Yeah, you can see him in his control room, hands in pockets, a focused poisonous stare and frantically chewing gum lest he bites someone's head off instead.

30th August


Well, I know where his carriers are at.

http://img836.imageshack.us/img836/9710/83081546.jpg

Two sorties of Betties, hungry for more easy victories, took off to deal with a small USN cruiser force that had been reported by patrol aircraft. The reports of Dauntless running search patrols in the area were ignored by intel as 'some biscuit crumbs on the radar screens or something,' and, thus, Betty ran into a snarling cloud of Wildcats. 14 'Flying Lighters' finally lived up to their name. Needless to say, they never got a torpedo hit. Barely even saw the ships in fact.

At least I know where his carriers are now, and it looks like he has two. I have several subs in the area but they will probably not get into position in time, especially if he's heading towards Milne Bay. Or, err, Rabaul. I think he might not have enjoyed the last turn. :)

KB1 finished her patrol by watching in horror as several waves of B-17s reached out from Oz on Naval strike duty. As Naval Attacks by 4E bombers is somewhat nerfed now compared to earlier builds of the game, it's kind of an inefficient move, but one I would have totally tried myself if I had no torpedo bombers or dive bombers in the area. You can always hope for a lucky hit, and the B-17s are so stupidly Zero-proof that you don't risk that much. They never got any hits, though, Neither did a follow up Havoc attack.

KB1's job here is done. CCIP has pulled all his big ships (in fact everything,) away from PNG for the time being and there is no reason to waste the carriers fuel. The SCTF which - I have now named TF Battlebang because I can - nosed into Milne bay and away again. I hadn't had her set to Bombardment as I expected cruisers and didn't want to waste ammo.

At Shortlands, the supply convoy was buzzed by divebombers frying at range from the US carriers. it has been given orders to head back to Rabaul as I don't want it caught by CCIP. If it gets out now, it will be under KB1s CAP umbrella by the time his Carriers react (and react they will.) Whether that will help them is a matter of some frantic and cynical betting within Combined Fleet's tastefully decorated bunker.

Thoughts

The timings are wrong for this to be a reaction to what happened yesterday, and we know that his carriers were already at sea. He is covering a convoy, having learned now that the best way to do it is to carry your own fighter wing along. If he sweeps up he'll run into my carriers. I still have plenty of fuel and aircraft sorties left on board but I'm running low on torpedoes. Mind you, the presence of a wounded - even slightly - Saratoga is a tempting target.

I'm every annoyed by the loss of the Bettys. They could have had fighter cover from KB1 and the Zeroes at Rabaul, all of whom are using Drop tanks to extend their range out to 14 hexes. but they paid a big price for screwing up.

The Yamamoto hairdrier? :03:

31st August

All quiet. Task Force 3, carrying an engineering unit from Wewak to Rabaul was attacked by Havocs flying much further north than previously. It seems to be a shift by CCIP. I'm not overly concerned but lucky hits happen. TF3 has been granted Long range CAP for the next part of her journey.

The 6th KuS squadron arrived in Rabaul with their Zeroes. I've actually upgraded them to the A6M3 model which is land based only. The squads old M2s have been returned to the pool where they will be used to fill out one of my land based but carrier capable squadrons before they embark on CVE Unyo which is on it's way from Truk. I also have a Squadron of Vals I mean to put on board her. She will mostly be used for covering convoys for the foreseeable future.

Patrol aircraft show lots of shipping at Guadalcanal. A largish resupply effort is underway. I thought again about sending KB1 south but the fact that her escorts need fuel strengthened by decision to send them back to Truk.

Several army regiments arrived on Truk. They are being prepared for action at Moresby and Milne bay. Another couple of units are being prepped for action within the Slot, although this is more to screw with CCIP's intel than anything else. My main focus is Moresby, then Milne bay (although I may have to take Milne in order to secure the route around the tip of PNG.) I will also lands troops at Buna and have them move up to reinforce the troops on the Kokoda trail.

