Splashing the Divebomber

[Canoerebel]

AU, it's sorta disquieting to see that LSU logo...why don't you hold all your posts for six more days?

[AU Tiger_MatrixForum]

Aleutians:
All quiet on the Northern Front. I am tired of my subs sailing around doing nothing (they refuse to attack anything) so they are returning to Anchorage to load mines. Commencing Operation Minethehelloutofeverythinginsight.

Sopac:
Also quiet although the weather is forecast clear. Make hay while the sun shines, eh? Bombers are attacking Efate.

China: Decent weather in most of China this turn coming up. My 4E's are hitting a likely Jab airbase, and my fully repaired AVG has been split up amongst three Northern China bases.

[AU Tiger_MatrixForum]

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel

AU, it's sorta disquieting to see that LSU logo...why don't you hold all your posts for six more days?

Disquieting? More like disgusting. A bet is a bet though.

[:(]

[AU Tiger_MatrixForum]

Aleutians:
Dive bombarded Adak Island this turn with some Big Boys, doing little physical damage but putting my supplies in the red for the first time. I need Adak to hold out for as long as possible so a large fast transport TF is loading at Anchorage to drop supplies. I will re-route some retreating subs to screen for another Bombardment TF when my warships get close.

SoPac:
Pretty boring really other than an air attack on Efate. That island has some Jap mines floating around, and I imagine Luganville has some also by now. Two MSW TF's are going to clear each port for a turn before retreating.

China:
The clear weather allowed both Dive and I to get frisky in the air. He bombed a bunch of troops, and a few cities, and in the process one of my AVG squadrons shot down a slew of unescorted Sonias. That was fun. Eastern China is partly cloudy this turn while Western China has T-Storms. I don't know how this is going to work for me but I am trying something new, for me anyway... Changsha has a Level 7 airfield but only about 80 Av Support, so this will be a one shot deal before I have to retreat, but I have flown all my China B-17's, the entire AVG, and my South Indian B-24D's there with orders to attack Peking. Previously after massive air raids, both Dive and I sit our bombers down to rest for a turn or two, but this turn, fatigued or not, my 4E's are going after an airbase numerous Jap missions have flown from, not to mention it is Dive's biggest airfield in that part of the map. If my missions fly, I will surely suffer Ops losses, but I think the chance is good I will catch some lovely targets on the ground.

[AU Tiger_MatrixForum]

Aleutians:
Next turn my oversized Fast Transport TF arrives off Adak Island. I hope it finds only empty waters, but have ordered a PT squadron to the same hex just in case.

SoPac:
There seems to be an AV anchored in the Santa Cruz Islands because of a red 'x' without a base. A couple of turns ago I launched a DD TF to the hex to find out what is there, it should get there next turn.

China:
Due to a recent thread in another section of this forum: (tm.asp?m=1596272) I have re-dedicated my strategic air arm in the theater to hitting resources. This is a long term project beginning this turn in Hanoi. I hit the pace a few turns ago with a MUCH smaller air raid than is now tasked, and I suspect Dive has added to the defenses there. So be it. I like attrition! On the ground we are maneuvering a bit. Dive's Inf Div from the North of Changsha will be isolated very soon. I have no intention of attacking the unit in the foreseeable future but will allow General Hunger to take over the siegecraft. Another thread I read recently led me to believe I am wasting the talents of my P-39's in Chungking on CAP. They have beaucoup damaged a/c, so I intend to rest them, repair them, then engage in low-level strafing on isolated Jap units.

[AU Tiger_MatrixForum]

Perusing the sunk ship categories I noticed Dive has lost a lot of MSW's over the last several months. My new submarine strategy is to lay small minefields by individual sub all over the map rather than a number of subs in one locale. My subs refuse to attack even garbage scows, so I might as well put them to work.

Aleutians:
My big Fast Transport TF put Adak Is. back in the green, has returned to Dutch, and is loading more supplies. Nothing else to report.

SoPac:
Mucho subs are in the area. My MSW TF's cleared some mines, but not all. No big deal, I am in no position to attack elsewhere right now.

China: Hard to say. I am moving troops to reinforce Western China. My 4E's bombed the snot out out of Hanoi, but are mostly damaged so need several turns of repair. Fortunately, the weather is awful so I am not tempted to "Cut Hay while the sun shines."

