Tale of the Sheep! - JocMeister (A) vs. Lowpe (J)

[Bullwinkle58]

ORIGINAL: Uncivil Engineer

Did I get on webmd by mistake??

On

It's an inside joke. Jocke has a long and distinguished history of discussing the flu. Normally the "man flu", but, ya know, FLU. [8D]

[JocMeister]

[font="Verdana"]9th October -42[/font]
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Looks like I dodged the Grim Reaper...didn´t get sick and both kids have no recovered. Not a pleasant journey though...I´ll make a quick rundown of all areas and then I hope to get some better continuity into the updates.

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NORPAC/WC
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Jeff has started strat bombing here again. He hit some targets which were out of his fighter range. I had a CAP up at those previously but pulled back the fighters. Jeff spotted this and took the opportunity. CAP is back up.

I now have three squadrons converted to the P40K. I would like more on the WC but PDU OFF tripped me again. I didn´t check too closely and assumed most P40E squadrons would upgrade to the K model. Wrong! [:)] Two upgrades directly to the P40N5 in 7/43 ([X(]) and one to the P39N1 in 6/43. Dang...

Anyway the "Ks" will see action shortly. I have high hopes. Fingers crossed...

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SOPAC
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I accidently drained Noumea of fuel which means I can´t refuel the subs. This set me back a week or so but its sorted now. Fuel is holding steady in the area with about 500k between Auckland and Sydney. I don´t have any incoming for a while though (10/42 upgrades) so I´ll have to husband what I have.

Jeff have finally started reinforcing SOPAC. He has reinforced Ndeni and landed troops in the lower Solomons. Only smaller speed bumps though.

Efafe is secured on the 7th and construction units are on their way. 4Es are pounding Aoba and its lone SNLF.

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India
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We are closing in on Comilla from two sides. About 5000 AV in total against 79.000 defenders. Jeff seems to have spotted the danger though and it looks like he is pulling back towards Chittagong.

Fleet is refueled and will soon have another go.

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VP score
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Been holding pretty steadily around 3,2:1. So no danger of AV.

[morejeffs]

On the sub issue...In sub vs sub combat.....Historically I am pretty sure it was around 20 IJN subs sunk by the allies with 1 US sub getting nailed.

In my games....I find it around 8 to 10 to 1 in favor of Japan. I think the leaders are part of it, but that surface speed seems to be big factor. Of
course the fact that IJN subs were noisy and relatively easy to detect is not part of the equation.

[poodlebrain]

Can you keep the port at Chittagong damaged? Hindering his ability to withdraw by sea keeps his LCU exposed in clear terrain. You should be able to abuse them before they can escape to safety.

[JocMeister]

ORIGINAL: poodlebrain

Can you keep the port at Chittagong damaged? Hindering his ability to withdraw by sea keeps his LCU exposed in clear terrain. You should be able to abuse them before they can escape to safety.

Its closed alright. [:)]

Thought it would be tough with only 2Es but they did a good job. Allowed them to rest this turn. I might let the AF open up and hope Jeff moves in some fighters. Fleet is only 2 days out...

[JocMeister]

[font="Verdana"]India[/font]
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Suddenly 4 units appear on the rail East of Comilla as my troops shift hex. Not sure if the came from Comilla itself or were trying to rail to/from the city. I have a 9/10 DL on Comilla and no movement towards the East is showing. Took the chance and ordered a shock attack tomorrow.

The fleet are moving back into action. This time I have brought with me some CAs that will start more regular bombardments from Calcutta. The BBs can´t move upriver and rearm there.

Main objective is to deny Jeff the possibility to pull out his troops via sea. If he wants to save them he will have to walk! Its a long walk...

I hope to have all of India liberated by the end of 42. I have some ideas on how to follow that up in early-mid 43.

[JocMeister]

[font="Verdana"]SOPAC[/font]
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Very busy here. With Japanese CVs and CAs operating in the area I have to be very careful. I´ve adopted the xAKL approach to things. Basically I have loads of small xAKLs TFs shuffling fragments of units around.

I did this a lot against Erik. Basically 2-4 xAKLs + 1 AM/PC/YMS start moving a unit from Noumea to say Luganville. They cannot pick up the entire unit to they will have to make multiple trips. Its a bit of a hassle but if they get sunk I don´t lose the entire unit and shipping losses are not a concern.

I have something like 60 xAKLs moving stuff around from Noumea to all the bases. Bigger TFs are moving supply and fuel from Auckland to Noumea.

I´ll have to monitor this carefully so I don´t spend more then I have. Most of the merchant fleet is either refitting or restocking Cristobal with fuel and supply. I drained 700k supply and 500k from there in just 2 months. So it will be atleast another 2 months before more fuel will arrive in SOPAC.

Current stock
Auckland: 360k Fuel, 380k Supply
OZ: 180k Fuel, 1,8 million supply.

Incoming:
68k troops.
120k supply.
105k fuel.

Also diverted another 80 long range xAKs from CT and Aden to Cristobal.

Submarine fleet has relocated to Luganville although I don´t dare station an AS there yet. They refueled and drained Noumea and will now patrol the area south of the Solomons.

