PzB vs Wobbly - Clash of Steel

[PzB74]

To be honest, I don't have enough fighters to reduce Andy's CAP again.
Especially not as he's using LBA to sweep my fields in Borneo.

Attaching a picture of the George/Frank units...Only got a handful trained
Zekes left, and the Jacks are also in poor shape. Tony's will be used to guard
Manila/Clark. They're excellent against 4Es - unescorted.

So I really NEED the Kamis now to be able to cause some frustration among the enemy.
We can play this game until the end without hitting a single enemy ship below the Uber
CAP umbrella. To me that is much worse than sending in high altitude Kamis. But I
won't overdo it, even though it's a success. Will probably invoke another Forum frenzy [:'(]

My aim is to hurt the invasion fleet and force the enemy to take evasive action and save
Borneo. Not sure I can achieve it, but I WILL try. By forcing Andy back to port now he won't
be able to return for a while... Not sure I can continue this kind of close combat for another
2 months.

[ChezDaJez]

Good evening I hear you perfectly Chezdajezaru darling [*Sigh* Harama thinks, these Frenchmen are so romantic].

French?! FRENCH??!! Ooooh, my heart. I'm having a heartattack! Quick, honey, get my nitro pills!!! Aaaahhhh! That's better!

You funny guy, Mr. Fishbed, but sorry, I'm not French. I have been called a Limey wetback because my last name is Sanchez but I'm not hispanic or Spanish either. I do claim to be 100% British mutt in heritage, not a purebred bulldog but a mutt. That is I am a little Scot, a little Welsh, a little Irish and a lot of English. (There may be a smidgen of other nationalities picked up along the way but I do not acknolwedge them.) In the end, I am also 100% American.

Me thinks I do detect a bit of truth in your post. I can be confrontational but not to everyone. I am only confrontational with those that disagree with me[:D][:-][:D]. The others I love.

Truely, my extensive Navy Senior Chief Petty Officer experience produced a kind and generous soul who always listens to both sides of an argument before shooting one participant or the other (sometimes both). Other than then, I could never, ever hurt a fly. Humans, yes. Flies, no.

Chez

[Fishbed]

You funny guy, Mr. Fishbed, but sorry, I'm not French. I have been called a Limey wetback because my last name is Sanchez but I'm not hispanic or Spanish either. I do claim to be 100% British mutt in heritage, not a purebred bulldog but a mutt. That is I am a little Scot, a little Welsh, a little Irish and a lot of English. (There may be a smidgen of other nationalities picked up along the way but I do not acknolwedge them.) In the end, I am also 100% American.

Never said you're french Chez, just that you had a little preference for French hidalgos like Laurent [:o] [:'(]
Remember, you're are Mrs. Chezdajezaru in that one [:'(] [:D]

But don't worry China didn't make me rude enough for me to insult people all over the place calling them French with no reason, apart from people who really deserve such disgrace, such as Laurent and me [:D] [;)]

[Honda]

ORIGINAL: Fishbed
But don't worry China didn't make me rude enough for me to insult people all over the place calling them French with no reason, apart from people who really deserve such disgrace, such as Laurent and me [:D] [;)]

OMG!!!

[ChezDaJez]

Ahh, gotcha, I misunderstood. I'll put the gun away.[:D]

BTW, I did like your post. Found it very humerous and a little on target!

Disclaimer:

I hope none of our French players were offended by my comments. There was no intent to defame, insult or otherwise slander the French nation or people.

Chez

[Mynok]

I hope none of our French players were offended by my comments. There was no intent to defame, insult or otherwise slander the French nation or people.

Learned to say that in chief petty officer school, didya? [:D]

[PzB74]

So Andy invaded the strongest target this time: I was sure it would
be Samarinda. Another psychic Andy move [8|] 4 enemy divisions unloaded, will they attack
tomorrow? I think so - should be possible to get 2 full Bdes from Samarinda shortly.

We loose 450 to 100 ac today, 200 on the ground at Balik. I managed to extract
1 ac of all the 4 George/Frank units.

