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RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apbarog(A) vs OPilot(J)

 
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RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apba... - 5/15/2019 12:38:46 PM   
Lowpe


Posts: 22133
Joined: 2/25/2013
Status: offline 		Not much value in mis-directing to Tavoy as all troop movements headed that way are pretty much the same you would have for Pegu, with the exception of air transport.

I liked Japan's use of small bombing units to figure out your defenses. Nicely done.

Do you have good sigint/recon on what to expect going forward?

What are your thoughts for other actions along Japan's perimeter...like at Kusaie? Kuriles? Can you bomb any oil/fuel/refineries in the SRA?

Incredible that you have not lost a single sub.

(in reply to apbarog)
Post #: 901
RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apba... - 5/15/2019 3:51:12 PM   
apbarog


Posts: 3769
Joined: 5/23/2002
Status: offline 		Rangoon is not heavily defended, with fewer than 20,000 troops. Mostly garrisoned, I figure. I've done no recon on Pegu or Moulmein, but don't expect much of a defense. Nothing that a huge Chinese corp shouldn't be able to handle.

I'm loading troops at Luganville as we speak, for a re-invasion of Kusaie Island. But if KB really is south of Truk now, I won't go through with that. Just CVEs covering that operation. Should KB race to the Indian Ocean, I'll do Kusaie, and probably more. 2 divisions and support are fully prepped for Ponape, and units are ready for Kwajalein and Roi Namur. Again, KB has to leave the area for that.

The Kuriles have been uncontested in the war. I haven't garrisoned the 3 islands on the western end: Kiska, Attu, another dot base. The others to the east are defended, supplied and built up. I've had SigInt that enemy units have been prepping for the 3 far western bases for a long time, but I've never seen anything other than enemy subs in the Aleutians.

I decided on the Tavoy deception because I couldn't move straight to Rangoon and land any sooner. It won't help with diverting ground troops, but it may help with where OPilot puts his aircraft. Bangkok is a nice close place in range of Tavoy. He may plan a big naval strike on the armada, and then the armada jumps up to the north. Regardless, the plan wasn't based on the deception, but it might help a little. It's all brute force landings at Rangoon, Pegu and Moulmein after this.

(in reply to Lowpe)
Post #: 902
RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apba... - 5/16/2019 1:54:40 AM   
apbarog


Posts: 3769
Joined: 5/23/2002
Status: offline 		OPilot is traveling for the next week, so the Burma invasion will have to wait until at least May 24.

(in reply to Lowpe)
Post #: 903
RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apba... - 5/16/2019 4:20:34 PM   
Bif1961


Posts: 2014
Joined: 6/26/2008
From: Phenix City, Alabama
Status: offline 		What a TEASE!

(in reply to apbarog)
Post #: 904
RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apba... - 5/16/2019 5:14:43 PM   
apbarog


Posts: 3769
Joined: 5/23/2002
Status: offline 		No one is more anxious than I am! This has been many months in the making.

(in reply to Bif1961)
Post #: 905
RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apba... - 5/17/2019 3:19:04 AM   
CaptBeefheart


Posts: 2301
Joined: 7/4/2003
From: Seoul, Korea
Status: offline 		Tell him to postpone his trip. Our entertainment is more important.

Cheers,
CB

_____________________________

Beer, because barley makes lousy bread.

(in reply to apbarog)
Post #: 906
RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apba... - 5/17/2019 3:39:03 AM   
apbarog


Posts: 3769
Joined: 5/23/2002
Status: offline 		OPilot was going to try to get the game working on an old laptop and take it with him on his trip. If he was successful, I may get a turn here and there for the next week. He's as addicted to the game as I am, so he tries his best. We generally both get a turn done every day.

(in reply to CaptBeefheart)
Post #: 907
RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apba... - 5/27/2019 6:15:55 AM   
apbarog


Posts: 3769
Joined: 5/23/2002
Status: offline 		17 Jan 43

The war has resumed! And there was no shortage of action.

First, the two surviving enemy motor torpedo boats went back into Port Blair, and ran into DMS Hovey. Hovey took a single gun hit, doing next to no damage. The MTBs escaped.

Grayling fired 4 torpedoes at destroyer Isonami near Port Blair. Uh oh. Didn't see these guys coming. Torpedoes missed. Then the first naval battle of Port Blair took place.

