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

[Feinder]

Allied forces once again push north from Tennet Creek towards Daly Waters. While Allied medium and heavy bombers constantly pound the enemy troops and air-fields, lead elements of the Australian 3rd Armoured Btn begin armed reconnaissance of the outlying Japanese positions. No doubt, October will see the clash of two massive opposing armies.

-F-

[Feinder]

01 Oct 42

Not to short-change you on the other theaters, but I'm tired, and additional maps really aren't necessary.

SWPac - Allied forces continue to build up the NE coast of Oz. Bases at Thursday Island, Portland Roads, Coen, Cooktown, and Cairns have their run-ways lengthened to accomodate the growing numbers of B-24s. Similar efforts are being made in the Hebrides to complete the expansion of airfields at Luganville, Efate, and Koumac to support operations against the Solomons.

SoPac - More of the same. The Allies continue to expand their bases in the Ellis and Phoenix Islands, in preparation of offensives against the Marshalls.

US code-breakers indicate that Japanese units are preparing to attack several of our positions in SWPac, which would certainly prove interesting. It might well be a red-herring, but at this stage the Allied high-command is giving consideration to each threat.

From hard lessons learned at Wake, across the fleet, Allied ships are being refitted with substantially greater AAA to aid in combating enemy bombers.

-F-

[Capt. Harlock]

ORIGINAL: Feinder


Editorial - I have never seen so many mines. I have no idea how many there were, but gosh there must have been many thousands. I did have MSWs and "well balanced" invasion (in my opinion). But holy crap, there were a lot of mines. I'm not going to whine about CDs and Mines, he blasted the sh_t out of my invasion, and given how much crap he's got there (including a full Bde(+) which surprised me), I think it's "reasonable" (altho I don't have to enjoy it). Again, it's a "costly" learning experience, b ut at least Andy is a failure instead of being surprised on a larger invasion (and even more costly).

WitP is a gigantic achievement, but as Ron has immortalized in his "signature" graphic, there are some parts in it that are botched. One of them is the one-two punch of CD guns and mines, which are far more potent in the game than they were historically. (Part of this is because the Americans often used "frogmen" to clear mines, with cruisers or battleships standing by at a safe distance to engage the CD guns if they tried to interfere.)

My suggestion, for the little it's worth, is that you make the CD batteries your priority in the pre-invasion softening up. Bomber runs or BB's at extended range would seem to be the way to go.

[Feinder]

Just rolled into Nov-42. Update pending!

Check back Monday night (late)!

-F-

[Feinder]

01 Nov 42

China -

In the Southwest of China, the Japanese offensive captures the cities of Nanning and Pakhoi after a 3 week siege. The 3x Corps defending Nanning make an orderly retreat where the join the garrision at Liuchow. The Chinese at Liuchow are firmly dug in behind the Liu River however, which local Japanese commanders are loathe to cross. The Japanese push an attack aginst Liuchow from the south, but it is soundly defeated. Meanwhile the jungles of the Guangxi Provence will are littered with the wrecks of hundreds of downed Japanese and Allied aircraft.

Meanwhile the Chinese attack at Sinyang stalls, the bulk of the People's Army pulls back toward Homan. However, as the month draws to a close, a large number of Chinese Corps cross the Fen River converging on Yangku.

[Feinder]

01 Nov 42

Burma -

The Japanese make nightly bombardment runs vs. the stranded British forces on Andaman Island. The large minefield and large enemy LBA presense prohibit a conventional evacuation. A fleet of Allied submarines have been employed to bring supplies to the beach-head, and pull troops out.

The troops ashore on Nicobar Island continue to dig in. They too are subjected by contand bombardment by Japanese Naval and Air Forces.

Over Burma proper, the 19th Fighter Group has be re-equipped with P-38s. They prove a match for the Tonys, and with the experience pilots of RAAF in Kittyhawks, mount pressure on the Japanese air forces around Rangoon and Moulmein. Allied heavy bombers also manange to destroy the remaining strategic targets in Burma. Air Marshall Hasington begins to plan the offensvie agaist strategic targets in Southeast Asia.

-F-

[Feinder]

01 Nov 42

Oz -

At the close of September the Allied armies had pushed to the outskirts of Daly Waters. Constant pounding by heavy and medium bombers of the USAAF ath Tennet Creek have put out of action the small fighter strip at Daly Waters, and manage to keep the larger airfield at Katherine suppressed. The large aerodrome at Darwin remains operational however, and there are frequent clashes between Japanese fighters flying from Darwin, and the P-38s fliying from the strip at Powell's Creek.

The Japanese have heavily mined the left flank, and Aus I Corps comprised of 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Austrailian Divisions are bogged down.

