Zuluhour vs Zigurat666: 1943

[DOCUP]

Bump

[zuluhour]

Thanks Joe, Paul is changing his system for the second time this game. We have sync bugs and more. He's on his third email address as well.

[JocMeister]

Me and Erik have been getting sync bugs almost daily lately. Nowadays I always read the CR before watching the replay which kind of ruins a lot of the fun. [:(] But it would suck to spend an hour looking at a replay that then turns out to be completely bogus. Have done that before...

[zuluhour]

I may have figured it out. We started playing Andy Mac's scenario #2 on the latest Beta, I don't think Paul loaded the scenario info. We'll see.

[zuluhour]

September 19, 1942

This is game is now running goofy. Unless Paul can reload the proper files and get us back on track, I am going to concentrate on another match. I’m just a user and have limited ability insofar as programs are concerned. I wish I could help more but I can’t and I find the whole Windows operating system frustrating. I just grew up on MAC. My wife is a designer and my early exposure to machines was on the Apple’s systems. It’s bad enough with all the corporate security on my work machines causing endless calls to IT to sort out this and that, I don’t want to deal with it at home. This is just a rant but I do spend a lot of time with this game (bought a machine just to play it) and I don’t feel like &^%$*&^ around with back ground chaff constantly. This said, Kudo’s to all the Beta work (Michael, DaBabes guys, Andy, JohnIII etc.. This is not what I am referring to. I’m just pissed I have a long weekend and we can’t play again. Can you hear the Whining?

NorPac: IJN destroyers return to Dutch Harbor. One is sunk, another heavily damaged. The Houston escapes injury. One US DD sustains minimal damage. The Houston is ordered on a limited pursuit if the the one IJN DD is limping enough to catch before getting under Adak’s CAP.

CenPac: One minelayer is sunk by Bettys off Baker loaded with mines. This does not hurt as much as both seaplane tenders going down to six Bettys in thunderstorms hours from Arorae. Small packets of supply continue to arrive to the 9th marines by sub. A powerful IJN taskforce of battleships is spotted east south east of Tarawa. USS Fox finds I-21 in Hawaiian waters and reports heavy damage on the sub but cannot force her to the surface. Grayling escapes ASW efforts off Truk.

SwPac: Fortresses place another 24 hits on Port Moresby.

Burma: Vengeance DBs on an intended milk run run into 34 Zekes over Shwebo and pay for it. It was our first attack there. Recon shows 130 fighters at Prome. This is a new development as we recon there often.

China: A large shock attack by the IJA fail to dislodge the surrounded Army SSE of Chungking,

Ground combat at 77,47 (near Chungking)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 80452 troops, 1110 guns, 296 vehicles, Assault Value = 1439

Defending force 62530 troops, 360 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1783

Japanese adjusted assault: 1091

Allied adjusted defense: 1636

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 2

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

Japanese ground losses:
12593 casualties reported
Squads: 333 destroyed, 207 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 143 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 143 disabled
Guns lost 57 (7 destroyed, 50 disabled)
Vehicles lost 20 (1 destroyed, 19 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
1454 casualties reported
Squads: 9 destroyed, 193 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 17 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 11 disabled

[KenchiSulla]

Thats a good victory Zulu, an entire division worth of rifle squads destroyed...

[zuluhour]

The IJA has suffered over 1,ooo destroyed squads in the last 30 days, yet they press onward. I am beginning to regret sending 20th Army group to counter attack in the north instead of holding in the south. Perhaps the 26th Army group can cause enough disruption in the south to enable a long siege of Chungking.

[zuluhour]

We are back in action. No bugs or errors reported. Although every sub at Pearl suffered system damage and is at pier side. The screen does not show refitting either.

September 20, 1942

NorPac: USS Houston catches IJN destroyer fleeing west. While placing a severe hurting on her, she escapes to the west at sunrise and the USS Houston follows only to get three fish from Bettys out of Adak. Bad move on HQ’s part. She will attempt to get home with RCAF and USAF cover.

CenPac: Tabiteuea hit again by Yamato and company. Large IJN TF spotted from Baker. General Quarters!