Rainy weather didn't protect us: enemy bombers hit the Nagato, Mutsu and a heavy cruiser.
Last 2 will be ok but the Nagato took 7 torps and went down [:(]

It seems impossible to get through to Balikpapan, so we have to rely on ground troops and Kamis!
Andy will be scared now: ALL Zekes on Kami attacks were too high for his fighters and got through.
We don't have the numbers yet, but at least we pose a threat. Balikpapan and Borneo may be in trouble,
but high altitude Kami attack may now give us a chance to hurt the enemy when he decides to move on.

Our a2a losses are so horrendous that it's truly time for desperate measures.

Let's see what tomorrow brings! [&o]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 07/07/44

Bombardments

Talk about massive bombardments!

Naval bombardment of Balikpapan, at 31,64

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
N1K1-J George: 7 destroyed
Ki-43-IIa Oscar: 8 destroyed
Ki-57-II Topsy: 2 destroyed
A6M5 Zeke: 4 destroyed
Ki-84-Ia Frank: 4 destroyed
L3Y Tina: 1 destroyed

Allied Ships
BB Alabama
BB Massachusetts
BB South Dakota
BB Washington

Japanese ground losses:
1366 casualties reported
Guns lost 18

Airbase hits 9
Airbase supply hits 7
Runway hits 60
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naval bombardment of Balikpapan, at 31,64

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-57-II Topsy: 4 destroyed
Ki-84-Ia Frank: 16 destroyed
A6M5 Zeke: 3 destroyed
Ki-43-IIa Oscar: 10 destroyed
N1K1-J George: 5 destroyed
L3Y Tina: 1 destroyed

Allied Ships
CL St. Louis
CL Mobile
CA Indianapolis
CA Louisville
BB Richelieu
BB New Jersey
BB Iowa

Japanese ground losses:
1130 casualties reported
Guns lost 9

Airbase hits 14
Airbase supply hits 5
Runway hits 115
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naval bombardment of Balikpapan, at 31,64

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-IIa Oscar: 2 destroyed
L3Y Tina: 1 destroyed
Ki-84-Ia Frank: 1 destroyed

Allied Ships
DD Wilkes
DD Duncan
DD Lansdowne
DD Lardner
DD Farenholt
DD Bailey
DD Hobby
DD Gillespie
DD Owen
DD Nicholas
CA Astoria
CL Australia

Japanese ground losses:
116 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Airbase hits 2
Airbase supply hits 5
Runway hits 94
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naval bombardment of Balikpapan, at 31,64

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
CL St. Louis
CL Mobile
CA Indianapolis
CA Louisville
BB Richelieu
BB New Jersey
BB Iowa

Japanese ground losses:
350 casualties reported
Guns lost 4

Airbase hits 1
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 20
Port hits 5
Port fuel hits 9
Port supply hits 14
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Invasions

55k troops unloaded in one day!

Coastal Guns at Balikpapan, 31,64, firing at TF 1054
TF 1054 troops unloading over beach at Balikpapan, 31,64

352 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Allied Ships
DD Flusser
LCT LCT-162
DD Fanning, Shell hits 1
LST LST-214
DE Griswold, Shell hits 1
DE Lake, Shell hits 1
DE LeHardy, Shell hits 2
DE Burden R. Hastings, Shell hits 1

Japanese ground losses:
4 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Allied ground losses:
3490 casualties reported
Guns lost 10
Vehicles lost 2
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Coastal Guns at Balikpapan, 31,64, firing at TF 1054
TF 1054 troops unloading over beach at Balikpapan, 31,64

126 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Allied Ships
DE Burden R. Hastings
DD Fanning, Shell hits 2
LCI(G) LCI(G)-80, Shell hits 1
DE Lake

Allied ground losses:
1060 casualties reported
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Coastal Guns at Balikpapan, 31,64, firing at TF 1166
TF 1166 troops unloading over beach at Balikpapan, 31,64

417 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Allied Ships
DE Harold C. Thomas, Shell hits 6
DE Seid
LCI LCI-218, Shell hits 3, on fire
DE Wileman, Shell hits 2
DE Tisdale, Shell hits 3
LST LST-172, Shell hits 8, on fire
DE Steele, Shell hits 2
LCI(G) LCI(G)-78

Allied ground losses:
2795 casualties reported
Guns lost 5
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Air Combat

A beautiful night attack..unfortunately no hits. We're just out of luck
against Andy!

