Beans, Bullets and Black Oil :: obvert (A) vs Lowpe (J)

[obvert]

Taiping is not closed, but it would be risky for him to keep the fighters there, knowing the base could fall. He'll likely move them back to Georgetown and try LR CAPing. There should still be some untouched Japanese fighters from Temuloh and Kluong, plus 26 I spotted at Alor Star. Kota Baru is also open, but groups there will have very low numbers and morale.

After this risky day the Allies will turn and run, get all of the CAP back around Singers and Batu Palat (where some troops are unloading) and try to run the surface TFs back in at flank to disband.

There are now about 500 fighters at Singers, but the KB is still lurking close by at Miri. I realise the fighter groups resize in June, so he might be building it up there for a strike.

Looks like even more oil than I'd thought was hit at Miri. [:)]

[CaptBeefheart]

Well played. That has to hurt. Is the rest of the world pretty quiet nowadays?

EDIT: By the way, sounds like a great family trip you made, particularly the pubs you visited. I'll be heading to the Korean East Coast this weekend with my family for a wedding. Turns out an Aussie brewer friend is getting married at his brewery. Should be fun.

Cheers,
CC

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: Commander Cody

Well played. That has to hurt. Is the rest of the world pretty quiet nowadays?

EDIT: By the way, sounds like a great family trip you made, particularly the pubs you visited. I'll be heading to the Korean East Coast this weekend with my family for a wedding. Turns out an Aussie brewer friend is getting married at his brewery. Should be fun.

Cheers,
CC

Sounds fun too!

Yeah, the Devon coast is a place I'd like to go back to visit again. Feels like a different country there. Rugged and with lots of isolated communities along the craggy coasts and winding rivers.

The rest of the map is pretty quiet. One indication of both of our current priorities are the units usually assigned to the Pacific that are now showing up in the DEI, like the Wake CD guns we just ran into at Kuantan.

The Allies are just now landing lots of base forces and engineer units, along with AA and air support to Oosthaven. Aussie tanks are flooding in, with lots of General Grant/Lee beefing up the quality here. Many more are transiting to Cape Town and should begin arriving within a month.

The Soviets are now quiet to conserve supply, finish forts building, protect industry with the AA available transferring to those big bases in the East, and training up pilots to use the arriving Il-2 and future fighters. All of the best pilots will be flying the MiGs and hoping to hold Vlad with them against what will be much better airframes in later 42-43.

China has some action, but the big push I was expecting hasn't materialised yet, in the air or on the ground. A few sporadic bombings in the PI and some small bases taken there. That's about it.

[obvert]

This is the area around HK. I think the Zuikaku TF disbanded there, and these subs will wait it out.

The ones in a line moving toward HK will set up along the coasts to the North of the base and cover approaches to Formosa.

I've got some Lysanders set to recon the base as well. I can get 4E onto it, but need to make sure I know what they're facing first.

[obvert]

This appeared in the ship losses the previous turn, so I'm guessing Hiei was also in that TF and suffered an increase in float damage as a result of evasion during the sub attack.

[BBfanboy]

ORIGINAL: obvert

This appeared in the ship losses the previous turn, so I'm guessing Hiei was also in that TF and suffered an increase in float damage as a result of evasion during the sub attack.

The intel guys are usually over-optimistic about enemy losses. Were there any aircraft ground losses to corroborate the sinking estimate?

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

ORIGINAL: obvert

This appeared in the ship losses the previous turn, so I'm guessing Hiei was also in that TF and suffered an increase in float damage as a result of evasion during the sub attack.

The intel guys are usually over-optimistic about enemy losses. Were there any aircraft ground losses to corroborate the sinking estimate?

No. There is no way the Zuikaku or the Hiei actually were sunk. I just think they both might have been in that TF, which helps me think about what to do now. I also think their damage increased after the engagement, probably leading to the sunk message report.

If they are trapped at Hong Kong, a bit of night bombing might be possible.

[obvert]

There is a bit to catch up on. I won't have time to update everything now, but there is a lot of action from the past three turns I'll post when I have a break to tomorrow. Things could be about to turn ...

[obvert]

[font="Times New Roman"]June 23, 1942[/font]

---

Interestingly, the IJN decides to bombard Vladivostok. Unlike the Singapore fort, the guns at Vlad fire back and devastate BB Hyuga. Most of the hits are 100mm and 130mm guns, so not enough to do much damage, but a few of the monster 300mm+ guns did connect. One message said "superstructure carried away" after one of the big hits. Another BB in the yard for a while. [:)]

The KB finally leaves Miri. three different subs get a shot, but only make it to the escort shield. Damn. At least the IJN heads toward Malaya, and essentially blockades itself again with 50 subs now perfectly positioned (and only about 10 detected) to move in slowly and tighten the noose. I'll shift to let the massive cluster block the edge near Siagon and then move in.

Allied troops nearly take Taiping, and get a 3:1 while lowering forts to 1. Unless reinforced, Taiping might fall tomorrow.
[font="Trebuchet MS"][/font]
[font="Trebuchet MS"]--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR June 23, 1942
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Night Naval bombardment of Vladivostok at 112,46 - Coastal Guns Fire Back!

