Burns vs. Yubari, CHS scenario 158 version 2.08c

[Gen.Hoepner]

Jim, i'd say (not to be too optimistic) that Townsville won't fall anytime by now. Japan simply doens't have enough troops nor supply to spare i guess.
You succesfully saved Oz! Now it's time to study a plan to encircle them and destroy them!
I'd use the 32nd Div and possibly some tank units to try to flank him from Charter Towers...keep them pinned at Townsville and flank his right side! At least this move would force him to fall back and leave Townsville!
 
However great defence! Well done!![;)]

[Jim D Burns]

ORIGINAL: Gen.Hoepner

Jim, i'd say (not to be too optimistic) that Townsville won't fall anytime by now. Japan simply doens't have enough troops nor supply to spare i guess.
You succesfully saved Oz! Now it's time to study a plan to encircle them and destroy them!
I'd use the 32nd Div and possibly some tank units to try to flank him from Charter Towers...keep them pinned at Townsville and flank his right side! At least this move would force him to fall back and leave Townsville!

However great defence! Well done!![;)]

Thanks G.H., but I'm not as sure as you are yet. 2 or 3 more attacks like this will see my units in pretty bad shape and I don't have the replacement pools to replace the losses I'm taking. Already some of the brigades have less than 120 squads (they started with 132) just from the bombardment losses they’ve been taking, so my strength is slowly declining.

Attrition war favors Japan in WitP, because his units can replace all losses at will. In a month or two some of these brigades will have less than 80 squads and all the divisions will have less than 300, so I need at least one more division possibly two before I’m willing to say I’ve stopped him.

I cannot do the encirclement move you suggest just yet, if ever given the size of his army. We have a house rule that you cannot encircle/block a hex without having at least 25% of the strength of the army you’re trying to encircle. So with 190,000 Japanese at Townsville, I’d need to take 47,500 allied troops to block just one hex with. So I’d need 95,000 troops to cut off the two hexes NW and NE required to isolate him.

Another 47,500 would also have to be in Charter Towers as well, so isolating him is not an option right now. The rail hex south is considered blocked already since all/most of my units at Townsville entered through that hex. The 47,500 from Charter towers (assuming I ever scrape together that many) could enter Townsville as well and that hex would then be considered blocked under our house rule.

My best strategy in this instance would be to invade Cooktown and Cairns to capture his supply bases, and then let him come and try to drive me off those bases before his army’s on-hand supply dries up.

Our game shouldn’t see many battles of encirclement to destroy huge armies. I personally think those kinds of battles are gamey given the scale of the hexes and the numbers of troops involved. My opponent agreed, that’s why we have the 25% house rule.

Jim

[Jim D Burns]

9 July 42

Not a good day for the allies today. First AK Gladys Moller hits a Japanese mine at Johnston Island as it arrives to unload supplies at the base. Damage is high with over 50 system damage, but float damage is minor (in the teens I think) and only 2 fires are reported. Thankfully most of the supplies are still aboard, so it’ll remain unloading and then return to Pearl for repairs.

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TF 1066 encounters mine field at Johnston Island (104,78)

Allied Ships
AK Gladys Moller, Mine hits 1, on fire
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Then sub ops for the day has three allied sub attacks, all of which miss or are duds. Then the escorts at Kwajalein counter-attack and sink the Gudgeon. Finally a Japanese sub at Diamond Harbor turns the tables on the ASW group hunting it and sinks a MSW.

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ASW attack near Palembang at 20,55

Japanese Ships
AK Keiyo Maru

Allied Ships
SS Sturgeon
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Sub attack near Kwajalein at 81,84

Japanese Ships
AK Noshiro Maru
PC Shonon Maru #11
PC Shonon Maru #10

Allied Ships
SS Gudgeon, hits 4, on fire, heavy damage
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Sub attack near Diamond Harbour at 28,23

Japanese Ships
SS I-159

Allied Ships
MSW Deloraine, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
MSW Agra
MSW Oudh
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Sub attack near Palembang at 20,55

Japanese Ships
AP Taiyo Maru

Allied Ships
SS Sturgeon
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This puts Japan well ahead in the anti-sub warfare game. Nine allied subs have been sunk to date and only 5 Japanese subs have been sunk. Part of the reason why is probably due to my aggressive use of allied subs in sending them into shallow water port hexes instead of keeping them in the open sea, so I’m not too disappointed.



Overall I’m happy with sub losses for the game. With our house rule keeping all search planes at an altitude of 6,000 feet, we spot subs regularly, but very few sightings are prosecuted as air attacks. Subs actually feel like they’re having an effect in this game, so the rule has worked out well.

24 B-24D’s attack Moulmein today and are intercepted by 19 Oscars. 22 of the B-24’s are damaged and damage to the base is very light. 48 B-17’s then hit the resource at Rangoon and score only 3 hits. Medium bombers from Charter Towers hit the Japanese 16th Division at Townsville.

