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All Forums >> [New Releases from Matrix Games] >> War in the Pacific: Admiral's Edition >> After Action Reports >> RE: I Have Returned

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RE: I Have Returned - 12/3/2020 1:50:34 AM

BBfanboy

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From: Winnipeg, MB
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Taking a base does not stop the "cost watchers" . Those accountants are everywhere! They appear to be counting the bottles of whiskey or sake consumed by the coast watchers, who also manage to hide out near enemy bases.

_____________________________

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 Taxcutter)

Post #: 121

RE: I Have Returned - 12/5/2020 8:04:28 PM

Taxcutter

Posts: 389
Joined: 4/4/2016
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Sitrep Sept 21, 1943

Indeed. Accountants running amok!

Be careful what you wish for - you might just get it. I finally have Rangoon surrounded the way I want it. One hex open to a clear terrain cul-de-sac where I can slaughter AI's Rangoon REMFs. I'm feeding in four fresh brigades plus the (rather limited) British artillery has worn AI down some (<35 AV in hex best I can tell) although those damned level 6 forts are still there. I have more than a smidge of supply and victory looks to be in sight.

Problem is that the RN has no carriers (beyond the Hermes which has no air wing) or carrier planes at all in the IO. The AI is still pretty strong at Bangkok and Port Blair. Hurricanes and P-40s are too short-legged for long range CAP. So I scratched six USN CVEs and 125 Wildcats to escort cargo ships into Rangoon, but they are at Sydney. I did include an AO to expedite the transit but it is still one helluva long way. Burma Road throughput is still a ways off.

But things are looking good (for now) in China. Liquidating the Nanning pocket freed up a huge army. It's all a few days from stomping AI's amphib counterattack at Canton. 250,000 Chinese and even sorta supplied (it's all relative in China). Canton does not worry me but the fortified position at Hong Kong could be a problem.

I have spotted some big transports westbound out of the Inland Sea through my thicket of fleet boats. Could be three to five full-sized divisions en route.

Search and recon planes out of Baker now blanket the Gilberts and Marshalls. Place looks comatose, but I know better.

No sign of Kido Butai. I'm refitting my carrier forces. Nice to have a carrier with 1100 flak.

The dam in Darwin is about to break of the AI north of Darwin. I have several divisions 90% prepped for six invasions as fast as I can unload them. Should be fun.

The game has reminded me of some ancient truths of WitP in general. Full prep minimizes casualties and take lots of extra LSTs. The LSTs are more useful getting your successful assault units off small islands. If you have trucks (or tanks or engineer vehicles) and don't have a level 3 port count on a week loading a dozen trucks onto a xAK. LSTs remove vehicles fairly quickly but always seem to take some FLT damage loading across a beach. I've moved an ARD (now almost to PM) to patch up LSTs.

< Message edited by Taxcutter -- 12/5/2020 8:06:15 PM >

(in reply to BBfanboy)

Post #: 122

RE: I Have Returned - 12/12/2020 8:36:23 PM

Taxcutter

Posts: 389
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Sitrep Oct 11, 1943

Things looking good in China. I finally eradicated a 30,000 man amphib counter-attack at Canton. My huge army was not badly worn down but is a little fatigued/disrupted. Next stop: Hong Kong. Where Canton was not fortified I look for Hong Kong to be heavily fortified. It seems to be one of three active airfields. AI is nearly torpid. He is only running three half-hearted offensives and one of them feature "Ching An Tui" brigades.

Things looking good in Burma. I have reduced his 90,000 man garrison in Rangoon to 11,000 and his forts have been reduced to zero. No real infantry left there - just mechanics and clerks. All but a few of his Upper Burma forces are surrounded at Schwebo, but reduction of this has to wait on supply. Burma Road operational by New Years looks good.

SWPac - including Aus I Corps - starting to blast through the Malay Barrier. Four lightly held bases captured. Big tests coming. US division ready to attack Saumlaki and the Aussies are primed for Dili. I've got air cover figured out. B-24s have rubbelized every airfield they can reach. For now I can use P-38s and Corsairs (now available with drop tanks). Once I take Saumlaki my P-47Bs will rule the roost.

My main carrier force is at Pearl while I finish up some refits (~10 days). I like lots of flak. Invasions are prepped for Tarawa, Makin, Kwaj, Roi-Namur, and Jaluit and follow-on are being prepped.

