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RE: See you in Tokyo Bay - Apbarog(A) vs Walker(J) DBB-B Scen28

 
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RE: See you in Tokyo Bay - Apbarog(A) vs Walker(J) DBB-... - 9/25/2015 11:27:07 PM   
apbarog


Posts: 3769
Joined: 5/23/2002
Status: offline 		7 Nov 42

Off Carnavon, I-122 sinks small cargo ship xAKL Schouten, which was about to bring supply in. One xAKL continues on.

The Tabiteuea invasion convoys are now 9 hexes south of the island, and have not been spotted. They will move 6 hexes today and be in range to land the following night.

I recon Buna for the first time, and find more there than I expected. I see 9 units, 11600 men, 67 guns, and 43 AFV's. I know that an Air HQ is there. Even more interesting is that I see movement from Buna to the west to Kokoda, the dot base. I have paratroopers prepped for Kokoda, and I don't want a combat capable unit to be sitting there.

Also worth noting is that I know that an Air HQ is at Torokino, near Shortlands, and another is at Lae. It's a good bet there's one at Rabaul too.

Here's a snapshot of the many task forces coming together for the New Guinea invasions. I also started loading at Rockhampton today. If I can scrape together the transports, I may load my Port Moresby invasion force too. Recon there didn't show the infantry division that I know was there recently. Probably bad recon, but it could be an opportunity that I'd like to be ready for.




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(in reply to jwolf)
Post #: 691
RE: See you in Tokyo Bay - Apbarog(A) vs Walker(J) DBB-... - 9/25/2015 11:45:38 PM   
jwolf

 

Posts: 2493
Joined: 12/3/2013
Status: offline 		That's an impressive looking armada -- may the force be with them! Good luck!

(in reply to apbarog)
Post #: 692
RE: See you in Tokyo Bay - Apbarog(A) vs Walker(J) DBB-... - 9/27/2015 8:32:14 PM   
apbarog


Posts: 3769
Joined: 5/23/2002
Status: offline 		8 Nov 42

At Cebu, the enemy attacks with the newly reinforced troops of the 4th Division. Odds are 3 to 1, reducing the forts to 2, but Japanese casualties are 3 times the Allied's. Almost all are disabled squads, for both sides. Cebu will fall.

US task forces approach Tabiteuea and stop 3 hexes to the south. The CVE task force is spotted and CVE Copahee is attacked by I-24. Torpedoes miss! The transports and escorts are not spotted, but an invasion has to be suspected. It will occur overnight.

A few of the US task forces gathering for the New Guinea invasions are spotted. I-15 takes a shot at a destroyer with light cruisers, but misses. One cargo task force is spotted, and so are some minesweepers. Their location, out in the middle between New Caledonia and Australia, may or may not spark some concern with the enemy.

I decide to move the armada mostly westward, toward Australia. I needed another day for some ships to catch up anyway. If I'm spotted today, it will look like a big move toward Australia, not an imminent invasion.

Not much I can do though. My opponent is very good with searching, including with Glen subs.

I will bomb the dot base at Rossel Island today, looking for a searchplane tender.

I don't have the shipping at Rockhampton to load troops for Port Moresby, so that will have to wait, as I had thought.

In the Solomons, I swept Shortlands with 36 F4F-4s, finding 27 Oscars on CAP. It goes pretty well, with 12 Oscars lost, and I lose 5 F4F-4s. I did a nuisance bombing of Munda with 12 Hudsons. It's still a dot base, and I didn't know if there were any troops there, but the Hudsons find the 89th Naval Guard unit and do almost no damage to it in the jungle. This is good information though. Plus it makes it look like I'm preparing for action here.

So the next turn is a big one with the Tabiteuea invasion.

(in reply to apbarog)
Post #: 693
RE: See you in Tokyo Bay - Apbarog(A) vs Walker(J) DBB-... - 9/29/2015 10:03:57 PM   
apbarog


Posts: 3769
Joined: 5/23/2002
Status: offline 		9 Nov 42

The first battle of Tabiteuea takes place.

I'd felt like I had a fair amount of surprise with my invasion of Tabiteuea task forces being spotted only 3 hexes away from the island. I was wrong.

First, BB Colorado with DD Frazier approaches to bombard the island. I wanted to get this tiny task force in and out. Instead, CA's Chikuma, Mikuma, and Suzuya are there waiting, along with 4 DD's. The fight is very brief, and is nothing short of an absolute ambush. The fight begins at only 2000 yards, in the rain, and the enemy gets surprise. Colorado and Frazier and immediately hit by multiple torpedoes. Frazier sinks without firing a shot. Colorado barely survives the surprise round of fighting, and gets one minor gun hit on a cruiser. It takes a total of 4 torpedoes and is sunk. It was very fast.

