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RE: Into The Unknown Taxcutter vs. Ironman

 
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RE: Into The Unknown Taxcutter vs. Ironman - 1/4/2017 3:59:23 PM   
Taxcutter

 

Posts: 389
Joined: 4/4/2016
Status: offline 		Happy New Year - both in RL and my struggle against Ironman.

Update: Jan 10, 1943
Some sea changes in progress.

My subs are getting hits as torpedo quality improves. Off Guadalcanal my S-boats got two hits on CVs whose names are not familiar. My Gato-class boats in Japanese waters are getting 4-5 hits a day.

I may be getting the upper hand in the air war. My big base at Chittagong has not been molested by Ironman for two weeks (beyond night attacks by a half dozen or so Lillies). The reason seems apparent. Ironman has finally run out of Oscars. My two Tenth Air Force fighter groups (23rd and 51st) have 1800 kills between them. In fact the tapering down has allowed these two groups to come to nearly full strength with all P-40K airframes. Even the British - I was worried about these due to slow replacement rates - have fleshed out their Hurricane squadrons. For two months, I had to put the Hurricanes on the defensive at Calcutta and chittagong and some of them were down to <5 planes. That has changed. I have two squadrons of hurricanes sweeping Akyab and another one escorting five squadrons of Vultee Vengeance dive bombers pummeling the Akyab airfield. I feel confident enough to start running small convoys into Cox's Bazaar (level 1 port) to support a lad assault on Akyab. I have the whole XV Indiana Corps (2 divisions and three brigades) wearing down the Level 3 forts at Akyab.

I have Port Moresby's airfield completely suppressed. Once I beat down the Zeroes, the Nicks and Tojos died quickly in P-38 sweeps. Either all the Betties were destroyed or Ironman moved them away.

I have the Rossel Islands invasion force embarked. As soon as the Saratoga (one game day out) arrives in Brisbane the whole armada goes for the attack. Then my gaggle of xAPs and xAKLs will drop the Americal Division on Guadalcanal.

Ironman had a surprise. He came back to Midway in force. He pummeled the base and auxiliary ships there and shot up a few Catalinas but did not use his considerable surface forces to bombard. Downside to attacking a sub base. Ironman found his carriers and surfaces force in a thicket of Gato-class subs waiting their turn to be rotated into Japanese waters. Ironman last seen retiring toward Kwaj.

Logistic situation looks good. Keeping fuel in Sydney is still a pain even after I closed down Sydney's HI. but I have three good-sized convoys heading that way.

My Chinese are doing better. I liquidated brigade-sized pockets at Kukong and Kanhsien. Now I have another brigade cornered SW of Kanhsien. I re-took Kwangchowan and have a big corps about to probe Amoy.

I have quite a number of LSTs due into theatre within he next week to 10 days. With 6-8 weeks I'll start converting APs to APA and AK to AKA. Amphib operations should get much easier then.

(in reply to BBfanboy)
Post #: 151
RE: Into The Unknown Taxcutter vs. Ironman - 1/4/2017 5:16:50 PM   
jwolf

 

Posts: 2493
Joined: 12/3/2013
Status: offline 		I think the AKA conversions don't happen until June, but many APA do occur in March.

Guadalcanal might be tough. In my game against the (normal not ironman) AI, they built up a level 6 fort with about 660 AV anchored by a pretty good division. I landed 2 divisions, tanks, 2 combat engineers, a land HQ, plus a USN force to help the unloading. After 3 attacks, separated by many bombardment turns, daily bombing, and naval bombardments, the fort is down to 5 and I finally have about a 2-1 raw AV ratio. It's more like Iwo Jima. Ugh. It seems reasonable that Ironman's defense would be at least as good as that ... if so ... you'll need a LOT more than just the Americal.

(in reply to Taxcutter)
Post #: 152
RE: Into The Unknown Taxcutter vs. Ironman - 1/4/2017 10:07:52 PM   
BBfanboy


Posts: 18046
Joined: 8/4/2010
From: Winnipeg, MB
Status: offline 		I'm sure the Aussies can scrape up a rugby team to rough up the IJA before the US troops attack ... It will cost some beverages though!

_____________________________

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 jwolf)
Post #: 153
RE: Into The Unknown Taxcutter vs. Ironman - 1/5/2017 3:17:30 PM   
Taxcutter

 

Posts: 389
Joined: 4/4/2016
Status: offline 		I am considering putting my growing air superiority to work for me.

Ironman has put very formidable forces at Port Moresby, Milne Bay, Lunga, and Tulagi. In aggregate about 100,000 men.

Maybe I would be smarter to evacuate Lunga and grab Munda, Woodlark Island and some other unoccupied like Thousand Ships Bay. I have beaucoup engineers. I can build these little islands up to their max bases fairly quickly. I could systematically make these strong garrisons into virtual self-supporting POW camps. I have lots of support and my fleet and land-based air forces can only get bigger. But I really don't have all that much infantry in the pipeline.

