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IRRAWADDY DOLPHIN wraps up, Rangoon falls

 
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IRRAWADDY DOLPHIN wraps up, Rangoon falls - 11/30/2008 9:42:33 PM   
Cathartes

 

Posts: 2155
Joined: 1/5/2001
Status: offline 		Roosevelt and Churchill are eager for a report on Irrawaddy Dolphin. Lord Mountbatten has been called to give a highlighted overview of the situation:

A.A large invasion TF with RN CVs appears off the coast of Rangoon and successfully lands 2 Chindit brigades and 3 armored rgts. Japanese forces rush from the front lines to the north and reinforce Rangoon. The invasion force in Rangoon is well-supplied, but ultimately outnumbered. They hold out for a week in early January 1944, forcing a withdrawal of Japanese forces from the front lines around Meiktila. Ships return to Rangoon and evacuate the Allied forces before they are destroyed. One armored brigade is ultimately lost. Of equal significance is the massive air battle that ensues over many days. RN CVs, heavily defended with USAAF P-38Js repulse repeated Japanese attacks. Roughly 350 Japanese aircraft are shot down over the course of a week. A RN BB and CA are hit by torpedoes but manage to escape with light damage.

B.Japanese forces attempt to take back Magwe, but before they can mount a larger counterattack, they beat it toward Rangoon. Meanwhile, more Allied troops are airlifted into Magwe. They pursue the Japanese troops a short distance toward Meiktila and then backtrack, taking the westernmost road toward Rangoon. These troops ultimately liberate Rangoon with minimal Japanese resistance remaining.

C.Over 120,000 Allied troops and over 1,000 tanks push toward Meiktila and then move toward Rangoon. The invasion of Rangoon significantly weakens Japanese resistance around Meiktila and several deliberate attacks send Japanese troops (including 4 IJA divisions) reeling south. The Japanese manage to escape across the Salween River to Moulmein before more damage can be done. Allied losses are astonishingly light except for the one US provisional armored regiment lost in Rangoon. Over the course of January 1944, the entire Japanese defense of Burma collapses into Moulmein and Rangoon is fully occupied by the beginning of February.

D. Roughly 14 IJA units are temporarily cut off in Taung Gyi before units from Pisanaluke travel north and establish a supply link. Ultimately the units are forced to retreat south, but not before their supply was established. Two IJA divisions escape with several other artillery and tank units.

The invasion of Rangoon decoupled the defense of Burma. It was risky, but only possible at all because the Japanese decided, some time ago, to give up any and all air resistance in Burma.

What of the Japanese Navy? Chimaera-san is cunning, I expect they will make an appearance soon, plotting some form of calculated revenge.




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Post #: 91
RE: IRRAWADDY DOLPHIN wraps up, Rangoon falls - 12/2/2008 2:54:47 PM   
Chimaera

 

Posts: 48
Joined: 12/5/2007
Status: offline 		Situation update, February 13th, 1944

Burma/Andaman Sea
As my esteemed opponent has highlighted, January 1944 was a generally successful month for Allied fortunes in theater. Despite valiant efforts by our fighting men in the air and on the ground, we were not able to prevent the fall of Rangoon (on Jan 31st). There were a few bright notes however. On Jan 3rd, our Bettys managed to sink six cargo ships and damage several more. Three days later, our bombers managed to hit BB Warspite and CA Devonshire with two torpedoes apiece. Both ships were heavily damaged but unfortunately did not sink. Light cruisers Glasgow and Newcastle also took one tin fish each. Other attempts to strike at enemy shipping were not as successful, and air losses were extremely heavy on both sides.

Throughout late November and into December 1943, Admiral Cathartes launched powerful attacks farther north in Burma (armored superiority was particularly evident); he soon followed up with an ambitious landing at Rangoon on Dec 31st of three infantry brigades and three US tank battalions. This compelled General Kawabe to order significant forces south, away from the main front. I had hoped to collapse the Allies at Rangoon while leaving sufficient troops farther north to check the offensive there. Unfortunately, this did not happen. Japanese arms managed to inflict heavy losses at Rangoon and forced the surrender of the 5th US Provisional Tank Battalion, but Admiral Cathartes managed to ‘Dunkirk’ the other units. Nor were our reduced forces in the north able to hold the Allies at bay. On Jan 28th, General Kawabe gave the order for all forces in southwestern Burma to cross the Salween River into Moulmein. News correspondents accompanying the troops to Moulmein noted that the withdrawal was conducted in a disciplined, orderly manner. There were few suicides, and not much jeering and hissing either.

