Spanking Lowpe (NJP72 vs Lowpe (A))

[Lowpe]

A multinational fleet strives to protect the two battleships....English honor demands it!

[Lowpe]

Gawkers arrive in the rain to glimpse the Resoltuion as she arrives at Cochin...this is the High Court Boat Jetty at Ernakulam in Cochin...

[Lowpe]

Resolution....is she safe behind the guns of Cochin?

[Lowpe]

Ramillies minor flooding is pumped out, perhaps work will now turn on her severely damaged engines? She can only make 2 knots in a pinch.

[Lowpe]

There is more on the way...

[Lowpe]

American and Australian forces have secured a critical road hexside control...isolating Bundaberg by land.

The 5th Australian Division arrives today...with well trained and equipped troops. 16 6" coast guns will arrive in a day or two, with many more marching up from Marysborough.

Meanwhile, our spearhead near Rockhampton has been reinforced and approaches 750 AV with coastal defense guns arriving there too....but the strong IJN presence is certainly a problem (or an opportunity).

I suspect they are fast transporting out about 2000 troops a day now...perhaps there will be a big skirmish at Bundaberg tonight! Light rain and 100% moonlight...it doesn't get better for the Allied navy than this.

[Lowpe]

Sending in the Allied fleets at Bundaberg, air force activated, and the first general ground assault.

[BBfanboy]

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

Ramillies minor flooding is pumped out, perhaps work will now turn on her severely damaged engines? She can only make 2 knots in a pinch.

If I understood Alfred's Repair 101 correctly, the minor engineering damage should be repaired next. The AI prioritizes the flood damage (within the same repair band) but since it can't fix major flood damage there, it should move on to the minor engineering damage. System damage is low enough to be in a different repair band at the moment.

[Lowpe]

May 1st, 1942

I told everyone at the beginning of the game, I was going to work Allied destroyers very hard...and here I send them to the bottom very quickly.[:D][X(]

Despite being surface combat TFs intercepting bombardment task forces, despite crossing the T twice and a daytime fight after the bombardments, our scratch Allied destroyers get taken to Davy Jones locker in impressive numbers:

Dodging my smallish sub screen:

ASW attack near Trivandrum at 27,44

Japanese Ships
DD Tokitsukaze
BB Haruna
BB Kongo
CA Suzuya
CL Kitakami
DD Nenohi
DD Sazanami
DD Ayanami

Allied Ships
SS KXI

SS KXI launches 2 torpedoes at DD Tokitsukaze

1st engagement pictured below:

2nd fight...another cross the T

Night Time Surface Combat, near Cochin at 28,40, Range 2,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CA Takao
CA Chokai
CL Naka
DD Nowaki
DD Arashio
DD Minegumo, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Ushio
DD Kuri, Shell hits 1

Allied Ships
DD Hammann
DD Nizam, Shell hits 2, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
DD Witte de With, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
DD Decoy, Shell hits 1, on fire

Poor visibility due to Thunderstorms with 100% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Thunderstorms and 100% moonlight: 3,000 yards
Range closes to 16,000 yards...
Range closes to 10,000 yards...
Range closes to 6,000 yards...
Range closes to 4,000 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
Burrell, H.M. crosses the 'T'

3rd engagement:

Day Time Surface Combat, near Cochin at 28,40, Range 6,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
BB Kongo
BB Haruna
CA Suzuya
CL Kitakami
DD Tokitsukaze
DD Samidare
DD Nenohi
DD Ayanami
DD Sazanami, on fire

Allied Ships
DD Hammann, Shell hits 4, and is sunk
DD Decoy, Shell hits 3

Poor visibility due to Thunderstorms
Maximum visibility in Thunderstorms: 6,000 yards

[Lowpe]

Cochin Fort does good work against a fresh bombardment SAG, although I thought I moved most planes out?:

Night Naval bombardment of Cochin at 28,40 - Coastal Guns Fire Back!

Allied aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft losses
Albacore I: 2 damaged
Albacore I: 1 destroyed on ground
Audax I: 1 damaged
Hurricane IIb Trop: 1 damaged

229 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Japanese Ships
CA Chokai, Shell hits 1
CA Takao, Shell hits 3
CL Naka
DD Kuri, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Ushio
DD Minegumo
DD Arashio
DD Nowaki

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

Airbase hits 6
Runway hits 5

E8N2 Dave acting as spotter for CA Chokai
CA Chokai firing at Cochin Fortress

[Lowpe]

The the ammo depleted bombardment force moves in...all the planes...I must have moved the planes out of the wrong base in my hurry to finish the turn, expecting huge fireworks at Bundaberg.

Night Naval bombardment of Cochin at 28,40 - Coastal Guns Fire Back!

Allied aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft losses
Albacore I: 15 damaged
Albacore I: 2 destroyed on ground
Audax I: 8 damaged
Audax I: 1 destroyed on ground
Hurricane I Trop: 26 damaged
Hurricane I Trop: 3 destroyed on ground
Lysander II: 1 damaged
Hurricane IIb Trop: 8 damaged
Hurricane IIb Trop: 1 destroyed on ground
Catalina I: 1 damaged

121 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Japanese Ships
BB Haruna
BB Kongo
CA Suzuya
CL Kitakami, Shell hits 2
DD Sazanami, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Ayanami
DD Nenohi
DD Samidare
DD Tokitsukaze

Allied ground losses:
97 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Non Combat: 3 destroyed, 11 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 4 (2 destroyed, 2 disabled)
Vehicles lost 6 (3 destroyed, 3 disabled)

Airbase hits 6
Airbase supply hits 4
Runway hits 32

[Lowpe]

B25cs and Airacobras attack Bundaberg prior to the ground assault...