In the center, the 24th, 32nd, and 40th US Army Divisions encounter the heavily entrenched 2nd and 4th IJA Divisions. Altho heavily supported by considerable artillery, the attack unable to breach the enemy fortifications. More artillery is moved up to pound the enemy fortifications.

As the month draws to a close, Gen MacArthur orders an attack on the enemy's right flank by the 1st Provisional Armored Corps (comprised of about 12x Armored Btns). The attack succeeds in dislodging the IJA 16th Division, but pushing the enemy rear is held by the 151st Inf Bde and several lightly equipped SNLF units. However, there are fuel shortages, and the advance must wait while C-47s airlift in additional fuel and supplies.

As the month closes, the enemy center has held, but the right flank is weak. Recons patrolling the road to Katherine report that additional enemy reserves are moving south to reinforce Daly Waters. The next weeks will be a race between supply the Allied armored column, or the arrival of the IJA reserves...

Stay tuned for next month's installment.
-F-

(pretty cool map, eh? It's actual map of the area from WW2 given Allied pilots. The red numbers I presume is height in meters. Most of the area between Katherine and Daly Waters is light scrub, which yields to progessivly more arid and then to desert past Tennet Creek).

[Zebedee]

Awesome map. And huge thanks for not going down the combat report route. Useful info to see but sometimes an AAR is more fun for the lack of them.

Looks like the Oz invasion is going to be mighty interesting. It's that hardy of perennial of 'where next after Java' for Japan. Never much liked the Oz road. But maybe Bilbow will pull some rabbits out of the hat and convince me it can be done.

[Feinder]

I re-updated the map. I took of the elevation numbers (they just seemed like clutter), and tweaked it a little bit. Much easier on the eyes (IMO).

-F-

[bilbow]

ORIGINAL: Zebedee

Awesome map. And huge thanks for not going down the combat report route. Useful info to see but sometimes an AAR is more fun for the lack of them.

Looks like the Oz invasion is going to be mighty interesting. It's that hardy of perennial of 'where next after Java' for Japan. Never much liked the Oz road. But maybe Bilbow will pull some rabbits out of the hat and convince me it can be done.

The idea behind my Oz adventure is that the best way to defend the SRA was from northern OZ. I never had any intention of pushing further south. I was hoping that that any land campaign to push me out would be hamstrung by the distance of the supply line. So far that seems to be the case, but I have every expectation that at some point Feinder will push me back. In the meantine though I tie up a large chunk of his army. How long I can hold this position will determine whether the whole effort was worthwhile.

So far so good...

[Zebedee]

ORIGINAL: bilbow
The idea behind my Oz adventure is that the best way to defend the SRA was from northern OZ. I never had any intention of pushing further south. I was hoping that that any land campaign to push me out would be hamstrung by the distance of the supply line. So far that seems to be the case, but I have every expectation that at some point Feinder will push me back. In the meantine though I tie up a large chunk of his army. How long I can hold this position will determine whether the whole effort was worthwhile.

So far so good...

Ah ok. I certainly agree that entering Northern Oz slows down the southern route for the Allies to retake the SRA. But that overland Burma route would tempt me beyond endurance if I were the allied player!

Enjoying seeing another Japan strategy to be honest. Especially in an AAR which can be 'read' rather than 'analysed' if that makes sense. [:D]

[Feinder]

China, end of Nov 42 -

The lines in China have again stabilized. The Chinese continue to fortify their positions behind the river at Liuchow, and the fortifications at Changsha grow more extensive. To the northeast, IJA troops shift to defend Yanku, and Communist Chinese forces strenghten their breach of the river east of Homan. The intensity of the previous month's fighting is replaced by an eerie tensions as both sides shift forces in anticipation of the other's next attack.

-F-

[Feinder]

Burma, end of Nov 42 -

After several weeks of intense bombing, the Japanese land the elite Imperial Guards Division at Nicobar Island. The commonwealth forces sent to occupy the island (a base force and elements of 22nd Indian Bde), are quickly overwhelmed.

British forces continue to resist at Port Blair, but their beach-head is an ever-shrinking perimter. Japanese bombardment forces pound the British positions nightly, while Allied subs continue to brave the extensive minefields surrounding the islands to rescue as many troops as possible.

Meanwhile over Burma, air-battles continue to pit new P-38s with fresh crews vs. Tonys with veteran pilots. The exchanges are often bloody, and with neither side able gain air superiority. Ironically, most of the blood spilled is that of USAAF pilots in P-38s and RAAF pilots in Kittyhawks. The Hurricanes of the RAF have been largely withdrawn from frontline service as they have proven to be outmatched by the Tonys (even with experienced pilots of the RAF).

