Speedy vs Fabertong: Death to the Penguin!

[Speedysteve]

Hi all,

Myitkyina is liberated!

After months of long hard fighting the IJA left throughout the past day and supply laden trucks were soon steaming through towards Yunan.

My Myitkyina force is to follow on the heels of the IJA immediately,. I predict he will probably try and mass his force on the rail line and defeat me in detail there. As such I need to increase my force levels with Myitkyina troops.

Well done lads. It's taken time but the war of attrition has achieved it's first success in Burma.

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Surprisingly my attack on Lashio failed. We achieved 0:1 odds but inflicted 4 times as many casualties on the enemy. Recon indicates reinforcements approaching but my men will rest tomorrow before trying again.

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SS Corvina and SS Dragonet left and Francisco today for duties in the Pacific.

Tomorrow 2 x AK and a DE arrive at San Francisco.

[rtrapasso]

ORIGINAL: BrucePowers

I haven't listened to Aqualung in ages. I haven't listened to Jethro Tull in ages (at least 15 years). I never would have gotten that one.

OK - this is also on The Thread, but since not everyone that reads this also visits TT, here is a link to the song (in case you feel the urge to sing along with the new lyrics... [:'(])

http://news.gooya.com/nabavi/archives/real/Jethro.mp3

[Speedysteve]

Hi all,

More sub action:

SS Dorado (on her first patrol) encounters a troop convoy in the middle of the Phillipine Sea. The escorting craft locate her before she can fire and PC Fukue drops some DC's nearby. No significant damage sustained. She later achieved a firing position, but missed, AP Kyokusei Maru.

SS Barb hit AK Hoeisan Maru SW of Okinawa with dud torpedoes. In the afternoon she successfully damaged AP Yuzan Maru with a torpedo.

SS Tunny heavily damaged the freighter Soyo Maru with a torpedo 180 miles east of Tarakan.

SS Tuna hit the troop laden transport Ume Maru with a torpedo east of Mindanao.

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As expected Faber has massed his troops on the Mandalay rail line. Even with these he met no success:

Ground combat at 34,28

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 227854 troops, 1385 guns, 823 vehicles, Assault Value = 5665

Defending force 77483 troops, 439 guns, 968 vehicles, Assault Value = 1927

Japanese max assault: 2904 - adjusted assault: 2849

Allied max defense: 1995 - adjusted defense: 2817

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 1


Japanese ground losses:
6120 casualties reported
Guns lost 123
Vehicles lost 41

Allied ground losses:
655 casualties reported
Guns lost 17
Vehicles lost 3

If my men can hold on for 3-4 more days my Myitkyina forces will be there to assist.

[Speedysteve]

Hi all,

A relatively quiet day with bad weather allowing only 2 combat support missions in Burma.

No land combat up there today. I guess Faber is resting a day before a massive assault on the rail line position. My Myitkyina men are 60 miles away and have encountered some recon/roadblock elements which they should clear tomorrow.

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Little sub activity also. SS S-18 avoided a couple of MSW's in the Lower Kuriles

SS Sunfish punctured the oil laden hull of TK Ichiyu Maru in the west Phillipine Sea.

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Preparation contuinues for the next invasions. AK/AP and TK are moving here and there in numbers bringing men, supply and fuel where it is needed.

I predict 4-6 weeks before we launch off. Hopefully by then all my CV's will be equipped with Hellcats.

CA Baltimore, 2 x DD and a TK arrive at San Francisco tomorrow.

A Lagg3 and PV1 unit also arrive in theatre.

[Andy Mac]

Does that mean the Burma road is now re opened and operational ?

[Speedysteve]

Hi Andy,
 
Yes. The Burma Road is up and running[8D]
 
I'll post a screenshot of Burma later.

[Speedysteve]

Hi all,

I've attached a screenshot of Burma for Andy et al to see. It appears Faber is retreating from the rail line towards Mandalay. Fine by me. I'm hot on his heels. An Aviation Rgt is to be airlifted to Myitkyina starting from tomorrow.

