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RE: Operation Rudyard - 10/12/2011 1:57:17 PM

Mike Solli

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Having been on the receiving end of those buggers once or twice, I'd say you have them placed well. Hitting oil is always a good thing. You won't see the results of your efforts until 1944-5 but fuel shortages wreck the economy. Even if you're not in a position to bomb Japan with B-29s, if he has a fuel shortage in Japan, you're doing the same thing without putting those big shiny birds in danger.

Hitting Japanese troops in Burma in not nice.

He already has a shortage of them and the malaria doesn't help to rebuild them.

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RE: Operation Rudyard - 10/12/2011 2:03:33 PM

Dixie

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quote:

ORIGINAL: Mike Solli

Having been on the receiving end of those buggers once or twice, I'd say you have them placed well. Hitting oil is always a good thing. You won't see the results of your efforts until 1944-5 but fuel shortages wreck the economy. Even if you're not in a position to bomb Japan with B-29s, if he has a fuel shortage in Japan, you're doing the same thing without putting those big shiny birds in danger.

Hitting Japanese troops in Burma in not nice. He already has a shortage of them and the malaria doesn't help to rebuild them.

It's alright, at the moment there's a jolly good chance that the bombs will hit some Thai troops. Given that they aren't as good as Japanese troops and they're only going to quit when the going gets tough I'm practically doing GBL a favour really.

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Post #: 92

RE: Operation Rudyard - 10/12/2011 2:12:06 PM

cantona2

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quote:

ORIGINAL: Dixie

Time for some strategic thinkings...

I currently have a few scattered groups of B-17s in a position to do something worthwhile. One and a half groups in India, from the Calcutta area they can reach down into Burma and the Thai border area. There's not a lot to hit, but there are raids going up against Japanese troops and airfields.

Two groups are still stationed in the Philippines, from here they can actually bomb strategic targets, which is allowed under our HRs. The targets aren't great, but the best option is probably the oilfields at Miri. It's not going to be a major effort, just enough to give GBL something else to deal with and hopefully force him to station fighters in the rear areas. After a few days of bombing the oilfields it'll be back to hitting airfields for a few days, after that it's probably time to relocate the big burds.

Get those B-17 groups in PH to Oz sharpish via Canton Island-suva route then start training them at ground attack betwen 10,000-12,000 feet. then start to bombard his troops in New Guinea. Japanese fighters find it very hard to shoot them down and when concentrated the B-17 formation is perhaps the most powerful early war weapon the allied player has. Develop the bases at Charter Towers, Townsville, Coen, Cairns and Cooktown and base them there. I attach them to V Bomber Command and have the HQ attached to Fifth Air Force. One HQ at CT's the other at Coen should been all the above fields are within range and thus the chance of a coordinated strike is much higher!

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RE: Operation Rudyard - 10/12/2011 2:14:47 PM

cantona2

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quote:

ORIGINAL: Mike Solli

Having been on the receiving end of those buggers once or twice, I'd say you have them placed well. Hitting oil is always a good thing. You won't see the results of your efforts until 1944-5 but fuel shortages wreck the economy. Even if you're not in a position to bomb Japan with B-29s, if he has a fuel shortage in Japan, you're doing the same thing without putting those big shiny birds in danger.

Hitting Japanese troops in Burma in not nice. He already has a shortage of them and the malaria doesn't help to rebuild them.

Once he gets Zeroes into Kuching the game will be up and you cannot afford too many B-17D losses as the pools suck. The 19th BG withdraws in June 42 (IIRC) so use them until he has air over Borneo then move them into Calcutta to train up and harass his advance in Burma. When they withdraw you will have a nice lot of veteran pilots in the pool redployed from the 19th!

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Post #: 94

RE: Operation Rudyard - 10/12/2011 2:27:20 PM

Chickenboy

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quote:

ORIGINAL: Dixie

Time for some strategic thinkings...

I currently have a few scattered groups of B-17s in a position to do something worthwhile. One and a half groups in India, from the Calcutta area they can reach down into Burma and the Thai border area. There's not a lot to hit, but there are raids going up against Japanese troops and airfields.

Two groups are still stationed in the Philippines, from here they can actually bomb strategic targets, which is allowed under our HRs. The targets aren't great, but the best option is probably the oilfields at Miri. It's not going to be a major effort, just enough to give GBL something else to deal with and hopefully force him to station fighters in the rear areas. After a few days of bombing the oilfields it'll be back to hitting airfields for a few days, after that it's probably time to relocate the big burds.

Damaging the oil fields early war at Miri or Magwe can be an effective use of the B17s in the absence of other actions. Also, why not base them on Java to burn out what's left of Palembang when he captures that too?

Since you've no HR against it, I assume it's OK for him to burn out all of the HI and LI supply producers in China with strat bombing now? It's this sort of poste/reposte that the common HRs seek to prevent.

I'll be watching with interest...

