Canton Island is probably more important with stock maps as it's capture by the Japanese divides the east Pacific in two and makes resupply of Oz/NZ very difficult. In CHS, it loses some importance, but I don't like to lose it as it still controls too much ocean if lost and the Japs put Betty/Nell on it.
You have done well with your balancing act early in the war. [&o][&o]
The Americans have so many pressing needs (supply, troops, aircraft) in the east Pacific to try to secure their supply line to Oz/NZ and not enough to do it. [X(][X(]
VSWG vs. Gary - The Allied perspective
Moderators: wdolson, Don Bowen, mogami
-
Rob Brennan UK
- Posts: 3685
- Joined: Sat Aug 24, 2002 8:36 pm
- Location: London UK
RE: CentPac
fight Japan for the DEI= lost ships .. can't help it really.
as for andy running out of ships vs PzB. the Royal merchant marine does not exist in that game and thats a LOT of AK's and TK's ! . also they play stock ( no idea what the balance for CHS is ).
Dis you lost the dutch AP's ? they are darn useful early on imo.
as for andy running out of ships vs PzB. the Royal merchant marine does not exist in that game and thats a LOT of AK's and TK's ! . also they play stock ( no idea what the balance for CHS is ).
Dis you lost the dutch AP's ? they are darn useful early on imo.
sorry for the spelling . English is my main language , I just can't type . and i'm too lazy to edit 
RE: CentPac
Yup - and this is the reason why I decided to build up the Samoan Islands: The distance from Savaii to Canton Island is only 12 hexes, so should Canton Island fall I can bombard it from Savaii with Liberators, B-17s and Hudsons before launching an early counter-invasion.ORIGINAL: ny59giants
Canton Island is probably more important with stock maps as it's capture by the Japanese divides the east Pacific in two and makes resupply of Oz/NZ very difficult. In CHS, it loses some importance, but I don't like to lose it as it still controls too much ocean if lost and the Japs put Betty/Nell on it.
CHS reduced all merchant ship capacity by 25 % - bad news. But it's even worse for Gary with his tremendous losses in AP shipping.ORIGINAL: Rob Brennan UK
as for andy running out of ships vs PzB. the Royal merchant marine does not exist in that game and thats a LOT of AK's and TK's ! . also they play stock ( no idea what the balance for CHS is ).
I lost AP Ranchi, Rochussen and Ariadne Moller in the DEI (not sure if one of them is Dutch); others are damaged, but escaped. Now they're busy evacuating engineers from Tijlitjap and moving units from Aden to India.Dis you lost the dutch AP's ? they are darn useful early on imo.
KB sighting!
Things are heating up again...
February 11th, 1942
Burma:
Rangoon: Today the Blenheim IVs managed to score 3 resource hits - 30 resource center remain. Now 50+ fighters are reported from Rangoon, so the LB returned to Calcutta for rest and replacements. I have moved 3 Hurricane squadrons to Meiktila and will sweep Rangoon if those fighters turn out to be Oscars.
DEI:
Another deliberate attack at Batavia reduces the forts again, but the odds are better. Tomorrow more Dutch Marines will arrive - this will be close. Gary seems to think the same, so he sent another convoy for Java (now west of Singkawang). I have 24 Dauntless and 3 Vildebeests at Bandoeng, 59 Martins and 59 Hudsons at Tijlitjap and 60 B-17s at Madioen on naval attack, but I doubt that Gary will send another unescorted convoy...
Still no movement at Malang.
Bandjermasin is bombed by 62 Sallys everyday, so that the Japanese unit abandoned here can finally take this base.
Philippines:
The TF at Laoag moved to the southeast, into the South China Sea. This seems to be a fat convoy (TKs, APs), but I have no idea where it is heading to, so I won't try to intercept it with CL Boise.
China:
-
SWPac:
-
SoPac:
KB appeared one hex away from Savaii!! [X(] No air raids where lauched - I bet his planes where set to naval attack and found no ships in the area, and the secondary mission (port/airfield attack on Pago Pago) was cancelled due to rain clouds over KB (AM) and Pago Pago (PM). Perfect timing, the last ships from Operation Passenger's second wave have just evacuated Pago Pago (the TF at Pago was created this turn - 1 MSW, 1 AVD and AP Aquitania running southeast), and the third wave hasn't arrived yet. The ships of the first wave are already halfway back to San Francisco.
Even more stuff will be arriving after the third wave - an Aviation Regiment and AA units, for instance, but in small convoys, and at different times.
Three heavily damaged ships remain at Pago Pago:
DD Dunlap, 72 sys / 65 flt (submarine attack)
AO Kanawha, 45 sys / 45 flt (submarine attack)
AK Admiral Y. Williams, 50 sys / 56 flt (Mini KB air raid at Upolu)
He'll probably stick around for another turn - my fighters are ready. No doubt KB's aces will defeat them, but they should be able to down some planes, too. BTW, the first wave had unloaded a Base Force with radar at Pago Pago. Alternatively, he could go deep and hunt for my merchants, but I doubt he's got much fuel to burn - the replenishment TF was sighted near Tarawa, when he moved it on top of an Allied dot base. Thanks for the free intel!!
Another attempt to invade Canton Island? I still have a feeling that those transports are a ruse: they participated in the first Canton Island invasion, and then dumped their cargo at Baker Island when my CVs appeared. Today SigInt told me that there are still 6 units at Baker, so what are those APs carrying?
CentPac:
The CVs and escorts are repairing nicely at Pearl Harbor. I'm moving the Wildcats from Midway and the Buffalos from Johnston Islands to SoPac: they're not really useful in CentPac anymore, and I need every fighter I can muster at Canton Island and Pago Pago right now.
Good news from Midway:
The ASW TF is retreating now, it is low on depth charges and Gary might send Mini KB to sink this juicy target.
