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

[witpqs]

1944 January 17

The Empire captured:


The Allies captured:


There were Imperial amphibious operations at:


There were Allied amphibious operations at:


Our subs got an xAP.

Damaging air attacks on Chungking. 3,658 AV there.

The IJA infiltration regiment-size unit has made it to Taung Gyi, where the first reinforcement unit has arrived. Whether the next reinforcement arrives before a full on attack remains to be seen. The B-24 groups will strike the infiltrator tomorrow, just in case. The air attacks on the 40th Division in the battle hex near Toungoo were spread out among the various Imperial units in the hex, and effect was reduced as expected. A convoy of 4x TK and 1x xAK has been spotted at Tavoy. The Repulse TF at Ramree Island has finally been spotted.

Allied bombardments in the Pacific.

Allied Ships Bombarding Mili
Allied Ships Bombarding Saipan
Allied Ships Bombarding Saipan
Allied Ships Bombarding Peleliu
Allied Ships Bombarding Saipan
Allied Ships Bombarding Yap
Allied Ships Bombarding Saipan
Allied Ships Bombarding Pagan
Allied Ships Bombarding Mili
Allied Ships Bombarding Saipan
Allied Ships Bombarding Tinian

The Mili invasion goes in tomorrow. The large convoy for Saipan is now at Kavieng and will wait two days while the remaining two Rgts upgrade squads. After three days from now the Marine division for Saipan will begin upgrading its Rgt's squads, turning each squad into a fully operational battlestation.

Here is a look at the situation in Burma and China.

[witpqs]

1944 January 18

The Empire captured:


The Allies captured:
Mili

There were Imperial amphibious operations at:


There were Allied amphibious operations at:
Mili

Our subs got an E and a TK.

The air attacks on Chungking took down dozens of combat squads, perhaps over a hundred. 3,594 AV there now, and another enemy unit is approaching from the west.

The Imperial attack on Taung Gyi was soundly defeated. The next reinforcement unit arrived (albeit in strat mode), the B-24J groups struck the attackers' jump-off points, and the defenses were probably strong enough to hold in any event even with low experience-low morale troops.

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

Ground combat at Taung Gyi (59,48)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 3968 troops, 34 guns, 14 vehicles, Assault Value = 123

Defending force 3419 troops, 28 guns, 124 vehicles, Assault Value = 115

Japanese adjusted assault: 22

Allied adjusted defense: 208

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 9 (fort level 3)

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), forts(+), op mode(-), preparation(-)
experience(-)
Attacker: disruption(-)

Japanese ground losses:
323 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 24 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled

Allied ground losses:
15 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Assaulting units:
38th/A Division

Defending units:
16th Light Cavalry Regiment
2/17 Dogra Battalion
2/3 AIF Pioneer Battalion
175 Wing Base Force


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

The 38th/A Division is now fleeing back the way it came. A Bn is trying to cut them off, but even with air strikes impeding the withdrawal that will be difficult. The disruption minus on the attacker does give hope, as perhaps the air strikes will be enough.

There is a lot of IJ convoy activity in the Andaman Sea, to and from Tavoy, both merchants and tankers.

Allied bombardments in the Pacific.

Allied Ships Bombarding Mili
Allied Ships Bombarding Saipan
Allied Ships Bombarding Saipan
Allied Ships Bombarding Peleliu
Allied Ships Bombarding Saipan
Allied Ships Bombarding Yap
Allied Ships Bombarding Saipan
Allied Ships Bombarding Pagan
Allied Ships Bombarding Mili
Allied Ships Bombarding Saipan
Allied Ships Bombarding Tinian

Our forces captured Mili easily.

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

Ground combat at Mili (136,121)

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 1629 troops, 4 guns, 12 vehicles, Assault Value = 63

Defending force 664 troops, 31 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 9

Allied adjusted assault: 26

Japanese adjusted defense: 1

Allied assault odds: 26 to 1 (fort level 4)

Allied forces CAPTURE Mili !!!

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

Japanese ground losses:
573 casualties reported
Squads: 31 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 15 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 5 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 22 (22 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units destroyed 1

Allied ground losses:
195 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 10 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 12 disabled

Assaulting units:
3rd Marine Raider Battalion
110th Cmbt Engineer Battalion

Defending units:
6th Indpt SNLF Coy
Mili Naval Fortress


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

Mili Naval Fortress Wiped Out at Mili by attrition!!!