Night Time Surface Combat, near Port Blair at 46,58, Range 6,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CA Mogami, Shell hits 2
CA Mikuma
CA Suzuya
CA Kumano
CL Sendai, Shell hits 1
DD Shinonome
DD Usugumo, Shell hits 3, on fire
DD Shirakumo
DD Isonami
DD Murakumo
DD Uranami
DD Shikinami, Shell hits 1
DD Ayanami

Allied Ships
DD Arrow, Shell hits 1
DD Decoy, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Electra, Shell hits 1
DD Encounter, Shell hits 2
DD Express, Shell hits 1
DD Fortune
DD Hotspur

Usugumo was hit the hardest. Decoy is SYS 3/FLOT 9-5/ENG 2/FIRE 0, and was slowed a bit, so it was ordered back to Colombo. Arrow has SYS 14, Encounter is SYS 18 and FLOT 3, and Electra is SYS 9. All Brit destroyers are now out of torpedoes. Most significantly, the enemy used a lot of torpedoes trying to hit the Brits. This probably saved a Brit battleship, because...

Night Time Surface Combat, near Port Blair at 46,58, Range 3,000 Yards

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
E13A1 Jake: 1 destroyed

Japanese Ships
CA Mogami, Shell hits 2
CA Mikuma
CA Suzuya
CA Kumano
CL Sendai, Shell hits 5, and is sunk
DD Shinonome
DD Usugumo
DD Shirakumo
DD Isonami
DD Murakumo
DD Uranami, Shell hits 1
DD Shikinami, Shell hits 1
DD Ayanami, Shell hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage

Allied Ships
BB Resolution, Shell hits 23, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
CL Birmingham
DD Stuart
DD Arunta
DD Warramunga

A few big shells from Resolution hit Sendai. One big shell hit Ayanami. One enemy torpedo was a dud. Resolution and friends were supposed to bombard Port Blair tomorrow, but that won't happen now. Resolution soaked up a lot of cruiser shells, and probably saved the invasion task force at Port Blair. Resolution is now SYS 15/FLOT 22-6/ENG 9/FIRE 0.

Battleship Valiant, cruiser Hawkins, and destroyers Inconstant and Isis are escorting the invasion shipping at Port Blair, which starts to unload. The escorts expended most of their ammo in the invasion bombardment. The enemy is still there, and didn't find the invasion task force.

The Brit destroyer TF then engaged those two enemy MTBs at Port Blair, and both MTBs were sunk.

OPilot tried the first night naval bombing of the war, with about a dozen Bettys going after Wasp and Hornet. All bombs missed with 3 Bettys lost to flak. I will reply in kind.

A token strike from the US carriers went after shipping at Tavoy.

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Tavoy at 54,60

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid spotted at 13 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-IIb Oscar x 18

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 18
SBD-3 Dauntless x 18

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat: 2 destroyed [3 lost]
SBD-3 Dauntless: 4 damaged

Japanese Ships
xAP Hoten Maru, Bomb hits 1

And another strike went to Mergui, unescorted.

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Mergui at 53,62

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid spotted at 17 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-IIb Oscar x 3

Allied aircraft
SBD-3 Dauntless x 18

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
SBD-3 Dauntless: 1 destroyed, 4 damaged [3 lost]

Japanese Ships
SC Ch 21, Bomb hits 2, and is sunk

Here's the order of battle at Port Blair:

Assaulting units:
1st Raiding Regiment
41st Infantry Regiment
302nd Ship Eng Coy
303rd Ship Eng Coy
34th Field Const Co
1st Base Force
5th JAAF AF Coy

Defending units:
17th Australian Bde /1
147th(Sep) Infantry Rgt /1
24th (Sep) Infantry Rgt /1
111th RN Base Force /1
2/1st Lt AA Rgt /1

I need to unload more troops here, but anything can happen with the enemy TF still there. Speaking of which, just yesterday (in game) I restricted my carrier naval bombers to a range of 5, keeping them away from Bangkok. That worked. Of course, I didn't anticipate the enemy cruiser task force at Port Blair, which just so happened to be 6 hexes away from my carriers. I would have had them for sure. This does make me think, though, what OPilot's plan was. He got to Port Blair at night and stayed. Maybe he was going for my carriers, which were just southwest of Port Blair. I don't know. He had to have thought that he was going to lose them with 6 enemy carriers right there. It didn't appear that he had any fighters at Port Blair itself, but I could be wrong about that.

Now, what will happen today? How effective will the enemy cruiser task force be at tearing into the invasion task force, assuming the enemy stays? Will they run to Rangoon and get intercepted by Repulse? Or will they run away to the south? I need to unload all of the Port Blair invasion troops to take the base.

