LoBaron + Robbrennan vs Offenceman, allied secret AAR

[LoBaron]

Mar 08, 43

Only major event was the capture of Buna:

Ground combat at Buna (99,129)

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 13297 troops, 184 guns, 328 vehicles, Assault Value = 800

Defending force 1078 troops, 57 guns, 21 vehicles, Assault Value = 4

Allied adjusted assault: 1556

Japanese adjusted defense: 9

Allied assault odds: 172 to 1 (fort level 2)

Allied forces CAPTURE Buna !!!

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

Japanese ground losses:
805 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 58 destroyed, 19 disabled
Engineers: 33 destroyed, 3 disabled
Guns lost 19 (12 destroyed, 7 disabled)
Vehicles lost 22 (16 destroyed, 6 disabled)
Units retreated 4


Allied ground losses:
13 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 9 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled


Defeated Japanese Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
2/10th Armoured Regiment
2/7th Armoured Regiment
1st Australian Division
4th Australian Division
II Australian Corps
21/22 Field Regiment

Defending units:
2nd Mortar Battalion
2nd Naval Construction Battalion
1st Hvy.Artillery Regiment
42nd JNAF AF Unit


The token force retreated north, I don´t know what Rob planned here, so the Aussies will
currently stay where they are.


Rabaul Harbor still has roughly 40 ships at anchor. I wonder why Mike takes this risk, I would
have evacuated all but the most essential ships to the Admiralties and Truk weeks ago.
Well maybe we can make him pay for this, as soon as the invasion group for Munda is ready and Moonlight
permits we will fly a heavy night attack against the port wiht B24 from Lunga which will turn lvl 7
next turn.

[tiger111]

Update on Rob`s position.

Due to mix-up in the ordering of the computer(theirs not his) he won`t be online `till at least Thursday or Friday.

Lobaron-please keep on doing his turns.

[LoBaron]

ORIGINAL: Augustas

Update on Rob`s position.

Due to mix-up in the ordering of the computer(theirs not his) he won`t be online `till at least Thursday or Friday.

Lobaron-please keep on doing his turns.

Thats sad news, really.

* Confirm sinking animaitons are working on British BCs - Check
* Confirm shock attacking Magwe with the current garisson is a bad idea - Check
* Test Spitfire Vc ground attack capability is low - Check
* Confirm Spitfire Vc ground attack capability is even lower against flak traps - Check
* Perform regreession tests on above with all remaining CW fighters - Check
* Scout Singapore, Rangoon and every +7 port in the region for minefields with thos sturdy British submarines - Check

Damnit I need more time... [8D]



Poor Rob, he must have withdrawal symptoms by now...

[tiger111]

Yes he`s fairly cheesed off. Especially as he can`t use his new tanks in World of Tanks[:D]

[LoBaron]

Thanks for keeping me up to date. [:)]

Btw: reminder for Rob:

Our Christmas Isl. Special needs P38G, F range is too short.

I made changes accordingly so there should be 2 squads ready. Although concerning the opposition a 3rd one might come in handy.
Pools should suffice, but logistics is not my decision here and youd need another US army squadron.

I have retired to a single P38f unit at Lunga, for your op you can have every G plane from the pools.

Just my 2c´s, better hurt Mike bad if we want to keep that island.

PS: Tojos are available for him but they would fly at max range...

[SoliInvictus202]

ORIGINAL: Augustas

Yes he`s fairly cheesed off. Especially as he can`t use his new tanks in World of Tanks[:D]

LMAO - that would annoy me too - A LOT! (especially since I just got the E-75)

[LoBaron]

ORIGINAL: SoliInvictus202

ORIGINAL: Augustas

Yes he`s fairly cheesed off. Especially as he can`t use his new tanks in World of Tanks[:D]

LMAO - that would annoy me too - A LOT! (especially since I just got the E-75)

I am still grinding my PzKpfw IV... [;)]
Non premium account, wont spend money on such a game, though its good.


6th Marines will land at Munda next turn, I hope the opposition is light enough, if not
I hope Mike wants to fight for it. The nice thing is island hopping favors the Allies and
frees up the carriers for more sinister duties.

[PzB74]

Just wait until you have to grind the awful VK3... tanks LoBaron, opened my wallet to convert some free xp [:'(]
The E-50 is a nice piece of heavy tankery though [8D]

Did you read that WG plan a World of Battleships game?-)
The wanna be capitalists in Minsk have gotten gready, a partly arcade - tank sim game has it's appeal - but battleships?
Come on.. think I'll stick to the tanks and AE.