12 Japanese Helens hit Charter Towers today and are intercepted by 10 Kittyhawks, no planes are shot down. The bombers only cause 1 runway and 1 airbase hit and one of the Helens is destroyed by flak.

Japan’s land bombardment at Townsville leads me to believe perhaps he was hurt worse than I thought. Only 167,000+ troops are reported in the attack, so either he stood down some units or quite a bit of his stuff is now disabled.

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Ground combat at Townsville

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 167466 troops, 794 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 3536

Defending force 86812 troops, 526 guns, 271 vehicles, Assault Value = 1600



Allied ground losses:
11 casualties reported
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In China I conduct a land bombardment at Nanchang and note Japan only has 9 units (4 of them divisions) instead of 11 in the hex. I will make this a regular attack from now on.

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Ground combat at Nanchang

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 96093 troops, 545 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 2961

Defending force 112324 troops, 529 guns, 7 vehicles, Assault Value = 2271


Japanese ground losses:
36 casualties reported
Guns lost 3
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I also note recon only spots 15 units in the forest hex east of Changsha this turn instead of 17, so it looks like Japan is pulling back there as well. I’ve ordered a land bombardment in that hex to get a look at what he’s left behind.

This may be the start of a Japanese redeployment to a new front somewhere in China. All my front line bases are now level 9 forts (except Wuchow which is still digging in), so I should have plenty of time to redeploy forces to any new threatened sector.

I’ve also recently upgraded the two Dutch 8 plane transport squadrons to Dakota’s now and transferred them to China command. China now has 16 dedicated transport planes that can be used around the clock to airlift supplies to any cut-off or isolated bases now, so I’m confident my China defense will be a tough nut for him to crack now.

Jim

[Gen.Hoepner]

mmm...i missed that HR...so Jim if that is so, i'd say anyway you can feel enough safe there. Japan can surely replace more units and faster than you, but the disablement is the real problem of the LCUs and by now the disablement of those jap divisions, along with their fatigue, must be really high! Plus, he surely has supply problems...i'd say keep the 32nd close enough to Townsville, cicle your front units in the meatgrinder so you can always have at least 1 fresh unit inside it.
From now on i'm pretty sure Eastern Oz is safe.
You know...probably the best way to close the back door for those japs in Oz is to attack the Marshalls...right now he's off balance and an attack on his flank may force him to move back in hurry....just an idea eh![;)]

[Jim D Burns]

ORIGINAL: Gen.Hoepner
You know...probably the best way to close the back door for those japs in Oz is to attack the Marshalls...right now he's off balance and an attack on his flank may force him to move back in hurry....just an idea eh![;)]

I’m not so sure the Marshall’s gambit will work in my game, in fact I doubt it would have any chance at all right now of succeeding. Unlike your opponent, my opponent hasn’t simply abandoned his Pacific holdings. He’s also got plenty of level 4 airfields now as he’s been busy building bases all over the map.

No I think a direct shoestring op into the Marshall’s would get nailed hard right now. The Gilberts will be my first step towards the Marshall’s and I’ve been studying how to handle it, but it’s still quite a ways off before I’m ready to attack.

CHS really makes doing anything early as the allies very hard. I’m just now starting to get a decent force built up in the Central and South Pacific theatres, but with level 4 Japanese AF’s as far south as Lunga already, approaching the Solomon’s and the Gilberts is going to be a lot more risky for my guys than it was historically.

I’m also down a carrier, so getting into range to simply shut down an AF is going to be a lot tougher too. Once the July upgrades are done repairing, I think the first thing I’m going to do is plan a few CV raids on his outlying bases to see what kind of air defense he’s got set up and see how well my carriers handle them.

Once I can gauge how safe/dangerous it is to approach his network of supporting airfields, I’ll be better informed on when to commit to my first counter-attack.

This is the reason why I said your early conquest of the Marshall’s was such a huge victory for you. The cost for me to get where you already are is going to be very high. I may not even be able to achieve it until 1944 when I have carrier dominance.

I still say Troll has lost far more in your game by giving up the Marshall’s than he’s gained with his victories on the rest of the map. The US is the main antagonist for Japan in this game and he’s given the US an extra year+ by giving you the Marshall’s for virtually no cost.

Jim

[Ron Saueracker]

ORIGINAL: Jim D Burns

ORIGINAL: Ron Saueracker
I don't see how this mod is pro Japan in terms of air combat. The more modern a/c the Allies start getting soon should help alter the current Japanese advantages.

Look at post 116 on page 4 for a side by side of fighter stats. This is nik mod + CHS and nik gives Japanese fighters 8-10 points of maneuver advantage for the entire game. He also halved air speeds, so it is definitely WAY over the top in favor of the Japanese in air to air. I can't even kill a Nate if they are rested with no fatigue. My only real air to air successes have been vs. heavily fatigued fighter squadrons or vs. LRCAP fighters.

