Vettim89 vs Greasylake - Reversal of Fortunes

[vettim89]

18 - 23 January 1944

Very slow right now with very few exceptions. Highlights:

* There is an I-boat prowling off Ceylon. It has already bagged two AK. I have a modest force of RN DD's out hunting it. Its a Glen carrying one so if I get it = double bonus

* LBA out of China is playing havoc on Japanese shipping in the SCS. A TF at Cam Rae Bay was trashed last turn

* Finally got some support troops in place at Darwin. First TF left this turn for Lautem with 3 EAB and a large BF. This will be lifted by barge into Dili.

* The 7th fleet CV force is nearing the Gilberts where they will refule and head for Townsville. I got a little surprise I cooked up for Larry.

* The third deliberate attack at Ban Don was just as bad as the first two. I am done here. I cannot figure out what could possibly explain the adjusted IJA AV of being 11 K behind level 6 forts. I have decided to go after the port and AB at Ban Don for a while to see if I can affect supplies.

Larry and I have been talking. I think this war will be over in 6 months. I may be wrong but I think his units are way out of position for where I am heading. We shall see

[ny59giants]

* There is an I-boat prowling off Ceylon. It has already bagged two AK. I have a modest force of RN DD's out hunting it. Its a Glen carrying one so if I get it = double bonus

As an AFB, I hate these things and like you rejoice when I sink one. I got Nemo to give the Americans three of them through the Barracuda Class subs in Empire's Ablaze.

Currently, I'm trying my hand on the "dark side" and love these guys. Trying to balance naval shipbuilding priorities to ensure these are being produced. Like in any war, intel/recon is the key to success.

[Capt. Harlock]

The third deliberate attack at Ban Don was just as bad as the first two. I am done here. I cannot figure out what could possibly explain the adjusted IJA AV of being 11 K behind level 6 forts.

Possibly the IJA units are highly experienced by now?

[vettim89]

ORIGINAL: Capt. Harlock

The third deliberate attack at Ban Don was just as bad as the first two. I am done here. I cannot figure out what could possibly explain the adjusted IJA AV of being 11 K behind level 6 forts.

Possibly the IJA units are highly experienced by now?

Mine are no slouches. There are largely the same group that kicked the Japanese out of Burma over the past year. No matter. With this huge force in Malaya and another in Siam, I hope to unhinge his defense by cutting off the tail of the monster instead of the head.

[vettim89]

24-29 January 1944

Fell off the first page. Not much happened in last five days. Mostly just moving stuff around. Highlights:

* US subs have increased their pace a bit hitting at leat 5 AK/AP over a five day period.

* LBA out of China keeps hitting shipping off Hong Kong. No Japanese fighters resist

* TF move engineers into Lautem which is now a level 5 AB. Max is 6

* Barges move an EAB to Dili which is 84% to level 2. Max is 5

* TF move engineers in and combat troops out of Wake. All faciliteis 100% repaired. A P-38 FG is there now releiveing the CVTF guarding against Miss Betty/Nell.

* Huge number of support troops nearing HI. These will be tagged to the CENTPAC offensive.

* The huge TF with the support troops for SWPAC is near Canton Is. Keep moving baby, keep moving

* US CVTF enter the Coral Sea heading for Townsville. The will make for Darwin as soon as the refuel.

* LBA out of Rangoon raids Saigon's port sinking about 5 AP/AK.

About another week or two and I will be in good shape for a more continuous flow of operations

[vettim89]

30 -31 January 1944

Highlights of these two days:

* Dili is now level 2 AB. There is 90 AV support there but supplies are low. Second EAB being lifted in by barge from Luatem now. I have a Aviation Support unit waiting at Darwin for when this base expands. I have a P-47 sq that will transfer in next turn. Some of the units here are the Dutch units I saved two years ago.

* The are 230 fighters at Lautem. Unfortunately two of the units are 72 plane P-47C FG and we know how these unints tend to drop in available a/c after just a day or two of ops. I am resting these guys now for the big op approaching.

* The 4th Aussie ID has moved into the hex between Dili and Lautem and is reducing the Japanese units that retreated from Lautem.

* Large supply convoy forming up at Darwin to take to Lautem.

* The Enterprise group arrives Townsville next turn. The Intrepid and Lexington II group will follow the next day.

* A huge convoy with 240 K of supplies is loading at Towsnville for Darwin. The US CV's will escort this group in

My opponent is refusing battle. Very rarely do Japanese fighters rise to impeed my bombers these days. AT Makassar there are 54 F, 27, B, and 58 Aux. At Kendari there are 200 F, 120 B, 217 aux (a tad bit overloaded - level 6 AB). None of these units have flown anything but CAP. I think Larry is saving them for when the time is right. I hope to spoil that plan.

Operation Chickenhawk: as the US CV's approach, I continue to build up the AB on Timor. I hope to have no feewer than 400 fighters there by the time this op is ready to go. The US CV's will escort the convoy to just off Darwin. Then they will sprint north. Simulataneously I will launch a 400 plane strong Sweep over Kendari and launch a 250 plane strong 4E AB raid from Darwin. The US CV air groups will be split between AB and Port attack. This is meant to be both overwhelmig and very violent. Give me ten days.

[vettim89]

1-4 February 1944

The Allies prepare to unleash their awesome firepower. Simultaeously evets are in motion at four major ports.

At PH

The 27th ID and the 112th Cav RGT plus two ARM BTN begin loading for Marcus Island. They will be escorted by 4 CV, 3 CVL, and 11 CVE. This time the Engineers are going along. They are loadig up at Lihue.

At Townsville.

A Large convoy with over 200 K of supplies departs escorted by 3 CV, and 6 CVL. They are heading for Darwin and then points north.

At Darwin

A large supply convoy departs for Lautem. They are escorted by a strong SCTF. A TF with three CB units is approachig from the east. As soon as this TF arrives, units will begin to load for Maumere. Once the huge stack of ENG arrive from WCUS (now just west of Canton Is), SWPAC will move on Makassar and then SE Borneo

At Trico

Still in the gathering stage here. Three large BF are inbound from the Indian mainland. They will join up with a EAB, three small BF, and an AV RGT. R CVTF are escorting a convoy to Rangoon where they will pick up four small infantry units to provide defese. All these units are tagged for Padang on the west coast of Sumutra

[ny59giants]

I'm glad to see that you are going back to a more mobile campaign in SE Asia. That is your strength as he cannot be strong everywhere. He still has LCU with high experience to combat you in jungle warfare. 

[vettim89]

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

I'm glad to see that you are going back to a more mobile campaign in SE Asia. That is your strength as he cannot be strong everywhere. He still has LCU with high experience to combat you in jungle warfare. 

I agree but the Ban Don op has done what it was intended - pin down a very large Japanese Army.

4-5 February 1944

POW took two TT from a Ro Boat off AKyab. She is port pumping out with 13 syst damage. I will likely still send her on the Padang Op. That Ro boat has been suffering for her ill advise foray. She has been attacked twice no and is heavily damaged. Unfortunately her path home is right under about 15 RN DD.

Some ground highlights

* Larry is moving on Yenen. Fine by me. Having this huge Japanese army tied down in northern China is only helping the Allies

* Two units left Lop Buri and are now one hex north of that base. Surely Larry isn't trying to get to Tavoy. There are 6 Chinese corps ther behind level 9 forts with lots of supplies and air power to help if need be.

* I am hitting the AB or Port at Ban Don almost constanly now. I decided to go after the supplies. Got a nice 8 supply hit result two days ago. Unadjusted AV is 4100 Allies (climbing) vs 3100 IJA (falling)

The TF with all those support troops is South of Nukefutau now.

[vettim89]

6-8 February 1944

They're here. The Allies got their first taste of the Japanese Super Weapon. Huge air battle over Lautem. I lost a lot of Kittyhawk IV's but my fighter losses were half of the Japanese side. The Kamis went after a barge TF and a PT TF sinking one LCT. They also hit the SCTF hitting a CL. Damage is only moderate. A DD was also hit by conventional bombs. The two damaged ships are heading back to Darwin. This only slightly changes my thinking. CAP is Augmented at Darwin. Two sq of P-38J are rotated in and one of the P-47C FG is taken off rest at least for a day. I really need that unit at near full strength for the big counter air battle coming soon.

Other highlights:

* Intel at Marcus has grown from 12k to 22 k to 30 k troops over the past few days. Considerig the Kakikaze threat, the invasion TF is pulled back. Bunker Hill is still repping up from her upgrade at SF. I think I am going to need those extra 40 F6F. In addition two more CVE will arrive at PH within 10 days or so. This will raise my number to 14 CVE. In addition, another ID will start prepping. With my CV forces split, I think I need to be cautious here.

* The 7th Fleet CV group is at Thursday Island now. Probably about another week.

* Dili is at Level 2/84 and Lautem is at Level 5/61. At least Dili should be good to go by the time I hit Kendari and Macassar. Av Support is being lifted in right now to Dili. There is already enough at Lautem.

* SEAC LBA is switching from focusing on ground attack to AB. Time to put some bases out of commision.

[paullus99]

Kami's never quite live up to their reputation. He's throwing out the baby with the bath water with every squadron that gets converted over. If you lose an AK or two here or there, you've still gotten the better of the exchange.

Good luck.

[vettim89]

9-10 February 1944

Not a good couple of days to be a japanese Merchant Seaman. The Allied subs have bee harrassing shipping off Palembang and have sunk a couple of AK's over the past two days. Then Larry made a false assumption. I have been hitting the troops at Ban Don for so long that I think he thought I had all my a/c on Ground attack. He tried to sneak a convoy into Kota Bharu on the 10th. They were met by B-25J out of Victoria Point and Liberators out of Rangoon. Two AK sunk with likely aother three on their way down. A SCTF was spotted heading into Singers. I think Larry spotted the RN CV's near Rangoon and is assuming I am moving some where on the Malay Penisula. Perfect! Keep thinking that Larry

Operation Chicken Hawk is three to four days away. Dili went to a level 3 AB on the 10th. A full P-38J FG has already moved in along with an AV RGT. Lautem is at 71% to Level 6 and growing by about 10% a turn. The US CV's are halfway through the Gulf of Capentaria and have not been spotted. They are presently in a dead zone for Larry's NavSearch. They will be entering the range of the Emily's based in the SE SRA soon. The AB's at Kendari and Macassar are slowly getting bombers back again. I suspect this is the next wave of Kai's building. Its a race now as to who will get to operational strength first.

My huge TF with all those support troops is SE of Lunga. The has been an I-Boat lingerig around there of late. Can't seem to pin it down long enough for the ASW groups to get to it.

[vettim89]

11 February 1944

Two more AK's sink off Malay with several more to follow. The 7th fleet CV's are just a few days out of Darwin and have not yet been detected. This is gonna get ugly really soon.

Lautem's AB is 85% to Level 6 (jumping 14% per day). Operation Chicken Hawk is three days away max. Kendari will be hit by almost 400 fighters, 300 4E, and the CAG's from three separate CVTF each with a CV and 2 CVL. That ought to leave a mark. There is a bunch of ships in Kendari's port including some CA's. These will be the day two targets for the carriers.

[ny59giants]

You could set your DB and TB for Naval Attack (primary) and Port Attack (secondary). If nothing is found outside of Kendari, in the PM air phase the port gets hit. Then, any cripples that try to run away cannot get too far the next day. 

[vettim89]

12 February 1944

Chicken Hawk should be next turn. Lautem is at 93% to level 6 AB. I scraped together some more a/c. The attack will be nearly 500 fighters and 350 4E bombers plus the CV air. I inadvertently may have tipped off Larry that my CV's are in the area as a TBM spotted a sub NE of Darwin. Forgot to turn of the NavSearch. The Devil is in the details.

LBA continues pounding the TF at Kota Bharu wil three more AK and a MSW all sinking this turn. I have no idea why a. Larry has not pulled back this TF and b. why he has no CAP at Kota Bharu. My only thoughts are the supply situation is getting desperate at Ban Don and he felt he had to sacrifice some AK's to get the supply up north. If Ban Don were to collapse, all of Malaya would be open as as far as I can tell, Larry has almost all his combat power forward.

CV Bunker Hill has not budged an inch after upgrading a week ago. She sits at 7 SYST damage. I have tried forming her up into a TF and disbanding three times. Just doesn't want to move.

I think Larry tried a Kami run out of Bangkok with 36 Lily's. I say I think because the CAP dropped them all before they could attack so I didn't get to see what type of attack. The previous Kami runs in SRA were all Lily's. I suspect this pool must be fairly large and this is why Larry is using them. My guess is I will eventually see Ann's and other low grade a/c soon.

I cannot wait for these next two turns. Next turn I set the attack and the turn after I get to see the results. Pray for good weather

[vettim89]

13 February 1944

OMG, I ended up doig this on the 13th. Here's hoping the Japanese are triskadextraphobic.

Action for today is almost entirely sub based. US fleet boats hit and sink two AK plus wound two more. Action is in Gulf of Siam, Strait of Makassar, and off Tarakan. Two MSW operating out of Lunga have been huting I-19. While, the only found her once and did not damage her, they prevented any interference with the passage of the large convoy with all those support troops for SWPAC. This convoy is now in the Coral Sea.

Now for next turn:

Operation Chicken Hawk:

From Dili:

24 P-47C
72 P-38J
69 KittyHawk IV

From Lautem:

115 P-47C
163 P-38J

From Darwin:

48 PB4Y
184 B-24
72 B-17

At Sea:

247 F6F-3
102 SB2C
108 TBF/M

All fighters are set at sweep (Kendari). The 4E are set for AB attack (Kendari). The CV's are at 70% CAP, NavAttack/Port (Kendari). ABout 50 KittyHawk IV are on CAP at Lautem to protect shipping there.

Gonna be a long wait for this next turn

[vettim89]

14 February 1944

My esteemed opponent and I are both hockey fans. The Allies are on a power play for the duration. Larry joked that is was a 5 on 3 situation. To use the hockey analogy: HE SHOOTS ...... HE SCORES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Raids went almost perfectly. If I could change one thing, it would have been that the Dili sweep went second. These units were my most inexperienced plus the Aussie and Dutch units are flying KittyHawk IV's (the end of the upgrade path for both these nations). Still better to let the second team absorb the losses I guess. The US CVTF got separated by a hex but by that point there were no more fighters left to oppose them. The strikes (losses in parentheses)

From Dili:

58 KittyHawk IV (25)
63 P-38J (5)
21 P-47C (4)

vs

15 J2m Jack (8)
7 Ki-61 KAIc Tony (7)
39 Ki-44 Tojo IIb (33)
25 Ki-61 KAIb Tony (20)

From Lautem

101 P-47C (2)
100 P-38J

vs

7 KiIIb Tojo (7)
6 J2M Jack (6)
5 Ki-61 KAIb Tony (5)

From Darwin (unopposed)

64 B-17 (1)
44 PB4Y
170 B-24

Ki-61 KAIb Tony: 21 destroyed
Ki-48 Lily: 19 destroyed
Ki-57-II Topsy: 5 destroyed
Ki-44-IIb Tojo: 22 destroyed
J2M Jack: 6 destroyed
Ki-61 KAIc Tony: 4 destroyed
Ki-21 Sally: 3 destroyed
MC-21 Sally: 4 destroyed
H8K Emily: 1 destroyed

30 AB hits
15 AB supply Hits
218 Runway hits (Base is at 49% damage)

From CVTF (pasted)

Day Air attack on Kendari , at 33,71


Allied aircraft
F6F-3 Hellcat x 23
SB2C Helldiver x 28
TBF Avenger x 16
TBM Avenger x 16


Allied aircraft losses
SB2C Helldiver: 2 destroyed, 10 damaged
TBF Avenger: 1 destroyed, 6 damaged
TBM Avenger: 1 destroyed, 4 damaged

Japanese Ships
AP Dainiunyo Maru, Bomb hits 4, on fire, heavy damage
AK Katsurahama Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
ML Ishizaki, Bomb hits 7, on fire, heavy damage
AK Tatsuura Maru, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
AK Ryotoku Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AP Sanfuku Maru, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
AD AD-3162, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

Japanese ground losses:
9 casualties reported

Port fuel hits 1
Port supply hits 6

Allied Aircraft
F6F-3 Hellcat x 37
SB2C Helldiver x 41
TBF Avenger x 49
TBM Avenger x 16


Allied aircraft losses
SB2C Helldiver: 12 damaged
TBF Avenger: 5 destroyed, 16 damaged
TBM Avenger: 1 destroyed

Japanese Ships
AK Tatsuura Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AK Suruga Maru, Bomb hits 7, on fire, heavy damage
AP Sanfuku Maru, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
AP Unkai Maru #3, Bomb hits 5, on fire, heavy damage
AP Kogyo Maru, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
ML Ishizaki, Bomb hits 11, on fire, heavy damage
AD AD-3162, Bomb hits 5, on fire, heavy damage
AP Dainiunyo Maru, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
AK Ryotoku Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AK Katsurahama Maru, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage

Port hits 3
Port supply hits 2

Kendari is essetially empty now (8 bombers, 14 Auxillary). Port still lists 12 ships including a CA and a CS even though none were seen during the attack. My attention shifts NW. Macassar is listed as 88 fighters, 39 bombers, and 94 auxillary. I will sweep here for a turn or two before hitting it with 4E. The CVTF remain on Naval/Port attack and CAP is upped to 80% to Ward off any Kamikazes. All three TF should be in the same hex next turn.

[ny59giants]

Where will you be invading next in the DEI??

[vettim89]

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

Where will you be invading next in the DEI??

Troops are already loaded for Maumere, a SPS 2 AB Just NW of Dili. From there the Allies will move on Macassar via the back door. Then Borneo. I am going to isolate Java for now rather than invade as Borneo so far seems to be almost empty. There is a SPS 3 AB (begins with a B) right across the Java Sea from Soerobaja. Then I will work up the Southern coast of Borneo towards Singakep (sp?) another SPS 3 AB. From there, I head east towards Brunei and Jesselton. Hopefully by then the British will have arrived at Padang. I may force open the Sunda Strait to allow me to bring supplies in from Aden.

When all this is accomplished, all the Oil in the SRA will either be Allied owned of completely cut off from Japan. I have no idea what Larry's oil stocks are now but with almost 30 TK already sunk, he has to be struggling to keep up.

I have no idea where I will go after all this is accomplished. PI? Indochina? back door invasion of Malaya? Formosa? Suggestions?

[ny59giants]

The big things is to look forward to where you can base the B-29s out of and where he cannot get to that base except by sea (which you should now control). I would look for small isolated bases that you can use para to take and then use Fast Transports and/or transport planes to quickly reinforce.