RE: Screenshots May 1943

RE: Screenshots May 1943 (Full Version)

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LargeSlowTarget -> RE: Screenshots May 1943 (1/24/2017 9:43:15 PM)
Solomons / PNG Have forgotten the air forces: Nadzab: One Oscar IIb group and Recon Talasea: 1x Val group on ASW Kavieng: 1x Val group on ASW 3x transport units Rabaul: 4x Zero groups rebuilding after Rossel Is. debacle 1x Betty group on naval search 1x Kate group on ASW 5x transport units Recon Buka: 1x Jake unit on night search [image]local://upfiles/1313/9BB380B1AB884278B133973A3BC991F9.jpg[/image]

LargeSlowTarget -> RE: Screenshots May 1943 (1/24/2017 9:44:36 PM)
CentPac Not much to see here, I just keep speedbumps in the Marshalls. [image]local://upfiles/1313/FF6F475693D94A22B7454CC99182965E.jpg[/image]

LargeSlowTarget -> RE: Screenshots May 1943 (1/25/2017 7:47:02 PM)
Shameless bump [:D] I have pimped-up the screenshots with more info about the force dispositions and intel, because a picture says more than a thousand words.

jwolf -> RE: Screenshots May 1943 (1/26/2017 1:45:59 PM)
Something I didn't notice before in your game -- Tarawa is (still??) Allied. I guess you never bothered to take it? At least, I don't remember reading of an Allied reconquest here ...

LargeSlowTarget -> RE: Screenshots May 1943 (1/31/2017 9:52:17 PM)
I have not reported all Allied reconquests. I usually do write the AAR from memory during slow times at work - often about turns done weeks ago - and apparently I forgot about Tarawa, and Nauru as well. I have occupied Tarawa early in the war, but Ed has retaken the atoll easily. I'm a bit surprised and miffed that level-4 forts have no effect, my Naval Guard units in the Gilberts and now the Marshalls simply get steamrolled after minimal Allied pre-invasion preparations. Some bombing attacks and a cruiser bombardment the day of the landing usually weaken my garrison forces enough to allow the landing forces to cut through the defenders like a hot knife through butter...

LargeSlowTarget -> RE: Screenshots May 1943 (2/22/2017 4:45:00 PM)
Two weeks have gone by, game date May 24th, 1943 NoPac A small SAG composed of two Omaha class CL and four DDs has attacked the Kuriles. My naval search and my sub pickets saw them coming more than a day out. I figured they were heading for Paramushiro, so I have ordered the auxiliaries (AS, ACMs) to clear that port and seek shelter at neighboring Onnekotan-jima. Well, they managed to run right into the path of the onrushing enemy who was in fact targeting Onnekotan-jima... Scratch the Northern Area auxiliaries. My picket sub now need to return to Hakodate for replenishment. Bombardment damage was light, there isn't much to hit up there except trenches and fortifications. The same TF is now busy chasing my surface picket line extending from halfway between Paramushirop and Attu down to the vicinity of Marcus Is. Apparently Ed has plan in the North, or at least pretends so. Just in case, I'm sending some elderly cruisers to the North Pac area. Let's see if we can get a surface clash. CentPac The days of the Marshalls are numbered, Wotje and other bases are being bombed heavily and Paramarines have captured undefended Namorik atoll. The outer Marshalls are being left to their fate. I am busy preparing Ponape and Kusaie, FTing supplies, evacuating unneeded base forces and reuniting subunit splinters left from the chaotic evacuation of the Gilberts. Kusaie and Ponape each have three Naval Guard units, CD guns, even tanks, and fort level 4 and rising. They may hold a day longer than the other atolls. SoPac The pressure on Rabaul is rising every turn. Vella Lavella has been lost and is already housing enemy fighters. Enemy DDs and subs are hunting barges south of Rabaul mercilessly, nothing gets through to the Shortlands which are short of supplies. Woodlark has been invaded and will fall next turn. I have Betties, Kates and Vals on night attack, of course they hit nothing. I'm shifting land forces while I still can. Milne Bay is exposed, the division holding it has been replaced by two expendable South Sea Garrison units. Two of three Bde at Port Moresby are crossing the Owen Stanleys to reinforce Buna, the third brigade will follow as soon as I can find expendables for Port Moresby. The main line of resistance will be the Lae-Umboi-Gasmata-Rabaul-Kavieng area, with two Army divisions and a division equivalent of Navy troops in place. Four Zero groups protect Rabaul and the coastal convoys. The big fear is an amphib move into the rear, Manus and the coast of PNG is held only by base forces. Northern Oz Four DDs have bombarded Bathurst Island off Darwin - but there is nothing there. Of course, there should be a garrison since it is a potential size 5 airbase and well within FT range of Gove. But no ground forces available... The garrison Bde that I wanted to use at Bathurst is still withdrawing from Daly Waters towards Wyndham - but it is slowly being destroyed by multiple 4E and 2E bomber strikes from Groote Eylandt and Gove. No biggie, it is scheduled to withdraw in a few months.I could not do anything against it anyway, since I have no fighters to spare to fly LRCAP. As a consequence, I have evacuated all base forces from the Darwin area under cover of KB. What fighters are available have been sent to Broome in order to sweep Corunna Downs which is now a level-1 base - I only have a chance against weak enemies... Two groups of A6M5 and two groups of Oscar IIa manage to obtain roughly equal losses against enemy CAP composed of F4F-4, Kittyhawks III and Spitfire VC. KB is at Koepang, doing plane maintenance. Never paid much attention to this, but finding that half the planes were in the 60+ range may help explain the less than stellar performance in the past. The BBs of Combined Fleet are waiting for enemy LCUs entering either Port Hedland or Darwin. Musashi will enter service in less than 40 days to add more umph. Koepang is a bit exposed to a carrier raid, but I have air search and picket subs out into the IO. THe other fear is an invasion of Java / Sumatra or a carrier raid against Palembang. Burma With my first group of Georges filled-out, I have launched a sweep offensive against Akyab. Heavy CAP as expected, including Corsairs. George is doing ok but the Zeroes, Tojos and Oscar IIIa thrown into the fight do less well. Oscar IIb and Tony groups held in reserve to CAP Magwe. Two rounds of sweeps, and I need to stand-down the armarda for at least a week to pull and repair replacement airframes. Small consolation - the sweeps allowed a naval strike group of Vals and Kates to attack at Cox'S Bazar against weak CAP and to sink two AKs and an escort. China Bombardments continue at Changsha and Chunking, while reinforcements continue the slow slog from Lanchow. I own five out of six hexes around Chungking - the last enemy hex contains a stack of eleven units. I am not sure if I should completely surround Chungking before attacking in order to destroy the garrison - or if it isn't a better idea to leave a retreat path for the enemy. It might be easier to capture the city if the enemy can retreat - I can still destroy them later in the open. Any opinions?

LargeSlowTarget -> RE: Screenshots May 1943 (2/24/2017 6:59:42 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: LargeSlowTarget Enemy DDs and subs are hunting barges south of Rabaul mercilessly, nothing gets through to the Shortlands which are short of supplies. Mmh, there seem to be traitors of dubious loyalty at work: LB-1004 sinks.... CPT O'Neill T. has been KILLED

jwolf -> RE: Screenshots May 1943 (2/24/2017 1:53:35 PM)
??? That was one of your captains? How?

GetAssista -> RE: Screenshots May 1943 (3/8/2017 9:08:06 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: LargeSlowTarget I am not sure if I should completely surround Chungking before attacking in order to destroy the garrison - or if it isn't a better idea to leave a retreat path for the enemy. It might be easier to capture the city if the enemy can retreat - I can still destroy them later in the open. Any opinions? There are pros and cons: Pros being you need 2:1 with 0 forts to capture CK, not the total extermination. Cons being you need to keep an open path to other Chinese base as a retreat route, risking supply inflow into CK and runaways/reinforcements. Most of AARs encircle and siege CK because this allows to relatively easily mop up the rest of China and then come concentrate on the siege. Especially if stacking limits are in place. Choice is yours, it is not obvious. If you want to try evicting Chinese from CK, better close all hexsides except southern one, then when you are ready for final push move your units to open the path to Kweiyang and try minimize supply inflow to this area by capturing Kunming and cutting other roads (not quick or easy). Yes, sigpicture made me wander here [:D]

Jorge_Stanbury -> RE: Screenshots May 1943 (3/8/2017 9:28:25 PM)
thanks for the screenshots, this will really help my Japanese game... I am still in 42, but nowhere near the aircraft production #s you are showing

