Wedge Donovan Wins the War: Apbarog(A) vs Aurorus(J) DBB-B
Moderators: wdolson, MOD_War-in-the-Pacific-Admirals-Edition
RE: Wedge Donovan Wins the War: Apbarog(A) vs Aurorus(J) DBB-B
Feeling some pressure? Enjoy it, it is the best part of the game for the Allies.[;)] Back to the wall, loss after loss, you need a hero to right this...[;)]
RE: Wedge Donovan Wins the War: Apbarog(A) vs Aurorus(J) DBB-B
Thanks Lowpe! I am enjoying the game quite a lot. There's no doubt that Aurorus is a skilled opponent. I'm spending most of my time between turns going over and over what could happen, what I want to happen, what should I do, etc. Fun times. I think that we're in for a tough fight.
RE: Wedge Donovan Wins the War: Apbarog(A) vs Aurorus(J) DBB-B
You could have used xAP Queen Elizabeth to bring some US AA units from CONUSA to Australia. At least they would have covered Sydney's port.
RE: Wedge Donovan Wins the War: Apbarog(A) vs Aurorus(J) DBB-B
QE is still at San Francisco. I could have used it for one of a few units that left the West Coast already, but the vast majority of units left before QE got to the US. Huge convoys are about a week east of Sydney at the moment.
I didn't want to waste most of QE's capacity on a small unit, but your point is a valid one.
I did already get 2/3 of the US 2nd Marine Division to Sydney. They are resting and waiting to see where they are needed. For me, Brisbane to Sydney is more important to defend than north of Rockhampton. This early, I'm willing to give ground in Northeastern Australia if needed.
I didn't want to waste most of QE's capacity on a small unit, but your point is a valid one.
I did already get 2/3 of the US 2nd Marine Division to Sydney. They are resting and waiting to see where they are needed. For me, Brisbane to Sydney is more important to defend than north of Rockhampton. This early, I'm willing to give ground in Northeastern Australia if needed.
RE: Wedge Donovan Wins the War: Apbarog(A) vs Aurorus(J) DBB-B
Check your resource-producing bases in Australia. Sydney area has lots of HI and LI, but resources are not produced there. If you hole up in Sydney and surrender the bases in its vicinity you may not have the resources to produce supplies in Sydney. Same goes for Calcutta in India and the surrounding bases.
RE: Wedge Donovan Wins the War: Apbarog(A) vs Aurorus(J) DBB-B
8 Jan 42
3 enemy DMS sweep Argonaut's mines next to Horn Island. All mines are cleared.
Nells bomb Batavia's port again. Nothing left to hit.
Sallys return to Singapore to bomb the airfield, but once again find the flak heavy. This will be the case until supply runs out.
The usual bombing in China and Malaysia.
Bettys from Koepang bomb an Aussie base force that had retreated from Darwin.
The enemy's 4th Division and 3 artillery units attack and capture Soerabaja. Defense was weak, with most troops moved to Malang to defend the mountain. 2 vessels are destroyed while still under construction: a light cruiser and a sub. O23 was fortunate to be launched yesterday.
Praboemoelih, Malaysia is lost. The 1st Mysore Battalion is destroyed in a shock attack near Utan Melintang.
Another attack at Pontianak fails, with 67 enemy losses and 35 Dutch. So does another attack at Tarakan, but just barely misses 2 to 1 odds, with the forts destroyed. 177 enemy losses and 62 Dutch.
Enemy carriers and escorts do not move down the Australian coast. Instead they go east, and are near Milne Bay. Another task force has appeared north of Rabaul. The carriers may be supporting this apparent invasion. I predict a 90 Kate raid on Rabaul today. It will be overkill. Rabaul is barely defended, with most of the troops evacuated to Australia.
AVPs are on the move in the South Pacific, moving to isolated islands here and there, helping to form a better search coverage with Catalinas that will deploy. I have to keep track of those enemy carriers. Carriers heading south and getting into my reinforcement convoy routes would be very bad. If I see them, I can avoid them.
US carriers will move toward Australia today, but I'm not going to fly off all of their aircraft until there's an imminent threat to Australia. I can't engage the enemy carriers with 3 US carriers still flying Buffaloes. Not to mention how poorly trained they are. I want to keep them in the area as a possible tool to use, but I don't know what they can really do right now. I could send them around Australia to Perth, and maybe do a quick hit-and-run raid near Java, but I'd be risking Bettys, and may get little in return.
