The Decline and Fall of the Japanese Empire 1943-1946 LilJoe v Rob

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The Decline and Fall of the Japanese Empire 1943-1946 L... - 8/12/2006 1:35:50 AM

LittleJoe

Posts: 610
Joined: 8/4/2004
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As you may have guessed this is the Japanese half of me and robs long lasting PBEM that has finally reached 1943, while the name is quite negative to my chances of sucess, i plan to detail some of my final offensives here, and my eventually my plans for the defense!

First..an overview of the past 12 months, and plans for the future.

< Message edited by LittleJoe -- 8/12/2006 1:36:46 AM >

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RE: The Decline and Fall of the Japanese Empire 1943-19... - 8/12/2006 2:51:45 AM

LittleJoe

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Joined: 8/4/2004
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India/Burma

Rob performed better than historical here and halted my offensive just north of the Irawaddy at Mandalay, until as recently as November ive been attempting to break through here, but its obvious i have now failed to break through, and many of the troops here now have to be sent eslewhere to bolster the defences eslewhere in the pacific.

Plans to reduce my numbers here have been ruined though, with Rob kind of starting the Allied offensive, by trying to encircle my forces at Mandalay, first by crossing at Pagan, which was soon halted, and then another attempted forcing a carbineers regiment across two open hexs into Tang gui, which was captured, and immediately recaptured, which brings us to the current situation..

Otherwise its just simply holding on and preventing a totaly collapse of the front, which would endanger the Oil fields of Sumatra, becoming encircled would be disasterous! Come 44 it may even be nessasary to fall back perhaps out of Burma into Thailand...

Oh yes i forgot to mention he has totaly control over Central Burma from the skies, my troops are reguarly bombed, and its becoming a bit of a supply drain, he tried a AVG sweep over Rangoon, but got his arse kicked, so we can still mount limted defense air missions.

DEI/North Aus

Here and Burma is where i most expect him to strike, as i will explain later he has very few carriers, so i expected a counter attack from under the LBA umberella. Its been very quiet here recently hes been using his newly gained P-38s to flatten Koepang, so air supriority has been lost temporarily, ive been building up Manumere as a AF to try and catch him out with his P38 sweeps, a hopefully temporarily regain air supreior over the place long enough to evac some damaged planes by AK.

PNG/Solomons

I took Port Moresby, taking advantage of his lack of carriers, probably my strongest defense area, probably will be bypassed though i imagine, so forces arent as strong as they could be, but i will continue improving the network of airfields and ports that should be able to attrit him heavily if he does dare to venture here.. Holding PM means Rabaul stays untouched, Rabaul untouched means i can bring in naval/air/ground reinforcments to the area unseen/untouched, he will have to take PM bfore he starts any serious offensive in this area, or hell get a spanking!

I reckon he will bypass and attack through Timor, North new Guinea though, until his Carrier forces can decimate mine, which shouldnt be till very late 43, or 44, where he can then push through the pacific islands, which is where were going now...

The Pacific

Er yes, not much happened here, i sunk 4 of his Carriers during a a reinvasion attempt by him on Canton, he got the island which is now reducing Baker island to dust, and cutting it off from my supply chain from the sea at least, so the Carrier battle of Canton could well prove to be a Strategic Allied victory!

Everything esle is as historical, although i plan to change that in the comming weeks with invasions of Attu and Midway island (hopefully they will be much more successful than the near identical historical Japanese invasions of the islands) in a response to lessen his Sub war, subs operating off the Home islands and Marinas is a shame the Japanese race will not endure, taking these islands should at least make sub patrols off these sensitive areas much more risky, and hopefully less rewarding for him..i may expand the offensive in the North Pacific to further islands, we shall see...

So essay over...ill show a few more screenshots of Ships sunk/Aircraft sunk etc etc later tonight or tomorrow, but for now i leave you with the Japanese empire hopefully not at the peak of its size...

Opinions?

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RE: The Decline and Fall of the Japanese Empire 1943-19... - 8/12/2006 4:13:31 PM

aztez

Posts: 4031
Joined: 2/26/2005
From: Finland
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I like your format of AAR. Easy to read. (I'am going to follow both sides of this war)

Intresting to see what kind of results you get at Midway! Rob is very agressive player so you can expect stiff resistance all the way.

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RE: The Decline and Fall of the Japanese Empire 1943-19... - 8/12/2006 9:57:05 PM

LittleJoe

Posts: 610
Joined: 8/4/2004
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Thanks Aztez

I would imagine Rob would react agressively to these invasions, although i doubt he would be 'brave' enough to respond directly, i would imagine a naval raid or even invasion in another sector.

Possibly Timor or Baker Island i would presume, Timor already has carriers in the area, but the Pacific has none currently, rob would have a field day if he found that out, but seeing i did a Carrier raid on Luganville a few weeks ago he should be cautious in the area.

But...i intend to change that, Kido Butai has had a tough 42, with little time for rest or refit, it docked in Hiroshima a week or so ago, and some speedy repair/refit work, and 3 of my Carriers are already ready for combat, Kaga/Shokaku/Soryu (i think) are the Carriers along with Hiyo and a couple other mini carriers will participate in the invasions, whilst the other three KB will stay behind and repair, and refit, and possibly send them out to Kwajalien, to hide in waiting for a possible invasion of Baker, although im wary of this plan as i reckon rob has at least a couple of normal fleet carriers and the Essex now..

3 KB carriers vs 2 42 carriers and a Essex? Bit too close to call for my liking, perhaps it would be more wise to use a lesser carrier force for the Attu invasion, and sending more to defensive duties to Kwaj.

I honestly beleive he will use my invasions of Attu and Midway to launch his own offensives,so i have a tough decision to make, in getting the correct balance of carriers for offensive and defensive missions..Ill post my assesment here later, now as promised the sunk ship and other intel screens,and some screenies of China which i overlooked last post.

Ships sunk

Good reading, IJN virtually untouched apart from one Battleship and a Cruiser, and assorted destroyers. If someone could reckon a guess or tell me definately how many Carriers rob will have at this stage of the war with those four sunk, i would be very grateful.

Aircraft losses

Ok i guess....

Overall points

Not so good,didnt even reach best points ratio i achieve was somthing like 2.3 to 1, but im not really playing for points.

China

Deadlocked here, he pushed me back to Kaifeng recently, but fell back to Homan afterwards. in the NE/N of China its a bit more exciting, as both sides try and use the roads right on the Mongolian border to try and grab land and the initiative.

Also i have around 8500 assault points at Yenen vs his 4000, reinforcements are on the way, to try and tilt this numbers advantage more in my favour, and start knocking down some forts, hopefully winning that battle NE of Yenen before his reinforcements which are inevitably on the way to break out his troops, will give us extra assault points for the battle, and perhaps the chance to encircle the place.

