Ein Bisschen Grieg: Cannonfodder (Allies) vs Chris H (Japan)

[KenchiSulla]

SPAC

[KenchiSulla]

3rd of June, 1942

Burma



Ground combat at Myitkyina (64,42)

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 8806 troops, 94 guns, 197 vehicles, Assault Value = 358

Defending force 1074 troops, 12 guns, 192 vehicles, Assault Value = 102

Allied adjusted assault: 303

Japanese adjusted defense: 109

Allied assault odds: 2 to 1

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

Japanese ground losses:
Guns lost 5 (2 destroyed, 3 disabled)
Vehicles lost 95 (41 destroyed, 54 disabled)
Units retreated 1

Allied ground losses:
500 casualties reported
Squads: 4 destroyed, 72 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 15 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Vehicles lost 45 (5 destroyed, 40 disabled)

Defeated Japanese Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
7th Armoured Brigade
36th Indian Brigade
23rd Indian Brigade
5th New Chinese Corps

Defending units:
7th Ind.Tank Brigade

[BBfanboy]

Your plan for the Solomons looks good - providing you get Ndeni secured before he grabs it to slow you down.
A couple of years back Canoerebel did the Solomons route - methodical but so many islands that the Japanese could not guess where the next blow would come.
He took losses and damage, but the Japanese took more and KB was forced to try and contest the area. KB's attack split itself between the landings, bombardment forces and Allied CVs.
The Allies had no such problem and enjoyed some LBA fighter support too. One thing CR did was secure his flank on the NG side by taking some of the islands and Milne Bay - Buna.
The extended battle area kept IJN surface forces racing around trying to intervene. Lots of action - fun to watch but must have been a bear to organize all those invasions!

[KenchiSulla]

Thanks for the observation BBfanboy. Biggest issue for the first part of the offensive will be to assemble shipping that is capable of unloading a division quickly...

4th/5th of June, 1942
Burma

The Japanese army 55th Division shock attacks across the river north of Akyab and runs into the entrenched 7th Australian Division. Chris made a mistake there as the Japanese are severely damaged in the battle and counter attack.

Shock attack by the Japanese
Ground combat at 55,44 (near Akyab)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 15294 troops, 135 guns, 14 vehicles, Assault Value = 458

Defending force 14983 troops, 230 guns, 118 vehicles, Assault Value = 418

Japanese adjusted assault: 0

Allied adjusted defense: 1955

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 99

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

Japanese ground losses:
4821 casualties reported
Squads: 201 destroyed, 220 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 37 disabled
Engineers: 42 destroyed, 39 disabled
Guns lost 53 (1 destroyed, 52 disabled)

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

Assaulting units:
55th Division
21st Medium Field Artillery Battalion

Defending units:
7th Australian Division
Burma Corps
107th RAF Base Force

Counter attack
Ground combat at 55,44 (near Akyab)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 13506 troops, 222 guns, 109 vehicles, Assault Value = 417

Defending force 8909 troops, 133 guns, 14 vehicles, Assault Value = 5

Allied adjusted assault: 104

Japanese adjusted defense: 21

Allied assault odds: 4 to 1

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

Japanese ground losses:
3132 casualties reported
Squads: 108 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 143 destroyed, 20 disabled
Engineers: 7 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 37 (37 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Vehicles lost 5 (2 destroyed, 3 disabled)
Units retreated 2

Defeated Japanese Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
7th Australian Division
Burma Corps
107th RAF Base Force

[zuluhour]

The only place on any of your SitRep maps I don't like is the move at Myitkyina. I assume your defenses there are enough. Assuming he cannot cut you off there, all avenues are open to you. Perhaps a para drop on KiraKira and a small amphib. landing by Seabees could go unnoticed? I like to get in and build forts to (3) then a small pier (lv 1) before the opening a field. The 8th PRS should be operational now? to take a peek up the Solomons? I confess, I would love to be your position in March '43 compared to my own!

