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

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All Forums >> [New Releases from Matrix Games] >> War in the Pacific: Admiral's Edition >> After Action Reports >> 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... - 6/10/2019 8:31:31 PM

apbarog

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Joined: 5/23/2002
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26 Jan 43 - Part One - Darwin

North of Darwin, Tambor spotted KB and fired 4 torpedoes at destroyer Yukikaze, but missed. Minor damage was inflicted on Tambor. KB is headed west.

6 PT boats intercepted Kongo, Haruna, Hiei and Kirishima and friends inbound to Darwin. In the first 2 engagements northwest of Darwin, no hits were achieved by either side. In the third fight, at Darwin, 2 PT boats were sunk. With 71% moonlight and clear weather, the fights started at 12,000 yards and weren't optimal for the PT boats. The PT boats tried again during daylight as the enemy was leaving, but the fight stayed long range and there were no hits.

At Darwin, KXII fired 2 torpedoes at destroyer Asanagi but missed. The enemy then bombarded Darwin.

Night Naval bombardment of Darwin at 76,124

Allied aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft losses
PBY-5 Catalina: 2 damaged
PBY-5 Catalina: 1 destroyed on ground

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

Allied ground losses:
723 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 6 disabled
Non Combat: 23 destroyed, 71 disabled
Engineers: 3 destroyed, 6 disabled
Guns lost 15 (5 destroyed, 10 disabled)
Vehicles lost 8 (3 destroyed, 5 disabled)

Resources hits 1
Airbase hits 18
Airbase supply hits 3
Runway hits 43
Port hits 2

It was a decent bombardment, but the big difference between this one and the last one is that I pulled out almost all of the aircraft.

My ship evacuation of Darwin was almost a complete success, but already damaged large transport xAP Poelau Bras was spotted by I-22 between Darwin and Gove, unescorted, and hit by 2 shells and 5 torpedoes, and sunk.

It looks like KB was just passing by Darwin, and did so when it could cover the battleships.

Elsewhere in the Pacific, 41 Bettys bombed Vangunu from 6000 feet. There was no CAP, but there was excellent flak, downing about 4 Bettys and damaging many. The first non-carrier Corsair squadron, with elite pilots, was now sent to Vangunu, to cover a cargo ship inbound with supply.

Yorktown and Hermes, both finished with long repairs at Sydney, head east to eventually join up with the CVEs already covering the upcoming re-invasion of Kusaie Island.

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Post #: 961

RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apba... - 6/11/2019 12:31:40 AM

apbarog

Posts: 3769
Joined: 5/23/2002
Status: offline

26 Jan 43 - Part Two - Burma

Unloading continues at the invasion spots, but is stopped in the Andamans. There's an unknown surface threat to the south, and the troops have way more supply than needed. Like ten times. Unloading also stops at port size 0 Pegu, and the ships there head to Rangoon to finish unloading. Everything on these ships are in Strat mode, so the fragments will catch up quickly.

Some Allied medium bombers hit troops near the Indian border. Mostly nuisance bombing, and slowing movement in the jungle.

12 B-24s hit Akyab's airfield, and found 18 Oscars. Little damage in heavy rain, and 3 bombers were lost.

86 SBDs and 36 TBFs hit Port Blair's airfield and did almost no damage in thunderstorms. Just not effective in jungle, which we already knew, but the carriers are there and help is needed.

Enemy troops that had retreated from Rangoon earlier are routed near Prome.

Ground combat at 55,51 (near Prome)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 14479 troops, 267 guns, 244 vehicles, Assault Value = 459

Defending force 972 troops, 16 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 18

Allied adjusted assault: 234

Japanese adjusted defense: 3

Allied assault odds: 78 to 1

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), op mode(-), fatigue(-), experience(-)
supply(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
760 casualties reported
Squads: 21 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 27 destroyed, 17 disabled
Engineers: 5 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 15 (9 destroyed, 6 disabled)
Units retreated 1

Allied ground losses:
18 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Defeated Japanese Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
632nd Tank Destroyer Battalion
2nd British Division
XXXIII Indian Corps
2/11th Fld RAA Regiment

Defending units:
2nd Raiding Regiment
35th Field AA Battalion

And the unfortunate enemy armor at Toungoo is kicked out of town.

Ground combat at Toungoo (57,50)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 4072 troops, 51 guns, 102 vehicles, Assault Value = 1067

Defending force 372 troops, 0 guns, 70 vehicles, Assault Value = 30

Allied adjusted assault: 157

Japanese adjusted defense: 9

Allied assault odds: 17 to 1

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

Japanese ground losses:
Vehicles lost 25 (11 destroyed, 14 disabled)
Units retreated 1

Allied ground losses:
44 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Defeated Japanese Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
16th Australian Brigade
3rd Carabiniers Regiment
18th British Division
32nd Infantry Division
111th LRP Brigade
2/13th Fld RAA Regiment

Defending units:
6th Tank Regiment

The advance past Toungoo begins, with 3 spearheads formed to head north on separate roads.