In the South Pacific, getting in behind KB and hitting other task forces could work, but not around Rabaul and New Guinea. No "getting around" KB there. If he comes for Luganville or Noumea or Suva, then I may be able to circle around KB.
Just keep the US carriers alive. Keep the air units training. Upgrade the planes when I can. Get the reinforcements into Australia and the South Pacific. And wait.
3 enemy DMS sweep Argonaut's mines next to Horn Island. All mines are cleared.
Nells bomb Batavia's port again. Nothing left to hit.
Sallys return to Singapore to bomb the airfield, but once again find the flak heavy. This will be the case until supply runs out.
The usual bombing in China and Malaysia.
Bettys from Koepang bomb an Aussie base force that had retreated from Darwin.
The enemy's 4th Division and 3 artillery units attack and capture Soerabaja. Defense was weak, with most troops moved to Malang to defend the mountain. 2 vessels are destroyed while still under construction: a light cruiser and a sub. O23 was fortunate to be launched yesterday.
Praboemoelih, Malaysia is lost. The 1st Mysore Battalion is destroyed in a shock attack near Utan Melintang.
Another attack at Pontianak fails, with 67 enemy losses and 35 Dutch. So does another attack at Tarakan, but just barely misses 2 to 1 odds, with the forts destroyed. 177 enemy losses and 62 Dutch.
Enemy carriers and escorts do not move down the Australian coast. Instead they go east, and are near Milne Bay. Another task force has appeared north of Rabaul. The carriers may be supporting this apparent invasion. I predict a 90 Kate raid on Rabaul today. It will be overkill. Rabaul is barely defended, with most of the troops evacuated to Australia.
AVPs are on the move in the South Pacific, moving to isolated islands here and there, helping to form a better search coverage with Catalinas that will deploy. I have to keep track of those enemy carriers. Carriers heading south and getting into my reinforcement convoy routes would be very bad. If I see them, I can avoid them.
US carriers will move toward Australia today, but I'm not going to fly off all of their aircraft until there's an imminent threat to Australia. I can't engage the enemy carriers with 3 US carriers still flying Buffaloes. Not to mention how poorly trained they are. I want to keep them in the area as a possible tool to use, but I don't know what they can really do right now. I could send them around Australia to Perth, and maybe do a quick hit-and-run raid near Java, but I'd be risking Bettys, and may get little in return.
In the South Pacific, getting in behind KB and hitting other task forces could work, but not around Rabaul and New Guinea. No "getting around" KB there. If he comes for Luganville or Noumea or Suva, then I may be able to circle around KB.
Just keep the US carriers alive. Keep the air units training. Upgrade the planes when I can. Get the reinforcements into Australia and the South Pacific. And wait.
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Bo Rearguard
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RE: Wedge Donovan Wins the War: Apbarog(A) vs Aurorus(J) DBB-B
Given that Luzon seems to have been bypassed at the moment are you making any attempt to keep it in supply by submarine? Or with no enemy pressure on it and Manila industry up and functioning is it pretty self-sufficient?
"They couldn't hit an elephant at this dist ...." Union General John Sedgwick, 1864
RE: Wedge Donovan Wins the War: Apbarog(A) vs Aurorus(J) DBB-B
Luzon has been ignored by Aurorus, except for the airbase and port bombing in the first few days of the war. Manila is operational, but I suspect that my troops are eating more supply than can be produced. The only fort building that I'm doing is at Bataan, where I'm just under the stacking limit of troops. Only a few Catalinas are left on Luzon. All of the other planes were transferred, destroyed, or disbanded.
I am not using subs to bring in supply. I don't know really what I could do to make a difference here, other than to dig in. My troops that are not at Bataan have mostly moved to inland jungle hexes, to make it as time-consuming as possible to dig them out. Of course, by the time Aurorus comes here, he won't have anything better to do with his troops.
It would be nice to think of the US Navy coming in from the east, carriers, battleships, leading a grand fleet of hundreds of cargo ships with supply and reinforcements. But that just isn't going to happen.
