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

[GreyJoy]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Jul 17, 43

Back from the "congress" [:D]

So guys, here's the situation: Molu is a torn in my DEI defences and Saumlaki CAN'T fall into allied hands. We need to do something!
He managed to bring more troops to Saumlaki using barges and my guys wasted 1000 supplies doing a stupid auto bombardment[:@].
Today we bombed Molu with Yamato and friends. A good ride i'd say. In two days we'll land another strong regiment at Saumlaki, along with an heavy AA unit, bringing the Samulaki defences to: 3 regiments, 1 SNLF unit, 1 Army HQ unit, 1 AA unit and 1 Artillery unit, along with 8000 supplies.
3 BBs will bomb again Molu, keeping it closed.

I'm smelling the presence of the allied CVs at Perth. I'm pretty sure he's next move will be on my western Flank (Java or somehwere between Java and Timor). I'm massing my combined fleet in order to be able to counter.
Another Air HQ is being moved to Makassar, while we're building a second defensive line between Menado and Pelieu.

In the northwest of the map everything is quiet. Burma holds well and we've started to build our second defensive line in Thailand. Pegu, Moulmein and Tavoy are now well protected and in few days Margui will get the needed defences. The Adamans are as safe as they could be, while Sumatra keeps on getting stronger.
i've followed Pax's advices and moved 2 more Nells Sentais to naval search role. Now i have a lot of naval search patrolling the western approaches (from the bay of Bengal to Java and Timor).

While Brad keeps on advancing in the SOPAC, we are building Biak and the sorrounding bases. Around Hollandia we managed to move a full division and some more indipendent regiments.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Molu at 79,116, Range 9,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
BB Yamato
CA Maya
CA Kinugasa
CA Furutaka
CA Kako
DD Shiratsuyu
DD Suzukaze
DD Yugure
DD Arikaze
DD Susukaze
DD Ishikaze

Allied Ships
AM Wagga, Shell hits 7, and is sunk
xAKL Van Diemen, Shell hits 16, and is sunk
xAKL Loa Koeloe, Shell hits 12, and is sunk
xAKL Wollongbar, Shell hits 2, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Molu at 79,116, Range 10,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
BB Yamato
CA Maya
CA Kinugasa
CA Furutaka
CA Kako
DD Shiratsuyu
DD Suzukaze
DD Yugure
DD Arikaze
DD Susukaze
DD Ishikaze

Allied Ships
xAP St. Mihel, Shell hits 1, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
SC-518, Shell hits 1, and is sunk

Allied ground losses:
Guns lost 9 (5 destroyed, 4 disabled)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack near Molu at 79,116

Japanese Ships
CL Abukuma
CL Natori
CL Nagara
CL Jintsu
CL Naka
DD Yanagi
DD Arashi
DD Onami
E Kamo
DD Uzuki
DD Tanikaze
DD Hagikaze

Allied Ships
SS O20, hits 12, heavy damage


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Naval bombardment of Molu at 79,116

Allied aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft losses
Spitfire Vc Trop: 47 damaged
Spitfire Vc Trop: 4 destroyed on ground
P-40K Warhawk: 42 damaged
P-40K Warhawk: 2 destroyed on ground
Kittyhawk III: 22 damaged
Kittyhawk III: 1 destroyed on ground
PBY-5 Catalina: 5 damaged
PBY-5 Catalina: 1 destroyed on ground
P-47D2 Thunderbolt: 44 damaged
P-47D2 Thunderbolt: 2 destroyed on ground

Japanese Ships
BB Yamato
CA Kako
CA Furutaka
CA Kinugasa
CA Maya

Allied Ships
SC-646, Shell hits 1
APA President Jackson, Shell hits 1, heavy damage

Allied ground losses:
586 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 5 destroyed, 39 disabled
Engineers: 4 destroyed, 17 disabled
Vehicles lost 4 (1 destroyed, 3 disabled)

Airbase hits 10
Airbase supply hits 6
Runway hits 51

[GreyJoy]

To be honest, i'm pretty happy with the state of the Empire in July 1943. It is true that i haven't inflicted any major defeat to the allied fleet, but i do think that the Burma strategic victory is more important than anything else. In most games, by mid 1943, Burma is a place where the allies can advance at will and once they get to the plains, it's, more or less, over for Japan.
IMHO It's far better to have the allies advancing in SOPAC than in Burma. Once the steamroller starts in a land warfare, there's nothing you can do. While even if you lose the SOPAC, the allies will still have to risk their assets in some fearsome landings in CENTPAC.
Same for the DEI: if he wants to advance he needs to risk his assets, while not the same in Burma.
 
