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

[apbarog]

23 Mar 43

Submarine Jack recently arrived near the southwest part of southern Japan. Jack spotted a tanker convoy, and fired 2 torpedoes at large tanker Shiranesan Maru. Both torpedoes hit. The tanker was full of oil that almost made it to Japan, and burned. Sinking audio heard immediately after the engagement. Scratch one tanker. The dud rate has been right around 40% for 1943.

Enemy subs have reappeared south of Ceylon. I-37 spotted a cargo convoy returning from Rangoon. 2 torpedoes missed xAK Fresno City II. Plans for having to build Fresno City III are on hold.

Enemy ships engaged between Babar and Saumlaki, during the day. Allied ships have been unloading at both bases for days. 8 Fletcher class destroyers go into the fight, but are outgunned by 4 cruisers. The fight was at generally long range, with it closing to 7,000 yards and then slowly extending, giving many rounds for the cruisers to fire without being targetted.

Day Time Surface Combat, near Babar at 77,117, Range 17,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CA Takao
CA Chokai, Shell hits 1
CA Myoko, Shell hits 1
CL Yura
DD Kuroshio
DD Oyashio, Shell hits 2, on fire
DD Hayashio
DD Asashio, Shell hits 1

Allied Ships
DD Fletcher, Shell hits 4, on fire
DD Abbot
DD Chevalier, Shell hits 7, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD DeHaven, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Nicholas
DD O'Bannon, Shell hits 1
DD Saufley
DD Waller

Chevalier sank soon after, becoming the first Fletcher class destroyer to be lost. Fletcher is SYS 20/FLOT 22-8/ENG 7/FIRE 0. DeHaven is SYS 34/FLOT 13-3/ENG 6-1/FIRE 0, and with minimal major damage, can repair completely at Darwin. O'Bannon is SYS 6/FLOT 0/ENG 2-1/FIRE 0. A disappointing engagement where the Fletchers launched just a couple of torpedoes.

Bombers from Darwin went after the enemy, but found some Oscars flying LRCAP.

Morning Air attack on TF, near Babar at 77,117

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid spotted at 39 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 17 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-IIb Oscar x 5

Allied aircraft
SB2U-3 Vindicator x 18

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
SB2U-3 Vindicator: 5 destroyed, 4 damaged
SB2U-3 Vindicator: 1 destroyed by flak

Japanese Ships
CA Chokai
CA Myoko

9 Vindicators dropped bombs but all missed.

Enemy bombers started hitting Lanchow in far northern China.

[apbarog]

24 Mar 43

The enemy cruiser task force went west to Babar. 6 PT boats engaged, and the fight hovered at 5,000 to 6,000 yards, allowing the PT boats to fire torpedoes at cruisers. Unfortunately, they missed. 2 PT boats were sunk. S-28 was at Babar and was sighted, and took minor damage from near misses. The cruisers then bombarded Babar with less than full ammunition.

Night Naval bombardment of Babar at 76,117

Allied aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft losses
P-40K Warhawk: 8 damaged
P-40K Warhawk: 1 destroyed on ground
F4F-3 Wildcat: 17 damaged
P-39D Airacobra: 15 damaged
P-39D Airacobra: 1 destroyed on ground

Japanese Ships
CA Myoko
CA Chokai
CA Takao
CL Yura
DD Asashio
DD Hayashio
DD Oyashio
DD Kuroshio

Allied ground losses:
58 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 6 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 2 disabled
Vehicles lost 4 (1 destroyed, 3 disabled)

Airbase hits 7
Airbase supply hits 8
Runway hits 27
Port hits 1

Just 2 planes were destroyed on the ground, and the airbase is operational. None of the ships disbanded in port were hit. The cruisers then ran into an APD and 2 xAPs, which were ordered to go to Babar during the daylight, figuring that the enemy would be gone by then. They weren't. But both sides wanted to evade combat and did so. An anti-aircraft unit is loaded on the transports.

