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

[jrcar]

Here is one of those air attacks.

[jrcar]

Philippines
Ground and air bombardments only. I'm trying to do something tricky to throw them off, but to their credit they are being careful and methodical... sod it!

SWPAC
Moving more forces to Meraukeand Horn Island. recently arrived reinforcements (engineers) mainly. Need some more base forces, on is now sth of Noumea so will head it north soon.

Continue to hit Lae and Buna, but now add in raids on the Shortlands. I hit about 40 times on the airfield, so it is now probably closed. Will just use B-17 next turn in case they LRCAP it (I doubt it). Need to keep this supressed in part to act as deception that we are interested in coming this way.

PM now dominates this area and can only be supressed in return by a maximum effort, one which I don't think they will make. OTOH we don't really have the aircraft to do more than we are now, the pools are empty.

[jrcar]

SOPAC
KB continues to track NW from Fiji and off our scouting screen horizon. She must have been a raiding. Bet Nik is very disappointed he didn't find anything. In this game it is worth the extra days to route TF well south... but even then they almost stumbled accross a TF or two. But at worst we would have lost one. Keep your TF spread out and deep, that is the lesson

The TF will now vector in to Fiji and Luganville.

PACIFIC
No change

NORPAC
No Change. Kiska is being scouted by the enemy....

China
Very quiet. Here is a screen shot.

[jrcar]

I must also record another note of Tony's "battle sense". For the last few turns he has been convinced that KB is raiding... of course it would be even better if he recorded that by posting in the AAR... As is usually the case he has acted like my wife, nagging and reminding me... if only he looked as good as my wife in fishnets...

Oh and reporting on his plans for Burma...

Then there is China...

Cavalry, can't live with 'em, can't strangle the bastards quick enough!

Cheers

Rob

[Flying Tiger]

if only he looked as good as my wife in fishnets...

Tony in fishnets.....yicks. Thanks for the mental image Rob [shudder]. Now i need some brain cleansing!!

BTW, you're doing us all proud. great AAR too.

FT

[jrcar]

Plan for SWPAC/DEI Offensive

Situation:
Enemy
forces occupy Rabaul, Ambon, Timor, Koepang and Kendari in strength. Forces have taken but are not currently occupying the nth coast of PNG. In total expect around 3 Div worth of ground troops, 2 Daitai of Netties and 3-5 fighters. Once our intent becomes known these forces are likely to be reinforced. Expect that they can maintain a 1 Division floating reserve.

Friendly
Darwin and PM are securely held giving a Line of Communication (LOC) to the area of operations (AO). Currently forces include 4 divs of ground troops, plenty of arty, armour and engineers, with reinforcements on the way. Air support includes 8 sqn of level bombers, two of dive bombers and 10 of fighters. These forces are currently located in PM and Darwin. Additional fighter and Hudson bomber units are working up and can replace units at Darwin/PM as they step forward.

Mission
Seize and defend Ambon in order to bring the DEI under allied control via air power

Execution
Three phase operation.

Phase 1 Preperation.
Develop Horn Island to a level 4 airbase in order to provide air cover to Merauke if required.
Base SWPAC HQ at Horn Island.
Continue to develop port and defences after airfield.

Develop the forts at Merauke in order to stop any Japanese attempt at taking it from sea or air.
Maintain LOC to Darwin and Horn Island.
Once Horn Island is level 4 develop Merauke to level 4 afld.

Phase 2 Aru Island
Seize, defend and prepare an airbase at Aru.
Maintain LOC to Darwin and Horn Island.
Defeat expected Japanese counter attack force.
Suppress Ambon.

Phase 3 Ambon
Seize, defend and restore Ambon.
Defeat Japanese counter attacks.

Details to follow.

Timmings
Phase 1 complete by 1 Jun
Phase 2 on order, complete by 1 Sep
Phase 3 on order, complete by 1 Jan 1943.



Command and Control
SWPAC HQ will be the mounting HQ. It will move to Horn Island then Merauke.
An air HQ will be required, not yet identified/available.



Map shows current status as at 9 May 1942

[jrcar]

Phase 1 Details
Troops and Tasks.

Port Moresby (PM)
Troops no change. Be prepared to loose at least a Battaion (49th) and engineers and possible II Fighter Command. Will loose dive and medium bombers.

Tasks
Provide secure flank.
Maintain air dominance of nth coast of PNG south of Madang (inclusive).
Supress Madang, Lae and Buna airfields.
Defeat naval units through the use of air power.


Horn Island
Troops, will be reinforced with engineers (RAAF), AA unit (2nd Australian Heavy AA) and HQ and an additional Battalion (49th is planned) to bring AV to 100. Currently has:
Torres Strait Bn (36 AV)
Thursday Is Det (9 AV)
2/4th Ind Coy (9 AV)
Horn Is Det (6 AV)
Forward element SWPAC HQ

Tasks
Provide base for HQ (SWPAC).
Provide secure airfield to support operations in AO capable of supporting heavy bombers.
Maintain a stock of supply and emergency fuel.



Merauke
Troops , will be reinforced with Aust 5th CD unit, two USA BF (en route), arty (US) and a Brigade (not sure which yet) and more Dutch forces from Darin (AA and Inf Bn). Currently has:
Dutch 4th Coast Gun Bn
Dutch Ternate BF
Dutch Ambon BF
Dutch Makassar BF
USA C det USN Port Svc
Aust Gull Bn

Tasks
Defeat Japanese airbourne or naval attack.
Maintain LOC to Darwin and Horn Island.
Develop base to support future operations.



Darwin
Troops, no change. Eventually all Dutch forces to move into the DEI. Be prepared to loose engineer and CD units and a Brit Brigade.

Tasks
Defend Nth Oz.
Supress Timor Aflds.
Defeat Naval forces in reach through airpower.
Protect left flank of advance.
Act as a base of supply and fuel for advance.
Be main LOC for Merauke.
Be prepared to invade Timor.
Be prepared to reinforce offense.

[Flying Tiger]

do you have any spare forces to drop into Nhulunbuy/wessel islands as another link in the chain?

[jrcar]

I could put a Dutch unit there if I needed to... but why?


I prefer to concentrate on a couple of strong mutually supporting bases (that is why PM, Horn Island, Merauke).

Minimum AV to stop a raid is about 100, to defend is 300, don't have that available.

Cheers

Rob

ORIGINAL: Flying Tiger

do you have any spare forces to drop into Nhulunbuy/wessel islands as another link in the chain?

[anthonykevinluke]

Morning/Evening All,

Well, to build a bit on what Rob has written (and to stop his nagging, worse than my wife!!!) I will put a few thoughts on my theatres here.

General
Rob and I discuss our short, medium and long term plans regularly. I am more in favour of the DEI move than the Kuriles option. Main reason is that he has, and will maintain CV superiority until mid 1943, and the Kuriles Op needs strong CV spt to launch, maintain, and endure. Our recent taste of KB's Top guns (30:1 A2A in their favour, probably greatly influenced by their increased experience which we gave to all the Jap starting pilots in this mod) leads me to think that we would be butchered in the short term. Also, our house rule does not allow us to Strat bomb until mid 1943 and it deny's us our main strength which is our gnd based airpower. Lastly, they are probably producing a couple of hundred Zero's and Oscar's a month now whilst we stuck with the fixed rates and are badly lagging in ftr production. Therefore, the DEI is more attractive because at least we can bring our land based Air power (could also land base our CV air) into play from well established and linked bases (supplying them should also be easier). Of course the flip side is that he can use his Land based air as well. Overall, I am leaning towards the DEI in a very structured move with a simeltaneous land push from India/Burma.

China
It's a mess, but I am doing the best I can. The well known Arty 'Death Stars' create unstoppable havoc (in one turn I lost 5046 men in one bombardment in a city fort level 4!!!). Main tactic is to delay and keep him protecting his supply lines whilst trying to hold a line of Sian, Ichang, Changsha, Kushien, Luchow and Nanning. I suspect that he will soon turn to the southern bases and try to push me out of the SW so as to deny me aflds close to his SLOC's and industry. Will try to hold and delay.

Burma/India
My air campaign is going reasonably well as I have made Magwe and Swhebo Aflds unusable for now,and will start on Rangoon soon. Very pleased to still be holding Akyab and Myitkyina. I will use my air to hit his 2nd echelon as he moves towards Myitkyina so as to seperate the arrival of the 1st and second echelon on the objective. This will hopefully enable me to smash his lead elements and follow them up. By the close of the year, as a minimum, would like to be holding Shwebo and threating Prome and Magwe (dislocating any defense at Mandalay). India will just hold, if he wants to invade ... Ok, bring it on. I also hope he goes forward to Akyab with the 18th Div; treatment will be the same as above. Have identified at least three to four DIvs in Burma, suspect more to come .... good.

Sumatra
Unbelievable that I still exist and every day is a bonus!!!

Other than this our broad intent is to tie up as much of his land force as possible in Burma whilst pushing into the DEI. SWPAC, SOPAC, and CENPAC are basically side shows; may pick off Wake, Marcus and the solomons if they become 'ripe'. Rob may also consider picking of Buna in the next few months as it will put us a few hex's closer to Rabaul and may force him to use troops and assets otherwise available for the DEI (it can be supplied overland from PM, albeit with a lot of lost supply).

My naval intent is nil for now with the exception of my subs. Mid to late 43 may see some action on the Sumatran or Burmese/Malaysian coast. I give all my CV and the best DD to Rob to help counter the KB mass and our loss of two US CV.

As to our esteemed opponents, I think that they are consolidating and are digging in for the 'long' game. He will use his CV superiority for raiding and keeping us of balance. He also still has the 'grunt' to talk PM if he wants it badly enough, and may counter us in the Aluetians with a big strike at Dutch Harbor or some other 'deep' island so as to cut us off. This is now way too much writing, I need my ADJT or XO .......

Regards to all (except that bloody pest Rob)

Tony

[jrcar]

Thanks Tony, about time too

9-10 May 1942

Sub action
A number of attacks and two successes, hitting and sinking the PC Nire off Palembang and xAK Iwaki Maru off Haiphong

Burma
P-38 sweep Rangoon at max altitude for the following:
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 8
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 16
Ki-44 Tojo x 4

Allied aircraft
P-38E Lightning x 22

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 2 destroyed
Ki-43-Ic Oscar: 4 destroyed
Ki-44 Tojo: 1 destroyed

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 2
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 7



Allied aircraft
P-38E Lightning x 3

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed
Ki-43-Ic Oscar: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-38E Lightning: 1 destroyed

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 1
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 33
Ki-44 Tojo x 2

Allied aircraft
P-38E Lightning x 18

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-Ic Oscar: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-38E Lightning: 2 destroyed

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 22

Allied aircraft
P-38E Lightning x 2

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-Ic Oscar: 1 destroyed

That is OK, but will end up hurting us as we basically don't have any reinforcements... I trust Tony will follow up next time with bombers... or cease.

Elsewhere Tony hits the follow forces to the Japanese lead elements in an effort to separate the leading units so he can attack them when they have no support. Units hit include:

55th Mountain Gun Regiment and 33rd/A Division both at Katha

Meanwhile an Aussie div is marching to Myitkyina to provide an offensive base. But more Japanese troops are unloading in Rangoon.

Sumatra
The Japanese are starting to land on the offshore islands making sure we don't have any units hidden there.

DEI
Basically the same as before, they are cleaning up the dot bases using the 42nd, 43rd and 44th Naval Guard units.

Aircraft operating from Darwin inflict casualties on these troops and the 24th Inf Regt which is occupying Lautum on Timor. I need to start developing a better picture of enemy forces in the area. Betties are operating from Kendari in support of these units, but Koepang remains aircraft free... but units appear to be moving in there as well.

Makassar is being invaded, I still have forces here and they should hold for a few days

Philippines
Bombardments are rapidly eroding my combat power at Manila

Otherwise quiet.


SWPAC
Moving forces to Horn Is and Merauke.

Aircraft from PM again hit the Shortlands to good effect, another 30+ holes in the runway.

SOPAC
No action

NORPAC
I have now used up all the mines I have available on Adak and Dutch harbour. The minelaying units will now retire.

China
Still quiet. We are holding while they manoeuvre.


Analysis
Our subs continue to do good getting on average 1 ship a turn... that is 180 in a year... pretty good The Japanese on the other hand aren't in the right spots so aren't hitting anything

The P-38 is doing OK, note however the wide range of results when flying the same aircraft at the same altitude over the same target... one turn you do good, the next not so good!

[jrcar]

Burma
B-17 operating against rangoon hit 3 xAK for the loss of 3 B-17, not a good trade for us, but annoying for them.

Elsewhere the rest of the Brit airforce trashes the 1st Tk Regt which is sth of Myitkyina.

A smaller attack against the 18th div 2 hexes SE of Akyab

DEI
subs sink two large xAP unlaoding troops at Makassar, a fantastic outcome!

PBY on search report they hit two xAK.

Marauders sortie against another ship but fail to hit over several sorties.

Philippines
The Japanese finally attack the starving and disrupted troops at Manila, dropping the forts one level on day one and taking the city on day two (AV went from around 1000 to about 150 due to a lack of supply).
Meanwhile I took back Mabuan and the Manila forces retreated to there. My intent is try try and break out to the south to cause a few more days of hassle.

Australia
The first of three SWPAC BF (136th) has arrived at Sydney and will move by rail nth for use in the Ambon operation.

SWPAC
No change.

Have started to transfer engineers to Wau via air to build forts then improve the airfield. Aim will be to move into the Markham valley like they did in real life.

SOPAC
The 147th Inf Regt and an AA cst regt have begun unloading at Luganville.

Supply and more aircraft have arrived at Suva and will begin unloading.

Pacfic
All unrestricted units from the West coast are now at PH or have been deployed. 3 US CV and 2 Brit CV now at PH. 1 more brit Cv on the way, and another US CV is due in 30 days at Balboa.

BB's and DD's are moving from West Coast to PH.

NORPAC
No change. Unneeded shipping is heading to Seattle, trrop and supply movements basically complete for the NORPAC defence. Have 2 BB and 3CA at Seattle as distant force for NORPAC... not sure if to move the up, or send to PH.


Logistics
With a renewed interest on the DEI/SWPAC several large fuel convoys totalling around 250k fuel are heading to Australia. Supply is generally good to excellent everywhere I need it, and currently short on the West Coastanyway. Have a shortage of DD type vessels and other escorts, but with 20 PB, 22 DD and about 8-10 other escorts sunk the Japanese are in real trouble!.

[jrcar]

13-14 May
Burma
The 1st Tank regiment is trashed from the air by allied airpower again. the Regiment is now close to being destroyed.

Otherwise mostly quiet, a JAAF Bn is hit moving to Katha.

Port Blair expands to a level 3 airfield. This seals off a number of approaches for the moment... but ones we weren't contemplating anyway.

DEI
After a fierce fight Makassar finally falls. We put a torp into another large xAP.

Philippines
Strong air attacks on Mauban.


SWPAC ( which is now defined as east of Makassar!)
We finally hit the xAP unloading troops at Kai island. This should make it easier to hit next time!

B-25 from PM raid shipping in Rabaul harbour against light fighter cover hitting an xAKL. I need to restrict their range so this doesn't happen again!

NORPAC
SS I-123 hits a mine at Adak.

A CS is detected sth of Hokkaido by one of the piquet subs. KB is in the area!


Analysis
KB may be planning a raid on Adak, or to support an invasion of Kiska or similar. I have already begun moving unnecessary shipping from NORPAC, and will now speed it up. Will for up the SCTF at Seattle and move nth in case an opportunity arises. The CV's may also move out a bit from PH towards the north, again if an opportunity presents itself.

[Alfred]

Waiting for the 3rd Test to start, I thought I should just encourage the shy "Tony" on his last (and almost first)post.  Nice summary.
 
BTW, is the destruction being inflicted on the 1st Tank Rgt the result of him venting his frustration on only being able to "play" with Leopards rather than Abrams?
 
Alfred

[anthonykevinluke]

Morning Alfred,

Yes, it's true; all Cavalry officers are shy retiring types whose fear of attention is only surpassed by their modesty Well, to be fair the 1st Armd Regt does have Abrahams now, and I'll only pick on 'Tankers' if their are no other Corps about In the game I will try and kill the Jap 1st Tank Regt completly if I can, one destroyed, un-rebuildable unit is better than disabling two or three others.

Courage,

Tony

[jrcar]

15-16 May 1942

Burma
The trashing of the 1st Tank Regt continues. Over 80 allied bombers continue to pound the isolated target.

A rare sighting of a Japanese sub sees I-155 sink an HDML.

A Marauder raid on Magwe damages the airfield against light fighter opposition.


DEI
Finally Makassar falls, the last major base in the DEI. It has held out for almost a week, and has proven to be good hunting ground for our subs... this turn we put tops into another xAP, but they fail to go bang...

Air strikes from Darwin hit ground troops, no ships are detected in range.


SWPAC
Forces continue to head into Merauke and Horn Island. The later is now a level 2 airfield.

B-25 from PM again strike shipping in Rabaul, hitting 2 xAK carrying troops. Again fighter cover is weak(3 Zero).

Japan
One of our subs reports being attacked by carrier aircraft south of Tokyo.


Analysis
The sinking of a HDML is significant... because Japanese sub attacks are so rare. This means that we are keeping away from where they think we would go. This is a good and bad thing.... bad because we know where we aren't. We is just as useful as knowing where we are...

At Merauke we now have 2 CD gun units, plenty of supply and forts are building nicely. Need some more ground troops, but I'm almost ready to declare the base secure, then the airfield construction can commence.

Wau builds to level 2 forts. Will move in more troops soon.

At PM supply continues to poor in.

The SWPAC has been a fatal mistake IMHO by our opponents. We have been allowed to build and now we are secure. There was a time, when KB raided, that air units from Rabaul could have easily suppressed PM for at least a month.

KB looks to have retired on Japan.

[jrcar]

Well sorry for the lack of reporting, been a bit busy, but it has mostly been quiet so will update in one lot.

17-25 May 1942

Sub Actions
Lots of attacks a number of hits but few bangs. It is giving some useful intel, mainly that they are generally moving where we expect them to

Burma
Allied aircraft look to have destroyed a Tk regt and 1-2 gun units, plus very roughly handled the 15th Army HQ. The Japanese forces have now fallen back. More forces have recently arrived in the theatre , and we estimate 4-6 Divs are in the area, or will be soon.

On our side the Aussie div has reached Myitkyina, and more force are on the way.

Our focus now is to try and suppress the centrak Burma airfields, Magwe, Mandalay and Shwebo, but it looks like there may be too many locations to suppress. Tony has a battle on his hands. They should have the ability to generate several hundred fighters and bombers in the theatre when they want to... if they have the airfields to base them from... we must try to deny them that opportunity.

Tony plans to advance on Shwebo with 3 divs... even with air support we probably can't attack, and they can't either, so we probably have a stalemate on our hands...


DEI
They continue to clan up small dot bases.

Philippines
I've been kicked out of Manila, Bantangas and am now at Mauban... it is likely to fall next turn. That will end resistance on Luzon.

I have slowly been gathering some forces at Zamboanga, and have combat power of about 130, lvl 3 forts and supply. Hopefully this will be a surprise when they find them, and cause some more delay.

Otherwise the battle here is over.

SWPAC
Forces are pouring into Australia, baseforces, arty and the 32nd Div are here, with more on the way.

Horn Island is building nicely, it is about to be a level 3 airfield.

Merauke is now level 2 and should also hit 3 this turn.

Still need more combat troops.

On New Guinea Wau is almost level 3 forts, and I will start increasing the airfield soon. Will be able to fly troops in and advance on Lae in about one month.

Our airpower continues to dominate the area, hitting ships in Rabaul, and even the airfield, hitting several Netties, against light fighter opposition.

Luganville now has 200 AV and is on the way to level 4 forts. More troops are on the way, this base is almost secure.

SOPAC
Nadi now level 4 afld, plenty of supply, and more troops on the way.

NORPAC
As suspected KB has turned up south of Adak. All the convoys are finished and back at Seattle. Have 70 fighters on Adak. We shall see if they attack... this may be cover for an invasion, or just a raid.

Cheers

Rob

[jrcar]

25-26 May

Well the war is about to really heat up!

Sub Action
Lots of our sub attacks, including two on the invasion convoy that looks to be heading to Adak... but no bangs. We do get a PB in the DEI, and a Japanese sub gets an AK in Darwin harbour.

Burma
Allied airpower continue sto rule the skies, churning up airfields, the 15th Army HQ and as you can see the 18th Div which is still a couple of hex out from Akyab.

[jrcar]

25-26 May

DEI
They continue to clean up. Landing at Sampit and Bandjermasin. At the later the CD guns hit a PB badley, and an xAK.

Philippines
As expected organised resistance ceases on Luzon... vale the Philippines Army, I've had so much fun with you

SWPAC
As expected Merauke and Horn Island both get to level 3 aflds this turn.

The normal air attacks on Dili, Lae etc occur, but in addition a TF is sighted unloading at Hollianda and is attacked from PM and from Merauke. Over the two days 3-4 ships are hit, two (including an xAP) badly enough that they may sink.

Soon I will move in LR Hudsons to the area, I have 4 RAAF sqn almost fully tried up in Naval search and Naval attack. This will give a significant power projection capability in the area. Un CAPed ships (like those at Hollianda) will be toast....

[jrcar]

25-26 May

NORPAC
The REAL interesting news is in the NORPAC.

Last turn we detected a large convoy in the Kuriles,and made the assumption that is was reinforcing their islands. Now with KB sitting south of Adak, and the convoy out to sea (and detected by our subs), it looks like the target is Adak or Dutch Harbour.

We have 70 good fighters at Adak, lvl 3 forts, 400 AV and a stack of CD guns (20-30) plus a regiment of 155 guns, and 500 mines. Is that enough....

Dutch harbour is less protected, 16 fighters, lvl 4 forts, 400 AV, 10-20 CD guns and only 120 mines.

But I'm betting Adak is the target, unless they plan to try and set up camp on another island under KB air cover...


Our CV's are 3-5 days away, but are in no shape to tackle a full strngth KB. We can try and raid any follow on convoys tough.

The image below shows where the invasion force is. It only has a CL in the transport TF... the CD guns should eat that...