Aussies vs Amis - World Defence(no Joe or Nik)

[khyberbill]

Taking an island in the Kuriles is always an audacious endeavor. Keeping it is even harder. How do you intend to keep this island supplied? Two divisions plus support troops eats a lot of C and K rations. And dont forget the Schlitz (my father ran the NCO Club in Attu and Adak and told me once that Schlitz was the most popular beer in those trying times). How do you have AKEs so soon?

[jrcar]

On AKEs i convert a number rigt away... have just started a few more. They are key, like AR's were in WITP, support ships. I'm happy to risk AKE's but keep the AEs back, will need them later!

Supply in the Kuriles... yep a problem. Dunno

I doubt we will get that far, I expect them to now build an airfield in the area (in particular because we are quite firm in the Aletions. But as we own the Aletions, and have a lot of supply and fuel there already, the task will be easier.

We are more concerned about aircraft. The Japanese can fight (and win) a war of attrition here... but we will bleed them (that is one objective actually) plus being up nth the weather is likely to give us breaks from both KB and ground based air. But can we really sustain it...

But also why I really want TWO islands, to give mutual support.


Another aim is to try and neutralise their interior position by focussing at three extemities, and for us only requiring CV support in one (the nth). All CV's will be in support.

Anyway happy for more thoughts, I'm off to bed

Cheers

Rob

[jrcar]

11-12 April 1942
Overall a good turn

Subs
A lot of sub action, including on a TK near Truk, resource ships at Haiphong and DD's going into Selaroe, but while several hits no bangs , even with S boats. But it is encouraging as we are hitting hot spots.

Burma
No action at all. the enemy base of Magwe is now level4. This probably indicates an intent to go for Akyab/Cox's Bazaar, as Magwe is in a great position to support that. Akyab is secure and more forces are almost at Cox's Bazaar, so we think we are covered....

Java
Lots of bombs being dropped but not a lot of damage. We are beginning to damage a lot of aircraft.

East DEI
They are taking dot bases, they are yet to tackle ones we have manned except for Selaroe...

At Selaroe we have Mini KB sitting behind LRCAPing and bombing. We are flying in reinforcements (they got intercepted this turn). We have subs operating (hitting but no bangs and then we have our air:)

On day two a FT TF brings in more troops, this time our planes find them:

Morning Air attack on TF, near Selaroe at 78,118

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid spotted at 40 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 18 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 6



Allied aircraft
P-40E Warhawk x 8
SB2U-3 Vindicator x 18


Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-40E Warhawk: 1 destroyed
SB2U-3 Vindicator: 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
DD Nokaze
DD Hatsuharu, Bomb hits 1, on fire
DD Yamakaze
DD Kawakaze
DD Akikaze
DD Umikaze

Morning Air attack on TF, near Selaroe at 78,118

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid spotted at 47 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 17



Allied aircraft
Hudson I x 5
B-26 Marauder x 21
P-39D Airacobra x 6


No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Hudson I: 2 destroyed, 1 damaged
B-26 Marauder: 1 damaged
P-39D Airacobra: 1 destroyed

Japanese Ships
DD Nokaze
DD Akikaze
DD Kawakaze
DD Yamakaze
DD Ariake

Morning Air attack on TF, near Selaroe at 78,118

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid spotted at 34 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 18



Allied aircraft
B-26 Marauder x 4


No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
B-26 Marauder: 2 destroyed

Japanese Ships
DD Akikaze

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Selaroe at 78,118

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid spotted at 46 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 20 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 5



Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 16
SB2U-3 Vindicator x 17


No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-3 Wildcat: 1 destroyed
SB2U-3 Vindicator: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
DD Umikaze
DD Hatsuharu, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Kawakaze, Bomb hits 1, on fire
DD Ariake

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Selaroe at 78,118

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid spotted at 33 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 10



Allied aircraft
Hudson I x 3
B-26 Marauder x 19
P-39D Airacobra x 8
P-40E Warhawk x 6


No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
P-40E Warhawk: 4 destroyed

Japanese Ships
DD Nokaze
DD Umikaze
DD Ariake

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Selaroe at 78,118

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid spotted at 25 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 9



Allied aircraft
B-26 Marauder x 6
P-40E Warhawk x 7


Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-40E Warhawk: 1 destroyed

Japanese Ships
DD Nokaze

Only the Vindicators are proving to be effective, so I think I'll move the others to ground attack. Aircraft losses are moderate on both sides, but I'm happy to be killing KB Zeros at long range where the pilots won't get recovered...

[jrcar]

11-12 April 1942
Philippines
The advancing hordes have lots of air support (around 200 bombers now operating in support up here). A number of rearguard actions are fought which gives me an indication of their strength and disposition.

Ground combat at Iba (78,75)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 25239 troops, 354 guns, 146 vehicles, Assault Value = 645

Defending force 1529 troops, 26 guns, 61 vehicles, Assault Value = 22

Japanese adjusted assault: 511

Allied adjusted defense: 16

Japanese assault odds: 31 to 1 (fort level 0)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Iba !!!

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), op mode(-), fatigue(-), experience(-)
supply(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
47 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Vehicles lost 5 (0 destroyed, 5 disabled)


Allied ground losses:
94 casualties reported
Squads: 6 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 49 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 10 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 8 (8 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Vehicles lost 57 (57 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units retreated 1


Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
9th Infantry Regiment
2nd Formosa Inf. Regiment
47th Infantry Regiment
1st Formosa Inf. Regiment
20th Infantry Regiment
1st Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
26th Field Artillery Regiment
1st Medium Field Artillery Regiment
2nd Hvy.Artillery Regiment
8th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
23rd Medium Field Artillery Regiment
48th Field Artillery Regiment
9th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
14th Army
15th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion

Defending units:
26th PS Cavalry Regiment

Ground combat at Bayombong (80,75)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 7007 troops, 33 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 195

Defending force 0 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 0

Japanese adjusted assault: 189

Allied adjusted defense: 1

Japanese assault odds: 189 to 1 (fort level 1)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Bayombong !!!

Combat modifiers
Attacker:



Assaulting units:
65th Brigade

Ground combat at Atimonan (80,79)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 11949 troops, 113 guns, 2 vehicles, Assault Value = 391

Defending force 1236 troops, 26 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 47

Japanese adjusted assault: 283

Allied adjusted defense: 7

Japanese assault odds: 40 to 1 (fort level 1)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Atimonan !!!

Combat modifiers
Defender: forts(+), experience(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
15 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled


Allied ground losses:
561 casualties reported
Squads: 12 destroyed, 29 disabled
Non Combat: 18 destroyed, 22 disabled
Engineers: 3 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 8 (8 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units retreated 1


Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
Kure 3rd SNLF
Kimura Det
83rd Naval Guard Unit
24th Nav Gsn Unit
82nd Naval Guard Unit
23rd Nav Gd Unit

Defending units:
41st PA Infantry/B Division

Supply is low everywhere, it looks like the only place I have a chance of a counterattack is again in the south...
But I don't like my chances.

I think this is definately the end, just how long I can drag it out...

[jrcar]

11-12 Apr 1942

SWPAC the good bit!
A FT Tf is caught moving out of Buna (there probably was one that went into Lae at the same time, according to coastwatchers). Our planes at PM sortie

Morning Air attack on TF, near Buna at 101,129

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid spotted at 42 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 16 minutes


Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 14
SBD-3 Dauntless x 17


Allied aircraft losses
SBD-3 Dauntless: 2 damaged

Japanese Ships
CL Isuzu, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Akatsuki



Aircraft Attacking:
17 x SBD-3 Dauntless diving from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CL Isuzu

Morning Air attack on TF, near Buna at 101,129

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid spotted at 36 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 14 minutes


Allied aircraft
A-24 Banshee x 10
P-40E Warhawk x 15


Allied aircraft losses
A-24 Banshee: 2 damaged

Japanese Ships
DD Akatsuki
CL Isuzu, heavy fires, heavy damage

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Buna at 101,129

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid spotted at 25 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes


Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 14
SBD-3 Dauntless x 15


Allied aircraft losses
SBD-3 Dauntless: 3 damaged

Japanese Ships
DD Harusame, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
DD Akatsuki, Bomb hits 1, on fire
CL Isuzu, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Buna at 101,129

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid spotted at 22 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes


Allied aircraft
A-24 Banshee x 12
P-40E Warhawk x 15


Allied aircraft losses
A-24 Banshee: 3 damaged

Japanese Ships
DD Shikinami, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
CL Isuzu, heavy fires, heavy damage

On the second day only the following occurs (due to weather).

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Gasmata at 102,129

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid spotted at 30 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 9



Allied aircraft
A-24 Banshee x 2
P-40E Warhawk x 7


No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
P-40E Warhawk: 2 destroyed

Japanese Ships
DD Harusame, heavy damage

I don't think they have many CL's left... surely 5 1000pd penetrating hits will have sunk her...

[jrcar]

11-12 Apr 1942
China
At Hankow we are still holding on, suffering light casualties... but soon the Japanese horde will come this way...

At Wenchow the forts finally give out and we are thrown out with moderate casualties.




Turn Analysis
Well the SWPAC looks to be hotting up. BB at Rabaul and the FT TF. PM is now at 4 forts and the construction of the airfield is well underway, should be level 4 airfield in another turn or so. We have plenty of fighters in Australia, and it is the airfield level that is holding us back. AV is over 400 with another 50 AV arriving soon.

Suva goes to level 5 forts, and Nadi is almost at 4. Will move forces around. Some planes and additional forces are coming via a long route.

NORPAC has Adak at level 4 port, airfield and fort.

The question is where is KB... Sigint indicates:

Heavy Volume of Radio transmissions detected at Kwajalein Island

This could be KB, in which case it may be going raiding. Or they are heading back for the refit cycle... most likely they are at Truk ready to support a SWPAC operation, for without them the operation in doomed, and even with them it is unlikely...

Started prepping and organising forces for NORPAC. Actually have quite a lot and will need more transports... these are coming from the Indian ocean area where amphib operations are not expected to occur.

A Brit carrier is at Perth and will transit to the Pacific. The Hornet is out of refit and moving to the Pacific as well. Need more escorts!

[khyberbill]

On AKEs i convert a number rigt away... have just started a few more.

Ok, I cant find any ships to convert. Which ones convert? When can one convert them and how long does the conversion take? Thanks.

[jrcar]

Here are the currently available AKE that I've converted...

[jrcar]

And here are 3 more being done at the moment. Conversions on this scale require a shipyard to be present!

[Smeulders]

ORIGINAL: khyberbill

On AKEs i convert a number rigt away... have just started a few more.

Ok, I cant find any ships to convert. Which ones convert? When can one convert them and how long does the conversion take? Thanks.

These are 2 classes that can be converted at the start of the game.

Harriman Cargo (4200 capacity)
Hog Island Cargo (3920)

The C2 Cargo can be converted to an AE, don't worry if you lose a couple, you'll get quite a few during the war.

[khyberbill]

thanks jcar and bart, i learn something every day!

[jrcar]

Ok here are the forces preparing for Onnekotan, the undefended base. One assualt div with a west coast Div in reserve. Plenty of engineers but need more CD guns...

[jrcar]

And here are the forces for Paramushiro. Should have enough AV, and some more forces are arriving shortly.

[castor troy]

why are your troops on Pearl already set to combat?

[jrcar]

Good point well made, will change to rest!

cheers

Rob

[castor troy]

ORIGINAL: jrcar

Good point well made, will change to rest!

cheers

Rob

and I thought there would have been a reason I wasn´t aware of... [;)]

ciao

[jrcar]

13-14 Apr 1942
Another good turn

Subs
Several attacks at Selaroe (nth Darwin), Kendari and in Paramushiro-jima. Only success is the later, looks like the ship was either unloaded or just moving supply as no troops reported lost.

[jrcar]

13-14 Apr 1942
Burma
Lots of action. Japanese forces are moving nth of Shwebo now and are in range of Tony's airforce finally. Blenheims launch after several sweeps and hit the 15th Army HQ several times for light damage.

Then finally after several turns the B-17 launch:

Morning Air attack on Magwe , at 57,47

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 28



Allied aircraft
B-17D Fortress x 8
B-17E Fortress x 20


Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-Ic Oscar: 7 damaged
Ki-43-Ic Oscar: 2 destroyed on ground
Ki-46-I Dinah: 1 destroyed on ground

Allied aircraft losses
B-17D Fortress: 5 damaged
B-17E Fortress: 1 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
36 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Guns lost 1 (0 destroyed, 1 disabled)



Airbase hits 4
Airbase supply hits 3
Runway hits 32

Tony has priority call on B-17 and we have freed up another group (which is on its way to the IO area) and will have priority call on B-17 replacements.

Java
Artillery attacks increasing at Bandoeng but they still don't have enough force. We manage to damage about 30 bombers this turn and shoot at least one down as well:

Ground combat at Bandoeng (50,100)

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 31873 troops, 410 guns, 142 vehicles, Assault Value = 1323

Defending force 18398 troops, 208 guns, 81 vehicles, Assault Value = 454

Japanese ground losses:
10 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled


Allied ground losses:
286 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 12 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 8 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 2 (0 destroyed, 2 disabled)
Vehicles lost 1 (0 destroyed, 1 disabled)


Assaulting units:
21st Division
Imperial Guards Division
5th Division
3rd Mortar Battalion
25th Army
2nd Mortar Battalion
1st Mortar Regiment
3rd Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
5th Mortar Battalion

Defending units:
2nd KNIL Regiment
1st Regt Cavalerie
4th KNIL Landstorm Battalion
1st KNIL Regiment
1st KNIL Landstorm Battalion
Batavia Coastal Gun Battalion
West Borneo KNIL Battalion
MLD
Madion Base Force
Batavia Base Force
Merak Base Force
1st KNIL AA Battalion
Tjilitap Base Force
Bandoeng Base Force

Malang is left alone, maybe they have supply problems. Our supply is low at Malang but OK at Bandoeng.

Philippines
Big air attack at Cabanatuan which cases light to moderate damage.

The noose around Manila continues to tighten.

Rest DEI
The very interesting fight at Selaroe continues!

First two unescourted CA's hit the place causing moderate damage... but a real sign of their forces when they send in CA's like that!

Our subs attack the DD Ariake but get depthcharged for their efforts.

We then sweep with F4F-3 Wildcats against the ZERO LRCAP and get a zero for no loss.

The Vindicators then come in escourted by P-40E and put a bomb on target of the DD Ariake... nice But we loose a P-40.

14 B-26, 3 Hudosn escorted by 6 P-39D Airacobra then bomb the ground troops mostly evading the Zero LRCAP. Dameg is good. This is folowed by two more Marauder attacks as fragments of 6-9 aircraft. we loose a couple of Marauders but put more bombs on target.

Finally in the combat phase our efforts pay off:

Ground combat at Selaroe (78,118)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 1416 troops, 18 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 39

Defending force 493 troops, 4 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 23

Japanese adjusted assault: 4

Allied adjusted defense: 5

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 2 (fort level 0)

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), experience(-)
Attacker: leaders(-), disruption(-)

Japanese ground losses:
10 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled


Allied ground losses:
83 casualties reported
Squads: 3 destroyed, 3 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled


Assaulting units:
Kure 2nd SNLF

Defending units:
55th British Bde /1
Makassar Garrison Bn /2
Sparrow Bn /1
2/4 MG Bn /1
Prajoda Garrison Bn /2
Makassar Base Force /1

[jrcar]

13-14 Apr 1942
Selaroe con't
Day two of the battle for Selaroe is a bit quieter and not as succesful for us.

Our Wildcat sweep sees us loose 2 aircraft

Our bombers launch for good effect though:

Morning Air attack on Kure 2nd SNLF , at 78,118 (Selaroe)

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid spotted at 46 NM, estimated altitude 6,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 6



Allied aircraft
Hudson I x 3
B-26 Marauder x 25
P-39D Airacobra x 8
P-40E Warhawk x 6


Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
B-26 Marauder: 1 damaged
P-40E Warhawk: 2 destroyed

Japanese ground losses:
133 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 14 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 5 (0 destroyed, 5 disabled

But unescorted Vindicators, hitting ground targets as there are no ships, don't do so well

Morning Air attack on Kure 2nd SNLF , at 78,118 (Selaroe)

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid spotted at 16 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 7



Allied aircraft
SB2U-3 Vindicator x 11


No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
SB2U-3 Vindicator: 5 destroyed

Overall I'm very happy with this battle. Our losses are acceptable and we are slolw attriting his ships and aircraft. Our supply is OK, suspect his is bad (I have a about 500 supply that I had built up in preperation, although now I wish I'd flown in a Battalion earlier...).

Expect Mini KB to come back knocking shortly.

[jrcar]

13-14 Apr 1942
SWPAC
The experianced bombers from Port Moresby again show their dominance of the area:

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Lae at 99,126

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid spotted at 28 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes


Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 14
SBD-3 Dauntless x 14


Allied aircraft losses
SBD-3 Dauntless: 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
CM Tokiwa, Bomb hits 6, heavy fires, heavy damage



Aircraft Attacking:
14 x SBD-3 Dauntless diving from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CM Tokiwa

A real pity, I love these old Russo-Japanese war era ships.

My only concern that I've been sinking ships, and with that and the weather being bad at times the airfields may be recovering. The good news is the PM is now level 4 airfield so I can bring in more aircraft!