In the next turn, the armada will be within striking range of Rangoon, Pegu and Moulmein. It is worth noting that an enemy unit at Myitkyna shows movement west, which can only mean towards Rangoon on the rail line. Not today, but tomorrow I'll plot the first para landing at Toungoo, which will cut off any quick reinforcement of Rangoon and Pegu from the north.

Today P-38s will sweep heavily defended Rangoon. 3 P-40 squadrons will sweep a slightly less defended Akyab. A heavy bomber squadron will hit Rangoon's airfield at night. Another couple of B-24 squadrons, with about half of their planes ready, will hit Port Blair from Trincomlee.

(in reply to Lowpe)
Post #: 908
RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apba... - 5/27/2019 6:16:54 AM   
apbarog


Posts: 3769
Joined: 5/23/2002
Status: offline 		17 Jan 43 - The Solomons




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(in reply to apbarog)
Post #: 909
RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apba... - 5/27/2019 6:17:41 AM   
apbarog


Posts: 3769
Joined: 5/23/2002
Status: offline 		17 Jan 43 - Northern Australia




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(in reply to apbarog)
Post #: 910
RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apba... - 5/27/2019 6:18:23 AM   
apbarog


Posts: 3769
Joined: 5/23/2002
Status: offline 		17 Jan 43 - The Main Event




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(in reply to apbarog)
Post #: 911
RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apba... - 5/27/2019 12:32:04 PM   
Lowpe


Posts: 22133
Joined: 2/25/2013
Status: offline 		Do you have an idea of the force strength at Tavoy?...Japan may send those cruisers to Rangoon to rearm there given an anticipated threat on Tavoy, or better yet to a base that has an ake in it although that looks unlikely.

Anyhow, the IJN is spread out far and wide. You are off to the races!


(in reply to apbarog)
Post #: 912
RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apba... - 5/27/2019 3:19:48 PM   
Bif1961


Posts: 2014
Joined: 6/26/2008
From: Phenix City, Alabama
Status: offline 		One thing of note is though the Japanese might be low of main gun ammo they almost always have partial or total reload of their torpedo tubes. Many a battle was rejoined by the Japanese DDs when they went off to reload their torpedo tubes and came back for a 2nd round of engagements.

(in reply to Lowpe)
Post #: 913
RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apba... - 5/27/2019 3:53:57 PM   
apbarog


Posts: 3769
Joined: 5/23/2002
Status: offline 		I have no idea of the force strength at Tavoy. Or at Pegu or Moulmein, for that matter. I know that there are AKEs at Rangoon, and I had indications that there are others at Georgetown.

I made the choice yesterday (in game) to more heavily protect the carriers and big invasion armada, instead of Port Blair. If the 25 or so transports at Port Blair get sunk, with troops still on them, it's my doing. I could have sent Repulse there all along. But I still think the big invasions take priority.

(in reply to Bif1961)
Post #: 914
RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apba... - 5/27/2019 7:23:00 PM   
BBfanboy


Posts: 18046
Joined: 8/4/2010
From: Winnipeg, MB
Status: offline 		Your graphic shows Repulse entering the estuary. It will not be able to but it can still block from the previous hex to the entrance.

_____________________________

No matter how bad a situation is, you can always make it worse. - Chris Hadfield : An Astronaut's Guide To Life On Earth

(in reply to apbarog)
Post #: 915
RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apba... - 5/27/2019 9:11:08 PM   
apbarog


Posts: 3769
Joined: 5/23/2002
Status: offline 		I assumed that hex was a coastal hex, not up the estuary, as I'm not crossing a river hexside to get to it. I could be mistaken though. We'll find out soon enough.

(in reply to BBfanboy)
Post #: 916
RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apba... - 5/28/2019 12:30:13 PM   
Lowpe


Posts: 22133
Joined: 2/25/2013
Status: offline 		If you would have lit up Tavoy with recon this past turn from the CVs, then that would really have confounded Japan I bet. But that could have worked against the landing too, causing a panic in Burma and all troops there being put into SR mode.

Naval search doesn't really work all that well in this game, and it could be that Japan thinks this is just a surface/CV threat moving to Tavoy too (however that chance I think is small depending upon task force composition).

So, I guess it is one more turn of movement and then the following turn invasion! Or are you flank speed running in and landing since there is no initial shock attack?


This long set up attack is just so fun to watch and learn from.