LargeSlowTarget -> RE: Screenshots May 1943 (3/28/2017 12:30:23 PM)
Oh, so I do have some "followers" - thanks for dropping in [:)] quote: ORIGINAL: jwolf ??? That was one of your captains? How? Apparently a database glitch - or the return of the "leader bug" of Classic WitP fame. quote: ORIGINAL: GetAssista Yes, sigpicture made me wander here [:D] Sex sells! [;)] Thanks for your comment. I'm afraid the forts are pretty high in CK, so I will leave one hexside to the south of CK open and try to push the defenders out. However, I will try to seal-off the "retreat hex" before launching the assault on CK. quote: ORIGINAL: Jorge_Stanbury thanks for the screenshots, this will really help my Japanese game... I am still in 42, but nowhere near the aircraft production #s you are showing I'm constantly torn between "I will crash the economy with too much industries expansions" and "I need to expand, production barely keeps ahead of losses". I will not expand further, I'm already lacking fuel for the HI - over the past few turns the HI pool has dropped like a stone while waiting for the next tanker convoy to arrive. Supplies are rather short as well. Guess I have shipped out too much supplies during the early war offensives - to have it spoiling away on the dots and small bases of the invasion sites. And now to something completely different: A turn (i.e. two days) ago my naval search spotted three TFs in the Bay of Bengal to the west of the Andamans Is. - including a CVE and a couple of AKs plus escorts. Could be a diversion to draw my carriers away from Northern Oz, could be the real McCoy - an invasion to flank Burma. This turn showed the truth - the Navy and the Marines are coming, and I'm afraid they are there to stay. [image]local://upfiles/1313/B5043B838A2B4C02BC74B2459EC65F83.jpg[/image] Excellent move by Ed! I was aware of the possibility and the danger - but Japan cannot be strong everywhere, and Sumatra, Java, the Marianas and the Kuriles need to be defended as well... This changes the entire game - suddenly Rabaul, Darwin and Port Hedland have lost much of their importance. I am forced to curtail ops elsewhere and to launch a counter-attack. A big carrier clash near Port BLair seems to be inevitable. I was hoping to prolong the defense of Darwin and Port Hedland by the presence of Combined Fleet, esp. BB bombardments as soon as the Allied land forces reach the coastal bases. Now I will have to pull back from Oz, leaving only speed-bumps. A pull-back from Northern and Central Burma might be prudent as well, further landings between Rangoon and Tavoy would threaten to cut-off a large part of the IJA engaged in Burma. It's starting to get interesting again...

PaxMondo -> RE: Screenshots May 1943 (3/28/2017 12:50:06 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: LargeSlowTarget Two weeks have gone by, game date May 24th, 1943 NoPac A small SAG composed of two Omaha class CL and four DDs has attacked the Kuriles. My naval search and my sub pickets saw them coming more than a day out. I figured they were heading for Paramushiro, so I have ordered the auxiliaries (AS, ACMs) to clear that port and seek shelter at neighboring Onnekotan-jima. Well, they managed to run right into the path of the onrushing enemy who was in fact targeting Onnekotan-jima... Scratch the Northern Area auxiliaries. My picket sub now need to return to Hakodate for replenishment. Bombardment damage was light, there isn't much to hit up there except trenches and fortifications. The same TF is now busy chasing my surface picket line extending from halfway between Paramushirop and Attu down to the vicinity of Marcus Is. Apparently Ed has plan in the North, or at least pretends so. Just in case, I'm sending some elderly cruisers to the North Pac area. Let's see if we can get a surface clash. I like to use Nells up there in a NavSearch/Patrol mode. Pilots with high NavSearch skill. They work quite well and the range of the 2nd Nell is almost that of Mavis ... quote: ORIGINAL: LargeSlowTarget China Bombardments continue at Changsha and Chunking, while reinforcements continue the slow slog from Lanchow. I own five out of six hexes around Chungking - the last enemy hex contains a stack of eleven units. I am not sure if I should completely surround Chungking before attacking in order to destroy the garrison - or if it isn't a better idea to leave a retreat path for the enemy. It might be easier to capture the city if the enemy can retreat - I can still destroy them later in the open. Any opinions? Oft debated and there are AAR's going both ways successfully. Just be sure to use one of the clear terrain hexes to the north.

PaxMondo -> RE: Burma battles (3/29/2017 12:15:18 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: LargeSlowTarget Industry screens [image]local://upfiles/1313/98657483662847CE9AA277C6E2D7DBC2.jpg[/image] LST, My only input here is that you need to try and better balance your AC vs Engine factory size. EX: ha-45 = 160 Will that be enough for the George and Frank builds you plan? Ha-33 = 250 There is a LONG list of aircraft using this, several of them multi-engine. And be cautious about building factories. You already have ~2000 engine factories built, but it isn't clear that those are sized right to support your likely future builds. As you mention you are short on supply. Leaving '43 a good target is about 6M supply in the empire ...

LargeSlowTarget -> RE: Burma battles (3/30/2017 1:49:51 AM)
Hi Pax, it is the first time I play into 1943 with PDU off, and I have no clue how many future reinforcement air groups will upgrade to what plane model - so planing future builds is difficult for me. However, being largely clueless might reflect historical realities for the Japanese side - being a "historic style" player, this adds "flavor" to the game [:)]. I plan to switch the Ha-60 engines to Ha-45 when the early Judies and Tonies switch to the models with other engines. The need for Ha-35 will diminish with a number of Zero and Oscar groups switching to Franks, Jacks and Georges. Big drop in the need for Ha-35 expected when the A6M8 enters service. So first some and then most Ha-35 factories will convert to Ha-32/Ha-33. Btw, my production screenshot is from Dec 1942 - in the meantime I have stockpiled a thousand Ha-45 engines. There is only one George-1 group on the map and no reinforcements coming for months, so only one George-1 factory is using the Ha-45 at the moment - and it has been turned off after the pools reached 40 planes. So for this engine, I have a buffer. I admit that the engine management is an aspect of the game I do not relish...

LargeSlowTarget -> RE: Burma battles (4/12/2017 4:43:36 PM)
Game date June 19th, 1943. Port Blair has been captured after what can hardly be qualified as token resistance. I start wondering what fortifications are good for - at Port Blair, in the Gilberts, the Marshalls and the Solomons I see time and again my positions with fort level 4 being overrun in the first attack and with hardly any losses to the enemy. I don't expect outnumbered and outgunned defenders to hold-out against superior attacking forces, but at least to cause some losses - but the attackers usually suffer only disablement of devices in the low single-digit range, if any. But well, can't be helped. The other bad news is an invasion of neighboring Andaman Is. by two-thirds of an Indian Division - I expect that base to fall quickly as well. In reaction to the Allied offensive in the Andamans Is. area, Japanese forces have received orders to redeploy. As a precaution, the Burma Area Army is pulling back closer to Rangoon. The Southern Burma Coast is only lightly held and an enemy invasion at Moulmein or Tavoy would spell disaster for the large chunk of the IJA currently engaged in Burma. The Air forces will regroup the long-legged planes - Zero, George and Oscar III - in the Rabaul-Moulmein area, the short-legged planes like the Tonies and Tojos will remain at Magwe. Base forces are shifting accordingly. The IJA divisions holding the front in the Western Burma jungles between the Irrawaddy and just south of Akyab have been ordered to split and leave one Bde in place as covering forces and to retreat with the other brigades and the supporting elements to Magwe and Mandalay, where a quick retreat towards Moulmein will be possible if necessary. In Northern Burma. three Thai divisions and a IJA garrison brigade have been ordered to defend Warazup, Mytkyina, Katha and Bhamo to the death. A fourth Thai division will defend Lashio in Eastern Burma. One IJA Bde in front of Paoshan will remain in place as well, to block the Burma / Ledo Roads for as long as possible. The other IJA units - one ID and three Regiments of an incomplete division - guarding the Chindwin between Mandalay and Mytkyina have been ordered to abandon the line and to move to Rangoon, where they will join another incomplete division to secure the Rabaul - Moulmein - Tavoy area. The incomplete units will re-unite with their missing recon, engineer and arty elements which have been serving in China resp. got activated recently in Korea - they will be rushed to Singers in the coming days and then will either move to Rangoon by ship or by rail / road via Bangkok - that depends on the outcome of the carrier battle that seems to be inevitable. The Allied dogs are enjoying their free reign in the Indian Ocean. Since Port Blair is already able to provide CAP - the Allied engineers have repaired and extended the airstrip to size 2 in a matter of hours - the Allied CVs have left covering positions near Port Blair and have gone south on a sight-seeing tour off Northern Sumatra (naval search reports between 9 and 15 carriers - this cannot be true, but apparently all available Allied fleet carriers are present). This was another surprise, from past experiences with the behavior of the enemy CIC I would have expected a more prudent approach (the lesson of the Truk raid has been forgotten, it seems...). In the past two days Allied carrier strikes have attacked two convoys of small tankers and small freighters respectively at Medan, sinking everything but a DD. They have also hit the oil production, causing 87 points of damage. No air defense in place - the Medan base forces and AA units have been strat-moved to reinforce Sabang two turns earlier... These forces will double-back, but in the meantime two fighter groups rushed to Medan will have to do emergency CAP without AV support. Local commanders are grumbling about inept High Command and its stupid orders... Well, High Command has ordered reinforcements from all over the Empire to concentrate at Singers, with the hope of a counter-offensive in mind. Port Blair puts Palembang in heavy bomber range - it must be suppressed and retaken if possible. Combined Fleet has finished business in the Darwin area, covering the withdrawal of the main elements of the Darwin garrison to Koepang. Some air raids and bombardments have been conducted against Bathurst Island in order to suppress the airfield and to provide some training to carrier aviators - however, with enemy CAP already in place, the carrier strikes have not been milk runs. KB will have to replenish sorties, airframes and pilots at Singers before facing the Allied Death Star - if the carriers get to Singers. According to air ASW, the area between Koepang and Sorabaja is alive with enemy subs... In this context I should report that CV Hiyo has arrived at Singers under heavy escort at the beginning of the month and the shipyard is busy fixing 8 points sys damage and 57 point of major floatation damage - will take 5 months. Air groups from as far as Rabaul and the Home Islands have received orders to transfer in the direction of Rangoon, convoys are busy picking-up base forces no longer needed at the vacant airstrips in order to provide AV support in the new battle zone. Supply convoys have been redirected to Bangkok and Singers. All this will of course further weaken the defenses of Port Hedland, Darwin and the Solomons / PNG area - but Japan has no choice, it cannot be strong everywhere. Speaking of the other areas: At Port Hedland it is calm, just sweeps sparing with CAP over Coruna Downs, with a dozen Oscars IIb being downed by P-40Ks for nothing to show for. The groups engaged cannot upgrade to armoured Oscar IIIs due to PDU off - and a lack of Oscar III airframes in the pools (I'm building 240 or so a month but it will take months to produce enough to upgrade all groups). In the Solomons, Buin has been invaded and captured with ease, only a small Naval Guard unit defending. At Torokina a third of the Imperial Guards division is waiting behind level-4 forts - but as stated above, I start to lose faith in fortifications. Enemy air activity is heavy, and I see no point in contesting the skies over my frontline bases - against Corsairs, my Zeroes would only serve as cannon-fodder. Sometimes PDU off is a curse, I did stop the production of George because at the moment only one air group can actually use it. Worse for the Jack - I have R&D it into production, just to realize that there is no unit in sight that is allowed to fly it Grump. In the Marshalls, Ailinglaplap has been lost as well, Ed is grabbing the atolls one by one with heavy LBA support, cruiser bombardments and what appears to be CVE cover. I hope he will not dare to attack Ponape, Truk or the Marianas without fleet CV cover - so as long as the main CV fleet is engaged in the IO, the CentPac should be "safe". I am hard-pressed to accumulate PPs to buy-out divisions from Kwangtung Army to garrison the Marianas. I have four divisions sitting at Port Arthur, fully prepped for the main Marianas bases, waiting to be transferred. But somehow there is always a more pressing need to spend PPs for this or that - restricted air units must be purchased because only them are permitted by PDU off to fly the latest airframes, destroyed LCUs need to be bought back, division elements of infantry units bought-out earlier becoming available, leader changes, base HQ changes etc. ... The enemy cruiser SAG operating in the North Pacific has disappeared - apparently fearing my cruiser SAG patrolling in the Kuriles area. Transport planes are busy lifting restricted infantry elements to the Kuriles Islands - I have changed the HQ the outermost bases are belonging to (this is cheaper in PP terms than buying-out the LCUs). In China, the usual bombing and bombardment of Chungking and bombardment of Changsha, the combined mass of Combat Eng units is marching towards the capital.

