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

[Amoral]

ORIGINAL: John 3rd


We'll target the Western Australian Operation for April 1st as well. Anybody for a suggestion for an Operation NAME for this?

Choosing a name that suits the operation is bad OpSec. Go to wikipedia, and click the third link of the third article three times to get a good random word.
Operation Terrestrial

[Canoerebel]

You're not thinking of detaching your carriers any time soon are you? If so, IMHO you're getting ahead of yourself and dispersing your strike force from an area where you could cause Michael the greatest heartburn and in which you could pose the greatest threat. If and when Pearl Harbor falls, you control basically the entire Pacific Ocean. You are a proximate and frightening threat everywhere including the industry, oil, ports and bases of the United States of America. As long as your carriers are based at Pearl, Michael has to consider the possiblities that you could invade someplace important, that your carriers could strike his oil and his bases up and down the west coast of the USA. You can do strikes, you can fake strikes, you can even invade and take a few bases with airfields and then bomb his industry. Even if you do none of these things, Michael has to worry about them. But if your carriers go to the Indian Ocean, the pressure is off. Michael relaxes. And you basically have done nothing more sexy than taking an island group that Michael wants but doesn't have to have to win the game.

So, tell me again what in the heck you want Western Oz for when Western North America is at your disposal?

[John 3rd]

Hey Mister Roper!

OK. Need to clarify my thinking from above. We're planning for a bit of distance away from the present. For things to occur along what I am thinking, the following needs to occur:

1. Three Hawaiian AF reach Sz-2 or 3+. Currently have 108 Zeros, 27 Kate, 27 Val, 36 Emily/Mavis, and 81 Betty/Nell ready to deploy. Starting our next turn, the movement of 108 Oscars and 108 Sally/Helen will begin moving towards these Bases. Quick counting shows how many AFs of what size to base this massed firepower.

2. Pearl Harbor's Fighters need to be smited down in a convincing manner.

Doing this will allow me some freedom of movement. This is what MUST occur before I am begin Operation Terrestrial.

[John 3rd]

While we are dealing with Hawaii, I shall finish the conquest of the DEI and set-up for the eventual lunge.

Am going to be pulling back about 50% of the AKs present in the Hawaiian Area. Need them to haul resources and supply!

[John 3rd]

February 16, 1942

No action at Hawaii. CRAZY!

Lihue AF 1 (25 up to 36)
Kona AF 1 (12 up to 18)
Hilo AF 1 (22 up to a BIG 45)

There is action happening elsewhere in the war. Balikpapan falls and we capture ALL of the Oil/refineries without damage. YES! Notice the units present at Balikpapan:

[Canoerebel]

IMO, you will be abandoning a much more important theater for a much lesser one. You can absolutely terrorize Michael with possibilities and realities of raids (and possibly more) up and down the West Coast USA. If you want to see an example of just how real the possibilities are, look back at my old "War and Peas" AAR vs. Panzerjaager Hortlund. He had me pulling my hair out in early '42. He did alot with the KB and Alaska plus part of Canada. He didn't even have Hawaii. There was much that he accomplished and much more that he could have done. I had serious problems and no real way to stop him.

To me, it's like you have the '27 Yankees but your about to send Gherig and Ruth to play at Single A Binghamton.

[John 3rd]

February 17, 1942

No action in Hawaiian waters except for American ineptitude with useless torpedoes. Hits could have been scored on CVE Hosho (2/16) and CV Amagi (2/17). IRL the Americans responsible for the torpedo fiasco should have been court-martialed. Yes---I KNOW who several of them were!

Airfield Construction (all Sz 1):
Lihue 36 up to 47
Kona 18 up to 24
Hilo 45 up to 69 (NICE work guys!)

The Japanese minefields have been active with several explosions and two sinking 'sounds' heard yesterday and today.

Elsewhere
Java
Batavia: Japanese Deliberate Attack (JDA) gets a 1-2.
Tjilatjap: FALLS!

Borneo
Balikpapan: DMS arrive to clear Allied minefield.
Kuching: Brigade arrives to take base.

Burma/Eastern India
Fast TF loading at Moulmein and heading for an empty Akyab.

MSW about to enter Rangoon and clear that harbor.

