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... - 1/3/2020 4:24:46 AM

BBfanboy

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You are moving pretty fast with lots of target choices to go for. Hard for the Japanese to get troops everywhere in those many islands. It appears his LBA is carrying the task of slowing you down while he tries to get enough transports and protection for moving troops.

_____________________________

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 #: 1441

RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apba... - 1/5/2020 12:53:54 AM

apbarog

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9 Aug 43

Seawolf hit tanker Palembang Maru with a torpedo near Billiton. The tanker was loaded with fuel and is burning. It was either headed north from Batavia or east from Sumatra. Salmon hit xAK Hauraki Maru with a torpedo near Kwangchowan, in shallow water. A patrol boat couldn't hit the sub. There was sinking audio later in the turn, so one of these ships probably did sink. Probably the tanker.

A new armada begins to move out from Darwin. 5 carrier task forces are included:

Lexington, Saratoga and CVL Independence
Yorktown, Wasp and CVL Princeton
Enterprise, Hornet and Victorious
Essex and Dewey, the first 2 Essex class carriers
CVL Hermes and 2 CVEs

Not the death star that will be seen in 1944, but this is the first time in the war that I've brought all of my carriers together. The carriers are escorting the assault wave for Tjepoe. Follow-up shipping is now loading at Darwin. Other follow-up shipping will begin loading at Koepang tomorrow.

Up until now, I've had my carriers split into roughly two groups, covering the Marshalls and threatening Truk, and north of Australia. Now we're pushing hard for Java. Will KB finally show up?

(in reply to BBfanboy)

Post #: 1442

RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apba... - 1/6/2020 12:15:55 AM

apbarog

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10 Aug 43

Tarpon hit E-boat W-11 near Cam Ranh Bay, on the coastal route north towards Hainan Island. The one torpedo hit was a dud.

P-38s from Kolaka swept Balikpapan for the first time. A couple of A6M5 Zeros were shot down. Many heavy bombers hit Kendari. Heavies hit Malang and the troops there for the first time. The 57th Division and the 1st Tank Regiment are at Malang, which is a mountainous hex. With my weak landing at Banjoewangi, I predicted that the enemy would form a defense in the mountains at Malang. Whatever is there and at nearby Soerabaja will get cut off with the upcoming landing at Tjepoe. That's the theory, anyhow.

The invasion armada is unspotted and heading north towards Roti, west of Timor. It would be nice to be unspotted until nearing Java, but we're going ahead regardless. I may reconsider if KB shows up near Soerabaja before we get there. But I'd just hold back the transports and have the big carrier battle that we all hope for.

ARD ABSD-1 has made it to Sydney. It has a ship lift capacity of 55,000 tons. As far as I know, it can repair any ship in the fleet.

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Post #: 1443

RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apba... - 1/6/2020 8:28:47 PM

apbarog

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11 Aug 43

The usual bombing. Enemy hit Lanchow and near Wuchow. The targets change daily and fairly randomly. I hit Ambon, Kendari and Wotje in the Marshalls. Nothing significant.

Tjepoe armada is passing Roti, headed towards Mataram. Follow-up convoys are heading out of Darwin and Koepang. Considering where Tjepoe is, on Java's north coast, I will predict that if KB shows up from the direction of Singapore, it will park adjacent to Batavia, and be 7 hexes from Tjepoe. Subs will be saturating the area around Batavia.

(in reply to BBfanboy)

Post #: 1444

RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apba... - 1/8/2020 1:23:41 AM

apbarog

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12 Aug 43

A US YMS has slowly been clearing mines at Ambon. No enemy response so far. Bettys had been set up to strike around Ambon and Namlea, but Allied fighters at Namlea took a bite out of them awhile ago, and they haven't reappeared.

Little activity. Same old bombing in China. Tjepoe armada will approach Mataram today. Then it's just a few days to Tjepoe. Follow-up convoys are...following up.

(in reply to BBfanboy)

Post #: 1445

RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apba... - 1/8/2020 4:20:03 AM

apbarog

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12 Aug 43 - The Approach to Tjepoe

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Post #: 1446

RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apba... - 1/8/2020 9:20:57 PM

apbarog

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13 Aug 43

Invasion armada and carriers still not spotted.

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Post #: 1447

RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apba... - 1/8/2020 11:07:26 PM

BBfanboy

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From: Winnipeg, MB
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The path you have marked staying close to the shore crosses a red line reef that will cost you extra hexes to go around. If you can set a waypoint one hex NE of the strait you are entering you have a straight line of approach to the northwest from there. (You may have seen that but I wanted to be sure the line was not your actual routing).

Very unusual that the Japanese still have not spotted your armada. Perhaps he has lost a lot of patrol aircraft and is keeping them close to home?

_____________________________

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 #: 1448

RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apba... - 1/8/2020 11:30:34 PM

apbarog

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Joined: 5/23/2002
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Actual routing is just to the east of the red line. Enemy search has been poor southeast of Java since I took Denpassar. The exception has been enemy Glen subs. Just one of those spotted, and it didn't spot the ships. Bad weather, most likely.

