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All Forums >> [New Releases from Matrix Games] >> War in the Pacific: Admiral's Edition >> After Action Reports >> Babo go Boom

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Babo go Boom - 3/15/2010 8:48:47 PM

Q-Ball

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Smeulders: Yes, those are losses since beginning of the game, though I think those are understated. In fact, I specifically hit 3 tankers with FUEL CARGO BURNING not on that list. To your point, I have never seen a full tanker survive a torp hit. Ever.
Capt Harlock: I didn't select a TF commander, which was lazy on my part. For the Balikpapan operation, the main TFs are commanded by Callaghan and Ching Lee. No chance THEY will run!

Combat Report, Mar 7-12, 1943

Koumac Taken: Koumac fell on the 10th, with the 1/3 divison garrison retreating to Noumea. At this point, all the NZ units will prep for Noumea, and the Marines are all prepping for Tarakan; they will be leaving for Australia, and beyond. I plan to let the Kiwis beseige Noumea; I am not in any hurry, and their replacements are so low, I need to use them somewhere they won't suffer alot of casualties. Thus, New Caledonia will be an all-Kiwi affair, with 4 total Bdes, the 3rd NZ Div HQ, the Tank Unit, and Fiji Commandos.

Other than that, I will move a Bn and some troops to occupy and build Ndeni, but that's it. I am winding down this campaign.

Emptying Bases: As the front moves forward, I am reducing or even closing bases that were once important, and using those units closer to the front. In the rear, I will keep a few for ASW and ports, but for the most part, I am pulling out of alot of bases.

In the South Pacific, Savaii and Tongatapu are completely empty now. Pago Pago is down to a single Base Force. Vava'u is reduced, with troops there ticketed for new destination. Wallis Is. has only an AV and some supplies, to support a Catalina unit.

Even in the DEI, I have evacuated Maumere, Ruteng, and Lomblen, formerly important bases. Koepang will remain a major hub though. Port Hedland is down to a few straggler units, and is mostly a transit stop now on the way to the DEI.

I am sending most convoys now through the Torres Strait.

Babo!: You can see the picture below; I took an unoccupied Babo, and KB showed up as I was finishing unload of construction and base troops. The troops were 100% unloaded, but the transports were still there unloading the last of the supplies. Another day and they probably would have been gone. C'est la guerre! I can afford to lose transports at this point, I am building 2-4 a day it seems. Still, I probably need to be a little more careful than I have been.

Balikpapan: Now, the invasion I have been planning for months: Balikpapan. Gaining a foothold on Borneo will be very bad for the Empire. I am assembling ships and troops.

Most units are 60-100% Prepped. This time, I am bringing surface support, as I know Nagato and some other ships are lurking about.

The NAVAL OOB will consist of 3 USN CVs, 6 CVEs for Air Support. Surface ships include a Fast TF led by Ching Lee in North Carolina, with 6 cruisers and DDs. A Slow TF led by Adm. Callaghan has all 3 New Mexico-class BBs, plus more DDs and a couple cruisers. LBA will be provided from a large airbase at Makassar, and a small one at Pare Pare. I am counting on the Yamatos still being in the Solomons, so I have enough to handle 4-ish BBs. I have an R-Class BB in support as a backup as well (currently covering unloads at Den Passar)

The LAND OOB consists of 1 Australian Corps, 1st Marines,9th Australian Div., and 40th US Inf Division. I have 3 Tank Bns also landing. At Samarinda, we are also landing an Australian Bde. Recon shows Samarinda to be undefended, but Balikpapan to have about 12,000 troops. 3 Divisions should be enough.

I might be going a little quick, but I am taking advantage of the action recently, and the fact that all of the last IJN sightings are away from the Makassar Strait.

This is risky, but I don't want to wait for Balikpapan to be reinforced. If I get ashore, this will be a heavy blow to the Empire. Balikpapan and Samarinda are mutually supporting airbases, and between them would put Tarakan in SBD range (effectively closing it), and Miri/Brunei within B-25 range (making loading there tricky). Not to mention, we will be sitting on Oil. All in all, that would stop about 1/3 of the Empires Oil Shipments, and get me closer to the South China Sea, where ALL of the rest are moving.

