Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apbarog(A) vs OPilot(J)

[apbarog]

1 Oct 42

One year until the US torpedo dud penalty goes away.

Subchasers went after Trusty near Ramree Island. Trusty is on a likely route of ships going from Rangoon to Chittagong to bombard. Trusty escaped without damage.

The enemy cruiser TF at Port Moresby disappeared today. The bigger Allied cruiser TF is ordered to remain at Cooktown. It was spotted. 2 fighter squadrons are flying CAP.

67 Bettys bomb Kusaie Island again, and daily. Heavy enemy bombing in China of Sian and Kukong.

2 Fortress squadrons bombed Horn Island, doing moderate damage. No enemy fighters there now. Shortlands was also bombed, as well as the Maizuru 4th SNLF at Buin. B-26s hit Portland Roads again. B-17s hit enemy troops on Jaluit. There was just a base force there. Now there are 3 units and one is the 52nd Naval Guard Unit. OPilot isn't abandoning the Marshalls.

There was an odd attack in a crucial hex just south of Sian, in the woods. I'm guessing that maybe just one enemy unit was set to attack.

Ground combat at 84,42 (near Sian)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 70406 troops, 533 guns, 137 vehicles, Assault Value = 2211

Defending force 55993 troops, 228 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1706

Japanese adjusted assault: 0

Allied adjusted defense: 4051

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 99

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

Japanese ground losses:
277 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 10 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 8 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 15 disabled
Vehicles lost 1 (1 destroyed, 0 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
16 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Assaulting units:
1st Ind.Mixed Brigade
9th Ind.Mixed Brigade
3rd Ind.Mixed Brigade
37th Division
36th Division
69th Division
41st Division
9th Ind Engineer Regiment
6th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
3rd Hvy.Artillery Regiment

Defending units:
80th Chinese Corps
84th Chinese Corps
13th Chinese Corps
66th Chinese Corps
34th Group Army
31st Group Army
1st Artillery Regiment
4th Group Army
5th War Area
18th Artillery Regiment

Now there is enemy movement out of this hex being shown.

There was another fight in northern China, near Ningsia, which is on a long trail northwest of Yenan. The enemy will win the hex here with repeated attacks, but at a cost. And resupply to here is long and difficult. And I have enough troops waiting just to the west.

Ground combat at 85,34 (near Ningsia)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 9319 troops, 78 guns, 100 vehicles, Assault Value = 294

Defending force 3867 troops, 3 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 101

Japanese adjusted assault: 112

Allied adjusted defense: 195

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 2

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

Japanese ground losses:
495 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 48 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled

Allied ground losses:
476 casualties reported
Squads: 4 destroyed, 54 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Assaulting units:
4th Cavalry Brigade
1st Cavalry Brigade
2nd Ind.Mixed Brigade

Defending units:
22nd Chinese Corps
36th Group Army

With a fresh US infantry division now in the contested hex south of Chittagong, we attack again today, and today we throw many medium bombers at the enemy. It's a jungle hex, so it won't help a lot, but it might help some.

And for the first time, a P-38F squadron will sweep Akyab.

[apbarog]

2 Oct 42

Those 4 enemy cruisers bombarded Chittagong again. This time it was a weak bombardment, with 176 casualties and no base damage. I have subs trying to intercept but no luck so far.

Northwest of Truk, Trigger fired 2 torpedoes at AKE Juko Maru. One hit but was a dud. Would have been nice.

I-7 spotted 3 US destroyers near Atka Island in the Aleutians. The ships are on ASW duty. I want them to be seen, showing forces in the Aleutians. In reality, they are the only Allied combat ships there.

P-38s make their first appearance in Burma. 25 Lightnings swept Akyab and found a similar number of Oscars. 15 Oscars were downed for the cost of 5 Lightnings. I'll use this unit using hit and run tactics and try to whittle down the number of elite enemy fighter pilots.

