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RE: April 1 1943 - China

 
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RE: April 1 1943 - China - 11/15/2011 4:23:18 AM   
ADB123

 

Posts: 1559
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Status: offline 		Here's the situation in China:






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Post #: 661
RE: April 1 1943 - South Pacific - 11/15/2011 4:24:07 AM   
ADB123

 

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Status: offline 		Here's the situation in the South Pacific:






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Post #: 662
April 1 1943 - Interim Report - 11/16/2011 1:28:45 AM   
ADB123

 

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Status: offline 		Apri 1, 1943 -

This is another interim report because my opponent only had time to run the Combat Replay this evening.

The Night Phase saw USS Trigger attempt to sneak up on a large Japanese Transport TF at Wyndham, but the Escorts in the TF drove off the US sub. However, at the end of the Day Trigger snuck back and put a torpedo into an xAK. Trigger got away unscathed.

Daylight revealed at least some part of the KB sitting fairly far north of Port Hedland. A squadron of A6M3as flew a Sweep against Port Hedland. Facing them were some P-38Gs and Kittyhawk IIIs. The Allied planes were there primarily to deter Long Range Japanese Bombers from Timor and not to stand up to Crack Japanese Naval Fighters, but they did reasonably well and only one plane of each type was lost.

But no Japanese Naval Bomber Attack showed up, although Japanese Search planes spotted some of the various Allied TFs in the area. However, the majority of those TFs are PT TFs, and next turn I intend to pull out the Kittyhawks and replace them with Spitfires and Corsairs. If the KB sends planes out next turn there will be a different reception for them.

The action then shifted to Burma where various Allied 2Es and DBs hit the troops and Base at Warazup again. This time there was no Japanese LR CAP. Despite this, the Allied Air Attacks did little damage. Other Allied 2E attacks hit various Japanese troops near Akyab and Kalemyo, but with equally poor results. And as a bit of a wake-up call, Allied 2Es also attacked the Japanese troops at Bhamo, but once again they missed their target for the most part.

Then, Allied 4Es hammered the Air Base at Taung Gyi again. There weren't any Japanese planes there this time, but it was still good to damage the Base and Air Fields even further and keep Japanese planes out of there.

Finally, US Liberators hit the Japanese troops at Wyndham again. A few Oscar Is showed up on a half-hearted LR CAP, but the 4Es pretty much ignored them and hammered the Japanese Troops on the Ground. The results at Wyndham are so much better than what can be achieved in Burma. No Japanese Air Attacks flew against the Australian Armoured Units that are still sitting outside of Wyndham.

The Big Surprise this turn was that there was Absolutely no Action in the South Pacific. There were no reports of KB 3, no sightings, no Japanese Spy Planes seen or any other indication that KB 3 had been fairly close to Suva the previous day. I checked all of the SIGING and Ops Reports after watching the Combat Reply and I didn't see mention in there either. I wonder if my opponent just pulled back after not seeing TFs but instead seeing Air Unit symbols.

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Post #: 663
April 1 1943 - Final Report - 11/17/2011 2:28:25 AM   
ADB123

 

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Status: offline 		April 1, 1943 – Final Report -

The Turn didn't show a lot that was different from the Combat Replay. The Air Losses were as per the CR – the good thing was that I didn't lose any pilots.

As I figured, KB 3 disappeared totally from view. So I re-set my Catalinas in the Region from Attack/Search to All Search, just in case KB 3 went into Stealth Mode. My ships in the region continue to sail away on detours, but they aren't changing their missions significantly.

North of Port Hedland it appears that both KB 1 & 2 are sitting just out of Bomber Range. I moved up more good Fighters and ordered my TFs in the region to head to Port and stay there, if they weren't already in Port. If the KB's Bombers want these ships they will have to fight their way through my CAP.

I also ordered a handful of PT TFs to sail out at Full Speed in an attempt to disrupt the KB TFs if possible. Sure, the PT TFs will run out of fuel, but there is always that small chance that they will intercept. (We're back to the “blind squirrel” school of tactics.)

So, will my opponent commit KB 1 & 2, or will they sail back into the “twilight zone” like KB 3 just did?

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Post #: 664
20,000 Hits - 11/17/2011 11:06:44 AM   
ADB123

 

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Status: offline 		Wow! Thanks to everyone who has taken the time to check in on this AAR over the past two years!

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Post #: 665
RE: 20,000 Hits - 11/17/2011 11:05:11 PM   
WriterNotViking


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Thank you for keeping it interesting and well-written. I started reading around June and had to catch up from the beginning. I've learned a lot about the game from your posts, but the real treat is waiting to see what will happen next. I hope you will be able and willing to fight to the finish, because I would love to see who wins.

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Post #: 666
RE: 20,000 Hits - 11/18/2011 1:34:53 AM   
ADB123

 

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quote:

ORIGINAL: WriterNotViking


Thank you for keeping it interesting and well-written. I started reading around June and had to catch up from the beginning. I've learned a lot about the game from your posts, but the real treat is waiting to see what will happen next. I hope you will be able and willing to fight to the finish, because I would love to see who wins.


Thanks for the interest. I hope that I can continue to keep your interest in this match.