My conclusions so far are this particular version of nik mod basically makes allied fighters useless. I’m tracking losses every month on the 6th to keep a record of things to see if this opinion is justified.

So far it is more than justified.

Jim

Oh. Nikmod. Yeah he bolsterred the Japanese fighters a bit too much I believe as well. Good Luck!!![;)]

[Ron Saueracker]

I'd do the sane thing as well and stay on the defensive Jim. There is no way in hell that an Allied commander would risk an amphib counterattack anywhere at this juncture in your situation IRL.

What is the make up of your CV TFs? Being on the defensive, especially in support of land bases facing invasion, speed really is not as important as if you were strictly raiding (which in WITP is basically pointless given the over the top search mechanisms and ability to transfer and launch literally hundreds of heavily escorted torp armed 2Es, overwhelming your 1942 CVs). So, why not place an old BB or two in each CV TF for the obvious benefits of flak and targetting?

[Jim D Burns]

ORIGINAL: Ron Saueracker
What is the make up of your CV TFs? So, why not place an old BB or two in each CV TF for the obvious benefits of flak and targetting?

I have no CV task forces right now, as they are all in port repairing the July upgrade damage. I'll probably do as you suggest for any moves deep into Japanese air space and place a BB in each, but for normal operations CA's and CL's/CLAA's are the heaviest ships I'll use. I want to be able to get out of dodge fast if KB appears and having to leave a lone BB behind if I had to run would suck.

So I’ll only use the slow BB’s in the CV task forces for deliberate offensive ops into hostile air space. Once the fast BB’s become available though, I’ll always keep a BB in one or two of the CV task forces then.

Jim

[Jim D Burns]

10 – 11 July 42

10 July starts out with a Japanese sub attack on a large AP in the Indian Ocean. The sub misses its target, but now Japan knows there is an AP task force west of Sumatra.

Unfortunately this is a large fast AP task force heading back to Aden after having brought the 6th AIF Division to Brisbane. It can probably get away from a potential KB attack as it has a 3/3 move plot for full speed, but there is another task force currently in the Indian Ocean about 4 hexes north of this one.

That task force is carrying Dutch transport planes and is on route to India with them. It has a max move plot of 1/1, so is a sitting duck if KB, which recently was just at Port Arthur, comes to call. I’ve done the only thing I can with this convoy and plotted it to move as close to the map edge as possible.

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Sub attack at 3,56

Japanese Ships
SS I-166

Allied Ships
AP Wakefield
AP Corfu
AP Eastern Prince
MSW Warnambool
MSW Lismore
MSW Ipswitch
MSW Cairns
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An allied sub attack at Palembang misses its target.

At Townsville allied medium bombers hit the 48th and Guards Divisions. Near Alice Springs my Hudson’s hit the 2nd Division which is pursuing my retreating units from Tennant Creek.

Other than my two Chinese land bombardments today, nothing else of note occurred. I did get a look at what Japan has left in the forest hex east of Changsha today, here’s a screenshot.



11 July sub ops consist of a Dutch sub attacking a large Japanese AP in the Malacca Strait, but the sub misses.

Allied Hudson’s again hit the 2nd Division east of Alice Springs.

Japanese troops land at Panggoe and Munda today. These are two dot bases west of Lunga, so it looks like Japan is going to build up the smaller bases in the Solomon’s along with Lunga, Shortlands and the other traditional large bases that he already has built up.

Japan conducts a land bombardment at Townsville today and allied casualties are over 200, looks like Japan is rapidly recovering from his disablements caused by the recent attack.

Jim

[Jim D Burns]

12 – 13 July 42

12 July proves to be a very quiet turn. Sub ops consisted of the Gar attacking and missing a Japanese ML at Rabaul. Later in the turn a Japanese ASW attack on the Gar misses the sub.

The only other thing of note to occur today was the land bombardment phase. I’ll simply post the bombardment text rather than summarize it.

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Ground combat at Nanchang

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 98305 troops, 513 guns, 7 vehicles, Assault Value = 2266

Defending force 103598 troops, 540 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 2970



Allied ground losses:
72 casualties reported
Guns lost 1
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Ground combat at Ichang

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 74279 troops, 342 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1753

Defending force 77507 troops, 317 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 2192

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Ground combat at Townsville

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 8044 troops, 167 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 3078

Defending force 88130 troops, 564 guns, 278 vehicles, Assault Value = 1635



Allied ground losses:
109 casualties reported
Guns lost 1
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Ground combat at Nanchang

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 96250 troops, 539 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 2970

Defending force 112177 troops, 525 guns, 7 vehicles, Assault Value = 2266


Japanese ground losses:
174 casualties reported
Guns lost 8
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Ground combat at 47,36

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 106416 troops, 568 guns, 2 vehicles, Assault Value = 3357

Defending force 122188 troops, 472 guns, 83 vehicles, Assault Value = 2554


Japanese ground losses:
71 casualties reported
Guns lost 1
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Sub ops for 13 July start off bad when the US sub SS Saury gets intercepted in the Java Sea while transiting to a new port and is hit hard by a Japanese ASW attack. With 80 float damage and a very long voyage to the nearest allied port, I doubt the sub will survive.

