I have just received reports of the first hits by ASW aircraft. I am unclear as to the resulting damage to the I-boats but it does give one a warm fuzzy feeling. Even better as sub chasers reach the rear area ports deep in SoPac relieving destroyers for much needed escort duty. I actually have a little sticky note "hit list" on IJN boats which have really p*ssed me off, sinking escorted AKs and TKs within 100nm of major ports with alot of dedicated ASW. Their days are numbered!
The IJ in this game are parking their submarines right next to ports in hexes I cannot avoid. The only response I can think of is ASW escorts and ASW air patrols until attrition takes it course. I have 12 ASW patrol hits thus far 3 sunk .. but the rest limped to port as a cripple which is effective also ..
"What gets us into trouble is not what we don't know. It's what we know for sure that just ain't so"
Allied Ships
SS Halibut
=======================================================
Sub attack near Taihoku at 89,62
Japanese Ships
xAK Misaki Maru, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
PB Choun Maru #8
Allied Ships
SS Thresher
Submarine attack near Taihoku at 89,62
Japanese Ships
xAK Misaki Maru, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
Allied Ships
SS Thresher
xAK Misaki Maru is sighted by SS Thresher
SS Thresher launches 4 torpedoes
xAK Misaki Maru is reported to have been sunk near Taihoku on Aug 22, 1942
That is one less xAK to worry about .. it has to be getting into the mind of the IJ that we are dominating subamrine warfare with most of our torpedoes being duds ...[8D]
In other news we take Kweiteh. The 8th RGC Route Brigade turned into the rout brigade [;)]
This cuts off one supply railroad from the East and forces reinforcements to route around to the North where we also have the railway cut ...
Ground combat at Kweiteh (90,46)
Allied Shock attack
Attacking force 20518 troops, 83 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 887
Defending force 552 troops, 4 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 27
Allied adjusted assault: 879
Japanese adjusted defense: 1
Allied assault odds: 879 to 1 (fort level 1)
Allied forces CAPTURE Kweiteh !!!
Combat modifiers
Defender:
Attacker: shock(+)
Japanese ground losses:
656 casualties reported
Squads: 32 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 18 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 4 (4 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units destroyed 1
Holding Kweiteh is a good roadblock. Just beware that it can be very difficult to get any supply to reach the base.
Alfred
Absoutely understand this problem .. there are supply problem all over China period! But the little pixels do not whine too much about being hungry .. they just disable the squads [8D]
My updates will be toghter to complete in the coming weeks but here are some highlights
**************************************************** 23 AUG 42 *************************************
Akyab: The IJ continues to bomb sweeping with 30 oscars and floowing with 54 Lily's. I assume two are in maintaince.
Tarawa: The Craven and Gredley put 3 hits on SS-I-1 all critical flooding the control room, and then the PC Vilgilant puts another newa Albemama
Then we have 4 USN Submarine contacts:
Sub attack near Talaud-eilanden at 84,96 SS Gar 3 xaK's
Sub attack near Nagasaki/Sasebo at 101,59 SS Tambor TK
Sub attack near Taihoku at 89,62 SS Thresher 3 xAK's
Submarine attack near Wenchow at 89,59 SS Seal xAKL
Hits no ka boom .. [8|]
We scout Kaoping:
Ground combat at Kaoping (89,42)
Allied Bombardment attack
Attacking force 28758 troops, 185 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1071
Defending force 11442 troops, 76 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 392
Assaulting units:
43rd Chinese Corps
34th Chinese Corps
38th Chinese Corps
27th Chinese Corps
47th Chinese Corps
4th Group Army
8th Group Army
36th Group Army
******************************************* 24 Aug 42 **************************************
I have to think the submarine warfare has been particularly frustrating for the IJ .. they have sunk 2 xAK's in the last 3 months. Both of them were "loose" unloaded TF's I forgot to waypoint, and they ran the expected route from two ports .. otherwise I have avoided the wrath of the IJN submarine threat ..on the other hand the dud ladened USN submarines have terroized IJ shipping lanes in lots of places constantly moving our areas of operations
Sub attack near Aogashima at 112,67
Japanese Ships
xAP Asama Maru, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
PB Hirotama Maru
AK Ayatosan Maru
xAP Aikoku Maru
DD Sazanami
Allied Ships
SS Seawolf xAP Asama Maru is reported to have been sunk near Aogashima on Aug 24, 1942
I think you can scratch a 9.5Ktonne xAP off the IJN's inventory ...[;)]
Another contact off the home islands all duds
Submarine attack near Fukue-jima at 100,59
Japanese Ships
xAK Kirikawa Maru
Allied Ships
SS Tambor
In other news the IJ have concentrated a full division configured as 3 brigades into Kaoping:
Ground combat at Kaoping (89,42)
Allied Bombardment attack
Attacking force 28742 troops, 185 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1071
Defending force 12457 troops, 80 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 444
Assaulting units:
34th Chinese Corps
43rd Chinese Corps
38th Chinese Corps
27th Chinese Corps
47th Chinese Corps
8th Group Army
4th Group Army
36th Group Army
************************************************* 27 AUG 42 ***********************************************
The Lily's and 56 Oscars come visting .. Oscars sweep .. Lily's bomb ...
