Vettim89 vs Greasylake - Reversal of Fortunes

[paullus99]

Wow - very reminicent of what the USN did at Truk historically. Catching the carrier was a big bonus too - at this point, I think you're a bit ahead in the sinkings categories (close on carriers, ahead in BBs).

Good work.

[vettim89]

ORIGINAL: paullus99

Wow - very reminicent of what the USN did at Truk historically. Catching the carrier was a big bonus too - at this point, I think you're a bit ahead in the sinkings categories (close on carriers, ahead in BBs).

Good work.

I was thinking this was very much like the Truk raid. Biggest difference was I usd LBA to elminate the fighter opposition vice CV air

[vettim89]

So consumed with the Kwajalein Op I failed to mention a couple of things. First fast transport has lifted 27 UK BGD into Nicobar Is. BF's will follow. Second is my last two Chinese units surrendered at Sinyang. To quote The Governator, "They'll be back"

[Capt. Harlock]

Day Air attack on TF at 81,82


Allied aircraft
TBF Avenger x 15


No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
CVL Zuiho, on fire, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x TBF Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x TBF Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x TBF Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x TBF Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet

Congratulations on a banner day. It looks like those U.S. torpedoes still need a bit of fine-tuning, though.[:D]

[vettim89]

ORIGINAL: Capt. Harlock

Day Air attack on TF at 81,82


Allied aircraft
TBF Avenger x 15


No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
CVL Zuiho, on fire, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x TBF Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x TBF Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x TBF Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x TBF Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet

Congratulations on a banner day. It looks like those U.S. torpedoes still need a bit of fine-tuning, though.[:D]

The were set too shallow - the passed OVER the flight deck not under the keel

[vettim89]

21 August 1943

A lull has fallen over the Pacific after an intense few days. It is merely an illusion. Behind the scenes there is a flurry of activity. Highlights of what is really happening:

* The Grumpy (Majuro) fleet is SE of Abemama and still a week out. The Marshall Islands are empty of all but LCU now

* Two TF's are almost at lunga. One carrying fragments of 40th ID which will head to Munda, the other with Americal prepping for Buin. Another TF leaves Pago Pago with 33rd ID prepped for Buin

* The 32nd ID is offlaoding at Thursday Is. Once the AB is built up, they will be lifted into Madang followed by engineers and AV support. Madang can be built to Level 5 AB.

* The first TF in a very long time is inbound to PM. It is carrying the vehicles of 808 EAB which was lifted in long ago by C-47. This base has been 100% air supplied for more than a year. It is approaching level 6 AB and when it reaches that point, addition Av support will be lifted in and my 4E's will move from Oz to there.

* Units are loading at Rangoon for Victoria Point. Two Indian ID's, 4 Arty units, the Carabeeners, and IV Indian Corps are embarked.

Planning

Lots of units changed there prep points today. Two ID tagged for Kwajalein are now prepping for Marcus. One ID prepping for Jaluit is now prepping for Pagan. The 3rd Marines are now prepping for Saipan. The 6th ID and the SWPAC Cav Div are prepping for Admiralty Is. Four Chinese Corps at Rangoon are reassigned to China Command.

The problem I have right now is what to do with SEAC. I would love to have a level 7 AB closer than Rangoon to Singapore and Palembang. Problem is the three eligible bases are Bangkok, Saigon, and Georgetown. All these bases are strongly held and I fear I lack the necessary lift to take Georgetown (see attached image). The other two would require an overland march and a supply headache that would keep me occupied for a very long time. So my options are:

Take Sabang and work down the east coast of Sumatra, go overland for Bangkok, paradrop the soon to arrive Ind AB rgt into an unoccupied base in northern Malaysia and move south form there, of go deep and occupy/buildup Padang. I like the Padang op but it is obviously the most risky. The AB has an SPS of 2. A level 5 AB would allow me to either use fighters to clear the resistance around Palembang and Singapore for the 4 E's to strike from the north and/or use 2E to disrupt shipping and hit the oil at Palembang. I need to secure Victoria Point first but then its decision time

[Capt. Harlock]

Take Sabang and work down the east coast of Sumatra

Maybe I'm wrong, but it looks to me like this option doesn't get you a level 7 airfield until you seize Palembang itself.

[vettim89]

ORIGINAL: Capt. Harlock

Take Sabang and work down the east coast of Sumatra

Maybe I'm wrong, but it looks to me like this option doesn't get you a level 7 airfield until you seize Palembang itself.

Correct. It would allow the development of a series of Level 4 AB's that could be used to base fighters. These could then reduce the Japanese fighter strength in Malaya and at Palembang to allow the 4 E to do the work from up north

[vettim89]

23 August 1943

Lightening bolts run through SWPAC HQ as coastwaters report Japanese troops coming ashore at Talasea on the north coast of New Britain. Simultaneously reports come in that Singkep in the NEI is also taken today. The C-47/Dakotas are immediately ordered to fly the ground crews of the 53rd Av RGT into Thursday Island. Tomorrow they will transfer into that base and immediately begin lifting 32nd ID into Madang. My fear is Larry has started to consolidate his defenses and may take Madang to clear his perimeter. I have two days. Here's hoping

TF's depart Rangoon for Tavoy and ultimately Victoria Point. The 51st FG transfer to Tavoy and hopefully will escort the 4E's to Kota Bhutar (sp?). Recon shows over 80 fighters, 80 bombers and 117 aux here. This base must be dealt with prior to the move on Victoria Point.

TF is three days out of Majuro. CV Enterprise is five days out of Abemama. CV Bunker Hill is twelve days out. I have plans for these units once they arrive. Units will begin loading for Munda next turn.

[vettim89]

24-26 August 1943

Operation Grumpy goes off without a hitch almost. Majuro is occupied and taken but the troops suffer 1800 casualties coming ashore. [X(] Unloading will continue there for a few more days. CV Enterprise and CVL Princton arrive Abemam next turn. My other CV/CVL group has finally clear the Panama Shipping lanes and is 12 days out. Depending on how long things take to settle down in the Marshalls, my next op may go off before they arrive. Two subs have been sunk by the TF's associated with these landings. The upgraded USN DD's are dangerous. One sub took 17 hits before succombing; the other took 14.

Operation Daffy Duck is going well. About 40% of the 32nd ID has been lifted into Madang. AV is now about 180. There is a TF out on the Bismark Sea. Hard to say where it is going. It is possible Larry is reacting to my troops or it could just be a supply run. Time will tell.

The last two TF's are about to Tavoy for the Victoria Point Op. Weather has been bad in the BoB for three days. If it cooperates next turn, I will hit Bangkok with 2E's and Singora with 4E's.

My rapid successes of the last month are creating a problem with lots of units at backwater bases and not enough lift to get them where I want them to be. One "problem" I have is what to do with my 4E force now stationed in the Gilberts. Once Majuro is a level 5 AB, I can isolate the Japanese on Kwajalein, Maeolap, Wotje, and Jaluit with SBD's and B-25's. I have almost 200 4E's that need a home.

September 1 is just five days off. In Big B 1.4, the following come available:

B-24J (taking total B-24 production from 15 to 95/month)
B-17G (taking total B-17 prduction from 12 to 25/month)
Thunderbolt II
P-38J (taking total P-38 production from 40 to 135/month)

The - J production of P-38's will definitely have a trickle down effect as units flying -G go to -J and units flying P-40's will fly -G's until that pool runs dry.

Oh, and torpedo dud rate falls to 10%. A very important day 9 Sept 1943 for the Allies

[ny59giants]

Who holds what in northern Australia (screen shot, please)??
I had lost all but Darwin in one game with this map and placed a command HQ at Alice Springs to suck the supplies from the south. This kept Darwin supplied and allowed me to use my opponents troops stuck at Darwin for target practice. Those bases from Alice Spring to Darwin can be built up and base your 4e bombers to lay waste to anything still left there, if he has anything there. Time to turn up the heat in the SRA.

[vettim89]

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

Who holds what in northern Australia (screen shot, please)??
I had lost all but Darwin in one game with this map and placed a command HQ at Alice Springs to suck the supplies from the south. This kept Darwin supplied and allowed me to use my opponents troops stuck at Darwin for target practice. Those bases from Alice Spring to Darwin can be built up and base your 4e bombers to lay waste to anything still left there, if he has anything there. Time to turn up the heat in the SRA.

The Aussies evicted the Japanese from Oz about six months ago. Darwin is built up to max base size but supplies are a problem here. The originle plan was to develop Thursday Is. then Melauk on southern NG to provide air cover as I moved supplies to Darwin. Larry's withdraw of all but a few recon a/c from PNG has accelerated the plan a bit and giving me "the guts" to occupy Madang. The 4E's were at Darwin for a while but moved back to NE Oz to support counter air ops in PNG. As of now, Dobodura, Lae, and Rabaul are basically empty of enemy a/c. The one I don't know about is the Admiralty Islands. Larry is massing a/c in northern Malaya now anticipating my srike in that area. I am pushing hard in the east now and I don't think Larry has realized just how hard I am pushing.

The Timor op is still on. If I can take Lautem, I can control the SE SRA from the air. What I really lack is fuel and the TK to move them. Once the Marshall and Solomons ops end, I can load up my reserves and move them west to supply the Timor op.

[vettim89]

27 August 1943

I had set the US CV's to patrol one hex west of Majuro while the supplies and rest of the troops unload. However, I forgot to hit the patrol/do no retire button. SO they headed back to Makin just in time for Larry to sneak some Kates into Wotje. Three USN BB's were hit with BB Oklahoma likely to succomb to her wounds. Just plane stupid.

THe "Weather Bug" stikres Larry today at both Bangkok and Singora as no Japanese fighters rise to meet the raids. Lots of dead airframes on the ground now. The LBA at Rangoon will continue to rotate through the bases in northern Malaya to keep them suppressed.

I have been having a problem with units stopping unloading of late for now reason. Also, I have had several TF's with ample cargo space only load up a small fragment of the desired unit.

[vettim89]

28 August 1943

BB Oklahoma sinks. Punishment for stupidity. Two separate 4E raids hit Wotje and Singora. LBA launches form Wotje and this time is destroyed by F6F CAP.

The TF leaves for Munda and the TF's leave for Victoria point.

Not much else going on today.

[vettim89]

29 August 1943

Looky who scamp found! No sign of this TF anywhere near the Marshalls this turn. Question is did Larry withdraw them once they were discovered or are they still lurking. My troops are all unloaded at Majuro but supplies are a little weak. I am sending in more but obviously are gonna wait a day. My CVTF is 60 nm WSW of Majuro. I will let them drift a little west to see who or what turns up. Majuro's AB is already 90% to Level 2. Over 300 AV support already there so my CV's will be released from Operating in this area. I have a plan. Need to get Enterprise joined up with them first. CV Hancock is ten days out - ugh.

Miss Betty decided to pay the TF's heading for Victoria point a visit. Die beeeatch!

Day Air attack on TF at 27,38

Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 10

Allied aircraft
Corsair IV x 61
P-38G Lightning x 41

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 10 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Corsair IV: 3 damaged

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 27,38

Japanese aircraft
A6M3 Zero x 18
G4M2 Betty x 3

Allied aircraft
Corsair IV x 61
P-38G Lightning x 8

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3 Zero: 18 destroyed
G4M2 Betty: 3 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Corsair IV: 3 destroyed

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 27,38

Japanese aircraft
A6M3 Zero x 2
G4M1 Betty x 15

Allied aircraft
Corsair IV x 58
P-38G Lightning x 41

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3 Zero: 2 destroyed
G4M1 Betty: 15 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Corsair IV: 1 damaged

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 27,38

Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 20

Allied aircraft
Corsair IV x 34
Hurricane IIc x 3
Spitfire Vb x 4
P-38G Lightning x 38

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 19 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Corsair IV: 4 damaged
Hurricane IIc: 3 damaged
Spitfire Vb: 1 damaged

Oops - one got away. Always good to leave a survivor to tell the folks back home what happened.

For the first time ever, every 4E I set to strike launched this turn. AB's at Singora, Wotje, and Maeolap were all hit. That was over 600 bombers! In addition another 100 or so are flying supplies into Madang.

Not a bad turn

[ny59giants]

Do you have plans to take Nauru island?? That would firm up the link between the Marshalls/Gilberts and Solomon Island groups.

[vettim89]

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

Do you have plans to take Nauru island?? That would firm up the link between the Marshalls/Gilberts and Solomon Island groups.

Originally yes. The 1st Marines were fully prepped for a long time. When I hit Tarawa, Larry reinforced Nauru. At that point with an epic struggle for Tarawa going on, 1st Marines were changed over to there. Now, I don't knwo if that is where I want to go. I think Ponape may be the better choice. First I have to take Enetewok. I keep telling myself that Japan is that way (pointing NW not west)

[ny59giants]

If you can send transports from San Fran to Townsville without any detours and/or minimal escorts, then your logistics will be in good shape. Thats why, IMO, the capture of Marshalls, Gilberts, Nauru, and most of the Solomon islands along with the southern tip of New Guinea is important. Got to keep the turn around time of all your transports as short as possible. Your plans to hit Timor and the SRA are important and in a few months these efforts will bear fruit.  

[vettim89]

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

If you can send transports from San Fran to Townsville without any detours and/or minimal escorts, then your logistics will be in good shape. Thats why, IMO, the capture of Marshalls, Gilberts, Nauru, and most of the Solomon islands along with the southern tip of New Guinea is important. Got to keep the turn around time of all your transports as short as possible. Your plans to hit Timor and the SRA are important and in a few months these efforts will bear fruit.  

An excellant point! I had forgotten the six TK I lost early in the war that I failed to reset the return route from OZ and tried to waltz pass then Japanese occupied Tarawa. Nauru is back on the menu. Present ops in the Solomons and NG should secure the rest of the line. Now I have to figure out who needs to go to Nauru. Could use 6th infantry - SWPAC command at SF right now. Can secure it with a RCT or even a Raider BTN once it is taken.

[ny59giants]

I just pulled up Bodhi's Utility to plot the distance between San Fran to Townsville on ABs extended map.

Long Way:
San Fran - Pago Pago - Noumea - Townsville
Spd 10 takes 37 days
Spd 12 takes 30 days

Direct Way:
San Fran - Townsville (124 hexes)
Spd 10 - 31 days (6 days saved each way)
Spd 12 - 26 days (4 days saved each way)