Olorin (J) vs NY59Giants (A)

[Olorin]

Oct 18-21

5th Fleet: Adak falls as expected. I managed to transport 10 SNFL squads to Amchitka by air. That naval guard unit is now a special base force, since its other component (23rd Port Unit) was also destroyed at Adak. It will slowly take replacements and increase the strength of Amchitka's garrison. Another allied amphibious TF is unloading supplies there. Or maybe troops? My bombardment didn't reveal any new troops, other than the existing Canadian units.

CarDiv1 is 3 days away from its destination. Akagi's fighter group was upgraded and is now operating 44 A6M5s. BB Kirishima is a bit further behind, doing 29 knots despite minor flotation damage. The 4th Div was unloaded at Paramushiro-jima to avoid disruption, but it's now back on board again. 36 A6M3as will arrive from the Marshalls in 3 days to provide additional land based CAP. The airfield there wasn't raided in the last few days and should be operational by then. My goal is to unload the 4th Div, destroy the Canadians and send it back to Wakanai again. I may not even have to reveal CarDiv1 since the American CVs appear to have retreated to the Dutch Harbor.

4th Fleet: 2 PBs sunk an allied submarine at Maloelap, while unloading supplies there.
I plan to move an infantry regiment from Ponape to Kusaie to increase my garrison there to nearly 400 AV.

Burma: Another allied sub was probably sunk off Rangoon by my subchasers.

[Olorin]

Oct 23

5th Fleet: Allied cruisers bombarded Amchitka again, but the airfield still remains good enough for CAP. My own CruRon5 was spotted yesterday 10 hexes east of Amchitka, but not the amphibious TF it was escorting nor CarDiv1, which remained further behind. Today, however, all three TFs were discovered by Catalinas, so the enemy is aware of the presence of carriers. About 10 Hudsons attacked my cruisers not scoring any hits. A lone allied CL is spotted near Adak, but my search in area is provided only by 8 Jakes. Anyway, tomorrow the 4th Div will begin unloading under the cover of 36 land based A6M3a's, if there is no enemy interference. CarDiv1 will stay 7 hexes away to avoid trouble.

4th Fleet: A Glen-equipped sub is attacked near Pearl Harbor and is crippled (about 65 flt damage). I doubt it will make it back to Kwajalein. In the air, I set my Nicks to LRCAP Mili, but again the P-38 proved superior.

[jrcar]

Nicks are most useful defensively for bases outside enemy fighter sweeps against 4E, and for PT busting / low level attacks.

Set them up over key bases you want CAP and use them as "experiance factories" 100% CAP at 16-20k. Then rotate pilots through. Alternatively set them for Naval attack training 50% (builds defensive skills) and 50% CAP at 1000 ft (builds exeprience) so you will get a steady stream of 60-70 exp pilots with 70 defensive skills, while still providing cover against 4E that may "raid" deep.

Keep them away from enemy fighters though....

Tojo, Frank and George do well against P-38.

Cheers

Rob

[Olorin]

Thanks for the advice Rob, I was actually going after his B-17s hoping they arrive before the P=38 but it didn't work.

25 Oct

5th Fleet: My plan worked well and enemy interference amounted to 4 destroyers trying to interrupt my landing. My cruiser TF managed to repel them, sinking DD Frazer and damaging DD Farenholt. Later, a lone destroyer positioned one hex east of Amchitka met the retreating enemy destroyers and managed to escape with only light system damage. The 4th Division is 95% unloaded, only support squads and some light artillery remained on the transports. I will cut unloading short and pull the amphibious TF back, in case a heavier allied surface force appears. CarDiv1 will also retreat a few hexes westward. I ordered a deliberate attack on the Canadians at Amchitka and I 'm now waiting for the turn from Michael.

China: My airfield attacks continue normally. The allied fighters appear to have left China.

No significant news in other fronts, except some troop redeployments and fort building.

[Olorin]

26 Oct

5th Fleet: The deliberate attack failed to cause significant casualties to the Canadians and I ended up with lots of disabled SNFL squads. Luckily, the 4th Division is very much intact and will attack again in two days.

