RE: Madras Falls

RE: Madras Falls (Full Version)

All Forums >> [Current Games From Matrix.] >> [World War II] >> War In The Pacific - Struggle Against Japan 1941 - 1945 >> After Action Reports

Message

Raverdave -> RE: Madras Falls (12/9/2004 12:30:13 PM)
Wobbly....your Intel of the IJN strength at Tarawa troubles me....7 units spotted with a total of 700 men?

Gen.Hoepner -> RE: Madras Falls (12/9/2004 12:31:36 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: Raverdave Wobbly....your Intel of the IJN strength at Tarawa troubles me....7 units spotted with a total of 700 men? Agree. Sounds kinda weird

wobbly -> RE: Madras Falls (12/11/2004 8:18:04 AM)
2 days again - quiet one yesterday marred by teh KB sinking Columbo - I so thought she had made it though. Today was far more fireworks - heavy air attack on Jamshedpur catches first Wellingtons on the ground and the first land attack is suffered at Calcutta. OK guys - a bit of a pause there while we wait for the forums to be maintained. Raver agreed, I don't know quite what to make of it hence what I consider as overkill - a whole division plus tank brigade, engineers and othe sundries. If it appears tobe going pear shaped there are alot of floating reserves. It is very strange - I have reconned the place continually for about 10 turns and the intel is not changing. I do know he reinforced recently .Maybe a sub landed commando mission? Is this too gamey? AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 05/03/42 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TF 87 encounters mine field at Madras (18,21) Japanese Ships MSW W.11 MSW W.20 MSW W.14 MSW W.13 MSW W.3 MSW W.2 DD Ushio PG Uji DD Oboro, Mine hits 1, on fire Nice additional damage at Madras - I'll take it any way I can get it. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Air attack on Jamshedpur , at 28,22 Japanese aircraft Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 24 Ki-21 Sally x 117 Allied aircraft P-40E Warhawk x 5 Japanese aircraft losses Ki-21 Sally: 2 destroyed, 13 damaged Allied aircraft losses P-40E Warhawk: 1 destroyed Wellington III: 7 destroyed, 9 damaged Hurricane II: 11 destroyed, 5 damaged Lysander I: 5 destroyed, 3 damaged B-17E Fortress: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged Allied ground losses: 21 casualties reported Airbase hits 15 Airbase supply hits 8 Runway hits 64 he is get more fond of these 5000 ft airfield attacks. many new Hurricanes are smashed on teh ground and the first Wellingtons are turned into a pyre. I move the Wellingotns out (damn should have done that before) to get themselves ready. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Air attack on Akyab , at 30,29 Allied aircraft Wirraway x 7 Blenheim IV x 9 Beaufort V-IX x 26 Allied aircraft losses Beaufort V-IX: 2 destroyed, 4 damaged Airbase supply hits 1 Runway hits 2 I have been waiting for this attack for what seems ages - they come from Mandalay. The issue is that Mandalay is still a small airfield so they will be taking reduced bomb loads. I am suffering from a dearth of good airfields now. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Air attack on Chandpur , at 30,25 Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 14 Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 6 Allied aircraft Kittyhawk I x 9 P-40E Warhawk x 13 B-17E Fortress x 26 Japanese aircraft losses A6M2 Zero: 9 destroyed, 8 damaged Allied aircraft losses P-40E Warhawk: 14 destroyed B-17E Fortress: 6 destroyed, 7 damaged Japanese ground losses: 205 casualties reported Guns lost 3 Airbase hits 1 Runway hits 19 I try to repay the favour at Chandpur. The problem is he had all his bombers in the air when I struck. Some Fortresses fail to come home and this time the zero superiority deals to the Warhawks again. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Air attack on 72nd Chinese Corps, at 45,26 Japanese aircraft Ki-48 Lily x 32 Ki-49 Helen x 15 No Japanese losses Allied ground losses: 52 casualties reported My Chinese are off the main road and have started their long trek back to Chungking. I wonder whether my timing is a bit off here as he may turn the large army in the North around leaving a smidgeon to take out the remaining Northern bases. The troops aiming at Sian are almost in teh hex nest to their target. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ground combat at Calcutta Japanese Deliberate attack Attacking force 129158 troops, 1211 guns, 808 vehicles Defending force 53932 troops, 375 guns, 487 vehicles Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 7 Japanese assault odds: 0 to 1 (fort level 7) Japanese ground losses: 4186 casualties reported Guns lost 143 Vehicles lost 8 Allied ground losses: 1135 casualties reported Guns lost 36 Vehicles lost 10 PzB never fails to remove a level of fortification! He only has 1 engineer unit there but still I am reduced to level 7. He does pay handsomely to do it though, nearly 4 to 1 losses. Unfortunately I need those kind of losses to continue. 1 to 1 is a win to him as he outnumbers me 2 to 1. As for the forts I am at 80 percent back up to level 8 but he will get an attack in at 7 so I will be ressurrecting level 7 not 8. I am now in a desperate race to get more troops to Calcutta. An Indian Division that had left the Northern Rangoon blocking force is now in position at Myrikina to be ferried (via air) to Dimapur. My plan is to move the 2nd of these Dakota groups to Dimapur and ferry the troops there to Diamond Harbour. There is another Indian Division defending Diamond harbour and it can go to Calcutta. The regiment of the 18th on its way to Calcutta is still a fair distance away - I need to light a fire under their ass! What will he do? Bomb the units at Calcutta? I think so - that last attack would have hurt. I am still very weak in fighter numbers so an all out defense is not on the cards - oh how I need those Kittyhawks to make it! Next turn maybe... -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ground combat at Yanam Japanese Deliberate attack Attacking force 678 troops, 2 guns, 0 vehicles Defending force 0 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles Japanese assault odds: 3 to 1 (fort level 2) Japanese forces CAPTURE Yanam base !!! Ok - so he takes Yanam. It is very isolated from the rest of the Indian bases - no real worry (I hope that doesn't come back to bite me). -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Alrighty then A new Operation: Mercury, is on the go. Mercury is a lightning strike with surface units on the shipping at Trim harbour. The KB is swanning around in between Trim and Andaman and the air units at Trim are not that devastating. I need a bit of poor weather and alot of luck - this will be an attack easily called off. The moon will need to be in the crease of Uranus and we will have to throw salt over our sholder and rubbing iron while circling 3 times anticlockwise around the Mulberry bush before it gets the green light. I suppose what I am saying is thunderstorms and Kittyhawks on LRCAP might be nice. Mercury puts to sea from Panaji made of 2 CAs, 1 CL and 8 DDs. The 2nd oz Division keeps moving North and is at about the latitude of Soerbaja - only much farther to the West. The unloading of the base unit at PM has gone ahead now the supplies are bing done. A very strange attack on the combat replay, from PM to Lae, today. I had 26 or so B-17s escorted by 20 or so P-40s. They met zeros and oscars and got hammered. The funny thing is both the B-17s and the P-40s are back at Oz and only damaged remnants are at PM?? The combat text file shows no indication of the attack - very strange. PzB was very happy with his zero's defense - I will be unhappy if the ACs shot down count. There are jap ships at Lunga! What is he up to. My transport fleet is about to arrive with the vehicles not taken in the Fast transport that went there originally. I have ample protection in this force and it is only holding the vehicles in 3 Aks so should unload very quickly. I which i had the dauntlesses still there but I think they are not bombing because it is still only size 1. this turn I will move 18 or so tomahawks up to Lunga to protect the transport fleet - he did scout them last turn.... The troops for Whiskey and are both loaded. Blab is slated to go in first under the cover of the Carriers. Long Island is loaded with a sqd of Wildcats to be based there once I take it (if I take it...) Then it is re-provision and on to Rabaul... I am starting to feel the lack of transport shipping due to so many ships invoved int eh coming invasions. Another influx is slated for 11 days but a large convoy of 10 Aps (mostly size 6000) has left sydney bound for the states. The have a minor unit called the 1st Marine Division to pick up [:)]

