THEY WERE EXPENDABLE: Nagumo vs Spruance PBEM (Full Version)

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racndoc -> THEY WERE EXPENDABLE: Nagumo vs Spruance PBEM (11/5/2004 11:05:37 PM)

Im starting a new AAR of a PBEM Scen. 15. This is my 1st game with v1.3 and this is the 1st PBEM game for both Nagumo(Bison Frontier) and Spruance(me). Since we are both newbs feel free to comment with suggestions/strategies. I will try to write a very short narrative for each day. The settings are:
Historical
Dec7th surprise
Sub Doctrine off
Allied Damage Contol on
No variance on order of arrival
House rule restricting night bombing attacks to city or naval for non NF units



racndoc -> RE: THEY WERE EXPENDABLE: Nagumo vs Spruance PBEM (11/6/2004 12:26:36 AM)

Dec.8th 1941

The Allied forces PTO are in disarray following the events of Dec. 7th. In Pearl Harbor BB Nevada and BB Oklahoma are sunk with the rest of the BBs and numerous smaller capital ships and auxilliaries damaged. Over 300 aircraft were destoyed across the Pacific with heavy air raids on Oahu,Clark, Singapore and other airfields. Jap transports are currently offloading troops at Guam,Wake,Vigan,Aparri and Khota Bharu. ASW planes have detected 25-30 Jap subs in the waters surrounding Oahu.

Orders are immediately given to begin a naval evacuation of the PI and transport convoys are formed up to start lifting men and materiel to Australia. Subs are sent in raiding missions across the Pacific.

Pearl Harbor presents a conundrum. I have a gut feeling that KB will stay to play. Do you leave all your forces in port and absorb the blow or do you evacuate every ship that can sail to the West coast? The decision is made:

1)The 5 less heavily damaged BBs will make a run for it with escort leaving BB California and all the other capital ships behind.

2)Undamaged auxilliaries such as AVs,AS,DM will make a run for it.

3)35+ DDs,DMS,and MSW will be organized into 6 ASW task forces to attack the subs that have been spotted by ASW air.

4)Air Combat Task Forces centered around Lexington and Enterprise will sortie towards Wake and commence Operation Backhand Blow if KB stays at Pearl.

Ground units and surviving air units are reorganized across the Pacific.



racndoc -> RE: THEY WERE EXPENDABLE: Nagumo vs Spruance PBEM (11/6/2004 1:30:26 AM)

Dec.9th,1941

Dec. 8th turned out to be worse than Dec. 7th. Guam,Vigan and Aparri quickly fell and the sub KXI was sunk off the coast of Khota Bharu. ASW reported a hit on I-23 off Oahu but no sign of sinking. Continued air attacks on Clark and Khota Bharu airfields.

KB not only stayed to hit PH again but went on a pleasure cruise through the Hawaiian Islands. KB sailed down the windward coast of Oahu and came face to face with our ASW force off Kailua. Surface combat between KB and 5 DMS resulted in 4 DMS sinking with minor damage to KB. Next KB visited the north shore of Molokai and ran into my ASW force there of 5 DDs.In the ensuing battle Cassin,Downs,Selfridge and Reid sank with battle reports of 25 hits BB Hiei(on fire),10 hits Kirishima, and 4 hits on the CVs(all small caliber). KB now sailed through the channel between Oahu and Molokai, rounded Koko Head, and ran into our ASW force south of Pearl Harbor of 6DDs. In the ensuing surface combat Patterson,Jarvis,Cummings,Case,Conyngham and Shaw were all sunk in return for 10 more hits on the BBs and damage to KB escorts. Now KB launched a full port air strike on Pearl sinking BB California and damaging many cruisers and other auxiliaries.

Total:1BB,1sub,4DMS,10DD

Would KB stay for a 3rd round? All remaining ASW forces were sent towards west coast and all other shipping in the area scattered. Wake again repulsed the invaders and Operation Backhand Blow was activated.



bbbf -> RE: THEY WERE EXPENDABLE: Nagumo vs Spruance PBEM (11/6/2004 8:46:20 AM)

Uh oh, those DD losses are going to hurt you for a while.



Bison Frontier -> RE: THEY WERE EXPENDABLE: Nagumo vs Spruance PBEM (11/6/2004 12:19:14 PM)

War has broken out in the Pacific! Victorious Imperial Japanese forces sweep the board!! Carrier and land-based aircraft struck at Allied targets in Malaya, the Philippines and Hawaii. The Allies speak of unparalleled perfidy in our flawlessly executed attacks, but that is only because they were caught napping and pitifully unprepared.

As our friendly Allied correspondent has obligingly disclosed, Japanese forces wreaked tremendous carnage. From Dec 7th to 10th, battleships Oklahoma, Nevada and California were sent to Davy Jones' locker as were 19 destroyers and several smaller craft. At least five other battleships and a half dozen cruisers were also severely damaged. No fewer than 300 Allied aircraft were also destroyed. We understand that the US Pacific fleet is hightailing it back to California to lick their grievous wounds. Banzai!

