About two months ago we decided to try and take the British fleet out of action. This would help to lower the threat to the Malaya/Sumatra/Java axis.
We conducted extensive recon and determined the CV forces and about 60 ships were in Columbo, under releatively light fighter protection (60-80 fighters).
So we moved all CV type units to Java. There we refitted and reorganised. Every AO also met us there and filled up to support the attack and a rapid redeployment.
We anticipated that once Andrew had determined where our CV forces were due to a harbour full of burning ships he would move in the Pacific
We moved a screen of subs from south of Ceylon over to Diego Garcia. These subs were largely undetected.
Behind this screen we formed up, refueled then advanced.
However last turn two of out TF were lightly detected.
This turn Columbo is empty, and lots of fighters are in location
The operation is now blown, sod it!
However we may be able to feint this in the future.
Thanks for the input. A lot of interesting problems for him...
What's the state of his navy? IIRC some CVs got lost on both sides ))
Remains one big question: How on earth to seduce your opponent in attacking an ugly outpost (e.g. like Darwin) with insufficient forces? I could understand his struggle in Burma, but is Darwin of _such_ importance ...?
edit: I missed your last post while typing.
better a missed chance than a disaster...
Maybe a SS of the whole perimeter? Kuriles, Wake, Salomones etc.
thx!
The Allied Navy is down:
4 CV and 1 CVE
6 BB
10 CA
20 CL
49 DD
we are down:
2 CV (smaller ones)
1 BB
4 CA
5 CL
1 CS
13 DD
At Darwin he underestimated our strength, plus we refused to fight forward, retreating back to Darwin. He committed almost no airpower (keeping it on the coast). Plus drawing supply is a problem.
We also managed to pull a "swift one" catching his units a couple of times piecemeal, sapping his strength.
I think the biggest problem was trying to advance without air support (including fighter protection). He just didn't have enough to go round. Plus he rushed forward.
Having Darwin as the Japanese is much better than having the Allies in control of it!
Fuel is tight. We have sucked the oil centres dry, even Palembang is down to 60k in fuel. We have 50 days supply in the Home Islands, 200k at Singapore, 100k at Truk, 90k at Rabaul, 70 Haiphong, 70 Manila.
Our CV's usually sortie with limited numbers of BB's. Sometimes none. The rest of the fleet largely stays in port.
TK carrying capacity is pretty good, we have only lost 8 so far. Lots more coming on line. Having the fuel to carry is the bigger issue!
Supply is our other shortage, China and Burma both need 200k easily.
We have some limited tactical reserves, enough to fight defensively.
Subs
Allied subs being nicely supressed by our ASW efforts.
ASW attack near Bundaberg at 98,155
Japanese Ships
SS I-19, hits 1
Allied Ships
DD Preston
Burma
With Andrews fighters mostly in Ceylon, we detect that a large number of bombers are on the ground at Ledo, witholy about 60 fighters for protection. So we sweep, however supply shortages stop our bombers from flying
Morning Air attack on Ledo , at 65,38
Weather in hex: Severe storms
Raid detected at 15 NM, estimated altitude 34,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes
Japanese aircraft
N1K1-J George x 34
Allied aircraft
H81-A3 x 1
P-40E Warhawk x 10
P-43A-1 Lancer x 1
No Japanese losses
Allied aircraft losses P-40E Warhawk: 3 destroyed
Our forces are thrown off the rail line.
