ORIGINAL: Commander Cody
Merry Christmas, gents. Have you set up a Cape Town to Oz convoy run yet? Each time I play this game I put more emphasis into that supply/fuel channel.
Yes I have. And there are already a bunch of ships in the pipeline and Perth is due to be getting it's first shipment in a day or two.
And yes, I like this route as it's almost free of IJN subs. The route from Colombo to Perth is worrying. That's a long way in dangerous
waters. I'm thinking of sending them to Cape Town first and then to Perth to take advantage of the safer route.
Sound like you guys are quite on top of things. Good to hear. I'd recommend using Karachi to Cape Town as a fuel and possibly supply route since he'd have to go way north to inderdict it (you can stockpile fuel at Karachi when needed). Also, you might consider sending port-building engineers and naval support to one of those bases south of Perth (Albany if memory serves) and use it as the main convoy destination. Another tip is to route the Cape Town to Oz convoys pretty far south using waypoints. Apologies if you've already thought of all this.
Nice job with that amphib TFs guys. I like to use subs to lay mines at the mouth of the river that heads to Pbang. One thing with mines is once they are detected they are easy to avoid. At least I see that in my game.
It looks like Jim is going to risk a CM to lay 100 mines on Canton island's port. Well, good for him. I like this idea.
Why? [&:]
Think about this. Is Canton Is. worth 100 mines and will that stop your opponent from taking the Island? It might make you feel good if something hits a random mine, but isn't your team taking a layered, defense in depth possibility away from another, more critical location? What about 100 mines at Midway since you have reinforced there? Or, wouldn't those mines be better at Johnston, Palmyra, Pago Pago, Suva, Nadi or Tahiti - maybe combined with another 100 mines? Maybe backed up by CD guns, significant troops, air and sea assests? This action smells alot like a "I've got to do something, somewhere." response that is natural for the Allies in this phase of the game. I don't see a strategy in this decision and to me that means you are just wasting more of the precious few assets the Allies have at the beginning of the game.
I sent the Oglala (CM) to Canton escorted by the CA/CL/DD SCTF because in my previous experience the 0 sized ports unload VERY slowly. I did not figure I would catch the TF with 2K of troops still on it! However dropping 100 mines on the port cant hurt and I also have mines placed at Johnston and Midway too. (subs did that)
Now for my next stupid/brilliant move, I see John sending replacements to Canton in smaller TF's - I plan to keep a CL/DD TF in the area to interdict this threat too.
And you are absolutely correct simonsez - it was a knee jerk reaction to send the CM there, but I NEED to make him cautious about what WE are going to do too. You are totally correct we are defensive and its way too early to be thinking offensively, but I want him to think twice about freely landing troops anywhere, so in that regard this time- mission accomplished! [;)]
Nice job with that amphib TFs guys. I like to use subs to lay mines at the mouth of the river that heads to Pbang. One thing with mines is once they are detected they are easy to avoid. At least I see that in my game.
Thanks DOCUP! [:)]
I'm hoping in 1942 to start isolating his Eastern Pacific bases (including Kwajalein) by mines and subs and SCTF raids... The more I tie up his forces there - the less he will have to attack Austalia/India!
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Dec 24, 41
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It may be FOW, but we'll take it! I heard mine hit sounds last turn too!
TF 75 encounters mine field at Pago Pago (148,161)
Japanese Ships
SS I-169, Mine hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
Larry reported already we lost Cagayan, but for the record...
Morning Air attack on 1st Kure Assault Division, at 79,89 (Cagayan)
Weather in hex: Thunderstorms
Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 18,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes
Enemy Zeroes fly at 26K, Bomb run @ 5K, USA lives to fight another day!
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Lucena at 79,79
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Raid spotted at 14 NM, estimated altitude 6,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 2
Allied aircraft
SOC-1 Seagull x 3
No Japanese losses
No Allied losses
Japanese Ships
xAP Hoten Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
Aircraft Attacking:
3 x SOC-1 Seagull bombing from 5000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 250 lb SAP Bomb
This goes on the "I'll deal with this later" file pile!
Ground combat at Baker Island (149,136)
Japanese Shock attack
Attacking force 1458 troops, 10 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 56
Defending force 0 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 0
Japanese adjusted assault: 40
Allied adjusted defense: 1
Japanese assault odds: 40 to 1 (fort level 0)
Japanese forces CAPTURE Baker Island !!!
Combat modifiers
Attacker: shock(+), leaders(-)
Assaulting units:
53rd Naval Guard Unit
Awright, is this the traditional feint by the Japs, or is this John's diabolical plan at work?
Ground combat at Malden Island (175,152)
Japanese Shock attack
Attacking force 1592 troops, 12 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 59
Defending force 0 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 0
Japanese adjusted assault: 44
Allied adjusted defense: 1
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Dec 25, 41
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Larry already posted this, but does anyone remember this was the SCTF that received an aerial attack two days ago? Me neither!
Night Time Surface Combat, near Canton Island at 153,143, Range 6,000 Yards
Japanese Ships
PB Tama Maru #5, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
PB Chokai Maru, Shell hits 2
PB Yahada Maru, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
PB Mikitade Maru, Shell hits 19, and is sunk
xAK Tatuharu Maru, Shell hits 21, and is sunk
xAK Terushima Maru, Shell hits 1
xAK Penang Maru, Shell hits 15, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Uji Maru, Shell hits 3, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
xAK Yosida Maru #3, Shell hits 2, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
xAK Fukoku Maru, Shell hits 9, and is sunk
Allied Ships
CA Minneapolis
CL Helena, Shell hits 1
DD Ralph Talbot
DD Cummings
DD Case
DD Conyngham
Japanese ground losses:
2165 casualties reported
Squads: 12 destroyed, 6 disabled
Non Combat: 99 destroyed, 65 disabled
Engineers: 16 destroyed, 7 disabled
Guns lost 20 (19 destroyed, 1 disabled)
Vehicles lost 8 (6 destroyed, 2 disabled)
Still subbin it! (wordplay on John's job...) Must get ASW forces built up here!