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ASW attack at 27,66

Japanese Ships
DD Nenohi
DD Hatsuharu
DD Urakaze

Allied Ships
SS Saury, hits 1, on fire
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Then in the Indian Ocean Japanese sub I-11 makes an attack on my fast AP’s returning to Aden, but misses its target. I’ve detached the escorts from this fleet this turn and sent them as an ASW task force to escort the convoy of float planes in the much slower task force.

At Rabaul the Gar attacks the ML again but again misses its target.

Finally the Dutch sub KXV targets a Japanese AK in the Malacca Strait and scores a hit. Minor damage is caused to the sub in the ensuing counter-attack.

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Sub attack at 21,47

Japanese Ships
AK Kaimei Maru, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
PC Ch 24
PC Ch 23
PC Ch 19
PC Sonan Maru #6
PC Kyo Maru #11
PC Kyo Maru #2

Allied Ships
SS KXV, hits 1
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22 Japanese Sally’s bomb Hengchow today but score no hits. 1 bomber is shot down by flak.

Then 38 Japanese zeroes fly a sweep mission over Mandalay. The well rested zeros are untouchable as they shred through 22 of my equally well rested hurricanes flying CAP over the base. 7 Hurricanes are shot down and 8 are damaged while not 1 zero is even damaged in return.

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Day Air attack on Mandalay , at 33,29

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 35
A6M3 Zero x 3
Ki-46-II Dinah x 1

Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIb x 22

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Hurricane IIb: 7 destroyed, 8 damaged
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If my opponent rests up his zeros before attacks like this, I simply cannot touch them.

Japan and the allies continue to trade land bombardments in China, nothing else of note to report except that Rockhampton reached a level 7 airfield today.

I’ve scheduled a large raid to hit Cairns tomorrow. If everything syncs up and I get good coordination rolls, there should be almost 200 bombers hitting the base, half of which will be heavy bombers from Rockhampton.

Jim

[Jim D Burns]

14 July 42

Today is a busy day in game, starting with a lot of sub and ASW activity. First the SS Gar makes two attacks on a Japanese ML at Rabaul and misses on the first and scores a dud hit on the second. Then a few hexes SE of Rabaul the SS Shark attacks another ML but that attack also misses.

Near Lunga the SS S-45 is subjected to two ASW attacks and manages to avoid both attacks. The SS Saury is subjected to two ASW attacks near Soerabaja and is hit in both attacks for a total of 5 hits. With 78 float damage it looks like a lot of last turns 80 float damage must have repaired itself quite a bit before these two attacks. That or today’s hits were minor and caused no significant additional float damage.

Finally in waters just south of Tokyo the SS Grunion is subjected to an ASW attack and suffers two minor hits. With only 4 system damage, the sub is plotted a new destination and shall remain in hostile waters.

Then over 100 Hudson bombers and 15 Beaufighters hit Tennant Creek today and cause heavy damage to the base. No planes are lost to flak, but 3 Hudson’s are lost due to op losses.

Two large allied air raids are then launched against Cairns today. The first raid is flown by medium bombers from Charter Towers, and 84 Japanese zeros flying CAP intercept the raid. 20 Kittyhawks are lost in air to air, but their sacrifice allows the majority of the bombers to get through.

Damage to the base is heavy and lots of planes are destroyed on the ground. Then 118 heavy bombers from Rockhampton hit Cairns and all the bombers get past the remaining 54 zeros still flying CAP. The base is again hit hard and is probably closed after today’s results..


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Day Air attack on Cairns , at 48,102

Japanese aircraft
A6M2-N Rufe x 10
A6M2 Zero x 74

Allied aircraft
Kittyhawk I x 39
Beaufort V-IX x 30
B-25C Mitchell x 16
B-26B Marauder x 63

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2-N Rufe: 2 destroyed, 3 damaged
A6M2 Zero: 25 destroyed, 24 damaged
Ki-49 Helen: 2 destroyed
H6K4 Mavis: 1 destroyed
D3A2 Val: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Kittyhawk I: 20 destroyed
Beaufort V-IX: 2 destroyed, 8 damaged
B-25C Mitchell: 5 damaged
B-26B Marauder: 3 destroyed, 30 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
440 casualties reported
Guns lost 13

Airbase hits 10
Airbase supply hits 9
Runway hits 57

Aircraft Attacking:
7 x B-26B Marauder bombing at 6000 feet
<snip>
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Day Air attack on Cairns , at 48,102

Japanese aircraft
A6M2-N Rufe x 7
A6M2 Zero x 47

Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 48
B-24D Liberator x 70

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2-N Rufe: 2 destroyed, 3 damaged
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed, 9 damaged
Ki-49 Helen: 1 destroyed
D3A2 Val: 2 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 13 damaged
B-24D Liberator: 14 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
187 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

Airbase hits 17
Airbase supply hits 4
Runway hits 61

Aircraft Attacking:
4 x B-24D Liberator bombing at 15000 feet
<snip>
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Japanese air losses reported today were FOW, as a total of 44 zeroes , 6 Rufes, 4 Helens, 4 Val’s and 1 Mavin were lost today at Cairns. Most of these were destroyed on the ground.



