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-... - 1/1/2016 4:21:10 AM

apbarog

Posts: 3769
Joined: 5/23/2002
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25 Jan 43

The only combat today was at Little Andaman Island. I sent a squadron of Liberator IIs to see what ground unit is there. 12 Nicks were on ranged CAP from Port Blair, and 4 bombers were lost. The ground unit there is the 8th JNAF Company. Just prodding a little here, showing renewed interest in something that I'm not interested in.

Great news about destroyer O'Brien. It repaired some of its flotation damage at Nauru, and is now most of the way to Ndeni. It's going to survive! (as long as a sub doesn't fine it)

Big news coming.... "soon".

(in reply to apbarog)

Post #: 901

RE: See you in Tokyo Bay - Apbarog(A) vs Walker(J) DBB-... - 1/2/2016 1:16:55 AM

apbarog

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26 Jan 43

The only activity today is at Rossel Island. The Tojo and Zero sweepers that swept Tagula Island clean recently arrived at Rossel today. Knowing that I had just one squadron there, and that the result would be the same, I sat my planes on the ground, and the sweepers found nothing flying. A Tojo was lost to an ops loss. Victory! :)

Rossel or Tagula may get bombed next. I move my remaining fighters on those islands to Milne Bay, loading it up even more.

One very interesting piece of SigInt today:

33 Infantry Regiment is planning an attack at Milne Bay

This unit was not one of the original defenders of Milne Bay. I have a US Infantry Division and 2 Australian Brigades defending, with lots of support and forts built. The enemy does have many divisions in the area, so I can't rule out a possible invasion, but it just doesn't make sense to me. The time to counter-invade was just after I took the base, and had little air capability in the area. A landing could certainly take place, with KB always nearby, and plenty of enemy aircraft in the area. I just don't think that I could lose the base.

I'd welcome the attempt, actually. It would help out my future plans.

I have enough Marine Corsairs now that I could fill out an 18 aircraft squadron, but I want a bigger unit. I need these planes to counter the Tojo threat.

(in reply to apbarog)

Post #: 902

RE: See you in Tokyo Bay - Apbarog(A) vs Walker(J) DBB-... - 1/3/2016 12:38:27 AM

apbarog

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27 Jan 43

On the way to islands near Milne Bay, I-30 spots one of my fast transport APD task forces, and torpedoes APD Kilty. It was carrying troops, part of an engineering unit.

I'm seeing unusual activity in the Solomons today. There's a task force north of the Solomons. I'm seeing a couple of cruisers and a couple of destroyers. Rekata Bay just became a size 1 port and airfield, so this task force didn't arrive there intending to bombard that (probably). But it could be coming. My guess is Ontong Java though. Easy target, clear terrain. I'm sending a cruiser task force to Ontong Java at full speed, hoping to catch a bombardment task force. It will have to move a full 9 hexes though, and the enemy could bombard and be gone before it arrives. Hoping for some action.

There's an interesting task force on the coast northeast of Torokino. I'm seeing a bunch of CSs, and nothing else, so that is very bad intel. I don't know what this task force is yet. There's something up here, I'll find out soon what it is.

KB moved out of Rabaul to its favorite spot, one hex southeast of Rabaul.

Attachment (1)

(in reply to apbarog)

Post #: 903

RE: See you in Tokyo Bay - Apbarog(A) vs Walker(J) DBB-... - 1/3/2016 1:02:39 AM

apbarog

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27 Jan 43

It's time for a big picture update.

Things have been very concentrated in the Solomons for quite awhile. Burma has gone completely static with no acitivity. China has been the same for much longer. The Aleutians have been quiet for months, other than my occasional tracking down of a sub near Adak Island. I recently bombarded Cocos Island in the Indian Ocean just to stir things up a bit on that side of the map, but I have nothing real going on there.

It's been all in the Solomons. The Japanese are very heavily committed to defending New Guinea with big bases at Port Moresby, Buna, and Lae. Rabaul is huge. Torokino, Buin, and Shortlands are big, and form a tough defensive hub, with many fighters overlapping coverage at each.