LargeSlowTarget -> RE: Burma battles (4/12/2017 8:58:16 PM)
Latest turn received - good news for immediate press release: The fighters I have sent to Medan despite temporary absence of AV support at this base have done great. Units engaged: 251 KU S-1 with 45 A6M5, avg exp 67 253 Ku S-1 with 36 A6M5, avg exp 66 Yokosuka Ku S-2 with 36 N1K1-J, avg exp 79 AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Jun 19, 43 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on Medan , at 46,76 Weather in hex: Overcast Raid detected at 47 NM, estimated altitude 18,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 20 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M5 Zero x 64 N1K1-J George x 34 Allied aircraft F6F-3 Hellcat x 26 Japanese aircraft losses A6M5 Zero: 1 destroyed Allied aircraft losses F6F-3 Hellcat: 12 destroyed -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on Medan , at 46,76 Weather in hex: Overcast Raid detected at 27 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 10 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M5 Zero x 55 N1K1-J George x 34 Allied aircraft F6F-3 Hellcat x 40 SBD-3 Dauntless x 83 TBF-1 Avenger x 54 No Japanese losses Allied aircraft losses F6F-3 Hellcat: 3 destroyed SBD-3 Dauntless: 9 destroyed, 5 damaged TBF-1 Avenger: 5 destroyed, 1 damaged Oil hits 20 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on Medan , at 46,76 Weather in hex: Overcast Raid spotted at 7 NM, estimated altitude 3,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 3 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M5 Zero x 48 N1K1-J George x 31 Allied aircraft TBF-1 Avenger x 18 No Japanese losses Allied aircraft losses TBF-1 Avenger: 3 destroyed, 4 damaged Oil hits 7 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Afternoon Air attack on Medan , at 46,76 Weather in hex: Heavy cloud Raid detected at 35 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 13 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M5 Zero x 34 N1K1-J George x 13 Allied aircraft F6F-3 Hellcat x 21 SBD-3 Dauntless x 29 Japanese aircraft losses A6M5 Zero: 2 destroyed N1K1-J George: 1 destroyed Allied aircraft losses F6F-3 Hellcat: 4 destroyed SBD-3 Dauntless: 17 destroyed SBD-3 Dauntless: 1 destroyed by flak -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Afternoon Air attack on Medan , at 46,76 Weather in hex: Heavy cloud Raid detected at 20 NM, estimated altitude 4,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 9 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M5 Zero x 14 N1K1-J George x 9 Allied aircraft F6F-3 Hellcat x 11 TBF-1 Avenger x 18 Japanese aircraft losses N1K1-J George: 1 destroyed Allied aircraft losses TBF-1 Avenger: 10 destroyed, 5 damaged Oil hits 7 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Jun 20, 43 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on Medan , at 46,76 Weather in hex: Light rain Raid detected at 38 NM, estimated altitude 3,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 14 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M5 Zero x 43 N1K1-J George x 34 Allied aircraft F6F-3 Hellcat x 34 SBD-3 Dauntless x 75 TBF-1 Avenger x 64 Japanese aircraft losses N1K1-J George: 1 destroyed Allied aircraft losses F6F-3 Hellcat: 7 destroyed SBD-3 Dauntless: 8 destroyed, 5 damaged TBF-1 Avenger: 8 destroyed, 6 damaged Oil hits 15 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Afternoon Air attack on Medan , at 46,76 Weather in hex: Clear sky Raid detected at 38 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 14 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M5 Zero x 24 N1K1-J George x 12 Allied aircraft Martlet IV x 2 F6F-3 Hellcat x 4 SBD-3 Dauntless x 8 No Japanese losses Allied aircraft losses SBD-3 Dauntless: 2 destroyed -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Afternoon Air attack on Medan , at 46,76 Weather in hex: Clear sky Raid spotted at 3 NM, estimated altitude 2,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 1 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M5 Zero x 22 N1K1-J George x 12 Allied aircraft F6F-3 Hellcat x 7 TBF-1 Avenger x 6 No Japanese losses Allied aircraft losses F6F-3 Hellcat: 1 destroyed TBF-1 Avenger: 4 destroyed Totals: 27 Hellcats 37 Dauntless 30 Avengers vs. 3 Zeros 3 Georges Banzai! OK, the oil hits still hurt a lot, but I have seen so many lopsided results in the air in favour of the Allies that this loss ratio really lifts morale. After this carnage, Ed has been entitled to have some good luck: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sub attack near Sinabang at 40,75 Japanese Ships SS I-27, hits 9, heavy damage > survived with 65 float dmg Allied Ships CV Saratoga BB South Dakota CA Wichita CA Portland CL Montpelier CLAA Atlanta DD LaVallette DD Lamson DD Caldwell DD Barton DD Farenholt SS I-27 launches 6 torpedoes at CV Saratoga > all missed! [:(] DD Lamson fails to find sub and abandons search DD Caldwell fails to find sub and abandons search DD Barton fails to find sub and abandons search DD Farenholt fails to find sub, continues to search... DD Farenholt fails to find sub, continues to search... DD Farenholt attacking submerged sub .... Escort abandons search for sub

PaxMondo -> RE: Burma battles (4/13/2017 2:07:46 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: LargeSlowTarget Hi Pax, it is the first time I play into 1943 with PDU off, and I have no clue how many future reinforcement air groups will upgrade to what plane model - so planing future builds is difficult for me. However, being largely clueless might reflect historical realities for the Japanese side - being a "historic style" player, this adds "flavor" to the game [:)]. I plan to switch the Ha-60 engines to Ha-45 when the early Judies and Tonies switch to the models with other engines. The need for Ha-35 will diminish with a number of Zero and Oscar groups switching to Franks, Jacks and Georges. Big drop in the need for Ha-35 expected when the A6M8 enters service. So first some and then most Ha-35 factories will convert to Ha-32/Ha-33. Btw, my production screenshot is from Dec 1942 - in the meantime I have stockpiled a thousand Ha-45 engines. There is only one George-1 group on the map and no reinforcements coming for months, so only one George-1 factory is using the Ha-45 at the moment - and it has been turned off after the pools reached 40 planes. So for this engine, I have a buffer. I admit that the engine management is an aspect of the game I do not relish... Don't over think it if you don't have a plan. The truth is that you will be using mostly A6M and Ki-43 the whole game. Yes, some few groups do upgrade to other models, but few and then most of those have sequences to be followed which delay the date. So, build your best pre-war models, don't over spend on RnD as the pay back is slim. You will fly: Ki-21 Sally Ki-43 Oscar Ki-46 Dinah You can use the Ki-21-Ic model to upgrade a lot of groups from 1E to 2E bombers without PP's ... do so. Then a whole lot of other models. Build and upgrade as they come along. But really you want to get to the Ki43 IV ASAP. and the final Sally/Dinah's as well. Dinah is REALLY GOOD. On the IJN side, A6M, G3M (I'm not a fan of G4M, but not a lot of difference). Good news is that almost ALL the groups will upgrade once better planes are available. Meaning D3A -> D4Y, B5N -> B6N, A6M -> A7M. so researching these makes sense as opposed the IJA side. Almost all float groups will upgrade to Jake, do so and only build it and Glen for subs. Mavis -> Emily The rest of the models are like the IJA, some groups upgrade, others not, timing is terrible. As I say, if you don't have a plan, then use the above. Only 4 models to RnD ... simple. The others, build a couple of factories each, let them arrive when they do. A very few like Frank, eventually, you will be able to convert enough groups to need maybe 4x30 factories ... eventually. Most though are just 1x30 or maybe 2x30 because so few groups will upgrade.

