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RE: Great Tides that Ebb and Flow: Apbarog (A) vs Walker (J) DBB-B Scen 28

 
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RE: Great Tides that Ebb and Flow: Apbarog (A) vs Walke... - 4/25/2016 12:49:48 AM   
Crackaces


Posts: 3858
Joined: 7/9/2011
Status: offline 		As your AAR is entitled .. the ebb and flow ...

I do not like the DEI as a main axis for the Allies for the reasons you are deftly demonstrating .. interlocking LBA supplemented by the KB
I believe it is much more fruitful in 1943 to pick some isolated place like the Marshalls while putting pressure on the DEI/Solomon's ..

Nice work ..

(in reply to Walker84)
Post #: 631
RE: Great Tides that Ebb and Flow: Apbarog (A) vs Walke... - 4/25/2016 10:09:33 AM   
Walker84


Posts: 850
Joined: 7/5/2009
Status: offline 		Thanks Crackaces, I hope you are right!

Apbarog has been very fastidious in his build-up and as were still only April '43, time is on his side. I think he is establishing springboards for the next push forward. There are a number of smaller bases in the DEI that he could attack, bypassing my strong-points in theory but he will need to commit his carriers to support this which could spell trouble in the confined waters.

He is still developing his position on New Guinea and will take Lae soon, which will put Rabaul under pressure, although I have also developed Hansa Bay as a significant base.

Apbarog seems to have eschewed any Burma strategy for now - I have even observed Brit and Indian formations extracted from India operating in the Solomons and DEI. I remain concerned about the possibility of my strong Burmese defences being bypassed completely by landings further south - that's a hell of a long coastline to cover, especially if you throw in Java and Sumatra.


_____________________________

The most advanced nations are always those who navigate the most -
Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803 -1882)

(in reply to Crackaces)
Post #: 632
RE: Great Tides that Ebb and Flow: Apbarog (A) vs Walke... - 4/25/2016 4:20:46 PM   
Walker84


Posts: 850
Joined: 7/5/2009
Status: offline 		Apr 21-22, 1943

Map illustrating current deployments in the Timor Sea, Darwin and W New Guinea

Decision time as to what to do. The Allied carriers were last spotted heading into the Coral Sea, SE of Horn Island. No sign of the carriers spotted at Darwin two days ago, significantly changing the risk / reward equation of hitting the port.

On the other hand, I want to prevent the development of Babar as an airfield and, as my bombers are achieving diddly-squat here, it might be time to send in the big guns.

The other factor is that I have a division apiece at Taberfane and Dobo and would like to extricate at least one for other operations. This could lead to a showdown with Allied air power and perhaps even entice Apbarog's carriers to return. There is also the potential for Allied cruisers and destroyers to attempt to interdict my shipping from Merauke or Wessel Is.




Attachment (1)

< Message edited by Walker84 -- 4/25/2016 4:22:53 PM >

_____________________________

The most advanced nations are always those who navigate the most -
Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803 -1882)

(in reply to Walker84)
Post #: 633
RE: Great Tides that Ebb and Flow: Apbarog (A) vs Walke... - 4/25/2016 4:29:08 PM   
Walker84


Posts: 850
Joined: 7/5/2009
Status: offline 		Apr 21-22, 1943 (cont)

There were numerous sub to surface actions on these days but no important ships were sunk. Both sides subs also took ASW hits. I'm disappointed not to have torpedoed anything retreating from Darwin.

Allied TFs bombard Lae once and Port Moresby twice. Ground attacks must be imminent.

Apbarog has some Kingfishers deployed on Babar already. They attack some passing cruisers without success. Several are shot down by LRCAP. TBF Avengers also attack unsuccessfully, dropping 500 lb SAP bombs from 10,000 feet. I guess they were at long range.

B-17s mount a morning air attack on Babo, which has no CAP today but damage is negligible.

_____________________________

The most advanced nations are always those who navigate the most -
Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803 -1882)

(in reply to Walker84)
Post #: 634
RE: Great Tides that Ebb and Flow: Apbarog (A) vs Walke... - 4/29/2016 7:23:58 PM   
Walker84


Posts: 850
Joined: 7/5/2009
Status: offline 		Apr 23, 1943

Sub war

quote:

Sub vs Sub: SS RO-60 attacking SS KIX at 75,120 - near Babar

Japanese Ships
SS RO-60

Allied Ships
SS KIX, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage

SS RO-60 launches 2 torpedoes at 2,000 yards


Nice! Otherwise, its a bad time to be a Japanese submariner - two subs are sunk on the same day by punitive Allied ASW attacks near Gove. Having apparently missed Lexington passing through, I'm going to have to pull the subs back from these shallow waters. Given the increased ASW values of mid-war Allied escorts the sub war is becoming increasingly asymmetrical it seems.

There are various other sub actions most days which I tend not to mention as they are either misses or minor ships hit so nothing much to report. Oh, and today: CS Chitose, Torpedo hits 1 near Koepang, courtesy of SS Jack.


Port Moresby...

... receives a direct assault after two further naval bombardments. The forts hold, but I lose a lot of engineers for some reason...

quote:

Ground combat at Port Moresby

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 27686 troops, 438 guns, 543 vehicles, Assault Value = 985

Defending force 20634 troops, 145 guns, 49 vehicles, Assault Value = 485

Allied adjusted assault: 876

Japanese adjusted defense: 2659

Allied assault odds: 1 to 3 (fort level 4)

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

Japanese ground losses:
1893 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 37 disabled
Non Combat: 23 destroyed, 39 disabled
Engineers: 26 destroyed, 9 disabled
Vehicles lost 7 (7 destroyed, 0 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
567 casualties reported
Squads: 49 destroyed, 26 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 51 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Guns lost 11 (5 destroyed, 6 disabled)

Assaulting units:
NG Vol Rifles Battalion
1st Marine Division
193rd Tank Battalion
2nd USMC Tank Battalion
24th Infantry Division
2/9th Armoured Regiment
70th Coast AA Regiment
New Guinea Force
1st RAA Med Arty Regiment

Defending units:
27th Ind Engineer Regiment
1st Division
32nd Special Base Force
6th Naval Construction Battalion
18th Army
4th JNAF AF Unit /1



A night naval bombardment of Babar is only slightly more effective than my feeble bombing missions...
quote:

Night Naval bombardment of Babar at 76,117 - Coastal Guns Fire Back!

9 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Japanese Ships
CA Kako
CA Furutaka
CA Ashigara
CL Kiso
CL Abukuma
DD Oboro
DD Uranami
DD Isonami
DD Shirakumo
DD Shinonome
DD Suzukaze
DD Harusame

Allied ground losses:
83 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 10 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled

Port hits 8
Port supply hits 3

E13A1 Jake acting as spotter for CA Kako
3rd Indian Coastal Artillery Regiment firing at CA Kako
CA Kako firing at 3rd Indian Coastal Artillery Regiment
CA Furutaka firing at 3rd Indian Coastal Artillery Regiment
3rd Indian Coastal Artillery Regiment firing at CA Furutaka
CA Ashigara firing at 3rd Indian Coastal Artillery Regiment
3rd Indian Coastal Artillery Regiment firing at CA Ashigara
CL Kiso firing at 11th Marine Defense Battalion
CL Abukuma firing at 3rd Indian Coastal Artillery Regiment
DD Oboro firing at 3rd Indian Coastal Artillery Regiment
DD Uranami firing at 3rd Indian Coastal Artillery Regiment
DD Isonami firing at 3rd Indian Coastal Artillery Regiment
DD Shirakumo firing at 3rd Indian Coastal Artillery Regiment
DD Shinonome firing at 3rd Indian Coastal Artillery Regiment
DD Suzukaze firing at 3rd Indian Coastal Artillery Regiment
DD Harusame firing at Babar


Guys, what do I need to do?