One more USA Rgt to upgrade at Kavieng, then loading for Saipan begins. Guam port is now size 4.

Here is a look at Burma and China again.

[princep01]

Admiral Wa does seem to be focusing on Burma and southern China. That at least cracks open the door to a blitz thru the Mariannas/Iwo Jima/Okinawa. Nice. Those B-29s are going to have a field day and if Okinawa can be captured, even the other 4E bombers might get in the act sooner than usual. Good luck with your movements in the Mariannas. The more focus (air, land and sea) Admiral Wa lends to the Burma ops, the better. Hold him by the nose there and kick him (hard) in the posterior (Mariannas/Iwo/Okinawa).

Are you readying an invasion of Iwo as soon as you attain your objectives in the Mariannas?

[witpqs]

1944 January 19

The Empire captured:


The Allies captured:


There were Imperial amphibious operations at:


There were Allied amphibious operations at:


Our subs came up empty.

Chungking held against an Imperial attack, and seemed to do rather well, presuming that most IJA vehicles disabled and destroyed were fighting vehicles. 3,478 AV there now.

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

Ground combat at Chungking (76,45)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 8200 troops, 190 guns, 790 vehicles, Assault Value = 1930

Defending force 225303 troops, 103 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 3703

Japanese adjusted assault: 290

Allied adjusted defense: 2079

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 7 (fort level 5)

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

Japanese ground losses:
1032 casualties reported
Squads: 17 destroyed, 13 disabled
Non Combat: 4 destroyed, 130 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 130 (76 destroyed, 54 disabled)
Vehicles lost 193 (12 destroyed, 181 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
2106 casualties reported
Squads: 96 destroyed, 62 disabled
Non Combat: 4 destroyed, 4 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Assaulting units:
104th/C Division
5th Tank Regiment
27th/B Division
9th Tank Regiment
17th Ind.Mixed Brigade
12th Tank Regiment
14th Tank Regiment
39th Ind Engineer Regiment
17th Tank Regiment
13th Tank Regiment
15th Tank Regiment
13th/A Division
13th RGC Temp. Division
35th Division
19th Ind.Mixed Brigade
6th Tank Regiment
51st Engineer Regiment
31st Engineer Regiment
11th Tank Regiment
15th RGC Temp. Division
27th/C Division
10th Tank Regiment
3rd Mobile Infantry Regiment
13th/C Division
9th Mongol/A Cavalry Division
15th Ind.Medium Field Artillery Regiment
2nd Mortar Battalion
2nd Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
21st Mortar Battalion
31st Mountain Gun Regiment

Defending units:
29th Chinese Corps
96th Chinese Corps
89th Chinese Corps
18th Chinese Corps
23rd Chinese Corps
1st Chinese Corps
72nd Chinese Corps
85th Chinese Corps
10th Chinese Corps
13th Chinese Corps
28th Chinese Corps
34th Chinese Corps
36th Chinese Corps
43rd Chinese Corps
93rd Chinese Corps
88th Chinese Corps
71st Chinese Corps
92nd Chinese Corps
87th Chinese Corps
45th Chinese Corps
3rd Chinese Cavalry Corps
84th Chinese Corps
129th Red Chinese Division
48th Chinese Corps
98th Chinese Corps
94th Chinese Corps
9th Separate Brigade
26th Chinese Corps
83rd Chinese Corps
8th Prov Chinese Corps
55th Chinese Corps
33rd Chinese Corps
11th Chinese Corps
77th Chinese Corps
115th Red Chinese Division
44th Chinese Corps
22nd Chinese Corps
27th Chinese Corps
47th Chinese Corps
9th Chinese Corps
39th Chinese Corps
1st New Chinese Corps
81st Chinese Corps
2nd Chinese Cavalry Corps
61st Chinese Corps
57th Chinese Corps
65th Chinese Corps
19th Chinese Corps
40th Chinese Corps
59th Chinese Corps
69th Chinese Corps
8th Chinese Corps
38th Chinese Corps
4th Chinese Cavalry Corps
2nd Chinese Corps
51st Chinese Corps
42nd Chinese Corps
82nd Chinese Corps
41st Chinese Corps
1st Chinese Cavalry Corps
60th Chinese Corps
52nd Chinese Corps
66th Chinese Corps Corps
4th Chinese/A Corps
2nd Chinese Base Force
15th Chinese Base Force
China Command
40th Group Army
79th Chinese Corps
17th Chinese Corps
1st Artillery Regiment
4th Heavy Mortar Regiment
3rd Chinese Base Force
10th Chinese Base Force
CAF HQ
5th War Area
22nd Group Army
7th Artillery Regiment
11th Construction Regiment
3rd Heavy Mortar Regiment
15th Group Army
49th AA Regiment
64th Chinese Corps
38th Group Army
3rd Group Army
80th Chinese Corps
7th Group Army
33rd Group Army
4th Group Army
56th AT Gun Regiment
30th Group Army
36th Group Army
1st Chinese Base Force
2nd War Area
10th Group Army
4th Chinese Base Force
37th Group Army
14th Construction Regiment
8th Construction Regiment
39th Group Army
12th Chinese Base Force
25th Group Army
5th Chinese Base Force
14th Group Army
17th Group Army
8th Chinese Base Force
13th Group Army
41st AA Regiment
17th Construction Regiment
8th War Area
Central Reserve
1st War Area
8th Group Army
32nd Group Army
6th Chinese Base Force
15th Chinese Corps
9th Chinese Base Force
Red Chinese Army
6th Construction Regiment
34th Group Army
12th Group Army
18th Group Army
7th Chinese Base Force
24th Group Army
Jingcha War Area
19th Chinese Base Force
7th Construction Regiment
57th AT Gun Regiment
31st Group Army
20th Chinese Base Force


