jwilkerson(Jpn) Moses (Allies)

[pauk]

It is hard not agree with Amiral... i think that Japanese needs 4-1.... at least this was my experience....

[jwilkerson]

Mo'Better!!! Always!!! [&o]

Ok, time again for month end reports. Most "backwater" areas like Java, Home Islands are seeing little change, so I won't post those this time. In the PI we have all bases on Luzon and Mindanao and Roxas will fall soon with the 23 IMB and 35 IMB pursuing those objectives respectively.

The first look is at China, Moses is on the move again in Northern China. We see 10 units heading toward Yenen. We have about 1700AV in the woods 1 hex east of Yenen and another 1300AV in Yenen with several hundred more near by. He'll need to bring more than 9 units to kick us outta here. But we are redeploying some bombers to start wearing the Chinese out while they're marching over.

Down at Changsha we're still bombing the AF and surpressing the supplies (that have to be used each turn to repair it). So far the 37 units there are content to sit.

Our training Ops around Changsha and Canton are getting most units up to EXP 80 at a decent pace .. we're pulling them out and rotating them back in on a regular basis. The training program is operating normally at this point.

[jwilkerson]

Next slide is Burma. Only change here is that Moses hasn't bombed Pagan since we ambushed his heavies there. But he's pasting Akyab even more heavily and recently we see a unit which has appeared. So possible attempt on Akyab pending. In response we've started the 21 IMB on a march from Rangoon. Also we will prepare to fly in the 55ID if needed. Don't wanna lose Akyab this early.

[jwilkerson]

Next slide is Papua with preliminary approach routes for the main naval groups. This landing is still 1-2 weeks out, but preparations are moving forward across the map for this op.

[jwilkerson]

Next slide is Aleutians. We're moving supply in and building forts. This week we will attempt to get a large (for this theater) convoy in to Adak, might be our last chance. The Shoho/Unyo group will support with 27+18 Zeros on board (and 12 Kates on Shoho for ASW)

[jwilkerson]

Next slide is the summary report. Air to Air losses are hovering between 2-1 and 3-1 in our favor.

[jwilkerson]

Combat aircraft pools.

[jwilkerson]

And the support aircraft pools.

[jwilkerson]

Next our industrial pools over time.

We will start shifting more HI over to warships during the month of June.

[jwilkerson]

And finally a differnt look at air losses for the first six months. Our most useful planes, the Zeros, Betty/Nell and Sally's have taken the vast bulk of the losses. While zero losses have tapered off recently, to due lack of any air to air action on the map. The Betty/Nell and Sally's continue to take normal attrition losses since they are trying to keep up pressure on Port Moresby and Changsha.

But we can see from the chart that 200 in the pool is more than sufficient to cover 1 months losses for the major types and still feed the reinforcement groups.

[jwilkerson]

Well it feels like Moses is trying to go over to the Offensive, at least in CBI .. and this is fine with us, the attacker as a much bigger problem.

Moses launched his first series of coordinated air attacks in this game, in China in the Changsha area. He had Chinese air as the core component with A significant portion of the Dutch fighter force as well. Dutchmen in China [X(] ... well as they say "Its a Game" !!!

[jwilkerson]

The actual air losses for the entire 2-day battle appear below. This was a fairly complex series of air attacks from both sides. Since we have been normally attacking Changsha AF from both "Wuhan" and Nanchang, these air attacks went in. But the Allies staged forward several groups of fighters and bombers and launched attacks from 4 different AFs against "Wuhan". The Allies got some decent results destroying AC on the ground (mostly Sallys) but suffered in the a2a combat as indicated by the results below.

[jwilkerson]

So the 47 Sentai shot down 31 Allied aircraft, losing 6 Nates and 3 pilots. The 7th Nate was lost by another Sentai flying "sympatheic" CAP.

We congratulate the 47th for their performance !!