_____________________________

The most advanced nations are always those who navigate the most -
Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803 -1882)

(in reply to Walker84)
Post #: 635
RE: Great Tides that Ebb and Flow: Apbarog (A) vs Walke... - 4/29/2016 7:42:02 PM   
Walker84


Posts: 850
Joined: 7/5/2009
Status: offline 		Apr 24, 1943

During the night DD Usugumo encounters an uncharted mine field at Batjan in DEI (78,104), takes a hit and is left with 99 float damage. I have disbanded at the dot hex but will probably end up scuttling.


The main event - surface combat at Taberfane!

Apbarog sends a raiding force of cruisers and destroyers into Taberfane which meets my heavy cover force spearheaded by Mogami and Chikuma. Two separate actions follow during Japanese forces acquit themselves better, sinking three British cruisers while the US cruisers fail to get very far into the fight.

quote:

Night Time Surface Combat, near Taberfane at 82,118, Range 7,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CA Chikuma, Shell hits 3
CA Mogami, Shell hits 2
CL Noshiro
CL Sendai, Shell hits 4
DD Kiyonami
DD Tanikaze
DD Kasumi
DD Akebono
DD Uzuki, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Minazuki
DD Shiokaze

Allied Ships
CA Minneapolis, Shell hits 2
CA Quincy, Shell hits 2, on fire
CA Frobisher, Shell hits 11, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
CL Durban, Shell hits 18, and is sunk
CL Capetown, Shell hits 14, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
DD Gillespie, Shell hits 1
DD Anderson, Shell hits 3
DD Mustin, Shell hits 4, on fire

Low visibility due to Rain with 75% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Rain and 75% moonlight: 6,000 yards
Range closes to 23,000 yards...
Range closes to 17,000 yards...
CONTACT: Allies radar detects Japanese task force at 17,000 yards
Range closes to 11,000 yards...
Range closes to 7,000 yards...
CONTACT: Allies radar detects Japanese task force at 7,000 yards
CA Frobisher engages CL Sendai at 7,000 yards
CA Frobisher engages CA Chikuma at 7,000 yards
CA Minneapolis engages CL Sendai at 7,000 yards
CL Durban engages CA Chikuma at 7,000 yards
DD Mustin engages DD Kasumi at 7,000 yards
DD Kasumi engages DD Anderson at 7,000 yards
DD Mustin engages DD Akebono at 7,000 yards
DD Kasumi engages DD Mustin at 7,000 yards
DD Kiyonami engages DD Anderson at 7,000 yards
Range closes to 5,000 yards
CL Capetown engages CA Mogami at 5,000 yards
CA Chikuma engages CL Durban at 5,000 yards
CA Minneapolis engages CL Sendai at 5,000 yards
CA Minneapolis engages CL Noshiro at 5,000 yards
DD Mustin engages DD Shiokaze at 5,000 yards
DD Minazuki engages DD Mustin at 5,000 yards
DD Minazuki engages DD Anderson at 5,000 yards
DD Kiyonami engages DD Mustin at 5,000 yards
Range closes to 4,000 yards
CA Frobisher engages CA Mogami at 4,000 yards
CA Chikuma engages CL Capetown at 4,000 yards
CL Sendai engages CA Frobisher at 4,000 yards
CL Noshiro engages CL Capetown at 4,000 yards
CL Durban engages CA Mogami at 4,000 yards
DD Minazuki engages DD Anderson at 4,000 yards
DD Mustin engages DD Uzuki at 4,000 yards
DD Akebono engages DD Gillespie at 4,000 yards
DD Kasumi engages DD Gillespie at 4,000 yards
DD Gillespie engages DD Tanikaze at 4,000 yards
Range closes to 3,000 yards
CL Sendai engages CA Quincy at 3,000 yards
CA Minneapolis engages CL Sendai at 3,000 yards
CL Noshiro engages CL Capetown at 3,000 yards
CA Mogami engages CL Durban at 3,000 yards
DD Minazuki engages DD Gillespie at 3,000 yards
DD Mustin engages DD Uzuki at 3,000 yards
DD Akebono engages DD Gillespie at 3,000 yards
DD Kasumi engages DD Anderson at 3,000 yards
Range increases to 6,000 yards
CA Mogami engages CA Frobisher at 6,000 yards
CA Frobisher engages CA Chikuma at 6,000 yards
CL Sendai engages CA Frobisher at 6,000 yards
CL Capetown engages CL Noshiro at 6,000 yards
CL Durban engages DD Shiokaze at 6,000 yards
DD Gillespie engages DD Minazuki at 6,000 yards
DD Kiyonami engages DD Anderson at 6,000 yards
DD Gillespie engages DD Tanikaze at 6,000 yards
DD Kiyonami engages DD Anderson at 6,000 yards
CL Sendai engages CA Frobisher at 6,000 yards
CA Quincy engages CA Chikuma at 6,000 yards
CL Sendai engages CL Durban at 6,000 yards
CL Noshiro engages CL Capetown at 6,000 yards
CA Chikuma engages CL Durban at 6,000 yards
DD Minazuki engages DD Mustin at 6,000 yards
CL Capetown engages DD Uzuki at 6,000 yards
DD Akebono engages DD Anderson at 6,000 yards
DD Kasumi engages DD Mustin at 6,000 yards
DD Kiyonami engages DD Mustin at 6,000 yards
CA Chikuma engages CA Frobisher at 6,000 yards
CA Minneapolis engages CA Chikuma at 6,000 yards
CL Sendai engages CL Capetown at 6,000 yards
CL Sendai engages CL Capetown at 6,000 yards
CL Noshiro engages CL Durban at 6,000 yards
DD Mustin engages DD Akebono at 6,000 yards
DD Anderson engages DD Akebono at 6,000 yards
DD Mustin engages DD Akebono at 6,000 yards
DD Kasumi engages DD Gillespie at 6,000 yards
DD Tanikaze engages DD Anderson at 6,000 yards
DD Kiyonami engages DD Mustin at 6,000 yards
CA Mogami engages CA Frobisher at 6,000 yards
CL Durban engages CA Chikuma at 6,000 yards
CA Chikuma engages CA Minneapolis at 6,000 yards
DD Shiokaze engages DD Anderson at 6,000 yards
DD Uzuki engages DD Mustin at 6,000 yards
DD Gillespie engages DD Uzuki at 6,000 yards
DD Akebono engages DD Gillespie at 6,000 yards
DD Tanikaze engages DD Gillespie at 6,000 yards
Range closes to 5,000 yards
CA Mogami engages CA Frobisher at 5,000 yards
CA Minneapolis engages CA Chikuma at 5,000 yards
CL Sendai engages CL Durban at 5,000 yards
CL Durban engages CA Mogami at 5,000 yards
DD Mustin engages DD Tanikaze at 5,000 yards
DD Mustin engages DD Minazuki at 5,000 yards
DD Uzuki engages DD Mustin at 5,000 yards
DD Gillespie engages DD Akebono at 5,000 yards
DD Mustin engages DD Tanikaze at 5,000 yards
Range increases to 7,000 yards
CA Frobisher engages CA Mogami at 7,000 yards
CL Sendai engages CA Minneapolis at 7,000 yards
CL Noshiro engages CA Minneapolis at 7,000 yards
DD Shiokaze engages DD Gillespie at 7,000 yards
DD Mustin engages DD Minazuki at 7,000 yards
DD Gillespie engages DD Kasumi at 7,000 yards
DD Tanikaze engages DD Mustin at 7,000 yards
Range increases to 8,000 yards
CA Minneapolis engages CA Mogami at 8,000 yards
CA Quincy engages CA Mogami at 8,000 yards
CA Minneapolis engages CL Noshiro at 8,000 yards
CL Noshiro engages CA Minneapolis at 8,000 yards
DD Mustin engages DD Uzuki at 8,000 yards
DD Kasumi engages DD Anderson at 8,000 yards
DD Uzuki engages DD Gillespie at 8,000 yards
DD Akebono engages DD Mustin at 8,000 yards
DD Gillespie engages DD Kasumi at 8,000 yards
DD Tanikaze engages DD Mustin at 8,000 yards
Range closes to 7,000 yards
CA Frobisher engages CA Mogami at 7,000 yards
CA Chikuma engages CA Quincy at 7,000 yards
CA Mogami engages CA Minneapolis at 7,000 yards
CL Durban sunk by CA Mogami at 7,000 yards
DD Mustin engages DD Shiokaze at 7,000 yards
DD Akebono engages DD Anderson at 7,000 yards
DD Uzuki engages DD Mustin at 7,000 yards
DD Akebono engages DD Anderson at 7,000 yards
DD Tanikaze engages DD Mustin at 7,000 yards
DD Anderson engages DD Kiyonami at 7,000 yards
Range increases to 9,000 yards
CA Mogami engages CA Quincy at 9,000 yards
CA Chikuma engages CA Minneapolis at 9,000 yards
CL Sendai engages CA Minneapolis at 9,000 yards
DD Uzuki engages DD Anderson at 9,000 yards
DD Gillespie engages DD Shiokaze at 9,000 yards
DD Minazuki engages DD Gillespie at 9,000 yards
DD Mustin engages DD Uzuki at 9,000 yards
DD Kasumi engages DD Mustin at 9,000 yards
DD Kiyonami engages DD Mustin at 9,000 yards
Range increases to 12,000 yards
CA Mogami engages CA Minneapolis at 12,000 yards
CA Mogami engages CA Minneapolis at 12,000 yards
CL Sendai engages DD Mustin at 12,000 yards
CL Noshiro engages CA Minneapolis at 12,000 yards
DD Anderson engages DD Shiokaze at 12,000 yards
DD Tanikaze engages DD Mustin at 12,000 yards
DD Gillespie engages DD Kiyonami at 12,000 yards
Task forces break off...


