Speedy vs Fabertong: Death to the Penguin!

[Speedysteve]

Hi all,

Hi Bruce - I think so. I predict 2 months now to Japanese capitulation[8D]

Hi Capt. - Thanks[:)]

Hi tabpub - Good to see you. As for the B29's. It may sounds a lot but if you look at theavergae per month it worksout like 120 per month of use. I have used them heavily and almost constantly in Burma (AF/Industry and LCU bombing), also 2/3 per week from Timor against Celebes/Mindanao and from Saipan from August/September 1944 2/3 times a week against Japan.

The losses average at 30 per week or just over 4 per day. With the constant use in Burma + other regimes that weasily equates for the Operational Losses. The A2A losses are a mixture from 'exploratory' raids from Timor against Japabnese bases in Mindanao and the early raids on Japan from Saipan. The issue with the Saipan raids is that WITHOUT escort cover from Iwo Jima (P51D's there from 10/44) OR if Fighter cover was clouded in = you can easily lose 40-60 B29's a raid = that adds up to the 700 A2A losses[:)]

My sub war has been non-existant since my closure of theSRA and the eradication of the Japanese TK arm. I mainly use them to block off my shipping lanes from his and as base protection, IJN interdiction during invasions. The issue with this is very low returns/attack rate and as you say the increasing chance of encountering those darn late war PC's They are beasts as you say and I agree with your battle assessment with them. As for overpowered - hard to say. Part of me feels like saying yes but that would be basing them on the historical Japanese use of ASW assets. Then again they did historically have those ASW weapons to hand so if employed better may be it could be as we face them?

-------------------

Indo China -

1st Allied Army is now 60 miles SW of Hanoi.

The last Allied elements are ahsore at Taan and the men are re-organising before probe attacks/bombardments are carried out tomorrow.

During the day Taan was attacked fiercely by Rangoon B29's, CV TBM's and Invaders from Camranh Bay.

Interestingly CV air located and attacked CL Nagara (1 x 1000lb Firefly bomb hit) and CL Natori near Kiungahan. CA Nachi was also spotted. BB KGV and Howe TF will move east from Taan tomorrow to investigate. TBM's are also ordered for Naval Strikes.

Also guys check this 'funny' out:

Day Air attack on Hue , at 35,42

Japanese aircraft
P1Y Frances x 23
Ki-67 Peggy x 56

Allied aircraft
Corsair IV x 16

Japanese aircraft losses
P1Y Frances: 12 destroyed
Ki-67 Peggy: 14 destroyed, 9 damaged
Ki-21 Sally: 3 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Corsair IV: 16 damaged
Thunderbolt II: 1 destroyed

Interesting[:D]

------------------

SRA -

Manila port bombed and an AK sunk by Ventura's.

SS Tunny located by 5 x PC 240 miles SW of Hong Kong - 20 x DC near miss - 51/75/0. Back to Kuching.

1st USMC Para's will land at Hollandia tomorrow.

------------------

CentPac -

Quiet day here............

[Speedysteve]

Hi all,

Points:

Japanese: -1085
Allied: +12838

Bases:

Japanese: -38 (-2024 points)
Allied: +38 (+3110 points)

Planes:

Allies lost: 675
Japanese lost: 2045

Troops:

Allies lost: 115 points
Japanese lost: 502 points

Ships:

Allies lost: 20 ships (141 points)
Japanese lost: 20 ships (292 points)

Strategic points: +6818 points

--------------------------

Thoughts:

A MASSIVE month for the Allies as you can see. The key factors in the month are the liberation of more bases and islands from the Japanese (Singapore being a big capture for the Allies) and the ever increasing destruction of the Japanese economy by Saipan based B29's. The number of B29's continues to grow with a further 108 due next month for example.

It is the B29 threat that leads me to conclude the Japanese will capitulate within 2 months.........

