RE: Invasion force attacked

RE: Invasion force attacked (Full Version)

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Andy Mac -> RE: Invasion force attacked (2/16/2005 1:37:57 AM)
Given the additional benefit of fighting in a city it is annoying to have to give up Delhi but you gotta do what you gotta do I guess. If only you could get the Indian 3rd Corps HQ back your defenders would do better. p.s. when was the last time you checked leaders may be worth making sure you have as many decent ones as possible in case you took any casualties in the south. Andy

paullus99 -> RE: Invasion force attacked (2/16/2005 1:43:02 AM)
Full steam ahead - he may be able to pull some forces out of the Pacific (since Tarawa has calmed down), but he's fully committed to India with his ground forces. I'd even look to setting a diversionary attack in the Tarawa area, just to keep him thinking twice about stripping his perimeter to get you. Recon, recon, recon. Once you've landed - keep an eye out for his carriers....

toraq -> RE: Invasion force attacked (2/16/2005 3:17:16 AM)
Wobbly, You´re right. India is also important because of the LCU based there. Not to mention the air sqds (I think spits can´t make it). But, also with the fall of India China is toasted. It is already toasted but without India, China will fall earlier. There is a lot of risk in the Java invasion. If I were PzB I will: - Attack with my betties and nells heavily escorted. This should reduce your fighters a lot. If his CVs appear it will be afterwards. - Bomb the north Australian ports to reduce your fuel and supply depots - Wait until your CVs retire... By this time India had fallen, so I would start to group my divisions and then - Attack with BBs CVs and land based bombers until I reduce the place to ashes - Then land the LCUs and attack your forces.. Java invasion is a real threat for PzB. Fortunately for him it comes when he is still powerful so he can attempt to wipe your forces out. So you have to fight a defensive battle. A defensive one, so he takes more losses than you. In WW2 turning point always came after a defensive battle (Stalingrad, Kursk, El Alamein, Midway, Guadalcanal...in all of them the allies played a defensive role until they could take the offensive) You can hold as far as you can send reinforces there, specially fighters and heavies. Be prepared to send them there soon. Remember that you have over-extend your supply and reinforces lines...SF is soooooo far away. On the contrary PzB can group his forces quite fast. This is VERY dangerous. Good luck wobbly, and forgive me if my posts are too long and boring. [;)]

wobbly -> RE: Invasion force attacked (2/16/2005 4:29:48 AM)
Andy - It is mighty annoying - he has bought so much power though that I really don't have the option of splitting my defense. It is the fact I have tried that has caused most of my problems! I really need to get as much back to Ahlamabad as possible to try and stop him there. Then I may have some time to reorganise the defenses again. Paulus - I am so going to have to watch out for the dreaded Jap Carriers. Search ACs will need to get there ASAP. Toraq - you are not boring - a little negative - but not boring. There is no way this little venture is not going to be completed without a little pain. If it is alot of pain then it wasn't worth it - the benefit of 20-20 hindsight. There is an important reason the japs didn't try and take over India (other than the likelihood of many militia units), it is the the number of troops such an operation would need to be taken away from the obvious enemy - the US. Even if his naval bombers manage to hammer a couple of Carriers and a BB. If I get the troops down in Java he is going to be outnumbered on the land. I can't imagine he has more than a Mixed Brigade plus base units there - that may change in a hurry - but he is heavily focused on India (man don't I know it). Your hypothesis that he will only finish the Indian campaign and then come and toast me in Java is probably true but missing the point. The reason for the Java invasion was to try and stem the flow of reinforcements to India and even to bring units tasked to that campaign back to Java - I needed to relieve the pressure. I had no control about when - he dictated that - if I had a choice this invasion would be occuring in mid 43 - I don't unfortunately. So yes he is still in the ascendent and I am going to feel some pain. I just hope that the pain has been diverted from a likely Indian target! In all truth this is very unlikely, he can unfortunately, afford to weather any storm I point at him from Java bases for some time. Probably enough time to still take India. But missions based in Java with targets in India will now have a whole lot less distance to travel and that will worry him. You also bring my line of supply into question - this is the best and most valid point for me in your post. Ultimately everything except Oz and Kiwi units are coming from the US - that is a long way. However there really is quite alot in Oz already. 4 Divisions are available for instance. I have 900 ACs in Darwin as well (plus about 200 more in Derby and co)!!!! yep if he bombs there that will really hurt but 400 are fighters and they are all at 50% CAP (alot are rubbish but the deterrent factor and the range from Kendari - the only base he can really use - is prohibitive). That is also why the B-17s visited this turn... But I don't think he will bomb Darwin now. Everything will be set to anti-naval. I suppose the real question to you is: faced with the complete destruction of your command in India - what would you do?

tsimmonds -> RE: Invasion force attacked (2/16/2005 4:40:14 AM)
quote: I suppose the real question to you is: faced with the complete destruction of your command in India - what would you do? Exactly what you are doing: hit him someplace that he can't ignore. You now have a temporary advantage; you know what is happening at Java, while he can only guess and scramble to react to developments there. Your best (or maybe even only--hate to say it but it isn't far wrong) hope is that he reacts into a big mistake.

paullus99 -> RE: Invasion force attacked (2/16/2005 2:35:30 PM)
Making him react to you is better than continuing to react to his moves....anything he throws at you will be, for lack of a better term, improvised. If you can stay the course & continue to feed units into the fray, you will eventually break his back (logistically & hopefully his fleet). If you are as serious as you should be with this operation, you should already have forces moving from far and wide to continue to funnel through into Java.

String -> RE: Invasion force attacked (2/16/2005 7:22:16 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: paullus99 Making him react to you is better than continuing to react to his moves....anything he throws at you will be, for lack of a better term, improvised. If you can stay the course & continue to feed units into the fray, you will eventually break his back (logistically & hopefully his fleet). If you are as serious as you should be with this operation, you should already have forces moving from far and wide to continue to funnel through into Java. It's called taking the initiative.. let's just hope that wobbly can keep it

EUBanana -> RE: Invasion force attacked (2/16/2005 9:38:31 PM)
This is definitely my fave AAR. There are some real game shaking decisions going on on this one. [;)] The decision to attack India, the Allied decision to strike at Java... Good stuff. I find it very hard in the game I'm playing to see the wood for the trees, and try and have some sort of overall strategy rather than being concerned with minutiae of day to day tactics. [:(]

toraq -> RE: Invasion force attacked (2/17/2005 1:30:12 AM)
quote: I suppose the real question to you is: faced with the complete destruction of your command in India - what would you do? Well Wobbly, that´s why I said "forgive me". Maybe I´m too critic saying "you should do this or that" and you may think "Here is toraq again" [>:]. Far from that, wobbly[:'(] I probably try to save India as I said a few post ago...but I don´t know the REAL situation in India, so maybe my opinion would cahnge after that. But if I saw that India is lost irremediable, I would probably do what you´re doing. But send more troops and supplies there...it may take some time until they arrive but send them anyway. Be prepare for his reaction because there it goes your game (with auto-victory conditions) Good luck again![;)]

Smiffus64 -> RE: Invasion force attacked (2/17/2005 12:30:45 PM)
His main defense in the short run will be his LBA, unless he has a TF or two based near Java (which I doubt) I suggest you pay his airfields a visit with a couple of bombing missions. LBA can be flown in quickly, so before you know it he will have a ****load of Zeros and bomber in the area.