(in reply to apbarog)
Post #: 917
RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apba... - 5/28/2019 9:40:05 PM   
apbarog


Posts: 3769
Joined: 5/23/2002
Status: offline 		18 Jan 43 - Darwin

Lots of activity today. I'll discuss them by region. First, Darwin. The expected enemy 4 battleship group arrived, and quickly sank AM Geelong in the harbor. A huge transport convoy, with lots of loaded troops, escaped to the southeast, as did a tanker task force. Then the enemy bombarded.

Night Naval bombardment of Darwin at 76,124

Allied aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft losses
TBF-1 Avenger: 55 damaged
TBF-1 Avenger: 5 destroyed on ground
SBD-2 Dauntless: 42 damaged
SBD-2 Dauntless: 4 destroyed on ground
PBY-5 Catalina: 12 damaged
PBY-5 Catalina: 1 destroyed on ground
F4F-3P Wildcat: 14 damaged
F4F-3P Wildcat: 3 destroyed on ground
B-24D Liberator: 3 damaged
B-24D Liberator: 1 destroyed on ground
LB-30 Liberator: 103 damaged (note there were only 12 of them here)
LB-30 Liberator: 2 destroyed on ground
L-18 Lodestar: 22 damaged
L-18 Lodestar: 6 destroyed on ground
F4F-4 Wildcat: 48 damaged
F4F-4 Wildcat: 4 destroyed on ground
Spitfire Vc Trop: 22 damaged
Spitfire Vc Trop: 4 destroyed on ground
F4F-3 Wildcat: 25 damaged
F4F-3 Wildcat: 3 destroyed on ground

Japanese Ships
BB Kirishima
BB Hiei
BB Haruna
BB Kongo
CA Kinugasa
CL Yubari

Allied ground losses:
640 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 4 disabled
Non Combat: 27 destroyed, 35 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 6 disabled
Guns lost 55 (21 destroyed, 34 disabled)
Vehicles lost 38 (9 destroyed, 29 disabled)

Airbase hits 31
Airbase supply hits 10
Runway hits 111

Nothing short of a "nuclear" bombardment. None of the 180 mines were hit. The losses could have been worse. I sent out the P-38 squadron and the undamaged heavy bombers when I saw the enemy coming.

Actual aircraft losses on the ground were:

8 L18 Lodestar
6 SBD-2
6 Spits
5 F4F-3P recon planes
4 F4F-3
4 LB-30
1 B-24

Most of the remaining planes were damaged, and the airfield is out of action. There are over 200 engineers and many bulldozers here, so repairs should be made quickly. I'll LRCAP Darwin from Katherine today, thinking that OPilot may try to bomb when the airfield is out of action.

On the way back to Koepang, S-40 fired 4 torpedoes at DD Oite but missed. And then S-30 fired 4 torpedoes at BB Hiei but missed.

This attack will certainly encourage OPilot. He'll probably be back. But in my "rose colored glasses" way of looking at it, this isn't important. The Allied offensive north of Australia is in a holding pattern until the carriers return. Darwin is very well defended, and even more nuclear bombardments wouldn't be enough to take it from the Allies. Bases south of Darwin are building and will support Darwin and the eventual move to Timor.




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(in reply to Lowpe)
Post #: 918
RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apba... - 5/28/2019 9:46:00 PM   
apbarog


Posts: 3769
Joined: 5/23/2002
Status: offline 		18 Jan 43 - Northern China

Supported by the 3rd Tank Division, Ningsia, in far northern China, falls.

Ground combat at Ningsia (84,33)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 16059 troops, 193 guns, 472 vehicles, Assault Value = 566

Defending force 13005 troops, 37 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 401

Japanese adjusted assault: 302

Allied adjusted defense: 22

Japanese assault odds: 13 to 1 (fort level 3)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Ningsia !!!

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

Japanese ground losses:
176 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 20 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled

Allied ground losses:
4906 casualties reported
Squads: 119 destroyed, 121 disabled
Non Combat: 95 destroyed, 15 disabled
Engineers: 23 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 10 (10 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units retreated 1
Units destroyed 1

Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
4th Cavalry Brigade
3rd Tank Division
1st Cavalry Brigade
2nd Ind.Mixed Brigade
3rd Cavalry Brigade
21st AA Regiment

Defending units:
57th Chinese Corps
24th Group Army

Supply is very low or nonexistant up here in northern China. The Chinese defense behind Ningsia was thought to be strong enough, but maybe not against so many tanks. There's a renewed threat now for the enemy cutting China in two.

I send a B-24 squadron to Chungking to bomb troops in the clear terrain of Ningsia. It'll be awhile until OPilot can get a base support unit there to support aircraft.




