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

[witpqs]

1943 September 17

The Empire captured:


The Allies captured:


There were Imperial amphibious operations at:


There were Allied amphibious operations at:


Developments in China. An Imperial attack at Lanchow gets 1 to 2 odds - ouch - but the results seem favorable to us. Second, the Empire's forces at Kunming conducted a recon bombardment and see a stout defense. If paying close attention they also see the Indian para Bde. The two Allied tank units headed for Kunming have 193 miles to go.

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Ground combat at Kunming (69,48)

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 6396 troops, 38 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 549

Defending force 76064 troops, 81 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1308

Assaulting units:
51st Infantry Brigade
9th Tank Regiment
23rd Tank Regiment
10th Tank Regiment
64th Infantry Brigade
32nd/B Division

Defending units:
31st Chinese Corps
50th Indian Para Brigade
75th Chinese Corps
68th Chinese Corps
95th Chinese Corps
90th Chinese Corps
91st Chinese Corps
37th Chinese Corps
3rd Chinese Corps
100th Chinese Corps
25th Chinese Corps
54th Chinese Corps
24th Chinese Corps
53rd Chinese Corps
99th Chinese Corps
73rd Chinese Corps
74th Chinese Corps
97th Chinese Corps
8th New Chinese Corps
23rd Group Army
6th Group Army
5th Group Army
11th Group Army
29th Group Army
Y' Force
18th Chinese Base Force


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Ground combat at Lanchow (81,34)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 40825 troops, 281 guns, 25 vehicles, Assault Value = 1266

Defending force 38043 troops, 109 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 896

Japanese adjusted assault: 560

Allied adjusted defense: 1069

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

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

Japanese ground losses:
3830 casualties reported
Squads: 15 destroyed, 447 disabled
Non Combat: 3 destroyed, 19 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 15 disabled

Allied ground losses:
832 casualties reported
Squads: 3 destroyed, 129 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 12 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled

Assaulting units:
53rd Infantry Brigade
59th Infantry Brigade
7th Ind.Mixed Brigade
9th Ind.Mixed Brigade
3rd Ind.Mixed Brigade
36th/A Division
36th/C Division
6th Medium Field Artillery Regiment

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


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We're trying to spread out Chinese forces in the mountains to reduce or eliminate over stacking. The two problems are the lack of enough roads to use and the concentration needed to defend Kunming. George fighters are making sweeps and CAP appearances over Kunming. We are sweeping with 2x P-38 groups and bombing Imperial troops there with 4EB and 2EB.

The attack at Truk was rather wimpy, but the casualties favored us. Supply is being eaten noticeably faster. Let's see what PacAO's presence does for troop recovery, and for AV odds when that HQ makes it's die rolls.

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Ground combat at Truk (112,108)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 24043 troops, 394 guns, 507 vehicles, Assault Value = 732

Defending force 17126 troops, 215 guns, 3 vehicles, Assault Value = 381

Allied adjusted assault: 828

Japanese adjusted defense: 988

Allied assault odds: 1 to 2 (fort level 0)

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
729 casualties reported
Squads: 8 destroyed, 52 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 11 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 12 (2 destroyed, 10 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
593 casualties reported
Squads: 18 destroyed, 45 disabled
Non Combat: 3 destroyed, 16 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 9 disabled
Guns lost 12 (5 destroyed, 7 disabled)
Vehicles lost 19 (7 destroyed, 12 disabled)

Assaulting units:
3rd Marine Division
763rd Tank Battalion
1st Marine Division
762nd Tank Battalion
Otago (Mtd) Rifles Regiment
1st AmphTrac Engineer Battalion
Pacific Ocean Areas
3rd Pioneer Battalion
3rd NZ Division

Defending units:
Sasebo 5th SNLF
Guards Mixed Brigade
46th Naval Guard Unit
30th Infantry Regiment
42nd Naval Guard Unit
48th Naval Guard Unit
41st Infantry Rgt /2
Truk Naval Fortress
4th Base Force
4th Port Unit

The fires are out on that badly damaged APA and she should have no trouble making it back to Kavieng in the company of the 3 worst damaged destroyers. CVL Cowpens has refueled at Nauru and is on the way to Kavieng. Here is a look at the troops at Truk.

[JocMeister]

Truk is really turning out to be a slog. Even worse than my pessimistic estimate. [:(]

I think you are going to have to do something here to help out or this will be a never ending story. Can you start piling on 4Es to wear them down? Naval bombardments? Even bring in a couple of CVEs to start some aerial bombardment?

[witpqs]

All being done already. [:(]

Could land the 40th ID and have 3x divisions. That would be well over 200% stacking and really chew up supplies, but I will do it if I have to. Let's see how forces recover after that last one. Command HQ there could make a nice difference in that.

[JocMeister]

Is the 40th fully prepped? If so perhaps you could pull out one of the Marines before landing the 40th?

[witpqs]

It is fully prepped. I misspoke, though, it's the 24th not the 40th. Here is the current status.

