East Wind Gives Me the Chills - Chuck vs. Pat - Allied Side

[ctangus]

Rob -

Yea I expect to hear about Ise's demise in the next turn or two. With a little luck Hyuga also but I'm not counting on it.

I'm still undecided about Akyab. I just identified the 2nd unit on the trail - the Imperial Guards Div. My opponent must really want Akyab - I'd need to send in a Div. 5 Dakota squadrons & 3 Catalina squadrons in theater. Forts 4 +29%. I'll make a decision when the enemy is 60 miles away.

A drive from Darwin would be impossible on AB's map without shipping in supplies. I've got the Australia HQ there now, but it's only drawing enough for local operations. I'd need to bring a lot from India and/or keep the Torres strait open, which might just mean a conventional SW Pac drive up the north coast of New Guinea. I've got time to decide, though

VSWG -

It's been tough times for Jap BBs in multiple realities recently. [:)]

Only 1 Salmon class sub nearby (and that only has 1 load of torps in its forward tubes). I had 4 others (Dutch & Brit) close until recently but 2 were damaged since my last update and the other two are sailing to Soerabaja to reload. I did recently mine Singapore which is the likely destination.

Oh - you outperformed me. 2 more torp hits, Japs farther from port & a chance to chase cripples.

I did, however, do it with only 3 CVs... [:'(][;)]

[New York Jets]

[snip]...Below, shipping in the eastern Pacific. There's some more slightly out of the frame:

Are you sending out transports in small numbers or singly to keep their detection level lowe or to avoid too many ships getting caught together in one hex?

This strategy seems very intriguing.

[ctangus]

4/15 - 4/17/42

Well, the big news is above, but a few things happened elsewhere.

Cent Pac/No Pac

A cruiser TF, escorting some transports, was attacked by Oscars at Umnak Island. One hit on CL Honolulu - boink! - she's up to 2 sys damage.

A Jap AP hits a mine at Jaluit.

SS Gato attacks another AK on the surface near Tokyo and puts 5 shells into it. Torps either miss or are duds (I forget). She receives 3 shells in return and her forward tubes are out of action so she's headed to Pearl to repair & upgrade.

So Pac/SW Pac

The first successful Jap sub attack in a few weeks puts 6 shells & 1 fish into AK Makena on the 16th. She limped to Efate where she unloaded a VMF squadron but her captain decided to scuttle her on the 17th (98 flt damage). He went down with the ship.

DEI

I'm not sure if I mentioned it earlier in the AAR, but about a week ago I sortied my DEI carrier fleet (Sara, Formidable & Indomitable) in response to Baby KB hanging out in the Makassar Strait. Baby KB didn't come any further so I decided to strike against a BB TF that was covering the Japanese landings at Palembang. Results above. [:)]

That was the am strike. In the pm, several small strikes launched against 4 invasion TFs - 3 transports (2 with troops) and 1 PG were hit. I'd love to stick around & sink some transports, but I'm sure every Nell & Betty in Southeast Asia is looking for revenge. Time to run away!

With those BBs sure to leave, I've ordered some nearby Martins onto naval attack again (before now they'd been bombing the BBs ineffectively and I had them standing down for a few turns.) I also sent 1 squadron of Beauforts to Palembang, with escorts. I could potentially lose them all on the ground, but they just might put another torp or two into a BB. The airfield there is open, but damaged, and the machine shops are about 95% damaged.

The 18th Jap division & 2 base forces have been reported unloading at Palembang, in addition to the 5th division which has been there for a few days.

In the meantime I've also scored 2 mine hits, 3 sub torpedo hits (plus 2 ineffective attacks) and 2 hits by TIVa's in the theater. 3 or 4 Jap transports were reported sunk since the last update.

Phil

I forgot to mention that on the 13th of April, Bataan fell, ending all organized resistance in the Phillipines. I can't say I was happy to see resistance end, but my valiant troops held much longer than I expected. Overall, I'm pleased.

China

I have 3 Corps isolated in North China & they are now subject to daily attacks. Here's the last:

04/17/42
Ground combat at Chengting
Japanese Deliberate attack
Attacking force 49891 troops, 608 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 970
Defending force 25406 troops, 105 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 745
Japanese max assault: 810 - adjusted assault: 1134
Allied max defense: 653 - adjusted defense: 83
Japanese assault odds: 13 to 1
Japanese ground losses:
332 casualties reported
Guns lost 23
Allied ground losses:
198 casualties reported

I have a small unit moving to open up a retreat path, but I don't think it will arrive in time. It won't be disastrous to lose those 3 Corps, but it would be my first major setback in the theater.