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(in reply to Lowpe)
Post #: 919
RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apba... - 5/28/2019 9:56:05 PM   
apbarog


Posts: 3769
Joined: 5/23/2002
Status: offline 		18 Jan 43 - The Solomons

KB moved northwest of Guadalcanal, at a distance of 6 hexes from Lunga. Naval bombers and a weak escort attack KB. KB does nothing but defend itself.

Morning Air attack on TF, near Choiseul Bay at 113,132

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid detected at 26 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M3a Zero x 57

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 18
TBF-1 Avenger x 28

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat: 4 destroyed
TBF-1 Avenger: 15 destroyed, 2 damaged
TBF-1 Avenger: 1 destroyed by flak

Japanese Ships
BB Hyuga

Aircraft Attacking:
2 x TBF-1 Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 22.4in Mk 13 Torp.

and

Morning Air attack on TF, near Choiseul Bay at 113,132

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid detected at 50 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 26 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M3a Zero x 50

Allied aircraft
SBC-4 Helldiver x 18

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
SBC-4 Helldiver: 9 destroyed

I left a strong CAP on Guadalcanal and Tulagi, and didn't send enough escorts. I should have gone all-in, either sending everything to go after KB or send nothing and CAP my bases.

Actual losses were 35 TBFs, 22 F4F-4s, 18 SBC-4s and 3 SBD-3s. Not a single Zero was shot down. I feel like I did just what OPilot expected me to do.

I reinforced the fighters on Guadalcanal. The only bombers still there are on night naval strike, with some search planes on night search.

Analysis of a bad day: Time to look at the half-full glass. Neither the results at Darwin or the Solomons matter much. KB is free to roam. Any Allied shipping worth hitting is moving away. If the Japanese don't counter-invade, they accomplish nothing more than being a nuisance.




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< Message edited by apbarog -- 5/28/2019 9:58:05 PM >

(in reply to Lowpe)
Post #: 920
RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apba... - 5/28/2019 10:53:52 PM   
apbarog


Posts: 3769
Joined: 5/23/2002
Status: offline 		18 Jan 43 - Invasion of Burma

Good news at Port Blair. The enemy cruiser TF there disappeared, and didn't engage the transports as they continued to unload men and supply.

2 squadrons of Wellingtons flew from India and hit Akyab's airfield at night. Very minor damage was done in severe storms.

A squadron of Liberator IIs flew from India and hit Rangoon's airfield at night. One Betty was destroyed.

Near Mergui, Tunny spotted a lone ship: AG Assam Maru. Tunny engaged on the surface, hitting the ship with one shell. One torpedo hit, while two more were duds. Sinking audio was heard afterwards.

Tautog hit SC Ch 23 with a torpedo but it was a dud.

In the morning, 3 squadrons of P-40Ks swept Akyab from Chittagong. 62 Oscars were on CAP to begin with. Total losses were 25 P-40Ks for the downing of 30 Oscars. I can play the attrition game with P-40Ks for awhile. I need to whittle down the defenses.

Light bombers hit enemy troops at Myitkyina. B-24s from Calcutta hit Port Blair.

Now for the main event. Rangoon, Pegu and Moulmein will be invaded. Two cruiser groups will bombard Rangoon. Hopefully they can do some damage to the airfield and take out some planes.

All carrier bombers will hit Toungoo's airfield and troops. No carrier bombers are set for naval strike. The bombarding cruisers should clean out the small shipping at Rangoon. Then it'll be safe to set the carrier bombers back to naval strike.

Toungoo will be attacked by paratroopers from Chittagong. Lots of bombers from India will hit Toungoo also.

It was a bad day in the Solomons and at Darwin, but the main event is at Burma, and the enemy is concentrated elsewhere.




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(in reply to Lowpe)
Post #: 921
RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apba... - 5/28/2019 11:36:12 PM   
Lowpe


Posts: 22133
Joined: 2/25/2013
Status: offline 		An interesting day!

You need some recon to identify the low hanging fruit. 2 divisions off road in the jungle...my oh my are they out of position.

Akyab is a death trap for Japanese planes, no rail and easily bombarded.

Probably some mines at Rangoon.

Good luck...

(in reply to apbarog)
Post #: 922
RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apba... - 5/29/2019 12:34:04 PM   
Bif1961


Posts: 2014
Joined: 6/26/2008
From: Phenix City, Alabama
Status: offline 		I just sent off my 21 Jan 43 Allied turn to my Japanese opponent, nice to see we are almost at the same place in out games. There are a few other AARs at about the same place between December 42 and March 43. I learn something from all of them. Tough bombardment at Darwin but you loss totals almost match the relay total, but the damage totals, as you pointed out, were way off. His CAP trap of your carrier strike package was unfortunate as well. What are your VP totals and losses for the campaign so far?

