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... - 3/11/2020 2:34:04 AM

CaptBeefheart

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Playing against Ironman typically the only way to neutralize a big enemy airfield is through shore bombardment, or at least shore bombardment followed by airfield attack. Any chance of even getting a DD TF to bombard Batavia?

Cheers,
CB

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RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apba... - 3/11/2020 2:44:50 AM

apbarog

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I could bombard Batavia. I tried the easy approach, but that didn't work. OPilot has used mines effectively lately. He rarely used them early in the war, saving them up for the defensive phase. I'm afraid that Batavia has mines too. The good news is that 3 US divisions are on the march towards Batavia, so suppressing it by air probably isn't necessary. And with my new landing west of Palembang, the enemy troops at Batavia probably aren't going to be extracted.

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RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apba... - 3/11/2020 8:17:58 AM

Wuffer

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A bit late, but not forgetten: Finally congrats for such a calculated and decisive big carrier clash.
Honestly, I wondered a bit why you wanted to go through the middle, while Sumatra seemed to be an easy grap. But the action speaks fot itself - masterful destruction and occonomy of force. The quickest way.

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Post #: 1563

RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apba... - 3/11/2020 2:51:57 PM

apbarog

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Joined: 5/23/2002
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Thanks Wuffer. The carrier battle was a battle of opportunity. I had finished my landing on the north Java coast, and the enemy carriers were loitering near Balikpapan, for days. The battle turned out better than expected, with my CVEs reacting and moving closer to the enemy, while my big carriers stayed in place behind. The enemy strikes were split, with many CVEs hit but only one lost, and the enemy lost many big carriers.

The Sumatra invasion has always been a bit of a separate operation. The troops came from Burma. Those troops could either be fighting in Burma, and probably in a battle that would still be a stalemate, or they could do something decisive in Sumatra. This probably isn't a big surprise to OPilot, but my landing is big enough that there isn't much he can do about it.

My choice to go up the middle, between Borneo and the Celebes, is just a matter of pushing further from my strength. I had prioritized taking the oil centers. Now I want to head towards Japan, but not have to take everything in between. I'll stay west of Mindanao, then invade and take Luzon. It's too early to say if that's a good plan. A big enemy air presence on Mindanao would present a threat to my flank, with so much shipping heading towards Manila, eventually. We'll see.

Thanks for reading.

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Post #: 1564

RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apba... - 3/11/2020 3:14:34 PM

Wuffer

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But you announced it even months and months before... Propably hard to counter for Empire: Biting at the flanks and than a big knock out. You force him to commit all at least, an halfhearted answer like a couple of BBs or CAs is too risky as you proofed. Fingerspitzengef�hl - you don't play this for the first time and it's quite obvious. The Atavar tells a little bit.
I seldom comment, hard to find always the right tone in a foreign lingo if you are not really used to, and, as often, somehow I wished I had better hold my mouth. As now, I am still very curious how a Truck landing would have been played out.

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RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apba... - 3/11/2020 3:39:20 PM

apbarog

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Joined: 5/23/2002
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Yes, I announced Sumatra long ago. I wanted to do something other than the tough fighting in the jungles of Thailand, a place where the enemy is strong and can reinforce easily. Looking at it from the Japanese view, where else can those British and Indian troops go? Java is already accounted for. They can go to Sumatra or a landing in Malaysia. That's about it.

I too am curious about how a Truk invasion would have turned out. I think it would have been successful if I had committed everything to it, including all of the big carriers and battleships. But my priority was moving out from Java, so I limited myself in the Truk area. I think I needed all of the big carriers to clear out the big enemy battleship force that has been there all this time. As it turned out, my threat to Truk (and the Mariannas) has tied down enemy troops, planes and ships, at places that I now don't plan on going to.

(in reply to Wuffer)

Post #: 1566

RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apba... - 3/11/2020 10:35:53 PM

apbarog

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26 Sep 43

There are still two large enemy groupings of ships. One is northwest of Borneo, and the other is nearing Saigon. These are ships that fled Balikpapan, and apparently Singapore also. O24 spotted heavily burning AK Awazisan Maru at Singkawang, but missed the ship with two torpedoes. The ship had been hit at Palembang. Snapper hit xAK Katuragi Maru with two torpedoes near Soc Trang, sinking the ship. Redfin missed a tanker northwest of Borneo. Several tankers are there, fleeing Palembang. O24 fired two torpedoes at ACM Hinode Maru #18 at Singkawang but missed. Swordfish spotted a large convoy northeast of Singapore. It has multiple AS, AV, AG as well as an AD and AKE. These ships are fleeing Kuantan. Swordfish missed a patrol boat.