 

[obvert]

In the northwest of the map everything is quiet. Burma holds well and we've started to build our second defensive line in Thailand. Pegu, Moulmein and Tavoy are now well protected and in few days Margui will get the needed defences. The Adamans are as safe as they could be, while Sumatra keeps on getting stronger.
i've followed Pax's advices and moved 2 more Nells Sentais to naval search role. Now i have a lot of naval search patrolling the western approaches (from the bay of Bengal to Java and Timor).

While Brad keeps on advancing in the SOPAC, we are building Biak and the sorrounding bases. Around Hollandia we managed to move a full division and some more indipendent regiments.

What are your garrisons like in the Andamans and along the Burma coast? How much are you putting there to feel 'safe?'

About New Guinea. Don't make my mistake and 'skip' base garrisoning. Jocke just leapfrogged before i could backfill. THe Allies can move so quickly it's almost as important to get the rear bases ready first, and move forward.

He's going to have to go another round to take Saumlaki it seems with what you have there. To make him engineer two major landings is ideal I'd say. Well done.

[GreyJoy]

ORIGINAL: obvert

In the northwest of the map everything is quiet. Burma holds well and we've started to build our second defensive line in Thailand. Pegu, Moulmein and Tavoy are now well protected and in few days Margui will get the needed defences. The Adamans are as safe as they could be, while Sumatra keeps on getting stronger.
i've followed Pax's advices and moved 2 more Nells Sentais to naval search role. Now i have a lot of naval search patrolling the western approaches (from the bay of Bengal to Java and Timor).

While Brad keeps on advancing in the SOPAC, we are building Biak and the sorrounding bases. Around Hollandia we managed to move a full division and some more indipendent regiments.

What are your garrisons like in the Andamans and along the Burma coast? How much are you putting there to feel 'safe?'

About New Guinea. Don't make my mistake and 'skip' base garrisoning. Jocke just leapfrogged before i could backfill. THe Allies can move so quickly it's almost as important to get the rear bases ready first, and move forward.

He's going to have to go another round to take Saumlaki it seems with what you have there. To make him engineer two major landings is ideal I'd say. Well done.

For the Adamans: see map!

For New Guinea... yes, i know...but it's already late for what is south of Aitape. So i'm reinforcing everything north of Aitape and leaving an easy run for the rest south of it.

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: GreyJoy

ORIGINAL: obvert

In the northwest of the map everything is quiet. Burma holds well and we've started to build our second defensive line in Thailand. Pegu, Moulmein and Tavoy are now well protected and in few days Margui will get the needed defences. The Adamans are as safe as they could be, while Sumatra keeps on getting stronger.
i've followed Pax's advices and moved 2 more Nells Sentais to naval search role. Now i have a lot of naval search patrolling the western approaches (from the bay of Bengal to Java and Timor).

While Brad keeps on advancing in the SOPAC, we are building Biak and the sorrounding bases. Around Hollandia we managed to move a full division and some more indipendent regiments.

What are your garrisons like in the Andamans and along the Burma coast? How much are you putting there to feel 'safe?'

About New Guinea. Don't make my mistake and 'skip' base garrisoning. Jocke just leapfrogged before i could backfill. THe Allies can move so quickly it's almost as important to get the rear bases ready first, and move forward.

He's going to have to go another round to take Saumlaki it seems with what you have there. To make him engineer two major landings is ideal I'd say. Well done.

For the Adamans: see map!

For New Guinea... yes, i know...but it's already late for what is south of Aitape. So i'm reinforcing everything north of Aitape and leaving an easy run for the rest south of it.

Yes, that is the right move I think.

Which map?

[GreyJoy]

ORIGINAL: obvert

ORIGINAL: GreyJoy

ORIGINAL: obvert



What are your garrisons like in the Andamans and along the Burma coast? How much are you putting there to feel 'safe?'

About New Guinea. Don't make my mistake and 'skip' base garrisoning. Jocke just leapfrogged before i could backfill. THe Allies can move so quickly it's almost as important to get the rear bases ready first, and move forward.

He's going to have to go another round to take Saumlaki it seems with what you have there. To make him engineer two major landings is ideal I'd say. Well done.

For the Adamans: see map!

For New Guinea... yes, i know...but it's already late for what is south of Aitape. So i'm reinforcing everything north of Aitape and leaving an easy run for the rest south of it.

Yes, that is the right move I think.

Which map?

ops, sorry, here u are

[obvert]

Looks good.

At least you can make it hurt if he hits you here.

Are you still thinking of garrisoning the last two islands out there, Trinkat and Car Nicobar?

[GreyJoy]

ORIGINAL: obvert

Looks good.

At least you can make it hurt if he hits you here.

