Feinder(A) v Bilbow(J) CHS - The winds of war are constantly changing

[VSWG]

Bump. Looking forward to another update... Can you post a screenie of the plane losses by type so far?

Nice raid on Japan! [8D]

[Feinder]

Yeah, I was doing the (text) summaries a last night. Then I have to do the maps (not fond of that part). Game date is 03-19 (so I'm a bit behind). I'll try to get caught up a bit while my sons are napping today (presuming I am sans turn).

As requested, air-to-air losses, as of this turn 03-19-42.

-F-

(sceen-shot doesn't include a Emaily and Mavis loss, but I figured you could live without it).

[Feinder]

And I had to share this, probably the luckiest Throwaway pilot in the service...

Maybe I should track -his- record like the Hibiki AAR [:D]

-F-

[Feinder]

02-03-1942 thru 03-19-1942 (comprehensive)

A - 02-12-1942 : Japnese forces invade the Andamann archipelago and quickly establish a seaplane base. Vice Admiral Hastings orders the battleships of the Eastern Fleet to shell the new facilities, but the mission is aborted when RAF patrols obvserve intense mine-laying activity by IJN submarines.
B - Chiang Kai-shek fulfulls his treaty agreements with the Western Allies, and sends several Chinese Divisions cross the Rahkine Mountain Range, where they will reinforce the defenders in Burma.
C - 02-23-1942 : A reinforcement convoy bound for Akyab is harassed by IJN submarines. Along the way, two trasports are sunk, but escorting frigates manage to sink I-162 in retribution. The convoy delivers it's troops and cargo, and returns without further incident.
D - 03-15-1942 : A massive invasion fleet, covered by five carriers of the Kido Butai begins landing at Rangoon. The force is intercepted by a substantal force of RAAF A-20s, RAF Blen IVs and Hudsons, and motley handful of USAAF LB-30s, B-17Ds, and B-25s. Altho casualties are heavy, many bombers are able to penetrate the defending CAP and damage several transports. Also RAAF pilots of No. 16 Light Squadron manage to score several hits on the CVE Hosho.

The HMS Rover intercepts the Japanese replentishment convoy, and sinks the oiler Goyo Maru. She is however driven off before she is able to penetrate the ASW screens to attack the enemy carriers.

Japan lands with 2 reinforced divisons. A Japanese Armored Rgt quickly cuts off the escape to the north east, and the defending colonial troops retreat to Moulmein. Meanwhile, the Indian III Corps, comprising of several native Brigades and the attached Chinese divisions have entrenched themselves in the jungles south of Meiktela. Several squadrons of RAF Hurricane fighters are rebased to Moulmein, and begin a week of bloody air battles as the Allies defend their airfield.

As Japanese trasports continue to unload, 250 Allied bombers sorty from 5 airfields, and hit the port of Rangoon. Many hits are scored the damaged shipping there, including 8 hits claimed on the Hosho. Heavily damaged, Hosho settles into the mud. While Japanese salvage experts contemplate the feasability of raising Hosho (in the far future), RAF bombers drone over-head, and the sounds of explosions can be heard at Mingaladon Airfield.

-F-

[ny59giants]

I'm at 4/8/42 in my CHS 158 PBEM and my opponent is off with his brother at Lake Tahoe this weekend. [:(]
Thus, I'm playing against the AI and use it to learn things, cheaply (lost 2 USA CV's, 4 BB's, 2 CA's and some DD's already to no capital ship losses for him in PBEM). [X(][X(]  
 
I was going through some of my bases as I am like most Allied players in early '42...short of Aviation support everywhere (sent an 270 Aviation Rgt from Aden to Darwin). I found out that the 2 Canadian BF's (100 aviation support each) at Whitehorse and at Fort St. John are "not" static. I though all Canadian BF's were static....duh!! Needless to say, they will be moving to Skagway and Vancouver, respectively next turn. Thought I let you know just in case you overlooked them like me. [;)]
 
Are you doing anything with Portland Roads in NE Australia?? I see you are holding your own at PM for now, but this little dot base hex has a potential 7AF and only 6 hexes from PM (within range of transports and medium bombers [:D]). I'm using those 2 BF's from Tasmania and an EAB to build it up.  
 
Good AAR to date. [&o][&o]

[Feinder]

Patience, let me finish the update (probably take me most of this evening).  I'm still typing up Burma for y'all.
 
It's just a bit challenging at the moment, because my 2 year old son is sitting in my lap.
 