asdicus -> RE: Madras Falls (12/11/2004 7:29:16 PM)
Just wanted to add my voice to those applauding this brilliant pbm game. Everyday I look forward to seeing how things are going. This fascinating story is the best possible advert for the game - once you start you just can't stop ! My money is on the japanese in india but being british I hope the allies can pull something out of the hat. A few general suggestions for the allies noting I do not want to give away any secrets. Troop reinforcement by sea to india is going to be a very dicey deal now the japanese have so many airbases in india. Perhaps you should locate their air concentrations and bomb their airfields ? Otherwise the transports are dead meat. Also break down to single ship taskforces they seem much harder to spot. I am not convinced of the need to attack in the south pacific. Except for say rabaul or truk or the marianas nothing there is vital to the japanese. He can use his large numbers of betty's to counterattack and otherwise just ignore you. The usa carriers are vulnerable to air attack - why not wait for the carrier upgrades and just build up port moresby and lunga ? In july the usa carriers get more fighters 27-36 and in october the 40mm bofors upgrade. If you get the usa carriers sunk now you can do nothing til mid 1943. To summarise be cautious - keep the carriers safe for now. Often the allies get struck by the 'do something' disease - sometimes do nothing works just as well or better.

Strv103C -> RE: Madras Falls (12/11/2004 9:46:45 PM)
Yes, I agree on those transports. It might be wise to split up the transports when the deadstar is nearby. With wobblys luck in this game it would not surprise me if they suddenly decide to take a tour down the indian ocean, of course at the worst possible moment.