OPilot excels at recon. He allots lots of aircraft for doing recon of my bases. All over the map. I'm not sure what aircraft he uses, but he must use some non-traditional plane types for recon. I do find holes in his naval search coverage.

No sign of KB, and there hasn't been in many weeks. Only threat spotted is the cruiser task force at Batavia. I'm flooding the area north of Java with subs. It's all shallow water, so the risk is high, but it must be done. With my control of the Makassar area in the Celebes, it becomes less likely that KB would approach from the Balikpapan area.

(in reply to BBfanboy)

Post #: 1449

RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apba... - 1/9/2020 8:22:20 PM

apbarog

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14 Aug 43

Seadragon hit patrol boat Hokutai Maru with a torpedo near Toboali. The ship is still afloat, as a later attack missed. Swordfish sank AMc Tatibana Maru on the Chinese coast near Swatow.

4 US DMS moved into Soerabaja to sweep mines. Coastal guns from the 21st Special Base Force engaged the sweepers but mines were swept.

DMS Zane is SYS 1/FLOT 10/ENG 1/FIRE 0
DMS Elliot is SYS 17/FLOT 12-7/ENG 1/FIRE 0
DMS Hamilton is SYS 14/FLOT 20-2/ENG 1/FIRE 0
DMS Trevor is SYS 16/FLOT 72-50/ENG 2/FIRE 0

Trevor hit a mine, causing most of the flotation damage. There are still mines there, probably many of them. The ships will head to Denpassar and Mataram.

8 US destroyers bombarded Maloelap. It was also bombed heavily, as it has been for many weeks. Troops landed and took the base. The only enemy base left in the Marshalls is now Wotje, and it is in just as bad of shape as Maloelap was. Wotje will be invaded in the next couple of weeks.

Ground combat at Maloelap (136,117)

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 4066 troops, 51 guns, 16 vehicles, Assault Value = 166

Defending force 2112 troops, 6 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 10

Allied adjusted assault: 78

Japanese adjusted defense: 1

Allied assault odds: 78 to 1 (fort level 5)

Allied forces CAPTURE Maloelap !!!

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

Japanese ground losses:
2851 casualties reported
Squads: 71 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 205 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 9 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 8 (8 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units destroyed 4

Allied ground losses:
59 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 8 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Assaulting units:
158th(Sep) Infantry Regiment
1st Spec Svc Force /1

Defending units:
42nd Naval Guard Unit
Maloelap Base Force
Maloelap Naval Fortress
1st JNAF AF Unit

The 1st Special Service Force that dropped on Maloelap is interesting. They appeared just a couple of months ago, and will withdraw in just a few weeks. I'm getting as much out of them as possible. I rushed them to Tarawa from the West Coast, using the fastest transports available. They've been used on other invasions recently in the Marshalls. They'll help at Wotje, and if there is time, split up and finish off the unoccupied enemy dot bases to the north of Wotje. They weren't prepped for Maloelap and it didn't matter. The infantry regiment was prepped.

Tjepoe will be invaded. The 1st Australian Para Battalion will drop on Soerakarta, Java, in order to cut the inland rail line.

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RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apba... - 1/11/2020 1:04:46 AM

apbarog

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15 Aug 43

Trident missed DD Hayashio with 2 torpedoes near Manado. This is a suspicious looking TF. Turned out to be KB headed west. Tambor fired 4 torpedoes at DD Kagero near Gorontalo. One hit but was a dud. Multiple TFs moving towards Borneo. Sub Apogon fired 4 torpedoes at CL Oyodo near Truk. One hit but was a dud. Mutsu and Nagato are spotted. Battleships have been at Truk off and on. They may leave for awhile to make me think that Truk less defended. It did look like I was going to invade Truk earlier. But that ship has sailed. Actually, many ships have sailed, sailed away from Truk and off to Java.

Escort carriers were covering a huge reinforcement convoy east of Soerabaja. The ships carry three divisions and lots of support units. 9 TBF-s flew from the CVEs and attacked a tiny AMc at Bandjermasin. AMc Chiyo Maru was sunk by a torpedo.

Near the end of the day, Tjepoe was invaded. Most of Americal Division unloaded, along with an armor unit and a few support units. Tjepoe was not defended. It SHOULD flip at the beginning of the next turn, allowing my follow-up troops to begin unloading at a friendly base. I will take the chance that that does occur. Otherwise, three infantry divisions will be wrecked by not being prepped for Tjepoe. This type of gamble has worked out for me in the past, so I'll roll the dice again.

Nearby, paras drop on an enemy dot base. Taking it would cut the other rail line.

Ground combat at Soerakarta (53,103)

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 378 troops, 8 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 19

Defending force 0 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 0

Allied adjusted assault: 8

Japanese adjusted defense: 1

Allied assault odds: 8 to 1 (fort level 0)

Allied forces CAPTURE Soerakarta !!!

