Rising Sun, Falling Skies: BTSL Bigred vs John 3rd

[bigred]

43-11-18:

[bigred]

43-11-19: Landings near luganville and near Kodiak, but not directly on the porthex. Allied intel confirms massive minefields in both hexes. Austalian 6th div fully prepped prepares for a walkabout thru the backside of Luganville. IIRC in real life the IJA 38th div landed on the north shore of guadalcanal and then walked across the island to henderson feld to make their attacks. The 20th of nov will be posted on separtate post.

[bigred]

43-11-20:

[bigred]

FYI

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In the air phases before the shock attack ALL available FTR, FB, and LBA were directed into hex 56,50. Minimal CAP was planned. Supply in the Irrawaddy valley was sporadic. All construction was stopped. Chittagong base max supply of 90000 was dropped to 50k to help feed this attack if it went to day2.
All available air transport had been redirected (from China) into the valley AFs on previous turns.

The hex is strafed or bombed by 419 allied sorties.

Before this attack: This is a consolidated air strafing report for hex 56,50.

Morning Air attack on 1st Tank Division, at 56,50 , near Taungoo

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid spotted at 10 NM, estimated altitude 5,100 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes

Allied aircraft
F6F-3 Hellcat x 3
P-47D2 Thunderbolt x 22
P-47D2 Thunderbolt x 14
F6F-3 Hellcat x 25
Allied aircraft
P-40N5 Warhawk x 54
Allied aircraft
P-40K Warhawk x 20
Allied aircraft
P-40K Warhawk x 3
Allied aircraft
B-24D1 Liberator x 11
P-38H Lightning x 25
Allied aircraft
B-24J Liberator x 11
P-38H Lightning x 25
Allied aircraft
Martlet IV x 16
P-40N1 Warhawk x 3
Hurricane IIc Trop x 10
P-40N5 Warhawk x 6
P-47D2 Thunderbolt x5
F6F-3 Hellcat x 3
P-47D2 Thunderbolt x 22
P-40N1 Warhawk x 22
Hurricane IIc Trop x 13
Hurricane IIc Trop x 14
Hurricane IIc Trop x 14
Beaufighter VIc x 16
Beaufighter VIc x 16
Hurricane IIc Trop x 13
Hurricane IIc Trop x 10
F6F-3 Hellcat x 23
Allied aircraft losses
F6F-3 Hellcat: 2 damaged

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x F6F-3 Hellcat strafing at 100 feet

Ground combat at 56,50 (near Toungoo)

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 42415 troops, 817 guns, 1023 vehicles, Assault Value = 1364

Defending force 25599 troops, 325 guns, 811 vehicles, Assault Value = 869

Allied adjusted assault: 1503

Japanese adjusted defense: 313

Allied assault odds: 4 to 1

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

Japanese ground losses:
7010 casualties reported
Squads: 92 destroyed, 71 disabled
Non Combat: 264 destroyed, 79 disabled
Engineers: 17 destroyed, 16 disabled
Guns lost 96 (37 destroyed, 59 disabled)
Vehicles lost 223 (151 destroyed, 72 disabled)
Units retreated 3

Allied ground losses:
1076 casualties reported
Squads: 30 destroyed, 134 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 68 disabled
Engineers: 6 destroyed, 10 disabled
Guns lost 30 (5 destroyed, 25 disabled)
Vehicles lost 55 (4 destroyed, 51 disabled)

Defeated Japanese Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
26th Australian Brigade
255th Armoured Brigade
5th Indian Division
44th Cavalry Regiment
8th KGV Light Cav Regiment
40th Chinese Corps
24th Australian Brigade
1st Burma Battalion
9th Australian Division
77th Heavy AA Regiment
25th Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
85th British AT Gun Regiment
4th Heavy Mortar Regiment
Defending units:
47th Division
1st Tank Division
2nd Tank Division

[bigred]

John sends me the CR after he runs the replay but before I get a complete jap EoT. This is an interesting tidbit.
Last few turns the IJN recon subs have been out looking for my invasion fleets. Last turn I noted IJN recon scouting my Indian ocean ports. Seems John is on the hunt again. This WAS a Transport TF with Fuel headed to Diego Garcia.
Screen shots will be up later.