[Olorin]

Oct 28

5th Fleet: I decided to send the amphibious TF back to Amchitka to unload the remainder of the 4th Div and supplies, because after the deliberate attacks supply was reduced to 2000. Michael sent a surface force of two CAs, 2 CLs and 4 DDs, but luckily my escorting cruisers engaged them during the night before they reach my transports. Here is the report:

Night Time Surface Combat, near Amchitka Island at 158,52, Range 2,000 Yards

Allied aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft losses
Walrus II: 2 destroyed

Japanese Ships
CA Suzuya
CL Yubari, Shell hits 4, on fire
DD Satsuki
DD Minazuki
DD Fumizuki
DD Wakatake, Shell hits 2

Allied Ships
CA Devonshire, Shell hits 13, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
CA Exeter
CL Hobart
DD Bagley, Shell hits 1
DD Ralph Talbot
DD Henley
DD Electra
DD Encounter

Poor visibility due to Thunderstorms with 89% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Thunderstorms and 89% moonlight: 2,000 yards
Range closes to 20,000 yards...
Range closes to 14,000 yards...
Range closes to 8,000 yards...
Range closes to 4,000 yards...
Range closes to 2,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 2,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 2,000 yards
Shafroth, John F. crosses the 'T'
CA Suzuya engages CA Devonshire at 2,000 yards
CA Devonshire engages CA Suzuya at 2,000 yards
CA Devonshire engages DD Wakatake at 2,000 yards
DD Encounter engages DD Fumizuki at 2,000 yards
DD Electra engages DD Minazuki at 2,000 yards
CA Suzuya engages CA Exeter at 2,000 yards
CL Hobart engages CL Yubari at 2,000 yards
DD Encounter engages DD Wakatake at 2,000 yards
DD Fumizuki engages DD Electra at 2,000 yards
DD Fumizuki engages DD Henley at 2,000 yards
DD Ralph Talbot engages DD Wakatake at 2,000 yards
DD Wakatake engages DD Bagley at 2,000 yards
Task forces break off...

CA Suzuya sunk CA Devonshire outright. CL Yubari and DD Wakatake suffered moderate damage, but will survive to fight another day.

In the morning, 14 Hurricanes sweep Amchitka and are met by 18 Zeros, resulting in 3 lost aircraft for each side. Then two allied naval strikes are launched from Adak. The first managed to reach my transports, destroying 3 Zeroes in the process, sinking a xAK and damaging a xAP. In the afternoon, my CAP does better. 4 P-400 Anacondas and 1 Vindicator are destroyed, but the enemy still breaks through and sinks AMC Gokoku Maru and damages lightly two xAKs.

The deliberate attack failed again. It seems that terrain and weather will not let us destroy the Canadians:

Ground combat at Amchitka Island (158,52)
Japanese Deliberate attack
Attacking force 12943 troops, 102 guns, 14 vehicles, Assault Value = 434
Defending force 6524 troops, 157 guns, 169 vehicles, Assault Value = 155
Japanese adjusted assault: 154
Allied adjusted defense: 241
Japanese assault odds: 1 to 2

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

Japanese ground losses:
349 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 48 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled

Allied ground losses:
99 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 12 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Guns lost 5 (1 destroyed, 4 disabled)

Assaulting units:
4th Division
Sasebo 5th SNLF
23rd Special Base Force
7th Base Force
5th JNAF AF Unit

Defending units:
14th Canadian Brigade
Rifles of Canada Battalion
177th Construction Regiment
165th Field Artillery Battalion
28th Canadian AA Regiment

4th Fleet: I-25 sinks an allied submarine near Hawaii, but is then attacked by an allied ASW TF, suffering major damage (over 60 flt). It will try to make its way back to Kwajalein, doing 3 knots. This is the second sub that sufferes major damage in this area. PH will be left unwatched for a few weeks.

At Makin, I sent two destroyers to intercept an allied convoy. 1 SC and 4 xAKLs were sunk before the destroyers made it home safely.

The allied heavy bombers continue their daily raids on Maloelap and Mili. This is getting bothersome. Supply is burnt steadily and I have to send small PBs to resupply these two bases. I am pondering a raid on the Gilberts. KB is ordered to sneak its way as close as it can. If it remains unspotted, I will perhaps order last minute dash and attack Tarawa, whish I think is where most of the B-17s are based.

R&D: The following types are accelerated by one month:
A6M5b (11/43)
Tojo IIc (9/43)
Hellen IIb (4/43)
Judy (12/42)

[Olorin]

Oct 30

5th Fleet: I will attack again tomorrow for the last time. If it fails, I will extract the 4th Division out of Amchitka and send it to the 4th Fleet for the winter. CarDiv1 launched ground attacks, but they weren't very effective. It will also withdraw back to the Kurilles and then join the rest of KB. It lingered more than I was comfortable. I don't want any nasty surprises, like an ambush by 6 American carriers.

4th Fleet: I think KB was spotted a few hexes west of Nauru, so I will cancel the Gilberts raid. The two crippled subs are still afloat, but many days away from safety.

China: The Wenchow assault is canceled, which releases 5 divisions and 3 brigades. I decided to commit the 21st Army for two months in northern China, for an offensive towards Lanchow.

DEI: The 23rd Div landed at Cebu, which disabled hald its squads, but the base fell nonetheless. 3 garrisons regiments are released. One of them will merge with a mortar regiment bought from Manchuria to become an independent brigade and reinforce Burma. The other two garrison regiments will be split up and garrison various bases in the DEI.

