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

[JocMeister]

No turn this morning from either Joseph nor Erik.

I´m still extremely curious why Erik has placed such a big importance on the Biak landing. Could be that he is paper thin behind it (I kind of know he is). But I still figured he would place a bigger importance on the DEI. He might believe he can cover the DEI with LBA alone. That might be correct. I guess we'll find out shortly! [:)]

The Marianas has me completely baffled though. I thought this was always turned into a Japanese bastion. Perhaps me lacking CVs for such a long timed made Erik decide to not garrison it. I would have figured he would have about 1 ID on each base plus arty and tanks. Question is if he will try and defend it with the KB.

I´m still juggling assault shipping around a bit. I´m trying to synchronize the Marianas, DEI and a little something around Biak at the same time. But I really lack the shipping for it. I´m thinking the Biak something will have to go by LSTs alone. So a very slow approach. I don´t think this move is really necessary but as Erik seems to place great importance on this he will surely devote some power to meet this.

[JocMeister]

25th May -44

Big news is of course that Eniwetok are liberated from the clutches of the evil empire!

Slightly overkill...slightly! [:D]

Ground combat at Eniwetok (127,108)

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 13001 troops, 220 guns, 546 vehicles, Assault Value = 632

Defending force 1092 troops, 12 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 29

Allied adjusted assault: 367

Japanese adjusted defense: 1

Allied assault odds: 367 to 1 (fort level 6)

Allied forces CAPTURE Eniwetok !!!

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

Japanese ground losses:
1113 casualties reported
Squads: 78 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 37 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 12 (12 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units destroyed 1


Allied ground losses:
115 casualties reported
Squads: 9 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 8 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 2 (2 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Vehicles lost 23 (19 destroyed, 4 disabled)

This is one of the problems with the prep system. You can not risk to go in too light so you always have to overcompensate.

New Guinea
Erik jumped in behind my lines again. This is to be expected and I decided to do nothing about it a long time ago. He managed to sink 3 xAKs and a SC for the price of 50 fighters and 30 bombers. I´ll take that every day! [:D]
I have a system of CAPed bases that my TFs move between. They are not covered all the distance but thats a risk I´ll have to live with. My forces have more important things to do then keeping AFs closed or prepping for targets already bypassed.
But I decided to start taking the bases I can without prepping though. Troops that are prepping for targets 2-3 months away will start moving right away. Might as well get it done while they prep.

OZ
Wyndham is liberated with the help of some 2Es.

Burma
Moving around forces.

NOPAC
Forces should start unloading at Dutch tomorrow.

[DOCUP]

Nice move. Congrats on the victory. 

[JocMeister]

DOCUP,

Thanks! [:)]

To encourage you a a little I just quickly summed up the CV planes I have outside Eniwetok. 1819 planes. All Hellcats or Corsairs. In addition to that I have some 300 planes on CVEs in other locations! And I lost ALL CVs in 42/43 including the first batch of CVEs you get.

[DOCUP]

I admire your fortitude Joc for soldiering on.  You set a good example for those of us suffering from SCLS.  I think we need to put that in websters dictionary.

[JocMeister]

Well, I almost quit 3 times now! First time when I lost China, second time when I lost the CVs and third time just a few months ago when I was just sick of it. I´m glad I didn´t stop. But I do see this more like a learning experience now. Doing the CENTPAC thing is sort of waste of time and I should probably have used the 7 IDs involved somewhere else. But its good learning! [:)]

For me it helped to focus on something else in the game to try and look forward to something!

[DOCUP]

I'm chalking my game up to inexperience also[8|].  I still love it.  Great way to wind down and get away from RL.

[JocMeister]

26th-28th May -44

New Guinea
For a second I thought Erik was going to move for Eniwetok as KB shifted to the east. He has stayed put just 9 hexes NE of Sarmi. No clue what he is doing there? Erik send 2 big Sweeps in over Hansa Bay. I´m guessing he wanted to test the CAP. I have my BBs sitting there. He is welcome to try. I have 380 Fighters on CAP! [:D] Erik loses 40 Georges for 4 P47s and 20 Hellcats. Another attack at Biak is ordered tomorrow. My AV has risen to 780 again and my 4Es has been pounding his troops causing almost 1000 casualties over the last 5 days.

