If you intend to land those troops on Christmas Island before you take it, better leave the prep for Xmas Is. If you switch them to Canton and then
land them at Xmas they will have NO prep for that island and will suffer huge losses in the landings. It's as if they don't know how to get out of
a landing craft without drowning unless they have at least 50% prep!
Thanks that's what I needed to know. I will leave one Division (92% prepped), one US Art Bat (100%) and one Combat Eng (95%) set for Christmas Island. I will set the other Division, Combat Eng, US Art Bat and add one Combat Eng, two US Art Bats and the 34th Infantry Reg for Canton Island to get the prep work going now.
Only taken Islands from the AI so Canton will be my first real test at an Atoll. I know Christmas Island is an atoll but with another 21+ days of bombardment I don't expect much of a challenge.
Looking for my next target to be near/in the Solomon Islands but not sure where until I know where the line settles and what happens in New Guinea.
Will also remember the 50% preparation rule [&o][&o][&o][&o][&o]
If you intend to land those troops on Christmas Island before you take it, better leave the prep for Xmas Is. If you switch them to Canton and then
land them at Xmas they will have NO prep for that island and will suffer huge losses in the landings. It's as if they don't know how to get out of
a landing craft without drowning unless they have at least 50% prep!
Thanks that's what I needed to know. I will leave one Division (92% prepped), one US Art Bat (100%) and one Combat Eng (95%) set for Christmas Island. I will set the other Division, Combat Eng, US Art Bat and add one Combat Eng, two US Art Bats and the 34th Infantry Reg for Canton Island to get the prep work going now.
Only taken Islands from the AI so Canton will be my first real test at an Atoll. I know Christmas Island is an atoll but with another 21+ days of bombardment I don't expect much of a challenge.
Looking for my next target to be near/in the Solomon Islands but not sure where until I know where the line settles and what happens in New Guinea.
Will also remember the 50% preparation rule [&o][&o][&o][&o][&o]
The 50% prep isn't really a rule or hard coded game engine turning point - there is still a lot depending on the roll of the dice and weather! But I do know that less than 50% causes lots of losses, although some will be disablements.
When you get to do larger landings that take days to unload, keep in mind that the landing losses are heaviest on the first day. After that, the AI seems to assume that you have at least a small beachhead to work with and your follow-on
landings will suffer less. I sometimes land only part of my force on day one (best prepped and able to hold against a counterattack) and then the remainder of the force lands with less disruption or losses.
No matter how bad a situation is, you can always make it worse. - Chris Hadfield : An Astronaut's Guide To Life On Earth
More bombardment at Singapore supplies rise to ~4000, not sure how this happened???. I have submarine transport missions but without SSTs I don't expect it will help a lot but anything you can do you have to do (most are 48 supplies per run with 5 - 6 subs running at a time).
I am not contesting the air over Port Moresby and the landing has started.
Japanese Amphibious Landings:
Amphibious Assault at Manokwari (85,109)
Amphibious Assault at Port Moresby (98,130)
The Air Taffy is covering the BB Force, this is all to hit him where the KB and Mini-KB are not and to make him think the British CVs are still in the Ceylon area.
Allied Ships
BB Resolution
BB Ramillies
BB Royal Sovereign
BB Revenge
CA Exeter
CA Cornwall
CL Enterprise
CL Hobart
CLAA Van Heemskerck
DD Panther
DD Paladin
DD Isis
DD Griffin
DD Fortune
DD Express
BB Resolution firing at Moulmein
BB Ramillies firing at Moulmein
BB Royal Sovereign firing at Moulmein
BB Revenge firing at Moulmein
CA Exeter firing at Moulmein
CA Cornwall firing at Moulmein
CL Enterprise firing at Moulmein
CL Hobart firing at Moulmein
CLAA Van Heemskerck firing at Moulmein
DD Panther firing at Moulmein
DD Paladin firing at Moulmein
DD Isis firing at Moulmein
DD Griffin firing at Moulmein
DD Fortune firing at Moulmein
DD Express firing at Moulmein
Assaulting units:
49th Australian Battalion
NG Vol Rifles Battalion
Papuan Inf Battalion
108th Anti Tank Regiment
15th RAN Base Force
13th Field Regiment
1st Medium Regiment
Defending units:
4th Div /6
83rd Nav Gd /1
15th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
Don't rely too much on the numbers in a bombardment attack - only the units taking part in the bombardment are counted.