[jwilkerson]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 05/31/42

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Sub attack at 52,93
Allied Fast Trans TF runs by my sub which misses .. but the 18+ knot DDs don't [:@]

Japanese Ships
SS I-19, hits 1

Allied Ships
DD Blue
DD Helm

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Day Air attack on Wuhan , at 48,35
The first installment of the sequence of air attacks around "Wuhan" over the next two days

Japanese aircraft
Ki-27 Nate x 13

Allied aircraft
I-153c x 45
SB-2c x 18

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-27 Nate: 2 damaged
Ki-21 Sally: 2 destroyed
Ki-51 Sonia: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
I-153c: 11 destroyed
SB-2c: 2 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
10 casualties reported

Airbase hits 2
Runway hits 8


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Wuhan , at 48,35
The second attack

Japanese aircraft
Ki-27 Nate x 13

Allied aircraft
CW-21B Demon x 7

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-27 Nate: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
CW-21B Demon: 1 destroyed

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Wuhan , at 48,35
The third, a group of Dutchmen attacking from farther away ...

Japanese aircraft
Ki-27 Nate x 12

Allied aircraft
Brewster 339D x 7

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-27 Nate: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Brewster 339D: 3 destroyed, 1 damaged

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Day Air attack on Wuhan , at 48,35
Now a group if Dutchman escorting some CHinese bombers from Chungking against WUhan ..

Japanese aircraft
Ki-27 Nate x 11

Allied aircraft
Brewster 339D x 16
IL-4c x 10

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-27 Nate: 5 destroyed, 2 damaged
Ki-51 Sonia: 2 destroyed
Ki-21 Sally: 2 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Brewster 339D: 4 destroyed, 2 damaged
IL-4c: 1 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
20 casualties reported

Airbase hits 9
Runway hits 10


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Changsha , at 47,36
Our Normal attack against Changsha now counters the Allied efforts ...

Japanese aircraft
Ki-27 Nate x 59
Ki-21 Sally x 54
Ki-48 Lily x 54
Ki-15 Babs x 4

Allied aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21 Sally: 7 damaged
Ki-48 Lily: 5 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
SB-2c: 2 destroyed


Allied ground losses:
87 casualties reported

Airbase hits 44
Airbase supply hits 6
Runway hits 181 That will slow them down and make them somewhat vulnerable to followup attacks...


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

Day Air attack on Changsha , at 47,36

Japanese aircraft
Ki-27 Nate x 18
Ki-21 Sally x 21
Ki-36 Ida x 2
Supporting attack

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-36 Ida: 1 damaged


Allied ground losses:
51 casualties reported

Airbase hits 4
Runway hits 27


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Myitkyina , at 36,28


Allied aircraft
SBD Dauntless x 16
Blenheim IV x 14
P-39D Airacobra x 23


Allied aircraft losses
SBD Dauntless: 1 damaged

Airbase hits 3
Runway hits 19


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Port Moresby , at 53,91

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 53
C5M Babs x 3
Ki-21 Sally x 75

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21 Sally: 13 damaged


Allied ground losses:
16 casualties reported

Airbase hits 4
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 74


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Thursday Island , at 49,90


Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 30


No Allied losses

Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 36


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Day Air attack on 33rd Division, at 30,29


Allied aircraft
Buffalo I x 12
Blenheim I x 9
B-18A Bolo x 58
A-20B Boston x 5


No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
52 casualties reported
Guns lost 1


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 33rd Division, at 30,29


Allied aircraft
Wellington III x 11


No Allied losses


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 9th Chinese Corps, at 49,30

Japanese aircraft
Ki-27 Nate x 40
Ki-15 Babs x 1

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-27 Nate: 1 destroyed


Allied ground losses:
10 casualties reported

Aircraft Attacking:
31 x Ki-27 Nate bombing at 2000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 1st Chinese Tank Regiment, at 48,26
The "Van" of the Chinese advance on Yenen ...