I forgot to mention that Sinabang and Sberoet, the two small islands west of Sumatra are now garrisoned by 170 AV each.

Reinforcements: CL Agano will be completed tomorrow. CL Kiso finishes upgrading. Both cruisers will reinforce the 5th Fleet.
I bought out one experienced infantry regiment from Manchuria. The entire parent division will be eventually bought and be sent to northern Sumatra, to replace the 56th division there, which will become the 4th Fleet reserve in the Marianas.

Economy: I am now gaining close to 5k HI per day, as a result of shutting down 135 vehicle factories (vehicle pool now close to 22k) and some engine factories. It looks like by the end of 1942 I will have more than 700k in the pool. Supplies and fuel continue to rise very slowly.

[Olorin]

Real life issues do not permit me to attend to my AAR and maintain a good pace in terms of turn output, so I chose the latter, naturally. Hopefully, things will settle down in a few months and I will be able to provide more regular updates. Until then, I will have to do with summaries.

27 Dec, 1942

4th Fleet:
So, we will enter 1943 in 3 days. November and December saw the Allies advancing slowly but steadily in the Marshalls. I still hold Roi-Namur, Kwajalein, Wotje and Jaluit, but all my airfields are closed and resupplying is very risky. I was looking for an opportunity to intervene with KB, but allied naval search is very efficient in the area, so I did not commit.
I foolishly lost CA Kako, two CLs and 2 DDs, while trying to disrupt allied landings at Mili. I was looking for a night engagement only, but forgot to order the TF to go in with full speed, so it ended its movement right next to the allied carriers. In compensation, my submarines have sunk 2, possibly 3 battleships in the last month or so.

5th Fleet:
My little plan did not work. The 4th Division was not enough to dislodge the Canadians and so I immediately ordered its extraction. It cost me 5 AKs, 3 escorts, 2 DMSs, along with 3 severely damaged cruisers to extract the division, but I shot down around 100 allied carrier based aircraft in return and the division is now on its way to Truk. The cruisers will live to fight another day.

China:
The planned offensive towards Liuchow by the 21st Army has not been launched yet. The only action at the moment is me trying to clear a pesky Chinese stack behind Hankow (it's been there since the start of the game with lvl 4 forts). It cost me two months, lots of disabled squads, but the stack is now gone and I was able to buy two battered regiments and a division at a reduced price.
In the meantime, 4 divisions and 5 brigades are marching through a gap in the allied MLR, south of Yenan. The goal is to occupy the Sian-Yenan road and draw his reserves in this area.

Burma:
Things are rapidly heating up in Burma. I abandoned northern Burma and I now occupy the line Lashio-Mandaly-Magwe-coastline. The Allies advanced to Lashio with a Chinese Corps and an Indian division. I only have a regiment there behind lvl 3 forts, but it managed to repel the first deliberate attack, achieving 2:1 odds.

Army redeployments:
The 3rd Tank Division is assembled at Mandalay, but it will take some time to reach its full TOE. Another independent brigade arrived at Mandalay a week ago. In 2-3 weeks, the division I bought from China will also reinforce Burma.
The other two regiments bought from China will go to Cocos island and Engano.
The 4th Division is headed to Truk.
The 21st Army (minus a tank brigade) is about to be committed in northern China for at least two months.
The DEI is slowly being reinforced by small units. 4 garrison regiments helped to secure my western Australia LOCs.

Economy:
I will close 1942 in relatively good shape. Supplies and fuel stockpiles are slowly increased, oil remains steady.
HI: 700k (gaining 5k per day)
Supplies: 2.2k (400k at home)
Fuel: 4m (2.3m at home)
Oil: 2.5m (only 1.5m at home, 70k in Formosa, 180k in Manchukuo, 750k in the DEI)
Resources: 16.5m (only 6.5 at home)
Vehicles: 26k
Armaments: 90k

Only the first 3 Unryu-class carriers are accelerated. Taiyo arrives in less than a month and then I'll be able to accelerate the other 3 as well.
KB air arm is fully upgraded with the A6M5 and Judy.

R&D:
I forgot to switch Judy to the later models, so now all 3 factories are producing the first model.
A6M5b will probably arrive in 4 months.
Tojo IIc in July '43.
Jill in January.
3 George factories are completed, 3 more will be completed in early '43. I will probably gain 2-3 months.
6 Frank factories are still being repaired.

[Olorin]

Early January 1943

China:
The 21st Army is on the move. A lone Chinese unit is encountered three hexes north of Kweisui, it will be shock attacked tomorrow. 100 Sallies are supplying by air. The 3 Guard Divisions are marching on the improved road one hex north of the road the tanks are advancing, so as to not affect their supply. Lanchow is the objective.

Another army, comprised of 5 divisions and 3 brigades is exploiting the gap between Yenan and Sian. A Chinese stack of 4 units is reconed for the first time, occupying a road hex behind the river. His units in and around Yenan begun moving to the southwest to avoid being cut off. The Mongol Army, opposite of Yenan, will take the spoils.

Burma:
The failed attack at Lashio gave me time to rush in reinforcements. I am still in doubt over the whole Burma defense. I have 2 infantry divisions, 1 tank division, and 3 independed brigades on the frontline and around 600 AV of the Siamese Army covering rear areas. In any case reinforcements are needed. In 4 days I will have enough PPs to buy out a division from China. The 2nd Army is sitting in Java with two divisions doing nothing. If a crisis develops in Burma, I might call upon them.

4th fleet:
Wotje fell easily after being nuked by BBs and then he landed at a dot base south of Kwajalein that can be developed into a lvl5 airfield. Kusai is swept by 20 P-38s and my Nicks suffer heavy casualties. I must bring more fighters.
Truk and Rabaul are now inside allied recon plane range. KB is not there.

SE Fleet:
Luganville is continuously hit by heavy bombers and the airfield is barely operational.
Horn Island will get a full division and its current garrison (160 AV) will move to Merauke. Preparations are made for a swift evacuation of Australia, if the need arises.

Australia:
The 48th Division at Port Augusta, along with the entire 5th Air Division will be withdrawn initially to Perth and then further redeployments will be decided. That will leave only 3 divisions of the 25th Army in SE Australia.

[Olorin]

Jan 12, 43

4th Fleet:
Kwajalein is bombarded for the second consecutive day by allied battleships, this time the Prince of Whales and repulse. I 've written off Kwajalein and Roi-Namur long ago. Once Michael is in possession of Roi-Namur, Kusai, Ponape and Truk will be pressured, but I intend to defend more actively there.

China:
The big offensive in northern China is going well so far. No supply problems encountered yet. About 250 army bombers and 36 transport planes are supplying my tank divisions by air, but many of them are operating from Manchurian bases, which means that once my tanks are out of range, air supply will be reduced by 40%.

Currently, two Chinese Corps are beaten back, one on the improved road by my infantry divisions, the other on the road leading to Lanchow by my tanks. After the initial attack, I split the tank divisions, attacked only with one brigade at a time, having the rest on pursuit mode. I was able to gain a few days of advance in this way. Still a long way to go though.

South of Yenan, my army will cross the river in about 6 days and will shock attack the Chinese stack defending the river (probably one or two Corps').
Sian has gone from 110.000 to 65.000. I saw Chinese units moving towards Yenan and Lanchow. Lanchow itself is defended by 12.000 troops.

5th Fleet:
I begun evacuating Amchitka by air. I can no longer supply it without putting my transports to risk. I will hold Attu during the winter and then evacuate it also.

Burma:
No action here for a the past few days. It seems that the Allies are having supply issues. Nevertheless, two allied units are trying to flank Lashio fromj the north through the jungle. I reinforced Lashio the 33rd Div and will move out one infantry regiment, one tank regiment and other smaller support units to counter the flanking move.

I decided to redeploy the 2nd Army from Java to Burma. It's already past Singapore.

A battered division (¬330 AV) is bought from China and headed to Burma as well.

Australia:
Port Augusta is gradually being emptied. Only minor units remain in the area now. I don't think he knows of my movements yet. Same for Broken Hill, Burke and Toowoomba. Units in Brisbane are already preparing for bases in northern Australia.

SE Fleet:
New Caledonia and New Hebrides will also be weakened in the near future, but not emptied completely.

[Olorin]

Jan 13

China:
The 81st Chinese Corps is almost destroyed. The 15th Tank Regiment will attack tomorrow, while the 1st & 2nd Tank Divs are marching behind it.
The other Chinese Corps is chased by 3 infantry divisions and will be attacked in two days. So far supply is good.
The Chinese Expeditionary Force HQ is fully prepped for Lanchow, the North China Area Army and the 21st Army HQs are 50% prepped. I hope by the time they reach Lanchow, I will get a nice bonus.
Lots of movements around Sian; Some units are spotted heading northwest towards Lanchow, while others are rushing to cover the NE approaches to Sian. My bombers are having fun bombing them in open terrain, lots of Chinese squads are disabled every day.


Burma:
What appears to be a British division is marching one hex NW of Lashio, trying to outflank me. I have an infantry and a tank regiment to counter this, but I will probably need more soon. My bombers are attacking the allied units, but their flak is very effective.
Today, the allies swept Mandalay with 49 Hurricanes and 50 P-38Es. I had 36 Oscars and 7 Nicks. Outcome was 1:1. Most of the Tojo sentais were resting in Rangoon.

[Olorin]

Jan 20,

5th Fleet:
I lost Amchitka, as expected, but the majority of my forces were flown out to Attu and are now waiting to be shipped to the Kuriles.
CruDiv5 is operational again, after being bombed about a month ago near Amchitka.

4th Fleet:
KB raids Tabituea, the main allied Gilberts base! Recon indicated several CVEs, a BB, 5 CAs and lots of smaller vessels, about 50 fighters. No CAP was encountered and the full might of the 1st Air Fleet was unleashed. The result was slightly disappointing. The important targets were left unmolested, while my bombers were obliterating transport and support ships.

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Tabiteuea at 137,134
Weather in hex: Heavy rain
Raid detected at 152 NM, estimated altitude 19,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 39 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 75
B5N2 Kate x 135
D4Y1 Judy x 108

Japanese aircraft losses
B5N2 Kate: 2 damaged
D4Y1 Judy: 8 damaged
D4Y1 Judy: 1 destroyed by flak

Allied Ships
CA Vincennes, Bomb hits 1, on fire
xAK Henry Dearborn, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk
TK Paula, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires
TK Petronella, Torpedo hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAKL Bisayas, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
AV Langley, Bomb hits 1, Torpedo hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK James B. McPherson, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
AS Sperry, Bomb hits 5, heavy fires
xAK Golden Gate, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk
AM Muritai, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK William Vanderbilt, Torpedo hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
CVE Nassau, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AS Fulton, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
xAK Samuel F. Miller, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
TK Josefina, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
SC-517
TK Talang Akar, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
SC-518
AM Whippoorwill, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK San Lucas, Bomb hits 3, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
xAK Charles McCormick
DD Isis
xAK Stephen M. White, Torpedo hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Jacob Luckenbach, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
xAK Dorothy Luckenbach
xAK Nisqually, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
CVE Altamaha
AM Penguin, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
AM Tern, Bomb hits 2, and is sunk
xAK Joseph Holt, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires
xAK Admiral Gove, Bomb hits 3, on fire
xAK Robert Luckenbach, Torpedo hits 1, heavy damage
xAK Katrina Luckenbach, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires
xAK Lillian Luckenbach, Bomb hits 2, on fire
xAK B. Livingston, Bomb hits 1, on fire
xAK Admiral Day, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
AG Vega
xAK Smith Thompson
AM Gale, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
xAK Robert C. Grier
xAK Admiral Williams, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk
xAK Robert H. Harrison, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk
xAK Florence Luckenbach, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
xAK Peter V. Daniel, Bomb hits 2, Torpedo hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage

Carrier support unable to supply air cover..
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring xAKL Bisayas
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring AM Muritai
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring xAK Katrina Luckenbach
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring AM Tern
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring xAK Admiral Gove
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring xAK B. Livingston
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring AS Sperry
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Tabiteuea at 137,133

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid spotted at 10 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 13
B5N2 Kate x 18

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
xAP Corio, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk
xAK Manukai, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
xAP Dilga
xAP Colac, Torpedo hits 4, and is sunk
SC-741

The raid cost me 3 bomber pilots and more than 30.000 tons of fuel. Was it worth it?
On its way back KB encountered a submarine, which sunk a DD and hit CV Hiryu...with a dud! Lucky me!

In other news, regular bombardments of Kwjalein and Roi-Namur by two strong allied BB TFs (6 BB in total). Supply is still good, but disruption is high. I have no hope of keeping these bases, but yesterday I-124 layed 40 mines in Kwajalein. Today, allied transports, escorted by BB moved in, but no allied troops were unloaded. BB Warspite must have hit a mine, but I am not sure. Later, 5 Nellies (out of 27 possible), escorted by 18 Zeros took off from Ponape, broke through the meager allied LRCAP and hit Warspite with 3 torpedoes.

China:
No major news, still advancing steadily in the north.

Burma:
The 23rd Div was unloaded in Rangoon today. Two more divisions are following. No major air battles for a few days now.

SE Fleet:
I am considering abandoning New Calednia and Hebrides all together, but first the partial evacuation of Australia must be finished and shipping become available.

Subs:
They 've suddenly become a pestilence! The Andaman sea, The Solomons and the Mashalls are festering with allied subs. I lost a small TK, an APD, a DD, 4 small xAKs and two PBs in the last 3-4 four days alone.

[veji1]

Sucks that you couldn't bag those 2 CVEs at least. Still good move that will force him to keep useful LBA in rear bases.

[Olorin]

Feb 17

About a month has passed since my last update and we had some interesting developments on all fronts, nothing major though.

Burma:
I managed to create a stalemate east of Mandalay. Lashio is secured for now and the flanking move checked. Enemy units identified: 7th Ind Div and 6th Chin Corps at Lashio, 70th Brit Div at 61,46, 3rd New Chin Corps at at 61,45. They are bombed daily. The 15th Army defends against them with 33rd Div 26th Ind Bde at Lashio, plus the 55th Div spread in the two hexes on the road to Mandalay.


Three divisions reinforced Mandalay and Magwe, but Michael does not dare to enter the plains without air superiority. I've got 250 Tojos, 27 Nicks and 70 Oscars across all bases. The allied heavy bomber force was last seen in Central and Southern Pacific. Unless they show up in Burma, I think I am safe.

Australia:
Port Augusta, Broken Hill and Charleville have been abandoned and American forces filled the vacuum. A big allied armored spearhead marches east from Charleville, threatening the right flank of my army in and around Brisbane. I tried bombing them from 1000ft but I lost 50 2e bombers to flak! Ouch! At least I identified some units (2nd Aus Div, 6th Aus Div, 3rd Army Tank Bde, 4th Arm Brde). The Brisbane army has begun boarding trains.

SE Fleet:
Lots of allied TFs of all kinds and heavy radio traffic in New Zealand, Va'avu and Pago Pago. Something is brewing here.

4th Fleet:
No activity after Roi-Namur fell. KB is at Truk, repairing minor damage. It's spotted by enemy recon planes

5th Fleet:
Attu is evacuated by air. I don't have a single boot in the Aleutians now. I feel fairly confident about the Kurile defenses for the next few months.

China:
My two tank divisions have reached the outskirts of Lanchow ten days ago, but the enemy has sent substantial reinforcements from Sian, so I waited for the three Guards divisions to arrive before I cross the river. They are 5 days away. Meanwhile, my bombers managed to close Lanchow's airfield. The dot base on the road to Lanchow is now growing to a level 2 airfield and holds 7.5k tons of supplies.

A great host of units is moving from the central Chinese plains to the north.

My frontal attack on the Yenan-Sian axis failed and I pulled out 3 divisions and 1 brigade, abandoning my bridgehead.

I am massing my last reserves in this theater to launch a secondary attack along the Nanyang-Ankang axis with 10 divisions, in about a month from now. When Lanchow falls, the 21st army will swing south, aiming for the mountain passes.

[Olorin]

Feb 28 - March 2

China:
21st Army crossed the river on the 28th and the shock attack goes horribly wrong!

Ground combat at Lanchow (81,34)
Japanese Shock attack
Attacking force 58624 troops, 559 guns, 898 vehicles, Assault Value = 2118
Defending force 49263 troops, 319 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1382

Japanese adjusted assault: 1221
Allied adjusted defense: 4449

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 3 (fort level 5)

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

Japanese ground losses:
13236 casualties reported
Squads: 104 destroyed, 428 disabled
Non Combat: 37 destroyed, 157 disabled
Engineers: 26 destroyed, 46 disabled
Guns lost 91 (12 destroyed, 79 disabled)
Vehicles lost 143 (64 destroyed, 79 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
849 casualties reported
Squads: 4 destroyed, 97 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 27 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 9 disabled

Assaulting units:
15th Tank Regiment
4th Guards Division
1st Tank Division
6th Guards Division
2nd Tank Division
5th Guards Division
15th AA Regiment
North China Area Army
1st Ind.AA Gun Co
21st Army

Defending units:
100th Chinese Corps
9th Separate Brigade
34th Separate Brigade
71st Chinese Corps
10th Construction Regiment
3rd Chinese Corps
12th Construction Regiment
57th AT Gun Regiment
1st War Area
56th AT Gun Regiment
19th Chinese Base Force
8th War Area
4th Heavy Mortar Regiment
3rd Heavy Mortar Regiment
21st Chinese Base Force

I was so distraught that I had to take 2 days off AE to clear my head and decide what to do next. I may have overreacted a bit. I briefly considered withdrawing most of the 21st Army, leaving only one division there just to prevent fuel production. However, after assessing the overall situation in northern China I decided to stay, lick my wounds and try again. I will recover disabled squads, bomb Lanchow to dust and then attack again. For now, two battered divisions will move one hex to the east of Lanchow, because they still contribute to stacking limits.

Meanwhile, 10 divisions are assembling in Hankow, in preparation for a second offensive towards Ankang.


Australia:
As planned, 25th Army fell back from the greater Brisbane area, all the way back to Townsville, to avoid envelopment. It's now waiting for shipping in order to redeploy to other bases. One division will go to Port Moresby, one to Darwin, one is already at Horn Island and the other will remain in reserve.

SE Fleet:
Following the evacuation of Australia, I intend to also evacuate New Caledonia and possibly New Hebrides and the Santa Cruz islands as well. KB will be needed to cover the evacuation. I want to complete it in one move, if possible, to minimize the time KB spends here.

Meanwhile, heavy radio traffic continues to be detected in new Zealand, Va'avu and Pago Pago. All kinds of ships, including CVs, are spotted in the area. KB moved from Truk to Kavieng and will move to Shortlands tomorrow. From there, it will be one day away from Kusaie (which is a possible next target) and Ndeni and two days away from Numea, at full speed.

[obvert]

This is pretty tame compared to some results I've had in China. Shocking anywhere with the Japanese I'd want better than 2:1 raw AV, but any attack in China in decent +2-3 territory I'd want 3:1 AV at least.

Recently to get a bridgehead I needed before reinforcements came in I went over into +3 territory with under a 2:1 advantage, but I expected what happened. I got 250 infantry destroyed and 1350 disabled. But it's fine. I actually am happy with the because I now have that bridgehead and even a few weeks later the troops are recovering to combat readiness. not where they were, but getting pretty good.

Once you're in and recover those numbers, which in your case will be quickly if you have HQs there and good supply, then you can DA which will wear him down and be much less painful.

[Olorin]

Your results were worse than mine, which is reassuring. I expected great losses, but not what I got, although I should have. As you say, I now have a bridgehead, but I am overstacked and I have to move two battered divisions out of there. I divided all divisions and placed leaders with good admin ratings in charge. Replacements are already arriving from Ningsia.

[Olorin]

I forgot to say anything about Burma and there are some very interesting developments there. I will summarize events from Feb 18 to March 6.

Feb 19- March 6, 1943

Michael finally decided to descend on lower Burma with 2nd Brit Div, 5th Chin Corps, 255th Arm Bde and 15 other units. He captured an empty Shwebo, but then he turned west, instead of forcing a river crossing at Mandalay. He then begun moving south, to cross the Irrawaddy River at hex 58,46, which is defended by 144th Inf Rgt, behind level 4 forts.

My response:
I ordered 3rd Tank Div and 9th Tank Rgt to move from Meiktila to Mandalay and from there, together with 23th Div, will cross the river to capture a very lightly defended Shwebo (captured today):

Ground combat at Shwebo (59,45)
Japanese Shock attack
Attacking force 6594 troops, 113 guns, 482 vehicles, Assault Value = 372
Defending force 8768 troops, 99 guns, 218 vehicles, Assault Value = 115
Japanese adjusted assault: 478
Allied adjusted defense: 92
Japanese assault odds: 5 to 1 (fort level 2)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Shwebo !!!

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

Japanese ground losses:
97 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 8 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Vehicles lost 33 (2 destroyed, 31 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
1129 casualties reported
Squads: 10 destroyed, 13 disabled
Non Combat: 206 destroyed, 19 disabled
Engineers: 101 destroyed, 1 disabled
Guns lost 84 (71 destroyed, 13 disabled)
Vehicles lost 176 (174 destroyed, 2 disabled)
Units retreated 10

Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
9th Tank Regiment
3rd Tank Division

Defending units:
1st Gloucestershire Battalion
150th RAC Regiment
21st Light AA Regiment
1st Bengal Base Force
170 RAF Base Force
3rd (Special Force) Division
1st Burma Auxiliary AA Regiment
Clark Field AAF Base Force
803rd Aviation Engineer Battalion

In fact, I put my entire "battle line" into motion, aiming to encircle and destroy the allied spearhead. Magwe and Mandalay will be left with only one brigade, the rest of 2nd Army is moving forward.

Michael's response was to halt his river crossing and begin moving another stack (of unknown composition) along the coast, against the 4th Mixed Regiment (lvl4 forts).

Meanwhile, east of Mandalay on the road to Lashio, our respective forces are locked in a stalemate. Nothing has changed since the last screenshot of Burma. I have two divisions (900 AV) against a British divisions, two Chinese corps' and an Indian division.

Air battles:
Since I lost Shwebo on Feb 19th, I begun intense sweeps over it and over the allied spearhead, one hex west of Shwebo. I invariably get 1,5:1 or better casualty ratios against Hurricanes and Warhawks. Sometimes, P-38s sweep Mandalay and the odds are reversed, but I have enough Tojo sentais to both sweep and defend.

