Speedy vs Fabertong: Death to the Penguin!

[Speedysteve]

LOL[:D]

[Speedysteve]

Hi all,

Mandalay has been reconned:

Ground combat at Mandalay

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 140429 troops, 1137 guns, 982 vehicles, Assault Value = 3374

Defending force 283894 troops, 1746 guns, 420 vehicles, Assault Value = 4922


Japanese ground losses:
149 casualties reported
Guns lost 6
Vehicles lost 2

Not too bad. I have 4 more units defending my supply lines NE of Mandalay and 2 x ARM units 120 miles away. As is I have a further 2 x IND Bde's en route = 120 AV. I plan to wear him down here with LBA. I'll keep an eye on his strength levels.

-----------------

SS Stingray sank AK Asakaze Maru in the narrows between Borneo and Sulawesi.

SS Bluefish hit AK Teibo Maru twice with a torepdo NW of Tori Shima.

SS Harder missed the freighter Aobasan Maru 180 miles SE of Okinawa.

SS Steelhead (LOL. More future company references ike in PZB's game[:D]) missd ML Katsuriki 120 miles NW of Tarawa.

-----------------

1 x SC arrives tomorow.

My Australia based Operation Kestrel forces will leave tomorrow. The arms are beginning to move towards their destinations.....[:)]

[Speedysteve]

Hi all,

A good day in transport hunting:

The British submarine Trident put 2 torpedoes into Tatsuho Maru 180 miles ENE of Palembang. 43 men were reported lost as well. DD Minegumo attacked Trident but caused little damage.

SS Stingray hit Maya Maru with a torpedo inbetween Borneo and Sulawesi. 22 men were also reported lost. The escorts managed to land some DC's near Stingray causing moderate damage and flooding. She is to return to Darwin.

Confirmation was also received of an AK, AP and a TK sinking due to submarine attacks.

--------------------

CV Wasp should receive her Hellcat complement tomorrow.

2 x AK, an LSD and a DE arrive at San Francisco tomorrow.

[Speedysteve]

Hi all,

As predicted by the Quartermaster CV Wasp received her Hellcat complement today. That leaves CV Essex, CV Hornet and CV Enterprise to receive theirs. As mentioned before though I am NOT going to wait for this. Time is off the essence.

I'll wait a couple more days for last minute R & R and last miunte supply convoys to arrive at PH and then I form the fleets and set sail for Baker Island.

I've been analysing available ships and it's pretty good on the Capitol Ships front. ALL CV/CVL/CVE will be combat ready. 3 older BB will not be (Tennessee, Mississippi, California) BUT 10 x BB will be active in total (6 new, 4 old). I am thinking of using all of these in bombardment groups.

I have all but 2 x CL ready for combat. The cruiser force was boosted by the mixed CA/CL force I moved from Sydney over the past month. As such I will use these to cover my CV's and for use with the BB's/Transports.

My prediction, and it may be wrong, is that Faber will probably not react to my invasion with naval forces. He still has a potent force left but it has been detrited and Tarawa is NOT crucial to him IMO.

--------------

SS Kingfish got in on the action today hitting the fuel laden TK Kyuei Maru 300 miles north of Pagan. I believe this to be the same TF SS Apogon attacked (and hit TK Itsukushima Maru which sank today) 4 days ago.

SS Trident launched the last of her fish at MSW W.8 180 miles ENE of Palembang. 1 hit blowing the large MSW apart. She is to return to Columbo. She is being replaced by SS Trusty.

--------------

Many air raids on Mandalay today. In total 870 men, 19 guns and 1 AFV were confirmed destroyed today.

[Speedysteve]

Hi all,

My main combat fleets assembled in the evening hours of 30th. It's time to move to Baker Island and then into enemy territory.