Sturgeon hit patrol boat Showa Maru #5 with a torpedo near Legaspi, sinking the ship.

12 P-38s didn't get the orders to stand down after yesterday's poor sweep of Batavia. They went again, shooting down a Frank but losing 6 or so Lightnings.

I've opened up a limited offensive east of Tavoy, northwest of Bangkok.

Ground combat at 55,59 (near Tavoy)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 22449 troops, 347 guns, 545 vehicles, Assault Value = 898

Defending force 11347 troops, 104 guns, 56 vehicles, Assault Value = 381

Allied adjusted assault: 303

Japanese adjusted defense: 1927

Allied assault odds: 1 to 6

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

Japanese ground losses:
734 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 84 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 9 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled

Allied ground losses:
163 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 13 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Vehicles lost 34 (1 destroyed, 33 disabled)

Assaulting units:
632nd Tank Destroyer Battalion
9th Indian Division
255th Armoured Brigade
29th British Brigade
163rd Light AA Regiment

Defending units:
56th Division

The odds were poor but the results were good. The large number of Allied tanks made the difference. The next attack will occur when the units get resupplied along the trail. There are plenty of enemy divisions in Thailand. This offensive won't go far. But it will draw some attention. Some enemy troops are already headed south towards Bangkok from northern Thailand.

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Post #: 1567

RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apba... - 3/13/2020 12:05:10 AM

apbarog

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27 Sep 43

Pogy spotted the big convoy with many support ships in it. The ships are near Kota Bharu now, moving rather slowly, probably due to the AGs in the task force. Pogy missed AS Hikawa Maru with four torpedoes. Now Pogy has joined the list of subs heading back to Soerabaja for repairs, having been hit by a depth charge and a anti-sub mortar. It's rough in the shallow water.

Sculpin sank PB Tamo Maru #7 with a torpedo near Culion. PB Tamo Maru #8 witnessed the sinking, and will now return home to the other Tamo's to report the loss of the family member.

Big enemy air action over Hengyang in China. 78 Oscars were overhead protecting. Just another rather random action in China.

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Post #: 1568

RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apba... - 3/14/2020 2:52:04 AM

apbarog

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28 Sep 43

Thresher hit E-boat W-6 with a torpedo near Saigon, sinking the ship. An xAP was spotted. Thresher took some minor damage from E-boat Yaeyama and will retire to Soerabaja.

12 B-24s hit Ternate's port. I'd seen an ACM there, and no CAP recently. One bomb sank ACM Wa 21.

Allied troops landed on Christmas Island in the Indian Ocean. Here's what each side has:

Ground combat at Christmas Island IO (45,104)

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 1804 troops, 12 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 59

Defending force 1362 troops, 10 guns, 67 vehicles, Assault Value = 83

Assaulting units:
91st Naval Guard Unit

Defending units:
2/1st Pioneer Battalion
2/4th Armoured Rgt /3

With the fighting on Sumatra and Java, the enemy troops here are truly on their own. They'll hold for awhile, probably. The Allied troops will attack, assisted by B-25s from Java and a US cruiser force.

Shipping will move out from Balikpapan, moving to the Tarakan area, covered by Allied CVEs and CVLs. No big carriers.

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RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apba... - 3/14/2020 6:14:22 PM

apbarog

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28 Sep 43 - Planned Advance in Sumatra

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RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apba... - 3/15/2020 1:37:29 AM

apbarog

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29 Sep 43

Tuna spotted a big convoy near Groot Natoena, east of Singapore. Tuna didn't get a shot in, but did get hit with a depth charge and many near misses in the shallow water, attacked by E-boat Kuri. Tuna is hurting but should make it back to Soerabaja.

About 7 hexes southeast of Tokyo, sub Crevalle spotted battleship Hyuga with a cruiser and a few destroyers. I believe that Hyuga was at Truk, and it is heading to Japan.

The 7th Indian Division started to land at Padang. No enemy there.

Escort carriers and support, with invasion troops, headed from Balikpapan towards Tarakan. RO-101 spotted the carrier task force (but no carriers) near Samarinda. The sub was hit by a depth charge. 38 B-24s bombed Tarakan's airfield, but did only minor damage in severe storms. Hellcats swept last, but there was no CAP anyhow.

Four US cruisers bombarded Christmas Island in the Indian Ocean. Very little damage to the 91st Naval Guard Unit, but heavy damage to the port. 29 B-25s did better against the troops. A first attack.

Ground combat at Christmas Island IO (45,104)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 1728 troops, 10 guns, 78 vehicles, Assault Value = 91

Defending force 1709 troops, 12 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 52

Allied adjusted assault: 39

Japanese adjusted defense: 31

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

Allied Assault reduces fortifications to 0

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

Japanese ground losses:
184 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 15 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Allied ground losses:
23 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Guns lost 1 (1 destroyed, 0 disabled)

Assaulting units:
2/1st Pioneer Battalion
2/4th Armoured Regiment

Defending units:
91st Naval Guard Unit

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Post #: 1571

RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apba... - 3/16/2020 12:14:17 AM

apbarog

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30 Sep 43

I-182 spotted an unescorted xAKL unloading supply at Enggano, west of Sumatra. xAKL had been split off to supply the dot base.

Submarine attack near Enggano at 44,94

Japanese Ships
SS I-182, hits 1

Allied Ships
xAKL Hermelin, Shell hits 6, heavy fires, heavy damage

xAKL Hermelin is sighted by SS I-182
SS I-182 attacking on the surface
Sakuma, Eiji decides to submerge SS I-182 due to damage

Hermelin fought back but sank after combat.

Tandjoengselor is invaded. (It is the base that I keep forgetting the name of, as shown on the map.) The base is unoccupied and I'll hope for the immediate flip, ordering a Marine division to begin unloading.

The enemy went after Allied ground troops at Kalidjati. 31 Tojos swept, finding 10 P-47s on ranged CAP. 4 Tojos were downed, for the loss of 2 Thunderbolts. 31 Oscars swept and found just one P-47. No losses. Then 17 Lilys bombed but couldn't hit any troops.

B-24s bombed Tarakan's airfield and troops.

30 B-25s bombed the enemy on Christmas Island in the Indian Ocean, and the island was captured.

Ground combat at Christmas Island IO (45,104)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 1992 troops, 10 guns, 87 vehicles, Assault Value = 90

Defending force 1500 troops, 12 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 32

Allied adjusted assault: 27

Japanese adjusted defense: 13

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

Allied forces CAPTURE Christmas Island IO !!!

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

Japanese ground losses:
157 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 18 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 5 (4 destroyed, 1 disabled)

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

Assaulting units:
2/1st Pioneer Battalion
2/4th Armoured Regiment

Defending units:
91st Naval Guard Unit

Torpedo bombers from US CVEs hit ACM Wa 15 near Sandakan. The mine tender was fleeing from Tarakan, and was sunk by 2 torpedoes.

In the jungle northwest of Bangkok, Allied troops attacked.

Ground combat at 55,59 (near Tavoy)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 22875 troops, 386 guns, 549 vehicles, Assault Value = 864

Defending force 10599 troops, 104 guns, 56 vehicles, Assault Value = 300

Allied adjusted assault: 278

Japanese adjusted defense: 445

Allied assault odds: 1 to 2

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

Japanese ground losses:
619 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 36 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 8 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 4 disabled
Vehicles lost 3 (1 destroyed, 2 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
431 casualties reported
Squads: 6 destroyed, 105 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 23 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 17 disabled
Guns lost 18 (1 destroyed, 17 disabled)

Assaulting units:
9th Indian Division
632nd Tank Destroyer Battalion
641st Towed Tank Destroyer Battalion
255th Armoured Brigade
29th British Brigade
163rd Light AA Regiment

Defending units:
56th Division

The Indian division will pull back, to be replaced by a fresh one.