[KenchiSulla]

6th/13th of June, 1942
South Pacific

[KenchiSulla]

Burma



Sub attack near Koggala at 28,51

Japanese Ships
SS I-156, hits 4

Allied Ships
CV Formidable, Torpedo hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
BC Repulse
CA Exeter
CL Newcastle
CL Glasgow
DD Isaac Sweers
DD Jupiter
DD Tjerk Hiddes

Fuel storage explosion on CV Formidable
Ammo storage explosion on CV Formidable
SS I-156 launches 6 torpedoes at CV Formidable
DD Jupiter fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Tjerk Hiddes attacking submerged sub ....
DD Tjerk Hiddes fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Tjerk Hiddes fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Tjerk Hiddes fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Tjerk Hiddes attacking submerged sub ....
DD Tjerk Hiddes attacking submerged sub ....
DD Tjerk Hiddes loses contact with SS I-156
SS I-156 eludes ASW attack from DD Tjerk Hiddes
Escort abandons search for sub

P38E in action

The two P38 squadrons I have (Australia and India) make a couple of test sweeps against Port Moresby (2 sweeps) and Magwe (1 sweep).
At Port Moresby half a dozen Rufes and two dozen A6M2s are destroyed for the loss of 2 P38s (both ops losses) and at Magwe twenty Oscars and Tojo's are destroyed for the loss of two P38s.

That should give Chris something to think about. In addition, it might give me an edge over Magwe and the window I need to destroy the oil...

[BBfanboy]

I have never been able to purposely arrange to have a bombardment force do so in daylight - it seems to be a random
AI thing. Therefore I doubt the IJN will bombard Chittagong and stay in range of the torpedo bombers, but I agree you
have to try. He might send minelayers/minesweepers that you can catch.
Fingers crossed for Formidable - ABC will never forgive you if you get his Taranto raid carrier sunk!

[zuluhour]

I would consider "sneaking" a seaplane tender into the Reef Islands or Vanikoro. I have done such on occasion which has given me the extra warning for Luganville as well an interesting ASW platform. I also like to have a possible recon ability from there as the F4s are often needed for deeper missions. 

[KenchiSulla]

Thanks for following the AAR guys and your comments, appreciated!

14th / 24th of June, 1942
Burma

[KenchiSulla]

Pacific



21st of June
Morning Air attack on TF, near Luganville at 120,150

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid detected at 106 NM, estimated altitude 17,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 39 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 58
B5N1 Kate x 16
B5N2 Kate x 37
D3A1 Val x 31

Allied aircraft
P-39D Airacobra x 15
F4F-3A Wildcat x 10
F4F-3 Wildcat x 24

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 4 destroyed
D3A1 Val: 2 damaged

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

Allied Ships
PT-43
PT-37
PT-36, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
PT-45
PT-40
PT-46
PT-59
PT-48
PT-47
PT-38
PT-44
PT-39

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x D3A1 Val releasing from 1000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
13 x B5N2 Kate bombing from 11000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
5 x D3A1 Val releasing from 1000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
9 x B5N2 Kate bombing from 11000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
4 x D3A1 Val releasing from 1000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
9 x B5N2 Kate bombing from 11000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
10 x B5N1 Kate bombing from 11000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
6 x B5N1 Kate bombing from 11000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
6 x B5N2 Kate bombing from 11000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
7 x D3A1 Val releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
5 x D3A1 Val releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
4 x D3A1 Val releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb

CAP engaged:
VMF-111 with F4F-3 Wildcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(12 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 4 being recalled, 8 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 25000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 35 minutes
VMF-121 with F4F-3 Wildcat (4 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(12 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
4 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 8 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 20000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 12 minutes
VMF-221 with F4F-3A Wildcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(10 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 3 being recalled, 7 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 10000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 34 minutes
35th FG/41st FS with P-39D Airacobra (4 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(16 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
4 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 11 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 16 minutes

22nd of June
Afternoon Air attack on Luganville , at 120,150

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid detected at 83 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 30 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 50
B5N1 Kate x 24
B5N2 Kate x 45
D3A1 Val x 46

Allied aircraft
P-39D Airacobra x 19
P-40E Warhawk x 23
F4F-3 Wildcat x 28

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 3 destroyed
B5N1 Kate: 2 destroyed
B5N2 Kate: 5 destroyed
D3A1 Val: 6 destroyed, 9 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
P-39D Airacobra: 2 damaged
P-40E Warhawk: 1 destroyed

