I suspect that several bases in India and Malaya have hidden air units ready to appear Ground forces unfortunately require the recapture of of Bombay or Karachi both of which are urban and therefore impregnable.
I wish at least one access base was not Urban as it is that 4x multiplier that puts me off even attempting a direct invasion of India
Andy
If the NF unit was No. 27 Squadron, your assumption is probably correct. You should get No. 62 Squadron when you take Alor Star and No. 60 Squadron when you take Kuantan (if these units did not remain on the map).
The NF was no 27 Sqn it arrived with Blenheims which I upgraded - I will check the other two bases as well to see if I have any air units there tonight
OK neat trick for use of float plane transports (only really relevant for the solitary Coronado Sqn as Dakotas have the same range as PBY's more or less)
If you order them to drop supplies on an inland base and the inland base has a RIVER then you can order them to 'pick up' troops from that base. For some reason they wont do it if you order it direct but go via the drop supply command and it works !!!!
It allows medevac from inland lakes and rivers (as they historically did in Burma at least)
In case anyone was interested in how I managed to evac 2 base forces from China !!!
OK RAF Sqns currently operational in my various theatres 10 Sqns total
Malaya
27 Sqn Beaufighters
62 Sqn Beaufighters
217 Sqn Beaufighters
45 Sqn Mosquito FB's
11 Sqn Liberators
205 Sqn Catalinas
Other
54 Sqn Spitfire VIII
488 Sqn Spitfire VIII
548 Sqn Spitfire VIII
803 Sqn Corsair IV
Relatively quiet turn my heavy guns are doing well at Johore
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 10/15/44
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Kweiyang , at 41,35
Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zeke x 97
N1K1-J George x 48
B7A Grace x 34
Ki-61 KAIc Tony x 107
Ki-84-Ia Frank x 35
No Japanese losses
Allied ground losses:
10 casualties reported
Airbase hits 9
Airbase supply hits 7
Runway hits 154
Aircraft Attacking:
36 x Ki-61 KAIc Tony bombing at 2000 feet
32 x Ki-84-Ia Frank bombing at 2000 feet
35 x Ki-61 KAIc Tony bombing at 2000 feet
32 x Ki-61 KAIc Tony bombing at 2000 feet
24 x A6M5 Zeke bombing at 2000 feet
42 x A6M5 Zeke bombing at 2000 feet
48 x N1K1-J George bombing at 2000 feet
18 x B7A Grace bombing at 9000 feet
16 x B7A Grace bombing at 15000 feet
21 x A6M5 Zeke bombing at 2000 feet
3 x Ki-84-Ia Frank bombing at 2000 feet
4 x Ki-61 KAIc Tony bombing at 2000 feet
3 x A6M5 Zeke bombing at 2000 feet
4 x A6M5 Zeke bombing at 2000 feet
3 x A6M5 Zeke bombing at 2000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Kweiyang , at 41,35
Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zeke x 95
D4Y Judy x 27
B6N Jill x 44
G4M1 Betty x 27
G4M2 Betty x 63
P1Y Frances x 36
No Japanese losses
Allied ground losses:
10 casualties reported
Airbase hits 6
Airbase supply hits 4
Runway hits 198
Aircraft Attacking:
9 x A6M5 Zeke bombing at 2000 feet
3 x G4M2 Betty bombing at 10000 feet
8 x G4M2 Betty bombing at 10000 feet
26 x A6M5 Zeke bombing at 2000 feet
15 x G4M2 Betty bombing at 10000 feet
15 x P1Y Frances bombing at 9000 feet
8 x G4M1 Betty bombing at 10000 feet
30 x A6M5 Zeke bombing at 2000 feet
44 x B6N Jill bombing at 10000 feet
27 x A6M5 Zeke bombing at 2000 feet
24 x D4Y Judy bombing at 2000 feet
3 x P1Y Frances bombing at 10000 feet
3 x G4M2 Betty bombing at 10000 feet
5 x G4M2 Betty bombing at 10000 feet
3 x G4M2 Betty bombing at 10000 feet
3 x P1Y Frances bombing at 9000 feet
5 x G4M1 Betty bombing at 10000 feet
3 x A6M5 Zeke bombing at 2000 feet
3 x D4Y Judy bombing at 2000 feet
3 x P1Y Frances bombing at 10000 feet
3 x G4M2 Betty bombing at 10000 feet
3 x G4M2 Betty bombing at 10000 feet
4 x G4M2 Betty bombing at 10000 feet
3 x P1Y Frances bombing at 9000 feet
4 x G4M1 Betty bombing at 10000 feet
3 x P1Y Frances bombing at 10000 feet
