RE: Going The Distance: BTS 4.6 MichaelU/lb4269 (A) vs bristolduke (J)

RE: Going The Distance: BTS 4.6 MichaelU/lb4269 (A) vs bristolduke (J) (Full Version)

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John 3rd -> RE: Going The Distance: BTS 4.6 MichaelU/lb4269 (A) vs bristolduke (J) (11/30/2017 11:06:37 PM)
Just caught up reading the AAR. Well done so far! Really concur with some of the things you have talked about regarding having Scouting Force available. The Allies can mass a pretty decent Striking Force just about anywhere with this Mod. Any constructive comments to this point in the game with the Mod?

MichaelU -> RE: Going The Distance: BTS 4.6 MichaelU/lb4269 (A) vs bristolduke (J) (12/1/2017 12:38:21 AM)
Only been a week, but so far I'm liking the action. While the Japanese get extra goodies, and very nice for them, the Allies get enough extra forces that they can punch somewhere hard. Keeps the Japanese on their toes.

MichaelU -> RE: Going The Distance: BTS 4.6 MichaelU/lb4269 (A) vs bristolduke (J) (12/1/2017 10:43:41 PM)
In the top ten list of things you least want to see as the Japanese, I imagine this is near to number one. Too tired to post more, but will put up the results tomorrow. [image]local://upfiles/32803/D12817A834F34B4DBE2EEE620C95E880.jpg[/image]

Kitakami -> RE: Going The Distance: BTS 4.6 MichaelU/lb4269 (A) vs bristolduke (J) (12/1/2017 11:08:23 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: MichaelU In the top ten list of things you least want to see as the Japanese, I imagine this is near to number one. Too tired to post more, but will put up the results tomorrow. Yikes!!!

ny59giants -> RE: Going The Distance: BTS 4.6 MichaelU/lb4269 (A) vs bristolduke (J) (12/1/2017 11:38:50 PM)
+1

John 3rd -> RE: Going The Distance: BTS 4.6 MichaelU/lb4269 (A) vs bristolduke (J) (12/2/2017 12:28:26 AM)
+2 CRAP! "Evasive--HARD TO STARBOARD!" "Little Boys: Get the Big Boys!"

MichaelU -> RE: Going The Distance: BTS 4.6 MichaelU/lb4269 (A) vs bristolduke (J) (12/2/2017 10:36:04 AM)
Dec 15, 1941 Yikes is correct. I give a little yelp when the picture comes up, and may have used a word that I really shouldn't use in front of the kids. Then there is a note saying that Ingersoll has crossed the Japanese 'T'. This can't get better, I think. And the end result? Light damage on a few carries, two dead Allied destroyers and the Repulse heavily damaged. We got owned. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Night Time Surface Combat, near Balikpapan at 65,98, Range 2,000 Yards Japanese Ships CVL Karasu, Shell hits 2 CVL Ryukaku CS Chitose, Shell hits 4, on fire CS Chiyoda, Shell hits 3 CVL Tokachi CVL Kushiro, Shell hits 3 DD Kuroshio, Shell hits 1, on fire DD Oyashio DD Hatsukaze DD Natsushio DD Amatsukaze DD Hatsuharu Allied Ships BC Repulse, Shell hits 4 BC Renown DD Bulmer DD Stewart DD Paul Jones, Shell hits 1 DD Parrott DD Vendetta, Shell hits 4, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk DD John Barry DD Mayrant DD Trippe, Shell hits 3, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk Not a single hit on the carriers was from one of the big guns. And somehow 4 hits on the Repulse has left her with 38 systems and 12 float damage. What ship on the Japanese side is capable of doing that to a battlecruiser? To add insult to injury, we then have a daytime engagement, and the BCs score zero hits and take 1.

MichaelU -> RE: Going The Distance: BTS 4.6 MichaelU/lb4269 (A) vs bristolduke (J) (12/2/2017 1:28:20 PM)
Mystery solved, I watched the replay again, and there was a report that the Repulse had collided with the Vendetta. So it wasn't the Japanese, it was our own side doing the damage. Man, what a mess.

BBfanboy -> RE: Going The Distance: BTS 4.6 MichaelU/lb4269 (A) vs bristolduke (J) (12/2/2017 3:18:47 PM)
Who was the TF commander and what were his Leadership and Naval skills? EDIT: never mind naval skills - you can't check them while at sea.

MakeeLearn -> RE: Going The Distance: BTS 4.6 MichaelU/lb4269 (A) vs bristolduke (J) (12/2/2017 3:25:21 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: BBfanboy Who was the TF commander and what were his Leadership and Naval skills? EDIT: never mind naval skills - you can't check them while at sea. Mouseover of Commander??