Large air strikes on the retreating Japanese columns in Burma cause 100's of casualties.

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SS Trident hit gold today. Moving down the Malacca Strait she encountered and hit MLE Tainan Maru with a torpedo.

SS Bluefish also had a good day in putting 2 fish into the freighter Taibu Maru NW of Tori Shima.

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CA Baltimore class are fine ships. 990 AA rating straight off.

An SS and MSW arrive at San Francisco tomorow.

[BrucePowers]

How many turns a day are you guys managing to get in on average?

[Speedysteve]

Hi all,

Hi Bruce - normally 1-2 a day but over the past month (and for the forseeable future) 3-4 a week due to RL work commitments by Faber and me.

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Faber continues his retreat towards Mandalay hounded by the Allied airforce. Examples of the carnage for once:

Day Air attack on 25th Division, at 43,32


Allied aircraft
Spitfire Vb x 25
P-40N Warhawk x 34
B-25J Mitchell x 19
I-16c x 18


No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
122 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 56th Division, at 33,30


Allied aircraft
Liberator VI x 6
P-38G Lightning x 15
F-5A Lightning x 1
B-25J Mitchell x 18
B-24D Liberator x 38


Allied aircraft losses
Liberator VI: 1 damaged
B-25J Mitchell: 2 damaged
B-24D Liberator: 2 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
123 casualties reported
Guns lost 3
Vehicles lost 1

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 22nd Ind.Mixed Brigade, at 33,30


Allied aircraft
Liberator VI x 8
P-38G Lightning x 47
F-5A Lightning x 1
B-25J Mitchell x 18
B-24D Liberator x 26


Allied aircraft losses
B-25J Mitchell: 2 damaged
B-24D Liberator: 1 destroyed, 2 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
115 casualties reported
Guns lost 4

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SS Snook managed to tag the empty transport Yawata Maru 300 miles east of Saipan.

Both SS Sailfish and SS Sawfish evaded pathetic attempts by enemy MSW's to tag them.

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Things are starting to come together, slowly. The WC transport fleet is about 1/2 way to PH. The Australian units will be leaving Sydney within 2 weeks bound for ***** Island[;)]

A DD arrives at San Francisco tomorrow.

[Speedysteve]

Hi all,

Burma has become interesting. Faber has not only retreated towards Mandalay but he has moved IJA elements from Mandalay to push out the Chinese contesting Lashio.

As such the Chinese divisions have been ordered back to Yunan to avoid defeat in detail. The main Allied army on the rail line is 120 miles from Mandalay now.

The ever increasing Allied dominance of the air is apparent with 100's of sorties every day on airfields around Mandalay and known enemy LCU postions. Flak was especially heavy today claiming 5 Allied bombers over Burma.

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SS Paddle achieved success in heavily damaging the loaded AP Kikukawa Maru 300 miles west of Tori Shima. Hopefully the scum will sink before reaching safety.

SS Barb heavily damaged the laden tanker Nichirin Maru 120 miles ESE of Batan Island.

I am pretty happy with how my submarine war is going. Almost every day an enemy ship or more is heavily hit. I also almost always receive confirmatuion of an enemy AK or TK sinking every day[8D]

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I have decided to give a little test to see if you can guess where I am going to invade next.

There are 2 places I am going to invade. One of these was contested pretty heavily IRL. Shouldn't be too hard. Thoughts?

BB Alabama arrives at San Francisco tomorrow.

Also interestingly I receive my first F4U-1D unit in 43 days [:)]

First AGC arrives (Blue something I think it's called) in 15 days time.

[Speedysteve]

No thoughts on where i'm going to invade next?

[DuckofTindalos]

You're not attacking Pelileu, are you?

[Speedysteve]

Bingo.
 
Apamama too. My CV's and BB's will dominate the area for a few weeks before anything goes in though

[Speedysteve]

Hi all,

My Chinese forces svac'd the Lashio area just in time. 20 Japanese units are reported there now! I hope he keeps them there since my Commonwealth troops will be at Mandalay within 3-4 days = Lashio will be cut off from supply.

