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

[Feinder]

SWPac, End of Dec '42 -

Again, growing Allied air power begins to assert itself. The bases in Northeastern Australia are complete, and USAAF bombers begin the neutralization of New Guinea. The 23rd Fighter Group has been re-equipped with P-38s, and is able to contest the skies over target while the bombers get thru to drop their payloads. The outpost of Meruek remains under constant attack (oft by Navy and Marine squadrons temporarily deployed to Thursday Island), while B-25s, B-26s, and B-17/24s begin the systematic destruction of Japanese bases of Port Moresby, Buna, Milne Bay, and Lae. Allied veterans will recall "The Christmas Day Massacre" over Lae - after clearing the skies of enemy fighters, several squadrons of B-24s and B-17s demolish the airfield and over 100 enemy aircraft caught and destroyed on the ground.

-F-

[Feinder]

SoPac, End of Dec '42 -

SoPac is currently not a primary theater of operations due to the ranges involved (and the pressing need for bombers in Oz and Burma). However, Gen Weigell (USMC) decides bring the battle to Japan wherever he can. The small atoll of Nanumea hosts airfield capable of hosting medium bombers (if he can ever get any). To make effort to attack Japan wherever possible, he orders his few squardons of TBFs, F3Fs, and F2As with sufficient range to interdict barge traffic and attack installations at the neighboring atoll of Abemama. The results are hardly remarkable, but contibute in even in their limited way to chipping away at the Japanese perimeter.

Again, as Allied heavy bombers are committed elsewhere, the campaingn against the Solomons is largely fought by recons, keeping tabs on the growing enemy troop dispositions.

And with that, 1942 draws to a close. What a year of ups and downs it has been. Fortunately, it has ended on an "up" (altho slight as it is, I'll take what I can get!). Highest regards to my opponnent Bilbow, and to also you readers for indulging my ramblings!

-F-

[Feinder]

China, January '43 -

It appears that China has become the backwater theater (for now at least). The Nationalish Chinese forces continue to fortify their lines the South, while the Communists do the same in the north. The Chinese AF, along with some recon squadrons of the RAF, keep vigil on the cities of the front to monitor IJA troop build up.

-F-

[Feinder]

Burma, January '43 -

In early January, the Allies plan a large raid to cripple the strategic targets at Hanoi. The raid calls for over 200 heavy bombers and 150 fighters. On the day of the attack however, the weather socks-in the morning launch of several of the airfields. The attack that is sent is poorly coordinated; fighters on sweep do no arrive over target, and the bomber escorts are often separated from their charges. The bombers arrive over Hanoi against a well-coordinated defense of nearly 100 fighters. Losses among the bombers are heavy, and only margingal damage is inflicted on the city's factories. The P-38s whose mission it was to clear the enemy CAP from the sky before the bombers arrive, appear in the evening, only to find a few patrolling Tonies. The losses for the day are nearly 60 heavy bombers, and 10 Allied fighters, for the loss of only 30 Japanese fighters.

After the heavy losses from the Hanoi raid, the RAF concentrates it's efforts the cities of Rangoon and Moulmein. The airfields and port facilities of the cities are attacked daily, to disrupt the supply lines of the Japanese army in Burma.

-F-

[Feinder]

Oz, January '43 -

The Allied armies have once again moved up to the Japanese bastion at Daly Waters. Daily air raids continue the airfields at Daly Waters and it's supply lines to Katherine and the coast. This time, MacArthur has brought a division of combat engineers, to attempt to break thru the minefields and fortifications surrounding the city. Twice during the month, Allied troops surge forward, but progress is only measured in a few hundred yards. Casualties continue to mount on both sides. MacArthur's primary problem is the getting supply thru the dester from Tennet Creek to the lines at Daly Waters.

While losses remain heavy, this time however, he does not return to Tennet Creek...

-F-

[Feinder]

SWPac, January '43 -

In the first successful Allied amphibious invasion of the war, a motly collection of Philipine and Dutch regiments (roughly equal to two divisions) land at Merauke. The Japanse send an undetermined number of light carriers to attempt to interdict the invasion, but most of the Allied troops are already ashore, and only 2 transports are sunk. USAAF and RAAF patrols are unable to locate the Japanse carriers however, and the slip away to their bases to the NW.

On Merauke, the Japanese offer a spirited defense, but after a week, the base falls to the Allies. Engineers are quickly landed to repair and expand the facilities. Located on the southern tip of New Guinea, Allied patrols will be able to threaten Japanese bases from Darwin to Sorong, all of the northern coast of New Guinea, and as far east as Rabaul.

On the eastern side of the Coral Sea, a group of the Navy's PB4Ys at Luganville begin a mining campaign against the Japanse bases of Lunga, Tulagi, Rossel Island, and Munda.

-F-

[Feinder]

SoPac, January '43 -

The south Pacific remains relatively quiet. USMC squadrons (some now sporting the first F4U Corsairs) pound the small atoll at Abemama while patrol squadrons monitor the progress of fortifications at Nahuru, Tarawa, and Makin.

-F-

[Feinder]

China, end of February '43 -

(* crickets chirping *)

I really think that, absolutely nothing happend in China all month.

