Spanking Lowpe (NJP72 vs Lowpe (A))

[Lowpe]

That base on the tip of Formosa is not connected by road and it takes forever to march overland to the road (2 miles a day IIRC)- time he can use to reinforce the rest of the island. I hope you have follow-up landings planned! I like to land at Taichu or Kagi if enemy air power in the area has been suppressed.

Our paratroopers took Orchid Island...providing a small air and naval base. I think we were rebuffed at Hengchuan ? which is I think the small base at the tip. And yes, I know it is not connected by road and very nasty terrain. But it is a base, and having interlocking runways and ports adds a lot of flexibility. Iriomote and the other islands are all good to take too, along with Batan Island. As a JFB I put a small engineer unit on these islands to build forts in 1942 and at least one naval guard unit as they become available to prevent the quick capture by air...but Japan has to be hurting for troops with so many bypassed.

I have troops prepped for the bases you mention, and others. If I take Hengchuan, what self respecting AFB wouldn't simply reset prep and invade a lightly defended base after a day delay? No marching for me here...

As a JFB, it is so difficult to counter an Allied advance, you might have the troops to counter one, but not lots....so we want to keep pushing forward now once again and not stop until we are within range of Japan proper. Beasts are coming!

[Lowpe]

Maybe the problem is the "Oh chit!" factor of you doing something quite unexpected?

Especially with so much of his battle fleet stuck in the DEI?

Not sure how in the world it is a shock factor....although I have tried to give the impression that we were going to march along the Chinese mainland....

All of the IJN fleet carriers are somewhere around, plus Japan has several good runways to defend with.

The CAP over our invasion fleets sure shot down a lot of enemy planes....will have to wait for the turn to see how many.

[Lowpe]

What is left of the IJN fleet...2 battleships....did Japan build a 2nd super heavy BB? Can't recall seeing it.

a.jpg (1.94 MiB) Viewed 1346 times

[Lowpe]

Good defenses here in the southern tip of Formosa

Ground combat at Hengchun (84,67)

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 107 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 8

Defending force 7762 troops, 33 guns, 6 vehicles, Assault Value = 227

Assault collapses, attacking force wiped out

Japanese ground losses:
156 casualties reported
Squads: 7 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Allied ground losses:
Units destroyed 1

Assaulting units:
2nd Fiji Commando Bn /1

Defending units:
91st Infantry Regiment
2nd Engineer Regiment
87th Naval Guard Unit
50th JAAF AF Bn

[BBfanboy]

Good defenses here in the southern tip of Formosa

Ground combat at Hengchun (84,67)

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 107 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 8

Defending force 7762 troops, 33 guns, 6 vehicles, Assault Value = 227

Assault collapses, attacking force wiped out

Japanese ground losses:
156 casualties reported
Squads: 7 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Allied ground losses:
Units destroyed 1

Assaulting units:
2nd Fiji Commando Bn /1

Defending units:
91st Infantry Regiment
2nd Engineer Regiment
87th Naval Guard Unit
50th JAAF AF Bn

I'm not understanding this - should the losses shown be the Allied side, along with the unit destroyed being Allied? As presented, it says a much stronger Japanese force lost 156 casualties and the Allies had no losses, but one unit was destroyed (usually shown separately after the troop casualties).

[Lowpe]

So I am assuming a glitch in the report somehow. The Allies were wiped out as Japan has sole occupation of the hex.

[Bullshark]

Sometimes it happens when a unit gets wiped out. In real terms I guess they were all washed out to Sea for the sharks to count.

Thanks for the detailed AAR, really great perspective and insight to a brilliant American/ Aus. Blitz cutting the Empire in half in record time. You are soon going to run into the 3rd Gen fighters and kami’s.

North Islands (Okinawa):
I am at the same situation, one year later. I am going North for as many unoccupied islands bypassing Naha, Okinawa. and eventually those near Kagoshima . for fighter bases. Sets up Strat Bombing, from some of these (0)3 islands and fighter bases closer. Not a single Island can be built to level 7, except Naha, () 5. Have to suppress Okinawa this way as Kami’s are a real threat .
Edit: ()4 Ishigaki, ()4 Miyako-Jima, can be a nice set up for Strat Bombing.

This way also sets you up for landings on Kyushu, to set up a few bases and then on to Shikoku. It continues your strategy of landing where there is least resistance. With your Army’s experience they prep in 2 ½ months.

Swatow:

Air attacks form Pesc, Formosa might be a concern, either way. A large Army will be needed to force the rough terrain behind, and past Foochow to get to Shanghai. A few Unstoppable Allied armor units can move south over the open terrain to link up with your Vietnam forces. HK will be a key repair port so you can bypass, Formosa and Manilla.
Shanghai is big VPs, about the same as three small cities on Japan. HK is about the same as a small city on Japan. There are very few VP’s in the rest of China, Man, Korea.

It will be great to see what you do from here!

[BBfanboy]

Few people get to contemplate it, but Peking is worth X100 to the Allies. Chungking is also X100 for the Allies but x200 for Japan!
In Korea, Keijo and Heijo are X50. Naha and Nago are X90 and every base on Formosa is X15.

[RangerJoe]

Manchurian and Korean industries may not give the VPs when attacked but they probably will not be defended as heavily. I would bomb them as soon as is practicable to reduce production.

[CaptBeefheart]

Let the games begin! The amount of IJ troops in Hengchun surprises me. That base is practically an island. By the time units based there get to the next hex, ownership of Formosa shouldn't be in question. I could be wrong, but I don't recall the airbase and port potential of Hengchun as being big.