Then the big invasion task force arrives. Radar detects the Japanese approaching at 7000 yards, and the ships try to get underway. Fighting starts at 3000 yards. Allied escorts are BB California, CL Tromp, DD Gansevoort, DD Kortenaer, and APD Manley. California does better than Colorado, and gets several 14 inch gun hits on cruisers. But the Japanese again perform superbly. Here is the report:

Japanese Ships
CA Chikuma, Shell hits 1
CA Mikuma, Shell hits 2
CA Suzuya, Shell hits 3
DD Natsushio
DD Hayashio, Shell hits 1
DD Yukaze
DD Namikaze, Shell hits 1, and is sunk

Allied Ships
BB California, Shell hits 70, Torpedo hits 5, and is sunk
CL Tromp, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Gansevoort, Shell hits 6, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
DD Kortenaer, Shell hits 12, heavy fires, heavy damage
APD Manley, Shell hits 4, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
AP U.S. Grant
AP McCawley
AP Barnett, Shell hits 10, on fire
AP Henderson, Shell hits 14, heavy fires, heavy damage
AK Betelgeuse
xAP Taroona
xAP Nairana
xAP Bloemfontein
xAP Kota Gede
xAP Kota Agoeng
xAP Kota Inten
xAP Kota Baroe
xAP Maetsuycker
xAP Swartenhondt, heavy damage
xAP Van Cloon, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
xAP Van Overstraten
xAK Cycle
xAK West Ira
xAK West Ivis
xAK City of Rayville, Shell hits 3

Allied ground losses:
909 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 7 disabled
Non Combat: 49 destroyed, 21 disabled
Engineers: 47 destroyed, 6 disabled
Guns lost 2 (2 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Vehicles lost 23 (23 destroyed, 0 disabled)

Next, 2 hexes southeast of Tabiteuea, RO-67 is sighted by combat ships in the CVE task force. The sub is forced to surface, and then an amusing gun duel occurs between BB Tennessee and RO-67. The battleship gets at least 8 14 inch gun hits on the sub, as well as many smaller caliber hits, before the sub sinks.

Then the Japanese cruiser task force engages 3 minesweepers that I had sent in. One DMS is sunk, one is badly damaged, and the other escapes.

Then the cruiser task force finds my transports again, at 3000 yards range this time. Now CL Tromp is the only combat ship left escorting. Results are predictably bad for the Allies, but it could have been a lot worse. I think that the enemy was low on ammunition by this point.

Japanese Ships
CA Chikuma
CA Mikuma
CA Suzuya
DD Natsushio
DD Hayashio
DD Yukaze

Allied Ships
CL Tromp, Shell hits 18, heavy fires, heavy damage
AP U.S. Grant, Shell hits 2, on fire
AP McCawley, Shell hits 2, heavy fires
AP Barnett, Shell hits 1
AK Betelgeuse
xAP Taroona
xAP Nairana
xAP Bloemfontein
xAP Kota Gede
xAP Kota Agoeng
xAP Kota Inten
xAP Kota Baroe, Shell hits 1, on fire
xAP Maetsuycker
xAP Swartenhondt, and is sunk
xAP Van Overstraten, Shell hits 1
xAK Cycle
xAK West Ira
xAK West Ivis
xAK City of Rayville

Allied ground losses:
761 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Non Combat: 28 destroyed, 17 disabled
Engineers: 37 destroyed, 4 disabled
Vehicles lost 20 (19 destroyed, 1 disabled)

Daylight comes.

One curious thing about the invasion task force is that I had it set to absolute movement. I wanted it to get to Tabiteuea and stay, no matter what, and land the troops. I was willing to accept losses if I could take the island. Well, I think that my task force may have retreated one hex after the first battle, then moved back to Tabiteuea for the second battle. It didn't unload at all. Now in the day phase I find the task force 3 hexes south of the island. I'd guess that absolute movement is not absolute. I hadn't seen this type of behavior before.

The first air raid is at Munda in the Solomons. P40Es sweep and find 3 Zeros on bleedover CAP.

Back in the Tabiteuea area, 11 Nells escorted by 24 Zeros (from Tarawa, I believe) target my CVE task force. 31 F4F-4s are on CAP, but they aren't the best pilots, and performance is generally poor. CVE Prince William takes a torpedo hit.

Next 24 B-24s from Ndeni bomb Tabiteuea to soften up the troops for the landing that didn't occur.

Now 11 unescorted Nells attack the CVE task force. 18 F4F-4s are on CAP, but none intercept in time. CVE Nassau takes a torpedo hit. Some bombers are downed exiting the area.

Summary:

Tabiteuea was not invaded. I used slow battleships and a few non-US combat ships here. I'm not happy losing 2 battleships, but they were at least the old slow ones. One AP that could have upgraded to an APA later was lost. A few more are damaged but should survive if they can avoid the subs.

The fight was a huge Japanese victory, no doubt.

Of more concern to me is that there is now a huge area of high detection level south of Truk, and it's between Truk and Shortlands, not Truk and Tabiteuea. KB is coming and it is reacting to my ships on the Australian coast, not my attempt at Tabiteuea. From where it is apparently at now, it could be to Milne Bay before I can get there.

(in reply to apbarog)
Post #: 694
RE: See you in Tokyo Bay - Apbarog(A) vs Walker(J) DBB-... - 9/30/2015 12:41:41 AM   
jwolf

 

Posts: 2493
Joined: 12/3/2013
Status: offline 		I read about the battles near Tabiteuea in Walker's AAR, and I was amazed how well his cruiser force performed. Just a rotten day (actually, night) for the USN all around. One thing that really puzzles me -- by this time all the USN warships have good radar, right? I'm wondering how they could be consistently surprised and ambushed repeatedly. The CAP not doing its job was the icing on the cake of this debacle. Hope you have better luck with what follows, especially if you get into a major carrier action as you suggest may be coming.