MichaelU -> RE: Going The Distance: BTS 4.6 MichaelU/lb4269 (A) vs bristolduke (J) (12/2/2017 4:49:00 PM)
The TF commander is Ingersoll, with Leadership of 52 and Naval of 63. So while not the best commander out there, he is not a total disaster. I think what happened was when they saw the enemy at 2,000 yards, Repulse turned to bring her guns to bear and rammed into the Vendetta. Just bad luck really. A big opportunity missed. There was also a torpedo hit on one of the carriers, but it was a dud. So pretty much everything that could go wrong did.

BBfanboy -> RE: Going The Distance: BTS 4.6 MichaelU/lb4269 (A) vs bristolduke (J) (12/2/2017 5:02:42 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: MichaelU The TF commander is Ingersoll, with Leadership of 52 and Naval of 63. So while not the best commander out there, he is not a total disaster. I think what happened was when they saw the enemy at 2,000 yards, Repulse turned to bring her guns to bear and rammed into the Vendetta. Just bad luck really. A big opportunity missed. There was also a torpedo hit on one of the carriers, but it was a dud. So pretty much everything that could go wrong did. His naval skill was very good but 52 Leadership is a bit low for a commander of a SCTF that has to do radical maneuvering. Leadership is about communicating what you want your subordinates to do, so a low score contributes to confusion and mistakes. EDIT: I should add that crew experience could also be a factor but there is no instant remedy for that.