February 11th, 1942
Burma:
Rangoon: Today the Blenheim IVs managed to score 3 resource hits - 30 resource center remain. Now 50+ fighters are reported from Rangoon, so the LB returned to Calcutta for rest and replacements. I have moved 3 Hurricane squadrons to Meiktila and will sweep Rangoon if those fighters turn out to be Oscars.
DEI:
Another deliberate attack at Batavia reduces the forts again, but the odds are better. Tomorrow more Dutch Marines will arrive - this will be close. Gary seems to think the same, so he sent another convoy for Java (now west of Singkawang). I have 24 Dauntless and 3 Vildebeests at Bandoeng, 59 Martins and 59 Hudsons at Tijlitjap and 60 B-17s at Madioen on naval attack, but I doubt that Gary will send another unescorted convoy...
Still no movement at Malang.
Bandjermasin is bombed by 62 Sallys everyday, so that the Japanese unit abandoned here can finally take this base.
Philippines:
The TF at Laoag moved to the southeast, into the South China Sea. This seems to be a fat convoy (TKs, APs), but I have no idea where it is heading to, so I won't try to intercept it with CL Boise.
China:
-
SWPac:
-
SoPac:
KB appeared one hex away from Savaii!! [X(] No air raids where lauched - I bet his planes where set to naval attack and found no ships in the area, and the secondary mission (port/airfield attack on Pago Pago) was cancelled due to rain clouds over KB (AM) and Pago Pago (PM). Perfect timing, the last ships from Operation Passenger's second wave have just evacuated Pago Pago (the TF at Pago was created this turn - 1 MSW, 1 AVD and AP Aquitania running southeast), and the third wave hasn't arrived yet. The ships of the first wave are already halfway back to San Francisco.
Even more stuff will be arriving after the third wave - an Aviation Regiment and AA units, for instance, but in small convoys, and at different times.
Three heavily damaged ships remain at Pago Pago:
DD Dunlap, 72 sys / 65 flt (submarine attack)
AO Kanawha, 45 sys / 45 flt (submarine attack)
AK Admiral Y. Williams, 50 sys / 56 flt (Mini KB air raid at Upolu)
He'll probably stick around for another turn - my fighters are ready. No doubt KB's aces will defeat them, but they should be able to down some planes, too. BTW, the first wave had unloaded a Base Force with radar at Pago Pago. Alternatively, he could go deep and hunt for my merchants, but I doubt he's got much fuel to burn - the replenishment TF was sighted near Tarawa, when he moved it on top of an Allied dot base. Thanks for the free intel!!
Another attempt to invade Canton Island? I still have a feeling that those transports are a ruse: they participated in the first Canton Island invasion, and then dumped their cargo at Baker Island when my CVs appeared. Today SigInt told me that there are still 6 units at Baker, so what are those APs carrying?
CentPac:
The CVs and escorts are repairing nicely at Pearl Harbor. I'm moving the Wildcats from Midway and the Buffalos from Johnston Islands to SoPac: they're not really useful in CentPac anymore, and I need every fighter I can muster at Canton Island and Pago Pago right now.
Good news from Midway:
The ASW TF is retreating now, it is low on depth charges and Gary might send Mini KB to sink this juicy target.
Operation Passenger
Operation Passenger:
Aims:
1. Short term: securing the SLOC West Coast - Australia.
2. Medium term A: establishing a staging post for the first counter-attacks in SoPac/CentPac (Wallis Island, Canton Island, Ellice Islands)
3. Medium term B: creating a LBA trap for KB. See this thread: tm.asp?m=980486
4. Long term: Establishing a major fleet base in SoPac, home for the US CVs
Allocated Forces:
LCUs (see screenshot):
High Priority: 1 Base Force for Pago Pago, Savaii and Upolu. 1 RCT, 1 CD unit, 1 ENG unit (EAB, Seabees) and 1 AA unit for Pago Pago and Savaii.
-> 1st and 2nd Wave - check
Medium Priority: 1 RCT and 1 AA unit for Upolu, 2nd RCT and 2nd AA unit for Savaii and Pago Pago. 1 Aviation unit for Savaii.
-> 3rd Wave and consecutive convoys - en-route
Low Priority: 2nd AA unit, 1 CD and 1 Aviation unit for Upolu, 1 ART unit for Savaii. 1 Division for the Samoan Islands.
-> not yet assigned - in planning phase
LBA:
- 72 P40E Warhawks - check
- 24 P40B Tomahawks - check, replacement AC needed
- 48 P36A Mohawks - check, replacement AC needed
- ?? Airacobras - at Pearl Harbor
- ?? Wildcats - en-route from CentPac
- approx. 100 2Es - 50% at Suva, 50% at Pearl Harbor (waiting for aviation support)
- approx. 50 4Es - 50% at Suva, 50% at Pearl Harbor (waiting for aviation support)
- 16 Dauntless - at Canton Island
- 36 PBY Catalinas - check
Ships:
- 1 Submarine division - check
- 1 PT boat division - at Palmyra
- 1 or 2 DD division - check (escorts of the 2nd and 3rd Wave)
- 1 Cruiser division - repairing at Auckland
- several minelayers, 1 MLE - en-route
- auxiliaries: AVD, AR, AS, AD, AE, MSW - en-route
White = LCU is at its destination
Green = LCU is at Pago Pago
Yellow = LCU is in the 3rd Wave
Red = LCU is behind the 3rd Wave
Looks like I have to deal with aim No. 3 already. Comments, ideas, suggestions? Do I have delusions of grandeur? [;)] The downside of Operation Passenger is that the Fijis and Noumea will be weak for at least another month (the Americal Division has just left Panama for Noumea, and a RCT + supporting units are waiting at SF, destination: Suva).
