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... - 9/15/2019 9:19:19 PM

apbarog

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

27 Apr 43

Stingray is patrolling the Vietnamese coast. A tanker convoy was spotted but no attack was possible. OPilot is still using the coastal route, with heavy E-boat patrols.

Petes attacked Albacore north of the Moluccas. Combined with a 10/10 DL, there's surely something big up there.

Dili was bombarded by 3 slow US battleships. 437 casualties and minor base damage. Troops attack.

Ground combat at Dili (71,115)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 11549 troops, 242 guns, 360 vehicles, Assault Value = 347

Defending force 5702 troops, 31 guns, 8 vehicles, Assault Value = 144

Allied adjusted assault: 179

Japanese adjusted defense: 171

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

Allied Assault reduces fortifications to 2

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

Japanese ground losses:
447 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 18 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 8 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 37 disabled

Allied ground losses:
272 casualties reported
Squads: 5 destroyed, 11 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Assaulting units:
37th Infantry Division
637th Tank Destroyer Battalion
762nd Tank Battalion
198th Field Artillery Battalion
145th Field Artillery Battalion
203rd Coast AA Regiment

Defending units:
2nd Engineer Regiment
II./4th Infantry Battalion
15th Naval Guard Unit
22nd Port Unit
5th JAAF AF Bn

I could reinforce with a division from adjacent Lautem, but I don't think it will be necessary. We attack again.

Heavy bombers hit Ambon, doing moderate damage to the airbase. All of the enemy fighters left.

Tarpon is patrolling outside of Broome. Destroyer Takanami was spotted and fired on, but all 4 torpedoes missed. Takanami was spotted later in the day to the north. It has been making runs back and forth to Broome.

Allied carriers refueled at Darwin, and were spotted. They'll move to nearby Bathurst Island and disappear there for awhile. Another carrier fighter squadron upgraded from Wildcats to Hellcats.

Enemy task force at Victoria Point. I'd snuck engineers into the dot base of Great Nicobar awhile ago, and they are working on the airfield, which isn't size 1 yet, so OPilot hasn't been alerted. I had 2 more units about to get there to unload, but a supply task force, already there, just got spotted 7/7 DL. Time to run. Great Nicobar is the southernmost island in the Andaman chain, danger close to Sabang. I'll try to fly in troops to there from Port Blair after the ships unload.

Reinforced troops will attack at Tavoy. Enemy troops are concentrating between Tavoy and Bangkok.

Attachment (1)

< Message edited by apbarog -- 9/15/2019 9:21:49 PM >

(in reply to BBfanboy)

Post #: 1231

RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apba... - 9/17/2019 1:59:25 AM

CaptBeefheart

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

I can't state it enough on this forum: Overstacking invasions by a lot is the only way to do it. It just requires a lot of extra supply, and LSTs are perfect for that. Keep some in reserve for follow-on turns.

EDIT: I'm referring to atoll invasions, of course.

Cheers,
CB

< Message edited by CaptBeefheart -- 9/17/2019 2:04:51 AM >

_____________________________

Beer, because barley makes lousy bread.

(in reply to apbarog)

Post #: 1232

RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apba... - 9/17/2019 2:28:36 AM

apbarog

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

Good to hear CaptBeefheart. That's exactly how things are loaded for invading Roi Namur. Overstacking to about 2 times the limit, and a massive amount of supply to unload, using LSTs and AKs.

28 Apr 43

3 enemy cruisers and 8 destroyers bombarded Tavoy, causing just 38 casualties. These ships were the ones spotted at Victoria Point. I thought they'd jump to the Andamans after seeing cargo ships at Great Nicobar, but they went to Tavoy. Little harm done in the jungle. I've always thought that it's harder to get bombardment results against troops not in control of the base where the bombardment occurs. Allied troops attack again.

Ground combat at Tavoy (54,60)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 9116 troops, 152 guns, 208 vehicles, Assault Value = 269

Defending force 1794 troops, 11 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 62

Allied adjusted assault: 154

Japanese adjusted defense: 85

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

Allied Assault reduces fortifications to 0

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

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

Allied ground losses:
201 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 36 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled

Assaulting units:
268th Motorised Brigade
22nd (East African) Brigade
IV Indian Corps
1st West African AA Regiment

Defending units:
6th RTA/B Division

There's a growing enemy stack to the east of Tavoy. Recon will tell how menacing it is.

US troops attack again at Dili. The base is about to fall, and with it, Timor will be conquered. There's still an enemy stack east of Koepang, but there in the jungle and not a threat.

