Niceguy vs Graycompany: Death to the Meatball....Strategy talk

[niceguy2005]

From: Commander Allied Forces China Theater

To: Supreme Allied Command

Date: August 12th, 1942

Chinese commanders are executing a withdrawl along the entire southern (really eastern) front. Changsa, Hengchow, Wuchow and Kweilin. So far the withdrawl has gone very well, with little loss of supplies or manpower. A defensive perimiter has been established around Chunking and extends along the banks of the river running north to the mountains. This is a strong defensive position.

Forces withdrawing from the southern front are now massing at Kweiyang where a defensive position is being assembled. While terrain there is favorable it is unclear if the supply line will be sufficiently short to keep the base well supplied. Therefore a fall back position at Kunming is being prepared.

It is hoped that by reducing the area that must be defended enough troops can be freed up to participate in a coordinated offensive (with Southeast Command) on Burma.

[fabertong]

I think this is a good plan .......your defensive perimeter looks sound once you get them in place and the fort levels to max.......

[niceguy2005]

From: Commander Southeast Asia

To: Supreme Allied Command Pacific

Date August 12th, 1942

Subject: Operation Hail Mary

Forces are now being assembled for the impending offensive against Japanese forces in Eastern India. Objectives are two fold:

1. Take control of Dimapur and reopen air supply to Chengtu and Yananm.
2. Force Japanese withdrawl into Dacca and there bottle them up.

Keys to this attack will be speed and minimizing casualties resulting from crossing the Gangees.

Phase I will be to conduct ground attacks against troop positions all along the Gangees, while a large force, including the 254th and 255th Arm Bdes advance 60 miles east of Calcutta. This force will appear to be poised to launch the offensive. (Light Blue Arrows)

Phase II will concentrate bombing attacks just east of Asansol. Also fighters and bombers will attack the enemy airbase at Chandpur. A force of undertermined size (probably 3 Divisions) will launch an assault across the Gangees. Intel believes the defending force to be the 5th Div with two supporting units. This force must quickly gain control of the opposite side of the river. (Red Arrows)

Phase III, leaving a blocking force in place to protect Calcutta and supply lines, additional elements from Blue force will race north through Asansol and join elements of Red force in blocking a counter-attack from Dacca (Dark Blue Arrows). Additional elements of Red force will race forward to attack Dimapur (Dark Red Arrows).

[niceguy2005]

ORIGINAL: fabertong

I think this is a good plan .......your defensive perimeter looks sound once you get them in place and the fort levels to max.......

Thanks Faber. My fort level is only 4 at Kweiyang, so I'm a little concerned how long it can hold out with a low level of supplies. Kunming is approaching level 6.

However, my speciality is a fighting retreat, so I hope to make it take a couple of weeks for Kweiyang to even come under siege.

[ny59giants]

Looks good so far. It will be a slow push out of India and through Burma. [:D]
What is the composition of that Japanese unit two/three hexes east of Yanam??

[niceguy2005]

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

Looks good so far. It will be a slow push out of India and through Burma. [:D]
What is the composition of that Japanese unit two/three hexes east of Yanam??

Agreed on the slow push part. I will settle for just getting to Dimapur. That really opens up air transfer to and from China. Transports and bombers can haul supplies.

The units east of Yanam are remnants. One is a portion of the 4th Tank Rgt, I don't know what the other is. They are out of supply and have to be badly beaten up. Since my opponent saw fit to move them, rather than chase them around India, I will keep garrisons at my nearby bases and use them for pilot training.

[niceguy2005]

8/12/42 to 8/19/42

Another week of little in new developments.

Allies captured Merauke in NG. Lark Force Bn went ashore to secure the undefendended base and a cargo ship unloaded enough supplies to keep them there a while. The base is to be used as a fueling stop for minesweepers.

Four mine sweepers were dispatched from Darwin to Merauke, along with an AK full of fuel. As they dropped anchor at Merauke Bettys and Nells attacked. For two days the ships avoided attacks, but the AK and one MSW were mortally damaged by the end of the second day. ANother MSW is making its way back to Darwin. However, the other two MSW managed to refuel and make their way to Thursday Is. where they not only cleared a minefield, but also attacked and seriously damaged a Jap sub.

APDs from Cairn are now running in heavy construction vehicles to Thursday Is to hasten the construction of the airfield.