Aims:
1. Short term: securing the SLOC West Coast - Australia.
2. Medium term A: establishing a staging post for the first counter-attacks in SoPac/CentPac (Wallis Island, Canton Island, Ellice Islands)
3. Medium term B: creating a LBA trap for KB. See this thread: tm.asp?m=980486
4. Long term: Establishing a major fleet base in SoPac, home for the US CVs
Allocated Forces:
LCUs (see screenshot):
High Priority: 1 Base Force for Pago Pago, Savaii and Upolu. 1 RCT, 1 CD unit, 1 ENG unit (EAB, Seabees) and 1 AA unit for Pago Pago and Savaii.
-> 1st and 2nd Wave - check
Medium Priority: 1 RCT and 1 AA unit for Upolu, 2nd RCT and 2nd AA unit for Savaii and Pago Pago. 1 Aviation unit for Savaii.
-> 3rd Wave and consecutive convoys - en-route
Low Priority: 2nd AA unit, 1 CD and 1 Aviation unit for Upolu, 1 ART unit for Savaii. 1 Division for the Samoan Islands.
-> not yet assigned - in planning phase
LBA:
- 72 P40E Warhawks - check
- 24 P40B Tomahawks - check, replacement AC needed
- 48 P36A Mohawks - check, replacement AC needed
- ?? Airacobras - at Pearl Harbor
- ?? Wildcats - en-route from CentPac
- approx. 100 2Es - 50% at Suva, 50% at Pearl Harbor (waiting for aviation support)
- approx. 50 4Es - 50% at Suva, 50% at Pearl Harbor (waiting for aviation support)
- 16 Dauntless - at Canton Island
- 36 PBY Catalinas - check
Ships:
- 1 Submarine division - check
- 1 PT boat division - at Palmyra
- 1 or 2 DD division - check (escorts of the 2nd and 3rd Wave)
- 1 Cruiser division - repairing at Auckland
- several minelayers, 1 MLE - en-route
- auxiliaries: AVD, AR, AS, AD, AE, MSW - en-route
White = LCU is at its destination
Green = LCU is at Pago Pago
Yellow = LCU is in the 3rd Wave
Red = LCU is behind the 3rd Wave
Looks like I have to deal with aim No. 3 already. Comments, ideas, suggestions? Do I have delusions of grandeur? [;)] The downside of Operation Passenger is that the Fijis and Noumea will be weak for at least another month (the Americal Division has just left Panama for Noumea, and a RCT + supporting units are waiting at SF, destination: Suva).
RE: Operation Passenger
ORIGINAL: VSWG
Comments, ideas, suggestions?
It can't hurt to try to hit KB with LBA. At the worst, you'll lose a bunch of level-bombers, with little return, but they're easily replacable.
I'll admit that I'm a bad admiral, but I've never sunk a Jap CV in a CV vs. CV engagement (damaged a few). On the other hand I've sunk at least 6 with LBA, and damaged many more. Go for it I say! [:)]
The downside of Operation Passenger is that the Fijis and Noumea will be weak for at least another month (the Americal Division has just left Panama for Noumea, and a RCT + supporting units are waiting at SF, destination: Suva).
At this point I'd suggest you stick with your current plan. Noumea & Suva are at risk, certainly, but if you can make the Samoan Islands impregnable, you'll have at least one area in So Pac to advance from later.
I'd also suggest that the New Hebrides should be reinforced as a higher priority than Fiji. Looks like you're already planning that.
Good luck! [:)]
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Rob Brennan UK
- Posts: 3685
- Joined: Sat Aug 24, 2002 8:36 pm
- Location: London UK
RE: Operation Passenger
I'm not familiar with CHS map BUT .. on stock (and probably in CHS too) there is a tiny island called russel island SW of Christmas island and SE of palmyra .. if its there . make a lvl 1 af with 30 AV support and you can fly down P40's and kittys from PH to canton without using ships ( useful). Won't work for F4's or P39's in stock though. Might in CHS ? .. need some serious engineers though as its a 0/0 dot on stock ..
just a thought.
just a thought.
sorry for the spelling . English is my main language , I just can't type . and i'm too lazy to edit
RE: Operation Passenger
Can you elaborate? IMO I can keep my SLOC safe without the New Hebrides as long as I hold Noumea and Suva, but not if Suva falls, and I hold Noumea/Efate/Luganville. So I'm reluctant to send any reinforcements to the New Hebrides until I've got considerable forces at Noumea and Suva. What makes Luganville/Efate so important?ORIGINAL: ctangus
I'd also suggest that the New Hebrides should be reinforced as a higher priority than Fiji.
Gary has already taken the Ellice Islands, but not a single base in the Solomons, so SWPac seems to be low on his priority list. I've just established a small float plane base at Rennel Island, BTW. Not that I have any forces in the Solomons right now - except a lone CL at Efate, just in case...
There's a Jarvis Island a couple of hexes southwest of Christmas Island on my map, and then, 15 hexes away, Penrhyn far to the south - which is 15 hexes away from Pago Pago. It would work! [:)] I'll definitely drop some AV support on both bases for float planes, and building up Jarvis Island sounds like a good idea. Lemme check my reinforcement queue for engineers...ORIGINAL: Rob Brennan UK
I'm not familiar with CHS map BUT .. on stock (and probably in CHS too) there is a tiny island called russel island SW of Christmas island and SE of palmyra .. if its there . make a lvl 1 af with 30 AV support and you can fly down P40's and kittys from PH to canton without using ships ( useful). Won't work for F4's or P39's in stock though. Might in CHS ? .. need some serious engineers though as its a 0/0 dot on stock ..
just a thought.
AP Aquitania sunk
February 12th, 1942
India:
I forgot to mention that the 7th AIF had arrived a couple of days ago at Aden - it's already en-route to India. [:)]
Burma:
15 Zeros and 21 Oscars are now flying CAP over Rangoon. I've decided to call off the Hurricane sweep until March, when another point of the Zero bonus will be gone.
DEI:
SS Shark missed AP Syoka Maru and AP Chihaya Maru near Palembang, both damaged survivors of the Merak invasion fleet. Syoka Maru sank later anyway - AP No. 14 of the Merak invasion fleet that has sunk. AP Nitta Maru and AP Chihaya Maru are the sole survivors of this 23 ships TF that had invaded Merak (16 APs, 4 MSWs, 3 PCs).
The second convoy is now 60 miles away from Merak/Batavia - no air attacks because of rain clouds. [:(] Deep inside I was hoping for another slaughter. [;)]
The situation at Batavia is becoming critical:
The lone unit at Bandjermasin (a special base force) shock attacked - and was defeated! Unfortunately I cannot counter-attack as the recent air raids by 70+ Sallys have destroyed almost all combat squads. I guess he wants this airfield to LRCAP another convoy to southern Java.
Ground combat at Bandjermasin
Japanese Shock attack
Attacking force 4345 troops, 10 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 10
Defending force 341 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 12
Japanese max assault: 14 - adjusted assault: 4
Allied max defense: 11 - adjusted defense: 7
Japanese assault odds: 0 to 1 (fort level 2)
Japanese ground losses:
80 casualties reported
Guns lost 1
Allied ground losses:
6 casualties reported
Australia:
PoW has arrived at Perth!!!
Still at 94 sys damage - I hope Melbourne can fix her up a little so that I can send her to San Francisco. This will take a while... [:D]
SWPac:
Another barge convoy appeared at Lae, and some Catalinas and an AVD arrived at Rennel Island (south of Lunga).
SoPac:
The TF near Pago Pago is Mini KB, not the big ones.... Gary moved Mini KB to the southeast and sunk the damaged Aquitania and an AVD. Conveniently, Pago Pago turned into a level 3 air field today... I decided to go for an attack on Mini KB, but I doubt the carriers will stay within reach of my escorting P40s. I'll probably lose a bunch of LBs without scoring any hits, but it's worth a try.
This time Gary means business at Canton Island: a cruiser TF took care of most of the PT boats (1 TT hit [:D]) and bombarded the island (another DD damaged by the 75mm Pack Howitzers of the Marine Paras [:D][:D]) for almost now damage, and KB is covering the whole operation. Well, not exactly covering, because there was no CAP over the convoy...? Anyway, I've evacuated all planes and will try to fly out a couple of Marine Para squads to Palmyra before the base falls.
CentPac:
Everything quiet. Most of the static subs have disappeared, but...
NorPac:
... and I-boat was reported from Dutch Harbor. A Canadian ASW TF formed at Kodiak and was sent to the Aleutians.
India:
I forgot to mention that the 7th AIF had arrived a couple of days ago at Aden - it's already en-route to India. [:)]
Burma:
15 Zeros and 21 Oscars are now flying CAP over Rangoon. I've decided to call off the Hurricane sweep until March, when another point of the Zero bonus will be gone.
DEI:
SS Shark missed AP Syoka Maru and AP Chihaya Maru near Palembang, both damaged survivors of the Merak invasion fleet. Syoka Maru sank later anyway - AP No. 14 of the Merak invasion fleet that has sunk. AP Nitta Maru and AP Chihaya Maru are the sole survivors of this 23 ships TF that had invaded Merak (16 APs, 4 MSWs, 3 PCs).
The second convoy is now 60 miles away from Merak/Batavia - no air attacks because of rain clouds. [:(] Deep inside I was hoping for another slaughter. [;)]
The situation at Batavia is becoming critical:
The lone unit at Bandjermasin (a special base force) shock attacked - and was defeated! Unfortunately I cannot counter-attack as the recent air raids by 70+ Sallys have destroyed almost all combat squads. I guess he wants this airfield to LRCAP another convoy to southern Java.
Ground combat at Bandjermasin
Japanese Shock attack
Attacking force 4345 troops, 10 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 10
Defending force 341 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 12
Japanese max assault: 14 - adjusted assault: 4
Allied max defense: 11 - adjusted defense: 7
Japanese assault odds: 0 to 1 (fort level 2)
Japanese ground losses:
80 casualties reported
Guns lost 1
Allied ground losses:
6 casualties reported
Australia:
PoW has arrived at Perth!!!
Still at 94 sys damage - I hope Melbourne can fix her up a little so that I can send her to San Francisco. This will take a while... [:D]
SWPac:
Another barge convoy appeared at Lae, and some Catalinas and an AVD arrived at Rennel Island (south of Lunga).
SoPac:
The TF near Pago Pago is Mini KB, not the big ones.... Gary moved Mini KB to the southeast and sunk the damaged Aquitania and an AVD. Conveniently, Pago Pago turned into a level 3 air field today... I decided to go for an attack on Mini KB, but I doubt the carriers will stay within reach of my escorting P40s. I'll probably lose a bunch of LBs without scoring any hits, but it's worth a try.
This time Gary means business at Canton Island: a cruiser TF took care of most of the PT boats (1 TT hit [:D]) and bombarded the island (another DD damaged by the 75mm Pack Howitzers of the Marine Paras [:D][:D]) for almost now damage, and KB is covering the whole operation. Well, not exactly covering, because there was no CAP over the convoy...? Anyway, I've evacuated all planes and will try to fly out a couple of Marine Para squads to Palmyra before the base falls.
CentPac:
Everything quiet. Most of the static subs have disappeared, but...