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Time Surface Combat, near Taberfane at 81,119, Range 11,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CA Chikuma, Shell hits 2
CA Mogami, Shell hits 4, on fire
CL Noshiro
CL Sendai, Shell hits 1
DD Kiyonami
DD Tanikaze, Shell hits 2, on fire
DD Kasumi, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Akebono
DD Uzuki, Shell hits 2
DD Minazuki
DD Shiokaze

Allied Ships
CA Minneapolis, Shell hits 2
CA Quincy
DD Gillespie, Shell hits 1
DD Anderson, Shell hits 2
DD Mustin, Shell hits 4, on fire

Poor visibility due to Rain
Maximum visibility in Rain: 15,000 yards
Range closes to 23,000 yards...
Range closes to 17,000 yards...
CONTACT: Allies radar detects Japanese task force at 17,000 yards
Range closes to 11,000 yards...
CONTACT: Allies radar detects Japanese task force at 11,000 yards
Allies open fire on surprised Japanese ships at 11,000 yards
CA Quincy fires at CA Mogami at 11,000 yards
CA Minneapolis fires at CA Chikuma at 11,000 yards
DD Mustin fires at CA Mogami at 11,000 yards
DD Anderson fires at CA Mogami at 11,000 yards
DD Mustin fires at DD Minazuki at 11,000 yards
DD Gillespie fires at DD Uzuki at 11,000 yards
DD Anderson fires at DD Kasumi at 11,000 yards
DD Mustin fires at DD Tanikaze at 11,000 yards
Range closes to 5,000 yards
CA Mogami engages CA Quincy at 5,000 yards
CA Minneapolis engages CA Mogami at 5,000 yards
CL Sendai engages DD Mustin at 5,000 yards
DD Uzuki engages DD Anderson at 5,000 yards
DD Shiokaze engages DD Mustin at 5,000 yards
DD Minazuki engages DD Mustin at 5,000 yards
DD Uzuki engages DD Gillespie at 5,000 yards
DD Mustin engages DD Akebono at 5,000 yards
DD Kasumi engages DD Anderson at 5,000 yards
DD Anderson engages DD Tanikaze at 5,000 yards
DD Gillespie engages DD Kiyonami at 5,000 yards
Lowry, F. orders Allied TF to disengage
Range increases to 8,000 yards
CA Mogami engages CA Minneapolis at 8,000 yards
CA Minneapolis engages CA Chikuma at 8,000 yards
CA Minneapolis engages CL Sendai at 8,000 yards
DD Shiokaze engages DD Anderson at 8,000 yards
DD Minazuki engages DD Anderson at 8,000 yards
DD Kasumi engages DD Gillespie at 8,000 yards
Range increases to 12,000 yards
CA Mogami engages CA Quincy at 12,000 yards
CA Minneapolis engages CA Chikuma at 12,000 yards
CA Minneapolis engages CL Sendai at 12,000 yards
CL Noshiro engages CA Minneapolis at 12,000 yards
DD Shiokaze engages DD Mustin at 12,000 yards
DD Uzuki engages DD Mustin at 12,000 yards
DD Akebono engages DD Mustin at 12,000 yards
DD Kasumi engages DD Gillespie at 12,000 yards
DD Kiyonami engages DD Gillespie at 12,000 yards
Range increases to 15,000 yards
CA Minneapolis engages CA Chikuma at 15,000 yards
CL Sendai engages CA Minneapolis at 15,000 yards
DD Tanikaze engages DD Anderson at 15,000 yards
DD Gillespie engages DD Uzuki at 15,000 yards
DD Gillespie engages DD Kasumi at 15,000 yards
DD Gillespie engages DD Tanikaze at 15,000 yards
Range increases to 17,000 yards
CA Minneapolis engages CA Mogami at 17,000 yards
CA Chikuma engages CA Minneapolis at 17,000 yards
DD Tanikaze engages DD Mustin at 17,000 yards
CL Noshiro engages CA Minneapolis at 17,000 yards
DD Gillespie engages DD Tanikaze at 17,000 yards
DD Minazuki engages DD Gillespie at 17,000 yards
Range increases to 19,000 yards
CA Mogami engages CA Quincy at 19,000 yards
CA Chikuma engages CA Minneapolis at 19,000 yards
CL Noshiro engages CA Minneapolis at 19,000 yards
DD Kasumi engages DD Gillespie at 19,000 yards
DD Kiyonami engages DD Anderson at 19,000 yards
Range closes to 17,000 yards
CA Minneapolis engages CA Chikuma at 17,000 yards
CL Sendai engages CA Quincy at 17,000 yards
CL Noshiro engages CA Minneapolis at 17,000 yards
DD Shiokaze engages DD Mustin at 17,000 yards
DD Gillespie engages DD Minazuki at 17,000 yards
DD Anderson engages DD Uzuki at 17,000 yards
CA Mogami engages CA Quincy at 17,000 yards
CA Mogami engages CA Minneapolis at 17,000 yards
DD Minazuki engages DD Mustin at 17,000 yards
CA Minneapolis engages CL Noshiro at 17,000 yards
DD Minazuki engages DD Gillespie at 17,000 yards
DD Uzuki engages DD Gillespie at 17,000 yards
DD Akebono engages DD Mustin at 17,000 yards
Range closes to 14,000 yards
CA Mogami engages CA Quincy at 14,000 yards
CL Sendai engages CA Minneapolis at 14,000 yards
CA Minneapolis engages CL Noshiro at 14,000 yards
DD Shiokaze engages DD Anderson at 14,000 yards
DD Gillespie engages DD Uzuki at 14,000 yards
DD Gillespie engages DD Akebono at 14,000 yards
DD Kasumi engages DD Anderson at 14,000 yards
DD Kiyonami engages DD Mustin at 14,000 yards
Range closes to 11,000 yards
CA Chikuma engages CA Minneapolis at 11,000 yards
DD Anderson engages DD Akebono at 11,000 yards
DD Minazuki engages DD Gillespie at 11,000 yards
DD Gillespie engages DD Uzuki at 11,000 yards
Range closes to 8,000 yards
CA Quincy engages CA Mogami at 8,000 yards
DD Mustin engages DD Kiyonami at 8,000 yards
CL Noshiro engages DD Anderson at 8,000 yards
DD Shiokaze engages DD Gillespie at 8,000 yards
DD Uzuki engages DD Gillespie at 8,000 yards
DD Tanikaze engages DD Gillespie at 8,000 yards
DD Kiyonami engages DD Mustin at 8,000 yards
Range increases to 13,000 yards
CA Mogami engages CA Quincy at 13,000 yards
CL Noshiro engages CA Minneapolis at 13,000 yards
DD Shiokaze engages DD Mustin at 13,000 yards
DD Anderson engages DD Uzuki at 13,000 yards
DD Kasumi engages DD Gillespie at 13,000 yards
DD Kiyonami engages DD Gillespie at 13,000 yards
Task forces break off...


