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

[vicberg]

No worries. Just on the edge of our seat. Wondering what you will do. Oh no worries.

Hey, probably not the right place to post but just noticed the A7M2 SAM comes in on 9/44 but the engine doesn't come in until 9/45. Something to note or that may be by design.

[chemkid]

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[John 3rd]

I have been doing daily Sweeps over Pearl Harbor and the American Fighter pilots DO NOT FIGHT!

March 2, 1942
158 Z vs 107 F RESULT: 2 Z for 9 Fighters

[John 3rd]

We rest March 3rd.

March 4th has 154 Zero vs 91 Fighters RESULT: No Loss for 5 American

Here is March 5th sees 126 Zero vs. 85 Fighters RESULT: 1 Zero for 3 American

[John 3rd]

March 6, 1942

Since the American Fighters are not fighting, I order the commitment of all LBA and CV-Air with Kates and Bettys attacking the Port in the Afternoon.

Morning
SWEEP 150 Zero vs. 88 Fighters RESULT: 1 Zero for 3 American

Afternoon (GET THIS)
31 Zero 20 Betty vs. 91 Fighters For the 1st time the American DECIDE to fight: 5 Zero 19 Betty for 8 Fighters.
33 Zero, 9 Liz, 51 Kate vs. 65 Fighters They FIGHT AGAIN: 4 Zero 6 Liz 28 Kate for 9 Fighters
71 Zero 80 Kate vs. 51 Fighters Same Song 3rd Verse: 3 Zero and 24 Kate for 8 Fighters

WHY do they fighter the bomber strikes but not six days of SWEEPS??!! ANSWER: It is SMART! Driving me nuts. We are now on around the clock bombing and sweeps. I will force the shipping out of PH to be SUNK! The American fighters will be ground down to nothing!!

The Port did get hit with BBs Oklahoma, Arizona, Tennessee, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, and California taking multiple bombs hits and Arizona/Pennsylvania getting smacked by TTs.

[Sangeli]

Losing planes sucks but you can replace your losses right now. Can't say the same for the Allies.

Anyway, it's about time you make preparations to bombard the base. Frankly I think you should have done it before this KB air attack to save your Kate pilots. Just be sure to keep your DDs out of range of the coastal guns.

Lastly, have you thought about trying bomber sweeps? And by that I mean using a small number of bombers to bomb with a large number of escort fighters. US pilots may be forced to fight if there are any bombers at all.

[John 3rd]

ORIGINAL: Sangeli

Losing planes sucks but you can replace your losses right now. Can't say the same for the Allies.

Anyway, it's about time you make preparations to bombard the base. Frankly I think you should have done it before this KB air attack to save your Kate pilots. Just be sure to keep your DDs out of range of the coastal guns.

Lastly, have you thought about trying bomber sweeps? And by that I mean using a small number of bombers to bomb with a large number of escort fighters. US pilots may be forced to fight if there are any bombers at all.

You are correct. I will trade planes to knock this house of cards down.

Have tried the Massed Fighters escorting a few Bombers. March 3rd: 145 Zero 6 Kate vs. 89 F RESULTS: 3 Zero 3 Kate for 6 Americans.

Bombarding PH??!! The sheer thought terrifies me with those massive CD guns. Won't they shred my BBs? Been holding them back waiting to use them when I land the troops. Am I wrong here? Will gladly listen to thoughts and comments...

[Sangeli]

ORIGINAL: John 3rd
Bombarding PH??!! The sheer thought terrifies me with those massive CD guns. Won't they shred my BBs? Been holding them back waiting to use them when I land the troops. Am I wrong here? Will gladly listen to thoughts and comments...

I don't think so. CD guns are notoriously bad in countering bombardment fleets. Before my friend Setloz successfully invaded PH he bombarded the base a number of times with his BBs. They got hit by some shells but I don't even see reports of fires being started so they probably from smaller guns anyway. Frankly I'd be more concerned about the mines than the CD guns when it comes to bombardment. That being said, I'd probably err on the safe side when it comes to the standoff distance of bombardment. Do you have AKE to rearm the BBs nearby?

[John 3rd]

Well...that is somewhat encouraging. I have 4 16" BBs at Hilo waiting to do something.

AKEs? Got three at Hilo and 2 at Midway.

Michael is doing a pick-up/drop-off today so I won't see a turn until later tonight. We had a good chat about this and he cannot believe how his fighters have not FOUGHT my Sweeps but are my bombing attacks. We had a good laugh about it. Good to know we can go back-and-forth about stuff without issue.

[John 3rd]

Combat Report
March 6, 1942
Aleutians

The sparring up north has been pretty continuous. As stated earlier, I moved some warships up here. Three CVEs, BBs Hyuga/Ise, the 4 Kako-Class CLs and about 9 DDs. What I didn't say was that I peeled off 3 CVL and 2 BC to stage another trap to try and catch Michael's BB Colorado and Warspite.

