Allied Logistics for Dummies...NY59Giants (A) vs DivePac (J)

[ny59giants]

Air losses to date. While not all the Zero are from his carriers, the number of Kates destroyed is good news. The Vals are about a CV worth.

[Blackhorse]

Hey NY59,

On the logistics/training front, are you willing to share any tips on how you set up your pilot training? It's hard for me to find the right balance between squadrons that train vs those that fight, or to figure out the best way to use the squadrons that will disband between December and July.

[bigred]

I was thinking about the number of total army and navy sqn's active in the field and in rear area training.

12xOscar
2xTojo
all in the field.

14 nate sqn's in training.

So 50% of all army fighter sqns are training.

Navy:
2x a5m4 cluade
4x a6m3b
1x a6m5
All in training 7 total

11x a6m2 carrier active
9x a6m3b field
5x a6m5 field

7 training
25 active

naval air pilot training ratio is 1 sqn training to 4 in the field. This may be a problem...but carrier air is not as engaged as the field sqn's.

I will look at all catagories of pilot training when I have time.

I was working with the above ratio about jan43 for the japs.

[ny59giants]

RA has dedicated American training air groups permanently restricted to the USA. The Army has 3 groups - fighter, 2EB, and 4EB (see screenshot) and the Navy has three groups - fighter, DB, and TB. The screenshot shows some different combination of options as I can only get pilots (recruits) in at 10 per click and send out only 10 per click. If there is a way to change it, I haven't found it.

[Captain Cruft]

You can overstack those training groups by 200%, so that group of 48 planes can have 144 pilots.

I would change the leader to someone who is otherwise useless but has a high Leadership value.

If you use Request Veteran or go into Pilots you can micro-manage pilots in and out at the individual level.

[John 3rd]

I am curious, with adding the Training Squadrons, if this will help to 'create' an American training system similar to what the Japanese do. This is one of the added benefits to the more recent RA versions and, hopefully, it provides a new avenue for the Allied player. Thought about doing the same thing for the Brit-Aussie side but it looked WAAAAAY too complicated.

[Captain Cruft]

The training squadrons are a massive assist to whoever has them.

[ny59giants]

Dec 11th: KB leaves Pearl alone as she heads west, all enemy flatops in use, AS Otus continues to survive!!

Subs:
Off Balikpapan, I-154 cannot hit PG Tulsa
Near Bandjermasin, I-153 launches 2 torpedoes at AS Otus. Both are duds!![:D] This is the third consecutive torpedo attack against this ship that have been duds. WOW!! However, she gets luck later in the day as she launches 2 torpedoes at xAK Yu Sang and sinks her.
At Manado, KXVIII launches 2 torpedoes at DMS W-14, but misses and survives counter DC attack
Off NW Koepang, SS I-8 launches 6 torpedoes at CL Marblehead and get 1 hit and she is sunk. Two days in a row, random subs get shots off at Marblehead and find their mark.
At Laoag, S-40 launches 4 torpedoes at DMS W-9 and misses. She gets one near miss DC in return.

At Sea:

Night Time Surface Combat, near Sorong at 82,107, Range 6,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CL Oi, Shell hits 2, on fire
xAKL Tomozono Maru #3
PB Aso Maru #3, Shell hits 15, heavy fires, heavy damage
PB Kiso Maru
xAK Nittai Maru, Shell hits 2, on fire
xAK Shinkoku Maru, Shell hits 5, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Shinwa Maru
xAKL Ujigawa Maru
xAKL Heiwa Maru
xAKL Taiyu Maru

Allied Ships
CL De Ruyter
DD Banckert
DD Witte de With, Shell hits 1
DD Kortenaer
DD Piet Hein

The bad thing is these 'slow' transports are able to escape [:@]

DD Isokaze finds PG Asheville, Shell hits 17, and is sunk. She was ordered back to try to intercept a convoy off NE Luzon.