Morning Air attack on Akyab , at 54,45
Weather in hex: Light cloud
Raid detected at 33 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-48-Ib Lily x 29
Ki-48-IIa Lily x 27
No Japanese losses
Runway hits 9
Our submarines attrite off one of the PC escorting some TK's ..
Sub attack near Babeldaob at 89,96
Japanese Ships
PC Take, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
PC Nire
TK Seiwa Maru
TK Nanrei Maru
TK Fukoku Maru
TK San Pedro Maru
DD Oyashio
DD Kuroshio
Allied Ships
SS Grouper
SS Grouper launches 2 torpedoes at PC Take
Then the Greyback loses the die roll and the escort gets the upper hand ..
ASW attack near Babeldaob at 87,95
Japanese Ships
PC Nire
TK Seiwa Maru
TK Nanrei Maru
TK San Pedro Maru
DD Oyashio
DD Kuroshio
Allied Ships
SS Grayback, hits 1
SS Grayback is sighted by escort
The IJA are railing in forces into Kaoping daily last turn there were 3 units .. this turn another brde showed up .. [X(] Rule #1 in a seige .. isolate the defenders ..[:-]
Ground combat at Kaoping (89,42)
Allied Shock attack
Attacking force 67563 troops, 334 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 2663
Defending force 18313 troops, 118 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 655
Assaulting units:
47th Chinese Corps
43rd Chinese Corps
27th Chinese Corps
80th Chinese Corps
34th Chinese Corps
15th Chinese Corps
38th Chinese Corps
9th Chinese Corps
93rd Chinese Corps
40th Chinese Corps
96th Chinese Corps
24th Group Army
14th Group Army
4th Group Army
8th Group Army
15th Group Army
36th Group Army
I still think if I can push these guys back it is worth it ..That will have me in command of both railroads leading into Sian at a very deep point into the line. Yes this is '42 and I should be saving supply and bowing the IJA .. but if they ignored China for a bit and I want to stir things up ... The operational move might be to pull out a number of forces and go around to the north rather than do the Lee frontal assult Pickets charge thing ..[8D]
More later ..
"What gets us into trouble is not what we don't know. It's what we know for sure that just ain't so"
******************************************** 28 AUG 42 ******************************************************
The USN submarine force handicaped by bad torps continues to wreak havoc on IJN shipping ..
Sub attack near Gorontalo at 72,96
Japanese Ships
xAK Matsue Maru, Torpedo hits 1
xAK Teiyo Maru
PB Naruto Maru #3
Allied Ships
SS Albacore
SS Albacore launches 2 torpedoes at xAK Matsue Maru
We continue to get updates for ships hit at the begining of this affair ...like
xAK Yamagata Maru is reported to have been sunk near Iba on Dec 27, 1941
We tried a couple of CAP traps this turn. I moved 4 squadrons to Cox's Bazzar to intercept the Oscars and Lily's . they no show! [&:]
The Nell's trying to get my bombers at Charters Towers face a night fight that is less than sanguine. Kittyhawks show up exchange a few shots but nothing to write home about ..
