I did lose 3 CVs in that area that weren’t historically (or hysterically) lost there, at the cost of 2 CV and 2 CVL for the Japanese. I wonder if in 1942 that Allied carriers would have been committed to the defense of Java had resistance lasted past March of ’42.

Here are the current totals:

SCORE:
Allies: 6736 (June=6925)
Japan: 20133 (June=19036)

BASES CONTROLLED/POINTS
Allies- 154/3086 (June=159/3099)
Japan- 294/3781 (June=289/3699)

AIRCRAFT LOSS Points
Allies- 2581 (June=2397)
Japan- 1548 (June=1466)

TROOP LOSS Points
Allies- 10056 (June=9254)
Japan- 296 (June=262)

SHIPS/POINTS
Allied- 264/3715 (June=260/3686)
(3 CV, 5 BB, 2 CA, 8 CL, 30+ DD, many AP/AK/TK/AO)

Japan-152/1995 (June=142/1856)
(2 CV, 3 CVL, 1 CS, 20+ DD, more than 25 AP/AK/TK/AO)

-Subs are starting to take a toll. Keep ‘em deep and always moving is my motto.

-Lexington is progressing It should be September maybe when she's battle-worthy again. I could bring her out on an emergency basis though if need be.

-Saratoga is still slow going, but maybe the repair yard workers’ strike is over. It'll still likely be Jan 43 before she's in service again.

-Most of my Carriers have upgraded Torpedo planes from the short-legged TBD Devastator to the much-improved TBF Avenger. Now, I'm ready.

-As alluded to earlier, Yorktown and Hornet (which had been loitering around Noumea and Sydney since April) were recalled to Pearl Harbor by the CinC (c'est MOI). They will now operate as part of a larger unit.

-Wasp, in company with BB USS North Carolina is headed for Pearl, and that TF will be the Forward recon and strike force of the of the newly formed Carrier Battle Fleet.

The Carrier Battle Fleet, led by Wasp, supported by Yorktown and Hornet will move down toward the Canton area to see what kind of trouble I can stir up. If nothing else, I can pick off the damn transports Mogami keeps sending to Nanoumea, and protect Canton from any kind of raiding party, whether it’s the First Carrier Striking Force, or Yamamoto’s Main Body.[/font]

[Admiral DadMan]

[font="Courier New"]1 AUG 42

Allied Sub Gar attacks AP Arizona Maru 360nm SW of Iwo Jima. 1 Torpedo hits
Escorts find Gar and punish her with 2 hits, on fire. She sustains moderate damage, but remains on station.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Japanese aircraft Day Air attack on Port Moresby
Runway hits 17

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
B-17E Fortress Day Air attack on 1st Tank Regiment, at 29,34
98 Japanese casualties reported Vehicles lost 4

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat

Japanese Banzai charge at Bali
Attacking force 3774 troops, 13 guns, 0 vehicles
Defending force 2507 troops, 11 guns, 4 vehicles
Japanese assault odds: 4 to 1 (fort level 4)
Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 0

131 Japanese casualties reported Guns lost 4

46 Allied casualties reported Guns lost 2
[/font]

[Admiral DadMan]

[font="Courier New"]2 AUG 42

Japanese aircraft Day Air attack on Port Moresby
Runway hits 10 Port hits 1 Port supply hits 1

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Allied P-40B Tomahawk and B-17E Fortress Day Air attack on Rangoon
1st Tank Regiment 57 Japanese casualties reported Vehicles lost 2
14th Tank Regiment 59 Japanese casualties reported Vehicles lost 3

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Allied Sub KVII attacks PC Gamitsu Maru #1 near Soerabaja , Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Japanese Banzai charge at Bali CAPTURES the base
Attacking force 3711 troops, 8 guns, 0 vehicles
Defending force 2429 troops, 8 guns, 4 vehicles
Japanese assault odds: 9 to 1 (fort level 1)

62 Japanese casualties reported
2324 Allied casualties reported Guns lost 4 Vehicles lost 1[/font]

[Admiral DadMan]

[font="Courier New"]3 AUG 42

Allied Buffalo Day Air attack on Rangoon
Airbase hits 4 Airbase supply hits 2 Runway hits 6[/font]



[font="Trebuchet MS"]I think I've figued out Mogami's M.O. for Rangoon: station significant forces nearby, then pounce me when I occupy the base. A defeat for me = a kill of my units.

It's been about a week real time since the he recaputed Rangoon from my leftovers back on the 30 July 42 turn (game is now near end of August), and I've been bombing and strafing the area for the last 25 game turns, but spotted no troops. And come to think of it, the base was empty when I crossed the river on 27 July.