I’m very relieved with today’s results at Cairns. My three Kittyhawk squadrons are now at about half strength and there are no replacement air frames, so had I not been able to close the airfield I would have been forced to once again withdraw my air squadrons from Charter Towers due to lack of fighter protection.

Now if I can just keep the airfield closed, Japan will hopefully be forced to pull his air squadrons back for a change.

Finally the three separate land bombardments going on in China trade shots again today. After looking over my unit’s experience levels, I turned off two of the bombardments. All units in those two now have 59 experience, so they won’t gain anymore due to just land bombardments. They also are not causing much damage, so I see no more real benefit to continuing my bombardments.

Nanchang will still be bombarded until those units too all have 59 experience.

For those worried about supplies in China, there are approx. 75,000 supplies combined between Chungking and Chengtu, so the allied 100 plane air lift into Chengtu has been doing really well in getting supplies into China.

Also now that most front line bases are no longer digging in or constructing airfields, supply has been slowly growing in China, so I’m more than able to keep supplies flowing to these bombarding units. China is nowhere near flush with supplies and I’m still having major problems in the north. But I can easily sustain some bombardment attacks in the south now if needed.

Jim

[Gen.Hoepner]

That's a good result Jim at Cairns. If you manage to shut down that AF, the Japs will soon be in real troubles in Oz...!!!

[Jim D Burns]

15 July 42

Sub ops today consist of two Japanese ASW attacks against two of my subs passing through hex 63, 46 south of Tokyo. Both subs manage to evade their attackers.

91 Hudson’s hit Daily Waters today. Damage to the base is light. Tennant Creek is revisited by my Beaufighters, but no damage is caused. I had forgotten to change their mission when I reassigned the Hudson’s to Daily Waters.

My medium bombers from Charter Towers hit Cairns again today and destroy some more planes on the ground. Damage to the base is heavy.

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Day Air attack on Cairns , at 48,102

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft
Kittyhawk I x 3
Beaufort V-IX x 18
B-25C Mitchell x 8
B-26B Marauder x 22

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 12 destroyed
A6M2-N Rufe: 4 destroyed
Ki-49 Helen: 2 destroyed
H6K4 Mavis: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Beaufort V-IX: 3 damaged
B-26B Marauder: 5 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
173 casualties reported

Airbase hits 3
Airbase supply hits 3
Runway hits 42

Aircraft Attacking:
9 x Beaufort V-IX bombing at 6000 feet
<snip>
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KB is spotted south of Colombo today. It looks like he’s making a run on my fast AP’s his subs detected moving north along the map edge. The AP’s are west of Colombo and will probably outdistance KB unless he tries a full speed move northwest.

If KB keeps heading northwest this turn, I’ll have to bring the British Fleet out from Bombay next turn and either try for a CV engagement or run to Aden. I rebased about 60 medium bombers to Colombo. If KB ventures too close and gets hit by the land based air, I think I’ll bring down the British CV’s. But if he goes around my land based air, the Brits will make a dash for Aden.

The AK fleet carrying the Dutch transport groups is in a bad spot southwest of KB along the map edge. I’ve ordered them south, but their speed is so slow they’re sitting ducks if they get spotted. Luckily his subs haven’t detected the fleet yet, but if KB ventures a bit further southwest…

After months and months of no good Intel, SigInt provides me with two juicy bits of info today.



Both of these potential targets are still doable for Japan in our game. I think the attack on Geraldton is a certainty as it ties in with his commitments in the north and northeast of Australia already, but Colombo/Ceylon may just be a bluff. I can easily fly in British reinforcements to Colombo or Trincomalee from Bangalore if need be, so I doubt he can take the island without a major multi-divisional commitment.

I have to say though, this news does throw out the window any thought I had of sending some Brits to Australia. If it is a bluff, it is a well played counter-intelligence bluff on the part of my opponent.

Geraldton and Perth in general is a completely different kettle of fish than Ceylon is though. It is far from any rapid reinforcements and very hard to defend due to the fact all the bases are along the coast. So I’ve now changed my plans to send the Americal Division to Townsville once it is relieved by the 1st USMC Division.

Instead I’ll send it to Kalgoorlie where it will act as a reserve for Western Australia and begin to build up the airfield there. From there it can rapidly reinforce Perth if needed, but more importantly it can act as a strong fallback position for the weak forces holding the western bases to run to if they get into trouble.