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RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apba... - 3/17/2020 1:39:56 AM

apbarog

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1 Oct 43

Sculpin fired two torpedoes at smoking destroyer Hayanami, west of Manila. No hits.

Tojos swept Tavoy. No CAP. OPilot has noticed the increased troop activity in the area. An Allied armor unit has begun to advance down the coast.

I-182 sank already damaged xAKL Sarpen at Pagai-eilanden, west of Sumatra. This is much like the action yesterday, where a sub sank another xAKL at Enggano. Both small cargo ships were unescorted and unloading supply at the dot bases. The enemy went after easy pickings, but that's ok. Better than going after all the US big carriers in the area. British carrier Victorious has split off and headed to Ceylon to withdraw. The US carriers will rendezvous with invasion shipping for Merak.

The Allied attack at Kalidjati on Java turned into a rout when the infantry divisions showed up.

Ground combat at Kalidjati (50,99)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 32286 troops, 523 guns, 771 vehicles, Assault Value = 1031

Defending force 6924 troops, 104 guns, 98 vehicles, Assault Value = 225

Allied adjusted assault: 705

Japanese adjusted defense: 14

Allied assault odds: 50 to 1 (fort level 1)

Allied forces CAPTURE Kalidjati !!!

Combat modifiers
Defender: preparation(-), experience(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
2304 casualties reported
Squads: 56 destroyed, 79 disabled
Non Combat: 83 destroyed, 6 disabled
Engineers: 28 destroyed, 2 disabled
Guns lost 60 (58 destroyed, 2 disabled)
Vehicles lost 93 (93 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units retreated 4

Allied ground losses:
107 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 13 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 9 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Guns lost 2 (1 destroyed, 1 disabled)
Vehicles lost 25 (2 destroyed, 23 disabled)

Defeated Japanese Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
637th Tank Destroyer Battalion
40th Infantry Division
2/9th Armoured Regiment
Americal Infantry Division
2/6th Armoured Regiment
762nd Tank Battalion
4th USMC Tank Battalion
50th Cmbt Engineer Regiment
29th Australian Brigade
Sixth US Army
602nd Field Artillery Battalion
225th Field Artillery Battalion
144th RNZA Bty

Defending units:
16th Division
4th Tank Regiment
1st Ind.Tank Co
19th Ind Engineer Regiment

The advance continues towards Batavia. A stack of enemy troops are nearby in the mountains at Bandoeng, showing movement towards Batavia. But some may stay in the mountains to hold out.

Cleanup of the enemy continued on Christmas Island IO.

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RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apba... - 3/18/2020 2:41:33 AM

apbarog

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Joined: 5/23/2002
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2 Oct 43

Yesterday, I had a large xAP task force unloading an Indian division at Padang. Despite having some vehicles still loaded, I sent the task force to Benkoelen to finish unloading, and will have the fragment walk up the slow trail to Padang. I did send a small task force to Padang, to finish unloading a fragment that couldn't unload at the dot base island to the west. That small task force was targeted. The enemy made a major effort from Singapore. Overwhelming.

42 Franks swept Padang, finding 14 FM-1s and 16 Corsairs. The US planes were routed. 30 Nicks then swept, finding just 7 US planes left. More US planes lost. Then 43 Oscars swept. No CAP left. Then the naval strike.

Morning Air attack on TF, near Padang at 44,85

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid spotted at 19 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 36
G4M1 Betty x 18

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 1 damaged

Allied Ships
xAP Erinpura, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
xAP Ellenga, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
PG Hindustan

Allied ground losses:
Guns lost 2 (2 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Vehicles lost 5 (3 destroyed, 2 disabled)

Then 24 Tonys swept. Erinpura is burning and will probably sink also. At least I'd moved out the big task force. It's obviously dangerous to be so close to Singapore.

Corsairs swept Manado and Liberators bombed. An ACM was sunk, and a few enemy planes were destroyed on the ground.

Total air losses were 13 Zeros, 2 Franks and a Nick for the cost of 12 FM-1s and 10 F-4Us.

An Allied armor unit took Djambi today. I'm making a guess that OPilot will see the oil there as an easy target for planes from Singapore, especially after seeing his success over Padang today. The oil isn't critical to the Allies, but it would be nice to have, and none of the 250 oil production is damaged. So, I moved 50 or so P-47s to Djambi, despite there being no ground support. It's on the road, on the way.