(in reply to apbarog)
Post #: 695
RE: See you in Tokyo Bay - Apbarog(A) vs Walker(J) DBB-... - 9/30/2015 1:06:20 AM   
apbarog


Posts: 3769
Joined: 5/23/2002
Status: offline 		Radar did play a factor in at least one of the transport task force battles, with the enemy being spotted by radar, but the ships were stationary and couldn't get underway in time. As has been discussed in other threads, naval combat in the game only occurs with visual sightings, and this happened at point blank range.

The Japanese had advantages. Better trained crews and ability to launch lots of torpedoes at short range. The Allied ships were not the best combat ships. The makeup of the first US task force with just a battleship and one destroyer was fine for a quick bombardment but terrible for a surface battle. The other battleship did a decent job protecting the transports for awhile, but was never going to fight well being in an amphibious task force.

So the Japanese had inherent advantages, good luck with the weather (rain) and visibility (2% moon, which I didn't pay attention to ahead of time), and good dice rolls.

There's always something to learn from a battle, no matter how many times you've fought before.

(in reply to jwolf)
Post #: 696
RE: See you in Tokyo Bay - Apbarog(A) vs Walker(J) DBB-... - 10/1/2015 1:29:40 AM   
apbarog


Posts: 3769
Joined: 5/23/2002
Status: offline 		10 Nov 42

Lots of enemy sub action on my retreating Tabiteuea task forces:

RO-34 lines up CM Bungaree but misses.

I-26 hits already damaged AP McCawley with a torpedo. It will sink.

Then I-26 gets 2 torpedo hits on AP Barnett, which was also already damaged. It sinks.

So I committed 4 good AP's to this operation, and lost 3 of them (so far). All were loaded with troops, so 3/4 of the mountain unit is lost.

I-6 takes a shot at AVD Hulbert at Funafuti, but misses.

In the air, 20 P-38Es sweep Horn Island, and find 12 Oscars and 9 Zeros. 2 Oscars and 1 Zero is downed. 1 P-38 is lost.

At Cebu, another Japanese deliberate attack occurs at 2 to 1 and forts go to 0. The base is about to fall, 11 months after the start of the war. Japanese casualties here are somewhat significant. The 4th Division will need a small amount of recovery time. The other units will need more time.

Judging by detection levels on my subs south of Truk, it's less clear today where KB is heading. There's one concentration northeast of Kavieng. There's another concentration over by Kusaie Island.

The upcoming New Guinea invasions have been postponed, but not cancelled. Troops are unloading at Australian ports. US carriers move elsewhere for now. My invasions will take place, but not with KB in the immediate area.

A few months ago, when my Nauru Island/Ocean Island/Tabiteuea invasions were cancelled with KB showing up before I got there, KB then found itself deployed but with nothing to do. My opponent then moved KB down into the Solomons looking for targets and ignoring my bases, then moved further south almost to the northern tip of New Caledonia.

I am going to wait and see if KB gets bored again. Only this time, the US carriers may spring a trap.

(in reply to apbarog)
Post #: 697
RE: See you in Tokyo Bay - Apbarog(A) vs Walker(J) DBB-... - 10/1/2015 1:34:07 AM   
jwolf

 

Posts: 2493
Joined: 12/3/2013
Status: offline 		Well, time is on your side -- I can understand your decision to postpone things. It's still disappointing for your fans. I hope you can turn the tables with an ambush of your own.

(in reply to apbarog)
Post #: 698
RE: See you in Tokyo Bay - Apbarog(A) vs Walker(J) DBB-... - 10/1/2015 2:01:16 AM   
apbarog


Posts: 3769
Joined: 5/23/2002
Status: offline 		I am learning the tendencies of my opponent. His early game was cautious and careful. This resulted in a slow advance to what he has taken now. He's still cleaning up strongpoints in the Philippines that were never a threat, but are still there. Java took a long time to clear out.

His game since then has been reactionary. I think that he could be a good counter-attacking opponent, but there have been some things missing in the defense. One is his use of bombers, or lack of. There has been absolutely no use of bombers in the Solomons, and little use in Burma. I know that there are many bombers at Rabaul right now. I'm seeing 137. Most, if not all of these, are Bettys/Nells, as I regularly see them on ASW duty. When I was taking Lunga and Tulagi, I knew that KB was in the Indian Ocean, but there was no attempt at stopping my building of the bases.

My point is that I will try to take advantage of his reactionary style. Maybe it will be predictable. I have to give him something worth reacting to. I will do so.

(in reply to jwolf)
Post #: 699
RE: See you in Tokyo Bay - Apbarog(A) vs Walker(J) DBB-... - 10/1/2015 10:19:02 PM   
apbarog


Posts: 3769
Joined: 5/23/2002
Status: offline 		11 Nov 42

A generally quiet turn, which is a good thing for me. None of my task forces leaving the Tabiteuea area was spotted today.

Cebu falls.

High detection levels of my subs are now around the Kavieng/Rabaul area. No carriers are spotted, but I'm convinced they are out there. I did get SigInt that the Japanese 26th Infantry Division is at Kavieng. There's a strong defense commitment by the enemy in the Solomons and New Guinea.

My postponed invasion task forces are unloading at Australian ports. I have shipping at Cooktown now that is unloading troops that were headed to Horn Island. My ships are also spotted at Townsville. This could draw enemy carriers south. Also, I sent 2 small surface groups of a couple of cruisers and destroyers towards Milne Bay and Rossel Island. It may look like I'm coming now. One of these task forces is spotted. It will run south.

I'd like to see KB show itself in this area. My carriers are loitering south of the Solomons waiting to see if anything is coming.