Southwest of Bataan, Spearfish fired 2 torpedoes at small tanker Bushu Maru but missed. These tankers had been spotted going to Manila. Now they are southbound after probably unloading their cargo at Manila. Good information to know. Manila is being used as a drop-off point.

The usual enemy bombing in China, with an increase up in the north by Lanchow. Minimal Allied bombing of Taung Gyi, doing minor airfield damage in heavy cloud.

[apbarog]

25 Mar 43

Enemy patrol boats spots one of my mines east of Tarakan and clears it.

Harder fired 2 torpedoes at xAK Kansai Maru south of Vietnam, but missed. I-122 hit APD Kennison with a torpedo at Babar, sinking Kennison just after combat. A US minesweeper is ordered out of Babar's port to check for mines. Seal fired 2 torpedoes at AKE Glasgow Maru just north of Babeldaob. One torpedo hit, with no sign of the ship sinking. The AKE could be one of the ships that recently left Truk.

With no Allied fighters seen at Chungking for about a week, the enemy attacks. 2 big Oscar units swept, then 25 Sallys with 30 more Oscars arrived. Some heavy industry was lost. Best case scenario for me is that I guess correctly when the enemy comes back, and then I still have to contend with over 100 fighters. Not sure it's worth a major redeployment of fighters back to China with so little supply there. I may just let the capital be bombed, and worry about the industry later, when supply is plentiful, coming from Burma. The oil for China is about to be cut off up at Lanchow anyhow.

[apbarog]

26 Mar 43

Sub Permit missed xAK Satsuma Maru between Formosa and China. There's more US subs in the area now, and I'm risking some in shallow water to find the enemy convoys. And they are there, in the shallows. Barb fired 2 torpedoes at xAK Mito Maru near Wenchow, in shallow water. One hit, and the ship was on fire.

The highlight of the day was an attack of Moulmein's airfield by 30 Nicks. There was no CAP, and hasn't been, so they came unescorted, and attacking at 100 feet. That was a mistake. I have 3 AAA units there, and 16 Nicks were shot down by flak. They did manage to do moderate damage to the airfield though. I don't think we'll see the Nicks on the deck again.

An Allied probing artillery attack at Taung Gyi confirms that a frontal attack isn't going to work there.

Ground combat at Taung Gyi (59,48)

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 37651 troops, 364 guns, 135 vehicles, Assault Value = 1423

Defending force 37214 troops, 392 guns, 145 vehicles, Assault Value = 964

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

Allied ground losses:
119 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 9 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Assaulting units:
43rd Infantry Division
254th Armoured Brigade
150th RAC Regiment
6th Chinese Corps
XV Indian Corps

Defending units:
55th Cavalry Regiment
144th Infantry Regiment
33rd Division
18th Division
55th Engineer Regiment
15th Army
3rd Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
21st Medium Field Artillery Battalion
20th AA Regiment
55th Mountain Gun Regiment
21st Fld AA Gun Co
36th JAAF AF Bn

We'll try to flank the town, or at least show flanking movement, to try and force a retreat.

[RangerJoe]

If your torpedoes are still not that effective, your subs could lay some mines in the shallows. Make one in every hex in shallow water between Formosa and China that is not a base . . .

[apbarog]

So far, the enemy convoys are using shallow water, but not coastal hexes. I do have British sub Trusty passing by Singapore carrying mines, with a target to be determined.

27 Mar 43

There were several US sub versus E-boat confrontations. Increased US patrols in the South China Sea and near Formosa have resulted in increased anti-sub patrols by the enemy. Several E-boats were fired upon, but they are hard to hit. One found its mark. Spearfish hit E W-5 with a torpedo near Lubang, sinking the ship.

Searaven hit xAK Tokiwa Maru with a torpedo near Wenchow, in shallow water. Sinking audio heard soon after.

