Once Again into the Breach - Mike (J) vs. tc464 (A)

[PaxMondo]

ORIGINAL: Mike Solli

Hey guys! Ted is alive! I just got a quick email from him last night. He said he's "been on the road and disgustingly busy". He'll be back home Thursday and send me an email with the details and to catch up. I really was getting worried. No idea about this game though. I didn't ask and he didn't say. After we catch up, I'll find out if he wants to continue. I'm even willing to go back a few months to reset some things. But that's a discussion for another time. The important thing is that Ted's still around.

More to come soon.

Good news. I know that I worry when I don't hear from a remote friend ...

[dasboot1960]

What a happy Surprise! Of course I hope the game picks back up, of course I realize that is not the most important thing happening here. Good on you Mike and best to Ted.

[Mikawa]

Ok, I spent 6 months reading this entire AAR so let’s go!

Very enjoyable. Thank you

[RedTeamFred]

Warmest Greetings Mike!

I gotta tell you, I have been looking forward to this day for about oh, twelve years! Work and life has never given me the chance to play this awesome game, but I promised myself when I was finally freed up one day, my first post would be to pay homage to the great Mike Solly.

So, thank you old son, for the pioneering work you've done making sense of the Japanese economy, and for being one of the finest examples of an all-around great guy!

My hat's off to you, sir. Have a great life, keep on keeping on with your WITP:AE success, and all the best to you in your future!

RedTeamFred

___________________________

"Never put your good pilots in crappy planes!" - Nemo

[Mike Solli]

Hi Everyone!

Exactly 2 years, 3 months and 3 days ago, I sent my last turn to Ted. Well, I'm here to tell you that we have resumed our game. I got the 2 Jan 44 turn from Ted yesterday and ran it today. Both of us have had many WTF was I doing moments recently. But it's going again.

It turned out that there was a lot going on in both of our lives. Things have settled down a lot and we're both anxious to see how this turns out. I gave Ted several options, including starting where we left off, backing up the date several months, not continuing, and possibly having Ted hand off the reins to someone else. I was pushing for backing up to ~July 43, before the carrier attacks of Aug 43 and Dec 43 so he could reconsider his strategy. He wanted to continue where we left off, so here we are.

I'll post the 2 Jan 44 turn in a bit, then post pics of the different AOs along with what's going on so everyone can enjoy our WTF moments with us. [:D]

I'll do that after I get the turn back to Ted and continue to work on the starting turn with Mike.

So, here we go!

[Mike Solli]

2 Jan 44

Sub War

Really weird, but there was no sub actions by either side. Nothing at all. It was like they just vanished.

5 Fleet

It all started with Nagato and Mutsu, along with 3 DDs bombarding Dutch Harbor. They put a hurting on an LSI(L), the S-44 and an AM along with putting a little more damage on the port (now at 48 damage). The Allies still control Dutch Harbor, and I own Atka west, inclusive and Umnak Island. Not sure what I was doing there, but I still have a division + at Umnak but I'm pulling out some of the troops. I need to look closer to see what's going on.

Later in the day, I bombed Dutch Harbor's troops with a sentai of Sallies, killing some squads and damaging a bunch more, and 3x B-17s visited Umnak but were driven off by 10 Oscars.

Umnak is trashed so the Oscars came from Adak. Basically, I'm done attacking there and I'll bet Ted is done up there, but we'll see.

4 Fleet

Ted controls Mili, with a level 4 airbase there and some 97 fighters, 35 bombers and 10 recon. His fighters were almost all on sweep. They swept Roi-Namur, Kwajalein, Wotje, Majuro & Makin. That was an error. Last turn I trashed some CVLs to the south and my carriers were going after the damaged CVLs (I think I sank 2 of 4?). Anyway, I had most of my carriers in the area and they ended up 8 hexes to the SW of Mili. The CVLs got away. They're 10 hexes away from my carriers, so the carriers went after the bit of shipping at Mili, sinking 4x YMS [8|] and putting a torpedo into CLAA San Diego and 2 torpedoes into an AO.

Later, some Jills put down an APD a few hexes SE of Ocean Island. Not sure what the APD was doing at Ocean island, but she was not carrying troops.

