An Idiots Guide To Losing Your CV's Before 1942: WiTP:AE KyzBP vs UCG

[KyzBP]

I got my fingers crossed for you KyzBP.  O0

Thanks Sir Slash.  I'll need all the crossed fingers I can get. ;)

[KyzBP]

I've begun sending ships piecemeal to Suva.  I hope to assemble a quick reaction force there that will consist of DDs, CAs, and CLs.  They'll try to hit any under escorted invasion fleets.  I'm sending them piecemeal so as not to draw too much attention to them or Suva.  There's a lot of stuff on the way to Suva.  I'd like Suva to still be there when that stuff arrives.

Pearl is still infested with subs.  I thought by now we'd have put a dent in them but it doesn't look that way.  I'll continue trying to get them from the air.  For now those air crews have nothing better to do.

The CV's are about to meet up.  I'm going to off load ALL the DB squadrons on Pearl and let them help with the sub hunt.  The CVs will head to the West Coast, freshen up a bit, pick up new squadrons and the Yorktown, and then head back to Pearl for assignment.

Dutch Harbor has begun turning itself into a Sub Base.

As soon as I can get some engineers I'll begin converting Unmak into some type of Arctic Aerodrome.
Since UCG hasn't hit Manila in a while, I'm going to reopen the sub pens and begin redirecting nearby subs there.  I might as well use it while I have it.

Speaking of subs, his subs on the West Coast continue to harass my precious shipping.

The sub near San Fran managed to take out a TK even though the ASW groups are making it rain...depth charges.  I'd really like to neutralize his subs before
the CVs begin to arrive.

[KyzBP]

Here's how things look at the end of the day.

Allied Naval loses:

I thought the Repluse was scuttled.  It looks like it was torpedoed.  I don't know if that makes a difference.

Evil Japanese loses (yes, loses):

Take that stupid sub!

End of turn score:

I think I won the air battle today if you don't count operational loses.

[jomni]

Repulse scuttled with a torpedo.

[Sir Slash]

Japanese paratroopers carry torpedoes in their backpacks. Next to the rice bowls. That's why they were FEARED. Don't ask where they shoot them from.

[KyzBP]

There are plenty of places that could be taken right now by a guy with a rice bowl and a sub sandwich.

[KyzBP]

December 17th, 1941

I wonder, over the course of history, how many great plans had to be scraped when the enemy "didn't do what they were supposed to".  I imagine we could all conjure up an operation or two that should've been scraped but was allowed to go forth at the cost of many young lives.  I have chosen to scrap/alter/delay my two major plans because UCG did things I wasn't counting on.

First, Operation Doolittle.  This was my plan to surprise BJ with a PBY attack against it's port.  There wasn't any aircraft present so it should have been a painless quick in/quick out mission.  The plan is on hold because 2 "over eager" PBY pilots decided on their own to attack some of the ships in port a day ahead of schedule.

At least hit the damn ship.  I'm going to wait a few turns to see if he reacts and moves on Guam.

The second, and bigger, problem is the uninvited guests that showed up to BJ.

The carriers show only auxiliary planes present but suddenly the airfield is active.  I'm betting 3 carriers worth of planes are sitting in hangers and the runway just waiting for the next stupid PBY pilot to fly over.

Now I know I said I'm going to wait a few turns, which is true, but I'm now considering a night attack on BJ's airfield AND port.  Waiting another turn or two will allow a few more PBY's to take part however, it also leaves a ton of my PBYs vulnerable to attack while I'm waiting.  If Geek dislikes those PBYs as you guys say he does then this will be a prime opportunity for him to get a little payback.  If those carriers pull out next turn then I'll switch it back to a daytime mission, if not then they go tomorrow night...weather permitting.  Btw, the longer I wait, the more moonlight I get.  Damn it this game is hard.

[KyzBP]

The second plan, Operation Lobster(the Dutch named it) was the trap for his invasion fleet heading for the Makassar Straight.  Ships from Makassar and Soerabaja were going to jump his fleet once they entered the straight.  That plan has been altered because of this:

I don't remember seeing this group when I was originally planning this.  Most likely that BB is not alone and he has CA friends to fill out the party.
I'm not ready to put the Prince of Wales up against these guys just yet.  I need to pluck the low hanging fruit.  So if you look north of Kendari there's a TF consisting of supply ships and landing craft.  I've sent the fastest ships to Kendari and will hit that TF the following night.  After that I intend to let him chase me around Celebes, like something out of a 3 Stooges movie, until I can get one of his three groups separated.  I'll then try to concentrate my efforts on that lone group.  This is now Operation Strawberry Hill.  Strawberry is the low hanging fruit.  Hill because it reminds me of a Benny Hill skit.  Not to mention Strawberry Hill is the highest class wine from the world renown vintners over at Boone's Farm.

[BanzaiCat]

This was my plan to surprise BJ

^-^

[KyzBP]

Elsewhere...

Karma has stopped by to pay me a visit.

Look to the bottom left.  You'll see that sub KXVII has hit a mine in Cam Ranh Bay.  Ironically, sub KVXII was supposed to be mining Cam Ranh Bay.

Some good things did happen last turn.

The AA at Singapore seems to be dialed in.

He made a couple attacks and had a lot of his Sally's damaged.  I expect a diminished effort next turn.

Over at Wake:

My Devastators got chewed up by a passing carrier task force.  There's only one plane remaining from the group.

Actually, that wasn't good news. ???

Oh, here's the good news:

His entire landing force was wiped out.  I don't see anymore invasion type ships hanging around so Wake may be off the hook for a little bit.  I even
dispatched some subs from Pearl to resupply Wake.

And the best news of them all:


The battle hardened elusive crew of the Penguin reached the relative safety of Midway.

[KyzBP]

This was my plan to surprise BJ

^-^

I could've worded it worse I guess.  ^-^

[BanzaiCat]

Considering your audience here, I'm surprised I was the first one to note that.

Sorry to derail. I'm enjoying your and UCG's work.  O0

[Sir Slash]

It certainly would've been a surprise alright.

[jomni]

You mine mishap was reported by Geek earlier than you did. Interesting.

[KyzBP]

The Cats continue to show off.

I don't think that put a dent into anything but at least they hit something (I'm still looking at you Dutch pilots.)

Back at Pearl:

His Sub Circle around Pearl seems to be widening away from the islands.

I'm sure it's not accidental.  I'm going to continue to harass him as best as I can but I'm going to pull some of the ASW
groups back towards Pearl in case it's some scheme to get more subs in behind me.  It would be really nice if Geek just called
them all back home.  Just out of the screenshot is the first wave of supply/transport ships headed for the South Pacific.  I have
to reroute all of them to avoid Geeks subs.  Not too big a deal but it delays their arrival by a few days.  Hopefully that won't be the
difference in keeping a base.