The Hellcat is really becoming obsolete at this time. A few turns ago I stripped all LBA Hellcats squadrons of any pilot with EXP higher the 60. I can now use the Hellcat for escort and as an expendable asset. I have 420 planes and 700 pilots in the pool so I can sustain some attrition.

Darwin
My Amphib TF should reach Eriks search today. A big LRCAP is provided. At the same time I sent out small TFs to probe Eriks naval search and see if there is an opening. I have 4IDs and 8 tank units ready. I will only be able to lift 2 IDs in one go though. But that will be enough. The most Erik has on any base is 7k on Timor.

Burma
The whole death star didn´t arrive in one piece. Next turn we should arrive. So the attack is two days away. I decided to strike at Erik smaller stack (60k) men. If I can neutralize it I can hook up with my 3k AV stack in central Burma. I left 2000 AV at prome under the level 6 forts Erik so nicely left me. [:'(]

NOPAC
Troops have landed unmolested at Dutch. Back to Kodiak we go...

CENTPAC
I´m really trying to put together a giant puzzle here. Lack of good harbours and somewhere with unlimited stacking is making this really hard. I´m glad I brought along the 500k supply. I´m burning supply faster than I can unload it! [X(]Marianas OP will be 3-4 weeks away. Worryingly enough I´m getting intel on Troops moving there. Luckily only small units like RGTs and BDEs. As long as I don´t see 2-3 IDs moving in I´m still quite confident.
I need to come up with a plan to deal with his LBA too without crippling myself.

[JocMeister]

Here is a screen of Burma

[JocMeister]

Soft underbelly of the DEI

Once I manage to establish a base here it should be quick work once prep catch up after the first landings. When I started prepping I did not know the DEI would be virtually empty so I set all 4 IDs to only two landing sites. Main goal here is to land in the Celebes in early 45. That will put ALL Japanese oil centers within B29 range.

Am I missing something here or has Erik really dropped the ball on this one? Isn´t this the most important area on the map for the Jap player to defend? Only big combat formation in the area is the wreck 22nd ID at Soerabaja. Yet he reinforced Biak and the Sorong area over this. Trap?

[JocMeister]

Erik certainly keeps on playing aggressive! [X(] Again the KB pilots are impaled by CAP and Flak. Erik loses 272 planes of whom at least 200 are KB planes. I lose 22 planes (no essential frames), 4 pilots and a AV! [&o]

Update coming...

[JocMeister]

29th May -44

New Guinea
Well, As I said Erik keeps on playing aggressive. In an E-mail Erik said his recon picked up 95 ships disbanded in port (CAs/CLs/APAs/AKAs/DDs) and only protected by 50 fighters. There were in fact only 4 APAs/AKAs, a CA and some xAKs, xAKLs and some 50 Barges. But they were covered by about 100 planes including Corsairs and Spit VIIs.
Erik also missed the fact that there were 5600 Guns and 200.000 men there...I had A LOT of AA in place as this is the second biggest allied distribution center on map with only Pearl being bigger! 66 planes shot down by Flak. Biggest number I have seen in a vanilla game. [X(]

This means 3 things.
-Erik is completely out of position from the DEI. I will jump as soon as I can! This will leave me really short on surface ships covering the landing but so be it.
-I can send more supply to Biak.
-He will need to replenish his air groups and probably burned a crapload of fuel.

I briefly considered detaching from the CVEs and sprinting to cut his CVs off with mine. I chose not to as KB is just a sideshow. My main objective is still Operation Ymir and I shall stay focused on that.

Biak
A fourth attack spell the impending doom for the defenders!

