Rebels (Canoerebel) vs. Redcoats (Miller) - Big B 192

[Canoerebel]

This was the situation on March 18, 1943.

[ny59giants]

I just got caught up with this AAR.
 
I had a small chuckle when I read about your shortage of BF's as I thought about how your not evac anything from SRA/PI in your game against John. As the Allied player, there seems to be a perpetual shortage of them even in '43. [:D]
 
If he is going to launch an attack, I would be worried about him heading east near Canton Island. Your PBY's don't cover that gap and he could send a small force to raid your shipping lines. From what your saying, this is the only place I might consider attacking to close up your LOC and slow down any potential raids. However, if the SRA is this weekly held, then go for it now before he has time to dig in too deeply.

[Canoerebel]

3/21/43 to 3/25/43
 
Banda Sea:  D-Day for the invasion of Kendari is 3/26.  The Japs didn't seem to sight the invasion TFs until the 25th, and there isn't any sign of naval opposition.  CAP is provided by P38s from Namlea.  Six US CVs will take station 60 miles to the SE to see what develops.  The main force consists of 1st and 2nd Marine Divisions.  In reserve is 32nd Army Division approaching from the east, but if Kendari falls quickly or doesn't appear to pose a real obstacle, the 32nd will divert to Weda or Morotai, both of which appear ungarrisoned.  Japs subs at and near Darwin have been an incredible nuisance - I-162 and I-158 have torpedoed at least five merchant vessels.  I-7 got an AK and an AO.  I-157, I-174, and I-158 all took damage from ASW (I-158 was confirmed sunk).
 
Solomons:  A small FT convoy carried some troops to what seemed to be unoccupied Buin, which proved to be correct.  Buin fell to the Allies on the 25th.  Americal Divison and a RCT are loaded on transports assembling at a point 120 miles NE of Townsville.  This invasion force may head toward Lae or Shortlands.
 
India:  The Japanese defenses at Colombo may be cracking.  A deliberate attack on the 21st at 1:1 odds reduced forts to 6 and cost the Japs 724/6/1 to 402/13/1.  The Allies renewed the attack the next two days:  on the 22nd, forts dropped to five as a 1:1 cost the Japs 990/13 to 749/32.  The attack on the 23rd dropped forts to 4, but came off at 0:1 and resulted in losses of 394/7 to 574/12/2.  The Allies have rested since, but another Indian division is on the move from Trincomalee.  I think this should be enough to take Colombo.
 
China:  Quiet.
 
Situation:  Doesn't Miller have to respond vigorously to the threat to the DEI? 

[Canoerebel]

3/26/43 and 3/27/43
 
With the Invasion of Kendari under way, the Allies make the startling discovery that Lt. Commander Napolean Dynamite was in charge of loading the invasion force.  Here's what's going on:
 
Kendari:  The invasion fleet arrives at Kendari and begins unloading on the 26th.  The ground troops are 1st and 2nd Marine Division, a base force, an engineering regiment, and an Aussie tank regiment.  Opposition is light - just a Naval Guards unit, a heavy AA batallion, and a base force.  To my surprise, on turn one the Allied ships unload just a fraction of the two Marines divisions, but it's not a problem since the defenses are so weak.  I'll get 'em the next day (or so I think).  Well, the Marine divisions aren't any stronger on the 27th.  What the heck?  So I check the transports and they are all but empty except for supplies.  So I check Darwin and discover most of my Marine divisions are still there, relaxing under the bright Australian sun.  Now, it's my fault for not catching this, but both of the TFs assigned to these divisions had more than enough APs to carry the full divisions.  And, when I had checked the TFs as they set sail, each AP had a detachment, so it "looked" right.  I just forget to check all the units that were sitting in Darwin - had I done so, I would have seen that most of the assault troops hadn't embarked.  Grrr.  Fortunately, I have 32nd Infantry Division in reserve.  It should arrive at Kendari in about two days.  But I could have easily taken Kendari on the 27th and had a base force already unloaded.  Thus, I would have transfered in fighters to provide CAP; as it is, only LRCAP and that could be a problem.  Betties sortied from Balikpan and damaged both BB Washington and CL Trenton (both lightly).  So I've ordered the bulk of the invasion fleet to retreat east 120 miles to join the US CVs until reinforcements can arrive.  I may still take Kendari before month's end, but Miller may also seize upon the "confusion" and opportunity to strike where he probably wouldn't have done so had things gone right.
 
Namlea:  Japanese raiders (CLs and DDs) hit Allied shipping at Namlea, sinking four AK, an AP, and two PTs.  Most of the remaining ships there will sail for Lautem or rendezvous with the Kendari invasion TFs until I can get things settled down again. 
 
Elsewhere in the Area:  With Japanese defenses apparently so weak in this area, I'm diverting another invasion TF that had gathered near Townsville (Americal Division and a RCT heading for either Shortlands or Lae) to the Banda Sea - I want to strike in this area while the going looks good.  I may try to mount an operation for Balikpan.
 
Ceylon:  The rest of 3rd Indian Division arrived at Colombo.  The Allies will try a shock attack tomorrow.
 
