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RE: Australia Invaded! - 7/30/2014 7:44:50 PM

Lowpe

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Northern Oz

Nobody home.

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Post #: 1471

RE: Australia Invaded! - 7/30/2014 7:53:41 PM

Lowpe

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The victory point trend. Some of it is misleading with bases taken that will be retaken by the Allies.

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Post #: 1472

Burma Bungle! - 7/30/2014 8:02:10 PM

Lowpe

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Testing out a theory of mine, I have sent some Lilly IIbs to Ramree, to see if they can't nail some of his shipping.

Since I have bombarded both Cox and Akyab, he has stripped his air forces from those bases, I hope to get in a good day's strike with the Lilly IIb.

I have two powerful surface groups operating in Burma and with Betties and Nells hope to bag some large ships eventually.

I plan on pounding Akyab to 100 percent port damage. Anything destroyed there has to aid my offensive at Prome.

How well do you think he can draw reinforcements and recover disablements at Prome? Obviously, it is supply constrained, but he has 29 units in Prome, and 16 in Rangoon. I don't know how he can keep it supplied.

In the Marshalls, the Allies have reconned both Kusaie and Ponape heavily. I am moving a lot of planes to Ponape hoping to recreate the CAP trap there from a week or so ago.

First two squadrons upgraded to Judy model 1. Hurrah.

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Post #: 1473

RE: Burma Bungle! - 7/31/2014 12:00:02 AM

Lowpe

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Feb 16, 1943

Off Akyab, the Cruiser task force puts on a burst of speed and actually closes on Akyab, surprising IJN High Command with their alacrity.

They catch and sink a cargo ship at Akyab, bombard the port, and then retreat. During the day they are caught and surprised by a Allied cruiser force and they go at it hammer and tongs.

Unfortunately every torpedo attack misses, and two destroyers are ultimately sunk. There is hope for more damage during the day, as 60 Betties and Nells are on Naval as well as 27 Lilly IIbs.

One group of Nells returns to the airfield, being alerted to enemy fighters. 2 groups of Betties can't find the target and the final third goes in and scores 1 torpedo hit.

The Lillies, flying from Ramree, attack another group of ships and runs into enemy fighters. The half dozen zeroes escorting are quite enough but the Lillies fight their way thru but manage to miss everyone.

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Post #: 1474

RE: Burma Bungle! - 7/31/2014 1:43:40 AM

Lowpe

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The Fuso is speared by a S boat.

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Post #: 1475

RE: Burma Bungle! - 7/31/2014 5:59:15 AM

JocMeister

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Can�t really understand what your opponent is doing. He knew about your CA TF and still decided to send in a vastly outgunned TF with some very valuable ships like the Devonshire, Nashville and Honolulu? Not only that but he sends them in under your LBA... And mix in a rubbish Dutch CL?

He was very lucky today not getting the entire TF wiped out IMO.

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Post #: 1476

RE: Burma Bungle! - 7/31/2014 9:18:50 AM

setloz

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It could be he was counting on catching your ships after the bombardment, with the ammo depleted. It happened to me more than once that my bombardment TF was surprised after the bombardment by an inferior force and took heavy damage.

Lack of LRCAP over the TF though is definately an oversight on his part. And I agree, the dutch CL shouldn't have been in that TF.

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Post #: 1477

RE: Burma Bungle! - 7/31/2014 10:11:30 AM

HansBolter

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Not sure why you guys are so disparaging of the valiant little Dutch cruiser.
The Java and Sumatra are the better versions of Dutch CLs vastly superior to the Tromp and DeRuyter.

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Post #: 1478

RE: Burma Bungle! - 7/31/2014 10:14:35 AM

Lowpe

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Feb 17, 1943

No night strikes.

Allies 4E's bomb Lae,and other than that no action.

Nashville shows up on the sunk ships list near Cox's. IJN submarines looking for cripples don't find any.

Allied carriers in the Bay of Bengal. 2 hexes closer to Moulmein and the 60 Betties/Nells would have 40 Oscar IIa escorting them for a 5000 strike. That would hurt, I think.