NorPac:
... and I-boat was reported from Dutch Harbor. A Canadian ASW TF formed at Kodiak and was sent to the Aleutians.
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ny59giants
- Posts: 9902
- Joined: Mon Jan 10, 2005 12:02 pm
RE: AP Aquitania sunk
Your situation at Canton Island doesn't look good. However, it doesn't seem that he is bringing in enough troops unless there is another follow up TF on it's way. If he takes it, he needs to bring in some engineers and build it up to a level 4 AF to base his Betty/Nell.
It looks like you have enough around Pago Pago to hold him off unless he brings KB down to help.
Nimitz to all ships in the South Pacific: Scatter!! [:D][:D]
It looks like you have enough around Pago Pago to hold him off unless he brings KB down to help.
Nimitz to all ships in the South Pacific: Scatter!! [:D][:D]
[center]
[/center]
[/center]RE: Operation Passenger
ORIGINAL: VSWG
Can you elaborate? IMO I can keep my SLOC safe without the New Hebrides as long as I hold Noumea and Suva, but not if Suva falls, and I hold Noumea/Efate/Luganville. So I'm reluctant to send any reinforcements to the New Hebrides until I've got considerable forces at Noumea and Suva. What makes Luganville/Efate so important?ORIGINAL: ctangus
I'd also suggest that the New Hebrides should be reinforced as a higher priority than Fiji.
I hear there's some nice beaches in the area. Keeps morale up & fatigue down...
In fact, I meant New Caledonia. At least I got the first word right. [;)]
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Rob Brennan UK
- Posts: 3685
- Joined: Sat Aug 24, 2002 8:36 pm
- Location: London UK
RE: Operation Passenger
HEHE .. bit like CT i got the island name wrong too, yes it is jarvis is. DOH .. homer moment there.
It's a very useful route for fighters into the S Pacific. much much safer too[;)]
Good news on the POW ! [&o]. Had the Resolution in a similar state (98 sys).. parked here in perth for a bit to speed up from 1 kt !.. then onto the AR's at sydney or aukland (wherever you put them) and she's still not reached Pago yet (cruise speed at 85 sys 5kts speed).
POW will return in late 43 is my guess [:D].. or if all else fails she a good withdraw candidate once down to 50 sys . ( she will come back eventually)..
I have to agree with giants .. canton does not look overly secure right now and java is creaking badly too. maybe back to timor ? for a last ditch dig in . Assuming you can get anything out with KB prowling .. any transports in the area .. fly some to Bali .. then further south .. salvaging the dutch aviation support units is crucial for N australia later on imo.
anyhoo .. good going .. fun game
It's a very useful route for fighters into the S Pacific. much much safer too[;)]
Good news on the POW ! [&o]. Had the Resolution in a similar state (98 sys).. parked here in perth for a bit to speed up from 1 kt !.. then onto the AR's at sydney or aukland (wherever you put them) and she's still not reached Pago yet (cruise speed at 85 sys 5kts speed).
POW will return in late 43 is my guess [:D].. or if all else fails she a good withdraw candidate once down to 50 sys . ( she will come back eventually)..
I have to agree with giants .. canton does not look overly secure right now and java is creaking badly too. maybe back to timor ? for a last ditch dig in . Assuming you can get anything out with KB prowling .. any transports in the area .. fly some to Bali .. then further south .. salvaging the dutch aviation support units is crucial for N australia later on imo.
anyhoo .. good going .. fun game
sorry for the spelling . English is my main language , I just can't type . and i'm too lazy to edit
RE: Operation Passenger
Second day without a turn... [:(]
Rob, Chuck,
you two owe me the 15 minutes of my life I spent pondering your comments / searching the CHS map! [:'(] [;)]
Re Canton Island: I expect the atoll to be Japanese when I load the next turn. Hopefully I can build up Savaii fast enough to keep Canton Island suppressed with my LB, and then be able to reconquer it quickly using the 2nd Marines. Ny59giants, I'll look out for that second convoy, and maybe place a sub cordon around Canton Island. Gary made a huge mistake at Malang, when he didn't bring aviation support support along. Now he's sitting on a level 4 AF on Java and cannot base planes there. Maybe he will make the same mistake again... [/wishful thinking]
Re PoW: Perth is only a level 4 port in CHS (it's larger in stock, isn't it) with a tiny repair yard, so I will probably move her to Melbourne ASAP. I don't know yet how long she will stay there. Basically I view her as a bonus BB that will arrive sometime in 43/44, and enjoy the fact that I denied Gary a lot of VPs.
Re Timor: No chance making another stand at Timor. With Kendari in Japanese hands since the first week, I was unable to send a single convoy to this island. I've flown in some aviation support from Java, but all other evacuees are directly shipped to Perth (Dutch), India (British) or Darwin (US). This basically means that the fight for the DEI will be over as soon as Java falls. No fallback position here.
Rob, Chuck,
you two owe me the 15 minutes of my life I spent pondering your comments / searching the CHS map! [:'(] [;)]
Re Canton Island: I expect the atoll to be Japanese when I load the next turn. Hopefully I can build up Savaii fast enough to keep Canton Island suppressed with my LB, and then be able to reconquer it quickly using the 2nd Marines. Ny59giants, I'll look out for that second convoy, and maybe place a sub cordon around Canton Island. Gary made a huge mistake at Malang, when he didn't bring aviation support support along. Now he's sitting on a level 4 AF on Java and cannot base planes there. Maybe he will make the same mistake again... [/wishful thinking]
Re PoW: Perth is only a level 4 port in CHS (it's larger in stock, isn't it) with a tiny repair yard, so I will probably move her to Melbourne ASAP. I don't know yet how long she will stay there. Basically I view her as a bonus BB that will arrive sometime in 43/44, and enjoy the fact that I denied Gary a lot of VPs.
