Vettim89 vs Greasylake - Reversal of Fortunes

[vettim89]

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

What operations do you have planned for the next 6 weeks?? I know your SeaBees are busy building up bases while your logistical tail tries to keep up, but wanted to know where your next efforts would be at. 

Clean up in the SoPac region basically. Logitstics are now in good shape. The only crisis I had was that I was sending everything out of Savali and it drained the supplies literally to 0 for a few turns. There was 600 k supplies at Pago Pago just 120 nm to the east. Not much of a crisis. So the ops upcoming are:

* Shortlands which will go off in about 48 to 72 hours (base is unoccupied - we like a tidy map)
* Bikini - unoccupied dot to be built to level 3 AB to close the top of the Marshalls' escape path.
* Nauru Is which is just to make the LA-Townsville path clean
* Wake Island which may be slightly out of reach for the time period - depends on how fast the other ops fall
* Aru Island - still ABDA command base to support ops in the Banda Sea region
* Lautem on Timor - defintiely on the fringe of the time period but I have an idea for that.

Logistically everything looks good with the possible exception of not enough fuel in Oz. That is being corrected. Large stockpiles in Samoa can be moved west as the war is over for this part of the ocean. Wow for over a year Pago Pago has been the hub of Allied activity. Now it is a backwater. Wow

[Nemo121]

Suffice it to say: the Allies aren't really ready to take on the Japs until '44

 
Maye not on Japan's terms BUT one doesn't have to take anyone on on their terms --- unless honour considers no exception of course.
 
 
BTW if I'm reading the map of Burma/Thailand etc you'e posted correctly I think you are in an excellent situation to utterly sunder the Japanese position in Malaysia. Why not land in northern Java and march down taking the bases parallel to Malaysia's western coast. Then you can threaten landings ANYWHERE along the entire Western Malaysian peninsula. Combine this with an overland drive from Ban Don to the railroad between Bangkok and Malaysia ( to prevent reinforcements ) and it should prove impossible for the Japanese to hold Malaysia. once Malaysia falls you have the option of either leapfrogging along the Thailand/China coast Inchon'ing the Japs to death OR moing down through Java proper either via land or ia a landing near Palembang OR extending eastward along Northern Borneo toward the Phillipines.
 
The trick is to drive south quickly so that the Japanese can't garrison the western Malaysian bases strongly and such that your landing, when it occurs, will be decisive. Obviously though to be successful any movement through Sumatra would have to be accompanied by a move from Ban Don to be successful. This seems, to me, to be a pretty low-risk operation as it is overland all the way except for the initial landing at the extreme north of Sumatra ( and the two hex hop east from Sumatra to Malaysia whenever you invade Malaysia... but that can be covered by LRCAP and so is minimally risky ).

[ny59giants]

Why not land in northern Java and march down taking the bases parallel to Malaysia's western coast.

I think this is suppose to be Sumatra, not Java.

[vettim89]

ORIGINAL: Nemo121

Suffice it to say: the Allies aren't really ready to take on the Japs until '44

Maye not on Japan's terms BUT one doesn't have to take anyone on on their terms --- unless honour considers no exception of course.


BTW if I'm reading the map of Burma/Thailand etc you'e posted correctly I think you are in an excellent situation to utterly sunder the Japanese position in Malaysia. Why not land in northern Java and march down taking the bases parallel to Malaysia's western coast. Then you can threaten landings ANYWHERE along the entire Western Malaysian peninsula. Combine this with an overland drive from Ban Don to the railroad between Bangkok and Malaysia ( to prevent reinforcements ) and it should prove impossible for the Japanese to hold Malaysia. once Malaysia falls you have the option of either leapfrogging along the Thailand/China coast Inchon'ing the Japs to death OR moing down through Java proper either via land or ia a landing near Palembang OR extending eastward along Northern Borneo toward the Phillipines.

The trick is to drive south quickly so that the Japanese can't garrison the western Malaysian bases strongly and such that your landing, when it occurs, will be decisive. Obviously though to be successful any movement through Sumatra would have to be accompanied by a move from Ban Don to be successful. This seems, to me, to be a pretty low-risk operation as it is overland all the way except for the initial landing at the extreme north of Sumatra ( and the two hex hop east from Sumatra to Malaysia whenever you invade Malaysia... but that can be covered by LRCAP and so is minimally risky ).

Now that I understand Lanchester's Laws, I think I am on the right course. I have reconned every base on the Malay peninsula and Siam/Indochina. From the picture I have been able to gather, Larry has garrisoned Malaya and Sumatra fairly well but left his right flank more exposed. I think this is a product of inadvertent Mistroika. I had been hopping along the Burma coast right up to Victoria Point and Nicobar Island. I had intended to move on Sabang next. Thus creating the impression that I was heading toward an invasion of Sumatra and eventually the west coat of Malaya. Then the RN lift took a beating during the Victoria Point Operation. I was faced with the choice of either delaying any further action in this theater while lift repaired and was transferred from the Pacific or going overland. I didn't want to lose operational tempo so I struck South. Bangkok has 15 units with c. 80 k troops but there is not defense in depth on this side of the Gulf of Siam - no base has more than three units in it with some empty. I have shown that I can interdict shipping pretty well as far south as Saigon. I am not saying Larry can't reinforce just that it will be very difficult. I have a blocking force heading south out of Victoria Point which hopefully will keep the units in Malaya from coming across to assist. I can move a force at least four times the size of Larry's units in this theater into play plus I have air superiority (bordering on air supremacy). In addition US Army units are now arriving at Aden which can be loaded up and brought to bear fairly quickly.

I don't want to lose sight that this is October 1943 not October 1944. I have time to accomplish a lot. Dan the Canoerebel says I should hit 'em where they aint. Nemo's treatise on Lanchester's Laws in the First Team AAR says it is more efficient to bring overwhelming force to each operation in succession rather than attempt several operations simultaneously with adequate force. So by moving south I can bring over 250,000 troops to meet at best 100,00 troops many of which are likely support troops. Overwhelming force against my opponents weakest flank.

[vettim89]

Quiet few days. My units are trickling into the hex just north of Bangkok. Supplies are being flown in. At present I have three full ID and three armored RGT's in the hex with artillery, five more ID, an HQ trailing. There is a Japanese ID an Tank RGT opposing. Larry moved a BF into the hex this last turn which had to SHock Attack. From the e-mail message, I take it Larry is not happy with the results. I assume Larry suddenly had the thought that building FORTs in this hex might be a good idea. Too little too late as the force approaching him will overwhelm the defenders very quickly. SEAC command will arrive at Tavoy in three to four days along with another Indian ID. At Aden there are three US Prov Tank Rgts and a COmposite Inf RGT building up to full strength. Once they reach full TOE they will be committed also. An ID has moved south out of Victoria Point has taken up Position on the RR between Siam and Malaya to block Japanese interference with the Siam offensive. There are an additional four Chinese Corps at Rangoon resting and rebuilding. I have an idea for them but I need to do a few things first.

In CENTPAC, troops for Bikin will start loading in a few days. This is the last operation that will require my CV support and they will head back to PH for upgrades and repair. Then Wake will go off.

Merauke is no a Level 3 AB. Waiting for more P-38G to upgrade to -J to provide cover for the next op.

In CHina I have come to the sad conclusion that Honan is a lost cause. Larry has dropped the fort level to 6 over the last 10 turns. I have been flying in supplies like crazy but it seems to not make a difference. Only good news is these units will respawn and it will take Larry a while to completely eliminate them. Bad news of course is that frees up 150K Japanese troops for further action in CHina or reinforcement of Pacific bases

[ny59giants]

SEAC command will arrive at Tavoy in three to four days

Are you prepping this Command HQ and others for future objectives?? They will give you an additional comabt bonus besides the one you get from Corp HQ's. They have a range of 9 and it is easy to forget to use this bonus and prep only for the base they are landing at. Just a friendly reminder. [;)]

[vettim89]

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

SEAC command will arrive at Tavoy in three to four days

Are you prepping this Command HQ and others for future objectives?? They will give you an additional comabt bonus besides the one you get from Corp HQ's. They have a range of 9 and it is easy to forget to use this bonus and prep only for the base they are landing at. Just a friendly reminder. [;)]

One Indian Corp HQ is in the action hex now. That is why SEAC command is moving forward. A UK HQ is heading to Chittagong to be lifted in once the AP's return. Its is accompanied by another Indian ID. These units were holding the Imphal line (quite frankly I forgot about them as I moved south). Another Indian Corps HQ has just left Aden with yet another ARM RGT along. I got a secret but I ain't tell' just yet.

19 October 1943

Well my esteemed opponent finally noticed Madang was an active allied base. Failing to recon it, he loaded up an small INF unit on barges. He though he had to dislodge a pesky BF I had snuck in. The exact e-mail message was, "How did you get that many troops there without me noticing." The answer: 300+ C-47. Oh and throw in some 4E to lift supplies. The hapless little IJA unit was about massacred on the beaches. Oh and then LBA hit the barge TF and about destroyed it - NO SUPPLIES FOR YOU! The mighty 32nd US Inf Div is set to shock attack. This should be fun - 400 AV attacking out of forts vs 45 AV that is severely disrupted.

Shortlands should fall in two turns. Moving AV Support up to Buin. It will built to a level 5 AB. Once the two proceeding tasks are done, lift will move across the Coral Sea to start the move into the SRA.

Map shows the known situation in SEAC. You can see that while there is a big stack at Bangkok (this base has been heavily reconned and troop strength is c. 80 k - 15 small units), everywhere else is very poorly garrisoned with some bases outright empty. Not shown are the three units at Rahang the last time I reconned that base. A IJN TF of some size has exited the north end of the Strait of Molucca - wonder what they are up to. Larry better hope for bad weather because there are a lot of strike a/c about. Almost all the 4E of the China Expedition have returned home. There is more important work to be done. I did leave a full USAAF B-24 BG up there just to keep Larry honest. It will return to SEAC soon. May keep the AVG up there for a few weeks just to harass the Japanese.

SOPAC is filled with various TF's heading in every conceivable direction

[vettim89]

20 October 1943

The SCTF hit Victoria Point. I lost about 20 a/c but the base/service damage are both in the 30's. GRRRRR. LBA puts six 500lb bombs into Hiei but they all bounce. Lots of deck damage though and she is on fire. The RN SCTF arrived too late to intercept. Larry has 200 a/c at Georgetown. Half tempted to send the RN down there to pound his AB. Let him see what its like for once

First deliberate attack goes off tomorrow north of Bangkok. All my subs in the SCS are now moved to blockade Saigon and Haiphong.

Row Boat Corps takes Shortlands before my Raider BTN get there. I'll have to find another target.

[ny59giants]

I like to keep 2 American AKs in the SEAC to be used to build PT boats. They may not survive against a SCTF, but they will use up Op points and give you a chance to hit back. If you don't have any over there now, I would send some. [;)]

Following up what Nemo said in another threat, I would start using massive amounts of transports which you have to move troops to empty bases and start being Mac around the northern coast of New Guinea. Add in the huge capacity of Coronados and other patrol planes, you should be able to leapfrog bases and eat up territory very quickly. Stir in Fast Transports and you should have a highly intoxicating mix. Good Luck!! [:D]

[vettim89]

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

I like to keep 2 American AKs in the SEAC to be used to build PT boats. They may not survive against a SCTF, but they will use up Op points and give you a chance to hit back. If you don't have any over there now, I would send some. [;)]

Following up what Nemo said in another threat, I would start using massive amounts of transports which you have to move troops to empty bases and start being Mac around the northern coast of New Guinea. Add in the huge capacity of Coronados and other patrol planes, you should be able to leapfrog bases and eat up territory very quickly. Stir in Fast Transports and you should have a highly intoxicating mix. Good Luck!! [:D]

I have PT's at Tavoy but not VP. I have no fuel that far forward as of this point. Not that I need a lot of fuel but I need some. As to NG, everybase as far as Hollandia has at least 15 K troops at them. No weak point here. The gaps in the defense seem to be in the SRA and possibly western Pacific - Yap, Ulithi, Palau, etc.

[vettim89]

21 October 1943

Some turns are boredom, some are not. Where this turn was not boring is interesting

* Japenese try to Sweep Victoria Point and lose 31 Tony/Tojo to 3 SPit V and one T-Bolt.
* KB is spotted in the Gulf of Siam again. RN CV's are at Tavoy guarding an offloading TRANTF
* First Deliberate attack north of Bangkok comes off 2 to 1 and causes 700 IJA casualties to 250 Allied. No forts

[vettim89]

22 October 1943

Not much but highlights:

* The AVG continues to put a dent in the Japanese training program. Seven more trainees go down in flames
* KB is hidden under crappy weather in the Gulf of Siam. I have no idea if they are still there or have retired.
* Last turn there were 5 units in the base NE of Bangkok - Lop Boi??? Now there are two
* Last turn there were 15 units at Bangkok, now there are 18.
* Two units still at Rahang - It appears Larry brought three units from there to Bangkok. Time will tell if this strategy works
* The four US ARM RGTs are gaining a tank or two a day - should be at full strenght in no less than two weeks. Lift is sent to bring them to battle
* Units begin loading for Nauru Island. BOMB TF is dispatched from Abemama to hit it. Also 200+ 4E bombers are put on port attack. Nauru is the originle Snow WHite Operation
* US CV's arrive at Tarawa next turn. They will replinish and head north with the Bikini invasion force. This is the fifth of the Seven Dwarfs - the last two are canceled.
* Recon of Wake says 10 units - ouch. well I am better prepared this time. Will turn the base to dust before I even think about hitting the beaches.
* At Colombo, CA Houston and CL Boise complete upgrades. They have been fighting with original 1941 fitting until now.
* If Yorktown will fall one more point in SYST, she will undergo her 10/43 upgrade. Wasp and Princeton have completed theirs
* Less than two weeks before I get another CVL and another CV. Then there is a two month break. Then there is a four month break after that. Fortunately I get a huge number of CVE's during that lull.
* Spent about 10 k PP this turn converting most of the huge Aussie army at Darwin to SWPAC. Still have 20 K left

[Capt. Harlock]

At Colombo, CA Houston and CL Boise complete upgrades. They have been fighting with original 1941 fitting until now.

At least the Houston is still there to upgrade!

[vettim89]

ORIGINAL: Capt. Harlock

At Colombo, CA Houston and CL Boise complete upgrades. They have been fighting with original 1941 fitting until now.

At least the Houston is still there to upgrade!

Houston and Boise were both damaged in the fight for the NEI. They were sent to Oz to repair but were needed in CBI to offset the heavy RN losses in cruisers fighting in the BoB. This is the first time in nearly two years of war where those ships have had a chance to refit.

Not much going on in the game at present, hence no posts. Some highlights:

* Larry took Babo in the extreme NW corner of NG. I think the Madang experience taught him a lesson. I expect a few more bases will be cleaned up.
* Larry is evacuating Truk. Unit count was once ten is now six. Some of those evacuated troops never made it to their destination as the Silent Service has been having a field day.
* In the name of doing something as the next ops move through the preparation and positioning stages, I have been running Sweep missions to targets like Hollandia and Koepang. These battles are always one sided affairs with the Allies coming out on top usually by a 10:1 margin and have hit up to 20:1
* Lots of troops trudging through the jungle in Burma/Siam. I have accepted that this is just going to take a while.
* Both the Bikini and Nauru ops are about good to go. Nauru Is has been pounded with LBA and SCTF for several days. Those troops should be well tenderized by now. There supply situation has got to be horrible becasue there has been nothing going into that base for over three months.
* In prep for the Bikini Is op, the US CVTF sortie this turn to hit Wake's AB. Depending on how that plays out they may head west to interdict the aforementioned evacuation of Truk.
* A CVL arrives next turn and CV Franklin in five turns. Then the long six month pause where I only get one CV

[vettim89]

SLow turns this weekend. Few notes:

* Sweeps at Koepang and Georgetown yield nearly an even loss ration. Obviously Larry still has a few good sq left. The units I was attacking with are all fairly neophytes.

* Working hard on getting as many P-38 sq upgraded to -J model. Two more sq at PM and I will be in good shape.

* Things are going incredibly slow in SEAC in spite of ample supplies, my units are crawling.

* Larry occupied the last base in NW NG that he hadn't taken - Manwarki or something like that.

* Bikini TF is now 300 NM north of Savali

* Nauru Is TF is 100 supply points short of being full. Should depart next turn. The Port is 100% damaged there

* US CVTF's are 120 North of Majuro. They will hit Wake's AB in two days. SO tempting to sprint them west as there is a lot of MS trafffic near Truk. CV's are for killing combat ships not merchies. Let the subs handle it.

* US SS are having there own version of a Turkey Shoot with two to three MS being hit each turn off Truk and the Marianas

* Failed to notice that CVL San Jancinto (with a future US president on board) arrives in 16 days - this is the last of the CVL's. CV Franklin is three days out.

* I added up the losses. In 1943, the Silent service has sunk 90 ships including a BB and 15 TK. Still two months to go. Glancing over the ships sunk list 1000/500 lb bombs are the tops killers. However four ships have been sunk by 2000 lb bombs. These were dropped by 4E bombers out of Rangoon. The EXP is through the roof on those groups

[Capt. Harlock]

However four ships have been sunk by 2000 lb bombs. These were dropped by 4E bombers out of Rangoon.

Pretty interesting. I thought that the 2000-pounders were usually carried by B-25's. And 4E's are usually more likely to get a hit when they're dropping clusters of 500-pounders.

[vettim89]

ORIGINAL: Capt. Harlock

However four ships have been sunk by 2000 lb bombs. These were dropped by 4E bombers out of Rangoon.

Pretty interesting. I thought that the 2000-pounders were usually carried by B-25's. And 4E's are usually more likely to get a hit when they're dropping clusters of 500-pounders.

Well the location lists the losses at/near Saigon. I have had several raids down that way by both B-24 and Liberator III. Then again, B-25's have intercepted some AK in the Gulf of Siam. It is possible the were hit there and sank trying to make safe port. Considering that Saigon is by far not the nearest safe harbor from the middle of the Gulf of Siam, I really think it was the 4E's that dropped them

[ny59giants]

Some of the Allied planes will carry the 2000lb GP bombs. It is based on die rolls and a high experience level (over 70, I think) and within normal range.

[vettim89]

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

Some of the Allied planes will carry the 2000lb GP bombs. It is based on die rolls and a high experience level (over 70, I think) and within normal range.

Oh you mean link these guys???? MUWAHAHAHAHA

31 October 1943. The latter half of the month has been slow as the Allies reposition. We end the month on a bang as the SS hit five separate AK/AP today. Other highlights:

* US CVTF are off Wake but weather was bad so no strikes. The Japanes tried a weak strike with about two dozen fighters and 21 Kates - that was the big SPLASH you may have heard resonating over the internet. Four Kates did run for home

* I had started a new offensive at The Crossroads in China. The first Deliberate Attack came off at 1 to 1 on the 3oth. Then I forgot to reset the units to bombardment and a miserable 0 to 1 attack came on the 31st. I R stupid.

* The second of November should see another big day of Allied sweeps as untis are rested up now.

* A AB attack is ordered from Victoria Point with 60 Thunderbolts escorting 44 B-25. This is merely to keep the pressure up.

The four US ARM RGT are nearly at full strength. Two more days should do it. I realized this is the equivalent of more than a full US ARM Div when they hit the beaches - 216 M4 Shermans!!!!

[ny59giants]

The four US ARM RGT are nearly at full strength. Two more days should do it. I realized this is the equivalent of more than a full US ARM Div when they hit the beaches - 216 M4 Shermans!!!!

One of the reasons I try to evac both the armor units on Luzon in Dec 41 along with the BF, Eng, and Naval HQ. You can never have enough armor. [;)]