I've always been a big fan of "hit 'em where they ain't" especially when land units are so hard to move.

Bypassing Port Moresby with its 840 VP would hurt, though.

(in reply to BBfanboy)
Post #: 154
RE: Into The Unknown Taxcutter vs. Ironman - 1/5/2017 6:59:30 PM   
BBfanboy


Posts: 18046
Joined: 8/4/2010
From: Winnipeg, MB
Status: offline 		Just isolate PM and use it for bombing practice for a few months. When you are sure the IJA is out of supply and thoroughly disrupted, invade and conquer. You can have some units prep for it while you bomb.

_____________________________

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 Taxcutter)
Post #: 155
RE: Into The Unknown Taxcutter vs. Ironman - 1/9/2017 1:57:20 PM   
Taxcutter

 

Posts: 389
Joined: 4/4/2016
Status: offline 		January 16, 1943 update:

Big news in Burma. The XV Indiana Corps (two Indian infantry divisions plus two short-time motorized brigades and a short-time infantry brigade) took Akyab. About two-thirds of the Japanese force was destroyed. The British hold all the river crossings so they aren't getting away. Port and airfield are utter wrecked so I have engineers on the way.

Big news in China. Amoy fell to a single Corps attack. Further, Ironman - careless as always about his flanks - let my Chinese amoeba surround another regiment-sized unit. It is already out of supply. My first attack reduced the regiment by 60%. Should be gone by the end of the week.

Downside in China. Wuchow and Loyang fell to the IJA. I'm not too worried about Wuchow. That just slightly enlarges the Canton-Hong Kong lodgment. They aren't going anywhere. Loyang doesn't seem to have bought Ironman much. I haven't made much of an impression east of Nanning.

Near Guadalacanal my subs claimed a hit on Hiryu and three torp hits on Shokaku, but later Hiryu was engaged by another sub with no report of previous damage.

A large chunk of his navy is patrolling north and east of Guadalcanal. I can't even get a fast transport convoy in, but the forces at Lunga are well-supplied.

Rossel Island gets invaded tomorrow. My CVs are covering the invasion.

Port Moresby is suppressed but not shut down. Ironman must be expending supply like crazy. If I don't bomb it one day the AF will improve by 30%

I've been running my Capetown-Karachi convoys back by way of Abadan, so my stash of fuel at Cape Town is becoming impressive. Colombo is well supplied so most of my Capetown traffic is Karachi with about 10% going to Perth. I have 100,000 tons of fuel bearing down on Sydney. Otherwise my logistical situation looks good.

Warspite withdrawn early.

Ironman contiunues to operate an AMC along my SF-pearl line, but I not have two very heavy surface escort forces with CVE support. Just a matter of time before this AMC catches some 14" gunfire.

Ironman's raid on Midway didn't accomplish much. I just dispatched Sam Dealey in the Harder to relieve Creed Burlingame in the Silversides off Tokyo Bay.

(in reply to BBfanboy)
Post #: 156
RE: Into The Unknown Taxcutter vs. Ironman - 1/23/2017 6:42:52 PM   
Taxcutter

 

Posts: 389
Joined: 4/4/2016
Status: offline 		January 30, 1943 update:

Bogged down at Akyab. even though I have ousted Ironman from the base his homeless garrison is strong enough the XV Corps can't quite seem to reduce them. I can't get my units fatigue under 25. Supply is marginally adequate.

Still having a tough time with seaborne re-supply as Ironman still has a lot of Betties around. I've moved four Hurricane squadrons to Cox's bazaar and engineers/base forces are marching toward Akyab. I've gotten the better of his fighters to the point all my fighter units are close to full strength even after I drafted away some of their top pilots.

My Vengeance DB seem to be worthless for close air support.

I've taken Rossel is and wiped out the garrison. I landed four SeaBee battalions there and they're beavering away to expand the port and airfield. Two 60-plane base forces plus a flak unit are on the way as well.

I have cruisers bombarding Lunga but more troops are gonna get there soon.

Invasion forces for Woodlark Is. and Munda are prepped as well as the Ellice Island bases.

Otherwise the theater is basically quiet as I moved up more shipping and supplies.

(in reply to Taxcutter)
Post #: 157
RE: Into The Unknown Taxcutter vs. Ironman - 1/23/2017 8:01:55 PM   
jwolf

 

Posts: 2493
Joined: 12/3/2013
Status: offline 		My experience in Burma is that troops will always be fatigued to around 25 or so, due I think to malaria. Results in combat are still OK as long as disruption is kept low. Disclaimer: more experienced players may well have contrary advice.

(in reply to Taxcutter)
Post #: 158
RE: Into The Unknown Taxcutter vs. Ironman - 1/23/2017 9:10:37 PM   
BBfanboy


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

ORIGINAL: jwolf

My experience in Burma is that troops will always be fatigued to around 25 or so, due I think to malaria. Results in combat are still OK as long as disruption is kept low. Disclaimer: more experienced players may well have contrary advice.

