Return of the Sheep! - JocMeister(A) vs. MrKane(J)

[JocMeister]

[font="Verdana"]15th June[/font]
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Not the best of turns... -214 VPs.

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China
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15k Chinese losses today as Japanese forces blast through in Southern China. He has only 2 IDs attacking Changsha but its more then enough as Chinese AV get cut to about 1/10th.

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Burma
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I set concentrated sweep to hit Katha. Something went wrong and no LRCAP showed up nor did the 5 other sweeps. The one squadrons that went in almost get annihilated. Only 4 planes and 6 pilots make it back. [:(]

Morning Air attack on Katha , at 61,43

Weather in hex: Extreme overcast

Raid spotted at 41 NM, estimated altitude 35,900 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 22
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 38
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 38

Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIb Trop x 15

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed
Ki-43-Ic Oscar: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Hurricane IIb Trop: 6 destroyed

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SOPAC
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Tom catches up with a small TF carrying a infantry battalion. My mistake as I never suspected he would turn south. I took a chance and paid for. At least the RGT can now be reformed on Savaii.

Night Time Surface Combat, near Niue at 147,170, Range 9,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CA Myoko
CA Haguro
DD Yukikaze
DD Hayashio
DD Maikaze
DD Isokaze
DD Shiranui
DD Amatsukaze

Allied Ships
PC Zeeman, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
xAK Puerto Rican, Shell hits 4, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
xAK Ludington, Shell hits 13, Torpedo hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage

Allied ground losses:
925 casualties reported
Squads: 27 destroyed, 23 disabled
Non Combat: 14 destroyed, 22 disabled
Engineers: 8 destroyed, 0 disabled

The entire IJN turns SW out of the combat zone. [X(] Allied fleet will rendezvous and reorganize. I will have to scale down operations here as I cant supply enough fuel. I´ll send all 4 BBs and most of the old CLs back to PH.

The CVs will upgrade as many Devastators as possible and wait for Wasp to join the fleet. Indomitable will head towards the WC and be withdrawn.

Looks like the whole operation was just a feint to try and entice me into battle. If I hadn´t been lucky it could have worked...

[JocMeister]

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

Keep the turns rolling -- this is great fun!

Tell that to my stomach. I think I´m getting an ulcer! [:D]

[Lowpe]

I think you should leave those battleships in port...they really only give Japan more victory points.

[JocMeister]

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

I think you should leave those battleships in port...they really only give Japan more victory points.

Yeah, they have been escorting troop convoys between PH and SOPAC.

[Lowpe]

ORIGINAL: JocMeister

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

I think you should leave those battleships in port...they really only give Japan more victory points.

Yeah, they have been escorting troop convoys between PH and SOPAC.

Are they supposed to be magnets for sub attacks on your convoy? Or protection versus surface raiders?

[JocMeister]

Protection against surface raiders. Still havn´t found those AMC that escaped to the south of San Diego. Don´t want to waste valuable CA/CLs for protection.

[obvert]

He may just be recovering from the strike, getting planes repaired, ships fueled, and seeing what your next move would be (which if you'd made one with surface forces would have hit empty sea and allowed a nice distant strike).

He could still be coming. My money would be that he will. [:)]

[Lokasenna]

ORIGINAL: obvert

He may just be recovering from the strike, getting planes repaired, ships fueled, and seeing what your next move would be (which if you'd made one with surface forces would have hit empty sea and allowed a nice distant strike).

He could still be coming. My money would be that he will. [:)]

I think so too. He's probably standing off a day to wait for damaged planes to repair, or maybe just to bring the fatigue numbers down on the operable ones. It's too bad you were so far from Suva - until I saw the map, I was going to suggest that you go under its fighter umbrella. And it's too bad that you don't have enough LBA in the area to really contest his CAP, in terms of bombers to harass him. Where are your B-17s? By this point, you should have dozens of them around. Even if they don't hit anything, they'll still distract KB's CAP like crazy, and maybe even shoot some of those aces down.



Also...


SPREAD YOUR DAMN SUBS OUT!

[JocMeister]

Just got the turn back. He pulled back even further and is now west of the Tongas. Still no landing anywhere.

I had a CAP 125 plane CAP up over Pago Pago but he can place his Sweeps above my CAP and he simply wrecked the P40s. They are still recovering MRL and taking on replacements. B17s are nightbombing the Brisbane AF each night. I have 60 or so operating out of Sydney. Pools is empty so I can´t upgrade any of the 2 plane Bolo squadrons. Should get some spares when 10 or so 2-3 plane squadrons withdraws in 4 days.