I've taken Nauru and Ocean Island, and I think that this was a bit of a surprise. Since then, I have no doubt that Kusaie and Ponape Islands to the north have been reinforced. My success here has partially cut off the Tarawa area down to Tabiteuea. For anything to come from Rabaul or Truk to there, it has to stay north of Nauru and Ocean before swinging south to Tarawa and Tabiteuea. And KB continues to stay at or very near Rabaul.

As for troop dispositions, I'm seeing the equivalents of 2 divisions at Port Moresby, 1.5 divisions at Buna, 2 divisions at Lae, 2 or 3 divisions at Rabaul, and parts of divisions at Torokino, Buin, and Shortlands. We're contested at Munda, with both sides having about a regiment there. The aircraft commitment to the area by the enemy is huge, with Lae and Rabaul having over 100 fighters all the time. The 3 base area of Torokino, Buin, and Shortlands has 120 to 150 fighters. The bombers are generally being held to the rear, and rarely used. There's some at Lae though.

Time to spill the beans on what I've been doing behind the scenes. Before my victory at Diamond Harbour, there was a brief period of time where it looked like an enemy offensive through Burma into India was possible. When I captured Diamond Harbour, however, I destroyed 2 enemy infantry divisions, and a bunch of my troops became available for line duty in India near Burma.

The Burma area then went quiet. I was then detecting troops being withdrawn from Akyab, mostly ones that had gone there evacuating from Diamond Harbour. I figured that it was time to do something with available troops in India. I decided to send all that I could to Australia. The following troops were loaded in 3 large task forces:

US 43 Infantry Division (had gone to Capetown but wasn't needed in India after all)
US 147th Infantry Regiment
US 24th Infantry Regiment
Australian 17th Brigade
British 18th Division
British 2nd Division
Indian 111 LRP Brigade (big para unit)
Indian 77 LRP Brigade (another big para unit)

Around 10 other units were sent, a combination of base units, artillery, AAA, and coastal guns. I didn't send any engineers, as they are becoming plentiful everywhere.

The US 43rd Infantry Division arrived about a week ago, and is at its jumping off base for its next assignment. All of the other units just arrived in Australia.

In addition, I have 3 big air transport units on ships, and 2 P-38 units, all arriving in Australia soon. The air transport units each have 25 C-47s. With no activity in China for so long, I stabilized the supply situation with fewer air transports. These C-47s will really help with my para plans.

Some British combat ships made the trip with my convoys. I didn't bring any that had withdrawl dates in the near future. Battleship Valiant was one of the ships that bombarded Cocos, and it withdrew today.

That explains how I'm loading up Australia. My next post will detail what these troops will be doing, as well as what most of the US troops will be doing. (Where are those US Marines, after all? ) :)

(in reply to apbarog)

Post #: 904

RE: See you in Tokyo Bay - Apbarog(A) vs Walker(J) DBB-... - 1/3/2016 1:29:58 AM

apbarog

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27 Jan 43

Now what to do.

The enemy is very heavily committed to stopping my advances in New Guinea and the Solomons. This is logical. Slow the advance, use good terrain, make each move costly, and do it as far away from the home islands as possible.

I realized that I really needed to expand the conflict to other areas. With KB just sitting at Rabaul, I can't do a whole lot where I am until my bases are big and I can use a lot of heavy bombers. The enemy is about as strong here as is possible, on the ground, on the seas, and in the air.

I then went for Nauru and Ocean, and was successful. I think this is forcing defensive moves north of Nauru, and in the Kwajalein area, but it hasn't changed the situation that KB is staying at Rabaul.

What have I been preparing?

For a long time, I've had major preparations for Port Moresby, Buna, the dot base next to Buna, Lae, the dot base next to Lae, the inland dot bases between Buna and Port Moresby, and Terapo, the base northwest of Port Moresby. My plan was to first land at Buna, drop paras on the inland bases, take Terapo, and isolate Port Moresby. With so many enemy troops on New Guinea, I thought that this is a great opportunity to isolate a bunch of them.