No sign of Kido Butai, so I have to keep my main carrier force consolidated. I have four CVE forces. One seven CVE force with 150 Wildcats headed to Colombo to provide air cover for ships going to Rangoon. Another the same size headed for Darwin to provide more flexible cover. I have tow specialized ASW hunter-killer forces - one in NE Coral Sea and the other at Pearl Harbor.

I'm using otherwise unused xAKs to move my local depots around.

(in reply to Taxcutter)

Post #: 123

RE: I Have Returned - 12/16/2020 7:20:52 PM

Taxcutter

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Sitrep Oct 21, 1943

Finally! Total land victory at Rangoon. The last of his 90,000 man garrison (some airbase mechanics) were polished off. But the air bloodbath (Oscars vs P-40s and Hurris) continues. I'll have to pull my P-40N1 squadrons back for a few days to convert to P-47B. The P-40N1 pool is empty. Some merchies will get hit but I have hundreds of them just swinging around the hook.

The IJN forces at Mandalay have been driven off the Road and are surrounded at Schwebo, but these may wait til I clear three singleton units off the Road.

The Hong Kong offensive begins tomorrow.

In the DEI, I took Saumlaki with little fight. As soon as the assault ships get back to Darwin, I'll have the 32nd Infantry take Tamerfane. With the flank anchored I'll go for the big one - two big garrisons at Dili/Lautern against the whole Aus I Corps.

Recon B-24s spotted a whole bunch of ships at Truk but it doesn't look like Kido Butai, but from 31,000 feet things are hard to make out.

Subs are strangling his tankers in the Luzon and Formosa Straits.

I'm getting more efficient at planning amphib operations.

(in reply to Taxcutter)

Post #: 124

RE: I Have Returned - 12/23/2020 6:00:36 PM

Taxcutter

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Sitrep: Nov.1, 1943

Big day.

1. Squared away latest MicroSoft Windows 10 atrocity and SeaBee is again working well.
2. Captured the base at Hong Kong. Still about 20,000 REMFs to hunt down but a captured one of the world's biggest ports intact and a big airfield intact to boot. Not as tough a fight as Rangoon. AI had only a third the garrison that Rangoon had. Odd - considering that Hong Kong is such a treasure trove of VP.

Now I'm like the dog that caught the car. What do I do with it? My DEI offensive hasn't even gotten as far north as Kendari. The Burma Road garden hose is still a ways off. The air war over Rangoon continues unabated. I think I may have an opportunity for a Malta convoy escorted by eight CVEs into Hong Kong/Canton. Big ports. I can dock fifteen ships at a time. I think what I'll do is punch in 100,000 tons of supply and see how that goes. If I don't suffer excessive losses I'll follow with an amphib convoy to unload Engr and base force units I may be able to air transfer P-38s in and provide land-based cover til I can begin in a convoy full of P-40s, Corsairs, and P-47s. If I can get a hundred fighter in CAP over these ports, AI is dogmeat. He'll have to throw all his strike capability or else the Chinese Army will actually have some supply.

My invasion convoy continues to crawl toward Tarawa. At least this time I have lots of search planes out over the Marshalls and Gilberts.

(in reply to Taxcutter)

Post #: 125

RE: I Have Returned - 12/29/2020 2:07:07 AM

Taxcutter

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Sitrep Nov 16, 1943

Took Tarawa without much of a fight. "Gibraltar of the Pacific" it was not. Also nabbed Ocean Island unopposed.

I'm pulling the assault troops out and putting in the base & garrison. No Zeroes in range so P-39s shoot down Betties just fine.

Grabbed Dili and found I forgot to move the Aus 9th Div to Darwin. They're still in Brisbane. I gotta have Lautern so I need two Aus Inf divisions. I reckon the bloody poms have no corner on fouling up amphib operations.

I've cleared out lower Burma and am extending to the Moulmein line. No use in going further.
Still about 20,000 men holding out in Upper Burma along the Burma Road but now I have supply in mountains so clearing them out is much easier. Look to have Burma Road operating by January.

Finally cleared out Hong Kong and am resting Chiang's army around Canton/Hong Kong. When I take Menado (on Celebes) I should have enough CVEs to try a Malta convoy to Hong Kong/Canton. I start getting ships into those ports, I can shut down the Hump.

KB continues to hide an play it cautious. If I run into KB I want the whole fleet on hand.

