Banzais Don't Make Victories - Anachro (A) vs John 3rd (J) BTS 5.7

[GetAssista]

ORIGINAL: Anachro
I am sending in a small 8 AV unit to Calcutta to see what's there.

I suppose you also send a strong followup to arrive next turn to exploit John once again

[Anachro]

Two sinking sounds heard during the night of the Dec 15th turn. Intelligence thinks the second DD hit by a Dutch sub near Akyab sank. Maybe one of the destroyers near Brisbane sank too. One can only hope, could also be an xAK from near Ceylon.

[Anachro]

December 15, 1942

Just so people can see it. Last turn, Tezpur fell and now the supply lines are opened up so supplies can flow into Comilla and ease my situation there. This is nice. No more relying on air supply transport.

Ground combat at Tezpur (60,36)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 19838 troops, 277 guns, 301 vehicles, Assault Value = 601

Defending force 2379 troops, 12 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 53

Allied adjusted assault: 328

Japanese adjusted defense: 24

Allied assault odds: 13 to 1 (fort level 2)

Allied forces CAPTURE Tezpur !!!

Combat modifiers
Defender: preparation(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
1552 casualties reported
Squads: 36 destroyed, 15 disabled
Non Combat: 49 destroyed, 13 disabled
Engineers: 6 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 2 (1 destroyed, 1 disabled)
Units retreated 2

Allied ground losses:
50 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 8 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled

Defeated Japanese Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
44th Indian Brigade
193rd Tank Battalion
7th Australian Division
43rd Cavalry Regiment
22nd (East African) Brigade

Defending units:
3rd Indpt SNLF Coy
16th Naval Guard Unit

[Anachro]

December 16-18, 1942

The chase is ended with my forces catching up to the 41st Division south of Dacca. In a lopsided battle, I cause immense damage to the 41st Division who, with their path further south to Chittagong cutoff, are forced to retreat back across the river to Dacca. 13 separate Japanese units, including the 18th and 41st IJA Divisions, are now cutoff and isolated at Dacca with little hope of escape beyond airlift. Moreover, with my ability to now rail in base units and supplies, Comilla can now be turned into a forwards fighter base, which will soon provide CAP protection to my various land units, who suffer from bombing attacks defended against my LRCAP from Rajshashi.



I think John will now shift to trying to get out of Calcutta, but Calcutta's airbase is degraded limiting his ability there. He has some troops moving down to retake Diamond Harbor while I re-concentrate my forces at Jessore. A recent foray into Calcutta revealed 700 AV there. I will have 2300 AV at Jessore which will cross the river, followed by 900 AV at Howrah. Various dive bombers, torpedo bombers, and fighters are at Howrah and Cuttack. John might try to move his forces to Diamond Harbor and then use coastal bombardments against any of my forces that try to follow, but this is risky due to naval air threat. Furthermore, I'll soon take Chittagong, making any journey long and costly in fuel to do many times.

Ground combat at Calcutta (52,37)

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 174 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 10

Defending force 36517 troops, 334 guns, 284 vehicles, Assault Value = 764

Assault collapses, attacking force wiped out

Allied ground losses:
112 casualties reported
Squads: 9 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 6 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Units destroyed 1

Assaulting units:
RM Viper Force

Defending units:
48th/B Division
33rd Division
48th/A Division
5th Division
4th Division
48th/C Division
57th Fld AA Bn /1
16th AA Regiment
4th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
23rd AA Regiment
12th Ind.Hvy.Art Battalion
1st Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
7th Ind.Hvy.Art. Bn /3
21st Fld AA Gun Co
Tonei Hvy Gun Rgt /1
31st Special Base Force
62nd JAAF AF Bn
44th Fld AA Bn /1
Dai-kyu Koku Fleet /2

[Anachro]

December 19th, 1942

I shock and destroy a small Naval Guard and SNLF unit south of Texpur, killing off another 1500 Japanese troops. Took more casualties than I would have like as I expected my troops to cross the river tomorrow and not today; as a result, they take a malus from being in movement op mode I think. Meanwhile, John's troops are at Dacca and not moving. I'll start doing LRCAP over it to knock down Japanese air transports if there are any. 700 AV and the 40th "Sunshine Division" (a fitting name for their location) marches on Chittagong followed by the 18th British ID. Chittagong is showing a minimal garrison that should be taken without too much trouble, but John has a cruiser nearby for some reason, perhaps trying to do a CAP trap. I don't take the bait, opting to bomb Chittagong's airfields, which are now at 100 in damage with the fighter presence there mostly cleared out.



