Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee, Docup(A)-Koniu(J)

[koniu]

I have more news.
First Ki-83 R&D factory is fully repaired. That mean Ki-83 (we need code name for that plane) will arrive not later that June 1945. I hopping even for January 1945. Two more factories area also close to be rapaired.

A7M2 SAM advance to 8/45.

[koniu]

20 May 1944

Sorry for lack of updates. I have no much to tell. Game is slowly moving forward.
In last week not much that usual sweeps or bombing mission happens.

Interesting was that Docup place 20 P-51 in Cocos Island Island, shot down 18 of P-67 bombers but next day he load them on ships and retreat[&:].

Most actions is happening in Burma. On map You see main axis of advance. New is that Docup is moving toward Prome. This move will probably force me in in next week or two to abandon Prome and Toungoo. New line of defence will be Rangoon. Pegu Chiang Mai line, after that Moulmein

[PaxMondo]

When Burma crumbles, it happens fast. Decide now if you will defend Singers or not. If so, what units are you going to abandon there. Everything else, you need to secure your retreat to Hanoi ... never get fooled into thinking southerly retreat, you have to retreat East. Units retreating south are very likely to be lost. My index point here is basicall Moulmein ... by Bangkok you are too far south and the allies can block your retreat to Hanoi ...

Or better to say, units that retreat South are for the defense of Singers ... anything that you want to save have to move east....

[koniu]

ORIGINAL: PaxMondo

When Burma crumbles, it happens fast. Decide now if you will defend Singers or not. If so, what units are you going to abandon there. Everything else, you need to secure your retreat to Hanoi ... never get fooled into thinking southerly retreat, you have to retreat East. Units retreating south are very likely to be lost. My index point here is basicall Moulmein ... by Bangkok you are too far south and the allies can block your retreat to Hanoi ...

Or better to say, units that retreat South are for the defense of Singers ... anything that you want to save have to move east....

Thanks. I also learn from Obvert`s last game so as You say i will retreat toward East.

Still not decided about Singer. I thinking about 2 or 3 Divisions trying slow down allied move toward Singer. But i still not sure it is worth.

Right now Burma is stable. I don`t think Docup is able to break my lines right now. He is now moving new troops toward Prome, but i will not fight in open. I will start delay ops in area north of Rangoon/Pegu but only to slow down his move and give me time to make new defense line around Moulmein.
I will leave two ID and Tank ID in Rangoon(fort 7, 3x terrain). He will have two choses. Capture it losing in process lot of troops or siege it in both cases it will be win win situation. I chose good but not best ID for that job ~60XP. I will give them some Arty and Flak. I will give them figter cover as long as passible. We will se what Docup will do.

In 8 days my tank divisions will upgrade to new medium Tank Type 3. I look at stats. It is not magic but well used they can be pita for allies. In next month i will retreat 3 Tank Div from Sumatra and i will move it to Marianas, 1 Tank Div will die in Rangoon and after rebuild will be moved to Luzon or Formosa. 3 Tank Div will fight in Burma and if lucky i will retreat it to Luzon or Formosa

[koniu]

27 May 1944

Game is moving forward.

Burma
Allied troops enter Prome. I need tree days to abandon base so probably we will have some air and ground battles there. I have 700AV in Prome behind fort 6.
I retreat bombers from Burma to make place for fighters. I need to protect troops retreating south. Most dangerous will be open terrain north of Pegu. Over 1200AV will need to cross that hex.To give some chance to LCAP over that hex o moving unit with Type 3 radar to that hex.

I have over 1100 fighters ready to fight in Burma:

490 x Ki-84r
130 x Ki-84a
331 x Ki-44IIc
126 x N1K2
72 x N1K1

Ambon area
I am preparing small Naval/Air offensive. Only waiting for better moonlight.
Docup have over 300 planes in Saumlaki and over 250 fighters in Kaimana
Plan is to use navy to bombard those tow places at night and during day visit with bombers. Both places are only defended with TBs

I will use 4xBB, 4x CA, 7xCL and 17xDD
In air 300 bombers and 500 fighters
I have almost everything on place. In 48h 3xAKE (Lima class) full of supplies will anchor in Ambon to rearm fleet after bombardment. 10k AO is waiting near Kendari to refuel ships.