Bettys again hit Kusaie Island hard. Same routine daily. Same for Sian and Kukong. There's another enemy unit sliding south behind the line in central China. I'm sensing an eventual enemy push near Kukong or north from Canton. I've had SigInt of enemy armor at Canton and it certainly isn't there for garrison requirements.

Many medium bombers hit enemy troops in the contested hex south of Chittagong, but heavy rain prevented any hits on the troops. A US division joined in a new attack.

Ground combat at 56,42 (near Chittagong)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 37047 troops, 678 guns, 567 vehicles, Assault Value = 1035

Defending force 16711 troops, 265 guns, 171 vehicles, Assault Value = 271

Allied adjusted assault: 598

Japanese adjusted defense: 347

Allied assault odds: 1 to 1

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
1274 casualties reported
Squads: 10 destroyed, 57 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 14 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 1 disabled

Allied ground losses:
734 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 70 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 21 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 1 disabled
Guns lost 32 (3 destroyed, 29 disabled)
Vehicles lost 47 (4 destroyed, 43 disabled)

Assaulting units:
7th Armoured Brigade
32nd Infantry Division
641st Towed Tank Destroyer Battalion
70th British Division
Waziristan Division
IV Indian Corps
24th Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
2/11th Fld RAA Regiment
134th Field Artillery Battalion
20th Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
23rd Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
209th Field Artillery Battalion
85th British AT Gun Regiment

Defending units:
Imperial Guards Division
114th Infantry Regiment
18th Mountain Gun Regiment
3rd Medium Field Artillery Regiment
3rd Mortar Battalion
18th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
25th Army
51st Field AA Battalion

Not great but acceptable. The enemy shows movement out of this hex. We attack again today with no rest. Supply must be harder for the enemy. We have no supply issues so close to a large amount at Chittagong. The Imperial Guard Division is less than half strength and close to breaking.

The Wake invasion fleet is leaving Pearl Harbor.

[CaptBeefheart]

I'm curious what the TOE is for that division, especially the Burmese squads since you won't be getting any more. Also, does it upgrade?

Cheers,
CB

[Lowpe]

So, you saved a 1000 PP from marching out. Nicely done, and an epic story to tell the grandpixels in 30-40 years.[:)]

[jwolf]

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

So, you saved a 1000 PP from marching out. Nicely done, and an epic story to tell the grandpixels in 30-40 years.[:)]

[:D] Between that and the saving of the Dewey he is really on a roll. He just needs a 3rd unit to survive an impossibly long journey through hostile territory and he will have made the hat trick.

[apbarog]

Here's the TOE upgrade for that division. It upgrades in 90 days. It isn't the ideal candidate for using the disbanded Indian squads, since the Burma squads will never fill out, but I'll rebuild the unit as a reward for the long march home.

[apbarog]

I should probably check the pools. It may be better to disband the division to get the 100 support squads to other units. I'll think about it. It is an unrestricted unit but I have others that can fill out completely with reinforcements.

As a third unit saved, I'd have to nominate saving Hermes with very high flotation damage and on its own south of Shortlands. It crawled south while in Betty range from Port Moresby and Lunga, saved by weather and poor enemy search coverage.

Dewey is the big winner though. By the way, Dewey is currently inbound to Luganville from the Suva area.

[EDIT: There's no shortage of support squads, so that isn't a good reason to disband the unit. I still may do so, though, to get stronger unrestricted units into the fight sooner.]

[apbarog]

3 Oct 42

Dutch sub O21 fired 4 torpedoes at DMS W-6 near Koepang but missed. An xAP and AK are also spotted. No idea which way they are going. I do see 10 units at Darwin now, which is an increase. No enemy movement spotted south of Darwin, yet. There are ACMs in port now also.

Sian and Kukong are heavily bombed again. I moved a squadron of P-40Ks to Hengyang. They will LRCAP Kukong at range 4. The strikes today at Kukong had 27 Sallys and 36 Sonias escorted by only 12 Oscars. Maybe a handful of P-40s can do some work there tomorrow.

3 A6M3 Zeros appear as LRCAP over Makin and down a couple of Hudsons bombing troops. I'll sweep Makin for the first time tomorrow. Makin has no airfield but Miri is a size 2.

