AAR - Rybka (A) vs zamli (J)

[zamli]

The front in Australia is also stalemate - as battles around Cloncurry show

[zamli]

The status for the current round (27/12/1942):

[zamli]

And the summarised story so far:

[Capt. Harlock]

The front in Australia is also stalemate - as battles around Cloncurry show

Both sides at entrenchment level 9! That's clearly been going on a while . . .

[zamli]

The beginning of 1943 was not too good for the american navy...
Combined forces sailed to bomard japanese forces fighting in Cairns both from sea and from air. However japanese LBA based in Port Moresby got the most important message they have been waiting for weeks... american navy near Cairns!!!!!!!

Bettys with the escort of Zeros took off in waves and took course on Cairns.
The result was much better than was hoped - although with some loses in planes, our brave pilots managed to sink 2 Aircraft Carriers of the Enterprise (?) class and heavily damaged the 3rd one (*** + ** hits). Praise to our brave pilots and their beloved Bettys

[Capt. Harlock]

ORIGINAL: zamli

Bettys with the escort of Zeros took off in waves and took course on Cairns.
The result was much better than was hoped - although with some loses in planes, our brave pilots managed to sink 2 Aircraft Carriers of the Enterprise (?) class and heavily damaged the 3rd one (*** + ** hits). Praise to our brave pilots and their beloved Bettys

They are lots of fun, aren't they? Make usre you keep some squadrons of the longer-ranged A6M2 for escort: you'll need them when the american CV's start carrying Hellcats. Eventually, you'll want to use the Ohkas -- it saves lots of bombers from being shot down by flak.

[zamli]

Bettys are still on the move. We have had a few-turns battle for Tarawa with Bettys sinking finally a Prince of Wales.
 
Battles in Australia are huge - at least 20 divisions on each side are participating in them
 
The same goes for Dacca.........

[Capt. Harlock]

ORIGINAL: zamli

Battles in Australia are huge - at least 20 divisions on each side are participating in them

The same goes for Dacca.........

I'm impressed that both of you could scrape up that many troops -- AND keep them supplied.

[Rybka]

Actually, Zamli overstate these battles. I have only about 10 divisions in north Australia and many smaller units. Zamli is in similar situation. And forces in Dacca are even weaker.
 
Keep them supplied - yes, it´s the crucial problem [:(]
 
I¨m surprised a bit Zamli didn´t mention my stupid action in South Pacific. I seized Naru, Tarawa and Makin without support of combat TFs. Of course, he took them back easily. I lost 2 divisions, 2 engeenering units, BB Prince of Wales, at least 1 CL, about half of fast APs, many smaller ships and hundreds of aircrafts. The only bright point is actions of my submarines. They sank Kongo-class BB, CVE, 2 CL and some AP/MCS.

[zamli]

Oh well; why should I boast That was just a police action....
 
But honestly, there were few exciting points with both me and Rybka loosing soem ships. That was something to wake us up during those stagnant turns

[Rybka]

Simultaneously with "the police action" in Gilbert Islands, Allies started an another campaign in northen Australia. The task was annihilation of entrenched Japanese near Cairns and free our trapped units around Cloncurry. Previos unsuccessful offensives showed a need of supporting bombing. Unfortunately, Air force refused such missions. But JNAF had to leave New Guinea and support battles in Central Pacific. This open Sea for our Navy. Battleships began bombard Japanese units regulary and transport convoys were delivering much needed supplies directly to Cairns. Day by day, soldiers attacked japanese defence positions. Many died, but killed many Japanese too. The end was far away.

Of course, Japanese Navy couldn´t watch this unheeded. After "the police action", they planed to disturb traffic there. But intelligence service didn´t sleep. They intercepted and deciphered an important message, which says: Kido Butai is coming!

Ships remained in the ports, as they couldn´t prevail against Jamato and Musashi BBs. Air force stopped activities over Cloncurry and waited for enemies. They didn´t wait long. Many fierced battles occurred and Japanese airmen did the best, but some bombers got through and left burning Zuikaku behind them. Shortly after, she sank. She was the first sunken fleet CV (in spring/summer 1943, what a shame [:(]).