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Post #: 962

RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apba... - 6/11/2019 11:31:23 PM

apbarog

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Joined: 5/23/2002
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27 Jan 43

The 2 ships near Phuket turned out to be E boats, so nothing threatening the Andamans. 3 Allied task forces bombarded Port Blair: Repulse and 3 DDs, 2 CAs and 3 DDs, and a CA, CL and 2 DDs. Results were ok.

40 Tojos swept over the Chinese east of Moulmein, then Sallys bombed, hitting nothing.

Helens bombed near Ningsia in far northern China. It looks like the tank division up there has moved west a hex, into rough terrain. I'll try to bomb them at extreme range from Ledo today.

Liberators bombed Port Blair. Bettys bombed Milne Bay.

An enemy AA battalion was destroyed south of Prome, and the Allied advance to Prome continues.

I have about a week until KB can get to the Andamans. KB would logically go to Singapore for fuel first, but it does have AOs traveling with it. KB could pass west of Java and go north towards Ceylon, or at least west of the Andamans, to avoid my many subs near Phuket, and also to go for easy pickings between Ceylon and Burma. I have some somes patrolling west of Sabang, but it's a big ocean.

US carriers are heading to Colombo. I think they will be leaving the area and heading towards Australia soon. It's a tough call, whether to stay and fight KB, or switch theaters again and make progress while KB is in the wrong place, again.

Can KB affect the Burma campaign? That is to be determined.

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Post #: 963

RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apba... - 6/12/2019 11:14:50 AM

apbarog

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Joined: 5/23/2002
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Thoughts about KB and Burma

What to do. KB is coming. Fairly certain of that. So far, I'd decided to take my carriers back to the Pacific, and let KB do what it pleases in the Indian Ocean. I think that I will have landed enough supply at Rangoon. KB would cut off any resupply, but I don't think that would matter, not for quite a long time.

Then I started to think, what would I do if faced with that situation. I've moved KB, probably bombed Port Blair and Rangoon, maybe regained air superiority when KB is around. I've cut off Rangoon, but I'm not seeing any shipping to hit. None at all. What do I do with KB then?

There's been hundreds of transports recently involved. They went somewhere. I would guess that they are at Ceylon. After some frustration with a lack of targets, I'd go for Ceylon with KB.

Maybe I need to have a decisive battle with KB, and do so if KB goes for Ceylon. I'd want a battle near my bases, not the enemy's, and Ceylon qualifies.

It's unknown whether KB will come up from Singapore, or come up the west side of Java to flank the Allied navy. I'd go up the west side. It's possible that the enemy could flank and go straight to the source: Ceylon.

Now I'm thinking I should have the carriers ready, maybe west or southwest of Ceylon, out of sight, and be ready for a Midway-type surprise attack. OPilot may have determined that my Burma operation is a critical junction in the war. Maybe it is. Maybe it's time for the big fight. I do have just 5 US carriers. Yorktown is near Sydney. KB is probably just as big, maybe bigger. But if the battle is fought near Ceylon, I like my chances. Plus, it would be a long way home for damaged enemy carriers, and I'm well prepared with subs in the area.

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Post #: 964

RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apba... - 6/12/2019 12:46:42 PM

jwolf

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Joined: 12/3/2013
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quote:

ORIGINAL: apbarog

Thoughts about KB and Burma

Your analysis sure makes sense to me. You've read your opponent very well so far; will be interesting to see if you did it again ...

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Post #: 965

RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apba... - 6/12/2019 5:42:25 PM

Lowpe

Posts: 22133
Joined: 2/25/2013
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quote:

ORIGINAL: jwolf

quote:

ORIGINAL: apbarog

Thoughts about KB and Burma

Your analysis sure makes sense to me. You've read your opponent very well so far; will be interesting to see if you did it again ...

Very interesting. Although, I would posit that a move on Ceylon is madness by the KB...putting it into position of major land runways and a potential deathstar and at extreme Japanese land based naval search...but stranger things have happened.

I really like your use of rotating fronts. Really great stuff!

(in reply to jwolf)

Post #: 966

RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apba... - 6/13/2019 1:17:41 AM

apbarog

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28 Jan 43

AM Castlemaine finds I-22 between Gove and Darwin, and hits it with a depth charge. Subchasers follow up later in the day and do further minor damage to the sub in the shallow water.

US ships bombard Akyab.

Night Naval bombardment of Akyab at 54,45

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-57-II Topsy: 29 damaged
Ki-57-II Topsy: 2 destroyed on ground
Ki-43-IIb Oscar: 21 damaged

Allied Ships
CA Chicago
CA Indianapolis
DD Phelps
DD McCalla

Japanese ground losses:
447 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 7 destroyed, 45 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 3 disabled
Guns lost 17 (3 destroyed, 14 disabled)
Vehicles lost 6 (1 destroyed, 5 disabled)

Manpower hits 1
Fires 262
Airbase hits 9
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 44
Port hits 7
Port fuel hits 1
Port supply hits 1

There's still over 60,000 enemy troops at Akyab, although there's movement shown to the east. Probably most of the troops are moving. The ships retired to Calcutta and rearmed and refueled. They'll bombard Akyab again today, and then retire to Rangoon to help bombard Port Blair after that.

Sunfish missed patrol boat Nanpo Maru near Georgetown with 2 torpedoes. This is shallow water. There's a bunch of enemy subchasers at work here, and Sunfish is ordered to deeper water. I don't avoid shallow water, but I don't linger when spotted. Being seen keeps the enemy looking there. This strategy helps reduce sub losses. I still haven't lost a big US sub, and they aren't being overly cautious.

OPilot pulled a fast one on me today. Allied armor had moved north of Toungoo, chasing a defeated enemy armor regiment. We attacked today, but the armor was gone and an enemy infantry divison just arrived, in movement mode. The 33rd Division had been the unit that pushed near Ledo, and recently pulled back to Myitkyina.

Ground combat at 57,49 (near Toungoo)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 526 troops, 0 guns, 84 vehicles, Assault Value = 49

Defending force 12239 troops, 98 guns, 4 vehicles, Assault Value = 381

Allied adjusted assault: 12

Japanese adjusted defense: 949

Allied assault odds: 1 to 79

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

Allied ground losses:
34 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 8 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Vehicles lost 35 (5 destroyed, 30 disabled)

Assaulting units:
3rd Carabiniers Regiment

Defending units:
33rd Division

Reinforcements are moving from Toungoo, but none will arrive today.

US carriers will get to Colombo today. Estimating that KB would be moving 8 hexes a day, staying with an AO task force, it could arrive at Soerabaja today. PB4Y-1P Liberators from Fenton, Australia will do recon of Soerabaja at extremely long range, 31 hexes.

And now for something completely different: China. OPilot is pushing way up in northern China.

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RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apba... - 6/13/2019 6:49:55 PM

Bif1961

Posts: 2014
Joined: 6/26/2008
From: Phenix City, Alabama
Status: offline

The charge of the 3rd Carabiniers chasing the fleeing Japanese Armored RGT and running smack into the 33rd Infantry Division reminds me of the 21st Lancers at the battle of Omdurman, Sudan in 1898. Kitchener ordered them to chase some retreating Dervishes and when they came over a small rise and had a view down in a large depression they saw, not the fleeing Dervishes they were chasing but 3,000 fresh dervishes and the Lancers had no choice but to charge down in among them for their momentum and terrain would not allow them enough time to stop. Winston Churchill was attached to the 21st lancers and gave a first hand description of the charge as a correspondent of the MORNING POST.

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Post #: 968

RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apba... - 6/14/2019 4:21:21 AM

apbarog

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Joined: 5/23/2002
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29 Jan 43 - Part One - Soerabaja

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< Message edited by apbarog -- 6/14/2019 4:22:28 AM >

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Post #: 969

RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apba... - 6/14/2019 5:28:30 AM

apbarog

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29 Jan 43 - Part Two - Kusaie Island - Part Two

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RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apba... - 6/14/2019 8:37:53 AM

apbarog

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29 Jan 43 - Part Three - Burma

US cruisers bombard Akyab again. There's still at least 2 divisions at Akyab. Another has just moved inland to the east. The 12th and Imperial Guard took heavy losses in the fight in and around Cox's Bazar, but they've had time to recover. There's 2 more divisions holding the line to the northeast of Akyab. Those 2 units don't seem to be running yet.

Night Naval bombardment of Akyab at 54,45

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-IIb Oscar: 9 damaged
Ki-43-IIb Oscar: 1 destroyed on ground
Ki-57-II Topsy: 4 damaged

Allied Ships
CA Chicago
CA Indianapolis
DD Phelps
DD McCalla

Japanese ground losses:
276 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 16 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 5 disabled
Guns lost 3 (2 destroyed, 1 disabled)
Vehicles lost 2 (1 destroyed, 1 disabled)

Manpower hits 1
Fires 205
Airbase hits 8
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 16
Port hits 5
Port supply hits 3

CA Chicago firing at Akyab
SOC-1 Seagull acting as spotter for CA Indianapolis
CA Indianapolis firing at 12th Division
DD Phelps firing at Imperial Guards Division
DD McCalla firing at 12th Division

Oscars and Tojos swept Moulmein but I put up no CAP. No ships here any longer, so no point. Can't defend everywhere against such large number of planes. Sallys bombed the Chinese east of Moulmein. Jungle and moderate rain equaled no losses. Sallys and Nicks hit Moulmein, destroying a Catalina and an already damaged Wildcat on the ground. Moderate damage to the airfield.