Ground combat at Biak (87,110)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 20913 troops, 448 guns, 580 vehicles, Assault Value = 787

Defending force 15427 troops, 109 guns, 95 vehicles, Assault Value = 329

Allied adjusted assault: 875

Japanese adjusted defense: 347

Allied assault odds: 2 to 1 (fort level 2) [&o]

Allied Assault reduces fortifications to 1

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

Japanese ground losses:
979 casualties reported
Squads: 33 destroyed, 22 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 8 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 9 disabled
Guns lost 12 (7 destroyed, 5 disabled)
Vehicles lost 7 (2 destroyed, 5 disabled)


Allied ground losses:
547 casualties reported
Squads: 10 destroyed, 91 disabled <--32nd ID continues to take a pounding!
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 26 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 5 disabled
Vehicles lost 19 (2 destroyed, 17 disabled)


Assaulting units:
1st USMC Tank Battalion
32nd Infantry Division
1st Cavalry (Spec) Cavalry Division
110th Combat Engineer Battalion
138th(Sep) Infantry Regiment
3rd NZ Armoured Sqn
51st Marine Defense Battalion
98th Field Artillery Battalion
2nd RAA Jungle Regiment

Defending units:
53rd Infantry Brigade
49th Infantry Regiment
1st Indpt SNLF Coy
8th Garrison Unit
4th Raiding Regiment
9th Tank Regiment
5th Garrison Unit
I/84th Naval Guard Unit
Kure 2nd SNLF
4th South Seas Gsn
3rd FF Const Unit
66th JNAF AF Unit
24th Field AF Construction Battalion
37th JAAF AF Bn
13th Air Fleet /1

I already have the BFs slated for Biak at Sarmi so I can jump them in pretty fast.

Burma
Last? major attack in Burma will commence tomorrow.

CENTPAC
Loading/Unloading and reconfiguring the assault will take forever. [>:] I did not think the unloading at Wake would take this long. I loaded only 2 IDs in 100 xAKs so I figured it would take only a few days...wrong! For the first time in the game I really feel the lack of a good harbour.

I´ve decided to let the 77th stay on their LSTs. They will have to go in like this and without their integrated support. Moving them over to APAs/AKAs will cost me 2 weeks or more.

Here is a screen of the situation around New Guinea. It will take Erik at least a week to get to the DEI from here. The race is on! [:)]

[JocMeister]

I went back about a week to check Eriks losses. Over the last 8 days he has lost around 600 planes. While not stellar most of his losses has been IJN ones. If his earlier email has any truth to it IJN pilots should be an issue. Thats alway nice! [:)]

[JocMeister]

Breakthrough in Burma!

[X(]

[&o]

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

Ground combat at 56,50 (near Prome)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 174984 troops, 3092 guns, 4037 vehicles, Assault Value = 7021

Defending force 44767 troops, 575 guns, 440 vehicles, Assault Value = 1470

Allied adjusted assault: 4036

Japanese adjusted defense: 1193

Allied assault odds: 3 to 1 [&o]

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

Japanese ground losses:
19581 casualties reported [X(]
Squads: 340 destroyed, 459 disabled
Non Combat: 430 destroyed, 145 disabled
Engineers: 36 destroyed, 66 disabled
Guns lost 279 (168 destroyed, 111 disabled)
Vehicles lost 223 (119 destroyed, 104 disabled)
Units retreated 15
Units destroyed 1


Allied ground losses:
5541 casualties reported
Squads: 16 destroyed, 619 disabled
Non Combat: 8 destroyed, 70 disabled
Engineers: 14 destroyed, 229 disabled
Guns lost 83 (5 destroyed, 78 disabled)
Vehicles lost 156 (12 destroyed, 144 disabled)


Defeated Japanese Units Retreating! [&o]

