RE: IN HARM'S WAY...AE VERSION: STONEAGE(IJ) VS SPRUANCE(A)

RE: IN HARM'S WAY...AE VERSION: STONEAGE(IJ) VS SPRUANCE(A) (Full Version)

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racndoc -> RE: IN HARM'S WAY...AE VERSION: STONEAGE(IJ) VS SPRUANCE(A) (11/7/2009 7:23:29 PM)
3/19-3/20/42 SUBS StoneAge discovered that I was using Christmas Island in the Indian Ocean as a gas station to park a couple BBs and disband a couple TKs for refueling. First, SS I-155 shows up at Christmas Island and sinks DD Gwin. Then for good measure SS I-155 puts 2 torpedoes in BB Royal Sovereign. Allied ASW gets 4 DC hits on SS I-155 but the damage has already been done. Later, SS I-123 shows up and puts 2 more torpedoes in BB Royal Sovereign. Allied ASW this time hits SS I-123 with 14 DCs causing heavy damage. BB Sovereign has 77% flotation damage...dont think she can make Perth or Darwin so Im gonna try to sneak her into Batavia for repairs. SS Haddock puts a torpedo in AK Sinsyu Maru near Toyohara. SS I-174 sinks AK Lancaster near Noumea...this is the 2nd Allied ship lost in the last 2 turns off Noumea so we are going to beef up our ASW search and ASW TFs in the area. SS I-1 fires 2 torpedoes at CV Saratoga but fortunately missed her. Sara's escorts score 2 DC hits on SS I-1 but its time to get the CVs out of there....this makes me wonder if StoneAge is following the real war IJN sub strategy.....I havent seen a sub on the convoy routes for quite some time but my warships are running into subs everywhere. SS S-37 sinks AMc Choun Maru #7 near Kendari....not sure if this was worth the torpedo. Last turn CA Pensacola was sunk by IJN subs and this turn BB Royal Sovereign is gravely damaged and CV Saratoga is narrowly missed.....yes StoneAge is really turning up the heat with his subs now..... PHILIPPINES A 1:6 deliberate attack at Clark costs each side 1000 casualties. The end is near at Cayagan as two 1:1 attacks reduce the forts to level 1. Japan invades at Roxas. DEI We continue to pound 33rd Infantry Division at Palembang every day with artillery and aerial bombardment and the AV is dropping so I think his supply level is low here. Japan captures Beaufort, Boela, Taliaboe. Babo and Misool. CV Akagi and CV Kaga drift to the SE and are near Babo...looks like StoneAge may be planning a raid on Darwin next turn....the port is largely evacuated. Bettys bomb our disbanded tankers at Christmas Island at extreme range...TK Angelina and TK Talang Akar are both sunk. We had been holding the 2 BBs at Christmas Islands with TKs to keep within striking distance of Java when the big invasion comes. Now after losing 2 TKs and having BB Royal Sovereign seriously damaged this turn we need to evacuate from Christmas Island. CHINA Japan launches their offensive in the south as 50,000 IJA troops move into Pingsiang and begin to bombard us. Japan has brought in some firepower....1st Heavy Artillery Regiment, 2nd Independent Heavy Artillery Battalion, 4th Mortar battalion and 56th Field AA battalion. Opposing this the Chinese have 1200 AV at Pingsiang and 1500 AV next door. Also next door are 2 Chinese heavy mortar regiments....96 tubes in all. I cant commit them to the battle yet as I am having trouble drawing supply into Pingsiang from Changsha. I have a construction engineer busy at Pingsiang now working to build a level 1 airfield.....not only will this help us to draw supply but it will allow us to fly CAP directly over Pingsiang. Lots of air action in southern China now....we are throwing 50 B-17s from Chungking and another 60-70 medium bombers at the Japanese stack at Pingsiang. Japan is flying CAP over Pingsiang and so are we. We will start sweeping Pingsiang with Hurricane IIbs next turn at high altitude. Looks like we are going to have a pretty good aerial attrition battle over China now. I actually like having a big battle here at Pingsiang as I have 2 large airfields at Hengchow and Changsha close to the battlefield. And Japan has no railroads down here so we can move almost as quickly as Japan's troops can. [image]local://upfiles/14495/1DD5F4CA95FD48CFB2A4C4F1A78DC5FA.jpg[/image]

racndoc -> RE: IN HARM'S WAY...AE VERSION: STONEAGE(IJ) VS SPRUANCE(A) (11/9/2009 4:12:11 AM)
3/21-3/22/42 SUBS SS S-37 attacks a transport TF near Kendari but suffers 4 DCs. SS Seadragon puts a torpedo in AK Chuko Maru near Taliaboe. SS RO-65 launches a spread of 6 torpedoes at CV Saratoga but misses....Sara has dodged 8 torpedoes in the last 2 turns and has used up 8 of her nine lives...Im pulling the CVs back now and I understand that StoneAge has probably been targeting my warships with subs to even the score....just got confirmation this turn that CV Soryu was sunk in the Battle of the Northern Solomons making 3 IJN CVs sunk.....but this is ridiculous. I have _EVERY_ TBD on all 3 carriers...over 40 TBDs in all on ASW and have been training them all game but they are not spotting the IJN subs and the subs are getting the first shot off every time.....its only a matter of time until my CVs start taking torpedo hits from subs. Ive been converting most of my Clemson Class DDs over to DEs to get the ASW 8 rating and I may have to order an ASW TF of 4 DEs to follow my CVs around. PHILIPPINES Japan captures our last outpost on Mindanao at Cayagan....over 18,000 American/Philippino troops surrender. Japan overruns undefended Roxas. NEW GUINEA Japan captures Saidor and invades at Biak,Sansapor,Sorong, Manokwari and Noemfoer. Japan has been sweeping Port Moresby with A6M2s for the last 4 days so last turn we staged in an Aussie Kittyhawk squadron ...even flying at 28,000 ft with the A6M2s sweeping at max altitude of 32,810 ft the Kittyhawks shoot down 4 Zeros while losing 2 of their own. DEI IJN Bettys continue to strike the port at Christmas Island but we evacuated last turn...I think that the Bettys are flying out of Singkawang to strike Christmas Island at VERY long range, At Palembang, the 33rd Infantry Division and the 1st Raiding Regiment launch a deliberate attack but only have a combined AV of 25 vs Dutch AV of 1366...I definitely think that lack of supply is an issue here and the attack comes in at 1:54 odds...Japan loses 936 troops here plus another 400 casualties are suffered from Allied bombardments.....fully 10% of the IJA force at Palembang is destroyed in one turn....next turn we have placed every ground level bomber in the DEI on ground attack at Palembang and we have ordered the Dutch to conduct a full scale shock attack....sayonara 33rd Infantry Division. Japan conducts a 2:1 and then a 1:1 attack at Brunei and the forts are reduced to zero. IJA troops storm ashore at Watampore in the Celebes. CHINA Japan launches their first attack in the spring offensive in the south at Pingsiang....it comes in at 1:2 and Japan suffers 2700 casualties vs 1800 Chinese. Big air battles over Pingsiang as the Allies finally get the aerial attrition battles they have been looking for. Looking at the fighter losses in A2A combat over Palembang/Port Moresby/Pingsiang we see losses of 11 A6M2s, 2 Oscars, 2 Hurricane IIb Trops, 2 Kittyhawks and one Hawk. Things are becoming more interesting in the far north. Japan conducts a 1:4 attack at Kweisui.....1500 IJA casualties vs 1600 Chinese casualties. It appears that Japan is attempting to outflank us at Kweisui and take the mountain pass to the north...the Chinese have plenty of reserves resting at Paotow and reinforcements are on the way. [image]local://upfiles/14495/E016E03B6B8341A88EF6C08CAFB409C5.jpg[/image]

racndoc -> RE: IN HARM'S WAY...AE VERSION: STONEAGE(IJ) VS SPRUANCE(A) (11/10/2009 4:21:49 AM)
3/23-3/24/42 SUBS SS Swordfish surfaces off Singkawang to put 2 shells into AKL Nisyo Maru but takes 3 shell hits in return. SS S-37 takes 6 DCs from IJN ASW TF mear Kendari...time to head back to Soerabaja for repairs. SS RO-68 sinks AK Kekurangu near Port Moresby. SS RO-63 sinks AK Kauri near Port Moresby. Looks like StoneAge has flooded Port Moresby along woth Noumea and New Hebrides with subs. SS I-170 sinks AM Bobolink near Efate. SS I-160 puts a torpedo in CV Lexington. I knew this was going to happen...3 sub attacks with 10 torpedoes fired on USN CVs in 3 turns. And the disgusting thing is there are over 30 float planes and 40 TBDs on ASW layered at altitudes from 1000-6000 feet and Jap subs always get the first shot....not only that but I have over 30 DDs in the hex and not one searches or attacks the IJN sub. Thank god CV Lexington was built on a 36,000 ton BC hull....now she has 21 floatation damage and will need to make port for repairs. The US Navy is now down to 2 effective CVs in the Pacific....Hornet and Saratoga. Obviously my float planes/TBDs/DDs are not up to the task so the carriers will need to be pulled back to rear area bases as most of our DDs will be undergoing 4/42 upgrades and hopefully this will improve their ASW capabilities. NEW GUINEA StoneAge runs the table here....Nabire is invaded and Biak, Manokwari, Noemfoor and Sansapor are captured. DEI Japan captures Brunei, Obi, Terempo, Watampore and Kofiau. The Dutch shock attack 33rd ID and 1st Raiding Regiment at Palembang...every Allied bomber in the region targets 33rd ID but I didnt appreciate the defensive bonus in the hex...we achieve only a 1:1 attack on the first day and a 1:2 attack on the 2nd day....the Dutch suffer 4000 casualties vs 1500 Japanese. Japan could not have taken Palembang for several months but in 2 attacks we destroy the Dutch AV...Palembang could fall any day now....never shock attack as the Allies in any hex but clear terain. I will remember this on Festung Java.Air battles rage over Sumatra and while Dutch level bombers melt away our fighters gain favorable attrition losses. CV Formidable joins up with CV Indomitable in the Indian Ocean and the Allies have now reached carrier parity with either the CV Akagi/Kaga TF or the IJN CVL/CVE TF. CVL Hermes is on the way and her torpedo airgroup which is currently rebuilding in Java will upgrade to Albacores shortly. CHINA Japan launches a 1:3 shock attack at Pingsiang and suffers 2600 casualties vs 2500 Chinese casualties. SOPAC Japan captures Panggoe in the Solomons. With the USN CV withdrawal due to the threat of IJN subs the New Caledonia/New Hebrides have been built up to withstand the threat of an IJN CV incursion. We have 800 AV on New Caledonia and 300 AC spread over 5 mutually supporting airfields at Noumea(level 3), La Foa(level 2), Koumac (level 4), Efate( level 1) and Luganville(Level 3). [image]local://upfiles/14495/78DCDADEE60D4F48AD62FFC2F7262236.jpg[/image]