[LoBaron]

There goes my hope of dominating the battlefield with a VK.
Grinding for the 3600. [;)]

I heard about World of BB and agree, cant imagine its fun to arcade-drive
Battleships around a mini-map.
What I really want to see is a Task Force 1942 remake, there were some rumors.

[tiger111]

Rob said that there is a plane based game on the horizon. Air battles on the Eastern Front with a lot more players involved.

[LoBaron]

Well, as far as planes are concerned I dislike anything deviating too much from a true simulation.
I don´t expect the WoT team to successfully produce a "flight sim" beyond arcade.

Ok long time no update, but thats also because RL makes progress slow.

Mar 16, 43

Short summary of what currently happens/is in the planning:

- Munda landings with the 6th Marines took place on 15th, next turn I will try a deliberate
attack to see if its possible to overwhelm the defenders fast. If not, I can live with a siege.
The 6th have been fully upgraded to 43 squads, so should handle anything stacked on the island.

In case Munda is a success, Lunga will host B24s in the future and the fighter and recon bases will
move forward to threaten Rabaul.

This is offset a bit by the fact that Rob will need every P38G available to conduct his ops to
secure Christmas Island (IO) against further attacks originating from Java. Currently about 120-150
Helens wreck the place day in day out. As my estimate is that 3 Lightning groups are needed
to establish temporary air superiority until the airbase is repaired, I have to rely on a single
P38F squad at Guadalcanal for the time being.
The op is worth the wait though, as CI is a thorn in the side of the Japanese ressource area.
I really hope Mike is aware of the consequences if he loses air supremacy in this area. [;)]

- The carriers are back at Pearl, make a short R&R and then lead operation "Turnover" which consists
of replacing the 1st Marines at Marcus Island with two Marine def units.

Comments: Boy does the SU get loads of tactical bomber units consisting of the Russkie flying tank,
the IL-2. Japan is one lucky country to have to fight that armada only late war.
When looking at those numbers it gets obvious that attacking SU early on as japanese is suicidal,
because - even if successful (which I doubt against dedicated opposition) - this will ruin ops in every
other theatre...

[LoBaron]

Mar 18, 43

Munda will fall. Thats for sure.

The last of the support troops debarked at night

Pre-Invasion action off Munda

38 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Allied Ships
LCT-139
LCT-140
LCT-141


Allied ground losses:
12 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled


LCT-139 fired at enemy troops
LCT-140 fired at enemy troops
LCT-141 fired at enemy troops
LCT-139 fired at enemy troops
Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 5,000 yards
Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 2,000 yards

Two small Betty attacks on the landing group were thwarted by LRCAP from Guadalcanal, with 4 bombers claimed
on 16th and and another downed by AA on 17th.

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Munda at 111,134

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 30 minutes

Japanese aircraft
G3M3 Nell x 3



Allied aircraft
P-38F Lightning x 6
P-40K Warhawk x 6
F4F-3 Wildcat x 4
F4U-1 Corsair x 3


Japanese aircraft losses
G3M3 Nell: 2 destroyed

On 17th the CAP was out of position to intercept, but Nashville claimed an AAA kill. Severe storms made the
attack run next to hopeless for the 3 bombers.

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Munda at 111,134

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 45 minutes

Japanese aircraft
G3M3 Nell x 3



Allied aircraft
P-38F Lightning x 6
P-40K Warhawk x 6
F4F-3 Wildcat x 4
F4U-1 Corsair x 3


Japanese aircraft losses
G3M3 Nell: 1 destroyed


Allied Ships
CL Nashville


Mike really should have attacked all out or not at all. Not that I have many high value assets involved,
Nashville is the flagship of the op. Clean and fast, invasion is already on the return leg to Noumea.

At night of 16th the Marines made a first move to test the Japanese defenses. Losses were low
and it seems the bombing raids of the last days plus the long exposure to Malaria will make the task
easier. Got a (-)fatigue against the defenders.
And a (-) on prep?! Weird.

Ground combat at Munda (111,134)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 3155 troops, 92 guns, 12 vehicles, Assault Value = 143

Defending force 1566 troops, 24 guns, 2 vehicles, Assault Value = 67

Allied engineers reduce fortifications to 4

Allied adjusted assault: 63

Japanese adjusted defense: 91

Allied assault odds: 1 to 2 (fort level 4)

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), forts(+), preparation(-), fatigue(-)
Attacker: leaders(-)

Japanese ground losses:
175 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 6 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 10 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled


Allied ground losses:
89 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 5 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 7 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled


Assaulting units:
6th Marine Regiment

Defending units:
Maizuru 1st SNLF
42nd Nav Gd /1


Another deliberate attack was ordered tonight. No need for shock, no way an exhausted SNLF and part
of the 42nd Nav Gd can hold out for long, so I can conserve forces and reuse the Marines soon.


Other news is we bagged an AK in the East China Sea, SS Whale was hit by the escorts and will retreat to
Pearl for repairs.
A Japanese SS killed an AK close to Perth, currently thats a dangerous area IMO.

And Robs CI defense starts to work, the strong AA unit there is getting in shape. Estimated loss was 10
Helens shot down by flak over the last 2 days.

[LoBaron]

Mar 20, 43

Good day for the Allies.
Mike reinforced Goodenough Isl with a FT TF and 2 APD and a CM payed the price.

Morning Air attack on TF, near Goodenough Island at 101,131

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 13 minutes


Allied aircraft
Beaufort VIII x 15
Spitfire Vc Trop x 22


Allied aircraft losses
Beaufort VIII: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
APD Tade, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
APD Fuji



Aircraft Attacking:
15 x Beaufort VIII launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 22in Mk 13 Torpedo

All in all APD Tade, APD Fuji and CM Tsugaru are confirmed sunk.
The area is already working well to slowly attrit the IJN, though
admittedly to really make an impact we have to do more.

6th Marines attempted another assault at Munda and again received 1:2 odds,
sadly without lowering forts.
The good news is though that we already have a supplies (-) modifier for the
Japanese troops.
Again another deliberate attack next turn, Mediums will support the attack from
Lunga AB.

We lost 7 P38 in A2A today because I fumbled. On turn 2 Lunga supplies dropped below
required x2 and so the Lightnings flew LRCAP over Shortland at max range without drop tanks.
As a result they were shredded by CAP from the Shortland area without killing some
of the Transport planes delivering supplies from Rabaul.

[LoBaron]

Mar 22, 43

The CW operations are from this date handed back to the competent hands of
my honoured ally and cunning master of desaster, Rob Brennan!

After weeks of withdrawal symptoms he will have the pleasure of doing the turn first.
This will probably take the whole day as I tried to make a mess of every operational
theatre under Robs control during his hardware induced absence.

Welcome back my friend! [:)]


While I wait heres the update for the last 2 days:

The US Silent Service is proud to announce one CVL down.
West of Guam, SS Grenadier and SS Snook were on station assigned to intercept convoys moving
south.
A Japanese group, from my estimate looking very much like a ASW hunting group ran straight
into the patrol zone. Grenadier attacked first and reported one hit, leaving CVL Ryujo burning.
Apparently the evasive manouvering of the carrier put it exactly in front of Snook, which
promptly scored another two hits. The hits seemed close to the boiler rooms, so even if the
ship survived the night it will have a hard time to reach the safety of Guam.

Sub attack near Saipan at 106,88

Japanese Ships
CVL Ryujo, Torpedo hits 1
BB Fuso
CS Nisshin
DD Shigure
DD Shiratsuyu
DD Nenohi
DD Hatsuharu
DD Suzukaze

Allied Ships
SS Grenadier, hits 1

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Saipan at 105,87

Japanese Ships
CVL Ryujo, Torpedo hits 2, heavy damage
BB Fuso
CS Nisshin
DD Hatsuharu
DD Shigure
DD Shiratsuyu
DD Nenohi
DD Suzukaze
DD Umikaze

Allied Ships
SS Snook


Other news:

The P38Fs from Lunga made up for their droptankless performance the turn before by shooting
down several Zekes over Torokina, NW of Shortland. Mike seems to establish a fallback/support
base there in case Shortlan is invaded. Thats ok, no need to rush in SWPac.

The Zeke drivers moral must be low, there was a lot of radio chatter about failing engines or jammed
guns, with no indication that this is the actual truth. I don´t think their morale will have improved
after those two days...

Morning Air attack on Torokina , at 109,130

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 40,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M3a Zero x 22



Allied aircraft
P-38F Lightning x 15


Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3a Zero: 5 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-38F Lightning: 1 destroyed



Aircraft Attacking:
1 x P-38F Lightning sweeping at 39000 feet

CAP engaged:
252 Ku S-1 with A6M3a Zero (0 airborne, 15 on standby, 0 scrambling)
7 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 36750 , scrambling fighters between 36000 and 36750.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 24 minutes


The 6th Marines on Munda attacked two days in a row, for the first time receiving 1:1 odds.
Enemy forts are down to 2 (initially 5), so it looks like the defenders are doomed.
Estimate is 2-4 days of fighting.
An USAAF BF will be moved in as soon as the island is secure.


Mike has started to recon Marcus Island. I wonder what he sees when taking pics of 1 USN BF and
the 1st Marines still embarked there.
I am still trying to evaluate what the implications of this recon flight are.

There are 2 possibilities:
- defensive: Mike just wants to find out how well the base is built up and if got any offensive
capability (Sub base, LR nav search/recon, the likes...)

- offensive: It is the prelude to a move I expected much earlier, the Japanese attempt to reconquest
MI. I tend to believe this may be the case, the island is a bit forward for Japan to ignore it.

There are no immediate consequences because of this new pattern though. I am still planning to
relieve the 1st Marines, they are not much stronger than the Marine guards replacing them anyway
because they still have their initial ´42 equipment.
Also, in case an invasion force clashes with operation Turnover, so be it, although I prefer to
have upgraded to Hellcats before trading strikes with the full IJN CV complement.

[Rob Brennan UK]

Hello again one and all , back from the proverbial grave (no Pc) .

Thanks to my brother (Augustus) who tried to get the ball rolling on me obtaining AE again (lost discs) and sadly suffred the knee-jerk suspicion that a few obvious checks would resolved easily . As it is Matrix Support are amazing and arranged a re-download for me and sorted out my forum password too ! , i wish all support staff were as friendly and competant as the ones here.

Additional thanks to both my opponent and Ally for being so patient and understanding, not to mention downright helpful getting my widescreen problems sorted out. Many thanks Lenny [&o]. also he has not messed up the CW in any way shape or form , OK the convoys that i route through obscure bases wre left alone but thats no problem and was easily fixed turn 1. honestly they were best left alone full stop , i have an arcane convoy system (i use the term system loosely however ).

all pretty quiet my end bar the capture of Buna with the aussie sledgehammer. I just don't have the finesse of Lennys pinpoint accurate invasions and just bring everything i can to the party.

CW air offensive in burma yielded great results for 2 night heavy attacks at 9k ft. and i have a suprise in store for the ree jap bombing of christmas island which will go into operation in about 2 weeks at the latest. winston sends a note of thanks to the president over short term a/c loans for this one. all will be revealed soon.

Meanwhile Air losses ,, if accurate then en entire wing of tojos plastered over magwe airfields , Japan has some (1) wierd night fighter that flew round in circels and did nothing, likewise the allied night sweeps either didnt fly or are not the same as day sweeps (highly suspected at this point) and just do LRCAP duty but cannot escort bombers.

Piccie of my new W/S.

[LoBaron]

Mar 24, 43

Munda fell yesterday, the Japanese defenders retreated into the woods and
will be hunted down during the next turn.

Ground combat at Munda (111,134)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 2953 troops, 92 guns, 11 vehicles, Assault Value = 127

Defending force 1047 troops, 24 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 29

Allied adjusted assault: 26

Japanese adjusted defense: 7

Allied assault odds: 3 to 1 (fort level 1)

Allied forces CAPTURE Munda !!!

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), preparation(-), fatigue(-), experience(-)
supply(-)
Attacker: leaders(-), fatigue(-)

Japanese ground losses:
51 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 4 (3 destroyed, 1 disabled)


Allied ground losses:
30 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled


Assaulting units:
6th Marine Regiment

Defending units:
Maizuru 1st SNLF
42nd Nav Gd /1

The 6th Marines will remain on the island.

Ndeni AF will see hectic activity as 4 B24D´s prepare for a night strike
on Shortland Bases, after a long time bristling with Japanese fighters.
The absence if the P38Gs has not passed unnoticed.

A few days though and I intend to show Mike that it wont make much of a difference.
With Munda AB getting into action I don´t need long legs to contest airspace over Shortlands.

[witpqs]

Rob, you're back - with your avatar! [:)]

[Rob Brennan UK]

ORIGINAL: witpqs

Rob, you're back - with your avatar! [:)]

Yup , i downloaded 4 differant versions of the same Nautical Lady too just in case my original had disapeared .. hows about a vote for favourite one ?

piccie 1

[Rob Brennan UK]

2.

[Rob Brennan UK]

3.