I don’t know what Japan has left to throw at Western Australia, but I doubt I have the strength to hold all three western bases against it. I think it’s better to fallback to Kalgoorlie and actually have a chance to hold there, and fight my way back later than it is to risk the total destruction of the western units trying to fight on the west coast right now.

Once I’m stronger I can easily fight my way back, but I need to preserve what fighting power I have right now first. Otherwise it’ll take years to build up enough new land strength in Australia to use to counter-attack with.

Jim

[Jim D Burns]

16 July 42

Sub ops today start with the SS Growler making two failed attacks in waters near the Japanese home island. A Japanese ASW attack then scores a single hit on the Growler and causes light damage.

Then at Palembang I see this odd attack. 3 Japanese AK’s make an ASW attack on the Swordfish. Does Japan have AK’s with anti-sub weapons? No hits are scored so perhaps it’s an anomaly of the code or something.

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ASW attack near Palembang at 20,55

Japanese Ships
AK Kogyo Maru
AK Yamasimo Maru
AK Kanto Maru

Allied Ships
SS Swordfish
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Finally Japanese sub I-28 slams a torpedo into AP Wakefield which is part of the AP task force running north along the west map edge towards Aden.

In Burma a squadron of A-24’s based at Mandalay makes an attack on Meiktila and causes minor damage to the base. 1 plane is shot down by flak and causes me to question the decision to allow my dive bombers to attack airfields.

I’ll allow one or two more attacks to launch, but if I keep losing planes like this I’ll switch them to naval missions only. With only 10 replacement air frames a month, I cannot afford to lose many of these air frames.

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Day Air attack on Meiktila , at 32,31


Allied aircraft
Lysander I x 1
Hurricane IIb x 8
A-24 Dauntless x 18


Allied aircraft losses
A-24 Dauntless: 1 destroyed, 4 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
26 casualties reported

Runway hits 6

Aircraft Attacking:
17 x A-24 Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
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Another raid is launched at Cairns today destroying more Japanese planes on the ground there. With some of the bomber squadrons morale as low as the mid 30’s, I’m forced to stand them down for some rest.

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Day Air attack on Cairns , at 48,102

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft
Kittyhawk I x 11
Beaufort V-IX x 18
B-25C Mitchell x 11
B-26B Marauder x 28

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 6 destroyed
A6M2-N Rufe: 1 destroyed
H6K4 Mavis: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Beaufort V-IX: 6 damaged
B-25C Mitchell: 1 damaged
B-26B Marauder: 2 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
162 casualties reported
Guns lost 3

Airbase hits 7
Runway hits 38

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x Beaufort V-IX bombing at 6000 feet
<snip>
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SigInt reports an SNLF unit is preparing to attack Vizagapatam, a base on the east coast of India between Madras and Calcutta. I find it interesting that a small unit is preparing for a base on the mainland of India. I would have thought he would use divisions or brigades for deception purposes. This has me beginning to think he may actually be planning to attack India.

I’m going to have to spend some time looking over my dispositions in India next turn. I’ve got a decent defense set up now, so I’m pretty confident I can hold. But I just don’t know how many more divisions Japan can field right now. If he had at least 6 I’d be nervous about India, 8-12 would be a major threat and hard to stop.

He’s got about 10-12 in Australia and at least 3 in Burma, but all the small stuff (brigades, NLF’s, SNLF’s, etc.) are free to commit elsewhere along with any other divisions he may have available. He probably could have paid political points to free up at least 3 and possibly 4 divisions by now, and I know he gets a lot of reinforcements too.

My British Corps at Bangalore is about 1,000 AV or so and I’d guess the India Command units around Calcutta are at least that strong as well. So I could throw at least 2,000 AV at any major landing along with lots of stuff that is currently rebuilding.

Other than the normal land bombardments nothing else to report today.

Jim

[Jim D Burns]

17 July 42

Today starts with one of my DM’s hitting a mine at Midway. For some reason this mine attack cancelled the mine laying mission I had the DM’s assigned to do and the task force is already several hexes away from Midway heading back towards Pearl. I’ll send some MSW’s in to clear the mines before I send the DM’s back.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 1019 encounters mine field at Midway Island (97,63)

Allied Ships
DM Ramsay, Mine hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

At Truck the SS Triton takes a shot at a DD which misses. The sub manages to spot a CVL in the task force.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Truk at 66,78

Japanese Ships
DD Yamagumo
DD Oshio
DD Natsushio
CVL Zuiho

Allied Ships
SS Triton
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Then at Pago Pago, Japanese sub I-18 slams a torpedo into the side of a tanker which causes all the cargo to spill out and catch fire. Damage is heavy and the tanker is put into port to try and control the flooding. This tanker is part of a resupply task force that just arrived at Pago Pago, and its fuel was half the fuel in the task force.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Pago Pago at 96,113

Japanese Ships
SS I-18

Allied Ships
TK Mexicos H Whittier, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
PC Tiger
PC Reliance
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Finally at Palembang another Japanese AK conducts an ASW attack on the Swordfish. I have no idea if any weapons are being fired as no damage is being caused.