Burma: P38s sweep Prome but no one comes up to tangle.

China: The mountain passes are ours. Chinese units rout the defenders west. The Chinese are in pusuit. EDIT: The victory SSE of Chungking was on the 19th.

[zuluhour]

CenPac:

[zuluhour]

September 21, 1942

NorPac: USS Houston makes 40nm closer to home. It should help the CAP.

CenPac: A handful of flat tops are spotted from Baker NNE loitering between Baker and Tabiteuea. The 9th marines takes another 40 pts of supply. Ground crews reach Canton where many naval aircraft and crews await repair. An AVP is diverted from “F” to Arorae. I want that seaplane base.

China: China stands tall today and slaps Japan in the face. While the capital is all but cut off, the 26th Army group crosses the Yangtze and crushes the garrison. On their right flank the 4th War Area eliminates Japanese resistance to the west of Kweiyang while the 20th raises the flag over the city. Outside Ansi the Chinese grind down the IJA Rgt to dust.

Ground combat at Kweiyang (74,49)

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 52327 troops, 263 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1359

Defending force 16862 troops, 140 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 268

Allied adjusted assault: 376

Japanese adjusted defense: 159

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

Allied forces CAPTURE Kweiyang !!!

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), op mode(-), preparation(-)
Attacker: shock(+), supply(-)

Japanese ground losses:
6829 casualties reported
Squads: 110 destroyed, 26 disabled
Non Combat: 161 destroyed, 72 disabled
Engineers: 35 destroyed, 12 disabled
Guns lost 98 (68 destroyed, 30 disabled)
Units retreated 2

Allied ground losses:
1216 casualties reported
Squads: 11 destroyed, 126 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 13 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 14 disabled

Defeated Japanese Units Retreating!

Perhaps even bigger news, the surrounded Chinese Army south east of Chungking holds the line again!

Ground combat at 76,47 (near Chungking)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 99337 troops, 1069 guns, 1041 vehicles, Assault Value = 2021

Defending force 76404 troops, 351 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1631

Japanese adjusted assault: 1566

Allied adjusted defense: 883

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 1

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

Japanese ground losses:
10020 casualties reported
Squads: 133 destroyed, 554 disabled
Non Combat: 3 destroyed, 135 disabled
Engineers: 4 destroyed, 86 disabled
Guns lost 123 (13 destroyed, 110 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
3887 casualties reported
Squads: 19 destroyed, 326 disabled
Non Combat: 4 destroyed, 68 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 28 disabled
Guns lost 25 (3 destroyed, 22 disabled)

[zuluhour]

September 22, 1942

NorPac: The RACF and USAF does its best, but we lose the USS Houston. Really bad command decision on my part to leave setting at react 3 on that patrol. 1 would have saved the ship and still bagged the DD.

CenPac: Kido Butai patrolling NNW of Baker at about 400nm.

SwPac: Forts hit Port Moresby again. I do not think he will station aircraft there in the near future. With Buna empty I may have a chance to bring more squadron into play and begin to shut down airfields.

Burma: The RAF and USAF hit Prome loaded with aircraft and no CAP. 50 P38s arrive through out the day to observe. An entire B17 group backed up with Blennies smoke the field. Over 50 reported destroyed on the ground.

China: The Far East IJAF hits Kweiyang in retaliation for yesterday. The Chinese are used to it and continue to march south east. 4th Army Group will hold Kweiyang. I hope the 20th Army Group will arrive soon to counter attack in the north.

[DOCUP]

I love to hit planes on the ground. Sorry about the Houston. You still thinking about playing as the Japs?

[zuluhour]

Not at this time. I may face a familiar face as allies shortly though.[;)] I meant to respond to your question about troop strength at PM, I will next turn.

[zuluhour]

September 23, 1942

NorPac: Operation TITANIC is cancelled. Battleship Division 1, comprised of three older battlewagons is ordered to come about 600nm SSE of Adak and return to Pearl. There is not enough to be gained and too much risk. RCAF and USAF resume CAP duties over Dutch Harbor after a day off. I hope I can rest everyone here in a few days as more help is on the way.

CenPac: Tabiteuea is invaded again. This time there is no supply. None. The 9th holds their ground on day one, but the outcome is gloomy to say the least. Their defense is feisty. An AK is set alight off shore and many Japs are killed on the beach. Intel reveals over 3,ooo casualties on them over the course of the day. US Navy vessels abandon Arorae and several flee Baker for safer waters. Aviation squads allow fighter squadrons to stage out of Canton to Baker to up the CAP over the base.

United States: WINGFOOT assembles the largest combat TF of the war for the allies and should depart in 72 hours.

SoPac: 200 naval squads arrive to assist Lex and Hornet in their lair.

SwPac: quiet today except for the Darwin defenders. They are being slaughtered from the air along their retreat.

Burma: Also quiet as the Forts need maintenance and the P40 squadrons take new “K” models.

China: Relentless Japanese attacks on the Yangtze pocket. The army surrounded SSE of Chungking. They repel another today.

Ground combat at Tabiteuea (137,134)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 5631 troops, 10 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 206

Defending force 12836 troops, 233 guns, 257 vehicles, Assault Value = 160

Japanese adjusted assault: 8

Allied adjusted defense: 81

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

Combat modifiers
Defender: forts(+), experience(-), supply(-)
Attacker: shock(+), disruption(-), fatigue(-)

Japanese ground losses:
1879 casualties reported
Squads: 51 destroyed, 98 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Allied ground losses:
211 casualties reported
Squads: 3 destroyed, 28 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 9 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Guns lost 28 (1 destroyed, 27 disabled)

Assaulting units:
113th Infantry Rgt /1
14th Nav Gd /1
4th Div /2

Defending units:
7th Marine Regiment
64th Coast AA Regiment
4th USN Naval Construction Battalion
118th USAAF Base Force
106th USN Base Force
5th USN Naval Construction Battalion

Ground combat at 76,47 (near Chungking)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 173670 troops, 2072 guns, 1329 vehicles, Assault Value = 2562

Defending force 73326 troops, 341 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1308

Japanese adjusted assault: 1847

Allied adjusted defense: 757

Japanese assault odds: 2 to 1

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

Japanese ground losses:
5278 casualties reported
Squads: 219 destroyed, 300 disabled
Non Combat: 3 destroyed, 135 disabled
Engineers: 6 destroyed, 84 disabled
Guns lost 111 (9 destroyed, 102 disabled)
Vehicles lost 24 (4 destroyed, 20 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
1324 casualties reported
Squads: 163 destroyed, 136 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 60 disabled
Engineers: 5 destroyed, 32 disabled
Guns lost 38 (2 destroyed, 36 disabled)

Assaulting units:
19th Ind.Mixed Brigade
41st Division
104th Division
3rd Division
6th Division
56th Infantry Brigade
54th Infantry Brigade
2nd Ind.Mixed Regiment
22nd Division
15th Tank Regiment
7th Ind.Tank Brigade
39th Division
51st Infantry Brigade
40th Division
38th Division
21st Ind.Mixed Brigade
Guards Tank Division
17th Division
37th Division
32nd Division
4th Ind.Mixed Brigade
15th Division
34th Division
55th Infantry Brigade
1st Militia Regiment
1st Hvy.Artillery Regiment
15th Ind.Medium Field Artillery Regiment
2nd Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
China Expeditionary Army
51st Ind.Mtn.Gun Battalion
10th Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
2nd Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
22nd AA Regiment
14th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
4th Ind.Mixed Regiment
2nd Ind. Engineer Regiment
52nd Infantry Brigade
52nd Ind.Mtn.Gun Battalion
5th RF Gun Battalion
23rd Army
2nd Mortar Battalion
19th Ind. Engineer Regiment
20th Ind. Mtn Gun Battalion
1st Mortar Battalion
2nd RF Gun Battalion
21st Mortar Battalion
3rd Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
11th Field Artillery Regiment

Defending units:
71st Chinese Corps
41st Chinese Corps
56th Chinese Corps
78th Chinese Corps
99th Chinese Corps
59th Chinese Corps
37th Chinese Corps
92nd Chinese Corps
5th Chinese Cavalry Corps
29th Group Army
22nd Group Army
27th Group Army
4th Heavy Mortar Regiment

[zuluhour]

September 24, 1942

CenPac :The 9th marines are in deep. The landings continue last night through today. The artillery is reduced to one effective gun and the forts have been reduced . Reports from the island state 2100 japanese casualties on the day. The marines lose 885. Most are lost during a bombardment my IJN battleships and cruisers which place an additional 100 hits on the base.