IJN BB/CA group is spotted SW of Rangoon, perhaps they can be bait to suck his carriers in?

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Post #: 1479

RE: Burma Bungle! - 7/31/2014 11:09:19 AM

Lowpe

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I am going to dangle the BB groups two hexes south of Ramree with a big multi base CAP. Perhaps I can trap him. If not, they will be in position to run a good bombardment on Akyab.

Lost an 8 point tanker off China. Despite numerous air attacks, I have a tough time clearing this particular deepwater hex of submarines. I will have to send some decent ASW ships there...

I will launch the attack on Prome tomorrow. 4-5 days later I will launch the attack west of Magwe. I think Allies may be running low on supply...no planes in Prome, but he does have a lot of AA there. So maybe not yet.

I will be bombarding at Rangoon to drain his supplies in lower Burma even more.

< Message edited by Lowpe -- 7/31/2014 12:11:56 PM >

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Post #: 1480

RE: Burma Bungle! - 7/31/2014 11:16:34 AM

Lowpe

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quote:

ORIGINAL: setloz

It could be he was counting on catching your ships after the bombardment, with the ammo depleted. It happened to me more than once that my bombardment TF was surprised after the bombardment by an inferior force and took heavy damage.

Lack of LRCAP over the TF though is definately an oversight on his part. And I agree, the dutch CL shouldn't have been in that TF.

I think you are right here. I obviously did enough damage to Nashville for her to break into an escort task force. The other task force did have LR CAP and actually downed a scout plane.

If I sank the Nashville, then a minor victory for me...only Jintsu is really hurt. She is in port at Ramree with no detection either the last turn or this turn. I will move her out once I see what these enemy carriers do.

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Post #: 1481

RE: Burma Bungle! - 7/31/2014 11:57:11 AM

Lowpe

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Marshalls

Possible CAP trap with a small squadron of destroyers I suspect. If he stays true to his past, he will keep pushing these ships forward to see what happens.

The Allies are basically kicking my but in the air, not as badly, but they still can win the Air war. I will probably get the Tojo IIc sometime in March and that will give me two armored planes -one for the Army and one for the Navy. So I am hesitant about defending forward.

Some CVs are at Rabual upgrading their Vals to Judy, while the rest are at Ponape. The invasion fleets from Port Moresby are back at Rabaul rearming.

I am dropping off a division at Guadalcanal, and have another division at Truk as reserve. I am thinking about re-invading Mili.

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Post #: 1482

RE: Burma Bungle! - 7/31/2014 12:16:14 PM

Lowpe

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Burma

Phase 1:

Attack on Prome. Have three tiered HQs in range. Attack on Prome is 4 Divisions (including 1st Tank div), 6 Armored, 14 Artillery (including AT), 2 AA. 5 More ART and some AA enroute.

Rangoon: Bombardments. 10 ART. More on the way.

Phase 2: (4-5 Days)

Attack west of Magwe to cut line of supply: 2 Divisions, 5 Art.

Reserves: 1 Division, several brigades, 1 tank regiment, lots of AA.

Not all of the divisions have upgraded to IJA 43 squads, but I am not waiting any longer. Additional forces will be trickling in.

I suspect there will be nasty air battles as the Allies try to bomb my troops, especially the Magwe push, back into the stone age. I am hoping Allies don't have the supplies to fly much out of Prome.

Almost all the artillery is very heavy and nasty.

Supply levels are pretty generous right now across the Burma field...more on the way of course, mostly from DEI.

Army bombers will be looking to hit his troops with light AA in the open, like near Magwe, or to knock his units out of move mode. I will avoid bombing Prome and its nasty AA.

Navy forces will look to keep pressure on Akyab, trying to keep the port damaged and supply levels interdicted.

It is going to be a long, grinding, bombarding, war of attrition. If I can knock his supply down it will be infinitely easier.

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< Message edited by Lowpe -- 7/31/2014 1:19:44 PM >

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Post #: 1483

RE: Burma Bungle! - 7/31/2014 12:35:25 PM

ny59giants

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Put up some LRCAP over Prome to see if he is using transport there.