But KB just refused to leave the area. Landing at Buna would be very difficult, even without KB here. I'd have to contend with combat ships only one day away, not to mention the whole enemy bomber force with hundreds of fighters.

So I've waited, and I continue to wait until my bases are bigger. My plans are still active. My troops are all ready, and the ships are in place for the first phase of this activity. I've prepped the following(many support units are also prepped for each):

Port Moresby:
1st Marine Division
24th Infantry Division

Buna:
43rd Infantry Division
2nd Marine Division
3rd Marine Division

Lae:
Americal Division
37th Infantry Division

But other plans have been devised.

Tabiteuea is next on my list. Carrier Lexington and 6 CVEs will support the invasion, with all of the same ground units that were supposed to invade the first time, plus an additional infantry regiment, just in case. Lexington has a few more days of repair at Pearl Harbor, then it moves to the front.

What about those Brit divisions arriving in Australia? I will be splitting the 2 divisions up and using the parts to garrison US bases behind the lines. This will free up 2 US divisions for action, and also keep the Brit redeployment secret. I'll use the Brits eventually, but the US pools are much deeper. No reason to throw the Brits in right now, given my options.

So what does my Indian redeployment allow?

I'm going to reinvade Horn Island, combined with an immediate invasion of Merauke and the dot bases between Darwin and Normanton. With success, followup invasions will go further north, staying east of Darwin. The big Indian para units will be used here. If I can get footholds on the islands between New Guinea and Timor, I'll have a big breakthrough. This would be a dire threat to the enemy. Just taking Merauke would be, as it points to a quick advance up the western coast of New Guinea. The enemy will respond forcefully and quickly, no doubt. But the dilemma will be what to do with KB. It can't be on the west coast of New Guinea and the east coast at the same time.

I do have a fear that KB could rush south from Rabaul, past Milne Bay, and come up behind all of this activity at Horn Island and beyond. I have to be prepared for that.

I think that this will pose a difficult problem for my opponent. If he redeploys enough to counter my western New Guinea move, I may get the opportunity to hit Buna. So many enemy troops on the eastern coast of New Guinea, and if I land in great force, I can't see how most of the enemy could get out.

To be determined are things like, do I wait for Lexington and the 6 CVEs for the Horn Island push? If I do, do I keep them with my other carriers, or protect my flank. There's still some time to sort things out, so we'll see. The war has been fairly quiet lately, but as you see, a storm is brewing.

(in reply to apbarog)

Post #: 905

RE: See you in Tokyo Bay - Apbarog(A) vs Walker(J) DBB-... - 1/3/2016 3:08:35 AM

jwolf

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Thanks for a look "behind the curtain" as it were. How long will it be until your carriers get the better Hellcat fighters, and can you wait that long?

(in reply to apbarog)

Post #: 906

RE: See you in Tokyo Bay - Apbarog(A) vs Walker(J) DBB-... - 1/3/2016 3:54:07 AM

apbarog

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I certainly could wait for the Hellcats. They start to arrive in April '43, and in large numbers, with 130 per month. But I'm not going to wait that long. I will try to keep my carriers in positions that I will at least have an even fight with KB. I'll trade carrier losses if I have to in order to break through the west side of New Guinea. Plus, I refuse to just sit and wait. I sense an opportunity that targets beyond Merauke are not defended heavily, if at all. They certainly aren't defended like the ring of bases from Port Moresby to Shortlands.

Could I be wrong? Sure. I may get intel that my assumptions were wrong, and that would change everything. But I'd really like to make a massive set of landings on New Guinea and kill off a number of those enemy divisions. But the appearance of me avoiding his strength and going around may turn into the real thing, and west of New Guinea could become the major axis of advance. It is potentially a more direct thrust toward the oil production.

(in reply to jwolf)

Post #: 907

RE: See you in Tokyo Bay - Apbarog(A) vs Walker(J) DBB-... - 1/3/2016 8:32:06 PM

apbarog

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28 Jan 43

Sub Harder, on a new patrol well to the northwest of Truk, spots an convoy and targets xAK Kinkasan Maru. Two torpedoes hit, but one is a dud. No troops, damage, or fire is reported.

