RE: IO CV Battle???

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RE: IO CV Battle??? - 4/30/2008 2:19:16 PM

tabpub

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quote:

ORIGINAL: rtrapasso

quote:

Why is it gamey to use LBA to protect his TFs if LBA is in range?

i think he was being ironic...

Probably. In "From here....eternity" (it's sad when one can't remember the exact title of the AAR one is playing in, isn't it....<vino strikes again>) he has seen Allied carriers support operations off Fiji and Canton Island without ANY land based fighter cover. So, it's not a tactic that I use against him. I can't speak for other situations that he has seen though.
Ta.

<edit to add> oh, BTW, is there a turn out there for us?

< Message edited by tabpub -- 4/30/2008 2:23:39 PM >

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There's smoke in the cockpit and gray in my hair.
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Post #: 301

RE: June 1943 Industrial/VP Report - 4/30/2008 3:23:02 PM

saj42

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quote:

ORIGINAL: John 3rd

Much BETTER numbers over the previous month.� Supply jumped 160,000 and fuel climbed 60,000.� Encouragingly my Oil stockpile also went up by 150,000.� If this can happen for a few months in a row then I think we are OK.� There are two large convoys currently unloading in Osaka right now (June 5th) and they will help with continuing to raise those numbers.

Don't forget that anything loaded on ships (oil/resources/fuel/supplies) are NOT counted on the Industry report screen.

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Post #: 302

LRCAP over CV's....Gamey?!? - 4/30/2008 4:34:28 PM

ny59giants

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I would put P-38s as LRCAP if I was able to do so to protect my CVs. Its like a player pulling off his DB/TB and replacing them with more fighters. It is a sound strategy, at times, not gamey.
A players CVs are his most irreplaceable asset he has. The Japanese don't get his back while the Allied player has to wait 1 1/2 years (unless he is playing RHS).

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Post #: 303

RE: LRCAP over CV's....Gamey?!? - 4/30/2008 6:47:10 PM

John 3rd

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Tabpub--I sent a turn to you days ago and haven't gotten anything back.

Can anyone name a single time ARMY LBA covered US--or Japanese CVs for that matter--during the war? I just ran the turn and, sure enough, there were 7 P-38s flying CAP over the Brit CVs. They weren't that effective in that they only shot down about 35 planes...

Tallyho--I am hopeful to see those numbers climb more for the next month's report.

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Post #: 304

Uncommon Valor - 4/30/2008 6:49:42 PM

John 3rd

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If I remember right didn't Uncommon Valor not allow one to place any form of LR CAP over a CV Task Force?

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Post #: 305

RE: LRCAP over CV's....Gamey?!? - 4/30/2008 7:29:54 PM

Mistmatz

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quote:

ORIGINAL: John 3rd

Tabpub--I sent a turn to you days ago and haven't gotten anything back.

Can anyone name a single time ARMY LBA covered US--or Japanese CVs for that matter--during the war? I just ran the turn and, sure enough, there were 7 P-38s flying CAP over the Brit CVs. They weren't that effective in that they only shot down about 35 planes...

Tallyho--I am hopeful to see those numbers climb more for the next month's report.

I bet there is also nobody who could name a single time when Australia was invaded during WW2.

I understand your feelings about this issue but that is something that needs to be discussed between the players, best case beforehand.

Not to pour oil into the fire but out of interest, did the japanese ever attack significant allied shipping (like CV/BB) within range and chance of allied land based LRCAP, lets say 1943 or later?

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Post #: 306

RE: Uncommon Valor - 4/30/2008 7:36:10 PM

rtrapasso

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quote:

ORIGINAL: John 3rd

If I remember right didn't Uncommon Valor not allow one to place any form of LR CAP over a CV Task Force?

WITP has 50% reduction of CAP over Air Combat TFs.

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Post #: 307

RE: LRCAP over CV's....Gamey?!? - 4/30/2008 7:59:57 PM

rtrapasso

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quote:

Can anyone name a single time ARMY LBA covered US--or Japanese CVs for that matter--during the war?

When would it ever get mentioned? Only times might be during CV battles - and when was there ever a CV battle within range of a US base where Army fighters were within range??