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

Looking at the IJ adjusted AV, this was certainly an armor-only assault, but we'll take any little victories that we can get.

Continued Imperial convoy activity in the Andaman Sea.

Allied bombardments in the Pacific.

Allied Ships Bombarding Saipan
Allied Ships Bombarding Saipan
Allied Ships Bombarding Peleliu
Allied Ships Bombarding Saipan
Allied Ships Bombarding Yap
Allied Ships Bombarding Saipan
Allied Ships Bombarding Pagan
Allied Ships Bombarding Saipan
Allied Ships Bombarding Tinian

There is lots of IJN convoy activity seen NE of the Bonins. Four or five different convoys were sighted by subs during the night, but are just beyond aerial search range. The Saipan invasion forces at Kavieng now begin loading. Those at Ponape will wait one day to begin loading (they are closer so will load a bit later to incur less fatigue and disruption). Meanwhile, those at Rota will wait several days. It will take three or four days for the USA and USMC divisions to upgrade squads (not until after tomorrow will there be enough USMC squads in the pool). It also looks as though Guam port will be maxed out before the Saipan invasion, so those engineer units will stand by for immediate transfer once Saipan is captured and cleared sufficiently.

Here is the overview map.

[witpqs]

Here is a look at roughly the last month data on ships sunk. You can see what a role Allied subs are playing.

[witpqs]

ORIGINAL: princep01

Admiral Wa does seem to be focusing on Burma and southern China. That at least cracks open the door to a blitz thru the Mariannas/Iwo Jima/Okinawa. Nice. Those B-29s are going to have a field day and if Okinawa can be captured, even the other 4E bombers might get in the act sooner than usual. Good luck with your movements in the Mariannas. The more focus (air, land and sea) Admiral Wa lends to the Burma ops, the better. Hold him by the nose there and kick him (hard) in the posterior (Mariannas/Iwo/Okinawa).

Are you readying an invasion of Iwo as soon as you attain your objectives in the Mariannas?

Yes. The only snag I'm running into is that two of the USMC divisions have been slow in taking replacements. So I moved PacAO (Nimitz) in with them and brought in many tens of thousands more supply. Most forces are roughly half prepared for Iwo Jima, so we'll see how much they fill out by the time things are ready.

After Saipan, but before Iwo Jima (while ground units are still getting ready for Iwo) will be Yap, Agrahan (most northern Marianas Island for deeper naval search), Marcus, and Wake. There might be another small one in there that slips my mind at the moment.

Forces are already preparing for Daito Shoto (to support a move on Okinawa) and Naha (on Okinawa), but those are minor, mostly HQ and such preparations. I have no idea what to expect on Daito Shoto but I suspect DAW HQ will defend it stoutly. Saipan forces will be the first (major, experienced forces) to prepare for Okinawa. Tinian will be handled as a back-fill operation similar to but not on as small a budget as the Marshall Islands campaign. I don't mind if Tinian takes longer as long as most of the main combat forces keep moving forward.