Morning Air attack on TF, near Diego Garcia at 11,62

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid detected at 36 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 11
A7M1 Sam x 34
A7M1a Sam x 4
B6N2 Jill x 6
D4Y2 Judy x 44
D4Y3 Judy x 24

Japanese aircraft losses
D4Y2 Judy: 1 damaged

Allied Ships
xAK Oregonian, Bomb hits 2, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
xAK Harry Luckenbach, Bomb hits 7, and is sunk
xAK Arizonan, Bomb hits 5, and is sunk
xAK Kansan, Bomb hits 7, and is sunk
PC Godavari, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
xAK Manoa, Bomb hits 6, and is sunk
xAK Texan, Bomb hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
8 x D4Y3 Judy releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg SAP Bomb
4 x D4Y3 Judy releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg SAP Bomb
4 x D4Y3 Judy releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg SAP Bomb
3 x D4Y2 Judy releasing from 1000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg SAP Bomb
2 x B6N2 Jill launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 45cm Type 91 Torp
4 x B6N2 Jill launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 45cm Type 91 Torp
17 x D4Y2 Judy releasing from 1000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg SAP Bomb
10 x D4Y2 Judy releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg SAP Bomb
2 x D4Y2 Judy releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg SAP Bomb
4 x D4Y3 Judy releasing from 1000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg SAP Bomb
4 x D4Y3 Judy releasing from 1000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg SAP Bomb
12 x D4Y2 Judy releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg SAP Bomb

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring xAK Harry Luckenbach
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring xAK Arizonan
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring xAK Manoa
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring xAK Kansan
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring xAK Texan
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring xAK Oregonian
Massive explosion on xAK Kansan

[bigred]

Just a reminder, the strategic battle plan in full effect and moves forward. Indian 4th corp has breached the gap between Tongou and Prome. Indian 33corp is in strategic reserve w/3inf div, one Par Div, 3xPara regiments, and 3 INF BDE (all fully upgraded 43 inf squads!!!).
Mountbattan with Eastern Army has relocated to Magwe, by rule the Army group will pull 20k supply into its location.

[bigred]

43-11-22:

[bigred]

43-11-23: The replay did not match up with the combat report concerning 56,50 shock attack. I will take this result. I consider this a gigantic breakthrough for the allies and a catastrophic loss for Japan.

[BBfanboy]

WTH is going on in the screenshot with the I-16 attack? It shows the attack taking place off-map, just east of Aden and two other IJ subs in the Aden holding box. Is this some kind of mod feature?

[bigred]

WTH is going on in the screenshot with the I-16 attack? It shows the attack taking place off-map, just east of Aden and two other IJ subs in the Aden holding box. Is this some kind of mod feature?

By rulebook IJN can send surface(IIRC no larger than CL) or subs to off map hexes such as the Cape or Panama. This mod uses some map mod from DaBabes so I figure John can go to any of those off map hexes. John May be able to invade also, I will need to reread the book.
For some time I have been running supply and fuel unescorted out of Aden and Iran. Seems I will need to reinforce my transporters with escorts and place some NavSearch capabilities nearby. Also may need to increase my base force strength quickly to neutralize any surprise invasion. I need to keep the tiger in his cage.

[bigred]

43-11-23:

[CaptBeefheart]

WTH is going on in the screenshot with the I-16 attack? It shows the attack taking place off-map, just east of Aden and two other IJ subs in the Aden holding box. Is this some kind of mod feature?

I'm guessing the hex data doesn't match the map. Notice the Aden base doesn't line up with the map. Thus, I-16 may be in play per hex data, not the map.

