::Felix, Ferdinand and FRUPAC:: obvert (A) v Greyjoy (J)

[obvert]

[font="Times New Roman"]May 26 - 27, 1943[/font]

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[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]CHINA: [/font] The defenders of Paoshan finally fail to fight off the Japanese assaults and the base falls with the loss of 16k+ troops. The Burma division, now the 39th Indian, is destroyed (but a fragment exists to be used later for garrisoning rear bases). I luckily a few turns later transferred any important leaders out of these units including Claire Chennault from the China Air Task Force.

So the Japanese have the mountains and they get one step closer to cutting off Chungking from the rest of China. As predicted it did take a while to break through in the x3, and hopefully the next hex, closer to Chungking making it easier to transfer troops in and out, will help. The troops retreated the wrong way and I'll have to overstock to move the shattered but experienced units back to Chungking to recover.

Something else happened though that might prove indispensable to the defense of the Chungking area.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]INDIA: [/font]Ledo falls! The tank assault across the river captures the base easily and destroys the partial guard unit left there. Transports will immediately move in and AS and supply will be flown in until it starts to flow itself after Dimapur is captured. Firstly I'll be removing some free Chinese troops to India, then supply will begin being flown in to keep the airforce flying. It's now getting close to critical with only 13k left in the base. One of the large NZ AA units is several days away from Ledo and should keep it fairly secure with 60+ 3.7" AA guns and 50+ 40mm Bofors. [:)]

At Dimapur I'm bombarding every day to keep tabs on what is in the base and what is moving though. I don't want to attack here unless it is apparent the number are way down as units straggle to get out. It's unlikely we'll catch much, but the base will be pummeled from the air making it definitely untenable, especially during the monsoon.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]CENT PAC: [/font]Mili falls! The defenders are easily overcome by our engineers as the Marines sit out the attack. I'm sure he's flown some of them out, which is fine. I'm not as interested in catching them all. I know how much it costs in HI and supply to rebuild them too, so that's fine. This will speed up our movements here unless significant IJN units appear to slow things down. I've got troops for Jaluit loading and a division for Maleolap moving down from PH.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]SO PAC/SW PAC: [/font]Our regiment at Lae is attacked immediately in a DA by the naval guard defending that base. It does fine but the guard unit doesn't lose much in the 1:6 result. I'm not hurried here so I'll wait and slowly bombard, kill supply and eventually strike. Salamua is also Allied now as is Terapo.

The smallish KB is still hanging out near Darwin, and a sub is lost to ASW air.

[font="Trebuchet MS"]--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR May 26, 43
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Ground combat at 75,47 (near Kweiyang)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 19340 troops, 376 guns, 1679 vehicles, Assault Value = 831

Defending force 34327 troops, 131 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 784

Japanese adjusted assault: 343

Allied adjusted defense: 481

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 2

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), disruption(-), fatigue(-), experience(-)
supply(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
119 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 26 disabled
Non Combat: 3 destroyed, 43 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 2 (1 destroyed, 1 disabled)
Vehicles lost 90 (13 destroyed, 77 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
1492 casualties reported
Squads: 5 destroyed, 226 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 20 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 11 disabled

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Ground combat at Paoshan (65,45)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 14982 troops, 225 guns, 844 vehicles, Assault Value = 699

Defending force 17277 troops, 96 guns, 97 vehicles, Assault Value = 213

Japanese adjusted assault: 394

Allied adjusted defense: 661

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 2 (fort level 0)

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), supply(-)
Attacker: shock(+)

Japanese ground losses:
200 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 16 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled

Allied ground losses:
1718 casualties reported
Squads: 119 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 34 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Guns lost 32 (31 destroyed, 1 disabled)

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Ground combat at Mili (136,121)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 2626 troops, 9 guns, 51 vehicles, Assault Value = 168

Defending force 1907 troops, 35 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 21

Allied engineers reduce fortifications to 1

Allied adjusted assault: 60

Japanese adjusted defense: 3

Allied assault odds: 20 to 1 (fort level 1)

Allied forces CAPTURE Mili !!!

