The Good The Bad & The Indifferent

Post descriptions of your brilliant victories and unfortunate defeats here.

Moderators: wdolson, MOD_War-in-the-Pacific-Admirals-Edition

User avatar
Canoerebel
Posts: 21099
Joined: Fri Dec 13, 2002 11:21 pm
Location: Northwestern Georgia, USA
Contact:

RE: The Good The Bad & The Indifferent

Post by Canoerebel »

The title of the story is "27 Miles from Nowhere."

Here's the email message from John with the new turn: "If head further west, you will be in a world of hurt. Keep coming into range of the Marianas and/or Truk BABY!"

I don't think I've seen this kind of thing from him before.
"Rats set fire to Mr. Cooper’s store in Fort Valley. No damage done." Columbus (Ga) Enquirer-Sun, October 2, 1880.
User avatar
Lokasenna
Posts: 9303
Joined: Sat Mar 03, 2012 3:57 am
Location: Iowan in MD/DC

RE: The Good The Bad & The Indifferent

Post by Lokasenna »

Purple prose alert!
User avatar
Capt. Harlock
Posts: 5379
Joined: Sat Sep 15, 2001 8:00 am
Location: Los Angeles
Contact:

RE: The Good The Bad & The Indifferent

Post by Capt. Harlock »

The title of the story is "27 Miles from Nowhere."

27 miles is a mere hour's steaming at flank speed, and point-blank range for air. He probably means 27 hexes. Perhaps he's getting a bit rattled? [:D]
Civil war? What does that mean? Is there any foreign war? Isn't every war fought between men, between brothers?

--Victor Hugo
User avatar
Canoerebel
Posts: 21099
Joined: Fri Dec 13, 2002 11:21 pm
Location: Northwestern Georgia, USA
Contact:

RE: The Good The Bad & The Indifferent

Post by Canoerebel »

11/6/43

Big Tent: Another reasonably quiet day ended with John's rather bombastic email message (see prior post).

The herd moves just four hexes, while I'd ordered six. I'm not sure what slowed it. But it moved due west (the last two hexes would've been a job SW). So John is probably still uncertain, but considering all possibilities: Marianas, Truk, Wolei, deeper. If, as I think, his underbelly is soft, he's also very worried about that. That may explain his uncharacteristic slowness in completing the turn and his email message. He may simply be on edge.

If he's not on edge, I am enough for both of us. This is a perilous journey, and the next three days will be the most dangerous of all. The herd will being closing on Truk to avoid the Marianas nest of airfields. If KB is available, and if John feels like rolling the dice, he should do so in one of the next three turns - probably the middle one.

But he deployed four BBs to bombard Tarawa today! What the heck? He did moderately heavy damage to a field that's just totally irrelevant to the war at this point. His BBs are about 30 hexes from the herd, meaning they won't be present during the period of greatest vulnerability. And I keep wondering: if BBs are down here, where is KB? Wouldn't he concentrate his forces to face such a grave and deep threat to the Empire?

So, I have an extraordinarly queasy stomach, but the op goes forward.

The herd is 15 hexes from the first beach. I anticipate the first landing on Nov. 9.

Eldorado will be triggered in three or four days.

Lion Tamer: Another dot hex fell to the Allies today. Recon shows Funafuti is still modestly garrisoned by fighting troops. And there's an Allied base in an undisclosed location that is now perhaps the busiest on the map as Third Ring troops concentrate and prepare to follow on Big Tent, if the fates permit.

Image
Attachments
110643BigTent.jpg
110643BigTent.jpg (443.65 KiB) Viewed 56 times
"Rats set fire to Mr. Cooper’s store in Fort Valley. No damage done." Columbus (Ga) Enquirer-Sun, October 2, 1880.
User avatar
Canoerebel
Posts: 21099
Joined: Fri Dec 13, 2002 11:21 pm
Location: Northwestern Georgia, USA
Contact:

RE: The Good The Bad & The Indifferent

Post by Canoerebel »

I created some confusion a page back, it seems. The "27 Miles from Nowhere" title refers to the story I'm writing about my Sunday night hike under a full moon. It does not pertain to the game. But I guess you could say, from a game standpoint, that I'm 15 Hexes from Nowhere.
"Rats set fire to Mr. Cooper’s store in Fort Valley. No damage done." Columbus (Ga) Enquirer-Sun, October 2, 1880.
Flicker
Posts: 229
Joined: Thu Nov 24, 2011 12:19 am
Location: Rocket City USA

RE: The Good The Bad & The Indifferent

Post by Flicker »

15 hexes to Satawal atoll. Hmm - the atoll is about one square kilometer in area, with no anchorage for large boats (much less ships). You got a hankering for breadfruit and coconut? Need to learn indigenous navigating techniques?

User avatar
Canoerebel
Posts: 21099
Joined: Fri Dec 13, 2002 11:21 pm
Location: Northwestern Georgia, USA
Contact:

RE: The Good The Bad & The Indifferent

Post by Canoerebel »

I hope it's big enough handle some Free French soldiers, American engineers, and a few seaplanes.

