The Elephant Vanishes : obvert (J) vs Historiker_SqzMyLemon_Canoerebel (A)

[obvert]

[font="Times New Roman"]4-5 November, 1943[/font]

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[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]SUBS: [/font]Sent Ise and Fuso back for a refit from Babeldaob and got a scare when DD Asanagi ran over SS Wahoo. No damage to either side though.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]BURMA: [/font] Trying to get my 43 upgrades for divisions down here. Some are working, others seem reluctant. The Southern Army is here, and Rabaul and several other bases have good supply. Read the manual and it just says units need to be near bases with double their supply requirements. Some have upgraded outside bases, but not all, so I'm curious if there is anything else I'm neglecting to do? Or does it just happen 1-2 units at a time in the region?

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]CENT PAC: [/font] Marcus continues to get pumeled. I'll think about a DA here soon. My units haven't recovered, but they are in great morale and have no pressures on them, unlike the overstacked and harassed Allies.

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AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR November 4, 42
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Morning Air attack on 25th Infantry Division, at 123,85 (Marcus Island)

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes

Japanese aircraft
G3M3 Nell x 18

No Japanese losses

Allied ground losses:
249 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 17 destroyed, 20 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Vehicles lost 23 (16 destroyed, 7 disabled)

Aircraft Attacking:
18 x G3M3 Nell bombing from 6000 feet
Ground Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb, 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb

Also attacking 1st USMC Amphb Tank Battalion ...
Also attacking 25th Infantry Division ...

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Ground combat at Marcus Island (123,85)

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 3740 troops, 41 guns, 14 vehicles, Assault Value = 101

Defending force 10231 troops, 124 guns, 199 vehicles, Assault Value = 125

Allied ground losses:
69 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Vehicles lost 2 (2 destroyed, 0 disabled)

Assaulting units:
Sasebo 7th SNLF
62nd Naval Guard Unit
Kwajalein Base Force
2nd South Seas Gsn
78th Naval Guard Unit
34th Ind. Engr Rgt /1

Defending units:
1st Cavalry (Spec) Cavalry Division
1st USMC Amphb Tank Battalion
143rd USA Base Force /1
25th Infantry Division
146th USA Base Force /1

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AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR November 5, 42
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Morning Air attack on 1st Cavalry (Spec) Cavalry Division, at 123,85 (Marcus Island)

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid spotted at 11 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 3 minutes

Japanese aircraft
G3M3 Nell x 20
G4M1 Betty x 11

No Japanese losses

Allied ground losses:
451 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 23 disabled
Non Combat: 13 destroyed, 37 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Guns lost 5 (4 destroyed, 1 disabled)
Vehicles lost 12 (7 destroyed, 5 disabled)

Aircraft Attacking:
20 x G3M3 Nell bombing from 6000 feet
Ground Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb, 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb
11 x G4M1 Betty bombing from 9000 feet
Ground Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb, 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb

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Ground combat at Marcus Island (123,85)

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 3783 troops, 43 guns, 14 vehicles, Assault Value = 103

Defending force 9533 troops, 118 guns, 183 vehicles, Assault Value = 100

Allied ground losses:
37 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Assaulting units:
2nd South Seas Gsn
Sasebo 7th SNLF
62nd Naval Guard Unit
Kwajalein Base Force
34th Ind. Engr Rgt /1

Defending units:
1st Cavalry (Spec) Cavalry Division
25th Infantry Division
143rd USA Base Force /1
146th USA Base Force /1
1st USMC Amphb Tank Bn /1

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[obvert]

[font="Times New Roman"]6-7 November, 1943[/font]

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[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]CENT PAC: [/font]Marcus Island is cleared of Allied troops! All remaining units are destroyed by our two half-strength guard units with a haul of 1522 squads in total. That's a good bite out of the Allied cause for no gain of territory! [8D]

Of course he'll buy those back, or may have smaller elements that were pulled out earlier. Regardless, the VPs won't go away. Looks like 409 total on the day!