Toungoo was swept by 30 Oscars and then 37 more Oscars, and found 14 Warhawks. 11 Oscars downed and 8 P-40Ks lost.

A-20 Havocs bombed and strafed a part of the 12th Division at Prome (same division as troops at Akyab). 166 casualties.

In China, Liberators from Ledo bombed the 3rd Tank Division on the move west of Ningsia, but couldn't hit any tanks in severe storms.

Allied armor forced to retreat north of Toungoo.

Ground combat at 57,49 (near Toungoo)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 12272 troops, 98 guns, 4 vehicles, Assault Value = 382

Defending force 470 troops, 0 guns, 80 vehicles, Assault Value = 28

Japanese adjusted assault: 668

Allied adjusted defense: 15

Japanese assault odds: 44 to 1

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

Japanese ground losses:
24 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Allied ground losses:
59 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 7 destroyed, 9 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Vehicles lost 31 (14 destroyed, 17 disabled)
Units retreated 1

Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
33rd Division

Defending units:
3rd Carabiniers Regiment

The regiment is hurt but not destroyed, and will now go to Rangoon to recover. Rangoon now has 349,000 supply. The airfield is completely repaired, finally, and the port is starting repairs, with damage down to 79%.

West of Rahaeng, Allied troops win one, clearing the approach to Rahaeng, but 8 units are spotted there today.

Ground combat at 57,56 (near Rahaeng)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 2822 troops, 35 guns, 296 vehicles, Assault Value = 494

Defending force 695 troops, 6 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 10

Allied adjusted assault: 48

Japanese adjusted defense: 1

Allied assault odds: 48 to 1

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), op mode(-), leaders(-), morale(-)
experience(-), supply(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
910 casualties reported
Squads: 15 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 30 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 7 (7 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units destroyed 1

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

Assaulting units:
50th Tank Brigade
6th Chinese/C Corps
209th Field Artillery Battalion

Defending units:
6th RTA/C Division

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Post #: 971

RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apba... - 6/14/2019 8:41:37 AM

CaptBeefheart

Posts: 2301
Joined: 7/4/2003
From: Seoul, Korea
Status: offline

Bif1961: You owe us a punchline, although I'll assume it wasn't a repeat of the charge of the Light Brigade or there wouldn't have been a Churchill to cock up Gallipoli or save the day in WW2.

Apbarog: Good luck in CenPac.

Cheers,
CB

_____________________________

Beer, because barley makes lousy bread.

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Post #: 972

RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apba... - 6/14/2019 1:07:23 PM

BBfanboy

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

apbarog: A-20 Havocs bombed and strafed a part of the 12th Division at Prome (same division as troops at Akyab). 166 casualties.

What altitude did you use for the A-20s - 1000 or 100 feet? I know they will bomb and strafe from both altitudes but I have the impression that they don't strafe as much if you set for 1000 feet. I don't have enough A-20s trained in my current game to test it out.

_____________________________

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

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Post #: 973

RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apba... - 6/14/2019 1:09:35 PM

BBfanboy

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From: Winnipeg, MB
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Looking at the Burma Map, it appears he is going to rail out his divisions from Chiang Mai and that is why he is putting a lot into Rahaeng to hold the door open.
Is there any way for you to take Chiang Mai or Pisanluoke?

_____________________________

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

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RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apba... - 6/14/2019 1:11:22 PM

Lowpe

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quote:

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

quote:

apbarog: A-20 Havocs bombed and strafed a part of the 12th Division at Prome (same division as troops at Akyab). 166 casualties.

What altitude did you use for the A-20s - 1000 or 100 feet? I know they will bomb and strafe from both altitudes but I have the impression that they don't strafe as much if you set for 1000 feet. I don't have enough A-20s trained in my current game to test it out.

I believe you are correct.

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RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apba... - 6/14/2019 3:26:04 PM

apbarog

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A-20s were set at 1000 feet. I'd read that "attack bombers" would drop down and strafe also, although I don't know the altitude limitations for that. They did so at 1000 feet, but flak did take down one of the planes.

There's been just one unit at Chiang Mai, and still is. SigInt has said that it is a Thai division. No movement seen there so far. I think Chiang Mai will be taken, but Rahaeng may already have to much to risk the attack.

