Islands of Destiny: RA 5.0 Japanese Side

[John 3rd]

There are about a gadzillion bombers now flying everywhere in Burma. Swear that there must be 150+ 4EB and about 300 2EB. They range anywhere and everywhere. While I've been able to sting them periodically, the real damage being done is to my Base Forces. Many of them are below 50% and I am losing the ability to take care of aircraft when they do arrive in theatre.

The inevitable ground attack is coming. I will not be able to hold. The dratted 4EB on land-attack create absolute chaos with my ground troops. The 33rd ID was hit by over 100 4EB and suffered nearly 1,500 casualties with disruption going from 5-10% to 87% IN ONE TURN.

Comments are being held back on this...

[adarbrauner]

Why aren't you trying to pinch or poke a bit at least his bombing sweeps in Burma?

How thick are his escorting flyng parties?

Taking in consideraton to retreat your Burma army in the jungle, to nerf his air power punch?
What time is it now in the calendar (when the Monsoon shall commence)?

[John 3rd]

March 5, 1944

OK. Here we go.

Notes:
1. The Landing Force will pass Balikpapan tomorrow. The large concentration of ships (24+ ships) will move to this position and head due east to be at Pare Pare on the 6th. The convoy picks up 120 Zero and George for CAP.

2. Tomorrow will see 125 Frank fly into Kolaka and Kendari. They will Sweep the growing AF east of Pare Pare.

3. An additional supply TF departs Bandjermasin with 31,000 supply. They are headed for Kolaka and Kendari.

4. The decoy KB moves forward from Balabac to Sandakan. Whether they are spotted or not, the four TF will then advance due South to directly support the landings and provide gunfire support for the assault.

5. Ready 200 Helen for ground attack on the Allied troops at Pare Pare.

6. A supply TF also leaves the Iliolo (Central Philippines) heading for Manado.


The goal with all these TF is to re-supply several bases while the fur flies at Pare Pare.

[John 3rd]

ORIGINAL: adarbrauner

Why aren't you trying to pinch or poke a bit at least his bombing sweeps in Burma?

How thick are his escorting flyng parties?

Taking in consideraton to retreat your Burma army in the jungle, to nerf his air power punch?
What time is it now in the calendar (when the Monsoon shall commence)?

Hello Sir.

He currently Sweeps with 7 Fighter Squadrons every turn (P-38/P-47) and then sends in his bombers. The bombers have 3-4 Fighter Squadrons embedded as escort. This combination makes it difficult for success.

Speaking of proper forecasting...eight units--literally--just appeared out of the jungle onto the west side of the Irrawaddy. I cannot hold in the open versus his airpower. In a move that might stun Mr. Roper, I shift all Base Forces, Engineers, and AA to strategic mode to shuffle down the railroad (while I still have it) to Rangoon, Pegu, and Moulmein. My Infantry will withdraw into the leading edge of the jungle. With the exception of small Inf/TK units, I will evacuate everything from Mandalay/Magwe south.

Reinforcements are at sea in the form of 1 Brigade and 2 Regiments. Not much can come beyond that.

As detailed over the last few game months, I've moved engineers into the northern Thailand bases and the coastal bases of Tavoy, Victoria Point, etc...to get the Forts built up. It is now a case of holding, delaying, and praying for these troops to be enough.

[John 3rd]

Forgot to mention that IF Dan separates his Fast CVs from his incoming at Invasion Force at Normanton, I am prepared to bring in about 250 Judy and Helen bombers to try to get some whacks at his Invasion Force as it passes by bases I still possess. Figure he'll leave his CVEs as escort and I have a far better chance of getting through that CAP then the 1,000,000 plane CAP of his 1,000,000 ship one-hex TF that normally works together.

If he does not separate then I have a real chance of raising some HELL at Sulawasi and then pulling those troops out without a major fight.

[pws1225]

Best of luck in the upcoming battle!

[adarbrauner]

Your Burma plan seems wise.
bTW, what's the situation in China? Neutralized?

Your counter moves in Celebes seem pretty interesting...

but have you taken in condsideration that he may have made some allowances as to escort his invasion party at Pare Pare?

What about intel and recon in the surroundings?

Let's suppose, everything goes well and you land nearby Pare Pare unscathed all of your forces. Then what do you expect? annihilation of his landed forces? (tasty. But worthy of? Probably yes!)

[Bif1961]

Good luck and good hunting.

[John 3rd]

March 6, 1944

DEI
All movements occur without any interference. Fighters are added to Kolaka, Bandjermasin, and Kendari. The Landing Force will begin unloading tomorrow. The supply TF heading for Kolaka gains LRCAP and will begin unloading in two days.

Tomorrow the Decoy KB departs its lair and moves to a position between Tarakan and Balikpapan. It shall be spotted. We shall see what Dan decides to do about that.

Marshalls
A STF of 2 CA, 1 CL, and 6 DDs approach Roi Namur. They carry 1800 troops who should be able to smash the enemy troops on that atoll. Georges moved to the base this turn and fight off a squadron of P-40s and P-47s. Definite action tomorrow. If they unload without issue then they will come back for a bombardment the day after. Should note that they were attacked by 12 SBD and managed to shot down a whopping FIVE of that number. No damage taken to any wessel.

Aleutians
A massed convoy will begin unloading 40,000 supply at Attu, Shemya, and that other base right there. Once unloaded they will lift off an Infantry Division, Brigade, and two Air Flotilla. Am hoping that Dan sends one of his small STF against these TFs. I have embedded 1 BB, 2 BC, 2 CA, 1 CL , and 6 DD. His heaviest unit up here is CL Honolulu and I hope to watch 14" shells CRUSH some enemy warships.

I have a very big stick that might make its presence felt up here as well...

Burma
Pure CHAOS! Troops moving everywhere and lots of ground excitement coming. Am moving as detailed earlier.

Home Islands
Decide to augment the Decoy KB by sending my brand new pair of Unryu CVs and CVL (with 4 DDs) to Singapore.

[John 3rd]

March 7, 1944

The cat is out of the bag in several locations. We're letting that sweet kitty run around and see what sort of action it brings as the clarion call of 'we've spotted enemy carriers' rings out.

Pare Pare
The Landing Force begins unloading this turn with NO OPPOSITION. We get 2/3 of everything unloaded. The Allies send in a pair of air strikes attacking the base and they are met with over 80 Fighters. A goodly number of Allied planes do not come home.

Dan chooses this turn to launch a Deliberate Attack and it gets chewed up. The result is 1-6 with Japan losing 369 Cas and 10 Guns for a substantial 1,320 Cas and 40 Vehicles. PERFECT! The Allied disruption goes up. We'll finish unloading, and bombard the base with two TF and about 150 bombers then Shock Attack. Let us hope for good results.

Supply convoys sail unmolested for their unloading points.

The Decoy KB is spotted and spends the day pleasantly shooting down PBYs and Sunderlands.

Burma
CRAZY! My withdrawal is in full swing. I pulled a RF unit out towards a unit of his east of Magwe hoping he'd go after it. He did. Nearly 150 2EB nail this poor group of soldiers and wipe it out. It does serve the valuable purpose of diverting all those bombers from far better targets...

Marshalls
My FTF sinks a couple of LCI at Roi Namur before dropping off its 1,700 troops. The TF retreats to Eniwetok without interference.

Aleutians
Supplies begin to be off-loaded at the three bases surrounding Attu. Lets see if he comes over to PLAY!

[John 3rd]

I am packing away the Heavy Industry right now. Just realized that I have added 100,000 in the last 20 days. NICE! The goal is for Japan to have 1,000,000 put back by the end of 1944. With all of my heavy warships completed, I have now shutdown over 50% of my shipyards adding to the stockpiling HI.

[John 3rd]

March 8, 1944

Got my date wrong on the last Posting.

Here is the GREAT WHITE NORTH.

[pws1225]

I am packing away the Heavy Industry right now. Just realized that I have added 100,000 in the last 20 days. NICE!

That's great, keep it up! Those HI points mean lots of Frank-r and Sam/George for the late game. You may also want to accelerate the rate you are sucking from Palembang to the HI too. It's never too early to start saving for a rainy day. [8D]

[John 3rd]

March 8, 1944

The Kido Butai's fighter pilots are the most experienced throughout the Empire. AVERAGE experience is right at 80. Numerous aces fill their ranks but they have been unable to get into the fight ever since the horrific Carrier Battle off Wake nine months ago. They are hungry and spoiling for a fight! Additionally they are flying the final incarnation of the venerable A6 line--the M8.

This fine day finds the decoy KB sailing just 100 miles from Pare Pare. Half of their number flies LRCAP over pare Pare while the rest calmly waits to be tested. The test arrives at 1130 Hours when 34 Corsairs and P-38s covering 27 SBDs come into the area. A total of 78 M8 Zeros with vengeful pilots await them at 16,000 Ft.

The fight does not last long. Ten of the hot shot American fighters are shot down and ALL 27 SBDs.

Japanese losses? Two planes crack up on landing. NONE are shot down over the Fleet.

OK. It isn't much but I will call out a BANZAI!

[John 3rd]

Here is the current VP Screen:

[Chickenboy]

ORIGINAL: John 3rd
OK. It isn't much

Nonsense! It's a first class ambush and slaughter! Be happy, for these drubbings don't come along every day!

Nice shootin' Tex. [8D]

[John 3rd]

March 9, 1944

We have the smell of MULTIPLE small victories this turn with little cost. How often does that happen in March 1944 for Japan?

How about Rio Namur? CL Shokatsu and 4 DD unload about 1000 supply and encounter 4 American DDs. Don't mess with the Masters boys! A Long Lance from the Light Cruiser sinks DD Cotten and another takes seven shell hits and is left in sinking condition. Damage to the Japanese? One 5' shell bounces off the hull of Shokatsu.

Small victory at no cost. NICE!

[John 3rd]

March 9, 1944

The Allied troops at Pare Pare are hit all day long. Even as the transports continue to unload supplies and a few remaining troops, they are stunned to be bombarded by two Japanese Capital Ships: BC Haruna and 4 DDs fire their magazines empty. A short while later mighty Musashi, the venerable CL Nagara, and 4 more DDs do the same. During the afternoon three bomber strikes come in. The most impressive is 100 brand new Frances bombers and then smaller waves of Helens pummel the troops. Casualties are not high but the troops take more and more.

At near sunset the Japanese bugles blow and for the first time since Sumatra, the Japanese Army attacks. The results is delightful as a 6-1 result occurs and the four besieging Allied units are crushed forcing them to retreat towards Makassar.

BANZAI!

What do we do now that the immediate, tactical objective has been won? Hmmm... Much to ponder upon while going out for dinner.

[John 3rd]

Burma might be becoming a disaster but news must wait as the family is headed out for dinner.

[Chickenboy]

ORIGINAL: John 3rd
What do we do now that the immediate, tactical objective has been won? Hmmm... Much to ponder upon while going out for dinner.

Be true to your strategic self. If the goal was to impose a short-term tactical loss then mission accomplished. Move on.

Don't get mired in one spot just because it's convenient to keep them there chasing evaporating Allied units.