Over the same period, our valiant troops have also secured strong beachheads in Malaya, the Philippines and Rabaul in the Bismarck Archipelago. The US outpost of Guam was also taken in one fell swoop.

Allied reports on heavy damage inflicted on Kido Butai's capital ships by USN destroyers foolish enough to engage Kido Butai in a SURFACE duel are absolutely false. Aside from some minor damage suffered by two DDs, battleship Hiei had its hull slightly SCORCHED, but that was it. The Allied propaganda machine is also trumpeting heavy IJN ship losses off Wake Island, but those are mere Yankee imperialist lies. A small destroyer was lost to a dastardly carrier strike off Wake ... as for the liberation of Wake, Imperial General Headquarters has decided to ignore that inconsequential atoll for now. The small invasion force designated to take Wake was naturally safely re-embarked before the appearance of the USN strike force. We are not retreating, just attacking in a different direction!!!

We are confident the next few days will bring still more glorious victories for our invincible armed forces. Hakko ichiu!


Admiral Nagumo, indomitable commander of Kido Butai



racndoc -> RE: THEY WERE EXPENDABLE: Nagumo vs Spruance PBEM (11/6/2004 6:12:31 PM)

bbbf....you are right about the DDs.....maybe I can get my Lend Lease DDs back from the Brits......



racndoc -> RE: THEY WERE EXPENDABLE: Nagumo vs Spruance PBEM (11/6/2004 6:31:17 PM)

Dec. 10th,1941

Day starts off with I-121 sinking ML Pro Patria and an AP off Singapore. Allied ASW forces in HI attack I-8,I-15,and I-25 sinking the latter 2. KB stays in HI but switches from port to all naval attacks. In AM 71 Vals and 113 Kates find 2 DM and work on target practice. In PM 81 Vals and 105 Kates found another ASW force that didnt flee as ordered and sank another 4 DDs and a DMS.

On a lighter note, Jap deliberate attacks on Khota Bharu and Legaspi are repelled giving heavier losses to the attacker than the defender. And Operation Backhand Blow hits Wake with US CVs sinking 2 Jap CLs and damaging several other ships. Allied counteroffensives begin at Canton, Nanning and Legaspi.



racndoc -> RE: THEY WERE EXPENDABLE: Nagumo vs Spruance PBEM (11/6/2004 6:54:18 PM)

Dec. 11th,1941

Allied subs started off the day with KXIII torpedoing a PG and S-38 sinking an AP off Laoag. US CVs again pounded Wake assault force with Devastators even managing to torpedo CL Tenryu before sinking her and DD Yayoi. Blenheims in Malaya recorded their 1st hit of the war with a bomb on CA Takao. I-154.....who sank an AP and ML the day before got paid back by British MSWs and hasa joined them in their watery grave off Singapore. Jap ASW force of 15 ships couldnt locate SS Savoy off Luzon. S-38 torpedoed an AK and it failed to detonate but later in the day sank an AK off Aparri.

KB stays in HI but is running out of targets...has to settle for sinking 6MSWs and 2 PCs. A new Jap task force appears with 7 APs and stacks with KB off coast of Hilo. Hmmm....an invasion of Maui or Hawaii??

Japan begins landings at Lingayan. Jap deliberate attack at Nanning results in their losing 928 men and 28 guns vs Chinese losing 2 men and 1 gun. Deliberate attack at Khota Bharu results in 228 Jap casualties vs 15 CW. US bombardment of Wake results in 180 Jap casualties with a deliberate attack causing 183 more. Japan evacuates the remnants of Wake Island assault force....the Marines have held!



Bison Frontier -> RE: THEY WERE EXPENDABLE: Nagumo vs Spruance PBEM (11/6/2004 7:08:20 PM)

To put a positive spin on the overall picture, which is indescribably gloomy for THEM, the Allied high command has to trumpet the measly accomplishments of their submarine arm, which has sunk fewer ships than I have fingers on ONE hand, at the loss of almost as many of their own. Not even the much vaunted US shipyards can do much at that rate of loss!

Tokyo denies that any light cruisers were sunk off Wake. The over-eager Allied pilots must've mistook near-misses as direct hits. At any rate, our AA fire accounted for a goodly number of the SBDs and TBDs. Nor did CA Takao suffer any damage from Allied air, although its hull did get nicked by a pair of zealous porpoises enjoying a little tryst in the South China Sea.

The reports of heavy Japanese casualties in China are pure fabrications. Everyone knows that Chiang's KMT forces are impressive only on paper. At Canton for example, a heavy Chinese assault was repelled with a loss ratio of 10 to 1 in favor of Japan. Farther south, 18th Division has routed the British/Indian defenders at Khota Bharu, sending our demoralized enemies streaming back to Kuantan in serious disarray.


