Rumble in the Southwest witpqs-A vs Andav-J 2011-11-29 to 2017-02-08

[princep01]

Nicely done!  You should be able to clear out before KB can extract any meaningful revenge. 
 
I think you pulled a fast one on him at New Caledonia.  I cannot see any hope of him holding the island even with KB in command of the immediate sea.  If his gambit was to use the island as bait to set up a decisive battle among the CVs, then it has failed.
 
Too bad the torpedo magnetic, Saratoga, took two.  However, she should be able to make port and repair.  Same for S Dakota.  Also, too bad you didn't seriously hole that underwater sneak, I-30.  IJN subs drive me bonkers.

[witpqs]

1942 November 04

The Empire captured:


The Allies captured:
Noumea

There were Imperial amphibious operations at:


There were Allied amphibious operations at:


In china there were some of those strange combats.

Ground combat at 66,44 (near Paoshan)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 849 troops, 39 guns, 71 vehicles, Assault Value = 41

Defending force 20065 troops, 109 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 583

Japanese adjusted assault: 15

Allied adjusted defense: 1402

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 93

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

Allied ground losses:
30 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Assaulting units:
1st Tank Regiment
5th Mortar Battalion

Defending units:
35th Chinese Corps
54th Chinese Corps


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

Ground combat at 74,50 (near Kweiyang)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 2682 troops, 0 guns, 497 vehicles, Assault Value = 280

Defending force 5735 troops, 49 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 194

Japanese adjusted assault: 204

Allied adjusted defense: 310

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 2

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

Allied ground losses:
370 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 65 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled

Assaulting units:
4th Tank Regiment
3rd Tank Regiment
10th Tank Regiment
5th Tank Regiment
9th Tank Regiment
23rd Tank Regiment
11th Tank Regiment

Defending units:
64th Chinese Corps

Over in Burma things went better.

Ground combat at 55,44 (near Cox's Bazar)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 35621 troops, 590 guns, 1039 vehicles, Assault Value = 1227

Defending force 17386 troops, 146 guns, 70 vehicles, Assault Value = 401

Allied adjusted assault: 579

Japanese adjusted defense: 517

Allied assault odds: 1 to 1

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), disruption(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
1947 casualties reported
Squads: 28 destroyed, 186 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 54 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 8 disabled
Guns lost 23 (4 destroyed, 19 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
283 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 24 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 24 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 8 disabled
Vehicles lost 75 (7 destroyed, 68 disabled)

Assaulting units:
75th IAC Regiment
27th Infantry Division
Americal Infantry Division
I Aus Corps Engineer Battalion
754th Tank Battalion
3rd Cavalry Regiment
2/10th Armoured Regiment
7th Armoured Brigade
3rd Carabiniers Regiment
23rd Indian Brigade
88th Indian Brigade
XV Indian Corps
21st Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
2/9th Field Regiment
2/11th Field Regiment
25th Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
2/1st Med Regiment
22nd Indian Mountain Gun Regiment

Defending units:
Imperial Guards Division
78th Infantry Regiment
146th Infantry Regiment

Although the 2EBs suffered disproportionately due to scandalous lack of escorts. The ground troops will attack again tomorrow with some air support, but the British, et al 2EBs will stand down.

Noumea was a snap!

Ground combat at Noumea (115,160)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 14527 troops, 196 guns, 235 vehicles, Assault Value = 556

Defending force 4080 troops, 20 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 101

Allied adjusted assault: 947

Japanese adjusted defense: 100

Allied assault odds: 9 to 1 (fort level 2)

Allied forces CAPTURE Noumea !!!

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

Japanese ground losses:
666 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 80 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 10 (7 destroyed, 3 disabled)

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

Assaulting units:
3rd Marine Division
1st USMC Tank Battalion
3rd Pioneer Battalion
2nd AmphTrac Engineer Battalion
3rd NZ Division

Defending units:
Guards Mixed Brigade

The troops have zero disruption and only trivial fatigue, so they will continue attacking to destroy the Guards Mixed Brigade. The base is in good shape with just 8 port damage.

Several IJN subs were encountered along the line of the fleet's withdrawal. The KB appears to have moved slightly back, although the surface combat group with it is not seen. There is lots of heavy weather and overcast throughout the region, but tomorrow's forecast calls for clear weather. Saratoga is breaking off with 2 x DD and will make a roundabout course toward Wellington, although if it is thought that the submarine menace is bypassed course will be rest for Suva. The objective is to leave her air group on Fiji.

In the lower left you see the escort TFs for Saratoga and South Dakota (which has only 14 knots top speed), in hex with the Lexington TF. Just below are the other carriers and battleships.

