RIDERS ON THE STORM-THANK YOU

Gen.Hoepner · Post by **Gen.Hoepner** » Tue Mar 11, 2008 6:10 pm

Situation around Ponape

Fishbed · Post by **Fishbed** » Tue Mar 11, 2008 6:11 pm

Don't you want to put your "can't aim straight" sub command at contribution for some troop transport too, the Japanese way?

I know you can't carry a hell lot of guys in a sub, but for supply and/or troops, if the situation is so critical on Ponape, I suppose you should put every forces you can have in the reinforcement battle...

Gen.Hoepner · Post by **Gen.Hoepner** » Tue Mar 11, 2008 6:15 pm

Subs at this stage are very usefull chasing the KB. He's forced to keep the KB moving up and down, always risking to find a nasty fish into the stomache of his precious CVs...Cannot waste them in those tasks, also because there are still plenty of mines at Ponape and i don't want to risk them like that.
But i have a surprise for him...let' s see if it works....[;)]...and i have to thank you Fishbed for having, unvolountarly, reminded that[:D]

Fishbed · Post by **Fishbed** » Wed Mar 12, 2008 12:05 am

You're welcome, keep it a surprise, I like surprises, especially  bad ones  for your opponent [8D]

Gen.Hoepner · Post by **Gen.Hoepner** » Wed Mar 12, 2008 10:16 am

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 06/18/42
 
Seems that the days of the Marines' dominion at Ponape are ending.
Today the brave americans got a terrible day.
At night came 2 heavy bombardment runs. The whole cruiser fleet is at sea... damage isn't that terrible but it's just a beginning...
Then, when the light came, the marines found over their heads more than 20 zeros patrolling the skies...
Late in the morning a sweep mission made by the KB and the zeros over Ponape were more than 100!!...
then the bombers came. 2 different waves, one composed by Vals and Kates from the Kido Butai targeted the trenches of the marine regiment, killing nearly 300 men...after that it was the time of the Truk land based betties....more destruction!!!
In the afternoon what remained of the japanese former invasion force attacked en masse...impaling themself on the marines' positions...
However the bombings scrumbled the defensive positions and now the AV is absolutely reduced[:o]
I'm pretty sure another invasion is on the way....
 
My Dakotas, without any escort, were intercepted and shot down en masse...lost 11 of them today...with a lot of marines in them....[:(]

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Naval bombardment of Ponape, at 73,80

Japanese Ships
CL Yubari
CL Tatsuta
CL Tama
CL Kuma
CL Abukuma
CL Yura
CL Isuzu

Allied ground losses:
122 casualties reported
Guns lost 3
Vehicles lost 1

Runway hits 5
Port hits 1
Port supply hits 1

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naval bombardment of Ponape, at 73,80

Japanese Ships
CA Kinugasa
CA Ashigara
CA Chokai
CA Maya
CA Chikuma

Allied ground losses:
70 casualties reported
 
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Day Air attack on Ponape , at 73,80

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 23

No Japanese losses

the LRCAP over Ponape from the KB (positioned 2 hexes west of Ponape)
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Day Air attack on 2nd Marine/A Division, at 73,80

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 35
D3A2 Val x 22
B5N2 Kate x 184[X(][X(][X(][X(]

Japanese aircraft losses
D3A2 Val: 1 destroyed, 4 damaged
B5N2 Kate: 29 damaged

Allied ground losses:
308 casualties reported
Guns lost 7
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 2nd Marine/A Division, at 73,80

Japanese aircraft
G3M Nell x 34
G4M1 Betty x 68

Japanese aircraft losses
G3M Nell: 3 damaged
G4M1 Betty: 1 destroyed, 10 damaged

Allied ground losses:
133 casualties reported
Guns lost 1
 
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Ground combat at Ponape

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 2113 troops, 21 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 37

Defending force 6830 troops, 68 guns, 2 vehicles, Assault Value = 169

Japanese max assault: 32 - adjusted assault: 0

Allied max defense: 113 - adjusted defense: 70 [:o][:o][:o][:o][:o][:o]

Japanese assault odds: 0 to 1 (fort level 0)

Japanese ground losses:
357 casualties reported
Guns lost 9

Allied ground losses:
35 casualties reported
 

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Ground combat at Chungking[8|][8|]

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 27 troops, 1 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 2

Defending force 124883 troops, 712 guns, 8 vehicles, Assault Value = 2729

Japanese max assault: 2 - adjusted assault: 0

Allied max defense: 2472 - adjusted defense: 5501

Japanese assault odds: 0 to 1 (fort level 8)

Japanese ground losses:
14 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

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52nd Naval Guard Unit Wiped Out at Ponape by attrition!!!

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Maizuru 2nd SNLF Wiped Out at Ponape by attrition!!!

Jim D Burns · Post by **Jim D Burns** » Wed Mar 12, 2008 11:27 am

ORIGINAL: Gen.Hoepner
Ground combat at Chungking[8|][8|]

I have to ask, what are the experience levels of your Chinese units now? With all these para drops, you probably have some in the 80's by now. This is the one bright spot about this gamey tactic he's using that I can think of. But if you're not gaining any experience due to how tiny his units are...

Jim

Fishbed · Post by **Fishbed** » Wed Mar 12, 2008 6:22 pm

Hum that's a lot of KB bombers - arguably the CAP over the KB can't be that heavy...

2ndACR · Post by **2ndACR** » Wed Mar 12, 2008 7:48 pm

All those Kates sure looks like he is using CVE's and the carrier capable Kates or he is keeping alot of Vals and such on naval strike. I bet he has a 80% CAP setting over KB. I would not really worry too much about your AV. You look pretty good. Your disruption is high, so that is why your adjusted is so bad.
 
Your actual AV is 169, so he has to bring either a heavy brigade or more to kick you out. No using Naval guards and such, he better bring alot more oomph to have a chance. Plus, I would have a surface combat TF standing by to react 6 hexes to any landing he attempts. That way, you have a chance to either prevent his landing or at least shoot it up. Say, 2 Boise Cl's and a couple DD's. There is risk involved, but either he has to bring KB closer to your air force to hit them or use his Betty's from Truk. Count back 6 hexes from ponape towards your closest base and that is where you position them. Make sure to use very aggressive commander and have them at full speed setting so they will shoot and scoot.

Fishbed · Post by **Fishbed** » Wed Mar 12, 2008 7:50 pm

Yes. GH listen to that good man please and let's have some more fireworks.

And if he's really coming for a around-the-clock bombardment, put more subs around Ponape. They won't like that.

Don't you want to send some Eniwetok PTs to Ponape btw? Some torpedos from their tubes may ruin his day too.

2ndACR · Post by **2ndACR** » Wed Mar 12, 2008 8:20 pm

But do  not risk your CV's. Just pray that your TF does not intercept a BB TF there. You want to pound on his CA, CL and DD's and all those AP's he will have to bring. You will have to accept that you may lose 1 or the whole TF because of any damage that occurs.
 
Of course, a really gutsy move would be to wait until you are sure he is low on strike points and then hit KB with your remaining CV's. If using CVE's he will only get 3 full strikes off each one, his fleet CV's will get lots more of course.

Gen.Hoepner · Post by **Gen.Hoepner** » Thu Mar 13, 2008 6:32 am

For what concerns the SCTF i've at hand at Eniwetok a TF composed by 3 CLs (omaha class with torps) and 7 DDs, with the best aggressive leader and captains i could find. But i'll decide at the last moment if to use it at Ponape or not. He's surely bringing in heavy escorts for his invasion, so i won't waste my assets. The KB won't be attacked for the moment. I'll try to stay on the defensive, so to maximize the damage i could inflict to him.
The subs are already dispatched and are moving in order not to give him an easy advance towards Ponape with his fleet.
He has 19 units at Truk...so if he wants he can bring in enough forces to dislodge my marines from there...
Anyway, no turns yesterday from Troll...hopefully today we'll see some action.
 
Ah, Fishbed, the PTs cannot travel in ocean hexes(HRs) so i cannot send them to Ponape from Eniwetok....[:'(]
 
My CVs are grouping at PH now that the Wasp has finally arrived. they won't be risked at Ponape again... The raid on Marcus Island is still on scheldue...as long as the KB is down there i can move more or less safely

treespider · Post by **treespider** » Thu Mar 13, 2008 11:50 am

ORIGINAL: Gen.Hoepner

Ah, Fishbed, the PTs cannot travel in ocean hexes(HRs) so i cannot send them to Ponape from Eniwetok....[:'(]

Any chance of running an AK in loaded with aupplies and building some?

Gen.Hoepner · Post by **Gen.Hoepner** » Thu Mar 13, 2008 2:54 pm

I've finished the PTs for the moment...think i'll have to wait some time to get some of them...
 
 
Turn arrived during the morning. I just have the combat Txt....
 
Seems that the KB is back at Truk again. No LRCAP over Ponape today. I was able to unload the last remenants of the first regiment of the 2nd marine div and few more 155mm guns from the 8th CD unit.
16 more Dakotas arrived today at Eniwetok. Tomorrow we'll try to move in more engeneers and we'll start to lift the "B" regiment of the Marine Division.
The Ponape Status is however still dramatic...supplies aren't growing enough and the damage at the base is still very high (100 port, 70 repair and 35 runaway)...however we probably have few more days. I suspect tomorrow we'll face another bombardment run and for sure another aerial bombings (either from the KB or from Truk or both).
My subs are always on max allert.
 