I am not using subs to bring in supply. I don't know really what I could do to make a difference here, other than to dig in. My troops that are not at Bataan have mostly moved to inland jungle hexes, to make it as time-consuming as possible to dig them out. Of course, by the time Aurorus comes here, he won't have anything better to do with his troops.
It would be nice to think of the US Navy coming in from the east, carriers, battleships, leading a grand fleet of hundreds of cargo ships with supply and reinforcements. But that just isn't going to happen.
RE: Wedge Donovan Wins the War: Apbarog(A) vs Aurorus(J) DBB-B
Can you build forts at Clark, which is your best defensive terrain? You can try to sneak in single akls, I did it for awhile even after he invaded.
RE: Wedge Donovan Wins the War: Apbarog(A) vs Aurorus(J) DBB-B
I could build and defend at Clark. For awhile, the airfield was bombed and damaged, but Aurorus stopped bombing after the first week or so. I picked Bataan to defend to keep the CD guns in play, and prevent the use of Manila no matter what else happens. I don't want a big defense of Clark and Bataan, though, since I don't want units to retreat from Clark to Bataan and overstack the hex.
Supply isn't an issue for now, but it surely will be in time.
Supply isn't an issue for now, but it surely will be in time.
RE: Wedge Donovan Wins the War: Apbarog(A) vs Aurorus(J) DBB-B
9 Jan 42
AV Kamikawa Maru continues to lead a charmed life. Sub Seal fired 4 torpedoes at it NW of Horn Island, and all missed.
Lots of mines being cleared by the enemy at Soerabaja. 4 TBs came to Malang to get the tiny HDML there. With such a short range, there's nowhere for the HDML to go. All that can be done is to lose it in battle. The TBs then got a lone torpedo boat.
Another base lost in Malaysia. Today it is Temuloh. The rail lines from Thailand to Singapore are still blocked by the Allies. Despite the Mersing gambit, Singapore has not been attacked, and Malaysia is not cleared. Of course, almost no troops escaped from Malaysia. I got fragments of a few base units out by seaplane.
Another failed enemy attack at Tarakan. After the attack, the forts went from 0 to 1. The Dutch will hold a little while longer.
The enemy carriers near Milne Bay disappeared. I sure hope that they didn't sprint full speed to the southeast, into the void of search coverage. They probably went toward Rabaul and are hidden by weather. Another carrier TF, probably the other half of KB, appeared NE of Kavieng, coming south from Truk.
AV Kamikawa Maru continues to lead a charmed life. Sub Seal fired 4 torpedoes at it NW of Horn Island, and all missed.
Lots of mines being cleared by the enemy at Soerabaja. 4 TBs came to Malang to get the tiny HDML there. With such a short range, there's nowhere for the HDML to go. All that can be done is to lose it in battle. The TBs then got a lone torpedo boat.
Another base lost in Malaysia. Today it is Temuloh. The rail lines from Thailand to Singapore are still blocked by the Allies. Despite the Mersing gambit, Singapore has not been attacked, and Malaysia is not cleared. Of course, almost no troops escaped from Malaysia. I got fragments of a few base units out by seaplane.
Another failed enemy attack at Tarakan. After the attack, the forts went from 0 to 1. The Dutch will hold a little while longer.
The enemy carriers near Milne Bay disappeared. I sure hope that they didn't sprint full speed to the southeast, into the void of search coverage. They probably went toward Rabaul and are hidden by weather. Another carrier TF, probably the other half of KB, appeared NE of Kavieng, coming south from Truk.
RE: Wedge Donovan Wins the War: Apbarog(A) vs Aurorus(J) DBB-B
10 Jan 42
Sub Snapper misses a patrol boat with 2 torpedoes near Calayan. An xAK in the TF.
Sub Gudgeon is spotted by a TF with BB Haruna north of Rabaul. No damage.
Aurorus reinforces Tarakan with another SNLF unit. Tarakan will fall very soon. It was a brave defense, but no help was coming for the Dutch.
Sub S-40 is spotted by a TF with an xAP in it, near Wessel Islands east of Darwin. No damage.
Aurorus noted that the only Dutch fighters left were at Bandoeng. 25 Oscars sweep and about 8 Dutch planes are downed. Dutch fighter defenses are now depleted.