The Aoba invasion will begin loading shortly. This will be covered by a CL TF (Helena, Boise, St.Louis and Phoenix). I can provide LRCAP from Luganville which now has 75 Cobras on CAP.

As mentioned earlier Jeff seems focused here for now which suits me fine. This area is just a diversion and of no real significance. But it gives me something to do. [:)]

[JocMeister]

[font="Verdana"]India[/font]
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A good attack East of Comilla! [:)]

Ground combat at 57,39 (near Comilla)

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 60453 troops, 617 guns, 1033 vehicles, Assault Value = 2317

Defending force 4694 troops, 63 guns, 33 vehicles, Assault Value = 130

Allied adjusted assault: 2582

Japanese adjusted defense: 3

Allied assault odds: 860 to 1

Combat modifiers
Defender: op mode(-), fatigue(-), experience(-), supply(-)
Attacker: shock(+)

Japanese ground losses:
4529 casualties reported
Squads: 154 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 167 destroyed, 25 disabled
Engineers: 4 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 56 (48 destroyed, 8 disabled)
Vehicles lost 32 (21 destroyed, 11 disabled)
Units retreated 4

Allied ground losses:
255 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 34 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 3 disabled

Defeated Japanese Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
255th Armoured Brigade
19th Indian Division
763rd Tank Battalion
9th Indian Division
39th Indian Division
1st Marine Division
7th Armoured Brigade
26th Indian Division
Eastern Army
XXXIII Indian Corps
XV Indian Corps
4th Field Artillery Battalion
Burma Corps
1st Indian Light AA Regiment

Defending units:
41st Infantry Regiment
10th Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
3rd Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
54th Const Co

[BillBrown]

It looks like you caught them in Strat mode. That always translates to a lot of destroyed devices.

[poodlebrain]

Do you have any armor units in pursuit mode? You would almost assuredly wipe out the survivors with a good overrun type attack.

[catwhoorg]

Nicely done.

quite a fan of 48 destroyed guns as well

[JocMeister]

ORIGINAL: poodlebrain

Do you have any armor units in pursuit mode? You would almost assuredly wipe out the survivors with a good overrun type attack.

They retreated into Comilla...which turns out to be empty this turn! Update coming!

ORIGINAL: catwhoorg
Nicely done.
quite a fan of 48 destroyed guns as well

Indeed. Think I netted around 50 VPs or so in that attack. Very welcome! [:)]

[JocMeister]

[font="Verdana"]India[/font]
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Comilla is evacuated! [X(]

A bit disappointed since I was only 4 turns from cutting his retreat off. But I guess it was a little bit too obvious. This changes focus in India at least short term.

From trying to starve the Japanese we will now have to prevent an evacuation by sea. Fleet will move into position to strike Chittagong itself. NavS and Recon will focus on the Burmese coastline. I want to see if there is a evacuation convoy moving in. He will need KB and battlewagons for that though.

If he wants out I want to force him to walk. Its a long walk...

[JocMeister]

Tonights music: This will make no sense for you guys but most of the video is shot just a couple of 100 meters from where I grew up. Everything is shot in Stockholm where I live. And its a pretty darn cool video. [:)]

EDIT: No one died. Its one of Swedens biggest band announcing their last album and tour.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bubOcI11sps

Drinking:
http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/mariestads-export/10057/

[JocMeister]

[font="Verdana"]Fighter pools[/font]
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As can see here we are in great shape. To be honest I´ve never had so much to spare in any of my games. Jeff hasn´t really put much pressure on my air force at all. This gives me room to be a bit more offensive in the coming months. Upgrade P40E squadrons to "Ks" as fast as they are rolling in. I want the "Es" on backwater training/CAP as soon as possible.

[JocMeister]

[font="Verdana"]Bomber pools[/font]
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These are also looking in great shape. Saving up some B17Es to get some 4E action started in India/Burma soon. The USAAF has done very little bombing so far due to lack of targets. This will changed during the coming months.

[Rio Bravo]

Joc-

I have been following your orders to your ground forces pushing back the Japanese in Southeastern India. You have definitely made steady progress. It can't be too long now before the Japanese flee to Burma!

Good Luck.

Best Regards,

-Terry

[JocMeister]

ORIGINAL: Rio Bravo

Joc-

I have been following your orders to your ground forces pushing back the Japanese in Southeastern India. You have definitely made steady progress. It can't be too long now before the Japanese flee to Burma!

Good Luck.

Best Regards,

-Terry

I think you are right. SIGINT shows troops moving towards NORPAC and PH rather then India. So it looks like the Japanese have given up on India!

[JocMeister]

[font="Verdana"]SIGINT[/font]
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Speaking of which...interesting troop movements.

2/9th Division is loaded on a Akasi Cargo class xAK moving to Kodiak.
10/9th Division is planning for an attack on Vancouver.
1st Medium Field Artillery Regiment is located at Pearl Harbor(180,107).
2nd RF Gun Battalion is loaded on a Std-D Cargo class xAK moving to Pearl Harbor.

[paullus99]

Curiouser & curiouser....