Castles in the Sand - Spidery(J) vs MrKane(A) no MrKane please

[Spidery]

January 28th 1944

Sacrifice a CMc to trap his carrier planes into attacking where my fighters can strike. Works well for a change: 19 F6F-3, 5 SB2C-1C for 9 Ki-43-IV, 2 N1K1-J, 2 A6M5. I wanted to try this because I have had not much luck running LRCAP to protect forces East of Singapore. Also wanted to see how the Ki-43-IV compared against the Hellcat - not bad in this case. Not sure I'll do this all that often as it is a bit questionable.

Allied subs spotted off Kyushu, will throw a lot of ASW at them as can't have them there.

Allies attack at Rangoon, okay result:

Japanese ground losses:
1861 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 167 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 27 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 12 disabled
Guns lost 40 (1 destroyed, 39 disabled)
Vehicles lost 45 (10 destroyed, 35 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
1016 casualties reported
Squads: 13 destroyed, 57 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 32 disabled
Engineers: 7 destroyed, 74 disabled
Guns lost 8 (1 destroyed, 7 disabled)
Vehicles lost 90 (35 destroyed, 55 disabled)

[Mike McCreery]

ORIGINAL: Spidery


January 27th 1944

Massive Allied air and naval bombardments pulverize the defenders on Woleai but no Allied attack comes (I thought there was supposed to be a mandatory Shock Attack each round). Allies continue to avoid the mines. Woleai is about 1.7 square miles, on this there are a few 1000 Japanese troops in their forts and 10,000 or more Allied troops and they don't fight! I suppose it makes some sense as there are multiple Islands and the Allies could be on one and not on the others.

Allies cross the river at Samarinda and blow the defense away without any air or naval bombardments in advance. I expected the defense to at least inflict some losses as the Allies crossed the river. Defenders retreat North-West and are ordered to take the walk to Miri, some stragglers may reach there by the end of the year!

The Allied force spotted South of the Celebes turns out to be a DD bombardment force that hits Kendari for no significant damage.

Lots of attacks against Allied subs getting some good hits in but nothing sunk. Allies are being more aggressive with lots of subs sortieing and some operating in shallow waters.

Ramiree Island flips to the Allies.

The defenders at Truk still hold on, and even have time to refuel some subs that stop off to try and use the last fuel stocks there before the base falls.

Try some preparatory strikes against Myitkyina, hopeless, 7 Helens lost for no damage. I'm calling off this attack.

Get a couple of Heavy Volume of Radio Traffic messages from Columbo - is he planning to invade Tavoy?

The mandatory shock attack only applies if new forces are added through amphibious assault or air assault. If you are on an atoll and it is past the first invasion day and no forces are being added then the forces are not required to shock attack.

[Spidery]

January 29th 1944

Lots of sub action. An Ansyu class PB lost near Palawau (these are really too expensive for using in ASW). A Lima class xAK lost in the Gulf of Siam (empty and with nearly empty bunkers so no big loss). A big xAP is luckily missed near Nagasaki.

O23 takes two proper hits off Palawau. Scamp takes two proper hits near Nagasaki. No evidence that either has been sunk.

Allied attack at Truk again. Allies get a 1::1 result but the VP result still looks good 44 devices lost against 40 by the Allies according to the combat report.

Tinian forts reach 7 and I'll stop there and move all the engineers out to build the next line of defenses.

Allied CVs have moved South to avoid any more chances for me to use CAP traps.

[Spidery]

The mandatory shock attack only applies if new forces are added through amphibious assault or air assault. If you are on an atoll and it is past the first invasion day and no forces are being added then the forces are not required to shock attack.

That does seem to be the case but wasn't what I expected from reading the manual. Also surprised that he can make a bombardment attack on an Atoll. "Units that do not own the base on the atoll being invaded automatically launch a Shock Attack".

[Spidery]

January 30th 1944

An Aden class xAK is lost to an Allied sub just South of the Home Isles (returning to home with resources so no great loss). 5 hits by air claimed against subs, no reason to believe any of them[:D].

Allies continue attacking at Truk and get a 1::1 result again.

P-38G sweep Babeldoab from Biak: 16 N1K1-J, 3 N1K1 Rex for 10 P-38G, barely okay; the main losses are from a N1K1-J group flying at 21000 feet expecting bombers.