(in reply to Lowpe)
Post #: 923
RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apba... - 5/29/2019 5:01:03 PM   
apbarog


Posts: 3769
Joined: 5/23/2002
Status: offline 		Here's the victory point situation, as well as the ugliness of this last turn with aircraft losses.




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(in reply to Bif1961)
Post #: 924
RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apba... - 5/30/2019 2:12:37 AM   
Bif1961


Posts: 2014
Joined: 6/26/2008
From: Phenix City, Alabama
Status: offline 		Interesting differences we have far more plane and ship losses about twice as much. I am almost tied in base points but you are closer in over all VPs than I am.

(in reply to apbarog)
Post #: 925
RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apba... - 5/30/2019 8:42:35 PM   
apbarog


Posts: 3769
Joined: 5/23/2002
Status: offline 		19 Jan 43- Part One - The Solomons and Darwin

Yesterday I'd spotted KB, split into 2 task forces, with another task force that appeared to have AOs in it. The AO task force turned out to be battleships. Lots of battleships. First, PTs engaged at Tulagi as the enemy passed through to get to Lunga.

Night Time Surface Combat, near Tulagi at 114,137, Range 11,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
BB Yamato
BB Musashi
BB Fuso
BB Yamashiro
BB Ise
BB Hyuga
CL Natori
DD Satsuki
DD Minazuki
DD Fumizuki
DD Nagatsuki
DD Asakaze
DD Harukaze
DD Matsukaze
DD Hatakaze

Allied Ships
PT-20
PT-23
PT-24
PT-25
PT-26
PT-28, Shell hits 1, and is sunk

Improved night sighting under 96% moonlight

The PT boats couldn't get close enough in the bright moonlight. The enemy continued to Lunga, and engaged another group of 6 PT boats. None were lost in a short fight. The enemy then found some ships unloading at Lunga. The cargo ships had fragments of units at Munda and Vangunu. Lots of vehicle support lost, not tanks.

Night Time Surface Combat, near Lunga at 114,138, Range 11,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
BB Yamato
BB Musashi
BB Fuso
BB Yamashiro, Shell hits 1
BB Ise
BB Hyuga
CL Natori
DD Satsuki
DD Minazuki
DD Fumizuki
DD Nagatsuki
DD Asakaze
DD Harukaze
DD Matsukaze
DD Hatakaze

Allied Ships
APD Little, Shell hits 3, and is sunk
xAKL Loyaute, Shell hits 5, and is sunk
xAKL De Klerk, Shell hits 7, and is sunk
xAKL Silindoeng, Shell hits 5, and is sunk
xAKL Regulus, Shell hits 2, and is sunk
xAKL Kolambugan, Shell hits 4, and is sunk

Allied ground losses:
354 casualties reported
Squads: 5 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 71 destroyed, 45 disabled
Engineers: 17 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 85 (68 destroyed, 17 disabled)
Vehicles lost 160 (139 destroyed, 21 disabled)

Destroyer Matsukaze then hit a mine at Lunga. Fire with heavy damage reported.

My version of the "Black Cat" squadron flew at night from Tulagi. Some planes got lost in the night.

Night Air attack on TF, near Lunga at 114,138

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 3 NM, estimated altitude 4,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 1 minutes

Allied aircraft
PBY-5 Catalina x 6

Allied aircraft losses
PBY-5 Catalina: 4 damaged

Japanese Ships
BB Musashi
BB Hyuga

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x PBY-5 Catalina launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 22.4in Mk 13 Torp.

A good attempt, but all misses. Lunga was then bombarded.

Night Naval bombardment of Lunga at 114,138

Allied aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft losses
P-39D Airacobra: 61 damaged
P-39D Airacobra: 6 destroyed on ground
P-40E Warhawk: 35 damaged
P-40E Warhawk: 6 destroyed on ground
P-43A-1 Lancer: 3 damaged
P-43A-1 Lancer: 1 destroyed on ground
F4F-4 Wildcat: 5 damaged
F4F-4 Wildcat: 2 destroyed on ground

Japanese Ships
BB Hyuga
BB Ise
BB Yamashiro
BB Fuso
BB Musashi
BB Yamato
CL Natori
DD Harukaze
DD Asakaze
DD Nagatsuki
DD Fumizuki
DD Minazuki
DD Satsuki

Allied ground losses:
923 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 35 destroyed, 61 disabled
Engineers: 5 destroyed, 12 disabled
Guns lost 19 (5 destroyed, 14 disabled)
Vehicles lost 24 (14 destroyed, 10 disabled)

Airbase hits 39
Airbase supply hits 6
Runway hits 40

6 battleships in one task force! That's the most I've ever seen together. Between the 4 battleship nuclear bombardment at Darwin yesterday, and now this one, I can say that OPilot likes his battleships. I don't know how many the Japanese have, but that's 10 of them.