Honda -> RE: Invasion force attacked (2/17/2005 8:45:20 PM)
Also, have you made any plans for actualy reinforcing India? From this POW it looks suicidal, but why not ask. Is there any chance of saving the day up there? Come to think of it, it sounds just too proposterous with KB intact, but... Supplies you don't need, so it would have to be troop transports and that's impossible at the moment. What are the chances of a prolonged fighting retreat and can it buy enough time for rescue to arrive?Anyhow, his is a stricktly WHAT IF scenario. Something that might come in handy later on. WARNING: do not use before succesfull Java campaign and major KB trashing!

String -> RE: Invasion force attacked (2/17/2005 9:10:17 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: Honda Also, have you made any plans for actualy reinforcing India? From this POW it looks suicidal, but why not ask. Is there any chance of saving the day up there? Come to think of it, it sounds just too proposterous with KB intact, but... Supplies you don't need, so it would have to be troop transports and that's impossible at the moment. What are the chances of a prolonged fighting retreat and can it buy enough time for rescue to arrive?Anyhow, his is a stricktly WHAT IF scenario. Something that might come in handy later on. WARNING: do not use before succesfull Java campaign and major KB trashing! Actually KB isn't intact. Hiryu and Soryu lie in the bottom of the sea somewhere between canton and fiji iirc.

Terminus Est -> RE: Invasion force attacked (2/18/2005 12:09:17 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: String Actually KB isn't intact. Hiryu and Soryu lie in the bottom of the sea somewhere between canton and fiji iirc. You're right, String ... so KB only has 4 out of 6 original fleet carriers

wobbly -> Operation Retribution (2/18/2005 12:37:30 AM)
Breaking News "Invasion of Java has commenced"!! Troops started landing at Madoien and Waingapu (Island in the Indinesian chain down towards Oz). Sorry about the change of destination reported - I was forced further north by the way TFs had stopped for refueling. Honda - yes, if I take java then there is the possibility of troop transport to india. It is as you say a very dangerous proposition. Lets just see how this invasion comes off first. KB has lost Hiryu and Soryu and gained about 4 of the little CVs by now I would think - Junyo et al. So it will have grown back to ugly dimensions. AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 06/24/42 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TF 1082 troops unloading over beach at Waingapu, 27,74 Allied ground losses: 118 casualties reported Units of Sparrow force have landed here and the base unit tasked with making a stepping stone to Java lands tonight. If PzB really wants to scupper my plans he will land units here using his transport planes. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Naval bombardment of Madioen, at 21,64 Japanese aircraft no flights Japanese aircraft losses H8K Emily: 1 destroyed, 4 damaged Ki-57-II Topsy: 10 destroyed, 20 damaged Ki-46-II Dinah: 7 destroyed, 3 damaged L2D2 Tabby: 4 destroyed, 3 damaged Allied Ships CA Vincennes CA Astoria CA Indianapolis CA Louisville CA Chester CA Chicago DD Voyager DD Litchfield DD Dale DD Porter DD Lamson DD Drayton DD Blue CL Sumatra CL Java CA Pensacola CA Portland Japanese ground losses: 959 casualties reported (now he knows what it is like to recieve bombardment hell) Airbase hits 6 Airbase supply hits 8 Runway hits 36 It will be difficult to fly in troops without transport planes. 24 planes were destroyed in the bombardment today - that's another 100 points he needs to make up. As an interim piece of info, with all major bases in India bar Karachi under his sway he now has 2000 or so points to get past 4-1. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TF 1008 troops unloading over beach at Madioen, 21,64 Allied ground losses: 438 casualties reported The beginning of the liberation operation. This operation was never named - it will henceforth be labeled "Retribution" (hope that doesn't blow up in my face too much). So far only an RCT, the tank company and the marine raiders have come ashore here. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ground combat at Lucknow Japanese Deliberate attack Attacking force 48614 troops, 295 guns, 290 vehicles Defending force 24226 troops, 171 guns, 1 vehicles Japanese assault odds: 0 to 1 (fort level 5) Japanese ground losses: 441 casualties reported Guns lost 13 Vehicles lost 1 Allied ground losses: 655 casualties reported Guns lost 17 At Lucknow he puts in his first effort to take the place. I loose more troops than his but the forts keep his effort at 0-1. I imagine that this turn he will turn the full power of his bombers on Lucknow. Expecting this I suddenly move back 2 sqds of Hurricanes and the Spitfires. As an addendum here - I now have a second upgraded sqd to Spitfire Vbs. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ground combat at Benares Japanese Deliberate attack Attacking force 882 troops, 0 guns, 61 vehicles Defending force 0 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles Japanese assault odds: 10 to 1 (fort level 3) Japanese forces CAPTURE Benares base !!! Benares - my base for incoming troops from Dimapur at last falls. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Retribution has started well - although in the next turn I imagine I will feel some heavy retirbution of my own. Palembang, Balikpapan and Batavia are all showing the deep red colour of many ACs. Batavia is the main problem - the range is short. Further steps in retribution unfold as follows. The carriers move one more hex north and the invasion proper actually begins - the taking of Tjilitap. The majority of the units are landing here. Back at Madoien the 2nd Marines are also landing. They are doing so under the guns of the Mississippi, New Mexico and Tennessee who take over from the cruiser force that bombarded last night. The portion of units already landed are attacking in the next turn - this could be considered unwise but I want to get a base very quickly to stop damage to the units unloading. The Cruiser force now moves up to Tjilitap as a target and AAA magnet for the Tsunami which must be about ready to roll. The Carriers now have 3 jobs and that really is one too many. They have to CAP themselves - 3 sqds Wildcats. CAP Tjilitap - 1 Sqd Wildcats and 1 of Fulmars and CAP Madoein - 1 sqd of Wildcats. I expect to take losses this next turn - he must be about ready... The Madoien invasion will at least have unloaded the lion share of its troops by sun up so that is why the Tjilitap units are getting more CAP. The carriers are also 1 hex below Tjilitap so CAP above the carriers may jump across to the new invasion. I am mightily worried about Batavia - initial plans were to bombard the place - that is actually impossible with the BBs: they are too slow. It is up to the cruisers and I have already depleted their ammo - fun fun fun! About 12 hexes out from the invasion I have placed some of the damaged and limping AKs from the big exodus. They are acting as trip wires for enemy carriers. Air Units in Oz are ready to start hopping North to defend the landings and start bombing his airfields and resource locations. OK - India of course has not gone away. I've had another trail AI brain explosion and I am likely to loose a 100 assault point Indian unit - it moves to one of the worst locations in central India. I wont see it for another 30 days if I get to see it at all. The Indian 3rd Hq may yet get out, it is 45 miles towards Lucknow. Along with this good turn of events the BFF - now rated at 155 assault points has been moved in its entirety to Lucknow. It also may make it north. It appears that PzB is heavily moving on Ahlamabad rather than Delhi. This may mean I get to keep Delhi for longer and get more Indian troops back into the pocket. He has moved a tank unit towards Delhi but that is not going to be enough to get through. The bombers are all lined up to start harrassing his advancing units. The enemy are getting closer to their targets - which means they are getting closer to my bombers. Time to make their lives hell. I have set the B-17s up to hit Bombay and its airfields but they continue to refuse to fly. I am trying a bit of fancy footwork by Asansol. A large group of units are E of Asnasol. PzB has reinforced Asansol. That is not my target but I am going to move there eventually but not to attempt to take it. Instead the units in this group are going to cross the river to the spot below Asansol. They will then move north into Asansol accept the tank unit which will move to the hex to the SW of Asansol and from there N back onto the rail line W of Asansol (if that makes any sense). What I am trying to achieve is a break out of the forces in Northern Burma to Northern India. If the tank unit can get to the rail location W of Asansol the units in Asansol can move up the northern rail line (getting around the no move rule from an enemy held location to another enemy held location). In China I may actually be surrounding some of his more advanced units. I am going to try and destroy them (this is on the trail from Chungking to Sian). Out to the West I am also trying another flanking move - more on that as it gets closer. Mandalay is now fully manned with Chinese. He will move his units in here and commence bombing the crap out of me. The Chinese units refuse to increase morale and that is a killer. How long can they hold even if they do have size 4 forts? In Perth many of the escaped AKs join together and head towards San Fran. In karachi more try and take on this trek. Rather than a mass exodus I am trying to do this in smaller groups this time though.