MichaelU -> RE: Going The Distance: BTS 4.6 MichaelU/lb4269 (A) vs bristolduke (J) (12/2/2017 5:24:09 PM)
On the bright side, a small TF led by the Dutch light cruiser Tromp catches four minesweepers heading to Palembang and sends them all to the bottom. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Night Time Surface Combat, near Palembang at 49,90, Range 2,000 Yards Japanese Ships DMS W-1, Shell hits 7, heavy fires, heavy damage DMS W-4, Shell hits 1, on fire DMS W-5, Shell hits 8, and is sunk DMS W-6 Allied Ships CL Tromp DD Tenedos DD Express -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Time Surface Combat, near Palembang at 48,91, Range 15,000 Yards Japanese Ships DMS W-4, Shell hits 12, and is sunk DMS W-6, Shell hits 6, and is sunk Allied Ships CL Tromp DD Tenedos DD Express The Tromp ends up, at the end of all this high speed running around, with zero fuel and 5 hexes northeast of Batavia. Worth it though, because he is going to have to get more minesweepers up to clear Palembang before it is safe to send in his tankers. Every turn he is not pulling oil is a good turn. For another turn the Hurricanes totally own the Zeroes over Palembang, clearing the way for waves of bombers to go in and smash up the airfield and the oilfield. I'm using the Dutch bombers to hit the airfield and the B17s on anti oilfield duty. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on Palembang , at 48,91 Weather in hex: Overcast Raid spotted at 28 NM, estimated altitude 23,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 6 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 20 Allied aircraft Hurricane IIb Trop x 11 Japanese aircraft losses A6M2 Zero: 4 destroyed Allied aircraft losses Hurricane IIb Trop: 1 destroyed Reports show another 9 hits on the oil. But when i mouse over Palembang it is showing 946 (55) for the oil, which I assume means 55 damage in total. I thought you could start fires that would keep doing damage. I'm so glad NYGiants jumped in and told us to drop the whole 'No strategic bombing' thing. As he correctly pointed out, taking Palembang early is ridiculously easy for the Japanese. But unless you have other bases nearby, it's hard to stop the Allies giving it a good working over. The Dutch bombers can't hit very much, but they can hit ships parked in ports. He seems to have put a lot of what I assume are damaged xAKs in Miri, and the Dutch bombers give them a good working over. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on Miri , at 64,87 Weather in hex: Clear sky Raid spotted at 9 NM, estimated altitude 6,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 3 minutes Allied aircraft 139WH-3 x 11 No Allied losses Japanese Ships xAK Anbo Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire xAKL Kiko Maru, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires xAK Zinzan Maru, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires xAK Hokko Maru, Bomb hits 1, heavy damage The Makassar Straits has been set up as something of a killzone for any ships venturing in there, with Banshees, Vildebeest and even some Dauntless 1s at bases able to strike into the area. And strike they do, but hit nothing. As expected, the Banshees can't hit a real target -- 27 go in against a heavy cruiser TF and score nary a hit. I was hoping for a little more from the Dauntlesses, as they have decent pilots, but no hits there either. And the Vildbeest don't fly at all. The main outcome is to lose a a lot Banshees, as when they do finally attack the transports they run into strong CAP and get butchered. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Balikpapan at 66,97 Weather in hex: Light rain Raid spotted at 10 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 3 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 20 Allied aircraft B-339D x 1 A-24 Banshee x 9 P-40E Warhawk x 4 F2A-3 Buffalo x 2 Japanese aircraft losses A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed Allied aircraft losses B-339D: 1 destroyed A-24 Banshee: 2 destroyed A-24 Banshee: 1 destroyed by flak P-40E Warhawk: 1 destroyed Japanese Ships xAK Amagi Maru The ground combat phase is particularly depressing. Let's start with this one, where even though we manage to hold somehow, we don't hand out a single casualty. Not one. Just look at that list of negatives for the Allies. No idea why the Japanese didn't just roll us. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ground combat at Cabanatuan (80,76) Japanese Deliberate attack Attacking force 384 troops, 0 guns, 71 vehicles, Assault Value = 454 Defending force 7605 troops, 75 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 243 Japanese adjusted assault: 35 Allied adjusted defense: 27 Japanese assault odds: 1 to 1 (fort level 0) Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 0 Combat modifiers Defender: op mode(-), preparation(-), fatigue(-), morale(-) experience(-) Attacker: Allied ground losses: 284 casualties reported Squads: 4 destroyed, 35 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled Assaulting units: 9th Tank Regiment 4th Division And then, the inevitable fall of Singapore. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ground combat at Singapore (50,84) Japanese Deliberate attack Attacking force 28906 troops, 384 guns, 347 vehicles, Assault Value = 1072 Defending force 20799 troops, 258 guns, 127 vehicles, Assault Value = 68 Japanese adjusted assault: 1034 Allied adjusted defense: 171 Japanese assault odds: 6 to 1 (fort level 0) Japanese forces CAPTURE Singapore !!! Allied aircraft no flights Allied aircraft losses Buffalo I: 1 destroyed Vildebeest III: 1 destroyed Hurricane IIb Trop: 2 destroyed Combat modifiers Defender: terrain(+), preparation(-), morale(-), experience(-) Attacker: Japanese ground losses: 306 casualties reported Squads: 1 destroyed, 30 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled Guns lost 3 (1 destroyed, 2 disabled) Vehicles lost 10 (1 destroyed, 9 disabled) Allied ground losses: 23736 casualties reported Squads: 242 destroyed, 0 disabled Non Combat: 1448 destroyed, 0 disabled Engineers: 100 destroyed, 0 disabled Guns lost 340 (340 destroyed, 0 disabled) Vehicles lost 157 (157 destroyed, 0 disabled) Units destroyed 18 And then this rather bizarre tank attack at Manila. Nice to blunt his tank spearhead like this. Wonder why they didn't wait for the infantry to catch up. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ground combat at Manila (79,77) Japanese Deliberate attack Attacking force 3163 troops, 12 guns, 266 vehicles, Assault Value = 146 Defending force 38572 troops, 374 guns, 173 vehicles, Assault Value = 843 Japanese adjusted assault: 39 Allied adjusted defense: 731 Japanese assault odds: 1 to 18 (fort level 0) Combat modifiers Defender: terrain(+), preparation(-), experience(-) Attacker: Japanese ground losses: 626 casualties reported Squads: 25 destroyed, 33 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 30 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Guns lost 8 (5 destroyed, 3 disabled) Vehicles lost 60 (14 destroyed, 46 disabled) Allied ground losses: 304 casualties reported Squads: 6 destroyed, 31 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled Assaulting units: 22nd Recon Regiment 2nd Tank Regiment 4th Tank Regiment 48th Recon Regiment 2nd Recon Regiment And Wake falls. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ground combat at Wake Island (136,98) Japanese Shock attack Attacking force 3715 troops, 64 guns, 8 vehicles, Assault Value = 115 Defending force 710 troops, 18 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 17 Japanese adjusted assault: 83 Allied adjusted defense: 1 Japanese assault odds: 83 to 1 (fort level 1) Japanese forces CAPTURE Wake Island !!! Combat modifiers Defender: leaders(-), disruption(-) Attacker: shock(+), fatigue(-) Japanese ground losses: 43 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Allied ground losses: 773 casualties reported Squads: 35 destroyed, 0 disabled Non Combat: 33 destroyed, 0 disabled Engineers: 14 destroyed, 0 disabled Guns lost 25 (25 destroyed, 0 disabled) Units destroyed 1 We've had massive numbers of subs in the area, but no hits, and a few subs sent back to port for repair. The only hit we got this turn was on a transport off New Guinea, and it was a dud. Japanese attacks also capture Cagayan, Davao, Buin and Tulagi. Rabaul is deinitely in line next. We get intel that: 14/1st Sasebo Assault Division is loaded on a Japanese xAK moving to Rabaul I wonder what he's bringing with to cover the invasion. Surely after our Banshees worked over all his other transports in the area, he is going to want to bring more than just a bunch of transports.