Meanwhile, in my last email returning the turn to John, I said, "Here you are. The 41st Division is finally caught up to in chase and beaten back towards Dacca." John's response was thus:

The 41st did its job though. It still continues to do exactly what was ordered of it.

You can't win against this guy. Anything and everything is somehow always a tactical victory or necessary maneuver for him. [:D]

VP Screen

[BBfanboy]

I would bet that CA at Chittagong is heading up a FT TF to pick up troops. I think IJN CAs also have a small troop capacity. Right now I am sure John would count getting cadres out as a victory, given the peril they are in!

[Bif1961]

He sounds just like Hitler, they were ordered to die in place and are doing it.

[Anachro]

December 20-21, 1942

My forces (~750AV) reach Calcutta last turn and then this turn bombard it to see what's there, taking massive casualties for their trouble. Not too troubled because I have two very good British divisions on the way that should reach the hex in a few turns. However, I would like to know the cause of this disparity? Supply? Fatigue? Or is it that he has some heavy artillery there and I don't. Happy to see another Japanese division at Chittagong. Perhaps it can also be hurt some. I'd suspect John will try some naval bombardments.

Ground combat at Chittagong (55,41)

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 23377 troops, 370 guns, 181 vehicles, Assault Value = 747

Defending force 8864 troops, 176 guns, 100 vehicles, Assault Value = 314

Japanese ground losses:
39 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled

Allied ground losses:
313 casualties reported
Squads: 14 destroyed, 13 disabled
Non Combat: 4 destroyed, 5 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 1 disabled
Guns lost 17 (9 destroyed, 8 disabled)
Vehicles lost 3 (1 destroyed, 2 disabled)

Assaulting units:
16th Australian Brigade
87th Mountain Regiment
40th Infantry Division
111th LRP Brigade
24th Indian Mountain Gun Regiment

Defending units:
82nd Naval Guard Unit
58th JNAF AF Unit
67th Div /23
5th Ind.Hvy.Art Battalion
35th JAAF AF Bn
3rd Hvy.Artillery Regiment
1st Air Defense AA Regiment
33rd JAAF AF Coy

In other news, we land take North Male, the little island northwest of Ceylon, both to deny John it's use as a floatplane base for nav search and to use it for that purpose myself if need be. Also, to keep John guessing.

Amphibious Assault at North Male (20,45)

TF 202 troops unloading over beach at North Male, 20,45

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

[BBfanboy]

You are correct that the enemy heavy arty is what is hitting you so hard. It usually can outrange guns of lesser caliber and the greater effect of their shell inflict more casualties even if you have some forts. The IJA has heavy arty with 280 and 350mm calibers. Those kick up some dirt!

[Anachro]

Figured. Should be interesting; British division arrives at Chittagong next turn and 2100 AV of good divisions will cross the river into Calcutta next turn as well. Will post what happens.

[Anachro]

December 22-23, 1942

This hurts! Perhaps I should have waited to cross until I was 100% prepped. I think this is where my unfamiliarity with land combat starts to bite me a little bit. Nonetheless, 1600 AV is now across with another 1000 AV on the way. Someone refresh my mind, but with men already across an additional shock attack should not trigger, right?

Ground combat at Calcutta (52,37)

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 74521 troops, 1061 guns, 1046 vehicles, Assault Value = 2263

Defending force 29593 troops, 300 guns, 259 vehicles, Assault Value = 759

Allied adjusted assault: 1109

Japanese adjusted defense: 8833

Allied assault odds: 1 to 7 (fort level 3)

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), forts(+)
Attacker: shock(+), disruption(-)

Japanese ground losses:
928 casualties reported
Squads: 3 destroyed, 39 disabled
Non Combat: 4 destroyed, 19 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 8 disabled
Guns lost 47 (1 destroyed, 46 disabled)
Vehicles lost 26 (1 destroyed, 25 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
7774 casualties reported
Squads: 59 destroyed, 312 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 140 disabled
Engineers: 9 destroyed, 174 disabled
Guns lost 127 (10 destroyed, 117 disabled)

Assaulting units:
23rd Indian Division
70th British Division
7th Indian Division
14th Indian Division
41st Infantry Division
Kowloon Brigade
26th Indian Division
25th Indian Mountain Gun Regiment

Defending units:
48th Division
5th Division
33rd Division
12th Ind.Hvy.Art Battalion
23rd AA Regiment
4th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
21st Fld AA Gun Co
16th AA Regiment
57th Fld AA Bn /1
1st Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
Tonei Hvy Gun Rgt /1
44th Fld AA Bn /1
7th Ind.Hvy.Art. Bn /3
Dai-kyu Koku Fleet /2

[Canoerebel]

Your follow-up force should make it without triggering a shock attack - if, that is, they are in Combat mode (not Move mode) and are crossing the same hex side.

