RE: ::Felix, Ferdinand and FRUPAC:: obvert (A) v Greyjoy (J)

Matrix Games Forums

Forums Register Login Photo Gallery Member List Search Calendars FAQ

My Profile Inbox Address Book My Subscription My Forums Log Out

RE: ::Felix, Ferdinand and FRUPAC:: obvert (A) v Greyjoy (J)

View related threads: (in this forum | in all forums)

Logged in as: Guest

Users viewing this topic: none

Printable Version

All Forums >> [New Releases from Matrix Games] >> War in the Pacific: Admiral's Edition >> After Action Reports >> RE: ::Felix, Ferdinand and FRUPAC:: obvert (A) v Greyjoy (J)

Page: << < prev 1 2 [3] 4 5 next > >>

Message

<< Older Topic Newer Topic >>

RE: ::Felix, Ferdinand and FRUPAC:: obvert (A) v Greyjo... - 4/7/2014 9:48:43 PM

obvert

Posts: 14050
Joined: 1/17/2011
From: PDX (and now) London, UK
Status: offline

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

December 2, 1941

Singapore

The warm and gentle night belied the roiling temperature of the Royal Navy in Singapore in these early days of December. LT Ronald Clark took ML-311 on the normal patrol circuit of the inner harbor of Singapore, then out and around the many freighters and tankers waiting to load, unload or be sent on another journey from this meeting point of the majority of south Asian trade. The British Empire was in full flower in Singapore, and this was its most impregnable fortress in the East. The magnificent shore defenses on the hills had full scope of the approaches to the straits of Malacca and the harbor. The RN had recently added impressive fleet units to its presence here with the battleship Prince of Wales and the battlecruiser Repulse along with their escorts.

LT Clark took the boat out with a man on the front machine gun mount and two men scanning the water for unusual activity. Patrols had been stepped up lately and extended to an area very near the straits themselves.

Although the military was increasing it�s vigilance in Singapore, the population of British merchants, diplomats and other foreign officers went about business as usual. This was already a nation at war, although the war was far away, but the materials of war must be acquired and paid for, packed up and shipped to the factories that could turn them into fighting equipment, and Singapore was one of the centers of this wartime activity. The rubber plantations of Malaya and the Dutch East Indies were immensely valuable, the oil flowing from all around the British and Dutch territory was in need, and many other raw materials made the long transit from the East to the factories of the extended Empire as well as to Britain itself.

Australian and Indian soldiers made up the strongest part of the garrison at Singapore, and as had been the custom throughout the Empire for several hundred years, they were requisitioned by Britain in times of need. More were on the way in fact and moving through the Indian ocean to Singapore at that moment. Singapore was an unconquerable fortress, and LT Clark was one small part of the great machine of the largest Empire the world had known, and he took his job very seriously, almost to a fault. Neither he nor anyone else here believed Singapore was really in any actual danger, and his patrol on this night just before the full moon felt remarkably ordinary and routine.

�Bring her around and make for port, Lewis.�

�Yes, sir.�

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Attachment (1)

_____________________________

"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm." - Winston Churchill

(in reply to obvert)

Post #: 61

RE: ::Felix, Ferdinand and FRUPAC:: obvert (A) v Greyjo... - 4/7/2014 9:52:06 PM

obvert

Posts: 14050
Joined: 1/17/2011
From: PDX (and now) London, UK
Status: offline

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

December 3, 1941

Camp 9, Near Jewell, OR

The timber camp nestled into the coast range near Jewell was a general mess of tree wreckage, machines and vehicles. Trucks pulled in and out most of the day and loaded up with big douglas fir and spruce. Martin worked his new job as foreman of the mechanic shop fixing anything that needed to be fixed. He was used to this work, which wasn�t so different from the shop in the mines near Fairbanks, but it was all on a smaller scale, from the area involved to the machines themselves. Still, these were similar men; gruff, bearded, stocky men who ate six-egg omlettes with a plate of hashed potatoes for breakfast. They lived hard and drank hard. They swore and spit. They put themselves at risk every day and these men were the men who made America what it was through their determination and grit. They wrestled the raw wood out of the forest that was then shaped into so many necessities later.

He was beginning to get used to the work, but still had a sense of foreboding about the place. It went back to when he was a boy on the edge of the Indian territory of the Cascade mountains. He heard as a boy about restless Indian spirits still living in these woods and feeding off the souls of the living, how you could hear them shriek on stormy nights as the tress bent and creaked. There was a darkness here he�d always felt, a wildness that scared him. He�d heard wolves howl in Alaska many nights, and yet that gave him a chill that was almost pleasant, and warm He knew what a wolf was all about, and how to both avoid them and hunt them if he had to. This was something different altogether.

�Ray you gotta take a look at this busted cam-shaft. What the hell caused this I�d like to know? We just replaced the same one last week?� Sammy and Ray were the two men working under him in the shop, and he�d grown to like them in the few days he�d been here.

�I�d say operator error, that�s my take on it,� Ray said, punctuated by a massive wad of spit and tobacco hitting the shop floor.

�Can you at least spit that s*** into something or outside? This isn�t a pigpen, you know, Ray!� Martin was all for a clean shop. Better work got done when there wasn�t a bunch of grit and grime in the way. But he knew to say this with a smile and a slap on the back. He was new here and these were men he wanted on his side, not against him.

�Sure Marty. You got it,� he winked.

The rain pelted down outside competing with the sound of the power saws, trucks and log pulls operating all day. This was the industry of the northwest, and for better or worse he�d decided to give it a shot.

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Attachment (1)

< Message edited by obvert -- 4/7/2014 10:53:42 PM >

_____________________________

"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm." - Winston Churchill

(in reply to obvert)

Post #: 62

RE: ::Felix, Ferdinand and FRUPAC:: obvert (A) v Greyjo... - 4/7/2014 9:58:09 PM

obvert

Posts: 14050
Joined: 1/17/2011
From: PDX (and now) London, UK
Status: offline

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

December 4, 1941

Cavite Naval Base, Manila, The Philippines

�Lt. Murrow, you are relieved of the watch.�

�Yes, sir. Thank you, sir.�

�How are things out here Andy? As quiet as she looks?� Commander Stewart was always liked to chat for a minute when taking over the watch. He often brought up an extra cup of fresh coffee for the relieved officer and this was no exception. Lt. Murrow took a long swig and burned his tongue in a way that would stick around for the rest of the day.