[Alfred]

Speedy,
 
The 3 Sallys lost might have accompanied the Hue raid on recon.  Intercepted Dinahs etc accompanying bombing raids are similarly recorded.
 
Alfred

[tabpub]

Hi tabpub - Good to see you. As for the B29's. It may sounds a lot but if you look at theavergae per month it worksout like 120 per month of use. I have used them heavily and almost constantly in Burma (AF/Industry and LCU bombing), also 2/3 per week from Timor against Celebes/Mindanao and from Saipan from August/September 1944 2/3 times a week against Japan.

The losses average at 30 per week or just over 4 per day. With the constant use in Burma + other regimes that weasily equates for the Operational Losses. The A2A losses are a mixture from 'exploratory' raids from Timor against Japabnese bases in Mindanao and the early raids on Japan from Saipan. The issue with the Saipan raids is that WITHOUT escort cover from Iwo Jima (P51D's there from 10/44) OR if Fighter cover was clouded in = you can easily lose 40-60 B29's a raid = that adds up to the 700 A2A losses

My sub war has been non-existant since my closure of theSRA and the eradication of the Japanese TK arm. I mainly use them to block off my shipping lanes from his and as base protection, IJN interdiction during invasions. The issue with this is very low returns/attack rate and as you say the increasing chance of encountering those darn late war PC's They are beasts as you say and I agree with your battle assessment with them. As for overpowered - hard to say. Part of me feels like saying yes but that would be basing them on the historical Japanese use of ASW assets. Then again they did historically have those ASW weapons to hand so if employed better may be it could be as we face them?

Speedy,

Won't "dirty" up your AAR too much more....
As to the B-san's; I only have the 4 groups at the moment and have been satisfied with striking secondary targets with an occasional oil raid thrown in for flavor. Total losses about 70 in June '44; the boys love me.....yet their morale won't go up....booo...
Subs----final stages of the sub war are being entered now. Big convoy fight off Tarakan; have lost Pampanito and Sailfish over the last 2 days; got a tanker and PC probable out of it so far. I swear I have more duds now than in '43; sure it's just bad luck or something. Try to imagine the PI being England and having subs all about it; it's hairy being a submariner in my forces....see you later and have a good war.

[Speedysteve]

Hi all,

Hi Alfred - Afraid I doubt that's it. Any recon plane is also shown on the raid like this one:

Day Air attack on Tarakan , at 33,61


Allied aircraft
F4U-1D Corsair x 10
F-5C Lightning x 2
B-25J Mitchell x 31


Allied aircraft losses
B-25J Mitchell: 1 destroyed, 2 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
11 casualties reported

Airbase hits 2
Runway hits 20

------------------------

Indo China -

The Island of Hainan saw lots of action during the night as both the Allies and Japanese sent surface forces to Kiungahan and Taan respectively........

The Allied TF centered around Howe and KGV found 3 small transports unguarded which they blew into smithereens.....enemy mine's did damage DD Tumult (lightly) and DD Ulysees (which was later sunk by SS I-182).

The Japanese sent in DD Momi, DD Akikaze, DD Kuri, DD Chidori and DD Sagi. They were cornered by a SC TF centered around BB Ramilles. The firefight was short and confused but led to the annihilation of all 5 x IJN DD's and heavy damage to DD Rocket.

On the land it's good to see the land and air bombardment has reduced enemy troop levels at Taan by 200 men, 4 guns and 9 tanks over the past day........

CV air sank 2 more AP's near Pakhoi during the day.

----------------------

SRA -

Quiet day here.

USMC Para's take Sarmi.

----------------------

CentPac -

Quiet day here.

B29's will target Osaka's industry tomorrow. P51D's in the vanguard.

[Speedysteve]

Hi all,

A quieter day today.

Shipping continues to move back from Taan to Camranh Bay. Cursed SS I-182 got her 2nd victim in 2 days....the heavily damaged AK Clarence Darrow sunk with 3 torpedoes.

