Guys, thanks for the comments! Andy in particular, I didn't know all that about disbanding ground units. I'll have to think about that.
Combat Report, July 2-3 1942
Siege of Noumea: Another attack by the Japanese at 1-3 was rebuffed. Attached is the combat report for this:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Noumea (115,160)
Japanese Deliberate attack
Attacking force 32722 troops, 381 guns, 76 vehicles, Assault Value = 967
Defending force 12313 troops, 256 guns, 377 vehicles, Assault Value = 472
Japanese adjusted assault: 413
Allied adjusted defense: 1516
Japanese assault odds: 1 to 3 (fort level 1)
Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), experience(-)
Attacker:
Japanese ground losses:
1961 casualties reported
Squads: 13 destroyed, 87 disabled
Non Combat: 4 destroyed, 154 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 20 disabled
Guns lost 2 (0 destroyed, 2 disabled)
Vehicles lost 11 (0 destroyed, 11 disabled)
Allied ground losses:
351 casualties reported
Squads: 3 destroyed, 36 disabled
Non Combat: 4 destroyed, 55 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Guns lost 3 (1 destroyed, 2 disabled)
Vehicles lost 8 (0 destroyed, 8 disabled)
Assaulting units:
53rd Division
19th Division
4th Division
9th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
2nd Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
Defending units:
New Caledonia Det
41st Infantry/A Division
41st Infantry/B Division
193rd Tank Battalion
Lark Battalion
41st Infantry/C Division
114th USAAF Base Force
148th Field Artillery Battalion
That is a good result for us obviously. Cuttlefish has to be frustrated, because he was making progress before, after the BB bombardment, but now I have rebuilt a fort and almost back to size-2.
At this point, CF is probably going to get more ships, or tanks or something to break my resistance. KB is still lurking offshore, so nothing I can do about that. We'll see what happens next.
Java: A Dutch Flying boat from Den Passar has been keeping tabs on Soerbaya harbor; there are alot of warships there, including 1 TF of CVLs, and another reporting CVs. I think those are probably the Junyos. The fact that 4 divisions are available from Java for deployment makes me think they are all headed somewhere. If the harbor is suddenly empty, we'll know something is up.
Northern Australia: Japanese air attacks at Darwin, including sweeps. Is this the next target? Can't tell. I do have alot of troops there, over 700 AV, so it won't be easy if he is headed this way.
Burma: RAF attacks continue, but the Japanese have disappeared from the skies. At this point we are just putting craters in asphalt, but hoping it's freaking Cuttlefish out into putting more units or something into Burma.
Subs: A few good days for my subs, getting a DD, some AKs, and overall getting alot of attacks.
Hunting the Hibiki: Q-Ball (Allies) v Cuttlefish (Japan)
Moderators: wdolson, MOD_War-in-the-Pacific-Admirals-Edition
RE: Siege Warfare
Question,
Is he not bombing your airfield or port to prevent buildup of defense i.e. fort?
Or is that seperated in AE?
Thus you can build for no matter port or airfield damage.
I have played till June 42 and though I had to air supres to keep forts form building?
Is he not bombing your airfield or port to prevent buildup of defense i.e. fort?
Or is that seperated in AE?
Thus you can build for no matter port or airfield damage.
I have played till June 42 and though I had to air supres to keep forts form building?
Showa rules!
RE: Siege Warfare
ORIGINAL: stldiver
Question,
Is he not bombing your airfield or port to prevent buildup of defense i.e. fort?
Or is that seperated in AE?
Thus you can build for no matter port or airfield damage.
I have played till June 42 and though I had to air supres to keep forts form building?
Not sure why, but that would be a great idea. It does prevent fort building, and is pretty much the only way to prevent a build to lvl 1, since that level is usually acheived in a couple days.
Eventually he'll bring enough guys or planes or whatever to finish the job. The point is I hope that takes into August.
RE: Siege Warfare
re: 41st Division
I see you have divided the 41st.
In WitP, I kept my divisions together on defense; my thinking was more unit support helped disabled squads recover faster. I had planned on doing the same in AE, but now I'm not sure. You seem to be holding pretty good.
Have you found a benefit to dividing the divisions in AE, or have you always done so?
I see you have divided the 41st.
In WitP, I kept my divisions together on defense; my thinking was more unit support helped disabled squads recover faster. I had planned on doing the same in AE, but now I'm not sure. You seem to be holding pretty good.
Have you found a benefit to dividing the divisions in AE, or have you always done so?
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ny59giants
- Posts: 9889
- Joined: Mon Jan 10, 2005 12:02 pm
RE: Siege Warfare
I prefer to keep the division whole. Instead, I would go through your troops at Noumea and ensure they have good leaders. This always makes a big difference in ground combat.
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[/center]RE: Dog Days of Summer
ORIGINAL: Andy Mac
If disbanded at Delhi/Aukland/Sydney/SF or Tokyo then it costs 0 VP's anywhere else its full VP's
While I don't want to contradict a dev, but that doesn't seem to be completely true. So far I had to pay PPs to disband at Delhi. The 2/15 (?) Punjab (the battalion that starts at Kuching) did cost me ~15 PPs there.
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Capt. Harlock
- Posts: 5379
- Joined: Sat Sep 15, 2001 8:00 am
- Location: Los Angeles
- Contact:
RE: Siege Warfare
At this point, CF is probably going to get more ships, or tanks or something to break my resistance
Sounds like time for submarine-laid mines!
Civil war? What does that mean? Is there any foreign war? Isn't every war fought between men, between brothers?
--Victor Hugo
--Victor Hugo
RE: Siege Warfare
I think thats a message bug if you look at your VP total before and after you will see it actually cost you no VP's if you are in one of the key bases
Elsewhere it would cost you VP's
Elsewhere it would cost you VP's
PP's v. VP's
The poster said it cost PP's not VP's. Was it subject to a restricted HQ? Do you have to pay PP's if the program allows disbandment of a unit that is subordinate to a restricted HQ or if it is a restricted unit?
RE: PP's v. VP's
Guys: Very good discussion. Michael, I answer your question in the picture below.
Combat Report, July 4, 1942
Happy July 4th to all my Virtual Yankee Troops!
Siege of Noumea: Another Japanese attack, this time at 1-2. Attached is the combat report:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Noumea (115,160)
Japanese Deliberate attack
Attacking force 31190 troops, 381 guns, 76 vehicles, Assault Value = 876
Defending force 12178 troops, 255 guns, 377 vehicles, Assault Value = 470
Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 1
Japanese adjusted assault: 479
Allied adjusted defense: 1354
Japanese assault odds: 1 to 2 (fort level 1)
Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), experience(-)
Attacker:
Japanese ground losses:
842 casualties reported
Squads: 5 destroyed, 60 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 57 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Guns lost 1 (0 destroyed, 1 disabled)
Vehicles lost 5 (2 destroyed, 3 disabled)
Allied ground losses:
372 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 35 disabled
Non Combat: 7 destroyed, 24 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Guns lost 3 (1 destroyed, 2 disabled)
Vehicles lost 17 (4 destroyed, 13 disabled)
Assaulting units:
19th Division
53rd Division
4th Division
9th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
2nd Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
Defending units:
New Caledonia Det
41st Infantry/B Division
193rd Tank Battalion
41st Infantry/A Division
Lark Battalion
41st Infantry/C Division
114th USAAF Base Force
148th Field Artillery Battalion
This one went better for Japan, mostly because he is wearing down the Militia units (see below). As long as 41st Division is intact, though, we will hold. The Tank Bn is also key, it's completely healthy, and we've lost only 1 tank. Who said the Pacific wasn't a good place for tanks?
Subs: SS Perch takes down a tanker outside of Singapore. That is satisfying, though we are behind in Tanker and AO kills; depending on FOW, I think I have sunk only 3 total. Not good.
China: The Japanese have resumed the siege of Liuchow, this time with troops protecting the supply line to the rear. We are fairly strong here, he may have to get more units to break it. Elsewhere, since he took Loyang and Chengchung, I haven't seen movement. I have 5000 AV at Nanyang, so many that I am sending some back because there isn't enough food to go around!
At Chungking, I have 4 Chinese Corps resting and building; one is almost up to full-strength! This is my strategic reserve. I will assign good leaders and send them into combat shortly.
Transport planes from Ledo are flying the hump to Paoshang or whatever that city is near Burma. By House-Rule, only the 11th Route Army can enter Burma. So, I am turning replacements on for this Army, and building it for an attack sometime in 1943. It will take awhile, but I have time; I will hold this army back until it's in good shape with some reserve supplies, and 100% prepped for Lashio.
Carriers: All the CVs are getting the 6/42 and 7/42 upgrades, plus getting TBMs. I will not commit them to combat until at least August, when all of this is complete. I am being VERY conservative with my Carriers. For the moment this is OK as Kido Butai is tethered to Noumea. Once that changes, we'll see what's next.
Combat Report, July 4, 1942
Happy July 4th to all my Virtual Yankee Troops!
Siege of Noumea: Another Japanese attack, this time at 1-2. Attached is the combat report:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Noumea (115,160)
Japanese Deliberate attack
Attacking force 31190 troops, 381 guns, 76 vehicles, Assault Value = 876
Defending force 12178 troops, 255 guns, 377 vehicles, Assault Value = 470
Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 1
Japanese adjusted assault: 479
Allied adjusted defense: 1354
Japanese assault odds: 1 to 2 (fort level 1)
Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), experience(-)
Attacker:
Japanese ground losses:
842 casualties reported
Squads: 5 destroyed, 60 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 57 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Guns lost 1 (0 destroyed, 1 disabled)
Vehicles lost 5 (2 destroyed, 3 disabled)
Allied ground losses:
372 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 35 disabled
Non Combat: 7 destroyed, 24 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Guns lost 3 (1 destroyed, 2 disabled)
Vehicles lost 17 (4 destroyed, 13 disabled)
Assaulting units:
19th Division
53rd Division
4th Division
9th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
2nd Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
Defending units:
New Caledonia Det
41st Infantry/B Division
193rd Tank Battalion
41st Infantry/A Division
Lark Battalion
41st Infantry/C Division
114th USAAF Base Force
148th Field Artillery Battalion
This one went better for Japan, mostly because he is wearing down the Militia units (see below). As long as 41st Division is intact, though, we will hold. The Tank Bn is also key, it's completely healthy, and we've lost only 1 tank. Who said the Pacific wasn't a good place for tanks?
Subs: SS Perch takes down a tanker outside of Singapore. That is satisfying, though we are behind in Tanker and AO kills; depending on FOW, I think I have sunk only 3 total. Not good.
China: The Japanese have resumed the siege of Liuchow, this time with troops protecting the supply line to the rear. We are fairly strong here, he may have to get more units to break it. Elsewhere, since he took Loyang and Chengchung, I haven't seen movement. I have 5000 AV at Nanyang, so many that I am sending some back because there isn't enough food to go around!
At Chungking, I have 4 Chinese Corps resting and building; one is almost up to full-strength! This is my strategic reserve. I will assign good leaders and send them into combat shortly.
Transport planes from Ledo are flying the hump to Paoshang or whatever that city is near Burma. By House-Rule, only the 11th Route Army can enter Burma. So, I am turning replacements on for this Army, and building it for an attack sometime in 1943. It will take awhile, but I have time; I will hold this army back until it's in good shape with some reserve supplies, and 100% prepped for Lashio.
Carriers: All the CVs are getting the 6/42 and 7/42 upgrades, plus getting TBMs. I will not commit them to combat until at least August, when all of this is complete. I am being VERY conservative with my Carriers. For the moment this is OK as Kido Butai is tethered to Noumea. Once that changes, we'll see what's next.
- Attachments
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Logistics in the Pacific
Combat Report, July 5,6,7 1942
Siege of Noumea: No new attacks happened in this period. We rebuilt the forts up to size-2 again, but a large Japanese fleet then appeared offshore and began to bombard. Planes from Luganville are now bombing the ground units. I think this is in preparation for another assault shortly, probably tommorow.
Units are in pretty good shape after the bombardment, mostly the base force took it on the chin. The Militia units are recovering, but are down to 60% strength due to losses, which we will not replace.
Kido Butai continues to lurk in nearby waters.
Burma: We continue to leisurely bomb all the airbases in Northern Burma. At this point my only objective is to continue to make him think I am coming, and to train my pilots. They are getting pretty good at bombing empty airstrips anyway.
Logistics in the Pacific: With a bit of a lull happening, a good time to take a look at Logistical Planning from the Allied side.
Overall, I have not yet decided where our main offensive effort will happen, but I do know it won't come out of Pearl Harbor. The Central Pacific doesn't offer a good highway to Japan early-on, as you really need CVs to make any progress. We will drive hard toward Saipan in 1944, but in the first half of 1943, our only offensive efforts will be in the South and SW Pacific, where our LBA can work to our advantage, and attrite the Japanese airpower.
Given this, I don't know yet what our specific objectives are. I do envision a landing on Timor and the Southern DEI islands, from Perth and Port Hedland. I envision an effort toward Luganville and the New Hebrides, or perhaps New Guinea from Northern Australia. In any case, we want to land somewhere we can "crawl" forward under cover of LBA, both to attrite the Japanese and not require constant CV support.
Even though we don't have a specific objective, that does mean we may as well haul as much as possible to Australia, New Zealand, and the South Pacific to get ahead. Even if I don't have specific plans for a unit, it makes more sense to "store" it down there, than it does on the West Coast or Pearl Harbor, because it will make our eventual offensive go much quicker.
Shipping: To this end, we have made several changes to the Allied merchant fleet.
As the Allies, you have more than enough xAKs. There is a surplus, even with major losses. But troop capacity is really lacking. For this reason, I have been converting xAK to xAPs like map; almost all the conversions I can do.
The British also start with excess capacity of everything. British Tankers are hauling fuel mostly from Capetown to Australia. I sent alot of xAK and xAPs to the US West coast, because the British have excess capacity. The only thing the Brits need APs for early is the short-haul from Aden to Bombay, which doesn't take long. (this is after hauling the AIF troops).
Hauling Fuel is a priority. It is difficult to build up fuel stockplies. I have maybe 150K in Auckland, about 100K each in Melbourne, Sydney, Perth, and another 100K or so at Pago Pago. None of this is enough, but we have every tanker moving as much fuel as possible. We could really use some more! Once we switch over to the attack, our burn rate will be very high, so we need to plan ahead.
Supplies aren't a big problem, most of them are moved with troops.
Naval Bases: Below is a map of the South Pacific. We are establishing major port bases in key places: Perth, Auckland, Wellington, Vava'u. That last one I had never heard of before, but it's a good one; as you can see, it is screened by other bases so we can set up a search cordon to warn us if KB plan a port raid, it can build to size-6, and has unlimited capacity for troops. This will be our main base in the South Pacific.
Siege of Noumea: No new attacks happened in this period. We rebuilt the forts up to size-2 again, but a large Japanese fleet then appeared offshore and began to bombard. Planes from Luganville are now bombing the ground units. I think this is in preparation for another assault shortly, probably tommorow.
Units are in pretty good shape after the bombardment, mostly the base force took it on the chin. The Militia units are recovering, but are down to 60% strength due to losses, which we will not replace.
Kido Butai continues to lurk in nearby waters.
Burma: We continue to leisurely bomb all the airbases in Northern Burma. At this point my only objective is to continue to make him think I am coming, and to train my pilots. They are getting pretty good at bombing empty airstrips anyway.
Logistics in the Pacific: With a bit of a lull happening, a good time to take a look at Logistical Planning from the Allied side.
Overall, I have not yet decided where our main offensive effort will happen, but I do know it won't come out of Pearl Harbor. The Central Pacific doesn't offer a good highway to Japan early-on, as you really need CVs to make any progress. We will drive hard toward Saipan in 1944, but in the first half of 1943, our only offensive efforts will be in the South and SW Pacific, where our LBA can work to our advantage, and attrite the Japanese airpower.
Given this, I don't know yet what our specific objectives are. I do envision a landing on Timor and the Southern DEI islands, from Perth and Port Hedland. I envision an effort toward Luganville and the New Hebrides, or perhaps New Guinea from Northern Australia. In any case, we want to land somewhere we can "crawl" forward under cover of LBA, both to attrite the Japanese and not require constant CV support.
Even though we don't have a specific objective, that does mean we may as well haul as much as possible to Australia, New Zealand, and the South Pacific to get ahead. Even if I don't have specific plans for a unit, it makes more sense to "store" it down there, than it does on the West Coast or Pearl Harbor, because it will make our eventual offensive go much quicker.
Shipping: To this end, we have made several changes to the Allied merchant fleet.
As the Allies, you have more than enough xAKs. There is a surplus, even with major losses. But troop capacity is really lacking. For this reason, I have been converting xAK to xAPs like map; almost all the conversions I can do.
The British also start with excess capacity of everything. British Tankers are hauling fuel mostly from Capetown to Australia. I sent alot of xAK and xAPs to the US West coast, because the British have excess capacity. The only thing the Brits need APs for early is the short-haul from Aden to Bombay, which doesn't take long. (this is after hauling the AIF troops).
Hauling Fuel is a priority. It is difficult to build up fuel stockplies. I have maybe 150K in Auckland, about 100K each in Melbourne, Sydney, Perth, and another 100K or so at Pago Pago. None of this is enough, but we have every tanker moving as much fuel as possible. We could really use some more! Once we switch over to the attack, our burn rate will be very high, so we need to plan ahead.
Supplies aren't a big problem, most of them are moved with troops.
Naval Bases: Below is a map of the South Pacific. We are establishing major port bases in key places: Perth, Auckland, Wellington, Vava'u. That last one I had never heard of before, but it's a good one; as you can see, it is screened by other bases so we can set up a search cordon to warn us if KB plan a port raid, it can build to size-6, and has unlimited capacity for troops. This will be our main base in the South Pacific.
- Attachments
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- borneo.jpg (120.69 KiB) Viewed 123 times
RE: Logistics in the Pacific
Combat Report, July 8,9,10 1942
Noumea: A Japanese attack on the 9th was at 1 to 8 odds, primarily because one of the divisions was moved off the attack to La Foa.....not sure why, to repair disrupted squads perhaps?
At this point, I still can't intervene without a fight, and Cuttlefish almost certainly has reinforcements steaming to New Caledonia. I think he will need that to take it.
Starving me out isn't a possibility in the near-term; we have over 50K supplies.
Australia: It appears Japanese Carriers are headed toward Northern Australia. Don't know yet if it's a raid or something more sinister, I suppose we'll know shortly. That critical intel courtesy of SS Saury. Always good to have subs sitting in choke points!
Noumea: A Japanese attack on the 9th was at 1 to 8 odds, primarily because one of the divisions was moved off the attack to La Foa.....not sure why, to repair disrupted squads perhaps?
At this point, I still can't intervene without a fight, and Cuttlefish almost certainly has reinforcements steaming to New Caledonia. I think he will need that to take it.
Starving me out isn't a possibility in the near-term; we have over 50K supplies.
Australia: It appears Japanese Carriers are headed toward Northern Australia. Don't know yet if it's a raid or something more sinister, I suppose we'll know shortly. That critical intel courtesy of SS Saury. Always good to have subs sitting in choke points!
- Attachments
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- borneo.jpg (129.69 KiB) Viewed 123 times
RE: Logistics in the Pacific
Combat Report, July 11, 1942
Baby KB?: An RAAF Hudson out of Broome picked up the TF I mapped above, this time steaming Southeast about 120 miles off Koepang. We have not spotted any other ships. It looks like a raid at this point.
We don't have any ships on the Australian coast east of Port Hedland, but we are evacuating the ships in the harbor westward just in case. We also have all the planes at Port Hedland on alert.
I am not going to contest anything on the coastline between Darwin and Port Hedland; you can't defend everything, and that stretch is pretty tough to.
Quiet Elsewhere: After that failed attack on Noumea, and with the siege approaching the 5th week, I think CF will find more troops to bring.
The USN CVs are nearly finished with AA and plane upgrades. Enterprise is at Capetown, and will have completed repairs in 15 days. I plan on having HMS Prince of Wales follow her to the South Pacific; PoW is a nice CV escort ship, good speed and lots of AA guns.
Baby KB?: An RAAF Hudson out of Broome picked up the TF I mapped above, this time steaming Southeast about 120 miles off Koepang. We have not spotted any other ships. It looks like a raid at this point.
We don't have any ships on the Australian coast east of Port Hedland, but we are evacuating the ships in the harbor westward just in case. We also have all the planes at Port Hedland on alert.
I am not going to contest anything on the coastline between Darwin and Port Hedland; you can't defend everything, and that stretch is pretty tough to.
Quiet Elsewhere: After that failed attack on Noumea, and with the siege approaching the 5th week, I think CF will find more troops to bring.
The USN CVs are nearly finished with AA and plane upgrades. Enterprise is at Capetown, and will have completed repairs in 15 days. I plan on having HMS Prince of Wales follow her to the South Pacific; PoW is a nice CV escort ship, good speed and lots of AA guns.
Not such a G'Day
Combat Report, July 12, 13 1942
Northern Australia: My search aircraft lost sight of the Japanese CV TF, so I decided to send the Convoy carrying 6th Australian Division back to Port Hedland. Not such a good move!
Baby KB found the convoy about 5 hexes out, and sank 4 xAPs. I am sure 6th Division has lost some squads and equipment, and we aren't out of the woods yet either. A Japanese BB TF, which I had no idea was also around, sailed into Port Hedland harbor; all it found was an AMc, had the TF been there that would have REALLY been bad. No doubt all 12 transports would have been slaughtered.
I am 5 hexes from Exmouth, and I have ordered this convoy there to unload. We have to get ashore as quickly as possible, better than to sink at sea. I have ordered about 100 fighters over Exmouth to fly CAP, so if he attack from the air, at least I will take some Zeros and whatnot with me.
Speaking of air attacks, I had quite a few planes at Port Hedland, and we launched several attacks against Baby KB. Most of the bombers have been training on NavB and are in the 50s in experience in this. Not enough, evidently, as we didn't hit anything. Here is the report for just one attack, and this one included Marine DBs. Too bad we couldn't get just one 1000lb bomb on a flattop!
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Morning Air attack on TF, near Port Hedland at 55,124
Weather in hex: Heavy rain
Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 18 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 18
Allied aircraft
Beaufort V x 4
Kittyhawk IA x 5
P-40E Warhawk x 7
SB2U-3 Vindicator x 16
No Japanese losses
Allied aircraft losses
Beaufort V: 2 damaged
Kittyhawk IA: 1 destroyed
P-40E Warhawk: 2 destroyed
SB2U-3 Vindicator: 4 destroyed, 9 damaged
Japanese Ships
CVL Zuiho
CVL Ryujo
CVL Shoho
Aircraft Attacking:
12 x SB2U-3 Vindicator bombing from 2000 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
4 x Beaufort V bombing from 7000 feet
Naval Attack: 4 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
CAP engaged:
Ryujo-1 with A6M2 Zero (2 airborne, 4 on standby, 0 scrambling)
6 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 17000 , scrambling fighters to 2000.
Raid is overhead
4 planes vectored on to bombers
Shoho-1 with A6M2 Zero (1 airborne, 4 on standby, 1 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 16000 , scrambling fighters between 7000 and 11000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 18 minutes
1 planes vectored on to bombers
Zuiho-1 with A6M2 Zero (1 airborne, 4 on standby, 1 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 16000 , scrambling fighters between 13000 and 16000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 26 minutes
5 planes vectored on to bombers
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For the day, we lost 38 aircraft, bombers and fighters, to 7 Zeros.
Next Steps: Northern Australia: I am sortieing the Royal Navy from Perth in 3 TFs: A CV TF of 2 RN CVs, escorted by mostly USN cruisers (they have better AA values). There is a slow BB TF of 4 Revenge-class and a couple cruisers, and a Fast TF of HMS Repulse and several CAs.
Baby KB has at most enough torpedos for another round. I hope he pursues the transports southward, if he is aggressive I might be able to catch Baby KB after it has expended it's torps. If Baby KB goes away, I will have surface units in position for whatever is coming next. I have yet to see any transports, so this looks to me like a raid, but better safe than sorry.
This is the first real action in this game in awhile, so starting to heat up.
USN CVs: Lexington is nearly repaired, and so is Enterprise. Once that happens, it's time to take the USN out for a spin.
I will probably initially move the bulk of the fleet to Pago Pago. They will counter any Japanese moves after Noumea falls. If Noumea continues to hold, we may even try a rescue/reinforcement. We'll see.
Overall, this was a good day for the Evil Empire!
Northern Australia: My search aircraft lost sight of the Japanese CV TF, so I decided to send the Convoy carrying 6th Australian Division back to Port Hedland. Not such a good move!
Baby KB found the convoy about 5 hexes out, and sank 4 xAPs. I am sure 6th Division has lost some squads and equipment, and we aren't out of the woods yet either. A Japanese BB TF, which I had no idea was also around, sailed into Port Hedland harbor; all it found was an AMc, had the TF been there that would have REALLY been bad. No doubt all 12 transports would have been slaughtered.
I am 5 hexes from Exmouth, and I have ordered this convoy there to unload. We have to get ashore as quickly as possible, better than to sink at sea. I have ordered about 100 fighters over Exmouth to fly CAP, so if he attack from the air, at least I will take some Zeros and whatnot with me.
Speaking of air attacks, I had quite a few planes at Port Hedland, and we launched several attacks against Baby KB. Most of the bombers have been training on NavB and are in the 50s in experience in this. Not enough, evidently, as we didn't hit anything. Here is the report for just one attack, and this one included Marine DBs. Too bad we couldn't get just one 1000lb bomb on a flattop!
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Morning Air attack on TF, near Port Hedland at 55,124
Weather in hex: Heavy rain
Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 18 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 18
Allied aircraft
Beaufort V x 4
Kittyhawk IA x 5
P-40E Warhawk x 7
SB2U-3 Vindicator x 16
No Japanese losses
Allied aircraft losses
Beaufort V: 2 damaged
Kittyhawk IA: 1 destroyed
P-40E Warhawk: 2 destroyed
SB2U-3 Vindicator: 4 destroyed, 9 damaged
Japanese Ships
CVL Zuiho
CVL Ryujo
CVL Shoho
Aircraft Attacking:
12 x SB2U-3 Vindicator bombing from 2000 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
4 x Beaufort V bombing from 7000 feet
Naval Attack: 4 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
CAP engaged:
Ryujo-1 with A6M2 Zero (2 airborne, 4 on standby, 0 scrambling)
6 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 17000 , scrambling fighters to 2000.
Raid is overhead
4 planes vectored on to bombers
Shoho-1 with A6M2 Zero (1 airborne, 4 on standby, 1 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 16000 , scrambling fighters between 7000 and 11000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 18 minutes
1 planes vectored on to bombers
Zuiho-1 with A6M2 Zero (1 airborne, 4 on standby, 1 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 16000 , scrambling fighters between 13000 and 16000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 26 minutes
5 planes vectored on to bombers
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For the day, we lost 38 aircraft, bombers and fighters, to 7 Zeros.
Next Steps: Northern Australia: I am sortieing the Royal Navy from Perth in 3 TFs: A CV TF of 2 RN CVs, escorted by mostly USN cruisers (they have better AA values). There is a slow BB TF of 4 Revenge-class and a couple cruisers, and a Fast TF of HMS Repulse and several CAs.
Baby KB has at most enough torpedos for another round. I hope he pursues the transports southward, if he is aggressive I might be able to catch Baby KB after it has expended it's torps. If Baby KB goes away, I will have surface units in position for whatever is coming next. I have yet to see any transports, so this looks to me like a raid, but better safe than sorry.
This is the first real action in this game in awhile, so starting to heat up.
USN CVs: Lexington is nearly repaired, and so is Enterprise. Once that happens, it's time to take the USN out for a spin.
I will probably initially move the bulk of the fleet to Pago Pago. They will counter any Japanese moves after Noumea falls. If Noumea continues to hold, we may even try a rescue/reinforcement. We'll see.
Overall, this was a good day for the Evil Empire!
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ny59giants
- Posts: 9889
- Joined: Mon Jan 10, 2005 12:02 pm
RE: Not such a G'Day
Do you have any subs patrolling between Java and Northern Australia?? Besides using them for offense, you need some to be your picket line to prevent things like today from happening.
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RE: Logistics in the Pacific
ORIGINAL: Q-Ball
Combat Report, July 11, 1942
[The USN CVs are nearly finished with AA and plane upgrades. Enterprise is at Capetown, and will have completed repairs in 15 days. I plan on having HMS Prince of Wales follow her to the South Pacific; PoW is a nice CV escort ship, good speed and lots of AA guns.
But very short legged.
I am the Holy Roman Emperor and am above grammar.
Sigismund of Luxemburg
Sigismund of Luxemburg
RE: Logistics in the Pacific
Combat Report, July 14,15 1942
Northern Australia: The Japanese ships that visited Port Hedland, and showed up and toasted 4 transports, are gone. Nagato was spotted by one of my subs up by Soerbaya, probably going back to port.
Not sure if that was a raid or what. A big change in AE, Baby KB is basically a one-shot deal with Torpedos, no doubt the magazines are dry on there, so CF went back for more before getting into another fight. Playing Japan, I am finding you really have to watch that, much more so than the USN CVs, which rely more on Dive Bombers.
On the 15th, a Japanese Sub put 2 torps into HMS Repulse off Carnarvon. The offending sub was sunk by the ASW screen, but that is still irritating. The damage is slight, but enough to send her to the yard, probably Melbourne, for a month or so.
With the Japanese gone, I am going to unload 6th Australian Division at Port Hedland. I will then see how much I lost in that attack.
Burma: I have been leisurely bombing Mandalay and other bases in Northern Burma to get Cuttlefish to commit more troops to Burma. I have no idea if it worked, but the IJAAF and IJNAF made an appearance over Mandalay, and toasted about 15 of my Hurricanes, for only 3 Oscars. Yikes! I will have to be more careful in the future.
The RM Viper Force reached Katha, and found a Japanese unit there. CF must have seen me moving up the trail. Another unit is marching through the jungle for Myiktinya. All of this is "fake", I want him to think we are paving the way for an attack, when in fact we are not.
Noumea: No additional attacks have happened at Noumea for a couple days, other than Japanese bombing. Not sure what's next, maybe CF is getting more guys.
Japanese Moves: I have no idea what the next step is.
nygiants59: I had a few subs on picket, but they failed me that one day, when I thought the Japs had gone. It was a sub that initially spotted the TF leaving Soerbaya. The problem is that I thought he pulled back when the Hudson overflew the TF, thinking surprise was gone. It was, and I nearly put a bomb on a CVL. Maybe I overthought.
crsutton: You are correct sir, only 7400 range, still I'm using it that way. Alot of the RN ships are short-legged, probably because they were designed to work primarily in the North Sea, where range isn't an issue.
Northern Australia: The Japanese ships that visited Port Hedland, and showed up and toasted 4 transports, are gone. Nagato was spotted by one of my subs up by Soerbaya, probably going back to port.
Not sure if that was a raid or what. A big change in AE, Baby KB is basically a one-shot deal with Torpedos, no doubt the magazines are dry on there, so CF went back for more before getting into another fight. Playing Japan, I am finding you really have to watch that, much more so than the USN CVs, which rely more on Dive Bombers.
On the 15th, a Japanese Sub put 2 torps into HMS Repulse off Carnarvon. The offending sub was sunk by the ASW screen, but that is still irritating. The damage is slight, but enough to send her to the yard, probably Melbourne, for a month or so.
With the Japanese gone, I am going to unload 6th Australian Division at Port Hedland. I will then see how much I lost in that attack.
Burma: I have been leisurely bombing Mandalay and other bases in Northern Burma to get Cuttlefish to commit more troops to Burma. I have no idea if it worked, but the IJAAF and IJNAF made an appearance over Mandalay, and toasted about 15 of my Hurricanes, for only 3 Oscars. Yikes! I will have to be more careful in the future.
The RM Viper Force reached Katha, and found a Japanese unit there. CF must have seen me moving up the trail. Another unit is marching through the jungle for Myiktinya. All of this is "fake", I want him to think we are paving the way for an attack, when in fact we are not.
Noumea: No additional attacks have happened at Noumea for a couple days, other than Japanese bombing. Not sure what's next, maybe CF is getting more guys.
Japanese Moves: I have no idea what the next step is.
nygiants59: I had a few subs on picket, but they failed me that one day, when I thought the Japs had gone. It was a sub that initially spotted the TF leaving Soerbaya. The problem is that I thought he pulled back when the Hudson overflew the TF, thinking surprise was gone. It was, and I nearly put a bomb on a CVL. Maybe I overthought.
crsutton: You are correct sir, only 7400 range, still I'm using it that way. Alot of the RN ships are short-legged, probably because they were designed to work primarily in the North Sea, where range isn't an issue.
RE: Logistics in the Pacific
With the Japanese gone, I am going to unload 6th Australian Division at Port Hedland. I will then see how much I lost in that attack.
It's probably me, but I'm not too sure I understand this move.
Japanese ships got into one of your harbours, an wrecked the ships there. You had withdrawn the rest as a precaution. You now know that you are vulnerable to such an attack in that area, regardless of your air presence as it is less effect with Japanese fighters around.
Now, after the Japanese brutalized some low value targets, you're going to send in several low value targets with a high value cargo.
2 questions: how are you going to protect them and how long will the unloading take?
As a disclaimer, I'm very much the armchair general here as I'm still not blessed with any experience of AE. I'm reading posts and AAR's to get a picture of how the war unfolds for various people, so I can only comment on your strategy from a perspective of commenting on the theory behind your actions.
SSG tester
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Unity of Command scenario designer
WitE Alpha tester
Panzer Corps Beta tester
Unity of Command scenario designer
RE: Logistics in the Pacific
ORIGINAL: ComradeP
Japanese ships got into one of your harbours, an wrecked the ships there. You had withdrawn the rest as a precaution. You now know that you are vulnerable to such an attack in that area, regardless of your air presence as it is less effect with Japanese fighters around.
Now, after the Japanese brutalized some low value targets, you're going to send in several low value targets with a high value cargo.
2 questions: how are you going to protect them and how long will the unloading take?
It's not a bad question, and speaks to Port Hedland in general.
I think you have to think long and hard as Allies before making a ground force commitment to Northern Australia. There is no retreat path from Port Hedland, so if it falls, all the units there will slowly starve. Port Hedland is a little better anyway than Exmouth, because you can retreat to Corunna Downs, but that is a complete dead-end.
So, if you put troops up there, I think you need to put alot, so many that it is either impossible to take, or a major effort for the Japanese to take.
I took the chance to unload, because:
1. A sub spotted the Nagato TF heading toward Soerbaya, so I know that's gone.
2. The CVs have only enough torps for 1 1/2 rounds of combat. As bombers, the Kates are much less effective. So I didn't think it would be a complete slaughter.
3. CF knows I have a pile of aircraft at Port Heldand. He knows that although I didn't score a hit, I had plenty of chances, and a little more luck could result in a crippled CVL.
4. He also knows, thanks to that attack on Repulse, that I have major Naval forces around the bend
I weighed this with the priority of getting 6th Australian to Port Hedland. With that division landed, we have basically the entire AIF there, over 900 AV of very experienced and tough troops, backed up by 200-300 planes. Cuttlefish could take it, but it would take all the resources he has at his disposal.
I waited to make the Port Hedland move until I felt I had the airpower, ships, and ground troops to back it up. I looked at it like almost a contested landing, because if you start reinforcing places like that, you better reinforce with ALOT of troops. Sending a few in is counterproductive.
IJN on the Move
Combat Report, July 16,17 1942
IJN is on the move: A Dutch sub picket picked up a large TF consisting of "BB,BB,BB,BB,BB,CA" etc southeast of Java, on a SE heading. I suspect this is the Nagato TF again, replenished in Java and looking for bigger game off the coast of Australia. If this TF is there, it stands to reason that Baby KB did the same thing, and is looking for more blood, mine specifically.
The TF unloading 6th Australian Division has mostly unloaded; some heavy equipment and those damned Motorized Support squads that always take forever are on ship, but the infantry and light guns are all ashore. The Division is at 87% strength, which means the other 13% must be at the bottom of the Indian Ocean. By my calculation, the TF is at least 2 days out of Port Hedland, so we are going to unload for one more day, then pull up and leave no matter what's left on board. No sense hanging around if BBs are going to visit.
I have the RN lurking near Carnarvon. I would love a straight-up BB fight with Nagato, since I have the Revenge-class ships which aren't useful anyway, and damaging a Jap BB is very helpful at this stage. But I don't want to put the BBs in harms way, specifically Baby KB's way, where 4 torps would sink it.
The other IJN move is off New Caledonia. What appears to be Kido Butai Sr. is just off Norfolk Island, on a Southwest Heading. This sighting courtesy of RAAF Hudson based on Norfolk (btw, if you are the Allies, I highly recommend occupying Norfolk for airsearch, and if you are Japan I highly recommend taking it). Not sure where the A-Team is headed, if it's just a cruise around, or heading to hit Sydney or Auckland. Both ports have ships, but nothing major or that I can't afford to lose.
DEI: Den Pasar was taken, the last base with a Dutch flying boat based there. Too bad, lost my eyes over Soerbaya.
Burma: Interesting turn over Burma. The RM Viper force reached Katha, and found a single Jap unit there. I ordered a ground attack, against what turned out to be the 45th AA Bn. The unit appeared to be completely wiped out, as the first 2 attacks destroyed 24 guns, and the 3rd bombing run found air. Very strange, I wonder if that unit was in Strategic mode, because I think (not sure), we totally destroyed it. That would be satisfying if we did.
Sub Question: OK, so I had been planning a devious operation. I converted Nautilis and Argonaught to SSTs, and planned to load an Australian Commando unit on them, and land it at Bengkalis. I picked that base, because it's likely unoccupied, but has Oil installations, and the main objective would be to kind of freak Cuttlefish out. Yet, it appears you can't load troops on a sub transport; is this correct?[&:]
Both subs show "Troop Transport" capacity, not sure what it's for if you can't load these guys. I remember reading that they clamped down on this, as it was abused too often by the Allied player pulling unit fragments in WITP and rebuilding whole divisions. It's not a big deal if I can't, that Bengkalis operation just had a high "cool" factor.
IJN is on the move: A Dutch sub picket picked up a large TF consisting of "BB,BB,BB,BB,BB,CA" etc southeast of Java, on a SE heading. I suspect this is the Nagato TF again, replenished in Java and looking for bigger game off the coast of Australia. If this TF is there, it stands to reason that Baby KB did the same thing, and is looking for more blood, mine specifically.
The TF unloading 6th Australian Division has mostly unloaded; some heavy equipment and those damned Motorized Support squads that always take forever are on ship, but the infantry and light guns are all ashore. The Division is at 87% strength, which means the other 13% must be at the bottom of the Indian Ocean. By my calculation, the TF is at least 2 days out of Port Hedland, so we are going to unload for one more day, then pull up and leave no matter what's left on board. No sense hanging around if BBs are going to visit.
I have the RN lurking near Carnarvon. I would love a straight-up BB fight with Nagato, since I have the Revenge-class ships which aren't useful anyway, and damaging a Jap BB is very helpful at this stage. But I don't want to put the BBs in harms way, specifically Baby KB's way, where 4 torps would sink it.
The other IJN move is off New Caledonia. What appears to be Kido Butai Sr. is just off Norfolk Island, on a Southwest Heading. This sighting courtesy of RAAF Hudson based on Norfolk (btw, if you are the Allies, I highly recommend occupying Norfolk for airsearch, and if you are Japan I highly recommend taking it). Not sure where the A-Team is headed, if it's just a cruise around, or heading to hit Sydney or Auckland. Both ports have ships, but nothing major or that I can't afford to lose.
DEI: Den Pasar was taken, the last base with a Dutch flying boat based there. Too bad, lost my eyes over Soerbaya.
Burma: Interesting turn over Burma. The RM Viper force reached Katha, and found a single Jap unit there. I ordered a ground attack, against what turned out to be the 45th AA Bn. The unit appeared to be completely wiped out, as the first 2 attacks destroyed 24 guns, and the 3rd bombing run found air. Very strange, I wonder if that unit was in Strategic mode, because I think (not sure), we totally destroyed it. That would be satisfying if we did.
Sub Question: OK, so I had been planning a devious operation. I converted Nautilis and Argonaught to SSTs, and planned to load an Australian Commando unit on them, and land it at Bengkalis. I picked that base, because it's likely unoccupied, but has Oil installations, and the main objective would be to kind of freak Cuttlefish out. Yet, it appears you can't load troops on a sub transport; is this correct?[&:]
Both subs show "Troop Transport" capacity, not sure what it's for if you can't load these guys. I remember reading that they clamped down on this, as it was abused too often by the Allied player pulling unit fragments in WITP and rebuilding whole divisions. It's not a big deal if I can't, that Bengkalis operation just had a high "cool" factor.