Lorks-a-lordy, my Empire is on fire! GBL vs 1EyedJacks - Nemo's mod

[goodboyladdie]

SigInt revealed that IJA 22nd Div is planning for Nanchang. 9th Provisional Corps managed to get away from their pursuers for now. I want to get this unit back to Chungking to build up from it's current size (around 260 infantry squads) to it's full size (over 900 squads).

The Jap sweeps at Honan found no trade as my air units have withdrwan to Chungking to rest and make good losses. The use of these replacements will prevent the main body of AVG from upgrading to the P-40E for a few more days.

DE Kuri took a 250lb (AP, I think) bomb from my now experienced IL-4Cs off Bako in the Pescadores. How many supplies do I need a base to allow these planes to start loading torpedoes?

[ny59giants]

Torpedoes for your 2e IL-4s come from a size 4 AF and twice minimum supply levels....I think.

Have you reached a point that you can go through some of your LBA to change leaders?? I did so early in my game with key squadrons and kept a list of them. WITP Tracker is helpful for this.

It would assist me and other following along if you posted supply levels at key bases under attack (Manila and Singapore for example) when you post combat results.

KB towards Panama shipping channels doesn't seem cost effective at this time. I would station a handful of the large American Fleet subs at the two entrances of the southern channels to Panama. This will give you early warning if he sends anything in that direction. Unless he shuts down all naval searches from KB, you should be spotted and know he is there.

[witpqs]

I thought he had to stay out of the channels? [&:]

[ny59giants]

Nemo's recommended HR allow the Japanese into the shipping channels to Panama and even the capture of Panama. I don't know if Carl & Mike are going by them. 

[witpqs]

Maybe he's only going as far as the edge to swat convoys heading to Oz from West Coast USA. That would make more sense. Going into the shipping channels would take a long time and lots of fuel.

It's also impossible to control aircraft crossing the channel separators and thereby executing missions of, say, a thousand miles for example. The only way to stop them is to set the range really low, then you won't hit the ships in the same channel that you're in.

[goodboyladdie]

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

Torpedoes for your 2e IL-4s come from a size 4 AF and twice minimum supply levels....I think.

Have you reached a point that you can go through some of your LBA to change leaders?? I did so early in my game with key squadrons and kept a list of them. WITP Tracker is helpful for this.

It would assist me and other following along if you posted supply levels at key bases under attack (Manila and Singapore for example) when you post combat results.

KB towards Panama shipping channels doesn't seem cost effective at this time. I would station a handful of the large American Fleet subs at the two entrances of the southern channels to Panama. This will give you early warning if he sends anything in that direction. Unless he shuts down all naval searches from KB, you should be spotted and know he is there.

Thanks Michael

I will try to remember to post the requested details. Manila has over 50,000 tons. Singapore has over 100,000 tons. I have oil and resources at both bases too to help produce some local supplies. I am also flying more into Singapore daily from Batavia, as well as pushing small AKs in from Toboali.

A lot of what Mike has done does not seem cost-effective. He has not done anything the way I would have done it so far so I have learned to just react to what he actually does (or appears to be doing!), while carrying on with my own plans. My fleet subs are all busy evacuating, minelaying or being repaired.

[goodboyladdie]

ORIGINAL: witpqs

Maybe he's only going as far as the edge to swat convoys heading to Oz from West Coast USA. That would make more sense. Going into the shipping channels would take a long time and lots of fuel.

It's also impossible to control aircraft crossing the channel separators and thereby executing missions of, say, a thousand miles for example. The only way to stop them is to set the range really low, then you won't hit the ships in the same channel that you're in.

This is my read too. I do not think he has the range to go all the way to Panama. As far as I remember our House Rules allow attacks on Panama as it was a target the Japs actually considered. In order to carry out a successful attack he would first have to take some of the Line Islands and be able to ignore the threat from Pearl Harbor. The fact that he has not gone anywhere near PH leads me to conclude that he is mindful of the threat...

[goodboyladdie]

20/02/42

Christmas Island was hit by 45 Zekes, 23 Vals, 3 Jeans and 42 Kates. I just realised I forgot to go back and watch the combat replay (limited time available) so I do not know which of Mike's task forces launched the raid. It looks like Mike has moved the mini-KB over to the Central Pacific though, as I have only seen Jeans near the PI up to now. The base has damage of 30/49/35. Mike lost at least 1 Val.

40,000 tons of supplies are unloading at PH while 2000 tons and 20,000 tons of fuel unload at Hilo. 3000 tons of supplies are being unloaded at Midway. S-28's float damage is up to 46 so she is making for Johnston Island. 4 British Empire AKs began conversion to AR at San Francisco and 5235 tons of supplies are being unloaded at Dutch Harbor.

9 RNZAF squadron flew their Beauforts into Canton Island. If Mike really has a couple of those nasty CLAAs in the area, it might be best if my bombers do not fly...

S-38 (sys 26) disbanded at Melbourne and the 3 newly arrived B-17 units made their way to Soerabaya from Charter Towers, 65th BS losing a crew along the way.

[goodboyladdie]

Mike lost at least 3 Sallys over Singapore and at least 4 Vals over Manila. My Singapore raids only caused 7/1 casualties.

A fragment of 1st Malaya Brigade embarked on the very badly damaged AK Maayo (sys 65) at Palembang. She will attempt to sail to Addu Atoll. The Catalinas did not fly for some reason and none of 2nd Brigade were evacuated. MAF Aviation is next up and I will try to get the entire unit out.

CLs Jacob Van Heemskerk and Caledon left Aden for Colombo.

Here is the situation at Singapore...

[goodboyladdie]

DE Wakatake and AK Shirogane Maru are both on fire after taking a bomb each from my IL-4Cs in seperate attacks at Bako. My SB-2s did the same to AK Yahiko Maru at Taan.

I have 2 Chinese fighter units attempting an ambush on Mike's Nate LRCAP over Xuwen.

Here is a strategic view. The map is RHS lvl 7, so it is not quite accurate, but does show similar off map sea routes.

[goodboyladdie]

21/02/42

CONUS, Pacific and Australia

Suva Airfield is now size 4, Midway Port is now size 2 and Hilo Airfield is now size 2.

Christmas has damage of 43/56/45 after receiving two raids. The first consisted of 35 Zekes, 4 Rufes, 27 Vals and 99 Kates. The second was 44 Zekes, 22 Vals, 3 Jeans and 42 Kates. At least 3 Vals were shot down, but all my new flak is not making much difference.

VP-13 flew their Coronados from Sand Diego to Pearl Harbor, I will be using them to transport supplies to outlying bases from the hub at Pearl. My R4Ds at Pearl Harbor will start extreme range supply runs to Johnston from this turn. 807th EAB is loading at San Francisco for Dutch Harbor.

In Australia, the bulk of Pp 3/83nd Bn is unloading at Thursday Island.

DEI, PI and India/Burma

The Japs hit Singapore and Manila (three times). At Singapore Mike lost at least 1 Mary, 1 Lily and 2 Sallys. Over Manila at least 5 Vals were shot down. I had 2 B-17s damaged over Brunei.

Another Jap unit shock attacked into Singapore. It's handy that every new arrival will have to pay a price in disruption as they cross the straits. The Japs lost 902/26 against 182/5 on the Allied side. RAF 222 Aviation is unloading at Colombo.

China

I lost a Lancer to Nates over Xuwen and 3 IL-4Cs to the Zeke CAP over Laoag.

[witpqs]

I wonder if this trip is an invasion?

[ny59giants]

I agree! Capture of Christmas Island and the Line Islands will make reinforcement efforts to Australia really time consuming. The added range of Nell/Betty will make shipping very vulnerable to torpedo attacks without having to go through Panama shipping channels. I would be flooding the are with subs to cover any possible approaches. What do you have on Palmyra?? I expect Michael to hit this base next.  

[goodboyladdie]

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

I agree! Capture of Christmas Island and the Line Islands will make reinforcement efforts to Australia really time consuming. The added range of Nell/Betty will make shipping very vulnerable to torpedo attacks without having to go through Panama shipping channels. I would be flooding the are with subs to cover any possible approaches. What do you have on Palmyra?? I expect Michael to hit this base next.  

I refer the honourable gentleman to post #447 for the required details. I have done the next turn, but do not have time to update the AAR. I was wondering the same thing as you guys, but none of my scouts have spotted transports (yet!).

[ny59giants]

We have both played this game long enough to know how effective or lack of naval search is. [8|]

Sending carriers and now it appears to be BB/CAs from your screenshot seems to be a waste of effort unless there are transports coming along.

I think some B-19s out of Hawaii on naval attack with 10 or 20% on naval search would be beneficial.

[goodboyladdie]

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

We have both played this game long enough to know how effective or lack of naval search is. [8|]

Sending carriers and now it appears to be BB/CAs from your screenshot seems to be a waste of effort unless there are transports coming along.

I think some B-19s out of Hawaii on naval attack with 10 or 20% on naval search would be beneficial.

That's why I have overlapping cover from different bases.

I am certainly considering your suggestion, but am loathe to commit my forces in penny packets. Currently I have a combined long range heavy bomber force set to a 24 hex max, with all light/mediums set to range 4 (the range of the escorting fighters). Should Mike ever be brave enough to come close enough to PH, these should deliver coordinated raids that are strong enough to penetrate and do damage. The main weakness is in experience, so I reset units to training when I know Mike is back in Kwajalein. I have another turn in my inbox this morning - it will be interesting to see if any transports show up...

[goodboyladdie]

22/02/42

Three of my approaching subs were attacked by CVA near the Line Islands, but none were hit. Hopefully all the sighting reports will panic Mike a bit.

MSW W.17 was hit by a torpedo from USS Pompano at Kwajalein. She broke in two and sank. There were 2 raids on Christmas Island, with a Val and a Kate being shot down. Damage is now 51/56/49. Intercepted radio chatter indicates the presence of Akagi, Kaga, Yamato, Hosho, Zuiho and Chitose to the North of Christmas Island, with Zuikaku and Shokaku to the East. This sort of Intel is only available now the Intel Section with the newly arrived RCT is in place. At some point I'll start posting similar Intel on CVs in the PI, but only when I can rationalise a method of production for such Intel harvested from viewing the combat replay.

All of my CVs at PH have (belatedly - must have been more German friction!) exchanged their TBDs for TBMs. My R4Ds will now supply Lahaina, while the Coronados start to asist the build up of Johnston Island. The squadrons at Canton Island have flown back to either PH or Suva until a worthwhile soft target appears.

AR Rigel and AR Vestal have completed repairs at Colon and Tacoma respectively. They are deploying to PH. 4 10,000 ton oil tankers are loading at LA for Sydney. 2,000 tons of supplies arrived at Suva from Brisbane on an AE pressed into service as a fast transport. 3 MSWs damaged at Singapore disbanded at Adelaide for repair. DD John D Ford completed repairs/upgrade at Sydney and is moving to Townsville to join the striking force. 98th BS (B-18, but upgrading to A-20B in the absence of enough B-17s in the pool) and 115 sqn RCAF (Blenheim IV) arrived in Brisbane after a long journey from CONUS.

[goodboyladdie]

Trincomalee airfield expanded to size 4.

BBs Fuso and Yamshiro bombarded Manado causing damage 3/7/29. 45 Kates from a CV force attacked troops at Davao.

I bombed Rangoon unsuccessfully (interstingly all the Zekes there are RTAF), but Brunei took another oil hit. I also caused 23/2 casualties at Singapore. Mike loast a Mary and 4 Sallys over Singapore and 2 Vals, 2 Nells and a Betty in three raids on Manila. My PBYs flying into Manila were intercepted, but I will continue for now. Manila has 47771 tons of supplies remaining.

[goodboyladdie]

O 16 (sys 11) disbanded at Bombay, while K XIV disbanded at Colombo with 12 points of system damage.

Another small Jap shock attack occurred at Singapore as more troops crossed the Johore Strait. The Japs lost 34/8 to my 3. Singapore has 100823 tons of supplies on hand.

[goodboyladdie]

The Japs bombed Pucheng. My Lancer LRCAP failed again, with one plane damaged. I also lost 2 I-16s to Nates over Xuwen. Next turn AVG/3 will be undertaking this ambush. The main body of the AVG has upgraded to the P-40E.