Nothing happened in my last turn, apart from the usual bombing of my troops at Koepang and Burma, Rob bombed Koepang with only 19 P-38s escorting around a hundered bombers i think, would have been the 'ideal' ambush conditions for me to launch my cap from Manumere, maybe if he continues that tiny escort size i will launch the trap, knowing my luck he will suddenly up the number of P38s and destroy me.

Oh yes and my air asw from Lae/Rabaul sunk the S-30, which is nice...

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RE: The Decline and Fall of the Japanese Empire 1943-19... - 8/13/2006 1:46:12 AM

LittleJoe

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Joined: 8/4/2004
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27th - 28th January 1943

The turn opened well with one of my subs SW hitting an AE with a single torp, dont even know what the hell it is, apart from some specialist auxillary ship, that he only gets two of, so i suppose its good news, and the sub got away to with light damamge. Snice ive renewed my own sub offensive ive had lots of luck with it, lots of sightings of convoys, and now two ships sunk

(Sunk a SC the other day outside Luganville)

Rob presented the perfect opperunity once again for me to crush him over the skies of Koepang, 16 P38s escorting a bomber force.

So i have ordered the following air groups to fly cap over Koepang, should be sufficient if he keeps his escort size the same, 120 fighters, probably around 60 or so will be over the base at the same time.

And Rob has made me pay for not taking Andaman island,posting P-40Es and Swordfish there, really dont know why i didnt take this place, its one of those crappy bases that you take to only prevent the enemy from holding, now i will have to baby sit my merchants and make sure they hug the Thailand coast to stay out of range of the stringbags..

The fleet is fully assembled at Tokyo to launch towards Attu, just waiting on supplies/fuel and the 21st Division to land on Efortu Jima, which will be our launching point for the Invasion troops and supplies, i will now make it clear to Rob i intend to assualt the place, Recon will be stepped up and i will find out what exactly im up against, last Recon of the place was in late December, 4-5 units of small size, im sure a division and a hand full of naval guard units should take the place.

Ive decided only the 3 KB carriers will support, as i doubt he has any carrier presence here or even on the West coast, so it should be sufficient, Hiyo and the CVLS will go to Kwaj, a paltry defense against even the Essex on its own, but better than nothing, should nt be too long before it can be joined by the other 3 KB carriers, they're all in the teens damage wise.

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RE: The Decline and Fall of the Japanese Empire 1943-19... - 8/14/2006 1:22:45 AM

LittleJoe

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Disaster on the Burmese front.. and im unable to do much about it on the short term, due to Witps strategic nature and its sometimes questionable ground combat...

Rant over heres the news...

29th - 30th January 1943

Not my turn today, no P38s over Koepang (although the numbers of planes that assembled over Koepang it was probably for the best) and a shock attack that i should of, but didnt see coming from across the Irawwaddy screwed me hard, the only rail route into Mandalay...now closed.

To counter this potential disaster, the 52nd Division in Osaka has been released from Home Defence duties, and will arive in the theatre in around a months time, as will the 16th Division currently based at Batavia, these two Divisions combined have just under a thousand assault points, which will allow me a better chance of breaking out the 3,300 assault points that are currently trapped in Mandalay. But in the meantime a massive land victory is in Robs hands, if he seizes the initiative and marches on to Pagan and wins, manuerving his army around and marching on Rangoon, the war in Burma could be over by the time these Divisions arrive, so it is up to the garrision of Pagan, and the force marching North from Thailand to stem the tide.

Ill probably have to draw more reinforcements from somewhere if i honestly hope to break them out, but thats for next turn. If he wins here, he could be in Singapore by Summer, which would be disasterous and quite embarassing...

(Surely if a army that size was encirled, they would split off 2-3 divisions from the front with the British to the north, and send them south to attempt a restablishment of lines of communications and supplies, now i can feel the frustration of people 'encirled' but a paracute regiment and such, not quite the same, but the amount of troops i have at Mandalay would be more than enough to break themselves out, bloodied but not defeated...

)

Also in the same theatre, rob used his newly operational airfield at Andaman to bomb Victoria point with Avengers and Swordfish, and a B-17s flew in from Mandalay or somewhere or the other, and bombed the same place. Ironically i flew in a Squadron of Oscars here to protect the place, they where still repairing damaged aircraft etc, also has assembled a Tojo squadron at Singapore to protect the same airspace.

Preparations towards Attu island invasion are nearly over, the transports will sail tomorrow, and the fleet will do the same from Tokyo a few days after, although it will be massively overshadowed by the events in Burma, i may cancel the invasion of Midway that was to take place afterwards, instead sailing the 21st Division to the Burmese front also...As if this front wasnt enough of a drain on my defences....

Some good news, handful of Subs hit by air asw off Thailand, and i managed to russle together around a hundered or more (ill get a screenie next turn) Transport aircraft in Rangoon, and should be able to get another hundered to Rangoon in the comming turn to drop supplies on the troops, not sure if i can though, seeing its his base, what a disaster...

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RE: The Decline and Fall of the Japanese Empire 1943-19... - 8/14/2006 9:32:09 AM

pauk

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From: Zagreb,Croatia
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very nice AAR, Joe. I especially likes your pictures (how you can attach more than one picture in one post?)

Situation in Burma is not good and Rob will keep pushing there now he smells a blood - Japanese blood.

Over than that you are in good position. Be careful with CVs, the last thing you want to see is Midway look a like battle in '43!

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RE: The Decline and Fall of the Japanese Empire 1943-19... - 8/14/2006 5:52:39 PM

LittleJoe

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Thanks, just hosting the images on imageshack, rather than on the actual forum.

Todays update isnt really a report on the last turn, rather concentrating on the Burma theatre and how its developing, nothing esle going on as of yet..

31st - 1st February 1943

Rob kind of made the second mistake of the battle by posting in a replay email that his troops where out of or low of supply, this changes the situation a little, as i know he wont charge towards Rangoon, or make any serious push further south, the battle will be fought on the banks of the Irawaddy, and will be centered around Pagan, if he takes this place supplies and escape route from Mandalay are cut, and robs troops on the other side of the river get thier supplies.

Hopefully being low on supplis will slow his march on Pagan and enable me to reinforce the place, and also, even more good news! The 2nd Paras ahve moved into the counterattack hex, 2 hexs SW of Mandalay, and a cadre of the 16th Div marched into the hex NE of Pagan in a single day, many men have died on the forced march, butn they're deaths have not been in vain, as the IJA's position is now less desperate, and the ensiegd troops can now have a small window to escape thier impending doom at Mandalay!

But should they...?

I have several HQS at Mandalay which are all prepped for Mandalay, and every combat unit is the same, moving to the hex West of Mandalay, and then hopefully on to Pagan would offer the chance of escape, but if, the units become trapped in the hex, they will be in a hex that they are not prepped for, meaning thier doom will come about much quicker...

Being my decisive self i think ill do a mix of both, and try and leave a force big enough in Mandalay to hold the place for a later mass breakout, and a couple of Divisions will march West to hopefully aid the defence of Pagan.