Note the Allied radar advantage - especially in the second action. Mogami detached from the main Japanese force with 21-20-3 damage but Chikuma only shows 31 sys damage, with no ships still on fire: a resounding victory overall. The remaining Allied ships are retiring south and I need to decide whether to risk following them or launching air attacks in the face of a lot of potential LRCAP.





Attachment (1)

_____________________________

The most advanced nations are always those who navigate the most -
Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803 -1882)

(in reply to Walker84)
Post #: 636
RE: Great Tides that Ebb and Flow: Apbarog (A) vs Walke... - 5/2/2016 7:18:15 PM   
Walker84


Posts: 850
Joined: 7/5/2009
Status: offline 		Apr 25, 1943


Timor Sea

Japanese BBs head in for a night naval bombardment of Babar and the first really effective interdiction of the base but also providing a nice target for the Allied subs milling around in these waters. A solitary coastal gun fires back in defence.

quote:

Japanese Ships
BB Hyuga
BB Ise
BB Yamashiro
BB Fuso
BB Musashi
CL Oyodo

Allied ground losses:
436 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 9 disabled
Non Combat: 10 destroyed, 29 disabled
Engineers: 6 destroyed, 9 disabled
Guns lost 6 (2 destroyed, 4 disabled)
Vehicles lost 5 (5 destroyed, 0 disabled)

Port hits 32
Port supply hits 11

BB Hyuga firing at 111th LRP Brigade
BB Ise firing at Babar
BB Yamashiro firing at Babar
F1M2 Pete acting as spotter for BB Fuso
BB Fuso firing at Babar
BB Musashi firing at 111th LRP Brigade
CL Oyodo firing at 3rd Indian Coastal Artillery Regiment
3rd Indian Coastal Artillery Regiment firing at CL Oyodo



After this positive development the news from Dobo is bad: Our intelligence failed to spot that Timoeka had grown to a size 2 airbase and Apbarog was able fly SBDs in to ambush our troop transports as they were loading a portion of 8th division. Unfortunately the fighters on 60% CAP at Taberfane failed to intervene so losses were heavy. Destroyers moved in to rescue some of the troops from the burning ships.

quote:

Morning Air attack on TF, near Dobo at 83,116

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid spotted at 9 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 3 minutes

Allied aircraft
P-39D Airacobra x 24
SBD-3 Dauntless x 22

Japanese Ships
xAK Nojima Maru, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Sanuki Maru, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Ryugi Maru, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires
xAK Toho Maru, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage

Japanese ground losses:
361 casualties reported
Squads: 5 destroyed, 9 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 16 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled



The SBDs attacked in the afternoon but made the mistake of singling out a CA TF and 20 fighters plus 9 bombers were shot down for no loss.


Port Moresby...

...was bombarded from the sea again and the defenders took further losses in a DA even though the forts held. I think a few more attacks will do it.

_____________________________

The most advanced nations are always those who navigate the most -
Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803 -1882)

(in reply to Walker84)
Post #: 637
RE: Great Tides that Ebb and Flow: Apbarog (A) vs Walke... - 5/7/2016 11:44:06 AM   
Walker84


Posts: 850
Joined: 7/5/2009
Status: offline 		Apr 26, 1943


DEI

Heading in to bombard Timoeka, CA Myoko hits a mine, always an occupational hazard. I will need to nurse her back to a safe port, under plenty of CAP for the first leg.

The bombardment is still pretty successful...
quote:

Night Naval bombardment of Timoeka at 86,116

Allied aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft losses
SBD-3 Dauntless: 4 damaged
PBY-5 Catalina: 4 damaged
P-39D Airacobra: 1 destroyed on ground

Japanese Ships
CA Aoba
DD Kamikaze
DD Hatsuyuki
DD Asagumo
DD Urakaze
DD Naganami

Allied ground losses:
252 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 4 destroyed, 13 disabled
Engineers: 5 destroyed, 6 disabled
Vehicles lost 4 (1 destroyed, 3 disabled)

Airbase hits 23
Airbase supply hits 14
Runway hits 66
Port hits 35
Port supply hits 9



Two groups of P-38s sweep Taberfane but I have Tojos and Oscar II-bs based there and losses are fairly even. Liberators bomb in the afternoon with little effect.

Apbarog has landed a small unit,2/6th Cav/Cdo Battalion, at Kai-eilanden, a dot island close to Babo. If I can close the airfield at Timoeka I can bomb it with impunity, more or less.

Today I launch large air attacks on Babar, including 90 Kates escorted by 90 Zeroes, with puny results measured in port hits. At least it shows Apbarog that I still have plenty of naval air capacity to throw into the mix.


Aleutians

Allied troops unload at Shemya Island and Agattu Island close to Attu, to consolidate and build up mutually supporting bases I guess.

_____________________________

The most advanced nations are always those who navigate the most -
Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803 -1882)

(in reply to Walker84)
Post #: 638
RE: Great Tides that Ebb and Flow: Apbarog (A) vs Walke... - 5/7/2016 11:56:37 AM   
Walker84


Posts: 850
Joined: 7/5/2009
Status: offline 		Apr 27-28, 1943


Port Moresby

Apbarog seems in a hurry to capture the position, attacking on two successive days. Although Japanese forces are worn down and disrupted, the results on the second day are rather encouraging.

quote:

Ground combat at Port Moresby (April 27)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 26395 troops, 432 guns, 545 vehicles, Assault Value = 882

Defending force 17906 troops, 142 guns, 43 vehicles, Assault Value = 372

Allied adjusted assault: 1077

Japanese adjusted defense: 671

Allied assault odds: 1 to 1 (fort level 4)

Allied Assault reduces fortifications to 3

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), forts(+), disruption(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
1509 casualties reported
Squads: 3 destroyed, 56 disabled
Non Combat: 16 destroyed, 36 disabled
Engineers: 7 destroyed, 2 disabled

Allied ground losses:
282 casualties reported
Squads: 8 destroyed, 68 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 20 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled
Vehicles lost 37 (6 destroyed, 31 disabled)

Assaulting units:
24th Infantry Division
NG Vol Rifles Battalion
1st Marine Division
193rd Tank Battalion
2nd USMC Tank Battalion
2/9th Armoured Regiment
New Guinea Force
70th Coast AA Regiment
1st RAA Med Arty Regiment

Defending units:
1st Division
4th JNAF AF Unit /1
18th Army
32nd Special Base Force
6th Naval Const Bn /1


quote:

Ground combat at Port Moresby (April 28)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 25914 troops, 433 guns, 540 vehicles, Assault Value = 804

Defending force 16832 troops, 142 guns, 43 vehicles, Assault Value = 310

Allied adjusted assault: 403

Japanese adjusted defense: 1155

Allied assault odds: 1 to 2 (fort level 3)

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

Japanese ground losses:
1041 casualties reported
Squads: 6 destroyed, 73 disabled
Non Combat: 30 destroyed, 16 disabled
Engineers: 5 destroyed, 4 disabled
Guns lost 15 (2 destroyed, 13 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
1210 casualties reported
Squads: 5 destroyed, 89 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 31 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 9 disabled
Guns lost 19 (2 destroyed, 17 disabled)
Vehicles lost 56 (4 destroyed, 52 disabled)


I expect we will see some more naval bombardments and bombing before the next attack takes place.