My CV's were still patrolling near Hainan though and search aircraft located a PC ASW TF. All 5 x PC's (modern gits too) were sunk by days end through numerous torpedo attacks.

-----------------------

Osaka was hit hard today after a massive fighter duel erupted in the skies above. By the end of it 18 x P51D were lost vs 105 enemy planes (24 x Jack, 36 x Tony, 28 x Frank and 17 x Randy).

363 x B29 then unloaded their loads on designated industries. Some of which were torched but other only moderately it. We return tomorrow after scoring 600 Strategic Points.

[Speedysteve]

Hi all,

A few more days have passed with limited progress oter than at Taan........

Firstly. Osaka's industry was hit hard again on 3rd. The B29's rested for the past 2 days but will target Okayama's industry tomorrow.

----------------------

Taan - Over 100 mediums bombed known enemy positions every day and the Land Lubbers assaulted enemy positions for the past 2 days. Enemy resistance has been weaker than expected. Progress has been made and the enemy line is close to breaking and with it Taan will be taken. An example of the combat:

Ground combat at Taan

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 52402 troops, 453 guns, 417 vehicles, Assault Value = 1325

Defending force 23217 troops, 140 guns, 28 vehicles, Assault Value = 314

Allied engineers reduce fortifications to 7

Allied max assault: 1254 - adjusted assault: 1858

Japanese max defense: 235 - adjusted defense: 254

Allied assault odds: 7 to 1 (fort level 7)

Allied Assault reduces fortifications to 7


Japanese ground losses:
1063 casualties reported
Guns lost 22
Vehicles lost 16

Allied ground losses:
127 casualties reported
Guns lost 4
Vehicles lost 8

These enemy scum are clearly inexperienced...........

-------------------

4 x AK has sunk due to damage sustained at Taan.

On the enemy side SS Stoic blew up the empty AP Sumiyoshi Maru SE of Kiungahan with a mixture of shells and torpedoes.

USMC Para's are operating out of Babo at present taking empty enemy held locations in the area.

[Speedysteve]

Hi all,

Once more a few days pass........

----------------

Indo China -

Allied troops have reached Hanoi. Fairly happy with this since it's only 40% of my regional force levels:

Ground combat at Hanoi

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 205263 troops, 1900 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 5593

Defending force 282320 troops, 2488 guns, 1010 vehicles, Assault Value = 5276


Japanese ground losses:
186 casualties reported

I have 2500 AV at Saigon, 3500 AV at Singapore and 1400 AV at Jesselton....hmm what to do with it........thinking Formosa. What do you think? Tainan only as 3 units ands Takao 8 units.......

Taan has been a massive battlefield for the past fewdays.The Japanese have reacted strongly in stemming the Allies but have suffered losses of 6:1-10:1 every day. Yesterday they broke with the Allies steaming into Taan and the nearby airfields.

During the night of 9th February the Japanese moved surface forces into the Taan region. My SC TF performed.....disappointingly:

Night Time Surface Combat, near Taan at 37,41

Japanese Ships
CA Ashigara
CL Sendai
DD Shimozuki
DD Okinami
DD Arashi
DD Hatsuharu, Shell hits 3, on fire
DD Shikinami, Shell hits 1

Allied Ships
BB Howe, Shell hits 2
BB King George V, Shell hits 1
CA London, Shell hits 1
CA Suffolk
CL Newfoundland
CL Nigeria, Shell hits 1
DD Racehorse
DD Saumarez
DD Teazer
DD Terpsichore
DD Tumult, Shell hits 2, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
DD Tuscan
DD Grenville, Shell hits 1
DD Ulster, Shell hits 1

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Taan at 37,41

Japanese Ships
CA Nachi
CL Nagara
CL Natori, Shell hits 4, on fire
DD Hanazuki, Shell hits 19, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
DD Haruzuki
DD Kazegumo, Shell hits 1
DD Kawakaze, Shell hits 5, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk

Allied Ships
BB Howe, Shell hits 6, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
BB King George V, Shell hits 1
CA London
CA Suffolk, Shell hits 4, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
CL Newfoundland, Shell hits 1, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
CL Nigeria, Shell hits 3
DD Racehorse, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Saumarez, Shell hits 1
DD Teazer, Shell hits 2, on fire
DD Terpsichore
DD Tumult, on fire, heavy damage
DD Tuscan
DD Grenville
DD Ulster

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Taan at 37,41

Japanese Ships
CA Nachi, Shell hits 1
CL Nagara
CL Natori, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Haruzuki, Shell hits 1
DD Kazegumo

Allied Ships
BB Howe, Shell hits 1, on fire
BB King George V
CA London
CA Suffolk, Shell hits 1, on fire
CL Newfoundland, on fire
CL Nigeria, Shell hits 1
DD Racehorse, on fire
DD Saumarez
DD Teazer, on fire
DD Terpsichore
DD Tumult, on fire, heavy damage
DD Tuscan
DD Grenville
DD Ulster

The good nrws is that none of my ships sunk. DD Tumult may sink but everything else is fine (BB Howe is 32/25/6 - poor performance but she'll be ok until wars end......).

In return DD Hanazuki, DD Kawakaze were sunk by surface forces and DD Hatsuharu was finished off SE of Hainan by CV TBM's east of Camranh Bay.

Allied land forces at Taan are moving east towards Kiungahan.

SS Croaker had fun on 9th sinking DD Kashi with 2 torpedoes 120 miles east of Kiungahan.

-------------------

CentPac -

Japan has been hit hard over the past 3 days.

Okayama was hit over 2 days by 950 x B29's...P51D's shot down 40 enemy planes for 3 frendlies (+1000 strategic points).

Toyohara was then the target and the industry was smashed with no interference by 366 x B29 (+800 strategic points).

The screenshot shows what I believe to be the main IJN area of Port Arthur, Seoul and Shanghai....I may venture near here with my CV's for a bit of fun before wars end...we'll see.

[DuckofTindalos]

Christmas peace now descends on this battlefield, I trust? I'm sure Faber will be happy with the stay of execution...[:D]

[Speedysteve]

Hi T,
 
It does. Just played a final turn until well after Christmas now. A fairly quiet one with no notable action.
 
I wish all of the readers a Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and if I don't have time to get back on here before New Year a happy New Year too.
 
All the best,
 
Steven

[Alfred]

Speedy,
 
Formosa has (1) a lot of VP and (2) good air bases to strike at Kyushu and Shanghai, which makes Formosa pretty attractive, particularly if you think the local garrisons can be quickly overcome by your Singapore/Saigon/Jesselton forces.  If you think that the IJN is based at Shanghai, having Allied air bases on Formosa would be valuable before you sortie your CV into the East China Sea.
 
Before you fully commit your Singapore/Saigon/Jesselton forces to Formosa, I would suggest you assess two other considerations.  It may be that you have sufficient means to combine these considerations with an invasion of Formosa.
 
(A)  With Hainan under complete Allied control, can you quickly capture Pakhoi and move rapidly on Nanning.  The objective here is twofold; firstly to outflank the Hanoi/Haiphong defenders and cut off their retreat and supply paths, and secondly to open up ports to supply Chian Kai-shek's forces.
 
(B)  Valuable as Formosa is in terms of VP, do not overlook the VP of Manila.  The preliminary capture of Manila and Clark Field safeguards your flank when you do move on Formosa and also brings Okinawa into play - thus the penguin would have some doubt as to your next move viz. Formosa or Okinawa.
 
Alfred

[Speedysteve]

Hi all,

Hi Alfred - Interesting points. Pakhoi is doable as is Nanning at present. Both bases contain 2 enemy units according to intel. Probably a Bde max in each. Actually that could be interesting. It's pretty clear to me that Faber could probably retreat from Hanoi before Nanning was taken (road only between Pakhoi and Nanning) but IF Faber retreated than Haiphong and Hanoi would be mine = could re-supply China from the sea. I will think on this one.

