Hairy Asian Experiences - GreyJoy (J) vs. Q-Ball (A)

[veji1]

ORIGINAL: GreyJoy

ORIGINAL: Gräfin Zeppelin

ORIGINAL: GreyJoy

Tabiutea

I am almost sure you meant Tabiteuea.

And I have doubts about the Gilberts. I doubt Q-Ball even knows where they are. He will land right in your face with overwhelming quantity and quality where it hurts most.

No pressure.

Ok, where it could be this landing site so? The way i see it, it's too early for a direct drive to the Mariannas. His Carriers are now strong, can't deny that, but he will have to rely only on them for such a move, and with Wake and Marcus in my hands, full of Mavis/Emilies, there's no way such an invasion army could slip through without being seen. I'll have the time to get there in force and fight him back. Sumatra is another possibility, but, then again, i think it's quite early for such a move. I have some decent garrisons there and 3/4 divisions are ready as a mobile reserve in Java/singapore. The Kuriles? They are decently garrisoned and, with the winter season already in place, i can't see how he can risk to land there now.

What do you have in mind ?

I honnestly think he won't go for a super bold move. It is still early and I think he has a sense of how you play as well : You have been surprised by his way of nimbling you everywhere but you have shown that you are overexposed nowhere and have planned for a conservative defense...

His situation is good enough that he won't risk everything with a too bold move. he will i think rather keep pushing everywhere ie get you rolling back in Burma, finding a few small bases in DEI where he can land by coup de main and start building up for a big drive and hit the Marshalls, without massive investment, because it keeps you busy too.

[GreyJoy]

China at 2 nov 1942

[GreyJoy]

Burma crisis

[GreyJoy]

ORIGINAL: veji1

ORIGINAL: GreyJoy

ORIGINAL: Gräfin Zeppelin





I am almost sure you meant Tabiteuea.

And I have doubts about the Gilberts. I doubt Q-Ball even knows where they are. He will land right in your face with overwhelming quantity and quality where it hurts most.

No pressure.

Ok, where it could be this landing site so? The way i see it, it's too early for a direct drive to the Mariannas. His Carriers are now strong, can't deny that, but he will have to rely only on them for such a move, and with Wake and Marcus in my hands, full of Mavis/Emilies, there's no way such an invasion army could slip through without being seen. I'll have the time to get there in force and fight him back. Sumatra is another possibility, but, then again, i think it's quite early for such a move. I have some decent garrisons there and 3/4 divisions are ready as a mobile reserve in Java/singapore. The Kuriles? They are decently garrisoned and, with the winter season already in place, i can't see how he can risk to land there now.

What do you have in mind ?

I honnestly think he won't go for a super bold move. It is still early and I think he has a sense of how you play as well : You have been surprised by his way of nimbling you everywhere but you have shown that you are overexposed nowhere and have planned for a conservative defense...

His situation is good enough that he won't risk everything with a too bold move. he will i think rather keep pushing everywhere ie get you rolling back in Burma, finding a few small bases in DEI where he can land by coup de main and start building up for a big drive and hit the Marshalls, without massive investment, because it keeps you busy too.

I agree with your analysis mate. Brad, till now, has been very smart but also very cautious. He never risked his CVs, nor his main assets. Going extremely bold would mean expose himself to a possible decisive battle...which can go both sides - as we all knows . Why should he risk now? He's in a very good position and he barely lost anything important so far. He doesn't need to risk.

I have to be ready thou. I'm doing my best

[GreyJoy]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Nov 03, 42

His milky runs over Mytikina went on for over 2 weeks now.
Every day 100 2Es arrived over Mitikyna and over Wazrup, supporting the positioning of his troops (more units are now spotted flowing down towards Wazrup).
I 've never tried to stop them. But today, we prepared a small ambush. And it worked.
3 Zero Daitais, 3 Tojo Sentais and 1 Nick Sentai were ordered to fly LRCAP over Mitikina. The enemy arrived in 2 well coordinated waves, escorted by more than 50 Hurricanes and Martlets.
Our Tojos didn't do such a great job (too far away for my shortlegged Tojos - remember that we never use droptanks in Burma to save supplies) but the zeros shown that, even in nov 1942, they can still hold their own if flown by good pilots.
We lost 6 zeros (0 KIA, 3 WIA) and 1 Tojo (pilots safe) for a total of more than 38 enemy planes.