I agree with your assessment. It helps to remember that the enemy suffer the same as you do( unless they have substantially more support squads and supply), so it's a wash.
The odd thing is, if you invade an enemy base you also get the benefit of whatever building has been done to decrease malarial effects - even before you take the base. I guess part of base development is to drain the swamps and cut back the jungle cover that mosquitoes love.

_____________________________

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 jwolf)
Post #: 159
RE: Into The Unknown Taxcutter vs. Ironman - 2/2/2017 4:21:27 PM   
Taxcutter

 

Posts: 389
Joined: 4/4/2016
Status: offline 		Feb. 4, 1943 update

Turns out posts #157 and 158 were right. I have adequate supply at Akyab and even though I delberatye attack ever day, my fatigue is not going up but Ironman's casualties are rising steadily. I should have them liquidated in two game weeks or so. I've moved flak units, engineers and base forces into Akyab and I am fixing to move an entire US fighter group (75 P40K) into Akyab to provide CAPover re-supply convoys from Colombo. The XV Corps will polish off the remnants then I'll relieve them. XV corps has a number of units due for withdrawal. IV Corps (fresh but green) will go booming down the coast road for Prome.

Rossel Island is developed and I have engineers, base forces and planes (Mildcats and Dauntlesses) in place. As the air base gets bigger, I'll transfer in V USAAF medium bombers to pound Guadalcanal and islands north.

I am accumulating shipping at Noumea to take the Americal and 37th Divisions (plus some armor, combat engineers, and artillery)into Guadalcanal. Then, I'll start the meat-grinder in earnest.


Other than the eternal moving of supply and fuel the Pacific is quiet. KB has dissappeared. That's OK by me. I'm still six months away from going KB-hunting. Ironman has some German convoy raiders plus a U-boat or two. They are a nuisance but by now I can fully escort mega-convoys.

Activity in China is winding down. Ironman's carelessness has not only allowed me to kill off over 100,000 of his troops but I have liberated much of southern China. I took the eight towns (7 are ports) along the South China Sea and Formosa Straits. He still holds Canton/Hong Kong prohibitively and is making a real fight out of it at Nanning. My Chinese units are getting tired - many over 505 casualties. I'll have to rotate them into Chunking for fleshing back out. I'll have to go defensive in China for a while.

Developing experienced aircrew is an ongoing project.

Specialized Amphibious craft (LST, LCI) and starting to filter in and in a month I'll start converting some APs into APA.

Problem is that turns are getting so big I fall asleep in the middle of the order phase.

(in reply to BBfanboy)
Post #: 160
RE: Into The Unknown Taxcutter vs. Ironman - 2/10/2017 4:53:08 PM   
Taxcutter

 

Posts: 389
Joined: 4/4/2016
Status: offline 		Feb. 10, 1943 update

Victory at Akyab! IJA forces exterminated. XV Corps going to rest and shuck off soon-to-be-withdrawn units. IV Corps maneuvering to get across the river and push south.

Air war on Burma border is another kettle of fish. Ironman heavily reinforced his Oscar squadrons and pummeled me bad over Magwe. I sent 50 B-25Cs escorted by 50 P-40Ks (2 squadrons 51st FG) preceded by a sweep by 1 squadron of the 51st. bombers did OK but the 51`st got mauled. 16 planes lost. All but one were low EXP pilots. Losing pilots (EXP = 29) doesn't hurt my feelings as i have plenty of those but the airframes are precious. Prior to this raid Ironman had had a lot of low EXP Oscar pilots and I was killing them like flies, but obviously he transferred in a lot of reserve pilots and kicked my butt.

Adding insult to injury he hit Akyab/Cox's Bazaar and killed three "name" pilots out of No. 67 Squadron (Hurri IIc Trop).

I have the Americal Division heading for Lunga fully escorted by my death star. I'll turn right around and move the 37th division ASAP. I have the shipping for a full division but so far no specialized amphib APA/AKA/LST/LCI task forces. Otherwise South Pacific area is quiet.

In fact the whole theater is otherwise quiet. I am moving a 160,000 ton convoy of fuel into Pearl - just building the base up.

Strategic submarine are "changing the guard" in Japanese waters. Getting good hits but most boats are Winchester.

For guys who play the AI, give Ironman a try. Even this late, he is strong and has to be respected. Even if he is just a script.

(in reply to Taxcutter)
Post #: 161
RE: Into The Unknown Taxcutter vs. Ironman - 3/6/2017 3:35:00 PM   
Taxcutter

 

Posts: 389
Joined: 4/4/2016
Status: offline 		I'm back. Feb. 20, 1943 update.

Usual early 43 doldrums. I'm mostly just moving stuff around. It's what you do in WiTP-AE.

