Newbie Allies vs. Experinced WitP

[Crackaces]

Ok .. with that said we will at least start an offense on Daily Waters I have enough armor to not only surround the unit there, but enough to put in Pursuit so when the 19th mixed bdge retreats I can follow up with a shock attack and destroy the unit. We have 2 full AUS corps supported by the USA and USAAF ..
Ok we shall kick that operation off ..it will at least divert IJ forces into Oz ..

NEMO: I think I understand what you are saying. This could be done in August when I have enough CV fighters to execute a CAP trap against the incoming Betty's that control almost every hex from Horn Island to PM. First we have to undo the Tarawa situation ..and time has to go by for our forces to get into place.

[Crackaces]

BURMA/CHINA:

The IJ is shifting northward to attack China. I have 200 AV in place in a mountian hex. That will take some doing to push out. Right now he has about 100 AV there by my calculations. [105 AFV's]. The real question is whether to make a shock attack and kills some tanks or .. wait for the IJ to invest another 200 -500 AV to push me back a hex. In the meantime Stillwell is moving closer ..

It looks like if the IJ can conduct operations in the Monsoon that the Allies can do the same. I have assembled Indian/British forces and will begin the operations toward curtting off Northern Burma from the IJ. At the very least this will be a diversion.

I have moved a carrier next to Chittergong .. letes see if our airpower there can protect her and she can maybe stop these bombardments ..

[crsutton]

ORIGINAL: Commander Cody

Crackaces: Thanks for the heads up. I didn't know about the effect of Oz HI on aircraft production. I'm going to look for that thread.

However, my understanding is that HI is HI regarding the rebuilding of your Oz units (i.e. Allied HI points in general are needed regardless of where they come from--witness how HI in India helps the Empire build stuff in Greyjoy's AAR). I'd be happy to be corrected.

Regarding grammar, I'm a bit anal retentive on that--I can't let my own mistakes stay there on screen.

EDIT: [:)]

Cheers,
CC

I can chime in. I sent a few fuel convoys to OZ from Capetown in early in 42 but otherwise had not had to pay any attention to industry there. Just leave it alone. There will be some shortfalls and you will get the occasional notice in Tracker, but Oz is producing plenty of supply in 1944 and I have seen no adverse affect on my Australian aircraft production.

Basically, the Allied really never have to look at their factories. This is a Japanese problem....

[crsutton]

ORIGINAL: Nemo121

Honestly, it is much simpler to just bypass Darwin. Sure you need a bit of naval support to do so but if you take an island, dump 200,000 tons of supply there and lots of troops the supply sits there until used up at a predictable rate.

Pick the right island and you can neutralise Darwin on the cheap.

Yes, this is the best tactic. An overland attack on Darwin bogged me down forever and there never was enough supply. I should have just gone around it. I ended up trapping 60,000 Japanese troops in Darwin in 1944 but watched in pain as my opponent evacuated them all under my nose because I ran out of supply everywhere. Nothing like having Japanese transport in range of 400 bombers and not one flying for lack of supply....

However, you will never have enough PP points to buy out much of the Australian army and never enough replacements to support them in major combat if you did, so the overland route is a least a way to use restricted Australian units that otherwise would just be sitting around. So send restricted units to clear the overland route but go ahead and grab a good base or two if you really want to start offensive operations based out of Northern OZ into the DEI.

Or, just attack elsewhere.

On another subject, if you move 1700 AV into Burma from India during the monsoon you will most certainly have supply problems. Been there, done that..[;)] The Japanese have built up bases and a rail and road network. They will not have supply problems. You can do it in non monsoon but just barely and will not really solve your supply problems until you take and build up a major base. Mytkina is not the base you want Shwebo is. Once I got Shwebo and built it up, the supply flow problem from India was solved and Shwebo seems to stay about about 90k no matter what I do. Take lots of engineers and if you have not done it, you should be moving lots of US engineers from the East Coast. (lots) British and Indian engineers just are too weak. It takes forever to move them from India but use plenty of tanks and go for the cities that are in open terrain. If you have air superiority and tanks then the Japanese will have no solution for you in open terrain hexes. Take Ramree Island and build it up too. Supply with flow from there. Actually, you will want some LSTs. You get a few in Aden but move 15-20 from the US to help out.

Use mines and stack subs to neuter his raids on Chittagong. A couple of lost ships will dampen his ardor. Also, Once you can get them, it pays to change a base (Diego Garcia) to an American HQ (SW Pacific). You can then build PT boats and landing craft there and shuttle them to India with AKs for extra fuel. SE Asia gets virtually none of these valuable craft otherwise and they will help you out. big time.