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RE: Operation Rudyard - 10/12/2011 4:03:39 PM

Dixie

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quote:

ORIGINAL: Chickenboy

Since you've no HR against it, I assume it's OK for him to burn out all of the HI and LI supply producers in China with strat bombing now? It's this sort of poste/reposte that the common HRs seek to prevent.

I'll be watching with interest...

We've got HRs in place to prevent either side strat bombing targets in China. Strat bombing from China is allowed though. We discussed the strat bombing HR and came to an agreement. Strat bombing on a meaningful scale requires a lot of effort and well built bases, which require more support to build and protect properly. Every bomber that's engaged in strat bombing is taken away from another task, be that tactical support or ASW.

This is the price that GBL pays for getting to play as a stronger Japan

Just because I can strat bomb doesn't mean I will, it all depends on how the war progresses. It just gives GBL something else to worry about, if he knows I'm not going to bomb (for example) Palembang or Soerbaja until late 1944 then he's not going to keep much of a defensive air force back there and it'll be out there killing my planes.

There's more to my ramble, but wee 'un is crying so I need to go now.

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RE: Operation Rudyard - 10/12/2011 6:10:58 PM

Dixie

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quote:

ORIGINAL: cantona2

Get those B-17 groups in PH to Oz sharpish via Canton Island-suva route then start training them at ground attack betwen 10,000-12,000 feet. then start to bombard his troops in New Guinea. Japanese fighters find it very hard to shoot them down and when concentrated the B-17 formation is perhaps the most powerful early war weapon the allied player has. Develop the bases at Charter Towers, Townsville, Coen, Cairns and Cooktown and base them there. I attach them to V Bomber Command and have the HQ attached to Fifth Air Force. One HQ at CT's the other at Coen should been all the above fields are within range and thus the chance of a coordinated strike is much higher!

The groups with the B-17E have all moved to Oz, although they're mostly based around Brisbane/Sydney where the airfields can support them. There are four more groups with the D model based at PH which are now going to make the trek down to Oz.
I had intended to keep them back as a long range search asset, but I'm feeling the need for some massed air power

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RE: Operation Rudyard - 10/13/2011 11:43:04 AM

Dixie

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31st December 1941 (Action)

PACIFIC

Not very much happened here, there are still two IJN submarines loitering near San Francisco and I still don't have much of a deterrent on the West Coast. Things should improve in a week or two as troop ships return from the Line Islands with their destroyer escorts.

Only two battleships remain at Pearl Harbor now, Arizona was the least damaged during the Japanese attack and will be ready for sea in a couple of months so sending her back to the Continental US would be a waste of time. California has remained for the opposite reason, she's so badly damaged that it would take several weeks just to get to the West Coast, tying up escorts for far too long. Instead she's going to remain at PH where repairs will continue until it's safe to move her or something more important (CV/fast BB/DD/CL/AO) needs the drydock.

NEW GUINEA AND THE SOLOMONS
A lot like the Pacific, very little happening. The only combat here took place over Madang, RAAF Hudsons have been performing night-time bombing raids and although they have achieved very little it's persuaded GBL to move some fighters into the base. Currently it's just Claudes, the Hudsons gave a good account of themselves during the fighting and although no aircraft were shot down the Japanese suffered several aircraft damaged.

EAST INDIES
The Dutch attacked another Japanese TF at Ketapang and have sunk at least one more freighter, possibly two without loss to themselves. It's surely only a matter of time before GBL assigns some LRCAP to the area.

The KB is reported to be retreating away to the NE of Singapore, the time looks to be right to move some of the small civilian ships docked in Java, and hopefully get a pair of tankers loaded with fuel and away safely.

1st January 1942 (Planning)

The year ends with the Allies on the defensive across the Pacific, although in the Western Desert Operation Crusader has ended with the capture of Benghazi. Together with recent Commando raids on Norway, this has created a sense of optimism for the Brits in Western Europe and the Med. The capitulation of Hong Kong and the poor showing of Commonwealth forces in Malaya have provided a blow to British prestige in the East. Perhaps the recent advances will result in an increase in reinforcements for the Far East...

The US, already at war with Germany in all but name has found herself dragged into a Pacific war. The loss of USS Lexington has shown the superiority of Japanese naval aircraft over their US counter-parts. With the USN battleships crippled, the carriers at a massive disadvantage and the submarines seemingly unable to correctly operate their torpedoes the USN is facing an uphill struggle to take the offensive. The only potential bright spot on the horizon is the ramping-up of US industrial output, although all the really cool toys are going across to Britain and Africa whilst the Japanese get to research their late war aircraft and have them turn up early...

The Dutch, already ejected from their homeland can only sit and wait for the inevitable defeat of their forces on Java and Sumatra. Despite the apparent hopelessness of their cause, or perhaps because of it, the Dutch forces have been in the vanguard of the Allied defence at times. A Dutch submarine has damaged a Japanese carrier and Dutch bombers based in Java have sunk several ships during the past week along Borneo's Western coastline.