Night Air attack on TF at 32,64

Japanese aircraft
H8K Emily x 6

Japanese aircraft losses
H8K Emily: 1 destroyed, 4 damaged

Allied Ships
CA Pittsburgh
CVL San Jacinto

Aircraft Attacking:
2 x H8K Emily launching torpedoes at 200 feet
3 x H8K Emily launching torpedoes at 200 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Samarinda , at 31,63

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zeke x 27
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 11
Ki-84-Ia Frank x 39

Allied aircraft
Spitfire VIII x 13
P-38J Lightning x 9

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5 Zeke: 5 destroyed, 2 damaged
Ki-44-IIb Tojo: 6 destroyed
Ki-84-Ia Frank: 7 destroyed, 2 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Spitfire VIII: 9 destroyed
P-38J Lightning: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Balikpapan , at 31,64

Allied aircraft
F4U-1 Corsair x 40
Spitfire VIII x 14

No Allied losses
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Balikpapan , at 31,64

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft
Mosquito PR.IX x 6
PB4Y Liberator x 11
B-29 Superfortress x 74

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-84-Ia Frank: 2 destroyed
N1K1-J George: 8 destroyed
A6M5 Zeke: 7 destroyed
Ki-43-IIa Oscar: 7 destroyed

Japanese ground losses:
9 casualties reported

Airbase hits 5
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 118
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Tomini , at 34,65

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zeke x 14
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 27
Ki-21 Sally x 62
Ki-49 Helen x 26

Allied aircraft
F4U-1D Corsair x 4
Kittyhawk III x 3
P-40N Warhawk x 5

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5 Zeke: 1 destroyed
Ki-43-IIa Oscar: 2 destroyed
Ki-21 Sally: 3 destroyed, 3 damaged
Ki-49 Helen: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F4U-1D Corsair: 4 damaged
Kittyhawk III: 3 damaged
P-40N Warhawk: 2 destroyed, 1 damaged
P-47D Thunderbolt: 1 destroyed

Allied ground losses:
31 casualties reported

Airbase hits 4
Runway hits 7
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 37th Ind.Mixed/A Brigade, at 31,64

Allied aircraft
FM-2 Wildcat x 6
F4U-1D Corsair x 33
SB2C Helldiver x 206

Allied aircraft losses
SB2C Helldiver: 3 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
106 casualties reported
Guns lost 5
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naval strikes - not a single hex covered by bad weather...not a lot of luck around!

Day Air attack on TF at 34,61

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 12
Ki-84-Ia Frank x 13

Allied aircraft
TBM Avenger x 22

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
TBM Avenger: 12 destroyed

Japanese Ships
AP Taganoura Maru
AP Ryuosan Maru
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 34,61

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 12
Ki-84-Ia Frank x 13

Allied aircraft
F6F Hellcat x 114
F4U-1D Corsair x 37
Corsair IV x 1
TBM Avenger x 69

Japanese aircraft losses - talk about massacre!
Ki-43-IIa Oscar: 19 destroyed
Ki-84-Ia Frank: 42 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F6F Hellcat: 17 destroyed, 3 damaged
F4U-1D Corsair: 3 destroyed, 1 damaged
Corsair IV: 1 destroyed
TBM Avenger: 1 destroyed, 28 damaged

Japanese Ships
BB Nagato, Torpedo hits 7, on fire, heavy damage *sinks*
BB Mutsu
CA Nachi
CA Aoba, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 34,61

Allied aircraft
F6F Hellcat x 5
TBM Avenger x 3

Allied aircraft losses
TBM Avenger: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
BB Mutsu, Torpedo hits 1, on fire

Aircraft Attacking:
2 x TBM Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 34,61

Allied aircraft
F6F Hellcat x 5
TBM Avenger x 3

Allied aircraft losses
TBM Avenger: 3 damaged

Japanese Ships
BB Fuso

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x TBM Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Tarakan at 33,61