Iwo Jima itself will be tough because it is a size 2 island and therefore will trigger a shock attack upon landing. Stacking limit is 25,000 and (if I can manage it) I am aiming to go in at perhaps 3 times that on D-Day, then pull out the most battered units to get down to something more manageable like 2.5x or 2x. A full 3x will play much more hell with disruption and fatigue in addition to burning supply. I've seen some forum comments about Iwo Jima in the recent past where it was way worse than the invader anticipated. [X(]

[witpqs]

Some words of wisdom a friend sent me. [:D]

1. Do not walk behind me, for I may not lead. Do not walk ahead of me, for I may not follow. Do not walk beside me for the path is narrow. In fact, just leave me the Hell alone.

2. Sex is like air. It's not that important unless you aren't getting any.

3. No one is listening until you fart.

4. Always remember you're unique. Just like everyone else.

5. Never test the depth of the water with both feet.

6. If you think nobody cares whether you're alive or dead, try missing a couple of payments.

7. Before you criticize someone, you should walk a mile in their shoes. That way, when you criticize them, you're a mile away and you have their shoes.

8. If at first you don't succeed, skydiving is not for you.

9. Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day. Teach him how to fish, and he will sit in a boat and drink beer all day.

10. If you lend someone $20 and never see that person again, it was probably well worth it.

11. If you tell the truth, you don't have to remember anything.

12. Some days you are the dog, some days you are the tree.

13. Don't worry, it only seems kinky the first time.

14. Good judgment comes from bad experience ... and most of that comes from bad judgment.

15. A closed mouth gathers no foot.

16. There are two excellent theories for arguing with women. Neither one works.

17. Generally speaking, you aren't learning much when your lips are moving.

18. Experience is something you don't get until just after you need it.

19. We are born naked, wet and hungry, and get slapped on our ass... then things just keep getting worse.

20. Never, under any circumstances, take a sleeping pill and a laxative on the same night.

[traskott]

[&o][&o][&o][&o]

Good points. Specially 15 and 18...

[princep01]

Question for you. A couple of US CVs make port at Townsville (7 PT) on 1/1/43. A message comes up saying one of the SBD units on both Yorktown and Saratoga are "resizing". The SBD groups of 18 AC disappear. I expected to find them in Townsville on the airbase or on the CVs. I cannot find those two SBD groups. Where did they go? Where should I expect to find them? How long will they be gone? Is there anything I can do to control/stop this resizing issue?

These carriers are going to be needed soon to support a landing. Is there anything I can do to speed up this "resizing" activity?

[witpqs]

ORIGINAL: princep01

Question for you. A couple of US CVs make port at Townsville (7 PT) on 1/1/43. A message comes up saying one of the SBD units on both Yorktown and Saratoga are "resizing". The SBD groups of 18 AC disappear. I expected to find them in Townsville on the airbase or on the CVs. I cannot find those two SBD groups. Where did they go? Where should I expect to find them? How long will they be gone? Is there anything I can do to control/stop this resizing issue?

These carriers are going to be needed soon to support a landing. Is there anything I can do to speed up this "resizing" activity?

IIRC what should have happened is that (on each carrier) one of the 18-plane SBD groups disbands, and the other SBD group expands to 36 planes. The disappearing group should go into the expanding group.

Is that not what happened?

[princep01]

No, sadly that is not what happened. There is a note next to each of the surviving SBD groups saying, "resize to 36 March 1943". This is 1/2/43.

Do I need to get those CVs into a big port with a command HQ. Townsville is a 7 port and it has 5th Air Force HQ (one of those HQs with an "a"). I went ahead and expanded the pilots in the surviving SBD to 36 to see if that does something. It might take a few days for the surviving SBD group to go to 36, but this is a shock as the CVs have lost about 40% of their effect offensive ability. I will not commit them to battle in that state.

This is one of those "automatically" occurring incidences that drive players nuts. Instead of taking the command decision from the player's hands, a message should appear saying, "SBD group so-in-so is eligible to resize, thus leaving the command decision in the hands of the player rather than forcing historical occurrences on us. Quite galling.

