Nothing Up My Sleeve: Magical Moose Tricks--Bullwinkle58 vs.1EyedJacks

[Bullwinkle58]

Turn prep. IJN CVs approach to the SW. USN CVs at Wake in refit.

[Bullwinkle58]

July 11, 1942

RTFM!!!!!

Not a good day for the good guys. It blows as a matter of fact. Oh, did I mention I hate hexside rules?

1) Marshalls. I'm vamping for time here. Unfortunately, Japan isn't.

--ASW action on I-160 at Roi-Namur does a point of damage, but I know subs are right in there and I have virtually no ASW.

--SS Pollack obliterates three more barges with the deck gun.

--At Kusaie I. a pretty nice TF was seen yesterday unloading. It's why Lark was sent east to its doom. I sent a 3-DD TF south at that time on Full speed. It finds the TF unloading and does well.

Night Time Surface Combat, near Kusaie Island at 125,118, Range 9,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
DD Fubuki, Shell hits 1
APD Kiku, Shell hits 1, on fire
xAK Yamahagi Maru, Shell hits 1
xAK Kokuryu Maru, Shell hits 1, on fire
xAK Bandoeng Maru, Shell hits 2, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
xAK Bingo Maru
xAK Unkai Maru #3, Shell hits 4, heavy fires

Allied Ships
DD Patterson, Shell hits 4, on fire
DD Ward, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Talbot

The sunk ship sound is heard right after this screen closes. The hits on Patterson are penetrating. Bad news.

--But it doesn't matter. The carrier TF has continued on (does it think my carriers have gone back to Pearl?) and attacks. Ruyjo aircraft are seen, but from numbers there are at least three decks present I think. It creams the retiring DDs. I can't afford this.

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Eniwetok at 125,111

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid detected at 26 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 46
B5N1 Kate x 30
B5N2 Kate x 8

Japanese aircraft losses
B5N1 Kate: 1 damaged

Allied Ships
DD Talbot, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
DD Patterson, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
DD Ward, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk

The report makes it 38 torpedoes expended.

--I-11 is nosing around Eniwetok and takes a hit.

--Three Liberators finally fly from Wake and bomb the troops at Roi-Namur. No damage, but I like they finally went. Seven Zeros CAP and take some damage.

--Gamble at Roi-Namur does not work out. The infantry reg. there has 75 disabled squads and zero healthy ones. All MGs and good thoughts. Help is coming, but I try to drop in some parachutists to hold the fort. Never done this this way, with troops already on the ground. Of course--Shock attack. It's FUBAR.

Ground combat at Roi-Namur (132,114)

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 70 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 25

Defending force 2253 troops, 18 guns, 3 vehicles, Assault Value = 61

Assault collapses, survivors seek cover

Japanese ground losses:
65 casualties reported
Squads: 5 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Allied ground losses:
Units destroyed 1

Assaulting units:
3rd USMC Parachute Bn /1
102nd Combat Engineer Regiment
148th Infantry Rgt /6
177th USAAF Base Force
6th USN Naval Construction Battalion

Defending units:
7th Indpt SNLF Coy
43rd Nav Gd /1
7th JNAF Coy
2nd Naval Construction Battalion

Now I REALLY need to vamp.

2) Disaster #2. After usual air battles at Rangoon (64 bombers damaged, about six IJA planes destroyed for about four CAP) I get sat up straight. Another Shock attack! WTF?! The stack headed from Bassein, over the river, has one armor unit shock attack and it is wiped out. I know he's got a lot in Rangoon, but I have a boatload already sitting in the hex, surely 1/3 at least. Flip, flip to patch notes . . . hexside crossed, not total in hex. Arrrgh!!!! The Rangoon stack came down the road from Prome, not from Bassein. I need to put Wiley Coyote brakes on the 7th Aussie Division. Whatever is still across the river has to go back and cross to the north, then come south to Rangoon. A week-plus. And I took heavy losses to precious tanks.

Do an AAR folks! Builds character!

Something happened to the combat report; it is not there. All that's in the slot is this:

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




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

The text read OK on screen (couple of hundred AFVs lost), but it didn't record. I've never seen that before.

--Elsewhere in Burma two big Mavis missions on Ramree don't find CAP, but don't hit anything either. And a few 4E/2E missions fly from up north, including I think a first night mission on Rangoon itself.

