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

[Cribtop]

The raid on Truk was brilliantly executed, catching them looking elsewhere and really smacking their sub force. I'd keep your opponents away from sharp implements. If you can keep Truk suppressed you will overwhelm Centpac. If they move KB to counter, it only accelerates your timetable in the decisive DEI AO. Get the pens ready and keep the Missouri's Captain on ready 5.

[jrcar]

Thanks Cribtop, well they have basically abandoned CENTPAC, less Truk and maybe Ponope, anyway, but catching those subs was really nice, several months of ASW effort saved!

Here are the airlosses for the turn. Basically a draw in the air, and if our Avengers hadn't of committed suicide then it would have been in our favour... The question is will KB now retire, or punch forward...

[jrcar]

This is the ships butchers bill. As you will see soon it could have been far worse, the losses here are annoying but not crippling...

[jrcar]

Here you can see all the TF in the area...

[jrcar]

The turn is submitted. Both Aru and Kaimana have over 150 fighters on 50% CAP. Some TF have disbanded others are heading to Rabaul...

As long as they don't push the CV's well past Aru things should be OK.

Our plan now with KB in this area is to move the assault shipping to Rabaul, pick up an invasion force and take Ponope. Truk can then be easily isolated, protecting the right flank of the SWPAC and covering the CENTPAC.

The worse case for us would see KB move through the Torres straight, around PNG then go past Rabaul. If they did that they may bag a lot of shipping... but their CV's would be low on flights and ours will be full... so I doubt they will do that!

It has been an exciting few turns for all of us!

Cheers

Rob

[Alfred]

I'm very impressed that you "Mexicans" have not been distracted by a certain event at the "G". You certainly could not be Magpie supporters or else all we would have heard in the last 24 hours would have been a certain bird call (courtesy of one late Graeme Kennedy).

Alfred

[jrcar]

Well Tony is a Queenslander currently based in the ACT, he probably didn't even know it was on or what they were doing!

I'm a Roos supporter

Cheers

Rob

ORIGINAL: Alfred

I'm very impressed that you "Mexicans" have not been distracted by a certain event at the "G". You certainly could not be Magpie supporters or else all we would have heard in the last 24 hours would have been a certain bird call (courtesy of one late Graeme Kennedy).

Alfred

[jrcar]

I quote our esteemed opponants:

"Yup we smacked our noses right into your fists!"

Subs
We loose a sub in the Kuriles to enemy airbourne ASW. But this is the same area we hit a TK last turn... it is a hard call to continue operating here or give it a rest...

SEASIA
Bangkok is bombed more. The unit count is now down to 6 from 14, it looks like they are pulling out East (as we have cut them off to Malaya). Our forces have been resting and recovering but will now rush forward.

As you can see the Brit fleet has moved forward on mass to Rangoon/Moulmein (because some ships can't get into Rangoon). Note the large number of troops!

[jrcar]

SWPAC
Summary. A BB ead TF makes a night attack on Kaimana. In retrospect I should have considered this, but didn't. We are lucky, they put lots of holes in the ground, but "only" get about 27 aircraft on the ground, and only 3 B-17 but 6 P38. All other losses are irrelevent. We had 2 CA and CL along with DD's in port, they were untouched. There were 2 PT Sqns (one had just arrived from Aru) and two small xAK TF that were sunk. Overall they were probably happy, but don't know what they missed.

Over Aru they attack TF in Port... and do bad against the 150 fighters on 50% CAP. We claim around 50 Zero, 30 Kate and 20 Val... Hence the fist comment.

We continue to hit Sorong with B-24, it is well and truely trashed and will stay that way until we invade... which happens when KB retires...