Coupla observations:
Man, P-47s are murder on Oscars. 50% more kills than with P-40Ks even with elite aircrew. Speed kills, apparently.

AI-san must have put two-thirds of the IJA on Pacific Islands. Airedale recon finds huge garrisons on remote islands. It is so extreme that his army in China is running out of gas. Only three formations are even semi-aggressive and one of them is two-third Ching An Tui. Ching An Tui units aren't very strong but they seem to have bottomless personnel pools.

This version of the game does not have the unsinkable Japanese barges that drove men nuts in earlier versions. A couple shots from a 3"/50 seems to do them. Previously it took a broadside from a Brooklyn.

(in reply to Taxcutter)

Post #: 126

RE: I Have Returned - 1/7/2021 6:58:59 PM

Taxcutter

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Taxcutter vs AI
Sitrep Dec 7, 1943 Two years at war with a script

KB continues to hide out. At this rate he'll be stuck wherever he is hiding. My subs are killing tankers like crazy.

I have the Luzon and Formosa Straits crawling with subs. The Dutch subs are all over the Makassar Strait. I even have fleet boats camped in minor straits. The waters south of Bungo Suido, Kii Suido and Tokyo Bay have so many boats there I'm tempted to have electric Boat open a service office there. AI cannot move a gallon of regular or a liter of motor oil without some sub skipper slobbering to torpedo it. My Mk 14 problems seem to be over.

Air war over Rangoon is winding down. AI seems to have abandoned Port Blair. Moulmein is down to a skeleton and I haven't seen anything from Bangkok for a while. I have two elite squadrons in Spitfires over Rangoon. Bring on them Zeros.

I have an invasion fleet headed for Manaus. The 9th Aus is en route to Darwin to go to Dili and help finish off resistance on Timor.

I'm to the point I have so many Liberty ships I don't know what to do with them.

(in reply to Taxcutter)

Post #: 127

RE: I Have Returned - 1/8/2021 1:55:35 AM

RangerJoe

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quote:

ORIGINAL: Taxcutter

Taxcutter vs AI
Sitrep Dec 7, 1943 Two years at war with a script

KB continues to hide out. At this rate he'll be stuck wherever he is hiding. My subs are killing tankers like crazy.

I have the Luzon and Formosa Straits crawling with subs. The Dutch subs are all over the Makassar Strait. I even have fleet boats camped in minor straits. The waters south of Bungo Suido, Kii Suido and Tokyo Bay have so many boats there I'm tempted to have electric Boat open a service office there. AI cannot move a gallon of regular or a liter of motor oil without some sub skipper slobbering to torpedo it. My Mk 14 problems seem to be over.

Air war over Rangoon is winding down. AI seems to have abandoned Port Blair. Moulmein is down to a skeleton and I haven't seen anything from Bangkok for a while. I have two elite squadrons in Spitfires over Rangoon. Bring on them Zeros.

I have an invasion fleet headed for Manaus. The 9th Aus is en route to Darwin to go to Dili and help finish off resistance on Timor.

I'm to the point I have so many Liberty ships I don't know what to do with them.

Put a large reefer unit and pizza/hamburger joint on some of the ships and use them for LIBERTY!

Seriously, Churchill was seriously considering sending brewery ships to the Far East at the end of the war and I think that one actually made it there.

_____________________________

Seek peace but keep your gun handy.

I'm not a complete idiot, some parts are missing!

�Illegitemus non carborundum est (�Don�t let the bastards grind you down�).�
― Julia Child

(in reply to Taxcutter)

Post #: 128

RE: I Have Returned - 1/8/2021 3:46:04 AM

BBfanboy

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From: Winnipeg, MB
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Just get a large port on the China coast with a supply path to the hinterland, load up all the spare xAKs and send them there. I guarantee the Chinese will suck up all the supplies and ask for more. In early 1943, I have put about 5 million supply into China and my pools can't keep up with the demand for devices to fill out the units. The Japanese only have a few ragged stragglers left. I figure another 5 million supply before the Red Army is fat enough for Chiang Kai Shek to defeat!

_____________________________

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 Taxcutter)

Post #: 129

RE: I Have Returned - 1/8/2021 5:03:19 PM

Taxcutter

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Re: Post #28

"Just get a large port on the China coast with a supply path to the hinterland, load up all the spare xAKs and send them there."

Taxcutter says:
Precisely my plan. Let the Chinese take all the casualties.