There are heavy signals at PH, (an 8/8 DL but no sensitive info shown), and I'm sure Joseph is taking time to regroup after that debacle and plan the next ops. By the time he starts going he should have a significant lead in CVs, so I'll have to consider a few options for how to defend without the luxury of being able to dance with the Death Star head to head.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]SUBS: [/font]The O21 picked off one of my little subchasers near Soerabaja. The first sign of Allied subs hunting in a while.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]BURMA: [/font] Nothing going on but troops still not all upgraded. Supply is over 20k in several bases and the Southern Army HQ is here. Any thoughts about what else to do to get these upgraded to 43 squads?

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]SW PAC: [/font] I noticed some resupply efforts around Portland Roads and Horn Island. No fighters were listed in either base so I set Judys from Merauke to strike. They wiped the area clean with AM and PM sorties. Always a plus. Several small xAK down. A four plane packet ended up dropping from 10k. Never seen that form DB, and these are well trained with crews in the mid-50s EXP and 70 skill.
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AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR November 7, 42
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Morning Air attack on TF, near Horn Island at 91,128

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 115 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 29 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5b Zero x 23
D4Y1 Judy x 18

Allied aircraft
Beaufighter Ic x 7

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5b Zero: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Beaufighter Ic: 2 destroyed

Allied Ships
xAK Hoihow, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Hunan, Bomb hits 6, and is sunk
AM Wagga
xAK Ho Kiang, Bomb hits 2, and is sunk

Aircraft Attacking:
10 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 1000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg SAP Bomb
8 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg SAP Bomb

CAP engaged:
No.30 Sqn RAAF with Beaufighter Ic (0 airborne, 5 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 8000 and 12000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 25 minutes

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring xAK Ho Kiang
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring xAK Hunan

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Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Portland Roads at 91,132

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid spotted at 12 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 2 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5b Zero x 22
D4Y1 Judy x 18

Allied aircraft
Kittyhawk III x 2

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Kittyhawk III: 1 destroyed

Allied Ships
xAKL Wear, Bomb hits 5, and is sunk
xAKL Ngakuta, Bomb hits 3, and is sunk
YMS BYMS-2015, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk

Aircraft Attacking:
4 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg SAP Bomb
10 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg SAP Bomb
4 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 10000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg SAP Bomb

CAP engaged:
No.83 Sqn RAAF with Kittyhawk III (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 10000.
Raid is overhead

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring xAKL Wear
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring xAKL Ngakuta

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Ground combat at Marcus Island (123,85)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 3947 troops, 43 guns, 14 vehicles, Assault Value = 103

Defending force 8821 troops, 108 guns, 171 vehicles, Assault Value = 88

Japanese adjusted assault: 40

Allied adjusted defense: 3

Japanese assault odds: 13 to 1

Combat modifiers
Defender: disruption(-), experience(-), supply(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
291 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 39 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Guns lost 2 (1 destroyed, 1 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
9779 casualties reported
Squads: 200 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 946 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 11 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 124 (124 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Vehicles lost 241 (241 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units destroyed 4

Assaulting units:
62nd Naval Guard Unit
Sasebo 7th SNLF
2nd South Seas Gsn /2
Kwajalein Base Force
34th Ind. Engr Rgt /1

Defending units:
1st Cavalry (Spec) Cavalry Division
143rd USA Base Force /1
25th Infantry Division
1st USMC Amphb Tank Bn /1

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Ground combat at Kirakira (116,140)

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 138 troops, 1 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 17

Defending force 397 troops, 2 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 14

Allied adjusted assault: 2

Japanese adjusted defense: 13

Allied assault odds: 1 to 6 (fort level 0)

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

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

Allied ground losses:
56 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 9 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Assaulting units:
1st Australian Para Bn /1
6th RAAF Base Force /3

Defending units:
II/84th Nav Gd /1
1st JNAF Coy /1

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[Lowpe]

If I had to guess the last four planes dropping from 10k did so because the ships were sunk or obscured by smoke and they jettisoned their bombs.

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

If I had to guess the last four planes dropping from 10k did so because the ships were sunk or obscured by smoke and they jettisoned their bombs.

Could be. Good detail if thats the case. [:)]

[obvert]

[font="Times New Roman"]8-10 November, 1943[/font]

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[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]BURMA: [/font] Some boring days as Joseph gets going. I'm just maneuvering in the background with a few pinpricks to keep him thinking. In this area another division finally upgrades to 43 squads. Only about four to go. Think I need a big supply dump.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]CENT PAC: [/font] Marcus units are recovering and the base still has 5 forts. I'm going to leave it there rather than building to 6 again. I thikn he'll avoid the place on principle. [:D]

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]SW PAC: [/font] Hit Rekata Bay airfield where the Allies have a construction unit and one other unit, but a small one. I might paradrop here just to make sure nothing happens easily, and as it doesn't look like much combat strength. His only major base in the Solomons is Lunga.

