Never Thought I'd Start Another One - tc464 (A) vs. Mike (J)

[Mike Solli]

11 Apr 42

Sub War

The I-34 caught and sank an xAK just SE of Dutch Harbor.

Still working on the sub allocations.

5 Fleet

Nothing other than the sinking.

4 Fleet

Nothing to report.

SE Fleet

I'm working on the airfield at Milne Bay. An ACM will arrive there tomorrow and some mines in a few days. A thought just occurred to me. The port is 0. Does that have any effect on friendly minefields?

SRA

Borneo

Nothing to report.

Burma

Interesting events just west of Paoshan. Ted reinforced the Chinese Corps with another one. The original one is pretty beat up. My 2 tank regiments attacked them. I had about half a dozen tanks disabled and disabled a couple dozen squads. Then, the Chinese attacked me. I lost nothing and they lost a few squads and had a few dozen more disabled. I'm continuing to bomb them with Sallies and Lilys. The Blenheims didn't show up today.

Troops and support are starting to pour into Burma now has the following in theater. These are available for offensive purposes:

3 infantry divisions
3 infantry regiments
5 tank regiments
8 artillery units
2 independent engineer regiments

All of the elements on map that will form the 1 and 2 Tank Divisions are in Burma. The rest of those divisions will appear as reinforcements in Manchuoko in 73 days. Those reinforcing units have already been bought out. I'll have fast transports available to move them to Rangoon by the time they arrive.

In addition to the above, two more infantry divisions are loading at Singapore in preparation for invasions of Akyab and Cox's Bazaar. Armor will have Akyab surrounded so the enemy formation there will be destroyed.

Finally, a small parachute unit will be dropped at Myitkiyna tomorrow. Then, I'll drop some AS there to allow fighters to be stationed there. Maybe some Anns too...

China

The Zeros at Chengchow are still grounded. More engineers and AS are arriving but it's by rail so it's taking awhile for the engineers to untangle themselves from the trains and work on the airfield. It's currently at 1.09. I'm having no luck getting supply into the hex too. I have convoys totaling 75k supply enroute to Hong Kong. Hope that helps.

Other Stuff

Nothing to report.

[PaxMondo]

Yep. I'm currently looking at the stats of my subs to figure out the best place for them. I particularly like the subs that have 8 tubes firing forward. Those scare the hell out of Ted when they find a capital ship. Eight torpedoes fired at a target is just plain nasty.

Oh Yeah!!!

[PaxMondo]

I vaguely remember this tactic now that you mention it. I'll start doing it tomorrow. You're right, I often see a handful of pilots in a unit with extremely high fatigue with the rest sitting around playing solitaire.

Yepper, the "vaguely" thing is more common now than it used to be, at least for me ...

[PaxMondo]

11 Apr 42
Burma

Interesting events just west of Paoshan. Ted reinforced the Chinese Corps with another one. The original one is pretty beat up. My 2 tank regiments attacked them. I had about half a dozen tanks disabled and disabled a couple dozen squads. Then, the Chinese attacked me. I lost nothing and they lost a few squads and had a few dozen more disabled. I'm continuing to bomb them with Sallies and Lilys. The Blenheims didn't show up today.

Yep, well, Ted is doing what you love to see: CHI Corps attacking your ARM units. Talk about beating oneself to mush ... surprised he is being to cooperative ... must be that he is also suffering from the "vaguely" remembering thingy as well!

[RangerJoe]

If you division at Port Moresby needs supplies, or even if they don't, you can still use Fast Transport TFs to resupply them. Again, the bombardment by the ships would help and if it causes the enemy to bombard after the ship's bombardment, then that works out for you as well especially using up supplies.

That's a great idea! It never dawned on me that I can use Fast Transport in an enemy held base. I need to try that soon!

It sounds like you are thinking like a military officer, especially a logistical officer . . .

[PaxMondo]

It sounds like you are thinking like a military officer, especially a logistical officer . . .

