aztez vs katsuragi (DaBabes mod december 7th start)

[aztez]

March 26th - April 4th 1943


New Zealand troops land and capture the bases at Lae and Shortlands. This marks the end of operation Lighthouse.Nice to have these objectives achieved in early 1943.

In China 3 IJA tank divisions with some ground forces appeared at Nanning. The city was overrun and these troops are moving towards Liuchow.

After looking at the situation in China I ordered some movement for better suitable defensive positions in southern China.

At Changhsa IJA division crossed the river but these troops were forced to shock attack and Chinese pretty much wiped out this unit.

Allied HQ is planning stuff out allthough couple of operations are underway. More about these later...

Submarine kills: xAK Celebes Maru, PB Kinsyo Maru #4, xAK Meisho Maru, xAK Hokko Maru, xAK Meiyo Maru, AO Nippon Maru and xAK Oyashima Maru.

[aztez]

April 5th - April 16th 1943


The preparations are ongoing for next offensive operations around the Pacific. A tons of stuff and troops to get sorted so it is pretty much all about logistics currently.

In China reorganizing of the southern front went smoothly. We did give out Liuchow and Kweilin but that is not an big deal.

The next smaller operation is invasion of Maloelap. I just can't leave that level airfield operational behind the lines. This will happen within the next couple of days.

Submarine kills: xAKL Yamabuki Maru, xAK Banshu Maru, TK Akatsuki Maru, PB Fukkai Maru, CL Abukuma, xAKL Unyo Maru, xAK Ryuzan Maru, xAK Sumiyoshi Maru and xAK Shirashika Maru.

[aztez]

April 17th - May 5th 1943


The landings at Maloelap (pic) went as planned. The 3000 japanese defenders were wiped out swiftly.

New Zealand troops have secured Finschhafen in southern pacific sector. The japanese were poorly supplied an no match to the allid troops.

In China there are some japanese armoured units moving towards Changhsa. The city has been target for daily IJA bomber runs for weeks now.

At Burma the allied bombers have hit several various production centers.

Allied submarine fleet has had quiet few days but hopefully things will pick up again soon!

Submarine kills: TK Hakko Maru, xAK Kinai Maru, xAK Kogane Maru and xAK Karachi Maru.

[aztez]

May 6th - 12th 1943


The picture pretty much speaks more than 1000 words.

Soldiers are more busy getting drunk than fighting againts the enemy! [:D]

It takes time move around allied equipment so let the guys enjoy the sun while it last.

The New Zealand troops have wiped out the remaining defernders around Lae.

At China there are now +30 enemy units parked at Changhsa. The total AV value of IJA troops is 6046!!! Oh my...

The submarine commanders have been firing torpedoes againts IJN destroyers. The result.. well no hits on targets!

Sub kills: PB Chitose Maru

[BBfanboy]

[font="Courier New"]My god, that is a lot of rivets on the ship in the background! Soviet workmanship I guess - never mind engineering
calculations, just put enough rivets to make sure it will never leak! (Might never float either.)[/font][:'(]

[aztez]

BBfanboy: Indeed! [:D] There are still a lot of parties going on at Vladivostok!


May 13th - 26th 1943


Allied 4E bombers begin their daily raids againts Truk. Suprisingly no enemy fighters present.

In China more enemy troops are pouring into Changhsa. Now, the total AV is 7000. These troops are supported by massive LBA bomber runs.

It is time reorganize the defensive perimeter in this region soon.

The first Essex class carrier is operational. Good news indeed and supplies and troops keep coming into frontlines.

New Guinea region will be secured soon in operation Freedom. The bases are not fully build up here if recon is to be believed.

We have now sunk more than +300 enemy ships. Next milestone at 400.

Sub kills: PB Nishho Maru, xAK Tamahoko Maru, xAK Satsuma Maru, xAKL Buyo Maru, PB Choko Maru #5, xAKL Kensho Maru and xAK Eihuku Maru.

[aztez]

May 27th - June 11th 1943


The war drags on....

Chinese forces abandoned Changhsa in good order. After having evaluated pro's and con's the city simply was not worth the effort.

The new defensive lines and orders are given and units are ready for the battles ahead in China.

In southern pacific allied troops secure Gasmata and Manus. There are operations ongoing at Buna as well. Next we will advance towards Hollandia, Wewak region.

The allied HQ informs that "operation Battleaxe" has been given green light. No further details are available as of yet.