Off Iwo-jima, DD Kamikaze finds a fleeing TK Manatawny, Shell hits 16, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk

Malaya:
Kuala Lumpur - 27 x Ki-43-Ib Oscar sweeping at 18000 feet
Kuantan - 18(1) x A6M2 Zero bombing/strafing from 100 feet

China:
Hong Kong - 19(1) x Ki-51 Sonia and 3 x Ki-48-Ib Lily bombing AF. A second wave comes in with 8 x Ki-48-Ib Lily

Philippines:
Clark Field - 36 x A6M2 Zero sweeping at 20000 feet find 8(1) P-40 on CAP.

Eastern SRA:
Ternate - 7 x 139WH-3 and 7 x Hudson miss all of the invasion TF ships. [:(]
Between Tarakan and Balikpapan, Kates from Mini-KB sink 5 xALKs with torpedoes

Landings:
Manado, Loaog, Sorong, Ternate

Captured:
Laoag - Kanno Detachment, 47th Field AA Battalion, 28th JAAF AF Bn
Manado - 1st Kure Assault Division
Sidate - 1st Para Assault Div /1

CVs:
CVE Hosho seems to be about 9 hexes west of Iwo-Jima - she sinks xAK Ethel Edwards with 2 torpedo hits
Mini-KB is 3 SW of Jolo
KB is 6 WNW of Pearl and does not attack the base. I guess three days were enough. [;)]

Enterprise - 5 NW of Wake and headed NW to try to find shipping. Maybe either the 2 BBs that were seen two days ago sinking my fleeing transport and/or CVE Hosho if she tries to move east.
Lexington - 5 NE Suva and headed for Solomons
Saratoga - 25 NE of Pearl

Notes:
Force Z is almost to Darwin to re-fuel. She may stay in eastern SRA or head over to Port Moresby area.
Screenshot - My subs will move their Patrol Zones slightly NW to try to get a shot off

[ny59giants]

Don't have the next turn, but did receive the Combat Replay.

I sent every Japanese player's favorite ship to patrol between Tokyo and Truk.

Night Time Surface Combat, near Chichi-jima at 113,79, Range 6,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
DD Akikaze
TK Nihon Maru
xAK Toyooka Maru, Shell hits 3, heavy fires
xAK Terukawa Maru
xAK Syohei Maru
xAK Nansin Maru
xAK Yuri Maru
xAK Kiyo Maru, Shell hits 1, on fire
xAK Kusuyama Maru
xAK Otori Maru
xAK Sakido Maru
xAK Nitiryu Maru
PB Kinsyo Maru #2

Allied Ships
CL Boise, Shell hits 1

Poor visibility due to Rain with 35% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Rain and 35% moonlight: 6,000 yards
Range closes to 11,000 yards...
Range closes to 10,000 yards...
Range closes to 9,000 yards...
Range closes to 8,000 yards...
Range closes to 7,000 yards...
Range closes to 6,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 6,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 6,000 yards
Moran, E. crosses the 'T'
DD Akikaze engages CL Boise at 6,000 yards
Range closes to 4,000 yards
CL Boise engages xAK Toyooka Maru at 4,000 yards
Range closes to 2,000 yards
CL Boise engages DD Akikaze at 2,000 yards
CL Boise engages xAK Kiyo Maru at 2,000 yards
CL Boise engages DD Akikaze at 2,000 yards
CL Boise engages DD Akikaze at 2,000 yards
Japanese Task Force Manages to Escape
Task forces break off...

Why did she run away?!? [&:]

Day Time Surface Combat, near Chichi-jima at 114,80, Range 15,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
DD Akikaze, Shell hits 22, and is sunk
TK Nihon Maru
xAK Toyooka Maru, Shell hits 12, and is sunk
xAK Terukawa Maru, Shell hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Syohei Maru, Shell hits 7, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Nansin Maru, Shell hits 8, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Yuri Maru, Shell hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Kiyo Maru, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Kusuyama Maru, Shell hits 12, and is sunk
xAK Otori Maru
xAK Sakido Maru
xAK Nitiryu Maru, Shell hits 7, heavy fires, heavy damage
PB Kinsyo Maru #2, Shell hits 2, heavy fires

Allied Ships
CL Boise, Shell hits 1

Poor visibility due to Rain
Maximum visibility in Rain: 15,000 yards
Range closes to 22,000 yards...
Range closes to 20,000 yards...
Range closes to 18,000 yards...
Range closes to 16,000 yards...
Range closes to 14,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 14,000 yards
Japanese TF attempts to evade combat
Range increases to 15,000 yards...
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 15,000 yards
CL Boise engages xAK Yuri Maru at 15,000 yards
Range increases to 16,000 yards
Range closes to 15,000 yards
CL Boise engages DD Akikaze at 15,000 yards
CL Boise engages xAK Nitiryu Maru at 15,000 yards
Range closes to 12,000 yards
CL Boise engages xAK Nitiryu Maru at 12,000 yards
Range closes to 11,000 yards
CL Boise engages DD Akikaze at 11,000 yards
CL Boise engages xAK Toyooka Maru at 11,000 yards
Range closes to 8,000 yards
CL Boise engages xAK Nitiryu Maru at 8,000 yards
CL Boise engages xAK Syohei Maru at 8,000 yards
Range increases to 9,000 yards
CL Boise engages xAK Nitiryu Maru at 9,000 yards
CL Boise engages xAK Kusuyama Maru at 9,000 yards
Range increases to 10,000 yards
CL Boise engages xAK Syohei Maru at 10,000 yards
CL Boise engages xAK Terukawa Maru at 10,000 yards
Range closes to 8,000 yards
CL Boise engages DD Akikaze at 8,000 yards
Range increases to 10,000 yards
TK Nihon Maru , xAK Nitiryu Maru , xAK Sakido Maru ,
xAK Otori Maru screened from combat
- escorted by DD Akikaze
CL Boise engages PB Kinsyo Maru #2 at 10,000 yards
CL Boise engages xAK Terukawa Maru at 10,000 yards
CL Boise engages xAK Toyooka Maru at 10,000 yards
Range closes to 8,000 yards
TK Nihon Maru , xAK Nitiryu Maru , xAK Sakido Maru screened from combat
CL Boise engages xAK Kusuyama Maru at 8,000 yards
Range closes to 7,000 yards
TK Nihon Maru , xAK Nitiryu Maru , xAK Sakido Maru ,
xAK Otori Maru , xAK Kusuyama Maru , xAK Kiyo Maru ,
xAK Yuri Maru , xAK Nansin Maru , xAK Syohei Maru ,
xAK Terukawa Maru screened from combat
- escorted by DD Akikaze , PB Kinsyo Maru #2
CL Boise engages xAK Toyooka Maru at 7,000 yards
TK Nihon Maru , xAK Nitiryu Maru , xAK Sakido Maru ,
xAK Otori Maru , xAK Kusuyama Maru , xAK Kiyo Maru ,
xAK Yuri Maru screened from combat
- escorted by DD Akikaze
Range closes to 5,000 yards
TK Nihon Maru , xAK Nitiryu Maru , xAK Sakido Maru ,
xAK Otori Maru , xAK Kusuyama Maru , xAK Kiyo Maru ,
xAK Yuri Maru , xAK Nansin Maru , xAK Syohei Maru ,
xAK Terukawa Maru screened from combat
- escorted by DD Akikaze , PB Kinsyo Maru #2
CL Boise engages xAK Toyooka Maru at 5,000 yards
Range closes to 4,000 yards
TK Nihon Maru , xAK Nitiryu Maru , xAK Sakido Maru ,
xAK Otori Maru , xAK Kusuyama Maru , xAK Kiyo Maru ,
xAK Yuri Maru screened from combat
- escorted by DD Akikaze
CL Boise engages xAK Nansin Maru at 4,000 yards
CL Boise engages xAK Syohei Maru at 4,000 yards
Range closes to 2,000 yards
TK Nihon Maru , xAK Nitiryu Maru , xAK Sakido Maru ,
xAK Otori Maru , xAK Kusuyama Maru , xAK Kiyo Maru ,
xAK Yuri Maru screened from combat
Magazine explodes on DD Akikaze
DD Akikaze sunk by CL Boise at 2,000 yards
Moran, E. orders Allied TF to disengage
Range increases to 8,000 yards
CL Boise engages xAK Kusuyama Maru at 8,000 yards
Range increases to 13,000 yards
CL Boise engages PB Kinsyo Maru #2 at 13,000 yards
CL Boise engages xAK Nitiryu Maru at 13,000 yards
Range increases to 18,000 yards
CL Boise engages PB Kinsyo Maru #2 at 18,000 yards
CL Boise engages xAK Kusuyama Maru at 18,000 yards
Range increases to 21,000 yards
CL Boise engages xAK Syohei Maru at 21,000 yards
Range increases to 25,000 yards
CL Boise engages PB Kinsyo Maru #2 at 25,000 yards
Task forces break off...