Combat modifiers
Attacker: shock(+), leaders(-)

Assaulting units:
1st Aus Para Bn /1

Good luck, and Soerakarta was not defended. Java is now practically cut in two. Will the enemy attack out of Soerabaja and with troops from Malang? To be determined. The bigger question is what will KB do? My invasion unloading will continue. We're not unloading for a day and then running, like with most of my previous invasions (invasions that were successful due to having enough APAs to do the job). This time, we're staying. If the enemy wants a big carrier battle, we will have one. Almost all of the Allied carriers are here. Almost all of the APAs are here. Most of the US fleet is here. If there's a battle, it could be a very big one.

But I predict that KB will stay by the safety of Balikpapan for today. We'll see.

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(in reply to BBfanboy)

Post #: 1451

RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apba... - 1/12/2020 12:25:27 AM

BBfanboy

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From: Winnipeg, MB
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In his favour: he can bring in lots of land based aircraft to back up KB in a carrier battle.
In your favour: KB's strikes might split between transports and your CVs.

I disagree with the assumption that KB goes to Balikpapan. He has been itching to get at an invasion before it runs away and you have accommodated him.

_____________________________

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 #: 1452

RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apba... - 1/12/2020 4:49:49 AM

apbarog

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I watched the replay but can't do the turn until Sunday.

KB went to the exact predicted hex south of Balikpapan. I'd planned on setting the divebomber range to 7 from Makassar, but set them to 8 because I could and still have fighter escort. They attacked and got wiped out. Should have stuck to what I said I'd do. So KB was not a factor today.

But the enemy cruiser force at Batavia steamed full speed into the fray. There were many naval combats with them. First with the ABDA force that was guarding that direction, then with a US CA force outside of Tjepoe. Then with the huge transport force headed to Tjepoe, then with a Fletcher DD force, then with the US CA force again. The enemy got whittled down with each battle, but just kept on coming. They never gave up, and seemed to never run low on ammo. There were losses on both sides. Some APAs were hit but I don't know how badly yet. The enemy force retreated north after the night battles, and were spotted, well within carrier range. But weather must have covered them, as my carriers didn't finish off the survivors.

I'll be dealing with the aftermath, and the preparations for KB, on Sunday. My worry is that most of my combat TFs are now low on ammo, and KB always travels with its own battleship force. I will consider splitting off fast battleships from my carriers to counter. I also have 3 slow battleships at Tjepoe. The enemy didn't actually get to Tjepoe, and those US ships were not engaged.

It's going to be a long turn of thinking and then of plotting orders. Attention to detail is everything with this turn.

< Message edited by apbarog -- 1/12/2020 4:50:22 AM >

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Post #: 1453

RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apba... - 1/13/2020 4:41:14 AM

apbarog

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16 Aug 43

One of my longest turns to prepare ever, except for my Japanese first turns.

Trouble is spotted immediately, as an enemy cruiser force left Batavia and ran over Dutch sub KXVIII in the shallow water nearby. The sub was sunk. It didn't slow the enemy down. Nor did the minefield in the same coastal hex. The enemy spotted my mines but didn't hit any.

Near Donggala, Dutch sub O23 fired 4 torpedoes at destroyer Kagero. All missed. Looks like a carrier task force, without seeing the carriers. Both the task force and the sub were moving south, as O23 again fired 4 torpedoes, again at destroyer Kagero, and again all missed.

Then the fireworks started. The enemy cruiser force ran into a mixed nation force guarding the northern flank near Tjepoe.

Night Time Surface Combat, near Semarang at 54,101, Range 7,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CA Mogami
CA Mikuma
CA Suzuya
CA Kumano, Shell hits 7, on fire
CL Nagara, Shell hits 1
DD Fubuki
DD Shinonome
DD Usugumo, Shell hits 4
DD Shirakumo
DD Isonami
DD Murakumo, Shell hits 8, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
DD Uranami
DD Shikinami, Shell hits 4, on fire

Allied Ships
CA Shropshire
CA Australia
CA Canberra, Shell hits 1
CL Leander, Shell hits 1
CL Achilles, Shell hits 1
CL De Ruyter
CL Tromp, Shell hits 3
CL Hobart, Shell hits 3
DD Stuart, Shell hits 1
DD Arunta
DD Warramunga
DD Nepal, Shell hits 1
DD Nestor
DD Napier
DD Nizam
DD Isaac Sweers, Shell hits 1, on fire

The fight was inconclusive. The enemy continued on, moving to the hex just offshore of Tjepoe. A US task force engaged.

