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... - 7/1/2019 4:26:06 AM

apbarog

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10 Feb 43 - Part Two - Burma

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RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apba... - 7/1/2019 5:14:33 AM

ChuckBerger

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Wow, that must be really disheartening for your opponent. Both super-battleships burned out and at very high risk of being lost, with nothing but a couple of subchasers to show for it. And so close to bumping into your CVs or invasion transports... I gather this is one of those victories one might almost feel guilty for having won.

Congrats regardless!

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RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apba... - 7/1/2019 5:43:24 AM

apbarog

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It was bad luck for my opponent. I don't feel bad about the air strikes though. I sent a weak escort and they tracked down the super battleships at Kwajalein. The enemy could have had a strong CAP, from Kwajalein and Roi Namur.

I think what happened is that my move looked like a move to reinforce Kusaie Island. That has been the focus in the area for months. I planned this misdirection, but didn't anticipate enemy combat ships at Kwajalein. I think Yamato and Musashi were headed to Kusaie from Kwajalein, and stumbled into the armada 2 hexes from Kwajalein.

Either way, it was known that I had carriers there. Maybe it looked like I just had CVEs, which would probably mean limited bombers loaded. OPilot had no way of knowing that I had 2 SBD squadrons on CVEs. I probably would have loaded more fighters if I had them available, but the 50 or so SBDs on CVEs couldn't have been anticipated. And Yorktown helped out with 36 more SBDs and about 18 torpedo bombers.

More torpedo bombers could have meant the end of both ships though. They may live to fight again.

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RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apba... - 7/1/2019 6:54:04 AM

ChuckBerger

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Well, then you've made your own luck! Well played.

(in reply to apbarog)

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RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apba... - 7/1/2019 2:01:00 PM

Lowpe

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It is hard to use the super battleships well. What in the world was Japan thinking?????????

An amazingly bad task force composition. This game won't make the end of 1943 at the rate Japan is going.

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RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apba... - 7/1/2019 2:47:10 PM

jwolf

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Your cruiser force held really well against the two Japanese big boys. Great work by your carrier air, but I would have expected a lot more enemy CAP. It looks like the Marshalls op is going well. Good luck in the other theater, at Port Blair.

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RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apba... - 7/2/2019 2:03:36 AM

apbarog

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11 Feb 43

Battleships New Mexico and Mississippi, with 3 destroyers, find AMc Shonan Maru #7 at Kwajalein and quickly sink the tiny minesweepers. The slow US battleships then bombard Kwajalein, causing 169 casualties, destroying 4 guns and disabling 23 more. The Nimur Naval Fortress does get 2 minor hits on Mississippi.

Kwajalein is then invaded. Light cruiser Trenton is hit with a small shell from the defenders.

I expect the same pattern at Roi-Namur, but that didn't happen. 4 US cruisers did find AMc Tama Maru #3 at Roi-Namur, and the first shell fired hit the tiny minesweeper, sinking the ship. But no landing, nor bombardment, occurred at Roi-Namur at night. I had plotted the move from 3 hexes away, going to the west of Roi-Namur, then to the island. I wanted to avoid the direct route, 2 hexes, which would have passed through Kwajalein. I wonder if having a waypoint screwed up the bombardment run (the battleships stopped for the day just west of Roi-Namur, at that waypoint) and the transports, which got to the island in the afternoon and started unloading then. Either that, or the fact that Yamato and Musashi were passing through Roi-Namur. I did have all task forces on absolute movement.

With daylight, heavy bombers hit both invasion bases. 21 Zeros were up at Roi-Namur. The P-38s never showed. Some Fortresses were lost, but they did good work on the troops.

Then the super battleship task force was spotted, having moved northwest from Kwajalein, through Roi-Namur. It hadn't gotten far. Here's a summary of the damage done. There were no enemy fighters over the ships. Most of the TBFs dropped bombs. There was a dud torpedo hit in the mix.

BB Musashi, Bomb hits 14, Torpedo hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
BB Yamato, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk
DD Ariake, Bomb hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Asakaze, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
CS Mizuho, Bomb hits 6, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Harukaze

BB Musashi, Bomb hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage
CS Mizuho, Bomb hits 5, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Harukaze
DD Asakaze, Bomb hits 2, and is sunk

In the afternoon, a small attack.

