More Variants - The End of Western Imperialism - No Nomad please (Feb 1944)

[Xargun]

Philippine Islands:
My troops finally capture Cebu after several days of fighting.


Java:
IJA Troops capture Pamekasan in a shock attack.


Solomons:
Looks like the allied CVs are back at Lunga, but he could have 5+ CVs there, where I can only muster 5 CVs, 2 CVLs plus a couple CVEs - not an even fight considering his flak. I am concerned how I'm going to escort my Bridages into their positions. I can move to roughly Rabaul fairly safe but further will be a risk. Perhaps move to Rabaul on LSDs and then further south via 1000ton PBs in Fast Transport TFs.


Xargun

[Xargun]

Not much happened this turn other than some are attacks on Chinese troops - everything else was quiet.


Xargun

[Xargun]

Sub Warfare:
A US sub attacked and hit one of my PBs with a torpedo near Rabaul. The PB has survived and might make port.


China:
The AVG showed back up with a vengeance this turn, flying heavy cap over some Chinese units I have been bombing. The Warhawks ripped into my Naval bombers decimating them


South Pacific:
The allied CVs showed back up and caught another amphib TF carrying another BF - this time to Rossel Island. They sunk them all



Xargun

[Xargun]

Slow turn, nothing much happened except a few failed sweeps and some failed bombing of Tulagi.


Xargun

[Xargun]

Java Islands:
My Sallies have been bombing the De Passer Base Force at Denpasar for days now and after today's bombings the air unit went to commander's decision and the enemy unit no longer shows on the map. I am expecting it to flip to my control next turn.


Solomons:
More SBDs bomb the naval guard unit at Tulagi inflicting very minor losses. Problem here is supplies. The base is very low on supplies and with his CVs roaming it will make it hard to resupply without bringing my CVs to bear - and tbh after the last encounter I am a little CV shy at this point.



Xargun

[Xargun]

China:
A small surprise here - 13 B-25B Mitchells strafed some troops in the open in China today. I am surprised they are in theater. I have set LR CAP over some other similar troops in case he changes target next turn.


Solomons:
The Allied DS is still in the area, but hanging to the south about 12-15 hexes from Rabaul. I am finishing unloading a Brigade at Rabaul this next turn and will then airlift/Fast Transport TF them to their final destination. Two more Brigades are right behind it - I only want one TF at Rabaul at a time to lessen the losses should the allied CVs come within range. My Sentai of Zeros is not large enough to prevent attacks.



Xargun

[Xargun]

Enemy fighters sweeping over Tulagi and my Sallies bombing Mataram are the only action this turn. The allied DS moves north - probably seeking targets - but finds none.

I am starting to reorganize my troops for the next stage of the war.


Xargun

[Xargun]

Sub Warfare:
The turn starts off with another example of my poor luck...

Sub attack near Woodlark Island at 106,133

Japanese Ships
SS I-173, hits 5

Allied Ships
CV Formidable
BB Resolution
CA Pensacola
CA Louisville
CA Northampton
DD Parrott
DD Kane
DD Hatfield
DD Lawrence
DD King

SS I-173 launches 4 torpedoes at CV Formidable


Java Islands:
IJA troops come ashore at both Mataram and Denpasar. We should capture both bases next turn.


Xargun

[Xargun]

Sub Warfare:
Allied DDs locate and damage RO-66 near Shortlands. The sub survives the attack and has been ordered back to Truk for repairs.


South Pacific:
The allied DS moves into the Bismarck Sea near Rabaul - knowing I have lost 3 CVs and several damaged has embolden Nomad - plus June 42 is the first CV upgrade for IJN -- so he may think my CVs are repairing / upgrading.

The DS sweeps Rabaul with 26 Marlet II fighters and they run into my 27 Zeros and pay the price. Unfortunately 30 F4F-3 WIldcats come in next - a much more even fight there.

Then the DS is able to reach my retreating TFs at Kavieng - sinking 1 xAK and setting 3 more on fire. Then an alpha strike against Rabaul airfields. The damage is minor - only 6 planes destroyed on the ground - but a bunch damaged. These strike effectively takes Rabaul out of action for a few days - the airfield is fine, but the majority of the air groups are low on planes and morale now.


Xargun

[Xargun]

South Pacific:
The allied Deathstar moves north in a surprise move.


From their position next to Kavieng they sweep Rabaul, attack Kavieng Port, and attack Rabaul Port and Airfield. The sweep over Rabaul nets nothing - everything able has been moved. The attack on Kavieng port catches the survivors from the TF hit last turn and a PB and ACM as well. The attack on the Rabaul Airfield claimed a couple planes.

I do not know what do to do about the allied DS - he outnumbers me in CVs and his flak is incredible already. I believe he purchased an upgrade or two for his CAs so they are 44 level or some such already. I don't want to risk my CVs engaging his again unless I can get some sort of advantage.