Assaulting units:
27th Infantry Division
2nd British Division
268th Motorised Brigade
18th British Division
6th Australian Division
Gardner's Horse Regiment
Guides Cavalry Regiment
150th RAC Regiment
5th Indian Division
17th Indian Division
IV Corps Engineer Battalion
11th PAVO Regiment
255th Indian Tank Brigade
XXXIII Corps Engineer Battalion
Provisionl Tank Brigade
254th Armoured Brigade
50th Tank Brigade
XV Corps Engineer Battalion
I Aus Corps Engineer Battalion
41st Infantry Division
81st (West African) Division
209th Combat Engineer Battalion
36th Div Engineer Battalion
26th Indian Division
7th Infantry Division
20th Indian Division
14th Army Engineer Battalion
43rd Infantry Division
9th Australian Division
30th Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
137/155th Field Regiment
33rd Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
95th Heavy AA Regiment
Southeast Asia
2/9th Field Regiment
III Indian Corps
31st Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
2/13th Field Regiment
77th Heavy AA Regiment
X' Force
35th Light AA Regiment
2/11th Field Regiment
8th Medium Regiment
28th Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
IV Indian Corps
6th Mixed A/T Mtr Regiment
XV Indian Corps
6th Medium Regiment
Provisional GMC Grp

Defending units:
4th Division
2nd Guards Division
38th Division
22nd Tank Regiment
2nd Mortar Battalion
10th Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
15th Army
14th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
9th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
5th RF Gun Battalion
1st Medium Field Artillery Regiment
70th Field AA Battalion
21st AA Regiment
28th Fld AA Gun Co
34th Field AA Battalion
39th Field AA Battalion

I´m rushing as much as I dare into the gap. Might never get a chance again. Looks like Erik is emptying out everything North of the battle and racing South. I have 1600 AV racing to fill the gap that will be left when my Superstack moves SE. He will arrive before me. Question is with how much.

[Crackaces]

Breakthrough in Burma!

Patience pays off here grasshopper! [:'(] I saw your ealier postings of not getting results and giving up .. but Burma IMHO is a long term struggle with a real lack of intelligence on the real effects of bombing and combat results (mostly disruption and supply problems not destroyed/disabled squads) Suddenly .. the big breakthrough and it's Katy bar the door ...

The results of this event will reverberate throughout the empire ..first you ruined a lot of good units that need to find X2 supplied bases to refit these guys are very vulnerable to destruction .... and either forces will move to prevent the Allies from getting into the clear terrain in Thialand or its game over .. you can seize enough VP's in this theater to achieve the Allied Autovictory needed in 1945 .. in the meantime if he does react you can continue the pressure and pushing on the big bowl of jello ...

[ny59giants]

Who controls the skies over Toungoo?? Can you sweep that base and then hit the troops there hard??

Good job!! [:D]

[JocMeister]

Crackaces, I had to google "Katy bar the door". Never heard that phrase before! [:)]

Micheal, Thank you. So happy I finally managed to do something in Burma. Erik relinquished the skies to me some months ago. He still pops in from time to time and takes out some bombers. Kind of like how the allies do early war. Its very annoying! [:D]

[JocMeister]

Burma Update

Erik can´t unload supply at Rangoon or Moulmein. I´ve spotted a TF down at Mergui but I´m hoping Monsoon will make it hard for him to pull it North. To be honest I have no clue how he havn´t had to withdraw due to supply problems. I pumped in something like 500.000 supply at Ramree and the troops gobble it all up. Given the negative supply modifier Erik suffered perhaps he really is struggling.

I´m going to use the vast majority of the bomber force to slow and harass his forces moving from Toungoo. But I need to devote a portion to keep Rangoon closed and burn supply there. I´m also going to take out the LI at Bangkok to stop any supply generated there. The HI is already blasted.

I will also start sweeping into Thailand to try and discourage him to intercept my bombers.

Here is a map of the situation!

[JocMeister]

30th May - 1st June -44

Another month to chalk off. The US gets a nice boost in recon with 20 F5E lightnings! Very needed as pools are dry. The Ozzies start getting some 12 4Es per month. Thats about it.

New Guinea
After the last few days frantic activity things settle down. The allies finally secure Biak! [&o]

Ground combat at Biak (87,110)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 20450 troops, 452 guns, 578 vehicles, Assault Value = 736

Defending force 11564 troops, 69 guns, 94 vehicles, Assault Value = 198

Allied engineers reduce fortifications to 0

Allied adjusted assault: 757

Japanese adjusted defense: 133

Allied assault odds: 5 to 1 (fort level 0)

Allied forces CAPTURE Biak !!!

