SUBSIM Radio Room Forums - View Single Post - War in the Pacific AAR Thread

Molon Labe · 11-15-21, 12:15 PM

20 July 1942
Japanese carrier fleet approaching Pearl

Banda Sea
The S-36 attempted a surface attack on a cargo ship near the oil-producing port of Babo, but the cargo ship scored a hit on the S-36 that caused a fire. S-36 broke off.

Java Sea
The KX hit an enemy cargo ship with a torpedo off Batavia, causing severe damage. Later in the day, the KX found another cargo ship to target and hit this one 3 times, sinking it.

Hawaii/CENTPAC
S-47 visited the port at Johnston and found 7 destroyers on patrol. It took a shot at one (missing) and then evaded counterattack.

The land battle for Oahu claimed another 1746 enemy soldiers and 14 of ours. This wiped out the "A" and "C" portions of the 21st Division.

An enemy task force is approaching Pearl Harbor; at this time its composition is reported as a carrier, 2 battleships, and a seaplane tender. My take on this is that these are the 2 fast battleships of the KB coming in to shell Hickam airbase with at least one CV providing air cover. It appears that the enemy task force will arrive shortly after sunrise tomorrow. Bombardment task forces almost always try to arrive at night, so they might actually slow down and pause to hit us overnight after tomorrow.

At this time, Pearl/Hickam doesn't yet have a whole lot of ASUW capability; we have a partial-strength SBD squadron and a torpedo bomber squadron that's only starting to come online. Plus a ton of level bombers, but they're not going to hit warships all that well. Wasp just delivered the Yorktown's former fighter squadron, VF-42, to Hickam. So at least our SBDs will have a ton of fighters available to escort them. I have two convoys approaching that I'll order to hold off, I'm backing off the few DDs and CAs I have here to keep them out of the way. I have 5 S-boats on a patrol that I'm putting in the enemy's path. Wasp, since it's acting as an aircraft ferry right now, has only its own fighters embarked, so it's just headed back to California. Saratoga and Lexington, now commanded by Admiral Halsey, are on their way here, but whether they actually engage is going to depend on timing and how many carriers they actually have. If the enemy does get a shot at those carriers, their attack pilots are going to end up shocked by the amount of AAA they're going to put up--Lex and Sara themselves have been upgraded, there are 2 CLAAs in company, plus 2 heavy cruisers and I think 14 destroyers that have all had substantial AA upgrades.

China
One Oscar down over Chengchow today.

Sumatra
I used my Fulmars to attack land units approaching Palembang, which hit them without resistance, as expected. This move is intended to cause him to set up a long-range CAP rather than actually do damage. I'm moving my Albacores from Singapore to Palembang as they're getting blown up on the ground there--and because he's choosing his shipping routes to stay out of their range from Singapore, so we may get a shot at something tomorrow, and with any luck their fighter coverage will be on their land units.

Thailand and Burma
I shifted my bomber attacks slightly, hitting the base at Pisanuloke (next to Raheng) instead of the nearby armies in the open. It worked out and I caused heavy casualties to land units that are probably packing up to be shipped by rail to Bangkok--but they flew without escorts, yet again. Fortunately there were no defending fighters.

Oscars tried to strafe MLs on ASW patrol near Rangoon; they got nothing except one of their own shot down by AA.

Solomons
A PBY that snooped Tulagi found an enemy minesweeper there and bombed it as a target of opportunity.

Reinforcements/Refits
23rd Marine Regiment arrives at Eastern USA (near full strength, unrestricted)
AM Skylark arrives at Alameda
DD Laffey taken out of commission to begin refit at San Francisco
DMS Perry beginning refit in shipyard at San Francisco

11-15-21, 12:15 PM	#316
Molon Labe Silent Hunter Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Along the Watchtower Posts: 3,810 Downloads: 27 Uploads: 5	20 July 1942 Japanese carrier fleet approaching Pearl Banda Sea The S-36 attempted a surface attack on a cargo ship near the oil-producing port of Babo, but the cargo ship scored a hit on the S-36 that caused a fire. S-36 broke off. Java Sea The KX hit an enemy cargo ship with a torpedo off Batavia, causing severe damage. Later in the day, the KX found another cargo ship to target and hit this one 3 times, sinking it. Hawaii/CENTPAC S-47 visited the port at Johnston and found 7 destroyers on patrol. It took a shot at one (missing) and then evaded counterattack. The land battle for Oahu claimed another 1746 enemy soldiers and 14 of ours. This wiped out the "A" and "C" portions of the 21st Division. An enemy task force is approaching Pearl Harbor; at this time its composition is reported as a carrier, 2 battleships, and a seaplane tender. My take on this is that these are the 2 fast battleships of the KB coming in to shell Hickam airbase with at least one CV providing air cover. It appears that the enemy task force will arrive shortly after sunrise tomorrow. Bombardment task forces almost always try to arrive at night, so they might actually slow down and pause to hit us overnight after tomorrow. At this time, Pearl/Hickam doesn't yet have a whole lot of ASUW capability; we have a partial-strength SBD squadron and a torpedo bomber squadron that's only starting to come online. Plus a ton of level bombers, but they're not going to hit warships all that well. Wasp just delivered the Yorktown's former fighter squadron, VF-42, to Hickam. So at least our SBDs will have a ton of fighters available to escort them. I have two convoys approaching that I'll order to hold off, I'm backing off the few DDs and CAs I have here to keep them out of the way. I have 5 S-boats on a patrol that I'm putting in the enemy's path. Wasp, since it's acting as an aircraft ferry right now, has only its own fighters embarked, so it's just headed back to California. Saratoga and Lexington, now commanded by Admiral Halsey, are on their way here, but whether they actually engage is going to depend on timing and how many carriers they actually have. If the enemy does get a shot at those carriers, their attack pilots are going to end up shocked by the amount of AAA they're going to put up--Lex and Sara themselves have been upgraded, there are 2 CLAAs in company, plus 2 heavy cruisers and I think 14 destroyers that have all had substantial AA upgrades. China One Oscar down over Chengchow today. Sumatra I used my Fulmars to attack land units approaching Palembang, which hit them without resistance, as expected. This move is intended to cause him to set up a long-range CAP rather than actually do damage. I'm moving my Albacores from Singapore to Palembang as they're getting blown up on the ground there--and because he's choosing his shipping routes to stay out of their range from Singapore, so we may get a shot at something tomorrow, and with any luck their fighter coverage will be on their land units. Thailand and Burma I shifted my bomber attacks slightly, hitting the base at Pisanuloke (next to Raheng) instead of the nearby armies in the open. It worked out and I caused heavy casualties to land units that are probably packing up to be shipped by rail to Bangkok--but they flew without escorts, yet again. Fortunately there were no defending fighters. Oscars tried to strafe MLs on ASW patrol near Rangoon; they got nothing except one of their own shot down by AA. Solomons A PBY that snooped Tulagi found an enemy minesweeper there and bombed it as a target of opportunity. Reinforcements/Refits 23rd Marine Regiment arrives at Eastern USA (near full strength, unrestricted) AM Skylark arrives at Alameda DD Laffey taken out of commission to begin refit at San Francisco DMS Perry beginning refit in shipyard at San Francisco __________________ Last edited by Molon Labe; 11-15-21 at 12:23 PM.