Aztez (Allies) vs Erstad (Japan)

[aztez]

[:D][:D].. I would have used the Nuke option at Sian but somehow I lost the launching codes [;)]

Yes, those Spitfires are coming soon. That is the bright side. Last turn wasn't good [8|]


Report from 16th through 18th of May 1942


Central Pacific


[>:][>:][>:][>:]


North Pacific


[>:][>:][>:][>:]


China


As you can see from the screenshot Sian was captured. Thankfully those troops retreated towards Chungking this time around.


Ground combat at Sian

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 418927 troops, 4341 guns, 159 vehicles

Defending force 85806 troops, 258 guns, 0 vehicles

Japanese assault odds: 10 to 1 (fort level 0)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Sian base !!!


Japanese ground losses:
8444 casualties reported
Guns lost 162
Vehicles lost 9

Allied ground losses:
5726 casualties reported
Guns lost 90


Defeated Allied Units Retreating!


Australia, NZ & South Pacific


He continues bombard Darwin with his surface fleet.


Naval bombardment of Darwin, at 36,84 - Coastal Guns Fire Back!

10 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Japanese Ships
BB Yamashiro
BB Fuso, Shell hits 3


Allied ground losses:
316 casualties reported
Guns lost 6

Also wave of Japanese LBA's are now softening up Southern Australia.

Japanese also invaded Wyndham. This time they brought in adequate troops.



Ground combat at Wyndham

Japanese Shock attack
Attacking force 23723 troops, 213 guns, 1 vehicles

Defending force 5533 troops, 41 guns, 0 vehicles

Japanese assault odds: 9 to 1 (fort level 0)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Wyndham base !!!


Japanese ground losses:
473 casualties reported
Guns lost 15

Allied ground losses:
489 casualties reported
Guns lost 24


Defeated Allied Units Retreating!


India & Burma


[>:][>:][>:][>:]

[ny59giants]

It looks like Northern Oz is a lost cause also. Looks like your opponent has mastered the ground combat system pretty well. [X(]

How is the defense of the lower half of Oz looking?? Where are the LBA launching from to attack Southern Oz? Is Perth built up to stand by itself since it so isolate from the rest of Oz?

[aztez]

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

It looks like Northern Oz is a lost cause also. Looks like your opponent has mastered the ground combat system pretty well. [X(]

How is the defense of the lower half of Oz looking?? Where are the LBA launching from to attack Southern Oz? Is Perth built up to stand by itself since it so isolate from the rest of Oz?

Good questions. I wil try an answer to those [:)]

Yes, Dave is using the land combat system to his advantage. I propably should have placed my troops diffrently initially if I had known how he will advance with his assaults.

Lower Oz is not looking too bad. I have concentrated my Aussie Divisions/Brigades in three cities: Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane. These bases have level 9 fortifications. Rest of the Oz do not have strong infantry garrisons. The idea is simply to keep my infantry strenght tightly packed. It would be a disaster if he could isolate my ground army and pick them one by one.

The reason why you do not see strong LBA coverage in Oz is the fact that Dave setup the blockade early on in this game. I have been unable ship adequate level of Fighters and Bombers from West Coast.

The Supply situation good since I managed to deliver few huge supply convoys from Karachi. If I remember correctly there 200 000 supplies in each Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane.

I have pretty much emptied Perth. I pulled the supplies and fuels out. So, basically he can capture the base if he chooses to do so.

[aztez]

Report from 19th through 21st of May 1942



Central Pacific


Additional US RCT units have now arrived at Christmas Island, Midway and Palmyra.


North Pacific


[>:][>:][>:][>:]


China


Japanese continue to advance towards Chungking.


Ground combat at 46,29

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 176095 troops, 1688 guns, 136 vehicles

Defending force 56441 troops, 83 guns, 0 vehicles

Japanese assault odds: 14 to 1


Japanese ground losses:
5897 casualties reported
Guns lost 135
Vehicles lost 8

Allied ground losses:
507 casualties reported
Guns lost 11


Defeated Allied Units Retreating!


This is not good news at all. He is also trying circle my troops at Ichang road conjuction. However this effort will be doomed.


Australia, NZ & South Pacific


He continues to advance towards Darwin. This time around he has brought adequate forces for this offensive.


Ground combat at 30,87

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 23174 troops, 196 guns, 1 vehicles

Defending force 3590 troops, 11 guns, 0 vehicles

Japanese assault odds: 96 to 1


Japanese ground losses:
133 casualties reported
Guns lost 5
Vehicles lost 1

Allied ground losses:
164 casualties reported
Guns lost 5


Defeated Allied Units Retreating!


