Rio Bravo
Posts: 1794
Joined: 7/13/2013
From: Grass Valley, California
Status: offline
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quote:
ORIGINAL: pontiouspilot
Thanks for the effort. An AAR as a newbie is a tough go.
Tell me why you didn't pounce with everything you had on the Formosa gamble? I thought Rio was into the sauce when he made that decision. That was unorthodox to say the least and I predicted it would be an Island too Far. I personally still subscribe to the theory that Japan must try to engage the US fleet in a major "all in" engagement at a geographic location convenient to Japan, at a time prior to all the Essex class arriving.
pontiouspilot-
El Lobo can probably answer this question better than I can.
However, I can advise you as to what Japan was facing at Formosa as follows:
1.) 325 Land-Based Thunderbolts at Takao, Formosa; 64 Land-Based Spitfires at Kagi, Formosa; 79 Land-Based Hellcats at Pescadores; and 144 Land-Based Corsair split between Amoy and Tsinkiang, China. A total of 612 Land-Based Fighters flying Escort for Dive and Torpedo Bombers; flying CAP and LRcap.
2.) 288 Land-Based Dauntless Dive Bombers; 112 Land-Based Helldiver Dive Bombers; and 36 Land-Based Avenger Torpedo Bombers at Takao, Kagi, and Pescadores. A total of 436 Land-Based Naval Attack Bombers.
3.) 300 Land-Based Heavy Level Bombers based in China and well within the reach of Formosa.
4.) 25 Aircraft Carriers with the following compliment: 594 Fighters; 349 Dauntless Dive Bombers; and 227 Avenger Torpedo Bombers.
5.) 4 substantial Surface Combat Groups; each group consisting of 2 BB, 4 CA, 3 CL, 1 CLAA; and 8 Fletcher DD.
6.) 9 Surface Combat "Raider" Groups; each consisting of 4 Fletcher DDs.
7.) Captain Haggard flooded the vicinity of Formosa with swarms of Submarines; swarms of PT Boats; and he also had several Surface Combat Groups.
El Lobo did attack the Allied Fleet with the KB. He put 5 torpedoes into 5 carriers; sinking CVL Belleau Woods, but causing only minor damage to 4 CV (none of them on fire, no heavy damage; only minor damage). He lost approximately 30 to 40% of his KB Aircraft (I am guessing here, but think I am fairly close). El Lobo also threw his Land-Based Fighters, Dive Bombers, and Torpedo Bombers at the Allies. He shot down Allied Aircraft and he damaged Allied Ships. In return his Land-Based Aircraft were shredded by Allied CAP and LRcap.
As you may readily perceive form the above, upon the Allied reinforcement of Formosa, the Allies owned the Air and the Sea surrounding Formosa.
Prior to the Allies reinforcing Formosa, the Allies had a little under 2,000 ground AV. The Allies barely managed to suffer El Lobo's ground attacks with over 7,500 Japanese AV. The Allies held Kagi, Takao, and hex 85,66 just south of Takao. After the Allied reinforcement of Takao, the Allies had approximately 4,500 ground AV on Formosa hunkered down behind a size 4 Fort at Kagi, a size 7 Fort at Takao, and in the jungle at hex 85,66. At that point, Japan's 7,500 AV was not enough to shove the Allies into the sea.
In conclusion, it wasn't as if El Lobo did not come after the Allies at Formosa. He came hard and strong with Ground Forces, both Land-Based and Carrier Based Aircraft, and with his surface Combat Groups. Japan was simply overwhelmed by Allied Air and Naval firepower; and the Allies had sufficient ground force AV to hold Kagi, Takao, and hex 85,66.
Best Regards,
-Terry
_____________________________
"No one throws me my own guns and tells me to run. No one."
-Bret (James Coburn); The Magnificent Seven
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Printable Version
RE: The Gamiest Game in Town. El Lobo (J), vs. Rio Bra... - 
a feat that few JFBs achieve.
I also had an impression that El Lobo was somehow shy to go all in crushing that invasion
. In both cases you didn't bring enough and it really cost you. I suspect at both sites that it was simply a case of being new and not having a better idea of what to expect. 
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