A family affair - Speedy vs El Padre

[Speedysteve]

Hi All,

SoPac:

Rabaul LBA bombed the battered Aussies near PM.

Usual Allied pounding of New Caledonia. A couple of TF's are near Noumea. Not sure if these are about to invade or what. Not a problem if so. I have 5 full units to evac from Koumac still (3 x Naval Guard/SNLF and 2 x AF Unit's). I've already evac'd 7 units safely.

KB reached Truk and big R&R fest is happening. Heading back to Japan for upgrade is:

CV Shokaku
CV Zuikaku
CV Junyo
CVL Ryujo
CVE Taiyo
CVE Unyo
BB Hiei
BB Kongo
BB Haruna
4 x CA
6 x DD

A further allied sub was reported hit by KB bombers but now they're heading back to Japan I don't want Dad to be able to track this. As such my bombers are heading onto training rather than ASW.

65th Bde will be fully re-loaded at Arorae tomorrow.

-----------------

Burma:

Allied Raids on Magwe again. 6 x Oscar IIb's were on patrol and shot down 3 x Spit Vc for the loss of 3 x friendlies. 34 x George will fly CAP tomorrow.

-----------------

Port Hedland:

Annoying here as a further bombing run by 27 x Netty miss everything from 6K. 36 x Nell bomb the port to keep it damaged and prevent AF construction.

These actions have determined where I'll send an un-allocated Air HQ but more on that below.....

-----------------

Other Stuff:

R&D Facs accelerated N1K2 George's to 10/44.

I've deployed my Air HQ's across the Empire and I thought I'd update where they are along with my Netties. From west to east:

Rangoon
Sabang
Padang
Soerabaja
Makassar
Jolo (to be moved to Koepang based on Port Hedland invasion)
Ambon
Rabaul
Truk
Lunga
Kwajalein
Saipan
Shimushiri-Jima

Netties are at:

Makassar - 45 Nells (36 of these are normally at Padang)
Waingapoe - 27 x Betty (normally at Sabang)
Rabaul - 27 x Betty
Kwajalein - 27 x Betty
Munda - 45 x Betty
Yokohama - 36 x Betty (training)
Chiba - 36 x Betty (training).

Any comments on placements?

[Speedysteve]

Hi All,

Can anyone answer this for me?

How do I create those midget sub TF's again? Not the one's from the base screen but those that can be carried to an enemy port on a mother ship and conduct a midget sub attack (a la Pearl Harbour)?

Thanks

[Speedysteve]

Anyone?[&:]

Tumbleweed.....[;)]

---------------

SoPac:

Usual fare with New Caledonia being pounded.

Over on New Guinea Rabaul LBA pounded the Aussies near PM. 10th Division has now caught up with them and will launch a probing attack tomorrow.

4E bomb PM and are met by Nick's from Milne Bay. The enemy loses a reported 3 x P38G and 3 x B24D1 for no friendly loss[8D]

---------------

Burma:

Allies bomb Magwe. I lose 5 x George and 2 x Oscar IIb for 5 x B25 and 2 x P40K.

--------------

Port Hedland:

G3M's raid the port and G4M's attack enemy shipping unloading. Still no enemy CAP but this will likely be the last day of this as despite damaging the port the Allies construct their first runway there.

As a parting gift the G4M's at last hit something and despite losing 3 planes to AA they manage to achieve the following:

Morning Air attack on TF, near Port Hedland at 57,129

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid detected at 68 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 23 minutes

Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 17



Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 1 destroyed, 7 damaged
G4M1 Betty: 1 destroyed by flak

Allied Ships
BC Repulse, Kamikaze hits 1
xAK African Prince, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires
CL Hobart



Aircraft Attacking:
16 x G4M1 Betty bombing from 6000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb, 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring xAK African Prince
Okano B. gives his life for the Emperor by ramming BC Repulse

A foretaste of things to come......

Due to the likely arrival of enemy CAP my Netties are stood down. It is hoped my 3 subs on patrol out of the port will achieve something when the enemy ships return to home base.

--------------

China:

Thought I'd provide a brief update on China as a couple of other assaults are in the offing.

Almost 2K AV are advancing on Hengyang from the west. Recon indicates 5 enemy units totaling 40K troops.

