PzB vs Wobbly - Clash of Steel

[PzB74]

Thought I was the one doing nasty things to Andy in the Pacific! [:D]
India got 3 full divisions, 5 Bdes, 3 tank regiments and lots of guard and engineer units.

No plans to evacuate the largest of these units, but I am considering to move a brigade and
a couple of guard units.

Did you see the Army Reinforcements list I posted not long ago? Large troop reinforcements
will arrive over the next weeks and months! Everything hinges on the ability to delay or halt Andy's
next major offensive.

[lyceum]

This is really great. Thanks for all the info you are giving us, really builds a great picture of whats going on and what carnage will result!
Think Andy has definately over-stretched himself by going past New Guinea with so little forces. Good to see you punishing him for it!

If Andy does take the Marianas and starts launching B29 raids, can he escort them?  It may not be so decisive if you have plenty of highly trained interceptors waiting.

[PzB74]

Glad you enjoy it Luceum! It's difficult to predict how all this is going to end, but it's
certainly fun to see it all through [:)]

Andy can probably escort the B-29's from the Marianas with long range P-51s? Not sure about
this. Still, so many targets in Japan that he can cause havoc to the industry if the Marianas
fall. So it's quite easy: we DEFEND the Marianas with all our heart and soul!

Andy is committing several invasions with unescorted barges far from their
bases. Some cve's and cv's are in the area around Kendari. For now we continue
to attack with scattered naval bomber formations to inflict as much damage as possible.

Tomorrow the carrier Aso arrives.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 05/12/44

Invasions

Unloading a Bde over Makale.

Coastal Guns at Makale, 32,67, firing at TF 65
TF 65 troops unloading over beach at Makale, 32,67

1 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Japanese Ships
PC Ch 30
AP Kunimitsu Maru
PG Aso Maru

Japanese ground losses:
945 casualties reported
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Surface Combat

Promised the barge convoy heat today: here it goes! [;)]

Night Time Surface Combat, near Pomala at 32,69

Japanese Ships
DD Fujinami
PC Hirado

Allied Ships
LCT LCT-65, Shell hits 1, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
LCT LCT-66
LCT LCT-130, Shell hits 1
LCT LCT-131
LCT LCT-132, Shell hits 5, on fire, heavy damage
LCT LCT-133
LCT LCT-138, Shell hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
LCT LCT-142, Shell hits 1, on fire
LCT LCT-146
LCT LCT-147
LCT LCT-150
LCT LCT-152, Shell hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
LCT LCT-173
LCT LCT-357
LCT LCT-358
LCT LCT-359
LCT LCT-479

Allied ground losses:
145 casualties reported
Vehicles lost 1
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Air Combat

Day Air attack on 503rd USA Para Regiment, at 32,69

Japanese aircraft
D4Y Judy x 19

No Japanese losses

Allied ground losses:
45 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

Aircraft Attacking:
19 x D4Y Judy bombing at 2000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Attack on carrier TF - no go...

Day Air attack on TF at 34,75

Japanese aircraft
G4M2 Betty x 6

Allied aircraft
FM-2 Wildcat x 30
Corsair IV x 6

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M2 Betty: 6 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
FM-2 Wildcat: 5 damaged
Corsair IV: 2 damaged
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Continue to hammer the ocean going barge convoy.

Day Air attack on TF at 32,70

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zeke x 24

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
LCT LCT-473
LCT LCT-470, Shell hits 8
LCT LCT-375, Shell hits 4
LCT LCT-464, Shell hits 4
LCT LCT-472

Allied ground losses:
66 casualties reported
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Enemy fast transports...and Corsairs!

Day Air attack on TF, near Makale at 32,67

Japanese aircraft
P1Y Frances x 24

Allied aircraft
F4U-1D Corsair x 8

Japanese aircraft losses
P1Y Frances: 7 destroyed, 10 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
F4U-1D Corsair: 4 damaged

Allied Ships
DD Gansevoort
DD Drayton
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 41,72

Japanese aircraft
G4M2 Betty x 4

Allied aircraft
P-38J Lightning x 4

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M2 Betty: 2 damaged

Allied Ships
AK Propus, Torpedo hits 1

Aircraft Attacking:
4 x G4M2 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Talasea at 59,88

Japanese aircraft
G4M2 Betty x 5

Allied aircraft
Boomerang II x 5

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M2 Betty: 1 damaged

Allied Ships
AK Empire Rowan
AK Cape Stevens
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Think Makale will become Japanese property again soon! Half the Bde is still aboard
the troop ships. Tomorrow we attack.