At night, I ran in a cruiser force to Ontong Java, hoping to catch a bombardment force, but it didn't show. There's more shipping at Buin now, more than just small cargo ships. Something is in the works here, I just don't know what. I send my small cruiser force to Sydney to repair from the high speed runs.

I try a sweep of Buna from Milne Bay. A squadron of P-40Ks sweep first, finding the usual ranged CAP from Lae, Oscars and Zeros. More enemy losses than friendly. Then my P-39 sweep goes in, and does poortly. Overall, losses are 10 Oscars and 3 Zeros, while I lose 8 P-39s and 6 P-40Ks.

(in reply to apbarog)

Post #: 908

RE: See you in Tokyo Bay - Apbarog(A) vs Walker(J) DBB-... - 1/5/2016 12:03:48 AM

apbarog

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29 Jan 43

The two combat events today were my APD depthcharging I-32 and 3 of my subchasers hitting (reportedly) the same I-32. 2 good hits were reported by the APD, but no sinking was seen.

Lexington needs just 2 days of repair at Pearl Harbor. Then it moves to the Tabiteuea invasion area. Parts of the infantry division tasked with Merauke need about a week to arrive in Australia, rest, and load up. That move will be combined with taking Horn Island.

KB is still at Rabaul. 2 CVLs are spotted disbanded at Truk. Mini-KB was seen here last.

Today I bomb Horn Island and Port Moresby some, while doing recon of Terapo for the first time.

(in reply to apbarog)

Post #: 909

RE: See you in Tokyo Bay - Apbarog(A) vs Walker(J) DBB-... - 1/5/2016 8:20:39 PM

apbarog

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30 Jan 43

Sub Saury hit a mine transiting through Banjoewangi, on the eastern tip of Java. Damage is moderate and the sub will survive. It was just arriving on station off of Soerbaja. Now it starts the long trip to Perth.

2 squadrons of B-17s hit Port Moresby's airfield. Damage is moderate to heavy. No CAP is seen.

Some B-25s and B-26s hit Horn Island's port. 20 port hits are seen. I've seen multiple subs at Horn. Maybe supply coming in, or troops going out.

Task forces for Horn Island will start loading in 3 or 4 days, once the rest of the US infantry division gets unloaded and merged at Townsville. Carriers and combat ships wait at Rockhampton.

KB is still at Rabaul.

(in reply to apbarog)

Post #: 910

RE: See you in Tokyo Bay - Apbarog(A) vs Walker(J) DBB-... - 1/6/2016 10:00:58 PM

apbarog

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31 Jan 43

APD Parrott gets a depth charge hit on I-9 northwest of Perth. Parrott had transported in a tiny fragment of an Indian para unit that had gotten left at Diego Garcia when a couple of ships collided and had to return to port. I have almost nothing going on at Perth, so I don't mind showing a little of activity, and an APD is a bit more interesting to see.

I send some B-25s and B-26s to Port Moresby, and they do moderate damage on the airfield. No CAP.

Today I sweep Buna with P-40Ks and F4F-4s from Milne Bay. I also order a maximum effort of B-17s to hit Buna's airfield. The airfield is almost fully repaired, so it's time.

Carrier Lexington, fully repaired, heads out of Pearl Harbor with 6 CVEs, bound for Christmas Island. It will support the Tabiteuea invasion.

Preparations continue in Australia for the Horn Island invasion. One of the Brit divisions is about 70 prep for Merauke, so I may use it also, and make Merauke a 2 division landing, ensuring success. The Brit division will then go to garrisoning Tulagi, Ndeni, and Rossel Island.

(in reply to apbarog)

Post #: 911

RE: See you in Tokyo Bay - Apbarog(A) vs Walker(J) DBB-... - 1/7/2016 11:48:49 PM

apbarog

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1 Feb 43

Sub Tarpon finds a tanker convoy northeast of Sorong. 2 torpedoes are fired but a tanker was not hit.