Are you still thinking of garrisoning the last two islands out there, Trinkat and Car Nicobar?

Yes erik, Trinkat will get some infantry troop and a mortar bn. Car Nicobar maybe a small snlf unit but the latter will have to wait a couple of months at least.
With all the efforts i'm putting in nav search in that area the idea is to be able to counter in time every attempt to land on my western perimeter. Having air HQs at Bankok, Sebang, Rangoon and Port Blair should give me a good chance to mass enough LBA to really make him pay if he decides to get here by sea.
I have a tank division at Singapore as a mobile reserve and some 200 bombers and 150 fighters waiting there as well. If needed some fighters from Burma may be called back too.

[ny59giants]

Mergui - Your screenshot show you have two combat engineer units arriving there. Why?!? They should be used in counterattacks only at this point in the game.

[Canoerebel]

Another in the panoply of GreyJoy-isms:  "So guys, here's the situation: Molu is a torn in my DEI defences..."

[GreyJoy]

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

Mergui - Your screenshot show you have two combat engineer units arriving there. Why?!? They should be used in counterattacks only at this point in the game.

I see your point micheal, however you play with what u have and my defences are already stretched so i cannot provide enough infantry units everywhere i'd want to. Btw the combat engineer units, once upgraded to 1943 squads, those little units have a very good AT value and have some combat abilities too, especially when defending against a landing. Also they can provide some building capabilities that the smaller indipendent rgts don't have.
A small ind.regiment, with some indipendent artillery and some cbt eng units in support may become quite a good defensive units behind some good forts.

[Cap Mandrake]

ORIGINAL: GreyJoy

Che bella!

A full division at Moulemin and Tavoy. 2 brigades at Port Blair. Even Andaman has a garrison.

[GreyJoy]

Thx cap!

The idea is that i cannot hold Burma forever, so it's best to start building a second defensive line.
The Adamans have been fortified very early in 1942. Sent there the first small units bought out from china in 1942. The adamans are critical imho.
Once i started to see his best units moving out of Burma after the first initial failed attacks i decided to extract some RTA divisions from there. They can't hold the line alone in Burma but they can garrison pretty decently the bases in Thailand.
Overall the plan was not to overextend in 1942 trying to grab as much land as i could...i conquered just what i thought i could include in a strong defensive and guarded perimeter...everything else was left ungarrisoned. As Japan you really have to make tough calls when it's up to decide what to defend.
I'm now extracting a bde from Cocos and sending it to Java....just in case.

[GreyJoy]

Waiting for QBall to come back from his euro trip, i'm having a lot of time to think about the strategic situation i'm facing in this 1943.
We're now approaching the end of July 1943 and the allies are getting stronger everyday. Till now Brad hasn't been very aggressive, but it's just a matter of time, we all know it.
Now he must have all his CVs equipped with Hellcats. I do think, by now, he has something like 7/8 CVs and some 10 CVL/CVEs (at least)... a mobile force of nearly 1000 superior planes.
I repeat that my guess is that his CVs are re-grouping around Perth for a move in the Indian Ocean. I haven't seen, so far, any of his marine divisions so i really have to fear a massive landing operation.
He's not strong enough to approach directly the Mariannas, so i do think i'm pretty safe on my eastern flank.
Wake and Marcus are well defended and, if i was him, i wouldn't dare to try a landing there before he has a base for the 4Es in range.
The KB, for the moment, must remain in the DEI. Even if he now has a good superiority in terms of planes quality, the combo KB+LBA remains a formidable weapon. A landing deep into the DEI (Sumatra or Java) without the support of his LBA may become a real slaughter for his navy.
His best bet remains the Darwin-Saumlaki vector...but as long as the KB remains in place, even with the full support of his CVs, the risks for him are huge..
 
The Kuriles rapresent another possible target untill october (when blizzar comes). The KB will be completely out of position and i will have to rely only on my LBA. However my LBA there is pretty decent. I'm keeping most of my training groups based in Hokkaido and at Shimushiri Jiima. Several daitais of Kates and Vals are present, along with 140 Oscars. 27 G3N3s and 12 Emilies are based there with the only goal of detect any early movement of his Navy. I should have at least 3 days of warning before an invasion fleet reaches the shores in the Kuriles...and in 3 days i can transfer a lot of planes there.
Paramushiro, Onnekotan, Shimishuri and Etorofu all have at least 500 AVs behind 5 forts... not exactly a walk in the park, even for the dreaded Marine Divisions.
I'm also keeping 5 RO subs at Etorofu, along with a CL+5 Kagero Class DDs just in case.
 