In South China, Japanese are reported massing at Hankow (18 units today - 6 or so yesterday). In response I've ordered a shock attack against the Japanese in the swamps 60 miles away. I'm not sure it will succeed but I'd like to weaken the enemy here as much as possible.

[ctangus]

ORIGINAL: Chris Trog

Are you sending out transports in small numbers or singly to keep their detection level lowe or to avoid too many ships getting caught together in one hex?

This strategy seems very intriguing.

Hi Chris,

In small numbers but rarely singly - mostly to avoid getting many ships caught together. Also, to give me a little bit of a heads up if CVs come raiding along my supply lines. One or two TFs might catch it but I should be able to divert others.

Also, I usually keep troop TFs slightly further from danger than supply TFs. Losing 15-25K supply is never fun, but I'd much rather lose that than a RCT. In 800-900 PBEM turns I've never lost an entire LCU on the sea & only 2-3 air groups.

The picture you quoted is busier than my usual operations. At the time I was worried about Hawaii being attacked & at least 90% of those task forces were 3 ships or less, trying to slip in what I could. I think I had about 300 TFs operational at that time. On a usual day it's probably about 175-200 TFs. Average size is probably 5-6 ships (excluding combat task forces).

[ctangus]

4/18/42

Good day in the sub war.

Cent Pac

Near Johnston an ASW group had 1 direct hit & a dozen near misses against SS I-16.

A Jap AK, hit by a sub-laid mine about a week ago, sank near Makin.

DEI

With gunfire & 2 torpedos, SS O23 sinks a Jap tanker at Amboina.

Martins put bombs into 3 transports unloading at Palembang.

Dutch patrol planes spotted Ise 120 miles from Palembang in the morning, but at the end of the day she was nowhere to be seen. Hidden by clouds? Scuttled? Spies now report at least 1 BB & 1 CA docked at Singapore - I think I'll send another port attack in a few days.

The best news, however, is this. My one sub in the area scores - the crew of the Seawolf get drinks on me once they reach port:

[Rob Brennan UK]

[VSWG]

ORIGINAL: ctangus

I did, however, do it with only 3 CVs... [:'(][;)]

Okay, okay... I guess you deserve the dancing bananas, too... [;)]

A drive from Darwin would be impossible on AB's map without shipping in supplies. I've got the Australia HQ there now, but it's only drawing enough for local operations. I'd need to bring a lot from India and/or keep the Torres strait open, which might just mean a conventional SW Pac drive up the north coast of New Guinea. I've got time to decide, though.

Here's an idea: Move another large HQ (SWPac?) to Alice Spring, or some other base in central Australia that has a viable supply path to your production centers in souteastern Australia AND Darwin. As soon as the HQ arrives, it should draw supplies. Now move the unit 1 hex out of Alice Springs... hopefully, the supplies move to northern Oz. Now move the HQ back to Alice Spring, and hope that it draws even more supplies from Perth/Sydney/Brisbane... Rinse and repeat.

Don't know if it will work, though. Wanted to try it in my own PBEM.

[ctangus]

Those dancing bananas are certainly called for. [:)] More in a bit.

[ctangus]

4/19/42

DEI

During the night, Catalinas take off on a torpedo attack against the BB Ise. While they score no hits they also report the Ise plunging bow-first into the depths after their runs. Yippee!

It looks like the rest of the damaged Jap BBs have made it to Singapore. I've flown my heavies to Batavia. They'll rest a day & then port attack. I don't expect any kills, but I'd like to damage those BBs enough so they don't see action again in 1942. Though Hyuga has now eaten 4 torps & might still succumb. I also checked & my PBYs can be ordered on night port attacks. Hmmm...

Elsewhere, a Jap AP sinks with elements of a mixed brigade aboard. (From a bomb hit, IIRC.) A PG sinks as well. Maybe an AK too. (The turns blend together sometimes.)

Palembang's now held for about 2 weeks, with her oil/resource production stopped all the while.

My subs continue to have success as SS KXVII puts 8 shells (mostly 40mm) into AP Nihonkai Maru. It was empty of troops, but was also reported to be burning furiously.

