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RE: The Great Milne Bay Swim

 
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RE: The Great Milne Bay Swim - 9/5/2014 11:43:21 PM   
mind_messing

 

Posts: 3393
Joined: 10/28/2013
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

In the Marshalls, don't forget the dot base Ailinglaplap where you have something. 30K sl. Makes for a good supporting base smack in the middle.

Mili is nice because the CD can pack a punch if not bombed into oblivion.




Building up Ailinglaplap would be a bit excessive, as far as I see it. I've Mili, Maleolap, Wotje and Roi-Namur all as size 4 airbases. Adding Ailinglaplap to the mix would be nice, but the cost of developing it and garrisoning it wouldn't be balanced with what it would add to the defence. In my view, for what that's worth.

I think if I'm going to throw a division into the balance in the Marshalls, it needs to be on Mili. It's coastal guns are only just behind Truk and Saipan. A division, with AA, mines and an abudance of aviation support could make it very thorny.

My worry is that I put a division on Mili only to have it cut off. I keep arguing myself in circles over it - I'd love some easily expendable brigades to put on Mili instead. Currently, I'm trending towards buying out a Infantry Group from Japan for use on Mili instead and sending the division elsewhere - probably SWPAC or the DEI. The Infantry Group gets reinforced up to divisional strength within a few months, so it's a case of six and half-a-dozen.

EDIT: What I've actually did solved a nice little problem. One of the Infantry Groups in Japan has reinforcement components set to arrive in Korea in Dec '43. The Infantry Group itself will go to Mili.

If it dies, I'll have the artillery, engineer and armour components of a division arrive in Dec '43 to fill out with infantry squads on the cheap.

If, by some miracle, Mili is still holding in Dec '43, I can get the components in to add a division to it's strength.

That leaves me happy.

< Message edited by mind_messing -- 9/6/2014 12:51:25 AM >

(in reply to Lowpe)
Post #: 271
RE: The Great Milne Bay Swim - 9/6/2014 12:49:41 AM   
Bullwinkle58


Posts: 11302
Joined: 2/24/2009
Status: offline 		Playing the AI I never took Mili after the first game. That's when I found out about the naval fortress. Same with Wotje.

You might be asking the wrong question when you ask how much defense to provide any of those "front range" islands in the chain. A better question is "why?"

Once the Allies are air-hairy enough to take Kwaj and Roi-Namur why do they need any of them enough to make dealing with the forts worth it? Supply to run your air forces can be interdicted to their west once Kwaj is taken. Kwaj also makes a good Allied sub fuel base.

Nemo, long, long ago, ran a mini-game with an AAR where he took down the whole chain almost all with Marine paratroops. Some light bombing to determine the garrison, then a full load of paras to take the naval fortresses from behind as it were. They are paper tigers against LCUs. The trick is to get their feet dry and paras come that way.

IDs to me ought to be maneuver elements, except on big, gotta-keep islands like Saipan or Iwo Jima. That ID would be far better used in the PI or Sumatra/Borneo to hold the oil. All you do if you put it someplace like Mili is provide Ground Bombing practice to a new generation of B-24 pilots. Mili is no more necessary to the Allies than taking Truk, which he won't do either. Both are go-arounds and watch-starves.

_____________________________

The Moose

(in reply to mind_messing)
Post #: 272
RE: The Great Milne Bay Swim - 9/6/2014 1:28:19 AM   
ny59giants


Posts: 9869
Joined: 1/10/2005
Status: offline
quote:

Building up Ailinglaplap would be a bit excessive, as far as I see it. I've Mili, Maleolap, Wotje and Roi-Namur all as size 4 airbases. Adding Ailinglaplap to the mix would be nice, but the cost of developing it and garrisoning it wouldn't be balanced with what it would add to the defence. In my view, for what that's worth.


You need to try to look at bases that need to be defended from the viewpoint of an Allied player. Ailinglaplap is important to an Allied player since it can built up to size 5 AF. That is the magic number needed to base B-17/24s from without a reduction in bomb load. Lots of bases in the Gilbert and Marshalls can only go to size 4 which limits their effectiveness for 4e bombers. The SL there is 10k like Mili in Marhsalls. If your going after Kusaie and Ponape, you want that extra AF level and the 4k in SL.

_____________________________


(in reply to Bullwinkle58)
Post #: 273
RE: The Great Milne Bay Swim - 9/8/2014 3:17:35 PM   
mind_messing

 

Posts: 3393
Joined: 10/28/2013
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: Bullwinkle58

Playing the AI I never took Mili after the first game. That's when I found out about the naval fortress. Same with Wotje.

You might be asking the wrong question when you ask how much defense to provide any of those "front range" islands in the chain. A better question is "why?"



Because I'm flush with divisions (or units that will shortly be reinforced to divisions) and I'm getting reckless with my deployment.

You are quite right, though. The war won't be decided over who owns Mili or Maleolap. I've had some dreamy vision of an Allied amphib force turning up off Mili, losing a bunch of ships to the CD guns while landing Marines and only to have a crack Japanese division wipe them out on the beach.

A couple of naval guards will do the job nearly as well for a fraction of the cost.

quote:

IDs to me ought to be maneuver elements, except on big, gotta-keep islands like Saipan or Iwo Jima. That ID would be far better used in the PI or Sumatra/Borneo to hold the oil. All you do if you put it someplace like Mili is provide Ground Bombing practice to a new generation of B-24 pilots. Mili is no more necessary to the Allies than taking Truk, which he won't do either. Both are go-arounds and watch-starves.


I've not decided on my PI defence, but I think it's going to be a simple case of "stand or die at Manila". It's impossible to hold the PI, and I think the best anyone can hope for is to cling on to Manila and Clark to deny the Allies a big airbase, the repair shipyards and access to Northern Luzon for as long as possible.

You're right regarding the divisions. Two or three naval guards can protect against paratroopers just as well as a full division. I'll keep the prep though, it might be picked up and I'd love Lokasenna to think I'm defending islands with divisions.

For the divisions, I'll probably assign enough to SWPAC to protect Hansa Bay and Rabual and I'll divide the rest between the DEI and the Marianas - which, I might add, are looking very formidable already...


quote:

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

quote:

Building up Ailinglaplap would be a bit excessive, as far as I see it. I've Mili, Maleolap, Wotje and Roi-Namur all as size 4 airbases. Adding Ailinglaplap to the mix would be nice, but the cost of developing it and garrisoning it wouldn't be balanced with what it would add to the defence. In my view, for what that's worth.


You need to try to look at bases that need to be defended from the viewpoint of an Allied player. Ailinglaplap is important to an Allied player since it can built up to size 5 AF. That is the magic number needed to base B-17/24s from without a reduction in bomb load. Lots of bases in the Gilbert and Marshalls can only go to size 4 which limits their effectiveness for 4e bombers. The SL there is 10k like Mili in Marhsalls. If your going after Kusaie and Ponape, you want that extra AF level and the 4k in SL.


The problem is that any investment into Ailinglaplap could just be building it up for the Allies to take or the Allies to bypass. In both cases, it's wasted supply. To be quite honest, I think Ailinglaplap is quite secure as it is. There's a naval guard to protect it against paratrooper or sub attacks, and though it's still a dot base, it's sheilded by Wotje, Roi-Namur, Mili and Maleolap - all big airbases with an abundance of avaiation support.

This is a vannila Scen 1 game, so Kusaie and Ponape are both 1(1) 3(3) bases with no stacking limits. Potential size 6 airbases that close to Truk (and behind the Gilberts/Marshalls) makes me nervous, so they'll be getting CD equipped SNLF's and a good chunk of AV.

Looking at the map just now, I'm wondering the worth of digging Ponape up to a size 6 airbase as a way to keep a good bit of depth to the Japanese defence Central Pacific as well as keeping a base within LRCAP distance of Truk. Building up both Kusaie and Ponape would be excessive, but Ponape might be a good investment.

Would a 6 AF Ponape be worth a division though?



Any advice is good advice at this point; dragging Japan to 1943 is breaking new ground for me...

(in reply to Bullwinkle58)
Post #: 274
RE: The Great Milne Bay Swim - 9/8/2014 4:52:48 PM   
Bullwinkle58


Posts: 11302
Joined: 2/24/2009
Status: offline 		Advice? Free by the bushel.

As an AFB I can say that, to me, Manila is a sapphire welded to a diamond and a ruby. The repair yards are absolutely golden, especially once kamis activate. Soerbaja is nice, but small and far away from the China coast, Formosa, Hong Kong, etc. where a lot of late 1944-eqrly 1945 action will happen. Fuel, supply, and repair all in one. There's a reason the USN held on to Subic Bay as a base until the late 1980s. Without it, look at the trip to any repair yards. ARDs are nice, but sending one to the Marianas it might arrive before VJ Day. Or maybe not.

Ponape I'm more "eh" about. It's nice to have to be sure. It makes life at Truk miserable. But so does holding Rabaul for an AFB. If I saw a division there I'd keep going. Eniwetok is almost as good for a supply dump (not AF), and the Gilberts offer lots of logistic help for the Marianas too. I believe in RL the Saipan fleet loaded out at Kwajalein. (Memory?)