His navy has also bombarded the Darwin harbour. It also seems that he has landed additional units Wyndham. There are now 7 units present.


Burma & India


[>:][>:][>:][>:]

[Rob Brennan UK]

Can this monster be stopped ! [;)]

[aztez]

Report from 22nd through 24th of May 1942


Central Pacific


Allied signit indicates that he has couple divisions preparing for Midway and Pearl Harbour.


North Pacific


[>:][>:][>:][>:]


China


Dave did not follow my retreating troops near Sian. Does this mean that offensive will be on hold? I guess we will find out soon enough [:)]

He keeps up pounding my ground troops...

Day Air attack on 82nd Chinese Corps, at 43,35

Japanese aircraft
A5M4 Claude x 87
A6M2 Zero x 27
G3M Nell x 6
Ki-27 Nate x 81

No Japanese losses


Allied ground losses:
24 casualties reported
Guns lost 2


That is just an example of one bombing run. There are a lot of these going on.


Australia, NZ & South Pacific


I double checked. I have + 400 000 supplies and + 300 000 fuel at Sydney [:)]

His navy and LBA's keep bombing Darwin. I would guess that he will land there soon since wants to secure DEI region.


Burma & India


[>:][>:][>:][>:]

[aztez]

Here is the current situation in China

[aztez]

Report from 25th through 27th of May 1942



Quiet turn overall.


Central Pacific


Some Japanese submarines spotted around Pearl Harbour. Otherwise it has sunny and peaceful.


North Pacific


[>:][>:][>:][>:]


China


Just his LBA's continue their daily runs.

The massive ground offensive seems to be halted. I don't know whether this is permanent or he is just taking a breather.


Australia, NZ & South Pacific


He has seized some of those small islands near New Britain and New Guinea.

I have evacuated some of the ground troops from Darwin.


India & Burma


[>:][>:][>:][>:]

[Feinder]

Hang on to Pearl and bide your time Aztez. You've got lots of guys on the way. It's funny, I actually play closer to the GROUND unit reinforcement schedule now (10-42), than ships or squadrons. I want to know what coming, and when, and so I can make sure I have adaquate transports to pick it up.

Good news in my game (I suppose I'm bragging a little). Elements of 1st USMC Div, 39th Army Div, 132 RCT, Aus I Corps and several Artillery Rgts landed/dropped at Pago Pago and Upulo last night. The 2nd USMC Para Btn simultaneously dropped onto Wallis Island. All three islands have been secured.

Pago Pago - An excorting destroyer hit a mine, but the mine field was quickly neutralized. 1 USMC Div and 39th Army Div plus attached formations, have recaptured the island. Mopping up efforts are expected to take anther 3 - 4 days.

Upulo : 132 RCT landed un-opposed. Recon showed troop levels decreasing at Upulo so "the full hammer" was not necessary.

Wallis Island : F5A Recons indicated a sustained garrison of approximately 500 enemy soldiers. The 2nd USMC Para Btn was fully prepped and made a solo drop onto the island surprising the defenders. -ALL DEFENDERS WERE ELIMINATED WITHOUT LOSS TO THE PARATROOPERS-

He knew I was moving in SoPac, but I think I surprised him by clobbering all three islands in the same turn. Actually Fun-n-fruity and those 3 atolls to the NW are also slated for simulatious attacks in about 2 weeks (I need to redeploy assault formations, and recycle the transports back to Noumea, to pick up 6th and 7th Aus Divs, and other stuff).

He's been fixated on Baker, because I've been sabre-rattling about it for quite some time. I do plan to invade it, but having him build it up and focused on defending it, is useful in diverting his attention. I'll probably invade Baker after Canton is AF(5) for B-17 support (Canton is currently AF(4), will probably be ready in about 3 weeks). The troops are prepped, but Baker is going ot be exposed, so I want to be able to provide as much cover for it as possible. He's also done me the favor of building up Baker to AF(4).

I'm still waiting for an 8+ Division inavsion of Oz (been getting sigint message for a while). I've already got plenty there, he could capture a city or two, but that's about it. I've also got about 6 Divisions (my assault forces) able to be redeployed there if necessary. I'm pretty sure he knows this. Frankly, he -should- be having second thoughts about invading Oz (no sigint for any other "important" real estate), because I could really tie him down if he did (I win a stalemate). But he doesn't go offensive, I'm just going to keep moving forward.

Goal for end of 1942 is to re-secure SoPac, and some possessions in Bay of Bengal. Major objective will be to liberate Port Moresby in the early spring.