269 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Japanese Ships
BB Nagato, Shell hits 33, on fire

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

E13A1 Jake acting as spotter for BB Nagato
Vladivostok Naval Fortress firing at BB Nagato
BB Nagato firing at Vladivostok Naval Fortress

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack near Miri at 62,82

Japanese Ships
DD Tanikaze

Allied Ships
SS S-41, hits 1

SS S-41 is sighted by escort
DD Tanikaze attacking submerged sub ....

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack near Miri at 62,82

Japanese Ships
DD Arashi
BB Kongo
CA Kako
CL Tenryu
DD Hokaze
DD Akikaze
DD Matsukaze
DD Uzuki

Allied Ships
SS S-41

SS S-41 launches 2 torpedoes at DD Arashi
DD Hokaze fails to find sub, continues to search...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack near Groot Natoena at 60,81

Japanese Ships
BB Kongo
CA Kako
CL Tenryu
DD Arashi
DD Amatsukaze
DD Hokaze
DD Akikaze
DD Matsukaze
DD Uzuki

Allied Ships
SS Cachalot

SS Cachalot is sighted by escort
Cachalot diving deep ....
DD Hokaze fails to find sub and abandons search

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------[/color][/font]

Looks like the KB will head up to protect upper Malaya from further incursions. This will make it harder to use the 4Es to suppress airfields and get some runs against troops at Taiping or Georgetown. Subs have shifted and will follow, while still trying to keep a good blockading perimeter across the entire Sea from Saigon to Miri.

[Macclan5]

ORIGINAL: obvert

The Soviets are now quiet to conserve supply, finish forts building, protect industry with the AA available transferring to those big bases in the East, and training up pilots to use the arriving Il-2 and future fighters. All of the best pilots will be flying the MiGs and hoping to hold Vlad with them against what will be much better airframes in later 42-43.

China has some action, but the big push I was expecting hasn't materialised yet, in the air or on the ground. A few sporadic bombings in the PI and some small bases taken there. That's about it.

This continues to be the biggest surprise to me.

With the early activation of the Soviets I rather expected 'all' the action in Manchuria so to speak. Soviet activation is a rare occurrence in these AARs and further a rare occurrence for players verses the AI ; one just anticipates a "big RED machine" that will blow through Japanese Tanks / Artillery / Ground forces... but it simply isn't so...


--

While all the action is here clearly and the KB on the way ... perhaps you can provide a bitty update about South Pacific? The Marshall's ? Gilberts ? Solomon Sea ?

i) You mention "Wake Guns show up"... I assume they naturally opened on map based on HQ location ?

ii) at this date in 42 you must have a number of Marine Fragments / Raiders / DBs still 'showing up in San Diego' ?? Given the focus in ABDA command... are you still making moves in other theaters ?

[BBfanboy]

ORIGINAL: Macclan5


This continues to be the biggest surprise to me.

With the early activation of the Soviets I rather expected 'all' the action in Manchuria so to speak. Soviet activation is a rare occurrence in these AARs and further a rare occurrence for players verses the AI ; one just anticipates a "big RED machine" that will blow through Japanese Tanks / Artillery / Ground forces... but it simply isn't so...

--

While all the action is here clearly and the KB on the way ... perhaps you can provide a bitty update about South Pacific? The Marshall's ? Gilberts ? Solomon Sea ?

i) You mention "Wake Guns show up"... I assume they naturally opened on map based on HQ location ?

ii) at this date in 42 you must have a number of Marine Fragments / Raiders / DBs still 'showing up in San Diego' ?? Given the focus in ABDA command... are you still making moves in other theaters ?

The Russian tank units and artillery are strong but their air force sucks, so Obvert wisely decided to limit his expansion once Japanese bombers and fighters started challenging him. Some Japanese players have in the past conquered the Soviets by first smashing their air force and then bombing the heck out of all opposition. Obvert has holed up in good terrain and building forts against such a bombing campaign while he upgrades LCU devices. I think he should get some T-34s soon! Once the Japanese air force is attrited by action around the map the Soviets can move ahead again.

i) Japanese Wake Coastal Gun Battery does appear at Wake. With the Soviets activated and Singapore not yet taken, Lowpe is clearly abandoning planned conquests to the South and Southeast to try and get his critical zone secured.

[BillBrown]

I am at work so I can not really check, but I believe that the Soviets do not get T-34 Tanks until early 1944.

[BBfanboy]

ORIGINAL: BillBrown

I am at work so I can not really check, but I believe that the Soviets do not get T-34 Tanks until early 1944.

I looked at Scenario 1 in the editor.
All three models of T-34 show availability 9999, which I think means "dependent on activation of the Soviets".
The Build Rates are: T34/76A: 26 T34/76C: 68 T34/85: 249

[BillBrown]

Scenario 28, T34/85 Medium Tank available 5/44
Scenario 1, T34/85 Medium Tank available 5/44

These are device #878

[BBfanboy]

ORIGINAL: BillBrown

Scenario 28, T34/85 Medium Tank available 5/44
Scenario 1, T34/85 Medium Tank available 5/44

These are device #878

Ok, I searched on the devices tab for T-34 and got the three types at index 496,497 & 498 and showed those results. The DB also has the entry you mentioned at 878, but only the one type of T-34 ... production rate something like 56.