Jap Subs:  Continue to hurt the Allies, damaging an AK at Kendari (I-15, I-7 and I-21 are there), and damaging an AK at Darwin (I-162 is the villain there).

[ny59giants]

You might need to have 2 ASW TF assigned to your invasions. I would say use the Aussie MSW if he doesn't mine his bases heavily. If not, then the American DD's should be up to 6 or 8 ASW factor for most of them. How many SC do the Americans get in Big B's mod??  In CHS, by late 9/42, I have SC everywhere, but not many targets. [:(]

[Q-Ball]

I can't tell you how many times I have done that, loaded up a TF only to find out later almost everyone is gone. Countless times, and it took me a long time to figure out how.

First, I would load up the transports, and wait until everyone was full and ready to go. THEN, I would issue the command to move to target at Patrol/Do Not Retire, and UNLOAD. What happens when you do that is that the TF will spend one turn at the beginning base actually unloading, and THEN go to the destination. Ugh!

You have to get in the habit of leaving port with DO NOT UNLOAD clicked, and then ONLY hit UNLOAD while at sea. You have to remember to do that of course, otherwise you will sail to the target and park offshore, which is probably not what you want either.

[Q-Ball]

PS, not that it will hurt you, if you are advancing into the SRA in 3/43, you are so far ahead that you can make serious errors and not have a problem.

If you really want to kick sand in his face, bomb RESOURCES, not OIL. Alot of people assume the Japanese production limitation is OIL; it isn't, it's Resources. If you move all the Oil to Japan and elsewhere, there are not enough resources available to burn all the Oil. Plus, Resources also produce Supply, which Japan needs, rather than Fuel, which there is usually enough of. Taking Kendari is a very good start, once there, I would bomb the Resources at Balikpapan, Tarakan, and Soerbaja.

Whatever you are doing or planning elsewhere, I would be putting all my eggs in that basket of moving toward Borneo/Java/PI, that offensive is fatal to Japan.

[Canoerebel]

3/27/43 to 3/31/43
 
DEI:  With half of the 32nd Army Division on shore, the Allies launch their first attack at Kendari - a 4:1 that takes the base.  The airfield is badly damaged, but the Allies have a 270-capable base force and transfer in Spitfire, P38, F-5, and Avenger squadrons.  I think this is a real dagger in the heart of the Japanese - I don't know how Miller can fight back with the Allies having Koepang, Dili, Lautem, Amboina, Namlea, and Kendari in hand and plenty of air power to fly from these bases.  It's going to take the Allies quite some time to move forces around and get things squared away - but even while that's going on I plan to makes stabs for Morotai, Weda, and other apparently lightly held bases.  Tarakan, Balikpan, Soerabaja and other important Jap bases are now within B24 range.
 
India:  The Allies took Colombo back on the 28th after a 3:1 shock attack.  The Japanese units haven't surrendered yet, but the airfield and port are Allied territory once again.  The Allies are moving some troops and ships around and will begin serious planning for the invasion of Sumatra or possibly Java.  This may be 60 days off, but the initial plan is to use the US CVs to cover this operation.
 
NG/Solomons/SoPac/CenPac:  I haven't been paying as much attention here as usual, what with the action in the Banda Sea (DEI) and all the shipping heading that way.  Yet most of the bases here are strongly garrisoned still since all shippnig has been occupied moving troops from the US and Australia to the DEI (plus supply transport).  So Milne Bay, Noumea, Suva, Pago Pago and Pearl are safe from any sneak attacks.  My shipping lanes are certainly vulnerable, but I am betting that Miller realizes that he's got to try something in the DEI or he's toast.
 
US CVs:  Every CV/CVL/CE is in the Banda Sea except two CVLs I've left parked at Panama City until enough reinforcements arrive to make a decent-sized reserve.  My CVs need some rest and recuperation, and now is probably the time - but where?  Darwin has an AR, but Sydney and Melbourne are better locations.

[Q-Ball]

I think this is a real dagger in the heart of the Japanese

Like I said, if I was Miller, I would be surrendering now, except that honor would mean going down really swinging. But it's effectively over.

[Canoerebel]

4/1/43 to 4/15/43
 
Not much has changed on the map, primarily because of the ongoing struggle for air superiority over Kendari.  That, in turn, has affected what the Allies were willing to do.
 
Kendari:  After the Allies took Kendari and transferred fighters and single-engined bombers there, Miller did a good job of keeping the already badly damaged airfield closed.  Repeated heavy raids by Zeros and Bettys from Balikpan, Tarakan, and elsewhere made it prohibitively costly to base aircraft there. The Allies tried a few retaliatory heavy bomber raids from Koepang and Amboina, but this too proved costly as Tony CAP was effective.  Miller even got in a big strike on the Allied air base at Amboina.  Now things are settling down a bit.  The Allies have landed Seabees at Kendari, which will help get the airfield in shape, and there has been a hiatus on Japanese attacks, probably because their fighters are flying CAP over a convoy that just arrived at Balikpan.  So I've just transferred some P38s, Spitfires, and Corsairs to Kendari.  If I can keep the field up and running, we'll be in business.
 