Ground combat at 62,42 (near Katha)
Allied Deliberate attack
Attacking force 8334 troops, 106 guns, 153 vehicles, Assault Value = 296
Defending force 2395 troops, 22 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 55
Pacific
The skies darken as Akllied 4E bonbers make an apearance! Our Nicks are flying from a nearby base, and hardly any intercept And when they do the damage is light
Morning Air attack on Umboi Island , at 100,125
Weather in hex: Thunderstorms
Raid detected at 79 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 27 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 49
Allied aircraft
B-24D Liberator x 58
B-24D1 Liberator x 48
Assaulting units:
40th Division
35th Division
9th Armored Car Co
5th Armored Car Co
12th Army
Defending units:
68th Chinese Corps
13th Construction Regiment
54th Chinese/B Corps
5th Group Army
China Air TaskForce
11th Group Army
16th Chinese Base Force
Japanese Ships
xAK Nanrei Maru
xAK Heito Maru
E Hashidate
Allied Ships
SS Tautog, hits 2
Burma
Andrew just flies P-38. We have TOJO on LRCAP interdicting the supply aircraft flying supplies to Myitkynia. Happy to losse a few Tojo for that interdiction.
Morning Air attack on Myitkyina , at 64,42
Weather in hex: Heavy rain
Raid detected at 10 NM, estimated altitude 33,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 1 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 5
Allied aircraft
P-38G Lightning x 18
Japanese aircraft losses Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 2 destroyed
No Allied losses
DEI
OZ
Pacific
China
Second attack at Kuming drops the forts again. We will need more force to take the place though.
Ground combat at Kunming (69,48)
Japanese Deliberate attack
Attacking force 24588 troops, 203 guns, 98 vehicles, Assault Value = 895
Defending force 11530 troops, 47 guns, 17 vehicles, Assault Value = 304
Assaulting units:
9th Armored Car Co
35th Division
40th Division
5th Armored Car Co
12th Army
Defending units:
68th Chinese Corps
13th Construction Regiment
54th Chinese/B Corps
5th Group Army
China Air TaskForce
11th Group Army
16th Chinese Base Force
Assaulting units:
35th Division
40th Division
9th Armored Car Co
5th Armored Car Co
12th Army
Defending units:
68th Chinese Corps
54th Chinese/B Corps
China Air TaskForce
5th Group Army
16th Chinese Base Force
11th Group Army
13th Construction Regiment
Japanese Ships
xAKL Tokiwasan Maru, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage [SUNK]
xAKL Tokuwa Maru
xAKL Dori Maru
PB Teshio Maru
Allied Ships
SS Hoe
Burma
The air war continues. Andrew is only sweeping with the P-38. Partially I think this is because he is keeping fighters in Ceylon. To encourage him to continue to do that we have a CA Tf off Port Blair making probes into his search arcs. This is working well so far.
Morning Air attack on Myitkyina , at 64,42
Weather in hex: Severe storms
Raid detected at 24 NM, estimated altitude 34,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 7
Allied aircraft
P-38G Lightning x 9
Japanese aircraft losses Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 1 destroyed
Supply at Myitkyina is very low. The troops have plenty, none at the base. Several decent convoys are coming in addition to a trickle being bought in my PB FT. We are repairing HI and refineries on Java, so not much spare at the moment. That will change in a month.
DEI
OZ
Pacific
George LRCAPing from Rabaul makes a difference, George is out new best mate, used to be Nick.
Morning Air attack on Finschhafen , at 100,126
Weather in hex: Overcast
Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 13 minutes
Japanese aircraft
N1K1-J George x 31
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 6
Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 27
B-17F Fortress x 9
B-24D Liberator x 52
B-24D1 Liberator x 47
Japanese aircraft losses
N1K1-J George: 1 destroyed
Ki-45 KAIa Nick: 6 damaged
Ki-45 KAIa Nick: 2 destroyed on ground
Ki-57-I Topsy: 2 destroyed on ground
Ki-57-II Topsy: 1 destroyed on ground
Ki-46-III Dinah: 1 destroyed on ground
Japanese ground losses:
1154 casualties reported
Squads: 5 destroyed, 88 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 10 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 10 disabled
Vehicles lost 20 (1 destroyed, 19 disabled)
Allied ground losses:
3853 casualties reported
Squads: 145 destroyed, 28 disabled
Non Combat: 176 destroyed, 52 disabled
Engineers: 42 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 16 (14 destroyed, 2 disabled)
Vehicles lost 15 (15 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units retreated 7
Defeated Allied Units Retreating!