[witpqs]

When did you start that game? It might be a scenario issue, where the date of the withdrawal and the re-size are not synchronized.

No, adding pilots won't do it. I think it is a size 7 airfield (at the port) that you might need. But, yes, get them to port and see if you can induce them to re-size. You can try clicking on the re-size text.

[witpqs]

1944 January 20

The Empire captured:


The Allies captured:


There were Imperial amphibious operations at:


There were Allied amphibious operations at:


Our subs got an xAK.

Full attack at Chungking!

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

Ground combat at Chungking (76,45)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 61040 troops, 521 guns, 818 vehicles, Assault Value = 1836

Defending force 222126 troops, 101 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 3546

Japanese adjusted assault: 448

Allied adjusted defense: 1571

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 3 (fort level 5)

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

Japanese ground losses:
9057 casualties reported
Squads: 188 destroyed, 959 disabled
Non Combat: 16 destroyed, 302 disabled
Engineers: 25 destroyed, 172 disabled
Guns lost 86 (29 destroyed, 57 disabled)
Vehicles lost 325 (35 destroyed, 290 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
7932 casualties reported
Squads: 277 destroyed, 228 disabled
Non Combat: 137 destroyed, 168 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Guns lost 14 (9 destroyed, 5 disabled)
Units destroyed 4

Assaulting units:
5th Tank Regiment
6th Tank Regiment
17th Ind.Mixed Brigade
27th/B Division
15th Tank Regiment
13th/C Division
9th Tank Regiment
14th Tank Regiment
10th Tank Regiment
27th/C Division
11th Tank Regiment
12th Tank Regiment
3rd Mobile Infantry Regiment
39th Ind Engineer Regiment
13th Tank Regiment
104th/C Division
17th Tank Regiment
13th RGC Temp. Division
19th Ind.Mixed Brigade
13th/A Division
15th RGC Temp. Division
51st Engineer Regiment
35th Division
31st Engineer Regiment
9th Mongol/A Cavalry Division
15th Ind.Medium Field Artillery Regiment
2nd Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
2nd Mortar Battalion
21st Mortar Battalion
31st Mountain Gun Regiment

Defending units:
2nd Chinese Cavalry Corps
47th Chinese Corps
34th Chinese Corps
9th Separate Brigade
61st Chinese Corps
1st Chinese Cavalry Corps
27th Chinese Corps
44th Chinese Corps
28th Chinese Corps
129th Red Chinese Division
72nd Chinese Corps
82nd Chinese Corps
57th Chinese Corps
43rd Chinese Corps
17th Chinese Corps
2nd Chinese Corps
36th Chinese Corps
38th Chinese Corps
22nd Chinese Corps
48th Chinese Corps
9th Chinese Corps
93rd Chinese Corps
69th Chinese Corps
4th Chinese Cavalry Corps
81st Chinese Corps
18th Chinese Corps
60th Chinese Corps
84th Chinese Corps
26th Chinese Corps
19th Chinese Corps
41st Chinese Corps
42nd Chinese Corps
8th Prov Chinese Corps
13th Chinese Corps
33rd Chinese Corps
39th Chinese Corps
11th Chinese Corps
85th Chinese Corps
115th Red Chinese Division
1st Chinese Corps
71st Chinese Corps
89th Chinese Corps
87th Chinese Corps
8th Chinese Corps
52nd Chinese Corps
94th Chinese Corps
65th Chinese Corps
88th Chinese Corps
55th Chinese Corps
77th Chinese Corps
51st Chinese Corps
66th Chinese Corps Corps
1st New Chinese Corps
23rd Chinese Corps
3rd Chinese Cavalry Corps
45th Chinese Corps
59th Chinese Corps
96th Chinese Corps
40th Chinese Corps
92nd Chinese Corps
10th Chinese Corps
83rd Chinese Corps
98th Chinese Corps
4th Chinese/A Corps
79th Chinese Corps
10th Group Army
41st AA Regiment
80th Chinese Corps
3rd Heavy Mortar Regiment
1st Artillery Regiment
8th War Area
8th Construction Regiment
24th Group Army
CAF HQ
18th Group Army
7th Group Army
10th Chinese Base Force
17th Construction Regiment
Jingcha War Area
40th Group Army
12th Group Army
8th Group Army
25th Group Army
22nd Group Army
38th Group Army
2nd War Area
7th Chinese Base Force
1st War Area
5th Chinese Base Force
6th Construction Regiment
29th Chinese Corps
Red Chinese Army
49th AA Regiment
31st Group Army
19th Chinese Base Force
33rd Group Army
11th Construction Regiment
64th Chinese Corps
9th Chinese Base Force
Central Reserve
15th Chinese Base Force
5th War Area
57th AT Gun Regiment
3rd Chinese Base Force
4th Group Army
4th Heavy Mortar Regiment
6th Chinese Base Force
36th Group Army
15th Chinese Corps
7th Artillery Regiment
17th Group Army
1st Chinese Base Force
32nd Group Army
China Command
34th Group Army
7th Construction Regiment
13th Group Army
2nd Chinese Base Force
3rd Group Army
39th Group Army
4th Chinese Base Force
8th Chinese Base Force
15th Group Army
56th AT Gun Regiment
37th Group Army
12th Chinese Base Force
14th Group Army
30th Group Army
14th Construction Regiment
20th Chinese Base Force