That's the trouble with the bigger, meatier islands. If you put enough there to hold them the Allies go around them. If you don't they take them cheap. By the time true amphibs and Hellcat CVs are plentiful the Allies are thinking time more than real estate. I don't play Japan, but if I had a spare division I'd put it on Guam or Saipan before Ponape. Saipan is HI rain-of-fire time. Ponape is some VPs.

_____________________________

The Moose

(in reply to mind_messing)
Post #: 275
RE: The Great Milne Bay Swim - 9/9/2014 7:50:09 PM   
mind_messing

 

Posts: 3393
Joined: 10/28/2013
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: Bullwinkle58

Advice? Free by the bushel.

As an AFB I can say that, to me, Manila is a sapphire welded to a diamond and a ruby. The repair yards are absolutely golden, especially once kamis activate. Soerbaja is nice, but small and far away from the China coast, Formosa, Hong Kong, etc. where a lot of late 1944-eqrly 1945 action will happen. Fuel, supply, and repair all in one. There's a reason the USN held on to Subic Bay as a base until the late 1980s. Without it, look at the trip to any repair yards. ARDs are nice, but sending one to the Marianas it might arrive before VJ Day. Or maybe not.


By a handy coincidence, the engineers that have just finished expanding Chengtu and Chungking's airbases are destined for Manilia to build forts up to level 9. It will join Guam and Saipan as being the only bases I'll throw enough supply at to get forts up beyond level 6.

quote:

Ponape I'm more "eh" about. It's nice to have to be sure. It makes life at Truk miserable. But so does holding Rabaul for an AFB. If I saw a division there I'd keep going. Eniwetok is almost as good for a supply dump (not AF), and the Gilberts offer lots of logistic help for the Marianas too. I believe in RL the Saipan fleet loaded out at Kwajalein. (Memory?)

That's the trouble with the bigger, meatier islands. If you put enough there to hold them the Allies go around them. If you don't they take them cheap. By the time true amphibs and Hellcat CVs are plentiful the Allies are thinking time more than real estate. I don't play Japan, but if I had a spare division I'd put it on Guam or Saipan before Ponape. Saipan is HI rain-of-fire time. Ponape is some VPs.


Ponape will get a reinforced brigade I think. 300 or so AV - weak enough to be tempting but strong enough (with it's CD guns and some forts) to be a nasty little barb if Lokasenna decides to take it.

I'm doing a good job of building up strength in the Marianas. Saipan has a division already, as does Rota while Pagan has an infantry group that upgrades to a division. Guam still needs a division, so it's first on the list before anything goes to SWPAC or elsewhere. There's an infantry group from the Home Islands that I was sending to Iwo Jima that I'll send to Guam instead and scrounge some Naval Guards or SNLF's to cover Iwo against sub raids.

If I had the throw-away LCU's to man the frontline in SWPAC and CentPac, every division I could free would be winning a all-expenses paid trip to the Marianas. Sadly, the next big batch of easily expendable IJA units don't arrive for 250 to 350 odd days. When these reinforcements do arrive, they'll be sent to the Bonin's - letting the two infantry groups I've got covering them go to the Marianas.

If I can hold on till the IJA starts turning the taps on in terms of infantry units arriving as reinforcements, then I think I'll be in good shape - at least in the Pacific.

(in reply to Bullwinkle58)
Post #: 276
RE: Baking a cake... - 9/12/2014 1:21:55 AM   
mind_messing

 

Posts: 3393
Joined: 10/28/2013
Status: offline 		January 17th to Febuary 1st, 1943

Things get busy, then turn quiet.

North Pacific

All quiet up here.

Central Pacific

Not much is stirring here, either. We had a shot at a couple of big AO's moving around the Ellice Islands, but only a half-dozen Japanese planes sortied but failed to get any hits and by the next turn they were gone. The spotted oilers were the AO's Platte and Cache, both big, fast fleet oilers.

The real question is what was Lokasenna doing with big oilers that close to the frontline anyway? Funafuti is a size 2 port, so they weren't making a delivery. It looks like they were being parked there to assist in refueling as part of a bigger operation.

At present I'm considering it as a Psy Ops move on Lokasenna part: where there's fleet oilers, chances are there's a fleet, and the Allies aren't hamstrung if they lose a few AO's.

The Marianas continues to be reinforced. I've freed up two of the IJN Base Force units from elsewhere (1 from Burma, 1 from Formosa) to be sent to the Marianas. They're due a TOE upgrade on Feb 15th which gives them a host of aviation and naval support, as well as CD guns and engineers, making them exceptionally handy. There's a bunch of big LCU's en-route as well.

The 4th IMB (soon to be the 62nd Division) departs Fusan for Truk. Once it arrives, the present garrison, the 4th Division, will be sent to Saipan.

South-West Pacific

Papua New Guinea

The Allied carrier force makes an appearence!

On January 21st, American carrier aircraft struck Buna as part of a wider battle to shut Buna airbase. The Dauntless and Avenger squadrons are preceeded by US Army 2E and 4E bombers during the night in an effort to close the base in the face of stiff Japanese opposition.

Afternoon Air attack on Buna , at 99,129

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 19,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 40
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 26
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 16
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 7

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 72
SBD-3 Dauntless x 90
TBF-1 Avenger x 36

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 1 damaged
Ki-45 KAIa Nick: 1 destroyed, 6 damaged
Ki-45 KAIa Nick: 1 destroyed on ground

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat: 3 destroyed
SBD-3 Dauntless: 11 destroyed, 19 damaged
SBD-3 Dauntless: 1 destroyed by flak
TBF-1 Avenger: 6 destroyed, 5 damaged

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

Airbase hits 4
Airbase supply hits 4
Runway hits 16
Port hits 5

The base remained open with moderate damage. I assumed that this was the precursor to some sort of Allied amphibious action in the region, I suspected Horn Island, so the torpedo and dive bombers that I've been keeping in the rear were moved forward in anticipation of a strike at the Allied ships the following turn.

That never materialized, the USN was gone from sight by the 22nd and things have remained quiet since. The Allied carriers have since retired to Noumea, where they've stayed.

I've since fed some more aviation support and engineers into Buna in order to expand it. Engineers are also at work expanding the airbase at Hansa Bay.

Horn Island remains Japanese despite no garrison being present.

On the ground, the 9th IMB has completed it's trek to Port Moresby. The 52nd and 53rd Divisions are en-route to Rabual. The 53rd is destined for Buna.

Guadalcanal

Events elsewhere on the 22nd, however, was very bad for Japan. Allied 4E bombers trashed the airbase at Lunga. Despite fighters on Night CAP and AA units in the hex, the Allied bombers flying at 2000ft were able to trash the base. The fighters on Night CAP suffered badly to the Allied gunners with little to show, as did the Japanese AA. I can see why some people insist on night bombing HR's.

Japanese losses, in short, were pretty bad, but not terrible. 4 air groups were badly mauled, and some still haven't gotten back to full capacity, but my overall air strength in the area is still very robust.

Rabual

The 52nd Division was intended to be a garrison for Rabual and free up the 64th Infantry Group (soon to be the 61st Division), but inspection of the TOE's of these two units has found that the 61st Division is more suited to garrison Rabual than the 52nd Division, so the ships that bring the 61st Division will bring the 52nd Division to Guam.

China-Burma-India

A lone Chinese corps is hunted down in Western China and destroyed. Elements of the 3rd Tank Division are waiting for the last few fragments to combine on the Burma-China border.

The Allies start bombing the port at Rangoon by night, to little effect. There's very little in port anyways, bar a AKE and some small ASW ships.

The Allies spot the 1st Tank Division in a clear hex north of Shwebo and make efforts to bomb it. They inflict fair losses over repeated attacks, but several Japanese fighter bases are in range, and the bombers pay a heavy price.

The "recon in force" into India turns back after meeting an Indian Brigade and an Armoured Brigade. The bulk of the IJA strength remains in Central Burma.

General Strategy

All the troop movements are an elaborate, confusing dance towards two ends:

1. Ensure that all important frontline bases are held with suitable strength.
2. Ensure that the Marianas are defended with the best units availible.

In short, the small brigades and divisions with crap TOE's are being sent to hold the frontline bases while the high EXP divisions with tanks and artillery are being sent to defend the Marianas.

The gap between the Marianas and the frontline will be filled with what expendable units I can find and a host of brigades that are ariving in late 43.


The strong Japanese forces around Buna have seen off an Allied carrier raid with little damage to show for it, but there will be more raids...


< Message edited by mind_messing -- 9/25/2014 5:53:38 PM >

(in reply to Bullwinkle58)
Post #: 277
Burke's Brawl at Auki - 9/16/2014 5:47:54 PM   
mind_messing

 

Posts: 3393
Joined: 10/28/2013
Status: offline 		Febuary 2nd to Febuary 18th, 1943

The calm spell in this game continues. It appears that we're both quite content to sit back, build up and wait for the opposing side to make the next move.

This passive stance on my part is probably more benifical for Lokasenna than for me, but I'm commited to maximizing my advantages in fighting on my home turf.

North Pacific

All is good and well on the Kuriles.

The 26th Division, a crack unit (90 EXP!!!) from China is bought out, and it's destined for Paramushiro-jima. This will free up a regiment to send to one of the other islands.