3 x G4M2 Betty bombing at 10000 feet
6 x G4M2 Betty bombing at 10000 feet
3 x P1Y Frances bombing at 9000 feet
7 x G4M1 Betty bombing at 10000 feet
3 x P1Y Frances bombing at 9000 feet
3 x G4M2 Betty bombing at 10000 feet
2 x G4M2 Betty bombing at 10000 feet
3 x G4M1 Betty bombing at 10000 feet
2 x G4M2 Betty bombing at 10000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Kweiyang , at 41,35
Japanese aircraft
G4M2 Betty x 27
No Japanese losses
Runway hits 4
Aircraft Attacking:
15 x G4M2 Betty bombing at 10000 feet
12 x G4M2 Betty bombing at 10000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Johore Bahru , at 22,49
Allied aircraft
TBM Avenger x 59
P-38J Lightning x 34
No Allied losses
Japanese ground losses:
89 casualties reported
Guns lost 2
Airbase hits 4
Runway hits 34
Aircraft Attacking:
4 x TBM Avenger bombing at 20000 feet
10 x TBM Avenger bombing at 20000 feet
4 x TBM Avenger bombing at 20000 feet
4 x TBM Avenger bombing at 20000 feet
5 x TBM Avenger bombing at 20000 feet
4 x TBM Avenger bombing at 20000 feet
4 x TBM Avenger bombing at 20000 feet
3 x TBM Avenger bombing at 20000 feet
2 x TBM Avenger bombing at 20000 feet
2 x TBM Avenger bombing at 20000 feet
2 x TBM Avenger bombing at 20000 feet
3 x TBM Avenger bombing at 20000 feet
3 x TBM Avenger bombing at 20000 feet
2 x TBM Avenger bombing at 20000 feet
1 x TBM Avenger bombing at 20000 feet
1 x TBM Avenger bombing at 20000 feet
3 x TBM Avenger bombing at 20000 feet
1 x TBM Avenger bombing at 20000 feet
1 x TBM Avenger bombing at 20000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Johore Bahru , at 22,49
Allied aircraft
Liberator VI x 4
Mosquito FB.VI x 2
No Allied losses
Runway hits 4
Aircraft Attacking:
3 x Liberator VI bombing at 6000 feet
1 x Liberator VI bombing at 6000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Singapore , at 23,50
Japanese aircraft
no flights
Allied aircraft
P-38J Lightning x 8
B-25J Mitchell x 39
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5 Zeke: 2 destroyed
Allied aircraft losses
B-25J Mitchell: 4 damaged
Japanese ground losses:
50 casualties reported
Guns lost 1
Airbase hits 21
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 54
Aircraft Attacking:
24 x B-25J Mitchell bombing at 15000 feet
15 x B-25J Mitchell bombing at 15000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Singapore , at 23,50
Allied aircraft
F4U-1D Corsair x 20
P-38J Lightning x 30
No Allied losses
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Sampit , at 26,62
Allied aircraft
P-40N Warhawk x 16
B-25J Mitchell x 39
No Allied losses
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 5
Aircraft Attacking:
24 x B-25J Mitchell bombing at 10000 feet
15 x B-25J Mitchell bombing at 10000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Brunei , at 32,57
Allied aircraft
P-47D Thunderbolt x 17
No Allied losses
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Kendari , at 33,71
Allied aircraft
F4U-1 Corsair x 13
Spitfire VIII x 9
No Allied losses
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Lautem , at 33,78
Allied aircraft
F6F Hellcat x 30
No Allied losses
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Truk , at 63,78
Japanese aircraft
no flights
Allied aircraft
F-5C Lightning x 3
PB4Y Liberator x 9
B-24J Liberator x 14
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5 Zeke: 1 destroyed
Allied aircraft losses
PB4Y Liberator: 1 damaged
B-24J Liberator: 1 damaged
Japanese ground losses:
26 casualties reported
Airbase hits 1
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 48
Aircraft Attacking:
4 x B-24J Liberator bombing at 15000 feet
3 x PB4Y Liberator bombing at 15000 feet
3 x PB4Y Liberator bombing at 15000 feet
3 x B-24J Liberator bombing at 15000 feet
7 x B-24J Liberator bombing at 15000 feet
3 x PB4Y Liberator bombing at 15000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Wewak , at 52,81
Allied aircraft
F4U-1 Corsair x 37