Today, using Bodhi utility, we finally have managed to trace what seems to be the supply route from India to Sasebo. The first 2 subs (which are part of the sub force based at Darwin) sent to this route managed to engage and attack a convoy south of Saigon. We torpedoed a medium AK, but the greenlings got damaged in return and now they're both heading back to Darwin for some R&R. Anyway this is an important achievement. We have to be patient but soon the sub warfare will become a priority. Thanks to Bodhi's utility our wolf packs (from Addak Island, Darwin, Aden and Eniwetok) have now a more or less precise route where to operate.
 
In China the first 3 tank rgts entered at Chungking. So today we've seen the last para-drop of the chinese war i guess[:D]...I've ordered everywhere shock attacks...let's hope we can get some of those units rebuilt at Chungking in time to help the defences...anyway there's no way we can hold against the whole Japanese chinese army...the goal here is to last the longer possible...exactly like in Manila and Karachi....3 redoubts...
 
 
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 06/19/42

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 1067 encounters mine field at Ponape (73,80)

Allied Ships
DMS Boggs
DMS Trevor
DMS Zane
DMS Hopkins

Fast transport TF, delivering fragments of the 8th CD unit
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack at 32,48

Japanese Ships
AK Arimasan Maru
PC Ch 22
PC Ch 17
PC Kyo Maru #13
DD Kiji

Allied Ships
SS Greenling, hits 1...a terrible single hit...the sub is heading back to Darwin with some flt damage
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Kwajalein , at 81,84

Strong training raids over Kwajalein today. The first B-24s are partecipating to these activities.
 
Allied aircraft
OS2U-3 Kingfisher x 6
P-40B Tomahawk x 19
B-25C Mitchell x 58
B-26B Marauder x 40
P-43A Lancer x 21

Allied aircraft losses
B-25C Mitchell: 1 damaged
B-26B Marauder: 1 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
66 casualties reported

Airbase hits 6
Runway hits 62
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Kwajalein , at 81,84

Allied aircraft
P-40B Tomahawk x 5
B-25C Mitchell x 11
B-26B Marauder x 31
B-24D Liberator x 17
F-4 Lightning x 3

Allied aircraft losses
B-25C Mitchell: 2 damaged
B-26B Marauder: 5 damaged
B-24D Liberator: 1 damaged

Airbase hits 5
Runway hits 31
 
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Day Air attack on Karachi , at 21,3

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 9
G3M Nell x 22
Ki-49 Helen x 103

Japanese aircraft losses
G3M Nell: 5 damaged
Ki-49 Helen: 20 damaged

Allied ground losses:
261 casualties reported

Airbase hits 11
Airbase supply hits 6
Runway hits 100
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Karachi , at 21,3

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 56
G3M Nell x 65
G4M1 Betty x 162

Japanese aircraft losses
G3M Nell: 3 damaged
G4M1 Betty: 3 destroyed, 31 damaged

Allied ground losses:
360 casualties reported
Guns lost 3

Airbase hits 12
Airbase supply hits 5
Runway hits 172
 
These bombers are flying in the afternoon...so in the morning they're eventually ready to struck the RN if it comes out...simply too many bastards to deal with[:o]
 
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Sub attack at 32,48 *south of Saigon*

Japanese Ships
AK Nagara Maru, Torpedo hits 1,  on fire,  heavy damage
AK Karachi Maru
PC Ch 22
PC Ch 17
PC Kyo Maru #13
DD Kiji

Allied Ships
SS Finback, hits 2

Good job. Finback isn't that damaged but it's heading back to Darwin nonetheless...
 
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Ground combat at Chungking  *para drop*

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 27 troops, 1 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 238

Defending force 125082 troops, 716 guns, 8 vehicles, Assault Value = 2738

Japanese max assault: 2 - adjusted assault: 0

Allied max defense: 2505 - adjusted defense: 8921

Japanese assault odds: 0 to 1 (fort level 8)

Japanese ground losses:
17 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Gen.Hoepner · Post by **Gen.Hoepner** » Fri Mar 14, 2008 7:58 am

Turns are flowing very slow in these days. Maybe it's better because i'm damned busy this week.
However i hope this week end the pace will be a bit faster.
 
Anyway, the overall situation doesn't look so grimm. Chungking, Karachi and Manila will require huge amount of jap troops in order to be taken, and a huge amount of time, supplies etc.
All this time gained in these 3 areas, will give more time to the americans to build up the new front (New Guinea-PM) and to estabilish their positions in the centpac. The holding of Ponape would be a major strategic victory, thus forcing him to react in a way or in another in the pacific. He simply cannot take all those objectives at the same time.... Let's see what is he up to at Ponape...his invasion is taking far too much time...seems strange...however LOTS of TFs are parked at Truk at the moment...so he's surely up to something.
Let's see.
 
