RE: See you in Tokyo Bay - Apbarog(A) vs Walker(J) DBB-B Scen28

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RE: See you in Tokyo Bay - Apbarog(A) vs Walker(J) DBB-... - 2/4/2015 1:10:13 AM

apbarog

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Joined: 5/23/2002
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1 Apr 42 - Coordinated Allied Reinforcements

With KB in the Indian Ocean, I've decided to move significant units into Noumea, Suva, and Pago Pago. Until now, only Christmas Island was heavily reinforced.

Noumea - The Americal Division has been at Melbourne. Most of it is now loaded and headed for Noumea. Support units are en route from Auckland. A minesweeper has already arrived, and 160 mines have been laid there. An ACM is en route from Sydney to tend these mines. The minesweeper has been spotted by at least on Glen sub in the area. Because of the enemy subs here, and near Suva, I'm coordinating my shipping so that everything approaches a given base at the same time. I'm hoping to get in and get out. Also, note that I already have search planes at the small base just north of Koumac.

Suva - The 40th Infantry Division is headed to Suva. Most of the combat troops are coming from Auckland, having hitched a ride on the liner Queen Elizabeth not long ago. Most of the suppport is in another task force approaching from the east. Other support units are coming and will come from Auckland.

Luganville - My DMS has checked for mines, and a small 2 xAP task force is now unloading a small Marine raiding battalion. I will initially not build up the facilities here, just dig in, so as to not broadcast my arrival. A naval search support ship in en route. I'll move search planes here ASAP.

Efate - I'm doing the same here. Another Marine raiding battalion is about to land here.

Pago Pago - A huge task force is approaching from the east.

Summary - With the Japanese commitment in India (3+ divisions), Java (1+ divisions), and the Philippines (2+ divisions), I don't see a big offensive coming through the Solomons anytime soon. Tulagi and Shortlands are still just level 1 airfields. I want to dig in and encourage a response in the summer. A large percentage of the US fleet is now being upgraded. In about a month, 5 US carriers and 1 Brit carrier will set up shop in the South Pacific. I will be looking for a battle, but only battle within range of supporting airfields.

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RE: See you in Tokyo Bay - Apbarog(A) vs Walker(J) DBB-... - 2/4/2015 10:47:59 PM

apbarog

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2 Apr 42

Calcutta - I was pleasantly surprised to see the defenses at Calcutta actually hold! I had evacuated all of the Australian units and other support units. On this turn, Calcutta's defense was accidentally boosted by the Waziristan Division, which was trying to pass through in Strat mode. This division was originally at Chittagong. The Japanese attack was barely a 1 to 1 (954 to 489), and forts were reduced to 3. Japanese casualties exceeded Allied, 1403 to 310.

I obviously made a mistake pulling out so many good units. I thought the Japanese brought enough to easily take out Calcutta. There are more units at Diamond Harbour moving to Calcutta.

I've decided to try to move more back into Calcutta. Australian units, several hexes to the northwest, and other units, are set to move back to Calcutta. Most will go in Move mode, so that will take a week or more, but some will go in Strat mode. I'm hoping I can ramp up the defense just as more Japanese arrive, and stalemate them here. Other units from Karachi and Bombay are on the way. I'm not commiting the two best divisions at this time. One interesting twist in my plan is that I'm moving the big reconstituted Chinese corp to the base just east of Calcutta. It could reinforce Calcutta, or be an ugly surprise for anything crossing the river to the east. I may also move it one hex to the southwest, which is just east of Diamond Harbour. There it could threaten to cross the river into the Japanese landing hex. It may force units in Calcutta to retreat back to Diamond Harbour, or force the Japanese to land more troops.

I'm not going to foolishly throw away good units in India, but I would like to throw a wrench into the Japanese plans.

KB disappeared in the Indian Ocean 3 days ago.

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Post #: 242

RE: See you in Tokyo Bay - Apbarog(A) vs Walker(J) DBB-... - 2/6/2015 12:11:42 AM

apbarog

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3 Apr 42

Medan, Sumatra - Medan is attacked and falls easily. Oil facilities appear to be undamaged. (Palembang, when taken, was damaged about 10%)

Kanhsien, China - This town, in clear terrain, is bombed heavily. Japanese troops are outside of town but not showing movement yet.

Akyab, Burma - The Japanese 55th Cavalry Regiment crosses the river and assists the paras that have been there for weeks. The base falls easily.

Calcutta - The Japanese do an artillery attack. Units from Diamond Harbour are on the way but not there yet. For the Allies, stuff from all over India is moving this way. I'm not "all-in" on Calcutta, but if I can reinforce the town quickly, I can hold this place for now.

West Coast - CV Hornet joins CV Indomitable in the shipyard at LA for upgrades.

KB - And this was another day with no sighting of KB. KB could be anywhere from the coast of India to Singapore by now.

Luganville - Marines get the fort level to 1 and keep digging.

Efate - Marines here are also digging in.

Noumea and Suva - Transports will arrive at these bases this turn. None are spotted this turn, but a minesweeper at Noumea is continuously spotted.

Pago Pago - A large transport force is now unloading all types of troops.

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Post #: 243

RE: See you in Tokyo Bay - Apbarog(A) vs Walker(J) DBB-... - 2/7/2015 1:52:00 AM

apbarog

Posts: 3769
Joined: 5/23/2002
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4 Apr 02

Noumea - I-26 is spotted by DD Alden escorting ACM YP-251 to Noumea, charges are dropped, but no hits are made. The ACM is spotted. At least one other inbound task force is spotted by sub also.

