Splashing the Divebomber

[AU Tiger_MatrixForum]

Java is under attack, there is no doubt now. Dive is hammering my forces there by air, land and sea. Fortunately, Soerabaja has 9 forts, and Batavia has 6. It will take Dive a while to reduce the island.

"We shall not flag or fail. We shall go on to the end. We shall fight in Java, we shall fight on the seas and the oceans, we shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength in the air, we shall defend our island, whatever the cost may be. We shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender." - LGEN Alexander, H.R.L., Commanding Officer ABDA, Soerabaja.
Somebody should have informed him the Navy has long since abandoned the DEI. Poor staff work I imagine.

A potentially nasty surprise in China didn't occur in Changsha. This is why, I always, when launching a spoiling attack on Jap forces alone on roads I return immediately to the home city if there are multiple axis of attacks on the base from other forces. A Jap unit has arrived in Changsha. The good news is all of my combat forces, save one division I left in the Westward hex, arrived also in Changsha this turn. The bad news is all of the HQ units did NOT go to Changsha. What should I do? Attack of course! 'Climb Mount Shengmufeng' is the order of the day.

Burmese weather is forecast to be exceptionally good tomorrow, so my ALMOST fully rested 4E bombers are returning to Rangoon's resources. My transports continue to send the Chindian 55th INF Div to Akyab. Those Jap troops on the trail will find things more difficult than they imagined.

In other news, my CV's, minus the Lex (whose FLOAT has stagnated at 38), will arrive in PH within two turns for their, and the escorts, upgrades in AA. I will need them in the next carrier duel.

My mediocre B-17's in OZ were transfered to Cairns two turns ago, and are tasked with hitting Gili Gili's airfield this turn. Dive seems to be increasing aircraft attacks on PM in both numbers, and airfields participating, as well as constant bombardment attacks. I should have moved DM's to the area long ago, oh well. They are operating in the Central Pacific I am afraid.

Numerous reinforcements arrive next turn all over the map.

Oh yeah, the Replay showed a successful sub attack on the already damaged CL Helena en route to Pago from Suva (damaged in the CV battle several turns ago), yet the damage to the ship remains unchanged to my relief.


A strategic strong point I have neglected:

[AU Tiger_MatrixForum]

Happy Tax Day my fellow Americans - FDR's favorite I understand.

This will be a short post because it is late and I am tired.

In China I kicked the Japs out of Changsha and am following Dive's retreating Northern China troops.

My resource attack on Rangoon achieved a massive hit on the resources there while also receiving large numbers of damaged aircraft by the almost 60 Nates based there. It will be a while before the 4E's sortie again. I have tasked the P-40E's at Akyab to sweep the base next turn.

My attack on Gili Gili was mediocre at best, but so are the pilots.

[AU Tiger_MatrixForum]

Java is under massive attack by Paras and bombers, nearly every base there has been lost although Malang was retaken this turn with significant numbers of planes destroyed on the ground. Additionally, the so-called defenders retreated to the hinterlands of Java, so they are out of it for a while. Bandoeng, south of Batavia gets the same treatment next turn although I don’t think there are planes flying from there. I seem to remember attacks from there, but there is no little red ‘X’ there now.

Apparently Dive is up to some new tricks in China although I have no idea what they might be yet. He is retreating in the North faster than I can advance. So be it. The Inf Div trapped outside of Changsha got mauled again this turn. Can anybody say “Combat Ineffective?” Dive has ceased his air attacks in China also. I haven’t seen hide nor hair of the Jap air force there in about a week. I don’t mind though, really.

The Lex’s FLOAT is down to 34, and the AO’s have arrived to escort her to the West Coast if and when that day ever arrives. The rest of my CV’s are safely in PH now for R&R and upgrades. They will be there for a while.

In Burma, the 24th FG, equipped with P-40E’s dove in on Rangoon and blasted 16 Nates out of the sky with only 2 damaged for the Amis (amusingly enough, Dive seems to think it was the AVG) . Fun stuff. Jap airpower has been losing some planes recently, and now Dive is only about 100 short of my air losses for the game.

Cooktown recently received a token visit from the Jap Naval arm. It made me realize I have no fighters in the bases along that section of the coast. I rectified that quickly.

[princep01]

Interesting.  Thanks for listing those A/C losses.
 