South Pac and Southwest Pac are weighing their options for an offensive. With the air field at PM closed, Lae is the only base from which Japanese bombers can be stationed. I am considering three possible targets, Koepang, Gili Gili and PM itself. I'm leaning toward PM. Recon shows 6 units and 20,000 troops. I suspect he has at least 1 Div and 1 CD unit plus support.

In India my units are still gathering for a possible offensive. However the Japanese have repositioned their troops and it is now clear that they want to hold a defensive position along the river. I'm not sure with the new defensive line I have the manpower to successfully push through.

I am considering an offensive against Andaman. The island, while well garrisoned, won't be as strong. Also, as long as Japan holds it any sort of flanking invasion of Rangoon or Malaya is out of the question.

New Japanese defensive line.

[ny59giants]

It looks like you will have to push from the North near Asansol down to Chandpur first before any flanking attack towards Andaman can go forward. Those 4 units are in the open and you should be able to use them for bombing attacks for some time so they don't build up forts. I hope you still have a good amount of armor to use there.

Ken did a good job of taking back PM by massing his 4e bombers to close it down (AAR - Battle of NewJersey). He took Thursday Island first and then got to PM afterwards.

What do you have available to finish pushing him out of India?? 

[niceguy2005]

Interesting about Ken's strategy, it sounds exactly the same as mine. I took Thursday several weeks ago to give me a close in airfield to support an invasion of PM.

However, I like misdirection. I'm a little concerned about a frontal assualt on PM where he knows I'm coming. Not much help for it now though because I have had 4 groups of 4Es bombing it for weeks. Still, maybe a feint toward Tarawa would help.

My original plan for India called for an attack from Asansol. But that was with about half the troop strength he currently has facing me across the river. I can still try and draw some of his forces south by massing UK troops south, but I'm concenred that I don't have the troop strength. The early plan called for a blitz to push weaker forces out of the way and simply block a counter attack. Best I could muster is probably 3 Div + 3 Chinese Div + 2 ARM Bdes and some ART.

[niceguy2005]

8/20/42

A little bit of action today, so an update is in order.

DD Yuzuki was sunk by a mine of Saipan.

Elements of the 2nd USMC Para Bn disembarked from 3 DDs during the night to recon Nukufetau. They secured the undefended atoll by days end.

62 planes of the 23rd FG, flying P-40s out of Chunking flew a sweep over Changsa. They found 22 Tonys and 15 Zeros. 11 Tonys and 6 Zeros were lost with only 5 P-40s shot down.

50 Blens completed their fourth day of bombing resources at Mandalay. This finally drew the attention of the Japanese as 32 Oscars met them. No Blens were lost. This was intended simply to draw fighters away from India.

SS Grayback fired its entire arsenal of torps at a wonded AP and every last one missed or was a dud. [:@]

Tomorrow every bomber at Calcutta will fly against the AF at Chandpur.

[niceguy2005]

8/21/42

More action today...

Dutch sub torpedoed an AK just out of Rangoon.

Over 100 medium bombers flew a raid against the AF at Chandpur doing moderate damage (29 pts). The mission encountered 26 Tojos and 22 Zeros. For some reason only 5 planes from the AVG flew escort, the rest stayed at home. Luckily 30 Spits and 10 Hurris did fly. I lost about 30 AC total to his 17 so not a great day.

Flak over Chandpur was so thick you could walk across it. I lost 8 bombers just to flak.

The 2nd IJA Div was destroyed

The unit represented the last of the force that invaded Trimcomalee. Today UK, Dutch and Australian troops cleared Ceylon of the last of the invaders. Hoorah!

To date:
1 Div, 2 Bdes, 2 Engr Rgt and 2 base forces have been destroyed in India.

[niceguy2005]

*Chuckles*

I just found a fighter group with 71 exp. They are flying p-35s. Although nearly half the squadron has experience in the upper 70s and my top pilot is 94, not a single pilot has a kill to date.

I'm imagining a whole squadron of Sir Robins who are highly skilled at running away and running away more. [:D]

[BrucePowers]

Upgrade them to something useful and see what happens[:)]

Where were all these P-35s parked?

[niceguy2005]

ORIGINAL: BrucePowers

Upgrade them to something useful and see what happens[:)]

Where were all these P-35s parked?

The only two choices I really have right now are P-40s or P-39s. I can't really handle any more P-40 squadrons and don't want the P-39 upgrade path.

IMO a P-35 is as good as a P-36 anyday. Better range, similar performance. When P-38s are available all P-36s and P-35s will upgrade.