Not a game changer obviously, but these ambushes should force Brad to be more cautious with his air attacks and should buy me some more days.
What do i do with the time bought? Simply: i need to reinforce Burma. It's a clear fact. Cannot wait any longer. I have too few units there and Brad is really sending a strong army against 3 different sectors....dividing my defences.
The 16th Division is now ordered to recombine and march towards Mitykina. Cannot risk to lose that front.
2 Brigades are re-directed from southern DEI to Rangoon. This is a tough call but Burma is too important.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Myitkyina , at 64,42

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 31
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 26
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 9

Allied aircraft
Martlet II x 16
Blenheim I x 3
Hurricane IIb Trop x 32
B-26B Marauder x 26

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 2 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Martlet II: 4 destroyed
Blenheim I: 1 destroyed
Hurricane IIb Trop: 2 destroyed
B-26B Marauder: 1 destroyed, 4 damaged

Airbase hits 11
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 12

Aircraft Attacking:
1 x Blenheim I bombing from 8000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 250 lb GP Bomb
14 x B-26B Marauder bombing from 8000 feet
Airfield Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
11 x B-26B Marauder bombing from 8000 feet
Airfield Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
251 Ku S-1 with A6M2 Zero (11 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) This is a crack unit. Only composed by pilots with 75+ exp. Can't wait to be able to upgrade them to Georges....
11 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Raid is overhead
Yokosuka Ku S-1 with A6M2 Zero (9 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
9 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Raid is overhead
202 Ku S-1 with A6M2 Zero (11 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
11 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Raid is overhead
1st Sentai with Ki-44-IIa Tojo (7 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
7 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 17000
Raid is overhead
11th Sentai with Ki-44-IIa Tojo (7 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
7 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 22000
Raid is overhead
24th Sentai with Ki-44-IIa Tojo (7 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
7 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 17000
Raid is overhead
248th Sentai with Ki-44-IIa Tojo (5 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
5 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 17000
Raid is overhead
264th Sentai with Ki-45 KAIa Nick (9 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
9 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 14000
Raid is overhead

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Morning Air attack on Myitkyina , at 64,42

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 23
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 20
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 4

Allied aircraft
P-43A-1 Lancer x 12
Hurricane IIb Trop x 14
B-25C Mitchell x 16
P-40E Warhawk x 25

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
B-25C Mitchell: 4 destroyed, 5 damaged
P-40E Warhawk: 1 destroyed

Aircraft Attacking:
12 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 11000 feet
Airfield Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb




Overall i'm leading steadly the A2A kill ratio by 2 to 1. Lost very few good pilots (a part from those during the first bloody stages of war) and most of my front line units are equipped with what can be considered the real cream of the Empire.

[GreyJoy]

Nov 04, 42

A very tense day.

Burma: the enemy swept Mitikyna with 130 Fighters! His numbers are rising everywhere... he found empty skies cause i couldn't leave central Burma uncovered so our ambushes can take place just once in a while. Then the usual 100 bombers bombed Mitikyna and Wazarup, while his armies are closing in and we're rushing to send there some tiny reinforcements.
He probably hoped to find Central Burma empty, cause he sent a raid against Magwe... I had moved back my Tojos and Nicks from yesterday ambush so we were ready. our guys did a great job, shooting down 47 enemy planes for no losses[:D] 4 Mitchells were even shot down by my flak which, in DBB, really works fine for both sides!
A good day in Burma. We're buying time for the supplies to flow to the front. It's hard cause only a tiny number arrives to our brave guys in the jungle, but something arrives all the same. And every day adds a sip...which is good.

China: the 23rd Army breaks again the enemy front west of Kweyang, while the 11th Army arrives and cuts the main road that leads from Kunming to the central plains. The tanks are on march and tomorrow we'll attack again with a division supported by a huge artillery pack.
Things are developing well. Now my main goal is to keep up the pace of advance. Cannot give him time to dig in again.

CENTPAC: it's confirmed. Tabiutea is the target. A large enemy fleet is arriving from Baker. We don't have much to defend this area at the moment. Only some 4 CLs and 7 DDs which are dispatched by Rabaul....but they won't get there in time....

SOPAC: a huge air raid against Terapo today. Liberators and Flying Fortresses. Spotted more than 400 aircrafts between Portland Roads and Cairns.... not a good sign. The southern front seems quiet, with Ndeni and Lungaville stripped from their air assets...he's concentrating his planes in NE and NW Oz....

DEI: we're slowly building up our wall. Troops are flowing but supplies remain a problem. We're, none the less, creating our defensive perimeter from Sebang to Timor... takes time but the air HQs are in places and garrisons are arriving...once again the main concern is related to supplies. I've managed to create some decent fuel reserves for the fleet at Kendari (100k), Makassar (80k), Koepang (70k) and Java (150k).


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Morning Air attack on Magwe , at 57,47

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid detected at 37 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 14 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 54
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 35

Allied aircraft
P-43A-1 Lancer x 12
Hurricane IIc Trop x 16
Wellington Ic x 16
B-25C Mitchell x 16

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 6 damaged
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 1 destroyed on ground

Allied aircraft losses
P-43A-1 Lancer: 1 destroyed
Hurricane IIc Trop: 2 destroyed
Wellington Ic: 10 destroyed, 3 damaged
B-25C Mitchell: 7 destroyed, 1 damaged
B-25C Mitchell: 2 destroyed by flak

Airbase hits 2
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 5

Aircraft Attacking:
7 x Wellington Ic bombing from 12000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
8 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 12000 feet
Airfield Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
4th Sentai with Ki-45 KAIa Nick (4 airborne, 10 on standby, 21 scrambling)
4 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 17000 , scrambling fighters between 6000 and 17000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 32 minutes
18 planes vectored on to bombers
11th Sentai with Ki-44-IIa Tojo (3 airborne, 7 on standby, 25 scrambling)
3 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters between 6000 and 20000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 34 minutes
17 planes vectored on to bombers
24th Sentai with Ki-44-IIa Tojo (3 airborne, 8 on standby, 0 scrambling)
3 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 31000 , scrambling fighters between 13000 and 31000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 13 minutes
8 planes vectored on to bombers
248th Sentai with Ki-44-IIa Tojo (2 airborne, 6 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 31000 , scrambling fighters between 8000 and 9000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 7 minutes
4 planes vectored on to bombers



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Magwe , at 57,47

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid detected at 22 NM, estimated altitude 17,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 44
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 28

Allied aircraft
P-66 Vanguard x 11
B-26 Marauder x 16

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 6 damaged
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 1 destroyed on ground

Allied aircraft losses
P-66 Vanguard: 3 destroyed
B-26 Marauder: 3 destroyed, 7 damaged

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

Airbase hits 1
Airbase supply hits 4
Runway hits 9

Aircraft Attacking:
11 x B-26 Marauder bombing from 12000 feet
Airfield Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
4th Sentai with Ki-45 KAIa Nick (4 airborne, 0 on standby, 1 scrambling)
4 plane(s) intercepting now.
23 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 17000 , scrambling fighters between 12000 and 18000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 44 minutes
16 planes vectored on to bombers
11th Sentai with Ki-44-IIa Tojo (12 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
12 plane(s) intercepting now.
16 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters between 12000 and 24340.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 25 minutes
20 planes vectored on to bombers
24th Sentai with Ki-44-IIa Tojo (7 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
7 plane(s) intercepting now.
4 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 31000 , scrambling fighters to 12000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 12 minutes
7 planes vectored on to bombers
248th Sentai with Ki-44-IIa Tojo (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
5 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 31000 , scrambling fighters to 12000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 23 minutes

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

Ground combat at 73,49 (near Kweiyang)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 25160 troops, 189 guns, 4 vehicles, Assault Value = 773

Defending force 7548 troops, 61 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 135

Japanese adjusted assault: 349

Allied adjusted defense: 21

Japanese assault odds: 16 to 1

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

Japanese ground losses:
125 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 16 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Guns lost 2 (1 destroyed, 1 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
3736 casualties reported
Squads: 135 destroyed, 17 disabled
Non Combat: 131 destroyed, 13 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Guns lost 18 (13 destroyed, 5 disabled)
Units retreated 4

Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
3rd Division
60th Division

Defending units:
46th Chinese Corps
1st Chinese Cavalry Corps
4th War Area
9th Group Army

[GreyJoy]

.

[GreyJoy]

Ok, i was driving to the office and thinking....

There's something extremely wrong...there's something wrong in my plan...

Let's consider what we've seen so far.

The americans landed at Attu and Amichtika with not less than 3 divisions (2/3 RCTs plus 2 full divisions), using not less than 30 AP/AKs and the whole carrier fleet. Then they landed at Baker with some indipendent regiments.
Ok, nothing wrong with that.
But then, their next amphib push towards Port Hedland and then Broome was carried on by some old RN BBs, some Australian cruisers and not a single AP/AK...only xAPs and xAKs. He used an american division and the 6th Aus Div (a division which is supposed to be devoted to the SEAC theatre). Not a single CV or CVE. Nothing at all. Only LBA.
We have spotted in the whole allied burma offensive only the 18th UK Div which can be considered an elite unit. The 2nd UK is vanished. I reconned every single base from Calcutta to Ledo, down to Cox Bazar and Dimampur...nothing...only Indian units and some armoured Bdes.

Where are the three marine divisions? Where is the 2nd UK? Where is the other Aus division that starts at Aden? Where's the Americal division? Where are his CVs? Where are his AP/AKs????

They are not at Perth, Exmouth or Port Hedland. I have glens and Mavis covering all those areas and if a mighty fleet was there i should have seen it. I'm pretty sure his RN BBs are still between Perth and Exmouth and some cruisers too, but not the CVs.

The invasion fleet that is sailing to Tabiutea from Baker doesn't seem "mighty"... probably some cruisers, destroyers and some transports...but not anything like 4/5 big Divisions....

Where are they? What Brad is aiming at?

5 Divisions, with this map with stacking limits, cannot be used everywhere. CENTPAC, in this view, isnt' the right place to use them. Tabiutea can hold 40k troops, true, but he doesn't need all those units to do that job...Tabiutea is almost empty with only a SNLF unit defending it.... no, this must be another of his smoke&mirrors....

Let's consider the possibilities:

KURILES: It's now november and the season is not ideal for this kind of operations. I guess he could grasp a couple of islands...but not those garrisoned properly...would be crazy, imho.

MARIANNAS: yes, those divisions could be used for that. All those islands have a stacking limit of 35,000 men, so something like 2 divisions each + some support troops... but there's no way he could get there without being spotted. I have Mavis/Emilies covering the whole ocean from Shimushiri Jiima (Kuriles) to Marcus to Wake and to Makin...and by the time he gets there i'd be able to send the whole Combined fleet to meet him. Moreover he would be far away from everything he holds...too exposed. No, it's not possible at the moment...not without taking Wake or Marcus first.

CENTPAC: again, it would be uselessy risky, imho, to invade anything big and deep here without having built first the southern Marshalls (Tabiutea and such). I'd be glad if he come here... but Brad's too smart

SOLOMONS: this is a possibility. He has been reconning Munda (our main air base in the area) for weeks now. Tulagi and Lunga are garrisoned, but nothing that those crack divisions cannot conquer and, with Ndeni in his hands, he could have the support of his LBA. Doable, but he'll be facing my air defence system which, for this area, is pretty decent. I have several AFs in range of Air HQs and got some decent mobile reserves in the Rabaul area.

NG: Milne Bay, Terapo or Buna are all possible targets. But i think would be a waste to use those elite divisions for these targets...which are, once again, in range of my main base in the whole pacific (Rabaul)...and he knows it cause he's been reconning Rabaul every day for more than 4 months now. He knows i'm strong in this area.