Banda Sea:  Elsewhere, the Allied did grab an unoccupied Weda on the 14th.  The airfield is a level zero, so it will take awhile to build it up.
 
Darwin:  Allied CVs are in port, have refueled, and are slowly repairing SYS damage, which ranges from 1 to 7.
 
India:  The Japanese garrison at Colombo refuses to surrender, although the Allies took the city some weeks ago.  I've tried resting, attacking, etc., without luck.  My units have low fatigue and disruption and always attack at odds like 10:1 or 14:1, but take a beating each time.  I'm anxious to finish this up so that these units can be used to invade Sumatra or Java.
 
Future Plans:  Miller seems to be scrambling to shift his defenses to Borneo and vicinity.  Some important bases still appear to be lightly held.  As soon as I can seize control of the air, I'll take a stab at Morotai, Makassar, and some other bases.  There's even a chance of mounting an operation for Balikpan, Samarinda, or Tarakan.  A handful of Allied convoys are waiting at Darwin, fully loaded with Americal Division, several RCT, and most of the 1st and 2nd Marine Divisions.  I parked them due to the threat posed by Jap bombers, but they'll be ready to go.
 
 
 

[Canoerebel]

4/16/43 to 4/21/43

CenPac:  It appears that a large Japanese invasion TF is nearing Midway (ending the 20th about 240 miles west). I can't figure this out.  Midway is a sideshow at this point.  Taking it won't really enhance Miller's position, and he's going to take some losses in the process - the atoll has 2,000 mines, a CD unit, and a RCT.  I don't have anything to oppose him - and I'm assuming the KB is in the vicinity.  In fact, all this may be an effort by Miller to provoke a response to give the KB some juicy targets, but none are to be had, so I'll just sit back and watch.  Three US CVLs left Panama City about five days ago, steaming for Pearl Harbor, but I sure don't want to risk them in a one-sided battle.
 
Banda Sea:  The Allies continue to fan out in the Banda Sea.  Allied troops landed and on 4/21 seized Maumere on Flores Island, and on the 19th 3rd Marine Paratroops took an undefended Morotai.  An invasion force will depart Darwin on the 21st making for Manado.  Recon shows about 11,000 defenders.  The invasion force will consist of Americal Division, a RCT, most of 2nd Marine Division, and a Seabee unit.  Miller had some bombers based here, but moved them after Allied aircraft struck, damaging the airfield and sinking a number of Japanese merchant ships.  But Jap bombers did damage a few Allied transports at Weda.  There is a decent chance this invasion will provoke determined resistance - Miller has boukoup bombers and fighters at Balikpan, Samarinda, Tarakan and vicinity.  They have been surprisingly successful against Allied fighters over Kendari, which should give Miller's confidence a boost. Too, he clearly has to make a stand at this point, and Manado is the most exposed position I've tried for.  The invasion TF will be escorted by a surface combat TF (one slow BB included) and a CVE TF.  The main Allied CVs will provide cover from a distance, and Allied fighters will provide LRCAP from Weda and Namlea.

Kendari:  Allied fighers have gotten the best of the recent air battles over Kendari, but Betties nonethless managed to moderately damage two US BBs (Mass. and New Mex.).  On the 18th, for example, 53Z and 84 Bettys faced 12 Corsairs, 25 P38Gs, 13 Spitfires, and 12 Hurricane IIc.  The Japs lost 14 Z and 8 B; the Allies lost 5 H, 3 Spit, 4 P38, and 2 Corsairs.  The problem for the Allies is that their pilots have low experience - 50s and 60s.

Ceylon:  The Jap garrison is holding, despite attacks including a 48:1 shock attack.

Burma:  Jap bombers from Rangoon have been working over Allied airfields to the west, destroying scores of aircraft on the ground.  I've moved all my bombers back into India until I can get my fighter squadons sorted out, rebuilt, and deployed better.  My losses on the ground have equalled Miller's losses in the air, so neither side has had a decided advantage in the number of aircraft destroyed over the past week.

China:  Miller continues to bomb the Chinese troops at Kanhsien.  Allied bombers from Chungking have made a few small raids against scattered Japanese units.

Situation:  I think there will be a sharp fight over Manado, but the Allies should take the base.  That will be the last major Japanese outpost this side of Borneo and the Phillipines, so there shouldn't be any more easy Allied conquests in this region.

[Canoerebel]

4/22/43 and 4/23/43
 
CenPac:  Miller has indeed invaded Midway, begging the question:  Why?  There are two possible reasons: (1) Sitting there doing nothing is boring; or (2) He intends to use this as a springboard to launch further attacks.  The second is unlikely, simply because Hawaii is too strongly held.  I think he's simply bored and embarked on a lark of a mission that really can't help him and could hurt him. 
 
Midway:  Miller's invasion TFs encountered mines and PT boats, sinking most of the latter while one Jap DD took a TT.  Various ships have hit mines, including BB Nagato, a CL, and numerous AKs.  He landed 28th Division, which seems rather weak.  I had expected him to arrive with overwhelming force.  Maybe other troops will land soon.  28th Division probably can't take the island from a RCT, FA regiment, CD, with forts 9 and 100k+ supplies.  The Allied bombardment on the 23rd inflicted 626/27/3 while the Jap auto-shock attack cost them 1955/48/4 to just 71/2.  The Japs didn't even do a pre-invasion bombardment.  Hmmm.
 
