Westerley Wind, Fine NJP72 (J) vs Lowpe (A) DBB Sce 30

[njp72]

Scoreboard August 43

Starting to look a bit average given the year. Still if Chungking falls (next month????) a degree of respectability will be restored and a stack of units likely to be released to slow down Lowpe.

Still reasonably comfortable as long as the Home land is not being bombed.

[njp72]

Major battles rage as the Chinese attempt to lift the siege on Chungking.

Armor is redeployed to counter new threat. No further attacks possible on Chungking for at least 3 weeks until these emerging threats are nullified.

Annoying but presents opportunities as well. Chinese troops moving out into the open is not a bad thing.

[njp72]

Getting a bit more dicer around Vietnam/ Burma etc.

The bulk of the forces deployed in Burma have successfully broken contact and making good progress back into Vietnam.

Major concern is Saigon. It continues to hold but pressure is mounting every day. Vinh continues to defy the Emperor which is causing much grief and general annoyance. Lightly armed paras and weakened Chinese armies defying 3 x veteran IJA divisions plus naval support.

[njp72]

Frank R continues to make excellent progress.

I reckon it will be good to go by Oct 43 based on its progress. Time to bring some real pain for Lowpe

[njp72]

The bulk of the USN protecting his troop convoys to Vietnam and ensuring a fuel blockade on the Empire.

I can't get to them in that shallow water. Patience required.

Will draw his aircraft into traps and attrit him the best I can.

[njp72]

Big turns are happening now.

Exhausting with the clicks and trying to outsmart Lowpe

KB from the East and surface forces based in the DEI surge to threaten the Allies LOC whilst Lowpe concentrates on Vietnam.

It generated a heavy air response which shocked me and at the same time provided much needed realism on how difficult the next 18 months will be.

Situation after the initial surge.

[njp72]

The name of the game is points.

I will lose a stack of ships over the next month (mostly merchants) that are trapped in the DEI. The key here is to ensure their sacrifice will not be in vain. The best way to get at the Allies at the moment is attrition through the air using the merchants as bait.

Last turn a CVE was lost but the Allies DB air wings got savaged. I can live with this exchange.

[njp72]

He is going deep again; Haiphong the likely target.

Will skirmish with his lead elements and then look to strike at the vulnerable APAs.

Admittedly, given the disparity of forces deployed here, chances of success are low.

[njp72]

The Burma Army has just about made good its escape from the impending death trap hence Lowpe's deep move again at Haiphong.

These divisions will be very useful once they are successfully redeployed near the Chinese border.

[njp72]

Sep 25th 43- been slack with the AAR but plenty happening in the game.

The Chinese have come out hard in an attempt to break the siege at Chungking and tie up the IJA as the US pushes into Vietnam and Southern China.

At a fearful cost the strategy appears to be working.

Whilst annoying it does present the IJA an opportunity of punishing Chinese formations in favorable terrain and with no air cover.

[njp72]

A real hornets nest here for both sides.

I'm confident that I have the combat power to stop him progressing too far into Southern China.

I expect Lowpe's focus is trying to trap the IJA retreating out of Burma.

[njp72]

Successfully managed to break contact out of Burma.

The entire army has almost re-deployed bar one infantry division that retreated in the wrong direction

5+ divisions plus all of their supporting arms are making good their escape. It will get trickier as they move into Vietnam so they are certainly not out of the woods yet.

The Thais will remain as a rear guard as they defend their country from the imperialistic Allies.

[njp72]

KB and friends apply pressure on the extended Allied LOC.

Probably every few days air and subs managed to strike a juicy target but it is certainly not slowing Lowpe down as I had hoped.

The battering of his APAs should ensure no surprise invasion in the Pacific..... hopefully....

[njp72]

The Frank R is almost here.

An airframe guaranteed to inflict misery and ensure the Empire survives into 45.

Mass production is only days away.

[njp72]

Sep 26th 43

A pretty vicious turn for both sides. The USN loses a BB in a full on engagement but then US naval air cripples an IJN BB which is now capable of doing only small circles over a circumference of a hex

Both sides lose another 100 a/c. The IJN is going down slowly but it is still swinging!

[njp72]

25th Indian Div blocking the Burma Army retreat got its comeuppance this turn despite being heavily supported by Allied air.

The Thais with significant support from the IJA are fighting well. The retreat path is still clear into Vietnam.

[njp72]

Massive turn completed with carnage for both sides.

Down south the break out with tankers and SAGs failed due to a lack of ammo, incessant air attacks which resulted in battle damage and the biggest pain in the ass, Fletchers.

Casualties are high with even the veteran Yamato being overwhelmed and sank. About 20 merchant ships, 4 to 5 DDs and 2 x BBs have now been scratched off the playing roster. The Allies lost a fair few a/c, 1 x BB and a couple of DDs.

However they did lose this PT boat and thus all may not be lost as history may yet be re-written for the Empire.

[njp72]

Whilst Lowpe was enjoying himself down South (which was part of the plan to keep him distracted) the IJA and IJN air wings struck back around Pakhoi.

Approx 20 APs and AKs were hit fully loaded with troops, vehicles and guns. For some unknown reason his carriers did not provide the required air cover. Anyway it felt good to avenge Yama and at the same time deal a reasonably serious blow to his ongoing offensive in China. I suspect he will be fuming his Hellcats went AWOL this turn- must have been a helluva of a party for his digital airmen!

[njp72]

So where were the convoys headed?

I suspect to reinforce Pakhoi though there is an outside chance they were concentrating in preparation for an assault on Kiungshan.

Still plenty of targets bobbing around here.

[njp72]

And the KI 84R has arrived and will commence mass production next turn.

Can't wait to have it operating out of Hong Kong and other major airfields in China in an offensive air role.

If I can degrade his CAP, I know the capability currently exists within the IJN and IJA to make his stay on the coastline of China a very expensive one.

Target his transports and not his CVs.