Buoyed by the victory in Burma, Admiral Cathartes next set his sights on Port Blair, which was undefended and fell on Feb 10th. Over the next couple days, dozens of Allied transports arrived there to unload fresh troops and supplies. The enemy transports were supported by a strong force of British carriers operating off Port Blair. Despite the obvious risks, Captain H. Sasaki led a force of light cruisers and destroyers in a night raid against enemy shipping there. The transports were but lightly screened by a motley collection of ships. Six minesweepers, two sub chasers and two patrol craft were sunk before attacks commenced on the transports. Four cargo ships were accounted for before Sasaki gave the order to withdraw (so as to avoid enemy carrier strikes the following morning).





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(in reply to Cathartes)
Post #: 92
RE: IRRAWADDY DOLPHIN wraps up, Rangoon falls - 12/3/2008 2:16:42 PM   
yubari

 

Posts: 365
Joined: 3/24/2006
Status: offline 		Wow, a great battle in Burma, and a great victory Admiral Cathartes. I was surprised to see such a powerful Japanese army defeated in land combat however, what level of fortifications were present at Meiktila?

(in reply to Chimaera)
Post #: 93
RE: IRRAWADDY DOLPHIN wraps up, Rangoon falls - 12/4/2008 1:54:17 AM   
Cathartes

 

Posts: 2155
Joined: 1/5/2001
Status: offline 		I do like to demonize/rib my opponent a bit.   I don't think he's the type to shoot dolphins, but since it's a house rule in this AAR, and he can't always control his troops, it was an appropriate operation. 

Yubari: the fortifications in Meiktila were at most maybe a 1 or 2, I honestly don't recall. I doubt Chimaera-san could have done much to build up the forts in Meiktila even if he tried. Meiktila was a focal point for regular Allied air attacks. The base was perpetually bombed and strafed for nearly two years. I don't think the base was ever completely undamaged for any stretch.

Thanks for the comment by the way, but I wouldn't consider my achievement in Burma a great victory. By this juncture, as you realized in your own game, the Japanese defense in Burma is nearly untenable if the Allies want to take Rangoon. Allied air power is just too overwhelming by Fall 1943 for the Japanese to sustain meaningful air resistance. Once the Japanese concede or lose air superiority from Mandalay to Moulmein, they're done for. The Japanese troops were heavily pummeled by air since September 1943. I had 5 bases at level 4 or above, serving 400 2E and 4E bombers and 350+ single-engine ground-pounders. Even with weather "on", I managed to fly decent, hard-hitting mission 5 out of 7 days in Burma with so many aircraft flying from so many different bases. Disruption and attrition over the months played a meaningful role in eroding his defense. I never had to worry about CAP on any missions unless I was bombing Pisanaluke or Bangkok. In CHS I think Ramree Island and Akyab are two key bases for control of Burma. Chimaera-san never went for them and they were strategically critical for air superiority over Burma, and ultimately a back door invasion of Rangoon. Also, it was everything that I managed to defend and hold Mandalay early in the war.  I gambled in defending Mandalay early on at the expense of defending/losing India. But I saw so much invested in the Japanase push toward Mandalay, it didn't seem like too much of a gamble. Finally I paid a steep price in PP for Indian Army troops, which I could not use in Burma without paying PP as per house rules.

All this being said, my opponents' supply line is shrinking, his defense if further solidifying, and things just get increasingly more difficult and risky to take from here on out.

(in reply to yubari)
Post #: 94
RE: IRRAWADDY DOLPHIN wraps up, Rangoon falls - 12/4/2008 11:23:24 AM   
AdmFletcher

 

Posts: 13
Joined: 12/25/2004
Status: offline 		Very very fascinating AAR reports with excellent visuals. Congratulations for having played so many years and gotten this far without any Admirals quitting.

Plenty of land based and land based aerial action but clearly the carrier fleets are playing cat and mouse all over the oceans. It is January 1944 and not a single confrontation. Heaviest naval losses to date are only Allied light cruisers and some destroyers. Not a single heavy cruiser or bigger capital ship has been incapacitated (lucky Kaga and Warspite recently escaping this fate).


It will be very interesting when the titanic clash of carriers occurs and the tallying of capital ship tonnage that visits Davy Jones'.

Gentlemen, please keep up the excellent visuals of more confrontations (naval and land based) to the benefit of the entire WitP community.

(in reply to Cathartes)
Post #: 95
RE: IRRAWADDY DOLPHIN wraps up, Rangoon falls - 12/10/2008 7:56:47 AM   
Cathartes

 

Posts: 2155
Joined: 1/5/2001
Status: offline 		Thanks for the comments AdmFletcher. We'll try and keep this one up periodically.

