RE: Straight Into the Teeth: A Story of Logistics, Patience, and Firepower

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RE: Straight Into the Teeth: A Story of Logistics, Patience, and Firepower

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All Forums >> [New Releases from Matrix Games] >> War in the Pacific: Admiral's Edition >> After Action Reports >> RE: Straight Into the Teeth: A Story of Logistics, Patience, and Firepower

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RE: Straight Into the Teeth: A Story of Logistics, Pati... - 7/20/2016 12:49:54 AM

Sangeli

Posts: 1132
Joined: 3/29/2012
From: San Francisco
Status: offline

March 14th 1944

Another day, another attack on Tulagi:

quote:

Ground combat at Tulagi (114,137)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 35621 troops, 877 guns, 764 vehicles, Assault Value = 1010

Defending force 15649 troops, 121 guns, 15 vehicles, Assault Value = 155

Allied engineers reduce fortifications to 4

Allied adjusted assault: 486

Japanese adjusted defense: 1114

Allied assault odds: 1 to 2 (fort level 4)

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), forts(+), disruption(-), experience(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
361 casualties reported
Squads: 5 destroyed, 32 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 6 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Guns lost 7 (2 destroyed, 5 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
1258 casualties reported
Squads: 37 destroyed, 78 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 11 disabled
Engineers: 16 destroyed, 5 disabled
Guns lost 31 (14 destroyed, 17 disabled)

Thankfully the fort gets reduced another level. Amazingly the Japanese still do not seem to be experiencing supply problems here. The base must have been loaded with supply before I landed. Hopefully now my bombardments start being effective...right now they aren't doing much at all.

On a side note, I was able to evacuate the majority of a Marine regiment in a single day with just xAPs and xAKs even though I have no naval support on the island. Though of course a small unit fragment got left behind as usual. I REALLY hate unit fragments. But at least I know now that evacuating heavily disabled LCUs is a good way to reduce stacking for invasions.

(in reply to Sangeli)

Post #: 241

RE: Straight Into the Teeth: A Story of Logistics, Pati... - 7/21/2016 10:14:48 PM

Sangeli

Posts: 1132
Joined: 3/29/2012
From: San Francisco
Status: offline

March 15th 1944

I finally landed at Kavieng. Though I had a mishap when a division unloaded in the Solomons when it was just supposed to wait. More units should be dropped off in the next week:

quote:

Ground combat at Kavieng (106,122)

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 17277 troops, 154 guns, 6 vehicles, Assault Value = 649

Defending force 17201 troops, 411 guns, 468 vehicles, Assault Value = 639

Japanese ground losses:
114 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 9 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Vehicles lost 3 (1 destroyed, 2 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
7 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Assaulting units:
1st Guards Division
4th Engineer Co
4th South Seas Det.
41st Field AA Battalion
Southeast Area Fleet
16th AA Regiment
3rd Shipping Engineer Regiment
25th JAAF AF Bn

Defending units:
3rd Marine Regiment
1st USMC Amphb Tank Battalion
762nd Tank Battalion
6th Infantry Div /11
168th Field Artillery Regiment
7th USMC Field Artillery Battalion

I have total command of the air and sea there so waiting shouldn't be an issue. No CD guns here either which is nice.

Another attack on Tulagi:

quote:

Ground combat at Tulagi (114,137)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 34174 troops, 859 guns, 733 vehicles, Assault Value = 935

Defending force 15415 troops, 122 guns, 16 vehicles, Assault Value = 140

Allied adjusted assault: 708

Japanese adjusted defense: 388

Allied assault odds: 1 to 1 (fort level 4)

Allied Assault reduces fortifications to 3

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), forts(+), disruption(-), experience(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
616 casualties reported
Squads: 5 destroyed, 46 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 7 disabled
Guns lost 15 (4 destroyed, 11 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
534 casualties reported
Squads: 21 destroyed, 64 disabled
Non Combat: 4 destroyed, 11 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 10 disabled
Guns lost 29 (13 destroyed, 16 disabled)
Vehicles lost 2 (1 destroyed, 1 disabled)

Assaulting units:
25th Infantry Division
24th Infantry Division
25th Marine Regiment
7th Infantry Division
223rd Field Artillery Battalion
V US Amphib Corps
249th Field Artillery Battalion
226th Field Artillery Battalion
2nd USMC Field Artillery Battalion
9th Marine Defense Battalion
30th Field Artillery Regiment

Defending units:
29th Ind.Mixed Brigade
5th ADU Coastal Gun Regiment
1st Guard ADU Coastal Gun Battalion
6th Fleet
2nd Air Flotilla
111th Naval Construction Battalion
8th Base Force
36th JNAF AF Unit

Getting close to finally taking the base. When I get down to fort level 1 I'm going to order a shock attack to capture the base.

(in reply to Sangeli)

Post #: 242

RE: Straight Into the Teeth: A Story of Logistics, Pati... - 7/27/2016 6:40:05 PM

Sangeli

Posts: 1132
Joined: 3/29/2012
From: San Francisco
Status: offline

March 21st 1944

Things in the SoPac are winding down. I took Tulagi a few days ago on a shock attack. And I landed at Kavieng without issue. The Japanese recently sent over the 1st Guards Division to bolster defenses but without proper forts it fell easily enough:

quote:

Ground combat at Kavieng (106,122)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 40856 troops, 905 guns, 986 vehicles, Assault Value = 1503

Defending force 21557 troops, 210 guns, 20 vehicles, Assault Value = 465

Allied engineers reduce fortifications to 1

Allied adjusted assault: 543

Japanese adjusted defense: 151

Allied assault odds: 3 to 1 (fort level 1)

Allied forces CAPTURE Kavieng !!!