Ground combat at Dili (71,115)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 11453 troops, 243 guns, 360 vehicles, Assault Value = 331

Defending force 5222 troops, 30 guns, 8 vehicles, Assault Value = 101

Allied adjusted assault: 186

Japanese adjusted defense: 55

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

Allied Assault reduces fortifications to 1

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

Japanese ground losses:
778 casualties reported
Squads: 9 destroyed, 55 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 1 disabled
Guns lost 10 (2 destroyed, 8 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
108 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 10 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Assaulting units:
637th Tank Destroyer Battalion
37th Infantry Division
762nd Tank Battalion
145th Field Artillery Battalion
198th Field Artillery Battalion
203rd Coast AA Regiment

Defending units:
II./4th Infantry Battalion
15th Naval Guard Unit
22nd Port Unit
2nd Engineer Regiment
5th JAAF AF Bn

Spent extra hours on planning. Combat and support units are now prepping for the following:

Truk (not going to happen soon)
Eniwetok (after Roi Namur is captured)
Terapo (not soon)
Torokina (not soon)
Buin (not soon)
Woodlark Island (not soon)
Kavieng (not soon)
Shortlands (not soon) The Solomons are on the back burner. Way back.

Wetar
Kendari
Kolaka
Watampone
Ambon (next to be invaded)
Memboro
Waingapoe
Endeh
Mataram
Denpassar
Banjoewangi (need infantry and armor assigned)
Soerabaja (need infantry and armor assigned)

Ambon will be next, followed by Kendari and Makassar, to be captured by landing at Watampone and Memboro. Then we'll take the island chain between Timor and Java. Finally, we'll land at Banjoewangi, on the eastern tip of Java, with about a division. There's very good defensive terrain in the mountains between Banjoewangi and Soerabaja, so the plan is to land at Banjoewangi and maybe draw enemy troops out of Soerabaja into the mountains. Then we make a huge landing directly at Soerabaja, bypassing the mountains.

Java won't be for awhile though. Troops being used for other sooner landings will need to complete their assigned tasks and then prep for Java. But that's the plan. I'd like to have Soerabaja by the end of July 1943.

(in reply to CaptBeefheart)

Post #: 1233

RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apba... - 9/18/2019 12:55:31 AM

apbarog

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

29 Apr 43

32 Oscars strafed Changsha. About 10 were shot down with most of the rest damaged. OPilot said that he made a mistake and this was it. I'm sure he meant to sweep, as other Oscars swept Changsha.

Lots of enemy bombers and fighters hit Allied troops at Tavoy, but didn't do much with jungle terrain and thunderstorms. Bangkok now has about 170 fighters and Rahaeng has about 100.

Allied bombers hit Chiang Mai and did heavy damage to the airfield. No fighters there. Enemy troops at Dili were hit also. Dili was attacked.

Ground combat at Dili (71,115)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 11410 troops, 245 guns, 361 vehicles, Assault Value = 320

Defending force 4577 troops, 28 guns, 8 vehicles, Assault Value = 48

Allied adjusted assault: 218

Japanese adjusted defense: 27

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

Allied forces CAPTURE Dili !!!

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

Japanese ground losses:
1165 casualties reported
Squads: 40 destroyed, 16 disabled
Non Combat: 7 destroyed, 11 disabled
Engineers: 39 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 9 (8 destroyed, 1 disabled)
Vehicles lost 10 (10 destroyed, 0 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
20 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Vehicles lost 3 (2 destroyed, 1 disabled)

Assaulting units:
37th Infantry Division
637th Tank Destroyer Battalion
762nd Tank Battalion
145th Field Artillery Battalion
198th Field Artillery Battalion
203rd Coast AA Regiment

Defending units:
II./4th Infantry Battalion
15th Naval Guard Unit
2nd Engineer Regiment
22nd Port Unit
5th JAAF AF Bn

And Tavoy was attacked.

Ground combat at Tavoy (54,60)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 8918 troops, 152 guns, 208 vehicles, Assault Value = 239

Defending force 1707 troops, 11 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 51

Allied adjusted assault: 102

Japanese adjusted defense: 34

Allied assault odds: 3 to 1 (fort level 0)

Allied forces CAPTURE Tavoy !!!

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

Japanese ground losses:
550 casualties reported
Squads: 13 destroyed, 6 disabled
Non Combat: 14 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 1 (1 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units retreated 1

Allied ground losses:
137 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 18 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled

Defeated Japanese Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
268th Motorised Brigade
22nd (East African) Brigade
IV Indian Corps
1st West African AA Regiment

Defending units:
6th RTA/B Division

Troops ships from Tarawa are heading north to re-invade Roi-Namur and supplement the US troops already there.

(in reply to apbarog)

Post #: 1234

RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apba... - 9/19/2019 4:30:14 AM

apbarog

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

30 Apr 43

Two days ago, submarine Perch hit a big transport between Luzon and Formosa, hitting it twice but both torpedoes were duds. Today subchaser Ch 38 came looking for the sub, and Perch hit the ship with a torpedo, and it wasn't a dud. The ship was sunk.

Enemy bombers hit Tavoy and Allied troops advancing to Tavoy along the coast. Little damage. Lots of Oscars sweeping and escorting. Not worth engaging. Tavoy's airbase is damaged and may remain so.

With a re-invasion convoy about 3 days out, US bombers are hitting Roi-Namur more often. SBDs, B-25s and B-24s are attacking. There's still enemy flak so there's still supply.

Lots of Allied support troops are now unloading at Dili. All bases in Timor are now in Allied hands. Some enemy troops remain at Dili and east of Koepang, but they are no factor.

More Allied ships are "disappearing" by moving from Darwin to nearby Bathurst Island.

I watched "The Bombing of Darwin" on Amazon Prime. It was interesting. Mostly about the unpreparedness of Darwin and the chaos after the big Japanese carrier raid and Betty bombing. Apparently the full story wasn't known, even in Australia, until the 1990's, according to the show.

OPilot has a new PC, and it's his first experience with Windows 10, so he is in the process of getting the game running. He's having some issues and we're working on them. Turns are continuing on his old PC, just at a slower pace, until the new PC is operational. Then he's traveling next week.

(in reply to apbarog)

Post #: 1235

RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apba... - 9/19/2019 5:24:12 PM

apbarog

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

OPilot sent me a test file, testing his install of the game plus patches plus mod, and dealing with Windows 10, and it seems to be working fine. I watched the replay and he's now working on his turn. He's also gotten the game working on an old laptop, so we should get an occasional turn next week when he is traveling.

I got a surprise at Broome. Broome is the last enemy base in Australia. I'm landing an Australian brigade but I've found that the defense is a lot stronger than expected. An Australian attack here may not be possible, unless I can get the enemy out of supply.

A side note: a US cruiser and destroyer is just off of Broome, waiting to bombard if needed. The ships came from Capetown, where the cruiser was repaired from action off of Burma. The ships were headed to Darwin but were in the area of Broome and will bombard before continuing to Darwin.

(in reply to apbarog)

Post #: 1236

RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apba... - 9/20/2019 7:11:24 PM

apbarog

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

1 May 43

Australians landing at Broome will not attack. Too many defenders. Australian armor at Normanton is bought out and will ship to Derby, then move to Broome. This will help the attack there, and open up a supply line from Derby. Enemy troops at Broome will not go away quickly, but this is a sideshow. They'll run out of supply. Once Derby's airfield is built to a 2, the lone enemy destroyer runs into Broome will become impossible.

B-26s from Taberfane hit Boela's airfield, destroying 5 Dinahs on the ground. No CAP.

US troops attack at Dili, causing over 1000 casualties to the stranded defenders. All enemy units evaporated to attrition after the fight.

Wasp and 4 CVEs received upgrades at Pearl Harbor. They first went to Tabiteuea. Now they are about to get to Tulagi. I want them to be seen there. OPilot looks at Tulagi regularly. The carriers are really on the way to Darwin to join the others, but it can't hurt to show activity in an area where there really is none.

More ships from Darwin go to Bathurst Island and "disappear". I'm sending the APAs there today. The carriers, battleships and lots of support ships are there, hiding in plain sight. I want Darwin to look more empty. OPilot will think that something is up. It's possible that, with the hopeful sighting of my carriers at Tulagi, he might direct some attention to the Solomons.

The next real target is Ambon. Loading will begin in 2 or 3 days. Everything is 100% prepped.

(in reply to apbarog)

Post #: 1237

RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apba... - 9/21/2019 11:16:58 PM

apbarog

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

2 May 43

US bombers continued to hit Roi-Namur. The Roi-Namur invasion Part 2 will be tomorrow. Invasion shipping stopped at Kwajalein and was not spotted there, nor on its approach. 4 US cruisers will bombard.

US carriers were unfortunately not spotted at Tulagi. They'll start to move to Darwin now. I will time the loading for the Ambon invasion to be complete when Wasp and the CVEs get to the Darwin area, in about a week.

Ambon was the target of many US heavy bombers. Another ACM was sunk there. SigInt says that the enemy's 21st Infantry Division is on ships and headed to Kendari.

Most of the Australians have unloaded at Broome. A few vehicles remain to be unloaded, and lots of supply is still aboard. New Orleans and Balch bombarded the enemy, causing 283 casualties. It was timely. Some Allied bombing hit Broome also. The enemy attacked.