Your Anti-tank unit and NG Vol Rifles probably do not have anything to bombard with so they do not get included in the count of
bombarding troops. The size of guns makes a big difference too. If your Australian units are using 25 pounders and 4.5 or 5.5 inch
guns, they will easily outgun the 75 mm mountain guns and mortars of the Japanese. I would continue bombarding with the kind of
exchange rate you just got.
No matter how bad a situation is, you can always make it worse. - Chris Hadfield : An Astronaut's Guide To Life On Earth
Don't rely too much on the numbers in a bombardment attack - only the units taking part in the bombardment are counted.
Your Anti-tank unit and NG Vol Rifles probably do not have anything to bombard with so they do not get included in the count of
bombarding troops. The size of guns makes a big difference too. If your Australian units are using 25 pounders and 4.5 or 5.5 inch
guns, they will easily outgun the 75 mm mountain guns and mortars of the Japanese. I would continue bombarding with the kind of
exchange rate you just got.
BBfanboy,
Good to know information. I made the same decision just to burn supplies as I figure the base has to fall as he has an entire division plus extras and more to come. I was at 60K supply but I have been able to burn that down to 40K and dropping.
Singapore
More bombardment at Singapore supplies drop to 3400. I have submarine transport missions but without SSTs I don't expect it will help a lot but anything you can do you have to do (most are 48 supplies per run with 5 - 6 subs running at a time).
China
All seems quite here almost too quite.
Line Islands
Scuttled one DM that hit a mine (empty of mines), but I swept over 60+ mines on the bombardment. Seems he had a couple of subs drops some off. Good thing I have six DMS' with the bombardment force. We are ready to land anytime at Christmas Island - will either be May 1st when all the carriers are ready or the second the KB and Mini-KB are both located and can't intercept before my carrier arrive.
Canton Operation
I have one US Inf Div, One US Inf Reg, two Combat Reg and three US Art Bat's ready to go with preparation in the 30's and climbing. Will require the carrier fleet and the fall of Christmas Island. There are 50 - 70 Heavy Bombers out of Pago Pago and Suavii that will start bombing in four days when the Suavii airfield hits level 5 to support extended range B-17s.
Port Moresby
It will fall soon, details below.
KB and Mini-KB
Mini-KB supporting Port Moresby, vectoring subs to try and sink it or at least shadow it. KB location unknown and it could be anywhere at this time. The KB is most likely in Truck at this time.
Japanese Amphibious Landings:
Amphibious Assault at Gardner Island (149,144)
Japan Conquerors the Following Bases:
Japanese forces CAPTURE Gardner Island !!!
Manokwari
The end is near. I assume he will take Horn Island next and then maybe Darwin. I am hoping he does both as it will but his forces away from my summer of 42 attacks.
---------------------------------------------
Japanese Deliberate attack
Attacking force 14834 troops, 162 guns, 49 vehicles, Assault Value = 463
Defending force 5642 troops, 120 guns, 110 vehicles, Assault Value = 129
Japanese adjusted assault: 358
Allied adjusted defense: 171
Japanese assault odds: 2 to 1 (fort level 3)
Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 2
Assaulting units:
4th Division
83rd Naval Guard Unit
15th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
2nd Medium FA Rgt /1
Defending units:
NG Vol Rifles Battalion
49th Australian Battalion
Papuan Inf Battalion
108th Anti Tank Regiment
15th RAN Base Force
13th Field Regiment
1st Medium Regiment
---------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Port Moresby (98,130)
Allied Bombardment attack
Attacking force 3425 troops, 103 guns, 95 vehicles, Assault Value = 71
Defending force 14277 troops, 160 guns, 49 vehicles, Assault Value = 408
Assaulting units:
NG Vol Rifles Battalion
49th Australian Battalion
Papuan Inf Battalion
13th Field Regiment
108th Anti Tank Regiment
15th RAN Base Force
1st Medium Regiment
Defending units:
4th Division
83rd Naval Guard Unit
15th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
2nd Medium FA Rgt /1
---------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Port Moresby (98,130)
Japanese Deliberate attack
Attacking force 14420 troops, 167 guns, 60 vehicles, Assault Value = 410
Defending force 5257 troops, 119 guns, 110 vehicles, Assault Value = 76
Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 1
Japanese adjusted assault: 285
Assaulting units:
4th Division
83rd Naval Guard Unit
15th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
2nd Medium Field Artillery Regiment
Defending units:
NG Vol Rifles Battalion
49th Australian Battalion
Papuan Inf Battalion
15th RAN Base Force
108th Anti Tank Regiment
13th Field Regiment
1st Medium Regiment
---------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Port Moresby (98,130)
Allied Bombardment attack
Attacking force 2624 troops, 99 guns, 89 vehicles, Assault Value = 59
Defending force 14051 troops, 166 guns, 60 vehicles, Assault Value = 372
Assaulting units:
49th Australian Battalion
Papuan Inf Battalion
13th Field Regiment
15th RAN Base Force
108th Anti Tank Regiment
NG Vol Rifles Battalion
1st Medium Regiment
Defending units:
4th Division
83rd Naval Guard Unit
15th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
2nd Medium Field Artillery Regiment
Well Port Moresby falls, and it looks like he will now move on to Horn Island. He makes some other small gains but no major action of note. Most of the work now is clean up to ensure he does not leave an base hexes in his rear. We are now seven days from sailing the 3 US Fleet Carriers from Auckland to Christmas Island, target date for landing is still May 1st.