SOUTHERN DEI: Here's where he could try a "coup de main". He has huge bases in NW Oz, from where he could sail unmolested and land several divisions between Timor and Java, cutting my defences in two. This is my best guess. This is a very possible target. His only problem will be that he'll be facing both my LBA and my KB, along with several SCTFs based at Sosarbaja and Timor...

Christmas Island: This is a juicy target for him imho. If he gets here, i'm toasted....but a single island can also be a trap...no, he needs bases that can easily develops into an interconnected air defensive system. This can't be a main target. A side show, maybe, but not the main one. However i've sent 200 AVs there behind 4 forts...enough to prevent any easy landing.

WESTERN SUMATRA: this is where i'd land if i was him. Several possible bases with great developing potentials where all those divisions could be used easily. I'm preparing my defences here. Sebang has been garrisoned with a Division, 2 Artillery Units and an Air HQ. Around Palembang i'm building 5 interconnected AFs supported by an Air Division HQ. Bankoleng and Padang are being garrisoned and am rushing to send something to Siberoet...but can't cover everything so i have to be ready to face the threat of a massive landing. A cruiser TF is being moved to Sebang, while a BB TF will be stationing at Merak. 200 Bombers are being moved to Singapore and 180 Fighters to Palembang. The KB will wait and see where the REAL threat will deveolp. How can you stop 3 USMC Divisions? You cannot, i know...but i have to try


Thoughts?

[obvert]

DEI looks like a good option for him, but it's still early. Is it possible to get a sub line with Glens spaced out every 8-10 hexes 15-20 hexes out from Sumatra? At least this could give you some warning.

It's nearly impossible to stop a landing, but you can make it ineffectual. If you have enough in area or a day's flight away, you can surely disrupt and cause injury to the troops coming ashore. It does seem very risky for him to mass and try to land with only CV support while the KB is so strong, now. Maybe in several months, but a combo of KB and LBA in the DEI is pretty potent. The best defense for you now, with the compressed territory you have to defend, is to make sure the KB is hidden. If he doesn't know, it's a huge chance to take predicting where it might be lurking.

[GreyJoy]

ORIGINAL: obvert

DEI looks like a good option for him, but it's still early. Is it possible to get a sub line with Glens spaced out every 8-10 hexes 15-20 hexes out from Sumatra? At least this could give you some warning.

It's nearly impossible to stop a landing, but you can make it ineffectual. If you have enough in area or a day's flight away, you can surely disrupt and cause injury to the troops coming ashore. It does seem very risky for him to mass and try to land with only CV support while the KB is so strong, now. Maybe in several months, but a combo of KB and LBA in the DEI is pretty potent. The best defense for you now, with the compressed territory you have to defend, is to make sure the KB is hidden. If he doesn't know, it's a huge chance to take predicting where it might be lurking.

Agree. Unfortunately Erik, this turn my KB TF got its detection level raise to 1/1...which probably means a radio transmission has been intercepted and now he may know where my CVs are. I'm however trying to use all the smoke&mirrors i have to puzzle him...hopefully he won't see my Mini-KB assembling north of Timor...still undetected. This TF will be positioning around Makassar so to be able to cover fast any possible approach to Western and Southern DEI, while the KB sprints in from Babeldolap.

I also agree that a DEI landing in 1942 in a risky solution... probably i've been so shocked by Nemo's warnings and suggestions during my last game that now i see ghosts everywhere [:D]

[veji1]

If I were him i would look for places in the DEI but only go for it with a big landing if I can have very high hopes of getting at least 2, better 3 interlocking bases that I can than build up.. At this stage of the game it can still be a death trap for allies to overreach. you just have to show your strenght in the DEI, with a few heavily garrisonned bases and others at least occupied. south west New Guinea is always a good place for coup the mains for the allies : You land for cheap, build those bases up so that they can provide LBA fighter cover and when you have 2 or 3 of them you can start going for bigger things like Ambon and the celebes...