My Hump operation is moving about 250 points a day to Chungking and another 50 to Canton.
Terrain slows me down but I think I can get the Burma Road going in January, so another 500/day.
But once I think I can get by Menado without excessive casualties, I intend to run 15 ship Malta convoys into Hong Kong and Canton. They have good connections to the hinterland.

I'm fixin' to run a recon in force to the Marshalls to see if I can find KB. I haven't killed many zeros. AI must be holding everything for the decisive battle.

What is the symbol for a brewery ship? AB?

(in reply to BBfanboy)

Post #: 130

RE: I Have Returned - 1/8/2021 5:07:27 PM

RangerJoe

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Alas, I do not know the nomenclature for a brewery ship.

_____________________________

Seek peace but keep your gun handy.

I'm not a complete idiot, some parts are missing!

�Illegitemus non carborundum est (�Don�t let the bastards grind you down�).�
― Julia Child

(in reply to Taxcutter)

Post #: 131

RE: I Have Returned - 1/8/2021 5:37:47 PM

BBfanboy

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From: Winnipeg, MB
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quote:

ORIGINAL: RangerJoe

Alas, I do not know the nomenclature for a brewery ship.

That would be an URRP - Utility Refrigerated Replenishment, Personnel.

_____________________________

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 RangerJoe)

Post #: 132

RE: I Have Returned - 1/8/2021 10:47:59 PM

RangerJoe

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quote:

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

quote:

ORIGINAL: RangerJoe

Alas, I do not know the nomenclature for a brewery ship.

That would be an URRP - Utility Refrigerated Replenishment, Personnel.

Actually, I looked it up and I did find the nomenclature for such a ship that did make said beer runs:

quote:

. . . These ships were built at the insistence of Winston Churchill himself and were not only to include breweries, but also cinemas, dance halls and other amenities, which is why they then became known as amenity ships.

https://vinepair.com/wine-blog/wwii-british-floating-brewery/

_____________________________

Seek peace but keep your gun handy.

I'm not a complete idiot, some parts are missing!

�Illegitemus non carborundum est (�Don�t let the bastards grind you down�).�
― Julia Child

(in reply to BBfanboy)

Post #: 133

RE: I Have Returned - 1/13/2021 2:45:10 PM

Bif1961

Posts: 2014
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From: Phenix City, Alabama
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If it was for shipping beer wouldn't it be the BURP?

(in reply to RangerJoe)

Post #: 134

RE: I Have Returned - 1/13/2021 6:17:54 PM

Taxcutter

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LSB. Landing Ship Brewski.

(in reply to Bif1961)

Post #: 135

RE: I Have Returned - 1/13/2021 9:21:24 PM

RangerJoe

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The ship did not brew while moving, only while stopped in port. Only 55 barrels at a time as well.

_____________________________

Seek peace but keep your gun handy.

I'm not a complete idiot, some parts are missing!

�Illegitemus non carborundum est (�Don�t let the bastards grind you down�).�
― Julia Child

(in reply to Taxcutter)

Post #: 136

RE: I Have Returned - 1/13/2021 10:32:26 PM

BBfanboy

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

ORIGINAL: RangerJoe

The ship did not brew while moving, only while stopped in port. Only 55 barrels at a time as well.

Depends on the size of the barrels. Maybe the RN had the old drinking water barrels (tuns) from sailing days in storage. A tun held a weight of .... a ton of water. That's a lot of beer when it replaces the water! Even RJ would need a week to handle that!

_____________________________

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 RangerJoe)

Post #: 137

RE: I Have Returned - 1/13/2021 10:50:44 PM

RangerJoe

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quote:

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

quote:

ORIGINAL: RangerJoe

The ship did not brew while moving, only while stopped in port. Only 55 barrels at a time as well.

Depends on the size of the barrels. Maybe the RN had the old drinking water barrels (tuns) from sailing days in storage. A tun held a weight of .... a ton of water. That's a lot of beer when it replaces the water! Even RJ would need a week to handle that!

It did not state the size of the barrels, only the number. But if those were 55 gallon barrels, that might handle this small town for a few days - but only a few days! That was also when England was using the English measuring system and not one based on the distance from the North Pole to the Capitol of a rival country.

_____________________________

Seek peace but keep your gun handy.

I'm not a complete idiot, some parts are missing!