Coral Sea - no
Midway - no
Santa Cruz - no (no P-38s at Guad then)
Eastern Solomons - no (no P-38s at Guad then)
Marianas Turkey Shoot - no
Leyte Gulf - no
Sinking of HMS Hermes - land based CAP was supposed to be "on the way" - not sure if it ever arrived (i'm still looking for more histories on this - i have a vague recollection that the CAP got mauled, but i am not sure if it was RAF or FAA CAP.)

Have i missed any?

As for the Japanese Army covering Navy ships: things were so bad between the two services the Army wouldn't spit* on the Navy if they were on fire... and vice versa... the Navy certainly wouldn't ask the Army for help on general principles.

*i was going to use a different word, but substituted this one.

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Post #: 308

RE: LRCAP over CV's....Gamey?!? - 4/30/2008 8:01:56 PM

rtrapasso

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AHA - in the defense of the HERMES: "The Royal Australian Air Force lost at least 8 Hawker Hurricanes and the Fleet Air Arm one Fairey Fulmar."

EDIT: Hmmmm... reading more - it isn't clear if these were lost in defense of Hermes or over Trin. which was attacked about the same time... i'll try Shores later...

< Message edited by rtrapasso -- 4/30/2008 8:23:19 PM >

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Post #: 309

RE: LRCAP over CV's....Gamey?!? - 4/30/2008 8:48:22 PM

vettim89

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John,

First, I feel your pain. In a stock GC game against my brother of all people he moved 50 LB Zeroes to Munda and then LR CAPped his CV TF. In stock with UberCAP you can imagine how well that went for me. Yeah I thought it was gamey but just shrugged it off as a lesson learned

Second, you have used every device available to you to put yourself in the posistion you are right now which is pretty good by what I would dare to say would be most people's opinions. Some of what you have done might be considered gamey by some. I choose not to make such judgements. As long you did not violate a House Rule your opponent and you agreed upon prior to the start of the game, why would anyone feel the need to question your play.

I said a few days ago that I think you have played a great game. I still feel that way. So Dan found a way to use the game system to his advantage - so what? Find a way to counter it or take measures to prevent it. Sending a CVTF out that far at this stage of the game was a calculated risk. If you rolled the dice and lost I guess all I can say is no one but yourself compelled you to take the chance. Just OMHO

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Post #: 310

RE: IO CV Battle??? - 4/30/2008 9:11:17 PM

Q-Ball

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John, I have to agree with Vettim, and you have played an almost flawless game to this point, much better than I could have. So I'm going to ask a question.....

Hindsight is 20/20, but your TF as composed was not stronger and maybe weaker than the 3 RN CV's you knew to be in the Indian Ocean. You then put that TF in a position where his damaged ships could easily make port, and yours would perish from any significant damage. I don't think the 7 P-38s would change the outcome. Junyo and Hiyo were not strong enough to beat the local forces, nor fast enough to run from trouble. 1 1/2 years is a long time to not make one strategic mistake, but I think you made one before the battle ever started.

Not to criticize, as I said you are smarter than me at this game!

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Post #: 311

RE: LRCAP over CV's....Gamey?!? - 4/30/2008 9:14:32 PM

John 3rd

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Well maybe I can add 100-250�Tony/Tojo over the Fleet for my Decisive Battle sometime in the next few months when I am fighting the Pacific Fleet wherever Dan decides to attack to begin his counter-offensive...

I want people to understand that I am not whining.� It has been a great campaign and I am in amazing shape for this point in the war.� Things--as the Japanese--are bound to change no matter how well the war is fought.

I am planning a full report on the Battle when it has concluded.� We just had the 2nd Day of it and when I complete the next turn, I should be able to do a complete recap of the action.� Will write that as soon as Dan gets the June 12th turn to me.

Would the LR CAP by Army Fighters be a 'good' Forum topic in the War Room?� I am always up for stirring the pot!

< Message edited by John 3rd -- 5/2/2008 9:16:32 AM >

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Post #: 312

The Battle - 4/30/2008 9:16:43 PM

John 3rd

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I just got a new turn.