8/22/41

200,000 Japanese crossed the river to atttack Chunking.

Ground combat at Chungking

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 201508 troops, 1829 guns, 121 vehicles, Assault Value = 3973

Defending force 149343 troops, 422 guns, 42 vehicles, Assault Value = 3963

Japanese max assault: 3712 - adjusted assault: 2000

Allied max defense: 4068 - adjusted defense: 19589

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


Japanese ground losses:
20301 casualties reported
Guns lost 319
Vehicles lost 24

In other news. A TF trying to run the straights between OZ and NG is attacked by Bettys from Lae. Thankfully they only have bombs so I don't expect to lose any ships just supplies.

Allied ground losses:
1477 casualties reported
Guns lost 17
-------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 50,94

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 5
G4M1 Betty x 20

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
AK Benkalis, Bomb hits 1, on fire
TK Samuel Q Brown
AK Beatrice, Bomb hits 1, on fire
TK Robert E Hopkins

Aircraft Attacking:
4 x G4M1 Betty bombing at 9000 feet
4 x G4M1 Betty bombing at 9000 feet
4 x G4M1 Betty bombing at 9000 feet
4 x G4M1 Betty bombing at 9000 feet
4 x G4M1 Betty bombing at 9000 feet
-------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 50,94

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 13
G3M Nell x 15

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
AK Langkoeas
TK Samuel Q Brown, Bomb hits 2, on fire
AK Beatrice, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x G3M Nell bombing at 9000 feet
4 x G3M Nell bombing at 9000 feet
4 x G3M Nell bombing at 9000 feet
4 x G3M Nell bombing at 9000 feet

[niceguy2005]

Where are they parked?

At the moment they are parked at Brisbane. The 24 plane squadron got nuked by an IJN bombardment fleet at Thursday Is., losing half its planes. Prior to the bombardment they had done a nice job of breaking up Betty and Nell attacks. They didn't score any kills but damaged a lot of planes. Basically they halted the attacks by out moraling the enemy. [:D]

The squadron is still only about 80% strength and with only 5 P-35s produced a month they will probably stay at Brisbane until the upgrade to P-38s. By that point I hope to be fighting it out for PM and a well experienced squadron will come in handy.

[niceguy2005]

8/23/42

Little action today.

B-17s out of Cairn attacked and sunk a DD near PM.

The enemy overflew Townville and undoubtley spotted my carrier fleet docked and making repairs.

Lots of activity around PM though. A large TF was spotted at PM. It is probably another bombardment fleet, but it could be carriers. My 4Es attacked a group of minelayers.

I have sortied my carriers. I have also sortied a surface TF from Brisbane. Six ships led my two New Mexico class BB.

I think the real battle for PM is about to begin.

[niceguy2005]

8/24/42

The IJN took some losses today. The sea around PM has become very dangerous.

The days battle report...

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 08/24/42

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 121,71
A japanese sub had been shadowing the troop convoy from San Francisco for a week. Finally she snuck past the picket ships and with great care, surfaced to launch a successful attack at the Pennsylvanian. Damage to the cargo ship was crippling. But, the Japanese skipper made a crucial (perhaps fatal) mistake, as DD Stack was closer than expected. The DD charged in firing her 5"gun and loosing a volley of torpedos at the sub, hitting the sub once with a 5" round. The sub quickly submerged, looking for escape. However, she was soon detected and attacked DD Bailey. The depth charging was relentless and scored at least one direct hit. The Jap sub will need the greatest of luck to survive the trip home. The Pennsylvnain is capable of only 2 knotts, but may be able to make Hilo in 2 or 3 days.

Japanese Ships
SS I-10, hits 5, on fire

Allied Ships
AK Pennsylvanian, Torpedo hits 1, heavy damage
DD Sterett
DD Stack
DD Bailey
DD Laffey
AK Manini


Allied ground losses:
26 casualties reported

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat at 10,85

With the frontline stretching from Midway through the South Pacific to Australia and beyond, the Allied navy is stretched thin to protect the supply lines. Southwest Pacs operations in Northern Australia have consumed many supplies and small convoys continously make the run from Perth to Derby. The Japanese having spotted this, have often ambushed the convoys with subs working in concert with light cruisers.

So it was that Capt Manwarring found himself patrolling just off the coast. The Cornwall was leading a small force including the CL Perth, and DDs Worden, Stuart and Drayton. At about 0300 the A japanese force of three ships was spotted closing fast. In the shallow waters there was little room to manuever and the two forces found themselves at just 2000 yards distance. The Japanese opened with a volley or torpedos but thankfully none struck. The Cornwalls 8" guns then made quick work of one CL and Perth managed to damage the other. Drayton moved in and finished off the wrecked CL with torpedos. Worden took moderate damage and is returning to Derby


Japanese aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
E7K2 Alf: 1 destroyed

Japanese Ships
CL Kashii, Shell hits 13, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk
CL Yura, Shell hits 2, on fire
DD Otori

Allied Ships
CA Cornwall, Shell hits 5
CL Perth, Shell hits 1
DD Drayton, Shell hits 1
DD Worden, Shell hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
DD Stuart

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack near Thursday Island at 49,90

Japanese Ships
DD Oyashio
DD Isokaze

Allied Ships
SS Narwhal

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naval bombardment of Thursday Island, at 49,90

Japanese Ships
CA Furutaka
CA Aoba
CA Mogami
CA Nachi


Allied ground losses:
101 casualties reported
Vehicles lost 1

Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 1
Port hits 1
Port supply hits 3

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naval bombardment of Koepang, at 28,77 - Coastal Guns Fire Back!

An allied bombardment fleet tests the coastal defenses at Koepang. They are found to be surprisingly weak.

34 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Allied Ships
CL Hobart, Shell hits 8
CA Astoria, Shell hits 2
BB Warspite, Shell hits 8
BB Idaho

Japanese ground losses:
511 casualties reported
Guns lost 4

Airbase hits 2
Port hits 2
Port fuel hits 1
Port supply hits 2

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 5th Ind. Brigade, at 43,30


Allied aircraft
Blenheim IV x 7
Wellington III x 11
SB-2c x 9


No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
26 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x SB-2c bombing at 5000 feet
6 x Wellington III bombing at 5000 feet
4 x Blenheim IV bombing at 5000 feet
5 x Wellington III bombing at 5000 feet
3 x SB-2c bombing at 5000 feet
3 x Blenheim IV bombing at 5000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 46th Chinese Corps, at 45,35

Japanese aircraft
Ki-61 KAIc Tony x 22
Ki-30 Ann x 78

No Japanese losses


Allied ground losses:
57 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

Aircraft Attacking:
30 x Ki-30 Ann bombing at 2000 feet
24 x Ki-30 Ann bombing at 2000 feet
24 x Ki-30 Ann bombing at 2000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 50,91
A screening TF is caught about 180 miles from PM. Kiso is wrecked.

Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 11


No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
DD Oyashio
CL Kiso, Bomb hits 2, on fire
DD Isokaze

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 12000 feet
4 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 12000 feet
4 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 12000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 50,91
DDs are caught near PM, Oyashio will not survive.

Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 25


Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
DD Oyashio, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
DD Isokaze

Aircraft Attacking:
2 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 12000 feet
3 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 12000 feet
4 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 12000 feet
4 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 12000 feet
4 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 12000 feet
4 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 12000 feet
4 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 12000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Time Surface Combat at 10,85
Otori is caught trying to escape and is quickly sunk.

Japanese Ships
DD Otori, Shell hits 15, and is sunk

Allied Ships
CA Cornwall
CL Perth
DD Drayton
DD Stuart


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Chungking

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 58508 troops, 475 guns, 1 vehicles, Assault Value = 2612

Defending force 148285 troops, 412 guns, 43 vehicles, Assault Value = 3934


Japanese ground losses:
37 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

Allied ground losses:
12 casualties reported


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at 45,35

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 8571 troops, 96 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 984

Defending force 122174 troops, 388 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 3087



Allied ground losses:
107 casualties reported


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at 45,31

The Japanese attack an isolated pocket of units. What is surprising is the low adjust AV of the Japanese forces. Supply is clearly a problem.

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 27663 troops, 307 guns, 148 vehicles, Assault Value = 596

Defending force 30074 troops, 44 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 765

Japanese max assault: 576 - adjusted assault: 184

Allied max defense: 738 - adjusted defense: 154

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 1


Japanese ground losses:
447 casualties reported
Guns lost 6
Vehicles lost 2

Allied ground losses:
213 casualties reported
Guns lost 5


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at 45,28

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 4836 troops, 40 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 101

Defending force 1978 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 79

[niceguy2005]

8/27/42

What started as the slowest month of the war may finish with our first carrier show down, where else but the Coral Sea area.