Banda Sea:  The Manado invasion force is two days out of Darwin.  The main US CV TFs will leave Darwin the night of the 23rd. There was another large air battle over Kendari on the 23rd - 95 Zeros and 102 Bettys vs. 66 P38s, F4Fs, Spitfires, Corsairs, and Hurricanes.  The Japs lost 34 Z and 5 B; the Allies lost 3 F4F, 6 Hurricanes, 4 Spits, 5 P38s and 2 Corsairs.  Bettys hit the two damaged BBs with bombs.  Their damage level is getting worrisome.
 
Ceylon:  An Allied deliberate attack on the 23rd comes off at 71:1 inflicting 428/3 to 457/8.  I'm not making much progress here.
 
Analysis:  Miller may be up to something brilliant and bold at Midway, or possibly this is some kind of weak last-gasp effort to try something, anything.  If it's the latter, he may be close to sueing for peace, especially if things go well for the Allies at Manado.

[Canoerebel]

4/24/43 to 5/3/43

It has been a busy period with the Jap invasion of Midway and the Allied invasion of Manado. Things are going very well for the Allies:

NoPac: It has been quiet here throughout the game. The Allies have built up all the bases in the Aleutians, but only have infantry at a few bases. Miller recently began reconning one of the bases in the central part of the island chain.

CenPac: I think the Jap invasion of Midway is threatening to become a disaster for the Japs. On the 24th, Snook torpedoed three AKs and Jap reinforcements arrived - the force consists of 28th Div, 17th Div, an armor regiment, and four engineering units (mostly or exclusively base forces). On the 25th, Snook took a shot at Nagato, but missed; then put two TT into an AK. A Jap attack comes off at 2:1 and lowers forts to 6, costing the Japs 4045/81/14 to 527/20/2. At this point, things don't look so good for the defenders. The next attack comes on the 27th, a 0:1 shock attack that fails to reduce forts and costs the Japs 2173/44/11 to 337/15/1. Peto puts 2 TT into a DD. On the 29th, Peto puts a TT into an AK. On the 30th, Peto puts two TT into a DD (this may have been the one already damaged). A shock attack comes off at 0:1, again fails to touch the forts, and the Japs lose a staggering 5368/2/4 to 707/4. Two IJN base forces and an AA regiment are "wiped out by attrition." On the 1st, the Japs rest but an Allied bombardment inflicts 307/21/8. The Allies are sending a single DD carrying a detachment of 3rd Constulabary unit via fast transport. I don't see any Jap ships at Midway, and if the DD makes it in and out, I'll send a larger detachment next. I assume Miller will try to bring in reinforcements.

SoPac: A Jap CL/DD raider TF fiddled around west and SW of Nanumea. SBDs damaged two CLs.

NG/Solomons: Allied bombers hit and sunk a number of transports making the run to Rabaul and Lae. No ground casualties were noted, so I think these were supply convoys.

Air Battles over Kendari: The Japs try repeated, costly sorties against Kendari over several days. I didn't keep track of every one of them, but here is an example:
On the 24th, 68 Zeros and 129 Betties tangle with 20 P38, 8 Hurricanes, 12 F4F, 20 Spitfires, and 30 Corsairs. The Japs lose 39 Z and 15 B; the Allies 3 F4F, 3 H, 9 Spits, 3 P38, and 5 Corsairs. These attacks probably leave the Jap fliers fatigued and demoralized, because for several critical days Jap bombers don't sortie against the invasion fleet approaching and arriving at Manado.

Kendari: BB Mississippi succumbs to float damage and goes down on the 29th. Hers was a rather slow, agonizing death. In real life, she'd be re-floated from the harbor bottom, but no such luck. I lose a valuable ship.

Invasion of Manado: The Allied invasion gets a halting start, as only two RCTs come ashore on D-Day and D-Day +1, but the defense is weak enough that it isn't a problem. The Jap bombardment on D-Day reveals the defense consists of only part of 56th Brigade and a Naval Guards unit. The defensive AV is just 89. By the 1st, most of Americal, 2nd Marine Division, and a Seabee unit are ashore. The Allies launch a deliberate attack at 8:1 and seize the base. The defenders retreat, losing 317/2 to 152/10. A large base force arrives sometime around the 2nd, allowing the Allies to base fighters. The first Jap sortie against the forces at Manado occurs on the 1st, when 26 Zeros and 32 Sallys from the Philippines face 46 F4F, 5 Kittyhawks, and 8 P38s. The Japs lose 16 Z and 9 S to 3 F4F and 1 K. Follow up strikes (mainly from Tarakan) result in high Jap losses, although enough bombers get through to put 2 TT into BB Idaho (doing modere float damage, but light SYS damage - she'll be fine unless a sub gets here as she makes for Darwin) and single TT hits on two APs and an AK, along wtih 3 small bomb hits on an AK. A raid on the 3rd puts two TT into CVE Altamaha, which suffers moderate damage. But the Allies have won this battle and now have enough fighters based here to (hopefully) protect the invasion fleet.

Ceylon: Dogged Jap resistance here is finally crumbling. A shock attack on the 30th comes off at 160:1 and the Japs lose 5368/2/4 to 707/4. The Japs have about 20k troops left, and I think the Allies will finish them off within the week. Then the Allies will begin serious preparations for an invasion of Sumatra or Java.

Burma: The Japs have advanced out of Rangoon - I think Miller wanted to test the Allied defenses to see if I might have stripped the area to send units elsewhere. I hadn't. A single Jap division shows up at Meiktila on the 2nd, but retreats after the Allies launch a 3:1 shock attack on the 3rd. A Jap tank regiment moved toward Akyab, but encountered two Burmese units on the east side of the river and can't go any further. The Allies will begin moving toward Rangoon, Moulmein and points north to give the appearance of a concerted effort to take these cities, but I really just want to focus Miller's attention here while the main Allied attack in this theater comes far to the south via invasion. Miller's air force has gotten the best of the Allies in a number of attacks in Burma over the past weeks. An attack over Akyab on the 2nd costs the Japs 3 Zeros, 25 Tonys, and 5 Helens while the Allies lose 4 Spits, 7 Beauforts, 38 P39s, 12 P38s, and 2 Avengers (some of those destroyed on the ground).

[Canoerebel]

5/4/43 to 5/9/43
 
The Japs are still bogged down at Midway, and the Allies are consolidating their position in the Celebes and Banda Sea area.
 
NoPac:  Japs continue to recon Adak Island.  I'm not sure Miller really has any intention of moving this way, but even if so he probably wouldn't make a move until the situation at Midway is resolved.
 
CenPac: The Japs are stymied at the moment and seem to be awaiting reinforcements before trying anything else.  The Jap ground troops haven't tried any bombardments or attacks over this period.  Allied bombardments usually inflict damage like 100/5/1 each turn.  On the 4th, the Japs sent in six APDs, possibly an ASW force to take on the flotilla of US subs, and encountered two PT boats, which the Japs promptly sank.  However, two APDs were badly damaged and Peto sank one.  Small Allied fast transport convoys continue to bring in elements of 3rd Constulabary, and now are switching over to a base force.  The KB showed up west of the island on the 7th.  138 Kates hit the port first, followed by 117 Vals.  They did no damage to speak of.  Three US CVLs are parked at Pearl, two with Hellcats.  I'm going to try to get most of a base force to Midway.  If I succeed, I may send the CVLs that way too.  That's some time off.  Miller is mired down here.
 
SoPac:  Quiet.  The Allies will mount little operations to take the two islands between Suva and Nanumea, both of which seem lightly held.
 
New Guinea/Solomons:  No action here.  The only substantial Jap force is at Rabaul - some 80,000 strong.
 
Celebes/Banda Sea: There was one final day of action over Manado on the 4th.  64 Zeros and 17 Bettys clashed with 25 P38, 10 F4F, and 13 F4U.  The Japs lost 26 Z and a Betty to 1 F4F and 3 P38.  A second wave ame in with 40 Z and 10 Bettys, the Japs losing 19 Z and 2 Betties to 3 F4F and 4 P38.  There were no further air raids on the invasion force at Manado.  Elsewhere, the air base at Kendari now appears securely defended by fighters.  There is a small base force at Weda hosting Kittyhawk and PBY squadrons.  There are large base forces at Namlea, Amboina, Lautem, and Koepang.  Makassar appears undefended.  I will mount a quick operation to seize it, and then move a 90 unit BF from Wyndham there.  The next major Allied operation will be toward Balakpan, Samarinda, or possibly Davao.  This will occur within three weeks.  As soon as the airfield at Manado reaches level 4, I'll move some heavy bombers there and begin a campaign to hit Jap resources and airfields.  Copious Jap subs in this area are taking a toll.  On the 9th, for instance, I-22 torpedoed DD Encounter and I-17 AK Autauga (both near Darwin and both taking moderate damage).  Allied ASW pummeled I-5 at Amboina.
 
Ceylon:  The Japs finally capitulated on the 5th.  A 1549:1 shock attack inflicted 15828/67 to 51 casualties.  Allied troops are now prepping for Palambang and other points in the vicinity.  Other troops in India have been prepping for there and other cities like Padang, Sabong, and Teloekbetong (my spelling is probably atrocious).  The Ceylon contingent will need about three months to prep.  In the meantime, the Allied CVs will concentrate on operations in eastern Borneo (Samarinda/Balikpan) and/or Southern Philippines.  But when the Brits are ready to hit Sumatra, the US CVs will cover.
 
Burma:  Quiet again.
 
China:  Ouch, Miller clobbered the Allied airfield at Chungking on 8th, destroying 88 aircraft on the ground.  My CAP was too light and very ineffective.  The day before, Allied fighters put up a decent show over Kanhsien, downing a Zero, 3 Nates, 36 Tonys vs. 14 P40, 6 P40N, and 8 P38.  No major changes on the ground, other than Miller's troops apparently withdrew from Sian - not on his orders, but there was some message near the end of the turn that they were "retreating toward Honan."  Perhaps lack of supplies forced them to pull back.
 
 
 

[Canoerebel]

5/10/43 to 5/17/43
 
It's odd to find Midway under seige by the Japs this late in the game, but that's what's happening.  Here's what's going on:
 
CenPac:  Miller didn't try anything for most of the week - even his ground troops stood down - as he dug in and awaited reinforcements after his invasion bogged down.  On the 11th, I-30 torpedoed a DD making a fast transport run to the island - the DD limped back to Pearl.  Using fast transport convoys and one small LST convoy, the Allies moved part of a base force to Midway and are now able to base 95 aircraft there.  On the 17th, Jap bombardment TFs moved in - two groups including two BBs each.  These TFs faced a series of combats against PT TFs, but all of these were surprisingly bloodless.  The Japs sank two PTs, and one Jap DD was damaged.  What appears to be the KB has moved south of the island, apparently to cover a transport convoy approaching from the NW.  The US CVL TF (three light carriers) is west of Pearl about 240 miles waiting to see if an opportunity to strike arises.  On the 17th, B25s and PB4Ys sortied against the two BB TFs and against the transport convoys but didn't score any hits.  The Allies have about 300 mines, the PT boats, and perhaps twelve subs at Midway.  So the battle is on.
 
Celebes/Banda Sea:  Quiet here but for Jap subs making a mighty nuisance of themselves.   On the 10th, I-1 got an AK; on the 11th, RO-34 put two TT into AP Hunter Liggett (which should sink) and sank an MSW near Amboina; on the 14th, I-18 finished off a damaged AK near Darwin; on the 16th, I-26 sank an AK near Lautem.  Some Jap subs were damaged - I-17 hit a mine at Darwin and RO-34 was sunk by depth charges after her strikes.  The Allies are awaiting the arrival of key components of the Davao invasion force in transit from the east.  Davao looks lightly held and this is the next Allied target.  The invasion force should leave Darwin in about ten days.  The Allies may then strike at Balikpan.  Then the US CVs may head SW to support the British invasion of Sumatra.  All this if things go according to plans.
 
India/Burma:  Quiet.
 
China:  Miller continues to wreak havoc on Allied aircraft on the ground. My CAP just isn't dealing with the massive numbers of bombers striking various bases.
 
Situation:  Midway is a sideshow - a chance for the Allies to try to bloody the Japs and get them mired down on the perifery of the war. There is a chance that Miller has a much bolder plan - to strike deeper into CenPac or SoPac thinking that I've stripped the area to flood the Celebes, but the garrison at Pearl is truly stout, and those at Palmyra, Johnston, Pago Pago, Suva, Noumea and Auckland would be tough for him to handle.  I don't think he can accomplish anything meaningful in these areas.  The loss of some bases wouldn't be critical, anyhow, but I would be troubled by Jap CVs patrolling the supply lines.  But the real focus is in and around the Celebes.  An Allied move north into the Philippine Island this early in the game is quite an opportunity.
 
 

[Canoerebel]

5/18/43 to 5/26/43
 
CenPac:  The Battle of Midway has ended in an Allied victory.  The Japs had enough troops to prevail had they landed at one time, but came in two waves that caused maximum disruption and ultimately weakend them enough that the Allies held.  The first wave was the 28th Div. which landed on 4/23, but took high losses during the landings and subsequent shock attack that came off at 0:1.  The next day, additional troops including 17th Div., an armor unit, and 4 base forces landed.  A 1:1 shock attack failed.  On the 25th, the Japs got a 2:1 and dropped forts to 6, but took high losses, but that was the high water mark for the Japs.  Each attack thereafter was a 0:1.    Over this period, Miller sent large transport convoys to evacuate his troops, but these ships encountered the refreshed CD guns and took massive losses - many damaged ships were set upon by PT boats, subs, and Midway-based LBA.  I think the Japs got some of their troops out, but this operation has ended in defeat.  I think the Japs would have prevailed had they landed reinforcements instead of evacuating, but I don't think Miller gained any strategic advantage by taking Midway.
 
SoPac:  The Allies are mounting small invasions to take the two little islands between Suva and Nanumea.
 
NG/Solomons:  Remains quiet, although small Allied bombing raids target Rabaul on a daily basis.  The Allies hold Buna, but haven't tried to expand in this area.  A number of Aussie units are prepped for places like Kaeving, Lae, and Rabaul, but all transports are involved in the Celebes/Banda Sea area and that will remain the case for some time to come.  So no major operations will happen here any time soon.
 
