Spanking Lowpe (NJP72 vs Lowpe (A))

[mind_messing]

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

What base should General Harding prep for?

Atoll landing in the Pacific? Baker/Canton/Marcus/Paramushiro/Noumea/PagoPago?

Canton appeals. That goes up to a level 5 port, throw in some AKE's and some fuel shipped from Pearl and it's a outstanding forward base for any moves westward or southward.

Paramushiro also speaks to me. With this much IJ stuff this far flung, there's troops being stolen from somewhere. NorPac seems a good bet...

[Lowpe]

Great ideas all...

My thoughts...it is either Paramushiro to redirect Japanese forces to a far different theater...but nothing is built up to support such a move...so I like what it does to Japan's efforts but I am far from prepared there.

or Canton/Baker...which could possibly be done at the same time, for the reasons MM gives, with the Division prepping for Canton since it is a far better base and easily staged from the Line Islands which are built up and can support such a move. As John points out Logistics are king.

So I chose Canton, because it can be supported.

Marcus was a thought too, but it can't be held...

We will save the bold moves for 1943...I think. I beat Wargamr by allowing him to counterattack against the Japanese Perimeter far too early and with far too much forward.

Noumea, I would rather take from the northern base and move south. Which means naval dominance...which I don't have.

[CaptBeefheart]

I was going to say Paramushiro would be a good diversion, but you'd lose the division eventually (or pay too high a price trying to save it--a reverse Guadalcanal if you will).

Can you provide us a CenPac map showing AF/Port sizes, forces, etc.?

Cheers,
CB

[Lowpe]

Lady Lex, which ate an Iboat torp a few days ago, is on Approach to Pearl, and the Iboats are out in full force with several Japanese flying boats spotted over Pearl, and one Iboat attack on an ASW hunter group northwest of Pearl.

Pearl has responded by putting all fighters on CAP in hopes of shooting down the Iboat floatplanes (not sure what model they are), and all bombers are performing naval search, while the Lexington Task Force has been reinforced with radar equipped destroyers and is being escorted in with dedicated ASW task forces.

Japanese subs haven't been all that effective early on...perhaps they are heavily concentrated around Pearl waiting for this opportunity?

[Lowpe]

ORIGINAL: CaptBeefheart


Can you provide us a CenPac map showing AF/Port sizes, forces, etc.?

Cheers,
CB

When I get my turn back I will.[:)]

I am planning on evacuating the division pretty darn quickly if possible...and replacing it with other units.

[Lowpe]

Keeping the HI running, especially in Chungking is a pretty high priority for China...here are the shortages for the last 5 days.

I don't think I loaded the 132 turn.

In other notes another fragment is prepping for Anchorage.

23/4th Brigade is planning for an attack on Anchorage. The previous time, a week ago was the 3/4th Brigade.

[Lowpe]

April 19th, 1942

We need these shore bombardments to go off so that the IJA can't breakout of Bundaberg...

What great conditions for the IJN, low moonlight, bad thunderstorms, but along with the Allied light cruisers (and their higher experience crews) are a bunch of radar equipped American destroyers!

[Lowpe]

And here they come...not pictured here is 10 Zeroes on LRCAP.

There are three good sized AA units at Brisbane (2 American and 1 Dutch), a damaged destroyer and cruiser disbanded in port, and runways stuffed with planes (but not overflowing).

Sweeps from Bundaberg are probably a little reduced because of night bombing and night bombardment.

Lets see what Japan can do....

[Lowpe]

Carrier attack....afternoon attack...heavy rain...

[Lowpe]

And they go for the Port....the Dutch AA finally fires a shot in anger! Our CAP is high but dominant, despite less than stellar pilots.