I'll be reinforcing with a Dutch B-25 squadron & a US B-26 group soon. I could use more fighters in this theater, however.

CBI

Jap air raids of Akyab & Changsha have some success & daily air losses were 22 to 11 in the Japanese favor.

I forgot to mention that my shock attack on the 18th near Hankow failed miserably. (0 to 1.) While my troops are a mess right now there were few permanent casualties and their experience went up nicely. Reinforcements from the Nanchang front are on their way, too.

Below, what my spies report docked at Singapore. (I think they're exaggerating a little.) -

[ctangus]

4/20 - 4/21/42

Most of the action is still in the DEI.

Cent Pac

Enterprise & her escorts have fully repaired their damage from their April upgrades. They're on their way to So Pac to relieve Yorktown.

DEI

1 or 2 Jap AKs sink.

With the Jap BBs out of commission, Java-based Martins have scored multiple hits on 1 transport each day, and also put one 250 lb. bomb into DD Kamo.

My subs continue to do decently. On the 20th SS Trusty missed an AP with a fan of torpedos. However on the 21st, SS KXVII torpedoed an AP in the Makassar Strait & SS KXIV hit another off Palembang. KXIV took some damage from escorts & will be heading to Trincomalee to repair for a while.

My port attack against Singers launches & is a limited success. Nagato was the least-damaged BB before now, maybe she'll be out of action a little while longer:

04/21/42
Day Air attack on Singapore , at 22,51
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 42
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 12
Allied aircraft
B-17C Fortress x 15
B-17E Fortress x 31 19 turned back & their morale went from the 90's to the 30's!
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 11 damaged
Ki-43-Ib Oscar: 1 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
B-17C Fortress: 5 damaged
B-17E Fortress: 5 destroyed, 21 damaged
Japanese Ships
DD Kisaragi, Bomb hits 1, on fire Penetrates
BB Nagato, Bomb hits 2, on fire Two gun mounts out of action
CA Myoko, Bomb hits 1
Japanese ground losses:
159 casualties reported
Guns lost 2
Port hits 1
Aircraft Attacking:
12 x B-17C Fortress bombing at 18000 feet

Recon reports no BBs at Singapore today. Is that a fluke or is he withdrawing to somewhere safer? The latter would be a risk because Hyuga at least must still have significant flt damage.

A Japanese counter-strike was launched against Batavia:

04/21/42
Day Air attack on Batavia , at 20,60
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 2
G3M Nell x 15
G4M1 Betty x 12
Allied aircraft
Hawk 75A x 3
Hurricane IIb x 16
P-40E Warhawk x 12
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed
G3M Nell: 2 destroyed, 11 damaged
G4M1 Betty: 4 destroyed, 4 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
Hawk 75A: 1 destroyed
Hurricane IIb: 3 damaged
P-40E Warhawk: 4 damaged
Airbase hits 2
Runway hits 1

I'll take that, but there were also a lot of Japanese raids across the map where I didn't do as well. Air losses for the 2 days were roughly 35 each side.

Kendari has particularly received some heavy air raids. I currently expect that to be the next Japanese target.

The best news was at Palembang. 2 Dutch battalions & 3 base forces are fighting furiously and holding off 2 Jap Divisions and their supporting forces:

04/20/42
Ground combat at Palembang
Japanese Shock attack
Attacking force 36176 troops, 345 guns, 4 vehicles, Assault Value = 712
Defending force 11688 troops, 94 guns, 12 vehicles, Assault Value = 133
Japanese max assault: 1092 - adjusted assault: 158
Allied max defense: 127 - adjusted defense: 601
Japanese assault odds: 0 to 1 (fort level 6) One Jap Engineer Rgt, but no fort reduction
Japanese ground losses:
1475 casualties reported
Guns lost 32
Vehicles lost 3
Allied ground losses:
236 casualties reported
Guns lost 8

Yippee! I've already held for 15 days here & I should last at least that much longer. Plus those Japanese Divs will likely be trashed when all is said and done. (I'm sure they haven't fully recovered from the Malaya campaign.) I need about another 7-10 days to get the rest of my Java reinforcements safely arrived - I think I have that time and more.

[ctangus]

4/22 - 4/23/42

So Pac/SW Pac

S-44 puts a shell into a barge in the slot. Otherwise my troops are continuing to work on their tans.

DEI

A Jap AK sinks near Singapore.