So why are there entries earlier in the DB if entry 878 applies in all circumstances?

[BillBrown]

The entries you showed are the original ones, there was a very large data patch early on that made a lot of devices obsolete.
The 9999 in the availability field is used to indicate that there are never produced.

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: BillBrown

The entries you showed are the original ones, there was a very large data patch early on that made a lot of devices obsolete.
The 9999 in the availability field is used to indicate that there are never produced.

Thanks for the field research here! I had thought as much. No replacements to tanks for a few years. This is another reason the Soviets pushed hard to the good terrain, and then pulled back to defend. I can hold against anything, but attacking eats up devices.

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: Macclan5

ORIGINAL: obvert

The Soviets are now quiet to conserve supply, finish forts building, protect industry with the AA available transferring to those big bases in the East, and training up pilots to use the arriving Il-2 and future fighters. All of the best pilots will be flying the MiGs and hoping to hold Vlad with them against what will be much better airframes in later 42-43.

China has some action, but the big push I was expecting hasn't materialised yet, in the air or on the ground. A few sporadic bombings in the PI and some small bases taken there. That's about it.

This continues to be the biggest surprise to me.

With the early activation of the Soviets I rather expected 'all' the action in Manchuria so to speak. Soviet activation is a rare occurrence in these AARs and further a rare occurrence for players verses the AI ; one just anticipates a "big RED machine" that will blow through Japanese Tanks / Artillery / Ground forces... but it simply isn't so...


--

While all the action is here clearly and the KB on the way ... perhaps you can provide a bitty update about South Pacific? The Marshall's ? Gilberts ? Solomon Sea ?

i) You mention "Wake Guns show up"... I assume they naturally opened on map based on HQ location ?

ii) at this date in 42 you must have a number of Marine Fragments / Raiders / DBs still 'showing up in San Diego' ?? Given the focus in ABDA command... are you still making moves in other theaters ?

It is odd. South and Central Pacific were only critical because Japan tried to cut off Australia, and the Allies tried to stop them. A lot of other decisions could have been made, it seems.

South Pacific:

I hold Tulagi and Lunga with good fortification. I grabbed these early, and decided to load up for a fight. None came.

PM and a few little dots are also in Allied hands here. Wewak is still held by Lark Force, but I've basically forgotten about them. A few Cat patrols supply them, that's it.

Central Pacific:

One of the secret invasions I made early was to Tabiteuaea. Reinforced the base and built it up quickly. No response. This would be the springboard for this area if I ever needed it, and it monitors Japanese efforts here. Not much to see now.

North Oz:

Darwin is a minor logistics base. I've got a good hold on Ambon, Koepang, Macassar and Kendari, and I'll now reinforce heavily. Then the movement begins NW toward the PI. I want to get to Malaybalay before those troops are vanquished, then get supply to Luzon.

North Pacific:

This area started out gangbusters, then has seen only sporadic action. Units are prepping for Shemya, Buldir and the Soviet islands to the NE. If I can take all of these before the winter I'll be very happy with this area. Petropavlosk has lately taken a pounding, but he won't invade. Too many CD guns there.

I'm curious if I retake the Russian Islands, will they be able to be used by all Allied forces? Can I build them and bomb from there?

West Coast:

Early on I defended heavily on the West Coast. Now everything is moving to either Balboa by ship or East Coast by rail. All then moves through Cape Town to either Perth or Oosthaven. There is steady fuel going to Oz that way, then supply goes form Perth to the DEI.

India and Burma:

A lot is moving from Colombo to Oosthaven too, now that there is less to worry about in terms of raiders.

Ledo is hosting some Chinese air groups fleeing the Japanese onslaught a few weeks ago. I'll upgrade to the old AVG planes and get them back in action.

Chittagong has built into a reliable air base, and may see some action soon if I can recon Magwe to see how well he's still protecting the oil there.

The Allies hold Lashio with a vice grip. The Burma division is filled out and well experienced now, and two Chinese Corps have arrived to supplement it, one now up to 650 AV. Forts are building again and approaching level 4. Myitkyina is not challenged, but has been fortifying and building. It's a solid air base and logistical center.

I have some thoughts about Burma now, and I'll go over them soon.

[obvert]

Now this is what I was looking for!

Belt armor penetration should mean a healthy bit of float damage added onto whatever she's heading back to patch up now. This is the same TF I've been hunting with Zuikaku in it. Not sure if they're still together, but subs are on patrol between Formosa and Nagasaki just in case.

Some night bombing B-25c go for HK too late it seems, but this serves notice that ports nearby are not so safe these days! [:)]

[obvert]

I'd sent one B-17 group to Clark to hit Hong Kong, but changed my mind when Stearman operating from Manilla served this strike up on a plate. A small gaggle of TKs and Es disbanded at Naga on the tip of Luzon. Just about all were hit by multiple 500 pounders and I bet over half are sunk.