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), disruption(-), experience(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
5691 casualties reported
Squads: 188 destroyed, 70 disabled
Non Combat: 249 destroyed, 95 disabled
Engineers: 85 destroyed, 1 disabled
Guns lost 102 (95 destroyed, 7 disabled)
Vehicles lost 13 (13 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units retreated 6
Units destroyed 1

Allied ground losses:
585 casualties reported
Squads: 4 destroyed, 70 disabled
Non Combat: 3 destroyed, 11 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 11 disabled
Guns lost 8 (2 destroyed, 6 disabled)
Vehicles lost 45 (8 destroyed, 37 disabled)

Defeated Japanese Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
2nd USMC Tank Battalion
3rd Marine Division
1st USMC Tank Battalion
6th Infantry Division
754th Tank Battalion
1st USMC Amphb Tank Battalion
762nd Tank Battalion
9th Australian Division
8th Marine Defense Battalion
168th Field Artillery Regiment
7th USMC Field Artillery Battalion

Defending units:
1st Guards Division
4th Engineer Co
4th South Seas Det.
16th AA Regiment
Southeast Area Fleet
41st Field AA Battalion
3rd Shipping Engineer Regiment
25th JAAF AF Bn

And with things wrapping up here, I sent half my CVs to Darwin to get ready for more operations there. The Japanese detected my move as I was approaching the Torres Strait and sent subs to block my path. Well, sending subs into a narrow strait with shallow waters is a double edged sword. I held my fleets back today and instead sent in ASW fleets to find IJN subs:

quote:

Sub attack near Horn Island at 89,128

Japanese Ships
SS I-15, hits 14, heavy damage

Allied Ships
DD Braine
DD Dyson

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack near Horn Island at 90,129

Japanese Ships
SS I-17, hits 15, heavy damage

Allied Ships
DD Saufley
DD Luce

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack near Horn Island at 90,129

Japanese Ships
SS I-34, hits 13

Allied Ships
DD Bennett
DD Cogswell
DD Chevalier

Tomorrow I will send my fleets through the now weakened sub wall.

Having detected the shift in CVs, the Japanese brought the KB out of hiding...and into view of a submarine:

quote:

Sub attack near Gebe at 80,104

Japanese Ships
CV Renkaku, Torpedo hits 2, heavy damage
CA Kurama
CA Chikuma
CA Hikari
DD Haruzuki
DD Shimozuki
DD Amatsukaze
DD Kagero
DD Fujinami
DD Natsuzuki

Allied Ships
SS Puffer, hits 3

One less CV to contend with here. And to add insult to injury, an unescorted squadron of torpedo bombers hit a CVE:

quote:

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Kofiau at 78,107

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 27 minutes

Japanese aircraft
N1K2-J George x 38

Allied aircraft
Beaufort VIII x 9

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Beaufort VIII: 6 damaged
Beaufort VIII: 1 destroyed by flak

Japanese Ships
CVE Hosho, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
CVL Chiyoda
CV Kaga

Notice the George's flying CAP for the mini-KB here. The reason my bombers got through so easily was that I had a couple of naval attacks against other fleets nearby (which got chewed up). I also hit the airbase at Ambon to good effect with B-25's destroying number of planes on the ground taking light losses while P-47s shot down Japanese fighters in the air. So things are starting off very well in the DEI having knocked out a CV and CVE in a single day. I am intending to land at Koepang by the end of March and I have a number of other invasions lined up after that.

Meanwhile in Burma I launched another attack on Rangoon:

quote:

Ground combat at Rangoon (54,53)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 182312 troops, 3276 guns, 2713 vehicles, Assault Value = 4713

Defending force 91541 troops, 1077 guns, 1059 vehicles, Assault Value = 3080

Allied engineers reduce fortifications to 2

Allied adjusted assault: 4111

Japanese adjusted defense: 8077

Allied assault odds: 1 to 2 (fort level 2)

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), forts(+), leaders(+), disruption(-)
experience(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
1623 casualties reported
Squads: 8 destroyed, 153 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 59 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 24 disabled
Guns lost 71 (3 destroyed, 68 disabled)
Vehicles lost 20 (2 destroyed, 18 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
2843 casualties reported
Squads: 22 destroyed, 667 disabled
Non Combat: 6 destroyed, 53 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 102 disabled
Guns lost 163 (12 destroyed, 151 disabled)
Vehicles lost 61 (5 destroyed, 56 disabled)

I only let IDs that were near full strength participate in the attack. That paid off really nicely in the low number of destroyed squads and devices. In the end I will need those division fragments, brigades, and regiments to give me enough AV to get a 2 to 1 to take the base. But at this point it looks far away. I have sent a pair of divisions from Akyab and Cox's Bazaar to march on Rangoon. It leaves my Burmese coastline very lightly defended but given the state of the Japanese fleet I think that is acceptable. They also won't reach Rangoon for a couple of months but as you can see from the battle progress I might just need it. At this point I think the only way I'm going to take Rangoon is by cutting off supply and letting the Japanese starve. So far attack and dive bombers have been used to good effect whenever I see merchant ships approaching.

I'm also preparing an invasion of Port Blair with a large contingent of African troops, many of them poorly equipped. Some of those African units don't even have artillery larger than mortars, though there is one African division that has QF 25 pounders. Covering the invasion I have 3 USN CVEs (en route now) and a pair of slow British CVLs. Should be enough to deal with LBA, though even then I expect to take some hits. With Port Blair in my hands keeping Rangoon under siege will be much easier. Furthermore, it opens up opportunities to outflank Japanese defenses. I don't intend to do so because the bulk of my forces will be tied up in Rangoon but the Japanese don't know that which will tie down some units guarding the coast. Eventually I may do so but not until I have Rangoon in my hands.

< Message edited by Sangeli -- 7/27/2016 6:41:19 PM >

(in reply to Sangeli)

Post #: 243

RE: Straight Into the Teeth: A Story of Logistics, Pati... - 7/27/2016 8:27:30 PM

KenchiSulla

Posts: 2948
Joined: 10/22/2008
From: the Netherlands
Status: offline

You should really consider rotating damaged divisions out of the line to a place where they can rest (sufficient support to be made available).. Split the divisions up for maximum effect!

You are dropping forts and damaging the Japanese and him losing 3k AV is big.... Can you reach Rangoon with some heavy cruiser support?

_____________________________

AKA Cannonfodder

"It happened, therefore it can happen again: this is the core of what we have to say. It can happen, and it can happen everywhere.�
� Primo Levi, writer, holocaust survivor

(in reply to Sangeli)

Post #: 244

RE: Straight Into the Teeth: A Story of Logistics, Pati... - 7/27/2016 9:26:54 PM

Sangeli

Posts: 1132
Joined: 3/29/2012
From: San Francisco
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: KenchiSulla
You should really consider rotating damaged divisions out of the line to a place where they can rest (sufficient support to be made available).

Hmmm...does pulling them off the front line make them recover faster? Rangoon is in good supply and has lots of support. Unless there is something I'm missing about how recovery works that should be ideal, right? Also, does putting units in rest/train make them recover faster?

quote:

ORIGINAL: KenchiSulla
Split the divisions up for maximum effect!

Oh yea, I always do that whenever I'm not attacking if there are any disabled squads/devices.

quote:

ORIGINAL: KenchiSulla
You are dropping forts and damaging the Japanese and him losing 3k AV is big.... Can you reach Rangoon with some heavy cruiser support?

