The Elephant Vanishes : obvert (J) vs Historiker_SqzMyLemon_Canoerebel (A)

[Lowpe]

That ship isn't gone. Sys damage is relatively low. Give her some escorts and cruise your way back. I have had worse that lived. Get off mission speed.

How much is major flooding?

[obvert]

I think all 69 if I remember right.

The Bowfin is hanging around, and if she gets another shot then that ship is done. But as you can see, if he wants it, a quick ride over and there is no way to get out of range of CV air. We'll see!

[JocMeister]

Looks like your opponent is getting impatient which leads to mistakes. Good news for you! [:)]

[Lokasenna]

I've seen that IJA Infantry Squad 43 thing before. I think it's a display issue. It just says "IJA Infantry Squad" in the unit info screen, but I know when upgrading it will have the = in the list to show that they're still the old squad.

I check by looking at the TOE info screen. It will show what the unit's current TOE is. Then I compare if there's a = in the info screen to determine which it's using... Simple! Maybe.

[witpqs]

ORIGINAL: Lokasenna

I've seen that IJA Infantry Squad 43 thing before. I think it's a display issue. It just says "IJA Infantry Squad" in the unit info screen, but I know when upgrading it will have the = in the list to show that they're still the old squad.

I check by looking at the TOE info screen. It will show what the unit's current TOE is. Then I compare if there's a = in the info screen to determine which it's using... Simple! Maybe.

I thought that naming thing had been changed in the scenario files. I know that in Babes they include the year with any devices that would otherwise be ambiguous.

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: witpqs

ORIGINAL: Lokasenna

I've seen that IJA Infantry Squad 43 thing before. I think it's a display issue. It just says "IJA Infantry Squad" in the unit info screen, but I know when upgrading it will have the = in the list to show that they're still the old squad.

I check by looking at the TOE info screen. It will show what the unit's current TOE is. Then I compare if there's a = in the info screen to determine which it's using... Simple! Maybe.

I thought that naming thing had been changed in the scenario files. I know that in Babes they include the year with any devices that would otherwise be ambiguous.

Not sure if it matters but we're playing the last official patch. If others have seen that they're actually going out to units in spite of not being named as IJA 43 then that is great.

[JocMeister]

No new turn?

[obvert]

Just slammed at work. The end of the year here at school. Update soon!

[obvert]

[font="Times New Roman"]23 - 24 October, 1943[/font]

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[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]SUBS: [/font] The Kako is nailed again!

One more fish in her side and she's hurting. The float damage is up to 91 with 5 hexes to traverse to Saipan.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]BURMA: [/font] A bombardment both in the large concentration hex near Taung Gyi and along the Arakan show the extent of the Allied commitments to Burma. Lots of Commonwealth stuff, but also Marines and Aussies. Both blockades are in good shape for the IJA.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]CENT PAC: [/font] The Allies keep hanging around with CVs. I need to do a test on Allied CVs for this game and my other one to see how many missions they can fly and keep operating. They've been out here for a long time now. Almost a month of continuous flying for search and CAP, plus at least 5-7 full strikes against Marcus, one large and one small naval strike.

Supply is unloading to Allied troops on Marcus and something has been evacuated as the total troops here now is less than the 6k SL. I'll bombard when my guys are in better condition again. I would like to get some supply in myself and loaded up some xAKL, but they'll wait unit the Allies have indeed moved their CVs back.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]SW PAC: [/font] No new developments here. The Aussies aren't doing anything on Northern New Guinea.
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AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR October 24, 42
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Ground combat at 60,48 (near Taung Gyi)

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 96830 troops, 1113 guns, 1016 vehicles, Assault Value = 3298

Defending force 223680 troops, 3754 guns, 5543 vehicles, Assault Value = 7166

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

Allied ground losses:
130 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 10 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Guns lost 4 (1 destroyed, 3 disabled)
Vehicles lost 7 (1 destroyed, 6 disabled)

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Ground combat at 55,48 (near Ramree Island)

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 630 troops, 35 guns, 54 vehicles, Assault Value = 1667

Defending force 97686 troops, 816 guns, 767 vehicles, Assault Value = 4060

Japanese ground losses:
Vehicles lost 6 (1 destroyed, 5 disabled)