[witpqs]

1942 November 05

The Empire captured:


The Allies captured:


There were Imperial amphibious operations at:


There were Allied amphibious operations at:


Flash News Alert:

RCMP Kamloops Base Force - some devices have been upgraded at Kamloops

We're saved!

The Empire continues grinding forward in China.

Ground combat at 74,50 (near Kweiyang)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 2682 troops, 0 guns, 497 vehicles, Assault Value = 280

Defending force 5384 troops, 49 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 146

Japanese adjusted assault: 194

Allied adjusted defense: 214

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 2

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

Japanese ground losses:
Vehicles lost 5 (1 destroyed, 4 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
365 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 35 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Guns lost 11 (1 destroyed, 10 disabled)

Assaulting units:
4th Tank Regiment
9th Tank Regiment
23rd Tank Regiment
10th Tank Regiment
5th Tank Regiment
3rd Tank Regiment
11th Tank Regiment

Defending units:
64th Chinese Corps


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at 73,51 (near Tuyun)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 12937 troops, 98 guns, 7 vehicles, Assault Value = 394

Defending force 3101 troops, 4 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 141

Japanese adjusted assault: 365

Allied adjusted defense: 235

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 1

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

Japanese ground losses:
448 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 40 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Allied ground losses:
584 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 89 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Assaulting units:
30th Infantry Regiment
66th Infantry Regiment
104th/B Division

Defending units:
15th Chinese Corps

The loyal Imperials bombarded at Noumea, but only hurt themselves. There were tough air battles over the active battle zone in Burma. The ground game is going well there.

Ground combat at 55,44 (near Cox's Bazar)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 35389 troops, 590 guns, 1033 vehicles, Assault Value = 1133

Defending force 15622 troops, 143 guns, 70 vehicles, Assault Value = 262

Allied adjusted assault: 588

Japanese adjusted defense: 361

Allied assault odds: 1 to 1

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), disruption(-), fatigue(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
1835 casualties reported
Squads: 6 destroyed, 85 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 29 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Guns lost 17 (3 destroyed, 14 disabled)
Vehicles lost 6 (1 destroyed, 5 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
141 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 16 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 6 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Vehicles lost 28 (3 destroyed, 25 disabled)

Assaulting units:
754th Tank Battalion
75th IAC Regiment
Americal Infantry Division
3rd Cavalry Regiment
3rd Carabiniers Regiment
7th Armoured Brigade
I Aus Corps Engineer Battalion
2/10th Armoured Regiment
27th Infantry Division
88th Indian Brigade
XV Indian Corps
2/9th Field Regiment
21st Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
2/11th Field Regiment
25th Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
2/1st Med Regiment
22nd Indian Mountain Gun Regiment

Defending units:
Imperial Guards Division
78th Infantry Regiment
146th Infantry Regiment

At Noumea the mop up operation continues, with the sacrificial loyalists trapped against the Kiwi anvil.

Ground combat at Noumea (115,160)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 14539 troops, 196 guns, 235 vehicles, Assault Value = 554

Defending force 3444 troops, 15 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 35

Allied adjusted assault: 1859

Japanese adjusted defense: 25

Allied assault odds: 74 to 1

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

Japanese ground losses:
582 casualties reported
Squads: 51 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 4 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Allied ground losses:
15 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Assaulting units:
3rd Marine Division
1st USMC Tank Battalion
2nd AmphTrac Engineer Battalion
3rd Pioneer Battalion
3rd NZ Division

Defending units:
Guards Mixed Brigade

There is no present sign of the KB, so further operations are resuming. There appears to be an IJN CL hanging out at Nanumea.

CL Detroit has made it to Palmyra trouble-free and is pumping out remaining flooding prior to making the trip to Pearl Harbor. CLs Concord and Trenton joined CA Quincy at Auckland where they will be ship shape inside of 2 weeks. Quincy will take 2 more months. Plus time for her refit. DD Lang is there will require more than 2 weeks, plus another 2 for her refit.

Lexington has joined Wasp in Sting, while Hornet transferred to Purpose (joining Yorktown and Enterprise). Adm Pye's Northern Cover is now made up of 4 x CA and 4 x DD. Lead, formerly a carrier TF, is now made up of 4 x CA and 4 x DD. The whole lot, plus the 2 remaining fast battleships in Hammer, are steaming back up to Noumea to cover the arrival of a parade of convoys. There is already a squadron of fighters at Noumea but they are in response mode rather than flying CAP because they lack any ground support. Noumea itself is building fortifications against the possibility of Imperial heavy units bombarding. When preparations are adequate facilities will be expanded.