F4U-1D Corsair x 21
F6F-5N Hellcat x 18
Hurricane II x 13
Kittyhawk III x 21
No Allied losses
Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 2
Aircraft Attacking:
18 x F6F-5N Hellcat bombing at 2000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 55th Division, at 81,84
Allied aircraft
F6F Hellcat x 3
F4U-1D Corsair x 19
P-40N Warhawk x 25
No Allied losses
Aircraft Attacking:
11 x P-40N Warhawk bombing at 2000 feet
14 x P-40N Warhawk bombing at 2000 feet
8 x F4U-1D Corsair bombing at 2000 feet
11 x F4U-1D Corsair bombing at 2000 feet
3 x F6F Hellcat bombing at 2000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 26th Special Base Force, at 23,44
Allied aircraft
P-40N Warhawk x 38
P-38J Lightning x 14
No Allied losses
Japanese ground losses:
57 casualties reported
Aircraft Attacking:
27 x P-40N Warhawk bombing at 2000 feet
11 x P-40N Warhawk bombing at 2000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 84th Chinese Corps, at 43,35
Japanese aircraft
B7A Grace x 48
No Japanese losses
Allied ground losses:
6 casualties reported
Aircraft Attacking:
24 x B7A Grace bombing at 10000 feet
24 x B7A Grace bombing at 8000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 25th Ind.Mixed/A Brigade, at 44,75
Allied aircraft
F6F Hellcat x 48
Boomerang II x 9
No Allied losses
Japanese ground losses:
71 casualties reported
Guns lost 1
Aircraft Attacking:
48 x F6F Hellcat bombing at 2000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 24,58
Japanese aircraft
D4Y Judy x 4
P1Y Frances x 10
Ki-67 Peggy x 7
Japanese aircraft losses
D4Y Judy: 1 destroyed, 2 damaged
P1Y Frances: 1 destroyed, 8 damaged
Ki-67 Peggy: 1 destroyed, 5 damaged
Allied Ships
DD Newcomb, Bomb hits 1, on fire
DD Stembel, Bomb hits 2, on fire
DD Leutze, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
DD Stockham
DD Renshaw
Allied ground losses:
72 casualties reported
Aircraft Attacking:
3 x Ki-67 Peggy bombing at 7000 feet
3 x D4Y Judy bombing at 2000 feet
3 x Ki-67 Peggy bombing at 7000 feet
2 x P1Y Frances launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x P1Y Frances launching torpedoes at 200 feet
3 x P1Y Frances launching torpedoes at 200 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 23,51
Japanese aircraft
P1Y Frances x 11
Ki-49 Helen x 15
No Japanese losses
Allied Ships
TK L.P. St. Clair, Bomb hits 3, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
Aircraft Attacking:
4 x Ki-49 Helen bombing at 5000 feet
4 x P1Y Frances launching torpedoes at 200 feet
3 x Ki-49 Helen bombing at 5000 feet
3 x P1Y Frances launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x Ki-49 Helen bombing at 5000 feet
4 x Ki-49 Helen bombing at 5000 feet
4 x P1Y Frances launching torpedoes at 200 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 25,56
Japanese aircraft
D4Y Judy x 12
P1Y Frances x 3
Japanese aircraft losses
D4Y Judy: 1 destroyed, 10 damaged
P1Y Frances: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged
Allied Ships
DD Halligan
DD Halford
DD Converse
Aircraft Attacking:
2 x P1Y Frances launching torpedoes at 200 feet
3 x D4Y Judy bombing at 2000 feet
8 x D4Y Judy bombing at 2000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Lautem , at 33,78
Allied aircraft
SB2C Helldiver x 25
No Allied losses
Port hits 1
Port supply hits 2
Aircraft Attacking:
15 x SB2C Helldiver bombing at 2000 feet
3 x SB2C Helldiver bombing at 2000 feet
7 x SB2C Helldiver bombing at 2000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Johore Bahru
Allied Bombardment attack
Attacking force 31911 troops, 385 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 764
Defending force 28637 troops, 252 guns, 118 vehicles, Assault Value = 491
Japanese ground losses:
272 casualties reported
Guns lost 2
Vehicles lost 5
My initial thoughts are Yellow as a diversion
with Green or Black as main assault and Pink as fall back option to end the war if things go tits up !!!