The big question now is: Where the Hell is KB?

My CV's are on the West Coast, and until recently had planned on a sortie once the Sara is repaired. We are approaching the end of July, and are two months from the BIG AA upgrades all around the fleet. The slowness of the repairs makes me thing of waiting until October before going on the offensive. Also, P-38's begin showing up then.

[AU Tiger_MatrixForum]

Aleutians:
My big Fast Transport TF finished a second run to Adak Island this turn which now has decent supplies. I am growing paranoid about these ships being too exposed to Dive's carrier aircraft and are retiring towards Anchorage. Most of the North Pacific subs are in or are nearing port in Anchorage. Next turn they will start grouping up for mine transport to various Jap bases.

SoPac: At Noumea, a small AP TF has loaded a Marine CD unit for Luganville. Once unloaded, these same ships will load the 2nd Marine Div to return to non-malarial Noumea. The unit is training for eventual landings at Lunga.

China:
A few turns ago the 23rd Fighter Group spawned in Karachi, armed with P-40B's. This turn they arrived in Chungking, and with the AVG will serve the backbone of the air defense of Changsha. That base has a level 6 airfield, and will be level seven before too much longer. Basing my 4E's here will bring many more Jap airfields, resources, ports, etc. within range. I also have my first F-5A squadrom in China to help pick targets for my air force. My next to worthless P-39's have been ordered to strafe Dive's cut-off Inf Div. It is in open fields, so why not?

Burma: Dive is moving a construction unit north through the trails towards Imphal. I have been bombing the unit but will strafe it this turn instead. The unit obviously has no AA capabilities. This is the first turn for me to use strafing in the game. Lets see how it goes.

[ny59giants]

If you have a few high endurance PG/PC that you can put in 2 ship TF, have them run figure 8's between Pearl and Dutch Harbor and another group between Canton and Pago Pago. Have them cover the gaps that your PBY's might miss if the weather is bad for a few days. If he does plan any raids you should get some sort of warning. Occasional send a SC TF to follow them in case he figures he can send a CL/CA based TF to sink them. [:D]

[AU Tiger_MatrixForum]

I like it. Good idea, I will utilize it starting next turn.

[AU Tiger_MatrixForum]

Aleutians:
All of my subs at Anchorage (save one dispatched to SF for some TLC) have Minelaying orders all over the North and the HI, and set to return to PH for repairs, which they will need. My Surface Combat TF is returning to the WC for maintenance also.

SoPac:
My transport TF is approaching Luganville for a troop swap out.

China:
After my post in the General Forum last night, I noticed my operating 4E's in China are sucking supplies from the theater. All operational 4E's have been sent to Dacca with the damaged ones following as they are repaired. I have moved all of my P-40's to Changsha for cover for all of my Chinese bomber squadrons who are attacking disparate Jap units moving in the clear. The P-39's didn't attack last turn, but hopefully will do so next turn.

Southeast Asia:
I began the opening moves for Operation Sabang to take place about three or four months from now. The 1st Marine Div. on the WC is training for the main effort and is moving to SF for a command change to SE Asia. In 19 days, two arriving Seabee units will do the same thing. Fast AP's have been dispatched from PH to Midway to pickup two CD units already training for the base. About a dozen other AP's are leaving PH this turn to head East for the eventual operation. PDU's are off, so I am unsure about which fighter units I will be able to upgrade to P-38's in a couple of months so I will post a couple of fast AK's at Perth to transit whatever P-38 units I can Island Jump to OZ.
The point of this operation is to put 4E's in a position to level Palembang and Singapore primarily as well as other resource and supply centers within range. I am planning on supporting the, hopefully surprise, landings with both US and Brit CV's, because I expect serious opposition to this landing. If I can achieve surprise, my attack will, no doubt, be successful.

[ny59giants]

I have been playing with PDU's on, so this advice may not be correct.
Can you click on each P39 and click on the upgrade option and it will show you what it upgrades to (even it is not available)??
 
Don't forget to add a few DMS to your BB TF as they will detect any mines he has at that base. Don't want to use a BB/CA as a minesweeper. [:D][:D]
Add an old BB to your transport TF to soak up any CD fire. The British have quite a few if you don't bring any American one with you.

[AU Tiger_MatrixForum]

ny59giants:
Your advice was correct. All of my P-39's are on the P-38 upgrade path, a disappointing discovery because they are poorest pilots I have.