I can and I am (I bombarded the base with 3 cruisers this past turn). But with the vast majority of my nave in the Pacific, cruiser bombardment won't be that effective.

(in reply to KenchiSulla)

Post #: 245

RE: Straight Into the Teeth: A Story of Logistics, Pati... - 7/27/2016 9:36:21 PM

BBfanboy

Posts: 18046
Joined: 8/4/2010
From: Winnipeg, MB
Status: offline

You cannot use rest mode in the same hex with the enemy, ergo withdrawing the unit to a safe base before the split and rest/replace should be superior to just going into reserve mode at the contested base. That said, the sheer size of Rangoon viz-a-viz other nearby bases may negate the rest advantage, especially if the nearby bases still have malarial effects.

_____________________________

No matter how bad a situation is, you can always make it worse. - Chris Hadfield : An Astronaut's Guide To Life On Earth

(in reply to Sangeli)

Post #: 246

RE: Straight Into the Teeth: A Story of Logistics, Pati... - 7/28/2016 12:06:55 AM

Sangeli

Posts: 1132
Joined: 3/29/2012
From: San Francisco
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy
You cannot use rest mode in the same hex with the enemy, ergo withdrawing the unit to a safe base before the split and rest/replace should be superior to just going into reserve mode at the contested base. That said, the sheer size of Rangoon viz-a-viz other nearby bases may negate the rest advantage, especially if the nearby bases still have malarial effects.

Ya, I knew that.

Anyways, I just looked in the manual to see if the rest/training had any effect on repairs/healing. Strangely enough the manual had nothing! That being said, there is some info on the reserve mission:

quote:

Units in Reserve in a hex that are defending have the following effects:

.....

Rest � Movement speed and combat strength are reduced compared to other OpModes. The recovery of Fatigue, Disruption, and Morale is increased compared to other OpModes.

I would think that the rest mission would probably have the same effect here. As a result, I do not see any benefit to pulling damaged units off the line to heal vs reserve.

(in reply to BBfanboy)

Post #: 247

RE: Straight Into the Teeth: A Story of Logistics, Pati... - 7/28/2016 1:28:41 AM

BBfanboy

Posts: 18046
Joined: 8/4/2010
From: Winnipeg, MB
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: Sangeli

quote:

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy
You cannot use rest mode in the same hex with the enemy, ergo withdrawing the unit to a safe base before the split and rest/replace should be superior to just going into reserve mode at the contested base. That said, the sheer size of Rangoon viz-a-viz other nearby bases may negate the rest advantage, especially if the nearby bases still have malarial effects.

Ya, I knew that.

Anyways, I just looked in the manual to see if the rest/training had any effect on repairs/healing. Strangely enough the manual had nothing! That being said, there is some info on the reserve mission:

quote:

Units in Reserve in a hex that are defending have the following effects:

.....

Rest � Movement speed and combat strength are reduced compared to other OpModes. The recovery of Fatigue, Disruption, and Morale is increased compared to other OpModes.

I would think that the rest mission would probably have the same effect here. As a result, I do not see any benefit to pulling damaged units off the line to heal vs reserve.

My statement was based on direct observation on several occasions when I had a unit hors de combat and forced to stay in reserve mode in a base hex I held, and recovery was not very fast (but better than in combat or move modes). When I subsequently drove out the invaders and put the unit in rest mode, recovery came much quicker (roughly twice as fast).

The bases always had good supply both before and after driving the invaders out, and no additional support was brought in. Fatigue level is important to recovery so you can monitor effects in advance by looking at the relative fatigue levels of a unit in reserve mode vs. one in rest mode.

_____________________________

No matter how bad a situation is, you can always make it worse. - Chris Hadfield : An Astronaut's Guide To Life On Earth

(in reply to Sangeli)

Post #: 248

RE: Straight Into the Teeth: A Story of Logistics, Pati... - 7/28/2016 2:25:21 AM

Sangeli

Posts: 1132
Joined: 3/29/2012
From: San Francisco
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy
My statement was based on direct observation on several occasions when I had a unit hors de combat and forced to stay in reserve mode in a base hex I held, and recovery was not very fast (but better than in combat or move modes). When I subsequently drove out the invaders and put the unit in rest mode, recovery came much quicker (roughly twice as fast).

The bases always had good supply both before and after driving the invaders out, and no additional support was brought in. Fatigue level is important to recovery so you can monitor effects in advance by looking at the relative fatigue levels of a unit in reserve mode vs. one in rest mode.

Hmm ya maybe you're right. Well there's hardly any benefit to me in keeping those units in Rangoon so I guess it makes sense to pull them out and give them rest.

(in reply to BBfanboy)

Post #: 249

RE: Straight Into the Teeth: A Story of Logistics, Pati... - 7/28/2016 7:52:45 PM

tiemanjw

Posts: 580
Joined: 12/6/2008
Status: offline

I believe (though I'm not 100%) that in a friendly base support squads are "shared", but not outside of a friendly base. So while investing Rangoon, each unit can only use organic support squads, however in a friendly base they can use extra support squads from HQs and base forces.

I also think base size has an effect (at least in a malaria zone), so build that island base next to it up (i think the af can go to size 9) and rest your troops their.

(in reply to Sangeli)

Post #: 250

RE: Straight Into the Teeth: A Story of Logistics, Pati... - 7/28/2016 9:04:42 PM

HansBolter

Posts: 7704
Joined: 7/6/2006
From: United States
Status: offline

I second BBfanboy's experience.

I have not seen positive results trying to recover disablement/disruption/fatigue in reserve mode in a contested hex.
After trying this for a week or two with little progress I always end up pulling the unit out of the hex to recover.

_____________________________

Hans

(in reply to tiemanjw)

Post #: 251

RE: Straight Into the Teeth: A Story of Logistics, Pati... - 7/31/2016 5:14:08 AM

Sangeli

Posts: 1132
Joined: 3/29/2012
From: San Francisco
Status: offline

March 24th 1944

Large scale air battles in the DEI. Japanese planes attacking some of my forward air bases. But I had a number of P-47's defending those bases and it was a slaughter:

And now I have about 600 planes in Darin including most of my available 4E. Time to pulverize all air bases in range. I have nearly 1 million supply in Sydney so I'll be able to supply Darwin from Townsville instead of the west coast like I was having to do before.

Outside of the DEI things are quiet. Getting ready to invade Marcus Island soon but that's it outside the DEI until about June 44.

(in reply to HansBolter)

Post #: 252

RE: Straight Into the Teeth: A Story of Logistics, Pati... - 7/31/2016 3:17:04 PM

Capt. Harlock

Posts: 5358
Joined: 9/15/2001
From: Los Angeles
Status: offline

quote:

Large scale air battles in the DEI. Japanese planes attacking some of my forward air bases. But I had a number of P-47's defending those bases and it was a slaughter:

Twice as many P-47's lost to Ops as to combat? You need to have a talk with your mechanics. . .

