See you in Tokyo Bay - Apbarog(A) vs Walker(J) DBB-B Scen28

Post descriptions of your brilliant victories and unfortunate defeats here.

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apbarog
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RE: See you in Tokyo Bay - Apbarog(A) vs Walker(J) DBB-B Scen28

Post by apbarog »

14 Jun 42

Some enemy bombing in Java. Appears that more enemy troops are arriving also.

I get a good recon of Rabaul, and see about 20 ships in port. No carriers are spotted. I'm not worrying too much about whether Kaga sank or not. I probably won't know for sure for months, when it either shows up officially on the sunk list, or shows up repaired. Either way, we put a dent into the Japanese efforts in the Solomons.

KB may be just south of the Andaman's now. It may stay in the Indian Ocean, it may leave. The enemy troops at Calcutta and Diamond Harbour aren't going anywhere, for now. I do get SigInt that a airbase unit is planning for Chittagong, but that doesn't really mean anything.

The window for more Japanese landings at Chittagong or elsewhere on the eastern Indian coast has closed. The beaches are covered and I have Brit infantry divisions with nothing better to do than wait nearby.

I did just make my first reinforcement of Ceylon. A US infantry regiment arrives. My plan up to this point was to strip Ceylon and take everything I could to India. I didn't want Ceylon to become a big prison camp for my troops. But the enemy didn't come (yet). With good forts built, I'll start loading it up when I can.
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RE: See you in Tokyo Bay - Apbarog(A) vs Walker(J) DBB-B Scen28

Post by jwolf »

ORIGINAL: apbarog
I'm not worrying too much about whether Kaga sank or not. I probably won't know for sure for months, when it either shows up officially on the sunk list, or shows up repaired.

Rookie question: how long does it take until you get definite information one way or the other?
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RE: See you in Tokyo Bay - Apbarog(A) vs Walker(J) DBB-B Scen28

Post by apbarog »

15 Jun 42

9 hexes south of Ceylon, Dutch sub KXIV fires on a big task force, missing battleship Fuso. Also spotted are battleships Hyuga and Yamashiro, 2 cruisers, CS Chiyoda, and 8 destroyers. This force appears to be headed to Diego Garcia. I have some fighters there and no bombers. I had a task force just pop onto the map from Cape Town. It contains a coastal AA unit. I move the ships north some to wait out the attack.

Some bombing in Java. Kalidjati, east of Batavia, is captured.

My bombardment force for Tulagi only moved to a point 5 or 6 hexes from there, and was spotted. I send it back to port. I don't mind it being seen. There's a good chance that it looked like carriers moving around. With my carriers back in port repairing, that's a good thing.

jwolf - I don't know if there's a definite time for real information about sunk ships. Just going on experience, I think that the truth is known most if not all of the time in 6 months. But again, that's just my opinion.
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RE: See you in Tokyo Bay - Apbarog(A) vs Walker(J) DBB-B Scen28

Post by BBfanboy »

My experience has been what apbarog said - usually within six months, but some players have reported ships on and off the list several times over the course of a year!
From playing both sides I know the Allied intel is quick to report ships sunk (I presume based on exaggerated claims from inexperienced crews/pilots) but until the Japanese Ops Report says they "Admit the loss of XYZ" and the Allied Ops Report then says "Sinking of XYZ has been confirmed" you cannot be positive.
Loss of important ships is not admitted for longer periods than minor vessels.
No matter how bad a situation is, you can always make it worse. - Chris Hadfield : An Astronaut's Guide To Life On Earth
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RE: See you in Tokyo Bay - Apbarog(A) vs Walker(J) DBB-B Scen28

Post by apbarog »

16 Jun 42

As the Solomons cool down, India heats up, again.

KB appears to the WEST of Ceylon. At long range, 42 Kates escorted by 50 Zeros hit a task force unloading supply at Columbo. Only 8 Hurricanes are on CAP. All 3 xAK's are sunk, and destroyer Thanet is badly damaged and burning.

The loss of the xAK's are insignificant to me. What matters to me is what are the enemy's intentions?

This wasn't a surprise strike on Columbo. It just happened to find ships there to attack, and the attack was at long range. Why would KB move to west of Ceylon?