Rangoon has been abandoned, Allies will take it tomorrow.

Night strike at Columbo port, no hits and one G3M3 lost.

Three lots of Heavy Volume of Radio Traffic at Kavieng - another invasion on the way or just bombardment forces rearming?

[Mike McCreery]

ORIGINAL: Spidery

The mandatory shock attack only applies if new forces are added through amphibious assault or air assault. If you are on an atoll and it is past the first invasion day and no forces are being added then the forces are not required to shock attack.

That does seem to be the case but wasn't what I expected from reading the manual. Also surprised that he can make a bombardment attack on an Atoll. "Units that do not own the base on the atoll being invaded automatically launch a Shock Attack".

[Spidery]

January 31st 1944

Put some LRCAP over Woleai using drop tanks from Guam, this is the first day he doesn't bomb the troops[:(].

A couple of minor hits on Allied subs.

Rangoon is auto-captured by the Allies giving a big VP swing to them and taking the ratio to 1.64::1 in Japan's favour. Interestingly, he gets full VP immediately so must have enough supply despite the demand from his huge army.

Allied attack at Truk. Results a bit light, looks like he tried attacking with just the tank units:

Ground combat at Truk (112,108)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 1116 troops, 106 guns, 253 vehicles, Assault Value = 909

Defending force 10455 troops, 151 guns, 60 vehicles, Assault Value = 33

Allied adjusted assault: 61

Japanese adjusted defense: 277

Allied assault odds: 1 to 4 (fort level 0)

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), leaders(+)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
375 casualties reported
Squads: 6 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 4 destroyed, 13 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled

Allied ground losses:
Vehicles lost 10 (2 destroyed, 8 disabled)

Ki-115b to 11/45 (I abandoned work on the a model and am going for the b model).

February provides no new goodies.

Some good TRACOM results:

IJ Army instructors accelerate training of 453 pilots from month-cycle 10
Accelerated training for 275 IJ Navy pilots from month-cycle 7

The IJA result doesn't matter much as I have not emptied pools but the IJN result is nice as it means more experienced pilots dragged early from the training pool.

[Spidery]

January Overview

Allies took Madjene, Saumlaki, Balikpapan and Samarinda advancing in the DEI. Landed at Biak to make most of New Guinea indefensible. Landed at Woleai and will take it soon. They are still fighting on Truk. He will probably send the carriers back to support the attack. The retreat from Burma continues although Magwe still remains producing. The main defense will be at Taung Gyi, Lashio and Moulmein.

Lost a lot of base VP with the loss of Rangoon but air land and sea are all scoring roughly at 1::1 on VP. Managed to shoot down lots of 4E but a costly attack against the Allied carriers and some heavy flak losses in Burma and at Madjene. Basically, defensively I usually do well but offensives have been poor with the only good strike being the Army bombers at Saumlaki. Army is trading 1::1 on VP mostly but isolated forces beginning to starve are costing.

Lost 8 SS, 2 xAP, 2 PB, 1 SC, 1 CMc in the month. Sunk 2 TK, 2 xAK, 1 DE, 2 xAKL, 1 AKL, 2 AM, 1 YMS plus some 25 VP of unknown others. A few sinkings by aircraft but nearly everything is in the sub war.

Code: Select all

        Japan  Allies
 Total:  +543  +3178
 Base:   -389  +2214
 Land:   +298   +329
 Air:    +528   +523
 Sea:    +106   +112
 

[Spidery]

January Industry

127 oil wells lost with the damaged wells at Balikpapan and Samarinda lost plus some damage to Miri. Now that I have reasonable numbers of night fighters active, MrKane seems more reluctant to launch damaging night strikes.

Heavily trimmed armaments production but still have lots. Vehicles are going up but there will be a heavy demand in 6/44 to upgrade to the new tank models.

Total Equivalent Supply: -57,995

Code: Select all

 Oil:       -85,450
 fuel:     -138,836
 supply:   +177,746
 HI:       +123,189
 Vehicles:   +5,128
 Arms:       +1,492
 

[Spidery]

February 1st 1944

Night strike at Columbo, 1 Nell lost to flak, 1 (minor) hit on CVL Hermes.

