A Glorious Way to Die: John 3rd vs. NY59Giants BTS: Lite

[John 3rd]

February 22, 1942

This is what I saw:

[seille]

Nice cliffhanger. Please give us the results [;)]

[John 3rd]

OK. We'll get back to the combat!

Entry coming...

[John 3rd]

Combat Report
February 22-24, 1942

Operation Eastern Storm
ZERO Sweeps
22nd
The Sweep that I envisioned coming from KB occurs on the 22nd with 219 ZEROs attacking 136 American Fighters (P-40s, P-35, Buffalo, etc...). It starts as a pretty good brawl but then ends really FAST! My notes place just 5 ZEROs lost for 19 enemy planes. Rather depressingly small casualties but it is a start.

23rd
My CVs are socked in by the weather so my Zeros at Lahaina fly. This is not a good thing. The three Datai present come in on three separate waves facing 70 Fighters. The 53 Zeros see 27 (50%--YIKES!) lost for 19 Allied Fighters. Set these planes to rest and two of the groups fully restock with the new M3 ZERO. Luckily we only lost 8 pilots. Hard to believe but OK.

24th
If the previous day showed anything, this day is horrific. There are 12 Zero units on the Japanese flattops and they decide to all come in ONE AT A TIME! CRAP! How stupid is that? Anywhere from 14-46 ZEROs arrive over Pearl and fight upwards of 135 Allied Fighters. This is tough to watch. End results for the day show a 1-1 in losses with nearly 50 planes on each side going down in flames. Lose 27 pilots.

25th
Pull CVs back and away from PH to rest the Fighter Groups. Rotate 3 Daitai to Kona and replace teir planes on both the 24th and 25th. WE easily add 49 airframes but this crap has to stop.

Fighter Thinking:
1. Order one Daitai of Kates to attack PH AFs and see ALL the ZEROs fly escort. This might guarantee showing up over the target with s bunch of fighters. It isn't as nasty as a Sweep but it will still do what is needed. I have two little six plane Kate Chutai on the CAV and could use one per day.

2. Try Sweeps again and see if the disaster of 23rd and 24th is not repeated.

Michael's Situation:
PH is crowded with over 100+ ships. He must desperately want to send them away. He will do this sometime soon as the fighter battle occurs. He cannot afford to replace his losses for long because his Fighter pools will dry up. In sending the ZEROs plus Kate Chutai I may force his hand. There are over 100 Betty/Nell at Lahaina and nearly 100 Kates are about to off-load at Lihue and Kona. Waiting will only make things far more worse for the American shipping at Pearl.

I know he senses my intention to actually CAPTURE PH. To say that he isn't happy is an understatement.

AF State:
Lihue AF 2 (45)
Kona AF 1 (68)
Hilo AF 3 (12)
Lahaina AF 4 (16)

9th Air Fleet HQ begins loading at Christmas for Lahaina.

Could use some 'creative' ideas regarding taking out the American Fighters and flushing out those ships.

LOOK I have a new map! Thanks Chemkid! A hearty BANZAI to you...

[John 3rd]

Combat Report
Feb 22-24, 1942

Aleutians
The action here is heating up again. Michael has moved BBs Colorado and Warspite to this front.

We have a surface fight on the 23rd as he tries to bombard Umnak. I send in 4 DDs to fight 2 BB, 1 CL, and 10 DD. Have to admit I am trying to channel the good author of 'the little ship that could' (1275psi) by using smaller TF. The action here goes pretty well with two DDs taking moderate damage while hitting BB Colorado TEN times, CL Helena 5 times and two DDs several times.

The bombardment still occurs but does not do much damage. His BB head back to Kodiak.

Akutan Invasion Force
3 CVE, 2 BB, 3 CL, and 9 DD enter southern Aleutian waters on the 23rd. Don't want them spotted yet so I order the heavies to make for Attu for some fuel. Separate 3 CL and 4 DD to make a run into Akutan to hit some shipping there.

OK. We're now operationally examining Alaska and Canada presently so I intend to try to keep Michael sending units up here. IF we make a lunge into Canada and threaten Anchorage as well then perhaps we can trap a bunch of Allied units up here out of position.

[John 3rd]

Here is the current build list:

[John 3rd]

Here is a peak at my aircraft production currently:

[vicberg]

You must be busy with 2.4 BTS. Already downloaded and thanks for your work!

[Lowpe]

Will the Liz be making an appearance over Pearl? Once the fighters are gone and the runways built up of course.

China might be a better theater for them.

[John 3rd]

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

Will the Liz be making an appearance over Pearl? Once the fighters are gone and the runways built up of course.

China might be a better theater for them.

...or the West Coast...

I have a Chutai of 12 sitting at Lahaina presently. Plan to convert one Daitai of Betty/Nell over to LIZ as well.

[John 3rd]

ORIGINAL: vicberg

You must be busy with 2.4 BTS. Already downloaded and thanks for your work!

I tried to get that fix done ASAP. WE have several starting games as well as requests for game starts so I cranked out both BTS and BTSL so people could download and play. Reduced garrison requirements in India, China, Occupied China, and got the upgrades/conversions FIXED!

[John 3rd]

Here is a 'thought.' I have been doing some 'homework...