racndoc -> RE: IN HARM'S WAY...AE VERSION: STONEAGE(IJ) VS SPRUANCE(A) (11/11/2009 4:02:51 AM)
3/25-3/26/42 SUBS SS S-36 puts a fish in AK Pacific Maru near Obi. For the first time in 4 turns no sub launched torpedoes are directed toward USN CVs...looks like we have made a clean getaway from the sub infested waters around the New Hebrides. Flotation damage on CV Lexington is holding steady at 21. BURMA This theatre has been quiet for a couple of weeks but is now heating up again. IJA armor invests Lashio...we have an AV here of 150 behind level 3 forts....shouldnt take too much force for Japan to dislodge us here. Farther north, Japan captures Katha...looks like StoneAge is finally moving on Myitkina. We have 600 AV on 3x terrain at Myitkina so Japan better bring a lot to the party here. PHILIPPINES Another 1:2 shock attack is unleashed at Clark...this time Japan suffers 900 casualties vs 1800 Allied casualties.....the effect of Japanese artillery is really taking a toll here. DEI 5th Recon Regiment continues it march towards Palembang from northern Sumatra by overrunning undefended Padang. Japan captures Billiton, Waigeo Island and Gebe. CHINA When StoneAge sent the last turn to me he made a comment to the effect of "China is starting to crack". StoneAge launches 6 major assaults in south central China and one in the north at Kweisui. Attacks to the south of Wuchow and Hankow push the Chinese back and break though the encirclement. Shock attacks at Hankow, Pingsiang and Kweisui cause horrific casualties for both sides but more so for Japan.....at Hankow Japan suffers 1800 casualties vs 1000 Chinese.....at Pingsiang Japan suffers 2100 casualites vs 1600 Chinese....and at Kweisui Japan suffers 1800 casualties vs 760 Chinese. When all the dust settles from 7 major assaults it appears that Japan has suffered a total of 11,300 casualties throughout China last turn vs 6600 Chinese casualties. Yes the noose around Hankow/Wuchow has been broken but I wouldn't characterize it as China "cracking". I think this level of casualties is unsustainable for Japan if China has more AV than Japan and we still hold all of the prepared positions in our MLR that were attacked. On the attached map below Ive highlighted all the battles in the south in orange and listed casualties for each battle for both sides. [image]local://upfiles/14495/B3F503494DB54178A28A17BC7C4F7AF1.jpg[/image]

racndoc -> RE: IN HARM'S WAY...AE VERSION: STONEAGE(IJ) VS SPRUANCE(A) (11/12/2009 2:07:11 AM)
3/27-3/28/42 SUBS SS I-3 takes 3 DC from USN ASW TF near Norfolk Island. SS I-7 receives 3 DC from USN ASW TF near Norfolk Island. SS I-17 sinks DMS Perry as it performs an ASW TF patrol near Norfolk Island....the ASW ships use up most or all of their DCs in one ASW attack so are often helpless when encountering more than 1 sub in a turn. SS I-173 detected by USN ASW TF near Norfolk Island but no DC hits are scored. SS I-19 attacked near Isle of Pines by USN ASW TF nut no DCs are landed. Thats 6 subs spotted near Noumea....StoneAge has really flooded the area with subs and USN warships will need to be diverted from the area until some semblence of ASW normalcy is restored....more AC are placed on ASW and more DDs are on the way. I need to get some upgraded DEs over here for target practice. A surface TF of 3 BBs and a CA approaching Noumea is diverted south to Auckland. Unfortunately a 60 ship transport TF with lots of TKs, internal ASW and an attached ASW TF will be entering the sub infested waters off Noumea next turn so it should be interesting. SS S-36 puts 2 more torpedoes in AK Pacific Maru and sinks her off of Ternate. CHINA At Kweisui, a 1:4 IJA attack causes another 2100 Japanese casualties vs 1600 Chinese casualties. At Hankow, I evidently I had too many corps on "reserve" op mode and Japan score a 1:1 deliberate attack...this time its 3300 Japanese casualties vs 2000 Chinese. Another 1:1 attack on the 2nd turn causes 2300 Japanese casualties vs 2500 Chinese. Now Im putting everyone in combat mode at Hankow. Japan suffers another 7700 casualties vs 5100 Chinese casualties this turn....how long can Japan keep up attacks like this before they trash all their divisions? PHILIPPINES StoneAge launches another 1:2 deliberate attack at Clark and causes 2000 Japanese casual;ties vs 2750 Allied casualties. Things seem to be falling apart here more quickly than I anticipated....Im taking everyone out of "reserve" op mode at Clark and all the units resting at Bataan will be sent as reinforcements. Farther south, Japan captures Iloilo. DEI I was stunned to see Japan evacuate Palembang this turn....33rd Infantry Division moves north...maybe it the constant aerial bombardments by every level bomber in the theatre took a toll on the ground troops. Now all the Dutch troops at Palembang can be put on rest mode. KB lite...the CVLs and CVEs.... are moving south into the Java Sea...maybe StoneAge knows about BB Royal Sovereign hiding in port at Batavia for emergency repairs and he wants to finish her off....but whatever he is thinking the CVLs/CVEs are getting a little too close to Palembang and Batavia for comfort. With 33rd ID retreated from Palembang there isnt much for all the Dutch level bombers to do....so every plane at Palembang and Batavia will be placed on naval attack. [image]local://upfiles/14495/16BF426665E74BC0BCCE62EA91149F83.jpg[/image]

racndoc -> RE: IN HARM'S WAY...AE VERSION: STONEAGE(IJ) VS SPRUANCE(A) (11/13/2009 5:33:26 AM)
3/29-3/30/42 SUBS SS KXVIII sinks AKL Nisyo Maru near Bintan. SS Grampus sinks CMc near Wakkanai. SS Greenling puts a torpedo in AK Kunitu Maru near Buka. SS I-3 sufaces near Noumea to engage a transport TF with 3 escorts.....SS I-3 puts a shell in PG Swan and AP Hugh Scott but takes 12 hits in return and is sunk. SS I-170 attacks our 60 ship transport TF approaching Noumea but no hits are registered. SS Tambor sinks AK Ikora Maru near Ominato. PHILIPPINES After taking heavy losses at Clark last turn we placed all of our LCUs that had been on "reserve" op mode back to "combat" op mode. When Japan attacked this turn it was a 1:2 attack and Japan suffered 2900 casualties vs 1500 Allied. We still have over 17,000 supply at Bataan and 4000 supply at Clark. CHINA As we did at Clark , we switched all of our LCUs that had been on "reserve"op mode at Hankow and Pingsiang back to "combat" mode. This time Japan's attack at Hankow comes in at 1:9 and they suffer 10,000 casualties vs 1600 Chinese. At Pingsiang Japan suffers 2400 casualties vs 1450 Chinese. I think that you need to be very careful when placing LCUs on "reserve" in the face of enemy attacks. Altogether Japan suffers some 13,000 casualties in China this turn vs 5000 Chinese. BURMA Japan launches its first assault at Lashio with a deliberate 1:3 attack causing 400 casualties for each side. SOPAC The Allied 60 ship transport Tf from the west coast made it though "torpedo alley" without incident and anchored off Noumea.....tomorrow we will start unloading the US Army 41st Infantry Division and 150,000 fuel. Allied airfields in the region are enlarged to level 2 at Efate, level 3 at La Foa and level 4 at Luganville. DEI The CVLs and CVEs of mini KB disappear north into the South China Sea....our Dutch level bombers instead target a surface TF at Singapore...no hits are scored but at least the damaged Dutch B-25s make it home to fight another day....unlike the pre-war Dutch bombers. The ABDA naval force in the Indian Ocean....2 CVs, 3 BBs, 1 BC, 4 CAs, 17 CLs had moved north towards western Java to intercept the IJN air combat TF. With the IJN fleet gone the ABDA warships will sail to Batavia to refuel and take on AC replacements. The Netties here have been bombing ports and Dutch LCUs and severely damaged BB Royal Sovereign was able to make port at Batavia sailing at 5 knots under the nose of the IJN naval bombers. Just in case, over 50 P-40Es and B 339s are placed on CAP over Batavia. The IJA 1st Tank Regiment overruns undefended Benkolen on its way to Palembang. Aother IJA LCU appears to be marching on Oosthaven to open the port there. If StoneAge is going to reinforce Sumatra though Oosthaven we will be able to bring the ABDA warships in to intervene. [image]local://upfiles/14495/6C9D51214F184BA292BB6C68E9D44FC6.jpg[/image]

racndoc -> RE: IN HARM'S WAY...AE VERSION: STONEAGE(IJ) VS SPRUANCE(A) (11/13/2009 4:34:09 PM)
3/31-4/1/42 DEI Looks like mini KB is retiring to Saigon to refuel. ABDA warships make port at Batavia without incident and take on fuel and AC replacements as the Netties are busy bombing Soerabaja port. The Netties score bomb hits on 4 subs that had been under repair at Soerabaja...I accidentally sent ALL my CAP to Batavia to cover the refueling operation. With the ABDA fleet going back out to sea tomorrow there will be plenty of CAP over Soerabaja. Japan captures Sandakan on Borneo and invests Oosthaven. Disrupted Dutch troops are recovering nicely at Palembang and AV is once again over 300. PHILIPPINES After the heavy casualties suffered at Clark the last few days Japan orders only a bombardment. Our AV that had once been 2200 at Clark is now down to 900. Japan catures San Jose. SOPAC USN CVs Lexington, Saratoga and Hornet reach Canton on their way back to Pearl. SS I-10 intercepts Lexington near Canton but fortunately all 6 torpedoes miss. Sara, Lex and Hornet should reach Pearl in 6 days. ALL of the BBs and other damaged ships at Pearl Harbor are being pulled out of the yards and piers and put in readiness mode and sent to the west coast to open up Pearl's shipyards and piers for critical repairs on the CVs. CV Yorktown should reach Pearl in 12 days for repairs. B-26s based at Port Moersby strike IJN transports off Hansa Bay but no hits are scored. CHINA After suffering heavy losses at Hankow and Pingsiang the last few turns Japan conducts only bombardment attacks today as both sides' exhausted troops recover. 7 Chinese corps are ordered to shock attack the IJA 6th Infantry Division tomorrow and reopen the highway to Wuchang. IJA troops cross the river and shock attack Yenen at at 1:2 odds....Japan suffers 620 casualties vs 285 Chinese. Another Communist Red division should reach Yenen tomorrow so I think that we will be ok here. StoneAge is posting screenshots of all the losses as of 4/1/42 and asked me to do the same. Here is the intel screen: [image]local://upfiles/14495/DF53F24A004449D090B36798D87C5A16.jpg[/image]

racndoc -> RE: IN HARM'S WAY...AE VERSION: STONEAGE(IJ) VS SPRUANCE(A) (11/13/2009 6:22:44 PM)
4/1/42......THE AIR WAR Ive got a screenshot here of Japanese plane losses. Overall, the Allies have lost 1221 AC vs 1086 Japanese AC or about 12% more. In A2A, the Allies have lost 725 AC vs 528 Japanese AC or about a ratio of 1.3:1. Ive been pretty happy with the air war over central China and southern Sumatra....Im finally getting the attrition battle that I had been seeking. Not only that, but Allied airfields are in much closer proximity to both places and thats showing up in Japanese operational losses. Notable among Japanese AC losses not on this screenshot are 12 destroyed Tojos....11 from A2A. [image]local://upfiles/14495/827DC3765A11400CA377FD5ABFF3930D.jpg[/image]