The possibilities are:

1. Just a raid looking for shipping. KB is here, he knows that the Allied carriers are not, and he has to try to do something productive with them. They've been in the Indian Ocean forever.

2. There were 3 battleships in a surface group 2 turns ago south of Ceylon. They weren't there to escort the carriers (I think). Ceylon could be about to be invaded, and KB is blocking to the west. Or Diego Garcia is about to be invaded (or just bombarded) and KB is roaming around.

I moved some naval bombers and escorts to Trincomlee. I moved more fighters to Columbo. I started moving some ground units toward the tip of India, just in case there is some kind of crazy invasion on the west coast.


Just west of Canton, a Chinese corps is up against 2 infantry divisions and a tank regiment now. The enemy gets a 1 to 1 in the woods, and my forts are 4, but the Chinese take over twice the casualties. They will lose eventually.

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RE: See you in Tokyo Bay - Apbarog(A) vs Walker(J) DBB-B Scen28

Post by apbarog »

17 Jun 42

Solomons
- An enemy task force is spotted 7 hexes northwest of Ndeni. It's showing multiple destroyers. Has to be a bombardment force for Ndeni. I keep some transports away from Ndeni temporarily. I move a strong cruiser for to Ndeni from Luganville at high speed, hopefully to be there when the enemy arrives. Wasp starts to move from Suva to the area. I don't suspect enemy carriers to be here after the losses recently.

China - As predicted, the Chinese corp is defeated west of Canton.

India - KB moves to a position 6 hexes west northwest of Columbo. 18 Zeros sweep Columbo and find 23 Hurricanes. 14 Hurricanes are lost and only 1 Zero goes down. I don't put up a CAP this turn, as I move lots of fighters to the area. I'll load up Columbo big-time tomorrow.

Destroyer Thanet, badly hurt at Columbo, does put its fires out, and goes into Columbo's shipyard. I have to risk a port air strike as Thanet could not run away.

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RE: See you in Tokyo Bay - Apbarog(A) vs Walker(J) DBB-B Scen28

Post by apbarog »

17 Jun 42 - Solomons

Enemy surface group inbound. Friendly cruisers on the way to Ndeni.

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RE: See you in Tokyo Bay - Apbarog(A) vs Walker(J) DBB-B Scen28

Post by apbarog »

18 Jun 42

India
- The battleship group that was spotted previously south of Ceylon is now moving up the west coast of India, with KB a couple of hexes further west.

What are they up to? I honestly don't know.

I haven't spotted any transports yet, but they could be there. I didn't see the battleship group until this turn, since I'd seen it south of Ceylon.

If this was just a KB raid, why bring a task force with 3 battleships, cruisers, a CS, and destroyers?

And if the battleships are going to bombard somewhere, where? Only a landing spot makes sense. Bombay could be bombarded, but without a landing, that accomplishes little.

KB did catch a cargo task force at Mangalore. It had left Ceylon earlier and I didn't think KB would go this far north.

So...

I've started my panic operation in India. I have to assume the worst case scenario, and that this is a wild invasion to take Bombay or Karachi. (I honestly don't think this could be the case, with so many divisions elsewhere.) The western coast of India is very lightly defended. Every base that isn't Bombay or Karachi could be easily taken. I've noted, and my enemy probably has also, that there are very few bases near the west coast that have an airfield bigger than 1. I didn't build them early on as I feared lose part of India in an early rush. But I should have built some inland from the west coast.

Troops are heading west, mainly to Bombay and Karachi. I will make sure these bases are secure, and then deal with whatever happens next. I moved my naval bombers to striking range of a possible landing next turn. They were on Ceylon, expecting a landing there.

The Brit navy leaves Karachi. It heads mostly to Socatra for now. Tankers go there too. If KB comes all the way north along the coast, I'll slide down south and get between KB and Ceylon. There have to be some enemy tankers supporting such a move.

Right now, KB is only 2 days sailing from a strike on Bombay.

So, is this just a raid, and he brought battleships along to soak up bombs from any land-based attack?

I just don't know. Maybe I'm just being outsmarted with this move.

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RE: See you in Tokyo Bay - Apbarog(A) vs Walker(J) DBB-B Scen28

Post by BBfanboy »

Has he reconned Colombo and Bombay? If so, I bet he is looking for carriers and other valuable ships repairing.