Combat modifiers
Defender: disruption(-), experience(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
280 casualties reported
Squads: 19 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 3 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 16 (16 destroyed, 0 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
138 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 13 disabled

Assaulting units:
22nd Marine Regiment
34th Cmbt Engineer Regiment
5th US Naval Construction Battalion
26th US Naval Construction Battalion

Defending units:
Sasebo 6th SNLF
44th Naval Guard Unit
Kure 5th SNLF
7th JNAF Coy

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AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR May 27, 43
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Afternoon Air attack on Bhamo , at 63,44

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid spotted at 28 NM, estimated altitude 28,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 7

Allied aircraft
P-38G Lightning x 18

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-IIa Oscar: 4 destroyed

No Allied losses

Aircraft Attacking:
18 x P-38G Lightning sweeping at 25000 feet

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Ground combat at 75,47 (near Kweiyang)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 18987 troops, 375 guns, 1669 vehicles, Assault Value = 790

Defending force 32918 troops, 131 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 620

Japanese adjusted assault: 432

Allied adjusted defense: 181

Japanese assault odds: 2 to 1

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), disruption(-), fatigue(-), experience(-)
supply(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
27 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 13 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Vehicles lost 32 (4 destroyed, 28 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
6400 casualties reported
Squads: 179 destroyed, 54 disabled
Non Combat: 221 destroyed, 76 disabled
Engineers: 10 destroyed, 2 disabled
Guns lost 16 (10 destroyed, 6 disabled)
Units retreated 3

Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

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Ground combat at Paoshan (65,45)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 14801 troops, 225 guns, 844 vehicles, Assault Value = 679

Defending force 15947 troops, 71 guns, 95 vehicles, Assault Value = 181

Japanese adjusted assault: 294

Allied adjusted defense: 115

Japanese assault odds: 2 to 1 (fort level 0)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Paoshan !!!

Allied aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft losses
F4U-1 Corsair: 1 destroyed
F6F-3 Hellcat: 2 destroyed

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), disruption(-), preparation(-), morale(-)
experience(-), supply(-)
Attacker: disruption(-)

Japanese ground losses:
101 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled

Allied ground losses:
16134 casualties reported
Squads: 418 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 1211 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 45 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 103 (103 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Vehicles lost 109 (109 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units destroyed 16

Assaulting units:
3rd Tank Division
Guards Tank Division

Defending units:
39th Indian Division
16th Indian Bde /1
13th Chinese Base Force
72nd Chinese Corps
56th Chinese Corps
11th Group Army
62nd Chinese Corps
32nd Chinese Corps
1st Burma Auxiliary AA Regiment
10th Chinese Corps
34th Chinese Corps
3rd Chinese Cavalry Corps
33rd Base Group /1
80th Chinese Corps
Fourteenth USAAF
103rd RN Base Force /1

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Ground combat at Lae (99,126)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 2002 troops, 12 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 63

Defending force 3266 troops, 42 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 109

Japanese adjusted assault: 23

Allied adjusted defense: 139

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 6

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), fatigue(-)
Attacker: fatigue(-)

Japanese ground losses:
81 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 6 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

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

Assaulting units:
42nd Naval Guard Unit
58th Construction Battalion
18th Garrison Unit /3

Defending units:
138th(Sep) Infantry Rgt /19

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Ground combat at Dimapur (62,38)

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 45790 troops, 726 guns, 822 vehicles, Assault Value = 1542

Defending force 36178 troops, 430 guns, 320 vehicles, Assault Value = 861

Japanese ground losses:
76 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 0 disabled

Allied ground losses:
107 casualties reported
Squads: 5 destroyed, 5 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 4 (4 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Vehicles lost 5 (2 destroyed, 3 disabled)

Assaulting units:
I Aus Corps Engineer Battalion
637th Tank Destroyer Battalion
50th Tank Brigade
7th Australian Division
3rd Marine Division
9th Australian Division
98th Field Artillery Battalion
2/1st Med Regiment
6th Medium Regiment
183rd Field Artillery Battalion
III Indian Corps
17th Indian Light AA Regiment
1st West African AA Regiment

Defending units:
33rd Division
55th Division
6th Air Defense AA Regiment
3rd Air Division
51st Air Defense AA Battalion
36th Field AA Battalion
2nd RF Gun Battalion
1st Art.Mortar Regiment
44th Ind.AA Gun Co
44th Field AA Battalion
2nd Area Army
31st Ind.AA Gun Co
12th Ind. AA Battalion
1st RF Gun Battalion
18th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
7th JAAF Base Force

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Ground combat at Ledo (65,38)

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 5047 troops, 21 guns, 632 vehicles, Assault Value = 437

Defending force 1019 troops, 1 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 16

Allied adjusted assault: 691

Japanese adjusted defense: 1

Allied assault odds: 691 to 1 (fort level 3)

Allied forces CAPTURE Ledo !!!