DD Harukaze
BB Musashi, Bomb hits 3, and is sunk

Harukaze and something else still floats.

Then the invasion combat. Kwajalein goes as planned, and goes ok. Tanks helped.

Ground combat at Kwajalein Island (132,115)

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 4816 troops, 38 guns, 135 vehicles, Assault Value = 211

Defending force 3735 troops, 45 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 23

Allied adjusted assault: 100

Japanese adjusted defense: 29

Allied assault odds: 3 to 1 (fort level 5)

Allied Assault reduces fortifications to 2

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

Japanese ground losses:
1057 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled
Non Combat: 23 destroyed, 73 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Guns lost 18 (13 destroyed, 5 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
438 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 51 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 8 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Vehicles lost 21 (1 destroyed, 20 disabled)

Assaulting units:
22nd Marine Regiment
1st USMC Tank Battalion

Defending units:
Nimur Naval Fortress
24th Air Flotilla
Kwajalein Base Force
51st JNAF AF Unit

Roi Namur is another story.

Ground combat at Roi-Namur (132,114)

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 2585 troops, 65 guns, 31 vehicles, Assault Value = 122

Defending force 6055 troops, 44 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 86

Allied adjusted assault: 9

Japanese adjusted defense: 140

Allied assault odds: 1 to 15 (fort level 5)

Combat modifiers
Defender: forts(+), experience(-)
Attacker: shock(+), leaders(+), leaders(-), disruption(-), fatigue(-)

Japanese ground losses:
241 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 9 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 4 disabled

Allied ground losses:
443 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 105 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled

Assaulting units:
24th Infantry/A Div /1

Defending units:
43rd Naval Guard Unit
6th Base Force
41st JNAF AF Unit
53rd JNAF AF Unit

The infantry has 63 disabled squads and 29 non-disabled now, with 67 fatigue. Some support still needs to unload. Supply isn't a problem. The troops will have to recover for a bit. I think the US troops can hold their beachhead. Taking Kwajalein and building it to a size 2 airfield will help a lot. Roi Namur's fight will not be quick but it will be won.

A side note. The four enemy battleships at Truk yesterday were not spotted today. Interestingly, Truk has 0 fighters and 110 bombers. I know that at least 80 of the bombers are Bettys that have been hitting Kusaie off and on. If I had my big carriers here, I'd be running them to Truk for a quick raid on the port and airfield. Just one day's steaming away at full speed. But not possible with the CVEs.

Still a good day. Sinking Yamato and Musashi together is something.

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RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apba... - 7/2/2019 2:14:43 AM

BBfanboy

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Now that's a great cleanup! Call that your Swiffer round!

I would move those carriers this turn - IJN subs will be closing on their location.
I don't know how many sorties you have left but it looks like all he can bring in now is the four BBs that he had bombarding Kusaie Island. He might do that if he calculates that you are low on sorties, He certainly knows you are out of torpedoes for your aircraft.

_____________________________

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 #: 1028

RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apba... - 7/2/2019 6:12:04 AM

apbarog

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11 Feb 43 - Part Two - Burma

P-38s swept Magwe. No enemy CAP. I wish I had swept Mandalay. Allied bombers attacked all over Burma, but a bunch of light and medium bombers hit Mandalay, and found 20 Oscars. A squadron of 9 Dutch 139WH-3s was destroyed. 60 B-25s did good work on the airfield but 5 were lost.

About 45 B-24s flew from Rangoon and hit Georgetown's port. A couple of months ago, I got SigInt that there was an AKE there. I decided to find out. It made sense, being a big port closer to the action than Singapore, but not too close. Well, it was maybe a bit too close. B-24s flew at a range of 21 hexes, their maximum. Damage reports were:

AS Chogei, Bomb hits 1, on fire
SS I-158, Bomb hits 2, and is sunk
AKE Kashino, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AG Nanka Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire

AG Nanka Maru, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires
AS Chogei, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
AKE Kashino, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage

We can hope that this will make the enemy go further to rearm. I figure they'll be coming back to Rangoon, and certainly hitting Port Blair, eventually.

The Brits tried to attack in the jungle north of Toungoo, and it went poorly.