racndoc -> RE: IN HARM'S WAY...AE VERSION: STONEAGE(IJ) VS SPRUANCE(A) (11/13/2009 6:28:36 PM)
4/1/42.......THE AIR WAR Below is a screenshot of Allied plane losses. Ive been pretty impressed with the performance of the Hurricane IIb Trop so far. Ive been less enthused with the performance of the P-40E vs the P-40B and the H81-A3. The only real advantage of the P-40E has been numbers. Speaking of which, I havent suffered any A2A losses of P-39Ds or P-400s yet due to a lack of aerial combat over Australia and the southern Pacific. These are my most numerous fighters and the southern Pacific should be swarming with them by June 1942. [image]local://upfiles/14495/C6E3E30F3AF0414983820667D074AEC3.jpg[/image]

racndoc -> RE: IN HARM'S WAY...AE VERSION: STONEAGE(IJ) VS SPRUANCE(A) (11/13/2009 6:37:09 PM)
4-1-42.....THE AIR WAR Here is a screenshot of my top pilots. There have been 4 Allied aces so far....not surprisingly they include 3 AVG pilots and a dead Buffalo driver. [image]local://upfiles/14495/D07DBF3CB74647D292CE3DAFBAFB1341.jpg[/image]

racndoc -> RE: IN HARM'S WAY...AE VERSION: STONEAGE(IJ) VS SPRUANCE(A) (11/13/2009 6:43:46 PM)
4/1/42....THE AIR WAR And finally here is a screenshot of my pilot pools. Im not too sure what to make of all this...it looks as if my graduating US Army pilots are worse than any others save the Chinese. [image]local://upfiles/14495/5E99414B15414855BF172A6956C04554.jpg[/image]

racndoc -> RE: IN HARM'S WAY...AE VERSION: STONEAGE(IJ) VS SPRUANCE(A) (11/14/2009 12:19:20 AM)
4/1/42.......THE NAVAL WAR Ive attached a screenshot of Allied naval losses from 1/31/42 to 4/1/42. Not included in the screenshot are 9 AKLs(all lost in the resupply effort to Luzon),2 DMSs, 7 AMcs. 2 PTs, 1 SS, 1 CM, 1 AM and 1 HDML. BB Maryland, BB Colorado and CL Detroit were sunk in the Carrier Battle of the Northern Solomons in Feb. 1942. CA Pensacola was sunk by a sub in late March. 1942. [image]local://upfiles/14495/9F14A8E95A6D43939CB86E387409755F.jpg[/image]

racndoc -> RE: IN HARM'S WAY...AE VERSION: STONEAGE(IJ) VS SPRUANCE(A) (11/14/2009 1:22:41 AM)
4/1/42....THE NAVAL WAR Of all the 4/1/42 screenshots...this one says it all. I just received confirmation a couple of days ago that CV Zuikaku was sunk in the Carrier Battle of the Northern Solomons. Our USN CV ambush off of Green Island turned out like RL Midway...all 4 IJN CVs involved were sunk. Japanese naval offensive power has been crushed. Sunk IJN ships from 2/1/42-4/1/42 not on this list include 11 PBs, 10 AKs, 8 AKLs, 2 DMSs, 1 CMc and 1 AMc. The other thing that strikes me about this list is that 3 IJN subs are reported sunk by Allied ASW near New Caledonia over the last 5 days. I know these are not confirmed but its nice to know that our ASW is handing out some damage. STRATEGIC IMPLICATIONS After losing 4 CVs from KB Japan will be challenged to complete its conquest of the SRA. Unfortunately the US Navy was unable to follow up their naval victory as they have 2 effective CVs left in the Pacific....CV Hornet and CV Saratoga...and neither one has a full complement of AC due to the severe shortage of AC replacements in AE. Right now, Japan still has CV Akagi, CV Kaga, CVL Zuiho, CVL Ryujo, CVL Shoho and several CVEs supporting their offensive in the SRA. CV Junyo could arrive at any time. Opposing these carriers are 2 RN CVs...Formidable and Indomitable and CVL Hermes all patroling in the Indian Ocean off the south coast of Java. The Allies have a good chance to effectively fight off the invasion of Java....it will probably come down to how many land based AC StoneAge can bring over the skies of Java. In the Pacific, CV Enterprise is repairing its hull damage at the Sydney shipyard while CV Lexington and CV Yorktown are on their way to Pearl Harbor to repair all their major damage...the shipyards and piers have been cleared out at Pearl while awaiting their arrival. I believe that Japan's offensive potential has now been blunted in the Pacific. They may overrun a few more undefended islands in the Gilberts and the Solomons but nearly anywhere else they will have to deal with Allied land based air. Even Papua New Guinea will be problematic with the Allied air buildup currently underway at Port Moresby. As far as the Allies going on the offensive that will be determined by carrier repairs. CV Enterprise will complete its repairs by mid June, 1942. CV Yorktown and CV Lexington Im hoping to repair by late May...we will see how much we can accelerate their repairs when they reach port. Im not going on the offensive in the Pacific with only 2 carriers and I think that the south Pacific can now defend itself...with the construction of airfields on Efate and Wallis Island our fighters and dive bombers can stage all the way from Pago Pago to New Caledonia. With the deadly Japanese sub menace I think it is now best to do all the 2/42 and 4/42 upgrades. The 2/42 upgrade for Saratoga takes 25 days as they remove her 8" guns and add them to Oahu's coastal defenses. I will upgrade Sara and Hornet at Pearl. All of the DDs needing 4/42 upgrades will be sent to the west coast...the old pre war BBs have already been sent. Bremerton Naval Yard will be just as busy as Pearl...but the pace will not be nearly as frenetic. The CAs needing 2/42 and 4/42 upgrades will also be sent to the west coast. By the end of May Im hoping to have all the AAA and ASW upgraded on all my escorts and then Hornet, Lex, Sara and Yorktown will head back to the south Pacific to join up with Enterprise by late June. LOL...hopefully by then we will have enough replacement AC to fill our our carrier air groups. The probable area of our 1st offensive will be the Solomons and/or Papua New Guinea. Japan is known to have at least a level 3 airfield on Shortlands and Netties if based here could threaten our SLOC to Australia. In the interim, we will continue to build up our ground and air forces in New Caledonia/New Hebrides/Port Moreby and also our supply and fuel levels. [image]local://upfiles/14495/F303AC59408F4A1B9F26101CFF7ECFBD.jpg[/image]

racndoc -> RE: IN HARM'S WAY...AE VERSION: STONEAGE(IJ) VS SPRUANCE(A) (11/14/2009 6:23:23 AM)
4/2-4/3/42 SUBS SS I-10 again intercepts the USN CVs near Palmyra and fires off another 6 torpedoes at CV Hornet only to miss. Thats 12 torpedoes in 2 attacks. SS KXVIII puts a torpedo in TK Shoyo Maru near Cam Ranh Bay...she lights up like a roman candle so must have had a full load of fuel. PHILIPPINES Japan launches another bombardment attack at Clark...Allies suffer another 500 casualties. It looks like I will run out of AV here now before supply with all the Jap artillery so we will start ordering bombardment attacks next turn. SOPAC Japan sends Kates from Shortlands on a port attack to hit our seaplane tenders at Tulagi....AVP Thrush is sunk and AVD Ballard is heavily damaged. We will withdraw both AVD Ballard and our Catalinas from Tulagi....we sent them in there to recon the IJN CVs in Feb. prior to the Battle of the Northern Solomons.....Japans offensive threat has been greatly reduced due to the loss of 4 CVs so Tulagi is not needed for the time being. DEI B-25Cs from Batavia strike an IJN transport TF in the Java Sea and land 3 bombs on AK Iwashiro Maru. Japan captures Oosthaven on Sumatra and Sandakan on Borneo. StoneAge has been bombing the 4th Coastal CD LCU at Ambon for the last 4 days....looks like we will probably see an invasion here soon. 6 B-25Cs bomb 1st Tank Regiment on Sumatra and are intercepted by 8 A6M2s...the B-25s shoot down an A6M2...YESSS! CHINA The Chinese launch a 34:1 shock attack on IJA 6th Division 60 miles E of Changsha after a massive aerial bombardment....Japan suffers 6000 casualties vs 1100 Chinese...6th Division is trashed and will be out of the war for at least 6 months. Japan orders another 1:3 deliberate attack at Pingsiang.....Japan has 3300 casualties vs 1400 Chinese. At Yenan, Japan has 12th Tank Regiment and 6th Medium Artillery Regiment arrive for a 1:1 and then a 3:1 shock attack....the forts are reduced to zero and Japan suffers 3000 casualties vs 1900 Chinese. Yenan will probably fall next turn but China has stabilized their defense there on the road to Sian...and in fact will cut off the IJA troops at Yenan from supply next turn. Japan has another 12,000 casualties this turn vs 3000 Chinese. Up north Japan continues to attempt to outflank us at Kweisui. [image]local://upfiles/14495/78C29E588622441380FDF7BF84CA3AF7.jpg[/image]

racndoc -> RE: IN HARM'S WAY...AE VERSION: STONEAGE(IJ) VS SPRUANCE(A) (11/15/2009 1:37:00 AM)
4/4-4/5/42 SUBS SS I-174 takes 4 DCs from USN ASW TF in "torpedo alley" near Noumea. SS S-39 puts a torpedo in TK Eiyo Maru off Miri....must have taken on fuel as she turns into a floating torch. SS I-153 stalks RN CVs in the Indian Ocean near Merak but alert, experienced Brits get the first shot and land 2 DC hits. SS I-155 fires a spread of 8 torpedoes at CV Formidable but misses and takes 1 DC for her troubles...obviously StoneAge is seriously targeting our ABDA Fleet. SS I-8 attempts yet another attack on USN CVs as they near Oahu...this time its the USN ASW that takes the first shot and they score 1 DC hit. Thankfully the USN CVs will make port at Pearl next turn and thats very fortunate...just got a message that temporary flotation repairs on CV Lexington were failing and she takes on 5 more flotation damage....well thats another week or 2 in drydock. DEI Japan captures Labat on Sumatra and Sarasan off Borneo. 33rd Infantry Division invests Palembang again. PHILIPPINES Japan invades Tagbilaran, Dinagat , Masbate and Puerto Princessa. Another 1:2 deliberate attack causes 800 Japanese casualties vs 1900 Allies...the end is drawing near here and I didnt realize how effective massed artillery would be against prepared defenses in 3x terrain....in stock WitP I always ran out of supply first but in AE I will run out of AV well before the supply runs out...I should have kept the Philippino replacements going and Id have another 100 AV here...as it stands now the Allies are down to 700 AV. SOPAC Japan invades at Mussau(near Kavieng), Tabor(Bismarcks) and Feni Island(north Solomons). Green Island is captured...now Jap troops can go diving on the wrecks of their sunken CVs. Heavily damaged AVD Ballard was attempting to make it back to port at Noumea but then I got a message "Decks awash" and then she sank ....pretty cool. CHINA Im starting to think that this game should be called War in China instead of WitP as the VAST MAJORITY of the land combat occurs here. Today Japan captures Yenan in a 3:1 attack and at the same time the Chinese cut the road hex and leave them out of supply. Farther south StoneAge reinforces his spent roops at pinsiang with at least a division and now has over 70,000 troops there...many of them fresh. The Chinese have about the same AV in 2x terrain but they have been get shelled and assaulted for weeks so this could be a problem. Two turns ago 8 Chinese corps turned 6th Infantry Division into a brigade 40 miles east of Changsha....6th Division/brigade retreated but the 3rd Infantry Division took its place. After bombing 3rd ID with some 70 bombers last turn the 8 Chinese corps are ordered to shock attack again tomorrow. These 2 divisions had been the garrison for Wuchang but now there is only 1 LCU left there...if we can defeat 3rd ID tomorrow it might be time to assault Wuchang itself. [image]local://upfiles/14495/2E2BF26BF8514A5B892AE3260F0E910A.jpg[/image]

