Rumble in the Southwest witpqs-A vs Andav-J 2011-11-29 to 2017-02-08

[zuluhour]

"maximum smack" How can you argue with that? [:D]

[witpqs]

1944 September 03

The Empire captured:


The Allies captured:
Larantoeka
Lomblen

There were Imperial amphibious or airborne operations at:


There were Allied amphibious or airborne operations at:


Imperial Naval Bombardments


Allied Naval Bombardments:
Allied Ships Bombarding Ternate
Allied Ships Bombarding Ternate
Allied Ships Bombarding Cotabato


Our subs had a quiet day.

Quiet in China. Weather prevented the sweeps of Chungking. Try again tomorrow.

No attacks near Chiang Mai and lots of maneuvering time before the next ones. On the Malay Peninsula two infantry divisions have made contact with the enemy and await the rest of the army. A full attack will virtually destroy the small unit blocking the road, and the armour will be needed for the next hex anyway so no time will be lost this way.

Good progress at and near Vinh.

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Ground combat at Vinh (65,59)

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 642 troops, 61 guns, 54 vehicles, Assault Value = 1175

Defending force 24489 troops, 154 guns, 52 vehicles, Assault Value = 649

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

Assaulting units:
23rd Australian Brigade
640th Tank Destroyer Battalion
754th Tank Battalion
1st Army Tank Regiment
2/5th Armoured Regiment
775th Tank Battalion
22nd Australian Brigade
503rd Parachute Regiment
637th Tank Destroyer Battalion
81st Infantry Division
124th Cavalry Regiment
27th Australian Brigade
II Australian Corps
XXIV US Corps
1st Medium Regiment
251st Field Artillery Battalion
2nd Medium Regiment

Defending units:
83rd Infantry Brigade
11th Indpt Infantry Regiment
66th Infantry Brigade
16th Recon Regiment
51st Infantry Brigade
22nd/B Division


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Ground combat at 67,58 (near Haiphong)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 1248 troops, 3 guns, 235 vehicles, Assault Value = 273

Defending force 3546 troops, 38 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 42

Allied adjusted assault: 86

Japanese adjusted defense: 3

Allied assault odds: 28 to 1

Combat modifiers
Defender: leaders(+), disruption(-), supply(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
1472 casualties reported
Squads: 57 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 26 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 3 destroyed, 4 disabled
Guns lost 14 (9 destroyed, 5 disabled)
Units retreated 1

Defeated Japanese Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
706th Tank Battalion
711th Tank Battalion
192nd Tank Battalion
2/4th Armoured Regiment

Defending units:
3rd Ind.Mixed Brigade


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The air strikes NE of Vinh were devastating in the clear terrain. The armor is moving full speed to catch both units in the next hex. At Vinh itself only a TD Bn will arrive tomorrow, and another TD Bn and an Armoured Bde will arrive in three days. So, I've decided to shock attack tomorrow.

The Imperial base force near Bandjermasin lives, but just barely.

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Ground combat at 61,99 (near Bandjermasin)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 3547 troops, 48 guns, 16 vehicles, Assault Value = 113

Defending force 379 troops, 4 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 4

Allied adjusted assault: 26

Japanese adjusted defense: 1

Allied assault odds: 26 to 1

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

Japanese ground losses:
91 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 5 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Units retreated 1

Defeated Japanese Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
158th(Sep) Infantry Regiment

Defending units:
9th Base Force


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Ground combat at Ternate (78,102)

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 1002 troops, 126 guns, 85 vehicles, Assault Value = 120

Defending force 6885 troops, 38 guns, 2 vehicles, Assault Value = 147

Japanese ground losses:
Guns lost 1 (1 destroyed, 0 disabled)

Assaulting units:
31st Infantry Regiment
205th Field Artillery Battalion
147th Field Artillery Battalion
148th Field Artillery Battalion
131st Field Artillery Battalion
260th Field Artillery Battalion
134th Field Artillery Battalion

Defending units:
12th Garrison Unit
11th Special Base Force
70th JAAF AF Bn
2nd JNAF AF Unit
72nd JAAF AF Bn


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The 9th Base Force recons as having 260 troops remaining, and their combat colleagues to the west as having 240 troops. Ternate looks nearly ripe enough for an attack. The day after tomorrow.

Indochina.

[witpqs]

Malay Peninsula.

[witpqs]

Vinh, with the two HQ units filtered out to make room for all the combat units. Cross your fingers!

[BBfanboy]

The AV doesn't look that high, but with six armoured units and lots of artillery, I predict a spanking!

[Lowpe]

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

The AV doesn't look that high, but with six armoured units and lots of artillery, I predict a spanking!

+1: Japan has no AT capability at Vinh and therefor has no chance. Not to mention the shore bombardments.