Burma: Prome’s airfields are abandoned. Rangoon shows thirty odd fighters on the ground.

China: Our brave Army, trapped by over thirteen divisions holds off the slaughter one more day.

Ground combat at 76,47 (near Chungking)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 179938 troops, 2160 guns, 1328 vehicles, Assault Value = 2175

Defending force 70826 troops, 331 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1179

Japanese adjusted assault: 11

Allied adjusted defense: 367

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 33

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

Japanese ground losses:
885 casualties reported
Squads: 45 destroyed, 3 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 43 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 13 disabled
Guns lost 19 (7 destroyed, 12 disabled)
Vehicles lost 30 (1 destroyed, 29 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
267 casualties reported
Squads: 3 destroyed, 38 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 5 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Ground combat at Tabiteuea (137,134)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 7966 troops, 118 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 199

Defending force 11699 troops, 229 guns, 251 vehicles, Assault Value = 120

Japanese adjusted assault: 35

Allied adjusted defense: 21

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

Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 2

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

Japanese ground losses:
768 casualties reported
Squads: 36 destroyed, 17 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Guns lost 7 (1 destroyed, 6 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
352 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 15 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 16 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 8 disabled

[zuluhour]

To Joe: Terapo has the PM Bde and the 4th Aussie Cav Bde with two BFs.

[zuluhour]

September 25, 1942

CenPac: Tabiteuea falls today. This is a setback I was not ready for. I firmly believed I could land and hold the island with carrier support until an airfield was developed. The IJN did not even need land based air help from Tarawa to retake the island. It was expensive for both sides. I can’t imagine how much supply and fuel was burned in so many bombardments by Yamato and three other Kongos. The IJA 4th Division was thrashed as well as many of the second wave. There will be a special mission for the 9th when they are reformed in the spring.

SoPac: 1LT Bong is assigned to 67th fighter squadron, 58th fighter group. The unit is taking P38F models now and will be operational in 7 days. The Hornet and Lex continue to repair in their lagoon. New Caledonia still appears empty if recon is to be believed from Noumea. The F4s are invaluable. A large fuel and anti-submarine warfare TF is a week out of SoPac HQ.

SwPac: There is nothing I can do for the defenders of Darwin, moving in the open, they are hammered daily. It is hard to watch. Southern New Guinea does not appear to be a line in the sand for IJ. I just do not have the resources to make any grabs at present and am more concerned with keeping Terapo supplied and developing.

United States: I am still wavering on sending another heavy group to the CBI. There are two groups training hard, one in B24s and one with mostly B17Fs. The groups are filled out but experience is just at the forty mark. So I wait. WINGFOOT is currently loading supply and support units for SwPac. I hope to have firm plans in place within thirty days and be able to commence offensive operations in December. The USS Tennessee reaches San Francisco today and begins shipyard repairs. The USS Arizona is at 85 days although she has a refit due as well.

Burma: I screwed up today and left some RAF and US squadrons on previous orders. I hope I don’t regret it. The 96th and 36th Chinese divisions reach Ledo and rail head for the rear for refit and rest.

China: The USAF is stood down for tomorrow to recover fatigue. The 26th Army group reaches the IJA lines SSE of Kweiyang and ordered to test the defenses tomorrow. HQ is three days away in a snafu. The Army Group is at full supply and has good leaders. The 20th Army group is outside Kienko and closing on the IJA perimeter.