racndoc -> RE: IN HARM'S WAY...AE VERSION: STONEAGE(IJ) VS SPRUANCE(A) (11/15/2009 8:47:10 AM)
4/6-4/7/42 DEI Japan captures Tambelan off Borneo. StoneAge marches overland to conduct the 1st assault on Makassar....1:4 odds. On Sumatra, 33rd Infantry Division again attacks Palembang..this time its 1:18 odds....900 Japanese casualties vs 100 Dutch. Japan captures Tambelan Island off Borneo and invades Great Nicobar. PHILIPPINES Japan captures Jolo, Masbate, Siargao, Dinagut, Tagbilaran and Puerto Princessa. Bombardments at Clark cause 500 IJA casualties and over 1000 Allied casualties. SOPAC StoneAge is going wild here. Musssau, Tabar Island, Lihin and Feni Islands are captured in the Bismarcks. Woodlark Island is taken and Nadzab on Papua New Guinea is overrun. CENTPAC CV Lexington reaches Pearl and is put on critical priority pierside repair.....all minor damage will be repaired in 14 days(vs 24 days on normal) and then she will visit the shipyard to repair her hull damage, CV Saratoga and Cv Hornet reach Pearl and both are taken offline for their respective 2/42 and 4/42 upgrades. CV Yorktown should reach Pearl next turn and she will go straight to the shipyard on critical priority repair. CHINA What would a turn of AE be without China.... The 8 corps Chinese attack on 3rd Infantry Division 40 miles E of Changsha goes off at 11:1 odds....that means I could have probably achieved 5:1 odds with only 4 corps....and nearly 3:1 odds with only 2 corps...against a full strength IJA division in 2x terrain....I think this shows how overpowered "shock" attack is.....anyway 3rd Infantry Division suffers 6700 casualties vs 1500 Chinese.....and Japan is now left with a retreated 3rd brigade...and Wuchang looks pretty open. Meanwhile up north with IJA troops at Yenan cut off a lot of Japanese troops are pulled out of the line in an obvious attempt to reopen the supply line...this could open up a new opportunity for the Chinese hordes. [image]local://upfiles/14495/0405BBC49B7A4B809C9F8070CADD5068.jpg[/image]

racndoc -> RE: IN HARM'S WAY...AE VERSION: STONEAGE(IJ) VS SPRUANCE(A) (11/16/2009 4:13:22 PM)
4/8-4/11/42 SUBS SS Greenling sufaces near Mussau Island and pumps 12 shells into AKL Taiyu Maru. SS Drum surfaces off Tabor Island and hits AK Kofuku Maru with 8 shells only to be hit 9 times by return fire....time to go back to port for repairs. DEI Dutch B-25s based at Batavia bomb and damage AK Kisogawa Maru near Billington. Next day they lay 4 bombs on AKL Yoshinogawa Maru off Singkep. 33rd ID launches a 1:8 deliberate attack at Palembang causing 238 Japanese casualties vs 1100 Dutch....our troops are obviously still disrupted from their ill fated counterattack a week ago. Japan captures Loewoek and Makassar on Celebes. PHILIPPINES Artillery duel continues at Clark but the Allies are definitely taking the worst of it....our troops will be lucky if they manage to hold out until the end of the month. Tawi Tawi is captured. CENTPAC CV Yorktown reaches Pearl and is immediately placed in the shipyard. The estimated time for rpairs to be completed is 22 days....curiously, if I speed the repairs up to critical level the repair time is still 21 days. So far Im only seeing an advantage for critical repairs at pierside. SOPAC B-26s based at Port Moresby score bomb hits and reported sinkings of CMc Kurosaki and AKL Totai Maru off Rabaul. IJA troops overrun unoccupied Cape Gloucester on New Britain and Umbio Island and Long Island near New Britain. CHINA Artillery duels continue at Hankow and Pingsiang. Another 1:3 deliberate attack at Kweisui results in 700 IJA casualties vs 1100 Chinese. Japan is still trying to outflank us to the north of Kweisui. [image]local://upfiles/14495/8019EC58AA5948A7B5D6116D3BC66A17.jpg[/image]

racndoc -> RE: IN HARM'S WAY...AE VERSION: STONEAGE(IJ) VS SPRUANCE(A) (11/18/2009 4:12:24 AM)
4/12-4/23/42 SUBS SS Seawolf takes 2 DCs from IJN ASW near Singapore. SS Saury puts a torpedo in AK Takaoka Maru off the Celebes. An empty Allied convoy heading east back to the west coast US from Noumea runs into an IJN wolfpack SW of Fuji. First the convoy runs into SS I-19 but a USN ASW TF makes them submerge deep. Next the convoy runs into SS I-21 and both sides fire at each other but no hits are scored. Finally the convoy encounters SS I-30 and the sub lands 2 torpedoes on escort DD Selfridge sinking her. Im glad the its an empty eastbound convoy. DEI Japan captures Togian islands and Madjene in the Celebes. Off the northern tip of Sumatra Great Nicobar Island is occupied. Another 1:6 deliberate attack is launched at Palembang....this time its 366 Japanese casualties vs 600 Dutch. Kind of a standoff here at Palembang....Japan apparently doesnt have enough supply to finish us off and the Allies dont have enough AV to evict the IJA troops. Dutch B-25s put a bomb on APD Nadakaze off Borneo. I think that Festung Java is becoming a difficult proposition for Japan that will only grow stronger as time goes on. Most of the Dutch fighter and bomber groups have upgraded to P-40Es and B-25s. Unlike the pre-war Dutch bombers, the B-25s can take some punishment and still make it back to base and their experience seems to be growing daily. We have over 1200 AV at Batavia behind level 4 forts. All the ports on the north shore have been garrisoned and the south shore ports are conspicuously empty...we are hoping for a south coast invasion so that the ABDA fleet can intervene. CV Illustrious arrives at Capetown in 15 days and after she arrives off Java we will have 3 RN CVs and a CVL vs 2 IJN CVs and mini KB. At a minimum Japan will be forced to keep all of their CVs/CVLs/CVEs in the DEI to support the invasion of Java so we should have a free hand in the south Pacific once our carriers are repaired. StoneAge is flying bomber missions over all the ports on Java trying to find a weakly defended port....if he picks the wrong one he will have to deal with a lot of CD guns. I think that StoneAge is a bit cautious with Allied CD guns after the experiences at Wake and Palembang. He has been bombing the 4th CD Gun Regiment at Ambon daily for over a week so an invasion here seems imminent. I had moved 18th UK Division to Darwin at the start of the war but with the atttrition of the IJN carriers an ampbibious assault of northern Australia is off the table....so Im thinking about moving it forward to Koepang...after we get at least 4 USN CVs back in the south Pacific I will re-evaluate a reinforcement mission to Timor. BURMA Looks like we have a stalemate at Lashio and Myitkina....Japan doesnt bring enough AV to capture either base and we dont have enough AV to kick them out...so we just fire our artillery at each other. No sign for awhile of either 55th Division or the Imperial Guards Division....they may be used for the attack on Java or maybe StoneAge is planning an overland attack through the jungle to India. INDIA Havent said much about India this game. Originally I feared a seaborne attack on Ceylon and the small Indian Ocean islands to the south and west so we heavily reinforced Ceylon with 6th and 7th Australian Divisions and the Ghurka Brigade. With the IJN carrier losses there is no longer a seaborne threat to India or Ceylon...any attack will have to come through the jungle from Burma. We have just finished transporting 6th and 7th Aussie Divisions back to the mainland along with the Celon based III Corp brigades and the Ghurka brigade. With the main threat now coming from the Burma jungles, we have concentrated most of our forces in NE India but especially at Calcutta...we have over 2500 AV there now. I have mostly small garrisons at Akyab, Cox's Bazaar and Chittagong...they are all malarial bases and even Dacca is malarial. So we have a huge stack at Calcutta ...lots of supply and the divisions are all broken down so they can take on their device upgrades as available. In addition to the 2 Aussie divisions and Ceylon based III Corps LCUs we have evacuated virtually the entire Malayan based III Corps units and they are all quietly repairing disablements and taking on replacements. StoneAge has been doing overflights of Trinkat Island and the Andaman Islands.....probably the next Japanese objectives in the area after the capture of Great Nicobar island. CL Columbo is scheduled for withdrawal in a couple months so she is detached with a DD from the ABDA Fleet off the south coast of Java and will head to the Andamans on her way back to.....Columbo. Hopefully she will find some amphibious assault TFs when she arrives in the Andamans. SOPAC Japan invades at Tassafaronga with 83rd Naval Guards. Im sure these guys will march overland to Lunga. I was hoping to be unopposed when I landed at Lunga in a couple months but that evidently was wishful thinking...time to start prepping some troops in Noumea. Japan is approaching the limit of their land based air cover from Shortlands....we are going to start sending some raiding forces north from New Caledonia. B-26s from Port Moresby drop bombs on AKL Kaijo Maru and PB Tama Maru #8 at Rabaul...their accuracy is getting better. CHINA StoneAge continues with the WW I style frontal assaults at Pingsiang...this time the 1:2 deliberate attack causes 1700 Japanese casualties vs 3100 Chinese....these levels of losses are unsustainable. Im having trouble drawing supply into Pingsiang...but I can draw supply into the hexes that surround it. I cant retreat from Pingsiang,,,there is only clear terrain north of it to allow Japan to shock attack their way forward to cut the railroads and highways into Changsha...so I am shuttling the supplied units from adjacent hexes into Pingsiang and shuttling the unsupplied units at Pingsiang out to where they can finally draw some supply.....dont know how long I can keep that game up. On top of the frontal assaults. StoneAge is now trying to win the battle of manuver. In the south he is bypasssing our fortified bases at Kukong and Wuchow with 4 LCUs that are infiltrating north through the forest in an attempt to cut our supply lines. In the center, StoneAge is moving 4 LCUs SW from Kaifeng around our flank to cut the Sinyang/Chengchow road. In the far north, StoneAge is moving 5 LCUs along the Mongolian border in an attempt to turn our flank at Kweisui...I cant get enough troops up there and even if I could I cant get supply up there.....if those LCUs are divisions or even brigades he will break out in the north...and we will have to fall back on Lanchow. The Allied answer......attacking of course! If we just sit back Japan will pick us apart base by base. We advanced on Wuchang and 1200 Chinese AV have invested the city. Another 900 AV will shock attack the remnants of 3rd ID tomorrow adjacent to Wuchang....then they will help lay siege to the city. A bombardment is ordered at Wuchang to see what Japan has in the city..so far we know there are 3 LCUs and one is the shattered 6th ID. [image]local://upfiles/14495/E9E10F55BA8349F5A2F1730F4DB12C62.jpg[/image]