Our PT's chase a AO Tf around a bit, and it ends up off Taberfane. This turn I have re-established the 2 CA and 2 CL TF and will try an ocean intercept of these AO's... may also run into KB... we shall see. They will end the turn under the cover of CAP and LRCAP from Aru.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Dec 07, 42
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Kaimana at 83,113, Range 3,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
BB Hiei
BB Kirishima
BB Yamato
CA Tone
CA Atago
CA Maya
CA Haguro
CA Mogami
CL Yura
DD Kagero
DD Kuroshio
DD Oyashio
DD Hatsukaze
DD Shiranui
DD Amatsukaze
DD Tanikaze
DD Asashio

Allied Ships
PT-76
PT-77
PT-78
PT-79, Shell hits 6, and is sunk
PT-80
PT-81

Night Time Surface Combat, near Kaimana at 83,113, Range 9,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
BB Hiei
BB Kirishima
BB Yamato
CA Tone
CA Atago
CA Maya
CA Haguro
CA Mogami
CL Yura
DD Kagero
DD Kuroshio
DD Oyashio
DD Hatsukaze
DD Shiranui
DD Amatsukaze
DD Tanikaze
DD Asashio

Allied Ships
PT-115
PT-116
PT-118
PT-119
PT-120
PT-121, Shell hits 1, and is sunk

Night Time Surface Combat, near Kaimana at 83,113, Range 12,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
BB Hiei
BB Kirishima
BB Yamato
CA Tone
CA Atago
CA Maya
CA Haguro
CA Mogami
CL Yura
DD Kagero
DD Kuroshio
DD Oyashio
DD Hatsukaze
DD Shiranui
DD Amatsukaze
DD Tanikaze
DD Asashio

Allied Ships
xAK Centaur, Shell hits 7, and is sunk
PC Reliance, Shell hits 4, and is sunk

Night Time Surface Combat, near Kaimana at 83,113, Range 12,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
BB Hiei
BB Kirishima
BB Yamato, Shell hits 1
CA Tone
CA Atago
CA Maya
CA Haguro
CA Mogami
CL Yura
DD Kagero
DD Kuroshio
DD Oyashio
DD Hatsukaze
DD Shiranui
DD Amatsukaze
DD Tanikaze
DD Asashio

Allied Ships
AM Echuca, Shell hits 6, and is sunk
xAK Iron Knight, Shell hits 10, and is sunk
Night Naval bombardment of Kaimana at 83,113

Allied aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-3A Wildcat: 1 destroyed on ground
PBY-5A Catalina: 1 destroyed on ground
F4F-4 Wildcat: 2 destroyed on ground
B-17F Fortress: 2 destroyed on ground
P-39D Airacobra: 1 destroyed on ground
P-38F Lightning: 4 destroyed on ground
P-40E Warhawk: 2 destroyed on ground
F-5A Lightning: 2 destroyed on ground

Japanese Ships
BB Yamato
BB Kirishima
BB Hiei
CA Mogami
CA Haguro
CA Maya
CA Atago
CA Tone
CL Yura


Allied ground losses:
611 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 15 destroyed, 57 disabled
Engineers: 5 destroyed, 20 disabled
Guns lost 10 (5 destroyed, 5 disabled)
Vehicles lost 9 (2 destroyed, 7 disabled)


Airbase hits 23
Airbase supply hits 12
Runway hits 261
Port fuel hits 1

Morning Air attack on TF, near Aru Island at 83,117

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 45 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 63
D3A1 Val x 9



Allied aircraft
Kittyhawk IA x 4
Spitfire Vc Trop x 8
P-38F Lightning x 9
P-39D Airacobra x 24
P-40K Warhawk x 26
F4F-3 Wildcat x 4
F4F-4 Wildcat x 7


Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 12 destroyed
D3A1 Val: 4 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Kittyhawk IA: 1 destroyed
F4F-4 Wildcat: 1 destroyed

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Aru Island at 83,117

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 45 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 38
B5N2 Kate x 26
D3A1 Val x 4



Allied aircraft
Kittyhawk IA x 2
Spitfire Vc Trop x 7
P-38F Lightning x 8
P-39D Airacobra x 19
P-40K Warhawk x 24
F4F-3 Wildcat x 3
F4F-4 Wildcat x 5


Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 8 destroyed
B5N2 Kate: 5 destroyed, 2 damaged
D3A1 Val: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Kittyhawk IA: 1 destroyed
P-38F Lightning: 1 destroyed
P-40K Warhawk: 1 destroyed

Allied Ships
xAP Bloemfontein
AO Brazos
AO Cuyama, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires
AO Neches
AO Bishopdale

Night Time Surface Combat, near Kaimana at 83,113, Range 2,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
DD Mochizuki
DD Asanagi
AO Ken'yo Maru
AO Kokuyo Maru
AO Kyokuto Maru
AO Nippon Maru, Shell hits 1, heavy fires
AO Shinkoku Maru
AO Toei Maru
AO Toho Maru

Allied Ships
PT-76
PT-77, Shell hits 1
PT-78
PT-80
PT-81, Shell hits 1, on fire

Morning Air attack on TF, near Aru Island at 83,117

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 45 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 24
B5N2 Kate x 21
D3A1 Val x 22



Allied aircraft
Kittyhawk IA x 6
Spitfire Vc Trop x 8
P-38F Lightning x 6
P-39D Airacobra x 22
P-40K Warhawk x 24
F4F-3 Wildcat x 3
F4F-4 Wildcat x 5


Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 8 destroyed
B5N2 Kate: 7 destroyed
D3A1 Val: 6 destroyed, 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
P-39D Airacobra: 1 destroyed

Allied Ships
xAK William S. Colley
AO Neches
AO TAN 3
DMS Lamberton
AO Kanawha
AO Bishopdale
AM Kapunda
AM Turkey, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires



This image shows the path of the SCTF, it has a react of 6. I have some search aircraft set to night to possibly help...

[jrcar]

CENTPAC
We bomb several Islands in the Marshalls, including Kwaljelon where we hit a sub in port...

Our CV's have rearmd at Rabaul, and next trun we shoulc be loading transports for the invasion of Ponope.

CENTPAC forces are now preparing for TRUK. We will take Ponope, then bomb Truk to see what is there before commiting... we can probably generate 3 Div of combat force. The airfield at TRUK is being kept suporessed for the moment from Kavieng.

CHINA
Airbattles occur which we generall come off the worse for But we do get a bunch of Sallys...

Here are the airlosses for the turn... we have certainly bled KB. Our losses have been high but all are affordable, except for the B-17.

But their losses are also quite affordable... bummer

[jrcar]

Just got the turn, I love it when a plan comes together! More to follow later!

Day Time Surface Combat, near Kai Island at 82,115, Range 23,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
DD Mochizuki, Shell hits 16, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Asanagi, Shell hits 15, and is sunk
AO Ken'yo Maru, Shell hits 5, heavy fires
AO Kokuyo Maru, Shell hits 5, heavy fires
AO Kyokuto Maru, Shell hits 3, heavy fires
AO Shinkoku Maru, Shell hits 6, Torpedo hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
AO Toei Maru, Shell hits 9, heavy fires
AO Toho Maru, Shell hits 11, heavy fires, heavy damage

Allied Ships
CA Chester, Shell hits 1
CA Pensacola
CL Perth, Shell hits 3
CL Hobart, Shell hits 1
DD Laffey
DD Frazier, Shell hits 2
DD Cushing
DD Porter
DD Dale
DD Parrott, Shell hits 3, on fire
DD Chew, Shell hits 2
DD Napier, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Sands, Shell hits 2
DD Lawrence, Shell hits 1
DD Kane, Shell hits 1


Guess KB won't venture far from ports now

Cheers
Rob

[jrcar]

The rest of the turn 09-10 Dec

Subs
off Orchid Island we attack and hit an xAKL, we get to shell hits in return

We attack a BB group off Donggala to no effect

SEASIA
The usual air attacks. Our ground attacks aginst the trpeed forces are starting to work.

The main force is advancing on Bangkok.

SWPAC
Quiet, usual air attacks.

Next turn I'll start ground attacking Sorong to find out what is there...

The shipping is converging nicely at Rabaul.

CENTPAC
Moving forces around.