We will not be encirled and defeated like our German allies, espically not by the British!

And the Attu invasion fleet is ready to sail, troops and supplies loading up at Efortu, and the IJN fleet has been ordered to leave dock at Tokyo, and assemble a couple hundered miles SE of Efortu, Recon planes will launch from Parisho(sp) Jima, some Patrol aircraft spotted Pts outside the base, so ill have to make sure my timing is correct, and the Surface groups go in first.

Hopefully itll be a nice victory to help take my mind off the potential disaster in Burma.

The taskforces involved are...

Taskforce 214

BB Kongo
CA Takao
CA Myoko
CA Haguro
CA Nachi

Six destroyers in screen

Taskforce 216

BB Ise
CA Ashigira
CA Kako
CL Sendai
CL Jinshu

4 destroyers in screen

Taskforce 189

CV Kaga
CV Soryu
CV Shokaku
BB Kirishima
CA Chikuma

5 destroyers in screen.

< Message edited by LittleJoe -- 8/14/2006 6:31:35 PM >

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RE: The Decline and Fall of the Japanese Empire 1943-19... - 8/14/2006 6:11:33 PM

LittleJoe

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I decided to march 3 Divisions towards Pagan, and a Brigade and a division if my memory serves me correctly, to the hex directly West of Mandalay, got to keep that hex, and the Pagan hex clear for as long as possible.

The 2nd Paras from the SW and the 6th tank regiment from the West are marching on the British positions SW of Mandalay, to hold them up for a couple of turns, buy some time, mabe reset they're marching distance to 0 again?

Does anyone know if the transport aircraft i have on supplies missions to mandalay, will actually be resupplying my soldiers?

Raid on Victoria point

< Message edited by LittleJoe -- 8/14/2006 6:12:36 PM >

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RE: The Decline and Fall of the Japanese Empire 1943-19... - 8/14/2006 11:15:58 PM

LittleJoe

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2nd February - 3rd February 1943

Sort of a 'dud' turn, a nice movement bug hampered my troops retreat out of Mandalay, so rob agreed to cancel his movements for one turn, to allow the game to do as i have told it too, although insisted on continually bombarding me from the air.

Not much esle happened on his front, apart from the 2nd Paras throwing themselves infront of robs marching troops, with the 6th Armoured not close behind, so i wont increase your load times by hosting another unneeded screenshot ;).

Well not much esle happened on the ground, i had asumed incorrectly that if taskforces hugged the coast in the Bay of Bengal they would be safe from his Stringbags, if not out of their combat range, most probably out of his naval search range, whilst this has proven true for my Merchants, a ASW group at Victoria point was no so lucky, 4 destroyers crippled, 1 sunk and 1 lucky escape, all ships fleeing to Georgetown.

Also a naval attack was launched from Akyab on Merchants unloading supplies/loading resources outside Rangoon, 50 odd P-40s against my assorted cap, first raid in the morning was an Allied victory, with several ships hit, and a narrow advantage in planes destroyed, the consectutive evening raid wasnt though, the Tojos inparticular proved themselves as a far supreoir airframe to the P-40E, and lead the defense, only manged to shoot down one Wellington on both the raids, but the damage to his escorts should be enough to shorten the range on his naval attacks.

Rangoon harbour under attack

Bettys on naval search, spotted a CA CA CA CA DD DD DD Taskforce near Lunganville, Carriers?, he also started building up some dot base that would bring his bombers closer to Guadacanal, within P-38 rang i think, not sure what he can do with a dot base though, well have to keep a eye on him there.

Attu invasion moving into position, the IJN will be in its assigned hex next turn, the 21st Division decided to get off their transports after the commanders informed them they would have to sleep 2 a bunk on board, but more ships are being made available.

Recon over Attu reveals 20 P-40Es on cap, and 6 units with around 6,000 men stopped, small base forces, maybe a RCT at most..i hope, lets hope the 21st gets it arse in gear two a bunk or not, as i can see Rob stuffing the base full of F4fs and P38s within the week.

Gonna wrap this up with some images of my industry and such..

In the process of building more Nakajima engime factories, i need it as its obviously not keeping up with Airframe production for the time being, and im so short on some airframes/engines, that i have a backlog of reinforcements 'Organising' very annoying! But im close fixing it, after increasing the airframe/engine production of whats now needed..

And ive just realised i forgot to take a screenshot of airframe production, so er..that wil wait till next post.

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RE: The Decline and Fall of the Japanese Empire 1943-19... - 8/15/2006 11:12:59 PM

LittleJoe

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Joined: 8/4/2004
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4th - 5th February 1943

Another 'dud' i gave incorrect marching orders to the troops in Mandalay pocket, so i failed to make use of the 'ceasefire' whatsoever, 6th tank regiment threw themselves into the Allies SW of Mandalay, and where promptly kicked back out, but they did their job of holding down the Allied forces.

Anotheer two units took the tank regiments place, which should suffer the same fate, but will further stall his advance and hopefully frustrate rob, a few more units are also on 44 miles, so i should be able to have a unit in that hex for the next couple of turns, which will hopefully be long enough for the Divisions that are fleeing Mandalay to make it from Pagan, and lead the counter offesive!

I just hope the force ive left in Mandalay is strong enough to hold off, and tie down enough British units for us to deal with the Brits south of the Irawddy, and prevent any more Brits stepping foot south of the river for a great many months yet!

Apart from the usual, air raids. The only interesting happening was a raid of 88 B-17s on Maumere airfield, rob obviously doesnt want to be caught out by this airfield and lost his P-38s, thankfull the raid was very ineffective and around 20 somthing B-17s where lost in the skies, and many more turnt back, the 31 B-17s that did get through where very ineffective, which is good news!

Day Air attack on Maumere , at 28,73

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 34
A6M3a Zero x 3
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 19
Ki-61 KAIc Tony x 19

Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 88

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 7 destroyed, 18 damaged
A6M3a Zero: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged
Ki-44-IIb Tojo: 4 destroyed, 10 damaged
Ki-61 KAIc Tony: 2 destroyed, 10 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 16 destroyed, 54 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
10 casualties reported

Airbase hits 1
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 4

Suprisingly it was the A6m2s that downed the most 17s, the Tonys and Tojos which are designed with this threat in mind where...useless. An air HQ division is being brought in to increase the effectiveness of the air cap, hopefully rob will learn that the South DEI will be no walk over!

Another raid from Andaman sunk a stray PC gunboat on asw duty, that i must have forgotten about...

Orders phase was a long one as i do a bit of spring cleaning, sorting out industry, and moving those odd air units that are sitting in bases unused, and shipping out a few more of my seemingly unlimted supply of base forces out of Tokyo to various border bases, and doing the highly entertaining task of sending my huge convoys to and from the DEI.

Points of interest in the orders phrase..

53rd Division loaded up onto their APs in Osaka, bound for Bangkok, then the Burmese front...