[PaxMondo]

Just remember your exit is via Udon Thani, not Bangkok ... thinking Bangkok is how players get their units trapped. The allies can beat the IJA from Undon Thani to Vinh ... and that's how IJ players can lose 1/4 of their army trapped in SE Asia to no purpose ... so, I suggest setting up your defensive barriers appropriately to that geography.

[koniu]

ORIGINAL: PaxMondo

Just remember your exit is via Udon Thani, not Bangkok ... thinking Bangkok is how players get their units trapped. The allies can beat the IJA from Undon Thani to Vinh ... and that's how IJ players can lose 1/4 of their army trapped in SE Asia to no purpose ... so, I suggest setting up your defensive barriers appropriately to that geography.

I will remember that

[koniu]

28 May 1944

Burma
At night allied bombers visit Prome i have there 20 NF but they don`t fly. I check settings and they should fly. Well, i lost 2 fighters on ground no damaged to filed. Over 90 fighters sweep Prome. at day but no bombers. I have no CAP in air. Tomorrow 500 fighters will CAP Prome

Ambon
3 Fletcher's wist Ambon and they find BB TF that just arrive to hex. After short battle enemy retreat with one burning DD hit by 36cm gun

I am speeding uup with attack on Saumlaki and Kaimana

[PaxMondo]

ORIGINAL: koniu

28 May 1944

Burma
At night allied bombers visit Prome i have there 20 NF but they don`t fly. I check settings and they should fly. Well, i lost 2 fighters on ground no damaged to filed. Over 90 fighters sweep Prome. at day but no bombers. I have no CAP in air. Tomorrow 500 fighters will CAP Prome

There are a couple of checks; leadership and inspiration ... looks like failed one.

[koniu]

29-30 May 1944


Today (15 August) is big day for Polish Army.
Today Poland is celebrating Feast of the Polish Armed Forces commemorating the anniversary of the 1920 victory over Soviet Russia at the Battle of Warsaw during the Polish–Soviet War. As bonus i have free day from work.

Burma
Air battle over Prome. Allies sweep again but again no bombers. I lost 48 fighters for 20 on allied side. CAP numbers look impressive.

Morning Air attack on Prome , at 55,50

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid detected at 37 NM, estimated altitude 34,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 13 minutes

Japanese aircraft
N1K1-J George x 36
N1K2-J George x 38
Ki-44-IIc Tojo x 81
Ki-84a Frank x 36
Ki-84r Frank x 155

Allied aircraft
F4U-1A Corsair x 36

Japanese aircraft losses
N1K2-J George: 3 destroyed
Ki-44-IIc Tojo: 4 destroyed
Ki-84a Frank: 3 destroyed
Ki-84r Frank: 2 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F4U-1A Corsair: 3 destroyed

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

Morning Air attack on Prome , at 55,50

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid detected at 32 NM, estimated altitude 34,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Japanese aircraft
N1K1-J George x 36
N1K2-J George x 31
Ki-44-IIc Tojo x 62
Ki-84a Frank x 32
Ki-84r Frank x 148

Allied aircraft
Spitfire VIII x 14

Japanese aircraft losses
N1K1-J George: 1 destroyed
Ki-44-IIc Tojo: 2 destroyed
Ki-84r Frank: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Spitfire VIII: 3 destroyed

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

Morning Air attack on Prome , at 55,50

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid detected at 38 NM, estimated altitude 45,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes

Japanese aircraft
N1K1-J George x 30
N1K2-J George x 31
Ki-44-IIc Tojo x 52
Ki-84a Frank x 32
Ki-84r Frank x 143

Allied aircraft
P-47D25 Thunderbolt x 25

Japanese aircraft losses
N1K1-J George: 2 destroyed
Ki-44-IIc Tojo: 2 destroyed
Ki-84r Frank: 9 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-47D25 Thunderbolt: 3 destroyed

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


Saumlaki

Japanese navy and air force visit Saumlaki. ~50 allied planes destroyed. 200 damaged. One of Japanese Cruiser eat TT from TB but damage is light. Probably month in dry dock.

