Vettim89 vs Greasylake - Reversal of Fortunes

[ny59giants]

Its all about logistics. After following numerous games with Nemo and following/playing some RHS, its all about the economy. I expect Oil futures to hit over $150/barrel on the Tokyo stock exchange in the next few months or so. [:D]

[vettim89]

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

Its all about logistics. After following numerous games with Nemo and following/playing some RHS, its all about the economy. I expect Oil futures to hit over $150/barrel on the Tokyo stock exchange in the next few months or so. [:D]

I suspect so. With TImor in my hands, they are gads of unoccupied bases around that can be built to level 4 AB. The eastern exit out of the SRA with be closed. With my next move after Timor (either Kendari or Macassar whichever is more lightly held) I will have a level 5 AB within 4E strike range of all oil production except Palambang and Batavia. Pressure from the north is putting theose last two within my grasp.

26-29 November

Mostly in the moving phase now. Will touch on each Theater real quick

NoPac

Really nothing going on here except I decided my next group of LST's are going up here.

SoPac

Nauru Island has been evacuated. The 43rd ID is heading back to Savali for R&R. The third fragement of this division is at Majuro. The TF carrying the other 2/3 will pick up a RCT and take it to Majuro. Then the rest of the Div will be brought back down to Savali. This Div will be tagged for the Marianas. For some reason Bikini Atool is not building very rapidly. Previous Atoll development has taken a few weeks. Only a level 1 port and 22% to Level 1 AB here. Hmmm

CentPac

Enterprise's TF is 3 days out of PH. San Jancinto arrives next trun. The lift for the Wake op is 5 days out. Once that TF arrives, I will begin loading and send the CVTF ahead to pound the AB and port. Heavy ASW/SS fighting around the Marianas with several fleet boats being sent back home. SeaRaven sank an AK on the 28th a the 6th SNLF on board.

SWPac

TF is about 10 days out of Darwin. I have started a low level effort to reduce the AB's at Koupang, Lautem, and Amboina. None of these AB have any combat a/c at them but I want them to be at a high damage level when my troops arrive in the area.

SEAC

Larry is pulling out of the hex South of Victoria Point. He got nine units out already. I ordered a deliberate attack to hopefull stop some of these units in place. Failing that we will fight a Ban Dou.

[vettim89]

30 November 1943

Big air battle over Tavoy today with 14 different a/c models involved - seven for each side. The japanese failed to drop a single bomb. Air losses were 96 to 14. Larry lost 21 A6M3a, 21 Jack, 10 Tojo vs 4 hurricane IIC, 1 Wildcat IV, and one Spitfire V.

Amboina Oil is at 2(35) now. I think that is done for now. The Darwin bound blob is north of Cooktown now. I am havig trouble keeping these guys together. Even though the are all set to follow the lead TF, they keep separating and heading for Darwin alone. Not a problem now but will be once they enter the Gulf of Carpenthia.

CVL San Jancinto has arrived PH. Enterprise's TF is one day out. The last CVE is two days out. We are bound for Wake Is. The CVTF will depart tomorrow followed by the troops.

[Capt. Harlock]

Big air battle over Tavoy today with 14 different a/c models involved - seven for each side. The japanese failed to drop a single bomb. Air losses were 96 to 14.

I'm going to assume there were also two Japanese bomber types there. Lightnings and Corsairs really make a difference, don't they? [;)]

[vettim89]

ORIGINAL: Capt. Harlock

Big air battle over Tavoy today with 14 different a/c models involved - seven for each side. The japanese failed to drop a single bomb. Air losses were 96 to 14.

I'm going to assume there were also two Japanese bomber types there. Lightnings and Corsairs really make a difference, don't they? [;)]

Yes, the second generation fighters are nice. Loking forward to the third ge (P-47D/P-51) but that is a long time away. The raid shown had Ann, Val, Sonia, Tojo, and Jack. Another Raid had A6M3a and G4M1. Thats the seven Japanese. You can see the seven Allied. Even the Wildcat IV held their own in this battle.

3 November 1943

Not much going on. The Darwin group has entered the Gulf of Carpetaria. LRCAP from three AB covering them.

CVTF nearing Johnston Island heading for Wake.

The Allied troops have arrived at Ban Dou. Larry ran there from the hex south of Victoria Point. I suspect supplies became an issue. I have been hitting the AB there to keep forts from building. Also getting nice AB supply hits every turn

[vettim89]

4-5 November 1943

Operations are focused on thre areas right now. Thought it is about time I gave these things some names.

Operation Goofy

Two CV TF with 4 CV, 4 CVL are approaching Wake Island. Their job is to reduce the AB and start on the port. The transports for this op are two days out of PH. I have two ID and a Combat ENG unit fully prepped. I have enough CVE to over the invasion forces now so the fleet carriers will be released to Raid Marcus Island just prior to the trnasports arriving just to make sure we get no interference from there. Depending on the state of repairs of my remaining fast carriers, I may raid the Marianas too. CV Franklin got up to 16 syst damage from over use. CV Enterprise has completed her 10/43 upgrade and is 8 SYST. Several of the CVL's are in the 6 to 10 range. Lets see how the repair god's treat me with die rolls over the next week or so.

Operation Tazz

SWPAC ops are named after Loony Toons (Tasmanian Devil = Tazz). The blob of TF's are four to 5 days out of Darwin. They will pause here just long enough to unload and reload with the Aussie assault troops for Lautem. Just before I hit Lautem I will start reconning Dili. If it is empty, I will drop my Para unit in there before hand. This op is being done on a shoestring as I only have a cruiser based TF for combat ships. I am relying on airpower to hold off the Japanese here. In prep for this op, AB's at Luatem and Koepang are being hit daily.

Operation Piglet

Ban Dou is fully invested by both sides. The five US ARM BTN have arrived at Tavoy and will depart for the long slog to Ban Dou. The transports are doing a good job keeping the supplies rolling in. I have an AK with another 64 plan c-47 group about ten days out of Trico. They are completing the long haul around southern Oz. My theater reserve of a UK ID, a US RCT, and the sixth US ARM BTN are either at or moving towards Trico. If my offensive gains momentum, my plan is to move on Aloe Star. Once that base is taken I will try to get the reserve in by sea along with a couple hundred thousand tons of supplies. LBA is hitting the units at Ban Dou from three bases now

[vettim89]

6 November 1943

A I-Boat puts a "fish" into CV Victorious. It basically bounces. SHe is at 4 SYST and 22 FLOOD. Pump her out and she'll be fine. Larry was quite happy. Hated to burst his bubble, but Enterprise, Bunker Hill and Intrepid all have higher SYST damage just from intense Ops (8, 16, 7 respectively for the record - 3 of The Big E's is from the 10/43 upgrade)

My Transports are 4 days out of Darwin and have not yet been harrassed. Koepang is at 90% AB damage and Lautem is at 65%. He'll have to strike from Kendari if he wants to get at this force. They'll have to come unescorted in they do.

TF's have begun loading for Wake. Once loaded, it will take a bout 8-9 days to get there. Looking at D-Day of about the 16th I would guess. The CVTF will be at long range by the morning. Once the AB is neutralized, I'll send in the SCTF. Midway has lots of supplies in place to be a rearming point.

Another ID has cleared the jungle from Victoria Point and will be at Ban Don (I have been spelling it wrong) within two days. Two more ID are west of Tavoy now and well supplied. They have already made 15 NM march to the RR. I have three CHinese Corps just north of Bangkok to act as a blocking force. Bad weather prevented both supply and GROUND attacks today. BOO.

[ny59giants]

You are playing against three opponents - Japan, game engine quirks, and weather.  [:D]

[vettim89]

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

You are playing against three opponents - Japan, game engine quirks, and weather.  [:D]

I think I read somewhere that there is a 75% of bad weather in the BoB after 7 Dec 1941. I beleive it.

7 November 1943

My TF in the Gulf of Carpentaria only moved two hexes. I suspect they all refueled overnight. The good news is that there are all in the same hex for the first time since departing Townsville. Had issues with the 193 Tank BTN not wanting to load at PH. Had to offload them and reset. Should still be able to depart in two days.

Another two ID emerged from the Jungle south of Victoria Point. Two more are west of Tavoy. There are also 5 Prov Tank BTN's and a UK ARM RGT at Tavoy with varying degrees of progress to the west. At Ban Don, the AV is about 1700 for the Allies and 3300 for IJA. The addition of four more ID's plus the armor will push it to the ALlies side. I have two important advantages here: air superiority and lots of tanks. Real tanks not go-carts with a turret on them. So even though I know I will only have a marginal AV edge, I will have a larger FP edge which to my understanding is more important as far as long sieges go. It is approaching 1944. Time to scoot across the ocean as quickly as possible.

[vettim89]

8 November 1943

Just a quick update.

* The first strikes occured at Wake. Not happy about my a/c loss but I guess 9 F6F for 42 Japanese fighters is a good day. The AB stands at 24% damage. I think it will be about cooked in a day. The 193rd Tank BTN decided that it would go to Wake after all. TF's should depart tomorrow.

* Poor SS Templar is hit by Helens twice and a Val in the Strai of Molucca. I don't think she'll make it. If Larry wants to waste Army bombers on ASW duty with over 100 k Commonwealth troops breathing down his neck, fine by me.

* The Darwin TF are moving painfully slow right now. Only two hexes this last turn. At least they are obeying my orders to stay bunch together.

* Included the SitRep for Ban Don. I have over 1300 AV in bound.

[vettim89]

9-11 November 1943

Three turns today! Not a whole lot going on. Highlights

* Darwin force is four days out. I don't think they have even been spotted

* Wake Island group sailed last turn. There is no longer any air resistance. Two separate SCTF are in bound.

* Another Japanese TK (a small one) was sunk south of Singapore

* SS Trusty is also now headed back for repairs as she too was hit by Helens. Again. There are 150K screaming Commonwealth troops just 250 miles away. They are looking for Gen Yamashita. If Larry wants the Helens to hunt subs then fine by me.

* AV at Ban Don is close now. Just over 3000 for Allies to 3500 for IJA.

[Capt. Harlock]

150K screaming Commonwealth troops

Screaming? They must have lost another test to Scotland . . .[:D]

[vettim89]

ORIGINAL: Capt. Harlock

150K screaming Commonwealth troops

Screaming? They must have lost another test to Scotland . . .[:D]

Ouch. No news has worked its way back to SEAC of treatment of Allied prisoners. The want a measure of blood.

12-13 November 1943

All is well. The transports are arriving at Darwin. They will all arrive withing two days depending on if the slowest TF moves two or three hexes next turn. No interfenece from the Japanese at all.

Wake Island forces are creeping towards their objective. A replishment TF has arrive and the USN CV air groups are almost totall rebuilt except for the Helldiver units because I failed to not the most recently arrived CV's had them on board and the VR/B groups have SBD's in them. Got another group near PH that will turn around and upgrade their SBD to SB2C's.

Larry has been pulling back trying to conserve his air groups. I have been probing around trying to find where they are concentrated. A sweep from Tavoy with P-38L (51st FG) and a AB attack from Hengchow (B-24J) yielded an airloss total of 65 to 7 today with the Allies on top. Again Tojo and Tony topped the list.

[JeffroK]

ORIGINAL: Capt. Harlock

150K screaming Commonwealth troops

Screaming? They must have lost another test to Scotland . . .[:D]

nah, they'd mostly be Indians

Another LBW appeal turned down! [8D]

[vettim89]

13-16 November 1943

Very slow right now

** Wake Island has been hit by CV Air and BOMB TF pretty constantly now. Troops are still a week away.

** Everything is unloaded at Darwin. Larry has loaded up Kendari with 200 a/c. There is a SCTF there too. I thought about delaying the Timor op and trying a para assult to Dili to Provide LRCAP. Then I figured that is so close to Kendari that Larry could counter invade pretty easily of LRCAP the base to prevent my transports from getting in. I started loading the Aussie troops on the 16th. I am gonna give it a shot. Once I take Lautem, I can nuetralize Kendari from there. If losses become excessive I can always turn back.

** The two IND ID west of Tavoy are at 40 NM progress and have over 30 K supplies tagged to them. I hope they haul the bulk of these out when then go. Larry is probably wondering what the heck I am doing here. The answer is distracting him. I think it is working

[vettim89]

At the risk of sounding stupid - too late. I some how failed to note the change of the month. It is

16-20 DECEMBER 1943

Wake Island

The TF's are one hex off the island. The CVTF have been hitting the port continuously for a week. Cursor intel says 82 port damage. We shall see. The MSW go in tomorrow. Two separate SCTF will arrive in two turns to hit the base again. Depending on the MSW outsome, I will send in the troops on the day the SCTF arrive. AT PH, All my CVL's (5 of them) are at 0 SYST. The CV's are all below 5. Once Wake is done, I will send the CVTF there back to PH. We are heading west. Haven't decided if I will hit Marcus or Pagan yet. I am leaning towards Pagan.

Timor

Here is the problem. From the attached screenie you can see that Kendari is loaded up. I have three options:

1. Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead. I have over 250 of my fighters available for LRCAP. My pilots are all moderate to high in EXP vs what I know will be very inexperienced Japanese pilots. This plan is to accept the losses to lift and go for Timor. Also, my LRCAP might deplete Larry's attack Aircraft by the time the ships get close

2. Try to shut Kendari down. The problem is it will be at extended range for the 4E and they will go in unescorted. Could send them in at extreme altitude to see what happens. This might take a while but Larry has shown a tendency to abandon bases once the damage starts mounting. My other option is to go at night and my previous experience with that is that it is not worth the effort.

3. Abandon the Timor op or at least postpone it for some time. Instead shift a little east and built up Tinabar and Kai Island (both bases are still Allied controled). From there I could move on Amboina and slowly Build a series of interlocking bases to support the progress. Once Amboina is mine, I will have a level 5 AB to hit Kendari from with escort. Problem is that is the wrong direction

Can't say I am thrilled with any of my options. I transferred in another 48 plane B-24J group to Darwin just in case. I am leaning towards combining options 1 and 2. The TF are about loaded so I have to decide soon

[vettim89]

21 December 1943

Well I decided to try at least one high altitude raid. Sending about 150 4E's to Kendari all at 30 k or higher. We shall see

The cruiser bombardment group hit Wake and received only a cursory response. MSW swept without interference. The BB TF hits next turn. THen the troops go in. Here's hoping.

The units for Ban Don are all emerging from the Jungle. Should be about another week to get them in place. Then I will hit the troops with everything I got from the air. The Japanese bombardment attacks are falling in effectiveness of late - usually about 20-30 Allied casualites. The Allied response is causing anywhere from 125 to 350 per turn.

[vettim89]

22 December 1943

The BB SCTF hit Wake and only 8 guns fired back. The troops go in tomorrow. I don't think my MSW are sweeping. AT least I am not getting the message that they are. I-25 torpedoed a DMS at Wake and was promptly sunk for her efforts. Will have to see how this one goes. There are 32 k troops at Wake which is a smidge over our HR. This is equal to what I had against me at Tarawa. Hopefully the constant pound from the SCTF's and CV air will be the deciding factor here.

Miss Betty moved to Wotje which is only a level 3 AB. They attacked some AK's heading for LA - no hits. This TF is close enough to Majuro so about 50 P-38G are put on LRCAP. In addition, the 4E switch to Wotje as their target.

My first raid on Kendari was a wash. I lost 15 bombers to 14 aircraft destroyed including 3 Tojo by the bombers. AB damage is listed as 9. Have to see how many engineers are their and how fast the base repairs. BTW, Larry had Tojo's and Tony's on CAP. The Tony's could not make the height to get at the bombers. I will rest a day or two and hit it again.

More units inbound to Ban Don. Todays Japanese attack caused 42 casualties vice 124 for Allies.

[vettim89]

23 December 1943

The troops hit Wake today. The MSW did there job and the mines are gone. One AK hit a mine. Unfortunately the tran TF only unloaded in the night phase. The shock attack was not pretty and everyone is pretty disrupted. Need to get the rest of the troops ashore and let them rest up before I start the reduction. Loading up another ID at PH just in case but I think I have enough here right now.

Going to be another day to get the bombers in position to hit Kendari again. I think this is doable but will take a few weeks.

The last of my troops will get out of the jungle in Burma next trun. I will finally be able to get this offensive in gear.

[vettim89]

24 December 1943

Troops still unloading at Wake - a small fragment of the tank BTN is still on board. One more shock attack. An I-Boat hit one of the MSW returning to PH sinking her. The sub took 14 hits in the response but is not reported sunk yet. Sent in Nells from Marcus which did manage to torpedoe a DD. Almost all the Nells were lost - 16 of 18. This op is turning into another Tarawa. An ID departed PH today for Wake. The SCTF are turning around from Midway and heading back in.

I moved in another 40 or so 4E to Darwin from NZ and SoPac. I have a few more squadrons in bound.