Speedy vs Fabertong: Death to the Penguin!

[Speedysteve]

Hi all,

More massed bombing in Burma.

At Pagan our AV's are almost even now with more bombing of his LCU's:

Ground combat at Pagan

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 32744 troops, 274 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 766

Defending force 38987 troops, 130 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 793


Japanese ground losses:
209 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

The rail line north of Rangoon now has a reported 6 enemy units. I believe 3 of these are ARM Rgt since there are 150 x AFV there. Today we hit a Construction Bn and 49th IJA Division there. Even if he masses here i'm not totally concerned since he's in the open and my air power can murder him in time.

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In the SRA airfields, ports and forts are slowly being constructed.

To give you an idea of timelines here now. I will move 2 x B24J BG + 4 x PB4Y Squadron to Koepang to flatten Balikpapan. They will then concentrate on Macassar with Mediums from Maumere. By the time it's ready to invade I should have my 6 x CVE in the region for support. Probably 2 months away.

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SS Manta picked off another Raba SC TF straggler. DD Wakazuki was blown up with 2 torpeodes 60 miles east of Soerabaja. Not as bad now. It means I have lost CL Tromp + 2 DD's vs 2 of his DD's.

SS Tinosa avoided 3 x ASW vessels in the morning and then blew up PG Yoshida Maru with 2 torpedoes in the afternoon 60 miles SE of Saigon. She is out of fish and will return to Darwin.

SS Trident sank the already damaged TK Eiho Maru with 2 torpeodes 60 miles SE of Singapore.

Air sightings = 21
Air attacks = 1

SS Pomfret leaves Darwin to replace SS Tinosa on patrol - 68/68

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2 x LCI and a DD arrive in theatre tomorrow.

[Mike Solli]

ORIGINAL: Speedy

I will move 2 x B24J BG + 4 x PB4Y Squadron to....

This is the reason I never upgrade any airfields (other than the HI) higher than level 4. The Allies get enough. They don't need any Japanese gifts.

I shudder just reading about it. [:(]

[Capt. Harlock]

ORIGINAL: Speedy

The start of the action went to me with CL Houston landing some penetrating 6" hits on CA Kumano. In total 6 x 6" hits landed home. A couple of shells also hit enemy destroyers.

Then the real action started with everyone shooting at everyone. Things were going ok on my side until the Long Lances started hitting home. DD Welles was hit by 1 which blew the ship in 2. DD Dale also took 1 but is still just afloat. CL Tromp was the most disappinting. She hadn't fired a shot at the enemy before CL Isuzu hit her with 2 x Long Lance which left her dead in the water and sinking by the stern.

Post mortem:

CL Tromp sunk.
DD Welles sunk.
DD Dale will sink.
DD Spence, The Sullivans and Young are moderately damaged.

CA Kumano limped away heavily damaged.
DD Hatsukaze limped away heavily damaged.

I know hindsight is 20/20, but I think you were unwise to go in with the force you had. Faber had 8" guns and Long Lances, and you didn't. The combat results are much what you might expect -- arguably there shouldn't have been as many Long Lance hits. My advice: get a bigger stick.

[Speedysteve]

Hi all,

Hi Mike - chicken and egg though. If you don't have decent sized AF's you can't launch good sized co-ordinated strikes on the flip side as you say.............

Hi Capt. - I know you're probably right there. However, I don't want to deploy massive sea assets here. I want to keep them for CentPac. I have been toying with the idea of 'loaning' a RN BB Division to them.......I have 3 up there. I may well do so. Thanks for provoking more though on this[:)]

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More massed attacks in Burma. This is an example of what occurs to the IJA Division on the Rangoon rail line:

Day Air attack on 49th Division, at 30,32


Allied aircraft
Liberator VI x 36
P-38J Lightning x 185
P-47D Thunderbolt x 53
B-24J Liberator x 48


No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
586 casualties reported
Guns lost 20
Vehicles lost 2

There are now 8 units and 29000 men on the rail line![8|] I'm still going in. I've also decided when I receive the East African Division in 30 days time i'm going in with that and the Bde + ARM units to Rangoon (unless by some amazing foresight he moves more units there).