Celebes/Banda Sea:  The Allies continue to consolidate their position in this area, with strong garrisons, base forces, and aircraft numbers at Koepang, Kendari, Manado, Namlea, and Amboina.  Small base forces are in position at Weda and Lautem.  The Allies are also in possession of Makassar, Morotai, and Sarong, but don't have base forces there yet.  The next invasion target is Davao in the southern Philippines.  This base looks lightly held - similar to what the Allies faced at Kendari and Manado - and the Allies have a US Army Division and 2nd Marine Air Wing fully prepped for the target.  Other troops in the invasion will be SeaBee units and some other support personnel.  1st Marine Division, which is fully prepped for Balikpan, will act as a reserve force.  The Allies have quiet an army prepped for Balikpan, and that should be the next target following Davao.  However, defenses at both Balikpan and Tarakan look much more formidable - garrisons in excess of 30,000 troops and alot of aircraft.  US CVs will support the Davao operation.  After that, I will decide whether to proceed with Balikpan, or to postpone Balikpan and move the CVs to support the Brit-led invasion of Sumatra.  Sumatra will either preceed or follow Balikpan, and the US CVs will be used in support of both, so they may be somewhat staggered.
 
Burma:  Troops have moved forward from Mandalay to Meiktila, which now has an AV of something like 2000.  Troops are likewise moving forward from Akyab.  The primary function of these moves is to draw Jap attention as the primary thrust occurs in Sumatra, but the Allies may take a shot at Rangoon or Moulmein.
 
China:  I think the Japs are advancing on Changsha.  Meanwhile, the Allies spent alot of political points to change HQ assignments to a large army that is about to cross the river and launch a shock attack on Hanoi.  Recon shows the Jap defense is less than 20,000 troops.  The assault will consist of five Corps, three divisions, and three HQ units (attack AV will be about 1750).  The attack should commence tomorrow (May 27).
 
Situation:  With the Allies controlling the Banda Sea and vicinity and about to move on Davao, things are looking good.  Both Miller and I were newcomers to the game when it began - this is Miller's first game as the Japs and my first as Allies - so we're both novices, which explains the rather unusual status at this point.  Miller is tenacious, refusing to give up even though he must be frustrated with the situation, and he would probably prefer to close this chapter and start a new game so that he can employ what he's learned.

[Canoerebel]

5/27/43 to 5/30/43
 
China:  A Chinese expeditionary army fully prepped for Hanoi crossed the river and attacked that city on the 27th, getting 3:1 odds and reducing forts from 8 to 5; the Japs lost 933/52 to 448/12 but held the city.  Jap reinforcements from Camranh Bay arrived shortly thereafter.  Another shock attack on the 30th came off at 0:1, didn't touch the forts, and the Chinese lost 2788/30 to 711/18.  The defense consists of 70th Division and 2nd Vietnamese Division.  The Chinese will rest for a week or two and give it one more shot.  Even if this expedition ultimately fails, it is creating another pressure point - another place that requires Miller's attention.  Elsewhere, a stout Jap army is advancing on Changsha, which has a large but undersupplied garrison.

Burma:  A single Chinese unit advanced into Thailand and captured Pisanuloke, an interior, unoccupied city north of Bangkok.  Miller sent a unit north from Bangkok, but I don't think a single unit - even if it is a division - can evict the Chinese.  This city, too, isn't strategically important, but it serves as a pressure point.  The Allies have more than 2000 AV at Meiktila and will soon make at least a demonstration in force toward Rangoon and/or Moulmein.

India:  I'm still gathering the Sumatra invasion fleet at Colombo and Madras.  In about a week the ships will be ready to load.

Philippines:  The Davao invasion fleet is steaming in circles in the Banda Sea - NE of Lautem, awaiting arrival of various transport TFs.  This force will steam toward Davao in a few days.  1st Marines are serving as reserves and had loaded on transports at Darwin about ten days ago, but I forgot to set the transports for "do not unload," so promptly after loading the ships began unloading.  I didn't realize what had happend until the bulk of the invasion force had left port, so I'm reloading the unloaded portion of the division, which happens to be most of the infantry.  The invasion force will include 37th Division; two Seabee units; Aussie tank and anti-tank units; an EAB; 11th Combat Engineers; and 2nd Marine Air Wing.  Recon shows Davao fairly lightly held, but as noted 1st Marine Div. (plus 3rd Australian Brigade) will be in reserve.

SoPac:  Quiet.

CenPac:  Most of the remaining Jap defenders at Midway have vanished "due to attrition."  One more deliberate attack should finish off the remnant.  The Allies will soon have four CVL at Pearl Harbor.  I'm debating whether to keep them there, both as a rapid deployment defense force and as the nucleus for the eventually invasion of Marcus or Wake, or whether to send them to Australia to join the rest of the Allied CVs.

[Canoerebel]

5/31/43 to 6/9/43
 
Battle of the Celebes Sea:  A terrific naval engagement occured just east of the Celebes Sea on June 9, 1943, involving seven US fleet CVs, two CVEs, and apparently every Jap CV.  As in real life, information is pouring in and appears to contain alot of inaccuracies, so at this moment it is not clear who won, who lost, and whether the allied invasion of Davao can continue.  The replay bug hit big time - my notes during the replay of this titanic engagement covered two pages and showed that the Japs lost BB Hei and almost certainly CVs Zuikoku, Shokaku, and  CVL Zuiho while the Allies lost BBs Pennsylvania and Maryland and CVs Essex and Lexington with CV Hornet moderately damaged.  I thought that was a stalemate, but when I looked in "Ships Lost" file on the game map, I got a nasty surprise.  It shows that I've lost CVs Lexington, Enterprise, and Essex and BBs Colorado and Pennsylvania.  The only major Jap ship confirmed sunk is CVL Zuiho.  Since the replay was wildly inaccurate, I have no idea yet whether any Jap CVs were hit hard.  If not, or if just one, this was a big Jap victory.  If the Allies got two or three Jap CVs, then I'm okay.  This turn occured late yesterday afternoon and I immediately emailed Miller requesting his copy of the combat report, but he hasn't replied yet, so I'm totally in the dark as to whether the Japs are hurting.  I know the Allies are.