I have evacuated Truk incase he keeps moving north and decides to raid Truk. Unfortunately there are several ships undergoing repairs there - two capital ships - a CV and BB. The CV is almost repaired but the BB will be there for months.

I did some looking and I will only receive 2 CVLs and 2 CVEs in 42, whereas the US gets 7 CVEs. In 43 I get everything else - 13 Shokaku class CVs and 24 CVLs. They start arriving in Jan 43 and stop in October 43 - provided I can afford the Nav Points - which a quick calculation just stated that at current consumption, I will be out of NavShip Points in 145 days. I need to find some savings and quick.


Xargun

[Xargun]

South Pacific:
The allied DS did not move this turn, instead staying east of Kavieng and hitting Kavieng port again sinking the PB and xAK that was in port burning.

That was the entire turn, other than a dozen or more IJN TFs fleeing in every direction. Two more days and my repair yard ships at Truk can flee as well - mostly concerned about the CV Hiryu here.


I have done some more calculations and I do not have enough NavShip points to continue at the current rate - I will run out in Dec 42. I need to look at everything I am accelerating and building and make some hard calls. I don't want to stop CVs, but I am going to have to. I had hoped the extra NavShip points I had bought would last me long enough for CVs/CVLs to start arriving but they will not. If I turned off all the new CAs I have building I will save 520 pts per day - it will extend the time from 145 days to 173 days. I'm going to have to slow down the carriers - which will delay any arrivals even more. The allies begin receiving new CVs in Jan 43 and receive 8 new CVs in the first six months of 43. Without accelerating my CVs I cannot hope to come close to that.

Not sure what to do.

Xargun

[Xargun]

South Pacific:
Allied DS has moved south a bit nd is now 2 hexes east of Feni Island. They attacked Rabaul Port, finally hitting the damaged PB undergoing repairs there. The ship is still afloat but another hit or two will sink her. The DS also attacked Kavieng port but didn't hit anything.


China:
My artillery bombarded at Changsha, reporting 354 enemy casualties.


I think I have figured out my NavShip issue. I have returned everything to normal build speed for this turn, and will reapply my changes in Tracker next turn and then apply in game. I should know if its working in two turns. I did an overview look at arriving CVs - both allied and japanese - and oh my god do the allies produce some flattops !!! Never realized how many I guess. By the end of 1942 the allies will produce 7 new CVEs, while I produce 2 CVLs and 2 CVEs. In 1943 it is a bit more even: Allies will produce 16 CVs (not all with airwings), 7 CVLs and 13 CVEs; IJN should produce 6 CVs and 18 CVLs. I may be able to squeak another CV or two at the end of 43, depending on NavShip points. In 1944 it is grossly unfair: Allies produce 15 CVs, 3 CVLs and 44 CVEs - compared to my estimated 6 CVs and 7 CVLs. 1945 is just as bad: Allies with 9 CVs, 5 CVLs and 25 CVEs compared to IJN with 1 CV and 1 CVL.

By the end of 1943 the allies will have more aircraft on CVs than me, but I should have better aircraft with Sams, Judies and Jills. But that will change in 44.

During my conversation with Nomad he admitted to losing 1 CV in our exchange compared to my 3


Xargun

[Mike Solli]

What do your merchant shipyards look like? Any chance of converting some of them? Also (or alternatively), you can increase your naval shipyards. Either way will cost supply.

How much are you short before making any changes?

[Xargun]

Sub Warfare:
Finally a little luck on my side.

Sub attack near Choiseul Bay at 113,132

Japanese Ships
SS I-18, hits 3

Allied Ships
CV Illustrious, Torpedo hits 1
BB Resolution
BB Royal Sovereign
CA Pensacola
CA Louisville
CA Chester
DD Kennison
DD Kane
DD Hatfield
DD Lawrence
DD King

SS I-18 launches 8 torpedoes at CV Illustrious

Though we did fire 8 torpedoes and only one hit -- GRRR...


Xargun

[Xargun]

Sub Warfare:
A pair of allied subs locate and attack RO-62 damaging her. She is ordered back to Truk for repairs.


A few pointless sweeps in china and over Tulagi, followed by some bombing at Tulagi that inflicted no losses.


Xargun

[Xargun]

Solomons:
Allied troops come ashore at Tulagi. From the casualty report I am guessing a Regiment plus in size. I am sure my beat up fragment of a Naval Guard unit will not withstand the first attack next turn. But with the allied DS moving away (I think it is, I am moving recon units to determine for sure or not) I can begin to defend the Solomons.

I am moving air units back to Rabaul and Truk as well as ships back to Truk now that the threat of the allied DS is abated - at least for now. If all goes well I will be striking at the allies in the next couple turns, but its not 100% yet.


