ORIGINAL: FatR
I think you should build A6M5b instead of A6M3a... The range doesn't help if the plane can't actually fight.
Taming the Bear - Rader (J) vs. jzanes (A). A jzanes-free zone.
Moderators: wdolson, MOD_War-in-the-Pacific-Admirals-Edition
RE: Taming the Bear - Rader (J) vs. jzanes (A). A jzanes-free zone.
Maybe you're right... I've kept the A6M3a chugging along in parallel with some better models just because of the awesome range. I use it as a Betty escort, whereas the M5 models are used more for CAP/short escort. But the Betty escort thing didn't work so well, as evidenced here. I'll take a look at that.
RE: Taming the Bear - Rader (J) vs. jzanes (A). A jzanes-free zone.
March 27-May 27, 1944.
Fairly quiet couple of months except in 2 theaters. The allies are making a big push in Thailand/Coastal Burma. Lots of bombing, lots of land battles.
First came a drive through central Thailand which took Chiang Mai, and to my surprise made significant progress through the jungle/rough terrain. I barely managed to reinforce the Japanese bridgehead, but it came very close there for a while, and some Japanese units got roughed up badly. My Thai/indian companions are geeting chewed up -- they just can't cut it, even against the Chinese units that are spearheading the offensive.
Next came a drive by the British army along the coast. I had removed a couple of divisions from this sector when the scramble in central Thailand materialized, and this left only 4 divisions plus a few supporting units in position. Now the 5000 AV British army is rapidly chewing up the 4 Japanese divisions. Moreover, the divisions can't be reinforced because they are across a river (necessitating a shock attack to save them) and can't fall back (because their defence would crumble if they started to move). Thus they are doomed to rout, and the only question is how long can they hold out, and will the Japanese position in Thailand collapse when they do?
Just South East of the Solomons, the US made their anticipated move on Ndeni, destroying about a division equivalent that was stationed there. The Japanese air force came out to play from the Lunga region. Although it was mostly a Turkey shoot (with many a Betty going down in flames), we did press through about 35 Bettys, and put 1 torpedo in each of 4 CVEs... 2 are reported sunk, but I'm not so sure any were actually sunk. We got one fuel explosion, but other than that, not too much "special reported damage". Plus no telling OPS losses... so I bet they made it back safely to port. At least they will (hopefully) be out of action for a while.
Still expecting the big allied push supported by the heavy carriers... stay tuned.
Fairly quiet couple of months except in 2 theaters. The allies are making a big push in Thailand/Coastal Burma. Lots of bombing, lots of land battles.
First came a drive through central Thailand which took Chiang Mai, and to my surprise made significant progress through the jungle/rough terrain. I barely managed to reinforce the Japanese bridgehead, but it came very close there for a while, and some Japanese units got roughed up badly. My Thai/indian companions are geeting chewed up -- they just can't cut it, even against the Chinese units that are spearheading the offensive.
Next came a drive by the British army along the coast. I had removed a couple of divisions from this sector when the scramble in central Thailand materialized, and this left only 4 divisions plus a few supporting units in position. Now the 5000 AV British army is rapidly chewing up the 4 Japanese divisions. Moreover, the divisions can't be reinforced because they are across a river (necessitating a shock attack to save them) and can't fall back (because their defence would crumble if they started to move). Thus they are doomed to rout, and the only question is how long can they hold out, and will the Japanese position in Thailand collapse when they do?
Just South East of the Solomons, the US made their anticipated move on Ndeni, destroying about a division equivalent that was stationed there. The Japanese air force came out to play from the Lunga region. Although it was mostly a Turkey shoot (with many a Betty going down in flames), we did press through about 35 Bettys, and put 1 torpedo in each of 4 CVEs... 2 are reported sunk, but I'm not so sure any were actually sunk. We got one fuel explosion, but other than that, not too much "special reported damage". Plus no telling OPS losses... so I bet they made it back safely to port. At least they will (hopefully) be out of action for a while.
Still expecting the big allied push supported by the heavy carriers... stay tuned.