Ground combat at Makale

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 945 troops, 1 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 57

Defending force 3819 troops, 52 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 134
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Grace

Ugraded a high exp Jill unit today! Will transfer it to my new carriers.

[PzB74]

Strike Force II Makes Contact!

A Glen scout ac from the sub ahead of Strike Force II spotted an enemy convoy today.
The commander orders a change of course to intercept!

If those ships are loaded Andy's in for a surprise tomorrow [:D]

[Fishbed]

Fingers crossed! [&o][:)]
Killing APs, even unloaded, is nice enough already btw [8D]

[Przemcio231]

Way to Go PzB...[:D]

[PzB74]

Then you're in for a treat Fish! [:D]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 05/13/44

Surface Combat

Our small TF continue to punish the loaded landing crafts!

Night Time Surface Combat at 33,68

Japanese Ships
DD Fujinami
PC Hirado

Allied Ships
LCT LCT-58, Shell hits 4, on fire, heavy damage
LCT LCT-61, Shell hits 9, on fire, heavy damage
LCT LCT-170
LCT LCT-175
LCT LCT-176, Shell hits 6, on fire, heavy damage
LCT LCT-177, Shell hits 1
LCT LCT-478
LCVP 532F
LCVP 542M
LCVP 542Q
LCVP 543F
LCVP 543G
LCVP 543H
LCVP 543L
LCVP 592F
LCVP 592R
LCVP 592S
LCVP 593F
LCVP 593G
LCVP 593J
LCVP 593K
LCVP 593L

Allied ground losses:
183 casualties reported
Guns lost 6
Vehicles lost 2
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Invasions

Coastal Guns at Makale, 32,67, firing at TF 65
TF 65 troops unloading over beach at Makale, 32,67

Japanese Ships
PC Ch 30

Japanese ground losses:
627 casualties reported
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Air Combat

Night Air attack on Wasile , at 41,69

Japanese aircraft
J1N1-S Irving x 22

Japanese aircraft losses
J1N1-S Irving: 4 damaged

Allied ground losses: - whopping, results from night bombing [;)]
6 casualties reported

Runway hits 1
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Andy gets in the first kills as an ASW group is pummeled by Helldivers!

Day Air attack on TF, near Macassar at 30,69

Allied aircraft
F6F Hellcat x 3
SB2C Helldiver x 50

Allied aircraft losses
SB2C Helldiver: 2 damaged

Japanese Ships
APD APD-2, Bomb hits 5, on fire, heavy damage
PG Shinko Maru #2, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
PG Edo Maru, Bomb hits 4, on fire, heavy damage
PG Hakkaisan Maru, Bomb hits 2, on fire
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Our counter attack is puny, but the Oscars see some of the bombers through!

Day Air attack on TF at 33,73

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zeke x 22
D4Y Judy x 19
P1Y Frances x 8
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 60

Allied aircraft
FM-2 Wildcat x 41
Corsair IV x 20

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5 Zeke: 19 destroyed
D4Y Judy: 4 destroyed, 4 damaged
P1Y Frances: 1 destroyed, 6 damaged
Ki-43-IIa Oscar: 46 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
FM-2 Wildcat: 2 destroyed, 5 damaged

Allied Ships
CVE Long Island
CVE Corregidor, Bomb hits 2
CVE White Plains, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage *sinks* [8D]

Aircraft Attacking:
7 x D4Y Judy bombing at 2000 feet
1 x P1Y Frances launching torpedoes at 200 feet
2 x P1Y Frances launching torpedoes at 200 feet
8 x D4Y Judy bombing at 2000 feet
4 x P1Y Frances launching torpedoes at 200 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
And here comes the desert: Strike Force II connects perfectly with the enemy TROOP convoy! [:D]
From a range of 1 hex Judy's and Jill's wreck havoc among the UNESCORTED cargo ships

Day Air attack on TF at 120,60

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zeke x 20
D4Y Judy x 30
B6N Jill x 17

Japanese aircraft losses
B6N Jill: 5 damaged

Allied Ships [:D] [&o]
AK Starr King, Bomb hits 2, on fire
AK Edwin M. Stanton
AK William B. Leeds, Bomb hits 2, on fire
AK William Ford Nichols, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
AK Cleveland Forbes, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
AK Henry L. Abott, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
AK Joe C. S. Blackburn, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
AK Augustin Stahl, Torpedo hits 4, on fire, heavy damage
AK General Fleisher
AK Harrington Emerson, Bomb hits 1
AK Weltevreden, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AK Alexander Majors, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage

Allied ground losses:
396 casualties reported
Vehicles lost 4
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The afternoon attack inflicts even more casualties and enemy ships are left sinking all over
the place. Naval construction and Base Force personel are taking to their life rafts.