Here is the screenshot:

[Olorin]

March 15, '43

Burma:
My attempted envelopment is abandoned. After taking Shwebo, I moved one tank regiment north to chase the allied forces which had just retreated from Shwebo, one infantry brigade was moving to the northwest and the rest of my forces (3rd Tank Div, 23rd & 14th Divs) tried to engage the big allied stack west of Shwebo. I had everyone following the 23rd, but the tank commander somehow entered the hex alone. Michael ordered a deliberate attack, just when the 23rd Div was entering the hex on move mode and ill supplied. The result?
G

round combat at 58,45 (near Mandalay)
Allied Deliberate attack
Attacking force 73562 troops, 931 guns, 1198 vehicles, Assault Value = 2762
Defending force 21132 troops, 255 guns, 445 vehicles, Assault Value = 762
Allied adjusted assault: 1174
Japanese adjusted defense: 221
Allied assault odds: 5 to 1

Combat modifiers
Defender: op mode(-), disruption(-), fatigue(-), experience(-)
supply(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
7010 casualties reported
Squads: 171 destroyed, 102 disabled
Non Combat: 164 destroyed, 102 disabled
Engineers: 24 destroyed, 27 disabled
Guns lost 69 (44 destroyed, 25 disabled)
Vehicles lost 258 (91 destroyed, 167 disabled)
Units retreated 2

Allied ground losses:
674 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 84 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 15 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 14 disabled
Guns lost 24 (1 destroyed, 23 disabled)
Vehicles lost 8 (1 destroyed, 7 disabled)

Defeated Japanese Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
2nd British Division
BFF Brigade
39th Indian Division
254th Armoured Brigade
22nd (East African) Brigade
20th Indian Division
268th Motorised Brigade
255th Armoured Brigade
5th Chinese Corps
III Indian Corps
23rd Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
95th Heavy AA Regiment
17th Indian Light AA Regiment
163rd Light AA Regiment
28th Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
25th Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
35th Light AA Regiment
22nd Indian Mountain Gun Regiment

Defending units:
3rd Tank Division
23rd Division

My forces retreated back to Shwebo. Disruption is in the 60s. What's more worrying is that I gravely underestimated the strength of the allied spearhead. I was expecting a British division, a Chinese corps and an armoured brigade. The real allied strength was much greater than that.
Now, the allied spearhead is moving into Shwebo, which has no supplies and with my troops greatly disrupted.

The tank regiment one hex north of Shwebo was attacked by allied 2e bombers and half or more of its tanks are disabled. At least I shot down quite a few bombers.
I ordered everyone behind the Irrawaddy river.

Along the coast (south of Akyab), another allied stack engaged the 4th Independent Regiment, but I think I can hold the hex for now. There are two other unknown allied units in the jungle northeast of this hex:

Ground combat at 55,47 (near Akyab)
Allied Deliberate attack
Attacking force 11263 troops, 188 guns, 190 vehicles, Assault Value = 394
Defending force 4237 troops, 32 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 121
Allied adjusted assault: 187
Japanese adjusted defense: 217
Allied assault odds: 1 to 2

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

Japanese ground losses:
80 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 8 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled

Allied ground losses:
101 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 13 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled

Assaulting units:
25th Indian Division
1st Indian Light AA Regiment
2/9th Field Regiment
2/11th Field Regiment
14th Indian Light AA Regiment

Defending units:
4th Ind.Mixed Regiment

Australia:
The evacuation was completed in good order. Only a base force, a para unit and a tank regiment remain at Cairns. North Australia is fortified, Katherine's airfield and forts are now reached lvl 3. Darwin lvl 4.

SE Fleet:
Soon I will evac two infantry regiments, an air HQ and most other units from New Caledonia, leaving only light naval guards and a few base forces. KB will cover the move and then return to the HI for serious upgrades.

[Olorin]

March 15-18

Burma:
Another attack south of Akyab by the 25th Indian Div is repelled on the 15th, without significant losses (10 inf squads disabled). On the 18th, +60 Helen bombers, escorted by +20 Oscars breakthrough the allied LRCAP, but they cause minimal damage. Two more Helen waves arrive unescorted, but manage to pass through +15 Hurricanes without losses, only to drop a few more bombs with no effect.

Meanwhile, my troops have retreated from Shwebo and are now behind the safety of Mandalay's forts. Disruption is down to single digit figures, but the 3rd Tank Div is below 100 AV and will need some R&R. Guards Tank Division is loaded at Singapore and will reinforce Burma in a week form now. A battered infantry division is bought out from China for 1250 PPs. It will replace the 23rd in Burma in the next month or so.

China:
21st Army in Lanchow and environs is back at 1800 AV, just 350 less than its initial strength. A few more weeks and it will back to full strength, at which point I will order a deliberate attack. Until then , daily air raids on Lanchow's airfiled and garrison are the norm.

Australia:
Townsville was emptied and lost to allied tanks. A lone tank regiment remains near cairns, trying to make its way to the northernmost dot base in Eastern Australia.

SE Fleet:
The KB is discovered at Shortlands by allied recon planes. That might work to my advantage. I 'd like Michael to think it's there for the next month, while it's actually in the HI for upgrades. Only Taiho remains in this theater, along with Kirishima and Hiei. The rest of the carriers (6) are ordered to return to Kure.