Funny our Airacobras are pictured in the replay but don't ever make the combat report, not even listed. I think their CAP altitude was like 2k to 5K or I might have accidentally switched them to train? Don't have the turn back yet.[&:]

Afternoon Air attack on Brisbane , at 96,160

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid detected at 85 NM, estimated altitude 18,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 36 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 14
B5N2 Kate x 22

Allied aircraft
P-40B Warhawk x 14
P-40E Warhawk x 34
F2A-3 Buffalo x 10
F4F-3 Wildcat x 4

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 4 destroyed
B5N2 Kate: 7 destroyed, 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
P-40B Warhawk: 1 destroyed
P-40E Warhawk: 2 destroyed

Aircraft Attacking:
9 x B5N2 Kate bombing from 15000 feet
Port Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb

[Lowpe]

Another attack, the big one, after some dribs and drabs...down low...where the Airacobras are supposed to be...but for some reason they are excluded...still our CAP is sufficient to limit the attack to two hits.

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Brisbane at 96,160

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid detected at 107 NM, estimated altitude 6,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 45 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 7
B5N2 Kate x 57
D3A1 Val x 15

Allied aircraft
P-40B Warhawk x 5
P-40E Warhawk x 15
F2A-3 Buffalo x 5
F4F-3 Wildcat x 2
F4F-4 Wildcat x 9

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed
B5N2 Kate: 3 destroyed, 12 damaged
D3A1 Val: 2 destroyed, 2 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
P-40B Warhawk: 1 destroyed
P-40E Warhawk: 1 destroyed

Allied Ships
DD Phelps
DD Talbot
CL Achilles
CL De Ruyter
CL Java
DD Kennison, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Dale
DD Dewey
CL Leander

[Lowpe]

In other news, Wenchow finally falls to several tank units...but they fought well...no complaints...losses are ugly though.[:D]

and victory at Diego Garcia, the IJA is returned to the sea and the island is 100% cleared. Goodbye to the 1st Formosa Regiment.[:)]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ground combat at Wenchow (89,58)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 29406 troops, 243 guns, 324 vehicles, Assault Value = 886

Defending force 13985 troops, 80 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 150

Japanese adjusted assault: 630

Allied adjusted defense: 121

Japanese assault odds: 5 to 1 (fort level 0)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Wenchow !!!

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

Japanese ground losses:
98 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 8 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled

Allied ground losses:
17760 casualties reported
Squads: 794 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 911 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 60 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 96 (96 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units destroyed 5

Assaulting units:
23rd Tank Regiment
36th Division
13th Division
5th Tank Regiment
9th Tank Regiment
138th Infantry Regiment
11th Tank Regiment
1st Army
52nd Ind.Mtn.Gun Battalion

Defending units:
88th Chinese Corps
100th Chinese Corps
25th Group Army
23rd Group Army
14th Chinese Base Force

[BBfanboy]

Did the last defenders of Wenchow fire off the demolition charges on the industry?

[Lowpe]

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

Did the last defenders of Wenchow fire off the demolition charges on the industry?

Don't have the turn back yet, so don't know, but usually when so many are left when the base falls it isn't good for the industry.

Plus, it has been bombarded daily by Mutsu...for 2 months.[X(]

They knocked the HI down to 4 from 20, and did 50% damage to the LI, knocking it down to 40 from 80.

[Lowpe]

Looking at the Allied OB, trying to find those units that work great on Pacific Atoll defense.

I normally like for Japan:

1 Artillery unit...
1 AA unit as a soak...for Japan I like the 20mm AA guys.
1 Eng unit for engineers, aviation support, minor flak, soak
1-2 combat units of infantry
1 armored car unit (these guys usually survive the bombardments and actually stop the attack)
1 cd unit
Mines


to around 6-9k troops.

Early on I think the chance of Japan launching a counter attack to take an atoll is pretty high depending on circumstances elsewhere...

Do you AFBs have any favorite units for atoll defense? What is your makeup?

I seem to be swimming in CD gun units, but armored car units are scarce...perhaps NZ? Small AA doesn't seem to exist. Smaller infantry seems to be Australia or NZ or Can.