Big story is I got the Americal Division, a regiment of combat engineers and a bunch of supply unloaded at Lunga with few losses. No sign of KB. Only long range flying boats spotted. No CV type scout planes. My thicket of S-boats sees nothing. One more day of unloading supply and I have to return to Noumea to pick up the 37th Division and square away my CV dive bomber squadrons. at least now I outnumber the garrison at Lunga. I am bombarding with CAs four days a week.

More infantry, combat engineers, and tanks waiting at Noumea - all prepped. My first seven LSTs are crawling across the Pacific.

The Burma aerial meat grinder chugs on. I have five squadrons (nominally 90 planes) of Hurris at Akyab, two FG of P-40Ks at Chittagong (nominally 75 planes each) three squadrons of B-25C and two sqaudrons of Beauforts at Chittagong as well. Fighting it out with Ironman's endless supply of Oscars. By rotating forces I can keep my front line forces at about 60%. Pilots aren't the problem. 80 EXP/20 kill pilots are common as dirt but airframes are another issue. Still pounding on Magwe. Still an expensive proposition. My b-24s are supplementing aerial supply at Akyab. I can't run ships into there. Too many Betties and too many Oscars. Ironman has a LOT of staying power.

My strategic sub war is going well. I keep about 40% of my Gato-class subs operating in the waters around Japan. I'm getting reports of about 5 torpedo hits a day. Wahoo (Mush Morton) and Harder (Sam Dealey) on the way to Midway after repairs. These guys get multi-hit contacts, but are so aggressive they drive the boat into the Captain's stateroom before launching. this leads to a lot of shipyard repair time for the boats. Almost all my Gato-class boats have 70+ aggression skippers.

IV Corps (3 Indian divisions plus 2 brigades, plus some armor) is crawling down the coast road for Prome, but until I can get control of the air around Akyab, supply will be an issue.

Overall supply situation is OK. I have 350,000 tons of shipping shuttling between East Coast US and Cape Town to keep India supplied.
I have 90,000 tons of oil moving toward the refineries at Sydney.

I'm 10 days away from having some AP and AK conversion to APA and AKA.

Damage done by Windows 10 makes orders phase really slow. If I have a lot of merchant shipping orders (every turn) I am in danger of falling asleep in mid-phase.


(in reply to Taxcutter)
Post #: 162
RE: Into The Unknown Taxcutter vs. Ironman - 3/9/2017 2:10:08 PM   
Taxcutter

 

Posts: 389
Joined: 4/4/2016
Status: offline 		Quick update. Feb. 23, 1943

All troops ashore at Lunga. Negligible losses. Half of transports are empty and are underway for Noumea. 8,000 more supply and everybody makes for Noumea.
I now outnumber and out-AV Ironman on Guadalcanal but he is still sitting in level 6 fortifications.

Once the CV air groups get squared away I'll be back with the 37th Infantry and some more tanks and artillery batteries.

No way around it - I have to have this mud hole or my short-range fighters simply can't reach the bad guys.

I stumbled onto one good tactic. Every time a bombardment TF bashes Lunga I escort it with a Brooklyn CL and a 'can or two on a surface combat mission. Doing this, I have pretty much driven off his re-supply missions. S-boats are no good for this work. Lunga airfield damage = 7%.

(in reply to Taxcutter)
Post #: 163
RE: Into The Unknown Taxcutter vs. Ironman - 3/9/2017 2:34:26 PM   
jwolf

 

Posts: 2493
Joined: 12/3/2013
Status: offline 		In my game against the (normal) Jap AI, I invaded Lunga and Tulagi at the same time. Lunga was tough, just as in your game with a level 6 fort, a full division plus some other enemy units. But Tulagi was only moderately strong in comparison and I was able to take it fairly quickly. With that base in hand, I brought up several AKEs and a big surface force that battered Lunga day after day. Bombing against the high fort in the jungle accomplished little or nothing, but the constant bombardments really tore apart the defenders until they finally started crumbling.

(in reply to Taxcutter)
Post #: 164
RE: Into The Unknown Taxcutter vs. Ironman - 3/9/2017 3:00:30 PM   
GetAssista

 

Posts: 2732
Joined: 9/19/2009
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: jwolf
With that base in hand, I brought up several AKEs and a big surface force that battered Lunga day after day. Bombing against the high fort in the jungle accomplished little or nothing, but the constant bombardments really tore apart the defenders until they finally started crumbling.

This tactic always works against AI and in fact seems like the best usage of CL+ Allied ships in 42-43 if you are playing with no holds barred. Take any dot hex nearby, disband a bunch of AKEs and bombard away.
Unfortunately, the AI is not good at countering this. It hardly ever brings strong SCTF or KB to catch your bombarders.