wobbly -> Calcutta has Teeth (12/12/2004 4:22:44 AM)
A large combat at Lunga between a surface unit PzB had there and my transport holding the vehicles for my engineer unit. Naval strikes from Rabul on the same transport TF. Another attack on Calcutta. Asdicus - welcome to the PBEm and thanks for the vote of encouragement. I'll try to better my ways with the Raj but as you say they seem on the back foot (nice cricket saying for you there). I do indeed hear you about the pros and cons of attack versus waiting. I think the fear of attack is mainly around the fear of the KB. Well I know exactly where that is so I know it isn't going ot pop up in the South Pacific and I doubt he will want to commit the CVLs against my carriers. I do very much agree with your assessment of the Marshals now. THat was a hiding to nothing this early. Rabaul though is not such a pipe dream. I will have 100 B-17s and plenty of Hudsons to try and shut the place down before BBs get into range to then really silence the place. It is that all important land based air range - Rabaul at least has that. He may not sweat the loss of Rabaul itslef but he will sweat teh loss of truk - the next obvious target. As to getting transports up to India with troops. yes I agree about slipping them in as ones. As STRV103C has pointed out my luck sucks so far in this game (although today wasn't too bad - read on), knowing this I wanted to keep the transports under the wing of the DDs I am using for ASW work until the last minute. I have found out the hard way that you can get passed Ceylon out to the West quite easily in single ship TFs. I also agree that I need to bomb his Westerly airfields. Once my Wellingtons come on line that sort of tactic will be utilised. Remelber though I only have the tiny ranged Hurricanes in any abundance and rely heavily on my one sqd of P-40s for bombing escorts - this is another reason why the kittyhawks are vital. Please cross all fingers, toes once round the maypole etc that I can get them in this turn. If he moves the KB further south at the wrong time well I will be toast. THis is another reason for Mercury though - to show him that he can't afford to leave Trim undefended. AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 05/04/42 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TF 1022 encounters mine field at Lunga (67,97) Allied Ships DD Waters DD Preston During the night my transport TF does enter Lunga bay - finds mines and also sights enemy surface units and retreats one hex. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Air attack on TF, near Lunga at 67,97 Japanese aircraft G3M Nell x 18 G4M1 Betty x 13 Allied aircraft F4F-4 Wildcat x 18 P-40B Tomahawk x 10 Japanese aircraft losses G3M Nell: 16 destroyed, 2 damaged G4M1 Betty: 4 destroyed, 7 damaged Allied aircraft losses F4F-4 Wildcat: 2 damaged P-40B Tomahawk: 1 damaged Allied Ships CL Detroit CL Adelaide DD Schley The twin engine navy bombers fly - without escort - against my invaison that has snuck back into harbour during the day. I had moved up a sqd of Tomahawks from Luganville. They get aloft with the Wildcats and the Cactus airforce goes to town. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Air attack on TF, near Port Moresby at 53,91 Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 2 G4M1 Betty x 3 Allied aircraft Kittyhawk I x 7 Japanese aircraft losses G4M1 Betty: 3 damaged Allied Ships AK Surigao, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage Another attack out of Rabaul hits the AKs at PM unloading more supplies - 3 Betties do better against the slower transport ships than the more numerous (but more harried) cousins at Lunga. The Surigao is badly damged and is immediately put into dock alongside two other transport ships that have been going up and down the floatation levels for the last month in Port Moresby. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Air attack on TF, near Lunga at 67,97 Japanese aircraft G3M Nell x 3 G4M1 Betty x 22 Allied aircraft F4F-4 Wildcat x 15 P-40B Tomahawk x 9 Japanese aircraft losses G3M Nell: 2 destroyed, 1 damaged G4M1 Betty: 13 destroyed, 2 damaged Allied aircraft losses F4F-4 Wildcat: 2 destroyed, 1 damaged P-40B Tomahawk: 1 damaged Allied Ships DD Conyngham CL Adelaide CL Detroit DD Schley Once is not enough - the veteren bomber forces try again, also doing the hard yards without escort. The cactus airforce is up to the challenge and by the end of the day 25 or so priceless naval bombers are taken out - who knows how many of them were with loss of pilots - hopefully all. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Time Surface Combat, near Lunga at 67,97 Japanese Ships CL Katori, Shell hits 38, on fire CL Kashima, Shell hits 34, on fire, heavy damage Allied Ships CL Adelaide, Shell hits 11 CL Detroit, Shell hits 7 DD Conyngham, Shell hits 3, on fire DD Preston, Shell hits 7, on fire, heavy damage DD Schley, Shell hits 2, and is sunk DD Waters, Shell hits 3, on fire, heavy damage AK Santa Rita AK Kanlaon II AK Morazan This was a truely entertaining battle. Both sides sight each other. First thing to note is the report I had of two cruisers in Lunga harbour is proved correct and I thnk my caution that I bought Detroit and Adelaide (as it turns out these two are intergral to the battle). The Detroit finds the range first and starts hitting the Katori but at 16K range the rounds are bouncing off. The Japs close and start landing 5.5" rounds on the two cruisers, which also bounce, and so change targets to the DDs. This immediately pays dividends with Preston getting internal secondary explosions and then the same old same old as Schley's magazine explodes. The range is closed again. This time the allied Cruisers and their 6" guns start penetrating the Jap cruisers, who can't repay the favour so continue to concentrate on the DDs. Another allied DDs is seriously damged and the last takes minor damage. The Jap CL Kashima weathers half a doze secondary explosions, the Katori is not so bad. Both sides retreat - in the case of my transport fleet - out of the hex. The Preston will likely sink or require scuttling and the Waters will need time in dry dock. The rest of the TF are going to try again as the transports are untouched, they haven't unloaded their cargo though. Both Detroit and Adelaide have minor damage - no penetrating hits suffered. I wonder what may have happened if a night engagement had occured and torps came into play? -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ground combat at Calcutta Japanese Deliberate attack Attacking force 125114 troops, 1015 guns, 792 vehicles Defending force 52732 troops, 334 guns, 484 vehicles Japanese assault odds: 0 to 1 (fort level 7) Japanese ground losses: 2474 casualties reported Guns lost 49 Allied ground losses: 569 casualties reported Guns lost 41 Vehicles lost 12 I was just whinging at PzB that he seems to knock a fort level off evey time he attacks and Karma makes me eat my words (in this case I'll call it good Karma though). 4 to 1 in men but I am loosing guns and tanks at an alarming rate. I do think PzB is a little more worried about the Calcutta adventure now. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- In the Indian sphere, operation Mercury moves closer to position without being seen. I set a sqd of Buffalos and Fulmars over it and they attempt to move closer. I am so playing with fire on this one as Trim has anval bombers and zeros while the KB only needs to move a few hexs North as well as West to be in range. I doubt this last one though as he is relying on a net across the whole of the Bay of Japan as he is now calling it. The Hermes is also playing with fire. I try to get the range in the next turn by moving North and West rather than just North. The KB is that close (I am also very low on fuel so have little room for error. My Dakotas did a reasonable job moving men and the plan highlighted last turn goes into effect. 12 Dakotas will now move parts of the unit that are coming across from Myitkina via the 16 size Dakota sqd. The Indian Brigade at Diamond Harbour moves up to Calcutta. Calcutta itself is at 95% for moving back up to fort level 8. He is moving more units in though. In Burma most of my Chinese Divisions are digging themselves in over the river from Rangoon. I hope their fortification level can get high enough as they are low quality low morale troops. In China my Sian force is now visible to PzB and he scoffs at it. I hope he is not too correct. I have seen how chinese units go on the attack and they are pretty poor. These units have suffered battle and had their expereince increased. Some are even at 70-85%. Morale is the issue though many are below 40. He has 12 units there and more he can bring up on the rail network no doubt. The size 12 and 48 Groups of B-17s at Darwin are bought across to Cairns ready for Operation Whiskey and the softening up of Lae. The Americal Division refuels at Johnson and moves south again ready for the assault at Tarawa. Raverdave - reassessment of numbers they are now at 1200 - still doesn't feel right. He is up to something the cheeky monkey. At Pearl yet another RCT starts loading - this is for further reserves in case there aren't enoug in a Division at Tarawa. I don't really want to use unts for Whiskey in the assault here.