Ground combat at Broome (62,127)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 5907 troops, 62 guns, 6 vehicles, Assault Value = 198

Defending force 2305 troops, 64 guns, 28 vehicles, Assault Value = 94

Japanese adjusted assault: 84

Allied adjusted defense: 80

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 1

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

Japanese ground losses:
283 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 33 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Allied ground losses:
200 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 13 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled

Assaulting units:
Yokosuka 2nd SNLF
Yokosuka 1st SNLF
Sasebo 3rd SNLF
Yokosuka 4th SNLF
43rd Const Co
30th Field AA Machinecannon Company
33rd Field Const Co
4th JNAF Coy

Defending units:
19th Australian Brigade

New Orleans and Balch may have saved the day. Lots of heavy bombers are ordered to start hitting Broome and the troops there. Reinforcements are planned for Broome but are a couple of weeks from arriving. Bombing, and an occasional bombardment, will have to save the Australians. US fighters will fly LRCAP over Broome to stop any supply getting in by air. If we can destroy Broome's supply, the Australians will hold.

US subs near Hong Kong confirm that the enemy heavily using the shallows near Hong Kong to head east and west. It's not coastal, but the shallows. The subs will have to occasionally take some extra risk for some extra reward.

< Message edited by apbarog -- 9/21/2019 11:17:33 PM >

(in reply to apbarog)

Post #: 1238

RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apba... - 9/22/2019 2:03:43 AM

apbarog

Posts: 3769
Joined: 5/23/2002
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2 May 43 - The Marshalls

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Post #: 1239

RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apba... - 9/22/2019 2:04:27 AM

apbarog

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Joined: 5/23/2002
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2 May 43 - Ambon

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Post #: 1240

RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apba... - 9/22/2019 2:05:03 AM

apbarog

Posts: 3769
Joined: 5/23/2002
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2 May 43 - Burma

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RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apba... - 9/22/2019 8:26:27 PM

apbarog

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

3 May 43

A few troops and lots of supply continued to unload at Broome. No interference.

Midget sub Ha-7 hit a mine at Pearl Harbor.

There have been enemy subs off of the Australian coast, but too far away from land for planes to bother them. Allied convoys have moved up the coast in safety for a long time. But I've been routing convoys from Luganville to Darwin using a more mid-ocean route, between New Guinea and Australia. RO-61 found one such convoy, one bring supply to Darwin from the West Coast directly. 4 torpedoes were fired at xAK James B. McPherson. One hit, and the cargo ship is one of those that can carry some fuel also, so it burned. It sank soon after combat. It's been awhile since I lost a cargo ship to a sub. I'll probably take a more coastal route in the future.

Cruiser New Orleans and destroyer Balch bombarded Broome again, but with little ammo, they did nothing. They retire towards Darwin.

Searaven hit big tanker Kinmon Maru southeast of Mindanao. I believe that this big tanker convoy came from Japan, using a new route east of the Philippines. I've had subs waiting for this possibility. One torpedo of two fired hit the tanker. No fuel loaded, and no damage noted.

The big fight for Roi-Namur. It's been a prolonged struggle, with 1/3 of a US infantry division landing there long ago, having all of its squads disabled immediately, but slowly recovering over time, with no enemy counter-attack. 4 US cruisers and 7 destroyers bombarded, causing 470 casualties. Then more troops landed: a USMC regiment and a USMC tank battalion. It was time for the Marines to save the Army troops. Using APAs and LSTs, landing was accomplished in a day. SBDs and B-25s from nearby bases bombed. Heavy bombers from Tarawa were cancelled due to weather. An SBD was shot down by flak, indicating that the defenders still had supply. The obligatory enemy bombardment caused another 302 casualties to themselves. Then the attack we've been waiting for. How will overstacking do?

Ground combat at Roi-Namur (132,114)

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 8925 troops, 104 guns, 172 vehicles, Assault Value = 340

Defending force 5519 troops, 43 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 58

Allied adjusted assault: 175

Japanese adjusted defense: 12

Allied assault odds: 14 to 1 (fort level 5)

Allied forces CAPTURE Roi-Namur !!!

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

Japanese ground losses:
5709 casualties reported
Squads: 103 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 263 destroyed, 40 disabled
Engineers: 47 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 57 (57 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units destroyed 2

Allied ground losses:
624 casualties reported
Squads: 32 destroyed, 24 disabled
Non Combat: 3 destroyed, 16 disabled
Engineers: 4 destroyed, 2 disabled
Guns lost 13 (2 destroyed, 11 disabled)
Vehicles lost 53 (22 destroyed, 31 disabled)

Assaulting units:
1st USMC Tank Battalion
22nd Marine Regiment
24th Infantry/A Division

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

The Marines finish the fight. It was bloody. Don't know what caused the disruption and fatigue modifiers. The Marines came from the Marshalls, so they didn't travel far. And the Army unit had been resting for weeks on the island, with supply. Regardless, the island with a size 4 airfield is finally taken. The remaining enemy units disappeared due to attrition after the fight. Troops will be reloaded as fast as possible, while more supply will continue to unload. Lesson learned: bring extra troops, bring armor, and bring lots of extra supply for island shock-attack battles. Bomb it repeatedly leading up to the invasion, and bombard it. Basically, throw the kitchen sink at it and some overstacking is ok, with enough supply.