Again If I were him I'd probe but if reconned showed you have enough defense + likely a couple of reaction forces hub like Kendari, I would probably only go for cheap fast APD like coups de main that don't cost much if they fail.

[GreyJoy]

ORIGINAL: veji1

If I were him i would look for places in the DEI but only go for it with a big landing if I can have very high hopes of getting at least 2, better 3 interlocking bases that I can than build up.. At this stage of the game it can still be a death trap for allies to overreach. you just have to show your strenght in the DEI, with a few heavily garrisonned bases and others at least occupied. south west New Guinea is always a good place for coup the mains for the allies : You land for cheap, build those bases up so that they can provide LBA fighter cover and when you have 2 or 3 of them you can start going for bigger things like Ambon and the celebes...

Again If I were him I'd probe but if reconned showed you have enough defense + likely a couple of reaction forces hub like Kendari, I would probably only go for cheap fast APD like coups de main that don't cost much if they fail.

I am trying to do exactly that. Taberfane already has a base force and 7 engineers units are arriving in the area. The bases between Timor and Ambon are getting their planned garrisons: cannot have much, obviously, but we're doing our best to cover this side of the map. However he doesn't need his CVs here. He doesn't need 3 marines divisions neither! ....


well guys, i think i've really done everything i could to defend my perimeter given the assets i have at my disposal.... now it's just time to sit and see what he has planned for me.

Fortuna Audaces Iuvat

[veji1]

ORIGINAL: GreyJoy

ORIGINAL: veji1

If I were him i would look for places in the DEI but only go for it with a big landing if I can have very high hopes of getting at least 2, better 3 interlocking bases that I can than build up.. At this stage of the game it can still be a death trap for allies to overreach. you just have to show your strenght in the DEI, with a few heavily garrisonned bases and others at least occupied. south west New Guinea is always a good place for coup the mains for the allies : You land for cheap, build those bases up so that they can provide LBA fighter cover and when you have 2 or 3 of them you can start going for bigger things like Ambon and the celebes...

Again If I were him I'd probe but if reconned showed you have enough defense + likely a couple of reaction forces hub like Kendari, I would probably only go for cheap fast APD like coups de main that don't cost much if they fail.

I am trying to do exactly that. Taberfane already has a base force and 7 engineers units are arriving in the area. The bases between Timor and Ambon are getting their planned garrisons: cannot have much, obviously, but we're doing our best to cover this side of the map. However he doesn't need his CVs here. He doesn't need 3 marines divisions neither! ....


well guys, i think i've really done everything i could to defend my perimeter given the assets i have at my disposal.... now it's just time to sit and see what he has planned for me.

Fortuna Audaces Iuvat

Look a bold move in the DEI can always succeed and get his timetable going forward a year ahead of time, but if he has to land with a division (plus the supporting troops and engineers to developp the base) to be able to take it, the risk is big for him...

The problem in AE compared with WITP for the Japs is that there are lots more bases to cover and therefore you probably can't prevent him landing somewhere in a daring raid and taking a base.

What you need to do though is :
- have no base that can be developped to AF4 or more uncovered. even a tiny garrison means he needs to bring more guys.
- Show enough strength in the area in a few bases to make him think you are anticipating such a move. Ie even go for a few psy ops in the emails exchange saying you welcome a battle in the DEI or whatever.
- Have enough AFs ready so that if he takes a base you could bring you LBA to bear and suppress it forcing him to either keep CVs on station for longer time or abandon air supremacy while you counterattack.
- Have a counterattack hub where you have 2 divisions and a couple support troops you could bring in to retake a base you have suppressed if he doesn't land with overwhelming force.
- I am not an expert on the efficiency of air transport to quickly reinforce a base that is being sieged ? than having a couple of transport units ready so that you can get a few 10s of AVs more it could help.

The conclusion I suppose is that you must prevent him from getting mutually supportin bases...