String -> RE: Calcutta has Teeth (12/12/2004 12:23:23 PM)
ahh.. clearly there are 6 CD units and one SNLF stationed at Tarawa [:D]

Strv103C -> RE: Calcutta has Teeth (12/12/2004 5:23:57 PM)
Well, I�m not so lycky either as Singapore may fall before january 1942. Or rather I must be the worst allied general there is. If i would be rated in witp I would have got like minus 38 in leadership... [8\|]

wobbly -> Another good day (12/12/2004 11:26:57 PM)
A very good day for the allies. Both Operations Pedastal and Mercury are successful. String - you are an evil man - a pox upon you and your house [:D] STRV103C - I don't think loosing Singapore before January is that much of a 'bad general' portent. If the Jap is willing to chance his arm by invading at Johore Bharu he can have Singapore very quickly. As an Allied commander, if they try that, the sacrifice of Force Z can through that tactic into a real tail spin. AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 05/05/42 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sub attack at 13,23 Japanese Ships SS I-169, hits 2, on fire Allied Ships CL Newcastle DD Panther DD Paladin DD Isis DD Stewart DD Whipple DD Bulmer Mercury is found just north of Columbo by a sub - thankfully the torpedoes miss - the depth charges don't! However the sub is very close to Trimcommalee so will make it to a very able port without much fuss. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Air attack on Colombo , at 14,24 Japanese aircraft Ki-21 Sally x 15 Japanese aircraft losses Ki-21 Sally: 6 damaged Airbase hits 3 Airbase supply hits 1 Runway hits 8 A very interesting strike this one. He is aiming for the airstrip at Columbo! Many reasons for this. He could be trying to hit the search planes based there - I am finding the KB every turn so surpise is not with him while it is around. He may be contemplating an invasion - he now has the troops that were tied down North of Rangoon free for new operations. He may just not want to have an operational airbase so close to his best port... What I can take from this is he again does not have any zeros escorting the raid. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Air attack on 66th Chinese Corps, at 46,29 Japanese aircraft Ki-27 Nate x 12 Ki-48 Lily x 15 Ki-49 Helen x 12 No Japanese losses Allied ground losses: 32 casualties reported As I wrote in the previous script he has found my Sian invasion. He bombs it this turn from Sian. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Air attack on TF at 13,23 Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 4 G3M Nell x 19 Allied aircraft Fulmar x 9 Buffalo I x 12 Japanese aircraft losses G3M Nell: 3 destroyed, 10 damaged Allied aircraft losses Buffalo I: 2 destroyed, 1 damaged Allied Ships CA Devonshire CL Birmingham DD Isis The Jap Naval airforce takes to the air to teach Mercury a lesson. In this case they forget most of their fighters and although they are only up against Fulmars and Buffalos they come out worse from the encounter. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Air attack on TF at 13,23 Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 17 Ki-21 Sally x 15 Allied aircraft Fulmar x 9 Buffalo I x 11 Japanese aircraft losses A6M2 Zero: 3 destroyed Ki-21 Sally: 6 damaged Allied aircraft losses Fulmar: 6 destroyed Buffalo I: 4 destroyed Allied Ships DD Stewart CA Devonshire DD Whipple This time the zeros come along and they take a toll of the defending fighters. These Fulmars are flown by capable pilots however and they bag two zeros and the Buffalos get one as well (their claims are actually correct!) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Air attack on TF at 13,23 Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 8 G3M Nell x 12 Allied aircraft Fulmar x 6 Buffalo I x 9 Japanese aircraft losses G3M Nell: 7 damaged Allied aircraft losses Fulmar: 1 damaged Allied Ships CL Newcastle, Torpedo hits 1 CA Devonshire DD Paladin More attacks - now this one is false - there is no hit on the Newcastle. In the end I loose 3 Fulmars and 3 Buffalos but knock down 3 zeros, 7!!! Nells and 3 Sallies. Not a single ship was hit and they all have 1000 operational points in the bank - more on this later. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ground combat at Calcutta Allied Bombardment attack Attacking force 31868 troops, 283 guns, 410 vehicles Defending force 142623 troops, 1103 guns, 792 vehicles Japanese ground losses: 53 casualties reported Guns lost 3 Vehicles lost 1 Only I attack in Calcutta this turn - knocking a few more gun tubes and troops off him. He has increased his numbers again as more units march in. However, his waiting has meant I am back to fortress level 8 again!!! What's more the Diamond Harbour brigade has made it to Calcutta. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The other fantastic news is that Hermes makes it into range of Columbo with the Kittyhawks and they all make the transfer without loss! Pedastal is a success and hopefully I can repeat it. The tankers out of Karachi have a very long way to go to fuel up the task force but the initial transfer is a success. Some important news this turn is that Madras is now operational as an enemy airbase - what's worse is it is loaded with aircraft (some of the attacks on Mercury were from Madras). This puts most of the ports up the Western coast of India within range of the dreaded Nells and Betties and their uber night port raids. Karachi for instance has about 200 ships in it! Therefore I am putting alot of my shipping to sea. I have a sqd of Mohawks arriving in a few days, and with the arrival of the Kittyhawks a few of the front line jobs can be halted for these lesser aircraft, they will still be effective behind the lines. So Mercury, with all its operational points intact, will retire at full speed away from the danger zone now. PzB 'should' move the KB North in an attempt to kill cripples of an attack he may think I am mad enough to attempt. The point of Mercury was really to make him realise that I can get into an attacking position with my surface units and that he can't retire the KB or look to go south with it if he wants to offset this danger. Another piece of news is that PzB has reconned Diamond Harbour. This is a very viable option for him - the taking of Diamond Harbour from the sea. To this end I am going to retire another of the Brigades of one of the Indian Divisions now in Calcutta to recuperate in Diamond harbour. He will only be able to recon the numbers not the quality (without landing). The first load of troops have flown in from Dimapur (more get flown to Dimapur from Mitayakin). Another welcome addition is the approach of the 3rd Regiment of the 18th - now 5 hexes out of Calcutta, the Jewel of Eastern India is getting harder and harder for him to take. The RAF in India is still in a half baked position. I have about 28 functional Wellingtons out of 50, only 20 B-17s are airworthy and of course they take forever to repair. The Hurricanes are coming back online in dribs and drabs. There is no way I can look to be offensive for quite some time. The Aussie 2nd is chugging North and has not encountered anything for the moment - I know there are a few admirers that are a little worried about how they are doing... well I am trying to manipulate the KB in order to give them a better than fighting chance. In China the Sian attack is still on - he would always see me coming - can't let him think he is the only one allowed to do the attacking. The P-39s out of PM are starting to take heavier toll of the AGs he is sending from Rabaul, I deleted the attack but 2 more were reported with heavy damage. At Lunga the engineering vehicles get dropped off without incident - weather hemmed in Henderson field. Coast Watchers at Tulagi see a badly smoking CL float past and then dock at the port. The Adelaide splits from the transport Tf, loads some of the RCT at Henderson and will drop them at Tulagi. can't have him sitting ships in port to repair that close. The Tomahawks will also be retired and the dauntlesses bought up on naval attack. Lunga is now level 2. Yikes, the constant recon action at Tarawa appears to be making PzB twitch. APDs and DDs are reported there today. This is all coming together too slowly. He will have half the IJN there by the time I arrive!

Strv103C -> RE: Another good day (12/13/2004 12:33:26 AM)
I told you about the Fulmars potential... [:D] I think that Singapore (in my game) will hold until early january because he landed at mersing and have not taken Johore Bharu yet so now most of my units have retreated there and will make their last stand in Singapore. And I secured "product samples", by subs, from the units i Malaya so I can rebuild them. Just love the SVFF sample that consists of 3 mortars and they will sure share their experience to the new recruits. [:D] Well, I hope that the fine 2nd Aussie division lands OK for you.

asdicus -> RE: Another good day (12/13/2004 12:57:33 AM)
I am glad the kittyhawks made it ok to land - those aussie troops must be very nervous stuck in those ships - remember the suggestion to split up the taskforce carrying them. I have found that splitting up aircraft groups into squadrons helps greatly in the repair rates especially for the b17's. There is a danger you might get fixated on the defense of calcutta in the indian campaign. Remember there are other bases in india you cannot afford to giveup. Looking forward to the next few weeks - gosh this is better than any history book !

