Road to Tokyo. MrKane(A) vs Spidery(J)

[MrKane]

[font="Courier New"]15th Nov 1943.

Southwest Pacific HQ:

5th USAAF has raided Palembang again. This time in day light. Over 200 bombers bombed airfield with escort over 100 fighters. As prelude to bombing base was swept by 150 fighters.
Result are promising: airbase damage: 87, 123 (70 Frank, 37 Oscar, 24 Gorge, 23 Irving) Japanese fighters destroyed including 46 on ground for 19 fighters and 3 bombers. Air recon still shows 50 enemy fighters in base, however I think most of them are damaged SR 3 planes.
One more day and base will be ready for day oil bombing.
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[MrKane]

[font="Courier New"]16th Nov 1943.

Very quiet day.

17th Nov 1943.


Southwest Pacific HQ:

5th USAAF has raided Palembang during day. Over 300 fighters and 200 bombers scored over 200 hits without resistance from enemy. Airfield is closed, 100% damage, additionally it seems that Martin fighters deserted south part of Sumatra.

This five days offensive is first major daylight victory for 5th USAAF. I hope it will be next soon.
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[MrKane]

[font="Courier New"]18th Nov 1943.

Oil centers destroyed:
- Palembang 607 (+153)
- Balikpapan 272
- Djambi 155
- Samarinda 56
- Lanchow 0
- Java Oil captured 225
-----------------------
total lost count: 1315

Southwest Pacific HQ:

5th USAAF has raided Palembang during day. Over 300 fighters and 200 bombers grounded 153 oil centers without resistance from enemy. Airfield is still closed, 97% damage.

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[MrKane]

[font="Courier New"]18th Nov 1943.

Oil centers destroyed:
- Palembang 748 (+141) just 152 left
- Balikpapan 272
- Djambi 155
- Samarinda 56
- Lanchow 0
- Java Oil captured 225
-----------------------
total lost count: 1456 - more than 50% total Japanese oil centers

Southwest Pacific HQ:

5th USAAF has raided Palembang during day. Over 300 fighters and 200 bombers grounded 153 oil centers without resistance from enemy. Airfield is still closed, 100% damage.[/font]

[MrKane]

[font="Courier New"]19th Nov 1943.

Oil centers destroyed:
- Palembang 842 (+58)
- Balikpapan 272
- Djambi 155
- Samarinda 56
- Lanchow 0
- Java Oil captured 225
-----------------------
total lost count: 1514

Southwest Pacific HQ:

Nine cruisers with escort bombarded Oosthhaven closing base at night.

5th USAAF has raided Palembang during day. Over 300 fighters and 200 bombers grounded 58 oil centers without resistance from enemy. Airfield is still closed, 100% damage.[/font]

[MrKane]

I have some free time tonight and year 1943 is coming to end, so here are a few screen summarizing game for end of '43.
Ships losses:

[MrKane]

Air losses:

[MrKane]

Air units stats:

[MrKane]

Top Aces list:

[MrKane]

[font="Courier New"]20th - 27th Nov 1943.

Oil centers destroyed:
- Palembang 856
- Balikpapan 272
- Djambi 155
- Samarinda 56
- Lanchow 0
- Java Oil captured 225
-----------------------
total lost count: 1528

Southwest Pacific HQ:

5th USAAF is continuing destruction of Palembang without resistance.

South Pacific HQ:

Buna, Lea, Salamaua, Wau, Fishchhafen taken by USMC Paratroopers.

Central Pacific HQ:

Fifth Fleet have just left Perl Harbor and it is sailing west.
8 x CV, 6 x CVL, 11 BB, 5 x CA, 7 x CL, 3 x CLAA, ~100 x DD
+ ~200 transport and escort ships with:
2 Marine deivisions, 2 Tank Bn, 3 Arty Reg.[/font]

[obvert]

I hope you're planning to bring reserves along after the main fleets. Two Marine divisions doesn't sound like enough for much of anything at this point in the war.

[MrKane]

ORIGINAL: obvert

I hope you're planning to bring reserves along after the main fleets. Two Marine divisions doesn't sound like enough for much of anything at this point in the war.

[font="Courier New"]I am going against big island garrisoned by 59th IJA Division, 148th IJA Regiment, Naval Fortress and one tank company. Do you think 2 Marine divisions is not enough ?
My warships can bombard island every 4rd day and it is in range of my B-24. I can take two more, but island SL = 35K. I do not have experience with this kind of operation yet, this should be test before main offensive [/font]

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: MrKane

ORIGINAL: obvert

I hope you're planning to bring reserves along after the main fleets. Two Marine divisions doesn't sound like enough for much of anything at this point in the war.

[font="Courier New"]I am going against big island garrisoned by 59th IJA Division, 148th IJA Regiment, Naval Fortress and one tank company. Do you think 2 Marine divisions is not enough ?
My warships can bombard island every 4rd day and it is in range of my B-24. I can take two more, but island SL = 35K. I do not have experience with this kind of operation yet, this should be test before main offensive [/font]

I think you could need something in reserve in case your first attack doesn't go as planned. If he has 6+ forts, your ships don't hit when you think they will or something else goes wrong. If it's not an atoll and you don't mind taking a bit of time to wear it down, your two Marine divisions well supported by tanks and arty with air and sea bombardments should be fine. With that many ships I wash thinking you were going for something bigger! [;)]

[MrKane]

ORIGINAL: obvert

ORIGINAL: MrKane

ORIGINAL: obvert

I hope you're planning to bring reserves along after the main fleets. Two Marine divisions doesn't sound like enough for much of anything at this point in the war.

[font="Courier New"]I am going against big island garrisoned by 59th IJA Division, 148th IJA Regiment, Naval Fortress and one tank company. Do you think 2 Marine divisions is not enough ?
My warships can bombard island every 4rd day and it is in range of my B-24. I can take two more, but island SL = 35K. I do not have experience with this kind of operation yet, this should be test before main offensive [/font]

I think you could need something in reserve in case your first attack doesn't go as planned. If he has 6+ forts, your ships don't hit when you think they will or something else goes wrong. If it's not an atoll and you don't mind taking a bit of time to wear it down, your two Marine divisions well supported by tanks and arty with air and sea bombardments should be fine. With that many ships I wash thinking you were going for something bigger! [;)]

[font="Courier New"]Thanks, temporary my opponent went silent, I hope he will come back tomorrow. I got you point, however in my opinion Truk it is "something bigger" I will start packing one more USMC Division and two more Tank Bn on xAP as soon as possible.

BTW. First bombardment by cruiser TF has confirmed only location of Naval Fortress there.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Naval bombardment of Truk at 112,108 - Coastal Guns Fire Back!

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
H8K2-L Emily: 10 damaged
N1K1-J George: 44 damaged
N1K1-J George: 1 destroyed on ground
Ki-57-I Topsy: 4 damaged

155 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Allied Ships
CA Australia, Shell hits 2, on fire
CA Salt Lake City
CA Pensacola
CA Chicago
CA Chester
CA Northampton
DD Wilson
DD Patterson
DD Gwin

Japanese ground losses:
120 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 24 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Guns lost 4 (1 destroyed, 3 disabled)

Airbase hits 4
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 29
Port hits 8
Port fuel hits 2

Truk Naval Fortress firing at CA Australia
CA Australia firing at Truk Naval Fortress
SOC-1 Seagull acting as spotter for CA Salt Lake City
Truk Naval Fortress firing at CA Salt Lake City
CA Salt Lake City firing at Truk Naval Fortress
SOC-1 Seagull acting as spotter for CA Pensacola
CA Pensacola firing at Truk
Truk Naval Fortress firing at CA Chicago
CA Chicago firing at Truk Naval Fortress
Truk Naval Fortress firing at CA Chester
CA Chester firing at Truk Naval Fortress
CA Northampton firing at Truk
Truk Naval Fortress firing at DD Wilson
Truk Naval Fortress firing at DD Patterson
Truk Naval Fortress firing at DD Gwin




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[obvert]

Truk is definitely bigger! It's got some of the best defensive guns in the game, and is definitely a tough spot. I think more would be safe. Use LSTs for the tanks, as you don't want to unload any longer than necessary against the fortress.

Should be fun! [;)]

[paullus99]

Wow - that's a surprise.....good going, should be easy then to take down.

[MrKane]

I have 2 AGC, a lot of APA, AKA, LST. According to my plans all LCUs should be on land during day one.
Until now the only fail is that I have loaded Amphib Force HQ to 3rd AGC in separate TF and game does not allow me marge both amphib TFs for unknown reason.

[Mike McCreery]

ORIGINAL: MrKane

I have 2 AGC, a lot of APA, AKA, LST. According to my plans all LCUs should be on land during day one.
Until now the only fail is that I have loaded Amphib Force HQ to 3rd AGC in separate TF and game does not allow me marge both amphib TFs for unknown reason.

Sometimes the game likes to convert my amphibious fleets to landing craft. When it does that I cannot merge other amphibious fleets and must change it back to amphibious first
.

[JohnDillworth]

Might help to have a some combat engineers and tanks. actually, that would absolutely help during the initial assault

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: JohnDillworth

Might help to have a some combat engineers and tanks. actually, that would absolutely help during the initial assault

He's got 2 tank units included already, and the Marines at this stage have a ton of combat engineers, so he mitt be okay with those.