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Post #: 313

RE: LRCAP over CV's....Gamey?!? - 4/30/2008 11:09:55 PM

tabpub

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quote:

ORIGINAL: rtrapasso

quote:

Can anyone name a single time ARMY LBA covered US--or Japanese CVs for that matter--during the war?

When would it ever get mentioned? Only times might be during CV battles - and when was there ever a CV battle within range of a US base where Army fighters were within range??

Coral Sea - no
Midway - no
Santa Cruz - no (no P-38s at Guad then)
Eastern Solomons - no (no P-38s at Guad then)
Marianas Turkey Shoot - no
Leyte Gulf - no
Sinking of HMS Hermes - land based CAP was supposed to be "on the way" - not sure if it ever arrived (i'm still looking for more histories on this - i have a vague recollection that the CAP got mauled, but i am not sure if it was RAF or FAA CAP.)

Have i missed any?

As for the Japanese Army covering Navy ships: things were so bad between the two services the Army wouldn't spit* on the Navy if they were on fire... and vice versa... the Navy certainly wouldn't ask the Army for help on general principles.

*i was going to use a different word, but substituted this one.

I think that Okinawa would qualify as an instance here where combined land/air groups covered shipping; I couldn't say at this point if Army fighters ever participated in any fights over fleet carrier TG's. I think they mainly freed the fleet carriers to use their fighters over themselves, rather than covering transports in the roadstead.

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Post #: 314

RE: LRCAP over CV's....Gamey?!? - 5/1/2008 12:10:33 AM

rtrapasso

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quote:

ORIGINAL: rtrapasso

AHA - in the defense of the HERMES: "The Royal Australian Air Force lost at least 8 Hawker Hurricanes and the Fleet Air Arm one Fairey Fulmar."

EDIT: Hmmmm... reading more - it isn't clear if these were lost in defense of Hermes or over Trin. which was attacked about the same time... i'll try Shores later...

OK - according to Bloody Shambles volume 2 - land based Fulmars DID defend the Hermes...(obviously unsuccessfully) - but the losses noted were mainly over Trincomalee... it appears these were FAA fighters, not the Aussie Hurris.

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Post #: 315

RE: LRCAP over CV's....Gamey?!? - 5/1/2008 1:45:52 AM

KTNJR

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quote:

ORIGINAL: John 3rd

Tabpub--I sent a turn to you days ago and haven't gotten anything back.

Can anyone name a single time ARMY LBA covered US--or Japanese CVs for that matter--during the war?� I just ran the turn and, sure enough, there were 7 P-38s flying CAP over the Brit CVs.� They weren't that effective in that they only shot down about�35 planes...

Tallyho--I am hopeful to see those numbers climb more for the next month's report.�

I don't think this is gamey at all!
You just have to find a way to defeat it or draw his carriers away from the LBA.

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Post #: 316

Battle of the Maldives: June 10-16, 1943 - 5/2/2008 10:08:54 AM

John 3rd

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I cannot sleep and have decided to write up the Battle of the Maldives that has taken place over the dates of June 10-16, 1943.

About the end of May I had sent a CV TF into the Indian Ocean. The force consisted of CVs Junyo/Hiyo and CVLs Shoho and Zuiho. They were escorted by 3 CA, 1 CL, and 8 DD. The Carriers were commanded by Adm. Nagumo and took a position on the west side of India looking for convoys. The TF sat there for 4 days before they were discovered by Allied Recon. Knowing that the RN was at Madras, I ordered the CVs towards the Maldives in the hopes of bugging out or giving battle if things looked OK. The fight should have started on the 9th but (for some reason) neither side launched when in range. Sensing trouble (in the form of the discussion above regarding the use of Army LBA to buttress CAP) I decided to head for Sabang in a full speed sprint.

The decision to make the sprint cost me the battle. Fuel was starting to run somewhat low but I was appalled to find after the 8 hex move SE that I had moved into the red. From that day on I was crippled in terms of movement and running for home. This was a monstrous mistake that probably cost me a CV.

June 10th
Morning finds the fleets at a range of 4 hexes and everything launches. The British launch a strike of 22 F, 14 Avenger, and 36 Albacore versus my 43 Zero. Having split the CVs into 2 TF, the Brits elect to attack Junyo/Hiyo's TF. In a spirited air battle, I lose 10 Zero in change for 6 Seafire, 5 Sea Hurricane, 4 Albacore (26 Damaged), and 1 Avenger (10 damaged). The British planes concentrate mainly on Hiyo and put 3 TT into her. Junyo takes a torpedo as well but it only amounts to very lite damage.

The Japanese Strike is a balanced 27 Zero, 33 Val, and 25 kate. The British put up 38 Seafire, 11 Hurricane, and (as I feared) 7 P-38. My Zeros do pretty well against the Seafire and Hurricanes but the P-38s rip them to shreds. The Escort collapses (17 shot down) and the bombers are then ripped apart. ALL the Vals are shot down as well as 19 of the 25 Kates. UBER-CAP has been eliminated??? The SIX survivors make runs on RN Hermes and miss!

I watched this fight THREE times and actually counted the kills. Those P-38s (SEVEN of them) shot down over 30 of my planes.

Thoroughly pissed and angry, I watched two smaller strikes of mine get slaughtered as well.

The British launch a couple of ineffective strikes that miss Shoho and Zuiho that afternoon.

With having little-to-no fuel, I order everyone to head for Sabang and move 36 Betty and 54 Zero there to take a crack at the Brits if they move close enough...

June 11th
Junyo brings up the rear and is attacked by 10 F and 22 TB the following morning. The attack is resisted by 10 Zero. I lose 1 Zero for shooting down 1 Fighter and 4 TB. I begin to hope that life might be OK as I see TB after TB drop and miss Junyo---until the FINAL group of 4 place 1 Torp along her starboard side. This slows Junyo and she is hit by 2 laser-guided bombs drobbed by Naval Attack--Trained LB-30 bombers.

The Brit afternoon strikes comes after my CVLs and--once again--they miss. The only good news...

June 12th
My TF are now pretty spread out. Hiyo is limping along the edge of the board slowly sinking and Junyo is headed down (after 3 TT dropped 12 TB) and sinks later that day.

My CVLs are limping along at a 1-1 speed but are slowly drawing nearer to Sabang. In an afternoon strike, 16 Zero fight 9 Fighters and 20 TB. Losing none, they manage to destroy 2 Fighter and 2 TB before they initiate their attacks. Once again I watch with gorwing hope as TT after TT miss their targets until the LAST group of 4 TB hit Shoho with a single TT. Grrr.... Luckily it does only superficial damage!

Another small strike puts a TT into DD Hatsuzuki.

June 13th
Dreading the turn, I watch the replay and see things continue on with the disaster.

In two attacks, 22 Liberators (once again using lasrer-guided munitions) put 3 bombs onto CA Mikuma followed by 8 F and 8 TB putting 2 Torps into her hull.

DD Naganami takes 2TT and is scuttled at the end of the day.

June 14th
A STF actually intercepts my fuel-starved CVL TF! Figuring this is it, I am amazed to watch the small screen of 1 CA and 4 DD successfully fight of a TF of 1 CA, 2 CL, 2 CLAA, and 6 DD. I have 3 DD damaged but not too severely.

In the morning CA Maya (once part of Junyo's Screen) takes a bomb hit and in the aftenoon gets a pair of TT. Luckily Japanese CA are made of stern stuff and she makes harbor.

CA Mikuma is hit by another Torp and sinks.

There are no daytime strikes against my CVLs!

On this day I also sortie 13 DD from Singapore to go SS hunting near Sabang. They are divided into 2 TF of 6 and 7 DD.

June 15th
Dan finally breaks away as he get to a range of 9 hexes from Sabang.

He finishes off DD Hatsuzuki and my survivors approach Sabang.

June 16th
I finally scuttle CV Hiyo. She made an effort to survive but we all know what Japanese damage control is like!

Results
Ships lost: CVs Junyo and Hiyo, CA Mikuma, and 2 DD. CVL Shoho is moderately damaged (Sys 22), CA Maya is severely damaged (Sys 45 and Flot 53), and 3 DD are wounded but will survive.

