Rumble in the Southwest witpqs-A vs Andav-J 2011-11-29 to 2017-02-08

[JocMeister]

You have certainly done well on water too! [:)]

Thank you for the list!

[witpqs]

1943 February 22

The Empire captured:


The Allies captured:
Maiana

There were Imperial amphibious operations at:


There were Allied amphibious operations at:


No ground combat in China, but the Empire is pushing more troops toward the Chungking plain.

Progress was made on Tabiteuea, but Imperials there are made of stout stuff.

Ground combat at Tabiteuea (137,134)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 1381 troops, 4 guns, 12 vehicles, Assault Value = 55

Defending force 1043 troops, 8 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 8

Allied adjusted assault: 25

Japanese adjusted defense: 2

Allied assault odds: 12 to 1

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

Japanese ground losses:
76 casualties reported
Squads: 9 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 1 (1 destroyed, 0 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
13 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled

Assaulting units:
3rd Marine Raider Battalion
110th Cmbt Engineer Battalion
41st US Naval Const Bn /1

Defending units:
18th Naval Guard Unit

Near Bombay and I-boat was hit by two successive ASW task forces. The recent refits have made those ships' attacks much more deadly.

Lots and lots of moving things around right now. Here is the Intel screen.

[witpqs]

1943 February 23

The Empire captured:


The Allies captured:


There were Imperial amphibious operations at:


There were Allied amphibious operations at:


Sort of, but not really, holding the line in China.

Ground combat at 80,47 (near Patung)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 34273 troops, 268 guns, 22 vehicles, Assault Value = 900

Defending force 33732 troops, 190 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 417

Japanese adjusted assault: 558

Allied adjusted defense: 658

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 2

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

Japanese ground losses:
589 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 146 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 13 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 21 disabled
Vehicles lost 3 (1 destroyed, 2 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
454 casualties reported
Squads: 12 destroyed, 66 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 25 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Guns lost 7 (1 destroyed, 6 disabled)

Assaulting units:
8th Ind.Mixed Brigade
8th Ind Engineer Regiment
1st Ind.Mixed Brigade
110th Division
58th Infantry Regiment
13th/C Division
15th Ind.Medium Field Artillery Regiment

Defending units:
71st Chinese Corps
2nd Chinese Corps
18th Chinese Corps
4th Chinese Cavalry Corps
13th Group Army

Tabiteuea is secured.

Ground combat at Tabiteuea (137,134)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 1399 troops, 4 guns, 12 vehicles, Assault Value = 56

Defending force 968 troops, 7 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 7

Allied adjusted assault: 25

Japanese adjusted defense: 1

Allied assault odds: 25 to 1

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

Japanese ground losses:
294 casualties reported
Squads: 31 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 2 (2 destroyed, 0 disabled)

Assaulting units:
3rd Marine Raider Battalion
110th Cmbt Engineer Battalion
41st US Naval Construction Battalion

Defending units:
18th Naval Guard Unit


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

18th Naval Guard Unit Wiped Out at Tabiteuea by attrition!!!

Here is a look at China.

[witpqs]

1943 February 24

The Empire captured:


The Allies captured:
Kuria

There were Imperial amphibious operations at:


There were Allied amphibious operations at:


The squeeze in China.

Ground combat at Lanchow (81,34)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 585 troops, 3 guns, 51 vehicles, Assault Value = 336

Defending force 40256 troops, 176 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 857

Japanese adjusted assault: 1

Allied adjusted defense: 2075

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 2075 (fort level 4)

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

Japanese ground losses:
203 casualties reported
Squads: 8 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 8 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Vehicles lost 30 (2 destroyed, 28 disabled)

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

Assaulting units:
1st Recon Battalion
19th/A Division
19th/B Division

Defending units:
82nd Chinese Corps
85th Chinese Corps
72nd Chinese Corps
41st Chinese Corps
92nd Chinese Corps
8th War Area
5th War Area
22nd Group Army
8th Chinese Base Force


