The Hive - Cruft PBEM (Japan, Scen 2 Beta + Stacking Limits)

[Captain Cruft]

The CS conversions were completed recently so I have 4 more CVLs available which have been allocated to the Fast or Slow fleet as appropriate. The ships don't have airgroups yet and I am not sure when they get them. However I certainly have some spare DB groups I could put on them if necessary.

So in total I have 8 CVs, 8 CVLs and 6 CVEs available. The Hosho will not be used in combat though as it is still flying Claudes and Jeans and I do not intend to change this.

[Captain Cruft]

The aircraft and engine pools.

I really haven't worked out any production stuff scientifically.

[FDRLincoln]

How many HI points do you have saved up?

[Captain Cruft]

About 1.7m

[Captain Cruft]

21 Oct 1943

Moulmein is receiving an extraordinary amount of ordnance. I guess that means it is the next target.

That is all.

[Captain Cruft]

22 Oct 1943

Well as it turns out the gash surface combat TF I had assembled for Rangoon had an absolute field day. As most of the Allied shipping was observed leaving to the west I converted it to a bombardment TF before going in, and it paid off big time.

Firstly there were in fact some transports still unloading:-

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Rangoon at 54,53, Range 6,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
APD Wakatake
APD Kuretake
APD Sanae, Shell hits 2, on fire
APD Fuyo
APD Karukaya
APD Yugao
E Otori
E Hiyodori
E Kiji
E Kamo

Allied Ships
xAK Sepia, Shell hits 4
xAK Ariadne Moller, Shell hits 1
xAK Borgfred, Shell hits 8, on fire
xAK Herstein, Shell hits 20, heavy fires
xAK Hermion, Shell hits 22, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Skagerak, Shell hits 4, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk
xAK Troja, Shell hits 47, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Michael Livanos, Shell hits 3

Japanese Ships Reported to be Approaching!
Allied TF begins to get underway
Reduced visibility due to Rain with 35% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Rain and 35% moonlight: 6,000 yards
Range closes to 27,000 yards...
Range closes to 24,000 yards...
Range closes to 21,000 yards...
Range closes to 18,000 yards...
Range closes to 15,000 yards...
Range closes to 12,000 yards...
Range closes to 10,000 yards...
Range closes to 9,000 yards...
Range closes to 8,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese radar detects Allied task force at 8,000 yards
Range closes to 7,000 yards...
Range closes to 6,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 6,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 6,000 yards
E Kamo engages xAK Skagerak at 6,000 yards
E Kiji engages xAK Troja at 6,000 yards
E Hiyodori engages xAK Skagerak at 6,000 yards
E Otori engages xAK Troja at 6,000 yards
APD Fuyo engages xAK Troja at 6,000 yards
APD Kuretake engages xAK Skagerak at 6,000 yards
APD Wakatake engages xAK Skagerak at 6,000 yards
E Kiji engages xAK Troja at 6,000 yards
xAK Skagerak sunk by E Otori at 6,000 yards
APD Fuyo engages xAK Troja at 6,000 yards
APD Kuretake engages xAK Troja at 6,000 yards
APD Wakatake engages xAK Troja at 6,000 yards
Range closes to 3,000 yards
E Kamo engages xAK Troja at 3,000 yards
APD Karukaya engages xAK Hermion at 3,000 yards
APD Yugao engages xAK Ariadne Moller at 3,000 yards
APD Fuyo engages xAK Hermion at 3,000 yards
APD Sanae engages xAK Troja at 3,000 yards
APD Kuretake engages xAK Troja at 3,000 yards
APD Wakatake engages xAK Troja at 3,000 yards
APD Sanae engages xAK Michael Livanos at 3,000 yards
E Kiji engages xAK Troja at 3,000 yards
APD Kuretake engages xAK Hermion at 3,000 yards
E Otori engages xAK Troja at 3,000 yards
APD Yugao engages xAK Troja at 3,000 yards
APD Sanae engages xAK Ariadne Moller at 3,000 yards
APD Wakatake engages xAK Troja at 3,000 yards
Range increases to 4,000 yards
E Kamo engages xAK Hermion at 4,000 yards
E Kamo engages xAK Troja at 4,000 yards
APD Kuretake engages xAK Hermion at 4,000 yards
APD Karukaya engages xAK Michael Livanos at 4,000 yards
APD Fuyo engages xAK Sepia at 4,000 yards
APD Sanae engages xAK Sepia at 4,000 yards
APD Kuretake engages xAK Hermion at 4,000 yards
Range closes to 2,000 yards
APD Kuretake engages xAK Troja at 2,000 yards
E Hiyodori engages xAK Hermion at 2,000 yards
APD Wakatake engages xAK Herstein at 2,000 yards
APD Yugao engages xAK Borgfred at 2,000 yards
APD Karukaya engages xAK Troja at 2,000 yards
APD Fuyo engages xAK Troja at 2,000 yards
APD Sanae engages xAK Sepia at 2,000 yards
APD Kuretake engages xAK Troja at 2,000 yards
APD Wakatake engages xAK Troja at 2,000 yards
E Kamo engages xAK Herstein at 2,000 yards
E Kiji engages xAK Borgfred at 2,000 yards
E Hiyodori engages xAK Herstein at 2,000 yards
E Otori engages xAK Herstein at 2,000 yards
Allied Task Force Manages to Escape
Task forces break off...