Cheers

Rob

[jrcar]

11-12 Nov 1942

Subs
We hit and finally sink the I-7 at Kwajalein Island.

SEASIA
The Chindits attack on the Malay Peninsula... but for some reason Tony left them in Strat mode... They should be able to recover and take the base...

Ground combat at Prachuap Khiri Khan (54,64)

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 231 troops, 6 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 17

Defending force 4223 troops, 32 guns, 76 vehicles, Assault Value = 30

Allied adjusted assault: 1

Japanese adjusted defense: 49

Allied assault odds: 1 to 49 (fort level 0)

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), op mode(-), preparation(-), experience(-)
Attacker: op mode(-), shock(+), leaders(+), leaders(-)


Assaulting units:
77th Chindit Bde /2

Defending units:
15th JAAF AF Bn
18th JAAF Base Force
92nd JAAF AF Bn

SWPAC
Quiet. KB is off the radar, a SCTF is detected at Ternate, another at Kendari. Two regts are now detected at Sorong, with a total of 6 units. I think they are airtransporting in.

The 7th RAN BF is happily ashore at Biak. More troops are on the way.

CENTPAC

The assault troops for Ponope are loading. Truk is starting to recover according to intel, but will be in no state to interfere.

China
This is starting to hot up as we apply presure. Tony will post about his plans... one day!

A round up of plans is next...

[jrcar]

The Chindits land on the Malay Penisula to help trap units and form a solid blocking force. While the initial attack failed they should easily take the base as more forces arrive.

The main forces are advancing on Bankok and we are in the process of flanking them. In the past this has forced them to withdraw from the positions. will be interesting to see if they do it this time...

[jrcar]

SWPAC
Boela is now secure, it has fighters and divebombers operating from its Lvl 3 airfield. 2 BF have been flown in, with more to follow.

Kaimana is still damaged but should be clear next turn. Have moved in 2E bombers to hit Sorong to rest the B-24 operating from Hollianda.

The plan next turn is to hit Babeldoab port with the B-24, to see what is there.

I'm now going to close Horn Island and Merauke and move the bulk of those forces forward to Kaimana. Troops will also move from Aru to Kaimana.

On the right flank Madang will also be closed down now that Hollianda is secure. Forces from Madang will mostly move to Biak, but also Sorong once taken.

From PM forces are moving forward to Biak, as will forces from Townsville.


Attack on Sorong
Sorong has long been the major objective. The recon of last turn shows 6 units, including 2 Regiments (probably 1.5 regt). As I expect them to send more in I'm going to go ahaead with the attack as quickly as possible. This could get messy....

The 8th Div (440 AV) and 6th RAA Cst Arty regiment are loading at Aru to form the first wave.

The 3rd Army Tk Bde at PM is also loading as a second wave, with more troops preping now.

I doubt the 8th Div can take the base, but as my bases are generally better positioned to support I will get it eventually, and I have heaps of Aussie squads in reserve. I'm hoping they will comit more so then I can release Paras in to the rear area....

The CV's will be in support as well, operating off the right hand side so they can cover TRUK operations and run to Rabaul if needed! They have lots of sea room, can retire past Hollianda (which can therefore support and intercept as well).

This is messier than I'd like, but the longer we leave it the harder it will become...

The timing for the attack will depend on the intel over the next few turns. I'll load the forces then try and take advantage of a developing situation... but I'd like to be ashore within a week.


After Sorong the target is Morotai, we have several regiments (including the Paras) prepping for that now. We want to maintain the tempo and pressure...

The circled bases will be left to rot for the moment.

[jrcar]

CENTPAC

They are heavily building the Marianas... it will be a real bloodbath... so our plans are to go around them...

We plan to recon then take Marcus Island, then go for Iwo Jima area...

This has the benfit of spliting where they have to deploy KB as far as possible... and now they are lacking AO's....

The down side is that they too will be nasty attacks...

Anyway that is a couple of months away... but forces are preping now.