3) Disaster #3. Tavoy falls to the initial chunk of landed troops. Good thing as that's all that will get ashore. The IJN hustles up there and sinks my shoestring force. Major losses. The follow-on is near Pt. Blair. It's no better escorted. May be time to show the Wasp and North Carolina.

Day Time Surface Combat, near Tavoy at 54,60, Range 20,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CA Furutaka
CL Kitakami
CL Oi
DD Amagiri
DD Akebono
DD Tsuga

Allied Ships
xAP Chilka, Shell hits 2, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
xAP Pundit, Shell hits 4, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk

Allied ground losses:
3022 casualties reported
Squads: 98 destroyed, 47 disabled
Non Combat: 184 destroyed, 108 disabled
Engineers: 18 destroyed, 12 disabled
Guns lost 65 (63 destroyed, 2 disabled)
Vehicles lost 21 (19 destroyed, 2 disabled)

4) Happier news at PBang. The scraps are railed away to Oost, except for one patrol plane to keep the airplane icon at the base. Missions cost Japan 50 damaged, 7 destroyed in all daylight raids. There's no CAP. Maybe they should try night? Because the AA is murderous.

5) The Oil missions from Soerbaja don't fly. Don't know why. The B-17s at Rabaul are shifted to naval to hunt carriers, but two get lost and two don't launch. One CO is sacked. A bigger AF will help. About 20% away from a level jump.

6) Japan takes vacant Bandjermasin, the last Allied base on Borneo.

Hope tomorrow is better.

Night Bombing

--Night Air attack on Rangoon , at 54,53

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 4,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Allied aircraft
Blenheim IV x 3

Allied aircraft losses
Blenheim IV: 3 damaged (AA works at night!)

Light Industry hits 1

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x Blenheim IV bombing from 4000 feet
City Attack: 4 x 250 lb GP Bomb

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Edit: the Rangoon disaster showed up in the next turn's Combat Report screen. Some kind of burp. I'm not sure I believe the AV numbers though. Look at the allies' force/devices, and look at the defenders'. And they're both about 3000?

Ground combat at Rangoon (54,53)

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 1343 troops, 35 guns, 94 vehicles, Assault Value = 3178

Defending force 100637 troops, 1174 guns, 1884 vehicles, Assault Value = 3383

Assault collapses, survivors seek cover

Allied ground losses:
972 casualties reported
Squads: 46 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 98 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 23 (23 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Vehicles lost 116 (116 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units destroyed 1

--Also, we upgraded to the 'q' beta for the next turn.

--Japan air losses on the day, per next turn, was 33 planes. Allies lost 7.

[erstad]

I'm not sure I believe the AV numbers though. Look at the allies' force/devices, and look at the defenders'. And they're both about 3000?

Ground combat at Rangoon (54,53)

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 1343 troops, 35 guns, 94 vehicles, Assault Value = 3178

Defending force 100637 troops, 1174 guns, 1884 vehicles, Assault Value = 3383

I believe AV totals are total in the hex, not total engaged. Not sure if that removes the confusity or if there's still a substantial disconnect.

Same thing is seen when you bombard with a single unit; troops, guns, and vehicles are for the single unit but AV is the total in hex.

[Bullwinkle58]

ORIGINAL: erstad

I'm not sure I believe the AV numbers though. Look at the allies' force/devices, and look at the defenders'. And they're both about 3000?

Ground combat at Rangoon (54,53)

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 1343 troops, 35 guns, 94 vehicles, Assault Value = 3178

Defending force 100637 troops, 1174 guns, 1884 vehicles, Assault Value = 3383

I believe AV totals are total in the hex, not total engaged. Not sure if that removes the confusity or if there's still a substantial disconnect.

Same thing is seen when you bombard with a single unit; troops, guns, and vehicles are for the single unit but AV is the total in hex.

I can buy, in a Shock, the Allies' number, but the 3000 for 100,000 Japanese with massive armor seems low. The whole defense stack didn't fight.

Also interesting to me after I looked at the next turn, is that four armor units crossed the river. Three are safely in the stack at Rangoon. Only one got destroyed. The others look pristine. Randomness?

I still have Aussie 7th coming across, but it may be that now I have the 1/3 AV and it can cross the hexside safely. I need to count very carefully.