PaxMondo -> RE: Burma battles (4/13/2017 2:15:59 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: LargeSlowTarget I plan to switch the Ha-60 engines to Ha-45 when the early Judies and Tonies switch to the models with other engines. The need for Ha-35 will diminish with a number of Zero and Oscar groups switching to Franks, Jacks and Georges. Big drop in the need for Ha-35 expected when the A6M8 enters service. So first some and then most Ha-35 factories will convert to Ha-32/Ha-33. Btw, my production screenshot is from Dec 1942 - in the meantime I have stockpiled a thousand Ha-45 engines. There is only one George-1 group on the map and no reinforcements coming for months, so only one George-1 factory is using the Ha-45 at the moment - and it has been turned off after the pools reached 40 planes. So for this engine, I have a buffer. I admit that the engine management is an aspect of the game I do not relish... Switching factories is very expensive, my plans never have a factory switch after 8dec41. At this point, just try to minimize the switching. Rationale: 1000 supply for every factory that you switch is wasted because you didn't build it right the first time .... Remember: Tony and George will never be huge runners in PDU OFF. There is only a few groups that can use them. Frank is a big user, but not until really late game ... mid '45 and beyond. A fair number of groups are stuck as Nate until '45 when they finally will upgrade. See my earlier post with more thoughts on aircraft ...

PaxMondo -> RE: Burma battles (4/13/2017 2:25:06 AM)
Another thought: I stop at A6M3a (CV units) and A6M5b (LBA units). I don't build A6M8 for two reasons: 1. engine change is too expensive for what is obtained. 2. range is too short to be of value. Can only do max range CV strike with DT's. After ~6/42 I hardly care about pilots losses, my training replaces them at a far faster pace. A6M DUR is so low, armor doesn't help much for losses. A6M5b has better ARM and range and matches or exceeds A6M8 on everything except armor. A6M3a is best range fighter IJN has ... offensive fighter

PaxMondo -> RE: Burma battles (4/13/2017 2:32:18 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: LargeSlowTarget Totals: 27 Hellcats 37 Dauntless 30 Avengers vs. 3 Zeros 3 Georges Banzai! George and A6M5 are good combo defensively. you'll wish you have more George, but use them just the way you did here; 2 A6M5 : 1 N1K1. You'll have 2 more N1K1 groups shortly if you don't already, then you get 2 more a bit later for a total of 5. I think there are yet two more after that in 45 or so. I haven't looked at a PDU OFF game in a long time, so this is all from memory. Anyway, each N1K1 allows you to create a 3 group 'pod' of killers with 2 A6M5 groups. These can handle F6F handily, most everything else ok, and only struggle against TBolts.

FeurerKrieg -> RE: Burma battles (4/13/2017 6:44:56 AM)
Nice to see some Allied frames go down.