MichaelU -> RE: Going The Distance: BTS 4.6 MichaelU/lb4269 (A) vs bristolduke (J) (12/2/2017 5:29:38 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: BBfanboy EDIT: I should add that crew experience could also be a factor but there is no instant remedy for that. Some of those US DDs have 35 or so night fighting skill, they are really, really rubbish. Plus they probably couldn't understand the British commander, who was talking in a very plummy accent. "I say chaps, veer hard to starboard would you", that sort of thing.

Dirtnap86 -> RE: Going The Distance: BTS 4.6 MichaelU/lb4269 (A) vs bristolduke (J) (12/3/2017 2:28:01 PM)
Yeah, the 4 stackers aren't that great for trying to get night attacks on, low night exp, generally middling commanders. They chew up transports real good though and that'll give em a good boost to their experience. Also, if you look at the combat report for that surface intercept, you may see something like DD XXX screens CVL XXX. Not entirely sure what that does mechanically, other than make it difficult to target said CVL.

John 3rd -> RE: Going The Distance: BTS 4.6 MichaelU/lb4269 (A) vs bristolduke (J) (12/3/2017 10:21:43 PM)
You still gave a HEART ATTACK to your opponent!

MichaelU -> RE: Going The Distance: BTS 4.6 MichaelU/lb4269 (A) vs bristolduke (J) (12/4/2017 9:06:42 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: John 3rd You still gave a HEART ATTACK to your opponent! Yep, we noticed that the carriers hung back in the Celebes Sea this turn. So a morale blow, if nothing else.

John 3rd -> RE: Going The Distance: BTS 4.6 MichaelU/lb4269 (A) vs bristolduke (J) (12/4/2017 9:36:50 AM)
I can get pretty crazy with my CV deployments the first couple of weeks due to being pretty contemptuous of Allied airpower; however, something like what just happened is always my biggest nightmare. Did your TF get away without any damage during the day from Japanese airpower?

MichaelU -> RE: Going The Distance: BTS 4.6 MichaelU/lb4269 (A) vs bristolduke (J) (12/4/2017 10:29:06 AM)
Dec 16, 41 There's a bit of sub action overnight. The British battlecruiers run over SS RO-63, but the screen holds her off and the Renown and Repulse end the turn almost back in Soerebaja with no further incident. Seawolf launches torps at an xAP and misses. More importantly Perch launches at one of the CVL hanging around in the Celebes Sea, and also misses. It's a waiting game here -- with the number of subs in the area, and several light carriers groups, it is a matter of time before we get a hit. Tarakan is invaded, and this is out first base with decent defense, and it shows. Japanese transports are left burning by multiple hits from 120cm and 75cm coastal defense guns. The Tenryu Maru and Kyusyu Maru must be struggling after that hammering. xAK Kyusyu Maru, Shell hits 1, on fire xAK Tenryu Maru, Shell hits 1, on fire xAK Kyusyu Maru, Shell hits 4, on fire xAK Tenryu Maru, Shell hits 1, on fire xAK Taifuku Maru, Shell hits 1 xAK Tenryu Maru, Shell hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage No bombing of Palembang this turn. Assuming the weather over the target must have been a bit grim, because we are hitting it from multiple bases. We get confirmation that there are land based Vals at Badelboab. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Peleliu at 85,98 Weather in hex: Heavy cloud Raid spotted at 8 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 2 minutes Japanese aircraft D3A1 Val x 9 No Japanese losses Allied Ships xAKL Don Jose, Bomb hits 3, and is sunk More air attacks on the TFs hanging about in the Makassar Straits. Who said a Banshee couldn't hit a warship? -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Balikpapan at 66,97 Weather in hex: Clear sky Raid spotted at 15 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 5 minutes Allied aircraft A-24 Banshee x 9 Allied aircraft losses A-24 Banshee: 1 damaged Japanese Ships BC Haruna, Bomb hits 1 xAK Amagi Maru Unfortunately this is the only hit from a whole raft of bombing attacks, and this one hit bounces off the deck armour. The Japanese push the defenders out of Cabanatuan, so the noose is tightening around Manila. With Singapore down and Manila likely to fall shortly, there are going to be a lot of Japanese units freed up to go invade somewhere else. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ground combat at Cabanatuan (80,76) Japanese Deliberate attack Attacking force 384 troops, 0 guns, 71 vehicles, Assault Value = 454 Defending force 4236 troops, 42 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 124 Japanese adjusted assault: 31 Allied adjusted defense: 15 Japanese assault odds: 2 to 1 (fort level 0) Japanese forces CAPTURE Cabanatuan !!! Combat modifiers Defender: leaders(+), preparation(-), fatigue(-), experience(-) Attacker: Allied ground losses: 1033 casualties reported Squads: 43 destroyed, 0 disabled Non Combat: 29 destroyed, 0 disabled Engineers: 8 destroyed, 0 disabled Guns lost 24 (24 destroyed, 0 disabled) Units retreated 1 Our troops retreating from Khota Bahru get hammered again, falling back and looking slightly battered. Alor Star, where we have gathered the 11th Indian Division, is showing 9 Japanese units, so am expecting an attack there next turn. The only good ground combat for us this turn is in China, where the 98th Chinese corps manages to hold off an attack. I was quite surprised, because I don't expect much from the Chinese, but apparently the attackers had poor morale. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ground combat at 88,43 (near Kaifeng) Japanese Deliberate attack Attacking force 8648 troops, 54 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 270 Defending force 6860 troops, 43 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 177 Japanese adjusted assault: 176 Allied adjusted defense: 219 Japanese assault odds: 1 to 2 Combat modifiers Defender: terrain(+), experience(-) Attacker: morale(-) Japanese ground losses: 425 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 32 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Allied ground losses: 112 casualties reported Squads: 2 destroyed, 11 disabled Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 7 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Assaulting units: 101st NCPC Route Brigade 3rd Ind.Mixed Brigade 15th RGC Temp. Division Defending units: 98th Chinese Corps 39th Group Army I've skipped over the naval action off Rabaul for a separate post.