A CL is again seen in port at Efate. Southern Cover, with 2 x CA and 1 x DD, will make for a position SE of Noumea from which a night bombardment run can be made on Efate.

Here is an overview map, with some positive changes.

[witpqs]

1942 November 06

The Empire captured:


The Allies captured:
Lifou

There were Imperial amphibious operations at:


There were Allied amphibious operations at:


Trying to hold the line in China...

Ground combat at 74,50 (near Kweiyang)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 384 troops, 0 guns, 71 vehicles, Assault Value = 277

Defending force 5133 troops, 48 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 110

Japanese adjusted assault: 15

Allied adjusted defense: 151

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 10

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

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

Assaulting units:
5th Tank Regiment
9th Tank Regiment
4th Tank Regiment
3rd Tank Regiment
23rd Tank Regiment
10th Tank Regiment
11th Tank Regiment

Defending units:
64th Chinese Corps


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

Ground combat at 73,51 (near Tuyun)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 12654 troops, 98 guns, 7 vehicles, Assault Value = 366

Defending force 2602 troops, 4 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 74

Japanese adjusted assault: 147

Allied adjusted defense: 55

Japanese assault odds: 2 to 1

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

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

Allied ground losses:
927 casualties reported
Squads: 44 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 17 destroyed, 4 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Units retreated 1

Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
66th Infantry Regiment
30th Infantry Regiment
104th/B Division

Defending units:
15th Chinese Corps

Near Akyab the air battle went well, and the ground battle even better.

Ground combat at 55,44 (near Cox's Bazar)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 35300 troops, 590 guns, 1035 vehicles, Assault Value = 1119

Defending force 14314 troops, 140 guns, 69 vehicles, Assault Value = 161

Allied adjusted assault: 813

Japanese adjusted defense: 107

Allied assault odds: 7 to 1

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

Japanese ground losses:
5110 casualties reported
Squads: 220 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 182 destroyed, 35 disabled
Engineers: 11 destroyed, 2 disabled
Guns lost 34 (23 destroyed, 11 disabled)
Vehicles lost 20 (13 destroyed, 7 disabled)
Units retreated 3

Allied ground losses:
245 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 14 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 7 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 28 disabled
Vehicles lost 22 (2 destroyed, 20 disabled)

Defeated Japanese Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
7th Armoured Brigade
I Aus Corps Engineer Battalion
27th Infantry Division
3rd Cavalry Regiment
2/10th Armoured Regiment
3rd Carabiniers Regiment
75th IAC Regiment
754th Tank Battalion
Americal Infantry Division
88th Indian Brigade
XV Indian Corps
25th Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
2/1st Med Regiment
2/9th Field Regiment
2/11th Field Regiment
21st Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
22nd Indian Mountain Gun Regiment

Defending units:
Imperial Guards Division
146th Infantry Regiment
78th Infantry Regiment

The battle will shortly move to Akyab itself. There are 2 x CL seen 80nm west of Cox's Bazar, perhaps there to sink our xAKL making a supply run. She and her escort have disbanded into the harbor to seek shelter.

Imperial resistance at Noumea has ended.

Ground combat at Noumea (115,160)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 14541 troops, 196 guns, 235 vehicles, Assault Value = 554

Defending force 2874 troops, 15 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 11

Allied adjusted assault: 1085

Japanese adjusted defense: 13

Allied assault odds: 83 to 1

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

Japanese ground losses:
3103 casualties reported
Squads: 144 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 72 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 19 (19 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units destroyed 1

Allied ground losses:
39 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 10 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Assaulting units:
3rd Marine Division
1st USMC Tank Battalion
3rd Pioneer Battalion
2nd AmphTrac Engineer Battalion
3rd NZ Division

Defending units:
Guards Mixed Brigade

More sub-aircraft activity around Karachi. Maybe another wave of attacks shaping up!

There were loads of sub encounters west of New Caledonia, and CA Astoria in Northern Cover was holed with one fish by I-35. She stands at 11-21(14)-0-0 damage. She and DD Hughes will make for Sydney to repair and refit.

Sweeps over Milne Bay did well. Combined with the air battles over Burma it was a good day in the air for the Allies.

[witpqs]

1942 November 07

The Empire captured:


The Allies captured:


There were Imperial amphibious operations at:


There were Allied amphibious operations at:


That TF in the Bay of Bengal did not cause any mischief. Unless they laid mines unseen?

Many sub encounters off New Caledonia, especially in the night. CA Indianapolis was struck with 3 torpedoes and sank. We are getting more hits in, of course depth charges are being used up too.

Southern Cover hit Efate, but no joy on any shipping.