LargeSlowTarget -> RE: Burma battles (5/18/2017 12:48:31 PM)
REPORT FOR Jun 21/22, 43 China: The assorted Combat Eng Rgt have reached the Chungking plain - a week or so to go to reach the capital. In the meantime, I have launched a flanking movement to encircle the city from the SW. quote: Ground combat at 74,45 (near Neikiang) Japanese Deliberate attack Attacking force 28151 troops, 151 guns, 275 vehicles, Assault Value = 1164 Defending force 2671 troops, 19 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 19 Japanese adjusted assault: 819 Allied adjusted defense: 15 Japanese assault odds: 54 to 1 Combat modifiers Defender: terrain(+) Attacker: Japanese ground losses: 11 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Units pursuing 4 Allied ground losses: 1531 casualties reported Squads: 29 destroyed, 1 disabled Non Combat: 63 destroyed, 28 disabled Engineers: 4 destroyed, 0 disabled Guns lost 12 (11 destroyed, 1 disabled) Units retreated 1 Units destroyed 1 Defeated Allied Units Retreating! Assaulting units: 15th Tank Regiment 19th Tank Regiment 9th Tank Regiment 8th Ind.Mixed Brigade 64th Infantry Brigade 7th Ind.Mixed Brigade 9th Ind.Mixed Brigade 23rd Tank Regiment 12th Tank Regiment 9th Armored Car Co 3rd Tank Regiment 11th Tank Regiment 1st Army Defending units: 1st Chinese Corps 51st Chinese Corps Burma: The enemy carriers off Sumatra are heading NW towards Ceylon. Almost all remaining submarines have been ordered into the area, including minelaying subs. Combined Fleet is off Java heading North, air units are flocking towards Burma and base forces are being gathered from all over the Empire to provide support. This of course will take time. The forces already available launch nuisance raids. My night-bombers actually manage to hit something at Port Blair - amazing, usually they only suffer losses with nothing to show for. quote: Japanese aircraft G4M1 Betty x 8 Allied aircraft no flights Japanese aircraft losses G4M1 Betty: 7 damaged G4M1 Betty: 1 destroyed by flak Allied aircraft losses F4U-1 Corsair: 8 damaged F4F-4 Wildcat: 9 damaged F4F-4 Wildcat: 1 destroyed on ground SB2C-1C Helldiver: 4 damaged Spitfire Vc Trop: 4 damaged Airbase hits 3 Airbase supply hits 1 Runway hits 14 The garrison on Little Andaman is being pounded by heavy bombers and the enemy is landing reinforcements. With Corsairs on CAP nearby I will not risk my precious few Betties on naval strikes outside escort range. If the base holds a little longer, I will try to counter-invade. Oz: Sweeps over Port Hedland and enemy minecraft sweeping the defensive minefields - I have left a small cruiser SAG at Koepang and will try to interfere. Not much combat power left in the area to support Port Hedland and Darwin. PNG /Solomons: Enemy forces landing at Torokina. My forces play possum. quote: Invasion Support action off Torokina (109,130) Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force 9 Coastal gun shots fired in defense. Allied Ships DD Case AK Beltrami No activity noticed on shore. My efforts to provide some air support with a LRCAP trap fail, as usual in this theater: quote: Morning Air attack on Torokina , at 109,130 Weather in hex: Light rain Raid spotted at 39 NM, estimated altitude 34,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 7 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M5 Zero x 7 Ki-43-IIIa Oscar x 7 Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 6 Allied aircraft P-38G Lightning x 13 P-39D Airacobra x 4 FM-1 Wildcat x 6 F4U-1 Corsair x 4 F6F-3 Hellcat x 18 Japanese aircraft losses A6M5 Zero: 4 destroyed Ki-43-IIIa Oscar: 2 destroyed Ki-45 KAIa Nick: 2 destroyed Allied aircraft losses FM-1 Wildcat: 1 destroyed quote: Japanese aircraft A6M5 Zero x 5 Ki-43-IIIa Oscar x 5 Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 5 Allied aircraft B-17F Fortress x 14 B-24D1 Liberator x 36 P-39D Airacobra x 4 FM-1 Wildcat x 6 F4U-1 Corsair x 3 F6F-3 Hellcat x 16 Japanese aircraft losses A6M5 Zero: 2 destroyed Ki-43-IIIa Oscar: 1 destroyed Ki-45 KAIa Nick: 3 destroyed There have been more attacks with similar results. My Rabaul-based fighters are badly mauled, over 100 planes lost this turn - and I'm sure Ed will exploit this with attacks on Rabaul of his own. Night-attacks by two Val groups on naval strikes (which hit nothing of course) shows the growing desperation - daylight attacks are futile. Even daylight fighter action is becoming an exercise in futility. 14 P-38G sweep Hansa Bay and encounter 45 Zeroes - 4 Zeros lost for 1 P-38 downed. In follow-ups, 7 P-38 against 26 Zeros kill 5 Zeros for no losses, and finally two (!) P-38s are engaged by 27 Zeroes - and get away unscratched with one Zero kill credited. B-24s follow and flatten the base and destroy 7 more Zeroes on the ground. Finally, B-25 on low naval bomb the convoy bringing reinforcements and supplies to Hansa Bay - the reason I have sent Zeroes to that place. No fighters rise in defense and several ships collect hits. A textbook attack with beautiful coordination - but I was expecting a better defense from my Zeroes outnumbering the enemy from 3:1 to almost 14:1. With these force and loss ratios, it is pointless to continue the air war. CentPac: Maloelap has been invaded and the defenders actually managed to take a few enemy squads down with them. quote: Allied Shock attack Attacking force 8606 troops, 113 guns, 136 vehicles, Assault Value = 323 Defending force 2523 troops, 35 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 28 Allied adjusted assault: 237 Japanese adjusted defense: 4 Allied assault odds: 59 to 1 (fort level 4) Allied forces CAPTURE Maloelap !!! Combat modifiers Defender: forts(+), disruption(-), experience(-) Attacker: shock(+) Japanese ground losses: 1968 casualties reported Squads: 81 destroyed, 0 disabled Non Combat: 90 destroyed, 0 disabled Engineers: 16 destroyed, 0 disabled Guns lost 41 (41 destroyed, 0 disabled) Units destroyed 3 Allied ground losses: 350 casualties reported Squads: 13 destroyed, 23 disabled Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 0 disabled Engineers: 1 destroyed, 8 disabled Guns lost 11 (3 destroyed, 8 disabled) Vehicles lost 6 (4 destroyed, 2 disabled) Assaulting units: 37th (Sep) Infantry Regiment 22nd Marine Regiment 151st Cmbt Engineer Battalion 763rd Tank Battalion 226th Field Artillery Battalion 23rd USN Special Construction Battalion Defending units: 51st Naval Guard Unit Maloelap Naval Fortress Maloelap Base Force Kusaie bombed and running out of supplies. Roi-Namur bombed as well. Home Front: Both Zero M5b and M5c models have finished R&D within a few days from each other and are ready to start production next month. M5b is not much of an improvement, losing speed for changing one light against a heavy machine gun - and one wonders why this change requires months of research... I'm just building enough to allow upgrading to M5c - even slower but armored. Maybe the armor will help to survive a little better. REPORT FOR Jun 23/24, 43 China: Bombing and bombarding at Chungking and Changsha and the troops keep marching on... Burma: Action erupts in the hex east of Akyab with a river crossing by Indian troops. Looks like Ed is sending the cannon fodder first - movement errors indicate that more units are on the move from Akyab and the jungle to the north. I'm sure Ed is trying to tempt me to shock-attack the battered Indians - right into the reinforcements which will arrive a day behind them. Therefore, I will order only a bombardment for the next turn. quote: Ground combat at 55,45 (near Akyab) Allied Shock attack Attacking force 16879 troops, 140 guns, 224 vehicles, Assault Value = 632 Defending force 31762 troops, 389 guns, 269 vehicles, Assault Value = 859 Allied adjusted assault: 27 Japanese adjusted defense: 3833 Allied assault odds: 1 to 141 Combat modifiers Defender: terrain(+) Attacker: shock(+), disruption(-), fatigue(-), supply(-) Japanese ground losses: 30 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Allied ground losses: 4708 casualties reported Squads: 42 destroyed, 498 disabled Non Combat: 4 destroyed, 62 disabled Engineers: 5 destroyed, 81 disabled Guns lost 48 (1 destroyed, 47 disabled) Vehicles lost 35 (3 destroyed, 32 disabled) Assaulting units: 7th Indian Division 46th Indian Brigade 45th Indian Brigade Defending units: 5th Division 33rd Division 22nd Field AA Machinecannon Company 2nd Area Army 42nd Ind.AA Gun Co 21st Medium Field Artillery Battalion 14th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion 15th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion 1st Art.Mortar Regiment 41st Ind.AA Gun Co 3rd Medium Field Artillery Regiment 51st Field AA Battalion 17th Medium Field Artillery Regiment Bombing and bombarding at Little Andaman - don't understand what Ed is waiting for to deliberate-attack the single garrison Bde and single Const Bn. He has 2/3 of a division, a tank Bn, a Cmbt Eng Rgt and three arty Bns on hand. Probably waiting for reinforcements which are reported landing from LSTs. Ed is playing it safely it seems. My submarines chasing the enemy CV fleet finally have some luck : quote: Sub attack near Koggala at 30,55 Japanese Ships SS I-11, hits 5 Allied Ships CV Lexington, Torpedo hits 1 BB Indiana CA Astoria CA Northampton CL Cleveland CLAA Juneau DD Bailey DD Balch DD Reid DD Mugford DD Bagley SS I-11 launches 6 torpedoes at CV Lexington DD Balch fails to find sub and abandons search DD Reid fails to find sub and abandons search DD Mugford fails to find sub, continues to search... DD Bagley attacking submerged sub .... DD Mugford fails to find sub and abandons search DD Bagley attacking submerged sub .... DD Bagley fails to find sub, continues to search... DD Bagley fails to find sub, continues to search... Escort abandons search for sub Knowing my luck, Lady Lex has probably suffered just a dent in the torpedo bulges... Closer to Port Blair, I lost a sub, but only after a spirited action. Missing the DD and being damaged and forced to surface by the ASW counter-attack, the sub managed to shell and torpedo the TK before sinking. Yamato-damashii! quote: Submarine attack near Port Blair at 46,58 Japanese Ships SS RO-64, hits 25, heavy damage Allied Ships DD Rotherham TK Pendopo, Shell hits 3, Torpedo hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage SS RO-64 launches 2 torpedoes at DD Rotherham RO-64 bottoming out .... DD Rotherham fails to find sub, continues to search... DD Rotherham attacking submerged sub .... DD Rotherham fails to find sub, continues to search... DD Rotherham attacking submerged sub .... SS RO-64 forced to surface! TK Pendopo firing on surfaced sub .... TK Pendopo firing on surfaced sub .... TK Pendopo firing on surfaced sub .... TK Pendopo firing on surfaced sub .... DD Rotherham firing on surfaced sub .... TK Pendopo firing on surfaced sub .... DD Rotherham firing on surfaced sub .... TK Pendopo firing on surfaced sub .... DD Rotherham firing on surfaced sub .... TK Pendopo firing on surfaced sub .... Sub slips beneath the waves PNG / Solomons: Sure as hell, Ed sent P-38 sweepers after my weakened fighters at Rabaul: quote: Morning Air attack on Rabaul , at 106,125 Weather in hex: Severe storms Raid detected at 30 NM, estimated altitude 34,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 6 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M5 Zero x 14 Ki-43-IIIa Oscar x 7 Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 7 Allied aircraft P-38G Lightning x 20 Japanese aircraft losses Ki-43-IIIa Oscar: 1 destroyed Ki-45 KAIa Nick: 2 destroyed No Allied losses Aircraft Attacking: 15 x P-38G Lightning sweeping at 30000 feet Mmh, need to check the mnvr bands, we have a house rule limiting sweeps to the second-best mnvr band. More enemy reinforcements landing at Torokina (against a few dozen coastal gun shots which do not even annoy the enemy), while LBA continues to pound the base and its defenders. Supply stockpiles are burning and I don't have any hopes for a prolonged defense - Ed has brought too much firepower to the party. But well, the aim was to delay and to buy time by forcing him to conduct sizeable ops. The Kavieng-Rabaul-Lae line should delay some more. With the balance of his carriers supporting the Andamans adventure, I don't think he will try an end-around to capture bases in my rear along the PNG coast or the Marianas. However, new CV and CVLs are coming soon and I have nothing left in the Pacific that could deal with an enemy CAG. But well, there is no oil in the CentPac, so the ground forces available will have to delay as best they can. What limited LBA is left will offer token resistance - like my Vals on night naval attack which attack the convoys of Torokina but never hit anything. Not much naval action recently, I have few barges left for Ed's roaming DDs to destroy. US submarines have had some success, but there was also a heartwarming little action off Manus by the courageous crew of a