Slitherine

quote:

ORIGINAL: IanLister

First the background.
I'm playing Historical Allies v AI scenario42B...the campaign starting with Guadalcanal. It's December 26th and this is the story so far:
SWPAC: Lunga, PM and GG strong and controlling air over the Solomons. In battles around Guadalcanal I've traded Wasp for Shokaku, Junyo, Ryujo and Zuiho, and in a series of rather disappointing moves the AI has sent BB groups to cruise in daylight off Lunga, losing Yamato, Yamashiro, Hyuga, Nagato and Mutsu to my Cactus SBDs. There have even been daylight surface battles off Lunga...so much for the Tokyo Express!!!
The Central Pacific thrust has begun - I'm out to prove it would work on its own. The Gilberts were invaded and captured using Baker I as a base, and I'm building for a hop to Jaluit, then the rest of the Marshalls.
The problem is Burma. I landed a small force at Akyab to try and put some pressure on the Japs at Mandaly AF. The AI sent five divs and 9 other units to contest Akyab after I captured it, and I backed up my forces with reinforcements. It's been 100,000 each side now for 3 months and just stalemate. Bombardment TF living in hex, 100 bombers living at Akyab, bombardment or deliberate attacks every turn, I've landed down the coast and cut the supply line, I've sent the Chindits south to the outskirts of Rangoon, caturing Mandalay etc on the way...BUT I CAN'T SHIFT THE JAPS FROM AKYAB

quote:

ORIGINAL: IanLister

The Battle of Akyab is over - 8th Jan 1943. I rested my troops for two days, set the altitude of my bombers to: Wellingtons and B24s 4000ft, B25s and other light bombers and fighters 100ft. After 2 days of that, and the 6 BB bombardment, I set a deliberate attack which resulted in 3 to 1 and the main Jap divisions, 33rd, 55th, 56th and 18th retreated. A shock attack against the 9 remaining units, mainly tanks and artillery next turn resulted in a 27 to 1 score and now the foe is in full flight towards Rangoon.......except I have 2 Indian divs and a tank brigade standin the way.

Worth pointing out: the medium and heavy bombers from 15000 ft were causing 50-300 casualties a day, but from low altitude 2000+ were being killed. It's worth thinking about when you have the air battle under control.

Now it's on to Rangoon, Singapore and the obliteration of the oilfields by a strategic bomber offensive, while Nimitz takes the Marshalls and heads for the Phillipines - over by Christmas 43...........perhaps.