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Post #: 1484

RE: Burma Bungle! - 7/31/2014 5:55:56 PM

Lowpe

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quote:

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

Put up some LRCAP over Prome to see if he is using transport there.

As always, excellent advice! Allies lost one transport, and there are steady op losses so he is using them heavily.

I have not been able to catch any of his transports, but there is now two good long range planes there the Oscar IIa and also the KAI Dinah. It would be great to knock some of them down.

The Chindits in the jungle managed to move right as a division was ordered to attack them. Shucks. He may be flying supplies to those guys.

I LR CAP his troops near Port Moresby, but no joy there either.

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Post #: 1485

RE: Burma Bungle! - 7/31/2014 6:18:52 PM

JocMeister

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Be careful with the Tank Divs. Their expire date are coming up soon. I did some testing a while back and even in defensive terrain (x2) a full Japanese tank div can be completely wrecked by an upgraded (43 squads) allied ID in a couple of turns. The key is the 43 squads which gets a massive boost in their anti tank value from the 42 squads.

In 44 two US Tank BTL (with Shermans) will devastate a Tank Div in any terrain. Erik had some good success with them though when dug in together with other troops in good defensive terrain. Especially in bases with high forts.

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Post #: 1486

RE: Burma Bungle! - 7/31/2014 6:30:02 PM

Lowpe

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quote:

ORIGINAL: JocMeister

Be careful with the Tank Divs. Their expire date are coming up soon. I did some testing a while back and even in defensive terrain (x2) a full Japanese tank div can be completely wrecked by an upgraded (43 squads) allied ID in a couple of turns. The key is the 43 squads which gets a massive boost in their anti tank value from the 42 squads.

In 44 two US Tank BTL (with Shermans) will devastate a Tank Div in any terrain. Erik had some good success with them though when dug in together with other troops in good defensive terrain. Especially in bases with high forts.

More good advice!

My attack plan at Prome is really to bombard with the ART. Cut the supply line further north, and only then after substantial wearing down thru bombardments will I attack. Er, that is the plan now.

I suspect he attacks me on the first day I am there, supported by a huge bombing run, sweeps, etc... -- it is going to get very ugly.

I wish the battle report showed you some details of what you face ... M3 Lee tanks spotted at Prome for example.

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Post #: 1487

RE: Burma Bungle! - 7/31/2014 6:40:36 PM

Spidery

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quote:

I have not been able to catch any of his transports, but there is now two good long range planes there the Oscar IIa and also the KAI Dinah. It would be great to knock some of them down.

You need to be pretty close to catch transports.

To catch them at range 3 your planes need a range of 11 so that is mainly Oscars (or A6M2/A6M3a) with drop tanks. To catch then at range 2 your planes need a range of 8.

So if you can base Ki-46 KAI at Toungoo you may have found a niche they are the best fighter for.

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Post #: 1488

RE: Burma Bungle! - 7/31/2014 6:41:35 PM

JocMeister

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I think you have a good chance. His position isn�t very good and he has a very long flank to cover.

As long as you can deny him a harbor in Burma supply will be his biggest enemy.

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Post #: 1489

RE: Burma Bungle! - 7/31/2014 7:21:32 PM

Lowpe

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quote:

ORIGINAL: Spidery
So if you can base Ki-46 KAI at Toungoo you may have found a niche they are the best fighter for.

I have 62 Dinah KAI fighters now, and 50 of them are in Burma -- most doing night CAP.

There is a small splinter already at Toungoo of 6. Depending upon the turn, I will move in more and see what happens.

Moonlight is getting close to 100 percent, and there has been mostly quiet nights, so I expect to see some major night bombing efforts.

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Post #: 1490

RE: Burma Bungle! - 7/31/2014 10:20:11 PM

Lowpe

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Feb 18th, 1943

CAP Trap. Worked well, except for the one torpedo hit. I should have assigned another Sentai! He definitely had more planes available than I thought he would have.

The offensive has started in Burma...

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Post #: 1491

RE: Burma Bungle! - 7/31/2014 10:31:42 PM

mind_messing

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quote:

ORIGINAL: HansBolter

Not sure why you guys are so disparaging of the valiant little Dutch cruiser.
The Java and Sumatra are the better versions of Dutch CLs vastly superior to the Tromp and DeRuyter.