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RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apba... - 3/18/2020 2:53:36 AM

BBfanboy

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From: Winnipeg, MB
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Does your Marine unit have devices that are too heavy or too large to be airlifted by a C-47, like a 105 howitzer?

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Post #: 1575

RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apba... - 3/18/2020 3:09:06 AM

apbarog

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Joined: 5/23/2002
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quote:

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

Does your Marine unit have devices that are too heavy or too large to be airlifted by a C-47, like a 105 howitzer?

Here's the unit. None of the unit was airlifted.

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RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apba... - 3/18/2020 3:27:32 AM

BBfanboy

Posts: 18046
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From: Winnipeg, MB
Status: offline

AF 1 is pretty small for a twin-engine aircraft, and combined with the damage that might make it unsuitable. Weather at either airfield could also stop the mission.
I am unsure if the split unit might affect the airlift. It looks like you have the Parent piece of the unit because the CO is with it.

_____________________________

No matter how bad a situation is, you can always make it worse. - Chris Hadfield : An Astronaut's Guide To Life On Earth

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RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apba... - 3/18/2020 6:43:03 AM

CaptBeefheart

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From: Seoul, Korea
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No manual handy, but my guess is the runway damage is too high.

EDIT: I think I've run into that problem, which was solved by using Catalinas or Coronados. Not such luck at an inland base.

Cheers,
CB

< Message edited by CaptBeefheart -- 3/18/2020 6:44:43 AM >

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RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apba... - 3/19/2020 2:36:15 AM

apbarog

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Joined: 5/23/2002
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3 Oct 43

In playing this game for many years, I've had a theory about ship ASW attacks. This is only my opinion, and I have no data to back this up. Just a feeling that I have, something that has crossed my mind more than once. The idea is that on a given day, ship ASW attacks are more or less effective, as a whole. What I see is ship ASW attacks being skewed on the effective side, as a whole, on a given day, for both sides, or being skewed on the ineffective side. Just something that I've thought. Probably untrue. Today I felt was an "effective" day. RO-36 was hit by 3 depth charges from PC-777, and reported heavy damage. No sign of it sinking. Then Muskallunge was hit by 3 depth charges from PB Shonan Maru #1. Damage to Muskallunge was just SYS 21/FLOT 29-9/ENG 4-3/FIRE 0, so I doubt there were really 3 depth charge hits, or they were very weak hits. Seeing a sub hit by 3 depth charges is infrequent. Seeing 2 subs hit by 3 depth charges is rare. And seeing 2 subs hit by 3 depth charges and neither sub sinking is incredibly rare. 3 hits is almost always the end. So is it coincidence that the ship ASW was incredibly effective today? Probably. I wonder though. I'm not saying that every attack is identical or the same effectiveness. Just a skewing of the average for the day, one way or the other.

Muskallunge also hit xAK Kashu Maru with a dud torpedo. The first dud in awhile. The dud rate for Sept '43 on, so far, is 3 duds in 32 hits.

Long isolated enemy troops on Timor moved east to Dili and attacked. I'd seen them coming, and had battleships Arizona and West Virginia waiting at Koepang. The enemy lost 305 men from the 16th Infantry Regiment and the 23rd Naval Guard Unit. Both had been battered in combat long ago, and were isolated on Java in the jungle. I don't know if OPilot snuck any supply to them during their stay, but they didn't show being out of supply. I also don't know if today's attack was a suicide run, but it turned out that way.

Ground combat at Dili (71,115)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 587 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 9

Defending force 6253 troops, 84 guns, 98 vehicles, Assault Value = 127

Japanese adjusted assault: 0

Allied adjusted defense: 337

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 99 (fort level 4)

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

Japanese ground losses:
379 casualties reported
Squads: 11 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 26 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Assaulting units:
23rd Nav Gd Unit
16th Infantry Regiment
21st Air Flotilla
49th JNAF AF Unit

Defending units:
19th Australian Brigade
352nd Construction Regiment
77th RAAF Base Wing

3 of the enemy units evaporated by the end of the day. If it was a suicide attack, it was successful.

On Christmas Island IO, the Australians cleared the enemy off of the island.