�Yes, sir. Nothing going on over the night but a few seals in the Bay and some sailors dumped on the pier by the MPs, looking a bit worse for wear.�

Captain Stewart gave a smile. �Well, good for them. They might just look back on these days fondly, Andy. I think we might be in for a mess before too long, here, from what I can put together. How are the new boys coming along?�

As well as can be expected without real drilling, sir. They need days at sea, and we al need to finish this refit and test out the new radar and equipment.�

�I couldn�t agree more. I�ve asked Admiral Hart if we can begin live drills on the 9th, more to give the men a date to look forward to than anything. He gave permission as long as all installations are complete.

Head on down now and get some rest. We�ll be needing the batteries fully charged.�

�Aye, aye, sir.�

Just as he turned to leave the bridge through the open hatch below a bit of movement caught his eye to the West.

�Well I�ll be damned!� The Cmdr Stewart already had his glasses up and was studying six ships rounding the entrance to the Bay. Looks like the Boise at last. She�s sure a beaut isn�t she, Andy?�

Lt. Murrow had his glasses trained in now and took in the sight. The Boise was strait and tall, bristling with armament, a deep blue gray tinged with orange from the growing light. Behind her were five cargo ships carrying supplies of the troops here, and they would move on to the civilian port.

�A fine looking ship, sir. That�s for sure. Makes me feel a little better after losing the rest of �em a few days ago. She looks like she could take on anything and come out alright.�

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Attachment (1)

< Message edited by obvert -- 4/7/2014 10:59:45 PM >

_____________________________

"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm." - Winston Churchill

(in reply to obvert)

Post #: 63

RE: ::Felix, Ferdinand and FRUPAC:: obvert (A) v Greyjo... - 4/7/2014 10:12:04 PM

obvert

Posts: 14050
Joined: 1/17/2011
From: PDX (and now) London, UK
Status: offline

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

December 5, 1941

West of Oahu, moving northwest on Lexington with Task Force 12

With the ship under way and the fly-boys of VMSB-231 not scheduled to patrol until leaving the ship for Midway in a few days, Eddy and Terrance took advantage of the time to explore the ship, and what a ship it was. The Lexington and her sister, the Saratoga, were the biggest ships in the fleet. They were pulling around the Northern tip of Oahu with Kauai in sight. The ships were doing a brisk 15 knots, enough to keep a good wind on the bows, but would speed up to 20 knots for the patrols to get a good run on takeoff. Three SBD went up a few minutes before and they got to see the whole process in motion. It was fascinating to watch the planes being prepared and launched with the precision of a swiss watch.

As they sauntered along the port anti-aircraft batteries a Cat patrol droned off on a strait flight to the West. They were certainly well spotted and it felt as if the task force was a giant moving hive with bees swarming and circling around it all through the day. The cruisers Chicago and the Astoria looked in fine shape as they churned through the chop off each bow while the Portland steamed up behind. Five destroyers escorted around the main body.

Being stationed on a fleet carrier was almost like being on a moving town, complete with everything to maintain and keep it going. Eddy was starting to think this felt a lot more promising than heading to Midway. A few of their group were left back at Ewa and would move in later in the month. He still felt he�d been given the short end of the stick heading to Gooneyville, but who knew, there was lot going on in the world, maybe it would be a short lived visit. He could only hope.

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Attachment (1)

< Message edited by obvert -- 4/7/2014 11:13:41 PM >

_____________________________

"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm." - Winston Churchill

(in reply to obvert)

Post #: 64

RE: ::Felix, Ferdinand and FRUPAC:: obvert (A) v Greyjo... - 4/7/2014 10:30:19 PM

witpqs

Posts: 26087
Joined: 10/4/2004
From: Argleton
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: obvert

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

December 5, 1941

West of Oahu, moving northwest on Lexington with Task Force 12

With the ship under way and the fly-boys of VMSB-231 not scheduled to patrol until leaving the ship for Midway in a few days, Eddy and Terrance took advantage of the time to explore the ship, and what a ship it was. The Lexington and her sister, the Saratoga, were the biggest ships in the fleet. They were pulling around the Northern tip of Oahu with Kauai in sight. The ships were doing a brisk 15 knots, enough to keep a good wind on the bows, but would speed up to 20 knots for the patrols to get a good run on takeoff. Three SBD went up a few minutes before and they got to see the whole process in motion. It was fascinating to watch the planes being prepared and launched with the precision of a swiss watch.

As they sauntered along the port anti-aircraft batteries a Cat patrol droned off on a strait flight to the West. They were certainly well spotted and it felt as if the task force was a giant moving hive with bees swarming and circling around it all through the day. The cruisers Chicago and the Astoria looked in fine shape as they churned through the chop off each bow while the Portland steamed up behind. Five destroyers escorted around the main body.

Being stationed on a fleet carrier was almost like being on a moving town, complete with everything to maintain and keep it going. Eddy was starting to think this felt a lot more promising than heading to Midway. A few of their group were left back at Ewa and would move in later in the month. He still felt he�d been given the short end of the stick heading to Gooneyville, but who knew, there was lot going on in the world, maybe it would be a short lived visit. He could only hope.

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

At least none of them are biplanes!