Only 3 more days until B29's arrive in Karachi! Then it's death to all Japanese LCU's in Burma..................

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Quiet in the SRA.

I scuttled another AK at Merauke (damaged by PM LBA days ago).

Moving away from Raba tomorrow.

More air groups at Darwin. I have a LOT here now. Must have 6 x Corsair Squadrons alone (4 more RNZAF en route also).

ML Terror has been doing great work in the region laying eggs at all bases.

Wetar Island (dot base north of Timor) will be stormed by USMC Raiders tomorrow.

PM/Gili Gili continue to be surpressed.

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I'd love to tell you about my secret mision. Could be fun if it works. About 1/2 way to achieving it................

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B24J's launched from Attu Island today to bomb the Kuriles....just to keep Faber honest........

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SS Hackleback avoided convoy escorts 60 miles NE of Taytay.

SS Cabrilla heavily damaged the FUEL carrying AK Sinno Maru with a torpedo 240 miles south of Iwo Jima. More evidence of Faber's probable shortage of TK's.............

SS Tunny probably sank the oil laden large Tanker San Luis Maru with 2 torpedoes 300 miles ENE of Legaspi.

SS Guitarro blew up MSW Kyo Maru #5 with 2 torpedoes 60 miles east of Batavia.

TK Hakko Maru was confirmed sunk at Tarakan today[:)]

Air sightings = 17
Air attacks = 1

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SS Spadefish and 2 x AK arrive in theatre tomorrow.

A sit rep of Burma below:

[Mike Solli]

ORIGINAL: Speedy
Hi Mike - chicken and egg though. If you don't have decent sized AF's you can't launch good sized co-ordinated strikes on the flip side as you say.............

Speedy, the Japanese don't "need" anything larger than a level 4 airfield (due to the lack of heavy bombers in the Japanese arsenal). Granted, larger airfields are nice to mass planes, I think there are enough scattered around to accomodate the Japanese. There are a couple of sparse areas, but I don't think it's worth it to upgrade those airfields just to give them to the Allies.

[Alfred]

Speedy,
 
RE:Macassar or Bali
 
Sorry for the delay in responding as I have been away and have only just seen your post of 23/11/2006.
 
Whilst the idea of bypassing Bali with its defenders is good, may I remind you of the Tarrasch quote that the threat is stronger than the execution.  At present the penguin must be unsure of where the next strike in the SRA will be - Jave, Borneo, Celebes, Moluccas or even West New Guinea.  This uncertainty will be considerably reduced if you go directly for Macassar which presumably has a reasonable sized garrison and therefore will require the deployment of substantial Allied assets there.
 
May I suggest that, based on the factors listed below, you consider instead the capture of Lombok before committing to the Macassar operation.
 
1.  You have already neutralised Kendari and have stated that Macassar will similarly be neutralised.  There is therefore no need to rush to capture Macassar unless there is little in the way to oppose you there now and you can quickly capture its airfield with existing theatre forces without the need for the arrival of reinforcements from San Francisco.
 
2.  Your dive/torpedo bomber units need airfields close to the frontlines.  Macassar is good 4E country, but not for dive/torpedo bombers.  At Macassar, dive/torpedo bombers will only be a major threat to the IJN operating in the Macassar strait between Soerabaja and Balikpapan.  Personally I doubt that they would see much action.
 
3.  Lombok is excellent dive/torpedo bomber country because Bali is within range for (a) torpedo attacks against Bali resupply/evacuation convoys (remember you say he has 4 LCU there) and (b) port suppression and therefore act as the de facto surface/bombardment TF which you do not have in the theatre.
 