Assaulting units:
40th Division
35th Division
9th Armored Car Co
5th Armored Car Co
2nd Tank Division
12th Army
Yokosuka 3rd SNLF /2
Defending units:
68th Chinese Corps
54th Chinese/B Corps
11th Group Army
16th Chinese Base Force
5th Group Army
China Air TaskForce
13th Construction Regiment
In the last 10 days we have had the second George come forward twice, D4Y3 Judy once, Jill once, Frances once and A6M5b once. Our reseach may have just about broken thebank, but is really hitting its strides. The 50 strong Frank R&D factory is down to about 5 to repair, with another 3 factories under 10 to repair.
Burma
Was expecting more of our aircraft to show up
Morning Air attack on Myitkyina , at 64,42
Weather in hex: Light cloud
Raid detected at 33 NM, estimated altitude 37,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 10
Ki-44-IIc Tojo x 4
Allied aircraft
P-38G Lightning x 11
Japanese aircraft losses Ki-44-IIc Tojo: 1 destroyed
No Allied losses
Morning Air attack on Myitkyina , at 64,42
Weather in hex: Light cloud
Raid detected at 35 NM, estimated altitude 23,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 6
Ki-44-IIc Tojo x 2
Allied aircraft
P-40K Warhawk x 11
Japanese aircraft losses Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 1 destroyed
No Allied losses
Morning Air attack on Myitkyina , at 64,42
Weather in hex: Light cloud
Raid detected at 18 NM, estimated altitude 23,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 2
Ki-44-IIc Tojo x 1
Allied aircraft
P-40K Warhawk x 14
Japanese aircraft losses Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 1 destroyed
No Allied losses
The his bombers arrive.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Myitkyina , at 64,42
Weather in hex: Light cloud
Raid detected at 75 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 18 minutes
Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIc Trop x 62
Liberator II x 15
Wellington Ic x 15
DB-7B x 9
B-17E Fortress x 10
B-24D Liberator x 10
B-24D1 Liberator x 9
B-25C Mitchell x 44
B-25D1 Mitchell x 12
B-26 Marauder x 3
OZ
Tony sneeks some CL's in to hit the base where P-38 are sweeping our airfields in the SWPAC from.
Night Naval bombardment of Portland Roads at 91,132
Nope not a lot left, however there are a number of Chinese units out there... not sure we have enough bullets!
3 Apr 1943
Indicators and Warnings
Subs
TF 119 encounters mine field at Tsushima (103,56)
Allied Ships
SS Haddo, Mine hits 1
Burma
Not sure where these TOJO came from, I thought I'd restricted them...
Morning Air attack on Myitkyina , at 64,42
Weather in hex: Heavy rain
Raid detected at 25 NM, estimated altitude 34,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 2
Allied aircraft
P-38G Lightning x 9
Japanese aircraft losses Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 1 destroyed
No Allied losses
The Allied bombers flew.
Morning Air attack on Myitkyina , at 64,42
Weather in hex: Heavy rain
Raid detected at 79 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 19 minutes
Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIc Trop x 62
Liberator II x 14
Wellington Ic x 15
DB-7B x 9
B-17E Fortress x 11
B-24D Liberator x 10
B-24D1 Liberator x 6
B-25C Mitchell x 57
B-25D1 Mitchell x 12
B-26 Marauder x 15
China
Here is a screen shot of the far north. We took the northen cities, cutting the resources and fuel to Sian area some time ago. Recently we advanced cross country with a Mongol Cavalry unit to try and disrupt his rear area... we have failed to take the target city though...
All a bit of fun!
Attachments
194300403_China_nth.jpg (131.55 KiB) Viewed 122 times
Trying to pump supply into China, but Tony keeps burning it up!
There are now some very strong corps in our road to further conquest. They are low on supply, but at 300-500 AV strong it makes it hard for us to move forward...
Cheers
Rob
ORIGINAL: Cribtop
I had a friend in armored recon who referred to situations like China or the Fulda Gap as a "target servicing problem." [:D]