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Post #: 667
I Guessed Wrong Again... - 11/18/2011 1:36:39 AM   
ADB123

 

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Status: offline 		April 2, 1943 -

This was yet another turn where I out-and-out guessed wrong and paid for it.

The Night Phase started out with a Japanese 2BB, 2CA, 4DD TF showing up at Port Hedland.

And, of course, I had sent out the PT TFs that had been sitting at Port Hedland in the slim hope of disrupting the Japanese CV TFs that were off shore.

And, as I should have expected with my continuous bad luck, my PT TFs didn't intercept anything.

But the Japanese TF found an empty Transport TF at Port Hedland – 2 AVPs and 4 small Dutch xAPs. The Japanese ships sank the Allied ships almost instantly – none of the Japanese ships missed with anything and all guns fired successfully.

The Japanese TF then proceded to hammer Port Hedland with a Naval Bombardment, smashing up all of the Facilities, destroying numerous LCUs, and as a bonus, destroying some Allied Fighters on the Ground. The Shore Guns couldn't reach the Japanese Ships, and as I should have expected, none of the Japanese ships ran into any of the Allied Mines.

To add to the general irritation and frustration of the Night, USS Perch had a clean shot at a Japanese RO-class sub off of Tokara Retto, but missed. However, the Combat Report claimed a hit. So who knows what really happened. (My bet is that the RO is still sailing along happily, unaware of what transpired.)

Daylight brought out Japanese Fighters and Bombers against a US Tank Regiment that had moved a hex to the west of Daly Waters. I stand totally amazed that my opponent can spot my LCUs so easily at a distance when my Search and Recon Planes seem unable to spot anything.

Then, to add insult to injury, hundreds of Allied 2Es, 4Es and DBs flew against the Japanese troops at Warazup and Myitkyina. Despite non-stop Air Recon, supposed 10/10 spotting, and daily Air Base bombing raids, all but a handful of Allied Dive Bombers missed their targets.

Finally, some US B-24s hit various Japanese troops at Wyndham, but it was poor consolation for such a lousy day.

BTW – despite dozens of Long Range Search planes in action, dozens of Long Range Fighters around to provide Escort, and dozens of Long Range Bombers that are trained in Naval Attack on the Ready in Northern Oz, there were no attempted attacks on the retiring Japanese Bombardment TF. It had found a Rain Storm to hide in and was happily sailing away unmolested.

I get really, REALLY sick of these sorts of days.

And my opponent was too busy to do the turn, so he only sent the Combat Replay. So I get to brood another day over my inability to do anything to stop the Japanese from doing whatever they like.

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Post #: 668
RE: I Guessed Wrong Again... - 11/18/2011 5:51:07 AM   
DanielAnsell

 

Posts: 128
Joined: 5/5/2006
From: United States
Status: offline 		First off, congratulations on going two years with this. That's big time, and I think this AAR is a real sleeper, on the lists. It looks like you get plenty of views, if not the amount of cross-talk some others get.

On the frustration level, it looks like you are doing things right. The jungle seems able to soak up untold amounts of HE, and even the towns in Burma seem to have that capability. But I sometimes wonder if you are causing more damage than you think. After all, it might be hard to spot casualties from the air on jungle roads.
Ask your opponent to check his units disruption levels before and after the attacks. Not for disclosure now, but I think at war's end you'll find you did more damage in terms of fatigue and disruption, at least, if not outright casualties, then is apparent.

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Post #: 669
RE: I Guessed Wrong Again... - 11/18/2011 11:14:03 AM   
ADB123

 

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quote:

ORIGINAL: Carny

First off, congratulations on going two years with this. That's big time, and I think this AAR is a real sleeper, on the lists. It looks like you get plenty of views, if not the amount of cross-talk some others get.

On the frustration level, it looks like you are doing things right. The jungle seems able to soak up untold amounts of HE, and even the towns in Burma seem to have that capability. But I sometimes wonder if you are causing more damage than you think. After all, it might be hard to spot casualties from the air on jungle roads.
Ask your opponent to check his units disruption levels before and after the attacks. Not for disclosure now, but I think at war's end you'll find you did more damage in terms of fatigue and disruption, at least, if not outright casualties, then is apparent.


I think that most of my frustration is that my opponent stubbornly refuses to make mistakes!

In Burma I appear to have bogged him down, likely to Supply shortages which are increased by my constant bombing. It's just that everything takes so long there that I have a tendency to try experiments, such as last turn's 4E attack. I need to keep focussed upon what works, which is 4E Base attacks.

Thanks for the comments!

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Post #: 670
Mystery Theater - 11/19/2011 2:15:24 AM   
ADB123

 

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Status: offline 		April 2, 1943 – Final Comments -

The actual Turn contained some relatively good news and a big mystery.

First off, the damage to Port Hedland wasn't too bad, and I've got LOTS of Engineers there, so things ought to be back to scratch pretty fast. I also only lost 3 P-40Ks and 1 P-38G on the Ground.

The Mystery is how the Japanese Naval Forces off of Northern Oz totally disappeared this turn. Nothing is out there except for one Japanese sub. And I've got a lot of subs sailing around the area, as well as 3 PT TFs, and plenty of Long Range Search Planes at various bases in Northwestern Oz. But they spotted nothing. Talk about going “stealth” in a big way!