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

We call this a victory, even though our losses cannot be made up. More than half the enemy force was disabled. We have 3,119 AV at Chungking now and fortifications remain at level 5. Is there hope, then?

More good news in China. As we have pulled out units and spread out others (to reduce over stacking penalties), we finally have all LCU at Tsuyung with full supply. This has allowed some of the damaged aircraft in the fragments of four squadrons there to start becoming operational. While all four squadrons have more aircraft in Tsuyung, several aircraft were transferred out to their respective groups today.

The Emperor's winged warriors spread their curse through the skies of Burma, taking down many Allied braves. They were both protecting the regiment withdrawing from Taung Gyi and bent on recon of the Americal Division between Bassein and Prome. See today's air losses below. The P-47D2 group from Paoshan has replaced the shattered groups at Taung Gyi and will run CAP at full altitude for a couple of days. Pass the oxygen, boys!

Allied bombardments in the Pacific.

Allied Ships Bombarding Jaluit
Allied Ships Bombarding Saipan
Allied Ships Bombarding Saipan
Allied Ships Bombarding Peleliu
Allied Ships Bombarding Saipan
Allied Ships Bombarding Yap
Allied Ships Bombarding Saipan
Allied Ships Bombarding Pagan
Allied Ships Bombarding Jaluit
Allied Ships Bombarding Saipan
Allied Ships Bombarding Tinian

The large Saipan convoy has completed loading at Kavieng and now sails for Rota. The convoy at Ponape will begin loading then take on additional supply at Truk.

The next target in the Marshall Islands is Maloelap, which will be assaulted via sea by the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd USMC Parachute Bns. Dive bombers from Wotje and medium bombers from Makin and Tarawa will begin hitting troops there tomorrow. An AKE will meet the two (small) bombardment TFs at Mili, with naval bombardments beginning in two days. So far recon shows Maloelap with 3 units, 3,320 troops, and 8 guns. The Marines will be outnumbered!

Here are today's air losses. We had 13 pilots KIA and 23 WIA, with only 1 ace WIA. Even so, we are out of trained British fighter pilots. Oddly, I'm having a similar problem (not as severe) with USN fighter pilots because I've been pulling the untrained fighter pilots off of new carriers and putting fully trained pilots on board.

[witpqs]

1944 January 21

The Empire captured:


The Allies captured:


There were Imperial amphibious operations at:


There were Allied amphibious operations at:


Our subs came up empty.

Heavy and damaging air attacks on Chungking, but no ground assault. 3,084 AV there now. In a press release published in WaTimes, DAW HQ officials stated that yesterday's attack achieved its purpose, but withheld details. There are now only 5 aircraft remaining at Tsuyung, further progress!

Imperial aerialists (say that three times fast) decided that today was the day to fertilize the countryside around Taung Gyi. 27 to 2 versus the P-47 group, see the air losses below.

Allied bombardments in the Pacific.

Allied Ships Bombarding Saipan
Allied Ships Bombarding Saipan
Allied Ships Bombarding Peleliu
Allied Ships Bombarding Saipan
Allied Ships Bombarding Yap
Allied Ships Bombarding Saipan
Allied Ships Bombarding Pagan
Allied Ships Bombarding Saipan
Allied Ships Bombarding Tinian

The first Rgt of the USMC div and the second Rgt of the USA div at Rota upgraded infantry squads. In three or four days the large convoy from Kavieng will arrive at Rota, and the troops on Rota will begin loading to join up with them. The convoy from Ponape will meet them on station off Saipan.

