Canoerebel
Posts: 21100
Joined: 12/14/2002 From: Northwestern Georgia, USA Status: offline
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8/8/42 Ramree Island: The stars align for the Allies. 4EB from both base fly. All three bombardment TFs come in (the BBs contribute disruption while the CLs are ineffective). Then the Allies attack with these results (curious or strong results in bold): Ground combat at Ramree Island (54,48) Allied Deliberate attack Attacking force 8374 troops, 125 guns, 37 vehicles, Assault Value = 396 Defending force 10750 troops, 133 guns, 42 vehicles, Assault Value = 140 Allied adjusted assault: 189 Japanese adjusted defense: 85 Allied assault odds: 2 to 1 Combat modifiers Defender: terrain(+), leaders(+), disruption(-), preparation(-) Attacker: Japanese ground losses: 3896 casualties reported Squads: 63 destroyed, 0 disabled Non Combat: 126 destroyed, 26 disabled Engineers: 14 destroyed, 0 disabled Guns lost 21 (14 destroyed, 7 disabled) Vehicles lost 8 (6 destroyed, 2 disabled) Units retreated 1 Allied ground losses: 161 casualties reported Squads: 1 destroyed, 11 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled Engineers: 1 destroyed, 2 disabled Vehicles lost 1 (1 destroyed, 0 disabled) Defeated Japanese Units Retreating! Assaulting units: 1st Marine Raider Battalion 2/1 AIF Pioneer Battalion 147th(Sep) Infantry Regiment 16th British Brigade 63rd Indian Brigade 6th Heavy AA Regiment 116th RAF Base Force 24th Indian Construction Battalion 97th Field Artillery Battalion 1st Bengal Construction Battalion 1st USMC Engineer Aviation Battalion C Det USN Port Svc 2nd Indian Coastal Artillery Regiment 823rd Engineer Aviation Battalion Defending units: 48th Division Result: Not sure why 48th Div. had no squads disabled (that's a result typically seen with a unit that is completely destroyed, but obviously this one wasn't since only 63 squads were eliminated and there are lots more than that). Also note the high number of non-combat squads destroyed. The division should be out of commissionf or awhile. Per Poultry Lad's question, I still own the hexside on my side, so I can move out of the hex if and when the time comes (I don't have any plans to do so - Ramree is defensive from a land standpoint for quite some time to come). I think John owns his side of the hexside, which means Allied supply won't flow out, but it wouldn't anyway since he holds the adjacent hex. But I'm not planning to use Ramree as a supply dump until much later - for the near and medium term, I'll need every bit I can get to Ramree just to build the airfield (and later more forts) and handle air and ground operations. So, my evaluation is that things are just like I want 'em at Ramree right now. (John may bring more next time; I may do some reinforcing too.) Burma: John will get some revenge on the road between Ramree and Akyab. One of his forward divisions entered a hex occupied by three units (I was hoping that number might mislead John long enough for a reinforcing UK brigade to arrive). He'll attack tomorrow, forcing the Aryglles, Eastern HQ and an arty unit to retreat. The next hex, though is where the Allies make a stand as 18th UK Div. begins to arrive followed by additional reinforcements. Will Burma become an efficient killing field for the Allies or will John turn it into a frustrating theater in which the Allies are stymied? The jury is out, though early returns have been promising. Bay of Bengal: CV Illustrious leaves Trincomalee tonight for the hazardous trip to Colombo. Allied combat TFs are doing the reverse as I commit additional ships to the Bay. I'm waiting for John to "flank speed" a carrier TF to interdict these movements. I think one more turn and the bulk of the critical exposure will be complete. NoPac: SigInt that 1st IJN AA Bn to Attu Island (man, SigInt has been ringing with Aleutians troop movements). Pacific: Mostly quiet. AP Zeilin made it to Sydney yard. Long-term Plans: I'm still working on long-term goals and planning. I'm going to pretty much keep intact my general deployment - a mass of troops in each of three main theaters that can be used offensively - NoPac, Pacific, Oz. I've got to decide on targets to begin new prep assignments. I've also got to decide which ships go where, which is an agonizing exercise in thinking - not nearly as fun as breaking things that belong to the enemy.
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