An impressive performance, especially since the Empire now has the A6M8.

_____________________________

Civil war? What does that mean? Is there any foreign war? Isn't every war fought between men, between brothers?

--Victor Hugo

(in reply to Sangeli)

Post #: 253

RE: Straight Into the Teeth: A Story of Logistics, Pati... - 7/31/2016 7:43:16 PM

Sangeli

Posts: 1132
Joined: 3/29/2012
From: San Francisco
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: Capt. Harlock
An impressive performance, especially since the Empire now has the A6M8.

A6M8 is hardly a formidable fighter these days. It's the George's and Franks I worry about.

(in reply to Capt. Harlock)

Post #: 254

RE: Straight Into the Teeth: A Story of Logistics, Pati... - 8/1/2016 7:58:55 PM

Sangeli

Posts: 1132
Joined: 3/29/2012
From: San Francisco
Status: offline

March 25th 1944

Allied air attacks in the DEI continue while Japanese attacks subside. No CAP is encountered while bombers hit four different airbases destroying dozens of planes on the ground.

I also sortied a 5 ships Fletcher fleet to hit the airbase at Lautem. I've never seen a single fleet have so much action in a single day:

quote:

ASW attack near Lautem at 73,115

Japanese Ships
SS I-177, hits 4

Allied Ships
DD Colahan
DD Burns
DD Clarence Bronson
DD Wadsworth
DD Healy

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack near Lautem at 73,115

Japanese Ships
SS I-121, hits 15, heavy damage

Allied Ships
DD Burns
DD Clarence Bronson
DD Healy
DD Colahan

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Lautem at 72,115, Range 2,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
MTB G-107
MTB G-117
MTB G-119, Shell hits 4, and is sunk
MTB G-138
MTB G-142, Shell hits 1
MTB G-145

Allied Ships
DD Clarence Bronson
DD Burns
DD Colahan, Shell hits 2
DD Healy
DD Wadsworth, Shell hits 1

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Lautem at 72,115, Range 2,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
MTB G-148, Shell hits 4, and is sunk
MTB G-151
MTB G-154
MTB G-155
MTB G-156
MTB G-157

Allied Ships
DD Clarence Bronson
DD Burns
DD Colahan
DD Healy, Shell hits 2
DD Wadsworth

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Dili at 71,115, Range 8,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CA Kumano
DD Oyashio
DD Kasumi
DD Kawakaze
DD Uranami

Allied Ships
DD Clarence Bronson
DD Burns, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
DD Colahan
DD Healy
DD Wadsworth, Shell hits 2, on fire

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Wetar at 72,114, Range 4,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CL Noshiro
DD Samidare
DD Asagiri, Shell hits 1

Allied Ships
DD Clarence Bronson, Shell hits 1
DD Colahan
DD Healy
DD Wadsworth, Shell hits 3, heavy fires

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Wetar at 72,114, Range 6,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CA Iwaki, Shell hits 1
CA Tone
DD Kazegumo, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Michishio, Shell hits 4, on fire
DD Arare

Allied Ships
DD Clarence Bronson, Shell hits 1
DD Colahan
DD Healy
DD Wadsworth, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Time Surface Combat, near Wetar at 72,114, Range 26,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CA Iwaki
CA Tone, Shell hits 1
DD Kazegumo, Shell hits 1
DD Michishio, Shell hits 4, on fire
DD Arare

Allied Ships
DD Clarence Bronson, Shell hits 2
DD Colahan
DD Healy

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Time Surface Combat, near Wetar at 71,113, Range 18,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
MTB G-151
MTB G-154
MTB G-155, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
MTB G-156
MTB G-157

Allied Ships
DD Clarence Bronson
DD Colahan
DD Healy

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Time Surface Combat, near Wetar at 72,114, Range 28,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CA Iwaki
DD Kazegumo
DD Arare

Allied Ships
DD Clarence Bronson
DD Colahan
DD Healy

Lost a pair of Fletchers but given the odds they did very well while sinking a few MTBs and likely a Japanese sub. They also forced the Japanese cruisers to use some ammo before bombarding Lautem. I have a much larger Fletcher fleet ready to sortie tomorrow if I so choose.

But the oddest thing today was the Japanese counterattack against Lautem:

quote:

Ground combat at Lautem (72,115)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 720 troops, 0 guns, 119 vehicles, Assault Value = 949

Defending force 21663 troops, 341 guns, 518 vehicles, Assault Value = 815

Assault collapses, survivors seek cover

Japanese ground losses:
Vehicles lost 106 (106 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units destroyed 1

Assaulting units:
18th Division
31st Division
11th Tank Regiment

Defending units:
637th Tank Destroyer Battalion
193rd Tank Battalion
2/9 Cavalry Cdo Battalion
32nd Infantry Division
641st Towed Tank Destroyer Battalion
1st Australian Division
I US Corps

Very bad idea to let a single tank regiment attack against two full divisions supported by two tank destroyer and one tank battalion. I don't think I have ever seen an attack go so poorly that it doesn't even show the AV ratio; I guess that means the Japanese AV hit 0 after being fired upon during the shock attack. As you can see the 11th tank regiment was destroyed completely. Not sure what Rev Rico was thinking here...might be he forgot to set the IDs to attack. In any case, this counterattack on Timor by the Japanese is an absolutely terrible idea. The LCUs and supply Rev Rico brought here surely would have been better deployed in a defensive posture on an island I don't have a foothold in.

Anyways, as you can see things in the DEI are mostly going my way now. No KB to be seen; I think it hightailed out after my subs crippled one of his CVs. I am currently bringing my carrier fleet around Darwin to cover a landing at Koepang with further landings planned shortly after. The goal is to attack north towards the western edge of New Guinea (Sorong) while securing my left flank at Kendari by the end of April. Eventually I will advance west from Kavieng along the northern coast of New Guinea to link up with the DEI advance and shorten my supply lines.

(in reply to Sangeli)

Post #: 255

RE: Straight Into the Teeth: A Story of Logistics, Pati... - 8/1/2016 8:18:11 PM

jwolf

Posts: 2493
Joined: 12/3/2013
Status: offline

I'm pretty sure that Japanese attack at Lautem was unintended. Either he meant to include everybody or nobody but somehow his orders got fouled up. But your points about the strategic value in trying to defend there at all are well taken.