[JocMeister]

Hmm, so its a bit beat up too. You are probably better off leaving the USMC in place. The US divisions are actually quite fragile compared to the USMC ones.

[witpqs]

At this point what I would do is simply put the ID ashore and get at least one attack with them all in place.

[JocMeister]

Worth a shot? Who dares wins! [:D]

[witpqs]

1943 September 18

The Empire captured:


The Allies captured:


There were Imperial amphibious operations at:


There were Allied amphibious operations at:


Two xAK torpedoed over night, one near Amalgan the other near Tavoy (see below).

Another attack on Lanchow went better for the Empire than yesterday's attack.

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Ground combat at Lanchow (81,34)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 37766 troops, 281 guns, 25 vehicles, Assault Value = 947

Defending force 37098 troops, 109 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 804

Japanese adjusted assault: 335

Allied adjusted defense: 535

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

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

Japanese ground losses:
2680 casualties reported
Squads: 3 destroyed, 279 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 28 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 12 disabled
Guns lost 21 (2 destroyed, 19 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
942 casualties reported
Squads: 4 destroyed, 109 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 14 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled

Assaulting units:
53rd Infantry Brigade
36th/A Division
59th Infantry Brigade
7th Ind.Mixed Brigade
3rd Ind.Mixed Brigade
9th Ind.Mixed Brigade
36th/C Division
6th Medium Field Artillery Regiment

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

Imperial troops are seen moving east out of Kunming. Does this signal a reshuffling of forces or a change to a defensive posture along that front?

An xAK convoy showed up south of Rangoon and our torpedo bombers attacked. Unfortunately the Albacores had no escort in two separate attacks (perhaps they are too slow!). No hits were scored.

4x Fletcher DDs bombarded Biak, reportedly damaging 7x N1K1-J George and destroying 1. Still during the night:

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Sub attack near Sansapor at 84,107

Japanese Ships
CV Junyo
BB Fuso
CA Furutaka
CS Nisshin
DD Makinami
DD Fujinami
DD Tamanami

Allied Ships
SS Scamp

SS Scamp launches 6 torpedoes at CV Junyo
DD Fujinami fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Tamanami fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Fujinami attacking submerged sub ....
DD Fujinami fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Fujinami attacking submerged sub ....
DD Fujinami is out of ASW ammo
DD Fujinami fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Fujinami fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub


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This day was a coordinated effort between those destroyers and the fighters stationed at Sarmi to hit Biak. But it turned out that the George fighters at Biak were augmented by large numbers of Zeros. The sweeps, by 4x Corsair groups and 1x P-47 group, were poorly coordinated and met stiff resistance. The tally was 33x A6M5 Zero, 27x N1K1-J George (including the single ground loss), 26x F4U-1 Corsair, and 1x P-47D2. The remainder of the air losses shown below are from attacks on a convoy off of Rangoon (no hits were noted) and various actions around the map.

[witpqs]

Here are the troops at Truk. Looks to me like disruption has come down faster. Fatigue, just a little faster. Good AV gain.

[witpqs]

Here you can see the position of that IJN foray.

[witpqs]

1943 September 19

The Empire captured:


The Allies captured:


There were Imperial amphibious operations at:


There were Allied amphibious operations at:


Several raids were made against that convoy now at Rangoon. Unfortunately our escorts got worked over, including P-37s that we did not intend to fly escort. See the air losses below. One xAK was torpedoed.

[witpqs]

Here are the troops at Truk. The next attack has been ordered.

[witpqs]

I realized that last shot did not show disruption and fatigue, so here is a replacement.

[JocMeister]

Fingers cross! Good luck! [:)]

[witpqs]

1943 September 20

The Empire captured:


The Allies captured:


There were Imperial amphibious operations at:


There were Allied amphibious operations at:
Eniwetok

Our subs got a couple of xAK and an AO (3 torps on her!).

In a bit of a surprise, the Empire attacked at Kunming. Fortifications were not reduced.

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Ground combat at Kunming (69,48)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 19478 troops, 107 guns, 659 vehicles, Assault Value = 788

Defending force 75541 troops, 84 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1315

Japanese adjusted assault: 315

Allied adjusted defense: 454

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

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

Japanese ground losses:
1272 casualties reported
Squads: 6 destroyed, 115 disabled
Non Combat: 3 destroyed, 46 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 8 disabled
Vehicles lost 207 (20 destroyed, 187 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
2017 casualties reported
Squads: 101 destroyed, 31 disabled
Non Combat: 11 destroyed, 5 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 1 disabled

Assaulting units:
4th Tank Regiment
5th Tank Regiment
3rd Tank Regiment
12th Tank Regiment
10th Tank Regiment
15th Tank Regiment
51st Infantry Brigade
64th Infantry Brigade
14th Tank Regiment
23rd Tank Regiment
17th Tank Regiment
32nd/B Division

Defending units:
68th Chinese Corps
91st Chinese Corps
53rd Chinese Corps
99th Chinese Corps
74th Chinese Corps
75th Chinese Corps
24th Chinese Corps
100th Chinese Corps
25th Chinese Corps
31st Chinese Corps
3rd Chinese Corps
73rd Chinese Corps
90th Chinese Corps
54th Chinese Corps
50th Indian Para Brigade
97th Chinese Corps
95th Chinese Corps
37th Chinese Corps
8th New Chinese Corps
5th Group Army
29th Group Army
11th Group Army
Y' Force
6th Group Army
23rd Group Army
18th Chinese Base Force


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The attack at Truk went pretty well, but it cost some tanks. This time most likely the troops will need three days of rest. The cruisers and bombers will keep up the pressure in the meantime.