[Lowpe]

I am still pursuing night bombing, in all of its facets....up to our HR of no more than 50 planes worldwide on night runway or port attacks.

Here are some unsuccessful attacks from last night:

Night Air attack on TF, near Rockhampton at 95,152

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid spotted at 30 NM, estimated altitude 19,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes

Allied aircraft
SBD-3 Dauntless x 5

No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
CL Kiso
CA Myoko

Aircraft Attacking:
5 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 10000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb

----------
Night Air attack on TF, near Rockhampton at 95,152

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid spotted at 49 NM, estimated altitude 20,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 22 minutes

Allied aircraft
SB2U-3 Vindicator x 7

No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
CL Kiso

Aircraft Attacking:
7 x SB2U-3 Vindicator releasing from 10000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb

You will note they dropped a bomb from 10K...I guess there is no divebombing at night.

Even though there are no hits, it is very good information.

The night before my Devastators flew...

Night Air attack on TF, near Fraser Island at 97,156

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid spotted at 10 NM, estimated altitude 20,700 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes

Allied aircraft
TBD-1 Devastator x 5

No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
CA Myoko
CA Haguro

Aircraft Attacking:
5 x TBD-1 Devastator launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 22.4in Mk 13 Torp.

[BBfanboy]

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

Looking at the Allied OB, trying to find those units that work great on Pacific Atoll defense.

I normally like for Japan:

1 Artillery unit...
1 AA unit as a soak...for Japan I like the 20mm AA guys.
1 Eng unit for engineers, aviation support, minor flak, soak
1-2 combat units of infantry
1 armored car unit (these guys usually survive the bombardments and actually stop the attack)
1 cd unit
Mines


to around 6-9k troops.

Early on I think the chance of Japan launching a counter attack to take an atoll is pretty high depending on circumstances elsewhere...

Do you AFBs have any favorite units for atoll defense? What is your makeup?

I seem to be swimming in CD gun units, but armored car units are scarce...perhaps NZ? Small AA doesn't seem to exist. Smaller infantry seems to be Australia or NZ or Can.

The US doesn't do much "small". The British will be getting some 40mm Bofors AA units (Light AA Bn or Rgt). The mostly appear at Cape Town, but maybe some at Aden too. There aren't enough of them to cover many islands though.

The USN Marine Defence Bns have decent artillery (5" to 155mm GPF to 155mm M1A1) and AA combined in one unit. Add a Coastal AA unit and it will be painful for any air attack. Some Aussie "Cavalry" units are equipped with makeshift armoured cars that can upgrade to Humber Is (but there are never enough of those available). Look for ACVP and Improv armoured cars. I think one or two Indian/British units also has armoured cars. But you will soon have enough units equipped with Mk3 Stuarts or Stuart Is that you can scatter them around important islands - a great alternative to armoured cars! There are lots of US Separate Inf. Rgts. of 115 AV but these tend to be thin on arty and AA. Brit and Aussie/NZ/Canadian Bdes are better equipped.

EDIT: PP will be the ball and chain on making use of these goodies. [:(]

[Lowpe]

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

Looking at the Allied OB, trying to find those units that work great on Pacific Atoll defense.

I normally like for Japan:

1 Artillery unit...
1 AA unit as a soak...for Japan I like the 20mm AA guys.
1 Eng unit for engineers, aviation support, minor flak, soak
1-2 combat units of infantry
1 armored car unit (these guys usually survive the bombardments and actually stop the attack)
1 cd unit
Mines


to around 6-9k troops.

Early on I think the chance of Japan launching a counter attack to take an atoll is pretty high depending on circumstances elsewhere...

Do you AFBs have any favorite units for atoll defense? What is your makeup?

I seem to be swimming in CD gun units, but armored car units are scarce...perhaps NZ? Small AA doesn't seem to exist. Smaller infantry seems to be Australia or NZ or Can.