(in reply to Sangeli)

Post #: 256

RE: Straight Into the Teeth: A Story of Logistics, Pati... - 8/2/2016 6:09:34 PM

Sangeli

Posts: 1132
Joined: 3/29/2012
From: San Francisco
Status: offline

March 26th 1944

Sent cruisers to bombard Dili:

quote:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Naval bombardment of Dili at 71,115

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-84a Frank: 19 damaged
Ki-84a Frank: 2 destroyed on ground
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 28 damaged
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 4 destroyed on ground

Allied Ships
CA Canberra II
CA Boston
CA Northampton
CL Columbia
CL Marblehead
CL Richmond

Japanese ground losses:
246 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled
Non Combat: 5 destroyed, 38 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Airbase hits 36
Airbase supply hits 7
Runway hits 56
Port hits 11
Port supply hits 6

After unloading much of their ammo, they encountered a Japanese heavy cruiser fleet:

quote:

Day Time Surface Combat, near Dili at 71,115, Range 24,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CA Kumano, Shell hits 15, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Oyashio, Shell hits 7, heavy fires
DD Kasumi, Shell hits 9, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Kawakaze
DD Uranami, Shell hits 6, heavy fires, heavy damage

Allied Ships
CA Northampton
CA Boston, Shell hits 3
CA Canberra II, Shell hits 1
CL Richmond
CL Marblehead
CL Columbia, Shell hits 1
DD DeHaven
DD Picking, Shell hits 1
DD Pringle, Shell hits 1
DD Remey, Shell hits 1
DD Stevens, Shell hits 1
DD Gansevoort
DD Frankford

Nicely done by the Allied cruisers here. Even though the odds were heavily in my favor, you just never know if Long Lances will find their mark early on in the battle and sink a cruiser or two. This might be the first time the entire war Allied cruisers sunk an IJN CA.

Afterwards my bombers would hit Dili against heavy CAP losing about a dozen or so 4E with many more damaged. Luckily I have quite large 4E stockpiles to make up the losses. Meanwhile my invasion fleet is about 2 days from Koepang.

(in reply to jwolf)

Post #: 257

RE: Straight Into the Teeth: A Story of Logistics, Pati... - 8/2/2016 6:22:32 PM

Sangeli

Posts: 1132
Joined: 3/29/2012
From: San Francisco
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: jwolf
I'm pretty sure that Japanese attack at Lautem was unintended. Either he meant to include everybody or nobody but somehow his orders got fouled up. But your points about the strategic value in trying to defend there at all are well taken.

Definitely was an accidental mistake sending a single tank regiment to attack. But it was an intentional mistake bringing it in the first place as you agree.

(in reply to jwolf)

Post #: 258

RE: Straight Into the Teeth: A Story of Logistics, Pati... - 8/3/2016 6:08:01 AM

Sangeli

Posts: 1132
Joined: 3/29/2012
From: San Francisco
Status: offline

Here's a map of the SWPAC right now:

I'm taking bigger leaps between island hops now. No sense in short little hops anymore when I have all these carriers.

(in reply to Sangeli)

Post #: 259

RE: Straight Into the Teeth: A Story of Logistics, Pati... - 8/4/2016 3:01:16 AM

Capt. Harlock

Posts: 5358
Joined: 9/15/2001
From: Los Angeles
Status: offline

quote:

Even though the odds were heavily in my favor, you just never know if Long Lances will find their mark early on in the battle and sink a cruiser or two.

Not at 24,000 yards!

_____________________________

Civil war? What does that mean? Is there any foreign war? Isn't every war fought between men, between brothers?

--Victor Hugo

(in reply to Sangeli)

Post #: 260

RE: Straight Into the Teeth: A Story of Logistics, Pati... - 8/4/2016 7:59:27 AM

Sangeli

Posts: 1132
Joined: 3/29/2012
From: San Francisco
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: Capt. Harlock

quote:

Even though the odds were heavily in my favor, you just never know if Long Lances will find their mark early on in the battle and sink a cruiser or two.

Not at 24,000 yards!

Good point. Sometimes I forget that Allied radar sometimes actually works with USN CAs in a surface engagement! So far 8 inch Allied guns are credited with sinking only 2 CLs, 3 DDs, and 1 TB (5 inch guns were credited for sinking that CA). Against that I have lost 11 USN CAs. Not a good ratio...

(in reply to Capt. Harlock)

Post #: 261

RE: Straight Into the Teeth: A Story of Logistics, Pati... - 8/5/2016 6:38:20 PM

Sangeli

Posts: 1132
Joined: 3/29/2012
From: San Francisco
Status: offline

Disaster in the Pacific

Today I had the largest defeat of the war. Huge setback caused by my "victory disease" in not providing proper SCTF protection to invasion and CVE fleets:

quote:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Dili at 72,117, Range 7,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CA Ibuki
DD Yugumo
DD Tamanami
DD Hagikaze

Allied Ships
xAP Princess Charlotte, Shell hits 18, and is sunk
xAK Olopana, Shell hits 1, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk

Allied ground losses:
271 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 55 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 26 destroyed, 23 disabled
Vehicles lost 79 (79 destroyed, 0 disabled)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Koepang at 68,116, Range 12,000 Yards

Allied aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft losses
OS2U-3 Kingfisher: 2 destroyed

Japanese Ships
BB Yamato, Shell hits 14
DD Amatsukaze, Shell hits 1
DD Shigure, Shell hits 7, on fire, heavy damage
DD Kiri
DD Momi

Allied Ships
CA New Orleans, Shell hits 3
CA Minneapolis, Shell hits 6
CL St. Louis
CL Montpelier, Shell hits 4, heavy fires
CL Santa Fe, Shell hits 24, and is sunk
CL Birmingham, Shell hits 1
DD Swanson
DD Monssen
DD Walke
DD Dunlap
DD Ellet
DD Downes, Shell hits 2
DD Hull
DD Van Galen
DD Redoubt

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Koepang at 68,116, Range 10,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CA Atago
CA Myoko, Shell hits 3
CL Noshiro, Torpedo hits 1
DD Umikaze
DD Akatsuki
DD Isonami
DD Asagiri

Allied Ships
CVE Sangamon
CVE Anzio, Shell hits 1, on fire
CVE Manila Bay
CVE Gambier Bay, Shell hits 7, on fire
CVE Tulagi, Shell hits 11, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
CVE Ranee, Shell hits 2
CVE Neosho, Shell hits 9, Torpedo hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
CLAA San Juan, Shell hits 26, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
DD Ward
DE James E. Craig
DE Parks, Shell hits 40, and is sunk
DE Wyman
DE William C. Miller
DE Wileman, Shell hits 3
DD Gilmer, Shell hits 11, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Koepang at 68,116, Range 12,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CA Atago, Shell hits 1
DD Umikaze
DD Akatsuki
DD Isonami
DD Asagiri