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Post #: 976

RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apba... - 6/14/2019 3:48:11 PM

Bif1961

Posts: 2014
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From: Phenix City, Alabama
Status: offline

Can you drop Paras in Pisanlouke and cut the rail line?

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RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apba... - 6/14/2019 4:04:34 PM

apbarog

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I could drop paras. They'd be completely unprepped, and I don't know what the defense is there.

I had dropped an LRP unit at Toungoo to take it. Since then, I flew in the rest of that LRP unit to Pegu, and they railed to Toungoo and joined the unit. I've also flown in another LRP unit to Pegu, and they are marching east towards Chiang Mai. A smaller US para unit that had prepped for Ramree was flown into Toungoo directly. Not dropping on Ramree. So there's paras in the area, but not prepped.

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RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apba... - 6/14/2019 5:36:18 PM

Lowpe

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quote:

ORIGINAL: apbarog

29 Jan 43 - Part Two - Kusaie Island - Part Two

The idea of rotating fronts will drive Japan absolutely crazy! 2 Divisions will be tough for Japan to counter.

Any plans on the Kuriles/Guam areas to complete the circuit around the map?

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RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apba... - 6/14/2019 6:48:54 PM

apbarog

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No plans for the Kuriles or Aleutians. I continue to get SigInt about enemy preparations for Kiska and Attu and the dot base near them. I've been getting that information for many months. I don't think it will happen. Allied forces are firmly entrenched in the central and eastern Aleutians. Losing those bases won't mean anything to my plans.

When the US carriers get back to Australia, a couple of them are overdue refit at Sydney. The three others might go to work supporting a Timor invasion. The Fletcher class destroyers that raided Koepang over a month ago are about to refit at Brisbane and Sydney.

The troops planning to go to Ponape (2 divisions), Kwajalein and Roi Namur (1/3 of a division each) have been ready to go for a long time. A Marine division has been at Nauru. I think it's prepping for Kavieng. Another Marine division is at Horn Island. I think it's prepping for Koepang. Lots of troops ready to go.

I will be using the good APs again, for all of the above. They do get their big upgrade to APAs in March, so that will have to fit into the schedule. It's important and worth the wait.

< Message edited by apbarog -- 6/14/2019 6:49:36 PM >

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Post #: 980

RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apba... - 6/15/2019 8:58:54 PM

apbarog

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30 Jan 43 - Part One - Kusaie Island

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RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apba... - 6/16/2019 7:26:56 AM

apbarog

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30 Jan 43 - Part Two - Burma

Quincy and Pensacola, along with 5 US destroyers, bombard Port Blair. 176 casualties and minor base damage. Enemy troops are starting to be destroyed in bombardments, not just disabled. A good sign.

British cruisers Hawkins, Dorsetshire and Caradoc and 2 destroyers also bombard. 267 casualties and very minor base damage. There was the bonus of hitting already damaged I-156 with a shell in port.

Then cruisers Frobisher, Birmingham and Durban bombarded with 3 destroyers. 78 casualties and minor base damage. Followup support troops then started to unload at Port Blair. May look like I'm reinforcing but really I'm just unloaded less-than-prepped base support and engineers. If KB is coming, the window will close quickly for this.

Quincy and Pensacola headed southwest out of Port Blair to eventually join up with the US carriers southbound from Ceylon. I-160 was waiting at the exit to the west, and hit Quincy with a torpedo. Quincy is SYS 14/FLOT 36-24/ENG 1-0/FIRE 0. It's still making 6 hexes a day, which is what my armada from Ceylon to Australia is doing, so the ships will still join up.

26 B-25s bombed Port Blair from Rangoon, hitting the port and troops. I-156 was hit with a bomb and probably sunk later in the day.

Sallys bombed the Chinese east of Moulmein. Tojos swept but found no fighters.

Blens hit the 3rd Tank Divison near Ningsia in far northern China. 19 casualties. It didn't help. The enemy division crossed the river and attacked.

Ground combat at 83,34 (near Lanchow)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 5522 troops, 102 guns, 332 vehicles, Assault Value = 245

Defending force 4299 troops, 2 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 167

Japanese adjusted assault: 290

Allied adjusted defense: 91

Japanese assault odds: 3 to 1

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

Japanese ground losses:
45 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Allied ground losses:
1541 casualties reported
Squads: 34 destroyed, 48 disabled
Non Combat: 30 destroyed, 8 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Units retreated 2

Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
3rd Tank Division

Defending units:
8th New Chinese Corps
36th Group Army

The Chinese won't be able to stop the tank division from taking Lanchow and cutting northern China, and all of the oil, off from the rest of China. The only thing that will slow down the tanks is that Ningsia is a long way from another base, and pulling supply will be difficult. I'm trying to bomb the tanks and Ningsia, and I'm switching the Chinese fighters to LRCAP over the tank division. OPilot has to be flying supply to it by air. I'm resigned to the fact that China will be divided soon. It's not the Chinese to blame; it's the lack of supply. I'm keeping a few Chinese nearby astride the road that the enemy is using. It'll force OPilot to keep a unit on each hex of the road as the armor advances. He won't go into the mountains to clear the Chinese out. But he has 6 units at Ningsia, and he doesn't have far to go to Lanchow.

