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

[apbarog]

KB did encounter my first sub line. Now that line is heading south, and a bunch more subs are coming into range. I've set up a new line 8 hexes south of KB's current position, with a few extra subs here and there, and a few more not in range yet. The nice thing now is that subs of my first line are moving south along with KB, so there's a chance of an encounter en route to the new line.

I've also set my planes up for another go at KB. If a squadron or two of fighters actually escort, something may get through. It's doubtful that KB will be in range of torpedoes though.

It's tough to watch KB sail around big bases of mine and get away with it. Almost as tough as seeing over 150 fighters at Diamond Harbour and being unable to clear them out. But I know that my time will come, and it will be way more overwhelming for the enemy.

If I ever determine that KB has left the Indian Ocean area, I'll send the Brit navy in to deal with Diamond Harbour. But I don't think I'll get the chance. He's tied there because he knows the same thing I know. Bombarding ships is the only counter to so many fighters at Diamond Harbour. At this point in the war.

[jmalter]

hi apb, what orders do you give the subs on your intercept line?

I've found that a SubTF set to 'remain on station' at a destination-hex is less likely to find & attack an enemy TF that transits thru its hex. Instead, I set my SubTFs to a 2- or 3-hex Patrol Zone, w/ Linger 1 day at each hex. It seems to me that a SubTF expending movement points is more likely to make an attack, than one that's static.

[apbarog]

Hi jmalter. I rarely use a patrol zone. Most of the time, I do just set them to remain on station. I look at every sub every turn. (That may change when I get so many though. This is my first Allied game after many as the Japanese.) I houserule myself by setting a reaction of 0 always. Never felt right having subs chase task forces over long distances. Didn't happen that way often.

Your ideas may be true, I don't know. I do feel that if I can get a sub in the hex that a task force finishes its move in, there's a higher chance of an attack. Just my observations, nothing proven.

[BBfanboy]

You are correct - the end of movement hex is the place where subs get the most attacks. I think it is partly because the AI moves the Japanese TFs first and then the Allied. And if your sub has any residual ops points when it arrives in the hex, it can use them stalking the enemy.

[jmalter]

I always set my subs to react=1, but I've never observed them 'chasing' an enemy TF. I regularly use the hotkey 'T' screen to check on 'Sub Ops' 'Show Ammo' - anything less than 34% for Gun or Torp ammo, I send the sub back to base to re-arm, or set it to Disband, to grab an upgrade.

[BBfanboy]

On rare occasions I have seen a sub react into an adjoining hex. This seems to happen only if:
- the sub has movement points left in that phase.
- the enemy TF has been solidly located by some other Allied force
- the enemy TF has ended its movement for that phase in the hex your sub is reacting into
- the enemy TF contains ships worthy of going after - xAPs, AOs and TKs, major combatants.

[apbarog]

22 Jun 42

All quiet around Ceylon. KB disappeared completely. It probably went southwest or south, but anything is possible, even a high speed run to try and disappear. It could have found some bad weather. If it isn't heading back to the Calcutta area, or Singapore, it could raid Diego Garcia. Could be anything though. I leave my bombers ready at Colombo for now.

Some minor action on Java and Sumatra.

Despite it being a quiet day, there's always lots of Allied movement behind the lines. Men, supply, and fuel continue to the South Pacific. I will probably put together an operation or two when my carriers come out of repair in about a week.

[apbarog]

23 Jun 42

KB reappears, well south of Ceylon and eastbound. Singapore is the most likely destination. Victoria Point is a small possibility, as they've been there before, with lots of AO's in the area. But after KB's 3 hour tour, I expect Singapore. I'm moving subs in the possible paths, with a concentration to be waiting by the tip of Sumatra. I also have a couple of mining subs speeding to the area. I'll drop them in the shallows just ahead of KB if all goes right.

Elsewhere, Argonaut mined Babeldaob a few days ago. Patrol boats just found the mines, with no indications of any ships being hit.

[apbarog]

24 Jun 42

KB is moving southeast toward Sabang, Sumatra, and probably on to Singapore. I have many subs on the chase and setting up near Sabang. I have 2 minelaying subs which will drop in the open shallow hexes past Sabang. Hoping for a little luck there, I know, but it isn't often that I see KB and know where it is going.

In the South Pacific, units have been prepping for Lunga, Tulagi, Tassafronga, and Rennel Islands. Only Tulagi is definitely enemy occupied right now. I'm doing recon of the others. Only Rennel Islands is definitely not enemy occupied. Shipping is on the move to be able to pick up the designated units. I'm hoping that Lunga is not occupied. I'd like open the landings with paras at Tassafronga and Lunga, and avoid losses for not being adequately prepped. A Marine division is slotted for Tulagi, which I don't think is heavily defended.

I'd like to take these bases before KB arrives, if it does. I got SigInt that the 65th Brigade is going to Semarang, Java, but most recent SigInt says that units are going to the Solomons. I just got that the 26th Division was going to Yap, which must be just a task force temporary destination.

Anyhow, I have the units ready to land at these bases and then hold. Lunga will be a little light on infantry until another division arrives from the West Coast. I don't want to strip the defenses of Christmas, Pago Pago, Suva, or Noumea too much at this point. With KB, the Japanese are still capable of going after any of these.