BTW, to draw a horizontal line that automatically sizes to the entire width use the "hr" button on the editor window. Like this:

_____________________________

Intel Monkey: https://sites.google.com/view/staffmonkeys/home

(in reply to obvert)

Post #: 65

RE: ::Felix, Ferdinand and FRUPAC:: obvert (A) v Greyjo... - 4/7/2014 10:40:47 PM

obvert

Posts: 14050
Joined: 1/17/2011
From: PDX (and now) London, UK
Status: offline

December 6, 1941

On USS Boise, approaching Cebu Island

The U.S.S. Boise slowed to five knots as she rounded the point on the approach to the US naval Base at Cebu. She had left Cavite and sailed past the Guns of Fort Drum two days before as tensions rose between the Japanese and the US after a breakdown of diplomatic discussions in Washington. Terns had been sailing with them, calling out as if mocking as they rode the hot tropical air up around the sweltering steel hull of the cruiser. Boise was ready for anything, one of the most modern and capable ships in the USN, and the men on her didn�t think much of the Japanese. They were itching for a fight, and thought the Japanese navy untrained and inferior. They drilled nearly every day in gunnery, damage control and evasive maneuvers.

Boise was now gliding into the harbor where a lighter was already preparing at the dock to come to greet them. The anchor party was beginning the procedure of securing the ship, and Oliver�s watch would end shortly. It looked like a good afternoon for a swim as the ship came to a stop and the air stopped cooling his skin. It looked all business down on deck though, and there would be little time for recreation in the coming days, it seemed.

They had hoped for some time in Manila to explore the exotic possibilities available there, but almost as soon as arriving the Boise was sent away again, now under the umbrella of Admiral Hart. Hart wanted his best assets spread around the islands, and Boise was sent to Cebu island in the center of the middle Philippine area. Admiral Hart was conservative, or at least that was the scuttlebutt among the crew on the way down through the twisted passages between the middle Philippine Islands.

�Hey Ollie, you see those Dolphins off the bow? Just playing as pretty as you please like they own the place. Wish I could swim like that.�

Seaman Hank Carpenter was from Boise, probably the only guy on the ship from its namesake town, and he was proud of it. He was also one of the more excitable and gullible sailors aboard. Someone was always using him as the butt of a prank, but he took it all in the same good humor. He seemed a bit innocent, almost na�ve, but Oliver liked him. He was interested in the world and things they saw, and curious enough to want to explore them a bit.

"Hank, I bet it�s a bit tougher than you think. There�s also a lot of sharks down there, and I�m sure they�re not too friendly. I�d rather be right up here where I am.�

�True, that�s true Ollie, but it sure does look like they have a good time.�
 �We coulda had a pretty good time, too, if we�d had a few more nights in Manila. I mighta been jumping like a Dolphin after a few hours with some of those girls. Woo-wee. Hopefully we�ll be right on back soon!�

Attachment (1)

< Message edited by obvert -- 4/23/2014 9:40:42 AM >

_____________________________

"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm." - Winston Churchill

(in reply to witpqs)

Post #: 66

RE: ::Felix, Ferdinand and FRUPAC:: obvert (A) v Greyjo... - 4/7/2014 10:42:44 PM

obvert

Posts: 14050
Joined: 1/17/2011
From: PDX (and now) London, UK
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: witpqs

At least none of them are biplanes!

BTW, to draw a horizontal line that automatically sizes to the entire width use the "hr" button on the editor window. Like this:

Yeah, it was tough to find some from Fall 41, but this is October, so pretty close. At least she has the right paint job, and no bi-planes.

Like the

button. Thanks!

_____________________________

"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm." - Winston Churchill

(in reply to witpqs)

Post #: 67

RE: ::Felix, Ferdinand and FRUPAC:: obvert (A) v Greyjo... - 4/7/2014 10:45:38 PM

obvert

Posts: 14050
Joined: 1/17/2011
From: PDX (and now) London, UK
Status: offline

So ...

... I got the first turn from GJ, and I've started working on it. I won't do too much, but I do want to make sure I don't forget something either.

Should get it back to him tomorrow! Just in time. Made it to Dec 6, and the scene is set. Now the game will determine the course of the stories.

_____________________________

"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm." - Winston Churchill

(in reply to obvert)

Post #: 68

RE: ::Felix, Ferdinand and FRUPAC:: obvert (A) v Greyjo... - 4/8/2014 1:45:59 AM

obvert

Posts: 14050
Joined: 1/17/2011
From: PDX (and now) London, UK
Status: offline

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

December 7, 1941

Pearl Harbor, HI

Station HYPO was beneath the old administrative building at Pearl Harbor. It was no frills. Radios, desks strewn with papers, folders and notes. Cases along the walls with binders and files. Men hunched over reports almost continuously throughout the day. Lcdr Rochefort gave men here a lot of leeway, and they worked hard because of it. They could come in at any time, stay as long as they wanted, and do most anything in this very unconventional branch of the US Navy. Intelligence was in its infancy, but its value was being appreciated more and more.

This unit had already done some work, breaking about 10% of the previous Japanese codebook before it was changed just a month ago. Although they had to start from scratch, a lot of the groundwork was there, and they were already moving quickly into the new codes. Weiss had been useful so far, giving insight to idioms and colloquial expressions. He enjoyed the work and had fit in with the no nonsense results driven mentality. No one cared who you were here, just what you could do.

Leaving late in the night was normal. Tonight it was already deep into the morning, 5am, when Harry walked into the warm Hawaiian night. Only a few stars showed through the light overcast, but the air was fresh and Harry was happy as he walked to his barracks and fell into a deep sleep.

It was less than two hours later when the USS Ward reported from the mouth of the harbor:

�We have attacked, fired upon and dropped depth charges on a submarine operating in the defensive sea area."

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Attachment (1)

< Message edited by obvert -- 4/8/2014 3:22:09 AM >

_____________________________

"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm." - Winston Churchill

(in reply to obvert)

Post #: 69

RE: ::Felix, Ferdinand and FRUPAC:: obvert (A) v Greyjo... - 4/8/2014 11:17:12 AM

HansBolter

Posts: 7704
Joined: 7/6/2006
From: United States
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: witpqs

At least none of them are biplanes!

BTW, to draw a horizontal line that automatically sizes to the entire width use the "hr" button on the editor window. Like this:

No they come in on the Wasp (oops I meant the Hornet).