Japanese aircraft
Ki-27 Nate x 8
Ki-48 Lily x 13
Ki-15 Babs x 1

No Japanese losses


Allied ground losses:
20 casualties reported
Vehicles lost 1

Aircraft Attacking:
8 x Ki-27 Nate bombing at 2000 feet
13 x Ki-48 Lily bombing at 6000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 21st Chinese Corps, at 43,40

Japanese aircraft
Ki-27 Nate x 246
Ki-46-II Dinah x 1

No Japanese losses


Allied ground losses:
46 casualties reported
Guns lost 1


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 49th Chinese Corps, at 47,33

Japanese aircraft
Ki-27 Nate x 20
Ki-15 Babs x 1

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-27 Nate: 1 destroyed

Aircraft Attacking:
19 x Ki-27 Nate bombing at 2000 feet


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 06/01/42


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Day Air attack on Wuhan , at 48,35
[ Day two - the Chinese and the Dutchmen continue their attacks !!!

Japanese aircraft
Ki-27 Nate x 14

Allied aircraft
I-153c x 14
SB-2c x 11

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-48 Lily: 1 destroyed
Ki-21 Sally: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
I-153c: 4 destroyed
SB-2c: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged

Airbase hits 2
Runway hits 1


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Wuhan , at 48,35
And another ...

Japanese aircraft
Ki-27 Nate x 14

Allied aircraft
CW-21B Demon x 7

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-27 Nate: 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
CW-21B Demon: 1 destroyed

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Wuhan , at 48,35
And another !!!

Japanese aircraft
Ki-27 Nate x 19

Allied aircraft
Brewster 339D x 12
IL-4c x 8

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-27 Nate: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged
Ki-48 Lily: 1 destroyed
Ki-21 Sally: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Brewster 339D: 4 destroyed, 4 damaged
IL-4c: 1 destroyed, 5 damaged

Airbase hits 1
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 1


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Changsha , at 47,36
And another reposte !!!

Japanese aircraft
Ki-27 Nate x 2
Ki-21 Sally x 9
Ki-36 Ida x 1

Allied aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21 Sally: 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
I-153c: 2 destroyed


Allied ground losses:
29 casualties reported

Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 12

Aircraft Attacking:
9 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 6000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Myitkyina , at 36,28


Allied aircraft
SBD Dauntless x 16
Blenheim IV x 12
P-39D Airacobra x 23


Allied aircraft losses
Blenheim IV: 1 damaged

Airbase hits 1
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 18


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Port Moresby , at 53,91
On the other side of the world ... bombing of Port Moresby continues ... !!!

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 27
C5M Babs x 4
Ki-21 Sally x 64

Japanese aircraft losses
C5M Babs: 1 damaged
Ki-21 Sally: 8 damaged


Allied ground losses:
60 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Airbase hits 5
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 54

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Thursday Island , at 49,90


Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 30


No Allied losses

Airbase hits 1
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 17


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Munda , at 64,95
Training !

Japanese aircraft
A6M3 Zero x 8

No Japanese losses

Aircraft Attacking:
8 x A6M3 Zero bombing at 2000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 1st Chinese Tank Regiment, at 48,26
Another hit on the VAN !!!

Japanese aircraft
Ki-27 Nate x 6
Ki-48 Lily x 20
Ki-15 Babs x 1

No Japanese losses


Allied ground losses:
36 casualties reported
Vehicles lost 1

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x Ki-27 Nate bombing at 2000 feet
20 x Ki-48 Lily bombing at 6000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 101st PA Division, at 41,60
On Mindanao ...

Japanese aircraft
Ki-30 Ann x 7

No Japanese losses


Allied ground losses:
8 casualties reported

Aircraft Attacking:
7 x Ki-30 Ann bombing at 2000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Wuhan , at 48,35

Japanese aircraft
Ki-27 Nate x 9

Allied aircraft
Brewster 339D x 3

No Japanese losses

No Allied losses

[jwilkerson]

Most visible threats continue to be in CBI ... Moses has 16 units moving towards Yenen ... we have about 3000 AV in the area. This is probably just another feint, but good news is that it uses up more of his supply than just sitting. But uses up more of ours as well.

[jwilkerson]

And over in Burma, since unit count is going up West of Akyab, we assume this heralds an attack on Akyab. We have 15A HQ and 21 IMB marching over from Rangoon. Two regimental groups of the 55ID are prepping for Akyab but marching towards Rhaeng and Moulmein to fly in if needed.