[zuluhour]

Indian Ocean: Ceylon: Royal Navy HQ: After spotting small groups of CS and PC between Diego Garcia and Colombo the Royal Navy put to sea. The last spot was about 600nm SW of the port. The Royal Navy sorties with two carriers and Prince of Wales. In the afternoon the IJN is spotted as a BB and cruisers. The RN sends all its torpedo planes to find Haruna. One fish finds her. Orders in the evening recall the Task Force at flank. In the afternoon they are 40nm due west of Colombo again. The IJN launches a large carrier raid damaging both carriers and Prince of Wales. The TF is now disbanded in port under a combined RN RAF CAP. It was a trap and it was well executed. I am very unhappy with my spotting aircraft as they have been sighting ships for a week but only reporting small craft and cruisers. I suspected some IJN carriers operating in the background but did not believe they could catch us at flank nor would they close on Ceylon and catch them. %$#@!

[zuluhour]

September 25-27, 1942

Indian Ocean: On the evening of the 27th the Illustrious TF is disbanded in Colombo pier side. The IJN strikes again. There are more than 5 CVs present, now the CATs report them! It is audacious of them to attack the port and anchorage. Paul selects port attack correctly and goes right for the battleships and carriers moored there. The attacks on the 26th 40nm to the west of the harbor gave him enough intelligence to select his targets properly. Colombo is the second most defended place in the PTO when it comes to air defense artillery. The AA rating is 69. The raid on the 27th is the longest replay in the war. Over 80 Zeros escort over 150 attack aircraft. The IJN scores 11 hits between the carriers and battleships. All are afloat. The KB rings up a reapers bill as over 100 aircraft are shown lost to CAP and FLAK. Will he come again? I would like another chance at those beautiful pilots! They made the RN and RAF fighter guys look silly. Fortunately for the Brits, the fighters eventually get to the bombers and begin to down a couple of dozen while only sending a handful of the Zeros down.

Burma: If I had guessed Japanese strategy earlier, I would be in Rangoon. As it is, the IJA has an army in place suitable to defend what they have taken as I still harbor a sizeable reserve. On the 27th, we sweep Rangoon but Zeros rise and best the Lightning’s. These were A6M2s and they cleaned our clocks. Only 5 P38s are left serviceable, so the squadron is posted to the rear for replacements. B17s show up in the afternoon and place 70 hits on the base as consolation. In the north, Vengeance and B25s strike at Lashio and poke at his supply. No CAP.

China: Fluid and contentious. I will have to post tomorrow. The surrounded army to the SE of Chungking may be finished. I had thought about relieving it, but I do not want to shock across the Yangtze to do it.

SwPac: B17s tear into Daly Waters on the 26th killing close to 600 japs there. The IJAF retaliates on the 27th with a raid on Tennant Creek, wrecking the airfield and the planes, Wirraways at least. B17s put another 60 hits on Port Moresby on the 26th and kill 100 japs marching to Terapo on the 27th. The force looks like two naval landing units. I hope their supply is as bad as mine was on that march. More B17s stage in to hunt them. The 27th Division is nearing Australia. The 40th is well to sea. Additional support units are also in route.

SoPac: I may place Hornet on critical and move Lex to low priority if it will get her to sea faster. Hornet is under three weeks from completing system and engine damage. She will ride the blue water with 17pts of float damage to port.

CenPac: While our seaplane bases are secure for now, the IJN rules the waves. God bless the 9th marines.

[zuluhour]

Afternoon Air attack on Colombo , at 29,48

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 123 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 45 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 89
B5N2 Kate x 76
D3A1 Val x 101

Allied aircraft
Sea Hurricane Ib x 9
Martlet II x 23
Hurricane IIb Trop x 16
Hurricane IIc Trop x 32

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 7 destroyed
B5N2 Kate: 7 destroyed, 29 damaged
B5N2 Kate: 6 destroyed by flak
D3A1 Val: 23 destroyed, 12 damaged
D3A1 Val: 19 destroyed by flak

Allied aircraft losses
Hurricane IIc Trop: 2 destroyed

Allied Ships
CV Illustrious, Bomb hits 1
BB Royal Sovereign, Bomb hits 3
BB Prince of Wales, Bomb hits 1
CVL Hermes, Bomb hits 1
BB Resolution, Bomb hits 1
CL Caradoc, Bomb hits 1, on fire
BB Valiant, Bomb hits 1

The aircraft losses for the day reflect much higher casualties.