Ground combat at 57,49 (near Toungoo)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 13710 troops, 263 guns, 165 vehicles, Assault Value = 495

Defending force 12057 troops, 98 guns, 4 vehicles, Assault Value = 357

Allied adjusted assault: 212

Japanese adjusted defense: 527

Allied assault odds: 1 to 2

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

Japanese ground losses:
222 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 23 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Allied ground losses:
1278 casualties reported
Squads: 6 destroyed, 143 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 19 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 8 disabled

Assaulting units:
24th Australian Brigade (just arrived, didn't attack)
18th British Division
XV Indian Corps
2/13th Fld RAA Regiment

Defending units:
33rd Division

The Brits will hold, as will the rest of the units in the area. Just not enough troops to continue the offensive north. The northern Allied flank, along the Indian border, is making its way south, but it's slow going in the jungle.

Akyab was captured by the 7th Armoured Brigade. All that was left of the enemy was a company of air support troops. Still a huge stack of enemy just east of Akyab, showing movement east.

Way up in northern China, the enemy tank division does well again.

Ground combat at 84,34 (near Ningsia)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 6755 troops, 128 guns, 395 vehicles, Assault Value = 374

Defending force 28923 troops, 196 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 890

Japanese adjusted assault: 164

Allied adjusted defense: 211

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 2

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

Japanese ground losses:
1006 casualties reported
Squads: 17 destroyed, 40 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 19 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Guns lost 11 (1 destroyed, 10 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
113 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 16 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Assaulting units:
3rd Tank Division
4th Cavalry Brigade
2nd Ind.Mixed Brigade

Defending units:
57th Chinese Corps
38th Chinese Corps
3rd Chinese Corps
81st Chinese Corps
56th AT Gun Regiment

The Chinese won't last. I'm forming a defense in the mountains just south of Lanchow, figuring that it will be lost. That will cut northern China off, but the mountains should prevent the enemy from coming south from Lanchow. They'll probably go north and go after the oil that's up that way. Little can be done. Just no supply that far north.

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RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apba... - 7/2/2019 12:33:03 PM

Lowpe

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The implications on ship building that both super battleships present -- well that means very few carriers have been accelerated.

Your offensive on multiple prongs means you can probably avoid a CV clash for quite a long time and still make very good progress.

Look at China for some prospective bombing bases. You might not have supply now, but in three months time you will.

Well done.

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RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apba... - 7/2/2019 1:44:49 PM

jwolf

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Fantastic to get both the Yamato and Musashi, with direct confirmation!

This has to be very disappointing for the Japanese as they got so little bang for their superbattleship buck.

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RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apba... - 7/2/2019 4:32:46 PM

apbarog

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I reconsidered my movements around Kwajalein. The CVEs are leaving, as are the slow battleships, after they bombard Roi-Namur. I'll take the chance that OPilot could move Bettys into the Marshalls. I'll be leaving my APs at Roi-Namur vulnerable for a turn. I think they'll be ok. My invasions have been pretty standard, and maybe predictable. I cover my invasions until they are done. Just not today.

Another invasion TF set for Jaluit is now on the way. It'll have the 1/3 of the division not at Roi-Namur or Kwajalein. When the APs get back, and the ones from Kwajalein and Roi-Namur return, 2 divisions will load up and we'll go to Ponape.

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RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apba... - 7/2/2019 10:40:01 PM

ChuckBerger

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DD Harukaze must have an awful lot of survivors on board.

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RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apba... - 7/2/2019 11:55:04 PM

apbarog

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12 Feb 43 - Part One - Roi-Namur

Night Naval bombardment of Roi-Namur at 132,114

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 2 damaged
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed on ground

Allied Ships
BB Tennessee
BB California

Japanese ground losses:
318 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 9 destroyed, 16 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 3 disabled

Airbase hits 2
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 10
Port hits 10

Heavy bombers and carrier aircraft also bombed Roi-Namur, to good effect.

Ground combat at Roi-Namur (132,114)

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 3463 troops, 66 guns, 34 vehicles, Assault Value = 44

Defending force 5467 troops, 44 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 69

Allied adjusted assault: 3

Japanese adjusted defense: 37

Allied assault odds: 1 to 12 (fort level 5)

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

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

Allied ground losses:
612 casualties reported
Squads: 26 destroyed, 23 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 10 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Guns lost 15 (1 destroyed, 14 disabled)

Assaulting units:
24th Infantry/A Division

Defending units:
43rd Naval Guard Unit
6th Base Force
41st JNAF AF Unit
53rd JNAF AF Unit

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RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apba... - 7/3/2019 2:29:16 AM

apbarog

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12 Feb 43 - Part Two - Burma and Elsewhere

First, the Jaluit invasion shipping will hold in place a few hexes from the target. They have just 2 destroyers as escort, and now we know that there are coastal guns there. One of the slow battleships, low on ammo, returning from Kwajalein, will join these transports for the run into Jaluit.