I'm in a campaign game that is running about ten days ahead of your game with Dive and I am following your AARs.  This is my first CG, and I am, like you, the Allies.  The Japanese player is more experienced, but not a lot more than me.
 
In our game, the Japanese made more or less a beeline to New Caledonia and, after a month and a half long struggle, he is on the verge of taking my last bastion at Noumea.  I still hold Soerbaja and Malang, but he has the rest of Java and has conquered the Phillipines and the remainder of the SRA.
 
I thought you might like to see how many air losses the Japanese have suffered at 4/23/42:  Zero 424, Betty 187, Nell 175, Sally 152, Lily 148, Helens 40, Kates 119 (vast majority naval borne), Vals 115, Tinas 32 and Topsy 45.  Fairly comparable numbers to that experienced in your game, though maybe a little higher.  The IJN has lost 107 ships (2 BB, 1 CA, 3 CL, 22 DD, 1 AVD, 6 subs, 65 AP/AK,  The rest are assorted PC/PG/MSW types).  The have been no CV battles.  Some of his CVL/CVE have taken light to moderate bomb damage from LBA.  The Allies have lost 199 ships of all types including 6 BB/BCs and almost all the Aussie navy.

[AU Tiger_MatrixForum]

Princep01:

Thanks, I like to see how my little war stacks up against other games.

I can't report much for the last two turns because they consist of little to mention. My little spoiling attacks in Java have run their abysmal courses, and all little green rectangles are returning home. It is beginning to look like Dive is there to stay bringing apparently overwhelming force against the Peace Loving Dutch of Java.

China continues to puzzle me. Dive is apparently running away all over the place. I thought I was the one who was supposed to "Sir Robin". Maybe Dive is thinking Marky's old war plan of "running away more" is more his style. I don't see a pattern yet. In the news however, Dive seemingly finally noticed the little Chinese fragment sitting in the hex south of Changsha, blocking supply to his troops trapped between Hengchow and Changsha. I managed to batter that division with numerous 100+ deliberate attacks until Dive finally evicted the blocker. The Jap Inf Div retreated this turn. I suppose morale and disruption may be a problem in that unit.

The final vestiges of the 55th Jap Inf Division in India (remember that invasion anyone) finally did their bit for the emperor. My freed up units are heading for bases to rest and recuperate. Weather has been the standard torrents, so my 4E bomber crews are catching up on Poker.

The Lex finally dipped below 30 in FLOAT. Maybe I can get her to the WC sometime this year afterall.

I have decent numbers of subs patrolling Jap waters now, and have yet to see a successful attack, much less an attack on anything other than ASW TF's for a long time now, although I have seen my subs co-occupying hexes with Jap transports on numerous occasions. I have decent leaders in most subs, but they are merely spectators to the war so far.

What did you do in the war Grandpa?

I was a submarine captain patrolling Japanese shipping lanes.

Ooooh, that sounds dangerous Grandpa.

You bet it was, one time I saw a huge invasion fleet sail right by me.

Did you sink any of the ships Grandpa?

{shudder} Heavens no! They would have known we were there!

Oh.

Why do you watch so many Jane Fonda movies Grandpa?

[Alfred]

AU Tiger,
 
Remember that at this time of the campaign, of the American submarines, only the S class are likely to attack any hit anything.  The other American submarines are best employed in laying minefields or as transports.
 
Alfred

[AU Tiger_MatrixForum]

Alfred:
My problem wasn't unsuccessful attacks, it was the LACK of attacks, until I looked at our initial conditions. Sub Doctrines are ON, which I forgot. More argument for mines.

Dive apparently has abandoned Rangoon's air defenses because I swept its skies with P-40's and bombed its resources to nearly non-existence without a Jap fighter seen in the skies. If it weren't for weather, I could have some fun there.

Dive did a low-level attack on Homan with a number of planes, and lost 12 to my count. In an e-mail he indicated it was a mistake - those I like. The number of Jap plane losses is getting closer to mine. [8D]

Dive has been bombarding and bombing Port Moresby with daily regularity, and has taken its toll on the forces there. For the first time, the AV dropped below 100. I expect some kind of attack sometime soon, not that I can do much about it.

[Alfred]

AU Tiger,
 
The other point to remember about US subs is that they start to attack much more often after they start to get radar in October 1942.
 
Alfred

[AU Tiger_MatrixForum]

Alfred:
October is a LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOONG time away. Since I had forgotten about the Sub Doctrine: On situation, there will be a raft of sub laid mines in Dive's future.