[witpqs]

Alone!?!? [X(]

[obvert]

Ugly scene! Nice work. Bold move to send her out alone out there.

[Mike Solli]

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

I sent every Japanese player's favorite ship to patrol between Tokyo and Truk.

[:-]

[ny59giants]

Dec 12th: The rest of the turn besides Boise, relatively quiet

Subs:
Off Laoag - Pickerel launches 2 torpedoes at DD Natsugumo, but misses.
Off Balabac - RO-33 sinks xAKL Kanchow

At Sea:
At night, about 12 hexes west of Iwo-Jima, CVE Hosho, CA Ashigara, and 6 DD run into a lone xAK and both sides avoid combat.
Off Laoag - CA Maya, CA Chokai, CL Kuma, and 6 DD sink one of two PT Boats.
Deep in the South Pacific...

Eua at 143,180, Range 19,000 Yards
Japanese Ships
AMC Hokoku Maru

Allied Ships
xAK Californian, Shell hits 1
xAK Kansan
xAK Sagadahoc, Shell hits 8, heavy fires, heavy damage later sinks
xAK Harry Luckenbach, Shell hits 3
xAK Liberty Glo, Shell hits 5, on fire
xAK Comliebank, Shell hits 2

TF, near Ternate - 139WH-3 x 14 and Hudson I x 10 all miss the transports with multiple strikes [:(]

Malaya:
Kuantan - 13(1) x A6M2 Zero bombing from 100 feet

China: [>:]

Philippines: [>:]

Wake:
G4M1 Betty x 20 hit AF...I'm almost out of supply.

CVs:
Mini-KB remains 3 hexes SW of Jolo
KB is now 10 hexes NW of Pearl. She seems to be moving at Cruise Speed (moved only 4 hexes).
Enterprise - with Boise being spotted, I'm going to live dangerously and head her TF south and try to make it between Truk and Kwajalien without being detected. The weather shows 'Rain' everywhere along her track. It will take about four days till she will be clear and hop to meet Lexington heading up from off Suva.

Landings:
Nauru Island, Kavieng, Atimonan

Captured:
Nauru Island (51 Nav Gds); Ternate (16th Naval Guard Unit, 6th JNAF Coy, 8th JNAF Coy); Sorong (II/81st Naval Guard Unit, 5th JNAF Coy)

Notes:
15 Transmarine Class xAKs (cap 3200) start to load supplies at San Fran for Pearl.
PBYs are in transit from Seattle to Dutch Harbor, to Midway, to Pearl. Eventually, I'll have them at Midway, Pearl, Johnson, Palmyra, Christmas, Penrhyn, Pago Pago, and Suva to limit raids into my SLOC.

