Lowpe (Japan) vs Wargamr (Allies)

[Lowpe]

I have found reporting where the 24 cm howitzers were broken down onto 10 truck and reassembled at siege style fights...and this is how I am planning on using the Japanese heavy artillery. Because they are such important guns, I delay using them until they build up forts 1 in hex...

Most of the heavy artillery is awaiting orders in Manchuko as pictured in the artillery depot at Yenki below...

This is like Glens on Iboats & for the most part I have managed to follow it.

[Lowpe]

It seems rather quick, a time of 1 day to convert to SR mode...but you know there I guess the artillery is being broken down only to load onto flat cars and not the full disassembly into 10 or more trucks.

Assembly needed cranes...but that is covered by the tractors/motorized support.

[Lowpe]

Here we can see the relative strengths of Japanese heavy artillery...

[Lowpe]

The 32 cm mortars are easier to use, and in most Japanese games see heavy usage as they are fearsome monsters.

However, in real life the Japanese thought:

Japanese officers believed the 320 mm spigot mortar's most effective method of employment was to inflict psychological damage on the American troops instead of inflicting casualties. [5][6] The 300 kg (660 lb) shells left craters 2.5 m (8 ft 2 in) deep and 4.5 m (15 ft) wide, but caused relatively few casualties due to minimal fragmentation.[5]

And were only used on Iwo Jima, Okinawa and Bataan from the sources I can find. After 5-6 shots they became unusable...

In this mod there are three units that use them...



And here ends my diversion into Japanese heavy artillery.[:)]

[obvert]

Hope you don't mind me throwing a pic up here too!

I did a bit of research on these years ago too. Was interested in how the hell they moved them and reinstalled. I think one of those pics of the 30cm piece is in Burma, from what I remember.

Here is the 240mm.

[obvert]

This is a chart I found at some point.

[Lowpe]

September 7, 1942

Finds Japan planning an invasion of Port Moresby, with Iboats in position screening, KB nearby and several divisions ready to go. A clash with Allied Carriers is possible here...while two IJN Fleet CVs are upgrading to radar. Allied defense of PM is weak.

However, Japan and Allies are playing cat and mouse up in the Aleutians after Japan took Attu. Night bombing by beasts is such a pain, and the Allies love their mines, sowing them everywhere...but the IJN bloodied the large Allied air force present with a nice CAP trap over several IJN battleships near Adak...and spotting several Yank fleets decided to go in...several days after the CAP trap. Only Divebombers have been spotted by the Japanese, and they aren't too scary against IJN warships.

And at Great Sitkin Island we discover plenty of shipping.[:)]

Night Time Surface Combat, near Great Sitkin Island at 163,52, Range 2,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
BB Haruna
BB Hiei
CA Takao
CA Aoba
CA Kinugasa
CA Kako
DD Akizuki
DD Akatsuki
DD Ikazuchi
DD Minekaze
DD Sawakaze
DD Hakaze
DD Shiokaze
DD Yukaze
DD Hokaze
DD Tachikaze
DD Namikaze

Allied Ships
AP Henry T. Allen, Shell hits 1
AP J. Franklin Bell, Shell hits 24, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
AP Leonard Wood, Shell hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
AP Barnett, Shell hits 7, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
AP President Hayes, Shell hits 34, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
AP Crescent City, Shell hits 1
xAP St. Mihel, Shell hits 8, on fire
AK Libra, Shell hits 19, Torpedo hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
PC Onondaga, Shell hits 4, and is sunk
xAP President Johnson, Shell hits 7, Torpedo hits 4, and is sunk
xAP Empress ' Australia, Shell hits 1
xAP Kutsang
xAP Neleus, Shell hits 9
xAP Nils Moller, Shell hits 15, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAP Oakbank, Shell hits 7, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
xAP Silverbeech, Shell hits 1
xAP Singu, Shell hits 3, on fire

Allied ground losses:
469 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 30 destroyed, 49 disabled
Engineers: 18 destroyed, 2 disabled
Guns lost 13 (8 destroyed, 5 disabled)
Vehicles lost 51 (32 destroyed, 19 disabled)

Japanese Ships Reported to be Approaching!
Allied TF begins to get underway
Reduced visibility due to Thunderstorms with 14% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Thunderstorms and 14% moonlight: 2,000 yards
Range closes to 24,000 yards...
Range closes to 22,000 yards...
CONTACT: Allies radar detects Japanese task force at 22,000 yards
Range closes to 20,000 yards...

[Lowpe]

A little later in the night...

No Allied radar warning this time...