Re Timor: No chance making another stand at Timor. With Kendari in Japanese hands since the first week, I was unable to send a single convoy to this island. I've flown in some aviation support from Java, but all other evacuees are directly shipped to Perth (Dutch), India (British) or Darwin (US). This basically means that the fight for the DEI will be over as soon as Java falls. No fallback position here.
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ny59giants
- Posts: 9902
- Joined: Mon Jan 10, 2005 12:02 pm
RE: Operation Passenger
How many BF's have you gotten out of PI and SRA to northern Australia?? You will need some there to build up the fortification levels and for aviation support.
With KB off of Canton Island and mini-KB off of Pago Pago, what plans do you have around the SRA to slow him down and what units can you withdraw safely to either Oz or India??
With KB off of Canton Island and mini-KB off of Pago Pago, what plans do you have around the SRA to slow him down and what units can you withdraw safely to either Oz or India??
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[/center]RE: Operation Passenger
ORIGINAL: VSWG
Rob, Chuck,
you two owe me the 15 minutes of my life I spent pondering your comments / searching the CHS map! [:'(] [;)]
LOL - sorry about that. [:(][:D]
A quick (and quite possibly erroneous) thought: IIRC the Phillipines has been mostly bypassed, correct? A squadron or two (or eight) of heavies there on naval attack and/or naval search might start to take a toll on his shipping. It might take a few weeks, though, and I'm not sure how supplies are holding up.
IRL the Japanese wanted the Phillipines to secure their communication lines. If I were in your shoes I'd try to exploit that if I could. It might help divert Japanese forces from deep strikes into allied territory in order to mop up the Phillipines. Do you still have open resource bases in the theater?
Edit: I'm specifically thinking of Mindanao.
Taiyo and Ryujo hit by 1000lb GB Bombs
February 13th + 14th, 1942
Burma:
More and more Chinese divisions arrive at Meiktila, and the Japanese are already heavily outnumbered. I might even counter-attack...
Malaya, Philippines:
The daily drill at Manila and Singapore. Cagayan is ready to support some heavies, but right now I don't want to move the B17s from Java to Mindanao.
DEI:
Everyday another fort comes down at Batavia. The Dutch simply refuse to surrender despite overwhelming odds.
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 02/13/42
Ground combat at Batavia
Japanese Deliberate attack
Attacking force 6847 troops, 20 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 195
Defending force 8817 troops, 13 guns, 44 vehicles, Assault Value = 93
Japanese max assault: 175 - adjusted assault: 85
Allied max defense: 88 - adjusted defense: 28
Japanese assault odds: 3 to 1 (fort level 2)
Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 1
Japanese ground losses:
88 casualties reported
Guns lost 2
Allied ground losses:
220 casualties reported
Guns lost 1
Vehicles lost 3
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 02/14/42
Ground combat at Batavia
Japanese Deliberate attack
Attacking force 6858 troops, 20 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 194
Defending force 9042 troops, 18 guns, 40 vehicles, Assault Value = 92
Japanese max assault: 175 - adjusted assault: 95
Allied max defense: 87 - adjusted defense: 93
Japanese assault odds: 1 to 1 (fort level 1)
Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 0
Japanese ground losses:
119 casualties reported
Guns lost 4
Allied ground losses:
176 casualties reported
Guns lost 2
Vehicles lost 1
The last attack was really close, no idea what bumped my AV. Batavia will most likely fall tomorrow, and if not: Japanese reinforcements arrived at Merak on the 13th - no air raids because of bad weather. But the "happy times" returned on the 14th: [:)]
Some smaller raids achieved only three 500lb hits on an AK. Too bad the Dauntless from Bandoeng and the Martins from Tijlitjap didn't fly - maybe tomorrow.
SWPac:
I've ordered an attack on Lae AFB with some A-20B Bostons, Dauntless and Wirraways for tomorrow. I want to strech Gary's Zero reserves thin: at the moment he has to cover the oil centers at Palembang and Balikpapan, cover Rangoon and Kuching, and escort raids on Singapore and Java. Now he'll need more fighters on New Guinea, too, and then I'll start another air offensive in Burma. A raid on Amboina is also in planning. Lets see how many fighters he can muster...
SoPac, CentPac:
Canton Island fell on the 13th. [:(]
First the cruiser TF took care of of the last two PT boats without losses, then SS Trout hit CA Aoba with a dud... No mine hits, and only superficial damage by CD guns. A good part of the Marine Paras was evacuated to Palmyra, but the base force is gone for good, I'm afraid.
KB and Mini KB 'met' several hexes south of Canton Island on the 13th, what's that all about? I assumed that he wanted to trash Pago Pago with a killer CV TF the next day, so I evacuated all my LB from Pago Pago, and only the Dauntless from Canton remained on naval attack at Pago Pago, with all fighters set to 90% CAP.
Bad decision. The next day, only Mini KB moved to the Samoan Islands, KB vanished. Had I left the LBs at Pago Pago according to Feinder's plan I could have probably sunk some baby carriers. Good job by the Dauntless, though:
Heavy losses in fighters, but I haven't drawn Warhawks from my pool since weeks because I assumed somethink like this would happen, so I can replace the P40Es immediately. Still a bit disappointing that I couldn't down any Zeros, but at least I've damaged some carriers. It's a bit weird that so many fighters escorted the Dauntless, though, CAP was set to 90%.
For tomorrow, 24 B17s and 28 Liberators have moved to Pago Pago and will (hopefully) attack Mini KB. Fighters are set to 50% CAP, but I doubt that Mini KB will stick around within fighter range. But maybe KB will show up?
Look what SS Grampus found! [:D] This is either BB Ise or BB Mutsu, both damaged by TTs during the Battle off Canton Island.
pleasepleaseprettypleasewithsugarontop...
