Slitherine

quote:

ORIGINAL: Cap Mandrake

quote:

ORIGINAL: Disco Duck

You really need to do something about the plane to plane ratio in the air. That should help your losses

You are absolutely correct, of course, but the problem is the pace of operations has consumed a lot of aircraft. Also, there isn't enough ground support in Luzon to repair the planes quickly enough. I might be able to fly in a couple of Air HQ from new Guinea via Mindanao to help. Also there is the Del Monico Aviation unit that was evacuated from the PI sitting in Midway. Might try to ship them back on small AP's. It's worth the losses to grind down whole Jap divisions there.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Zorch

quote:

ORIGINAL: Cap Mandrake

quote:

ORIGINAL: Disco Duck

You really need to do something about the plane to plane ratio in the air. That should help your losses

You are absolutely correct, of course, but the problem is the pace of operations has consumed a lot of aircraft. Also, there isn't enough ground support in Luzon to repair the planes quickly enough. I might be able to fly in a couple of Air HQ from new Guinea via Mindanao to help. Also there is the Del Monico Aviation unit that was evacuated from the PI sitting in Midway. Might try to ship them back on small AP's. It's worth the losses to grind down whole Jap divisions there.

At what point do you write off the PI? If JJ makes a big effort there, everything (well almost everything) you put in will be lost. Does grinding down the LYBs there outweigh the need to reinforce other areas?

quote:

ORIGINAL: Chickenboy

quote:

ORIGINAL: Zorch

quote:

ORIGINAL: Cap Mandrake

quote:

ORIGINAL: Disco Duck

You really need to do something about the plane to plane ratio in the air. That should help your losses

You are absolutely correct, of course, but the problem is the pace of operations has consumed a lot of aircraft. Also, there isn't enough ground support in Luzon to repair the planes quickly enough. I might be able to fly in a couple of Air HQ from new Guinea via Mindanao to help. Also there is the Del Monico Aviation unit that was evacuated from the PI sitting in Midway. Might try to ship them back on small AP's. It's worth the losses to grind down whole Jap divisions there.

At what point do you write off the PI? If JJ makes a big effort there, everything (well almost everything) you put in will be lost. Does grinding down the LYBs there outweigh the need to reinforce other areas?

My opinion is that Cap should feed the PI beast as much as he possibly can for as long as he possibly can.

That will-if nothing else-take the pressure off of other areas, such as SoPac. JJ has overextended their reach and failed to capitalize on their expansive tendrils. Looks like CBI is Kaput for them in late 1942. So's Australia.

If the Allies can capture some ports on the South China Sea (e.g., Vietnam or coastal China), they can reinforce the PI from there too.

Cap: When do you get USMC squadrons aplenty? Could those be fast tracked to the Philippines?

Any other Philippine island groups that you could also take (e.g., Leyte, Cebu, Samar, Mindanao) to solidify the approaches to Luzon per se? Maybe diversify your Philippine portfolio a little? What about Puerto Princessa-wouldn't that be within air transport range of both Luzon and Vietnam?

quote:

ORIGINAL: Cap Mandrake

Meanwhile JJ have over 150 bombers at Rabaul and 100 fighters. These appear to be most of the Zekes and Netties from Kendari, whcih is not well protected now.

I suspend all the landing operations at Terapo because it's not safe with all those Netties at Rabaul.

quote:

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

quote:

ORIGINAL: Cap Mandrake

Meanwhile JJ have over 150 bombers at Rabaul and 100 fighters. These appear to be most of the Zekes and Netties from Kendari, whcih is not well protected now.

I suspend all the landing operations at Terapo because it's not safe with all those Netties at Rabaul.

Vee haff vays uff making you answer - "Is it safe?"

quote:

ORIGINAL: Cap Mandrake

I thought of something funny earlier but I forgot it..

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TF 54 encounters mine field at Batu Pahat (49,82)

Japanese Ships
DD Murakumo, Mine hits 1, heavy damage

quote:

Night Naval bombardment of Tavoy at 54,60

Allied Ships
CA Cornwall
CA Devonshire
CL Birmingham
CL De Ruyter
CL Sumatra
CL Java
CLAA Van Heemskerck
DD Norman
DD Nestor
DD Arunta

Japanese ground losses:
46 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Airbase hits 6
Airbase supply hits 4
Runway hits 8
Port hits 6
Port fuel hits 3
Port supply hits 1

quote:

Day Time Surface Combat, near Naga at 81,81, Range 10,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
PB Myoken Maru, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
xAK Maebasi Maru, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
xAK Toyooka Maru, Torpedo hits 1

Allied Ships
PT-68
PT-142
PT-143
PT-150
PT-157
PT-158

quote:

Morning Air attack on Malaybalay , at 80,90

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid spotted at 17 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-21-IIa Sally x 12
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 10

Allied aircraft
Hurricane XIIb x 4
Kittyhawk III x 3
P-40E Warhawk x 5

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21-IIa Sally: 1 destroyed
Ki-43-IIa Oscar: 1 destroyed

No Allied losses

quote:

Morning Air attack on Buin , at 109,131

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 13 minutes

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft
B-17F Fortress x 8

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 1 destroyed on ground
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed on ground

No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
10 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Airbase hits 2
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 9

quote:

ORIGINAL: Cap Mandrake

*******************January 1, 1942(e)*********************

Siam and Malaya: putting a minefield where the AI doesn't expect it seems to work better.

quote:

TF 54 encounters mine field at Batu Pahat (49,82)

Japanese Ships
DD Murakumo, Mine hits 1, heavy damage

quote:

Morning Air attack on Malaybalay , at 80,90

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid spotted at 15 NM, estimated altitude 23,560 feet.
Estimated time to target is 3 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 17

Allied aircraft
Hurricane XIIb x 3
Kittyhawk III x 3
P-40E Warhawk x 5

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
P-40E Warhawk: 1 destroyed

quote:

Attacking force 35360 troops, 458 guns, 403 vehicles, Assault Value = 1073

Defending force 34851 troops, 442 guns, 533 vehicles, Assault Value = 906

Japanese adjusted assault: 361

Allied adjusted defense: 2221

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 6 (fort level 1)

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

Japanese ground losses:
2874 casualties reported
Squads: 5 destroyed, 241 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 30 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 15 disabled
Guns lost 28 (2 destroyed, 26 disabled)
Vehicles lost 44 (5 destroyed, 39 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
613 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 38 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 31 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 10 disabled
Vehicles lost 52 (6 destroyed, 46 disabled)

Assaulting units:
10th Division
21st Ind.Mixed Brigade
33rd Division
2nd Tank Regiment
11th Tank Regiment
1st Art.Mortar Regiment
2nd Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
20th Ind. Mtn Gun Battalion
1st Hvy.Artillery Regiment
2nd Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
3rd Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
25th Army
3rd Medium Field Artillery Regiment
3rd Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
8th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
14th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion

Defending units:
194th Tank Battalion
192nd Tank Battalion
803rd Aviation Engineer Battalion
627th Tank Destroyer Battalion
91st PA Infantry Division
632nd Tank Destroyer Battalion
1st Constabulary Regiment
26th PS Cavalry Regiment
45th PS Infantry Regiment
51st PA Infantry Division
21st PA Infantry Division
637th Tank Destroyer Battalion
71st PA Infantry Division
762nd Tank Battalion
4th Constabulary Regiment
Clark Field AAF Base Force
1st USMC AA Battalion
4th PAAC Avn Sup
209th Field Artillery Battalion
!/23rd PS FA Battalion
165th Field Artillery Battalion
II/Prov'nl SPM Grp
501st Coast AA Regiment
I/Prov'nl SPM Grp
III/Prov'nl SPM Grp
24th PS FA Regiment
200th & 515th Coast AA Regiment
88th PS Field Artillery Regiment
35th Avn Sup
86th PS Field Artillery Battalion
301st PA Field Artillery Regiment

quote:

Morning Air attack on Tulagi , at 114,137

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid detected at 66 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 24 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 30
A6M3a Zero x 27
G3M3 Nell x 30

Allied aircraft
Hurricane XIIb x 3
F4F-4 Wildcat x 6

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3a Zero: 1 destroyed
G3M3 Nell: 1 damaged
G3M3 Nell: 1 destroyed by flak

Allied aircraft losses
Hurricane XIIb: 1 destroyed
F4F-4 Wildcat: 1 destroyed

Allied Ships
SC-709, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk

Port hits 3
Port fuel hits 2
Port supply hits 1

quote:

Morning Air attack on Tulagi , at 114,137

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid detected at 109 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 40 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 30
A6M3a Zero x 43
G3M3 Nell x 24

Allied aircraft
Hurricane XIIb x 2

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed
G3M3 Nell: 3 damaged

No Allied losses

Port hits 7
Port fuel hits 2
Port supply hits 1

quote:

Morning Air attack on 10th Garrison Unit , at 114,138 (Lunga)

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 38 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 13 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 27

Allied aircraft
Bolingbroke IV x 3
B-25C Mitchell x 13

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
B-25C Mitchell: 1 destroyed, 3 damaged

quote:

Morning Air attack on Buin , at 109,131

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 13 minutes

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft
B-17F Fortress x 8

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 1 destroyed on ground
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed on ground

No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
10 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Airbase hits 2
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 9