mind_messing
Posts: 2391
Joined: 10/28/2013
From: Glasgow, Scotland
Status: offline
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29th August to September 21st, 1942
I was in a great position for this game, then I threw a large part of it away.
Allied resistance in around Fiji has escalated rapidly. 4E strikes from Tonga, Pago Pago and other islands close Japanese bases at Nadi and Kandavu Island.
After spotting an amphibious force attempting to relieve Suva in mid-September, I sortie the KB. The Allied scatter, and I split the KB in an attempt to chase down loaded amphibious transports. (Mistake 1)
On September 18th, the Allies find the weaker half of the KB as it withdrew back to Luganville (without escort Mistake 2) with a fast CL force. This is an extract from several surface combats:
quote:
Day Time Surface Combat, near Kandavu Island at 130,169, Range 20,000 Yards
Japanese Ships
CV Kaga, Shell hits 4, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
CV Junyo, Shell hits 6
CV Hiyo, Shell hits 8
CV Akagi, Shell hits 3
CVL Shoho, Shell hits 3, heavy fires
CVL Zuiho, Shell hits 5, on fire, heavy damage
CS Nisshin, Shell hits 16, and is sunk
CS Chitose, Shell hits 14, heavy fires
CS Chiyoda, Shell hits 13, on fire
Allied Ships
CL Perth, Shell hits 3
CL Hobart, Shell hits 1
CL Mauritius, Shell hits 1
DD Meredith, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Aaron Ward, Shell hits 2
DD Mugford, Shell hits 2, on fire
DD Wilson
DD Balch, Shell hits 2, on fire
The end result is Shoho, Zuiho, Chitose and Nisshin are all sunk. Kaga is damaged slightly and manages to limp away.
The bulk of the KB never launches a strike this day 
The following day, I have a very rare and unexplained fit of aggression. Allied carriers are spotted North of Tongatapu, and given recent attrition to the Allied carriers, I feel comfortable in taking them on.(Mistake 3.)
The end result is...
quote:
Morning Air attack on TF, near Kabara at 138,164
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 34
B5N2 Kate x 62
D3A1 Val x 68
Allied aircraft
Martlet II x 25
F4F-4 Wildcat x 88
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 7 destroyed
B5N2 Kate: 9 destroyed, 8 damaged
D3A1 Val: 20 destroyed, 10 damaged
D3A1 Val: 3 destroyed by flak
Allied aircraft losses
Martlet II: 1 destroyed
F4F-4 Wildcat: 1 destroyed
Allied Ships
BB South Dakota, Bomb hits 4, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
CV Illustrious, Bomb hits 1, Torpedo hits 5, on fire, heavy damage
CV Lexington, Bomb hits 1, Torpedo hits 1
CV Yorktown
xAP Khandalla, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
CV Hornet, Bomb hits 2, on fire
xAP Wallingford, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk
CA Houston
xAP President Tyler, Torpedo hits 2, heavy damage
xAP Santhia, Torpedo hits 2, heavy damage
Allied ground losses:
1010 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 62 destroyed, 31 disabled
Engineers: 21 destroyed, 6 disabled
Guns lost 7 (7 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Vehicles lost 13 (11 destroyed, 2 disabled)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Tongatapu at 137,166
Weather in hex: Thunderstorms
Raid detected at 68 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 27 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 53
Allied aircraft
Martlet II x 9
Swordfish I x 12
SBD-2 Dauntless x 15
SBD-3 Dauntless x 29
TBF-1 Avenger x 45
No Japanese losses
Allied aircraft losses
Martlet II: 1 destroyed
Swordfish I: 1 destroyed, 2 damaged
Swordfish I: 1 destroyed by flak
SBD-2 Dauntless: 2 destroyed, 4 damaged
SBD-3 Dauntless: 8 destroyed, 8 damaged
TBF-1 Avenger: 5 destroyed, 10 damaged
Japanese Ships
CV Shokaku, Torpedo hits 2
CV Hiryu
CV Soryu, Bomb hits 1
CV Zuikaku
Weather swings it in a big way for the Japanese, but overall it is a dismal performance. A large section of the KB went after the CVE Long Island (in Tongatapu hex) and was murdered by a buzzsaw CAP.
quote:
Morning Air attack on TF, near Tongatapu at 138,168
Weather in hex: Partial cloud
Raid detected at 55 NM, estimated altitude 17,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 20 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 14
D3A1 Val x 24
Allied aircraft
P-39D Airacobra x 81
P-40E Warhawk x 86
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 6 destroyed
D3A1 Val: 13 destroyed
No Allied losses
Allied Ships
CVE Long Island, Bomb hits 1
At least they planted a bomb in her, but I would have preferred a real carrier sunk instead.
I really do pay the price on the following day, September 20th. My carriers are battle-scarred, low on ammo and planes and under-escorted and a few hexes away from serious USN war fleets. The swift Japanese exit from the area has Allied warships fast on their heels...
One extract:
quote:
Night Time Surface Combat, near Kabara at 135,165, Range 2,000 Yards
Japanese Ships
CV Hiryu, Shell hits 2, on fire
CV Soryu
CV Zuikaku, Shell hits 11, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Teruzuki, Shell hits 2, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
Allied Ships
BB Oklahoma, Shell hits 2, Torpedo hits 2, on fire
BB Idaho
BB Mississippi
BB Resolution
CL Dauntless, Shell hits 1
DD Walke, Shell hits 2, on fire
DD Morris
DD Bagley
DD Farragut
DD MacDonough
Shokaku and Zuikaku don't make it out.
My run of amazing luck continues on the 21st September...
quote:
Sub attack near Niuatoputapu at 144,161
Japanese Ships
SS I-30
Allied Ships
CV Hornet, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
PC Taney
Hornet took two bombs previously, so I'm inclined to think she's gone.
However, the Allies have managed to force at least one amphibious force through to Suva, with additional troops offloading there. With the KB down for at least a week (and ZERO fuel between Luganville and Balikpapan), the future looks dim for Japanese prospects of taking Suva.
Currently considering the costs/benefits of an evacuation of Fiji entirely. Currently 6 IJA divisions (plus change) on the island.
Input on this issue is welcomed!
Major Losses (as per sunk ships list)
Japan
CVL Shoho
CV Shokaku
CV Zuikaku
CV Kaga (limping home with fires building, chances are slim)
CS Chitose
CS Nisshin
CA Aoba
CA Haguro
CA Nachi
Allied
CV Illustrious
BB South Dakota
CV Lexington
BB Oklahoma
BB Idaho
BB Missisippi
sundry smaller ships (some with troops!)
CV Hornet (took two torps and Wildcats reported as ground losses)
Summary
A draw.
In effect, that means a big win for him.
Loka deserved a true Midway here. I made several serious mistakes, and was allowed off very easily each time.
At the same time, I'm irritated by the fact that a more measured, considered and sensible approach on my part would have likely resulted in a much better exchange ratio for me in terms of carriers and airframes.
Reflecting on these turns, this has been valuable experience in understanding what turns you need to "sit" on for a few hours (or days) to really think about what the best course of action is.
On the strategic level, I now feel as if my foothold in Fiji is unsustainable. Part of me is inclined to really double down, using the rush of units freed from China to solidify my position, but I am concerned about throwing good money after bad.
Meh 
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