Westerley Wind, Fine NJP72 (J) vs Lowpe (A) DBB Sce 30

[njp72]

Whilst Lowpe may have stalled a bit on his Vietnam plans, it looks like he is moving now to isolate Singapore. Less risky than charging towards Hong Kong and KB. It's a smart play and will cause a few headaches for me.

Will wait and see exactly what the target is before committing forces. Until then everything is parked under heavy land CAP.

[njp72]

All of these strong IJN positions have been bypassed (well played Lowpe) but with good levels of supply it is time to start causing more havoc on the Allies significant LOCs which should cause annoyance.

Whether these positions have been bypassed or not is academic, as long as they have supply and a relatively clear line of sight/ shot on these extensive reinforcement convoys channeling through this region they can make a contribution.

[njp72]

Aug 12th- 43

Despite some moderate/ heavy losses, the Allies refuse to regroup or consolidate and push on.

Lowpe is now moving to cut off Singapore which is another clever and bold move.

Orders ring out to the IJN- engage any Allied ship in the vicinity regardless if it is a warship or not. Situation is nearing critical and the time to engage is now.

[njp72]

One thing is for certain- BB Colorado won't be enjoying any victory celebrations in Tokyo Bay in 45.

She went down in the next engagement.

I reckon that is 7 BBs down with about another 20 to go

[njp72]

And here is the next engagement.

Nice work by the Es who then subsequently paid the highest price for their heroics.

The lack of escorts for the BB is interesting......

[bigred]

And here is the next engagement.

Nice work by the Es who then subsequently paid the highest price for their heroics.

The lack of escorts for the BB is interesting......

Hmmm, those E boats more dangerous than I thought.

[RADM.Yamaguchi]

very impressive work by those E boats.

They only have 3 12cm guns and 3 torpedo tubes and those are the small 53cm ones.

and most of their crews are only 50s experienced day or night.

[njp72]

As it always is with this great game, a couple of good turns followed by a shocker.

Whilst hunting down Lowpe's Amphib forces around Singapore, the TFs were nailed by USN CV air. Cap from Singapore was completely inadequate and the Hellcats did an excellent job.

I reckon his pilot quality on those CVs is superb.

Situation currently around Singapore:

[njp72]

I grouped the damaged ships together.

Clearly one of the BBs (the veteran of many engagements) is not going to survive.

Most of the others will be able to scuttle back to Singapore if they don't run into any subs.

The damaged ships will be patched up best they can and shot back up to Vietnam and back to the HIs.

With the neutralisation of the heavier fleet units, Lowpe now has far wider freedom of movement. The heavy lifting will now have to be undertaken by DDs, Subs and mines.

C'est La Vie, I will find another way to bleed him. Always a way in this game.

[njp72]

The slow fighting withdrawal of Burma continues.

Obviously wary of any attempt by amphib invasion to cut off the escape routes. Protecting them where I can.

[njp72]

Scoreboard

Don't like giving up my 10K point lead in Aug 43 and it may be gone for good. Chungking stubbornly clings on and the recent events around Singapore will lead to significant point losses in shipping.

On a positive, every turn the Empire draws blood and the closer to the HIs the tougher the defences will become.

There is enough oil/ fuel in the HIs to get into 45.

[njp72]

20 August 43-Nothing too much to report over the last 5 turns.

Allies concentrating their efforts in trapping the Burma Army by pushing into Thailand (not too worried) and throwing a wall for future fuel/oil shipments (bigger issue).

At the moment the Empire has ceded the initiative to Lowpe and wait for him to make a mistake and then pounce. Until such time attrition is the name of the game utilizing subs, mines and the occasional air strike.

Got lucky this turn- I reckon this is the 5th CVE in serious trouble with at least 2 sunk. Close to 25% of his available CVEs in Aug 43 are either sunk or heavily damaged which is a good start.

Need to keep that pain coming.

[njp72]

23rd Aug 43- Big feint out of Singapore by over a hundred ships in order to:

1. Learn from Lowpe's reactions
2. Attrit his naval air on surrounding bases and targets
3. Draw his capital ships onto my positioned subs.

It definitely got a reaction and in hindsight I am glad I didn't dispatch them. His air power would have smashed my surface groups and then his Fletchers and his CLs would have mopped up.

The subs did not achieve anything but a reasonable number of Hellcats were nailed as he attacked low value targets.

Singapore will now become a staging post to conduct hit and run attacks on the Allies. I will not be sacrificing valuable surface combatants to run doomed oil/fuel convoys from this location.

[njp72]

Instead, the warships diverted from the main convoys and bombarded Singkawang with reasonable results.

The name of the game is to bleed him at every opportunity over the next 18 months.

[njp72]

Getting a bit dicey here but I reckon just about all units can be saved if I abandon Rangoon.

Probably the smartest course of action in the circumstances but it does sting.

[njp72]

Nice to see some Hellcats shot down for once.

I reckon Lowpe will struggle in the air once the Frank R makes its appearance in about 3 months. The A6M8 is performing well which is good to see.


*Heavy sig int in the North Pacific and Pearl. Surely he doesn't have the capacity to attack Northern Japan given his current commitments and losses. I am betting no until early mid 44 and then I will be ready.

[njp72]

The allied infestation continues to grow in Thailand.

Need Saigon to hold out for a few days but there is no guarantee.

[njp72]

Highest grossing film in the Empire at the moment is Escape from Burma

Everybody made it except a single division which decided on a retreat to advance towards India. An interesting tactic which needs to be applauded but not repeated.

Approx 5 + divisions and supporting arms are on the slow highway back into Thailand. Won't get there in time to save Saigon

Vinh should be back in our hands shortly. Taken far too long to recapture this position.

[njp72]

Stack of shipping still stuck in DEI and around Singapore. If they are going to get sunk I want them to sell their lives dearly.

One positive is the submarine belt which continues to attrit Allied naval forces. No decent nearby ship yards has to hurt the Allies eventually- or not.

[njp72]

Chungking still refuses to fall

Don't seem to be able to achieve 2:1 and re-spawn units into the capital are endless. Still the efforts are generating points.

KB now fully converted over to the A6M8 which is proving its worth already.

Frank R in two months!