Night Naval bombardment of Efate at 120,154

Allied Ships
CA Canberra
CA Australia

Port hits 17
Port supply hits 10

CA Canberra firing at Efate
CA Australia firing at Efate

That should put quite a dent in the supply situation. Good show!

The 14th NZ is on board ships at Noumea and will commence unloading tonight. The USA 193rd and 194th Tank Bns have unloaded and will make haste toward Koumac. Is it even still occupied? The rest of the 8th NZ support complement is finally unloading at La Foa. Other convoys are heading in to Noumea, but at least one is circling a bit to avoid the submarine menace. Adequate air support is now present at Noumea, with lots more on the way. Fortifications made level 2, just one more before the airfield is expanded.

CL Detroit has finished pumping out at Palmyra and is bound for Pearl Harbor. BB South Dakota made temporary flotation repairs at sea and is now on a course for Pearl Harbor via a hopefully safe route. Here is a look at the Intel screen.

[witpqs]

1942 November 08

The Empire captured:


The Allies captured:
Mare'

There were Imperial amphibious operations at:


There were Allied amphibious operations at:


In China the Empire continued exerting its pressure.

Ground combat at 74,50 (near Kweiyang)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 2676 troops, 0 guns, 496 vehicles, Assault Value = 278

Defending force 5134 troops, 48 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 108

Japanese adjusted assault: 212

Allied adjusted defense: 298

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 2

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), leaders(+)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
Vehicles lost 6 (1 destroyed, 5 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
220 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 35 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled

Assaulting units:
9th Tank Regiment
10th Tank Regiment
23rd Tank Regiment
4th Tank Regiment
5th Tank Regiment
3rd Tank Regiment
11th Tank Regiment

Defending units:
64th Chinese Corps


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

Ground combat at Patung (81,46)

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 12375 troops, 98 guns, 4 vehicles, Assault Value = 671

Defending force 23541 troops, 156 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 466

Assaulting units:
60th Infantry Brigade
41st Division
3rd Infantry Regiment

Defending units:
8th Chinese Corps
45th Chinese Corps
1st Chinese Cavalry Corps
7th Construction Regiment
39th Group Army
8th Construction Regiment


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

Ground combat at 83,34 (near Lanchow)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 3882 troops, 26 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 127

Defending force 21894 troops, 113 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 549

Japanese adjusted assault: 24

Allied adjusted defense: 317

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 13

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), disruption(-), experience(-), supply(-)
Attacker: shock(+), leaders(-), disruption(-)

Japanese ground losses:
1111 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 113 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Allied ground losses:
59 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 3 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Assaulting units:
11th Indpt Infantry Regiment

Defending units:
82nd Chinese Corps
9th Prov Chinese Corps
85th Chinese Corps
22nd Group Army

That last one - the river crossing near Lanchow with 113 out of 127 squads disabled - presents an opportunity. The troops will stop and attack. Even though it seems like they are certain to overwhelm the invaders there is risk. Supplies are difficult, enemy air support superior, the troops hurting. But the odds are such that we must try.

CLs Kitakami and Oi bombarded Cox's Bazar, basically achieving nothing. Near Karachi it was blood on the water. Two tankers and a small merchant were sacrificed to the shark god.

Imperial carriers showed up near the Ellice Islands and put an AVD on the bottom. They also made a port attack on Vaitupu, but the AVDs had moved to Nukufetea. That's where they destroyed one.

Seven Imperial submarines currently spotted just west of Noumea. There was only one encounter with them, a preemptive ASW attack, as the fleet transited through Noumea to the eastern side. The fleet will dance a little tomorrow, but stay east. There are 396 defensive mines at Noumea in case Imperial subs try the short route...

[princep01]

I know your escorts have been tied up with the invasion fleet recently, but now might be a good time to create a pair (at least) of ASW TFs to engage the sharks off Noumea.  They are more vulnerable when spotted by air.
 
Similarly, off Karachi, it would be nice to have a couple of Br ASW groups working those sharks for shark steaks.  Air to spot and occasionally attack; those excellent Br ASW ships to hunt, damage and kill the slinking underwater devils!  A seriously damaged sub off Karachi is one you will not see again.  Good riddance!  As you know, those tankers are valuable and will become even moreso as your offensives began to become larger and more far-flung.  There never seems to be enough fuel in 43/44.
 
Of course, this comes from one who is all but allergic to IJN subs.  Stinking torpedo envy is what it is:).

[witpqs]

ORIGINAL: princep01

I know your escorts have been tied up with the invasion fleet recently, but now might be a good time to create a pair (at least) of ASW TFs to engage the sharks off Noumea.  They are more vulnerable when spotted by air.