�Illegitemus non carborundum est (�Don�t let the bastards grind you down�).�
― Julia Child

(in reply to BBfanboy)

Post #: 138

RE: I Have Returned - 1/14/2021 7:39:59 PM

Taxcutter

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My sub campaign is having a big effect. I'm not quite to Jan 1. 1944 and the IJAAF is collapsing even in the Rangoon area where they can get supply overland from Bangkok.

In previous game the IJAAF seemed to have a bottomless pool of Oscars. Pilot quality was a problem but they always had lots of airframes. This game they are down to less than a dozen planes regardless of pilot quality. A single squadron of Spit V aircraft with good but not elite pilots handles them easily.

About all they can do is bomb defenseless Chinese at night. KB is nowhere to be found.

(in reply to RangerJoe)

Post #: 139

RE: I Have Returned - 1/15/2021 7:28:37 PM

Taxcutter

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Sitrep 12/25/1943

"Grandpa got shot down by a Hellcat..
Flying back to Truk on Christmas Eve...
You may say there's no such thing as Nimitz...
But me and grandma, we believe."

Good days.

In Burma the Manadalay area force was exterminated at Schwebo before I got all my troops up.
AI has one tank unit at Lashio and one infantry unit a couple hexes east on the Burma Road. They are all that prevent opening of the Burma Road, but much of my army is oozing toward them like army ants. There is also a single infantry regiment out on the road to Myitkinyia, but its three hexes from the road.

SoPac took Manus with little of a fight. If KB is hiding in Truk he must be scared of four CVEs. My main carrier force is tearing up the Marshalls. I doubt I'll find much there. Everytime I play the Japanese, I found the Gilberts and Marshalls also impossible to hold by late 43.

AI is torpid in China. Three active formations and all they can do is bombard Chinese who are beginning to greatly outnumber them.

Once I get my CVEs back from Manus, I'll have them cover a long-delayed attack on Lautern and then I'm doing a mega-Malta convoy to Hong Kong and Canton. One or two decent-sized convoys get through and that's more supply than six months of Burma Road.

(in reply to Taxcutter)

Post #: 140

RE: I Have Returned - 1/18/2021 5:58:14 PM

Taxcutter

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Sitrep Jan. 1, 1944

Minor delay. I had Chiang convinced to rename 1944 as the "Year of the Supply Truck" instead of "Year of (whatever critter it historically was named for)", but I'm still a while from blowing the last two small Japanese units off the Burma Road. It's just the terrain. I have them surrounded, they haven't seen supply in months, and I've been bombing the bejeebers out of them with British second-line bombers. Hump is going OK as possible.

Chiang has reconquered enough of the productive part of China that China is actually producing some supply and units are getting stronger. I have a gang of BF moving to Canton and when they get there I will commit the CAF to discouraging the Japanese nuisance air raids there.

I took Manaus but slow-unloading Australian xAPs just separated from the escorted assault TF and AI's subs got a couple of them. AI is beefing up sub operations in the Coral Sea. I would, too. That's where the targets are. I have to up my ASW game. I have 30 modern DEs heading for Noumea to escort ships across Torpedo Junction.

You gotta like Tambor-class subs. They have 5"/51 guns and those are murder on the LBs that AI is having to use - particularly in the Formosa Straits. It take 5-7 hits from a 3"/50 carried on most fleet boats but 2-3 hits from those big, obsolete guns sends the barge to Davy Jones' Locker.

My carrier strike force has pretty much flattened the Marshalls bases although AI did sneak a few Betties in and torpedoed my battleships. Invasion force for Maloelap is prepped and loaded at Pearl.

(in reply to Taxcutter)

Post #: 141

RE: I Have Returned - 1/18/2021 6:03:28 PM

RangerJoe

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Don't forget to use Night Naval Search as well as Day Naval Search. Set your ASW flights to 1000 feet or less but give them a percentage of rest as well.

If the enemy is using Glen subs, try a little LRCAP to shoot down those Glens. The Glens should fly at 6k so a couple of thousand feet above them should work very well.

_____________________________

Seek peace but keep your gun handy.

I'm not a complete idiot, some parts are missing!

�Illegitemus non carborundum est (�Don�t let the bastards grind you down�).�
― Julia Child

(in reply to Taxcutter)

Post #: 142

RE: I Have Returned - 1/19/2021 3:27:12 PM

Taxcutter

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Good points including night naval search. Night ASW patrols?