B-17s bombed Horn Island and the troops there. I discover that part of the 4th Division/B is there also. It's also at Portland Roads.

Northwest of Truk, there's a successful US sub attack. Low odds don't mean no odds.

Sub attack near Satawal at 107,105

Japanese Ships
AO Shiretoko, Torpedo hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
AO Sata
AO Ondo
PB Yodozo Maru

Allied Ships
SS Swordfish

SS Swordfish launches 4 torpedoes at AO Shiretoko

2 torpedoes hit but 1 was a dud. The ship was loaded with fuel and is burning. It's almost certainly going to sink if it hasn't already. This looks like the task force that was well northeast of Truk, north of Enewetok. Maybe KB was going to it for fuel instead of Truk. Or it was hauling fuel somewhere. My guess is KB support, since it moved west and it still has fuel loaded.

The enemy is cracking south of Chittagong.

Ground combat at 56,42 (near Chittagong)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 36591 troops, 677 guns, 563 vehicles, Assault Value = 957

Defending force 15880 troops, 265 guns, 171 vehicles, Assault Value = 190

Allied adjusted assault: 353

Japanese adjusted defense: 249

Allied assault odds: 1 to 1

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), op mode(-), leaders(+), fatigue(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
930 casualties reported
Squads: 54 destroyed, 88 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 22 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 8 disabled
Guns lost 28 (3 destroyed, 25 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
187 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 22 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Guns lost 24 (5 destroyed, 19 disabled)

Assaulting units:
641st Towed Tank Destroyer Battalion
32nd Infantry Division
7th Armoured Brigade
70th British Division
Waziristan Division
134th Field Artillery Battalion
IV Indian Corps
24th Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
2/11th Fld RAA Regiment
20th Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
209th Field Artillery Battalion
23rd Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
85th British AT Gun Regiment

Defending units:
Imperial Guards Division
114th Infantry Regiment
18th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
25th Army
3rd Medium Field Artillery Regiment
18th Mountain Gun Regiment
3rd Mortar Battalion
51st Field AA Battalion

All along I've rested at least one day in between deliberate attacks. Today I did not, and attacked for the second day in a row. OPilot may have been trying to get some extra movement out of his troops, with the op mode penalty observed. The Imperial Guard Division is now officially wrecked. We're attacking again. A Warhawk squadron is moved to Comilla to provide LRCAP, in case of some desperation bombing. The enemy cruisers aren't due back at Chittagong for 2 days. I'm starting to move an unrestricted British division to Chittagong from the dot base east of there, where it's been waiting with a huge Chinese corp. The British will replace tired troops on the line, and continue the push to Cox's Bazar and Akyab.

I'm not sure what to think about the restricted Indian division that I disbanded at Delhi. There were 45 Indian 42 Inf squads in the pool. The division had 39 disrupted squads and 177 undisrupted squads when I disbanded it. Now there are 241 Indian 42 Inf squads in the pool. The numbers don't add up. A wild guess is that all of the undisrupted squads go to the pool and half of the disrupted squads go to the pool, with the other half lost. I'll look at the numbers again tomorrow and see if maybe there's some lag involved. But I doubt that.

From now on, I won't disband a unit with any disrupted squads.

I also decided to disband the old 1st Burma Division when it gets to Delhi. I have 2 shells of unrestricted divisions at Bombay, and they will rebuild.

Destroyer Worden safely left Cooktown unspotted and is headed south to Townsville for temporary repairs. A big Allied cruiser force remained at Cooktown and is still spotted. An enemy cruiser force, one that may contain a battleship also, remained at Port Moresby. I'm not in a hurry to tangle with it at Port Moresby, but I'll protect the Australian coast for now.

[Bif1961]

I am awaiting your results of your disbanding the Indian units to rebuild the pool and then other unrestricted units from the squads transferred, especially if those missing disabled squads eventually show up. One would conclude there would have to be some sort of penalty for disbanding disabled squads and would they all eventually show up again over time?