Then we pulled off something of a nuke:-

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Naval bombardment of Rangoon at 54,53

Allied aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft losses
P-38H Lightning: 39 damaged
P-38H Lightning: 1 destroyed on ground
Beaufighter VIf: 12 damaged
P-40K Warhawk: 28 damaged
P-40K Warhawk: 2 destroyed on ground
P-47D2 Thunderbolt: 34 damaged
P-47D2 Thunderbolt: 1 destroyed on ground
Kittyhawk IV: 6 damaged
Kittyhawk IV: 1 destroyed on ground
P-40N5 Warhawk: 22 damaged
P-40N5 Warhawk: 1 destroyed on ground
Spitfire Vc Trop: 4 damaged
Spitfire Vc Trop: 1 destroyed on ground
Kittyhawk IV: 6 damaged

Japanese Ships
E Kamo
E Kiji
E Hiyodori
E Otori
APD Yugao
APD Karukaya
APD Fuyo
APD Sanae
APD Kuretake
APD Wakatake

Light Industry hits 2
Refinery hits 2
Manpower hits 1
Fires 19
Airbase hits 68
Airbase supply hits 15
Runway hits 146
Port hits 36
Port fuel hits 8
Port supply hits 3

E Kamo firing at Rangoon
E Kiji firing at Rangoon
E Hiyodori firing at Rangoon
E Otori firing at 39th Indian Division
APD Yugao firing at Rangoon
APD Karukaya firing at 11th Indian Division
APD Fuyo firing at Rangoon
APD Sanae firing at Rangoon
APD Kuretake firing at Rangoon
APD Wakatake firing at 39th Indian Division

I had set the minimum range to 1,000yds so all the 25mm flak guns joined the party. This was not anticipated and is quite clearly fairly ridiculous so I think another HR discussion may be in order.

Then to cap the day off some unescorted B-24s visited Ulithi where I have 3 AVs. I would guess he might have thought these were CVs. Anyway, the few Rexes and Georges on CAP shot down 11 of the 4E beasties for a loss of 6 of their own. Three AVs and an AS received 500lb bombs but none will sink (assuming no further deliveries).

All in all a very nice day

[Captain Cruft]

23 Oct 1943

Just to add a finishing touch to their virtuoso performance the Es and APDs sank British sub SS Trident on their way back to Georgetown by driving it to the surface and shelling it to death.

