An overlooked area for Japan is in sending multiple groups of engineers to various bases to expand them and build forts. Unlike the Allies, this effort takes some time and needs to be done throughout the war.
Yeah, my base force at Hakodate still hasn't maxed the port to level 7 by 11/43!
I've been diligent about this, but still feel behind everywhere.
ORIGINAL: jrcar
Have started to shut down more HI production in the Home Islands, that will affect supply... we are at about 640k in Japan.
In this game your forts have seemed very strong in all of the recent areas the Allies attacked. at least that keeps things slow for now. I hope you can stall enough to keep the oil flowing through 44 at least.
Are you still building forts in the HI to protect against bombing and possible later invasions, or has this finished now that supply is getting scarce?
"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm." - Winston Churchill
Fort building in Japan stopped after we got to level 3. All the available engineers were shipped out. In the last 4-6 months we have started again building from the northern tip backwards, 6 forts 6 aflds.
We prefer to build defence in depth and try to get several lots of 100 engineers working, rather than build one mega base at a time. Usually build forts to 3, Afld to 4 then more forts with selected airfields going to 6 or more.
Have found that key bases really need to be 7, 6 just isn't enough to support CAP, escorts and strike aircraft in meaningful numbers.
Try to build "clusters" of 3-5 bases in mutual support at a time, this is much more resilient than one big base.
Only very recently have we got any to level 8-9, although we needed them in the home islands with all the air units that have arrived recently.
Due to the lack of action in the SWPAC we have all the islands back to Japan now at level 6, a few at 7 and a couple near 8... Level 6 forts are really sweet to sit behind...
Indicators and Warnings
The Fall of Moulmein is a significant milestone...
Enemy CV forces continue to hang around the West side of Sumatra covering the invasion of the outer islands.
Enemy raider group near Iwo Jima, possibly supported by a CVE? and AO's detected near Marcus Is.
Subs
Empty xAP sunk:(
Sub attack near Iwo-jima at 106,73
Japanese Ships xAP Miike Maru, Torpedo hits 2, heavy damage
xAP Suwa Maru
xAP Hakone Maru
DD Asanagi
Allied Ships
SS Shad
Thailand
Moulmein is hit with everything from the air and he is landing more supplies. Then the attack goes in. We do a fair bit of damage... now the rout is on, back to Bangkok we go...
Ground combat at Moulmein (55,55)
Allied Shock attack
Attacking force 140401 troops, 2662 guns, 2978 vehicles, Assault Value = 5211
Defending force 36779 troops, 522 guns, 283 vehicles, Assault Value = 782
Japanese ground losses:
13055 casualties reported
Squads: 199 destroyed, 152 disabled
Non Combat: 665 destroyed, 82 disabled
Engineers: 281 destroyed, 11 disabled
Guns lost 241 (213 destroyed, 28 disabled)
Vehicles lost 228 (223 destroyed, 5 disabled)
Units retreated 16
Units destroyed 1
Allied ground losses:
4571 casualties reported
Squads: 45 destroyed, 514 disabled
Non Combat: 5 destroyed, 131 disabled
Engineers: 4 destroyed, 122 disabled
Guns lost 71 (3 destroyed, 68 disabled)
Vehicles lost 151 (7 destroyed, 144 disabled)
Units pursuing 2
Defeated Japanese Units Retreating!
Assaulting units:
40th Infantry Division
Provisionl Tank Brigade
Guides Cavalry Regiment
72nd British Brigade
2/7th Armoured Regiment
23rd Indian Division
7th Indian Division
209th Combat Engineer Battalion
18th British Division
27th Infantry Division
2nd British Division
9th Australian Division
3rd Carabiniers Regiment
6th Australian Division
37th Infantry Division
44th Cavalry Regiment
24th Infantry Division
39th Indian Division
2/5th Armoured Regiment
632nd Tank Destroyer Battalion
1st USMC Tank Battalion
2nd Marine Division
503rd Parachute Rgt /1
209th Field Artillery Battalion
33rd Medium Regiment
168th Field Artillery Regiment
14th Army
181st Field Artillery Regiment
XI US Corps
8th Medium Regiment
225th Field Artillery Battalion
IV Indian Corps
147th Field Artillery Regiment
IV Corps RIASC Base Force
I US Corps
6th Medium Regiment
165th Field Artillery Battalion
XV Corps RIASC Base Force
Defending units:
2nd Guards Division
33rd Division
8th Division
12th Garrison Unit
4th Field AF Construction Battalion
21st Air Defense AA Regiment
1st Hvy.Artillery Regiment
26th Fld AA Gun Co
32nd Field AA Battalion
43rd Const Co
1st RF Gun Battalion
23rd Medium Field Artillery Regiment
53rd Const Co
5th Field AF Construction Battalion
51st Construction Battalion
2nd Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
23rd Field AF Construction Battalion
Sumatra / Malaya
The islands off Sumatra are taken, this is what he has bought...
Ground combat at Sinabang (42,76)
Allied Deliberate attack
Attacking force 2309 troops, 36 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 167
Defending force 0 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 0
Allied adjusted assault: 79
Japanese adjusted defense: 1
Allied assault odds: 79 to 1 (fort level 0)
Allied forces CAPTURE Sinabang !!!
Combat modifiers
Attacker:
Assaulting units:
Lushai Brigade
803rd Engineer Aviation Battalion
RAF 224 Group Base Force
6th USN Naval Construction Regiment
RAF 231 Group Base Force
339th Construction Regiment
151st USA Base Force
XXXIII Corps RIASC Base Force
853rd Engineer Aviation Battalion
19th USN Naval Construction Regiment
150th USA Base Force
162nd USA Base Force
858th Engineer Aviation Battalion
East DEI
We continue to hit Dobo.
He continues to move real or fake invasion forces around while keeping them under his fighter cover.
KB and Mini KB are marrying up. The aircraft from the CVE's are being sent to land bases in the DEI, the CVE's themselves will head back out of trouble. KB will then be formed with everything that is useful...
OZ
Pacific
Enemy raiders hit a tanker convoy, we are lucky to loose only one ship! Aircraft are scrambled into the area and a CL TF is sent out to hunt the AO's supporting the raiders... hopefully our aircraft will deal with the raiders.
Night Time Surface Combat, near Iwo-jima at 102,79, Range 14,000 Yards
Indicators and Warnings
Enemy raiders detected near Babeldoab now! A hit of wher eth AO's are and our CL Tf is vectored in that way for next turn.
Subs
Thailand
The troops retreating from Moulmein are hit.
Abandoning central Malaya and starting to thin out in central Burma to create a strong defence at Bangkok.
Sumatra / Malaya
Have managed to get troops in front of his forces coming down the west coast of Sumatra... will see how long they can hold. A bit moot soon when he lands south of us.
Pulling stuff back into Singapore and getting it ready for a seige. Have started to setup some outlying bases to act as roadblocks.
Pulling out fragments of units back to Manila.
East DEI
Usual at Dobo. Continuing to kill aircraft on the ground.
He still moves invasion forces around.
KB and Mini KB continue to rearm and reorginise.
OZ
Pacific
AO's detected about 16 hex west from Marcus island heading back to Hawaii? May get to intercept it next turn...
Subs
A new wave of subs has moved into my convoy lanes between Takao and the Home Islands. I have recently occupied and built Bataan Is now I have a chain of ASW bases protecting the route. This combined with several ASW TF is largely keeping the subs detected and supressed so casulties have been very light.
Submarine attack near Taihoku at 86,62
Japanese Ships SC Ch 32, Torpedo hits 1, heavy damage
Allied Ships
SS Angler
SC Ch 32 is sighted by SS Angler
Sub attack near Tanegashima at 101,63
Japanese Ships
E Miyake
Allied Ships
SS Escolar
Thailand
The plan now is for our forces to retreat in two directions, mainly via Bangkok to the Vietnam / China border, some will retreat down the peninsula to Singapore.
We continue to thin out forces on the front line back to Bangkok. Moving fragments now back to Vietnam / China border to rebuild around Hanoi.
The Thai / Malaya Corridor will only be lightly held.
Sumatra / Malaya
No change, looks like We've managed to block in him North Sumatra for the moment... until he builds up the offshore islands that is.
Mainly focussed on getting the air defence of Singapore and Palembang organised.
East DEI
Dobo is again hit killing more aircraft on the ground.
He continues to move real / fake invasion forces around within the air cover of his bases. This is probably a feight.
OZ
Pacific
First we catch the AO TF that suported the raid:
Day Time Surface Combat, near Wake Island at 141,81, Range 20,000 Yards
Allied Ships DE Donaldson, Shell hits 15, and is sunk
DE Manlove, Shell hits 11, and is sunk
DE Mitchell, Shell hits 23, and is sunk
AO Ashtabula, Shell hits 16, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
Then around Babeldoab our air gets in to the main force:
Morning Air attack on TF, near Babeldaob at 86,97
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Raid detected at 23 NM, estimated altitude 3,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes
Japanese aircraft
G3M3 Nell x 12
Japanese aircraft losses
G3M3 Nell: 5 damaged
Allied Ships
CL Biloxi
Morning Air attack on TF, near Babeldaob at 86,97
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Raid detected at 75 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 24 minutes
Japanese aircraft
B6N2a Jill x 14
Japanese aircraft losses
B6N2a Jill: 4 damaged
B6N2a Jill: 1 destroyed by flak
The recently repaired CV Amagi is heading this way, and a coron of strike aircraft are put on alert if he tries to dash through the East DEI to Australia.
China
As expected Neiking falls, however look at the adjusted AV, wish I had flown in more troops now
Ground combat at Neikiang (75,44)
Allied Deliberate attack
Attacking force 18543 troops, 111 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 597
Defending force 1335 troops, 8 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 55
Assaulting units:
2/7th Armoured Regiment
Provisionl Tank Brigade
44th Cavalry Regiment
3rd Carabiniers Regiment
209th Combat Engineer Battalion
2/5th Armoured Regiment
632nd Tank Destroyer Battalion
1st USMC Tank Battalion
24th Infantry Division
39th Indian Division
33rd Medium Regiment
6th Medium Regiment
168th Field Artillery Regiment
147th Field Artillery Regiment
XI US Corps
181st Field Artillery Regiment
14th Army
8th Medium Regiment
Defending units:
33rd Division
2nd Guards Division
8th Division
12th Garrison Unit
23rd Medium Field Artillery Regiment
2nd Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
32nd Field AA Battalion
23rd Field AF Construction Battalion
53rd Const Co
43rd Const Co
21st Air Defense AA Regiment
4th Field AF Construction Battalion
1st Hvy.Artillery Regiment
1st RF Gun Battalion
51st Construction Battalion
5th Field AF Const Bn /2
Sumatra / Malaya
He is punding Padang from the air. It is a level 7 fort so no hert to the troops.
Also attacking troops in North Sumatra. Going to try a CAP trap next turn...
East DEI
No change.
OZ
Pacific
The raiders flee NE from Babeldoab back frm where they came. The CV Amagi is following, and our CL SCTF is coming from the other direction... naval strike aircraft are repositioned to attamept another intercept.
China
We are advancing on Hami, be there in another couple of days from two directions.
Logistics 2 Apr 1944
Have shut down some merchant and naval shipbuilding, and re focussed which ships we now need (TK's, subs, escorts, DD's, LST's).
Have shut off 540 HI in the home islands. This has had a positive impact of fuel and resources, balanced against changes to Naval / Merchant yards has increased HI produced a turn.
Have pulled back fuel 70k from Truk.
Armaments and vehicles are slowly climbing... we will need them soon to rebuild the smash units from Thailand.
Attachments
194400402_..er_Chart.jpg (134.97 KiB) Viewed 335 times
So far going well, no new aircraft for a few months however Shinden is about 50% repaired, another month or so should see the first factory producing. Grace is coming along nicely. The only other aircraft is the Ki-83, thought it looked interesting!
We stuffed up with the Ha-43 Engine (for the N1k5 George in particular) as we only have two large factories, and they are not due until Jan 1945 (probably arrive Oct / Nov 1944).
Attachments
194400402_Air_prod.jpg (274.48 KiB) Viewed 335 times
Thailand Withdrawel Plans
The intent is to fight hard on the Bangkok line to give time to pull out shattered units back to Lang Son.
Intermediate lines will be built to at least level 4 forts to act as delaying points for the withdrawel (as you can see have largely achieved that already). This should stop rapid exploitation of his armour and force him to bring up infantry divs... giving us time to get away.
I'd like to try to hold Vinh for a while if possible...
Lang Son will be built in strength, after that point the coastal plain can't be held... however want to cover the rail line if possible at Nanning.
Also building Phenom Penh (5 forts now) and Saigon (5 forts soon 9 Airfield). Will see how the retreat gods go to see what forces end up in these locations. Denying Saigon for a while would be very nice...
Attachments
194400402_.. Retreat.jpg (246.29 KiB) Viewed 335 times
Indicators and Warnings
Invasion TF detected heading towards Wake!
Subs ASW attack near Saumlaki at 80,119
Japanese Ships
SS RO-110, hits 22, on fire, heavy damage
Allied Ships
CA Portland
AGC Rocky Mount
APA La Salle
APA Wayne
LSI(L) Kanimbla
APD Rathburne
APD Noa
APD Overton
APD Sands
AKA Aquarius
AKA Titania
LSD Lindenwald
LSD Gunston Hall
LSD Epping Forest
AP William Ward Burrows
AK Situla
AK Lyra
AK Lynx
AK Sterope
LST-463
LST-462
LST-452
LST-125
LST-41
LST-29
LST-20
LST-17
LST-16
LCI-448
LCI-447
LCI-443
LCI-402
LCI-400
LCI-336
LCI-335
LCI-332
LCI-331
LCI-223
LCI-221
LCI-217
LCI-83
LCI-75
LCI-63
LCI-22
LCI-21
DD Anderson
DD Brown
DE Wileman
DE Levy
Submarine attack near Sanak Island at 173,50
Japanese Ships
SS I-45
Allied Ships
xAK Cape Stephens, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
Sub attack near Boela at 78,112
Japanese Ships
CL Oi, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
DD Kishinami
DD Onami
DD Kasumi
DD Natsugumo
DD Asashimo
Allied Ships
SS Gato, hits 2
Thailand
The usual, the evacuation and repositioning continues as planned.
Sumatra / Malaya
East DEI
We bombard Dobo from the sea and air, sinking more PT boats and plane son the ground, however I fail to anticipate Andrew moving his CVE's forward and do not have LRCAP over the TF... a painful mistake.:
Morning Air attack on TF, near Boela at 78,112
Weather in hex: Heavy cloud
Raid detected at 78 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 36 minutes
Allied aircraft
F6F-3 Hellcat x 10
TBF-1 Avenger x 8
Japanese Ships CL Oi, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
CA Takao
Samulaki is invaded by two divisions. We had sequenced the CV's to be in range, but the escorts refueled and between that and weather over Dilli the planned attack did not occur, only a couple of small ones
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Saumlaki at 78,117
Weather in hex: Overcast
Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 5,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 13 minutes
Japanese aircraft
B6N2a Jill x 9
N1K2-J George x 9
Allied aircraft
F6F-3 Hellcat x 126
Japanese aircraft losses
B6N2a Jill: 2 destroyed, 4 damaged
B6N2a Jill: 1 destroyed by flak
N1K2-J George: 2 destroyed
Allied aircraft losses
F6F-3 Hellcat: 1 destroyed
Allied Ships CVE Kalinin Bay, Bomb hits 2, on fire
CVL Independence
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Saumlaki at 78,117
Weather in hex: Overcast
Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 2,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes
Japanese aircraft
N1K2-J George x 9
Ki-49-IIa Helen x 19
Allied aircraft
F6F-3 Hellcat x 121
Japanese aircraft losses N1K2-J George: 4 destroyed
Ki-49-IIa Helen: 9 destroyed
Ki-49-IIa Helen: 1 destroyed by flak
Allied aircraft losses F6F-3 Hellcat: 1 destroyed
Allied Ships
CVE Manila Bay
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Saumlaki at 78,117
Weather in hex: Overcast
Raid detected at 39 NM, estimated altitude 1,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-84r Frank x 48
Allied aircraft
F6F-3 Hellcat x 110
Japanese aircraft losses Ki-84r Frank: 9 destroyed, 11 damaged
Ki-84r Frank: 3 destroyed by flak
Allied aircraft losses F6F-3 Hellcat: 2 destroyed
Allied Ships
CVE Breton
CVE St. Lo
CVE White Plains
CVE Kalinin Bay, on fire
CVL Independence
CVE Barnes
CVE Manila Bay
CVE Corregidor
He has bought enough force to easily take Samulaki. The next bases will be harder...
Ground combat at Saumlaki (78,117)
Japanese Bombardment attack
Attacking force 138 troops, 7 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 103
Defending force 25501 troops, 513 guns, 596 vehicles, Assault Value = 1179
Assaulting units:
3rd Indpt SNLF Coy
1st Ind. Engineer Regiment
4th Raiding Regiment
146th Infantry Rgt /3
21st Air Flotilla
41st Field AA Battalion
55th JNAF AF Unit
46th JAAF AF Bn
51st JAAF AF Bn
Defending units:
8th Australian Division
30th Australian Brigade
2/4th Armoured Regiment
24th (Sep) Infantry Regiment
1st Army Tank Regiment
33rd Infantry Div /22
I Australian Corps
44th USN Naval Construction Battalion
16th USN Naval Construction Battalion
18th USN Naval Construction Battalion
1st Medium Rgt /1
OZ
Pacific
A large number of TF including CV are detected heading direct to Wake, aircraft are evacuated and we make sure we have fragments of all the forces pulled out.
We continue to get small hits on the raiders:
Morning Air attack on TF, near Iwo-jima at 104,79
Weather in hex: Light rain
Raid detected at 37 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes
Japanese aircraft
D4Y3 Judy x 18
Japanese aircraft losses
D4Y3 Judy: 1 damaged
Allied Ships
DD Halligan, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Callaghan, Bomb hits 1
China
Our advance to the north continues:
Ground combat at Ansi (80,23)
Japanese Deliberate attack
Attacking force 1895 troops, 4 guns, 152 vehicles, Assault Value = 91
Defending force 536 troops, 26 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 13
Indicators and Warnings
Invasion force is now 9 hex from Wake.
Can nothing stop the P-47
Subs ASW attack near Wessel Islands at 85,122
Japanese Ships
SS I-169, hits 5
Allied Ships
APD Fox
APD Rathburne
APD Noa
APD Overton
APD Herbert
Sub attack near Damar at 74,113
Japanese Ships CV Zuikaku, Torpedo hits 1, on fire [16 Sys, 16 Float, 7 Damage: Air groups still fly]
CA Furutaka
CA Kumano
CS Chiyoda
DD Teruzuki
DD Hayanami
DD Suzunami
DD Tamanami
DD Kazegumo
Allied Ships
SS Tautog, hits 3
ASW attack near Saumlaki at 78,117
Japanese Ships SSX Ha-60, hits 9, heavy damage
Allied Ships
BB Pennsylvania
BB West Virginia
DD Nicholson
DD Frankford
DD Baldwin
DD Lansdowne
Thailand
No change.
Sumatra / Malaya
No change.
P-47 sweeps from Siboret (level 3 Afld in 3 days ) over Palembang. Won't be long now until the place is untenable...
Morning Air attack on Palembang , at 48,91
Weather in hex: Light rain
Raid spotted at 38 NM, estimated altitude 47,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes
Japanese aircraft
N1K2-J George x 35
Ki-44-IIc Tojo x 44
Aircraft Attacking:
6 x P-47D25 Thunderbolt sweeping at 42000 feet
Morning Air attack on Palembang , at 48,91
Weather in hex: Light rain
Raid spotted at 36 NM, estimated altitude 43,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes
Japanese aircraft
N1K2-J George x 7
Allied aircraft
P-47D25 Thunderbolt x 22
Japanese aircraft losses N1K2-J George: 1 destroyed
No Allied losses
Aircraft Attacking:
21 x P-47D25 Thunderbolt sweeping at 42000 feet
East DEI
We damage / Sink upto 5 CVE while suffering a sub hit to one of ours and light damage on another. About half our ground based air doesn't fly dueto weather. The airgroups on KB are fairly battered. KB will now withdraw. Samulaki then falls.
Both our CV Tf and the allied reacted towards one another, despite no react and following a ASW TF, which then puts them in max range of the usually deadly B-25
We created some MTB and SSX last turn that manage to disrupt the landing and cause a bit of damage.
Night Time Surface Combat, near Saumlaki at 78,117, Range 3,000 Yards
Night Time Surface Combat, near Saumlaki at 78,117, Range 7,000 Yards
Japanese Ships
MTB G-550
MTB G-551
MTB G-552, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
MTB G-553, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
MTB G-15, Shell hits 6, and is sunk
MTB G-16, Shell hits 8, and is sunk
Allied Ships
AO Brazos
AO Cuyama
AO Kanawha
AO Neches
KV Quesnel
PF Gascoyne
DE Godavari
AO Kurumba
Then our strikes go in:
Morning Air attack on TF, near Saumlaki at 78,116
Weather in hex: Light cloud
Raid detected at 117 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 38 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 19
A6M5b Zero x 106
B6N2 Jill x 41
B6N2a Jill x 33
Allied Ships
CVE Kitkun Bay, Torpedo hits 1
CVE St. Lo, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage CVE Breton, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
CVE Anzio, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk
CVL Independence
CVE White Plains, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
Morning Air attack on TF, near Saumlaki at 78,116
Weather in hex: Light cloud
Raid detected at 111 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 36 minutes
Japanese aircraft
D4Y3 Judy x 35
Ki-44-IIc Tojo x 41
Ki-84r Frank x 6
Japanese Ships
CV Shokaku
CV Zuikaku, on fire [16 Sys, 16 Float, 7 Damage from sub hit]
CVL Shoho
CV Akagi
CV Hiryu CV Katsuragi, Bomb hits 2, on fire [49 Sys, 19 Float, 12 Eng]
We then manage to fight off about 6 attacks by B25, shooting down around 20 of the enemy in the process, but at any stage was expecting a bad result ... didn't happen though
Finally Nell from Koepang arrive:
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Saumlaki at 78,117
Weather in hex: Moderate rain
Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 4,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M5b Zero x 3
G3M3 Nell x 47
Japanese aircraft losses
G3M3 Nell: 13 damaged
G3M3 Nell: 4 destroyed by flak
Allied Ships
LCI-400
LST-121
CLAA Prince Robert
AK Lyra
LST-166
DD Duncan
LCI-63
CA Portland
LST-451
CL Concord
DD Carmick LCI-332, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
Finally the ground attack.
Ground combat at Saumlaki (78,117)
Allied Deliberate attack
Attacking force 28800 troops, 584 guns, 699 vehicles, Assault Value = 1192
Defending force 5568 troops, 58 guns, 8 vehicles, Assault Value = 88
Assaulting units:
8th Australian Division
24th (Sep) Infantry Regiment
2/4th Armoured Regiment
1st Army Tank Regiment
33rd Infantry Division
30th Australian Brigade
4th Field Artillery Battalion
2nd USMC Field Artillery Battalion
2/11th Field Regiment
1st USMC Field Artillery Battalion
16th USN Naval Construction Battalion
44th USN Naval Construction Battalion
18th USN Naval Construction Battalion
I Australian Corps
1st Medium Regiment
Defending units:
1st Ind. Engineer Regiment
3rd Indpt SNLF Coy
4th Raiding Regiment
146th Infantry Rgt /3
46th JAAF AF Bn
21st Air Flotilla
41st Field AA Battalion
55th JNAF AF Unit
51st JAAF AF Bn
OZ
Pacific
The raiders are now moving through the Iwo Jima / Pagan gap:
Morning Air attack on TF, near Iwo-jima at 103,81
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Raid detected at 30 NM, estimated altitude 5,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M3a Zero x 13
G3M3 Nell x 13
Japanese aircraft losses
G3M3 Nell: 3 damaged
G3M3 Nell: 1 destroyed by flak
Allied Ships CL Biloxi, Torpedo hits 1, heavy damage
China
A victory of sorts, we hit five CVE, sinking at least two, an AO and a few other ships for no loss. We have two banged up CV's though, and our Kate airgroups are again decimated (well much more than 1 in 10!). Samulaki falls, however we are forcing him to commit strong forces every time, which will slow him down.
Attachments
194400405_EastDEI.jpg (118.64 KiB) Viewed 335 times
I dread seeing the P-47D25 models in serious numbers over my bases in three months time.
I'm willing to fight the early model P-47s and win the war by attrition, but not when he gets over 150 of those D25s per month. YIKES!! [X(] Even Japanese production cannot keep up with those losses.
P-47D25s are really unstoppable. What about setting your CAP really low? They are arriving at 42,000 feet...and at that altitude you are always at disasvantage...probably forcing them to dive for 20/30,000 feet could change things a bit...but just a bit, mind you[:)]
Assaulting units:
2/5th Armoured Regiment
Provisionl Tank Brigade
3rd Carabiniers Regiment
209th Combat Engineer Battalion
2/7th Armoured Regiment
44th Cavalry Regiment
1st USMC Tank Battalion
632nd Tank Destroyer Battalion
39th Indian Division
14th Army
33rd Medium Regiment
XI US Corps
147th Field Artillery Regiment
6th Medium Regiment
8th Medium Regiment
Defending units:
8th Division
2nd Guards Division
33rd Division
12th Garrison Unit
21st Air Defense AA Regiment
23rd Medium Field Artillery Regiment
1st RF Gun Battalion
1st Hvy.Artillery Regiment
51st Construction Battalion
53rd Const Co
32nd Field AA Battalion
43rd Const Co
4th Field AF Construction Battalion
2nd Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
23rd Field AF Construction Battalion
5th Field AF Const Bn /2
Sumatra / Malaya
This is us at low level, losses are less ... however still unsustainable.
Morning Air attack on Palembang , at 48,91
Weather in hex: Heavy cloud
Raid spotted at 26 NM, estimated altitude 44,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes
Japanese aircraft
N1K1-J George x 5
N1K2-J George x 28
Ki-44-IIc Tojo x 16
Ki-84r Frank x 8
Then the Superforts Arrive... we do ok considering, however the main body of 75 P-47 arrive after this, if it had of been before we would be in even worse shape.
Morning Air attack on Palembang , at 48,91
Weather in hex: Heavy cloud
Raid spotted at 8 NM, estimated altitude 21,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 2 minutes
Japanese aircraft
N1K1-J George x 2
N1K2-J George x 22
Ki-44-IIc Tojo x 14
Ki-84r Frank x 5
Air Battles over Samulaki continue, but this is about it, now he has the base he can bring in lots of fighters. Ours are stuffed and we have no servicable ships to bombard with. Continuing to supress Dobo while we can...
Morning Air attack on Saumlaki , at 78,117
Weather in hex: Severe storms
Raid detected at 99 NM, estimated altitude 35,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 29 minutes
Japanese aircraft
N1K2-J George x 24
Ki-84r Frank x 21
Allied aircraft
Spitfire Vc Trop x 13
P-47D25 Thunderbolt x 31
F6F-3 Hellcat x 106
Assaulting units:
51st Recon Regiment
23rd Tank Regiment
Defending units:
81st Chinese Corps
259th Brigade
We are continuing to pull fuel and oil from Palembang, however there is no longer any point in trying to defend the place. Instead we will try to defend Oosthaven and try to pull as much from there as long as wel can with support from aircraft on Java.
Pacific
We FINALLY get some more hits on these raiders. 1-2 DD have got away, we have chased with a single CV but always ended up to far away. The CV will return to the DEI.
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Iwo-jima at 109,81
Weather in hex: Heavy cloud
Raid detected at 26 NM, estimated altitude 3,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes
China
Next turn we cross the river to atack Neiking with an Armourd div and some brigades. This is the dot base on the rail line north of Sian. Taking it gives us a few options...
Airbase hits 7
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 26
Port hits 6
Port supply hits 2
Afternoon Air attack on 46th Naval Guard Unit, at 136,98 (Wake Island)
Weather in hex: Light rain
Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 36 minutes
Allied aircraft
Wildcat V x 4
F4F-4 Wildcat x 9
FM-2 Wildcat x 43
F6F-3 Hellcat x 14
SB2C-1C Helldiver x 51
TBF-1 Avenger x 8
TBM-1C Avenger x 99
Allied aircraft losses
TBM-1C Avenger: 1 damaged
Japanese ground losses:
180 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 10 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 16 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 5 (2 destroyed, 3 disabled)
China
We cross the river and take Tienshui north of Sian on the rail line. This unhinges his defence of the river north of Sian. It should make him fall back and protect our long line of communications to the north.
Ground combat at Tienshui (81,38)
Japanese Shock attack
Attacking force 24447 troops, 225 guns, 883 vehicles, Assault Value = 986
Defending force 21294 troops, 107 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 436
Assaulting units:
2nd Tank Division
10th Ind.Infantry Brigade
66th Infantry Brigade
3rd Ind.Mixed Brigade
11th Tank Regiment
1st Army
Defending units:
82nd Chinese Corps
9th Chinese Corps
91st Chinese Corps
6th Group Army
8th Group Army
14th Group Army
7th Group Army
15th Group Army
24th Group Army
4th Chinese Base Force
Oosthaven - Change some TF to have this base as their home port. This will make the AI move fuel from Palembang to there. Hopefully, you can use those small 1250 TKs to run to and from Batavia to get some fuel out.
Thanks NY59Giants, been using OOsthaven for 12 months, I use 7950 size TK to move the fuel to Java on a shuttle. Now with lots of tankers it is going to Manila or Hong Kong direct. Only way to get out all the goodies from Palembang!
9 Apr 1944 - Wake invaded and falls
Indicators and Warnings
Subs
Empty ships returning to Japan (well they hav rsources loaded).
Sub attack near Iwo-jima at 99,82
Japanese Ships xAP Teiritsu Maru, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage [SUNK]
xAP Kashima Maru
xAP Haruna Maru
E Manju
Allied Ships
SS Bonefish, hits 4, heavy damage
Thailand
The usual we are about 3 hex out of Bangkok now. There is over 1000AV at Bangkok.
Sumatra / Malaya
Palembang is swept against no opposition. Then the B-19 arrive. Each hit is causing about 10 damge to the refineries.
Morning Air attack on Palembang , at 48,91
Weather in hex: Thunderstorms
Raid spotted at 40 NM, estimated altitude 18,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes
Allied aircraft
B-29-1 Superfort x 24
No Allied losses
Refinery hits 3
Morning Air attack on Palembang , at 48,91
Weather in hex: Thunderstorms
Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes
Allied aircraft
B-29-1 Superfort x 5
No Allied losses
Refinery hits 3
Oosthaven is swept against opposition:
Morning Air attack on Oosthaven , at 48,96
Weather in hex: Thunderstorms
Raid spotted at 27 NM, estimated altitude 44,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M5b Zero x 30
N1K2-J George x 23
Assaulting units:
763rd Tank Battalion
767th Tank Battalion
255th Indian Tank Brigade
32nd Infantry Division
766th Tank Battalion
102nd Combat Engineer Regiment
11th (East African) Division
1st Marine Division
7th Australian Division
5th Indian Division
14th Army Engineer Battalion
38th Infantry Division
150th RAC Regiment
50th Tank Brigade
131st Combat Engineer Regiment
II Aus Corps Engineer Battalion
IV Corps Engineer Battalion
762nd Tank Battalion
7th Infantry Division
754th Tank Battalion
4th Armoured Brigade
50th Indian Para Bde /1
15th USN Naval Construction Battalion
98th Field Artillery Battalion
11th USN Naval Construction Battalion
1st RAA Jungle Regiment
205th Field Artillery Battalion
Sixth US Army
29th Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
I US Amphib Corps
226th Field Artillery Battalion
223rd Field Artillery Battalion
12th USN Naval Construction Battalion
31st Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
97th Field Artillery Battalion
32nd Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
134th Field Artillery Battalion
249th Field Artillery Battalion
30th Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
2/9th Field Regiment
14th USN Naval Construction Battalion
2nd Medium Regiment
33rd Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
Defending units:
9th Division
40th Brigade
25th Ind.Mixed Brigade
3rd Tank Regiment
30th Recon Regiment
1st Guards Div /2
12th RF Gun Battalion
20th JNAF AF Unit /1
131st Naval Construction Battalion
24th Ind. Engineer Regiment
67th Construction Battalion
22nd Air Flotilla /1
3rd Medium Mortar Bn /8
91st JAAF AF Bn /1
30th Field Artillery Regiment
3rd Air Div /2
29th Army /6
OZ
Pacific
Wake is invaded and falls, he has landed almost 2 Divs. They will be heavily disrupted.