Ideally, I want three divisions in the Kuriles for mid-1944: one each on Onnekotan-jima, Paramushiro-jima and Shimushiri-jima, with the rest of the islands being held by whatever smaller units I can buy out cheaply or arrives as reinforcements. As of Feb 18th, I've 1 division and 1/3rd of another destined for the Kuriles, so we're well on track here.

Central Pacific

The sight of the Allied oilers doesn't materialize into anything. There's a lot of activity around Canton Island, but nothing that would merit the deployment of Allied oilers. Between naval search from the Gilberts and the Marshalls, we should have at least two days warning of any Allied sorties into this region.

The IJN Base Force units get their TOE upgrade, giving them some nice DP guns and doubles the number of engineers and aviation support that they have. A welcome upgrade!

IJA divisions start arriving on the Marianas. Guam as two plus an infantry group that becomes a division in 100 days. Tinian, Saipan and Rota all have a division each while Pagan has another infantry group that becomes a division in three months time.

There are a couple of other weakspots in the Central Pacific that need reinforcement. Ulithi needs a couple of Naval Guards, and Yap needs a division and some forts. Babeldoab probably needs two divisions, and Peleliu needs at least a division's worth of AV.

South-West Pacific

A squadron of Ki-46 III Dinah's moves up to Guadalcanal, enabling us to get a peek at what the Allies have in Noumea. They've 180 ships in port, including fleet oilers and heavy crusiers. What's better is that it's protected by only 15 fighters! Once some more supply gets on to Guadalcanal, I intend to mount a big night raid on Noumea with G3M3's in an effort to damage some of these ships.

Speaking of Guadalcanal, the Allies send a formidable destroyer force under Burke on a marauding mission to intercept IJN ships off-loading supply and engineers to the island. They run smack into the IJN covering force:

Night Time Surface Combat, near Auki at 114,135, Range 11,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CA Mogami
CA Mikuma, Shell hits 1
CA Suzuya
DD Yamakaze
DD Kawakaze
DD Umikaze, Shell hits 3, on fire 33 sys damage, minor flood and engine damage
DD Suzukaze, Shell hits 7, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk

Allied Ships
DD Bagley
DD Blue
DD Helm, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Ralph Talbot, Shell hits 2
DD Henley
DD Jarvis
DD Craven, Shell hits 2
DD McCall
DD Maury, Shell hits 7, and is sunk
DD Benham
DD Ellet
DD Lang, Shell hits 4, and is sunk
DD Sterett
DD Wilson

Improved night sighting under 92% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Clear Conditions and 92% moonlight: 12,000 yards
Range closes to 23,000 yards...
Range closes to 17,000 yards...
CONTACT: Allies radar detects Japanese task force at 17,000 yards
Range closes to 11,000 yards...
CONTACT: Allies radar detects Japanese task force at 11,000 yards
Allies open fire on surprised Japanese ships at 11,000 yards...
Range closes to 6,000 yards
...
Range closes to 2,000 yards
...
Range increases to 4,000 yards
...
Range increases to 7,000 yards
...
Range increases to 10,000 yards
...
Task forces break off...

Despite the IJN crusiers geting the better of them, the Allied destroyers push past the covering force and run smack into some small IJN minelayers that were en-route to Guadalcanal:

Night Time Surface Combat, near Auki at 114,135, Range 12,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
E Yaeyama, Shell hits 8, heavy fires, heavy damage
CM Takashima, Shell hits 1, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
CM Saishu, Shell hits 5, heavy fires The only survivor, with 44 sys damage and 11 flood damage.
CM Niizaki, Shell hits 23, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk

Allied Ships
DD Bagley
DD Blue
DD Helm, heavy fires
DD Ralph Talbot
DD Henley
DD Jarvis
DD Craven, on fire
DD McCall
DD Benham, Shell hits 1
DD Ellet
DD Sterett
DD Wilson

As if the loss of some potential E-class escorts wasn't enough, the Allied destroyers run smack into a PB fast transport convoy bringing supply to Guadalcanal.

Night Time Surface Combat, near Auki at 114,135, Range 11,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
PB Edo Maru, Shell hits 1
PB Fukui Maru, Shell hits 2
PB Nikkai Maru, Shell hits 2 Limpted to Tulagi, where it will probably burn to the waterline in port.
PB Shinkyo Maru, Shell hits 13, heavy fires, heavy damage Sinks afterwards.
PB Toyotu Maru, Shell hits 4, on fire

Allied Ships
DD Bagley
DD Blue
DD Helm, heavy fires RO-65 puts a torpedo in the Helm right after this battle and takes some heavy damage in return.
DD Ralph Talbot
DD Henley
DD Jarvis
DD Craven, on fire
DD McCall, Shell hits 1, on fire The McCall splits in to a seperate TF, which runs into the PB fast transports again. Both sides exchange a few shots and disengage.
DD Benham
DD Ellet
DD Sterett
DD Wilson

Improved night sighting under 92% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Clear Conditions and 92% moonlight: 12,000 yards
Range closes to 27,000 yards...
Range closes to 25,000 yards...
Range closes to 23,000 yards...
CONTACT: Allies radar detects Japanese task force at 23,000 yards
Range closes to 21,000 yards...
CONTACT: Allies radar detects Japanese task force at 21,000 yards
Range closes to 19,000 yards...
Range closes to 17,000 yards...
CONTACT: Allies radar detects Japanese task force at 17,000 yards
Range closes to 15,000 yards...
Range closes to 13,000 yards...
Range closes to 11,000 yards...
CONTACT: Allies radar detects Japanese task force at 11,000 yards
Burke, Arleigh A. crosses the 'T'
...
Japanese Task Force Manages to Escape
Task forces break off...

Thankfully, three of the five ships stand a good chance of making Guadalcanal, which is starting to dip below that x2 required supply threshold.

Daylight, however, provides some retribution for the damage caused by Burke's destroyers, as IJN dive bombers sortie against the USN DD's, who haven't had the time to make good their escape before dawn finds them.

Morning Air attack on TF, near Tulagi at 116,137

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid detected at 76 NM, estimated altitude 17,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 28 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 26
D3A1 Val x 42

Japanese aircraft losses
D3A1 Val: 6 damaged
D3A1 Val: 1 destroyed by flak

Allied Ships
DD Wilson
DD Sterett, Bomb hits 1, on fire
DD Ralph Talbot
DD Blue
DD Jarvis, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
DD Ellet
DD Benham
DD Bagley
DD Henley, Bomb hits 1, on fire
DD Craven, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Tulagi at 116,137

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 30 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 26
D3A1 Val x 41

Japanese aircraft losses
D3A1 Val: 2 damaged

Allied Ships
DD Wilson, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Blue
DD Ralph Talbot, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
DD Henley
DD Craven, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
DD Ellet
DD Bagley
DD Benham, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires

6 USN destroyers are reported lost on the Ships Sunk screen. The loss of a single IJN DD, 1 (almost certainly 2) PB's, two 1 VP CM's and a small escort is worth 6 USN DD's. The performance of the IJN crusiers was excellent, despite being suprised, they still managed to sink two USN DD's outright - if they had forced the USN to retire, this would have been a nice victory. I'm more annoyed about the supply lost on the PB's than anything else, which is a great sign!

The IJN crusiers will retire to Rabual to re-arm while the fast transport PB's have a go at unloading thier cargo. On Guadalcanal, the airbases will batten down the hatches for the retalation from the night-time 4E bomber raid at 2000ft (it's 100% moonlight) that should come in like clockwork.

Philippines

Engineers from China are being shipped from Hong Kong to Manila to start work on Fortress Luzon. My plan is quite simple:


The defence of Luzon.


Red - the frontline - the "Manila meatgrinder" . Manila is an urban light hex (x2 terrain bonus), while the hex directly east is jungle rough, (x3 bonus). I intend to dig Manila up to size 9 forts, if the Allies and my supply stockpiles co-operate.

Blue - All the CD guns, mines, PT boats and mini-subs I can get my hands on, plus some IJA units to prevent a landing to spike the guns. If the Allies want to bombard Manila, they're going to need to blast a path through Bataan, and it will cost them.

Green - Main airbases. Lingayen and Manila will be size 9 airbases. Clark is already maxed out at size 8 AF.

White - support airbases. Laoag is current a ASW airbase while San Fernando was built to size 4 in early 1942, and I'll beef up both to become a rear-area fighter base for the defence of Luzon.

Black - the weakspots. These bases are all likely targets for Allied landings in the rear of the defence, so I'll need to make sure there's a hefty garrison and good forts. Aparri in particular worries me, being a clear terrain hex, but hopefully the risk of LBA from Formosa is too high for the Allies to risk.

Obviously this will take some time, but if I start now, I should have the best part of a year to start making some serious progress.


China-Burma-India

After some recon of Celyon, I start considering the idea of a early 1943 offensive to take the island and grab some VP's. Looking at what I could assemble for a landing, it's very possible, but a little too risky for my tastes. A bolder and better player could pull it off, but I keep reminding myself that Japan doesn't need to win, it just has to avoid losing.

Burma is quiet, bar the occasional in-effective night raid on the oil at Magwe. The oil is still at 149 (151), which is great considering it's been in range of Allied bombers for quite some time now!