The enemy 144th Infantry Regiment captures Digos from the 101st Philippine Army Infantry Regiment. Digos is SW of Davao. The defenders start to move toward the mountain base still held by friends, but most of it won't get that far. In clear terrain. Will be bombed. Enemy unit will catch up. Another attack.
What I believe to be half of KB is now south of Rabaul, and the other half is northwest of Rabaul. Surface ships screen in the direction of Rabaul. The enemy did not strike Rabaul today. I suspect this was due to weather. They were in position. No sign of an invasion yet but it can't be far.
US mega-convoys are nearing Sydney. US carriers are moving closer to guard the last approach to Australia. Enemy subs are being spotted by SBDs, which, of course, means that the carrier locations are fairly well known.
I think I'll send the carriers back with the empties as they return to the West Coast. I don't know how far they will escort. I'm sure there will be more developments to deal with by then.
About a dozen air units are on these cargo ships. And a bunch of ground units, although little infantry. And lots of supply and fuel.
Sub Snapper misses a patrol boat with 2 torpedoes near Calayan. An xAK in the TF.
Sub Gudgeon is spotted by a TF with BB Haruna north of Rabaul. No damage.
Aurorus reinforces Tarakan with another SNLF unit. Tarakan will fall very soon. It was a brave defense, but no help was coming for the Dutch.
Sub S-40 is spotted by a TF with an xAP in it, near Wessel Islands east of Darwin. No damage.
Aurorus noted that the only Dutch fighters left were at Bandoeng. 25 Oscars sweep and about 8 Dutch planes are downed. Dutch fighter defenses are now depleted.
The enemy 144th Infantry Regiment captures Digos from the 101st Philippine Army Infantry Regiment. Digos is SW of Davao. The defenders start to move toward the mountain base still held by friends, but most of it won't get that far. In clear terrain. Will be bombed. Enemy unit will catch up. Another attack.
What I believe to be half of KB is now south of Rabaul, and the other half is northwest of Rabaul. Surface ships screen in the direction of Rabaul. The enemy did not strike Rabaul today. I suspect this was due to weather. They were in position. No sign of an invasion yet but it can't be far.
US mega-convoys are nearing Sydney. US carriers are moving closer to guard the last approach to Australia. Enemy subs are being spotted by SBDs, which, of course, means that the carrier locations are fairly well known.
I think I'll send the carriers back with the empties as they return to the West Coast. I don't know how far they will escort. I'm sure there will be more developments to deal with by then.
About a dozen air units are on these cargo ships. And a bunch of ground units, although little infantry. And lots of supply and fuel.
RE: Wedge Donovan Wins the War: Apbarog(A) vs Aurorus(J) DBB-B
11 Jan 42
Rabaul is invaded. No enemy airstrikes.
The usual bombing in China and Malaysia. I got SigInt that the Imperial Guard Division is planning an attack at Singapore. This isn't surprising, but since the division is involved up north in Malaysia, it does mean that a Singapore attack will probably wait for last. The base is already in the danger zone for supply, and since few troops got past the Mersing landing to get back to Singapore, the base won't hold out for long. I am still using it as a sub base.
6 Dutch bombers at Samarinda try to bomb enemy troops at the base. 6 Zeros bleed over from Balikpapan, and almost all bombers are downed.
Bettys from Koepang bomb Australian troops south of Darwin, retreating.
Lahat, west of Palembang, is lost.
With enemy reinforcements, another attack at Tarakan takes place. It almost succeeds, only held off by the recent fort building to level 1. It's a 2 to 1 attack and the forts are reduced to 0. More Dutch losses than enemy, and the base will fall tomorrow. Best base defense so far goes to the Dutch at Tarakan.
Enemy carriers now close to Rabaul, and to the east. Other group not visible, but probably northwest. Heavy activity at Truk. As KB moves from area to area, Aurorus activates his plans in that area, and Truk is stirring now.
Huge Allied convoys approaching Australia. They start to split up, hoping to make use of other ports near to Sydney. Lots of stuff to unload.
Rabaul is invaded. No enemy airstrikes.
The usual bombing in China and Malaysia. I got SigInt that the Imperial Guard Division is planning an attack at Singapore. This isn't surprising, but since the division is involved up north in Malaysia, it does mean that a Singapore attack will probably wait for last. The base is already in the danger zone for supply, and since few troops got past the Mersing landing to get back to Singapore, the base won't hold out for long. I am still using it as a sub base.