This failure paralysed Japanese Navy and even JNAF remained back. Land battles continued for a long time (at least 2 months?). Finally, 2 Japanese divisions and 4 brigades were annihilated and exhausted units near Cloncurry rescued.

But this victory caused a negative criticism in public. No one were prepared for such losses. Many units were nearly destroyed, some divisions ended with only about 30 squads and all had under 100 squads. Only 18th div, which joined the battle shortly before the end, had more. Dissatisfaction is raising and evrybody ask: How many similar actions should we take yet?



In the meantime, Zamli focused on Burma. He took Myitkyina and pushed Chinese back to Kunming. Shortly after, he invaded India (Jorhat?) from northen Burma. This time defeated Indian divisions held positions in jungle and didn´t let Japanese go deeper into India.

JAAF firmly control the air over Burma. RAF tried some actions and sometimes successfuly intercepted big unescorted groups of bombers, but it didn´t change situation. The last effort focus on covering of land units in Dacca. Unfortunately, they can only soften japanese air raids, not repel them. JAAF has more and better planes and perhaps still some seasoned weterans. But a little hope was appeared. The last fulmar was written off and brand-new P-47 landed in Calcutta. Maybe it will help tired RAF.

[Capt. Harlock]

JAAF has more and better planes and perhaps still some seasoned weterans. But a little hope was appeared. The last fulmar was written off and brand-new P-47 landed in Calcutta. Maybe it will help tired RAF.

Isn't it useful that any allied land fighter squadron can use the P-47? It does well at punishing ground targets too . . .[:D]

[Rybka]

That´s right. Once, single P-47 attacked an airfield at Kohima and destroyed 3 planes. Very good result.

[zamli]

Rybka is finally on the move with huge fleets and shining new carriers [:D]
Those carriers have destroyed almost all air force I had on islands near Midway, Wake, Kwajalein...
Naval battle of BB's near Santa Cruz. Fleets heavily damaged and Americans lost 3-5 CA's. It's a question for me - how they got away with that anyway, they should have lost at least few BB's more [:@]

Loses so far:

[Rybka]

The disaster of South fleet went on. They stayed at Santa Cruz to protect heavily damaged flagship (South Dakota class BB). She was rather floating wreck, with damage over 90 any higher wave can sunk her. And a such wave came promptly. Just not a water-wave, but Beties-wave. They finished her easily and keep enough torpedos even for BC Repulse.
 
Situation in central pacific is much better, although not as scheduled. I seized Midway, CVs attack Wake constantly and keep air superiority in this area. Aside from this, Betties are quite successful against transport. Waters are infested with subs and they gather their taxes too. Many BBs and cruisers had to enter docks for repairing hollows in their sides.
 
Even KB join the battles and attacks transports few times. Recently, my carriers finaly met them, however result was rather weak. Some Japanese carriers damaged, but only one old destroyer sunk.
 
Bad is all next amphibious attacks failed. 2 or 3 times. Always only one transport TF arrive at Wake and only one division is no match for defenders. The distance form Pearl Harbor is problem. Does anybody know some trustworthy admirals, who don´t come back after one week of expedition?

[Skipjack_]

ORIGINAL: Rybka

Bad is all next amphibious attacks failed. 2 or 3 times. Always only one transport TF arrive at Wake and only one division is no match for defenders. The distance form Pearl Harbor is problem. Does anybody know some trustworthy admirals, who don´t come back after one week of expedition?

I recommend you try to get to your target in 1 turn. In the Central Pacific that is tough due to the distances, but these APs should be able to do it: Henderson-type APs from Midway, West Point & APDs (speed=24) from Kauai (not Pearl, they may take a detour south), anything with speed >= 17 from Johnson Island (KPM, AMC, Empress, Admiral types). Good luck [:)]

[zamli]

We are in the middle of '44. Rybka is fighting to re-capture Rangoon in the west and around Truk in the east.......