I'm building the dot bases in Australia north of Cairns now. I swept Horn Island from one of these bases the other day.

I am bombing Milne Bay with lots of B-17s today, hitting the airfield, port, and troops. More stuff to look like I'm coming.

I did set up a bunch of fighters and bombers at Lunga for naval attack today, just in case KB comes calling. I have enough fighters on escort duty, if they all fly and coordinate, that I could cause KB some trouble.


(in reply to apbarog)
Post #: 700
RE: See you in Tokyo Bay - Apbarog(A) vs Walker(J) DBB-... - 10/2/2015 11:57:09 PM   
apbarog


Posts: 3769
Joined: 5/23/2002
Status: offline 		12 Nov 42

Northeast of Ontong Java, north of Tulai, US sub Trout finds a big task force with CV Hiryu, BBs Haruna and Kongo, 2 cruisers, a CS, and 6 DDs. The sub lines up Hiryu and gets a torpedo hit! But it's a dud.

This task force shows up in daylight 2 hexes due east of where Trout attacked. Hard to say where this carrier is heading. Either to the Tabiteuea area, or it is swinging around my search coverage at Tulagi. Or it's just patrolling.

US carriers are south of the Solomons refueling from AOs today. They will stay where they are as long as they aren't spotted.

B-17s from Charter Towers bomb Milne Bay. Some hits are achieved on the port, airfield, and the 86 Naval Guard unit that is there.

Recon shows more troops at Port Moresby now. I'm seeing 27800 men/179 guns/46 AFVs. This looks like 2 divisions there now instead of one. Bettys did move here today from Rabaul. My small surface group popping up near Milne Bay got the enemy's attention.

Recon of Buna shows 16800/106/37, about the same as before. Still seeing movement west to Kokoda. I'll be very happy if troops keep going to Port Moresby, as I still want to do my Buna landing.

I begin my sneaky plan of moving troops to Tagula Island, next to Rossel Island, east of Milne Bay. Cats are moving the engineer unit that does have combat value. I have transports dropping supply.

I can officially close the book on the first battle of Tabiteuea. All of my ships are out of the area now. My CVE task force, including 2 moderately damaged CVEs, are refueling from AOs now, and will head to Pearl Harbor on an indirect route.




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Post #: 701
RE: See you in Tokyo Bay - Apbarog(A) vs Walker(J) DBB-... - 10/4/2015 1:45:45 AM   
apbarog


Posts: 3769
Joined: 5/23/2002
Status: offline 		13 Nov 42

Today had a combat report that was completely empty. Very unusual, maybe a first for this game. Notable, though, is the Allies are reconquering Mindanao! Well, not really, but my small infantry unit and base unit fragment that had moved out of the mountains into unoccupied Butuan now both move further northeast into the jungle and conquer the next base. A little bit of supply may have been captured. Fuel remains at Butuan, and Butuan is now unoccupied but still Allied. It could flip back to the enemy at any time.

If I had a sub that could transport troops, I'd get that base unit fragment out, like I wanted to originally. But I didn't convert any of my US sub miners to troop transports, so it's not possible.

I'll just continue to be a nuisance with these units and force the enemy to spend some time cleaning them all out. It is November '42 after all!

The Hiryu task force that was spotted north of the Solomons and eastbound disappeared today. The only spot that I have high sub detection levels today was just north of Buin/Shortlands.


My carriers remain unseen. They will stay where they are until they are spotted, needed for an ambush, or to support the next operation.

And the next operation is a scaled-down version of the New Guinea landings. I will invade Milne Bay and Rossel Island, and possibly Goodenough Island. I will wait on Buna. This will let me keep my carriers south of Milne Bay and a bit further away from danger. Loading for these landings has now started.

(in reply to apbarog)
Post #: 702
RE: See you in Tokyo Bay - Apbarog(A) vs Walker(J) DBB-... - 10/4/2015 7:34:52 PM   
apbarog


Posts: 3769
Joined: 5/23/2002
Status: offline 		14 Nov 42

Ships continue to load for New Guinea. US carriers are still not seen. My troops on Tagula that were flown in on Cats are immediately spotted. Helens from Buna bomb them, doing minor disruption. Lilys are now in the Shortlands area are now doing ASW.

Besides the upcoming landings, I'm now loading a small Aussie AAA unit for Tagula Island.

(in reply to apbarog)
Post #: 703
RE: See you in Tokyo Bay - Apbarog(A) vs Walker(J) DBB-... - 10/5/2015 2:42:34 AM   
apbarog


Posts: 3769
Joined: 5/23/2002
Status: offline 		15 Nov 42

The discovery of Allied troops on Tegula Island has apparently stirred up the hornets nest. Today the part of the 1st Raiding Regiment dropped onto my island, and almost defeated the part of the 2/3rd Pioneer Battalion.

At Buna, a large surface group is spotted, probably lots of cruisers and destroyers.

I decided to commit the Allied carriers, and move them to a point 5 hexes southeast of Tegula Island. This won't stop a night bombardment, but if ships carrying men show up, we'll have some targets. My carriers had not been spotted for about a week, so I may get surprise here.

I continue to tranport more of the 2/3rd Pioneer unit to Tegula. I also start to transport in another small unit from the Solomons on Cats. 2 squadrons of C-47s continue to drop supply. Bombers from Rennel Island will bomb the enemy paratroopers. B-17s from Charter Towers will bomb Milne Bay. B-24's will bomb Torokina. And I start loading an Australian regiment at Sydney for Tegula. It isn't prepped, so it will land only if I still control the island.