Dispatch Rangoon, February 27, 1944, SEAC Command:
Initial reports indicate that a massive fighter sweep over Bangkok has practically destroyed the Japanese fighter force protecting the airbase and City. The biggest US fighter sweep of the war, with elements of the 10th Air Force, consisting of over 250 P-38s, P-47s, and P-51s, shoot down roughly 80 Japanese fighters with the loss of 25 of our own. This is the second sweep in the last week. The previous sweep netted nearly 100 Japanese fighters with the loss of 37 Allied aircraft.

Japanese air assets have abandoned the skies above Bangkok. Base buildup in Rangoon continues, and regular bombing raids have begun, unescorted, over Bangkok.




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Post #: 96
pause and overview - 12/14/2008 12:25:30 AM   
Cathartes

 

Posts: 2155
Joined: 1/5/2001
Status: offline 		March 1944:Situation Overview

SEAC
All is quiet here except for some occasional LBA raids on surrounding Japanese bases. Our Japanese friends have emptied all air bases of aircraft within fighter range of Rangoon. Rangoon is now a lvl 9 AF/8 Port. Japanese defenders remain defiant across the river in Moulmein. SEAC forces have yet to cross the river into Moulmein. Japanese troops are malarial, delusional, beat-up, and angry at the world. We can occasionally hear them hurl taunts and insults in poor English from across the Salween Delta. Chimaera-san would do well to teach them some manners.

China
All is quiet except for occasional Japanese training raids from Formosa against Wenchow and neary hexes occupied by Chinese forces. Occasionally the Allies will intercept and Chimaera-san has sent fighter escorts and sweeps ahead of his training aircraft at times. A recent Japanese sweep over Wenchow cost the Allies some aircraft in a LRCAP situation.

Kuriles
Static situation with the Allies holding on to two islands belonging to the Japanese Home Islands--P.Jima and Onn.Jima. Hokkaido is oddly vulneralbe to invasion, and though the Japanese have built up their bases, they have not heavily garrisoned the island. Perhaps a large force is lurking just beyond range of detection.

Central Pacific
Quiet. You could here a coconut fall on a distant atoll. 

South Pacific
The Japanese have been completely drive out of Luganville, Noumea and Koumac. The Allies now have a more direct sailing route to Australia. Meanwhile the Japanese are feverishly withdrawing units up and down the Solomons Chain and moving them to Rabaul and points north. The Allies have yet to invade anywhere within the Solomons.

Papau New Guinea
The Allies are now firmly in control of both sides of the Owen Stanley Range including Wau and Finschhafen. Corsairs, P-47s, and P-38s dominate the skies throughout the region except over Rabaul. Allied troops have landed at Lae but have yet to take the base. The last of the Japanese defenders were finally surrounded at Milne Bay, and this base is now built up to a level 4/3. Oddly the Japanese have offered little or no resistance in PNG. It's obvious this is part of Chimaera-san's outer defensive shell. He is wisely withdrawing and recoiling for a larger counterattack in an area where he can defend in depth, and offer a surprise attack from his carrier forces.


< Message edited by Cathartes -- 12/14/2008 12:26:09 AM >

(in reply to Cathartes)
Post #: 97
RE: pause and overview - 12/28/2008 9:53:12 PM   
Cathartes

 

Posts: 2155
Joined: 1/5/2001
Status: offline 		April 2, 1944: CIC Debrief

Mr. President, I have good news, we are beginning to turn the heat up on the Japanese across the Pacific.

Well, no sir. We haven’t made any decisive gains, but we do have them on the defensive!

Well, Lae is now in our hands, and Saidor has been invaded. We’ve destroyed a couple hundred IJA planes over Admiralty Island in just the last week. The airfields at Rabaul are damaged, and everything around the Owen Stanleys will soon be ours, barring any major Japanese counteroffensives or raids.

No, we’ve been putting off invading the Gilberts. It’s not recommended at this time, we are focusing on an offensive from the Kuriles. From here we can reach for the Emperor’s throat! This will be a decisive opportunity!

When? Well, we couldn’t say at this very moment, not everyone here has complete security clearance, after all, this is an open AAR.

What? Churchill hasn’t been in touch? Lord Mountbatten is now the Commander of the SEAC. The Royal Navy was not following orders and two CV TFs reacted to a large group of Japanese carriers off the coast of Victoria Point. Consequently one British CV, a CVL, and the HMS Renown were lost. The only consolation was that it cost the Japanese about 180 IJA and IJN aircraft combined.

No Mr. President, the Japanese escaped. They did not lose any capital ships.