[witpqs]

1944 September 04

The Empire captured:


The Allies captured:
Maumere

There were Imperial amphibious or airborne operations at:


There were Allied amphibious or airborne operations at:
Endeh

Imperial Naval Bombardments


Allied Naval Bombardments:
Allied Ships Bombarding Ternate
Allied Ships Bombarding Vinh


Our subs made a surprise appearance, with two subs torpedoing the same xAKL in two different hexes between Hong Kong and Hainan.

Quiet in China except for the sweeps over Chungking. 10x Franks were shot down for no Allied losses. The B-29 groups at Moulmein have been ordered to strike the HI at Chungking at 10,000 ft.

Still units moving is the only ground action around Chiang Mai and on the Peninsula. Many more engineers and some large base forces have landed at Victoria Point. The engineers are getting to work maximizing the port before some of them move on. The additional base forces are heading straight for the rail line to support the SWPac invasion of China.

The bombardment of Vinh was not targeted as hoped. The ground attack came up short. Two trapped units were eliminated.

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Night Naval bombardment of Vinh at 65,59

Allied Ships
CA Minneapolis
CA Salt Lake City
CA Pensacola
CA Chester

Airbase hits 8
Airbase supply hits 5
Runway hits 30
Port hits 14
Port fuel hits 4
Port supply hits 1

SOC-1 Seagull acting as spotter for CA Minneapolis
CA Minneapolis firing at 66th Infantry Brigade
SOC-1 Seagull acting as spotter for CA Salt Lake City
CA Salt Lake City firing at Vinh
CA Pensacola firing at Vinh
CA Chester firing at Vinh


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Ground combat at Vinh (65,59)

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 33795 troops, 532 guns, 909 vehicles, Assault Value = 1253

Defending force 24390 troops, 154 guns, 52 vehicles, Assault Value = 646

Allied adjusted assault: 1444

Japanese adjusted defense: 1137

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

Allied Assault reduces fortifications to 2

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), forts(+)
Attacker: shock(+)

Japanese ground losses:
1091 casualties reported
Squads: 10 destroyed, 249 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 14 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 5 disabled

Allied ground losses:
1571 casualties reported
Squads: 172 destroyed, 182 disabled
Non Combat: 4 destroyed, 110 disabled
Engineers: 18 destroyed, 22 disabled
Guns lost 92 (51 destroyed, 41 disabled)
Vehicles lost 57 (9 destroyed, 48 disabled)

Assaulting units:
23rd Australian Brigade
640th Tank Destroyer Battalion
124th Cavalry Regiment
22nd Australian Brigade
2/5th Armoured Regiment
775th Tank Battalion
503rd Parachute Regiment
637th Tank Destroyer Battalion
632nd Tank Destroyer Battalion <-- Just arrived, did not attack.
1st Army Tank Regiment
81st Infantry Division
754th Tank Battalion
27th Australian Brigade
251st Field Artillery Battalion
1st Medium Regiment
XXIV US Corps
II Australian Corps
2nd Medium Regiment

Defending units:
51st Infantry Brigade
66th Infantry Brigade
11th Indpt Infantry Regiment
16th Recon Regiment
83rd Infantry Brigade
22nd/B Division


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Ground combat at 62,67 (near Kratie)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 3060 troops, 46 guns, 18 vehicles, Assault Value = 94

Defending force 73 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1

Allied adjusted assault: 45

Japanese adjusted defense: 1

Allied assault odds: 45 to 1

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

Japanese ground losses:
103 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 9 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Units destroyed 1

Assaulting units:
11th Airborne/A Division

Defending units:
109th JAAF AF Bn


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Ground combat at 62,66 (near Pakse)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 3033 troops, 46 guns, 18 vehicles, Assault Value = 93

Defending force 343 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1

Allied adjusted assault: 97

Japanese adjusted defense: 1

Allied assault odds: 97 to 1

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

Japanese ground losses:
380 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 32 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Units destroyed 1

Assaulting units:
11th Airborne/C Division

Defending units:
104th/A Div /1


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Surprisingly there was no supply shortage for the defenders at Vinh. Five armored units (with 10% or less disruption) will make a deliberate attack in there tomorrow. On succeeding days any units which can attack will do so. The last two armored units should arrive from the NW tomorrow and will join the fray as soon as orders can be given. One Australian Bde is hors de combat and will need extensive R&R. NE of Vinh the IJA made air strikes and assigned LRCAP to aid their forces in front of Hanoi and Haiphong. As a result only one of our armoured units made contact and the 2/4th Armoured Rgt will attack alone tomorrow.

Ternate is ready.

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Ground combat at Ternate (78,102)

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 996 troops, 126 guns, 85 vehicles, Assault Value = 120

Defending force 6660 troops, 36 guns, 1 vehicles, Assault Value = 142

Assaulting units:
31st Infantry Regiment
131st Field Artillery Battalion
148th Field Artillery Battalion
205th Field Artillery Battalion
147th Field Artillery Battalion
260th Field Artillery Battalion
134th Field Artillery Battalion

Defending units:
12th Garrison Unit
70th JAAF AF Bn
11th Special Base Force
2nd JNAF AF Unit
72nd JAAF AF Bn


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Deliberate attack tomorrow at Ternate.