On the 22nd SS Trusty misses a Jap AP off Palembang and gets damaged by the escorts in turn. SS KXIV, retiring from earlier damage, nonetheless torpedos a troopship she runs across. The 23rd was unusual in that there were no sub contacts at all.

Dutch Martins but 2 bombs in an AP. Another AP hits 2 mines at Palembang. Both ships had troops aboard.

Japanese APDs drop a load of troops off at Bandjermasin (tip of Borneo). Despite one of the APDs hitting a mine the base will fall tomorrow - the only troops there are a fragment of a Dutch base force.

The Japanese also seem to be increasing their air efforts with raids all over the map. Here's one:

04/23/42
Day Air attack on Soerabaja , at 23,66
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 59
G3M Nell x 33
G4M1 Betty x 56
Allied aircraft
P-40E Warhawk x 11
Japanese aircraft losses
G3M Nell: 1 destroyed, 10 damaged
G4M1 Betty: 22 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
P-40E Warhawk: 8 destroyed Ouch! Aussie Kittyhawks are reinforcing
Allied ground losses:
30 casualties reported
Guns lost 1
Port hits 2 No ships hit. 4 AKs are in port waiting to pick up resources.

With the Japanese closing in on Java I just issued orders for the units resting in Soerabaja to march to their final defensive positions. They're all in good shape as none have more than 5% disablements.

Burma

With heavy air support, the Japanese advance on Akyab is continuing. I'm still undecided on what to do here, but I need to make up my mind quickly. I'll try to post a map after I do a turn from my other game.

China

My valiant Chinese route a stack of 187,000 Japanese! (Actually that's from my other game, but I wanted to brag about it anyway. [:'(])

In this game it's been quiet on the ground but there have been daily air raids against both Nanchang & Changsha. I ambushed one:

04/23/42
Day Air attack on 59th Chinese Corps, at 48,38
Japanese aircraft
Ki-49 Helen x 33
Allied aircraft
P-40E Warhawk x 17
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-49 Helen: 9 destroyed, 15 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
P-40E Warhawk: 3 damaged
Allied ground losses:
33 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

[ctangus]

4/24/42

A one-day update since this will probably be the last turn until Monday. Most of the action remains in the DEI.

Cent Pac

A Jake puts a bomb into SS Salmon near Truk - 66/42/0 and a long way from safe port.

DEI

Dutch Martins & B-25s put multiple bombs into 3 APs near Palembang. One sinks, in addition to another AP that sank from earlier damage. I scored another mine hit against an AP, too.

Jap air has additional ASW success - near Makassar KVIII is hit by a patrolling Betty. Flt damage is only 15, so she'll live, but she'll also be out of the war for a couple months.

There was another damaging air raid against Soerabaja:

Day Air attack on Soerabaja , at 23,66
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 57
G3M Nell x 19
G4M1 Betty x 44
Allied aircraft
Kittyhawk I x 12
P-40E Warhawk x 5
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 2 destroyed
G3M Nell: 9 damaged
G4M1 Betty: 2 destroyed, 15 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
Kittyhawk I: 3 destroyed, 6 damaged
P-40E Warhawk: 4 destroyed
B-17C Fortress: 1 destroyed
B-17E Fortress: 2 destroyed
Allied ground losses:
13 casualties reported
Airbase hits 4
Airbase supply hits 4
Runway hits 8

The P-40s are withdrawing. The B-17s, despite horrible morale, will try a counter-strike against Balikpapan.

China

I mentioned the supply situation is doing well. Check this out:

[ctangus]

Burma/India

I'm still trying to decide whether to defend Akyab or not. Advice/thoughts here are welcome! I've already sent more out of India than I've sent back in, but any potential invasion is at least two months away - Pat still has to finish off the DEI.

If I reinforced Akyab I'd fly in the 18th UK Div. I'd probably march an Arty unit there also. With the forts I have that force should hold there but I'm not entirely certain.

Arguments for reinforcement:

I could probably tie up two Japanese divisions at a base I don't consider essential. It also keeps them away from Mandalay/Lashio which threaten the Burma road.

Arguments against:

If a Japanese assault against Akyab succeeds, I then have a depleted division on trails, a long march from anywhere.

Also, if I don't contest Akyab & my opponent marches from there to India I can meet him with a strong force at Chittagong. That would also keep all my forces on the rail line, which would allow me to meet a threat somewhere else rapidly.