I had ordered 2 night air raids. 4 B-25 squadrons were ordered to Chiang Mai. Fragments of them actually made it to target, and the results were very good. Enemy flak was barely noticed. 7 Oscars, 2 Tojos, 3 Topsys and a MC-21 Sally were destroyed on the ground, with moderate airbase damaged inflicted.

The other raid was to Koepang. A B-17D squadron from Darwin flew and did almost no damage to the airfield. 3 other heavy bomber squadrons didn't fly, based at different bases.

Corsairs and Lightnings swept Chiang Mai during the day, and found fewer than 20 fighters on CAP, with many damaged overnight. Good results, with 3 more Oscars and 5 more Tojos downed, for the loss of a Corsair.

[jwolf]

In game, those Japanese E-boats are extremely dangerous to subs in my experience. How have your subs fared in those confrontations?

[apbarog]

The Allied subs have done amazingly well. The E-boats are formidable, and frequently do damage to my subs, but I only just recently lost my first sub to depth charges of any kind.

[apbarog]

28 Mar 43

Sub Hake missed E Wakatake with 2 torpedoes near Formosa.

P-38s swept Chiang Mai but the enemy has evacuated. Some heavy bombers hit the airfield.

Allied bombers hit Dili's airfield, finding no CAP.

More enemy bombing near Lanchow, with high losses in rough terrain. The enemy tank division attacks and clears the hex just east of Lanchow. China is about to be cut into two parts.

Ground combat at 82,34 (near Lanchow)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 7291 troops, 133 guns, 435 vehicles, Assault Value = 353

Defending force 2931 troops, 2 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 98

Japanese adjusted assault: 222

Allied adjusted defense: 9

Japanese assault odds: 24 to 1

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

Japanese ground losses:
224 casualties reported
Squads: 3 destroyed, 43 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Guns lost 7 (1 destroyed, 6 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
784 casualties reported
Squads: 33 destroyed, 42 disabled
Non Combat: 32 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Units retreated 2

Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
3rd Tank Division
1st Cavalry Brigade

Defending units:
8th New Chinese Corps
36th Group Army

No supply plus heavy enemy bombing equals no defense. Just delay.

The good news is that the enemy has moved south of the road from central Burma to China. It was going to be tough to clear the enemy, but they've left voluntarily, maybe due to supply issues of their own. Engineers are now moving to western China from Burma and central China to build up the Chinese bases to pull more supply into China. There's still hope for China. It's just going to take some time.

Taung Gyi is heavily defended and dug in by the enemy. I'm going to leave a blocking force there and nearby, and move most of the combat troops south for an assault and flanking move on Rahaeng. Eventually. Need some rest and recovery time, as well as unit prep time.

[apbarog]

28 Mar 43 - Burma and China

[RangerJoe]

The Burma road is open, make way for the Asia Red Ball Express! [8D]

[apbarog]

29 Mar 43

Enemy destroyer Takanami hit a just-laid mine on the northern coast of Timor. Enemy bombardment groups have been hugging the coast as they leave Koepang to bombard Babar. There's another previously laid minefield just to the north, so maybe it will come into play soon too.

Sturgeon and Amberjack fired torpedoes at E-boats and missed. Both were unscathed in counter-attacks.

Pickerel fired 2 torpedoes at AG Aki Maru north of the Borneo coast. Both missed. Note that there could have been dud hits today, but I didn't receive the correct replay file from OPilot today, but did receive the latest turn file. So no duds could be noted, nor any sinking audio. Not a big deal though.

Some Allied bombing in Burma. Some hit Lautem on Timor. Some in the Marshalls.

Tambor hit TK Nanrei Maru with a torpedo near Laoag. The ship was reported on fire and with heavy damage. With no replay to watch, it's not known if it had fuel or oil, or if audio indicated that it sunk.

[apbarog]

30 Mar 43

An enemy minesweeper starts to clean up our minefield on the northern Timor coast. A field is only good once, but we got a destroyer yesterday.

