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

[witpqs]

China east.

[witpqs]

Philippines.

[witpqs]

Home Islands west.

[witpqs]

Home Islands east.

[witpqs]

1945 February 04

The Empire captured:


The Allies captured:
Allied forces CAPTURE Tsinkiang !!!

There were Imperial amphibious or airborne operations at:


There were Allied amphibious or airborne operations at:
Kangean

Imperial Naval Bombardments


Allied Naval Bombardments:



Our subs are conducting secret activities.

A good day on the ground in China.

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Ground combat at Wuchang (84,51)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 35218 troops, 401 guns, 137 vehicles, Assault Value = 1032

Defending force 7010 troops, 87 guns, 5 vehicles, Assault Value = 216

Allied engineers reduce fortifications to 4

Allied adjusted assault: 960

Japanese adjusted defense: 365

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

Allied Assault reduces fortifications to 4

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

Japanese ground losses:
725 casualties reported
Squads: 28 destroyed, 36 disabled
Non Combat: 5 destroyed, 15 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 14 (9 destroyed, 5 disabled)
Vehicles lost 2 (2 destroyed, 0 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
396 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 53 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled

Assaulting units:
6th New Chinese Corps
9th Australian Division
544th Field Artillery Battalion
II Australian Corps
517th Field Artillery Battalion
208th Field Regiment

Defending units:
22nd Ind.Mixed Brigade
64th Inf Group Brigade
3rd South Seas Det.
26th AA Regiment
9th Ind. Field Artillery Battalion
10th Ind. Field Artillery Battalion


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Ground combat at 86,58 (near Pucheng)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 3248 troops, 21 guns, 83 vehicles, Assault Value = 160

Defending force 3794 troops, 25 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 106

Allied adjusted assault: 133

Japanese adjusted defense: 520

Allied assault odds: 1 to 3

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

Japanese ground losses:
287 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 21 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 3 (1 destroyed, 2 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
70 casualties reported
Squads: 5 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Vehicles lost 12 (3 destroyed, 9 disabled)

Assaulting units:
671th Tank Destroyer Battalion
111th LRP Brigade

Defending units:
3rd Infantry Regiment


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Ground combat at 84,48 (near Ichang)

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 33959 troops, 285 guns, 1526 vehicles, Assault Value = 1604

Defending force 7851 troops, 50 guns, 17 vehicles, Assault Value = 238

Allied adjusted assault: 1350

Japanese adjusted defense: 347

Allied assault odds: 3 to 1

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

Japanese ground losses:
5141 casualties reported
Squads: 179 destroyed, 37 disabled
Non Combat: 127 destroyed, 19 disabled
Engineers: 15 destroyed, 3 disabled
Guns lost 29 (23 destroyed, 6 disabled)
Vehicles lost 7 (2 destroyed, 5 disabled)
Units retreated 1

Allied ground losses:
1084 casualties reported
Squads: 4 destroyed, 113 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 23 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 12 disabled

Defeated Japanese Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
268th Motorised Brigade
17th Motorised Division
50th Tank Brigade
254th Armoured Brigade
150th RAC Regiment
255th Indian Tank Brigade
18th Cavalry Regiment
3rd Carabiniers Regiment
Gardner's Horse Regiment
36th Chinese Division

Defending units:
12th Ind.Infantry Brigade
17th/B Division


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Ground combat at Tsinkiang (84,61)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 4329 troops, 74 guns, 25 vehicles, Assault Value = 132

Defending force 3868 troops, 22 guns, 40 vehicles, Assault Value = 59

Allied adjusted assault: 117

Japanese adjusted defense: 23

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

Allied forces CAPTURE Tsinkiang !!!