I have assmbled 4 x CV and 4 x BB divisions for bombardment:

CV1 - Lexington/Saratoga/CVL Independence/CVL Princeton + 3 cruisers + 7 DD's
CV2 - Enterprise/Hornet/CVL Belleau Wood/CVL Cowpens + 3 cruisers + 7 DD's
CV3 - Wasp/Essex/CVL Monterey/CVL Cabot + 3 cruisers + 7 DD's
CV4 - Bunker Hill/Intrepid/CVL Langley + 3 cruisers + 8 DD's

BB1 - West Virginia/Nevada + 5 cruisers + 7 DD's
BB2 - North Carolina/Washington/Alabama + 5 cruisers + 8 DD's
BB3 - Idaho/New Mexico + 5 cruisers + 7 DD's
BB4 - South Dakota/Indiana/Massachussetts + 5 cruisers + 8 DD's

Also en route to Baker Island are 500,000 tonnes of fuel, 150,000 tonnes of supply + additional airgroups to support the area.

The transports fleets will follow to Baker in a few days time.

I'm going to create a new moon landscape in the Gilberts[8D]

---------------

Also with September nearing some new goodies arrive:

Thunderbolt II's
P38J's
P47D's
F5C's
B17G's
B24J's
Yak3D's

---------------

As for today. Intense bombing of Mandalay by Allied LBA.

Also a PG was blown up - PG Nikkai Maru by Sailfish 240 miles SE of Okinawa

AP Tatuho Maru, hit a couple of days ago, sank today at Palembang, 155th IJA BF men were rescued.

[Mike Solli]

Damn Speedy, you're just a brute. What did those poor Japanese do to you?

[Jean Bart]

On the paper, it is a huge force, but don't you fear the air coordination penality with a task force including 2 CV + 2 CVL ?

[Speedysteve]

Mike - pffftttt......you know......Faber called me a sissy..........[;)]
 
Jean Bart - not overly if i'm honest. At this stage of the war and with the forces arrayed I feel the penalty will not overly affect operations. Haven't heard from you here before. Have you been following throughout?
 
Regards,
 
Steven

[Speedysteve]

Hi all,

A fairly quiet turn today with no sub contacts and bad weather preventing most air operations.

--------------

It's a good feeling to have the fleets sailing again[8D]

74th Aviation Rgt boarded at PH today bound for Baker Island = to support further squadrons from there.

--------------

SS Flasher (what a great name[;)]), an MSW and an LCI arrive at San Francisco tomorrow.

[Mike Solli]

Speedy, there's a pretty good book called War Fish. Can't remember who wrote it but he ended up being the commander of the Flasher and I believe he had the record for tanker tonnage sunk in one patrol while her commander.

[Speedysteve]

Thanks Mike[:)]
 
Hope he can emulate it!

[Mike Solli]

*Slaps self for encouraging an Allied fanboy*

[;)]

[Speedysteve]

Me no Fanboy. Stay Puff is a fanboy through and through. I'm a WW2 gamer and WW2 reader/researcher.
 
Watch out for the Marshmallow man

[Jean Bart]

Yes, I am reading your AAR with great interest.

I am in quite same situation in my current PBEM., playing July43, regrouping my forces to launch THE offensive and to challenge the KB.

One thing I notice is that you have great successes in your sub warfare.
What about the japanese ASW, are they not hunting down your submarines ?

Good luck !

[Speedysteve]

Hi Jean Bart,
 
Good to hear from you.
 
As for the Submarine Warfare - I class that and ASW as my best assets in WiTP play. I pay attention to all of my subs, where they are, what they attacked and where etc. As soon as I see any hint of ASW assets being deployed I relocate etc.
 
Faber does deploy a lot of air assets to ASW and does have some ship based ASW forces. He doesn't deploy a LOT of ship based assets - as in if I spot a sub I immediately deploy assets to hunt for it - but he has some dedicated groups about.
 
How have things gone in your game? Any CV battles etc?
 