My Milne Bay/Rossel Island invasion task forces start to leave port.

There are more enemy planes forward deployed now. Port Moresby shows 66 fighters/33 bombers/15 others, while Buna shows 76 fighters/28 bombers/14 other.

I now see 2 subs at Milne Bay. I'd really like to now what the deal is with the deployment of 2 subs at forward bases. The enemy does this all the time, and the subs stay there for extended periods of time. Maybe it is to help rescue downed pilots. That or just to defend possible invasion targets. Don't know, but I've seen this in many places.

Elsewhere, I just mined the eastern exit of Darwin with a dozen mines. An enemy DMS has already found them. My opponent is very meticulous with this kind of thing. I haven't been lucky at all with offensive mining.

So it looks like we're going to have action off the tip of New Guinea very soon.




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(in reply to apbarog)
Post #: 704
RE: See you in Tokyo Bay - Apbarog(A) vs Walker(J) DBB-... - 10/5/2015 3:30:00 AM   
BBfanboy


Posts: 18046
Joined: 8/4/2010
From: Winnipeg, MB
Status: offline 		Those subs are likely mini-subs on harbour defence duty. Foolish to put a full sized SS in a port in range of LBA.

_____________________________

No matter how bad a situation is, you can always make it worse. - Chris Hadfield : An Astronaut's Guide To Life On Earth

(in reply to apbarog)
Post #: 705
RE: See you in Tokyo Bay - Apbarog(A) vs Walker(J) DBB-... - 10/5/2015 3:56:08 AM   
apbarog


Posts: 3769
Joined: 5/23/2002
Status: offline 		That could be. I don't see the subs actually in the port, just in the hex. Always 2 of them. It's some kind of strategy, that I am sure of.

One oddity. Awhile ago I got SigInt of something way down at the bottom of the map, southwest of Tanzania. Today my search planes at the southern tip of New Zealand spotted "5 ships" at 95, 201, which is at the bottom of the map. I didn't get a task force icon to show here, so this is undoubtedly a sub looking for edge-running task forces (I have none). So my earlier paranoia was justified!

(in reply to apbarog)
Post #: 706
RE: See you in Tokyo Bay - Apbarog(A) vs Walker(J) DBB-... - 10/5/2015 12:30:46 PM   
jwolf

 

Posts: 2493
Joined: 12/3/2013
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: apbarog
Tanzania


Tasmania?

Anxiously awaiting news from the Tagula/Rossel area.

(in reply to apbarog)
Post #: 707
RE: See you in Tokyo Bay - Apbarog(A) vs Walker(J) DBB-... - 10/5/2015 4:48:05 PM   
apbarog


Posts: 3769
Joined: 5/23/2002
Status: offline 		Yes Tasmania. I was only off by a continent. :)
Anxiously awaiting the next turn...or two.

(in reply to apbarog)
Post #: 708
RE: See you in Tokyo Bay - Apbarog(A) vs Walker(J) DBB-... - 10/5/2015 5:23:01 PM   
BBfanboy


Posts: 18046
Joined: 8/4/2010
From: Winnipeg, MB
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: apbarog

Yes Tasmania. I was only off by a continent. :)
Anxiously awaiting the next turn...or two.



And some history - since Tanzania was Tanganyika and Zanzibar back then! (Oh-oh, I think I'm dating myself.)

_____________________________

No matter how bad a situation is, you can always make it worse. - Chris Hadfield : An Astronaut's Guide To Life On Earth

(in reply to apbarog)
Post #: 709
RE: See you in Tokyo Bay - Apbarog(A) vs Walker(J) DBB-... - 10/5/2015 5:50:35 PM   
jwolf

 

Posts: 2493
Joined: 12/3/2013
Status: offline 		It's all part of apbarog's diabolical disinformation plot. The Jap subs will be cruising the East African coast, completely oblivious to major shipping throughout the Pacific.

(in reply to BBfanboy)
Post #: 710
RE: See you in Tokyo Bay - Apbarog(A) vs Walker(J) DBB-... - 10/5/2015 9:37:40 PM   
BBfanboy


Posts: 18046
Joined: 8/4/2010
From: Winnipeg, MB
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: jwolf

It's all part of apbarog's diabolical disinformation plot. The Jap subs will be cruising the East African coast, completely oblivious to major shipping throughout the Pacific.

Why didn't I think of that? Gotta work on my diabolicals ...

_____________________________

No matter how bad a situation is, you can always make it worse. - Chris Hadfield : An Astronaut's Guide To Life On Earth

(in reply to jwolf)
Post #: 711
RE: See you in Tokyo Bay - Apbarog(A) vs Walker(J) DBB-... - 10/5/2015 11:18:19 PM   
apbarog


Posts: 3769
Joined: 5/23/2002
Status: offline 		16 Nov 42

I dropped a few mines between Rabaul and Torokino, on the islands there. They are found today by local minesweepers. No luck again.

Near Tavoy, Dutch sub KXVII finds a big xAK and xAKL task force, but is spotted before firing. The sub is lucky to escape here in the shallow water.

US sub Gurnard is patrolling near Sapporo, but is spotted also before firing, and also escapes undamaged.