racndoc -> RE: IN HARM'S WAY...AE VERSION: STONEAGE(IJ) VS SPRUANCE(A) (11/19/2009 4:04:21 AM)
4/14-4/15/42 SUBS SS Seawolf lands a fish on APD Nadakaze near Sarasan. SS S-38 sinks AK Kuwayama Maru with 3 torpedoes by Tapul. DEI A 1:5 deliberate attack at Palembang causes 400 Japanese casualties vs 700 Dutch. Dutch B-25s hit APD Fuji with a bomb near Lingga. Japan captures Tockangbesi Island in the Banda Sea. SOPAC Japan captures Tassafaronga and Lae....must be fast transports as they are flying right under the nose of our B-26s. Japan invades at Munda....looks like StoneAge will occupy/garrison most of the Solomons before we can intervene but how much will he be able to build them up. LOGISTICS Havent said too much about this important part of the war. The main supply depots on Australia for convoys from the west coast are Brisbane and Sydney. For Cape Town convoys its Melbourne. Currently we have 600,000 supply at Melbourne, 215,000 supply at Sydney and 265,000 supply at Brisbane. This will all be used to support furture SWPAC offensives on New Guinea. Our fuel stocks are depressingly low however even though we have shipped over 300,000 fuel to Australia already...our supply transport TFs seem to be sucking it up faster than we can drop it off. Im currently building up Christmas Island and Pago Pago to combined airfield/port levels of 10+ so they can be used for unlimited size fuel and supply dumps. Once Christmas Island is built up I will have separate convoys run LA/Christmas and then Christmas/Sydney so the transport ships dont use all the fuel that is dropped of in OZ. Pago Pago will be the supply/fuel dump for our eventual Gilberts offensive. Over in SOPAC we are nearly at a level 10 airfield/port at Noumea. Noumea will then be our unlimited supply/fuel dump for the Solomons. Currently SOPAC has 200,000 supply and 180,000 fuel on New Caledonia and 60,000 supply and 185,000 fuel at Auckland. There are currently 3 large convoys in transit from the west coast to Noumea. The western most convoy....now passing Pago Pago...is carrying 52,000 troops, 250,000 supply and 75,000 fuel. About 8 days behind that convoy is a 2nd convoy carrying 20,000 troops, 85,000 supply and 120,000 fuel. Finally 10 days farther east is a 3rd convoy carrying 42,000 troops and 150,000 fuel. The most pressing shortage the Allies have in the south Pacific that precludes an early offensive, other than a complete lack of USN CVs, is a shortage of aviation engineers. I purchased 2 base units in SF this turn and began loading them while a 3rd base force that was just formed at March AFB will be railed to SF for shipment. Paradoxically, western and northern OZ are swimming with fuel that they cant use right now due to the fuel extraction from the DEI....currently 135,000 fuel at Perth and 60,000 supply and 80,000 fuel at darwin. Over at SEAC our main dumps are at Colombo and Bombay. Currently we have 100,000 supply and 375,000 fuel at Colombo and 565,000 fuel at Bombay. AUSTRALIA Havent said too much about OZ defenses either. Mainly we reinforced the north at the start of the war...Darwin got 18th UK Division, 3 tank units, 1 AT unit, 2 additional CD units and a couple more Aussie brigades ...some 850 AV in all. Darwin now has a level 7 airfield and a level 4 port. Wyndam received an Aussie brigade also. We are also building up the airstrips at Fenton and Katherine to support Darwin. The majority of the US air group reinforcements for Australia are on the east and NE coasts.....building up and training for use at Port Moresby. CHINA Surprise...the map this turn is again focused on China. In the south, the Japanese infiltration attack between Kukong and Wuchow reaches the road junction connecting the 2 bases....recon shows 22,000 IJA troops here....we met them with 575 Chinese AV in 3x terrain so we should be ok here. The meatgrinder of Pingsiang only sees artillery barrages this turn. Just ouside of Wuchang, 3 Chinese corps rout 3rd Division for the 2nd time...a 7:1 shock attack retreats the Japanese and causes 2600 IJA casualties vs 700 Chinese....3rd Division is now 3rd Regiment after being defeated twice. China reaches its "high water mark" this turn with a bombardment of Wuchang...the bombardment reveals 40,000 IJA troops there...decimated 6th Division for sure but also untouched 49th Division and 51st brigade....too much for our 1200 AV to handle without any city prep. Its now time to pull all 2100 AV of our army around Wuchang back to both guard the east flank of Changsha and provide a mobile reserve in the Changsha rail mashalling yards....these guys can then use the rails to reinforce Kukong or Wuchow or even enter the hell that is Pingsiang. Farther north, Japan has 4 LCUs continuing to march SW from Kaifeng around our flank. In the far north Japan again launches a 1:12 deliberate attack at Kweisui...suffering 2700 casualties vs 560 Chinese...StoneAge is desperately trying to pin us here in Kweisui while he outflanks us against the Mongolian border. [image]local://upfiles/14495/3F0439083C1845EDB8E5B75C35A447E1.jpg[/image]

racndoc -> RE: IN HARM'S WAY...AE VERSION: STONEAGE(IJ) VS SPRUANCE(A) (11/20/2009 7:41:43 PM)
4/16-419/42 SUBS Japan is again searching for the RN CVs off the south coast of Java. SS I-155 approaches the CV TFs but is detected by a RN ASW TF and takes 6 DCs near Merak. SS I-23 runs into a USN ASW TF near Efate that has 4 newly upgraded DDs....14 DCs hit home and SS I-23 quickly sinks.... could this be a turning point in the Allies anti-sub war? Here is the other side of the coin...a USN ASW TF with 4 NON-upgraded DDs is heading south from Noumea to Auckland to upgrade....they run into I-19 and the sub shoots first and sinks DD Peary....two USN ASW TFs with 4 DDs and good commanders. Two very different results. SS Seawolf attacks TK Kanze Maru off Singapore...she lands 5 shells in a surface attack and the TK is burning brightly from stem to stern..must have had a full load of fuel. SS Grayback puts 2 shells in AK Seattle Maru near Aogashima. DEI Another 1:6 deliberate attack at Palemband causes 2300 Japanese casualties vs 595 Dutch....obviously Japan is having an issue bringing in supply to their troops. That and the fact that some 40-50 Dutch level bombers(mainly B-25s) are causing massive disruption and hundreds of casualties every day as the Allies are in control of the airspace over Palembang. Additional B-25s sink AMc Toroshima Maru off Borneo. Bettys based at Kendari put in an impressive performance regarding accuracy....from 9000 feet they sink 5 PTs at Koepang. Japan captures Lingga, Galeia(Moluccas) and Sorong on New Guinea. IJA troops wade ashore at Sinabang off the NW tip of Sumatra. CL Colombo had been heading to the Andamans but is within range and is ordered to strike the IJN ampibious transports here if they linger. PHILIPPINES Another deliberate attack at Clark yields 2600 casualties for both sides. Our AV here is down to about 500 now. I still have some 9000 supply between Bataan and Clark so I think that the supply will outlast the AV. SOPAC Japan captures Russell Islands, Thousand Ships Bay and Munda in the Solomons. As mentioned before, most of the USN ships in SOPAC are taking turns shutleing to Auckland or Sydney for their upgrades. The shipyard repair is kind of interesting....at Sydney CV Enterprise appears to be repairing one point of hull damage every 2 days while at Pearl CV Yorktown is repairing one point of hull damage every day...both on "normal" mode. Sydney has a larger port but a smaller shipyard. Pearl Harbor has a larger shipyard and more naval support. CHINA The bloody attrition war continues at Pingsiang...two consecutive deliberate attacks cause 5700 IJA casualties vs 4000 Chinese...good thing we have a half dozen corps just outside Pingsiang to rest and rotate into the battle. The Japanese infiltration between Kukong and Wuchow is met by 2 Chinese corps in 3x terrain at the crossroads behind the 2 cities...a 1:2 shock attack leaves 2367 Japanese casualties vs 237 Chinese...looks like StoneAge is having trouble drawing supply down these secondary roads. The flanking attack from 4 IJA LCUs moving SW from Kaifeng hits our 3 corps defending the Sinyang/Chengchow highway..we hit the IJA LCUs(30,000 troops) with some 50-60 heavy and medium bombers and a 4th Chinese corps is able to enter the hex just before the Japanese assault is launched. The resulting 1:3 shock attack causes 4100 IJA casualties vs 1450 Chinese. Recon shows the 4 IJA LCUs to be 35th Division, 13th Ind. Mixed Brigade, and SNLF and a RGC division...fortunately all our bombers hit the powerful 35th Division casusing heavy disruption. The 35th Division and the 13th Mixed Brigade are trashed now. All 4 Chinese corps(virtually zero disruption or fatigue) will be ordered to return the shock attck favor next turn(in clear terrain) on the hapless IJA formations....this of course after another aerial bombardment by 50-60 bombers while some 55 P-40Es/Hurricane IIb Trops LRCAP and sweep the hex.

racndoc -> RE: IN HARM'S WAY...AE VERSION: STONEAGE(IJ) VS SPRUANCE(A) (11/21/2009 6:21:41 PM)
4/20-4/21/42 SUBS SS I-165 continues the search for the RN CVs and ABDA surface fleets south of Java. She fires 4 torpedoes at CL Enterprise near Christmas Island(IO) but misses and the Allied ASW response is ineffective. SS Truant takes 5 DCs from IJN ASW off the Celebes....she will make it back to port but some yard time will be needed. CHINA We launch a massive shock attack with 5 Chinese corps on the IJA force that was trying to outflank us SW of Kaifrng and cut the Sinyang/Chenchow highway. First the B-17s and medium bombers pound 35th Division and 13th Ind. Mixed Brgade....then the Chinese launch an 33:1 shock attack....when the smoke clears the Japanese have been retreated back towards Kaifeng with OVER 10,000 casualties while the Chinese suffer 500 casualties. The shock attack in clear terrain thingy works both ways....what had been a 30,000 strong IJA formation barely 4 days ago now has fewer than 14,000 effectives. With this force defeated, all of the 4Es and most of the mediums are placed on airfield attack at Hankow next turn...this will be our 1st MAJOR airbase suppression of the war. Lots of P-40Es and Hurricane IIb Trops flying sweeps and escort over Hankow also....recon indicates the Japanese have some 28 fighters, 18 bombers and 22 support AC at Hankow. Recon also shows 2 AKs unloading at Hankow port.....looks like my 3 month effort to surround and isolate Hankow/Wuchang was a pipedream as Japan can move in all the supply they need by river....StoneAge broke my siege a couple weeks ago and it looks as if a further attempt to reinstate it would be pointless. Anyway, a squadron of AVG P-40Es at Changsha will be put on Naval Attack tomorrow to see if they can actually sink some ships hundreds of miles inland from the ocean. At Pingsiang it looks like StoneAge moved in some more heavy artillery...2 consecutive bombardments cause over 2000 Chinese casualties. SOPAC B-26s put a bomb on TK Syoyo Maru at Rabaul...it seems as if Im always catching these TKs with a full load of fuel as they always light up like a torch. Looks like Japan is trying to build up a base at Lae. B-26s and SBDs at Port Moresby bomb the port/airfield/ground unit at Lae every day as they build up their experience. DEI StoneAge begins bombing the CD unit at Tarakan so I think an attack here will be forthcoming. This turn Japan invades on either side of Tarakan at Tandjoengselor and Tawau. SigInt says 24th IR is on the way to Tandjoengselor so my guess is that StoneAge intends to capture Tarakan by marching overland from Tandjoengselor and not risk another amphibious assault into CD guns. Off the NW tip of Sumatra Japan captures Sinabang. PLEASE MISTER WHIPPLE, DONT SQUEEZE THE CHARMIN CL Colombo and DD Whipple show up at Sinabang right after its captured and annihilate the entire amphibious assault force....2 measly AKLs. Bettys attack CL Colombo the next day but no hits are scored. [image]local://upfiles/14495/89561BF025894A9FA57A448EB94368D3.jpg[/image]