[witpqs]

Although it seems to be somewhat random, I see that more often than not. It seems to be coded as a recognition that the first unit across gets it the worst. Maybe the worse the odds are on crossing, the more units have a greater chance of getting trashed? That last part is only vague observation, mostly speculation.

[Bullwinkle58]

ORIGINAL: witpqs

Although it seems to be somewhat random, I see that more often than not. It seems to be coded as a recognition that the first unit across gets it the worst. Maybe the worse the odds are on crossing, the more units have a greater chance of getting trashed? That last part is only vague observation, mostly speculation.

I don't mind a little magic now and then. [:)]

I was 90% sure the 7th would be OK coming across, but I just sent the turn back with them going across to the north of Rangoon. It's too great an LCU to risk my math.

[Bullwinkle58]

July 12, 1942

Jets v. Sharks

1) SNAGGLEPUSS has become a grim major campaign for the Marshalls in its main thrust. Today both navies grapple with each other at knife-fighting distance, each landing major blows.

--The USN draws first blood as an incoming bombardment group, stripped of the old BBs, meets the deadly 4-DD TF hanging around Roi-Namur/Kwaj for quite some time. Despite CA Chicago colliding with CL Nashville (important later) the heavier force chews up the IJN in a decisive win. I like sinking DDs. Japan never has enough in 1943-44.

Day Time Surface Combat, near Roi-Namur at 132,114, Range 20,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
DD Shigure, Shell hits 18, and is sunk
DD Umikaze, Shell hits 14, and is sunk
DD Nenohi, Shell hits 16, and is sunk
DD Shiokaze, Shell hits 12, and is sunk

Allied Ships
CA Northampton, Shell hits 1
CA Chicago, Shell hits 1
CA Astoria, Shell hits 3
CL Nashville
CL Honolulu, Shell hits 1
DD Woodworth, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Blue
DD Benham, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Fanning, Shell hits 1

--Three Liberators from Wake perform a "bomber sweep" of the big Zero nest on Kwajalein. It reads as 43 planes, but the AF is only Level 1. No Zeros are reported down in the report, but at least ten are damaged or heavily damaged. That may be important tomorrow. All Libs return to base.

--Two 2-Kate raids launch from the eastern islands, Wotje again I think. Two are damaged, but one puts a penetrating 250kg bomb into CA Northhampton.

--The carrier TF which includes Ruyjo and some other unknown ships has continued east into the heart of the chain. The Kates fly with fish and do grevious damage. It is my fervent wish and hope they hang around another day or two.

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Roi-Namur at 132,114

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid detected at 88 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 38 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 46
B5N1 Kate x 22
B5N2 Kate x 8

Japanese aircraft losses
B5N2 Kate: 1 damaged
B5N2 Kate: 1 destroyed by flak

Allied Ships
CA Chicago, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
CL Nashville, Bomb hits 2, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
CA Northampton, heavy fires
DD Woodworth, Bomb hits 1, on fire
CL Honolulu

--The wounded bombardment group nevertheless turns again to fight, attacking an unloading TF at Roi-Namur. I don't know if the CMs were laying mines as well or simply escorts. From replay messages every IJN ship here should be a goner. The penetrating hits and internal explosions numbered over a dozen. But it's another multiple cruiser loss day for the Allies.

Day Time Surface Combat, near Roi-Namur at 132,114, Range 26,000 Yards

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
E7K2 Alf: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
SOC-1 Seagull: 2 destroyed

Japanese Ships
CM Tsugaru, Shell hits 3, on fire
CM Okinoshima, Shell hits 24, and is sunk
PB Santos Maru, Shell hits 12, heavy fires, heavy damage
PB Shoei Maru, Shell hits 7, heavy fires, heavy damage
PB Shotoku Maru, Shell hits 5, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Hokkai Maru, Shell hits 9, heavy fires, heavy damage

Allied Ships
CA Northampton, Shell hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
CA Chicago, Shell hits 4, and is sunk
CA Astoria, Shell hits 2
CL Nashville, Shell hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
CL Honolulu, Shell hits 1
DD Woodworth, Shell hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Blue
DD Benham, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Fanning