OPilot is traveling this week, but with a laptop to continue the game. Turns will be a bit more sporadic. I have until tomorrow night to do this turn, so I haven't started plotting yet. One thing to note: the audio for "Enemy carriers spotted" was heard during the replay, but I couldn't tell where it was referencing. I hope to have that figured out when I load the turn. If not, I'll have to re-watch the replay.

(in reply to apbarog)

Post #: 1242

RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apba... - 9/23/2019 5:57:46 PM

apbarog

Posts: 3769
Joined: 5/23/2002
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The enemy carriers spotted were at Sorong. It was a poor recon. Just 2 carriers were seen and nothing else. Probably more than 2 carriers. Positioned at Sorong, Timor and even Darwin are at risk. One high speed run towards Darwin is within striking range. There have been many, many Allied ships in port at Darwin. A tempting target. There are still many, but many ships are still hiding one hex away, in task forces, at Bathurst Island. If KB did arrive, the US carrier CAP would be penalized for being in a base hex. I'm having fighters at Darwin do a range 1 CAP, to help cover the ships at Bathurst, just in case.

I don't expect OPilot to do a high risk, high speed run to Darwin. Not his normal method of operations. But I have to be prepared as it could happen.

From Sorong, he's also close enough to Truk to intervene with an Allied landing there. Of course, now that I've seen him at Sorong, he won't be there tomorrow. I think that my feeling that something big was lurking up by Ternate was correct.

The invasion of Ambon is next, to kick off when Wasp and CVEs get to the Darwin area, in a few days.

(in reply to apbarog)

Post #: 1243

RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apba... - 9/25/2019 1:15:29 AM

apbarog

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Joined: 5/23/2002
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4 May 43

All of the Australian brigade finishes unloading at Broome. Extra supply will unload at nearby Derby. 5 US light cruisers bombarded Broome, causing 422 casualties and light base damage. Bombers hit Japanese troops at Broome.

Enemy bombers hit Tavoy. Tojos swept there. No CAP. The airbase is heavily damaged. Sonias hit troops just north of Tavoy, and without escort. Today two Corsair squadrons will LRCAP that hex from Rangoon.

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(in reply to apbarog)

Post #: 1244

RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apba... - 9/26/2019 6:43:36 AM

apbarog

Posts: 3769
Joined: 5/23/2002
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5 May 43

4 US destroyers had been patrolling just off of Broome, protecting transports landing troops there. The transports left yesterday, so the destroyers were ordered to bombard Broome and then head to Darwin. Before they could do so, 3 enemy destroyers appeared. In poor visibility and 0% moonlight, the fight didn't start until the range was just 1,000 yards.

Night Time Surface Combat, near Broome at 62,127, Range 1,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
DD Kuroshio
DD Oyashio
DD Hayashio

Allied Ships
DD Bagley
DD Blue
DD Jarvis
DD Gridley, Shell hits 3

The fight was inconclusive and short. The enemy fled quickly and escaped in the bad weather. Gridley has FLOT 9 and had a radar and small gun damaged. I suspect that the enemy was bringing supply into Broome, but didn't get there. US destroyers are ordered to Darwin. The US light cruiser force that bombarded Broome a few days ago has rearmed at Darwin and is heading back towards Broome.

US cruisers bombarded Mili effectively. Mili Naval Fortress did fire on the ships.

Japanese ground losses:
460 casualties reported
Squads: 4 destroyed, 4 disabled
Non Combat: 24 destroyed, 20 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Guns lost 27 (16 destroyed, 11 disabled)

Airbase hits 1
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 25
Port hits 15
Port fuel hits 1
Port supply hits 5

Mili isn't the next target. Jaluit probably is. I'm mixing up the bombardments in order to not telegraph my intentions.

Sub Pollack hit YO J-3829 with a torpedo and sank the small ship near Tandjoengselor. Sub Trout hit medium tanker Shinetsu Maru near southeast of Davao with two torpedoes, sinking the ship bases on audio. Neither targets had fuel loaded.

Sub Snapper spotted a cargo convoy in the shallows near Hong Kong, but didn't get a shot. Snapper took minor damage from near misses.

The enemy swept and bombed Tavoy. The Sonias joined in at Tavoy instead of hitting the hex to the north, which they did yesterday by themselves. So my Corsair LRCAP didn't find them. I suspect that the Sonias had been targeting an armor unit that I had just moved north out of Tavoy, and the Sonias continued targeting it. Then OPilot realized this and ordered them back to hit Tavoy to join with the others.

Wasp and CVEs moved west of Port Moresby and were not spotted. They'll continue on to Bathurst Island to join the armada. OPilot has subs between New Guinea and Australia, but they are midway to closer to Australia, not near New Guinea. His Glens spot everything headed to Darwin that isn't right on the Australian coast. Or passing close to Port Moresby.