12 B-17s bomb Milne Bay's airfield. Moderate damage done. No enemy aircraft there but it is a size 1 airfield.

At Torokino, 36 F4F-4s from Guadalcanal sweep. There don't appear to be any fighters at Torokino itself, but there's plenty at adjacent bases. 45 Zeros and 7 Oscars are on CAP. Losses are 16 Zeros and 3 Oscars for 12 F4F-4. Next B-24s arrive, and do very minor damage after tangling with about 20 fighters. 2 B-24s are ops losses.

At Tagula Island, some B-26s and B-25s bomb the enemy paratroopers. Then it appears that more enemy paratroopers arrive, with another shock attack, but it goes badly for the Japanese, with a 1 to 99 attack. Lack of supply hurt, as did leaders, disruption, and fatigue. I continued to bring in my unit, and started to add a new unit from the Solomons. Both are pioneer engineer units with combat value.

Today I attack at Tagula. I have supply for one attack. An APD will try to fast transport in some supply tonight.

My carriers were spotted 5 hexes southeast of Tagula, and no enemy ships arrived. In fact, today I don't see any ships closer than Rabaul. I do see high detection levels on my subs near Milne Bay, to the northeast. This could be unobserved ships inbound.

I decided to move my carriers southwest, back towards Australia. They will stop just a few hexes from my invasion task forces coming north. It would be nice to disappear for a day but this is not a sure thing, with the Emilys looking for us, as well as the many subs.

(in reply to BBfanboy)
Post #: 712
RE: See you in Tokyo Bay - Apbarog(A) vs Walker(J) DBB-... - 10/6/2015 7:59:46 PM   
apbarog


Posts: 3769
Joined: 5/23/2002
Status: offline 		17 Nov 42

Near Rockhampton, I-22 takes a depth charge from ASW forces. Damage, but not enough to sink it.

Then nearby I-30 finds the task force including BB New Mexico. It fires on DD Sims, and sinks it with one torpedo. The task force looks like a surface group from the combat report. It's actually the big invasion task force for Milne Bay.

North of Japan, SS Gurnard gets a hit on an xAK, but it's another dud. Gurnard is RTB with system damage.

APD Colhoun dropped off some supply at Tagula Island, and got a minor depth charge hit on I-25 on the way home.

Zeros from Buna swept Tagula. Since 4 Tinas were ops losses today, the enemy is surely dropping supply to the isolated paratroopers on Tagula. Or transferring to the area.

My troops on Tagula are bombed by Helens escorted by Nicks from Buna. Minor disruption is done.

Ledo is swept by 23 Tojos. It goes poorly for the Japanese again. Losses are 18 Tojos, while the Allied losses are 4 P66s, 3 P43As, and 2 P40s. Most of the planes lost are Chinese. Only 2 Allied pilots are KIA today on the entire map.

At Tagula, the Allies attack deliberately, getting 14-1 odds. 4 Japanese squads are destroyed with a couple of Allied squads disrupted. I rest today.

At Deboyne Island, which is between Tagula and Milne Bay, I started to fly in a combat unit yesterday. Today I switch to an air support unit. I want to place a few search planes there tomorrow, since the big battle is coming very soon.

I'm bombing Ontong Java, north of Tulagi, as a diversion today.

The invasion task forces move northeast today, splitting up slightly, as they move toward the targets of Milne Bay and Rossel Island.

US subs are highly detected in this area. Petes are spotted near Woodlard Island. Could be from ships, could be from Woodlark Island.

Very high detection levels are seen north of Ontong Java, well north of Guadalcanal. That's where I think KB is right now.




Attachment (1)

(in reply to apbarog)
Post #: 713
RE: See you in Tokyo Bay - Apbarog(A) vs Walker(J) DBB-... - 10/6/2015 9:02:56 PM   
jwolf

 

Posts: 2493
Joined: 12/3/2013
Status: offline 		Looks nice, a lot of fun for the spectators.

OT: Does anyone else try to move the mouse on the maps in these AARs, looking for mouseover text for bases and TFs?

(in reply to apbarog)
Post #: 714
RE: See you in Tokyo Bay - Apbarog(A) vs Walker(J) DBB-... - 10/8/2015 12:35:05 AM   
apbarog


Posts: 3769
Joined: 5/23/2002
Status: offline 		18 Nov 42

Some sub action with my task forces. No torpedo hits, but just minor damage done to the subs. They are everywhere! The enemy knows that I am coming and is throwing as many subs as possible at me. I used one squadron of SBDs for ASW duty and they lit up all the subs shown. I will keep them on ASW today.

The enemy ships northeast of Milne Bay are interesting. I see 4 CAs and 4 DDs, which matches what was used against me so successfully at Tabiteuea. They seem to be just hanging out there waiting for me to make my move. My carriers will move much closer to Milne Bay today, and will be only 5 hexes from the ship's current position. Could they be carriers? Could be, but I doubt it. Being on a dot base would make them fly only 1/2 of their CAP, I think.

Then there are the ships that I see at Rabaul. I'm guessing there's battleships and cruisers, which means maybe carriers too.

There's going to be a fight.

Today I'm bombing Buin with B-24s. Hopefully Buin will be swept first with fighters from Lunga and Tulagi.

And I'm doing a risky operation, sending all of my Australian B-17s to bomb Buna. I'm seeing about 100 fighters there, but I don't think they are all on CAP. Some will be escorting bombers, I think. I will sweep Buna with P-38s from Australia, flying at long range.