< Message edited by HansBolter -- 4/9/2014 11:48:01 AM >

_____________________________

Hans

(in reply to witpqs)

Post #: 70

RE: ::Felix, Ferdinand and FRUPAC:: obvert (A) v Greyjo... - 4/8/2014 11:22:17 AM

HansBolter

Posts: 7704
Joined: 7/6/2006
From: United States
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: obvert

So ...

... I got the first turn from GJ, and I've started working on it. I won't do too much, but I do want to make sure I don't forget something either.

Should get it back to him tomorrow! Just in time. Made it to Dec 6, and the scene is set. Now the game will determine the course of the stories.

Be sure to take a look at available ship conversions. There are about 20 xAKs that can convert to AKEs and about 20 more enter over the next couple of months

More than enough to have more than you need until adequate ports are established as operations bases for SAGs.

Also keep an eye out for the handful of xAKs that can convert to AKVs.

< Message edited by HansBolter -- 4/8/2014 12:23:24 PM >

_____________________________

Hans

(in reply to obvert)

Post #: 71

RE: ::Felix, Ferdinand and FRUPAC:: obvert (A) v Greyjo... - 4/8/2014 3:12:37 PM

Walker84

Posts: 850
Joined: 7/5/2009
Status: offline

quote:

The game will be DBB with stacking limits and with PDU-off. This was something Nic suggested to give us a different, more realistic feeling for this game

Subscribed - I will be following with interest as I like the parameters and, depending on how this pans out, may encourage me to play with PDU off next time out.

I also like the use of stories to set the scene - this is shaping up to be the mother of AARs!

Best of luck.

_____________________________

The most advanced nations are always those who navigate the most -
Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803 -1882)

(in reply to HansBolter)

Post #: 72

RE: ::Felix, Ferdinand and FRUPAC:: obvert (A) v Greyjo... - 4/8/2014 7:48:27 PM

obvert

Posts: 14050
Joined: 1/17/2011
From: PDX (and now) London, UK
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: HansBolter

quote:

ORIGINAL: obvert

So ...

... I got the first turn from GJ, and I've started working on it. I won't do too much, but I do want to make sure I don't forget something either.

Should get it back to him tomorrow! Just in time. Made it to Dec 6, and the scene is set. Now the game will determine the course of the stories.

Be sure to take a look at available ship conversions. There are about 20 xAKs that can convert to AKEs and about 20 more enter over the next couple of months

More than enough to have more than you need until adequate ports are established as operations bases for SAGs.

Also keep an eye out for the handful of xAKs that can convert to AKVs.

Yeah, thanks. This is going to be a new world for me as agains the AI I don't bother with too many conversions. I'll have to look at the xAKs that convert to xAP as well. I already have made the choice to convert all four stackers to APDs. Have some ideas for those.

_____________________________

"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm." - Winston Churchill

(in reply to HansBolter)

Post #: 73

RE: ::Felix, Ferdinand and FRUPAC:: obvert (A) v Greyjo... - 4/8/2014 8:00:50 PM

obvert

Posts: 14050
Joined: 1/17/2011
From: PDX (and now) London, UK
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: Walker84

quote:

The game will be DBB with stacking limits and with PDU-off. This was something Nic suggested to give us a different, more realistic feeling for this game

Subscribed - I will be following with interest as I like the parameters and, depending on how this pans out, may encourage me to play with PDU off next time out.

I also like the use of stories to set the scene - this is shaping up to be the mother of AARs!

Best of luck.

Thanks, looking forward to it all too. I think it'll be interesting to see how this changes things. I hope to keep the stories going, but it'll also have some regular updates and strategic discussion. I'll be needing to bounce ideas off of the veterans on this side, as right now I feel like a complete rookie again. I like that though. Lots to learn.

_____________________________

"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm." - Winston Churchill

(in reply to Walker84)

Post #: 74

RE: ::Felix, Ferdinand and FRUPAC:: obvert (A) v Greyjo... - 4/8/2014 8:20:36 PM

obvert

Posts: 14050
Joined: 1/17/2011
From: PDX (and now) London, UK
Status: offline

7 December 1941

It's on! Got the CR back and had a quick look through. Nothing too surprising, but Force Z got right into it, for better of for worse. We'll have to see the damage when the turn is run.

DEI: Looks like I guessed right. The Japanese went for Singkawang and I sent Force Z that direction. It looks like the invasion didn't land and the Brits lost a few CLs, 3-4 DDs and the P of W and Repulse will be out for repairs for a while. Not sure the IJN fared as badly. I'll see what hit them during the replay. I'll be able to run it tonight and have a real look.

Pacific: I won't comment on PH just yet. Some things to write up and I have to see the turn to see what really happened.

CHINA: Most of the Chinese are on the run, heading for good territory and trying to stay out of the way of the Japanese forward armies. I'l show some maps in a few days once things develop.

< Message edited by obvert -- 4/8/2014 9:21:28 PM >

_____________________________

"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm." - Winston Churchill

(in reply to obvert)

Post #: 75

RE: ::Felix, Ferdinand and FRUPAC:: obvert (A) v Greyjo... - 4/8/2014 11:12:14 PM

jmalter

Posts: 1673
Joined: 10/12/2010
Status: offline

hi obvert, glad to hear things are underway.

Some more 'mostly harmless' advice - there are ~20 USN AP/xAPs that can convert early to APAs. And 2 British ships that can convert early to LSI(L). Find these guys, use them early (but keep them safe) & get them to shipyards in good time to start their conversions.

My AI game just turned over into August '45. I'm jealous that you're just beginning a new game!

(in reply to obvert)

Post #: 76

RE: ::Felix, Ferdinand and FRUPAC:: obvert (A) v Greyjo... - 4/9/2014 2:54:45 AM

mind_messing

Posts: 3393
Joined: 10/28/2013
Status: offline

I've seen great things from the USN/Dutch/British floatplanes in the DEI. Save your Catalina's for naval search, but the Kingfishers, Singapore's and the crappy Dutch stuff work wonders with the plethora of AVD's.

(in reply to jmalter)

Post #: 77

RE: ::Felix, Ferdinand and FRUPAC:: obvert (A) v Greyjo... - 4/9/2014 3:22:00 AM

obvert

Posts: 14050
Joined: 1/17/2011
From: PDX (and now) London, UK
Status: offline

December 7, 1941 - 10:23

USS Solace, Pearl Harbor, HI

�Clear more space in the mess! Get all the cloth and towels out of the laundry and bring all available hands in to help load out patients!� Doctor Hakansson was calm but stern above the din of men suffering in the main ward as motor launch #2 pulled up next to the Solace with another load from the West Virginia. Blood covered the room and screams, moans and heightened instructions almost drown out the sounds from the rest of the harbor. Explosions still rocked battleship row even after the first wave of Japanese planes had left.

Several men were brought in covered in oil and blistered with burns. Sally did her best, wrapping their wounds and administering the only real help she could with a vial of morphine. She nearly broke down several times. She�d seen injuries before, some serious, but nothing had prepared her for this.

The Solace took as many men as could be brought, but it never seemed enough. Smoke towered over the Bay and oil streaked the water, some of it burning. They could see it all, and had seen the beginning of the attack after the first explosion had rocked the Tennessee from a minisub at 07:50 as Sally had been having coffee and eggs below. She and everyone else ran topside and witnesses the rest as waves of Japanese planes streaked over, diving and strafing. One bomb lit the magazine of the West Virginia and the great ship lifted out of the water before the stern broke completely off and sank immediately.

At that point Sally had burst into tears even as the two launches from Solace were pushing off into the chaos to bring back survivors. Doctor Stewart had taken her hand and looked her in the eye right then and said, �This is not yet the time to mourn. We have work to do, and a chance to save men on those ships. They need all you can give them.� He let go her hand and walked calmly on to begin preparations in the surgery. Sally steeled herself, took a last glance at the fire towering over battleship row, and went below to wash up.

Attachment (1)

< Message edited by obvert -- 4/9/2014 4:28:21 AM >

_____________________________

"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm." - Winston Churchill

(in reply to jmalter)

Post #: 78

RE: ::Felix, Ferdinand and FRUPAC:: obvert (A) v Greyjo... - 4/9/2014 3:34:47 AM

obvert

Posts: 14050
Joined: 1/17/2011
From: PDX (and now) London, UK
Status: offline

December 7, 1941 - 10:23

Pearl Harbor, HI

Harry woke feeling strange, as if he was somewhere else than his own bed on a Sunday morning. He heard muffled noises outside, and thunder. He took out his earplugs as a massive explosion rocked the USS West Virginia. He jumped out of bed and into the front room to see smoke towering over the harbor. It had come, the war he dreaded. The war between the two sides of himself.

Harry got dressed fast and ran outside. He sprinted toward the columns of fire and smoke out over the bay, passing men running in all directions, and to the water�s edge. Men were swimming to the shore, covered in oil, and were being brought up on stretchers from launches. He immediately lept into the grimy water to help a man he saw faltering as he neared the shore, and pulled him our up over the dock with the help of others. He then turned and swam out again.

Attachment (1)

_____________________________

"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm." - Winston Churchill

(in reply to obvert)

Post #: 79

RE: ::Felix, Ferdinand and FRUPAC:: obvert (A) v Greyjo... - 4/9/2014 12:33:37 PM

obvert

Posts: 14050
Joined: 1/17/2011
From: PDX (and now) London, UK
Status: offline

December 7, 1941 - 10:23

Above Pearl Harbor, HI

Frank was exhausted and haunted by what he had seen throughout the morning. His morning patrol had flown at sunrise on a partly cloudy Sunday and had almost immediately been called into action. It was Frank observing from his port dimple who had seen the dark shape moving in the shallow waters near the entrance to Pearl only minutes into the flight. The plane banked, reported the sighting, and immediately moved in to engage the target. The Cat swooped low and dropped two depth charges set to only 20 feet. The small submarine was almost vaporized, and several pieces of it were scattered across the disturbed water nearby.

Shortly after reporting to base word came that Tennessee had been struck by a sub launched torpedo. Almost immediately after receiving the message Joe from the opposite dimple announced;

�A large number of planes moving in at one six zero.�

�Prepare defensive guns. Secure for evasive maneuvers.�

Within moments the dimples were opened with a 50cal gun facing out. Charlie was on the ventral 30cal and Johnny the bombardier ran the nose guns. It was none too soon as a Japanese zero streaked down from above and shot tracers into the tail and fuselage near Joe.

�Hell, that was too close for comfort!� he yelled over the whine of the straining engines. Frank saw another diving in on his side and brought the 50cal up and popped a two second burst that nearly caught the zero as it banked over without getting off a shot.

�Woohoo! Come back for a little more, why don�t ya?� Frank heard from the other side as Joe got off a burst into the retreating plane. As the Cat banked over western Oahu, turning almost fully toward the south Frank got a glimpse of Pearl. Planes hovered and dove almost effortlessly down over the assembled fleet producing successive bursts of fire and black smoke. It was devastation. Frank reflexively pulled up the camera and shot the scene as they banked again around the harbor. From here it was hard to imagine the men on those ships and what was happening all around them.

Some ships were pulling into the channel and heading out to sea.

�My god, Joe, we�ve got to find those bastards. Where the hell did these a**holes come from?�

As if to answer his question the Cat banked again and turned north. They were going to find out.

Attachment (1)

< Message edited by obvert -- 4/9/2014 4:36:29 PM >

_____________________________

"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm." - Winston Churchill

(in reply to obvert)

Post #: 80

RE: ::Felix, Ferdinand and FRUPAC:: obvert (A) v Greyjo... - 4/11/2014 6:01:02 PM

crsutton

Posts: 9590
Joined: 12/6/2002
From: Maryland
Status: offline

Good luck with your game. I am already enjoying the photos very much. I won't comment much as I plan on reading both AARs but will be following.

_____________________________

I am the Holy Roman Emperor and am above grammar.

