Mili i think starts with static defences, might be hard. If i were going to hit the Marshalls i'd go Ocean, Nauru and Kusaie and threaten to cut the whole place off. Supplies a bitch to run in for the Japanese once you get a few air bases set up. Kusiae might not be holdable but i think you want to make him react.
Yes, some islands in that chain have Fortress level CD emplacements. Wotje comes to mind, and there are a couple of others. Unless you have a good strategic reason, I'd bypass most of this area, certainly early when ships are precious. Tarawa and Baker/Canton can be a thorn for transiting TFs, but Tarawa is a big bite to take before you have dedicated amphibs.
April 1-4 1942
I was mistaken...as usual.
Those ships weren't going back to Singapore...they were re-grouping and now they're all coming for Diego Garcia. We've spotted a big invasion TF, supported by a BB and several CAs...covered by the whole KB, divided in 2 different TFs...
RN will try to interfere...i think i should be arriving at Diego from CT during the 3rd day of invasion (invasion should start on the 5th)...let's see if my brit CAs can bring some havoc among the invaders...
At Karachi, after the last defeat, the jap CLs are retreating...he's been lucky cause one of my US subs fired 4 torps on a damaged CLs...2 missed and 2 different hits with no explosion [:@]
Near Calcutta the jap air bombing is becoming really Massive!...my troops that are guarding the rail-juction are getting liquified...and the jap tanks already broke the railway comunications north of Calcutta... the theatre will be abbandoned soon...in order but soon...
Mili i think starts with static defences, might be hard. If i were going to hit the Marshalls i'd go Ocean, Nauru and Kusaie and threaten to cut the whole place off. Supplies a bitch to run in for the Japanese once you get a few air bases set up. Kusiae might not be holdable but i think you want to make him react.
Yes, some islands in that chain have Fortress level CD emplacements. Wotje comes to mind, and there are a couple of others. Unless you have a good strategic reason, I'd bypass most of this area, certainly early when ships are precious. Tarawa and Baker/Canton can be a thorn for transiting TFs, but Tarawa is a big bite to take before you have dedicated amphibs.
But Tarawa needs to be reinforced to become a problem, right? With all his assets up there in India shouldn't it be mostly unguarded?
And however Tarawa has the same logistical problems of the other islands in the Marshalls...what do you suggest?
Mili i think starts with static defences, might be hard. If i were going to hit the Marshalls i'd go Ocean, Nauru and Kusaie and threaten to cut the whole place off. Supplies a bitch to run in for the Japanese once you get a few air bases set up. Kusiae might not be holdable but i think you want to make him react.
Yes, some islands in that chain have Fortress level CD emplacements. Wotje comes to mind, and there are a couple of others. Unless you have a good strategic reason, I'd bypass most of this area, certainly early when ships are precious. Tarawa and Baker/Canton can be a thorn for transiting TFs, but Tarawa is a big bite to take before you have dedicated amphibs.
But Tarawa needs to be reinforced to become a problem, right? With all his assets up there in India shouldn't it be mostly unguarded?
And however Tarawa has the same logistical problems of the other islands in the Marshalls...what do you suggest?
If you are prepped for Tarawa then go there unless recon shows large numbers of Japs there. Recon Ocean/ Naurua and take em if they're empty.
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Apr 06,7 42
Well...now...that was an Invasion!...800 AVs for Diego Garcia...i had 400 AVs there...and take a look at the results...pretty depressing...
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Pre-Invasion action off Diego Garcia - Coastal Guns Fire Back!
Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force
283 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Japanese Ships
BB Hyuga
BB Ise
CA Nachi
CA Chikuma, Shell hits 1
CL Oi, Shell hits 1
CL Kitakami
CL Kashima
DD Suresushio
DD Tachekaze, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Yanagi
DD Usugumo
DD Fubuki
DD Nenohi
DD Umikaze
DD Asashio
DD Hagikaze
xAK Aratama Maru, Shell hits 2
PB Chitose Maru
LSD Akitsu Maru
Japanese ground losses:
184 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 9 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Allied ground losses:
111 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 22 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
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Ground combat at Diego Garcia (11,62)
Japanese Shock attack
Attacking force 19856 troops, 205 guns, 69 vehicles, Assault Value = 721
Defending force 9027 troops, 130 guns, 81 vehicles, Assault Value = 355
Japanese adjusted assault: 440
Allied adjusted defense: 238
Japanese assault odds: 1 to 1 (fort level 2)
Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 1
Combat modifiers
Defender: experience(-)
Attacker: shock(+), disruption(-)
Japanese ground losses:
1854 casualties reported
Squads: 3 destroyed, 146 disabled
Non Combat: 4 destroyed, 89 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 6 disabled
Allied ground losses:
116 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 8 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 22 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Assaulting units:
9th Infantry Regiment
38th Division
20th Infantry Regiment
16th Engineer Regiment
10th JAAF AF Coy
Defending units:
1st Indian Coastal Artillery Regiment
63rd Indian Brigade
44th Indian Brigade
48th Gurkha Brigade
DG RN Detachment
48th Light AA Regiment
.......[:o]
At least it took him some time to organize and put togheder this operation...i hoped my forces there (which were not that bad i'd say) could have last longer...but hey, that's war
The RN CVs arrived again near Scoodra and sunk a couple of DDs...these actions should make him feel less confortable when moving in the Arabian sea without the KB nearby...however the conquest of Diego really closes the door of Karachi...now there's only between him and the complete closure of my communication lines...
Yes, some islands in that chain have Fortress level CD emplacements. Wotje comes to mind, and there are a couple of others. Unless you have a good strategic reason, I'd bypass most of this area, certainly early when ships are precious. Tarawa and Baker/Canton can be a thorn for transiting TFs, but Tarawa is a big bite to take before you have dedicated amphibs.
But Tarawa needs to be reinforced to become a problem, right? With all his assets up there in India shouldn't it be mostly unguarded?
And however Tarawa has the same logistical problems of the other islands in the Marshalls...what do you suggest?
If you are prepped for Tarawa then go there unless recon shows large numbers of Japs there. Recon Ocean/ Naurua and take em if they're empty.
How am i supposed to recon bases far beyond the frontline?....
Thanks in advance for all the good suggestions mate
So the situation in India is now the following.
We're at the beginning of April 42 and Bangladesh is already in Japs' dirty hands. Calcutta area is going to be evacuated due to the fact that it's impossible to defend against more than 100 advancing LCUs and some 300 bombers that hit my positions every day.
We'll redeploy on some better positions in the hope of gaining some more days.
With Diego Garcia falling in the next 2 days, the combined fleet could concentrate on a second target which could be Scoodra or a landing in the west coast of India.
The overall strategic situation, despite some minor victories, is really grimm. The presence of the KB forces me to hit and run with the RN...and the results have been pretty poor till now.
Karachi has some 1800 AVs now and growing...but what i've seen at Diego (an amphib landing of 2 divisions with almost no oppositions, against well prepared positions - we had 3 forts at the beginning - and with no destruction...obtaining two double 1-1 ratio against 400 AVs...)...well, what i've seen tells me that my hopes are vain...he could land tomorrow at Karachi with 8 divisions and probably i won't be able to throw him back. Sad and depressing.
Anyway, war goes on and untill there's life in this old body we'll fight. The Americans are on the move...slowly we're getting ready to exploit the constant absence of his major naval assets in the Pacific...it will take time however...as you know...
He won't land at Karachi - at least I don't think he will. The invasion bonus has expired and he'd get messed up pretty badly. He'll more likely land at a lightly-defended base and make this a combined air/land/sea campaign to isolate and then deal with Karachi and Bombay. So you're going to have time. It may be a miserable experience, but perhaps not. See how good you can do and you'll learn an incredible amount.
How is your supply situation at Bombay and Karachi. You have 1500 AV at Karachi and how much at Bombay? Do you have any top-notch units like the British? I still think you're better off fighting at Bombay if it comes down to a Roarke's Drift situation. Even the Chinese put up a good fight on good terrain, as do the Philippinos. Yes, the Indian units aren't great, but in a well-supplied Bombay they are going to give the enemy fits. Also, Bombay poses a threat to the flank of any army moving on Karachi. Your opponent has to keep an eye on both and have forces allocated to deal with threats.
"Rats set fire to Mr. Cooper’s store in Fort Valley. No damage done." Columbus (Ga) Enquirer-Sun, October 2, 1880.