Japanese ground losses:
596 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 52 destroyed, 82 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Why am I fighting over Roi-Namur? Good question. The basic answer is it represents the third leg of a triangle in Mid-Pac (Eniwetok and Wake.) It makes Ponape vulnerable. It offers a good AF at RN to put Kwajalein out of the sub supply business, and makes it possible to dissect the fortress islands nearby (like Wotje.) If Japan wants to keep any of these islands they'll need to resupply, and I can say with 100% assurance there will never be less than fifteen subs in the chain the rest of the year. Kwajalein can be taken at leisure unless the KB stays around all the time. Pearl is close and Truk is too, but it's not Pearl in any one of the important capabilities. Taking RN and sitting on Kwaj forces Japan to make choices on asset deployment, especially fuel and 2E bombers. Japan can make me bleed here. It already has. But in 1942 the Marshalls IMO are the best place to fight forward if the Allies are going to do it at all. Far better than the Solomons.

The next few days here will be pivotal. It could go either way. I see an amphib TF just west of Ponape which could be an attempt to take back Eniwetok, given I've sent most of its combat power to sit on RN. The attempt might be close, but Eniwetok has Forts 2.5, close by surface help, carriers too, and the TF doesn't look big enough to be a division. It might also be extras for Ponape. Which would be fine too. More mouths to feed. I don't want Ponape any time soon.

2) S-44 visits Hokaiddo, the first patrol there in two months. The S-boat squadron at Dutch Harbor is fully operational. The ASW barrier patrol engages S-44 but does no damage.

3) One offshoot of SNAGGLEPUSS's tiny landings on NG and the Marshalls to recapture bases Japan took once already has been unfolding all week north of Borneo on the dot bases there (Groot__?, etc.) Japan continues to invest time, ships, and troops taking them.

4) Heavy air ops at PBang (scraps gone away), Soerbaja (P-38s at 39,000 feet score some kills), and Rangoon. About 200 troop casualties at the last. LRCAP does some good, but internal AA does the most. I'm hoping the pace of air ops at Rangoon, which has about 150 aircraft as best I can tell, will start to eat into supplies. The base has over 100,000 men and 1100 tanks, and only one convoy has been seen coming in, and that had mostly xAPs and an LSD. Tavoy is plugged (for today at least; 60 squads are all that got ashore before the xAPs were sunk) and the Chinese trio of corps is fast approaching Moulmein. When the Aussie 7th gets into Rangoon I may try a probe attack to test forts and see what's there. But I really hope to hold the line long enough to get the Big Stack down the road.

5) Strat attacks on Tjpoe get through but don't hit anything. A daytime Manpower mission on Rangoon should help put some pressure on supply generation.

Morning Air attack on Rangoon , at 54,53

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid spotted at 27 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 11

Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 6

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 4 damaged

Manpower hits 7
Fires 3150

--a light B-17 AF raid on Kendari runs into Oscars on Training. One confirmed kill, several more in the animation. No Allied losses.

Night Bombing

--Night Air attack on Rangoon , at 54,53

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid spotted at 35 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes

Allied aircraft
B-26B Marauder x 6

Allied aircraft losses
B-26B Marauder: 2 damaged

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x B-26B Marauder bombing from 5000 feet *
Airfield Attack: 3 x 500 lb GP Bomb

No damage, no hits. AA effective. No CAP. Rangoon has at least 150 aircraft based there.

[Bullwinkle58]

July 13, 1942

Utter Disaster

In the spirit of documentation I offer the following daily diary. What I will do with this handful of dogs**t I do not yet know. Operations in the Marshalls are teetering on total failure. I'm just going to post the results. Don't feel like analysis right now. Maybe later.

1) ASW attack near Eniwetok at 127,109

Japanese Ships
SS I-11

Allied Ships
DD Jarvis, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
DD Perkins

2) Sub attack near Roi-Namur at 131,113

Japanese Ships
SS I-175, hits 3

Allied Ships
DD Cassin
DD Conyngham
DD Drayton
DD Aylwin
DD Farragut

3) Morning Air attack on TF, near Ailuk at 140,113

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 17 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 3
B5N2 Kate x 2

Allied aircraft
F4F-3A Wildcat x 5
F4F-3 Wildcat x 8
F4F-4 Wildcat x 32

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed
B5N2 Kate: 1 damaged

No Allied losses

Allied Ships
AP President Hayes

This is the Americal Div. approaching, east of Wotje. Escorted by two CVs overloaded on fighters. Target is Roi-Namur. So he knows now.