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RE: Babo go Boom - 3/16/2010 2:36:32 AM

Capt. Harlock

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quote:

I took an unoccupied Babo, and KB showed up as I was finishing unload of construction and base troops.

That's uncomfortably close to your operations in the DEI. Do you know if the KB was parked north or south of New Guinea?

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RE: Babo go Boom - 3/16/2010 2:41:04 AM

wpurdom

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Your instincts are probably sound, but assume that it's barely within your capacity and see if you can cause some misdirection. Then you can be pleasantly surprised when it's easier than you planned for. Maybe it's time to employ a little subtlety like with the start of your offensive.

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RE: Babo go Boom - 3/17/2010 3:53:22 AM

Q-Ball

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quote:

ORIGINAL: Capt. Harlock

quote:

I took an unoccupied Babo, and KB showed up as I was finishing unload of construction and base troops.

That's uncomfortably close to your operations in the DEI. Do you know if the KB was parked north or south of New Guinea?

They appeared to come from Truk, see the screenshot above. Yeah, that would be bad if they were south of New Guinea, but to do that they would have to transit past Ambon, which is not exactly safe.

wpurdom: perhaps, we'll see if I am pushing it. I could wait until I have more forces, and thought about that....but I would also be waiting for the Japanese to get more ground troops in the area. I think Cuttlefish is still scrambling to get troops to the DEI.

Combat Report, March 13-15, 1943

Our evil plans advance, with the invasion fleet for Balikpapan beginning to gather east of Makassar. The 9th Australian Div. is a huge unit to load, once that's done we will be ready to go. In the meantime, a few developments that should help.....

Den Passar: Over two days, the Japanese sent sweeps of Zeros over Den Passar. The first day, he lost 33 Zeros to 7 P-40Ks; the 2nd day, Cuttlefish meant to change the orders but forgot, so another 21 Zeros impaled themselves over some Spits and P-40s.

This is good, because it weakens the airpower at Soerbaya at a critical time. I am sending an attack of 2Es against the base to further weaken it ahead of my move on Balikpapan.

P-40Ks are better than I thought they would be. That's a good thing, because they are still the bulk of my fighter force.

Koumac: Base is building up now, and NZ troops moving to Noumea

Sub Wars: Got a fat tanker off Okinawa.

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RE: Babo go Boom - 3/17/2010 7:47:07 PM

Q-Ball

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Combat Report, Mar 17-18, 1943

We are about 3-4 days away from landing at Balikpapan (with a landing also at Samarinda). Troops are loaded up, and I am ready to go. I have 4Es massed at Kendari waiting to plaster the airstrip at Balikpapan, but I am holding off until tommorow, as I have not yet been sighted (I think), and a massive raid will get Cuttlefish's attention.

An IJN Cruiser TF was sighted twice off the Southern coast of Mindanao; a fleet boat put a torp into Takao, that did not much damage, and an S-Boat sighted them again further West. They appear headed for Tarakan; a couple cruiser TFs have been spotted there, maybe fueling, since it's dangerous now for him to fuel tankers there.

I expect a strong reaction to this move, so we'll see what develops. Stay tuned!

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RE: Babo go Boom - 3/17/2010 8:06:36 PM

Chickenboy

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I've found the 'load only troops' button useful if I'm ferrying troops around without need for assault supply load out. I don't have near the problem with large amphibious or transport TFs sucking bases dry of supplies when I use this to load TFs. You probably don't have much choice since they need surplus supplies for the assault on this occasion.

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RE: Babo go Boom - 3/18/2010 8:07:31 PM

Q-Ball

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Combat Report, Mar 20-22, 1943

Invasion of Balikpapan: So far so good on Balikpapan; no Japanese naval or air resistance seen yet, with the exception of sub that put a toredo into Revenge, the last R-Class BB that hasn't been hit with a torpedo. I guess Cuttlefish didn't want her to feel left out! The other 3 are repairing those Torp hits, along with 2 USN BBs, and 3 USN CVs. Yikes!

But other than the torp hit, things are going swimmingly. Troops are streaming ashore. Samarinda will fall tommorow, and we are unloading base troops there to provide air cover. I have to take Samarinda first, so the Balikpapan garrison doesn't retreat there.