On the New Guinea side I hit Lae to close the field a bit and see what is trying to walk to Finchafen. Looks like an Aussie Brigade. I'll have about 200AV here with 4 forts in a few days, so no worries just yet. Major troop reinforcements arrive in Tokyo in a few days as well.
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SIG INT REPORT FOR Nov 09, 43

Heavy Volume of Radio transmissions detected at Pearl Harbor (180,107).
Heavy Volume of Radio transmissions detected at Pearl Harbor (180,107).
Heavy Volume of Radio transmissions detected at Pearl Harbor (180,107).

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[font="Trebuchet MS"]Something big happening here at PH, but the 8/8 DL doesn't give me anything good from the rollover. [/font]
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[obvert]

Here is some of the R & D as it is now. I've just had the A6M5c move up to 1/44and think it's time to switch to the A6M8. With 5 x 30 this should come forward quickly. I'll then have to think of whether I should commit them to another Gen 3 plane like the Ki-94 or the J7M. I have one J7M x 30 factory repairing. No Ki-94 as yet. I also have 3 x 30 Ki-83 repairing, which is a fantastic plane.

I'd like to be prudent, and I don't need so many A6M8 that I should send all of these to production with the A7M coming in early 45 most likely.

I also just switched up to the J2M5 at x 30, so that'll be arriving in late 44 I'd say. The N1K5 has one x 3 factory researching and will have two more in about 10 days when the N1K2 model is ready.

[obvert]

[font="Times New Roman"]11-12 November, 1943[/font]

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[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]CHINA: [/font] The tank division reached Paoshan and made a deliberate attack here, but didn't have it's way and didn't lower forts. Somewhat surprising considering it's only a few construction units, base forces and HQ here, totaling 91 AV. There are two divisions, arty and HQ moving in so I'll wait a few turns and attack with all of them. I don't want to shock and ruin the LI and resources needlessly.

This of course opens the door for some bombing of my troops. Not looking forward to that, but maybe in this terrain it'll be slightly less strong. He has a lot of 4E here and P-47s.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]CENT PAC: [/font] Another big SIGINT hit at PH. No sign of anything worth mentioning in rollover though.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]SW PAC: [/font] At Kirakira the small IJ units are trying to beat down the tiny Aussie para fragment. It's silly. Only one or two disablements from a shock attack. It must be taking a while for them to find each other there are so few on this island. [;)]
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AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR November 11, 42
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Ground combat at Paoshan (65,45)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 12170 troops, 128 guns, 626 vehicles, Assault Value = 371

Defending force 8722 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 91

Japanese adjusted assault: 377

Allied adjusted defense: 430

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 2 (fort level 4)

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

Japanese ground losses:
44 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Allied ground losses:
213 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 8 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 23 disabled

Assaulting units:
3rd Tank Division

Defending units:
13th Construction Regiment
7th Construction Regiment
7th Chinese Base Force
10th Group Army
20th Chinese Base Force
2nd Construction Regiment
6th Construction Regiment
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[font="Trebuchet MS"]Type 1 tank replacements are in for all tank divisions![/font]

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[ny59giants]

India - You are saying that the Chinese can be rebuilt here, but no combat except in China itself. Right? Can he keep those small Corps in India as garrison troops freeing up all his Indian troops?

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

India - You are saying that the Chinese can be rebuilt here, but no combat except in China itself. Right? Can he keep those small Corps in India as garrison troops freeing up all his Indian troops?

Great question! Yes, no combat for them outside China, and the same for my restricted IJA China Command troops.

We didn't talk about this, but since he is losing a few months of prep reorganizing everything in the middle of the game maybe it's fine.

Unless you think this is something we should discuss? Not sure what impact the small units would have other than just being able to hit more locations. He'd still have to buy them out though right? So if he buys those he may not be able to buy the bigger units?