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RE: Operation Rudyard - 10/13/2011 5:16:04 PM

witpqs

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Dixie,

In AE certain of the upgrades on many of the old USN BBs are very lengthy. At some point you will have to take stock of each class of ship regarding when you plan to have them back to the States. The long overhauls occur at different times for different classes.

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RE: Operation Rudyard - 10/13/2011 5:25:20 PM

mc3744

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quote:

ORIGINAL: witpqs

Dixie,

In AE certain of the upgrades on many of the old USN BBs are very lengthy. At some point you will have to take stock of each class of ship regarding when you plan to have them back to the States. The long overhauls occur at different times for different classes.

On this topic. I noticed that some BB have an upgrade to 'BB'

What does it mean?

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RE: Operation Rudyard - 10/13/2011 5:41:56 PM

witpqs

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quote:

ORIGINAL: mc3744

quote:

ORIGINAL: witpqs

Dixie,

In AE certain of the upgrades on many of the old USN BBs are very lengthy. At some point you will have to take stock of each class of ship regarding when you plan to have them back to the States. The long overhauls occur at different times for different classes.

On this topic. I noticed that some BB have an upgrade to 'BB'
What does it mean?

I think you mean 'conversion', yes?

IIRC they give you two upgrade paths to choose from. One is 'upgrade', while the other is 'conversion' to a more extensive modernization.

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RE: Operation Rudyard - 10/13/2011 5:46:35 PM

mc3744

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Yep, sorry I guess it's a conversion

So if I want a "better" battlewagon I should go for the conversion rather than the upgrade?

Thanks

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RE: Operation Rudyard - 10/13/2011 6:28:18 PM

Dixie

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quote:

ORIGINAL: witpqs

Dixie,

In AE certain of the upgrades on many of the old USN BBs are very lengthy. At some point you will have to take stock of each class of ship regarding when you plan to have them back to the States. The long overhauls occur at different times for different classes.

The first plan is to get the old wrecks away from the potential danger zones. The plan is to get them to Panama and from there up to the East Coast. The East Coast shipyards are not going to be used for much and there's no danger of a sneaky raid killing them off once and for all.

I can't remember the exact numbers, but the repairs are going to take a while and if I'm realistic I'm not going to need the PH BBs until the Allied offensive kicks into gear. Until that point there are the reinforcement BBs and if needed the RN can fill in on the bombardment front for a while. It might seem a bit of a waste to send them all the way to the East Coast, but:
(A) There's nothing slated to use those yards for routine work.
(B) They're safe there and not cluttering my important shipyards.
(C) It gives me a chance to relocate a few destroyers ready for their Jan/Feb upgrades.
(D) Less chance of getting them sunk 40 miles from San Francisco by a sneaky sub. GBL probably doesn't know how badly damaged the BBs were, so the longer I can keep that information from him the better.

This is how things stand:

USS Arizona: 32/17/12, Under repair at PH, current estimate 41 Days
USS California: 52/60/33, Under repair at PH, current estimate 686(!) Days
USS Nevada: 47/43/6
USS West Virginia: 17/37/12
USS Maryland: 18/24/3, Under consideration for a West Coast repair and a quick turnaround.
USS Oklahoma: 24/43/21
USS Pennsylvania: 39/40/32
USS Tennessee: 34/27/17

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RE: Operation Rudyard - 10/13/2011 6:29:07 PM

Dixie

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quote:

ORIGINAL: witpqs

quote:

ORIGINAL: mc3744

quote:

ORIGINAL: witpqs

Dixie,

In AE certain of the upgrades on many of the old USN BBs are very lengthy. At some point you will have to take stock of each class of ship regarding when you plan to have them back to the States. The long overhauls occur at different times for different classes.

On this topic. I noticed that some BB have an upgrade to 'BB'
What does it mean?

I think you mean 'conversion', yes?

IIRC they give you two upgrade paths to choose from. One is 'upgrade', while the other is 'conversion' to a more extensive modernization.

The New Mexicos are a prime example iirc. They've got a good number of entries in the database.

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No Way to Fight a War (Dixie vs GBL) - 10/14/2011 12:29:46 PM

Dixie

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1st January 1942

PACIFIC
It's another fairly quiet day in the vast ocean...

Analysis of the air units and air bases along the West Coast has revealed that I had left a small gap in the ASW coverage along the convoy routes north of San Francisco. To remedy this, the Ogden base force is being moved to Eureka and the airfield will be expanded to allow operation of A-29 bombers. Some minor reshuffling of Canadian squadrons has also taken place, with the two Bolingbroke squadrons moved to Vancouver until the bases at Coal Harbor and Alliford Bay are expanded.

Further out in the Pacific, Convoy WB-01S (the South Pacific supply convoy) has been modified. Two fast USN oilers have been detached with a destroyer escort and will make their own way to New Zealand to deliver some fuel. It seemed a waste to keep the two fast tankers with a convoy that's going a full hex slower. The convoys are still being routed well clear of Christmas Island where two Jap subs are still lurking.

AUSTRALIA
Not a great deal happening here either.