Sub news...

SS I-123 hits a mine at Babar. Apbarog is using mines adeptly to protecting his forward bases meaning I will risk losing ships each time I go in to bombard them.

SS I-168, hits 11, heavy damage near Wessel Is. Dratted Allied SCs again.

quote:

Sub attack near Gorong at 81,113

Japanese Ships
PB Ayaha Maru
PB Kaisho Maru

Allied Ships
SS KXIV, hits 6, heavy damage

SS KXIV launches 2 torpedoes at PB Ayaha Maru
KXIV diving deep ....
PB Kaisho Maru attacking submerged sub ....
Underwater explosion, debris and oil appear on surface!
Escort abandons search for sub
A rare possible success for my 2-ASW-pt-PBs which seem to struggle to hit much these days.

< Message edited by Walker84 -- 5/7/2016 12:00:06 PM >

_____________________________

The most advanced nations are always those who navigate the most -
Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803 -1882)

(in reply to Walker84)
Post #: 639
RE: Great Tides that Ebb and Flow: Apbarog (A) vs Walke... - 5/20/2016 6:31:18 PM   
Walker84


Posts: 850
Joined: 7/5/2009
Status: offline 		The war has slowed right down while I have been fighting an infection but I'm starting to feel better and a few turns have been exchanged this week. In the interest of economy, 'm going to provide a consolidated update covering the last five days of hostilities.


29 Apr - 3 May 1943

Papua New Guinea

Apbarog continues attacking my bastions at Port Moresby and Lae and the former falls on 2 May 1943, with 2921 IJA casualties reported, four units retreating into the jungle towards Kokoda and one destroyed.

So the great Port Moresby adventure is finally over. What I learned from this is that even holding a base with a division-plus in jungle terrain behind size 4 forts is only going to provide a speed bump for the Allies if you can't support it from the land, plus lose control of the air and sea immediately around the base.

Lae is still holding out for now, but will likely fall in a few days time and our next MLR will have to be at Madang.


Northern Australia

By the time the Allies captured Fenton on 29 April my transport planes had performed an awesome job, evacuating most units so that the defending units comprised only residual elements of: 45th Field AA Battalion, 14th Garrison Unit and 17th JNAF AF Unit. Tracked units had withdrawn down the desert road and are nearing Derby although it is moot whether they can be evacuated by sea as my only remaining airfield at Broome is now being bombed heavily.

Lots of Allied shipping is moving in and out of Darwin but no sign of any carriers for several days now.



Timor Sea

This is the other really active front right now and will get a map update below. I have run bombardment TFs in to the foremost Allied bases at Babar and Timoeka and results have been fair, although one CA and one DD were mined in the process.

Apbarog has been sweeping Taberfane with P-38s supplemented by B-24 raids and I have had to pull my Oscars out again.

During the last few days I positioned the KB west of Babo, initially to support my bombardment TFs, then launched a big carrier strike on Timoeka on 1 May to help keep the airfield closed.

On 2 May Allied xAKLs and APcs were spotted at Babar, no doubt running in more supplies. Additional Allied TFs were on the move just to the south so it was decided to deploy the KB closer. Allied fighters had also appeared at the airfield so Zero sweeps were scheduled for 3 May to help deflect any CAP away from my navy bombers if they found any targets at Babar.


Battle over Babar - 3 May 1943

There were three phases to this:

Morning air attack - Zeros sweep and find Corsairs on CAP. Light losses on both sides.

Morning and afternoon air attacks - Nells go after the Allied shipping but manage to lose their fighter escort and 19 are shot down by Allied Corsairs for a single APc-29 sunk.

Afternoon air attack
quote:

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Babar at 76,117 - KB finally cranks up the action...

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid detected at 157 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 67 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 84
A6M3a Zero x 26
B5N2 Kate x 75
D3A1 Val x 57
D4Y1 Judy x 42

Allied aircraft
F4U-1 Corsair x 4

Japanese aircraft losses
B5N2 Kate: 1 damaged
D3A1 Val: 3 damaged

No Allied losses

Allied Ships
xAKL Capitaine Illiaquer, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
APc-34, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
APc-30, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
APc-45, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
APc-27, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
SC-749, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
APc-36, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
APc-25, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
APc-33, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
APc-35, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
APc-26, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
xAKL William McArthur, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
APc-23, Bomb hits 2, and is sunk
APc-24, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
xAKL Kwangtung
xAKL Darvel, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
xAKL Fiona, Torpedo hits 1, heavy damage


So, a good toll of expendable Allied transports but something more interesting is spotted during the day, not far south of Babar. Although no Allied carriers are reported present I know from past experience that carriers are often mistaken for TKs in search reports, and I don't think that Apbarog would be sailing this close to the war zone without carrier cover. Tomorrow could get interesting...

EDIT - posted the wrong map.




Attachment (1)

< Message edited by Walker84 -- 5/20/2016 6:41:43 PM >

_____________________________

The most advanced nations are always those who navigate the most -
Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803 -1882)

(in reply to Walker84)
Post #: 640
RE: Great Tides that Ebb and Flow: Apbarog (A) vs Walke... - 5/20/2016 6:41:35 PM   
Walker84


Posts: 850
Joined: 7/5/2009
Status: offline 		Timor Sea map position - 4 May 1943






Attachment (1)

_____________________________

The most advanced nations are always those who navigate the most -
Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803 -1882)

(in reply to Walker84)
Post #: 641
RE: Great Tides that Ebb and Flow: Apbarog (A) vs Walke... - 5/20/2016 6:46:53 PM   
jwolf

 

Posts: 2493
Joined: 12/3/2013
Status: offline 		I hope you can beat off that infection for good. Thanks for the update as the game looks very interesting during this stage.

(in reply to Walker84)
Post #: 642
RE: Great Tides that Ebb and Flow: Apbarog (A) vs Walke... - 5/21/2016 1:58:25 PM   
Walker84


Posts: 850
Joined: 7/5/2009
Status: offline 		Thanks jwolf, I'm trying something a bit more aggressive this time and the turn has been sent. Hope it pays off - or at least leads to a lively combat report next time

_____________________________

The most advanced nations are always those who navigate the most -
Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803 -1882)

(in reply to jwolf)
Post #: 643
RE: Great Tides that Ebb and Flow: Apbarog (A) vs Walke... - 5/22/2016 10:27:19 AM   
Walker84


Posts: 850
Joined: 7/5/2009
Status: offline 		5 May 1943


Timor Sea

Well, in short, today was an anticlimax. With Allied transports along with carriers and heavy support spotted heading north into the Timor Sea, the KB and supporting TFs took up an aggressive stance south of Ambon. Of the various possibilities considered, Apbarog could be sending reinforcements to Babar, or perhaps trying to grab more real estate at Lautern or Saumlaki. Arriving at its plotted position during the night would place KB 6 hexes equidistant of all three bases so, if the Allies came forward, a carrier battle would be likely to happen. Furthermore, KB would also supported by a network of torpedo-packing bases at Ambon and Boela.

In the event, the Allies simply withdrew leaving the shattered hulks of the APcs at Babar. Daytime search shows the carriers almost certainly hugging the coast near Gove with some other units likely in port at Darwin. So the KB deterrent has worked today. But for how long?