How it Happened:  So how did the Japs pull off such an ambush?  Good timing.  The massive invasion force had been sailing in a zig-zag pattern in the Banda Sea hoping to give Miller the impression that Balikpan was the likely target; finally, the fleet moved north, hugging the coast of the Moluccas in hopes that Miller wouldn't be sure whether the target was Davao or Palau - I was actively reconning and bombing both using LBA.  LRCAP from Kendari, Manado, Morotai, and Weda was augmenting the invasion fleet CAP.  There was no sign of any Jap resistance.  On the 9th, the fleet sailed NE just north of Morotai; the next day, it would make the sprint toward Davao.  With no signs of Jap ships in the area, I decided to rest my LRCAP so that they would be fresh to cover the fleet during the sprint and invasion; I also ordered most of my 4E bombers to hit the airfields again at Davao and Palau, so when Jap ships showed up, these aircraft didn't try to strike.  On the 9th, Miller sent his combined fleets south down the east side of Mindanao.  The CV elements from both sides reacted (as usual, this was against orders and the US CVs were in TFs set to follow a surface combat TF).  The fight was on.

Impact:  Whether or not the Japanese were bloodied in this battle, the Allies will have to fall back and regroup for a little while.  If the Japs scored a lopsided victory, I think the invasions of the PI and Balikpan will be postponed for awhile.  In that event, I will probably send the four US CVLs from Pearl to Australia.  They will join with the surviving US CVs to cover the Brit invasion of Sumatra.  If, on the other hand, the battle was more of a stalemate, the invasion might continue after a brief lull to regroup and rearm.  Both sides lost a ton of aircraft in this battle.

China:  There were several large Jap troop incursions into Changsha, on successive days, and both were defeated in battle and sent retreating.  Chinese troops from Wuchow moved 60 miles north and defeated a Jap division (51st) and 2nd Tank Regiment in battle on the 8th.   The Japs retreated to Canton.  The Chinese invasion of Hanoi has bogged down.  A 1:1 shock attack on the 7th reduced forts to 5 and cost the Japs 270/13 to 1872/15.

Burma:  Jap aircraft bombed the stew out of the Chinese unit that captured Pisanoluke.  A Jap brigade recaptured the city on the 3rd.   Allied forces are massing at Meiktila - AV of 2300 now.  These units will move on Moulmein soon.

India:  The Sumatra invasion units at Madras are loading on transports.  The units at Colombo will begin soon. Even with all the Jap CVs near Mindanao, I don't want to send this invasion fleet in without air cover, so departure will depend on availability of US aircraft carriers.

Elsewhere:  Quiet.  The Allies have gathered at Pearl Harbor several divisions and support units fully prepped for Wake Island, but they may have to sit there for quite some time to come.  I may even change them over to prepping for Marcus, especially if the Allies take Davao or Palau.

[Canoerebel]

Miller sent me the "real" (and accurate) combat report for the big carrier battle east of the
Celebes Sea.  The Allies lost CVs Essex, Lexington and Enterprise; BBs Indiana, Colorado, and Pennsylvania; CA Houston; a DD or two; and BB Maryland and CV Hornet suffered moderate damage.  The Japs lost CVs Zuikaku and Shokaku and CVL Zuiho, and BB Hiei suffered heavy (but I don't think critical) damage.
 
This leaves the US fleet short of BBs to protect the invasion fleet, but I couldn't continue right now anyhow as my ships need to get to port to get aircraft reinforcements - the Allies lost 400 aircraft in air-to-air combat alone.  The Japs lost 300 in a2a.  So all undamaged Allied ships are steaming for Morotai, a level one port that will have CAP, plus LRCAP from Weda and Manado.  There is but a handful of F4Fs left, so P38s, some Kittyhawks, and about 20 Corsairs are what I've got.  A few damaged ships are making for Darwin.
 
There are two questions:  (1)  Will the US CVs react again - against orders again - and get trashed?  (2)  Will Miller close in and try for another battle - I think so.  This battle has already been a Jap victory and it could get worse.  If Miller pulls back, though, the Allies will be fine.
 
The Sumatra invasion troops at Colombo have begun loading and those at Madras are nearly finished loading.  This force could sail within five days, but has just one Brit CV to provide air cover.  I'm mulling over shifting the US forces south to Sumatra or Java.

[veji1]

Nice battle, I admit I am more of a JFB but the result seems qui "right" to me : a side gains a victory but pays a price for it, no uber CAP sinking 7 CVs on one side for 0 on the other especially in a battle where the japs are at a slight advantage.


Keep it up.