(in reply to apbarog)

Post #: 1245

RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apba... - 9/26/2019 2:47:02 PM

apbarog

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A big enemy carrier task force was once again spotted at Sorong. I've seen it there 3 days in a row. I also spotted what looks like a big battleship task force, and a small ASW task force. This is a normal grouping for OPilot, and could mean a lot of things. An offensive operation could be in the works. Or it is defensive, with being based in a location that can go either west or east to react.

The odd thing to me is that I've seen it 3 days in a row. OPilot knows his carriers have been seen. And yet they are still there. Could be baiting me into attacking?

If he'd seen all of my ships at Bathurst, I would have surely moved them away. I don't know what his intentions are yet. His carriers are too close for me to go to Ambon right now. I still have a few days until Wasp and the CVEs get to the area. Then I'll have to decide.

I won't do Kendari until after Ambon. I could start my western advance towards Java, but troop unit preparation isn't far enough along. Three main targets, and several minor landings, between Timor and Java, are being prepared for. All should be ready about the same time, so things will proceed quickly in that area when it comes time.

I have a destroyer group on the way to Wake Island from Pearl Harbor. I'd like it to be seen at Wake. That might cause a reaction away from Ambon. If not seen, they'll go on a raid north of Truk or south of the Mariannas.

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RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apba... - 9/27/2019 6:37:30 AM

apbarog

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6 May 43

Dutch sub KXIV fired 4 torpedoes at an E-boat just east of Sorong but missed. W-16 hit the sub with a depth charge. KXIV will retire to Darwin, taking a wide course around Sorong to avoid enemy carriers, battleships and escorts.

US cruisers bombarded Jaluit. Rapid replenishment at Tarawa is allowing bombardments almost every day.

Heavy enemy air over Tavoy again.

B-24s from Gove hit Hollandia's airfield for the first time, just because. Light damage in severe storms. No CAP.

The question is: What is going on at Sorong? And should I try to take advantage of enemy carriers at a base hex, with no fighters based at the airfield? I know they've been there for 4 days. OPilot knows that I know. Wasp and multiple CVEs will join the armada at Bathurst very soon.

I'll keep doing recon there and see if fighters show up tomorrow.

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RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apba... - 9/30/2019 12:40:03 AM

apbarog

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7 May 43

5 US light cruisers bombarded Broome to good effect. 733 casualties and light base damage. Wearing down the enemy, and reducing supply, to help the outnumbered Australians that landed at Broome.

The usual enemy bombing in random places in China and near Tavoy.

A big carrier battle may be coming. I commit to moving towards the enemy. Not in range today, unless the enemy carriers leave Sorong. Fighters at Taberfane will help cover the fleet. 2 P-38 squadrons moved to Dobo to rest today and be prepared to sweep Sorong tomorrow. They could help reduce the protection over the carriers, and maybe clear things up for a big strike.

But the question remains: why is KB sitting at Sorong, for 5 days straight and while being spotted every day? Attempt at a trap? Gathering forces for something offensive? Is it just an oversight that there's no land based fighter protection there? I just don't know.

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RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apba... - 9/30/2019 2:45:43 AM

BBfanboy

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The only 2 reasons I can think of for those carriers to sit there is waiting for reinforcements to come in from Japan, or there is not enough fuel at Sorong yet for them to set out on a mission.

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RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apba... - 9/30/2019 9:24:24 PM

apbarog

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8 May 43

Pickerel was patrolling north of Ternate. It spotted AKE Kiso Maru and a patrol boat escort. Two torpedoes were fired at the AKE. One hit. It may have sunk. Odds are that the ship was moving south to Ternate. A possible clue to the enemy's intentions in the area.

It is noticeable that the supply situation in China has gotten worse instead of better. I may have ordered too many Chinese units to take on replacements. I cancel those orders and will monitor the situation.

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RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apba... - 10/1/2019 7:54:25 PM

apbarog

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9 May 43

Heavy enemy air over Tavoy. The airfield hasn't been operational since its capture from the Japanese. More AA and engineers are headed to Tavoy to at least try to repair the damage.

Enemy land based fighters have finally appeared at Sorong, but the carriers and combat task forces have left. Wasp and the CVEs near Taberfane must have spooked them. All carriers are now at Darwin and were spotted. More Wildcats upgraded to Hellcats. APAs that have been hiding at Bathurst Island will now return to Darwin. The invasion of Ambon is now on. All troops for Ambon, including many base support units, are 100% prepped for the target, so everything will go in with the first wave, using as many APAs as possible. Get in and get out. Adjacent Namlea, which is up to a size 2 airfield, will be invaded also, using troops from Taberfane and Dobo. APAs and LSTs are headed there for pickup.