The carriers involved (but not necessarily launching) were Shokaku, Unryu, AMagi, Katsuragi, Kaga, Soryu, Akagi, Chitose and Chiyoda. They lost only 3 fighter and 5 TB pilots along with another TB WIA. They're down to around 50% or so torpedoes left. They had lost some planes in the carrier battle earlier but they're still good. Fuel is good. I probably won't chase the CVLs. We'll see. I need to check things out some more.

SE Fleet

This has become a simple concept of Allied bombers against useless, bypassed Japanese bases. I still control Rabaul, Gasmata and Talsea, but they have no supply and few troops. Ted could easily invade and take them but probably shouldn't bother.

My "frontline" is Hollandia and Truk, but both are cut off. Ted is currently content with bombing both, to little gain. Hollandia has a Naval Guard and some support troops. Truk still has significant troops but I'm sending in single ship TFs to pull as much out as possible back to the Marianas. Truk was the recipient of about 140 2/4E sorties, all against the port, which is currently at 100 damage. The airfield is at 100-32 damage and is slowly being repaired.

I'm dumping troops and supply into the Marianas, along with building forts. The forts are currently:

Saipan: 8.28
Tinian: 6.56
Rota: 6.01
Guam: 6.22

My goal is 2.5 divisions at each of those bases. I hope to get a 98-99 experience division out of China into each of the bases.

SRA

It's pretty quiet here. Saumlaki gets a fighter sweep each day with some bombers on occasion. Today was a fighter sweep of 4 Hellcats against 8 Tonys and 16 Tojos. The Hellcats were driven off, no doubt because of low morale.

Burma

It's a stalemate here, with Japanese have air supremacy. Today's tally was the loss of a single Frank vs. 5 various Allied models. The only real opposition comes from the few Spitfire VIIIs that make an appearance.

China

This was the big new of the day:

Ground combat at Chungking (76,45)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 289750 troops, 3222 guns, 1936 vehicles, Assault Value = 8256

Defending force 225072 troops, 359 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 2101

Japanese adjusted assault: 4544

Allied adjusted defense: 1907

Japanese assault odds: 2 to 1 (fort level 0)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Chungking !!!

Allied aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft losses
A-29A Hudson: 1 destroyed

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), supply(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
19644 casualties reported
Squads: 38 destroyed, 906 disabled
Non Combat: 4 destroyed, 96 disabled
Engineers: 3 destroyed, 128 disabled
Guns lost 111 (4 destroyed, 107 disabled)
Vehicles lost 27 (2 destroyed, 25 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
274587 casualties reported
Squads: 11465 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 18369 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 100 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 534 (534 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units destroyed 91

Assaulting units:
40th Division
32nd Division
22nd Division
3rd Tank Division
39th Division
35th Division
15th Tank Regiment
116th Division
27th Division
6th Division
62nd Division
37th Division
64th Division
104th Division
3rd Division
17th Division
110th Division
34th Division
13th Division
1st Ind.Mixed Brigade
63rd Division
15th Division
51st Division
41st Division
26th Division
59th Division
36th Division
9th Division
4th Mortar Battalion
52nd Ind.Mtn.Gun Battalion
11th Army
6th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
8th Ind. Engineer Regiment
12th Army
3rd Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
2nd Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
1st Hvy.Artillery Regiment
North China Area Army
23rd Army
21st Mortar Battalion
9th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
Botanko Hvy Gun Regiment
4th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
6th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
7th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
12th Ind.Hvy.Art Battalion
2nd Ind. Field Artillery Regiment
1st Army
8th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
11th Ind.Hvy.Art Battalion
1st Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
3rd Hvy.Artillery Regiment
5th Ind.Hvy.Art Battalion
15th AA Regiment
2nd Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
2nd Hvy.Artillery Regiment
14th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
51st Ind.Mtn.Gun Battalion
13th Ind.Hvy.Art Battalion
1st Mortar Battalion
13th Army
38th Ind. Engineer Regiment
Tonei Hvy Gun Regiment
15th Ind.Medium Field Artillery Regiment
21st AA Regiment
39th Ind. Engineer Regiment