Central Blue -> RE: Another good day (12/13/2004 2:44:49 AM)
Wobbly.... try dividing your large groups. for some reason this adds to more of them being ready

rogueusmc -> RE: Another good day (12/13/2004 5:23:12 AM)
quote: Quote: wobby If the Jap is willing to chance his arm by invading at Johore Bharu he can have Singapore very quickly. He's doing this to me guys...it does work...lol

soeren01 -> RE: Calcutta has Teeth (12/13/2004 10:50:38 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: String ahh.. clearly there are 6 CD units and one SNLF stationed at Tarawa [:D] Maybe he put a number of ground troops there and flew them out ? The heavy equipment stays behind, recon shows units and he just needs a few transport planes to have fully equipped combat units back there. No need for AP's or marching.[sm=00000622.gif]

Strv103C -> RE: Calcutta has Teeth (12/13/2004 3:40:24 PM)
Here is my theory, as good as any... PzB had loaded some subs with commando units meant for islands in the central pacific. And when he suspected that wobbly was going to invade he put them there instead so that the defense looks more impressive, with many units.

wobbly -> Is he going around me in india? (12/14/2004 12:46:49 AM)
Little to report, all is on tenderhooks for coming invasions. STRV103C and Sorene: I am unsure what he has but will be finding out the hard way very soon. He had 1750 troops there last turn and I just reconned and it fell to 1400 - who knows? Roguemc: You'll be pleased to know the first attack went in and I got 3-1 odds removing a level of forts. I cant see Singapore lasting too many more days. I'll finish the turn tonight after work. AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 05/06/42 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sub attack at 13,22 Japanese Ships SS RO-68 Allied Ships CL Birmingham DD Panther DD Paladin DD Isis DD Stewart DD Whipple DD Bulmer Mercury races North West and is nearly tripped up by a sub - both sides come away unscathed. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TF 1075 troops unloading over beach at Tulagi, 68,96 Allied ground losses: 44 casualties reported My landing at Tulagi prompts the CL there to come out of its lair - the dauntlesses - now on a size 2 airfield, should be able to put a few holes in her. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Air attack on Colombo Base Force, at 14,24 Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 11 Ki-21 Sally x 4 Allied aircraft Kittyhawk I x 11 Japanese aircraft losses Ki-21 Sally: 3 damaged Well he knows I have Kittyhawks now. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Air attack on TF at 55,88 Allied aircraft Wirraway x 14 P-39D Airacobra x 27 Allied aircraft losses Wirraway: 1 damaged Japanese Ships AG AG-356 PG Hakkai Maru, Shell hits 16 AG AG-355, Shell hits 24 AG AG-105, Shell hits 4 AG AG-368, Shell hits 4 AG AG-123, Shell hits 4 AG AG-352, Shell hits 12, on fire This is the attack that is happening every day. More P-39s become availble as they are repaired in Cooktown, so the AGs life expectancy must be falling. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ground combat at Calcutta Allied Bombardment attack Attacking force 35566 troops, 312 guns, 414 vehicles Defending force 143094 troops, 1110 guns, 796 vehicles Japanese ground losses: 15 casualties reported Guns lost 1 No attacks again at Calcutta. What is he up to? -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- OK, the first big bomber raid is to be launched from Columbo on Madras (which seems to be crawling with aircraft). The Warhawks and Kittyhawks are at Bangalore with an escort target of Madras, they can't reach from Columbo. I have a nasty feeling he has moved the paratroops to Madras and will try another grab for locations behind the lines. There is very little I can do about this - all units are at the Calcutta front. I am leaning in the direction of another front from Madras and will start reconning the units there to get some heads up. This turn he moved units along the rail line towards Bangalore but I think he is going to hop to the South Westerly railline and try and take the little base down on the South Western Coast. I move the regiment of the 18th Division down the same rail line. I want to see if I can't make him retreat (I don't think the units advancing are very substantial. Of course I can't move too far down this rail line as the Regiment from the 18th are the only fighting men I have in this area! Calcutta is 45% of the way to level 9 forts! Asansol is also coming along very well - it has a level 3 airfield and size 5 forts now. If I can get some of the Burmese forces toAsansol it can be a welcome addition to my airbases - unless of course it becomes attractive to him, it is still too poorly defended. Diamond Harbour is being replenished by the Dakotas and will have one of the smaller units arrive this turn (from Calcutta) for recuperation. the units crossign the track between India and Burma are about 8 days away from completing the journey and I get my ground unit reinforcements in Karachi at the same time. He still has the attackers flexibility but things are coming back from the brink. Out to the West the refueling Tf is trying to get around the KB (which came racing up the West Coast of Ceylon and India last turn - chasing Mercury). If they get through then I will be able to meet the Hermes in about 5 days - she is running on fumes. In China the prospect of being attacked by the Chinese, while enough to prompt scoffing remarks from PzB) seems to be enough to make him retreat a few of his units from the North. I wont have long to take Sian if I can do it at all. In Darwin another relief force is loaded. This holds a full group of Tomahawks (72 planes), a sqd of Wildcats and 2 sqds of C-47s. The C-47s will be a very welcome addition. They are crated up so no flying in from range. More tenderhooks later in the day. Also, there appear to be subs in the Indian Ocean - they are probably the ones with glens trying to get a feel for approaching shipping. I am therefore taking my TFs way out to the West. I think I have to put out a few more bait ships. Annother thing that worries me is the disappearing act of his BBs. The retired after the invasion of Trimcommalee - I have been expecting a hammering at Diamond harbour but so far nothing.