Thresher tangled with subchaser Ch 31 near Ponape a couple of times today. 2 torpedoes missed and Thresher avoided any damage.

Northwest of Babeldaob, Seal fired 4 torpedoes at AO Erimo, getting one hit. The tanker was not loaded and is presumably headed west from Babeldaob. Seal got a hit on an AKE just 5 days ago in the same area.

Near Kume-jima, northeast of Formosa, Tullibee got a torpedo hit on TK Amato Maru. The tanker was not loaded. Tullibee attacked again but missed an escorting patrol boat with 2 torpedoes.

Besides the usual bombing, Allied fighters swept Chiang Mai and found no defenders. B-25s then hit the airfield, causing moderate damage.

Near Busuanga, which is southwest of Manila, Spearfish hit TK Nishi Maru with a torpedo. The ship was carrying oil and probably headed to Manila. Audio says that the ship won't make it there. The sub war is heating up with 3 tankers hit today. It's too early to really have effective patrols in the South China Sea, with the home port of Darwin being so far away, but I have 10 to 15 subs there and around the Philippines. The enemy is certainly responding, with many subchasers on the hunt. It's a war within the war, and it will only increase in intensity.

Other notes:

Ailinglaplap became a size 1 airfield. The base is in the Marshalls, a couple of hexes south of Kwajalein. I'm building it big. It will support the reduction of Roi Namur, and then hit enemy bases to the east, bases that have a few units each but haven't based aircraft in a long while.

Refit carriers and combat ships, with newly refit APAs, are heading from Sydney and Brisbane to Townsville. They will support upcoming landings on Timor next.

[BBfanboy]

Why would the tanker haul oil to Manila? No refinery in the Philippines. Destination must have been some place north or northeast of Luzon.

[RangerJoe]

It was probably refined oil, also known as fuel. [;)]

[BBfanboy]

ORIGINAL: RangerJoe

It was probably refined oil, also known as fuel. [;)]

So when the animation says "Oil Cargo Burning" it could be FOW on the fuel type? I always thought that that kind of additional info after a hit was accurate.

[RangerJoe]

I don't know, I usually fast forward but I have seen "Fuel cargo burning" but I don't remember seeing "Oil cargo burning."

[apbarog]

It was definitely "oil cargo burning", so not fuel. I suspect he's collecting oil at Borneo with smaller tankers and hauling to Manila, to be picked up by other shipping later. He could just be hugging the Philippine coast going north also.

[apbarog]

1 Apr 43

I consider today to be the day when the balance of power starts to shift towards the Allies. The Hellcats become available, with 130 of them being built per month. They replace the 45 Wildcats a month that were available. Much better planes in much better numbers. The next milestone is the carrier Essex.

[apbarog]

31 Mar 43

Northeast of Mersing, in shallow water, Dutch sub KXIV hit E-boat W-4, which was escorting at least one cargo ship. The E-boat was sunk. It's dangerous to patrol in shallow water, but it's good to show the willingness to do so occasionally. It gets the enemy to spend time patrolling the shallows. After being seen, it's best to leave though. OPilot is thorough and follows up these kind of spottings.

Corsairs and Spits swept Lae, something that hasn't been done in a months. Zeros were on patrol. The Corsairs did exceptionally well. The Spits did ok. 26 Zeros were downed for the loss of 2 Corsairs and 1 Spit.

South of Mindanao, Steelhead spotted the AO task force that left Babeldaob and headed west. 4 torpedoes were fired at AO Shiretoko. 3 hit, almost certainly sinking the empty tanker. That's 10 non-dud torpedo hits in a row. Assuming the current dud rate is 40% (something I'm not sure of), the odds of 10 in a row are only 0.6%. My dud rate for 1943 has been 20 duds out of 55 hits, for 36.4%. It was just over 40% before this lucky run.

4 US carriers are leaving Townsville for Darwin, along with a bunch of APAs. The invasion of Timor is up next.