I've played that way before against the Computer by mistake. I didn't bother to change anything since convoys and whatnot still worked.

Cheers,
CB

[bigred]

43-11-24: USA 40th div lands on Canton Island. Day One.

Ground combat at Canton Island (153,143)

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 11536 troops, 227 guns, 90 vehicles, Assault Value = 500

Defending force 5447 troops, 92 guns, 50 vehicles, Assault Value = 79

Allied adjusted assault: 7

Japanese adjusted defense: 15

Allied assault odds: 1 to 2 (fort level 6)

Combat modifiers
Defender: forts(+), preparation(-), experience(-)
Attacker: shock(+), disruption(-), fatigue(-)

Japanese ground losses:
1918 casualties reported
Squads: 57 destroyed, 20 disabled
Non Combat: 27 destroyed, 54 disabled
Engineers: 25 destroyed, 9 disabled
Guns lost 78 (56 destroyed, 22 disabled)
Vehicles lost 24 (14 destroyed, 10 disabled)
Units destroyed 1

Allied ground losses:
2315 casualties reported
Squads: 113 destroyed, 70 disabled
Non Combat: 14 destroyed, 12 disabled
Engineers: 16 destroyed, 7 disabled
Guns lost 30 (18 destroyed, 12 disabled)

Assaulting units:
14th NZ Brigade
3rd Marine Raider Battalion
40th Infantry Div /9
7th Marine Defense Battalion
142nd USN Stn Base Force
15th Base Maint Engineer Battalion

Defending units:
1st ADU Coastal Gun Battalion
71st Naval Guard Unit
64th JNAF AF Unit
45th Field Const Co
1st Art.Mortar Regiment
28th Fld AA Gun Co
79th JAAF AF Bn

[bigred]

Day 2:

Ground combat at Canton Island (153,143)

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 9790 troops, 204 guns, 76 vehicles, Assault Value = 387

Defending force 3803 troops, 50 guns, 41 vehicles, Assault Value = 17

Allied adjusted assault: 48

Japanese adjusted defense: 12

Allied assault odds: 4 to 1 (fort level 6)

Allied Assault reduces fortifications to 2

Combat modifiers
Defender: forts(+), preparation(-), experience(-)
Attacker: shock(+)

Japanese ground losses:
498 casualties reported
Squads: 40 destroyed, 3 disabled
Non Combat: 3 destroyed, 23 disabled
Engineers: 7 destroyed, 4 disabled
Guns lost 19 (14 destroyed, 5 disabled)
Vehicles lost 4 (1 destroyed, 3 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
1634 casualties reported
Squads: 61 destroyed, 74 disabled
Non Combat: 7 destroyed, 3 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 5 disabled
Guns lost 42 (19 destroyed, 23 disabled)
Vehicles lost 3 (2 destroyed, 1 disabled)

Assaulting units:
40th Infantry Division
3rd Marine Raider Battalion
14th NZ Brigade
142nd USN Stn Base Force
7th Marine Defense Battalion
15th Base Maint Engineer Battalion

Defending units:
71st Naval Guard Unit
1st ADU Coastal Gun Battalion
1st Art.Mortar Regiment
64th JNAF AF Unit
28th Fld AA Gun Co
79th JAAF AF Bn

[bigred]

John is ship hunting in the Indian ocean. I would have run with the AOs but the IJN would have sunk them at sea.

