John 3rd
Posts: 17178
Joined: 9/8/2005 From: La Salle, Colorado Status: offline
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March 23, 1942 Damn. I really don't know where to start. OK. Let's hit the action and then shift to a BUTTLOAD of planning. Northampton Infantry continues to fan out on all points of the compass driving to targets north, west, and south. The air battle has pretty good results this day: RAID ONE: 52 Zero pounce on 10 2EB and shot down ALL of them (B-26--Hudson). None of them survive to drop their bombloads. NICE! RAID TWO: 52 Zero make endless attacks upon a tight formation of 24 B-17. Success for the Japanese occurs within this attack also. THREE of the monsters are shot down with another dozen or so shot-up pretty badly. The bombs hit the Airbase 5 times and the Runways take 8 hits with 4 Vals destroyed on the ground. Damage is minimal and we continue wearing down the bombing crews. A Daitai of M2 flyout to Koumac where they will transfer to KB and a Sentai of Sally replace them. A little bit of payback is planned with a swipe at Bribane planned. NW Australia Bombers strike all THREE Aussie ID this day. I had lost track of the 4th ID and find it two hexes from Alice Springs moving south. 3rd ID is moving south from Daly Waters and the 2nd--for some reason--is hanging out around Daly. Pulling these boys back but NOT FAST ENOUGH! Keep bombing them to slow them down. Western Australia The Tk Reg that landed at Carnavon finish off the Base Force from that base with 72-1 attack. Order them to move south in march formation towards Geraldton. Lew has Transports flying into Kalgoorlie. The rest of 2nd Raiders dropped and encountered a small amount of infantry present. Attack was barely 1-2. Rest the Paras (Disruption is 72%) and will strike again in a couple of days. Ket detail is the hex is now fully contested so the RR won't work to move troops. This is all I want when it comes right down to it. Order Paras to shift targets for tomorrow. SS Ops Have decided to open a daily Aust SS Operations Page because it is now Dec 7th all over again BABY! Aussie ships are fleeing the east coast and moving towards--what they THINK is--safety at Melbourne. My sharks are having a BLAST: I-175 sinks (two attacks) AP Sarpedonia near Newcastle I-23 sinks AP Darvel near Canberra A convoy is fleeing south near where I-23 struck. At least 12-15 ships there. Order 4 I-Boats to intercept. Melbourne Minefield hasn't been noticed/hit yet. It will be a rude surprise when it is found. PLANNING Anyone who reads my AARs know that Operational detail work is something that I hate. Great at coming up with vision and plans but implementation can be tedious and BORING. These are the EXACT words I will use for the last two turns setting up the upcoming landings. Have shuffled transports into other TF, have replenished ships to get them out to escort and provide cover, have shown operational flexibility reflecting changes in the situation. Details time: Western Australia Geraldton Invasion Force starts its run-in from Exmouth. We are at D-2 for this landing. Composition: 4th and 16th ID, 2 Art units, an Air Div, and 2 Con Bn. Escort is BB Fuso and 5 DD. Esperance Invasion Force is created reflecting operational reality. A FAST TF is formed of APs and AKs carrying 2nd ID, 4th Ind Mix Brig, and 6th Tk Reg. D-Day is the 30th. Escort is provided by 3 CA, 1 CL, and 5 DD. Hiryu is halfway down from Soerabaja. Another Escort TF is in the same position adding 1 CA, 2 CL, and 4 DD to potential Cover help. THINKING: Swinging around to Esperance will provide a pincer movement cutting off Perth and allowing me to get up to Kalgoorlie quickly. If, BIG IF, I can take Esperance easily then 2nd ID moves--by ship--to Augusta. There will be no landing bonus but I do want this chokepoint. Eastern Australia Port Kembla IF consists of 18th, 33rd, and 48th ID with 1st Air Flot and 91st Base Force. Two BBs (Hyuga and Ise) protect it and will provide heavy gun support. Newcastle IF holds 21st and 56th ID, 25th Army HQ, 2nd Air Flot, 92nd, and 93rd Base Forces. Nagato and Mutsu protect these troops. OPERATIONAL RESERVE: 38th ID. This ID might get immediate orders to move south and land at Sale (near Melbourne) IF--BIG IF--things look easy at Sydney. Hobart IF carries Imperial Guards Brig and 93rd Base Force. KB leave Noumea carrying 6 Daitai of Zero, 2 of Vals, and 4 of Kate. In addition to covering the Landings they will seek targets of opportunity. The TF move to a position south of Lord Howe and await KB's arrival and then we GO IN! D-Day is March 30th. Talk about cutting it THIN on the Landing Bonus! BANZAI BABY!
< Message edited by John 3rd -- 5/3/2012 7:07:34 PM >
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