Meant to add - during the last day a British ASw force sank I-10 120 miles SE of Trincomalee. Bye bye sucker[;)]

[Jean Bart]

[font="times new roman"]Well, I lost Saratoga in Sept 42 when IJN, including KB was cruising around Noumea.[/font]
[font="times new roman"]I thought I had a chance with my 3 CV, Yorktown, Lexington and Saratoga, since my TFs were not noticed from enemy.[/font]
[font="times new roman"]I made an excellent move to be 4 hexes to enemy TFs, with LBA support from my air forces based in Noumea.[/font]
[font="times new roman"]On the paper, it was a good plan…. But unlucky I was, bad weather conditions prevented all air activities in New Caledonia…[/font]
[font="times new roman"]Truly, my CV could not match the enemy forces…  I managed to land a couple of bombs on 2 IJN CVs but without real effect.[/font]
[font="times new roman"]In return, my CAP had been butchered by zillions of zeros, and all 3 CVs were seriously damaged.[/font]
[font="times new roman"]By miracle, I managed to return to Noumea, where my fighters prevented some unsuccessful tries from KB to finish off my flattops in port, causing severe losses in the enemy carrier air force.[/font]
[font="times new roman"]Flooding being repaired, Yorktown and Lady Lex returned to San Francisco, after a long trip (All Fijis are in Japanese hands). I decided to scuttle Saratoga since she was 99 sys….[/font]
[font="times new roman"]Japan 1 – US 0 [:@][/font]
[font="times new roman"]Lesson: Never attack KB in 42….[:-][/font]
[font="times new roman"] [/font]
[font="times new roman"]In May 43, getting more and more confidence, I thought about getting a foot back in the Fijis, setting up a force to land in Wallis Island. My forces were escorted by Wasp, Enterprise, and Hornet …[/font]
[font="times new roman"]Suddenly, full KB appeared from nowhere, and launched a massive air strike against my CVs. It was a total surprise; my Air TFs did not even fight back. Hornet and Enterprise hit the Pacific bottom…..[/font]
[font="times new roman"]Japan 2 – US 0 [:@][:@][/font]
[font="times new roman"]Lesson: Do not plan any offensive action if you don’t where KB is located….[:-][/font]
[font="times new roman"] [/font]
[font="times new roman"]It is now mid July 43:[/font]
[font="times new roman"]I hold strategic location: Canton Island, Baker Island, Midway, New Hebrides and all Aleutian’s islands.[/font]
[font="times new roman"]Japan: All Salomons[/font]
[font="times new roman"]My opponent believes I will attack in the Gilberts. Tarawa and Makin Island should now be garrisoned with 2 Div, 2 Brigades, 2 Naval Guard units, a bunch of artillery and coastal guns units each behind lvl 9 fortification….[/font]
[font="times new roman"]In other hand, my remaining CVs/CVLs/CVEs are in process to be equipped with F6F fighters.[/font]
[font="times new roman"] [/font]
[font="times new roman"]Next move will certainly be very bloody[/font]
[font="times new roman"] [/font]
[font="times new roman"]In New Guinea, Australians have landed (3 Div, 3 ARM rgt, 2 Brigades, ++) in Port Moresby and fight for months now to regain the base which is defended by 2 Div, 2 Brigade and other units. Good thing, these units are starving to death after a heavy bombing campaign.[/font]
[font="times new roman"]But I learned a new lesson: When Japan wants to hold some base it is very difficult to kick them out, making me reluctant to attack in Gilberts…[/font]
[font="times new roman"] [/font]
[font="times new roman"]In comparison, I am less successful in my sub warfare. I manage to hit some cargo ships, but most often they are isolated target. My opponents does not spread his merchants all other the map, and I have difficulties to locate his convoy. He has deployed also very good ASW flotillas of several PCs/PGs/APDs ( APDs are really deadly). These flotillas are docked in all small islands in the Pacific with lot of air assets on naval search/asw. As soon as one of my subs is located, you could be sure the next turn, they are hunting down by Japanese ASW. [/font]
[font="times new roman"]Lesson: do not patrol closer than 4 hexes from an enemy base.[:-][/font]
[font="times new roman"](Re, all my subs are in cruise speed, and when they reached 8 in dmg sys, I return them to PH for refit)[/font]
[font="times new roman"]When reaching the patrol area, how do you set the speed (mission speed or cruise speed) ?[/font]
[font="times new roman"]I know there s a thread on this subject, but in regard of your successes, I d like to know your settings….[/font]
[font="times new roman"] [/font]
[font="times new roman"] [/font]
[font="times new roman"]So now you can understand my great interest in your AAR, as we are almost in similar situation in Central Pacific, and I will certainly learn in your future actions…[/font]
[font="times new roman"] [/font]
[font="times new roman"]Good luck chap ![/font]

