This is a B-17 unit in Townsville. Last turn it was ordered to hit Buna. Reset itself to nil target and hit Lae instead.
This screenshot clearly shows target is left up to commander discretion. When you click the target button, you do use the left click and then left click on Buna? A right click negates the selection.
Also if you change the selected mission or from day to night operation, the target resets to commander discretion.
Reduce your maximum range to 15. That will ensure the unit does not veer off to hit Lae.
This screenshot clearly shows target is let up to commander discretion
Thats my point. Last turn I did set it to Buna, and then came back and double checked it had Buna. It was fine. When I get the turn back, Buna is gone from the target selection and it has reset to commanders discretion. I don't understand why it won't hold Buna as a target.
Remind me why exactly you must fight at Suva.[8|] Concrete analysis please, not just generalisations along the lines of, "to keep the sealanes to Australia open". If you really think up to 4 Japanese divisions are heading to Suva, your 5 regts there are not going to hold.
Alfred
So far I have done nothing but run and he is punishing my Sir Robin strategy by aggressively pursuing, getting way ahead of the historical advance time line and taking few casualties. At some point I have to fight. I have to start hurting him and inflicting losses.
Is Suva the right place or do that?
Do I pull back to Pago Pago and fight him there?
Do I just cede the board and run till mid 42 then try and counter from wherever I end up?
The only way I can hold is by hitting him at sea. You are correct in saying 5 regiments (even dug in to level 4) will not hold 3 or 4 well supplied divisions. The question is, can my coastal artillery, mines, land based air, CV's and surface naval forces influence the outcome enough to allow the land units to hold. I don't mind losses, as long as they are matched losses. Attrition is fine. I just don't want to lose the lot for no corresponding pain on his side. So is this the time and place to put up a fight?
Regards
Andrew
I am most definitely not advocating a Sir Robin. Merely that concrete analysis rather than wishful thinking is required.
You are going to be very disappointed if you are pinning your hopes on the ancillary assets significantly degrading the combat strength of 4 Japanese divisions landing within the Japanese amphibious bonus period. Combined with the KB led blockade, the best you will do is to buy time. This is where the concrete analysis comes in: how much time, what can the Allies do elsewhere during the siege, how can the Allies prolong the cost and length of time to Japan of the siege etc.
Hence identify which assets are needed to prolong the siege. If they can be assembled, then it may be worthwhile to fight for Suva. If they can't be assembled, then you need to reassess the wisdom.
Don't forget the logistics. Just as important as your Suva supply stockpile are your nearby fuel and supply depots. Will you be able to maintain air and naval operations from nearby bases against the besiegers. Do you have nearby the built up infrastructure for plane upgrades or ship repairs, or would you lose valuable time in moving units back and forth?
You might think you have sizeable ground, air and naval forces currently present at Suva but the real test is whether they are essentially one shot wonders or do they have staying power.
The cold hard facts are not that pretty. If I had another 2 or 3 months it would be a different story, but I have only just started building Pago Pago and have a force on the way to the islands a few hexes south of Suva to construct a supporting air base. That all takes time of course and at the moment air support infrastructure outside Suva is pretty weak (so is his of couse). I do have Auckland built up, it is only 20 hexes away and I have plenty of fuel down there now. So that means a I have good naval base, but air bases are problematic. Its not great but not terrible either.
If I don't fight at Suva it means I have to get everyone out. Where do I go then? I am leaning towards Suva being as good a place as anywhere to stick a stake in the ground.
No, you don't have to get everyone out of Suva. It is your mindset which I am trying to get you to reexamine and thence formulate an appropriate operational and strategical plan tailored to the available logistical and combat capabilities.
1. The amphibious landing bonus lasts until the end of April 1942.
2. To hold Suva, you must also hold Nadi. Hence your major problem with your ancillary forces (coastal defence units etc) is that you must cover two locations whereas the enemy only has to land at one location and with the landing bonus, he can structure his complete unload to only take 24 hours.
3. Fiji doesn't have to be abandoned. It is a question of whether you can realistically assemble the forces to contest a long term siege or whether it can be used as a speed bump to allow you freedom of operations elsewhere. In both instances, it requires an assessment of the minimum assets required to achieve either outcome.
4. Auckland will not suffice as a naval base. It is further away from Fiji than is new Caledonia, which presumably will be captured by Japan before it moves on Fiji. Also if you have Auckland as your only significant naval base, it will be too obvious and easy for the KB to intercept any withdrawing Allied ships. You will also need a secondary, nearby naval base. Pago Pago is an obvious candidate, but there are also candidates in the Tongan and Cook islands. Clearly the infrastructure will be lacking, so the question is whether you can deploy the necessary tenders to support repairs, rearming and PT creation.
5. 100 fighters on Suva indicate the presence of 4 squadrons. To increase their staying power you need to consider the following:
(a) can they use drop tanks and therefore can they be regularly rotated back to a well stocked air base to take on replacements, thereby reducing the pressure on the consumption of supplies at besieged Suva
(b) do they have pilots with the requisite experience, air skill and defence skill to bloody the KB pilots, and do you have the national pilot pool depth
Better to have deployed fewer units but with superior staying power, than more one shot units. Assuming that these 4 squadrons meet the grade, then you should base your operational planning on having only 3 (and in reality probably only 2) squadrons available for operations.
6. Suva is not absolutely indispensable to be held by the Allies. For a start if you believe the enemy is pursuing a south pacific thrust to cut the SLOCs to Australia, you are making a faulty assessment. To cut the SLOCs to Australia, Japan must control all three channels (a) Cape Town to WA/SA, (b) Port Stanley to TAS/VIC, and (c) USA/Panama to NSW. That is an awful lot of terrain to cover with valuable assets far away from the real economic interests of Japan.
7. Rather than rushing to build up your Fiji defences, consider building up nearby to deny Japan the benefit of holding Fiji. All the potential nearby sites have the benefit of being single hex islands. Trade space for time in the south pacific.
Thanks for the input. Appreciate the time you put into that response. I have to run and won't be doing another turn until tomorrow so you have given me something to stew on overnight. Really need to consider how to spread out my defensive forces into more mutually supporting positions rather than just throw everyone into Suva.
RE the bomber groups resetting target- are you going for a ground attack in a hex that has no ground units in it? That might cause it to reset it's target (because it can't find anything to hit).
My opponent took Suva early on- before I could reinforce- but Vau Vau to the SE makes a lovey, easily defended one hex airbase- and I sweated bricks landing a division plus numerous support crews there while KB sat next to Suva supporting his landings.
At Sea. KB continues its relentless march east, passing south of Pago Pago. I must have 7 or 8 TF's now moving north and east to get away. Mini KB has alo turned up just west of Fiji, so the entire Japanese carrier force is deployed in the theatre now and so far I have only lost a single AK. On the 28th KB turned north west passing up the west side side of Pago Pago. Heading home? If I can survive this incursion with no serious losses I will be very pleased with the outcome. The only downside is the delay in my reinforcement convoys and my Catalina squadrons are suffering. The constant tracking of the carriers has cost me 7 or 8 aircraft.
In the air. On the 27th a big fighter sweep came in over Calcutta. He sent 33 Oscars and 17 Zeroes at 35 & 36,000 ft. I had 2 Hurricane squadrons on CAP up at max altitude and 1 AVG Squadron now with P-400 Aircobras down at 10,000 feet and we shot down between 7 and 15 fighters for no loss. Makes up for my raids on Mandalay where I lost a dozen bombers. Next time I fear he will come with more strength. Big Japanese raids hit Medan on Sumatra and Koepang on Timor and large numbers of zeroes are sweeping all over Java. We in turn hit Port Moresby port pretty hard and send some B-17D's to hit Noumea. Unfortunately the B-17E's cant get there.
On the ground. The Japanese take Noumea and continue mopping up Sumatra. They also land on Koepang. In China the attack on Sian continues. We stopped their central thrust but they have been successful on both flanks now. Our forces are going to have to pull back to a tighter ring around the city or risk being pocketed. Picture below.
I just realised that I could release the 4 Hawaiin Dept regiments in Pearl Harbour at a fraction of the PP cost by switching them to Pacific Fleet. That has allowed me to free up enough troops to really make a go of the Suva defense. Have resolved to fight there but taking advice am also setting up a series of supporting bases. Pago Pago will be reinforced with a regiment and support units, the Kandavu Islands 2 hexes south of Suva will become a fighter base and will also start building up Vava'u 12 hexes south east of Suva. Savaii will also have to get attention. Its a race against time now but if I get set, I can have the equivalent of 3 division in Fiji with a number of supporting air bases holding 8 trained fighter squadrons and a couple of dive bomber groups. Should be enough.
Good thought, but I have the Americal Div in Hawaii now training and will have another 2 independent infantry regiments there over the next month as I buy them out from the US restricted HQ. By the time they can organise that I think/hope I can react. All the sigint points to Fiji. Have attack planning reports now from multiple units for both Suva and Nadi. Will keep building forts in hawaii though
You sound supremely confident that Fiji will be the target.[:)] In that case, I'll just jog your memory with the following comments.
1. Look at your PT pools. They are probably not big at the moment but they can be made "bigger". You can disband PTs into the PT pool. There is a time delay between disbandment and reappearing in the pool, available for creating a PT TF. Because of the delay, you may have to seriously consider disbanding now any PTs currently operating in the DEI so that they will be available in time for operations in Fijian waters.
2. Look to cull trained pilots from those theatres you are not expecting to see combat in the short term, and place them into the air units who will meet the enemy invasion of Fiji. Pilot transfer delay is less than that for PTs, so you have some time to do this, but don't leave it too late.
3. Before the invasion occurs, ensure your Fijian stationed airforce is overfilled with pilots and each squadron includes the maximum 4 spare airframes. I find that these two factors when combined with operating from airfields with at least 1 aviation support per airframe (don't forget to include the spares in the 1 Av Sup = 1 airframe calculation), considerably increases the staying power of my air units and goes a long way to mitigating the bad effects of "Service Rating".
One other thing about Fiji which I should have noted in my previous posts. Not only do the Japanese have two bases to choose for their landing, they can also land on a non base hex, thereby avoiding your CD guns. During the amphibious landing bonus period, you should very much bear that thought in mind. Particularly after your experience with paradrops on Luzon.[;)]
Re Fiji as the target - its a good question about how confident I should be. I have had a steady stream of sigint showing 2 divisional level units planning for Suva and an armoured regiment planning for Nadi. Those units are all ex the Luzon battle and I have also got sigint showing a number of them on transports enroute to Rabaul. Based on that we have 2+ divisions are planning for Fiji and he may have up to 4 available if he wants to go big. That intel plus the invasions of Noumea and Efate and KB's obsession with the theatre all add up to a pretty strong picture of their intentions. I guess the answer is I am pretty confident they are coming this way.
I haven't thought much about the what if I am wrong scenario and he goes for Australia or New Zealand. I guess in that case I will still have Fiji ready as a base for offensive operations. If he goes to Hawaii I will have a problem but I think I will get wind of that. Do you think I am barking up the wrong tree here and should remain more balanced rather than committing?
Great advice re the PT's, pilots and airframes. Thanks. Did not know that was possible with PT's and will send as many there as I can. The Suva fighter squadrons are up in the high 60's now and have some 70 level pilots transferring in.
Cheers and thanks again. All input gratefully received.
Andrew
March 1 to March 5
Apologies, Its been a while since the last update.
At Sea.