(in reply to jwolf)
Post #: 165
RE: Into The Unknown Taxcutter vs. Ironman - 3/9/2017 3:30:15 PM   
jwolf

 

Posts: 2493
Joined: 12/3/2013
Status: offline 		Well, Tulagi wasn't a dot base. The Japanese had built it up somewhat and I kept at it once my forces took over. I also had significant carrier and LBA assets at or near Tulagi. Now I admit it was a lot easier keeping those forces active in the theater against the AI than it would have been against a human player. I was able to hold total air and naval supremacy around Guadalcanal, whereas in a regular MP game I presume that would have been difficult, costly, and/or impossible. Against the AI, there was just one carrier battle in that area and even that was pretty much a dud as neither side launched much and only one ship on either side was hit (one bomb on the Junyo). Other than that, the only AI challenges to my strength were occasional air raids from Bougainville or Rabaul, and I had enough land based fighters to defend pretty easily.

I admit I'm curious in Taxcutter's game if the Ironman AI will be more difficult in contesting the air and sea control around Lunga.

(in reply to GetAssista)
Post #: 166
RE: Into The Unknown Taxcutter vs. Ironman - 3/10/2017 2:36:16 PM   
Taxcutter

 

Posts: 389
Joined: 4/4/2016
Status: offline 		During my initial invasion, Ironman chased me around with KB. Remember this is Ironman and his KB is greatly augmented - maybe 8-9 full size CVs. Fortunately I had committed nearly all my long-range naval seach capability, a third of my CV based dive bombers and twenty-five S-boats to early warning. So I was able to bob and weave til I got my initial force landed with loss of only one or two transports.

This time around, Ironman is uninterested. I suspect the script is tired. I'm getting out with only one transport damaged and that (probably) by operational attrition.

Tulagi was initially defended furiously. 20,000+ men and level two fortifications.

There are some "green dot" islands close. I may drop some Seabee units and supply and let them build up some small bases. A level 4 airbase would let my short legged USAAF fighters engage in that area.

(in reply to jwolf)
Post #: 167
RE: Into The Unknown Taxcutter vs. Ironman - 3/10/2017 2:43:13 PM   
Taxcutter

 

Posts: 389
Joined: 4/4/2016
Status: offline 		Ironman has plenty of aircraft.

Every night, he runs at least two dozen night air strikes on the Chinese and twice that during the day. Makes for very long turns. While the strikes are small (<12 planes) he has to have a lot of well-trained Betty crews.

He certainly has no shortage of trained Oscar pilots. I've committed over 250 fighters (Hurris and P-40Ks) in Burma and I can't get the corner turned.

On the other hand I've built up quite a bunch of well-trained pilots. A 20 kill ace is just another schmoe.

I hate to think about how many CV trained aircrew he has.

(in reply to Taxcutter)
Post #: 168
RE: Into The Unknown Taxcutter vs. Ironman - 3/13/2017 2:42:11 PM   
Taxcutter

 

Posts: 389
Joined: 4/4/2016
Status: offline 		Update Feb. 28, 1943

Big news: Ironman's hordes of Oscars, Zeroes, Lilies, Betties, and Sallies have chased the RAF out of Akyab. Five full-strength Hurri squadrons got worn down to under 35% strength in a matter of days. I can't run in even the smallest of supply ships. The airfield is bombed to a frazzle and my C-47s can't land. I've sent the remnants of the Hurris back to Calcutta to lick their wounds.

At Chittagong the two US fighter groups (all P-40K) are hunkered down. The units are at about 70% strength but there are no P-40K airframes left in the pool. To preserve airframes, I've suspended offensive operations and loaded all the squadrons up with very experienced pilots. On the plus side, I've pretty much reduced Magwe to a junk yard, but that is a long-term bonus and won't help much in the coming month.

Elsewhere, my B-17s and P-38 have mostly neutralized Port Moresby, but Ironman still keeps running planes in.

Subs doing well around Japan.

I have 750,000 tons of shipping on the move building up local stockpiles of supply and fuel. I took someone's advice and have 80,000 tons of oil on the way to Sydney.

Otherwise, things are quiet.

< Message edited by Taxcutter -- 3/13/2017 2:43:22 PM >

(in reply to Taxcutter)
Post #: 169
RE: Into The Unknown Taxcutter vs. Ironman - 3/21/2017 4:18:53 PM   
Taxcutter

 

Posts: 389
Joined: 4/4/2016
Status: offline 		Update March 4, 1943

Stalemate.

With the exception of the Solomons/NG, Ironman has me pretty much stymied.

Akyab airfield is a smoking hole. The LCUs are out of supply. I'll have to march them toward Chittagong.
Chittagong is totally defensive. Six squadrons of P-40K - none above 80% strength. a squadron of Beaufighters handles the nightly raids - so far.

The RAF in India/Burma is a wreck. One full strength squadron of Spitfire Vc and one of Hurri IIc in Calcutta, one Hurri squadron at 60% strength. Beyond that...shards and fragments.
Bombers are standing down. Without escorts, even B-24s get mauled when Ironman can send up 80 Oscars. Apparently, his pilot quality has improved as my kill ratois aren't what they were in Janaury.