Night Air attack on Charters Towers , at 91,145
Weather in hex: Thunderstorms
Raid spotted at 16 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes
Night Air attack on Charters Towers , at 91,145
Weather in hex: Thunderstorms
Raid spotted at 28 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes
Japanese aircraft
G3M3 Nell x 5
Allied aircraft
Kittyhawk IA x 7
No Japanese losses
No Allied losses
Japanese aircraft
G3M3 Nell x 7
Allied aircraft
Kittyhawk IA x 7
Japanese aircraft losses
G3M3 Nell: 2 damaged
The IJ cross the river East of Paoshan and do the shock attack ..
Ground combat at 67,44 (near Paoshan)
Japanese Shock attack
Attacking force 24428 troops, 257 guns, 42 vehicles, Assault Value = 794
Defending force 16717 troops, 89 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 487
Japanese adjusted assault: 596
Allied adjusted defense: 859
Japanese assault odds: 1 to 2
Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), op mode(-), experience(-)
Attacker: shock(+), disruption(-)
Assaulting units:
18th Division
55th Division
15th Army
Defending units:
54th Chinese Corps
5th Chinese Corps
NCAC
11th Group Army
Otherwise a quiet turn. We are 10 days from attacking Katha .. then I susepct all *(&$@ will break loose. We will take Katha and then branch south and north toward Swebo and Myitkyina respectively. Over 2K AV at Katha. What a surprise ..[:D] Meanwhile the IJ armor is deep into SW China ..[8D]
"What gets us into trouble is not what we don't know. It's what we know for sure that just ain't so"
You have missed muster soldier. [:-] You will navigate thru Nasty Nick twice today.[:D]
I am still hard at this but I have had 4 clinical experiences from 7am - 7pm this week. Those with a medical background understand, [:D] but for that do not .. each 12 hours of clinical takes another 12 - 18 hours of documentation to find meaning in the experience [:'(]
I should be back on schedule on Sunday ...[8D]
"What gets us into trouble is not what we don't know. It's what we know for sure that just ain't so"
The picture below demonstrates where we are at in Burma. About 1KV has peeked its head and alerted the IJ that we are moving toward Katha. He has reconed these forces. I suspect this will get whatever forces in the South to start railing to meet our thrust. I am not sure how much he has, but 1KV will hold Katha since it is Jungle. Even with teh 2KV behind in reserve.
My plan is to get the reserves to move into the Jungle and then take Swebo with armor. Once Swebo is taken and building ...Katha will be a match of Infantry attrition.
Attachments
BurmaIvor..conyAug.jpg (576.94 KiB) Viewed 288 times
"What gets us into trouble is not what we don't know. It's what we know for sure that just ain't so"
No Allied losses Damaged Hurricane IIb Trop from No.146 Sqn RAF is missing
10 Oscars and 3 Lily's do not make it home ... and a whole list of Allied pilots have tales of heroism at the 'O' club:
WO Pringle P. of No.135 Sqn RAF is credited with kill number 4
FO Bufton B. of No.146 Sqn RAF is credited with kill number 2
PO Livingston V. of No.607 Sqn RAF is credited with kill number 4
SLDR Ricketts F. of No.607 Sqn RAF is credited with kill number 4
SLDR Ricketts F. of No.607 Sqn RAF is credited with kill number 5
SLDR Ricketts F. of No.607 Sqn RAF is credited with kill number 6
PO Christensen, H. of No.136 Sqn RAF is credited with kill number 5
FO Greenwood W. of No.135 Sqn RAF is credited with kill number 2
FO Greenwood W. of No.135 Sqn RAF is credited with kill number 3
FO Whitby, A. of No.135 Sqn RAF is credited with kill number 3
WO Ludlow S. of No.607 Sqn RAF is credited with kill number 2
WO Farley S. of No.146 Sqn RAF is credited with kill number 4
WO Doyle S. of No.607 Sqn RAF is credited with kill number 3
WO Brookes C. of No.146 Sqn RAF is credited with kill number 2
Then we strike Swebo .. the IJN have moved Zeros to defend agaisnt Ivory Balcony ..