As for Manila. I am going to say no on this. It's something I looked into a few months agao when I conducted the para drops on San Jose. The main reason for this is that it would take too much time to take the places IMO to be able to effect the game time remaining (i'm aiming for enemy capitulation by the end of April 1945.) Manila alone contains 11 enemy units (645 AV = Arm Division), 5 at Clark and about 5-7 around the rest of Luzon.

The only units I have at present which are fully rested and ready are 2 x AUS Div, 1 x AUS Cav Div and 1 x AUS Bde at Jesselton. The Singapore forces are still in a bitter fight with the remaining Japanese and the Saigon forces are resting and about 75-80% ready.

At present i'm thinking of invading Formosa by the end of March with the Jesselton and Saigon forces. Maybe I could use the Singapore forces to take Pakhoi and force Faber to retreat from Hanoi..............

---------------------

A fairly quiet day all round apart from the masses of Allied air raids on Japanese units, bases etc. 2 x AK were sunk (1 in Manila port and 1 in Davao port).

Allied vanguard is 60 miles west of Kiungahan on Hainan.

1st USMC Para's will attempt a risky air drop on enemy held Sorong tomorrow. BF and SNLF hold the base.

B29's resting tomorrow but will then go for Kyoto.

Here's my top pilot list. Cool to see 1Lt Reynolds still going in his P38. He was my top ace of the SRA air battles over Maumere, Banjarmasin and Pontianak/Singkawang[:)]

[Alfred]

Speedy,
 
Your intel regarding the Luzon garrisons does make capture of Manila within the identified timeframe problematical.
 
Yes a move on Pakhoi could well trigger a penguin retreat but then you gain the north Vietnamese cities and thereby achieve the same strategic objective.  The one point I would make is that the penguin did not withdraw from Burma back in 1944 when threatened with entrapment, nor did he retreat from Thailand/Vietnam as quickly as he might - this suggests that he might be loathe to give up ground and therefore there might be a small chance of moving on Nanning before he does.
 
One other observation - IIRC you still have troops at Balikpapan (perhaps Tarakan also?).  Can you thin out your forces there to reinforce your new offensive, whilst still keeping the penguin's units locked up.
 
Alfred

[Speedysteve]

Hi all,

Back in the war after a 9 day business trip[:)]

-----------------

Hi Alfred - The Pakhoi operation is certainly moving up my list of possibilities now. I can use the Singapore forces for this probably also for the end of March to coincide with the Formosa Operation.

Your memory is good and correct I do have c.5 divisions at Balikpapan. I'm about to attack here in the next 2 weeks since the enemy strength has been whittled down to almost under 1000AV. I probably couldn't afford to withdraw more than 1 duivision here.

------------------

The enemy forces alive on Singapore are weakening although with bitter fighting:

Ground combat at Singapore

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 130613 troops, 574 guns, 1501 vehicles, Assault Value = 2805

Defending force 44302 troops, 88 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 614

Allied max assault: 2904 - adjusted assault: 3632

Japanese max defense: 394 - adjusted defense: 36

Allied assault odds: 100 to 1


Japanese ground losses:
4619 casualties reported
Guns lost 5

Allied ground losses:
1832 casualties reported
Guns lost 39
Vehicles lost 14

Allied forces are now moving on Kiungahan which is 60 miles away on Hanoi.

The last enemy ship at Manila port was sunk today by PV1's (AK).

The paradrop on Sorong was massively successful. The enemy fragments (BF/SNLF) ammounted to no more than 240 men! Sorong was quickly taken and the remaining 40 Japanese fled into the jungle.

Just to give you an idea of the continuous train of material that is flowing to keep my war effort going - 6000K of supply has just unloaded at Saipan for B29 raids. Approx 550K of supply is being loaded into 4 TF's at Karachi for SRA efforts along with 207K of fuel.