[Feinder]

Burma, end of February '43

The Japanese begin using large number of barges to push supplies into Burma. RDAF B-25s and Wellingtons of the RAF contantly patrol the Burmese coast and manage to sink dozens of barges each week. While many barges are sunk, many still manage to bring much needed supplies into Rangoon and Moulmein. Meanwhile, a new crop rookie RAF pilots begin flying sorties over Rangoon and Moulmein...

-F-

[Feinder]

SwPac, end of February '43 -

The Coral Sea begins to heat up.

Having been pounded for weeks on end, the shore batteries at Port Moresby are largely put out of commission. Allied MSW TFs may now approach close enough begin the precarious task of clearing the massive minefields surroudning potential landing beaches. Beside the underwater threat, IJN land-based 2e bombers from New Britian pose a major threat to the lightly armed craft. Top-cover is usually provided by P-38s and Beufighters from northern Australia - which instigated several vicious air-battles between the P-38s, Beufighters vs Bettys and their Tony escorts. However, on one occasion, weather intervines to close the Australian AFs, thus shutting down the LRCAP. 5x MSWs are sunk when they are caught without cover. Afterwards, Allied LRCAP patrols are flown from multiple bases in northern Oz, in case the primary base is socked in.

With Allied bombers constantly patrolling the skys over New Guinea, conventional convoys cannot get thru to ports at Lae, Buna, and Milne Bay. Japan begins sending large numbers of barges from New Britian to bring much needed supplies and equipment. Lightly armned, but long range, A-29 patrol bombers skim the wave-tops in searching for the barges. Dozens of barges are sunk each week, but still more are able slip past the hunters.

US submarines have thrown a noose around Port MOresby, and are directed around the north side of New Guinea to help interdict the IJN barges. This time, it is the Japanese LBA that responds, and patrolling Helens manage to sink several Allied subs, and damage several more.

Meanwhile, the IJN subs makes sorties into Port Moresby with supplies and additional mines. They also act as pickets waiting to sound the alarm for the inevitable invasion. Allied ASW TFs are dispatched, and relentlessly pursue the elusive IJN subs. Several IJN subs are sunk, but also for the loss of an equal number of frigates.

In the Solomons, mining operations continue, to interdict supplies and reinforcments to Lunga, Tulagi, and Munda.

-F-

[Feinder]

SoPac, end of February '43 -

US Naval PB4Y patrol bombers and USMC light bombers continue to pound the atoll of Abemama. Constand recons over Makin, Tarawa, and Nauru keep a wary vigil on Japanese buildup in the Gilbert Islands.

-F-

[Feinder]

Oz, end of February '43 -

The bloody struggle for Daly Waters continues. Two more assaults by Allied forces, aided by several regiments of combat engineers and paratroopers, continue to pummel the Japanese perimeter. Casualties for both sides number over 10,000. Still, the assaults do mange to capture several strongpoints (forts reduced to 5), as the Allied armies continue their grim task.

Code-breakers discern that the Japanese intend to pour more troops into Northern Australia. In a controversial decision, the Prime Ministers of Australia and New Zealand recall several commonwealth brigades from the fighting in North Africa, to aid in the liberation of Northern Territories.

-F-

[Yakface]

Hi Feinder



Might be able to help you crack the defences here. Seems to be a big gap in the Japanese lines.



Suggested plan:

[Feinder]

If only the WitP engine allowed movement like that... 

I actually created the Northern Territories map a while back in the AAR (actually it's a tweaked navigator's map from 1944).  I figured (correctly) that the battle for Northern Oz would take a while, and I could thus spend a little extra time on the maps for that region. 

Of course, WitP just lines everything up in the hex and attacks.  But the maps actually do have some (very loose) semblence of the units present.  Each unit that you see, represents about a division.  Frankly, I skimped a bit on the map above, there's actually quite a bit there, and my map would be insufficient to portray everything.  I have 18+ Divisions committed, and Bilbow keeps a strenght of about 7 divisions at DW (at one point he was up to about 9 Divs, but I think he was just swapping guys out for refit).

I'll have to admit that the cost in VPs over Northern Oz is not worth it (something I considered from the start of the counter-offensive).  I lose about 25 AC per day, just in ops losses keeping DW suppressed and my troops supplied.  Often more.  And when I do attack, even those losses are fairly even in total (I usually do well the first day, then am forced to attack the second day with very few supplies due to the foibles of 2-day turns), which tends to negate the benefits of the first day's attack.  I think if Oz were invaded, there would be significant political pressure to "kick the Japs out".  That's -not- why I'm fighting in at Daly Waters : it actually gives me use for many of the units I wouldn't normally get to deploy.  Altho WitP doesn't model armor well (IMO), it -is- kinda cool to have massed every non-soviet Armored unit in the game at Daly Waters.  That's a LOT of tanks (something on the order of about 16 Btns and Bdes).  Whatever.