I do use 1000 feet for day ASW patrols and I try to get pilots 60+ EXP in hot spots. I keep ops for ASW to 50% except in emergencies. Tired ASW pilots have operational losses.

Glens are not my problem. The AI sub activity is in areas where I have routine fighter patrols (good for building EXP). I've shot down a few Glens.

Since last post I got two confirmed (as much as anything is confirmed in this game) sub kills. One poor schmuck picked on a big task force and took 149(!) hits. Fortunately the TF was less than a day away from a port with ADs and AKEs.

I think I will concentrate my Tacoma-class PF (American-made River-class) into service groups escorting stuff between Noumea and the Torres Strait. High ASW rating and long range suits them to the job.

I've been playing this game for years and always new details reveal themselves.

(in reply to RangerJoe)

Post #: 143

RE: I Have Returned - 1/19/2021 4:02:42 PM

BBfanboy

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

ORIGINAL: Taxcutter

Good points including night naval search. Night ASW patrols?

I do use 1000 feet for day ASW patrols and I try to get pilots 60+ EXP in hot spots. I keep ops for ASW to 50% except in emergencies. Tired ASW pilots have operational losses.

Glens are not my problem. The AI sub activity is in areas where I have routine fighter patrols (good for building EXP). I've shot down a few Glens.

Since last post I got two confirmed (as much as anything is confirmed in this game) sub kills. One poor schmuck picked on a big task force and took 149(!) hits. Fortunately the TF was less than a day away from a port with ADs and AKEs.

I think I will concentrate my Tacoma-class PF (American-made River-class) into service groups escorting stuff between Noumea and the Torres Strait. High ASW rating and long range suits them to the job.

I've been playing this game for years and always new details reveal themselves.

Several experienced players use a single small tanker [bait] with heavy ASW escort as a sub trap.

I find that ASW ships need skippers with both high Naval and high Aggression skills. The aggression seems to equate to persistence when contact is lost while the naval skill obviously helps get the hits (and dodge torpedoes).

_____________________________

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 Taxcutter)

Post #: 144

RE: I Have Returned - 1/19/2021 4:11:57 PM

justinevans

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Agree

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Post #: 145

RE: I Have Returned - 2/1/2021 12:06:40 AM

Taxcutter

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Sitrep Jan. 28, 1944

A wild and woolly month.

At the beginning of the month I hadn't seen KB since late 1942. AI did not scatter his forces but rather concentrated them. I did much the same we brushed and both ran to base. At that point he still had a lot of tactical superiority and I was doing OK with land based air. Forward to Jan. 1944.

At this point I have won in the Coral Sea/Solomons area. Rabaul is merely a target range. It took a while but I have shifted my offensive to go north from Darwin. I watch Truk like a hawk but it never seems to contain KB. Not even much in the way of land-based air. I have so much in the way of search planes on Midway, Tarawa (it fell without much of a fight), Johnston and Baker Islands certain members of Congress might worry about the island capsizing.

I sent out a raid on Maloelap and Wotje and they he more stuff there than I had thought. Even with my whole carrier force out there I had to empty the magazines down to Sorties = 0. Suddenly AI had his whole carrier force behind me. Land-based Betties caught two modern BBs out from under the Hellcat cover and torpedoed them. Now I'm held hostage by two cripples and the fact my dive bombers had no ordnance. I had enough torpedoes for two raids per squadron. We brush again and both of us take some damage. I got torpedo hits on two big carriers but didn't sink them. He hit three of my carriers with torpedoes and sank the Yorktown and damaged the Wasp pretty badly. (FLT=75) But my well trained Hellcats and powerful flak murdered his attack planes. So I have to postpone my invasions of Maloelap and Wotje for now and am dragging back to Pearl.

It looked like AI was retiring as well but he turned around and started wandering around between Johnston, Baker and the Gilberts. So far all he did was have a small air battle with two squadrons of P-39s garrisoning Tarawa. I was actually pleased. One would think KB Zeros vs P-39s would be a rat slug but it was about a draw and more importantly they beat up his strike planes. He is still wandering around out there but now all my ships are within range of the PH airfields. At least a thousand planes. All he is going to find is submarines. I suspect he has every TK available fueling his relatively short-legged ships this far east. Sooner or later he will have to retire if only to fuel up. When he does, I'm gonna hit Wake. I have a Marine Division two battalions of tanks, two combat engineer regiments and some artillery all prepped up with a YHQ on a command ship. Early 1944 I have plenty of sealift. Last recon showed 14,000 men on Wake. This may not be fun but I think he is surprising me by running through the Midway-Wake gap. The loss of two BB (Alabama and South Dakota) is not pleasant but my fleet upgraded as two Iowas appeared and are now at Pearl. A bunch of ships will be in shipyards for about six weeks.