I found it interesting that the PT TFs that I sent out after the Japanese CV TFs ended up running themselves out of fuel while trying to get away from Enemy Aircraft Sightings. Considering that nothing really attacks PT Boats, this seems to be a bit of an overreaction for the PTs.

In any event, I've got a Secret Weapon on its way to Port Hedland – McHale's Navy. Yes, McHale is commanding a fresh PT TF that is now on its way to take the place of the other scattered and fuelless PT TFs.

One thing that my Air Search has noticed that there are now a lot of Japanese subs off of Canton Island and Palmyra Island. Those subs will have to deal with my LBA which has been training in ASW for the past 15 months.

Otherwise, I sat down most of my Bomber Squadrons to give them time to rest up and repair the odd damaged plane. In Burma I've ordered most of my 2E Squadrons to do extended Recon in case some new and interesting Targets show up.

And I keep on looking at the ever-increasing pool of Mk 13 Mines while wondering when I will be able to start to use them. It's too bad that the Designers decided not to give the Players even semi-historical quantities of the other mines.

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Post #: 671
RE: Mystery Theater - 11/19/2011 9:56:53 AM   
Erkki


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quote:

I found it interesting that the PT TFs that I sent out after the Japanese CV TFs ended up running themselves out of fuel while trying to get away from Enemy Aircraft Sightings. Considering that nothing really attacks PT Boats, this seems to be a bit of an overreaction for the PTs.


Bad weather over Port Hedland? One thing I'd like to see in PBEM is the single player style "patrol flights cancelled from base/ship XXYY due bad weather" reports... The player would need to watch through like 50 of them each turn but many times in many places it would help to know what is going on and why. Maybe as a toggle, like. "patrol sortie cancellation reports: << 0,5 sec >>" (with the buttons to decrease and increase), in the settings screen.

BTW your AAR does have readers.

< Message edited by Erkki -- 11/19/2011 9:57:37 AM >

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Post #: 672
RE: Mystery Theater - 11/19/2011 1:38:37 PM   
ADB123

 

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quote:

ORIGINAL: Erkki

quote:

I found it interesting that the PT TFs that I sent out after the Japanese CV TFs ended up running themselves out of fuel while trying to get away from Enemy Aircraft Sightings. Considering that nothing really attacks PT Boats, this seems to be a bit of an overreaction for the PTs.


Bad weather over Port Hedland? One thing I'd like to see in PBEM is the single player style "patrol flights cancelled from base/ship XXYY due bad weather" reports... The player would need to watch through like 50 of them each turn but many times in many places it would help to know what is going on and why. Maybe as a toggle, like. "patrol sortie cancellation reports: << 0,5 sec >>" (with the buttons to decrease and increase), in the settings screen.

BTW your AAR does have readers.


There was generally bad weather all around the region. During the Combat Replay I could see Japanese TFs sitting under clouds off shore.

All of my long range fighters and bombers were at Exmouth and Carnarvon. They are in attack range of any TF that stays at Port Hedland, but not of ships that are several hexes north of Port Hedland. I only had Fighters and Search planes in Port Hedland because I was expecting an Air Attack, not a Naval Bombardment.

Corruna Downs is the real key to the defence of Port Hedland, and although I have some Engineers there, I don't have enough and the Air Field is not yet at Level 2, which will allow me to base Dive Bombers there. (But plenty more Engineers are on their way. I may have lost some old xAPs, but I got the Troops off first.)

So as a Raid, it was a pain, but if it is just a raid it only slows me down a bit, and the next time I will have more capability in place.

One of these days I'll catch a Japanese TF...

Thanks for reading and for the comments!

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Post #: 673
Recon Flies, Bombers Sit - 11/20/2011 5:35:04 PM   
ADB123

 

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Status: offline 		April 3, 1943 -

The Night Phase saw Dutch sub KIX take a shot at a Japanese PB in an ASW TF near Moumein, but miss. My opponent has been attempting to harass my subs off of Rangoon/Moulmein with a couple of small-ship ASW TFs, but the Japanese ships appear to be as incompetent in their ASW roles as my submarines are in their anti-ship role.

Daylight saw Japanese bombers attack the retiring Australian Armoured units near Wyndham again. My opponent appears to be taking turns attacking different Allied units out in the desert; likely in order to frustrate any attempt by me to LR CAP my troops.

This time Japanese bombers flew from Darwin as well as Timor. My opponent has continued to build up Darwin even more than before. He appears to have decided that it is a great place to defend and to tie-up any Allied advance into the region, and I'd have to concur with his decision for the following reasons:

1 – He can supply his forces by ship and the Allied subs can't stop the TFs
2 – Allied Ground forces can't advance on Land because of the Reduced Supply rules that were introduced into the region back in one of the early updates to the Game
3 – Allied 4Es can't close the Air Base down at Darwin because Allied Air Bases that can be built large enough are too far away for continuous effective Heavy Bombing, and anyway, the Supply Rules hinder those Allied Bases from which the 4Es can operate even at Long Range
4 – It is pretty much impossible to move troops by Sea because of the Japanese ability to coordinate the KB with Island-Based LBA

So I will continue to build up the bases in Northwestern Australia and continue to try to sneak Troops and Supplies into the Northern Australian Bases that I hold, but I will have to also continue to have to accept losses in the Ships that I use to try to sneak in those Troops and Supplies since there is no way I can gain Air Superiority in the region in the Foreseeable Future. In any event, this is an interesting lesson for aspiring Japanese players – the Game Design and Rule Modifications give you a great opportunity in this region, so you really ought to take advantage of it.