Similarly, off Karachi, it would be nice to have a couple of Br ASW groups working those sharks for shark steaks.  Air to spot and occasionally attack; those excellent Br ASW ships to hunt, damage and kill the slinking underwater devils!  A seriously damaged sub off Karachi is one you will not see again.  Good riddance!  As you know, those tankers are valuable and will become even moreso as your offensives began to become larger and more far-flung.  There never seems to be enough fuel in 43/44.

Of course, this comes from one who is all but allergic to IJN subs.  Stinking torpedo envy is what it is:).

I've got dedicated ASW groups coming in from Sydney and Auckland, but that will take a few days. At Karachi I've had 3 x dedicated ASW groups operating for a long time, just not the British DDs. Now that it looks like he's concentrating his navy in the Pacific I might send a group. Around Noumea there have been quite a few reported hits on them by planes, too. One is reported sunk there recently, and another near Kirakira. That one would be a damaged sub on the way home. And while my ASW capable ships are expanding DCs at least his subs are expending torps missing shots at DDs. I just moved a Hudson group from Fiji to Noumea, which should help both with solidifying search coverage and ASW. They are ASW trained and reported quite a number of hits off Suva.

I also noted a CL again at Efate, and what likely are search planes. B-17s are making a port attack tomorrow. If that doesn't nail the sucker then a group or two from the carriers will hit it as they swing around that way.

BTW, I'm still toying with the idea of Ndeni/Efate with 5 x carriers.

[princep01]

Be ye careful, as there may be dragons there (Efate, and especially as far north as Ndeni).
 
Perhaps something to draw the dragon's attention elsewhere?  Should the horror fly near, say the Gilberts, then a stab at Efate, Loganville and/or Ndeni might be just th eticket...."hit'em where they ain't". 
 
I suspect from your earlier writings that Efate is not strongly garrisoned.  Loganville and Ndeni???  Do you have intel on the latter two? 

[witpqs]

ORIGINAL: princep01

Be ye careful, as there may be dragons there (Efate, and especially as far north as Ndeni).

Perhaps something to draw the dragon's attention elsewhere?  Should the horror fly near, say the Gilberts, then a stab at Efate, Loganville and/or Ndeni might be just th eticket...."hit'em where they ain't". 

I suspect from your earlier writings that Efate is not strongly garrisoned.  Loganville and Ndeni???  Do you have intel on the latter two? 

Yes, even though I said Efate and Ndeni, I really meant to say Efate and Luganville.

[witpqs]

ORIGINAL: witpqs

ORIGINAL: princep01

Be ye careful, as there may be dragons there (Efate, and especially as far north as Ndeni).

Perhaps something to draw the dragon's attention elsewhere?  Should the horror fly near, say the Gilberts, then a stab at Efate, Loganville and/or Ndeni might be just th eticket...."hit'em where they ain't". 

I suspect from your earlier writings that Efate is not strongly garrisoned.  Loganville and Ndeni???  Do you have intel on the latter two? 

Yes, even though I said Efate and Ndeni, I really meant to say Efate and Luganville.

Scratch that - early morning confusion. I did mean Ndeni & Luganville, the op we talked about earlier. I have a division 100% prepped for each.

I know Ndeni is a stretch, which - with now only 5 carriers - has to be looked at very carefully before proceeding. If I go ahead with that op, then for one thing maybe the 4 available CVEs (not counting the too slow Long Island) would be used for USMC fighters, and both targets would be attacked at once. The method would be to move on Ndeni. Behind them, the Luganville invasion force would move in, effectively being screened by the advanced force at Ndeni. Both forces would be shallow loaded on APs/AKs only for one-turn unloading. I only have Intel on one regiment at Ndeni, although it must have auto-captured after a landing so I haven't seen what force initially captured it. I am not adverse to having a division stuck there while Luganville comes on line to stomp on whatever reinforcements are sent against them.

BTW, I have no units prepped for Efate as I had planned to simply bypass it. I might have 3rd MarDiv plan for it now that Noumea is secured. Although I'm dumping loads of engineers on New Caledonia, I'll soon be getting some to Tanna to start that air base building. The remainder of the 1st USMC Para Bn is being loaded to join the bulk of the combat squads who seized Tanna. The Bn will stay as security for a while.

The essence of the op to seize Ndeni along with Luganville is speed of getting there, to catch them when they are elsewhere, as you say. This is not a definite "go now at all costs" operation, but will be looked at each turn as soon as I am ready to send it.