Point wise, CCIP is way ahead of me because he holds Tulagi and Lunga. I can put myself back into the lead by taking Moresby. The totals just now are roughly CCIP on 6000 and me on about 600. By taking Moresby this swings, 4000 - 8000 or so in my favour. Looking at the victory points may not be the most authentic way to follow the progress of a war, and it doesn't take into account the true strategic picture that well, but it's a nice snapshot. I lead on points from aircraft destroyed and ships sunk. Unfortunately neither carrier have given up their points yet, although they are still reading as sunk.

I want to take Moresby out of the picture sometime before Christmas. I have a major problem in that even though I now have the troops do it, I have very, very little carrying capacity; plenty of shipping but only for supplies. I will start converting cargo space to troop space on several of the faster steamers. How I would love some APAs.

1st Sep

Quiet again.

I amused myself by shifting some units around. A PA squad arrives at Rabaul from Truk with orders to patrol the approaches to Guadalcanal. His carriers are hiding just out of range just now and I would like to pinpoint them.

Another detachment of Betties arrived, which is good because the lot of them have been loaded with torpedoes and set to naval attack. This time they should - should - fly with two squadrons of Zeroes in escort. Whether this will happen is, unfortunately, anyones guess. I've always had trouble coordinating aircraft properly - and I know I'm not the only one. It's curious that a game that places so much in your hands seems to sometimes remove control just when you need it the most. Naval strikes are one of those issues, not being able to have more say over aircraft coordination is another.

I'm also atempting to overcome my lack of troops ships by converting several xAKs to APs. I hadn't tried this earlier because, well, I thought they needed a proper shipyard to convert. Half a dozen or so are converting at Truk, and I think I have about another three or four that can also convert out at sea with different convoys. I have also begun converting two other steamers into ammunition tenders (AKE) and may convert one more into another AR. I don't want to go overboard as I don't have an unlimited supply of steamers but I may look at some other types as well.

@ Krauter: I Checked the info screen of the Yamato for whether they shells are correct or not but I couldn't see anything either way. It's possible that this is buried away in the database somewhere but I've never used the scenario editor and have no idea where to begin.

2nd Sep

...And we're back!

Betty flew en mass with a stout escort and ruined the USNs morning. For the loss of 2 Zeroes and 1 Betty (+6 damaged,) we sank two xAPs, probably sank a third and either sank or crippled the USS Boise.

Several more aircraft came down later, and his Wildcats, operating from his CV force that I now know is near Ronnel island, showed up mobbed handed on my way out. I think I lost about 5 Zeroes in total today between this and a couple of B-17 raids. But the trade off is good. Boise is a good ship.

Elsewhere, more engineers are unloading at Shortlands. Closer proximity to his carriers, I grant you, but I need to get a move on with regards to the airfield there, and can't cancel all ops just because He has very, very dangerous aircraft near. I don't think he'll do much. I expect that CCIP will keep a stronger CAP over Guadal. There are still a number of ships there. As a reward for their successes over the last week or so I've told the Betties to stand down for a couple of days whiles replacement aircraft and pilots settle in.

KB1 is back at Truk and has refueled. She'll go back out as soon as her air groups recover some aircraft.

3rd Sep

Very quiet. Retasked a couple of subs. Watched the rain fall at Rabaul. Ate some toast.

CCIP hasn't moved his carriers in three days. They're still haunting the waters about 60 miles south of Guadalcanal. I've sent fresh orders to several subs to move into their Area. At the very least it might shake him up. He has a lot of shipping down there. I'm not surprised he wants to protect it with his prime assets.

KB1 has taken on fresh aircraft so will be fully operational in a day or two.

4th Sep

Move along, nothing to see here.

CCIP continues his resupply effort under my watchful eye. I'm loathe to send my Betties up without a strong escort but I might have to in the next turn or so.

My subs spent the day harassing his TFs near Rennol Island but without getting close to the CVs. No damage was done to the subs either.

We're in a slightly quieter period just now. I am awaiting the troops ship conversions to finish, and KB1 to bring her air groups back up to strength. Once the conversions are done, I am planning to move on Milne bay as a precursor to Attacking Moresby. I want to base Fighters and Betties there to close of the approaches to PNG from Oz. I reckon two to three regiments plus arty and engineers should be enough. Who knows, it might bring the carriers north.

6th Sep


Several of our subs engaged USN shipping across the expanse of the Coral Sea and Australian coastal waters. There was little to report other than very light damage to 2 of our boats.

