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

 
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RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apba... - 10/17/2019 1:22:45 AM   
apbarog


Posts: 3769
Joined: 5/23/2002
Status: offline 		21 May 43

Pollack missed a cargo ship near Donggala. Haddock missed an E-boat near Morotai. Plunger missed and E-boat near Donggala. Steelhead hit xAK Myoko Maru near Wenchow, but the one torpedo hit was a dud. Broke a nice string of non-dud hits. Whale hit PB Teimei Maru with 2 torpedoes near Legaspi, sinking the patrol boat. Whale attacked again later in the day, and hit xAK Kiyo Maru with a torpedo, but it was a dud.

US minelayers Tracy and Preble got to Namlea to lay 150 mines, but bad luck continued, and Kongo, Haruna, Hiei and Kirishima and escorts was coming through on the way to Ambon. Tracy was sunk but Preble escaped in bad weather. Unfortunately, Preble retreated to Ambon and that's where the enemy was going, so Preble was tracked down and sunk. The US ships didn't lay their mines. A day sooner, and who knows what could have happened in that minefield. During the daylight, enemy xAPs are spotted at Ambon. No enemy troops unloaded during the day though. Enemy carriers are one hex away to the north, but for some reason, there was no enemy CAP over the battleships and transports at Ambon. Allied medium bombers from Timor hit enemy troops at Ambon and found no enemy fighters.

9 Jills and 23 Zeros from KB went after cargo ships near Lautem. Corsairs and Wildcats were on ranged CAP. The Zeros didn't keep the fighters from getting to the Jills, though, and 9 Jills were shot down. Another raid, just to the south, found 14 Jills with 49 Zeros going after an LST and an SC. Both ships were sunk, with no CAP here. The LST was empty and was returning from unloading at Wetar. I think this was my first LST loss of the war. They are workhorses and there will be losses.

US artillery attacked at Ambon. With enemy troops now probably about to land, I wish I had deliberately attacked. I order the Marines to attack today, but the outcome is uncertain. The enemy is expected to reinforce, and there could be a new division there when the attack happens at the end of the day. But we attack now, while we can.

Ambon could be headed for a stalemate.

My surprise move of naval search and low naval bombers to Nanning in China worked. It was a surprise. A big cargo convoy and a big tanker convoy was spotted. A B-26 squadron attacked the cargo convoy at 1,000 feet. No CAP. And every bomb missed. More bad luck.

Enemy troop strength continues to build in Thailand. Bangkok is up to 63,780 men with 466 guns and 418 vehicles. Rahaeng and vicinity and Chiang Mai are both heavily defended. An enemy stack northwest of Bangkok is over 40,000 men, and just a hex away from trying to cut off the coastal road.

I'm starting to think that my slow, enveloping attack in the Rahaeng area isn't a good idea. If I send so many troops into the jungle, and the enemy loads up Rahaeng and pushes west on the trail, my troops in the jungle would be on their own, with months of walking to safety.

I'm considering going defensive where I am, and pulling back the newly committed troops, and maybe starting planning for a new amphibious operation.




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(in reply to CaptBeefheart)
Post #: 1291
RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apba... - 10/17/2019 1:50:13 AM   
BBfanboy


Posts: 18046
Joined: 8/4/2010
From: Winnipeg, MB
Status: offline 		Too bad about the B-26s missing those ships. I suspect the problem was that they needed Low Naval skill at that altitude and are probably not trained at all in that. At 2000 feet they would have used NavB skill, which is more commonly trained somewhat.

_____________________________

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 #: 1292
RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apba... - 10/17/2019 3:15:16 AM   
apbarog


Posts: 3769
Joined: 5/23/2002
Status: offline 		They had Low Naval training, and flew at 1000 feet. They just missed, unfortunately. If only they were the mighty Beaufighters
that are in Australia!

[EDIT: Weather was thunderstorms, which didn't help.]

< Message edited by apbarog -- 10/17/2019 4:22:43 AM >

(in reply to BBfanboy)
Post #: 1293
RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apba... - 10/18/2019 1:10:00 AM   
apbarog


Posts: 3769
Joined: 5/23/2002
Status: offline 		22 May 43

Near Portland Roads, I-8 fired 4 torpedoes at big AO Kaskaskia, which was empty and heading south to Townsville to pick up fuel for Darwin. One torpedo hit. Kaskaskia is SYS 21/FLOT 33-19/ENG 1/FIRE 0 and will continue to Townsville. Lots of Allied shipping here, in a restricted area, and plenty of subs looking for them. The carrier task force with 3 damaged US carriers was spotted with 4/4 DL. I hoped they'd be seen. The fit carriers are still at Wyndham, being invisible. Damaged battleship Washington is almost to safety, heading for the shallows north of Townsville.

Cruiser Chicago and destroyer Phelps bombarded Broome. 97 casualties. Chicago had been damaged in the Indian Ocean and was repaired at Capetown. It will now make regular bombardment runs to Broome.

22 Bettys with 29 Zero escorts tried to hit Allied troops at Ambon. 6 Spitfires from Namlea intercepted. A Spitfire was lost and the bombers all missed. I moved the Spits back to Lautem. With KB right there, a handful of Spits won't help and will probably be sought out for destruction.

Speaking of which, the enemy didn't move around Ambon. Transports unload part of an infantry division and are still there, as are the battleships escorting. KB stayed in place to the north. Since there's probably more troops to unload, I hatched a plan.

A couple of xAKs have been making regular supply runs from Tulagi to Vangunu. They take a few days to unload. 45 Zeros swept Vangunu today, finding 25 P-40Ks. 11 Warhawks were lost, shooting down 5 A6M5 Zeros. 8 Vals attacked separately, and although there were still 8 Warhawks in the air, they didn't intercept. xAK Autolycus was sunk by 3 bombs, and xAK Aldinga was hit by one bomb. It's now disbanded in port, burning.

Heavy bombers hit Japanese troops at Broome.

Allied troops attacked again at Ambon. Interesting result.