Night Time Surface Combat, near Great Sitkin Island at 163,52, Range 2,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
BB Haruna
BB Hiei, Shell hits 3
CA Takao
CA Aoba
CA Kinugasa
CA Kako
DD Akizuki
DD Akatsuki
DD Ikazuchi
DD Minekaze
DD Sawakaze
DD Hakaze
DD Shiokaze
DD Yukaze
DD Hokaze
DD Tachikaze
DD Namikaze

Allied Ships
AP Henry T. Allen, Shell hits 30, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk
AP Leonard Wood, Shell hits 17, and is sunk
AP Crescent City, Shell hits 1
xAP St. Mihel, Shell hits 5, on fire
xAP Empress ' Australia
xAP Kutsang, Shell hits 1
xAP Neleus, Shell hits 6, and is sunk
xAP Nils Moller, Shell hits 11, and is sunk
xAP Silverbeech, Shell hits 10, heavy fires
xAP Singu, heavy fires

Allied ground losses:
162 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 11 destroyed, 30 disabled
Engineers: 4 destroyed, 9 disabled
Guns lost 11 (7 destroyed, 4 disabled)
Vehicles lost 37 (14 destroyed, 23 disabled)

Poor visibility due to Thunderstorms with 10% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Thunderstorms and 10% moonlight: 2,000 yards
Range closes to 11,000 yards...
Range closes to 10,000 yards...
Range closes to 9,000 yards...
Range closes to 8,000 yards...
Range closes to 7,000 yards...
Range closes to 6,000 yards...
Range closes to 5,000 yards...
Range closes to 4,000 yards...
Range closes to 3,000 yards...
Range closes to 2,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 2,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 2,000 yards

[Lowpe]

Daylight brings more lambs to the slaughter![:)] Not much ammo will be left for SBDs![:(]

Day Time Surface Combat, near Great Sitkin Island at 163,52, Range 6,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
BB Haruna
BB Hiei
CA Takao
CA Aoba
CA Kinugasa
CA Kako
DD Akizuki
DD Akatsuki
DD Ikazuchi
DD Minekaze
DD Sawakaze
DD Hakaze
DD Shiokaze
DD Yukaze
DD Hokaze
DD Tachikaze
DD Namikaze

Allied Ships
xAK Santa Teresa, Shell hits 31, and is sunk
xAK Harry Luckenbach, Shell hits 21, and is sunk
xAK Manulani, Shell hits 28, and is sunk
xAK Jefferson Myers, Shell hits 6, and is sunk
xAK San Simeon, Shell hits 18, and is sunk
xAK Admiral Wiley, Shell hits 14, and is sunk
xAK Admiral Senn, Shell hits 18, and is sunk
xAK West Camargo, Shell hits 3, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
xAK West Shipper, Shell hits 10, and is sunk
xAK Willimoto, Shell hits 14, and is sunk
xAK Cape Alava, Shell hits 8, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
xAK Defiance, Shell hits 18, and is sunk
xAK Exchange, Shell hits 4, and is sunk

Low visibility due to Thunderstorms
Maximum visibility in Thunderstorms: 6,000 yards
Range closes to 23,000 yards...

[Lowpe]

By noon, the raiders are back under a hefty LRCAP and a much smaller local CAP. Amazing run, with a long run in, three big engagements, and a long run back all set at mission speed, but they sure did use some flank speed here (commander discretion).

[Lowpe]

A partial list of sunk Allied shipping!

[witpqs]

Nice haul!

[GetAssista]

So many future APAs. Allies should not've used those in the dangerous waters so early.

[Lokasenna]

That's not going to buff out for a while.

[dave sindel]

ORIGINAL: GetAssista

So many future APAs. Allies should not've used those in the dangerous waters so early.

I had the same reaction when I read this...

[Lowpe]

I recall this is the third time that I have savaged Allied transports. I will check to see how serious those losses are.

I seem to think those British transports can be converted too, and are quite handy late game.

[Lokasenna]

Which British transports? The ones that become LSI(L)? Those are upgrades rather than conversions, and only apply to a few.

Also, I will caution you that use of an AGC with HQm (fully prepped is best, but it doesn't even have to be) will rapidly unload even from xAP and xAK. xAPs will fully unload their cargo in 3 unloading phases with a partially prepped HQm in an AGC. Yes, it still diminishes his amphibious capabilities in a real and substantial way, but unless you sink all the AGC's when they arrive...

[Lowpe]

September 8, 1941

The Nashville's luck has run out![:)] Now to survive the daylight...Yanks have 250 fighters and 50 bombers to retaliate with!

[Lowpe]

ORIGINAL: Lokasenna

Which British transports? The ones that become LSI(L)? Those are upgrades rather than conversions, and only apply to a few.

Also, I will caution you that use of an AGC with HQm (fully prepped is best, but it doesn't even have to be) will rapidly unload even from xAP and xAK. xAPs will fully unload their cargo in 3 unloading phases with a partially prepped HQm in an AGC. Yes, it still diminishes his amphibious capabilities in a real and substantial way, but unless you sink all the AGC's when they arrive...

That sounds right, the LSI ones. Been so long since I worked with Allied OB...

I have sunk 12 AP (American) and 21 xAP according to tracker. So that might hinder what, 2 Divisions? Hopefully it just slows down the pace of Allied operations in the future.

[obvert]

So confused at what is going on up there. That is another massive victory. Great aggressive play on your part. [&o]