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

Japanese ground losses:
1261 casualties reported
Squads: 20 destroyed, 9 disabled
Non Combat: 75 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 6 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 4 (4 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Vehicles lost 31 (31 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units retreated 4

Allied ground losses:
34 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 4 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Defeated Japanese Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
22nd Australian Brigade

Defending units:
51st Recon Regiment
2nd RGC Route Brigade
Amoy Special Base Force
1st JAAF AF Coy


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Ground combat at 81,54 (near Hengyang)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 6587 troops, 14 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 229

Defending force 161 troops, 5 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1

Allied adjusted assault: 240

Japanese adjusted defense: 1

Allied assault odds: 240 to 1

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

Japanese ground losses:
233 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 25 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 6 (6 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units destroyed 1

Assaulting units:
96th Chinese Division

Defending units:
Ankei SNLF


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The troops at Wuchang are barely sweating and will continue tomorrow. At Pucheng we seem to have only tanks out of action and will also continue tomorrow. In the woods across from Ichang our units must rest, but achieved very good results, 3 to 1. Only one of the two Imperial units retreated, so after resting we should be able to punish the remaining unit severely. Tsinkiang was liberated and our forces are pursuing. Lastly, a group of zombies was eliminated on a major road.

Defenses at Batangas are being ground down.

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Ground combat at Batangas (79,78)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 11451 troops, 130 guns, 241 vehicles, Assault Value = 655

Defending force 11536 troops, 73 guns, 85 vehicles, Assault Value = 282

Allied adjusted assault: 215

Japanese adjusted defense: 210

Allied assault odds: 1 to 1 (fort level 5)

Allied Assault reduces fortifications to 4

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

Japanese ground losses:
245 casualties reported
Squads: 9 destroyed, 10 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Vehicles lost 20 (2 destroyed, 18 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
256 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 20 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 4 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 8 disabled
Vehicles lost 22 (3 destroyed, 19 disabled)

Assaulting units:
1st Regiment
11th NZ Brigade
29th British Brigade
2nd Regiment
12th NZ Brigade
Fiji Brigade
50th Indian Para Brigade

Defending units:
27th Tank Regiment
102nd Infantry Regiment
13th Ind.Mixed Regiment
79th Brigade
39th/B Division
1st South Seas Det.


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Our troops are tired but two additional units have arrived on scene and all will attack tomorrow.

The Hokkaido invasion fleet will now move out from the assembly area on a course NE until they reach a point where Kushiro is directly NW, at which time they will turn directly toward it. Various follow on convoys from points east (Midway and beyond) are also now heading into the general area.

I am toying with the idea of waiting until the arrival of the B-29B model, made specifically for night raids, before beginning nighttime strategic bombing (limiting myself to daytime before March 1). What do you guys think?

China west.

[witpqs]

China east.

[witpqs]

Philippines.

[witpqs]

Home Islands west.

[witpqs]

Home Islands east.

[Macclan5]

ORIGINAL: witpqs

I am toying with the idea of waiting until the arrival of the B-29B model, made specifically for night raids, before beginning nighttime strategic bombing (limiting myself to daytime before March 1). What do you guys think?

You speak to the very question I was asking vis a vis what 'on' at Okinawa.

I am hardly an expert here; much less experienced than yourself.

However I (naively ?) believed that damage to the home islands in any form is important ? Manpower / Industry / even small Campfires vis a vis what you accomplished in DEI back in 42 - 43 ?

<I am not refering to the artificial construct of Strategic Points>

Historically the Allies were generally big proponents of strategic bombing despite evidence that demonstrated it was not always that effective or that a cost benefit analysis might demonstrate better use of assets. There were detractors to be certain ; but in Europe and the Pacific the strategic bombing proponents generally held the day <exception Transport plan leading to Normandy>. I am biased to the historical nature of this game.

All this to say Nighttime firestorm bombing runs starting even small camp fires if not totally effective are historic.

In historical context I would throw whatever you have into the pot ; I would tend to play that way.

I am keenly interested in your decision and your own experience. Was the bombing in DEI worth it ??

If not for my first game - for my next few. There are many interesting lessons in this AAR I am pondering.