True, but the Java-class is nowhere near as capable as the other crusiers in that task force. I'd have gave the Java her own task force with some smaller destroyers to act as a reserve force and let the more modern ships take the lead.

Granted, some of the IJN crusiers are as old (if not older) than the Java, but they've at least got the Type 93 to keep them competitive.

Maximizing your firepower with a big task force is a good way to ensure winning, but having a reserve force to make a second intercept after the main battle (or even before, to waste enemy shells/torpedos) is also exceptionally important.

quote:

ORIGINAL: setloz

It could be he was counting on catching your ships after the bombardment, with the ammo depleted. It happened to me more than once that my bombardment TF was surprised after the bombardment by an inferior force and took heavy damage.

Lack of LRCAP over the TF though is definately an oversight on his part. And I agree, the dutch CL shouldn't have been in that TF.

I concur.

I've seen myself the effects of a bombardment force being caught post-bombardment. It isn't pretty, and even that poor TF composition would have slaughtered the Japanese.

quote:

ORIGINAL: JocMeister

Be careful with the Tank Divs. Their expire date are coming up soon. I did some testing a while back and even in defensive terrain (x2) a full Japanese tank div can be completely wrecked by an upgraded (43 squads) allied ID in a couple of turns. The key is the 43 squads which gets a massive boost in their anti tank value from the 42 squads.

In 44 two US Tank BTL (with Shermans) will devastate a Tank Div in any terrain. Erik had some good success with them though when dug in together with other troops in good defensive terrain. Especially in bases with high forts.

Now that is interesting.

From what I understand, the IJA tank divisions come too late to be of any real offensive use against the US and the British, meaning they can only be used offensively against the Chinese.

I'll be using them as you mentioned. High forts, with lots of infantry and in good terrain.

Japanese tanks might not be up to the standards of the Eastern Front, but they'd make excellent pillboxes.

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Post #: 1492

RE: Burma Bungle! - 8/1/2014 12:15:27 AM

Lokasenna

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quote:

ORIGINAL: mind_messing

quote:

ORIGINAL: HansBolter

Not sure why you guys are so disparaging of the valiant little Dutch cruiser.
The Java and Sumatra are the better versions of Dutch CLs vastly superior to the Tromp and DeRuyter.

True, but the Java-class is nowhere near as capable as the other crusiers in that task force. I'd have gave the Java her own task force with some smaller destroyers to act as a reserve force and let the more modern ships take the lead.

Granted, some of the IJN crusiers are as old (if not older) than the Java, but they've at least got the Type 93 to keep them competitive.

Maximizing your firepower with a big task force is a good way to ensure winning, but having a reserve force to make a second intercept after the main battle (or even before, to waste enemy shells/torpedos) is also exceptionally important.

quote:

ORIGINAL: setloz

It could be he was counting on catching your ships after the bombardment, with the ammo depleted. It happened to me more than once that my bombardment TF was surprised after the bombardment by an inferior force and took heavy damage.

Lack of LRCAP over the TF though is definately an oversight on his part. And I agree, the dutch CL shouldn't have been in that TF.

I concur.

I've seen myself the effects of a bombardment force being caught post-bombardment. It isn't pretty, and even that poor TF composition would have slaughtered the Japanese.

quote:

ORIGINAL: JocMeister

Be careful with the Tank Divs. Their expire date are coming up soon. I did some testing a while back and even in defensive terrain (x2) a full Japanese tank div can be completely wrecked by an upgraded (43 squads) allied ID in a couple of turns. The key is the 43 squads which gets a massive boost in their anti tank value from the 42 squads.

In 44 two US Tank BTL (with Shermans) will devastate a Tank Div in any terrain. Erik had some good success with them though when dug in together with other troops in good defensive terrain. Especially in bases with high forts.

Now that is interesting.

From what I understand, the IJA tank divisions come too late to be of any real offensive use against the US and the British, meaning they can only be used offensively against the Chinese.