[Lowpe]

Calgary and Edmonton are sweet, can you get there with all your forces at Pearl?

[vicberg]

Hey, get your own operation! Oh wait, we can't, we are all playing the same game. I'm doing the same thing. I didn't see this until now. Prince Rupert is the key to Canada. Calgary and Edmonton are critical, but no idea if they are achievable. They are both supply and fuel sources and will offset fuel/supply costs to get there.

[John 3rd]

February 28, 1942

We close February and begin March.

The Plan
Tomorrow--after 3 days R&R--the KB moves back into strike range of Pearl Harbor. CAV Tokachi will provide 6 Kates as the 'bombing portion' of the strike going into PH March 1st. I've set Fleet CAP at 20% and everyone else to escort (target PH). I truly hope this attack smacks American airpower hard.

On March 2nd we'll do the same maneuver in the morning but then Lahaina will fly a Port Strike in the Afternoon. This strike SHOULD consist of 65 ZERO and 81 Betty/Nell. If this occurs then, perhaps, it will scare Mike into releasing the hidden Fleet to be WIPED OUT. The count is consistent at 106 ships/warships in the harbor.

Might get the turn back tonight. If so, I'll Post ASAP!

[John 3rd]

Michael and I chatted this morning. No turn. He had a busy weekend with work so that took it out of him.

Interesting conversation. He thinks I am coming after Western Australia (as we've spoken about) and/or eastern India since I grabbed Akyab. Think it shall be my professional job to KEPP HIM THINKING these exact possibilities for as long as possible!

He spoke about his biggest fear in a West Coast landing being losing Los Angeles. Interesting...

[Amoral]

Is the proposed move on price Rupert a foothold to disrupt American industry, or a play for AV? It really changes what follow on forces you want to send first.

[Canoerebel]

Since Michael posted a "Line of Death" query today, he's thinking through the same things you are thinking through. He can do alot of preparation and work that will/could make things very difficult for you in a very short time. Take that into consideration in evaluating whether a "Canada" gambit makes sense.

Some thoughts in this regard:

(1) Do you need Pearl Harbor now (or soon) or can you isolate it, neuter it, and use better your forces elsewhere (and then, at some later point, perhaps take Pearl)?

(2) Does a strat bombing campaign from Canada make sense? If so, which bases can you grab soon, which will be easy, and which do you need? I think in my game vs. PzH, I commented that "Coal Harbor (N tip of Victoria Island) was the most important hex in North America." Is that right? PzH tried to do most of his work from Alliford Bay, after building its airfield to level four and five, but the distance proved too much for him to maintain the threat effectively.

(3) If a strat bombing campaign can't be sustained or isn't desirable, does the mere threat of one offer you anything, or not?

(4) Can you effectively tag-team the KB and a strat bombing campaign or threat of one to your benefit, or not?

(5) Is there any benefit to ratcheting up tensions in this region while actually turning your attention elsewhere (Oz, SoPac)?

(6) What kind of fighter squadrons will Michael have available on the West Coast? Might he deplete his pools by fighting for Pearl?

(7) Will a sustained Japanese campaign (or appearance of one) draw his carriers to this region? Would that suit you?

(8) Is there a way to permamently destroy American aircraft factories (and possibly other industry) that would offer a net benefit to Japan despite LOD reinforcements? (My working hypothethis would be "no" until I was satisfied otherwise. I think Alfred and Bullwinkle commented about this at length in my AAR with PzH. I think they felt like there actually are circumstances in which it can be done effectively.)

(9) Is auto victory within the realm of possibility? If so, what do you need in the way of taking high-value bases and building them to maximize point potential? Do points gained by strat bombing in North American factor in?

(10) If Michael hasn't stripped West Coast of troops and aircraft, things could get tough for you quickly. He'll have weeks to work on his defenses before you can move in strength to get anything rolling on the West Coast. Time is not your friend. If you're going, you better have this studied fully and the plan draw up and implemented ASAP. If you decide not to go, can you use appearance to worry and bedevil Michel as part of a decoy?

(11) Loose lips sink ships. Judging from your AAR, I think you and Michael are revealing too much intel through emails and telephone calls. (It's a game and if that's part of the fun for you two, then so be it. But if you're trying to push the envelope successfuly, better to maintain security.)

I re-read a fair bit of my AAR with PzH today. I can't believe that game was going on just three years ago (seems more like five, to me). He had his plan in mind from early in the war and had already taken Candian bases in early '42. By March of '42 he was in place to begin using the KB and strat bombing. But I don't think he intended to fully implement a strat bombing campaign and he ultimately didn't go full bore. I was stressed, but it never reach a crisis point. I think I had something like 700 fighters on the West Coast (after stripping Pearl) by April '42.

You'll have some or all of the Hawaiian Islands, which should help considerably with naval operations, and that's a factor in your favor.

Bottom Line: I wonder if it might not be too late for you to pursue this strategy? It might be something that needed to be thought out with the plan and assets lined up even as you were moving on Hawaii. You might be able to do something big and fun, but beware of optimistically heeding the urgings I was giving you last week.

[chemkid]

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[John 3rd]

Sorry about no updates. My Tues--Wed--Thurs at the store are EVIL! Many hours and little time to write...