Despite sinking the Cowpens, and (presumably) putting the Prince of Wales out of the war for quite a while, i think the battles beginning to swing in Rob's favour.
That level 1 airfield he now has on the southern foot on Teloekboteng will give him the capacity to place 50 fighters to protect his cripples in the hex which will probably be too much for my sub standard Zeke pilots. Rob's claimed that with the amount of engineers he has at the place it'll be a level 2 airfield 'soon' Which as i've said before is probably true, itll probably be level 2 airfield by the time the Kido Butai shows up thats for sure. Which means 100 P-38's to contend with, which means game over.
My ground forces are scattered and beat up bad, the army from telok are now down to 120 assault points, i reckon id be lucky to muster 300 or so assualt points at Palembang...no forts there, i may have to adapat my stratergy to save Palembang....
I pulled the long suffering Imperial Guards Division, one of the first Divisions to head into the quagmire that has been Burma in late 41, off the frontline, its headed to Bangkok for some R n R and will eventually be shipped elsewhere in the Pacific, Palembang most obviously. If it still holds. Hopefully itll be the first of many combat units i can retire from Burma now im behind my level 9 forts.
Roll on 1944 and Kamikaizes, they're looking like my only hope of turning back the Royal Navy.
On the other side of the pacific, im frantically loading up iwo/Bonins with men and material, and having my mine layers making the place look a bit more scary for the Allies, still rob should be able to take the place without too much hassle. But oh well, im already evacing some cadres from the two islands to the Marinias so when the place eventually falls i wont lose the entire combat unit, like i have done previously at Wake and Marcus.
The Decline and Fall of the Japanese Empire 1943-1946 LilJoe v Rob
Moderators: wdolson, Don Bowen, mogami
RE: The Decline and Fall of the Japanese Empire 1943-1946 LilJoe v Rob
The KB docked and refueled at Brunei today...well at the least the Kaga did, i forgot to set the 'fast' KB taskforce to full speed, as a result its still 6 hexes out of Brunei. This i'll delay the Kido Butais entry into the Java Sea by a couple of days. The 18th I reckon..
Its first job will be to engage and hopefully destroy the Royal Navy carriers and remaining surface forces, it will do this a hopefully still have enough steam left to launch a port attack that will finish off the cripples such as the Prince of Wales, and cause enough damage to keep his engineers busy for a few days slowing down its development to a level 2 airfield.
Then and only then can Tanaka go in, his forces are hiding at Balikipapan currently.
Its a lot to ask for the Kido Butai but its what necessary to supress Telok and hold Palembang.
Rob's really inflicting a load of pain on my merchants lost another half dozen or more today, although it must be said i am using more shiplift tonnage than ever before in the war, with evacuating the gilberts, reinforcing Iwo/Bonins/Marinias. reinforcing Palembang etc, but it really feels like im on the edge here...Not much i can do though.
Its first job will be to engage and hopefully destroy the Royal Navy carriers and remaining surface forces, it will do this a hopefully still have enough steam left to launch a port attack that will finish off the cripples such as the Prince of Wales, and cause enough damage to keep his engineers busy for a few days slowing down its development to a level 2 airfield.
Then and only then can Tanaka go in, his forces are hiding at Balikipapan currently.
Its a lot to ask for the Kido Butai but its what necessary to supress Telok and hold Palembang.
Rob's really inflicting a load of pain on my merchants lost another half dozen or more today, although it must be said i am using more shiplift tonnage than ever before in the war, with evacuating the gilberts, reinforcing Iwo/Bonins/Marinias. reinforcing Palembang etc, but it really feels like im on the edge here...Not much i can do though.
RE: The Decline and Fall of the Japanese Empire 1943-1946 LilJoe v Rob
Tanaka will have quite a impressive surface force if the time is available to rally it, the following taskforce is a few days out of Kendari.
BB Haruna
BB Nagato
BB Fuso
CA Mogami
CA Myoko
CA Suzuya
CA Furutaka
Along with the Musashi, which despite having 20 system damage can keep up with its fellow ships, and the two Cruisers that where with the Kongo taskforce that got jumped by his carriers.