xAKL fighting for their lives: quote: Sub attack near Rambutyo at 102,122 Japanese Ships xAKL Suez Maru, Shell hits 19 Allied Ships SS Plunger, hits 5 SS Plunger attacking on the surface Alford I. decides to submerge SS Plunger due to damage REPORT FOR Jun 25/26, 43 China: My bombers in China are suffering from low moral, although they are doing "milk runs", opposed only by intermittent AA, and are set to 20% rest. I have ordered a stand-down for everything below 60 moral to let them recover for the "big push" when the Combat Engineers finally arrive. Especially the Ki-51 units seem to be uninspired. The only planes that have some effect are the 2E types. The Ki-51s are next to useless (unless the terrain is clear), they rarely hit anything. All they do is make the enemy use supplies for AA. Don't think this is cost-effective, considering supply use on my side for the bombing runs and the replacement aircraft necessary as AA claims victims. I think I will send them all to training bases in the rear and start training rookies in low naval attack skills. Burma : Probing bombardments along the Burma front - Ed must have realized I have pulled out and left only speedbumps up front. He will surely start to push soon. Helldivers from Port Blair catch two convoys hugging the coast near Tavoy - 8 AKs damaged, but only AK Hokkai Maru sunk. The crippled survivors disband at Tavoy for emergency repairs. THe Allied forces finally attacked and captured Little Andaman with the help of lots of LBA and cruiser bombardment. Remnants of the garrison hide in the jungle. I wanted to reinforce the island, but too late. Now I am torn - shall I counter-invade? I shouldn't reinforce failure, but I cannot let Ed do what he wants either. My forces immediately available are probably too weak, but waiting to assemble more assets will give Ed the time to consolidate. And of course, all depends on the outcome of the carrier clash that is looming. Against Hellcats, I have little confidence about the outcome. In short, anything I can do will get me killed, including doing nothing. The agony of choice - some more soul-searchign is required. In the meantime, I try to hurt the Allies with all means at my disposal: quote: TF 436 encounters mine field at Little Andaman (44,59) Allied Ships DD Redoubt, Mine hits 1, on fire, heavy damage quote: Sub attack near Port Blair at 45,58 Japanese Ships SS I-160 Allied Ships CA Dorsetshire, Torpedo hits 1 CA Shropshire CL Newcastle DD Nizam DD Isaac Sweers Oz: Darwin repeatedly bombed by 4Es and Bathurst Island is being reinforced. Ground forces are advancing in the direction of Port Hedland. With Combined Fleet and most air assets heading to Burma, little support can be given. PNG / Solomons: Torokina falls to a reinforced Marine division, aided by LBA and naval bombardments. Being low on supplies did not help either - roaming DDs sink barges left and right and what is left untouched then falls prey to low-level strikes by Avengers, or prowling submarines. With Corsairs and P-38s present, I have little prospects of helping the defenders at Torokina - for the last tries I have suffered heavy losses with very little to show for. Meanwhile, a hundred airframes of the first George and Jack models languish in the pool, because there are no groups that are allowed to fly them... The only outfit allowed to fly Georges is needed even more urgently in Burma. Now, with Torokina gone, Rabaul is at the mercy of short-range fighters. I have started to pull-out transport, recon and search planes and unnecessary "eaters" on the ground. I'm running short of the precious DMS types - SS Plunger sank DMS W-23 at Manus. These ships are very useful in areas with many adjacent dot bases and shipping bottlenecks because they sweep the hex they are in and the six hexes around them when on patrol. Plus they are needed for invasion convoys. I have only two or three left. Furthermore, I have converted too many xAKLs to PBs instead of AMc. REPORTS FOR Jun 27/28, 43 China: Efforts to close the last remaining retreat path from Chungking continue: quote: Ground combat at 75,46 (near Chungking) Japanese Deliberate attack Attacking force 18547 troops, 179 guns, 674 vehicles, Assault Value = 842 Defending force 19920 troops, 30 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 581 Japanese adjusted assault: 441 Allied adjusted defense: 196 Japanese assault odds: 2 to 1 Combat modifiers Defender: terrain(+), fatigue(-), experience(-), supply(-) Attacker: Japanese ground losses: 222 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 26 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 15 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled Allied ground losses: 5691 casualties reported Squads: 127 destroyed, 39 disabled Non Combat: 225 destroyed, 49 disabled Engineers: 5 destroyed, 0 disabled Guns lost 8 (8 destroyed, 0 disabled) Units retreated 6 Defeated Allied Units Retreating! Assaulting units: 9th Tank Regiment 3rd Tank Division 3rd Tank Regiment 59th Division 12th Tank Regiment 19th Tank Regiment Defending units: 42nd Chinese Corps 1st Chinese Corps 75th Chinese Corps 34th Separate Brigade 17th Group Army 10th Group Army 16th Construction Regiment One valiant Chinese unit did not retreat and paid the price the second day: quote: Ground combat at 75,46 (near Chungking) Japanese Deliberate attack Attacking force 18335 troops, 179 guns, 674 vehicles, Assault Value = 826 Defending force 822 troops, 4 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1 Japanese adjusted assault: 402 Allied adjusted defense: 1 Japanese assault odds: 402 to 1 Combat modifiers Defender: terrain(+), experience(-), supply(-) Attacker: Allied ground losses: 1216 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Non Combat: 118 destroyed, 0 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Guns lost 4 (4 destroyed, 0 disabled) Units destroyed 1 Assaulting units: 3rd Tank Regiment 9th Tank Regiment 59th Division 3rd Tank Division 12th Tank Regiment 19th Tank Regiment Defending units: 1st Chinese Corps Burma: On the land front, no enemy reinforcements show up the first day - too bad I did not shock-attack the disrupted enemy stack... quote: Ground combat at 55,45 (near Akyab) Japanese Bombardment attack Attacking force 27864 troops, 341 guns, 181 vehicles, Assault Value = 860 Defending force 12901 troops, 136 guns, 221 vehicles, Assault Value = 127 Allied ground losses: 242 casualties reported Squads: 20 destroyed, 7 disabled Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 1 disabled Engineers: 2 destroyed, 1 disabled Guns lost 5 (3 destroyed, 2 disabled) Vehicles lost 1 (1 destroyed, 0 disabled) Assaulting units: 5th Division 33rd Division 1st Art.Mortar Regiment 42nd Ind.AA Gun Co 31st Field AA Battalion 15th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion 2nd Area Army 21st Medium Field Artillery Battalion 3rd Medium Field Artillery Regiment 51st Field AA Battalion 41st Ind.AA Gun Co 14th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion 22nd Field AA Machinecannon Company 17th Medium Field Artillery Regiment Defending units: 7th Indian Division 46th Indian Brigade 45th Indian Brigade However, the bombardment on the second day found to freshly arrived divisions: quote: Ground combat at 55,45 (near Akyab) Japanese Bombardment attack Attacking force 27864 troops, 341 guns, 181 vehicles, Assault Value = 860 Defending force 36968 troops, 491 guns, 503 vehicles, Assault Value = 907 Japanese ground losses: 49 casualties reported Squads: 2 destroyed, 1 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Allied ground losses: 133 casualties reported Squads: 4 destroyed, 8 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Vehicles lost 3 (1 destroyed, 2 disabled) Assaulting units: 5th Division 33rd Division 3rd Medium Field Artillery Regiment 1st Art.Mortar Regiment 14th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion 41st Ind.AA Gun Co 42nd Ind.AA Gun Co 22nd Field AA Machinecannon Company 2nd Area Army 31st Field AA Battalion 15th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion 21st Medium Field Artillery Battalion 51st Field AA Battalion 17th Medium Field Artillery Regiment Defending units: 45th Indian Brigade 7th Indian Division 20th Indian Division 46th Indian Brigade 18th British Division Movement arrows indicate more enemy units can be expected. My two divisions have reached fort level 3, I hope they can hold. In the air, I have tried a sweep against Akyab in support of the ground action. First came a single group equipped with Tony Ib. Outnumbered, they suffered badly. quote: Morning Air attack on Akyab , at 54,45 Weather in hex: Light cloud Raid detected at 44 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 12 minutes Japanese aircraft Ki-61-Ib Tony x 33 Allied aircraft Hurricane IIc Trop x 38 P-39N1 Airacobra x 25 P-40K Warhawk x 60 Japanese aircraft losses Ki-61-Ib Tony: 14 destroyed Allied aircraft losses Hurricane IIc Trop: 1 destroyed P-40K Warhawk: 2 destroyed Next, my Air HQ managed a beautifully coordinated multi-group sweep - but the anticipated giant fur ball did not happen, apparently the pilots refused to engage. quote: Morning Air attack on Akyab , at 54,45 Weather in hex: Light cloud Raid detected at 154 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 42 minutes Japanese aircraft Ki-43-IIb Oscar x 76 Ki-44-IIc Tojo x 108 Allied aircraft Hurricane IIc Trop x 36 P-39N1 Airacobra x 24 P-40K Warhawk x 54 Japanese aircraft losses Ki-43-IIb Oscar: 1 destroyed Allied aircraft losses P-39N1 Airacobra: 1 destroyed P-40K Warhawk: 3 destroyed Finally, the other Tony group I have on the map showed up - to suffer the same fate than the brothers with the Ib model: quote: Morning Air attack on Akyab , at 54,45 Weather in hex: Light cloud Raid detected at 112 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 30 minutes Japanese aircraft Ki-61-Ia Tony x 38 Allied aircraft Hurricane IIc Trop x 32 P-39N1 Airacobra x 23 P-40K Warhawk x 46 Japanese aircraft losses Ki-61-Ia Tony: 10 destroyed Allied aircraft losses P-40K Warhawk: 1 destroyed Tony looks good on the paper, but apparently it is not a good sweeper. Franks are still far away... On the high seas, a lot of excitement. Combined Fleet has set up shop at Victoria Point. It is a size-1 port but well-sited to harass the Andamans Islands. Lots of auxiliaries will provide services to the fleet. Singers is too far away, Rangoon too exposed to 4E strikes, so there is not much choice. This turn the Fleet ventured out to announce their arrival. With Allied carriers last observed retiring towards Colombo, surely to replace losses from the Medan massacre, I expected some easy hunting. The first night, small SAGs attempted to clear the way to Port Blair and Little Andaman, sinking two AMc. There were also several encounters with PT boats and MGB, 17 of which were sunk. Then the big boys moved in: quote: Night Naval bombardment of Port Blair at 46,58 - Coastal Guns Fire Back! Allied aircraft no flights Allied aircraft losses F4U-1 Corsair: 86 damaged F4U-1 Corsair: 6 destroyed on ground F4F-4 Wildcat: 42 damaged F4F-4 Wildcat: 2 destroyed on ground Catalina I: 17 damaged Catalina I: 1 destroyed on ground Spitfire Vc Trop: 32 damaged Spitfire Vc Trop: 4 destroyed on ground SB2C-1C Helldiver: 50 damaged SB2C-1C Helldiver: 3 destroyed on ground Beaufighter VIf: 10 damaged Beaufighter VIf: 1 destroyed on ground 20 Coastal gun shots fired in defense. Japanese Ships BB Hyuga BB Ise BB Fuso, Shell hits 1 BB Kirishima BB Hiei CA Myoko CA Atago CA Takao CL Oyodo DD Ushio DD Wakaba DD Nenohi DD Samidare DD Kagero DD Akigumo Allied Ships AVP Orion, Shell hits 1 Allied ground losses: 625 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled Non Combat: 20 destroyed, 39 disabled Engineers: 16 destroyed, 6 disabled Guns lost 6 (2 destroyed, 4 disabled) Vehicles lost 36 (18 destroyed, 18 disabled) Airbase hits 18 Airbase supply hits 11 Runway hits 60 Port hits 2 Port fuel hits 2 F1M2 Pete acting as spotter for BB Hyuga BB Hyuga firing at Port Blair BB Ise firing at 3rd Marine Division 3rd Marine Division firing at BB Ise F1M2 Pete acting as spotter for BB Fuso BB Fuso firing at 3rd Marine Division 3rd Marine Division firing at BB Fuso BB Kirishima firing at Port Blair BB Hiei firing at 3rd Marine Division 3rd Marine Division firing at CA Myoko CA Myoko firing at 3rd Marine Division CA Atago firing at Port Blair CA Takao firing at 3rd Marine Division CL Oyodo firing at Port Blair DD Ushio firing at Port Blair DD Wakaba firing at 3rd Marine Division DD Nenohi firing at 4th USN Naval Construction Regiment DD Samidare firing at 3rd Marine Division 3rd Marine Division firing at DD Samidare DD Kagero firing at 3rd Marine Division 3rd Marine Division firing at DD Kagero DD Akigumo firing at 3rd Marine Division The airbase is about 50% damaged - nice. The second night, it was Little Andaman's turn to get pounded: quote: Night Naval bombardment of Little Andaman at 44,59 Allied aircraft no flights Allied aircraft losses PBY-5 Catalina: 2 damaged Japanese Ships BB Mutsu BB Nagato CA Kumano CA Mikuma CA Mogami DD Yamagumo DD Arashio DD Hamakaze DD Amatsukaze DD Naganami DD Takanami DD Makinami DD Yugumo Allied ground losses: 85 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 19 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled Guns lost 9 (1 destroyed, 8 disabled) Vehicles lost 12 (2 destroyed, 10 disabled) Airbase hits 8 Airbase supply hits 4 Runway hits 17 Port hits 14 Port supply hits 3 F1M2 Pete acting as spotter for BB Mutsu BB Mutsu firing at 9th Indian/A Division F1M2 Pete acting as spotter for BB Nagato BB Nagato firing at Little Andaman CA Kumano firing at Little Andaman CA Mikuma firing at 9th Indian/A Division CA Mogami firing at 9th Indian/A Division DD Yamagumo firing at 9th Indian/B Division DD Arashio firing at 9th Indian/A Division DD Hamakaze firing at 9th Indian/A Division DD Amatsukaze firing at 9th Indian/B Division DD Naganami firing at 9th Indian/A Division DD Takanami firing at 9th Indian/A Division DD Makinami firing at 9th Indian/B Division DD Yugumo firing at 9th Indian/B Division Meanwhile, the carriers were prowling between the Andamans and Ceylon. Numerous enemy TFs have been spotted in range, but only a few feeble raids were launched. First I suspected problems with my orders, but after verification all carrier strike groups had naval attack orders. Strange. quote: Morning Air attack on TF, near Little Andaman at 40,55 Weather in hex: Severe storms Raid detected at 62 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 16 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M5 Zero x 25 D4Y1 Judy x 15 Japanese aircraft losses D4Y1 Judy: 8 damaged D4Y1 Judy: 1 destroyed by flak Allied Ships CA Shropshire CL Newcastle CA Frobisher Aircraft Attacking: 3 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 2000' Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg SAP Bomb 7 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 3000' Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg SAP Bomb 4 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 1000' Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg SAP Bomb quote: Morning Air attack on TF, near Little Andaman at 39,53 Weather in hex: Clear sky Raid detected at 27 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 8 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M5 Zero x 35 B6N1 Jill x 17 Allied aircraft no flights Japanese aircraft losses B6N1 Jill: 2 damaged B6N1 Jill: 1 destroyed by flak Allied aircraft losses Walrus II: 1 destroyed Allied Ships CA Dorsetshire, Torpedo hits 4, and is sunk Aircraft Attacking: 16 x B6N1 Jill launching torpedoes at 200 feet Naval Attack: 1 x 45cm Type 91 Torp quote: Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Little Andaman at 40,55 Weather in hex: Moderate rain Raid detected at 56 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 14 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M5 Zero x 12 D4Y1 Judy x 9 Japanese aircraft losses D4Y1 Judy: 8 damaged Allied Ships CA Shropshire CA Frobisher As I said, targets were abundant, in fact there wasn't enough space in the Bay of Bengal to avoid them : quote: Night Time Surface Combat, near Little Andaman at 38,54, Range 9,000 Yards Japanese Ships CV Hiryu CV Soryu CV Shokaku CV Zuikaku CV Akagi CA Tone, Shell hits 1, on fire CLAA Tenryu DD Akizuki DD Teruzuki DD Susuzuki DD Natsushio DD Yukikaze DD Hayashio DD Isokaze DD Shiranui Allied Ships CA Shropshire CA Frobisher CL De Ruyter CL Kenya CL Newcastle DD Aaron Ward DD Nizam Task forces break off... quote: Night Time Surface Combat, near Little Andaman at 39,56, Range 25,000 Yards Japanese Ships CV Hiryu CV Soryu CV Shokaku CV Zuikaku CV Akagi CA Tone, on fire CLAA Tenryu DD Akizuki DD Teruzuki DD Susuzuki DD Natsushio DD Yukikaze DD Hayashio DD Isokaze DD Shiranui Allied Ships KV Nigella LSI(L) Glenapp Both Task Forces evade combat Next day, a few more air attacks : quote: Morning Air attack on TF, near Port Blair at 45,54 Weather in hex: Heavy cloud Raid spotted at 42 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 10 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M5 Zero x 12 D4Y1 Judy x 5 Japanese aircraft losses D4Y1 Judy: 2 damaged Allied Ships LST-21, Bomb hits 2, on fire quote: Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Trincomalee at 36,54 Weather in hex: Moderate rain Raid spotted at 39 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 9 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M5 Zero x 26 D4Y1 Judy x 18 No Japanese losses Allied Ships LSI(L) Glenapp, Bomb hits 5, heavy fires, heavy damage KV Nigella, Bomb hits 5, heavy fires, heavy damage Furthermore, three strikes were launched against PT boats, for no hits. The courtesy calls having been delivered, all TFs are heading back to the barn to prepare for the encounter with the enemy who is expected to react violently. Oz: My small SAG does not catch the minesweepers at Port Hedland but finds other victims : quote: Night Time Surface Combat, near Port Hedland at 56,129, Range 2,000 Yards Japanese Ships CL Jintsu DD Hibiki DD Ikazuchi DD Usugumo Allied Ships LST-447, Shell hits 24, and is sunk quote: Night Time Surface Combat, near Port Hedland at 56,128, Range 2,000 Yards Japanese Ships CL Jintsu DD Hibiki DD Ikazuchi DD Usugumo Allied Ships LCT-146, Shell hits 3, and is sunk Enemy bombers continue to pound Darwin. An enemy ground unit has shown up at the river east of Nookanbah, I have sent Sally to investigate and it turned out to be the 632nd Tank Destroyer Battalion - remarkable intel from 10k feet up. I will send Sally again next turn at 2k feet to deliver greetings. PNG / Solomons: The Allied bases on the islands off Milne Bay are steadily leveling up, but no attacks have been launched from this corner. That smells fishy, something unpleasant must be brewing there. Unable to supply Milne Bay, I have ordered most units to march to Buna a couple of turns ago - slow process but the only way out. A token force remains behind so that level-5 base cannot be grabbed without effort. However, denying that airbase has become pointless with Allied airfields in operation nearby. Over Bougainville, I stup... ehm, stubbornly tried another air attack, violating the principle of not doing the same thing twice in a row. Somehow the first strike finds no Corsairs but only second-line aircraft on CAP. However, my flyboys ignore the transports and attack small fry: quote: Morning Air attack on TF, near Buin at 109,131 Weather in hex: Heavy rain Raid spotted at 18 NM, estimated altitude 19,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 6 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M5 Zero x 34 D3A1 Val x 24 Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 32 Allied aircraft Boomerang C-12 x 3 F4F-4 Wildcat x 5 Japanese aircraft losses D3A1 Val: 3 damaged Allied aircraft losses Boomerang C-12: 1 destroyed F4F-4 Wildcat: 2 destroyed Allied Ships AM Swallow, Bomb hits 5, and is sunk AM Herald, Bomb hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage Two follow-up strikes found a much more robust CAP with Corsairs, more Wildcats, P-39s etc. The strikes targeted warships, which nimbly evaded the few bombers that survived CAP and AA. REPORT FOR Jun 29/30, 43 China: Lucky me - having stood-down the majority of my bombers a turn before has avoided heavy losses to a CAP trap over Chungking. Shocking that Ed has P-38s and supplies to spare for such adventures in China. Not a good sign for my upcoming attack on Chungking. quote: Morning Air attack on Chungking , at 76,45 Weather in hex: Heavy rain Raid spotted at 21 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 7 minutes Japanese aircraft Ki-43-IIb Oscar x 30 Ki-44-IIc Tojo x 12 Ki-51 Sonia x 29 Allied aircraft P-38G Lightning x 8 Japanese aircraft losses Ki-43-IIb Oscar: 1 destroyed Ki-44-IIc Tojo: 1 destroyed Ki-51 Sonia: 5 damaged No Allied losses Airbase hits 2 Airbase supply hits 2 Runway hits 22 Burma: Allied night intruders strike with impunity to inflict painful losses : quote: Night Air attack on Magwe , at 57,47 Weather in hex: Clear sky Raid detected at 31 NM, estimated altitude 5,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 9 minutes Japanese aircraft no flights Allied aircraft B-25C Mitchell x 4 Japanese aircraft losses Ki-61-Ia Tony: 3 destroyed on ground Ki-44-IIc Tojo: 2 destroyed on ground Ki-43-IIb Oscar: 1 destroyed on ground Ki-45 KAIa Nick: 1 destroyed on ground Allied aircraft losses B-25C Mitchell: 1 damaged Airbase hits 1 Runway hits 16 Aircraft Attacking: 4 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 2000 feet Airfield Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb quote: Night Air attack on Rangoon , at 54,53 Weather in hex: Thunderstorms Raid spotted at 22 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 7 minutes Japanese aircraft Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 5 Allied aircraft B-24D1 Liberator x 7 Japanese aircraft losses Ki-45 KAIa Nick: 5 damaged Ki-43-IIIa Oscar: 3 destroyed on ground G3M3 Nell: 1 destroyed on ground Allied aircraft losses B-24D1 Liberator: 1 damaged Airbase hits 2 Airbase supply hits 1 Runway hits 8 Aircraft Attacking: 7 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 5000 feet Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb They also conduct aerial minelaying with impunity at all bases from Rangoon to Phuket - CAP never engages. Here is one example : quote: Morning Air attack on Victoria Point , at 51,66 Weather in hex: Overcast Raid detected at 38 NM, estimated altitude 5,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 12 minutes Japanese aircraft N1K1-J George x 12 Allied aircraft B-24D Liberator x 10 No Japanese losses No Allied losses Aircraft Attacking: 10 x B-24D Liberator laying Mk 13 Mine from 5000 feet * CAP engaged: Yokosuka Ku S-2 with N1K1-J George (4 airborne, 8 on standby, 0 scrambling) 4 plane(s) intercepting now. Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 1000 and 33800. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 11 minutes The reward (for the Allies) comes immediately : quote: TF 149 encounters mine field at Victoria Point (51,66) Japanese Ships DD Hagikaze CVL Zuiho, Mine hits 1, on fire, heavy damage 95(76) float damage!!! Zuiho disbanded automatically in the size 1 port, but with fires still burning I doubt she will survive. Concentrating my remaining submarines in the IO is costly : quote: ASW attack near Koggala at 31,51 Japanese Ships SS I-180, hits 5, on fire, heavy damage Allied Ships DD Woodworth SS I-180 is sighted by escort I-180 diving deep .... DD Woodworth attacking submerged sub .... DD Woodworth fails to find sub, continues to search... DD Woodworth fails to find sub, continues to search... DD Woodworth attacking submerged sub .... DD Woodworth cannot reach attack position over SS I-180 Debris floats to surface in area of attack! Escort abandons search for sub SS I-180 is gone of course. I extracted some measure of revenge - after a small SAG cleared the way and sank a bunch of pesky PTs, these (freshly repaired) big boys sprinted in to give Port Blair another pounding: quote: Night Naval bombardment of Port Blair at 46,58 - Coastal Guns Fire Back! Allied aircraft no flights Allied aircraft losses Catalina I: 2 damaged Catalina I: 1 destroyed on ground F4F-4 Wildcat: 26 damaged F4F-4 Wildcat: 2 destroyed on ground Spitfire Vc Trop: 7 damaged Spitfire Vc Trop: 1 destroyed on ground Beaufighter VIf: 8 damaged Beaufighter VIf: 1 destroyed on ground F4U-1 Corsair: 12 damaged F4U-1 Corsair: 2 destroyed on ground SB2C-1C Helldiver: 15 damaged SB2C-1C Helldiver: 1 destroyed on ground 1 Coastal gun shots fired in defense. Japanese Ships BB Kirishima BB Hiei BB Haruna CA Myoko CA Atago CA Takao CL Oyodo Allied Ships PT-248, Shell hits 1, heavy damage Allied ground losses: 407 casualties reported Squads: 1 destroyed, 4 disabled Non Combat: 6 destroyed, 26 disabled Engineers: 1 destroyed, 5 disabled Vehicles lost 9 (1 destroyed, 8 disabled) Airbase hits 1 Airbase supply hits 2 Runway hits 52 Port hits 1 F1M2 Pete acting as spotter for BB Kirishima BB Kirishima firing at 3rd Marine Division 3rd Marine Division firing at BB Kirishima BB Hiei firing at 3rd Marine Division 3rd Marine Division firing at BB Hiei E8N2 Dave acting as spotter for BB Haruna BB Haruna firing at Port Blair CA Myoko firing at Port Blair CA Atago firing at 3rd Marine Division 3rd Marine Division firing at CA Atago CA Takao firing at 3rd Marine Division CL Oyodo firing at 3rd Marine Division 3rd Marine Division firing at CL Oyodo Air base damage is up to 80% - that size 3 base will not attack Rangoon-bound convoys for a while. I plan to put even heavier ordnance on target in the near-future : BB Musashi arrives at Nagasaki/Sasebo