4) Morning Air attack on TF, near Rongelap at 133,111

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 79 NM, estimated altitude 17,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 29 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 27
B5N2 Kate x 20
D3A1 Val x 48

Allied aircraft
F4F-3A Wildcat x 6
F4F-3 Wildcat x 24
F4F-4 Wildcat x 10

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 2 destroyed
B5N2 Kate: 2 destroyed, 2 damaged
D3A1 Val: 2 destroyed, 11 damaged
D3A1 Val: 1 destroyed by flak

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat: 3 destroyed

Allied Ships
CV Hornet, Bomb hits 1
DD Selfridge
BB Tennessee, Bomb hits 2
CV Yorktown, Bomb hits 1, on fire
BB California
CV Enterprise, Bomb hits 3, on fire

5) Morning Air attack on TF, near Kwajalein Island at 131,117

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 19,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 46

Allied aircraft
F4F-3A Wildcat x 4
F4F-3 Wildcat x 9
F4F-4 Wildcat x 8
SBD-3 Dauntless x 11
TBF-1 Avenger x 12

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat: 2 destroyed
SBD-3 Dauntless: 2 destroyed, 3 damaged
SBD-3 Dauntless: 1 destroyed by flak
TBF-1 Avenger: 6 destroyed, 2 damaged
TBF-1 Avenger: 1 destroyed by flak

Japanese Ships
CV Hiryu
CV Soryu
CV Shokaku

At least Zuikaku is also here.

6) Morning Air attack on Kwajalein Island , at 132,115

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid spotted at 6 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 1 minutes

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft
B-24D Liberator x 1

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed on ground

Allied aircraft losses
B-24D Liberator: 1 damaged

Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 4

7) Morning Air attack on TF, near Ebadon at 131,114

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid detected at 27 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes

Japanese aircraft
B5N2 Kate x 8

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
CL Honolulu, Bomb hits 3, on fire
CA Astoria

8) Morning Air attack on TF, near Kwajalein Island at 131,117

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid detected at 41 NM, estimated altitude 18,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 19 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 34

Allied aircraft
TBF-1 Avenger x 12

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
TBF-1 Avenger: 7 destroyed

9) Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Rongelap at 133,111

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 30 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 48
B5N2 Kate x 38
D3A1 Val x 68

Allied aircraft
F4F-3A Wildcat x 4
F4F-3 Wildcat x 21
F4F-4 Wildcat x 3

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 2 destroyed
B5N2 Kate: 2 damaged
D3A1 Val: 13 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-3A Wildcat: 1 destroyed
F4F-3 Wildcat: 2 destroyed
F4F-4 Wildcat: 1 destroyed

Allied Ships
BB California, Bomb hits 4
CV Yorktown, Bomb hits 4, heavy fires
CV Hornet, Bomb hits 1, on fire
BB Tennessee, Bomb hits 13, on fire
CV Enterprise, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Cushing, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage

10) Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Kwajalein Island at 131,117

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 18,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 31

Allied aircraft
F4F-3A Wildcat x 3
F4F-3 Wildcat x 16
F4F-4 Wildcat x 2
SBD-3 Dauntless x 23

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-3A Wildcat: 1 destroyed
F4F-3 Wildcat: 1 destroyed
SBD-3 Dauntless: 5 destroyed, 10 damaged
SBD-3 Dauntless: 3 destroyed by flak

Japanese Ships
CV Soryu
CV Hiryu
CV Shokaku
CV Zuikaku

11) Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Ailuk at 140,113

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid detected at 29 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 4
G4M1 Betty x 5

Allied aircraft
F4F-3A Wildcat x 5
F4F-3 Wildcat x 8
F4F-4 Wildcat x 32

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed
G4M1 Betty: 2 destroyed

12) Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Bikini at 129,112

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid detected at 35 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 14 minutes

Japanese aircraft
B5N2 Kate x 17

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 8

Japanese aircraft losses
B5N2 Kate: 8 destroyed

No Allied losses

Allied Ships
BB Nevada, Bomb hits 3
CVE Long Island, Bomb hits 2, on fire

13) Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Kwajalein Island at 132,115

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 3 NM, estimated altitude 18,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 1 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 23

Allied aircraft
TBD-1 Devastator x 15

No Japanese losses

No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
CM Tsugaru, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk

14) Sub attack near Truk at 115,109

Japanese Ships
xAK Yamahagi Maru, Torpedo hits 1, heavy damage
xAK Bingo Maru
xAK Kokuryu Maru
DD Fubuki

Allied Ships
SS Drum

15) A MKB is operating just west of Burma at the height of Prome. It sinks three xAKLs and two coastal minesweepers. Mike has asked rhetorically in email how I'm supplying my horde ion Burma. He has now come to see.