I now have 30% more AV than Ironman on Guadalcanal. Most of my fleet is at Noumea getting ready to haul the 37th Infantry and some tanks to the 'Canal.

I'm steady on Rossel Island and have five squadrons of fighters there. (More on this below)

Had to rest my Cairns-based attack on Port Moresby. Ironman must have greatly improved engineers. I lay off the airfield for four days (bombing the port, then standing down to let mechanics repair planes) and his airfield goes from 100% damaged to 28% damaged. Not half-bad repair work for guys with picks and shovel.

Logistically, I'm I good shape everywhere. Starting to approach storage capacities.

Sub war against strategic assets is actually going well. Keeping my subs in deep water saves a lot of mangled-up subs limping into Pearl for repairs, but they are still reporting torp hits.

What killing my momentum is that my fighter pools are running dry. The Hurri IIB and IIc pools are at zero and IId production has just begun. P-40 B and E pools are likewise zero with no production. I have the 49th FG stationed at Rossel Island. It is made up of 70 P-40E. As they fight Ironman they will (regardless of kill ratios) will dry up and I'll have to transfer the remnants back to Townsville.
My six squadrons of P-40K at Chittagong can't get too aggressive as I now have nothing in the P-40K pool. they are building 65/month but those will be a while getting to Chittagong. I transferred All-Star teams into the Chittagong FGs.
I am OK on P-39 but at zero on P-38F and only 23 P-38G. As my P-38s are concentrated at Cairns - pummeling Port Moresby. I think I can maintain that operation. I will eventually have to upgrade the P-38Fs to P-38G.

I have robbed everything I could out of the IV Air Force - both aircrew and airframes.

I'm in the funny situation of having scads of very experienced RAF and USAAF fighter pilots and few airframes, but lots of Mildcat airframes with only a couple of aces. I intend to transfer my Mildcats currently training at Pearl plus my two Corsair squadrons to the South Pacific and let them pick up some of the load.

Haven't seen a trace of KB in months. I think Ironman is training KB crews by pummelling helpless Chinese. He must run fifty strikes a day against the Chinese.

There is a good deal more to Ironman than meets the eye.

(in reply to Taxcutter)
Post #: 170
RE: Into The Unknown Taxcutter vs. Ironman - 3/27/2017 2:10:06 PM   
Taxcutter

 

Posts: 389
Joined: 4/4/2016
Status: offline 		March 8, 1943 Mini-update

The 37th ID, a regiment of combat engineers and a battalion of tank destroyers departed Noumea for Lunga. First combat use of LSTs. Nobody rat me out to Ironman.

Air raids resumed at Port Moresby. P-38Fs sweeping Buna. Nobody home.

Mildcats and A-24s from Rossel Islands raid Milne Bay, sink a transport, and rough up a couple more.

Four squadrons of F4U-1 en route to Noumea. All updates curtailed to build up a replacement pool.

Likewise all updating to P-40K are curtiled as I build up the two FG at Chittagong. RAF in India still trashed.

Mountains of supply and lakes of fuel are on the move.

(in reply to Taxcutter)
Post #: 171
RE: Into The Unknown Taxcutter vs. Ironman - 4/3/2017 5:46:15 PM   
Taxcutter

 

Posts: 389
Joined: 4/4/2016
Status: offline 		March 16, 1943

It's the mid-month slug of new ships. An (anachronistic) Japanese SOSUS would be lit up like Times Square by the sounds of many, many props. All moving more or less west. LSTs arriving in numbers. APAs and AKAs beginning to arrive.

All of the 37th Infantry are on Guadalcanal, along with a combat engineer regiment and another tank battalion. Once all the supply is ashore I'll probe his fortification.

USMC Raiders have taken Tassafronga and Thousand Ships Bay. Seabees on the way from Noumea.

Once the invasion fleet is empty it will return, not to Noumea, but to Rossel island to pick up some of the assault force and return it to Brisbane where the fleet will load to attack the next island.

KB is nowhere in sight. No radio intercepts on them either.

The airfield at Port Moresby is 61% damaged. Nothing comes up to play with my P-38Gs and B-17Es. I have the 22 BG (all B-26) plus a full-strength squadron of P-38G at Cooktown to keep PM suppressed once the B-17s have done the heavy lifting. There are no B-26 in the pool so once the B-26s attrite away I'll update to B-25s.

I'm gearing up for another grind on Ironman's Oscars in Burma. Ironman ignores my bases at Cox's Bazaar, Chittagong, and Calcutta to re-arrange the rubble at Akyab. So my India RAF and the Tenth AAF fighters are recovering. The Tenth is about five days from full strength and I've moved a lot of my TRACOM and reserve aces are now in those two FG. The RAF can be in a more active defensive posture in about a week.

When the RAF can be more active, I'll move 4-5 RAF squadrons to Chittagong and move my Tenth Air Force FG to Cox's Bazaar where I can engage his fighter more. I've also moved seven flak units into Cox's Bazaar, so Ironman will pay for playing there. I want to provoke him into attacking Cox's Bazaar where I have 150 P-40K all manned by experienced (and a lot of aces) pilots plus the biggest flak trap in Asia.