Lots of sub action, good hits scored on three Allied subs but no reported sinkings. An SC lost near Iwo-Jima.

N1K1-J from Sorong sweep Biak: 10 N1K1-J for 9 F6F-3, okay, but I hoped for better.

The badly damaged defenders of Woleai are destroyed without inficting any losses on the Allies.

Lost sight of Allied carriers.

Allies bombard at Truk.

N1K5-J to 4/45.

[Spidery]

February 2nd 1944

Truk falls[:(], the Allies get a 712::232 result that just makes the needed 3::1. I lose an extra 4 VP because two xAK there are destroyed while building or before building. Seems odd to lose VP points for ships that were cancelled before they start building.

SS Mingo wanders into Hakodate, puts a torpedo into an Aden class xAK (no problem as she disbands straight into the shipyard).

SS Mingo finds a mine the hard way but is only damaged.

DMS W-17 is lost, near Singapore, to SS Muskallunge. She was escorting a tanker convoy heading homeward. It is going to be a risky sail home.

Lots of subs spotted but the ASW ships all fail to find and attack them.

Weird mess up at Prome. I send a group of Helens to hit a strange unit, it turns out to be a heavy AA regiment but there is no flak (I guess it is in strategic or move mode), and I score no hits. I bombed from 2000 feet does this use LowG or GndB skill?

If it uses LowG how come GndB skill increases not LowG?

Lost 4 E13A1 to ops today, looked through the groups with losses, only one had planes averaging double figures for fatigue and no fatigued pilots so put it down to just chance.

A7M2 to 5/45, Ki-83 to 6/45.

[Spidery]

February 3rd 1944

Continued lack of success hunting Allied subs. RO 102 takes a shot at SS Sargo running on the surface near Billiton, but misses.

Drop the 3rd SNLF to take out the Heavy AA unit at Prome. Unfortunately, an East African Division arrives and the drop is wiped out to a man[:@].

Waiting for the next attack: Ulithi/Yap and to Luzon?, Northern Celebes to Mindanao? Marianas? Babeldoab and Peleliu to the Eastern Philippines? Tavoy, Malaysia or Northern Sumatra?

Apart from the Northern Celebes, there are strong defenses and big airfields in all these places and I will make a fight of it.

[Spidery]

February 4th 1944

SS Blackfish sinks SC Ch 44 and SC Ch 23 near Iwo-Jima.

Light damage on SS Trout, Shad and Grampus.

Allies launch a one-sided attack at Magwe:

Ground combat at Magwe (57,47)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 49657 troops, 994 guns, 1150 vehicles, Assault Value = 3434

Defending force 0 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 0

Allied adjusted assault: 1153

Japanese adjusted defense: 1

Allied assault odds: 1153 to 1 (fort level 4)

Allied forces CAPTURE Magwe !!!

Combat modifiers
Attacker:

Assaulting units:
268th Motorised Brigade
18th British Division
2nd British Division
7th Australian Division
19th Indian Division
6th Australian Division
25th Indian Division
3rd Cavalry Regiment
22nd (East African) Brigade
254th Armoured Brigade
3rd Carabiniers Regiment
I Aus Corps Engineer Battalion
17th Indian Division
2/9th Field Regiment
1st Indian Light AA Regiment
23rd AA Bde
1st Burma Auxiliary AA Regiment
III Indian Corps
28th Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
2/11th Field Regiment
24th Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
X' Force
6th Medium Regiment
2/1st Med Regiment
20th Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
77th Heavy AA Regiment
23rd Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
26th Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
25th Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
22nd Indian Mountain Gun Regiment

Glad I didn't stay around to fight that but it takes 10000 oil with it and loses another 270 wells.

Allied minesweepers are clearing Truk.

[Spidery]

February 5th 1944

SC Ch 41 lost near Iwo Jima (these 2 VP sub-chasers seem to be dieing like flies, would lose even more except sometimes the sub decides not to attack).

17 B7A2 fly at maximum range to hit the mine sweepers at Truk and sink 5 YMS but the Allies clear the minefields first.

Allies have expanded Balikpapan to level 7 air field and I am seeing lots of ships there.

[Spidery]

February 6th 1944

Lots of attacks on Allied subs, otherwise quiet.

Allies have repaired Truk airfield.

