Monday Night Montage (ex-Moose Crossings) - (J) vs. Bullwinkle/Obvert (A)

[Lokasenna]

Continuing to catch up...

September 4-5, 1943


The Lexington is confirmed sunk with 18 TBFs destroyed on ground, and +400 VPs, for September 4.

We bomb Akyab with Nells, and about 90 Helens bomb the troops outside Ramree on the 4th. On the 5th, all of them hit Akyab. Trying to destroy supply here for the big stack - if Akyab doesn't have enough supply, it won't ship any out to the guys in the bush.

Our transports at Manus don't take any of the 6th Division to Merauke, I guess due to airfield damage at Merauke (level 1 with 43%). Forts there are dropped to 2 on September 4, and to 1 on September 5. Bleh.

Beginning to fortify lower Luzon. Legaspi's forts go to 2.

[Lokasenna]

September 6-7, 1943


Well, this isn't good news. The first action on September 6 is a landing at Car Nicobar (a size 0/0-0/3 island in the Andamans). I have been criminally lax in my air search here, just covering the Bay of Bengal from Port Blair, and the area between Siberoet and Cocos Island from Benkoelen. Blah. We'll send CAs to bombard on the 8th, from Medan (where MKB is disbanded in port with some surface ships), and try to find out what's here.

4 P-47s on LRCAP at Akyab shoot down some Helens after they bomb, and he continues to bomb like crazy around Burma. He doesn't cause many casualties, presumably because of forts (organic and base).

Some of the 6th Division is finally transferred via flying boat to Merauke, and the Aussies get a 1:2 attack this time. Good, we'll hold. We bomb with Bettys on both days, and lose several on the 7th to P-38 LRCAP from Groote Eylandt.

He has 2+ CVs just 1 hex outside of Tarawa. I have a sub in-hex but it hasn't attacked. He bombs Tabiteuea, which has no CAP up due to resting the units (risky, I know)... thankfully just a few runway hits and just a few damages.

Rangoon's forts make 5.

[Lokasenna]

September 8, 1943

I use a couple of CAs from Medan to bombard Car Nicobar and discover that it's an Indian Brigade. Alright then. We'll just try to keep them out of supply, I doubt I'll re-invade. It's a bit late in the game for that kind of thing, but I'm not taking it entirely off the table.

Oscars from Tabiteuea sweep Tarawa and beat the Allied CAP, looks like maybe some leaky CAP from CVs... but hard to tell, as he was using VMF units on the CVs also.

B-25s from Tarawa, which is still too small for a full bomb load for them, hit an xAK unloading supplies at Mili (just dropped off 24 AvSupp). Then SBDs and TBFs from the USN CVs, still camping outside Tarawa, sink 3 xAKs and 1 PB there. Oh well.

Still getting airborne ASW in place in the northern part of the chain to be sure of where his subs are patrolling.



September 9, 1943

He mines the port at Rangoon again with bombers from further up the coast. Lots of mines. I have local minesweepers in place and they'll take care of it shortly.

My Tojos on Night CAP at Darwin don't do so great, losing a few and then more on the ground to just 3 B-24s bombing from medium altitude. Unlucky.

A full 8 USN BBs, 2 CAs, 1 CL, 1 CLAA, and 4 DDs bombard Tabiteuea. Just 585 casualties for all of that, as forts are at 5, and the runways/piers are trashed. Only a handful of planes destroyed on the ground, thankfully. We'll fly them out now...

...which is good, because a landing begins in the afternoon. Unknown LCU at first, but it turns out to be the 1st Marine Division.

His CVs are now 5 hexes due east of Tabiteuea, striking the airfield there. I only have a few subs left in an operable state to the E/NE of here, but I'll still try to hunt down the CVs and BBs. I debated sortieing KB from Truk again, but decided against it. The men on Tabiteuea are on their own and will just have to hold as long as possible. They might last a week.

The shock attack by the 1st USMC gets 1:5 odds and my forts stay at 5, however there are 707 IJA casualties against 378 USMC. There's that USMC firepower... my units at Tabiteuea are token only:

Japanese units:
42nd Naval Guard Unit
51st Naval Guard Unit
Guards Depot Division
19th Field AF Construction Battalion
50th JNAF AF Unit
5th Air Division
15th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
16th Field AF Construction Battalion
2nd Provisional Base Force

[Lokasenna]

September 10, 1943

SS Haddo cripples one of my decent AOs outside Balabac (Palawan...), but thankfully she's empty on her way back to Singapore. Unfortunately, it's one of the ships in my large convoy group with 1 AV and 2 CVEs running ASW. Didn't even see her.