However...now I know where KB is. So I greenlighted my "Malta Convoy" to Hong Kong/Canton. Chiang took both cities and has repaired both ports and airfields. Eleven CVEs (about 200 planes) my PH survivor BBs with Brooklyns and a horde of Fletchers is escorting about 150,000 tons of supply. I just took Lautern and have bombed Kendari. The only intact base I'll have to fight past is Menado. Two hundred Wildcats should fend off his planes and I'll peel off the battleships to flatten Manado for the return trip. If I can get half this supply into Hong Kong/Canton that will be as good a six months of the Burma Road. Chiang has re-taken enough of southern China that he is actually generating some supply on his own. Chiang has a modest fighter base at Canton. If I can make a second trip soon I'll I'll have about 150 P-47B to provide air cover.

My longer-term plan is to supply Chiang enough so he can drive up the coast to Foochow. Then US dive bombers (and maybe some old cruisers) will close off the Formosa Strait once and for all.

Silly question: Why is it my second ARD will not go anywhere? Not even Pearl of San Francisco. It make Portland into a fairly good repair shipyard but I's really like to move it further west. My first ARD is now at Darwin and is really useful and the third one is handy at Midway.

< Message edited by Taxcutter -- 2/1/2021 12:07:44 AM >

(in reply to justinevans)

Post #: 146

RE: I Have Returned - 2/1/2021 7:43:31 PM

Taxcutter

Posts: 389
Joined: 4/4/2016
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Sitrep Jan. 31, 1944

Last banzai in Burma - at least in the important part.

My Indians, British, Burmese ROFLstomped the last starving regiments along the Burma Road.

The Rangoon screen announces that the Burma Road is now open and supply at Tsuyung increased by 500 points. I have 400,000 tons of supply at Rangoon and all the bases along the road and railroad are fully repaired. BTW, Magwe oil/refinery are repairs to 25% output.

I'm still running The Hump. That may change if the Malta Convoys are successful

I'm rallying my north Burma army at Mandalay. Units are scattered all over the place and especially WAAAAY out into the jungle. Rally may take a couple weeks due to terrain.

I've recovered all my damaged CVs except Wasp. The crew has the FLT damage down to 70. KB is 2,000 miles away, lollygagging around Tarawa.

In a couple days, B-24s escorted by P-38s are going to start pummelling Truk.

My "Malta Convoy" has pulled up just off Menado. No opposition so far.

Dropping off lots of engineers at Lautern. I trashed the air base and the port.

(in reply to Taxcutter)

Post #: 147

RE: I Have Returned - 2/6/2021 3:49:03 AM

Taxcutter

Posts: 389
Joined: 4/4/2016
Status: offline

Sitrep: Feb 5, 1944

The Second Battle of the Gilbert Islands ended inconclusively which makes it a win for me. AI sank Yorktown and damaged five carriers and mauled my Avenger squadrons. I have airedale and sub reports of sinking one carrier and damaging three more. I decimated his dive bomber and torpedo squadrons.

Wasp is in the Pearl Harbor shipyard with 46 FLT damage. When I can get it down to 40 I'll run her to the West Coast. I hate having a long-term project in the PH yard. I may need it for battle damage. All of the damaged ships spent a few days there getting ready to go to The Coast. Independence is almost to Frisco Bay. The rest are in Alameda or Mare Island.

Now, if I can just get my amphib force destined for Wake to move...

My carrier fighter pilot pool is a little thin. Good thing I used CVEs to carrier-train some Marine fighter squadrons. They are a odd size but are handy. After they passed their C-Quals I put them in land bases in the Solomons flying point defense. Now, they are rated pretty good.

The "Malta Convoy" made it to Hong Kong/Canton. In about three days they will have unloaded 150,000 tons of supply. AI killed about 15% of my Carrier Wildcat drivers but the survivors are growing aces like crazy. Next run I'll include some US BF and P-47 fighter groups. The Chinese forces are getting strong quickly.