US carriers have refueled from the accompanying AOs and are a bit northwest of the northwestern tip of Australia, not seen. Lots and lots of shipping heading to Darwin. Marines on Horn Island are getting picked up to go to Darwin.

With KB leaving the area, it's now a race to transport units into Rangoon. Ships are loading and leaving Colombo, Madras and Calcutta. Most of the combat squads of the LRP unit at Rangoon have been flown to Little Andaman. I'm going to take some risk and try to ship in the rest of the unit to Port Blair. It's particularly risky because a US minelayer dropped 50 or so mines there just a few days ago. The unit is just too big to get to Port Blair quickly. I'll drop [EDIT: paradrop] the combat part, triggering the shock attack, while shock attacking with the units already there, and land the support squads, maybe simultaneously.

B-25s have moved to Rangoon and will restart the bombing of Port Blair. Hurricanes, now on Little Andaman, will LRCAP Port Blair. I'm interested to see if the enemy has been flying in supply.

< Message edited by apbarog -- 7/3/2019 5:51:27 AM >

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RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apba... - 7/3/2019 11:27:11 AM

BBfanboy

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Your screenshot of the Division fragment shows you have about 3500 troops there (upper center figures, the Stacking cost of 4371 at the lower left is what it would be if all squads have their complete complement of men). IIRC Roi-Namur is an atoll (so any troops/devices landing will trigger a shock attack) and the stacking limit is 6,000.

So you have room there to add support troops like a USA BF to help your ID recover quicker, or you could add combat engineers, tanks and artillery to beef up the assault. Bombing and bombarding the enemy is the best way to grind them down before the next assault. You could use Jaluit as an air base within range but it likely has high forts as well.

_____________________________

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 #: 1036

RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apba... - 7/3/2019 4:55:23 PM

apbarog

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I won't be adding non-combat troops to Roi-Namur. That would just trigger another shock attack. I'm hesitant to add troops that aren't prepped. What I am doing is trying to take adjacent Kwajalein, and that is possible. I'm trying today. The attack with the initial landing there got the forts down some and casualties were acceptable. Landing an armor unit there is helping.

I'll keep bombing from Tarawa and Nauru, and I'll send the battleships back if possible. Of course, the enemy could counter-attack today at Roi-Namur and clear the island, if they are strong enough.

Kwajalein is a size 1 airfield. I have a task force with base support moving towards the area. If Kwajalein falls today, I'll be landing this support tomorrow. If Roi-Namur drags on, getting Kwajalein's airfield to size 2 will make all the difference, allowing daily bombing from just one hex away.

I have aircraft staged at Wake and Midway, waiting to fly into Kwajalein.

(in reply to BBfanboy)

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RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apba... - 7/4/2019 8:25:37 PM

apbarog

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13 Feb 43 - Part One - The Marshalls

Low ammo single cruisers bombard Kwajalein and Roi-Namur. Nothing hit at Kwajalein. 26 casualties at Roi-Namur. It's something. Bombers flew to Kwajalein but not Roi-Namur today.

Ground combat at Kwajalein Island (132,115)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 4572 troops, 38 guns, 134 vehicles, Assault Value = 161

Defending force 2949 troops, 40 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 17

Allied adjusted assault: 66

Japanese adjusted defense: 44

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

Allied Assault reduces fortifications to 1

Combat modifiers
Defender: forts(+)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
772 casualties reported
Squads: 14 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 98 destroyed, 5 disabled
Engineers: 9 destroyed, 1 disabled
Guns lost 13 (13 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units destroyed 1

Allied ground losses:
172 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 22 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Assaulting units:
22nd Marine Regiment
1st USMC Tank Battalion

Defending units:
Kwajalein Base Force
24th Air Flotilla
Nimur Naval Fortress
51st JNAF AF Unit

US troops will attack again today, despite high fatigue, particularly with the Marines. It appears that the lone enemy combat unit on Kwajalein was destroyed. The base may fall today, and the sooner, the better, for the other part of the division on nearby Roi-Namur. Base support and engineers are standing off, waiting for Kwajalein to fall. I hope that is today.