KB headed up the west side of Pago Pago and linked up with another couple of Japanese TF's north of Fiji. Here it loitered for 3 or 4 days. I presume this was a refuelling stop and it looks like they intend to effectively blockade Fiji until their landing forces arrive. Any remaining doubt that Fiji was the target is gone baby gone. They have had KB in theatre now for 3 weeks so this is a big commitment for them. So far all my reinforcement TF's have stayed out of harms way but if he stays hovering over Fiji I can't get the planned reinforcements in and a major rethink is going to be required. On March 4th I sent 3 smaller TF's to Savaii and Pago Pago to unload support troops but on the 5th KB dashed east again. Luckily it looks like weather stopped them launching, so again no losses, but he has effectively closed down all my ops in the area. I have a lot of TF's now hanging back waiting at sea. I may not even be able to get my Fiji convoys redirected into Pago Pago at this point. Moving my carriers to threaten his convoys and try to draw off KB is a possibility but mini KB is west of Fiji too. Tough situation they are putting me in.
Elsewhere we have some success. A Dutch subs bags an AK in the DEI and we have an unexpected victory at Noumea harbour. I sent the USS Concord (a CL) with 3 DD's to bombard Noumea airfield after they had swept north of New Caledonia hoping to pick up a convoy. They ran slap bang into supply convoy unloading in Noumea. The result was outstanding
Night Time Surface Combat, near Noumea at 115,160, Range 11,000 Yards
Japanese Ships
DD Asanagi, Shell hits 3
DD Yunagi
DMS W-15, Shell hits 11, and is sunk
AMC Kongo Maru, Shell hits 48, and is sunk
xAK Izan Maru, Shell hits 13, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Nisso Maru, Shell hits 6, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
xAK Gyoko Maru, Shell hits 10, on fire
xAK Ryoka Maru, Shell hits 7, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
xAK Teiryu Maru, Shell hits 15, heavy fires, heavy damage
Allied Ships
CL Concord
DD Benham
DD Ellet, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Dunlap, Shell hits 2, on fire
This was the same TF that sank the Japanese landing force at Koumac and wiped out an SNLF in the process. Medals of Honour are being recommended.
In the Air.
We continue to hit Port Moresby and Noumea with our B-17's. Fighter resistance at Noumea is pretty tough and we lose a couple of D models there. At Akyab we hit there again with B-17's and Blenheims. The Blenheims take a battering and I think we need to pull them out of the action. They need close fighter escort or they just take too many losses. They hit targets in Java and Sumatra with big raids over multiple days and also lay into Buna with 50+ bombers for several days in a row.
On the ground.
In the DEI they keep up the pressure. Medan falls on Sumatra and Koepang on Timor. After a couple of days of constant air assault Buna finally cracks and the troops there surrender. Casualties are heavy.
Defending units:
Lark Battalion
Port Moresby Brigade
15th RAAF Base Force
Rabaul Det. Base Force
In China he captures Ankang west of Sian just before I can get reinforcements there. The next days a fresh corps marches in and while he holds the city, we contest the hex. The eastern flank of Sian gets pushed back another hex too. Seroiuus reinforcements are headed that way now. This has probably evolved into the main threat. The main Sian defence forces in front of the city are also pulling back so we will effectively have a ring around the city. The Chinese assault from Ichang is slowly getting in to position. We will have a dozen corps on his flank soon and hope to at least threaten Nanyang.
Sigint is showing more troops headed for Rabaul and some TF's between Rabaul and Fiji already. I just don't know where his invasion force is and what the timetable for his attack is. If KB keeps up the blockade I won't be able to make the stand I had planned and in fact will struggle to get troops into Pago Pago even. In 3 months I will come close to carrier parity with Lexington repaired, Hornet in theatre and the Illustrious also over this side, giving me 6 CV's. For the moment I have no way to contest the battlefield. Frustrating.
Andrew: Excellent work. I just caught up about the last two pages of this fine AAR. First off, the para fragment dropped on Bataan seems gamey to me; but hey, what goes around comes around. You'll be getting plenty of para units in future. Secondly, I would also advise getting your pilot skills up to 70 (with 50 exp) if possible, especially for the fighters. Not sure if the defense skill matters much. Has anyone done a test? Thirdly, I don't escort my heavies at all--it just wastes Allied fighters and I've had B-17/24/29 aces. The 4Es do especially well against Oscars. If his fighters are knocking down too many heavies then switch them to night. I also try to keep my 2Es out of fighter contact whenever possible (usually using range restrictions) or else fly them at night.