Defending units:
42nd Chinese Corps
50th Chinese Corps
2nd Prov Chinese Corps
91st Chinese Corps
31st Chinese Corps
57th Chinese Corps
54th Chinese Corps
1st Chinese Corps
81st Chinese Corps
7th Chinese Corps
13th Chinese Corps
73rd Chinese Corps
83rd Chinese Corps
47th Chinese Corps
80th Chinese Corps
19th Chinese Corps
3rd Chinese Corps
3rd Prov Chinese Corps
88th Chinese Corps
95th Chinese Corps
92nd Chinese Corps
85th Chinese Corps
33rd Chinese Corps
84th Chinese Corps
97th Chinese Corps
29th Chinese Corps
82nd Chinese Corps
48th Chinese Corps
35th Chinese Corps
76th Chinese Corps
93rd Chinese Corps
10th Chinese Corps
64th Chinese Corps
55th Chinese Corps
39th Chinese Corps
38th Chinese Corps
16th Chinese Corps
8th Route Army
34th Chinese Corps
2nd Chinese Cavalry Corps
77th Chinese Corps
52nd Chinese Corps
11th Chinese Corps
41st Chinese Corps
9th Chinese Corps
58th Chinese Corps
12th Chinese Corps
7th New Chinese Corps
8th Prov Chinese Corps
62nd Chinese Corps
32nd Chinese Corps
49th Chinese Corps
61st Chinese Corps
5th Chinese Corps
96th Chinese Corps
40th Chinese Corps
98th Chinese Corps
56th Chinese Corps
94th Chinese Corps
37th Chinese Corps
90th Chinese Corps
21st Chinese Corps
1st New Chinese Corps
93rd Chinese Division
17th Construction Regiment
37th Group Army
Red Chinese Army
71st Chinese Corps
Y' Force
8th Chinese Base Force
38th Group Army
15th Chinese Corps
12th Construction Regiment
49th Chinese Division
3rd Chinese Cavalry Corps
55th Prov Chinese Division
14th Chinese Corps
27th Chinese Corps
40th Group Army
1st Chinese Base Force
CAF HQ
NCAC
19th Chinese Base Force
36th Chinese Corps
11th Construction Regiment
30th Chinese Corps
Central Reserve
1st Construction Regiment
10th Chinese Base Force
China Command
41st AA Regiment

I'll assess the Japanese forces in Chungking and decide what to do with them. 5 divisions have already been bought out (4 for the Marianas) along with 16 arty units (from Manchuoko). I have the points to buy out another division and will continue to buy out the high experience divisions as I can.

This was a MAJOR boon in VPs. Japanese VPs gained 3266 today against a loss of 432 Allied VPs. The ratio jumped from 1.99 to 2.17.

Other Stuff

I haven't really looked at much else yet. I'll discuss it as I can. I will post pics of the AOs later with a more in depth discussion.

It's good to be back.

[RangerJoe]

If you let Chungking be recaptured on the cheap one turn before those destroyed units return, you could kill the all again. With no devices other than troops, it should not be hard to do.

[Mike Solli]

ORIGINAL: RangerJoe

If you let Chungking be recaptured on the cheap one turn before those destroyed units return, you could kill the all again. With no devices other than troops, it should not be hard to do.

He has no troops anywhere near Chungking. A couple individual units, a stack with about a dozen and another with about 30. They're all starving. I'll clean them up over time. More experienced troops.

[jdsrae]

Good work.
To think that if you’d run just one more turn 2 years ago you would have captured Chungking!

[RangerJoe]

ORIGINAL: jdsrae

Good work.
To think that if you’d run just one more turn 2 years ago you would have captured Chungking!

Yes, he could have captured Chungking two years earlier!

[rustysi]

WTF!!!!! Its back on again????? [:D]

Good news, and good to see you two back at it.

[Mike Solli]

ORIGINAL: RangerJoe

ORIGINAL: jdsrae

Good work.
To think that if you’d run just one more turn 2 years ago you would have captured Chungking!

Yes, he could have captured Chungking two years earlier!

ORIGINAL: jdsrae

Good work.
To think that if you’d run just one more turn 2 years ago you would have captured Chungking!