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RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apba... - 7/4/2019 8:50:22 PM

Wuffer

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quote:

ORIGINAL: Lowpe
This game won't make the end of 1943 at the rate Japan is going.

Yes, especially if one keep in mind that the real offensive is just to come. Can't help myself but thinking the main reason for the offensives at the flanks is to dislocate the Empire's last strategical reserves away from the centre... not that there could be so much left.
Kudos to Opilot! (edit: ... for staying)

< Message edited by Wuffer -- 7/4/2019 8:51:56 PM >

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RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apba... - 7/4/2019 9:54:57 PM

apbarog

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In a previous game, my strategy was to take Milne Bay and move up the east coast of New Guinea, while moving up the Solomons from Guadalcanal. But that was my only major plan. When the enemy didn't oblige, and kept KB at or near Rabaul, for months, I was stopped. In that game, I then turned to a plan of also moving past Horn Island, and that worked, and also opened up New Guinea because KB couldn't be everywhere at once.

I learned from that. In this game, I planned multiple fronts from the beginning, and to dodge KB in the early part of the war. So far, it's working. I don't know what I'd do to stop it. The Japanese just can't defend everywhere. I guess they could prioritize what to keep and what to lose. Otherwise KB just gets run around all over the place, always late to the party. That's what I've been trying to accomplish. My plan will change when the Essex class carriers start arriving.

13 Feb 43 - Part Two - Burma

3 enemy battleships bombard Port Blair. Just 8 casualties. Probably makes a difference in that I don't own the base.

12 F4U-1 Corsairs make their first appearance in the war, sweeping Magwe, and finding just 3 Oscars. The Oscars are range capping from Mandalay, and all are shot down. These Corsairs are the early model, and not carrier capable.

Elsewhere, Whale hits xAK Hokutatsu Maru with a torpedo along the east coast of Mindanao, probably sinking it. And Halibut hit subchaser Ch 41 near Formosa, almost definitely sinking it.

The almost isolated and completely out of supply Chinese stack near Ningsia got the usual heavy treatment of bombers. I haven't intervened here in a long while. Lanchow had a bit of supply, so I moved 4 Chinese fighter squadrons to there and will LRCAP the troops from 2 hexes away. Hoping for lots of bombers and few escorts, like what I've just seen.

Wellingtons bombed a small enemy unit near Magwe. It's a unit that could flank any Allied troops moving to Magwe (which they aren't any longer). Turns out the unit was just the 53 Construction Company, and it may have been vaporized in the clear terrain. I don't feel bad about it.

Multiple B-25 squadrons from Rangoon hit enemy troops at Port Blair. Hurricanes are there also, on LRCAP from Little Andaman.

Mandalay and its troops are bombed by B-17s.

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< Message edited by apbarog -- 7/4/2019 9:56:01 PM >

(in reply to Wuffer)

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RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apba... - 7/5/2019 4:06:01 AM

apbarog

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While I was confused on the island shock attack rules, so was OPilot, just in a different way. He said that he was surprised that my troops didn't shock attack again on Roi-Namur, on this last turn, in which no troops landed on the beach. I guess he thought that the attacker shock attacked on the applicable islands every turn, whether troops were landing or not.

This could explain why he didn't counter-attack there, possibly destroying my mostly disabled unit. He thought they'd keep shock attacking and destroying themselves. He may now try to eliminate the troops on the beach.

Apparently one of us will accidentally win this battle, in spite of ourselves!

(in reply to apbarog)

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RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apba... - 7/5/2019 6:55:27 PM

apbarog

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14 Feb 43 - The Marshalls

Roi-Namur is bombarded by heavy cruiser Chester and 2 US destroyers. Minor base damage and 61 casualties. I-27 missed Farragut with 2 torpedoes on the way in.

Jaluit is invaded. Early in the day, Tennessee soaked up a couple of coastal gun shells that did some decent damage. Tennessee gained 8 SYS damage and is now at 13. Late in the day, however, the coastal guns went after the APs. Heywood was hit with 2 shells and Barnett was hit with 5. Heywood is SYS 24/FLOT 5-1/ENG 2-1/FIRE 23 and Barnett is SYS 44/FLOT 16-8/ENG 0/FIRE 28. Both should make it back to Tarawa, assuming no sub intervention. They'll probably then head to Pearl Harbor and an upgrade to an APA due in March. All troops were unloaded at Jaluit and there's plenty of supply.