At Buna, I sweep with F4F-4s, bomb with all of my B-17s, and sweep with P40Ks. For the first time, there was no CAP here. Tbe bombers do an excellent job of damaging the airfield. I wonder why the ranged CAP from Lae was not here today. I do note about 40 fighters at Truk now, when there was almost none for the past few days.

Troops for Merauke are now coming out of Strat mode at Townsville. Then the fragments will combine into the division. The reinforcement Brit division is on the way by rail, but will take awhile to arrive. I may or may not wait for it.

It will be about 4 days for Lexington and CVEs to arrive at Christmas Island. Then troops for Tabiteuea will begin to load.

I can't say for sure which invasion will occur first. They will be independent and go when each is ready.

(in reply to apbarog)

Post #: 912

RE: See you in Tokyo Bay - Apbarog(A) vs Walker(J) DBB-... - 1/9/2016 1:07:48 AM

apbarog

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2 Feb 43

Absolutely no action today. Nothing.

KB is sitting one hex southeast of Rabaul, as usual.

In less than a week, loading for Horn Island can begin. I will combine this landing with a landing at Merauke. The question is whether to go big and also go straight for the Taberfane area. This area is probably weakly held, but is being reinforced. I just got SigInt for Taberfane saying that the 25th Ind Engineer Regiment is at Taberfane.

Horn Island should be fairly easy to take. Merauke should also fall, although the terrain is not clear and there are more units here. I'm prepping plenty for Merauke. Going further is tempting because I think it is an opportunity to break through the shell defense and jump north. I'd love to take Taberfane and Dobo and then dig in and build, like what I did at Guadalcanal.

The big risk is KB. If I send my carriers past Horn Island to the north, KB could come south from Rabaul, round Milne Bay, and try to block the straits at Horn Island, maybe by hugging Port Moresby. I'd rather see KB go up and around New Guinea, giving me a few days to do what I need to do.

I have the troops ready for a big jump. I am going to continue preparations as if I am going to do this.

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Post #: 913

RE: See you in Tokyo Bay - Apbarog(A) vs Walker(J) DBB-... - 1/9/2016 1:32:04 AM

jwolf

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It looks to me that any shipping you send NW of Horn Island will be trapped and in range of Japanese air attacks from Darwin, Koepang, and/or Ambon. Maybe even Babeldaob too. I can't imagine how an invasion of Taberfane would succeed. What am I missing?

(in reply to apbarog)

Post #: 914

RE: See you in Tokyo Bay - Apbarog(A) vs Walker(J) DBB-... - 1/9/2016 1:41:06 AM

apbarog

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There would be some threat of Bettys/Nells. Using 5 big carriers, I think I'd be ok. This all assumes that KB is over by Rabaul. Darwin would be a threat to shipping after my carriers leave, but I have a division prepping for it too.

It's the possible trapping move by KB that worries me.

This area tempts me because of how much the enemy has committed to eastern New Guinea and the northern Solomons.

But if KB came around northern New Guinea to get to Taberfane, I would probably launch my Buna invasion. KB can't be in two places at once. I'm prepped for all of these options.

(in reply to jwolf)

Post #: 915

RE: See you in Tokyo Bay - Apbarog(A) vs Walker(J) DBB-... - 1/9/2016 1:47:54 AM

Mike McCreery

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I did this in my first campaign against NJP and took the 3 islands within a few short weeks. It was spectacular as he was not prepared up north although I later stalled the campaign because I had not prepared a follow through to the penetration.

Your enemy has to worry about the KB getting trapped and subs when it tries to navigate the strait which would now be controlled by you and an awesome place for mines and subs.

_____________________________

(in reply to apbarog)

Post #: 916

RE: See you in Tokyo Bay - Apbarog(A) vs Walker(J) DBB-... - 1/9/2016 5:03:14 AM

BBfanboy

Posts: 18046
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With an eight hex strike range KB can cover out to Merauke while staying in the deep water SE of Torres Strait. Do you have enough LBA to threaten it there?
KB can also strike Horn Is. and Merauke from the E side of NG. You would have to split your CAP between covering the invasions and covering your CVs against 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 Mike McCreery)

Post #: 917

RE: See you in Tokyo Bay - Apbarog(A) vs Walker(J) DBB-... - 1/9/2016 5:47:15 AM

apbarog

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My bases near Horn are large now, and I have lots of naval bombers available. I plan on doing some LRCAP from there over Horn also. I have a multi-sub mining group near Milne Bay, waiting to mine that hex on the eastern coast of New Guinea, where I fully expect KB to go when I go to Horn. It went there when I tried Horn the first time.