Singapore
More bombardment and another assault. I have submarine transport missions but without SSTs I don't expect it will help a lot but anything you can do you have to do (most are 48 supplies per run with 5 - 6 subs running at a time).
China
All seems quite here almost too quite.
Line Islands
B-17s and Bombardment forces keep the port and airfields closed. The number of reported troops drop to ~1900.
Canton Operation
I have one US Inf Div, One US Inf Reg, two Combat Reg and three US Art Bat's ready to go with preparation in the mid-20's to low-40's and climbing. Will require the carrier fleet and the fall of Christmas Island. There are 50 - 70 Heavy Bombers out of Pago Pago and Suavii that will start bombing in four to six days when the Suavii airfield hits level 5 to support extended range B-17s, Pago Pago is Level 6 and climbing.
Port Moresby
It fell under repeated assault, details in separate post.
KB and Mini-KB
Mini-KB supporting Port Moresby, vectoring subs to try and sink it or at least shadow it. KB location unknown and it could be anywhere at this time. The KB is most likely in Truck at this time.
Japanese Amphibious Landings:
Amphibious Assault at Howland Island (148,135)
Amphibious Assault at Beru (138,134)
Amphibious Assault at Buna (99,129)
Japan Conquerors the Following Bases:
Japanese forces CAPTURE Howland Island !!!
Japanese forces CAPTURE Port Moresby !!!
Japanese forces CAPTURE Beru !!!
Tambelan-eilanden
Buna
Benkoelen
The supplies drop to 117 [X(][X(][X(] but we again hold and inflect more far more damage then we take. The end is near even with emergency supply from the submarines arriving.
---------------------------------------------
Japanese Deliberate attack
Attacking force 52960 troops, 660 guns, 180 vehicles, Assault Value = 1471
Defending force 58091 troops, 609 guns, 402 vehicles, Assault Value = 731
Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 1
Japanese adjusted assault: 1315
Allied adjusted defense: 2445
Assaulting units:
2nd Recon Regiment
114th Infantry Regiment
4th Ind Engineer Regiment
42nd Infantry Regiment
12th Engineer Regiment
16th Infantry Regiment
56th Infantry Regiment
Imperial Guards Division
55th Infantry Regiment
21st Infantry Regiment
148th Infantry Regiment
33rd Division
24th Infantry Regiment
18th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
5th Field Artillery Regiment
56th Field Artillery Regiment
18th Mountain Gun Regiment
5th Engineer Regiment
14th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
1st RF Gun Battalion
3rd Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
25th Army
5th Mortar Battalion
3rd Medium Field Artillery Regiment
3rd Mortar Battalion
2nd Field Artillery Regiment
Defending units:
11th Indian Division
2/17 Dogra Battalion
22nd Australian Brigade
SSVF Brigade
2nd Loyal Battalion
27th Australian Brigade
9th Indian Division
22nd Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
224 Group RAF
223 Group RAF
1st HK&S Heavy AA Regiment
Malayan Air Wing
110th RAF Adv Base Force
112th RAF Adv Base Force
1st Malay Battalion
24th NZ Pioneer Coy
1st Manchester Battalion
2nd Malay Battalion
2nd Gordons Battalion
1st Mysore Battalion
III Indian Corps
2nd ISF Base Force
113th RAF Adv Base Force
AHQ Far East
Singapore Base Force
Malaya Army
109th RAF Adv Base Force
1st ISF Base Force
2nd HK&S Heavy AA Regiment
3rd Heavy AA Regiment
1st Hyderabad Battalion
1st Indian Heavy AA Regiment
3rd HK&S Light AA Regiment
Singapore Fortress
111th RAF Adv Base Force
109th RN Base Force
Intel is now reporting a third CV was lost in the Battle of New Caledonia -- the Zuikaku. If it is true then it might explain why it appears the Mini-KB and KB are together at Port Moresby.