The 16th is still aiting on its transports to arrive, the arrival of these Divisions should ruin robs hopes for the theatre for now.Just got to try and avoid anymore disasters till the 'cavarly' arrives.

The Attu island invasion fleet, is now steaming towards Attu, the 3 KB Carriers will linger NW of Attu, near a dot base 'Komandorski island'

Cant help but feel aprehensive and nervous over this, im far to cautious to play Japan sometimes i think!

The Orders

Two Bombardment groups will hit Attu, to disrupt troops and close AF, set to patrol do not retire, to keep on a sustained bombardment (Hope he doesnt have torp bombers!)

Kido Butai will linger on naval attack NW of Attu, perhaps switching to airfield attack if af remains a pain.

H8Ks will fly naval search to watch for incoming enemy fleets, Iv e sent a small disponsible unit of Betties to do a airfield attack with Zeros in escort, to see what hes got on the ground there...

As promsed, Airframe production!

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RE: The Decline and Fall of the Japanese Empire 1943-19... - 8/16/2006 8:34:34 PM

LittleJoe

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6- 7th February 1943

The Battle for Burma is pretty much over as quickly as it started, or at least on hold. We've kinda 'checkmated' the game, making it impossible for my troops in Mandalay to move, and the troops to
the SW of Mandalay also cannot move to get out of thier way, not without some tricky puzzle gamesque movement.

Rob will have to move out of Mandalay, for my 'encirled' troops to march to the road hex West of Mandalay, then on to Pagan, and his troops tot he SW can march back up in Mandalay, and he can retake the place.

Not much actually happened in the turn, some Destroyers ran into minefields, at Brunei and the Hiyo taskforce(!!!!!) ran into a minefield, thankfully no damage done, better bring in some MSW to Kwaj.

The recon in force at Attu worked pretty well, in the fact that the raid didnt get totally destroyed, Zeros did well over the two days and downed a fair amount of P40s, Betties only got one runway hit though, so i still dont know what hes got bomber wise, and because of that ive changed Takedas BB group to a retirement allowed/mission speed attack, to shut down the af for sure, without any nasty torp bombers getting a shot at my battlewagons!

The fleet closes in, prepare for contact!

Dont think ive been spotted yet, my Carriers did spot his Pts and other misc ships (AP,DE,PT) outside Attu, but with Glens, so hopefully he'll presume it was just a sub.

On the otherside of the Pacific, Soerbaja finally become a level 9 port, Singapore did the same a few weeks before,as i expect him to strike here most likely, ive upped these two ports to level 9 so i can lay liberal amounts of Mines all over the place.

And Baker looks in a very bad way, the 3 Naval guard units there are down to 60 assualt points combined, and pretty much out of supply, dont know what action to take here, i think once offensive missions are over the KB will be posted on defensive missions at Kwaj, as the only way i can hold this place is to show a strong naval presense, might risk sending another AK convoy to the place, try ad dodge his LBA from Canton.

Baker garrison on its knees

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RE: The Decline and Fall of the Japanese Empire 1943-19... - 8/16/2006 10:59:07 PM

LittleJoe

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Joined: 8/4/2004
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8 - 9th February 1943

As the Burma front fizzles down, as a temporary League of Nations controlled ceasefire takes affect, the British evac Mandalay, and the Japanese make thier way to South of the Irawaddy. Another front warms up.

Marauders and Catalinas spotted our invasion transports around 240 miles off the island, and the Bombardment taskforces. Launching attacks on the morning of the 8th, no damage done, attacks throughout the day only brought one bomb hit on the Ise which bounced off. Unfortunately the air attacks on Takedas taskforce caused him to retire due to the ferorcity of them!

The other taskforce lead by the Kongo whent in untouched and initiated a surface combat with a couple of AKs and a MSW, all sunk, unfortunately the Destroyer Mochizuki struck a mine steaming towards the airfield, causing critical damage to the rudder and engine rooms, causing it to lose speed and break off from the taskforce, the ship is good as sunk, but i sent it to Efortu Jima at mission speed, as i always like to give a ship a chance of survival rather than scuttling.

Nothing like a bit of surface combat!

The sinking of the merchants was followed by a combat with the PTs, which where halfed in number by the end of the fighting, hopefully the next two days surface combat (With Takeda hopefully joining in!) should reduce there number to nothing in time for my transports.

The Bombardment of the airfield was nothing special (have bombardments been toned down snice patch, they dont seem as deadly as theyt used to be..) 8 runway hits and Maruaders destroyed, Airfield not closed, which well have to strive to do to prevent him flying in more fighters/bombers. The next nearest Airfield is at Adak, which is so far away it shouldnt play a important role in the battle.

Only other news of note was a Zero sweep of Vanikolo...

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 27
A6M3a Zero x 27

Allied aircraft
Kittyhawk I x 11

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 3 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Kittyhawk I: 4 destroyed

Which is a level one airfield SW of Guadacanal, if he gets it up to level 2 it could be a big pain, so ill do a few sweeps every
once in a while to hopefully keep him modest..

No other news or orders of note, apart from sending Takedas bombardment TF back towards the battle.

I think ive worked out he should have the Essex, Hornet and Wasp for a Carrier fleet, people folloing both aars are probably laughing at how far off i am, but thats my estimation.

Battle is joined

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RE: The Decline and Fall of the Japanese Empire 1943-19... - 8/17/2006 11:05:10 PM

LittleJoe

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10 - 13th February 1943

Double update do to time constraints

The Japanese forces made landfall on Attu with unconvincing but bearable results, around 75% (!!!) of my forces where disabled or killed during the landings, mines and costal guns doing the damage, but whats immediately important is that a large enough force could be put together to make a immediate Allied counterattack to push us back into the ocean highly unlikey, we also landed with copious amounts of supplies, so hoopefully our disabled and wounded men should soon be put into shape and ready to push inland!

I can only see robs forces getting weaker now, as i have reinforced my Carrier forces, with Hiryu and Akagi making sail from Tokyo, and meating up with the other 3 KB carriers.

5 KB carriers should be sufficient to see off any USN counterattack, and if not the Zuikaku should be able to join in a couple of weeks at worst, due to the nonstop work of our repairyards!

With this in mind, my forces will only grow stronger, and with robs RCT defending the place only getting weaker, being cut off, and constantly bombarded, the dynamics of the battle have changed though with these dissapointing landings, its no longer a smash and grab, but a protracted island campaign/Decisive battle, which has its advantages, as i would love to crush the USN a second time before its ready to compete with the Kido Butai carriers, and further setback any serious allied counterattack even more!

Should rob be encouraged by the poor landings and seek to intervene we will crush him a second time.

The Situation, with arrows and stuff

Reserves are also being called up, two Enginner regiments, 1st Tank Regiment and the 53rd Division originally headed for the Burmese front, and just sailing north of Luzon, has been ordered to turn around and head for the island, whilst i wouldnt mind the battle dragging on a bit, i do actually want to take the island by Summer rolls around.