Ground combat at Ambon (76,109)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 15505 troops, 278 guns, 242 vehicles, Assault Value = 490

Defending force 7776 troops, 54 guns, 12 vehicles, Assault Value = 186

Allied adjusted assault: 161

Japanese adjusted defense: 91

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

Allied Assault reduces fortifications to 3

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

Japanese ground losses:
1052 casualties reported
Squads: 51 destroyed, 24 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 12 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Guns lost 13 (8 destroyed, 5 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
259 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 27 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 7 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 1 disabled

Assaulting units:
2nd Marine Division
3rd USMC Tank Battalion
223rd Field Artillery Battalion
9th Marine Defense Battalion
1/532nd Boat&Shore Engineer Battalion
53rd Aus Lt AA Regiment
16th Base Maint Engineer Battalion
23rd USN Special Construction Battalion
1st USMC Field Artillery Battalion
24th USN Special Construction Battalion

Defending units:
III./4th Infantry Battalion
I./4th Infantry Battalion
48th Div /1
29th Fld AA Gun Co
24th Special Base Force
60th JNAF AF Unit
25th JAAF AF Bn

Part of the enemy 48th Division landed, but the attack came off much better than the day before, against far fewer defenders. Instead of a disruption modifier from yesterday, they got an experience one today. I'll take the result and will attack again.

Speaking of which, the enemy didn't move around Ambon. Transports unloaded part of an infantry division and are still there, as are the battleships escorting. KB stayed in place to the north. Since there's probably more troops to unload, I hatched a plan. 157 SBDs were moved to Lautem, 7 hexes from Ambon, hoping to target the battleship and transport task forces. KB is 8 hexes away. The SBDs are set to a range limit of 7. About 70 Wildcats are supposed to escort. About 30 P-38s are supposed to sweep. It would have been nice to use TBFs for the battleships, but their range is 6 with torpedoes. Too far.

[EDIT: Did a massive reorganization in Burma. We'll go defensive there, with many units being pulled out of Rangoon, eventually, to go back to Ceylon. Prepping for all units has begun, prepping for a new amphibious operation. And it isn't Sabang. It may immediately follow the US move to Denpassar and the tip of Java, with US carriers moving to support. We'll see. No chance of advancing in Thailand. OPilot has done a big reinforcement there, combined with all of the units that escaped from Burma and are being rebuilt.]

< Message edited by apbarog -- 10/18/2019 1:19:09 AM >

(in reply to apbarog)
Post #: 1294
RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apba... - 10/18/2019 4:13:33 PM   
BBfanboy


Posts: 18046
Joined: 8/4/2010
From: Winnipeg, MB
Status: offline 		Your bombs will not penetrate the BB deck armour but they can start fires and cause lots of system damage. It takes about 30+ bomb hits to get a BB with enough fires and system damage to burn up. For that reason, 4X 500 lb. bombs from each TBF/TBM are a great contribution, and their bombs will also hurt transports and DDs badly. You also can overwhelm the CAP with bomber numbers but the down side is the greater chance of uncoordinated attack with additional air groups and plane numbers.

Since the waters around Ambon are restricted by the islands, you might also consider mining some hexes, even open ocean ones. Those IJ ships are gonna leave soon.

_____________________________

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 #: 1295
RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apba... - 10/19/2019 2:06:39 AM   
apbarog


Posts: 3769
Joined: 5/23/2002
Status: offline 		I'd just lost a couple of DMs trying to drop mines at Namlea, next to Ambon. Unfortunately, they arrived the same night as the enemy battleships.

23 May 43

Dutch sub KXVII hit AO Erimo with 2 torpedoes near Donggala. The ship was carrying fuel and burned.

Very interesting sighting.

ASW attack near Marcus Island at 123,84

Japanese Ships
DD Shiokaze
BB Mutsu
BB Nagato
CS Nisshin
DD Minekaze
DD Hokaze
DD Yakaze

Allied Ships
SS Pompon

SS Pompon launches 2 torpedoes at DD Shiokaze

Unless there's some elaborate enemy raid going on, these ships are out hunting near Marcus Island. I'd moved a few Fletcher class destroyers around Marcus about a week ago, first southwest of the island, then northeast. With Marcus being just a level one airfield, I didn't have many worries. But my ships were spotted and the raid was called off. OPilot may be still wondering what all that was about.

The 2 P-38 squadrons and the Hellcat squadron didn't sweep Ambon, so no sweepers prior to these attacks.

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Ambon at 76,109

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid detected at 37 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 14 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 19
A6M5b Zero x 14

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 50
SBD-3 Dauntless x 67

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5 Zero: 3 destroyed
A6M5b Zero: 2 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat: 6 destroyed
SBD-3 Dauntless: 1 destroyed, 9 damaged
SBD-3 Dauntless: 1 destroyed by flak

Japanese Ships
BB Kirishima, Bomb hits 1
xAP Kamakura Maru, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires
BB Hiei, Bomb hits 2
xAP Tatsuta Maru, Bomb hits 4, on fire
BB Haruna
DD Takanami, Bomb hits 1, on fire
BB Kongo

Japanese ground losses:
253 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 6 disabled
Non Combat: 3 destroyed, 27 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 12 (1 destroyed, 11 disabled)

and

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Ambon at 76,109

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid detected at 35 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 13 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 8
A6M5b Zero x 6

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 18
SBD-3 Dauntless x 30

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5b Zero: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
SBD-3 Dauntless: 5 destroyed, 8 damaged

Japanese Ships
BB Kirishima
BB Haruna
BB Hiei, Bomb hits 1

It's notable that a 15cm gun on Hiei was reportedly destroyed. Total air losses were 22 SBDs and 16 Wildcats for 11 Zeros. Not sure the cost was worth it. Depends on how much of the enemy division is destroyed.

Today's ground attack at Ambon wasn't as good as yesterday's, but not bad.

Ground combat at Ambon (76,109)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 15324 troops, 278 guns, 242 vehicles, Assault Value = 471

Defending force 9060 troops, 47 guns, 12 vehicles, Assault Value = 257

Allied adjusted assault: 154

Japanese adjusted defense: 166

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

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

Japanese ground losses:
297 casualties reported
Squads: 28 destroyed, 3 disabled
Non Combat: 3 destroyed, 6 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Guns lost 9 (5 destroyed, 4 disabled)
Vehicles lost 3 (2 destroyed, 1 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
124 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 11 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Vehicles lost 14 (1 destroyed, 13 disabled)

Troops will rest to recover disruption and fatigue. I'll need to move supply into Ambon if given the opportunity.

(in reply to BBfanboy)
Post #: 1296
RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apba... - 10/20/2019 3:02:17 AM   
apbarog


Posts: 3769
Joined: 5/23/2002
Status: offline 		24 May 43

S-34 was given a tough mission. Go to the shallows of Ambon, with many ships there and KB close. It was spotted by the battleship TF and hit with a depth charge. It should survive the trip back to Darwin.