[ny59giants]

Dec 13th: CA Houston makes a bombardment run, Hong Kong falls, running the gauntlet

Subs:
Off Laoag, S-40 tried to get in among the transports, but fails. However, she gets hit twice by DCs. Damage is moderate 48-46(14)-1-0

At Sea:

Night Naval bombardment of Ternate at 78,102

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 4 damaged

Allied Ships
CA Houston
DD Whipple
DD John D. Edwards
DD Edsall
DD Alden

Japanese ground losses:
379 casualties reported
Squads: 3 destroyed, 4 disabled
Non Combat: 15 destroyed, 17 disabled
Engineers: 3 destroyed, 1 disabled

Airbase supply hits 8
Runway hits 26
Port hits 14
Port fuel hits 5
Port supply hits 7

Malaya: [>:]

China:
Hong Kong - the first of many ground attacks includes Ki-21-IIa Sally x 16 and Ki-48-Ib Lily x 25; the second are Ki-21-IIa Sally x 4; the third are Ki-43-Ia Oscar x 7, Ki-48-Ib Lily x 3, Ki-51 Sonia x 19; the fourth are Ki-48-Ib Lily x 9;

Ground combat at Hong Kong (77,61)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 28219 troops, 311 guns, 214 vehicles, Assault Value = 921

Defending force 7264 troops, 130 guns, 78 vehicles, Assault Value = 229

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 2

Japanese adjusted assault: 1343

Allied adjusted defense: 281

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

Japanese forces CAPTURE Hong Kong !!!

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), forts(+), experience(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
676 casualties reported
Squads: 3 destroyed, 40 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 11 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 10 disabled
Guns lost 18 (2 destroyed, 16 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
8227 casualties reported
Squads: 333 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 420 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 27 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 172 (172 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Vehicles lost 92 (92 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units destroyed 6

Assaulting units:
104th Division
38th Division
19th Ind. Engineer Regiment
2nd Mortar Battalion
3rd Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
2nd Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
1st Hvy.Artillery Regiment
20th Ind. Engineer Regiment
23rd Army
20th Ind. Mtn Gun Battalion

Defending units:
Winnipeg Grenadiers Battalion
1st Middlesex Battalion
Rifles of Canada Battalion
Kowloon Brigade
102nd RN Base Force
Hong Kong Fortress

Changsha - AF attacks by Ki-21-Ic Sally x 42; then Ki-27b Nate x 19 escort in Ki-48-Ib Lily x 22

Philippines:
Clark Field - 40 x A6M2 Zero sweeping at 19000 feet (all I have here are recon)
Manila - A6M2 Zero x 37(2) escort in G4M1 Betty x 20(9) and find CAP of P-40E Warhawk x 46(6). He manages to hit xAK Hinsang, Bomb hits 1, heavy damage Nice to see some of those skilled Betty pilots dying [:)]).

Wake:
G4M1 Betty x 20 hits the AF and I'm out of supply!! [X(]

Landings:
Jolo, Rabaul (144 Rgt)

Captured:
Alor Star (empty); Atimonan (33 Rgt); Victoria Point (143 Rgt)

CVs:
Mini-KB is 4 east of Tarakan
KB is 3 SW French Frigate Shoals

Enterprise - 8 NW of Eniwetok (see screnshot)
Lexington - 4 East Ndeni moving NW (hopes to met up with Enterprise in a few days)
Saratoga - 17 Ne of Pearl. We stop to refuel and pick up another CL. She was met by a CA.CL, and 8 DDs last turn.

Notes:
The pace of Japanese offensive operations are slower than I expected.
At San Fran, 111 USN BF, 113 USAAF BF, 47 Construction, and 34 Rgt/24 Div load on fast xAP and xAKs for trip to Christmas Island. I like this base for stop overs and small depot.
2 NZ CLs are four hexes from Rabaul and are ordered in.
5 small xAKLs have gone to Palembang to load supply for Singapore and are now back at Singapore. On Malaya, if you can get back with forces mainly intact, you need more supplies.

[ny59giants]

Dec 14th: A-24s v Zero is not good [:(], Pearl repairing [36-34-0], Enterprise makes it through

Subs:
Antimonan - S-39 is unable to score any hits on transports and/or escorts, but get a DC hits herself [10-13-7-0]
Sargo is operating with many other subs between Saigon and CamRahn Bay. She survives a DC attack
Laoag - S-41 get hit and will retire for repairs [33-47(32)-0-0]
Pickerel is off Takao trying to hit transports coming and going and is not hit by 2 Sub Chasers.