In the meanwhile, although some Afternoon Recon Flights took off for the Allies, no Allied Bombing Runs flew, so things were quiet elsewhere.

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Post #: 674
A-36s - 11/21/2011 4:06:55 AM   
ADB123

 

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Status: offline 		April 4, 1943 -

There was no Night Action.

Daylight brought the Japanese Bombers out against the retiring Australian Armoured units near Wyndham again. I can't keep Tennant Creek supplied, which means that I can't provide LR CAP over the two Australian units, so they will just have to tough-it-out as they leave.

US 4Es did attack in return in northern Oz as B-17s hit the Air Base at Katherine and B-24s hit the Japanese Troops at Wyndham. There were no Japanese Fighters on CAP at either location.

In Indo-Burma the Allied 4Es were rained out again, but the DB and 2E attacks on Warazup did fly, and for a change most actually hit their targets to a limited extent.

At the end of the day USS Trigger put three torpedoes into an xAKL at Darwin. There wasn't much left of the little Japanese Freighter after the third torpedo hit.

And Derby was captured by Australian Armoured Units. Now one of those units is on its way to Broome.

Finally, some Japanese Paratroops captured Sandakan and put the British Observer Unit there out of its misery. That single Observer “whatever” has been sitting there with no supply at that jungle base on Borneo since very early in the Game. Now the rest of the Base Force that the Observer was from can finally re-build.

I've noticed that I will get 4 A-36 Mustang squadrons in a couple of days. I'm not sure what to do with them since they don't appear to have much potential and they get few replacements which won't show up until later in the year. Maybe I'll just use them as Training Squadrons like I do P-39s.

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Post #: 675
RE: A-36s - 11/21/2011 9:57:41 AM   
Erkki


Posts: 1461
Joined: 2/17/2010
Status: offline 		Why do you use P-39s in training squads? Unless you play with altitude rules(limiting CAP & sweep to alt of second best or best MVR or something) the P-39D is better than P-40E and N1 N2 are approximately as good as P-40K and Ns... P-400 isnt that bad either. Of course if you have plenty of better fighters around now with the Hellcat available you might not need to fight with the Cobras or Warhawks...

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Post #: 676
RE: A-36s - 11/21/2011 11:15:42 AM   
ADB123

 

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quote:

ORIGINAL: Erkki

Why do you use P-39s in training squads? Unless you play with altitude rules(limiting CAP & sweep to alt of second best or best MVR or something) the P-39D is better than P-40E and N1 N2 are approximately as good as P-40K and Ns... P-400 isnt that bad either. Of course if you have plenty of better fighters around now with the Hellcat available you might not need to fight with the Cobras or Warhawks...


I've still only got P-39Ds, and one squadron of P-400s. They are useless against High Altitude Japanese fighters and they have poor range. So I keep them on the West Coast of the US for pilot training. Also, if my opponent ever gets the urge to try a Port Raid on the West Coast, the Aerocobras will provide defence.

I use P-38s and Corsairs as my main Front Line Combat Fighters. I use Hurricane IIcs, Spitfires and P-40Ks as my main Front Line Defensive Fighters. Other fighters like Kittyhawks are relegated to behind-the-line-defense against Paratroop drops or against nuisance long-range bomber raids in India and Australia.

And I'm still stuck with Marine F4Fs on Pacific Islands because the Corsair replacement rate is low. But they are there solely to deter long-range Betty/Nell attacks.

BTW - in my Japanese PBEM, nothing makes me happier than seeing my opponent put P-39s in the Air against my fighters. What I try to avoid is having my Fighters tangle with P-38s, Spitfires, Hurricane IIcs and Corsairs.

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Post #: 677
RE: A-36s - 11/21/2011 11:25:53 AM   
Erkki


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Status: offline 		Yeah, well, all P-39s are better than P-40E at all altitudes... But if you can only use it up to 10,000 or 15,000ft I know they can be pretty limited.

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Post #: 678
RE: A-36s - 11/21/2011 12:38:30 PM   
ADB123

 

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quote:

ORIGINAL: Erkki

Yeah, well, all P-39s are better than P-40E at all altitudes... But if you can only use it up to 10,000 or 15,000ft I know they can be pretty limited.


You notice - I didn't mention P-40Es anywhere...

I haven't used P-40Es (other than in China where they are (a little) better than biplanes) since very early 1942. My P-40Es are pretty much all sitting in the Pools, just like Buffalos. (And soon, I hope, just like Wildcats!)

One thing about this match - the Air War has been Long Range for the most part. So both sides have had to fight with Long Range Fighters. Thus you still see my opponent trying to use Oscar Is and A6M2s from time-to-time. (China is a totally different topic, and even there Oscar Is are at risk if they go against the US fighters that the Chinese have.)

Right now my opponent is keeping his Fighters back in Major Bases, where he can have 150 to 200 modern Fighters available for CAP. There aren't any current situations where I could use P-39s effectively. So I keep them in the Backwaters, training pilots.

Thanks again for the comments.