Ambon - Many bombers bomb ground units on Ambon. Very little is achieved. Waves included 35 Betty's and 7 Nell's, 27 Betty's, 18 Nell's and 21 Lily's. Ambon has been effectively isolated, but still has some supply and the ground units that start there. I'm hoping for an invasion soon, before supply runs out.

Calcutta - Another artillery attack. The attack does show the Japanese that the Allies are reinforcing, with a small Burmese unit and an Indian Brigade showing up this turn.

The usual bombings at Clark and Malang occur.

This turn I got a new replay file from my opponent, but the actual turn was the one from the last turn. I hope that he ended his turn properly and just sent the wrong file. I suspect that he may not have saved his turn at all. I should get a new file tomorrow.

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Post #: 244

RE: See you in Tokyo Bay - Apbarog(A) vs Walker(J) DBB-... - 2/7/2015 11:00:49 PM

apbarog

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4 Apr 42 - The Dilemma at Calcutta

The Japanese didn't quite have enough to take Calcutta with the first push, using 3 infantry divisions and support. On this turn, over a dozen new units have appeared at Diamond Harbour. I am doing heavy recon of Diamond Harbour this turn, to get a better idea what is coming.

The question is what to do at Calcutta.

My initial strategy was to pull out everything of value. I did so, and what was left, along with an accidental extra Indian division that was passing through, was enough to hold the town.

I then decided to switch my strategy and reinforce Calcutta with Indian and Burmese units, along with the Australian brigades in the area. This is in progress now, with units arriving each turn. It is not known if this will be enough to hold.

So I took a look around India. I've kept the two really good Brit divisions at Bombay and Karachi, along with good armor units. With the increased landings at Diamond Harbour, and considering the known locations of other Japanese divisions, I just don't see a wild landing deep on the Indian coast somewhere. There hasn't even been any interest in a barely defended Ceylon so far. So I'm tentatively moving up my good units. They aren't going directly to Calcutta (which may be a mistake), but to the base just east of it. From there, along with armor, if things stay stable at Calcutta, they will move one hex southwest and be one hex east of Diamond Harbour. There is a river in between. Could I actually cross with enough power to take Diamond Harbour and cut off everything in Calcutta? It probably isn't possible, and the Japanese will see this coming. At the least, units will have to remain at Diamond Harbour instead of helping at Calcutta.

Of course, if I threaten this flank attack, and Calcutta falls, my great Brit divisions would then be in grave danger of being cut off themselves.

Very interesting, to me anyhow.

The conservative, and maybe correct, strategy, would be to fall back, trade land for time, and force the Japanese to spread out taking towns and having to garrision them. Then counter-attack along the edges when possible.

For now, I'm meeting the threat head-on.

On this turn, some P-36's moved to Calcutta for CAP. Other fighters are sweeping Calcutta from the northwest. And some B-17's will attempt to bomb ground units at Calcutta. It's all a minor diversion, really, but I hope to force some fighter action over Calcutta, and then maybe sneak some P-39's in again to hit shipping at Diamond Harbour. There's a bunch of ships there now, and all appear to be combat shipping. I had intel that troops were loaded on destroyers, and this matches what I'm seeing. Not seeing any transports there at the moment, and lots of units just arrived.

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Post #: 245

RE: See you in Tokyo Bay - Apbarog(A) vs Walker(J) DBB-... - 2/8/2015 6:07:57 PM

apbarog

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5 Apr 42

Clark and Malang - The usual daily bombings.

Ambon - Just one Betty group bombing today. A task force is spotted to the north, possibly an invasion coming.

Calcutta - The Japanese launch another deliberate attack, not waiting for reinforcements from Diamond Harbour to arrive. It goes very badly. And lots more Allied reinforcements are on the way, including 4 Australian brigades. On this turn, an armored brigade arrived, boosting the defense. The urban terrain is really going to make this tough. The huge reconstituted Chinese corp will be railing in also within a week. It has combat value of about 600 by itself. The two Brit divisions, and some armor, will rail into the hex east of Calcutta as I've already discussed. At this point, I think that the Japanese either have to withdraw or try to flank Calcutta. The Imperial Guards Division is at about half strength now, it appears.

If the invasion had been at Chittagong, Burma would have already been cut off, and a general withdrawl from southeast India would have occurred.

How much will the Japanese send to India? That is the question.

Ground combat at Calcutta (52,37)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 41096 troops, 367 guns, 250 vehicles, Assault Value = 1266

Defending force 25971 troops, 118 guns, 288 vehicles, Assault Value = 746

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 2

Japanese adjusted assault: 477

Allied adjusted defense: 2405

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 5 (fort level 2)

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), forts(+), leaders(+), preparation(-)
experience(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
2510 casualties reported
Squads: 6 destroyed, 212 disabled
Non Combat: 15 destroyed, 39 disabled
Engineers: 26 destroyed, 18 disabled
Guns lost 26 (2 destroyed, 24 disabled)
Vehicles lost 18 (8 destroyed, 10 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
215 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 41 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 11 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Guns lost 9 (1 destroyed, 8 disabled)
Vehicles lost 10 (1 destroyed, 9 disabled)

Assaulting units:
Imperial Guards Division
5th Division
15th Ind Engineer Regiment
14th Division
6th Tank Regiment
3rd Mortar Battalion

Defending units:
2/15 Punjab Battalion
Fort William
43rd Cavalry Regiment
36th Indian Brigade
1st Burma Division
254th Armoured Brigade
Waziristan Division
Eastern Command
224 Group Base Force

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Post #: 246

RE: See you in Tokyo Bay - Apbarog(A) vs Walker(J) DBB-... - 2/9/2015 12:55:18 AM

apbarog

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6 Apr 42

Lots of activity at Calcutta - First, a task force of 3 CA's, 4 CL's, 5 DD's, and 5 DMS's storm into Calcutta harbor and destory the two tiny TK's stranded there. There is no indication of any mine hits, despite there being over 100 of them there.