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RE: Taming the Bear - Rader (J) vs. jzanes (A). A jzanes-free zone.
May 28-June 2, 1944.
The allies have finally broken through along the coast and are now poised to strike at Moulmein. Will they try to outflank or opt to cross the river in a direct assault? Moulmein has decent fort levels (5), so Japan will try to stand here for as long as possible as a delaying action.
The high command decided to try to intervene in the constant air assault being conducted by allied bombers. We targetted Pego for massive sweeps and bombings. Although intel reported high concentrations of allied aircraft at Pegu, very few were reported destroyed on the ground... we must have hit the airfields while they were away flying operations. Losses were heavy on both sides. This is nominally bad for Japan, although the large numbers of P47D25s destroyed was one bright spot... at least they aren't invincible! [;)]
The allies have finally broken through along the coast and are now poised to strike at Moulmein. Will they try to outflank or opt to cross the river in a direct assault? Moulmein has decent fort levels (5), so Japan will try to stand here for as long as possible as a delaying action.
The high command decided to try to intervene in the constant air assault being conducted by allied bombers. We targetted Pego for massive sweeps and bombings. Although intel reported high concentrations of allied aircraft at Pegu, very few were reported destroyed on the ground... we must have hit the airfields while they were away flying operations. Losses were heavy on both sides. This is nominally bad for Japan, although the large numbers of P47D25s destroyed was one bright spot... at least they aren't invincible! [;)]
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RE: Taming the Bear - Rader (J) vs. jzanes (A). A jzanes-free zone.
June 4, 1944...
Taiki! Taiki!
As reports of allied landings in Normandy filter in (EDIT: whoops, 2 days early... well maybe this is an alternate reality), a major Allied invasion fleet is spotted approaching Port Moresby. Allied Heavy bombers (over 300 4E bombers) clear the way with heavy airstrikes on the airfields in Eastern New Guinea and the Southern Solomons. Almost all airfields are knocked out of action in the former region. Most Japanese airfields in the Lunga region are still in operation.
The invasion is expected to land tomorow. It is highly unlikely that Japanese forces will be able to maintain resistance around Port Moresby for long. Instead, Japanese forces will attempt to draw out the campaign and look for opportunities to counsterstrike...
Taiki! Taiki!
As reports of allied landings in Normandy filter in (EDIT: whoops, 2 days early... well maybe this is an alternate reality), a major Allied invasion fleet is spotted approaching Port Moresby. Allied Heavy bombers (over 300 4E bombers) clear the way with heavy airstrikes on the airfields in Eastern New Guinea and the Southern Solomons. Almost all airfields are knocked out of action in the former region. Most Japanese airfields in the Lunga region are still in operation.
The invasion is expected to land tomorow. It is highly unlikely that Japanese forces will be able to maintain resistance around Port Moresby for long. Instead, Japanese forces will attempt to draw out the campaign and look for opportunities to counsterstrike...
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RE: Taming the Bear - Rader (J) vs. jzanes (A). A jzanes-free zone.
June 6-14, 1944
The allies easily took Port Moresbyt and are now building up the airfield along with others in the area. Allied paratroopers and air transports are actively building up bases in the New Guinea plateau above Lae. Meanwhile the Japanese are building up auxiliary airfields in the Rabaul area - we expect that the Lae/Buna area will soon be a write-off, either because of direct conquest, or at least because getting supplied in through allied air will be impractical. Mutually supporting airstrips (ideally 3 or more all within 2 hexes of each other) seems to be the only way to at least partially safeguard againt allied airstrikes.
In Burma, Moulmein is under siege. The first allied attack came off fairly badly at 1:3 but did succeed in grinding the forts down from 5 to 4. Once the forts fall to lvl 3, well begin pulling the troops back to the prepared defense lines (which are currently being finalized). Allied bombers are visiting Moulmein daily, and it is too far for us to readily support by air, but it does take a daily toll on allied aircraft through heavy flak and ops losses.