Sian is the next target up north with troops recovering at Chengchow from the last siege there. Expect to be advancing there in the next couple of months.

Further north still, Lanchow is a target with a Div, Bde and 5 x Cav. Div's 4 hexes away.

[JocMeister]

Can´t help you with the Midget subs I´m afraid. Forever AFB...[;)]

[Bif1961]

You have kamikazes in June 43, what did he do to trigger that?

[PaxMondo]

ORIGINAL: Speedy

Hi All,

Can anyone answer this for me?

How do I create those midget sub TF's again? Not the one's from the base screen but those that can be carried to an enemy port on a mother ship and conduct a midget sub attack (a la Pearl Harbour)?

Thanks

You have to use the correct mother ship, I think they are "C" class. you only get a few of those, and once gone, that's it.

Then just create the TF (special name, forget exactly, but you'll recognize it) with the two ships. Be sure both are re-fueled prior to creating. Then send it off.

[Lowpe]

ORIGINAL: PaxMondo

ORIGINAL: Speedy

Hi All,

Can anyone answer this for me?

How do I create those midget sub TF's again? Not the one's from the base screen but those that can be carried to an enemy port on a mother ship and conduct a midget sub attack (a la Pearl Harbour)?

Thanks

You have to use the correct mother ship, I think they are "C" class. you only get a few of those, and once gone, that's it.

Then just create the TF (special name, forget exactly, but you'll recognize it) with the two ships. Be sure both are re-fueled prior to creating. Then send it off.

Search the War Room for my thread on midget subs. All you could possibly want to know.

[Speedysteve]

Hi All,

A fairly quiet end to the month with the usual fare over New Caledonia (Allies pounding away from Luganville and Efate) in SoPac.

Over Burma there was air combat on the 28th with 9 losses each for my CAP and enemy fighters/bombers.

I'm keeping eyes on Port Hedland via recon but I made the right call in standing down my Netties as next day there was a Sqn at the AF and now there's c.50 planes based there (mixture of fighters, bombers and I presume Patrol planes).

------------------

China:

An attack will be going in at Hengyang tomorrow after recon today:

Ground combat at Hengyang (80,53)

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 49701 troops, 418 guns, 72 vehicles, Assault Value = 1791

Defending force 23838 troops, 75 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 773

Japanese ground losses:
73 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 8 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 1 (1 destroyed, 0 disabled)


Allied ground losses:
88 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 8 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled


Assaulting units:
60th Division
23rd Ind.Mixed Brigade
116th Division
104th Division
19th Ind.Mixed Brigade
66th Infantry Regiment
2nd RF Gun Battalion
13th Army
23rd Army
5th RF Gun Battalion

Defending units:
46th Chinese Corps
100th Chinese Corps
25th Group Army
2nd Chinese Base Force
14th Chinese Base Force

-----------------

Other Stuff:

Interestingly an Emily spotted a reported CV TF south of the Gilberts heading SW. Most likely this will be a couple of the new Essex class CV and CVL's. This is either lazy by Dad (in not routing them further to the SE away from prying eyes) or he wanted me to see them. Hmm.

It's been an interesting few days in sub warfare.

SS RO-66 was heavily damaged by an AM TF off Cairns on the 28th and she's limping back to Truk (30ish SYS, 60ish FLT).

One of my favourite subs attacks happened on the 9th when I-25 reported in damaging ARD ADFB-1 with a torpedo on the approaches to PH[8D]

SS Salmon was claimed sunk by TK TF escorts off Tarakan on the 29th. E Otori playing a prominent role.

On the 30th SS I-29 was heavily damaged (40 SYS, 64 FLT) by an ASW TF NE of PH.

SS Gruninon was reported hit by LBA off Truk.

R&D facs bought forward A6M5c arrival to 11/43.

Lots of re-org of the fleet on going for R&R. BB Nagato, Mutsu and Kirishima are on their way back ot Japan from Truk along with CA's and DD's (Shiratsuyu class) that need upgrading.

Whilst a major part of my CV/BB's are under-going R&R in Japan CV Hiyo, Hiryu and Unryu have left Japan after R&R to join Taiho at Truk as my emergency fleet during their refit period.