So...4 Battleships including the unsinkable Musashi, 6 Cruisers and 5 Destroyers. If Tanaka fails to win the battle of Teloekboteng straights and shut down the airfield with this force he will hang in Tokyo! [:D]
If we can control the seas and airspace around the straights, the troops will eventually be destroyed and Palembang saved! The US navy may have replaced the IJN as the words premier navy, but the British are delusional if they think they can still compete on this grand stage. (Famous last words)
BB Haruna
BB Nagato
BB Fuso
CA Mogami
CA Myoko
CA Suzuya
CA Furutaka
Along with the Musashi, which despite having 20 system damage can keep up with its fellow ships, and the two Cruisers that where with the Kongo taskforce that got jumped by his carriers.
So...4 Battleships including the unsinkable Musashi, 6 Cruisers and 5 Destroyers. If Tanaka fails to win the battle of Teloekboteng straights and shut down the airfield with this force he will hang in Tokyo! [:D]
If we can control the seas and airspace around the straights, the troops will eventually be destroyed and Palembang saved! The US navy may have replaced the IJN as the words premier navy, but the British are delusional if they think they can still compete on this grand stage. (Famous last words)
RE: The Decline and Fall of the Japanese Empire 1943-1946 LilJoe v Rob
30 enemy units are marching on Rahaeng, 20 enemy units holding NE of Moulmien, I've my 715 assault points dont hold Rahaeng ill have ctangus to hang in Tokyo as well! [:D]
RE: The Decline and Fall of the Japanese Empire 1943-1946 LilJoe v Rob
The war is over, Palembang will fall, Teloekboteng or whatever the damn place is called is now a level 2 airfield. The Kido Butai decided to go into Brunei THEN RETIRE BACK TO TAKAO, even though i explictly remember setting both taskforces homebase as Brunei to prevent this, so they are once again off the west coast of Luzon.
My Lba cannot penetrate his cap of 29 thunderbolts, every plane is slaughtered. Whilst his small groups of 20 fighters and 12 dauntlesses ener Singapore harbour losing only one bomber, this game is pure bullshit and so frustrating sometimes. I've lost Palembang for sure now. [8|]
He'll have 100 thunderbolts on cap over the port now, which is more than enough to destroy the entire KB's fighter/bomber arm and cause all the carriers to spontaneous combust through the pure bullshit of it all!
Eiether than or hell stock it with 50 B-26s which can get 2882 bomb hits from 12889,00 ft!
ARRRRRRRRRRG
.............................
Why are they going back to Takao?
I need a break from this game. I might just send Tanakas battleships in on there own out of frustration, it would appear robs carriers have gone home by the looks of things, so perhaps things arent so bad, but its so frustrating.
My Lba cannot penetrate his cap of 29 thunderbolts, every plane is slaughtered. Whilst his small groups of 20 fighters and 12 dauntlesses ener Singapore harbour losing only one bomber, this game is pure bullshit and so frustrating sometimes. I've lost Palembang for sure now. [8|]
He'll have 100 thunderbolts on cap over the port now, which is more than enough to destroy the entire KB's fighter/bomber arm and cause all the carriers to spontaneous combust through the pure bullshit of it all!
Eiether than or hell stock it with 50 B-26s which can get 2882 bomb hits from 12889,00 ft!
ARRRRRRRRRRG
.............................
Why are they going back to Takao?
I need a break from this game. I might just send Tanakas battleships in on there own out of frustration, it would appear robs carriers have gone home by the looks of things, so perhaps things arent so bad, but its so frustrating.
RE: The Decline and Fall of the Japanese Empire 1943-1946 LilJoe v Rob
Ok calmed down now, the KB situation is bullshit. But i cant moan about teloek being level 2. Just got to dust myself down and get on with it...
The bright side... Rob may put another 50 fighters in Teloek, though unlikey, he might, and if his Cv's have gone home which i suspect they have. Tanaka can shoot up the damaged ships in port, and shut down the airfield most probably. Which would allow the KB to supress the airfield too when (if) it eventually turns up.
The Royal Soverign sunk, strange for a Allied warship to sink so late after the damage was dealt to it. But yay i suppose.
If rob does put 50 torpedo bombers into Teloek, then obviously hell still have his 30 odd thunderbolts on cap, and when KB does eventually show up it shud be able to deal the first blow.
The KB fuck up has put me back ANOTHER 2-4 days, added to the fuck up last turn thts pretty much a week ive lost. Im sending both KB groups straight to the Java sea this time, they're running on dregs, and have only just enough fuel to get there and then retire to Soerabaja or Singapore. But theres no time for them to try and refuel at Brunei again. The initiative remains with Rob i can react to how he uses his 50 extra plane spaces at Telok, hes already made a mistake if his carriers have really gone home. So..well see.