Night Time Surface Combat, near Saumlaki at 78,117, Range 7,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CA Takao, Torpedo hits 1
CA Atago
CA Maya
CL Yura
DD Okinami
DD Hamanami
DD Asashimo
DD Hayashio
DD Maikaze
DD Mutsuki

Allied Ships
PT-460, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
PT-461, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
PT-488
PT-489
PT-490
PT-491
PT-492
PT-493

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

Night Time Surface Combat, near Saumlaki at 78,117, Range 8,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
BB Kongo
BB Hiei
DD Naganami
DD Tamanami
DD Onami
DD Fujinami
DD Hayanami
DD Ume

Allied Ships
PT-377
PT-378
PT-379
PT-380
PT-381
PT-494

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

Night Time Surface Combat, near Saumlaki at 78,117, Range 4,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
BB Haruna
BB Kirishima
CL Kitakami
DD Takanami
DD Hatsuharu
DD Uzuki
DD Satsuki
DD Yuzuki

Allied Ships
PT-372, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
PT-373, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
PT-374
PT-375, Shell hits 3, on fire
PT-376

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

And bombardments.

Night Naval bombardment of Saumlaki at 78,117 - Coastal Guns Fire Back!

Allied aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft losses
B-24J Liberator: 101 damaged
B-24J Liberator: 1 destroyed on ground
Spitfire VIII: 14 damaged
Spitfire VIII: 1 destroyed on ground
Boomerang C-12: 15 damaged
PBM-3D Mariner: 3 damaged
PBM-3D Mariner: 1 destroyed on ground
F6F-3 Hellcat: 25 damaged
F6F-3 Hellcat: 2 destroyed on ground
Catalina IIIA: 1 damaged
Kittyhawk III: 15 damaged
Kittyhawk III: 1 destroyed on ground
P-47D25 Thunderbolt: 5 damaged

11 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Japanese Ships
CA Maya
CA Atago
CA Takao
CL Yura
DD Mutsuki
DD Maikaze
DD Hayashio
DD Asashimo
DD Hamanami
DD Okinami

Allied Ships
xAK Waimea, Shell hits 1

Allied ground losses:
32 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 9 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Airbase hits 21
Airbase supply hits 7
Runway hits 77

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

Night Naval bombardment of Saumlaki at 78,117 - Coastal Guns Fire Back!

Allied aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft losses
B-24J Liberator: 108 damaged
B-24J Liberator: 4 destroyed on ground
PBM-3D Mariner: 8 damaged
PBM-3D Mariner: 4 destroyed on ground
Spitfire VIII: 7 damaged
Spitfire VIII: 2 destroyed on ground
F6F-3 Hellcat: 6 damaged
F6F-3 Hellcat: 2 destroyed on ground
Boomerang C-12: 13 damaged
Boomerang C-12: 5 destroyed on ground
P-47D25 Thunderbolt: 8 damaged
P-47D25 Thunderbolt: 1 destroyed on ground
Kittyhawk III: 5 damaged
Catalina IIIA: 5 damaged
Catalina IIIA: 1 destroyed on ground

21 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Japanese Ships
BB Hiei
BB Kongo
DD Ume
DD Hayanami
DD Fujinami
DD Onami
DD Tamanami
DD Naganami

Allied ground losses:
230 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 9 destroyed, 43 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 6 (1 destroyed, 5 disabled)

Airbase hits 11
Airbase supply hits 3
Runway hits 31


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

Night Naval bombardment of Saumlaki at 78,117

Allied aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft losses
B-24J Liberator: 11 damaged
B-24J Liberator: 1 destroyed on ground
F6F-3 Hellcat: 17 damaged
F6F-3 Hellcat: 1 destroyed on ground
P-47D25 Thunderbolt: 4 damaged
Boomerang C-12: 1 damaged
Kittyhawk III: 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
BB Haruna
CL Kitakami
DD Yuzuki
DD Satsuki
DD Uzuki
DD Hatsuharu
DD Takanami

Allied ground losses:
14 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 3 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Airbase hits 2
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 5
Port hits 1


Kusaie Island
Allies visit that small island. I had dhere 50 bombers but turn earlier i replace them with 90 fighters.