This is the combat report from the Japanese Bombardment, which shows the full OOB:

Assaulting units:
17th Infantry Regiment
138th Infantry Regiment
24th Port Unit
4th JAAF Base Force
12th JAAF Base Force

Defending units:
40th Infantry Div /81
9th Australian Div /76
627th TD Bn /81
2/4th Armoured Rgt /81
763rd Tank Battalion
1st Marine Div /98
I Australian Corps /81

I am unloading the rest of these units, but a good chunk of them are already ashore. But I should have plenty for the Japanese garrison of 2 Inf Regts, plus base troops.

The IJN could show up tommorow and cause havoc, but even if that happens, I think I have enough onshore already to stay permanently. We'll see of course, been wrong before.

Just in case, my bombers will continue to hit Soerbaya.

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The Beast From Below - 3/18/2010 8:16:43 PM

Capt. Harlock

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quote:

no Japanese naval or air resistance seen yet, with the exception of sub that put a toredo into Revenge, the last R-Class BB that hasn't been hit with a torpedo. I guess Cuttlefish didn't want her to feel left out! The other 3 are repairing those Torp hits, along with 2 USN BBs, and 3 USN CVs.

Is Cuttlefish doing exceptionally well, or does AE give a big advantage to the IJN subs? I don't recall any WitP AAR featuring such a hit parade by late March '42.

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RE: The Beast From Below - 3/18/2010 8:21:01 PM

Q-Ball

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quote:

ORIGINAL: Capt. Harlock

quote:

no Japanese naval or air resistance seen yet, with the exception of sub that put a toredo into Revenge, the last R-Class BB that hasn't been hit with a torpedo. I guess Cuttlefish didn't want her to feel left out! The other 3 are repairing those Torp hits, along with 2 USN BBs, and 3 USN CVs.

Is Cuttlefish doing exceptionally well, or does AE give a big advantage to the IJN subs? I don't recall any WitP AAR featuring such a hit parade by late March '42.

I should clarify: Not all are subs.

IIRC, here is the damage:

CV Wasp: Subs (TWICE!)
CV Hornet: Subs (TWICE!)
CV Yorktown: Netties
BB Colorado: Netties
3 R-Class BBs: Netties
Revenge: Sub
BB Indiana: Nettie
Repulse: Nettie
West Virginia: Sub

The last two are at 11 Major Float, and staying in theater, because I am running short of capital ships. The rest are safe in port, but repairing.

So, about 1/2 subs, 1/2 netties, but the IJN has done a good job.

PS, this doesn't even mention the hit on USS Enterprise in Jan 1942 by I-155. Or that I-155 is the SAME sub that torpedoed USS Wasp!

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RE: The Beast From Below - 3/18/2010 10:35:04 PM

Q-Ball

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Combat Report, Mar 22-23, 1943

Borneo Landings: An empty Samarinda falls immediately, and I already have planes based there. Time is ticking for the IJN, if they don't show up shortly it will all be over anyway. I have included a map to show the current situation

I don't konw if I caught Cuttlefish flat-footed or what. Certainly, I think he has some BBs in the SW Pac, and KB was last seen a week ago north of New Guinea. I guess it was the right move to go more quickly while I had a window of opportunity.

I am not out of the woods yet, but I think this will be permanent. As bad as landing on Timor or Celebes is for the Empire, this is much worse. Once I clear it, my bombers can reach the Northern coast of Borneo.

Even worse, Borneo itself effectively splits Combined Fleet. From Makassar, I can sail up the East or West coasts of Borneo, while Cuttlefish has to either split the fleet between Singapore and Davao, or concentrate in just one of those. That will allow me to advance up either the East or West coast of Borneo, either of which would be real real bad in terms of being able to get Oil back to Japan.

Tentatively, I think I will go quickly to Banjermisan and Sampit, them Ketapang, finally Billiton. Billiton is basically game over: SBDs there would close Palembang harbor.

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RE: The Beast From Below - 3/19/2010 10:01:24 AM

bjfagan

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Q-Ball,

How do you get all of your search arcs to display on the map at one time? Thanks.

Great AAR btw.

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RE: The Beast From Below - 3/19/2010 11:00:22 AM

LoBaron

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bjfagan: press "Z" key

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Deja Vu - 3/19/2010 4:56:49 PM

Q-Ball

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Cobmat Report, Mar 24-25, 1943

Balikpapan: A couple very interesting things happened.