Allied aircraft
TBM Avenger x 9

Allied aircraft losses
TBM Avenger: 3 damaged

Japanese Ships
PC PC-6, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
PC Etoforu, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
PC PC-5
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Wasile at 41,69

Japanese aircraft
G4M2 Betty x 9

Allied aircraft
FM-2 Wildcat x 7
F6F Hellcat x 1
F4U-1 Corsair x 7
F4U-1D Corsair x 9
Kittyhawk III x 6
P-38J Lightning x 80

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M2 Betty: 9 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F4U-1D Corsair: 1 damaged
Kittyhawk III: 2 damaged
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Balikpapan at 31,64

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zeke x 3

Allied aircraft
FM-2 Wildcat x 69
F6F Hellcat x 9
Kittyhawk III x 2
P-40N Warhawk x 4

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5 Zeke: 3 destroyed

Allied Ships
BB South Dakota
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Balikpapan at 31,64

Japanese aircraft
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 9

Allied aircraft
FM-2 Wildcat x 69
F6F Hellcat x 9
Kittyhawk III x 2
P-40N Warhawk x 4

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-45 KAIa Nick: 9 destroyed

Allied Ships
BB Richelieu
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 41,70

Japanese aircraft
Ki-48 Lily x 12

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-48 Lily: 12 destroyed

Allied Ships
BB Maryland, Kamikaze hits 4
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 41,70

Japanese aircraft
B6N Jill x 3
Ki-21 Sally x 10

Japanese aircraft losses
B6N Jill: 3 damaged
Ki-21 Sally: 10 destroyed

Allied Ships
BB Maryland, Kamikaze hits 5, on fire

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x B6N Jill launching torpedoes at 200 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Wasile at 41,69

Japanese aircraft
G4M2 Betty x 14

Allied aircraft
FM-2 Wildcat x 7
F6F Hellcat x 1
F4U-1 Corsair x 7
F4U-1D Corsair x 9
Kittyhawk III x 6
P-38J Lightning x 80

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M2 Betty: 14 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F4U-1D Corsair: 4 damaged
P-38J Lightning: 1 damaged
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 28,66

Allied aircraft
F6F Hellcat x 4
TBM Avenger x 12

Allied aircraft losses
TBM Avenger: 7 damaged

Japanese Ships
DD Manazuru
DD Asagao
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 34,63

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zeke x 6

Allied aircraft
TBM Avenger x 4

No Japanese losses

No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
AP Koshu Maru #3, Torpedo hits 1, on fire

Aircraft Attacking:
4 x TBM Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 34,63

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zeke x 16

Allied aircraft
TBM Avenger x 5

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
TBM Avenger: 1 destroyed, 3 damaged

Japanese Ships
AK Fumishima Maru

Aircraft Attacking:
4 x TBM Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 34,61

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zeke x 37
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 4
Ki-84-Ia Frank x 3

Allied aircraft
F6F Hellcat x 114
F4U-1D Corsair x 63
Corsair IV x 1
TBM Avenger x 8

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5 Zeke: 43 destroyed
Ki-43-IIa Oscar: 4 destroyed
Ki-84-Ia Frank: 6 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F6F Hellcat: 11 destroyed, 2 damaged
F4U-1D Corsair: 4 destroyed, 2 damaged
TBM Avenger: 1 destroyed, 5 damaged

Japanese Ships
BB Mutsu, on fire

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x TBM Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x TBM Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 35,62

Allied aircraft
Corsair IV x 1
TBM Avenger x 4

No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
ML Sokuten, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
4 x TBM Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 34,61

Allied aircraft
TBM Avenger x 2

Allied aircraft losses
TBM Avenger: 2 damaged

Japanese Ships
BB Hyuga

Aircraft Attacking:
2 x TBM Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Balikpapan at 31,64

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zeke x 3

Allied aircraft
FM-2 Wildcat x 68
F6F Hellcat x 29
F4U-1D Corsair x 3
Kittyhawk III x 4
P-40N Warhawk x 11

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5 Zeke: 3 destroyed

Allied Ships
DD Taylor
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Wasile at 41,69

Japanese aircraft
G4M2 Betty x 3

Allied aircraft
FM-2 Wildcat x 10
F6F Hellcat x 1
F4U-1 Corsair x 4
F4U-1D Corsair x 4
Kittyhawk III x 5
P-38J Lightning x 84