[Crackaces]

I have 4 USN seebees moving to India right now. [It takes quite awhile] Thanks for all the Sage Advice Crsutton! Ok well the Stuff at Impahl I thought would move on Sweebo in due time while the one force cuts off stuff north. My thought is to make the IJ move more into a trap. But I am hearing to blitzkreig and take Sweebo ...

My thoughts on Northern Oz is a stalemate there rather than the Solomons and no Naval involvement. I have no restrictions on my 4E's and hitting LYB's in the open might be favorable attrition. Using restricted units to tie down IJA forces into teh slaughter pen might jsut be the recepie. So Tennat Creek will never have the supply to fly the B-17's is what I am hearing in this conversation.

I do want to committ armor here from the stanpoint of pursuit. Maybe I will get Daily Waters and then hold that with restricted forces. Lot of time to think about this. It is all really just a sideshow for the real offense in '44 ..

********************************************* 03 JUL 1942 ******************************

Our efforts at SF takes some very interesting die rolls ..


Sub attack near San Francisco at 217,72

Japanese Ships
SS I-29

Allied Ships
DE Sutlej, Torpedo hits 1, heavy damage
DD Bulmer
DD Parrott



SS I-29 launches 4 torpedoes at DE Sutlej

Now I-29 had been detected by multiple ASW air patrols but she still gets the draw on the Sutlej ....[8|]

Ohhhhh this gets better ..

ASW attack near San Francisco at 217,72

Japanese Ships
SS I-29

Allied Ships
DD Bulmer
DD Parrott



SS I-29 launches 2 torpedoes at DD Bulmer

No reaction .. not a single DC dropped!!!

BURMA:

The Liily's come calling at Akyab ..

Morning Air attack on Akyab , at 54,45

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid detected at 38 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 55
Ki-48-Ib Lily x 52



Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-48-Ib Lily: 6 damaged

Airbase hits 2
Runway hits 6

One needs to note the long term trend here .. the Lilly's are not decreasing much for how many get damaged each turn. About the same number come here each turn ..

We set up ships at Chittagong and the Betty's come calling ..

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Chittagong at 55,41

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid detected at 79 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 27 minutes

Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 7



Allied aircraft
Hurricane I Trop x 1
Hurricane IIc Trop x 10
Kittyhawk IA x 4
P-40E Warhawk x 8


Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 4 destroyed
G4M1 Betty: 1 destroyed by flak

No Allied losses

Allied Ships
CLAA Van Heemskerck


This group will need a few more planes to be effective .. I suspect many more will be moved into theater to counter my moves ..

Port Moesby:

Morning Air attack on 4th/C Division, at 98,130 (Port Moresby)

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 19 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 2



Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 22


No Japanese losses

No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
61 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

So out of 48 B-17's 22 fly today and take out 61 LYB's .. the plus is the groups are increasing accuracy and this is a Mosquitio infested area .. I would like to see this unitl crippled before his friends arrive ..

China:

We discover that the 1st Tank Rgt has ventured all alone to meet our forces ..


Ground combat at 63,45 (near Bhamo)

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 4604 troops, 18 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 222

Defending force 690 troops, 0 guns, 103 vehicles, Assault Value = 58

Japanese ground losses:
Vehicles lost 1 (1 destroyed, 0 disabled)



Assaulting units:
200th Chinese Division
1st Burma Brigade
36th Chinese Division

Defending units:
1st Tank Regiment



Tarawa was hit again ..and lots of other minor activity going on ..

[Crackaces]

We moved a Brit CV force to Chittergong and left it in port this turn. I suspect this has caused the IJ to react and move more forces toward Burma. At least the "Heavy Radio Traffic" has picked back up. I will move it back to a safe place next turn. A RN BB is moving into theater..

We focused some air on the units moving from Burma into China this turn. 54 tanks on a narrow mountain road .. 54 tanks on a road .. bomb 'em down .. 52 Tanks on a narrow road ...[:D]

Turn should come back this morning and I will post the battle report from our moves ...

[ny59giants]

Our efforts at SF takes some very interesting die rolls ..

Sub attack near San Francisco at 217,72

Japanese Ships
SS I-29

Allied Ships
DE Sutlej, Torpedo hits 1, heavy damage
DD Bulmer
DD Parrott

SS I-29 launches 4 torpedoes at DE Sutlej

Now I-29 had been detected by multiple ASW air patrols but she still gets the draw on the Sutlej ....

Ohhhhh this gets better ..

ASW attack near San Francisco at 217,72

Japanese Ships
SS I-29

Allied Ships
DD Bulmer
DD Parrott

SS I-29 launches 2 torpedoes at DD Bulmer

No reaction .. not a single DC dropped!!!

Somebody needs to check the TF and ship leaders. [:-] Some come in with very poor characteristcs. Yes, I know that PP are very much in demand, but I spend some on very specific ASW TF and keep 2 ships in it at all times so the TF leader is not replaced by the AI when it goes down to one ship.

India coast line - I train up my Wellington in ASW due to their long range. I then place them from Karachi down to Colombo. You can replace them later as the war goes on.

FP training (shipboard) - All go for NavS, then divide them between ASW and Recon.

[Crackaces]

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

Our efforts at SF takes some very interesting die rolls ..

Sub attack near San Francisco at 217,72

Japanese Ships
SS I-29

Allied Ships
DE Sutlej, Torpedo hits 1, heavy damage
DD Bulmer
DD Parrott

SS I-29 launches 4 torpedoes at DE Sutlej

Now I-29 had been detected by multiple ASW air patrols but she still gets the draw on the Sutlej ....

Ohhhhh this gets better ..

ASW attack near San Francisco at 217,72

Japanese Ships
SS I-29

Allied Ships
DD Bulmer
DD Parrott

SS I-29 launches 2 torpedoes at DD Bulmer

No reaction .. not a single DC dropped!!!

Somebody needs to check the TF and ship leaders. [:-] Some come in with very poor characteristcs. Yes, I know that PP are very much in demand, but I spend some on very specific ASW TF and keep 2 ships in it at all times so the TF leader is not replaced by the AI when it goes down to one ship.

India coast line - I train up my Wellington in ASW due to their long range. I then place them from Karachi down to Colombo. You can replace them later as the war goes on.

FP training (shipboard) - All go for NavS, then divide them between ASW and Recon.

I think this was just a bad beat ny59giants .. leadership 63 naval 58 for the TF commander ..I spent 10 points upgrading from a dolt at 43 / 48 at LA and then sent them into the frey to get some live fire practice ..

Thanks for the advice on the the one ship .. no need to pay for a good commmander to only be replaced by another dolt ..

************************************************ 04 JULY 42 ************************

Quiet turn ...

INTEL:

16th AA Regiment is located at Darwin(76,124).

This is interesting .. he has moved this unit in within the past two weeks. I suspect my B17D raid got some attention.

Heavy Volume of Radio transmissions detected at Truk (112,108).

This coinsides with arrival and reload of the KB I also assume he has set a path back into the Gilberts or ????[&:]

Lots of ground bombing everywhere but of note is PM

Morning Air attack on 4th/C Division, at 98,130 (Port Moresby)

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid spotted at 17 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 2



Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 21


No Japanese losses

No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
24 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled


Out of 48 bombers 21 fly ..

B-17E Fortress from 5th BG/23rd BS at Townsville grounded due to maintenance

B-17E Fortress from 7th BG/436th BS at Townsville grounded due to maintenance

B-17E Fortress from 5th BG/72nd BS at Townsville grounded due to maintenance

B-17E Fortress from 11th BG/431st BG at Townsville grounded due to maintenance

I waited too long to kick armored unit near Lashio ..

Morning Air attack on 55th Division, at 63,46 , near Lashio

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid spotted at 10 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 3 minutes


Allied aircraft
Wellington Ic x 13


No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
63 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled



The 1st Tank Regiment will soon have friends ..



Ground combat at 63,45 (near Bhamo)

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 4599 troops, 18 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 222

Defending force 690 troops, 0 guns, 102 vehicles, Assault Value = 57



Assaulting units:
200th Chinese Division
1st Burma Brigade
36th Chinese Division

Defending units:
1st Tank Regiment


No joy this turn ..

Finally a little submarine action ..

ASW attack near Ponape at 115,114

Japanese Ships
DD Shigure
BB Mutsu
BB Nagato
CA Kako
CA Aoba
CL Tatsuta
CL Tenryu
DD Hayashio
DD Kawakaze
DD Yamakaze
DD Yudachi

Allied Ships
SS O16


No joy but .. we see that the IJN has reformed and is planning to bombard the Gilbert's again ... Things have changed in this area ...

[crsutton]

ORIGINAL: Crackaces

I have 4 USN seebees moving to India right now. [It takes quite awhile] Thanks for all the Sage Advice Crsutton! Ok well the Stuff at Impahl I thought would move on Sweebo in due time while the one force cuts off stuff north. My thought is to make the IJ move more into a trap. But I am hearing to blitzkreig and take Sweebo ...

My thoughts on Northern Oz is a stalemate there rather than the Solomons and no Naval involvement. I have no restrictions on my 4E's and hitting LYB's in the open might be favorable attrition. Using restricted units to tie down IJA forces into teh slaughter pen might jsut be the recepie. So Tennat Creek will never have the supply to fly the B-17's is what I am hearing in this conversation.

I do want to committ armor here from the stanpoint of pursuit. Maybe I will get Daily Waters and then hold that with restricted forces. Lot of time to think about this. It is all really just a sideshow for the real offense in '44 ..

********************************************* 03 JUL 1942 ******************************

Actually you can build up and get enough supply to use both Daily Waters and Tennant Creek for your bombers. Supply will flow there and you can use the heavies. The problem is supply will not flow past Daily Waters. Sometimes Daily Waters slips below the point needed for drop tanks but it never ran short. That is if you build them both up to level 9.

[Crackaces]

Ahhh this might fit the bill .. a nice little forray to draw attention and get a chance to bomb units ..

I really do not need Darwin .. I just need to get a battle going at Daily Waters ..for now ..

[Crackaces]

***************************** 05 JUL '42 *****************************************

Another good turn for the IJ ..

Our ships are 1 hex away but do not react ..

Night Time Surface Combat, near Cox's Bazar at 54,43, Range 2,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CL Jintsu
DD Arashio
DD Ariake
DD Shinonome
DD Isonami
DD Uranami

Allied Ships
xAKL Buijskes, Shell hits 12, and is sunk



Japanese Ships Reported to be Approaching!
Allied TF begins to get underway

Eventually we will get this one right ..the Wellingtons did not fly either due to weather ..[8|]

Night Naval bombardment of Cox's Bazar at 54,43

Japanese Ships
CL Jintsu
DD Uranami
DD Isonami
DD Shinonome
DD Ariake
DD Arashio


Allied ground losses:
4 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled


Airbase hits 2
Runway hits 8
Port hits 1
Port fuel hits 2

We lost 300 in an attack I should have never made ... [8|]


Ground combat at 63,45 (near Bhamo)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 5225 troops, 20 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 222

Defending force 690 troops, 0 guns, 102 vehicles, Assault Value = 56

Allied adjusted assault: 164

Japanese adjusted defense: 160

Allied assault odds: 1 to 1

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+)
Attacker:


Allied ground losses:
299 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 20 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled


Assaulting units:
1st Burma Brigade
200th Chinese Division
36th Chinese Division

Defending units:
1st Tank Regiment

No tanks destroyed ..

& 4 air attacks and the same unit do nothing but damage our aircraft ..

Sooooooo let us see in the next two days how our Tarawa operation goes ..

more later ..

[ny59giants]

Assaulting units:
1st Burma Brigade
200th Chinese Division
36th Chinese Division

Defending units:
1st Tank Regiment

No tanks destroyed ..

Even the crappy Japanese tanks are like 'King Tigers' on the battle field if you don't have any AT guns or armor of your own. Since the 2 Chinese divisions don't have any, then you will be in trouble winning this battle. If you have any F/FB with cannons, then put them on a Straffing run.

[Crackaces]

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

Assaulting units:
1st Burma Brigade
200th Chinese Division
36th Chinese Division

Defending units:
1st Tank Regiment

No tanks destroyed ..

Even the crappy Japanese tanks are like 'King Tigers' on the battle field if you don't have any AT guns or armor of your own. Since the 2 Chinese divisions don't have any, then you will be in trouble winning this battle. If you have any F/FB with cannons, then put them on a Straffing run.

Any thoughts on some Brit airframe types in '42 that might qualify?

[crsutton]

ORIGINAL: Crackaces

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

Assaulting units:
1st Burma Brigade
200th Chinese Division
36th Chinese Division

Defending units:
1st Tank Regiment

No tanks destroyed ..

Even the crappy Japanese tanks are like 'King Tigers' on the battle field if you don't have any AT guns or armor of your own. Since the 2 Chinese divisions don't have any, then you will be in trouble winning this battle. If you have any F/FB with cannons, then put them on a Straffing run.

Any thoughts on some Brit airframe types in '42 that might qualify?