On the air side of this disaster, I got fighters from both Junyo (7 Zero) and Hiyo (8 Zero). My CVLs are at about 50% strength with pilots. This is bad but not terrible...

Summation
This is the first serious defeat for the Imperial Navy. I attribute it to 3 things:
A. They were exposed with where I placed them.
B. The Fuel Situation crippled my movement and cost me severly.
C. UBER-CAP does live in this Mod as seen by how the initial aristrikes went.

Status
While not a mortal blow, it does beg the question of OK...what do we have left and what is coming?

1. I have a total of 7 CV (Akagi-Kaga, Hiryu-Soryu, Shokaku-Zuikaku, and Taiho) wth 2 CVL at Kwajalein.
2. There are 6 CVE operating NE of Pago-Pago right now. I will recall them and move them towards Kwajalein.
3. Within the next 60 days I shall gain another CV and 2 CVL. These ships make up for my losses within this battle.

My normal reaction would be to lash out at Dan but that would be stupid. I will keep everything reined in and await his opening attack.

As said earlier this AAR, I have a HUGE number of troop carrying TF moving around right now. The Inner Defence Perimeter is beginning to take form. There are large numbers of engineers working at Marcus, the Islands of the Marianas, Yap and Palau. I just got my big troops reinforcements in China and the Home Islands. I order at least 1 Brigade to Marcus, Pagan, Saipan, and Tinian. There is Infantry, Armor, and support units moving into the Philippines as well. Given some time, the Inner Perimeter will be as stout as the Outer within about 45 days.

There you have it!

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Post #: 317

RE: Battle of the Maldives: June 10-16, 1943 - 5/2/2008 3:09:29 PM

Mistmatz

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Good summary John. Seems the tide has changed in favour of the allies but I'm sure you'll find opportunities for limited offensives.

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Post #: 318

RE: Battle of the Maldives: June 10-16, 1943 - 5/2/2008 6:36:07 PM

vettim89

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John,

I was wondering. Did you get crippled by the refuel bug? By that I mean where your DD's kept fueling from your CV's every turn to stay topped off even though they really didn't need it.

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Post #: 319

RE: Battle of the Maldives: June 10-16, 1943 - 5/2/2008 6:39:55 PM

John 3rd

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Thanks Mistmatz.� You can darn well bet that I am looking for opportunities for a few counterpunches!

Vettim--Yes the refuel bug hit twice in that time period.� Even after the full speed turn, my reading was that I still had enough fuel to make it home at normal speed.� The next day my DDs topped off (slowing my movement) and my carriers as well as CAs were completely dry...

GREAT!

< Message edited by John 3rd -- 5/2/2008 8:56:41 PM >

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Post #: 320

RE: Battle of the Maldives: June 10-16, 1943 - 5/2/2008 9:01:06 PM

John 3rd

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The remains of my IO Expedition are about to make landfall at Sabang and Dan has spread of group of SS across my path. Neither of my CVL have any flooding so I divert them southwards to the .dot base on the west coast of Sumatra to rendezvous with an AO.

I have shifted all the aircraft at Sabang to ASW and have been rewarded with an S-Boat getting hit as well as O24 getting heavily damaged by one of my two ASW TF operating in the area. Maybe I can bag a sub or two...

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Post #: 321

RE: Battle of the Maldives: June 10-16, 1943 - 5/3/2008 12:04:49 AM

vettim89

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I see that incompetant Captain Ai transferred to Adm. Nagumo's staff right before he sailed for the IO. Poor Nagumo made the same mistake all his predessors did by assigning him the job as fleet logistics officer. He probably thought, "How much damage can this piece of driftwood do as Logistics Officer". I think Capt. Ai must be related to the Imperial family some how; otherwise he would have "fallen overboard" after one of his well orchestrated fiascos. Sadly, he just keeps getting transferred from command to command to perpectuate the problem. I have heard rumors though that Captain Ai has been reassigned to Admiral Ae's training command. It is hoped that in a few months, he will have learned the errors of his ways and will be redeployed to the fleet as a competant and effective Logistics Officer. We will have to wait and see.