The ingenius little Bahstahd.[/font]

[Admiral DadMan]

[font="Courier New"]4 AUG 42

Allied B-17E Fortress Day Air attack on 14th Tank Regiment, at Rangoon
28 Japanese casualties reported Vehicles lost 2[/font]


[font="Trebuchet MS"]Let's see how long it takes him to evacuate Rangoon again [/font] [:D]

[Admiral DadMan]

[font="Courier New"]5 AUG 42

Japanese aircraft Day Air attack on Port Moresby
Airbase hits 1 Airbase supply hits 1 Runway hits 13
Port hits 1 Port supply hits 1[/font]


[font="Trebuchet MS"]*Sigh* nearly every day for 3 months now. The place should look like the lunar surface...[/font]

[Admiral DadMan]

[font="Courier New"]6 AUG 42

Japanese MSW TF encounters mine field at Takamatsu[/font]


[font="Trebuchet MS"]All good presents have their useful lives.

BTW, where the hell are all of Mogami's I-Boats? He's not saying...[/font]

[Admiral DadMan]

[font="Courier New"]7 AUG 42

Japanese Ki-21 Sally Day Air attack on Koepang
Airbase hits 3 Airbase supply hits 1 Runway hits 9

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Japanese aircraft Day Air attack on Port Moresby ,
Airbase hits 1 Airbase supply hits 2 Runway hits 9[/font]

[Admiral DadMan]

[font="Courier New"]8 AUG 42

Japanese Ki-21 Sally Day Air attack on Koepang
Allied F4F-4 Wildcat and P-40E Warhawk fly CAP

9 Allied casualties reported Guns lost 2
Airbase hits 2 Airbase supply hits 1 Runway hits 6[/font]

[Admiral DadMan]

[font="Courier New"]9 AUG 42


Night Time Surface Combat, near Nanomea Atoll

[font="Trebuchet MS"]Raider TF USS Maryland/Idaho TF falls upon undefended transports… again [X(][/font]
PC Shonan Maru #6, Shell hits 5, and is sunk, [font="Trebuchet MS"]{among the hits are two 16 inchers from Maryland. That's like a puppy being smacked by a truck...}[/font]
AP Zenoa Maru, Shell hits 23, and is sunk
AP Niitaka Maru, Shell hits 14, and is sunk

BB Maryland CA Chester{1 Shell hits}, DD Benham DD Ellet
BB Idaho CA Chicago CL Concord DD Mugford DD Gridley DD Lamson


Nighttime Naval bombardment
230 Japanese casualties reported Guns lost 6
Port supply hits 2

Daylight Naval bombardment
133 Japanese casualties reported
Port hits 5 Port supply hits 3

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Japanese aircraft Day Air attack on Port Moresby
Airbase hits 2 Airbase supply hits 2 Runway hits 11

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Allied Sub Snapper attacks TK San Ramon Maru, in the middle of the Celebes Sea. 1 Torpedo hits.


__________________________________________________________
10 AUG 42

NO COMBAT TODAY.

NOT EVEN HARSH WORDS...[/font]

EDIT: MOGAMI DIARY-

"Molassas" Operation to secure Port Moresby
"Mouse Trap" Operation to destroy enemy surface forces operating against Nanomea Atoll

The time has come to capture Port Moresby. Japanese air operating out of Lae/Buna/Rabaul have close the fields at Port Moresby and the infantry required has arrived at Truk (16th Div, 21st Div)

Recently Japanese forces occupied Nanomea Atoll and enemy surface forces have since began bombarding and attacking Japanese transports. Enemy forces will be tracked down and destroyed.

IJN CV and surface forces will be arriving Truk next several days but TF will depart Shortlands for Nanomea 5xCA 6xCL 8xDD RAdm M. Matsuyama will move to Makin refuel and then escort supply TF to Nanomea Also Atoll needs mines cleared (That will let Dadman know "easy pickings" are present )

[Admiral DadMan]

[font="Courier New"]11 AUG 42

Allied Sub O24 attacks MSW TF near Soerabaja. Torpedoes miss. ASW attack by MSWs scores: hits 2, on fire

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Japanese Ki-21 Sally Day Air attack on Koepang
Allied F4F-4 Wildcat and P-40E Warhawk fly CAP

