Bring me the head of Diego Garcia...and the Mayor of Addu Atoll too!

[Cap Mandrake]

ORIGINAL: Chickenboy

Looks like it worked out well for the LYBs reinforcement schedule. All told, they only had some 250 casualties whilest disembarking the bulk of a 13,000-strong division over those two days. You're going to have to hit them harder than that to make an impression, Cap'n.

Alas, you are probably right. I just checked the SWPAC-RECON BY BOMBARDMENT REPORT. It seems 5th Div HQ is already ashore.

[witpqs]

Think of the trouble they are going to have extricating that unit for duty elsewhere! [8D]

[Cap Mandrake]

Unadjusted JJ assault strength at PH is now 952. Nearly 30K WJD. We are going to need another division. 20 days until Yorktown is ready. We will need to keep Broome and PH airfields down and attrit his gound forces there. Note also their conterbattery fire is still strong (altough AAA is waaay down)



Ground combat at Port Hedland (57,129)

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 20150 troops, 593 guns, 399 vehicles, Assault Value = 641

Defending force 29114 troops, 244 guns, 178 vehicles, Assault Value = 953

Japanese ground losses:
11 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 1 (1 destroyed, 0 disabled)


Allied ground losses:
56 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Guns lost 2 (1 destroyed, 1 disabled)


Assaulting units:
32nd Infantry Division
102nd Combat Engineer Regiment
22nd (East African) Brigade
2nd British Division
34th Aviation Base Force
7th RAN Base Force
14th USN Naval Construction Battalion
10th USN Naval Construction Battalion
2nd Medium Regiment

Defending units:
56th Recon Regiment
56th Engineer Regiment
4th Ind. Engineer Regiment
65th Brigade
5th Division
4th Infantry Regiment
9th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
9th Field AF Construction Battalion
30th Fld AA Gun Co
22nd Air Flotilla
2nd Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
51st JNAF AF Unit

[Cap Mandrake]

Interestingly, Br 18th Div just reached Daly Waters and is opposed by JJ 20th Div. Supply seems to be reaching 18th Div. Beauforts from Tennant Creek attacked JJ 20th Div today. There may be an opportunity for attack there.

The landing at Maraueke goes well. CB's landing today. 50 P-40E's flying CAP.

[Cap Mandrake]

You know something? There are a LOT of WJD ground troops in this scenario. [:)]

[Cap Mandrake]

ORIGINAL: witpqs

Think of the trouble they are going to have extricating that unit for duty elsewhere! [8D]

Yes, yes, they are being lured deeper into the trap. [:)]

[Wirraway_Ace]

ORIGINAL: Cap Mandrake

You know something? There are a LOT of WJD ground troops in this scenario. [:)]

Very true; however, I do not believe scenario 2 gives the japanese squads and the divisional AT any increase in "anti-hard" (I am not making this up) values which makes them susceptible on the defense to massed Allied armor. Remember Slim's philosophy on the use of tanks: "the more you use the less you lose".

Mike

p.s. this only works when the Japanese are on the defense. Allied armor can be nicely chewed up when not supported by enough infantry to deter a Japanese attack.

[witpqs]

Remember too, Mandrake that troops on the receiving end of bombardments gain experience...

[Cap Mandrake]

ORIGINAL: witpqs

Remember too, Mandrake that troops on the receiving end of bombardments gain experience...

That is the thing about remembering. One has to first know the thing to be remembered.

We should probably stop bombarding at PH...especially as the counterbattery fire is quite strong.

[Cap Mandrake]

ORIGINAL: Wirraway_Ace

ORIGINAL: Cap Mandrake

You know something? There are a LOT of WJD ground troops in this scenario. [:)]

Very true; however, I do not believe scenario 2 gives the japanese squads and the divisional AT any increase in "anti-hard" (I am not making this up) values which makes them susceptible on the defense to massed Allied armor. Remember Slim's philosophy on the use of tanks: "the more you use the less you lose".

Mike

p.s. this only works when the Japanese are on the defense. Allied armor can be nicely chewed up when not supported by enough infantry to deter a Japanese attack.

Hmmm...good suggestion. Most of our armor in the Pacific is on Fiji after the destruction of the Jap armored division there. I think we also have two M-10 Bns in Oz.

[Wirraway_Ace]

ORIGINAL: witpqs

Remember too, Mandrake that troops on the receiving end of bombardments gain experience...

witpqs, is this confirmed? While it makes some sense, the tests I saw conducted were confounded by the fact that the early war units used were below their national thresholds and appeared to be gaining experience due to prep points while they happened to be on the receiving end of bombardments.

[Wirraway_Ace]

ORIGINAL: Cap Mandrake

ORIGINAL: Wirraway_Ace

ORIGINAL: Cap Mandrake

You know something? There are a LOT of WJD ground troops in this scenario. [:)]

Very true; however, I do not believe scenario 2 gives the japanese squads and the divisional AT any increase in "anti-hard" (I am not making this up) values which makes them susceptible on the defense to massed Allied armor. Remember Slim's philosophy on the use of tanks: "the more you use the less you lose".

Mike

p.s. this only works when the Japanese are on the defense. Allied armor can be nicely chewed up when not supported by enough infantry to deter a Japanese attack.

Hmmm...good suggestion. Most of our armor in the Pacific is on Fiji after the destruction of the Jap armored division there. I think we also have two M-10 Bns in Oz.

Until you get US units with Shermans, the OZ units that upgrade to Grants or any units with Matildas are hard for anti-tank rifles and 37mm AT guns to deal with.

[witpqs]

ORIGINAL: Wirraway_Ace

ORIGINAL: witpqs

Remember too, Mandrake that troops on the receiving end of bombardments gain experience...

witpqs, is this confirmed? While it makes some sense, the tests I saw conducted were confounded by the fact that the early war units used were below their national thresholds and appeared to be gaining experience due to prep points while they happened to be on the receiving end of bombardments.

I've watched Chinese units in China that had no combat rise to mid-40s experience after 2+ years, while those being routinely bombarded rise to 60+ in a matter of months!

[Chickenboy]

ORIGINAL: witpqs

Think of the trouble they are going to have extricating that unit for duty elsewhere! [8D]

Whilest I concur with my Argletonian colleague about this observation, I must temper the heretical Allied enthusiasm by suggesting:

1. It will be easier for them to extricate at their leisure after they liquidate in situ the opposition at Port Hedland. Expect this forthwith before they can be worn down by Allied air bombardment.

2. Since PH is not under Allied CAP at the moment, IJ transport aircraft can extricate any units there with comparative ease. It will just take a bit longer.

3. Since the Allies do not control the sea lanes around PH, APD and other fast transport sorties can get in and out of there with comparative ease.

Two other questions come to mind:

1. What's the supply situation for Allied LCUs and support at PH?
2. Who's the bright bulb that agreed to let the Japs have all the extra cool toys in Scenario 2? [:'(]

[Chickenboy]

ORIGINAL: Cap Mandrake

Unadjusted JJ assault strength at PH is now 952. Nearly 30K WJD. We are going to need another division. 20 days until Yorktown is ready. We will need to keep Broome and PH airfields down and attrit his gound forces there. Note also their conterbattery fire is still strong (altough AAA is waaay down)



Ground combat at Port Hedland (57,129)

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 20150 troops, 593 guns, 399 vehicles, Assault Value = 641

Defending force 29114 troops, 244 guns, 178 vehicles, Assault Value = 953

Japanese ground losses:
11 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 1 (1 destroyed, 0 disabled)


Allied ground losses:
56 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Guns lost 2 (1 destroyed, 1 disabled)


Assaulting units:
32nd Infantry Division
102nd Combat Engineer Regiment
22nd (East African) Brigade
2nd British Division
34th Aviation Base Force
7th RAN Base Force
14th USN Naval Construction Battalion
10th USN Naval Construction Battalion
2nd Medium Regiment

Defending units:
56th Recon Regiment
56th Engineer Regiment
4th Ind. Engineer Regiment
65th Brigade
5th Division
4th Infantry Regiment
9th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
9th Field AF Construction Battalion
30th Fld AA Gun Co
22nd Air Flotilla
2nd Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
51st JNAF AF Unit

The IJA 5th Division is a tough customer. IIRC, it's the best IJA ID by unit experience. They start bayonette practice shortly after weaning. I'll have to check later as I'm "at work".

This may be one of those instances that looking at raw AV will be misleading. I think the Emperor's crack sons of heaven will be able to produce better results than your raw Yankee and East African troops, however.

Being as you haven't taken PH and are on the defensive there, you'll be relying on the negligible terrain benefits afforded you from PH defensive terrain. I'd expect a shock attack within the next couple turns, after JJ can reduce some of the disruption from the landing. That will push you off PH into the desert and wreck your infantry.

Can you forestall this by having your heavies attack ground troops at PH? The heavies do a fairly good job of disrupting ground troops, even if they don't kill 'em.

Hey-look at the bright side: you won't have to rush in another infantry division to take PH! Chin up what what. [8D]

[Chickenboy]

Ah, yes-one more comment:

The AAA is likely way down because AA units are affected by airfield damage. Since you've been bombing PH's airfields into rubble, it's likely that many of the AAA guns are in a disrupted state. I would not read anything into the Jap supply status of PH on the whole from this observation.

[Cap Mandrake]

With the Beta, supply at PH for Allied troops is very good. I think we now need to stop bombarding and get ready for a possible Jap attack. I have serious doubts about the ability of JJ troops ashore now to evict us promptly.

Still, 5th Div is a tough unit. If they start to attack, we might have to go in with damaged carriers and put Aussie I Corps ashore. Uggh.

Carnavon is now level 3 and Exmouth should have fighters in 4-5 days.

Meekathara will be level 9 shortly. In an emergency, whe can bring in the B-24's.

[Cap Mandrake]

ORIGINAL: Chickenboy
Can you forestall this by having your heavies attack ground troops at PH? The heavies do a fairly good job of disrupting ground troops, even if they don't kill 'em.

Hey-look at the bright side: you won't have to rush in another infantry division to take PH! Chin up what what. [8D]

Yes..I think we will have to move the B-24's from Alice to Geraldton.

[Chickenboy]

Your troops are in a rough spot, Cap'n. I'd consider it an emergency right now. Can you find a reason why the (undisrupted) 5th ID and company shock attack shouldn't put 2:1 or 3:1 odds on you and force you from the hex?

ETA: Prep levels of Allied troops, perhaps?

ETA II: My guess is that 5th ID was acting as theatre reserve awaiting an opportunity to plug a hole in the N. Australia front. Unless he was deliberately baiting you into a trap at Port Hedland per se, it's my guess that 5th doesn't have much prep time for PH.

[Cap Mandrake]

ORIGINAL: Chickenboy

Your troops are in a rough spot, Cap'n. I'd consider it an emergency right now. Can you find a reason why the (undisrupted) 5th ID and company shock attack shouldn't put 2:1 or 3:1 odds on you and force you from the hex?

ETA: Prep levels of Allied troops, perhaps?

32nd ID is not fully prepped for PH, but almost certainly neither is Jap 5th Div. We don't know, of course, how much disruption our previous air bombardments have done at PH.