As far as the location of the main allied fleets, there seems to be a major concentration in Queensland Australia (that supported the PM invasion), and one hanging around just south of the Gilberts. It is uncertain where the allies will make their next move, but possibly in these areas if it will be within the next month. After that, a direct thrust towards Timor, Java, Sumatra, the Marianas, Bonins, or Kuriles would be possible. Suffice it to say that even if they are doing nasty things to me, I like knowing where the allied fleets are [;)].
The allies easily took Port Moresbyt and are now building up the airfield along with others in the area. Allied paratroopers and air transports are actively building up bases in the New Guinea plateau above Lae. Meanwhile the Japanese are building up auxiliary airfields in the Rabaul area - we expect that the Lae/Buna area will soon be a write-off, either because of direct conquest, or at least because getting supplied in through allied air will be impractical. Mutually supporting airstrips (ideally 3 or more all within 2 hexes of each other) seems to be the only way to at least partially safeguard againt allied airstrikes.
In Burma, Moulmein is under siege. The first allied attack came off fairly badly at 1:3 but did succeed in grinding the forts down from 5 to 4. Once the forts fall to lvl 3, well begin pulling the troops back to the prepared defense lines (which are currently being finalized). Allied bombers are visiting Moulmein daily, and it is too far for us to readily support by air, but it does take a daily toll on allied aircraft through heavy flak and ops losses.
As far as the location of the main allied fleets, there seems to be a major concentration in Queensland Australia (that supported the PM invasion), and one hanging around just south of the Gilberts. It is uncertain where the allies will make their next move, but possibly in these areas if it will be within the next month. After that, a direct thrust towards Timor, Java, Sumatra, the Marianas, Bonins, or Kuriles would be possible. Suffice it to say that even if they are doing nasty things to me, I like knowing where the allied fleets are [;)].
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RE: Taming the Bear - Rader (J) vs. jzanes (A). A jzanes-free zone.
June 15-28, 1944.
Moulmein is about to fall with heavy IJA casualties. He dropped the forst faster than I expected and the retreat was slower than planned. Oh well. I just hope they retreat the right way. I want them to retreat East towards Raheng.. Sicne raheng is closer, I would expect them to do so. But there is a chance they would retreat doen the road towards Tavoy (let's hope not!!).
Moulmein is about to fall with heavy IJA casualties. He dropped the forst faster than I expected and the retreat was slower than planned. Oh well. I just hope they retreat the right way. I want them to retreat East towards Raheng.. Sicne raheng is closer, I would expect them to do so. But there is a chance they would retreat doen the road towards Tavoy (let's hope not!!).
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RE: Taming the Bear - Rader (J) vs. jzanes (A). A jzanes-free zone.
I've been looking at this as an idea for Japanese victory on either VPs or even holding out until 46 relatively intact.
What is the VP situation now? What was it at the end of 43? Russia, if the campaign is waged with the success you have had, and the other areas of the board still have strong defense, seems a good route for Japanese survival and dogged resistance right to the end.
I certainly like the idea of holding those northern resources late in the war when convoys become more difficult. What is happening up there now? Any new skirmishes or build-up of new units along the Chita line?
Also, how is your pilot exp level after these ridiculous air battles? The Allied pools are so deep I could imagine he can still get good air skill.
Great AAR. Thanks for making the effort. Really helps us new players see what is possible, and how to plan for 43-44 when beginnning.
What is the VP situation now? What was it at the end of 43? Russia, if the campaign is waged with the success you have had, and the other areas of the board still have strong defense, seems a good route for Japanese survival and dogged resistance right to the end.
I certainly like the idea of holding those northern resources late in the war when convoys become more difficult. What is happening up there now? Any new skirmishes or build-up of new units along the Chita line?
Also, how is your pilot exp level after these ridiculous air battles? The Allied pools are so deep I could imagine he can still get good air skill.
Great AAR. Thanks for making the effort. Really helps us new players see what is possible, and how to plan for 43-44 when beginnning.
"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm." - Winston Churchill
RE: Taming the Bear - Rader (J) vs. jzanes (A). A jzanes-free zone.