Assaulting units:
3rd RTA Division
18th Division
2nd Tank Division
2nd RTA Division
6th RTA Division
11th Air Defense AA Battalion
7th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
53rd Field AA Battalion
44th Ind.AA Gun Co
23rd Medium Field Artillery Regiment

Defending units:
5th Chinese Corps
26th Indian/A Division
84th Indian Brigade
147th(Sep) Infantry Regiment
Guides Cavalry Regiment
Gardner's Horse Regiment
1st USMC Corps Tank Battalion
102nd Combat Engineer Regiment
Provisionl Tank Brigade
3rd New Chinese Corps
7th New Chinese Corps
8th New Chinese Corps
26th Indian/B Division
6th Chinese Corps
26th Indian/C Division
21st Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
44th Cavalry Engineer Regiment
X' Force
6th Mixed A/T Mtr Regiment

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[font="Trebuchet MS"]As the shots here show the Allies still have some recovery to do after recent battles. [/font]

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[obvert]

[font="Times New Roman"]25 October, 1943[/font]

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[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]SUBS: [/font] Still can't get any good sub hits at Marcus itself, and the 60 new mines I've dropped haven't done anything in spite of bringing the base totals to 200+ again. I'll keep trying everything, and maybe one hit on a CV will give me some payoff soon! [:)]

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]BURMA: [/font]A surprise this turn. I went for Ramree again as he's been LR CAPing it with Hellcats and P-47s. Why you might ask? Well, if they're flying LR CAP they aren't sweeping, they might be more fatigued and we might get a better ratio. Unfortunately our sweeps didn't fly and I thought it'd be a massacre. Instead he lost more than I would have expected and our losses were minimal, the groups still in the 90s for morale, and the base still gets a good thrashing. Escorts worked!

This might have something to do with a new plane involved, the Oscar IIIa, which is bumped up to 358mph and has the two CL 12.7mm guns with 58 accuracy. A good plane for late 43 for the Japanese. The first plane destroyed in this battle was a P-47, even though the Allies got 2:1 on the day, this is much better than they get sweeping. Tomorrow I'll change it up a little , but will keep trying to exploit LR and bleeding CAP.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]CENT PAC: [/font] The Allied CV still hanging around, but it seems that some CVEs maybe have left to guard the bulk of transports back to the West. I count less than 800 planes now in the rollover, which is fewer by several hundred than a few weeks ago. The KB will be repaired and refreshed within a week. Hmmmmmmmmm.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]SW PAC: [/font]A little bit of the same here trying to sweep the CAP over Saidor. Today it was P-38s flying for the Allies and our A6M5 sweepers did okay, downing 4-5 Lightnings for only 2 A to A and 5 ops losses. I'll take it. Chipping away at pools every day. I want him to be forced into guarding this airspace and occasionally to hit the base and work on supply there.
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AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR October 25, 42
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Morning Air attack on Ramree Island , at 54,48

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M3a Zero x 28
Ki-43-IIb Oscar x 24
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 24
Ki-49-IIa Helen x 62

Allied aircraft
P-47D2 Thunderbolt x 45
F6F-3 Hellcat x 18

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3a Zero: 3 destroyed
Ki-43-IIb Oscar: 1 destroyed
Ki-45 KAIa Nick: 1 destroyed
Ki-49-IIa Helen: 1 destroyed, 4 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
P-47D2 Thunderbolt: 1 destroyed

Airbase hits 3
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 27

Aircraft Attacking:
14 x Ki-49-IIa Helen bombing from 8000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb

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[font="Trebuchet MS"]I've got to work hard to limit P-47s before his big reinforcement in early 43 of the new model. [/font]

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[obvert]

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

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[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]SUBS: [/font]Things are going a bit slower here again. Down to a solid one turn a day, but not much happening either. I'm fine with that from my end though!

The Kako however gets another two fish in her belly from Trigger and goes under. Oh, well.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]BURMA: [/font] The Allies go for the Taung Gyi fields on the day I decide to sweep with all Georges there. Probably for the best as their sweeps included 200+ P-47s and some Mustangs. Yikes. They close the fields but this is a decent time for that, and they'll have to keep it up regularly to really make a difference here, something they haven't shown so far. Plus the troops on the ground are in no shape to strike and look to be maneuvering back and potential around our blockade. It's all about time, and we still do have the inside lines.