4.  You have not indicated what forces are currently present at Lombok, but as Reba was left undefended by the penguin, Lombok may also be weakly defended because it is not good 4E country.  If so a coup de main against Lombok should be carried out immediately.  With Lombok under Allied control, the penguin will have to give serious consideration to the possibility that Java is the Allied objective whereas you can still surprise him by going for Borneo via Macassar.  Therefore you must recon Lombok - strategically it is much more important than Aru Island is (unless of course you are preparing to invade Ambon).
 
5.  An Allied airfield at Lombok allows for 2E bombers (and your fighter/dive bombers too) to attack Malang, Soeabaja and the base to the east of Soerabaja without having to divert the 4E from Maumare and Koepang from suppressing Borneo, Celebes, Moluccas etc.  Spreading Allied air attacks so widely helps to keep the initiative as you will not be telegraphing where the Allied axis of advance will be.
 
In summary, if Lombok can be captured by a coup de main now, then do it.  It will not delay the Macassar operation and instead opens up further strategic possibilities.
 
Briefly, with regard to Burma, I see everything is coming along nicely, with Allied air power achieving good results.  As I said previously, you wanted the penguin to see the Akyab advance because this would force him to either retreat or oppose the advance by weakening his existing front.  Moulmein may yet become the Anzio of the PTO and achieve the Anzio breakout by advancing on Rangoon (= Rome).
 
Alfred

[Speedysteve]

Hi all,

Hi Mike - yes and no IMO. I think some bases are worth maxing to give you a greater chance of deploying more planes. For me they are: The Mariana's, Kendari, Java, Singapore, Rangoon, Mandalay, PI.

Hi Alfred - great depth. Many thanks. The problem I see with Lombok is this. It is a size 0 airfield. To take it will be no problem since it's unoccupied BUT how would I hold it? Once taken he could bomb and shell the snot out of it from Java. Remember at present I have limited naval assets in the area = I can't contest SC TF or deploy seaborne airpower. As such I personally see no way of taking and holding Lombok for it to be built up enough to have an airfield.

Macassar has an estimated 5 units and 20,000 men. I have substantial LCU's at Darwin which could easily take this. Circa 3 x Division, 6 x Bde. I have a further 2 x Division en route from USA.

My current thinking on this area for now is: deploy 4E from Koepang against Balikpapan and Soerabaja within 1 week. Within a month 2E from Maumere and Lautem will keep Kendari and Macassar neutralised. 1-2 months from now I will have 6 x CVE in the area and I will move BC Renown and BB Queen Elizabeth Division from Moulmein to the region to provide heavy support. I will then take Macassar. That's my current thoughts.........interesting thoughts though Alfred.. What do you think of my above appraisal of it?

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Massive bombing in Burma. The most effective LCU strike i've seen yet for me on the rail line north of Rangoon:

Day Air attack on 6th Ind. Brigade, at 30,32


Allied aircraft
Spitfire VIII x 7
Liberator VI x 36
P-38J Lightning x 172
P-47D Thunderbolt x 47
B-25J Mitchell x 35
B-24J Liberator x 62


No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
782 casualties reported
Guns lost 34

Pagan is getting weaker and weaker due to my air attacks:

Ground combat at Pagan

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 33004 troops, 282 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 782

Defending force 37467 troops, 107 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 752


Japanese ground losses:
78 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

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In the SRA. We've finished unloading at Raba for now so we're moving back to Darwin.

Wetar Island taken.

PM/Gili Gili bombed by B24J's.

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SS Lionfish missed DD Hibiki and in return recieved 1 x DC hit - 24/32/0 180 miles ESE of Batan Island.

SS Manta missed PG Taiko Maru 60 miles east of Soerabaja and in return recived 1 x DC near miss - 5/0/0.

Air sightings = 18
Air attacks = 4

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An AK and a DD arrive in theatre tomorrow.

[Speedysteve]

Hi all,

The last day of March passes..........

More bombing in Burma.

Only 30 more miles of trail remain before the last hex and the enemy forces.........

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The 92nd RAAF BF is being embarked at Darwin for deployment to Maumere. She will support 4E operations from there in the near future.

3 x BF are moving netween Australia and NG towards Darwin as are 92,500 tonnes of fuel.