MichaelU -> RE: Going The Distance: BTS 4.6 MichaelU/lb4269 (A) vs bristolduke (J) (12/4/2017 10:35:29 AM)
This is definitely the most interesting combat of the turn. Sigint had reports the Sasebo assault division loaded up on xAKs and heading to Rabaul -- we'd had three separate reports over the past four days -- so the CL Perth was sent up to Manus to investigate a TF spotted heading that way. The picture below is the result. [image]local://upfiles/32803/795D23E1D0F546EAB3B8BCF2D6BEAEC7.jpg[/image]

MichaelU -> RE: Going The Distance: BTS 4.6 MichaelU/lb4269 (A) vs bristolduke (J) (12/4/2017 10:46:11 AM)
It looks like an entire base was heading that way, because the combat reports shows a tanker, some minesweepers, a minelayer and even a mine tender. Seems a bit premature to bring the support ships when the base is still in enemy hands. Anyway, the Perth rips into these guys, and only breaks off when it runs out of ammo. The PBs did a sterling job screening the transports, the crew paying for their bravery with their lives. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Time Surface Combat, near Manus at 102,119, Range 21,000 Yards Japanese Ships CM Tsugaru, Shell hits 8, heavy fires, heavy damage AMc Fumi Maru #2, Shell hits 3, and is sunk AMc Seki Maru #3, Shell hits 1, and is sunk PB Kyo Maru #8, Shell hits 1, on fire PB Kyo Maru #10, Shell hits 1 PB Shoei Maru, Shell hits 3, heavy fires PB Shotoku Maru PB Sonan Maru #5, Shell hits 3, and is sunk PB Sonan Maru #6, Shell hits 1, and is sunk PB Shuko Maru #5, Shell hits 4, and is sunk ACM Shofuku Maru #2 TK Moji Maru AV Kiyokawa Maru xAK Yokohama Maru, Shell hits 1 xAK Matsue Maru, Shell hits 4 xAK Venice Maru, Shell hits 3, on fire xAK Kogyoku Maru xAK Nishimi Maru xAK Borneo Maru xAK Brasil Maru, Shell hits 1, on fire xAK Chile Maru xAK China Maru xAK Havana Maru, Shell hits 2 xAK Cheribon Maru xAK Daifuku Maru xAK Kuraido Maru Allied Ships CL Perth, Shell hits 1 DD Bundaberg, Shell hits 1 Japanese ground losses: 166 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 18 disabled Non Combat: 11 destroyed, 20 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Guns lost 10 (2 destroyed, 8 disabled) Alerted by the reports from the Perth, Banshees from Rabaul sweep in and add to the pain. It would seem a bit strange to wander close enough to Rabaul to let the Banshees have a go, but there is also a chance that in retreating from the Perth these ships blundered into Banshee range. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on TF, near Manus at 103,119 Weather in hex: Overcast Raid spotted at 15 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 5 minutes Allied aircraft A-24 Banshee x 9 No Allied losses Japanese Ships xAK Yokohama Maru, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires xAK Chile Maru, Bomb hits 1 xAK Borneo Maru, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage Japanese ground losses: 191 casualties reported Squads: 1 destroyed, 9 disabled Non Combat: 4 destroyed, 21 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Guns lost 1 (1 destroyed, 0 disabled) The 1st Sasebo Assault Division is going to be feeling very sorry for itself after this. If he doesn't bring some cover or head north quickly, there is not going to be much left of it.