USS Boise has arrived in Sydney and will join the USN force assigned to SWPAC, although there's not a lot for them to do just now. Four USN Benham class destroyers have been taken in hand for refits at Sydney, giving them radar and a slightly better AA fit. In two weeks they will be followed by the two more destroyers, hopefully this will provide a better chance of success in ASW ops.

NEW GUINEA AND THE SOLOMONS
For a change, there's not much happening here. This isn't an exciting turn for the AAR. But I'm going to keep on typing anyway...

The only development of note is Japanese forces capturing Manus, once again they seem to be drowning their own troops in order to make it seem like a real war.
Otherwise it's business as usual, the ATC squadron is bringing as many members of the NG rifles back to Port Moresby as they can but a lack of airframes is hampering this effort.

EAST INDIES
Finally, some action. Japanese forces have captured Tarakan, hardly a surprise given their overwhelming numbers. Although the Dutch defenders couldn't hold off the attack they did at least manage to land several rounds on a few of the Japanese transports and identify some major fleet units of the Japanese Navy.

GBL will surely follow this up with an invasion of Balikpapan in the near future, hopefully this time the Allied submarines will actually manage to detect and attack something. Or they might decide that war is dangerous and just hide. Again.

PHILIPPINES
Those tricksy Japanese, they've arrived in Manila. And then they've started firing explosives at the chaps whilst they were just trying to enjoy a beer

There are 5 infantry/armour units, 2 arty and the 14th Army HQ so presumably the Allied defence is going to crumble in a turn or two, for a change.

The USAAF has pretty much vanished now, part of the not throwing good money after bad strategy. This has meant the Japanese having free reign of the skies, luckily the final defensive position of Malaria filled swampland should make it more difficult for the bombers to find their targets.

MALAYA
Still the Japanese insist on marching along the peninsula, despite several strongly worded notes and some name calling. Dutch aircraft from Sumatra attempted to bomb Japanese troops near Kuala Lumpur but Oscars of the 1st Sentai managed to prevent much damage from being caused.

The Dutch sub K-XII attacked the Japanese fleet at Kuantan and successfully put a torpedo into a freighter leaving her heavily damaged. A separate attack against an escort ship was less successful and the torpedoes missed although the submarine has managed to evade detection.

CHINA
I hate China. It's probably a lovely country with a rich heritage and a tradition of making kiddies toys and slightly shoddy clothing, but the Japanese are grinding their way through whatever forces I can put in their way. This is most evident in the North of the country where Japanese forces have cleared the mountain passes and appear to be marching on Sian. They are currently engaged with several Chinese units in wooded terrain, but even the trees aren't proving to be much help for the Chinese forces. Almost two division's worth of Japanese troops have mauled four corps of Chinese infantry, despite causing roughly equal casualties there just aren't enough Chinese troops left to absorb the casualties of another major attack.

In what will, hopefully, be more positive news the AVG 3rd Sqn will be back in action. After several days of sending in lightly escorted raids against Chuhsien the Americans have moved to Wenchow in order to ambush the Japanese bombers. Then it's a quick jump back to safer territory and another planned ambush. The AVG 1st Sqn is probably going to move into China in the next few days, whilst 2nd Sqn remains behind in India.
CAF bombers are being sent on small nuisance raids, but their lack of numbers and experience is likely to hamper any real progress. Several CAF fighter squadrons are undergoing intensive training to bring them to a level where they're not a complete liability, once enough pilots are suitably experienced they will be given some H-81s and used for patrols over Chinese bases. Could be a whilse before this reaches fruition however.

< Message edited by Dixie -- 10/14/2011 12:58:29 PM >

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RE: No Way to Fight a War (Dixie vs GBL) - 10/14/2011 9:35:45 PM

Dixie

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2nd January 1942

Blitzing through the turns at the moment, surely this can only be a good thing for me? The fast pace means there's always that chance that GBL forgets to do something, somewhere.

PACIFIC
An ASW TF departed San Diego and almost immediately they ran across a Japanese submarine. The I-1 launched a spread of torpedoes at USS Walke. The torpedoes missed, but the destroyer's counterattack was not much more effective. With I-1 identified there are now three confirmed subs along the West Coast (including Canada) and probably another suspected sub lurking near San Diego. USN forces amount to four destroyers available for ASW ops and half a dozen Canadian corvettes and minesweepers.

Another pair of submarines has been spotted closer to Hawaii, but outside the effective range of ASW aircraft. Luckily neither submarine managed to damage anything. Luckily for me, GBL's sub captains are terrible at target selection, with a pair of slow moving and damaged battleships available the first sub instead shot at an escorting destroyer. The other sub was spotted by the escort and forced to dive before it could launch torpedoes.

Christmas Island and Palmyra are building up nicely, CI is at fort level 3 with Palmyra getting close to completing lvl 3. By the time GBL is in a position to attempt any invasion of the Line Islands there should be enough defence between forts and infantry to make it a bloody attempt. Of course, he may not attack here in which case the islands are a useful stepping stone to the South Pacific air route.