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M2 Betty: 3 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F4U-1D Corsair: 1 damaged
Kittyhawk III: 2 damaged
P-38J Lightning: 3 damaged
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Makale at 32,67

Japanese aircraft
P1Y Frances x 15

Japanese aircraft losses
P1Y Frances: 1 damaged

Allied Ships
AK Gainsar
AK Michael C. Kerr, Torpedo hits 1
AK Proteus, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Balikpapan at 31,64

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zeke x 20

Allied aircraft
FM-2 Wildcat x 76
F6F Hellcat x 43
F4U-1D Corsair x 3
Kittyhawk III x 4
P-40N Warhawk x 11

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5 Zeke: 20 destroyed

Allied Ships
CA Astoria
DD Farenholt, Kamikaze hits 1, on fire

Ground Combat

Can these men hold for 2 days until reinforcements arrive? Troops in Samarinda
avoided heavy bombardments and have marched 15/30 out of 60 miles towards Balik.

4 enemy divisions will most likely be too much, especially with 500 attack ac and
8 enemy battleships around.

Ground combat at Balikpapan

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 9678 troops, 106 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 241 - will 9 forts be enough to equalize this disadvantage?

Defending force 42085 troops, 491 guns, 105 vehicles, Assault Value = 1238
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Invasion of Balikpapan!

[Nemo121]

PzB,
 
If you look at your operations over the last few weeks of gametime you are continually looking for a decisive counter to Andy's strength and all that is getting you is a high loss rate of irreplaceable CVs and BBs... I know the conventional wisdom is that this is what Japan must do and that attrition isn't in your favour right now but if you look at the facts attrition is quite favourable for you right now.
 
You will, just analysing the last few weeks of combat results get greater efficiency from your forces if you let the high-altitude Zekes etc do their work and husband your ships and other units ( excepting fighters) for strikes against his landing zones and retreating cripples. Take your time, fly the necessary troops into Balikpapan by air transport irrespective of losses and just whittle away at his forces with the high-altitude Zekes. Don't try to inflict crippling losses during the stand-up phase of the fight. It is always much cheaper to just precipitate a rout and then inflict massive losses during the rout than to inflict the same loss while the enemy stands firm.
 
I offer the above respectfully as you have played a great game but I do think you are making serious errors in trying to meet Andy's strength with your strength. You must throw away fighters to wear his fighters down and the Zekes are important in increasing the enemy's  CLG incrementally but many of the bombers lost in the last few weeks have been lost in a less than maximally efficient manner.

[PzB74]

Been reviewing the results from yesterday:

Forgot to mention that cv Taiho's carrier TF reacted 2 hexes towards the enemy even though it was
following a surface TF group with orders not to react. I haven't seen Andy's carriers react in a long, long while [&:]
Still, the carriers were not attacked themselves and I guess we got away lightly. All of Andy's SBDs hit Balikpapan
while his TBDs went naval.

The damaged Mutsu and ca will be repaired within 2 months and the damaged Ise will replace the Nagato.
So we still got our Fleet intact. I felt it was best to withdraw since mines and enemy carriers made it suicide to force
a surface engagement.

Our LBA stood no chance against the massed enemy air and sea bombardments: the fact that Balikpapan and not Samarinda
was assaulted did not help matters. Future use of Zeke kamikaze will make it dangerous for the enemy to move his carriers within
LBA range. Not that he will loose many ships, but he should suffer damage. This is good as it means that the Kamikaze will have
much the same effect that it had in real life.

I must admit that Balikpapan will eventually fall, so will Samarinda and Tarakan.  It should take a while to achieve this, and we should
plan accordingly. For now our AF will rest and strike out against Andy's long flanks. If you look at the map the Allied supply lines are
very long and vulnerable. It should be possible to inflict heavy casualties on their supply train: starting tomorrow [8D]

[PzB74]

Think we are much in agreement Nemo [:)]
I have tried to get into position for a favorable battle - and this did not include the Zamboanga debacle!
Losses have been heavy, mostly in the air. Naval losses have been sustainable.