[apbarog]

4 Oct 42

P-40s swept Makin but no Zero LRCAP today.

Sian is bombed heavily. I moved the P-40Ks nearby and will LRCAP tomorrow from range 2. These P-40s had LRCAP over Kukong today, but at range 4. 6 Warhawks intercepted the daily 36 Sonias, 27 Sallys and 12 Oscars. 3 Sonias were downed along with an Oscar. A P-40 was an ops loss. Not enough planes over the target for anything decisive. Can't base at Kukong with the airfield out of action and zero supply.

US bombers hit Shortlands. B-24s hit Merauke for the first time. It's a size 1 airfield but nothing seen there but craters in the runway.

Bettys from Roi Namur hit the 2nd USMC Tank Battalion on Kusaie Island. Bettys have been hitting the airfield daily but this is a switch to ground targets.

Sub Dolphin fired 4 torpedoes at destroyer Teruzuki near Kavieng but missed. It is escorting AKE Juko Maru, which was hit by a dud torpedo up by Truk last week. It is southbound to somewhere.

The enemy wins the fight in far northern China near Ningsia, kicking a weak Chinese corp to the west. A Chinese HQ is still in the hex and will be defeated tomorrow. A strong Chinese line is to the west though, so things are ok here for now.

Finally the decisive battle south of Chittagong.

Ground combat at 56,42 (near Chittagong)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 36010 troops, 639 guns, 562 vehicles, Assault Value = 951

Defending force 14553 troops, 262 guns, 171 vehicles, Assault Value = 92

Allied adjusted assault: 545

Japanese adjusted defense: 187

Allied assault odds: 2 to 1

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), op mode(-), fatigue(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
3921 casualties reported
Squads: 172 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 133 destroyed, 66 disabled
Engineers: 5 destroyed, 3 disabled
Guns lost 63 (39 destroyed, 24 disabled)
Vehicles lost 41 (25 destroyed, 16 disabled)
Units retreated 6

Allied ground losses:
208 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 24 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Vehicles lost 17 (1 destroyed, 16 disabled)

Defeated Japanese Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
641st Towed Tank Destroyer Battalion
7th Armoured Brigade
70th British Division
32nd Infantry Division
Waziristan Division
IV Indian Corps
2/11th Fld RAA Regiment
24th Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
209th Field Artillery Battalion
23rd Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
134th Field Artillery Battalion
20th Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
85th British AT Gun Regiment

Defending units:
Imperial Guards Division
114th Infantry Regiment
3rd Mortar Battalion
18th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
18th Mountain Gun Regiment
3rd Medium Field Artillery Regiment
25th Army
51st Field AA Battalion

Still two enemy units in the hex so we attack again today, and do a shock attack this time.

I expect the every-three-day cruiser bombardment of Chittagong tomorrow, but I see a task force at Akyab that may be that force. It could be protecting other ships or just there for CAP protection. The cruisers have been standing off shore for the run in to Chittagong, and usually aren't spotted.

The Wake invasion armada is now halfway between Pearl Harbor and Midway and is now turning west towards Wake Island. None of these task forces have been spotted.

I don't notice any increase of Indian 1942 squads in the pool today. It still appears that half of the disabled squads didn't go to the pool when the unit was disbanded. I have 2 shells of Indian infantry divisions that are starting to take reinforcements at Bombay. It will take a long time to fill them out. Both divisions begin to prepare for Myitkyina.

[Kofiman]

I wouldn't recommend the shock attack at Chittagong. You don't need the additional AV to force the remaining units to retreat, so all it will accomplish is giving the enemy a free phase to do slightly more damage than you'd otherwise take. Use a shock attack when it's the difference between forcing someone to retreat and not.

[apbarog]

5 Oct 42

It's very rare that I send out subchasers to go after a specific sub at a specific place, but I did so. There's been a sub at enemy-held Makin Island every day for the last week or so. I think it was there to rescue pilots, as OPilot did some LRCAP there and caught some of my bombers recently. Not long ago, I started getting new subchasers in the US and in Panama. They've been making their way to destinations all over the Pacific. Four just got to Tarawa, and I sent them to Makin to go after that sub. It was a success. I-172 was hit by 4 depth charges, forced to surface, and then seen (and heard) sinking. The shallow water at Makin made the hunt easier. SC-640, SC-639 and SC 522 participated in the kill.