Burma:
More and more Chinese divisions arrive at Meiktila, and the Japanese are already heavily outnumbered. I might even counter-attack...
Malaya, Philippines:
The daily drill at Manila and Singapore. Cagayan is ready to support some heavies, but right now I don't want to move the B17s from Java to Mindanao.
DEI:
Everyday another fort comes down at Batavia. The Dutch simply refuse to surrender despite overwhelming odds.
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 02/13/42
Ground combat at Batavia
Japanese Deliberate attack
Attacking force 6847 troops, 20 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 195
Defending force 8817 troops, 13 guns, 44 vehicles, Assault Value = 93
Japanese max assault: 175 - adjusted assault: 85
Allied max defense: 88 - adjusted defense: 28
Japanese assault odds: 3 to 1 (fort level 2)
Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 1
Japanese ground losses:
88 casualties reported
Guns lost 2
Allied ground losses:
220 casualties reported
Guns lost 1
Vehicles lost 3
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 02/14/42
Ground combat at Batavia
Japanese Deliberate attack
Attacking force 6858 troops, 20 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 194
Defending force 9042 troops, 18 guns, 40 vehicles, Assault Value = 92
Japanese max assault: 175 - adjusted assault: 95
Allied max defense: 87 - adjusted defense: 93
Japanese assault odds: 1 to 1 (fort level 1)
Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 0
Japanese ground losses:
119 casualties reported
Guns lost 4
Allied ground losses:
176 casualties reported
Guns lost 2
Vehicles lost 1
The last attack was really close, no idea what bumped my AV. Batavia will most likely fall tomorrow, and if not: Japanese reinforcements arrived at Merak on the 13th - no air raids because of bad weather. But the "happy times" returned on the 14th: [:)]
Some smaller raids achieved only three 500lb hits on an AK. Too bad the Dauntless from Bandoeng and the Martins from Tijlitjap didn't fly - maybe tomorrow.
SWPac:
I've ordered an attack on Lae AFB with some A-20B Bostons, Dauntless and Wirraways for tomorrow. I want to strech Gary's Zero reserves thin: at the moment he has to cover the oil centers at Palembang and Balikpapan, cover Rangoon and Kuching, and escort raids on Singapore and Java. Now he'll need more fighters on New Guinea, too, and then I'll start another air offensive in Burma. A raid on Amboina is also in planning. Lets see how many fighters he can muster...
SoPac, CentPac:
Canton Island fell on the 13th. [:(]
First the cruiser TF took care of of the last two PT boats without losses, then SS Trout hit CA Aoba with a dud... No mine hits, and only superficial damage by CD guns. A good part of the Marine Paras was evacuated to Palmyra, but the base force is gone for good, I'm afraid.
KB and Mini KB 'met' several hexes south of Canton Island on the 13th, what's that all about? I assumed that he wanted to trash Pago Pago with a killer CV TF the next day, so I evacuated all my LB from Pago Pago, and only the Dauntless from Canton remained on naval attack at Pago Pago, with all fighters set to 90% CAP.
Bad decision. The next day, only Mini KB moved to the Samoan Islands, KB vanished. Had I left the LBs at Pago Pago according to Feinder's plan I could have probably sunk some baby carriers. Good job by the Dauntless, though:
Heavy losses in fighters, but I haven't drawn Warhawks from my pool since weeks because I assumed somethink like this would happen, so I can replace the P40Es immediately. Still a bit disappointing that I couldn't down any Zeros, but at least I've damaged some carriers. It's a bit weird that so many fighters escorted the Dauntless, though, CAP was set to 90%.
For tomorrow, 24 B17s and 28 Liberators have moved to Pago Pago and will (hopefully) attack Mini KB. Fighters are set to 50% CAP, but I doubt that Mini KB will stick around within fighter range. But maybe KB will show up?
Look what SS Grampus found! [:D] This is either BB Ise or BB Mutsu, both damaged by TTs during the Battle off Canton Island.
pleasepleaseprettypleasewithsugarontop...
RE: Taiyo and Ryujo hit by 1000lb GB Bombs
Whooops, those screenshots are a bit large...
ny59giants: Those are very good questions, I'm working on a reply. I'm open for suggestions, BTW. [:)]
ctangus: Still waiting for another Japanese attack at Manila to counter-attack with LBA support from Cagayen. In case no attack happens, I'll probably rebase the B17s anyway and attack his shipping, as you suggested.
ny59giants: Those are very good questions, I'm working on a reply. I'm open for suggestions, BTW. [:)]
ctangus: Still waiting for another Japanese attack at Manila to counter-attack with LBA support from Cagayen. In case no attack happens, I'll probably rebase the B17s anyway and attack his shipping, as you suggested.
Operation PWWBIWAT
February 15th, 1942
Burma, China:
Nothing to report.
Malaya:
Supplies still above 5000, with most units being 1/2 supplied.
DEI:
Batavia fell after another bombardment by BB Kongo and BB Yamashiro, and three APs at Tijlitjap got caught by Nells/Bettys:
Japanese TFs at Merak were LRCAP'ed by Oscars today, but they posed no threat to the few Dauntless and LB (escorted by some Hurricanes and Warhawks) that flew against them. Most of the B17s were damaged by BB Kongos Flak. Still, they disrupted the attacks, so only few hits were scored:
Ki-43-Ib Oscar: 3 destroyed, 10 damaged
Hurricane IIb: 1 destroyed
A-24 Dauntless: 3 destroyed, 9 damaged
B-17D Fortress: 7 damaged
B-17E Fortress: 10 damaged
AK Tekkai Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AK Kamikaze Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
BB Kongo, Bomb hits 1
Philippines:
To my surprise, Gary ordered another deliberate attack at Manila.