Several Plane groups arrived on 1st July. 1/3 of them will be kept as training units in Japan but the rest will be moving in the coming weeks to:

30th Sentai - converting to Nicks and moving to Southern SRA (Timor area).
331 KuS-1 - Zeros moving to Southern SRA
331 KuK-1 - Vals moving to Mrshalls
501 Ku-1 - Jills moving to Southern SRA

[Speedysteve]

ORIGINAL: Bif1961

You have kamikazes in June 43, what did he do to trigger that?

Yup. This can happen before 1944 when a plane is hit by AA there's a small random chance they will Banzai into the enemy ship. Can also happen in A2A when planes can randomly (small chance) attempt to ram an enemy plane.

[Speedysteve]

Thanks Pax/Lowpe. Makes sense, I've looked and I still have I-16, I-20 and I-22. I'll look to use these for some midget subs attacks just to keep Dad honest[8D]

[Speedysteve]

Hi All,

Those who are familiar with my previous AAR's against Fabertong will know I used to provide monthly summaries of progress, points, ship losses etc etc.

Time to enact these in this AAR.

-----------------------

June 1943 saw a mix of bases won and base lost! I re-took both Port Moresby and Arorae but lost an un-occupied Port Hedland.

The Allies totally secured air superiority over New Caledonia and I've been air ferrying my troops out of Koumac to Lunga.

In Burma, it's been stalemate on the ground. The Allies attempted to outflank my Mandalay position via Taung Gyi but I sent 1200AV there to block this. In the air the Allies have been attacking my bases and troops less than they were. This is undoubtedly down to my George's who have been exacting a heavy toll.

It's also been a month of re-organisation with me starting to cycle major ships back to Japan for refit and massively overhauling my convoys with many many ships being stood down (only Aden/Lima class AK's are collecting resources from Korea and Hokkaido whilst also being used for supply missions. Kyushu and Yusen class are being used for troop movements along with AP/LSD/AMC's etc).

July 1943 doesn't bring any real goodies for me. In the air it brings E1K1 Norm's and Tojo IIb's neither of which I plan to produce. In the sea I'll receive 5 x TK, 2 x SS, 1 x AP, 3 x DD and 2 x E.

-----------------------

Points:

Bases:

Allied: +17 points (-1 base)

Japanese: +484 points (+1 base)


Planes:

Allied losses: 452

Japanese losses: 315


Troops:

Allied losses: 353 points

Japanese losses: 26 points


Ships:

Allied losses: 20 ships (+197 points. Includes 8 x AK, a DMS, DD and AM sunk by subs. Included in my summary screen are the ARD and also BB Washington and BB Indiana all of which were hit by a sub. There's no chance of the BB's having been sunk though. Interestingly CA Northampton is listed as a loss by "collision").

Japanese losses: 9 ships (+68 points. 3 x SS, 2 x DD, 2 x AK, an ACM, an AP).


Total Score:

Allied: +426

Japanese: +1462

-----------------------

Industry Update:

Global Supply: 7,461,416 (-7,474)

HI Pool: 494,176 (+ 38,341)

Tokyo Oil Reserve: 28,365 (-24,787)

Tokyo Fuel Reserve: 138,500 (+16,994)

Armament Pool: 277,950 (+11,749)

Vehicle Pool: 26,324 (+1,544)

[PaxMondo]

ORIGINAL: Speedy

July 1943 doesn't bring any real goodies for me. In the air it brings E1K1 Norm's ... neither of which I plan to produce.

I love the Norm. 50% more range than the Jake ... 12 hexes is a real horizon ... that's 2 days steaming for most allied amphib convoys ...
Yes, the SR 3 is a pain, but unlike the allies if you play IJ, you have to learn how to use high SR AC as most everything after 6/43 the SR really starts to jump up.

[Speedysteve]

Hi All,

Hi Pax - The SR of 3 was what's put me off. I figured I'd rather have more FP's (Jakes) flying at a range of 10 hexes than have fewer planes flying upto 12/15 hexes. My reasoning was the fewer planes over a greater area = less chance of spotting something.

--------------------

In general a quietish start to the new month..

No air action over Burma.

Allies are still at Port Hedland unloading. The AF is now up to level 2.

In SoPac more of the same - Allies pounding New Caledonia.