Strv103C -> RE: Is he going around me in india? (12/14/2004 1:29:11 AM)
Do you split up your a/c groups before transport? I read in another AAR about one that lost a whole group of B-17s in transit by boat to a jap submarine. But i suppose if KB shows up it does not matter whenever it is in three transports or one.

wobbly -> RE: Is he going around me in india? (12/14/2004 1:47:38 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: Strv103C Do you split up your a/c groups before transport? I read in another AAR about one that lost a whole group of B-17s in transit by boat to a jap submarine. But i suppose if KB shows up it does not matter whenever it is in three transports or one. yes, the tomahawks are split between 3 ships. The other units can't be split.

Hornblower -> RE: Calcutta has Teeth (12/14/2004 7:25:03 AM)
Prudence is wise, yet to sit back and possibly do nothing is worse. the need to balance cause and effect is paramount. And, i like others think that luck hasn't gone your way so far. but if its any help, you know that as the game goes on the balance of forces will go your way. just liek PZB's side of the game, excellent AAR...

wobbly -> slight air activity (12/15/2004 1:22:28 AM)
Air raids about Ceylon. The KB swans around between the map border and Columbo. Heavy attacks on consequtive days in Calcutta. I don't have the combat replay for the last two days. The main things to note were my first raids with the Wellingtons on Madras. They were also escorted by the Kittyhawks. It can be considered a success with one Kittyhawk and 1 Wellington being shot down while taking out a Zero themselves. 5 Betties and a couple of Emilys were destroyed on the ground. I thne moved all the bombers and the fighters to locations handier to Calcutta, a good thing too as a large attack hammers Columbo knocking out a single Wellington while AAA calims to have damaged 27 ACs (they flew in at 6000 ft). I was forced to retreat my tanker fleet trying to squeeze past the KB when he advanced out to the West. The appearence of the Kittyhawks may have incurred his ire. Calcutta weathers two heavy attacks by his land forces. The first nets me 3K troops 50 or so guns and some vehicles destroyed, to my 1000 or so, unfortunately it goes with the loss of a fort level. The next today sees parity in losses - both sides lose about 1000 but he does not reduce the forts. His troops are obviously shedding their disruption. I set up bombing runs and fighter defense there to try and right these wrongs. I cannot afford a parity of loss on the ground. Today the Regiment of the 18th Division made it to Calcutta. Little else to add today. Hornblower: Yes, I would say I have been a little unlucky but I can't take too much from PzB - he has run a masterful campaign. The balance is very difficult to get right, I still get caught out. Basically you must realise that your position is untenable and start retreating from a location where the forts are not able to equalise your shortfall in men. If you don't retreat in time your troops will not be able to conduct a coherent defense behind the next set of forts.

Thayne -> THE WAR IN MAY (12/15/2004 4:56:11 AM)
error

Hornblower -> RE: slight air activity (12/16/2004 5:18:57 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: wobbly . Hornblower: Yes, I would say I have been a little unlucky but I can't take too much from PzB - he has run a masterful campaign. The balance is very difficult to get right, I still get caught out. Basically you must realise that your position is untenable and start retreating from a location where the forts are not able to equalise your shortfall in men. If you don't retreat in time your troops will not be able to conduct a coherent defense behind the next set of forts. agreed. he has run an impressive game so far. and i agree with your above comment, that to hold out to long at place "A" will mean that you can't hold out at all at "B"... Time, if not space, is on your side. Perhaps the silver lining is that with his focus on the east that he may have overlooked something cruitial in the west.

mlees -> RE: slight air activity (12/16/2004 5:24:45 AM)
Great AAR! I (as Allied player) would have suffered severe mental distress long ago![:'(] Good to see you fighting on. What is the total VP situation? How close is PzB to Autovictory? I was just wondering if conquering China, India, and USSR would give the Japanese player enough VP's to get an auto-win...

ElvisDaKing -> RE: slight air activity (12/16/2004 2:54:44 PM)
Wobbly, I join my fellows to congratulate you for your AAR, which I am reading with a high interest, and for your fierce fight against your opponent.[&o] Well, I am not a WITP master tactician, but I understand that your defense is mainly based on your fort level. Japanese did not bring them down because of their disruption, so : Should you bomb the ground units to keep a high level of disruption and so reduce their ability to destroy your fortification. I know you don't have plenty of planes, but you will bring him to LRCAP his troops from distant airbase, decreasing his capability to escort his bombers and increasing his ops losses.... Just an idea..