I read their previous AAR and these guys are quite aggressive and quite good. Could they be trying to get NZ and an auto victory? Perhaps others could chime in as to whether that would suffice.
I would think auto victory is their objective (I'm not reading their AAR--I just know how aggressive they are from their last AAR). I'm at work, but as I recall they'd need 4X VPs to win in 1943. So, you might want to look at scenarios where they'd have a chance of pulling it. They are certainly telegraphing New Zealand at the moment, but perhaps Oz is the true objective. Or, this may be a feint prior to hitting the subcontinent. Anyway, figure it out and you'll have a good shot at a proper counter punch.
At sea KB continues surging east and the weather clears so the airstrikes start. From north of Pago Pago they hit one of the fleeing TF's that had been unloading. We lose an AP with had the 4th Marine Defense Bat on board. Luckily the rest had disembarked at Savaii so these troops are effectively replaceable as the unit will survive.
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Pukapuka at 155,159
Weather in hex: Light cloud
Raid spotted at 25 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 27
B5N2 Kate x 25
Japanese aircraft losses
B5N2 Kate: 1 damaged
B5N2 Kate: 1 destroyed by flak
Allied Ships
DD Kilty
DD Schley
xAP Matsonia, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
DD Cassin
Elsewhere we lose an AKL to a sub and a DD escort in a Tanker TF near Christmas island. Our sub attacks are of course unsuccessful.
In the air, the pattern of the last few turns continue. They hit Chittagong and numerous targets in DEI. We hit Port Moresby with B-17's. PM is basically trashed with 100 airfield damage and 80 port. The B-17's are fun!!
No ground attacks this turn as the maneuvering into the new positions around Sian in China continues.
More good sigint this turn. 8th Tank Regiment is loaded on xAK Daisin Maru moving to Rabaul.
2/16th Army is planning for an attack on Nadi.
There are 100+ ships in Rabaul harbour!! If only I could do something about it.
Mar 7th
At sea, KB continues even further east, now well to the east of Pago Pago. Multiple airstrikes come in, this time putting hits on the CA Chester and nailing 2 more AP's and a DD. More land units go down with the ship although again only unit fragments. Still the loss of the big AP's hurts.
Morning Air attack on TF, near Manihiki at 162,159
Weather in hex: Moderate rain
Raid detected at 147 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 55 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 27
B5N2 Kate x 9
Japanese aircraft losses
B5N2 Kate: 1 damaged
B5N2 Kate: 1 destroyed by flak
Allied Ships
CA Chester, Torpedo hits 1
AP Barnett
---------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Manihiki at 162,159
Weather in hex: Moderate rain
Raid spotted at 33 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes
Japanese aircraft
D3A1 Val x 13
Japanese aircraft losses
D3A1 Val: 2 damaged
D3A1 Val: 1 destroyed by flak
Allied Ships
CA Chester, Bomb hits 7, on fire
---------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Manihiki at 162,159
Weather in hex: Moderate rain
Raid detected at 25 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes
Japanese aircraft
D3A1 Val x 9
Japanese aircraft losses
D3A1 Val: 1 damaged
Allied Ships
CA Chester, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
---------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Manihiki at 162,159
Weather in hex: Severe storms
Raid detected at 143 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 61 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 36
B5N2 Kate x 92
Japanese aircraft losses
B5N2 Kate: 24 damaged
B5N2 Kate: 1 destroyed by flak
Allied Ships
AP Henderson, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk
AP Barnett, Torpedo hits 5, and is sunk
DD Ralph Talbot, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
The Chester surprisingly survives, for the moment. I am now fleeing south and east. I almost hope KB continues the pursuit. Takes them out of position and may open a chance for my CV's further north to go and pick on some small fry.
The usual stuff in the air in the DEI etc. On the ground there is more mopping up in Burma and China but nothing notable. He puts a force ashore on the island 2 hexes south of Suva. Trying to set up an airbase to project land based fighters over Suva I presume. Will be an interesting air battle.