[obvert]

[font="Times New Roman"]13 November, 1943[/font]

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[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]BURMA: [/font] We've finally got a little bit of action happening! Sqz sends in the P-47s and Corsairs over Tsuyung, and I know it's going to be a bad day! [:D]

Our Tojo IIa group is LR CAPing over the tank division at Paoshan and only gets 4 planes into the mix, so that when a few dozen 4Es follow there's no protection. There is no AA up here either, so the fields take a beating. We lose around 10 Tojos and the fields are 65% damaged. Luckily the group can rail to Kunming, which will be beefed up and ready tomorrow, just in case. I'll be sending in Georges and Jacks, plus some low level Oscars for bait.

Our raid on Paoshan attracted some LR CAPing Corsairs, and the escorts got them through safely to hit the Chinese troops for about 2 disabled squads. [8|]

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]SW PAC: [/font] New troops are now arriving and about half will head down here. I'll create a few strong points if possible and then try to garrison everything to make sure it has to be prepped for and planned a bit.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]ECON: [/font] Ship fuel use is down to around 10k/day. What is a good working number for this in late 43-44? No idea what I should be looking for here. I just know 20k is too much! [:D]
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AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR November 13, 42
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Morning Air attack on Tsuyung , at 68,46

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 29 NM, estimated altitude 36,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 4

Allied aircraft
P-47D2 Thunderbolt x 19
F4U-1 Corsair x 12

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 2 destroyed

No Allied losses

Aircraft Attacking:
19 x P-47D2 Thunderbolt sweeping at 31000 feet

CAP engaged:
54th Sentai with Ki-44-IIa Tojo (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(14 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 4 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 7000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 7000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 2 minutes

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Morning Air attack on Tsuyung , at 68,46

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 18 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 15
B-17F Fortress x 11
B-24D Liberator x 18
P-40N5 Warhawk x 20
F4U-1 Corsair x 3

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 4 destroyed on ground

No Allied losses

Airbase hits 40
Airbase supply hits 6
Runway hits 97

Aircraft Attacking:
12 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 12000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
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[font="Trebuchet MS"]I've been doing some recon around the map to see if things are-a-changin. Here in NW OZ Tennant Creek is attracting some new settlers, although Daly Waters is still empty. I'll think I'll discourage air dropping of anything by wiping out the fields soon. I have a special surprise in the works first though and don't want to spoil that by drawing attention here. [/font][:)]

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[Lowpe]

Jugs and Corsairs...the A team![X(]

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

Jugs and Corsairs...the A team![X(]

Mr T was there too. [;)]

[obvert]

[font="Times New Roman"]14-15 November, 1943[/font]

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[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]CHINA: [/font] I set a massive LR CAP over Paoshan for this attack on the base by the divisions now in hex. Surprisingly the Allies didn't strike, and didn't even seem to have CAP up at Myitkyina which shows one 18 plane group (likely the Corsairs) at base. I sent Georges to disrupt LR CAP to Warzup, Myityina, and the other dot base on the way to Lashio, but no CAP. Too bad. [;)]

Still, the larger goal was achieved, as two divisions, a gaggle of medium and large caliber arty and an HQ add to the tank division in hex. They easily take the base and eject the Chinese refugees toward Burma. It was fun to watch slowly and see the effect of the arty units, basically halving the combat strength of the Chinese during their bombardments and probably spiking disruption to boot.

Most importantly in this isolated mountain environment down its thin, winding hillside donkey track, the LI and resources are in tact. So it will self-support the garrison and also feed some resources to Kunming, which has been running short recently. Once Sining is in hand in the next few weeks, the Chinese should be self-sufficient again.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]BURMA: [/font] Not much happening, but shifted some units to better be able to react or even strat move units to Moulmein in case of an amphib movement toward the coastline. Also bombarded near Ramree to see if new units had moved in there. Seems about the same. A LOT!