The US doesn't do much "small". The British will be getting some 40mm Bofors AA units (Light AA Bn or Rgt). The mostly appear at Cape Town, but maybe some at Aden too. There aren't enough of them to cover many islands though.

The USN Marine Defence Bns have decent artillery (5" to 155mm GPF to 155mm M1A1) and AA combined in one unit. Add a Coastal AA unit and it will be painful for any air attack. Some Aussie "Cavalry" units are equipped with makeshift armoured cars that can upgrade to Humber Is (but there are never enough of those available). Look for ACVP and Improv armoured cars. I think one or two Indian/British units also has armoured cars. But you will soon have enough units equipped with Mk3 Stuarts or Stuart Is that you can scatter them around important islands - a great alternative to armoured cars! There are lots of US Separate Inf. Rgts. of 115 AV but these tend to be thin on arty and AA. Brit and Aussie/NZ/Canadian Bdes are better equipped.

EDIT: PP will be the ball and chain on making use of these goodies. [:(]

Thanks! [&o]

What I see for Armored Cars:

New Zealand has 3 that use Humbers...which are range 2...80 pp to buy out.
Australia has one rather large unit.
America gets a boatload of Stuarts and Tank Destroyer units.

British & Indian troops just too far away for pacific duty, but for the islands around Ceylon/Rangoon have good choices.

So you can buy out a bigger unit for around 100 pp, and then use smaller transports to divy it up to different Atolls.

[Lowpe]

Lets talk Clemson Destroyers for a bit...converting some to DE class?


They have a decently long upgrade path...and our useful thru 43.

They are the fastest DE the Americans have...

They lose combat ability, such that it was, for better AA and ASW. The six new 3" guns are good to 15K feet against planes.

Potential uses:

Hunter Killer Sqn...doesn't excite me.

Cripple guardian Sqn...follows fleets and rushes into merge with cripples to provide that extra bit of ASW help plus emergency repair help. I like this idea.[:)]

Pair with CVE...I haven't thought about how I am going to use the CVE that much. To replenish Deathstar planes, surely, but after that the role as ASW platforms I don't think so. Perhaps as small recon task force? I got plenty of time to figure it out.

2 knots too slow to be paired with fleet carriers

In bombardment task forces to provide that extra bit of ASW...with the slow BBs, like this idea too.

Generally I don't like to use DDs (and variants) in merchant/tanker fleets but will use them in invasion fleets for the invasion.

Unfortunately, I upgraded most Clemsons to the next DD version, and that rules out other conversions...but I think the remaining Clemsons will go DE to provide some operational flexibility thru 43.

Looks like I can convert 2 Clemsons...would have preferred to do 3...but I will give it a go as a special cripple guardian task force and later on with the slow battleships.

Anybody use the DE?

[JohnDillworth]

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

And they go for the Port....the Dutch AA finally fires a shot in anger! Our CAP is high but dominant, despite less than stellar pilots.

Funny our Airacobras are pictured in the replay but don't ever make the combat report, not even listed. I think their CAP altitude was like 2k to 5K or I might have accidentally switched them to train? Don't have the turn back yet.[&:]

Afternoon Air attack on Brisbane , at 96,160

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid detected at 85 NM, estimated altitude 18,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 36 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 14
B5N2 Kate x 22

Allied aircraft
P-40B Warhawk x 14
P-40E Warhawk x 34
F2A-3 Buffalo x 10
F4F-3 Wildcat x 4

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 4 destroyed
B5N2 Kate: 7 destroyed, 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
P-40B Warhawk: 1 destroyed
P-40E Warhawk: 2 destroyed

Aircraft Attacking:
9 x B5N2 Kate bombing from 15000 feet
Port Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb

unny our Airacobras are pictured in the replay but don't ever make the combat report, not even listed

During raids on Port Moresby they used to send the P-39's out over the ocean to get them out of the way because they could never get to altitude in time to make a difference and if the Betty's were escorted they would just get shot down. They referred to them as the "Port Moresby Fishing Fleet". Your results may just be historically accurate.