MichaelU -> RE: Going The Distance: BTS 4.6 MichaelU/lb4269 (A) vs bristolduke (J) (12/4/2017 1:21:51 PM)
After the Manus transport ambush, our opponent had a grumble about his poor air search not picking up threats in the area. I'm not sure what his air search is like, but it is certainly not picking up the horde of TFs I have brought up to Rabaul to stop him from just rolling over the place. In the picture below you can see my mouse over the Perth TF. After battering his transports and ending the turn just four hexes away, the Perth remains undetected. There is also a fresh CL task force at Cape Gloucester than remains undetected, and more ships arriving at Woodlark Island. Either his pilots are incompetent, or they are looking in the wrong places. He surely can't be flying any search planes from Kavieng or Buin, because they would be lighting us up. In the DEI, a CL task force ended up at Kuching when I misjudged the run up there. But at the end of the turn, not detected either. So it will hang out in the area and look for trouble. [image]local://upfiles/32803/EABB3E4332814343ACEF9DA4EDAEF3D1.jpg[/image]

MichaelU -> RE: Going The Distance: BTS 4.6 MichaelU/lb4269 (A) vs bristolduke (J) (12/4/2017 1:26:51 PM)
And a last note. Check out these brave boys. In their little MTBs they have sailed almost all the way from Hong Kong to Soerebaja, on the way torpedoing an xAP and escaping from Japanese battlecruisers. What a story they'll have to tell when they get to the Soerebaja bars. The Manila PTs are off to the right, making their way home to Soerebaja via Ambon. [image]local://upfiles/32803/C4FEE677064A402383DC7ED20DA070BA.jpg[/image]

BBfanboy -> RE: Going The Distance: BTS 4.6 MichaelU/lb4269 (A) vs bristolduke (J) (12/4/2017 1:37:30 PM)
quote: MichaelU: Japanese transports are left burning by multiple hits from 120cm and 75cm coastal defense guns. I am quite surprised those transports are still afloat after being hit by 47 inch and 30 inch guns! [X(] ... or it could just be a decimal point issue! [:D]

MichaelU -> RE: Going The Distance: BTS 4.6 MichaelU/lb4269 (A) vs bristolduke (J) (12/4/2017 2:05:09 PM)
It's the mod, it has made coastal defense guns terrifying. [:)] Oh wait, you're right, it's a decimal point issue.