Then a bombardment task forces runs in, damaging 17 P-35A's there, causing 269 casualties, and minor hits on resources, heavy industry, repair shipyard, manpower, airbase, and port.

With daylight, a sweep of 14 Hurri's come in, engaging 45 Zero's on CAP. Then 9 P-35A's sweep, engaging 29 Zero's.

24 Oscar's sweep Calcutta, but find no CAP.

Then 8 B-17's attack the airfield at Diamond Harbour, but are intercepted by 27 Zero's. No hits on the airfield.

Then 25 P-40E's sweep Diamond Harbour, finding 26 Zero's.

All in all, losses are 11 P-40E's, 6 Hurri's, 3 P35's, and 2 B-17's. Japanese losses are 10 Zero's.

Java- Sally's escorted by Oscar's hit Malang, but are attacked by the remnants of the Dutch Air Force. 5 Sally's are lost, along with 1 Oscar. No Dutch losses.

China- The next Japanese offensive is revealed. Troops are moving to Kanhsien, which guards the river south of the Changsha area. It is a clear hex, and it is getting bombed heavily. Troops are approaching it from the northeast and the southeast. The town will most likely be lost, but the fight must occur.

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Post #: 247

RE: See you in Tokyo Bay - Apbarog(A) vs Walker(J) DBB-... - 2/10/2015 10:59:53 PM

apbarog

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7 Apr 42 - "I'll see your 2 new divisions, and raise you 4 Australian brigades"

After many turns of Allied minefields being ineffective, the combat report starts out with 2 mine hits. DD Isonami, in a task force bombarding Calcutta, hits a mine, and shows on fire and heavy damage. And a patrol boat hits a mine in a field at the entrance to the river to Rangoon. I figure both ships to be probably sunk.

The bombardment of Rangoon did minimal damage to resources, airbase, and port.

Amboina is bombed heavily but ineffectively, again.

Ditto for Clark.

I again include the combat report for Calcutta. I don't like to post these, but I think that showing the increasing number of units in Calcutta, for both sides, is useful. The huge Chinese corp will arrive next turn, contributing about 600 AV.

Ground combat at Calcutta (52,37)

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 15363 troops, 238 guns, 108 vehicles, Assault Value = 1628

Defending force 57573 troops, 755 guns, 744 vehicles, Assault Value = 1692

Japanese ground losses:
10 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Assaulting units:
18th Division
4th Ind Engineer Regiment
23rd Ind Engineer Regiment
15th Ind Engineer Regiment
Imperial Guards Division
1st Tank Regiment
14th Division
5th Division
6th Tank Regiment
18th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
3rd Medium Field Artillery Regiment
3rd Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
3rd Mortar Battalion

Defending units:
9th Indian Division
2/15 Punjab Battalion
25th Australian Brigade
254th Armoured Brigade
17th Australian Brigade
18th Australian Brigade
36th Indian Brigade
7th Indian Division
Fort William
43rd Cavalry Regiment
1st Burma Division
16th Australian Brigade
Waziristan Division
Eastern Command
25th Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
85th British AT Gun Regiment
6th Heavy AA Regiment
43rd Construction Regiment
224 Group Base Force

< Message edited by apbarog -- 2/11/2015 12:31:43 AM >

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Post #: 248

RE: See you in Tokyo Bay - Apbarog(A) vs Walker(J) DBB-... - 2/11/2015 3:58:55 AM

apbarog

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Joined: 5/23/2002
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Thoughts about Calcutta

The Japanese now have 4 or 5 divisions at Calcutta, with support. There are more units at Diamond Harbour, but probably nothing major. With what I have at Calcutta, and since a huge Chinese corp is about to arrive, I really don't think that the Japanese can take the city. Not directly. So where is this fight going?

I've committed my reserves in India, specifically the 2 big nice British divisions. But the Japanese don't know this yet, as they are moving across India now, and I'm not sending them to Calcutta. They are going to the base one hex to the east, where I may decide to move them south then west to go for Diamond Harbour.

So what will the Japanese do? They could keep sending more to India, but there can't be too much more to send. Not with the stalemate at Malang in Java, and the stalemate at Clark in the Philippines.

They could evacuate. Doubtful.

They could land elsewhere, to hopefully find a weak spot, or to flank Calcutta and force an evacuation. This is the option that I'm worried about. If enough armor units show up at Chittagong, that could break the whole Burma/India border area wide open, and threated Calcutta. There are lots of armor units not in India right now. I do have a small unit as well as the static defenses at Chittagong, but it's not a lot.

Another option is a new landing at a base west of Diamond Harbour. These are fairly far away, and wouldn't really help isolate Calcutta, but would open up a new front that would have to be dealt with. I've kept Viz, and the base adjacent, defended, each with a decent size Indian unit and coastal guns, just in case.