Also, I think part of the strikes against the advanced search bases in the Ellice Islands is for their own results, and more importantly to try drawing away my carriers. Keep them running (and needing to refuel), use up sorties, draw them into an unfavorable combat (with an unseen KB lurking to support the seen sKB), and otherwise distract them.

[witpqs]

1942 November 09

The Empire captured:


The Allies captured:
Erromango

There were Imperial amphibious operations at:


There were Allied amphibious operations at:


About a dozen each of Helens and Tojos went down over Burma trying to run interference for the Imperial evacuation of Akyab. Our troops were not slowed at all. Possibly tomorrow they will make Akyab.

I'm been wondering about a raid on the WC SLOC given that I've poured naval assets southward and left little more than ASW assets in place there. Troop convoys are carefully routed so that any intruders would almost certainly hit the many supply convoys first and thereby have time to flee. So now this:

Day Time Surface Combat, near Karachi at 38,5, Range 7,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
AMC Asaka Maru, Shell hits 1
AMC Awata Maru

Allied Ships
TK Thorshavn, Shell hits 2

Poor visibility due to Thunderstorms
Maximum visibility in Thunderstorms: 7,000 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...
Range closes to 12,000 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...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 7,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 7,000 yards
Orita, O. crosses the 'T'
AMC Awata Maru engages TK Thorshavn at 7,000 yards
Range closes to 6,000 yards
Range increases to 8,000 yards
AMC Asaka Maru engages TK Thorshavn at 8,000 yards
AMC Asaka Maru engages TK Thorshavn at 8,000 yards
Range increases to 9,000 yards
AMC Asaka Maru engages TK Thorshavn at 9,000 yards
Range increases to 13,000 yards
Range increases to 17,000 yards
AMC Awata Maru engages TK Thorshavn at 17,000 yards
Range increases to 19,000 yards
AMC Awata Maru engages TK Thorshavn at 19,000 yards
Task forces break off...


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Time Surface Combat, near Karachi at 38,5, Range 2,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
AMC Asaka Maru
AMC Awata Maru

Allied Ships
xAK Baroda, Shell hits 4, heavy fires
xAK Hupeh
xAK Barjora, Shell hits 6, heavy fires
xAK Nord, Shell hits 2

Reduced visibility due to Thunderstorms
Maximum visibility in Thunderstorms: 2,000 yards
Range closes to 19,000 yards...
Range closes to 17,000 yards...
Range closes to 15,000 yards...
Range closes to 13,000 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
AMC Awata Maru engages xAK Baroda at 2,000 yards
AMC Awata Maru engages xAK Barjora at 2,000 yards
Range increases to 4,000 yards
AMC Asaka Maru engages xAK Barjora at 4,000 yards
AMC Asaka Maru engages xAK Barjora at 4,000 yards
AMC Awata Maru engages xAK Hupeh at 4,000 yards
AMC Awata Maru engages xAK Baroda at 4,000 yards
AMC Awata Maru engages xAK Nord at 4,000 yards
AMC Asaka Maru engages xAK Barjora at 4,000 yards
AMC Awata Maru engages xAK Barjora at 4,000 yards
AMC Awata Maru engages xAK Baroda at 4,000 yards
Range increases to 6,000 yards
AMC Awata Maru engages xAK Baroda at 6,000 yards
AMC Asaka Maru engages xAK Baroda at 6,000 yards
Task forces break off...

The RN battleships are sortieing toward Socotra. The RN carriers more toward Arabia. They should be able to cut off escape for the AMCs and destroy them. The Catalina group training at Karachi is switching to its first live search exercise.

DD Hughes and CA Astoria are now in port at Sydney and entering the ship yard for repairs and refit. Efate harbor looks empty and an AV is spotted just north of Luganville, so any raid on Efate is off for now. Still some dancing going on with the battle fleet near Noumea. Only one sub seemed to reposition and it was hit once on the way through Noumea by an escort. The APDs bring the paras to the Belep Islands tomorrow. Trenchard's Torpedoes will provide cover by running a patrol route to the north.

[witpqs]

1942 November 10

The Empire captured:


The Allies captured:


There were Imperial amphibious operations at:


There were Allied amphibious operations at:
Belep Islands

Holding the line in China.

Ground combat at Patung (81,46)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 24985 troops, 172 guns, 4 vehicles, Assault Value = 762

Defending force 23528 troops, 156 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 468

Japanese adjusted assault: 492

Allied adjusted defense: 865

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 2 (fort level 3)

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

Japanese ground losses:
1627 casualties reported
Squads: 8 destroyed, 148 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 12 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 5 disabled

Allied ground losses:
647 casualties reported
Squads: 3 destroyed, 42 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 22 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 4 disabled

Assaulting units:
60th Infantry Brigade
3rd Infantry Regiment
41st Division
58th Infantry Regiment

Defending units:
45th Chinese Corps
8th Chinese Corps
1st Chinese Cavalry Corps
7th Construction Regiment
39th Group Army
8th Construction Regiment

One AMC is down. One group of Swordfish was befuddled by weather, and then again later in the day.

