A family affair - Speedy vs El Padre

[PaxMondo]

of course, you have to wait until 12/45 before you get any ... and then only 12/month ... 3 months to get enough for a normal betty air group. so, you get 2 full attacks maximum before war end. [;)]

whoopee. [>:]

[PaxMondo]

I don't think I would make many plans around this particular device. [8D]

[Speedysteve]

Hi All,

Thanks for confirming Pax. Indeed with this production rate I'll not focus too much on it. I might make enough of the relevant Betties, nearer the time, to get a strike or 2's worth out of them.

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SoPac:

More vehicles were unloaded at PM through the day. The only Allied interference was a further night attack by 16 x TBF on my transports. All of the bombs missed though.

KB is still offshore providing cover and bombed the defenders of PM during the day.

With disruption low enough I'll launch my first deliberate assault on PM tomorrow.

Zeros and LBA kept Terapo closed during the day. A few P38G's were up overhead shooting down 3 x Zero and 1 x Sally for the loss of 1 x P38G.

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Burma:

37 x George were up providing CAP over Magwe and they ravaged the escort of an Allied bombing raid comprised of 25 x P40K/Spit Vc and 46 x bombers. Claims were submitted for 19 enemy fighters shot down for the loss of 5 friendlies. Good job boys.

My Oscar IIa sweep over Mandalay found 1 x Hurri IIc on CAP. I feel the Allies are beginning to suffer fighter shortages in the region now after my re-org and renewed commitment in the theatre. I now have 2 x George Ku, 1 x Tojo IIa Sentai, 1 x Oscar IIa and 1 x Oscar IIb Sentai in Burma.

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Other Stuff:

SS Kingfish sank the small xAP Tango Maru on it's approaches back to Tokyo.

SS-177 was heavily damaged by an ASW TF SW of Calcutta. She's limping back to Singers.

I've attached my current ship building list after my re-org over the past 2 weeks. Some of the MER SY are turned off as requirements are fairly low.

Oil and Fuel levels are slowly increasing in Japan and Tokyo now has 130K Fuel and 50K Oil which is up from <20K of both 2 weeks ago.

HI production is also up from 400 per day to 3K+ per day.

Tweaked my Air Training regime's over the past few days. Basically any Sqn not on the front line or conducting Search or ASW has been scheduled as follows (outside of Recon or Transports Sqns which have limited training options):

Fighters - On CAP (A2A)
IJA Bombers - 1/3 GRD BM, 1/3 Naval BM, 1/3 Low Naval
IJN Bombers - 3 x groups on NavalT, 3 groups on Naval BM, the rest on Low Naval

[PaxMondo]

ORIGINAL: Speedy

SS-177 was heavily damaged by an ASW TF SW of Calcutta. She's limping back to Singers.

This will start to be really, really common. Make adjustments to your tactics or you will simply start to feed your Dad VP's ...

ORIGINAL: Speedy
Oil and Fuel levels are slowly increasing in Japan and Tokyo now has 130K Fuel and 50K Oil which is up from <20K of both 2 weeks ago.

HI production is also up from 400 per day to 3K+ per day.

looking good.

[Speedysteve]

Hi All,

Thanks Pax.

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SoPac:

Usual fare over New Caledonia with Allied bombers and fighters roaming keeping the bases closed. My transports continue to fly out what they can from Koumac to Lunga.

At PM my first attack went in and was a disappointment overall. I was expecting better but the terrain in particular plays against you here for attacks. At least the Allies lost more destroyed than me. Most of mine are damaged. I'll give my boys 4-5 days rest and see where they are. If they're good enough to attack again I will otherwise KB will retire and the support troops and remaining supply will unload at Buna and march overland:

Ground combat at Port Moresby (98,130)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 27553 troops, 292 guns, 709 vehicles, Assault Value = 1137

Defending force 14255 troops, 104 guns, 121 vehicles, Assault Value = 448

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 2

Japanese adjusted assault: 640

Allied adjusted defense: 1567

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 2 (fort level 2)

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

Japanese ground losses:
1364 casualties reported
Squads: 3 destroyed, 114 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 7 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 10 disabled


Allied ground losses:
620 casualties reported
Squads: 14 destroyed, 12 disabled
Non Combat: 15 destroyed, 11 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Units destroyed 2


Assaulting units:
Guards Mixed Brigade
10th Division
2nd Tank Division

Defending units:
C Coy/NG Rifles
D Coy/NG Rifles
1st Australian Division
30th Australian Brigade
Port Moresby Brigade
2nd RAAF Base Force
12th RAAF Base Force
5th RAAF Base Force
15th RAAF Base Force

My Zero sweep and bomber raid over Terapo kept the base closed for the loss of 4 x Zero and 1 x bomber for 3 x P38G.