Sigismund of Luxemburg

(in reply to obvert)

Post #: 81

RE: ::Felix, Ferdinand and FRUPAC:: obvert (A) v Greyjo... - 4/12/2014 5:41:57 PM

obvert

Posts: 14050
Joined: 1/17/2011
From: PDX (and now) London, UK
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: crsutton

Good luck with your game. I am already enjoying the photos very much. I won't comment much as I plan on reading both AARs but will be following.

Thanks for stopping in. Just got back from a baseball spring training trip in Florida. So nice to be in some warm weather, and amazing to see the level of play in HS down there. Wow.

I'll be updating throughout the next two days to get things moving. I finally finished the Allied turn two, which is huge. I still have some areas I've not touched. Like India, Chinese air force, Russia, and Australian ground troops. It's a big map.

_____________________________

"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm." - Winston Churchill

(in reply to crsutton)

Post #: 82

RE: ::Felix, Ferdinand and FRUPAC:: obvert (A) v Greyjo... - 4/13/2014 5:26:37 AM

JocMeister

Posts: 8262
Joined: 7/29/2009
From: Sweden
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: obvert

quote:

ORIGINAL: crsutton

Good luck with your game. I am already enjoying the photos very much. I won't comment much as I plan on reading both AARs but will be following.

Thanks for stopping in. Just got back from a baseball spring training trip in Florida. So nice to be in some warm weather, and amazing to see the level of play in HS down there. Wow.

I'll be updating throughout the next two days to get things moving. I finally finished the Allied turn two, which is huge. I still have some areas I've not touched. Like India, Chinese air force, Russia, and Australian ground troops. It's a big map.

Don�t do everything on turn 2. Spread out the load a bit.

(in reply to obvert)

Post #: 83

RE: ::Felix, Ferdinand and FRUPAC:: obvert (A) v Greyjo... - 4/13/2014 8:23:56 AM

obvert

Posts: 14050
Joined: 1/17/2011
From: PDX (and now) London, UK
Status: offline

December 7, 1941 - 12:23pm

Portland, OR

Martin and Elsie were in the front seat of the car with both kids in back, Mike with his left arm wrapped in gauze, on the way home from the hospital. Mike was riding his Sunday paper route, delivering only three blocks down on Nebraska, and the chow in the front yard slipped it�s collar and came right for him. Mike was six and this was his first month on the route. Jimmy, who had just turned two, was fascinated by the bandage and put his fingers between its folds, which prompted a smack from Mike. That of course led to screams and tears, and the entire car was in a foul mood now.

When they arrived home Elsie put on the coffee pot, started on pancakes and eggs to get everyone calmed down and Martin had a run at the Sunday paper. He was uneasy this morning, maybe from the early hospital visit, maybe from his first full week on the job, maybe something else he couldn�t put his finger on. He couldn�t be sure. The news didn�t make him feel any better. The Germans were still pushing the Russians toward Moscow, there was fighting with the Germans advancing in Libya around Tobruk, and an American tanker, the Astral, was sunk in the Atlantic by a German sub.

This piece of news really angered Martin. He thought of those men lost in the middle of the ocean on a neutral ship, his own countrymen, and he slammed the paper down on the table in frustration.

�Dammit! This war is gonna drag us into it one way or another.�

�Martin, will you cool your engines! We don�t need any more excitement this morning.�

�Already this week the Brits declared war on Finland, for just protecting itself against the Russians. Now we�re losing unarmed tankers in the Atlantic with our men on em, Elsie. I don�t like where this is going, any of it.��

�We�ve got other things to worry about, Martin, like getting the lawn mowed the one day it�s not raining, and making sure Mike�s okay. I don�t want that arm to get infected.�

Martin got up from the table with his breakfast left half-finished. He slammed the front door on his way out to mow the lawn. This day was not starting out well. He went out back and got the lawnmower going.

He was still out working on the front hedge a few hours later when the CBS radio programs were interrupted to report that the Japanese had attacked Pearl Harbor. Elsie was inside wrapping Mike�s arm after putting ointment on the wound when she heard. She decided not to tell Martin right away. He�d find out soon enough.

Attachment (1)

< Message edited by obvert -- 4/13/2014 9:33:34 AM >

_____________________________

"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm." - Winston Churchill

(in reply to JocMeister)

Post #: 84

RE: ::Felix, Ferdinand and FRUPAC:: obvert (A) v Greyjo... - 4/13/2014 8:35:18 AM

obvert

Posts: 14050
Joined: 1/17/2011
From: PDX (and now) London, UK
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: JocMeister

quote:

ORIGINAL: obvert

quote:

ORIGINAL: crsutton

Good luck with your game. I am already enjoying the photos very much. I won't comment much as I plan on reading both AARs but will be following.

Thanks for stopping in. Just got back from a baseball spring training trip in Florida. So nice to be in some warm weather, and amazing to see the level of play in HS down there. Wow.

I'll be updating throughout the next two days to get things moving. I finally finished the Allied turn two, which is huge. I still have some areas I've not touched. Like India, Chinese air force, Russia, and Australian ground troops. It's a big map.

Don�t do everything on turn 2. Spread out the load a bit.

Yeah, I definitely need more time. Lots of ships to order to their deaths in the PI that first turn!

_____________________________

"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm." - Winston Churchill

(in reply to JocMeister)

Post #: 85

RE: ::Felix, Ferdinand and FRUPAC:: obvert (A) v Greyjo... - 4/13/2014 5:18:06 PM

princep01

Posts: 943
Joined: 8/7/2006
From: Texas
Status: offline

A dog bite case!! Lawsuits, radio appearances by the mauled boy! Child labor laws SHATTERED in Oregon! Mothers take to the streets. The lawyers start their power engines and descend onto the lawn! Chows the nation over are lambasted by the media as killers all!

War?! What's that when the locust of litigation crowd your driveway and bang on your front door offering to HELP! What does a Jap Zero 2000 miles away mean when the local bubble headed bleach blonds (to coin a phrase) of the media stand on your wife's petunias shouting incomprehensible questions about boy and dog? And who is that guy from the van coming this way? Could he be the Oregon Department of Child Protection man coming to serve a warrant!