Another small task force is engaged and sunk at Lunga.

Day Time Surface Combat, near Lunga at 114,138, Range 24,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
BB Yamato
BB Musashi
BB Fuso
BB Yamashiro
BB Ise
BB Hyuga
CL Natori
DD Satsuki
DD Minazuki
DD Fumizuki
DD Nagatsuki
DD Asakaze
DD Harukaze

Allied Ships
LCT-59, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
SC-707, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
xAKL Mawata, Shell hits 6, and is sunk

Allied ground losses:
Vehicles lost 24 (17 destroyed, 7 disabled)

And then 2 more PT boats are sunk at Lunga, and then another at Tulagi as the battleships head back towards Rabaul.

As for the Darwin area, the enemy battleships disappeared near Koepang. OPilot did go for bombing Darwin's airfield, which was out of action. 36 Oscars swept, but found 9 P-38s on LRCAP from Katherine. About 6 Oscars were downed. Then 26 Bettys attacked with 27 A6M3a Zeros, and found 7 Lightnings. About 8 Zeros were downed, but they kept the P-38s off of the Bettys. Minor base damage was done. 2 P-38 pilots became double aces. No P-38s were lost.

The Australian armor unit made it to Wyndham, but was bombed by Helens. Enemy troops at Wyndham continue to get bombed by US medium bombers. The Aussies won't attack, having about 90% disruption from the daily bombing in clear terrain.

Will OPilot send his battleship group back to Darwin, or maybe go after the easy target at Wyndham? I move a couple of subs to guard the approach to Wyndham.




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(in reply to Lowpe)
Post #: 926
RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apba... - 5/31/2019 1:06:43 AM   
apbarog


Posts: 3769
Joined: 5/23/2002
Status: offline 		19 Jan 43 - Part Two - Burma

Unloading of troops and supply continues at Port Blair and Little Andaman.

4 Allied cruisers with 3 destroyers moved to Rangoon. First they sunk a patrol boat. Then they sank four more patrol boats. Many shells were expended for these tiny targets. Then US cruisers Indianapolis and Chicago arrived, with destroyers Shaw and Case. They sank a patrol boat and 5 xAKLs. DMS Hovey then came in to sweep mines, and sank AMc Wa 3. This cleared out all of the enemy shipping not disbanded in port.

The two Allied cruiser task forces then bombarded Rangoon.

Night Naval bombardment of Rangoon at 54,53

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-57-II Topsy: 31 damaged
Ki-57-II Topsy: 1 destroyed on ground
Ki-45 KAIa Nick: 19 damaged
G4M1 Betty: 55 damaged
G4M1 Betty: 1 destroyed on ground
Ki-43-IIa Oscar: 43 damaged
Ki-43-IIa Oscar: 2 destroyed on ground
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 5 damaged
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 1 destroyed on ground

Allied Ships
CA Exeter
CA Devonshire
CL Phoenix
CL Mauritius
DD Mahan
DD Fanning
DD Dunlap

Japanese ground losses:
229 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 29 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Guns lost 8 (2 destroyed, 6 disabled)

Airbase hits 38
Airbase supply hits 4
Runway hits 79
Port hits 1

and

Night Naval bombardment of Rangoon at 54,53

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-45 KAIa Nick: 10 damaged
Ki-45 KAIa Nick: 1 destroyed on ground
G4M1 Betty: 23 damaged
G4M1 Betty: 3 destroyed on ground
Ki-43-IIa Oscar: 8 damaged
Ki-57-II Topsy: 11 damaged
Ki-57-II Topsy: 1 destroyed on ground
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 3 damaged
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 1 destroyed on ground
A6M2 Zero: 1 damaged

Allied Ships
CA Chicago
CA Indianapolis
DD Shaw
DD Case

Japanese ground losses:
166 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 17 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled

Airbase hits 20
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 29
Port hits 1

Troops unloaded at Rangoon, Pegu and Moulmein. No interference. Pegu is undefended. Moulmein has the 6th RTA/C part of a division. Units at Rangoon are not completely known but the totals have looked manageable.