Allied Ships
KV La Gracieuse, Shell hits 24, and is sunk
AP William Ward Burrows, Shell hits 1
APA Callaway, Shell hits 8, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
APA Du Page, Shell hits 4, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
AK Gainsar
AK Ascella, Shell hits 1
AK Cheleb
AKA Algorab, Shell hits 5
AKA Thuban
AKA Electra
SC PC-581, Shell hits 20, and is sunk
SC PC-1080, Shell hits 1
PC Sennen, Shell hits 19, heavy fires, heavy damage
AM Launceton
AM Madras, Shell hits 15, and is sunk
xAP Princess Elizabeth, Shell hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAP Princess Elaine
xAP Princess Adelaide
xAP Baranof, Shell hits 1, heavy fires
xAP Yukon
xAP Aleutian, Shell hits 6
xAP Raranga
LSI(L) Brisbane Star
LSI(L) Dunedin Star, Shell hits 10, on fire
LSI(L) Empire Pride, Shell hits 69, heavy fires, heavy damage
LSI(L) Glenstrae
LSI(L) Empire Silver, Shell hits 17, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAP Poelau Laut, Shell hits 2
xAP Kota Baroe
xAP Talisse, Shell hits 5, heavy fires
xAP Mildura
xAP Mungana
xAP Sontay, Shell hits 3
xAK San Gabriel, heavy fires, heavy damage

Allied ground losses:
510 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 19 disabled
Non Combat: 41 destroyed, 53 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 13 (4 destroyed, 9 disabled)
Vehicles lost 40 (23 destroyed, 17 disabled)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Koepang at 68,116, Range 10,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CA Ashigara
CA Mikuma, Shell hits 1
CL Niyodo
CL Ishikari
DD Kagero
DD Kuroshio
DD Yukikaze
DD Arare

Allied Ships
CL Montpelier, Shell hits 11, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Redoubt

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Koepang at 68,116, Range 12,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CA Ashigara
CA Mikuma
CL Niyodo
CL Ishikari
DD Kagero
DD Kuroshio
DD Yukikaze
DD Arare

Allied Ships
AP William Ward Burrows, Shell hits 5, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
AK Gainsar, Shell hits 6
AK Ascella, Shell hits 5, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AK Cheleb, Shell hits 1
AKA Algorab, Shell hits 15, Torpedo hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
AKA Thuban, Shell hits 2
AKA Electra, Shell hits 28, and is sunk
SC PC-1080, Shell hits 7, and is sunk
PC Sennen, Shell hits 7, and is sunk
AM Launceton, Shell hits 9, and is sunk
xAP Princess Elizabeth, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAP Princess Elaine
xAP Princess Adelaide
xAP Baranof, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAP Yukon
xAP Aleutian, Shell hits 2
xAP Raranga
LSI(L) Brisbane Star, Shell hits 4, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
LSI(L) Dunedin Star, Shell hits 4, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
LSI(L) Empire Pride, Shell hits 4, and is sunk
LSI(L) Glenstrae, Shell hits 2, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
LSI(L) Empire Silver, Shell hits 16, and is sunk
xAP Poelau Laut, Shell hits 1
xAP Kota Baroe, Shell hits 3, on fire
xAP Talisse, Shell hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAP Mildura
xAP Mungana, Shell hits 2
xAP Sontay, Shell hits 5, on fire
xAK San Gabriel, and is sunk

Allied ground losses:
421 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 16 disabled
Non Combat: 32 destroyed, 48 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Guns lost 14 (9 destroyed, 5 disabled)
Vehicles lost 29 (14 destroyed, 15 disabled)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Koepang at 68,116, Range 10,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CA Ashigara
CA Mikuma
CL Niyodo
CL Ishikari
DD Kagero
DD Kuroshio
DD Yukikaze
DD Arare

Allied Ships
AK Ascella, Shell hits 4, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
AKA Algorab, Shell hits 1, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
xAP Princess Elizabeth, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
xAP Baranof, Shell hits 10, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
xAP Talisse, Shell hits 14, and is sunk
xAP Sontay, Shell hits 12, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk

Allied ground losses:
4335 casualties reported
Squads: 104 destroyed, 112 disabled
Non Combat: 207 destroyed, 182 disabled
Engineers: 7 destroyed, 1 disabled
Guns lost 104 (92 destroyed, 12 disabled)
Vehicles lost 88 (82 destroyed, 6 disabled)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Koepang at 68,117, Range 12,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CA Ibuki, Shell hits 1
DD Yugumo
DD Tamanami
DD Hagikaze

Allied Ships
CA New Orleans
CA Minneapolis, Shell hits 2, on fire
CL St. Louis
CL Birmingham, Shell hits 2, on fire
DD Swanson
DD Monssen
DD Walke
DD Dunlap
DD Ellet, Shell hits 1
DD Downes
DD Hull
DD Van Galen, Shell hits 1, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Koepang at 68,116, Range 11,000 Yards

Allied aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft losses
F6F-3 Hellcat: 14 destroyed
TBF-1 Avenger: 8 destroyed

Japanese Ships
CA Ashigara
CA Mikuma
CL Niyodo
CL Ishikari
DD Kagero
DD Kuroshio
DD Yukikaze
DD Arare

Allied Ships
CVE Tulagi, Shell hits 10, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
DD Ward

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Time Surface Combat, near Koepang at 67,117, Range 26,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CA Ibuki, Shell hits 1
DD Yugumo
DD Tamanami
DD Hagikaze

Allied Ships
CVE Sangamon, Shell hits 15, Torpedo hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
CVE Anzio, Shell hits 11, heavy fires, heavy damage
CVE Manila Bay, Shell hits 4
CVE Gambier Bay, Shell hits 12, on fire, heavy damage
CVE Ranee, Shell hits 4, on fire
DE James E. Craig, Shell hits 1
DE Wyman, Shell hits 1
DE William C. Miller, Shell hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage
DE Wileman, Shell hits 3, on fire

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Time Surface Combat, near Koepang at 68,117, Range 20,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CL Tama, Shell hits 1
DD Isokaze
DD Urakaze
DD Arashio