Morning Air attack on Kusaie Island , at 125,118

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 74 NM, estimated altitude 33,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 28 minutes

Japanese aircraft
N1K2-J George x 42
Ki-84r Frank x 50

Allied aircraft
F4U-1 Corsair x 18

Japanese aircraft losses
N1K2-J George: 2 destroyed
Ki-84r Frank: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F4U-1 Corsair: 3 destroyed

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

Morning Air attack on Kusaie Island , at 125,118

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 75 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 25 minutes

Japanese aircraft
N1K2-J George x 34
Ki-84r Frank x 46

Allied aircraft
B-24J Liberator x 21
PB4Y-1 Liberator x 10

Japanese aircraft losses
N1K2-J George: 1 destroyed
N1K2-J George: 1 destroyed on ground
Ki-84r Frank: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
B-24J Liberator: 2 destroyed, 9 damaged
PB4Y-1 Liberator: 2 damaged

Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 2


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

Morning Air attack on Kusaie Island , at 125,118

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 75 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 30 minutes

Japanese aircraft
N1K2-J George x 28
Ki-84r Frank x 36

Allied aircraft
PV-1 Ventura x 26

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-84r Frank: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
PV-1 Ventura: 5 destroyed

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

Morning Air attack on Kusaie Island , at 125,118

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 35 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 14 minutes

Japanese aircraft
N1K2-J George x 20
Ki-84r Frank x 29

Allied aircraft
PV-1 Ventura x 8

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
PV-1 Ventura: 4 destroyed

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

Morning Air attack on Kusaie Island , at 125,118

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 36 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes

Japanese aircraft
N1K2-J George x 19
Ki-84r Frank x 25

Allied aircraft
B-25H Mitchell x 13

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-84r Frank: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
B-25H Mitchell: 6 destroyed, 1 damaged

Airbase supply hits 1

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

Morning Air attack on Kusaie Island , at 125,118

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 31 NM, estimated altitude 33,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes

Japanese aircraft
N1K2-J George x 13
Ki-84r Frank x 15

Allied aircraft
F4U-1 Corsair x 18

Japanese aircraft losses
N1K2-J George: 3 destroyed
Ki-84r Frank: 3 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F4U-1 Corsair: 1 destroyed


Salomons.
South of Salomon Sea i am fallowing TF that looks like Invasion Force. APA, AKA. CVE TF, SAG. But they behave strangely.
They show up first time 5 days ago. I detect them near Tagula Island. I lost tracking on them next turn, but Docup land with Commando Bn on Torokin. He write me that he made mistake.

Next turn i was watching all his forces moving back to Oz. Last turn I again detect the same TF South of Tagula Island again moving north.

Not sure what to do. For sure KB will not be used. I already decide that KB will not be used in defense of Salomons.

For me it looks strange . Docup is moving to slow for me. It almost looks like he want me to see those invasion and force me to react to it.

I moved some extra Air group to Truk. I have 400 fighters, 300 bombers and SAG in area but they will not engage until Rabul will be in danger.

KB
TB groups slowly upgrading to Grace. Already 70 of them operational

[koniu]

31 May 1944

Rangoon Battle

Allied Heavy Cruisers try to sweep Rangoon hex. Two days ago Japanese CA TF enter Rangoon hex with order to protect city from Sea. I was expecting attempt to bombard Rangoon as payback of me bombing Saumlaki. After first surprise Japanese manage to end this battle as victorious side. 90% of battle was fight at 2000yards.

All ships (expect two CA and DD) need some repair time. But all expect one DD are far from sinking. One DD have minor damage but still have over 20 fires. In battle i lost 1 DD.

I have BB TF in area. they will join CA and DD left and will try to protect Rangoon. Or Docup will retreat or he will try again 50/50 chance here.

Allies lost 3 CAs, 2 DD, and one CA and couple DD damaged.

I have half of CAs and CL in IJN have in repair. One or two battles like that and i will be out of Capital ships.