Day Air attack on TF at 120,60

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zeke x 18
D4Y Judy x 27
B6N Jill x 11

Japanese aircraft losses
D4Y Judy: 2 damaged
B6N Jill: 3 damaged

Allied Ships
AK Harrington Emerson, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
AK Weltevreden, Bomb hits 3, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AK General Fleisher, Bomb hits 2, on fire
AK Starr King, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
AK Edwin M. Stanton, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
AK Benjamin Waterhouse, Bomb hits 1, on fire

Allied ground losses:
230 casualties reported
Vehicles lost 3
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Our heroic little TF is destroyed by Helldivers in return!

Day Air attack on TF, near Makale at 32,67

Allied aircraft
SB2C Helldiver x 20


Allied aircraft losses
SB2C Helldiver: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
PC Hirado, Bomb hits 4, on fire, heavy damage
DD Fujinami, Bomb hits 5, on fire, heavy damage
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fortunately most of our troops have unloaded at Makale and the small strike cause few
casualties.

Day Air attack on TF, near Makale at 32,67

Allied aircraft
F6F Hellcat x 9
SB2C Helldiver x 24

No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
AP Kembu Maru
AP Nihonkai Maru
AP Minowa Maru, Bomb hits 2, on fire
AP Meisho Maru
AP Netsuda Maru, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage

Japanese ground losses:
25 casualties reported
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This strike didn't get through, morale was low after previous attacks.
I found that 2 of my Frances formations hat patrol type leaders with high inspiration
and low aggression. Changed this.

Day Air attack on TF at 33,73

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zeke x 2
D4Y Judy x 13
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 24

Allied aircraft
FM-2 Wildcat x 25

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5 Zeke: 1 destroyed
D4Y Judy: 1 destroyed
Ki-43-IIa Oscar: 13 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
FM-2 Wildcat: 1 destroyed, 2 damaged
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 43,73

Japanese aircraft
G4M2 Betty x 6

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M2 Betty: 1 damaged

Allied Ships
AK John Hart, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

Allied ground losses:
25 casualties reported
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Put some highly experienced Ann dive bombers on naval attack! They pummel an enemy
destroyer with 100kg bombs and sinks it!!

Day Air attack on TF, near Makale at 32,67

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zeke x 14
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 22
Ki-30 Ann x 27

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-30 Ann: 1 destroyed, 10 damaged

Allied Ships
DD Drayton
DD Gansevoort, Bomb hits 8, on fire, heavy damage *sinks*
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Our 'patrol' Frances decide to take on the less formidable TF and sink two more enemy
destroyers! What a feast [8D]

Day Air attack on TF, near Makale at 32,67

Japanese aircraft
P1Y Frances x 26

Japanese aircraft losses
P1Y Frances: 5 damaged

Allied Ships
DD Caldwell, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage *sinks*
DD Laffey, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage *sinks*
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The follow up attack fails to score hits!

Day Air attack on TF, near Makale at 32,67

Japanese aircraft
P1Y Frances x 12

Japanese aircraft losses
P1Y Frances: 11 damaged

Allied Ships
DD McCalla
DD Charles Badger
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Then our Nick's find more enemy cargo ships and pummel them with 37/20 mm cannon shells
and bombs. Best day in months [:)]

Day Air attack on TF at 40,72

Japanese aircraft
Ki-45 KAIb Nick x 21

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
AK Charlevoix, Shell hits 4
AK Nightingale, Shell hits 12
AK West Notus, Shell hits 8
AK American Builder, Shell hits 4
AK Sidney Hauptmann, Bomb hits 2, on fire
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ground Combat

Didn't manage to re-capture Makale, need more supplies I think. Adjusted assault value
is really low.

Ground combat at Makale

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 6526 troops, 84 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 142

Defending force 3051 troops, 21 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 139

Japanese max assault: 292 - adjusted assault: 68

Allied max defense: 105 - adjusted defense: 67

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

Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 0

Japanese ground losses:
501 casualties reported
Guns lost 10

Allied ground losses:
109 casualties reported
Guns lost 1
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

White Plains under attack!