US troops attack at Kwajalein.

Ground combat at Kwajalein Island (132,115)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 4469 troops, 38 guns, 134 vehicles, Assault Value = 144

Defending force 1733 troops, 28 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 12

Allied adjusted assault: 39

Japanese adjusted defense: 4

Allied assault odds: 9 to 1 (fort level 1)

Allied forces CAPTURE Kwajalein Island !!!

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

Japanese ground losses:
2079 casualties reported
Squads: 13 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 88 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 12 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 40 (40 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units destroyed 3

Allied ground losses:
105 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 13 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Assaulting units:
22nd Marine Regiment
1st USMC Tank Battalion

Defending units:
24th Air Flotilla
Nimur Naval Fortress
51st JNAF AF Unit

Follow-up units were standing off in transports waiting for the island to fall. One of the two xAPs won't be arriving.

Sub attack near Ailinglaplap at 132,117

Japanese Ships
SS I-3

Allied Ships
xAP Baranof, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
AM Heed

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

SS I-3 launches 4 torpedoes at xAP Baranof

About 200 survivors were said to be rescued from the sinking transport, but apparently there wasn't room for them, and they were thrown back into the sea. The other xAP is full with an engineer unit, and the AM was empty. ComAirFMFPac HQ was completely lost.

With the rest of the 24th Infantry Division on Kwajalein and Roi-Namur, part "B" landed at Jaluit and had a tough fight.

Ground combat at Jaluit (134,120)

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 3981 troops, 61 guns, 34 vehicles, Assault Value = 120

Defending force 4361 troops, 37 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 77

Allied adjusted assault: 52

Japanese adjusted defense: 192

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

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

Japanese ground losses:
167 casualties reported
Squads: 5 destroyed, 8 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 3 disabled

Allied ground losses:
459 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 52 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled

Assaulting units:
24th Infantry/B Div /2

Defending units:
52nd Naval Guard Unit
Jaluit Naval Fortress
Jaluit Base Force
24th JNAF AF Unit

Jaluit isn't going to fall quickly, but the US troops are there to stay. This will become an attritional battle, with bombers from Tarawa ordered to hit Jaluit's troops.

So, Kwajalein is cleared. Roi-Namur is almost a disaster but the troops are still there, recovering. Jaluit is not successful but should fall eventually.

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(in reply to apbarog)

Post #: 1042

RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apba... - 7/6/2019 12:13:10 AM

apbarog

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Joined: 5/23/2002
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14 Feb 43 - Part Two - Burma

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Post #: 1043

RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apba... - 7/7/2019 2:01:06 AM

apbarog

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

15 Feb 43

A US patrol craft found enemy mines between Tassafronga and Vangunu, in the Solomons.

3 US battleships bombarded Kusiae Island. Good work on the enemy troops.

Night Naval bombardment of Kusaie Island at 125,118

Allied Ships
BB Mississippi
BB New Mexico
BB California
CL Adelaide
DD MacDonough
DD Porter
DD Lang
DD Wilson
DD Gillespie

Japanese ground losses:
433 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 4 destroyed, 12 disabled
Engineers: 4 destroyed, 8 disabled

Airbase hits 1
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 8
Port hits 4

Grampus braved the shallows at Boela, going after a task force of small tankers spotted there yesterday. The tankers were still there, but Grampus missed tanker Nishi Maru with 4 torpedoes. Grampus took minor damage from the escort, and will retire to Gove.

From an air standpoint, Boela didn't turn out well. First 6 DB-7s went after the tankers, but there were 42 Oscars on CAP. All bombers were downed. This isn't the first time that this unit was decimated. At least, half of the bombers didn't fly. 24 P-40Es then swept, but that was a disaster. 18 Warhawks were downed, with only 5 Oscars shot down. Must be elite pilots. 14 Beaufighters then arrived, on the deck. 5 were downed by Oscars, with only 5 getting through to the tankers. But all bombs missed and no strafing hits.

I-6 is watching the southeastern corner of Australia, possibly looking for ships returning from the Indian Ocean. It spotted AM Rockhampton and hit it with a torpedo, sinking her.