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

Ground combat at 78,44 (near Chungking)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 18372 troops, 136 guns, 4 vehicles, Assault Value = 526

Defending force 4187 troops, 40 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 27

Japanese adjusted assault: 348

Allied adjusted defense: 4

Japanese assault odds: 87 to 1

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

Japanese ground losses:
52 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Allied ground losses:
2245 casualties reported
Squads: 91 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 62 destroyed, 16 disabled
Engineers: 19 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 14 (12 destroyed, 2 disabled)
Units retreated 1

Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
17th Ind.Mixed Brigade
41st Division

Defending units:
60th Chinese Corps


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

Ground combat at 85,40 (near Sian)

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 360 troops, 29 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 475

Defending force 14700 troops, 84 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 328

Allied ground losses:
40 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Assaulting units:
3rd Mobile Infantry Regiment
4th Ind.Mixed Brigade
102nd Infantry Regiment
12th Indpt Infantry Regiment
NCPC Army
6th Medium Field Artillery Regiment

Defending units:
36th Chinese Corps
19th Chinese Corps
38th Chinese Corps
42nd Chinese Corps
34th Group Army
6th Group Army
12th Chinese Base Force

Chihkiang is surrounded, and would be cut off by a successful Imperial attack to the west. The China front is pretty well collapsing.

The mine field at Rabaul was discovered and has been swept. Saratoga comes on line in 15 days, but will have to make her way to the South Pacific to find her air group. Colorado finishes upgrading at Pearl Harbor tomorrow, just in time for 3 x fleet carriers and a bunch of cruisers and destroyers. And they are all tired.

Here is the progress of Operation Wedge. We have some Intel on another picket unit (see empty red hex) but not any details about what it is.

[witpqs]

1943 February 25

The Empire captured:


The Allies captured:


There were Imperial amphibious operations at:


There were Allied amphibious operations at:


The noose gradually pulls tighter in China. A sortie by 6 SB-III bombers to slow down an Imperial unit on the Chungking plain saw 5 of them shot down.

Ground combat at 85,40 (near Sian)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 17578 troops, 157 guns, 70 vehicles, Assault Value = 487

Defending force 14609 troops, 84 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 328

Japanese adjusted assault: 171

Allied adjusted defense: 361

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 2

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

Japanese ground losses:
611 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 48 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Allied ground losses:
453 casualties reported
Squads: 8 destroyed, 48 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 9 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Guns lost 9 (2 destroyed, 7 disabled)

Assaulting units:
102nd Infantry Regiment
4th Ind.Mixed Brigade
3rd Mobile Infantry Regiment
12th Indpt Infantry Regiment
NCPC Army
6th Medium Field Artillery Regiment

Defending units:
36th Chinese Corps
38th Chinese Corps
42nd Chinese Corps
19th Chinese Corps
6th Group Army
34th Group Army
12th Chinese Base Force


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

Ground combat at 80,47 (near Patung)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 33469 troops, 268 guns, 22 vehicles, Assault Value = 819

Defending force 32981 troops, 188 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 346

Japanese adjusted assault: 522

Allied adjusted defense: 580

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 2

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

Japanese ground losses:
1541 casualties reported
Squads: 4 destroyed, 94 disabled
Non Combat: 6 destroyed, 9 disabled
Engineers: 12 destroyed, 6 disabled
Guns lost 15 (1 destroyed, 14 disabled)
Vehicles lost 2 (1 destroyed, 1 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
608 casualties reported
Squads: 5 destroyed, 58 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 16 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Assaulting units:
1st Ind.Mixed Brigade
8th Ind Engineer Regiment
58th Infantry Regiment
110th Division
8th Ind.Mixed Brigade
13th/C Division
15th Ind.Medium Field Artillery Regiment

Defending units:
18th Chinese Corps
71st Chinese Corps
2nd Chinese Corps
4th Chinese Cavalry Corps
13th Group Army


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

Ground combat at 77,50 (near Chihkiang)

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 6687 troops, 38 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 576

Defending force 26540 troops, 149 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 680

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

Assaulting units:
61st Infantry Brigade
57th Infantry Brigade
2nd Ind.Mixed Brigade

Defending units:
3rd Chinese Corps
53rd Chinese Corps
86th Chinese Corps
11th Chinese Base Force
3rd Heavy Mortar Regiment
7th Artillery Regiment
4th Heavy Mortar Regiment
14th Chinese Base Force
17th Chinese Base Force

In Burma we now have a fix on that picket unit sitting astride the advancing 'wedge' of Operation Wedge. A single unit is noted moving to contact the pass salient of the wedge, and aerial recon is assigned to gather more Intel. The 4EB and sweepers will now move their attention from the diversionary river crossing to that unit. Our two regiments advancing SW from Kalemyo might catch that unit out of position. A slew of additional units are moving toward the Burma frontier both as follow on forces and to provide security against an Imperial landing along the Arakan, behind our advancing forces.

Makin looks to have about the same troop strength as Tabiteuea had. Lexington, Yorktown, and Hornet have all made Pearl Harbor and will begin refit and repairs at once, as will the escorting units that accompanied them. Saratoga is reported due on line in two weeks at San Francisco; almost a month for South Dakota at Alameda. Warspite, ex-escort duty in the Aleutians, is about 3 days out of Seattle to withdraw.

While the Gilberts are not strategic in and of themselves, you can see the advances they allow in search. That has various implications.

[JocMeister]

China sucks as the allies. Not much one can do about it I think. Seems like most loose it sooner or later. I lost it early against obvert and it looks like my second game against Joseph will end the same way! You are still holding on in early 43. I think that is quite and achievement! [:)]

[witpqs]

Thanks, and even though I could have done better, I know that Walter could have to. We both had to learn how to roll with the all-hex stacking limits, and of course we both just made some other plain old mistakes. I am happy to at least be striving there!

I worked on cleaning up that sunk ships report. There is more that can be done, such as adding a summary to the bottom (counts of ships on each side), but I have cleaned it up and gotten things to sort a little better. Version 1 coming soon to the Staff Monkeys web site. Here is the report, as of the last turn.

Click on the link, when the pop-up window comes up click on the file name, then click on the little square in the upper right-hand corner of the pop-up window to maximize it and make things all line up.

[princep01]

26 stinkin' IJN subs (not counting the minis)....now that is excellent!!

[witpqs]

IMO mostly due to his aggressive use of subs in heavily patrolled areas. Just a choice on how to spend them, of course. If he made less aggressive use of them he would have scored fewer tankers near Karachi, for example. Some places I was able to keep losses low while still taking a toll of Imperial subs. Ndeni comes to mind.

[witpqs]

1943 February 26

The Empire captured:


The Allies captured:


There were Imperial amphibious operations at:


There were Allied amphibious operations at:


An Imperial unit appears to be standing on the road 92mi NE Chungking, but scouting is so poor in China that they could be moving on Chengtu or Kienko and such is yet to be observed.

Ground combat at 78,45 (near Chungking)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 6484 troops, 38 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 184

Defending force 615 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 3

Japanese adjusted assault: 194

Allied adjusted defense: 1

Japanese assault odds: 194 to 1

Combat modifiers
Defender: leaders(+), supply(-)
Attacker: leaders(+)

Allied ground losses:
446 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 7 destroyed, 8 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 5 disabled
Units retreated 1

Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
12th Ind.Mixed Brigade

Defending units:
11th Construction Regiment


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

Ground combat at 77,50 (near Chihkiang)

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 6678 troops, 38 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 647

Defending force 26635 troops, 149 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 688

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

Assaulting units:
61st Infantry Brigade
57th Infantry Brigade
15th Tank Regiment
12th Tank Regiment
2nd Ind.Mixed Brigade

Defending units:
3rd Chinese Corps
53rd Chinese Corps
86th Chinese Corps
4th Heavy Mortar Regiment
11th Chinese Base Force
14th Chinese Base Force
7th Artillery Regiment
3rd Heavy Mortar Regiment
17th Chinese Base Force

That previously unidentified unit in the Burma jungle is the 56th Infantry Regiment, and it has entered the hex with the 17th Indian Division. The 23rd Indian Division will make the same hex tomorrow, and the 2nd British division will do so before the 23rd vacates the hex. That means the advance is intact, but now slows to combat formation movement. See graphic at the end of the post.

The Empire also tried a strike on Comilla air base.

Afternoon Air attack on 3rd Indian Brigade, at 56,39 (Comilla)

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid detected at 55 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 18 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-49-Ia Helen x 6

Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIb Trop x 5
Hurricane IIc Trop x 11

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-49-Ia Helen: 3 destroyed

No Allied losses

CAP engaged:
No.5 Sqn RAF with Hurricane IIc Trop (4 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(5 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
4 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 1 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 10000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 17 minutes
No.17 Sqn RAF with Hurricane IIc Trop (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(1 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 20000
Raid is overhead
No.136 Sqn RAF with Hurricane IIb Trop (1 airborne, 4 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(1 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters to 16000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 28 minutes
No.258 Sqn RAF with Hurricane IIc Trop (1 airborne, 4 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(1 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters to 15000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 9 minutes

Ocean Island is showing up empty, so some small units might be sent there soon. Nauru recon will begin tomorrow. If the scouting reports are as messed up regarding Imperial battleships as they were, then the 3 x Kongos are still at Shortlands. Many ships began refit at Pearl Harbor today. The carriers and cruisers will be back on line in about 3 weeks.

Here is Burma.

[princep01]

Nice.  Burma is shaping up very nicely.  He'll have to abandon the positions along the river at Akyab once that regiment is swept aside, I'd think.  It is always nice to win a position by manuver rather that slugging it out in the jungle.  Looks like you're gaining a bit of traction there now.

[witpqs]

OK, here is another improvement of the sunk ships report. You can see this just great in Tracker, BUT - if you want to post it to your AAR that is a pain in the butt. So I wrote a program to make it easy.

The procedure is that in tracker you 'Export CSV', select 'SunkShips', and that creates a CSV file with all the sunk ships that Tracker knows about. Then you run this program ShipsSunk by double-clicking on it. Press the button to browse for the (input) CSV file you just created. Press another button to specify what you want the output file to be called. Press the 'proceed' button to do the deed. Then 'exit' to get out of the program. Easy as pie. Just attach the text file to your AAR post. Like this one.

To view the file, click on the link, then click on the file name, then maximize the window (click on the small square near the upper right-hand corner).

Let me know what you think of this version of the report.

[BBfanboy]

Great report! I really like the summary at the top.
Only 12 Allied DDs and 5 SS sunk and it is Feb/43! That's remarkable. All the more so since you have taken a much greater toll of his DDs and subs. Very well done!

[witpqs]

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

Great report! I really like the summary at the top.
Only 12 Allied DDs and 5 SS sunk and it is Feb/43! That's remarkable. All the more so since you have taken a much greater toll of his DDs and subs. Very well done!

Glad you like it! I've now posted it to the Staff Monkeys web site on its own page:

https://sites.google.com/site/staffmonkeys/sunk-ships-report

[witpqs]

1943 February 27

The Empire captured:


The Allies captured:


There were Imperial amphibious operations at:


There were Allied amphibious operations at:


More pushing in China. The air strikes are making the difference.

Ground combat at 80,47 (near Patung)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 32704 troops, 268 guns, 22 vehicles, Assault Value = 753

Defending force 32489 troops, 187 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 306

Japanese adjusted assault: 620

Allied adjusted defense: 496

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 1

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

Japanese ground losses:
706 casualties reported
Squads: 3 destroyed, 104 disabled
Non Combat: 4 destroyed, 10 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Guns lost 11 (1 destroyed, 10 disabled)
Vehicles lost 3 (1 destroyed, 2 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
1075 casualties reported
Squads: 76 destroyed, 48 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 32 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 2 disabled

Assaulting units:
58th Infantry Regiment
8th Ind.Mixed Brigade
1st Ind.Mixed Brigade
110th Division
8th Ind Engineer Regiment
13th/C Division
15th Ind.Medium Field Artillery Regiment

Defending units:
71st Chinese Corps
2nd Chinese Corps
18th Chinese Corps
4th Chinese Cavalry Corps
13th Group Army


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

Ground combat at 85,41 (near Sian)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 20238 troops, 114 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 632

Defending force 19043 troops, 121 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 576

Japanese adjusted assault: 244

Allied adjusted defense: 37

Japanese assault odds: 6 to 1

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

Japanese ground losses:
897 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 81 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 8 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled

Allied ground losses:
5976 casualties reported
Squads: 214 destroyed, 84 disabled
Non Combat: 190 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 9 destroyed, 8 disabled
Guns lost 17 (11 destroyed, 6 disabled)
Units retreated 5

Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
7th Ind.Mixed Brigade
6th Ind.Mixed Brigade
59th Infantry Brigade

Defending units:
34th Chinese Corps
47th Chinese Corps
61st Chinese Corps
7th Group Army
8th Group Army


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

Ground combat at 77,50 (near Chihkiang)

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 6705 troops, 38 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 659

Defending force 38075 troops, 180 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1022

Assaulting units:
57th Infantry Brigade
12th Tank Regiment
61st Infantry Brigade
15th Tank Regiment
2nd Ind.Mixed Brigade

Defending units:
53rd Chinese Corps
3rd Chinese Corps
75th Chinese Corps
86th Chinese Corps
3rd Heavy Mortar Regiment
11th Chinese Base Force
14th Chinese Base Force
4th Heavy Mortar Regiment
7th Artillery Regiment
17th Chinese Base Force

The Empire sends out scout droids in Burma.

Ground combat at 57,43 (near Kalemyo)

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 4032 troops, 38 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 127

Defending force 22392 troops, 234 guns, 177 vehicles, Assault Value = 813

Japanese ground losses:
34 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Assaulting units:
56th Infantry Regiment

Defending units:
23rd Indian Division
17th Indian Division

Lots and lots of moving things around plus fixing and refitting things. Here is China.

[princep01]

I think Wa is banking heavily on a near term China "win" so he can reallocate land forces to the DEI and Pacific before you really start rolling.  That said, it might serve you well to increase the tempo of ops in the Pacific and SW Pacific and at least look at the Northern Pacific and DEI as a means of approach.  With Akagi likely still in port, it would be a good time to take som calculated risks and really hit the invasion pedal. 

[witpqs]

ORIGINAL: princep01

I think Wa is banking heavily on a near term China "win" so he can reallocate land forces to the DEI and Pacific before you really start rolling.  That said, it might serve you well to increase the tempo of ops in the Pacific and SW Pacific and at least look at the Northern Pacific and DEI as a means of approach.  With Akagi likely still in port, it would be a good time to take som calculated risks and really hit the invasion pedal. 

Point noted! Some additional info (some/much not in AAR posts yet).
CentPac
- The AP that are eligible for 3/43 upgrade in position to do that, greatly reducing the Troop capacity of fast unloading.
- Just a few AP are not eligible or not until 6/43. Most are closing on Pago Pago.
- The AK that do upgrade do so in 6/43, so they are still in theater.
- I'm scratching together enough fast unload lift to carry the USA 43rd ID from Pago Pago to Nauru. Some will be 12 or even 11 knot ships, so the journey there will be less swift than the all-16 knot strikes.
- I have enough support troops in place to get Nauru building/operating quickly. The main thing I want to do is get in and totally land the combat elements fast because I only have 2 fleet carriers on duty with the escort carriers.
- Troops are also prepping/prepped for Makin, Ocean Island, and Ponape.
NoPac
- I think I'covered Dutch Harbor and Umnak build up somewhat in past posts.
- Adak is occupied and building, now at 2 and 2.
- Amchitka is receiving troops currently. Fortifications are building first so I can get more troops there before alerting the Empire and perhaps triggering a raid. Allied naval and air forces in NoPac are small!
DEI
- This theater is lagging behind the others, primarily due to ships allocated to SoPac/CentPac.
- Geraldton built up.
- Engineering units on their way to Carnarvon.
- They will then move on to Exmouth.
- Commandos have seized Gove.
- Horn Island will be seized as soon as adequate assault shipping is up there but I don't have a timetable yet.
- Troops are prepped/prepping for Merauke, Taberfane, Dobo, Kai-eilanden, Timoeka, Babo, Boela.
- And prepping/prepped for Bathurst Island, Darwin, Corrunna Downs, Port Hedland, Daly Waters, Katherine, and Fenton.
SoPac/SoWestPac
- Troops are prepped for all the Solomons up to about Shortlands.
- About the southern 1/3 of the Solomons will be invaded in a sustained amphibious operation, then built up before the area of Munda and Shortlands is seized in short range amphibious operations with primarily LBA support.
- Troops are prepped for Port Moresby and Milne Bay.
- Port Moresby and Milne Bay will come after the first big wave of landings in the Solomons.

[witpqs]

1943 February 28

The Empire captured:


The Allies captured:
Nonouti

There were Imperial amphibious operations at:


There were Allied amphibious operations at:


China

Ground combat at 80,47 (near Patung)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 32130 troops, 268 guns, 21 vehicles, Assault Value = 691

Defending force 31409 troops, 187 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 251

Japanese adjusted assault: 489

Allied adjusted defense: 397

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 1

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

Japanese ground losses:
1370 casualties reported
Squads: 5 destroyed, 94 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 11 disabled
Engineers: 4 destroyed, 7 disabled
Vehicles lost 1 (1 destroyed, 0 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
358 casualties reported
Squads: 21 destroyed, 61 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Guns lost 11 (1 destroyed, 10 disabled)

Assaulting units:
110th Division
58th Infantry Regiment
8th Ind Engineer Regiment
8th Ind.Mixed Brigade
1st Ind.Mixed Brigade
13th/C Division
15th Ind.Medium Field Artillery Regiment

Defending units:
18th Chinese Corps
2nd Chinese Corps
4th Chinese Cavalry Corps
71st Chinese Corps
13th Group Army


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

Ground combat at 77,43 (near Chungking)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 6327 troops, 38 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 164

Defending force 1923 troops, 19 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1

Japanese adjusted assault: 172

Allied adjusted defense: 2

Japanese assault odds: 86 to 1

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

Allied ground losses:
763 casualties reported
Squads: 19 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 57 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 4 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 9 (9 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units retreated 1

Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
17th Ind.Mixed Brigade

Defending units:
60th Chinese Corps


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

Ground combat at 77,50 (near Chihkiang)

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 6697 troops, 38 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 664

Defending force 38050 troops, 180 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1024

Assaulting units:
57th Infantry Brigade
12th Tank Regiment
15th Tank Regiment
61st Infantry Brigade
2nd Ind.Mixed Brigade

Defending units:
53rd Chinese Corps
75th Chinese Corps
3rd Chinese Corps
86th Chinese Corps
4th Heavy Mortar Regiment
3rd Heavy Mortar Regiment
14th Chinese Base Force
7th Artillery Regiment
11th Chinese Base Force
17th Chinese Base Force

Shortlands has been mined, but the mine field was found.

Our 4EB hit the wanna-be-obstructing Imperial unit today, but the real attraction was the sweeps!

[witpqs]

1943 March 01

The Empire captured:


The Allies captured:
Beru

There were Imperial amphibious operations at:


There were Allied amphibious operations at:


DAW HQ notes that Chinese forces are using men with pitchforks and hoes to defend the China plain.