Dateline Port Moresby.

Jap transports spotted sixty miles from landfall. All English speaking inhabitants are instructed to grab one's ankles and pucker up. The Hate is coming. If it will make my readers in Port Moresby happier, they will be delighted to know that Cairns in Australia is now under construction to become the Dacca of the Southwest Pacific. Numerous 4E bombers will be based there eventually to smite your executioners, so make the King proud gentlemen!


I moved some Hudsons into Northeastern Oz this turn set to Naval attack, but the aviation support situation there is lacking to say the least. I might make a dent or two, but the airplanes will have to return to other bases to recuperate.

Red pustules have sprouted over Java like Chicken Pox. I hope the Dutch defenders there are made of the same stern stuff as the defenders of Leige in the Great War. I am not too sanguine about the defense of Java because far too many of the Dutch speak French. Fortunately their White Flag factory burned down in a recent bombing raid, so maybe we will see some spine.

Editorial Note: Before I am lambasted for my Anti-Frog sentiments, I should mention I have Hugenought heritage, and as a matter of fact my Avatar is my Great-Great Grandfather CPL, Co. E, 4th Alabama, Law's Brigade, Hood's Division, Longstreet's Corps, Army of Northern Virginia, Samuel Frances Bondurant, crippled at Gettysburg July 2, 1863. He was 21.

[AU Tiger_MatrixForum]

I haven't updated for a few days because of business of schedule. Both Dive and I will be out of town this week, so turns may be sparse.

In Burma, Dive has arrived with a number of reinforcements at Akyab, and they attacked this turn. Although suffering grievous injuries, they still managed to reduce fortifications by one. It doesn't look like the base is in any serious danger, but bombers from Dacca will be striking the Japs anyway - if the weather allows.

Java is looking very ugly indeed. Batavia's hex is occupied with a large number of Japs, and I don't think it will hold long. Soerabaja will be the next to fall, but it will last a good bit longer. Soerabaja's air force is on its last legs from daily air field attacks by Jap air.

Darwin was bombarded a couple of turns ago, ineffectively I might add. I had advance warning, spotting CA's nearby so I evac'ed all aircraft and returned them the next turn. Jap CA's suffered for their temerity in attacking Oz directly. Port Moresby is under siege like Java, and is probably doomed, although it has a bunch of supply. I am afraid most of it will simply fall into Jap hands. Hudsons from Cairns attacked Jap transports in port at PM and were shot down wholesale by Zeros on LR CAP. I reduced thei max range to one less than the distance to PM, and succeeded in hitting two AP's without opposition. Significant LB from America will arrive in Brisbane soon, and will take up the vigil in Northern OZ.

Numerous upgrades are going on in PH.

Dive has sent a sub to the Dutch Harbor region, and probably discovered that it is a busy place. I have been building the base up for an eventual offensive against Dive's northern flank. At least he will disperse his forces to meet this threat, if he has seen the actvity there.

[AU Tiger_MatrixForum]

Port Moresby fell this turn. Dive's first assault was successful, probably because of the weeks and weeks of bombardment attacks in preparation. There isn't much good I can say about this loss, but there wasn't much I could do to prevent it since Dive had committed so many forces to the effort. I didn't want to commit my CV's to the fight because 1) they are just now undergoing AA upgrades, and 2) Dive has a lot of LB in the vicinity with a lot of airfields usable. Right now he can do anything he wants to as long as he commits the forces for total local superiority.

Speaking of superiority, Dive has moved about 5000 AV's into Changsha, so even with level 9 forts, bad things may occur there. I can't hope to match that number without denuding other Chinese fronts so I am going to counterattack to cause some headaches for dive.

In India, my troops who reduced the last of Dive's holdouts are moving to Dacca for R&R, and then will be ready for service possibly in Northern Burma.

Dive will get another turn in on Tuesday.

[AU Tiger_MatrixForum]

In reviewing the turn after having sent it to Dive, I will reveal some plans:
I will be engaging in a landing somewhere CentPac (Wake???) Island in the somewhat near future, and have a bunch of AP's heading to PH at the moment, however it will be a couple of game weeks before all the upgrades going on there will be done. Also, I have been building Dutch Harbor for a while, and have some airpower present there. In 4 game days I have a number of NorthPac units showing up in SF, and will load them to reinforce another island in the Aleutian chain, moving slowly towards Northern Japan.