asdicus -> RE: Operation Retribution (2/18/2005 5:08:20 AM)
I continue to follow your AAR with a mixture of excitement,anticipation and dread ! My own game vs the japanese ai has just got to 2 july 42 and I note that the usa carrier fighter squadrons increase in size from 27 to 36 planes. This is a significant jump and it would help your air cover no-end. Try to put the carriers in port with sufficient supply on that date to get the increase. How much supply have you got following up the java invasion ? Darwin is a devil to keep in high supply so I hope you have plenty on board transports. Otherwise your massed armies and airforce in java will soon be going hungry. Sending ships out of karachi to escape will surely be easier now. The japanese carriers have got better things to do now than chase those ships. Stick to map edges. Get all the merchants out now - it is not as if they are useful in india now. Perhaps send prince of wales as well ? It is too badly damaged to fight. Also if you are short of air engineers perhaps send out a couple of british units - do you need them all in india ? Good luck against betty nell and zero - you are going to need it I think !

wobbly -> Formidable wears a torpedo (2/18/2005 9:23:01 AM)
Retribution continues on schedule. Ascidicus - thanks for the words of encouragement. really that goes for all of you that have done so. To answer your questions. There are about 45K of supplies on the main transports and another 12K at Madoien. I doubt there is too much in Java itself but once you hold Batavia and Soerbaja you will get more. I don't want to give up on the Brits just yet. This whole escapade is to give them a chance!! AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 06/25/42 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Allied ground losses: 410 casualties reported Allied ground losses: 44 casualties reported Allied ground losses: 526 casualties reported Allied ground losses: 3740 casualties reported Allied ground losses: 448 casualties reported Allied ground losses: 72 casualties reported Allied ground losses: 603 casualties reported Allied ground losses: 2533 casualties reported Now that folks is the pain you go through unloading at beaches when you haven't sorted out your men to attack them. That is a pretty heavy buchers bill for the beginning of the invasion - D-Day probably did better. Due to these losses unloading is stopped this turn - the units on the ground can take the bases and I can then get ACs in to continue covering the landings and releasing the carriers to roam less restrictedly. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sub attack at 19,63 Japanese Ships SS I-165 Allied Ships CV Formidable, Torpedo hits 1 DD Pakenham DD Norman DD Inconstant DD Electra Now tis is where having subs that decide to shoot is a great boon. FOrmidable is a very tough campaigner though and she is Sys 7 float 20 fires 3. She'll be fine baring more damage. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Naval bombardment of Madioen, at 21,64 Allied Ships DD Fox DD Allen DD Farragut DD Walke CL Leander BB Mississippi BB New Mexico BB Tennessee Japanese ground losses: 105 casualties reported Airbase hits 1 Runway hits 6 Port supply hits 3 The heavies continue to hit the beach at Madioen but there is little in the way of targets left so they are somewhat useless. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Air attack on Bombay , at 20,10 Allied aircraft B-17E Fortress x 23 No Allied losses Japanese ground losses: 49 casualties reported Airbase hits 9 Airbase supply hits 1 Runway hits 19 At last my bombers come out to play and they manage to put a few holes in teh airfield in Bombay. It wont be down for much longer though. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Air attack on 56th Division, at 23,10 Allied aircraft Kittyhawk I x 20 Blenheim IV x 8 Hudson I x 10 Beaufort I x 7 Beaufort V-IX x 34 No Allied losses Japanese ground losses: 66 casualties reported Guns lost 4 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Air attack on 55th/B Division, at 24,11 Allied aircraft Wellington III x 49 P-40E Warhawk x 19 No Allied losses Japanese ground losses: 126 casualties reported Guns lost 6 Vehicles lost 1 Harrassment of his land forces starts again in earnest. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Air attack on TF, near Merak at 18,59 Allied aircraft SBD Dauntless x 51 No Allied losses Japanese Ships AV Kimikawa Maru, Bomb hits 15, on fire, heavy damage AND then - out of the blue my dauntlesses decide to launch. Well they have been on naval attack haven't they. Kimikawa Maru is blown out of the water. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Air attack on TF at 20,59 Allied aircraft SBD Dauntless x 34 No Allied losses Japanese Ships AK Muroran Maru, Bomb hits 2 MSW Rikusen Maru, Bomb hits 5, on fire, heavy damage (sunk) DD Fuyo, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage (sunk) They then find some more transports leaving Batavia - he is trying to get defenders in - I need to stop this but not with unescorted Dauntless raids. I reduce the range on these guys to 3. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ground combat at Pagan Japanese Deliberate attack Attacking force 3085 troops, 10 guns, 0 vehicles Defending force 0 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles Japanese assault odds: 144 to 1 (fort level 0) Japanese forces CAPTURE Pagan base !!! Pagan, below Mandalay, is lost again and this time it will stay captured for some time I imagine. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ground combat at Lucknow Japanese Bombardment attack Attacking force 39001 troops, 285 guns, 0 vehicles Defending force 28340 troops, 163 guns, 2 vehicles Allied ground losses: 59 casualties reported Guns lost 2 Lucknow is reduced to bombardment. I join in this time with my units bombarding as well -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ground combat at 23,10 Japanese Deliberate attack Attacking force 23252 troops, 265 guns, 3 vehicles Defending force 420 troops, 4 guns, 0 vehicles Japanese assault odds: 348 to 1 Allied ground losses: 186 casualties reported Guns lost 3 Defeated Allied Units Retreating! A speed bump South of Ahlamabad is brushed aside. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ground combat at Waingapu Allied Shock attack Attacking force 458 troops, 6 guns, 0 vehicles Defending force 0 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles Allied assault odds: 46 to 1 (fort level 0) Allied forces CAPTURE Waingapu base !!! Thank the lord. He does not load the place with air transported troops and now it is groaning under the weight of 70 P-40Es and 16 SBDs. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Well I have suffered the first damage of the invasion to the Formidable but she will survive that one. I fear this next turn will be a horror. If not then the chances of survival will increase markedly. 70 Warhawks and 32 Kittyhawks will arrive in Tjilitap and then the flow will just get heavier. Both locations are being attacked this turn by the ground troops - hopefully it is enough. At Madoien many of the ships are now empty and a TF leaves the scene. Its defenders go together to make up an ASW group and they try and track down this errant sub. No sign as yet of Carriers. In india things are starting to look a little better with his move on Ahlamabad. I am at 71% level 4 forts and I think I might get most of the way to 5 by the time he gets there. He must have stolen alot of Zeros from India for Java and therefore I may be able to damage his troops significantly before they get into position against the defenders of Ahlamabad. 5 days until Chindits.