CVE Langley is moving up the coast of Australia to escort an invasion task force to Horn Island. The transports are starting to load for this now. With all of the fireworks about to occur to the east, I hope to slip up the coastline and take Horn Island.

I don't have as many fighters in Australia as I would like. The 2 bases in the far northeast of Australia, on the trail road, are now airfield size 2 and 3. I want to start sweeping Horn Island and bombing it after, but I can't strip my base defenses within range of Port Moresby. I'll have fighters up here in a few turns. I won't invade Horn Island until the air operations begin.

If the next turn isn't a disaster, the Milne Bay and Rossel Island invasions could occur the next day.

Of course, if the enemy holds back but looks menacing (like where is KB?) I may not move in to invade immediately, and let my opponent play his hand sending in surface groups or whatever.

We'll see.




Attachment (1)

(in reply to apbarog)
Post #: 715
RE: See you in Tokyo Bay - Apbarog(A) vs Walker(J) DBB-... - 10/8/2015 9:55:42 PM   
apbarog


Posts: 3769
Joined: 5/23/2002
Status: offline 		19 Nov 42

My Rossel Island invasion task force runs over I-25. The destroyers, including Aaron Ward, are very determined, and their attacks go on longer than usual. 2 good hits are achieved on I-25, and the sub is forced to surface. The destroyers are less skilled with the gun action, and the sub fights back, firing 4 or 5 torpedoes at destroyers (fortunately), then the sub sinks.

To say that there are lots of subs in this area is an understatement. I think that every hex is occupied.

Near Umboi Island, Seawolf sights battleships Kirishima and Hiei, a cruiser, and a few destroyers. This is probably part of a bigger task force, and could include carriers. During the night replay, I saw a line of enemy task forces near Umboi and to the east toward Rabaul. Inbound or outbound, I don't know, but inbound is my guess. The surface group that was northeast of Milne Bay yesterday is gone today.

Near Deboyne Island, I-4 gets a torpedo hit on slow-going battleship Mississippi. It doesn't show fires or damage, so I'm hoping that the damage is minor. I won't get my turn until tomorrow. All I got was the replay for tonight.

At Buin, near Shortlands, 18 F4F-4s sweep, finding 35 Oscars and 8 Zeros. The US planes take the worst of the fight. Then 18 F4F-3s sweep, finding 27 Oscars and 5 Zeros, and again, the US plane losses are higher. I figured this might happen, due to the size of my squadrons. But I wanted to soften up the defenses for my bombers, which would arrive unescorted. 26 B-24s arrive. None are reported lost. Airfield damage is low, with 20 runway hits, 1 airbase hit, and 4 supply hits.

I then sweep Buna on New Guinea with P-38Es flying from Australia at long range. Losses appeared to be about even. I estimate about 6 planes downed for each side. Then 66 B-17Es arrive, against about 37 enemy fighters. The combat was short before the bombing, so the warning was probably low. And the fighters didn't perform well. Some or all of the fighters may have been flying out of Port Moresby. In this large first wave, no bombers are reported lost. 19 airbase hits, 11 airbase supply hits, and 49 runway hits are achieved. Only one plane destroyed on the ground, but lots were damaged. There were followup fragment B-17 attacks after this. Results were minimal as were losses.

I make a nuisance bombing of Ontong Java, hitting the 7th Indpt SNLF Coy there, in the clear terrain. 127 casualties reported, with most being destroyed squads. I could bomb this unit out of existence if I wanted to.

Then a large air attack goes after my Milne Bay task forces, including my carriers. 28 Nells attack escorted by 10 A6M2 Zeros and 46 A6M3 Zeros. Planes came from both Port Moresby and Buna. It was nail biting, with the large number of fighter escorts. But my CAP performed well. I put up 27 Fulmars and 108 F4F-4s. All bombers were destroyed before they could attack shipping. I estimate that 15 enemy fighters were lost, and about 10 friendly fighters downed.

Since I won't get the turn until tomorrow, I can't say what I'll do next. I can expect enemy surface ships, probably the big boys, at Milne Bay during the night phase, as it has to be expected that I will land there. The way things have played out so far, I don't expect to see enemy ships in range of my carriers during daylight tomorrow. My opponent just hasn't taken those risks. But carriers could very well show up, and if they do, they will standoff to the north of Milne Bay to hit my invasions shipping, not my carriers. That's my prediction based on previous play by my opponent.

I could back everything off to the south for a turn and see what happens. I could back off my transports and jump forward with my carriers, hoping to find something north. Or I could stick to the plan and invade. Decisions...

(in reply to apbarog)
Post #: 716
RE: See you in Tokyo Bay - Apbarog(A) vs Walker(J) DBB-... - 10/9/2015 2:39:53 AM   
jwolf

 

Posts: 2493
Joined: 12/3/2013
Status: offline 		You've got some real nail biting action, good stuff. Your raid on Buna seems to have worked pretty well, but he presumably has plenty of air from other bases such as Lae and Port Moresby which can cause you some trouble with the landings -- to say nothing of possible surface or carrier threats as you noted. Also at Shortlands even though your B24s didn't land a really crushing blow, the damage to the facilities might be enough to keep damaged enemy fighters from being repaired -- well, that's the optimistic take on the combat results there. I really don't know if it would work like that. I'm anxious to see what happens next. Good luck!

(in reply to apbarog)
Post #: 717
RE: See you in Tokyo Bay - Apbarog(A) vs Walker(J) DBB-... - 10/10/2015 2:19:23 AM   
apbarog


Posts: 3769
Joined: 5/23/2002
Status: offline 		19 Nov 42

The die is cast. This will be one of those very important turns in a long war.