wobbly -> Two faced weather system! (12/16/2004 11:38:23 PM)
What an awful turn. My bombers that I had moved into Calcutta to attack his airfields at Chandpur don't fly but his bombers based at Chandpur do and they are aimed at Calcutta. They of course flatten my bombes still sitting in their redoubts! He also start bombarding Columbo. My fighter bombers get spanked at Lae. An awful turn. I loose 50 aircraft! He had been complaining about his bombers not flying, so I thought I would move bombers in to try and take advantage of this by hitting them on the ground. Murphy - that snake in the grass that dogs me at every turn - then does exactly the same thing to me while he bombs the airfield I am based at. I loose 10 fulmars that were CAPing the base - he bought 20 oscars and 40 zeros - and then hit the 3 sqds of Beuforts and 1 sqd of Blenheim IVs I had on the ground. 10 of each are smashed and the rest are damaged - so now of course I cannot move the bloody things out and his continued raids will keep smashing the ACs gaining him points. You get one piece of bad luck and then pay an pay an pay for it. If it wasn't the RAF bombers damaged on attacks out of Tarakan, just before it was invaded; it was the P-40s based at Balikpapan caught there by the next invasion; or the notorious dauntlesses bombarded with split second timing in Batavia. Well I go back to hiding the naval bombers in the Hinterland - they are only good for targets anyway. I know he reconned Diamond Harbour - that was the location of all my other bombers - so I am not leaving them there, instead they go to Jamshedpur. Calcutta is home to all the Hurricanes, Kittyhawks and Warhawks. He has been bombing with his sallies at 6000 feet every time so I put my P-40s at 7000 - I can afford to loose the aussie and Yank pilots more than I can afford to loose the hurricanes: which are flying at 15K feet. My bombers at Jamshedpur are targeting the ground forces and are escorted by some Mohawks. I lost the KB for a turn there and they reappear south of Ceylon - and just out of range of one of my retreating and wounded AKs. The tankers waiting on a location for the KB (in the north) put on full steam and head south. Hermes and her task force are all but out of fuel. A tanker loading fuel in Broome has 4000 units of fuel aboard and will load for one more turn before heading north. My fighter-bombers at PM were heavily intercepted by has Lae-based zeroes this turn. I have had the Kittyhawks at PM on escort - as well as the Warhawks in turns before - neither will escort the fighter-bombers on the naval attack mission??? Why is this?? All of the pieces in the two South Pacific operations are moving into position. I updated the patch to ver 1.4 and whether that has anything to do with things or not but I now have 4700 japs located at Tarawa. This feels far more realistic. It also should not be enough to hold the Americal Division plus another RCT a tank Brigade and engineers. What I have to worry about - and what PzB has admited to having ready - is the fast react group he has loaded with elite small naval groups. I do have the carriers and they will have to move such that they get in the way of this incoming reinforcement. This turn he noticed subs I have been loacating around some of the Islands in the Gilberts - more red herrings! I cannot move just yet - even if units are almost in position for Nighthawk (Tarawa invasion) because Whiskey needs to start very quickly after nighthawk starts. I hope to have some of these response units out of position for the main invasion. I am also looking to add a part to Whiskey: a sortie of surface ships to Lunga. I want his naval bombers to have a crack through the tomahawks and wildcats. Hopefully I can cull numbers before I attack Rabaul. Hornblower: that is exactly it - knowing when a location is untenable AND knowing how long it will take your troops to retreat from the hex where the action is taking place. I am getting better - but as this turn will show you I am no master. Hopefully his response of SNLF units will not be enough against Divisions and this is the weakness we are looking for! MLees: thanks for joining in. There have been times - I don't mind telling you - that the helplessness factor has nearly scuppered me. However, I soooooo want to return the favour. Every time PzB and I play he seems to get the side with the kickarse aircraft. Well this time he has done the same - but it wont always be so - nooooo it wont, and I am hanging in there until the P-38s et-al start to roll [:D] Elvis: I knew it! You live! The weather in India is thundestorms at the moment (although they manage to stop my planes from hitting Chandpur they do not stop his Chandpur placed planes form hitting Calcutta - grrrrr). As such the ground attack I had planned from Diamond Harbour to Calcutta did not go. I moved them to Jamshedpur to try again. I am at level 7 forts and 97% to level 8 again. His timely attack on my airfields meant the engineers were fixing holes rather than building forts this turn - bugger.

ElvisDaKing -> RE: Two faced weather system! (12/17/2004 1:24:22 AM)
Don't give in boy, The King is on your side...

Strv103C -> RE: Two faced weather system! (12/17/2004 1:39:22 AM)
Oh dear what a turn, i really hope that you can avoid autovictory so you can return those favors to the jap. I also have to bend over before a competent jap player with luck, sigh. Lost 24 P-40 to a sub this turn and that is of course my most needed plane type at the moment. I wonder if the pilots went down also...[&:]

denisonh -> RE: Two faced weather system! (12/17/2004 4:22:00 AM)
Keep at it Wobbly. As long as you keep Karachi, you can come back in India. Be patient and do not be stupid, cause that devious Norwegian will extract a toll. LIke many others, I have learned volumes about how to prepare and defend India from this AAR. I want to see you win, as I had to recently concede my last ongoing UV PBEM to PzB. He is a crafty devil.

rroberson -> RE: Calcutta has Teeth (12/17/2004 7:22:12 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: Strv103C Well, I�m not so lycky either as Singapore may fall before january 1942. Or rather I must be the worst allied general there is. If i would be rated in witp I would have got like minus 38 in leadership... [8\|] Nothing beats losing four Japanese carriers on december 10th...trust me :)

Strv103C -> RE: Calcutta has Teeth (12/17/2004 4:06:00 PM)
December 10th??? What did you do to loose them?

Page: << < prev 7 8 [9] 10 11 next > >>

Forum Software © ASPPlayground.NET Advanced Edition 2.4.5 ANSI

0.6088867