Some small naval guard units that have been prepping for Attu for quite a while when i originally planned to take the place, at Parishmo Jima will also join the fray.

More reinforcements for the neval forces also, as the Mutsu,Hyuga, Maya, Chokai and Mogami sail from Kwaj headeded NW to avoid subs/Carriers and aide the two current bombardment taskforces in taming the RCT units.

I've also been playing the psychological game and trying to convince my hand at Attu is better than it actually is.

Maybe when you let me sink your new Carriers, then ill forget about
that victory ;)

Ive got it down as the Essex, Hornet and Wasp? oh yes, and the long
island! Better call off the invasion ;)

Im sure youll find a way to hassle me, i suspect indirectly...

To which he replied...

oh and lots of CVE's that dont fly :( .. And i have a suprise for you shortly .. hehe .. given the weather in the north i havnt yet seen a CV plane fly here but im convinced you are not doing this without air cover of some sort,

So it seems im correct in me guessing his carrier strength, and that he has a suprise for me, so somesort of invasion/raid on my outer defense line, theres been a lot of convoys tooing and froing near Luganville/Noumea, and a sub parted off Lunga a couple of turns here, but my Betties constatly spot his taskforces, so i would see somthing coming in this region, and he knows that...so where is he going to suprise me, i tried to influence his choice with the following..

Hmm a suprise, im guessing Baker, not gonna lie to you its in a awful
state....helpess to defend it on the ground, hopefully my naval
presance will deter you till you have more Essexes.

I suppose all will come clear to me in the next few weeks/months..

< Message edited by LittleJoe -- 8/19/2006 10:33:57 PM >

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Post #: 14

RE: The Decline and Fall of the Japanese Empire 1943-19... - 8/18/2006 9:39:45 PM

LittleJoe

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14 - 15th February 1943

Another eventful turn in the grand scheme of things, not very good news for the Japanese apart from a lucky sub intercept...

An Air raid towards Andaman, was massively understrength, the two Zero squadrons i sent to escort only sent 6-7 aircraft to escort, and the cap of 39 P-40Es downed plenty of Zeros over the two days, and the Lilys failed to hit the airfield, maybe a tokyo express style raid when ive got some free surface forces would help and disuade him from placing more and more bombers here.

Continuing the bad news Beautforts flown in from Dutch Harbour or Adak, managed to launch attacks even through Blizzard weather conditions, and and Ise Bombardment TF getting 45 runway hits, and managed to hit the Kongo with a torp, was fortunate the squadron didnt hit the Ise, anti air crews of that taskforce earned their keep today. Kongos fine and should make it back to Efortu fine, and be able to return to battle in a week or so, 13 system damage, and a single digit flood.

Ending the bad news, the Crew of I-I58 managed to sight and evade a HUGE USN taskforce sailing west towards Brisbane, and the asw force was an escort group, featuring a CLAA also, so must be somthing valuable, sighting reports indictate, CVS, BBS, CAs etc, so this looks like his 'suprise, wheres it heading? Thats anyones guess, obviously not bothered about the invasion of Attu, and as i guessed hell probably be using this taskforce to raid or invade my perimeter, definately headed to Brisbane so...Solomans/PNG is my initial guess, or he could just be refueling for a trip around the South of Aus, to hit South DEI or Bay of Bengal?

I pulled out some airgroups from Lunga, and put them in Lae/Gili Gili, and put them on naval attack, and will bring in some more base forces for PNG, i reckon this is his entire Carrier force. So its solved one of my predictcaments that the Japanese had at Midway historically, which this battle was beginning to feel like, i know where his Carrier forces are definately, and i can swap the torpedos on my Kates to Bombs, and order a Airfield attack to stop this Beautfort threat, his two USN base forces at the place will make it hard to shut it, but now i can commit the KB to the task it should be easier.

The I-I58 will now also head West and stalk the CV taskforce, and hopefully catch if it heads South of North from Brisbane, 3-4 subs from other areas are being sent off the West coast of PM to resist invasion.

More fuel is being loaded up in the Home islands to increase the stockpile available at Efortu Jima, as the KB force along with the Surface forces will need to be refueled in the coming days.

This Carrier sighting by the I-I58 is great news! and if the crew survives this mission, they will be celebrated and rewarded for this intelligence coup, hopefully we can use this intel to crush the US Carrier forces for a second time!

Im tempted to pull out the Kido Butai from the Attu invasion, as now its obvious Rob doesnt want to commit his Carriers here, and kind of put it on hold, or continue the invasion without Major Carrier support.

And hopefully Rob will stay unaware ive sighted him, and it should come as a massive suprise to him when the KB appears in the Coral sea to intercept his invasion, or should i just continue and ensure Attu falls and hope my increased LBA can hold off invasion, until the KB is realised....Decisions...

< Message edited by LittleJoe -- 8/19/2006 10:34:44 PM >

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Post #: 15

RE: The Decline and Fall of the Japanese Empire 1943-19... - 8/19/2006 10:55:37 PM

LittleJoe

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Quick update before Radiohead are on the tele, so no images and not much glam.

16th - 17th February `1943

The Kido Butai's Airfield attack was very efficient, one Kate and two Vals where lost, but 45 runway hits, and a handful of planes where destroyed, no strikes from the island at all this turn, so they did thier job well.

Running a bit low of fuel though, so im stockpiling more of the stuff at Paramisho and Efortu Jima, will probably have to retire next turn once the 23rd Engineer rgt is finished unloading, and put my 'second wave' on hold until they're ready to roll again.

Oh yeah and Hiryu/Akagi joined the strike force as well, so i now have enough force to divide it, these two carriers will stay on naval strike incase rob tries anything sneaky, whilst Shokaku/Kaga/Soryu will remain on Airfield, maybe Port attack to attrit his supplies.

No news eslewhere, we continu to rearrange and 'fix' the Burmese front...

Hmm still got 15 mins, so ill update our most recent turn.

18 - 19th February 1943

Rob heeded my advice and invaded Baker once again from the air, the 3rd Para Battilion dived down on the place, perfectly with all the troops landing in a 100 ft radius to ensure none of them drowned in the pacific

First assualt gained 1-1 odds, and the second 0-1, the three naval guard units are now reudced to 8 assualt points, i say the three naval guard units, in reality two of them have zero assualt points, and one lucky unit has 8. Probably the first invasion of a paicifc island in this game where the forces are ridiculously overstacked

Not much i can do it rob drops more troops in (if he can) or launched a amphibious operation, not for the next few days at least, Aps dropping off a base force at Makin, will divert to Tarawa, and try and deliver a fresh naval guard unit, to repel and destroy the invaders!

And the CV Hiyo TF has sortied from Kwaj and will sit NW of the island and try to harrass any amphib invasions, as will a small surface/bombardment group ive mustered together, 2 Cruisers and 6 Destroyers will try and acheive the same goal. But those 8 assualt points will have to hang on for another few turns, or ill have to hope if he does take the place he doesnt reinforce it, so that naval guard unit from Tarawa will be beefy enough to retake the place for the 2nd time in this war.