[:)]
 
-F-

[Feinder]

Ok, Burma's complete.  It got very active there in the last week!
 
Gotta give the wife a hand with something, back to it (I guess I'm on NoSRA next) in about 30 minutes.
 
-F-

[Feinder]

02-03-1942 thru 03-19-1942 (comprehensive)

A - 02-07-1942 : Japanese forces wrestle control of Palembang. The Dutch engineers are effienct at their works of sabotage, and the facilities are heavily damaged. The remaining colonial forces retreat to the port of Benkolen, while IJA units move to secure the southern port of Telokbetoeng.
B - 02-15-1942 : Japanese Marines capture the Bangka Islands east of Palembang, including the rubber plantations at Toboali. RDAF Martin bombers harass the invasion fleet from Pontianak, but their attacks are largely ineffectual.
C - 03-01-1942 : A small Japanese contingent lands a Bankha and Medan. The oil field at Bankha is captured largely intact, but the Dutch garrison Medan puts up a stubborn defense.

-F-

[Feinder]

02-03-1942 thru 03-19-1942 (comprehensive)

A - Japan lands nearly 100,000 troops at Merak. The Dutch forces are caught out of postion, having been deployed farther to the south to defend the beaches at Kragen. The base at Batavia is quickly overrun. Several regiments of Dutch colonial troops move forward to check the Japanese advance at Bandoeng, but they too are forced to retreat. Over the course of only three weeks, the Japanese are able to push the Dutch to the souther top of the island of Java. The capital city of Soerebaja with it oil field is strongly defended, along with a heavily fortified fall-back in mountains of Malang.
B - During the drive south, a pologlot of Allied bombers strike from any available bases at any strategics sites (including Palembang and Batavia), that have been recently siezed by Japan. Altho losses among the bombers are heavy, they facilites are heavily damaged. As battered squadrons are rendered combat in-effective, they are sent north thru the remaining bases in Sumatra, to be replentished and used in the CBI theater.

-F-

[Alfred]

Feinder,
 
Very attractive AAR for us readers, even if it means a lot of work for you.
 
Just wondering, the planes sent from Java to the CBI, do they include the Dutch.  Purely for historical political reasons, I would think they would more likely head south to Australia.
 
Alfred

[Feinder]

At this point, Bilbow is encountering them, there is not “intell loss” by me sharing this.  While it’s general strategy talk, I don’t think it’s anything that he doesn’t already know (as he is an experienced player both as Allies and Japan).

What I have found to work for me is:

RDAF bombers go to CBI.
RDAF fighters go to Oz.
RAAF bombers (all those Hudsons) go to CBI.
RAAF fighters go to CBI.
RAF fighters go to CBI.
RAF bombers go to CBI.
USAAF (PI) fighters go to Oz.
USAAF (PI) bombers go to CBI.[/ol]

Reasons being –

The RAF tends to produce enough fighters (Hurricanes) for its own defense in CBI.  There 2 or 3 initial RAAF Buffalo squadrons in Malaya that I like to send to CBI, so they can convert to Hurricanes early (before the RAF in May).  But I also keep 2 – 3 Buffalo squadrons active, both to relieve pressure on the Hurricane pool, but also because the Buffalos have the range to act as escorts.  And converting those RAAF Buffalo squadrons to Hurricanes allows replacements to for the RAF Buffalo squadrons.
I like bombers in CBI.  There are plenty of strategic targets around, but you need range to hit them (hence the utility of the RAAF and RDAF Martins and Hudsons).  From Oz, once you paste the 3 – 4 bases in range of Darwin, there isn’t much to bomb (and frankly, these are out of range of Martins anyway).  There are plenty of targets in CBI, but you need range to get to them.  In CBI, there are more bases so you can mass an attack easier, which makes the lighter bombers more do-able.  They certainly take casualties, but part of having a diversified bomber selection hopefully means an even drain on your pools.  While there is considerable pressure on my Hudson/Martin/BlenIV pools, the Wellingtons should be coming on-line soon, and will help to further spread the pain (and they don’t suck either).
The only planes truly suited to operations in SoPac are the B-17 and B-24.  The ranges are just too great for anything else.  Yes, I like the B-25s, but the eventually end up being just a great deterrent to invasion.  I do keep the RNZAF Hudsons in SoPac, but the problem is, you don’t have fighters with sufficient range to escort them, and their loads are kinda light given what you’re likely to experience.  And with fewer bases and farther apart in Oz, SwPac, SoPac, unescorted light bombers have serious trouble.  The B-25s don’t have the range that Hudsons do, but they can fly unescorted.  I think there is a P-38 model come on-line early in CHS (I know I have one active squadron with a zero pool right now).  Early P-38(F?) probably makes a good escort.  But I’m also going to guess that there isn’t a whole bunch of them to just throw them away, so I’ll look closer at them when they actually come on-line.
Essentially, I use USAAF to provide fighters and bombers for Oz/SwPac/SoPac.  They have sufficient numbers for defense and offence.  And the RDAF Buffalos and Daemons, with their better range, can act as early escorts.
Some things I didn’t count on, but it’s all been a wash:

He invaded Oz.  I did -not- expect that.  I usually like the RDAF fighters as escorts (good range, and they tend to just be fodder anyway).  Whether they escort bombers in SWPac or in Oz, they’re still flying escort.  I’m surprised, I actually have some decent RDAF fighter squadrons at this point, and I’m actually loathe to throw them away on escort duty.
I like the “early” Hurricane in CHS.  The one with MGs and 3-4 range.  It’s not that effective as a (bomber) interceptor, but seems to be a reasonable air superiority fighter – as in, they’re trading almost 1:1 vs. his Zeros, even with the current +2 bonus and his better pilots.  And its extra range is very useful.
I haven’t checked their stats, but the Hudsons and Martins seem to taking (substantially) higher casualties than I’ve seen in stock.  Fortunately, the RAAF Hudsons convert to A-20s (I don’t recall that this is an option in stock).  This suits well enough tho, as I would normally only keep a token group of A-20s in stock.  But given the casualties of Hudsons, and the suitability of A-20s to CBI (it’s range is to short to operate from Oz or SoPac), it’s great to be able to use this otherwise unused aircraft.  A-20 doesn’t have the reach that Hudsons do (limiting their usefulness as strategic bombers), but for now they’re doing just fine as tac-bombers, and I’ll worry about strat-bombing later.
I would normally like to have about 2 groups (6 squadrons) of 4e bombers in CBI.  But CHS doesn’t have the mega-huge (wrong) LB-30 pool, and B-17s are in demand elsewhere (Oz at this point).  I’ve got 3 squadrons of USAAF bombers (I think a LB-30, B-17D, and a B-25) in CBI.  But those LB-30s and B-17Ds won’t last (will get converted to B-25s).  I’d like to send 3 more squadrons of B-25s to CBI (since they won’t likely get any of the B-17s), but frankly by the time they get there, the B-24s will be coming on-line and THEY are the ones I want in CBI anyway.[/ol][/ol]

I still need to produce maps/summaries for Oz, PI, Solomons, and China. Will also post a list of strategic targets and their conditionl.  Bilbow is traveling for work the next couple of days, so I’ll probably have time to finish them this week.  Some fairly bloody air battles in Burma and Oz going on right now.

-F-

[Mistmatz]

ORIGINAL: Feinder
...
The RAF tends to produce enough fighters (Hurricanes) for its own defense in CBI. There 2 or 3 initial RAAF Buffalo squadrons in Malaya that I like to send to CBI, so they can convert to Hurricanes early (before the RAF in May).
...

Playing also CHS I wonder which groups you are talking about here. I noticed the No.453 RAAF Squadron, but fail to find any others. Do you have by chance the names of those convertible groups at hand?

Edit: Hmmm, checking my reinforcement schedule I think I might have withdrawn the No.21 RAAF Squadron, which answers my question I guess. [:@][8|]

[Feinder]

I never withdraw anything*.
 
If anything,  just burn them down to one plane, and move them somewhere in the backfield with replacments off (until you have enough planes to fill the squadron).  But never, never, perma-disband a squadron.  You never know when you might need them.
 
* I actually did have occasion to withdraw a squadron of Vildys.  When he landed at rangoon, I had two squadrons there. There were some damaged AC in each squadron.  Since Rangoon was in immenent danager of falling, and he had already blocked the north (so no escape by rail), I withdrew one squadron.  This pushed the planes (and more importantly, the pilots) into the other squadron.  I then moved out the active planes, leaving the damaged one behind when base fell.  But this helped me by at least saving the pilots from the squadron that I withdrew (so I only lost half the pilots that I would have if I had left the fragments from both squadrons).
 