Here are today's air losses.

[witpqs]

1944 January 22

The Empire captured:


The Allies captured:
Taberfane

There were Imperial amphibious operations at:


There were Allied amphibious operations at:


Our subs got an xAK.

3,145 AV at Chungking today. More aircraft come ready and pull out of Tsuyung, now only two P-38 remain. An enemy unit has made it to Tsuyung from the mountains to the east. The formation appears to be a Rgt, but a recon bombardment will take place tomorrow to see for certain. The base is now accumulating supply, so even without that USA ID any attack we mount should be strong.

Possible IJN raiders in the IO - see map below. the Bn we have rushing to cut off the infiltrating Rgt at Taung Gyi was hit from the air today to slow them down.

Allied bombardments in the Pacific.

Allied Ships Bombarding Maloelap
Allied Ships Bombarding Saipan
Allied Ships Bombarding Saipan
Allied Ships Bombarding Peleliu
Allied Ships Bombarding Saipan
Allied Ships Bombarding Yap
Allied Ships Bombarding Saipan
Allied Ships Bombarding Pagan
Allied Ships Bombarding Maloelap
Allied Ships Bombarding Saipan
Allied Ships Bombarding Tinian

Maloelap now shows 4 units, 5,150 troops, and 10 guns. Mmm. More bombardment TFs and more bombers are being moved into the area. The USMC para units only have a little over a month before withdrawal.

6th USA ID has finished upgrading infantry squads at Rota, one more day to go for 2nd USMC Div. The loading at Ponape messed up some, leaving support elements of a USA ID behind. They will unload at Truk while other ships rush to pick up the stragglers, then the loading will be re-done at Truk.

There is an Imperial convoy at Haha Jima.

Here is that IJN contact in the Indian Ocean.

[princep01]

Thanks for your thoughts on the resizing issue. It might be some kind of sync issue as the dive bomber units (one on each CV) withdrew in January, but won't resize until March.

The scenario is stock scenario 1. Nothing unusual. PDU on. We made sure and got all the settings identical. No other sync problems have been noticed. Clinking on the resize date does nothing. The SBD pool did increase by the expected number.

Oh well, I have CV trained fighter I can put on the decks to cover other missions over those two months, but the offensive capability has been significantly diminished as I have no nearby CV trained DBs to put on the decks.

Thanks again for the thoughts.

[witpqs]

Then just use CV capable DB groups. Make your CV trained groups do the daily search, and leave the DB capable groups on attack but no search or ASW so as to minimize ops losses.

[witpqs]

1944 January 23

The Empire captured:


The Allies captured:


There were Imperial amphibious operations at:


There were Allied amphibious operations at:


Our subs got two xAK.

3,142 AV at Chungking, after the usual air attacks today. Our recon bombardment showed the invaders' strength at Tsuyung.

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

Ground combat at Tsuyung (68,46)

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 224 troops, 12 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 572

Defending force 2784 troops, 27 guns, 1 vehicles, Assault Value = 86

Assaulting units:
7th Australian Division
200th Chinese Division
NCAC
2nd Group Army
X' Force
22nd Artillery Regiment
102nd RAF Base Force
Tenth USAAF
16th Chinese Base Force

Defending units:
110th/C Division

Our boys attack tomorrow. BTW, there is now one more P-38 there, with a 2 days repair estimate.

CV Illustrious has begun her upgrade and has 74 days to go. IJN activity west of Port Blair, see map below. 3rd USMC Div at Toungoo is taking on replacement squads at a good rate. When they are full or nearly so we will upgrade those squads. The USA Americal Div has made it to Prome and divided to upgrade squads.

Allied bombardments in the Pacific.

Allied Ships Bombarding Maloelap
Allied Ships Bombarding Saipan
Allied Ships Bombarding Saipan
Allied Ships Bombarding Peleliu
Allied Ships Bombarding Saipan
Allied Ships Bombarding Yap
Allied Ships Bombarding Saipan
Allied Ships Bombarding Pagan
Allied Ships Bombarding Maloelap
Allied Ships Bombarding Tinian

2nd USMC Div finished upgrading squads at Rota. The troops are reloading in better form at Truk. The support stragglers at Ponape will be brought to Rota for a followup landing by LST rather than delaying the main landing. The troops reloading now at Truk will ship with the full load of supply that they were going to pick up at Truk anyway so they are not losing more than one day. The troops at Rota will not begin loading until tomorrow just to minimize their time on board ship. Guam port has maxed out at size 5.