String -> RE: Formidable wears a torpedo (2/18/2005 9:27:35 AM)
I do hope you set those warhawks on heavy cap.. or otherwise PzB will plaster the newly captured base where he detects aircraft. He aint a fool and can easily figure what you'll use that base for

wobbly -> More torpedo strikes on the fleet. (2/18/2005 11:45:10 PM)
Retribution is going very well so far. PzB does manage to get a bit of his own this turn though and I may have my first victim of the OP. String - very good point. No I didn't set them to CAP. It was one of the things overlooked. This time I do not pay thankfully. AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 06/26/42 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sub attack at 17,61 Japanese Ships SS I-3, hits 2, on fire, heavy damage Allied Ships CA Portland, Torpedo hits 1 DD Voyager DD Litchfield DD Dale DD Porter DD Lamson DD Drayton DD Blue CL Sumatra CA Pensacola CA Indianapolis Portland is not complete incapacitated but she is now stuck in enemy territory - Batavia - with damage. I sent these guys in to Bombard Batavia and tehy make it only to disregard orders and sit there. Maybe the damage to Portland was enough to break up the mission? Hey will stay there this turn and give out a bit of pain. As another aside I split off some of the faster ships - 1 CA and 5 DDs and they will sprint up to Palembang to see if they can get amongst a small fleet of ships he has retired there. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sub attack at 19,63 Japanese Ships SS I-165 Allied Ships CLAA Caledon, Torpedo hits 2, on fire DD Pakenham DD Norman DD Inconstant DD Electra His subs fire again - Caledon is likely to sink. I have pointed her back at Tjilitap (she had tried to retire to Darwin). If she makes it passed his subs (which have suddenly become very efficient - he has Jap sub doctrine on like I have allied but his subs do appear to be firing). -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Air attack on Waingapu , at 27,74 Japanese aircraft A6M3 Zero x 18 Ki-21 Sally x 48 Allied aircraft no flights Japanese aircraft losses Ki-21 Sally: 1 damaged Allied aircraft losses P-40E Warhawk: 2 destroyed, 2 damaged Airbase supply hits 1 Runway hits 2 A very clever move by PzB that doesn't come off. I loose a couple of P-40Es but the vast majority are able to take off in the morning and head to Tjilitap or Madioen. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Air attack on 34th Division, at 23,10 Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 15 Allied aircraft Kittyhawk I x 3 Blenheim IV x 3 Hudson I x 3 Beaufort I x 3 Beaufort V-IX x 10 No Japanese losses Allied aircraft losses Kittyhawk I: 2 destroyed, 1 damaged Beaufort I: 1 damaged Beaufort V-IX: 5 destroyed Japanese ground losses: 42 casualties reported Vehicles lost 1 I am paying for my bombing raids on his troops but as always the combat summary is not as hutful as reality. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Air attack on 38th Division, at 23,10 Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 15 Allied aircraft Kittyhawk I x 6 Blenheim IV x 6 Hudson I x 3 Beaufort I x 3 Beaufort V-IX x 16 Japanese aircraft losses A6M2 Zero: 3 damaged Allied aircraft losses Kittyhawk I: 4 destroyed, 2 damaged Blenheim IV: 2 destroyed Beaufort I: 2 destroyed Beaufort V-IX: 2 destroyed, 2 damaged Japanese ground losses: 41 casualties reported Guns lost 1 Every time more men are getting hurt. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Air attack on 18th Division, at 23,10 Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 15 Allied aircraft Wellington III x 26 P-40E Warhawk x 19 Japanese aircraft losses A6M2 Zero: 11 destroyed, 2 damaged Allied aircraft losses Wellington III: 2 destroyed, 1 damaged P-40E Warhawk: 7 destroyed, 4 damaged Japanese ground losses: 71 casualties reported Guns lost 4 Vehicles lost 1 At last I get a pound of flesh. He will have plenty of Zeros in the reserves but the pilots must be starting to get thin. He has yet to try and defend his troops against the Spitfires - unfotunately they don't have the legs to escort. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Air attack on 55th/B Division, at 26,10 Allied aircraft Hurricane II x 12 Vildebeest IV x 8 No Allied losses Japanese ground losses: 14 casualties reported These guys are more of a worry. They have leapt off the rail line and are now due W of Delhi. I don't know what the intention of this was - he will move slower there - but he may be able to get around me from there. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Air attack on TF, near Madioen at 21,64 Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 33 G4M1 Betty x 6 Allied aircraft F4F-4 Wildcat x 14 Japanese aircraft losses A6M2 Zero: 9 destroyed, 1 damaged G4M1 Betty: 6 damaged Allied aircraft losses F4F-4 Wildcat: 21 destroyed, 2 damaged Allied Ships BB Mississippi, Torpedo hits 1, on fire BB Tennessee Back in Java and the Mississippi takes another torp. She is at 22 Sys with about 30 flooding. Along with New Mexico these two BBs are in need of a full overhaul. They are converted to an escort TF, along with the rest of the BBs and DDs at Madioen, and head to Tjilitap. The combat replay is wildly wrong - I actually loose 7 Wildcats - more on this later. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ground combat at Lucknow Japanese Bombardment attack Attacking force 39354 troops, 291 guns, 0 vehicles Defending force 31448 troops, 220 guns, 2 vehicles Allied ground losses: 21 casualties reported I think he is happy to bombard while I am still strong enough to resist. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ground combat at Madioen Allied Deliberate attack Attacking force 13552 troops, 131 guns, 29 vehicles Defending force 0 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles Allied assault odds: 48 to 1 (fort level 0) Allied forces CAPTURE Madioen base !!! Japanese aircraft no flights Japanese aircraft losses Ki-46-II Dinah: 3 destroyed Ki-57-II Topsy: 15 destroyed L2D2 Tabby: 3 destroyed A very nice haul of damaged transport planes goes into the bag. It is sooooo nice to return this favour. Despite some pretty horrible Combat replay results taking Madioen actually means I get more of his ACs this turn than he gets mine: 27 to 44. Of the 44 he lost, 17 were zeros - all knocked down in the air! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ground combat at Tjilitjap Allied Deliberate attack Attacking force 19526 troops, 161 guns, 3 vehicles Defending force 0 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles Allied assault odds: 164 to 1 (fort level 0) Allied forces CAPTURE Tjilitjap base !!! The major port and interim airfield for this OP is captured - I am starting to feel a little better... -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- A very complicated set of moves this turn. The Air group of P-40Es at Waingapu split into components. 2/3rds go to Tjilitap and 1/3 to Madioen. There is no base force at Madioen so this is a very temporary measure - 2 base forces are due in tonight (subs permitting). The Hermes unloads the two Kiwi Kittyhawk sqds she has been mothering to Tjilitap. The sqd of marine SBDs moves to Tjilitap. Also a PBY and two dornier flying boat units arrive. This obviously bolsters my fighter capacity by a very large amount! The cruiser force at Batavia are going to bombard and stay at Batavia. The surface group of 1 CA and 5 DDs is going to try and hit Palembang. The damaged Portland inherits a DD and tries to get back out through the straits to get to Tjilitap. 1 Kittyhawk and the Fulmar unit off the Formidable are LRCAPing the cruiser force. The transport fleets start unloading again now. At Madioen the 1/3rd P-40E group are on CAP along with the other Kittyhawk sqd which are flying in from Tjilitap. At Tjilitap itself the 2/3rds P-40E group are ordered to LRCAP the base and the continued unloading process. Asdicus - I was a little light on supplies bought, there are 124K on board - a sizable sum. The other BB TF covering Tjilitap moves towards Batavia. As an aside the DD Isaac Sweers, which had been stuck on the reinforcement list forever, suddenly pops up in Tjilitap! I may have lost the use of the Caledon CLAA but the Isaac Sweers is a far superior AAA platform! The UK TF of carriers (a sub magnet) is broken up into the American fleets. An oiler Tf intercepted these guys today and topped up the tanks. They are ordered to follow the Batavia bound BB TF. I have changed the CAP settings to 50 and 60% on the wildcats - the carriers have changed from purely defense to defense and attack mode. 1 Wildcat sqd is going to attempt to LRCAP the Palembang bound surface force. Range will be an issue. To finish off the Java based moves, 4 Base units are arriving for offloading during the night move. India is still a nightmare but I am going to take the hits with my bomber forces now. He is loosing zeros and I am loosing fighters too. We shall press on with the bombing campaign! Ahlamabad is filling up with units. He is still 2 hexes away from getting there and as predicted the fort level went up to 4 - 17% to 5. 4 days until the Chindits! My little move to get around Asansol may not be the best idea - I am contemplating the timing. His forces are moving on Lucknow and I must look to retreat from there soon before he outflanks me. If I have to retreat from Lucknow before my units that go around Asansol can get there then they will be cut off. Very very risky. In China my tank unit at last cuts off his advanced scout unit. The whole Chinese Army is about to get some experience. I doubt I will actually manage to destroy this unit but it will retreat to an ugly out of the way location for him.