Ground combat at 85,40 (near Sian)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 17487 troops, 157 guns, 70 vehicles, Assault Value = 478

Defending force 14000 troops, 82 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 277

Japanese adjusted assault: 286

Allied adjusted defense: 247

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 1

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

Japanese ground losses:
319 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 28 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Allied ground losses:
1267 casualties reported
Squads: 3 destroyed, 63 disabled
Non Combat: 37 destroyed, 22 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Guns lost 6 (1 destroyed, 5 disabled)
Units destroyed 1

Assaulting units:
102nd Infantry Regiment
3rd Mobile Infantry Regiment
4th Ind.Mixed Brigade
12th Indpt Infantry Regiment
NCPC Army
6th Medium Field Artillery Regiment

Defending units:
19th Chinese Corps
36th Chinese Corps
38th Chinese Corps
6th Group Army
34th Group Army
42nd Chinese Corps
12th Chinese Base Force


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Ground combat at 80,47 (near Patung)

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 202 troops, 17 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 616

Defending force 30714 troops, 184 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 198

Allied ground losses:
10 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Assaulting units:
8th Ind.Mixed Brigade
58th Infantry Regiment
110th Division
8th Ind Engineer Regiment
1st Ind.Mixed Brigade
13th/C Division
15th Ind.Medium Field Artillery Regiment

Defending units:
2nd Chinese Corps
18th Chinese Corps
4th Chinese Cavalry Corps
71st Chinese Corps
13th Group Army


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

Ground combat at 78,43 (near Kienko)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 12272 troops, 98 guns, 4 vehicles, Assault Value = 382

Defending force 105 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1

Japanese adjusted assault: 365

Allied adjusted defense: 1

Japanese assault odds: 365 to 1

Combat modifiers
Defender:
Attacker:

Allied ground losses:
150 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 10 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Units destroyed 1

Assaulting units:
41st Division

Defending units:
8th Construction Regiment

The Tojos came back with more determination over Burma today and did better, but our boys came out on top 17 to 11 plus 4 bombers shot down. And the '11' might be FOW in the planes lost for us as I don't see nearly that many lost in the squadrons.

A list of ships longer than your arm began refits and conversions today. The first turn of aerial recon shows Nauru with 2,040 troops and 18 guns. Likely that is incomplete info. In addition to the USA 43rd ID I have the 131st Cmbt Eng Rgt and the 193rd and 194th tank Bns fully prepped for Nauru. Plus the 2nd USMC Para Bn in case it had turned out to be lightly or non-defended. The day or two of recon will tell how much we load up. I suppose I could leave the division behind and simply load up the other four small units.

Here is the dire situation in China.

[princep01]

The aerial jousting seems to have turned decidely in your favor.  Tojos aren't easy kills, so a 30-3 favorable result means you are doing a lot right here.  Good work.
 
A thought about the Nauru landing.  I suggest that perhaps you're engaging in overkill.  Perhaps dividing the Division into regiments and sending one regiment plus the smaller units will easily do the trick.  The cautionary note I'd add is this:  The force you are sending is so large it will easily win the battle, but then you have to move it off the island for later use.  Nauru's port is certainly small.  Even with Seabees and all, it will take some time to make the port large enough to easily load a division.  Getting the division off the island may be harder than getting it onto the island even against IJA resistance.
 
Your recon shows roughly a SNLF or Naval Gd unit there.  It isn't likely to be very effective after the usual naval bmbdment and aerial attacks.  Tarawa should be an example of the level of resistance to expect.
 
At any rate, this is just an advertisement for use of "economy of force".  If you don't think your recon is very good, then send in a somewhat larger component, but I think those other two regiments could be planning for other islands rather than going to Nauru.
 
Pagan however may be a considerably different beast.  First, it is close (real close) to Truk, inviting IJN interference.  Second, because it is close to Truk, it is likely Wa will have larger forces there and that they will have dug in deeply.  Finally, it may have a healthy base with a significant aerial component there.  Not a place I'd venture into lightly.  But, it is a high value target and surely one to grab.  Take Pagan, Eniwetok and Wake Is and forget about actually taking the Marshal Is (Roi-namur and Kwajalein and environs).  Yea olde bypass operation!
 
Have you reconned Pagan?  If it is lightly held, a coupe de main operation to grab it on the cheap would be a grand idea!  It would surely set Admiral Wa's hair on fire!  That would be fun:).