Yikes.....I think I'd just trot on down to the recruiting office and sign up. Looks like Martin is in for a rough time.

(in reply to obvert)

Post #: 86

RE: ::Felix, Ferdinand and FRUPAC:: obvert (A) v Greyjo... - 4/14/2014 12:48:50 AM

obvert

Posts: 14050
Joined: 1/17/2011
From: PDX (and now) London, UK
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: princep01

A dog bite case!! Lawsuits, radio appearances by the mauled boy! Child labor laws SHATTERED in Oregon! Mothers take to the streets. The lawyers start their power engines and descend onto the lawn! Chows the nation over are lambasted by the media as killers all!

War?! What's that when the locust of litigation crowd your driveway and bang on your front door offering to HELP! What does a Jap Zero 2000 miles away mean when the local bubble headed bleach blonds (to coin a phrase) of the media stand on your wife's petunias shouting incomprehensible questions about boy and dog? And who is that guy from the van coming this way? Could he be the Oregon Department of Child Protection man coming to serve a warrant!

Yikes.....I think I'd just trot on down to the recruiting office and sign up. Looks like Martin is in for a rough time.

_____________________________

"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm." - Winston Churchill

(in reply to princep01)

Post #: 87

RE: ::Felix, Ferdinand and FRUPAC:: obvert (A) v Greyjo... - 4/14/2014 2:01:31 PM

obvert

Posts: 14050
Joined: 1/17/2011
From: PDX (and now) London, UK
Status: offline

December 7, 1941 - 10:23

West of Hawaii

Eddy woke to the sound of general quarters being called. He scrambled out of his bunk, threw on his uniform and hoofed it to the ready room, dodging several equally rushed sailors going the other way grumbling about another drill. He�d been able to sleep late as it was Sunday and there wasn�t a lot for the pilots to do while being ferried to Midway. As he got into the pilots ready room he found a crowd there already. Flight group leaders including his own group�s LT Douglas talked together in the front of the room in the midst of the din of questions and grumblings.

�Your attention please,� was all it took from LT Forsyth for the noise to die to a whisper. �Pearl Harbor is being attacked by the Japanese this morning, right now, by naval air forces. We do not yet know the strength or origin of the attacks. Our mission will be to scout for and engage the Japanese fleet that launched this attack. All scout bomber groups will be required, including 231. The transfer to Midway has been scrubbed. We�ll want 5 Wildcats up immediately on CAP with 10 on deck ready. The remainder will await strike orders.�

�Group leaders will go over search vectors now. It is believed the enemy is to the North of Oahu.�

Eddy and Terry exchanged a look that said everything. Some initial uneasiness gave way to immediate confidence and a lighthearted exuberance.

�Lets go smack some Japs!� Eddy�s comment wasn�t really meant for the whole room, but it was taken up in a series of whoops and hollers that released the tension and took some work by the group leaders to suppress. They had a very different look on their faces, a serious, all business look that revealed some of what they had just heard that hadn�t yet been made available to all of the pilots.

Men around the room were putting on flight suits, getting into groups fro briefing and filing out to head topside. This was a big day, and everyone knew it. Most were ready to put their skills to the test, and not too concerned with the opposition. The Japanese weren�t taken as seriously as the Germans in Europe. The general feeling was one of excitement and focus, like the mood before a big game as you came out of the locker room onto the field.

It would take several hours for the sobering news from Pearl to filter to through the ranks, and by then the Lexington and TF 12 were turned around and hightailing it south. This was not a battle they would fight now, alone against the combined fleet of the Imperial Japanese Navy. There were looks of disbelief, sorrow and absolute devastation on the faces of most by late afternoon. Men were seen breaking down and weeping as they heard of the West Virginia being sunk with almost complete loss of her crew after a magazine explosion. They had friends on those ships, even brothers. Eddy was sobered as the rest had been, but also wore the face of someone suddenly steeled, resolved, ready to accept what he knew now was not a Friday night game under the lights.

Attachment (1)

< Message edited by obvert -- 4/14/2014 3:02:07 PM >

_____________________________

"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm." - Winston Churchill

(in reply to obvert)

Post #: 88

RE: ::Felix, Ferdinand and FRUPAC:: obvert (A) v Greyjo... - 4/14/2014 2:53:21 PM

obvert

Posts: 14050
Joined: 1/17/2011
From: PDX (and now) London, UK
Status: offline

December 8, 1941 - 02:23

Toungoo, Burma

Daniel woke with a start after dreaming his head was being pried open by what looked like his idea of a Japanese soldier, a small squint eyed man in glasses with a little wiry mustache. He was relieved it was a quiet night in his cabin, only the soft sound of frogs and crickets filtering in through the window. Then he screamed.

�What the hell�s going on!� George popped up from his bunk with wild eyes to see Daniel batting at his head and shaking violently.

�There�s something on my head!� he bellowed as the object in question was finally located and flung hard against the wall. �A god-damned bug! Huge one. God!� He continued scratching through his hair to verify all intruders were expelled.

�Ah, come on. Ain�t no worse than a Palmetto bug, or a pine boring beetle back home. You yanks are just sissys when it comes to a few bugs.� George chuckled and turned over to go back to sleep.

Daniel was nowhere near the point of closing his eyes again, and he decided to go out and get some air and have a smoke to cool his nerves. He walked out to a clear tropical night, stars glaring down from all over the sky like miniature searchlights. The moon was behind a low cloud. It was 02:23 in the morning.

As he walked out he noticed a light on in Chennault�s HQ cabin. That was strange. Usually the Colonel slept early and well through the night. As he smoked the haze curled up into the sky and he noticed a dull sound beginning in the distance. It got more distinct as he smoked until he recognized it as a Japanese plane. He wondered what they were doing out this early in the morning. Didn�t make sense. He finally went back in as the sound died in the southeastern sky and climbed back in his bunk. George snored peacefully.

He felt strange lying there now, after being woken so suddenly. He tried to get back to sleep, but only barely dozed before noises woke him early in the morning and a general alarm echoed across the base.

