Bullwinkle58
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Joined: 2/24/2009
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June 5, 1942
Batavia Bashing
1) I-30 gets another xAK (Empire Glen) in the route between Calcutta and Chittagong. Escorts are few because Calcutta's building was focused on AF and not port, with is 5.5. No AKEs available, so the port is on rapid-build to get to DC-rearm status. I have xAKs to spare, but I hate giving them away.
2) Prome, devoid of CAP and all aircraft really, is plastered by scores of heavy bombers. 29 casualties and a lot of holes. The base supply is around 7000 even with large-scale construction and almost 2000 AV of garrison. I've said it over and over here and even in some AARs--Japanese players often rely far too much on air power because that's what they have a lot of. It is not decisive against fixed emplacements. It's a bother, it requires replacements and supplies to maintain an even keel, but it is not a substitute for taking land and standing on it.
3) Japan seems to have realized that strat bombing in this game is going to be a thing and it's not going to stop, so Batavia, home of some of it, is heavily targeted for a second day. A couple of P-38s are on 39,000 ft. max range, drop-tanked CAP, and they worry at the attackers in every way they can. The AF is damaged, but no planes on the ground. (They're off flying.) Four Bettys are damaged, one lost, plus a downed Zero. The P-38s are damaged and probably one is lost to ops.
RockyRoo PMs me from his secret bunker to be aware of the Fires rule re industry bombing. That industry destroyed by Fires is not repairable, and I should be careful to not firebomb supply-generation I might want to use myself someday. A valid point I had not fully thought through. I am firebombing now not because I like it but because with my tiny raids it's the most damage for the risk. In AI games I had never done it outside the HI at the end of things. I am getting good results on Oil from daylight efforts; Manpower/fire attacks have been to get at HI more than any other type of industry. But I need to ponder this some.
4) Heavy raids on Chengtu find up to 7 Chinese Lancers on CAP, and even with poor planes the Chinese pilots, who are very well trained right now, do a lot of damage. 4 Sallys are destroyed and 6 damaged. The AF attacks are disrupted.
5) The normal bombing near Rahaeng does little, but then the Japanese Shock attack the lone Chinese corps in the hex. A lot of readers might think I'm crazy to do this, but I have reasons. The Chinese corps is roughed up a lot and retreats, but Japan loses some men. Most importantly the attack tells me that my Wandering Band has forced three IDs to sit at Rahaeng for at least a month now, rather than being up-country threatening Toungoo while that base frantically builds and tried to pull in some supply (after being at 20 for a month, Toungoo two days ago rocketed to 815 supply.) Three IDs squatting to deal with three Chinese LCUs I see as fully expendable (they resurrect at Chungking at worst) is a great outcome. Right now another corps is aimed at Rahaeng about 20 miles out. It may be re-pointed to do mischief on the RR. The third is about to cross the river west-bound and may keep going to the coast to cut the RR south north of Tavoy. Crazy because I lost some VPs? Meh. I predict the Allies will net gain VPs this turn due to aircraft losses. The Chinese VP ratio rule is a powerful friend to the Allies.
Ground combat at Rahaeng (58,56)
Japanese Shock attack
Attacking force 38674 troops, 360 guns, 153 vehicles, Assault Value = 1268
Defending force 7932 troops, 38 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 268
Japanese adjusted assault: 1550
Allied adjusted defense: 95
Japanese assault odds: 16 to 1
Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), leaders(+), preparation(-), experience(-)
Attacker: shock(+), leaders(+), fatigue(-) hmmmmmmm
Japanese ground losses:
1063 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 86 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 10 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 7 disabled
Allied ground losses:
2357 casualties reported
Squads: 110 destroyed, 57 disabled
Non Combat: 115 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 4 destroyed, 5 disabled
Guns lost 7 (1 destroyed, 6 disabled)
Units retreated 1
Defeated Allied Units Retreating! toward Toungoo
Assaulting units:
12th Division
15th Division
57th Division
Defending units:
29th Chinese Corps
6) Four P-38s sweep Djambi and now find 33 Nicks and 8 Oscars. A bit of closing the barn door after the horse is gone, but I like whacking on Nicks. Evidence the R&D program is catching? I don't know Japanese R&D schedules well enough to say. P-38s down a Nick for no losses to themselves.
7) With Wake secure and Rabaul undergoing explosive growth, multiple patrol units are moved in and start snooping. For SNAGGLEPUSS I need to know where the KB is, or isn't. Hard to tell from the movie, but it looks like Truk is clean, Ponape has a garrison of some kind, and Eniwetok is empty. Will confirm on the next turn. I would be perfectly happy if the KB were in the HI early for upgrades, or even if it were over getting ready to help on Sumatra or Java. Anywhere but Truk or Kwajalein.
< Message edited by Bullwinkle58 -- 6/27/2013 6:07:43 PM >
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