HAve a good day guys. I'll be away for the whole morning....(going to "pignorate" an house of a poor family full of debts...[:(]...i hate this job sometimes...[:o]).
Ciao

Bogo Mil · Post by **Bogo Mil** » Fri Mar 14, 2008 8:37 am

Maybe all those TFs are just a fake and he doesn't plan a serious counter invasion against Ponape. Such an operation would be a huge risk for him: He doesn't have many troops in the Pacific, now. He had to throw everything in this counterattack. And if it failes, his pacific front is completely broken. With most of the troops deep in China he needs months to bring reinforcements.

Gen.Hoepner · Post by **Gen.Hoepner** » Fri Mar 14, 2008 10:56 am

ORIGINAL: Bogo Mil

Maybe all those TFs are just a fake and he doesn't plan a serious counter invasion against Ponape. Such an operation would be a huge risk for him: He doesn't have many troops in the Pacific, now. He had to throw everything in this counterattack. And if it failes, his pacific front is completely broken. With most of the troops deep in China he needs months to bring reinforcements.

Back sooner than expected...a horrible and sad task....anyway, back to the game.

Bogo, nice to see u back[;)]
I don't know Bogo. He has 19 units spotted at Truk. Assuming some of them are AA,eng and other non combattants units, he surely has at least some 10 SNLF or Naval garrisons around...enough to defeat me, aslo considering the great support that his naval bombardments can bring...however every day i gain, Ponape gets stronger. If he doesn't do it fast, he's going to face a serious resistance. The marines are tough! and those nasty 155mm guns can bring havoc among an invasion fleet....
Well...it's gonna be interesting...for sure[:)]

Gen.Hoepner · Post by **Gen.Hoepner** » Fri Mar 14, 2008 11:12 am

While for what concerns the other theatres...at Darwin we keep on having supply problems. Despite an HQ present there the base doesn't pull enough supplies and we have to keep on sending TFs from Sydney...a long way. However the sub wolfpack based at Darwin (10 units)is slowly getting better, both in terms of intel and of experience/efficiency. As soon as the campaign for Ponape ends (in a way or in another) we'll send 5 more subs to Darwin. A ducth SCTF (2CLs and 6 DDs) is patrolling the Darwin Harbour, where are also based an AR, an AS, some PTs and i hope soon a MLE too. Forts are at level 8, and the port and AF keep on growing.
 
At Karachi the siege goes on. He keeps on bombing every day with 300+ bombers and 3 BBs and 4 CAs come up and down from Bombay. The supplies are still well above the 200k (224,000 to be precise), while the AVs now reached the 2800...i feel rather confident here...he will need many more months and many more efforts in order to have a chance of conquering it.
 
Manila is just waiting for its fate. with 5190 supplies left, the base won't hold, despite the 9 forts present. i hust hope to bring with my back into the deepest hell as much yellow bastards as possible.
 
Eniwetok-Ponape...well, you all well know the situation.
 
Noumea-PM...Noumea is growing fast, now that 2 divisions, an air HQ, 2 Base forces and 2 Seabees units are present. PM and the little bases on the NE coast of Oz will be reinforced and built up soon too.

Fishbed · Post by **Fishbed** » Fri Mar 14, 2008 12:16 pm

You don't want to start some supply mission to Philippines with your Darwin wolfpack, or rather some evacuation?

Jim D Burns · Post by **Jim D Burns** » Fri Mar 14, 2008 1:18 pm

ORIGINAL: Gen.Hoepner
at Darwin we keep on having supply problems.

March your HQ between Alice Springs and Tennant Creek. It will pull 50,000+ supplies and then Darwin will draw on the supplies from Tennant Creek without the need of an HQ in the hex. SWPAC HQ does not pull supplies (it's bugged along with SEAC and other command HQ's), so make sure you use the Australian HQ.

Jim

Gen.Hoepner · Post by **Gen.Hoepner** » Fri Mar 14, 2008 3:15 pm

ORIGINAL: Fishbed

You don't want to start some supply mission to Philippines with your Darwin wolfpack, or rather some evacuation?

Hi,

no, it's useless. With a 100 bombers raid he can burn what i've difficultly brought there in 2 weeks...risking the subs for nothing (he has a strong ASW TF parked at Bataan...)

I've already shipped back to Oz or PH all those fragments i was interested in...

RIDERS ON THE STORM-THANK YOU

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RE: The Marines HOLD!!!

RE: The Marines HOLD!!!

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RE: The Marines HOLD!!!

RE: The Marines HOLD!!!

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