I have proposed that we add a HR that naval bombardments must have a minimum range of 7,000yds. This will exclude all the small calibre AA guns from the equation on both sides.

[Captain Cruft]

24 Oct 1943

We have adopted the HR regarding naval bombardments as per the previous post.

There is not much occurring apart from the daily delivery of vast ordnance at Moulmein. A LRCAP operation will be attempted soon out of my pristine Thai airfields, when all the Tojo and Nick airgroups are up to strength. He is only accompanying the bombers with a single P-38 group on Sweep. Meanwhile I am very pleased that despite the constant rain of 500lb bombs the resident 55th Division remains in very good shape.

On the aircraft production front I now have exactly 600 Ki-43 IIb Oscars in the pool. I have also been able to start producing the B6N2 Jill torpedo bomber and J1NI-S Irving night fighter in small numbers. Ki-84a Frank production will be starting in November.

All in all I am feeling very good about things and am continuing to enjoy it immensely. The Yamato arrives in 5 days, which if nothing else is very symbolic.

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: Captain Cruft

24 Oct 1943

We have adopted the HR regarding naval bombardments as per the previous post.

There is not much occurring apart from the daily delivery of vast ordnance at Moulmein. A LRCAP operation will be attempted soon out of my pristine Thai airfields, when all the Tojo and Nick airgroups are up to strength. He is only accompanying the bombers with a single P-38 group on Sweep. Meanwhile I am very pleased that despite the constant rain of 500lb bombs the resident 55th Division remains in very good shape.

On the aircraft production front I now have exactly 600 Ki-43 IIb Oscars in the pool. I have also been able to start producing the B6N2 Jill torpedo bomber and J1NI-S Irving night fighter in small numbers. Ki-8a Frank production will starting in November.

All in all I am feeling very good about things and am continuing to enjoy it immensely. The Yamato arrives in 5 days, which if nothing else is very symbolic.

Glad it's still fun! Looking forward to the critical stages of your plan as he moves in close to the hive.

[Captain Cruft]

Thanks.

He has now overtaken me in points. Sub activity is cranking up significantly. I just wonder what is next (after Moulmein).

[Captain Cruft]

27 Oct 1943

Nothing major has changed.

Today I finally launched the LRCAP operation over Moulmein. Very good results, 58 bombers destroyed at a cost of 32 fighters. His single Sweep only came in after all the bombers

I now have a Nick jockey with 6 kills, who is not far from the top of the leader board. The way I am playing does not lend itself to pilots living long enough to get a big score ...

[obvert]

My top guy had 10 kills. He's KIA now. I'm right there with you.

[Captain Cruft]

28 Oct 1943

Moulmein falls. Half the population of the British Empire has crossed the river.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Moulmein (55,55)

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 112745 troops, 1835 guns, 2833 vehicles, Assault Value = 4343

Defending force 16216 troops, 164 guns, 105 vehicles, Assault Value = 462

Allied engineers reduce fortifications to 4

Allied adjusted assault: 3591

Japanese adjusted defense: 231

Allied assault odds: 15 to 1 (fort level 4)

Allied forces CAPTURE Moulmein !!!

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), fatigue(-)
Attacker: shock(+)

Japanese ground losses:
5951 casualties reported
Squads: 154 destroyed, 217 disabled
Non Combat: 150 destroyed, 42 disabled
Engineers: 59 destroyed, 7 disabled
Guns lost 133 (109 destroyed, 24 disabled)
Vehicles lost 69 (62 destroyed, 7 disabled)
Units retreated 4

Allied ground losses:
3699 casualties reported
Squads: 17 destroyed, 752 disabled
Non Combat: 8 destroyed, 89 disabled
Engineers: 10 destroyed, 61 disabled
Guns lost 101 (3 destroyed, 98 disabled)
Vehicles lost 97 (4 destroyed, 93 disabled)