About 12 Georges are lost on the day but virtually no pilots and they will redistribute to other bases.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]CENT PAC: [/font] The CVs still are hanging around Marcus. Can't get a supply shipment in right now, but I can fly ir using Emilys which is almost as good.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]SW PAC: [/font] Some sweeps and no real resistance here right now.
[font="Trebuchet MS"]
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AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR October 26, 42
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Morning Air attack on Taung Gyi , at 59,48

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid detected at 79 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 31 minutes

Japanese aircraft
no flights


Allied aircraft
P-40N Warhawk x 24
Beaufighter VIc x 35
Blenheim IV x 9
Liberator B.III x 12
Liberator GR.III x 12
Beaufort V x 3
Hudson I x 6
Bolingbroke IV x 6
Kittyhawk III x 10
Kittyhawk IV x 16
B-17E Fortress x 12
B-24D Liberator x 9
B-24D1 Liberator x 12
P-40K Warhawk x 25
P-40N5 Warhawk x 50
PV-1 Ventura x 9


Japanese aircraft losses
N1K1-J George: 5 destroyed on ground

Allied aircraft losses
B-24D Liberator: 1 damaged

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

Airbase hits 21
Airbase supply hits 8
Runway hits 84

Aircraft Attacking:
9 x PV-1 Ventura bombing from 6000 feet
Airfield Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb

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[font="Trebuchet MS"]Curious about something. What does 'float-equipped' mean in reference to the Stella? Not that I'l ever build this plane! [:D][/font]

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[Lowpe]

Float equipped I took to mean you could fly from coastal bases, even dot hexes.

[setloz]

From Wikipedia:

Ki-76s were also used as anti-submarine aircraft, operating from the Japanese Army's escort carrier, the Akitsu Maru, being fitted with an arrestor hook and carrying two 60 kg (132 lb) depth charges.

I guess the developers wanted to offer this option as well, for the sake of historical accuracy.

[obvert]

Well, since the last update there have been NO turns played. My opponent is busy but also I feel slightly frustrated with how the game is going. He says he has to slow down when the turns get complicated, and as life is also more complicated than when we started this necessitates sometimes a longer delay. Still, this is turning into something so sporadic I'm losing interest.

Traveling now in OZ so little time for playing myself, but could easily still get a turn in every day if there was one to play.

Yesterday had an interesting experience. I'll type it up in the main forum to share with all though.

[JocMeister]

Perhaps its time to set an ultimatum? x turns per week or you drop the game? Or try to find a replacement for Historiker?

You are only in 43. A slow turn should take no more then 30 minutes.

[Encircled]

Balance to be had though.

I've got one PBEM mail game going at the moment, and though my opponent isn't fast at turning over turns, he is reliable.

Every other one I've played, the opponents have just dropped out, despite turning out turns at very fast intervals.

[JocMeister]

Any news?

[obvert]

One turn. Then nothing for five days.

Luckily lots of distractions here. Still. I miss it.

I am playing through some late game situations though in head to head, so not actually wasting the time completely. I've got some tests going from about late 44 to see what I can expect for both sides.

[obvert]

[font="Times New Roman"]UPDATE:[/font]

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THIS GAME IS ABOUT TO RESUME!

I know that news is not as exciting to others as it is to me, but I'm pretty fired up and ready to go!

A short time ago I asked whether Torsten would like to and be able to continue the game to the finish. He at first decided to take it on again and begin playing. After some consideration he realized the future would include some breaks (and possibly long ones), so he offered to pass on the game to someone else. A gentleman through the whole process. I'm sad not to finish what we began together, but ready to see this one out.

Joseph (SqeezMyLemon) will take over the Allied side and lead it to victory against my battered Japanese forces. This is the game where the KB was halved on day 2, where I also lost a few good BBs in the IO for the Lexington, and where in late 43 the Allies are ready to roll forward both in the Pacific and in Burma.

We're chatting now about HRs and if we want to change anything, and Joseph is looking through the game to get oriented.

We'll also want to move forward to the latest patch, as this one was begun on the last official, ages ago.

I'll be looking through the game and beginning to offer thoughts over the next few days.

[Grfin Zeppelin]

Aaaaah finally. [&o]