As expected, the enemy cleared the hex near Ningsia, kicking the HQ unit to the west. The enemy stack of 3 units here show movement to follow the retreated units. But there will be a substantial Chinese stack there, and this Japanese stack isn't so big. If my units can scrape up some supply, there may be a rare opportunity for a counterattack here.

I did shock attack south of Chittagong today, and I'm fine with that. Turned out that what's left of the Imperial Guard Division was still there. Now there's less of it left. The Allies clear the hex and follow towards Cox's Bazar.

Ground combat at 56,42 (near Chittagong)

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 36307 troops, 676 guns, 579 vehicles, Assault Value = 932

Defending force 7714 troops, 121 guns, 114 vehicles, Assault Value = 41

Allied adjusted assault: 531

Japanese adjusted defense: 25

Allied assault odds: 21 to 1

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), op mode(-), disruption(-), fatigue(-)
experience(-), supply(-)
Attacker: shock(+)

Japanese ground losses:
2059 casualties reported
Squads: 117 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 108 destroyed, 36 disabled
Engineers: 7 destroyed, 5 disabled
Guns lost 46 (28 destroyed, 18 disabled)
Vehicles lost 32 (18 destroyed, 14 disabled)
Units retreated 3

Allied ground losses:
95 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 17 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled

Defeated Japanese Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
641st Towed Tank Destroyer Battalion
70th British Division
32nd Infantry Division
7th Armoured Brigade
Waziristan Division
2/13th Fld RAA Regiment
IV Indian Corps
24th Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
2/11th Fld RAA Regiment
134th Field Artillery Battalion
20th Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
209th Field Artillery Battalion
23rd Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
85th British AT Gun Regiment

Defending units:
Imperial Guards Division
25th Army
18th Mountain Gun Regiment

The enemy cruiser task force that was at Akyab stayed at Akyab. Intentions unknown. It could have bombarded Chittagong today, like it does frequently, but it did not.

I did a rare recon mission in China, looking at Canton in the south. I found 9 units there, with 16600 men, 111 guns and 34 vehicles. Nothing alarming at this point. Up by Sian, I did LRCAP of Sian and today, unlike most days, no enemy aircraft appeared. The P-40s fall back to the capital to rest a bit, after 2 consecutive days of LRCAP and redeploying.

[BBfanboy]

Nice example of when to use a shock attack - after the enemy has already been gutted of AV and has a lot of disabled squads to be harvested. Well done!

[Kofiman]

Those losses seem like normal retreat losses to me. I don't think shock attacks have any beneficial effects at all to cause losses.. only to increase AV which could force retreats. Retreats cause plenty of losses.

Anyway, the gutted stack did minimal damage, so there wasn't much to worry about in any case. I'll see if I can make a test to confirm that at some point.

[apbarog]

I don't know if a shock attack was optimal game play or not. My strategy pushing south from Chittagong along the coast is an attritional strategy. I started with using restricted Indian divisions and I am transitioning to unrestricted Allied units. The enemy cannot hold against the number of units that I had available, at least not from what I've seen in the Akyab area. OPilot could be reinforcing now though.

So I was willing to accept additional losses in the hopes of causing additional losses to the enemy. I believe that the shock attack did that, but without a sandbox comparison to a deliberate attack with the exact same circumstances, I don't know which is superior. The result met my expectations.

[BBfanboy]

ORIGINAL: apbarog

I don't know if a shock attack was optimal game play or not. My strategy pushing south from Chittagong along the coast is an attritional strategy. I started with using restricted Indian divisions and I am transitioning to unrestricted Allied units. The enemy cannot hold against the number of units that I had available, at least not from what I've seen in the Akyab area. OPilot could be reinforcing now though.