To draw him out, I load the Karafuto Brigade and set out for Akutan. There are four units present there building an AF. Set 36 Zeros for LRCAP to cover the Invasion Force. The CVEs and CVLs will join tomorrow and have not been spotted.

All this planning looks pretty good UNTIL S-23 raises its periscope. Sitting square in the cross hairs is BB Hyuga. Four TTs race into the water and 1 TT hits (Crap!), a 2nd TT strikes (OH CRAAAAP!), and a 3rd TT Plasters into her tender hull EXPLODING THE MAGAZINE!!! (OMG...) Needless to say I begin crying, curl up in little fetal ball, and suck my finger for about 10 minutes.




Just---plain---lovely...I told Michael to promote one of his SS Commanders to the rank of ADMIRAL!

[Lecivius]

Man, that's gonna leave a serious dent [:'(]

[Sangeli]

ORIGINAL: John 3rd
Just---plain---lovely...I told Michael to promote one of his SS Commanders to the rank of ADMIRAL!

At least it was just a BB instead of a CV. I'm guessing the Hyuga was sunk. Pretty good performance but it doesn't beat my SS Shad which took out the entire Hiyo class of CVs over a two day period [:D]

[kjnoel]

ORIGINAL: John 3rd
We had a good chat about this and he cannot believe how his fighters have not FOUGHT my Sweeps but are my bombing attacks.

The answer is in the screenshot where it shows 2 training missions caught up in the attack. Call it a bug, call it a feature but I have never seen a training mission intercept a sweep but very often they will intercept a bombing mission. As long as he keeps units on training this will happen. Maybe you could send some raids with a large escort but few bombers to trigger this and keep your losses down?

[John 3rd]

I could try that again.

Sangeli: You had an SS sink BOTH Junyo and Hiyo? WOW! Very rude...

[John 3rd]

Combat Report
March 8, 1942
Aleutians

Meanwhile a trap is being sprung. My CV TF moves in to strike. There is a TF unloading at Cold Bay and the STF I am truly hunting was spotted earlier. The carriers have enough strength to take care of themselves: 78 Zero, 12 Val, and 36 Kate.

The CVs move into position and we're ready to--hopefully--get a little ACTION in the north!

[Olorin]

ORIGINAL: John 3rd
Bombarding PH??!! The sheer thought terrifies me with those massive CD guns. Won't they shred my BBs? Been holding them back waiting to use them when I land the troops. Am I wrong here? Will gladly listen to thoughts and comments...

It's not as risky as it sounds. A mine or CD guns might possibly damage a cruiser or sink a destroyer. I've done it with 6 BBs, bombarding from 6k feet (escorts too) suffering only one DD loss due to a mine hit. Depending on dice rolls, there is a very good chance to close the airbase for good, making your life much easier. If you try it, be sure to have support ships at Lahaina for rapid rearmament.

[John 3rd]

The thought really makes me nervous but I think I'll give it a try. Guess 4 16" BB a good numbers of DD and some MSW would do the job. Clearing some mines would be a good thing as well.

I've got 3 AKE, 2 AG, 2 AR and 70,000 supply at Hilo presently. We'll move everyone to Lahaina (there is also 9th Air Fleet and Combined Fleet there) and do some fervent prayers then give it a--literal--shot.

[Sangeli]

ORIGINAL: John 3rd
I could try that again.

Sangeli: You had an SS sink BOTH Junyo and Hiyo? WOW! Very rude...

Well I KNOW I sunk the Junyo but the Hiyo didn't look in very good shapes so its hard to say for sure. But either way I had a single sub knock them out singlehandedly. It did more damage than my entire Allied Death star in the previous months battle against the KB! Funny how this game works...

ORIGINAL: John 3rd
The thought really makes me nervous but I think I'll give it a try. Guess 4 16" BB a good numbers of DD and some MSW would do the job. Clearing some mines would be a good thing as well.

Yes, it's the mines that make me nervous. I'd pack that fleet full of AM and DMS. You've come too far to shy away from bombarding PH. BB bombardment is the deadliest weapon that Japan has against airfields.

[John 3rd]

Rat FARTS! Just had a lengthy entry consumed by the Gods and LOST!

OK. Will go to church and then explaining my thoughts on the next few days. Time to kick this house of cards down Pearl Harbor BABY!

[John 3rd]

Busy day planned here. We have church, a pot luck, a bit of time off, and then a BBQ with my Staff. HOPE to get that entry re-written and tackle the turn just arrived in my in-box. Hope Michael has caught up on his AAR because I really want us to together in our Posting for the next week of game time...