The sustained presence of KB east of Fiji has thrown my plans to turn Fiji into a fortress into disarray. At this stage I may not even be able to to reinforce Pago Pago. I need to think this through a bit more carefully, but fall back plan A is to throw everyone destined for Fiji into Pago Pago and Savaii and use Fiji as a delay point to allow the main build up there. Main threat to this plan is KB of course. I have also started planning a couple of raids. Wake is a good target. Need to start hitting where he isn't. I am also hoping to get a chance with my carriers if he commits KB so far east, it will be out of position for 3 or 4 days at least, giving me a clear shot at his rear areas before fleeing north. I am annoyed about Fiji. Had high hopes for a fair fight here, but the bastards refuse to co-operate.
March 8th
A relatively quiet turn. At sea his TF's close in on Fiji. Recon reveals transports - looks like his invasion TF is already here. I am surprised it got here this quickly, was hoping it was still enroute and my CV's might be able to duck in and catch them. I have to admit he has caught me on the hop and the Fiji defense plan is in tatters. Best I can hope for now is a Fiji road bump and a robust defence of Pago Pago. KB turns back toward Fiji at least so my reinforcement TF's can resume the cat and mouse game. I have to decide how much to pump into Pago Pago. On the sub front, a Brirtish SS sinks an AK south of Rangoon and we lose yet another tanker near Christmas Island.
In the air, the usual raids. Darwin however starts to get some attention. His bases in Timor are active now.
On the ground its more mopping up. Koumac falls at the end of New Caledonia.
March 9th.
What a disaster. I had some NZAF Vincents in Nadi which I put on naval attack hoping they might catch a transport. They sortie against mini KB and drag all the P-39's in as escorts. Its a turkey shoot as mini KB's CAP cuts my escorts to shreds. I lose 30 fighters and the morale of my squadrons is shot. I feel gutted. So much work to set up and all shot in one turn. KB disappears and it looks like my CV TF's are sighted. I am only 15 or 20 hexes away from him to the northwest so I suspect he is now in hot pursuit. Looks like I have missed the main game and his transport TF's are safe. I am going to have to run west and north and maybe try to get a hit in on Rabaul and/or Truk. The good thing is I have dragged KB away from Pago Pago and I can at least get my reinforcements in there. My carrier CV's are fully fuelled so can run all the way up to the Aleutians if they have to. Its a dangerous game - if he catches me it will be an unfair fight but its a big ocean. Meanwhile the British CV TF with HMS Indomitable and the BB HMS Prince of Wales has refueled and repaired in Auckland and is ready to sortie. I might run them up from the south towards Noumea and see if I can't scare him a bit when he sees more CV's appearing.
In the air, Sian takes a pasting and I lose some Chinese fighters. They are even worse than my P-39's. This turn and last turn in India he hits Ledo instead of Chittagong. My engineers get the Chittagong runway back up so I send in 3 squadrons of Hurricanes to try and ambush him next time he comes calling. Darwin is hit heavily again. I hit Akyab and Port Moresby but lose a B-17D at Akyab again.
On the ground, he crosses the river to the east of Sian and moves into the hex next door. I had been steadily reinforcing the hex and 4 more corps arrive as he crosses. The result is very nice as my guys manage to nail his cross river assault.
Ground combat at 84,41 (near Sian)
Japanese Shock attack
Attacking force 11347 troops, 76 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 400
Defending force 35286 troops, 331 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1222
Japanese adjusted assault: 48
Allied adjusted defense: 544
Japanese assault odds: 1 to 11
Combat modifiers
Defender: op mode(-), experience(-)
Attacker: shock(+), disruption(-)
Defending units:
27th Chinese Corps
80th Chinese Corps
95th Chinese Corps
43rd Chinese Corps
61st Chinese Corps
9th Chinese Corps
33rd Chinese Corps
96th Chinese Corps
In the Chinese far north though he returns the compliment. This avenue of assault is becoming annoying.