Morning Air attack on 14th Tank Regiment, at 59,45 (Shwebo)
Weather in hex: Partial cloud
Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 25
Allied aircraft
Hudson IIIa x 12
B-25C Mitchell x 16
Defending units:
28th Chinese Corps
49th Chinese Corps
70th Chinese Corps
86th Chinese Corps
88th Chinese Corps
100th Chinese Corps
23rd Group Army
25th Group Army
More later .. things are most certainly heating up ...[;)]
"What gets us into trouble is not what we don't know. It's what we know for sure that just ain't so"
I'm glad you posted this shot of Burma. I never noticed the dot base in the jungle valley on the north bank of the Irrawaddy river. I still own this and it would make a great forward area grass strip to run sweeps over Mandalay from.
I'm glad you posted this shot of Burma. I never noticed the dot base in the jungle valley on the north bank of the Irrawaddy river. I still own this and it would make a great forward area grass strip to run sweeps over Mandalay from.
In my sophomoric opinion there are three very key 'dot' bases i.e were ignored by the IJ but now he is scrambling ..
Bhamo which is between Lashio and Myitkyina. It starts undeveloped but is within that magical 2 hex CAP range of Katha, Lashio, and Myitkyina
Katha: although this is longer ranged sweeps for sure ..it is a base right on the rail line in the jungle .. once we lodge in there it will be very difficult to dislodge us ...
Kalemyo: Again this little Jewell is not within 2 hexes of anything and is in a supply sink hole .. but .. it a place to sweep from .. 3 hexes from our main target for this operation ... Swebo [8D]
Then Jorhat and the accompanying bases are level 3 going to level 4 .. if we decide to have a more North Burma focus we can station a lot more aircraft concentrated than the IJ can muster in his exposed bases .. giving us a real advantage in the airwar ..
"What gets us into trouble is not what we don't know. It's what we know for sure that just ain't so"
My opponet is moving forces from China back to Burma and the IJ is scrambling. This game punishes those that do not understand the details. His thought since he was having trouble supplying troops drudging through the Jungle toward Akyab . that I will have the same difficulty taking Katha .. but I am moving supply from India and my level 7 bases ... so far [8D]
In two turns we will know as I will be on top of Katha with 1K AV ...once we take Katha it looks like Katy bar the door! [:D]
"What gets us into trouble is not what we don't know. It's what we know for sure that just ain't so"
The Allies sweep Katha and find zero fighter resistance .. The IJNAAF recon by bombing katha ..it costs them a bomber ..
Morning Air attack on 75th Indian Brigade, at 61,43 (Katha)
Weather in hex: Heavy cloud
Raid spotted at 13 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes
Japanese aircraft
G3M2 Nell x 13
Allied aircraft
P-40E Warhawk x 10
Japanese aircraft losses
G3M2 Nell: 1 destroyed
No Allied losses
The Allies take to bombing the troops at Katha ..
Morning Air attack on 33rd/B Division, at 61,43 (Katha)
Weather in hex: Heavy cloud
Raid spotted at 13 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes
Allied aircraft
Blenheim IV x 22
Hudson IIIa x 12
Hurricane IIc Trop x 3
P-40E Warhawk x 7
No Allied losses
..............
Also attacking 14th Tank Regiment ...
Also attacking 33rd/B Division ...
Also attacking 14th Tank Regiment ...
Also attacking 33rd/B Division ...
Also attacking 14th Tank Regiment ...
Also attacking 33rd/B Division ...
Morning Air attack on 33rd/B Division, at 61,43 (Katha)
Weather in hex: Heavy cloud
Raid spotted at 7 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 2 minutes
Allied aircraft
B-25C Mitchell x 16
P-40E Warhawk x 7
P-40E Warhawk from 23rd FG/74th FS is damaged on landing
P-40E Warhawk from 51st FG/26th FS crashes on landing
B-25C Mitchell from 7th BG/11th BS crashes on landing
8 LYB cost me a B25 and 2 P40's [:(]
The the IJ come from Akyab . it was a five minute battle alone ...
