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John 3rd -> Combat Report: Dec 14-21, 1942 (3/1/2008 9:22:25 AM)
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Combat Report
December 14-23, 1942
The war's focus continues to be in the Marshall's, SE Australia, and Burma. Heavy aerial combat, massed ground assaults, and merhcant ships sinking left-and-right mark this week of fighting. That combat is nothing compared to the upcoming week of action!
The Status of the Kido Butai
In a change of pace, I think I will cover the current state of my Carrier Force and their current deployment as well as building plan. As you know, I like to spread the Japanese CVs around in several TF and since I have smashed the American CVs--for the moment--I am freely using them wherever I can.
KB-1 Yamaguchi
CarDiv3 Shokaku/Zuikaku
CarDiv2 Soryu
CarDiv4 CVLs Shoho/Ryujo
285 Planes--Zeros are in their 70s, DB and TB in their 80s.
This carrier TF is based out of Kwajalein. The ships have very little Sys Damage since they have been disbanded in port with 4 AR there. I have been using their planes to fly escort and strike at the Marines on Wotje. These CVs are my initial deterrent force with the US Pacific Fleet. Once Wotje is gone, they may go raiding...
KB-2 Nagumo
CarDiv1 Akagi/Kaga
CarDiv2 Hiryu
CarDiv5 Ryuho
237 Planes in excellent condition. All Daitai in the 70s and 80s for training. The Kaga Kate Daitai is at 91!
These CVs have finished or are finishing their upgrades and/or damage repair. CarDiv1 is already headed for Singapore and the other two carriers shall depart Home Waters in 3-4 Days. Once they combine at Singapore, they will go on a deep strike to the west side of India for a little bit of hunting.
KB-3 Nabeta
CarDiv6 Junyo/Hiyo
CarDiv5 CVL Zuiho
CarDiv7 CVE Unyo/Taiyo/Chuyo
223 Planes that are not near as experienced as the other KB TF. Scores sit in the mid-to-high 60s for the most part. Since they are currently sinking a bunch of Aussie ships fleeing Melbourne, their scores are coming up.
These CVs are the blocking force between SE Australia and New Zealand.
Current CV Strength: 8 CV, 4 CVL, 4 CVE--745 Aircraft.
New Construction Timeline:
Feb 1, 1943 2 CVE with 54 Planes
Feb 15, 1943 CV Taiho with an armored deck and 72 planes
May 1, 1943 CVs Unryu/Amagi with 65 planes each
June 1, 1943 CVLs Chitose/Chiyoda with 30 planes each
By June 1st, I will have 3 CV, 2 CVL, and 2 CVE added to the Fleet flying 316 new aircraft.
The Americans currently have only 2 CV left for the moment--Saratoga and Yorktown--with the new Essex and CVLs starting to enter service in January. Barring any losses between now and then, the Kido Butai shall be an equal to the American Fleet at least through 1943. I plan to reorganize the KB into its final disposition starting in February 1943.
NOW--On to the areas of combat:
The Marshalls
There are numerous Japanese airstrikes hitting the Americans on Wotje each day. The average loss for the Americans is about 200 Cas, 3-7 Guns, and 1-2 Vehicles every day. I have a strong STF that is bombarding the atoll regularly consisting of BB Mutsu, 8 CA, 5 CL, and 7 DD.
Dan snuck in two 6 boat PT Squadrons somehow and I have spent the last several turns (Dec 18-21) sinking all 12 of them. I HATE PTs! They do put a TT into 1 DD and sink a couple of MSW but that is it.
My LBA has been hitting the numerous American SS at an average of 1 every 3 days. While annoying, these SS haven't raised TOO much trouble (yet). When January 1st comes along and the American TT actually work, I will become more concerned.
I began loading the Wotje Invasion Force on the 20th and finished on the 21st. They shall set sail on the 22nd and land on the 25th. It is a massive invasion force consisting of a 100 ship TF and a 25 ship TF carrying a total of 87,000 troops and 40,000 supply. Barring a terrible landing roll...this force should easily destroy what the Americans have there. I will use my STF to Bombard the atoll every day from the 21st until Christmas day. I've shifted all aircraft over the ground attack starting on the 22nd.
Australia
I've decided that encirclements are impossible with this game. an has pulled back his units from the Crossroads NW of Sydney. One Japanese Army will be taking Newcastle within the next few days and the another Army is moving on Canberra. I took Albury by Parachute Assault on the 14th and have cut the Sydney--Melbourne connection. I will post a simple screenshot to shot what it looks like.
After I wrested control of the skies over Melbourne, Dan ordered a portion of the 90+ ships in that harbor to flee towards NZ. Some ships have made it but the majority are running a foul of my CVs moving back down from Noumea. Those CVs had been hung-up there for nearly 10 days while I waited on fuel to arrive. It has and they go into action starting the 19th. Numerous Allied AK/MSW/TK are getting hit and going down due to my CVs and SS near New Zealand.
Burma
Hmmm...curiouser and curiouser...
There are nearly 200,000 troops beseiging Meiktila, Burma. My force holding it had about 1,000 AS and Forts at 6. I hold the air over the city so Dan cannot hurt my units while I can maul his. As you have read, small units have been arriving and filtering into the line holding the city. AS has climbed to 1,330 and my Forts are back up at 7! We bombard each other every day and Dan has done Shock Attacks on the 16th and 21st. Each attack cost him between 4,400-5,400 troops. Barring a crisis, I think my troops can hold here...
Magwe, Burma This base is my northernmost outpost in Burma. Strangely Dan hadn't tried to wrest it from me. It has 6 units in it but 4 of them are Construction Btn with AS of 5 each! I've moved an SNLF into the base and since it has Forts at 9, I feel very comfortable.
My Combat Command from Hong Kong is unloaded and I am sending it to Magwe for a possible move into the hex between Mandalay and Meiktila. An entire Inf Div will arrive at Rangoon in about 7 days.
My forces at Taung Gyi (nearly 1,200 AS) are moving back into the hex to the north of that base (34,30). There are only 2 Chinese units sitting there. I will Shock Attack with 2 Inf Div and regain the hex. Those units will then cut the line of retreat by entering the hex I was describing above. We'll see if it works. If I force Dan to retreat then I will have averted a major crisis.
Aerial combat has been pretty tough over this theatre. My Tony and Zero groups have been smashing 4EB and 2EB units every few days. I have been taking losses but they are pretty mild for the level of combat currently going on.
I'll post this and then add screenshots of Australia and Burma.
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