The bright side... Rob may put another 50 fighters in Teloek, though unlikey, he might, and if his Cv's have gone home which i suspect they have. Tanaka can shoot up the damaged ships in port, and shut down the airfield most probably. Which would allow the KB to supress the airfield too when (if) it eventually turns up.
The Royal Soverign sunk, strange for a Allied warship to sink so late after the damage was dealt to it. But yay i suppose.
If rob does put 50 torpedo bombers into Teloek, then obviously hell still have his 30 odd thunderbolts on cap, and when KB does eventually show up it shud be able to deal the first blow.
The KB fuck up has put me back ANOTHER 2-4 days, added to the fuck up last turn thts pretty much a week ive lost. Im sending both KB groups straight to the Java sea this time, they're running on dregs, and have only just enough fuel to get there and then retire to Soerabaja or Singapore. But theres no time for them to try and refuel at Brunei again. The initiative remains with Rob i can react to how he uses his 50 extra plane spaces at Telok, hes already made a mistake if his carriers have really gone home. So..well see.
RE: The Decline and Fall of the Japanese Empire 1943-1946 LilJoe v Rob
The KB'S bomber/fighter arm is decimated in one day of air combat, 30 Thunderbolts and 30 Spitfires shoot down..
101 Vals
83 Kates
And around 80 assorted Zero's
My escort levels where too low...but still, another serious blow for me..dunno what to say, im kinda numb to the bs this game pulls out of its arse now so im not really that angry..
Guess the KB will have to park itself off my training fields around Kendari for a few weeks. [:D]
The Last hurrah?
Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zeke x 7
D3A Val x 127
A6M3a Zero x 34
B5N Kate x 84
Allied aircraft
Spitfire VIII x 26
Thunderbolt II x 29
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5 Zeke: 7 destroyed
D3A Val: 80 destroyed
A6M3a Zero: 34 destroyed
B5N Kate: 58 destroyed
Allied aircraft losses
Spitfire VIII: 1 damaged
Thunderbolt II: 1 damaged
Allied Ships
CL Kenya, Bomb hits 1, on fire
BB Prince of Wales, Bomb hits 2, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
Allied ground losses:
37 casualties reported
Guns lost 2
Port supply hits 1
101 Vals
83 Kates
And around 80 assorted Zero's
My escort levels where too low...but still, another serious blow for me..dunno what to say, im kinda numb to the bs this game pulls out of its arse now so im not really that angry..
Guess the KB will have to park itself off my training fields around Kendari for a few weeks. [:D]
The Last hurrah?
Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zeke x 7
D3A Val x 127
A6M3a Zero x 34
B5N Kate x 84
Allied aircraft
Spitfire VIII x 26
Thunderbolt II x 29
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5 Zeke: 7 destroyed
D3A Val: 80 destroyed
A6M3a Zero: 34 destroyed
B5N Kate: 58 destroyed
Allied aircraft losses
Spitfire VIII: 1 damaged
Thunderbolt II: 1 damaged
Allied Ships
CL Kenya, Bomb hits 1, on fire
BB Prince of Wales, Bomb hits 2, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
Allied ground losses:
37 casualties reported
Guns lost 2
Port supply hits 1
RE: The Decline and Fall of the Japanese Empire 1943-1946 LilJoe v Rob
So many of the proud, brave aircrews that have lead me to many victories, Pearl Harbour and Canton being the most prominent. Now lie dead, the heart of the Kido Butai has been ripped out...
The Carriers themselves limp back to Soerabaja, just enough fuel to get there, and they'll have to leach off other ships to get enough fuel to refuel for future operations. Not a lot of fuel in this part of the world...
Tanaka's still going in full speed, i should have waited with KB until Tanaka had bombarded, but obviously i could have never of suspected that the cap would have hurt me so much.
Rob's Cv's turn up outside Bonin/Iwo again, i managed to get two engineer regiments to Iwo before they turn up though so i should be able to improve the defences before his troops arrive. 655 assault points on Iwo, only level 1 forts though..soon to be two, Rob's ill need a lot of time and men to dislodge me from here though, this close to the home islands, with Kamikaizes on the way in a week and a bit, im more confident here than in previous battles.
The Carriers themselves limp back to Soerabaja, just enough fuel to get there, and they'll have to leach off other ships to get enough fuel to refuel for future operations. Not a lot of fuel in this part of the world...