-F-

[Feinder]

New Guinea, end of Nov 42 -

The Northeastern coast of Austraila has become a hive a airfields. Allied bombers begin to pound the Japanese outpost on southern New Guinea - Meruke. In the Hebrides, airfields at Luganville and other islands in the chain begin to come on-line. Allied recon planes begain daily over-flights of major bases in New Guinea and the Solomons, to assertain enemy troop dispositions and air strength.

-F-

[Feinder]

Oz, end of Nov 42 -

The IJA 1st Division arrives just as the Japanese flank is about to be turned by the Allied armored assault. MacArthur orders the Austrailan 2nd Armored Rgt to attempt to tie down the IJA reinforcments on the right flank, while shifting the bulk of his armor back to center. However, the avenue of attack in the center is narrow such that the armored columns are unable to get into position quickly enough to exploit the shift. The C-47s prove insufficient to keep up with the supply demands of a general attack.

Frustrated, but not willing to blunt his army in a futile attack, MacArthur orders a withdrawl back to Tennet Creek.

-F-

[Alfred]

MacArther not willing to order a futile attack which would blunt his forces.  Doesn't seem quite correct.  Bougainville ring a bell.
 
Alfred

[Feinder]

While I do consider the historical Mac a pompus bone-head, he also wasn't using the WitP engine with with a bunch of worthless "USA Army 41" squads with a soft attack of 18.  It's annoying that my US divisions will see their 42 upgrades some time in the fall of 43 (due to gross shortage of replacement 42 squads).  So maybe I'll be able to push him out of Oz by 1945.  But hey, whaddya gonna do.  At least I reduced his forts to 8...  [:'(]
 
On the plus side, I've got some very experienced B-24 and B-25 crews, most of them, their exp is in the 80s.  Problem being a lack of bases to put them at (due to HR on not exceeding base limits).
 
-F-
 
 

[Feinder]

China, End of '42 -

China remains a stalemate. Recons of front-line cities indicate movements of enemy forces, and signint yields the occasional threat of attack; but overall China remains a stalemate. The only significant action is a strike on Canton, timed to coincide with strikes in Burma during the 3rd week of December. The Chinese Air Force, along with the AVG instigate a large air battle over Canton. Losses are heavy on both sides, but roughly even. Even in the hands of the less experienced Chinese, the newer airframes (P-66 Vanguard) are proving their worth to the survivability of the Chinese pilots.

-F-

[Feinder]

Burma, End of '42 -

Air Mashal Greyling has spent spent the last several weeks airlifting supplies and support units into Burma, and aquiring additional reserves of the the coveted P-38s, B-24s, and Lib-IIIs. Planned for the 3rd week of December, "Hell Week" is an all-out strike on Japanese airfields in Japanese occupied Burma, Siam, and SE Asia. The Japanese airfields at Rangoon, Moulmein, Tavoy, Bangkok, and Hanoi are targeted. Anywhere that Japanese planes sorty is a target, the whole point is engage, attrit, and destroy the enemy. Pushing thru the expected initial losses, the Japanese fighter strength wavers and breaks. Allied heavy bombers are then able to heavily damage all each of the airfields, and even more enemy aircraft are then destroyed on their cratered airfields. Capitalizing on the lack of opposition over Bangkok and Hanoi, Air Marshal Greyling orders attacks against the industrial hearts of the ancient cities. Follow-up strikes manage leave the Bangkok and Hanoi largely in ruins, perhaps at 15% of their previous production output. King Phauk of ancient kingdom of Siam (which has allied itself with Japan) is stunned at the destruction of his capital city, and sends an envoy to India with a letter of protest.

Meanwhile, subs continue to evacuate remnants of from the beach head at Port Blair, while supplies and time grows increasingly short for any that remain.

-F-

[Feinder]

Oz, End of Dec '42 -

The actioni over the Northern Territories can be summed up in one word...

Bombs.

Lots of bombs. Daily strikes from Tennet Creek insure that the airfields at Katherine and Daly Waters are continuously cratered. Altho Allied air crew losses are much lighter, the attacks are still by no means milk runs. Recons also indicate that Japanese remain well supplied, as indicated by their ability to quickly and constantly repair damage to the facilities at both towns.

The Japanese attempt a suprise strike against the Allied airfields at Tennet Creek unsing thier long-range "Liz" bombers. Altho surprised (with and no CAP sortied), the strike proves futile - the Allied bombers are away on their own strikes against Katherine and Daly Waters; meanwhile, over 20 Liz bombers are downed by Flak.

On December 29th, an "Irving" reconnasaince plane spots a column of tanks moving north on the dessert road towards Daly Waters. It appears that the Allies are once again, going to attempt to push the Japanese out of Daly Waters...

-F-