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Post #: 679
Tit-for-Tat Bombing Raids - 11/22/2011 2:04:26 AM   
ADB123

 

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Status: offline 		April 5, 1943 -

There was no Night Action again this turn. Which was okay from my p.o.v. since it meant that there weren't any Japanese TFs bombarding my forward bases.

Daylight brought out a bit of a surprise as Japanese planes showed up over Daly Waters. I've been pulling out many of my units from there since I can't provide Supply to them. The ones that are left are fairly tough and dug in, so the Japanese Attack wasn't too much of a problem. And this also meant that my other units on the Move around the area got a day without an attack.

In Return, B-17s hit Katherine again, and B-24s hit the Japanese Troops at Wyndham again.

And in Indo-Burma the 4Es flew this turn and hit the Airfields at Magwe. The Weather scattered out the Bomber Squadrons, but since there was no CAP it wasn't a problem, other than the fact that Big Groups of Bombers cause more damage than the same bombers spread out over sequential attacks. But there was still enough damage to keep Magwe out of operation.

At the end of the Day Dutch Sub KXIII was chased unsuccessfully by a Japanese PB near Moulmein. But USS Sawfish was hammered by Japanese DD Escorts in a Transport TF at Darwin. Sawfish will be limping home in a very iffy condition.

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Post #: 680
An Unlucky Sub - 11/23/2011 1:29:52 AM   
ADB123

 

Posts: 1559
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Status: offline 		My opponent was going out with friends this evening, but he took the time to run the Combat Replay and send it to me. So this is an interim report.

April 6, 1943 -

Some Subs just don't have any luck. USS Sawfish was limping back from Darwin when it was caught on the surface by a Japanese RO-class sub. The RO put one torpedo into Sawfish and the US sub went down like a stone.

Then Dutch sub KIX was chased unsuccessfully by a PB near Moulmein. But later on at the end of the Day the PB caught up with KIX and hit it a few times. So KIX will be limping home – hopefully without running into any Japanese subs.

Last turn the Japanese Air Attacks on Liuchow were accompanied by indications that more Japanese Troops were getting into position to move in and besiege the Base. Under those conditions, my opponent tends to send out his Bombers repeatedly. So I pulled up almost all of the Chinese Fighter Squadrons to Bases that are near to Liuchow, and set them all to Max Alt LR CAP.

Sure enough, the IJAAF started in right from the crack of dawn.

First in were 18 Oscar IIs, which were met by 23 P-66s, 11 P-40Es, 5 H81-A3s and 6 P-43As. The Chinese “reject” fighters did very well for themselves, shooting down 5 Oscar IIs at the cost of 1 H81-A3, 1 P-40E and 3P-66s.

Next in was the main Japanese Air Attack: 18 Sonias, 7 Lily IIas, 42 Sallys IIas, and 3 Helen IIas, escorted by 5 Tojos and 15 Oscar Is. They were faced by 7 P-66s, 6 P-40Es, 2 H81-A3s, and 3 P-43As. The Chinese fighters shot down an Oscar I but they couldn't get through to the Japanese bombers, which then hit the Chinese Troops at Liuchow fairly hard.

Next came in 21 Helen IIas and 21 Sally Ics. The Japanese Bombers were unescorted this time and they had to face 5 P-66s, 6 P-40Es, 2 H-81-A3s and 3 P-43As. The Chinese Fighters attacked aggressively, shooting down 2 Sallys and 1 Helen, but they couldn't turn back the Japanese Bombers which again hit the Troops at Liuchow fairly hard.

Finally, 3 Oscar IIas straggled in to face 2 P-66s, 3 P-40Es, 2 H81-A3s and 3 P-43s. This trio of Oscar IIa pilots was good and they shot down a P-66 without any losses to themselves.

So my Air Ambush worked as well as I might have hoped, given the types of Fighters that the Chinese have available to them and the quantities of Japanese Fighters and Bombers that they had to face. I will now pull the Chinese Air Squadrons back and try to avoid losing too many to Japanese Counterattacks.

BTW – the Japanese Bomber Attacks on the Chinese Troops at Liuchow are very educational – most of the Chinese troops there are out of Supply and so the Japanese Bombers are not facing Flak, and also the Chinese troops are taking many more casualties than they usually do when they are dug-in in a City.

The Chinese Air Force had one more Card to Play. The entire Chinese Bomber Force - 6 SB-IIIs, 2 Hudsons, and 4 DB-3as - attempted to bomb a Japanese Infantry Division that is parked one hex from Changsha, but none of the Chinese Bombers hit their Target.

There was also Air Action in Northern Oz as Japanese Bombers returned their attention to the two retiring Australian Armoured units that are still trying to pull away from Wyndham. The Aussie Tankers are low on Supply too, so the Japanese Air Attacks were quite successful.

In return, B-24s hit the Japanese Troops at Wyndham again, and this time caused a lot more casualties than they usually do. I wonder if those Japanese Troops at Wyndham are also low on Supplies.

This time the B-17s in Northern Oz flew Recon Missions over Japanese Bases rather than Troop Hunting. I like to know what is happening and 4E Recon is one of the best ways to accomplish this.

Finally, in Burma 4Es and 2Es flew and hit the Japanese Troops at Katha along the Mandalay-Myitkyina Road. Katha is still a “dot” base so there was no Air Base to attack. Therefore, the Allied Bombers had to be satisfied with the usual poor results of bombing Troops in Burma.