June 29-July 24, 1944
Moulmein fell easily, and the Allies followed up the road to the outskirts of Tavoy. Of the 3 passes, this one was probably the least well defended. Even with rough jungle terain, the allies are working their heavy-hitting air power (backed up by 200+ Russian IL-2s) to pound the defenders and are grinding down the 1200 AV Japanese defenders with over 4000 AV of their own. We are bringing in reinforcements, but the fate of Tavoy hangs in the balance. Probably it will be lost to the Allies, which will also lead to the fall of Mergui (the next base down the road). Eventually, he could split Thailand from Malaya by cutting the Malay penninsula.
Today, I decided to try something new by using full LRCAP over the target hex. This resulted in both good and bad news.
The good news: our fighters did serious damage to his bombing force. Over 100 A20G Havocs are reprted downed, plus a spattering of other allied aircraft. Not a good day to be an allied level bomber.
The bad news: he simultaneously decided to send the B-29s in against the main Japanese airfields at Bangkok. With the Japanese fighters flying long-range operations, CAP over the airfields was almost non-existent and many Japanese fighters were torched on the ground.
Moulmein fell easily, and the Allies followed up the road to the outskirts of Tavoy. Of the 3 passes, this one was probably the least well defended. Even with rough jungle terain, the allies are working their heavy-hitting air power (backed up by 200+ Russian IL-2s) to pound the defenders and are grinding down the 1200 AV Japanese defenders with over 4000 AV of their own. We are bringing in reinforcements, but the fate of Tavoy hangs in the balance. Probably it will be lost to the Allies, which will also lead to the fall of Mergui (the next base down the road). Eventually, he could split Thailand from Malaya by cutting the Malay penninsula.
Today, I decided to try something new by using full LRCAP over the target hex. This resulted in both good and bad news.
The good news: our fighters did serious damage to his bombing force. Over 100 A20G Havocs are reprted downed, plus a spattering of other allied aircraft. Not a good day to be an allied level bomber.
The bad news: he simultaneously decided to send the B-29s in against the main Japanese airfields at Bangkok. With the Japanese fighters flying long-range operations, CAP over the airfields was almost non-existent and many Japanese fighters were torched on the ground.
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RE: Taming the Bear - Rader (J) vs. jzanes (A). A jzanes-free zone.
ORIGINAL: obvert
I've been looking at this as an idea for Japanese victory on either VPs or even holding out until 46 relatively intact.
What is the VP situation now? What was it at the end of 43? Russia, if the campaign is waged with the success you have had, and the other areas of the board still have strong defense, seems a good route for Japanese survival and dogged resistance right to the end.
I certainly like the idea of holding those northern resources late in the war when convoys become more difficult. What is happening up there now? Any new skirmishes or build-up of new units along the Chita line?
Also, how is your pilot exp level after these ridiculous air battles? The Allied pools are so deep I could imagine he can still get good air skill.
Great AAR. Thanks for making the effort. Really helps us new players see what is possible, and how to plan for 43-44 when beginnning.
Well, this is a terrible strategy for winning by victory points. I still have more (see chart), but the gap is closing fast and I never came close to 3:1 or whatever you need for auto victory.
However, I think this is a great (almost necessary) strategy to go for a game that stretches into 1946, which was my plan all along. My feeling is that if you don't attack Russia, Russia will kill you when it activates in August 1945, hands down. Imagine what would happen if the whole Vladivostock area came under sudden allied control. The allies would have unlimited access to airfields within easy range of Japan. What would even be the point of island hopping? Just wait until you get Russian activation, and then you can bomb Japan into the stone age. Plus, if you don't kill some of the Russian units, my feeling is that they would absolutely overwhealm you.
As for pilots, I have had to make some sacrifices in skill. I now set the bar at around 60/55 or so (air/def). But it is pretty quick to train them up to this level, and often you can train them higher when units aren't in combat. I'm trying as much as possible to limit losses by fighting over friendly territory (I seem to get around half or maybe 2/3 of shot down pilots back). And any air units not actively engaged should be training to build up a big reserve. I am starting to build up a reserve of kamikaze pilots... if he ever activates the damn things. I've got around 3000 planes set aside specifically for kamikaze duty (mostly army level bombers and fighters).