Cheers,
CB

[BBfanboy]

Let the games begin! The amount of IJ troops in Hengchun surprises me. That base is practically an island. By the time units based there get to the next hex, ownership of Formosa shouldn't be in question. I could be wrong, but I don't recall the airbase and port potential of Hengchun as being big.

Cheers,
CB

I think the SPS is something like AF(3), Port (0)

[RangerJoe]

Let the games begin! The amount of IJ troops in Hengchun surprises me. That base is practically an island. By the time units based there get to the next hex, ownership of Formosa shouldn't be in question. I could be wrong, but I don't recall the airbase and port potential of Hengchun as being big.

Cheers,
CB

I think the SPS is something like AF(3), Port (0)

That is what my current game map has listed.

[Lowpe]

Dec 8th 1943

Screwed up my turn, well to be honest it took me three days and I only spent 5 minutes on the turn as we got some pretty nasty family news on Sunday.

Allied fleets just go hither and thither while Japan pushes forward....

a.jpg (2.73 MiB) Viewed 876 times

[Lowpe]

One CL SAG engage the IJN, heavily damages a IJN CL, and then engages and get trashed by an IJN Heavy CA SAG....
Sub attack near Hengchun at 83,67

Japanese Ships
SS RO-61

Allied Ships
CV Essex, Torpedo hits 1
CA Wichita
CA Vincennes
CA Salt Lake City
CLAA Prince Robert
DE King
DD Sampson
DE Gilmer

SS RO-61 launches 6 torpedoes at CV Essex

Night Time Surface Combat, near Orchid Island at 85,67, Range 1,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CL Isuzu
CL Yura, Shell hits 19, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
DD Suzunami
DD Minegumo

Allied Ships
CL Kenya
CL Newcastle, Shell hits 3
CL Detroit, Shell hits 3, Torpedo hits 1
CL Caradoc
DD Ringgold
DD Grayson
DD Vampire
DD Quadrant
DD Redoubt

Reduced visibility due to Thunderstorms with 78% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Thunderstorms and 78% moonlight: 2,000 yards

Night Time Surface Combat, near Orchid Island at 85,67, Range 1,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CA Mikuma, Shell hits 2
CA Kako, Shell hits 3
CL Jintsu
CL Tama, Shell hits 2
DD Arashi
DD Fubuki, Shell hits 4
DD Asagiri, Shell hits 1

Allied Ships
CL Kenya, Shell hits 12, on fire
CL Newcastle, Shell hits 2, on fire
CL Detroit, Shell hits 14, heavy fires, heavy damage
CL Caradoc, Shell hits 27, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
DD Ringgold, Shell hits 8, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
DD Grayson, Shell hits 4, on fire
DD Vampire
DD Quadrant
DD Redoubt, Shell hits 13, heavy fires, heavy damage


a DD SAG engages an IJN BB SAG and then the IJN is among some ships landing at Orchid....chaos. Meanwhile lots of Allied fleets just looking at the stars.

Night Time Surface Combat, near Orchid Island at 85,67, Range 1,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
BB Fuso, Shell hits 18, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
BB Ise, Shell hits 5
CL Noshiro
DD Onami
DD Hagikaze
DD Mutsuki
DD Uruyuke

Allied Ships
DD Barton, Shell hits 17, and is sunk
DD Benham
DD Wilson, Shell hits 14, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
DD Kortenaer
DD Isaac Sweers, Shell hits 10, and is sunk

a.jpg (3.15 MiB) Viewed 874 times

[Lowpe]

I guess all my air power moved away...

a.jpg (3.61 MiB) Viewed 871 times

[Lowpe]

Nobody to blame but myself....we will see how bad it is when the turn arrives, only have the replay which I only watched half of (haven't been watching the replays for a while now anyhow).

Figure I lost a full division, lots of support units etc, etc. Lots of attack landing craft.

But my minefield did pretty well thru the night and morning ship moves...I stopped watching the replay when the IJN air power showed up. Lols.

TF 31 encounters mine field at Orchid Island (85,67)

Japanese Ships
SS I-185, Mine hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

TF 307 encounters mine field at Orchid Island (85,67)

Japanese Ships
SS RO-112, Mine hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

TF 41 encounters mine field at Orchid Island (85,67)

Japanese Ships
CA Kako, Mine hits 1
CL Jintsu, Mine hits 1

TF 65 encounters mine field at Orchid Island (85,67)

Japanese Ships
DD Mutsuki, Mine hits 1
DD Hagikaze, Mine hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

F 86 encounters mine field at Orchid Island (85,67)

Japanese Ships
DD Sazanami, Mine hits 2, on fire, heavy damage

TF 149 encounters mine field at Orchid Island (85,67)

Japanese Ships
DD Matsukaze, Mine hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

TF 9 encounters mine field at Orchid Island (85,67)

Japanese Ships
SS RO-38, Mine hits 1, on fire, heavy damage



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 24 encounters mine field at Orchid Island (85,67)

Japanese Ships
SS I-39, Mine hits 1, on fire

TF 9 encounters mine field at Orchid Island (85,67)

Japanese Ships
SS RO-38, Mine hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

[Lowpe]

Nothing to do but pick up the pieces and push even harder forward...losses really aren't that bad (most likely).

[Warofthe2ndWorld]

This may be your only shot, Lowpe. Sink the carriers!!!

[BBfanboy]

Sorry to hear of your family's nasty news. Take the time you need to deal with it - the game can wait.

[Lowpe]

As always a great difference from battle reports and actual losses. Although ships sunk is pretty horrendous. No choice but to push forward and be aggresive.

a.jpg (3.97 MiB) Viewed 708 times