The Shattered Sword: John 3rd vs. Anachro--BTS

[adarbrauner]

Mr Cochrane, please, do not punish us because of the exuberance of Mr Roper (Allies receive three Vampires, at Port Stanley!!! We laughed, a lot, and still)

[Bif1961]

In history we rarely get the unvarnished though process of the titans who make those decisions that affect millions down to the single want of a nail. Most of those who write their histories often have to look dimly into their inner thoughts and guess at there meanings. Here with your AARs we get to be a witness to your machinations, the fly on the wall.

[durnedwolf]

Dear John,

Greetings and Salutations. I hope you and yours are well and this post finds you of good cheer. I'd like to limit this missive to two subjects that are currently on my mind.

First, I've always wanted to write a "Dear John" letter and now I can satisfactorily cross that desire from my bucket list. Thank you.

And second, I'd like to encourage you to continue your AAR. I took great delight in your past escapades VS that southern chap and greatly admire the way you stuck to your guns and fought mightily when all seemed doomed for the side of Japan. If it's not too much trouble, and as an admirer of your past AARs, I'd like to ask that you continue writing about your successes, your plans, and the escapades of the Imperial Japanese forces as they do battle against the allies in WiTP AE, which is quite possibly the greatest war game I've ever played.


Respectfully Yours,

The Durnedwolf

[John 3rd]

Michael called a bit ago wondering if I was still alive.

Answer: YES!

Things are very busy. My Mother is headed for hospice and that consumes a good amount of my time as I have been driving the nine hour stint out to see her and spend time with her in Kansas.

We just just got done with LaSalle Days weekend and that is a crazy 3-4 day period where I live, eat, and sleep the town and the stores. Now we are entering Weld County Fair where my youngest and wife have all sorts of entries into the competitions.

Been a busy and not very happy summer.

Once Mom is gone, the family is taking a vacation where we can finally relax some and try to decompress.

Hope everyone understands.
John

[Canoerebel]

Well, you're missed around these parts. You're kinda hard to replace. Best wishes as you continue to honor your Mom.

[John 3rd]

Thanks Sir.

Once things have 'calmed down' I will probably pick this game up with the AAR.

Sean is a dogged, stubborn player who has done some things that have utterly shocked me. Soooooooooooo far this has not bit him on the butt too bad. I am planning on that changing when I go in for India. It is January 25, 1942 and I have had Malaya for nearly two weeks (with eight ID recovering at Singers), have the eastern edge of Java, and have the Allies trapped at Manila. Just swept all the mines out of Bataan and everyone KNOWS what that means for Manila! [:D]

Will be landing at Ceylon and Cocanada/Viza within 2-3 weeks. We are truly hoping for an Allied bloodbath...

Does that give everyone a taste of things to come?

[Canoerebel]

I can guess what it might mean: "Banzai"?

[Chickenboy]

ORIGINAL: John 3rd
Will be landing at Ceylon and Cocanada/Viza within 2-3 weeks. We are truly hoping for an Allied bloodbath...

I was entirely unpleased with my Indian venture against SqzMyLemon. I also landed at Cocanada / Viza / SE coast of the subcontinent. By the time I could get decent units to threaten Madras, he had reinforced and interdicted the supply rail line towards that region. While I held the eastern tip of India for several months, the west became untenable. India-particularly the western tip became a tar baby.

The Allies will pour a mountain of supplies into it unabated with the off-map wormhole. The incredible rail network makes it impossible for the Japanese to extend an SE India landing site into a feasible jump-off point for the country.

Ceylon is a different animal and *should* be taken-if nothing else, than to kill off the good British forces there. But that too will be a nidus for future Allied (LBA) infection.

[Bif1961]

Good luck and don't forget to take time during this period to try and not wear yourself down.

[John 3rd]

February 25, 1942
Sumatra/Singapore Area

The main event commences as Japan forms up and sorties its invasion fleet for Ceylon.

Empire Status:
NoPac
We have taken everything pertinent from Amchitka west. The enemy is fixated on bombarding Amchitka while the Japanese build-up Adak and Attu for aerial operations beginning in March 1942. Troops await at Paramushiro Jima for landings at Umnak, Dutch Harbor, and Cold Harbour. The Allies have been allowed to think that there are only small boys up in this theatre of operations. They are about to massively abused of that as a TF consisting of CV Junyo, 2 CVE, BB Yamato, 2 CL, and 8 DD prepare to enter the waters hoping to surprise and kill the Bombardment TF of either BB Warspite/Colorado or the 3 CA--2 CL TF that alternates with it. Should be in position within 3-4 days.