Ground combat at 87,32 (near Ningsia)
Japanese Deliberate attack
Attacking force 10660 troops, 84 guns, 50 vehicles, Assault Value = 408
Defending force 4169 troops, 45 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 147
Defending units:
17th Chinese Corps
81st Chinese Corps
March 10th
Some payback this turn. Firstly at sea, all is quiet as his invasion force maneuvers into position. He sends a minesweeper into Suva which unfortunately discovers the minefield I just laid there under his nose (very cleverly I thought). The coastal batteries smash it up with 6 hits though so some small recompense. One of my weaker ASW TF's up on the Canadian south coast loses a minesweeper to a sub attack.
In the air we get a win. The Hurricanes at Chittagong are immediately into action as he raids with only light fighter escort.
Morning Air attack on Chittagong , at 55,41
Weather in hex: Light rain
Raid detected at 107 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 42 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 8
G3M2 Nell x 40
G4M1 Betty x 18
On the main road into Sian he surprisingly trys a big attack as well, with very poor results for him. These heavy casualties (330 destroyed combat squads. 180 destroyed non combat) may slow him down some and take some pressure off Sian.
Ground combat at 84,42 (near Sian)
Japanese Deliberate attack
Attacking force 40685 troops, 370 guns, 178 vehicles, Assault Value = 1469
Defending force 103092 troops, 574 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 3201
Over the 3 days we get more good sigint. 52nd Division is planning for an attack on Suva.
3/53rd Division is planning for an attack on Nadi.
13th Division is planning for an attack on Sian.
As if we didn't know already!!
Thats it - an eventful 3 days. I really need to keep my carriers away from KB. I don't think he will do a high speed run as it will drain his fuel reserves so as long as I keep moving I hope I can keep my distance and lead KB on a chase north that will allow my reinforcements into Pago Pago. This game is keeping me up at night. The tension is immense.
March 11
At sea off Fiji we have a win, with a torp into the Ryujo actually going off. Not sure how much damage it caused but everything helps. Looks like KB has stopped pursuing my CV's so they can cover the invasion. Thats bad news as it puts the convoys unloading at Pago pago at risk when they return. Gives us a chance to conduct a strike though. Rabaul is packed full of fighters so we will hit Truk instead. 2 turns away from launch.
In the air nothing out of the ordinary - a rain of japanese bombs.
On the ground he storms ashore at Nadi and I am actually shocked by the strength he has brought. My bombardment attack reveals.. Defending units:
2nd Tank Rgt /1
38th Div /5
4th Tank Rgt /2
21st Ind. Engr Rgt /1
3rd Ind. Engr Rgt /1
19th Div /3
16th Recon Rgt /1
4th Div /4
19th Ind. Engr Rgt /1
21st Div /5
7th Tank Rgt /2
2nd Formosa Inf. Rgt /1
16th Army /1
14th Army /1
That will be 4 infantry divisions, 3 tank regiments, an extra inf regiment and 3 engineer regiments. Basically 6 divisions worth of combat power when he lands fully. I am probably lucky he got here so fast an stopped me pouring more troops in to the island. They would have been swept away by a force this size.
He also lands a small force at Broome. Looks like northern Australia is now a target.
March 12
At sea, a sub I had sent in to recon Truk hits a mine. Its at 65 float damage so I am not sure it will make it home. I nail an IJN sub at Pago Pago with 7 hits. I think its dead. My CV's close on Truk and the Indomitable TF closes on Noumea from the southwest. A light cruiser force also sorties from Sydney to try and bombard Noumea under cover of the British carrier. They are all unspotted so haven't had the effect of worrying him yet unfortunately.
In the air he has gradually cranked up the air attacks in China. Upto 30 bombers at a time are hitting my ground troops. We try another fighter trap at Chittagong, moving 90 fighters across this time. He will be ready so I don't expect a repeat of the last success but if we take 1 for 1 losses. that would be OK.
On the ground, the Nadi position is swept away in a blitzkrieg attack.