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SS Sawfish blew up MSW W.5 NW of San Marcelino. Now out of torpedo's she is hading back to Darwin. SS Gudgeon is en route to replace her.

SS Cod put 2 fish into the freighter Kibi Maru 300 miles ESE of Tori Shima

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BB Alabama, BB New Mexico, CA Baltimore + 4 x Fletcher class DD's left San Francisco at 11PM to head for PH. The storm is gathering once more..............

[Speedysteve]

Hi all,

Bad weather prevented almost all air activity across Burma.

The Commonwealth forces are 55 miles away from Mandalay now and closing.......

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No sub activity. SS Porpoise evaded an IN Fleet Destroyer inbetween Marcus Island and Wake Island.

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CVE Casablanca arrived yesterday. The first of many of her class...........

3 x AK arrive tomorrow.

[Speedysteve]

Hi all,

More submarine success for the Allies. I guess with the lack of Air bases within combat range of enemy bases in the Pacific my submarine arm has by far and away been the best of my services thus far:

SS Skipjack hit the empty transport Yubae Maru with a torpedo NW of Jesselton. The Fleet Destroyers Hatsuharu and Minegumo tried in vain to find my submarine.

SS Halibut Missed MSW W.15 60 miles north of Pagan.

SS Trout left the freighter Asaka Maru sinking after 2 torpedoes blew off her bow. This attack happened 300 miles east of Luzon.

SS Paddle sank AK Kinshu Maru west of Tori Shima with 2 torpedoes.

SS Raton will probably have sunk MSW Misago Maru with a torpedo north of the Marianas.

[Speedysteve]

Hi all,

Bad weather prevented most air raids from taking off.

My Commonwealth forces should reach the IJA defences outside Mandalay tomorrow......

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2 successful sub attacks today.

SS Harder heavily hit AK Atutasan Maru 240 miles south of Okinawa

SS Apogon hit the large fuel laden tanker Itsukushima Maru north of Bonin Island.

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The 32nd and 41st USA Divisions + Tank Bn should begin loading at Sydney tomorrow. These will be involved in the upcoming invasions.

2 x AK, and LCI and an SC arrived at San Francisco today.

I am, now thinking that I will not have Hellcats on board all CV's BEFORE being ready to launch this operation. I will proceed anyhow. Once all the troops are en route to the jump off base (to be named shortly) my CV's and BB forces will begin the acquisition of enemy airspace and the subjugation of enemy defences.

[Nikademus]

Tokyo Rose say...

"Speedy suck...go home and drink Guinness Imperialist scum"

[Speedysteve]

Hi all,

I've had almost enough of waiting to attack Fabertong again. I know that patience and a detailed build up is crucial to success against an enemy held Island though. It will be time to move out again soon though. Within a week all supply, fuel, plane ferrying and troop carrying ships should either be at PH or leaving Sydney. These '2 arms' will meet at Baker Island.

From there the CV/BB forces will move to the Tarawa region and begin to pummel everything within range.

So over the next week CV Divisions will be formed in PH. The number of available BB's will be analysed to determine how many bombardments groups can be made. The transports TF's will be re-distributed and then all will be ready to move out to Baker Island.

I'll post a full run down of my TF composition when all is organised.

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SS Scamp spotted CL Yura + 2 x DD's in the early hours of 26th east of Mindanao.

SS Bluefish spotted a lone freighter (AK Shojin Maru) NW of Tori Shima. She surfaced and pumped 5-7 4" shells into her and for good measure put a fish into her. She will probably sink.

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Bad weather prevented air missions again other than raids on Mandalay from Imphal.

My Commonwealth forces are at the IJA positions outside of Mandalay. Probes and bombardments will be launched tomorrow.

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3 x AK, 3 x LCI, 1 x SC and 1 x DD arrive in theatre tomorrow.

[rtrapasso]

For those of you who do not frequent The Thread: Speedy's agents attempted assasination of fabertong by pushing him into the polar bear exhibit at the zoo failed after fabertong employed some of his super-sneaky penguin tricks...