NEW GUINEA AND THE SOLOMONS
Japanese forces have landed at Aitape and Gasmata. They face stiff Allied defences on these two bases, in the form of wooden cutouts of soldiers.

EAST INDIES
I got a warm fuzzy feeling from watching the replay after events in the East Indies. It won't last long but I'll take what I can get...
With Tarakan under Japanese control GBL has disbanded a number of ships into the port here. This made them sitting ducks for the last Philippines based B-17s. Although there were only three bombers available for missions today the crews excelled themselves. Three aircraft scored four hits on ships tied up in Tarakan harbour, one freighter and three minelayers each took a 500lb bomb with the minelayers showing as heavily damaged. Rounding out the attacks on GBL's minelayers was the redoubtable K-XII which attacked CM Ukishima which has been claimed as sunk.

A Japanese task force is reported to be moving towards Palembang, there's at least one freighter and a cruiser so it looks like an invasion TF. Hopefully they'll run headlong into some mines and get some nasty explosives dropped on them

If it is an invasion TF then it may be worth investing my Australian based B-17 force into flattening the refinery there.

Four Japanese battleships managed to wander past the sub picket in the Makassar straits and lob some HE rounds onto the defences at Balikpapan

What do I pay those sub captains for?....

CHINA
In a rather cheerful reversal of fortune, a Chinese force managed to stand up to a Japanese attack

quote:

Ground combat at 86,47

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 17599 troops, 167 guns, 105 vehicles, Assault Value = 636

Defending force 14074 troops, 113 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 393

Japanese adjusted assault: 470

Allied adjusted defense: 318

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 1

Combat modifiers
Defender: experience(-)
Attacker: shock(+), fatigue(-)

Japanese ground losses:
1050 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 86 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 83 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled

Allied ground losses:
228 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 33 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 28 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Assaulting units:
13th Division
13th Tank Regiment
1st Ind.Mixed Brigade
8th Ind. Engineer Regiment
52nd Ind.Mtn.Gun Battalion

Defending units:
48th Chinese Corps
29th Chinese Corps
85th Chinese Corps
31st Group Army

INDIA
Not much development on the combat front, but things are progressing fairly well in terms of the defences. New CH radars at Calcutta provide radar coverage as far south as the Indian border. The next installations are planned at Chittagong and Madras.

Aircraft are going to be the big issue for the Allied defence, apart from the P-38 there's nothing to counter the arrival of Tojo in June. Depending on how many of those GBL builds things could get rough until mid-43. In order to spread the casualties around there are USAAF and Canadian squadrons making their way to South Africa to travel across to India. The Canadians are unlikely to face much need for fighters at home so moving a couple of squadrons across to India seems the best use of what would otherwise be an unused resource.

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Post #: 106

RE: No Way to Fight a War (Dixie vs GBL) - 10/14/2011 10:47:33 PM

SqzMyLemon

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Hi Dixie,

Pardon the interruption. I really like the style of your maps, what software do you use to get the gray scales? They give a nice WWII newsreel feel.

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Post #: 107

RE: No Way to Fight a War (Dixie vs GBL) - 10/14/2011 10:52:49 PM

Dixie

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quote:

ORIGINAL: SqzMyLemon

Hi Dixie,

Pardon the interruption. I really like the style of your maps, what software do you use to get the gray scales? They give a nice WWII newsreel feel.

paint.NET, available here: http://www.getpaint.net/ It's free and does plenty of nifty tricks.

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RE: No Way to Fight a War (Dixie vs GBL) - 10/15/2011 10:31:36 AM

Dixie

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3rd January

EAST INDIES
The Japanese are ashore in strength at Palembang, 38th Division and 19th Ind. Engineer Rgt plus a base force and an aviation battalion. All Allied efforts to attack the amphibious landings failed in the face of Japanese fighter cover, a series of bombing raids ended up getting shredded for no damage to the massed ships. It would also appear that none of the Japanese ships hit any of the mines in the hex.

Total losses from the Palembang raids are:
27x 139WH
9x Hudson
9x B339
4x PBY-4

In return GBL lost 3 Zeroes. That'll show him...

I believe that GBL has made a mistake in landing there so early, there are plenty of airfields surrounding Palembang that can, and will, support B-17 operations. There are four full groups available for attacks plus several detached flights, getting on for 30+ bombers. If pushed the Indian based aircraft could be flown down to join in the fun.

Rounding out the generally rubbish day for the Allies was the loss of the Dutch sub K-XII. After carrying out another attack on the Japanese at Kuantan she was forced to the surface and sunk, although she did manage to hit AMC Bankok Maru before she went down.
Another Japanese division has landed in Malaya, 21st Division have landed at Mersing. They've not saved much time by landing there as the Brits are hiding in Singapore anyway...

EVERYWHERE ELSE
Not a lot happened. The AVG ambush in China has been foiled for the past two days due to a lack of Japanese raids, so instead they will attempt to ambush the Japanese air force in another location. The 21st Corps has been getting hit hard from the air by Navy and Army bombers so hopefully this will be a more productive location to patrol.
Is it worth the investment of airframes to upgrade the AVG to P-40E? Or do I keep them for the other USAAF squadrons?