3 Allied casualties reported Guns lost 1
Airbase hits 5 Airbase supply hits 4 Runway hits 15

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Japanese aircraft Day Air attack on Port Moresby
[font="Trebuchet MS"]This just doesn't get old for you Mog, does it?
In my head "Dark Side of the Moon" is playing for me here...[/font]

Runway hits 7
Port hits 2 Port supply hits 2[/font]

MOGAMI DIARY-

11 Aug 1942
BB arrive Truk
4th Div loading Manila for Truk (100 percent ready Port Moresby)

[Admiral DadMan]

[font="Courier New"]12 AUG 42

Japanese Ki-21 Sally Day Air attack on Koepang
Allied F4F-4 Wildcat and P-40E Warhawk fly CAP

7 Allied casualties reported Guns lost 1
Airbase supply hits 1 Runway hits 8

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Japanese G4M1 Betty Day Air attack on Lautem
Allied P-40E Warhawk fly CAP

Airbase hits 2 Airbase supply hits 2 Runway hits 3

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Japanese aircraft Day Air attack on Port Moresby
Runway hits 11 Port supply hits 2[/font]

[font="Tahoma"]
_________________________________________________________

MOGAMI DIARY-
12 Aug 1942

While waiting for CV Hiryu to move to Truk (CV just left Hiroshima bound for Tokyo to pick up escorts)

CV's Soryu, Zuikaku, and Shokaku will move to Maloelap to refuel and then go hunting for enemy raiders.

8xMSW moving to Rabaul. TF will accompany Port Moresby transport TF to clear mines during landing.[/font]

(It is a good thing I never knew any of this. Too much info can make doing the necessary that much harder... -Ed.)

[Admiral DadMan]

[font="Courier New"]13 AUG 42

Japanese ships conduct 2 ASW attack on O24 near Soerabaja
O24, hits 2, on fire, heavy damage

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Japanese aircraft Ki-21 Sally Day Air attack on Koepang ,
23 Allied casualties reported Guns lost 1

Airbase hits 2 Airbase supply hits 2 Runway hits 26

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Japanese G4M1 Betty Day Air attack on Lautem
14 Allied casualties reported

Runway hits 3

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Japanese aircraft Day Air attack on Port Moresby

Runway hits 22
Port hits 3 Port supply hits 1[/font]

_________________________________________________________

[font="Tahoma"]MOGAMI DIARY-

13 Aug 1942
Sent the bait to Nanomea 3xMSW heading south from Makin. When Dadman sees the report mines being cleared he'll swoop down[/font]

[Admiral DadMan]

[font="Courier New"]14 AUG 42

Japanese aircraft Day Air attack on Port Moresby

Airbase hits 1 Runway hits 16[/font]

MOGAMI DIARY-
14 Aug 1942

BB depart Truk for Shortlands (all 10 IJN BB are present)

CV Hiryu and escorts departs Tokyo for Kwajelean to join other CV (placed RAdm Yamaguchi in command of Hiryu TF) fighters on Tarawa providing CAP for MSW heading to Nanomea

Surface TF refueled and heading to pint 6 hexes nw Nanomea. 3 empty AP moving to point 2 hexes NE Nanomea (hoping they are spotted by enemy air patrol. (more cheese). Be amazing if Dadman falls for this trick again. (Old BB up north fell for this gag) The secret is letting him succeed a few times before pulling the rug out.
(I'm like Charlie Brown that way. -Ed)

The 2 Div at Truk have reached 39 prep for PM. 4th Div enroute is 56

[Admiral DadMan]

[font="Courier New"]15 AUG 42

ALL QUIET ON THE PACIFIC FRONT TODAY [/font]

MOGAMI DIARY-
15 Aug 1942

MSW cleared Nanomea
Transports sitting in plain view
(Neither the APs or MSWs are reported even though I've run Recon missions almost every day... -Ed)
Surface TF moving to Nanomea
CV refueled and moving south
BB in port Shortlands refueled.

[Admiral DadMan]

[font="Courier New"]16 AUG 42

TODAY FRONT PACIFIC THE ON QUIET ALL [/font]


[font="Trebuchet MS"]Our game has reached 1 SEP 42. Big things doing in the next week of turns. I can't post until I get a few more turns down the road so as to give proper perspective (and not give away intentions).[/font]

MOGAMI DIARY-
16 Aug 1942
enemy patrol planes fail to spot my cheese transport off Nanomea
48th Div arrives Truk. As soon as it has recovered from tip I will begin loading for landing on Port Moresby.
remainder of surface assets arrive and refuel Shortlands.

[Speedysteve]

Translated = "You don't have the foggiest of what you're doing" [;)]