[witpqs]

ORIGINAL: Macclan5

ORIGINAL: witpqs

I am toying with the idea of waiting until the arrival of the B-29B model, made specifically for night raids, before beginning nighttime strategic bombing (limiting myself to daytime before March 1). What do you guys think?

You speak to the very question I was asking vis a vis what 'on' at Okinawa.

I am hardly an expert here; much less experienced than yourself.

However I (naively ?) believed that damage to the home islands in any form is important ? Manpower / Industry / even small Campfires vis a vis what you accomplished in DEI back in 42 - 43 ?

<I am not refering to the artificial construct of Strategic Points>

Historically the Allies were generally big proponents of strategic bombing despite evidence that demonstrated it was not always that effective or that a cost benefit analysis might demonstrate better use of assets. There were detractors to be certain ; but in Europe and the Pacific the strategic bombing proponents generally held the day <exception Transport plan leading to Normandy>. I am biased to the historical nature of this game.

All this to say Nighttime firestorm bombing runs starting even small camp fires if not totally effective are historic.

In historical context I would throw whatever you have into the pot ; I would tend to play that way.

I am keenly interested in your decision and your own experience. Was the bombing in DEI worth it ??

If not for my first game - for my next few. There are many interesting lessons in this AAR I am pondering.

I absolutely will resume the strategic bombing campaign. The only reason it stopped was heavy bomber losses, in other words successful defense. The only thing I'm toying with at the moment is waiting on night strategic bombing until the March 1 date.

At this point I have a much smaller number of B-29-1 remaining than B-29-25 (hope I got the model names right). The B-29-25 have longer range and maybe just slightly better defensive armament.

Naha has a size 8 airfield (maxed out) with a mixture of B-29-25 and B-29-1 groups. It's the closest suitable base to Japan so the B-29-1 get based there. I have enough air support there to cover the maximum aircraft stacking when the B-29 groups operate. With the recent expansion to 15 planes per group (versus 10) I might eventually have to pull out a group or two, but right now all are under strength.

Taihoku will be size 9 in a few days so no limit on stacking level of aircraft. Lots of air support present, just landing CD guns and have two DD TF standing there for protection. I have moved a bunch of B-29-25 there and will move even more there soon.

Takao is size 9 and has some B-29-25. It's a little farther from Japan than Taihoku but I have learned the hard way that weather, etc. makes a little dispersion a good idea.

Bases in the Okinawas other than Naha: Some are still being built but well along. Two of them have sweepers already and managed to clear out all the fighters from Kagoshima (survivors were redeployed by the Empire). Air support is on the way for the other airfields, first to Amami Oshima which is the closest base. When they are all built and provided with air support, I will also move a number of B-24 groups into the smaller Okinawa bases. They cannot strike as deep as the B-29 but will add weight.

The plan is to have P-47D25 and P-51D sweepers and P-38 escorts operating out of the Okinawas. As I mentioned before, the ultimate plan is Day 1: sweep, Day 2: night raid, sweep, day raid. The first sweep is because sweeps the day of do not always go in before the bombers, and sometimes not at all. All raids will be on Manpower (to start Fires). I'm going for maximum general damage, not for the points, but for the overall effect. Obviously I might wind up setting some specific targets as time goes on.

Sweepers and escorts are unable to reach as far as the B-29, so islands closer to the main islands are important (or bases on the main islands). The first thing is to seize Hokkaido, which will open up much more of the HI to raids, including some with sweepers and escorts.

If I go ahead with night bombing prior to March 1, one notion is to use the B-29-1 in that role while the B-29-25 remain on day bombing. The B-29B will arrive at 40/month production, the same as the B-29-25, and will fill out night group numbers quite nicely as time goes on.

All the B-29 groups are stood down now, trying to get all aircraft ready. I doubt all will make it out of the hangers, because Service Level 5 is a bear! I still want to hit Nagasaki/Sasebo in conjunction with the landings at Kushiro.

[witpqs]

1945 February 05

The Empire captured:


The Allies captured:
Kangean is occupied by the Allies

There were Imperial amphibious or airborne operations at:


There were Allied amphibious or airborne operations at:


Imperial Naval Bombardments


Allied Naval Bombardments:



Our subs are conducting secret activities.

Good ground action in China.

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Ground combat at Wuchang (84,51)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 34757 troops, 401 guns, 137 vehicles, Assault Value = 971

Defending force 6406 troops, 76 guns, 3 vehicles, Assault Value = 183

Allied adjusted assault: 834

Japanese adjusted defense: 631

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

Allied Assault reduces fortifications to 3

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

Japanese ground losses:
438 casualties reported
Squads: 4 destroyed, 16 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 25 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 10 (5 destroyed, 5 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
656 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 69 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 3 disabled

Assaulting units:
6th New Chinese Corps
9th Australian Division
517th Field Artillery Battalion
544th Field Artillery Battalion
II Australian Corps
208th Field Regiment

Defending units:
22nd Ind.Mixed Brigade
64th Inf Group Brigade
3rd South Seas Det.
9th Ind. Field Artillery Battalion
26th AA Regiment
10th Ind. Field Artillery Battalion


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Ground combat at 86,58 (near Pucheng)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 3219 troops, 21 guns, 82 vehicles, Assault Value = 147

Defending force 3550 troops, 24 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 83

Allied adjusted assault: 75

Japanese adjusted defense: 106

Allied assault odds: 1 to 2

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

Japanese ground losses:
199 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 11 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Allied ground losses:
97 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 10 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Assaulting units:
671th Tank Destroyer Battalion
111th LRP Brigade

Defending units:
3rd Infantry Regiment


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Attack at Wuchang continues tomorrow; rest near Pucheng. Our troops that crossed the river opposite Ichang will attack tomorrow. Chuhsien, although with less certain recon, is down to 4 units and ~9,500 troops. Although a Bde moving from the NW has a long way to march across terrain, we will move in the Bde on the road from the west along with a large number of artillery and AA units. To the NE the main spearhead is waiting on one division to join the armor & artillery at the point of contact before the first attack (they are facing ~19,000 troops in 2 units). The remaining divisions will remain back due to stacking limits.

Progress at Batangas.

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Ground combat at Batangas (79,78)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 18682 troops, 202 guns, 265 vehicles, Assault Value = 620

Defending force 11126 troops, 73 guns, 82 vehicles, Assault Value = 247

Allied adjusted assault: 288

Japanese adjusted defense: 214

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

Allied Assault reduces fortifications to 3

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

Japanese ground losses:
523 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 46 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 9 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Vehicles lost 29 (16 destroyed, 13 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
402 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 51 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 9 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled
Vehicles lost 21 (6 destroyed, 15 disabled)

Assaulting units:
2nd Regiment
29th British Brigade
Fiji Brigade
12th NZ Brigade
1st Regiment
11th NZ Brigade
50th Indian Para Brigade

Defending units:
27th Tank Regiment
79th Brigade
102nd Infantry Regiment
39th/B Division
13th Ind.Mixed Regiment


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Rest tomorrow, continue the day after.

The Hokkaido invasion fleet is moving as planned with no detection known at this point. We have one USN CVL in the Okinawas that will move just north as a diversion when a number of landing craft/ship convoys do the same. This turn we are dispatching subs in a pattern consistent with operations against the islands SW of Kyushu, and soon an air offensive will begin against Nagasaki/Sasebo. BTW, bombers are no longer stationed there. Is DAW HQ correctly anticipating a move elsewhere, or concerned about the success of our recent sweeps against Kagoshima signaling danger for air assets based at Nagasaki/Sasebo?

China west.

[witpqs]

China east.

[witpqs]

Philippines.

[witpqs]

Home Islands west.

[witpqs]

Home Islands east.

[witpqs]

The first phase invasion fleet and some of the follow on assets.

[witpqs]

1945 February 06

The Empire captured:


The Allies captured:
Calapan is occupied by the Allies
Allied forces CAPTURE Taongi !!!

There were Imperial amphibious or airborne operations at:


There were Allied amphibious or airborne operations at:
Pagai-eilanden
Taongi

Imperial Naval Bombardments


Allied Naval Bombardments:



Our subs are conducting secret activities.

Breakout through the Ichang-Hankow nexus is proceeding like a dam bursting.

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Ground combat at Wuchang (84,51)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 34296 troops, 401 guns, 137 vehicles, Assault Value = 917

Defending force 6025 troops, 71 guns, 3 vehicles, Assault Value = 168

Allied engineers reduce fortifications to 2

Allied adjusted assault: 642

Japanese adjusted defense: 623

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

Allied Assault reduces fortifications to 2

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

Japanese ground losses:
959 casualties reported
Squads: 6 destroyed, 23 disabled
Non Combat: 46 destroyed, 13 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 9 (2 destroyed, 7 disabled)
Vehicles lost 2 (1 destroyed, 1 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
238 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 36 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 5 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled

Assaulting units:
6th New Chinese Corps
9th Australian Division
II Australian Corps
517th Field Artillery Battalion
544th Field Artillery Battalion
208th Field Regiment

Defending units:
22nd Ind.Mixed Brigade
64th Inf Group Brigade
3rd South Seas Det.
26th AA Regiment
9th Ind. Field Artillery Battalion
10th Ind. Field Artillery Battalion



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Ground combat at 84,48 (near Ichang)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 33720 troops, 326 guns, 1556 vehicles, Assault Value = 1620

Defending force 315 troops, 3 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1

Allied adjusted assault: 1418

Japanese adjusted defense: 1

Allied assault odds: 1418 to 1

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

Japanese ground losses:
303 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 62 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 4 (4 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units destroyed 1

Assaulting units:
150th RAC Regiment
268th Motorised Brigade
Gardner's Horse Regiment
18th Cavalry Regiment
255th Indian Tank Brigade
3rd Carabiniers Regiment
23rd LRP Brigade
17th Motorised Division
254th Armoured Brigade
50th Tank Brigade
36th Chinese Division
109th Anti Tank Regiment

Defending units:
12th Ind.Infantry Brigade


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Our troops at Wuchang are a little tired but will continue as the Imperials are continuing to withdraw. The units near Ichang will speed to hit an Imperial Bde in the open before it makes Hankow. Troops are seen leaving Hankow and Sinyang, so we seek to impede as many of them as possible. Once that Bde is out of the way, the armour will move to the hex between Hankow and Sinyang to cut road & rail while the infantry moves into Hankow. If we gain a good position, we can move some armour into Sinyang to prevent strategic movement out on the rail.

Down at the main spearhead one division has arrived so the attack is tomorrow. Two more divisions are moving up in case additional weight is needed, while four divisions wait.

Chuhsien is being abandoned, now down to ~3,500 troops in 3 units. It is possible that Wenchow has been abandoned.

Continued moving of forces near Chengtu. When ready we will cross the river from the west with the additional forces for the assault.

Troops moving and resting in the Philippines.

Ghost ship dot-base denial continues.

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Ground combat at Taongi (136,107)

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 285 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 8

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

Allied adjusted assault: 10

Japanese adjusted defense: 1

Allied assault odds: 10 to 1 (fort level 0)

Allied forces CAPTURE Taongi !!!

Combat modifiers
Attacker: shock(+), disruption(-)

Assaulting units:
2nd Fiji Commando Battalion


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The Kushiro invasion fleet is still undetected, the closest ships being 20 hexes from target and 23 hexes from Tokyo. Tomorrow they will turn the corner and the closest ships will be 14 hexes from target, with the transports being 16 hexes from target. Detection is expected but not guaranteed. D-Day anticipated for 10 February.

Our CVL TF at Nago is detection 3/3, perhaps just good enough to convey the presence of an unknown number of carriers.

China west.

[witpqs]

China east.

[witpqs]

Philippines.