MichaelU -> RE: Going The Distance: BTS 4.6 MichaelU/lb4269 (A) vs bristolduke (J) (12/6/2017 3:51:54 PM)
Dec 17, 1941 Hallelujah. I had begin to think that the mod or some update had broken minefields. Invasions at Palembang, Tarakan and Balikpapan had failed to produce a single mine hit, but at last we get this report. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TF 88 encounters mine field at Hong Kong (77,61) Japanese Ships DMS W-18 DMS W-17 DMS W-14 DMS W-13 DMS W-12 DMS W-11 DMS W-10 DMS W-9 TB Hatsukari, Mine hits 1, on fire, heavy damage 98 mines cleared Hell, I am not even sure what a TB is, but I bet it is pretty small and is not going to survive that. I wouldn't normally even mention the sinking of a TB, but at least I now know minefields can do something. Those coastal defense guns at Tarakan may not be the previously reported 47 inch behemoths, but they are still giving an excellent account of themselves. More hits on xAKs, more fires and damage. xAK Tenryu Maru, Shell hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage xAK Taifuku Maru, Shell hits 1 xAK Taifuku Maru, Shell hits 1 xAK Taifuku Maru, Shell hits 4, on fire xAK Tokiwa Maru, Shell hits 1 The damage done may have been enough to weaken the Japanese attackers to the point where taking Tarakan is going to require extra troops. I hope so, it would be nice to see the CD guns get another go at shooting up some transports. The Japanese attack scores a 1 to 1 and reduces the forts, but losses are heavy. Can Tarakan hold? -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ground combat at Tarakan (67,91) Japanese Shock attack Attacking force 2419 troops, 12 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 68 Defending force 2924 troops, 43 guns, 7 vehicles, Assault Value = 54 Japanese adjusted assault: 75 Allied adjusted defense: 52 Japanese assault odds: 1 to 1 (fort level 1) Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 0 Combat modifiers Defender: terrain(+), leaders(+), fatigue(-), experience(-) Attacker: shock(+), fatigue(-) Japanese ground losses: 209 casualties reported Squads: 2 destroyed, 10 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Allied ground losses: 17 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled There is also an invasion of Balikpapan, with some mine clearing. No mine hits, but the CD guns score 5 hits on DMS Shimushu and set it on fire. Only 4 mines are cleared. There are some desultory air attacks against the invasion force, with no effect. Looks like time to pull the aircraft back. Then in comes BCs Haruna and Kongo to put down the defenders. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Pre-Invasion action off Balikpapan (64,97) 23 Coastal gun shots fired in defense. Japanese Ships BC Haruna BC Kongo xAP Miike Maru DD Nenohi Japanese ground losses: 37 casualties reported Squads: 1 destroyed, 0 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Allied ground losses: 340 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled Non Combat: 10 destroyed, 42 disabled Engineers: 1 destroyed, 5 disabled Guns lost 13 (6 destroyed, 7 disabled) This is the way to do it. After that I'm not sure how keen the defenders are going to be to keep shooting at the transports and minesweepers. We get a report of troops unloading at Manus, and it is our old friends the (hopefully much reduced) 1st Sasebo Assault Division. I guess we'll see next turn how many AV he has left. Unfortunately our SCTF in the area were covering Rabaul, rather than Manus, so there is no naval attack. One CL group is sitting 4 hexes away with a 6 hex react range, but doesn't go in. The Banshees hit nothing. In fact, the only hit this turn is by a Catalina, which drops a 500 lb bomb into xAK China Maru. It was certainly the smart thing to do to pull back and await reinforcement, rather than get butchered in a continued charge against Rabaul. Will send in a couple of SCTFs this turn to see what is around, but my fear is growing that KB will turn up and sort out the situation. We haven't seen KB for several turns, thus expanding the circle of uncertainty of where it may be. If we can sink the transports, hopefully that will leave the division in Manus stranded for a while and buy us some important breathing room. It is a goal worth risking a few cruisers for. To General McArthur's horror, street fighting has started in the outskirts of Manila, and it looks like the city will be reduced to rubble. The first round goes to the Allies, but this is just exploratory stuff, and the Japanese will almost certainly reinforce. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ground combat at Manila (79,77) Japanese Deliberate attack Attacking force 17615 troops, 91 guns, 220 vehicles, Assault Value = 587 Defending force 42018 troops, 407 guns, 175 vehicles, Assault Value = 921 Japanese adjusted assault: 167 Allied adjusted defense: 823 Japanese assault odds: 1 to 4 (fort level 0) Combat modifiers Defender: terrain(+), preparation(-), experience(-) Attacker: Japanese ground losses: 2791 casualties reported Squads: 22 destroyed, 324 disabled Non Combat: 3 destroyed, 17 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled Guns lost 22 (3 destroyed, 19 disabled) Vehicles lost 33 (9 destroyed, 24 disabled) Allied ground losses: 1162 casualties reported Squads: 8 destroyed, 61 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 22 disabled Engineers: 2 destroyed, 16 disabled Vehicles lost 4 (1 destroyed, 3 disabled) With the fall this turn of Batangas the last exit from Manila is sealed off, and the fate of the defenders is sealed. Now they can only sell their lives dearly. There is also an attempt to take Alor Star, where we have gathered the 11th Indian Division. They hold this turn, but won't last long. However, Dutch Lodestars are flying in from Sabang, on the northern tip of Sumatra, to pull out as many of these troops as possible. They will be needed for the defence of India. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ground combat at Alor Star (49,73) Japanese Deliberate attack Attacking force 16883 troops, 164 guns, 66 vehicles, Assault Value = 462 Defending force 9117 troops, 55 guns, 41 vehicles, Assault Value = 289 Japanese adjusted assault: 107 Allied adjusted defense: 47 Japanese assault odds: 2 to 1 (fort level 1) Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 0 Combat modifiers Defender: terrain(+), leaders(-), preparation(-), fatigue(-) morale(-), experience(-) Attacker: Japanese ground losses: 647 casualties reported Squads: 7 destroyed, 103 disabled Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 14 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled Allied ground losses: 415 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 39 disabled Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 19 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled Guns lost 10 (10 destroyed, 0 disabled)

John 3rd -> RE: Going The Distance: BTS 4.6 MichaelU/lb4269 (A) vs bristolduke (J) (12/6/2017 5:41:57 PM)
Doing fine work. That ambush near Rabaul is quite nice. ANYTHING that slows the Japanese timetable is victory.

MichaelU -> RE: Going The Distance: BTS 4.6 MichaelU/lb4269 (A) vs bristolduke (J) (12/7/2017 10:16:02 AM)
On some of the less exciting administrative stuff, I've been looking at where we have minefields, and how to support those. I have converted all the YPs I can to ACMs. The Castle AMc, which shows in Tracker as being convertible to a Castle ACM, does not in fact convert. It seems we have huge numbers of Allied minefields and no feasible way to support them all with tenders. Or am I missing something?