Has to be the Hurricane IIc or the beaufighters. However, I did a bunch of tests with strafing and bombing vs Japanese tanks and it is the bombs that kill tanks not strafing. So any medium bomber at medium or low levels (not much difference) will do a nice job on them. Much better than any fighter.

[Crackaces]

ORIGINAL: crsutton

ORIGINAL: Crackaces

ORIGINAL: ny59giants



Even the crappy Japanese tanks are like 'King Tigers' on the battle field if you don't have any AT guns or armor of your own. Since the 2 Chinese divisions don't have any, then you will be in trouble winning this battle. If you have any F/FB with cannons, then put them on a Straffing run.

Any thoughts on some Brit airframe types in '42 that might qualify?

Has to be the Hurricane IIc or the beaufighters. However, I did a bunch of tests with strafing and bombing vs Japanese tanks and it is the bombs that kill tanks not strafing. So any medium bomber at medium or low levels (not much difference) will do a nice job on them. Much better than any fighter.

Ok I will keep up the Bombing runs .. so far over 3 turns no joy in that Moutain Hex and in one week 200 AV is a coming to deal with the Chineese ..

[Crackaces]

This turn we have taken Nemo's advice and for two weeks we postioned forces at Canton Is to reinforce Tarawa .. 4 CV's and 1 CVL loaded with Fighters to the mx are escorting in 3 Amphib TF's. A AVP group will hit Tarawa take off a light BF while the Big BF lands on Tarawa .. in the mean time we will put up no less than 250 fighters .. Plus we moved a P-40 squadron to Tarawa to try and defend ...

We also stationed a Brit CV TF to patrol next to Chittergong . it seems that the CV cannot take on fuel there or dock so .. its to Madreas to refuel .. I have no AO's in the area as they would simply be creamed by teh submarines and air power ..

The resurrected units in India are doing an intersting service ... just enough of them to garrison Bombay and Calcutta so I can release better units to the front for our little Burma operation ..

I do not understand this game at a deep level but I have to wonder how long the IJ can keep this level of intensity of operations? I read IJFB threads and it seems that fuel is always an issue .. and yet the IJ contunues to move big ships around and bombard things ....I would think a more strategic use of forces is needed in the long run?

[ny59giants]

I do not understand this game at a deep level but I have to wonder how long the IJ can keep this level of intensity of operations? I read IJFB threads and it seems that fuel is always an issue .. and yet the IJ contunues to move big ships around and bombard things ....I would think a more strategic use of forces is needed in the long run?

Playing both sides helps me gain some insight to this area. I would place about 6 subs in parallel patrol zones between Truk and Babeldoab. Make sure they are not too close to either base. He may be sending at least one large TK TF from Balikpapan or Singapore over to Truk. Those BB are some serious gas hogs. [;)] It does not make sense to me to ship it to Japan and then down to Truk and/or Marshall Islands.

[Crackaces]

Great minds think alike! [;)]

I have been patroling these waters for quite some time but I am thinking on ny59Giants suggested to move two more submarines here and to tighten the patrol circuts more toward the open area circled in red. I have hit 2 AKs and 3 AKL's along with wounding a CV in this area given the current patrol configuration, but no TK's yet. Better hunting for the TK's might be the recipie ..

[ny59giants]

I would set up my Patrol Zones with your most eastern sub as it is. Have it go 8 hexes NW like your screenshot shows. Then the second leg would go due south 4 hexes and then 6 hexes back to where you started. Each sub would be be one hex further west than the last. Place about 6 subs or more if you can afford it. Keep them there for a month. Go home (Townsville), refuel, and then move them a little further west (and maybe a little further south).

Out of Perth, I would form a 4 sub TF that loads up mines and go visit Balikpapan or the one hex SW of it. Got to keep him honest. [;)]

Adak - If this base is still yours, slowly build it up, and place a AS there and some fuel. Then, you are a lot closer to Japan for your subs.

[Crackaces]

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

I would set up my Patrol Zones with your most eastern sub as it is. Have it go 8 hexes NW like your screenshot shows. Then the second leg would go due south 4 hexes and then 6 hexes back to where you started. Each sub would be be one hex further west than the last. Place about 6 subs or more if you can afford it. Keep them there for a month. Go home (Townsville), refuel, and then move them a little further west (and maybe a little further south).

Out of Perth, I would form a 4 sub TF that loads up mines and go visit Balikpapan or the one hex SW of it. Got to keep him honest. [;)]

Right now home is in the middle of the Pacific ..I have one submarine working out of Perth .. It would take a pretty big operation to move an AS to Townsville at this point ..but it can be in the cards in September ..