[jrcar]

Another turn, been a good game day

13-14 Dec 1942
Subs
We get an xAK near Shikuka (Kuriles) and an xAKL near Kolaka (near Kendari)

SEASIA
We rest the Chindits so they can come out of Strat mode

We clean up some more retiring units in North Thailand...

Ground combat at 59,57

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 9403 troops, 94 guns, 119 vehicles, Assault Value = 304

Defending force 3031 troops, 86 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 35

Allied adjusted assault: 350

Japanese adjusted defense: 19

Allied assault odds: 18 to 1

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), morale(-), experience(-)
Attacker: shock(+), leaders(+), fatigue(-)

Japanese ground losses:
1650 casualties reported
Squads: 41 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 63 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 3 (3 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units retreated 4


Allied ground losses:
261 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 12 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 19 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled


Defeated Japanese Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
26th Indian Brigade
14th British Brigade
45th Recce Regiment

Defending units:
5th Division
RTA Cavalry Division
35th Fld AA Gun Co
94th JAAF AF Bn

SWPAC
The DB's from Boela do good, even though they mostly get seperated from their escorts. The Escorts trade at better than 1:1. I think they need more CL's...

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Ambon at 76,109

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid spotted at 30 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2-N Rufe x 3
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 6



Allied aircraft
SBD-3 Dauntless x 22


No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
SBD-3 Dauntless: 4 destroyed, 2 damaged

Japanese Ships
DD Takanami
CL Kuma, Bomb hits 2, on fire

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

Morning Air attack on TF, near Ambon at 76,109

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid spotted at 15 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2-N Rufe x 3
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 3



Allied aircraft
P-39D Airacobra x 4
P-40E Warhawk x 19
SBD-3 Dauntless x 16


No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
SBD-3 Dauntless: 1 destroyed, 4 damaged

Japanese Ships
CL Kuma, Bomb hits 1, on fire
DD Shirakumo

We also hit Sorong nicely with DB's and 2E aircraft while the 4E rest for a few days. Next turn the B-17 will hit Ambon.

There was a large TF identified off Ambon during the turn, it could be KB...

Otherwise things in the area are quiet. They haven't detected our CV TF....

CENTPAC
Quiet... except for all the bombing!

USA
Lots more engineers have arrived. Plus some BF. 3 more CVE also arrived at Balboa.


Next trun may get more interesting.

[jrcar]

Threading the needle

Ok this we see as medium risk. KB is currently 4 hex NW of AMBON LRCAPING the evacuation of Ambon.

We are going to send in the invasion TF, covered by two SCTF, to Sorong. It should be landing on day two of the turn. This invasion force is LRCAPED from Boela, Kaimana and our CV's to the East.

These forces will then retire down the east side of PNG.

At the same time a small Australian force will sweep Ambon and another will strike, just to keep them honest!

The invasion forces will be supported by the CV's, A24's and B17 hitting the ground troops at Sorong. This should cause a lot of disruption!

We think our forces are largely unspotted, and if they are they probably will assume that they are landing more forces at Boeala.

A bit of a risk, but if we can bounce them at Sorong they will have to back peddle again... forces are now preping for the next phase.

We are also vectoring in subs, the waterways are getting crowded!

[jrcar]

Quick report.

Overall very succesful, the ships made it to Sorong without being attacked (or possibly even detected), KB witdraw West to Kendari, the Strikes on Sorong were large (although damage is light, disruption should be high). Amobn was swept against light opposition, Babeldoab was hit with a number of Betties hit on the grounds... Perfectly synchronised in fact, with all the forces coming to gether at a single point of space and time...

Except I had "Do Not Unload" Selected!!!!!!

So they will unload next turn, KB can easily sortie, but they know that all our CV's are covering, and that we have lots of fighters on CAP... Tony thinks they will risk it, I don't think they will.

Combat turn results to follow later.

Cheers

Rob (I feel like a newbie)

[CaptBeefheart]

"Except I had "Do Not Unload" Selected!!!!!!"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=khSIYmTzt6U

Cheers,
CC