So what will happen...

My current guess is that the Japanese will throw everything available at Calcutta through Diamond Harbour.

KB disappeared just over a week ago. I did spot a task force leaving Singapore and heading northeast, as if going back to Japan, but it could have been anything. Spotted was a DD and a CA, but who knows really. I think KB hung out in the Indian Ocean north of Andaman Island for awhile, hoping that I'd respond with the Brit fleet.

It's very interesting, and tense right now. I would like to be contesting the air over Calcutta and Diamond Harbour more, but I intentionally did not build airfields that far south, figuring I'd lose them anyhow. Now I'm building selectively, mainly a couple to the northwest of Calcutta that are in the woods.

It's a very enjoyable phase in the game, when both sides are committed and the issue is truly in doubt.

< Message edited by apbarog -- 2/11/2015 5:03:48 AM >

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Post #: 249

RE: See you in Tokyo Bay - Apbarog(A) vs Walker(J) DBB-... - 2/11/2015 9:43:35 PM

apbarog

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8 Apr 42

With the success yesterday of the minefields at Calcutta and near Rangoon, today's news of sweepers cleaning up those fields is predictable. The Rangoon field is completely cleaned.

SS Pickerel fires at an APD near Phuket. It's a large task force, either coming or going to Diamond Harbour from Singapore. Torpedoes miss.

At Ambon, Betty's bomb the port and hit the AVP I had there supporting a search plane or two. The AVP is burning heavily and won't survive.

Clark is bombed as usual.

Malang is swept and bombed.

The interesting part of the next turn is that I am running a task force of 1 Brit destroyer and 2 Australian destroyers into Diamond Harbour. They will run in at full speed, and if they make it that far, they will be there during the daylight turn. There could still be surface combatants there. There are definitely transports and minesweepers. Diamond Harbour is just a 1 airfield, so the closest land based air threat would be from Akyab. I don't think air support is there yet, and no planes have been spotted. Of course, there could be Betty's or Nell's elsewhere, but with just destroyers, I'm less concerned.

Of course, KB is still missing. I don't thing it will be found that close to the Indian coast.

At Diego Garcia, the 3rd part of an Indian division is now unloading.

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Post #: 250

RE: See you in Tokyo Bay - Apbarog(A) vs Walker(J) DBB-... - 2/12/2015 9:13:21 PM

apbarog

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9 Apr 42

I thought that this turn was interesting, particularly with a couple of small things going on.

Boela - Dutch sub O-21 slips into Boela looking for a tanker, but finds an unescorted xAK. It executes 2 separate torpedo attacks, and misses with all torpedoes. Having shot every fish it had, it goes in firing with the gun. It becomes a running gun battle, as apparently this xAK is armed about as well as the sub. Both sides take moderate damage but both will probably survive. O-21 heads for Soerbaja. This was just a nice little fight that was fun to watch.

Port Blair - Near the north end of the Andaman Islands, Brit sub Trusty is sighted by a heavily escorted transport task force, and takes moderate damage and has to RTB.

Diamond Harbour - Destroyers Nizam, Electra, and Express make a full speed run into the port, and find cruiser Kitakami and 6 destroyers. The Allied ships come out worse off, with Nizam and Express taking heavy damage and fires. One Japanese ship takes minor to moderate damage, a few others with just a shell hit.

And then, KB strikes my task force. Yes, it was out there all along, just unspotted for so long. At a range of 7 hexes, only Kates strike. Only one gets a hit, but that torpedo is way more than sufficient to sink the badly damaged Express.

At least I showed that I can get into the port. I just can't get out. I did scuttle Nizam afterwards.

Seeing KB still here reaffirms my decision to send off the British fleet to Cape Town, and that two Brit carriers are on the West Coast to help the US. No point fighting a fight that I cannot win.

Clark - The Japanese launch another deliberate attack. Just a little more patience, and the Allies would be out of supply, but they still have about 9k in the area, so this attack goes very badly for the Japanese (again). The attack goes at a 1 to 2. There are no forts, and won't be unless my opponent forgets to keep bombing here. Casualties are 2566 for the Japanese, with 188 combat squads disabled, and 852 for the Allies. It's all still going to end badly for the good guys, but all of these Japanese disabled squads will take time to recover.

Kanhsien, China - More bombing here, and Japanese troops start to move in from three directions. This is the only activity going on in China lately. It threatens a breakthrough to the south of the Changsha area.

Around Java, I've been following the story of the 4 Allied MTB's. Awhile ago, they made many trips from Soerbaja to the Japanese invasion hex on the eastern tip of Java. Some MTB's were lost, but they had some success also. The captains had become a bit famous in the area, so I decided to try to get them out of Java. But how? My initial plan was to move them across to Borneo for fuel, then east to a base north of Macassar, refuel, then south. There was no fuel there, but another Allied base a couple of hexes east had 100 fuel, so I hoped that fuel would be drawn to the base with the MTB's. When I got there, it didn't happen. So I had to go back to Borneo with almost empty tanks. It took about a week to cross, taking damage every turn. Damage was in the 70's for most of the boats when they arrived, refueled, then headed back to Soerbaja. They are now repairing there. Quite an odyssey. Plan B is to get them repaired, move to Batavia for fuel, then to the back side of Java, then meet up with an xAK out by Cocos Island for an escort to Australia. A generally meaningless ship movement, I know, but little things like this, and saving damaged ships, are one reason to like this game.