Allied carriers will be fully repaired in a day or two. The Brit carrier must withdraw in about 4 weeks. I want this operation to be over by then. The enemy has kept significant surface ships in the Shortlands area, so these landings will definitely be contested. I'd like to see my carriers take out some battleships and cruisers with KB so far away.

This could be a bit of a race, trying to get this done before KB arrives. If I have these bases and get airfields building quickly, I can then dig in and await the Japanese. I have no doubt that they would come. They may be coming already with the current situation.

[apbarog]

25 Jun 42

The buildup begins for the next battle. Allied carriers leave Australia for Noumea. 2 more leave Auckland in a couple of days. Transports move to assigned bases to be ready to start loading troops.

Lunga appears empty. Tulagi appears lightly held. Naval activity at Shortlands but few troops. Heavy SigInt activity at Rabaul and Truk.

I'm sending battleships Idaho and Mississippi to the South Pacific. I was going to keep the slow ships out of the fight until they get better AAA, but these two already have over 1000 flak rating, and they could come in handy. Particularly since I've seen no bomber activity in the Solomons so far. I don't know where all of the Nell's and Betty's have been all this time. It may be that they are being used for long range search. My opponent is very good at searching, usually, and this may be why.

As for the action today, Chittagong is swept by 28 Zero's from Diamond Harbour. There are over 150 enemy fighters there, and I guess he's trying to find something for them to do, since I gave up trying to shut down the base. 16 Hurri's are in the fight. 13 are shot down. No Zero's are lost. I decide to move most of my fighter groups in the area back behind the front. No point in throwing them away any time they are swept. I will reserve them for use in large numbers.

I'm just itching to sneak battleships into Diamond Harbour to bombard the airfield. I may get the chance now that KB has moved toward Sumatra. The Brit navy had relocated to Socatra when KB threatened the west coast of India. Now they move in force back to Colombo. I'd love to catch all those fighters on the ground. If I can just damage the base enough and destroy enough planes, I can gain air superiority and keep Diamond Harbour suppressed. Then sneaking supply into it will be difficult for the enemy.

As for KB, I think it may have zigged instead of zagged. The highest D/L for my subs is now by Great Nicobar. This would be more of a move to Victoria Point than to Singapore. Of course, it could be just a zigzag move, maybe to come south along the east coast. But I do know that many AO's were at Victoria Point before, and they may still be there.

Taking a chance that Victoria Point is the destination, I redirect a minelaying sub with 40 mines there, hoping that it gets there first. Another minelaying sub will still drop in the shallows in the approaches to Singapore. There is heavy ASW coverage by land-based planes between Sumatra and Malaysia.

[apbarog]

26 Jun 42

KB is spotted south of Phuket heading south along the coast. So he didn't go to Victoria Point after all. Victoria Point did just get mined. KB is obviously headed to Singapore now. It could zigzag anywhere from the west coast to the east coast as it heads south in the Malaccan straits. That's ok. I have subs in every possible hex. Most are US subs, though, so I'm not expecting much.

With KB leaving the Indian Ocean, for now, I wonder what will become of those enemy divisions at Diamond Harbour. Will the Japanese come back with some of KB to protect them?

We will find out. The Brit navy is steaming toward Ceylon, and I will bombard Diamond Harbour as soon as possible.

It's also time to start thinking about the next steps in India. I cannot clear the enemy from Calcutta and Diamond Harbour directly. I'm thinking about throwing a wrench in the Japanese situation and taking the Andaman Islands. That wouldn't completely prevent a naval withdrawl of troops from Calcutta, but it would become a lot more difficult. I do think that it would trigger a violent reaction. This could be interesting if I do it when KB is over in the Solomons. (if that happens)

Elsewhere, there are now 2 enemy infantry divisions at Malang in Java. They may attack. I do have the mountains here and some forts. I hope they do attack. All of my troops are lost soon enough anyhow. Take as many of the enemy as possible.

In the South Pacific, my ships continue to move to staging areas for the Solomon invasions.

[apbarog]

27 Jun 42

No spotting of KB in the Malacca Strait today, but it is there. High detection level from top to bottom. All Allied subs set to return to base today with no luck. There are some mines laid in a possible hex on the way to Singapore, but that's the most I can hope for now.

Near Cochin, in a shallow coastal hex, I-32 picks off an xAK. This is the first sub action seen along the western Indian coast. ASW task forces are formed, as well as some ASW aircraft assigned. This is bad timing for me, with the Brit navy fast approaching the area looking for fuel. I don't want my ships spotted approaching Ceylon. I do want to make a series of big bombardments at Diamond Harbour.

In the South Pacific, combat loading begins for the Solomons operations. My carriers are approaching Noumea and Suva. In a couple of days, everything will form up and move north. I'm hoping for weak opposition on the ground. I'm not using any AP's or AK's, just xAP's and xAK's for this operation, so it will be a bit risky to stick around. But I'll have all of my carriers, and KB is not here yet. I wouldn't mind sinking some enemy battleships and cruisers should they intervene.