Industry

So far, so good.

Home Island Totals:
Supply - 2,701,089 (Excellent! We should break 3M in mid-43!)
Fuel - 2,568,483
Resources - 10,980,999
Oil - 1,471,857

Heavy Industry points - 1,234,955 (Back on track towards the goal of banking 1M HI per year)
Armaments - 175k
Vehicles - 14.6k

R&D

Everything seems to be progressing well.

I've five factories pushing the A6M5b along quite quickly that I think I'm going to convert some to the A7M2 Sam - the late A6M planes don't seem much of an improvement to me.

The Ki-100-I Tony is being brought along quickly by three factories (soon to be four), while two factories are working on bringing the Ki-43IIIa Oscar forward.

The Jack and George (4 factories each) have some factories researching with the rest being a few points away from researching, so we'll start having serious progress down that line soon.

The focus of R&D now is switching to late-war fighters. My main planes that I'm focusing on are the A7M2 Sam (3 factories, I'll probably switch two A6M5b factories to this shortly), the J7W1 Shinden (2 factories, plus a probably 2 from the A6M5b), the Ki-84a (4 factories) and the Ki-83 (3 factories).

For the late-late war, I'm working on the Ki-201 and the Ki-94-II.

The bombers I'm working on are the Peggy (T) and the P1Y1.

For night-fighters, there's two factories working on the Ki-46 KAI Dinah, three factories on the Ki-102c Randy and two factories working on the J1N1-S Irving. There's also a factory working on the D4Y2-S Judy and the A6M5d-S Zero to provide cheap and cheerful single engine night fighters.

Questions to the Gallery

I've never really considered the defence of Luzon from the Japanese perspective. My plan is formed around the principle that the most valuable thing the Philippines has to offer the Allies is a repair yard close to the frontline and big airbases from which to bomb Japan. Am I making a mistake in abandoning Luzon south of Manilia? Should I be trying a different approach?

Now's the time to speak up, before I start throwing engineers and supply into turning Manila into a fortress!


Val dive bomber attacking USN destroyers following their night-time raid on the Eastern Solomons. Despite not being being as experianced as their carrier counter-parts, the land-based Vals were able to deal serious damage to the fleeing American ships.


< Message edited by mind_messing -- 9/25/2014 5:53:45 PM >

(in reply to mind_messing)
Post #: 278
RE: Wrangling Loki - Mind_Messing (J) vs Lokasenna (A) - 9/24/2014 6:37:42 PM   
mind_messing

 

Posts: 3393
Joined: 10/28/2013
Status: offline 		Febuary 19th to March 2nd, 1943

Sometimes the waiting is worse than the actual combat, and there's been a lot of waiting over the past few weeks of the war. We've had a few turns where there's been no combat, and plenty of turns with only two or three sub engagements in the replay.

North Pacific

I'm bulking up my naval presence here, doubling my destroyer force here from 4 Yugumo-class destroyers to 8, bringing my frontline naval strength to the 2 Yamato-class battleships and 8 Yugumo-class destroyers, plus a whole host of second-line ASW ships and a few submarines.

The 26th Division has nearly reached the end of it's march to Canton, where ships are waiting to send it to Paramushiro-jima.

Central Pacific

We lose a submarine in exchange for some valuable intel:

Sub attack near Sydney Island at 154,149

Japanese Ships
SS I-15, hits 18, and is sunk

Allied Ships
CL Columbia, Torpedo hits 1
BB Prince of Wales
BB Pennsylvania
BB West Virginia
BB Colorado
BB Maryland
CA Salt Lake City
CA Louisville
CA Chester
CA Northampton
CA Indianapolis
CL Cleveland
CL Honolulu
CL Boise
CL St. Louis
DD Chevalier
DD Fletcher
DD Cassin
DD Smith
DD Waller
DD O'Bannon

Later sightings suggest that the Allied ships have moved to Pago Pago, so I'll be staying on the lookout for any Allied moves from there and see if I can't put an Allied battleship or two out of the war for a few months.

Apart from that, things have been quiet here, and I'm using the time to train, train and train my air units some more. I've converted three IJA bomber unit to the Ki-48-IIb dive bomber, so they're taking the time to train up on their NavBomb skills.

I'm also using the time to cross-train some Ki-49 Helen squadrons to NavBomb as well, just so that the IJNAF isn't carrying all the weight of anti-shipping strikes in the Pacific theater. I've 4x30 R&D factories working on the torpedo-armed Ki-67 Peggy so that the IJA can have a anti-shipping aircraft that can use torpedos.

South-West Pacific

Bar the occasional night bombing raid by Allied 4E's and a rare daylight raid or Merakue, things are quiet here too. I've gotten some more engineers onto Guadalcanal, so that base should be difficult to keep closed in future.

There's been a major re-organization of IJN surface ships in the last few turns. Nearly every modern IJN destroyer is being deployed to Truk (with the exeption of the Yugumo's deployed to the Kuriles), along with the modern light crusiers and those heavy crusiers that have radar. The older destroyers are being concentrated at Singapore, along with the slow battleships and the Mini-KB and those heavy crusiers that don't have radar as of yet.

DEI

The Allies seem to be slowly building their way around the North-West Cape at Exmouth, though they've yet to start developing Port Hedland. Japanese units on Timor and Soemba are keeping a close watch on developments in this area. There's also an Ind. Mixed Brigade waiting at Canton for shipment to Taberfane to bulk up the defences against any thrust from Darwin.

The 54th Division has nearly arrived at it's destination of Oosthaven. When it arrives, IJA strength on Sumatra will be three divisions and three regiments. The three regiments will be reinforced by engineer, artillery and armour assets to form the 31st Division in three months.

Two garrison units are being removed from Burma to be deployed to Northern Sumatra. Burma is flush with units right now, and the two garrison units will be reinforced to divisional strength in October '44 - right when an Allied invasion is most likely.

My plan to defend Sumatra involes having one division at each of the five mainland bases facing the Indian Ocean. So far, we've two bases garrisoned with divisions, and another one to shortly be garrisoned. Within a month, we'll have four bases covered, and two garrison units as a stop-gap in the last.


China-Burma-India

I'm further optimizing garrisons following the TOE expansion of some collaborationist units. Through the wonder of the "Divide Unit" button, I'll be able to redeploy the 15th Division from Shanghai to Saipan. The 15th isn't a "crack" division (only 60 EXP), nor does it have much heavy weaponary (it's biggest guns are 75mm field guns!) but it has a nice mix of tanks, cavarly and motorized squads that should be quite formidable behind forts.

Burma is very, very quiet - no action at all! Again, I'm taking advantage of the lull to train up as many pilots as I can.


I think this is the first time I've seen the new light crusiers the Allies get. I am quite pleased that the combat debut of the Colombia was taking a torpedo from an IJN submarine!


< Message edited by mind_messing -- 9/25/2014 5:53:51 PM >

(in reply to mind_messing)
Post #: 279
RE: Wrangling Loki - Mind_Messing (J) vs Lokasenna (A) - 9/24/2014 6:49:05 PM   
Lowpe


Posts: 22133
Joined: 2/25/2013
Status: offline 		That is a big investment in the Peggy T! I am not so sure I agree with it...as you have to wait to get the Peggy T to actually start training torpedo skills up, and for the end game I am not sure that Torpedo planes are the way to go...

Will be interesting to see how it works out for you.

(in reply to mind_messing)
Post #: 280
RE: Wrangling Loki - Mind_Messing (J) vs Lokasenna (A) - 9/24/2014 7:26:01 PM   
mind_messing

 

Posts: 3393
Joined: 10/28/2013
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

That is a big investment in the Peggy T! I am not so sure I agree with it...as you have to wait to get the Peggy T to actually start training torpedo skills up, and for the end game I am not sure that Torpedo planes are the way to go...

Will be interesting to see how it works out for you.


It's actually two investments in one. The Peggy T upgrades to the Peggy Ib, so once the Peggy T arrives I'll flick two factories towards working on the Peggy Ib for pure ground bombing use.

Looking at the late-war IJA bombers, there's a real need for a good anti-shipping platform : the Helen makes a good anti-shipping bomber in a pinch, but level-bombing with 250kg bombs will never be accurate, except against the slowest of targets. The Lily dive-bomber has the accuracy, but 100kg bombs won't sink anything bigger than a destroyer.

The Peggy T seems the best choice for the IJA. Looking at it's statistics, it's slightly better than the Frances, but miles better in terms of all the other IJA planes.

As the war progresses, losses to torpedo planes and pilots will soar. Without the Peggy T, the IJN has to absorb all the losses of airframes and pilots - all the NavT pilots have to be trained by the IJN, and production of the Nell/Betty/Frances has to keep up with losses.

With the Peggy T, the IJA can convert large numbers of it's level-bombing squadrons towards training NavT pilots and once the first batch of NavT pilots are trained, it can take take over a large share of the anti-shipping burden and in training up NavT pilots.

Essentially, I intend to use the Peggy T to allow me to pull IJN torpedo bomber units off the frontline and in to training duties in order to build a comfortable stockpile of pilots and airframes for later in the war.

It's better in my mind to spread the inevitable losses of torpedo bomber pilots over the two services than have the IJN suffer the slaughter alone.