Right?! lol

[witpqs]

[:)]

[Mike Solli]

Ok, got the turn back to Ted. Quick status of KB/MKB then back to working on Mike's 7 Dec turn.

KB1 & KB2 are 3 hexes NE of Ocean island and retiring to the NW. They are currently spotted and all I can see are 2 damaged CVLs 10 hexes away (4 hexes E of Makin) and heading NE. I have some subs vectoring in to try and catch them. My carriers are in good order with plenty of fuel but not a lot of torpedoes and a replenishment TF to the NW. Here's their composition:

KB1
Shokaku: 34 A6M5, 19 Judy Y1, 19 Jill, 10 torps
Unryu: 38 A6M5c, 11 Judy Y3, 9 Jill, 11 torps
Amagi: 38 A6m5b, 15 Judy Y3, 13 Jill, 14 torps
Katsuragi: 34 A6M5c, 14 Judy Y3, 13 Jill, 8 torps

KB2
Kaga: 39 A6M5c, 21 Judy Y3, 20 Jill, 11 torps
Soryu: 30 A6M5c, 20 Judy Y3, 20 Jill, 27 torps
Akagi: 48 A6M5c, 20 Judy Y3, 20 Jill, 11 torps
Chitose: 23 A6M5c, 11 Jill, 7 torps
Chiyoda: 11 A6M5c, 20 Jill, 17 torps

Elsewhere, the rest...

MKB1 is ready to go in Yokohama.
Hiyo: 24 A6M5c, 21 Judy Y1, 11 Jill
Shoho: 21 A6M5c, 11 Jill
Ryujo: 39 A6M5c, 15 Jill
Nisshin: 24 A6M5c, 11 Jill
Hosho: 15 A6M5c, 8 Jill

CVEs Chuyo and Kaiyo are in Babeldaob and Taiyo and Shinyo are escorting tanker convoys from Singapore to the Home Islands.

Finally, Zuikaku is safely in the Home Islands repairing from damage sustained in August in a carrier battle where a couple US CVs were sunk. She'll be repaired in 125 days.

I've lost:

Hiryu, Junyo, Zuiho and Unyo.

The US has lost:

CV Saratoga
CV Wasp
CVL Princeton (probably)
CVL Cowpens (probably) with 2 other CVLs badly damaged and limping east.
CVE Santee
CVE Anzio
CVE Chenango

So, there's still a powerful Allied carrier force out there. Some of them are damaged to a degree. Time for KB to vanish.

[USSAmerica]

Ok, not feeling left out of this one. [:D]

Great to see you and Ted back in action! It will give you something to do while waiting on turns from me. [:D]

Let me know if you would prefer I not follow this one. If you keep the door open, just remember not to spill any cross war secrets here. [;)]

[RangerJoe]

ORIGINAL: USSAmerica

Ok, not feeling left out of this one. [:D]

Great to see you and Ted back in action! It will give you something to do while waiting on turns from me. [:D]

Let me know if you would prefer I not follow this one. If you keep the door open, just remember not to spill any cross war secrets here. [;)]

[rustysi]

Well those...

Eye lashes are false.[:'(]

[Mike Solli]

ORIGINAL: USSAmerica

Ok, not feeling left out of this one. [:D]

Great to see you and Ted back in action! It will give you something to do while waiting on turns from me. [:D]

Let me know if you would prefer I not follow this one. If you keep the door open, just remember not to spill any cross war secrets here. [;)]

Mike, of course you're welcome here!

[Mike Solli]

Quick update. I've been working on Mike's starting turn furiously. Well, in between bouts of watching grandkids & helping their parents out when requested. I hope to get it to Mike today or tomorrow at the latest. I've received a turn from Ted and sent it back. I'll post the update as soon as I send the turn to Mike.

[USSAmerica]

ORIGINAL: Mike Solli

ORIGINAL: USSAmerica

Ok, not feeling left out of this one. [:D]

Great to see you and Ted back in action! It will give you something to do while waiting on turns from me. [:D]

Let me know if you would prefer I not follow this one. If you keep the door open, just remember not to spill any cross war secrets here. [;)]

Mike, of course you're welcome here!

[:D]