BBfanboy -> RE: Going The Distance: BTS 4.6 MichaelU/lb4269 (A) vs bristolduke (J) (12/7/2017 1:43:48 PM)
I think some of your YPs or YMS can convert to ACMs. You get a lot of YP and YMS in spring of 42. You will soon enough leave all those mined ports behind the front lines and have little need to use the ports again, meaning no need for ACMs there. Unless this mod gives more mine production, your pools might also dry up and you will do less mining going forward. Soon you will be the one raiding his ports and he will be seeking mines to lay. I found subs to be so annoying that I kept my YPs for ASW work.

MichaelU -> RE: Going The Distance: BTS 4.6 MichaelU/lb4269 (A) vs bristolduke (J) (12/8/2017 4:56:33 PM)
Dec 18, 1941 Speaking of annoying subs, there are a lot of them hanging about off Pearl Harbor, and at last one of them strikes. CL Detroit, heading back to the west coast for conversion to a CLAA, sucks one of the six torpedoes fired at her. She ends the turn limping back to Pearl with 66 float damage. She'll make it, but more yard time beckons. Those Japanese torps hurt. In an attempt to finish off the Japanese transports at Manus, we vectored in two SCTFs. But it is a moonless night, and without radar there is much blundering about and little fighting. The Adelaide steams within 6,000 yards of the Japanese ships without the lookouts spotting a thing. Unlike their sharp-eyed Japanese counterparts. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Night Time Surface Combat, near Manus at 101,119, Range 12,000 Yards Japanese Ships PB Kyo Maru #8 PB Kyo Maru #10 PB Shotoku Maru ACM Shofuku Maru #2 TK Moji Maru AV Kiyokawa Maru xAK Matsue Maru xAK Kogyoku Maru xAK Nishimi Maru xAK Brasil Maru xAK Chile Maru xAK China Maru xAK Havana Maru xAK Cheribon Maru xAK Daifuku Maru xAK Kuraido Maru Allied Ships CL Adelaide DD Mildura Allied Ships Reported to be Approaching! Japanese TF suspends unloading operations and begins to get underway Reduced sighting due to 0% moonlight Maximum visibility in Partly Cloudy Conditions and 0% moonlight: 6,000 yards Range closes to 10,000 yards... Range closes to 8,000 yards... Range closes to 6,000 yards... CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 6,000 yards Japanese TF attempts to evade combat Range increases to 7,000 yards... Range increases to 8,000 yards... Range increases to 9,000 yards... Range increases to 10,000 yards... Range increases to 11,000 yards... Range increases to 12,000 yards... Range increases to 12,000 yards... Japanese Task Force Manages to Escape Japanese Amphibious TF evades combat The CA Canberra is up next, and this time she does spot the enemy, but after a few shots the Japanese ships slip off into the dark again. It is up to the SS Sidgeridoo to put on the hurt, with a torp into the PB Shoei Maru. The real damage though is done by the Rabaul Banshees. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Mussau Island at 105,117 Weather in hex: Light cloud Raid spotted at 8 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 3 minutes Allied aircraft A-24 Banshee x 9 No Allied losses Japanese Ships xAK Cheribon Maru, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires xAK Matsue Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire xAK Havana Maru, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage For the first time the AVG gets into action in China, downing some unescorted bombers over the city of Kanhsien. It's not much, but if the Japanese know they can be ambushed at any point, they will have to be more cautious or bring in escorts, all of which forces them to commit more to China. Only one squadron of AVG is operating in China, the rest are flying patrol over Rangoon to cover the unloading of supplies there. The bombing of Palembang is back on, with more hammering of the oilfields by B17s. He still hasn't managed to shut this down, and we'll keep hammering away till he does. The only good Japanese oilfield is a destroyed oilfield. Ground action continues grim. The 11th Indian Division is sent reeling back from Alor Star with heavy losses, Balikpapan falls on the first attack, a successful attack at Temuloh ends our chances of combining another Indian division at Kuala Lumpur. About the only good news is that Tarakan holds, at 1-4 odds, so it looks like the coastal defense guns have weakened the attackers enough. The guns even manage to score a couple more hits on transports this turn. Go boys! Manus falls to the 1st Sasebo Assault Division, who manage to gather 156 AV for the attack. So it doesn't look like the sunk transports have hit the unit that hard, given it is initially around 180 AV. Still, it is now stuck on Manus, rather than invading Rabaul, and that has to be a good thing. Hopefully he will have to bring KB before he can push the attack on Rabaul. And it looks like KB has other plans.

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