In that respect, the Peggy T is one of the most essential late-war planes. It may not have the "cool" factor of jets or experimental planes, but I think it's vital none-the-less.

If you think I'm wrong, though, feel free to say why!

(in reply to Lowpe)
Post #: 281
RE: Wrangling Loki - Mind_Messing (J) vs Lokasenna (A) - 9/24/2014 7:58:30 PM   
Lowpe


Posts: 22133
Joined: 2/25/2013
Status: offline 		You have well thought out reasons. My simple thought was you need to add 3 months training time to get sufficient number of pilots trained up. When do you think the Peggy T will be available?





(in reply to mind_messing)
Post #: 282
RE: Wrangling Loki - Mind_Messing (J) vs Lokasenna (A) - 9/24/2014 8:16:58 PM   
mind_messing

 

Posts: 3393
Joined: 10/28/2013
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

You have well thought out reasons. My simple thought was you need to add 3 months training time to get sufficient number of pilots trained up. When do you think the Peggy T will be available?


I've two factories sitting at 15(15), and the other two have only repaired one or two points. We'll also have the engine bonus in a few days.

I don't know the mathematics of the R&D mini-game to comment with any real authority, but I'd guess 6/44.

(in reply to Lowpe)
Post #: 283
RE: Wrangling Loki - Mind_Messing (J) vs Lokasenna (A) - 9/24/2014 10:27:20 PM   
Bullwinkle58


Posts: 11302
Joined: 2/24/2009
Status: offline 		Is your PI assumption he will come overland from the south? Is your assumption that Formosa LBA will keep him from coming over the top?

Why is Batan I. Allied right now?

_____________________________

The Moose

(in reply to mind_messing)
Post #: 284
RE: Wrangling Loki - Mind_Messing (J) vs Lokasenna (A) - 9/24/2014 10:41:19 PM   
Lowpe


Posts: 22133
Joined: 2/25/2013
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: Bullwinkle58
Why is Batan I. Allied right now?


I saw that too and thought SST.

(in reply to Bullwinkle58)
Post #: 285
RE: Wrangling Loki - Mind_Messing (J) vs Lokasenna (A) - 9/24/2014 11:15:12 PM   
mind_messing

 

Posts: 3393
Joined: 10/28/2013
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: Bullwinkle58

Is your PI assumption he will come overland from the south? Is your assumption that Formosa LBA will keep him from coming over the top?



Yes.

I'm not sure how solid an assumption it is. I'm hoping to have Okinawa as well as Formosa as formidable bastions when the PI starts to become threatened. I will develop some of the islands north of Luzon (just to make it that bit less attractive) and keep Aparri well fortified.

The purpose is two-fold: keep the lines of communication open between Formosa and Luzon as well as to make any attempt to "Anzio" the Philippines involve sailing right into the jaws of the beast.

Worst case scenario: the Allies force a landing at Aparri, then I'll do a MacArthur - retreat to the Bataan/Clark/Manila triangle, dig in and hold out as long as possible.

quote:

Why is Batan I. Allied right now?




Kamikazie activation on 1st January, 1944.

I've even started building pools of LowNav pilots for both the IJA and the IJN.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Lowpe


quote:

ORIGINAL: Bullwinkle58
Why is Batan I. Allied right now?


I saw that too and thought SST.


I hadn't considered that he might have moved something in to the base. I'll have a recon unit scope it out.

(in reply to Bullwinkle58)
Post #: 286
RE: Wrangling Loki - Mind_Messing (J) vs Lokasenna (A) - 9/25/2014 11:28:30 AM   
Bullwinkle58


Posts: 11302
Joined: 2/24/2009
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: mind_messing


quote:

ORIGINAL: Bullwinkle58

Is your PI assumption he will come overland from the south? Is your assumption that Formosa LBA will keep him from coming over the top?



Yes.

I'm not sure how solid an assumption it is. I'm hoping to have Okinawa as well as Formosa as formidable bastions when the PI starts to become threatened. I will develop some of the islands north of Luzon (just to make it that bit less attractive) and keep Aparri well fortified.

The purpose is two-fold: keep the lines of communication open between Formosa and Luzon as well as to make any attempt to "Anzio" the Philippines involve sailing right into the jaws of the beast.

Worst case scenario: the Allies force a landing at Aparri, then I'll do a MacArthur - retreat to the Bataan/Clark/Manila triangle, dig in and hold out as long as possible.



If it was me I'd come from the south as I probably wouldn't know you had Forts 9 on your stop line. Those can be dealt with in that era of Shermans and lavish combat engineers, but slowly and expensively.

The north route might not be as expensive to him as you hope given lots and lots of CVEs available, and 1-day unloads from real amphibs. That route doesn't have the bottleneck the south does as he moves on Clark and Manila, but the landing base would be under continuous air threat until the P-47s and Corsairs got ashore. Some could be flown in off transport CVEs of course, so pretty quickly.

As is the case everywhere in late 1944 onward it's not a matter of stopping him. If he wants Manila's yard he will have it. It's a matter of the time.

< Message edited by Bullwinkle58 -- 9/25/2014 12:28:57 PM >

_____________________________

The Moose

(in reply to mind_messing)
Post #: 287
RE: Wrangling Loki - Mind_Messing (J) vs Lokasenna (A) - 9/25/2014 12:31:46 PM   
mind_messing

 

Posts: 3393
Joined: 10/28/2013
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: Bullwinkle58

quote:

ORIGINAL: mind_messing


quote:

ORIGINAL: Bullwinkle58

Is your PI assumption he will come overland from the south? Is your assumption that Formosa LBA will keep him from coming over the top?



Yes.

I'm not sure how solid an assumption it is. I'm hoping to have Okinawa as well as Formosa as formidable bastions when the PI starts to become threatened. I will develop some of the islands north of Luzon (just to make it that bit less attractive) and keep Aparri well fortified.

The purpose is two-fold: keep the lines of communication open between Formosa and Luzon as well as to make any attempt to "Anzio" the Philippines involve sailing right into the jaws of the beast.

Worst case scenario: the Allies force a landing at Aparri, then I'll do a MacArthur - retreat to the Bataan/Clark/Manila triangle, dig in and hold out as long as possible.



If it was me I'd come from the south as I probably wouldn't know you had Forts 9 on your stop line. Those can be dealt with in that era of Shermans and lavish combat engineers, but slowly and expensively.


I'll settle for slowly and expensively. As you said, Manila is a hex made of gold for the Allies in the late war, so I want the blood price in battered Allied divisions.

quote:

The north route might not be as expensive to him as you hope given lots and lots of CVEs available, and 1-day unloads from real amphibs. That route doesn't have the bottleneck the south does as he moves on Clark and Manila, but the landing base would be under continuous air threat until the P-47s and Corsairs got ashore. Some could be flown in off transport CVEs of course, so pretty quickly.


I think the best solution to make the northern route risky is to try to have a IJN presence based out of Formosa comprising whatever ships I've not gotten sunk defending the Marianas. That way, if the Allies do decide to throw themselves into harms way, they'll be faced with aircraft based on Luzon and on Formosa, as well as at least some naval threat.

Not that I expect another Tsushima in the Luzon Strait: the IJN has to fight a do-or-die battle for the Marianas, while the IJA has to fight a giant delaying action on Luzon, Formosa, the Bonins and on Okinawa.

quote:

As is the case everywhere in late 1944 onward it's not a matter of stopping him. If he wants Manila's yard he will have it. It's a matter of the time.


That's the crux of it. Already Lokasenna is behind the historic schedual. I've got to keep him there so that the units I need to mount a defence can arrive, be deployed to the frontline and get a little training done. As it stands, I've 200 days to go before the IJA reinforcements start to turn from a trickle into a flood.

At present, the first two layers of my defences are well manned, but there's a virtual vacuum from the Marianas to the Bonins. After 200 days, that empty space will start getting filled with arriving units and his job will become that little bit harder.

(in reply to Bullwinkle58)
Post #: 288
RE: Wrangling Loki - Mind_Messing (J) vs Lokasenna (A) - 9/25/2014 1:10:02 PM   
Mike McCreery


Posts: 4232
Joined: 6/29/2013
Status: offline 		Hey Mind Messing,

Thanks for the AAR. There is a common mistake that players make however. I read the whole page and still cannot figure out what year you are playing in. I can make deductions but without it being spelled out in a few posts along the way it makes it very difficult for me to understand exactly where you are at.

I am sure dedicated readers do not have this issue but for those of us who are following 10 or more AAR's it would be helpful to include the year once in a while.

Thanks!!

_____________________________


(in reply to mind_messing)
Post #: 289
RE: Wrangling Loki - Mind_Messing (J) vs Lokasenna (A) - 9/25/2014 4:41:39 PM   
mind_messing

 

Posts: 3393
Joined: 10/28/2013
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: Wargmr

Hey Mind Messing,

Thanks for the AAR. There is a common mistake that players make however. I read the whole page and still cannot figure out what year you are playing in. I can make deductions but without it being spelled out in a few posts along the way it makes it very difficult for me to understand exactly where you are at.

I am sure dedicated readers do not have this issue but for those of us who are following 10 or more AAR's it would be helpful to include the year once in a while.

Thanks!!


Whops, what an oversight, I'll amend that right away.