(I was unhappy to see some of my units that were supposed to move by train to the base east of Calcutta, instead move through Calcutta and stop there. Now they can't Strat move out, since it is contested, and have to change mode and move out. One of the big Brit divisions did this. I didn't want it spotted here.)

< Message edited by apbarog -- 2/12/2015 10:23:16 PM >

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Post #: 251

RE: See you in Tokyo Bay - Apbarog(A) vs Walker(J) DBB-... - 2/12/2015 9:18:41 PM

apbarog

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China

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RE: See you in Tokyo Bay - Apbarog(A) vs Walker(J) DBB-... - 2/12/2015 9:19:22 PM

apbarog

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Calcutta

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RE: See you in Tokyo Bay - Apbarog(A) vs Walker(J) DBB-... - 2/12/2015 9:21:24 PM

apbarog

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South Pacific

I was going to leave a seaplane tender at one of the islands by Ndeni, but it was spotted arriving, so I'll withdraw it and put it south at Efate instead. Luganville already has search capability.

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RE: See you in Tokyo Bay - Apbarog(A) vs Walker(J) DBB-... - 2/13/2015 1:18:31 AM

apbarog

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10 Apr 42

Diamond Harbour - DD Electra makes a run for Chittagong, but runs into the same task force that it tangled with last turn, minus one destroyer. Electra is hit and set on fire and is moderately damaged. During the day, KB predictably moved north to cut off my expected run to the west. But I went to Chittagong and disbanded. That base is not reconned this turn, so I refuel in port and will make a run out next turn, most likely.

On the river hex between Diamond Harbour and Calcutta, 3 enemy DMS's stop to sweep mines at Calcutta. I set up a P-39 strike for next turn, doing 100 foot naval attack, with escorts and range set to get this hex but not Diamond Harbour.

At Calcutta, the Allies try a bombardment attack. With almost unlimited supply, and the chance to gain experience for lots of low experience units, why not. Losses are about even, about 100 casualties for each side. That is acceptable to me.

Kanhsien, China - The enemy does a probing artillery attack. Assault values are shown to be 1278 to 469. I have 3 forts there. With bombing, and considering morale and experience, the base will probably be lost quickly. It is clear terrain.

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Post #: 255

RE: See you in Tokyo Bay - Apbarog(A) vs Walker(J) DBB-... - 2/14/2015 1:35:15 AM

apbarog

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11 Apr 42

Calcutta - The enemy DMS's weren't adjacent to Calcutta during the daylight turn, so the P-39 strike didn't occur. The reason was that the ships moved into Calcutta at night to sweep mines, but found a coastal artillery unit had just arrived. 2 are probably sunk, another is possibly sunk. None were spotted during the day.

Victoria Point - Dutch sub O24 misses a shot on a large transport force.

Kanhsien, China - After heavy bombing, the base falls with the first Japanese attack. The attack went at a 5 to 1 against level 3 forts. Over 500 Chinese squads destroyed, over 300 of them combat forces. There's a thin line behind this town in rough terrain. The enemy is maneuvering to the southwest, so as to then attack northwest and avoid a river crossing. It is questionable whether the Chinese can hold this line. If it breaks, the whole Changsha area is threatened.

Other news - The damaged MTB's in Soerbaja will be fixed next turn. Many B-17's from Australia are hopping from Australia to Java to Ceylon. They'll be used to bomb Diamond Harbour and Calcutta.

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Post #: 256

RE: See you in Tokyo Bay - Apbarog(A) vs Walker(J) DBB-... - 2/14/2015 9:27:31 PM

apbarog

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12 Apr 42

Calcutta - Indications are still that the Japanese are "all-in" for Calcutta. Lots of shipping at Diamond Harbour, and lots of units there. I can't have Calcutta be an all-or-nothing thing for all of India, but I can't abandon it either. I have enough strength to hold Calcutta. If either side actually won the battle at Calcutta, the losing side would be hopelessly overstacked wherever it retreated.

My strategy remains the same. Stalemate at Calcutta. Show a flanking threat on Diamond Harbour. Reinforce Chittagong, Viz, and the base adjacent to Vix, just in case another landing is contemplated.

KB remains near Calcutta. I can't effectively sweep or bomb Diamond Harbour with KB here. It is protecting all the shipping there at the moment. Other than subs, I can't do much about that.

I will continue reinforcing Luganville, Efate, Noumea, and Suva. I need another few weeks to get all of my upgraded ships, including carriers, out of the shipyards. Then it'll take time to get them to the Noumea area. If KB is still accounted for in the Indian Ocean, I'll start counter-invading in the Solomons.

I need to figure out the endgame at Calcutta. I don't see either side winning the battle at Calcutta itself. I will accept a stalemate indefinitely, but the Japanese will not. I need to determine what the enemy will do next. There's only half of a month left of the amphibious bonus.

This turn, the Allied artillery causes 107 Japanese casualties and 59 Allied. I continue bombarding. It's improving my unit experience on many units. This is more important than the minimal casualties and disruption.

Kanhsien, China - Heavy bombing of the retreated Chinese units. Escort is weak. I'm moving what little of the Chinese Air Force that was still in China to the area. That'll take a couple of turns.

Java - A couple of big task forces is heading between Borneo and Java, headed toward Singapore. Dutch bombers make a couple of attacks on xAK's, but all bombs miss. This looks like a troop convoy destined for India.