Lots of enemy E-boat activity between Manado and Ambon, trying to clear the way of Allied subs.

Enemy battleship TF bombarded US troops on Ambon, but caused just 91 casualties and little disruption. Troops will attack today.

A British TF with 3 excellent sub-hunting DEs tracked down I-37 west of Rangoon and hit it with 3 depth charges. No sign of sinking, but it's in bad shape.

I had a sneaky plan for Manado today. I'm pretty sure that KB and other ships are headed to Manado from Ambon. I've done recon of other bases, and they've been basically empty. Manado is a hive of activity. I've never used air-dropped mines before, but this is a great situation. KB could arrive there, but during the daylight . The mines would drop at night. As we all know, the enemy gets a message that the mines were dropped there, but it's too late for any ships arriving late in the day. It would be almost a dirty trick. But alas, Manado is not a "city" so a mine attack cannot be ordered. Too bad. I've never used air-dropped mines, but I will, sometime.




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(in reply to apbarog)
Post #: 1297
RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apba... - 10/21/2019 1:35:41 AM   
apbarog


Posts: 3769
Joined: 5/23/2002
Status: offline 		25 May 43

Snapper fired 4 torpedoes at destroyer Naganami but missed. Naganami is part of the battleship task force that bombarded Ambon, and has now gone to Manado. Tunny hit xAP Tatsuta Maru with a dud torpedo northwest of Ambon. The ship is already damaged by divebombers, and still has men loaded. Missed opportunity. Not far to the east, Haddock hit xAP Koan Maru with a torpedo, causing heavy damage. There are troops on this ship, which may have been coming from Babeldaob.

Mitchell IIs and Marauders bombed Ambon's troops.

B-24s hit troops on Jaluit. Loading for a reinforcing invasion of Jaluit has begun at Tabiteuea, and will continue at Tarawa tomorrow.

US troops attacked again at Ambon. Decent results.

Ground combat at Ambon (76,109)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 15984 troops, 280 guns, 242 vehicles, Assault Value = 469

Defending force 8917 troops, 55 guns, 13 vehicles, Assault Value = 263

Allied engineers reduce fortifications to 2

Allied adjusted assault: 92

Japanese adjusted defense: 175

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

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

Japanese ground losses:
424 casualties reported
Squads: 12 destroyed, 11 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 20 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled
Guns lost 14 (8 destroyed, 6 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
224 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 30 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 2 (1 destroyed, 1 disabled)
Vehicles lost 5 (1 destroyed, 4 disabled)

Assaulting units:
2nd Marine Division
3rd USMC Tank Battalion
1st USMC Field Artillery Battalion
223rd Field Artillery Battalion
23rd USN Special Construction Battalion
9th Marine Defense Battalion
53rd Aus Lt AA Regiment
1/532nd Boat&Shore Engineer Battalion
16th Base Maint Engineer Battalion
24th USN Special Construction Battalion

Defending units:
I./4th Infantry Battalion
48th Division
III./4th Infantry Battalion
24th Special Base Force
29th Fld AA Gun Co
60th JNAF AF Unit
25th JAAF AF Bn

I estimate that about 2/3 of the enemy's 48th Division had unloaded at Ambon. Probably missing a lot of guns and vehicles.

KB is about 5 hexes to the northwest of Ambon, covering the retreating ships going to Manado, and staying within range of Ambon. APDs at Lautem will try to deliver supply to Ambon by fast transport tonight.




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(in reply to apbarog)
Post #: 1298
RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apba... - 10/22/2019 2:34:36 AM   
apbarog


Posts: 3769
Joined: 5/23/2002
Status: offline 		26 May 43

Lots of US sub versus Japanese E-boat action between Ambon and Manado. US APDs delivered fast transport supply to troops on Ambon. On the way out, an enemy sub hit APD Pope with a torpedo and sank her. The sub was reported to be I-124, but I've gotten lots of wrong reports about the enemy minelaying subs, so I doubt it was I-124. The APDs retired to Lautem.

Lots of enemy air activity over Lanchow in northern China. The enemy has massed just to the east. It won't be long now. They have a river crossing to deal with. A fresh Chinese unit just got to Lanchow from the south. But against an enemy tank division, it may not matter.

I've been flying medium bomber raids from Dili to Ambon. I got too predictable. OPilot put Zeros over Ambon, flying LRCAP from KB 3 hexes away. 17 Dutch Mitchell II's and 8 US B-26s were lost. They shot down 3 Zeros. Revenge comes today. 2 Hellcat units from Lautem and P-38s from Koepang will sweep Ambon. No bombers assigned. Let's get some KB fighter pilots.

Enemy destroyers at Victoria Point disappeared today.

I-165 was patrolling west of Rangoon, on the route north to Calcutta. It spotted xAK Boero without escort, and hit it with shells and 2 torpedoes. Boero and other xAKs were headed to Rangoon to help extract troops for a future amphibious invasion. I very rarely move cargo ships without at least one escort. I didn't intend to here, but I apparently did.

A task force of Fletcher class destroyers will move north from Wyndham, and set up within range of a full speed run into Ambon. I suspect at least one AK is inbound, and it'll probably be there more than one day.

Essex appeared in Panama. It's the first of many new improved carriers. But it'll be awhile until another appears.




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(in reply to apbarog)
Post #: 1299
RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apba... - 10/23/2019 4:31:38 AM   
apbarog


Posts: 3769
Joined: 5/23/2002
Status: offline 		27 May 43

US cruisers Chester and Northampton, with 7 destroyers, bombarded Jaluit, causing 517 casualties, including a fair number of destroyed devices. Jaluit gets bombed regularly, and there's nowhere to hide on the clear terrain.

Gudgeon fired 4 torpedoes at destroyer Kagero near Manado. They missed. KB is now at Manado, along with the battleship TF, a big AO TF, and many other ships.

Enemy bombers and fighters hit Great Nicobar in the Andamans for the first time. Great Nicobar is the southernmost island, closest to Sabang. When it got built to a size 1 airfield, it got noticed. It will serve as something for the enemy to hit.

The enemy air offensive in Northern China continued, with almost 100 bombers hitting Kungchang, south of Lanchow. Heavy airbase damage. Little Chinese supply in this area. Chungking has extra supply now, but getting it to flow to the north is proving difficult. Still too many closer bases and units that need it, and there's just a trail for it to flow on.

Another attack by the Marines on Ambon. Got a radical change in adjusted assault values today, for the worse.