CCIP has begun to pull back his shipping from the Solomons. Again, I have a window to make a move.

Air War

All Betties have been switched to supply drop detail to aid the troops on Tassaforonga who are tearing through their supplies like nobodies business.


SEA WAR

KB1 is underway for Rabaul. She won't be going back to Truk now unless there is a real need. Joining her in a few days will be battleships Kongo and Haruna. They are to form the nucleus of a second SCTF, and will accompany a troop convoy to Rabaul before conducting operations ain several different places. The other SCTF, Battlebus, and the Yamato group will be reconfigured. Unyo will take on board dive bombers and fighters this turn and will give support to the SCTFs as they go about their duties.

Several more steamers are under conversion into several different Support ships: 3 of them are converting to AKE, two to AGs and two xAKl will become PBs with more to follow.

Intel confirmed that Saratoga is still operational, which we knew anyway. Enterprise is still listing as sunk, though.

A large proportion of my available xAKs at Truk are loading more troops, artillery and engineers for transport to Rabaul where they will continue their preparation for the invasion of Moresby -

Before then will be the invasion of Milne Bay, Code name Operation Bluenose, in honour of Yamamoto's childhood in the southside of Glasgow.

Operation Bluenose - The invasion of Milne Bay

Intent

To take Milne Bay out of enemy hands and to deny him easy seaborne access to Eastern Papua New Guinea and Port Moresby.

http://img853.imageshack.us/img853/6492/milne.jpg



Operational

A seaborne invasion, covered by Land Based Air, carrier born air, and surface elements will land on the Southern end of PNG, at the base of Milne Bay and take it from the enemy forces. Once combat is concluded, engineers will begin building up both the airfield and the fortifications. Intel does not show a huge concentration of troops at this base, and we expect a number of them to be engineering units, At least one infantry regiment, a base force and an HQ.

Our land based force will be two infantry regiments in the first wave, plus artillery, plus a third infantry regiment in the second wave - if needed. A third wave will contain Engineers and an air HQ capable of supplying torpedoes.

Shortly before, troops for Moresby will land at Buna and head inland along the Kokoda trail to join our units already there. They will launch an offensive in the interior aimed at pushing the Australian troops back to the coast.

Once Milne is taken, final planning for Moresby will be conducted.

Our AP conversions will be completed in just over two weeks. A second light Carrier is due to arrive within three weeks and the two CV groups currently in use will be reconfigured.

In the run up, we are desirous that a large amount of recon takes place, and naval bombardments should attempt to soften up the base's defences.

Time frame: 3 -6 weeks for the troops to reach a reasonable level of preparation. Within that time, we should also receive several more fighter squadrons and one more fleet carrier. We estimate the invasion itself will be concluded some time in mid October.

7th Sep

Several new orders given.

TF Yamato, containing the big ship, another BB, several CAs and a bunch of destroyers, will head out tonight to bombard Milne bay. Should this go OK, they will return, rearm and then try either Lunga or Milne Bay. Air cover will be provided by the new Zero squadron onboard CVE Unyo, and one of my LBA units, flying LRCAP from Rabaul.

A new fast transport TF has been created from 6 destroyers, and will head to Tassaforonga to help the troops there. More Zeroes from Rabaul will fly a sweep in the morning and we will see how heavy his CAP is on the island. If I get even a sniff of carriers I'll abort and wait for KB1 which should be at Rabaul tomorrow. It should work out OK, I think. I've used destroyers for this sort of thing in past games - I think....But I'm not going to lose any more needlessly. They shouldn't be ready to go until tomorrow anyway so I have time to pull the plug if I get flighty.

Operation Bluenose - preliminary ground unit choices

Below are a list of all units currently prepping for Bluenose. Not all of them will be used but I want the option.

2/2 Arty rgt
2/2 engineering rgt
2/29 Inf rgt
3rd naval construction rgt
4th SNLF inf unit
35th Kuma bttn
2/16 inf rgt
18th corp HQ.

And in 13 days we ger the 1s ind tank coy. Whether or not they will play a part I don't know yet. I also have one more infantry regiment as back up.

Also within the next 15 days I receive two more wings of Betties and 2 more units of Zeroes for about 42 fighters in total. They will be based at Rabaul in the first instance and then move to Milne.