Attachment (1)

< Message edited by obvert -- 4/14/2014 3:53:40 PM >

_____________________________

"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm." - Winston Churchill

(in reply to obvert)

Post #: 89

RE: ::Felix, Ferdinand and FRUPAC:: obvert (A) v Greyjo... - 4/15/2014 8:09:58 AM

obvert

Posts: 14050
Joined: 1/17/2011
From: PDX (and now) London, UK
Status: offline

Dec 7, 1941
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Now for some real updates on the war as it has begun. I'll let the narratives get a little ahead so they can deal with surprising events, but since we've played a few turns now I'm itching to get some reports made and conversations started as well. This has been interesting from the beginning, as you would expect playing someone of GJ's experience and skill. I'm in for a tough game, and hope to give him some back!

SUBS: A mini got into PH and hit the Tennessee right off the bat.

DEI: In the DEI I had a feeling Nic would try some deeper moves even no the first turn, based on our conversations, and the most likely, most useful spot to hit in my opinion is Singkawang. I loaded up Force Z without adding the CL also in Singers, and sent them to Singkawang on the way to Batavia in case I was wrong. I wasn't and they met 2 Kongos with 2 CA, a CL and 6 DD!! I also sent in to Brit CLs which were sunk easily. The fight looked to be a draw, with heavy fires on two DDs and one CA, and 7 good hits on Haruna. We lost one DD and got 30+ damage on virtually all ships in the TF, which means Force Z is off to Cape Town for an extended visit to the beach while the dents are pounded out.

After the turn some ships looked to be detached from the main body, so we must have done some damage. Before sinking the Dragon also kept the landing from happening, so that is god. Now for another 2 CL and 4 DD dash fro Singers to try again tomorrow.

All else looked standard. I started the doomed on their paths from the PI, trying to vary everything, hoping to get some AS out at least and down to OZ. Sending the Langley toward Alaska. We'll see how that goes.

Pacific: The PH strike was no where near what I saw in a test a ran recently, and only the West Virginia went under to one bomb and a magazine explosion. Some, like the California, could be ready in two months! Even better, the good CLs made it through almost untouched. The airfields were hit pretty hard, but should be able to thwart a second day strike combined with the flak. I'll not try for anything with the navy.

CHINA: Run for the hills! All units in the clear will move back quickly, of course, and all I'll really do here is try to get in good territory while balancing things so I won't have difficulty with overstacking.

STRATEGY: Now for the fun part. I've been pretty quiet so far on the planning. At this point I have only a few goals.

1. I'd like to shore up the No Pac area immediately. I'm sending a regiment and Marine defense battalion to Adak, and a base force plus arty will follow. I want No Pac to be a massive sub base as well as a constant threat to the Empire.

2. In the DEI I won't move a lot of troops around creating bastions in Palembang or anywhere, really. I want to see how it plays more straight forward, where each area has something and where I can be fluid with defensive units to hit areas he's not stacking up on and bringing the hammer. So I'll be opportunistic and go for the edges, wherever they are, using the navies and air forces as much as possible to take a toll for any quick movements.

3. India, SW OZ and No Pac will be defensive priorities in the beginning. I'll get divisions combined in OZ and send several along with armored units to Perth, build that base and send all of the ships from the DEI that direction as well with extra fuel. India will get the troops that stat on ships, focusing on shoring up Calcutta, Bombay and Karachi. In Alaska lots of units and resources will begin piling up and move forward as I see what the Japanese plans are for the area. The Saratoga will most likely head up this way early, to be followed by the other CVs if it looks like air support has been sent there.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR December 7, 41
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Morning Air attack on Pearl Harbor , at 180,107

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid detected at 119 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 44 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 54
B5N2 Kate x 117
D3A1 Val x 108

Allied aircraft
P-36A Mohawk x 2
P-40B Warhawk x 6

Japanese aircraft losses
B5N2 Kate: 9 damaged
B5N2 Kate: 5 destroyed by flak
D3A1 Val: 11 damaged
D3A1 Val: 5 destroyed by flak

Allied aircraft losses
P-36A Mohawk: 2 damaged
P-36A Mohawk: 1 destroyed on ground
P-40B Warhawk: 2 destroyed, 3 damaged
P-40B Warhawk: 2 destroyed on ground
A-20A Havoc: 3 destroyed on ground
B-18A Bolo: 3 destroyed on ground
B-17D Fortress: 1 destroyed on ground
O-47A: 1 destroyed on ground
PBY-5 Catalina: 5 destroyed on ground
F4F-3 Wildcat: 1 destroyed on ground

Allied Ships
BB Arizona, Bomb hits 2, Torpedo hits 3, on fire
BB Nevada, Bomb hits 4, Torpedo hits 1, heavy fires
BB Maryland, Bomb hits 5, Torpedo hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
BB West Virginia, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
BB Oklahoma, Bomb hits 2, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
BB Tennessee, Bomb hits 4, Torpedo hits 2, on fire
BB Pennsylvania, Bomb hits 2, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
DD Blue, Bomb hits 1, on fire
BB California, Bomb hits 5, Torpedo hits 1, heavy fires
DD Dewey, Bomb hits 1, on fire
CL Phoenix, Bomb hits 1, on fire
CL Raleigh, Torpedo hits 1
CL St. Louis, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires
DM Montgomery, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
CL Detroit, Bomb hits 1

Allied ground losses:
17 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled

Airbase hits 23
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 62
Port hits 5
Port fuel hits 2
Port supply hits 1

Magazine explodes on BB West Virginia

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

< Message edited by obvert -- 4/15/2014 9:22:00 AM >

_____________________________

"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm." - Winston Churchill

(in reply to obvert)

Post #: 90

Page: << < prev 1 2 [3] 4 5 next > >>

All Forums >> [New Releases from Matrix Games] >> War in the Pacific: Admiral's Edition >> After Action Reports >> RE: ::Felix, Ferdinand and FRUPAC:: obvert (A) v Greyjoy (J)