On the 24th, Balikpapan fell to the first attack. Still no IJN, as we unloaded 40K supplies and base troops to both Samarinda and Balikpapan. The Oil and Refineries were captured with 250 intact of each; great news, as that will help solve my fuel issues. That part was all good, until the 25th.

First, Enterprise was hit by 2 torpedoes from I-37! OUCH! This is almost exactly in the same spot as in Jan '42. Check out Page 2 of this AAR and the photo below, and tell me they aren't almost alike:

http://www.matrixgames.com/forums/tm.asp?m=2255131&mpage=2\

Man! This is too much. I am down now to 2 Operational CVs in the DEI, so despite sinking 4 CVs at the Battle of the Banda Sea, I am outnumbered. I figure Cuttlefish has about 370-ish aircraft in KB at the moment, or about 4 USN CVs worth. Not good!

On top of that, the IJN appears just east of the Makassar Strait, 7 hexes from Samarinda. I don't know why KB didn't launch, but it appears to be a CV TF, and a large surface TF. The surface TF is likely going into the harbor tonight.

Clearly, after 5 days I have worn out my welcome. Almost every ship is pulling anchor and leaving. A few are staying behind to unload stragglers, they may get crushed, but no big deal. I have plenty of transports.

I will need to reasses where I am; I really need to get more base troops to Balikpapan, this is interrupting the movement forward of some, and in general, I lack enough in the DEI.

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RE: Deja Vu - 3/19/2010 5:04:56 PM

Canoerebel

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Q-Ball, great move (with a dash of bad luck) in the DEI. You have lots to do and lots to worry about, but you are absolutely crushing Cuttlefish. He'll eventually regain his equilibrium and make things tough, but it's already too late.

I had a WitP PBEM game very, very similar to yours - an early '43 Timor invasion that caught the Japanese far, far away expecting the Allies to move in CenPac. The eastern DEI was wide open and the Allies moved with near impunity throughout the region, gobbling up little bases and the big ones like Koepang, Lautem, Ambon, Kendari, Morotai and Manado. There was even a big carrier battle that the Japanese lost. Surprise was so complete that it took my opponent months to corral ships and retrieve troops to prepare some kind of MLR. Eventually he did so and there were some titanic clashes when the Allies moved from Manado/Morotai to Mindanao. Still, it was too little too late. The Japanese were off balance and never recovered. That game ended in August '44 with the Allies holding Luzon, Formosa, part of Okinawa, and most of that southern Japanese Home Island.

Your game will undoubtedly take a different course due to luck and what-all, and AE may impose new restraints on your ability to advance, but you have Cuttlefish off balance. You've done well to press hard. He's desperate and he's made some mistakes and had some bad luck. That will probably continue even as he gets in the occasinal lick (like at Babo recently).

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RE: Deja Vu - 3/19/2010 5:31:54 PM

Q-Ball

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Thanks Dan, and I agree with your assessment: Cuttlefish is in a tough spot, anytime Marines are unloading at Balikpapan in March 1943, that's not good for the Empire.

I could pause and build-up, but I think I pretty much have to try for Banjermisan pretty quickly. The units from Balikpapn are retreating that way, and I need that base to protect my flank in the Java Sea (that, and also Donggala to protect the other way, which is undefended). I will probably keep pressing anyway, because I can use LBA, and at any rate, I can afford a lost battle at this point. I have alot of ships in the yard, but they will come out eventually, and the CV situation will change in 3-4 months, with the massive USN CV increase.

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RE: Deja Vu - 3/19/2010 8:22:12 PM

Capt. Harlock

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quote:

First, Enterprise was hit by 2 torpedoes from I-37! OUCH!

It really seems to me that the IJN subs are over-performing. Maybe something's off about your ASW air patrols?

And WHY doesn't Enterprise have the 40mm AAA yet??

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RE: Deja Vu - 3/19/2010 10:04:21 PM

ny59giants

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While having your search cover so much ground/sea, i wonder if it would serve you better to have many of them cover the same area for both Air Phases. I would have a 12 plane PBY squadron set for 50% and only 60 degrees vs 120 degrees to get better coverage of more critical areas. My reasoning is the AI assigns a pilot and his plane to cover a specific area. I don't want the AI to chose the least experience pilot to cover that arc.

