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USSAmerica -> RE: THREAD War: Mike & Mike - Mike Solli (J) vs. USS America (A) (7/5/2019 7:23:13 PM)
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DEC 24-25, 1941
A few things of note this turn and one that could have been much more significant.
Off Mersing, a flight of Hudsons scored a single bomb hit each on 2 xAP's. Each was left on fire, but no troops were reported lost, so they were likely empty. Maybe I'll get lucky and they will burn up.
Last turn I spotted a small, 2 ship TF between Boela and Babo. It had at least 1 xAK and was headed SE. I suspected Mike might be trying to sneak a small force into the area to grab either Dobo or Merauke on the cheap. He had a devil of a time with trying and failing to take Merauke in his game with Ted, so it was the more likely target. I cobbled together the only force I had within reach, 3 PG's from Darwin, and sent them to try to intercept. Their max speed was only 3 hexes, so they might not be fast enough to catch the enemy, even if they crossed paths. Well, I did catch them, about 6 hexes NW of Merauke. A single xAK was escorted by a DD. I initially thought I was in trouble with the DD there against my PG's, until I realized I still had him outgunned by a significant margin. PG's Asheville, Tulsa, and Soerabaja essentially ignored DD Kamikaze and scored 7 shell hits on the xAK, leaving it burning heavily with troops reported in the water. I suspect the xAK will sink before Mike can put the surviving troops ashore anywhere, but there is nothing on the sunk ships list yet after the turn. I think this was the first time I've successfully engaged and defeated the enemy with PG's. [8D]
One ship in total did end up on the sunk ships list after last turn. Poor little AMc Gale was patrolling the harbor of Suva when a few raiding Zeros and Vals dove on her and turned her into toothpicks with 3 bomb hits. 14 Zeros and 9 Vals attacked. I initially thought it was maybe a pair of CVL's on a commerce raiding mission until I realized the Vals came from Akagi. LOL Gale was the only ship anywhere nearby so it received the full attention of the 5-6 CV strong KB. I need to eventually get a replacement AMc to Suva, but Mike was not happy to have the KB unmasked for such a small prize. The timing just worked out perfectly for me, as a few small TF's are on their way to Suva, including the QE with the bulk of the 8th Marine Rgt on board, but all were far enough away still for me to safely reroute them. I have a large group of transport TF's leaving SF tomorrow, bound for SOPAC, as well as one leaving Pearl to join them in about 2 turns, but none were yet in harm's way. I plan to escort this large convoy with all 3 of my CV TF's but I still won't approach the region until I know the KB has moved on. I boosted the PBY coverage of the region, about 1 turn before planned, so the planes were already standing by to stage to the SW from Pearl. I'll keep a close eye on Mike's toys until they leave my surveillance range or really try to make a nuisance of themselves by sweeping toward Pago Pago and then up toward Palmyra. In his place I think that's what I would do, knowing he can handle anything I throw at him short of Pearl Harbor. I don't know if Mike will go that route, however. I'll prepare for both possibilities and only move troops and ships into the area once it's safe. I've been a little more deliberate about getting troops loaded up at SF than many players might be, so there are way less targets for a "KB SOPAC sweep" than Mike might expect to find. Hmm, I wonder if there are any AO's hanging back somewhere that my subs could go looking for? [:D]
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