Splashing the Divebomber

[AU Tiger_MatrixForum]

princep01:
The only reason I still have PM is that Dive hasn't decided to take it. I did reinforce PM with all of the "bird" units and a lot of supply. Even after all of the bombardments I still have close to 19000 supply there.

The carrier battle I had been seeking happened when I was no longer looking for it. The bad news: three US CV's tangled with three Jap carriers. The good news: I only lost one carrier sunk (Enterprise) and one heavily damaged (Lexington), but it should survive. Three carriers of the five tangled with the Japs, and two didn't make it close enough to engage the carriers, so they engaged a Jap transport TF instead. I heavily damaged one Jap carrier, and maybe dented two more, and was lucky to do this. My SBD's were all carrying 500 lb bombs because of extreme range. After a bit of though I have decided discretion is the better part of valor, and am combining the three healthy carriers just west of Nanomea Island rather than going off chasing Japs, and risking getting my CV's split up again. I seriously doubt Dive's CV's will stick around, but if they do, my forces will be in the same hex.

In India, the isolated tank unit survives still after a 300:1 attack, and a Jap infantry division outside of Madras got hit in a 7:1 attack, and survives also.

[princep01]

Interesting CV battle.  A straight up fight like that, this early in the war, could have gone very, very badly for the Allied forces.  Wow.
 
You got a 7:1 on a full Japanese Inf Div????  Again, wow...those British and Indians are real mamma-jammas.
 
Keep up the good writing.  I, for one, am really enjoying the action.
 
 

[AU Tiger_MatrixForum]

Yes, it could have been much worse for me. The Jap division in question is actually a remnant of the 55th Inf Div that I hammered while it was in transports heading back to Rangoon. The remnant has an AV of about 140 or so, but it must be out of supply because the resulting AV was much lower.

Last turn I sunk the heavily damaged Soryu. The tally from the battle was one CV sunk on each side, and one moderately damaged Lady Lex. I was moving all of my CV’s to Suva, but float and fire levels are coming down nicely so I changed them to Pago Pago. My fear now is submarines so I have set all of my TBD’s and some of the SBD’s to ASW, and yes, my intact CV’s are escorting the Lexington.

India will have significant air and ground reinforcements in 24 days so I believe the danger is well past. I will be surprised if he tries India again before the SRA is subjugated.
I had moved a number of Dutch LBA to Batavia hoping they will attack shipping near Palembang, but they have done nothing of the sort so I am having them attack oil points in Palembang, and then I will move them to Soerabaja before the fecal matter strikes the spinning blades. Soerabaja went to airfield level six, so B-17’s from Darwin landed this turn. I will rest them a bit, and then do some mischief with them.

In an e-mail to me Dive mentioned that he was wondering if I was the type of player who moves North Pac and Canadian forces to the South Pacific. He is probably trying to throw me off what he really plans to do, but for the record, most of my North Pac forces are in Dutch Harbor with more already en route.

[AU Tiger_MatrixForum]

Well well well. My little attack on Palembang's port worked pretty well for me. There were a number of TK's in port. I hit eight of them, some badly, and smashed an MSW pretty well also.

My Airacobras in Dacca are finally ready to deploy to China, and are in Ledo for a layover.

My Carriers are still heading towards Pago Pago, albeit slowly.

[AU Tiger_MatrixForum]

Dive continues his harassment tactics in India. The same turn I wipe out his paras at Benares, he lands at Lucknow. Perhaps he is trying to get me to garrison every wide spot in the road thereby dispersing my defense on India. If that is the case, it isn’t going to work because I have tank units going from town to town that he takes. No big deal really.
He knows where my carriers are now because a Glen-carrying sub spotted them this turn. They are continuing to Pago Pago for docking.

The Jap troops on the Northern road in China are finally in range of Chinese bombers so they get hit next turn. Additionally, the Airacobras are in Chungking this turn, and will rest a turn before joining the fray over Ichang. Dive is hitting that city with every bomber in his Chinese inventory so I likely won’t go up against his strength with the fighters. Instead I will do a sweep over one of his airbases.

My B-17’s in Soerabaja launch this turn for a second strike at his TK’s in Palembang’s port. He probably thinks they are safe because he has closed Batavia’s airfield with his bombers from Kuching. On second thought, I am going to hit Kuching’s airfield. I doubt he has much fighter cover there because none of the bombers the he KNOWS about in theater can reach that airfield. Yes, that is the plan now.