How are your CV TF set for ASW patrols?? Do you specific FPs trained up for ASW primary skill with a strong secondary of Naval Search?? Someone posted that your ASW planes need to have both and not just ASW in the 50's or above and Naval Search for many pilots below 30. This would mean they can hit subs, but they cannot find them first.

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RE: Deja Vu - 3/19/2010 10:11:40 PM

Q-Ball

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Harlock: No 40mm because I haven't had time to upgrade. Too busy attacking the Empire! Obviously we'll be upgrading with this trip to the yard.

Combat Report, Mar 26, 1943

Just Missed: Last report, I described the IJN bearing down on me. I wasn't kidding, a large TF went deep into the Makassar Strait during the night, catching one of my withdrawing (and empty), transport convoys. The BBs were Mutsu, Ise, Hyuga, and Yamashiro. The results were shameful for the Empire, sinking an SC and a single xAP, with only HMNS Kortenaer for escort. Bad!

I last sighted Nagato recently in the Java Sea, and Yamato, Musashi, and Haruna 2 weeks back in the SW Pacific. 2 Kongos were sunk in the Battle of Banda Sea, and Fuso was probably sunk, or at least will be in the yard for months. So, I have pretty much accounted for all the BBs. Unless the SW Pac BBs are moving, looks like the "Fast" BBs are there, and the "Slow" ones in the DEI.

I have pulled everyone back off Balikpapan, but not before leaving enough supplies and base troops that they'll be fine.

Banjermisan: I am accelerating the move on Banjermisan, to take advantage of the recent landings, and also because I need to get there before the 2 Regts get there from Balikpapan and reinforce it.

I have 2 US Inf Regts, 1 Australian Bde, and a Pioneer Bn already prepped. I think that will be enough to dislodge the 1 unit there, which I think is a Nav Gd.

We are also planning to land an Australian Bn. on Donggala, which is undefended.

My New Favorite Plane: AE features some new models we didn't have in WITP. My new favorite? The PB4Y-Recon. It can gather good recon intel out to 32 HEXES! It's an F-5 on Steroids! I already have one unit buzzing Singapore daily, where I can count the number of ships in harbor, TFs, and generally keep very good tabs on what is going on. I have periodically buzzed Manila, Legaspi, etc. From Balikpapan, it can probably reach all the way to Cam Ranh accross the South China Sea. Great tool!

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RE: Deja Vu - 3/20/2010 4:04:42 PM

Q-Ball

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Combat Report, Mar 27,28, 1943

Sub Wars: For awhile, I have had a real spike in sinkings; lots of contacts, and ships hit, about one a day for a month there. Lately, it's dropped off, not sure if that success has forced Cuttlefish to take countermeasures. I have subs watching every possible way from the SRA to Japan, so there are no Sub-free routes to take. Maybe he is collecting them into larger convoys, not sure, but that would be one way to limit the damage.

I am now using the USN Fleet boats for ship-hunting, and they are doing well. The S-Boats are now used as pickets; I just park them in strategic passages, to keep an eye on traffic. I find they don't get as many attacks as the Fleet Boats (maybe because they are slower?), and don't have alot of range, so they can stay on station and keep an eye on things. Sometimes, that really pays off.........(see below)

Next Moves: Last couple days are quiet, but one of our picket subs picked up the IJN moving West over the top of Borneo, toward Singapore. That is interesting: I had assumed that the IJN was concentrating at Davao.

This is either a temporary move, or maybe he is splitting his fleet between the two sides of Borneo. We will have to see, but this will force a couple immediate decisions.

First, I have loaded up troops to land on Donggala. It is unoccupied, but if the IJN is going that way, I should be able to land unmolested. I also plan to accelerate the landings on Loenwoek and Garontolo, further North on Celebes. Only Menado is occupied on Celebes.

I also have troops prepped for Sorong (which has a Brigade-sized garrison), and Ternate (which is empty). I will probably move those timetables up.

I really have to decide tommorow whether to go for Banjermasin right now. I have 1 Bde and 1 Bn prepped at Makassar, and can probably get there a day or two ahead of the IJN. That will likely spark a big battle, and Cuttlefish can draw on the large airbase at Soerbaya for support. I have to think about that one, because I am down to 2 CVs now, and may just put this off.