Sub kills: xAKL Fukuyama Maru, xAK Teihoku Maru, TK San Luis Maru, xAK Nitiren Maru, TK Toen Maru and AO Notoro.

[aztez]

June 12th - 30th 1943


Things have been relatively quiet around the map.

There are couple of allied operations brewing but more on these later once things get rolling in full force.

In southern pacific allied forces have captured Manus, Buna and Wewak (pic).

There are also ongoing battles at Kavieng, Madang and Aitape. Those bases should be secured within a week or so.

The submarine fleet have done decently but hoping for an improvement here as well...

Sub kills: xAK Kurohime Maru, xAK Ume Maru, xAK Maebasi Maru, xAK Sydney Maru #2, xAK Tokai Maru, xAK Unkai Maru #6, xAK Taiko Maru and PB Daitei Maru.

[aztez]

Hello all...

We have been a bit busy and have couple of technical difficulties.

The game is moving along and will provide an update once we get few more turns done.

[aztez]

July 1st - 13th 1943


We have progressed couple of weeks in game time.

In China things remain quiet as ever and the good news is that my supply situation here is moderate and troops have gained experience.

There are no easy routes anymore left here. I was actually thinking that my opponent might activate Russian front instead but that has not happened.

The IJN ship sunken list shows a lot of carriers lost at sea. If this is actual situation than that operation was huge victory for the allied side. We will know this soon enough.

In southern Pacific we have now secured Aitape, Kavieng and couple other bases in New Guinea. There are no bases left behind so he cannot recon this front at all.

There are few operations brewing and lets call these: operation Viking and operation Thor.

More about these a bit later... also considering few other possible operations at curren time but have not decieded whether to move forward with these.

Sub kills: xAP Yoshino Maru, DD Kuretake, xAK Hokuroku Maru and xAK Zenoa Maru.

[aztez]

July 14th - 27th 1943


New Zealand and Aussie troops secure Hollandia in New Guinea.

A large offensive is launched in Burma. The commonwealth troops cross the river near Magwe and capture the base after 4 days of ground combat.

Intelligence indicates the following enemy units routed: 5th division, 18th division, 1st Tank division, 14th Tank regiment, 21st Ind. mixed brigade, 4th Raiding regiment and other smaller units.

This is good news indeed and the Burma affair will be over swiftly! Also this operation was the first RAF bomber conducted ground offensive of the war.

Other than that things are moving ahead as scheduled... and oh quite happy with submarine fleets efforts.

Sub kills: xAK Manzyu Maru, xAK Hikosan Maru, xAK Kyuma Maru, xAK Ryoyo Maru, xAK Atago Maru, AO Kokuyo Maru, xAK Florida Maru, xAK Mito Maru, xAK Atlas Maru, xAK Tarayasu Maru, xAK Toyama Maru and xAK Sydney Maru.

[BBfanboy]

Wow - that is one long list of sub kills![X(]
All that practice with dud torpedoes [:@] in the first 18 months must be paying off! [:)]

[aztez]

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

Wow - that is one long list of sub kills![X(]
All that practice with dud torpedoes [:@] in the first 18 months must be paying off! [:)]

Agreed! [:D] ..those subs are definately finding targets!

[aztez]

July 28th - August 6th 1943


Allied forces have now secured Magwe, Mandalay and Meiktia thus the northern Burma battles are pretty much over.

The battered enemy divisions continue their way towards Toungoo with allied tank corps in hot pursuit.

I think those troops can make it to Rangoon but their operational value is close to 0%.

This thing went pretty smoothly and now we continue towards southern Burma.

Elsewhere things remain quiet since most of the stuff is logistical operations.

The allied submarine fleet continue their efforts againts merchant ships...

Sub kills: xAKL Zuiho Maru, xAK Victoria Maru, xAK Fusemi Maru, xAP Manzyu Maru, xAK Kosei Maru #4, TK Terukawa Maru and xAK Daiya Maru.

[aztez]

August 7th - 22nd 1943


The main operational theatre continues to be Burma. Japanese forces have retreated into Toungoo where they seem to be organizing new defensive perimeter.

RAF recon aircraft indicates that there 30 units and some + 90 000 men readying for an fight. These include the battered enemy divisions and regiments.

Commonwealth troops have now entered the hex so we will better knowledge about the actual strenght soon.

RAF have flown large ground strikes againts these troops but the results have been poor. I might switch into airfield bombing to consume their supplies next turn.

Thus the battle of Burma continues in forthcoming turns. I had stop for few days to sort out the supply situation so couple of units slipped past our net.