The threshold is 1/3rd.

[Anachro]

Same hex side? Okay did not know that. I need to move my forces.

[Canoerebel]

If they cross via the same hex side, you're good. I have seen occasions where forces crossed via non-friendly hex side (at above the 1/3rd threshold) and for some reason didn't trigger a shock attack (it should, and it usually does, but I swear this happens occasionally). If I wanted to be sure, I'd make sure I had the hex side. One way to accomplish that would be to slow the stack about to cross the unfriendly hex side while allowing one unit to cross, triggering a shock attack but turning the hex side friendly. An arty or HQ unit or anything will work.

[Anachro]

December 24-27, 1942

Good thing you told me, CR. I mostly listen to you and re-route the majority of my forces, but forget to change the direction of one Indian division that was ~150-200 AV. It is mostly destroyed in the crossing. Forgetting to click on one division and it crossing one day sooner than anticipated (I realized my mistake a few hours after I sent the turn to John, but figured it wouldn't cross until 2 turns) really hurts. Oh well. The rest will go to the hex at Comilla and cross in good order from there.

In good news, Chittagong falls. Also, another Japanese CL takes 2 torps, though one is a dud and is heavily damaged. Hopefully, she sinks.

The important actions of the last few days:

The Good

Ground combat at Chittagong (55,41)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 37884 troops, 683 guns, 521 vehicles, Assault Value = 1096

Defending force 7604 troops, 167 guns, 96 vehicles, Assault Value = 237

Allied adjusted assault: 550

Japanese adjusted defense: 33

Allied assault odds: 16 to 1 (fort level 2)

Allied forces CAPTURE Chittagong !!!

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 7 destroyed
A6M5 Zero: 3 destroyed
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed

Combat modifiers
Defender: preparation(-), experience(-), supply(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
3046 casualties reported
Squads: 87 destroyed, 21 disabled
Non Combat: 112 destroyed, 53 disabled
Engineers: 19 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 126 (123 destroyed, 3 disabled)
Vehicles lost 64 (64 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units retreated 7

Allied ground losses:
741 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 69 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 10 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 5 disabled
Guns lost 10 (1 destroyed, 9 disabled)

Assaulting units:
40th Infantry Division
2nd British Division
87th Mountain Regiment
16th Australian Brigade
111th LRP Brigade
24th Indian Mountain Gun Regiment

Defending units:
58th JNAF AF Unit
67th Div /23
35th JAAF AF Bn
5th Ind.Hvy.Art Battalion
1st Air Defense AA Regiment
3rd Hvy.Artillery Regiment
33rd JAAF AF Coy
82nd Nav Gd /3

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Ramree Island at 54,48

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid spotted at 10 NM, estimated altitude 6,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 2 minutes

Allied aircraft
Beaufighter VIc x 12

Allied aircraft losses
Beaufighter VIc: 8 damaged

Japanese Ships
DMS W-10, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Awazisan Maru, Shell hits 3, Bomb hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
12 x Beaufighter VIc bombing from 100 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 250 lb SAP Bomb

Sub attack near Rangoon at 50,53

Japanese Ships
CL Minase, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
CL Sendai
DD Okikaze
DD Kamikaze
DD Hatsuyuki
DD Yukikaze
DD Minekaze
DD Hayate
DD Oite
DD Mochizuki

Allied Ships
SS Porpoise, hits 2

SS Porpoise launches 4 torpedoes at CL Minase
Porpoise bottoming out ....

The Ugly

Ground combat at Calcutta (52,37)

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 8153 troops, 81 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1830

Defending force 29074 troops, 299 guns, 258 vehicles, Assault Value = 714

Allied adjusted assault: 0

Japanese adjusted defense: 8481

Allied assault odds: 1 to 99 (fort level 3)

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), forts(+)
Attacker: shock(+)

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

Allied ground losses:
4552 casualties reported
Squads: 218 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 7 destroyed, 227 disabled
Engineers: 48 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 58 (48 destroyed, 10 disabled)

Assaulting units:
41st Infantry Division
14th Indian Division
17th Indian Division
Kowloon Brigade
7th Indian Division
70th British Division
17th Australian Brigade
26th Indian Division
25th Indian Mountain Gun Regiment

Defending units:
5th Division
48th Division
33rd Division
Tonei Hvy Gun Rgt /1
44th Fld AA Bn /1
1st Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
12th Ind.Hvy.Art Battalion
23rd AA Regiment
57th Fld AA Bn /1
7th Ind.Hvy.Art. Bn /3
4th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
21st Fld AA Gun Co
16th AA Regiment
Dai-kyu Koku Fleet /2

[Anachro]

The 27th Division, another American division whose name I can't recall off the top of my head, and various other units arrive at Bombay today in preparation for future operations.