Allied ground losses:
10 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Airbase hits 9
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 33

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x D3A1 Val releasing from 2000'
Airfield Attack: 1 x 250 kg GP Bomb
15 x B5N2 Kate bombing from 11000 feet
Airfield Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb
6 x D3A1 Val releasing from 2000'
Airfield Attack: 1 x 250 kg GP Bomb
11 x B5N2 Kate bombing from 11000 feet
Airfield Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb
5 x D3A1 Val releasing from 2000'
Airfield Attack: 1 x 250 kg GP Bomb
12 x B5N2 Kate bombing from 11000 feet
Airfield Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb
12 x B5N1 Kate bombing from 11000 feet
Airfield Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb
9 x B5N1 Kate bombing from 11000 feet
Airfield Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb
2 x D3A1 Val releasing from 3000'
Airfield Attack: 1 x 250 kg GP Bomb
5 x D3A1 Val releasing from 3000'
Airfield Attack: 1 x 250 kg GP Bomb
4 x D3A1 Val releasing from 1000'
Airfield Attack: 1 x 250 kg GP Bomb
8 x D3A1 Val releasing from 1000'
Airfield Attack: 1 x 250 kg GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
VMF-111 with F4F-3 Wildcat (0 airborne, 6 on standby, 4 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 3 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 25000 , scrambling fighters between 11000 and 18000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 34 minutes
4 planes vectored on to bombers
VMF-121 with F4F-3 Wildcat (0 airborne, 7 on standby, 5 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 3 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters between 13000 and 20000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 32 minutes
18th FG/19th FS with P-40E Warhawk (4 airborne, 10 on standby, 8 scrambling)
4 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 10000 and 16000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 27 minutes
35th FG/41st FS with P-39D Airacobra (0 airborne, 9 on standby, 6 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 4 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 10000 and 16000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 27 minutes
4 planes vectored on to bombers

23rd of June
Morning Air attack on Luganville , at 120,150

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid detected at 107 NM, estimated altitude 26,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 35 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 44

Allied aircraft
P-39D Airacobra x 10
P-40E Warhawk x 3
F4F-3 Wildcat x 22

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 2 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-39D Airacobra: 3 destroyed
F4F-3 Wildcat: 3 destroyed

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x A6M2 Zero sweeping at 20000 feet
4 x A6M2 Zero sweeping at 20000 feet
5 x A6M2 Zero sweeping at 20000 feet
1 x A6M2 Zero sweeping at 20000 feet
1 x A6M2 Zero sweeping at 20000 feet
7 x A6M2 Zero sweeping at 20000 feet

CAP engaged:
VMF-111 with F4F-3 Wildcat (0 airborne, 6 on standby, 4 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 2 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 25000 , scrambling fighters between 21000 and 27000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 28 minutes
VMF-121 with F4F-3 Wildcat (0 airborne, 7 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 3 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters between 21000 and 22000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 47 minutes
18th FG/19th FS with P-40E Warhawk (0 airborne, 2 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters to 15000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 22 minutes
35th FG/41st FS with P-39D Airacobra (3 airborne, 7 on standby, 0 scrambling)
3 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 10000 and 19000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 22 minutes

2nd strike
Morning Air attack on TF, near Luganville at 120,150

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid detected at 87 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 37 minutes

Japanese aircraft
B5N1 Kate x 10
B5N2 Kate x 37
D3A1 Val x 9

Allied aircraft
P-39D Airacobra x 2
P-40E Warhawk x 1
F4F-3 Wildcat x 11

Japanese aircraft losses
B5N1 Kate: 1 damaged
B5N2 Kate: 2 destroyed, 2 damaged
D3A1 Val: 1 damaged

No Allied losses

Allied Ships
PT-48
PT-46
PT-47
PT-44
PT-39
PT-45
PT-59
PT-38

Aircraft Attacking:
11 x B5N2 Kate bombing from 11000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
8 x D3A1 Val releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
8 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 45cm Type 91 Torp
9 x B5N2 Kate bombing from 11000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
10 x B5N1 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 45cm Type 91 Torp
6 x B5N2 Kate bombing from 11000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
1 x D3A1 Val releasing from 1000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb

CAP engaged:
VMF-111 with F4F-3 Wildcat (3 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(6 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
3 plane(s) intercepting now.
1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 2 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 25000 , scrambling fighters between 25060 and 29000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 4 minutes
VMF-121 with F4F-3 Wildcat (4 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(5 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
4 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 20000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 7 minutes
18th FG/19th FS with P-40E Warhawk (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(1 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 1 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 49 minutes
35th FG/41st FS with P-39D Airacobra (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(2 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 10000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 7 minutes

[BBfanboy]

Using Japan's most important strategic asset to attack PT boats! Gotta love it!
While the losses of KB aircraft are heartening, the revelation of KB's position is most damaging to Japan.
I am sure you have taken advantage to move stuff in areas away from this threat.

[KenchiSulla]

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

Using Japan's most important strategic asset to attack PT boats! Gotta love it!
While the losses of KB aircraft are heartening, the revelation of KB's position is most damaging to Japan.
I am sure you have taken advantage to move stuff in areas away from this threat.

I am fairly confident about the deployment of my search assets. It does give me a bit more space to run reinforcement and cargo ships around but I tend to build in safety corridors anyway.. There were B5N1s flying with the raid so my bet is he has a carrier or two in upgrade or reserve...

[BBfanboy]

Didn't notice the B5N1 version of the Kate. At game start, some of Japan's CVLs/CVEs have those.
That may imply that it was not the CVs attacking. Did the combat animation say which carrier groups were involved?

[KenchiSulla]

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

Didn't notice the B5N1 version of the Kate. At game start, some of Japan's CVLs/CVEs have those.
That may imply that it was not the CVs attacking. Did the combat animation say which carrier groups were involved?

No but the amount of fighters and bombers detected suggest at least 4 fleet carriers and perhaps a CVL or two.. What is interesting is the fact that Chris runs KB around without a dedicated SAG or ASW group..

[KenchiSulla]

Allied FLAK in DBB:C

[KenchiSulla]

Japanese FLAK in DBB:C (probably more to do with lack of use of AA)

[BBfanboy]

What do you have in mind when you say lack of use of AA?

- That he hasn't moved AA units to where the action is?
- That he hasn't provided enough supply to bases that have AA?
- That you have not been using your air force over his most defended bases?

[KenchiSulla]

I would say a combination of option 1, 3 and option 4 (Japanese aggression). Chris is bit careless with his aircraft, which explains at least a part of his losses. This is a mixed blessing as I believe he is willing to risk large amounts of aircraft in his defense.

[KenchiSulla]

25th of June / 4th of July, 1942
South Pacific





Naval bombardment of Luganville at 120,150

Allied aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft losses
P-40E Warhawk: 53 damaged
P-40E Warhawk: 15 destroyed on ground
F4F-3A Wildcat: 40 damaged
F4F-3A Wildcat: 3 destroyed on ground
PBY-5 Catalina: 13 damaged
PBY-5 Catalina: 3 destroyed on ground
P-38E Lightning: 86 damaged
P-38E Lightning: 9 destroyed on ground
F4F-3 Wildcat: 35 damaged
F4F-3 Wildcat: 5 destroyed on ground
P-39D Airacobra: 41 damaged
P-39D Airacobra: 7 destroyed on ground

Japanese Ships
BB Yamashiro
BB Fuso
BB Mutsu
CA Kinugasa
CL Natori

Allied ground losses:
690 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 30 destroyed, 67 disabled
Engineers: 12 destroyed, 17 disabled
Guns lost 20 (6 destroyed, 14 disabled)
Vehicles lost 24 (4 destroyed, 20 disabled)

Airbase hits 44
Airbase supply hits 6
Runway hits 78

BB Yamashiro firing at Luganville
BB Fuso firing at Luganville
BB Mutsu firing at Luganville
CA Kinugasa firing at Luganville
CL Natori firing at Luganville