The closer I get to Palembang, the more Java is going to be a problem. I can't really bomb all the airbases closed; there are too many. It's easy for the Japanese to just shift to another airfield. Yet, I don't want to land on Java either; seems to have a large garrison (at least a division, almost certainly more), and the terrain favors the defense. I would need 4-6 divisions to do it. Getting ashore would be easy, killing the garrison is the hard part. If I land at the Southern End, he can easily pour reinforcements in at Batavia. On the other hand, a conquest of Java is probably War Over; I will then have an unssailable base to destroy Palembang and Singapore. Decisions decisions.....what would you guys do?

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< Message edited by Q-Ball -- 3/20/2010 4:05:26 PM >

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RE: Deja Vu - 3/20/2010 5:38:47 PM

ckammp

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Re: Java

Looks like CF is moving his fleet to Singapore to protect Palembang/Java. This makes sense, he can see as well as you that the loss of Java would mean the end of the game.
I would advise you to go ahead with an attack on Java, but not right away. Make a move north first, to Tarakan or Jolo, if possible. These moves would require less troops,allow your CVs and BBs the time needed in the repair yards, and most importantly, make CF think you are going for the Philippines instead of Java. Every plane and LCU that he puts in PI makes your job in Java much easier. Even if he is not totally fooled, he will still have to divert resources, just in case.

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Detachments - 3/20/2010 7:39:20 PM

Heeward

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Java is a major land campaign. Assume Cuttlefish reacts like he did with the Northern Pacific Campaign, or even more violently!
Can you bring an Army - six to nine divisions + associated troops?
Do you have a significant number of replacements for an attritional battle?
Can you bring more air resources to bear? You do not have to close the airfields, just the major ports. The minor ports will not be able to transship significant amount of supplies / troops / oil and resources out.
Do you have significant replacement cargo / transports on hand - as he will endeavor to isolate the garrison, I suspect the entire IJN including submarines will show up here for the "decisive battle".

What other operation can you conduct at the same time - This will draw his attention like a moth to firestorm. You may be able to do another major push, If you naval forces are up to it.

Other Options
South coast of Borneo - to Sumatra ignoring Java - Leaves a large self-sustaining base in your rear until you bomb the industry out of existence.
Northeast coast of Borneo - to Mindanao
The Royal Road Across the Central Pacific - Shortens your supply lines from the West Coast
East to Hollandia - West to Rabaul
Across the empty North Central Pacific to Wake / Marcus / Iwo Jima - Of course the last is like opening up the well head and dropping a cigarette. That will definitely get his attention.

Consider breaking your PB4Y recon squadron into detachments - and buzz additional locations - this will increase his paranoia, and you could find that lightly held outpost to para-drop / instant amphibious assault.

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RE: Detachments - 3/22/2010 4:47:53 AM

Q-Ball

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Combat Report, Mar 29-31, 1943

Movements: There has been very little combat the last couple days, just some routine unopposed bombings in China and of Noumea. The interesting part is the move of the IJN.

Between my Recon flights over Singapore, the 5 Catalina units I have pointed into the Java sea and over Borneo, and a sub sighting off Lingga (which almost sank the Dutch sub when KB ran over it!), there is no doubt the IJN has moved into the Java Sea. There are so many sighting reports, Cuttlefish knows I know this. So there isn't really any guessing or subterfuge.

I am not yet in a position to challenge the IJN. I have inferiority in CVs, so there is no way I can face them near a large Japanese airbase. I feel OK in defense, as I have alot of LBA. I would not mind a BB fight, as I will soon have ALOT in the DEI; 4 Slow USN BBs, 3 Fast USN BBs, 2 RN BBs, with another 3-5 BBs on the way. 3 R-Class BBs will repair and be ready in 60 days, and Nevada and Pennsylvania have both rejoined the fleet and are moving to the DEI. (USS Tennessee, BTW, is the last Pearl Harbor survivor undamaged; she is now at Seattle, but was so badly damaged her ETA is not until 1/44!)