China
Central China: I am working to encircle Changsha. Have crossed above and below the base as well as have entered the base itself. Just would like this industrial town. The real goal is to keep Michael fighting here, move troops, and inflict some casualties.

The entire operation is meant to mask the movement of 2 ID, 2 Cav units, and 3 smaller INF units moving north towards Ningsia and the oil up in that region.

[John 3rd]

We're headed off for a couple of days of camping near Estes Park. Michael has the turn so he can doing some extensive planning.

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: Amoral

ORIGINAL: John 3rd


We'll target the Western Australian Operation for April 1st as well. Anybody for a suggestion for an Operation NAME for this?

Choosing a name that suits the operation is bad OpSec. Go to wikipedia, and click the third link of the third article three times to get a good random word.
Operation Terrestrial

Celestial might be more to the point.

[John 3rd]

Home from camping and kicking this BAD BOY off of the 2nd page!

Celestial is FUNNY. Might be a bit more to the point. Have to concur on that one...

[John 3rd]

Combat Report
February 18, 1942

Operation Eastern Storm decisively moves into Phase TWO. Events:

1. Two Inf Div storm ashore uner the protection of 3 BBs bombarding and two BBs waiting protectively off shore in case of American response. Landings are GREAT and there is just an American Base Force and Inf Bn present. Base Falls tomorrow.

2. Fast TF of 6 DD load Inf to capture Molokai. This is the LAST American base in Hawaii.

Pull the CVLs towards KB to combine strength for the 1st PH Fighter Sweep. It will be bloody! What is everyone's favorite altitude for conducting a Zero Sweep? Curious to see. I have mine and we'll see if it matches others.

Engineering (all Bases Sz-1 AF:
Lihue 47 up to 57
Kona 24 up to 30
Kona 69 up to 92 (WELL Done!)

[Olorin]

ORIGINAL: John 3rd

Combat Report
February 18, 1942

What is everyone's favorite altitude for conducting a Zero Sweep? Curious to see. I have mine and we'll see if it matches others.

20.000 feet seems to be working fine this early, even against defenders operating at the same altitude.

[John 3rd]

Combat Report
February 19, 1942

Operation Eastern Storm
Lahaina
This vital base is captured for only 68 troops! Sz-4 AF now open for use BABY! I have another mine drop of 400 mines scheduled here tomorrow. Bring in 36 Zero and 54 Betty from Midway.

Molokai
6 DD in a Fast TF drop off troops against no opposition. Base will be mine tomorrow.

AF Construction:
Lahaina AF-4
Lihue AF 1 (68) up 11.
Kona AF 1 (36) up 6.
Hilo AF 2 (12) up 20!

Kido Butai
All 12 Flight Decks fill the same hex of space: 5 CV, 5 CVL, and 2 CAV rendezvous. All ZEROS are given two days off for R&R and we shall SWEEP PH on 22nd.

Manila
The sound of 30,000 pairs of boots can be clearly heard in Manila Bay as Southern Army HQ, 14th Army HQ, 16th ID, and 48th ID climb into their transports. All are prepping for Pearl Harbor.

DEI
Capture Lingga and Pontianak

Burma
Fast TF land troops of the Imperial Guards at Akyab. There are no defenders! Have a second ID as well as a pair of BF on the way to secure the base and begin pushing up the coast towards Cox's Bizar.

HMS Trusty plants a TT into IJN Mogami while it drops off troops at Akyab but this is a STOUT Japanese CVL. SYS/FLOT was seven each...

China
Changsha
Japanese Deliberate Attack gets 1-1 (near 2-1) and drops Forts to 3. All four ID look great so we'll Del Att again tomorrow. Would LOVE this city!

Wenchow
Several attacks have brought Forts to ZERO. a pair of BBs bombard the base every other night and 50 Sally hit it during the day.

[John 3rd]

Combat Report
February 20, 1942

Operation Eastern Storm
1. Transports arrive back at Lahaina and deposit 28,000 supply. They begin loading both Inf Div to bring back to Hilo for R&R and prep for Pearl Harbor. Add 400 mines to Lahaina's MF.
2. ZEROs continue to rest. Have brought down both CVE's ZEROs as well and will SWEEP PH on the 22nd.
3. Refuel KB-1/-2. Fuel is OK. I have large shipments coming that pretty much ends my planned amount of usage.
4. Molokai falls.