PNG

Less promising news from New Guinea reaches High Command : the fall of Lae is now imminent...

quote:

Ground combat at Lae (99,126)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 25566 troops, 433 guns, 708 vehicles, Assault Value = 807

Defending force 9382 troops, 116 guns, 98 vehicles, Assault Value = 150

Allied adjusted assault: 753

Japanese adjusted defense: 295

Allied assault odds: 2 to 1 (fort level 2)

Allied Assault reduces fortifications to 1

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), disruption(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
1011 casualties reported
Squads: 45 destroyed, 51 disabled
Non Combat: 13 destroyed, 17 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 36 (15 destroyed, 21 disabled)
Vehicles lost 7 (6 destroyed, 1 disabled)
Units destroyed 2

Allied ground losses:
229 casualties reported
Squads: 6 destroyed, 21 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 16 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Guns lost 15 (2 destroyed, 13 disabled)
Vehicles lost 38 (2 destroyed, 36 disabled)






Attachment (1)

_____________________________

The most advanced nations are always those who navigate the most -
Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803 -1882)

(in reply to Walker84)
Post #: 644
RE: Great Tides that Ebb and Flow: Apbarog (A) vs Walke... - 5/22/2016 1:32:04 PM   
Crackaces


Posts: 3858
Joined: 7/9/2011
Status: offline 		Just a little reminder . you are going to lost territory (in response to Lae comment) the key is the Allies have to catch up in VP's and then be 2:1 ..

So in the equation blood, space, and time .. I might offer that you want to balance this equation so you have not reached 2:1 March 1946 ..

Make the Allies pay a price for the most expensive terrain .. but maybe not invest in targets that do not move the VP's ...


(in reply to Walker84)
Post #: 645
RE: Great Tides that Ebb and Flow: Apbarog (A) vs Walke... - 5/25/2016 8:26:14 PM   
Walker84


Posts: 850
Joined: 7/5/2009
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: Crackaces

Just a little reminder . you are going to lost territory (in response to Lae comment) the key is the Allies have to catch up in VP's and then be 2:1 ..

So in the equation blood, space, and time .. I might offer that you want to balance this equation so you have not reached 2:1 March 1946 ..

Make the Allies pay a price for the most expensive terrain .. but maybe not invest in targets that do not move the VP's ...



Thanks Crackaces, I probably don't pay enough attention in general to VP criteria so a timely reminder.
Lae was originally part of my much-vaunted "New Guinea defensive box" (along with Pt Moresby and Buna) but Apbarog was able to remove each bastion pretty forensically and I will need to think about my defensive strategy in the region even more carefully in the next game I play



6 May 1943


Timor Sea

KB moves closer to Babar, intercepting and shooting down a dozen or so OS2U-3 Kingfishers set to naval attack from that base.

Zeroes sweep Babar and find there is no CAP. A scheduled bombing raid fails to follow up and hit the base.



Lae...

..is attacked again. Forts dropped to zero - will fall tomorrow, or the next day.


Rare sub torpedo hit on a DD in ASW TF

South of Hiroshima on the way me home for an upgrade: DD Tsuta, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage and later sinks.


_____________________________

The most advanced nations are always those who navigate the most -
Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803 -1882)

(in reply to Crackaces)
Post #: 646
RE: Great Tides that Ebb and Flow: Apbarog (A) vs Walke... - 6/11/2016 5:31:31 PM   
Walker84


Posts: 850
Joined: 7/5/2009
Status: offline 		The game slowed down for a week or so while I went to Scotland for some hill-walking and family events. I have also neglected the AAR so will provide a quick resume today to bring the war up to date (we are currently on 11 May 43).


DEI / Timor Sea

Most days you could virtually walk across the Timor Sea on the backs of Allied subs without getting your feet wet and I spend a lot of time dodging them with my naval patrols. My ASW rarely hits anything. Otherwise, its mostly been about airbase suppression as I keep hitting Babar and Timoeka while Apbarog keeps bombing Taberfane to keep it closed.

Due to the build-up around Darwin and Gove I had suspected a further Allied attack was coming soon in this theatre and sure enough a new armada materialised south of Saumlaki on May 11. Saumlaki is not a strategic hold for me and I decide not to risk KB until I know the direction of the attack and where the Allied carriers will be positioned. Too many subs in the way for one thing.





Attachment (1)

_____________________________

The most advanced nations are always those who navigate the most -
Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803 -1882)

(in reply to Walker84)
Post #: 647
RE: Great Tides that Ebb and Flow: Apbarog (A) vs Walke... - 6/11/2016 5:45:13 PM   
Walker84


Posts: 850
Joined: 7/5/2009
Status: offline 		Continuing the round-up...

Australia

The Allies continue to mop up my largely-abandoned bases in the north. A couple of armoured rgts managed to escape to the ports due west but its touch and go whether they will be evacuated. One AMC took a sub torp while standing by off Broome.


New Guinea

Lae has fallen and several sizeable Japanese units are still bottled up in the interior with no real escape unless they can fight their way out with limited supply.


Burma

No Allied movement here whatsoever and I have been redeploying what forces I can spare to shore up the long coastlines of Malaya and DEI while retaining my fortified position intact.


Movement of oil and resources

Huge convoys of tankers and merchantmen still work flat out to bring oil and resources back to the Home Islands. The odd US sub has started appearing around Hokkaido but there has been next to no disruption and sinking of merchant vessels on my main supply routes. We can expect this to change of course.


Aleutians

Subs report more ships unloading around Attu and adjacent islands. It may take a while for any major threat to develop from this angle as Apbarog seems heavily committed to the DEI offensive right now.


Solomons / Marshalls

Apbarog has been mounting nuisance raids on bases like Tarawa but there has been no sign of more significant encroachments - yet.


< Message edited by Walker84 -- 6/11/2016 5:48:22 PM >

_____________________________

The most advanced nations are always those who navigate the most -
Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803 -1882)

(in reply to Walker84)
Post #: 648
RE: Great Tides that Ebb and Flow: Apbarog (A) vs Walke... - 6/13/2016 4:36:44 PM   
jwolf

 

Posts: 2493
Joined: 12/3/2013
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: Walker84

Subs report more ships unloading around Attu and adjacent islands. It may take a while for any major threat to develop from this angle as Apbarog seems heavily committed to the DEI offensive right now.


This makes sense to me since although Apbarog has been successful with his offensives in NG, Darwin, etc, he has taken heavy ship losses in support of those operations. I would think he doesn't and won't have enough assets for a second heavy offensive anywhere until, say, 1944 (??) when he gets a tremendous amount of reinforcements.

(in reply to Walker84)
Post #: 649
RE: Great Tides that Ebb and Flow: Apbarog (A) vs Walke... - 6/13/2016 10:13:24 PM   
Walker84


Posts: 850
Joined: 7/5/2009
Status: offline 		Thanks for the thoughts jwolf, I'm not sure in aggregate that Apbarog has suffered many heavy ship losses, although I have managed to damage several Allied carriers and sink several weak cruisers in recent operations.

I'm basing my observations on the overall flow of activity in recent months; Apbarog has devoted a lot of capital in the areas mentioned, but I guess he could still switch forces to other theatres to keep me off balance if he so chooses. Basically, for now, its a case of following where the Allied carrier force goes next.

_____________________________

The most advanced nations are always those who navigate the most -
Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803 -1882)

(in reply to jwolf)
Post #: 650
RE: Great Tides that Ebb and Flow: Apbarog (A) vs Walke... - 6/14/2016 5:13:30 PM   
Walker84


Posts: 850
Joined: 7/5/2009
Status: offline 		11 - 13 May 1943


DEI Round-up

As expected, the Allies invaded Saumlaki which fell pretty easily. The base was defended by a single Naval Guard and Apbarog inserted the right amount of troops to take it on the second day. After being pounded by several naval bombardments and air attacks and a preceding ground attack, Saumlaki fell on 13 May.
The Allies suffered possible one naval loss, DD Cony, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage. Japan also lost two subs to ASW attacks.
One other positive was when a unit of Oscars flying LRCAP shot down 1/2 dozen B-25s over the base.

quote:

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 7061 troops, 27 guns, 69 vehicles, Assault Value = 170

Defending force 1424 troops, 12 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 21

Allied adjusted assault: 57

Japanese adjusted defense: 7

Allied assault odds: 8 to 1 (fort level 1)

Allied forces CAPTURE Saumlaki !!!