No idea which direction the enemy carriers went. Heavy bombers have moved from Darwin to Koepang and will bomb Kendari a bit before concentrating on Ambon. P-38s are planned to sweep Kendari when that starts in a couple of days.

CV Victorious has been at San Diego, working on a massive refit that has taken months. It will be ready to go within a week. And CV Essex is coming, within 3 weeks.

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RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apba... - 10/1/2019 11:37:55 PM

BBfanboy

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That sounds like a "bait and switch" scam at Sorong- get you to use your CV aircraft to attack Sorong but have a plan to bug out his CVs and fly in LBA fighters to try and decimate your carrier aircraft.

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RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apba... - 10/3/2019 3:06:58 AM

apbarog

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10 May 43

Pollack missed E Otori with 2 torpedoes east of Samarinda, Borneo. An AO is spotted with multiple E-boats. This is notable because the encounter occurred in the coastal hex in the strait east of Samarinda. Confirmation that OPilot is taking the time to plot routes using the shallows. And notable that the Allies are willing to go into the shallows. Sometimes.

Speaking of which, Pogy has success near China (see graphic). Pogy had a few near misses and has SYS 14 FLOT 4, and will return to Darwin.

Enemy air goes after Tavoy, Lanchow, Tienshui and Hengyang, and near Kukong. Allied fighters will try for an ambush over Lanchow, basing from the north and south. Low supply may prevent the fighters from getting off the ground, but we'll try. Another ambush will be attempted just north of Wuchow. If OPilot sticks to a pattern, he'll move the Sonias from the attack near Kukong to just north of Wuchow, just to the west. I've failed at this attempt before, so he doesn't do this every time, but he's done it often.

A poor recon of Truk shows what may be KB and the big battleship group that was at Sorong. Troops for the invasion of Ambon are now loading at Darwin and Taberfane. Other ships have left Darwin and wait at Bathurst Island, the place to disappear in plain sight, while remaining in task forces. Heavy bombers and P-38s will hit Kendari from Koepang.

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RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apba... - 10/4/2019 1:09:43 AM

apbarog

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11 May 43

More enemy air activity over Tavoy.

Big enemy strike on Portland Roads. This area has been quiet for a long time. I had fighter protection here for months but pulled them out, with the emphasis around Timor. But I forgot what I had in port there. Recent Allied shipping in the area, spotted by Glens, brought OPilot's attention to Portland Roads, and he evidently got a good idea that there were targets in port there. Bravo to him. I am reminded how close Lae and Buna are to Australia.

Morning Air attack on Portland Roads , at 91,132

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 28 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M3a Zero x 29
G4M1 Betty x 62

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 1 destroyed by flak

Allied Ships
AVP Fazant, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
AKE Mobile City, Bomb hits 11, heavy fires, heavy damage
AKE San Bernadino, Bomb hits 8, heavy fires, heavy damage
AG Albatros, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
ARD Tandjong Kv-2, Bomb hits 7, heavy fires, heavy damage

Port hits 21
Port fuel hits 4
Port supply hits 2

All ships sank after combat, clearing the port completely of ships. The ARD was a small Dutch one. It's always bad to lose valuable AKEs. These had been somewhat forgotten behind the lines.

My surge of air activity in China did not pay off. The hex north of Wuchow was not attacked, and my air units were spotted, and are ordered back to the capital. In the far north, Lanchow was not attacked, and the Allied fighters were not spotted nearby. They stay. In the south, Allied search planes did spot shipping south of China, but not the big tanker convoy, seeing just a small ship at a base on Hainan Island. The search itself may cause some concern for the enemy. Naval bombers, which didn't fly, were spotted at their bases and are ordered back to Ledo.

Lots of US heavy bombers from Koepang hit Kendari's port and airfield, finding 42 Tonys and 36 Oscars at the start. Unfortunately, the two squadrons of P-38s at Koepang did not fly to Kendari at all. This certainly increased the bomber losses. Total losses for the US were 6 B-24s and 4 B-17s. Enemy losses were 12 Oscars and 9 Tonys in the air, and 5 Bettys, 4 Lilys and 3 transport Helens on the ground. An ACM was destroyed in the port. Most of the bombers need to recover, which is bad for the upcoming invasion of Ambon. The P-38s are once again ordered to go to Kendari.

Sub Paddle hit xAK Sinko Maru with a torpedo near Tanegashima, south of mainland Japan.

Enemy destroyers are spotted west of Timor, southbound towards Broome. Naval bombers at Koepang, within range, didn't fly due to weather.

Invasion shipping for Ambon will leave Darwin and Taberfane and head towards Babar, to rendezvous with the carriers, battleships and escort shipping. Ambon has been showing 6 enemy units, and less than 10,000 men. The US 2nd Marine Division should be able to handle it. A Marine tank battalion, 2 artillery units, and a AA unit, as well as base support and engineers, will all land at once. In a few days.