Ground combat at Nadi (131,160)
Japanese Shock attack
Attacking force 55377 troops, 499 guns, 429 vehicles, Assault Value = 1962
Defending force 7269 troops, 148 guns, 86 vehicles, Assault Value = 196
Japanese ground losses:
1178 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 33 disabled
Non Combat: 18 destroyed, 98 disabled
Engineers: 9 destroyed, 39 disabled
Vehicles lost 36 (1 destroyed, 35 disabled)
Allied ground losses:
4023 casualties reported
Squads: 55 destroyed, 78 disabled
Non Combat: 120 destroyed, 174 disabled
Engineers: 85 destroyed, 25 disabled
Guns lost 67 (67 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Vehicles lost 83 (68 destroyed, 15 disabled)
Units retreated 6
Suva will be a tougher nut but its only a matter of time. He is just too strong. I can't get anyone out either as he has mini KB and big KB effectively blockading the islands. Fiji has turned into a trap. I really need to think about Pago Pago now as well. I have 2+ divisions available but the risks of getting them ashore and the chances of them surviving in the face of this force are not good. I may be better sending them to New Zealand or Australia to prevent an invasion there.
Broome also falls.
March 13th
The CV strike on Truk goes in with good results.Not many fighters so my casualties are moderate.
Afternoon Air attack on Truk , at 112,108
Weather in hex: Overcast
Raid spotted at 98 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 38 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 37
Allied aircraft
F4F-3A Wildcat x 19
F4F-3 Wildcat x 38
SBD-2 Dauntless x 15
SBD-3 Dauntless x 60
TBD-1 Devastator x 27
Japanese Ships
xAK Yamaura Maru, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires
AMc Toyotsu Maru, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
AG Kanaiyama Maru, Bomb hits 2, and is sunk
xAK Johore Maru, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires
AMC Aikoku Maru, Bomb hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK England Maru, Bomb hits 5, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Erie Maru, Bomb hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage
ARD Dublon ARD, Bomb hits 3, and is sunk
ACM Kaito Maru, Bomb hits 2, and is sunk
xAK Yamabiko Maru
xAKL Tientsin Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
xAKL Tenposan Maru, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAKL Taiyu Maru, Bomb hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage
ACM Heijo Maru, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
xAK Zenyo Maru, Bomb hits 2, on fire
Will go at Truk again tomorrow. Maybe a mistake but KB is not following so I will only lose planes not ships. The Brits also get into the action over near Noumea
Morning Air attack on TF, near Noumea at 115,160
Weather in hex: Light rain
Raid spotted at 110 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 65 minutes
Japanese aircraft
no flights
Allied aircraft
Albacore I x 18
Fulmar II x 11
Sea Hurricane Ib x 9
Japanese aircraft losses
No Japanese losses
Allied aircraft losses
Albacore I: 9 damaged
Japanese Ships
CL Yura
CA Aoba
CA Kinugasa, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
Unfortunately he hits back with land based Kates from Noumea and the famous USS Concord takes a torp. She is still able to make 24 knots though and will survive. He was obviously ready for the bombardment force and with the damage to the Concord I have called off the attack and both forces withdraw. A small fleet of minesweepers fleeing Suva is caught by KB and wiped out also. 3 AM's and an AV go down. Elsewhere one of his subs hits a mine at Pago Pago. That maybe 2 subs have sunk in 2 days.
In the air, my fighter ambush at Chittagong gets mixed results. He only sends fighters on a sweep and we claim 9 for the loss of 12. Not really acceptable so everyone bugs out back to Calcutta. Darwin gets plastered. I am not sure if he is raiding northern Australia or he wants to invade Australia after Fiji.
On the ground I am resting the Nadi refugees. It will take him a few days to get to Suva. Over in China the flanking forces from Ichang are getting into position. He is moving troops up from the south so I will have to make sure my flankers don't get flanked. If he comes in with a lot it opens up other attacks else where as he must be stripping the line to project this much power at Sian.
Rethinking my revised Pago Pago defense in view of the power he has brought to this battlefield. Plan C?