Defeated Japanese Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
39th Indian Division
18th British Division
268th Motorised Brigade
7th Australian Division
254th Armoured Brigade
3rd Cavalry Regiment
11th Indian Division
11th (East African) Division
20th Indian Division
25th Indian Division
XXXIII Corps Engineer Battalion
19th Indian Division
3rd Carabiniers Regiment
44th Cavalry Regiment
72nd British Brigade
150th RAC Regiment
50th Tank Brigade
26th Indian Brigade
29th British Brigade
XV Indian Corps
14th Army
Southeast Asia
III Indian Corps
XXXIII Indian Corps
28th Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
24th Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
85th British AT Gun Regiment
8th Medium Regiment
IV Indian Corps
5th Field Regiment

Defending units:
55th Division
29th Fld AA Gun Co
Burma Area Army
8th RF Gun Battalion

[Captain Cruft]

He has split his forces at Moulmein. Some are heading down the road to Tavoy while others are following my guys retreating towards Rahaeng.

----------------------------------------------
We have installed the map with stacking limits.

I have two slightly over-stacked bases - Chichi-Jima and Iwo-Jima. An amphibious TF is on its way, I just need to decide what to remove. There are some whopping arty units at both places, perhaps those.

For his part, "China is a mess", so we have agreed a ceasefire there until he can sort it out. I was not doing anything there anyway except bombing Sian and Chungking occasionally.

[Captain Cruft]

1 Nov 1943

The Ki-84a Frank has become available. I have converted 5 factories over (from Oscar, Tojo & Tony). When they are repaired they will produce up to 106 Franks a month.

It looks like Eniwetok is the next target in the Pacific.

[Captain Cruft]

4 Nov 1943

Tavoy has fallen. There was nothing there except for a sound detector

He has still not bombed my Thai airfields. The Nicks had quite a good day attacking a heavily escorted transport convoy unloading at Rangoon.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Rangoon at 54,53

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

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

Japanese aircraft
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 104

Allied aircraft
Spitfire Vc Trop x 3
Spitfire VIII x 9
Kittyhawk IV x 7
Kittyhawk IV x 5
P-38H Lightning x 13
P-40K Warhawk x 8
P-40N5 Warhawk x 9
P-47D2 Thunderbolt x 26
P-51A Mustang x 3

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-45 KAIa Nick: 5 destroyed, 28 damaged
Ki-45 KAIa Nick: 1 destroyed by flak

No Allied losses

Allied Ships
xAP Clan Macgillivray, Bomb hits 1, on fire
CA Hawkins
CA Frobisher, Bomb hits 1
xAK Dagfred, Bomb hits 1
CA Shropshire
xAP Limerick, Bomb hits 1, on fire
xAK Trevilley
CA Dorsetshire, Shell hits 1, Bomb hits 3, on fire
DD Nestor

Allied ground losses:
52 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 9 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Aircraft Attacking:
12 x Ki-45 KAIa Nick bombing from 100 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
2 x Ki-45 KAIa Nick bombing from 100 feet
Naval Attack: 2 plane(s) with no ordnance
6 x Ki-45 KAIa Nick bombing from 100 feet
Naval Attack: 2 plane(s) with no ordnance
Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
17 x Ki-45 KAIa Nick bombing from 100 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
3 x Ki-45 KAIa Nick bombing from 100 feet
Naval Attack: 3 plane(s) with no ordnance