(in reply to Mike McCreery)
Post #: 290
RE: In the absence of orders... - 9/25/2014 7:46:49 PM   
mind_messing

 

Posts: 3393
Joined: 10/28/2013
Status: offline 		To the Victor, the Spoils

Chungking fell in mid-October of 1942. Though combat carried on in China for a few more months, effective resistence was over. The Chinese promptly evacuated to Burma, where they're currently building up strength for an eventual campaign to re-take their homeland.

A complete Japanese occupation of China has been a massive boost. China produces 4.6k supply per day, a 10k resource surplus for shipment to the Home Islands and 1.2k oil surplus that covers the deficit of oil in Manchuria and still leaves a 500 oil/day surplus for shipment to Japan.

With the fighting for China over, there's also been a massive number of Japanese units freed up for deployment elsewhere. The vast bulk are presently in Burma, and I won't bother to list them. The important units are those that have been freed up for deployment to the Pacific.

A total of six divisions have been bought out from China and sent overseas, as have five Ind. Mixed Brigades (one that becomes a division in two months). Three of those divisions are crack (90 EXP plus!) and the remaining three are in the 60-70 EXP range. All of these divisions are being deployed to defend invaluable Japanese bases (Marianas and Sumatra, one division to the Kuriles)

The five Ind. Mixed Brigades are 55 EXP units that have been freed up from garrison duty by smaller units, and all five have been deployed to the first line of defence in the Pacific (South-West and Central Pacific).

On top of that, all future reinforcements in China are in excess of requirements, so I'll be able to further optimize garrisons to ensure that the best units are bought out for use elsewhere. Already, I've another strong division destined for Saipan sitting in Shanghai waiting for weaker units to replace it.

I've been able to free up 3.5k AV from China. If China wasn't completely secure, there's no way I'd have been able to remove so many troops.

On top of that, a quick glance over the reinforcement que suggests that there's about another 4k AV due to arrive over the duration of the game that can be bought out and redeployed as needed.

(in reply to mind_messing)
Post #: 291
99 Luftballoons... - 9/29/2014 10:44:17 PM   
mind_messing

 

Posts: 3393
Joined: 10/28/2013
Status: offline 		March 3rd to March 20th, 1943

This game continues to be long periods of little (if any) action, with short, sharp engagements breaking up the lulls.

North Pacific

Quiet, as is the norm. The Allies are quite active in the Western Aleutians - rarely a turn goes by without what seems to be Allied Cargo TF's being spotted at Attu and Shemya. Shemya Island, as a size 7 AF, is causing me some worries. I've a strong air presence in the Kuriles, as well as Hokkiado, so there's nothing to worry about until the B-29 starts to make an appearence. This will change if the Allies make a bid to gain a foothold in the Kuriles.

The 26th Division has made the journey from China without event, and it is unloading at Paramushiro-jima, while the first elements of the 20th Division from Korea are off-loading at Onnekotan-jima. This will free up a regiment from Paramushiro, which is destined for Shimushiri-jima.

In turn, this will free up some of the 42 AV Ind. Infantry Bn's, which I'm sending to atolls with 6k stacking limits that are likely to be attacked, namely Eniwetok and Marcus Island.

On the naval side, I'm forming a small destroyer force to be based out of Etorofu to supliment the Yamato's operating out of Ominato. A big shipment of fuel, and some tenders are en-route to Etorofu to turn it into a forward base for operations in the Kuriles.

In the air, virtually every aircraft that isn't searching for Allied ships is training.

Central Pacific

On March 18th, USMC paratroopers drop onto Arorae, destroying the half-dozen IJA paratrooper squads that represented the token garrison of that island. The Allies don't have a base close enough to provide CAP, so IJA bombers will blast the marines off the island and IJA paratroopers will drop to re-take the base.

In the event that this is the prelude to a bigger Allied move on the region, all Japanese bases in the Gilberts and Marshalls are on full alert.

South-West Pacific

Ndeni

In one of the most embarrassing incidents of the war so far, IJA bombers sortie against Ndeni based upon reports of Allied carriers in the port. As it turns out, the "carriers" are YP's that some useless IJN recon hacks had confused for carriers. I lose 50 odd bombers in return for sinking a single YP.

Needless to say, heads rolled. Thankfully, those responsible for the raid (ie, me) were able to deflect the blame to subordinates.

Horn Island

The Allies at length take Horn Island by fast transport TF, droping a Marine Defense Bn and a Base Force and flying more troops in. I respond with a air campaign to sweep the defending fighters from the sky and keep the airbase shut in the hope of repeating my previous recapture of Horn Island by bombing the defenders off of it.

After some good success, the Allies promptly unleased the 4E deathstar at my bases on New Guinea.

New Guinea

The Allied 4E deathstar makes two excellent strikes against Japanese positions in March. The first strike falls on Hansa Bay, where sixty or so IJA bombers were caught on the airbase without fighter cover in preparation for rotating into combat. While a costly raid in terms of airframes (40 odd destroyed), the main loss was to Helen units, of which I've ample stockpiles. It could have been worse, with there being over 200 IJA bombers deployed at Hansa Bay the day before the raid.

The second strike fell on Milne Bay, lasting for two days. On March 16th, P-38's smash the Japanese CAP of A6M5's and Ki-44's, leaving the skies clear for the Allied bombers and shutting down the airbase. The follow-up raid consisted of just Allied bombers, and again gave the base a good plastering.

Thankfully, unlike Hansa Bay, Milne Bay had some barrage balloons up and I get to enjoy the sight of Allied bombers flying at 2000ft taking damage to them on the first day, and then again the next day, flying at 6000ft.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Mar 16, 43


...
A bunch of P-38 sweeps, too many to show. In short, we lost at about 2.5 to 1.
...
Morning Air attack on Milne Bay , at 101,133

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 6,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 6

Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 21
B-17F Fortress x 10
B-24D Liberator x 9
B-25C Mitchell x 14

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 4 destroyed on ground
E13A1 Jake: 1 destroyed on ground

Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 8 damaged
B-17F Fortress: 2 damaged
B-24D Liberator: 1 damaged
B-25C Mitchell: 1 damaged

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

Airbase hits 24
Airbase supply hits 6
Runway hits 51

Aircraft Attacking:
14 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 2000 feet Watch the balloons!
Airfield Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 2000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 2000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 2000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 2000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
10 x B-17F Fortress bombing from 2000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 2000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
12 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 2000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 2000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
251 Ku S-1 with A6M5 Zero (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 2 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
3 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 38000 , scrambling fighters between 40000 and 43000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 40 minutes



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Milne Bay , at 101,133

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid detected at 31 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 6

Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 8
B-24D Liberator x 9

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 1 destroyed on ground
E13A1 Jake: 1 destroyed on ground

Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 4 damaged
B-24D Liberator: 4 damaged

Airbase hits 3
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 21

Aircraft Attacking:
8 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 2000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 2000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
6 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 2000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
251 Ku S-1 with A6M5 Zero (4 airborne, 0 on standby, 2 scrambling)
4 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 38000 , scrambling fighters between 1000 and 33570.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 25 minutes



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Milne Bay , at 101,133

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid detected at 17 NM, estimated altitude 5,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 2

Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 8

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 1 destroyed on ground

Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 2 damaged

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

Airbase hits 1
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 4

Aircraft Attacking:
8 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 2000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
251 Ku S-1 with A6M5 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 38000 , scrambling fighters to 2000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 37 minutes



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Milne Bay , at 101,133

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid detected at 24 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 1

Allied aircraft
B-24D Liberator x 9

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 1 destroyed on ground

Allied aircraft losses
B-24D Liberator: 1 damaged
B-24D Liberator: 1 destroyed by flak

Airbase hits 1
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 13

Aircraft Attacking:
9 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 2000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
251 Ku S-1 with A6M5 Zero (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 38000 , scrambling fighters to 2000.
Raid is overhead



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Milne Bay , at 101,133

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid detected at 17 NM, estimated altitude 6,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 1

Allied aircraft
B-24D Liberator x 8

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 1 destroyed on ground

Allied aircraft losses
B-24D Liberator: 4 damaged

Airbase hits 4
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 5

Aircraft Attacking:
8 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 2000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
251 Ku S-1 with A6M5 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 38000 , scrambling fighters to 2000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 26 minutes



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Milne Bay , at 101,133

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid detected at 39 NM, estimated altitude 5,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 13 minutes

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft
B-24D Liberator x 7

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
B-24D Liberator: 2 damaged

Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 6

Aircraft Attacking:
7 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 2000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Milne Bay , at 101,133

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid detected at 20 NM, estimated altitude 4,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 8

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 3 damaged

Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 2

Aircraft Attacking:
8 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 2000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Mar 17, 43

...
Morning Air attack on Milne Bay , at 101,133

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid detected at 46 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 13 minutes

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 6
B-24D Liberator x 19
B-25C Mitchell x 14

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5 Zero: 1 destroyed on ground
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 4 destroyed on ground
E13A1 Jake: 1 destroyed on ground

Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 1 damaged
B-17E Fortress: 1 destroyed by flak
B-24D Liberator: 6 damaged
B-25C Mitchell: 2 damaged