Defense plan is more along the line of "bastions". I won't actually garrison all that much, but keep a bastion base with large AF, support, and 3 Divs (or equivelant) every 10 hexes or so. Would be too strong for him to raze the bastion (and heavy casualties). He can capture the satalite bases, but air-projection from the bastion will keep him from using a captured satalite, and I will have enough mobile assault forces to kick him out anyway.

At least, that's the plan...

Oh, and P-38s have started rolling of the assembly lines...

:^)

-F-

[aztez]

Sorry for the lack of updates recently. I have been very busy lately.

Hmpf, Seems to me that you have acquired solid forwards bases in SoPac with your offensive. I doubt he can hold his defensive perimeter there.

I don't think that he will concentrate too troops at Baker Island and Canton Island region. This is because you can bomb him to stoneage soon [:D][:D][:D]



Report from 28th of May through 17th of June 1942



Central Pacific


Minelaying campaign has continued. He has not made any offensive actions here.


North Pacific


[>:][>:][>:][>:]


China


No ground combat actions to report. He seems to be resting his troops.

There have been couple of major dogfights here....

Day Air attack on Chengtu , at 41,29

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 86
Ki-21 Sally x 24
Ki-15 Babs x 1

Allied aircraft
P-35A x 14
P-40B Tomahawk x 13
I-153c x 12
I-16c x 38

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 14 destroyed, 1 damaged
Ki-21 Sally: 4 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
P-35A: 11 destroyed
P-40B Tomahawk: 9 destroyed
I-153c: 13 destroyed
I-16c: 32 destroyed
SB-2c: 3 destroyed
IL-4c: 2 destroyed


Allied ground losses:
13 casualties reported

Airbase hits 1
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 11

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Day Air attack on Chengtu , at 41,29

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 73
Ki-21 Sally x 22
Ki-15 Babs x 1

Allied aircraft
P-35A x 5
P-40B Tomahawk x 5
I-153c x 3
I-16c x 14

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 6 destroyed, 1 damaged
Ki-21 Sally: 4 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
P-35A: 3 destroyed
P-40B Tomahawk: 3 destroyed
I-153c: 3 destroyed
I-16c: 13 destroyed
SB-2c: 1 destroyed

Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 6

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Day Air attack on Chengtu , at 41,29

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 64
Ki-21 Sally x 20
Ki-15 Babs x 1

Allied aircraft
P-35A x 3
P-40B Tomahawk x 2
I-153c x 1
I-16c x 8

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged
Ki-21 Sally: 6 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
P-35A: 3 destroyed
P-40B Tomahawk: 2 destroyed
I-153c: 1 destroyed
I-16c: 9 destroyed
IL-4c: 3 destroyed
SB-2c: 2 destroyed


Allied ground losses:
10 casualties reported

Airbase hits 3
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 19


Australia, New Zealand & South Pacific


Dave advancing strongly in Northern Oz.

Those troops below roadconjuction near Darwin were preparing for Charter Town. Unfortunately they have now retreated towards Darwin and this these troops will be destroyed [:@]

Sometimes I really hate the ground combat system.

The Japanese strenght is over 100 000 men currently so he might try an assault towards Southern Oz.


India & Burma


I have now upgraded 2 Squadrons to Spitfires. One of these is now stationed at Chenghtu.

[Feinder]

Well, at least it sounds like he's slowing down...

I'd grab 3 - 4 USA divisions and send them the LONG way to Oz. Take your time. You've got enough to hold East Coast (probably). Put 'em on the transports, and send them far out of the way of his SoPac patrols. If it takes a month to get there, not a problem. Even land 'em in Sidney if you need to.

-F-

[Rob Brennan UK]

Ouch for the chinese airforce .. any reinforcements left for them ?

Im with fiender or the US divs .. good long term plan. also positions them for later redeployment to retake noumea. might as well prep them before transport too. they'll be a long way along the prep route too. have to guess at the target though [;)]

[niceguy2005]

Hi Aztez, very interesting AAR. It wil be interesting to see what he does in OZ. I don't know if I see a point in him going further South. THere are natural geographic boundaries between N. Oz and the rest of the continent. YOu can only hit him with long range bombers, not medium bombers. So this limits your air support. Also, they would have to fly unescorted I believe - do P-38s have the range from Alice Springs or Charter Towers?

Im sorry, i haven't been keeping up with you AAR. How are the US CVs. Any opportunity for a limited op in Central Pacific to get his attention? Definitely send reinforcements to OZ, but with him tied up in N. Oz, might be a good time to grap some loosely held Jap islands...just a thought.

[aztez]

Good advice Feinder. I will take a look on what I have available on East Coast. The problem with this is the lack of PP available. I have changed some HQ's for Canadian and NZ troops earlier.