Another Allied attack at Port Blair, after multiple bombardments and some bombing:

Ground combat at Port Blair (46,58)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 10175 troops, 174 guns, 77 vehicles, Assault Value = 259

Defending force 6563 troops, 47 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 125

Allied adjusted assault: 128

Japanese adjusted defense: 239

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

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

Japanese ground losses:
476 casualties reported
Squads: 12 destroyed, 12 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 7 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled

Allied ground losses:
125 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 41 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 5 (1 destroyed, 4 disabled)

Assaulting units:
147th(Sep) Infantry Regiment
24th (Sep) Infantry Regiment
17th Australian Brigade
276th Cst Art Bn /1
111th RN Base Force
2/1st Lt AA Regiment
16th USN Special Const Bn /1
112th RN Base Force /1

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

This is a good result. I'm not able to touch the forts, but I'm destroying enemy squads. It would help if the base went out of supply, but there's no telling if that will happen. OPilot may be flying supply in. I have no counter for that until nearby Little Andaman builds an airfield, and it's only about a third of the way to level 1.

Good news. KB is spotted still at Soerabaja. The AOs are still there with it. The big battleship force is not seen there today though. I have a sub between Soerabaja and Singapore, and another near the southern tip of Sumatra, in case something goes west of Batavia and heads north, to the west of Sumatra.

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Post #: 982

RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apba... - 6/16/2019 5:55:50 PM

apbarog

Posts: 3769
Joined: 5/23/2002
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Funny one, no, the troops aren't heading to Madrid. Madras. Good one.

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Post #: 983

RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apba... - 6/17/2019 3:08:54 AM

CaptBeefheart

Posts: 2301
Joined: 7/4/2003
From: Seoul, Korea
Status: offline

My experience with para drops is prepping doesn't seem to be much of a factor. On a zero prep drop I'll see a high disruption number, which will quickly disappear, but the number of disabled squads will be low.

Cheers,
CB

_____________________________

Beer, because barley makes lousy bread.

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Post #: 984

RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apba... - 6/17/2019 8:34:06 AM

apbarog

Posts: 3769
Joined: 5/23/2002
Status: offline

I have several para units in Burma now, so there are possibilities.

31 Jan 43

Amusing fight near Ponape. S-44 spotted AG Katsura Maru fleeing Ponape to the northwest. The sub attacked on the surface, and landed one shell on the ship. The captain, J.R. Moore, decided to submerge S-44 due to damage. Well, the ship didn't hit the sub, and the "damage" of the sub is SYS 2 and ENG 1. I finally spotted an unescorted ship and this happens! Found it funny, actually. Sounds much like a pre-war sub captain, of which many were replaced during the war.

Near Rangoon, I-154 spotted cruiser Chicago headed to Port Blair to bombard. 6 torpedoes were fired and one hit. Chicago is SYS 27/FLOT 35-33/ENG 27-26/FIRE 0. It has a destoyer escort and will slowly make its way to Colombo. It's moving too slowly to catch up to the US carriers. That's 2 US heavy cruisers in 2 days.

Subchaser E Kamo went after British sub Trusty near Phuket, and did minor damage to the sub. A bit later, Trusty returned the favor with a torpedo hit on the E boat, possibly sinking it.

Salmon hit a patrol boat near Sangi, sinking it.

S-28 fired 4 torpedoes at huge transport xAP Rakuyo Maru between Timor and Kendari. One torpedo hit. Busy day for the subs.

Tojos and Oscars swept over the Chinese east of Rahaeng. Rahaeng is shown to now have 84 enemy fighters based there. 54 Sallys and 30 Nicks attacked the 50th Tank Brigade moving with the Chinese. Nicks strafed and were badly damaged by flak. Allied losses were low.

20 P-38s swept Magwe, finding 26 Oscars. About 4 Oscars were downed.

Enemy bombers with escorts went after Lanchow, seeing that the Chinese were basing aircraft there. Moderate damage to the airfield, and a visiting Blen was destroyed.

Allied heavy bombers hit Kusaie Island. In the afternoon, the enemy went after the escort carriers.

