Turnaround? Lowpe (J) vs Tiemanj (A) Stock

[Lowpe]

Wake Island.

Only a bombardment attack this turn....

I guess the longer they hold out the more supply gets to my other bases.

[Lowpe]

On the bright side we fixed another Ki202 factory. I will be bummed if I can't hold out long enough to actually use these guys.

[Lowpe]

We manage to pull off a night bombing attack at Port Blair.[:)] Moonlight 90+ percent, very low altitude, just above the balloons, but there is severe storms.[:(] We manage two runway hits. Tomorrow, there will be night fighters there.

Allies bomb everywhere: Trinkat, Burma, Midway, Marshalls, Solomons. Japan bombs some in China.

Not sure really what to do here...I don't see how I can stop that Panzer Army he has at Tuang Gyi. I have two tank divisions I guess I will have to send to Chiang Mai and pull everything else back to Moulmein. Well, I started the retreat out of Burma a while ago and will just have to accelerate it.

The end has come...

On the bright side I heard sinking sounds around Wake, and it wasn't one of my ships. No clue what it could be though.

And even better, Japan lost fewer planes than the Allies did, too. See, its not so bad.[8D]

[ny59giants]

Sad to say, but your getting to the point in the game were Japan does more counter punching than punching. You will look for those small victories to boast morale. i.e. How long can Wake hold out??

[Lowpe]

Are there Allied troops heading south west down the road here? I think so, but am not certain. Guess I will know for sure next turn as the troops arrive in their destination most likely. I would like most of his troops here to head south west and not to the east.

To the east I will have 700 AV: Hvy IJA Division; Tank Regiment; Inf Regiment; Construction Engineers. A RTA division is moving southwest to join them, but has to stay in combat mode and might not make it if the Allies move 3 divisions, 9 artillery, and 2000 AFVs there.

I worry about that hex as it is only jungle, and I don't have ART there. Once they fall the next stop is only a RTA third of division and garrison troops digging in but in Jungle Rough terrain at least. I have more on the way, but Allies will move faster than I think possible.

Ah well, fighting withdraw...toughest tactic to pull off.

[Lowpe]

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

Don't overlook facing the P-47D25 in early to mid '44 and then by late '44 the P-51D. As Allies, I plan on my best air groups going over to P-51D to save on airframes of the P-47s.

I am planning to meet the 51D on nearly equal terms...err, except for range, armor and firepower.[:D]

[Lowpe]

It is amazing how you spirits can climb simply by working thru the turn. It turns out the hex due east of Tuang Gyi is JR -- so x3. My troops may hold out longer than I thought, especially since there is IJA 43 squads there.

First step in Burma is to shorten the line to Toungoo, and from there build up a stronger line at Moulmein. Hope I can...every day I hold is more oil back to the HI. I have to fight, can't fall back quickly. Bleed over every hex, especially those x3 hexes.

First squadron of Ki100-I in the Marianas flying; second is at Palmebang repairing.

Got my second full time NF squadron! But oddly, the Allies stopped bombing at night with the appearance of the first squadron.

[Lowpe]

I am making tracks back in Burma...have a two stage line with the final line at Moulmein....have to hold, no choice.

Air transporting in some fast reaction Garrison troops to Trinkat, to insure the base doesn't fall to paratroops. They are joined by several fighter Sentais, including 60 Georges to ambush in the Air. Tojo IIc at mid atlitude and Oscar IVs down low. Hope to not only damage the Lightning sweeps heavily, but also the air transports and bombers even more heavily.[:)] Trinkat is another base I have to fight over, and sending an entire heavy IJA division there should do the trick, and wipe out 3 paratroop units. Chindits have had a tough war...I destroyed one, trashed the second, and will nail these guys too I think.

Postponed the Yamoto and Mushashi upgrades (air radar and 25mm ackack) to hopefully bushwack his CA force around Port Blair.

275 AV should land in two days...at Trinkat.

I am sending a few destroyers to find out what is at Great Nicobar. They will probably get devastated by minefields and find 4 individual pt boats. If that is the case, then I will bring up the fact that is viewed as gamey.[X(] Also set some Nicks and Oscars on naval strafing attacks.