So I was willing to accept additional losses in the hopes of causing additional losses to the enemy. I believe that the shock attack did that, but without a sandbox comparison to a deliberate attack with the exact same circumstances, I don't know which is superior. The result met my expectations.

Shock attacks at the wrong time can result in devastating losses for the attacker. You had few losses, which is why I thought the shock attack to be well timed. With a weaker starting land force and shallow pools, I tend to look more at what combat does to my troops than the enemy's. As long as my losses are small, I can keep building strength and hold a line until the time I have enough to go hunting. When the enemy has trashed himself on my defences, it's nice to trash them some more with low losses. Takes the pressure off for a while.

[apbarog]

6 Oct 42

OPilot makes another rare night bombing attack, hitting Tezpur. Tezpur is one of the bases flying supply into China. 6 Sallys bomb and destroy a Wellington on the ground. I don't care for the whole night bombing scenario, so I respond in kind each time this happens. We bomb Port Moresby at night, with just one squadron. Just enough to show that I'll do it too, and more effectively, but not an all-out gloves off escalation.

AMc Gunbar finds enemy mines at Palm Island, at the ocean entrance to Townsville. This was probably done to prevent Allied ships from getting up north. Or maybe to go after DD Worden as it headed south badly damaged. Worden is already at Townsville though.

OPilot went after Chittagong, sweeping with Tojos to begin with. I have no fighters there. Lots of Sallys and Oscars then arrived. Minor damage was done to the airfield, and the flak was very heavy. 6 Sallys were lost to flak at Chittagong. I think I have 3 sizable AA units there now.

Sian was bombed heavily. I missed my CAP trap by a day, either way.

The Wake invasion armada is still not spotted. It is 5 days east of Wake now. Moving 6 hexes a day, it will end up just one hex away in 4 days, so it could easily be spotted 2 days before landing. Hoping for bad weather.

Heavy SigInt activity at Haiphong. I hope that it is nothing. This is a place where troops can land and go north to get into the western mountains of China, or help swing northwest of Canton. I had a British recon unit looking at Canton, so now it will look at Haiphong today.

The big show for today will be at Portland Roads, where an Australian army will attack just after arriving. More details on the map.

[apbarog]

7 Oct 42

Exciting day.

First, Allied minesweepers clear the approach to Townsville.

The big Allied cruiser task force stormed into Port Moresby, and found that the enemy cruiser task force was still there.

Night Time Surface Combat, near Port Moresby at 98,130, Range 11,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CA Atago, Shell hits 1
CA Maya, Shell hits 3
CA Chokai, Shell hits 4
CL Isuzu, Shell hits 5, on fire
CL Yura, Shell hits 5, on fire
DD Asashio, Shell hits 3, on fire
DD Oshio
DD Michishio, Shell hits 3
DD Arashio

Allied Ships
CA Australia, Shell hits 1, on fire
CA Canberra
CA Exeter, Shell hits 1, on fire
CL Leander, Shell hits 3, on fire
CL Achilles, Shell hits 1
CL Perth, Shell hits 3, Torpedo hits 1, heavy fires
CL Hobart, Shell hits 1
CL Enterprise
DD Stuart
DD Nizam
DD Encounter
DD Express

Reduced sighting due to 7% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Clear Conditions and 7% moonlight: 12,000 yards

The Allies land far more shells, but have more not penetrate. Perth was hit by a torpedo fired by a cruiser. The Allies don't get any torpedo hits on the enemy. Earlier in the war, these Allied light cruisers did well in naval battle, getting multiple torpedo hits on the enemy. But not today.

Just after this fight, and possibly as the Allied ships move in to bombard, they find mines.

TF 495 encounters mine field at Port Moresby (98,130)

Allied Ships
CA Exeter, Mine hits 1, on fire
CA Canberra, Mine hits 1
CA Australia, Mine hits 1, on fire

The ships were set to stand off 15k to bombard. The bombardment was called off. Regardless, these 3 damaged cruisers then split off with a destroyer escorting, and headed towards home. Then RO-66 fired 6 torpedoes at already damaged Perth, and one hit. It split off from the others, which then encountered AMc Takunan Maru #10 at Port Moresby, and sank the small minesweeper.