A little know fact is that one of Captain Ai's cousins emigrated to the US in the 1920's and, I know this is too unbeleivable to give credance too, he actually serves in the same exact capacity with the Us Navy.

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Post #: 322

RE: Battle of the Maldives: June 10-16, 1943 - 5/3/2008 12:48:34 AM

John 3rd

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You know--I have no real clue as to what you just said but it really made me laugh!

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Post #: 323

RE: Battle of the Maldives: June 10-16, 1943 - 5/3/2008 3:45:12 AM

Big B

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Unfortunately, you were hit by a 'perfect storm' combination.

He outnumbered your escort by a little better than 2:1, had 'over' 50 planes, had some good planes (I haven't noted P-38's being uber-killers in your game before)...and most of all - I think you got zapped by game 'die rolls'.

I have seen a pattern in air combat during lots of testing witp, every 10 or so air combats - you just get a real stinker. You were just unlucky to get the 'jinx' at one of the worst possible times and conditions for you...
[sigh]

quote:

ORIGINAL: John 3rd
...
The Japanese Strike is a balanced 27 Zero, 33 Val, and 25 kate. The British put up 38 Seafire, 11 Hurricane, and (as I feared) 7 P-38. My Zeros do pretty well against the Seafire and Hurricanes but the P-38s rip them to shreds. The Escort collapses (17 shot down) and the bombers are then ripped apart. ALL the Vals are shot down as well as 19 of the 25 Kates. UBER-CAP has been eliminated???
...

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Post #: 324

RE: Battle of the Maldives: June 10-16, 1943 - 5/3/2008 3:48:05 AM

John 3rd

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Well this has happened now twice in the campaign. I saw similar results in the big attack along the Canadian Coast a year ago.

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Post #: 325

RE: Battle of the Maldives: June 10-16, 1943 - 5/3/2008 3:56:44 AM

Big B

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I'm not surprised - like I said, it's a pattern I've seen in the game engine that is all but impossible to tame.

quote:

ORIGINAL: John 3rd

Well this has happened now twice in the campaign. I saw similar results in the big attack along the Canadian Coast a year ago.

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Post #: 326

RE: Battle of the Maldives: June 10-16, 1943 - 5/3/2008 4:24:30 AM

KTNJR

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John, you have done way better than alot of Japanese players can think of doing!
You just got unlucky this time around.
I might be time to sit back and wait for him to come to you

(in reply to Big B)

Post #: 327

RE: Battle of the Maldives: June 10-16, 1943 - 5/3/2008 5:40:03 AM

John 3rd

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KTNJR--This is exactly what I am doing. I want to do a screenshot of all the convoys moving around to show the vast number of Japanese soldiers and support personnel going to new homes! I had hoped to stage a raid with my CVEs NE of Christmas Isle but after the IO Disaster, I called them back.

I looked at my fleet building and saw that I was incorrect with what will be commissioned within the next 45 days. I will have 2 CV and 1 CVL. Shortly after that will be another CVL and the 2 BB Hybrids. These additions will more then make-up for my IO losses.

The 2 CVLs are almost to Batavia and then they will go to the Home Islands. In reality I lose 2 CV with 102 planes. Both fighters squadrons bingo's over to the CVLs and they should be useful.

My new ASW PG/PC are starting to come online and that will start to help with the Allied SS.

Dan's play style is unpredictable. I would normally expect a player this far down this late in the war to nibble along the edge of the perimeter; however, he certainly didn't do that when he tried for Wotje! I think he will try to bypass the Outer Perimeter and try to punch somewhere in the middle like Wake, Marcus, or even Truk. I'm not sure...

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(in reply to KTNJR)

Post #: 328

End of June 1943 - 5/5/2008 6:41:41 PM

John 3rd

Posts: 17178
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From: La Salle, Colorado
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Good Morning all.

After a stressful weekend, I return to getting turns done with Dan and throwing my thoughts onto the Forum regarding the Campaign. I noticed that Dan has some sort of Operation Blue Planet or something like that as a title on his AAR right now. Appears that he is--perhaps--launching an operation.