[GetAssista]

ORIGINAL: Anachro
Allied Shock attack
Attacking force 74521 troops, 1061 guns, 1046 vehicles, Assault Value = 2263
Defending force 29593 troops, 300 guns, 259 vehicles, Assault Value = 759
Allied adjusted assault: 1109
Japanese adjusted defense: 8833
Allied assault odds: 1 to 7 (fort level 3)
Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), forts(+)
Attacker: shock(+), disruption(-)

Woah, John've got one good multiplier in Calcutta defence for forts only at 3 and no HQs in the vicinity. And consistent one too, as your second attack showed. I'm puzzled with where exactly that x11 total comes from. x4 terrain is a given, but then LCU prep does not give you much w/o HQs, and it is not like he had time to get everything to 100 for Calcutta

[Anachro]

@GetAssista Yeah, the crossing numbers have been bad. My forces had pretty good prep too. Anyways, 900 additional AV just arrived at Comilla.

New Years Eve, 1942

We take stock of the situation as the new year turns. The Japanese advance across all fronts has largely been thwarted and we can point to their current territorial extent as the high water mark of the Japanese Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere. In the Pacific, this stretches from Adak Island in the Aleutian Islands to the Phoenix Islands in the Central Pacific, stopping at Ndeni and Funafuti in the SoPac. Furthermore, the Japanese still hold Northern Australia, but have not made any further offensives after their failed landing at Portland Roads. Finally, in India, the Japanese forces are either surrounded and cutoff or retreating back into Burma. Observations across the strategic map and through sigint imply Japanese are building interior defenses: Ceylon shows men being evacuated, the bases on Burma and throughout the DEI are being reinforced and built-up, there is even intelligence that 32,000 men are on Saipan. Japan has entered the second-phase of its war: defensive lines.



Future Plans
SoPac
John has significantly reinforced his outward defenses in the Central Pacific and South Pacific. Lunga, Ndeni, the CenPac Islands, Kirakira - all of these are heavily defended; and Japanese carriers are in force roving between Tabiteuea and Lunga. Moreover, significant Japanese forces (at least 3-4 or more divisions in strength) seem tied down in Northern Australia. The one area we find to be neglected relatively (though nonetheless still decently garrisoned) is New Guinea. To keep out options open, significant forces are planning or already 100% prepped for various landings in the South Pacific and there are definitely holes in John's defenses. The key to his defense seems be to be Lunga where he has 14 units and at least 2 divisions and many planes. Ndeni also has a division and SNLF division. In contrast, Guinea has some decent forces, particularly at Port Moresby, but nothing as strongly defenses at Lunga.

John's forces in Northern Australia are inadequate for stopping a concerted push by land towards Darwin.



India
In India, my forces are doing a general advance while reinforcements focus on destroying cutoff Japanese forces in the rear. Calcutta is undersiege; the various Japanese units at Dacca will soon be destroyed and are close to being fully surrounded. While this goes on, we will send various units to march on Cox's Bazar, Akyab, Imphal, Kohima, and Ledo. These will provide bases from which we can begin hitting oil centers in Burma. Meanwhile, 2 US divisions and various smaller units are at Bombay, 100% prepped for the invasion of Ceylon once my allocated naval forces gather in the next couple of weeks there.



VP Situation

[Anachro]

An interesting situation is developing tactically beyond the strategic situation. John can't seem to help wantonly roving around with his carriers and again they make an appearance on a somewhat fruitless chase around Luganville. These carriers were last seen stationed at Lunga and moving east, somewhat near Ndeni last turn. They suddenly move south this time (and appears to be a good chunk of the KB). A couple of interesting things: 1) I have a large contingent of fighters and some DB's at Luganville, maybe they can get lucky and hit something next turn; 2) I have planted ~200 mines in the hex next to Lunga; hopefully John will send his carriers back that way and hit something.

In the event that John's carriers take damage 9 CVs, 2 CVLs, and 2 fast (29kt) CVEs are moving north from Auckland. If some carriers take damage and seek nearby ports, maybe I can sink something.

[Anachro]

I have also found a gap in Japanese nav search towards Tabiteuea, which I suspect of being a forward operating base for Japanese naval units. Perhaps a carrier raid at some point here in the near future.