Morning Air attack on Akyab , at 54,45
Weather in hex: Heavy rain
Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 39
Ki-48-Ib Lily x 30
Ki-48-IIa Lily x 27
Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIb Trop x 12
Hurricane IIc Trop x 11
We trade a Trop IIb for 8 Oscar's and a Lily .. not a bad trade I think ..especally since ..
WCDR Hazard O. of No.607 Sqn RAF is credited with kill number 3
FO Abbott U. of No.146 Sqn RAF is credited with kill number 3
WCDR Farley T. of No.135 Sqn RAF is credited with kill number 2
SLDR Watson, E.J. of No.135 Sqn RAF is credited with kill number 2
WCDR Thomson, J.A. of No.135 Sqn RAF is credited with kill number 2
WCDR Cuthbert, M.C.H. of No.136 Sqn RAF is credited with kill number 3
SLDR DeCruyenaere, A.J. of No.136 Sqn RAF is credited with kill number 6
PO Kitley, A.J.H. of No.136 Sqn RAF is credited with kill number 5
PO Kitley, A.J.H. of No.136 Sqn RAF attains ace status!!
PO Livingston V. of No.607 Sqn RAF is credited with kill number 5
PO Livingston V. of No.607 Sqn RAF attains ace status!!
PO Davies V. of No.146 Sqn RAF is credited with kill number 3
PO Storey, W.J. of No.135 Sqn RAF is credited with kill number 2
PO Storey, W.J. of No.135 Sqn RAF is credited with kill number 3
FO Greenwell M. of No.135 Sqn RAF is credited with kill number 5
FO Greenwell M. of No.135 Sqn RAF is credited with kill number 6
FO Greenwell M. of No.135 Sqn RAF attains ace status!!
PO Usher T. of No.607 Sqn RAF is credited with kill number 3
Three new aces!
Ok today at sea ... 4 torps .. 4 Duds ..
Sub attack near Babeldaob at 89,96
Japanese Ships
xAK Melbourne Maru
xAK Canberra Maru
DD Shiranui
Allied Ships
SS Grouper
Submarine attack near Ominato at 120,55
Japanese Ships
xAK Dainiti Maru
Allied Ships
SS Pollack
We recon by fire ..
Ground combat at Katha (61,43)
Allied Bombardment attack
Attacking force 17408 troops, 310 guns, 303 vehicles, Assault Value = 889
Defending force 9310 troops, 80 guns, 97 vehicles, Assault Value = 335
Things are unfolding quite nicely for Ivory Balacony. As suspected the IJA hae reacted bolstering Katha from 800 troops to over 13K. All the armor in China is withdrawing or as Chesty Puller would say "attacking in a rearward direction". Lots of Radio traffic and movement of forces toward Burma and Singapore. We hae stirred up the hornets nest so to speak.
Now comes the best part of Ivory Balcony if I can pull it off. A large part of the forces have been tied up at Katha. My troops are already in supply trouble .. 20K strong. But If I can keep a stalemate there -- I can turn 2K AV toward the south and take Swebo leaving the stalemate at Katha. Right now Swebo has less than 300 troops with everything; however, I suspect a huge reinforcement soon given the movement and radio traffic. We shall see how this unfolds.
As far as Akyab is concered, 1K supply every three days at Cox's Bazzar is keeping both of these loactions supplied, and Cox's Bazzar enough supplies to use drop tanks. I am not hitting the bombers but pruning off the Oscars every raid. This raid FOW states 25 Oscars shot down -- Annimaiton say about 10 without those that did not make it home .. Reality says last raid was about 50 Oscars .. and this raid was 39 .. I can estimate my current status by what the next raid looks like.
Ok more later ..
Attachments
IvoryBalconySEP42.jpg (545.87 KiB) Viewed 288 times
"What gets us into trouble is not what we don't know. It's what we know for sure that just ain't so"