Midway
The 3 CVE, 2 BB, 4 CL, and 12 DDs refuel and head for Adak. Not needed in Hawaii and are needed to cover a landing of the Karafuto Brigade at Akutan to destroy two Allied engineering units present there. This is a spoiling attack to destroy units and keep Michael 'honest' up north.

DEI
Landings at Singkep and Ketapang.

Java
Hopefully am about to take Batavia with next assault.

Burma
Akyab
The base falls. I place 80 Oscars at Magwe on 100% LRCAP but only 11 show up over the Invasion Forces when 16 Hurricanes and 24 Vildebreest show up. The Oscars perform quite well but are unable to penetrate the fighter screen. The damned Vildebreest hit five AK with TTs but only one sinks.

Move to the two Oscar Sentai to Akyab and set 100% Range-1 CAP. Leave the TF there to serve as bait. We'll see if the CAP-trap works.

China
Changsha
JDA yields a 1-2 that brings the Forts down again by 1 to Lvl-2. Nice. Rest the troops. This event may cause a bit of alarm in the Allied High Command. We'll see what happens.

Subs
My SS have not been as active as I generally like this campaign due to the needs of Posting a picket line with Hawaii. This will be changing soon. I have recalled all but 8 Glen I-Boats and they are going to rest, refuel, and then head out to raise hell in Alaska and the West Coast. Time to loose the SS!

Michael Subs cannot be doing all that great. I have really attempted to place LOTS of bombers anywhere I see SS concentrations and plaster them with massed ASW attacks. It seems that there are 3-4 'SS hit by bomb' messages every day. Japanese TF ASW has been doing OK as well hitting at least 1-2 SS per turn for 3-6 Depth Charges. Not sinking them but sure are damaging a bunch.

Economy
Haven't really spoken on the economy and research choices. Need to do that soon. Will do so at some time this week.

[pws1225]

Hi John - I am enjoying following your exploits in Hawaii. Good luck and banzai!

[HansBolter]

Been to Colorado only once.

Spent three days there visiting a wind tunnel testing facility at Fort Collins. On last day I had a free afternoon for sight seeing and everyone I talked to suggested a drive up into the mountains to see Estes Park.

The drive up the steep mountain slope with no guardrails overlooking a large lake was white knuckle all the way for me (agrophopbia here).

It was early March with snow on the ground in the shadows and I recall driving by a fly fisherman in waders casting in a stream crusted with ice and thought I was driving through a Coors commercial.

The awe inspiring 360 degree view of mountaintops in every direction from Estes Park was literally jaw dropping to this flatlander.

Absolutely beautiful country!

ORIGINAL: John 3rd

We're headed off for a couple of days of camping near Estes Park. Michael has the turn so he can doing some extensive planning.

[traskott]

Looks like Hawai will be japanese VERY soon!!!

[HansBolter]

ORIGINAL: traskott

Looks like Hawai will be japanese VERY soon!!!

Which will of course beg the question: "Will they be sorry they took it two years from now?".

An outpost in the middle of nowhere leading nowhere.....

Sorry to rain on the parade J3. [8D]

[Canoerebel]

Hawaii is a major plum, at least on the order of New Zealand. It can be much more, though, if John recognizes it's potential. I posted about this at length six or seven days ago. John didn't reply, which means one of two things: (1) he didn't see the post and thus isn't aware of the amazing, wonderful insight offered therein, or (2) I presented my argument in such a way that it was so annoying or offensive that John couldn't even bring himself to reply.

Hawaii is a magnificent base from which to tormet the Americans and Canadians in the first half of 1942 (and perhaps later). John has the ability to drive Michael absolutely nuts for the next four months or so.

The question is: Does John see this?

[Insano]

Let me expand on what the Canoerebel said and direct you to (in this JFB's opinion) the single most significant Allied industrial asset on the map: the Consolidated factories in San Diego. Most of the PBY production is on map. What can you do to hinder production of this aircraft so critical to the Allied war effort?