jwolf -> RE: Burma battles (5/18/2017 1:50:44 PM)
Thanks for the update ... a lot going on ... anxious to see how the Allies react in the Andaman Sea area, and especially if we get a major carrier battle! It sure looks like you have committed just about everything you have in the Andaman Sea theater. You do have the advantage of inner and shorter lines of communication, but I wonder what the Allies can do in the Pacific now.

Jorge_Stanbury -> RE: Burma battles (5/18/2017 2:16:25 PM)
Looking forward to this, and restraining myself to any comment as I am also reading Ed's

LargeSlowTarget -> Little Andaman disaster (5/22/2017 7:53:58 AM)
Oh the pain! Got the latest turn, rushed through the replay and then left the turn in disgust (with myself). Will need some time to pick it up again. After some soul-searching I decided to go with "no risk, no fun", so I went ahead with a counter-landing at Little Andaman. Well, I have botched it. Failed to coordinate the TFs properly with follow-commands and sent the Amphib TF in at full speed ahead of everybody else. In consequence, KB lagged a day behind - so no CAP present when the Allied Death Star showed up six hexes from Little Andaman. I have long-range Nells searching almost up to Ceylon and float-plane-equipped submarines across the approaches, but they failed to provide early warning. I did not even bother to watch the combat animations - too painful. Considering the numbers of enemy strike aircraft, I consider myself lucky that there are survivors. A dozen big fast AK lost, a division drowned, half a dozen embedded BBs clobbered with 1000pounders. Haven't followed the fate of the smaller combatants, too depressed. KB finally showed up two hexes from Little Andaman and provided a CAP of 80-90 Zeroes on the second day, but this made no impression on the 100+ strong Hellcat escort. More 1000-pounders landing on BB decks, Fuso torpedoed on top of that and crawling away at 5 knots and 72 float damage - she won't make it back to Tavoy or Victoria Point in a see crawling with enemy subs, even if the Allied carriers do not pursue. The other BBs might be able to escape. Yes, could be worse, KB is still intact. However, the enemy carriers were just out of range, except for a squadron of Jills which has auto-upgraded to the N2 model recently and in the process changed the range setting to max - I have failed to rectify that. 5 brave B6N2 crews went in and survived just long enough to report a CAP of 120+ planes. I don't have much confidence KB will be able to inflict damage without suffering badly in return. It might be better to put my tail between my legs and to head east into LBA cover, preserving KB to attack the next Allied offensive. OTOH I may throw all caution into the wind and play Vabanque. Might be preferable to go down in a blaze of glory than to face a slow agonizing death by a thousand cuts.

jwolf -> RE: Little Andaman disaster (5/22/2017 2:49:39 PM)
quote: a squadron of Jills which has auto-upgraded to the N2 model recently and in the process changed the range setting to max That's a nasty trap and not exactly your fault. So many complex systems are built into the game, one man just cannot keep up with all the details.

Bif1961 -> RE: Little Andaman disaster (5/23/2017 1:18:16 AM)
The best laid plans of mice and men.

LargeSlowTarget -> RE: Little Andaman disaster (5/23/2017 6:56:19 AM)
Yes, wishful thinking. And if only the plan had been laid best. In fact it was a badly planned rush job and I'm blaming no one else but myself. Coordinating TFs originating from different bases is not my forte. I should have designated a MOMP for the Amphib TF and the supporting surface, bombardment and carrier elements before proceeding to Little Andaman. Would have cost me an additional turn (2 days), but with the remnants of the garrison barely holding on in the jungles, I wanted to hurry up and reinforce them before their extermination. And I figured that Ed would need more time to replace his planes losses. And who knows what would have happened with the alternative approach - instead of losing an Amphib TF, I may now mourn the loss of KB. Well, at least I may manage to save a cadre of the original garrison. On day 1 some reinforcing elements managed to land on Little Andaman (who does not want to leave burning and sinking transports?). In the land phase, the Allied forces deliberate-attacked and apparently forced my units to abandon the beachhead. I have found that small cadres of the reinforcements and of the original garrison have taken refuge on the warship escort of the Amphib TF. The TF may sprint to safety during the night phase (since no transports are left in the TF and the BBs have lots of sys dmg but the hulls and engines are ok, the TF can make 24 knots). So, as a face-saving measure, GHQ will declare this episode retroactively a "rescue-mission-in-force".

jwolf -> RE: Little Andaman disaster (5/23/2017 1:42:53 PM)
quote: who does not want to leave burning and sinking transports? That's one way to speed up unloading. [:)] quote: GHQ will declare this episode retroactively a "rescue-mission-in-force". [:D]

Bif1961 -> RE: Little Andaman disaster (5/23/2017 11:55:05 PM)
A Japanese Dunkrik?

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