Ground combat at Ambon (76,109)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 15950 troops, 279 guns, 241 vehicles, Assault Value = 460

Defending force 8780 troops, 56 guns, 13 vehicles, Assault Value = 262

Allied adjusted assault: 71

Japanese adjusted defense: 580

Allied assault odds: 1 to 8 (fort level 2)

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

Japanese ground losses:
833 casualties reported
Squads: 7 destroyed, 40 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 27 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Guns lost 7 (6 destroyed, 1 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
468 casualties reported
Squads: 4 destroyed, 54 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 8 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled

Assaulting units:
2nd Marine Division
3rd USMC Tank Battalion
9th Marine Defense Battalion
1/532nd Boat&Shore Engineer Battalion
1st USMC Field Artillery Battalion
23rd USN Special Construction Battalion
53rd Aus Lt AA Regiment
16th Base Maint Engineer Battalion
223rd Field Artillery Battalion
24th USN Special Construction Battalion

Defending units:
48th Division
I./4th Infantry Battalion
III./4th Infantry Battalion
29th Fld AA Gun Co
24th Special Base Force
60th JNAF AF Unit
25th JAAF AF Bn

US artillery will continue to bombard, and the Marines will pause for a bit.

Adjacent Namlea is a size 2 US base. It was enemy held, but a US regiment landed there when the Marines landed on Ambon. Namlea autoflipped. OPilot may not think anything actually landed there, with the autoflip. I've had Catalinas there searching, seeing everything up to Manado. Today I moved some SBDs in. With KB moving north to Manado, there's some xAPs at Ternate that are in SBD range. If KB doesn't move back south, we may get a surprise strike in today.




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(in reply to apbarog)
Post #: 1300
RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apba... - 10/23/2019 5:28:00 AM   
apbarog


Posts: 3769
Joined: 5/23/2002
Status: offline 		An interesting side note: I was notified that some enemy ship had been sunk in March 1942. That was 14 months ago. I had thought that the upper limit for this information was far less time. Maybe there isn't a limit! Cool to see.

(in reply to apbarog)
Post #: 1301
RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apba... - 10/23/2019 1:16:08 PM   
jwolf

 

Posts: 2493
Joined: 12/3/2013
Status: offline 		It's rare to have a time lag that long, but I have seen a few longer than a year. I believe the longest I've had is on the order of 18 months but that is just hazy memory.

(in reply to apbarog)
Post #: 1302
RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apba... - 10/23/2019 11:47:56 PM   
apbarog


Posts: 3769
Joined: 5/23/2002
Status: offline 		28 May 43

Destroyer Patterson hit I-10 with 2 depth charges east of Rockhampton. Sub Lapon hit xAK Turuga Maru with a torpedo near Wenchow. Probably a big convoy or convoys here, with heavy SigInt in the hex also. E-boat W-16 hit sub Tunny with 3 depth charges near Ternate. KB moved to this hex also, adjacent to Ternate. Tunny is SYS 15/FLOT 77-60/ENG 2/FIRE 0, and may or may not make it home. It has a few hexes of very dangerous waters to go through, with heavy E-boat presence, as well as KB. In my experience, 3 depth charges usually sinks a sub, but Tunny has a chance to make it.

Lanchow is bombed heavily, with Oscar escorts. The base to the south is out of action from bombing also. Today I moved fighters to the base north of Lanchow, where supply is more limited, but will try to intercept over Lanchow.

36 Oscars swept Magwe, behind the lines in Burma. 16 Hurricanes were on CAP, protecting the bomber base. Then 28 Sallys with 42 Oscars appeared. The base took moderate damage, with a B-25 destroyed on the ground, but 8 Oscars were downed for the loss of just one Hurricane.

Heavy Allied bombing of Chiang Mai. Only moderate damage in bad weather. No CAP.

The redeployment of units out of Burma back to Ceylon continues. A strong cruiser force arrived at Rangoon to protect.

The SBDs at Namlea didn't fly today, although the enemy xAPs were still at Ternate. It's probably a good idea they didn't, as KB left Manado and moved adjacent to Ternate, probably to cover the transports. I moved the SBDs out of Namlea after that.

The re-invasion of Jaluit will happen today.

(in reply to jwolf)
Post #: 1303
RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apba... - 10/26/2019 2:30:50 AM   
apbarog


Posts: 3769
Joined: 5/23/2002
Status: offline 		29 May 43

The area between Manado, Ternate and Ambon is just a cauldron of US sub versus Japanese ASW activity. KB and battleships are north of Ambon now, with an AK task force following, probably headed to Ambon. SigInt says that the 38th Division is headed to Davao. OPilot could be attending to the deeper defenses, or troops are moving up on the way to the Ambon area.

US destroyers discovered mines in the shallow water northeast of Lautem, Timor. None were hit.

Stingray was hit by a depth charge near Cam Ranh Bay. A transport TF was spotted. I have multiple subs in the shallow water east and northeast of Singapore, and they aren't spotting anything. I'm starting to think that the big tanker convoys to Japan aren't loading up at Singapore, but are doing so at Cam Ranh Bay. I don't know how well that works for the Japanese. The port is big but isn't Singapore. The question is whether enough fuel and oil can be pulled there from Singapore. I don't know the answer to that. My guess is yes to fuel, no to oil.

Some of the enemy fighters at Bangkok have moved north to Rahaeng. Now over 120 fighters there.

Cruisers Salt Lake City and Louisville bombarded Jaluit. Troops land. Bombers bomb. US troops attack, and it's an easy capture. The enemy has very little combat capabilities left. They've been bombarded and bombed for weeks, and don't have enough supply. We erred on the side of too many men this time, using the formula that worked for Roi Namur. But it did work. No US casualties noted. Troops will load up and head back to Tabiteuea, where the 3 parts of the 24th Infantry Division will reform (after the Eniwetok invasion, for the other part).

Ground combat at Jaluit (134,120)

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 7949 troops, 123 guns, 162 vehicles, Assault Value = 265

Defending force 1253 troops, 19 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 3

Allied adjusted assault: 153

Japanese adjusted defense: 1

Allied assault odds: 153 to 1 (fort level 3)

Allied forces CAPTURE Jaluit !!!

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

Japanese ground losses:
1353 casualties reported
Squads: 58 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 143 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 12 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 23 (23 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units destroyed 3

Assaulting units:
2nd USMC Tank Battalion
24th Infantry/B Division
24th Infantry/A Div /1

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

(in reply to apbarog)
Post #: 1304
RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apba... - 10/27/2019 1:18:04 AM   
apbarog


Posts: 3769
Joined: 5/23/2002
Status: offline 		30 May 43

In a rare occurrence, Dutch sub KXIII torpedoed I-3 near Ambon. In an even rarer occurrence, the enemy sub wasn't reportedly sunk, and no sinking audio later in the turn.