The biggest problem is actually supplies.  In this case, I think the supply engine in WitP is a bit TOO harsh, but it is what it is.  I have a LOT of C-47s flying in supplies, along with HQs placed at the various cities behind me to "pull" supplies to the front.  It's taken me almost 6 months, but I think I've finally found the right "balance" of bombers and transports.  Bombing DW is necessary to burn his supplies, and keep the forts from expanding.  But those bombers consue supplies, and of course the C-47s have to be able to fly them to front line for my army.

It's interesting some of the shortages in the OB, that a protracted land campaign reveals -
The solitary pool of "support" squads is grossly inadaquate.  Maybe have them by country (so UK support, USA support, etc).  My support pool is ALWAYS at Zero.  Given the sitzkrieg in China/Burma, the main drain of support must be the battle at Daly Waters.  And some units never seem to draw support.  I had pulled the 8th USMC Rgt and reconsitituted it.  It (had) full compliment of USMC squads, but only ever drew 10 support after a year (out of about 200 needed).  Also, esp given that my tanks are "very committed", the motorized support pool is one for all nations as well - mot support also takes heavy casualties in my attacks (committing my tanks), but it only has a replacment rate of 10(?) per month for all nations.  Another thing (that I've b_tched about before), is the gross lack of 1942+ squads.  It's almost April 43, and every last one my divisions is still using '41 squads (even after returning at a base (TC) for possible refit.  Meanwhile, I have units like "The Christams Island Btn" pulling 40x '42 squads and various BFs pulling my '43 squads (yes, you can turn replacements off, but several of my BFs need radar as well, and frankly, I shouldn't have to micro-mananage idiot decisions like putting the newest equipment on BF in Panama).
But it's certainly an interesting game (and more updates soon - game date is 03-24-43, next update will be for end of March).
-F-

[Feinder]

China, end of March 1943 -

While the lines on the ground in China remain essentially static, the Allies mount a major air offensive in China. Dozens of squadrons of the RAF, RAAF, RDAF, USAAF and CAF "seek and destroy the enemy wherever he may be". A polyglot of Allied fighters, ranging from USAAF P-40s, to RAF Hurricanes, and RDAF Brewster 339s, and Kittyhawks of the RAAF swarm over Japanese airfields across occupied China, and are met primarily by Japan's premier "Tony" fighter.

Losses are horrendous on both sides, and hundreds of wrecks litter the dense forrests of Southern China. Aces are made in one week, and are killed in the next. Estimates of losses for the month are just about 450 aircraft lost for each side.

The attrition wears away at not only the enemy. The offensive was initially greeted with enthusiam by pilots wishing to claim some kills, but the reality has set in that half of their squadronmates are dead or missing. But the weather report only calls for light rain, and the flight roster is posted yet again...

-F-

[Feinder]

Burma, end of March 1943 -

With the large committment of aircraft in China, Allied attacks on Rangoon and Moulmein are less intense (but still steady). The Japanese continue to shuttle in supplies by a steady stream of barges, which are frequently attacked by low-flying light bombers. The Royal Navy sends an occasional destroyer towards Rangoon, but one is sunk and another heavily damaged by enemy mines, prompting the decision to not risk the larger fleet units. A handful of British and Dutch submarmines also assist in the cordon, but many barges continue to slip past the blockade.

-F-

[Feinder]

Australia, end of March 1943 -

Ok, this isn't the cool map I've used before, but it was a fairly "light" month in Oz, and it actually takes me quite a while to (re)produce the cool map of the Northern Territories. So...

Allied bombers from Tennet Creek continue to pound the enemy fortifications at Daly Waters. The Allies and Japan continue their daily artillery duels, which force the constant rotation of units away from the front. Japan has begun to transfer units from China and Manchura to keep their foothold in Australia.

The continuous explosions of artillery is broken on March 24th when, whether by misinterpreted orders or over-zealous bushido, the newly arrived Japanese 110th Infantry Division banzais into the Allied lines and is summarily cut down with very heavy casualties. But difficulty in getting supplies across the desert to the Allied army remains problematic, and no Allied assaults are made in March.

-F-

[Feinder]

SWPac, end of March 1943 -

Allied heavy bombers continue to suppress Japanese bases in New Guinea, but despite months of tension, the hammer does not yet fall on Port Moresby. Save for a few small float-planes, the Japanese have conceeded the skies over New Guinea, and have pulled back their fighters and bombers to their bases in New Britian. Allied subs continue their deadly cat-and-mouse with Japanese ASW aircraft, while hunting barges and other light vessels bringing supplies from Rabaul into New Guinea.

-F-

[Feinder]

SoPac, end of March 1943 -

The Japanese are appearently surprised by an Allied assault on the atoll of Abemama. Several US Army regimental combat teams storm ashore on March 16th and quickly capture the island from defending Naval Guards units. Naval CB battalions are quickly landed, and work begins immediately to expand the airfield facilities. By the end of the month, the CBs have elongated the existing fighter strip, and will soon be able to host a few medium bombers. Meanwhile, the USMC squadrons are moved forward to Abemama and begin the constant bombing of Tarawa, Makin, and Nauru.

-F-

[Feinder]

Ack!
 
Red "X"s everywhere!
 
Stoopid forum.  This is really going to make it hard to follow my AAR...
 
[:-]
 
-F-