The fronts in both China and Russia have been dead quiet for almost 2 years now. We have noticed some Russian troop movements, but they haven't tried to attack since 1942. They get heavy reinforcements in 1945, so I expect that it won't remain quiet forever.
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RE: Taming the Bear - Rader (J) vs. jzanes (A). A jzanes-free zone.
Thanks, that's great, and makes for a very clear picture. I notice you're still going up at a solid rate, and the railroad tracks look like they may not meet the horizon for a good while.
I'm curious about another thing in this plan. After Vlad went under and you secured the northern Chita line, did you not feel you had enough spare parts to roll China too? It seems like that would be a good next step before the Burma road got opened up again.
You isolated and destroyed many units. With the new patch those could be rebuilt again. I know Russian replacements don't come fast and cheap, but it could give him a few more divisions back if he chooses. What is your general thought on 44-46 and where you hold the line? You get more troops in China coming soon, right, so still could gain ground there?
I'm curious about another thing in this plan. After Vlad went under and you secured the northern Chita line, did you not feel you had enough spare parts to roll China too? It seems like that would be a good next step before the Burma road got opened up again.
You isolated and destroyed many units. With the new patch those could be rebuilt again. I know Russian replacements don't come fast and cheap, but it could give him a few more divisions back if he chooses. What is your general thought on 44-46 and where you hold the line? You get more troops in China coming soon, right, so still could gain ground there?
"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm." - Winston Churchill
RE: Taming the Bear - Rader (J) vs. jzanes (A). A jzanes-free zone.
ORIGINAL: obvert
Thanks, that's great, and makes for a very clear picture. I notice you're still going up at a solid rate, and the railroad tracks look like they may not meet the horizon for a good while.
I'm curious about another thing in this plan. After Vlad went under and you secured the northern Chita line, did you not feel you had enough spare parts to roll China too? It seems like that would be a good next step before the Burma road got opened up again.
You isolated and destroyed many units. With the new patch those could be rebuilt again. I know Russian replacements don't come fast and cheap, but it could give him a few more divisions back if he chooses. What is your general thought on 44-46 and where you hold the line? You get more troops in China coming soon, right, so still could gain ground there?
Well, I felt really squeezed in terms of ground troops... Immediately once I didn't need the extra Japanese divisions in Russia, I dedeployed them to the perimeter. If I had thrown them into China (which I seriously considered), I might have made good ground, but I would probably have exposed myself to attack in late 1942/early 1943. I stand by my choice, although I admit that dealing a serious blow to China immediately after the Russian campaign would have been nice.
In terms of victory points, I think he'll catch up pretty quickly once he starts taking my bases. He really hasn't even begun his main offensive yet. I expect it to come soon, but I'm still waiting to see where it will be...
RE: Taming the Bear - Rader (J) vs. jzanes (A). A jzanes-free zone.
July 25 - August 17, 1944.
Fair amount of action recently. The Chindits landed behind Japanese lines on Tavoy and took it easily. I mde a mistake by only leaving one unit there and the Allies can get 200+AV on a paradrop. After some heavy battle for Tavoy, we decided to abandon the attempt to hold it, and are now building an outer defense ring around Bangkok as the outflanking allies move in to threaten the Thai capital.
Almost all of Southeastern New Guinea has now fallen to the allies, and they took Normanby island. They are closing in on Bouganville and the New Britain/New Ireland, the last Bastions preventing an allied thrust along the New Guinea coast.
Heavy air losses again today over Bangkok. Such losses are pretty typical of a once per week occurence. I'm pretty much out of army fighters. I build about 300 IJAF fighters per month, which I thought was a lot, but it's nowhere near enough to keep up with recent losses. I've got the Tony coming online soon, adding another 120 per month to production.
Fair amount of action recently. The Chindits landed behind Japanese lines on Tavoy and took it easily. I mde a mistake by only leaving one unit there and the Allies can get 200+AV on a paradrop. After some heavy battle for Tavoy, we decided to abandon the attempt to hold it, and are now building an outer defense ring around Bangkok as the outflanking allies move in to threaten the Thai capital.