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), forts(+), leaders(+), fatigue(-), experience(-)
Attacker: shock(+)

Japanese ground losses:
1283 casualties reported
Squads: 22 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 78 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 1 (1 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units destroyed 1

Allied ground losses:
30 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Assaulting units:
3rd Carabiniers Regiment
255th Armoured Brigade
150th RAC Regiment
627th Tank Destroyer Battalion
Gardner's Horse Regiment

Defending units:
67th Naval Guard Unit
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[font="Trebuchet MS"]The new situation means I can finally fly some things in (and out) of China. It's also well within non-drop tank transfer range for Hellcats and Corsairs from Chungking to Ledo.

At Dimapur I'm 9k under stacking limits and waiting for armor to move from Ledo to make that up, then I'll consider a DA if anything moves out without being replaced. In the meantime I'll bomb troops at Jorhat heavily. [/font]

[crsutton]

ORIGINAL: veji1

Japan doesn't keep "aces" alive long, but can keep a very decently experienced Air Force, with solid overall experience and specialized skills.

Yes, this is my point. Viperpol, did not have many high scoring aces left as Japanese pilots do die off quickly. However, he had plenty of well trained pilots left including hundreds of expertly trained pilots. (70 and above). So, just saying that I would not obsess with killing pilots.

Just by nature of the game, the Allies will accumulate aces. Fact is, I would rather have an average pilot in a thunderbolt than a Japanese ace in anything the Japanese player can put in the air.

I have noticed with the revised air model that average Allied planes can do well. In stock, I eventually just had to hide my Hurricane IIs and P39s after the Tojo came on board. Mr Tojo is still tough but in 10/42 my highest scoring unit is a P39 unit.

[ny59giants]

How is your construction engineer situation is India?? Anything less than 300 engineers (engineers + eng vehicles) at a base is not enough for rapid expansion and repairs. Any newly captured bases close to or plans for expansion to size 9??

[obvert]

Here's a look at the NE India area and newly captured bases. I'll be building all of the bases close to Burma to at least size 8 to get the extra AS, but also to have options for different kinds of missions here. I'm not so concerned with speed in most but fro Ledo and anything close to China I definitely am.

I'm currently flying stuff in there and once Jorhat is captured the same will happen there. Then if we get Dimapur soon, which it looks like we will after the Japanese move out, more will be able to rail in. Currently Tezpur is getting the benefit of the in between time to build up fast. After playing Japan though I'm happy with 50 engineers and 20 Eng. vehicles in a base.

Chittagong will be critical for later to get shorter range planes to sweep and escort at Mandalay and Magwe, his two bigger bases in Burma.

First things first though. China must be fed! [:)]

[obvert]

Since the Med is now open I thought it would be good to look at convoy routes. I ended up looking at the entire map.

It obviously makes sense to use the Aden route from East Coast now and also could get some efficient supply moving from the UK. As new units come that I want to send to the CBI this will really expedite their movement. Also, now that CT to Perth is more viable, the Allies gain a lot of flexibility in moving ocean to ocean quickly.

I'd like to get Cocos soon to secure these routes further and put psychological pressure on the Japanese in the DEI.

[obvert]

Based on a discussion in SqzMyLemon's AAR I started looking at bomb loads and got to understand better how in game the Japanese are not so far behind the Allies, especially early in the war, in terms of how they can affect outcomes through concentrated air strikes. Since I've continually faced large raids, 150-250 bombers against single hexes at times, I thought I'd look at what that means.

Here are some comparisons of Japanese and Allied standard bomb types for HB/MB.

The Japanese 250kg GP bomb has a better anti-armor and anti-soft rating, and it also has a greater effect.

To equal 50 B-17E/F hitting a target the Japanese need to send about 91 Sally/Helen. They probably also have some advantage from greater accuracy of each device and/or the better anti-soft/anti-hard ratings. Not sure how those are calculated, but I don't need to get that precise. I just wanted to know the relative approximate strengths of strike abilities.

ALLIED B-24: 40 x 300 = 120,000

ALLIED B-17E/F: 50 x 8 x 300 = 120,000

ALLIED B-25: 67 x 6 x 300 = 120,600

IJ Sally/Helen: 91 x 4 x 331 = 120,484

[obvert]

Here are a few more for the smaller sized bombs, the Allied 250lb GP and the IJ 100kg GP bombs. The lower accuracy, penetration and smaller anti-soft/hard effects would also most likely mean neither of these would really equal the power of 50 B-17E/F.