The best way of doing it is putting yourself in his shoes : what would you try to do with your Divs and CVs ? where would you try to land. Do you go for a big operation near Java to land on 2 or 3 bases with 5 divs + supporting troops and all your CVS, near a potentially strong defense, or do you go for a softer underbelly in southern PNG ? do you go for big landing or try a quicker raid to grab a base and try to develop it or failing that at least forcing the japs to use their LBA to suppress it and therefore show some of their hands?

[BBfanboy]

I think the difficult part of the mobile defence idea is going to be gathering enough ships to transport the mobile reserve troops. You have been struggling to get the shipping needed for the economy set up and moving in convoys, so I expect they are scattered between the DEI and Japan, with a few devoted to feeding the garrisons elsewhere.

You cannot afford to reserve xAKs to move two divisions. You must be prepared to use fast transport via CL/DD to supplement whatever xAPs/APDs you can assemble. This will leave behind most of the heavy equipment but move a lot of AV in a hurry. The heavy stuff can come later when you pull together an xAK convoy and cover it all the way to target.

[GreyJoy]

Guys, the first guess was the right one.

Brad's CVs suddenly appeared south of Tabiutea, escorting a convoy composed of several APs and xAPs.
Our Marshalls air garrison took off in the afternoon from Makin, targetting the juicy APs... the Wildcats of the VF-2, VF-6, VF-42, VF-3 and VF-8 shot down not less than 45 of my planes for no losses...but some Nells managed to get through, sinking 1 AP, 1 APD and 1 xAP full of troops. Not bad. Expensive but finally something.
 
The enemy started a HUGE bombing campaign against NG. PM, Terapo, Buna and Lae are targetted by something like 200 4Es and 200 2Es, escorted by 50 P-38s and 24 Beaufghters... My Zeros and Tojos did what they could over Lae, bringing to hell some 15 enemies... but they were too many...and they couldn't prevent the bombing run.
 
In Burma another day of heavy bombing over Mitikyna. 230 Fighters swept first, followed by 100 2Es... God his numbers are really becoming fearsome!
 
In China we won another battle. Now we hold the main road from Kunming to Chungking. My two armies are already marching in the two opposite directions. The enemy front now is cut in two pieces.
 
Later i'll post the combat report... at least we now know where his CVs are (didn't spot them directly but the presence of those squadrons make me think they are there somewhere...)

[GreyJoy]

Don't have much time cause i'm waiting for a client...

here's a fast CR

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Nov 05, 42
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Morning Air attack on Port Moresby , at 98,130

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid detected at 39 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft
Hudson III (LR) x 9
B-17E Fortress x 24
B-17F Fortress x 3
B-24D Liberator x 27

No Japanese losses

No Allied losses

Airbase hits 4
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 22


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Morning Air attack on Lae , at 99,126

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M3a Zero x 8
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 27

Allied aircraft
B-25C Mitchell x 16
Beaufighter Ic x 14
B-24D Liberator x 27
B-25C Mitchell x 17
P-38E Lightning x 24

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
B-24D Liberator: 5 damaged
B-25C Mitchell: 1 damaged
P-38E Lightning: 3 destroyed

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

Airbase hits 10
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 15

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Lae , at 99,126

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 38 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M3a Zero x 7
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 20

Allied aircraft
B-25C Mitchell x 6

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3a Zero: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
B-25C Mitchell: 4 destroyed

CAP engaged:
752 Ku S-1 with A6M3a Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
7 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 25000 , scrambling fighters between 10000 and 16000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 55 minutes
203rd Sentai with Ki-44-IIa Tojo (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 3 scrambling)
17 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 31000 , scrambling fighters between 5000 and 15000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 45 minutes








--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Arorae at 138,137

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid spotted at 19 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 27
G3M2 Nell x 32
G3M3 Nell x 7

Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 7
F4F-4 Wildcat x 24

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 7 destroyed
G3M2 Nell: 11 destroyed, 5 damaged
G3M2 Nell: 1 destroyed by flak
G3M3 Nell: 1 destroyed, 2 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat: 1 destroyed

Allied Ships
AP U.S. Grant, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk
xAP President Tyler
APD Ward
AP Fuller, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
xAP President Taylor, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
APD McKean, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
APD Talbot