Enemy bombers with escorts hit the Chinese at Chiang Mai. Allied bombers hit the enemy troops there. The jungle and the weather prevented any real results for either side. The Chinese have decent flak, though, and a few Sallys were downed, with lots damaged.

Lots of Allied bombing in Burma, hitting troops in the open.

3 enemy destroyers were near the northern Australian coast, nearer to Broome. US carriers were passing by, on the way to Darwin from the Indian Ocean. 36 SBDs and 18 TBFs were launched in heavy rain. Takanami and Kiyonami were each hit by a bomb. Makinami was missed entirely. OPilot sees my carriers now. KB should be at or near Singapore.

At Port Blair, support parts of an Indian LRP para unit start to unload. 25 C-47s are moved to Little Andaman to para drop the combat part of the LRP unit. With Little Andaman being such a small airfield, no more can be supported without penalty. So the para drop won't be huge, but it can be repeated, with more troops. For today, though, a para drop will occur, and all combat troops at Port Blair will shock attack. Lots of medium and heavy bombers will continue to hit enemy troops. Hoping for the best. If not successful, a British combat group with Repulse is leaving Colombo and heading towards the Andamans.

US troops attack at Kusaie.

Ground combat at Kusaie Island (125,118)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 10880 troops, 200 guns, 122 vehicles, Assault Value = 304

Defending force 9788 troops, 69 guns, 2 vehicles, Assault Value = 187

Allied adjusted assault: 111

Japanese adjusted defense: 147

Allied assault odds: 1 to 2 (fort level 0)

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

Japanese ground losses:
291 casualties reported
Squads: 3 destroyed, 60 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 9 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Allied ground losses:
278 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 25 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 0 disabled

Assaulting units:
37th Infantry Division
214th Coast AA Regiment
5th US Naval Construction Battalion
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 is a good result. The next attack will be after a reinforcing armor unit is unloaded, in a few days. Bombers will continue to hit Kusaie.

The Chinese attack at Chiang Mai. To my dismay, a Japanese infantry division rails into town just as the attack occurs.

Ground combat at Chiang Mai (58,53)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 24957 troops, 162 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 901

Defending force 20592 troops, 156 guns, 4 vehicles, Assault Value = 680

Allied adjusted assault: 405

Japanese adjusted defense: 316

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

Allied Assault reduces fortifications to 1

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

Japanese ground losses:
377 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 52 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled

Allied ground losses:
295 casualties reported
Squads: 5 destroyed, 64 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled

Assaulting units:
5th Chinese Corps
3rd (Special Force) Division

Defending units:
11th Division
4th RTA Division

I don't know if the enemy division was kicked out of Strat mode with the attack or not. I order the Chinese to attack again, with added bomber support. Corsairs will fly LRCAP. The Chinese had a negative modifier for supply, but they have an adequate amount today. I thought they did yesterday also.

(in reply to apbarog)

Post #: 1044

RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apba... - 7/7/2019 1:25:12 PM

BBfanboy

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

Interesting result at Kusaie Island - both sides suffered very close to the same casualties on an individual soldier basis, but the IJ side had 72 squads affected while the Allied side had only 29 affected. That suggests the IJ side has lots of ineffective or missing troops in their squads while Allied squads are close to full strength. That should help you a lot in your next attack (if he doesn't bombard the heck out of your troops with his ships and planes).

Fingers and eyes crossed!

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_____________________________

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 #: 1045

RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apba... - 7/7/2019 8:54:08 PM

apbarog

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

16 Feb 43

Sub attack near Bassein at 51,52

Japanese Ships
SS I-176

Allied Ships
xAP Edgar Allan Poe, Torpedo hits 1, heavy damage
xAP Baron Cawdor
KV Fritillary

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

SS I-176 launches 6 torpedoes at xAP Edgar Allan Poe

and, after the other ships leave the damaged ship behind

Submarine attack near Bassein at 51,52

Japanese Ships
SS I-176

Allied Ships
xAP Edgar Allan Poe, Torpedo hits 1, heavy damage

Allied ground losses:
Guns lost 2 (1 destroyed, 1 disabled)

All alone, weak and weary, with SYS 61/FLOT 90-58/ENG 41-30/FIRE 21, Edgar Allan Poe is scuttled, leaving the loaded British base force to drown in the dismal deep.