The KB retired as expected back to Efortu, and the rest of the invasion fleet has been put on hold until the KB is ready to cover them again.

Japanese forces on Attu are up to 210, so this second wave should be enough to finish them.. i hope.

Oh yes, and it China m finally been able to assualt some of his encirled troops NE of Yenen, and started to reduced them, even though we have similar assault points i continued to deliberate atack, as he doesnt have the supplies to replace his losses, and i do, be nice to destroy some Chinese forces and maybe gain the upper hand here, a sallying out force did arrive from the roads, looking to push the Tank Division blocking the encirled chinese, off the road but theyre marching the other way :S, not sure what hes up to there.

Sorry its so messy, ill edit and make it pretty later, Radiohead calls!!

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RE: The Decline and Fall of the Japanese Empire 1943-19... - 8/21/2006 5:15:08 AM

LittleJoe

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20th - 21st February 1943

Rob landed a raider batillion to support his paras that could only manage a stalemate, the speed of thier landings makes it obvious it was planned this way, he captured the base, but a token force of Japanese holdouts will attempt to hold on.

The 1st Guards are being loaded up onto transports at Tarawa, at around two hundered and somthing assault points it should be beefy enough to eject his forces from baker, hopefully, better than a naval guard unit anyway.

The I-I58 sunk a few miles off the coast of Brisbane, the crew wil l be honoured in a state funeral to be held in Kyoto.

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RE: The Decline and Fall of the Japanese Empire 1943-19... - 8/21/2006 5:33:43 AM

LittleJoe

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22nd - 23rd February 1943

The holdouts at Baker where destroyed this turn, three naval guard units gone for good, hopefully they're loss will have not been in vain, and we can cripple the Allied invaders and possibly drive them from Baker once again.

After finding my Bettys where on ground/supply missions all last turn, i turnt them to naval attack, no strikes on the 22nd due to bad weather, but on the 23rd dozens of Bettys and Nells hit the Allied invasion fleet, hitting a Destroyer and several Ak's, the 'Mini KB' taskforce also moved into position on the 23rd and achieved the same result.

The Cruiser taskforce should charge into the Allied fleet next turn on the 25th, Banzai Brave Warriors!

Battleships and Cruisers based at Rabaul sailed out due for Kwajalien to help the resisitance.

Ive decided to defend what ive got left of Burma at the rail crossroads, little chance of being encircled h ere, espically if i leave a division and a bit on the rail hex to the West of it, hopefully we can hold here for a few months....

The 16th Division will hold that hex outside Rangoon, as it would probably be the only place rob could try and encircle me realistically in my new defensive position, forts are also being built up at Raheng and Moulmien, for a future defensive line along the Salween river. Actually i probably base them in the Jungle hex , to the NE of that hex, as if rob contested the hex i pointed out, it would still cut off supplies.

The Kido Butai has refueled fully at Efortu, and is sailing again, the rest of the fleet and transports will do the same next turn, and Attu should fall! Then KB can dash south and crush the Allies at Baker, or perhaps the suspected USN, which i now suspect to be at Townsville, a large taskforce was sighted headed Northwest in the Townsville hex, and during the orders phrase the dock icon was a deep green, could have just been a normal transport group...maybe not. Port Moresby braces itself...

Oh yes and before i forget, the 1st Guards loaded from Tarawa, where already sailing towards Baker, but..with no supplies, dont remember telling them to do so, theyre being sent back to Tarawa to take some supplies with them!

< Message edited by LittleJoe -- 8/21/2006 5:46:53 AM >

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Post #: 18

RE: The Decline and Fall of the Japanese Empire 1943-19... - 8/21/2006 3:20:16 PM

aztez

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Intresting AAR when you read both sides of the story. Btw have you now cancelled the planned invasion of Midway?

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Post #: 19

RE: The Decline and Fall of the Japanese Empire 1943-19... - 8/21/2006 6:11:26 PM

LittleJoe

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KB will head to the Baker battle if it is still ongoing, so Midway is on hold...if my subs can keep tracks on what i suspect to be his Carrier force, then it will go ahead most prob, if Baker battle drags on and his Carriers dissapear, its not really worth it.

At Attu i also hoped to draw his fleet into battle, right on the doorstep of all my major ports in Japan, Midway wont be the same and he will have the advantage of having a major port closer to the battle, losing carriers to slightly lessen his sub threat is not worth it.

Its funny last time he invaded Baker around about..August/September i was nearly ready to begin a campaign to capture the whole of the North Pacific, including Dutch Harbour, to be a base that the KB could refuel and raid West coast, he has a nack of hitting me when im about to hit him.

Robs just admitted his transports where set to do not unload, so he has more troops waiting to unload outside the island, if he choses to hold, the Cruiser Taskforce will be presented with transports only escorted by Destroyers (i hope) half full of troops and supplies, Gonna run the turn now, should be interesting.

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RE: The Decline and Fall of the Japanese Empire 1943-19... - 8/21/2006 9:40:18 PM

LittleJoe

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Subs around Townsville sighted CA's De's and other apparent warships, i usually wouldnt trust sub sightings, as my air and sub sightings have been previously unreliable, but rob hit Port Moresbys Port with a large level bomber raid today, so i think its pretty definate that hes gonna invade Port Moresby.

KB is sailing full speed towards Rabaul..Zuikaku will join it there, and we will resist the Allied invasion in the coral sea.

Attu invasion will go ahead, but with nightime tokyo express bombardments to keep the airfield shut, and the troops soft, my assault points at Attu have risen above robs assualt points, im tempted to launch a deliberate attack as he should be short on supplies, unless hes flying C-47s on supply missions from Adak... Ill wait till the 2nd wave lands..

It was a good turn in general for Japan though, but ill update later.

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RE: The Decline and Fall of the Japanese Empire 1943-19... - 8/22/2006 4:02:18 AM

LittleJoe

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24th - 25th February 1943

The resistance at Baker continued, but without LBA in the form of Bettys due to rob flying in a squadron (or two) of Wildcats.

However on the night of the 24th the Cruiser taskforce sailed into the Allied invasion fleet, and ecountered a bunch of AKs brimming with troops and supplies, protected by a solitary Destroyer

Sunk a handful of Aks and the Destroyer, inflicting plenty of ground casualities and disruption to the ground units, good result.

Some Carriers i had on patrol in the Indian Ocean to pick up on a comment rob made a while ago, about convoys taking ages to pass under South Aus, finally engaged and sunk some ships in what appears to be a supply and fuel convoy, several tankers and Aks sunk, bit of a anticlimax, i was hoping to sink some troop/plane convoys. Allied have plenty of supplies and fuel, sinking these doesnt really change a thing, but ill stick here purely for the points, and to try and justfiy the fuel ive wasted waiting..