Airbase hits 9
Airbase supply hits 3
Runway hits 34

Aircraft Attacking:
14 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 6000 feet Still not high enough!
Airfield Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 6000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 6000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
11 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 6000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
5 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 6000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 6000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Milne Bay , at 101,133

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid detected at 65 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 19 minutes

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 10
B-24D Liberator x 10

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5 Zero: 2 destroyed on ground

Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 3 damaged
B-24D Liberator: 3 damaged

Airbase hits 8
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 8

Aircraft Attacking:
7 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 6000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
10 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 6000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 6000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Milne Bay , at 101,133

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid detected at 33 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 6

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 2 damaged

Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 1

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 6000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Milne Bay , at 101,133

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid detected at 72 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 24 minutes

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft
B-17F Fortress x 6
B-24D Liberator x 7

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5 Zero: 1 destroyed on ground
E13A1 Jake: 1 destroyed on ground

Allied aircraft losses
B-17F Fortress: 1 damaged
B-24D Liberator: 2 damaged

Airbase hits 2
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 11

Aircraft Attacking:
7 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 6000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
6 x B-17F Fortress bombing from 6000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Milne Bay , at 101,133

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid detected at 39 NM, estimated altitude 6,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 13

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 5 damaged

Airbase hits 6
Runway hits 6

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 6000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
7 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 6000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb


The raids on Hansa took the wind right out of the sails of my air offensive against Horn Island, leaving me with only a few IJA bomber squadrons and forcing me to go on the defensive. With the large numbers of Allied 4E's damaged thanks to balloons, I've been granted a few days breathing space, which I'm using to try to get in some offensive sweeps against Horn Island - bombing raids are probably out of the question now, as the Allies likely have some AA guns in place.

I'm also doing my best to ensure that all my major airbases fufill the rule for barrage balloons. Balloons, combined with the TOE upgrade of IJN Airbase units in 90 days that adds 25mm guns should spell the end of the 2000ft 4E raid. They'll still come, but it will be higher and they'll be less accurate. With some well-armed fighters opposing them, I can hope to limit the 4E threat.

Given the recent interest the Allies have shown in Milne Bay, I'm considering moving one of the "good" IJN Base Forces (with some 12cm DP guns) to Milne Bay. As it stands, I've already got some regular AA units headed here from Korea. I'll see how the rest of March develops before making a decision, as I'd like to save all of the "good" IJN Base Forces for the Marianas.


The situation in the Torres Straits. The Allied TF's are small warships, APD's and mine-sweepers - not work the loss of aircraft.


DEI

With the Torres Straits now opened, the DEI is again an active theater. So far, the only Allies moves in the region has been a couple of bomber raids against Merauke, which is held by an SNLF and a third of a Naval Guard unit.

Merauke is little more than a speed-bump: the first line of resistance will be Taberfane and Saumlaki. Saumlaki currently has a regiment of the 30th Division defending it, and the remainder of the division is due to arrive in Korea within 90 days. Taberfane will have a Ind. Mixed Brigade from China defending it by the end of March.

The capture of Horn Island also brings Babo and Boela into range of Allied bombers. While fairly small oil centers, both bases are worth defending for their location alone. Boela is a size 6 airbase, while Babo is only a size 2. The defences are being bulked up, with a Base Force from Singapore headed for Boela and some fighters and aviation support scrapped up for deployment to Babo and the surrounding bases.

China-Burma-India

China

The Hong Kong Base Force will move to Singapore to replace the Base Force being sent to the DEI. Here's hoping that one causes a few SigInt head-aches.

Fuel supplies in China and parts of Manchuria run low, causing some HI to shut down. Despite watching the totals pretty carefully on Tracker, there's about 12k of fuel in Urumchi that refuses to go anywhere, inflating the total fuel in China. I've got several big "innoculation shots" of fuel en-route to both China and Manchuria, as well as Korea, to ensure that there's enough fuel to go around.

The problem doesn't seem to be that there's not enough fuel (there's two months production still within China), but that the fuel isn't being distributed properly. Hence why I'm sending several convoys to several ports on the mainland - to ensure a fairly even distribution of fuel.

Resource convoys from Shanghai are being stopped as well, both as a fuel saving measure, but also to encourage resource flow to Fusan. Port Arthur has already been shut down in favour of Fusan.

Burma

Nothing happening here.

The only item of note is the huge demand for supplies caused by so many IJA units in Burma is causing. The supplies produced at Palambang are already being convoyed to Burma to keep up with demand, and 45k's worth of supply is headed to Burma from the Home Islands to build up a stockpile here.


The B-17's, joined by B-24's and other Allied bombers, have made good work of trashing Japanese airbases over the last few weeks.


< Message edited by mind_messing -- 9/29/2014 11:47:23 PM >

(in reply to mind_messing)
Post #: 292
RE: 99 Luftballoons... - 9/29/2014 10:55:17 PM   
Bullwinkle58


Posts: 11302
Joined: 2/24/2009
Status: offline 		I think Urumchi being constipated is true in all games I've read. It's a long way to flow on yellow roads in any case.

I heard about the balloons earlier today.

_____________________________

The Moose

(in reply to mind_messing)
Post #: 293
RE: 99 Luftballoons... - 9/29/2014 11:02:03 PM   
mind_messing

 

Posts: 3393
Joined: 10/28/2013
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: Bullwinkle58

I think Urumchi being constipated is true in all games I've read. It's a long way to flow on yellow roads in any case.

I heard about the balloons earlier today.


I'm going to go into Tracker and set Urumchi to a region other than China - it severely inflates the totals for China.

Regarding balloons, I sent Lokaseena this - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qfPTC7-wCL8


(in reply to Bullwinkle58)
Post #: 294
RE: 99 Luftballoons... - 9/30/2014 2:52:21 AM   
Bullwinkle58


Posts: 11302
Joined: 2/24/2009
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: mind_messing



Regarding balloons, I sent Lokaseena this - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qfPTC7-wCL8




I was personally involved with nuclear war at the time of this hit. I don't think he was born. Or you either?

_____________________________

The Moose

(in reply to mind_messing)
Post #: 295
RE: 99 Luftballoons... - 9/30/2014 6:56:27 AM   
mind_messing

 

Posts: 3393
Joined: 10/28/2013
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: Bullwinkle58


quote:

ORIGINAL: mind_messing



Regarding balloons, I sent Lokaseena this - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qfPTC7-wCL8




I was personally involved with nuclear war at the time of this hit. I don't think he was born. Or you either?


Hell, the Soviet Union was long gone before I was even born!

Nothing like impending nuclear war to encourage artistic creativity.

(in reply to Bullwinkle58)
Post #: 296
RE: 99 Luftballoons... - 9/30/2014 11:30:03 AM   
Bullwinkle58


Posts: 11302
Joined: 2/24/2009
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: mind_messing


quote:

ORIGINAL: Bullwinkle58


quote:

ORIGINAL: mind_messing



Regarding balloons, I sent Lokaseena this - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qfPTC7-wCL8




I was personally involved with nuclear war at the time of this hit. I don't think he was born. Or you either?


Hell, the Soviet Union was long gone before I was even born!

Nothing like impending nuclear war to encourage artistic creativity.


A lot of people over here never heard the English translation. They thought it was a nice song about kids' balloons. She did rock those black leather pants though.

Another song from the 80s---Top 100 here--was Modern English's "I Melt With You". http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LuN6gs0AJls

(The first buck-three-ninety-five video in history. Seriously, somebody's mom's basement.)

It was used as the core of "Valley Girl", Nicolas Cage's first starring role. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D43xdpFvThs (Many other great tunes from the era.)

I saw a VH1 "Top-100 Songs of the 80s" show where they interviewed Modern English a few years back and they confirmed that song was also about nuclear war. The title was not supposed to be imagery. Yes, actual melting.


< Message edited by Bullwinkle58 -- 9/30/2014 12:31:36 PM >

_____________________________

The Moose

(in reply to mind_messing)
Post #: 297
RE: 99 Luftballoons... - 9/30/2014 5:09:55 PM   
mind_messing

 

Posts: 3393
Joined: 10/28/2013
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: Bullwinkle58

quote:

ORIGINAL: mind_messing


quote:

ORIGINAL: Bullwinkle58


quote:

ORIGINAL: mind_messing



Regarding balloons, I sent Lokaseena this - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qfPTC7-wCL8




I was personally involved with nuclear war at the time of this hit. I don't think he was born. Or you either?


Hell, the Soviet Union was long gone before I was even born!

Nothing like impending nuclear war to encourage artistic creativity.

A lot of people over here never heard the English translation. They thought it was a nice song about kids' balloons. She did rock those black leather pants though.


Yes, even if she did forget her words half-way through the music video...

quote:

Another song from the 80s---Top 100 here--was Modern English's "I Melt With You". http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LuN6gs0AJls

(The first buck-three-ninety-five video in history. Seriously, somebody's mom's basement.)

It was used as the core of "Valley Girl", Nicolas Cage's first starring role. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D43xdpFvThs (Many other great tunes from the era.)


You're starting to show your age now...

Also, Nick Cage...

quote:

I saw a VH1 "Top-100 Songs of the 80s" show where they interviewed Modern English a few years back and they confirmed that song was also about nuclear war. The title was not supposed to be imagery. Yes, actual melting.