Should be launching my first minisub offensive operation tomorrow. Anybody know how heavily Ceylon is mined? Might change my target to Port Blair that has a xAP disbanded in port.

Bought our two Armored units and will be sending them to Indochina...bought out several IJN fighter squadrons that were training and I am sending them to the Marianas. I figure I need 300 to 400 land based fighters there. It is a good place for navy fighters, since I don't have navy pilots to train anymore.

Collecting all my Nick squadrons and releasing the pilots (trained air/strafe/def) and will train in low naval as an antiship platform. Their days as fighters is pretty much done as my fighter strength has grown.

Stopped production of the KAI Dinah.[:(] I don't think they got even one kill, but they sure changed the night bombing war![:D] I have 2 squadrons broken down providing night defense, but with the addition of a second NF squadron, these guys are going to be slowly changed to KI100-Is. Petes and Alfs are still doing Night CAP.

Expect more massive aerial bombardments on my troops stuck in the open, but most should make the jungle by the end of the day hopefully. Allies should punch through the one third splinter division in the jungle northeast of Prome. No loss, and the troops should retire thru the jungle to Toungoo. I hope.[8|]

And the question on everyone's mind is will Wake hold out another day? Forts are still high, but the troops are starting to wear thin. Can a Iboat get a hit? Probably not, but still trying. I have lots of subs heading back for repairs....

[Lowpe]

Plane moves:

I now have two fully repaired size 30 factories going after the final George. I will have four in 30 days. Switched a third engine factory over to the engine for final George and Sam J. 30 days and 30K supply before it is repaired.

No moves on Frank a.

I am debating my no Jacks idea, and may make one factory to support one squadron for the rest of the game just to fly the plane. No research effort into later models though.

Ran out of engines for the Judy, every factory advanced to the fourth generation plane (I am skipping the third).

Myojo is another divebomber that will be available in late 43. Is it considered gamey to build it and use it from land and not in a kamikaze role? It carries a big bomb![X(] See, I am thinking positively that kamikazes won't be active in late 43.

[CaptBeefheart]

In my experience, I've been able to supply Allied troops as far as Saigon with supply dropped off at Ramree, monsoon or no monsoon. To me Ramree is the key to holding Burma for the IJ. Once you lose it, you might as well withdraw to Moulmein or another defensive line.

Cheers,
CC

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: Commander Cody

In my experience, I've been able to supply Allied troops as far as Saigon with supply dropped off at Ramree, monsoon or no monsoon. To me Ramree is the key to holding Burma for the IJ. Once you lose it, you might as well withdraw to Moulmein or another defensive line.

Cheers,
CC

I wouldn't say that! Depends on how much you have in the defensive hexes. I held on a lot longer than I'd thought possible there.

[GreyJoy]

ORIGINAL: obvert

ORIGINAL: Commander Cody

In my experience, I've been able to supply Allied troops as far as Saigon with supply dropped off at Ramree, monsoon or no monsoon. To me Ramree is the key to holding Burma for the IJ. Once you lose it, you might as well withdraw to Moulmein or another defensive line.

Cheers,
CC

I wouldn't say that! Depends on how much you have in the defensive hexes. I held on a lot longer than I'd thought possible there.

Ramree can't supply anything if the jungle hex that connects it with the continent is heavily defended[;)]

[Lowpe]

Sept 17, 1943

Crisis Wake:

Allies throw in the Kitchen sink here, several fresh bombardments, heavy air strikes, and fresh troops including M5 Stuart Tanks. The brave defenders, who lasted so much longer than I thought possible, fight to the last man.

Escorts spot an RO sub, no attacks.

[Lowpe]

Georges, Tojo and Oscar, surprise 30 four engine beasties over Trinkat nailing 22 of them! Unfortunately, Corsairs swept first, but still a good day.[:)] Also bagged some transports, but not nearly as many as I hoped for.

I have shot the supply with that display of air power, but it should be resupplied and heavily reinforced on the morrow.