We just completed the June 25th turn and things have settled into a pattern:

North Pacific
Calm and quiet. I have a force of 8 I-Boats operating out of Dutch Harbor. They are scoring the occasional success in hitting his shipping along the Canadian/US border.

Central Pacific
Midway I have pulled one of the two Brigades from here and am redelpoying it to Marcus. I expect that Dan will note this and--perhaps--attack the atoll. That would be good. It still has an AS of 400, Forts at 9, a CD unit, and 10,000 mines. It will take a bit for him to grab it and that buys me more time. I do not plan to fight for it.

The Marshalls Just had a large supply convoy unload at Kwajalein, Maleolap, Wotje, and Tarawa bringing all these bases to at least 20,000+ supply. Everything is solid here. The majority of the Combined Fleet still sits at anchor in Kwajalein.

Marcus Lots of engineers building things up here and 2 Brigades now digging in.

The Marianas Same description as Marcus except there are several HQ units and I am moving Combined Fleet from Noumea to Saipan. At least one Brigade now garrisions each island with more on the way.

South Pacific
I have ended my troop pullout of Pago-Pago, Papaete, and surrouding islands. The reamining garrisions stay as they are. All are reasonably well-supplied...

Have buttressed Noumea and Suva some to hold the very southern end of the Perimeter.

Australia
Dan has FINALLY begun moving here. I have evacuated Port Kembla and Albury and am falling back to my 1st Major Line of Resistance (MLR)--Adeladie, Broken Hill, and Brisbane. They are all stocked and have size 9 Forts. It will be a fighting withdrawal like Italy during the real war. Would like to hold out NW Australia through Jan 1944 here if possible. We'll see...

I have dropped this massive army from its high of 12 Infantry/Tank Divisions down to about 5 Divisions.

DEI
Holding and moving as much supply and oil as possible.

Burma
Have withdrawn over 2,500 AS from Rangoon and moved them to Moulmein, Bangkok, and Hanoi. Dan has moved 3 Chinese units down to threaten Pisanlouke. Doesn't worry me and I am using it as a training area for 200 fighters and 200 bombers.

China
Moving troops to threaten if not take Yenen and will then attack southern China as described earlier in the AAR. There has been more air action here as Dan has moved some fighter and B-25 groups into this theatre.

Strategic Thinking
I have decided on a completely different strategy for me. I am going to LET Dan move on whatever target he decides. Once he is ashore, THEN I will attack with Surface TF, LBA, and--finally--my CVs. It is my hope to find his target, be able to hold it, and then wear him down so he has to abandon it just like Wotje. This is my thinking for the moment...

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(in reply to John 3rd)

Post #: 329

Aerial Status of Rangoon - 5/5/2008 10:21:36 PM

John 3rd

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From: La Salle, Colorado
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When I wrote my detailed description of Dan's last attempt to clear the air over Rangoon, I had posted the number of kills for my Aces that fly the skies there. I thought--after the latest aerial victory--to update that list.

There are almost always ships at Rangoon or Moulmein. Periodically Dan's bomber crews raise their morale high to enough to launch an attack. This event occurred on June 26th over Rangoon. I had my normal CAP of 125 Tony and 50 Zero flying when in came a strike of 16 P-38, 8 Hurricanes, 4 Spitfire and 5 Wellington. They were angling for the harbor where a convoy of 8 AK were unloading. The Japanese continued to demonstrate their superiority again in that they shot down ALL planes save one Wellington! The Japanese lost 2 Zero and 14 Tony (but only 7 pilots) in exchange for 33 Allied aircraft! How about that?

I have been moving my Daitai and Sentai around to keep experience solid so these are the current leaders among the Army and navy at Rangoon:

Major Kamito of the 11th Fighter Sentai with 13 Kills
Lt. Ibusuki of the F1-Yamada Daitai with 12 Kills
PO2 Hagahama of F2-Ominato Daitai with 15 Kills

The Navy's Zero pilots are still doing well but watch out for those hot shot Tony pilots!

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(in reply to John 3rd)

Post #: 330

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