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Burma:

My Oscar IIb CAP over Taung Gyi was a failure losing 15 friendlies for 5 x Spit V/Hurri IIc. From now on I'm using my Oscars up here for sweeps/escort only with my Tojo/George's used for CAP/traps.

No land action movement.

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Other Stuff:

SS I-175 reported in sinking xAK West Shipper in a convoy west of Fiji.

1 missed Jap sub attack too.

[Bif1961]

Your stats for the Ohka MXY7 Model 22 with an introduction date of 12/45. The Model 11 had historically 775 produced by March 1945 and was the only one to see operational use during WWII. First encountered when we invaded Okinawa 1 April, 1945. So Ohkas can be a massive weapon of war if produced in late 1944 - early 1945.

[Speedysteve]

Hi All,

Pretty quiet on the 10th.

SoPac:

All troops and equipment are ashore at PM now. KB will remain on station as there's another 30K supply to unload. Troops are still recovering.

No air attacks on my TF's.

Usual Allied bombing runs keeping New Caledonia under.

Emily and Tina Transports have now managed to evac 1 x AF Coy and 2 x AF Units from Koumac to Lunga.

Enemy DMS's swept off Koumac on the 11th.

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Burma:

My Geroge's of 251st Ku had a wonderful day patrolling over Taung Gyi on the 11th. They encountered a bombing raid targeting my troops and decimated them claiming 33 x Vengeance, 8 x P40K, 5 x Hurri IIc and 3 x B25D1 for the loss of 3 friendlies[&o].

[Lowpe]

ORIGINAL: Bif1961

Your stats for the Ohka MXY7 Model 22 with an introduction date of 12/45. The Model 11 had historically 775 produced by March 1945 and was the only one to see operational use during WWII. First encountered when we invaded Okinawa 1 April, 1945. So Ohkas can be a massive weapon of war if produced in late 1944 - early 1945.

Check the device/production page under missile. You should have 90 a month production starting 10/44? I think and ending sometime in 1945.

[Bif1961]

90 a month seems a little low should be closer to 120 a month based on historic production figures for the Ohka MXY7 Model 11..

[Speedysteve]

Hi All,

A fairly quiet few days with cat and mouse over Burma.

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SoPac:

I continue to fly out my men from Koumac as the Allies continue to pound New Caledonia into dust. DMS's have cleared my mines away from Koumac. If I can evac most of my men before any invasion lands I'll be happy.

Supply continues to flow ashore at PM but it's going in at 2K per day. That means there's over 15 days worth left to go. I don't want KB sitting there that long. As such, with the troops rested, they'll try and attack again tomorrow with KB and LBA from Rabaul bombing the enemy troops. If I don't succeed the remaining supply and garrison troops will land at Buna and march overland allowing KB to retire and for most of the CV's to upgrade in Japan.

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Burma:

Cat and mouse over Burma will little activity from the Allies in the air on 12/13th June. I was flying CAP over my troops but nothing showed up. I did shoot down 6 enemy transports over Mandalay on the 13th.

On the 14th enemy LBA, from Akyab, smashed Meiktila and destroyed 9 x Tojo IIa and 1 x George on the ground. Both Magwe and Meiktila are closed now. Planes have re-based at Toungoo and Prome and will fly LRCAP over Meiktila tomorrow.

No movement or attacks on the ground.

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Other Stuff:

LBA has reportedly hit 3 enemy subs.

D4Y3 Facs accelerate arrival date to 2/44.

[Speedysteve]

Hi All,

A good day for the Empire as we re-take PM and probably sink 2 ships by I-Boats.

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SoPac:

KB and LBA from Rabaul pound enemy positions at PM during the day aiding in the attack by my rejuvenated men in the PM:

Ground combat at Port Moresby (98,130)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 27516 troops, 292 guns, 763 vehicles, Assault Value = 1066

Defending force 13889 troops, 104 guns, 121 vehicles, Assault Value = 414

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 1

Japanese adjusted assault: 1746

Allied adjusted defense: 249

Japanese assault odds: 7 to 1 (fort level 1)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Port Moresby !!!