At night, a squadron of B-17s hit Port Moresby's airfield, do minimal damage and destroying a Zero on the ground.

During the day, what was left of the Allied task force encountered the enemy again.

Day Time Surface Combat, near Port Moresby at 98,130, Range 24,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CA Atago, Shell hits 2, on fire
CA Maya, Shell hits 1
CA Chokai, Shell hits 1
CL Isuzu, Shell hits 2
CL Yura, Shell hits 4
DD Asashio, Shell hits 2, on fire
DD Oshio
DD Michishio
DD Arashio

Allied Ships
CA Exeter, Shell hits 2, on fire
CL Leander, Shell hits 6, on fire
CL Achilles
CL Hobart, Shell hits 1
CL Enterprise, Shell hits 2
DD Stuart
DD Nizam
DD Encounter

Maximum visibility in Clear Conditions: 30,000 yards

This fight was fairly even.

Perth was scuttled with SYS 37/FLOT 94-64/ENG 24-14/FIRE 0 and the ability to move just one hex a day. Other damage:

Canberra SYS 20/FLOT 34-27/ENG 27-23/FIRE 0
Exeter SYS 50/FLOT 26-5/ENG 12/FIRE 1
Leander SYS 42/FLOT 18/ENG 30-2/FIRE 3
Achilles SYS 15/FLOT 1/ENG 2/FIRE 0

Although the enemy did not send ships to Portland Roads to hit the Austalian troops, Bettys did show up. Just 5 P-39s were on LRCAP, and a few enemy planes were downed. No damage was done to the troops in the bombing.

About 75 heavy bombers then hit Port Moresby's airfield and port. Damage to the airfield was moderate, and damage to the port was light. The last 9 B-17s did find ACM Tama Maru #2 in port, and a bomb sank the minetender. Yea, there are mines there, we know.

12 B-24s bombed Rangoon's port and found 26 Nicks on CAP. 2 Liberators were downed, but some bomb hits were achieved.

AG Irako, Bomb hits 1
AKE Kashino, Bomb hits 1
AR Yamabiko Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire

Myitkyina was swept by P-38Fs. 8 Oscars were downed but 5 P-38s were lost, mostly written off.

The mostly Australian army attacked at Portland Roads.

Ground combat at Portland Roads (91,132)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 14502 troops, 253 guns, 241 vehicles, Assault Value = 410

Defending force 10038 troops, 62 guns, 10 vehicles, Assault Value = 177

Allied engineers reduce fortifications to 1

Allied adjusted assault: 377

Japanese adjusted defense: 247

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

Allied Assault reduces fortifications to 1

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

Japanese ground losses:
406 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 27 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 10 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Guns lost 9 (1 destroyed, 8 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
440 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 66 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 13 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 11 disabled

Assaulting units:
6th Australian Brigade
8th Cav Recce Regiment
15th Australian Brigade
2nd Australian Brigade
21st Fld RAA Regiment
Aus II Corps
4th Field Artillery Battalion
70th Coast AA Regiment
22nd Fld RAA Regiment

Defending units:
4th/A Division
4th/B Division
7th Naval Construction Battalion
12th Naval Construction Battalion
48th JNAF AF Unit

They will attack again immediately. The Allied troops still have supply despite being at the end of a long trail. Coen is building but doesn't have an airfield yet.

[apbarog]

8 Oct 42

Dutch sub has been patrolling near Finschhafen, New Guinea but hasn't had much activity along the eastern coast of New Guinea. Today it spotted 2 tiny tankers, fired 2 torpedoes at YO J-3847 and one hit. The ship was carrying fuel. It burned and sank.

The other YO and an escorting PB headed towards Buna, where Seawolf spotted the 2 ships. 2 torpedoes were fired at YO-J-3852 and one hit, but it was a dud. Later in the day, Seawolf tried again, and fired at the patrol boat, hitting it twice, but once again both were duds. Seawolf's captain has filed a report with headquarters saying that there might be something wrong with the torpedoes.