Almost all of Southeastern New Guinea has now fallen to the allies, and they took Normanby island. They are closing in on Bouganville and the New Britain/New Ireland, the last Bastions preventing an allied thrust along the New Guinea coast.
Heavy air losses again today over Bangkok. Such losses are pretty typical of a once per week occurence. I'm pretty much out of army fighters. I build about 300 IJAF fighters per month, which I thought was a lot, but it's nowhere near enough to keep up with recent losses. I've got the Tony coming online soon, adding another 120 per month to production.
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RE: Taming the Bear - Rader (J) vs. jzanes (A). A jzanes-free zone.
Here's the map.
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RE: Taming the Bear - Rader (J) vs. jzanes (A). A jzanes-free zone.
August 18-September 10, 1944.
The meat grinding begins, and it will only get worse... [X(]
All of a sudden a thunderclap exploded on the Russian front as almost 300,000 Russian troops (8000+ AV) appeared before the Japanese trenches. Mobile forces have been spotted coming down the road from Mongolia. We had a couple of paratroopers with a radio along the road who submitted one last report before dying honorably.
Now that the Russians are getting T-34 reinforcements and new aircraft, he's decided to go on the offensive. The two attacks near Chita came off at 1:2 and 1:3, but in the long run he will get more troops with 400 rifle squads per month that have more than double the firepower of mine (43 vs. 20 or so).
Still, we have good terrain to defend except around the flank. The wide open flank is where he might have a chance to make some progress and we're not going to defend until he gets near the rail line. I'm hoping he'll have supply problems and a long communication line at that point, and possibly be vulnerable to counterattack (if I can somehow scrape up the reserves).
The meat grinding begins, and it will only get worse... [X(]
All of a sudden a thunderclap exploded on the Russian front as almost 300,000 Russian troops (8000+ AV) appeared before the Japanese trenches. Mobile forces have been spotted coming down the road from Mongolia. We had a couple of paratroopers with a radio along the road who submitted one last report before dying honorably.
Now that the Russians are getting T-34 reinforcements and new aircraft, he's decided to go on the offensive. The two attacks near Chita came off at 1:2 and 1:3, but in the long run he will get more troops with 400 rifle squads per month that have more than double the firepower of mine (43 vs. 20 or so).
Still, we have good terrain to defend except around the flank. The wide open flank is where he might have a chance to make some progress and we're not going to defend until he gets near the rail line. I'm hoping he'll have supply problems and a long communication line at that point, and possibly be vulnerable to counterattack (if I can somehow scrape up the reserves).
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RE: Taming the Bear - Rader (J) vs. jzanes (A). A jzanes-free zone.
Meanwhile in the air, the battle of attrition is running downhill fast. In both Burma and the Solomons, the allied bombers have been making daily visits, supported by Spitfire/P-47 and Corsair sweeps, respectively. We have been taking a steady toll on allied aircraft, but Japanese losses have been stagering - somewhere between 1.5 and twice as high as the allied ones. He's managed the shut down the Guadalcanal area airfields, and with his carriers in the region, this might lead to an amphibious operation...
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RE: Taming the Bear - Rader (J) vs. jzanes (A). A jzanes-free zone.
Are you using the KB for any raids, like around the Lae area, where there seem to be a lot of ships and the Allies ships a ways away? Seems like you can't stop him from slowly proceeding with operations to move up the Solomons, but you can come in periodically and upset those operations, and make him take even more time, be more careful. It doesn't really hurt if he knows where the KB is now as he is fully committed to this operation and can't really shift things around now.
You have the advantage of time now it seems, but also if you really want to push that, it would make sense to slow everything down, even at the expense of some planes and pilots. I would also think about moving LBA around and hitting the shipping coming for the invasion after it's there unloading, sitting around, but before he has a bunch of land based CAP in place.