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Ground combat at Truk (112,108)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 23672 troops, 389 guns, 509 vehicles, Assault Value = 692

Defending force 17149 troops, 221 guns, 3 vehicles, Assault Value = 382

Allied adjusted assault: 1036

Japanese adjusted defense: 1249

Allied assault odds: 1 to 2 (fort level 0)

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
1231 casualties reported
Squads: 17 destroyed, 109 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 13 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled

Allied ground losses:
475 casualties reported
Squads: 8 destroyed, 44 disabled
Non Combat: 4 destroyed, 10 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 2 disabled
Guns lost 15 (2 destroyed, 13 disabled)
Vehicles lost 53 (19 destroyed, 34 disabled)

Assaulting units:
762nd Tank Battalion
3rd Marine Division
1st Marine Division
763rd Tank Battalion
Otago (Mtd) Rifles Regiment
3rd Pioneer Battalion
1st AmphTrac Engineer Battalion
Pacific Ocean Areas
3rd NZ Division

Defending units:
46th Naval Guard Unit
30th Infantry Regiment
48th Naval Guard Unit
Sasebo 5th SNLF
42nd Naval Guard Unit
Guards Mixed Brigade
41st Infantry Rgt /2
4th Base Force
Truk Naval Fortress
4th Port Unit


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For some reason there was no shock attack at Eniwetok Atoll. Save will be sent off to Michael. The 131st Combat Eng Rgt is ashore in fine shape, with disruption/fatigue at 0/3. Their opposition did not bombard, but Intel (and aerial bombing) says they are facing the 43rd Naval Guard Unit. They will wait to coordinate their attack with a naval bombardment, which will take several days as the cruisers rearm. Here are the troops at Truk.

[witpqs]

1943 September 21

The Empire captured:


The Allies captured:


There were Imperial amphibious operations at:


There were Allied amphibious operations at:


The Imperials are making some progress at Lanchow in terms of disabling our troops, but the fortifications are holding and we are still knocking out more of them.

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Ground combat at Lanchow (81,34)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 36796 troops, 305 guns, 50 vehicles, Assault Value = 1019

Defending force 36285 troops, 108 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 713

Japanese adjusted assault: 365

Allied adjusted defense: 425

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

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

Japanese ground losses:
2418 casualties reported
Squads: 6 destroyed, 287 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 23 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 14 disabled

Allied ground losses:
1463 casualties reported
Squads: 12 destroyed, 156 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 32 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 2 disabled

Assaulting units:
7th Ind.Mixed Brigade
41st/B Division
59th Infantry Brigade
37th Division
36th/C Division
110th/A Division
6th Medium Field Artillery Regiment

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

The two tank units have made Tsuyung, and are now moving on to Kunming. They should arrive there in two days.

Possibly only one more day before the next attack at Truk.

[witpqs]

1943 September 22

The Empire captured:


The Allies captured:


There were Imperial amphibious operations at:


There were Allied amphibious operations at:


There were at least four unsuccessful attacks by our subs, and there was also this:

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Sub attack near Ulithi at 100,93

Japanese Ships
CVE Taiyo, Torpedo hits 2, on fire
DD Onami
DD Murakumo
DD Shirayuki

Allied Ships
SS Aspro

Fuel storage explosion on CVE Taiyo
SS Aspro launches 4 torpedoes at CVE Taiyo
Aspro diving deep ....
DD Murakumo fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Shirayuki fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Shirayuki fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Shirayuki fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Shirayuki fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Shirayuki fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Shirayuki fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub


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Walter commented that she had a troop capacity of 25,000!

The George fighters are taking quite a toll of our bombers over Kunming. I can't get our 2x 25-plane P-38 squadrons at Paoshan to fly sweep (even with good commanders), so last turn I began flying an air HQ into range (but that will take a bit). Today we lost 3x 2EB and 1x 4EB, but at least on this day 2x George were lost to ops. They are flying from Lao Cai, and we will hit that base with 4EB when they can be spared from the day to day defense of Kunming.

These are the troops at Bassein arrayed for a river crossing assault on Rangoon. 14th Army HQ is within support range at Prome. Also, just SE Prome the Allied forces there are 100% prepped for Rangoon in case the defenses begin repositioning.

[witpqs]

The troops at Truk are not really ready for the next attack, but I have ordered it anyway as the 24th ID will be picked up tomorrow to add their weight to the fray.

[JocMeister]

Fingers crossed! Good luck. [:)]