At Sea:

Night Time Surface Combat, near Rabaul at 106,125, Range 2,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CA Aoba
CA Kinugasa, Shell hits 1
CA Furutaka
CA Kako
CL Abukuma
DD Amagiri, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Oboro
DD Akebono
DD Sazanami

Allied Ships
CL Leander
CL Achilles, Shell hits 2, on fire

Low visibility due to Rain with 17% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Rain and 17% moonlight: 2,000 yards
Range closes to 11,000 yards...
Range closes to 10,000 yards...
Range closes to 9,000 yards...
Range closes to 8,000 yards...
Range closes to 7,000 yards...
Range closes to 6,000 yards...
Range closes to 5,000 yards...
Range closes to 4,000 yards...
Range closes to 3,000 yards...
Range closes to 2,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 2,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 2,000 yards
CA Kinugasa engages CL Achilles at 2,000 yards
CL Leander engages CA Kinugasa at 2,000 yards
DD Amagiri engages CL Achilles at 2,000 yards
Range increases to 3,000 yards
CA Kinugasa engages CL Achilles at 3,000 yards
DD Oboro engages CL Achilles at 3,000 yards
CL Achilles engages DD Amagiri at 3,000 yards
Jones, H W orders Allied TF to disengage
Range increases to 5,000 yards
CL Achilles engages CA Kako at 5,000 yards
CA Furutaka engages CL Achilles at 5,000 yards
CL Achilles engages DD Oboro at 5,000 yards
Range increases to 6,000 yards
CL Achilles engages CA Kako at 6,000 yards
CA Kinugasa engages CL Leander at 6,000 yards
CL Achilles engages CL Abukuma at 6,000 yards
CL Achilles engages DD Akebono at 6,000 yards
Task forces break off...
The two NZ CLs are ordered back in for round two. Why?? Lexington and Enterprise are two days away.

Malaya:

(near Kota Bharu)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 7202 troops, 52 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 373

Defending force 1524 troops, 9 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 30

Japanese adjusted assault: 209

Allied adjusted defense: 7

Japanese assault odds: 29 to 1

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), leaders(-), morale(-), experience(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
68 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 11 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Allied ground losses:
642 casualties reported
Squads: 13 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 43 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 2 (2 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units retreated 1

Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
55th Infantry Regiment
56th Infantry Regiment
114th Infantry Regiment

Defending units:
8th Indian Brigade

Burma:
Toungoo - Sally x 24 hits the AF. Results are good for them [H81-A3: 4 destroyed on ground], Airbase hits 1, Airbase supply hits 2, Runway hits 11.

China:
Changsha - 13 Ki-48-Ib Lily hit the AF followed by another 15 Ki-48-Ib Lily escort ed by 19 Ki-27b Nate.
In northern China, my attacks don't go well.

Ground combat at Kweisui (92,35)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 9346 troops, 86 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 300

Defending force 6540 troops, 41 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 246

Allied adjusted assault: 108

Japanese adjusted defense: 685

Allied assault odds: 1 to 6 (fort level 4)

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), forts(+), preparation(-), experience(-)
Attacker: morale(-)

Japanese ground losses:
99 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 8 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 0 disabled

Allied ground losses:
673 casualties reported
Squads: 3 destroyed, 98 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled

Assaulting units:
11th Chinese Corps
3rd Prov Chinese Corps
17th Group Army

Defending units:
13th Indpt Infantry Regiment
3rd Ching An Tui Brigade
1st Ching An Tui Brigade
2nd Ching An Tui Brigade
26th Engineer Regiment

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ground combat at Paotow (92,34)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 4932 troops, 43 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 172

Defending force 2970 troops, 10 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 105