The shipping and shifting of combat troops for various phases of the Okinawa and associated operations and the various support troops is a right proper mess. It will be a miracle if half of them don't sink at sea from sailing in circles while I try to figure out what the heck I am doing. I mean everything is going fine, things progressing nicely. The CV, fast BB, and CVL are being pulled from the South China Sea to prepare for the operation. That does not mean it is imminent, it's just that travel times demand not waiting any longer. The CVE will be pulled out later and might provide a veneer of carrier air presence. Kuching and Jesselton are both up for dive bombers and Jesselton is up for torpedo bombers. Cam Ranh Bay is up for both, and soon Soc Trang will be also (with the arrival of an air HQ). Together with modest surface forces and submarine forces those bases will form a gauntlet that the remaining IJN surface units at Singapore will not be able to penetrate and remain effective.

Indochina.

[witpqs]

Malay Peninsula.

[witpqs]

Eastern DEI. Cleanup is well along.

[witpqs]

Vinh. We took a bloody nose and made progress at the same time. Keeping up daily attacks with whatever units are fit on the day should break through the defense pretty quickly.

[Drakanel]

Yeowch. That hurt I was not expecting so many losses. Then again your armors are hardly disrupted, so things should progress nicely nonetheless. Also he lost 259 squads...

I guess he must have stocked quite a bit of supplies at Vinh. The bombardment going astray didn't help any for sure...

[zuluhour]

I'm thinking he is air smuggling supply

[Lowpe]

He has had forever to build supply at Vinh to respectable levels...

[witpqs]

ORIGINAL: zuluhour

I'm thinking he is air smuggling supply

I've been LRCAPing Vinh and haven't noticed any transports being shot down. On the other hand my CAP is higher to protect against bombers, so he might be sending some flights in really low. The other thing about the supply situation that surprised me is that when he owned the hex sides to the NE and had troops 1 hex to the NE, those troops were supply(-) in combat. They should have been in better supply than the troops inside Vinh, so I took that as a sign that Vinh was out. And the troops in Ving have been bombarded from the ground and air every day plus sometimes from the sea.

Maybe low transports, then?

I pulled off the LRCAP to bolster escorts for the strikes against his troops in the open to aid the drive on Haiphong.

[Lowpe]

Your night naval bombardment tells me that he has plentiful, for now, supply stocks at Vinh.

[witpqs]

ORIGINAL: Drakanel

Yeowch. That hurt I was not expecting so many losses. Then again your armors are hardly disrupted, so things should progress nicely nonetheless. Also he lost 259 squads...

I guess he must have stocked quite a bit of supplies at Vinh. The bombardment going astray didn't help any for sure...

Most (but not all) of my lost squads were already disabled so won't affect attacks as much as they might have. His 254 squads + engineers disabled equals about 447 final AV. Taking out that should help, but the defense is still strong. My disabled squads should recover much faster than his due to air strikes against his side only. Still, I want to take and clear that rail point, so I can't dally.

The formula will be that whatever capable units can attack (less than 10% or 12% disruption) on a given day will attack. I've tasked a 2X CL TF to add to the naval bombardment cycle.

What I am not doing is assigning the 2EB to Vinh because they are supporting the Haiphong/Hanoi drive. When the Imperials are pushed out of those cities then the 2EB will be reassigned.

[witpqs]

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

Your night naval bombardment tells me that he has plentiful, for now, supply stocks at Vinh.

But how? There was no return fire. I always figured that "Supply Hits" could be gotten even when no supply was present and just had no effect in that case. Sort of like hitting empty supply dumps.

[Lowpe]

ORIGINAL: witpqs

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

Your night naval bombardment tells me that he has plentiful, for now, supply stocks at Vinh.

But how? There was no return fire. I always figured that "Supply Hits" could be gotten even when no supply was present and just had no effect in that case. Sort of like hitting empty supply dumps.

I will defer to your understanding...

Andav could have made it tougher by flying in some rapid fire 47mm or some air transportable artillery. You will knock him out in 3-4 days max. Maybe even as soon as 2 days.

[witpqs]

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

ORIGINAL: witpqs

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

Your night naval bombardment tells me that he has plentiful, for now, supply stocks at Vinh.

But how? There was no return fire. I always figured that "Supply Hits" could be gotten even when no supply was present and just had no effect in that case. Sort of like hitting empty supply dumps.

I will defer to your understanding...

Andav could have made it tougher by flying in some rapid fire 47mm or some air transportable artillery. You will knock him out in 3-4 days max. Maybe even as soon as 2 days.

Well there was no supply(-) so clearly there is some supply there. If there's a whole bunch - more for us to capture! [:D]

[zuluhour]

"whole bunch" first thought......bananas.[:D]&nbsp;