My plan for Merauke is to keep my Merauke invasion ships with my carriers near Horn, when I land at Horn first, then continue on to Merauke quickly. My carriers would then cover only Merauke, with land-based LRCAP covering Horn, which hopefully goes quickly so I can leave quickly.

If I decide to go for Taberfane immediately, I may have those invasion ships come along also.

I'm also hitting the dot bases on the Australian coast, northwest of Normanton and southeast of Darwin. Two are still mine but empty, one was recently taken by a small enemy unit, and I think is being used as a search base.

(in reply to BBfanboy)

Post #: 918

RE: See you in Tokyo Bay - Apbarog(A) vs Walker(J) DBB-... - 1/9/2016 2:05:05 PM

BBfanboy

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Looks like you have the bases covered.
Only one thing for me to do ....

_____________________________

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 #: 919

RE: See you in Tokyo Bay - Apbarog(A) vs Walker(J) DBB-... - 1/9/2016 9:26:02 PM

apbarog

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I'm 100% sure that I have everything covered...unless the enemy does something. :)

(in reply to BBfanboy)

Post #: 920

RE: See you in Tokyo Bay - Apbarog(A) vs Walker(J) DBB-... - 1/10/2016 12:33:53 AM

apbarog

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3 Feb 43

No official combat today. Sub Scamp did get hit by a bomb today near Majuro, but the sub will make it to port with just moderate damage.

Just a day or two and I should start to load for Horn Island.
My first Marine F4U Corsair unit is filling out in Australia now. It will lead the sweeps of Merauke when it comes time. Showing 38 fighters there now, an increase.

(in reply to apbarog)

Post #: 921

RE: See you in Tokyo Bay - Apbarog(A) vs Walker(J) DBB-... - 1/10/2016 10:28:07 PM

apbarog

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4 Feb 43

No combat again.

Ships for the invasion of Tabiteuea begin to load. Recon shows just one unit there. I think that the base is being used for search and isn't defended well. Tarawa, on the other hand, has been reinforced and appears more defended. I will take Tabiteuea and surrounding dot bases (some of which are still allied), and build up. This isn't a primary route of advance.

Interesting to see a task force of 4 enemy subs at Port Moresby. Could be mining, delivering supply, or taking troops off.

Loading for Horn Island is still a few days away. Waiting for the Brit division to make it to Townsville, then switch to combat mode.

I will be loading a huge number of ships for Buna then also, but that invasion is probably only going to occur if KB goes north around New Guinea to counter Merauke and Taberfane. I do note that KB has disappeared for two days now. I saw something leave Rabaul and head ENE, but that was unidentified. I see task forces at Rabaul now, fewer than before, and with compositions that are obviously wrong.

So, action is coming, just a little longer to wait and prepare.

(in reply to apbarog)

Post #: 922

RE: See you in Tokyo Bay - Apbarog(A) vs Walker(J) DBB-... - 1/11/2016 9:05:58 PM

apbarog

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5 Feb 43

A dozen B-25s forward deployed to Nauru and hit Tarawa's port, but a unit of Rufes are on CAP and 3 bombers are shot down. 1 Rufe is lost. The port is not hit.

Loading continues at Pago Pago and Christmas Island for Tabiteuea. The fleets leave tomorrow.

The Brit division will arrive at Townsville tomorrow, then change to combat mode. Then I'll load up for Horn Island, Merauke, and maybe beyond. I will load up for Buna simultaneously, ready to hit if KB goes away.

Speaking of which, it's now 3 days since I'd seen KB at Rabaul. I do have heavy detection levels on my subs northwest and southwest of Ponape. I suspect that KB is out that way, but it's just an educated guess.