The BBs would be to bombard the airfield and port before the KB strike to lessen the CAP available.
No matter how bad a situation is, you can always make it worse. - Chris Hadfield : An Astronaut's Guide To Life On Earth
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RE: See you in Tokyo Bay - Apbarog(A) vs Walker(J) DBB-B Scen28

Post by apbarog »

---BBfanboy--- He has not done any recon of Colombo or Bombay so far.


19 Jun 42

A bad day for the good guys. Not terrible, just that nothing went well.


In the straits northeast of Balikpapan, US sub S-41 spots a big tanker task force, gets 2 separate attacks at 2 tankers, but misses with all of the fish. Disappointing. The enemy will be more devious with the tanker routes now. I was setup in an obvious choke point.

Indian Theater:

Diego Garcia - Cruisers Mogami, Suzuya, and Kumano, with 6 destroyers, storm into Diego Garcia's harbor at night and find big xAP Denbighshire with just destroyer Arunta. The transport is almost fully loaded with a US coast AA unit. Both Allied ships are easily sunk and then the base is bombarded.

Only 22 support squads from the AA units unloaded before the transport was sunk, so all of its guns were lost. I suspected this might happen. Last turn, Diego had a 3 detection level, and a message said that a Dave was spotted. I should have stood off a few hexes and waited. But I guessed that this was just really a Glen spotting and took a chance, and lost. Not a huge loss. The unit will rebuild fairly quickly.

At Jessore, 22 Oscars sweep the base, no doubt noticing that many fighters have left the Calcutta area for the threatened west coast. 8 Mohawks are downed, as are 3 Oscars.

On the west coast of India, KB and battleships continue north. KB strikes another xAKL task force near Goa. It hadn't disbanded into port soon enough. 4 xAKL's are lost. Later, a couple of small minesweepers are sunk close to Bombay.

I was loading up Bombay for a counter-strike on KB, but I don't want a big bombardment to wipe out my planes, so I withdraw my air from Bombay. My plan is to let KB roam the coast and then try to catch them near the southern tip of India with air and many subs. A couple of weeks ago, when it looked like the Indian Ocean was going quiet, I decided to send all of my Dutch subs with high endurance to the Solomons via refueling at Batavia. Just before they got to Batavia, I spotted the battleship group south of Ceylon, and I knew something was up. I sent the Dutch subs back to Ceylon. They are just arriving now. I'll use them to set a line that KB must move through. Maybe I'll have some luck.

At Imphal, the Allies fail to push a regiment out of the city. A 1 to 1 attack is achieved, but losses are much heavier for the Allies: 432 casualties to 96. I'd hoped that the armored brigade would be enough, but the Indian brigade is just too weak with poor experience and morale. This will be a stalemate for awhile. I hold the town, so that is acceptable.



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RE: See you in Tokyo Bay - Apbarog(A) vs Walker(J) DBB-B Scen28

Post by apbarog »

19 Jun 42 - The Solomons Area

I have lots of unloading occurring at Ndeni, with most of an infantry division unloading now. There is a threat to the northwest, just one day's steaming from a strike. This may be the same task force that showed as destroyers just a few days ago. It moved closer, then away. Now I'm seeing 3 carriers but few planes. I don't suspect major carrier here after the recent losses and an unknown number of big carriers in the Indian Ocean.

Wasp is coming north from Suva. I could support Ndeni, but instead I've decided to move northeast for a strike on a small task force at Tabiteuea, south of Tarawa. I want to show a carrier here while all the rest are getting repairs.

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RE: See you in Tokyo Bay - Apbarog(A) vs Walker(J) DBB-B Scen28

Post by jwolf »

That BB force has no ASW escort. It would be nice to get a few shots at that, maybe even sink a couple of tankers.

Edit: To clarify, I mean the Japanese BB group outside of Mangalore.
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RE: See you in Tokyo Bay - Apbarog(A) vs Walker(J) DBB-B Scen28

Post by apbarog »

20 Jun 42

India


KB (and yes, it's definitely KB) moves back south along the west coast of India, near the southern tip. I have some planes set to naval attack, and they launch. A strike of 2 A24's and 18 SB2U-3's are escorted by 21 P40E's. They find carriers Soryu and Shokaku, with battleships Haruna and Kongo, and 22 Zero's flying CAP. The Zero's are very effective, but 10 SB2U's get through. Bombs are dropped on carriers....and all miss. That must have been a nervous time for the enemy. In a second fragmented strike, 11 A24's are intercepted by 13 Zero's. Most are shot down, but 4 attack carrier Akagi....and miss.