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

Japanese ground losses:
237 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 23 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 5 (4 destroyed, 1 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
66 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled

Assaulting units:
77th LRP Brigade
7th Air Advn Base Force
17th Base Maint Engineer Battalion
6th USN Naval Construction Regiment

Defending units:
83rd Naval Guard Unit


A point of interest was that the Allied shipping managed to unload in a day so I would have struggled to intervene effectively, even had I elected to send the KB south through shark-infested waters. Any moves towards Ambon, Babar, Koepang etc will be a different matter however.

Elsewhere in the air, Apbarog widened his 4e base attacks to include Lautern and Boela as well as Taberfane.


Derby, Broome - Australia

A combination of air transports and naval Fast transport TFs managed to extract elements of 4th Tank rgt and 16th Recon rgt from both bases. On the 13th an Allied TF turned up at Broome to find that the birds had already flown. A small but satisfying operation. Just a shame that the AMC hit earlier by a torpedo is unlikely to make it home.

< Message edited by Walker84 -- 6/14/2016 5:20:21 PM >

_____________________________

The most advanced nations are always those who navigate the most -
Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803 -1882)

(in reply to Walker84)
Post #: 651
RE: Great Tides that Ebb and Flow: Apbarog (A) vs Walke... - 6/18/2016 4:35:36 PM   
Walker84


Posts: 850
Joined: 7/5/2009
Status: offline 		14-15 May 1943

DEI

Operations are still focused around the Timor Sea. On 14 May P-38s sweep Dili in force, getting the better of the defending fighters which were set to 15k CAP. Next day we are flying at 20k but there is no follow-up attack.

Meanwhile, the Allied carriers move north towards Taberfane. Initial intel of the TF composition indicates that this is more likely to be a raid than an invasion so I delay committing KB until I can see what is going on. By the 15th, the Allied TFs are positioned just east of Dobo and only a couple of APDs are spotted so I think this might be a move to reinforce Timoeka rather than invade Dobo and Taberfane, both of which have divisional-sized elements defending them.

A small supply convoy is surprised and sunk at Dobo. Not a big deal until you clock the fighter escorts...

quote:

Morning Air attack on TF, near Dobo at 83,116

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid spotted at 19 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes

Allied aircraft
F6F-3 Hellcat x 36
SBD-3 Dauntless x 36

No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
PB Kaisho Maru, Bomb hits 3, and is sunk
xAKL Buyo Maru, Bomb hits 7, and is sunk


With the arrival of Hellcats in force we will need to take extra care in any carrier encounters from now on, especially as we are not at full strength, with several carriers still upgrading in the yard. Nevertheless, I decide to move KB a little closer to the war zone tomorrow, in case there are any opportunities to attack.




Attachment (1)

< Message edited by Walker84 -- 6/18/2016 4:39:23 PM >

_____________________________

The most advanced nations are always those who navigate the most -
Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803 -1882)

(in reply to Walker84)
Post #: 652
RE: Great Tides that Ebb and Flow: Apbarog (A) vs Walke... - 7/19/2016 10:09:11 AM   
Walker84


Posts: 850
Joined: 7/5/2009
Status: offline 		16 - 31 May, 1943

Have fallen behind with this AAR due to a combination of travelling and never quite getting round to writing it up after sending the turn. Here's a summary of the events of the last 1/2 month.

Aleutians

Sent a surprise CA TF to stir the pot but all they bagged was a measly AM at Attu.


New Guinea

Apbarog pushed north as far as Nadzab which he captured from the remnants of the Lae garrison. I'm building a defence line at Madang but there is little movement at the moment - focus seems to be on Timor (see below).

The remnants of the Buna garrison are still defending well in the jungle. A US marine division attacks every once in a while but comes off worse despite the supply situation being dire for the Japanese.


Solomons and Marshalls

Apbarog is mounting the odd sweep to keep me honest here but little sign of activity otherwise.


Burma

Ditto.


Timor Sea

This is where most of the action has been found over the last fortnight as Apbarog continues to commit an impressive amount of force to take bases. I'll include a map of the current situation but wanted to describe how Japan has lost the operational initiative in this area for the time being.

1. Japanese submarines are proving ineffective against superior Allied ASW in these shallow waters: several have been sunk while attempting to interdict Allied landings or intercept the carriers; many others have been heavily damaged and forced to limp home for repairs (many receiving 50 float damage in a single ASW attack).

2. Japanese airpower is unable to keep major airbases open under concentrated air attacks. Example would be Koepang, with 90+ fighters on CAP. P-38 sweeps, followed by large scale heavy 4e bombing raids on successive days were enough to shut the field down. A CA bombardment TF evading the defensive minefield finished the job.

3. The KB is unable to intervene effectively in the DEI presently. Allied subs are managing to penetrate the KB's weaker ASW screen more effectively. SS Drum launched 6 torpedoes at CV Kaga on 21 May but missed fortunately; Hiyo took a torp on 25 May and has had to retire for repair. KB is therefore down 4 carriers and I am loathe to expose it to additional risk even in defence of Timor.

So, for the time being we are going to have to trade bases to buy time and hope to counterattack on the run if Apbarog over-extends himself. Pretty soon, Soerabaja and Balikpapan will be in US bomber range so I have withdrawn all non-essential naval units. The oil will likely be impeded however.


Production

All indicators still looking good. A tanker was hit recently by a sub torpedo near Borneo but made it to port: so at least while most Allied subs are in the Timor Sea trying to sink the KB they are not harrying my convoys.





Attachment (1)

_____________________________

The most advanced nations are always those who navigate the most -
Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803 -1882)

(in reply to Walker84)
Post #: 653
RE: Great Tides that Ebb and Flow: Apbarog (A) vs Walke... - 8/21/2016 6:03:28 PM   
Walker84


Posts: 850
Joined: 7/5/2009
Status: offline 		1 - 4 June, 1943

The game restarts after a three week hiatus due to a family trip to Japan. I'll write about Japan another time - suffice to say that it was one of the most fascinating and rewarding holidays we have ever been on.


New Guinea - Salamaua raid

This action was a pleasant surprise as I totally forgot ordering the TF three weeks ago to attack shipping that was spotted north of Buna.

quote:

Night Time Surface Combat, near Salamaua at 98,127, Range 2,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CA Tone
CA Atago
CL Agano
DD Onami
DD Nagatsuki
DD Sawakaze

Allied Ships
KV Wetaskiwin, Shell hits 19, and is sunk
xAKL Marudu, Shell hits 14, and is sunk
xAKL Kaiping, Shell hits 26, and is sunk
xAKL Prominent, Shell hits 17, and is sunk
xAKL De Klerk, Shell hits 3, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk
xAKL De Haan, Shell hits 20, and is sunk
xAKL Patras, Shell hits 14, and is sunk


On the way back the cruisers sink 5 PT boats close to Lae.

A few days later however, I lose about 20 planes over Lae when a squadron of Lillies escorted by Ki-45 fighters decides to attack more shipping... and runs into a lot of CAP. It was not a coordinated attack as I moved the Lillies in range the previous turn but forgot to adjust their mission type and radius.


