Rise of the Sheep! JocMeister(A) vs. Obvert(J)

[BBfanboy]

ORIGINAL: DOCUP

Nice pic Joc, very beautiful.  What about marching the troops up from Milne Bay along the coast?  To me marching troops with heavy equipment across those mountains would be close to impossible, but if he did it to you all is fair in love war and AE.

There have been a variety of opinions about whether using the "easier-than-it-should-be" path between PM and Buna is "gamey". If both sides agree up front not to send anything larger than a battalion sized unit with light equipment over the trail, it is more real-life. But this is a game and since I think Joc's opponent has already used the trail to send reinforcements and supply to PM, using it in the reverse direction should not be an issue.
However, perceptions may differ and this is one of those things that the two protagonists should discuss via e-mail and come to an agreement.

[JocMeister]

17th - 19th October -43

Don´t really remembered what happened on the previous two days. Hopefully I did good? [:D]

Burma
On the 19th though we take a bit of a beating as my sweeps decide to go in AFTER the bombers. RAF take a major beating with 34 2Es lost together with 19(!) pilots. USAAF suffer 24 losses with only 7 pilots lost though. USAAF can handle the losses with some 200 2Es in the pool. The RAF can´t. I hope I can get most of the RAF squadrons operational again but it will suck the pools dry.

Port Moresby Area
Next assault on PM will happen within the week. If it fails I´m out of ideas. Another 75 P47s arrived in theater. They are not needed here though as the Navy and Marines dominate the air with some 125 P38s. The newly arrived P47 squadrons will downgrade to P40s and three P40 squadrons in Burma will take the airframes. That will bring the total number of P47s in Burma up to 225. [8D] Pool is in excellent shape with some 78 planes. Its growing despite 7 squadrons being in constant combat! I´m starting to see why this airframe is such a game changer. Erik has nothing to counter with. I´m getting around 10-1 even against his best fighters and I seldom loose any pilots.

Erik has started to whine a bit about the losses. After having the Tojo dive on me getting 10-1 and sometimes even better for almost 18 months I´m not too sympathetic! [:D]

No life signs from Erik so I´m guessing this game will be on hold until he gets back from OZ on the 7th. Luckily my game with Joseph is moving along nicely. 4 Turns yesterday. I think it will be a great game and much less uneven then this one. Having PBEM game experience makes a huge difference for me. I know a lot more what to expect. Once this game is over I will restart my AAR from that game! [:)]

[JocMeister]

Question.

How do I make the actual attack on PM together with the paras? I set everyone to deliberate and drop the paras and that is it? [:)]

[witpqs]

ORIGINAL: JocMeister

Question.

How do I make the actual attack on PM together with the paras? I set everyone to deliberate and drop the paras and that is it? [:)]

I been told a few times on the forum during the past year that when paras make their shock attack they do not halve the defenders AV. At least not presently in AE. So, providing that is correct, you won't get any extra advantage by dropping the paras. Additional attack forces, sure, but no reduction in defender AV.

Direct answer to your question, yup, just order an attack and drop the paras on the same turn.

[JocMeister]

ORIGINAL: witpqs

ORIGINAL: JocMeister

Question.

How do I make the actual attack on PM together with the paras? I set everyone to deliberate and drop the paras and that is it? [:)]

I been told a few times on the forum during the past year that when paras make their shock attack they do not halve the defenders AV. At least not presently in AE. So, providing that is correct, you won't get any extra advantage by dropping the paras. Additional attack forces, sure, but no reduction in defender AV.

Direct answer to your question, yup, just order an attack and drop the paras on the same turn.

Oh, That is certainly a bit of a letdown! But I can see why they removed it.

Thank you! [:)]

[SqzMyLemon]

ORIGINAL: JocMeister

Luckily my game with Joseph is moving along nicely. 4 Turns yesterday. I think it will be a great game and much less uneven then this one. Having PBEM game experience makes a huge difference for me. I know a lot more what to expect.

Lucky me. [:D]

Hopefully I'll still have some surprises for you.

[JocMeister]

I´m sure you do! [X(]

[JocMeister]

20th October -43

Very quiet turn. 2 CL bombard Baker Isl taking out 4 Mavis on the runway. Hopefully this will discourage future long range search around Canton. I prefer if he doesn´t know exactly where I am.

I have withdrawn the battered RAF to Calcutta.

Tomorrow will be a very important day as I ordered the first deliberate attack on Port Moresby since almost two months back. I have been bombing his troops relentlessly since then. Almost daily 200 2Es and 250 4Es has hit the troops. This has been supplemented by naval bombardments every 4-5 days. Since my last attack I have reinforced with almost 800 AV.

The latest bombardment looked like this:

Ground combat at Port Moresby (98,130)

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 22432 troops, 509 guns, 411 vehicles, Assault Value = 1764

Defending force 25370 troops, 256 guns, 68 vehicles, Assault Value = 845

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



Assaulting units:
1st USMC Corps Tank Battalion
102nd Combat Engineer Regiment
754th Tank Battalion
37th Infantry Division
6th Infantry Division
1st Marine Division
25th Infantry Division
1st USMC Tank Battalion
II Aus Corps Engineer Battalion
2nd USMC Field Artillery Battalion
131st Field Artillery Battalion
I US Corps
I US Amphib Corps
1st USMC Field Artillery Battalion
148th Field Artillery Battalion

Defending units:
14th Garrison Unit
47th Engineer Regiment
91st Infantry Regiment
6th Garrison Unit
22nd Division
Kure 7th SNLF
22nd JNAF AF Unit
30th Fld AA Gun Co
31st Fld AA Gun Co
16th AA Regiment
6th Shipping Engr Rgt /1

Everything is ordered to do a deliberate attack. During the night 4 BBs and 6 CAs will bombard the troops and during the day 580 bombers will hit his troops. If this is not enough I don´t know what is. Keep your fingers crossed and sacrifice your pets to the war gods! [:D]

I hope Erik can get the turn back to me before I leave tomorrow morning.

Backup plan
I will dump 4 more artillery units and dump enough supply to let them have at it for another month.

[BBfanboy]

If you have been able to reinforce/resupply PM at will and have been bombing daily, he should not have been able to build forts and should also be short on supply. Has he been running any convoys to Buna? If not, your attack should do well. You also have two months of extra prep for the attack! Good luck!

[JocMeister]

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

If you have been able to reinforce/resupply PM at will and have been bombing daily, he should not have been able to build forts and should also be short on supply. Has he been running any convoys to Buna? If not, your attack should do well. You also have two months of extra prep for the attack! Good luck!

I hope you are right. He is already behind level 6 forts. Really hope the engineers and tanks can drop them a bit!

[JocMeister]

Happy news with a happy new year!

YES! Very, very relieved right now. Leaving town to celebrate new years eve with one of my sisters and her family. But Erik managed to send the turn before I left and there were some very good news in it! [:)]

Ground combat at Port Moresby (98,130)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 45832 troops, 935 guns, 1172 vehicles, Assault Value = 1773

Defending force 25123 troops, 252 guns, 65 vehicles, Assault Value = 844

Allied engineers reduce fortifications to 4

Allied adjusted assault: 1016

Japanese adjusted defense: 1019

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

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

Japanese ground losses:
4036 casualties reported
Squads: 95 destroyed, 169 disabled
Non Combat: 13 destroyed, 31 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 55 disabled
Guns lost 47 (18 destroyed, 29 disabled)
Vehicles lost 12 (11 destroyed, 1 disabled)
Units destroyed 1


Allied ground losses:
1052 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 94 disabled
Non Combat: 5 destroyed, 48 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 25 disabled
Guns lost 20 (2 destroyed, 18 disabled)
Vehicles lost 32 (1 destroyed, 31 disabled)


Assaulting units:
1st USMC Corps Tank Battalion
6th Infantry Division
1st USMC Tank Battalion
102nd Combat Engineer Regiment
754th Tank Battalion
37th Infantry Division
25th Infantry Division
1st Marine Division
II Aus Corps Engineer Battalion
I US Corps
I US Amphib Corps
2nd USMC Field Artillery Battalion
1st USMC Field Artillery Battalion
131st Field Artillery Battalion
148th Field Artillery Battalion

Defending units:
14th Garrison Unit
47th Engineer Regiment
6th Garrison Unit
22nd Division
91st Infantry Regiment
Kure 7th SNLF
31st Fld AA Gun Co
16th AA Regiment
30th Fld AA Gun Co
22nd JNAF AF Unit

6th ID took all the losses. All other units are virtually untouched. Looks like Erik is pulling out but I won´t let him. I´ll rest the troops for 2 days. That will allow the bombers to work over his forces and another naval bombardment to go in. Then I hope its a done deal!

Already started loading the BFs and engineers for PM. I will drop 8 SeeBees and 4 naval construction RGMTs. Should get the fields up to 9 pretty fast!

Now I´m off to celebrate the New year! [:)]

Happy new year everyone!

[ny59giants]

Its about time!![:D]

[BBfanboy]

Well, JocMeister wanted PM to be a grinder battle to attrit enemy troops and he got his wish, it just cost a bit more than expected. Now that he's ready to move on I think he can wrap the situation in a few more days.