Some Zeros and betties/nells wasted themselves by launching a naval attack on Luganville, (ill have to reduce their max range)

Only other news is as i mentioned earlier, Rob did a big raid on the port facilities of Port Moresby, burning plenty of supplies, so much so the 56th Division stationed there is now in the orange, ill try and fly in some transport aircraft to keep them supplied, and ill send in a kamikaize supply ground of Aks that are currently at Gili Gili. USN most probably at the Townsville i suspect, ive just got to home my LBA can resist and deter him from invading long enough for the Kido Butai to arrive at Rabaul.

Im very excited at the prospect of engaging robs carrier force again, its obviously weak enough for him to only chose to invade when my KB is sighted elsewhere, but strong enough for him to beleive it can complete its task. 3 USN carriers including the Essex, vs the 6 original KB carriers...should be a no contest and another major setback for rob, just got to get into position in time...

< Message edited by LittleJoe -- 8/22/2006 10:58:08 PM >

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RE: The Decline and Fall of the Japanese Empire 1943-19... - 8/23/2006 12:33:54 AM

LittleJoe

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26th February - 1st March 1943

I decided to pull the Burma army further down the rail, and ordered the Saesbo unit at Tyang gui down the trail behind the Salween river, to disuade him from marching down this way, if he does ill beef up the number of ground units outside and around Raheng, and bring in army bombers to attempt to get his army units stuck there.

Allies march into the deserted Pagan, new IJA position on the rail

Im less likely to get encirled in these new positions, the next fall back position will be behind the Salween at Moulmien where we will turn the river red with British blood! Not one step back and all that..

My Carriers in the Indian Ocean, assorted CVES and CVLS continued thier cull of the merchants, the larger taskforce retired due to lack of fuel towards Batavia, but the smaller single carrier taskforce continued to stalk and sink merchants.

The Hiyo taskforce and co found fresh targets outside Baker, troops loaded up in LSTs this time to limit the losses i suppose, sank a couple they had another base force on them, robs loading the island full of plenty of enginneers and such but seemingly not assault units, unless of course im not sinking the transports full of combat units, unfortunately the 1st Guards failed to head towards the place, and where stuck on Tarawa, the convoy must hav e retired there and unloaded.

Not that it really matters i wont be landing troops now without prior bombardment, the Battleships and Cruisers are refueling at Kwaj and will sortie next turn towards Baker, to bombard the place before my counterattack lands, if the Port Moresby ambush works as planned, i will be able to take the island back with full support of the KB as well.

Talking of which the KB is sailing past the Marinias, some ships are sneaking up the low teens in damage, meaning they will be sighted easier, if i time the attack right it shouldnt matter...

One more turn of full speed, then ill slow them down to mission speed and they should be in Rabaul by the 7th or so.

No signs of Carriers, Recon set to Townsville wont fly, lots of Asw attacking my subs outside the place, id laugh if his carriers are sailing towards Baker as we speak, but i doubt it as Rob continued flattening Gilli Gilli, itd be a waste of his B-17s if he was doing this for no reason.

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RE: The Decline and Fall of the Japanese Empire 1943-19... - 8/24/2006 7:10:24 PM

LittleJoe

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Robs away till the Saturday, nice to have a break from it anyway, been having to make too many big decisions in a short space of time, very stressful.

Hope robs carriers are where i suspect.

Got my Gcse results today, 2 A's 9 B's 2 C's....including a B in history.

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RE: The Decline and Fall of the Japanese Empire 1943-19... - 8/29/2006 2:14:07 AM

LittleJoe

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Nothing much in the last few turns, rob is boming me into the ground in China, destroying hundereds of aircraft on the ground, not much i can do to stop him.

More developments in the Coral sea, a MSW cleared some mines at Gilli Gilli, Gilli Gilli would be a dream engagement for me, i was expecting an invasion of PM/Gili this turn, with Minesweepers and all, but nothing, and Townsville is still seemingly stuffed full of ships, must be soon though...

Kido butai arrived at Rabaul, and is now heading out to Shortland islands to react quicker to now what looks like a certain invasion of Western PNG.

The Zuikaku dropped to 8 system damage, and is now meeting up with a Asw group of 3 destroyers outside Japan, where it will join the battle, if it arrives soon enough remains to be seen, the mini carrier forces i had in the Indian ocean have nearly returned home to Soerbaja, when they have refueled and refitted, they will also sail to the battle site.

We must throw everything we have at the USN before its strength becomes to great to bare!

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RE: The Decline and Fall of the Japanese Empire 1943-19... - 8/29/2006 11:38:45 PM

LittleJoe

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8th-9th March 1943

The deadlock continues, 60-40 mid expierience Nicks fail to hit anything on night airfield attacks, you would have thought at least one of them would have found thier target and release the bomb load in the vincinity of a relatively large base... They gain expeirience anyway, hopefully theyll have enough by late 44/45 to be decent at night naval attack, which will be the only way i can hurt him..

The Mini Kb docked at Soerbaja, not enough fuel at the place for them to sail to Rabaul, so they will sail to Kendari to fill thier tanks and then sail on to Rabaul..

More recon of Port Moresby and Gili Gili, Townsville is still stuffed full of ships, KB is ready in wait at the Shortlands, and Lae received a squadron of A6m3s from the DEI. The Zuikaku also began its journey to the battlefield..

The past few turns i also received the Taiho and Musashi, Musashi will stay in Tokyo, until i can place it into a needing surface/bombardment group, and the Taiho, will eiether support the operations at Attu, sail to the Baker battle, or join the rest of the KB in the solomans. I think i will unload the A6m5s and Judys, and fill it with vals and zeros, and go and perform some air attacks on Attu, to convince him that some, or if not all of the KB is still in the north, whilst if he hesistates and calls off the PM invasion it will be good for me, id rather catch him with his pants down...

The waters imbeteewn Parasishumo Jima and Attu are festering with allied subs, several merchants are hit and a few sink, the crew of CA Myoko owe thier lives to poor allied sub training and armourment ;) three allied subs lined up thier torps at the cruiser steaming towards Attu, and only one hit, albiet with only one torp, so the Cruiser is fine, few weeks in Hiroshima and theyll be ready to roll.

However the situation around Attu is probably getting worse, hes landed parts of another RCT, must be by sub, not much i can do to prevent this, and he has level 9 forts at the place, so my 3 to 1 assualt point bonus isnt really that big. Not sure i want to commit another division here, soo...if i cant take the place might as well make him bleed for it.

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RE: The Decline and Fall of the Japanese Empire 1943-19... - 8/30/2006 3:30:06 AM

LittleJoe

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10-11th March 1943

I think this turn marked the end of Japanese offensive operations, Attu is now receiving reinforcements and i suspect supplies from his subs, the operation had its required effect, it has reduced his sub war, but only to reinforce his 'encircled' troops and to blow up my merchants in the Attu area.