Saipan's B29'sare rested and will erase Kyoto from the map tomorrow, weather permitting. There will be no more climate conferences here[;)]

[Speedysteve]

Hi all,

The Japanese attacked furiously over the skies of Taan today. Local Allied Commanders complained at the lack of air cover despite 68 enemy planes being confirmed downed in A2A:

Day Air attack on TF, near Taan at 37,41

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zeke x 11
A6M3a Zero x 100
P1Y Frances x 4
Ki-84-Ia Frank x 17
Ki-84-Ic Frank x 8
Ki-67 Peggy x 15

Allied aircraft
Spitfire XIV x 10
P-51D Mustang x 34

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5 Zeke: 11 destroyed
A6M3a Zero: 100 destroyed
P1Y Frances: 1 destroyed, 2 damaged
Ki-84-Ia Frank: 8 destroyed, 1 damaged
Ki-84-Ic Frank: 8 destroyed
Ki-67 Peggy: 2 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-51D Mustang: 5 damaged

Allied Ships
PG Tui
AK Anson Burlingame, Kamikaze hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
AK Antoine Saugrain
AK Allen C. Balch, Kamikaze hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
AK Alexander Majors, Kamikaze hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
APD Lloyd
AD Yosemite, Kamikaze hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
AK Benjamin Waterhouse, Kamikaze hits 2, on fire, heavy damage

2 x AK and AD Yosemite are in real danger of sinking and have beached in the port. All AK's were unloading supply.

A P47D FG has flown in overnight to provide additional CAP.

To make the region worse for the Allies today AK Chief Charlot was brokwn in 2 by 4 torpedo its from SS I-13 west of Taan. She was carrying men and machines of 106 RN BF.

On the positive side another 8700 enemy men were wiped from the OOB at Singapore and 2 x enemy AK were sunk by B25J's around Davao, Mindanao.

B29's pounded the hell out of Kyoto with only a few Nakajima engines rolling off the production line by days end (+400 Strategic points). P51D's patrolling the skies shot down 9 x Iriving. We rest tomorrow before moving onto Kitakyushu.

[Speedysteve]

Hi all,

Happy Valentines day Japanese scum[;)]

Some good news at Kiungahan. ML Tsugaru was confirmed sunk today after being struck by 2 torpedoes a few weeks ago by SS Saury. Oneof the 2 big Japanese ML's gone[:)]

Allied ARM has reached Kiungahan and will await the Infantry before attacking. In preparation for this B29's will from Rangoon to hit the port tomorrow and then the airfields during the following days.

Over 12000 enemy soldiers were struck from the roster around Singapore today vs 840 friendlies.

AK Toyoura Maru and AK Ryoka Maru were sunk at Davao port by Bacolod's B25J's today.

---------------------

The usual quiet in the rest of the Pacific. Kitakyushu will be rocked tomorrow when the B29's visit the Manpower, HI and Resource production.

[DuckofTindalos]

Aren't you done with this war yet...?[:'(]

[Speedysteve]

When they agree to unconditional surrender then i'm done with it.... (9K more points needed[;)])

[DuckofTindalos]

Pfffft... Faber is too much of a manly penguin for you to handle...[:'(]

[Speedysteve]

Hi all,

The end of Singapore is nearing for the Japanese as another 8000 men were rounded up today. Only 14000 remain.

A massive B29 raid on Kiungahan batter the port area adn the ML Okinoshima is pummeled under the sheer number of bombs. She soon sinks to the harbour floor. Good in the space of 2 days the 2 largest Japanese ML's have been sunk[:)]

-----------------

Kitakyushu is hit and hit hard. 85% of the industry still remains though (900 Strategic points gained today). We rest tomorrow before going back.

SS Cobia fought and died valiantly today NE of Ulithi. She sank PC Mutsure with a torpedo before being hounded and sunk by 4 other PC's.