CAP engaged:
No.111 Sqn RCAF with Kittyhawk IV (3 airborne, 4 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(3 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
3 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 19000 , scrambling fighters to 1000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 13 minutes
No.30 Sqn RAF with Spitfire Vc Trop (3 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(3 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
3 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 20000
Raid is overhead
No.261 Sqn RAF with Spitfire VIII (5 airborne, 4 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(5 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
5 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 25000 , scrambling fighters to 41500.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 20 minutes
No.14 Sqn RNZAF with Kittyhawk IV (5 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(5 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
5 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 19000
Raid is overhead
51st FG/16th FS with P-38H Lightning (3 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(3 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
3 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 25000
Raid is overhead
51st FG/25th FS with P-47D2 Thunderbolt (5 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(5 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
5 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 35000
Raid is overhead
51st FG/26th FS with P-47D2 Thunderbolt (3 airborne, 4 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(3 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
3 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 35000 , scrambling fighters to 2000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 4 minutes
23rd FG/74th FS with P-47D2 Thunderbolt (4 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(4 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
4 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 35000
Raid is overhead
23rd FG/75th FS with P-47D2 Thunderbolt (6 airborne, 4 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(6 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
6 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 35000 , scrambling fighters to 6000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 21 minutes
23rd FG/76th FS with P-38H Lightning (6 airborne, 4 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(6 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
6 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 25000 , scrambling fighters to 2000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 14 minutes
80th FG/88th FS with P-40K Warhawk (2 airborne, 6 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(2 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 18000 , scrambling fighters between 2000 and 3000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 23 minutes
80th FG/89th FS with P-40N5 Warhawk (3 airborne, 6 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(3 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
3 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 13000 , scrambling fighters between 1000 and 31000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 26 minutes
311th FBG/530th FBS with P-51A Mustang (3 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(3 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
3 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 25000
Raid is overhead

[Captain Cruft]

10 Nov 1943

He has taken 4 bases in the DEI south of Ambon via air assault, and it looks like he will be landing troops by sea to reinforce.

I have been expecting moves in this area for some time now, but I will not oppose him seriously. Just a few air attacks from Ambon.

[Captain Cruft]

12 Nov 1943

The Ambon flotilla sinks two sub-chasers. I deliberately restricted the range so as to avoid flying into his CV CAP. He has at least 1 CV and 1 CVLs in the area. They are in the hex to the west of Taberfane.

Next turn I hope to hit the shipping at Babar and Saumlaki.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Molu at 79,115

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid spotted at 42 NM, estimated altitude 22,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M3a Zero x 14
A6M5 Zero x 10
P1Y1 Frances x 17

Allied aircraft
F6F-3 Hellcat x 2

Japanese aircraft losses
P1Y1 Frances: 1 damaged

No Allied losses

Allied Ships
SC PC-579, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
SC PC-578, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk

Aircraft Attacking:
17 x P1Y1 Frances launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo

CAP engaged:
VF-1 with F6F-3 Hellcat (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(2 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Raid is overhead

[Captain Cruft]

Meanwhile over in Thailand he has finally started bombing my airfields. Chiang Mai is trashed and I am abandoning it. All units will scurry down the rail line to points south.

[Captain Cruft]

Pacific Island garrisons

I've just been reading how Tinian fell in obvert's AAR. It didn't last very long

AV is not all the same. The firepower of the US units is far greater. This is why I have taken care to put what heavy stuff Japan does have at all the important islands. Well I have now been motivated to tally it up ...

Guam - AV = 502, Forts = 7.35, Tanks = 215, AT Guns = 44, Heavy Arty = 10
Rota - AV = 96, Forts = 6.00, Tanks = 3, AT Guns = 7, Heavy Arty = 6
Tinian - AV = 571, Forts = 6.46, Tanks = 27, AT Guns = 58, Heavy Arty = 6
Saipan - AV = 553, Forts = 8.08, Tanks = 262, AT Guns = 14, Heavy Arty = 16

Iwo-Jima - AV = 506, Forts = 6.00, Tanks = 27, AT Guns = 22, Heavy Arty = 24
Haha-Jima - AV = 332, Forts = 4.10, Tanks = 9, AT Guns = 20
Chichi-Jima - AV = 536, Forts = 6.00, Tanks = 27, AT Guns = 22, Heavy Arty = 8

Note: Heavy Arty is anything over 150mm.

My plan is that while I cannot hope to hold any of these places for ever, the time and effort on his part will be considerable.