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RE: No Way to Fight a War (Dixie vs GBL) - 10/15/2011 4:21:33 PM

witpqs

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The P-40E is a little better. Plus, keeping the older birds in the pool for the Chinese units is one consideration. It all depends on where the pressure is in the months to come.

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RE: No Way to Fight a War (Dixie vs GBL) - 10/15/2011 6:37:37 PM

Cribtop

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I suspect GBL is suffering from the new JFB malady "Nemo and Canoerebel induced Fortress Palembang Syndrome." Symptons include loss of sleep, paranoia, and an intense desire to take Palembang early.

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RE: No Way to Fight a War (Dixie vs GBL) - 10/15/2011 6:58:34 PM

DOCUP

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What does Pburg look like Dixie. Forts, AV, Engs and so forth. I had 150 mines in Pburg and 45 in the hex outside of Pburg. A CA TF came in attacked 4 xAKLs without a mine hit. I think they hit some on the way out. I have reports of a CA and 2 DDs being sunk (FOW) by mine shortly after that attack. So you might get some hits when they leave or today. Did you get any costal guns to hit his transports?

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RE: No Way to Fight a War (Dixie vs GBL) - 10/15/2011 7:10:15 PM

Dixie

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The Palembang reports:

Pre-Invasion action off Palembang - Coastal Guns Fire Back!

53 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Japanese Ships
CA Kumano
CA Mikuma
CA Mogami
CA Chokai
CL Sendai
DD Shinonome
DD Nowaki
xAK Arima Maru, Shell hits 1
TB Otori
APD Yomogi
DD Ayanami

Japanese ground losses:
17 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled

Allied ground losses:
44 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 1 disabled
Vehicles lost 1 (1 destroyed, 0 disabled)

****
Amphibious Assault at Palembang

TF 90 troops unloading over beach at Palembang, 48,91

Japanese ground losses:
66 casualties reported
Squads: 3 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 4 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

16 troops of a IJA Cavalry Squad accidentally lost during unload of 38th Div /3
19 troops of a IJA Infantry Squad accidentally lost during unload of 38th Div /5
10 Support troops lost from landing craft during unload of 97th JAAF AF Bn
8 Aviation Support troops lost in surf during unload of 97th JAAF AF Bn /2
17 troops of a SNLF Squad lost from landing craft during unload of 9th Base Force /3
8 Naval Support troops lost in surf during unload of 9th Base Force /9
8 Engineers lost overboard during unload of 19th Ind. Engr Rgt /2

****

Invasion Support action off Palembang - Coastal Guns Fire Back!

46 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Japanese Ships
CA Kumano
CA Mikuma
CA Mogami
CA Chokai
CL Sendai
DD Shikinami
DD Shinonome
DD Nowaki
DD Maikaze
APD Yomogi
DD Ayanami
xAK Ayatosan Maru

Japanese ground losses:
38 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 4 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

****

Ground combat at Palembang (48,91)

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 2164 troops, 15 guns, 5 vehicles, Assault Value = 86

Defending force 18683 troops, 183 guns, 77 vehicles, Assault Value = 519

Assaulting units:
Zuid KNIL Battalion
So.Sumatra Garrison Battalion
Palembang Base Force

Defending units:
38th Div /1
19th Ind. Engr Rgt /1
97th JAAF AF Bn /1
10th Ind. Mtn Gun Rgt /1
9th Base Force /1

No worthwhile hits on the transports and no reported mine hits

The short version is that I'm screwed. There's no way that the handful of troops in P can hold off a division of Japanese infantry.

The long version is that I'm screwed. There's no way that the handful of troops in P can hold off a division of Japanese infantry. BUT losing the refineries is, in itself, not an issue for me as I don't need the fuel that comes from there. But having taken the base GBL really has to leave a decent aerial defence there until Java has fallen as B-17s can still hit the base from Soerbaja.

There's a couple of forts iirc, but nothing major. An oversight on my part perhaps, but in all honesty holding Palembang is not going to help my war effort a great deal. The base WILL eventually fall no matter what I put there, unless I strip the defences elsewhere which causes more problems later on. So GBL will get his sticky mitts on the oil no matter what I do and I'd have a lot of troops stuck waaaaay behind the Japanese lines cut off from support.

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RE: No Way to Fight a War (Dixie vs GBL) - 10/16/2011 12:39:57 PM

Dixie

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4th January 1942

EAST INDIES
As expected Palembang is now in Japanese hands, the Dutch forces around the town managed about 2 minutes of defence before giving up... In retaliation the USAAF strategic bomber force has moved to Java, a few days of bombing the refineries should (hopefully) teach GBL a lesson. Or I'll learn one. Depending on the progress of this mini bombing campaign there is another squadron available to throw into the attack although they are in India at present. As well as the B-17s the Dutch will be carrying out night time raids on the refineries with the remnants of their bomber forces.