From now on a battle of attrition is what we will see;
Zeke kamikaze attacks
Snipe attack at enemys rear
Defense of our main supply centres and bases

Tomorrow 200 transports will fly a division into Balikpapan while kami attacks are conducted.

[Nemo121]

Glad to see that PzB, as I said, I meant no offence, just really interested to see a Japanese defence with teeth at this stage of the war.
 
I think your plan as stated in that last post is ideal.

[Ron Saueracker]

Really interested in how the kamikazes will do. Seems sort of weird that the high altitude of the Zekes negate any air interception! Makes up for the Uber CAP issues but only by completely porking the model from the other end.[8|]

[ChezDaJez]

Forgot to mention that cv Taiho's carrier TF reacted 2 hexes towards the enemy even though it was
following a surface TF group with orders not to react. I haven't seen Andy's carriers react in a long, long while

PzB, I have had several debacles with reaction settings. An aggressive TF commander will over ride the settings EVERY TIME!

I once had two heavily damaged CVs (damage >50% and whose airwings had aborted to the nearest island) totally ignore their orders to withdraw and react in the opposite direction towards 3 allied CVs. Needless to say they were blown out of the water.

The only thing you can do to prevent it is to assign a less agrresive commander.

Chez

[ChezDaJez]

Really interested in how the kamikazes will do. Seems sort of weird that the high altitude of the Zekes negate any air interception! Makes up for the Uber CAP issues but only by completely porking the model from the other end.

I guess in this case 2 wrongs do make a right!

Chez

[PzB74]

No offense taken, appreciate all input! Nemo [:)]

I would have preferred a decisive battle, but not at any cost.
Going around Borneo would have been ideal, but no time. My mining of the Strait
efficiently closed it as my own ships would only follow a very long route to Balik.
Should have thought about that. Put that in addition to Andy making all the right decisions and add
rainy weather that doesn't play game, and the result had to be abortive.

Not sure I really like how the Kami model works, but at least it  gives us a small hope!
Low to moderate exp Zekes doesn't score a lot of hits from those great altitudes, especially not against
heavy AA. Still, Andy will have to be more cautious and suffer some damaging hits in the future.

I tried assigning my least aggressive commanders to my cve TFs earlier on Chez. They still reacted.
Think I've all but resigned. Using Jap cv TFs in 44 is incredible damaging to oneself mostly [8|]

[aztez]

ORIGINAL: ChezDaJez

Really interested in how the kamikazes will do. Seems sort of weird that the high altitude of the Zekes negate any air interception! Makes up for the Uber CAP issues but only by completely porking the model from the other end.

I guess in this case 2 wrongs do make a right!

Chez

Hmpf. I do hope that you don't actually believe so. [&:] I think the Witp engine should get fixed instead. (What I have tried UberCAP is nicely dealt with in CHS and even RHS)

[pauk]

for most excellent analysis of the imperial Pauk family[8|]. General Pauk, the greatest generall on Earth of all times and his imperial nephew, ambitious and aggresive Paukashawa-san spent quite a lot of time and came to agreement! This is how we see the things:


But first than we start our analysis let us say that app 250 assault points were able to resist for 2 days in the PM (PM felt 3rd day) against 4 enemy divisions behind lvl 9 forts despite similar bombardments you've just experienced. So i would say your unit can make it back to Balik.....


So much about Andy's crying "i'm behind historical timeline, and believe me Pauk it is not a propaganda"[;)]! His recent moves only proves what i did know all the time - advancing through SRA is so easy for the Allies (that is why i capured Northern Oz) - not so many bases as in PI, but more than enough to help Allies....

Now, back to analysis. What do we know:

- Andy is impatient and obssesed with historical timeline (copy paste post from some clever guy post in my AAR[;)])

CURRENT SITUATION:

After he got unpleasant punch in stomack at Zambo-something he knows that so many bases in well fortified PI isn't his friend. And it is logical to take Western Borneo route....

But rather than conventional advancing (capturing two AF which can be expanded to lvl 6 and then bomb your oil& resources input) i expecting him to keep continuing breakthrough to the Empire. Why?