Allied adjusted assault: 86

Japanese adjusted defense: 67

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

Allied Assault reduces fortifications to 0

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

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

Assaulting units:
81st Chinese Corps

Defending units:
9th Garrison Unit

Philippines:
Atimonan - 11 P-40s Warhawks escort in 8 PBY. xAK Imizu Maru, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk. [:)] In the afternoon, 11 P-40B Warhawk escort in 16 PBY-4 Catalina. They don't carry torpedoes [&:], but get a bomb hit on xAK Asahisan Maru.
Jolo - 6 A6M2 Zero from CVL Ryujo are on CAP as 13 A-24 Banshee try to hit the shipping. I lose 4 planes and don't hit anything (their NavB skill is very poor).
Manila - 40 A6M2 Zero face 31 P-40E Warhawk on CAP. I lose 9 more planes for 0 Zeros.[:(] In the afternoon, 5 A6M2 Zero are still on CAP when 4 A-24 Banshee try again to find the transports unloading. I lose another 3 planes. The air group is down to 2 planes. [:@]
Cagayan - 16 G3M2 Nell vs 9 P-26A results in one Nell shot down. AF - [Airbase hits 1,
Airbase supply hits 1, Runway hits 10]. There are 4 B-17s left here trying to repair before going to Soerabaja.

Wake:
20 G4M1 Betty hit the AF and the damage continues to add up [Airbase hits 3, Runway hits 19] Thankfully they hit this base and leave Enterprise and her escorts alone.

Landings:
Rabaul

Captured:
Vigan (empty base), Jolo (1 Indpt SNLF Co)

CVs:
Mini-KB is lost, but suspected to be off northern Celebes
KB is 6 west of French Frigate Shoals

Enterprise is 6 NE of Ponape and should be 4 South after next turn. She stayed over 10 hexes away of Truk and Rio-Namur (didn't want any Jakes spotting me).
Lexington is 7 NE of Tulagi headed NW
Saratoga will arrive at Pearl next turn for fuel and another CL that is finishing up minor repairs from bomb hits. Then to South Pacific

Notes:
48k in supplies are leaving San Fran in 15 Transmarine xAKs with 3 KVs for Pearl
2 Clemson DDs and 2 KVs will escort the transport with troops for Christmas.
2 Marine fighters and 1 SBD from San Diego move to San Fran and PP are used to change commands. Next turn they will go on 16 knot xAKs and along with massive fuel in TK/AOs will head for South Pacific and Australia/NZ under heavy escort.

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

Dec 14th: A-24s v Zero is not good [:(], Pearl repairing [36-34-0], Enterprise makes it through

I know it's really tempting to try to slow him with air assets early, especially if you have the Banshees there. But it makes sense as Allies to me if you hold back and let these groups train for a month, then mass them somewhere like Java. That would make me much more afraid as a Japanese player than seeing them in December spread out in trickles across the DEI.

In the early going your fast surface forces will do the most damage and are really expendable. Especially the US ones which just get replaced anyway.

[ny59giants]

The 2 A-24 groups I moved to Ambon and Kendari are now back at Darwin. The remaining 2 planes from the third group moved to Ambon and will be back at Darwin next turn. I went against my normal rule of training pilots up first before committing them like you mentioned. These three groups will be set to train as I already replaced the leaders to help things out. They will be held out until the groups NavB average is over 50. I hope to use them mainly to defend Port Moresby and base them at Portland Roads (I had a BF from the Pensacola sent here, but it was a Transport TF, not a Amphib TF so they have to go to Townsville to unload and then reload on Amphib TF as Portland Roads starts with port size of 0).

My Dutch groups have just started training as it took almost 10 days to get their morale up to above 90.

OT - Force Z just left Horn Island for Rabaul area. His invasion force at Rabaul shows only infantry, no BFs.

[ny59giants]

Dec 15th: CV Kaga is lucky, Lexington and Enterprise moving to....