I think we've a somewhat darker cultural view of the whole Cold War than is found over in America. A good illustration of this is the BBC production "The War Game", which pulled no punches (in the mid-60's, no less) and inspired the American version "The Day After" and the later BBC production "Threads".

"The Day After" doesn't pull any punches, but it's easy going when compared with "Threads"!

(in reply to Bullwinkle58)
Post #: 298
RE: 99 Luftballoons... - 9/30/2014 6:52:34 PM   
Bullwinkle58


Posts: 11302
Joined: 2/24/2009
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: mind_messing


quote:

ORIGINAL: Bullwinkle58

quote:

ORIGINAL: mind_messing


quote:

ORIGINAL: Bullwinkle58


quote:

ORIGINAL: mind_messing



Regarding balloons, I sent Lokaseena this - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qfPTC7-wCL8




I was personally involved with nuclear war at the time of this hit. I don't think he was born. Or you either?


Hell, the Soviet Union was long gone before I was even born!

Nothing like impending nuclear war to encourage artistic creativity.

A lot of people over here never heard the English translation. They thought it was a nice song about kids' balloons. She did rock those black leather pants though.


Yes, even if she did forget her words half-way through the music video...

Who cares? I think that video was shot on a German training base.

quote:

Another song from the 80s---Top 100 here--was Modern English's "I Melt With You". http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LuN6gs0AJls

(The first buck-three-ninety-five video in history. Seriously, somebody's mom's basement.)

It was used as the core of "Valley Girl", Nicolas Cage's first starring role. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D43xdpFvThs (Many other great tunes from the era.)


You're starting to show your age now...

Deb Foreman has to be in the top-5 cutest girls (not women) ever in a movie. Her career never took off, sadly. Although she does have maybe the sexiest line of the 80s in the movie "Real Genius", delivered to Val Kilmer. Great movie.

Cage was told to shave his ample chest hair for "Valley Girl". It was low-budget. (I have the DVD with commentaries.) He shaved a really weird "V" shape, and that's what they shot in the beach scenes. It's just a true 80s time capsule if you've never seen it. Every scene is a gem. Might be it resonates more with me as those were my hot 20s.

Also, Nick Cage...

Yep. He changed from his real last name so he wouldn't get any special treatment.

quote:

I saw a VH1 "Top-100 Songs of the 80s" show where they interviewed Modern English a few years back and they confirmed that song was also about nuclear war. The title was not supposed to be imagery. Yes, actual melting.


I think we've a somewhat darker cultural view of the whole Cold War than is found over in America. A good illustration of this is the BBC production "The War Game", which pulled no punches (in the mid-60's, no less) and inspired the American version "The Day After" and the later BBC production "Threads".

"The Day After" got me laid. A not-so-long story.

"The Day After" doesn't pull any punches, but it's easy going when compared with "Threads"!

I saw "Threads." Lower budget I think, a lot of ash falling onto villages. I don't recall much more. Oh, everybody dies.



< Message edited by Bullwinkle58 -- 9/30/2014 9:05:57 PM >

_____________________________

The Moose

(in reply to mind_messing)
Post #: 299
RE: The Great Milne Bay Swim - 10/2/2014 9:55:58 PM   
mind_messing

 

Posts: 3393
Joined: 10/28/2013
Status: offline 		March 21st to March 31st, 1943

North Pacific

The only news is no news up here.

My troop movements went off without a hitch. The 26th Division is now lounging around on Paramushrio-jima.

The next move up here is to form the 20th Division. Currently, one brigade is on Onnekotan-jima, and the rest is sitting in Korea waiting for shipment out.

It's probably a mistake to be reinforcing the Kuriles when Allied attention is firmly focused elsewhere, but it's no good having an alarm on the front door if the back door is wide open. The 20th Division will be the last major reinforcements for quite some time however; there's more than enough there at present and there's a bigger demand elsewhere.

Central Pacific

After some bombing, IJA paratroopers drop on Arorae, only to find that the Marine's have been evacuated. I had LRCAP over the base which reported no interceptions, so may have been a sub invasion.

South-West Pacific


After disapointing results in the air war in this sector, I replace the commander of the Air HQ at Buna with Obata Hideyoshi, who promptly gets the Japanese pilots at Buna worked right up to go back on the offensive over Horn Island.
on March 26th.

The results speak for themselves:

quote:

Morning Air attack on Horn Island , at 91,128

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 47 NM, estimated altitude 42,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 14 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 38

Allied aircraft
Beaufighter Ic x 16
Spitfire Vc Trop x 32
P-40E Warhawk x 22

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5 Zero: 4 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Beaufighter Ic: 3 destroyed
Spitfire Vc Trop: 3 destroyed
P-40E Warhawk: 3 destroyed
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Horn Island , at 91,128

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 24 NM, estimated altitude 44,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 36

Allied aircraft
Beaufighter Ic x 11
Spitfire Vc Trop x 23
P-40E Warhawk x 14

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5 Zero: 5 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Beaufighter Ic: 1 destroyed
Spitfire Vc Trop: 3 destroyed
P-40E Warhawk: 2 destroyed

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x A6M5 Zero sweeping at 38000 feet
Morning Air attack on Horn Island , at 91,128

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 31 NM, estimated altitude 44,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 7

Allied aircraft
Beaufighter Ic x 2
Spitfire Vc Trop x 14
P-40E Warhawk x 7

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Spitfire Vc Trop: 1 destroyed
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Horn Island , at 91,128

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 40 NM, estimated altitude 41,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 4

Allied aircraft
Beaufighter Ic x 2
Spitfire Vc Trop x 10
P-40E Warhawk x 6

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5 Zero: 1 destroyed
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Horn Island , at 91,128

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 39 NM, estimated altitude 25,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-IIb Oscar x 41

Allied aircraft
Beaufighter Ic x 2
Spitfire Vc Trop x 10
P-40E Warhawk x 6

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Beaufighter Ic: 1 destroyed
Spitfire Vc Trop: 2 destroyed
P-40E Warhawk: 3 destroyed

Aircraft Attacking:
35 x Ki-43-IIb Oscar sweeping at 20000 feet

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Horn Island , at 91,128

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 38 NM, estimated altitude 42,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 22

Allied aircraft
Spitfire Vc Trop x 2
P-40E Warhawk x 1

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Spitfire Vc Trop: 1 destroyed
P-40E Warhawk: 1 destroyed

I was quite suprised to see the Spitfires perform so poorly. However, all the Allied planes were staggered between 6000ft and 19000ft, while the Zero's flew at 38,000ft with the Oscars sweeping at 20,000ft.

The Allies mounted an air offensive of their own against Milne Bay, with the usual P-38 sweeps, but I'm leaving that airbase empty bar some Jake's on naval search.

The Allies get their vengence on March 31st, however, with night-time 4E raids over Lunga and Buna. Both these bases have barrage balloons up, so the Allied bombers were forced to operate from 7000ft. Despite only 14% moonlight, they destroyed 37 Japanese airframes on the ground and close Lunga airbase for the loss of three planes to flak or OPS.

Even combining all the tools possible to fight 4E's at night makes no difference. I've fighters on night CAP, flak and balloons, and they made no impact. Needless to say I got a good rant emailed off to Lokasenna. My only hope is that the dedicated night fighters are miles better than normal fighters on night CAP.

I get an interesting tibit of SigInt information on the 31st as well. Two "Heavy transmissions" at Sydney show CV's, crusiers and over 100 ships in port. He's probably upgrading his CV's, and he'll have his new APA's upgraded, so I'll need to keep a watch on both sides of Oz for developments.

There's a big batch of April upgrades for the IJN, including most of the fleet carriers getting much needed radar. I'm going to send them back to Yokohama for the upgrades and run the risk of them being absent in the event of any Allied moves in the region.

Various merchantment fall victim to subs, but the only real casualty is the light crusier Oyodo, which takes a single torpedo dealing system and flotation damage in the 20's. It's headed back to Yokohama for repairs at a healthy 26 knots.

DEI

The only action here is a cat-and-mouse game between IJN paratroopers and Austrailian troops being played out in Gulf of Carpentaria. The Japanese troops land by flying boat, take the base, and fly away. The Austrailians land by barge, retake the base, then sail away.

I'm going to send a few expendable PB's into the Gulf, just to see if I can catch anything.

China-Burma-India

All is calm here.

The supply situation in Burma seems to be improving some. To help matters out, I'm keeping the bulk of my troops in Rangoon, so that there's less stress on the supply networks in Central and Upper Burma.


Even at night, in low moonlight and at 7000ft, the Allied heavy bombers are proving to have a formidable punch.


Strategic Considerations

On the whole, the situation is excellent. We're a quarter of the way through 1943 and the only area in which the Allies are making any inroads is around the Horn Island area.

The Allies, however, must be poised to strike. The logistical network to support major Allied operations exists in the Aleutians, the South-West Pacific and in Burma, and they've been building their strength for a long time now.

The priority remains to hold on till the IJA starts to churn out combat units in large numbers. The framework of my defensive lines exist: the redoubts of Burma, Java, Sumatra and the Maraianas are well fortified and garrisoned, but I need a great deal more men with rifles to fill the spaces between these redoubts, as well as to fill in the space behind them.

(in reply to mind_messing)
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