- because he feels he don't have time for conventional advance
- because he will exaust your flow of the resources and oil to HI anyway (no resoruces form Kendari, no oil from Java and palembang once when he capture western Borneo)
- because he expect your first (and main?) defencive line will be broken and once he invade Thailand or Vietnam he will meet no opposition
- because he actually want to capture oil and resource centers intact (i can't imagine he would like to manage his supply conwoys all way down from northern OZ and PNG) because he can use fuel and supply produced at those bases

Tin arrows shows possible invasions, but i don't think he will commit them unless he is sure that you are week there. But, you can't allow Soerbaja to be taken without fight - it is only malaria free base in the area (same with Palembang!).

BALDRICK-GO

You will lose southern Borneo soon - and you have to live with that. The question is not what you can do there to delay enemy or even Western Borneo (i don't think that is wise to oppose him there - the question is what you can do it in northern Borneo, Sumatra (Palembang) and Malaya?



The key is, in my opinion,

- not allowing him malaria free bases (Soerbaja, Palembang, Singapore) for nothing. His troops used at Borneo and perhaps even in Palembang should be quite decimated (disabled) so he can't use them at full effeciency

- fight as long as you can in W Borneo but don't throw your best forces (use them in main, malaria free bases)

- preserve your best bomber-killer units (and train them in the China) for defence f Taiwan and HI against 4E bomber menace (in 45)

- move your eng units to bases with oil and resources (and hope it will destroy most of them!) and deny Andy free supply and fuel....

THE GOAL(S) OF BALDRICK-GO:

- enabling to keep continue fighting against white imperialists:

Although you will lost your oil input you will have reserves for app 5 months (depending how much you stored in HI). So lets say you will have your industry keep going until January 45. That sounds bad, but...

if you turn off all naval and merchant shipyards and everything else not necceserarely (naval repairyards?) you may store some HI points for next period (first half of the 1945). Bring your supply to Home islands (even from the India while you have a time) and Taiwan make a stockpiles of them! Supply will enable your units to fight, your fighters to fly CAP against enemy 4E bombers over HI and possible to research Shinden or/and Reppu a month or two earlier[:D]. And protect your HI bases (and supply there) with houndreds of fighters, fighter bombers - i do believe that you can do it!!!


You can consider sending supply to Sikkha (Sahalin) a base which can be turned in supply depot (a base can be expanded enough to prevent spoilage - as strategical reserve.

All those measures means nothing if you don't build your Inner Citadele (northern PI, Taiwan, Ryu-kyu islands). I suggest moving of the chinese divisions to the Chinese coast too...

If you manage to get Shinden two months earlier, you will be able to defend until historical date - and you will win. He will be forced to drop atomic bomb and this will make him unpopular on the board[;)][:D]

I know it is hard to delay and attrit Allies without fighing them with your air force. But it is questionable how efficient tactic this is in the future because you know you will run out of oil - if you only have enough engines in the pool i would say go for it. But neither your HI stockpiles are great, neither do engines....

Of course, i don't have total picture of your troops (strength, positions etc) and perhaps you can stop temporarely the enemy. But if you know you can't do it Baldrick-go could be the only possible answer.....

[;)]

PS... one important thing - He has to stop somewhere and rest his troops. Even more important, he have to prepare his units for next targets once he capture primary targets. If not, then he could became suprised with 0-1 odds...

BANZAI!

[WhoCares]

Once his main fleet assets have retreated you might interfear his ground attacks with some bombardment runs - resulting disruption might cause some bad ground attack results...

Regarding the production numbers you posted on the previous page - on page 95 you posted teh ground reinforcements with 10 divisions arriving soon - looks like they might dry out some of your pools...

[String]

Well, naval bombardments do little vs. combat troops.

However, as long as you are using the high altitude Kamis then you atleast ought to tell Andy how and why they are getting through. AFAIK kami attack altitude doesn't show in combat reports.

[aztez]

ORIGINAL: String

Well, naval bombardments do little vs. combat troops.

However, as long as you are using the high altitude Kamis then you atleast ought to tell Andy how and why they are getting through. AFAIK kami attack altitude doesn't show in combat reports.

That would be a fair thing to do.