[AU Tiger_MatrixForum]

Best laid plans and all of that. I laid on a B-17 airstrike to Gili Gili's airfield, but the pilots couldn't find it because of weather. I need to upgrade their GPS systems. They stand down now with high fatigue. I moved in some B-25's to Cooktown set to Naval attack, and they missed. My ambush over Changsha with an AVG element came to naught - no attacks, but I had an idea. I am going to fly in the rest of the AVG to Chungking, and let them rest a turn or two - that should allow the rest of my newly uncrated P-39's there to be assembled, and I will mount a major ambush over Changsha in a few turns. Lets hope the plan bears fruit.

Java has sunk a few inches over the past few days under the weight of all the Japs landing there.

A new load of aircraft landed in Brisbane this turn from the West Coast, I truly have a BUNCH of airplanes there now. All I need are a raft of base forces in Northern Oz. Where to get them????

Otherwise, the Allied war effort has slowed to watching little green icons inch around the map, and to keeping an eye on the calender. Come on P-38's!

I have moved a couple of Chinese bomber units to Yenen, and have ordered them to bomb Chengting's resources. Maybe Dive will divert some fighters to cover that city and spare Changsha some coverage.

[AU Tiger_MatrixForum]

Japanese conscripts were massacred outside Changsha's defensive perimeter by China's crack battalions, losing 10000 scumsuckers to our noble and brave 4000 heroic defenders. Unfortunately, forts dropped to 8 in the process. A number of Chinese Mechanized Inf Corps (Each corps HQ has a Singer sewing machine) are heading towards Changsha from the North to bolster the defenses. Although AVG fighters are repositioning towards China, I will wait to spring my next fighter trap over Changsha until Ichang's airfield grows to 2, so I can fly out of two bases. Ichang is at 1 now, and its fort building has been suspended. My resource attack on from Yenen did not happen even though the weather was good. Poor staff work is to blame. As it turns out, Yenen's airfield is insufficiently large to handle bomber missions. Col. Wan Hung Lo and Maj. Sum Yung Boi have both been summarily executed for incontinence. (Note to self: must hire younger staff officers)

My cowardly submarine force is driving me insane. Too bad the Soviets aren't active otherwise I could banish numerous captains to Siberia.

Dive is showing interest in the Aleutians. Two subs have been spotted (One has been every now and then in the area) in the vicinity of Dutch, and at least one of them is a Glen carrier. Too bad most of my DD's are upgrading, so I can't send some up there now, but some Cats have flown in for some ASW work.

Decent weather in southern India is forecast. The 4E's are going to Moulmein. My 4E's in OZ need another turn or two of rest.

[AU Tiger_MatrixForum]

I lose 500 PP's next turn because I didn't have a Brit CLAA close enough to Karachi.

China was quiet this turn although Ichang's new AF production effort brought me 31% closer to a level 2 airfield, and I will use it soon. My one long range LB squadron in China, the IL-4c's has gotten to a decent (for the Chinese) experience level, so I decided to click CITY ATTACK to see what I could see. My goodness, but there were a lot of targets, and considering my 4E bombers in Burma are running out of Resources to bomb, I thought, "Hey! What about Chungking? It's AF is level 4, and is 90% towards the next. Needless to say, engineer laden units are marching towards the city. But what about BF's I ask, the Av Support there could be better, so some of my under-worked BF's from Burma, now in Myit, are about to go to another exotic land. Good for them! Dive is gonna hate this when it starts![8D]



Speaking of running out of resources to bomb, my 4E's hit Moulmein, blasting its resources into rubble, if that is what happens to resources when bombed.

My B-17's in Northern Oz are going to make another run at Gili Gili since the weather is improving there.

Some Northern Pacific reinforcements have arrived, and are embarking for Adak Island to start building the next stepping stone to Japan via the northern route. Reinforcements for Suva Island, including the 1st Seabees will dock in PH shortly for re-fueling.