Originally the Kaga and Soryu were reported sunk, but now the Zuikaku is also listed.
Damage Totals:
CV Zuikaku, Bomb hits 7, heavy fires, heavy damage
Ammo storage explosion on CV Zuikaku
CV Akagi, Bomb hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage
Ammo storage explosion on CV Akagi
CV Shokaku, Bomb hits 4, heavy fires
CV Soryu, Torpedo hits 1
Given the above damage at best he would have lost the Zuikaku, Akagi and Shokaku. Which is three CVs. granted Intel is often wrong as to which one/ones are actually lost.
Horn Island falls with an entire division assaulting it. He makes some other small gains but no major action of note. Most of the work now is clean up to ensure he does not leave any base hexes in his rear. We are now two days from sailing the 3 US Fleet Carriers from Auckland to Christmas Island, target date for landing is still May 1st. The Lexington will depart Bremerton fully repaired in four days with five DD escorts and meet the rest of her taffy in route.
Force H (Formidable) and Force Z (Repulse) will be in Pago Pago in two days. The Indomitable and here force will depart Sydney in two days to form up with Force H.
Also not all major invasions will be names after breakfast cereals for the remainder of 1942.
Singapore
More bombardment and another assault. I have submarine transport missions but without SSTs I don't expect it will help a lot but anything you can do you have to do (most are 48 supplies per run with 5 - 6 subs running at a time).
China
All seems quite here almost too quite.
Line Islands
B-17s and Bombardment forces keep the port and airfields closed. The number of reported troops drop to ~1600.
Canton Operation
I have one US Inf Div, One US Inf Reg, two Combat Eng Reg and three US Art Bat's ready to go with preparation in the mid-20's to low-40's and climbing. Will require the carrier fleet and the fall of Christmas Island. There are 55 Heavy Bombers out of Pago Pago and Savaii that will start bombing in two days when the Savaii airfield hits level 5 to support extended range B-17s, Pago Pago is Level 6 and climbing.
Horn Island
It fell under repeated assault, details in separate post.
KB and Mini-KB
Mini-KB + KB (?) were last seen supporting the Horn Island Invasion two days ago. Vectoring subs to try and sink it or at least shadow it.
Japanese Amphibious Landings:
Amphibious Assault at Horn Island (91,128)
Amphibious Assault at Tagula Island (104,137)
Japan Conquerors the Following Bases:
Japanese forces CAPTURE Horn Island !!!
Buna
Beru
Benkoelen
Oro Bay
Noemfoor
As I run out of supplies the destroyed loss counts are getting closer and closer but the disabled still follow me. The more no-combat units that I lose the more the supplies I get in do feed my troops. As if yet my extra supplies are 20 but no units is out of supplies. I expect this to not be the case for the next report. I am also trying to slip one xAKL with 1750 supplies in through the air blockage. I figure it will fail but I have to try.
---------------------------------------------
Japanese Deliberate attack
Attacking force 55100 troops, 709 guns, 160 vehicles, Assault Value = 1457
Defending force 57487 troops, 602 guns, 400 vehicles, Assault Value = 661
Japanese adjusted assault: 1460
Allied adjusted defense: 2117
Japanese assault odds: 1 to 2 (fort level 1)
Defending units:
2/17 Dogra Battalion
SSVF Brigade
2nd Loyal Battalion
11th Indian Division
27th Australian Brigade
22nd Australian Brigade
9th Indian Division
109th RAF Adv Base Force
2nd ISF Base Force
1st Malay Battalion
Malaya Army
1st Indian Heavy AA Regiment
2nd Gordons Battalion
111th RAF Adv Base Force
24th NZ Pioneer Coy
Singapore Base Force
2nd HK&S Heavy AA Regiment
1st Hyderabad Battalion
112th RAF Adv Base Force
1st HK&S Heavy AA Regiment
2nd Malay Battalion
3rd Heavy AA Regiment
AHQ Far East
224 Group RAF
1st Mysore Battalion
22nd Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
3rd HK&S Light AA Regiment
223 Group RAF
Malayan Air Wing
113th RAF Adv Base Force
1st Manchester Battalion
1st ISF Base Force
Singapore Fortress
110th RAF Adv Base Force
III Indian Corps
109th RN Base Force
This may not work but four slow British BB's escorted by the CVL Hermes --- plus CAP from Rangoon (70 Fighters) will bombard these four units. The hope is he spots my carrier planes from the British and thinks he has a solid ID on their location.