Pollack spotted the enemy cruiser force that was engaged yesterday at Port Moresby. The ships were heading towards Horn Island, slowly. 4 torpedoes was fired at heavy cruiser Chokai but all missed.

All Bettys bombing Kusaie Island bombed troops instead of the airfield, which has been out of action. No supply on the island, every day, despite Catalinas flying supply in and 2 SSTs delivering supply.

Limited heavy bomber action today. Horn Island's port was hit by a squadron of B-17s. 3 squadrons of B-24s hit Lae's airfield for the first time, to see what was at the size airfield. An A6M3 Zero was destroyed on the ground, and there was no CAP.

OPilot mentioned in his email that he's starting to understand why some games have house rules limiting heavy bombers to 10k feet and above, saying that my bombers seem to be very accurate at 6k. Our game has a few house rules, but not many, and heavy bombers are not restricted in any way. I had suggested house rules on this prior to starting the game, but OPilot declined.

I may start flying my heavies at 10k and above. But I will not stop using them for occasional ground attack. This is another area where I don't like the feel of the game, with the ability to obliterate ground units in clear terrain, but it isn't limited to 4E bombers. OPilot has completely eliminated my ground units on several occasions with 2E bombers strikes. He has been using the Japanese air power liberally in China, and has disabled over 50% of several Chinese divisions by bombing them in clear terrain. I know that it discouraging to have that happen, because I've been on the receiving end. I know that the Allies will be able to dish out ten times the punishment that they receive though. I'll therefore use them.

I learned long ago to get the Chinese out of clear terrain. Some places on the map, like Australia, you have no choice. I get hit hard occasionally at Chittagong. But I placed several large AA units there, and now the Japanese bombers pay a price. There are counter measures. None as good as not being in the clear terrain if you can help it.

The Australian army attacks again at Portland Roads, and makes more progress. The base is close to falling. They'll attack for the third day in a row.

Ground combat at Portland Roads (91,132)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 14064 troops, 253 guns, 241 vehicles, Assault Value = 356

Defending force 9731 troops, 61 guns, 10 vehicles, Assault Value = 155

Allied adjusted assault: 502

Japanese adjusted defense: 191

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

Allied Assault reduces fortifications to 0

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

Japanese ground losses:
624 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 44 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 11 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 9 disabled

Allied ground losses:
512 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 60 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 8 disabled

Assaulting units:
15th Australian Brigade
6th Australian Brigade
8th Cav Recce Regiment
2nd Australian Brigade
Aus II Corps
4th Field Artillery Battalion
70th Coast AA Regiment
21st Fld RAA Regiment
22nd Fld RAA Regiment

Defending units:
4th/A Division
4th/B Division
12th Naval Construction Battalion
7th Naval Construction Battalion
48th JNAF AF Unit

Allied cruisers and destroyers all made it to Cairns safely, taking very minimal additional damage for their high speed run home. They will now all go to Townsville at cruise speed, and should all get there in one day. Some will patch up some minor damage there, others will head south for extensive repairs. The only Allied loss was CL Perth.

[Lowpe]

ORIGINAL: apbarog
But I placed several large AA units there, and now the Japanese bombers pay a price. There are counter measures.

+1. I am amazed to hear Japanese players bitterly complain about the effectiveness of Allied bombers, including heavy beasts, on ground units. I always ask what Japanese AA is present, and the answer is nothing larger than 20mm and sometimes even nothing.

I have managed to defend in the open by using forts and two Japanese AA air regiments with a sprinkling of 20mm AA unit. Late game, when Honshu is invaded, I have had so much AA in an open hex that the Allies refuse to bomb there -- lose 60+ bombers on a a run and other targets always get chosen.

Love your night bombing approach. I like Obvert's too, which is to restrict the night bombing to very few units with the exception of strategic bombing.

I wish there was a night bombing unit tag, kind of like the carrier capable tag (even if its impact is minor)