What is that large task force heading towards Bundaberg?

[Lowpe]

Our prep isn't great, even with a Command HQ and Corp HQ...but thanks to our advantage in artillery it is a very good first assault.

Note the difference between combat report and recon.

Ground combat at Bundaberg (96,155)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 31363 troops, 465 guns, 257 vehicles, Assault Value = 903

Defending force 18234 troops, 176 guns, 38 vehicles, Assault Value = 494

Allied adjusted assault: 464

Japanese adjusted defense: 643

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

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

Japanese ground losses:
1133 casualties reported
Squads: 5 destroyed, 96 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 7 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Guns lost 20 (1 destroyed, 19 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
617 casualties reported
Squads: 7 destroyed, 58 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 12 disabled
Guns lost 28 (2 destroyed, 26 disabled)

Assaulting units:
34th Infantry Regiment
5th Australian Division
3rd Australian Division
46th Indian Brigade
4th Australian/B Division
260th Field Artillery Battalion
131st Field Artillery Battalion
148th Field Artillery Battalion
198th Field Artillery Battalion
147th Field Artillery Battalion
98th Coast AA Regiment
2nd Marine Defense Battalion
4th RAAF Base Force
2nd RAA Coastal Artillery Regiment

Defending units:
Yokosuka 4th SNLF
33rd Division
Sasebo 8th SNLF
1st Raiding Rgt /2
1st Medium Field Artillery Regiment
4th JAAF AF Bn
5th Naval Construction Battalion
21st Infantry Rgt /7

[Lowpe]

In China on the Ankang road ... another general attack...but this time we actually have supplies (well 2 out of 3 do[;)]). Three attacks in the last four days and look at that morale, fatigue and disruption![:D]

We are sending a crackerjack Corp from Ankang to reinforce, along with some British AT guns. The Stuarts are near Ankang and will act as a fire brigade for now.



Ground combat at 83,45 (near Nanyang)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 29067 troops, 281 guns, 323 vehicles, Assault Value = 841

Defending force 22916 troops, 121 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 604

Japanese adjusted assault: 433

Allied adjusted defense: 712

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 2

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

Japanese ground losses:
758 casualties reported
Squads: 3 destroyed, 61 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 12 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled
Vehicles lost 57 (24 destroyed, 33 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
295 casualties reported
Squads: 7 destroyed, 22 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled
Guns lost 3 (1 destroyed, 2 disabled)

Assaulting units:
15th Tank Regiment
15th Division
12th Tank Regiment
13th Tank Regiment
3rd Tank Regiment
116th Division
10th Tank Regiment
51st Ind.Mtn.Gun Battalion
13th Army
11th Field Artillery Regiment

Defending units:
55th Chinese Corps
41st Chinese Corps
77th Chinese Corps

[Lowpe]

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy


If I understood Alfred's Repair 101 correctly, the minor engineering damage should be repaired next. The AI prioritizes the flood damage (within the same repair band) but since it can't fix major flood damage there, it should move on to the minor engineering damage. System damage is low enough to be in a different repair band at the moment.

Yep, dropped engine damage by a few points, raising top speed to 3.[:)]

[Lowpe]

Not a great day for the Allies...but I will take it....especially the land victories.

[T Rav]

I've caught back up after being away from my computer for a few days. Go get 'em!

T Rav

[Lowpe]

May 2, 1942

Here comes the IJN! Despite the forecast for clear weather...the coastline is beset by storms...but partly cloudy over Rockhampton.

The IJN dodges the sub gauntlet...

skirmishes with PT Boats...who retire unhurt to rearm from an AGP at Marysborough.[:)]

[Lowpe]

There are several squadrons sweeping...the first goes in to great effect near Rockhampton:

Morning Air attack on 4th Brigade, at 95,152 (Rockhampton)

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid detected at 39 NM, estimated altitude 35,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 13 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 30

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 23

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 2 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat: 1 destroyed

[Lowpe]

But bad weather over Rockhampton, scrubs the sweep...and all flights until the afternoon despite numerous sightings of the IJN... the bombing raid goes in first before the planned sweep of course:

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Bundaberg at 96,155

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 20,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 32
F1M2 Pete x 6
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 35

Allied aircraft
P-40E Warhawk x 26
F2A-3 Buffalo x 18
SBD-3 Dauntless x 18
TBD-1 Devastator x 2

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 2 destroyed
F1M2 Pete: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-40E Warhawk: 2 destroyed
SBD-3 Dauntless: 6 destroyed
TBD-1 Devastator: 1 destroyed

Japanese Ships
xAK Tokusima Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
xAK Nanman Maru
xAK Toyokawa Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
xAK Ryuzin Maru, Bomb hits 1
xAK Aki Maru

Aircraft Attacking:
4 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
2 x TBD-1 Devastator launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 22.4in Mk 13 Torp.
2 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb
4 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb