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

[JocMeister]

18th January -44

SOPAC

Some action happens over Buna as Erik ambushes my bombers. This is good or bad depending on how you see it. I have been waiting for him to do something like this in order for me to get a shot at Sweeping Rabaul when his numbers are a little bit lower and his pilots are fatigued. Thing is I have a big troop transport just leaving for Buna. I can´t do both things. I opted to give the transports maximum protection. But this should also mean the Buna convoy will be a lot safer. Ah well, I guess Rabaul will have to wait.

Erik wasn´t too happy about the turn. I´m trying to be sympathetic towards him as he has always been towards me when I have bitched and moaned. But I have a hard time seeing why he is so upset loosing 50 fighters for 50 of my bombers? That is what? 10 days of production for him. I would happily trade 50 hellcats for 50 Netties/Betties/Whatever...

First batch of 8 Fletchers arrive at Noumea. Sent them to the war zone at once. Another 26 are en route joining up with Iowa and New Jersey. I´m a bit low on DDs here right now as many are repairing damage from the recent battle. My 4 Fast BBs are repaired and in the war zone again. I´m laying in ambush around Milne waiting to see if he makes a go for the transports. He has a new BB TF at Rabaul.

CENTPAC

Valhalla makes another 2 knot "dash". Fingers crossed...

Starting to prepare for the next jump here. Troops are mostly done prepping but I need APAs/AKAs from SOPAC that won´t be available for another month. Might go in two "goes" instead.

Burma

My maneuvering made Erik frantic I think. [:D] Lots and lots of movement going from Lashio toward Tungoo. I have 2000 AV moving for Lashio. I now have 5 thrusts moving for various targets. In a dream scenario Erik will soon find himself cut of from both China and Rangoon. I for one knows how much supply 300.000 troops use. I think he will run out FAST. Not likely I can capture any bases but I don´t need to right now. I just need to cut supply from him death star.

OZ

Armor soon arrives at the first target.

[JocMeister]

Arrrgh,

Just sent the next turn to Erik. Another nail biter. Keep your fingers crossed I fooled Erik and are not sailing into a trap!

[Cpt Sherwood]

We are all hoping for success

[JocMeister]

Haha, that picture is just perfect! And it helped! More on that in the update coming shortly. [:)]

[JocMeister]

19th-21st January -44

Finally the game erupts with action! [:)]

New Guinea

I managed to feint Erik and land the 2nd Marines at Finnschafen! [&o] I went via Buna to fool Erik is was reinforcements for Buna and it worked. I was able to land totally unopposed. No air strikes and no naval intervention! The first assault went very well and I think the base will fall tomorrow! [:)]

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

Ground combat at Finschhafen (100,126)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 13286 troops, 230 guns, 276 vehicles, Assault Value = 530

Defending force 3944 troops, 17 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 166

Allied engineers reduce fortifications to 3

Allied adjusted assault: 259

Japanese adjusted defense: 169

Allied assault odds: 1 to 1 (fort level 3)

Allied Assault reduces fortifications to 3

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

Japanese ground losses:
901 casualties reported
Squads: 16 destroyed, 35 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 9 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 13 disabled


Allied ground losses:
184 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 24 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 16 disabled


Assaulting units:
110th Combat Engineer Battalion
2nd Marine Division
1st USMC Tank Battalion

Defending units:
1st Raiding Regiment
6th Guards Inf. Rgt /1
7th Garrison Unit /1
36th Const Co
12th JAAF AF Coy

I did order another deliberated attack. Perhaps I should have shock attacked?

The day after the landing we had a big air battle over Finnschafen. I had to use units normally unfit for sweeps as most of my elite fighters were severely fatigued after LRCAPing the invasion TF for two days. I only managed a 1:1 ratio on the 21st. This will be remedied tomorrow when 250 Corsairs/Hellcats with real pilots will sweep. A massive aerial bombardment and a naval bombardment are ordered to assist in the attack.

OZ

Armor captures Daly waters! Erik managed to close the AF so I can´t fly in engineers. So I´ll just have to wait for the rest of the troops to catch up.

CENTPAC

Quiet.

BURMA

Not so quiet! In 2-3 days I will order my first attack here. Hopefully this can unhinge Eriks right flank. He has a ID and a tank division with at least two regiments opposing 2000 allied AV including all the allied armor in Burma. Is it doable? I´m counting on my armor packing a massive punch while his ...eeehr... wont!

[JocMeister]

Thoughts

I also lost a sub to ASW when it tried to hit a massive convoy outside Sorong. I´m guessing this is reinforcements coming. Erik might be starting to realize he is too light around NG. Erik has been a little bit prone to overreaction earlier. I wonder where these troops comes from? DEI? If so once Darwin falls I might get an opening there. I spent some precious PPs in 42 buying out 2nd, 3rd and 5th OZ divisions while they were understrength. Together with the 7th OZ ID and Americal ID thats quite a substantial force.

A jump into DEI would certainly need CV support though.

Thought thoughts...

[BBfanboy]

I think the DA is the right thing to do at Finschafen against level 3 forts. You could probably succeed with a shock attack, but at high cost in disruption and destroyed squads. You have troops out there in "Indian Country" [isolated and surrounded by enemy] so you want them in good shape until you can connect up with them. You need to take Buna soon to help CAP Finschafen.

[DOCUP]

Good job with the feint.  I agree with BBfanboy, try and keep your units in good shape.

[JocMeister]

Will do! I do think a counter landing is unlikely but he does have some units at Lae and Wau. Nothing that can dislodge a USMC Division in good shape though! [:)]

[JocMeister]

New Guinea

No turn from neither Erik nor Joseph! Gives me time to update a bit on the NG situation.

I´ve attached a screen of the situation. Its looking very good from the allied perspective. Is Finnschafen is secured a lot of Japanese soldiers will find themselves without a way home. I´ve used Intel Monkey to go through the various bases in the region like Ndeni, Shortlands, Rabaul and Tulagi. These are bases I know Erik has invested heavily in. No sign of any big combat formations though. I´ve only found 2 RGT and a Brigade. I still believe this might be Eriks weak spot. He really would need 4-5 divisions in the area to halt me for a while. But he is throwing in Garrison units and counting on forts to make the difference. Havn´t worked so far! [:)]

I have almost complete control of the skies and seas right now. As the last turn indicated I don´t have much problem handling his Air Force even using green pilots. On the naval side I will feel a lot better when the bulk of the DDs repairing are back online. I also have 14 Fletchers together with CA Boston arriving at Townsville next turn. New Jersey and Iowa are still two weeks out with another 8 Fletchers.

I will have to dilute my air power a bit when Daly Waters AF is opened. I will send some 200 Fighters there until Darwin is secured. That leaves me with some 800 around NG. Since Erik has decline combat for the last 2 months my pools are in excellent shape and all squadrons in SOPAC are upgraded to P38s/P47s/Corsairs/Hellcats/Spit VIIs. Franks and Georges have not been a problem. This is where playing with PDU on becomes a curse for the Jap player I think.

[ny59giants]

As soon as Finnschafen is secure, get some fuel there by small TKs or AKLs to base PT boats. This will allow them to go out and stop his barges going into those nearby bases. I have Umboi built up as Japan, so I would take this base just to clear out the straits. Use some of your Beaufighters (or other FBs) at 100' to strafe his barges with range of only 2 or 3 hexes. He has plenty of barges, but make him pay for their use.

[JocMeister]

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

As soon as Finnschafen is secure, get some fuel there by small TKs or AKLs to base PT boats. This will allow them to go out and stop his barges going into those nearby bases. I have Umboi built up as Japan, so I would take this base just to clear out the straits. Use some of your Beaufighters (or other FBs) at 100' to strafe his barges with range of only 2 or 3 hexes. He has plenty of barges, but make him pay for their use.

Good advice. I will try that. Have been trying to knock out those barges for ages. They just evade combat against my DDs time and time again. [:(] DBs took off one time and sank an empty convoy. Perhaps PTs are the answer as you say!

[JocMeister]

22nd -23rd January -44

New Guinea

Finnshafen falls to the 2nd Marine Corps after a furious air battle fought during the day. Order is restored as the Corsairs of the USMC and Hellcats of the Navy sweep the skies clear of opposition. Some 140 enemy fighters are shot down. The two navy squadrons take the blunt of the damage and some 24 Hellcats are lost with 21 pilots. [:(]

Onward to the good news!

Ground combat at Finschhafen (100,126)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 13113 troops, 230 guns, 276 vehicles, Assault Value = 504

Defending force 3530 troops, 24 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 119

Allied adjusted assault: 459

Japanese adjusted defense: 43

Allied assault odds: 10 to 1 (fort level 3)

Allied forces CAPTURE Finschhafen !!!

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
N1K1-J George: 10 destroyed
J2M3 Jack: 10 destroyed

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

Japanese ground losses:
1403 casualties reported
Squads: 49 destroyed, 31 disabled
Non Combat: 27 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 27 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 17 (8 destroyed, 9 disabled)
Units retreated 5


Allied ground losses:
51 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 13 disabled
Vehicles lost 3 (2 destroyed, 1 disabled)


Assaulting units:
110th Combat Engineer Battalion
2nd Marine Division
1st USMC Tank Battalion

Defending units:
7th Garrison Unit
1st Raiding Regiment
6th Guards Inf. Rgt /1
36th Const Co
12th JAAF AF Coy

Erik is not going to dislodge a 450 AV USMC division with the forces at his disposal in the area. As soon as the AF is up and running the next phase will begin. SeeBees are already en route.

I also did another attack at Buna. Its very close to falling.