A mix of submarine attack and Betty/Nell combo wiped out a small tanker convoy attempting to sneak away from Northern Java. Not unexpected, but I'd have liked at least one ship to escape as a token victory.

CHINA
The AVG had an outstanding day, despite having a maximum of four aircraft on patrol at any time they managed to shoot down 11 Japanese aircraft (5x Mabel, 3x Ida, 1x Nate, 1x Oscar, 1x Sonia) for no loss to themselves. Strangely the intel is giving me 7 Mabels shot down when there were only 5 in the raid.

GBL will probably have worked out where the fighters were flying from and taken steps to bomb them back to the stone age, but they've moved to another base instead.
The 1st Squadron has also arrived in China, operating from Wuchow currently. They are split between defending the Chinese forces in the city who have been subjected to Japanese air attack and an offensive sweep on Hong Kong in order to annoy GBL a bit more.
A few CAF squadrons are planned to engage in low level operations, but a lack of experience and replacement airframes means I can't commit them too heavily as yet.

PHILIPPINES
GBL continues his bombing of Clark Field, he's not achieving much though. The airfield is a ruin with service and runway damage both at 100% and the US engineers long gone. By the time he controls the airfield it'll be empty of supplies and in need of major repairs.

That will burn off some of his supply stockpile.

MALAYA
K-XI has continued where her sister K-XII left off before her sinking by putting three torpedoes into a Japanese ship at Mersing. A swift sinking followed, although the sub was slightly damaged by the escort ships but not enough to send her home yet.

PACIFIC
Fairly quiet again. With Japanese plans for the region still unknown to the Allied command, consideration is being given to building Tahiti as an advanced base complex. It's far enough from any Japanese holdings that keeping it supplied would be easy for me but difficult for GBL. There are plenty of islands and although it won't be as good as New Caledonia or Fiji it's certainly good enough for a forward position where repair ships and auxiliaries can be based with the added advantage of being dispersed from any likely raids. The airfields can support heavy bomber ops when they're built up so it's a consideration.
Probably one to file under P, for Pear Shaped, Everything Has Gone.

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RE: No Way to Fight a War (Dixie vs GBL) - 10/16/2011 4:39:10 PM

Cribtop

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Plus, it's Tahiti. The R&R opportunities make one think of Large, Slow Target's sig art.

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RE: No Way to Fight a War (Dixie vs GBL) - 10/16/2011 5:34:55 PM

Dixie

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quote:

ORIGINAL: Cribtop

Plus, it's Tahiti. The R&R opportunities make one think of Large, Slow Target's sig art.

I'm certain I don't know what you're talking about

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RE: No Way to Fight a War (Dixie vs GBL) - 10/17/2011 11:43:55 AM

Dixie

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5th Jan 1942

PACIFIC
Vewy quiet here, the only action was an aborted attempt at attacking a Japanese sub at Johnston Island. No damage to the sub, which was spotted before it could engage a freighter full of supplies. The freighter is docked for the next few turns so the DMS escorts will attempt to hunt down the interloper.
Palmyra and Christmas Island are both up to lvl 3 forts now, a couple more levels of fort and I'll look at expanding Christmas Island's AF.

EAST INDIES
The B-17s went up today, although their attacks weren't coordinated too well. In the end there were two separate raids, damage to Palembang was minimal but losses to the Americans were even less.

One hit was claimed on the refinery, not bad from 36k with 8 bombers though. Going in at that height is going to annoy GBL hopefully as his fighters swarm around beneath me

Even the much feared Zero is impotent against this kind of altitude, so the Nate is just wasting his supply. Hopefully there'll be some ops losses for the Japs as well.

MALAYA
K-XI strikes again! This time she's claiming an APD sunk at Mersing, a single torpedo hit followed by the sounds of sinking shortly afterwards so hopefully it's a victory. Rather than pushing her luck, the sub has been ordered to a new patrol area, the last attack revealed at least 10 escort vessels and GBL knows she's there so it's time to move on again. Like the littlest hobo but with torpedoes.

PHILIPPINES
Clark Field has fallen into Japanese hands. Hopefully they will be disappointed by the condition it's in (the troops left rude messages scrawled across the walls before they left and didn't empty the bins). GBL has brought several engineer units with him, so I can't count on the facilities being out of use for long but at least they'll have to use their own supplies rather than stuff I've left behind.

CHINA
Another good day for the AVG with the 1st Sqn claiming 10 aircraft shot down (9 Sonias and a Nate). 3rd Sqn are still resting up after their recent action but I expect them to be back on long range patrol again in a day or two. The expected counter attack against the AVG airfields didn't materialise so perhaps I need them to be even more annoying.
The CAF itself didn't bother to fly yesterday. Obviously I can't expect them to put their lives on the line in defence of their own country.

INDIA
Seeing as it's 1942 the Indian Inf Squad production has switched over to the 1942 flavour. A better hard attack couple with a slightly better soft attack means that I can't get enough of these chaps. Most of the main front line units already have the latest squads, so there doesn't appear to be a big demand for the squads. There's a bde at Calcutta which will probably be upgraded with the cast-off squads going to fill out one of the understrength divisions in Madras.