Allied Ships
AK Gainsar, Shell hits 8, heavy fires
AK Cheleb, Shell hits 7, heavy fires, heavy damage
AKA Thuban, Shell hits 43, and is sunk
xAP Princess Elaine, Shell hits 7, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
xAP Princess Adelaide, Shell hits 10, and is sunk
xAP Yukon, Shell hits 23, and is sunk
xAP Aleutian, Shell hits 13, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAP Raranga, Shell hits 12, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAP Poelau Laut, Shell hits 8, on fire
xAP Kota Baroe, Shell hits 4, on fire
xAP Mildura, Shell hits 7, heavy fires
xAP Mungana, Shell hits 9, heavy fires, heavy damage

Allied ground losses:
3322 casualties reported
Squads: 26 destroyed, 58 disabled
Non Combat: 115 destroyed, 187 disabled
Engineers: 60 destroyed, 30 disabled
Guns lost 10 (6 destroyed, 4 disabled)
Vehicles lost 22 (10 destroyed, 12 disabled)

The only consolation prize was taking out a pair of Japanese cruisers:

quote:

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Koepang at 68,118

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid detected at 71 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 33 minutes

Allied aircraft
F6F-3 Hellcat x 41
TBF-1 Avenger x 13

Allied aircraft losses
TBF-1 Avenger: 2 damaged

Japanese Ships
CL Tama, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
DD Isokaze

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Koepang at 67,115

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid detected at 62 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 23 minutes

Allied aircraft
F6F-3 Hellcat x 22
SBD-5 Dauntless x 31

Allied aircraft losses
SBD-5 Dauntless: 5 damaged

Japanese Ships
CA Ibuki, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Hagikaze, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk

Absolutely awful. More LSI(L), AKA, APA sunk today than the entire war before this. Three or four CVEs destroyed. Numerous cruisers sunk. Thousands of troops sunk aboard ship. And now the Koepang invasion might not have enough enough to take the base:

quote:

Ground combat at Koepang (68,116)

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 10706 troops, 72 guns, 2 vehicles, Assault Value = 391

Defending force 12724 troops, 216 guns, 310 vehicles, Assault Value = 529

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

Assaulting units:
12th Garrison Unit
18th Garrison Unit
7th ADU Coastal Gun Regiment
1st Ind. Engineer Regiment
12th JAAF Base Force

Defending units:
627th Tank Destroyer Battalion
159th(Sep) Infantry Regiment
7th RAA Coastal Artillery Regiment
8th Australian Division
34th Combat Engr Rgt /2
24th (Sep) Infantry Rgt /5
141st USA Base Force /3

Definitely the biggest defeat of the war so far. Lesson learned: keep a strong SCTF guarding vulnerable fleets even if that means keeping air bases unsurpressed. This mistake likely cost me 1500 VPs...never again.

< Message edited by Sangeli -- 8/5/2016 6:39:38 PM >

(in reply to Sangeli)

Post #: 262

RE: Straight Into the Teeth: A Story of Logistics, Pati... - 8/5/2016 11:05:17 PM

Bif1961

Posts: 2014
Joined: 6/26/2008
From: Phenix City, Alabama
Status: offline

The difference between a lesson observed and lesson learned is if you apply the lesson to future operations. Sounds like you plan to make amends for taking the Japanese too lightly. I hope I can do the same to my allied opponent in my game at some point.

(in reply to Sangeli)

Post #: 263

RE: Straight Into the Teeth: A Story of Logistics, Pati... - 8/6/2016 2:40:51 AM

Sangeli

Posts: 1132
Joined: 3/29/2012
From: San Francisco
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: Bif1961

The difference between a lesson observed and lesson learned is if you apply the lesson to future operations. Sounds like you plan to make amends for taking the Japanese too lightly. I hope I can do the same to my allied opponent in my game at some point.

Yes, lesson learned. 842 VPs of ships sunk last turn and likely to rise this coming turn. At least none of my CVs were sunk, though by now that isn't as important.

(in reply to Bif1961)

Post #: 264

RE: Straight Into the Teeth: A Story of Logistics, Pati... - 8/7/2016 9:48:19 PM

Bif1961

Posts: 2014
Joined: 6/26/2008
From: Phenix City, Alabama
Status: offline

I did do something like that to my opponent yesterday, I sank 4 of the pirates favorite Battleships the British RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR Class. He sent them without air cover within Japanese torpedo armed LBNA range and mini-KB threw in a strike for good measure. What wasn't sunk that day was hunted down the next by a cruiser TF.

< Message edited by Bif1961 -- 8/7/2016 9:49:43 PM >

(in reply to Sangeli)

Post #: 265

RE: Straight Into the Teeth: A Story of Logistics, Pati... - 8/8/2016 5:07:54 AM

Sangeli

Posts: 1132
Joined: 3/29/2012
From: San Francisco
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: Bif1961

I did do something like that to my opponent yesterday, I sank 4 of the pirates favorite Battleships the British RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR Class. He sent them without air cover within Japanese torpedo armed LBNA range and mini-KB threw in a strike for good measure. What wasn't sunk that day was hunted down the next by a cruiser TF.

I don't think that's quite the same. Sounds like your opponent didn't have control of the air AND the sea. I wish the Japanese had sent LBA or the KB at my ships...I had the air well covered! Really I paid too much attention to the air aspects and it cost me by using my fleets to bombard air bases rather than protect fleets. Sending in BBs into LBA range without fighter cover is just a terrible idea....I don't blunder that badly!

(in reply to Bif1961)

Post #: 266

RE: Straight Into the Teeth: A Story of Logistics, Pati... - 8/8/2016 10:10:26 PM

Bif1961

Posts: 2014
Joined: 6/26/2008
From: Phenix City, Alabama
Status: offline

He has lost 15 BBs to my three. he has been very aggressive which has paid off with a almost 1-for-1 trade in carriers but not in BBs, 5-1, CAs 2-1, and CLs 2-1. With my reinforcements in early 1943, I get four new carriers when he gets 1, I can keep parity until late 1943- early 1944.

(in reply to Sangeli)

Post #: 267

RE: Straight Into the Teeth: A Story of Logistics, Pati... - 8/9/2016 12:24:05 AM

Sangeli

Posts: 1132
Joined: 3/29/2012
From: San Francisco
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: Bif1961
He has lost 15 BBs to my three. he has been very aggressive which has paid off with a almost 1-for-1 trade in carriers but not in BBs, 5-1, CAs 2-1, and CLs 2-1. With my reinforcements in early 1943, I get four new carriers when he gets 1, I can keep parity until late 1943- early 1944.

I see. I for one am not a fan of committing BBs to the fray as the Allies until much later. Those BBs are invaluable for shore bombardment but they are only good in surface engagements against other BBs. If you risk them in surface engagements maybe you get lucky but maybe you won't, and given the cost of a BB the cost of being wrong is much higher than being right. I believe I have lost only about 8 BBs sinking 4-5. Not the best ratio but in the key category of CVs and CVLs, I'm way ahead. USN has lost only about 140 planes in capacity of fast carriers, and 90 of those were lost in the first 10 days of war. Pretty good considering how many IJN CVs I sunk and that it's spring 44!