I'm leaning towards reinforcing. Below is a map showing the combat units I have to work with:



I get the following combat troops as reinforcements:

5th Indian Div - 20 days
251st Uk Brig - 20 days
14th Chindit Brig - 81 days
23rd Chindit Brig - 98 days
25th Indian Div - 113 days

After the last, it's six more months before I get more combat troops in this theater.

[New York Jets]

ORIGINAL: ctangus

ORIGINAL: Chris Trog

Are you sending out transports in small numbers or singly to keep their detection level low or to avoid too many ships getting caught together in one hex?

This strategy seems very intriguing.

Hi Chris,

In small numbers but rarely singly - mostly to avoid getting many ships caught together. Also, to give me a little bit of a heads up if CVs come raiding along my supply lines. One or two TFs might catch it but I should be able to divert others.

Also, I usually keep troop TFs slightly further from danger than supply TFs. Losing 15-25K supply is never fun, but I'd much rather lose that than a RCT. In 800-900 PBEM turns I've never lost an entire LCU on the sea & only 2-3 air groups.

The picture you quoted is busier than my usual operations. At the time I was worried about Hawaii being attacked & at least 90% of those task forces were 3 ships or less, trying to slip in what I could. I think I had about 300 TFs operational at that time. On a usual day it's probably about 175-200 TFs. Average size is probably 5-6 ships (excluding combat task forces).

Thank you. It looks like a really good strategy.

If you don't have it copywrited I think I'll use it in my future games. [;)]

[ctangus]

As a matter of fact it is copyrighted. To use it please wire 1.2 gazillion dollars to ctangus@swissbankaccount.com. [;)]

In truth, if you do use a similar logistics strategy, I'd be interested in hearing criticisms and/or refinements after you've used it for a while. I'm mostly happy with how I handle my logs but I'm sure my system isn't perfect, either. I've been playing this game for well over a year but I'm still learning it.

[ctangus]

Well, I decided to reinforce Akyab & the first elements of the 18th UK Div are flying in next turn. An arty regiment is marching there also.

I'm still a little nervous about it, but it's consistent with my general forward-defense strategy. Time will tell.

[VSWG]

Good choice, I think. Your opponent won't be able to invade India without those 2 divisions, so stalling them at Akyab is probably the most effective way to defend India.

On the other hand, I'm the one who recommended the counter-attack in Malaya... [;)]

[Onime No Kyo]

ORIGINAL: VSWG

Good choice, I think. Your opponent won't be able to invade India without those 2 divisions, so stalling them at Akyab is probably the most effective way to defend India.

On the other hand, I'm the one who recommended the counter-attack in Malaya... [;)]

IMHO the Japanese need Malaya about as much as the Allies do...which is to say not much. If he knows all your stuff is in Malaya, he could just easily skirt the place and land wherever. Just my opinion.

[ctangus]

VSWG -

Yea, hopefully it won't turn into another Malaya. So far, that's the only one of my calculated risks that's been disastrous, however. So I can afford another disaster. [;)]

Hi Onime -

I presume you mean Burma. That's precisely why I was undecided so long on reinforcing Akyab. The main importance of Burma is the Burma road & that should be safe for now.

A few things influenced my decision: 1) I can airlift out fairly quickly if I need to. 2) I still hold all of Java and I don't think Pat can take it if he launches a strong India invasion. 3) I'd rather fight those 2 Jap divisions at Akyab, which I don't consider overly important, than at Mandalay or on the shores of India.

[Onime No Kyo]

ORIGINAL: ctangus

VSWG -

Yea, hopefully it won't turn into another Malaya. So far, that's the only one of my calculated risks that's been disastrous, however. So I can afford another disaster. [;)]

Hi Onime -

I presume you mean Burma. That's precisely why I was undecided so long on reinforcing Akyab. The main importance of Burma is the Burma road & that should be safe for now.

A few things influenced my decision: 1) I can airlift out fairly quickly if I need to. 2) I still hold all of Java and I don't think Pat can take it if he launches a strong India invasion. 3) I'd rather fight those 2 Jap divisions at Akyab, which I don't consider overly important, than at Mandalay or on the shores of India.

DOH....yeah...Burma.

Its pretty hadr to keep them off the Burma road. The only real holding point is Mandalay...and thats pretty darn hard to hold. What makes it worse, is those jungle tracks a bit north which make withdrawal a beast.