I'll be using them as you mentioned. High forts, with lots of infantry and in good terrain.

Japanese tanks might not be up to the standards of the Eastern Front, but they'd make excellent pillboxes.

You get the 1st and 2nd Tank divisions well before the US/British get good anti-armor squads, but they are better used against the Chinese, yeah. And even then, it takes some time to get all those Indian units upgraded to the good squads in 1943.

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Post #: 1493

RE: Burma Bungle! - 8/1/2014 10:38:38 AM

Lowpe

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Feb 19, 2014

No night attacks.

Japan sweeps in China do well, but then Allies sweep with Lightnings, P40K, Hurricanes in Burma and do even better.

Akyab is fairly heavily damaged. Rangoon will get bombarded tonight.

IJA army troops will enter Prome this next day. What should I do with my air force?.

His ability to hold here will be predicated on his bombers.

Have to say I am fairly worried about my troops out in the open!

My LR CAP over Prome didn't catch any transports, but they were swept in an adjacent hex and suffered.

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Post #: 1494

RE: Burma Bungle! - 8/1/2014 10:47:47 AM

mind_messing

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quote:

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

What should I do with my air force?.

Half ground attack, half airbase attack on the hex. Use your poorer fighters (Oscar and KAI Dinah) as escorts for your bombers, while mass your offensive air assets (A6M5c, Tojo's) to sweep the hex over and over again.

Keep the bombers at 10k, as it's the magic altitude for Japan, being high enough to avoid the plethora of 20mm and 40mm AA that the Allies have, while still being low enough to get good results.

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Post #: 1495

RE: Burma Bungle! - 8/1/2014 4:44:10 PM

Lowpe

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quote:

ORIGINAL: mind_messing

Half ground attack, half airbase attack on the hex. Use your poorer fighters (Oscar and KAI Dinah) as escorts for your bombers, while mass your offensive air assets (A6M5c, Tojo's) to sweep the hex over and over again.

Keep the bombers at 10k, as it's the magic altitude for Japan, being high enough to avoid the plethora of 20mm and 40mm AA that the Allies have, while still being low enough to get good results.

Took your advice. We will see how it goes.

I see Tiemanj is up and going with his AAR now that his move is over and life is settling down back to normal.

Probably means Magwe oil will be bombed out of existance.

No worries, I can't defend it and launch an offensive at the same time.

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Post #: 1496

RE: Burma Bungle! - 8/1/2014 5:14:01 PM

Lokasenna

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quote:

ORIGINAL: mind_messing

quote:

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

What should I do with my air force?.

Half ground attack, half airbase attack on the hex. Use your poorer fighters (Oscar and KAI Dinah) as escorts for your bombers, while mass your offensive air assets (A6M5c, Tojo's) to sweep the hex over and over again.

Keep the bombers at 10k, as it's the magic altitude for Japan, being high enough to avoid the plethora of 20mm and 40mm AA that the Allies have, while still being low enough to get good results.

Opinions vary on the definition of "good", I think...

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Post #: 1497

RE: Burma Bungle! - 8/1/2014 5:39:48 PM

Lowpe

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It sure won't be like the Allies, that is for sure. But Prome is open ground, and close to a lot of my air fields.

I am expecting a bloodbath, but my stocks of bombers is strong, and fighters ok.

Moonlight is 100 percent, and the Allies have rested their bomber force for 4 days, so there will be reprisals somewhere. My fighter defenses are slim.

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Post #: 1498

RE: Burma Bungle! - 8/1/2014 5:51:11 PM

mind_messing

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quote:

ORIGINAL: Lokasenna

quote:

ORIGINAL: mind_messing

quote:

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

What should I do with my air force?.

Half ground attack, half airbase attack on the hex. Use your poorer fighters (Oscar and KAI Dinah) as escorts for your bombers, while mass your offensive air assets (A6M5c, Tojo's) to sweep the hex over and over again.

Keep the bombers at 10k, as it's the magic altitude for Japan, being high enough to avoid the plethora of 20mm and 40mm AA that the Allies have, while still being low enough to get good results.

Opinions vary on the definition of "good", I think...