Invasion Support action off Wake Island (136,98) - Coastal Guns Fire Back!
Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force
Invasion Support action off Wake Island (136,98)
Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force
29 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Allied Ships
LST-82, Shell hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
DE Lovering
DE Griswold
LST-457, Shell hits 1
LST-464, Shell hits 1
DE Emery
DE Martin
LST-459
LST-85
LST-447
Assaulting units:
22nd Marine Regiment
151st Combat Engineer Regiment
3rd Marine Division
1st USMC Amphb Tank Battalion
18th Combat Engineer Regiment
4th USMC Tank Battalion
V US Amphib Corps
82nd Mortar Battalion
Defending units:
46th Naval Guard Unit
Maizuru 2nd SNLF /1
3rd South Seas Gsn /4
Wake Coastal Gun Battalion
50th JNAF Coy
49th JNAF AF Unit
7th JNAF Coy /1
China
The forces that took Neikiang by aerial attack have been pushed back into the forest then hunted down and destroyed:
Ground combat at 74,44 (near Neikiang)
Allied Shock attack
Attacking force 10788 troops, 71 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 327
Defending force 181 troops, 2 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 2
Thanks Cribtop, not so sure, certainly is putting additional presure on. I think he was just trying some things out with forces he had "spare". The next step will be difficult, all our next lot of bases are well defend at around 300AV each and level 7 forts, as well as mutually supporting... The exception being Marcus Is.
10 Apr 1944
Was wondering why our George pools were so low, found that I'd left "upgrade on" so they had all converted to the George 5 version, which would normally be OK but we have no engines available for it yet! So I've downgraded a 5 back to a 2, converted over a Zero factory to geaorge, turned on more Zero's and changed the Toko rocket to the Ha-43 which is what we need... all of which will cost us a fair bit of supply just when things are getting tight
Indicators and Warnings
Subs
Thailand
The usual. Next turn will try a LRCAP trap.
Sumatra / Malaya
Palembang is swept by P47..
Have decided to try and be proactive, will sweep Sibolga and send in about 100 Helen...
He attacks at Langsa, we hold... just...
Ground combat at Langsa (46,74)
Allied Deliberate attack
Attacking force 103431 troops, 2016 guns, 3364 vehicles, Assault Value = 3953
Defending force 23849 troops, 354 guns, 169 vehicles, Assault Value = 620
Assaulting units:
754th Tank Battalion
32nd Infantry Division
131st Combat Engineer Regiment
150th RAC Regiment
7th Infantry Division
763rd Tank Battalion
762nd Tank Battalion
14th Army Engineer Battalion
767th Tank Battalion
11th (East African) Division
7th Australian Division
255th Indian Tank Brigade
50th Tank Brigade
1st Marine Division
II Aus Corps Engineer Battalion
38th Infantry Division
4th Armoured Brigade
IV Corps Engineer Battalion
102nd Combat Engineer Regiment
766th Tank Battalion
5th Indian Division
134th Field Artillery Battalion
1st RAA Jungle Regiment
97th Field Artillery Battalion
30th Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
223rd Field Artillery Battalion
98th Field Artillery Battalion
11th USN Naval Construction Battalion
32nd Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
29th Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
15th USN Naval Construction Battalion
2nd Medium Regiment
12th USN Naval Construction Battalion
33rd Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
Sixth US Army
14th USN Naval Construction Battalion
31st Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
2/9th Field Regiment
I US Amphib Corps
205th Field Artillery Battalion
226th Field Artillery Battalion
249th Field Artillery Battalion
50th Indian Para Bde /1
Defending units:
25th Ind.Mixed Brigade
3rd Tank Regiment
30th Recon Regiment
40th Brigade
9th Division
1st Guards Div /2
22nd Air Flotilla /1
3rd Medium Mortar Bn /8
12th RF Gun Battalion
30th Field Artillery Regiment
3rd Air Div /2
67th Construction Battalion
131st Naval Construction Battalion
29th Army /6
East DEI
Boela is swept against no opposition and turned into a crater, getting a lot of our planes on the ground I got overconfident... aircraft are pulled back and moved around.
Morning Air attack on Boela , at 80,110
Weather in hex: Light cloud
Raid detected at 36 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes
Japanese aircraft
no flights
Allied aircraft
PB4Y-1 Liberator x 36
Japanese aircraft losses
P1Y1 Frances: 4 destroyed on ground
Ki-84r Frank: 2 destroyed on ground
N1K2-J George: 6 destroyed on ground
Ki-49-IIb Helen: 3 destroyed on ground
D4Y3 Judy: 1 destroyed on ground
No Allied losses
Japanese ground losses:
Vehicles lost 2 (1 destroyed, 1 disabled)
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