A Dutch combat task force is moving to Perth. Perth is constantly watched by a Glen sub, so it will be spotted, which is my plan. I may have designs on Port Headland but this is way down on the priority list. I want to show activity here also.

3 C47 units, with 25 planes each, arrived in Australia from India and have since railed to the east coast, where they are repairing. Should I get a breakout past Merauke, these planes will be dropping lots of paras with that breakout.

3 Brit battleships and support also made the trip from India, and are on the east coast of Australia awaiting the coming battle. I don't want to lose more slow battleships, but I'll need everything I've got if I start landing in the Buna/Port Moresby area.

(in reply to apbarog)

Post #: 923

RE: See you in Tokyo Bay - Apbarog(A) vs Walker(J) DBB-... - 1/12/2016 6:42:13 PM

apbarog

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6 Feb 43

I applied maximum effort today at Buna, sweeping with P-40Ks and bombing with all of my Australian B-17s. No ranged CAP from Lae, twice now. Bombing results were good.

A token raid of 12 B-25s hit Port Moresby, finding no CAP, and doing some damage there.

12 B-26s bomb the troops on Horn Island, causing almost 200 casualties. I do this very rarely as both me and my opponent don't like destroying units outright by bombing on clear terrain. I will bomb again when I actually invade. I wanted to see what units are still there today.

12 B-17s in the Solomons bomb troops on Woodlark Island. Almost no casualties caused in the jungle terrain. 21 Division/B is there, along with the 6th Indpt Coy. I want to show interest here but I'm not counter-counter-invading. I'll bomb and starve them out, eventually, or he'll pull out the troops. It's just another island and not worth countering 1/3 of a division in jungle terrain.

Near Manado, sub Tarpon spots a tanker group, fires on a patrol boat, and misses. I've been using Ndeni and Townsville as sub bases. I have sub patrols from there all the way up toward Mindanao. From Midway, I have a few subs south of the Japanese home islands. But with the long transit, there stay is short. Besides hopefully sinking a few things, I'm trying to show my subs everywhere I can, and force the enemy task forces to be escorted. And they have been, from what I've seen.

Ships start to head toward Tabiteuea. I made a mistake with my planning here, and neglected having sufficient combat ships for protection and bombardment. I now have a few cruisers and destroyers on the way from Australia, doing full speed runs to get to the area. I'll take some damage but I need a few combat ships.

KB is still missing. High detection levels are now between Ponape and Enewetok. Maybe KB?

The Brit division arrives at Townsville, and starts 3 days of switching to combat mode. Then we start loading for Horn Island and Merauke. And beyond.

(in reply to apbarog)

Post #: 924

RE: See you in Tokyo Bay - Apbarog(A) vs Walker(J) DBB-... - 1/12/2016 6:50:41 PM

jwolf

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

ORIGINAL: apbarog
...sub Tarpon spots a tanker group, fires on a patrol boat, and misses.

/headdesk That's got to be really frustrating, all the more so now that your torpedoes actually more or less work.

(in reply to apbarog)

Post #: 925

RE: See you in Tokyo Bay - Apbarog(A) vs Walker(J) DBB-... - 1/13/2016 7:33:00 PM

apbarog

Posts: 3769
Joined: 5/23/2002
Status: offline

January 1943 brought a slight increase to torpedo effectiveness. The large increase will be in October 1943.

7 Feb 43

No combat today.

Ships from Christmas Island and Pago Pago are heading to a rendezvous point southeast of Tabiteuea. CV Lexington and 6 CVEs are providing air cover. Not spotted so far, but Baker Island is starting to get some search attention. I have a couple of xAKs there unloading. I did have an AS at Baker for sub support, but there's a high detection level northwest of Baker, so I'm evacuating the port for now. I'm not using Baker for the Tabiteuea invasion, but KB has been missing for almost a week now. High detection remains up by Ponape also.

2 days more for the Brit division at Townsville to get into combat mode. Then the Horn Island and Merauke troops start loading up.