A few turns ago I finished a level 4 airfield on Umnak Island in the Aleutians. I rebased in some medium bombers and they scored their first Japanese victims today. A resupply convoy at Amchitka Island was attacked and three ships were hit.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Amchitka Island at 94,37


Allied aircraft
B-26B Marauder x 30


No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
AK Yosida Maru #1, Bomb hits 4, on fire, heavy damage
AK Hokorei Maru
AK Seiko Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AK Kenkoku Maru
AK Shoto Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x B-26B Marauder bombing at 6000 feet
<snip>
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

We trade land bombardments at Nanchang today. The only other land bombardment is at Townsville, and I note there are only 6 Japanese divisions at Townsville now. Here’s this turns bombardment for a look at our comparative AV’s. At one point he had close to 4,000 AV there, so he’s pulled out quite a bit of strength.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Townsville

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 8184 troops, 172 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 2708

Defending force 88820 troops, 595 guns, 278 vehicles, Assault Value = 1646



Allied ground losses:
212 casualties reported
Guns lost 1
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I guess he is either giving up on Townsville, or perhaps he is simply pulling back to allow some units a chance to refit. Whatever the reason I’m glad for the reprieve. With forts at level 9 now I’m feeling more and more confident I’ll be able to hold him in the northeast now.

Especially since my airforce has been hitting him so hard lately, I think he’s going to find it very difficult to extricate himself from Australia if he wants to leave now. I also think resupply is going to become very problematic for him if I can maintain air superiority in the northeast.

I just wish I had enough land force to launch a counter-attack, as now would be the perfect time for one. But I don’t have enough land strength, and I won’t have for quite some time yet.

Jim

[Jim D Burns]

18 July 42

Sub ops today consist of another bizarre ASW attack by two Japanese AK’s at Palembang against the Swordfish. Then another ASW attack at Singapore by four Japanese DD’s scores a single hit on the Dutch sub KXIV.

Japanese MSW ships diligently continue to clear the minefields around Port Blair. It appears he’s only got 2 MSW’s there working on the task currently, I wonder how long it’ll take them to clear 2,000+ mines?

My A-24’s from Mandalay hit Meiktila again today and no planes were lost. I’ll keep them at it until/if flak losses become too regular.

I sent my medium bombers from Charter Towers against Cooktown today and even though 17 zeros intercepted the flight, no bombers were lost while 2 zeros were downed. Damage to the base was moderate, a few more attacks like this should get the base shut down.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Cooktown , at 48,100

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 17

Allied aircraft
Beaufort V-IX x 28
B-25C Mitchell x 12
B-26B Marauder x 36

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 2 destroyed, 5 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Beaufort V-IX: 2 damaged
B-25C Mitchell: 3 damaged
B-26B Marauder: 4 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
110 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

Airbase hits 6
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 26

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x B-26B Marauder bombing at 6000 feet
<snip>
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A swarm of 80 Japanese zeros appears over Mandalay and cleans house against my 21 defending Hurricanes. 16 Hurricanes were shot down with only 1 zero shot down in return.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Mandalay , at 33,29

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 58
A6M3 Zero x 22
Ki-46-II Dinah x 1

Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIb x 21

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Hurricane IIb: 15 destroyed
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Japan conducts an air raid in China and causes moderate damage to a land unit. He hasn’t been flying a lot of raids in China, so I thought I’d report this one. It’s a small strik3e, so I’m not too worried that this is the start of a large air offensive in China, but he may be trying to soften up my units for a land attack. I’ll keep an eye on things.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 42nd Chinese Corps, at 47,34

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 24
Ki-51 Sonia x 9
Ki-21-II Sally x 15
Ki-49 Helen x 15

No Japanese losses


Allied ground losses:
47 casualties reported

Aircraft Attacking:
9 x Ki-51 Sonia bombing at 2000 feet
15 x Ki-21-II Sally bombing at 11000 feet
15 x Ki-49 Helen bombing at 8000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Japan conducts land bombardments at Nanchang and Townsville and I conduct one at Nanchang.

Nothing else to report today.

Jim

[Gen.Hoepner]

How's the situation of the AF at Cairns? Are u able to keep it suppressed?
I'd focus of closing those two damned AFs in Northern Oz now. If CookTown and Cairns aren't operable the tables will turn completely in your favor in OZ...keep it up!!

[Jim D Burns]

19 July 42

Lots of sub activity today, so I’ll post the text for them. Net result for the day was the SS Swordfish finally tagged one of those pesky AK’s at Palembang (twice) and sent her to the bottom. The Dutch sub KXVI was hit 3 times by convoy escorts one hex out of Singapore when it attacked and missed an AK.