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]CENT PAC: [/font] I'll consider the makeup of the Marcus and other atoll defense garrisons now that I've got some better troops coming online. I'd like to install small tank units, AT gun and 15-30cm arty units, IJA 43 squads filled troops and some of the small base forces from the Marshalls, which take up little space but offer some air and naval support, unlike the regular base force units.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]SW PAC: [/font] Paras landed at Rekata Bay and took the base away from the Roratonga det. and a construction reg. No big supply dump left which is too bad. At least these guys repaired the fields before we kicked them out! [:D]

Troops are filling out and upgrading to 43 squads around Japan and some will fill out bases here soon. I've also bought out the Chinese SNLF units as the Chinese IJ forces are expanding and can cover garrisons there. I'm only making speed bumps, and need bigger better pieces for the next layer around the East side of New Guinea and the Moluccas.
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AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR November 14, 42
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Ground combat at Rekata Bay (113,134)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 408 troops, 7 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 31

Defending force 812 troops, 5 guns, 30 vehicles, Assault Value = 6

Japanese adjusted assault: 17

Allied adjusted defense: 4

Japanese assault odds: 4 to 1 (fort level 0)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Rekata Bay !!!

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), disruption(-), preparation(-), experience(-)
supply(-)
Attacker: shock(+), leaders(-)

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

Allied ground losses:
293 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 19 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 25 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 5 (5 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Vehicles lost 22 (22 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units retreated 2

Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
Yokosuka 3rd SNLF /1

Defending units:
Rarotonga Det.
1393rd Construction Regiment

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Ground combat at Paoshan (65,45)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 44918 troops, 448 guns, 853 vehicles, Assault Value = 1282

Defending force 8602 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 81

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 3

Japanese adjusted assault: 1203

Allied adjusted defense: 220

Japanese assault odds: 5 to 1 (fort level 3)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Paoshan !!!

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

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

Allied ground losses:
2762 casualties reported
Squads: 23 destroyed, 37 disabled
Non Combat: 71 destroyed, 46 disabled
Engineers: 47 destroyed, 11 disabled
Units retreated 6
Units destroyed 1

Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
3rd Division
3rd Tank Division
41st Division
2nd Hvy.Artillery Regiment
3rd Hvy.Artillery Regiment
2nd Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
23rd Army
15th Ind.Medium Field Artillery Regiment
Botanko Hvy Gun Regiment
1st Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
4th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion

Defending units:
13th Construction Regiment
20th Chinese Base Force
2nd Construction Regiment
10th Group Army
7th Construction Regiment
7th Chinese Base Force
6th Construction Regiment

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Ground combat at 55,48 (near Ramree Island)

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 1008 troops, 35 guns, 54 vehicles, Assault Value = 1667

Defending force 149058 troops, 1214 guns, 973 vehicles, Assault Value = 4868

Japanese ground losses:
Vehicles lost 3 (1 destroyed, 2 disabled)

Assaulting units:
18th Division
2nd Tank Division
3rd RTA Division
2nd RTA Division
6th RTA Division
7th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
44th Ind.AA Gun Co
53rd Field AA Battalion
23rd Medium Field Artillery Regiment

Defending units:
1st USMC Corps Tank Battalion
26th Indian/B Division
102nd Combat Engineer Regiment
26th Indian/A Division
7th New Chinese Corps
Provisionl Tank Brigade
3rd New Chinese Corps
8th New Chinese Corps
5th Chinese Corps
14th Indian Division
147th(Sep) Infantry Regiment
11th (East African) Division
6th Chinese Corps
Gardner's Horse Regiment
1st Manchester Battalion
Guides Cavalry Regiment
26th Indian/C Division
44th Cavalry Engineer Regiment
X' Force
21st Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
6th Mixed A/T Mtr Regiment

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[font="Trebuchet MS"]I'll reclaim the vacant Saidor and then build a smaller barrier along the red-lined areas. If this has some resistance, and Cent Pac is strong, plus I'm getting the North strengthened, then it'll be tough for the Allies to choose where to go, I hope. [/font]

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[obvert]

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]BURMA: [/font]

On the Arakan we bombarded to check force strength for the Allies. It's daunting, but the hope is that our high forts will not be favorable to the massive Chinese units that form the bulk of the army here. The tanks are a worry, but it seems the big tank brigade is not back to full strength after previous attacks (or never was at full TOE, I can't remember).

I've got another tank division in Prome to serve as a reserve here should a first attack be successful for the Allies. This is unlikely against level 6 forts of the Thai troops. Those will be sacrificed as a rear guard if the position becomes compromised by heavy bombing or flanking maneuvers.

I think the Allies are poised to take the central bases at Mandalay and Shwebo. This will lead to the next phase where we'll have to be careful and probably face multi-hex fronts rather than the massing tactic that Historiker employed. Hard points are planned and forts nearly complete at Toungoo, Taung Gyi, Prome (although the terrain makes this iffy, it does have the river crossing to have to consider). Other non-base areas may have to be invested as well, and I'm considering throwing something soon into the jungle x2 hex between Prome and Toungoo, but we'll have some warning due to movement rates and he will need the roads to move forward in strength eventually.

[mind_messing]

CENT PAC: I'll consider the makeup of the Marcus and other atoll defense garrisons now that I've got some better troops coming online. I'd like to install small tank units, AT gun and 15-30cm arty units, IJA 43 squads filled troops and some of the small base forces from the Marshalls, which take up little space but offer some air and naval support, unlike the regular base force units.

From my experience, your heavy artillery is best used in bulk quantities. You just don't get the mileage out of it in sending it to penny-packet garrison atolls. Atolls are an exercise in seeing how much AV you can squeeze on given the stacking restrictions. Tanks and artillery have about the same stacking cost, and I've seen tanks do great work in kicking atoll invasion forces back into the sea. Artillery seems to do very little in comparison.

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: mind_messing

CENT PAC: I'll consider the makeup of the Marcus and other atoll defense garrisons now that I've got some better troops coming online. I'd like to install small tank units, AT gun and 15-30cm arty units, IJA 43 squads filled troops and some of the small base forces from the Marshalls, which take up little space but offer some air and naval support, unlike the regular base force units.

From my experience, your heavy artillery is best used in bulk quantities. You just don't get the mileage out of it in sending it to penny-packet garrison atolls. Atolls are an exercise in seeing how much AV you can squeeze on given the stacking restrictions. Tanks and artillery have about the same stacking cost, and I've seen tanks do great work in kicking atoll invasion forces back into the sea. Artillery seems to do very little in comparison.

Cool. Good to know. I did have tanks at Marcus that did some good work there.

Where I've seen the heavy arty used effectively it often is in bulk, and if dug in much more effective. I thought that maybe with 6 forts they'd be virtually impervious to counter fire and up the disruption of landing units before combat. Not tested though, so who knows?

[Lowpe]

What makes tanks a good choice on atolls, is that they are at the bottom of the list when it comes to naval bombardments picking targets....so they are likely to come thru the battleship bombardments in the best shape.

But you need some engineers and infantry to absorb the bombardment and the more units the better.

[ny59giants]

Other players may have a preference, but I like an inf rgt, combat eng (if available), and a tank battalion or two to take a 6k atoll as Allies even if the stacking value is up near 7k. The reason the tanks do so well is Japan usually doesn't have anything there with decent anti-armor values. So I would place a tank rgt on key atolls and/or any other LCU with small stacking value that has good anti-armor value. I don't know Japanese OOB to know what a good combo of troops would be to defend an atoll.

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

Other players may have a preference, but I like an inf rgt, combat eng (if available), and a tank battalion or two to take a 6k atoll as Allies even if the stacking value is up near 7k. The reason the tanks do so well is Japan usually doesn't have anything there with decent anti-armor values. So I would place a tank rgt on key atolls and/or any other LCU with small stacking value that has good anti-armor value. I don't know Japanese OOB to know what a good combo of troops would be to defend an atoll.

Many of the SNLF have 47mm AT guns, but also there are stand alone RF gun battalions with 16 x 47mm AT guns. These are decent at 52 anti-armor. The Type 1 tanks are better, with 80. Japanese 43 IJA squads have 25 anti-armor, up 10 from the previous, so not bad, but not a 43 Commonwealth 75 anti-armor value either.

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

What makes tanks a good choice on atolls, is that they are at the bottom of the list when it comes to naval bombardments picking targets....so they are likely to come thru the battleship bombardments in the best shape.

But you need some engineers and infantry to absorb the bombardment and the more units the better.

The Japanese don't have many engineer units with Combat engineers in them, and these are either fragments of divisions or larger engineer units that would take up space on an atoll.

Why multiple units? Aren't bigger units better able to absorb multiple combats? Certainly one IJA regiment should be better than the same SL/AV of two naval guard units, or am I wrong there?

Also the leaders are better for the IJA in terms of land combat than for the IJN infantry units.