ALLIED Blenheim: 200 x 4 x 150 = 120,000

IJ Lily: 228 x 4 x 132 = 120,384

[Lowpe]

Well, the big thing you don't mention is that the Allied bombers can fly thru a wall of flak and still make hits. The Helens, not so much.[:D]

Nice map earlier!

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

Well, the big thing you don't mention is that the Allied bombers can fly thru a wall of flak and still make hits. The Helens, not so much.[:D]

Nice map earlier!

In DBB I find the 4Es get to target pretty well but the 2E not so much in the face of decent flak. I just watched a turn where about 100-120 Allied 2E got exactly one disabled squad in a ground strike with very heavy flak at the base. The weather was also bad, but the 4E flying to the same base from the same altitude were able to get good hits on the fields.

It's tough for the Japanese bombers later in the game for sure, but still possible to get to the Allied bases if they let their guard down and weather cooperates.

The reason for posting this for myself was just to get some idea of equivalents, not just between sides but in my own forces to understand what effect each type really might have on the target.

[obvert]

[font="Times New Roman"]May 28 - 29, 1943[/font]

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The game slowed this weekend as Nick's father has been in the hospital. My thoughts are with him and his family now.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]SUBS: [/font] A new sub, the Seahorse, get a PB picket out near the Kuriles.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]INDIA: [/font] A few good days of bombing at Jorhat in the clear net a lot of disabled IJA troops. The 5th division leaves and a regiment is really trashed, but also seems to be moving on. I may get a shot at reduced troops at Dimapur later, but he'll probably take the overstacking hit and just move them up the road all together. Still, he won't have much supply for the walk through the jungle during the monsoon, and those units will try to suck from Burma losing a lot of supply on the way.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]CENT PAC: [/font] Sending an invasion to Jaluit. It should land in the next two days, depending on what I see coming. [:)]

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]SO PAC: [/font] A BIG IJN TF is found by our PTs near Torokina. I sent in two bombardment TFs and minesweeper TF to Buin in preparation for landing there, and the PTs luckily reacted. The Musashi, Fuso and Yamashiro are here, and 3 cruisers plus 10 DDs are with them. My three TFs hit Buin just fine, but two DDs hit mines. They'll make it back to Brisbane. It's a good hit one day too late, shutting the base but missing the 190 fighters that were just here. Bait I guess, and the Musashi TF was aiming for a bombardment he knew would happen. I'm sure he sees my amphibs too, so I'll bring it all back and reset. Unload. Then go again.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]CHINA: [/font] The IJA moves to within one hex of Chungking on the SE road there. I'm shifting a lot of troops around to get the right numbers and some with supply into that hex. I also have to be aware of leaving just enough free for new units arriving to move out of Chungking on to the NE.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]SIGINT:[/font] Weird SIGINT. I'll keep my eyes open but this seems strange. Rangoon is too much in view to just move CVs there, and they can't even go upriver. I'll get some subs in the way of this division moving to Sarmi.

[font="Trebuchet MS"]a Japanese CV is moving to Rangoon (54,53).

26/14th Division is loaded on a Kyushu Cargo class xAK moving to Sarmi.[/font]

[font="Trebuchet MS"]--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR May 28, 43
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Night Time Surface Combat, near Horn Island at 91,127, Range 2,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
DD Akikaze
DD Hokaze
DD Tachikaze
DD Kyukaze

Allied Ships
PT-235
PT-237
PT-243, Shell hits 7, and is sunk
PT-256, Shell hits 1

Reduced sighting due to 21% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Partly Cloudy Conditions and 21% moonlight: 2,000 yards

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AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR May 29, 43
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TF 438 encounters mine field at Buin (109,131)

Allied Ships
DMS Hamilton
DMS Hovey

21 mines cleared

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Night Time Surface Combat, near Torokina at 109,130, Range 10,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
BB Musashi
BB Fuso
BB Yamashiro
CA Aoba
CA Kinugasa
CL Agano
DD Shimakaze
DD Yugiri
DD Amagiri
DD Akebono
DD Sazanami
DD Ushio
DD Minazuki
DD Kikuzuki
DD Uruyuke
DD Kosugiri

Allied Ships
PT-83
PT-84
PT-115
PT-116
PT-117
PT-118, Shell hits 1

Reduced sighting due to 21% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Clear Conditions and 21% moonlight: 12,000 yards
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 10,000 yards
Japanese open fire on surprised Allied ships at 10,000 yards
BB Yamashiro fires at PT-118 at 10,000 yards
Range closes to 9,000 yards
BB Musashi engages PT-117 at 9,000 yards
Range closes to 7,000 yards
DD Akebono engages PT-118 at 7,000 yards
Range increases to 8,000 yards
BB Musashi engages PT-84 at 8,000 yards
DD Shimakaze engages PT-118 at 9,000 yards
Task forces break off...