Three more upgraded Brigades arrived in Japan and slated for the SRA - they are moving via rail to Nagasaki for transport to Babel and beyond. On the 1st of August, four more upgraded Brigades arrive along with a new engineering unit. Provided nothing is under attack these units are slated to backfill the South Pacific and SRA as needed to free up full divisions for counter attack purposes.

On the R&D front I should have A6M5c Zeros in November 42, Tojo IIcs in November 42, and Helen IIbs in August 42.

I believe I have solved my pressing issue with NavShip points. I have stop accelerating all CVs and CVLs. I have halted all cruisers for the rest of 42 (I have 10 Mogami CAs added) - they will be turned back on as I can afford it after carriers. I am accelerating 2 CVLs which will arrive end of 42 and 5 CVs which will all arrive early 43. As CVLs / CVs arrive, I will be accelerating the next in line. By doing this I will achieve all CVLs by end of 43 and 6+ CVs by end of 43 as well.

During pregame I missed that the Ki-44 Tojo lines uses Ha-35 engines and not Ha-34 and planned my economy around the Ha-34. I have fixed my mistake (will cost me an additional 120k supplies) and finally able to start producing actual fighter planes again (other than supplying engines for the R&D engine bonus).


Xargun

[Xargun]

Solomons:
An Allied SC TF bombards Tulagi inflicting decent damage to the Naval Guard fragment there. I thought for sure the attack would come today, but no attack manifested so whatever he dropped off must be smaller than I thought. More troops and supplies come ashore from what appears to be a single APA - but there has to be more than just one.


China:
My arty bombardment at Changsha reports 280 enemy casualties.

My troops have crossed the river into Changteh. The Shock attack was not as successful as I hoped but overall it wasn't that bad. I knocked the forts down to level 4 and inflicted 2700 casualties on the defenders, while suffering 5000. I achieved 1:1 odds and after reviewing my troops they are all still in good shape so an attack is ordered for next turn with support from bombers.


Xargun

[Xargun]

Solomons:
The CL heavy TF is back bombarding Tulagi again. Nomad must have some AKEs at Lunga to rearm them this quick. Plus I'm not sure they can rearm by themselves at a level 4 port (Lunga). More troops came ashore at Lunga and in the combat phase, the 2 Marine Regiments attacked and took the base -- no surprise. I'm not sure I had more than 5 effective AS left from all the bombarding.


China:
Supporting my troops attacking at Chengteh, LR Naval Bombers from Formosa struck at ground targets doing a decent job considering their lack of skills.

Some B-25B Mitchells appeared again - this time near Ichang attacking an IJA Brigade. The Mitchells seemed to be based at Chungking.

My followup attack at Changteh was successful, lowering forts to 3 and inflicting nearly 3 times my own casualties: 948 IJA vs 2457 Chinese - a lot of those losses were destroyed squads. This attack must be worrying Nomad as I see movement in the horde of troops at Changsha. Unless they are motorized units, it should be 4-5 days before they can reinforce and with a little luck I will own the base by then. I have switched my LR Naval Bombers to attack ground troops at Changsha in an attempt to slow down the reinforcements.



Xargun

[Xargun]

A decent day for the IJN...

Solomons:
A couple turns before the allied DS moved north past Rabaul, I was sneaking the new KB south. The new KB consisted of 2 CVLs - one maxed out with fighters only, and 4 CVs. Definitely not the same as the original KB, but not too bad. Their aircraft loadouts were set at 33 Zeros, 18 Vals and 21 Kates per CV.

When the allied DS was playing around Rabaul I seriously thought about charging in but I'm glad I didn't. I believe the allied DS is 5-6 full CVs and I easily could have lost all my carriers leaving myself wide open to whatever Nomad wanted to do. So I sat and waited in the middle of the ocean for the allied DS to head back south and disappear - and she did. After I lost track of the DS I still waited until I had good recon of the Lunga and Kirakira to make sure the DS was lurking there.

So last turn was the go time - as my father used to say "time to crap or get off the pot". So I lunged forward towards the Solomons - hoping to catch some of the plethora of ships I have spotted all over Lunga and now Tulagi. My biggest worry was a chance encounter with an enemy sub... and that did not happen. I arrived at my spot and launched a strike as the sun came up.