racndoc -> RE: IN HARM'S WAY...AE VERSION: STONEAGE(IJ) VS SPRUANCE(A) (11/22/2009 2:21:19 AM)
4/22-4/23/42 SUBS SS Salmon puts a fish in AK Turung Maru near Ningpo. SS I-165 continues the hunt for the RN CVs south of Java but runs into RN ASW TF instead and eats 2 DCs. SS KXVI lands a torpedo and sinks TK Amatsu Maru off Miri...always good to sink a TK but since Miri is a small port its probably only one of those small 1250 capacity TKs I read about in the Japanese production threads. CHINA Allied heavy and medium bombers repeatedly pummel the airfield at Hankow and cause over 30% damage...altogether some 40 Japanese AC are destroyed today vs 34 allied ...15 Nates and 5 Oscars shot down in A2A so that should deplete their pilot pool a bit. The P-40Es on naval attack dont hit anything at Hankow but StoneAge gets the message. He puts the 2 AKs in port so now we have the spectacle of Chinese medium bombers conducting a port attack hundreds of miles inland against Hankow next turn. Another Japanese 1:2 deliberate attack at Pingsiang creates 1750 IJA casualties vs 1650 Chinese......I dont know why StoneAge just doesnt stand back and bombard Pingsiang every turn and cause 1000+ casualties for free...no need to assault and suffer Japanese losses. DEI I did the last turn in the middle of the night and forgot to move CL Colombo. This turn Sallys drop a bomb on CL Colombo and cause 23(s)/10(float)/5(E) damage....Colombo is scheduled to be withdrawn anyway in about 7 weeks so she will just go back to the Bombay shipyard for repairs and then be withdrawn. Another Japanese 1:4 deliberate attack at Palembang collects 900 IJA troops vs 400 Dutch. My Dutch fighters have done a good job in the attrition war over the DEI but now they are down to their last 13 replacements. BURMA Japan launches a 1:2 deliberate attack at Lashio.....900 Japanese casualties vs 300 Allied. Ive been heavily bombing the the IJA besiegers at both Lashio and Myitkina every turn and now StoneAge is finally commiting his IJA fighters here....looks like we will be able to continue the fighter attrition here after the DEI is lost. PEARL HARBOR Pearls' ship repair facilities have been humming with activity. CV Lexington has 2 more days on critical pierside before she has completed her minor damage repairs and then she will be placed in the shipyard to fix the hull damage. CV Yorktown has 8 days left in the shipyard to complete repairs of her hull damage and then she wil be decommissioned to undergo her 4/42 upgrades. CV Saratoga has just completed minor damage repairs and will be decommissioned tomorrow to undergo her 2/42 upgrades. The carrier air groups are flown to Ford Island for training and upgrades while the CVs are being repaired. CV Hornet completes her 4/42 upgrades and becomes the only operational USN CV in the Pacific. PHILIPPINES Japan again attacks at Clark at 1:4 odds causing 2200 Japanese casualties vs 1000 Allied. At Cebu, a Japanese 1:3 deliberate attack causes 100 IJA casualties vs 20 Philippino. The combat report shows the Japanese have only 51 AV here now vs the 132 AV of the 81st PA Division. Two squadrons of B-17s are staged from China to Clark and they will be targeting the IJA troops on Cebu tomorrow. The 81st PA Division will then deliver a shock attack. [image]local://upfiles/14495/B30D1846EDCB49B2B1F8A283CEBA570B.jpg[/image]

racndoc -> RE: IN HARM'S WAY...AE VERSION: STONEAGE(IJ) VS SPRUANCE(A) (11/23/2009 3:58:17 AM)
4/24-4/27/42 SUBS SS I-162 continues the search for the RN CVs south of Java. She first puts a torpedo in CL Danae and then sinks AO Tan 3. SS Swordfish takes 3 DCs as she stalks an IJN transport TF off Borneo. SS I-121 continues the search for the RN CVs south of Java but neither side scores a hit, SS Seawolf takes 2 DCs from IJN surface TF off Singkawang. SS S-36 takes 4 DCs from a single SC off Kendari...yikes those SCs have incredible ASW capabilities. PHILIPPINES Another deliberate attack at Clark creates 1350 IJA casualties vs 2560 Allied casualties. The Japanese get the 1st lick in at Cebu and their deliberate attack causes 170 IJA casualties vs 28 Allied. Our counterattack at Cebu is very interesting. On the first attack the B-17s at Clark dont fly due to weather but we still achieve a 2:1 shock attack...the Allies suffer 158 casualties vs 56 IJA and NO retreat...there were no forts so I dont understand why the IJA troops didnt retreat. Next day the B-17s fly and hit the IJA troops at Cebu but now we only get a 1:2 attack....this time the Japanese suffer 120 casualties vs 65 Allied....go figure. CHINA Our port attack at Hankow is spectacularly ineffective...no hits on ships....a few port hits but LOTS of damaged AC. Dont know why we couldnt target a ship in port over 2 turns but maybe it has something to do with inland ports. The war at Pingsiang rages on. Over a 4 day period with 3 assaults and 1 bombardment the Japanese sustain over 7000 casualties vs 4100 Chinese casualties. We already have over a half dozen trashed corps from the Pingsiang battles. THE AIR WAR Overall Japan loses 56 AC vs 58 Allied AC. In A2A Japan loses 8 A6M2s and 17 Oscars vs Allied losses of 18 P-40Es, 14 Hurricane I Trops and 1 Hurricane IIa Trop. In the early war period when the Allies are flying Buffaloes the A2A ratio was something like 2:1 losses in favor of Japan. Now with all the Hurricane IIb Trops its more like 1:1. In stock WitP and CHS I would usually be able to build a 150-200 strong 4E bomber force by 1/42 and could proceed to nuke Japanese airfields at will...God bless all those LB-30 replacements. Here in AE, Ive only done 1 major airfield strike the ENTIRE war. I used to think that using 4Es in ground attack missions was a waste in stock WitP but here in AE the ground attacks are all important...in fact sending the 50 B-17s from the PI to China for ground attacks was probably the single most important factor in stabilizing the Chinese front. The Japanese have such a huge artillery advantage in China its imperative that the Allies send as much air power here as possible. The Chinese air force is virtually worthless at this point in the war...so I reinforce China with 50 B-17s, 3 AVG squadrons, 4 Hurricane IIb Trop squadrons, 2 Buffalo squadrons, 1 Hudson IIIA squadron, 1 Hudson I squadron and 2 Blenheim IV squadrons. Japan threw me around like a rag doll in 12/41 when they had complete air superiority. After that I was able to gain air equality if not air superiority and now I can usually decrease Japanese assault odds or increase Allied assault odds when the air is committed. PEARL HARBOR The new AE ship repair routines are a game in themselves. CV Yorktown only needed 20 days to repair 20 hull damage when she was placed in the shipyard. Today I put CV Lexington in the shipyard and it was indicated that 73 days would be required to repair 20 hull damage. I know that CV Lexington has higher durability and I guess that this would impact shipyard repairs but this is quite a bit more. I emptied the shipyards at Pearl...CV Yorktown only had 5 hull damage remaining so she pulled out and was given an AR to complete repairs and CA Chicago was pulled out of the shipyard and placed on readiness repair and then the repair estimate on CV Lexington came down to 49 days. Placing CV Lexington on "high" repair cut it down to 48 days..since we are using 2 day turns I left it on "high" so that Lex would come back 2 days early. [image]local://upfiles/14495/ED15931A69154417BFC718C2E898931B.jpg[/image]

racndoc -> RE: IN HARM'S WAY...AE VERSION: STONEAGE(IJ) VS SPRUANCE(A) (11/24/2009 5:14:51 AM)
4/28-4/29/42 SUBS SS S-39 sinks SC Ch 15 off the Celebes. Next day SS S-39 puts a torpedo into AK Nagara Maru. SS I-121 stalks the RN CVs and lands a tropedo on BC Repulse...Repulse now has 12 sys and 30 flotation damage and is withdrawn towards Ceylon for repairs. SS S-36 gives not one but TWO reports of "temporary flotation repairs failing". CHINA Relatively quiet turn. Japan again attacks at the road junction behind Kukong and Wuchow........this time its 1860 IJA casualties vs 286 Chinese. Consecutive bombardment attacks at Pingsiang net only 350 and then 175 Chinese casualties...either the Japanese are short on supply here or Allied air attacks have disrupted the heavy artillery. Looks like StoneAge is evacuating Yenan since he is out of supply there...5 of 6 occupying units are marching cross country back to Kweisui. Artillery fire is exchanged at Hankow and Kweisui. 3 Chinese corps are again ordered to shock attack the remnants of 35th Infantry Division and 13th Ind. Mixed Brigade SW of Kaifeng. BURMA Both sides lob artillery shells at each other at Lashio and Myitkina. Japan invades at Port Blair. I looked at the supply at Myitkina for the first time in a few weeks....we have over 65,000 supply there....more than Ive ever seen...I have to assume that this supply is being drawn through the jungle from India. I have a secure road from Myitkina to China so I also have to assume that Myitkina supply is traveling on to China....the 500 supply/turn Burma Road bonus. With 600 AV in 3x terrain here and all this supply Ive decided to make a stand at Myitkina. 4 artillery regiments and 2 Indian brigades are on the way. With all this supply available Myitkina would be the perfect jumping off point for the recapture of Burma and Malaya. PHILIPPINES A Japanese deliberate attack at Clark causes 2768 Chinese casualties vs 1860 Japanese...the end is drawing near on Luzon. Japan captures Taytay. SOPAC Japan captures Auki in the Solomons. DEI IJA troops capture Boeton near Kendari. Japanese troops invade at Nias Island off Sumatra. Another Japanese deliberate attack at Palembang causes 716 IJA casualties vs 920 Chinese. Just discovered a significant bug at Palembang last turn. Two turns ago Praboemoelih reverted back to Allied control through osmosis...no Allied troops were present in the hex. Palembang had 80,000 supply at the time. Next orders phase when I inspected Praboemoelih I found that over 70,000 supply there that had been sucked out of Palembang. Palambang now has only 5000 supply. I set the supply arrows at Palembang to "max draw: and the next turn 50,000 supply went back to Palembang leaving 24,000 supply in Praboemoelih. This turn I left the supply arrows maxed out at Palembang but no more supplies were transferred back to Palembang from Praboemoelih. Japan's biggest problem on Sumatra has been a lack of supply to support an assault on Palembang...now they can retake Praboemoelih and use the 24,000 supply that they will capture there to take out Palembang......sigh..... [image]local://upfiles/14495/7476F3B4ADD24C31B20D9A6E306A2083.jpg[/image]