Operation Sabang:
There have been a few changes to my operational plan for the invasion. Firstly, the 1st USMC is staying on the West Coast until I find out how serious Dive is up there in the North. He has three LCU's on Adak Island not doing much of anything. If Dive pulls them out and retreats then the 1st USMC may participate, however that is unlikely now. Current planning is to use the 6th Australian Division for the initial landings with the 2nd USMC in reserve on ships. My thoughts are this: I don't think Dive has much there, but I will not scout the place until the turn before my troops hit the beach. I would like to use the American CV's in support of the landings but operational requirements in the North may trump the need. I will, however, use American Surface Combat shipping for bombardment and support because the Brits are a little this on the water right now. An absolute requirement for the invasion is for all US combat ships to have undergone the big AA upgrade in October, so the invasion is a ways off. Present operations have AP's picking up various engineering units I will use from Anchorage. I overloaded the place in my initial panic.

Aleutians:
Operation Minethehelloutofeverythinginsight is continuing, even Nome is getting a small basket of eggs (two DM's with the smallest SYS damage). Otherwise nada.

SoPac:
My AP's hit Luganville two turns ago, watched some Bettys and Zeros get hammered by the P-40's at the airfield, landed the Marine CD unit, and are currently unloading supplies. Shortly they will load the 2nd USMC aboard for Noumea to train for Operation Sabang (if needed).

Burma:
My 4E's are here now and rested. The weather is forecast to be an unusually nice "Overcast" so the B-17's are mopping up some few resources at Rangoon, the B-24D's are hitting the 40 or so resources left at Tavoy.

China:
I am disappointed in my Fighter Bomber's ground attacks: back to CAP they go. Lots of movement in the theater but now much going on. A Jap LCU is in Wuchow. I am not attacking because my AV strength is too low. Help is on the way though!

[ny59giants]

P-39's are best for ground attack missions.
Nice gun value, lousy atlitude (penalty over 10k).
Got any they can do to build up experience??

If not, take your best 72 plane FG and place it in a quite base (Melbourne) and set training for 90%. Leave it until planes are available.

[AU Tiger_MatrixForum]

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

P-39's are best for ground attack missions.
Nice gun value, lousy atlitude (penalty over 10k).
Got any they can do to build up experience??

If not, take your best 72 plane FG and place it in a quite base (Melbourne) and set training for 90%. Leave it until planes are available.

That is pretty much what I decided to do. I have one group at PH, and two in Brisbane - all have been on 90% training for a long time and have experience of 56 and 57. I have a 24 strong unit (the unit that inflicted ZERO casualties on ground attack operating in China with 65 experience - far and away the best P-39 unit I have. Instead of ground attack, I am trying it on Sweep (100 ft of course) this turn instead to see what happens.

[AU Tiger_MatrixForum]

Reposted below.

[AU Tiger_MatrixForum]

Aleutians:
Adak Island was blasted by the Yamato and the Mutsu, doing considerable damage. Fortunately, however, Operation Minethehelloutofeverythinginsight seems to be doing some good because a Jap DD hit a mine. For some reason Dive had his small boys set to Bombard also. OK, maybe not so surprising since he has learned by no there are no CD guns present. The North Carolina TF returning to SF was split this turn sending some of the smaller ships back to Anchorage. I may need to run more supplies into Adak Is. soon, but I hope I don't run into any inbound BB's when I do.

SoPac:
This turn I started to load the 2nd USMC onto my transports at Luganville. I hope I can get out of there quickly.

Burma:
I meant to hit the few remaining Resources in Rangoon with some B-17's out of Dacca, but had manpower set for some strange reason.
[:@]

China: Much to my surprise, Dive has 28 units just outside of Yenen!!! The P-39's discussed the past couple of turns are doing nothing even with the presence of a good leader. I have given some thought to the China situation. Initially I was going to move some units from Homan North to Yenen, but have thought otherwise now. The city has a level 9 fort and is in the woods. They can hold out for a while I think, especially with the AVG in attendance.