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TF 259 encounters mine field at Buin (109,131)

Allied Ships
DD Bennett, Mine hits 1

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TF 205 encounters mine field at Buin (109,131)

Allied Ships
DD Walke, Mine hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

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Night Naval bombardment of Buin at 109,131

Japanese Ships
ACM Hinode Maru #17, Shell hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage

Allied Ships
CA Australia
CL Santa Fe
CL Perth
CL Achilles
CL Leander
DD Wilson
DD Morris
DD Barton

Japanese ground losses:
467 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Non Combat: 3 destroyed, 32 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 7 disabled
Guns lost 10 (1 destroyed, 9 disabled)

Airbase hits 25
Airbase supply hits 9
Runway hits 58
Port hits 27
Port fuel hits 12
Port supply hits 2

Seagull V acting as spotter for CA Australia
CA Australia firing at Buin
CL Achilles firing at 18th Garrison Unit

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Night Naval bombardment of Buin at 109,131

Allied Ships
BB Colorado
BB Maryland

Japanese ground losses:
501 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 12 destroyed, 16 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 2 disabled
Guns lost 3 (2 destroyed, 1 disabled)

Airbase hits 2
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 7
Port hits 1
Port fuel hits 2

BB Colorado firing at Buin
BB Maryland firing at Buin

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Night Naval bombardment of Buin at 109,131

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5 Zero: 2 damaged

Allied Ships
CL Helena
CL St. Louis

Japanese ground losses:
695 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 5 disabled
Non Combat: 5 destroyed, 37 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 5 disabled
Guns lost 10 (4 destroyed, 6 disabled)

Airbase hits 13
Airbase supply hits 5
Runway hits 31
Port hits 9
Port fuel hits 2
Port supply hits 1

CL Helena firing at Buin
CL St. Louis firing at Buin

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TF 438 encounters mine field at Buin (109,131)

Allied Ships
DMS Hamilton
DMS Hovey

36 mines cleared

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TF 438 encounters mine field at Buin (109,131)

Allied Ships
DMS Hamilton
DMS Hovey

29 mines cleared

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[font="Trebuchet MS"]This was a surprise. I feel like this isn't the best TF composition fro this area, but I may be proved wrong. I'm going to head back and reorganize and get a bunch of CLs together and I might even bring in the fast BBs. Musashi is tough, but those cruisers might make the whole thing engage to closely. We'l see. [/font]

[crsutton]

Absolutely agree. That surface TF is way too large. In a night action, it is likely that half of those ships will not even fire a shot. Don't understand why big TFs like that are used. Never have and never will. Only time it can be effective is when it does a bombardment but at the risk of getting caught by surface forces why not break it into two TFs?

[crsutton]

ORIGINAL: obvert

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

Well, the big thing you don't mention is that the Allied bombers can fly thru a wall of flak and still make hits. The Helens, not so much.[:D]

Nice map earlier!

In DBB I find the 4Es get to target pretty well but the 2E not so much in the face of decent flak. I just watched a turn where about 100-120 Allied 2E got exactly one disabled squad in a ground strike with very heavy flak at the base. The weather was also bad, but the 4E flying to the same base from the same altitude were able to get good hits on the fields.

It's tough for the Japanese bombers later in the game for sure, but still possible to get to the Allied bases if they let their guard down and weather cooperates.

The reason for posting this for myself was just to get some idea of equivalents, not just between sides but in my own forces to understand what effect each type really might have on the target.

Well, it is a good exercise from a weight of metal standpoint but my experience shows that superior Allied flak will lessen the effect of any comparable Japanese attack. You will have more damaged bombers and I don't think I have ever seen a damaged DB or Torpedo bomber hit a ship. Don't know the effect of level bombers but one has to suspect better flak means more misses. I am just amazed at the effect of Allied flak with the changes in Da Babes. To the point where I don't bother capping some large bases but load them up with flak and let the flak shoot down bombers. Saves the fighter pool that way. Funny, but in stock I did not even bother buying American flak units out from the West Coast. (they were not worth it) However, in Da Babes I have bought every one that I could afford. I sent a bunch of flak units from the East Coast to India and I have to admit their impact on the fight there has been dramatic.