And probably the most interesting note of this turn: The Japanese stack at Malang, which was 8 units, is down to 3 units. It still has substantial infantry, but other units have pulled back. The Dutch have defended Malang and its mountain hex well. The Japanese may load up and land at a different spot in Java, or, who knows, send it all to Calcutta.

Clark - The daily bombing continues. Supply is down to 7k total here.

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Post #: 257

RE: See you in Tokyo Bay - Apbarog(A) vs Walker(J) DBB-... - 2/15/2015 5:27:10 PM

IdahoNYer

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quote:

ORIGINAL: apbarog

There's only half of a month left of the amphibious bonus.

Here's some good news for ya- Amphib bonus ends at the end of March, not April.

< Message edited by IdahoNYer -- 2/15/2015 6:28:12 PM >

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Post #: 258

RE: See you in Tokyo Bay - Apbarog(A) vs Walker(J) DBB-... - 2/15/2015 6:24:54 PM

apbarog

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Thanks IdahoNYer! I'm embarrassed to say that I'm a Day 1 player and got that date wrong. That eases my concerns about a new landing somewhere in India, but doesn't rule it out completely. It helps that if one is being thought of now, it wasn't being planned on, since the Japanese are completely committing to Calcutta.

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Post #: 259

RE: See you in Tokyo Bay - Apbarog(A) vs Walker(J) DBB-... - 2/15/2015 10:45:33 PM

apbarog

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13 Apr 42

The saga of the destroyer Electra continues. It had already fought at Diamond Harbour, when two other Allied destroyers were lost. Electra ran to Chittagong with KB in the immediate area. When the base was then reconned, Electra left port and ran high speed south and then west on this turn. However, on the way out of Chittagong, Electra ran into Hiei and Kirishima and two destroyers on the way in to bombard. The battle was fleeting (nice) and few shots were fired, so Electra escaped. Then, a bit further south, Electra ran into cruisers Tone and Chikuma with two destroyers. Electra took 3 shell hits, causing more minor damage, but again, Electra escaped. Finally, Electra engaged the same cruisers, with no hits made by either side. Now Electra is running west to Ceylon, and should escape.

In China, Wuchow is bombed heavily, hitting the airfield. The Japanese are regularly doing recon of every Chinese base in the area that could base aircraft. I hope to move some Chinese fighters into the area next turn.

At Calcutta, an Allied artillery attack causes 163 Japanese casualties, taking only 34 themselves. More ships at Diamond Harbour, and more troops spotted moving into Calcutta.

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Post #: 260

RE: See you in Tokyo Bay - Apbarog(A) vs Walker(J) DBB-... - 2/16/2015 8:37:11 PM

apbarog

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14 Apr 42

Port Hedland - The Japanese 1st Raiding Regiment landed here yesterday. It took the base easily today, despite some losses to B-17's. I'll bomb the port next turn just to harass them. Two Dutch subs are at and just outside of the base. The destroyer with the small invasion task force has no ASW capability, as demonstrated in an attempted ASW attack.

Kukong, China - The airbase is bombed heavily. I move the 4 small Chinese air force units into Kukong and LR CAP the troops just to the east, in the rough. This is the most likely target for attack very soon. I'm taking a chance that the troops will be bombed this coming turn instead of Kukong again. The enemy hit Wuchow last turn. I think he's just moving the fun around, and maybe stopping fort building. Targets tend to change every turn, so we'll see how my guess turns out.

Calcutta - The one big Brit division finally moves out of Calcutta to the base just to the east. The other one is just switching from Strat mode and will begin the same move. Calcutta has been a problem for me, with troops heading elsewhere, like Chittagong, pathing through Calcutta when I thought they had shorter distances to move around it. Then the troops are stuck there, in Strat mode, since the enemy is there, and the only way out is changing mode and moving out. This had delayed my flanking move and my reinforcing of Chittagong by over a week.

The big news with this turn is the next turn. I'm making the first huge commitment to attacking Diamond Harbour by air. Sweepers, bombers in Calcutta going for shipping at Diamond Harbour (including torpedo bombers) with escorts, other bombers going after the airfield. Many B-17's arrived from Australia and are based well to the north. All will bomb the airfield and port at Diamond Harbour.

I picked this turn because of the B-17 arrivals, and because KB slid to the south some, now down by Akyab. It could jump back north and LR CAP Diamond Harbour, but I doubt it. I haven't been attacking it at all by air for quite awhile, and he's had 45 Zero's there.

I'm hoping for good escorts and timely sweeps.

2 US carriers leave SF after upgrading and head to the South Pacific. The other 3, and a Brit carrier, need from a few more days to almost 3 more weeks for repair.

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Post #: 261

RE: See you in Tokyo Bay - Apbarog(A) vs Walker(J) DBB-... - 2/18/2015 7:53:33 PM

apbarog

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15 Apr 42

Pago Pago - A Japanese sub makes an appearance. I-1 takes a shot at an AVD in a big transport task force southwest of Pago Pago. Torpedoes miss. The ships are headed to Suva, and will now zigzag the rest of the way.

Clark - Clark falls finally. The Allies still had supply when this occurred. Losses are heavy, of course, and most units retreat to Bataan. Only a few thousand supply left, and the base is now overstacked by about 1500 men. A small unit with almost all disrupted troops will start moving back to Clark. The unit has been told by Dugout Doug that the enemy has evacuated Clark and plenty of food was left behind. Of course, this is not true.