Happy New Year to you and your family JocM!

[JocMeister]

21st-22nd November -43

Port Moresby area

The battle is wrapping up. Looks like Erik is in flight with at least a portion of the troops. I will do another deliberate on the 24th. That should secure the base. 1st USMC will move out and secure Buna. I hope Erik won´t see this as too outrageous. No tanks or heavy arty will follow by land.

Burma

Erik gives up the air over central Burma after loosing some 80 fighters over two days. Looks like he is pulling troops from the central bases too. Lots of arrows going south. My northern force is in supply again and started moving south.

CENTPAC

I resumed bombardment of Canton again. I decided to play it safe here. Troops are unloaded at Christmas to rest up. Bombardments from air and see will continue for the rest of November to ensure the capture of the base.

Airwar

I have seen a sudden shift in Eriks tactics lately. He has started pulling back out of my fighter range in all locations. He is massing his forces at major bases right now. Rabaul, Toungoo and Rangoon have been turned into major strongholds with around 200 fighters at each base. This makes it a bit easier for me right now as I can close the AFs I want without opposition. But it also means I can´t attrit his airforce the way I have been. Hopefully he has lost most of his better pilots and are now stuck using newly trained recruits.

I´m sure he will soon start using the same hit and run tactics the allies have to rely on early game. That means I will have to maintain a strong CAP over anything valuable.

Here is a screen of the future targets around Port Moresby.

[ny59giants]

Your Marines are the best for AMPHIB assaults, so why are you using them in a protracted land campaign by going across the Stanley Mtns to Buna?? Let an US Army division do it.

[JocMeister]

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

Your Marines are the best for AMPHIB assaults, so why are you using them in a protracted land campaign by going across the Stanley Mtns to Buna?? Let an US Army division do it.

Yeah, you are right. But the US IDs really need some time to heal up before the next move. They are all pretty banged up. The 1st is in great condition though. I figure I will start prepping them as soon as PM falls and then I will have 50-70 days before I need to pull them for the next target. Sounds reasonable?

[ny59giants]

You should 4 to 8 divisions with HQs (both Army/Corp) and at least two Command HQs prepping for the next series of invasions. Like in chess, you should be at least three or moves ahead.

[BBfanboy]

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

You should 4 to 8 divisions with HQs (both Army/Corp) and at least two Command HQs prepping for the next series of invasions. Like in chess, you should be at least three or moves ahead.

You have to think three moves ahead in chess??? Who knew! [:'(]

[JocMeister]

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

You should 4 to 8 divisions with HQs (both Army/Corp) and at least two Command HQs prepping for the next series of invasions. Like in chess, you should be at least three or moves ahead.

I have actually learned at least something from you! So all effort you have spent have not been in vain! [:D]

I have 9 divisions in the area. 4 are 100% prepped for PM. As soon as it falls they will start prepping for the next objectives! I also have:
1 prepped for Merauke (32)
1 for Woodlark Island (100)
1 for Finnshafen (72) (2nd USMC)
2 for Milne bay (100) (Next invasion)

Besides that I have 3 divisions prepped for Darwin! PM should fall next turn. So I will spend some time today going through possible new targets for the 4 divisions that are freed up!

[:)]

[JocMeister]

23rd Novemeber -43

Not much happening besides the usual fireworks at PM and Canton.

Another deliberate attack ordered at PM tomorrow. Hopefully that will force Erik out!

KB

But I did get 100% confirmation on KB! So I was wrong about it being in CENTPAC. But better safe then sorry. I reconned Koepang last turn to check out that small CV TF I had been picking up. Looks like that made Erik decide to pull back a little bit more as the small TF turned out to be the KB. I have to be wary of the possibility he is actually moving to CENTPAC though.

I´ll put as many subs as possible between us.

Burma

Erik shows up with the really big boys outside Ramree Island!

Naval bombardment of Prome at 54,49

Japanese Ships
BB Musashi
BB Yamato
BB Hiei
CA Kinugasa
CA Takao
DD Yugiri
DD Shirakumo
DD Usugumo
DD Hibiki
DD Umikaze
DD Arashio
DD Asashio


Allied ground losses:
212 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 12 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 27 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 1 disabled
Guns lost 11 (1 destroyed, 10 disabled)
Vehicles lost 6 (1 destroyed, 5 disabled)

He does surprisingly little damage with the 6th OZ division getting bumped from move mode and suffering 27 disruption. Can´t see anything else. Guess the troops were sheltered by the jungle. [:)]

MTB and mines are on the way.

Took some screens of the air losses and replacement pools.