[princep01]

Nice shot on the tankers in Palembang. That had to hurt DB and Japan's oil magnates.

[AU Tiger_MatrixForum]

ORIGINAL: princep01

Nice shot on the tankers in Palembang. That had to hurt DB and Japan's oil magnates.

Thanks. I would like to pat myself on the back for a masterful stroke, but it was purely good fortune. Cursor Intel was showing a bunch of APD's in port, which was unlikely, so I was hoping for some red meat, and got some.

Speaking of which, I am going for it again with my B-17's in Soerabaja. I figure a world of hurt is coming down on Soer this turn after my sneak attack on Kuching where I killed 14 airplanes on the ground according to "aircraft losses". Every fighter I could get my hands on near Soer is on 90% CAP this turn. I will take some losses.

Speaking of the air war, I have reinforced the bombers in Northern China because they did well last turn striking Dive's tanks on the northern road. My Airacobras are in Changsha on LR CAP over Ichang where Dive has been consistently bombing every turn. Also, Chinese fighters are in Ichang to serve as cannon fodder, and increase the numbers.

In India, the remnants of the 55th Div were on the receiving end of a 10:1 attack this turn. They will be in the bag soon along with the rest of their drowned buddies.

Significant AV support is unloading in Brisbane, finally. Now I can have some striking ability on this part of the OZ coast.

Dive smirkingly remarked in an e-mail that carriers out of gas can't launch airplanes. I guess he assumed my escorting CV's with the Lady Lex are out of gas. I hope he keeps on thinking that. Speaking of my 'out-of-gas' CV TF's, they smashed the I-25 when it ventured too close.[8D]

[AU Tiger_MatrixForum]

The Airacobras did good work considering they had an average experience of 55. They battled the majority of the China theater Jap Army air force in the skies over Ichang with numerous Chinese pilots flying state of the art Russian fighters from the twenties. Also, the air war over Soerabaja went better than I hoped. Overall this turn, I lost five more planes in air to air than did Dive - a pure victory at this stage in the war.

My 4E bombers in Dacca are still a bit beat up, so they will rest for a while more, but Dive's 55th Div remnants suffered a 19:1 loss this turn, and more troops have arrived to join the fray. I really hope he keeps this nonsense up.

My B17's in Soerabaja did not fly this turn against Palembang which helped increase morale by 10 points. The situation has changed since Dive has obviously targeted Soerabaja for max effort air attack, so the bombers are going after an airfield this turn - the only level 3 airfield in range other than a few level 4's.

The Lady Lex has reached Pago Pago and has disbanded. Once the 59 float damage reduces to a manageable level she will head to SF while the other CV's go to Pearl.

My carrier philosophy at this stage: I have three operational CV's, all due for AA upgrades in the near future, and the Lex with sys damage of 58. My next American CV arrives in about 100 days - the Wasp, so in about 3.5 months my CV force will be what it was about a week ago. True I have sunk the Soryu, and damaged a slew of baby carriers, but I want to conserve what I have left for the time being to keep Dive cautious. Also, my LB air is gaining potency so the war will be in its hands for a while.

Oh yeah, the I-25 sunk this turn.

[princep01]

A bloody day it was, way up in the middle of the air.   Thanks for posting the list of air losses.   Could you do the same for shipping losses?
 
In my PBEM game (which is only a few days ahead of yours (at March 31), I have claimed 320 Zeros, 171 Bettys and 170 Nells, but don't think I have ever had such a bloody all around air loss day, except when he had a very successful naval bmbt of my base at Noumea (it was LOADED with AC when he hit it).
 
I don't get the India stuff either, but hey, that's why we play it:).
 
Your deployment of AC to China seems to be doing some good, but those P-39s have little chance if Zeros show up.
 
Good AARs.  Very cool.

[AU Tiger_MatrixForum]

ORIGINAL: princep01

A bloody day it was, way up in the middle of the air. Thanks for posting the list of air losses. Could you do the same for shipping losses?

In my PBEM game (which is only a few days ahead of yours (at March 31), I have claimed 320 Zeros, 171 Bettys and 170 Nells, but don't think I have ever had such a bloody all around air loss day, except when he had a very successful naval bmbt of my base at Noumea (it was LOADED with AC when he hit it).