You have the advantage of time now it seems, but also if you really want to push that, it would make sense to slow everything down, even at the expense of some planes and pilots. I would also think about moving LBA around and hitting the shipping coming for the invasion after it's there unloading, sitting around, but before he has a bunch of land based CAP in place.
"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm." - Winston Churchill
RE: Taming the Bear - Rader (J) vs. jzanes (A). A jzanes-free zone.
Yeah, he has so much land-based CAP in place and the targets are really marginal. Ocasionally I send a DD in and try to sink some landing craft (sometimes I succeed), but often I lose the DD to dive bombers. The allies probably have tons of stuff.
I did send some Judys in a few days ago and managed 3 bombs hit on an old CL... maybe it will sink, but not really sure.
I did send some Judys in a few days ago and managed 3 bombs hit on an old CL... maybe it will sink, but not really sure.
ORIGINAL: obvert
Are you using the KB for any raids, like around the Lae area, where there seem to be a lot of ships and the Allies ships a ways away? Seems like you can't stop him from slowly proceeding with operations to move up the Solomons, but you can come in periodically and upset those operations, and make him take even more time, be more careful. It doesn't really hurt if he knows where the KB is now as he is fully committed to this operation and can't really shift things around now.
You have the advantage of time now it seems, but also if you really want to push that, it would make sense to slow everything down, even at the expense of some planes and pilots. I would also think about moving LBA around and hitting the shipping coming for the invasion after it's there unloading, sitting around, but before he has a bunch of land based CAP in place.
RE: Taming the Bear - Rader (J) vs. jzanes (A). A jzanes-free zone.
September 16, 1944.
The Redcoats are coming!
A few days ago while the US fleet is busy in the Solomons, the British are trying to get away with a landing in the Andaman islands. This cannot be tolerated, and we sent the KB in.
The landings came off ok, but I had build Port Blair up to level 8 forts (the most fortified place on the map), and put my best CD unit there. We shot of some transports, but he did have tons of BB support and got ~1000 AV ashore alright. But 1000 AV isn't enough to take it, and we have now reinforced to around 500 AV with more coming in.
And since we have so many engineers there, the airfields were repaired unexpectedly quickly. Despite heavy British CAP, Japanese airstrikes claimed the CVL Hermes and put a torp in a CVE (later sunk by subs).
The Redcoats are coming!
A few days ago while the US fleet is busy in the Solomons, the British are trying to get away with a landing in the Andaman islands. This cannot be tolerated, and we sent the KB in.
The landings came off ok, but I had build Port Blair up to level 8 forts (the most fortified place on the map), and put my best CD unit there. We shot of some transports, but he did have tons of BB support and got ~1000 AV ashore alright. But 1000 AV isn't enough to take it, and we have now reinforced to around 500 AV with more coming in.
And since we have so many engineers there, the airfields were repaired unexpectedly quickly. Despite heavy British CAP, Japanese airstrikes claimed the CVL Hermes and put a torp in a CVE (later sunk by subs).
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RE: Taming the Bear - Rader (J) vs. jzanes (A). A jzanes-free zone.
.... Unfortunately, the airstrikes apparently were a little too scary, because he backed off at full speed. Thus when the KB showed up the next day (September 18), there was nothing left to sink except a dozen or so AKs...
I was hoping to nail some British capital ships...
Boo!
[:@]
What's worse, Shokaku and Akagi both took torpedo hits from a sub picket line in the Malaca straight.
They'll be ok, but will probably require a trip home to Japan.
I was hoping to nail some British capital ships...
Boo!
[:@]
What's worse, Shokaku and Akagi both took torpedo hits from a sub picket line in the Malaca straight.
They'll be ok, but will probably require a trip home to Japan.
RE: Taming the Bear - Rader (J) vs. jzanes (A). A jzanes-free zone.
Around the same time, it's the biggest amphibious operation of the war (completely unnoposed though). The US has successfully landed multiple divisions all around the Gualcanal/Tulagi region after shutting down the airfields. All 4 major airfields in the southern solomons are doomed. The US steamrolling is beginning. Will the next target be Truk or Rabaul?