I could rip off some units from Palmyra and Christmas Island naturally but that would expose those bases for invasion.

There is also an danger that KB maybe lurking down in Southern Pacific. Last time I spotted those vessels were near Noumea. After that I don't have any knowledge on IJN CV Fleet.

The Chinese airforce took a beating as you noticed Rob. I lost a lot of pilots and those airgroups are now resting in India. It might take sometime before they are combat ready again.

Good to see new readers in this thread. As for your niceguy2005:

US CV Fleet is at full strenght. All of them (5) are at Pearl Harbour. 2 CV's have received their 6/42 upgrades. Rest of them will be upgraded 7/42.

I have been thinking about assaulting Canton Island or Baker Island. Both of these bases have 8 enemy units garrisoning the base. (I have no clue what kind unit types are there at the moment)

I think P38's could reach the enemy from Charter Towers but the problem is that I do not have any of aircrafts available.

I will post few screenshots once I get an chance to do so.

[Feinder]

I wouldn't jump into invading Baker right now. If you take Baker, it's not going to draw off divisions from Oz. He's going to have plenty of LBA in the Marshalls, and quite a few guys at Baker. It's going to cost YOU. You'll need to bring 2 - 3 Divs, at least. Whereas, if you capture Baker (you could), he'll just go, "Hm. He captured Baker. Not unexpected. That's 2 - 3 Divisions I know aren't commited against me in Oz. I can bombard Baker with BBs and bomb the crap out of it, it'll be useless to him (in fact, be a liability to you)."

You go for Baker, and it takes a little pressure off Canton (*just re-read, you don't even own Canton : Captuing Baker would be a no-no, Canton can clobber you *), but it has little use to you otherwise. It's what you'll eventually use to threaten/stage against the Gilberts or Marshalls. He -knows- you're NOT going to invade Gilbers/Marshalls any time soon, so I wouldn't bother responding to losing Baker if I were him. Dave - "Fine. Baker was going to go sometime. It's not doing him that much good. He can watch G/M. *shrug* Can't -effectively- base B-17s there, and Baker is too far for most 2e bombers to bomb anything in G/M anyway. He's got to worry about Oz, before invading Marshalls, to this is a major threat to me because...?"

Yes, taking some of the attention away from Oz is good tho. If you want to invade something, make it something more useful to you. Do you still own Midway, Johnston, Palmyra, Christmas? If so, do you own Canton Island? If so, what about Pago-Pago, Upulo, Wallis? You have those three (probably not), look at Tongapu (or whatever it's called). THOSE bases will get his attention. Those bases are your chain to Oz (which you're going to need). And Pago Pago for example, is his eyes into SoPac, forcing you to divert convoys a long way around to Oz (+3 weeks travel to say out of range of his eyes). At the same time, it's blinding you to KB's movements. Recaputre Pago-Pago (* or Canton *), and you turn some lights on for you, and poke his eyes out (at least for part of the way, you're making progress).

Frankly, I'd wait for...

Get Wasp. She shows up in about July? Keep your CVs in good condition (under 10 sys damage), and with those July refits. Most folks don't realize that more sys damage a ship has, the higher intrensic detection level, and is easier to spot. A ship producing smoke (sys > 10), is much easier to get pegged by a patrol. You do -NOT- want ships with >10 sys in your CV TFs. All that is said because, Dave either already has, or will need to soon, port KB. Just puttering around, will rack up Sys into the teens and 20s. He knows that dangerous (high DL), it also means one hit closes a flight deck. -VERY- bad news for CV combat. With Wasp (and maybe you can get the RN CVs all the way around Oz, I did), you -can- stand up to him. Without Wasp (and better with the RN), he'll bop your hapless-5, and then you're screwed.
Frankly, if you haven't seen KB in a while, he's probably got some (2 - 3 CVs) in SoPac, probably Junyo and the newer ones, it doesn't take your best CVs to hunt convoys. The rest are likely sitting in port burning off sys damage, so he can get his own AAA refits, and face you at full strength when you -do- show up to fight. On the other hand, I think it -is- a good bet that most of his CVs are ported, maybe some patrolling SoPac. That -could- be an opportunity for you to go 5 on 3 or somethiing. However, you have no eyes (LBA) to spot him, and point you in the right direction. With 3 day turns, it's going going to be tough to get an intercept. Meanwhile, he will have Emilys out looking, and you'll be racking up sys damage on your own CVs. Frankly, I wouldn't look for that fight (you're not really sure if he's even there). I -would- use your CVs to escort a convoy with 4 Divs in a mega-convoy to Oz. If KB is there, you can't afford to lose the convoy unescorted. The convoy would actually act as a diversion, and might steal off a strike or two, that might have hit your CVs. It (sort of) drawns down the odds a little with less bombs on your CVs, and maybe your own CVs get some licks in. While, I would escort the convoy, it's still and engagement I'd avoid.

For your invasions, it has been my experience, that actual -recon- type aircraft make a huge difference. Yes, that sounds like a "duh". But considering you could recon Baker for months with PBYs and Coronados, I would still only get "number" of units. Wait until Jul/Aug when you've got 2 sqdns of F5As, and you'll see actual troop numbers. "8 units" might be 2 base forces, a CD gun, 2 flak, and 2 SNLF Btns. It might be 2 Divisions. "8 units" could be anything. I wouldn't want to invade if all my intel says is "8 units".

Also, if you havne't got Bodhi's Untility. Get it. I hope you save the old sigint reports (or start doing it now!). Maybe you have them in your inbox (he usually sends them), and haven't deleted the hold files. THere's a LOT of info in Sigint, if you compile it (or rather let Bodhi do it for you). You might actually find out what those 8 units are from signint. You might see that he actually -is- prepping for an invasion of Tville (reference the Jap OB tho, he might just be prepping a Home Guard Division as red herring, or it might worth "considering", if you get other units prepping for same high value target).

Dave is a wiley one. Be patient.

-F-

[ny59giants]

I would also say wait for your CV's to expand the Fighters to 36 and get some of them with Avengers on their decks.
I agree with Feinder about taking Pago-Pago and Upulo. You need to be able to get some recon capabilies into that corner of the ocean. Plus, you will need another axis of possible counter-offensive for him to worry about.
How about sending a couple of single transport TF's of 4.5k AK's to NZ to see what they draw out? Not just one following the other, but take slightly different routes to see about LBA's and subs. [&:]

[aztez]

Sorry for the lack of updates recently... the game has continued but I have been busy IRL... here is the latest news...


Yes, I still own Christmas Island, Palmyra and Midway. Actually I have + 1000 Assault points in each of these base.

I agree that I cannot consider Baker Island as an target. It is too isolated. So, basically that leaves me with opportunist assault againts Canton Island. (He is propably expecting this invasion... or at least I would if I were him) This base would however give me a solid strongpoint from where I could launch againts Pago Pago and Fiji's. As said these bases are key to the supply lanes to Oz. I will wait for those squadrons F5A's. These will be present within an month or so. Once these are at my disposal I will get an estimate on the enemy strenght guarding the Canton Island. (8 units still present)

I did download the Bothi's utility but it did not help in terms of locating his major Naval assets. KB and Mini KB are nowhere to seen but propably lurking in Southern Pacific. Perhaps at Truk or Marshall's.

CV Wasp is 14 days off so that will give me 6 US CV's to operate with. Hornet, Saratoga, Yorktown, Enterprise and Lexington have all received their June/July upgrades. Unfortunately I'am still left with TB Devastators. (Avengers are not "produced" yet")

As always I appreciate your comments Feinder.

Good advice NY59Giants. There are now 1 Empty transport TF sailing from Auckland to San Francisco. It will be taking the long route to the West Coast. So far so good since no enemy actions to report.


The situation report from 18th of June through 3rd of July 1942


Central Pacific


I have been shipping more troops into Pearl Harbour, Midway and Christmas Island. These islands along with Palmyra are heavily garrisoned.

Also my CV Fleet received their upgrades at Pearl Harbour. A little bit better AA capability but the October upgrade will be more eagerly waited one.


North Pacific


[>:][>:][>:][>:]


China


I have deployed 2 Spitfire squadrons to Chengtu. This front has been an stalemate for month or so. He has not launched any major ground nor air offensives here.

(See the screenshot)


Australia, NZ & South Pacific


Dave now controls the whole Northern Oz since he also captured Darwin.

It seems that there over 150 000 enemy troops taking part in this operation. Maybe even more...

Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne are heavily garrisoned. In other areas I do not have the proper amount of infantry available.


India & Burma


I did receive the 1st Chindit Brigade last turn.(2nd will be available next turn) These troops are heading to Jorhat where I have strong presence in terms of Airforce.

I have started upgrading my aircrafts which in terms of defense is good news.

RN is stationed at Bombay and Karachi.

[aztez]

Here is the screenshot from China:

[aztez]

Here is an screenshot from South Pacific area:

[Rob Brennan UK]

is upolo out of supply ? ( base n of pago ?)..

if so .. maybe send in a LOT via sub and try and get a catalina unit in .. can recon the area b4 u get f5's ( and f5's take forever to build up 5/month is soooo slow)