I don't get the India stuff either, but hey, that's why we play it:).

Your deployment of AC to China seems to be doing some good, but those P-39s have little chance if Zeros show up.

Good AARs. Very cool.

Sure the P-39's will be sucking wind if Zeros show up in China, but that will be a victory for me, right? Zeros in China mean Zeros not somewhere else.





A bad day for IJN escort ships. From previous engagements, an MSW and a DD sank this turn in addition to two PG’s and a PC heavily damaged by naval airstrikes from Soerabaja as well as an AP damaged occurred outside of Pontianak. Unfortunately, the B-17’s did not fly though. I triple checked the range setting for the squadron, and it is still set for 13. At least the morale went up again this turn.

India showed the same ole Cat Herding game I have been playing for a while now. Dive landed paras at Benares again and moved his paras from Lucknow north on the rails one hex. If you look at the far right of my screen shot you will see the situation. Dive’s paras from Lucknow are sharing a hex with two artillery units which unfortunately have no AV value, but they are bombarding anyway. He will only know he is sharing a hex with two units, and I hope he doesn’t attack because of that. An Indian armor unit has occupied Lucknow and will take the town next turn. Benares, newly recaptured by Dive, has an armored unit and arty unit moving from the south towards that town. I imagine the armor unit will be in the hex in two turns. The 55th Inf Div remnants are still holding out outside of Madras, but not for long.

In Northern China my bombers hit one of the five units following Dive’s two armor units moving on Lanchow, and “Surprise! Surprise! Surprise!” it is an infantry division. To think I believed they were high school Drum and Bugle Corps units. In a couple of turns Lanchow will have nearly 1200 AV’s in defense, and the Japs at the end of a looooooooooong supply chain. I am not too worried frankly. The air over Ichang was a little quieter as Dive hit the place with a fighter sweep. The Chinese lost seven fighters, and the Japs lost four. I will take that for now.

Dive may have accomplished one of his objectives in India. I just transferred a West Coast RCT to Southeast Asia command. I reckon India will need them worse than Pearl in 60 days. (Note the 4 PP left to me in the screen shot)

[ny59giants]

I really don't understand his strategy in India. [&:][&:]
He has a few inland bases, but no ports captured to reinforce and make a serious effort here. Why throw in more para units when he doesn't seem committed to take and hold any part of India.
Your insight would be appreciated. [&o]

[AU Tiger_MatrixForum]

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

I really don't understand his strategy in India. [&:][&:]
He has a few inland bases, but no ports captured to reinforce and make a serious effort here. Why throw in more para units when he doesn't seem committed to take and hold any part of India.
Your insight would be appreciated. [&o]

I have no idea either. Possibly he is trying to spread me out in India to make another invasion more successful, or perhaps he simply has paras and transports, and nothing else to do with them, or perhaps he is doing it because he is Canadian and it is springtime. Sorry I don't have any more insight than you do.

In India, I re-took Lucknow, an armored unit is 30 miles from re-re-taking Benares, and the 55th Div remnants are throwing themselves on grenades (there are no cliffs there) with reckless abandon. I don't want to have to feed prisoners anyway.

Burmese weather continues to suck (low pressure areas you see).

China... well China. Dive launched a massive air attack on the poor defenseless peace-loving Oprah watchers of Ichang. Oprah lost 27 Nielson points as a result. It was not pretty. When I reactivate the P-39's, they will start with some fighter sweeps, and run like Hell afterwards.

Dive sent some APD's with troops towards Timor, and got thumped by the vaunted Hudson bomber for his troubles. That crappy plane is starting to grow on me.[8D]

The Lady Lex is down to 47 float, so the whole kit and kaboodle will be heading home fairly soon.

More after the break.

[ny59giants]

I don't know about you, but I like to convert a fair amount of the 8 plane squadrons of Hudsons to my favorite anti-ship planes, BEAUFORTS!!![&o][&o]
I know the Hudsons have greater range, but if he gets within 4 hexes of those Beauforts....OUCH!!!