Diamond Harbour - A huge air battle takes place over Diamond Harbour. Lots of Japanese shipping is there. The Allied plan of many sweeps taking place before the bombers arrive works perfectly. At start, 63 Zero's are on CAP. For the day, 50 Zero's are downed, for the loss of 18 P40E's and 19 HurriIIB's. Swordfish, Vildabeests, and Blen's go after shipping, and take minimal losses to a few surviving Zero's. But the bombers do terribly. Many torpedo bombers target destroyers, and only one torpedo hits its mark, sinking an APD. Level bombers hit no ships. Other bombers, including B-17's and B-26's target the airfield, and damage is very minimal.

I'm repeating this attack in the next turn. I have much fewer sweepers available, but the CAP should be reduced some. The base will probably be reinforced, but it's only a size 1 airfield. I'd like to gain air superiority here. This may cause KB to come back north to clear the skies.

Madioen, Java - A strike of 30 Sally's with 36 Oscars, then a follow-up strike of 20 Sally's, hits Madioen airfield. Dutch CAP, although only 18 fighters at this point, does well. 11 Sally's and 7 Oscar's are downed, for the loss of 2 Hawks and a couple of Hurri's. Too bad I can't get these air units out of Java. I'd certainly like to save them, particularly the pilots. My first ace was created today, and he's Dutch.

Port Headland, Australia - 3 B-17's make a return appearance, and find 3 Zero's on CAP. All bombers are damaged and achieve nothing. The bombers go back to their main base at Alice Springs.

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Post #: 262

RE: See you in Tokyo Bay - Apbarog(A) vs Walker(J) DBB-... - 2/19/2015 3:06:49 AM

apbarog

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16 Apr 42

Ontong Java - This small isolated island north of Tulagi is invaded and captured. I'm seeing an increasing but limited Japanese interest in the Solomons. This attack looks like a defensive consolidation move to me. Tulagi is still a size 1 port and size 0 airfield.

Madioen, Java - The same attack as yesterday yields different results, due to reduced Dutch CAP. Against only 6 Dutch fighters, Sally's escorted by 29 Oscars get the better of the Dutch. The airfield is damaged and half of the Dutch fighters are lost.

Bataan - The final rounds of bombings begin.

Diamond Harbour - Similar to the same attacks at Madioen, the same Allied attacks at Diamond Harbour yield different results also. The Allied sweeps are fragmented and much weaker this time, and some bombers arrive first. The Japanese put up about 20 Zero's, and they were probably from a fresh unit. All Japanese ships leave Diamond Harbour and move 4 hexes to the southwest, so no naval strikes occur. Losses are 3 Zeros versus 8 P39's, 6 B26's, 3 Blens, 2 Hurri's, and 1 B17. The Allies CAP their own bases next turn, and the bombers rest.

Calcutta - The Allied bombardment this turn goes badly, with 3 times the Allied casualties than the Japanese. Both Brit divisions had left the town, and are now to the east. These units, along with a few support units and armor, start to move southwest to threaten a flanking move on Diamond Harbour. I don't think I'll ever actually cross into Diamond Harbour, as this move will be obvious. I am interested in seeing what the Japanese reaction will be. Units will have to stay or move back to Diamond Harbour in case I did cross.

KB is not seen this turn. The subs that were being lit up by KB south of Akyab are not lit up this turn. I suspect that KB moved back to the north to cover all the ships that just left Diamond Harbour.

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Post #: 263

RE: See you in Tokyo Bay - Apbarog(A) vs Walker(J) DBB-... - 2/20/2015 2:16:59 AM

apbarog

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17 Apr 42

Almost no combat this turn. A rarity. Just a bombing of Bataan's airfield.

I've reconsidered my Calcutta strategy. The movement from Diamond Harbour to Calcutta, reinforcing the 5 enemy divisions already there, looks like a feint. I have good recon of Diamond Harbour, and the units aren't moving this turn. Calcutta cannot be taken with what the Japanese have there now. I strongly feel that the Japanese have moved to a "Plan B". All of the shipping that was at Diamond Harbour has continued toward Akyab, and KB is down in that area somewhere.

Singapore recently had about 25 units. Now it has about 10 fewer. Transports from the Java area recently went to Singapore. The enemy isn't leaving Calcutta. Bringing more here probably won't work. What will the enemy do?

I'm convinced that the only answer for the Japanese, other than evacuating Calcutta, is to do another landing. The best spot for that is Chittagong. A landing here can be supported by land based air, and the enemy is slowly pushing north from Akyab on the coast anyhow. A strong landing here could flank Calcutta.

This would mean a truly large effort in India.

Two turns ago, Clark fell. I'm seeing no movement from Clark to Bataan, but I am seeing movement from Clark to Manila. The enemy will leave a weak guarding force and send what they can elsewhere.

This is a critical point in the game.

I will no longer try to show a flanking threat to Diamond Harbour. It wouldn't accomplish anything that isn't already being accomplished. One Brit division will rail to Chittagong. The other will rail to Viz. Chittagong is already getting more smaller units, and this is being observed.

Note that a large numbers of Zero's have appeared at Diamond Harbour, again. I will keep fighting fresh units here, while attriting my limited airframes, if I continue to try to bomb it. I'm rethinking this also. When I do attack here again, it will again be a maximum effort. That's the only way to do more harm than good. Or at least cause equal losses.

Interesting time in the game. Interesting to see what the enemy comes up with.