Finally two Japanese sub attacks on the AP’s returning to Aden both missed their targets. Boy what a relief, I was holding my breath through both attacks, those are some valuable (and fast) AP’s.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 9,7

Japanese Ships
SS I-28

Allied Ships
AP Eastern Prince
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Palembang at 20,55

Japanese Ships
AK Noto Maru, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AK Yamasimo Maru

Allied Ships
SS Swordfish
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 23,52

Japanese Ships
AK Kyushu Maru
AK Sado Maru
AK Kunishima Maru
DD Satsuki

Allied Ships
SS KXVI, hits 3
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Palembang at 20,55

Japanese Ships
AK Noto Maru, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

Allied Ships
SS Swordfish
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 9,7

Japanese Ships
SS I-28

Allied Ships
AP West Point
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

My opponent mentioned to me via email today how demoralizing it was to lose the use of Cairns. He doesn’t think he’ll ever be able to fly planes from there again, and I’d say I have to agree with him after the result of today’s raids.

Today saw the heavies conduct what is going to be their normal raids flown about once every other day or so from now on. The B-24’s hit Cairns and the B-17’s hit units at Townsville. The results are good and damage was more than sufficient to dissuade my opponent from basing planes at Cairns again.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Cairns , at 48,102

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft
B-24D Liberator x 84

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 3 destroyed
A6M2-N Rufe: 2 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
B-24D Liberator: 3 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
865 casualties reported
Guns lost 11

Airbase hits 5
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 52

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x B-24D Liberator bombing at 15000 feet
<snip>
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 48th Division, at 46,105


Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 46


No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
157 casualties reported
Guns lost 5

Aircraft Attacking:
9 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 15000 feet
<snip>
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

So now it just remains to be seen if my medium bombers at Charter Towers can keep Cooktown closed as well. Yesterday was the first strike and I’ve ordered another there for next turn.

The only problem with this is I have to take my mediums off of naval attack to force them to hit Cooktown instead of Cairns, so this leaves Japan a brief opening to get ships into port, but usually it’s just for a turn or two.

I’ve got lots of subs around to help spot incoming fleets, so hopefully I’ll get some warning and can make sure I get a naval attack on any incoming fleets. But for now no fleets are sighted anywhere between Cooktown and Rabaul, so I can focus on closing the airfield.

Japan conducts a land bombardment at Townsville today, and we both conduct land bombardments at Nanchang.

Jim

[Jim D Burns]

ORIGINAL: Gen.Hoepner

How's the situation of the AF at Cairns? Are u able to keep it suppressed?
I'd focus of closing those two damned AFs in Northern Oz now. If CookTown and Cairns aren't operable the tables will turn completely in your favor in OZ...keep it up!!

Hi G.H.,

Today’s AAR answered your question I think. I’d have to say I now agree with your earlier assessment of the situation in northeastern Australia.

I now believe I’ve stopped him due to my total air superiority in the NE now. Before I was giving too much credit to his 100+ zeros to stop my heavy bombers, but after the results from the past week or so, I’d say he is doomed in NE Australia unless he can somehow regain air dominance.

I guess I should state I’m guarded a bit still, as a landing in force at Perth will force me to rebase a lot of air strength west and that would probably allow him to regain air dominance again in the NE. But that would only be for a short time as soon I’ll hopefully be able to rebase the rest of the SWPAC air units from Noumea to Australia.

It’s only 2-3 more medium squadrons, but that will hopefully be enough to tip the balance back in my favor if he does manage to take it away for a short time.

But even if he does regain air superiority again, with level 9 forts and the 37th Division rapidly approaching, I may have reached the point of critical mass and stopped him for good no matter what he does now.

I just wish I had enough power to exploit my growing advantage. But since I don’t my goal now is to keep his units trapped ashore on Australia somehow until I do have enough force to exploit this. It will be very hard to do, and I doubt I can completely prevent him from leaving, but I can make it very costly for him to leave.

He’ll have to bring in KB to cover an evacuation, so I’ll get another shot at his CV’s. Hopefully I can sink one to help mitigate the loss of the Yorktown before we fight our first CV engagement. I doubt I’ll get another shot at his CV’s after that though, so this will most likely be my last chance to even the score.

Jim

[ny59giants]

The hordes of B-17/24s should make him reconsider his options. [:D]&nbsp; I would set some of your bomber with a Primary mission of Naval Attack and a Secondary mission of AF attack and set the desired AF for your target. If they don't find any naval targets, they will hit the AF.&nbsp; [;)]&nbsp;&nbsp; My "heavies" in India are at 180 (B-24s & Liberator III) and in a few months they will hit 200. Enough to shut down almost any AF. [8D]
&nbsp;
I don't see how he can attack again in Australia and even think about going for India this late in the game. If he does, then its time for the Americans to start taking back some islands in the Central Pacific.
&nbsp;
I just found out that some of my newer PT boats come with DCs and they have an ASW value of 4. That should be a surprise for a few Japanese players and their subs. [X(]
&nbsp;
You might consider moving a few units earlier towards Imphal from Mandalay as it takes 30 days to get there (just in case).