Night Time Surface Combat, near Tjepoe at 55,102, Range 6,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CA Mogami, Shell hits 1
CA Mikuma, Shell hits 3, heavy fires
CA Suzuya
CA Kumano, Shell hits 11, heavy fires, heavy damage
CL Nagara, Shell hits 1
DD Fubuki, Shell hits 1
DD Shinonome, Shell hits 1
DD Usugumo, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Shirakumo
DD Isonami, Shell hits 1
DD Uranami, Shell hits 5, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Shikinami, Shell hits 8, heavy fires, heavy damage

Allied Ships
CA Chicago, Shell hits 5, Torpedo hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
CA Pensacola
CL Concord, Shell hits 3, on fire
CL Richmond
CL Detroit, Shell hits 3, on fire
DD Fletcher
DD Abbot
DD Aulick
DD DeHaven
DD Eaton, Shell hits 1
DD Henley
DD Selfridge

Chicago was badly damaged, as were a few of the enemy ships. After seeing this fight, I figured that the enemy attack was spent. I was wrong. In the same hex, my huge reinforcement transport convoy was attacked. The convoy was moving towards Tjepoe, and almost made it there. A fragment of the original enemy task force engaged.

Night Time Surface Combat, near Tjepoe at 55,102, Range 6,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CA Mogami, Shell hits 1
CA Suzuya
CL Nagara
DD Fubuki
DD Shinonome, Shell hits 1

Allied Ships
CL Adelaide, Shell hits 14, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Allen, Shell hits 3, on fire
APD John D. Edwards
APD Whipple
DE Gilmore, Shell hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
APD Gregory
APD McKean
APD Talbot
APD Waters
APD Crane
APD Kilty
APA Wharton
APA Zeilin
APA J. Franklin Bell, Shell hits 2
APA Heywood
APA George F. Elliot
APA Fuller
APA William P. Biddle
APA U.S. Grant
APA Barnett
APA President Jackson
APA President Hayes
APA President Monroe
APA President Polk
APA Crescent City
APA Arthur Middleton
APA Ormsby
APA Pierce
APA Sheridan
APA Sumter
APA Warren
APA Wayne
APA La Salle
APA Bolivar
APA Callaway
APA Cambria
APA Custer
AKA Centarus
AKA Electra
AKA Mercury
AKA Oberon
LSD Carter Hall
LCI-84
DE Starling
CLAA Prince Robert, Shell hits 15, Torpedo hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage [SUNK]
xAP Taroona
xAP Matua
xAP Hosang
xAP Clan Macilwraith
xAP Daisy Moller
LSI(L) Empire Star
LSI(L) Glenorchy
xAP Camphuys
xAP Rochussen
xAP Rooseboom
xAP Siberg, Shell hits 2, heavy fires

Allied ground losses:
267 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 3 destroyed, 12 disabled
Engineers: 4 destroyed, 9 disabled

The convoy escorts defended bravely, sparing most of the transports. Was the enemy now done? No. They now engaged 8 Fletcher class destroyers.

Night Time Surface Combat, near Tjepoe at 55,102, Range 5,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CA Mogami
CA Suzuya, Shell hits 1
CL Nagara
DD Fubuki
DD Shinonome, Shell hits 1

Allied Ships
DD Dunlap, Shell hits 2, on fire
DD Fanning
DD Mahan, Shell hits 1
DD Smith
DD Preston, Shell hits 6, and is sunk
DD Cummings
DD Lamson
DD Shaw

Not a long fight, but long enough for Preston to be sunk. Mogami was becoming the hero of the Japanese force. Certainly the enemy would head for home, probably low on ammo. No. They found the big transport force again. This time, however, the transports evaded combat. The enemy then turned north for Batavia, and ran into the mixed nation force again.

Night Time Surface Combat, near Semarang at 54,101, Range 3,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CA Mogami, on fire
CA Suzuya, Shell hits 11, heavy fires, heavy damage
CL Nagara
DD Fubuki, Shell hits 1
DD Shinonome, Shell hits 1, on fire

Allied Ships
CA Shropshire, Shell hits 2, on fire
CA Australia
CA Canberra
CL Leander
CL Achilles
CL De Ruyter
CL Tromp, on fire
CL Hobart
DD Stuart, Shell hits 1
DD Arunta, Shell hits 1
DD Warramunga, Shell hits 2
DD Nepal, Shell hits 2, on fire
DD Nestor
DD Napier
DD Nizam
DD Isaac Sweers, on fire

Then the other fragment of the enemy task force engaged again in the approach hex to Tjepoe, where 6 PT boats reacted out of Tjepoe. The enemy evaded combat this time, and the fight never got within PT boat torpedo range. An incredible series of close-in fights. The enemy deserves credit. They just kept coming, and got to the huge transport force. But the escorts sacrificed themselves and saved the many transports. Remember, there are 3 divisions of troops, and many support units, in this convoy. It MUST make it to Tjepoe. But will it?

Then the air battles took place. What I'll call KB moved adjacent to Balikpapan, out of range of the shipping near Java.