Should KB continue to be tied down to the Indian coast, my actions in the Solomons and New Guinea will speed up. It's tough, right now, though. It's still early, and I'm still trying to build up what I have. I am seeing more shipping at Rabaul lately. I am starting to prep some units in Australia for Port Moresby, but that would be a long way out.

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Post #: 264

RE: See you in Tokyo Bay - Apbarog(A) vs Walker(J) DBB-... - 2/21/2015 2:15:21 AM

apbarog

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18 Apr 42

India - Enemy paras drop on Comilla. Comilla is the inland base on the rail from Chittagong. Certainly another strong indication that Chittagong may be invaded soon. Or maybe just a target of opportunity? I do have it minimally defended, and withstood the first shock attack. Units are on the move to Chittagong, and will get stuck at Comilla. Maybe that is the enemy's plan. Regardless, Calcutta is quiet and it looks like the Japanese will just sit there for now. They can't take Calcutta, and I can't kick them out.

I also moved some transport aircraft to Calcutta to transport a small unit to Comilla. Chittagong, if invaded, is on its own until Comilla is cleared. I also have LR CAP over Comilla from adjacent Dacca. Some bombers will attack the paras.

KB is not visible today. A CVE is spotted at Singapore. Half of the ground units that were at Singapore a week ago are gone. They didn't go south.

I'm pretty convinced that the Japanese are going all-in on southeast India.

I was able to fly a SB2U air unit to India. It only had a couple of planes in it, but has well trained naval bombers. I upgraded another unit to get more SB2U's into the pool, and hope to fill the Indian unit out.

I think the Chittagong invasion is imminent and I won't reinforce in time. I would have gotten units there by now if I hadn't had so much trouble with units accidentally transiting through Calcutta and getting stuck there in Strat mode. I learned an important lesson there. Move to intermediate destinations.

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Post #: 265

RE: See you in Tokyo Bay - Apbarog(A) vs Walker(J) DBB-... - 2/21/2015 2:19:48 AM

apbarog

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India - 18 Apr 42 - Paras drop at Comilla

Attachment (1)

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Post #: 266

RE: See you in Tokyo Bay - Apbarog(A) vs Walker(J) DBB-... - 2/21/2015 8:33:51 PM

apbarog

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19 Apr 42

Comilla, India - 6 B-26's try to bomb the enemy paras at Comilla. Almost all are shot down. Some P-40's show up on LR CAP on the bomber exit and shoot down some Oscar's and Zero's. Then 8 Blen's bomb the troops and do minimal damage and probably some disruption. The Allies then try a deliberate attack here, barely miss a 2-1 advantage, and take even casualties. The enemy did not try to fly in more paras, and they won't. A small Chinese unit stopped here on the way to Chittagong (and will stay in Strat mode), and I flew in part of a small Indian unit, which will help with the attack this turn.

Diamond Harbour - a surface fleet is now here, supported by KB 4 hexes to the southwest. Must be loading or unloading men, I can't tell which.

Cox Bazaar - The Japanese forces that moved up the coast from Akyab attack here, but only get a 1 to 2 against fort level 2 (which is now 3). Even casualties. I'm moving another small unit in from the trail east to help hold them off while Chittagong is reinforced.

Still can't tell what the Japanese "Plan B" is. But I did recon of Rangoon, and see 99 ships in port. I move all of my B-17's to Calcutta and Dacca to bomb the port. I'm showing no fighters there, but that probably is incorrect. I'm going in anyhow. If I get lucky and hurt a bunch of transports, that could hinder whatever "Plan B" is going to be.

Last turn I got SigInt of an armor unit on an xAK going to Fusan. I figure that it is loading there. This turn I got SigInt of a different armor regiment loaded on an xAK headed to Singapore. I think the enemy has discovered it has armor units and didn't send hardly any to India. I think they are now on the way and won't land at Diamond Harbor.

Viz and Chittagong will be reinforced as much as I can. Some of the Australians at Calcutta will now leave and go towards these bases. Some armor too.

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Post #: 267

RE: See you in Tokyo Bay - Apbarog(A) vs Walker(J) DBB-... - 2/21/2015 9:36:26 PM

Bullwinkle58

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RE Rangoon and 99 ships. I have sometimes had luck sub-mining the river delta hex on the exit there. It's shallow water, so mine erosion is better than deep water, but worse than port. Few players expect mines outside port hexes until it happens to them.

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Post #: 268

RE: See you in Tokyo Bay - Apbarog(A) vs Walker(J) DBB-... - 2/21/2015 9:52:45 PM

apbarog

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Good point. And he does expect my mining. Everywhere. I'd already mined that river entrance to Rangoon, back when I first started seeing movement of shipping north from Singapore. I had minor success there, sinking a PB I think. Since then, the enemy has stationed minesweepers in that river hex. They've done the same kind of thing at the entrance to Rabaul. I've resorted to doing things like mining the coast west of Rangoon, on the way north. I don't know if I've had any success there. I have a mine-laying sub on the way to Diamond Harbour now. I know that he lost 3 DMS's here earlier to guns at Calcutta, so he may not have replaced his sweeping ability.

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Post #: 269

RE: See you in Tokyo Bay - Apbarog(A) vs Walker(J) DBB-... - 2/21/2015 11:38:35 PM

Bullwinkle58

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I have mined the strait at the 1-hex-wide part of the strait NW of Singers. You can be creative if you don't mind the accelerated erosion. The coast of Borneo south of Balikpapan works too.

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