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

[GreyJoy]

ORIGINAL: princep01

Medals for the submariners...and sake for them and you!  Nicely done.

Question;  Are you scouting Perth. Brisbane, Auckland and Sydney with those nasty Glens?  Maybe it would produce a whiff of CV if you did so.

Yes, i have Gleens in every sensitive place...but, for the moment...no joy!

He's now reconning Engano (SW of Sumatra) from Cocos....mmmmm......

And here's the map of southern DEI:
We're delivering troops everywhere, while Lautem and Koepang reached AF lvl 8. My subs are moving in packs, as you can see, and so far they are doing well in the game. I've learnt the hard way against Rader how to use subs... don't waste them looking for merchants and convoys but use them with the Japanese doctrine: hunt only warships!
And use them only in flottillas... a sub alone is a dead sub...a pack of wolves is deadly!

So far, we've sunk using only subs 3 BBs, 2 CAs, some old CLs and badly damaged 3 CVs... not bad!

[GreyJoy]

We now are delivering more troops to Kai-Enlanded and to the dot bases on western NG coast.
Around Ambon we're building 3 more bases with good AFs and connected by an Air Division HQ. The 20th Division (still broken in pieces) just arrived at Kendari and will be soon be ready to fight.
 
He's bombing daily Babar and Saumlaki with 2Es from Darwin. We have already ambushed his B25s over there and soon we'll be hunting them down again.
 
Still unsure what's going on near Tabiutea... don't understand if it's a feint, a small sideshow, or a major invasion.
However am sending 2 more SNLF units to the Marshalls just to be sure i don't get caught with my pants down there.
 
An air HQ just arrived at Sapporo, along with 4 new base forces. I still have to decide where to send these units... i'm really tempted to move them to the Mariannas, but i also wonder if it's not a waste considering how much he is focused on the southern DEI now...
 
Burma? Seems like Brad has completely lost interest in this theater... but i don't trust this loss of interest, so i'm keeping my air army at full strenght there.
 
GEORGE: at mid feb 43 we'll start to produce 160 N1K1 each month. I'll keep the A6M5 and the A6M3a active anyway, cause i'll need a good mix of SR1 and SR3 fighters. The Georges will be used only on major AF with lots of AS (Rabaul, Koepang, Lautem, Ambon, Mandalay, Rangoon) and in backwater bases like Bankok or Palembang. They, along with the Nicks, will soon start to be deployed on those AFs that can be reached by enemy 4Es unescorted.
With the arrival of the N1K1 i truly hope my defensive capabilities will make a little step forward

[GreyJoy]

A small consideration about the bombardment TF that bombed Saumlaki lately... mmm... an old US CA, a RN CA, a couple of Omaha Class CLs, some old ducth CLs... doesn't seem like the best he can bring here, right?! Where are his fast BBs? Where are the cleveland class CLs??? Is this whole southern DEI campaign another sideshow??????

[GreyJoy]

Also Sorong and the other nearby bases need my attention... damn, i really hope i can finish the China campaign ASAP...i badly need a lot more troops for the DEI garrisoning process.
Now 10 divisions are investing Chengtu. I truly hope the battle for Cengtu won't take too long... still don't know the forts level there but i guess it's at least a level 4... with a +2 terrain... luckly i dominate the skies and i have a decent artillery train with me. Also, the battles for this city should leave some of my divisions in bad shape....and that will mean a far cheaper PPs cost to buy them out!
 
For what concerns the economy, we're finally able to suck the oil from Umruchi. It seems that a couple of TK TFs at Shangaii are able to start the flowing process. Very good! Our oil reserves in Japan are already very very low (something like 10 days of production) and we really need to speed the whole convoy process (which is now, even if safe, defenelty too slow)

[veji1]

ORIGINAL: GreyJoy

A small consideration about the bombardment TF that bombed Saumlaki lately... mmm... an old US CA, a RN CA, a couple of Omaha Class CLs, some old ducth CLs... doesn't seem like the best he can bring here, right?! Where are his fast BBs? Where are the cleveland class CLs??? Is this whole southern DEI campaign another sideshow??????

It isn't a sideshow, it is just the result of the games dynamic :
- Qball is methodic and from the get go decided not to expose his precious assets until he could use them on favorable terms. This time is coming soon, but not yet, ergo, still hiding his best stuff.
- His whole North OZ campaign ran on a shoestring worked well, why change method ? He was probably planing and hoping on jumping quickly on a few more bases via Para and Fast transport, risking loseable assets. He tested your line of defense there with his B25 and Bombardment force. The response tells him that he just hit the real MLR, now he will be even more carefull, But until that point why should he have changed a successfull method ?

SO no the DEI/OZ campaign was not a sideshow, it was the main show because he could run it on a low risk budget. NOw that he hit the line he is going to check if he can turn it, surprise it (bases near Bali ?). If he sees he can't than there will be a big operationnal pause to think about what to do.

He is still going to build everything he can to be able to field the strongest possible LBA, but he is very likely not to land a massive army on Timor. Why would he risk it ?

Having hit the MLR here, he will start looking more actively at other places where he can push on a budget and stretch you.. His goal is to stretch you, he has committed enough troops to Burma to make you commit lots there, but no quality guys because he just want to stretch you. Same in OZ. He will probably start trying to hurt you a bit in the Salomons and Centpac to stretch you some more.

All the while preparing his big hammer for a strong decisive operation in mid-43 that will open the crust. At least that should be the plan.

[GreyJoy]

ORIGINAL: veji1

ORIGINAL: GreyJoy

A small consideration about the bombardment TF that bombed Saumlaki lately... mmm... an old US CA, a RN CA, a couple of Omaha Class CLs, some old ducth CLs... doesn't seem like the best he can bring here, right?! Where are his fast BBs? Where are the cleveland class CLs??? Is this whole southern DEI campaign another sideshow??????

It isn't a sideshow, it is just the result of the games dynamic :
- Qball is methodic and from the get go decided not to expose his precious assets until he could use them on favorable terms. This time is coming soon, but not yet, ergo, still hiding his best stuff.
- His whole North OZ campaign ran on a shoestring worked well, why change method ? He was probably planing and hoping on jumping quickly on a few more bases via Para and Fast transport, risking loseable assets. He tested your line of defense there with his B25 and Bombardment force. The response tells him that he just hit the real MLR, now he will be even more carefull, But until that point why should he have changed a successfull method ?

SO no the DEI/OZ campaign was not a sideshow, it was the main show because he could run it on a low risk budget. NOw that he hit the line he is going to check if he can turn it, surprise it (bases near Bali ?). If he sees he can't than there will be a big operationnal pause to think about what to do.

He is still going to build everything he can to be able to field the strongest possible LBA, but he is very likely not to land a massive army on Timor. Why would he risk it ?

Having hit the MLR here, he will start looking more actively at other places where he can push on a budget and stretch you.. His goal is to stretch you, he has committed enough troops to Burma to make you commit lots there, but no quality guys because he just want to stretch you. Same in OZ. He will probably start trying to hurt you a bit in the Salomons and Centpac to stretch you some more.

All the while preparing his big hammer for a strong decisive operation in mid-43 that will open the crust. At least that should be the plan.

Good analysis my friend! Thank you

Well, if he slows down in his advance, the better! The more time i gain, the more my perimeter gets stronger. Still a lot needs to be done. I need to start ASAP to send troops to the Mariannas. Marcus and Wake are strong, but with a coup the main they could be bypassed...exactly like i bypassed Paramushiro Jiima and landed directly in western Kuriles and Hokkaido against Rader.
So i'm sending the newly arrived Air HQ to Saipan and will start to send there base forces and some infantry.

I've done what i could for western Sumatra, placing decent garrisons in some places and positioning the needed Air HQs.

For the islands around Bali, i've garrisoned everything directly on the perimeter. Java has 3 divisions in reserve and 2 Air HQs...clearly not enough to stop an invasion, but probably enough to slow him down untill the reserves arrive.

Also the Kuriles need to be garrisoned more.... but to do all of that, i need first to conquer Chegtu, then a river of divisions will be available...which means 1 divisions monthly (probably more if i buy out the trashed ones)...

I won't let him advance easily anymore, anywhere. If he wants to grab more lands, he will have to fight and risk his assets for every inch of ground.

Not a massive army in Timor you say? Well, if he wants to advance fast, he should be looking for some decent AFs...and Timor has the best bases in the whole area...And if he doesn't want to risk a direct landing, he will have first to shut down all my AFs...and that won't be an easy task. Koepang is a fortress. Plenty of AAs and a great AF, with tons of engineers. I'll probably place there some CD guns also...but the next CD unit arriving will be moved to Sebang...that is always a weak spot. I already have a division, an air HQ, two base forces and an Artillery unit (with 150mm guns) there.but i want more!

[witpqs]

I've learnt the hard way against Rader how to use subs... don't waste them looking for merchants and convoys but use them with the Japanese doctrine: hunt only warships!
And use them only in flottillas... a sub alone is a dead sub...a pack of wolves is deadly!

Could you clarify that for me - do you mean that you use multiple-subs in on TF, or that you use a bunch of single-sub TFs in the same area?

[veji1]

I think it's multiple single TFs in a area where they react to each other's finds and "dilute" detection level...

[GreyJoy]

ORIGINAL: veji1

I think it's multiple single TFs in a area where they react to each other's finds and "dilute" detection level...

Exactly!


Guys...we have a problem...

Jan 31, 1943

The enemy, all of a sudden, bombed and plastered Christmas I.O., shutting down the AF with 80 Liberators from Cocos Island... then the enemy CVs popped up, attacking a picket TF south of Christmas... so Brad is invading on my flank...Java? Probably yes...damn...
Ok, gotta keep my blood still. 100 Netties are immediately moved to Sosarbaja, along with 30 Judys and 60 Kates. 160 Zeros and 40 Nicks are also moved at Batavia and Sosarbaja... don't wanna strip too much from the southern DEI. The KB is getting to Menado once again (burnt too much fuel doing nothing all around), while the SAG TFs are getting to Makassar, along with Baby KB.

Can i stop an invasion? Probably not... but far from LBA Brad is really risking. 15 subs are immediately re-directed from Singapore and Palembang...

The other bad news is that the enemy attack Lautem...i had 42 Tojos and some 36 Nicks on CAP... but they performed horribly and several squadrons of SDBs and Beauforts put 2 bombs and 1 torp into CL Oi [:o].... my light Cruiser Fleet is in a really bad shape[:-]


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Sub attack near Ambon at 76,109

Japanese Ships
xAK Kanko Maru, Torpedo hits 1, heavy damage
PB Yoshida Maru
xAK Tsuyama Maru
xAK Sugiyama Maru
xAK Daido Maru
PB Takuna Maru #6
PB Shonon Maru #11

Allied Ships
SS S-45, hits 3


His subs are becoming a problem lately...

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Morning Air attack on TF, near Christmas Island IO at 42,115

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid spotted at 18 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 18
SBD-3 Dauntless x 17

No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
xAKL Hidaka Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
xAKL Kokuei Maru

Aircraft Attacking:
17 x SBD-3 Dauntless bombing from 9000 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring xAKL Hidaka Maru


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Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Lautem at 72,115

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid detected at 35 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 13 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 11 *and the rest of the squadrons!?!?!?!!?!?[:@]*
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 11

Allied aircraft
P-38E Lightning x 18
SBD-3 Dauntless x 11

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-38E Lightning: 2 destroyed

Japanese Ships
DD Hasu
CL Oi, Bomb hits 1, on fire
DD Nokaze
DD Kyukaze

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000' *
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
4 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000' *
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
4 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000' *
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 lb SAP Bomb

CAP engaged:
66th Sentai with Ki-45 KAIa Nick (3 airborne, 8 on standby, 0 scrambling)
3 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 9000 and 11000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 24 minutes
78th 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 to 10000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 17 minutes



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Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Lautem at 72,115

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid detected at 75 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 25 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 3
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 2

Allied aircraft
Beaufort VIII x 24

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Beaufort VIII: 1 destroyed, 2 damaged

Japanese Ships
DD Numakaze
DD Kyukaze
CL Oi, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
DD Hasu
DD Asagao

[GreyJoy]

I will never understand perfectly how CAP works.... 72 planes, in 2 Sentais, 40% CAP, zero range.... and only 11+11 show up? Why the rest didn't scramble?? Oh well.... let's concentrate on his invasion

[ny59giants]

Often the CAP will cover the base, but not any TFs in the base hex. Sometimes you get good cover over your TFs, but it is best to set range to 1 and LRCAP you TFs. I've learned this one the hard way also. [:(]

[GreyJoy]

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

Often the CAP will cover the base, but not any TFs in the base hex. Sometimes you get good cover over your TFs, but it is best to set range to 1 and LRCAP you TFs. I've learned this one the hard way also. [:(]

Good to know! Thanks Micheal!

However now my problem is to mass enough firepower in Java and Sumatra in...well, yesterday!

KB should be able to get there by 4 turns...but he won't get close to land before 2 turns... and he'll be facing my LBA for 2 turns...then then KB will arrive.

[GreyJoy]

Feb 1 1943

Brad is driving me crazy! The enemy CVs disappeared and, despite the heavy naval search, so did what seemed to be an invasion TF near Cocos... again we're fighting smoke and mirrors!
We're not fighting McHartur or Halsey but David Copperfield!!!!!

However, our plans aren't changing. We're shifting forces to Java and Sumatra. That flank is too weak anyway so we need to give some cover and be ready for an invasion.
At Java now are present 135 Netties, 76 Kates, 35 Vals, 50 Judys, 160 Zeros (A6M5 and A6M2), 82 KI-44a and 30 Nicks. The mini-KB, 3 BBs, 6 CLs, 3 CAs and 25 DDs are also ready. 15 subs are reaching Sosarbaja in 2 days, while 5 more are already patrolling the waters around Christmas I.O. In 3 more days we'll be able to double those numbers, and we're not counting the KB!

We had a little payback over Lautem today. Several SDBs and Beauforts arrived again today, but the P38s forgot to escort and they got butchered... For some strange reasons (i hadn't the time to follow Micheal's suggestion) today our CAP (same settings) performed nicely, shooting down 30 enemy bogies for no loss and not a single bomb or torpedo was dropped on our ships[:)].

We've succesfully delievered another Brigade (a garrison unit to be honest) at Babar, using transport planes and fast transports, dribbling the enemy PTs that every other day pay a visit to the straits around Saumlaki. Good.

In China the situation is clearly explained in the attached map. We're fighting hard for Kunming, with alternate fortunes, but at Chengtu we're really ready to attack. I still need to reduce the supplies there, but i think we're getting close. The enemy has 90,000 men for 1,800 AVs, while we have 80,000 for 2,000 for the moment, but i plan to have 3,200 AVs in the city by mid Feb 43.
Kunming is a PITA and i doubt i'll be ever ready to reach it...but we'll try anyway.

Supplies are delivered to Burma (badly needed) and to the whole southern area army front.

1 Air HQ, 5 base forces and 1 division are finally loading at Tokyo in order to be shipped to the Mariannas.

N1K1 has entered into production!!!!!![8D] We're building 80 of them for the moment, while 4 industries are R&D the second version which should be availbale by 3/44
We'll use the N1K1 as our primary LBA navy fighter untill the J2M3 will become available (probably october-november 1943). The latter has been selected as our best mid-war IJN fighter untill the N1K2 becomes available.

[GreyJoy]

Just noticed that two TKs of mine, embedded in a convoy TF that from Miri is bringing fuel to Singapore, collided on each other while they were fully loaded[:@]...one TK is in sinking condition and won't make it, while the other one has 80 engine damage and is making 1 knot[:o][:o][:o]
 
Man, these details really make me love this game![&o][&o][&o]

[crsutton]

ORIGINAL: GreyJoy

I will never understand perfectly how CAP works.... 72 planes, in 2 Sentais, 40% CAP, zero range.... and only 11+11 show up? Why the rest didn't scramble?? Oh well.... let's concentrate on his invasion

About the way you would expect. Does not sound like radar was much help. You spotted the raid when it was 13 minutes away from the target. Then below that in the report it says it took 24 minutes for the entire group to scramble and reach the target. So, most of the CAP was too late..Only the patrol that was actually on station engaged. The rest were too late. Fortunes of war.

[GreyJoy]

I know Crsutton... fortunes of war. We all have to get into our minds that, despite our orders, in war things never go as you would expect
 
 
Feb 03, 1943
 
Brad is clearly playing a cat&mouse game with me. While the USCVs disapeared from indian Ocean, another CVTF is spotted near Noumea. probably a CVE TF...i cannot know for sure cause the DL was very very low... he seems to be wanting to make my attention away from southern DEI... but i won't eat this bait!
His bombers keep on pounding Woodlark Island, Babar and Saumlaki, while Christmas Island I.O. is kept shut by his liberators...
 
Lots of shippings near Darwin tell me something is ready to begin down there. We're ready. We are balanced and my defences keep on getting stronger every day.
Come to me. I'm ready to pay with iron and blood the price of honour!!
 
But i'm not forgetting the Kuriles nor the Mariannas. The first big reinforcements TFs are loading right now at Tokyo. Soon Saipan, Guam and Tinian will become fortresses and so will be Etorofu, Shimushiri Jima, Onnekotan jima and Paramushiro. Come my friend, come...
 
Sebang is also getting a 320mm Artillery battaillon and some CD guns too.
 
Moulmein is getting fortified and we'll soon begin to fortify Thailand (i've read with fear what is happening in Jcar's game...[X(])
 
 

[GreyJoy]

Feb 04-05, 43

Seems like Brad is up to another feint with those CVEs spotted near Noumea 2 days ago.

For the third time in this match, QBall has assembled what seems to be an invasion force east of Townsville. The other two times it was simply a feint.
Several SCTFs and some xAP/xAKs TFs are assembling southwest of Rossell Island... once again the jap subs did their job, sinking an Omaha Class CL (CL Trenton). 3 CVEs are spotted along with this strange invasion force...but not a single BB...so i guess this is another fake invasion.
Rossell Island and Tugala Island seem to be the target anyway.... both bases have been reconned in the last 10 days by his F4s and Woodlark Island AF is kept shut by 100 4Es every day...

Even if i don't think this is for real, i'm getting ready to meet him if he wants to fight. Planes have been transfered and are ready and a SCTF, led by Tanaka, is ready at Rabaul.

Christmas I.O. is ketp closed by his liberators from Cocos... the island has 350 AVs behind 3 forts so it's pretty safe for the moment. His CVs disappeared from Indian Ocean few days ago and are not seen anymore since there.





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Sub attack near Tagula Island at 100,143

Japanese Ships
SS I-25, hits 2

Allied Ships
CL Trenton, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
DD Lang
DD Wilson
DD Balch
DD Cummings
DD Preston

CL Trenton sinks...[8D]

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Ground combat at Chengtu (75,41)

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 2697 troops, 200 guns, 145 vehicles, Assault Value = 3540

Defending force 73533 troops, 271 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1798

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

Allied ground losses:
79 casualties reported
Squads: 4 destroyed, 4 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Assaulting units:
13th Division
34th Division
70th Division
27th Division
37th Division
4th Tank Regiment
1st Tank Division
2nd Tank Regiment
39th Division
15th Division
2nd Tank Division
Botanko Hvy Gun Regiment
6th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
Tonei Hvy Gun Regiment
9th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
1st Army
23rd Army
1st Mortar Battalion
4th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
14th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
5th Medium Field Artillery Regiment

Defending units:
76th Chinese Corps
7th Chinese Corps
17th Chinese Corps
12th Chinese Corps
96th Chinese Corps
3rd New Chinese Corps
80th Chinese Corps
92nd Chinese Corps
57th Chinese Corps
98th Chinese Corps
24th Chinese Corps
69th Chinese Corps
56th Chinese Corps
19th Chinese Corps
3rd Construction Regiment
1st Construction Regiment
29th Group Army
Jingcha War Area
38th Chinese Corps
12th Group Army
2nd Group Army
4th Chinese Base Force
1st War Area
26th Group Army
3rd Group Army
Red Chinese Army
22nd Artillery Regiment
24th Group Army
2nd War Area
5th War Area
56th AT Gun Regiment
3rd Chinese Base Force
7th Group Army
9th Chinese Base Force


We're almost ready to attack here....[&o]

[GreyJoy]

It is no feint this time. This time is for real. Two real invasions at the same time. Enemy CVEs are escorting a mighty fleet towards Rossell Island. Not less than 10 different TFs....BBs, CVEs, APs, AKs, APDs.... They are coming.
Near Darwin a mighty invasion fleet positions itself south of BAbar island.... babar, saumlaki or Salroe are the possible targets.... That is the enemy's plan: divide et impera. Combined fleet can't be everywhere and Brad knows it....

We'll do our best. This time we'll fight as hard as possible

[GreyJoy]

But Xmas is not just WitpAE....

Here's me at yesterday Xmas party....a bit, just a bit, drunk....

[GreyJoy]

So it's feb 05 1943
 
 
ROSSELL IS.
Enemy CVEs are divided into 2 different TFs, 7 hexes south of Rossell. 3 Amphib TFs are parked 4 hexes ahead, along with a pair of BB TFs. Many more ASW TFs are scattered around.
Rossell is a soft spot in my perimeter. I knew that. Crsutton told me many months ago here on this Thread... but i simply didn't have enough forces to garrison it.
He seems to be doing a move like DOCUP has done against Koniu.
 
But the question is... is this another feint? I doubt he's really invading into two different spots...with his CVs in the Indian Ocean....mmmmm.....[8|]
 
BABAR IS.
He just bombed it with a CA TF from Darwin...and now a big amphib fleet is parked 2 hexes south of it... he didn't even tried to shut down Timor AFs... that's pretty strange if you ask me...