Grotius -> RE: More torpedo strikes on the fleet. (2/18/2005 11:59:41 PM)
Good job, Wobbly! If you get a chance to take a screenshot of your operation, that would be of keen interest to me. Glad to see you fighting the good fight.

asdicus -> RE: More torpedo strikes on the fleet. (2/19/2005 12:37:05 AM)
Can I suggest you avoid Madioen for unloading - it is a size 0 port ie a beach. Also by concentrating your transports at Tijilitjap you give yourself less places to have to cover from air attack. Do you have any dutch recon air units left ? If so it would be useful to recon the bases in java to see what you are up against. Sending ships to palembang is a dicey thing to do - they really are going to suffer if the weather stays clear. Your opponent is bound to be building up a real large antiship strike and that taskforce is way out of range of air cover. I urge you to be cautious now you are ashore. Keep your ships under land based air cover - you will need every surface combatant in due course when retribution arrives - just cover your airfields and transports while they unload. Don't forget to keep sending ships out of karachi every turn. Good luck !

Andy Mac -> RE: More torpedo strikes on the fleet. (2/19/2005 12:58:31 AM)
Yes but the reward if he can catch em on the ground...... Actually I think the risk is worth taking. Grounding Palembang and Batavia has to put a crimp in his ops And if it doesnt come off so be it !!!