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Faber's trying to sneak in small TF's into the Marshalls. Ships also spotted at Kwajalein and Eniwetok. I've a little investigation going towards Eniwetok - 3 ships - DD, DE and a PG to see what we have there.

SB2C's from Wotje attacked 2 x AK at Jaluit. AK Katsurahama Maru was hit with 2 bombs leaving her heavily damaged.

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My secret mission is potentially 5-7 days away unless it doesn't go to plan...........[:)]

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SS Bluegill was attacked by an ML east of Taytay! ML Nuwashima dropped DC's. 2 x near miss - 5/8/0.

SS Swordfish missed PC Kyo Maru 7 with 4 torpedoes 60 miles east of Balikpapan.

SS Pipefish missed CL Kiso with 6 torpeodes NW of Lingayen. DD Shirayuki landed 2 x near miss DC's - 5/0/0.

SS Trigger probably sank AP Argentina Maru with 2 torpedoes 240 miles SE of Truk.

Air sightings = 12
Air attacks = 4

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The first B29 BG arrives at Karachi tomorrow. The Japanese in Burma will feel a new kind of hell................[;)]

With 04/44 arriving we will produce F6D's, P61's and B29's...............

[Speedysteve]

Hi all,

Points:

Japanese: +848
Allied: + 1011

Bases:

Japanese: - 3 bases (+248 points)
Allied : + 3 bases (+ 92 points)

Planes:

Allies lost: 382
Japanese lost: 557

Troops:

Allies lost: 46 points
Japanese lost: 126 points

Ships:

Allies lost: 23 ships - 173 points. This is mainly from AK's lost around NE Australia and from the various air raids/surface combat around Timor and 2 x SS lost.

Japanese lost: 31 ships - 240 points. These are almost all to submarines.

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Thoughts:

Overall not a very good month. With no major advances (planned) or made no progress on the air or land scene. Submarines continue to do well. I was sloppy around Australia costing me 10ish AK's.

I HOPE next month will be better with progress in Burma.

Maybe no real progress in SRA or CentPac then though.....unless my secret mission pays off well.........

Submarine wise is interesting. I'm still maintaining 20-35 kills a month. I would like to get 40-50 a month but it seems a trend is potentially appearing. Faber's ASW is certainly improving with more sightgings of my subs and morre attacks = fewer attacks. On the flip side I have more and more subs coming out of the shipyards = allows more to be on patrol and more to cover any damaged subs. Seems a status quo to a certain extent. I feel that as the Empire decreases subs attacks will be more frequent as there will be fewer places for spare ASW missions...........

[Speedysteve]

Hi all,

Well here we are April 1944...............

More Chinese are being flown into Myitkyina reayd for the advance on Mandalay. An interesting side effect of the Chinese being in the more supply ubiquitous British side is that the units are now filling out with AT, ART, ENG which they were lacking before.

Another large strike on 6th Ind. Brigade manning the Rangoon rail line:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 6th Ind. Brigade, at 30,32


Allied aircraft
Spitfire VIII x 7
Liberator VI x 38
P-38J Lightning x 184
P-47D Thunderbolt x 45
B-25J Mitchell x 45
B-24J Liberator x 56


No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
462 casualties reported
Guns lost 21

The first B29 BG has arrived and has flown into Calcutta for operations....not sure if they will hit a ground target 9 hexes away but we'll see.............

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The small 3 ship TF that investigated Eniwetok found DE Baron hitting a mine (46/76/14) and encountering 3 x AK. DD Strong fixed on AK China Maru putting 4 shells and a torpedo into her leaving her heavily damaged.

Also recon identified AK's leaving Kwajalein and the Wotje group fleeing SE. Helldivers attacked the Kwajalein group 180 miles west of Kwajalein. 1 bomb went into AK Daishu Maru and 3 into AK Ryotoku Maru. Interestingly some men were reported lost..........