 

[ny59giants]

It's bad enough that the SBD-3 carry 1000 lb bombs to hit your poor CVs with lousy damage control, but those Helldivers also carry two extra 250 lb bombs. I'll take that with a SR of 3.

Worse news is the P-47s come into production in 7/43. I'm looking forward to them myself, but in my game as Japan, I hate those damn planes. [:@]

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: GreyJoy

The Kuriles rapresent another possible target untill october (when blizzar comes). The KB will be completely out of position and i will have to rely only on my LBA. However my LBA there is pretty decent. I'm keeping most of my training groups based in Hokkaido and at Shimushiri Jiima. Several daitais of Kates and Vals are present, along with 140 Oscars. 27 G3N3s and 12 Emilies are based there with the only goal of detect any early movement of his Navy. I should have at least 3 days of warning before an invasion fleet reaches the shores in the Kuriles...and in 3 days i can transfer a lot of planes there.
Paramushiro, Onnekotan, Shimishuri and Etorofu all have at least 500 AVs behind 5 forts... not exactly a walk in the park, even for the dreaded Marine Divisions.
I'm also keeping 5 RO subs at Etorofu, along with a CL+5 Kagero Class DDs just in case.

Although I think the Kuriles are always a target that poses problems for Japan, you are very well prepared up there, and it's actually much easier to meet unexpected strikes in this area with the proximity of lots of LBA and at least some naval assets within a day's journey.

I know you're more sensitive to a raid or invasion up there from what you were able to do, but that will most likely never be repeated in any game! We all have pickets, air patrols and decent garrisons with forts built up and air HQs in place to get warning for a move up there thanks to what you accomplished. [;)]

[GreyJoy]

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

It's bad enough that the SBD-3 carry 1000 lb bombs to hit your poor CVs with lousy damage control, but those Helldivers also carry two extra 250 lb bombs. I'll take that with a SR of 3.

Worse news is the P-47s come into production in 7/43. I'm looking forward to them myself, but in my game as Japan, I hate those damn planes. [:@]

I know Micheal, those P-47s are nasty. I'm doing my best to have decent CAP over my bases but i know i cannot do much.


Here's a screenshot of the southern DEI theatre. As you see the operation to reinforce Saumlaki is ongoing. Tomorrow it will be the day. We'll have to get in and out very quickly. 500 enemy bombers are massing at Darwin...it's gonna be bloody

[GreyJoy]

July 18, 1943

3 BBs and 4 CAs plaster Molu for the second day in a row, destroying 48 planes on the ground (P-47s, Spits and several P-40s), while the KB moves unseen next to Babar, covering a force composed of a surface TF (3 fast BBs, 4 modern CAs and 15 DDs), another CL TF (4 CLs + 10 DDs) and 3 fast transport TFs (bringing a full regiment, an AA regiment and 15k supplies). 3 DDTFs are sweeping Molu and Saumlaki each day. Today we sunk 13 PTs for no losses. So far so good.

We expect a strong resistance for tomorrow so 4 more BBs and 4 more CAs are moved in from Ambon in order to cover the amphibious force.

More than 1800 planes will partecipate in this operation. All our AFs in the area are crowded with bombers and fighters. With Molu out of action for at least a couple of days and with the KB in the first line, i think we can make it.

No sign of enemy CVs... but my best bet is that they are still lingering in the australian western coast.


Supplies are running really short in Japan (less than 400k now)...think i'll soon have to ask Brad to send our game to Michealm to add the extra fuel and supplies that were missing at the beginning [:(]

[GreyJoy]

For those of you who are wondering "why is he risking so much for a place like Saumlaki?"...i can tell you that i've thought about it a lot.
 
Saumlaki is decisive. It's what Guadalcanal has been in RL but with the "plus" of being exactly on a direct vector to the very heart of the DEI, the japanese "treasure".
 
I know i won't be able to push back the 25th American Div from Saumlaki. That's not my goal. My goal is to slow his advance as long as i can and force him to committ a lot of forces and assets for that piece or real estate. Without Saumlaki Molu remains very voulnerable. We've shown him we can close it and bomb whenever we want, no matter how many subs or mines he places there.
And untill he has secured that area and conquested Saumlaki he won't be able to move any real further in the southern DEI...not with the full KB operating in those waters.
 
So yes, i think it's well worth the risks we're taking

[koniu]

ORIGINAL: GreyJoy

Supplies are running really short in Japan (less than 400k now)...think i'll soon have to ask Brad to send our game to Michealm to add the extra fuel and supplies that were missing at the beginning [:(]

About what numbers You are talking. If i understand well there was some king of bug in mod you are playing?
I am sure Brad will give You green light with that. I see no reason he shouldn't
Lucky we have Michealm[&o]