GREEN - Direct Assault on Formosa/Hainan - Okinawa
BLACK - Secure North Borneo/Outer PI then Formosa - Okinawa
RED - Hey Diddle de Dee staight through the middle PI - Okinawa
PURPLE - East PI - Okinawa
EAST ROUTE
BLUE - Marianas - Bonins - North Japan
YELLOW - Islands - Bonins - North Japan
PINK - North Japan
For the West I go with BLACK - you will need to have some support from LBA to cover your forces. Maybe not as much when it comes to the initial landings, but any follow up forces will need to have your CV's cover vs CVE's as you have already learned. [:-]
For the East I go with YELLOW - I like Pink, but the weather up there is not good and he has too many bases to hit you from. Going Yellow will take out LBA until you get to Iwo Jima. I would also consider taking Marcus first and have follow up forces take Wake as he will be expect you to go the other way. It's bold, but would put the Home Islands close to the front in a hurry.
Again, I think your main advantages are with your ships and LBA's. The avoidance of any places where he can get to you with LCU's is to be avoided as much as possible.
YELLOW looks like a good bet -- his LBA has hit you hard and that is the direct route that maximizes your CV advantages and minimizes his LBA advantages. You might couple that with BLUE and just let local forces run the western ops -- you can make slow progress up Borneo, etc, under cover of LBA with limited support. It will be slow going, but if you have some small operations going there and let Malaysia run itself, then you can concentrate for the straight thrust of YELLOW and BLUE -- he might find it hard to deal with both those operations at once as BLUE will put his outer ring of LBA bases under threat and give you places to use your own LBA against him.
Green and Black: No - same problem as with drive to Malaya - TWO unsecured flanks and too many bases for enemy LBA.
I'd go for Yellow supported by Purple. start purple first to draw forces west then a lightning strike at Marcus/Wake/Iwo Jima/Bonins(?).
You've got 803 Sqdn - isn't that a FAA squadron, and carrier trained?
GREEN - Direct Assault on Formosa/Hainan - Okinawa
Pros Threat he cannot ignore, good base of operations in Malaya
Cons Time, logistics and nasties LBA on both flanks, No or Limited LBA coverage
BLACK - Secure North Borneo/Outer PI then Formosa - Okinawa
Pros Threat he cannot ignore, good base of operations in Malaya, better LBA coverage than GREEN but slower
Cons Time, logistics and nasties LBA on both flanks, Limited LBA Coverage
RED - Hey Diddle de Dee staight through the middle PI - Okinawa
Pros
Direct route meet em head on
Cons
LOTS of LBA, close quarters, Jap surface fleet will commit
PURPLE - East PI - Okinawa
Pros - OK Logistics, miss out main defended bases
Cons - lots of LBA
EAST ROUTE
BLUE - Marianas - Bonins - North Japan
Pros - Good Logistics (Enti and Kwaj still have lots of supplies and fuel, would he expect me to go back, B29's !!!!
Cons - lots of LBA, 400,000 entrenched soldiers - a HARD fight
YELLOW - Islands - Bonins - North Japan
Pros - Easier isolated bases, lower garrisons, great logistics
Cons Kamis straight away, Marianas in my rear
PINK - North Japan
Pros - Surprise
Cons - Weather, Risk and Logistics
My thoughts so far
GREEN - If I am going to take this level of risk then I may as well go direct for HI - Formosa is a red herring and is to risky for the potential gain
BLACK - I am more tempted by this but perhaps use this one as the diversion and make my main strike from the East
RED - To Risky while his BB's are operational and I am still light on surface warships
PURPLE - East PI - Okinawa - Now this tempts me for a secondary thrust combine this with Black and it would convince PZB that I am serious about this axis of advance.