In addition, 2Es and DBs hit Warazup again, and as usual, the 2Es hit the Air Base nicely while the DBs did little damage to the Japanese Troops.

(in reply to ADB123)
Post #: 681
April 6 1943 Final Report - 11/26/2011 9:29:19 PM   
ADB123

 

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Joined: 8/18/2009
Status: offline 		My opponent has been busy with Real Life recently, but he found time to send the rest of the April 6 Turn to me today.

April 6, 1943 – Final Report -

The End-of-Day Air Combat results were rather pleasing, particularly when you consider that it was the Chinese Air Force, fighting with leftover US planes, that surprised the Japanese so well:

Ki-43-IIa Oscar IIa – 10 A-to-A
Ki-21-Ic Sally – 3 A-to-A
Ki-49-IIa Helen – 2 A-to-A
Ki-43-Ic Oscar – 1 A-to-A

P-66 Vanguard – 5 A-to-A, 1 Ops
P-40E Warhawk – 4 A-to-A
H81-A3 – 2 A-to-A

I'm guessing that the Oscar IIs were in Training Groups and that's why they did so poorly.

I pulled back most of the Chinese planes in advance of the major Sweeps that I expect to come from the Japanese next turn.

Meanwhile, my Long Range Recon is showing that my opponent continues to amass greater and greater numbers of Fighters and Bombers in Northeastern Oz, Southern Burma, the Eastern Kuriles, PNG and obviously China. So where is he “light” in Fighters? I'll have to probe around a bit and see.

SIGINT gave the usual page-full of useless info, along with one potentially useful message – some Radio Operator thinks that he overheard a message from around 42,114, which is northeast of Exmouth in Western Australia. Is the KB out there again? I don't have much sailing in that region right now, so I don't particularly care. And usually, when there is a Radio Report but no “ship mark” the SIGINT report is erroneous, but just in case it isn't I sent a few more subs out that way.

(in reply to ADB123)
Post #: 682
Hurricane IIds - 11/27/2011 9:45:22 PM   
ADB123

 

Posts: 1559
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Status: offline 		April 7, 1943 -

The Night Phase saw USS Lapon take a shot at a Japanese DD to the southeast of Saipan, but miss. The Japanese escorts chased off Lapon which only received minor damage. What was important about that encounter was that Lapon reported back the Japanese TF composition: 3 BBs, 2CAs, 2CLs, and 6 Dds. I bet that the TF is being sent to the Gilberts in response to my build-up in the south-central Pacific.

Daylight saw the Japanese Air Force go after the retiring British Armoured Regiments that are now a couple of hexes away from Wyndham. Despite the Bombing Raid the Mysteries of the Supply System came into play and both Australian units were in Full Supply at the end of the turn.

The Japanese Air Force also Went to Work in a Big Way at Kweilin in China where multiple large Fighter and Bomber raids hammered the Air Base. This was fine because the Chinese planes that had been there were already gone, and this way Liuchow get a breather.

Allied Air Efforts were bedevilled by Bad Weather again, but some planned attacks did fly.

In Australia it would have been better if the B-24 Raid on Wyndham had been rained out because 4 dozen Nicks showed up on LR CAP. The Nicks shot down 2 B-24s, while the 4E gunners were only able to shoot down 1 Nick. Those B-24 Squadrons are pretty worn down at this point so I will rest them for a while.

And in Burma, various DB, 2E and 4E Squadrons flew attacks on Warazup and Katha. The Raids were all scattered out by Weather, and only the Vengeance Attacks caused much damage. I find it ironic that I have more Vengeance DBs in Reserve than any other Bomber, but I've got only 3 Squadrons that can use them. Oh well, I'll do what I can with them.

I also noticed that Hurricane IIds have shown up. They are Fighter Bombers that can't carry Bombs, but they have a higher ceiling than the Beaufort FBs, so I'm switching the Beauforts out. Maybe my opponent will make a mistake sometime and the IIds will get a chance at some bombers.

And there is some sort of British Liberator upgrade available now, but the replacement rate is almost unnoticeable, so that won't affect the Outcome of the War in any manner.

(in reply to ADB123)
Post #: 683
Torpedo Overkill - 11/29/2011 2:58:36 AM   
ADB123

 

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Status: offline 		April 8, 1943 -

The Night Phase saw a real case of Overkill as USS Skipjack put three torpedoes into a Japanese PB just off of Soerabaja.

Daylight saw Japanese Air Attacks on Hengyang as my opponent continued to work his way along the Central Rail Line bases in China. Kweilin also got a light Bombing. But Liuchow was spared again, and for some reason it even looks as if some of the Japanese troops that are near Liuchow are moving away.

Japanese planes also hit the Australian Armoured units that are retiring away from Wyndham.

Allied Bombers flew against Warazup again this turn. The DBs missed their targets but the 2Es hit the Air Base hard. I've ordered the 4Es to hit the Air Base at Myitkyina again next turn in order to keep it suppressed.

My opponent asked my when I was going to start an “all out” attack in Burma. I replied that with the Weather, the Movement Rules, and the Supply Rules, what he has been seeing is about as “all out” as it will ever get...