US cruisers bombarded Mili. With Jaluit taken, I'm paying some attention to nearby Mili, but the next invasion in the area will be Eniwetok.

Pogy hit E-boat Saishu with a dud torpedo near Manado.

My move of fighters to northern China didn't catch anything, as the enemy didn't fly. But they did today. First a fragmented Oscar sweep of 10 Oscars arrived. 7 Chinese P-40Es, 11 US P-40Ks and 17 Chinese P-43As intercepted. Some Oscars were downed. Then a raid of 23 Sallys, 5 Lilys and 15 Oscars arrived. Lots of enemy downed. Then 20 Lilys and 5 Helens, and more planes destroyed. Finally a big sweep of 35 Oscars, which downed some tired Allied planes. With no Allied fighters still over Lanchow, another raid of 20 Helens arrived, hitting the airfield. The Allied planes were not based at Lanchow, or the base to the south, as both are heavily damaged. They were based to the north, where OPilot hasn't looked so far. That will probably change today.

Over China, 2 LT R.D. Keator got his 10th kill in a P-40K. FO C. Chu was KIA after totaling 7 kills, 2nd most for any Chinese pilot.

Total air losses today were 23 Lilys, 17 Oscars, 5 Helens and 5 Sallys for the cost of 4 P-40Ks and 3 P-43As.

KB was not seen today, nor were the battleships, probably due to weather. Nothing was seen at Ambon, and that AK task force northwest of Ambon stayed in place. Not sure what's going on here.

(in reply to apbarog)
Post #: 1305
RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apba... - 10/27/2019 10:27:29 PM   
apbarog


Posts: 3769
Joined: 5/23/2002
Status: offline 		31 May 43

Another month ends.

More sub versus anti-sub action between Ambon and Manado. Pogy is damaged by Lilys which are very active at Manado. LBs are spotted south of Manado. Perch hit E-boat W-26 with a torpedo, probably sinking it.

More enemy attention at Lanchow. And OPilot did recon the base north of Lanchow for the first time.

British carrier Victorious will arrive at Tabiteuea. Troops are being extracted from conquered Jaluit. When the APAs are back at Tarawa, loading for Eniwetok will begin.

KB and battleships are back at Manado, after sitting north of Ambon for a few days.

(in reply to apbarog)
Post #: 1306
RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apba... - 10/29/2019 12:05:43 AM   
apbarog


Posts: 3769
Joined: 5/23/2002
Status: offline 		1 Jun 43

A new month. Lots of upgrades for subs and xAKs. Brit battleships also.

Heavy bombers from Koepang hit Ambon's troops, but do little in poor weather.

Enemy strikes at Tavoy and Lanchow.

KB and friends are north of Ambon again. I had moved SBDs to Namlea, and once again, they didn't fly due to bad weather there. Probably a good thing, again. Yesterday, there was just subchasers in range.




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Post #: 1307
RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apba... - 10/30/2019 12:07:14 AM   
apbarog


Posts: 3769
Joined: 5/23/2002
Status: offline 		2 Jun 43

Halibut missed destroyer Kamikaze with 2 torpedoes north of Ambon. Tuna hit I-3 with 2 torpedoes southwest of Ambon. I-3 was reportedly hit by a Dutch sub torpedo yesterday, but I have doubts as to it being the same target today. There was sinking audio today. Spearfish fired 4 torpedoes at destroyer Yunagi and missed. Yunagi is in the same task force as Kamikaze. Spearfish was hit by a depth charge. Perch fired 2 torpedoes at a patrol boat in the same area. The PB is escorting LBs to Ambon, apparently. Halibut missed an E-boat with 2 torpedoes in the same spot.

Then Scamp fired 6 torpedoes at carrier Unryu north of Ambon. One hit, but was a dud. Then S-39 fired 4 torpedoes at carrier Kaga, and one hit, but it also was a dud. Such bad luck! Even had a dud with an "S" boat, carrying "working" torpedoes.

Many B-24s flew from Dili to Manado, finding no CAP, just as recon had reported. 8 Lilys and 3 Vals were destroyed on the ground, and the airbase took moderate to severe damage. One squadron hit the port, doing minor damage. OPilot continues to keep his support ships in task forces, not disbanded in port, where I can hit them with heavy bombers.

The enemy river crossing assault finally comes at Lanchow, in northern China. Losing Lanchow would cut China in two.

Ground combat at Lanchow (81,34)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 32851 troops, 273 guns, 467 vehicles, Assault Value = 1172

Defending force 34967 troops, 172 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 994

Japanese adjusted assault: 817

Allied adjusted defense: 2469

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

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

Japanese ground losses:
3234 casualties reported
Squads: 45 destroyed, 347 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 103 disabled
Engineers: 24 destroyed, 10 disabled
Guns lost 39 (5 destroyed, 34 disabled)
Vehicles lost 80 (2 destroyed, 78 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
961 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 105 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 47 disabled
Engineers: 3 destroyed, 11 disabled
Guns lost 17 (1 destroyed, 16 disabled)

Assaulting units:
3rd Tank Division
8th Ind.Mixed Brigade
2nd Ind.Mixed Brigade
62nd Division
7th Mongol Cavalry Division
3rd Cavalry Brigade

Defending units:
8th Route Army
7th Construction Regiment
2nd Chinese Cavalry Corps
71st Chinese Corps
8th New Chinese Corps
2nd Construction Regiment
37th Group Army
56th AT Gun Regiment
36th Group Army
8th War Area
8th Chinese Base Force

The Chinese hold! There were two keys to making this happen. First, a strong Chinese corp was moved into Lanchow just several days ago. Second, and most importantly, I got a "chunk" of supply pulled out of the Burma Road. It got to Chungking, and, in the past week, got pulled up into the north. This was the first major resupply in Northern China in over a year. And it happened just a week ago, just in the nick of time. Enemy movement shows a retreat out of Lanchow. Could be just a damaged unit or could be a general retreat. Supply at Lanchow is very difficult for the enemy too.

This kind of battle, which developed over months, just feels right for fighting in China. No blitzkrieg here, even using the Japanese tank division. In another part of China, in clear terrain, I'm sure the enemy tanks can just roll over Chinese infantry units. But at Lanchow, the supply line for the Japanese is very long. Maybe too long.