In New Guinea Zeroes have tangled with 4E over the past 2 days as they've started targeting my Naval Guard Unit which has blocked the enemy retreat from PM to Terapo.

Planes losses for the past 3 days total 12 Allied for 20 Japanese planes.

Hengyang fell on the 2nd after 2 days of assault:

Ground combat at Hengyang (80,53)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 47647 troops, 418 guns, 72 vehicles, Assault Value = 1581

Defending force 21495 troops, 75 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 484

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 2

Japanese adjusted assault: 1232

Allied adjusted defense: 204

Japanese assault odds: 6 to 1 (fort level 2)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Hengyang !!!

Allied aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft losses
P-40E Warhawk: 4 destroyed

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

Japanese ground losses:
2090 casualties reported
Squads: 3 destroyed, 209 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 15 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 8 disabled
Guns lost 6 (1 destroyed, 5 disabled)


Allied ground losses:
7515 casualties reported
Squads: 277 destroyed, 115 disabled
Non Combat: 322 destroyed, 85 disabled
Engineers: 49 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 26 (22 destroyed, 4 disabled)
Units retreated 5

Troops now heading to Shaoyang.

--------------

Other Stuff:

SS I-160 detected a small Freighter convoy approaching Port Hedland on the 3rd and sank AKL Karuah which was carrying guns.....she was slightly damaged by DD Dunlap and is returning to Soerabaja for repairs.

[PaxMondo]

ORIGINAL: Speedy

Hi Pax - The SR of 3 was what's put me off. I figured I'd rather have more FP's (Jakes) flying at a range of 10 hexes than have fewer planes flying upto 12/15 hexes. My reasoning was the fewer planes over a greater area = less chance of spotting something.

True, but consider that in a few months ALL of your planes are going to be SR3 or higher. You need to learn how to use them. Learning with the Norm is cheap as mistakes with it aren't like mistakes with Jack/George.

[Speedysteve]

Hi All,

Hi Pax - Agreed but I already have George 1's. So far I'm coping by doing 1 of 2 things:

1.) Having 2/3 Sqn's in the area. I can rotate them out with 1 being active whilst the others rest.
2.) Setting Sqn settings to include sufficient rest to not wear out the planes too much.

----------------

A bumper day for my subs!

4 victims verified:

SS I-159 continued to track the convoy approaching Port Hedland and dispatched AK Oakbank (carrying troops) to a watery grave.

SS I-17 was the start of the day mauling a convoy throughout the day SE of Johnston Island. She attacked and sank no less than 3 (!) AK's throughout the day. AK George Chaffey, George Westinghouse and Adhara all sunk by 2 torpedo hits. Banzai [&o] Bad form for Dad though as there were no escorts for this convoy!

----------------

SoPac:

4E raided My troops on New Guinea and the veteran 5th Sentai Nick's came up to meet them shooting down a reported 6 beasts for the loss of 2 Nick's. It's a good unit which I've screenshot below.

----------------

Other Stuff:

Most of my Major Ships I sent back to Japan are now in port upgrading.

[Speedysteve]

Hi All,

SoPac:

The Allies attacked my Naval Guard blocking the Terapo path again today with 4E. This time escorted by the first use of the P38H. I had 20 x A6M2 on CAP and they performed much better than I expected shooting down 8 x P38H and 1 x B17F for the loss of 2 x Zero. I would expect the extended range and the fact of being on escort led to the Lightnings being at a big disadvantage.

BB SoDak and Washington and Co. shelled Koumac overnight.

Usual heavy bombings over New Caledonia.

Air Transports completed the lift of 51st JNAF Unit from Koumac today. Just 3 more units to evac now.

----------------

Burma:

The Allies surprised me with a heavy series of raids on my troops at Mandalay. I had no fighters on CAP and suffered over 600 casualties on the ground! George's will be on CAP there tomorrow but who knows if the Allies will show again.

----------------

Other Stuff:

Subs success for both sides.

SS I-122 heavily damaged AK Aloe with a torpedo as it approached Port Hedland.

SS Drum and Flying Fish co-ordinated in a successful attack on a supply convoy heading to Kwajalein near Ponape. Both DD Inazuma and AK Kosei Maru were lost.