My invasions are on.

Rossel Island will be invaded. My task force movement, along with the fact that we are already engaged on Tagula Island, will hopefully make the enemy think I'm coming there, when I'm really landing on Rossel. There will be no fighter protection for this. I will have a small surface group there for protection. It's a risky move, but it's my more minor objective.

The big move is to Milne Bay. There can be little doubt that I'm coming there. I expect battleships to make a high speed run during the night, then run away. Battleship Mississippi just took a sub torpedo, and will retire south at high speed, hoping to avoid more of that. I'll have a surface group led by another slow battleship, as well as a big cruiser force. I am not bombarding with them. My recon has consistently showed a relatively small force at Milne Bay.

During the night part of the replay, I saw many task forces along the north coast of New Britain. No carriers were spotted, but I have to think that they were there. Battleships and cruisers were spotted by a sub.

I thought long and hard about what I thought the enemy would try. I feel that my opponet will be very careful, and will not risk KB with a bold move. I also feel that KB will be heavily LR CAPPED from land bases. My first thought was that KB would move south and set up adjacent to Buna, using Buna for LR CAP. But yesterday's B-17 strike did a good deal of damage at Buna, and now I'm seeing far fewer planes there.

My guess is that KB will setup to the north by Umboi Island. The hex that I think is likely is circled in orange on the map. This hex is 7 hexes from Milne Bay, which is a safe move for the enemy, and still within range to crush the transports. He has to think that I won't charge north with my carriers, but will stay south of Milne Bay.

I decided to move northwest to the shallows 2 hexes southeast of Port Moresby. This hex is 6 hexes from my guess of where KB will be. I want a carrier battle. The enemy will be ready, but will probably not expect this move. I can hit anything along the eastern New Guinea coast here.

It's just an educated guess. And a risk. But so is anything at this point. Just landing at Milne Bay is a big risk, with surprise lost many turns ago.

If KB stays east, it could be within range of Rossel Island and out of my carriers range. If KB stays north of Woodlark, it could get lucky and be 7 hexes from me.

B-17s will bomb Port Moresby's airfield today, with no sweep or escort. My P38 group lost 12 aircraft and is not combat ready. This unit (with PDU off in our game) upgrades to the P40K, so with no planes as reinforcements, I upgraded the unit. Hopefully it will be defending Milne Bay soon.

B-24s will hit Milne Bay's troops and Rossel Island's troops.

Cats are now at Deboyne Island helping with search.

The Horn Island invasion shipping is hugging the Australian coast as it goes north. Langley and a dozen fighters will CAP. Bombers will start to hit Horn Island tomorrow.

I'm invading Goodenough Island also. The odds of this actually happening are small. I'm using 3 APDs and a tiny unit. I believe that Goodenough is occupied. I half expect the APDs to run into enemy ships coming south to Milne Bay. If that happens, that is ok too. It will use up their ammo and may send them back home afterwards, depending on their task force settings.

Air losses yesterday from the attack on my carrier task force and my sweeping and bombing of Buna and Buin were:

29 Nells
24 A6M3 Zeros
15 A6M2 Zeros
5 Oscars

I lost:
14 F4F-4s
12 P38Es
8 F4F-3s
5 Fulmars
2 B17s

I lost 13 KIA. This was a good performance, I think. No Nells got to the ships, and Buna was moderately damaged, forcing most of the planes out today.

So, here we go. Anything can happen.





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(in reply to apbarog)
Post #: 718
RE: See you in Tokyo Bay - Apbarog(A) vs Walker(J) DBB-... - 10/10/2015 3:48:21 AM   
jwolf

 

Posts: 2493
Joined: 12/3/2013
Status: offline 		Love the map, really great job showing where everything is (or where you think it is ) and your planned moves and landings. Won't the Rossel TF be at risk from air attack from the Solomons? Where is your Horn Island group now? I can't tell where they are on the map (or maybe they're too far south to show). I would be really nervous about all those Jap subs; hope your ASW is in top form.

(in reply to apbarog)
Post #: 719
RE: See you in Tokyo Bay - Apbarog(A) vs Walker(J) DBB-... - 10/10/2015 3:55:51 AM   
apbarog


Posts: 3769
Joined: 5/23/2002
Status: offline 		Thanks jwolf. Yes, the Rossel task forces will be at risk of air attack. I did bomb Buin, but damage was not great. For that matter, Shortlands and Torokino could have bombers. Rabaul too. So yes, it's a lot of risk, but I couldn't protect everything without putting my carriers in a position between Milne Bay and Rossel Island, and that would be just too predictable. And my carriers would have less CAP for themselves. I decided to take the most risk with my lesser objective.

The Japs subs are excellent. Some of my destroyers have pretty good ASW, but often the ASW kicks in after the damage is done to my ships. I don't expect as much enemy sub activity where my carriers are now headed, for one turn anyhow. My slow battleships are just so vulnerable though.

I fear Japanese battleships and cruisers more than anything else for my landings. They could run in, hit me, and run out at full speed and avoid any air activity. For this reason, it's possible that KB doesn't show up even if it is very close. Why risk it if my opponent thinks the land based planes can do the job. Just a thought though. I honestly think everything is coming. Will be very interesting tomorrow.

(in reply to jwolf)
Post #: 720
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