In the short-term, I have to get a convoy to Balikpapan with Seabees, an AIR HQ, and a USN Base Force. That will allow us to build a huge air presence there. I have several airgroups training on LowN, in anticipation of terrorizing Tankers at Brunei (which, at 9 hexes, is sadly JUST out of SBD range).

Long Term Strategy: Thanks guys for your comments. I am still undecided, but I need to get off the fence soon, because whatever I do, I need 60 days to prep everyone.

Here are my options as I see them:

1. JAVA: An invasion of Java would require 4-6 divisions, and be a major land campaign. Tactically, I think Tjitilap would be a good spot to land, and shouldn't be too hard to get ashore. It would be very difficult to close out the island, and I am leery of this. Still, a complete conquest of Java probably ends the war.
2. SUMATRA: I could just skip Java and land right at Benkoelen and Oosthaven. Getting ashore, with the IJN there, would be risky, and provoke a major battle. If successful, this would close Palembang and end the war.

#1 and #2 will go right in the teeth of the IJN, so I better be ready to lose ships. I think Cuttlefish is realizing the danger to Palembang, and is reacting accordingly. The other options would be to go the path of LEAST resistance, which is up into the Phillipines:

1. EAST BORNEO: Going Tarakan, Jolo, up the east coast and finishing at Puerto Princesa. These should meet mostly air resistance, and are doable. It would not END the war, but would allow me to start sending carriers into the South China Sea, which would be real bad for the Empire.
2. MINDANAO: Intel indicates it's heavily defended. I probably won't consider this, but should put it on the list.

Decisions, decisions......

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RE: Detachments - 3/22/2010 4:55:36 AM

aprezto

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Qball. You are a trail blazer. It is riveting to watch you negotiate the initial success, but more, to see the quandry that tightening the lines creates. Cuttlefish has the dubious luxury of having far less to defend and can therefore defend with more. I don't dare to hope I can do as well as you have, but it is interesting in the extreme to see the ramifications that a successful early expansion can produce.

Maybe the days of lightning advance may have to wait for more Heavy bombers with escort to catch up?

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RE: Detachments - 3/22/2010 8:09:35 AM

LoBaron

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quote:

ORIGINAL: Q-Ball
Here are my options as I see them:

1. JAVA: An invasion of Java would require 4-6 divisions, and be a major land campaign. Tactically, I think Tjitilap would be a good spot to land, and shouldn't be too hard to get ashore. It would be very difficult to close out the island, and I am leery of this. Still, a complete conquest of Java probably ends the war.
2. SUMATRA: I could just skip Java and land right at Benkoelen and Oosthaven. Getting ashore, with the IJN there, would be risky, and provoke a major battle. If successful, this would close Palembang and end the war.

#1 and #2 will go right in the teeth of the IJN, so I better be ready to lose ships. I think Cuttlefish is realizing the danger to Palembang, and is reacting accordingly. The other options would be to go the path of LEAST resistance, which is up into the Phillipines:

1. EAST BORNEO: Going Tarakan, Jolo, up the east coast and finishing at Puerto Princesa. These should meet mostly air resistance, and are doable. It would not END the war, but would allow me to start sending carriers into the South China Sea, which would be real bad for the Empire.
2. MINDANAO: Intel indicates it's heavily defended. I probably won't consider this, but should put it on the list.

Decisions, decisions......

Q-ball as always your AAR is a great read!

As for Java/Sumatra: Probably the Java option is the better one for these reasons:

- A major land campaign on such an important island forces Cuttlefish to react as well on the land as in the air. He simply has to counter your move because,
as you said, closing Java is probably the end of the war.

- You don�t need to conquer Java fast, its just another front where you can fight a war of attrition. After you push further north you can resupply from the southern bases
without too much danger and let him deplete his forces against yours. Its a matter of going as fast as he lets you and keeping the pressure on.

- With help from a smaller move up the Borneo coast this can close down Java ressources much sooner than total conquest of the island is accomplished.

- Sumatra invasion needs to bypass Java and as a Japanes force there is mostly self-sufficient, reinforcing such an invasion would have to meet heavy resistance from
the north and from Java itself. So I think this invasion is easier to counter for Japan, most of all because Cuttlefish still has teeth.

From the options listed I think a heavily guarded Java invasion synched with a weaker move through eastern Borneo could be a war winner.