Victory in Upper Burma made my orders phase a lot shorter. I've staked out a screen of small units to protect the Burma Road and the rest of the Upper Burma army is on trains headed for Pegu. I'm gonna stomp Moulmein and proceed at a leisurely pace against Bangkok. With ships bringing hundreds of thousands of tons into China, I won't be so dependent on the Burma Road.

In a week or so, Chiang will drive up the coast to Wenchow then turn up the Yangtze Valley and kill off most of AI, remaining troops in any degree of supply.

(in reply to Taxcutter)

Post #: 148

RE: I Have Returned - 2/15/2021 10:53:19 PM

Taxcutter

Posts: 389
Joined: 4/4/2016
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Sitrep. Leap Day (Feb.29) 1944

After the Second Battle of the Gilbert Islands my subs chased KB back to Tokyo Bay. So now I have him located. I have a dozen subs patrolling the outfall of the bay.

I turned my carriers around (less numerous than before the battle) and have amphib TFs bearing down on Maloelap and another departing Pearl for Makin.

B-24s, escorted by P-38Gs have chased all the shipping out of Truk. The airfield has been reduced to 52% damage. Nothing there but some auxiliaries.

Rabaul has been flattened and for good measure I air-mined the port. Tranquility reigns in the Bismarck, Solomon, and Coral Seas. Heavily escorted transport and cargo convoys plus a CVE hunter-killer TF are slowly whittling down AI's subs.

I have a amphib TF halfway to Ambon. B-25s have pulverized the place. The US 32nd ID should be quite adequate. Follow-up convoy now departing Darwin. I have TFs fetching the Australian 6th and 9th Divisions from East Timor. I should be using them at Kendari shortly.

I am mopping up in southern Burma and NW Thailand. The terrain is a pain. British and Australian fighters are now mostly Spitfires with strong pilots. AI did open kamikaze warfare yesterday hitting the HMS Buttler. She'll get home but her deck is fouled. Air wing at Bassein. Moulmein is surrounded as is Chiang Mai. My Indian Army has nothing better to do right now so I'll push AI far enough back to cut down of kamikazes around Rangoon. Burma Road is operating at rated capacity.

Since I got the first "Malta Convoy" into Hong Kong/Canton, Chiang Kai-shek's army has perked up considerably. I have a big Chinese Army (seven corps averaging 525 AV each is pushing up the coast.

AI has upped his ASW game. I had to get Wasp out of Pearl (to Mare Island) because I have so many subs in Pearl's shipyard.

Logistical situation is A-OK.

(in reply to Taxcutter)

Post #: 149

RE: I Have Returned - 3/5/2021 2:33:20 AM

Taxcutter

Posts: 389
Joined: 4/4/2016
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Sitrep: April 4, 1944

The grinding of ol' AI continues but he is fighting back better than any AI I've seen.

KB is cornered in Tokyo Bay. I have a dozen and a half subs watching the outfall. Before long that might be the only place I can use subs. AI has really upped his ASW game. I'm losing a sub every other day. The coastal waters off Kii Suido and Bungo Suido are particularly deadly. Maybe I need to fire my overly aggressive skippers and get some wimps.

Further, I'm compressing the hunting grounds. I've pretty much driven AI out of the eastern DEI. Plus,in a month or so, I'll have surface and dive bomber patrols operating in the Formosa Strait. Chiang's infantry just took Foochow and I have three corps marching for Wenchow. I've scrounged up some old four-pipers and an Omaha for patrolling the strait. They'll never operate away from Corsair cover. I have P-47s at Hong Kong. Betties find Hong Kong a wonderful place to die. AI is operating kamikazes out of Manila and Makassar for now but the B-24s are roto-tilling Makassar and Manila's days are numbered.
If I get Wenchow I'll be able to bomb Kyushu with B-25s and SBD-5s with good fighter escort.

I've put together a "service group" The Wasp and some CVLs with their attack squadrons stripped off and loaded with fighters. Add some good flak cruisers and DDs, that should make the kamikaze problem bearable.

In the Central Pacific the biggest enemy is the sheer distance. It's ten days steaming for an amphib TF from Pearl to the Marshalls. AI dug in pretty well in the Marshalls. Maloelap took five weeks to take and develop. Airedale recon shows lots of troops at Wotje. I have a two-division assault force prepping for Wotje.

< Message edited by Taxcutter -- 3/5/2021 2:37:00 AM >

(in reply to Taxcutter)

Post #: 150