The good news is that since Mountbatten’s command, the Allies have built up Rangoon to a level 9 airfield and port. A large army has crossed over to Moulmein and are now bombarding daily. Two US Divisions are involved in the Allied effort. On the downside, it looks like the British invasion may be driven out of Tavoy, and three Brigades will be isolated. On the upside their diversion in Tavoy will probably cost the Japanese Moulmein. Also, the Allies took Rahaeng by surprise with Indian paratroopers and have cut off Moulmein from the Bangkok road and rail network. It’s unknown how long these brave men can hold—there are many Japanese troops in Pisanaluke crossing over to Rahaeng.

I understand you are impatient with the progress in the Pacific, but there are a lot of supplies and men that have to be moved great distances.

Yes Mr. President, I will see if I can arrange a meeting with the Secretary of Navy and General MacArthur.

Yes Sir, I will have maps and charts at our next meeting!




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Post #: 98
SEAC April action - 12/29/2008 10:52:51 PM   
Cathartes

 

Posts: 2155
Joined: 1/5/2001
Status: offline 		April 3, 1944

As promised we brought our maps this time.

SEAC is where the action is. One of the largest and most decisive air battle of the war occurred over Tavoy. A convoy of AKs and APs carrying a British brigade was escorted by a large surface TF and British carriers. The carriers retired their escort duties and moved on, while the surface TF bombarded Tavoy. After this two large Japanese air strikes materialized. The first one is highlighted below on the map, and the second one flew from Victoria Point. The CV Unryu and at least three other fleet carriers were involved in this strike and they ran smack into some of the most experienced pilots in the theater. The second strike from Victoria Point brought 21 Georges, 18 P1Y Frances, and 19 KAIb Tonys. The results were similar, and all told, 190 Japanese aircraft were destroyed over Tavoy.

The background for this air battle is the tense ground campaign going on around the Siam/Burma border country. Tavoy has been invaded, and the Japanese have responded with a massive force, including several divisions, coming from Bangkok and Moulmein. Other Japanese units appear to be inbound based on intel. The invasion of Tavoy has been ongoing for the last couple of weeks and has diverted a number of powerful Japanese units that would otherwise be available in Moulmein or along the Bangkok-Moulmein road network. This has opened up some holes for further Allied attacks. Moulmein was invaded several days ago, and Rahaeng was assaulted by paratroopers a day or two later. Currently, the Allies enjoy a level 9 airbase in Rangoon, and maintain air superiority all the way to Bangkok.

A. After a naval bombardment, and the delivery of a seasoned British Brigade, the Japanese attack and achieve 0-1 odds. Just the day before they had attacked and achieved 3-1 odds. It’s unclear when and what additional Japanese units will arrive in this hex. The unadjusted AV for the Japanese is 1777 while the Allies have an unadjusted 526. Reports indicate that not all the Japanese attacked this turn as the maximum assault was only 413 and the adjusted assault was 38.

B. Several more units join the main Allied force in Moulmein, and are forced to shock attack in the process. The Allies get punched in the nose as expected, but with the forces in place our boys can bombard daily and inflict 700-800 casualties per day and can expect to destroying or disable 10-20 guns per day. Moulmein is a level 7 fort, and there are 27 units and 2000 AV behind the ramparts.

C. The Indian paratrooper brigade dropped on Rahaeng and no one was home. The Allies pile in the troops and have thus far endured two Japanese shock attacks. More Japanese units will probably cross the river from Pisanuloke in succeeding days and be forced to shock attack. A Japanese airborne unit has subsequently dropped on Rahaeng as troops cross the river.

D. Just for reference our intel has included the site of the first carrier vs carrier battle of the war, which occurred on March 23, 1944. Two British CV TFs reacted to a large assembly of Japanese CVs. Intel figured at least 6-8 enemy fleet carriers based on the fact that about 200 Zeros were encountered in the ensuing srikes. The British TF captains disobeyed orders and strayed from beneath LB CAP. FAA corsairs fought valiantly and downed dozens of enemy Zekes, but ultimately there numbers were too few to stem the onslaught. The BC Renown, CV Indomitable, and CVL Hermes were all sunk. One CL is moderately damaged, but escapes. At least 60 Zekes/Zeroes are shot down, and about 120 IJA fighters and bombers are also destroyed from earlier raids that thinned out our CAP. The British CVs responded with a large raid of FAA TBFs--unescorted. 175 Zekes on CAP destroy them all. Not a single Japanese CV is touched. Chimaera-san may be able to give more details from his perspective: a great victory for him.






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(in reply to Cathartes)
Post #: 99
RE: SEAC April action - 1/1/2009 2:10:20 PM   
AdmFletcher

 

Posts: 13
Joined: 12/25/2004
Status: offline 		A very interesting clash. Very different from reality, because historical CV clashes occurred over the Pacific, and not in the Burma region.