The IV Indian Corps continues to march down the coast road toward Prome but these units are in marginal supply and will be stopped by nearly anything. My north Burma covering forces are starting to move toward the Myitkynia rail line to put light pressure on Ironman.

Back at pearl I'm re-configuring the air wings on my CVE. the CVE with replacements will stay as is and they will be attached to replenishment TFs. I put a single 9-plane TBF squadron on the otherwise useless Long Island to be a search element for convoys running between Frisco and Pearl. Ironman has run some AMC into that sea lane so now I'm running well escorted convoys on that run. I haven't seen the AMCs for a while but if they do show, they'll get a surprise in the form of Standard battleships. At this time, I have nothing else to do with the Standards. Four are still in the yards.

My sub war is going well. I have my Gato-class boats at Midway and a third of them at a time are camped on his sea lanes. I'm getting reports of at least five hits a game-day.

China is quiescent but I am withdrawing from northern China. I've got a lot of units there for two little towns. As Ironman does not watch his flanks (and I do) I have more forces tied up there than he does. By withdrawing I can get decent odds elsewhere and maybe put him down in the battle for Nanning.

(in reply to Taxcutter)
Post #: 172
RE: Into The Unknown Taxcutter vs. Ironman - 4/5/2017 2:57:16 PM   
Taxcutter

 

Posts: 389
Joined: 4/4/2016
Status: offline 		Mini-update March 17, 1943

I Amphib Corps (1st Marine Div, Americal Division, 37th Infantry Division, two combat engineer regiments, two armor battalions) probed Lunga.

Result: Reduced fortifications from 5 to 4. 4% US losses and 10% losses for IJA.

(in reply to Taxcutter)
Post #: 173
RE: Into The Unknown Taxcutter vs. Ironman - 4/5/2017 3:34:50 PM   
jwolf

 

Posts: 2493
Joined: 12/3/2013
Status: offline 		That looks good at Lunga. As long as you keep the island blockaded, you should be able to capture this base, though it may take a while. I am guessing you have to rest 2-3 days between attacks?

(in reply to Taxcutter)
Post #: 174
RE: Into The Unknown Taxcutter vs. Ironman - 4/6/2017 2:19:32 PM   
Taxcutter

 

Posts: 389
Joined: 4/4/2016
Status: offline 		Looks like a 2 day of deliberate attack then 3-4 days of rest cycle for now.

Once I get a small air base at Tassafronga or Thousand Ships Bay, I can put fighter cover over Lunga and leave a couple of 'cans to blockade, while letting my CVs move on.

Still gonna be a tough fight. The whole 1st Amphib corps will be severely worn down by the end of this.

I'm replanning the 2nd Marine division for Vella Lavella. Munda looks unoccupied.


(in reply to jwolf)
Post #: 175
RE: Into The Unknown Taxcutter vs. Ironman - 4/11/2017 5:33:03 PM   
Taxcutter

 

Posts: 389
Joined: 4/4/2016
Status: offline 		Another mini-update:

I now have SeaBees working at Tassafronga and Thousand Ships Bay. 8-10% done on first levels. Once I get a workable airfield and some aviation support, I'm gonna move in XIII AAF fighters for local air security. Then I can detail off some surface assets to blockade Lunga.

My main invasion TF plus CVs and new BBs is at Rossel Island to pull off assault units en route back to Brisbane. I have a force fully prepped to jump on Woodlark Island as soon as I can turn things around. I have some newly refitted APAs to help this attack.

I need to send the Death star to Woodlark as I think Ironman has stationed Saburo Sakai at Milne Bay. Not a whole lot of zeros has mauled my veteran 49th FG. No more P40Es in the pool so I'll just have to pull them back to Brisbane til I get some upgrade aircraft. The aerial meat grinder on the Burma border has sucked my P-40K pool dry as El Alamein.

My strategic subs are reporting 7 hits a day.

(in reply to Taxcutter)
Post #: 176
RE: Into The Unknown Taxcutter vs. Ironman - 4/21/2017 4:09:20 PM   
Taxcutter

 

Posts: 389
Joined: 4/4/2016
Status: offline 		Update March 29, 1943

Major event: The biggest furball of my war with Ironman. I managed to get the 23rd and 51st FGs up to more or less full strength in P40Ks and lots of very experienced pilots. I slipped 167 points of aviation support and adequate supplies (for a while at least) into Cox's Bazaar. When Ironman came to Akyab for the daily rubble re-arrangement 146 P40Ks jumped him. In raid after raid the P40s shot down Oscars at a 2:1 (or greater) rate and slaughtered the Sallies, Sonias, and Lilies. Raid after raid. Finally we were both down to a dozen planes or so left. I haven't had a chance to evaluate my losses or his but let's say for sure there will be less planes in the air tomorrow. Maybe I can sneak a xAKL or two into Cox's Bazaar to make for a more permanent presence.