Some consider it "gamey", but I set those Beauforts to supply transport over their base to get their experience up to the mid-70's before I set them loose. [:D]

[AU Tiger_MatrixForum]

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

I don't know about you, but I like to convert a fair amount of the 8 plane squadrons of Hudsons to my favorite anti-ship planes, BEAUFORTS!!![&o][&o]
I know the Hudsons have greater range, but if he gets within 4 hexes of those Beauforts....OUCH!!!

Some consider it "gamey", but I set those Beauforts to supply transport over their base to get their experience up to the mid-70's before I set them loose. [:D]

We have PDU's off so I can't upgrade all of them, but you gave me an idea. I am low on replacements for the Hudson, so I think I will do that for a couple of squadrons. Unfortunately though, Dive is keeping his ships at long range from my operational airfields. He won't come close until he has systematically reduced local airfields.

[ny59giants]

Beauforts and Bostons at PM can do some damage to his shipping if he is not careful. [;)]

[Alfred]

AU Tiger,
 
I too don't understand the dropping of paras but might he be trying to damage your local resource centres by using only a few squads to capture them and then turning off repairs before you recapture the base?
 
Alfred

[AU Tiger_MatrixForum]

Ny59giants: A nice thought, but a bit late. Dive has PM's airfield thoroughly shutdown for the foreseeable future.

Alfred: I thought of that also after Dive's first para drop. All cities with resources within range of Dive's airfields are garrisoned. He is only landing, and taking backwater towns with few or no supply. I am not losing sleep at night over this, I promise.

Weather is atrocious so I will be doing little in the game.

One of Dive's little Guards Division fragments got roughly handled today when it crossed the river and shock attacked Kohima. He lost about 2600 men attacking a partial horde of Chinese and British combat troops. The expected counterattack has been ordered.

In China I am still trying to rebuild my beat up fighter (if you can call them that) squadrons, not to mention the weather is crapola. Interestingly Dive sent a single unit into Yenen, which I assume is to check on the number of troops located there. Dive will find out EXACTLY how many well-supplied and 100% prepared troops are in Yenen next turn.

The Lady Lex is down to 41 Float, so is likely to hide out a little longer in Pago Pago. As soon as she is well enough to travel, all the ships here are going to the West Coast or PH for there imminent AA upgrades.

EDIT: Dive did disrupt some resources and heavy industry in Jamshedpur, but all is nearly repaired now.

[ny59giants]

How many of the SEAC Chinese divisions do you have in Burma/India??
If you have a fair number, then you should be able to rotate them back from the front lines and allow them to fill out their full TOE in the near future. This should speed up your counteroffensive in this area to an earlier date in '43. [;)]

[AU Tiger_MatrixForum]

I have seven in India, and one in Myit. All are set to "allow replacements", and all will go to nice, non-malarial bases once Dive tires of this nonsense. Unfortunately they are all only divisional size so I don't know how much help they will be on the offense, but they will make fine garrison troops while other, better units do the attacking.

[AU Tiger_MatrixForum]

Huzzah! Huzzah! Huzzah!

Dive's invading vermin were ejected from both Yenen and Komima! Infused with victory, my Brit and Chindian forces in Kohima are marching on Imphal, which I expect to be invaded shortly by another Guard's Inf fragment. If I can beat him there, unlikely as that is, I might be able to repulse another attack. Let us be hopeful!

Also, some of Dive's AK's and an MSW at Toabali were mightily pummeled by the gallant Dutch Air Force flying from Soerabaja! How much longer Dive will tolerate Dutch heroics has yet to be seen. So poor are the chances of Soerabaja's chances, I flew out the B-17's based there a short time ago. Losing some mediocre Dutch bombers in Java is to be expected, but not my cutting edge Boeing Bombers.

In less promising news. Dive is taking Timor without resistance. I can't defend everywhere I am afraid. Now I have to decide just when to evac some Dutch airpower through Lautem before the door slams shut. It will have to be soon, maybe next turn, or the next, or the next even. We will see.

The Lady Lex is down to 38 float in Pago Pago. Very likely the ships there will sail next turn for the West Coast.

4E's in Dacca are targeting more resources regardless of the weather. I don't want my boys to get soft.

Dive's Indian Invaders continue to hold out while sustaining unsustainable losses. Damned zealots!

Dive sent a cryptic message to me along with the turn: "teleporting troops". Has he allied himself with Alpha Centauri? I hope not.