Admiral Nagumo, commander Kido Butai



racndoc -> RE: THEY WERE EXPENDABLE: Nagumo vs Spruance PBEM (11/7/2004 2:24:05 AM)

Bison.....your combat report is for Dec. 13th....I will try to catch up.


Dec. 12,1941

Jap landings continue at Lingayan and Rabaul....Rabaul CD guns get some hits on an AP. SS Tarpon sinks AK off Vigan. SS Pickerell torpedoes AK off Lingayan.SS Pike depth charged by ASW group off Vigan and damaged.B-17s get 4 hits on DD Arare off HI. I-21 sunk by ASW groups E of HI.

Japanese deliberate attacks repulsed at Hong Kong, Alor Star and Khota Bharu. Chinese deliberate attack repulsed at Nanning. Bombardments exchanged at Canton. SNLF force was actually withdrawn from Wake on the 12th(not the 11th).



Dec. 13,1941

Continued landings at Lingayan and Rabaul. SS KXII hit by depth charge off Kompang Trach. Tarpon hit by depth charge off Luzon. SS Perch torpedoed AK off Vigan. KB appears to be refueling off Kona.

Japanese deliberate attacks repulsed at Lingayan, Hong Kong and Alor Star. Japanese shock attack stopped cold at Rabaul. Japanese shock attack at Khota Bharu was successful and CW troops are retreating towards Kuantan. Allied deliberate attacks at Legaspi and Canton(1382 Chinese casualties vs 156 Japanese....ouch).



Bison Frontier -> RE: THEY WERE EXPENDABLE: Nagumo vs Spruance PBEM (11/7/2004 10:33:47 AM)

Dec 15th

5th Division has routed the defenders at Alor Star. Intel has it that two Indian brigades were badly mauled and the disorganized survivors just broke and made a run for Georgetown. North Malaya is ours!

Farther east, 16th and 48th Divisions also took Lingayen, decisively crushing the ineptly led US/Philippine forces. Dugout Doug will probably try a last-ditch stand at Clark Field and/or Bataan to try and delay our capture of Manila, but we have anticipated such an eventuality and are well prepared to meet it.

At Hongkong, the cornered (and desperate) British defenders have started surrendering in small but growing numbers. The end is nigh for the British Empire...


Admiral Nagumo, commander Kido Butai



Capt. Harlock -> Point about CD guns (11/8/2004 2:58:47 AM)

quote:

KB not only stayed to hit PH again but went on a pleasure cruise through the Hawaiian Islands. KB sailed down the windward coast of Oahu and came face to face with our ASW force off Kailua. Surface combat between KB and 5 DMS resulted in 4 DMS sinking with minor damage to KB. Next KB visited the north shore of Molokai and ran into my ASW force there of 5 DDs.In the ensuing battle Cassin,Downs,Selfridge and Reid sank with battle reports of 25 hits BB Hiei(on fire),10 hits Kirishima, and 4 hits on the CVs(all small caliber). KB now sailed through the channel between Oahu and Molokai, rounded Koko Head, and ran into our ASW force south of Pearl Harbor of 6DDs.


I thought of something interesting concerning this move. Does a TF have to be coducting bombardment or amphibious landing to be engaged by the coast defense batteries? Or is there a range inside of which any hostile TF can be engaged? It looks to me like the KB would have had to come fairly close to the guns on Oahu.



Bison Frontier -> RE: Point about CD guns (11/8/2004 6:09:03 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Capt. Harlock
I thought of something interesting concerning this move. Does a TF have to be coducting bombardment or amphibious landing to be engaged by the coast defense batteries? Or is there a range inside of which any hostile TF can be engaged? It looks to me like the KB would have had to come fairly close to the guns on Oahu.


AFAIK you have to actually be in/pass through the hex where there are CD batteries to get hit - if you're merely in the immediately adjacent hex you're ok.



Bison Frontier -> RE: THEY WERE EXPENDABLE: Nagumo vs Spruance PBEM (11/8/2004 6:21:29 AM)

Dec 17th-18th

After a short but sharp struggle, Japan has seized Rabaul. Great things are expected of this unsinkable aircraft carrier in the Bismarck Archipelago. It will doubtless serve as a strategic springboard for further glorious operations in the south Pacific.

Our 5th Division has also stormed Taiping - enemy resistance was markedly feeble. Considering the drubbing they received at Alor Star and the demoralized and disorganized retreat that ensued, we are not surprised one bit. Intel reports at least 6,000 Allied troops now trapped in Georgetown. They will be mopped up in short order.

Japan also enjoys near complete air supremacy over north and central Malaya. Virtually all Allied attempts to interfere with our shipping and amphibious operations were badly thwarted. I understand we have gained at least a half dozen fighter aces in the process. Banzai!


Admiral Nagumo, commander Kido Butai



racndoc -> RE: THEY WERE EXPENDABLE: Nagumo vs Spruance PBEM (11/10/2004 7:30:36 AM)

Dec. 18-25th, 1941

Naval operations have quieted down since KB was last seen slowly withdrawing to the west. Naval combat is now mainly confined to a cat and mouse game of ASW vs sub vs shipping across the entire Pacific. The Japanese seem to be hitting more shipping than the Allies but are paying a heavier price in lost subs.

Sunken ships as of 12-25-41

Allies: 3 BB, 14 DD, 2 AVD, 5 DMS, 2 DM, 8 MSW, 2 PC, 2 SS, 1 AO, 1 PT, 2 AK, 1 ML, 1 AP

Japan: 3 CL, 5 DD, 3 MSW, 1 PG, 2 PC, 7 SS, 3 AK,3 AP


Ground operations have heated up considerably. Japan has bulldozed its way down the west coast of Malaya just taking Kuala Lampur and is about to assault Malacca. Troops cut off in Georgetown were evacuated by transports.

In China, a stalemate exists in Nanning, Canton and Hong Kong. Yenen is holding but will eventually be lost. A MASSIVE battle is unfolding around Changsha as both sides try to surround each other with 250K+ involved on both sides. In the PI nothern Luzon has fallen. Japan advanced 100K+ to Clark but they were shock attacked by 38000 Allies and sent retreating to Lingayan. No invasions yet in Borneo, southern PI or NEI.



Bison Frontier -> RE: THEY WERE EXPENDABLE: Nagumo vs Spruance PBEM (11/11/2004 7:14:44 PM)

Dec 19th to 30th

After suffering several sharp defeats in northern and central Malaya, the panic-stricken British Empire forces are streaming back haphazardly to "Fortress Singapore", leaving behind much of their heay equipment in their eagerness to disengage from the ferocious sons of Yamato. As of Dec 30th, the advance units of our glorious 25th Army (commanded by General Tomoyuki Yamashita, the "Tiger of Malaya") are on the approaches to Johore Bahru. The British have often bragged that Singapore and its great naval base can hold off any foe almost indefinitely. We shall see.

In the Philippines, MacArthur has massed virtually all his troops at Clark airbase. That will prove his undoing, and we are merely giving him more rope to hang himself with. With very substantial land forces at BOTH Lingayen in the north and Legaspi in the south, Manila, Clark and Bataan are all but cut off. And I'm not even going to start on the overwhelming air and naval superiority Japan enjoys in the Philippines. With over 200 combat aircraft and no fewer than 15 capital ships (with numerous escorts and smaller supporting vessels), there is very little the enemy can do without receiving our full (usually deadly) attention.

Farther south, our trusty South Seas Detachment has taken Shortland Island. Rabaul and Truk hum with naval and air activity. Guadalcanal and the entire Solomons chain of islands are ours for the taking!

As for the illustrious Kido Butai, it has refitted, refueled and is now ready for further operations for His Imperial Majesty. Tenno heiko banzai indeed!


Admiral Nagumo, commander Kido Butai



racndoc -> RE: THEY WERE EXPENDABLE: Nagumo vs Spruance PBEM (11/12/2004 10:34:41 PM)

Dec. 31st 1941-Jan 2nd 1942

After losing Malacca to a massive shock attack of 100k+ Japanese troops the remnants of the British and Indian forces are streaming back to Johore Bharu to make a final stand before Singapore. In the PI, Japan reinforced its invasion of Legaspi but Clark Field remains clear of enemy troops. A surface bombardment is made on Cayagan but so far no Japanese invasions south of Luzon. In China, huge,inconclusive WWI style battles rage from Yenen in the north to Nanning in the south. No invasion of DEI yet. In the south Pacific Japan is occupying the Solomon Island chain and has sent baby KB and some BBs snooping around off the SE tip of NG.

Ship losses to date:

Allies: 3 BB, 15 DD, 2 AV, 5 DMS, 2 DM, 8 MSW, 2 PC, 2SS, 1 AO, 2 AP, 3 AK, 1 ML, 3 PT.

Japan: 3 CL, 5 DD, 7 MSW, 1 PG, 3 PC, 8 SS, 4 AP, 3 AK, 1 TK.



Bison Frontier -> RE: THEY WERE EXPENDABLE: Nagumo vs Spruance PBEM (11/13/2004 6:09:56 PM)

Dec 31st, 1941 to Jan 5th 1942

Our rapid advance through the supposedly unpassable jungles of Malaya has stunned the British imperialists. A last-ditch attempt to halt our progress at Johore Bahru came to naught on Jan 5th, when our crack 5th Division outflanked their hastily prepared defenses and soon collapsed their positions there. With the seizure of Johore Bahru, the peninsular campaign in Malaya is all but over, some three weeks earlier than our prewar forecast.

Two sizeable "pockets" of enemy troops (totalling almost 10,000) are now completely cut off in Kuantan and Mersing. The Royal Navy attempted to "Dunkirk" their forces at Kuantan on Jan 4th, but our Betty squadrons at Alor Star quickly demonstrated the futility of trying to exercise seapower WITHOUT first possessing adequate airpower. Two transports were sunk and another badly damaged. The troops remain marooned at Kuantan...

In an attempt to assure their oppressed colonial subjects (in Burma, Singapore, India etc) that all is still well (a monumentally difficult task after a whole month of consecutive defeats in Malaya), the British sent a small detachment of troops (from Burma) into hitherto neutral Siam, taking the undefended town of Rahaeng! To counter perfidious Albion, the Thais are hastily mobilizing their small armed forces and local militia to repel this blatant display of imperialism. We are different - the Thais INVITED us in, and we didn't FORCE them to provide us transit and basing facilities. Heck, they offered these to us VOLUNTARILY [:D] Tokyo formally welcomes the Thais as new satellites ... I mean, allies [;)] and our ambassador in Bangkok has undertaken that all available economic and military aid will be provided to Siam.

In the Philippines, we have initiated Operation Sho-1, details of which will be disclosed shortly.

Meanwhile, carriers Shokaku and Zuikaku surprised several unescorted Allied phibs near Thursday Island, New Guinea. Everyone knows what carrier strikes do to puny merchantmen. Four transports were quickly dispatched and several smaller craft also blown out of the water.


Admiral Nagumo, commander Kido Butai



Bison Frontier -> RE: THEY WERE EXPENDABLE: Nagumo vs Spruance PBEM (11/16/2004 7:52:52 AM)

Jan 6th to Jan 18th

Our brilliant run of victories continues unabated.

Hongkong's British/Canadian garrison surrendered to our 38th Division on Jan 6th. Our total haul of prisoners alone exceeded 17,000 there. After a brief period of R&R, 38th Division re-embarked for further operations in the western Pacific. However, the despicable Allies have been spreading unfounded rumors that the 38th Div commander has been relieved of duty for allowing the campaign to drag on for so long [X(] Naturally, Tokyo dismisses these rumors as nothing more than ... rumors. Any self-respecting Japanese general would have committed hara-kiri rather than ALLOW himself to be relieved! [:-]

On Jan 7th, our troops began landings at Port Moresby. Four days later, we wrested control of Port Moresby from the Australian defenders, thereby securing another strategic outpost in the south Pacific. While the land battles raged, Allied air from Moresby attempted to interdict our shipping in the area. Kido Butai's fighters promptly rose to the challenge and destroyed over 40 aircraft at virtually no loss to themselves. Shortly after, our carriers also sank Allied destroyers Bulmer and Parrott, as well as two foolhardy merchantmen who dared to stray into their demesne.

Britain's "Gibraltar of the East", Singapore, succumbs to our 25th Army! Allied attempts to prolong the battle by drawing us into house-to-house fighting were singularly unsuccessful, and General Yamashita accepted British General Percival's offer of unconditional surrender on Jan 11th. 65,000 Allied troops - over three divisions - were captured at Singapore. With the capture of Singapore, the campaign to secure Malaya's valuable natural resources is over, except for the small (and hopelessly trapped) enemy remnants at Kuantan (Mersing was taken on Jan 18th).

On Jan 11th and 12th, our troops took Cagayan and Butuan in the southern Philippines. The Allies did attempt to put up a fight of sorts here, sending a mixed TF comprising many capital ships including the British battlewagons Prince of Wales and Repulse. Our own heavy ships were momentarily out of position, so the enemy did succeed in sinking several small transports but also took several light caliber and torpedo hits in the process. Shortly after, our Bettys from Legaspi exacted a measure of revenge for this act of piracy, putting two torpedoes each into both Prince of Wales and Repulse, as well as hitting several other cruisers and destroyers. The Allied ships promptly fled the scene, rather than risk further savaging.

By Jan 18th, Allied airpower over most of the Philippines has been severely marginalized and our intel reports that all airworthy planes have withdrawn to the Dutch East Indies.


Banzai!


Admiral Nagumo, commander Kido Butai



racndoc -> RE: THEY WERE EXPENDABLE: Nagumo vs Spruance PBEM (11/17/2004 5:33:49 AM)

Jan.3rd-Jan. 22, 1942

Allied intelligence was mistaken about the IJN Task forces rounding the SE tip of NG.....it wasnt just baby KB. It was baby KB plus Hiryu,Soryu,Shokaku and Zuikaku plus a supporting cast of thousands. IJNs 1st objective was to support invasion transports into Port Moresby. The Allies had hoarded their precious PPs at the start of the war and their 1st major use was to release 4th Marine from PI. The 4th Marine Regiment was loaded onto transports and rushed through the DEI to attempt to reinforce Port Moresby. The transport task force suffered 2 sub attacks with survivors of sunken transports being picked up by sister ships only to arrive 2 days late to Port Moresby. The IJN CVs then charged NW up the channel between NG and OZ and caught Allied shipping trying to escape from the SRA. Shipping scattered in all directions. The 4th Marines narrowly escaped but many ships were lost. IJN CVs then wheeled back to Port Moresby to support the invasion. Dozens of ineffectual Allied bombers and fighters were shot down.

In the PI, Japan finally invaded south of Luzon landing troops at Cayagan. Allied Force Z had been held in reserve since the start of the war and was released to repel the Cayagan invasion. Force Z caught 2 transport TFs and devastated them just before a strong IJN Surface TF with 2 BB, 5 CA could intervene. Force Z then retired under 60+ P-40 LCAP but the Betties got through and caused some damage but not until 3 DD and 20+ transports ans escort ships were left sinking off Cayagan.

Jan. 12th was a particularly tough day for the Allies as Singapore, Port Moresby and Cayagan all were captured. After Port Moreby fell IJN CVs went back NW up the channel between NG and OZ to sink more shipping and support invasion of Amboina on Jan. 22nd. Davao was also invaded on the 22nd. Lost ship totals as of 1/22/42 include:

Allies: 3 BB, 17 DD, 1 PG, 5 DMS, 2 DM, 3 AV, 10 MSW, 2 PC, 4 SS, 1 AO, 1 TK, 10 PT, 6 AP, 13 AK, 1 ML

Japan: 3 CL, 8 DD, 10 MSW, 2 PG, 4 PC, 9 SS, 9 AP, 23 AK.
.



Bison Frontier -> RE: THEY WERE EXPENDABLE: Nagumo vs Spruance PBEM (11/17/2004 10:31:11 AM)

Jan 19th to 24th

Radio Tokyo vehemently denies the Allied propagandists' claim that "20+ transports and escort ships were left sinking off Cagayan". That infamous Allied act of piracy netted them a half dozen small transports sunk, and several of our destroyers were badly knocked about, but they gave as good an account of themselves as was possible, given the fearsome odds. In the process of securing this inconsequential victory, the Allied "Force Z" suffered damage enough to have to make an ignominious withdrawal to the few remaining friendly ports in Borneo/DEI.

The implications of this are clear. Apart from a few scattered ships, there is virtually no significant naval opposition in the entire west Pacific theater to speak of. The US carriers are nowhere to be seen, and our intel suggests that they are unlikely to make an appearance until CVs Hornet and Wasp become available. Allied land-based air has thus far proved a most feeble opponent, and our ships' commanders may be excused for their mounting hubris in the face of the virtually disarmed foe [;)]

On Jan 23rd, our troops secured BOTH Davao and Amboina. With these latest conquests, Japan is now the proud owner of strategic real estate from Shanghai in the north passing through Lingayen and Davao in the Philippines through Amboina in the eastern Dutch East Indies down to Port Moresby in Papua New Guinea! While the Allies continue to hold Borneo and the East Indies, these regions are for all intents and purposes cut off from the continental USA, and their surrender can only be a matter of time.

Hakko ichiu!


Admiral Nagumo, fire-eating commander Kido Butai



racndoc -> RE: THEY WERE EXPENDABLE: Nagumo vs Spruance PBEM (11/19/2004 8:03:21 AM)

SITUATION REPORT: Feb. 1st, 1942


Malaysia: One last British outpost holds out on the Malayan peninsula at Kuantan but will probably be liquidated within the week.

Burma: Complete reorganization of Allied forces but no sign of IJA yet.

China: An uneasy truce hangs over China after both sides suffered nearly 100k casualties in 1st month of the war. Only city to fall so far is Hong Kong.

DEI: The only captured bases in all of DEI are Menado and Amboina. Looks like IJN is ready to invade Kuching tomorrow. KB and major surface forces are patroling off Kendari looking for stray shipping.

PI: Mindanao has been almost completely overrun but Clark, Manila and Bataan are clear of IJA and Allies can stage bombers through at will.

NG: Japanese have captured Port Moresby but nothing else.

South Pacific: Rabaul and Shortlands have been captured by the Japanese.

Central Pacific: Wake and the Gilberts are still Allied controlled.

The elite of the Allied land forces in the east have been withdrawn from PI and Malasia,rebuilt, and redeployed in strategic locations.

Air-Air combat losses are running approximately 4:1 in favor of the Japanese. Ship losses to date include:

Allied:3 BB, 17 DD, 2 DM, 5 DMS, 1 PG, 3 AV, 10 MSW, 2 PC, 5 SS, 1 AO, 1 TK, 1 ML, 6 AP, 14 AK, 10 PT.
Japan: 3 CL, 8 DD, 10 MSW, 3 PG, 1 ML, 6 PC, 1 TK, 11 SS, 9 AP, 23 AK.



racndoc -> RE: THEY WERE EXPENDABLE: Nagumo vs Spruance PBEM (11/22/2004 3:38:37 AM)

Situation Report Feb. 14th, 1942

St. Valentines Day Massacre

The US CVs had been held back since Operation Backhand Blow at the start of the war. However, after Japan secured Port Moresby and Shortlands a new invasion IJN Task Force started unloading at Gili Gili. With the entire KB and baby KB creating havoc in the
DEI,The US CVs were committed along with a strong cruiser Task force to intervene in the South Pacific. SigInt reported 5 CAs in Port Moresby so US CVs were sent to attack Port Moresby while a CA Task Force intercepted IJN invasion force at Gili Gili. The 5 CAs at PM turned out to be 5 DDs which were duly sunk. However, the Japanese LBAC counterattacked and their 25 Betties broke through 62 CAP to put a fish in CV Saratoga. Meanwhile, 50 Nells in Rabaul hit the CA Task Force putting torpedoes in 3 CAs while the 15 ship CA Task Force failed to take a shot against the transports. The USN can only hope that the rain holds up on Feb. 15th to cover our withdrawal.

In Borneo, Japan has secured the north coast and with the recent invasion of Tarakan the issue is still in doubt. In Sulawesi, Kendari and Menardo have fallen to Japan. Still no sign of Japs in Sumatra, Java, or Burma.

All of Malaya has been secured by IJA. Clark, Manila and Bataan are still clear of IJA. Wake, Gilberts, and southern Solomons are still under Allied control. Meanwhile, troops,planes,and materiel pour into Brisbane on a daily basis. The 1st Allied air reinforcements from the West Coast have gone into action in the DEI.

Things are still quiet in China. Japanese subs have been successful recently in slipping by escorts to sink TKs.

Ship losses to date include:

Allies: 3 BB, 17 DD, 10 MSW, 5 DMS, 2 DM, 2 PC, 5 SS, 1 AO, 4 TK, 16 PT(they were expendable), 1 ML, 8 AP, 19 AK.

Japan: 3 CL, 13 DD, 10 MSW, 3 PG, 6 PC, 12 SS, 2 TK, 2 ML, 9 AP, 25 AK



Bison Frontier -> RE: THEY WERE EXPENDABLE: Nagumo vs Spruance PBEM (11/22/2004 5:25:32 AM)

Jan 25th to Feb 15th

Despite several minor hiccups, our indomitable forces continue their inexorable advance on all fronts.

Kuantan, the last British stronghold in Malaya, was declared secure on Feb 9th. The surrender of the last 8,000 British Empire troops in Malaya has now freed Yamashita's fearsome 25th Army for fresh operations. Even from where I stand on the Akagi's bridge, I can feel the enemy quake in his boots at the thought of the 25th Army unleashed anew! [:D]

The campaign against Borneo is also progressing ahead of schedule. Elements of 33rd Division took Kuching on Feb 2nd and Brunei on Feb 10th. Resistance was negligible. Farther south, troops from our 38th Division stormed Tarakan on Feb 15th, compelling the Dutch defenders to flee in panic towards Samarinda. The rich oilfields (captured relatively intact - the enemy was so busy trying to run away they didn't even have time to properly destroy the facilities [8D]) at Brunei and Tarakan will serve the Empire well. Our tankers are already en route to bring this "black gold" back to the home islands.

In Sulawesi, the strategic ports (with their good-sized airbases) of Menado and Kendari were also seized on Jan 29th and Feb 5th respectively. At Menado, our haul of prisoners exceeded 3,100 and four P-40E Warhawks were also destroyed when we overran the airbase there. Allied air tried desperately to slow down our advances in Borneo and Sulawesi, but their efforts came to naught in the face of our murderously efficient fighter arm. On Feb 12th for example, a B-17E bombing attack against Amboina was badly thwarted when our Zeros shot down six of the lumbering Fortresses without a single loss!

While supporting our various amphibious operations in the Indies, Kido Butai added over 30 enemy aircraft (including 13 B-25C Mitchells) and seven transports to its “bag” of kills. These were naturally achieved with virtually no loss to our naval air arm.

The enemy's concentration of over 250,000 troops at Clark Field in the Philippines is of little consequence, as they are completely cut off from any possible air and/or naval resupply. Our 16th Army in Lingayen is more than sufficient to keep them preoccupied while we further tighten the noose around them.

Imperial General Headquarters also denies that our naval forces suffered a significant setback at Port Moresby. While it is true that enemy carriers did attain a measure of surprise there, our air umbrella of superlative Zero fighters ensured that only a minimum of damage was sustained from their air attacks. Three small destroyers were sunk and two others moderately damaged. However, our Zeros shot down over sixty of their F4F-4 Wildcats and a half dozen SBDs in the process. Our fighter losses were relatively minor (a mere two dozen planes damaged or destroyed) and of course many of our pilots, fighting over friendly territory, were able to parachute to safety. Our own Betty counterstrike was not slow to materialize, hitting CV Saratoga with two torpedoes; most of our pilots report the enemy carrier was left aflame almost from bow to stern!

At Gili Gili, Allied attempts to smash our transports proved futile as we got wind of their intentions and took the necessary evasive action. Having failed to catch our merchantmen, our Nells from Rabaul decided to add to their frustration, hitting heavy cruisers Indianapolis and Portland with a tin fish each, and CA Northampton with two. Some of our pilots believe the “Nora Maru” was left sinking, but in any case, that ship will be out of action for a very long time.

Tenno heika banzai!


Admiral Nagumo, commander Kido Butai



Capt. Harlock -> RE: THEY WERE EXPENDABLE: Nagumo vs Spruance PBEM (11/22/2004 10:26:16 PM)

quote:

However, our Zeros shot down over sixty of their F4F-4 Wildcats and a half dozen SBDs in the process.


This is odd: the USN should not have the F4F-4 deployed in until at least May 1942. (It's the reason why there are typically fewer than 30 Wildcats per CV in the early war.)



BPRE -> RE: THEY WERE EXPENDABLE: Nagumo vs Spruance PBEM (11/22/2004 11:49:33 PM)

They are being produced from 41-01 in all scenarios starting 7/12-41 just like the F4F-3.
Maybe it's a typo and it should be 42-01. They would still be available earlier than May but it's a bit more realistic.

/BPRE



Bison Frontier -> RE: THEY WERE EXPENDABLE: Nagumo vs Spruance PBEM (11/23/2004 6:58:56 PM)

Feb 16th to 23rd

Our troops began landing at both Miri and Balikpapan on Feb 18th. Fighter, bomber and search units quickly redeployed to Tarakan (seized on Feb 15th) to maintain a covering presence over southwest Borneo and also to cover the invasion of Balikpapan, where intel indicates relatively strong enemy land and air strength. Miri however, fell quickly on Feb 19th. The entire northern coast of Borneo is ours!

Carriers Hiryu, Shokaku and Zuikaku with their supporting escorts and cruisers arrived off Darwin on Feb 19th. From the 19th to the 23rd, their air groups put an end to CL Adelaide and eleven transports. Several minesweepers were also sunk and two other transports were severely damaged. From the naval activity around Darwin, we surmise that the enemy was preparing to use Darwin as a springboard from which to launch counterattacks. After the devastation our carriers caused, he will indubitably have to shelve any such plans. [:'(]

Our decision to buff up our land-based air on Borneo (Tarakan, Brunei, Kuching) proved a judicious one. The enemy, desperate to maintain his ever-weakening grip on the strategic island of Borneo, has also vastly increased his own air strength (using units recently arrived from the USA) in west/southwestern Borneo (including Balikpapan itself, where fierce fighting is currently raging) as well as Java. Fierce air battles raged throughout this period, especially on Feb 21st and 22nd, as the enemy attempted to interfere with our naval movements and/or strike at our troop concentrations. The Allies lost over thirty aircraft, including a good number of B-17Es and B-25C Mitchells. Our own losses amounted to a handful of fighters.


Admiral Nagumo, commander Kido Butai



Capt. Harlock -> RE: THEY WERE EXPENDABLE: Nagumo vs Spruance PBEM (11/23/2004 10:55:51 PM)

quote:

They are being produced from 41-01 in all scenarios starting 7/12-41 just like the F4F-3.
Maybe it's a typo and it should be 42-01. They would still be available earlier than May but it's a bit more realistic.


The actual start of regular production and delivery for the -4 model of the Wildcat was in November 1941. Hoever, it takes several months to equip, train and certify a squdron with a new aircraft (in the USN at least). It is worth noting that the Battle of the Coral Sea was fought mostly with F4F-3 fighters. By the Battle of Midway, the USN fighter squadrons were using the F4F-4.



BPRE -> RE: THEY WERE EXPENDABLE: Nagumo vs Spruance PBEM (11/24/2004 8:27:09 PM)

Well, I've put a note in the OOB thread about this too so hopefully somebody might look into it.

/BPRE



Bison Frontier -> RE: THEY WERE EXPENDABLE: Nagumo vs Spruance PBEM (11/25/2004 3:49:27 AM)

Feb 24rd to Feb 26th

The battle for Balikpapan is over. The city fell to troops of 48th Division on Feb 25th after a week of heavy combat. In a series of large-scale air battles (albeit lopsided in our favor) over Balikpapan and its environs from Feb 24th to 26th, our fighters shot down over seventy enemy aircraft, including 6 B-17Es and over a dozen P-40Es. (22 more aircraft were destroyed when our troops overran the airbase there) Admiral Raizo Tanaka's battleship task force also engaged the two British light cruisers Durban and Danae at Balikpapan (probably trying to intercept our transports) and blew them out of the water in short order. Banzai!

Despite their stupendous losses, the Allies refuse to come to terms with the futility of clinging on to southern Borneo and continue to base air units at neighboring Samarinda. I suppose we'll just have to give them a further demonstration of our martial prowess. [8D]


Admiral Nagumo, commander Kido Butai



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