Morning Air attack on TF, near Lunga at 114,138

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid detected at 118 NM, estimated altitude 17,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 44 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 66
B5N1 Kate x 9
B5N2 Kate x 40
D3A1 Val x 36

Allied aircraft
P-39D Airacobra x 63
F4F-4 Wildcat x 32

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 2 destroyed
B5N1 Kate: 1 damaged
B5N2 Kate: 2 destroyed, 12 damaged
B5N2 Kate: 4 destroyed by flak
D3A1 Val: 4 destroyed, 3 damaged
D3A1 Val: 2 destroyed by flak

Allied aircraft losses
P-39D Airacobra: 1 destroyed
F4F-4 Wildcat: 1 destroyed

Allied Ships
CVE Long Island, Bomb hits 3, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk
CL Marblehead
BB Mississippi, Bomb hits 1
DD Tenedos
CLAA San Diego, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
CLAA Atlanta, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires
CL Boise
BB Idaho
xAK Arizonan
DD Laffey
DD Hull, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Selfridge

Massive explosion on CVE Long Island
Fuel storage explosion on CVE Long Island
Fuel storage explosion on CVE Long Island
Massive explosion on CVE Long Island
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CLAA Atlanta


When I saw the cap I was worried I stumbled into the allied DS, but I saw P-39D Aircobra - army fighters. So it was just some of the massive fighters at Lunga. My Zero did their job and the bombers got through. I was hoping for some BBs and I got that and more.

I anxiously awaited the allied counter strike but it never happened in the morning. So my planes were rearmed, refueled and an afternoon strike went in.

fternoon Air attack on TF, near Lunga at 114,138

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid detected at 118 NM, estimated altitude 17,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 44 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 63
B5N1 Kate x 17
B5N2 Kate x 38
D3A1 Val x 48

Allied aircraft
P-39D Airacobra x 54
F4F-4 Wildcat x 24

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 6 destroyed
B5N2 Kate: 28 damaged
B5N2 Kate: 3 destroyed by flak
D3A1 Val: 7 destroyed, 7 damaged
D3A1 Val: 3 destroyed by flak

Allied aircraft losses
P-39D Airacobra: 2 destroyed
F4F-4 Wildcat: 1 destroyed

Allied Ships
CL Concord
BB Mississippi
DD Bamback
APA Harris, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk
DD Tenedos, Bomb hits 1
xAKL Noora, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
CL Marblehead
BB Idaho
CA Astoria
DD Tucker
xAK Alaskan
xAKL Oorama, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
CL Helena
CA Salt Lake City, Bomb hits 1, on fire
DMS Hopkins
DD Barker
PF Absaroka
DD Fox

Allied ground losses:
1151 casualties reported
Squads: 35 destroyed, 7 disabled
Non Combat: 67 destroyed, 14 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 72 (68 destroyed, 4 disabled)
Vehicles lost 10 (10 destroyed, 0 disabled)


The second strike did a good job as well, though I was hoping for some torpedo hits on some BBs - but those nimble little things dodged them all. But I did claim a couple xAKL and an APA - which I believe may have been full of a US engineers - maybe a SeaBee unit Perhaps more than one unit from the number of squads and guns lost at sea.


Overall I lost a lot of planes and pilots in the strike, but I think this will go a long way to reminding Nomad he doesn't control the seas as much as he thinks he does. I also spotted the allied DS to the south - nine hexes south of Lunga. He can't catch me unless he pursues me all the way home !!


China:
My attack at Changteh lowers the forts to 2 and inflicts double the losses on the Chinese. My bombers did not fly against the moving troops at Changsha so they have moved into the hex between Changsha and Changteh. I have changed orders and will try to hit them again. Another attack is ordered though supplies are getting low. If I can reduce the forts to 1 I will shock attack the next turn and hopefully take the base. Taking Changteh may force his entire rail defense to fall back or risk being surrounded. But we still need to win the fight first.


Xargun

[Xargun]

China:
My fighter sweep over the enemy reinforcement troops does not fly and my bombers fly into a heavy cap trap curtesy of the AVG. Luckily they were at a very high altitude and my LR CAP did fly so only half a dozen or so bombers were lost in all. The bombers continued on and hit their targets so they deserve credit for that. Recon shows 7 enemy units rushing to reinforce Changteh - at least is a HQ unit.

My attack at Changteh was good - 607 IJA losses to 2021 Chinese losses and the forts are lowered to level 1. Supplies are in the red, but still above the minimum for each unit so a Shock attack has been ordered. Even if the enemy troops arrive in the base, they should be in move mode and easy prey. I am hoping to take the base, but we will see.

My arty bombardment at Changsha reports 290 enemy losses. I am thinking of trying an attack here since it looks like he pulled 6 Corps off the line at Changsha to reinforce Changteh. I guess if I take heavy losses it will just be time and supplies to replace them. I doubt Nomad would attack out of his defensive positions. I think I need to get more combat engineers before I try this though.


Solomons:
I braced for the allied DS to come charging towards my CVs, but they did not. They moved to within 3 hexes of Lunga and all the TFs there fled to that hex or further south. So my CVs moving north at full speed was a bit overkill but better safe than sorry - but they did accrue some decent damage from the speed. I am guessing the CVs got away safely and they will return to Truk for repairs and replacement aircraft and pilots.


Xargun