24 Hellcats swept Soerabaja, finding 41 Tojos. Some losses on both sides.

Lilys with over 40 Oscars attacked shipping at Tjepoe. CAP was light coming from the carriers, at a range of 2 hexes, but I saved the day by providing 2 squadrons of LRCAP with P-38s, from a range of 3 and 5. Almost 50 P-38s were there. No bombers survived long enough to drop bombs. I think every enemy plane was shot down.

Although I had said that I'd limit my naval strike bombers out of Makassar to range 7, thinking that KB would move adjacent to Balikpapan, I actually set them to range 8, when I saw that I could escort them that far. That was a mistake. About 25 SB2C-1Cs with 39 Hellcats ran into almost 90 Zeros over the carriers. One bomber dropped on Hiryu but missed. Many US planes were lost.

Total air losses were 41 Oscars, 30 Lilys, 11 Jakes (2 on sinking ship(s)), 9 Zeros and 5 Tojos, for the cost of 22 SB2C-1Cs and 18 Hellcats.

The damage to shipping was great, although it was spread out over many more ships that the single enemy task force had. Barring any enemy intervention today, which is unlikely, it's possible that all damaged ships could survive.

CA Chicago SYS 43/FLOT 52-19/ENG 24-8/FIRE 0
CA Shropshire SYS 25/FLOT 16-10/ENG 12/FIRE 0
CA Canberra SYS 11/FLOT 0/ENG 2/FIRE 0
CL Tromp SYS 26/FLOT 0/ENZG 5-0/FIRE 0
CL Adelaide SYS 55/FLOT 50-23/ENG 1-0/FIRE 0
CL Concord SYS 36/FLOT 17-7/ENG 10-1/FIRE 0
CL Detroit SYS 21/FLOT 13-7/ENG 2-0/FIRE 0
DD Dunlap SYS 25/FLOT 2-1/ENG 1-0/FIRE 0
DD Allen SYS 34/FLOT 30-17/ENG 0/FIRE 0
DD Stuart SYS 19/FLOT 0/ENG 0/FIRE 0
DD Warramunga SYS 17/FLOT 14-7/ENG 2-1/FIRE 0
DD Nepal SYS 27/FLOT 5-1/ENG 8-1/FIRE 0
DD Isaac Sweers SYS 34/FLOT 15-6/ENG 12-1/FIRE 0
DE Gilmore SYS 37/FLOT 66-37/ENG 2/FIRE 0
APD Kilty SYS 1/FLOT 1/ENG 27-24/FIRE 0
APA Heywood SYS 0/FLOT 4/ENG 15/FIRE 0
xAP Camphuys SYS 4/FLOT 3/ENG 40/FIRE 0
xAP Siberg SYS 47/FLOT 27-9/ENG 26/FIRE 1

There were 2 collisions between transports during the battles.

At Kendari, the Allies did a probing bombardment. Here's what's there, with a couple more small Allied units on the way.

Ground combat at Kendari (70,106)

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 336 troops, 34 guns, 28 vehicles, Assault Value = 931

Defending force 24296 troops, 200 guns, 107 vehicles, Assault Value = 391

Allied ground losses:
Guns lost 11 (1 destroyed, 10 disabled)

Assaulting units:
627th Tank Destroyer Battalion
41st Infantry Division
4th Marine Division
754th Tank Battalion
3rd NZ Armoured Sqn
XIV US Corps
154th Field Artillery Battalion
97th Field Artillery Battalion

Defending units:
4th Raiding Regiment
17th Garrison Unit
24th Infantry Regiment
14th Army
56th Const Co
54th Construction Battalion
23rd Special Base Force
22nd JNAF AF Unit
2nd Mortar Battalion
2nd Field Artillery Regiment
3rd Fleet
48th Field AA Battalion
39th JNAF AF Unit
5th Air Division
47th JNAF AF Unit
11th JAAF AF Bn

Kendari will fall, but it may take some time. Forts will be high. But two divisions with armor should be enough.

Now what will KB do? I order the transports into Tjepoe to unload. Unfortunately, they headed for home after the fighting, and ended up 4 hexes from Tjepoe. They were just one hex away when engaged by the enemy. Carriers will cover from one hex. Fighters at Tjepoe will support. I hope that I have enough cruisers and battleships in the area to hold off KB and support if it comes south. And I figure that it has to come south. It may not rush Tjepoe today, though, due to range, but it could get into position to do so the next day. We'll see. Quite a day of fighting. Tomorrow could be an even bigger fight.

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< Message edited by apbarog -- 1/13/2020 4:51:02 AM >

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Post #: 1454

RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apba... - 1/13/2020 6:16:25 AM

ChuckBerger

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Joined: 8/10/2006
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Your AAR is spookily close to CanoeRebel's Walmart on Ice AAR. The sequence of invasions is almost exactly the same, right down to the Tjepoe invasion with inland airdrop to cut the rail line to Soerabaja, etc. And the enemy response is very similar as well - KB hovering at the fringes looking for a chance to intervene, surface groups going in at whatever cost to try to interdict your amphibious forces, etc.

Did you follow that AAR? Get any inspiration from it? Or is this just a case of good strategists thinking alike?

(in reply to apbarog)

Post #: 1455

RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apba... - 1/13/2020 4:33:44 PM

apbarog

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Joined: 5/23/2002
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Canoerebel has been my favorite AAR author for many years, both for his game-play and his writing skills. I read all of his AAR's and never read his opponent's. There are very few "original" strategies left. Almost everything has been tried. And everyone always gains inspiration from what they read about others.

That said, in this case, I did not get inspiration from his AAR. Our games were on a parallel course for awhile, although his war was in 1944. I like to talk about my future plans well in advance. My first mention of invading Banjoewangi and then flanking with a Soerabaja invasion was in September 2019, before any mention in Walmart on Ice. I did switch from Soerabaja to Tjepoe later, when I saw that Soerabaja was strongly defended and guessed that Tjepoe would not be.

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Post #: 1456

RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apba... - 1/14/2020 6:18:54 AM

apbarog

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17 Aug 43

E-boats work to clear a lane from Balikpapan to the southwest, in the shallows, towards Java. S-42 was hit by a depth charge there and will head to Darwin. It appeared that most enemy ships left Batavia today. Seadragon hit AKE Takao Maru with a torpedo northeast of Batavia. Sinking audio was heard immediately afterwards, but with all the damage done yesterday, it may not have been the AKE sinking. The escorting patrol boat was spotted later, without seeing the AKE, but it's only a probable kill at this point. Growler hit patrol boat Magane Maru with a torpedo near Rota. Another probable kill. xAKLs spotted but not engaged. Apogon hit SC Ch 26 with a dud torpedo near Saipan.

45 Zeros swept Namlea, finding no CAP. Two Spitfire squadrons are moved there today. There is ample supply and the airbase isn't too badly damaged from 24 unescorted Sallys that bombed later.

B-24s bombed Soerabaja, doing light damage. CAP was 27 Oscars and 23 Tojos. The bombers whittled down the CAP for the P-38s that came later. The P-38s downed what few fighters they ran into. Total air losses were 9 Oscars and 4 Tojos for the cost of 2 B-24s, and lots of damaged B-24s.

Another Allied artillery attack at Kendari again showed a strong defense, with the attackers taking all of the losses. The attack will pause. Slow battleships from Darwin will move to the area and wait for minesweepers to clear Kendari.

OPilot seems to have his usual task force configuration near Balikpapan now. The question is, will he head to Java? I think that he has to, and that it should have been done already. Lots of ships are still unloading at Tjepoe. About half of the troops are unloaded. By the end of the next day, I expect all of the APAs with follow-up troops to be empty and ready to head home. Other units, on xAPs, will not be fully unloaded. But that may be enough for me to decide that it's time to leave. I anticipate that the area around Soerabaja will be cleared with the troops available, after the divisions are completely unloaded. I can land the fragments at Banjoewangi later and join them up from there.

If the enemy comes south today, it could stand off for a carrier strike only, or it could be a battleship rush of Tjepoe supported by KB near Soerabaja. I really don't know what will happen. I just can't see KB staying in place by Balikpapan again though. But I'd certainly be happy if it did.

But I predict a huge fight.

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RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apba... - 1/15/2020 6:46:21 AM

apbarog

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18 Aug 43

45 Zeros swept Namlea, but found 28 Spitfires had just moved in. 22 Zeros were shot down, for the loss of 5 Spits. Kendari was bombed by many medium and heavy bombers, but airfield damage was very light in severe storms.

I expected a huge carrier battle but there was nothing. KB and the escorting combat TF moved one hex north into Balikpapan. OPilot congratulated me on a successful Java campaign and holding off his attacks on my invasion forces, and said that I had brought enough to stop him. I've felt like we're just one turn away from an all-out carrier and battleship battle, but this sounds like he's given up on Java. Maybe KB isn't coming after all.

KB hasn't left the area, so I'm still alert to a possible attack. Ground based naval bombers are ready. Most of my APAs have unloaded their troops and will now head for home, escorted by the carriers and most of the combat ships. One cruiser force will remain at Tjepoe. There's still unloading going on there, with 8 to 10 APAs there, almost unloaded. And a few xAPs. Tjepoe just became a size 2 airfield. The only worrisome spot on Java is where my paras took the inland base. The enemy has moved an armor unit there, and they could kick the paras out of the hex. They are a small force with only about 12 combat strength. I have Americal and armor moving that way, but the enemy had a good road in, and I have a trail. Had I known how things would transpire, with both Tjepoe and that inland base being undefended, I could have railed in a couple of units and it would hold. But I didn't anticipate that. Losing the inland hex may mean that a few enemy units can escape towards Batavia. But it won't matter much. US troops are marching towards Soerabaja, and that is the big prize.