[saj42]

Two questions regarding the months end stats:
1. Mutsubishi engine production is short of requirements (but approx 6 months stockpile). Any reason?
2. Not producing Helen - don't you like it?

So how are you finding the 2 day turns?

[jwilkerson]

1. I'm not sure how accurate the summary figures are for engines. I turn things on and off a lot to manage HI and I track actual engine production and requirements in a more detailed spreadsheet. But there is a surplus and I try to keep it that way, allows more flexibility.

2. Well in hindsite I'd say not keeping Helen production was a mistake. I consider Helen/Sally to be equivalent in the game, but Helen uses Nakajima engine and Sally uses Mits. The flexibility to switch back and forth between the engines would be useful. My reason at the time was I anticipated a mid-term (1942) shortfall of Nakajima, but in the event I'm actually harder pressed for Mits, due to need to produce mostly Betty/Sally. All I can say is this is/was my first PDU ON game and I'm still learning! [:D]

3. I like two day turns. They are more tactically complex, you have to count out the hexes for the TF movement and plan more, but I think it offers a better simulation, more FOW, etc.

[jwilkerson]

Above pics of China and Burma still valid. Moses seems to be on the offensive in THREE areas now. China, Burma and just this turn, the Aleutians.

In China his 16 unit telephone pole has entered the woods hex we are defending to the West of Yenen. We have about 2300 AV on the ground, in a woods hex, we are fully supplied and fairly well rested. And we have at least some air support at Yenen. So we're still pretty hopeful that he can't push us out. He's just walked across several hexes, he has no air support, he probably is at least low on supplies in some units and his fatigue/disruption levels should be higher than ours. But he if attacks, we will have a much better idea of just exactly what he brought to the table. In the mean time, we will just keep bombing away.

In Burma, he has two units approaching Akyab, we have the beat up 33rd Division and the tiny 12th NLF. However, we have the 21st IMB and the 15th A HQ one hex SE of Akyab and trying to come to the rescue. Also, we have two regiments of the 55ID sitting at Moulmein and Raheng respectively, prepping for Akyab. We've staged 10 groups of Topsey's into Bangkok, these would be used to fly the two regiments of the 55th into Akyab. Also we have 9 full groups of fighters (Oscars and Zeros - all EXP 80+) sitting in Thailand with another 3-4 on the way. We will probably have to massively intervene in Burma to hold on to Akyab once the attacking units reach the hex (if not before). Once we have Tonys/Tojos we might be able to better contest the airspace in Burma, but having 4+ groups of those in Burma fighting is still at least 6-7 weeks out - and we don't have that long - so we will have to fight with what we have. More troops are on the way from the PI but won't we able to reach Akyab except via air - and that option may not be forever viable. Otherwise walking to Akyab will take awhile. So, kid of a race to see who can build up the fastest and since Moses has the Sea at least in the Western Bay of Bengal, he has the advantage. But we aren't giving up yet.

In the Aleutians, there isn't much we can do until KB can get up there and that is at least 4-5 weeks out. We have to do Port Moresby first. Port Moresby landings are minimum 8 days out based on the speed of the slowest convoy. We don't know how long the fight on the ground will take, but at least a week. Then we'd have to steam the KB up to Tokyo, regroup and head to the Aleutians, so at least 3 more weeks. So we can only hope that he can't boot us out of the Aleutians completely in that time frame. If he can hit each of our Islands with a semi-prepped full division, then he can probably do it. Otherwise things might drag out until we can get there.

But we can certainly feel the Allies reaching for the initiative. Port Moresby may be our last big one.

[jwilkerson]

06/14/42 update.

China. Near Yenen, Moses rested his telephone pole and bombarded our forces. He is showing 3800+ AV and we 2600+ AV .. but again we are in the woods, supplied, rested and with air support - attributes not shared by the Chinese attackers.

Burma. No change, we continue to work on reinforcements for Akyab and on gathering up an Aerial intervention force.

Aleutians. Moses' multitudinous TFs are roaming all around up there.

Papua. Our PM invasion forces are on the move about 19 hexes out at the farthest. This will give us about 6-7 days prior to the landings starting.