Another furball. I sent my CV strike package at airfield at Milne Bay. Not s big a bloodbath but the airfield and port are more than 60% damaged. First engagement for my Marine Corsairs flying sweeps ahead of the CV squadrons.

Port Moresby is suppressed. I have B-26s keeping the airfield beaten down and a B-17F group is pounding the port. Airfield is 100% flattened and the port is 75% wrecked.

Fruit of all this is my invasion force visited Rossel Island to drop off supply and pick up the assault force and it was not molested at all.

As soon as I can turn them round the invasion force will drop a division plus force on Woodlark Island. Recon shows a 5,000 man garrison. My invasion force should be adequate.

The agony continues at Guadalcanal. I have taken about 25% losses and Ironman is down even more but the forts are still at level 4. My combat engineers are beaten down to nearly nothing. Good news is that Seabees are about two-thirds done on small ports and airfields at Tassafronga and Thousand Ship Bay. Base forces are en route. Once I can get P39s and P40s up in CAP over Lungga Roads, resupplying/reinforcing Guadalcanal will not require tying down my death star.

In Japanese waters my superstar sub skippers (Morton and Dealey) are going wild. Best of all, confining them to deep water means their boats aren't dragging back to Pearl with a lot of damage - just empty torpedo rooms. When the Mk. 14 dud rate drops later this year, Ironman is in big trouble. My guess is I'm sinking 5 merchies a day with a third of my subs on station at a time.

I'm moving truly staggering amounts of fuel, supply and now oil to Noumea, Brisbane, and Sydney. I'm programming 28,000 crude oil to Sydney each month. I'm using 11 and 13 knot AOs to move short-legged ASW assets into the South Pacific area.

Still, thin fighter pools are constricting my activities.

(in reply to Taxcutter)
Post #: 177
RE: Into The Unknown Taxcutter vs. Ironman - 4/21/2017 5:39:26 PM   
jwolf

 

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

When Ironman came to Akyab for the daily rubble re-arrangement


Loved this line. Sounds like, after a lot of hard work, you're starting to tip the balance of power your way in some key areas. Do you have a fresh combat engineer unit you could bring to the fight at Lunga?

(in reply to Taxcutter)
Post #: 178
RE: Into The Unknown Taxcutter vs. Ironman - 4/21/2017 5:39:47 PM   
Schlussel


Posts: 384
Joined: 5/21/2007
From: Sacramento, California
Status: offline 		Well done @ Cox. That should definitely make a dent in tomorrows raids.

For some reason, the AI is uber-determined when it comes to air attacks on Akyab and Cox's Bazaar. I would knock down 30-40 fighters but they would just keep coming day after day (regardless of losses)...slowly wearing down my CAP until they were all grounded due to damage. Then they are stuck there, as there is no rail service to either base. I've tried loading the damaged aircraft in ships, but you need CAP for that. The good news is it looks like you were able to get a lot more your fighters into the base than I was...so you might be able to weather the storm. Ironman AI seems much more capable than the standard AI I am up against, so I wish you luck in your upcoming fight.

_____________________________

You say we're surrounded?
Excellent!
That means we can attack in any direction.

(in reply to Taxcutter)
Post #: 179
RE: Into The Unknown Taxcutter vs. Ironman - 4/24/2017 12:34:31 PM   
Taxcutter

 

Posts: 389
Joined: 4/4/2016
Status: offline 		Update April 2, 1943

After four days of intense furball, I had to back down. My USAAF FGs are down to 40% strength, mostly due to repair but 20% are airframe losses. Didn't lose but a couple of my high-experience pilots. I have generated some high-kill aces. One guy is up to 38 kills. I'll pull back to Chittagong as my RAF fighter units are too brittle to leave out there.

Hopefully within a couple weeks I can make good my P-40K losses.

You're right about the AI obsession with Akyab. After losing hundreds of planes (Oscars, Lilies, Sallies, Sonias)he is still sending half-dozen plane raids to Akyab. Unfortunately, he didn't send any Betties into my chipper-shredder. Betties are a danger to ships where Lilies and Sallies aren't.

On the other hand, Ironman is still weak at flank security. I may wind up taking Rangoon with starving Indian divisions. Bassein is about to fall. Prome is almost surrounded, but he is about to chase my Chindits out of Toungoo.

In the islands, I don't have any more combat engineer units handy (the only other one I have is prepped to invade Kiska. I am moving five battalions of artillery and beaucoup supply into Lunga. The level one airfield at Thousand Ships Bay is at 93% complete and a base force is about to start landing. air cover over guadalcanal will tighten the blockade and siege.

My CVs and invasion force is a Brisbane. Soon as I can turn it around I'll drop a division on Woodlark Island. Working under land-base fighter cover, I can pick up my invasion tempo.

(in reply to Schlussel)
Post #: 180
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