DMS Hovey did find mines at Rangoon, and started clearing them. No ships hit mines.

During the daylight, cruisers Indianapolis and Chicago ran into AMc Hakata Maru #6 in the Rangoon channel, sinking the tiny ship.

Just west of Port Blair...

Sub attack near Port Blair at 45,58

Japanese Ships
SS I-11

Allied Ships
CV Illustrious, Torpedo hits 1
DD Scout
DD Stronghold

SS I-11 launches 6 torpedoes at CV Illustrious

Illustrious was fortunate though. Another torpedo hit was a dud. Illustrious is about 2 weeks overdue for withdrawal, and has been covering Port Blair. I decide to send it to Ceylon to withdraw now. The air risk to Port Blair is now reduced with all of the action going on near Rangoon. Illustrious is SYS 15/FLOT 9-5/ENG 0/FIRE 0. I split off a destroyer for its escort and sent the other escorts to Port Blair to bombard today.

I noticed that there was no automatic enemy bombardment at Rangoon with my amphibious landing. One did occur at Moulmein.

No Allied bombers from India attacked Rangoon. Today, carrier bombers have Rangoon's troops as a secondary mission, with naval strike reactivated as the primary mission.

The paratrooper attack was successful at Toungoo, and even better, the base was undefended. There will be no quick enemy counter-attack on the beachheads, particularly from the north.

For today, I decided not to try and fly in the rest of the paras to Toungoo. It's a likely target for enemy LRCAP, going after my transports. I've taken the base, and reinforcements from the south will be coming soon enough, with an undefended Pegu about to fall. I moved extra fighters to Chittagong, expecting a big enemy air attack, seeing all those transports based there.

Things are looking good in Burma, I think.

Not near Burma, but notable was O24 getting a torpedo hit on xAK Delagoa Maru near Cam Ranh Bay. There's a few Allied subs in the South China Sea now. It's a long patrol from Gove, but it's worth starting early and making the enemy more cautious behind the lines. And every tanker knocked off early multiplies how many potential trips back and forth that it won't be making.




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(in reply to Lowpe)
Post #: 927
RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apba... - 5/31/2019 1:22:10 AM   
BBfanboy


Posts: 18046
Joined: 8/4/2010
From: Winnipeg, MB
Status: offline
quote:

apbarog: I noticed that there was no automatic enemy bombardment at Rangoon with my amphibious landing. One did occur at Moulmein.


I think that means the enemy there do not have any guns capable of bombardment or are completely out of supply. The latter seems unlikely for Rangoon.
Perhaps they are all in strategic move mode?

_____________________________

No matter how bad a situation is, you can always make it worse. - Chris Hadfield : An Astronaut's Guide To Life On Earth

(in reply to apbarog)
Post #: 928
RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apba... - 5/31/2019 2:29:32 AM   
Lowpe


Posts: 22133
Joined: 2/25/2013
Status: offline 		Very well done, total strategic surprise.

Of far more interest than ChiangMai is the Raheng triangle of bases...especially the two on the rail lines (of which I see one is still a dot base)...but perhaps that is getting a bit ahead of ourselves since your focus on opening the Burma road.

This invasion will set the focus for the next six months and more. With a still active China, I think things look very bad for Japan. Even were you to hunker down here and draw IJA troops like a magnet, you would be able to really move forward in the SRA for example.

If it were me I would look to set up defensive line at Raheng/ChiangMai, Tavoy and send all the Burma troops the long way out thru TuangGyi. I just don't see how Japan can mount a counter attack here unless you came rather weakly.

I think you could have run the rest of the paratroopers in...2 hex range for LRCAP is a bit of a stretch, but it won't matter, as 61 AV will hold that base until he marches troops down there and by then it will be far too late.

Lots of options are open to you. I know it isn't your focus, but if you can get Allied armor into the Bangkok plains...well then you could cut across to Vinh and really devastate Japan. Coupled with a push to Luzon/Mindanao or up thru the eastern SRA to Miri/Brunei you would cut off the majority or all of the SRA resources potentially very early. Japan simply cracks like an egg here whatever you decide.

Really well done and I look forward to reading what comes next.





< Message edited by Lowpe -- 5/31/2019 2:31:26 AM >

(in reply to BBfanboy)
Post #: 929
RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apba... - 5/31/2019 3:01:29 AM   
apbarog


Posts: 3769
Joined: 5/23/2002
Status: offline 		19 Jan 43 - Planning in Burma




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(in reply to Lowpe)
Post #: 930
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