[Speedysteve]

Hi All,

SoPac:

The 6th was relatively quiet except the usual Allied bombings over New Caledonia and on my Naval Guard blocking the Terapo path.

On the 7th I sent my 5th Sentai veteran Nick's up to say hello over New Guinea. Whilst saying hello they claimed 5 x P38H and 2 x B24D1 shot down for the loss of 4 friendlies.

--------------------

Burma:

A small amount of action over Mandalay on the 6th (2 x George lost for 6 enemies) but the 7th was full of action in the skies over Mandalay.

The veteran 281st Ku sent over 30 George on patrol over my troops and the Allies accepted the invitation with a mixture of their full aerial arsenal. By days end the butchers bill reads as:

Japanese:

George - 3

Allies:

P40K - 9
Liberator II - 9
Vengeance - 8
Spit Vc - 7
Hurri IIc - 2

I'll take days like this any day of the war!

On land it looks like Dad has moved 2 further units through Shwebo and they've headed east out of Mandalay presumably to join up at Taung Gyi but we'll see.

An update screenshot is attached.

-------------------

Other Stuff:

1 successful sub attack on a convoy by SS I-180 sinking AK Edwin Markham with 2 torpedoes near Enderbury Island.

To give all an update on the fleet status. 3/4 of the Major Units are in Japan upgrading. These include:

CV - Shokaku, Zuikaku, Junyo
CVL - Ryujo
CVE - Taiyo, Unyo
BB - Mutsu, Nagato, Kirishima, Haruna, Hiei
CA - Takao, Chokai, Atago, Mogami, Maya
CL - Noshiro, Kuma, Tama, Kiso, Agano

All except the Kongo class (which are due to upgrade in 08/43) will have finished their refit by early August before moving back to SoPac and I'll probably siphon off part of the surface fleet to be based at Soerabaja.

[Speedysteve]

Hi All,

The 8th was relatively quiet with only 5 plane losses total due to Ops.

The 9th had more action.

---------------

SoPac:

The Allies finally landed at Noumea today. Seems like potentially 3 divisions worth. I've only 1.5 units worth of troops left on the whole of New Caledonia and they're at Koumac about to be flown out. If only Dad had figured this out (always easy when you know the full facts I know). He could and probably should have landed weeks ago but maybe he was waiting for KB to disappear from SoPac. It's likely all of the remaining units will be flown out successfully. 3rd Kure SNLF fully left today.

Heavy air attacks on my Naval Guard blocking Terapo today. 24 x Zero were on patrol. They suffered relatively heavily losing 11 of their number for 6 x B24 and 2 x P38H.

A midget sub attack is to be launched from Kwajalein today heading for Suva.

----------------

Burma:

Oscar IIb's were on CAP over Mandalay today and were heavily engaged on Allied raids through the day. 10 x Oscar were lost for 6 x P40K, 3 x Spit Vc, 3 x Vengeance and 3 x Hurri IIc. George's will be on patrol over my troops tomorrow.

---------------

Other Stuff:

Still keeping an eye on Port Hedland. The Allied TF's are still there. AF is up to level 3 now.

I've been re-orging the Southern SRA over the past 2 weeks with additional AF Units and Engineers being moved in. 23rd Air Flotilla has also been moved to Koepang and 36 x G4M and 45 x A6M2 have been moved here. They can reach Broome which is likely to be the next allied target after Port Hedland.

First attack went in at Shaoyang in China. Will just take a bit of time:

Ground combat at Shaoyang (80,52)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 43609 troops, 380 guns, 72 vehicles, Assault Value = 1392

Defending force 26798 troops, 97 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 671

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 3

Japanese adjusted assault: 908

Allied adjusted defense: 436

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

Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 3

Combat modifiers
Defender: forts(+), preparation(-), experience(-), supply(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
3017 casualties reported
Squads: 6 destroyed, 257 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 25 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 11 disabled


Allied ground losses:
1846 casualties reported
Squads: 126 destroyed, 61 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 42 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 12 disabled

[Lowpe]

Good luck with the midget. Don't expect a lot, but it can work!

[PaxMondo]

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

Good luck with the midget. Don't expect a lot, but it can work!

+1
Lotta fuel, low probability ... however Murphy's Law does hold so .... Good Luck!