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RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apba... - 3/19/2020 5:37:27 AM

apbarog

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Just seemed like there are a lot of days where most if not all of the sub hunters can't find the subs, or most do find the subs. And/or most miss the subs, or most hit the subs. I know. This proves nothing. But it is something that I wondered about for many years. I'm probably just seeing certain days that reinforce my theory, but in the totality of the turns, doesn't prove anything.

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RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apba... - 3/19/2020 1:01:04 PM

Lowpe

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quote:

ORIGINAL: apbarog

Just seemed like there are a lot of days where most if not all of the sub hunters can't find the subs, or most do find the subs. And/or most miss the subs, or most hit the subs. I know. This proves nothing. But it is something that I wondered about for many years. I'm probably just seeing certain days that reinforce my theory, but in the totality of the turns, doesn't prove anything.

I often felt the same way about sub attacks...

I wonder if you would have been able to pursue a SRA approach with strictly British, Oz & Commonwealth forces with only minor help from the US? Leaving the US the ability to leap frog in the greater Pacific?

I realize the game greatly encourages the use of mass in a pbem, but with massed US carriers posing a threat in the greater Pacific, avoiding a huge troop drain in Burma/Thailand, I think it could be doable, especially in a scenario 1 style of game. Lots of clicks though and I am not certain about the PP cost either.

Personally, I lean to favor small scale clashes with action all over the map. Spread the forces like too little butter over toast. Exciting, as you never know what the next bite will bring!

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Post #: 1581

RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apba... - 3/19/2020 5:19:51 PM

apbarog

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Good question Lowpe. I do think that the British and friends could have pursued an SRA approach without the US. I never considered such an approach because of timing. When I decided to pull significant forces out of Burma for Sumatra, I was lacking the shipping to do so. My requirement was that I wanted to land everything at once, including support units, using typical xAP ships. I needed to send many xAPs from all over to Ceylon, routing most through Panama. It took a lot of time.

In the mean time, the Java campaign was already in motion. I could have held off using US forces in Java, and used them elsewhere, but that wouldn't have sped up the invasion of Sumatra, and the troops used on Sumatra would have been used on Java afterwards. Or vice versa.

I had made the decision to go after the oil. Had I not done so, US troops could already be in the Mariannas, and probably beyond. I don't know if one way is better than the other. A Central Pacific push would get me a lot closer to Japan earlier, but wouldn't cut off the supply of oil. And strategic bombing from the Mariannas may not be as effective in the game as it was in real life.

As it is, the US carriers won a big carrier battle near Balikpapan, and I'm seeing the end of the war coming with the capture of much of the oil production. I'll push hard now west of Mindanao and into Luzon. I hope to be on Luzon by January '44.

I also prefer the small clashes. As time goes on, the natural tendency is for combat strength to coalesce on strong points. It's definitely happening in this game with Japanese fighter protection, at Batavia, Bangkok, Singapore and Truk. You put one fighter squadron on a base. I sweep with two. You put more fighters there.

It's to the Allied advantage to spread out the forces. The Japanese just cannot defend everywhere.

I'm already thinking about my next game, which will be a rematch against OPilot, where we will switch sides. Trying to decide what to do as the Japanese is difficult. It's just so hopeless. You have to have a different mentality, where "winning" is delaying and destroying as much as possible, losing your forces in a way that is most costly to the Allies.

(in reply to Lowpe)

Post #: 1582

RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apba... - 3/19/2020 7:28:45 PM

Lowpe

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quote:

ORIGINAL: apbarog
Trying to decide what to do as the Japanese is difficult. It's just so hopeless. You have to have a different mentality, where "winning" is delaying and destroying as much as possible, losing your forces in a way that is most costly to the Allies.

You could opt for auto-victory, where you plan for the long term (r&d,economy), assess after the expansion is almost finished and see if you can push for AV. When I nabbed AV for Japan it was without any major CV clash, as I managed to get destroyers into torpedo range twice damaging those Yankee CVs. We came close once, but weather in the North Pacific isn't reliable and nothing flew.

You do need to figure out a way to keep the initiative going.

Is this a scenario 1 or 2 style game?

(in reply to apbarog)

Post #: 1583

RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apba... - 3/19/2020 7:54:37 PM

apbarog

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This is a DBB-B mod game, so like scenario 1. We're using PDU-OFF, which I really enjoy. Still flying older aircraft and everything isn't a Frank or a P-47.

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Post #: 1584

RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apba... - 3/20/2020 1:00:26 AM

apbarog

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4 Oct 43

Seal sank E-boat Hirado east of Singapore.

Yesterday I had taken Djambi. I thought that OPilot might go for an easy target and hit the oil there, so I'd moved 50 P-47s to Djambi. He didn't show, but he did see my fighters there. So I pulled them out. Today he sent a few fighters to clear out mine. The A-Team from Singapore. 36 Zeros, 40 Franks and 42 Oscars swept Djambi. 36 Bettys bombed the airfield, doing moderate damage. Then 32 Sallys escorted by 32 Nicks hit the airfield, doing more damage.

The enemy suicide ground units at Dili were completely destroyed. The enemy vacated Bandoeng on Java, with a retreat towards Batavia. The end is near for the enemy on Java.

At Mergui in Burma, a motorised brigade attacked 2 enemy units headed southeast out of town.

Ground combat at Mergui (53,62)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 3924 troops, 64 guns, 159 vehicles, Assault Value = 151

Defending force 2202 troops, 14 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 89

Allied adjusted assault: 130

Japanese adjusted defense: 81

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

Allied Assault reduces fortifications to 1

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

Japanese ground losses:
139 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 16 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Allied ground losses:
78 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 9 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled

Assaulting units:
268th Motorised Brigade

Defending units:
6th RTA/B Division
4th JAAF AF Coy

Mergui is not important. I'm stretching the line a bit here, and my line east and southeast of Moulmein is approaching enemy lines. Just applying some pressure. It won't go far, with plenty of enemy reserves at Bangkok.

(in reply to CaptBeefheart)

Post #: 1585

RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apba... - 3/20/2020 10:44:46 PM

apbarog

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5 Oct 43

Today the Allied subs were hitting their targets. There were four Allied sub engagements. Albacore elected not to fire at SC Ch 7. The others hit and sank their targets. Growler sank SC Ch 46. Seawolf sank AMC Saigon Maru with 3 torpedoes. No men noted on the ship when it went down. Trusty sank E W-8 with 2 torpedoes.

Allied troops on Java pushed a stack of enemy back into Batavia.

Ground combat at 49,99 (near Batavia)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 26228 troops, 461 guns, 592 vehicles, Assault Value = 849

Defending force 17991 troops, 191 guns, 145 vehicles, Assault Value = 351

Allied adjusted assault: 487

Japanese adjusted defense: 126

Allied assault odds: 3 to 1

Combat modifiers
Defender: experience(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
7074 casualties reported
Squads: 202 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 118 destroyed, 33 disabled
Engineers: 17 destroyed, 16 disabled
Guns lost 48 (27 destroyed, 21 disabled)
Vehicles lost 64 (44 destroyed, 20 disabled)
Units retreated 6
Units destroyed 2

Allied ground losses:
1145 casualties reported
Squads: 8 destroyed, 114 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 17 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 8 disabled
Guns lost 25 (1 destroyed, 24 disabled)
Vehicles lost 23 (1 destroyed, 22 disabled)

Defeated Japanese Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
Americal Infantry Division
637th Tank Destroyer Battalion
4th USMC Tank Battalion
40th Infantry Division
762nd Tank Battalion
225th Field Artillery Battalion
Sixth US Army
249th Field Artillery Battalion
602nd Field Artillery Battalion

Defending units:
4th Tank Regiment
16th Division
19th Ind Engineer Regiment
12th Division
21st Ind Engineer Regiment
1st Ind.Tank Co
19th Army
2nd Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion

An Allied attack at Mergui fell short with 1 to 1 odds. 87 enemy casualties and 294 Allied. Time to rest a bit.

(in reply to CaptBeefheart)

Post #: 1586

RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apba... - 3/22/2020 12:44:42 AM

apbarog

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6 Oct 43

We'd spoken about the smaller interesting battles. There was one today. Three PT boats were ordered to patrol off of Batavia. There had been a number of smaller craft spotted at Batavia. I figured they'd be fleeing soon, and today was the day.