I used to say you could not send enough engineers to India. Now I say you cannot send enough engineers and flak to india...[;)]

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: crsutton

ORIGINAL: obvert

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

Well, the big thing you don't mention is that the Allied bombers can fly thru a wall of flak and still make hits. The Helens, not so much.[:D]

Nice map earlier!

In DBB I find the 4Es get to target pretty well but the 2E not so much in the face of decent flak. I just watched a turn where about 100-120 Allied 2E got exactly one disabled squad in a ground strike with very heavy flak at the base. The weather was also bad, but the 4E flying to the same base from the same altitude were able to get good hits on the fields.

It's tough for the Japanese bombers later in the game for sure, but still possible to get to the Allied bases if they let their guard down and weather cooperates.

The reason for posting this for myself was just to get some idea of equivalents, not just between sides but in my own forces to understand what effect each type really might have on the target.

Well, it is a good exercise from a weight of metal standpoint but my experience shows that superior Allied flak will lessen the effect of any comparable Japanese attack. You will have more damaged bombers and I don't think I have ever seen a damaged DB or Torpedo bomber hit a ship. Don't know the effect of level bombers but one has to suspect better flak means more misses. I am just amazed at the effect of Allied flak with the changes in Da Babes. To the point where I don't bother capping some large bases but load them up with flak and let the flak shoot down bombers. Saves the fighter pool that way. Funny, but in stock I did not even bother buying American flak units out from the West Coast. (they were not worth it) However, in Da Babes I have bought every one that I could afford. I sent a bunch of flak units from the East Coast to India and I have to admit their impact on the fight there has been dramatic.

I used to say you could not send enough engineers to India. Now I say you cannot send enough engineers and flak to india...[;)]

ALL of my large flak units are here and a number of the US ones. I agree completely. Nick knows this though so he rarely tests them out. If he sees its of guns listed in the flyovers from recon and also loses recon planes, he seems to just not even think about hitting that base.

It's more true to the era for sure. My problem is that the Japanese flak is also better , and Nick really knows how to use it and maximize it's effect. I can go in at 15k+ and still lose 5-10 bombers from 100 with a bunch more damaged.

[obvert]

[font="Times New Roman"]May 30 - 31, 1943[/font]

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[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]SUBS: [/font]It's been a rough few days for subs as ASW air patrols have put a number of USN fleet subs in jeopardy. The Tambor comes through with a hit on a troop convoy though, which is pleasant.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]INDIA: [/font] Tanks arrive in Jorhat just as the Japanese pull out. Looks like he'll be overstacking a bit on the way back up through the mountains, and that means he's be disrupted, so it's a good time to pursue. It'll also mean it'll be tough to keep these units in supply at all for the next few months, so I'll try and pour it on by continued bombing of Dimapur and then of Imphal and Kohima once he moves up there.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]CENT PAC: [/font]A quick and dirty invasion of Jaluit gets the base on the first try. Not much there so this one was easy. Next I'll try Majuro before the tougher bases of Maleolap and Wotje. I also have troops prepped for Alinglaplap and that's on the menu soon too, now that I can support the area better with LR CAP.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]SW PAC/SO PAC: [/font] Near Horn Island in the night our PT patrol ran into 4 older IJN DDs. The visibility was only 1k yards so the PTs got in close and ended up sinking one DD with a single torpedo hit! [:)]

PT-242 that got the hit was sunk moments later with three hits from the Akikaze. Guess they got in a bit close.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]CHINA: [/font] Still shifting around units SE of Chungking. Still have a big numbers advantage over the Japanese. He has tanks.

Beginning to pull some small buyable Chinese Corps pieces that have come back through the zombie system. They're heading to India to rebuild and get them out of Chungking where they just get in the way.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]SIGINT:[/font] Not sure which TF the Tambor hit, but most likely it was one of these.

[font="Trebuchet MS"]33/14th Division is loaded on a Japanese xAK moving to Sarmi.
6/23rd Field Construction Battalion is loaded on a Std-C Cargo class xAK moving to Truk.
9/14th Division is loaded on xAK Nitiren Maru moving to Sarmi.[/font]

[font="Trebuchet MS"]--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR May 30, 43
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TF 438 encounters mine field at Buin (109,131)

Allied Ships
DMS Hamilton
DMS Hovey

29 mines cleared

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Sub attack near Truk at 110,102

Japanese Ships
xAK Yoneyama Maru, Torpedo hits 1
E Matsuwa
PB Tyuwa Maru
PB Taiko Maru
PB Magan Maru
SC Ch 27
AK Yamakaze Maru
AK Yamaura Maru
AK Teikoku Maru
AK Tatuwa Maru
xAK Uji Maru
xAK Daifuku Maru
xAK Nittai Maru
xAK Zuiko Maru
xAK Toyokawa Maru
xAK Denmark Maru
xAK China Maru
xAK Atlas Maru
xAK Kozan Maru
xAK Akasisan Maru
E Niizaki
E W-26
E W-25
E W-17

Allied Ships
SS Tambor

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

SS Tambor launches 2 torpedoes at xAK Yoneyama Maru
E W-25 fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Naval bombardment of Jaluit at 134,120 - Coastal Guns Fire Back!