Allied aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft losses
Catalina I: 1 destroyed
P-40E Warhawk: 1 destroyed

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), experience(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
910 casualties reported
Squads: 3 destroyed, 41 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled


Allied ground losses:
1915 casualties reported
Squads: 94 destroyed, 73 disabled
Non Combat: 349 destroyed, 34 disabled
Engineers: 10 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 47 (31 destroyed, 16 disabled)
Vehicles lost 96 (90 destroyed, 6 disabled)
Units retreated 7


Assaulting units:
Guards Mixed Brigade
10th Division
2nd Tank Division

Defending units:
1st Australian Division
30th Australian Brigade
Port Moresby Brigade
2nd RAAF Base Force
12th RAAF Base Force
5th RAAF Base Force
15th RAAF Base Force

This is great. The 'garrisoning' Naval Guard Unit and AF Bn will now move ashore with a further 25K supply.

I now have to decide where to move 10th Division, 2nd Tank Divisions and the Guards Mixed Bde (which will join up with the other Guards Units from Tokyo to form the 1st Guards Division). At this stage I've decided to pursue the enemy defenders (which retreated NW towards Terapo) with just 10th Division which will aim to re-take Terapo and then march overland to Wau for movement elsewhere.

I'm tempted to send 2nd Tank Division to Java to bolster the defence and to distribute 1st Guards Division in the Southern SRA. I'll post my other defensive areas but would welcome thoughts.

A SC TF formed around Repulse bombarded, an empty, Port Hedland overnight but no further activity occurred.

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Burma:

The Allies raided Meiktila again and my LRCAP of George's and Oscar IIb's did well in shooting down 10 x P40K for the loss of 1 George and 1 Oscar.

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Other Stuff:

SS I-17 reported sinking the Liberty Class AK James Schureman SW of PH with 3 torpedoes.

SS I-162 probably sank the empty TK British Zeal with 2 torpedoes to the west of Perth.

[Speedysteve]

So, where to send 2nd Tank Division, 1st Guards Division and ultimately 10th Division? I posted overview of my SoPac bases on page 7.

Here's the other areas.

The Marshalls. Only a barrier here and too many bases to defend strongly in depth. All occupied bases have been reinforced with a Naval Guard Unit and most have an additional AF Unit.

[Speedysteve]

Wake has it's CD Unit, SNLF and an AF Unit.

Truk is maxed:

[Speedysteve]

Mariana's:

Obviously need reinforcing but I feel I have more time here with the Marshalls as a barrier.

[Speedysteve]

Southern SRA. I feel this area needs reinforcing as there's no real barrier other than the relatively empty Northern Aus? Aim here is to use Makassar, Kendari and Ambon as strategic big Airfields and strong points to dominate.

[PaxMondo]

[Speedysteve]

Hi All,

Not a lot of action to report in the past 2 days.

SoPac:

At PM I continue to unload 25k further supply ashore under the cover of KB. 10th Division is slowing moving NW to follow the retreating Allies. LBA pounds the retreating Allies on both days causing over 450 casualties. Enemy P38's shoot down 6 friendlies for the loss of 1 P38G. Once the supply is ashore KB and Co will retire for a much needed rest.

43rd Naval Guard and 2nd JNAF AF Coy are almost totally evac'd from Koumac by Transports from Rabaul as enemy air continues to pulverise New Caledonia.

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Burma:

No land combat or movements.

No air combat on 16th but a sweep of 30 x Oscar IIa from Prome to Akyab performs poorly encountering 25 enemy P40K/Spit Vc. I lose 16 friendlies for 3 enemy. Time for the IIa to be withdrawn from service as Oscar IIb numbers begin to increase.

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Other Stuff:

I lost 2 I-Boats to an enemy ASW TF patrolling off Noumea on the 17th. Both I-39 and I-7 are lost.

DD Shinonome is sunk by SS Seahorse patrolling off Takao on the 16th.

From calculations I've made I've carried on production of 5 more 8K and 11K Tankers as there's excess oil and fuel that the current TK runs can't collect from Palembang and Medan.

HI pool only increasing by 2-2.5K on recent turns. Not sure exactly why it dropped from 3K. Maybe due to increased plane and engine production.

[Speedysteve]

Java.

I'm pretty certain this is where I'll send the 2nd Tk Division once it leaves PM.

Other bases not described all contain either Eng's AF Units, SNLFs etc.

[Speedysteve]

Current plans are to send 2nd Tk Div to Java and 1st Guards Division to Southern SRA and to use as a strategic reserve from Kendari. There's just so many darn bases around and nowhere near enough of them can be defended[;)]

[PaxMondo]

I hate Java.

There are a lot of places I hate .. Burma, Java, Marshalls, ...

They all have one thing in common: you want to defend them but they are so easily bypassed and then you units are in an effective internment camp for the duration and all they do is slowly convert to VP's for the allies. I hate them.

You have to defend Java because it is a place that the allies can initiate their offensive. BUT, if they get inside of it to say the PI, then all those units are lost... units that you will badly need, but will no longer be available.

I hate Java. [:D]