racndoc -> RE: IN HARM'S WAY...AE VERSION: STONEAGE(IJ) VS SPRUANCE(A) (11/25/2009 3:58:09 AM)
4/30-5/1/42 SUBS SS I-19 takes 8 DCs from newly upgraded USN DDs near Noumea. SS KXIV attacks transport TF off the Celebes but the TFs escorts instead hit her with 2 DCs. SS Tarpon takes"extensive flooding damage" east of Wake...this is an unusual message.....usually the message is something to the effect of "temporary flotation repairs failing". I have no record of SS Tarpon being damaged in combat so I wonder if it was it was a crew mistake while the sub was diving...ie someone forgot to close the induction valves. SS Seawolf sinks SC Ch 1 near Saigon. BURMA A Japanese deliberate attack at Lashio results in 1100 IJA casualties vs 219 Allied casualties. Im hitting the IJA troops here with a lot of air every turn and for the moment the defense looks pretty solid unless substantial reinforcements are brought in. Japan conducts two 1:1 attacks at Port Blair reducing the forts to level 1. DEI A deliberate attack at Palembang causes 530 Japanese casualties vs 350 Dutch. Japan captures Nias Island. CV Illustrious leaves Captetown and begins her journey across the Indian Ocean to join the other 2 RN CVs off the south coast of Java. SOPAC Japan captures Arawe on New Britain and Lunga on Guadalcanal. I just started prepping some regiments at Noumea for an eventual assault on Lunga. PHILIPPINES Another deliberate attack at Clark causes over 3200 Allied casualties....our AV there is now less than 200. SHIP UPGRADES With 4 of the 5 USN CVs in port being upgraded or repaired I thought it would be a good time to upgrade the rest of the fleet.....especially the ASW assets as IJN subs seemed to be attacking CVs at will in combat zones and getting away scot free. At Bremerton Naval Yard we have 4 BBs, 4 DDs and 2 DMSs being upgraded. At SF we have 6 CAs, 4 CLs and 5DDs being upgraded. At LA we have 1 CL, 4 DDs and a DMS under upgrade. At Auckland we have 7 DDs getting their ASW upgrades to fight the Japanese sub menace around Noumea. By the time the USN CVs sortie in June most of the USN should have the latest and greatest tech upgrades. CHINA The usual slaughter at Pingsiang this turn results in 2580 Japanese casualties vs 1660 Chinese. StoneAge has now completely evacuated Yenan and Chinese troops are on the way to liberate the town. Three Chinese corps jump on decimated 35th Division and 13th Mixed Brigade again in clear terrain...this time the Chinese get a 3:1 shock attack and Japan loses another 4600 casualties vs 258 Chinese. The remnants of the 2 IJA formations are retreated back across the river towards Kaifeng. Im getting SigInt reports for the last few turns that 12th Army and 38th Division are planning an attack on Tsiatao...we've got 1200 AV here now on "rest" and if Japan couldnt take it in January or nFebruary I dont see how they could take it now....still with the rail line 1 hex away from Tsiatao Japan could shift a lot of troops here in a hurry. [image]local://upfiles/14495/0473533E709F4B7FAD6FEE25EA023A27.jpg[/image]

racndoc -> RE: IN HARM'S WAY...AE VERSION: STONEAGE(IJ) VS SPRUANCE(A) (11/27/2009 4:20:22 AM)
5/2-5/3/42 SUBS SS I-154 goes hunting for RN CVs south of Java and runs into a Dutch surface combat TF....4 DCs but doesnt look serious. SS I-9 is attacked by upgraded USN ASW TF near Efate....4 DCs and heavy damage. SS Trout pumps 59 shells into AKL Tainichi Maru off Russel Island and she sinks with heavy loss of life. SUB STRATEGY Im trying to stretch both Japanese ASW AC and IJN ASW TFs so the Allied subs are attacking Japanese shipping from Sakhalin Island in the north to Singapore in the south. Mostly Allied subs are attempting to sink IJN transports and interdict resource and fuel shipments but in the SRA Allied subs are also scouting and attacking amphibious assault TFs and combatant ships. StoneAge is taking the opposite tack....he is concentrating the IJN subs in 2 or 3 areas...mainly in the Noumea/Efate/Luganville triangle in the south Pacific and also in the Indian Ocean south of Java....and he is focusing on sinking Allied capital ships(especially CVs) vs Allied merchant shipping. The advantage for StoneAge in this strategy is that he can overwhelm our ASW TFs where he concentrates and can target CVs turn after turn....and eventually he will score some hits. The disadvantage of this strategy is that the Allies can also concentrate ASW TFs and AC in just a few areas and the vast majority of the theatre becomes relatively safe from sub attacks...like west coast US and most of the Allies island chain in the south Pacific and Singapore to India to the middle east and to Capetown. So I had to withdraw my CVs from the combat zone near New Caledonia/New Hebrides as I couldnt adequately counter the Jap sub menace...thats ok because all the USN CVs needed repairs or upgrades anyway. In the interim I have flooded the New Caledonia/New Hebrides area with ASW AC and ASW TFs and we have sunk a half dozen IJN subs in the region over the last month. To sum up: its easier for IJN subs to target Allied capital ships...but its also easier for the Allies to kill Jap subs AND most of the Pacific is relatively safe from the sub menace. SUB TACTICS I really enjoy the submarine part of AE vs stock WitP. I hate micromanaging subs and having to move them every turn after they are spotted. In AE I mostly just assign a hex for the subs to conduct a patrol around and set the reaction range from 1-6 depending on whether they are close to enemy land bases or out in the open ocean. My ASW on the other hand follows 2 different modes. My large transport TFs and Air Combat task groups generally have an attached ASW TF with aggressive commanders. I also have hunter/killer ASW TFs in the areas that StoneAge has massed his subs....like Noumea and the Indian Ocean just south of Java.The hunter/killer groups have been responsible for the vast majority of IJN sub kills. Unlike the subs, I put my hunter/killer ASW TFs on straight line patrols..point 1 to point 2 on my convoy routes. For example around Noumea I have 3 hunter killer ASW TFs..one does Noumea/Luganville, one does Noumea/Efate and one does Noumea/Auckland...these are the ASW assets that are sinking most of the IJN subs AND they are clearing the convoy routes for my transport TFs that follow the same sea lanes. Ive noticed a huge difference in ASW with the DDs that have already upgraded. Unlike some other AARs where the posters are converting their Clemson Class DDs to APDs...Im converting the vast majority to DEs...that actually quadruples their ASW firepower...one ASW TF with 4 DEs will have the ability to fire 32 ASW rounds in one salvo. I dont need fast transport...I need ASW protection for my CVs and also for the 2nd most important ships in the USN arsenal...the APs and AKs. From here on out....every Air Combat task group and every amphibious assault force will have an attached ASW TF with upgraded DDs. CHINA Things have really quieted down here. Just a half dozen bombardment attacks...notably at Hankow and Pingsiang but the Pingsiang losses are minimal...245 Chinese on the 1st bombardment and then 131 Chinese on the 2nd....either Japan is out of supply in China or they are out of AV. BURMA Japan captures Port Blair. DEI 2nd Raiding Regiment recaptures Praboemoelih....and with that they capture 25,000 of my supply. Nice bug! Now Japan has the supply they need to take Palembang...they didnt have the ability to mass enough supply there before. PHILIPPINES Japan launches a 1:1 and then a 2:1 shock attack on Clark...Clark is captured as a half dozen Philippino formations surrender and the remaining disorganized rabble retreat back to Bataan. The Allies suffer 10,000 casualties vs 600 Japanese. We have about 150 AV left on Bataan...most of that is from the Bataan CD unit. These guys did their job with heroic sacrifice and will make ultimate victory possible. [image]local://upfiles/14495/DAAB9C8724BA4581B5222348A510016A.jpg[/image]

racndoc -> RE: IN HARM'S WAY...AE VERSION: STONEAGE(IJ) VS SPRUANCE(A) (11/28/2009 5:41:16 PM)
5/4-5/7/42 SUBS SS I-173 takes 6 DCs from upgraded USN ASW TF off Noumea. SS Porpoise surfaces off Singapore to put 11 shells in AKL Haguro Maru. SS Swordfish puts a fish in AK Keisho Maru near Jolo. SS KXIV puts a 2nd torpedo in AK Keisho Maru sinking her. SS S-39 lands a torpedo on AK Toyama Maru off Kendari. SS KXVII scores a torpedo hit on TK Mirii Maru near Brunei. SS I-173 takes 7 more DCs...this time from our ace ASW boys...flagship of veteran Aussie DD Stuart(very aggresssive commander) and 3 APDs...these guys are attacking something nearly every turn off Noumea. SS I-154 takes 11 DCs from RN ASW near Batavia. PHILIPPINES Japan reinforces both Bataan and Cebu....the end is near for Allied troops in the Philippines. DEI Japan invades at Batoe Island west of Sumatra. ABDA air combat and surface combat TFs sail into Batavia under massive P-40E CAP for refueling and reloading depth charges. When fully provisioned they will resume their patrol off the southern coast of Java. CHINA Continued quiet here. A few Japanese bombardments at the usual places but minimal Chinese casualties. Chinese troops recapture Yenen. BURMA A deliberate attack at Lashio causes 900 Japanese casualties vs 470 Allied. WE are down to 1400 supply here and forts are reduced to level 2...meanwhile Japan has reinforced and has over 20,000 troops vs our 150 AV. Looks like we could lose Lashio at any time so we are forced to withdraw the 2 Hurricane squadrons that had been flying CAP. Japan captures Little Andaman Island. THE AIR WAR StoneAge has been doing a good job in aerial attrition over the last couple of weeks. Two turns ago the Allies lost 16 fighters in A2A combat vs 4 Japanese. The Dutch P-40Es had been doing poorly over Palembang so I was forced to withdraw all Allied air forces there and cede control of that airspace to Japan. In Burma, the Fulmar Is and Hurricane Ias have been dropping like flies. Im going to upgrade all the Huricanes to the IIb models before I commit them to A2A combat....and the Fulmars will be used strictly for long range escort..no more CAP. This makes me worry about the RN CVs...one of their largest fighter groups is composed of Fulmars....the Sea Hurricanes are great but have short legs so will need to upgrade the Fulmars to Martlets ASAP for long range escorts. SOPAC Japan captures Beru in the Gilberts. The build up continues at Noumea/Efate/Espirutu Santo. Luganvile is now a level 6 airfield and we are starting to stage in B-17s for the eventual suppression of the Japanese base at Shortlands. As the ASW/sub war rages on around New Caledonia, 3 more Allied convoys arrive at Noumea and will begin offloading some 70,000 troops(including 31st Infantry Division);100,000 supply; 150,000 fuel and over 100 AC. [image]local://upfiles/14495/265930833F014099BAF5AC7383D80DB6.jpg[/image]