[Spidery]

February 7th 1944

More attacks on Allied subs but no big successes. A sub puts a torpedo into an xAK off Shanghai but it is a dud.

Surprise strike by Mitchells from Balikpapan against DD North of Tarakan, bypassing the task forces in Tarakan, but all miss.

Allied CV spotted near Woleai.

Most of the remaining troops at Truk are eliminated, just 2 HQ units left.

[Spidery]

February 8th 1944

Near Truk, I-168 puts a torpedo into BB Nevada and is lightly damaged in return[:)]. I-182 is lost. An Emily launches a night strike and puts a torpedo into the side of CVE Nassau[:)].

Allied BB bombard the remaining forces at Truk and they are destroyed in the subsequent Allied ground attack.

Try a night strike with Nells and Frances from Davao against Balikpapan airfields. Disaster[:(]. Not a single bomb lands on the runway (severe storms don't help) but flak shoots down 10 G3M3 and 6 P1Y1. Allied had Havocs on night CAP and I sent some Irvings on LRCAP. The Irvings didn't get involved and the Havocs didn't do much good.

SC Ch 13 lost to SS Burrfish near Manila. Lots of claimed hits on subs.

[Spidery]

February 9th 1944

An Aden class xAK carrying supplies is damaged near Chichi-Jima and will make port there for some quick repairs.

An Aden class xAK carrying resources is damaged at Amami Oshima, annoyingly it tries to carry on rather than disbanding in port, it will return to Amami Oshima for some repairs.

An Allied supply convoy heading for Rangoon is attacked by Nells out of Port Blair with no opposing CAP. 3 AM, 4 xAK, 3 xAKL confirmed sunk with 2 more possibles (32 VP gained for the 550 or so supply used for the torpedoes, that is okay[:)]).

Emilies and Graces try night strikes against Allied CVE at Truk, no luck. There are lots of Allied task forces moving around Truk and Woleai. 3 B7A2 lost, will continue to try night strikes but change to only normal range and not extended range.

I-16 is damaged near Truk and will return to base.

[Spidery]

February 10th 1944

Allied carriers spotted approaching Marianas. Game limitations mean I cannot tell whether there are any landing forces present[:@] but assume there are some. 130,000 supply en route to the Marianas will divert to Mindanao.

Night strikes by D4Y4, B7A2 and H8K2 are fragmented and meet some night CAP by night fighter Hellcats and Corsairs. 14 B7A2, 10 D4Y4, 3 H8K2 lost and no hits scored[:(]. Even more stupid, 12 E13A1 are lost to CAP as they try to spot the Allied forces during the day[:@]. Impressive though, 20 planes in the group, 12 shot down with 7 pilots lost and morale is still 99! Oddly the E15K1, in the same base, take no losses.

Do I pull the aircraft and allow him a free air strike or leave them there and risk losses from bombardment? Reports are inconclusive but suggest he has about 600+ fighters present.

At Woleai there seems to be a replenishment task force with about 100 fighters so I could shift to Babel and try a strike against that?

Mandalay auto-captured by Allies.

Both damaged xAK put the fires out and make port.

Why have the Allies stopped bombing my oil? I suspect he thinks I am in such dire straits that it he doesn't need to.

At current production and activity levels oil will run out about end of July 1944. Fuel will run out (i.e, about 2,000,000 at ports that can't be used for production) end of July 1945, at which point I would have 8,000,000 supply stored. Just about enough to last until May 1946. Of course, usage will probably increase as the war intensifies and gets closer to home but it does look good for keeping in supply through mid 1945.

[Lowpe]

ORIGINAL: Spidery


Do I pull the aircraft and allow him a free air strike or leave them there and risk losses from bombardment? Reports are inconclusive but suggest he has about 600+ fighters present.

Having just gone thru this, I think it depends upon your fort levels and the amount of CD units in each hex. Saipan, with only the fortress unit was very bombardment proof especially if the Allies move to close to the shoreline. Not sure what would have happened if he bombarded with only long range battleships.

Big forts, lots of coastal guns, great search, perhaps some sacrificial midgets and mtbs to get the detection level up, and I would fight in the air the first day as long as I didn't overstack my runways. Perhaps lots of CAP and all night strikes on the enemy shipping?