6 Dutch bombers at Samarinda try to bomb enemy troops at the base. 6 Zeros bleed over from Balikpapan, and almost all bombers are downed.
Bettys from Koepang bomb Australian troops south of Darwin, retreating.
Lahat, west of Palembang, is lost.
With enemy reinforcements, another attack at Tarakan takes place. It almost succeeds, only held off by the recent fort building to level 1. It's a 2 to 1 attack and the forts are reduced to 0. More Dutch losses than enemy, and the base will fall tomorrow. Best base defense so far goes to the Dutch at Tarakan.
Enemy carriers now close to Rabaul, and to the east. Other group not visible, but probably northwest. Heavy activity at Truk. As KB moves from area to area, Aurorus activates his plans in that area, and Truk is stirring now.
Huge Allied convoys approaching Australia. They start to split up, hoping to make use of other ports near to Sydney. Lots of stuff to unload.
RE: Wedge Donovan Wins the War: Apbarog(A) vs Aurorus(J) DBB-B
12 Jan 42
Between Suva and Pago Pago, I-9 spots AO Sabine and DD Crane. They are part of a bigger AO task force that unloaded about half of its fuel at Suva, and is now moving towards Pago Pago to rendezvous with a US carrier coming from the West Coast. I-9 fires 2 torpedoes at Sabine and misses.
Lots of Nells bomb Dutch troops at Bandjermasin. Then Sallys too. The base is invaded.
Dutch bombers try to hit enemy troops near Tjilatjap, but find Zeros. Most bombers are lost. Most units disband after this. The enemy is closing in. Few bases are safe, and the bombers can't accomplish much anymore. As if they did before.
144 Kates bomb the base force at Rabaul. The two enemy carrier task forces are now in the same hex. Probably all of KB. Only 36 casualties because there isn't much defending Rabaul. The Lark force was pulled out and is now defending the Australian coast, waiting to merge with the two sister units that headed south from Darwin.
KB is now just east of Rabaul. The drifting to the east tells me that KB will either head east to the Marshalls or south to the Solomons next. Aurorus doesn't just drift around with KB. They drift towards the next objective. Other shipping arrives in a just-in-time fashion to be with KB. Very efficient, but a bit predictable. If I can keep contact with KB, I'll be happy. All of those extra Catalinas not lost at Pearl Harbor are helping a lot. When I'm not forgetting to pull them out of bases about to be lost.
Lae is invaded. The defenders are in Australia.
Rabaul is lost. 3 Catalinas are destroyed. My mistake. Thought I moved them out.
Samarinda is almost lost. It will fall today.
Another enemy attack at Tarakan fails. 1 to 2 with no forts. There's 3 SNLF units there now, and they are still having trouble.
The reinforcement convoys start to arrive in Australia, with 3 US carriers nearby. A total of 105,000 fuel and 200,000 supply is making it to Australia. New Zealand has ships unloading too, with a total of 163,000 fuel.
Here are the number and types of squadrons unloading in Australia:
3 P-40B
1 SB2U
2 P39
2 P36A
1 SBD-1
3 B-26
1 P38E
1 R3D2
1 P40E
Obviously there will need to be some upgrading. Also, a bunch of ground units are unloading. Mostly support units. I'm considering sending the 2 US Marine regiments that already arrived at Sydney to Suva, and make Suva the first of the islands to get meaningful defenders.
Between Suva and Pago Pago, I-9 spots AO Sabine and DD Crane. They are part of a bigger AO task force that unloaded about half of its fuel at Suva, and is now moving towards Pago Pago to rendezvous with a US carrier coming from the West Coast. I-9 fires 2 torpedoes at Sabine and misses.
Lots of Nells bomb Dutch troops at Bandjermasin. Then Sallys too. The base is invaded.
Dutch bombers try to hit enemy troops near Tjilatjap, but find Zeros. Most bombers are lost. Most units disband after this. The enemy is closing in. Few bases are safe, and the bombers can't accomplish much anymore. As if they did before.