wobbly -> CVS damaged in massive attacks (2/19/2005 11:36:11 PM)
The hammer falls - and it fell on me. Massive LBA attacks on carriers, errant cruisers and transports. Asdicus - you are right, the AI is the enemy though (and then LBA). The unloading at Madioen is very slow but the amount ashore is enough to get things moving. Andy - yep worth a crack I thought - thinking the other way now! Grotius - sorry read your post after writing the AAR. I'll get you another after tomorrows turn. no doubt I will know a little more then too. AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 06/27/42 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sub attack at 20,65 Japanese Ships SS RO-33 Allied Ships CLAA Caledon, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage Caledon is the first - of many I think - victims of the invasion of Java. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ASW attack at 20,4 Japanese Ships SS I-17, hits 3, on fire, heavy damage Allied Ships MSW Burnie MSW Romney MSW Poole MSW Cromer PG Hollyhock MSW Cairns Japanese ground losses: 19 casualties reported troop casualties in a sub??? This is up by Karachi. I think he wanted a more thorough assessment of strength there. They don't make it. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Night Time Surface Combat, near Batavia at 19,59 Japanese Ships DD Kamo, Shell hits 44, and is sunk Allied Ships CA Indianapolis CA Chester CA Louisville CA Chicago CA Pensacola CA Astoria CL Java CL Sumatra DD Litchfield DD Voyager shipping at Batavia meets my bombardment group - they find and despatch a few utility ships. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Night Time Surface Combat, near Batavia at 19,59 Japanese Ships MSW Tamozono Maru #1, Shell hits 5, and is sunk Allied Ships CA Indianapolis CA Chester CA Louisville CA Chicago CA Pensacola CA Astoria CL Java CL Sumatra DD Litchfield DD Voyager -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Night Time Surface Combat, near Batavia at 19,59 Japanese Ships PC Shimushu, Shell hits 25, and is sunk MSW W.5, Shell hits 20, and is sunk Allied Ships CA Indianapolis CA Chester CA Louisville CA Chicago CA Pensacola CA Astoria CL Java CL Sumatra DD Litchfield DD Voyager -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Naval bombardment of Batavia, at 19,59 - Coastal Guns Fire Back! 3 Coastal gun shots fired in defense. Allied Ships DD Voyager DD Litchfield CL Sumatra, Shell hits 2 CL Java CA Astoria CA Pensacola CA Chicago CA Louisville CA Chester, Shell hits 1 CA Indianapolis Japanese ground losses: 142 casualties reported Guns lost 3 Airbase hits 1 Runway hits 3 Port hits 4 Port fuel hits 3 Port supply hits 1 then bombard to little effect. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Air attack on Waingapu , at 27,74 Japanese aircraft Ki-21 Sally x 42 No Japanese losses Airbase supply hits 1 More bombing at Waingapu but there are were no planes here. This turn it is again loaded. I have also moved in some Demons - yes I know - what's the point, well they are unescorted. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Air attack on 5th Division, at 23,10 Allied aircraft Kittyhawk I x 12 Blenheim IV x 9 Hudson I x 9 Beaufort I x 6 Beaufort V-IX x 24 Allied aircraft losses Blenheim IV: 2 damaged Japanese ground losses: 49 casualties reported Guns lost 4 Just in case you had forgotten the bombers in Northern India continue to attack the units now only 1 hex out of Ahlamabad. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Air attack on TF at 21,56 Allied aircraft SBD Dauntless x 32 No Allied losses Japanese Ships ML Shirakami, Bomb hits 10, on fire, heavy damage OK, the begginning of a few anti-naval attacks by my carriers. They are nice, but the fact the happened was a real mistake. The carriers end up too close to Palembang and wear the wrath of the LBA - we'll cover this later. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Air attack on TF at 16,60 Allied aircraft SBD Dauntless x 17 No Allied losses Japanese Ships MSW W.14, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Air attack on TF at 21,57 Allied aircraft SBD Dauntless x 17 No Allied losses Japanese Ships AK Natisan Maru, Bomb hits 14, on fire, heavy damage -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Air attack on TF at 21,57 Allied aircraft SBD Dauntless x 17 No Allied losses Japanese Ships AK Shino Maru, Bomb hits 10, on fire, heavy damage -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Air attack on TF, near Madioen at 21,64 Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 85 G3M Nell x 15 G4M1 Betty x 11 Allied aircraft Kittyhawk I x 6 P-40E Warhawk x 13 Japanese aircraft losses A6M2 Zero: 14 destroyed G3M Nell: 4 damaged G4M1 Betty: 2 damaged Allied aircraft losses Kittyhawk I: 11 destroyed, 2 damaged P-40E Warhawk: 22 destroyed, 1 damaged Allied Ships AP Esperance Bay, Torpedo hits 2, on fire AP President Garfield, Torpedo hits 1 AP President Johnson, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage AP Wharton Allied ground losses: 74 casualties reported One hell of alot of zeros accompany the attacks on the landings at Madioen. I think his carriers are at Balikpapan and the zeros are accompanying the Betties and Nells. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Air attack on TF at 17,61 Japanese aircraft G4M1 Betty x 4 No Japanese losses Allied Ships TK Ven-Koh, Torpedo hits 1 THis one really hurt - fuel is becoming an issue and this hit was on my replenishment TF. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Air attack on TF at 18,58 Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 48 A6M3 Zero x 21 G3M Nell x 27 G4M1 Betty x 22 Allied aircraft Fulmar x 2 F4F-4 Wildcat x 48 Japanese aircraft losses A6M2 Zero: 38 destroyed, 1 damaged A6M3 Zero: 16 destroyed G3M Nell: 4 destroyed, 30 damaged G4M1 Betty: 10 destroyed, 19 damaged Allied aircraft losses Fulmar: 12 destroyed F4F-4 Wildcat: 58 destroyed, 8 damaged Allied Ships CV Formidable, Torpedo hits 1 CV Lexington, Torpedo hits 2, on fire CV Enterprise, Torpedo hits 2, heavy damage CVL Hermes, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage Kapow - all hell breaks loose. PLanes falling everywhere. When the smoke clears the following has occured. Lex and Enterprise are at 50% sys damage and about 15 and 45 flood respectively. They can both make 15 knots. This battle is over for them - whether or not I get them out will be the fun thing now. If the carriers I saw at Balikpapan are the KB then he will definately come hunting me. THe Hermes is all flooding but she can only make 13 knots. Formidable is flooded to 40% but amazingly is still at sys 11. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Air attack on TF, near Waingapu at 27,74 Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 8 G4M1 Betty x 6 Japanese aircraft losses G4M1 Betty: 3 damaged Allied Ships CL Emerald, Torpedo hits 1 THe Emerald is badly hurt and starts limping back to Derby. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Air attack on TF at 23,62 Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 40 G3M Nell x 6 G4M1 Betty x 30 Japanese aircraft losses G3M Nell: 4 damaged G4M1 Betty: 2 destroyed, 39 damaged Allied Ships DD Voyager CA Chicago, Torpedo hits 1, on fire CA Louisville, Torpedo hits 1, on fire CA Chester, Torpedo hits 1 CA Pensacola, Torpedo hits 1, on fire CL Java CA Indianapolis, Torpedo hits 1, on fire It starts with F and rhymes with duck. The bloody cruiser force decides to head to Tjilitap via the Soerbaja side of Java. They get royally shagged. I turn them around and try to coax them through the gap again. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Air attack on TF, near Madioen at 21,64 Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 102 G3M Nell x 9 G4M1 Betty x 13 Allied aircraft Kittyhawk I x 3 P-40E Warhawk x 2 Japanese aircraft losses A6M2 Zero: 2 destroyed G3M Nell: 1 damaged G4M1 Betty: 2 damaged Allied aircraft losses Kittyhawk I: 4 destroyed P-40E Warhawk: 5 destroyed Allied Ships AP Largs Bay AK West Shipper, Torpedo hits 1, on fire AP Henry T. Allen AK Lahaina, Torpedo hits 1, on fire AP Harris DD Lawrence Afternoon strikes against Madioen. Notice the number of zeros - that has to be carrier based. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Air attack on TF at 18,58 Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 21 A6M3 Zero x 13 G4M1 Betty x 4 Allied aircraft Fulmar x 10 F4F-4 Wildcat x 12 Japanese aircraft losses A6M2 Zero: 5 destroyed, 1 damaged G4M1 Betty: 5 destroyed Allied aircraft losses Fulmar: 6 destroyed F4F-4 Wildcat: 11 destroyed, 1 damaged Allied Ships CV Saratoga Now they have a crack at the healthy TF - luckily Sara is unscathed. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Air attack on TF at 15,58 Japanese aircraft G4M1 Betty x 3 Japanese aircraft losses G4M1 Betty: 2 damaged Allied Ships CA Portland, Torpedo hits 1, heavy damage Bugger, Portland - almost made it out to sea without being attacked. She wears it this turn. She is at float 60 and is going to head to sea before maybe trying to return to Tjilitap. This is very risky considering the airpower around but I have to try and get the float down. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ground combat at 45,30 Japanese Deliberate attack Attacking force 4889 troops, 39 guns, 0 vehicles Defending force 1760 troops, 0 guns, 76 vehicles Japanese assault odds: 9 to 1 Japanese ground losses: 98 casualties reported Guns lost 2 Allied ground losses: 56 casualties reported Vehicles lost 2 Defeated Allied Units Retreating! Timing is everything and once again PzBs luck and timing are excellent. IN northern China my blocking force is brushed aside before my main attack can hit his advanced spearhead. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ground combat at 44,30 Allied Deliberate attack Attacking force 174903 troops, 1379 guns, 0 vehicles Defending force 16271 troops, 165 guns, 0 vehicles Allied assault odds: 13 to 1 Japanese ground losses: 427 casualties reported Guns lost 39 Allied ground losses: 679 casualties reported Guns lost 14 Defeated Japanese Units Retreating! All too late. In the end I suffer more damage than he did. His units retreat towards Sian. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Well - that turned the heat up some!! I knew I would suffer some damage but hoped it would be only a single CV. It is a VERY long way to a safe haven. With 50 float damage it may be too far. At present I have put the helm about and made the ships head out to sea. All remaining Wildcats are on LRCAP - there are still about 50 that can defend the fleet. Hopefully his naval bombers are in pain as well. Many should be damaged. THe cruisers are going to try and get back onto the right side of the pond. I am relying on the retreat orders that killed me last turn. This time I have ordered the ships to head for the base to the North of Batavia. If the retreat back down the slot they are toast. Tjilitap still has a sizable fighter component and they put to the air. 28K of supplies have been offloaded so this should be enough to get some replacements - man I need them. I lost 80 planes to his 90 in that turn! The ground forces make good time towards their objectives. I think he is pulling out. Many little TFs buzzing around the main bases. He probably will pull out to come back with a really heavy hitting invasion force. I need more engineers to make a reception painful.

toraq -> RE: CVS damaged in massive attacks (2/20/2005 12:02:19 AM)
quote: Notice the number of zeros - that has to be carrier based. Watch the combat replay and look at the datais involved. If all of them are carrier based (I mean original datais assigned to the carriers) datais the CVs are just around. If only some are carrier based, maybe he has landed some Zeros to increase fighter power. Why did only 50 F4F take off on CAP?? It seems to me that you have pretty more fighters... Why did you put your carriers in a single TF? Good luck I think you will need it in the next days!