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

Japanese ground losses:
1001 casualties reported
Squads: 32 destroyed, 41 disabled
Non Combat: 55 destroyed, 9 disabled
Engineers: 62 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 23 (6 destroyed, 17 disabled)
Vehicles lost 77 (77 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units destroyed 1


Allied ground losses:
271 casualties reported
Squads: 12 destroyed, 30 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 23 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Vehicles lost 44 (3 destroyed, 41 disabled)

Now there is a load off my mind! The place is trashed though and I will need some time to get it operational and get the AF up to 8. I will take the time to start moving stuff forward. I was sure I had prepped 3 IDs for Sorong. Pretty dismayed to find out I only have 2 prepped! [:(] Luckily I have a Command/Corps HQ combo fully prepped. I also have about 500 AV each prepped for the surrounding bases.

Looks like Erik has split the KB into two parts[&:] Might be a simple explanation like lack of fuel at Badelbaob though. Looks right now like the lion share is heading for the DEI.

Burma
See previous post

Northern OZ/DEI
I could not get into a good position and was spotted and attacked without losses. Turned back and will try from another direction. I need to hurry up. KB will arrive within strike range in 3 days. I can live with losing the ships but not the troops. I´m praying to the weather gods...I need to get 4 hexes from the objective undetected to guarantee the troops get ashore during the night.

CENTPAC
Erik has reinforced Saipan, Tinian, Rota and Guam. Crap. About 20.000 men on each. I really hope I have brought enough for a quick capture.
III US Amphib Corps
77th ID
31st ID
4th USMC
1 USMC Amphib Tank BTL
193rd Tank BTL
670th Tank Destroyer BTL
104th Combat Engineer RGT
4x Arty units


Judging by the battle at Biak (numbers are about equal) Erik will have roughly 500-600 AV in place. I´m guessing forts will be a lot higher here though. Still cautiously optimistic. I have no doubt I will secure it eventually but I´m worried it won´t go as fast as I had hoped. No point in dwelling though. The troops at hand will have to deal with it. US Tanks and the USMC are tough cookies and I doubt Erik has scrounged up ID and managed to place it on Sleipner.

Suddenly unloading sped up like crazy. Both IDs are almost unloaded from the xAKs and can soon loading on the assault ships! Franklin joins up with the fleet. I´m only 62 planes short of 2000 planes. [:)] BBs are divided into 2 Bombardment groups. I also formed 2 CA/CL SCTF, 6 ASW TFs, 2 Minesweeping TFs. I have roughly 300.000 supply with me. About 500 ships in total. Excited! Travel time will be roughly 5 days. I hope to remain undetected until the third day but the second is more likely. This will give Erik lots of time to bring in plenty of LBA. Nothing I can do about that but hope CAP can take down the brunt of the attack. The alabative escort routine worries me though.

Major ships in repair
Not the most pleasant read... I´m really lacking Fast BBs.
PH - Iowa 173 days
SF - CV Valhalla - 46 days
San Diego - Alabama - 190 days
LA - Colorado 107 Days
Alameda - New Jersey - 196 Days

The repair yards at Sydney and Brisbane is overflowing with smaller ships waiting for repairs (CLs/DDs/APA/AKA).

Combat ships
I´m really lacking naval power in the SOPAC area right now. After the last few battles I´m down to:
3 Fast BBs
2 CAs
42 Fletchers

With Eriks 12 BBs still floating he has the potential to wreck any landing. Especially worried about the fast ones. I´m actually more worried about them than the KB in regards to wrecking a landing...

When Ymir is done I´ll send most of what is still floating to SOPAC to aid in the NG/DEI advance. Burma will continue to be strictly a land affair.

[JocMeister]

Questions for the peanut gallery!
- Should I stop the upgrade of the P38J factories to the L version? The J version is slightly faster so why upgrade?

- I´m struggling with fatigue on my CVs squadrons assigned to CAP. They are currently assigned to 15k ft, RNG 1, 50% CAP and all have around 15 Fatigue. Should I lower the altitude to 10k?