RE: The Battle of the Bay of Carpentaria

Matrix Games Forums

Forums Register Login Photo Gallery Member List Search Calendars FAQ

My Profile Inbox Address Book My Subscription My Forums Log Out

RE: The Battle of the Bay of Carpentaria

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

Logged in as: Guest

Users viewing this topic: none

Printable Version

All Forums >> [Current Games From Matrix.] >> [World War II] >> War In The Pacific - Struggle Against Japan 1941 - 1945 >> After Action Reports >> RE: The Battle of the Bay of Carpentaria

Page: << < prev 5 6 [7] 8 9 next > >>

Message

<< Older Topic Newer Topic >>

RE: The Battle of the Bay of Carpentaria - 10/1/2008 6:01:01 PM

cantona2

Posts: 3749
Joined: 5/21/2007
From: Gibraltar
Status: offline

Will it be considered gamey to swap the Devastator squadrons on two US Cv's for extra fighters for the Tarawa mission? Herb is a good, honest opponent and i do not want to seem as if im cheating him. If i ask him i guess ill be giving the game away. My thinking is, im expecting very little opposition from the IJN if its still engaged in the Coral Sea, therefore id rather have more fighter cover then the Devastors gathering dust in the hangers of flying a pointless three hex search mission.

_____________________________

1966 was a great year for English Football...Eric was born

(in reply to cantona2)

Post #: 181

RE: The Battle of the Bay of Carpentaria - 10/1/2008 6:31:06 PM

vettim89

Posts: 3615
Joined: 7/14/2007
From: Toledo, Ohio
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: cantona2

Will it be considered gamey to swap the Devastator squadrons on two US Cv's for extra fighters for the Tarawa mission? Herb is a good, honest opponent and i do not want to seem as if im cheating him. If i ask him i guess ill be giving the game away. My thinking is, im expecting very little opposition from the IJN if its still engaged in the Coral Sea, therefore id rather have more fighter cover then the Devastors gathering dust in the hangers of flying a pointless three hex search mission.

Maybe you can just ask him a generic question along the lines of "How do you feel about altering the composition of carrier air wings?" Many Japanese players do wholesale changes to their CV air wings from augmenting fighter strenght to pulling off Vals in lieu of extra Kates. Just frame it as a game play question vice a specific request

_____________________________

"We have met the enemy and they are ours" - Commodore O.H. Perry

(in reply to cantona2)

Post #: 182

RE: The Battle of the Bay of Carpentaria - 10/1/2008 8:47:56 PM

FeurerKrieg

Posts: 3397
Joined: 6/15/2005
From: Denver, CO
Status: offline

Can't speak for your opponent, but *I* wouldn't consider it gamey.

I'm sure he'll be doing the same, if he hasn't already. If he puts any Kates on CVE/some CVLs that's just as ahistorical.

_____________________________

Upper portion used with permission of www.subart.net, copyright John Meeks

(in reply to vettim89)

Post #: 183

RE: The Battle of the Bay of Carpentaria - 10/2/2008 12:14:57 PM

Alfred

Posts: 6685
Joined: 9/28/2006
Status: offline

Cantona2,

Unlike just about everyone else here on this forum, I do consider the swapping out of air units on CV to be gamey. In the aborted AAR 1Eyedjack v Nemo121 I went into great detail outlining my reasons. Of course ultimately it is your call but I would avoid even raising the subject with your opponent, no matter how obliquely. You do not want to make him aware that you are contemplating using Allied CV.

Regarding expanding the Tarawa operation. I don't think you need any additional troops. What I am suggesting is that the adjacent islands are likely to be even more weakly garrisoned than Tarawa itself. As I understand it, you are proposing to land 2 divisions on Tarawa. I would reembark one of them and then proceed to capture an adjacent island/s (empty or very weakly garrisoned) and after securing the adjacent island/s, evacuate the Allied LCU.

The entire post Tarawa operation must be conducted with speed to capture the enemy by surprise and before they can reinforce the atolls. The key is to have adequate aviation support/engineers plus LBA on Tarawa to hit the returning and avenging IJN.

Alfred

(in reply to FeurerKrieg)

Post #: 184

RE: The Battle of the Bay of Carpentaria - 10/2/2008 12:23:15 PM

String

Posts: 2661
Joined: 10/7/2003
From: Estonia
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: Alfred

Cantona2,

Unlike just about everyone else here on this forum, I do consider the swapping out of air units on CV to be gamey.� In the aborted AAR 1Eyedjack v Nemo121 I went into great detail outlining my reasons.� Of course ultimately it is your call but I would avoid even raising the subject with your opponent, no matter how obliquely.� You do not want to make him aware that you are contemplating using Allied CV.

Regarding expanding the Tarawa operation.� I don't think you need any additional troops.� What I am suggesting is that the adjacent islands are likely to be even more weakly garrisoned than Tarawa itself.� As I understand it, you are proposing to land 2 divisions on Tarawa.� I would reembark one of them and then proceed to capture an adjacent island/s (empty or very weakly garrisoned) and after securing the adjacent island/s, evacuate the Allied LCU.

The entire post Tarawa operation must be conducted with speed to capture the enemy by surprise and before they can reinforce the atolls.� The key is to have adequate aviation support/engineers plus LBA on Tarawa to hit the returning and avenging IJN.

Alfred

For USN it wouldn't be gamey as they did that during the war anyway. For the japanese it would be as they considered the air units as part of the ships crew while for the USN they were separate.

(in reply to Alfred)

Post #: 185

RE: The Battle of the Bay of Carpentaria - 10/2/2008 1:12:19 PM

cantona2

Posts: 3749
Joined: 5/21/2007
From: Gibraltar
Status: offline

Fair points made by all. I asked Herb about it and hes got no problem and added that i do not do the same when Corsairs come online which is fair enough. Ive never considered altering carrier air groups before but i can see the controversy it can create. Herb has oked it. As to compromising the Tarawa op, Herb in his last email is convinced im going to engage his carriers in the Torres Straits and judging by the amount of subs he has in the Coral Sea he is still on the hunt for them. If im lucky i could get complete operational surprise!

_____________________________

1966 was a great year for English Football...Eric was born

(in reply to String)

Post #: 186

RE: The Battle of the Bay of Carpentaria - 10/2/2008 5:36:21 PM

cantona2

Posts: 3749
Joined: 5/21/2007
From: Gibraltar
Status: offline

The IJN's submarine arm is searching like crazy for my aircraft carriers that are now either safe at port or miles away from the area of operations. This is a screenie of the seas off Rockhampton. One submarine was hit by patrolling A-26's and a DD ASW TF plastered another. If Herb wants to keep them there he has to be ready to have them attacked!

_____________________________

1966 was a great year for English Football...Eric was born

(in reply to cantona2)

Post #: 187

RE: The Battle of the Bay of Carpentaria - 10/2/2008 5:52:04 PM

cantona2

Posts: 3749
Joined: 5/21/2007
From: Gibraltar
Status: offline

Day 5 Thursday Island Falls

Day 5 opened with Dutch submarines successfully engaging Japanese shipping in and around the battle area. First it was the SS KX that torpedoed a transport entering the Arafura Sea and heading SW. Her wily skipper was also able to avoid the attentions of the escorts.

Then it was the turn of the SS KXVIII in the shallow waters of Thursday Island. Two of three torpedoes launched at a troop transport struck home, crippling the enemy vessel. This time however APD's were able to spot and depth charge the submarine. Hurt and bleeding fuel oil, shes now limping back to Townsville.

With Thursday Island made unusable by the Japs the main aerial threat to the Japanese forces now came from Townsville, that hosted the largest aerodrome in this side of Australia. B-17's of the 403rd Bombardment Squadron drove in two waves and dropped several sticks of bombs from 15,000 feet. As in previous attacks these were ineffectual as they failed to hit any of the ships attacked.

They were joined by Hudson I's of the 6th RAAF Squadron flying at a much lower altitude (5000 feet). They converged on the crusier squadron that had bombarded Thursday Island yesterday and despte the fact that several ships were seen to be damaged and some even smoking from said damage, the enemy capital ships were able to put up an impressive amount of flak. Doggedly the Hudson's of the 6th insisted. One observer recorded a bomb hit on a cruiser but little damage was reported as it hit the ship's armoured shell.

Ultimately it was all in vain as by 15:45 a desperate radio signal was picked up by the signal unit at Cairns airfield, its origin Thursday Island:

***Overwhelming Japanese Assault Breached Defence***Fighting to last man and last Bullet***Am destroying radio Long Live Australia***

No more messages were received and no answers were made to repeated hails. A Hudson flying recon later on in the afternoon reported no sign of fighting in Thursday Island and indeed Japanese airplanes were seen lined up on the landing strip there. A brave struggle had come to an end

Ground combat at Thursday Island

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 15630 troops, 35 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 233

Defending force 5630 troops, 7 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 19

Japanese max assault: 219 - adjusted assault: 214

Allied max defense: 15 - adjusted defense: 29

Japanese assault odds: 7 to 1 (fort level 2)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Thursday Island base !!!

Allied aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft losses
Kittyhawk I: 1 destroyed
B-25C Mitchell: 4 destroyed

Japanese ground losses:
51 casualties reported

Allied ground losses:
5852 casualties reported
Guns lost 7

_____________________________

1966 was a great year for English Football...Eric was born

(in reply to cantona2)

Post #: 188

Post Ops - 10/4/2008 9:56:13 AM

cantona2

Posts: 3749
Joined: 5/21/2007
From: Gibraltar
Status: offline

With the fall of Thursday Island things have been quiet for a couple of days which has allowed some of the battered allied units to recover and strengthen their TO&E. Particularly the Kittyhawk, Mitchell and Marauder units that had been on Thrusday Island. Submarines are now the weapon of choice in this theatre. SS O-16 sunk a Japanese AP that was moving SW from TI. According to intel it was empty so i don't know if Herb was trying a recon to test the allied air strength.

The final tally for the battle was double the number allied a/c lost than Japanese. I lost one old Dutch AVD and Herb has lost a couple of transports but the biggest blow strategically was dealt by me as the Kaga and Akagi received damaging hits that will mean dry dock time giving me a slight superiority of numbers in terms of fleet carriers for a short while.

Elsewhere, barges have been spotted reinforcing Akyab and a couple of gun boats have been sent to try and disprut his operations. Likewise barges have been spotted at Tarawa. Operation Morsel is still on despite the fact that his CV's have disappeared off the radar. That said they will need some dock time as they have been in constant deployment since 12-42. Many of their escorts were also seen to be carrying some damage during the Thursday Island operation. His attention in the Coral Sea has allowed me to construct a powerful bastion and base for further ops in the Suva-Noumea-Luganville triangle.

< Message edited by cantona2 -- 10/5/2008 10:11:33 AM >

_____________________________

1966 was a great year for English Football...Eric was born

(in reply to cantona2)

Post #: 189

The Battle of Port Moresby - 10/5/2008 10:02:35 AM

cantona2

Posts: 3749
Joined: 5/21/2007
From: Gibraltar
Status: offline

Preliminary Operations

With the actions in the Bay of Carpentaria now over, the Japanese had removed their carreirs north-west. Two times search planes has found them and a Dutch submarine engaged repair fleet auxiliaries at Ambonia. Mayhaps the wounded Kaga and Akagi were patching up their wounds there?

Yet the perfidious Jap was not yet done in the Coral Sea. It was a clear last night of April when the sonar man on SS Grayling heard a multitude of contacts through his headphones. The skipper instructed his crew to intercept and the sub was made ready. The contacts were numerable but in his sights sat a juicy fat transport. Of four fish fired one struck home, the resounding explosion light up the surrounding sea and only then did the captian of the Grayling realise that he has stumbled upon a significant target. The search beams of destroyers criss-crossed the darkness as he ordered his ship down. Port Moresby was sure to be in for a hot couple of days.

Later on in the day a Catalina flying from Port Morseby itself confirmed the skippers suspicions. The invasion of Port Moersby was here. All the submarines in the area were vectored in to the possible approach routes of the Japanese ships.

Meanwhile, far to the West, a second destroyer recon force gathering intel for Operation Morsel once again approached all the way to Tarawa without detection. Likewise no minefields were detected near the atoll. What they did find was a small transport leaving the atoll. It was quickly dispatched but being discovered unsettled the Allied High Command. What implications would this have for Morsel?

< Message edited by cantona2 -- 10/5/2008 10:12:53 AM >

_____________________________

1966 was a great year for English Football...Eric was born

(in reply to cantona2)

Post #: 190

RE: The Battle of Port Moresby - 10/5/2008 10:09:23 AM

cantona2

Posts: 3749
Joined: 5/21/2007
From: Gibraltar
Status: offline

Elsewhere in the theatre allied submarines were once again in action. The Grayling took another shot at the Port Morseby invasion force but missed, luckily she also avoided the attentions of the escoting destroyers. In Port Arthur the SS Seawolf hit one transport and missed on another. There seems to be heavy merchant traffic in this are so it will hang around for a few days to see what other mischief it can get up to!

An AP that had hit some residual mines at Port Blair sank in the middle of the Indian Ocean. Its gratifying to read that you can still hurt your enemy even after he has driven you away. In Noumea the 8th NZ Brigade has boarded its transports and is heading to Canton Island to rendevous with the other units that will take place in Morsel.

The AS that had been travelling all the way from Colobmo to Broome is now approaching Darwin. Herb in his emails now thinks this is a carrier force wanting to get him via the back door. Good as he wont be suspecting them turning up at Tarawa in about a weeks time. Yet this convoy was attacked, and missed by planes the lookouts on the escorting cruisers described as B-17's. Could the Japs be using frames they had taken in the Phillipines?

Japanese 'B-17'

Attachment (1)

< Message edited by cantona2 -- 10/5/2008 8:31:51 PM >

_____________________________

1966 was a great year for English Football...Eric was born

(in reply to cantona2)

Post #: 191

RE: The Battle of Port Moresby - 10/5/2008 7:02:15 PM

cantona2

Posts: 3749
Joined: 5/21/2007
From: Gibraltar
Status: offline

Port Moresby

Heavy Japanese surface units bombard Port Moresby during the night and substantially add to the damage around the base, indeed they damage the few remaining aircraft at the base!

Naval bombardment of Port Moresby, at 54,93

Allied aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft losses
Catalina I: 2 destroyed

Japanese Ships
CA Mikuma
CA Ashigara
CA Nachi
CA Haguro
CA Myoko

Allied ground losses:
542 casualties reported
Guns lost 3
Vehicles lost 1

Airbase hits 6
Airbase supply hits 4
Runway hits 73
Port hits 1
Port supply hits 1

Yet all is not ill tidings. The ring of Allied submarines around Port Moresby once again strikes. Another troop laden transport eats two torpedoes launched by the SS O-16. The ship was not obsereved to be sinking but she was certainly damaged. The wolf pack of allied subs is hounding the Japanese convoys all the way in. Indeed SS Bass spent the day and most of the night evading destroyer escorts.

Meanwhile in the Arafura Sea SS Porpoise, enroute to refuel at Darwin, came across a carrier task force heading north-west, possibly Ambonia. It has postponed its refueling mission in lieu of tagging this convoy to hopefully vector in bombers from Darwin.

_____________________________

1966 was a great year for English Football...Eric was born

(in reply to cantona2)

Post #: 192

RE: The Battle of Port Moresby - 10/6/2008 6:01:57 PM

cantona2

Posts: 3749
Joined: 5/21/2007
From: Gibraltar
Status: offline

Japanese Divisions make Landfall at Port Morseby

The night sky had periodically been broken by bright flashes of light just off the approaches to Port Moresby. The carefully laid minefields had been able to disrupt and damage Japanese efforts at landing in Port Moresby. That and an alert CD commander made sure that the Port Moresby invasion was the last operation for plenty of Japanese soldiers. Still they did manage to land and in overwhelming force. The days, if not hours for Port Moresby are counted.

-----------------
TF 44 encounters mine field at Port Moresby (54,93)

Japanese Ships
AP Yawata Maru, Mine hits 1

Japanese ground losses:
36 casualties reported

---------------------
TF 1 encounters mine field at Port Moresby (54,93)

TF 1 troops unloading over beach at Port Moresby, 54,93

Japanese Ships
PG Eifuku Maru
DD Sagi
AK Goryu Maru, Mine hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

Coastal Guns at Port Moresby, 54,93, firing at TF 1
232 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Japanese Ships
DD Ikazuchi
DD Sazanami
DD Sawakaze
PG Eifuku Maru, Shell hits 1

Japanese ground losses:
2985 casualties reported
Guns lost 5

---------------------
TF 1 encounters mine field at Port Moresby (54,93)

TF 1 troops unloading over beach at Port Moresby, 54,93

Japanese Ships
DD Sagi
DD Ikazuchi
AP Hotsukawa Maru, Mine hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

Japanese ground losses:
24 casualties reported

Coastal Guns at Port Moresby, 54,93, firing at TF 1
273 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Japanese Ships
DD Ikazuchi, Shell hits 1
PG Eifuku Maru

Japanese ground losses:
2576 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Allied ground losses:
6 casualties reported

---------------------
TF 44 encounters mine field at Port Moresby (54,93)

TF 44 troops unloading over beach at Port Moresby, 54,93

Japanese Ships
PG Iwate
AP Shoka Maru, Mine hits 1, on fire

Japanese ground losses:
58 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Coastal Guns at Port Moresby, 54,93, firing at TF 44
79 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Japanese Ships
PG Iwate, Shell hits 1

Japanese ground losses:
1246 casualties reported

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

Unfortunately Allied submarines could not deliver the same success as yesterday. Japanese escort vessels were more alert to the threat posed and many of the were chased off. SS Triton did not report in, her last recevied message was one of mayday! Its is feared she as been lost.

Japanese Landing Force at Port Moresby

Attachment (1)

_____________________________

1966 was a great year for English Football...Eric was born

(in reply to cantona2)

Post #: 193

RE: The Battle of Port Moresby - 10/6/2008 6:16:45 PM

Shark7

Posts: 7937
Joined: 7/24/2007
From: The Big Nowhere
Status: offline

Looks like PM is being hit in force. 5 Full divisions and enough engineers and artillery to constitute the equivalent of a 6th.

_____________________________

Distant Worlds Fan

'When in doubt...attack!'

(in reply to cantona2)

Post #: 194

RE: The Battle of Port Moresby - 10/6/2008 6:31:07 PM

cantona2

Posts: 3749
Joined: 5/21/2007
From: Gibraltar
Status: offline

Indeed it is. Its a massive hammer

_____________________________

1966 was a great year for English Football...Eric was born

(in reply to Shark7)

Post #: 195

RE: The Battle of Port Moresby - 10/6/2008 6:35:00 PM

cantona2

Posts: 3749
Joined: 5/21/2007
From: Gibraltar
Status: offline

It will be interesting to know if these divisions then try to make landfall in Australia or the NC-Fiji region.

_____________________________

1966 was a great year for English Football...Eric was born

(in reply to cantona2)

Post #: 196

RE: The Battle of Port Moresby - 10/7/2008 6:45:58 PM

cantona2

Posts: 3749
Joined: 5/21/2007
From: Gibraltar
Status: offline

The battle continues for one more day at Port Morseby. More transports hit mines but more Japanese troops hit the shore. The AP Jinshu Maru was seen to flounder and sink just of the coast of New Guinea, a victim of the SS O-16. DD Mineagumo, pounded by the coastal guns on Thursday Island was reported sunk by the Japanese at Ambonia. The signal back to Combined Fleet was intercepted by signallers at Dariwn. Though the hardy gunners of Thursday Island were now POW's they certainly aided the war effort by sinking a Japanese destroyer. Though the battle goes on it will not go on for much longer as the Japanese totally outnumber and out gun us at PM.

The question now is what next???????

_____________________________

1966 was a great year for English Football...Eric was born

(in reply to cantona2)

Post #: 197

End of April 42 SitReps - 10/7/2008 8:01:35 PM

cantona2

Posts: 3749
Joined: 5/21/2007
From: Gibraltar
Status: offline

April has seen a lot of action at the Northern and Southern ends of the theatre of operations. Mandalay and the rest of Burma were swallowed up while the most intense and exciting action happened in the Arafura Sea and the Bay of Carpentaria. Thursday Island was occupied and Port Moresby is about to fall. In China the IJA has begun a massive central offensive but Chinese troops hold fast in Sinyang and Honan. Operation Morsel is gathering pace and will probably get the go ahead in early May 42. May 42 has also seen the upgrading of many RAF squadrons. The remnants of the Buffalo squadrons that fought in Malaya have upgraded to Hurricanes. Likewise some Blenheim squadrons have upgrades to Wellingtons and Martlets have repaced Fulmars on the decks of RN flat tops.

Scores.

Empire of Japan.

Attachment (1)

_____________________________

1966 was a great year for English Football...Eric was born

(in reply to cantona2)

Post #: 198

Battle of Port Moresby - 10/8/2008 4:49:52 PM

cantona2

Posts: 3749
Joined: 5/21/2007
From: Gibraltar
Status: offline

The inevitable happend early in afternoon today. The hard pressed defenders of Port Moresby surrendered in the face of immense Japanese superority in numbers and firepower. A two week campaign thus conlcuded. Australia was now directly threatend and the quick supply route to Darwin shut and all resupply efforts would have to go via Western Australia. Yet Australia should be proud of her sons that so vlaiantly fought back against a determined and plentiful enemy. Is the Battle for Australia about to begin?

Ground combat at Port Moresby

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 92561 troops, 410 guns, 4 vehicles, Assault Value = 1769

Defending force 8697 troops, 56 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 182

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 2

Japanese max assault: 1522 - adjusted assault: 1241

Allied max defense: 132 - adjusted defense: 47

Japanese assault odds: 26 to 1 (fort level 2)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Port Moresby base !!!

Allied aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft losses
A-24 Dauntless: 2 destroyed
Catalina I: 1 destroyed

Japanese ground losses:
588 casualties reported
Guns lost 5

Allied ground losses:
10629 casualties reported
Guns lost 42

_____________________________

1966 was a great year for English Football...Eric was born

(in reply to cantona2)

Post #: 199

RE: Battle of Port Moresby - 10/9/2008 6:18:58 PM

cantona2

Posts: 3749
Joined: 5/21/2007
From: Gibraltar
Status: offline

As the dust settles after Port Moresby USN Carriers Enterprise and Saratoga leave Pearl Harbour. On their tails follow the 25th Infantry Division and awaiting them at Canton Island are the Lexington and several bombardment and surface combat task forces as well as other assault units ear marked for Morsel. The first blow will come with the taking of Nanumea Atoll followed by the main assault on Tarawa itslef.

Quiet flows the Pacific Ocean...

_____________________________

1966 was a great year for English Football...Eric was born

(in reply to cantona2)

Post #: 200

RE: Battle of Port Moresby - 10/9/2008 9:18:50 PM

Jones944

Posts: 153
Joined: 3/3/2008
Status: offline

Still loving this AAR. I've been following it from day one and so feel an emotional attachment to this game. Can't wait for updates!

_____________________________

"Cry 'Havoc,' and let slip the dogs of war" - William Shakespeare, "Julius Caesar"

(in reply to cantona2)

Post #: 201

RE: Battle of Port Moresby - 10/10/2008 7:18:59 AM

cantona2

Posts: 3749
Joined: 5/21/2007
From: Gibraltar
Status: offline

Many thanks Jones. I hope to keep the entertainment coming.

_____________________________

1966 was a great year for English Football...Eric was born

(in reply to Jones944)

Post #: 202

Calm after the Storm - 10/10/2008 4:42:04 PM

cantona2

Posts: 3749
Joined: 5/21/2007
From: Gibraltar
Status: offline

Japanese transport ships are withdrawing from Port Moresby but this time the day goes to the escorts and planes on ASW duty. They were able to suppress my submarines and heavily damaged the Pickerel that was tagging the KB. Yet a 10 submarine wolfpack is stalking Jap ships across the Torres Straits and the Arafura Sea. Liberators out of Darwin finally made their mark from altitude by hitting a merchant ship with two bombs. We shall continue hounding the Japanese ships as far as we can before retiring the subs in need of refitting and rotating others out to station.

Herbie has alluded in his last email that he intends to carry on the offensive and the way i see it he has two options judging where his current strength is. Australia or the New Caledonia area. Yet if he goes there why has he withdrawn his carriers north? Both these areas are far from LBA support and have been heavily built up. Ive sort of let it 'known' that i have heavy surface and carrier units ready to defend Australia to deflect attetnion from Morsel. The war of misinformation has begun ;)

< Message edited by cantona2 -- 10/10/2008 7:57:09 PM >

_____________________________

1966 was a great year for English Football...Eric was born

(in reply to cantona2)

Post #: 203

RE: Calm after the Storm - 10/10/2008 4:52:48 PM

cantona2

Posts: 3749
Joined: 5/21/2007
From: Gibraltar
Status: offline

Operation Morsel: Initial Operations and Build Up.

The ground work for Operation Morsel has begun to be laid down. the 11th CBT Engineers landed on the Japanese controlled atoll of Nanumea and found it ungarrisoned. It will provide another float plane base from which to observe the air and water around Tarawa and cut off another safe approach route for his submarines and ships. In Tarawa itself SS Haddock enaged and sunk a barge engaged in resupplying operations. Two more subs are staking out the approaches and a third will join them heading down from the Kwajaelin Area. Nukufetau has been built up enough to run basic aerial ops and soon recon flights will be flying over the Tarawa region from here.

Composition of Main Forces for Operation Morsel

Carrier Division 1: CV Lexington, BB Tennesse, CA Chester, CA Portland
Carrier Division 2: CV Enterprise, BB Warspite, CA Northampton, CL Honolulu
Carrier Division 3: CV Saratoga, CA Salt Lake City, CA Portland, CLAA Atlanta.

The three fastest battleships in the Pacific Fleet make up a bombardment task force while other surface units will provide escort, ASW and MSW task forces/

'M' Force

25th Infantry Division
24th RCT
8th New Zealand Brigade
183rd Field Artillery Regiment
762nd Light Tank Battalion

Follow Up Forces

15th USAAF Base Force
71st US Base Force
8th Marine Coastal Defence
1st Marine Para Battalion

< Message edited by cantona2 -- 10/10/2008 5:00:27 PM >

_____________________________

1966 was a great year for English Football...Eric was born

(in reply to cantona2)

Post #: 204

RE: Calm after the Storm - 10/10/2008 4:57:11 PM

cantona2

Posts: 3749
Joined: 5/21/2007
From: Gibraltar
Status: offline

Elsewhere in the theatre:

Landings were reported in the Nicobar Islands. Coast watchers reported a number of destroyers unloading troops there, one hit a mine and was seen to be drifting on fire. A RN CV has departed Colombo to try a quick lightning raid on the Nicobars if possible. If they engage it will be the operational debut of the Martlet. US submarines had a field day over two days in Shangai. Three ships were hit and two sunk, one a tanker that was carrying an oil cargo. The cut off Japanese troops to the West of Hankow were finally mopped up after what seems weeks of assaults.�

< Message edited by cantona2 -- 10/10/2008 7:59:13 PM >

_____________________________

1966 was a great year for English Football...Eric was born

(in reply to cantona2)

Post #: 205

RE: Calm after the Storm - 10/10/2008 5:04:30 PM

goodboyladdie

Posts: 3469
Joined: 11/18/2005
From: Rendlesham, Suffolk
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: cantona2

Carrier Division 1: CV Lexington, BB Tennesse, CA Chester, CA Portland
Carrier Division 2: CV Enterprise, BB Warspite, CA Northampton, CL Honolulu
Carrier Division 3: CV Saratoga, CA Salt Lake City, CA Portland, CLAA Atlanta.

The three fastest battleships in the Pacific Fleet make up a bombardment task force while other surface units will provide escort, ASW and MSW task forces/

Isn't this the wrong way round? Shouldn't the fast BBs be used as CV escorts to allow your CVTFs to move as quickly as possible while the older BBs provide bombardment support to the invasion force?

_____________________________

Art by the amazing Dixie

(in reply to cantona2)

Post #: 206

RE: Calm after the Storm - 10/10/2008 5:09:59 PM

cantona2

Posts: 3749
Joined: 5/21/2007
From: Gibraltar
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: goodboyladdie

quote:

ORIGINAL: cantona2

Carrier Division 1: CV Lexington, BB Tennesse, CA Chester, CA Portland
Carrier Division 2: CV Enterprise, BB Warspite, CA Northampton, CL Honolulu
Carrier Division 3: CV Saratoga, CA Salt Lake City, CA Portland, CLAA Atlanta.

The three fastest battleships in the Pacific Fleet make up a bombardment task force while other surface units will provide escort, ASW and MSW task forces/

Isn't this the wrong way round? Shouldn't the fast BBs be used as CV escorts to allow your CVTFs to move as quickly as possible while the older BBs provide bombardment support to the invasion force?

Yep thats true! My thinking was quick bombardment, out quick and let the carriers cover the landings from a safe distance. Thanks GBL.

_____________________________

1966 was a great year for English Football...Eric was born

(in reply to goodboyladdie)

Post #: 207

RE: Calm after the Storm - 10/10/2008 5:10:21 PM

Shark7

Posts: 7937
Joined: 7/24/2007
From: The Big Nowhere
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: goodboyladdie

quote:

ORIGINAL: cantona2

Carrier Division 1: CV Lexington, BB Tennesse, CA Chester, CA Portland
Carrier Division 2: CV Enterprise, BB Warspite, CA Northampton, CL Honolulu
Carrier Division 3: CV Saratoga, CA Salt Lake City, CA Portland, CLAA Atlanta.

The three fastest battleships in the Pacific Fleet make up a bombardment task force while other surface units will provide escort, ASW and MSW task forces/

Isn't this the wrong way round? Shouldn't the fast BBs be used as CV escorts to allow your CVTFs to move as quickly as possible while the older BBs provide bombardment support to the invasion force?

I can see why he might reverse the roles...that being to limit the amount of time the bombardment TF would be exposed to LBA. The carriers can stand-off from the target, possibly out of range of LBA while the Bombardment TF must enter range to engage. Another might be the AAA loadouts at this time of the war. You'd probably want your heaviest AAA platforms with the carriers, which will be a prime target for LBA.

_____________________________

Distant Worlds Fan

'When in doubt...attack!'

(in reply to goodboyladdie)

Post #: 208

RE: Calm after the Storm - 10/10/2008 5:10:49 PM

cantona2

Posts: 3749
Joined: 5/21/2007
From: Gibraltar
Status: offline

BTW ive not tampered with the air groups on the carriers. each has one Wildcat, two Dauntless and one Devastator Squadron aboard.

_____________________________

1966 was a great year for English Football...Eric was born

(in reply to cantona2)

Post #: 209

RE: Calm after the Storm - 10/10/2008 5:11:37 PM

cantona2

Posts: 3749
Joined: 5/21/2007
From: Gibraltar
Status: offline

Shark7 put it more eloquently that i did lol.

_____________________________

1966 was a great year for English Football...Eric was born

(in reply to cantona2)

Post #: 210

Page: << < prev 5 6 [7] 8 9 next > >>

All Forums >> [Current Games From Matrix.] >> [World War II] >> War In The Pacific - Struggle Against Japan 1941 - 1945 >> After Action Reports >> RE: The Battle of the Bay of Carpentaria