Hornet, Saratoga and Indomitable were sent north to PM to comfront ships menacing Thursday Is. along with one Surface group. In the meantime a carrier force has moved in to raid Brisbane, probably came from the GC area. Yorktown and Wasp just cruised passed Suva and are heading at full speed to Noumea.

The Japanese raid on Brisbane sunk 2 ML and 1 AV, otherwise just put a full holes in some freighters. Meanwhile the US raid on PM was a completele failure as the TF was unable to find any ships to engage. I think he moved some of his ships into port. I will send B-17s to attack the port tomorrow.

A cobbled together map of the situation.

[niceguy2005]

Highlights...

Day Air attack on Brisbane , at 46,114

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 27
D3A Val x 96
B5N Kate x 33

Allied aircraft
P-35A x 9

Japanese aircraft losses
D3A Val: 13 damaged
B5N Kate: 5 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
P-35A: 4 destroyed

Allied Ships
AK Sipirok, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
AK Neleus, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AK Idomeneus, Bomb hits 1, on fire
ML Krakatau, Bomb hits 5, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
DM Tracy, Bomb hits 1
AK Rhesus, Bomb hits 1, on fire
MSW Gladstone, Bomb hits 1, on fire
ML Gouden Leeuw, Bomb hits 7, on fire, heavy damage
AV Langley, Bomb hits 2, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AK Lycaon, Bomb hits 1, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AK Murada, Bomb hits 2
MSW Echuca, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AS Colombia, Bomb hits 1, on fire


Allied ground losses:
8 casualties reported

Port hits 4
Port supply hits 1

Aircraft Attacking:
21 x D3A Val bombing at 2000 feet
21 x D3A Val bombing at 2000 feet
15 x B5N Kate bombing at 9000 feet
27 x D3A Val bombing at 2000 feet
27 x D3A Val bombing at 2000 feet
18 x B5N Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 51,92

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 24
G3M Nell x 9
G4M1 Betty x 32

Allied aircraft
Fulmar x 9
F4F-4 Wildcat x 32

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 3 destroyed
G4M1 Betty: 5 destroyed, 3 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Fulmar: 1 destroyed
F4F-4 Wildcat: 8 destroyed, 1 damaged

Allied Ships
CV Hornet
CV Indomitable
CA Australia

Aircraft Attacking:
1 x G3M Nell bombing at 9000 feet
4 x G4M1 Betty bombing at 9000 feet
4 x G4M1 Betty bombing at 10000 feet
1 x G4M1 Betty bombing at 10000 feet
2 x G4M1 Betty bombing at 10000 feet
4 x G3M Nell bombing at 9000 feet
4 x G3M Nell bombing at 9000 feet
4 x G4M1 Betty bombing at 9000 feet
4 x G4M1 Betty bombing at 9000 feet
4 x G4M1 Betty bombing at 10000 feet
4 x G4M1 Betty bombing at 10000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 51,92

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 20
G3M Nell x 4
G4M1 Betty x 13

Allied aircraft
Fulmar x 8
F4F-4 Wildcat x 25

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 6 destroyed
G3M Nell: 1 destroyed
G4M1 Betty: 4 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Fulmar: 3 destroyed, 1 damaged
F4F-4 Wildcat: 3 destroyed, 2 damaged

Allied Ships
CV Hornet
CV Indomitable, Bomb hits 1 No damage

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x G3M Nell bombing at 9000 feet
1 x G4M1 Betty bombing at 10000 feet
4 x G4M1 Betty bombing at 10000 feet
4 x G4M1 Betty bombing at 10000 feet
4 x G4M1 Betty bombing at 10000 feet

[niceguy2005]

Fortunately, as luck would have it, my carriers escaped harm and the air groups are largely intact, though I did loose 12 Wildcats.

With potentially 5 carriers in the area (3 near PM, 2 closing on Noumea) the allies have a real opportunity to spring a trap. The only logical path of withdrawl for the Japanese carriers is NE toward GC. To go straight up the OZ coast will invite attack from my bombers at Townville, Cairn and Cooktown.

If he withdraws his carriers immediately he has a chance of escaping engagement.

I will move the force near PM south under an umbrella of CAP from my Oz bases. If time allows, they can refuel and take on replacements. If it looks favorable I will move the carrier force around N. Oz and the one at Noumea to intercept the withdrawing Japanese carrier fleet.

However, Graycompany loves surprises so there could be another carrier force lurking out there somewhere. I have a cruiser and subs looking for it.