Ground combat at Manila
Japanese Deliberate attack
Attacking force 56917 troops, 287 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 903
Defending force 85656 troops, 732 guns, 334 vehicles, Assault Value = 1789
Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 1
Japanese max assault: 860 - adjusted assault: 118
Allied max defense: 1764 - adjusted defense: 8501
Japanese assault odds: 0 to 1 (fort level 1)
Japanese ground losses:
5487 casualties reported, Guns lost 32
Allied ground losses:
907 casualties reported, Guns lost 27, Vehicles lost 4
Green light for Operation PWWBIWAT (Probably-Won't-Work-But-It's-Worth-A-Try): a shock attack ([X(]) of all combat units at Manila, supported by approx. 100 LB on ground attack from Cagayan (arrived this turn from Java, lets hope they fly). If it fails, I will lose a lot of supplies, but I still got plenty. If it succeeds, I may be able to rout all Japanese troops on Luzon.
I didn't do the math, because I would have ordered this attack anyway. It should be close: I'll lose the urban bonus, and the Japanese troops will gain it. Same with fort levels, and defending support squads. It all depends on the amount of disruption of the Japanese troops - my combat troops have zero.
Place your bets, gentlemen... [&o]
SWPac:
Some Bettys try a raid on Port Moresby's airfield, but are engaged by some Wirraways. The Allied strike against Lae didn't take off.
Day Air attack on Port Moresby , at 54,93
Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 18
Allied aircraft
Wirraway x 10
Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 11 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
Wirraway: 4 damaged
Aircraft Attacking:
18 x G4M1 Betty bombing at 15000 feet
SigInt reports a SNFL unit prepping for Port Moresby.
SoPac:
Mini KB retreated towards Canton Island again - KB is still around. Same orders as yesterday.
Near Japan:
Burma, China:
Nothing to report.
Malaya:
Supplies still above 5000, with most units being 1/2 supplied.
DEI:
Batavia fell after another bombardment by BB Kongo and BB Yamashiro, and three APs at Tijlitjap got caught by Nells/Bettys:
Japanese TFs at Merak were LRCAP'ed by Oscars today, but they posed no threat to the few Dauntless and LB (escorted by some Hurricanes and Warhawks) that flew against them. Most of the B17s were damaged by BB Kongos Flak. Still, they disrupted the attacks, so only few hits were scored:
Ki-43-Ib Oscar: 3 destroyed, 10 damaged
Hurricane IIb: 1 destroyed
A-24 Dauntless: 3 destroyed, 9 damaged
B-17D Fortress: 7 damaged
B-17E Fortress: 10 damaged
AK Tekkai Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AK Kamikaze Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
BB Kongo, Bomb hits 1
Philippines:
To my surprise, Gary ordered another deliberate attack at Manila.
Ground combat at Manila
Japanese Deliberate attack
Attacking force 56917 troops, 287 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 903
Defending force 85656 troops, 732 guns, 334 vehicles, Assault Value = 1789
Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 1
Japanese max assault: 860 - adjusted assault: 118
Allied max defense: 1764 - adjusted defense: 8501
Japanese assault odds: 0 to 1 (fort level 1)
Japanese ground losses:
5487 casualties reported, Guns lost 32
Allied ground losses:
907 casualties reported, Guns lost 27, Vehicles lost 4
Green light for Operation PWWBIWAT (Probably-Won't-Work-But-It's-Worth-A-Try): a shock attack ([X(]) of all combat units at Manila, supported by approx. 100 LB on ground attack from Cagayan (arrived this turn from Java, lets hope they fly). If it fails, I will lose a lot of supplies, but I still got plenty. If it succeeds, I may be able to rout all Japanese troops on Luzon.
I didn't do the math, because I would have ordered this attack anyway. It should be close: I'll lose the urban bonus, and the Japanese troops will gain it. Same with fort levels, and defending support squads. It all depends on the amount of disruption of the Japanese troops - my combat troops have zero.
Place your bets, gentlemen... [&o]
SWPac:
Some Bettys try a raid on Port Moresby's airfield, but are engaged by some Wirraways. The Allied strike against Lae didn't take off.
Day Air attack on Port Moresby , at 54,93
Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 18
Allied aircraft
Wirraway x 10
Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 11 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
Wirraway: 4 damaged
Aircraft Attacking:
18 x G4M1 Betty bombing at 15000 feet
SigInt reports a SNFL unit prepping for Port Moresby.
SoPac:
Mini KB retreated towards Canton Island again - KB is still around. Same orders as yesterday.
Near Japan:
RE: Operation PWWBIWAT
Place your bets, gentlemen...
1:1 plus-or-minus 2 due to die rolls - that's my bet. (I'm being purposely vague - I'm just not sure.) If I guessed right and it's 1:1, you buy me a virtual beer, correct?
Are all your individual units fully supplied?
Well good luck with Operation ITPEYWHDEIGHG or whatever that abbreviation was. [;)] It's a b@llsy move, but there's certainly no better time than the present. You'll be in damn good shape if it succeeds.
RE: Operation PWWBIWAT
My personal bet is something between 1:1 and 2:1.ORIGINAL: ctangus
Place your bets, gentlemen...
1:1 plus-or-minus 2 due to die rolls - that's my bet.
Not a good idea, really. Haven't you heard of the newest study:If I guessed right and it's 1:1, you buy me a virtual beer, correct?
http://img372.imageshack.us/img372/705/ ... a06nl4.jpg
[;)]
Yes.Are all your individual units fully supplied?
If it succeeds, the commanding Japanese general on Luzon should request a PT Boat rather quickly...Well good luck with Operation ITPEYWHDEIGHG or whatever that abbreviation was. [;)] It's a b@llsy move, but there's certainly no better time than the present. You'll be in damn good shape if it succeeds.