BTW – for the first time that I can remember, 3 different P-38 Squadrons actually flew together to Sweep over a Japanese unit near Katha. Unfortunately, the Allied Bombers didn't fly, and there was no chance that there would be any Japanese LR CAP over there, so it was a waste of time and fuel for those P-38 Squadrons. And I hadn't even ordered those planes to Sweep that location – they were supposed to be on CAP back at their Base. Also, for some reason, a half dozen planes in one of the P-38 Squadrons were out of commission with odds-and-ends damage after the flight, despite the relatively short range. The Randomness in this Game can sometimes be incredibly nonsensical.

At the End of the Day USS Balao was chased by a Japanese E-class in a Support TF southeast of Iwo Jima. Balao was hit twice and is now limping home. The Support TF contained 2 AS, 1 AV and 2 AKEs and was heading southeast. I presume that my opponent is getting set to support Naval Ops in the South-central Pacific in response to my Build-Up in that region.

And finally, an Australian Armoured Unit reached Broome this turn. The Australians will assault the Base next turn and my Long Desert Adventure will be done for the time being. Now it is the Turn of the Navy to get Support and Supplies into those North-central Australian Bases.

(in reply to ADB123)
Post #: 684
Broome Liberated! - 12/1/2011 3:18:03 AM   
ADB123

 

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Status: offline 		April 9, 1943 -

The Night Phase saw a Japanese sub attack AVD Preston off of Carnarvon, but the sub's torpedoes missed. The AVD then couldn't find the sub.

Then USS Amberjack took a shot at a Japanese DD northeast of Etorofu. Unexpectedly, a torpedo hit the DD, but as luck would have it, the torpedo was a dud. Amberjack was chased by the DDs in the TF but escaped with minor damage.

What was interesting was the composition of the Japanese TF: 2 CAs, CL Oi, 2 CLAAs and 6 DDs. Seeing that, I assumed that this TF was on its way to try a Naval Bombardment TF against the western Aleutians. But later on when I checked the location on the Turn, I was surprised to see that the TF was actually a small CV TF.

So just what is my opponent planning up there? The TF had moved to the southeast of Etorofu with a reported SW heading. Is it heading back towards Tokyo, or is it going to zigzag south and then east in an attempt to intercept some of the TFs that I have travelling to and from the Aleutians? In light of this I upped the Search Levels of the planes at my bases and reformed the PT TFs that I had disbanded some time ago.

Daylight brought a return of Japanese Bomber attacks on the Air Base at Liuchow. I've been pulling out unnecessary units out of Liuchow and so the general Supply level has improved a bit. This meant that there was some AA fire to harass the Japanese Bombers.

BTW – the number of Japanese LCUs around Liuchow has dropped a bit. I'm wondering if my opponent is trying a different type of end-around, because in a surprise moment of SIGINT success, an intercepted Radio Report lead me to discover that a Japanese LCU is moving along the road from Paotow towards Lanchow. The Japanese unit hasn't gotten too far, and it is a long haul without Supply, but I've got to keep my eye out on this. In any event, in response I ordered a nearby Chinese LCU to move toward Paotow again.

Japanese Bombers also hit the retiring Australian Armoured units near Wyndham. My 4Es in the region need a fair amount of time for R&O so the two LCUs will have to tough it out for a while longer yet.

In Burma the Vengeance DBs flew again, and once again couldn't hit their target at Warazup. The Allied 2Es were able to hit the Air Base at Warazup. But the 4Es took the Day Off due to Weather.

And in the Big News of the Day, an Australian Armoured unit Liberated Broome. Now, if I can get some Transport TFs into Northern Australia I will be in fairly good shape.

Finally, the Allied Ops Report contained a message that I haven't seen before; “Pilot H.L. Krippner escaped capture”.

Of course, if he was one of my 4E bomber pilots the message just meant that he escaped capture by the MPs after a night on the town...

(in reply to ADB123)
Post #: 685
Japanese Bombers Over Derby - 12/2/2011 1:42:02 AM   
ADB123

 

Posts: 1559
Joined: 8/18/2009
Status: offline 		April 10, 1943 – Interim Report

My opponent is going away for the weekend so he only had time to run and send the Combat Replay this evening. Hopefully he will be able to send the Turn on Sunday.

There was no Night Action.

Daylight brought a change of pace as Nells, Bettys, and then Helens hit the Australian Armoured unit at Derby. They caused some damage, mainly because the Australian unit is low on Supply. But as long as they continue to pester Derby and leave my other northern Australian bases alone I will be able to alleviate that problem soon enough.

Helens also made a raid on Daly Waters, but there the Allied Troops include an AA unit and so the Helens had to deal with a fair amount of Flak. The end result was that the Japanese attack took a fair amount of damage, the damage to Daly Waters was minimal, and the rest of my vulnerable northern forces, particularly the two Australian Armoured units that are retiring from the Wyndham area, were left alone.

The Chinese were also left alone, with left the remaining Air Action to the Allied Forces in India. Warazup was once again a major target as DBs and 2Es hit it repeatedly. The Vengence pilots finally found the range and caused minor damage to the Japanese troops at Warazup, but the 2Es hammered the Air Base and in particular the Air Fields.

