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RE: Australia Invaded! - 7/20/2014 9:58:50 PM

Lowpe

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Burma...near Prome.

Allied armored thrust, 1000 afvs, supported by an American Infantry division are pushing east from Prome into the Imperial Guards Division. Massive bomber strikes hit them yesterday, but the Guards held.

South east of Prome four heavy artillery units will arrive today, in time for an attack on the 35th Recce unit...right behind them is the 1st Tank Division, 4 Armored units, AA and tons of Artillery.

Two infantry divisions are in reserve, and one may go with some artillery to Toungoo, although if the Guards fail to hold the Allied mechanized thrust will most likely stay on the road and head north east towards Magwe. Two armored units are heading down that road to support the Guards...

The Empire's air forces are hitting Akyab, most on the airfield there, while fresh fighters will strive to protect the Imperial Guards. A night strike is ordered on the Prome airfields...which house a lot of Allied fighters.

The Navy has sortied, after hitting Rangoon yesterday, with 4 CA, 2CLs, and 11 DD to circle around and hit Akyab...another surface group is leaving Singers with 2 BB, 2CA, CL and destroyers. They will swing wide and look to come at Akyab from the Indian Ocean.

Can the Japanese Army stem the tide...will reinforcements, especially artillery and AT guns reach the front fast enough? Can the air force achieve air superiority or failing that get some good licks in? Can the Navy close Akyab?

Stay tuned for these answers and others...the fate of the Empire hangs in the balance!

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RE: Australia Invaded! - 7/20/2014 10:47:17 PM

Lowpe

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Economic notes:

I dropped 10,000 units of fuel at Shanghai, and presto, bango, it all showed up at Fusan. So I have started drawing fuel down just a little at Fusan again.

Oil, fuel and resources seem to flow nicely out of Saigon, Cam Ranh Bay, and bases along the Chinese coast...so I will start dumping everything out of Singers into Saigon and Cam Ranh Bay. Hopefully it won't go sneak back to Singers...

I have managed to operate in China without dumping in any supplies, but now with increased air activity in closing the Changsha pocket, I am sending over some supplies...I don't feel so starved right now, I just crossed the 4,000,000 level. 100 days to add a million supplies...

In China we added 10 more light industry to the empire! Things continue to go very well here. Circled are upcoming attacks...

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< Message edited by Lowpe -- 7/20/2014 11:48:00 PM >

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RE: Australia Invaded! - 7/21/2014 3:55:53 AM

CaptBeefheart

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Wow, some epic fighting going on. Do you reckon that armored column near Prome is well supplied? If so, the supply must come from Akyab. Personally, I've never sent Allied troops that far without securing Ramree as a supply hub first.

Cheers,
CC

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RE: Australia Invaded! - 7/21/2014 10:39:44 AM

Lowpe

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Feb 4, 1942

Will wonders never cease....Betties flying from Bangkok at night actually hit the airfields at Prome and Akyab damaging planes (they must be truly over loaded) and runways! Including some Lightnings.

No other night attacks, but then during the day massive dogfights over the Imperial Guards Division, dug in the jungle facing over 1000 AFVs of the Allies east of Prome.

The P40k came first, and then the bombers. In addtion, bombers hit Magwe and Moulmein. No Lightning sweeps.

The Japanese fighters penetrate the bombing runs, causing some significant damage on Allied bombers for the day, and more importantly protect the Imperial Guards Division from all but the last wave of bombers (62 B25c's

) -- but that wave only does 40 casualties. Job well done fighters!

But is it enough, can the Imperial Guard Division hold fast? 1,000 AFVs struggle thru the jungle assaulting their position. Additional Allied forces are racing to reinforce...

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< Message edited by Lowpe -- 7/21/2014 4:02:20 PM >

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RE: Australia Invaded! - 7/21/2014 10:59:45 AM

Lowpe

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In bitter hand to hand fighting, the Imperial Guards Division makes their stand. 50 Allied vehicles are disabled or destroyed! The Guards hold fast.

South of the Guards, the counter attacking force is getting ready to head for Prome. If I pull the trigger now, it won't be the massive attack on Prome I had envisioned since the 1st Tank Division is south of Pegu right now and all the artillery isn't there yet, but I would have a 2-1 advantage in vehicles, guns, and better in infantry if the recon is to be believed.

If I start all that maneuvering what will the Allies do?

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RE: Australia Invaded! - 7/21/2014 11:12:00 AM

Lowpe

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West of Prome, the surface bombardment group is spotted by Allied naval search. This is a powerful group, but if the Allies repeat past strategies they will sortie their battleship and cruisers to protect Akyab.

Also, in the Straights of Malacca an American sub gets great intel on another powerful fleet approaching...2 battleships, cruisers, light cruisers and destroyers.

Burma is definitely hot right now!

But in the Marshalls, fighter sweeps and heavy bomber raids hit Kwaj. He is systematically targeting the airfields. Will he land at another island?

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RE: Australia Invaded! - 7/21/2014 1:21:05 PM

MrBlizzard

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This is really nice to read, you both planned an offensive in the same hex at almost the same time!
PS very nice your maps almost each turn, your readers appreciate

< Message edited by MrBlizzard -- 7/21/2014 2:26:21 PM >

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RE: Australia Invaded! - 7/21/2014 1:49:29 PM

Lowpe

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quote:

ORIGINAL: MrBlizzard

This is really nice to read, you both planned an offensive in the same hex at almost the same time!
PS very nice your maps almost each turn, your readers appreciate

Glad you like it.

Near Green Island the invasion force of Port Moresby gathers. Battleships, carriers, light cruisers, destroyers, transports, merchants, landing ships, patrol boats all meet up before heading on to Port Moresby.

Troop prep should be 90 percent for invasion day.

I let the mini kb be spotted south of Kusaie, hopefully to deter American moves in the Marshalls. Since Moresby's airfield is 100 percent damaged, and no Allied ships are sighted from naval search, all carriers are going to meet near the Marshalls for defense there.

Tomorrow, the crack 48th Division will land on Kusaie making it a festung...

The invasion will need to rely upon land based air coverage from Buna, Lae, Rossel and Rabaul. I hope that isn't a mistake!

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RE: Australia Invaded! - 7/21/2014 2:58:38 PM

Lowpe

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The elite 4th Chinese Corp puts up stiff resistance despite no supplies. Well, the bombers didn't fly...advanced weather strikes again.

Why, why would they head out of the good terrain and into the open. Forts, perchance?

Egads, I have bagged over 50 units in China...can I do the same in Burma?

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RE: Australia Invaded! - 7/21/2014 7:39:55 PM

Lowpe

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Light a candle for tomorrow's ops in Burma! On your knees and pray.

I really don't know what to expect except that something unexpected will happen.

Usually if Allies spot a bombardment force they cluster lots of little ships around likely target (Akyab) and for the last two times they have moved in a BB/CA force with very few destroyers in a blocking position. Please, oh, please do that again and let the planes fly!

Occasionally, he will fly his planes out of the threatened base. Not sure he will do this, since he probably wants to keep up the aerial bombardment of the Imperial Guards.

So, I have designed the op for tomorrow:

First off: night air defenses -- CAP at 10% at both Magwe and Moulmein with a splinter of 12 planes. KAI Dinah's at Magwe, and A6M5c at Moulmein (really lousy morale though).

During the night 40 Betties will strike at Prome very low. Going for the airbase.

A squadron of Sallies will attempt to drop mines on Akyab from Magwe.

5 Destroyers will race in near to Akyab and look to thin the mgb herd some, and then retire to Moulmein. The CA/CL force and escorting destroyers (12 ships) will retire to the west.

A CL is bombarding Rangoon.

Daytime: I didn't launch the counter attack. I will wait, and hit harder, I hope.

But:

2 Squadrons of Zeroes will sweep Akyab at 24K.

2 squadrons of Helens are on low naval attack from Magwe (and yest they are trained), alternate target is some of those juicy Americans moving in the open.

2 squadrons of Betties and Nells are on naval attack with torpedoes. 2K altitude.

Nicks are on naval strafe.

Escorts should be plentiful except at some of the longer ranges, and if they find ships at the longer ranges then I need not worry about enemy CAP I think.

Same level of CAP over Moulmein and Pegu and Magwe.

It will be bloody! I moved an Infantry division by rail to Toungoo, where it will act as a reserve.

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< Message edited by Lowpe -- 7/21/2014 8:42:04 PM >

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RE: Australia Invaded! - 7/21/2014 8:32:55 PM

Spidery

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Best of luck!

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RE: Australia Invaded! - 7/21/2014 10:37:05 PM

Lowpe

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Both Prome and Akyab socked in!

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RE: Australia Invaded! - 7/21/2014 11:01:44 PM

Lowpe

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Let down. Nothing worked.

Allies fly out of Akyab. I scared them.

IJN destroyers race in, don't find anything and steam out. They do cause some merchant captain in Akyab to panic and stop unloading.

Bad weather scrubs a lot of flights, but in the pm some Helens roughed up an unknown American unit west of Magwe, and Zeroes swept Akyab to no resistance.

The Guards hold up to another deliberate attack (1-2), but the brigade with them is combat ineffective. Afraid to move them out because they soak off the attacks until reinforcements arrive. Where is all the supply coming from?

19 Lightnings sweep Kusaie where IJN fighter pilots trade at 1-2 ratio -- the horror. Those Lightning pilots were probably Tracom eligible too.