(in reply to jwolf)

Post #: 926

RE: See you in Tokyo Bay - Apbarog(A) vs Walker(J) DBB-... - 1/14/2016 8:55:25 PM

apbarog

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8 Feb 43

Ships for Tabiteuea are gathering mid-ocean. Will be a few days until the reserve regiment arrives from Christmas. By then the combat ships from Australia will have arrived. It is worth noting that I see a surface group at Mili. I see 5 ships, spotting a CA and 2 DDs. My guess is that this is the area rapid reaction force, maybe the same one that decimated my first Tabiteuea invasion. I'm doing more recon to see what I can see.

Also, I did get the heavy activity SigInt at Ponape. This could be where KB is now. It would confirm the heavy detection levels I'm seeing around Ponape.

The Brit division at Townsville comes out of Strat mode tomorrow, so loading will begin for Horn Island and Merauke.

Townsville did get a high detection level today, and not from recon. I have many ships in port here, lots of transports, and some combat ships. The loading begins tomorrow, as I said, so today I formed up a bunch of task forces just to get them out of the port. None of my already formed task forces were spotted at Townsville, just the base itself.

At Munda, I'm still seeing a slow but steady increase in enemy troop levels, now approaching 6000 men.

And I have noticed a moderate decrease in the numbers of fighters at New Guinea and Solomons bases. There's still a lot here, but at least a couple of squadrons worth are missing. Truk is now defended with fighters, so that explains at least part of that.

So we wait for tomorrow.

(in reply to apbarog)

Post #: 927

RE: See you in Tokyo Bay - Apbarog(A) vs Walker(J) DBB-... - 1/14/2016 11:32:26 PM

jwolf

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Joined: 12/3/2013
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Is it possible he pulled some air groups back to Truk in order to upgrade them?

Looking forward to the next op.

(in reply to apbarog)

Post #: 928

RE: See you in Tokyo Bay - Apbarog(A) vs Walker(J) DBB-... - 1/16/2016 2:31:09 AM

apbarog

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I do think fighters got pulled back to Truk, but to protect the base, not to upgrade. There had been almost no fighter cover there until I started long range recon of the base.

9 Feb 43

No combat today. My ships are still gathering south of Tabiteuea, unspotted, best I can tell. It will be a couple of days more until they start the run to invade.

On the Australian east coast, many ships start to load troops for Horn Island, Merauke, and the islands on the Australian coast southeast of Darwin. There's more ships at Townsville loading than can dock, so it will take a few days to load up everything.

I once again get the heavy activity SigInt for Ponape Island. My recon didn't see ships, but I continue to look.

Things are going to get really interesting in a few days. Sorry for the recent apparent slow pace to the war, but it does take some time to get everything positioned. Waiting for the Brit divisions will help me push things further past Merauke, potentially.

(in reply to jwolf)

Post #: 929

RE: See you in Tokyo Bay - Apbarog(A) vs Walker(J) DBB-... - 1/16/2016 8:39:34 PM

apbarog

Posts: 3769
Joined: 5/23/2002
Status: offline

10 Feb 43

Some sub activity today. S-36 finds a cargo task force near Victoria Point, fires on a patrol boat, and misses. A few hexes east south-east of Truk, Wahoo finds a bunch of xAKs, fires on one, but misses. And the most interesting combat was just a few hexes south of Japan, southwest of Kobe. Pompon finds a surface group with BB Kongo, 6 CA/CLs, a CS, and 7 DDs. There's a decent chance that this is really a carrier task force. I don't know if it is inbound or outbound from Japan (guessing inbound), but it's a huge piece of intel that a significant task force is not near Rabaul, or near New Guinea, or Tabiteuea. Maybe the enemy finally pulled back some ships for upgrades?

Lots of my shipping leaves Townsville and Rockhampton today, headed north toward Horn Island. Invasion shipping for Merauke is with them. Carriers leave Rockhampton and will catch up.

In a couple of days, all ships for Tabiteuea will be gathered and will start the route direct to the invasion.

It looks like my invasions will occur at or near the same time. Wasn't really part of the plan but I'm ok with that.

I'll start providing some detailed maps tomorrow, as my ships approach their targets.

(in reply to apbarog)

Post #: 930

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