About the subs it was me being lazy. [:'(] When he made the sprint towards the east I figured he would hang around there. So I simply pressed "Return to Pago Pago" and figured I would spread them out once they got closer.

[Lowpe]

ORIGINAL: JocMeister

Protection against surface raiders. Still havn´t found those AMC that escaped to the south of San Diego. Don´t want to waste valuable CA/CLs for protection.

I agree with that. I had forgotten about them...

I also agree with using them for submarine magnets instead of xaks carrying planes etc.

But that is about it unless you have fast BB that can hang with the carriers. In surface combat groups they take just way too many destroyers to shield from Japanese torpedoes I think, are at a disadvantage at night, and are far more valuable in 43.

[Lokasenna]

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

ORIGINAL: JocMeister

Protection against surface raiders. Still havn´t found those AMC that escaped to the south of San Diego. Don´t want to waste valuable CA/CLs for protection.

I agree with that. I had forgotten about them...

I also agree with using them for submarine magnets instead of xaks carrying planes etc.

But that is about it unless you have fast BB that can hang with the carriers. In surface combat groups they take just way too many destroyers to shield from Japanese torpedoes I think, are at a disadvantage at night, and are far more valuable in 43.

Using them as sub magnets instead of xAKs with troops/planes on board is all well and good...until you lose a 170-180 VP BB instead of a 10 VP xAK with 12-24 VPs of stuff on board. I know it's rough in the early days and don't disagree with this usage, especially since he's roaming with AMCs, but I think it's risky when we're talking about subs. Usually one torp hit will put an old BB in the yards for months, as well as slow it down...and then you're looking at a higher chance of more torp hits to put her under.

In a few months you'll start getting YMS and SC though... they do wonders for convoy escort, in terms of subs.

RE: your subs - ah, OK then. Still, even if you just spread them out like a net or a web, you'll at least get intel on where he's at without your Cats getting shot down by KB CAP (run them too, obviously, but it takes some pressure off).

[Lowpe]

ORIGINAL: Lokasenna
Using them as sub magnets instead of xAKs with troops/planes on board is all well and good...until you lose a 170-180 VP BB instead of a 10 VP xAK with 12-24 VPs of stuff on board. I know it's rough in the early days and don't disagree with this usage, especially since he's roaming with AMCs, but I think it's risky when we're talking about subs. Usually one torp hit will put an old BB in the yards for months, as well as slow it down...and then you're looking at a higher chance of more torp hits to put her under.

Should have qualified I have only done that against the AI no pbem....it is pretty darn safe. Ironman Nasty though they stay in port as there are lots of wandering Japanese predators with torpedo bombers hunting convoys -- there the convoys go out in massive multi-taskforce groups with full CV cover.

[Sangeli]

ORIGINAL: JocMeister
Protection against surface raiders. Still havn´t found those AMC that escaped to the south of San Diego. Don´t want to waste valuable CA/CLs for protection.

Well this is exactly the role the D' class cruiser and other British CLs were designed. They are too slow/old/weak for engaging other cruisers but can handle AMC's no problem. They don't have float planes though which makes them vulnerable to sub attack. That being said, they are worth as much as a decent size tanker in terms of VPs so even if they take a torp and sink you're not really going to feel it in VPs or lost combat potential.

[JocMeister]

[font="Verdana"]17th June[/font]
______________________________________________________________________________

I hate China.

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China
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Without taking more then a small scratch Tom attacks across the rivers into the mountains.

Ground combat at 72,42 (near Chengtu)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 15113 troops, 220 guns, 120 vehicles, Assault Value = 516

Defending force 48309 troops, 276 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1368

Japanese adjusted assault: 470

Allied adjusted defense: 592

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 2

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), experience(-), supply(-)
Attacker: shock(+)

Japanese ground losses:
1512 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 139 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 10 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 11 disabled

Allied ground losses:
483 casualties reported
Squads: 20 destroyed, 16 disabled
Non Combat: 4 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Guns lost 4 (2 destroyed, 2 disabled)

Assaulting units:
17th Division
5th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
7th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
12th Medium Field Artillery Regiment

Defending units:
29th Chinese Corps
56th Chinese Corps
58th Chinese Corps
73rd Chinese Corps
33rd Chinese Corps
90th Chinese Corps
6th Chinese Base Force
1st Artillery Regiment
3rd Heavy Mortar Regiment
11th Chinese Base Force
57th AT Gun Regiment
12th Chinese Base Force

Since the crossing he has started bombarding causing 100-300 casualties each turn. This "last stand" in the mountains will be short lived. No supply anywhere.