Subs off Karachi continue to do good work!

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RE: Australia Invaded! - 7/21/2014 11:09:28 PM

Lowpe

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Burma...

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RE: Australia Invaded! - 7/22/2014 12:20:34 AM

Lowpe

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Trying to do some same things this day...destroyer raid near Akyab, move the cruisers due west of Akyab, heavy air (day and night) strikes on Akyab with sweeps and lots of naval.

I enhanced my naval search some.

Allies probably will return to Akyab and fly a killer CAP. We shall see...

I say this in the hopes it won't turn out to be true.

< Message edited by Lowpe -- 7/22/2014 2:17:56 AM >

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RE: Australia Invaded! - 7/22/2014 1:27:55 AM

Lowpe

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Intelligence tells me I sank 3 American submarines yesterday (and VP tend to confirm it), so that brings the total number of Allied ships lost to 697! 22 Tankers and 12 Oilers.

Losing that many ships has to hurt, just a little.

Fusan:

I have probably close to 50 cargo ships pulling from Fusan, and resources are getting quite low although there are still generous supplies they can pull from in China.

Look at the jump in oil! What is even better: there is 15K at Port Arthur too!

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RE: Australia Invaded! - 7/22/2014 10:41:40 AM

Lowpe

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Feb 6, 1942

A small group of 3 Allied bombers hit Magwe. The KAI Dinah raises to the challenge, and one gets shot down but two bombers are damaged. Probably due to the flak and not the Dinah.

At Prome, Betties pull off another good raid on the airfield. Unfortunately, during the afternoon, all the Allied 4Es hit Bangkok (their base) and thru neglect I had no fighters there. Many destroyed on the ground. But, since the 4Es were hitting Bangkok, the Imperial Guards east of Prome got another days respite from bombing, and the Allies have switched to a bombardment attack. The fighters appreciated the day off too!

The Guards held! Reinforcements will arrive in time for any action tomorrow! The American 41st Infantry division is down to 247 assault value...

Destroyers send to the bottom 3 MGBs near Akyab...

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RE: Australia Invaded! - 7/22/2014 11:04:27 AM

Lowpe

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Sub wars:

I lost my first unescorted cargo ship near Ominato. Torpedoed twice, but then during the day about 10 hits are reported on the submarine by the heavy aerial ASW patrol and the Sunfish shows up as sunk by intelligence. 10 vp sub for a 7 point xak.

I also lose a a Std E tanker. I really like these guys, but I don't protected them much at all -- this one off China. Again, aerial ASW attacks the submarine and reports some hits.

Intelligence reports 16 sunk submarines since the start of the new year. Several scuttled.

Burma

None of the IJN surface groups are spotted. What abysmal naval search he has...

I suspect there are mines now at Akyab...Allies dropped mines at Bangkok.

Lots of actions planned here. I should be able to win air superiority over Prome, and with his troops in the open they will be very exposed. IJN ships should be able to put a hurt on Akyab and Rangoon.

I don't really like his raid on Bangkok, but recent actions tells me that the night bombing campaign has worked, his fighter levels are fragile, and he can't pursue his offensive against the Imperial Guards. Plus, losing some planes on the ground none of the excellent pilots are KIA, and stocks of Betties are very plentiful, but it was a missed opportunity to degrade his unescorted bombers some.

Overall, I am optimistic about Burma!

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< Message edited by Lowpe -- 7/22/2014 12:09:21 PM >

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RE: Australia Invaded! - 7/22/2014 11:23:29 AM

Lowpe

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China

A strong Chinese Corp retreated out of the woods into the open at Hengyang. There are 14 Chinese units in the open there between the two bases. The bombers are ready. He could have held that wood hex for quite a while I think...but in the open those troops are going to be bombed to death.

Moving troops into those two towns will eliminate all supply production in the Changsha pocket.

A little to the north and west, IJA have totally isolated 7 strong Chinese corps...

In other news, the IJA 43 Infantry squads are becoming available...they feature a huge increase in their anti-armor ability...

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RE: Australia Invaded! - 7/22/2014 1:29:10 PM

Lowpe

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Kusaie Island.

This base will be a stronghold for most of 1943 I hope. Is that too optimistic? AA is on the way and a few other odd and ends.

The Airbase will be able to hit the major bases in the Marshalls with normal range Lilly IIb dive bomber attacks. I have no plans of running torpedo planes out of here at present, but that might change in the future.

60 Fighters are calling it home right now and some search planes.

Back in July the Allies could have taken the entire island chain for free. I had nothing here, except 100 AV at Jaluit....so aggressive everywhere else, but here the Allies are taking baby steps...