Elsewhere things remains somewhat quiet. Only Vanimo is seized down in the south. This leaves only few bases into enemy hands in northern New Guinea.

Allied submarines have been less effective in past two weeks. This can be explained by the fact that quite a few went through upgrades but that is not the only reason.

Sub kills: xAK Midori Maru, xAK Muroran Maru, xAK Toko Maru, xAK Anzan Maru #2, xAKL Konsan Maru,

[crsutton]

I find that it is best not to totally destroy Japanese oilfields as I advance into the DEI. Until I am ready to make a definitive move knocking them down to about 30-40% efficiency gives your opponent a reason to defend them thus holding valuable air units in place that can be employed elsewhere if the facility is totally destroyed.

[aztez]

August 23rd - September 1st 1943


The battle of Burma continues. Allied troops launch an ground offensive at Toungoo. Unfortunately the jungle favoured the japanese this time around.

The good news is that we dropped the forts down to 2 but the bad news is that he has nearly 2000av stacked there.

We have made some progress there though since allied troops have seized Prome in the southern plains. We can move towards Rangoon from there.

Australian units conducted an amphibitous offensive at Biak (pic). The defenders were swiftly overrun and the base is ours now.

The submarine fleet operations were decent but this week we failed to hit quite a few targets around the map...

Sub kills: PB Shinko Maru #5, PB Katsuragisan Maru, xAKL Yamayuri Maru and xAK Hokko Maru.

[aztez]

ORIGINAL: crsutton

I find that it is best not to totally destroy Japanese oilfields as I advance into the DEI. Until I am ready to make a definitive move knocking them down to about 30-40% efficiency gives your opponent a reason to defend them thus holding valuable air units in place that can be employed elsewhere if the facility is totally destroyed.

That is an solid thinking you got there. I don't usually bother either but this time around decieded to make an wasteland in Burma. Only Rangoon has some production capabilities left but the rest is toasted.

Thinking being that he needs to bring supplies via Singapore which takes time and effort.

Thus far the airwar has been slow/modest. Neither side are yet to commit fully into it. I think both sides have lost around 3600-3800 aircraft which is low number.

[aztez]

September 2nd - 13th 1943


Allied offensive in Burma has been temporarily halted at Toungoo and south of Prome. There are substantial enemy forces fighting back with all they got.

Also IJA fighteres have shown up in this theatre. I think these flying out of Moulmein region thus he is using LRCAP option.

We will launch another ground offensives here soon...

Meanwhile in CenPac region the allied ships have passed Truk and are heading into Marianas.

The fighting there will start within next couple of days and allied recon aircraft indicates "medium" resistance. Whether these reports are that accurate... well we will find out soon enough.

Operation Viking = Allied massed offensive againts Marianas!

Sub kills: xAK Nitimei Maru, xAK Seiwa Maru, xAK Hamburg Maru, xAK Nanrei Maru, PB Kashiwa Maru and xAK Shinko Maru

[aztez]

September 14th - 15th 1943


The operation Viking has officially begun. The objective is to destroy enemy forces around the Marianas island chain.

The slaughter festivals started by allied carrier TF launching againts enemy transports...


Morning Air attack on TF, near Tinian at 108,94

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid spotted at 34 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 14 minutes


Allied aircraft
F6F-3 Hellcat x 141
SB2C-1C Helldiver x 17
SBD-5 Dauntless x 66
TBF-1 Avenger x 36


Allied aircraft losses
TBF-1 Avenger: 2 damaged

Japanese Ships
xAK Ryunan Maru, Bomb hits 5, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk
xAK Tazan Maru, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
xAP Hie Maru, Bomb hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Soyo Maru
xAK Yae Maru, Bomb hits 1, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
xAK Seisyo Maru, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires
xAK Zinzan Maru
xAK Anzan Maru, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Nanko Maru, Bomb hits 2, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
xAK Gokoku Maru #2, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
xAK Thames Maru, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires
xAK Ume Maru
xAK Yoneyama Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
xAK Ryuyo Maru, Bomb hits 3, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
PB Koei Maru, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Kokuryu Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
xAK Gyoko Maru
xAK Kinkai Maru
DD Kikuzuki
xAK Tihuku Maru, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage


Allied troops will begin simultaneous landings at Guam, Rota, Tinian and Saipan. These are supported by large surface combat TF and allied carrier fleets.

These landings are scheduled for the 16th september...

Sub kills: xAK Eizan Maru