3 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Allied Ships
BB Mississippi
BB New Mexico
BB Arizona

Japanese ground losses:
351 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 11 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 30 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Guns lost 5 (1 destroyed, 4 disabled)

Port hits 5
Port fuel hits 2

OS2U-3 Kingfisher acting as spotter for BB Mississippi
BB Mississippi firing at Jaluit Naval Fortress

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TF 438 encounters mine field at Buin (109,131)

Allied Ships
DMS Hamilton
DMS Hovey

67 mines cleared

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Morning Air attack on Torokina , at 109,130

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid detected at 32 NM, estimated altitude 27,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 13 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 69
A6M5c Zero x 9
Ki-43-IIIa Oscar x 8

Allied aircraft
F6F-3 Hellcat x 29

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5 Zero: 2 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F6F-3 Hellcat: 2 destroyed

Aircraft Attacking:
12 x F6F-3 Hellcat sweeping at 25000 feet

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Torokina , at 109,130

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid detected at 13 NM, estimated altitude 26,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 52
A6M5c Zero x 5
Ki-43-IIIa Oscar x 6

Allied aircraft
F6F-3 Hellcat x 25

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5 Zero: 6 destroyed
A6M5c Zero: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F6F-3 Hellcat: 1 destroyed

Aircraft Attacking:
10 x F6F-3 Hellcat sweeping at 25000 feet

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Torokina , at 109,130

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid detected at 14 NM, estimated altitude 27,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 2 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 34
A6M5c Zero x 3
Ki-43-IIIa Oscar x 4

Allied aircraft
P-38G Lightning x 22

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5 Zero: 3 destroyed
A6M5c Zero: 2 destroyed
Ki-43-IIIa Oscar: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-38G Lightning: 1 destroyed

Aircraft Attacking:
10 x P-38G Lightning sweeping at 25000 feet

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Roi-Namur , at 132,114

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid detected at 37 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M8 Zero x 27
Ki-43-IIIa Oscar x 1

Allied aircraft
PB4Y-1 Liberator x 15

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M8 Zero: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
PB4Y-1 Liberator: 7 destroyed, 4 damaged

Runway hits 2

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x PB4Y-1 Liberator bombing from 12000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb

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

Ground combat at Jaluit (134,120)

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 2909 troops, 55 guns, 34 vehicles, Assault Value = 81

Defending force 1043 troops, 13 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 12

Allied adjusted assault: 69

Japanese adjusted defense: 1

Allied assault odds: 69 to 1 (fort level 4)

Allied forces CAPTURE Jaluit !!!

Combat modifiers
Defender: forts(+), disruption(-), fatigue(-), experience(-)
Attacker: shock(+)

Japanese ground losses:
1084 casualties reported
Squads: 22 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 30 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 17 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 14 (14 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units destroyed 2

Allied ground losses:
42 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled

Assaulting units:
802nd Cmbt Engineer Battalion
503rd Parachute Rgt /2
12th Marine Defense Battalion
41st US Naval Construction Battalion

Defending units:
Jaluit Naval Fortress
Jaluit Base Force

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR May 1, 43
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TF 438 encounters mine field at Buin (109,131)

Allied Ships
DMS Hamilton
DMS Hovey

80 mines cleared

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Horn Island at 91,127, Range 1,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
DD Akikaze, Shell hits 1
DD Hokaze, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
DD Tachikaze
DD Kyukaze

Allied Ships
PT-225
PT-226
PT-238
PT-242, Shell hits 3, and is sunk

Reduced sighting due to 7% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Clear Conditions and 7% moonlight: 1,000 yards
Range closes to 10,000 yards...
Range closes to 1,000 yards...
Tanaka, Tomoo crosses the 'T'
DD Kyukaze engages PT-242 at 1,000 yards
DD Hokaze sunk by PT-242 at 1,000 yards
PT-242 sunk by DD Akikaze at 1,000 yards
Range increases to 2,000 yards
PT-238 engages DD Akikaze at 2,000 yards
Range increases to 4,000 yards
DD Tachikaze engages PT-238 at 4,000 yards
Task forces break off...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 438 encounters mine field at Buin (109,131)