Ground combat at Buna (99,129)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 16221 troops, 236 guns, 403 vehicles, Assault Value = 701

Defending force 16436 troops, 252 guns, 53 vehicles, Assault Value = 413

Allied adjusted assault: 227

Japanese adjusted defense: 499

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

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

Japanese ground losses:
1781 casualties reported
Squads: 11 destroyed, 74 disabled
Non Combat: 4 destroyed, 24 disabled
Engineers: 7 destroyed, 15 disabled
Guns lost 39 (1 destroyed, 38 disabled)
Vehicles lost 2 (1 destroyed, 1 disabled)


Allied ground losses:
276 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 4 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 9 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 61 disabled


Assaulting units:
102nd Combat Engineer Regiment
1st USMC Corps Tank Battalion
3rd USMC Tank Battalion
1st Marine Division
II Aus Corps Engineer Battalion
I US Amphib Corps
2nd USMC Tank Bn /11

Defending units:
22nd Division
91st Infantry Regiment
47th Engineer Regiment
14th Garrison Unit
3rd Garrison Unit
55th Field AA Battalion
57th Field AA Battalion
39th Road Const Co
86th JAAF AF Coy
30th Field AA Machinecannon Company
Kure 7th SNLF
22nd JNAF AF Unit
16th AA Regiment
6th Garrison Unit /1

I will attack again shortly after a massive naval bombardment. I actually don´t need Buna any more but might as well secure it while the troops are there. 93rd ID arrived today and started loading for SOPAC. This ID will bring the total strenght up to 11 IDs!

OZ

Erik has been bombing my armor at Daly with good effect. We put a stop to this on the 23rd as Erik spent too much of his fighters on offensive duty.

Morning Air attack on Darwin , at 76,124

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid detected at 60 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 20 minutes

Japanese aircraft
J2M2 Jack x 9
N1K1-J George x 8



Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 12
B-24D Liberator x 3
B-24D1 Liberator x 64
B-24J Liberator x 23
PB4Y-1 Liberator x 12


Japanese aircraft losses
J2M2 Jack: 1 damaged
N1K1-J George: 1 destroyed, 7 damaged
N1K1-J George: 2 destroyed on ground
B6N2 Jill: 2 destroyed on ground
A6M5 Zero: 1 destroyed on ground
Ki-49-IIa Helen: 3 destroyed on ground

Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 2 damaged
B-24D Liberator: 1 damaged
B-24D1 Liberator: 1 destroyed, 30 damaged
B-24J Liberator: 7 damaged
PB4Y-1 Liberator: 1 destroyed

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



Airbase hits 29
Airbase supply hits 29
Runway hits 168 <--- BOOM!

This did cost me 11 4Es as I stupidly forgot to change the altitude. Only 4 pilots lost though. Almost 150 planes stuck on the ground at Darwin! I seldom get to destroy anything on the ground as Erik has some way to avoid this. I have and idea how he does this. Not kosher if I´m right. Lets see if they disappear by tomorrow. If so I think its time to have a chat.

Burma

I´m continuing to eat away at his eastern guard flank. Still no opposition as I take off about 100-150 troops per turn.

Morning Air attack on 9th Division, at 57,49 , near Toungoo

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes


Allied aircraft
Liberator II x 13
Liberator B.III x 13
Liberator GR.III x 16
Wellington Ic x 14
Wellington B.X x 13
B-17F Fortress x 11
B-24D Liberator x 21
B-24D1 Liberator x 46
B-24J Liberator x 73
B-25C Mitchell x 58


Allied aircraft losses
Liberator B.III: 3 damaged
B-24D1 Liberator: 5 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
152 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 10 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 53 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled

This can´t be good for him...

CV Valhalla

By some miracle she has moved 6 hexes without acquiring additional SYS or FLT damage! Fingers crossed. No pumps failing. She is guarded by 148 ASW value. Wouldn´t surpise me if a RO sub sinks her in the middle of the Pacific soon... [8|]

Here is a screen of some Corsair loving! [&o]

[ny59giants]

Only two ways to get his damaged planes out of Darwin. Rail them to another base or lift them out by a Transport TF.

[JocMeister]

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

Only two ways to get his damaged planes out of Darwin. Rail them to another base or lift them out by a Transport TF.

Yeah, I thought so too. But Erik has managed to make his planes disappear from bases with closed AF before. Even island ones. He has some way of doing this. I think he keeps a fragment or part of the unit somewhere else. And when the rest of the unit gets stuck somewhere he simply disbands it and the fragment becomes the parent. Its the only thing I can think of?

[JocMeister]

Japanese ship losses

No turn for me this morning. Erik has been slower then usual returning turns. Gives me time to update some more! [:)]

While this list might not be that impressive I´m still very happy with the way its going. In early 43 this was almost empty. Erik is constantly crying about loosing DDs. Perhaps the losses are starting to alarm him. [:)]

I´m not going to show the allied ship losses. Its just to depressing! I have been without much of a navy since late 42. [:(]

[JocMeister]

Testing new awesome signature! [:D]

[BBfanboy]

Looks great Jocke!

[Crackaces]

Yeah, I thought so too. But Erik has managed to make his planes disappear from bases with closed AF before. Even island ones. He has some way of doing this. I think he keeps a fragment or part of the unit somewhere else. And when the rest of the unit gets stuck somewhere he simply disbands it and the fragment becomes the parent. Its the only thing I can think of?

I can see that as possible. Planes would go into the pool and then the next turn the new parent, as long as they are supplied, draws planes and pilots from the pool.

[DOCUP]

Nice sig Joc.&nbsp; That list is impressive to me.&nbsp; I'm not far behind you and don't have one CV on it.