KB sends out a handful of Val's and Kate's and sinks 2 xAKL's that I move from Madras to the northern port on Ceylon, trying to sneak some supply in. A small minesweeper is also lost along the Indian coast.

I have a bunch of subs in the way of KB heading around Ceylon. I also loaded up Columbo and Trincomlee with all of the fighters and naval bombers that I could find. Some are torpedo bombers. Let's hope for something good here before KB rounds the corner and disappears.


Tabiteuea

Wasp approaches from the south and finds the small cargo task force that has been spotted for a few days. 30 SBD's sink an xAK, an xAKL, and a PB. No air opposition at this level 1 airbase. It's good to sink some ships even if they are fairly irrelevant.

Solomons

US sub Silversides finds battleship Hiei, 3 cruisers, and destroyers east of Rabaul heading west. Torpedoes miss.

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RE: See you in Tokyo Bay - Apbarog(A) vs Walker(J) DBB-B Scen28

Post by BBfanboy »

If he is thinking straight he will move KB away from the coast at least 10 hexes before rounding that corner. That would put Addu or Diego Garcia in range? Good luck with the next turn!
No matter how bad a situation is, you can always make it worse. - Chris Hadfield : An Astronaut's Guide To Life On Earth
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RE: See you in Tokyo Bay - Apbarog(A) vs Walker(J) DBB-B Scen28

Post by jwolf »

Even though the results were bad from your attack on his carriers, I would think you have to take any reasonable chance to score a hit! Maybe even some unreasonable chances. Good luck with your subs!
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RE: See you in Tokyo Bay - Apbarog(A) vs Walker(J) DBB-B Scen28

Post by apbarog »

KB is right up against the Indian coast, so I don't think it will take a safe route around Ceylon. Ceylon didn't bother him on the way in. He avoided it by about 8 hexes on the way in. The enemy may be getting greedy as he's found a few xAK's and xAKL's here and there on his trip. Or he may hammer Ceylon. It does look like he has 2 task forces with 2 or 3 carriers in each. When I spotted 3 battleships without carriers long ago, I think I just didn't see the carriers that were there.

Let's hope for some good luck this turn! Some carrier hits this far from home would be very nice.

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RE: See you in Tokyo Bay - Apbarog(A) vs Walker(J) DBB-B Scen28

Post by jwolf »

Oh, if you could hurt his carriers here as much as you did the ones in the Solomons, that would be sweet!
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RE: See you in Tokyo Bay - Apbarog(A) vs Walker(J) DBB-B Scen28

Post by BBfanboy »

ORIGINAL: jwolf

Oh, if you could hurt his carriers here as much as you did the ones in the Solomons, that would be sweet!
Even if you just make him change his underwear, that would be a good outcome! [:D]
No matter how bad a situation is, you can always make it worse. - Chris Hadfield : An Astronaut's Guide To Life On Earth
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RE: See you in Tokyo Bay - Apbarog(A) vs Walker(J) DBB-B Scen28

Post by apbarog »

21 Jun 42

KB moved to 6 hexes west of Colombo. Some Allied air attacks, most don't fly.

9 SB2U-3's intercepted by 60 Zero's. Few return. No bombs dropped.

7 Blen's intercepted by 60 Zero's. None return. No bombs dropped.

6 Blen's intercepted by 58 Zero's. None return. No bombs dropped.

So, no escorts flew, because of range and/or weather. Most bombers didn't fly either, and what did was fragmented.

I had high hopes for this turn. It was disappointing. I hope that the Japanese are enjoying superiority in the skies. It is temporary. I am sure of that.

I will look over my air units and then decide whether to try again or sit the next round out. I still have lots of fighters on Ceylon, so I haven't given up yet.

Finally, despite my subs being there, there were no sub encounters with KB. Maybe tomorrow.
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RE: See you in Tokyo Bay - Apbarog(A) vs Walker(J) DBB-B Scen28

Post by jwolf »

Did the KB actually cross the sub line yet? Once he crosses, I assume the KB will move faster than any pursuing subs, right?
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