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Within a week to see whether my secret mission is a success or not............[:)]

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SS Burrfish missed AP Heian Maru with 6 torpedoes60 miles SE of Shanghai.

SS Pike evaded 6 x DD 240 miles WSW of Iwo Jima.

Air sightings = 12
Air attacks = 1

A lot of submarines left for patrol today. The last one's i'll track:

SS Growler - 69/70
SS Runner - 70/69
SS Rasher - 81/81
SS Grunion - 67/64
SS Skipjack - 74/74
SS Cero - 67/66
SS Barbel - 70/70

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Forgot to say that yesterday CVE Shah arrived at Karachi - 3 x CVE there now.

DD Fletcher, CL Cleveland, CL Brooklyn class received their 4/44 upgrades...........

A B29 BG arrives in theatre tomorrow as does an AP and an AK.

[Speedysteve]

Hi all,

Well the first attack by B29's of the war was on 6th Ind. Brigade positions north of Rangoon. 74 enemy troops were hit. A 2nd B29 Bg has flown into Dacca to conduct bombings in the same area in preparation for the Allied move south towards Rangoon.

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2 more empty tiny bases were taken by USMC Raiders in the SRA.

A Sunderland has spotted a probable SC TF approaching Raba. I have 750 mines waiting for him + 16 x 6" guns in a CD Rgt. I also have 12 x PT boats. Come on........

A P47D, SB2C and PBY group have disembarked at Darwin.

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Jaluit's port was attacked today by SB2C's from Wotje who were tryign to locate the damaged AK for recent attacks. They found AK Katsurahama Maru and put another bomb into her.

More bombings of enemy supply and troop positions in the Marshalls and in the Kuriles by B24J's against Onnekotan Jima.

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SS Tilefish damaged AP Heiyo Maru with a torpedo 60 miles west of Bataan.

SS Hackleback blew up AK Yamagiku Maru with 2 torpedoes 60 miles NE of Taytay.

Air sightings = 12
Air attacks = 0

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2 x AO and an AK arrive in theatre tomorrow.

[Speedysteve]

Hi all,

I thought it would be good to have an overview of what my submarines have accomplished to date. As you know I like my subs and I think I do a pretty good job with them.

Let's look at the breakdown of kills first:

Dutch:

ML - 1
AK - 4
TK - 2

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British:

MSW - 1
ML - 3
AO - 2
TK - 7
AK - 8
AP - 3
MLE - 2

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S-Boats:

ML - 1
PC - 1
TK - 2
AK - 6
AP - 4

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Fleet Boats:

CVL - 1
AS - 2
DD - 1
APD - 1
MSW - 15
PG - 10
ML - 11
PC - 10
AK - 124
AP - 62
AO - 6
TK - 67

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Totals:

CVL - 1
AS - 2
DD - 1
APD - 1
MSW - 16
PG - 10
ML - 16
PC - 11
MLE - 2
AK - 142
AP - 69
AO - 8
TK - 78[:)]

= 357 ships.

*

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Submarine losses and to what cause:

Torpedo - 2
Bomb - 3
DC - 21

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Statistics:

Kills per sub lost - 14.28[:)]

TK's sunk per sub lost - 3.31[:)]

Number of AO/TK sunk as proportion of Japanese total (assumed that no ships have been accelerated) - 86 sunk and 95 at game start = 9 left. 37 more have been built from game start = 46 left. Interestingly though in total the Japanese receive 163 TK's from game start to finish.......

* There may well be another 3-5 AO/TK that are not on my sunk list.

[DuckofTindalos]

Nice one, mate...[;)]

[pauk]

hi Speedy...

How the game handle with B-29 on the ground attack? I must admit that i'm not a big fan of Superfortresses on ground attack mission...

btw, you should award your SS crew with one year vacation - at least![;)]

[Speedysteve]

Hi all,

I have been wanting to disclose my secret operation for a while but this is TOP secret..........the time has come where I can now reveal it. Tomorrow will either lead to a massive blow to the Jepanese or weather will prevent it!

All available USN CV/CVL's left PM sailed NW past Wake Island, keeping ourt of reach of known shipping lanes...to reach a point to attack TOKYO! There are 4 CV TF's. In total 1000+ planes with 3/4 against the ports/airfields and 1/4 against TF's. Tomorrow should be the day they are in range. The main problem could be the weather since thunderstorms are predicted.

I don't think Faber knows i'm coming. No FP's have spotted me that's for sure.

I'M SO EXCITED. I WANT THE NEXT TURN NOW TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS (IF ANYTHING)!

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As for the rest of the day............

B29's bombed 2 x ARM Rgt north of Rangoon. Heavy bombing of Pagan's troops also. Another Chinese Corps was airlifted into Myitkyina.

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In the SRA. I was right a SC TF was approaching Raba. It was a good day down there. DD Asagumo and DD Minegumo hit mines laid by ML Terror. Then the PT boats put a fish into DD Asagumo for the loss of 2 friendlies.

They then foolishly shelled Raba (causing minor damaged - 324 casualties and 7 guns). CL Sendai was heavily damged with 4 shells, DD Makigumo with 5 shells and DD Kagero with 8 shells.

During the day SB2C's and TBM's from Maumere finished off DD Asagumo and DD Minegumo whilst the other ships limped back to Java. That may persuade Faber not to interfere here again.

Maumere had level 4 airfields construced by the end of the day. When the extra BF is there (in 2 days time) I will fly in Mediums to begin bombing Kendari/Macassar.

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SS Bream missed AK Penang Maru with 6 torpedoes 180 miles east of Balikpapan.

SS Trespasser surfaced and sank a lone AK (Hokko Maru) with 3 shells and 2 torpedoes 180 miles SE of Sebang.

Air sightings = 17
Air attacks = 3
Air hits = 2 - SS Bream by a Sally x 2! - 24/46/0. Returning to Darwin. SS Piranha by a Lilly x 2! - 70/48/0. Returning to Darwin.

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SS Barbero, an AK, LCI(G) and an LCI arrive in theatre tomorrow.

Tomorrow could be a big day. If so I hope for the good side.............

[VSWG]

Good luck, Speedy. [:)]

I'm reading this AAR, but also Fabertong's, so in general I refrain from posting in both threads.

There's a sub icon 'out of alignment' northeast of Tori Shima. Does that mean that there's an unspotted Japanese TF in this hex?

[Speedysteve]

Hi VSWG,
 
Thanks.
 
Sub - sure does..............

[Alfred]

Speedy,
 
The planned move on Macassar is good and your comments regarding Lombok are sensible but I think too pessimistic.
 
The most dangerous state for a Lombok occupation is until the AF is built up to level 1.  As you have outlined, the capture of Lombok does entail some risk, (which risk however I think can be minimised) but offers considerable rewards.
 
As I said a coup de main is called for.  Your recon shows no Lombok defenders.  Therefore until the AF reaches level 1, I would deploy only an infantry battalion (eg a Raider unit or a brigade sub unit) and an engineer unit - in other words LCUs which if it came to the worst are expendable.  Such light forces reduces the drain on resupply convoys (which might be met by C-47 drops/submarines) and might act as a magnet to attract SCTF which would be in your interest as you can bomb/mine them.  Also note that if the penguin switches his Sally/Lily to bomb Lombok, they are no longer available to locate and attack your beloved submarines.
 
To minimise the dangers until you get to a level 1 AF, I would do the following:
 
1.  Conduct a short 4E air campaign to neutralise Soerabaja, Malang and Bali airfields.  Top up as necessary with 2E from Raba and Maumere as they come onstream.  The oilfields of Borneo can wait a little longer - after all their oil is only of value if it can be transported back to HI centres.
 
2.  Mine Lombok harbour.  Any damage inflicted on IJN BB/CA/CL here means they will not be available to oppose the coming CENTPAC offensive.
 