Andy Mac -> RE: CVS damaged in massive attacks (2/20/2005 12:46:47 AM)
Wobb a few suggestions detach at least 1 sqn of dauntlesses and definitley the devastators off of the damaged CV's use em to kill KB if its pathing brings it to close to Java. Avengers are close so the torp bombers could be usefull from land. Perhaps consider a speed run with the damaged carriers to Perth rather than Derby if the flooding looks ok I wouldnt get to close to Bali just now if KB is where you think it is he will try to cut you off. You need land forces to take Soerbijou pronto to allow airpower to close the southern passage from Borneo. Any PT boats or subs you could send to picket the passages between Timor and Bali ? Andy

asdicus -> RE: CVS damaged in massive attacks (2/20/2005 12:49:49 AM)
Crikey that really was a depressing turn to read. I might be a cautious brit but sending ships towards palembang was asking for it. No airfield bombardment is worth losing 3 or 4 cruisers for. I realise it is always easy to criticise with hindsight but to honest sending out your ships from tjilitjap without land based air cover was rash. If you think it is bad now look at the small number of bettys and nells he has used so far - he is bound to have many more torpedo planes available once your cap fighters are wittled away. At the moment you are offering your forces up for defeat in detail closer to his airbases rather than your own. Without giving anything away I am sure you can imagine that major retribution must be on the way - both carrier and surface ships - after all java is a tender spot to hit. You need to keep the carriers intact to keep the shipping lanes open. You need every surface ship to stop the inevitable ship bombardments to come. Draw in your horns back to Tjilitjap where you now have plenty of fighters. Let this port be a magnet for his airpower and win the air battle by attrition. Also repair the flotation damage on your ships at Tjilitjap before retiring them. The are obviously loads of subs about dead keen on getting ships with flotation damage. Unloading stuff at madioen is just diluting your air strength. Re task force going the wrong way - try setting a destination say east of batavia with a base of tjilitjap to get them home. Put a air recon unit on that island between java and australia - it might help you spot trouble in advance. Sorry to sound a bit passionate on this but as a brit I hate to see what is happening to your forces - come on lets make the japanese cry with pain at their losses for a while !

Andy Mac -> RE: CVS damaged in massive attacks (2/20/2005 12:55:23 AM)
Asdicus my understanding is that it wasnt that the palembang bombardment didnt work as such but that the TF Commander took the long way round via Bali bringing them into range of Borneo/ and Kendari and leaving them there in daylight thats why they got plastered..... and we all agree its high risk but thinking of the impact of earlier bombardments i.e. dauntlesses at batavia it was a risk that I think had to be taken at this stage.

asdicus -> RE: CVS damaged in massive attacks (2/20/2005 7:39:10 PM)
Just wanted to add a few things. I might be nagging to much on this but wobbly you have a lot of time and effort tied up in this game and I want to see things turn out as well as possible. In india Lucknow appears to be living on borrowed time although I understand you want to keep the place as long as possible to give your men time to retreat. The centre of gravity is now moving to Ahlamabad as his troops approach. Your airforce now has enough spitfires to make a difference - at lucknow they may get overrun anyday - send them out asap to where the real battles will be fought. The airbase just outside karachi is useful if you develop it - you can base planes safe from bombardment and they can strike at surface forces moving on karachi. Again I urge you to concentrate all your ships at Tjilitjap for repairs and resupply. There is a nice safe for now size 4 port there to use. Forget unloading at madioen - it is too vulnerable. The land based fighters can cover them. You need to be concentrated and ready for when the real opposition arrives. If possible keep the carriers in port for 2 july to get the fighter squadron size upgrade. As I mentioned before an air recon unit on that island between java/australia. The day of reckoning surely approaches and your forces need to be in the right place all together to fight and win. Ok no more preaching I will just watch the action for a while now.

CapAndGown -> RE: CVS damaged in massive attacks (2/21/2005 2:30:46 AM)
Hey Wob, Just want to say I have enjoyed this AAR. I have only read your side of things. I started on pg 1 of PzB's, but did not like the long, unedited combat reports. I have never liked that style of AAR. Guess I might keep up with things from your point of view. Spent all weekend (large parts of it anyway) reading through your AAR. Finally got up to the current invasion of Java. Too close to the KB if you ask me, and he seems likely to press ahead in India no matter what you do. I suspect you will lose anything you commit to Java. Too bad about your CVs. When you spanked Hiryu and Soryu I thought that maybe you had made up for a lot of problems, but apparently not. Why didn't you consider carrier raids to bust up supply runs to the Marshalls, etc.? Haven't got this game. Not sure I am going to either. I don't have enough time to even play UV anymore, much less this monster. How long do you spend on your turns? I used to spend at least 1/2 hour per UV turn, many times even longer. I like to micro-manage, especially when it comes to pilot fatigue. Can you now fly your planes on perpetual 60% CAP and not have them totally exhausted? That would save some time.