(in reply to Bif1961)

Post #: 268

RE: Straight Into the Teeth: A Story of Logistics, Pati... - 8/9/2016 7:46:20 PM

Sangeli

Posts: 1132
Joined: 3/29/2012
From: San Francisco
Status: offline

April 1st 1944

I accidentally sent a transport fleet carrying some engineers to their death near Timor:

quote:

Night Time Surface Combat, near Lautem at 72,115, Range 10,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CA Atago
CL Sakawa
DD Tamanami
DD Fujinami
DD Kiyonami
DD Arare

Allied Ships
SC-522, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
xAP Doumer, Shell hits 17, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk
xAP Idomeneus, Shell hits 2, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
xAP Tjitjalengka, Shell hits 8, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
xAK Lancaster, Shell hits 5, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
xAK Dorothy Philips, Shell hits 2, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk

Allied ground losses:
3483 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 204 destroyed, 103 disabled
Engineers: 90 destroyed, 104 disabled
Vehicles lost 113 (69 destroyed, 44 disabled)

That was just a mistake pure and simple. And more free VPs to Japan. At least I have plenty of transports and engineers to make good on the losses.

In covering my landing at Boela, a couple of Japanese fleets of transports and cruisers came under attack. But for some silly reason my dive bombers were set to 6,000 feet. So rather than diving and dropping bombs at 1-4k feet, they dropped their payload at 6k feet. The result was undoubtedly lower accuracy, though my torpedo bombers did even worse:

quote:

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Ternate at 78,102

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 38 minutes

Japanese aircraft
E13A1 Jake x 8
E7K2 Alf x 2
N1K1-J George x 34
N1K2-J George x 25
Ki-43-IIb Oscar x 36

Allied aircraft
F6F-3 Hellcat x 120
SBD-5 Dauntless x 58
TBF-1 Avenger x 18
TBM-1C Avenger x 2

Japanese aircraft losses
E13A1 Jake: 4 destroyed
E7K2 Alf: 1 destroyed
N1K1-J George: 7 destroyed
N1K2-J George: 1 destroyed
Ki-43-IIb Oscar: 6 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F6F-3 Hellcat: 23 destroyed
SBD-5 Dauntless: 5 damaged
TBF-1 Avenger: 2 damaged

Japanese Ships
DD Isonami
CA Hikari, Bomb hits 4, on fire
DD Akatsuki
CA Kurama, Bomb hits 1

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Ternate at 78,102

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 29 minutes

Japanese aircraft
N1K1-J George x 6
N1K2-J George x 18
Ki-43-IIb Oscar x 12

Allied aircraft
F6F-3 Hellcat x 37
SB2C-1C Helldiver x 31
SBD-5 Dauntless x 46
TBF-1 Avenger x 16
TBM-1C Avenger x 16

Japanese aircraft losses
N1K1-J George: 1 destroyed
N1K2-J George: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F6F-3 Hellcat: 11 destroyed
SB2C-1C Helldiver: 6 damaged
SBD-5 Dauntless: 8 damaged
TBF-1 Avenger: 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
xAP Haruna Maru
DD Akatsuki
CA Hikari, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
CA Kurama
LSD Akitsu Maru, Bomb hits 1
DD Ariake
DD Hatsuharu
xAP Teiko Maru
AK Goyo Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Sansapor at 84,106

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid spotted at 15 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes

Allied aircraft
F6F-3 Hellcat x 22
TBF-1 Avenger x 15

Allied aircraft losses
TBF-1 Avenger: 2 damaged

Japanese Ships
xAK Maebasi Maru, Torpedo hits 5, and is sunk
AK Yamahuku Maru, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk

A lot of Hellcats shot down. There is a reason why I am so loathe to send my CVs to raid shipping...air to air losses are just too damn high. I'm having to use a lot of 60 exp USN fighter pilots because of the influx of CVEs in 1944. Losing a few CVEs is almost a blessing of sorts in that I have more fighter squadrons I can use for training. In any case, I did shoot down a number of fighters in the first attack and it looks like I sunk the CA Hikari after hitting it with five 1000 lb bombs. I think the IJN is probably feeling a real pinch on the number of available cruisers left after I knocked out three in the last week or so.

But the landing at Boela went smoothly enough and I easily have enough to take the base quickly:

quote:

Ground combat at Boela (80,110)

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 962 troops, 25 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 57

Defending force 20212 troops, 497 guns, 237 vehicles, Assault Value = 660

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

Assaulting units:
1st Para Assault/A Division
1st Naval Construction Battalion
108th JAAF AF Bn

Defending units:
30th Australian Brigade
I Aus Corps Engineer Battalion
1st Marine Div /11
131st Field Artillery Battalion
Wake (Det.) Defense Battalion
98th Field Artillery Battalion
4th Field Artillery Battalion
12th Marine Defense Battalion
2nd RAA Jungle Mountain Gun Regiment
I Australian Corps /1

Overall things in the eastern DEI aren't going as great as I would have hoped. Unlike in the SoPac, the Japanese have made a real effort to defend the area. Heavy ship, air, and troop losses aboard ship have gifted the Japanese a good deal of VPs while blunting some of my offensive capabilities. I'm bogged down in Koepang until I can land another infantry regiment which was pulled back after my defeat there. And while I've inflicted some losses on the Japanese, the Japanese have clear and away come out ahead. To compound my issues, supply is becoming a problem here as my bombers are using supply at a prodigious rate. I have plenty of supply in Sydney but everything has to be shipped from Townsville and I did not allocate enough cargo ships to keep up with my usage. I'm slowly getting more merchant ships involved in resupply here but many are still a long ways away from reaching their destination. So it looks like my supply issues are going to get worse before they get better. But despite all my issues, the brute force of Allied should still allow me to take my objectives.

(in reply to Sangeli)

Post #: 269

RE: Straight Into the Teeth: A Story of Logistics, Pati... - 8/10/2016 9:09:37 AM

KenchiSulla

Posts: 2948
Joined: 10/22/2008
From: the Netherlands
Status: offline

You get plenty of Hellcats, if you sunk a cruiser, it is worth it....

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AKA Cannonfodder

"It happened, therefore it can happen again: this is the core of what we have to say. It can happen, and it can happen everywhere.�
� Primo Levi, writer, holocaust survivor

(in reply to Sangeli)

Post #: 270

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