Allied ground losses:
707 casualties reported
Squads: 5 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 90 destroyed, 35 disabled
Engineers: 20 destroyed, 9 disabled
Guns lost 43 (40 destroyed, 3 disabled)
Vehicles lost 54 (52 destroyed, 2 disabled)

Aircraft Attacking:
21 x G3M2 Nell launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 45cm Type 91 Torp
6 x G3M3 Nell launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 45cm Type 91 Torp

CAP engaged:
VF-2 with F4F-4 Wildcat (6 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
6 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 10000
Raid is overhead
VF-3 with F4F-3 Wildcat (7 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
7 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 10000
Raid is overhead
VF-42 with F4F-4 Wildcat (6 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
6 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 10000
Raid is overhead
VF-6 with F4F-4 Wildcat (6 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
6 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 10000
Raid is overhead
VF-8 with F4F-4 Wildcat (6 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
6 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 10000
Raid is overhead

These are all CV squadrons, right? Not CVEs'?

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Arorae at 138,137

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid spotted at 16 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes

Japanese aircraft
G3M3 Nell x 13

Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 3
F4F-4 Wildcat x 15

Japanese aircraft losses
G3M3 Nell: 10 destroyed

No Allied losses

Allied Ships
APD McKean, and is sunk

Allied ground losses:
239 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 17 destroyed, 5 disabled

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

Ground combat at 73,47 (near Kweiyang)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 16075 troops, 303 guns, 194 vehicles, Assault Value = 834

Defending force 2441 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 23

Japanese adjusted assault: 216

Allied adjusted defense: 13

Japanese assault odds: 16 to 1

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

Japanese ground losses:
49 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 3 (1 destroyed, 2 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
1293 casualties reported
Squads: 11 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 40 destroyed, 14 disabled
Engineers: 13 destroyed, 0 disabled
Units retreated 3

Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
39th Division
22nd Division
2nd Hvy.Artillery Regiment
20th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
15th Ind.Medium Field Artillery Regiment
7th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
21st Mortar Battalion
52nd Ind.Mtn.Gun Battalion
7th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
12th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
1st Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
10th Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment

Defending units:
12th Construction Regiment
10th Construction Regiment
79th Chinese/C Corps


Clearing the way....
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ground combat at 80,40 (near Kienko)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 35400 troops, 462 guns, 194 vehicles, Assault Value = 962

Defending force 29038 troops, 178 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 633

Japanese adjusted assault: 345

Allied adjusted defense: 1012

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 2

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

Japanese ground losses:
1707 casualties reported
Squads: 4 destroyed, 175 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 8 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 17 disabled
Guns lost 11 (1 destroyed, 10 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
708 casualties reported
Squads: 64 destroyed, 34 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 8 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled

Assaulting units:
110th Division
13th Ind.Mixed Brigade
26th Division
14th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
4th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
6th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
9th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
1st Mortar Battalion
Botanko Hvy Gun Regiment
Tonei Hvy Gun Regiment
1st Army
5th Medium Field Artillery Regiment

Defending units:
41st Chinese Corps
40th Chinese Corps
14th Chinese Corps
64th Chinese Corps


Again???? In the north is really impossible to advance[:o]

[MAurelius]

yes they come with the CVs... but one can move them... but I think it's a safe bet that the CVs are there....

oh... and now that their fighting General's ship is sunk - what do you have to worry about?

[GreyJoy]

Damn...i should be working [:@]

[GreyJoy]

ORIGINAL: MAurelius

yes they come with the CVs... but one can move them... but I think it's a safe bet that the CVs are there....

oh... and now that their fighting General's ship is sunk - what do you have to worry about?

Yes, i thought the same about moving the squadrons out...but all of them? Don't even thing by this date the Americans have enough CVEs to guest all those squadrons... no, the CVs are there...let's see if i can get a lucky hit...

[Lecivius]

Those are CV's, but look at the troop losses compared to the damaged ships. That's a lot of engineers, & not many combat troops.

Just mu un-educated opinion.