Subs:
Saury is off Saigon and misses a big xAP [:(]
near Laysan Island at 161,102 - Pollack launches 4 torpedoes at CV Kaga [X(]

At Sea:

Night Time Surface Combat, near Rabaul at 106,125, Range 2,000 Yards

Allied aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft losses
Walrus II: 1 destroyed

Japanese Ships
CA Aoba
CA Kinugasa, Shell hits 1
CA Furutaka
CA Kako
CL Abukuma
DD Oboro
DD Akebono
DD Sazanami

Allied Ships
CL Leander, Shell hits 4, on fire
CL Achilles, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk

Reduced sighting due to 10% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Overcast Conditions and 10% moonlight: 3,000 yards
Range closes to 10,000 yards...
Range closes to 8,000 yards...
Range closes to 6,000 yards...
Range closes to 4,000 yards...
Range closes to 2,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 2,000 yards
Japanese launch Long Lance torpedoes at 2,000 yards before allies detect Japanese presence
CL Achilles sunk by CA Furutaka at 2,000 yards
CL Leander engages CA Kinugasa at 2,000 yards
Range increases to 4,000 yards
CL Leander engages CA Kako at 4,000 yards
CA Aoba engages CL Leander at 4,000 yards
Range increases to 7,000 yards
CA Furutaka engages CL Leander at 7,000 yards
CL Abukuma engages CL Leander at 7,000 yards
CL Leander engages DD Akebono at 7,000 yards
Jones, H W orders Allied TF to disengage
Task forces break off...

I hope this lose is not in vain.

Malaya: [>:]

Burma:
Rangoon - 12 Oscar sweep an empty sky

China:
Changsha - daily bombing runs...18 Lily, 42 Sally, 21 Lily

SRA:
Brunei - 20 Betty from Jolo attack the xAKs trying to load fuel. An xAK is hit once and sunk.

Philippines:
Manila - 40(1) Zero push aside 16(3) P-40s

Solomons:

Ground combat at Rabaul (106,125)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 4588 troops, 45 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 149

Defending force 2068 troops, 30 guns, 2 vehicles, Assault Value = 57

Japanese adjusted assault: 69

Allied adjusted defense: 39

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 1 (fort level 1)

Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 0

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

Japanese ground losses:
145 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 14 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled

Allied ground losses:
157 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 19 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 8 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled

Assaulting units:
144th Infantry Regiment
III/66th Naval Guard Unit

Defending units:
Lark Battalion
Rabaul Coastal Gun Battalion
Rabaul Det. Base Force

Landings:
Rabaul (con't)

Captured:
Hwaiyin (china) by a brigade vs the HQ; Kavieng by small LCU

CVs:
KB @ 161,102 (10 West of French Frigate Shoals). She seems to have another TF with her that may be AOs. Her movements are still about 4 or 5 hexes per day. [&:]
Mini-KB @ 78,98 (4 North Ternate). Heading south towards Ambon and Kendari, maybe.

Saratoga @ Pearl to refuel and add a CL to TF. She is ordered to head towards Christmas Island.
Lexington @ 115,124 (9 East Rabaul). She is ordered to 4 NE of Rabaul.
Enterprise @ 119,118 (16 NE Rabaul). She will meet Lex.

Notes:
Both Lex and Big "E" were undetected from what I can tell. They will move to take up position NE of Rabaul, but still be in the 4 hex range of Devastators. They will be close enough if he moves his SC TF with those 4 CAs back towards Truk. He wrote in his email that he thinks I'm up to something, but doesn't known what.
Force Z will move into the Solomon Sea and be one day out of Rabaul.

[Mike Solli]

Ouchie. Do you know where KB is?

[ny59giants]

Ouchie. Do you know where KB is?

Mike, You 'might' want to look under the "CV" section. [:D]

CVs:
KB @ 161,102 (10 West of French Frigate Shoals). She seems to have another TF with her that may be AOs. Her movements are still about 4 or 5 hexes per day. [&:]
Mini-KB @ 78,98 (4 North Ternate). Heading south towards Ambon and Kendari, maybe.

Saratoga @ Pearl to refuel and add a CL to TF. She is ordered to head towards Christmas Island.
Lexington @ 115,124 (9 East Rabaul). She is ordered to 4 NE of Rabaul.
Enterprise @ 119,118 (16 NE Rabaul). She will meet Lex.