racndoc -> CARRIER BATTLE OF WESTERN JAVA (11/29/2009 12:29:52 AM)
5/8-5/9/42 CARRIER BATTLE OF WESTERN JAVA Last turn I had ordered all the RN CVs and ABDA surface TFs to Batavia for refueling and an ammo reload(depth charges). All of the available P-40Es and most of the available Demons from Java were placed on CAP over Batavia to protect the ABDA fleet from IJN naval bombers. For whatever reason CVL Hermes did not follow CV Formidable and stayed behind off the SW tip of Java. This turn the refueled and rearmed ABDA fleet left Batavia and proceeded east along the southern coast of Java. CVL Hermes was given a "to meet" order with the other RN CVs but again she stayed in place off the SW tip of Java. Evidently I had left my carriers in the area too long and StoneAge had manuvered mini KB in for a surprise strike. The RN fleet carriers had cleared the area but tiny CVL Hermes was left behind to face the combined might of CVL Ryujo, CVL Zuiho and CVU Hosho. Mini KB spotted CVL Hermes in the AM and moved in for the kill at approximately 6 hex range. Fortuitously, CVL Hermes was able to hide under a squall and was not attacked by any IJN planes in the AM. CVL Hermes carried no fighters...only 2 small Albacore torpedo bomber groups. An Albacore strike was launched in the AM against mini-KB but without fighter escort it was torn to shreds: Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 21 Allied aircraft Albacore I x 15 No Japanese losses Allied aircraft losses Albacore I: 2 destroyed CAP engaged: Ryujo-1 with A6M2 Zero (0 airborne, 7 on standby, 0 scrambling) 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 3 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 18000 and 20000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 2 minutes Zuiho-1 with A6M2 Zero (0 airborne, 5 on standby, 0 scrambling) 5 plane(s) intercepting now. 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 2 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 14000 and 15000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 6 minutes Hosho-1 with A6M2 Zero (1 airborne, 3 on standby, 0 scrambling) 1 plane(s) intercepting now. Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters to 16000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 1 minutes Some B-25s from Batavia sortied to attack mini KB but the A6M2s were more than up to the task: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on TF, near Enggano at 41,99 Weather in hex: Partial cloud Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 6,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 11 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 21 Allied aircraft B-25C Mitchell x 6 No Japanese losses Allied aircraft losses B-25C Mitchell: 1 destroyed CAP engaged: Ryujo-1 with A6M2 Zero (3 airborne, 7 on standby, 0 scrambling) 3 plane(s) intercepting now. Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 18000 and 20000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 11 minutes Zuiho-1 with A6M2 Zero (7 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 7 plane(s) intercepting now. Group patrol altitude is 15000 Raid is overhead Hosho-1 with A6M2 Zero (4 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 4 plane(s) intercepting now. Group patrol altitude is 10000 Raid is overhead In the afternoon, mini-KB was able to launch an attack with good escort against helpless CVL Hermes in heavy rain conditions. Miraculously, a good portion of the CAP over Batavia was able to "drift" 3 hexes....some 138 miles.....to intercept the IJN airstrike over the CVL: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Batavia at 46,98 Weather in hex: Heavy rain Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 52 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 25 B5N1 Kate x 9 Allied aircraft CW-21B Demon x 2 P-40E Warhawk x 11 P-40E Warhawk x 12 Japanese aircraft losses A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed B5N1 Kate: 5 destroyed, 1 damaged Allied aircraft losses P-40E Warhawk: 1 destroyed P-40E Warhawk: 1 destroyed Allied Ships CVL Hermes Aircraft Attacking: 1 x B5N1 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo CAP engaged: 1-VI.G.V with P-40E Warhawk (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) (3 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 3 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 20000 Time for all group planes to reach interception is 53 minutes 1 planes vectored on to bombers 2e-1-VI.G.V Groep with CW-21B Demon (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) (2 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 2 plane(s) intercepting now. Group patrol altitude is 20000 Raid is overhead 51st PG/16th PS with P-40E Warhawk (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) (12 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 1 plane(s) intercepting now. 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 11 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 28000 Time for all group planes to reach interception is 14 minutes 3 planes vectored on to bombers 2-Vl.G.IV with P-40E Warhawk (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) (4 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 4 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 33000 Time for all group planes to reach interception is 19 minutes 2-VI.G.V with P-40E Warhawk (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) (4 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 4 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 33000 Time for all group planes to reach interception is 40 minutes 4 planes vectored on to bombers Only 1 Kate gets thru the Allied CAP and she misses CVL Hermes. The brave Albacore and B-25 pilots launch PM striles against mini-KB but without any fighter escort the efforts are futile: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Enggano at 41,99 Weather in hex: Partial cloud Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 18,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 23 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 18 Allied aircraft Albacore I x 11 No Japanese losses Allied aircraft losses Albacore I: 2 destroyed CAP engaged: Ryujo-1 with A6M2 Zero (0 airborne, 6 on standby, 0 scrambling) 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 3 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 16000 and 21000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 4 minutes Zuiho-1 with A6M2 Zero (0 airborne, 4 on standby, 0 scrambling) 4 plane(s) intercepting now. 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 2 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters to 15000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 6 minutes Hosho-1 with A6M2 Zero (0 airborne, 2 on standby, 0 scrambling) 2 plane(s) intercepting now. 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters to 10000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 3 minutes -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Enggano at 41,99 Weather in hex: Partial cloud Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 11 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 16 Allied aircraft B-25C Mitchell x 8 No Japanese losses Allied aircraft losses B-25C Mitchell: 2 destroyed CAP engaged: Ryujo-1 with A6M2 Zero (7 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 7 plane(s) intercepting now. Group patrol altitude is 15000 Raid is overhead Zuiho-1 with A6M2 Zero (6 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 6 plane(s) intercepting now. Group patrol altitude is 15000 Raid is overhead Hosho-1 with A6M2 Zero (3 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 3 plane(s) intercepting now. Group patrol altitude is 10000 Raid is overhead When the smoke clears AC losses are 10 A6M2s(not all form the carrier action), 11 Albacores, 12 Kates and 7 B-25s. CVL Hermes is ordered to join up with the other RN CVs next turn and hopefully this time she obeys orders....she has certainly used up 8 of her 9 lives. PHILIPINES Two deliberate attacks at Bataan inflict 1200 IJA casualties vs 4300 Allied.....its all over but the crying now. Japan captures Cebu. [image]local://upfiles/14495/36715548D8054492A28BC9A63536C206.jpg[/image]

racndoc -> RE: CARRIER BATTLE OF WESTERN JAVA (11/30/2009 3:14:24 AM)
5/10-5/13/42 SUBS SS S-39 takes 4 DCs from a single PB off Kendari.....she looking at some yard time now. SS I-121 takes 12 DCs from RN ASW TF near Madioen. SS Tambor puts a torpedo in AK Kensin Maru off Toyohara. SS I-173 receives 3 Dcs from the DD Stuart ASW TF by Noumea. SS Seawolf sinks PB Heiyo Maru off Hong Kong. SS Haddocks shells, torpedoes and sinks TK Hishi Maru near Toyohara. SS I-4 gets 4 Dcs from the DD Stuart ASW TF off Noumea. SS Seadragon shells, torpedoes and sinks AK Oregon Maru near Truk. PHILIPPINES Japan captures Bataan after 2 days of shock attacks....20,000 American and Philippino soldiers are marched off to PoW camps in central Luzon in what will be known as the Bataan Death March. Japan now holds total control of Luzon. Allied troops held out almost a week longer than in RL. Japanese troops at Clark/Bataan are pretty trashed from the 6 month siege...just in case StoneAge intends to use them in a new offensive somewhere else I have 2 minelaying subs on the way to Manila to interfere with embarkation. The Allies sole remaining base in the Philippine archipelago is at Zamboanga. CHINA Another Japanese deliberate attack at Kweisui results in 450 Japanese casualties vs 800 Chinese. Continued Japanese bombardments in all the usual places. DEI An IJA deliberate attack at Palembang nets 290 Japanese casualties vs 950 Dutch...looks like ther beginning of the end here also. Japan captures Finschafen on New Guinea. ALLIED STRATEGY Despite repeated pleas from the Admiralty for USN CVs to aid in the defense of the Malay barrier, the USN Pacific Fleet remains committed to defense of the Hawaiian Sea Area and protection of the SLOC from the US west coast to Australia. Today, the biggest single threat to the Allied SLOC from the US west coast to Australia is the bustling Japanese base at Shortlands in the Solomon Islands. Recon shows the development of both a level 4 airbase and a level 4 port at Shortlands with over 60 AC stationed there. In addition, Japan has captured several bases south of Shortlands including Tassafaronga, Lunga and the Russel Islands. Development of airfields at any of these locations could put IJN naval bombers within range of of Allied sea lanes through the New Hebrides and New Caledonia. Several US Army and USMC formations at Noumea are currently being prepped for a SOPAC offensive thrust up the Solomon Island chain. Not only do we intend to isolate/capture Shortlands but eventually we intend to neutralize Rabaul...and eventually link up with a concurrent SWPAC thrust along the NE coast of Papua New Guinea into the Admiralties. The first step of this offensive will be an amphibious assault on Japanese occupied Guadalcanal. The offensive will be known as Operation Watchtower. The timing for this offensive will be based on the availablity of USN CVs and new AKAs. As far as the CVs are concerned, CV Hornet and CV Yorktown have both completed their repairs and upgrades and are currently patrolling Hawaiian waters while training new replacement pilots. CV Saratoga will complete her upgrades in 4 days while CV Lexington will take another 33 days to complete repairs and then some 25 more days for the upgrades. Over at Sydney CV Enterprise will complete her repairs in 29 days and then will start her 4/42 upgrades. The AKs will be able to upgrade to AKAs on 6/1/42....the upgrade will take 21 days. So my best estimate for the launch of Operation Watchtower will be around the 1st week of July. Attached is a screen shot of current action in the south Pacific off Noumea. A new convoy has just made it through the IJN sub barrier off New Caledonia while multiple Allied hunter/killer ASW TFs fight to keep the sea lanes open. [image]local://upfiles/14495/699332754C4C4B2F8AE8BABC99D7577C.jpg[/image]

racndoc -> RE: IN HARM'S WAY...AE VERSION: STONEAGE(IJ) VS SPRUANCE(A) (12/1/2009 5:20:34 AM)
5/14-5/15/42 SUBS This last turn was expensive for the Allies in the south Pacific. I formed a new tanker TF at Noumea 2 turns ago that would fit dockside for unloading...no destination orders were given. This turn the tankers complete unloading and then move on their own towards Auckland with no internal or external ASW TF....the tankers are essentially defenseless. SS I-9 spots the TKs first south of Noumea and sinks TK War Sirdor and TK Elsa. SS I-21 next spots the TKs near Norfolk Island and sinks TK Sunadmiral. There are 3 TKs left in the TF...I ordered it back to Noumea but it will begin the next turn on top of SS I-21 so I dont know if any will make it back....this is by far the worst merchant disaster of the war for the Allies. Elsewhere.... SS Tautog puts a torpedo in AK Shozan Maru near Kavieng. SS Pollack sinks PB Fumi Maru near Koshiro. SS Halibut sinks PB Yoshida Maru off Iwaki....StoneAge has lost a lot of PBs recently....this has to be affecting his ASW capabilities. CHINA Quiet. BURMA Quiet. SOPAC Japan invades at Tulagi. An IJN air combat TF is spotted 500 miles east of Tulagi apparently heading towards either Luganville or Suva. US fighter and divebomber squadrons are mobilized throughout the area. [image]local://upfiles/14495/C1D85242CE0447819CCB259AA0091CBE.jpg[/image]

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