Night Time Surface Combat, near Rangoon at 54,53, Range 6,000 Yards

Allied aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft losses
Seagull V: 2 destroyed

Japanese Ships
CA Mogami, Shell hits 1
CA Kumano, Shell hits 4, on fire
CA Furutaka, Shell hits 3
CL Naka, Shell hits 4, heavy fires
CL Jintsu, Shell hits 3, on fire
CL Natori, Shell hits 2
DD Hayashimo
DD Asagiri, Shell hits 6, on fire
DD Kamikaze, Shell hits 2, on fire
DD Asakaze, Shell hits 6, heavy fires
DD Harukaze, Shell hits 1
DD Asanagi, Shell hits 1, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk

Allied Ships
CA Shropshire, Shell hits 28, and is sunk
CA London, Shell hits 23, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
CA Suffolk, Shell hits 6, on fire
CA Cumberland, Shell hits 18, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk
DD Quiberon
DD Quickmatch, Shell hits 6, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Warramunga
DD Napier, Shell hits 3
DD Nestor, Shell hits 3
DD Norman, Shell hits 9, heavy fires, heavy damage

Salomon Sea
Invasion target unknown. Allied ships are concentrated in waters between Woodlark and Tagula.
It start look serious. After turn tomorrow i will decide if i send there KB. I will only do that if Allied Fleet Carriers will show up. So far it looks that only small CVE TF is involved.

R&D
I start producing A6M5c and A6M5d-S

Another A7M2 Sam factory repaired. Current arrival date is 11/44[8D]

[koniu]

Salomon Sea

[koniu]

Burma

[koniu]

DEI

[koniu]

Fleet comparison at 31 May 1944

[koniu]

1 June 1944

Salomon Sea
I am 99,9% sure that Salmon TF are fake invasion.
Instead of landing somewhere they again retreat south. He have those ships in Salomons for 7 days and he do nothing. Today i probably learn why.

Bay of Bengal
Enemy TF show up SE of Ceylon.
At lest two of them are CVTF. I believe there is third CV TF don`t see. I saw red line connecting LCP from sea hex to visible CV TF when they shot down my search plane.
I lost 3 Planes above those TF so CAP must be strong. In my experience search planes are shot down when at lest 100 fighters is flying CAP.

Another naval battle south of Rangoon. Today BB TF meat Fletcher TF. No ship lost but i left with only two DD undamaged and one BB eat TT.

Night Time Surface Combat, near Rangoon at 52,54, Range 7,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
BB Fuso
BB Yamashiro, Shell hits 2, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
DD Okikaze, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Akikaze, Shell hits 3, on fire
DD Yakaze, Shell hits 2, heavy fires
DD Hokaze
DD Tachikaze
DD Nokaze, Shell hits 1

Allied Ships
DD Converse
DD Dashiell
DD DeHaven
DD Foote
DD Pringle, Shell hits 2
DD Radford, Shell hits 1
DD Saufley, Shell hits 2, on fire

I am out of ships. I have only undamaged BB, CA, two CL and two DD. rest of ships is in no combat condition.
I am ordering full retreat of navy from that area. All ship have order to flank south toward Singer. If lucky maybe they make it.
I am sending KB to that area. They should be there in 3-4 days. KB will have order to give air cover to retreating ships. And If KB will avoid detection and enemy will be in range maybe i will strike.

CA Kumano will be left behind damage is to big to risk sea trip right now.

It not look good. I need also retreat some LBA groups from Rangoon and Moumulien. They lost naval protection. I will left only minimal forces to place CAP

A need advice. I have few h to decide.

If this what i see is true it looks that Docup will try to land somewhere in Malaya coast or in Sumatra. Shoul i use those undamaged ships to fight or retret them south. For sure if they stay in Rangoon area it will be last battle for them.

Japan navy after two days of battles in Burma

[koniu]

Map of Bay of Bengal.

One of pilots searching over bay report Essex class CV. I lost 3 search planes above that TFs so CAP is strong.

Any advise??? For sure priority will be to protect all those damaged ships i have in Bay of Bengal

[JocMeister]

I would retreat. Your ships are already at a disadvantage at this point. Going into a fight with many ships damaged and slowed down will only make things worse. DOCUP still have a long way to go and there will be lots of more opportunities for you to engage him before he reaches the HI.

Its the KB that will decide the battle!

[koniu]

Bad news. Half h ago i sleep on wet floor in house hit my foot and broken middle finger. Siting now in ER waiting for help

[JocMeister]

ORIGINAL: koniu

Bad news. Half h ago i sleep on wet floor in house hit my foot and broken middle finger. Siting now in ER waiting for help

Ouch, that sucks koniu. [:(] Did you break your foot too?