Allied 2Es also repeatedly went after a Japanese Infantry Divison that is southeast of Kalemyo. The Bomber pilots did better here, and while they didn't do any massive damage, each attack did do some damage.

Finally, the 4Es flew and obliterated the Air Base and Air Fields at Myitkyina. I want to make it impossible for the Japanese forces to improve the Fortifications or build up Supply in that Region. And with any luck I will cut the Central Burma Rail Line around the same time as the first Allied Troops reach Warazup.

(in reply to ADB123)
Post #: 686
April 10 1943 Wrap-up - 12/5/2011 1:09:35 AM   
ADB123

 

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Joined: 8/18/2009
Status: offline 		April 10, 1943 – Wrap-up

There was nothing unexpected when I finally got to check out the turn this evening. One nice part was that the End-of-Day report confirmed that 2 Helen IIas did get knocked down by Flak.

Otherwise, I've got lots of Forces moving around and they will be reaching their destinations during the month of April. I'm hoping to pull off a few small surprises in May.

And I keep on watching the F6F pool slowly climb. It is painful to see the Hellcats come in at such a slow pace. But it is less painful than watching Wildcats go up against 1943 Japanese Fighters...

(in reply to ADB123)
Post #: 687
Burma Wars - 12/5/2011 9:28:47 PM   
ADB123

 

Posts: 1559
Joined: 8/18/2009
Status: offline 		April 11, 1943 –

There was no Night Action again.

Daylight brought Japanese bombers back over Liuchow and Hengyang. The Japanese took some Ops losses, so it wasn’t a total loss for the Chinese. The only other Japanese Air Attack was in northern Oz in the Afternoon when the retiring Australian Armoured units were hit again, albeit not as hard as in the past.

Allied Air started the Morning out poorly as multiple missions were scrubbed by Bad Weather, but eventually the 2Es in the Indo-Burma region started to fly after their targets – Japanese troops that are southeast of Kalemyo, and the Air Base at Warazup. Some of the 2Es that went hunting in the jungle near Kalemyo found their target, while all of the 2Es that went to Warazup hammered the Air Base there and closed it. The usual Vengeance Attacks flew too, and as usual they did little damage to the troops at Warazup.

Japanese Recon was busy again, particularly over Corunna Downs. My opponent continues to show unusual interest in that base. I wonder if he is considering trying a Paratroop Drop. My Fighter Pilots stationed there would like to see that. On the other hand, maybe he is just checking to see when the Air Base will finally be big enough to house 4Es.

A Japanese Recon Flight also buzzed the British Infantry Division that I have in the Jungle south of Kalemyo. So my attempt at another end-around has been discovered. Now it’s a Race Through the Jungle to see which side gets to the Rail Line first.

Finally, USS Sunfish was whacked by Japanese LBA off of Sendai this turn, so the Sub is limping home.

(in reply to ADB123)
Post #: 688
RE: Burma Wars - 12/5/2011 10:15:15 PM   
jeffk3510


Posts: 4132
Joined: 12/3/2007
From: Kansas
Status: offline 		I've never said anything in your AAR, but I am enjoying reading it! Keep er' up!

_____________________________

Life is tough. The sooner you realize that, the easier it will be.

Currently chasing three kids around the Midwest.

(in reply to ADB123)
Post #: 689
RE: Mystery Theater - 12/5/2011 10:18:25 PM   
crsutton


Posts: 9590
Joined: 12/6/2002
From: Maryland
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: ADB123

April 2, 1943 – Final Comments -

The actual Turn contained some relatively good news and a big mystery.

First off, the damage to Port Hedland wasn't too bad, and I've got LOTS of Engineers there, so things ought to be back to scratch pretty fast. I also only lost 3 P-40Ks and 1 P-38G on the Ground.

The Mystery is how the Japanese Naval Forces off of Northern Oz totally disappeared this turn. Nothing is out there except for one Japanese sub. And I've got a lot of subs sailing around the area, as well as 3 PT TFs, and plenty of Long Range Search Planes at various bases in Northwestern Oz. But they spotted nothing. Talk about going “stealth” in a big way!

I found it interesting that the PT TFs that I sent out after the Japanese CV TFs ended up running themselves out of fuel while trying to get away from Enemy Aircraft Sightings. Considering that nothing really attacks PT Boats, this seems to be a bit of an overreaction for the PTs.

In any event, I've got a Secret Weapon on its way to Port Hedland – McHale's Navy. Yes, McHale is commanding a fresh PT TF that is now on its way to take the place of the other scattered and fuelless PT TFs.

One thing that my Air Search has noticed that there are now a lot of Japanese subs off of Canton Island and Palmyra Island. Those subs will have to deal with my LBA which has been training in ASW for the past 15 months.

Otherwise, I sat down most of my Bomber Squadrons to give them time to rest up and repair the odd damaged plane. In Burma I've ordered most of my 2E Squadrons to do extended Recon in case some new and interesting Targets show up.

And I keep on looking at the ever-increasing pool of Mk 13 Mines while wondering when I will be able to start to use them. It's too bad that the Designers decided not to give the Players even semi-historical quantities of the other mines.



Mk13 are air dropped mines. You can start using them as soon as they go into production. I have.

_____________________________

I am the Holy Roman Emperor and am above grammar.

Sigismund of Luxemburg

(in reply to ADB123)
Post #: 690
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