As for ships, CVL Zuiho is 18 days out, with CV Junyo 10 days behind. A number of cruisers and destroyers are also on their way, plus more land troops.

Aircraft Losses

http://img819.imageshack.us/img819/7058/losses.jpg

As you can see, G4M1 Betties and Zero A6M2 (carrier capable) have the highest losses. Many of these losses were from the two big raids over Lunga - many of the Betties died, if you recall, when their escort failed to show. a number of Zero losses are from bad landings on carrier decks and that sort of thing. Another difference is that my fighters are in action most days against B-17s and attack bombers. He hasn't had to fly a combat mission in several days. CCIP also has trice the number of sorties flown during the campaign so far. He has a huge amount of aircraft available to him and it shows.

I'm glad to see a such a high number of B17s shot down. I wonder how many he has needed to stand down for repairs?

What else? Nothing happened today. it wasn't rainy but we stayed in anyway and caught up on paperwork, so that was nice.

probs no turn today. I got to work and my boss sent me home. I', ill. very ill. oooohh...

Going to watch the blue max and sleep.

Maybe laters.

Couple of turns played today. I'll post details tomorrow. Good and bad. Yamato has an awful lot of guns on her.

Still ill.

Hope you feel better soon. Nice game you two got going there, very interesting read. :yep:

Cheers. Getting there slowly. We've relocated north to my parents home - and my dad's fine, fine whiskey collection - in the Highlands for the next ten days or so. Things may become a bit more irregular.

Anyway, sum total of the last two days was the Moresby raid by TF Yamato. which did about 100 casualties, battered the airfield and thumped some aircraft. More usfully in the long term it revealed that sneaky CCIP is basing divebombers and wildcats there (Marine, I assume,) and has at least one Ossie base force present.

Earlier on, one of my subs (I-11) sank an Australian AM near the Oz coast. It was a long day of otherwise useless sub attacks that mostly annoyed US escorts. Several of my boats received light damage.

9th Sep

Havocs and Beaus came after TF Unyo which had been covering the Yamato raid. Although they missed the escort carrier herself, they got a solitary bomb hit on one of the cruisers. Very little damage was done, but it served as a useful reminder of how dangerous Land Based Bombers can be, and why so many players insist on houseruling their use in naval situations. Several hits were scored by cannon shells which tells me, IIRC, that they were strafing at very low altitude, 100ft I think. I'm a bit annoyed that flak didn't cut them up more but can't complain about the lack of any real damage done.

Elsewhere, The fast transports close in on Tass. KB1 should be in position before they make their final run.

TF Yamato has rearmed and is hungry for more action. Maybe it's time to visit hell upon the Slot.

One last note: My Betties had a mission to bomb the airfield at Milne Bay but failed because - yup, you guessed it - the weather was wrong. It's driving me totally spare. I estimate well over half of their mission are being scrubbed because of the weather. Their morale and other factors are OK but does anyone know how much of an influence these factors have in flying when combined with bad weather? are they less likely to go up if they're all emo that day?

I seem to have lost a day or two somewhere along the line. I think it might actually be the 11th....

The fast transport gets in and away without attracting any attention. it would have worked flawlessly if not for the the allied minefield around tassa taking out one of the destroyers. This is a problem as I need another delivery ASAP to bring the troops there up to a manageable level.

CCIP continues to enjoy his low flying 2e bombers and butchers some poor, defenseless barges plying the waters between Lae and Buna. I'm not too bothered. They all had a large amount of system damage and were close to being removed from service by me. You also get no points for sinking a barge. The next transports into Buna, anyway, will be troops ships with all the cheese the local garrison can munch.

Yamato leaves port again. She's going back to Milne one last time before returning to Rabaul, rearming and heading to the Slot.

Rabaul is running low on fuel and supplies due to rearming these big warships. Even truk is hard pushed to keep up with the demand and I have convoys running as often as I can now. more troops should arrive in Rabaul tonight, and various air units should also begin to take in fresh aircraft as the supply level ticks back over the magic 20000 tonnes.

Fine Scottish whiskey will do that. :03: Yeah, there's a bug going around, the other half got it, and bless her, she's given it to me as a Christmas present. :dead: