Air
We have been have some banter with Joe and Nik over air.We all agree it is much better than stock, but Joe and Nik are very concerned about how quickly we have built up in Burma in particular. The following is my perspective.
Joe and Nik failed to destroy the allied airforces anywhere in the eraly stages. They choose (possibly correctly, see discusion below) to maintain pilot quality. They have probably also been conservative about increasing engine/airframe construction, more so than most players are (certainly more than Tony or I).
In Burma in particular, and the SWPAC as well, as the Allied we now have experianced squadrons at full strength. This is starting to tell in both locations. BUT we have almost no reserves, in particular with bombers. In my case I have some units in Oz, and many in PH that have very few aircraft.
In fighters we have about 40 P-40E and about 80 P-39 of verious types. We are carefully hoarding these, and I have many squadrons down 5-10 aircraft as a consequence, defending Sydney, PH and a couple of other areas.
So while we have strength, we have no depth and no resiliancy. And it the the Japanese that have allowed us to have the strength.
BUT because they have been careful about their use of aircraft their air units should be largely intact, pretty experianced, and can be deployed anywhere now that Luzon has fallen.
This scares us as much as we are scaring them!
It is an interesting outcome, we are now at about "air parity" with both of us having strength. In other games I've played at about the same time we have also been at "air parity" with both of us exhausted.
IMHO it is better as the Japanese to attack the allied airforce while you can, and try to stop them getting any strength... once the Allies do it is very hard to stop.
Subs
We have been remarkably more effective, something I didn't expect. Mostly this has been to do with placement. They have been more predictable, and even (such as at Davao) when they detect a lot of subs they have continued to sail through... time and time again.
We have been careful to route convoy's around choke points, and be far less predictable. And it has paid off
Planning
We are all very experianced players. But I think Tony and I have planned a bit better, focused on what we want to achieve, and have largely done it.
Joe and Nik have been far less synchronised. Or maybe we have been able to dislocate them more...
I'm looking forward to reading their side of the AAR!
Future Intentions
We had just made the decision to cancel the Kurile operation when their invasion force showed up. Many of these forces will now move to support c. below, the rest will remain as a "unkown" threat to CENTPAC or NORPAC. Anyway here are our three plans.
A. Defeat any invasion of the Aleutions. Probability likely.
B. Continue to build strength in Burma and conduct a slow methodical approach from Myitkyina. This will be slow and bloody on both sides. Tony has first call on B-17, and within a month will have 2 B-17 groups operating. Even then it will be bloody. Neither side has overwhelming force, in fact we will be about parity. It will be ugly.
C. Seize Ambon, via Timor and Aru island. Aim is to base B-24 to interdict the DEI. The first phase of this operation is almost complete, and forces are moving from PH for phase 2. This has gone nicely so far. At some point they will need to commit... I hope we are ready.
Our big questions are:
Can we defeat tha Aleutions attack... do we care if we don't (I.e what is the impact if we loose).
Where will the just freed forces from the PI go.
Will then comit them to stop C. (they probably know we are building Merauke now, but may percieve it as mostly defensive on our part).
Will they move into PNG (like the Hollianda force), and will it be defensive, or offensive?
Will they go to Burma?
I sense that they are now shifting to the defensive everywhere, and even the Aleutions is a defensive move. But they have the capability to conduct a large multi divisional attack just about anywhere, so we need to be on our toes.
In regards to c I want to try to maintain Phase 1 as a "defensive" posture as long as I can. Then move on Aru with force. That is giving them some opportunity to gain the initiative and get set in that part of the DEI...
Decisions, decisions, what will they do... I love this game
You are getting to the best part of WITP/AE, IMO. The 9 to 12 months from mid-42 to mid-43 where one side or the other can accelerate or hinder the eventual "Fall of Japan." The first six months of the war is just to survive and hold on for the Allies in basic terms, while by 44 the Allies are just too strong. A misstep here can set you back for months. [:-]
You are getting to the best part of WITP/AE, IMO. The 9 to 12 months from mid-42 to mid-43 where one side or the other can accelerate or hinder the eventual "Fall of Japan." The first six months of the war is just to survive and hold on for the Allies in basic terms, while by 44 the Allies are just too strong. A misstep here can set you back for months. [:-]
when I look at the Allied aircraft replacements until mid 44 then I wonder what to do against a determined Japanese player that a) focusses on destroying my aircraft and b) does extensive training to maintain pilot exp. [:(] It´s not much of a problem to lose a monthly ac replacement in one day if the enemy focusses on an important base where you have quite some material.
Agreed, Any reasonable Japanese player can produce approx 150 Zero and same of Oscar without stretching his HI in any way; the same with Tojo and Tony. Therefore the Japanese player can count on at least 300 x reasonable to good Ftrs a month. The allies on the other hand, adding up all the 10's, 24's, 30's and 2's and 3's etc, are flat out getting 100-120 Ftrs a month, and this goes well into 43. Bombers are even worse, Brits get about 12 x wellington and the same Blenheim per month and that is about it for a looong time. I can't even keep up with Op losses. So; we will keep on playing and see how it all works out. At worst we will have some good data for future work, as will many others playing the game (note: in our game we significantly modded the Japanese starting pilots experience upwards).
IMHO it is better as the Japanese to attack the allied airforce while you can, and try to stop them getting any strength... once the Allies do it is very hard to stop.
Agree , while its impossible to match historical first day losses in Pearl (even with the whole KB on AF) and Clarke its important to hit the allies when things are to your advantage in terms of numbers , organisation /support , pilot quality and aircraft quality as none of them will last. Its especially worthwhile using lesser trained pilots ( 50-60) with a few 70-85 per squadron and keep a nice pool of 80s for elite squads / KB. Use these elite squads sparingly when you have the advantage and they are well rested . Otherwise send the rest into the grinder and push the allies.
Burma
The normal, we are hitting the Japanese ground troops fairly hard. They are not using much in the way of fighters to protect anything.
A large BB TF is sighted via sub heading our way... maybe Akyab?
DEI
We hit a TK at Kendari, and attack other vessels for no real impact, we get a PB off Palembang though.
Lots of naval traffic at Kendari, including 3 tankers.
SWPAC
The forces continue to build at merauke. On the first turn we continue to molest tha Japanese unloading at Hollianda, but on the second turn (day 3 and 4) a CAP of Zero's appear and we loose around 10 -16 air craft of various sorts.
Hollianda is a nice counter to our actions in the area, and will make Meruake a real front line location. Good thing we have lots of forces there already. Horn Island will be come important as a LRCAP base, and I'm moving in a USA baseforce to help.
Lots of forces are now moving from PH to Australia.
Luganville is getting more forces as well, becoming a nice base and the forts are almost at 4, then the airfield construction will begin.
NORPAC
On the first turn KB headed east and struck Dutch harbour, sinking a sub and two mine tenders. We concentrated all our fighters on Adak in time for a big KB strike followed by an invasion. I will post the relanet bits from the report in the next post, suffice to say we loose a lot of planes, they loose some, but get badly hurt in the landings... it looks like they have only bough one div (the 19th, which not long ago was preparing to attack Port Blair). So they don't have enough combat power, even with what looks to be every Japanese CV!
Our CV's are at San Fransico now, about to upgrade some planes, and wait to see if their is an opportunity
then the attack on Adak. We have 3 AA regiments at aboyut 60% strength, plus the basforces, so losses are good
Morning Air attack on Adak Island , at 162,52
Weather in hex: Severe storms
Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 6
B5N1 Kate x 29
B5N2 Kate x 123
D3A1 Val x 125
Allied aircraft
Kittyhawk I x 16
P-400 Airacobra x 13
P-40E Warhawk x 13
During the night the PT's engage, this is the only combat where they do any good
Night Time Surface Combat, near Adak Island at 162,52, Range 1,000 Yards
Japanese Ships
CA Tone
CL Kinu
DD Usugumo
APD Hatakaze
E Ishigaki
E Saga
DMS W-10
xAK Canberra Maru
xAK Nissan Maru
xAK Nitti Maru
xAK Toko Maru
xAK Kasuga Maru #2
xAK Matumoto Maru
xAK Toyooka Maru
xAK Delagoa Maru
xAK Durban Maru
xAK Wales Maru
xAK Hokutai Maru
xAK Kasyu Maru
xAK Sinko Maru, Torpedo hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Shinkyo Maru
xAKL Kennichi Maru
xAP Kanzyu Maru
Allied Ships
PT-28
PT-29, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
PT-30, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
Japanese ground losses:
521 casualties reported
Squads: 8 destroyed, 12 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 21 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 1 disabled
Guns lost 11 (2 destroyed, 9 disabled)
Vehicles lost 1 (0 destroyed, 1 disabled)
Did I mention we had a lot of CD guns (155mm)?
TF 48 encounters mine field at Adak Island (162,52) - Coastal Guns Fire Back!
7 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Japanese Ships
DMS W-10, Shell hits 6, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAP Kanzyu Maru, Mine hits 1, heavy damage
xAK Sinko Maru, Mine hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
E Saga, Mine hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
Japanese ground losses:
10 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 2 (2 destroyed, 0 disabled)
57th Coastal Artillery Regiment firing at DMS W-10
57th Coastal Artillery Regiment firing at DMS W-10
2 mines cleared
Pre-Invasion action off Adak Island - Coastal Guns Fire Back!
105 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Japanese Ships
CL Oi
DD Hakaze
DD Minegumo
xAKL Momoyama Maru, Shell hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAKL Ujigawa Maru, Shell hits 8, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAKL Tateyama Maru, Shell hits 1
PB Nikkai Maru, Shell hits 5, on fire
PB Nagata Maru
Burma
Well as about half the Allied AF has a withdraw date of 1 Jun we loose our main advantage in the theatre.
But we continue to molest the ground troops and airfields.
Off Malaya: Sub attack near Georgetown at 49,74
Japanese Ships
CA Furutaka, Torpedo hits 1
CA Kako
DD Hokaze
DD Inazuma
DD Hibiki
DD Umikaze
Allied Ships
SS KXVIII
DEI
fter being reinforced and a few days of air attack the forces at Bandjermasin finally get evicted, another nice bit of delay.
SWPAC
Bombers from PM launch pointless attacks against Hollianda and Rabaul. the Zero CAP is too good.
Shortlands is now a lvl 2 airfield, I've ordered B-17 to bomb, but the often aren't flying and aren't hitting when they do. Need to rethink the allocation of airpower... we don't have enough for all the tasks
Darwin hits level 6 forts.
Pacific
Quiet, lots of convoys at sea now I know where the enemy is. Reinforcing Luganville, Fiji and Austrli.
NORPAC
Where all the action is, will post the CR next. In short the 19th div is now noted as fully ashore, max strength about 250, so it has been badly hurt. Two thirds of the 7th div has also landed. I'm starting to get concerned...
KB has closed the airfields, but we've hit/sunk lots of transports, and supply is good and disruption low to moderate. Our bombardments are causing reasonable casualties, and theirs effectively none.
It will be a close thing. Another div may seal it. We are both committed. Our CV's are gathering at San , and I'm moving fresh air units into the area. Plan is to use B-17 to bomb the invaders on the beaches.
I estimate we have sunk/badly damaged 20 ships now, but most have been xAKL. We are now hitting the xAK's and got an xAP this turn.
TF 48 troops unloading over beach at Adak Island, 162,52
Japanese ground losses:
698 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 104 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 14 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 13 (0 destroyed, 13 disabled)
17 troops of a IJA Infantry Squad lost overboard during unload of 7th/A Div /3
17 troops of a IJA Infantry Squad lost in surf during unload of 7th/A Div /5
Invasion Support action off Adak Island
59 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Japanese Ships
xAKL Higari Maru, Shell hits 2, heavy fires
DD Minegumo
CL Oi
xAK Tensyo Maru, Shell hits 10, heavy fires, heavy damage
Assaulting units:
3rd Indpt SNLF Coy
Ichiki Det.
19th Div /5
7th/A Div /1
6th Indpt SNLF Coy
7th/B Div /3
17th Army
21st Special Base Force
51st JNAF AF Unit
Defending units:
57th Coastal Artillery Regiment
58th (Sep) Infantry Regiment
138th(Sep) Infantry Regiment
2nd USMC Parachute Battalion
1st Marine Raider Battalion
87th Mountain Regiment
501st Coast AA Regiment
B Det USN Port Svc
30th Coast AA Regiment
255th USN Base Force /4
42nd Const Rgt /1
137th USA Base Force
813th Engineer Aviation Battalion
106th USN Base Force
802nd Engineer Aviation Battalion
Eleventh USAAF
183rd Field Artillery Regiment
210th Cst AA Rgt /3
Attacking force 16533 troops, 205 guns, 282 vehicles, Assault Value = 425
Defending force 21092 troops, 196 guns, 76 vehicles, Assault Value = 585
Japanese ground losses:
162 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 8 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 16 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Vehicles lost 1 (0 destroyed, 1 disabled)
Assaulting units:
1st Marine Raider Battalion
138th(Sep) Infantry Regiment
2nd USMC Parachute Battalion
58th (Sep) Infantry Regiment
57th Coastal Artillery Regiment
87th Mountain Regiment
501st Coast AA Regiment
255th USN Base Force /4
B Det USN Port Svc
183rd Field Artillery Regiment
106th USN Base Force
30th Coast AA Regiment
802nd Engineer Aviation Battalion
Eleventh USAAF
42nd Const Rgt /1
137th USA Base Force
813th Engineer Aviation Battalion
210th Cst AA Rgt /3
Defending units:
7th/A Div /1
Ichiki Det.
19th Div /5
3rd Indpt SNLF Coy
6th Indpt SNLF Coy
7th/B Div /3
17th Army
21st Special Base Force
51st JNAF AF Unit
TF 206 encounters mine field at Adak Island (162,52)
Japanese Ships
DD Akebono, Mine hits 2, heavy damage
A bit of Sub action s well!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Adak Island at 162,52
Japanese Ships
xAK Wales Maru, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
xAP Kanzyu Maru, heavy damage
xAK Durban Maru
xAK Toko Maru
xAK Nitti Maru, on fire
xAK Nissan Maru, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Usugumo
E Ishigaki
Allied Ships
SS Silversides
Invasion Support action off Adak Island
Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft
10 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Japanese Ships
xAK Canberra Maru, Shell hits 1, heavy fires
CA Tone
xAK Toko Maru
Invasion Support action off Adak Island
47 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Japanese Ships
xAK Asama Maru #2
DD Minegumo
CL Oi
xAK Yae Maru, Shell hits 3, heavy fires
52 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Japanese Ships
xAK Hokkai Maru, Shell hits 2, heavy fires
DD Minegumo
CL Oi
xAK Eizan Maru, Shell hits 5, heavy fires
13 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Japanese Ships
xAK Matumoto Maru, Shell hits 1
CA Tone
xAK Toko Maru, Shell hits 5, on fire
xAK Canberra Maru, heavy fires
Morning Air attack on Adak Island , at 162,52
Weather in hex: Thunderstorms
Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 6
B5N1 Kate x 28
B5N2 Kate x 101
D3A1 Val x 100
Japanese Ships
xAK Nitti Maru
CA Tone
xAK Kasuga Maru #2, Shell hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage
57 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Japanese Ships
xAP Rakuyo Maru
DD Minegumo
CL Oi
xAK Asama Maru #2, Shell hits 11, heavy fires, heavy damage
Finally the ground bombardments
Ground combat at Adak Island (162,52)
Japanese Bombardment attack
Attacking force 14198 troops, 144 guns, 41 vehicles, Assault Value = 598
Defending force 26044 troops, 374 guns, 475 vehicles, Assault Value = 428
Allied ground losses:
Vehicles lost 2 (0 destroyed, 2 disabled)
Assaulting units:
Ichiki Det.
7th/A Division
7th/B Division
3rd Indpt SNLF Coy
6th Indpt SNLF Coy
19th Div /5
21st Special Base Force
17th Army
51st JNAF AF Unit
Defending units:
2nd USMC Parachute Battalion
58th (Sep) Infantry Regiment
138th(Sep) Infantry Regiment
1st Marine Raider Battalion
57th Coastal Artillery Regiment
87th Mountain Regiment
183rd Field Artillery Regiment
813th Engineer Aviation Battalion
106th USN Base Force
255th USN Base Force /4
Eleventh USAAF
802nd Engineer Aviation Battalion
30th Coast AA Regiment
501st Coast AA Regiment
42nd Const Rgt /1
137th USA Base Force
B Det USN Port Svc
210th Cst AA Rgt /3
Attacking force 16561 troops, 205 guns, 282 vehicles, Assault Value = 428
Defending force 25364 troops, 223 guns, 80 vehicles, Assault Value = 598
Japanese ground losses:
183 casualties reported
Squads: 4 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 9 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Vehicles lost 1 (0 destroyed, 1 disabled)
Assaulting units:
2nd USMC Parachute Battalion
58th (Sep) Infantry Regiment
57th Coastal Artillery Regiment
1st Marine Raider Battalion
138th(Sep) Infantry Regiment
87th Mountain Regiment
255th USN Base Force /4
802nd Engineer Aviation Battalion
30th Coast AA Regiment
813th Engineer Aviation Battalion
B Det USN Port Svc
501st Coast AA Regiment
137th USA Base Force
42nd Const Rgt /1
183rd Field Artillery Regiment
Eleventh USAAF
106th USN Base Force
210th Cst AA Rgt /3
Defending units:
3rd Indpt SNLF Coy
6th Indpt SNLF Coy
7th/A Division
7th/B Division
Ichiki Det.
19th Div /5
17th Army
21st Special Base Force
51st JNAF AF Unit
Sub Action
Lots of attacks, including on a CV off Adak, but few bangs
xAK Nitti Maru in the NORPAC hit by torp.
PB Eifuku Maru in the Philippines hit by torp
An xAKL shelled and hit 13 times off Truk
An xAK hit by torp off Rangoon.
Failed attack at Hollianda
The Japanese hit and sink the lone xKL Kini carrying NZ bseforce pers to Luganville
We loose a sub at Kendari to ASW action (4 DD's) while trying to sink a TK unloding there.
Burma
No change. We are going to ship 1-2 fighter sqn and 2-3 bomber sqn from Oz to Burma. These will be two P-39 units, up to two Hudson units and a Dutch DB-7 unit.
DEI
The Japanese are slowly advancing up Sumatra. Yet to come to the min line of resistance at Medan.
SWPAC
No chnge, moving ships in as quickly as possible and supressing airfields within range.
More ships are detected at Hollianda. I think I will need B-17 group from Hawaii to take care of that soon ...
The 32nd Inf Div is on its way to Port Moresby. This will free up the 8th Marine regiment for offensive opertions.
Pacific
No change. With ll the CV's detected the various convoys in the area are taking more risky paths.
NORPAC
Again action plenty!
BB's bombard, including a new ship, the Yamamato! Damage is light.
Our CD guns again take a terrible toll on the transports. It looks like the CD guns concentrate on the smallest ships first. So we snk or damaged all the xAKL, then the XAK, now we are finally getting to the bigger xK and the xAP... see the combat reports posted next for detail.
Parts of KB are retiring to rearm/replenish. The remainder hit the ground troops to little effect and the PT boats are swept by Zero, hitting a few.
I'm looking forward to seeing the turn to see how quickly our engineers can repair the airfields.
In the ground bombrdments the Japanese do almost no damage, and we do light to moderate damage. But their AV is begining to climb as they recover from disruption.
Somehow we need to get in and help the defenders... not sure how yet.
At last turn the supply ws 54559
China
Very little has been happening. We re holding in the fores, suffering more in casulties, but not being forced to retreat. Maybe we cn entice Tony to post about this are. Joe and Nik don't aopear to be pushing hard in China at all.
Invasion Support action off Adak Island
Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft
23 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Japanese Ships
xAK Delagoa Maru
CA Tone
xAK Nitti Maru, Shell hits 8, heavy fires, heavy damage
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 57th Coastal Artillery Regiment, at 162,52 (Adak Island)
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 10
B5N1 Kate x 11
B5N2 Kate x 40
D3A1 Val x 41
Assaulting units:
7th/A Division
19th Division
3rd Indpt SNLF Coy
Ichiki Det.
6th Indpt SNLF Coy
7th/B Division
21st Special Base Force
17th Army
51st JNAF AF Unit
Defending units:
138th(Sep) Infantry Regiment
2nd USMC Parachute Battalion
1st Marine Raider Battalion
57th Coastal Artillery Regiment
58th (Sep) Infantry Regiment
87th Mountain Regiment
B Det USN Port Svc
813th Engineer Aviation Battalion
183rd Field Artillery Regiment
255th USN Base Force /4
30th Coast AA Regiment
Eleventh USAAF
802nd Engineer Aviation Battalion
42nd Const Rgt /1
137th USA Base Force
501st Coast AA Regiment
106th USN Base Force
210th Cst AA Rgt /3
Ground combat at Adak Island (162,52)
Allied Bombardment attack
Attacking force 16357 troops, 203 guns, 283 vehicles, Assault Value = 419
Defending force 26360 troops, 224 guns, 80 vehicles, Assault Value = 616
Japanese ground losses:
311 casualties reported
Squads: 3 destroyed, 11 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 9 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Guns lost 1 (1 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Assaulting units:
138th(Sep) Infantry Regiment
1st Marine Raider Battalion
2nd USMC Parachute Battalion
58th (Sep) Infantry Regiment
57th Coastal Artillery Regiment
87th Mountain Regiment
30th Coast AA Regiment
501st Coast AA Regiment
183rd Field Artillery Regiment
137th USA Base Force
813th Engineer Aviation Battalion
42nd Const Rgt /1
802nd Engineer Aviation Battalion
B Det USN Port Svc
Eleventh USAAF
106th USN Base Force
255th USN Base Force /4
210th Cst AA Rgt /3
Defending units:
7th/A Division
Ichiki Det.
3rd Indpt SNLF Coy
19th Division
6th Indpt SNLF Coy
7th/B Division
17th Army
21st Special Base Force
51st JNAF AF Unit
Assaulting units:
57th Coastal Artillery Regiment
138th(Sep) Infantry Regiment
1st Marine Raider Battalion
58th (Sep) Infantry Regiment
2nd USMC Parachute Battalion
87th Mountain Regiment
802nd Engineer Aviation Battalion
183rd Field Artillery Regiment
501st Coast AA Regiment
Eleventh USAAF
255th USN Base Force /4
106th USN Base Force
813th Engineer Aviation Battalion
137th USA Base Force
B Det USN Port Svc
42nd Const Rgt /1
30th Coast AA Regiment
210th Cst AA Rgt /3
Defending units:
3rd Indpt SNLF Coy
Ichiki Det.
7th/A Division
19th Division
6th Indpt SNLF Coy
7th/B Division
21st Special Base Force
17th Army
51st JNAF AF Unit
Yes we are in the tranistion, and you are right it is the interesting bit! Thrust and counter thrust!
We are finding the lack of Allied aircraft to be the thing that is hampering us the most. We could attack in a few places, but without the aircraft we can't.
I think at the higher level AE really gets this right, well done to the air team!
Cheers
Rob
ORIGINAL: ny59giants
You are getting to the best part of WITP/AE, IMO. The 9 to 12 months from mid-42 to mid-43 where one side or the other can accelerate or hinder the eventual "Fall of Japan." The first six months of the war is just to survive and hold on for the Allies in basic terms, while by 44 the Allies are just too strong. A misstep here can set you back for months. [:-]
I'm currently on leave with my family at my parents on the south coast of NSW at Dalmeny, just north of Narooma.
Been doing a bit of surfing Nice 1m waves the last few days, but a NE wind has now come up and is blowing the surf out. With luck it will drop overnight, and we may start to feel the effects of a ground swell from a low presure system currently south of Tasmania, which should send us some bigger waves over the next few days.
I've been surfing at "Joshs beach", which faces ENE and is picking up the swell generated from the low that is off Queensland. With the southerly low moving in the waves should turn to the SE and my preffered surf spot should start to pick up!
Well have gotten in four more hours of surfing, the wind droped a bit yeasterdy so had 1-1.5m waves that were a bit wind chopped, but OK. Had a surf this morning as well... not so good but ok. We also got a turn done yesterday, and have the combat turn back.
Aircraft losses for the enemy were quite low was hoping the AA would do more. The second part of KB has retired to rearm/fefuel, and it looks like the first part is coming back
ADAK Status 04 Jun
Green is better, red is worse
Unit/AV (if any), exp, morale, disruption, fatigue,
138th(Sep) Infantry Regiment, 83, 54,99,04,16
1st Marine Raider Battalion, 30, 59, 99, 04, 04
2nd USMC Parachute Battalion, 28, 70, 99, 00, 04
58th (Sep) Infantry Regiment, 114, 54, 78, 65, 13
57th Coastal Artillery Regiment, 00, 56, 99, 61, 03, 21 CD guns
87th Mountain Regiment, 109, 58, 99, 15, 14
30th Coast AA Regiment, 00, 51, 99, 16, 03
501st Coast AA Regiment, 00, 56, 96, 17, 03
183rd Field Artillery Regiment, 00, 58, 99, 12, 07, 24x155 FA guns
137th USA Base Force, 14, 58, 94, 26, 03
813th Engineer Aviation Battalion, 00 51, 59, 25, 03
42nd Const Rgt /1, 00, 55, 99, 09, 03
802nd EAB, 00, 54, 99, 31, 03
B Det USN Port Svc, 00, 49, 99, 25, 02
Eleventh USAAF, 00, 70, 99, 23, 04
106th USN Base Force, 09, 49, 99, 62, 04, 2 155 CD Guns
255th USN Base Force /4, 00, 47, 78, 25, 04, 1 155 CD gun
210th Cst AA Rgt /3, 00, 54, 98, 47, 04
We are slowly bleeding AV, but are recovering disruption and gaining experiance
Supply is now 53596, and all the units are full or over full.
I had cadres of about half the units anyway, but am now pulling cadres of all the others, in case the base does fall.
If they bring in nother 2 div it probably will fall.
We have 13 subs in the area with another 4-5 on the way.
04-05 Jun 1942
Sub Action
Again the Allied subs do good But we have had to pull subs out of the area around Java/Palembang due to the amount of aircraft searching in the area
Georgetown PB Teibo Maru #2, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
Near Rangoon xAK Ayatosan Maru, Torpedo hits 1 (troops loaded)
Hollianda xAK Nitii Maru, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
We hit the I-164 at Darwin.
Burma
No Change.
DEI
No Change.
SIGINT indicates:
2/124th Infantry Regiment is loaded on a Nosiro Maru AMC class AMC moving to Cocos Islands.
This is bad as Cocos Is is a secret sub base
SWPAC
Wyndham expands fortifications to size 2
Merauke expands airfield to size 5
Otherwise no change. Troops continue to poor into Merauke and Horn Island as fast as I can ship theme there. Now have 6 xAP's in the area.
Eenem,y forces still moving into Hollianda, but we get a torp hit on an xAK there
Pacific
Nadi expands airfield to size 6
NORPAC
The Yamato comes in and bombaards to little effect.
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