CenPac
With Kido Butai (4 CV/2 CVL) covering, we have captured Midway, Baker, Canton, and Tabiteuea. The entire enemy carrier force arrived and just missed the chance for a telling victory over KB two weeks ago. Quick responses by the Allies recaptured Baker and Canton before Japanese follow-on troops could garrison the bases. Now...Tabiteuea is about to go to Lvl-3 AF and 54 Betty wait to join the 27 Vals and 36 Zeros at the base.

SoPac
We have the historic perimeter with engineers due to arrive at Tulagi, Guadalcanal, and Milne Bay within a few days. Port Moresby has been effectively neutralized for now by three Daitai of Betty/Nells flying from Rabaul.

Philippines
The enemy is holding Manila and Cebu. All else has been taken. Four ID lay siege to Manila.

DEI
Everything from Kendari west has been taken. We still need to go east to take Ambon, Koepand, etc... This is the only area that I am behind the historic game.

Java
From Central Java east, everything has been taken. Two ID move west gobbling up territory.

Burma
Pegu and Toungoo have been taken and an ID is unloading presently at Moulmein.

China
A massive Northern China Offensive has recently yielded Yenan, Kungchang, and Lanchow. The only oil and refinery location of China is now gone and Japanese. The enemy thought I wanted Sian and moved troops there instead of the real economic objective. That plan worked out well. We are now shifting to KILLING Chinese troops instead of grabbing territory.


Soooo....

India
We begin the Indian Campaign by going after Ceylon. Here are the Invasion Forces:

Jaffna
STF: 6 CA and 8 DD protect a 100 ship Invasion Force with a BB, 2 CL, and 4 DD embedded within it.
IF: The Invasion Force carries three ID (18th, 21st, and 55th), 2 Tank Regiment, 2 Engineering Reg, and the 3rd Air Flotilla for a total of 44,000+ troops.

Koggala
STF: 3 BB (Tosa, Mutsu, and Nagato), 2 CL, and 6 DDs protect the Invasion Force.
IF: A BB, 2 CL, and 7 DD are embedded within the IF. The landing will consist of three IDs (Imperial Guards, 2nd, and 33rd), 25th Army HQ, an Air HQ, and 5 Artillery units.

Close Cover
The CTF that has operated in the west since the opening of the war protects this conglomeration. CV Hiryu/Soryu, 2 CVL, 2 CAV, all four Kongo, 4 CA, 2 CL, and 12 DDs. These flattops carrying nearly 300 planes.

Distant Cover
After making sure we were seen (Halsey prior to Midway), the eastern KB boogied over to Soerabaja, rested four days, and has departed for the IO. As stated this force is 4 CA, 2 CVL, 1 BC, 2 CB, 2 CA, 2 CL, and 8 DDs. They carriers have nearly 400 aircraft aboard. WE HOPE that they provide a nasty surprise.


The enemy Carrier Fleet was last seen seven days ago near Canton. I figure a minimum of 7-10 days free play in the IO before he may or may not arrive...

Hold on to your butts...here we go!

GOALS
1. Keeping in mind some good advice given earlier in the AAR, we are not invading to stay. The goal is to KILL the units present in Ceylon, launch the invasion of Eastern India, and work for an attritional air battle over the captured territory.

2. Convoy raiding with heavy and light forces. We want SINKINGS! Sinkings = Victory Points. The enemy has already lost--get this--400 ships to this point in the war. Want to add at least 1-200 more within this operation.

3. A Reserve Force of 2 ID and 6 TK Regiments--plus three Paratroop units--are the reserve. If Ceylon goes well then this force will be positioned to begin Eastern India Operations by April 1st.


That is the update. I am in a bit of a lull as school starts and the final act with Mom has not yet started. Thought I would Post this so people know what is happening while reading Anarcho's AAR.

[Lecivius]

Good to see you back, John. I hope all is well on the domestic front.

[Canoerebel]

Hey, glad you're back and posting! It's a good day for the forum when you're contributing.

How's your mom doing? Best wishes for her and all your family.

[John 3rd]

Just came back from 4-5 days out in Wichita. Totally depressing. I begin to understand some people's assisted suicide mentality. Don't necessarily agree but I do have more understanding. Quality of life is nothing and pain continues to build as the body shuts down slowly. Isn't anything I would wish on anyone.