16) The only good news:

Ground combat at Rangoon (54,53)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 92717 troops, 1106 guns, 1693 vehicles, Assault Value = 3396

Defending force 77524 troops, 822 guns, 827 vehicles, Assault Value = 3011

Japanese adjusted assault: 1672

Allied adjusted defense: 3081

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 2

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

Japanese ground losses:
8947 casualties reported
Squads: 102 destroyed, 458 disabled
Non Combat: 11 destroyed, 46 disabled
Engineers: 3 destroyed, 126 disabled
Guns lost 53 (4 destroyed, 49 disabled)
Vehicles lost 64 (11 destroyed, 53 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
2761 casualties reported
Squads: 17 destroyed, 212 disabled
Non Combat: 3 destroyed, 41 disabled
Engineers: 3 destroyed, 58 disabled
Guns lost 75 (2 destroyed, 73 disabled)
Vehicles lost 38 (7 destroyed, 31 disabled)

Assaulting units:
7th RTA Division
17th Indpt Guards Regiment
II./143rd Infantry Battalion
4th RTA Division
5th Amphibious Brigade
6th Tank Regiment
2nd RTA Division
7th Ind.Tank Brigade
55th Engineer Regiment
Guards Tank Division
Imperial Guards Division
4th Division
14th Tank Regiment
3rd RTA Division
112th Infantry Regiment
27th Electric Engineer Regiment
21st Division
22nd Recon Regiment
3rd Militia Regiment
9th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
4th RF Gun Battalion
46th Road Const Co
Tonei Hvy Gun Regiment
7th JAAF Base Force
2nd Hvy.Artillery Regiment
47th Road Const Co
11th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
91st JAAF AF Bn
55th Mountain Gun Regiment
9th Field AF Construction Battalion
40th Field AA Battalion
15th Army
57th Field AA Battalion
55th Field AA Battalion
22nd Medium Field Artillery Regiment
21st Medium Field Artillery Battalion
4th Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
30th Fld AA Gun Co
12th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
26th Air Flotilla
56th Const Co
4th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
4th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
3rd Army
7th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
15th JAAF AF Bn
28th Field AA Machinecannon Company
3rd Hvy.Artillery Regiment
6th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
1st Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
13th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
23rd Field AA Machinecannon Company
29th JAAF AF Coy

Defending units:
7th Indian Division
14th British Brigade
26th Indian Division
45th Recce Regiment
16th Light Cavalry Regiment
2nd Hyder Lancers Regiment
23rd Indian Division
24th Chinese Corps
54th Chinese Corps
20th Indian Division
16th British Brigade
150th RAC Regiment
75th Indian Brigade
60th Chinese Corps
23rd British Brigade
3rd Carabiniers Regiment
95th Chinese Corps
107th RAF Base Force
AHQ Bengal
20th Indian Mountain Gun Regiment

17) Japan lands and retakes one of the dots Kangas took recently. Kangas have moved on. IF this force is left on the dot it accomplishes my goal of forcing re-supply.

Ground combat at Satawal (105,105)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 1072 troops, 9 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 40

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

Japanese adjusted assault: 11

Allied adjusted defense: 1

Japanese assault odds: 11 to 1 (fort level 0)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Satawal !!!

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

Assaulting units:
84th Nav Gd /1
====================


99% sure Enterprise sank. Yorktown most likely will too. Will almost certainly lose two more cruisers. Eniwetok is the bug-out, but it's exposed. About half of the surviving air wings got to either there, Long Island (which is a goner probably), or Hornet. But it's AF is Level 1, which is why I need Roi-Namur. The question is going to be what do I do with the Americal? Risk all remaining carriers plus the division to try to get ashore, or leave?