There is a convoy at Iwo Jima and one NE of Chichi Jima.

Here is the continued IJN activity in the Indian Ocean.

[witpqs]

1944 January 24

The Empire captured:


The Allies captured:


There were Imperial amphibious operations at:


There were Allied amphibious operations at:


Our subs came up empty.

Very damaging air attack on Chungking. 3,052 AV there now. The Imperials at Tsuyung were expelled.

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

Ground combat at Tsuyung (68,46)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 22134 troops, 225 guns, 109 vehicles, Assault Value = 577

Defending force 2792 troops, 27 guns, 1 vehicles, Assault Value = 86

Allied adjusted assault: 928

Japanese adjusted defense: 61

Allied assault odds: 15 to 1

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

Japanese ground losses:
1405 casualties reported
Squads: 20 destroyed, 64 disabled
Non Combat: 23 destroyed, 11 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 15 (2 destroyed, 13 disabled)
Units retreated 1

Allied ground losses:
107 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 16 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Guns lost 3 (1 destroyed, 2 disabled)

Defeated Japanese Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
7th Australian Division
200th Chinese Division
Tenth USAAF
22nd Artillery Regiment
2nd Group Army
102nd RAF Base Force
X' Force
NCAC
16th Chinese Base Force

Defending units:
110th/C Division


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

Notice the Allied adjusted assault value, the result of good supply. Still one P-38 repairing at Tsuyung.

A group of (probably elite) Helens has been hitting our Bn next to Taung Gyi and Meiktila, the one that was moving to try and cut off the infiltrating IJA Rgt. Today they were intercepted by many Allied fighters and about 10 of them failed to make it home.

There are IJN carriers in the Indian Ocean again, threatening to move into the Bay of Bengal. See the map below. CAP along the coast has been bolstered, torpedo armed strike aircraft and others redeployed, and suitable escorts allocated.

Allied bombardments in the Pacific.

Allied Ships Bombarding Maloelap
Allied Ships Bombarding Saipan
Allied Ships Bombarding Saipan
Allied Ships Bombarding Peleliu
Allied Ships Bombarding Saipan
Allied Ships Bombarding Yap
Allied Ships Bombarding Saipan
Allied Ships Bombarding Pagan
Allied Ships Bombarding Maloelap
Allied Ships Bombarding Tinian
Allied Ships Bombarding Saipan

The Saipan forces at Rota will load and move to position one hex SE of Saipan, where the other convoys will meet them tomorrow. There is not enough troop lift (as opposed to cargo lift) to bring both division at once, so the USA 6th ID will be landed in a second wave. That will, at worst, delay the first attack by two days, but maybe not. It all depends on what we find on the ground at Saipan, and we might have enough to begin attacking without them.

That IJN convoy is still at Iwo Jima.

Lexington and Saratoga have finished their upgrades and are now officially bristling anti-aircraft platforms. They will form up with Iowa and New Jersey for the journey to the Marianas.

Here are the Imperial carriers in the Indian Ocean. The TF to the NE is composed of heavy cruisers and escorts.

[princep01]

Odd to find IJN CVs in the IO at this stage. I wonder what Admiral Wa is up to there. I suppose it is a raiding party that may be more a bail than anything else based on the number of AC shown by search. I'd be suspicious of misdirection here. I fathom no real reason for CVs to be there when the Mariannas are in dire straits.

Subs haven't gotten a shot or spotting on the TF at Iwo? Looks like he is building it up as fast as possible and has conceded the Mariannas to the Allies. Interesting, as that concedes B-29 bases early on.

Have you given the strat bombing campaign any specific thought at this point? Reading Joc's ARR, he did good work with initially targeting City/manpower bombing. The initial fires were devastating. Later, he did well specifically targeting AC factories destined to produce late model AC. Doing this, he prevented the deployment of the Shiden and impeded AC production of other late model murderers. It won't be long before you are set to unleash Curtis Lemay and the super fortresses.