The final of the troops transports headed to Attu where ambushed by some PTs, also at Baker my bombardment taskforces lost a Destroyer to the evil PTs.

He must still suspect i have carrier forces in the area, as no transports outside the place..i dont think.

At Baker the much delayed counterattack hit the beaches, and its lateness was unfortunately really evident, the AP's where shot up pretty badly by costal guns, even if they weren't i didnt bring enough assualt points to the party, the shock attack was replused and the 200 odd assault points that stepped off intact off the APs where reduced to 40, thankfully a sub attack by him outside Tarawa crippled one of the Aps, so ive still got a sizeable cadre of the unit left to rebuild one day..

I left my bombardment groups outside Baker, to help support the invasion, the Aoba was hit by a LBA attack, usually wouldnt matter but they where packing 2000 pounders for the first time in the war. Thankfully its ok, should make home, thats two Jap Cruisers in as many turns needing repairs...

123 B-17's escorted by Lightenings hit Port Moresby, so maybe hes changing his mind... Hundered or so ships whent missing from Townsville, whether thats just my poor recon or somthing setting sail i dont know..a RO sub i sent outside the coral reefs of Townsville was promptly sunk by B-17s on ASW.

Rangoons cap was blown away as well, by P-40Es and the AVG, horrible losses, caught me at a dodgy time i was one Zero squadron down, as i was rotating them in and out of the DEI to get thier expierience levels up, the Oscars where totally destroyed about 1-20, the Tojos and A6m3s managed about 2-1/3-1...:( Sending aviation troops to Moulmien, to set u a new airfield over there, to attempt to attrit him from his eventual bombing of the place, i hope enough supplies can be drained through from Bangkok as combined with his airfield at Andaman its the only safe haven i have now for supplies to the Burma front. Hell have probably liberated Burma by the end of the year at best..

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RE: The Decline and Fall of the Japanese Empire 1943-19... - 8/31/2006 12:27:49 AM

LittleJoe

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12-13th March 1943

With this order phrase i entered a new phrase of thinking and put greater emphasis on consolidating my defences in the two theatres Rob is making gains (or rather a gain) The Pacific and Burma.

In Burma the aviation squads where busy all throughout the day ensuring that the IJA could escape Rangoon in some decent shape before being bombed into the ground, bit disheartening that so many fighters where destroyed and every squadron pretty much wrecked over the course of two days, but ah well, im sure rob would have said the same thing when i sunk every one of his carriers for no great loss of my own, but really ground air combat should be a lot less bloody imo. (not that that hasnt been said before)

By the end of the turn Rangoon was empty apart from a few remnants and odd bits that will have to hope that the 100+ level bombers that are on the way next turn, dont totally shut down the AF.

The squadrons have been divided amongst Moulmien/Malaya and Hanoi/Haipong..

In the Pacific i have given up hope of retaking Baker, and have begun ordering its supression, P-38s out of the place soon as it turns level 2 will soon systematically destroy my AF , Sallys at Lae are being packed up on AKs and will go to Tarawa/Apanama to try and prevent the af going to level 2 or supporting his fighters on offensive missions.(Ill have to remember to move in some more level bombers at Lae though, for when/if he retakes PM.)

Too accomodate this im shipping up a couple of aviation regiments and a Air HQ to Tarawa and Apanama, talking of which the newly arrived 31st Division arrived in Shanghai, and is loading up to head to Hanoi/Pakhoi, as hes got me checkmated in this region, and him having a level 3 port and a potentionally good airfield there would be a nightmare for my shipping.

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RE: The Decline and Fall of the Japanese Empire 1943-19... - 8/31/2006 3:11:45 AM

LittleJoe

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Will a level 3 port be enough to save a Carrier?

Taiho is in trouble after being struck by one torp from a sub (much like it was in the real war) and Saipan is biggest port in the vincinity.

The Ise's flooding has been contained in a level 3 port, but i noticed the Taiho has a bigger durability.

Allies have landed at Sabang, quite a few transports hit by Mines though...

Thanks in advance for any answer.

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RE: The Decline and Fall of the Japanese Empire 1943-19... - 9/1/2006 4:49:42 PM

LittleJoe

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Thanks all for your many detailed responses you c**ts

14- 17th March 1943

The war continues to turn against Japan, and whilst we can still rely on our naval superiorty, our airforces and imparticular ground forces are so understrength that we can only hamper certain Allied advances from under thier LBA curtain.

Highlight of the past couple of turns was as you guessed the Taiho being hit by a single torp from the American Submarine Peto the crews greeness was shown as fires started by the attack where allowed to spread to the Ammo storage and cause a massive explosion.

Lucky the Destroyer escort where able to chase away the persuing sub, allowing the crew to get some real damage control expierience and contain the fires, the Striken ship was diverted to Saipan in an attempt to save it.

Taiho docked in Saipan

Also in other news Commonwealth forces landed at Sabang, some APs and Aks where hit by the extensive minefield i had placed there, unfortunately i only had a small cadre of the 2nd Para regiment there to oppose the invasion and the base fell on the 4th day of fighting, LBA recently fleeing from Rangoon (rob inadvertantly helped me by clearing out Rangoon, as my airforce wouldnt have been in Malaya) Sorties from NE Malaya, hit many ships, and some surface combat beteewn Japanese destroyers and Patrol gunboats managed to further harass the invasion fleet, could this be a step to far? I think it could be.

The surface combat also revealed British carriers operating a few hundered miles West of the base in the British ocean, brave of rob to place his carrier fleet here when only a few turns ago i had a sizeable carrier force raiding in this ocean, said carrier force are now sailing around Borneo as we speak, where they will then dock at Singapore before heading up the Malacca straight to engage the British carriers, i dont beleive the Carrier force is that strong, as im semi sure he has some British carriers in the pacific side of the map, even so the British carrier force cannot be that strong, judging by the size of the cap placed over Sabang by it, and the size of the strikes. Lets hope he doesnt retire these assets.

Its becoming more and more clear that the limting factor in the japanese defense startergy in 1943, where my naval and airforces are still strong enough to allow small windows of oppertunity for a counter invasion, will be my ground forces. This was illustrated by me needing to react to rob marching down the trail towards Raeheng, not expecting this i looked to my ground reserves, and found i had none!So im having to pull out Brigades from the South DEI, where rob hasnt been sniffing around for some while, 2 Brigades will be sent to this area, one to sit in Raeheng, and another to bolster the garrison of Malaya to deter rob from getting more agressive.

Im gonna have to think about evacuating my troops from Attu when my Carriers are free, as i really nee as many ground units as i can get, its quite ironic that the British Commonwealth forces have reclaimed more ground from the Japanese empire than the Americans have, quite the alternative reality. This looks set to continue with rob having me hemmed in at SE China, he will probably take Pakhoi (a nice level 3 port for his subs to repair damage from) unless the newly arrived 31st Division can arrive in Hanoi in time and releive the encircled defenders..i dont think so though..

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(in reply to LittleJoe)

Post #: 30