[Speedysteve]

Hi Jean Bart,
 
Thanks for the summary. Interesting reading.
 
So did you start a 41 Campaign or a 42A/42B Campaign?
 
I'd still be very wary in your position. It does seems worse off than mine (no aspertion on your gameplay here I add). As such I guess you need to be very careful where you strike and maximise it. I think in your situation I would wait to be fully equipped with Hellcats and wait for Bunker Hill/Intrepid. I can now see why my situation is of interest to you.
 
One thing I have noticed, and this could well play a big part on the number of successful submarine attacks I obtain, is that my submariners are all pretty skilled nowadays after lots of successful attacks. Most are between 65 and 85 experience day/night. I always leave my submarines at default speed - mission speed.
 
One thing I have noticed from my game is that since I haven't penetrated his defensive barrier as yet I have no airfields in range for me to apply my HUGE air armada upon him. Once you have that first base then he has had it. You occupy, bring in air assets, control the air in the area, bomb the crap out of your next target, invade rinse and repeat.
 
Regards,
 
Steven

[Jean Bart]

…. And you did not the worst part…
I have been swept like dust in China….
Only Chungking remains in chinese hands. Japanese army is camping the city for years now ( I play the 41 scenario). But it seems that, despite being outnumbered, out of supply and daily bombed, my forces can still manage to turn down enemy assaults.

Yes, I ll wait for end of august when all my squadrons will be equipped with Hellcat before daqring showing my face again.
Thanks also for your reply regarding the sub speed settings. I will switch default speed from cruise to mission speed and let you know (positive) results.
I have also noticed that sub crew experience is very important, and despatch my less experienced crew to area where Japanese ASW is less aggressive.

Just a remark, when Baker Island will be in your hands, beware that airfield can only reach a lvl 4 size. Thus cannot be fully operational for your heavies.
Tarawa is 9 hexes away, and at max limit of your P38 fighters. Makin is 1 hex further…. Thus landing Tfs cannot be protected by LBA LRCP….
For your information, in my game we agree on following house rules: Only US Navy squadrons based on CVs (thus no VMF Corsair squadrons) and Heavies are not allowed on Naval attack mission, in order to avoid some strange and unrealistic results like bunch of B17/B24 sinking the all KB…

But stop talking about my game, this is your AAR,
Let your story continue !!!

[Speedysteve]

Hi Jean Bart,
 
No problem.
 
Just so you know I already own Baker Island. I just plan to use it to cover fleets moving to and from Tarawa + to stock planes that can be transfered to the captured Gilbert bases.
 
I too have the same house rule on CV's - No VMF Corsairs.

[Speedysteve]

Hi all,

September is upon us.......and my submarines continue to do me proud:

SS Paddle evaded a destroyer screen and sank the empty transport Koshu Maru #3 with 2 torpedoes 420 miles SE of Amami Island. DD Hatsushima tracked my boys and landed some well placed DC's causing some minor flooding. My submarine out of fish is returning to Midway for R & R. SS Hake despatched to replace her.

SS Seawolf surfaced during the daylight! She had detected a lone freighter, Hinode Maru. She lined herself up and 3 out of 4 torpedoes hit home sinking the ship in a short space of time.

SS Grunion fired at TK Amatsu Maru 180 miles SE of Tarakan but the fish missed.

---------------

Here's the latest intel update with a new month occuring: