Where are the Jap CVs???

Matrix Games Forums

Forums Register Login Photo Gallery Member List Search Calendars FAQ

My Profile Inbox Address Book My Subscription My Forums Log Out

Where are the Jap CVs???

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] >> Uncommon Valor - Campaign for the South Pacific >> After Action Reports >> Where are the Jap CVs???

Page: [1]

Message

<< Older Topic Newer Topic >>

Where are the Jap CVs??? - 5/27/2002 12:25:43 AM

SKillelea

Posts: 16
Joined: 4/26/2002
Status: offline

This is part Allied AAR, part question.

I am in late September 42 of the non-historical long campaign (no Midway).

In early May, the Japanese invaded and captured Gili Gili at a price of several troop transports to the Lexington and Yorktown. Unfortunately, the Japanese carriers Shokaku, Zuikaku and Shoho made a long range attack against my CVs whose air-ops were cancelled by the weather. Both the US CVs were hit with a bomb each and were in the low 20s system damage, so I decided to withdrawl.

In early June the Japs have landed at PM and I am really reeling. I have picked up a third CV by now (Hornet) and a fourth on the way (Enterprise). I decide to send out the Hornet and Yorktown to interdict shipping to PM and bring up the Lex and Enterprise when the Big E arrives. I also sent the two cruisers, light cruiser and two DDs to intercept Transports.

The surface force fares well at first, mauling a transport group at PM, but then a Jap bombardment fleet shows up and all but eliminates the small Cruiser group. My carriers are in position for payback as the bombardment fleet leaves, and I catch them off Gili Gili, damaging and eventually sinking the BB Hiei and a couple of other surface combatants. I also send Troop Transports to reinforce PM and drive the Japanese back into the sea.

Emboldened by my victories, and the lack of Jap carrier response, I hastily assemble an invasion of Gili Gili. I have my 4 carriers together now, 3 or 4 hexes south of Gili Gili, and I provide massive fighter cover for the invasion fleet, severely mauling the Jap LBA. Still no Jap carriers since the first engagement.

After Gili Gili falls, and I am reinforcing my position there with another transport group, I finally get signs of a Jap carrier group as Vals and Kates get mauled by the carrier based CAP over the landing force.

With their weakened airgroups, I press to attack the Jap carriers, sinking the Shoho and damaging the Shokaku. The Junyo was also reported sighted, but my planes did it no damage. The depleted Japanese airgroups managed one bomb hit on the Enterprise, for minimal damage.

This was the last I have seen of ANY Japanese carriers. It is now September 29th, and I have reinforced PM, Gili Gili, Buna, invaded and recaptured Guadacanal (the Japanese had built up quite a force there while I was preoccupied with PM), and have the complete initiative. I have yet to see the Akagi, Kaga, Hiryu, Soryu, and most of the other Jap CVs. The only other CV I saw was in late June when a US Sub attacked the Zuikaku, but didn't report any hits.

The Japs have had their troop transports and surface combatants mauled trying to reinforce positions without CV cover, and probably will not be able to recover and regain the initiative due to their losses. With the arrival of the Saratoga and Wasp, I even sent the Lexington back to Pearl with high 20s system damage, due to the lack of enemy CV activity.

So my question is where are the Jap CVs? Is it conceiveable that they simply have not been allocated to the theatre? I was reeling in June with the landings at PM, and had the Japanese shown up with 4-6 big carriers, may not have recovered for quite some time, if at all.

Anyone else have an experience like this with no major Japanese CV activity from middle June through September (without the anihilation of their CVs, that is)?

SKillelea

Post #: 1

Where are the US CV's? - 5/27/2002 8:39:49 AM

Potsy

Posts: 12
Joined: 5/18/2002
From: Central California
Status: offline

You know, I was wondering the same thing in my game AS the Japanese. I met Lex and York in mid May and damaged both. It is now july 12 and I haven't seen and US carriers. I now have 6 carriers and have taken gili gili. Not only have I seen no cv's, but I have yet to see a B-17! SHouldn't they be flattening Lae from PM by now? Shouldn't they be bombing my transports unloading at gili gili? My CV's are now between PM and Australia massacring transports. Still no response.

Luckily, I'm in 3 PBeM games, and they are very exciting.

(in reply to SKillelea)

Post #: 2

double post - 5/27/2002 10:06:15 AM

Potsy

Posts: 12
Joined: 5/18/2002
From: Central California
Status: offline

oops

(in reply to SKillelea)

Post #: 3

- 5/27/2002 10:54:05 AM

dgaad

Posts: 864
Joined: 7/25/2001
From: Hockeytown
Status: offline

I had a similar experience as Allied.

The Japanese took Buna and Gili Gili, during which operation I had an engagement with their carriers, sinking the Ryuho and damaging several others.

I eventually retook Gili and Buna (by July) and landed on Guadalcanal and built up Lunga in short order. Aside from one additonal carrier raid on my troops at Gili, the Jap carriers have all but dissappeared. I've sent my 5 carriers on raids to Shortland and even Rabaul, with zero response from their carriers. I haven't even sighted one since sometime in July.

_____________________________

Last time I checked, the forums were messed up. ;)

(in reply to SKillelea)

Post #: 4

- 5/28/2002 1:54:09 PM

Mike Wood

Posts: 2095
Joined: 3/29/2000
From: Oakland, California
Status: offline

Hello...

The Japanese computer artificial intelligence, aware that you are a fierce opponent and that he doesn't have the sense that God gave geese, is playing cautiously. Having read all the AARs about computer opponents that fed in carriers piece meal and had them ground to iron filings by land based aircraft, he is saving his carriers until he can martial sufficient resources for a major and decisive attack where and when you least expect it.

Of course, he doesn't think in such a colorful manner, being more inclinded to calculate the mathmatics of the situation.

There are, none the less, things you could do to really tick him off and draw out his carriers. For instance, invade Rabaul.

Patience...

Michael Wood

__________________________________________________

[QUOTE]Originally posted by dgaad
[B]I had a similar experience as Allied.

The Japanese took Buna and Gili Gili, during which operation I had an engagement with their carriers, sinking the Ryuho and damaging several others.

I eventually retook Gili and Buna (by July) and landed on Guadalcanal and built up Lunga in short order. Aside from one additonal carrier raid on my troops at Gili, the Jap carriers have all but dissappeared. I've sent my 5 carriers on raids to Shortland and even Rabaul, with zero response from their carriers. I haven't even sighted one since sometime in July. [/B][/QUOTE]

(in reply to SKillelea)

Post #: 5

- 5/28/2002 11:47:28 PM

The Gnome

Posts: 1233
Joined: 5/17/2002
From: Philadelphia, PA
Status: offline

In the long scenario I didn't get a carrier on carrier battle until 8/12/42 when I landed the 1st Marine's on Lunga. Then all hell broke lose when the IJN sent 4CV's and a CVL to the north east of the Solomons chain. They were met by 4 carriers of the USN and the fun ensued ;)

(in reply to SKillelea)

Post #: 6

Sitting in Japan - 5/30/2002 12:23:41 AM

SKillelea

Posts: 16
Joined: 4/26/2002
Status: offline

Well, it is mid to late November, and still no sign of the Japanese carriers. I have been fairly agressive, solidifying my position on Guadacanal, pounding Rabaul with LBA and brutalizing Shortland with LBA and carrier strikes (caught the Musashi at port and I couldn't tell you how many bomb hits were reported) as well as bombardment TFS (although only with CAs since I have received no BBs from Pearl), and establishing bases on Russel Is. and San Cristobal (irau).

Finally, my curiosity got the best of me.

I went to the saved game I wrote my original post on, and checked on the Jap CVs (mid-Sept 42). To my surprise, while I had been turning the tide in New Guinea and Guadacanal, the Jap Carriers were available but not allocated. Akagi, Kaga, Hiryu, Soryu, Hiyo, Ryujo and Zuiho were all sitting in Japan, in spite of the chance for allocation to the theatre as high. The only carriers in theatre were the Junyo and the CVE Unyo.

As an interesting aside, the only time I saw the Zuikaku was during that submarine attack, and it didn't mention any hits scored, but one must have hit, because she was back in Japan for repairs.

Talk about high command screwing a theatre commander. It would suck to play pbem and have all the assets you need to have a chance sitting there tauntingly in Japan or Pearl while you get your butt handed to you. I am just glad it was them and not me.

I wonder if/when the Japanese are going to allocate the carriers as there is still no sign in Mid November. I am planning my invasion of Shortland currently. We will see if that convinces the emperor.

SKillelea

(in reply to SKillelea)

Post #: 7

Page: [1]

All Forums >> [Current Games From Matrix.] >> [World War II] >> Uncommon Valor - Campaign for the South Pacific >> After Action Reports >> Where are the Jap CVs???

Page: [1]