-F-

[Mistmatz]

Do you mean permanent when you say "perma-disband"? If so I don't do that either as there is the option to get the group back in 90 days.

I always choose that option. Together with the known production rate and the rule-of-thumb burn rate, it's pretty easy to calculate if it makes sense to withdraw or to replenish in the field.

[ny59giants]

I'm in mid 4/42 with CHS 158c playing PBEM. I had withdrawn some Dutch squadrons early and had them reform in 90 days (they come back at Sydney). My first 2 came back with the Brewsters (they had full plane compliments [X(]). Their experience levels were mid-40's. However, their morale starts at 0. The thing is, they are no planes in the pool to draw from. [&:]  I have a few squadrons in Northern Oz with 20 plus pilots and 2 planes with plenty of supply and they are not filling out. So I have to wonder where the planes are coming from.

In India, there is also a Indian Lysander (Recon) squadron (RIAF) that can convert to Hurricanes. [;)]

[Alfred]

Feinder,
 
Nice summary regarding destination of LBA from the NEI.  Posts like that should give newbs (and even experienced players) food for thought.
 
Alfred

[wneumann]

Feinder,
 
I've been putting Hurricane II's up (along with AVG P-40's) against Jap Zeroes and Oscars with much the same results as you're seeing. 
 
In my PBEM, the Japs are flying fighter sweeps against mainly Imphal and Calcutta. Lots of fighter-vs-fighter air combat. Light losses (mostly damaged aircraft) on both sides. Going up against the Jap fighter sweeps is "advanced fighter training" for many RAF and AVG pilots - I'm putting as many fighter squadrons through Imphal and Calcutta as possible without stripping CAP from other areas. 
 
This area of India/Burma has been one my few opportunities to engage Pillager continuously in the air. My bomber pilots are getting their own training flying night bombing missions on Jap airfields at Magwe and Mandalay (where their fighters are operating from). 

[Feinder]

02-03-1942 thru 03-19-1942 (comprehensive)

A - Japanese marines land at Derby, Whyndham, and Broome. The isolated towns on Australia's northern coast cannot be reinforced, and each in turn, fall under Japanese domination.

Australian Provincial Guard forces continue to gather at Tennet Creek. Only 3 months ago, the lonely desert town was nothing more than a provisions stop for commerce cutting across the the Great Victoria Desert. Tennet Creek now bursts from the strain of supporting of the 1st Army. While men and material make their way north from Sydney, an air bridge of C-47s continuously bring in additional suply in support of the the future offensive.

Meanwhile, the dusty airstrip has been lengthened and reinforced, and is now host the USAAF 17th Heavy Bomber Group. Australian and American engineers have also constructed several satallite strips, which accomodate several exiled fighter squadrons of the RDAF and a wing of light bombers of the RNZAF. The continual raids of the USAAF B-17s ad RNZAF Hudsons keep the Japanese from further expanding their airfields at Daly Waters and Katherine.

-F-

[Feinder]

02-03-1942 thru 03-19-1942 (comprehensive)

A - Given the success of the offensive in the south (that pushed the Japanese into the sea), MacArthur orders an attack to recapture Clark Field. Japanese advance units are initially caught off guard, and elements of the 193 Armored Btn push to within range of Clark Field. However, the coordinating such a diverse formation of Philipino Militia, Army Tank Btns, Naval Artillery, and USMC heavy infantry, proves to be the assaults undoing. The forces are unable to coordinate their attacks, and the offensive stalls. The 193rd Armored is recalled. Furious and frustrated, MacArthur sends a scathing message to President Roosevelt inquiring as to the wear-abouts of his reinforcements.
B - Japanese forces land in strength at Dadjangus. The quickly move inland, and capture Cotabato, and the port of Davao. Gen. Manual Venda has withdrawn his forces to the moutains of Cagayan. The well supplied town also hosts an airfield where the USAAF 24th Medium Bombardment (B-25) is based. The squadron is attacks shipping in the Sulu and Celebes Seas, damaging several transports.

-F-

[Cathartes]

Feinder,
First, I very much appreciate this AAR with the maps and detailed explanations. I'm a subscriber. I'm in playing a CHS 155 PBEM as Allies in Jan '42, and I'm getting whacked pretty good. It's early January and I've already lost Rabaul and Port Moresby and Cairns and Townsville are threatened. The DEI is still intact except for most all of Borneo.

In any event, how are you managing your PPs? If you can't say here, please pm me. I'm struggling to keep any points in my pool as I try and manage defense.