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Kusaie Island at 126,118

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 17,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 28 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 36
G4M1 Betty x 17

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 54

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 3 destroyed
G4M1 Betty: 6 destroyed, 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat: 3 destroyed

Allied Ships
CVE Sangamon, Torpedo hits 1

Aircraft Attacking:
1 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 45cm Type 91 Torp

One Betty got through, dropping one torpedo, and it hit. The Allied fighter pilots were just adequate, not nearly as good as the pilots on the big carriers. It showed. They had a lot of trouble with the Zeros. Sangamon is SYS 12/FLOT 37-29/ENG 17-7/FIRE 0, and will retire to the southwest with a destroyer.

Ponape was hit by B-17s. The Roi Namur missions weren't flown. That's where the Bettys came from.

Kusaie Island was invaded. Most of the US 37th Infantry Division unloaded in just the afternoon phase. Today, they'll continue to unload. One US slow battleship will bombard. 3 others will wait and move directly to Kusaie with the CVEs. So all shipping will be at Kusaie. CVEs were one hex east today. I want to get more fighters in the air today, instead of relying on range 1 CAP. There's some risk. If the enemy comes running into Kusaie from Truk, like that 6 battleship group that was in the Solomons a few weeks ago, Kusaie will become very ugly, with most of the nice US APs at risk, not to mention all those CVEs. I do have a surface group there, mostly cruisers. And 4 slow US battleships. The CVEs just have cruiser escort. If things go as planned, unloading will finish today, and we'll attack tomorrow and the shipping will leave. No ground attack today because the US infantry had 42 fatigue, from the long trip from Suva.

Port Blair will be attacked today, after more bombardments.

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Post #: 985

RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apba... - 6/17/2019 5:36:26 PM

apbarog

Posts: 3769
Joined: 5/23/2002
Status: offline

31 Jan 43 - Additional

Air losses over the CVEs yesterday were 18 Bettys and 17 Zeros, for the cost of 9 F4F-4s. The combat didn't look that good, but more Zeros were ops losses going back to Roi-Namur.

I forgot to mention that KB and the accompanying AO task force were not spotted at Soerabaja, after being there for 2 days. The battleship task force left a day before the carriers. No idea if they are heading into the Indian Ocean or back east. With my Kusaie activity, and obviously only using CVEs, there's a chance that KB could go back east. But I still plan on KB showing up to confront the Burma situation.

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RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apba... - 6/18/2019 8:20:52 AM

apbarog

Posts: 3769
Joined: 5/23/2002
Status: offline

1 Feb 43

All troops landed at Kusaie, without interference. A battleship task force didn't bombard as planned, but stayed in place 3 hexes to the southeast. I'd left a minesweeping task force following the battleship, and the sweepers were still at Ocean. I guess the battleship decided to wait. It will bombard today, as will a 3 battleship task force already at Kusaie. All ships, including CVEs, will move to the southwest towards Tulagi for one day. I did this to avoid enemy subs, and hopefully get the battleships to retire after bombardment into the same hex that the CVEs will be in. And the troops will attack at Kusaie, after more heavy bombers hit.

Two cruiser task forces bombarded Port Blair, doing good work, and hitting I-156 with 3 more shells in port. That sub just won't die. Bombers hit enemy troops there.

US heavy bombers hit Magwe. 40 Oscars there and a few bombers are lost. Moderate damage to the airfield. There isn't as much flak there now as there was. No reason for OPilot to protect the oil. He can't get it out of Burma. I didn't bomb any of it, so it's just accumulating for me. Not that the Allied need it compared to the Japanese.

B-24s from Tarawa hit Roi-Namur, finding 18 Zeros. A couple of bombers were lost, as were a couple of Zeros. Minor damage to the airfield. I'll concentrate on Kusaie today.

Large numbers of enemy aircraft in action over China. Also almost 200 enemy aircraft over the advancing Chinese near Rahaeng. Good thing the troops are in the jungle.

And then the highlight for the day:

Sub attack near Oosthaven at 46,97

Japanese Ships
CV Shokaku, Torpedo hits 2, on fire
CA Chikuma
CL Abukuma
CS Chiyoda
DD Shiranui
DD Suzukaze
DD Umikaze
DD Kawakaze
DD Yamakaze

Allied Ships
SS Sealion, hits 1

Ammo storage explosion on CV Shokaku
SS Sealion launches 4 torpedoes at CV Shokaku

Sealion was patrolling just west of the Sunda Strait. I thought that KB might come through and head north, west of Java, to flank all the activity between Ceylon and Burma, and I thought a sub might give me some early warning. Sealion did better than that. Now OPilot knows that I know where KB is and where it is going. Unless he changes his mind. Shokaku probably won't sink, being so close to Batavia, but you never know with fires.

Allied attack again at Port Blair. The odds keep getting worse, despite heavy naval bombardments, bombardments which will cease after the ones coming today and tomorrow, as everything move back to Ceylon, anticipating KB's appearance.