Big Tent has three possible routes of egress. I've just about eliminated one, which modifies the opening act a bit, streamlining things. The armada will move more expeditiously to the main objectives.
"Rats set fire to Mr. Cooper’s store in Fort Valley. No damage done." Columbus (Ga) Enquirer-Sun, October 2, 1880.
User avatar
Canoerebel
Posts: 21099
Joined: Fri Dec 13, 2002 11:21 pm
Location: Northwestern Georgia, USA
Contact:

RE: The Good The Bad & The Indifferent

Post by Canoerebel »

I'm getting mixed signals from John, which I'm having a hard time interpreting. Since a major battle may ensue, I'll share in some detail.

John doesn't feint when he's coming. If he begins reconning a base it's almost always because he plans to hit it.

I think he expects the same from his opponent: If I recon a base, John sits up and takes notice. I think that makes it possible to decoy him.

Similarly, when John utters a boast or a threat, he's usually not playing coy. He often gives away big plans by doing that very thing.

In this case, John uttered a boast about the strength of Truk and the Marianas. So I sit up and take notice. Yet, his conduct doesn't support his boast. I'd think if he was ready to unleash havoc, he'd want to flip turns. Today he dallied with a turn uncharacteristically long. When he finally sent it tonight, I told him to let me know whether he wanted it back tonight, tomorrow a.m. or late tomorrow. He replied, "Morning." That lacks the enthusiasm he'd unsually display.

Putting this all together -the emails, the lack of energy, the BBs at Tarawa, the YMS circling the Marianas undetected, I wonder if I've caught John on the wrong foot. He may be just evaluating the possibility that I'm targeting bases that are pretty vulnerable.

I could be wrong, of course. He may be about to unleash havoc with tomorrow's turn. I'm antsy and worried, but I'd be much more worried if those four BBs were bearing down on the herd as though John really was prepared to unleash havoc.
"Rats set fire to Mr. Cooper’s store in Fort Valley. No damage done." Columbus (Ga) Enquirer-Sun, October 2, 1880.
User avatar
Canoerebel
Posts: 21099
Joined: Fri Dec 13, 2002 11:21 pm
Location: Northwestern Georgia, USA
Contact:

RE: The Good The Bad & The Indifferent

Post by Canoerebel »

Two things to add as I prepare for a restless slumber:

1. Truk is level six airfield, not eight. That helps.
2. I had confirmation a few turns back that CVL Mizuho sank during the Great Naval Battle of Wake Island. Unless there are real surprises now, that should be the final tally: 3 CV, 4 CVL, and 8 CVE.
"Rats set fire to Mr. Cooper’s store in Fort Valley. No damage done." Columbus (Ga) Enquirer-Sun, October 2, 1880.
User avatar
Encircled
Posts: 2095
Joined: Thu Dec 30, 2010 3:50 pm
Location: Northern England

RE: The Good The Bad & The Indifferent

Post by Encircled »

Hmmmm, despite all the evidence sailing towards his rear areas, he's wasting ammo and fuel bombarding somewhere that will be a backwater in about a couple of weeks.

Those BBs should be available to hit you, not messing about miles from anywhere important.

Like the carrier battle, he's making decisions that are not based on a rational assessment of the position he is in.

Good news for you!
User avatar
JohnDillworth
Posts: 3102
Joined: Thu Mar 19, 2009 5:22 pm

RE: The Good The Bad & The Indifferent

Post by JohnDillworth »

I'm beginning to get an inkling of what you are doing (hard not to at this point). As mentioned earlier I expect he is moving planes into position and the air onslaught will commence in the next turn or so. That is , as expected. Whats the thinking on Truk? You will have to run that guantlet for the rest of the war. Everytime you bring ships our or supplies in you are going to be subject to the unending stream of aircraft
Today I come bearing an olive branch in one hand, and the freedom fighter's gun in the other. Do not let the olive branch fall from my hand. I repeat, do not let the olive branch fall from my hand. - Yasser Arafat Speech to UN General Assembly
User avatar
HansBolter
Posts: 7191
Joined: Thu Jul 06, 2006 12:30 pm
Location: United States

RE: The Good The Bad & The Indifferent

Post by HansBolter »

The likely cause of your 4 hex move when you expected a 6 hex move is slowing to refuel short legged escorts from long legged transports.
Hans

User avatar
Canoerebel
Posts: 21099
Joined: Fri Dec 13, 2002 11:21 pm
Location: Northwestern Georgia, USA
Contact:

RE: The Good The Bad & The Indifferent

Post by Canoerebel »

Hans, I had just replenished fuel the turn before. It's possible that I used up so many ops points that it affected movement.

John, the herd is going to pass very close to Truk over the next three turns. If the herd passes at a range of a few hexes it will stay fairly distant from the Marianas and Ponape.

You're right about Truk being a tough nut located right on that LOC. The plan is to invade sometime in early '44. The troops are prepping.

