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

[witpqs]

Air losses.

[witpqs]

This is an update, about nothing.

[witpqs]

1944 October 07

The Empire captured:


The Allies captured:


There were Imperial amphibious or airborne operations at:


There were Allied amphibious or airborne operations at:


Imperial Naval Bombardments


Allied Naval Bombardments:



Our subs attacked DD Hamanami near Hong Kong and ran into mines at Merak on the Sunda Strait - two of our subs, that last bit. One sunk and the other is heading to Colombo for repairs.

We now have 4 divisions bearing down on Pakhoi, all in move mode for tomorrow. Today more than 40x Helens were shot down over our divisions in spite of earlier sweeps. Maybe tomorrow our guys will get to move faster.

Tomorrow the 81st WA Div attacks the enemy positions at Medan.

Massed artillery is telling its own story against one pocket north of Saigon.

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Ground combat at 62,66 (near Pakse)

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 5313 troops, 222 guns, 18 vehicles, Assault Value = 196

Defending force 1260 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 3

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

Assaulting units:
11th PAVO Regiment
2/11th Armoured Car Regiment
11th Airborne/C Division
21st Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
32nd Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
25th Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
31st Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
33rd Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
27th Indian Field Artillery Battalion
30th Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
22nd Indian Mountain Gun Regiment

Defending units:
2nd Ind.Mixed Brigade
33rd Division


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Ground combat at 61,65 (near Pakse)

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 6078 troops, 92 guns, 36 vehicles, Assault Value = 186

Defending force 2237 troops, 5 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 43

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

Assaulting units:
11th Airborne/A Division
11th Airborne/B Division

Defending units:
17th Ind.Mixed Brigade


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All but the engineer regiment will attack at Lang Son tomorrow. One division is still at 12% disruption but (aside from the combat eng Rgt) all others are below 10%.

Medium bombers are beginning to operate from Probolinggo, which will expand to size 4 likely tomorrow.

All units have finished loading for Okinawa and their convoys are now heading to marshaling points in the Marianas (to separate Naha convoys from Nago convoys). Surface groups have been realigned. Those intended for surface combat generally have 4 or more cruisers or battleships, those intended for shore bombardment have two cruisers or one battleship. All CV and CVL fighter groups are now upgraded to either F6F-5 Hellcat or F4U-1A or F4U-1D Corsair. All CVE fighter groups are now upgraded to F6F-3 Hellcat or F4U-1A Corsair (in a couple of cases).

Carrier units are organized into 4 CV TF each with 4x CV and 2x CVL plus escorts, and 4 CVE TF each with 10x CVE plus escorts. Direct fire support of destroyers and fire support landing types (eg LCI(G)) is being allocated to each amphibious assault TF with pools of spares (I've noticed that escorts in amphibious convoys expend all relevant ammunition in one day). Same with minesweepers. Separate LST convoys with only supplies on board are being prepared to ensure abundant supply from the very first day. Separate ASW groups are being formed from DE available. 40 subs are leaving Guam on newly assigned patrols to block for the operation.

It will be another day or two before all supporting combat units are organized, but it will also take that long to gather and reorganize the convoys off of Saipan and Anatahan. Surface, bombardment, carrier, and ASW forces will take up station tomorrow to guard the convoys. The additional combat ships (DD, AM, DMS) will sail directly from Guam and meet up the following day. Repositioning support units (AKE, etc. to Iwo Jima to rearm combat ships) will leave the day after.

Indochina.

[witpqs]

Malay Peninsula & Sumatra.

[witpqs]

Java Sea.

[witpqs]

Air Losses.

[BBfanboy]

ORIGINAL: witpqs

This is an update, about nothing.

[:D]
And happy Festivus to you too!

[zuluhour]

"She said I wasn't sponge worthy!"

[Crackaces]

Now that Cam Ranh bay and Puerto Princesa are Allied .. is not the DEI completly cutoff? DB's can reach the midpoint from both bases .. is it still worth cleaning up the DEI or just concentrate forces for the next big push?

[witpqs]

ORIGINAL: Crackaces

Now that Cam Ranh bay and Puerto Princesa are Allied .. is not the DEI completly cutoff? DB's can reach the midpoint from both bases .. is it still worth cleaning up the DEI or just concentrate forces for the next big push?

Definitely cut off as far as commerce is concerned.

Regiments and other small forces are cleaning up Java. Two divisions and one brigade are cleaning up Sumatra. The large commitment is to cleaning out the Malay Peninsula. After that, all large forces and most all supporting forces will be available with no need to leave containing forces behind. I do still maintain the option of changing that approach, but so far it is working.

[Drakanel]

DEI is still a lot of VPs, so I don't see why not. It's not like there's a LOT of assets tied for that conquest. Singapore is still a very big Repair yard, so that's very valuable on its own...

Plus it's nice to see green dots on the main map, isn't it? [:)]

[witpqs]

Yes, it is! And I do want the repair yard at Singapore. I know that Hong Kong should be available, but two of that size are better than one.

I'm looking at going straight in to Okinawa, no attempt at subterfuge.

[witpqs]

1944 October 08

The Empire captured:


The Allies captured:
Medan

There were Imperial amphibious or airborne operations at:


There were Allied amphibious or airborne operations at:


Imperial Naval Bombardments


Allied Naval Bombardments:



Our subs found nothing.

Quiet in China. Our four divisions are indeed moving much faster toward Pakhoi, the lead divisions having made a total of 16 miles of the half jungle hex/half clear hex journey.

Medan is ours.

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Ground combat at Medan (46,76)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 10695 troops, 144 guns, 3 vehicles, Assault Value = 378

Defending force 121 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1

Allied adjusted assault: 346

Japanese adjusted defense: 1

Allied assault odds: 346 to 1 (fort level 4)

Allied forces CAPTURE Medan !!!

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

Japanese ground losses:
78 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 22 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Units destroyed 1

Assaulting units:
81st (West African) Division

Defending units:
111th Ship Eng Coy


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The 81st is heading straight for the base on the west coast while the Rgt that will arrive by rail tomorrow will continue the drive down the east coast to the last base on this stretch of road there.

The armour pursuing down the Malay Peninsula has turned a corner and is now heading into the flank of the retreating enemy.

A set back in casualties at Lang Son, although fortifications were reduced to level 0.

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Ground combat at 61,65 (near Pakse)

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 6093 troops, 92 guns, 36 vehicles, Assault Value = 187

Defending force 2206 troops, 5 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 42

Assaulting units:
11th Airborne/A Division
11th Airborne/B Division

Defending units:
17th Ind.Mixed Brigade


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Ground combat at Lang Son (70,56)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 67069 troops, 1175 guns, 1783 vehicles, Assault Value = 2223

Defending force 41226 troops, 454 guns, 284 vehicles, Assault Value = 1191

Allied engineers reduce fortifications to 0

Allied adjusted assault: 1302

Japanese adjusted defense: 2151

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

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

Japanese ground losses:
1403 casualties reported
Squads: 12 destroyed, 187 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 21 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 8 disabled
Vehicles lost 25 (2 destroyed, 23 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
3767 casualties reported
Squads: 110 destroyed, 266 disabled
Non Combat: 25 destroyed, 110 disabled
Engineers: 6 destroyed, 30 disabled
Guns lost 110 (37 destroyed, 73 disabled)
Vehicles lost 212 (43 destroyed, 169 disabled)

Assaulting units:
I Corps Engr Grp
31st Infantry Division
5th Australian Division
637th Tank Destroyer Battalion
96th Infantry Division
706th Tank Battalion
671th Tank Destroyer Battalion
632nd Tank Destroyer Battalion
640th Tank Destroyer Battalion
1st Australian Division
711th Tank Battalion
2/4th Armoured Regiment
2/6th Armoured Regiment
775th Tank Battalion
192nd Tank Battalion
9th Australian Division
2/11th Field Regiment
134th (East Ang) Regiment
2/1st Med Regiment
12th Indian Heavy AA Regiment
57th Australian Lt AA Regiment
2nd Medium Regiment
163rd Light AA Regiment
251st Field Artillery Battalion
1st Medium Regiment
2/9th Field Regiment
85th Medium Regiment
87th Medium Regiment
18th SP Field Artillery Regiment

Defending units:
27th Division
58th Infantry Regiment
59th Infantry Brigade
37th Division
8th Recon Regiment
15th Tank Regiment
34th/A Division
2nd Ind. Field Artillery Regiment
1st Mortar Battalion
3rd Mobile AA Battalion
11th Ind. Field Artillery Battalion
31st Mountain Gun Regiment


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Ground combat at 62,66 (near Pakse)

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 5313 troops, 222 guns, 18 vehicles, Assault Value = 268

Defending force 1196 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 2

Japanese ground losses:
59 casualties reported
Squads: 3 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Assaulting units:
2/11th Armoured Car Regiment
754th Tank Battalion
11th PAVO Regiment
11th Airborne/C Division
25th Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
31st Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
32nd Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
27th Indian Field Artillery Battalion
21st Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
33rd Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
30th Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
22nd Indian Mountain Gun Regiment

Defending units:
2nd Ind.Mixed Brigade
33rd Division


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The USA 31st ID was hardest hit, now with 131 AV, followed by the Aus 5th Div, now with 217 AV. A couple of armored units also came away limping. Three of the infantry divisions, all four tank destroyer Bns, and one Tank Bn have been placed in reserve to recover. Total AV at the moment is 1778.

We will allow several days, possibly as long as a week for recovery, while a few 4EB are tasked to bomb the base and keep fortifications from being rebuilt. Possibly the 31st ID will be pulled back to avoid losing large numbers of squads next time, but considering how much artillery this formation has on hand they might be left in place to bombard instead. Two Aus Bde and five Chinese Corps/Div totalling about 1,700 AV will be brought in for the next attack. The soon to be repatriated Chinese troops are our secret weapon and their appearance should cause panic, chaos, and stampeding among the enemy forces.

Meanwhile the exploitation drive on Pakhoi will seize that location about the time of the next attack at Lang Son. Support units to get the base running and building and three tank units will be brought in by small vessels from Haiphong. From there Kwangchowan will be taken by infantry while the armor cuts the main supply line to Lang Son if it still resists, or cuts the retreat of Imperial units if it doesn't. The 2EB at Hue will be moved to Hanoi and Haiphong, and the 4EB at Quinhon will be moved to Hue. In concert with fighter sweeps from Hanoi/Haiphong, from Hue they can close Canton airfield, which is a major enemy fighter and bomber bastion. From Hue they can also reach Kweilin, which presently scouts as having more than 180 fighters! These could be massed to oppose shipping into Pakhoi.

Sweeps of Samah and Manila met no opposition. Samah was repaired and aircraft were based there yesterday so today several groups of A-24G closed it, losing 6 to ground fire.

Our troops keep pouring into Probolinggo, though not on the scale of other theaters! Much of the Rgt from Ternate will begin unloading there tonight. The Rgt at Bandjermasin is loading on two APD convoys (landing craft convoys to follow) and will set off at once for Tjepoe. The Imperial position just west of Soerabaja is truly getting smashed from the air. Our Bn there is content to wait for friends and for other units to cut avenues of withdrawal currently open to the enemy.

Loading of supplies for Okinawa continues, including among a few of the convoys that I mistakenly thought had finished loading yesterday at the smaller port of Anatahan. This time will get the LST supply convoys fully loaded and in position. The subs are on their way and will be on station to oppose enemy interference. We have a rare day with solid recon on all of the first three targets.

Naha: 17 units; 54,160 troops; 511 guns; 179 AFV
Nago: 11 units; 32,280 troops; 205 guns; 151 AFV
Daito Shoto: 16 units; 27,740 troops; 306 guns; 199 AFV

Indochina.

[witpqs]

Malay Peninsula & Sumatra.

[witpqs]

Java Sea.

[witpqs]

The Marianas and Yap will serve as embarkation points for the Daito Shoto invasion forces. The Okinawa rally points are visible with their seaward escorts. The submarines are well ahead on their way to patrol stations.

[witpqs]

1944 October 09

The Empire captured:


The Allies captured:


There were Imperial amphibious or airborne operations at:


There were Allied amphibious or airborne operations at:
Tjepoe

Imperial Naval Bombardments


Allied Naval Bombardments:



Our subs identified yet another mine field at Merak. As before, this sub was not ordered to venture into that port and I think it was on the way to Colombo to withdraw. Obviously the Sunda Strait is on the list of narrow straits. Have to find a better route!

Half of our armour has caught up to the fleeing enemy north of Singora. They will wait until tomorrow when the rest of the armour arrives and perhaps one of the divisions too. BB King George V has arrived at Aden.

De-zombificaton of the jungles continues.

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Ground combat at 62,66 (near Pakse)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 7050 troops, 225 guns, 314 vehicles, Assault Value = 266

Defending force 1143 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 3

Allied adjusted assault: 116

Japanese adjusted defense: 1

Allied assault odds: 116 to 1

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

Japanese ground losses:
865 casualties reported
Squads: 18 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 25 destroyed, 31 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Assaulting units:
754th Tank Battalion
11th PAVO Regiment
2/11th Armoured Car Regiment
11th Airborne/C Division
27th Indian Field Artillery Battalion
31st Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
33rd Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
21st Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
30th Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
25th Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
32nd Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
22nd Indian Mountain Gun Regiment

Defending units:
2nd Ind.Mixed Brigade
33rd Division


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Ground combat at 61,65 (near Pakse)

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 6093 troops, 92 guns, 36 vehicles, Assault Value = 187

Defending force 2164 troops, 2 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 40

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

Assaulting units:
11th Airborne/A Division
11th Airborne/B Division

Defending units:
17th Ind.Mixed Brigade


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One unit was destroyed when our forces attacked the zombie campsite, but I don't know which one. We attack again tomorrow, then move to the adjacent hex and deal with that unit. Bad weather severely hampered air strikes on Lang Son resulting in no hits on the base and only entertainment for the troops targeted. It looks like 4 miles per day bearing down on Pakhoi, hopefully that will speed up during the second 1/2 of the 46 miles, which is a clear hex with a secondary road to that hex side. The first two divisions are at 24 miles, the other two at 20 and 16 miles.

Tjepoe is unoccupied. The rail line passing through might have accounted for the recon reports of troops in the recent past. One or both of the Imperial units west of Soerabaja are now moving into that city.

Two last convoys carrying field artillery units are still loading extra rounds at Anatahan. They've been ordered to forgo topping up supply and move to join the others. Tomorrow the smaller convoys will be combined, the current minimal escorts strengthened, and the whole show ordered to move out.

Indochina.

[witpqs]

Malay Peninsula & Sumatra.

[witpqs]

Java Sea.

[Drakanel]

So, tomorrow your convoys leave. How many days for the invasion?

Also, poor zombies. They were just pacifically eating each other, but no, they have to die because you want to see more green dots on the map[:D]