The Allied losses are not catastrophic because they were all British warship. BC Renown is a World War 1 vintage BC and CVL Hermes and CV Indomitable are British carriers with a smaller plane capacity than the US CVs. But a great victory for the Imperials, especially considering how late it is in the war (1944), how the tide was against then by 1944 in reality (after Midway) and how much damage they inflicted on the Royal Navy.

Congratulations to both the Imperialists and the Allies, for it was a fascinating and very well executed land and sea battle. Keep up the great work and reporting.

(in reply to Cathartes)
Post #: 100
Off to New Guinea - 1/17/2009 10:20:04 PM   
Cathartes

 

Posts: 2155
Joined: 1/5/2001
Status: offline
Dispatch: Port Moresby, New Guinea, April 23, 1944.

The Allies have succeeded in retaking both sides of the Owen Stanleys and asserting their reach upon New Britain and the northern edge of PNG.

A. Port Moresby is a level 8 airfield and hosts the combat debut of the B-29. Superfortresses and Liberators have helped to shut down the airfields on Admiralty Island, Kavieng, and Rabaul. Night raids ensued as USAAF, and USMC fighters swept the surrounding bases by day. Now that Japanese fighters have fled the region, daylight raids are the norm.
B. Lae falls in March and is quickly repaired to become a level 7 AF and level 5 port. From Lae, USAAF fighters reign the skies. Lae becomes a jumping-off point for further invasions in the region with troops shuttling to Finschhafen and Saidor. Wau becomes a level 5 airbase, and is established by paratroop drop long before Lae falls. It has become a major base for A-20 Havocs to strike cut-off Japanese troops.
C. Saidor falls on April 20. There was stubborn ground resistance here. It took 3 US divisions and two tank regiments to dislodge the defenders of this level 5 airbase. Neigboring Mandang seems to be lightly defended and was never developed as a major base.
D. Numerous US naval bombardments took place at Saidor. One of these bombardments split off a half dozen cruisers for a full speed sprint to hit Admiralty Island. At the time this base was packed with defending Japanese fighters and a few dozen Bettys preparing for strikes.The bombardment was surprisingly effective destroying almost 100 Japanese planes on the tarmac. This level 6 airbase was consequently abandoned in mid-April.
E. Rabaul is currently a level 8/8 Japanese base, and is moderately damaged with only recon/naval search aircraft operating from its cratered airfields. Japanese ships have all fled, and the size of the garrison is unknown.Large groups of IJN subs arrive and depart, probably bringing supplies and pulling units out of the base.
F. Gasmata falls to Australian ground forces on April 18, providing a level 4 airbase for the Allied air forces.
G. Japanese air assets have left the northern Solomons entirely. Both Green Island and Buin had been home to enemy aircraft, but intel and recon show that all have fled.

Meanwhile, the Japanese Navy does not so much as threaten an appearance. Intel can only guess this was an unimportant, outer ring of defense for Admiral Chimaera. In Greek Mythology a Chimaera is an awful beast, a lion with goat's head, dragon head, and snake head. Considering the Japanese Navy is FULLY intact, the Admiral with this namesake is best given a wide berth.

Honolulu surmises the Japanese Navy is saving itself for an inner defensive ring of the Central Pacific and Southeast Asia. The Japanese plan is to exact maximum casualties on US forces as the war progresses, hoping to cause unrest at home and thereby forcing the US government to sue for peace.




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Post #: 101
Replacement Opponent? - 3/8/2009 6:29:29 PM   
Cathartes

 

Posts: 2155
Joined: 1/5/2001
Status: offline 		This game is now in June '44 and my opponent has RL circumstances that prevent him from continuing much to our disappointment.  He will not be easy to replace, but I think I would like to continue this one if someone is interested in taking up the late-war Japanese challenge.
  • Japanese have their entire navy intact in June 1944! They have lost 0 capital ships. 
  • Nearly all their air assets are intact as well, and their pilot situation is not bad. 
  • Japan still has offensive capability.
  • It has been a conservative game, so there is considerable bloodletting ahead.
  • Allies have recaptured most of PNG, a couple of the Gilbert Islands, have Wake, have a few of Kuriles, and are knocking on Bangkok's door. Otherwise Japan holds all her empire.
Some house rules are negotiable. This is CHS 155 (see beginning of thread for more info).  I'm not 100% certain I will continue, but a lot depends on if I find the right replacement opponent. If you consider yourself an intermediate player, and are interested in a late-war Japanese game please PM me and we can discuss. 

(in reply to Cathartes)
Post #: 102
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