wobbly -> RE: CVS damaged in massive attacks (2/21/2005 3:38:17 AM)
More bombing around Java - the carriers (bar Hermes) and Cruisers are spared for antoher turn. Asdicus - It is much as Andy put it. The movement AI decided to move the CAs down the Eastern side of java - not my doing. What was my doing was looking at the route taken to batavia (as a test with my CAs) and then NOT changing it - big faux pas - imagine my surprise finding CAs in Batavia harbour on the next turn - I should have turned them around that turn! If you do set a location to head on the eastern side of Java they stay east trying to get back to Tjilitap. I have tried to target the location to the NW of batavia this time - read on for the outcome. The current way being taken out of the schlop is to do as you have put forward: place everything under the air umbrella of Tjilitap. It is taking a while to get the slower ships there so he is picking off stragglers. Madioen is still unloading and I will move them to Tjilitap in the next turn. In the meantime the transports continue to wear pain. Lucknow actually look better than I first thought. He is having a hard time of moving through the trails to it, so I have a bit more time than first thought. I have returned the spitfires and 1 hurricane sqd back north though. Andy - once again you've read my mind - the carriers are heading to Perth but I can't offload the air groups due to damage. Cap_and_gown - yes mate I remember you from your threads in the UV forum. It take me about an hour to do a turn - inclusive is watching the combat replay. This can be extended by quite a margin if somethign big is on and every so often I do a check of everything I think is pertinent. A micromanager will have trouble - there is too much to do using that technique. There are locations where the heat is on and I try to micromanage those rather than the whole lot. As for harrasing the Marshals, well you can do it but that is the big difference about UV and WitP: size. While you may be able to pound away at a seemingly out of the way location, you never really know when the KB will pop up and ruin your day. My take is it is an intriguing game but it has some very broken bits still incorporated. AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 06/28/42 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sub attack at 21,2 Japanese Ships SS I-153 Allied Ships MSW Cromer, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage MSW Burnie MSW Romney MSW Poole PG Hollyhock MSW Cairns By karachi I try to hit another lurkign sub - this time te tables are turned. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Air attack on 5th Division, at 23,9 Allied aircraft Wellington III x 23 P-40E Warhawk x 14 B-17E Fortress x 18 No Allied losses Japanese ground losses: 164 casualties reported Guns lost 6 Vehicles lost 1 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Air attack on 18th Division, at 23,9 Allied aircraft Kittyhawk I x 2 Blenheim IV x 6 Hudson I x 4 Beaufort I x 3 Beaufort V-IX x 9 No Allied losses Japanese ground losses: 26 casualties reported Vehicles lost 1 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Air attack on 56th Division, at 23,9 Allied aircraft Kittyhawk I x 10 Blenheim IV x 3 Hudson I x 6 Beaufort I x 4 Beaufort V-IX x 9 No Allied losses Japanese ground losses: 80 casualties reported Guns lost 3 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Air attack on 55th/B Division, at 26,10 Allied aircraft Spitfire Vb x 6 Vildebeest IV x 8 No Allied losses Japanese ground losses: 31 casualties reported Guns lost 1 Daily bombing of the troops marching on Ahlamabad is getting heavier. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Air attack on TF, near Madioen at 21,64 Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 36 G3M Nell x 3 G4M1 Betty x 6 Allied aircraft Kittyhawk I x 15 Japanese aircraft losses G3M Nell: 4 damaged G4M1 Betty: 6 damaged Allied aircraft losses Kittyhawk I: 9 destroyed, 1 damaged Allied Ships AP President Johnson, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage AP Wharton, Torpedo hits 1, on fire AP Henry T. Allen, Torpedo hits 1 My untrained Kiwi Kittyhawks are taking a pounding and they don't manage to stop the incoming raid in any way really. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Air attack on TF, near Tjilitjap at 19,62 Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 22 A6M3 Zero x 8 G3M Nell x 6 G4M1 Betty x 12 Allied aircraft F4F-4 Wildcat x 9 P-40E Warhawk x 34 Japanese aircraft losses A6M2 Zero: 22 destroyed A6M3 Zero: 2 destroyed G3M Nell: 4 destroyed G4M1 Betty: 4 destroyed, 6 damaged Allied aircraft losses F4F-4 Wildcat: 8 destroyed P-40E Warhawk: 40 destroyed, 4 damaged Allied Ships AK Mormacrio, Torpedo hits 1, on fire AK Maine CL St. Louis It is a different story in Tjilitap where the P-40s loose 15 of their number but do the same number of damage to the incoming raid for one hit on an empty AK - it goes into Tjilitap port. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Air attack on TF at 15,60 Japanese aircraft A6M3 Zero x 25 Ki-30 Ann x 17 Allied aircraft F4F-4 Wildcat x 56 Japanese aircraft losses A6M3 Zero: 42 destroyed Ki-30 Ann: 33 destroyed, 7 damaged Allied aircraft losses F4F-4 Wildcat: 9 destroyed, 3 damaged Allied Ships CV Saratoga CV Hornet, Bomb hits 1 PvB moved some Anns to Batavia. They are escorted by some M3 type zeros against the carriers and get utterly slaughtered. All Daitais of zeros fail morale and return. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Air attack on TF at 15,60 Japanese aircraft D3A Val x 24 Allied aircraft F4F-4 Wildcat x 52 Japanese aircraft losses D3A Val: 59 destroyed, 6 damaged Unescorted attacks are welcomed just as much. The navy wildcats have a field day. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Air attack on TF at 17,60 Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 3 A6M3 Zero x 2 G3M Nell x 3 Japanese aircraft losses G3M Nell: 2 damaged Allied Ships CVL Hermes, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage The Hermes is unable to keep up with the bigger US flat tops and has no CAP. 2 more torps has her at 47 SYS and 80 float - two hexes away from Tjilitap - it will be touch and go. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Air attack on TF at 22,61 Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 30 G4M1 Betty x 2 Japanese aircraft losses G4M1 Betty: 2 destroyed Allied Ships CA Astoria many of his naval bombers have been damaged and despite the heavy escort the bombers themselves do not manage to hit the Astoria. She is the only one of the damaged CAs targeted this turn. However, the CAs have made very poor coverage on their way back to Tjilitap. They are still on the wrong side of Java! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sub attack near Madioen at 21,64 Japanese Ships SS RO-62, hits 1, on fire Allied Ships AP Van Neck, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage AP President Polk DD Mahan DD Helm Allied ground losses: 71 casualties reported This is a painful hit as a sizable chunk of a base unit is on this AP. She is at 80 float! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ground combat at 23,9 Japanese Deliberate attack Attacking force 22999 troops, 240 guns, 3 vehicles Defending force 240 troops, 6 guns, 0 vehicles Japanese assault odds: 770 to 1 Japanese ground losses: 11 casualties reported Allied ground losses: 134 casualties reported Guns lost 3 Defeated Allied Units Retreating! My blocking force S of Ahlamabad is forced to retreat to Ahlamabad itself. Nothing remains in the way of his advancing hoard. The new battleground will be Ahlamabad - it is nearing size 5 forts. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ground combat at 24,11 Japanese Deliberate attack Attacking force 7536 troops, 85 guns, 2 vehicles Defending force 2924 troops, 51 guns, 0 vehicles Japanese assault odds: 1 to 1 Japanese ground losses: 143 casualties reported Guns lost 5 Vehicles lost 1 Allied ground losses: 14 casualties reported Guns lost 1 This is his army threatening Delhi. I've actually managed to hold them with a motley band of bitsa units. I will augment it to see if I can hold for longer. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The carriers continue to move away to the West. They may be able to get out to a range where they are safer, I am toying with flying a wildcat sqd back to Tjilitap to replace lost ACs. Most ships other than the Madoien invasion force, 2 ASW forces and the errant cruisers are now at Tjilitap. The cruisers may actually maange to make it back to Tjilitap due to the loss of bombers or damage that they have incurred. Subs are my worst fear and I have tried to get some ASW units into the likely location for them. I am having a problem with the ground units reseting their movement. I think it is because of bit of units unloading into the hex. All combat units are ashore at Tjilitap now so this should no longer continue. There is 52K supplies ashore now and this is plenty enough to provide replacements to losses of the fighter units. Just have to get them airworthy again. A whole swag of level bombers arrived at Madioen this turn. They are set to bomb at 2000 ft at range 3. I think he is looking to put into Soerbaja. More beauforts especially are on the stepping stone to Java.

Smiffus64 -> RE: CVS damaged in massive attacks (2/21/2005 1:09:32 PM)
Oh man, this is gripping stuff.

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