A couple of updates on badly damaged ships: xAP Siberg made it to Banjoewangi. It is disbanded in port, but is burning up. Yesterday it was SYS 60/FLOT 26-9/ENG 36-0/FIRE 55. Today it is SYS 75/FLOT 26-9/ENG 47-0/FIRE 39. Banjoewangi is just a size 1 port, but is 98% to becoming a size 2. That might help save the ship, if the port grows today. Also, there is a big port support unit there, with almost 200 naval support total there. The naval support doesn't show on the base screen. I've read that happens for a base with an original port size of 0. What I don't know is if the naval support still helps out, even if it isn't showing on the base screen. If it doesn't, they aren't helping put out the fires on the ship. Regardless, it's a flip of the coin whether or not Siberg survives the day.

Also, heavy cruiser Chicago sprung a bunch of leaks as it approached Waingapoe. It is now SYS 54/FLOT 72-19/ENG 25-8/FIRE 0. The FLOT went up 18 today, and the SYS went up 9. Chicago has just one hex to move to Waingapoe, so it may or may not survive.

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Post #: 1458

RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apba... - 1/15/2020 1:50:47 PM

jwolf

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I think the Chicago will be OK. But that xAP is toast, literally and figuratively. I've never been able to save a burning ship that also had high system damage. I hope it goes better for you and this ship but I am not optimistic.

But it sounds like really good news for the Java campaign.

(in reply to apbarog)

Post #: 1459

RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apba... - 1/15/2020 6:47:46 PM

RangerJoe

Posts: 13450
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From: My Mother, although my Father had some small part.
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I once saved an Omaha Cl that had 98 system damage at Baker.

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�Illegitemus non carborundum est (�Don�t let the bastards grind you down�).�
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(in reply to jwolf)

Post #: 1460

RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apba... - 1/16/2020 7:39:54 AM

apbarog

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19 Aug 43

3 US YMS went to Soerabaja. Some mines were swept, but all ships were hit by coastal guns. 2 of the YMS sank after combat. 59 mines were cleared, but there are still more. They will have to wait until after Soerabaja is captured.

Dutch sub O18 fired 4 torpedoes at CVL Ryujo near Balikpapan. All missed. O16 was hit by a depth charge and will head to Darwin. Gunnel got a dud torpedo hit on SC Ch 36 near Muntok.

27 Lilys attacked the Australian paratroopers at Soerakarta, causing 15 casualties. 25 Thunderbolts on range CAP from Tjepoe tried to intercept, but didn't get there in time. After the bombs fell, the Thunderbolts shot down 9 Oscars which were on some type of CAP over the base.

Later, 17 SBDs with 27 Hellcats tried to hit the enemy armor at Soerakarta, but missed. The enemy then attacked:

Ground combat at Soerakarta (53,103)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 264 troops, 0 guns, 52 vehicles, Assault Value = 42

Defending force 544 troops, 8 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 19

Japanese adjusted assault: 20

Allied adjusted defense: 28

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

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

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

Assaulting units:
4th Tank Regiment
1st Ind.Tank Co

Defending units:
1st Aus Para Battalion
1st Aus Para Bn /2

The Australians won't hold for long, taking all of the casualties. B-25s will try to bomb them today. Reinforcements are still a couple of days from arriving.

Today's plan is for all of the Allied carriers to move towards the Celebes and try to strike the enemy carriers near Balikpapan. The Allied carriers were not spotted today. If the enemy carriers stay near Balikpapan, there will be a big carrier battle. Allied carriers include 9 big carriers: Saratoga, Lexington, Wasp, Yorktown, Victorious, Hornet, Enterprise, Essex and Dewey. 3 CVLs and 7 CVEs are also there. There are 5 carrier task forces. Each one has a fast battleship in it. 2 combat task forces that had guarded Tjepoe are now absorbed into the carrier task forces, beefing up the AAA. Carriers carry the following:

18 Sea Hurricanes
54 FM-1s
377 F6Fs
46 F4Fs
71 SB2Cs
225 SBDs
218 TBFs

Half of the naval strikes are set for 11k. The other half are set at 12k. The only exception is one squadron of 9 TBFs with 18 FM-1s are set for 2k, to either sneak in low or draw down the CAP. I like a good Yogism.

Kolaka and Makassar will participate. Kolaka has 49 SBDs and 20 F6Fs, with 17 F4Us to sweep Balikpapan, and maybe knock down some ranged CAP. Makassar has 61 SBDs and 16 F4Us, with 20 P-38s to sweep Balikpapan.

I don't know how many carriers are near Balikpapan, but I think that we have the advantage. The enemy can fly CAP over the carriers from Balikpapan, but I'm doing the same from the Celebes.

Flying Fish was bombed and damaged by a Judy in the Philippine Sea, far away from any land base. At least one carrier is there, and headed towards Babeldaob or Mindanao.