After looking at his slow movement in Java, and what is going on elsewhere Allied High command has decided to up the stakes and advance our defensive perimeter. We want to see how hard he will press in certain areas and see if we can get him to show his carriers in support of operations to allow is to confirm that he has in fact lost three fleet CVs before we get too crazy. Also if I can get this carriers on the wrong side of the map it will make the later Advance into Canton easier.
And if he does not bite, then great we will hold the Cocos Islands!!!![:D][:D]
The 84th Indian Inf Bde, 3rd Hyderabad Base Force and the 223rd Group Base Force are prepping. The 223rd is now in route from Aden. The 84th and 3rd will be loading in Madras this turn. After the combat forces complete Distraction and Misinformation II they will rearm and escort meet this force from Madras in route.
This operation plus my advance base at Port Blair should provide future options to flank around Burma and Indo-China if I should so choose later.
I have pulled the below data from tracker (have it in an Excel file if anyone wants to take a look). The hope here is to track what airframes are being advanced so it does not surprise me at some point, so far I do not see any changes from the 21st of January 1942. If anyone see what he is up to let me know!
He continues makes some other small gains but no major action of note. Most of the work now is clean up to ensure he does not leave any base hexes in his rear.
Operation Chex
We are now two days into sailing the 3 US Fleet Carriers from Auckland to Christmas Island, target date for landing is still May 1st. The Lexington has also departed Bremerton fully repaired with five DD escorts and will meet the rest of her taffy in route. Force H (Formidable) and Force Z (Repulse) will be in Pago Pago in two days. The Indomitable and here force will depart Sydney in two days to form up with Force H.
Raiding
The CA Nachi sunk the APD Chew as it was raiding off of the Panama Canal sea area.
The SS KXV hit the CA Haguro with one Torpedo off of Woodlark Island.
The SS Sculpin hit xAK Kanko Maru, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage near Kendari.
Singapore
More bombardment. I have submarine transport missions but without SSTs I don't expect it will help a lot but anything you can do you have to do (most are 48 supplies per run with 5 - 6 subs running at a time). We tired to slip one more xAKL in and it died a horrible death so we have aboreted all other attempts.
China
He tried another assault at Wenchow and failed. There are more bombings in this area, as the supplies are over 3500 I may fly in the AVG for a turn or two.
Line Islands
B-17s and Bombardment forces keep the port and airfields closed. The number of reported troops drop to ~1500.
Canton Operation
I have one US Inf Div, One US Inf Reg, two Combat Eng Reg and three US Art Bat's ready to go with preparation in the mid-20's to low-40's and climbing. Will require the carrier fleet and the fall of Christmas Island. There are 55 Heavy Bombers out of Pago Pago and Savaii that have started bombing airfield damage is at 6. We lost one B-17 to the Zeros for one Mavis destroyed on the ground.
KB and Mini-KB
Mini-KB + KB (?) were last seen supporting the Horn Island Invasion six days ago. Location unknown but due to radio traffic and the need for him to upgrade expect it it all at Truck.
Japanese Amphibious Landings:
Amphibious Assault at Tabiteuea (137,134)
Japan Conquerors the Following Bases:
Japanese forces CAPTURE Tabiteuea !!!
Japanese forces CAPTURE Tagula Island !!!
Kokoda
Chinese Air Force
Given that I hold Burma still, I have been getting a ton of supplies into China and I am working to get the air force ready for when the AVG pulls out.
As part of this plan I pulled all of the pilots out of the SB-IIIs that start in Hami and withdrew the units. These air units will now show up at Chungking in 60 days. The planes were used to fill out two squadrons with 70 skill GND at Sian and Kweiyang. These two units are doing recon to help prevent any flanking. All other bomber units are training.
The Fighter Units in Hami had all of the pilots pulled except for the two air units that everything was combined into (one I-15 and one I-16) unit. Moving some base units for these units can fly out as due to their short range if I withdraw them I lose the planes. I have one Fighter Squadron at Liuchow with I-15s and 70 Air Skill on the front line and 10 pilots with 70 Air Skill in reserve. All other fighter units are training. I hope to have three to four air units on the front with 70 Air Skill by the time the AVG pulls out.
I may not be able to fight in the air, but I want to force him to at least send the escorts and sweeps in to have the air units tied up in China. Plus he will take some OPs losses and burn more supply.