If you are prepped for Tarawa then go there unless recon shows large numbers of Japs there. Recon Ocean/ Naurua and take em if they're empty.
I would agree with this IF there is prep. The difference in landing losses between 50% and 100% is significant. I don't know what he has there, but the AI always loads Tarawa with Netties very early and a re-take without carriers is suicidal. I just waypoint around it until I'm ready to take it properly, but I've never been facing auto-vic against the AI either.
He won't land at Karachi - at least I don't think he will. The invasion bonus has expired and he'd get messed up pretty badly. He'll more likely land at a lightly-defended base and make this a combined air/land/sea campaign to isolate and then deal with Karachi and Bombay. So you're going to have time. It may be a miserable experience, but perhaps not. See how good you can do and you'll learn an incredible amount.
I tend to agree. DG and Socotra is a sort of Karachi-by-proxy. Nothing is going to get in from CT, and if he'll leave the IJN north the Aden channel is pretty unsafe as well. I think he'll go for Surat and get Karachi overland.
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Apr 08,9 42
A quick update before going to work...
At Diego G. jap troops have been resting for the last 2 days, while we had the visit of the whole KB bombing squadrons which brought Havoc to the base. I'm pretty sure tomorrow we'll fall...but hey, we've gained 2 more days [:'(]
Near Scoodra the RN pops up and clears the way for some reinforcements...another jap CL is sunk with no loss on my part. The cat&mouse game we're doing here is pretty funny...however as soon as the KB has finished with Diego i'm sure everything will be shut in this part of the world...
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Night Time Surface Combat, near Socotra at 10,11, Range 7,000 Yards
Japanese aircraft
no flights
Japanese aircraft losses
No Japanese losses
Japanese Ships
CL Kiso, Shell hits 8, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk
Allied Ships
CA Exeter
CL Hobart, Shell hits 1
DD Decoy
DD Express
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Afternoon Air attack on Diego Garcia , at 11,62
Weather in hex: Light cloud
Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 17,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 10
B5N1 Kate x 18
B5N2 Kate x 98
D3A1 Val x 98
Japanese aircraft losses
B5N2 Kate: 14 damaged
D3A1 Val: 2 destroyed, 27 damaged
Allied ground losses:
196 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 18 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 26 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 1 disabled
Guns lost 20 (5 destroyed, 15 disabled)
Vehicles lost 10 (1 destroyed, 9 disabled)
Port hits 1
Port supply hits 1
To answer to some of your questions, the supply situation in Karachi is pretty good: 150k supplies (the only problem being i cannot force them to stay there...); at Bombay i have far less of them but i've also have less troops. i'm planning to leave some 500/750 AVs back there as soon as we retreat to our last redoubts.
Calcutta has been ordered to be evacuated. Japanese tanks are already flanking our positions and i cannot let them cut my RR towards Bombay/Karachi.
...
Well, if he'd go for Karachi overland it means i'll have more time to build up my defences. He will need to take Scoodra first and with the RN who's showing his nails, he'll be forced to keep his main assets tied up there (this is exactly what the US fleet is looking for).
However again the japs have outplayed me. The Diego Garcia invasion force has already left the place...[:@] so my RN heavy cruisers division is again going for nothing...risking a bad encounter with the KB...hopefully we can get in and out during the same night/day...
In less than 20 days my entire US pacific fleet will be upgraded and ready to move. We've been prepping for Tarawa for a long time now...i think we should try.
However the conditio sine-qua-non is that the KB remains in India. For that i'll have to use and risk my RN extensively...but it will be a fair price to pay for the sake of India and for our american pacific objectives...
I had not forgotten NOPAC. I'm already diverting ships and planes to this second operation.
I have a question regarding the AF stacking limits.
At Karachi (AF 6) i have 127 planes in 11 groups. It tells me that only 10 groups are supported...while in another AF, level 4, with 270 planes it doesn't tell me anything like that...At Karachi i have 2 Air HQ and another air HQ is in range...what's the trick??
To answer to some of your questions, the supply situation in Karachi is pretty good: 150k supplies (the only problem being i cannot force them to stay there...);
Too bad you're not playing the latest beta. There, you could.
Ok, we're upgrading to the latest beta patch...is there something i should know? something that could change things in this game?
I can buy back destroyed units if i recall correctly...but where do they arrive?