[Lowpe]

The Main Event: Burma.

I call it the main event because I have so many troops here, and the Allies even more! Trinkat is important, because that would bring Medan within Lightning Range and also make an invasion of Sumatra fairly feasible....but Burma is where Armies die.

For some unexplained reason, the shattered units in the open west of Tuang Gyi are not bombed. All that is left in the open is ART, AA, and an ENG unit and they should find the relative safety of the jungle this next day before the Allies can attack on he ground again. I am very happy with this!

Even better news, the Allies seem to be dragging their feet moving out of Tuang Gyi. They still haven't even made one hex either southwest or to the east. This will allow a fairly strong defense to take place to the east and gives me precious time reorganizing around the Toungoo line. Very happy![:)]

Of the two ground attacks, a 1/3 of a division retreats back to Toungoo and below we knock out the Allied tank unit (0 AV) and hold against his infantry.

All the troops get fully supplied, but Toungoo is still in the red with a large influx of troops this turn.

Very happy with the lagging pace of the Allies here, but I still don't know where that huge tank army at Tuang Gyi is headed for!

[Lowpe]

ORIGINAL: Commander Cody

In my experience, I've been able to supply Allied troops as far as Saigon with supply dropped off at Ramree, monsoon or no monsoon. To me Ramree is the key to holding Burma for the IJ. Once you lose it, you might as well withdraw to Moulmein or another defensive line.

Cheers,
CC

This is a fighting retreat! He will have to attack in every jungle or jungle rough hex.

I need time to get oil and fuel back to the Home Islands!

[Lowpe]

ORIGINAL: obvert

ORIGINAL: Commander Cody

In my experience, I've been able to supply Allied troops as far as Saigon with supply dropped off at Ramree, monsoon or no monsoon. To me Ramree is the key to holding Burma for the IJ. Once you lose it, you might as well withdraw to Moulmein or another defensive line.

Cheers,
CC

I wouldn't say that! Depends on how much you have in the defensive hexes. I held on a lot longer than I'd thought possible there.

Can't tell you how much solace I get looking at your defense here, that is until Tavoy fell. I am on pins and needles looking for a landing every turn -- it is about the first thing I do.

[Lowpe]

ORIGINAL: GreyJoy

ORIGINAL: obvert

ORIGINAL: Commander Cody

In my experience, I've been able to supply Allied troops as far as Saigon with supply dropped off at Ramree, monsoon or no monsoon. To me Ramree is the key to holding Burma for the IJ. Once you lose it, you might as well withdraw to Moulmein or another defensive line.

Cheers,
CC

I wouldn't say that! Depends on how much you have in the defensive hexes. I held on a lot longer than I'd thought possible there.

Ramree can't supply anything if the jungle hex that connects it with the continent is heavily defended[;)]

Well, too late for that. Going back, I really bungled the early defense of Burma. I was having horrible supply problems feeding the troops, only to find that one of the forward bases was set to hoard supplies at a huge rate...but that lost me Prome and I missed the opportunity of holding down the dirt road east of Ramree.

[Lowpe]

Other notes:

Those four individual ship task forces at Great Nicobar are gone. Ships encountered nothing there, and the strafing planes didn't attack for three or four days. No clue what they were. There is now a horde of 10 pt boats at Port Blair. They had to steam across from Ramree, which I though might indicate constrained supply at Port Blair -- but then it is British and their ports cannot create PT boats, correct?

I forgot about a PB and two very small xakls at Manus above Rabaul and they are wiped out by low flying 4Es.[:(]

[Lowpe]

Sept 18, 1943

No night bombing.

Retaliation for my trap over Trinkat takes the form of massed attacks on Bangkok. Allies losses attached, and Japan suffers about 120 losses for the day...70 on the ground. Anytime I suffer less than twice as much as the Allies I feel ok. Especially fighting down two jugs sweeps and 2 lightning sweeps over Bangkok.

For some odd reason, on the first Lightning sweep, the Oscars where the very first to fight and they were diving on the Lightnings. Very odd since the Oscars were low and the Lightnings high!