Sub attack near Channel Islands at 223,78
Japanese Ships
SS I-26
Allied Ships
DD Phelps
DD Farragut
Aleutians Express is coming "Right on down the line"
Amphibious Assault at Amchitka Island (158,52)
TF 202 troops unloading over beach at Amchitka Island, 158,52
Japanese ground losses:
34 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
17 troops of a SNLF Squad lost in surf during unload of Nanking Nav Gd /2
And WHERE might you be going, my little chick-a-dee?
Morning Air attack on TF, near Kure Island at 151,91
Weather in hex: Heavy cloud
Raid spotted at 10 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes
Allied aircraft
PBY-5 Catalina x 5
No Allied losses
Japanese Ships
CL Otonase
xAK Kyosei Maru
Aircraft Attacking:
5 x PBY-5 Catalina bombing from 5000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
I'll gladly take this kind of luck... I've never used the floats as bombers before, but I'm beginning to like it!
Morning Air attack on TF, near Iba at 78,73
Weather in hex: Heavy cloud
Raid spotted at 2 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 0 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-27b Nate x 3
Allied aircraft
SOC-1 Seagull x 2
No Japanese losses
No Allied losses
Japanese Ships
xAP Dairen Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
Aircraft Attacking:
2 x SOC-1 Seagull bombing from 5000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 250 lb SAP Bomb
The final, defiant, middle finger pointing, last moments...[:D]
Morning Air attack on 1st Kure Assault Division, at 79,89 (Cagayan)
Weather in hex: Heavy rain
Raid spotted at 19 NM, estimated altitude 18,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-27b Nate x 13
Allied aircraft
B-17D Fortress x 5
No Japanese losses
Allied aircraft losses
B-17D Fortress: 2 damaged
Aircraft Attacking:
2 x B-17D Fortress bombing from 15000 feet *
Ground Attack: 4 x 500 lb GP Bomb
Grocery Store is just not getting the goods... [:-]
Morning Air attack on TF, near Pago Pago at 152,154
Weather in hex: Overcast
Raid spotted at 16 NM, estimated altitude 18,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 28
D3A1 Val x 20
Japanese aircraft losses
D3A1 Val: 1 damaged
Allied Ships
xAK Bundaleer, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires
xAK Anna Odland, Bomb hits 2
xAK Iron King, Bomb hits 7, and is sunk
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Pago Pago at 152,154
Weather in hex: Partial cloud
Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 23
D3A1 Val x 40
Japanese aircraft losses
D3A1 Val: 1 damaged
Allied Ships
xAK Bundaleer, Bomb hits 5, and is sunk
xAK Anna Odland, Bomb hits 9, and is sunk
John has decided to be a real pest here, hopefully Catalina's are as good as SOC's in lucky bombing.
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Christmas Island at 174,141
Weather in hex: Light cloud
Raid spotted at 2 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 1 minutes
Allied aircraft
PBY-5 Catalina x 3
No Allied losses
Japanese Ships
DD Wakaba
With a name like... it has to be good! (nothing strategic - just had to post the name of this island!) [;)]
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Pukapuka at 155,155
Weather in hex: Severe storms
Raid spotted at 12 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 10
B5N2 Kate x 18
Japanese aircraft losses
B5N2 Kate: 1 damaged
Allied Ships
TK Herborg, Torpedo hits 6, and is sunk
Sorta thought they'd hold out longer...but looking at the combat results, I didn't give them much to work with.
Ground combat at Cagayan (79,89)
Japanese Deliberate attack
Attacking force 6735 troops, 69 guns, 3 vehicles, Assault Value = 245
Defending force 5702 troops, 24 guns, 62 vehicles, Assault Value = 140
Japanese adjusted assault: 163
Allied adjusted defense: 57
Japanese assault odds: 2 to 1 (fort level 0)
I didn't think it would be possible because of all the escorts in and around the Palembang area but I managed to sneak a sub into the
Palembang port and actually get a transport. Every little bit helps. That sub will probably be severely damaged before it can get out
of there now. It was still worth it.
Here's a contest that I thought was a tiny bit remarkable because so few Hurricanes held off so many Oscars. And I believe those were
early model Hurricanes at that. Or maybe it's the pilots that made the difference. Anyway, it was a tiny bit of good news in a world of
hurt.
The AVG squadrons are US Army planes so I thought Jim was handling them and he thought I was handling them because they were
in China you see. So I took them off training and put them on sweeps and voila` they got one. I'm thinking of moving at least one
squadron to Kumming to take care of the Nate threat there.
You guys are doing a good job in giving J3 some headaches. Don't worry about Midway. You can take it back when you want to. Midway is a long way from J3's supply bases. I agree with Zulu's comment above time to mine the river at Pbang.
I agree with Zulu's comment above time to mine the river at Pbang.
Add to the list the river hex just outside of Saigon. Use O19 & O20 to do both from a new home base of Singapore until that base falls. A third possible place would be Merak as John likes to go raiding into the Indian Ocean early in his games.
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