3.  Move a PT squadron to Lombok to discourage a cheap penguin landing.  Place a LRCAP over the PT boats to shoot down fighter bombers (hence acts as a sweep over Soerabaja at a time when you can't actually sweep Soerabaja).
 
None of these measures should interfere with the timing and strength of the Macassar offensive.  In fact you probably have the resources to conduct both simultaneously.  If the penguin should attack Lombok with units barged over from Bali then seize the moment and capture Bali even if it means a 1-2 week delay to the Macassar operation. (BTW are you certain Bali is an atoll - on my stock map both Bali and Lombok are not atolls).  Once the AF reaches level 1, bring in those Corsairs which are currently unemployed and then lets see how the penguins adapt to living close to the equator in Java and Bali.
 
Any way, feel free to disregard any of my suggestions.  The Lombok operation does entail a risk, but one which I think is worthwhile.  Firstly, it starts on the road to neutralise and recapture Java much sooner than the Macassar/Banjarmasin (sp) route offers and at a much cheaper cost than invading Bali.  Secondly, it offers an opportunity to dish out some damage to IJN surface elements which otherwise would not be possible.  Thirdly it may draw away penguin resources from the really important areas which are fatal to him viz. ASW and CENTPAC.  Fourthly, it eventually allows for the deployment of under utilised Allied assets which are currently located in overcrowed bases.  For a maximum cost of 1 battalion, 1 engr unit, 1-3 AK and 1-6 PT (plus some Lightnings due to ops), the potential rewards would be too tempting to me.
 
Alfred

[Speedysteve]

Hi all,

Hi Alfred - interesting read. I will think on it more. Maybe i'll try to post a map of the region next time around so we can talk further on something we're looking at. I could LRCAP any quick invasion force with P38J's (144 in region at present) but I still feel that Faber could bomb and shell the place too quickly at the start before any airfield could be constructed. Size 0 bases take ages to expand. Even on Raba (currently a 1(0) airfield) i'm only upto 4% for the next airfield and that is with 3 x SeeBees.......surely it would require an investment of 2 months to get the airfield constructed and as such 2 months time to cover the base with CAP, PT's and mines?

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Well the climatic battle I was looking for didn';t occur today! Luck was not with me IMO. For some reason my CV's didn't move the final hex I wanted them to. They should have. They have moved 5 hexes every other day but they only moved 4 yesterday (no refuelling occured by the way). As such I was 5 hexes from Tokyo and too far to launch a raid!

Faber now knows i'm here and he took 1 & 1/2 hours to do his turn rather than the usual 30-45 minutes! I have had a tough time thinking on this to decide what to do next? here to go? What to bomb? etc

I have decided to press on further west but assign 1/2 my TF's to attacks TF's and the other 1/2 to still attack Tokyo. God be with me...........

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Massive air raids in Burma on 6th Ind. Brigade positions north of Rangoon. Over 800 casualties sustained.

Also large raids on IJA positions at Pagan. Almost down to 700 AV now whilst i'm over 800 again.

A large resupply convoy arrives at Moulmein tomorrow - 100000+ tonnes of fuel 200000+ supply.

My African Bde is at Chandpur now awaiting redeployment.

----------------------

Quiet in the SRA today.

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SS Sawfish blew up PC Shonan Maru #2 with 2 torpedoes 180 miles south of Balikpapan.

SS Trespasser damaged AK Burma Maru with a torpedo west of Kuala Lumpur.

SS Dorado probably sank AK Delagoa Maru with 2 torpedoes 60 miles NE of Tori Shima.

SS Flasher evaded ASW vessels 60 miles NW of Tori Shima.

Air sightings = 12
Air attacks = 2
Air hits = 1 - SS Trident by a Lilly 60 miles SE of Kuantan - 45/7/0. Aft tubes destroyed. Moving back to Columbo for repair.

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SS Redfin, SS Baja, an AE and 3 x AK arrivre in theatre tomorrow as does an F6F (N) Squadron

[Speedysteve]

I'm surprised no one has any comments on my submarine stats. Any thoughts? Good, bad, indifferent?