DEI

The Allied focus remains on Timor at the moment. Allied forces which reached Dili on 3 June launch a direct attack on the 4th preceded by a cruiser bombardment. Japanese forces hold up pretty well in the jungle terrain but are likely to be ground down pretty soon by more bombing and naval bombardments.

quote:

Ground combat at Dili (71,115)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 12668 troops, 217 guns, 179 vehicles, Assault Value = 403

Defending force 14208 troops, 110 guns, 26 vehicles, Assault Value = 420

Allied adjusted assault: 564

Japanese adjusted defense: 969

Allied assault odds: 1 to 2 (fort level 3)

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

Japanese ground losses:
245 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 19 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 4 (1 destroyed, 3 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
801 casualties reported
Squads: 8 destroyed, 108 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 10 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled
Guns lost 25 (1 destroyed, 24 disabled)
Vehicles lost 35 (2 destroyed, 33 disabled)

Assaulting units:
32nd Infantry Division
640th Tank Destroyer Battalion
XIV US Corps
1st RAA Jungle Field Artillery Regiment

Defending units:
11th Garrison Unit
14th Garrison Unit
24th Infantry Regiment
9th RF Gun Battalion
56th Construction Battalion
20th Ind. Mtn Gun Battalion
86th JAAF AF Bn


Koepang remains a pretty strong bulwark at the moment and its unlikely that it can be taken by land after Dili falls. Shame I can't keep the airfield open though.


Carrier update

I'm starting to get back up to operational strength in the carrier divisions. Zuikaku and Soryu have just finished repairs and are steaming to a prearranged rendezvous with the rest of the fleet.

The Allied carriers disappeared south of Horn Island a week or two ago but I'm pretty sure they will be back soon to support further offensive operations in the vicinity of Timor. That is unless Apbarog has planned something even more sneaky!


< Message edited by Walker84 -- 8/21/2016 6:04:39 PM >

_____________________________

The most advanced nations are always those who navigate the most -
Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803 -1882)

(in reply to Walker84)
Post #: 654
RE: Great Tides that Ebb and Flow: Apbarog (A) vs Walke... - 8/27/2016 3:27:17 PM   
Walker84


Posts: 850
Joined: 7/5/2009
Status: offline 		5 - 9 June 1943

It's been a quiet few days in game terms. Apbarog performed a further bombardment attack at Dili on 5 June but the Allies came off worse and he hasn't attempted any more ground attacks for the last few days but has started employing 4e bombers to start disrupting my troops.


On the morning of 9 June my spotter planes identify several high-powered Allied TFs in the vicinity of Darwin (which itself is reported to contain 200+ disbanded ships in port). It's not clear how many carriers are present in the active TFs, but multiple AVs and BBs are reported which usually means CVs are close by. I guess the next Allied DEI op is gathering steam, but what will the target be this time?

Just as a footnote, I now have some Georges in the pool but playing with PDU off means I can only allocate them to a restricted squadron in Japan for now. I've been reduced to mousing over them from time to time to admire them in the training squadron they have been allocated to.


_____________________________

The most advanced nations are always those who navigate the most -
Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803 -1882)

(in reply to Walker84)
Post #: 655
RE: Great Tides that Ebb and Flow: Apbarog (A) vs Walke... - 8/27/2016 3:28:31 PM   
Walker84


Posts: 850
Joined: 7/5/2009
Status: offline 		Here's a quick map of the situation in the Timor Sea...




Attachment (1)

_____________________________

The most advanced nations are always those who navigate the most -
Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803 -1882)

(in reply to Walker84)
Post #: 656
RE: Great Tides that Ebb and Flow: Apbarog (A) vs Walke... - 8/29/2016 1:08:35 PM   
Walker84


Posts: 850
Joined: 7/5/2009
Status: offline 		June 10 - 11 1943

Timor / DEI

Apbarog has brought up a second division at Dili and wastes no time in attacking again. A good enough result for the Allies, dropping the forts to 2. Bombing and naval bombardments of the base continue.

quote:

Ground combat at Dili (71,115)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 25084 troops, 447 guns, 326 vehicles, Assault Value = 697

Defending force 13903 troops, 110 guns, 26 vehicles, Assault Value = 403

Allied adjusted assault: 1171

Japanese adjusted defense: 811

Allied assault odds: 1 to 1 (fort level 3)

Allied Assault reduces fortifications to 2

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), disruption(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
749 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 60 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Guns lost 16 (1 destroyed, 15 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
641 casualties reported
Squads: 5 destroyed, 37 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 27 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Guns lost 11 (2 destroyed, 9 disabled)
Vehicles lost 64 (10 destroyed, 54 disabled)

Assaulting units:
640th Tank Destroyer Battalion
32nd Infantry Division
18th British Division
XIV US Corps
1st RAA Jungle Field Artillery Regiment

Defending units:
11th Garrison Unit
14th Garrison Unit
24th Infantry Regiment
20th Ind. Mtn Gun Battalion
9th RF Gun Battalion
56th Construction Battalion
86th JAAF AF Bn


Allied TFs continue milling around the Timor Sea but there's no sign of any directional activity yet.

Taberfane and Dobo take massive 4e raids, the airfields are purely rubble but the main problem I face here is the dwindling supply situation. I have been steadily extricating ground troops by air but there is still a sizeable contingent dug in if Apbarog decides to attack.

However I actually expect the Allies to strike further north - towards Ambon and Boela, or west towards the island chain linking closer with Java. I'm trying to keep a decent-sized reaction force in place for when the hammer finally comes.


War at sea

Several tanker TFs have been intercepted by subs lately but the escorts seem to have done okay for now, for example:

quote:

ASW attack near Groot Natoena at 60,80

Japanese Ships
SC Ch 2
TK Teiyo Maru
TK Omurosan Maru
TK Huzisan Maru
SC Ch 3

Allied Ships
SS Pike, hits 5, heavy damage

SS Pike is sighted by escort
Pike diving deep ....
SC Ch 3 attacking submerged sub ....
SC Ch 3 fails to find sub, continues to search...
SC Ch 3 fails to find sub, continues to search...
SC Ch 3 fails to find sub, continues to search...
SC Ch 3 attacking submerged sub ....
Escort abandons search for sub




_____________________________

The most advanced nations are always those who navigate the most -
Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803 -1882)

(in reply to Walker84)
Post #: 657
RE: Great Tides that Ebb and Flow: Apbarog (A) vs Walke... - 8/29/2016 7:31:25 PM   
jwolf

 

Posts: 2493
Joined: 12/3/2013
Status: offline 		Thanks for resuming your side of this great game and AAR! I really enjoy reading the viewpoint from both sides.

(in reply to Walker84)
Post #: 658
RE: Great Tides that Ebb and Flow: Apbarog (A) vs Walke... - 8/29/2016 8:37:00 PM   
Walker84


Posts: 850
Joined: 7/5/2009
Status: offline 		Thanks jwolf,

My opponent's AAR probably reads a little more upbeat than mine these days but I'm still enjoying all the challenges at this stage in the war.

_____________________________

The most advanced nations are always those who navigate the most -
Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803 -1882)

(in reply to jwolf)
Post #: 659
RE: Great Tides that Ebb and Flow: Apbarog (A) vs Walke... - 9/1/2016 6:42:19 PM   
Walker84


Posts: 850
Joined: 7/5/2009
Status: offline 		June 12 - 13

Air battle over Hansa Bay

For several days, I have had a single xAK escorted by a solitary PB unloading supplies at Hansa Bay, 100% detection level. The temptation must have proved too much for Apbarog because on 12 June he sent in a massive multiple strike comprising Corsairs, Thunderbolts, P40Ks, B-17s and SBDs.

I had a pretty strong CAP operation protecting the base, comprising a big Tojo wing, plus Oscar IIb and Zero squadrons... and they acquitted themselves well, shooting down a reported 38 Allied planes for 30 lost. The P-47s and F4Us did quite well but lost several of their own number, while the P-40s were crucified. A couple of B-17s and SBDs were also shot down. Both ships were sunk as my CAP grew depleted after multiple waves flew in.


Dili falls

A final DA takes the base after multiple naval bombardments and bombing runs have softened up the defenders. Survivors retreat towards Koepang.



Darwin - trouble brewing


Many TFs are assembling at Darwin. No sign of any movement away from the base but it can only mean more attacks are in the offing.


_____________________________

The most advanced nations are always those who navigate the most -
Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803 -1882)

(in reply to Walker84)
Post #: 660
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