Tanaka's still going in full speed, i should have waited with KB until Tanaka had bombarded, but obviously i could have never of suspected that the cap would have hurt me so much.
Rob's Cv's turn up outside Bonin/Iwo again, i managed to get two engineer regiments to Iwo before they turn up though so i should be able to improve the defences before his troops arrive. 655 assault points on Iwo, only level 1 forts though..soon to be two, Rob's ill need a lot of time and men to dislodge me from here though, this close to the home islands, with Kamikaizes on the way in a week and a bit, im more confident here than in previous battles.
RE: The Decline and Fall of the Japanese Empire 1943-1946 LilJoe v Rob
Depsite KB neutering itself things are going well, after the two quick crushing defeats at Wake and Marcus Rob hasn't really taken the initative in the Central pacific, maybe he couldn't decide to go for the Marinias or Iwo/Bonin.
As a result i have around 650 assualt points behind level 2 forts, which is radpidly rising thanks to the two engineer regiments i managed to drop off. I've decided to reinforce Iwo more than Bonin's as Iwo is a lot more valuable and functunal base, its also much more defendable with the mountainous defence bonus. Rob's Carriers haven't been stopping my merchants lately so I guess he took the bait that i sent out, they arrived briefly for one turn, but then dissapeared again, im sending out more diversions towards Hawaii to hopefully get him to chase these ghosts.
On the other side of the pacific Rahaeng held! Without the reinforcements of two divisions that i sent from Moulmien, ill put these two divisions in there anyway, praise be to Ctangus! This has and will help me free up some troops for defending Iwo Jima, the Marinias and Palembang.
Talking of Palembang, reinforcements continue to flood in, and robs advance has stalled south of the river he's yet to try to cross it, i've only got a token force waiting for them on the other side of the river just to disrupt and fatigue him, im getting more and more confident here, with KB ruining itself, I doubt ill be able to drive the British back into the sea as i had initally hoped, but i've got to move on and adapt, Rob was obviously hoping for a quick smash and grab invasion, and he's now stuck in a battle for attrition. Tanaka whent in and sunk several tankers still carrying fuel, small victories like this will extend the life of Palembang.
Whilst he wont be taking Palembang anytime soon, I no longer have the power to stop him expanding his facilites at Teloek, he could have a level 4 airfield here soon, ill have to see what i can do to stop that, now air superioty is lost with the demise of KB ill have to be inventive i guess.
If rob can't take Palembang, he'll destroy it.
As a result i have around 650 assualt points behind level 2 forts, which is radpidly rising thanks to the two engineer regiments i managed to drop off. I've decided to reinforce Iwo more than Bonin's as Iwo is a lot more valuable and functunal base, its also much more defendable with the mountainous defence bonus. Rob's Carriers haven't been stopping my merchants lately so I guess he took the bait that i sent out, they arrived briefly for one turn, but then dissapeared again, im sending out more diversions towards Hawaii to hopefully get him to chase these ghosts.
On the other side of the pacific Rahaeng held! Without the reinforcements of two divisions that i sent from Moulmien, ill put these two divisions in there anyway, praise be to Ctangus! This has and will help me free up some troops for defending Iwo Jima, the Marinias and Palembang.
Talking of Palembang, reinforcements continue to flood in, and robs advance has stalled south of the river he's yet to try to cross it, i've only got a token force waiting for them on the other side of the river just to disrupt and fatigue him, im getting more and more confident here, with KB ruining itself, I doubt ill be able to drive the British back into the sea as i had initally hoped, but i've got to move on and adapt, Rob was obviously hoping for a quick smash and grab invasion, and he's now stuck in a battle for attrition. Tanaka whent in and sunk several tankers still carrying fuel, small victories like this will extend the life of Palembang.
Whilst he wont be taking Palembang anytime soon, I no longer have the power to stop him expanding his facilites at Teloek, he could have a level 4 airfield here soon, ill have to see what i can do to stop that, now air superioty is lost with the demise of KB ill have to be inventive i guess.
If rob can't take Palembang, he'll destroy it.
RE: The Decline and Fall of the Japanese Empire 1943-1946 LilJoe v Rob
If, well when the British/American imtruders enter Palembang, will Oil production cease?
I think i can hold it for a while, but it would be pointless if combat in the hex stopped oil production.
I think i can hold it for a while, but it would be pointless if combat in the hex stopped oil production.