Originally, I had planned to egress from Big Tent the way I ingressed. That way the carriers and combat ships would remain in CenPac, best able to protect Wake. About two weeks ago, I decided on a different course of action - a differet route of egress that involves a lot more offensive action.

The next three turns will probably dedice whether that's a viable plan.
"Rats set fire to Mr. Cooper’s store in Fort Valley. No damage done." Columbus (Ga) Enquirer-Sun, October 2, 1880.
User avatar
Reg
Posts: 2786
Joined: Fri May 26, 2000 8:00 am
Location: NSW, Australia

RE: The Good The Bad & The Indifferent

Post by Reg »

ORIGINAL: JohnDillworth

I'm beginning to get an inkling of what you are doing (hard not to at this point). As mentioned earlier I expect he is moving planes into position and the air onslaught will commence in the next turn or so. That is , as expected. Whats the thinking on Truk? You will have to run that guantlet for the rest of the war. Everytime you bring ships our or supplies in you are going to be subject to the unending stream of aircraft


If Canoerebel can interdict the supply lines running south to Truk, it eventually won't matter how many planes are based there.

Lets hope there isn't too much supply stockpiled there and that he can ride out the whirlwind until it runs down a bit.

Cheers,
Reg.

(One day I will learn to spell - or check before posting....)
Uh oh, Firefox has a spell checker!! What excuse can I use now!!!
User avatar
JohnDillworth
Posts: 3102
Joined: Thu Mar 19, 2009 5:22 pm

RE: The Good The Bad & The Indifferent

Post by JohnDillworth »

Yeah but he John will be able to bring aircraft into Truk from interior lines for the next year or more. I'm presuming supply is not an issue there. Not impossible to live with, just a giant hornets nest right in the way to the mailbox.
Today I come bearing an olive branch in one hand, and the freedom fighter's gun in the other. Do not let the olive branch fall from my hand. I repeat, do not let the olive branch fall from my hand. - Yasser Arafat Speech to UN General Assembly
User avatar
JohnDillworth
Posts: 3102
Joined: Thu Mar 19, 2009 5:22 pm

RE: The Good The Bad & The Indifferent

Post by JohnDillworth »

Well, if things go well please consider empting you CA and BB magazines at Truk on the way home. Silly to carry all that ammo back to base.
Today I come bearing an olive branch in one hand, and the freedom fighter's gun in the other. Do not let the olive branch fall from my hand. I repeat, do not let the olive branch fall from my hand. - Yasser Arafat Speech to UN General Assembly
User avatar
BBfanboy
Posts: 19688
Joined: Wed Aug 04, 2010 5:36 pm
Location: Winnipeg, MB
Contact:

RE: The Good The Bad & The Indifferent

Post by BBfanboy »

ORIGINAL: HansBolter

The likely cause of your 4 hex move when you expected a 6 hex move is slowing to refuel short legged escorts from long legged transports.
As Canoerebel has ruled out the fuelling issue, I think it is the LSTs in the lagging convoys that just caught up that are slowing movement. They have about the slowest speed of any ship likely to be in an amphib task force.
No matter how bad a situation is, you can always make it worse. - Chris Hadfield : An Astronaut's Guide To Life On Earth
User avatar
Canoerebel
Posts: 21099
Joined: Fri Dec 13, 2002 11:21 pm
Location: Northwestern Georgia, USA
Contact:

RE: The Good The Bad & The Indifferent

Post by Canoerebel »

The turn is off to John. The herd should end up five hexes from Truk. Masses of LBA and carrier strike aircraft may overwhelm my CAP and do nasty things. But my hunch is that John doesn't commit KB (at least not yet) and that CAP can handle LBA with an acceptable number of losses.

The risk is worth taking because the rewards will be so great if this op is successful. I think it represents the last time the Allies will have a shot at largely undefended bases in a vital region. If Big Tent succeeds, New Guinea, the Solomons and the Marshalls are irrelevant, I'll be in the DEI in strength, and a two front war opens (with the two fronts converging and linking up at the same time).
"Rats set fire to Mr. Cooper’s store in Fort Valley. No damage done." Columbus (Ga) Enquirer-Sun, October 2, 1880.
User avatar
Cap Mandrake
Posts: 20737
Joined: Fri Nov 15, 2002 8:37 am
Location: Southern California

RE: The Good The Bad & The Indifferent

Post by Cap Mandrake »

ORIGINAL: Lokasenna

Purple prose alert!

[:D]
Image
User avatar
Canoerebel
Posts: 21099
Joined: Fri Dec 13, 2002 11:21 pm
Location: Northwestern Georgia, USA
Contact:

RE: The Good The Bad & The Indifferent

Post by Canoerebel »

I had to look up purple prose. It's not a good thing for a writer, so I went back through the story I'm writing to check for it. But I'm not sure if Loka was referring to me (my "27 Miles from Nowhere" title), to John (his bombastic email message), or to something else entirely.
"Rats set fire to Mr. Cooper’s store in Fort Valley. No damage done." Columbus (Ga) Enquirer-Sun, October 2, 1880.
Post Reply

Return to “After Action Reports”