Ground combat at Port Blair (46,58)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 10224 troops, 175 guns, 80 vehicles, Assault Value = 255

Defending force 6296 troops, 48 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 108

Allied adjusted assault: 132

Japanese adjusted defense: 557

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

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

Japanese ground losses:
483 casualties reported
Squads: 11 destroyed, 11 disabled
Non Combat: 4 destroyed, 7 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 6 disabled
Guns lost 8 (1 destroyed, 7 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
154 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 32 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Assaulting units:
24th (Sep) Infantry Regiment
147th(Sep) Infantry Regiment
17th Australian Brigade
112th RN Base Force
111th RN Base Force
276th Coastal Artillery Battalion
2/1st Lt AA Regiment
16th USN Special Construction Battalion

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

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Post #: 987

RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apba... - 6/18/2019 1:26:21 PM

BBfanboy

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

All hail the captain and crew of Sealion!

Amazing what an increase of 30% in torp effectiveness can do!

The two torps alone would be unlikely to sink her but the Ammo Storage Explosion is usually equivalent to about three hits by 1000 lb. bombs. IJN damage control struggles to handle flooding and fire at the same time, so that may be enough to sink her. Let us know if there are any ground losses of IJN aircraft!

_____________________________

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

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Post #: 988

RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apba... - 6/18/2019 8:26:53 PM

apbarog

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Joined: 5/23/2002
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Port Blair is a problem. If I don't take it in the next few days, I won't for quite awhile, and I may end up losing the 3 regiments plus support already there. The supporting British cruisers have to leave. I can continue bombing, but only until KB arrives and covers the base, and allows the base to repair and re-base enemy fighters there.

I wonder if a big para drop, with completely unprepped paras, could be enough, combined with a shock attack for the rest of my troops. There's still level 3 forts. I haven't touched them. The good news is that my combat troops there have lots of supply, maybe 10 times what they require. If I drop paras, they won't have that surplus after dropping.

Nearby Little Andaman is building an airfield, slowly. I think it's about 75% complete. That will help, partly by helping fight against Port Blair, partly by being another target for the enemy to have to hit.

Interesting predicament. I think I need to start a plan "C", just in case I lose everything there, for retaking the base after KB leaves. Prepping new units.

(in reply to BBfanboy)

Post #: 989

RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apba... - 6/19/2019 2:02:23 AM

apbarog

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Joined: 5/23/2002
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2 Feb 43 - Part One - Kusaie Island

Kusaie is bombarded:

Night Naval bombardment of Kusaie Island at 125,118

Allied Ships
BB New Mexico

Japanese ground losses:
322 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 6 destroyed, 19 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Guns lost 2 (1 destroyed, 1 disabled)

Airbase hits 1
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 13
Port hits 5
Port supply hits 4

and

Night Naval bombardment of Kusaie Island at 125,118

Allied Ships
BB Mississippi
BB Tennessee
BB California
DD MacDonough
DD Porter
DD Gillespie
DD Caldwell

Japanese ground losses:
785 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Non Combat: 19 destroyed, 54 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 6 disabled

Airbase hits 2
Airbase supply hits 6
Runway hits 21
Port hits 8
Port supply hits 4

Good results. BBs back to Nauru to rearm and repeat bombardments.

Heavy bombers hit the island also.

Ground combat at Kusaie Island (125,118)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 11591 troops, 202 guns, 125 vehicles, Assault Value = 375

Defending force 9947 troops, 68 guns, 2 vehicles, Assault Value = 219

Allied adjusted assault: 241

Japanese adjusted defense: 167

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

Allied Assault reduces fortifications to 1

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

Japanese ground losses:
187 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 19 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 5 (1 destroyed, 4 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
509 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 51 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 6 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 4 disabled
Vehicles lost 7 (4 destroyed, 3 disabled)

Assaulting units:
37th Infantry Division
5th US Naval Construction Battalion
214th Coast AA Regiment
1/542nd Boat&Shore Engineer Battalion
2nd Base Maint Engineer Battalion
10th US Naval Construction Battalion

Defending units:
Guards Mixed Brigade
Sasebo 6th SNLF
48th JNAF AF Unit
7th Naval Construction Battalion
3rd Naval Construction Battalion
54th JNAF AF Unit

This looks a bit better than Port Blair has looked. Forts down one. But the 37th Infantry does not have much excess supply. No attack today; will wait for more bombardments, and at least a day of rest. Kusaie needs to fall. If enemy battleships start bombarding US troops on Kusaie, this attack is going to fail. I'd have to recommit the CVEs more aggressively near Kusaie. I do have Yorktown and Hermes on the way, but there a number of days out.

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