Up until now, my strategy has been to continue pressing forward with invasions, doing so mostly in multiple areas and landing where the enemy carriers are not. I'd land quickly, and exit the area quickly, allowing the enemy carriers to show up and temporarily control the seas, but not until after I've landed and taken my objectives. I've said all along that I'd eventually fight the big carrier battle on my terms. Today is the day.

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RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apba... - 1/16/2020 2:52:00 PM

BBfanboy

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Is it wise to engage KB + LBA after your bombers have already suffered heavy losses? What do you figure is the balance of carrier numbers now?

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Post #: 1462

RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apba... - 1/16/2020 3:38:31 PM

RangerJoe

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The Japanese fighter pilots on CAP just might be worn out after shooting down all them planes.

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Post #: 1463

RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apba... - 1/16/2020 6:01:58 PM

apbarog

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I lost 20-some SBDs the other day. They came from the Celebes, not my carriers. The Japanese lost more Lilys that day. My squadrons are well-stocked and ready to go. My AAA is much better. I don't know which side has better pilots. I'm guessing that the average carrier fighter pilot skills are about the same. Any elite pilots that the enemy has from the start will be better. The enemy lost about 3 Zero squadrons over Rangoon long ago. That depleted some pilots. I have some very good pilots, and some average ones. As for plane types, the Hellcats can handle the Zeros.

Of course, anything can happen. In our last carrier battle, the Allied task forces became separated and my CAP assignments did not take that possibility into account. This time, each task force can cover itself, as much as possible.

Time to wait and see what happens. The enemy could panic and leave the area, not seeing my carriers yesterday. Or they could advance, knowing that most of my shipping has left Tjepoe. Anything can happen.

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Post #: 1464

RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apba... - 1/17/2020 1:55:19 AM

apbarog

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OPilot wasn't able to do the turn today. He did watch the replay. I know that he doesn't fast-forward through any parts of the replay, so he may have spent hours watching it, if there was a huge battle. I have a feeling that we had the huge carrier battle that I sought. But I won't know until later tomorrow.

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Post #: 1465

RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apba... - 1/17/2020 7:19:49 AM

CaptBeefheart

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Good luck!

Cheers,
CB

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RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apba... - 1/17/2020 7:28:07 AM

GetAssista

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quote:

ORIGINAL: apbarog
The Australians won't hold for long, taking all of the casualties. B-25s will try to bomb them today...

Cheers for being creative on the moral support front! Those Aussies need some discipline to be useful

(in reply to apbarog)

Post #: 1467

RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apba... - 1/18/2020 1:36:16 AM

apbarog

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quote:

ORIGINAL: GetAssista

quote:

ORIGINAL: apbarog
The Australians won't hold for long, taking all of the casualties. B-25s will try to bomb them today...

Cheers for being creative on the moral support front! Those Aussies need some discipline to be useful

Sorry about the unfortunate mis-type! The Aussies have a tough job, trying to hold the inland base, cutting the rail line. We're doing all we can to help them. It's a race to see if they can hold long enough for reinforcements to arrive.

Hold until relieved. Hold until relieved! (Brit reference, but it works)

(in reply to GetAssista)

Post #: 1468

RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apba... - 1/18/2020 4:02:54 AM

BBfanboy

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From: Winnipeg, MB
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quote:

ORIGINAL: apbarog

quote:

ORIGINAL: GetAssista

quote:

ORIGINAL: apbarog
The Australians won't hold for long, taking all of the casualties. B-25s will try to bomb them today...

Cheers for being creative on the moral support front! Those Aussies need some discipline to be useful

Sorry about the unfortunate mis-type! The Aussies have a tough job, trying to hold the inland base, cutting the rail line. We're doing all we can to help them. It's a race to see if they can hold long enough for reinforcements to arrive.

Hold until relieved. Hold until relieved! (Brit reference, but it works)

"Hold until relieved." From the movie "The Longest Day", after the Brit commandoes capture a bridge behind the D-day beachhead and the commander surveys the scene while his orders play out in his thoughts. I am trying to remember if it was Sean Connery playing the Brit commander.

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Post #: 1469

RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apba... - 1/18/2020 6:50:53 AM

apbarog

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I sensed that this was going to be a big turn, and it was. I'd been waiting for this. After having the US carriers essentially split into two groups for most of the war, I had combined them for the invasion of Java. Yesterday, they successfully escorted most of the valuable APAs out of harm's way, and found themselves in a position to strike at the enemy carriers that had essentially stayed in place for about 5 days, hovering near Balikpapan. And the US carriers were not spotted. I pulled the trigger and moved within range of where the carriers were...

And now for something completely different...

The most important thing in war...LOGISTICS!

Supply and fuel continues to be delivered to Darwin and Sydney from the West Coast. Sydney now has 288k fuel and 928k supply. Darwin has 1,053k fuel and 475k supply. Those are the two big concentrations in Australia. Supply and fuel is not an issue.

As for the big battle, that update will have to wait until tomorrow.

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Post #: 1470

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