EAST ROUTE - More and more do I return to this being the main theatre - I may not like it but logic tells me this is where I need to strike and strike hard
BLUE - The marianas its always about the marianas 400,000 men behind lvl 9 forts.....I dont knwo I just dont knwo
YELLOW - I agree with the other commentators Yellow or a varient there on is looking like the war winner to me
PINK - Weather Logistics and Risk - No to much for me
Conclusion
I think I will act like BLACK and PURPLE are my main operational axis of advance but really use a modified version of YELLOW -
In total I have about 32 Divisions (excl 7 in Malaya) available for my next set of offensives assigning (10th Army has 10 Divs at present and will be assigned responsability for YELLOW - I will reinforce it with a further 10 Divisions and 6th Army from the West so 16th Army Group will have a total of 20 Divisions
1st Aus Army in Malaya will keep pressure on SEA after taking Malaya and may be used for an adventure in India
8th Army will lead on the BLACK and PURPLE deceptions with 7 Divisions
5 Divisions will remain in Theatre Reserve at Rabaul to be used in support of either thrust.
6 Divs on LST's with one more every 40 days til the end of the war (2 at Pearl, 3 at Darwin, 1 on West Coast) (About 200k of LST/LSD/V shipping with 32k per Div)
On small AP's and LCT's probably another 3, Large Ap's reserved for support and HQ's probably on AK's no limit but to valuable hauling supplies
Actually, looking at where you have your shipping available, things aren't looking so grim for PzB. You basically have a 3 division lift capacity in the central Pacific and another 3 divisions south of the SRA. It would take awhile to marry them up. I don't consider 3 divisions overwealming combat power against some of the important must see sites.
I think that things are going to be very interesting for some time yet. [:D]
Yes I have been shifting my assets from left to right for a while.
Dont forget the following critical factors
1. IF i go with the CENTPAC options a LOT of AK's become available to support my invasions as I have shorter Loggie chains
2. I am due another Divs worth of LST's on the West Coast in 10 days and then another Divs worth 10 days after that.
3. These numbers assume I load all support if I load just combat elements on LST's about 15 - 20 will do which will greatly increase assault lift by at least 50% (this is only practical for non Atolls though for atolls everything needs to land on day 1 and be on LST's)
But in general yes my assualt shipping unless I use barges is extremely limited.
(Armour is good bang for buck on loading though)
Pros - Easier isolated bases, lower garrisons, great logistics
Cons Kamis straight away, Marianas in my rear
I think that you would do well here as PzB would have to sortie the remains of KB to counter this move. Only his long range planes like the Betty/Nell's could reach (and whatever else he has now) and few fighters to slow down your invasion.
I would stockpile Midway with as close to max in both supplies and fuel to shorten any turn around time. I would time the arrival of about 20 or more subs around Marcus when your invasion of Wake hits as he will try to reinforce it by sea and by air. If possible, I would try to plan your invasion to follow up on Wake as soon as possible to hit him hard.
If you go YELLOW, then I would go with PURPLE try to close down the Marianas at a later point. From both of these, then Okinawa becomes a strong possibility.
Can you list how many large capitals ships you have??
CV -
CVL -
CVE -
BB -
CA -
CL -
CV 15 Operational or in Light Refit, 1 in Heavy Refit and 1 more arriving in next 90 days
CVL 7 Operational or in Light Refit, 2 in Heavy Refit
CVE 26 OPerational, 8 in Heavy Refit, 4 more arriving in 90 days
BB 9 Operational, 3 in Heavy Refit, 4 Arriving in 90 Days
CA 15 Operational, 1 in Heavy Refit, 8 Arriving in 90 Days
CL 23 Operational (of which 5 old not fit for the front line), 4 in heavy refit, 3 Arriving
CLAA 6 Operational, 1 Arriving
My CA strength increases by 50% [X(][X(] in next 3 months but I am still short of heavy surface assets to screen my carrier TF's
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