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Masirah at 31,8

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid spotted at 16 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes

Allied aircraft
Martlet II x 9
Swordfish I x 6

No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
AMC Awata Maru, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x Swordfish I launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Mk XII Torpedo

The first units have arrived at Akyab and the rest will arrive tomorrow in combat formation. Meanwhile the two artillery units among the early arrivals will conduct a recon bombardment.

The Imperial sharks are having trouble locating their prey near New Caledonia. Three aerial hits on subs reported this day, two of them on I-174. There are possibly enemy carriers in the Coral Sea W or SW of Guadalcanal. We will soon have search reaching that far. The sKB shortly ago near the Ellice Islands is not seen. It appears that Koumac is empty, as the two tank Bns bearing down on that terminus have reports of contact from advanced scouts. As Koumac will be taken quickly, base forces are now beginning to move from Noumea. Saratoga has offloaded her air group at Suva and now begins the journey to Pearl Harbor for repair and refit. Two more USA fighter groups transfered to Noumea, making three on CAP. The battle fleet will move a bit south to commence refueling away from those pesky submarines. Belep Islands is invaded, is undefended, and will be seized tomorrow. An AVP will be on site immediately to begin supporting search operations.

[princep01]

Any idea what those Japanese ships are at Ndeni and what they might be up to (reinforcements?).  Nice thing about Ndeni is it is not an atoll and is within 4E range of the entire lower Solomons.  A nice place for a big bomber base at this stage of the war.  But, not to get ahead of ourselves, Loganville makes a nice base (and port) and Noumea an outright excellent port for sorties aimed at creating all sorts of mayhem.
 
Fun stage of the game.  The Japanese are still quite the dangerous sorts, but you're rather "bad" yourself:).

[BBfanboy]

I'm curious about your experience with the wandering sub patrols. I tried multi-hex patrols in my sandbox initial games against the AI but found that the subs didn't detect much or attack much when they were busy transiting from zone to zone.

I had far better luck when I put the sub on single hex patrol at or near a choke point and waited for victims. I monitored the subs DLs and if they were detected at all I moved them a hex or two for a couple of turns and then returned them to their hunting grounds. This uses far less fuel and give much greater time on station before returning to replenish. I am not expecting the subs to do naval search but if my air search [or a battle] finds something juicy I rush subs to the likely course and set them on single hex patrols. I've had lots of luck intercepting cripples this way. Results are matter of dice roll luck though. But if you don't try, you can't succeed!

[princep01]

BBFan, do you give your subs a reaction level?  I typically use 2 search zones with a react of 1.  However, I have to say, I really am not having much luck with Allied subs thru 6/42.  I find the Japanese ships frequently enough, but those early war, Allied torpedos leave much to be desired:).  So far, I have had three shots at large CVs only to have them go....clunk!.
 
I am careful not to set their search zones adjacent to a port with known mines as I have had them react into such hexs with dire results.

[witpqs]

1942 November 11

The Empire captured:


The Allies captured:
Belep Islands

There were Imperial amphibious operations at:


There were Allied amphibious operations at:


The remaining AMC has disappeared in the Arabian Sea. Sadly, the Imperial sharks have not.

Sub attack near Karachi at 39,7

Japanese Ships
SS I-162

Allied Ships
TK British Aviator, Shell hits 2, Torpedo hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage

TK British Aviator is sighted by SS I-162
SS I-162 attacking TK British Aviator on the surface


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Submarine attack near Karachi at 39,7

Japanese Ships
SS I-173

Allied Ships
TK British Unity

TK British Unity is sighted by SS I-173
SS I-173 launches 2 torpedoes at TK British Unity


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Submarine attack near Karachi at 39,7

Japanese Ships
SS I-173, hits 1

Allied Ships
xAKL Hermod, Shell hits 8, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

xAKL Hermod is sighted by SS I-173
SS I-173 attacking xAKL Hermod on the surface

IJN subs don't have it all there own way, though!

TF 257 encounters mine field at Noumea (115,160)

Japanese Ships
SS I-30, Mine hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

Here is the scorecard from the bombardment at Akyab. The boys attack tomorrow.