Afternoon Air attack on Addu , at 16,52

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid spotted at 39 NM, estimated altitude 17,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 11
A7M1 Sam x 34
A7M1a Sam x 4
D4Y2 Judy x 39
D4Y3 Judy x 24

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
AO Brazos, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
AKE Exmoor, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
KV Jasmine, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires
AKE Admiral Day, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
AVP Merel, Bomb hits 2, and is sunk
AO Niobrara, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires
KV Nigella, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage

Port hits 6
Port supply hits 2

Aircraft Attacking:
8 x D4Y3 Judy releasing from 2000'
Port Attack: 1 x 500 kg GP Bomb
8 x D4Y3 Judy releasing from 3000'
Port Attack: 1 x 500 kg GP Bomb
4 x D4Y3 Judy releasing from 1000'
Port Attack: 1 x 500 kg GP Bomb
8 x D4Y2 Judy releasing from 2000'
Port Attack: 1 x 500 kg GP Bomb
9 x D4Y2 Judy releasing from 3000'
Port Attack: 1 x 500 kg GP Bomb
14 x D4Y2 Judy releasing from 1000'
Port Attack: 1 x 500 kg GP Bomb
4 x D4Y2 Judy releasing from 1000'
Port Attack: 1 x 500 kg GP Bomb
4 x D4Y3 Judy releasing from 2000'
Port Attack: 1 x 500 kg GP Bomb
4 x D4Y2 Judy releasing from 2000'
Port Attack: 1 x 500 kg GP Bomb

[bigred]

43-11-23:

[bigred]

43-11-24:

[John 3rd]

My Opponent has covered the recent developments quite well. It is nearly December 1943! We are making slow, steady progress getting usually 2 turns (4 Days) in a week. As we are both fairly busy with RL, this is not a bad thing. Couple of regional comments:

NOPAC
The full-time winter brawl in the Aleutians is really a lot of fun. Lots of punches and counters occurring. Looking back on it, I was trying to raid the area near Prince Rupert with CARDIV1 (2 CV-2 CVL) and really, REALLY got lucky in stumbling on a suicide AK. Had that TF run into the American CTF (3 CV-4 CVL) it would have been a disaster. Once my reinforcements arrived, Japan fought a carrier battle in the winter of 1943 and came out on top. Really bad losses in DB and TB airframes but it was a tactical victory (1 US Essex severely damaged, another moderately damaged, a CVL crippled, and another moderately damaged) with NO HITS scored on Japan's carriers.

SEPAC
The landings at Canton and dot bases in the area are good and to be expected. Still hold the Line Isles in strength with plenty of supply and airpower so they keep Allied supply lines long and tenuous.

SOPAC
The landings at Luganville are interesting. WE shall see if the enemy can cross the hex to get to the target in combat ready shape.

Burma
With about 1,000,000,000+ Allied troops committed to the Burma Campaign, it is about time a breakthrough occurred. Really beat-up those strafing aircraft but was not prepared for the 4-1! The little Dutch boy will continue to stick his fingers in the leaking dyke to hold off the Allied advance.

Those IO CVLs and CVEs have done a pretty good job over the last couple of raids into the IO. Liked sinking those ships off Diego and then finding the disbanded shipping in Addu was a pleasant bonus.

The Japanese SS in the IO have been really scoring over the last 8-10 days! I count 11 ships hit and/or sunk during that time. Nice for them to be a pain-in-the-butt.

China
Continuing the slow advance and assault pushing towards the Chinese capital. Definitely a grind here!

[John 3rd]

So...where are we at with losses to the Kaigun?

There have been exceedingly lite losses in the heavy-duty portion of the fleet: 1 BB, 1 BC, 1 CVE, and 2 CA. With the action we have had, that is OUTSTANDING. All CV, CVL, and all but 1 CVE are in the fight.

Losses in the 'Little Boys' has been far more pronounced. To date Japan has lost 13 CL and 52 DD. The DD total includes both 1st- and 2nd-Class DD. This is not good. Am OK at this point but DDs losses are pretty tough.

The IJN Sub arm is in fantastic shape with only 12 I-Boats and Ro-Boats sunk to this day. Considering that they have seen heavy duty action, this is a very acceptable amount of losses. Have seen (in the last two weeks of game play) Allied ASW force a sub to the surface but then the sub has gotten away. Never seen that even once in any other campaign. Though crippled, each of those boats is still alive. Pretty interesting.