Combined with our use of stacking limits, this war in China feels "reasonable". Which, of course, is subjective and just my opinion.

(in reply to apbarog)
Post #: 1308
RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apba... - 10/30/2019 10:10:13 PM   
apbarog


Posts: 3769
Joined: 5/23/2002
Status: offline 		3 Jun 43

S-27 missed a destroyer escorting KB near Ambon. KB moved northeast of Ambon, and the battleship TF is with it. LBs may have moved into Ambon and back out, with them now at Namlea. No enemy ships hit mines at Namlea.

Muskallunge spots a huge tanker convoy near the Vietnam coast. OPilot is still using the coastal route. I've moved several subs that were east of Singapore, with them now from the Vietnam coast up to Hainan Island.

Enemy ships that were at Victoria Point bombarded Tavoy. Very light damage. An Indian coastal gun unit moved to Tavoy recently and engaged the enemy, but didn't hit anything.

S-42 missed a small tanker north of Manado.

20 Bettys from Sorong bombed Namlea. Minor airbase damage.

About 14 P-66s and 12 Hurricanes moved to Kweilin, and the enemy showed up, with 26 Sallys escorted by 42 Oscars. The Oscars didn't protect the bombers for long, and the fighters got into the bombers. The P-66s damaged bombers, mostly, while the Hurricanes got the kills. Total air losses for the day were 13 Sallys and 1 Oscar for the cost of 1 P-66.

(in reply to apbarog)
Post #: 1309
RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apba... - 10/31/2019 6:42:54 AM   
apbarog


Posts: 3769
Joined: 5/23/2002
Status: offline 		4 Jun 43

Enemy subs reappear near northeastern Australia. No luck so far with any hitting mines rounding the corner to Rabaul at Milne Bay. More sub and anti-sub activity north of Ambon. KB moved a bit north and east. I can't tell if transports are headed to Ambon or somewhere else, or it's just a big show.

Super long range Liberator GR.IIIs flew from Koepang on Timor to Miri on Borneo, aiming for the oil fields for the first time. Just a squadron of 12 is at Koepang, and they flew in thunderstorms. One oil is reportedly damaged, but a mouseover of Miri shows no damage. I wanted to show a deep raid and maybe get some fighters moved there instead of somewhere else. I don't plan big raids to Miri anytime soon. Need to get closer.

Loading at Tarawa for Eniwetok has begun. Loading will take a day or two. Just one carrier will cover the landing, British carrier Victorious. With KB near Ambon, I'm hoping that Eniwetok is far enough away from Truk for a quick landing.

SigInt reports that the 48th Division is on a destroyer and is headed to Manado. It could be loading at Manado also. I expect more enemy troops to go to Ambon, protected by KB.

(in reply to apbarog)
Post #: 1310
RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apba... - 11/1/2019 2:26:28 AM   
apbarog


Posts: 3769
Joined: 5/23/2002
Status: offline 		6 Jun 43

Dutch sub KXIII is patrolling the shallow waters of Ambon. It spots a big battleship task force, but missed destroyer Naganami with 2 torpedoes. The sub takes some minor damage. Then it attacked again, but missed destroyer Matsukaze with 2 torpedoes. The sub takes more minor damage, and is lucky to not get hit with a depth charge. The sub will head back to Darwin.

Turned out there were 4 battleships in the task force, and they bombarded the Marines on Ambon. Damage was amazingly light, with just 91 casualties.

Dutch sub O16 hit E-boat Susuki north of Ambon, sinking the ship. The dance continues. Perch got a shot at destroyer Onami, but missed with 4 torpedoes. Onami is part of the battleship task force that retired to Manado. KB returned to Manado also. So lots of ships made it through the mines just east of Manado. Not enough mines, and in deep water, they are disappearing quickly.

Enemy ships, however, are still at Ambon. A big task force, and several smaller ones. 8 Fletcher destroyers are at Lautem, 7 hexes away. They are ordered to run to Ambon at full speed and engage the enemy, then return to Lautem. Large numbers of SBDs move to Lautem. Hellcats will sweep Ambon, and others will escort the SBDs, if the enemy ships are still at Ambon.

P-47s have arrived at Rockhampton, delivered by ship from the West Coast. They'll move to Darwin when able.

(in reply to apbarog)
Post #: 1311
RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apba... - 11/2/2019 6:26:33 AM   
apbarog


Posts: 3769
Joined: 5/23/2002
Status: offline 		6 Jun 43

8 Fletcher destroyers make the run from Lautem to Ambon. On the way, they run over I-182. The sub missed destroyer Bache with 2 torpedoes, then is hit with 2 depth charges over 2 separate attacks. The sub is not reported to be sunk, yet. The destroyers get to Ambon and find no enemy ships still there, but find I-2 there, and hit it with a depth charge and cause heavy damage in the shallow water. The Fletchers head back to Lautem.

Cruiser Chicago and 5 destroyers bombarded Broome. The enemy still outnumbers the Allies there, but reinforcements are approaching on the trail to the east.

3 squadrons of B-24s from Tarawa hit Eniwetok. The P-38s at Roi Namur did not sweep the target as planned. 4 Liberators are downed by a defending CAP of 15 A6M5 Zeros. One Zero is shot down. Little damage is done to the airfield. One search plane is destroyed on the ground. The Eniwetok invasion armada is headed north to Kwajalein, then it will move on to Eniwetok.

KB and enemy battleships are still at Manado. More Allied sub mines are dropped at Namlea, pushing the total there over 100.

Early planning has begun for 2 Chinese offensives. It'll be awhile, but troops are preparing and taking on reinforcements. Supply in China is now almost adequate. I'm hoping it becomes more than adequate. Burma Road bases continue to expand in size, with the smallest pulling a maximum of 700 supply a day.

(in reply to apbarog)
Post #: 1312
RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apba... - 11/3/2019 6:47:23 AM   
apbarog


Posts: 3769
Joined: 5/23/2002
Status: offline 		7 Jun 43

Cruiser Chicago bombarded Broome again. It will do so every day from now on, rearming at nearby Derby. Allied reinforcements are approaching Broome from the east, and an Allied attack will occur after they arrive. Bombers hit enemy at Broome every day also.

Lots of enemy air activity at Lanchow, as usual.

25 P-38s swept Eniwetok, finding just 5 Zeros. 3 are shot down. The Eniwetok invasion armada is approaching Kwajalein. Carrier Victorious is supporting. I wouldn't mind if the armada is seen soon, if that pulls KB this direction.