Now Java, I noticed a couple of turns ago that Malang only had one unit occupying it, so I sent two of my best Soerabaja defenders there to take the base, and they did this turn. Probably the best result of the attack was capturing 2800 supplies, which Dive will simply get back when he re-takes the base. Anyway, my units are returning to Soerabaja, and my lowest AV unti will be replacing them in Malang - I don't want to give Diave an easy re-capture with paras do I? In the grand scheme of things, this makes no difference whatsoever, but it gave me something to do during the slow time, and it annoys Dive, which is always a good thing. [:)]

[ny59giants]

I've been playing CHS and reading AAR's about other Allied players adventures and stock maps look funny. [:D]
I think that bombing Resources vs anything else is the way to go, especially in Burma. Make him ship in the supply and don't give him any free from the resources there. [;)]

In Java, where is ABDA HQ?? If it is in Soerabaja, then retreat your units back there and the supply may follow you there.

For your American subs with endurance over 11,000 use them as Minelayers and have them go from Pearl to drop off their "toys" and then to the SRA to evac fragments to Australia. Hopefully you already have a few AK's converting to MLE's.

[AU Tiger_MatrixForum]

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

I've been playing CHS and reading AAR's about other Allied players adventures and stock maps look funny. [:D]
I think that bombing Resources vs anything else is the way to go, especially in Burma. Make him ship in the supply and don't give him any free from the resources there. [;)]

In Java, where is ABDA HQ?? If it is in Soerabaja, then retreat your units back there and the supply may follow you there.

For your American subs with endurance over 11,000 use them as Minelayers and have them go from Pearl to drop off their "toys" and then to the SRA to evac fragments to Australia. Hopefully you already have a few AK's converting to MLE's.

Burmese combined resources now total less than 40 or so (Tavoy excepted) according to my intel, so I am interested in acquiring new hunting grounds.

My subs are mostly in PH upgrading their AA, and will be doing as you say. Many subs currently at sea are already enroute to Soerabaja as we speak, and yes, MLE's are in the works.

ABDA HQ is in Soerabaja, but the base already has a bunch of supply, so I don't know how much will be drawn there with or without a tiny garrison unit in Malang.

[ny59giants]

I'm already under seige at Singapore (by 4 divisions) and Manila (by 2 1/2 divisions) with it being only 2/9/42. He has just landing at Batavia and I expect Soerabaja to be added to the list by the end of the month. [:D] He has 2 divisions in Burma with 4 tank regiments. The 33rd Division was planning for Ragoon which he has since captured. So that intel could have been just a smoke screen.

However, I only count 3 free divisions for Java possible (if that many). That will not be enough. [;)] If my troops are going to die, I want it to be worth something.

Delay...Delay... [:D]

You are doing well to have Java in May 42. [&o][&o]

[AU Tiger_MatrixForum]

Your timetable doesn't sound too far off from my game, except for Batavia. My opponent likes to dot his i's and cross his t's before committing which makes it difficult to counter him with any significance. I can harass and annoy, but that is it for now. A more aggressive opponent would probably capture more territory in the same time frame, but would lose a lot more troops and equipment in the process. I truly enjoy playing Dive in this game because he a thoughtful and methodical player who makes few mistakes, so I have to claw for any advantage. To date, I think the biggest mistake he has made is to have given up on the Burmese air defense. Before he did, I was suffering at least 50% damaged aircraft on each defended air raid, now it is more like 5%, so my recovery time has quadrupled along with an increase in pilot survivability, so now I am looking to expand my strategic bombing into China

[AU Tiger_MatrixForum]

Frustration marks today's turn. When I did last turn, I worked a little bit of it, THOUGHT I saved it, and returned a little later to finish it. Needless to say, some of the orders I gave were not saved. First: my good Inf units in Malang were not marching to Soerabaja - a bad thing since the hex now has Jap troops. Second - my 4E's in Dacca bombed Moulmein again rather than stand down and rest so not it will be a few turns before they are ready to fly again.

Ichang's airfield will be level 2 in two turns, so that is the date set for the Changsha Ambush. Flying out of Hengchow and Ichang will be 130 P-40's and Airacobras, as well as the Chinese fighters in the region, although I haven't decided whether to send them or not. It should be a good time regardless.

Numerous subs are enroute to Malang, Batavia, and Soerabaja for troop withdrawal.

Troops continue to load in SF for Adak Island.

Reinforcements for Suva Island just refueled in PH, and are continuing onward.

Yet another Bombardment TF has been spotted north of Darwin. After last time when the Jap ships took a beating, I decided to reinforce Wyndham's BF's, and based a number of Darwin's LB's there, so this time I don't have to frantically move air groups around. I have two large B-25C groups I moved to Townsville from Brisbane last turn I WAS going to move to Darwin this turn, but I now elect to move them next turn now, after the bombardment.