144 Kates bomb the base force at Rabaul. The two enemy carrier task forces are now in the same hex. Probably all of KB. Only 36 casualties because there isn't much defending Rabaul. The Lark force was pulled out and is now defending the Australian coast, waiting to merge with the two sister units that headed south from Darwin.
KB is now just east of Rabaul. The drifting to the east tells me that KB will either head east to the Marshalls or south to the Solomons next. Aurorus doesn't just drift around with KB. They drift towards the next objective. Other shipping arrives in a just-in-time fashion to be with KB. Very efficient, but a bit predictable. If I can keep contact with KB, I'll be happy. All of those extra Catalinas not lost at Pearl Harbor are helping a lot. When I'm not forgetting to pull them out of bases about to be lost.
Lae is invaded. The defenders are in Australia.
Rabaul is lost. 3 Catalinas are destroyed. My mistake. Thought I moved them out.
Samarinda is almost lost. It will fall today.
Another enemy attack at Tarakan fails. 1 to 2 with no forts. There's 3 SNLF units there now, and they are still having trouble.
The reinforcement convoys start to arrive in Australia, with 3 US carriers nearby. A total of 105,000 fuel and 200,000 supply is making it to Australia. New Zealand has ships unloading too, with a total of 163,000 fuel.
Here are the number and types of squadrons unloading in Australia:
3 P-40B
1 SB2U
2 P39
2 P36A
1 SBD-1
3 B-26
1 P38E
1 R3D2
1 P40E
Obviously there will need to be some upgrading. Also, a bunch of ground units are unloading. Mostly support units. I'm considering sending the 2 US Marine regiments that already arrived at Sydney to Suva, and make Suva the first of the islands to get meaningful defenders.
RE: Wedge Donovan Wins the War: Apbarog(A) vs Aurorus(J) DBB-B
13 Jan 42
More enemy cleanup in Malaysia. Still waiting to see where the big enemy stack in China will show up.
I moved some divebombers to Port Moresby to go after enemy shipping at Lae. I figured that it wouldn't have any CAP. I was correct. However, a big surface group and KB moved closer to Milne Bay. 11 SB2U-3s went after the surface group, and it had 13 Zeros overhead. Zeros from Akagi, Kaga, Soryu, Shokaku, and Zuikaku are noted. All bombers were shot down.
A small fragment of the divebombers, 2 of them to be exact, then flew to Lae as I had hoped, and got 2 1000 pound bomb hits on xAK Gosei Maru. The unit is sent to southern Australia to rebuild with recruit pilots. 13 average pilots were sent to the pool.
Kavieng is invaded. Lae falls. So does Bandjermasin.
Lots of ships unloading at Newcastle, Sydney, Auckland, and Wellington. Others heading toward Melbourne. US carriers refuel at Sydney and will head towards Suva. I will not accept battle with KB, but am looking at trying an end run around KB and hitting possible shipping coming down from Truk for future invasions. Otherwise, the carriers will stay in the region but out of the way, to be committed only in an absolute emergency. Remember, some still are flying Buffaloes and the pilots are poor to average.
More enemy cleanup in Malaysia. Still waiting to see where the big enemy stack in China will show up.
I moved some divebombers to Port Moresby to go after enemy shipping at Lae. I figured that it wouldn't have any CAP. I was correct. However, a big surface group and KB moved closer to Milne Bay. 11 SB2U-3s went after the surface group, and it had 13 Zeros overhead. Zeros from Akagi, Kaga, Soryu, Shokaku, and Zuikaku are noted. All bombers were shot down.
A small fragment of the divebombers, 2 of them to be exact, then flew to Lae as I had hoped, and got 2 1000 pound bomb hits on xAK Gosei Maru. The unit is sent to southern Australia to rebuild with recruit pilots. 13 average pilots were sent to the pool.
Kavieng is invaded. Lae falls. So does Bandjermasin.
Lots of ships unloading at Newcastle, Sydney, Auckland, and Wellington. Others heading toward Melbourne. US carriers refuel at Sydney and will head towards Suva. I will not accept battle with KB, but am looking at trying an end run around KB and hitting possible shipping coming down from Truk for future invasions. Otherwise, the carriers will stay in the region but out of the way, to be committed only in an absolute emergency. Remember, some still are flying Buffaloes and the pilots are poor to average.