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RE: Detachments - 3/22/2010 10:34:23 AM

paullus99

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In this case, knowing that the allies are only going to become stronger - is it really wise to attack into the teeth of his defenses right now? You've been successful by keeping him off-balance & finding weak spots to exploit - he has plenty of army units (not an infinite resource, but he can pour in troops when he wants to), so why not feint toward Java & then hit him somewhere else that will stretch his ability to respond?

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Plans - 3/22/2010 9:00:00 PM

Q-Ball

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Combat Report, Apr 1-3, 1943

Action: Not alot. Two days in a row, we sank something via sub; a Tanker off Sandakan, and an AK off Kyushu. Other than that, just garden-variety unopposed bombing in China and Noumea.

Logsitics: I do, though, have ALOT of ships moving to the DEI. Warships, transports, carrying troops, fuel and cargo. I am particularly moving alot of Aviation suppport, including Air HQs, plus engineering troops. I am also shuttling air groups to the DEI. Darwin is becoming a vast camp of troops, awaiting transit to the "front".

Large convoys to basically max-out Makassar and Balikpapan are about to unload, and I have a convoy headed to Donggala.

Plans: Thanks for the comments guys, good thoughts. A couple things.

First, I don't think it behooves me to grind it out with the IJA. Attrition of the IJA via land combat is not a good idea. The reason is that the IJA actually expands rapidly in 1943-44, and even if you kill a unit, chances are it's cadre escapes and rebuilds. This is the problem with a land campaign on Java. I definitely want to attrite his Navy, and probably a war of attrition in the Air isn't a bad idea at this point. But on the ground? No.

Combined Fleet just anchored at Batavia, probably waiting for me to make a move on Banjermasin. Though that is tempting, I want to avoid a major CV/Air battle at this point, with only 2 operational CVs. While Combined Fleet is in the Java Sea, though, I can make some other progress and keep my options open.

I am loading up forces for Ternate, that are already prepped. I also have a 100% prepped Bde for Garontolo, and they will also load--up. The plan is to build big airbases in both spots, and pound Menado to dust. The Japanese have 15 units there, a huge pile; best to avoid that.

Overall, the IJA is actually bigger than the Allied forces on the ground; we can neutralize that by going around them. This is the key. The problem in late war for Japan isn't lack of infantry; it's lack of mobility. Without a fleet, you have have none.

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RE: Plans - 3/25/2010 7:40:46 PM

koontz

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Great AAR so far enjoying the both of them, must be rather fun to read CF when its over.

Anyway was wondering how many DD you have in each CV TF?

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RE: Plans - 3/25/2010 8:58:12 PM

crsutton

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I can see why the Allies ingnored Java and went right to the PI. Your only real purpose is cutting off the flow of oil to the home islands. While a major land campaign in Java will do this, when it is finished you hold Java and are no closer to Japan. Northern Borneo and the PI, on the other hand, will serve to cut off oil to Japan and put you all that more closer to Japan. If you hold Borneo and Manila, Singapore and the DEI become redundant and you can start moving on to bomb Japan all that earlier.

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Au Revior - 3/26/2010 4:31:07 PM

Q-Ball

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koontz: Not enough, 4-6, that's part of the problem
crsutton: Good point about getting closer to Japan. That is goal #2 (#1 being to cut off oil). Possession of Apparri accomplished both objectives; Java only #1.

Combat Report, April 4-9, 1943

This is a quick update, as I am going to be gone 10 days in France on a little R and R. By the time I'm back this will fall to page 2 of the AARs unless you guys comment alot!

Ternate: Invasion is on it's way; the base is unoccupied, but I am bringing a Bde to hold it, and base troops right behind. The idea is to neutralize Menado, and get closer to a landing on Mindanao, and the Phillipines.

Sub Wars: Sank a pair of tankers in one night off Laong; that was great! They were big ones too. Other than that, I think Cuttlefish is running fewer, but larger convoys; the one I did find had at least 6 big tankers in it.

That's it otherwise, very little action the last few days as I am gathering forces.

Off to go PACK and make our flight, so Au Revoir until Easter!

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RE: Au Revior - 3/26/2010 5:10:21 PM

Canoerebel

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Have a great trip, Q-Ball. Say hello to Corporal LeBeau for me!

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