Carriers and battleships at Truk are not seen today. 3 Fletcher class destroyers, having refueled at Wake Island, are on a raid and will pass close to and southwest of Marcus Island. Marcus is just a size 1 airfield. Odds are, the ships will be spotted. But if not, they'll patrol between Marcus and the Mariannas.

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RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apba... - 10/5/2019 5:59:07 AM

apbarog

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12 May 43

Gar fired 4 torpedoes at TK Noshiro Maru south of Balikpapan. All missed. Albacore fired 2 torpedoes at AO Iro south of Mindanao, but both missed. Pogy spotted an AR being escorted by a patrol boat in the South China Sea west of Luzon, but didn't get a shot.

It was a big day in the air. Corsairs, P-38s and P-40Ks swept Rahaeng and found 119 Oscars to begin with. The Corsairs went in first and did well, as did the P-38Gs. The Warhawks didn't do as well but did ok. I have over 200 P-40Ks in the pool, so I'm willing to use them in less than ideal circumstances, in an effort to eliminate good enemy pilots.

2 P-38 squadrons from Koepang swept Kendari and found 30 Zeros, 5 Oscars and 4 Tonys at start. The P-38s did pretty well. Major F.L. Lawlor got his 16th kill and leads the league now. He was flying a P-38G out of Koepang.

Lilys tried to attack Little Andaman, but found 16 Hurricane IIc Trop's there, and the Lilys didn't have an escort or a sweep to help. Every Lily was shot down.

The enemy came back to Lanchow, finally, and fighters were waiting. 25 Sallys and 25 Lilys came unescorted and found 8 P-43s and 11 P-40Ks on LRCAP with range 2. Many bombers were downed.

Total air losses for the day:

62 Oscars at Rahaeng
48 Lilys at Little Andaman and Lanchow
12 A6M5 Zeros at Kendari
9 Sallys at Lanchow

14 F4Us at Rahaeng
14 P-40Ks at Rahaeng
9 P-38Gs at Rahaeng and Kendari

6 Allied pilots were KIA.

3 Fletcher class destroyers were spotted southwest of Marcus Island. They will move to the northeast of Marcus, on the way back to Midway. Surprise is lost, but maybe they'll cause some reactions.

Most of the Allied carriers were spotted north of Darwin. The armada will come together 4 hexes to the southwest of Ambon.

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RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apba... - 10/5/2019 12:30:31 PM

BBfanboy

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What is the shipping at Kendari and Sorong? Does he have you bracketed by SCTFs when you move on Ambon?

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RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apba... - 10/5/2019 4:42:36 PM

apbarog

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Nothing major at either port. I bombed Kendari's port. Ships in port left after that. Only patrol craft spotted near Kendari. Same for Ambon, but it had KB and battleships just a week ago. I think they went to Truk for a day, and disappeared after that. Search north of Ambon is poor though, so anything could happen.

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RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apba... - 10/6/2019 4:27:55 PM

BBfanboy

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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

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RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apba... - 10/7/2019 11:34:07 PM

apbarog

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13 May 43

A dozen or so P-38s swept Rahaeng and tangled with 68 Oscars. Heavy bombers then hit the base, with other heavies and B-25s hitting adjacent Pisanuloke and Uttaradit. Overall losses were 16 Oscars for 6 P-38s, and about 6 heavy bombers lost.

7 hexes west of Koepang, 3 enemy destroyers are once again spotted, on a southerly course towards contested Broome. 18 TBFs attacked first, carrying bombs, but could hit nothing from 10,000 feet. The pilots, unfortunately, weren't trained in bombing, only in torpedo attacks. 16 Beaufighter VIc's then attacked on the deck. Kuroshio was hit by cannon 16 times, and Hayashio was hit 2 times. No bomb hits, and no damage reported. 18 SBDs then attacked. Oyashio was hit with a 1000 pound bomb and reported heavy fires. Kuroshio was hit by a 1000 pound bomb and no damage noted. If the destroyers keep making runs to Broome, they probably will stay further west next time.

About half of the Ambon armada is spotted. Since there are so many ships here, enough was seen to know that this is a big invasion armada. The ships are 4 hexes southwest of Ambon. Ambon will be invaded, as will adjacent Namlea. Carriers will support from one hex to the southwest.

Nothing spotted in the area to be concerned with. The concern is what isn't being spotted. Once taken, Ambon will become the enemy's point of focus. But the main planned axis of advance after Ambon is towards Java. A jump to Denpassar and Mataram and Banjoewangi is possible, with backfilling after that.

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RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apba... - 10/8/2019 1:06:45 PM

jwolf

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quote:

The concern is what isn't being spotted.

That sounds a little ominous ...

But you are making really great progress, especially at a relatively early point in the war.

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