School is getting ready to start and I'll have more time to devote to an AAR at that time. Anarcho takes huge risks and I have not been able to make him pay for it---YET! We are working on it though...

[Chickenboy]

ORIGINAL: John 3rd

Just came back from 4-5 days out in Wichita. Totally depressing. I begin to understand some people's assisted suicide mentality.

To this point, John, I assumed that this posting of yours was some slam on Wichita, Kansas in general. And I totally agreed with it. [:D]

On a serious note: I'm sorry for your family's issues and your mother's illness. Having lost my father two days before Christmas 2017, I know what that long-suffering dynamic is like for the family. May God grant you all strength to endure this trial.

[adarbrauner]

ORIGINAL: John 3rd

Just came back from 4-5 days out in Wichita. Totally depressing. I begin to understand some people's assisted suicide mentality. Don't necessarily agree but I do have more understanding. Quality of life is nothing and pain continues to build as the body shuts down slowly. Isn't anything I would wish on anyone.

School is getting ready to start and I'll have more time to devote to an AAR at that time. Anarcho takes huge risks and I have not been able to make him pay for it---YET! We are working on it though...

This is terrible

[John 3rd]

March 2-3, 1942
Ceylon

Exactly one day behind the schedule set on Dec 7, 1941, the Japanese come thundering ashore at Koggala. There is no opposition. The base falls without a fight and a Zero and Oscar Fighter unit each move in to take the burden off of the Japanese CVLs.

The 3rd sees a raid by 12 bombers that is wiped out by 31 Zeros. After the day, 75 ships are ordered back to Port Blair since their cargo is fully unloaded. NICE!

The 4th shall see the landing at Jaffna. There is plenty of CAP to cover the shipping as well as 6 CA and 8 DD providing a screen for the 100 ship TF.

Air Recon has yielded the interesting info that Akyab is abandoned. A TF will land tomorrow to take the base. There is a Para unit, 2 Base Forces, and a small Infantry unit in the Fast TF. Two follow-on convoys are already headed there with two Air Flotillas. Getting this base for no fight is a huge boon for the growing offensive...

At Singapore, a huge TF loads up 3 ID, 6 Tank Reg, an Air HQ, 6 AA units, and a few other tidbits. Destiation: Vizagatapan.

[John 3rd]

March 4, 1942
Ceylon

The Japanese thunder ashore at Jaffna and crush a small unit in the hex. LRCAP from the CVLs place 27-41 Fighters over the hex and they effectively deal with two un-escorted morning and then two un-escorted afternoon strikes from the mainland. We bag nearly 30 planes for the day. The base will fall tomorrow, with shipping mostly unloaded, and 50 Fighters flying in.

The two Japanese bases will begin expansion and all the Infantry and Armor will take each end of the island FAST. Colombo is easiest due to being clear terrain. It says that there are 17,000+ troops at both Colombo and Trincomalee. Figure a total bag of 40,000 troops for the operation. NICE!

The CTF centering around Hiryu and Soryu plaster an escaping AS and AM. They go down and the CVs will move to the west coast of India for some hunting.

Recon flights cover all Indian bases from Madras south. WANT Sean to think we're landing there and not Cocanada/Viza.

[Bearcat2]

I have a question concerning your G6 CVL's

I looked at the conversion to a CV and was wondering how you came up with the values.

The 34,400t Akagi went from 80,000 sq ft hangers to 93,000 sq ft hangers, 41,300t[ about a 25% increase] after her conversion[Warships of the Imperial Japanese Navy 1869-1945]; assuming that configuration is a basis for a G6:
The G6 goes from 30 plane capacity to 63; wouldn't a larger hanger than the Akagi proportion make it too top heavy, especially given the deck armor and the tonnage increase is too small?

[John 3rd]

School starts tomorrow and I finally will get some time to do regular work on the AAR.

The G.6 hull was based on nearly the same hull design as the Soryu/Hiryu. That was the philosophy and reasoning for the 63 plane configuration. Built on a cruiser hull, fast, but probably VERY cramped.

[John 3rd]

Hello All.

Am out visiting my sister and Mom. We're shifting Mom to Assisted Living. Just too unsteady and frail for my sister to continue housing. Tears my sister up but I think it is the right choice. More and more issues as things begin to shut down. We'll see how it plays out.

At any rate, I am in Wichita from Tues-Fri and plan to do a mass update. With school started, I have slightly more time to work on an AAR soooooo the intention is to get going and Post regularly.