If you look at the map below, you will see what I am planning. The troops two hexes to the Southwest of Ichang are mostly moving to Ichang (light blue arrow) and are in the later stages of moving to the road hex West of Ichang. Most of them will be in the city pretty soon. About a week from now, I will first launch an attack on the road hex due East of Ichang, with the intent of investing Hsinyang. This attack will take a little time to develop, and I hope Dive responds from Wuhan and Kaifeng, because those two cities are the true focus of the next stage of my mini-offensive. No, I don't expect to capture either one, but I hope to play Hob with Dive's supply lines in Eastern China. I have enough forces in all three cities (or will soon) to really give him some headaches. I nearly flew a Recon mission over Hsinyang this turn, but canceled the orders. No need to give anything away yet, right?

[AU Tiger_MatrixForum]

Aleutians:
No change.

SoPac:
Inexplicably my TF loading the 2nd USMC Div at Luganville departed for Noumea this turn without fully loading. I will let them unload, and then return for the rest; I was getting paranoid about the ships sticking around too long anyway.

China:
Jap troops are loading up in Yenen and Wuhan, and I am getting a little anxious. I have ordered the troops at Ichang to go ahead and move to the attack. The follow on troops will be coming along shortly, besides they need some rest before continuing. I also have ordered my troops in Hengchow southwestward to try to disrupt the Wuhan operation. In short, very soon, there will be LOTS of action in China, hopefully some going my way. This turn I sent my P-40B's back towards Burma to provide LRCAP over the big Bombardment TF that will hit Akyab in a few turns.

Burma: Dive apparently has pulled the majority of his troops from the theater (Cursor Intel shows few troops on the ground - I'll bet a lot of them are outside Wuhan right now). Approximately 3000 AV's now have orders to proceed to Myitkytina for the eventual investiture of Mandalay. Other troops are approaching Dacca for some brief rest before they move on Akyab.

[AU Tiger_MatrixForum]

Aleutians:
No change.

SoPac:
Most of the 2nd USMC is unloading at Noumea. The ships will return soon for the rest.

Burma:
A bunch of troops are on the road towards Myit., and eventually Mandalay.

China:
Yenen and Wuhan are both under siege, but both consist of mostly ART units. It is a good thing I began my offensive from Ichang last turn because the troops only moved 8 miles. Blitzkrieg this is not.

[AU Tiger_MatrixForum]

Aleutians:
Some CL's and DD's re-docked in Anchorage, and will serve Fast Transport duty out to Adak Island as needed. The mining continues.

SoPac:
The 2nd USMC should finish unloading this turn in Noumea.

Burma:
My Bombardment TF was spotted this turn as it docked in Chandpur. It has orders to hit Akyab tonight under the cover of thunderstorms. If the weather should clear, I will have P-40B's in the air over the TF. Since Dive has seen the TF, I imagine he will be beefing up his local airpower, so my 4E's are paying a social visit to Rangoon.

China:
Much ado about nothing so far. Dive is bombarding Wuhan and Yenen, I have troops moving to and fro, and my Slowkrieg has covered 16 miles as of today.

[AU Tiger_MatrixForum]

Aleutians:
All quiet on the Northern Front. Where is KB?

SoPac:
My AP's at Noumea have finished unloading the larger portion of the 2nd USMC and are returning to Luganville for the rest.

Burma:
[:@]
My Bombardment TF ran over a sub, and the CA Exeter took a hit, but will survive, but the whole TF is retreating to Chandpur. Actually this is a good thing come to think of it because I hadn't really considered moving some AR's to the theater, but am now. The 4 AR's in Seattle are going to PH to pick up an escort or three, and will end up in India. I was right about Dive loading Rangoon up with LBA after spotting my Bombardment TF, my 4E's caught 12 Sally's on the ground there. The surprise is lost, obviously, the TF will return to Columbo post-haste, but the damaged Exeter will return to Chandpur as a lure for Dive's LBA because the place is fairly bristling with fighters now.

China:
I sense an opportunity to really mess with the Divebomber; I may be able to cut off 17 Jap units at Wuhan depending on whether he sees the danger or not. My troops from Hengchow moving Southwest can move quickly on roads to cutoff those troops, and have so been ordered. We will see soon enough I reckon. The troops from Ichang are rocketing along at 8 mpd towards the crossroads and have achieved 24 miles to date. I am itching to release the boys from Changsha and Homan, and it is all I can do to hold off. Dive will be hating life in China soon I believe. Oh yeah, reinforcements are running towards Wuhan and Yenen as we speak: both have level 9 forts, and can hold easily until the counterattacks begin.