=======================

Night Bombing

NIGHT AIR OPERATIONS PHASE
AIR NIGHT STRIKES
--8 x 38th BG/69th BS B-26B Marauder stray due to night

--Night Air attack on Rangoon , at 54,53

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid spotted at 36 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes

Allied aircraft
B-26B Marauder x 8

Allied aircraft losses
B-26B Marauder: 4 damaged

Aircraft Attacking:
8 x B-26B Marauder bombing from 7000 feet * AA worked; nothing hit
Airfield Attack: 3 x 500 lb GP Bomb

[witpqs]

THESE are the times that try men's souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands by it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly: it is dearness only that gives every thing its value...

http://www.ushistory.org/paine/crisis/c-01.htm

Take heart, Bull Moose. [8D]

[Lokasenna]

Short term, it's a disaster. But you've still made gains and strategically, you've forced him to divert a bit of his efforts from the SRA and it's still June. His strategic position is still....not quite dire, but bad, IMO.

You're about where the USN was historically now, but without sinking 4 IJN CVs, which is huge. But so is still holding Palembang and Java. Think long term here.

[Bullwinkle58]

ORIGINAL: witpqs

THESE are the times that try men's souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands by it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly: it is dearness only that gives every thing its value...

http://www.ushistory.org/paine/crisis/c-01.htm

Take heart, Bull Moose. [8D]

Thanks. I got an adrenaline stomach ache watching the movie. He had somewhat gloated in the email, so I was ready, but it was bad. I was cussing, yelling at my planes . . . Not one hit. It's not so much that I got clocked in the summer of 1942 in a 4-on-3 (CAP was 50% as I thought the other smaller carriers had retired. Well, they had.) It's that I got not one hit with pre-war pilots and COs.

I have to decide what to do with the Americal for tomorrow. I'm fairly sure right now it's in for a penny, in for a pound. Taking Roi-Namur changes Mid-Pac. If I run Eniwetok is untenable and I've lost my navy for nothing.

And writing a daily AAR is like stripping in a public park on days like this. Unlike some writers I'm not going to leave things out. (Well, I did leave out the Night Bombing, which I will edit in now.) But it's humiliating. Just got back from a five mile walk with GOTP. Burned off some anger.

The news at Rangoon is good though. I think he's hurting for supply. SO am I, but I'm not flying 200 bombers a day in the region. His stack at Rangoon is immense.

[Bullwinkle58]

ORIGINAL: Lokasenna

Short term, it's a disaster. But you've still made gains and strategically, you've forced him to divert a bit of his efforts from the SRA and it's still June. His strategic position is still....not quite dire, but bad, IMO.

You're about where the USN was historically now, but without sinking 4 IJN CVs, which is huge. But so is still holding Palembang and Java. Think long term here.

Thanks. I did bomb four more Oil points today. All the normal bombing at PBang and China; just didn't have the energy to relate it.

He's really taking his time gathering strength to hit Soerbaja. It's about 20 percent from Forts 6. Same at PBang. The 32nd ID is pulling in 155 howitzers every day, rounding out the stuff lost at Oosthaven. PBang has 212,000 supply despite the bombing. With a stack such as he has at Rangoon he could take it. I don't think 2-3 divisions will be enough. And every day he eats fuel.

So many things I would do differently though. I keep telling myself this is my first game and about his sixth. And I know for sure that the pace is getting to me. It's a real time year in a couple of weeks. I fell like I've been living hand to mouth forever. If I play another PBEM it'll be 2-days turns or at least seven a week. Mike has done exactly what he committed to; I just didn't know how much it would drag for me.

[obvert]

So many things I would do differently though. I keep telling myself this is my first game and about his sixth. And I know for sure that the pace is getting to me. It's a real time year in a couple of weeks. I fell like I've been living hand to mouth forever. If I play another PBEM it'll be 2-days turns or at least seven a week. Mike has done exactly what he committed to; I just didn't know how much it would drag for me.

It is very hard when things drag and you get out of your rhythm. Still, two day turns give me the willies! I can't imagine the kind of extra planning that goes into letting stuff just travel and fight and fly without being able to control it.

I bet for your next you could find someone who could average 2-3 a day without two-day turns. Jocke and I have done about 12-14 a week for most of the war with some vacation breaks of course. It's been a fun ride!

[Bullwinkle58]

ORIGINAL: obvert

So many things I would do differently though. I keep telling myself this is my first game and about his sixth. And I know for sure that the pace is getting to me. It's a real time year in a couple of weeks. I fell like I've been living hand to mouth forever. If I play another PBEM it'll be 2-days turns or at least seven a week. Mike has done exactly what he committed to; I just didn't know how much it would drag for me.