The Top Pilots board, probably not as many kills as some of GBLs chaps but we're getting close to our first aces. If someone can get 3 kills in a Buffalo then imagine what the Allies could do with real fighters...

Attachment (1)

< Message edited by Dixie -- 10/17/2011 11:46:07 AM >

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RE: No Way to Fight a War (Dixie vs GBL) - 10/17/2011 8:58:15 PM

Dixie

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6th Jan 1942

PACIFIC
Japanese forces have been spotted at Savaii in the Samoan Islands. There are a number of options open to me now with regards to dealing with this invasion. There are a number of USN SCTFs not too far from the area escorting convoys, smashing into an amphibious TF with these ships would cause GBL some headaches. The issue is that I have no idea whether there are any Japanese carriers with them. Until I can find out one way or the other, Allied forces are being routed well clear of the islands. There was a similar lack of IJN air activity when the Rabaul invasion went in, so staying cautious is the name of the game for now.

A bigger decision, for now at least, is what to do with the Marines who are en route to the South Pacific. Do they continue on to Fiji or instead unload at Tahiti as part of Plan P? There are still several days before they would reach the area so I've got a short while to see what develops. The initial instinct is to go with the Tahiti plan and turn that island group into an advanced base. If possible this would probably be combined with a withdrawal from New Caledonia and/or Fiji. Those bases would be vulnerable to a Japanese invasion if GBL wanted to take them, if he doesn't want them then the garrison forces are not going to achieve much sitting there anyway.

NEW GUINEA AND THE SOLOMONS
Not a great deal of new developments, Lark Force is being harried through the jungle as they retreat from Rabaul. The only potential development is that the Allied command are considering a para drop on one of the recently captured bases on Northern New Guinea. It is suspected that a single unit has been leapfrogging along the coast leaving each base unguarded as they advance. It wouldn't be a major coup but it would be an annoyance for the Japanese to have to go back and retake the base again...

EAST INDIES
Bad light stopped play for today. Palembang was clouded over preventing the B-17s or British recce from flying. The Japanese 38th Div have pushed the Palmebang survivors back even further after crossing the river and defeating the Dutch. GBL has split the division, it looks like the three parts will be advancing on different targets.

CHINA
More air raids by GBL, but with added Zero fighter sweeps.

I guess he is worried about the AVG as a series of raids in Southern China was preceded by a fighter sweep. Wrong place for GBL though as thee AVG have moved from Southern China (for now at least).
Efforts to get any kind of offensive operation in China seem to have failed, as even the AVG refused to carry out a fighter sweep over Japanese territory.

INDIA
Only a week before the next batch of reinforcements starts to flow through Aden. The next fortnight sees an Australian division, an RAF fighter wing, two bomber squadrons and a maritime recce squadron turn up. This is a significant addition to the planned strength of Operation Rudyard. More good news is that 11th Indian Div has regained almost 75% of their strength.
Individual battalions are being gathered in the southern tip of India along to Cochin-Calicut-Mangalore line to guard against a Japanese invasion and more forces are gathering along the second line defences inland.

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RE: No Way to Fight a War (Dixie vs GBL) - 10/18/2011 4:46:18 PM

mc3744

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Hi Dixie

I'm still amazed by your save of the 11th Indian Div
And to have it at 75% already. You have already evened out one of the extra Japanese divisions of scenario 2!

I'd like to comment on the Pacific situation, but as I don't know scenario 2 I might be blabbering nonsense

If I played Japan, which I don't

, I'd feel that going all the way deep into the Pacific is a major logistic effort, it may be easy to conquer, but it's a different issue to maintain.
Hence: are you sure he wants to get so far from home as Fiji. It is clearly possible, but would you say that it is in style with GBL play style?
Again, disregard if idiotic

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RE: No Way to Fight a War (Dixie vs GBL) - 10/18/2011 5:33:47 PM

Dixie

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quote:

ORIGINAL: mc3744

Hi Dixie

I'm still amazed by your save of the 11th Indian Div
And to have it at 75% already. You have already evened out one of the extra Japanese divisions of scenario 2!

I'd like to comment on the Pacific situation, but as I don't know scenario 2 I might be blabbering nonsense
If I played Japan, which I don't , I'd feel that going all the way deep into the Pacific is a major logistic effort, it may be easy to conquer, but it's a different issue to maintain.
Hence: are you sure he wants to get so far from home as Fiji. It is clearly possible, but would you say that it is in style with GBL play style?
Again, disregard if idiotic

Bear with me on this one, I've got another turn from GBL to run. Until then, it's far from an idiotic question or blabbering nonsense

At the very least it's someone to sound some ideas off of. Hopefully I'll have a sensible post to put together.

Truth be told, I'm not too certain of the Japanese potential in Scen 2. And in an odd sort of way I like it, it'll make it all the more satisfying when I second guess the rapscallion

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