In total we sank 1 CVE, 3 DD's and several transports today. Another CVE was damaged
together with a large number of transports. So what will Andy's response be? A massive carrier
force will most likely charge out of Pearl Harbour or the US West Coast.

I don't expect Strike Force II to get away with this, but it's mission has already been completed.
The shipping lanes between PH and the US are not safe and Andy will have to divert resources one way
or another.

[Honda]

Great job!!! Nice to see a one-sided turn go Japan's way in '44!
Also, I have one point to mention. It came up in a discussion I had with Pauk yesterday. The conclusion was that losing SRA would hurt you much more than loosing Marianas. Look at it this way: how much oil and resources do you have for Home Islands once the life-line is cut? Three months? And what then? Your economy is suddenly reduced to some 25-50% efficency. It would take months of successful bombing to achive what can be achieved by severing the flow of resouces. SRA is weakly defended and if Andy should choose to go there (which hopefuly won't happen), he would get more for a lesser price.
The spice must flow!

[Sneer]

excellent turn
congrats

[Przemcio231]

Nice show now get the hell out of there...[:D][:D][:D]

[Fishbed]

Yeah two thumbs up boss! [&o][:'(]
Really no chances for the carrier force to evade? Maybe splitting it may give better chances...?

[Sneer]

if you think CV is doomed than leave it to finish convoy and make DDs run home no need to loose so many ships
you can even detach your DDs - try to hit convoy in the night and later let them run home

[Fishbed]

About the SRA by the way, I think we all share the same opinion. These annoying spots have to get obliterated, but do you have the troop means to do so?

[PzB74]

Appreciate the input Honda! If Andy decided to go all out for the SRA we will have to respond.
The region is not lightly defended though: Java is a fortress and all important bases on Borneo got huge
forts. Andy is using unescorted barges, escort carriers and FT TFs to get a toehold on Sulawesi. We respond
in kind for now.

While Andy is busy occupying and expanding bases, the spice will flow, he will be too busy fending of mosquito
attacks to do much else [;)] In a short while huge LCU reinforcements will flow into the area. A full division
arrived at Formosa today as well as 2 large brigades in Japan - one 100% prepped for Wake Island [:)]

Until Andy reveals his plans I will continue with the current strategy and redeploy our forces in the region.

Was thinking of splitting up Fish, the problem is that I don't know whether Andy will sortie carriers from
PH or the West Coast - perhaps both!? Our TF performed refuelling last night and max speed was 2/2. So let's
see if we can sneak out the back door before doing the head over heels thing [;)]

After a quick count 2 enemy transports sank outright and 7 were left heavily damaged and sinking.

Thanx for the support guys, this was a rare ray of sunshine! [:D]

[Fishbed]

Hey goddam' it, we're supporting you when the US dozer is running rampage over our imperial heads, the least we could do is to support you equally in victory, right? [:D][;)]

[PzB74]

We landed a full Bridgade at Makale today Fish, that's a major reserve unit. The problem is that
I can't move troops from Menando and Morotai because of the enemy threat from Wasile. So I have to
use Java as staging area. Can draw 15k troops from the region, but not over night.

If we can recapture Makale there's a chance that Sulawesi can be cleared. One thing at the time.
A full scale counter offensive would open the door into the Central Pacific. Can't do that.

ORIGINAL: Fishbed

About the SRA by the way, I think we all share the same opinion. These annoying spots have to get obliterated, but do you have the troop means to do so?

[PzB74]

[:D] [&o]

ORIGINAL: Fishbed

Hey goddam' it, we're supporting you when the US dozer is running rampage over our imperial heads, the least we could do is to support you equally in victory, right? [:D][;)]

[PzB74]

The convoy Strike Force II hit is a mess already - sent in a small surface group to search for it.
Enemy carriers may find these ships. As for the main force itself...I turned it into the wind - towards the West Coast.
Only a madman would do something like that [;)]

I do know that we were spotted by an enemy B-24 while attacking the convoy yesterday, and I calculated that the only
safe spot on the map was due East! This will give us time, more speed and the chance to 'stumble' over another convoy.

Next turn we have to make an important decision regarding which course to take.
Unfortunately the odds are stacked against us...but we knew that! Now let's play Hide - Seek & Destroy for a few days [:)]

[Fishbed]

is there any chances to escape due south?

[Fishbed]

And sorry to piss you off with this kind of considerations, but would it be possible to have a little map of the area please? [:)]
 
Just to see how far you are from every side...?