[apbarog]

28 Jun 42

A US sub, Trigger, has a small success in northern Japan, hitting a patrol boat, and no doubt sinking it. Can't complain about success, however small.

Judging from the detection levels on a couple of my subs, KB is now very near to Singapore. I have a bombardment task force rounding Ceylon to head to Diamond Harbour. It will refuel at Madras first as it didn't stop at Colombo for fuel. Most of the slow Brit battleships are on the west coast of India refueling. They probably won't get a shot at Diamond Harbour. I figure that my faster task force will get to bombard, and then we'll see a carrier force come rushing back north from Singapore.

That's ok though.

I want the enemy to have to decide between protecting the troops at Diamond Harbour and Calcutta, or going to the Solomons, or splitting up. I consider all of these options to be a good thing for the Allies. KB cannot be everywhere. As long as I know what is where.

Note that I did just spot a task force 10 hexes southeast of Singapore. I see 3 CL's, and the direction of the task force is unknown. Could be more ships headed to the Solomons. Also, I again got SigInt that the 26th Division is headed to Yap. I got this message a few days ago also. I've moved a sub to Yap.

My South Pacific task forces are still loading troops and supplies. When everything leaves for the Solomons, I'll provide a detailed map explaining what's about to happen. That should be tomorrow or the next day.

[apbarog]

29 Jun 42

At Malang, Java, the enemy attacks in the mountains with 2 divisions, barely missing a 2 to 1 attack, and lowers the forts to 0. The mountain redoubt is about to fall. Only adjacent Soerbaja remains in Dutch hands, as far as the eastern part of Java.

Solomons invasion gets a little closer. Not all loaded up yet. Carrier Indomitable needs to withdraw in 20-some days.

[apbarog]

30 Jun 42

A few US subs have been deployed between Japan and Truk. Wahoo takes a shot at a huge xAP near Haha-Jima, but misses.

On Borneo, Samarinda is amphibiously invaded. It will fall easily. It has been out of supply for ages. No idea why an attack from Balikpapan was never tried.

Another deliberate attack at Malang in the mountains by Soerbaja. This result is another 1 to 1 but the losses are heavier for the enemy this time. 73 enemy squads disabled. For the Dutch, time is money. Help is not on the way, so all they can do is last as long as possible. As it is now moving to July 1942, I'm happy with the results. The middle of Java is lost, and the eastern tip, but Soerbaja, Batavia, and the two mountain defenses still hold.

Detailed update on the Solomons very soon. Ships moving to the rendezvous point. I'll do regional maps also. Most areas have been quiet but deserve a visual update.

[apbarog]

2 Jul 42

At Diamond Harbour, BC Repulse makes her first appearance since being damaged at Singapore long ago. Along with 6 cruisers, she bombards Diamond Harbour doing moderate damage. 6 Oscar's are destroyed with about twice as many damaged. Only about 60 fighters were there, so all of the Zero's were withdrawn when the enemy saw the ships coming. Besides the planes, 470 casualties are caused, and the Imperial Guard is confirmed to still be there.

I won't be repeating this soon. My subs were lit up by something heading north by Victoria Point. I wouldn't be surprised if carriers come running at high speed. If nothing comes, though, I will return.

Near the tip of India, I-165 takes a shot at a southbound minelayer, but misses.

There are 4 slow battleships at Colombo now. 2 now head to Diego Garcia for awhile.

At Malang, Java, the base falls to the enemy. 56 enemy squads are disabled, while the Dutch lose heavily, losing many more squads.

In the South Pacific, everything that had time to rendezvous has done so, and the armada moves out from Efate headed to the Solomons. B-17's rebase to Luganville and will hit Tulagi's port. B-26's at Ndeni will hit Tulagi's defenders.

[Sangeli]

Be careful about slow BBs at Colombo. If the KB attacks the base you likely will have no warning. Let's not forget historically what happened to the British fleet there.

[apbarog]

Yes, very true Sangeli. I've sent 2 BB's to Diego Garcia temporarily. The other two went to the island north of Diego Garcia. The moves are temporary. I want to see if there is a new commitment of enemy carriers to the Indian Ocean or not. To be honest, with KB going all the way around Ceylon and half way up the west coast of India, I was surprised that Colombo was never attacked, or even reconned.

[apbarog]

Time to update all the areas of action (and inaction):

Aleutians:

The enemy took Attu, the most western Aleutian island, and is building it up. No sign of activity for awhile. I've moderately reinforced Umnak, and Dutch Harbor. I have Cat's at a small island southwest of Adak. They are keeping a good eye on the area.

[apbarog]

Borneo and the Philippines:

Samarinda was just taken. Lots of bypassed Allied bases still. I snuck an ARD out of Manila before it fell. It hid at Busuanga for awhile, but was discovered. It then ran west and avoided a light cruiser looking for it. The cruiser even bombarded Busuanga but I had already left. Now the ARD is hiding at Balabac with nowhere to run to.

On Borneo, I'm hoping to hide some Dutch air units at the inland base north of Balikpapan. Probably won't work, but it's that or lose them, or withdraw/disband them and then I don't know if or where they'd show up.