Port Blair is bombed heavily by Allied medium and heavy bombers. A small number of paras drop and all troops there attack.

Ground combat at Port Blair (46,58)

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 14360 troops, 201 guns, 100 vehicles, Assault Value = 332

Defending force 6831 troops, 50 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 146

Allied adjusted assault: 276

Japanese adjusted defense: 209

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

Allied Assault reduces fortifications to 2

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+)
Attacker: shock(+)

Japanese ground losses:
681 casualties reported
Squads: 5 destroyed, 32 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 12 disabled
Engineers: 7 destroyed, 4 disabled
Guns lost 4 (2 destroyed, 2 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
299 casualties reported
Squads: 3 destroyed, 89 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 13 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled

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

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

Troops will rest a bit, then more paras will drop and we'll try again. Combat ships are on the way from Ceylon to support the next attack.

Another Chinese attack at Chiang Mai. The enemy infantry division was still in Strat mode, but that will change today or tomorrow. The casualties show that this attempt has failed. We won't take Chiang Mai or Rahaeng. Troops will leave Chiang Mai and set up a defense to the west. It's just too easy to reinforce Chiang Mai from Bangkok.

Ground combat at Chiang Mai (58,53)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 24451 troops, 162 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1119

Defending force 20302 troops, 156 guns, 4 vehicles, Assault Value = 641

Allied adjusted assault: 477

Japanese adjusted defense: 445

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

Allied Assault reduces fortifications to 0

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

Japanese ground losses:
269 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 25 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled

Allied ground losses:
1375 casualties reported
Squads: 9 destroyed, 70 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 7 disabled

Assaulting units:
77th LRP Brigade
Kowloon Brigade
5th Chinese Corps
3rd (Special Force) Division

Defending units:
11th Division
4th RTA Division

(in reply to apbarog)

Post #: 1046

RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apba... - 7/7/2019 10:18:24 PM

apbarog

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Joined: 5/23/2002
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With the inability to take Chiang Mai and Rahaeng, and the Allies forming a defensive line there, the opportunity opens up to use some of those troops up north to clear out the enemy and open a route to China, which was the objective of the Rangoon landing to begin with.

I think it would be appropriate to pull some or all of the Chinese from the southern flank and move them north. On to China.

(in reply to apbarog)

Post #: 1047

RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apba... - 7/8/2019 7:56:22 PM

Bif1961

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

As the Edgar Allan Poe slipped beneath the waves the dying steam sounded oddly like, "Never More, Never More."

(in reply to apbarog)

Post #: 1048

RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apba... - 7/8/2019 8:57:33 PM

apbarog

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

17 Feb 43

Gar spotted a transport with 2 destroyers well north of Borneo, but 4 torpedoes missed destroyer Sazanami.

Allied bombers continue to hit enemy troops in the clear in the central highlands of Burma. Allied troops are now advancing from the south, now that the enemy 33rd Infantry Division moved north, out of the jungle and into the clearing. Hopes are high for getting to and taking Magwe before the large enemy stack gets out of the jungle east of Akyab.

P-38s from Rangoon sweep Bangkok for the first time, and find Tonys there. This is the first appearance of the Tony in the war. The fight looked even, with 2 planes lost on each side. But there were also 5 ops losses for the Tonys. 2LT B Thanos became a double ace, and also went missing. He is tied for #5 on the most kills list with 10.

An armor unit will get to Kusaie Island in 2 days. Battleships will bombard the following day, and we might finally take Kusaie. No sign of the enemy battleships, with the last spotting at Truk a couple of days ago. OPilot hasn't seen my CVEs in awhile either. They've been at Tabiteuea. The Ponape invasion will be on after Kusaie is taken.

The enemy tried a probing artillery attack at Roi-Namur. They found that the combat value of the US troops is low, but almost all of the support and artillery is intact and well supplied. High losses for the attacker. I'll respond with an artillery attack of my own, since I see that it will probably be effective.

Repulse and friends will move into position to be able to bombard in another day. When that happens, more paras will drop and another base-wide shock attack will occur.

(in reply to Bif1961)

Post #: 1049

RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apba... - 7/8/2019 10:04:40 PM

apbarog

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Joined: 5/23/2002
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Oh, and I left out the most important item. Loading at Darwin has begun for the invasion of Babar. The invasion of Koepang will follow.

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Post #: 1050

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