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Post #: 1313
RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apba... - 11/4/2019 1:42:24 AM   
apbarog


Posts: 3769
Joined: 5/23/2002
Status: offline 		8 Jun 43

The ABDA light cruiser group moved to Ambon but didn't find any shipping. They were spotted by a sub. The APD task force moved to Namlea and APD Stringham hit an enemy mine an sank. Several hundred supply was delivered to Namlea. The mine hit was interesting. I've been mining the hex by sub, and now I know that the enemy is mining also. Namlea is a US base, and is on the direct route from Manado to Ambon. OPilot must not be planning to run task forces to Ambon through Namlea, if at all. KB was at Manado. Now it is back to the north of Ambon, along with the escorting battleship task force.

Things didn't go as planned at Kendari. First, the 8 Fletcher subs moved to Kendari and quickly sank a patrol boat. I had thought that a CM group was moving to Kendari. It turned out to be something else.

Night Time Surface Combat, near Kendari at 70,106, Range 29,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
E Chidori
E Manazuru
E Hatsukari
xAK Kogyo Maru
xAK Kyusyu Maru
xAK Sinko Maru
xAK Tatutaki Maru
xAK Teiyo Maru

Allied Ships
DD Fletcher
DD Aulick
DD Bache
DD DeHaven
DD Jenkins
DD O'Bannon
DD Stanly
DD Waller


Maximum visibility in Overcast Conditions and 39% moonlight: 8,000 yards
Range closes to 27,000 yards...
Range closes to 25,000 yards...
CONTACT: Allies radar detects Japanese task force at 25,000 yards
Range increases to 28,000 yards...
Range increases to 29,000 yards...
Japanese Task Force Manages to Escape
Japanese Cargo TF evades combat

A nice juicy target, but they got away. Things happen, occasionally. The enemy task force retreated to the southeast one hex, which just happened to be on the route for the Fletchers to go back to Lautem.

Day Time Surface Combat, near Kendari at 70,107, Range 29,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
E Chidori
E Manazuru
E Hatsukari
xAK Kogyo Maru
xAK Kyusyu Maru
xAK Sinko Maru
xAK Tatutaki Maru
xAK Teiyo Maru

Allied Ships
DD Fletcher
DD Aulick
DD Bache
DD DeHaven
DD Jenkins
DD O'Bannon
DD Stanly
DD Waller

Maximum visibility in Overcast Conditions: 20,000 yards
Range closes to 27,000 yards...
Range closes to 25,000 yards...
CONTACT: Allies radar detects Japanese task force at 25,000 yards
Range increases to 28,000 yards...
Range increases to 29,000 yards...
Japanese Cargo TF evades combat

And it happened again! This could be just bad luck. The US task force commander was very good. Just speculation, but maybe the enemy has a higher chance of evasion if the attackers are returning to base. Who knows. All I know is that a nice bunch of targets got away. Twice.

In the morning, 31 Hellcats from Timor swept Kendari, and found 42 Oscars and 36 Tonys. The Hellcats did ok. There were losses on both sides. Heavy bombers then attacked Kendari, finding about 36 enemy fighters still flying. Damage was very light to the base in severe storms. Then 25 P-38s from Timor swept Kendari, and did well against 20 Tonys and 8 Oscars. Finally, in the afternoon, SBD-5s, with a range of 8, attacked the shipping that eluded the Fletchers.

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Kendari at 70,106

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid detected at 31 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-IIb Oscar x 9
Ki-61-Ia Tony x 9

Allied aircraft
F6F-3 Hellcat x 24
SBD-5 Dauntless x 32

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
F6F-3 Hellcat: 2 destroyed
SBD-5 Dauntless: 1 destroyed, 7 damaged

Japanese Ships
xAK Tatutaki Maru, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires
xAK Sinko Maru, Bomb hits 1
xAK Kogyo Maru, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires
xAK Kyusyu Maru

Accuracy wasn't great in the rain, but at least some hits were achieved. One cargo ship is believed to have sunk. Total air losses for the day were 30 Oscars and 25 Tonys for the cost of 16 F6Fs, a P-38 and an SBD-5. 4 pilots became an ace over Kendari.

The big amphibious task force headed to Eniwetok was spotted with limited detection levels. Carrier Victorious and escorting task forces were not spotted. But with the location being northwest of Roi Namur, it's pretty obvious where the APAs are heading. The armada will move to within 2 hexes of Eniwetok today.

(in reply to apbarog)
Post #: 1314
RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apba... - 11/5/2019 6:04:23 AM   
apbarog


Posts: 3769
Joined: 5/23/2002
Status: offline 		9 Jun 43

Dutch sub spotted what looks like the big battleship task force north of Ambon. Haddock missed E-boat Saishu near Morotai. KXVII missed AO Shioya near Tandjoengselor. There's a steady stream of AOs and TKs between Balikpapan and Manado. And there are many Allied subs there.

Chicago bombarded Broome again, with light damage to the troops and base. An Australian brigade just reinforced at Broome, and the Allied troops there will attack. Heavy bombers are supporting.

Grenadier spotted an xAK task force off the coast of Vietnam. 2 torpedoes were fired at xAK Sydney Maru. One hit, and the ship was carrying oil, and is now burning.

The big armada is mostly spotted one hex from Eniwetok. The carrier task force, with just one carrier, Victorious, got 2/2 detection. But there's no doubt what's going on here. The invasion occurs today. It would be nice to see KB come running from north of Ambon, but I consider it unlikely. I can't rule out another carrier force coming elsewhere, like Saipan. There aren't any carrier at Truk. With little warning of what was going to Eniwetok, the invasion is probably ok. Fletcher destroyers are protecting. There will be a limited bombardment with just one cruiser. This isn't the "A Team" here. Not even the "B Team". But lessons were learned in previous landings in the Marshalls. The formula for a 6,000 men stacking limit will be applied again: 2 infantry regiments and one armor unit, with extra supply landing immediately.

As stated, KB is back to the north of Ambon. I'm a bit more concerned today about a possible strike by KB to the south, towards Timor. I can't rule out a strike even to Darwin. It's within full speed sprint range. But I had both the Fletcher TF and the ABDA cruiser TF at Lautem, and they are spotted. I'm moving them to Koepang for better protection, and to guard civilian shipping there. Lots of naval bombers are ready on Timor (and at Darwin). Some APAs were spotted nearing Koepang. I'm diverting all of the next invasion shipping to Roti, where the ships will disband in port and hopefully hide in the size one port there. Koepang gets recon every day, and KB will definitely not leave the area if there's too much activity at Timor.