His CVs strike Tabiteuea again. Runway and port damage is so high I won't be able to use it before it falls. Will need to use flying boats to lift out fragments. Have already begun to do so on the 5th Air Division.

A few casualties in Burma from his massive bombing campaign, but so far nothing serious has emerged. I'm still trying to hold on in the north until I can reposition my forces. However, the battle for Myitkyina has begun, and he brought 1 more division-equivalent than I thought:

Ground combat at Myitkyina (64,42)

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 32559 troops, 398 guns, 363 vehicles, Assault Value = 1063

Defending force 15159 troops, 114 guns, 102 vehicles, Assault Value = 457

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

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

Assaulting units:
6th Australian Division
9th Indian/A Division
88th Indian Brigade
11th Indian Division
9th Indian/B Division
IV Indian Corps

Defending units:
39th Division
4th Army

He lands a lot more at Tabiteuea and suffers a decent number of disablements. Unfortunately my CD guns are just too disrupted to make much difference, but it's just a smaller CD Base Force anyway.

Ground combat at Tabiteuea (137,134)

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 12807 troops, 519 guns, 189 vehicles, Assault Value = 583

Defending force 18418 troops, 146 guns, 85 vehicles, Assault Value = 389

Allied adjusted assault: 97

Japanese adjusted defense: 161

Allied assault odds: 1 to 2 (fort level 5)

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

Japanese ground losses:
857 casualties reported
Squads: 19 destroyed, 22 disabled
Non Combat: 4 destroyed, 25 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 8 disabled
Guns lost 7 (3 destroyed, 4 disabled)
Vehicles lost 9 (2 destroyed, 7 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
214 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 28 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Units destroyed 3

Assaulting units:
24th Infantry/A Div /2
24th Infantry/C Div /4
27th Infantry Div /7
1st Marine Div /21
15th USN Naval Const Rgt /1
47th Const Rgt /1
147th FA Rgt /2
15th Marine Defense Battalion
24th Infantry/B Div /2
41st Infantry Div /3

Defending units:
42nd Naval Guard Unit
51st Naval Guard Unit
Guards Depot Division
19th Field AF Construction Battalion
50th JNAF AF Unit
5th Air Division
15th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
16th Field AF Construction Battalion
2nd Provisional Base Force

It looks like he's trying to just throw tons of LCUs at it and take it quickly, while his CVs are in the area and mine aren't. Wise choice - if he had waited, I would have brought my CVs back with fresh planes, etc. Not that I lost many, but I did lose enough that I wanted to regroup.

The destroyed units were small fragments of a division. I think the 24th.

Ah, and DD Grayson hit one of the mines at Tabiteuea. Type 88. She might sink from it.

The N1K2 advances to 10/43, so I'm moving the 3 R&D factories on to the N1K5. I am probably going to shift the 2x N1K1 production factories to the N1K2. I have 55 N1K1 in the pool, which should be plenty for the next 18 days.

The Frank-r advances to 10/44 as well.

[Lokasenna]

This is the latest day, before I run the turn that's in my inbox now.

September 11, 1943

Night bombing continues in scattered locations about China. Some fires are started, but nothing major anywhere. I might lose a few points of industry, but I don't care much. At this point, China doesn't need many supplies shipped in anymore. The 250K surplus sitting in Hong Kong is enough for a year of noncombat.

A more pressing concern, and probably more psy-ops on his part than looking to be effective (or just looking for a lucky shot), the SS Drum attacks in the Truk hex and doesn't hit any mines, near as I can tell. She puts a torpedo into an xAK, but it's a bigger one and will be OK.

His subs sink an xAK and xAKL, both empty, between Truk and Mindanao. They're starting to actually sink ships...

Naval search from Sabang or Port Blair spots a small Allied TF about 8-9 hexes west of Port Blair. The CAs still have half ammo in their main guns, and the 4 escorting DDs didn't expend anything in the bombardment. I'm sending them up to investigate. Currently, no real naval air assets are available to assist (other than the 36 Nells on search).

His landing at Tabiteuea continues. Today's forced shock attack gets 1:2 odds again, and forts remain at 5. AV prior to the attack is 348 for me, and 666 for him. He's getting more ashore. 1392 casualties for the IJA/IJN and only 380 for the Allies, with one of his "units" destroyed. Looks like my naval guards took the brunt of the casualties, which is fine.

The Aussie paratroops at Merauke try another DA today, but get 1:15 odds against the ~45 AV of the 6th Division that was flown in from Manus. I'll stop the air transport now. Casualties on both sides are light, reported at 47 (IJA) to 52 (Aus) disabled. I don't intend to defend in strength here, but I can't let him have the place on the cheap.

[Lokasenna]

September 12, 1943

Musashi and Yamashiro leave Kwajalein for Japan. No contacts.

Still 6 amphibious TFs unloading at Tabiteuea throughout the day. It's the beginning of the end for them now, as the Allies finally get in a good attack:

Ground combat at Tabiteuea (137,134)

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 23581 troops, 606 guns, 424 vehicles, Assault Value = 829

Defending force 16538 troops, 136 guns, 85 vehicles, Assault Value = 323

Allied adjusted assault: 290

Japanese adjusted defense: 77

Allied assault odds: 3 to 1 (fort level 5)

Allied Assault reduces fortifications to 2

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

Japanese ground losses:
1162 casualties reported
Squads: 14 destroyed, 21 disabled
Non Combat: 53 destroyed, 13 disabled
Engineers: 3 destroyed, 27 disabled
Guns lost 14 (12 destroyed, 2 disabled)
Vehicles lost 8 (2 destroyed, 6 disabled)
Units destroyed 1

Allied ground losses:
726 casualties reported
Squads: 4 destroyed, 97 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 41 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 0 disabled
Vehicles lost 25 (2 destroyed, 23 disabled)

Assaulting units:
27th Infantry Division
41st Infantry Div /3
1st Marine Division
24th Infantry/C Div /4
15th Marine Defense Battalion
47th Const Rgt /1
15th USN Naval Construction Regiment
131st FA Bn /1
148th FA Bn /1
147th Field Artillery Regiment
24th Infantry/A Div /2
24th Infantry/B Div /2

Defending units:
42nd Naval Guard Unit
51st Naval Guard Unit
Guards Depot Division
5th Air Division
15th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
50th JNAF AF Unit
16th Field AF Construction Battalion
19th Field AF Construction Battalion
2nd Provisional Base Force

And in Burma, more bad things. Stupid engineers keep dropping my forts despite poor attacks. Doesn't help that my guys are massively disrupted from the bombing campaign, but I'm really pleased with their performance. This is not a crack division, only Exp in the 60s. An Exp 99 unit is moving up from Paoshan to defend at Bhamo with the ID already present... will send an independent brigade to picket a flank in the woods.

Ground combat at Myitkyina (64,42)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 31734 troops, 397 guns, 363 vehicles, Assault Value = 946

Defending force 14780 troops, 114 guns, 102 vehicles, Assault Value = 425

Allied engineers reduce fortifications to 2
Damn engineers. [:@]

Allied adjusted assault: 582

Japanese adjusted defense: 1969

Allied assault odds: 1 to 3 (fort level 2)

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

Japanese ground losses:
486 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 31 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 26 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Vehicles lost 4 (1 destroyed, 3 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
1398 casualties reported
Squads: 8 destroyed, 203 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 20 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 79 disabled
Guns lost 23 (2 destroyed, 21 disabled)

Assaulting units:
6th Australian Division
88th Indian Brigade
9th Indian/A Division
11th Indian Division
9th Indian/B Division
IV Indian Corps

Defending units:
39th Division
4th Army

Other than this stuff, I sight some USN still to the NE of Baker, and there's bombing in various places for not much return (Myitkyina, Merauke, Horn Island, Tabiteuea).

I lose several Tojos in the skies over Darwin at night to the same 3 B-24s, but no hits on the runway. Fire bombing in China still has minimal effect (no industry damaged yet, as far as I can tell).

SS Apogon sinks the small DD Karii between Aogashima and Chichi-jima, escorting a convoy. Drat.

Meanwhile, the I-22 is sighted SW of Pearl and hit once. Back to the barn.

[Lokasenna]

Moving the Musashi.

[Lokasenna]

The Andamans...

Need more air support here. I get a whole bunch of brigades and the like in a couple of months. I may reallocate at least 1 ID from Java to Sumatra, and fill in with brigades in both places. I don't think he'll come through the DEI given how late he had to start his offensive, but I can't rule it out entirely. Especially with what's happening in Burma right now.

[Lokasenna]

Burma.



I feel much better about my chances in the hex at 55,48 now that the Guards Tank and 22nd Division have arrived via road. I'll feel even better once the rest of the stack from Ramree shifts over. I still need more supply in the theater, but things aren't terrible for now.

Mandalay has 2 IDs. Meiktila has 1. Taung Gyi has just 1 tank regiment. Magwe is fairly weak, with only an SNLF at the moment. However, he is not reconning.

There is another ID on the road east of Tsuyung, coming from Chungking and heading for Bhamo or Lashio. The ID in the mountains outside Bhamo is the 3rd Division, which is Exp 99/Morale 99.

I am actually hoping that his experience in the Pacific will color his perceptions of how much he needs in order to break through here. Over here, he's fighting the Real Imperial Japanese Army. On the islands, so far, he's been fighting the dregs.

One of my concerns is not having enough organic forts built up for the big stack coming for 55,48. Notice the movement dots from his hex. One of his units stopped moving, maybe to try to conceal the dots "under" it. He is coming SE as well as SW. It's entirely possible that he's moving the greater portion of his stack SE rather than SW, but if that is the case I am not sure why he would do that. I have ~100 bombers at Rangoon that can just pound him every day. From the Chungking/China campaign, I have hundreds upon hundreds of elite Exp 80+/GrdB 80+ IJAAF pilots.

I am keeping the AF at Akyab damaged. If I can prevent him from using it, he won't be able to protect his stack very well in the open with LRCAP.

[Lokasenna]

Here are the two hexes with my "stacks".

[Lowpe]

Figure he brought lots of AA for the open hex...it is late 1943 and Allied AA can be really effective.

Stop building forts at Ramree.[;)] I know you are in reserve, moving, but I am OCD.

[Lokasenna]

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

Figure he brought lots of AA for the open hex...it is late 1943 and Allied AA can be really effective.

Stop building forts at Ramree.[;)] I know you are in reserve, moving, but I am OCD.

Meh. There hasn't been any supply for them to use to build anyway.

AA won't fire without supply. He's going to have a bear of a time keeping it supplied... I think/hope.

[Lowpe]

ORIGINAL: Lokasenna
AA won't fire without supply. He's going to have a bear of a time keeping it supplied... I think/hope.

Is that a bet?

[Lokasenna]

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

ORIGINAL: Lokasenna
AA won't fire without supply. He's going to have a bear of a time keeping it supplied... I think/hope.

Is that a bet?

Everything is a gamble.



Didn't mean to get so serious and existential there, but there it is [:D].

[mind_messing]

Your experience at Ramree mirrors mine.

Needless to say, watch for units retreating into the open.

The great IJA reinforcement really starts kicking off when you get to 1944, and it just ramps up even more so. With China cleared, you can really optimize garrisons to free up the best troops.

Just be sure to check their TOE's, however. The difference between a Independent Mixed Brigade that arrives in China compared to one that arrives in Japan is quite noticeable, so make sure the artillery-heavy units get sent to the front and the China-type units get left behind forts for garrison duties. The good news is that most of the weaker Chinese units go on to form division sized units, so they'll be a bit more weighty in combat.

[Lokasenna]

ORIGINAL: mind_messing

Needless to say, watch for units retreating into the open.

[JocMeister]

I wouldn´t bet on supply being an issue for the allies!

[Lokasenna]

ORIGINAL: JocMeister

I wouldn´t bet on supply being an issue for the allies!

Macro, no - it isn't.

But in this particular case, for these sets of units of his, where is it going to come from? It all has to flow through Akyab or be airdropped right now. But airdrops can't supply a stack of that size.

[JocMeister]

ORIGINAL: Lokasenna
Macro, no - it isn't.

But in this particular case, for these sets of units of his, where is it going to come from? It all has to flow through Akyab or be airdropped right now. But airdrops can't supply a stack of that size.

I was talking about this particular case. [:)]

I could supply a far bigger stack from India than that in my game with Erik without any problems. I think I had almost twice what Steve has brought.

Getting supply to flow over land in this game is never an issue. At least not for the allies.

[Lowpe]

Don't worry, Lok will find out the hard way!

He is in a pretty good way though, good land troops present until he is forced to retreat the wrong way.[:)]