Day Time Surface Combat, near Batavia at 49,97, Range 11,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
ACM Wa 1, Shell hits 6
AMc Mogami Maru, Shell hits 3

Allied Ships
PT-73
PT-111
PT-112

The battle was not decisive but it was interesting. The AMc engaged the PTs but got no hits. No torpedoes were launched. The PT boats got a few 37mm hits. I noted that the 37's were added to the PT boats as an upgrade. Neither ship was badly damaged, and both will make it to a friendly port.

The same group of enemy air from Singapore flew just northwest of Palembang, in support of strikes on the 18th British Division there, which is moving towards Palembang. Clear terrain. 36 Zeros, then 40 Franks, then 42 Oscars swept. No Allied air there. 33 Bettys and 6 Kates then bombed the troops, causing 171 casualties but taking some flak losses. Then 29 Sallys bombed, causing 94 casualties. It would take a major effort to put up a decent CAP against those numbers and that quality. I may just take my lumps on the way into Palembang.

(in reply to CaptBeefheart)

Post #: 1587

RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apba... - 3/23/2020 12:47:50 AM

apbarog

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7 Oct 43

The Singapore Gang swept Padang. No CAP. Not defending Padang or Djambi with aircraft. Not important.

Enemy swept and bombed Tavoy, doing minor damage in thunderstorms.

Sub Aspro spotted a task force with 5 destroyers near Nago, southwest of Japan. Probably part of a bigger task force. Aspro missed DD Minekaze with 4 torpedoes.

On a jungle trail northeast of Chiang Mai, the 16th Light Cavalry Regiment caught up with a withdrawing enemy unit. The cavalry attacked and found that the enemy was an infantry regiment, more than anticipated.

Ground combat at 61,51 (near Chiang Mai)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 480 troops, 0 guns, 94 vehicles, Assault Value = 55

Defending force 3807 troops, 26 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 127

Allied adjusted assault: 21

Japanese adjusted defense: 400

Allied assault odds: 1 to 19

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

Allied ground losses:
Vehicles lost 14 (3 destroyed, 11 disabled)

Assaulting units:
16th Light Cavalry Regiment

Defending units:
143rd Infantry Regiment

The cavalry will attempt to pull back, but 4 other enemy units further along the trail have turned around and are headed to this hex.

Attachment (1)

(in reply to CaptBeefheart)

Post #: 1588

RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apba... - 3/23/2020 6:26:10 PM

apbarog

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8 Oct 43

Permit hit E-boat W-24 with two torpedoes near Jesselton. The first torpedo exploded, putting a hole in the hull at the lavatory. Water rushed into the small room, but the torpedo also jammed the toilet handle on, so the incoming water was flushed out as fast as it entered. The second torpedo was a dud, but entered the hole that the first torpedo made, hit the toilet, and unjammed the toilet handle. The room then filled with water and the ship sank.

Well, it could have happened.

A bunch of LSTs unloaded supply at Ambon, where a Marine division has been for months. The Marines and support are in a standoff with an enemy division in the jungle hex. Neither can do much about the other. Both sides figure that they are tying down an enemy division.

The enemy attacks the retreating Allied cavalry regiment in the jungle near Chiang Mai.

Ground combat at 61,51 (near Chiang Mai)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 3807 troops, 26 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 127

Defending force 456 troops, 0 guns, 91 vehicles, Assault Value = 47

Japanese adjusted assault: 58

Allied adjusted defense: 43

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 1

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

Japanese ground losses:
53 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Assaulting units:
143rd Infantry Regiment

Defending units:
16th Light Cavalry Regiment

Allied troops began to enter Batavia. More on the way.

(in reply to CaptBeefheart)

Post #: 1589

RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apba... - 3/23/2020 10:46:04 PM

BBfanboy

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From: Winnipeg, MB
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The toilet facilities are called "the heads" - I presume because in sailing ship days the captain's cabin was at the stern so the sailors had to go at the far end of the ship, perhaps in a large bucket.

So you torpedoed the enemy in the heads and gave him a fatal headache! Good show!

_____________________________

No matter how bad a situation is, you can always make it worse. - Chris Hadfield : An Astronaut's Guide To Life On Earth

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Post #: 1590

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