RE: Wedge Donovan Wins the War: Apbarog(A) vs Aurorus(J) DBB-B
I guess congrats are in order for the big slug of material and men arriving in Oz.
Don't be hasty, Oz seems to almost always be a continent too far for Japan.[;)] I guess I would watch out for strategic bombing if it comes to that...
Don't be hasty, Oz seems to almost always be a continent too far for Japan.[;)] I guess I would watch out for strategic bombing if it comes to that...
RE: Wedge Donovan Wins the War: Apbarog(A) vs Aurorus(J) DBB-B
Getting the first big convoys to Austalia isn't a huge accomplishment. I didn't mean it to sound that way. But it is important. Aurorus is a very good player. I don't know what his long range intentions are, and I have to prepare for the worst. The convoys will be a never-ending constant in the game. But most won't be these huge convoys, which resulted from the start of the game. They are all there on the West Coast. Might as well use them.
We do have a house rule on strategic bombing. None before 6/43.
We do have a house rule on strategic bombing. None before 6/43.
RE: Wedge Donovan Wins the War: Apbarog(A) vs Aurorus(J) DBB-B
14 Jan 42
Sub Gudgeon is run over by a combat TF east of Milne Bay. The sub takes moderate damage by one good depth charge hit, and will retire to Brisbane for repairs.
Back on Java, with Soerabaja taken and the Dutch holed up in the mountains at Malang, the enemy sends in battleships Hyuga, Ise, Yamashiro, and Fuso to bombard Malang. It's a safe trip for the big boys, as patrol boats have already been in the hex and didn't find any mines. Dutch air has been mostly eliminated, and Zeros are nearby at Soerabaja. This bombardment could become a regular thing. At least the other mountain hex at Bandoeng is an inland base.
Woodlark Island, east of Milne Bay, in invaded. So is Buin. The 37th JNAF AF unit is invading Buin. There is no defense here.
RO-68 fires 2 torpedoes at sub Grayling east of Rockhampton, but misses.
Almost 100 Kates from KB hit troops at Port Moresby. Damage is very light.
Kates from a small carrier TF hit an HDML at Batavia. The HDMLs here are just target practice. Can't run, with total movement of just 2. Can't get to any enemy ships with that range either. Can't disband ships. Just targets.
Kavieng is lost.
It's nice to see so many air units in Australia now. Most go into training mode. One P-40 unit is sent to Townsville to guard against a possible KB strike. KB is close enough to move into range in just one day, so it could happen. Shipping at Townsville has left. Now 2 P-40 units there. Poor pilots, but that's all there is right now. Maybe they'll find a big Kate strike with a weak Zero escort, and not a big Zero sweep.
Sub Gudgeon is run over by a combat TF east of Milne Bay. The sub takes moderate damage by one good depth charge hit, and will retire to Brisbane for repairs.
Back on Java, with Soerabaja taken and the Dutch holed up in the mountains at Malang, the enemy sends in battleships Hyuga, Ise, Yamashiro, and Fuso to bombard Malang. It's a safe trip for the big boys, as patrol boats have already been in the hex and didn't find any mines. Dutch air has been mostly eliminated, and Zeros are nearby at Soerabaja. This bombardment could become a regular thing. At least the other mountain hex at Bandoeng is an inland base.
Woodlark Island, east of Milne Bay, in invaded. So is Buin. The 37th JNAF AF unit is invading Buin. There is no defense here.
RO-68 fires 2 torpedoes at sub Grayling east of Rockhampton, but misses.
Almost 100 Kates from KB hit troops at Port Moresby. Damage is very light.
Kates from a small carrier TF hit an HDML at Batavia. The HDMLs here are just target practice. Can't run, with total movement of just 2. Can't get to any enemy ships with that range either. Can't disband ships. Just targets.
Kavieng is lost.
It's nice to see so many air units in Australia now. Most go into training mode. One P-40 unit is sent to Townsville to guard against a possible KB strike. KB is close enough to move into range in just one day, so it could happen. Shipping at Townsville has left. Now 2 P-40 units there. Poor pilots, but that's all there is right now. Maybe they'll find a big Kate strike with a weak Zero escort, and not a big Zero sweep.
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RE: Wedge Donovan Wins the War: Apbarog(A) vs Aurorus(J) DBB-B
15 Jan 42
Sub Salmon spots an xAK and a PB near Ontong Java, north of the Solomons. Another small invasion coming.