If the Allies would have pressed aggressively here back in July 42 -- the Empire would have been hard pressed to counter everything: Java, Manila, Kuriles, while 98% of the IJN capitol ships were in Singers area.

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RE: Australia Invaded! - 7/23/2014 10:42:52 AM

Lowpe

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Port Moresby Invasion

8th Area Army is at Buna coordinating the invasion. 2 Divisions and 1 HQ are invading. Followup forces are available but not expected to be needed.

Allied naval search gets a 1 detection on the amphib force, none on all the surface fleets.

They are heading to Port Moresby. Fighter coverage from Buna. Lilly IIb divebombers at Buna. Plenty of search at Buna and Rossel. Bombers and torpedo bombers at Rabaul, Lae.

While this invasion is going forward, the IJN carriers have sortied from Kusaie, where they protected the arrival of a infantry division, to visit Mili. Intelligence feels that the Americans will re-supply, reinforce Mili which hasn't improved since being invaded.

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RE: Australia Invaded! - 7/23/2014 11:33:32 AM

Lowpe

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No turn...maybe today. Tiemanj is moving! Perhaps the Allies will not do much and be very defensive because he cannot give enough time to the turn. Real life impacting the game turn.

Overall not a bad thing, as I think most players push a really aggressive timetable for doing things. I would like to see the pace of the game slow down some, as Japan is still not where I would like her even after four months of moving troops around.

Here is a look at a future battlefield. The Americans have built up the Aluetians, I expect it to get hot here once winter is over.

The lynchpin of the defense will be a surface group built around the Yamoto which can rearm at Ominato. Her sister ship will join her in a few days. Land based air will round out the defenses as the airfields are almost all built up.

Torpedoes are available at Uruppu and the bases to the left and right, and Bihoro.

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RE: Australia Invaded! - 7/24/2014 11:55:33 AM

Lowpe

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No turn...life is hectic currently for the Allies. Why do turn delays occur when exciting things are happening in the game?

Here is a picture of Oz. I haven't shown one in a while. The unlucky 4th Australian Infantry Division is being bombed, weather willing, and is now down to 600 or so men that are probably pretty thirsty.

A tank regiment is heading south to overrun another Engineering unit south of Port Hedland.

Another tank regiment is heading for Katherine and Daly Waters which have been vacated by the Aussies.

Only one IJA division left in Northern Oz, just some aviation support, paratroops, and the Ichiki Detachment. I will probably tax Exmouth as a float plane base...

Seeing that the game date is Feb 43, I feel pretty good here...I think the lower DEI are safe for a while...

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RE: Australia Invaded! - 7/24/2014 4:59:55 PM

Lowpe

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In the dark, dark of night (3 percent moonlight), two IJN task forces slice thru the waters on their approach to Akyab and the heavy concentration of enemy forces there.

What will be there? Planes? Ships in port? Juicy cargo ships off loading supplies? Or, a gaggle of MGB boats.

The recent Destroyer winnowing of the resident MGB boats has forced the Allied command to break them down even further into numerous one ship task forces.

Until, that is, they are destroyed.

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RE: Australia Invaded! - 7/24/2014 5:03:37 PM

Lowpe

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After numerous short fights, Akyab is spotted. But does the task force have any heavy rounds left for the bombardment?

Silly question!

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RE: Australia Invaded! - 7/24/2014 5:10:37 PM

Lowpe

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And the night bombing continues with the Empire hitting Prome (Betties effective, Sally and Helen's not) and the Allies hit Magwe where the brave KAI Dinah rises to the challenge repeatedly disrupting wave after wave.

But far to the east, as the sun rises over the Marshalls, the dawn patrol sweeps Mili from the carrier Akagi. The weather is poor, heavy rain, but there are ships struggling to leave port and even better no enemy fighters spotted.

But, are all the carriers in position to launch strikes?

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RE: Australia Invaded! - 7/24/2014 5:21:41 PM

Lowpe

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But, before more planes can be launched, enemy bombers are sighted at Kwaj!

What, no escorts? Where are the sweeps?

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RE: Australia Invaded! - 7/24/2014 5:25:42 PM

Lowpe

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And then the twin engine bombers strike...still no enemy fighters.

This is shaping up to be a dark day for Allied bombers. But where is the carrier strike?

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RE: Australia Invaded! - 7/24/2014 5:29:24 PM

Lowpe

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And still the American bombers come on. Some attacks are engaged before and after their bombing runs, and Japanese AA guns are very effective at hitting the damaged bombers.

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RE: Australia Invaded! - 7/24/2014 5:33:11 PM

Lowpe

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And then, a busy day, gets busier.

The IJN strike planes have found some enemy ships!

Still, no enemy fighter cover!

Dare we say it, yes, Banzai! Kates get in the first strike, but this could be one of the last rides of the Val!