In the south we are making at least semblance of a stand as some units still have supply left. But its all gone after 2-3 Japanese attacks and the units quickly crumble.

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Burma
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Hmm, looks like Tom realized his precarious position in Burma.

6/56th Division is loaded on xAP Argentina Maru moving to Singapore.

1/4th Division is loaded on xAP Huso Maru moving to Singapore.

I should still be able to threaten Rangoon despite the two extra IDs. We will see...

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SOPAC
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On the 16th we dud on the Kaga again...

Sub attack near Tongatapu at 138,167

Japanese Ships
CV Kaga
BB Yamato
BB Nagato
DD Kazegumo
DD Ushio
DD Akebono
DD Oboro

Allied Ships
SS Plunger

SS Plunger launches 4 torpedoes at CV Kaga

Looks like Tom is refueling his armada on the 16th. Then what?

[Sangeli]

I think I see Tom's plan. He's going to occupy some of the Tonga Islands. They are far enough away from Suva and Pago Pago to make it difficult to suppress base construction with air power. On the other hand, those bases will give Japan really good intel on convoys going around Suva with float planes which really is going to put strain on your OZ convoys. Definitely a better plan than going for Pago Pago or Suva directly which as we all have figured out would be a Japanese disaster. He may still have plans to take Suva or Pago Pago but it looks like he's going to try to isolate them first.

If this is what the Japanese have in mind it's going to be critical to establish your own bases in the Tonga Island when the KB has to return for fuel or ammo. The Tonga Islands could prove defendable to Japan for some time but not if you are able to occupy a base like Vava'a which is close enough for fighter support. Otherwise you're going to be forced to counter invade without LBA support (except long range P-38's) which could prove more challenging.

[Richard III]

Joc says: "Looks like Tom is refueling his armada on the 16th. Then what? "

Maybe watch him run out of fuel in early 1943 because your fleet subs are sitting on the choke points to the HI and his whole fleet is aimlessly tooling around the SOPAC in mid 1942 ??

[CaptBeefheart]

Did he manage to recon any of your bases during that massive foray?

Cheers,
CC

[JocMeister]

ORIGINAL: Sangeli

I think I see Tom's plan. He's going to occupy some of the Tonga Islands. They are far enough away from Suva and Pago Pago to make it difficult to suppress base construction with air power. On the other hand, those bases will give Japan really good intel on convoys going around Suva with float planes which really is going to put strain on your OZ convoys. Definitely a better plan than going for Pago Pago or Suva directly which as we all have figured out would be a Japanese disaster. He may still have plans to take Suva or Pago Pago but it looks like he's going to try to isolate them first.

If this is what the Japanese have in mind it's going to be critical to establish your own bases in the Tonga Island when the KB has to return for fuel or ammo. The Tonga Islands could prove defendable to Japan for some time but not if you are able to occupy a base like Vava'a which is close enough for fighter support. Otherwise you're going to be forced to counter invade without LBA support (except long range P-38's) which could prove more challenging.

Yeah, that could be the plan. Got the next turn back but still no landing though!

ORIGINAL: Commander Cody

Did he manage to recon any of your bases during that massive foray?

Cheers,
CC

He did recon Suva, Nadi and Kanadavu. Nothing in the Samoans.

[JocMeister]

I hate this game sometimes.

I have had what? 6-8 sub attacks against Jap CVs. 4 hits and 4 duds.

Last turn...

Sub attack near Kandavu Island at 131,162

Japanese Ships
CV Kaga
BB Yamato
BB Mutsu
BB Kongo
DD Makigumo
DD Ushio
DD Oboro

Allied Ships
SS Silversides

SS Silversides launches 6 torpedoes at CV Kaga

Then of course Tom stumbles across my CVs in the middle of nowhere. Why am I not even surprised?

Sub attack near Enderbury Island at 159,146

Japanese Ships
SS I-16

Allied Ships
CV Saratoga, Torpedo hits 2
CA Chicago
CA Chester
CLAA Van Heemskerck
DD Anderson
DD O'Brien
DD Russell
DD Mustin

So now Sara will be gone for 6-8 months.

[CaptBeefheart]

Ouchie!

EDIT: I have to admit as to being very curious as to the point of that major incursion into SOPAC. It does seem he is making an all out effort at auto-vic, though, since that kind of activity can't be kind to his long-term fuel situation.

Cheers,
CC