Near Port Moresby, sub Pike takes minor damage from BB Haruna's task force.
Port Moresby in invaded. LSD Shinshu Maru is shown smoking later in the day. It wasn't hit by any guns. Must have grounded.
Endeh, northwest of Timor, is invaded. Cheribon, on Java, is lost. Woodlark Island is lost. Samarinda falls. Dutch troops retreat inland. And Tarakan finally falls. A valiant defense.
The daily bombings in China and Malaysia.
Almost 100 Kates from KB bomb troops on Port Moresby.
Unloading continues in Australia. US carriers moving to position for a possible end run north of the Solomons.
Sub Salmon spots an xAK and a PB near Ontong Java, north of the Solomons. Another small invasion coming.
Near Port Moresby, sub Pike takes minor damage from BB Haruna's task force.
Port Moresby in invaded. LSD Shinshu Maru is shown smoking later in the day. It wasn't hit by any guns. Must have grounded.
Endeh, northwest of Timor, is invaded. Cheribon, on Java, is lost. Woodlark Island is lost. Samarinda falls. Dutch troops retreat inland. And Tarakan finally falls. A valiant defense.
The daily bombings in China and Malaysia.
Almost 100 Kates from KB bomb troops on Port Moresby.
Unloading continues in Australia. US carriers moving to position for a possible end run north of the Solomons.
RE: Wedge Donovan Wins the War: Apbarog(A) vs Aurorus(J) DBB-B
16 Jan 42
Ndeni is invaded. US carriers could be there in two days if I choose.
Waingapoe also, west of Timor. Endeh is lost, and Pontianak. And Port Moresby, with a 4 to 1 attack against 2 forts. This time I helped Aurorus get the perfect ratio, by previously pulling out troops from here and elsewhere in New Guinea.
KB (at least half of it) set up northeast of Port Moresby, hugging the coast. I was tempted to send B-17s to bomb Port Moresby today, but chose not to tangle with Zeros from KB. Wonder where KB goes next. I do want to keep eyes on it.
US carriers are getting together NE of Noumea in the next 2 days. 3 from Australia and Yorktown from the West Coast. My current plan, as long as KB is sighted and stays away, is to pass Ndeni on the east, and if not sighted myself, continue north and get into a position between Truk and the Solomons. Should I still not be sighted, it will continue with a strike on Truk. This is all "what if". KB must stay away and I must know where it is. If KB wanders to the east into the Solomons, I will cancel this raid.
I'd like to catch some juicy invasion convoy southbound from Truk. And not be near KB. We shall see.
I'm moving a few units from Sydney to Noumea now, including the 2 US Marine regiments. Suva is already fairly well defended.
BB Prince of Wales has completed its upgrade at Sydney, and will eventually join the US carriers as an escort, but not now. I don't want to have it chasing behind the carriers now as they move away.
Ndeni is invaded. US carriers could be there in two days if I choose.
Waingapoe also, west of Timor. Endeh is lost, and Pontianak. And Port Moresby, with a 4 to 1 attack against 2 forts. This time I helped Aurorus get the perfect ratio, by previously pulling out troops from here and elsewhere in New Guinea.
KB (at least half of it) set up northeast of Port Moresby, hugging the coast. I was tempted to send B-17s to bomb Port Moresby today, but chose not to tangle with Zeros from KB. Wonder where KB goes next. I do want to keep eyes on it.
US carriers are getting together NE of Noumea in the next 2 days. 3 from Australia and Yorktown from the West Coast. My current plan, as long as KB is sighted and stays away, is to pass Ndeni on the east, and if not sighted myself, continue north and get into a position between Truk and the Solomons. Should I still not be sighted, it will continue with a strike on Truk. This is all "what if". KB must stay away and I must know where it is. If KB wanders to the east into the Solomons, I will cancel this raid.
I'd like to catch some juicy invasion convoy southbound from Truk. And not be near KB. We shall see.
I'm moving a few units from Sydney to Noumea now, including the 2 US Marine regiments. Suva is already fairly well defended.
BB Prince of Wales has completed its upgrade at Sydney, and will eventually join the US carriers as an escort, but not now. I don't want to have it chasing behind the carriers now as they move away.