Allied Ships
DMS Hamilton
DMS Hovey

12 mines cleared

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Torokina , at 109,130

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid detected at 24 NM, estimated altitude 26,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5c Zero x 10
A6M8 Zero x 13
N1K1-J George x 18
Ki-43-IIIa Oscar x 27
Ki-44-IIc Tojo x 11

Allied aircraft
F6F-3 Hellcat x 18

Japanese aircraft losses
N1K1-J George: 1 destroyed
Ki-43-IIIa Oscar: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F6F-3 Hellcat: 3 destroyed

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Torokina , at 109,130

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid detected at 68 NM, estimated altitude 29,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 29 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5c Zero x 9
A6M8 Zero x 8
N1K1-J George x 12
Ki-43-IIIa Oscar x 20
Ki-44-IIc Tojo x 10

Allied aircraft
F6F-3 Hellcat x 23

Japanese aircraft losses
N1K1-J George: 1 destroyed
Ki-43-IIIa Oscar: 1 destroyed
Ki-44-IIc Tojo: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F6F-3 Hellcat: 2 destroyed

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------[/font]

---

---

[font="Trebuchet MS"]He at last put his George's on defense. This is their best use in my opinion, and now i have a job to get Torokina worn down. [/font]

[obvert]

This portion of the KB has been hanging around the Arafura for a while. I'm thinking now this isn't a deterrent so much as a protective force. It's certainly discouraging me from moves into the Gulf of Carpentaria.

It could also be protecting either a reinforcement or removal of troops from Horn or Merauke. I don't think he's pulling out, so I'd think adding more. No sign from SIGINT though either way.

As shown here I've gotten subs right under the TFs for days, and shooting at the DDs, but can't get through the screens to the CV/BBs. I've lost two subs this week for my trouble. Looks like we've found his current lines in the sand though.

[obvert]

Air losses are not bad either day but things could have been better. It would have been really good if I hadn't taken a risk sending the USN 4Es to Roi-Namur to support the Jaluit landings. I didn't need them as he didn't fly strikes, and they met a group of A6M8 there. That didn't turn out well.

I also thought about suspending sweeps against Torokina after the first day, but thought he might just have another few A6M groups there. I didn't expect the Georges, but it is actually good to see how we fared. Most losses came from the VRF group, but the Wasp boys did just fine, getting slightly better than 1:1. The P-38s though don't like the George, not this fast one in DBB.

[obvert]

[font="Times New Roman"]OPERATION BROADSWORD[/font]

---

Here's a look at the plan for the rest of the Marshalls after Jaluit is taken. With search extended here it seems we have a bit more free reign to move and there have been no sorties from the 80+ bombers at Roi Namur since the Mili invasion.

This is nothing too complicated. Just a direct push up the chain with a few little stabs at distant atolls for extended search use. Obviously these lines are not accurate ship paths, but just indicators of the order I'll move in. The timeline here is completely fluid. I look more at these dates as the latest I'd like to be there. It might all happen sooner as the troops have been ready for a while. I just need to get the prep higher for the combat engineers for Maleolap and Wotje before moving there.

Once the Marshalls are secured Kusaie is out on a limb. It's a definite fortress, but he may evacuate some of that before we get there if this all goes as planned. Kusaie at that point will be taken to secure the flank and keep the search at a distance.

I showed the Wasp here a week ago and that seemed to immediately send his cruisers back toward Truk. Wasp is now in port and one CVE is leading the push to Majuro which will land in a few days.

[obvert]

Chungking just went into the red with new units eating 300+ supply every time they arrive. I really need the supply from India to start now, but it'll be a good few days before anything substantial gets here. Ledo is building and I also still have to fly out some troops to lessen crowding in Chungking.

I think I can hold for a good while SE of Chungking as this is one spot where I have endless troops to throw in. I just have to get the supply up, which should happen if the fields stay open. Currently 125 P-40K and 36 Hellcats are flying a 60% Cap at 25k over the base daily.

[crsutton]

Isn't it long range for a C47 to fly to Chungking? Does that effect cargo load? I know it is going to be expensive in OP losses.

[witpqs]

ORIGINAL: crsutton

Isn't it long range for a C47 to fly to Chungking? Does that effect cargo load? I know it is going to be expensive in OP losses.

It's out of range: 10/12 for the C47.