I am trying to alarm OPilot. Recon Liberators were sent to Ponape, and they will recon Saipan, Guam and Tinian for the first time. With the armada near Eniwetok, this could get the alarm bells ringing. I've done invasions in the past where one landing occurred, and then the armada continued on to another landing. Port Blair and the Rangoon was like that. Maybe I can get some shipping to move to the perceived threat.

(in reply to apbarog)
Post #: 1315
RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apba... - 11/5/2019 12:41:28 PM   
HvMoltke


Posts: 111
Joined: 10/4/2003
From: Munich/Bavaria
Status: offline 		Hi apbarog
Maybe it sounds strange to you, but I`d like to know how you make all those screenshots, and as far as I can see parts of screenshots. What program do you use for this?
I tried it with Greenshot and paint, but did not succeed in producing something as impressive as you did.

(in reply to apbarog)
Post #: 1316
RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apba... - 11/5/2019 4:32:16 PM   
apbarog


Posts: 3769
Joined: 5/23/2002
Status: offline 		Thank you HvMoltke. I don't use any map mods in the game, so my map is the default map. There are player-made maps out there that are beautiful and are a big improvement on the default maps, but I've never tried them.

As far as making screenshots, in Windows 10, I just do a "shift-PrtScn" to copy a screen shot, then I go into a word processing program, OpenOffice Writer, and do a "shift-Insert" to paste the shot into Writer. OpenOffice is a free equivalent to Microsoft Office. I use it just to paste it into something. I'm sure there are better ways of doing this.

Once the file is saved using OpenOffice Writer, I open the file in Microsoft Paint and edit it there.

There are better tools and better methods out there to do this. I just stick to what I found worked for me.

(in reply to HvMoltke)
Post #: 1317
RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apba... - 11/5/2019 5:05:54 PM   
HvMoltke


Posts: 111
Joined: 10/4/2003
From: Munich/Bavaria
Status: offline 		Thanx apbarog sounds easy, problem is I have win7.
I`m still jealous of those screenshots you do.
Read in another thread by Trugrit about the potential of Greenshot, maybe I try it again

(in reply to apbarog)
Post #: 1318
RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apba... - 11/5/2019 10:38:54 PM   
BBfanboy


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

ORIGINAL: HvMoltke

Thanx apbarog sounds easy, problem is I have win7.
I`m still jealous of those screenshots you do.
Read in another thread by Trugrit about the potential of Greenshot, maybe I try it again

PrtScr works in Win 7 too. When you hit that it saves the screen image to the "clipboard". As long as you don't do anything else that uses the clipboard like copying text, the image is there ready to be pasted into whatever picture editor you want to use. I don't even use the Open Office step, I just open Windows Paint and paste the image onto the canvas. From there you can crop it down to the area you want to show and add text boxes and other graphic features if you wish. Be sure to save your screen image as soon as you paste it onto the canvas and save the edited image as you work on it.

_____________________________

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 HvMoltke)
Post #: 1319
RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apba... - 11/6/2019 5:44:16 AM   
apbarog


Posts: 3769
Joined: 5/23/2002
Status: offline 		10 Jun 43

Chicago makes its now daily bombardment of Broome. Bombers hit the enemy also. The Australians attack.

Ground combat at Broome (62,127)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 9673 troops, 130 guns, 232 vehicles, Assault Value = 324

Defending force 8238 troops, 93 guns, 6 vehicles, Assault Value = 259

Allied adjusted assault: 202

Japanese adjusted defense: 298

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

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

Japanese ground losses:
779 casualties reported
Squads: 7 destroyed, 60 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 9 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Guns lost 23 (5 destroyed, 18 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
199 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 16 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 10 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 5 disabled
Vehicles lost 36 (2 destroyed, 34 disabled)

Assaulting units:
2/9th Armoured Regiment
2/7th Armoured Regiment
19th Australian Brigade
28th Australian Brigade

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

The odds weren't great, but the results were good. A day of rest is in order. Another Australian armoured regiment will arrive at Broome today. Broome will be taken. It's the last enemy base on Australia.

Zeros swept Namlea. Bettys with Zeros bombed the airfield, KB Judys and Zeros bombed the airfield and port, and Sallys bombed the airfield. Heavy airbase damage.

Over 80 Oscars swept Little Andaman, and the 16 Hurricanes on CAP didn't have much of a chance. 10 Hurris were lost, while they downed just 3 Oscars.

Salt Lake City bombarded Eniwetok, and troops land. Lots of B-25s and B-24s hit the enemy troops. I-177 was reportedly sunk by US destroyers Strong and Radford. US troops shock attacked on the tiny island.

Ground combat at Eniwetok (127,108)

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 8509 troops, 99 guns, 167 vehicles, Assault Value = 315

Defending force 3485 troops, 22 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 42

Allied adjusted assault: 129

Japanese adjusted defense: 7

Allied assault odds: 18 to 1 (fort level 4)

Allied forces CAPTURE Eniwetok !!!

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

Japanese ground losses:
3938 casualties reported
Squads: 77 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 226 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 16 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 29 (29 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units destroyed 2

Allied ground losses:
469 casualties reported
Squads: 17 destroyed, 30 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 5 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 2 disabled
Guns lost 4 (1 destroyed, 3 disabled)
Vehicles lost 12 (5 destroyed, 7 disabled)

Assaulting units:
22nd Marine Regiment
1st USMC Tank Battalion
24th Infantry/C Div /10

Defending units:
61st Naval Guard Unit
35th JNAF AF Unit

With the previous lessons learned in the earlier landings in the Marshalls, the island landings are going much smoother. Using LSTs, carrying just supply, really helps get enough supply to the troops on the day of landing.

All 3 combat units will be taken off of Eniwetok. The part of the 24th Infantry Division will join the rest of the division on Tarawa, already prepping for the next target.

I checked preparations for the push to Java. Major units are about 75% prepped. I'd like to do Kolaka/Kendari next, with its troops 100% prepped and congregating at Koepang and Roti with their transports, but if KB stays by Ambon, I may pull the trigger on the push to Java. Of course, KB still wouldn't be that far away. I really need KB to leave the area. It may not do so until I go after Truk. OPilot has to react to that, doesn't he?

It would be pretty amazing to take Truk with just 2 big carriers and a few CVEs, no battleship support, and landings with mostly xAPs. Well, it does sound a bit ambitious...




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