Ground combat at Akyab (54,45)

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 1743 troops, 148 guns, 74 vehicles, Assault Value = 1021

Defending force 19490 troops, 189 guns, 63 vehicles, Assault Value = 365

Japanese ground losses:
9 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)

Assaulting units:
I Aus Corps Engineer Battalion
75th IAC Regiment
3rd Carabiniers Regiment
27th Infantry Division
754th Tank Battalion
Americal Infantry Division
2/10th Armoured Regiment
7th Armoured Brigade
3rd Cavalry Regiment
2/11th Field Regiment
2/1st Med Regiment
2/9th Field Regiment
25th Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
21st Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
22nd Indian Mountain Gun Regiment

Defending units:
21st/A Division
146th Infantry Regiment
Imperial Guards Division
21st/C Division
78th Infantry Regiment
3rd Naval Construction Battalion

There were two attacks on Trenchard's Torpedoes NE of New Caledonia.

Morning Air attack on TF, near Lakatoro at 116,151

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 38 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 18 minutes

Japanese aircraft
E13A1 Jake x 3

Japanese aircraft losses
E13A1 Jake: 1 damaged

Allied Ships
CL Perth

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x E13A1 Jake bombing from 6000 feet
Naval Attack: 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Lakatoro at 116,151

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid detected at 39 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 19 minutes

Japanese aircraft
E13A1 Jake x 3

Japanese aircraft losses
E13A1 Jake: 2 damaged

Allied Ships
CL Achilles

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x E13A1 Jake bombing from 6000 feet
Naval Attack: 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb

See the screen pic below. Trenchard's Torpedoes will attempt to intercept the AV 80nm from them tonight.

Koumac is not abandoned! The unit present is unknown, so the armored Bns are deploying into combat formation to await the arrival of the 14th NZ Bde.

The Beleps Islands was the scene of several sub encounters today, the the little escort PC kept them away from the AVP. As a result, Belep Islands is now activating as a search base. If DL on Allied subs is any indicator, there are now Imperial carriers east of Ontong Java and NW of Ndeni. Meanwhile the subs around Noumea have thinned.

Both cruiser forces with the battle fleet (Lead and Northern Cover) have refueled at sea and are now heading to the AKEs at Noumea to reload depth charges. The carrier and battleship TFs will refuel over the next two days and then reload their own ASW ammo. There is one more group of AP/AK ships heading for Suva, the rest already are there and have refueled.

[witpqs]

Well, the ship(s) seen at Ndeni are gone but I'm torn about an assessment. On the one hand I think that the AV seen now (see screen shot above) has been moving in and out of Efate to avoid destruction, and was near Ndeni last turn. On the other hand, two Alf attacks came against Trenchard's Torpedoes from a vector that seemed to bypass that AV by maybe ~30 degrees to the west, indicating another Alf carrier north and west of her. Set a patrol for TT to run into the AVs presumed (northern) retreat path and then back south hopefully out of harm's way by daylight.

Subs - very rarely do I use a single hex patrol. Always have React=1 (the most allowed). Sometimes two patrol corners and sometimes 3, just depending on what I want to cover. Really I wish they allowed 4 or 5 corners. They find Imperial ships just fine, although since DAW cleared out the relevant parts of China I have seen very little, if any, traffic up that way. I think that bigger patrol zones make the subs more survivable by getting down their detection levels. YMMV.

[princep01]

Interesting thoughts on how to deploy Allied subs.  Of the three commenting, none of us do it the same.
 
Just one Admiral's view, but here is my take on what was/is going on at Ndeni.  The ships at Ndeni were, in fact, a sizeable reinforcement convoy.  Admiral Wa forward deployed an AV to provide early warning should a group like TF TT try to sneak in at night and sink that valuable convoy of reinforcements while it was discharging cargo (a relatively slow proposition at a port like the one that probably exists there).  The CVs were in deep cover in case the Allies tried either an invasion of Ndeni or, more likely, sent the flattops in to sink that convoy.
 
I'd say that this all shows you the value of that island to Admiral Wa.  It is a VERY important assst for attacking the lower half of the Solomons and I do not think him blind to that fact.  Loganville/Efate are likely just give'mes....but be ready for a fight at Ndeni.  I think he is preparing for one.
 
Again, I want to say, nothing I have said here is in anyway connected to any communication I have had with Admiral Wa...there have not been any in several months.  Further, if he is still writing anything in ANY AAR, I have not seen it and do not look for it.  It is purely and only my assessment of what I see in your AAR.

[BBfanboy]

I don't think the disclaimer was required princep01 - no one has had cause to doubt your integrity.
Of course, that does not preclude a Congressional Inquiry to as "What did you know and when did you know it!". Politicians have reputations to build, y'know! [:D]