It is very hard when things drag and you get out of your rhythm. Still, two day turns give me the willies! I can't imagine the kind of extra planning that goes into letting stuff just travel and fight and fly without being able to control it.

I bet for your next you could find someone who could average 2-3 a day without two-day turns. Jocke and I have done about 12-14 a week for most of the war with some vacation breaks of course. It's been a fun ride!

Two-day turns would not be my preference. Mike suggested this early and I said no. A turn a day would fit my schedule pretty well. I spend 1-2 hours on them including Tracker time, and later on the Allied work-load spikes with the OOB. I could do two on some days, but it would be too much on others. We do about four a week here clustered on the weekends. Mike has a very busy career and I don't anymore, so we're just on different life rhythms.

1942 is fun in a sense, but after awhile scraping up four or five planes to face 160 is wearing.

[Canoerebel]

Miller, that estimable Japanese Fanboy who calls England home, says he'll only play two-day turns. He far prefers them. He and I played a two-day-turn game about three years ago. It was alot of fun. I still prefer the one-day turn, but not by a marked amount.

[Bullwinkle58]

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel

Miller, that estimable Japanese Fanboy who calls England home, says he'll only play two-day turns. He far prefers them. He and I played a two-day-turn game about three years ago. It was alot of fun. I still prefer the one-day turn, but not by a marked amount.

I've played some 2-day periods against the AI. Even a few 3-day. They're different to be sure. Especially air ops where you can't stop a unit from flying again when they shouldn't. Also shock attacks in a landing that goes bad the first day. I much prefer 1-days.

I proposed, but Mike declined, setting a time limit per turn to speed up the weekend turn-arounds. Like the clock in a chess match. Do what you can in sixty minutes, then close and send at the end regardless.

[Bullwinkle58]

I have the next turn. Have not looked in detail. This is the air loss screen. Japan lost more than I thought. The USN losses are stunning. My carrier plane pools are basically empty already, and the fighter squadrons have up-sized on paper. Couple of months at least to get back to where things were.

[Bullwinkle58]

Most importantly, this is the in-TF damage screen. Enterprise did not sink, but survival is doubtful. Yorktown has a decent chance. Northhampton will be the next CA loss. Long Island has less than I feared.

Will he drive in and try to finish things off? He saw the approaching Americal TF and knows it has at least one carrier along. As far as I know he doesn't know it's overloaded on fighters. He also doesn't know how much of the three air wings got to Eniwetok. And as far as I know he doesn't know where Wasp is. (She's in the IO.)

[Bullwinkle58]

The situation in Burma waters. The Wasp/North Carolina in escort of a follow-on landing force for Tavoy. D/L is 0. Accompanied by an RN CV with a D/L of 1/3. Wasp fighters are 80/20 CAP. Attack planes grounded. RN has only Swordfish aboard.

The red icon off Prome is Junyo and Ruyjo so far as I know. About 40 torpedoes expended. Distance to Wasp is 18 hexes. It has a NE vector. I'm hoping the surface TF which clocked the first landing at Tavoy (I don't know where it lives) will come to eat and Wasp can strike and get away. Be nice to get a CA or two.

At Rangoon the stacks are huge. Japanese now reads as 138,000 men and 1850 AFVs.

The Big Stack can be seen on the road between Paoshan and Lashio.

[Bullwinkle58]

The situation in the Marshalls. The KB is marked. The USN carriers are east of Rongelap dot base, right on the label. They are moving toward Wake. Hornet can still fly some, and CAP is 80/20 on Range 1. Hornet is in follow.

Eniwetok is being cleaned out of everything that can move. Wake mostly, some Pearl.

The wounded cruisers in Escort are broken up by max speed making fro Eniwetok. One DD will surely sink this turn, but I want the target presented. Northhampton may last one more day.

Eniwetok has about 10 SBDs in flying condition, and a decent CAP. Forts there are 3 and supplies are in the mid-30ks. It can be taken, but I'm not sure it will be. The Americal and the Lex/Sara TF are routed today back NE about eight hexes with CAP on 80/20. I don't know how long the KB will hang around and I still want Roi-Namur. The KB's air groups took some lumps yesterday; if it comes for these two CVs I hope the extra Wildcats will be decisive.