How can you insinuate that Major Mike (actually Lt. Col IIRC) was an S4? Where would that come from?

[RangerJoe]

It sounds like you are thinking like a military officer, especially a logistical officer . . .

How can you insinuate that Major Mike (actually Lt. Col IIRC) was an S4? Where would that come from?

There is a movie named "Catch 22" that I have seen. I understand there is a modern serialized television show now based on the book/movie.

I have also seen "Operation Petticoat" where the Captain played by Cary Grant tries to requisition toilet paper.

Then there is an episode of MASH where the unit found out that they could get a pizza oven but not the equipment that was desired.

[Mike Solli]

It sounds like you are thinking like a military officer, especially a logistical officer . . .

How can you insinuate that Major Mike (actually Lt. Col IIRC) was an S4? Where would that come from?

I actually retired as a Major. On my last deployment (2013-14) they wanted to promote me to LTC, but I refused. It would have meant staying in 2 years beyond the deployment. It wasn't worth the extra $400 a month in the pension then and it still isn't worth it now. Don't need it. I ended up submitting for my retirement while deployed and got my retirement orders (post dated) while I was still in theater. (I showed them to everyone who would look while there.) Got home in April 2014 and retired 29 Jul 2014. That was the earliest I could do it. Had to go through 3 months of testing (medical, psychological, etc.) before they would cut me loose.

[Mike Solli]

It sounds like you are thinking like a military officer, especially a logistical officer . . .

How can you insinuate that Major Mike (actually Lt. Col IIRC) was an S4? Where would that come from?

Then there is an episode of MASH where the unit found out that they could get a pizza oven but not the equipment that was desired.

That ain't a lie. It's amazing what you could get in theater (and what you couldn't get).

[Mike Solli]

12 Apr 42

Sub War

I-19 put a torpedo into an empty xAP off San Francisco. No report of her sinking.

DDs off Truk hit KVXI with a depth charge. I'm sure she didn't sink but I heard sinking sounds, so something went down. Maybe her? Not sure.

I-174 sank an xAK and heavily damaged or sank another xAK off Dutch Harbor.

It was a good day for the submarine fleet!

5 Fleet

Nothing other than the attacks above.

4 Fleet

Tomorrow, Johnston Island's base damage will be repaired. Then, the engineers can continue work on the forts.

SE Fleet

Milne Bay is now home to an ACM. The engineers are working on the first airfield level, then a port, then another airfield.

Other than that, there's not much going on, except the 40+ B-17E sorties against the 20 Division.

SRA

Four CAs bombarded Ambon prior to another NG landing there. Both of the NGs are scheduled to attack tomorrow.

Borneo

Three bases are still controlled by the Allies. Once I get some smaller ground units freed up, I'll take them. Tomorrow, I get a bunch of NG units. Some of them will most likely be used.

Burma

A third Chinese Corps arrived to the west of Paoshan and they attacked my two tank regiments. The initial Chinese Corps is now combat ineffective (0 AV) and they beat their collective heads against my tanks for no loss to my tanks. I hope he attacks again tomorrow!

Paratroopers took Myitkyina today. The only bases still in Allied hands are Shwebo and Akyab. I'm working on plans for both.

China

Nothing exciting to report.

Other Stuff

Reinforcements
24 Air Defense AA Regiment - North Army (Japan)
26 Air Defense AA Regiment - Kwangtung Army

[Skyros]

It sounds like you are thinking like a military officer, especially a logistical officer . . .

How can you insinuate that Major Mike (actually Lt. Col IIRC) was an S4? Where would that come from?

I actually retired as a Major. On my last deployment (2013-14) they wanted to promote me to LTC, but I refused. It would have meant staying in 2 years beyond the deployment. It wasn't worth the extra $400 a month in the pension then and it still isn't worth it now. Don't need it. I ended up submitting for my retirement while deployed and got my retirement orders (post dated) while I was still in theater. (I showed them to everyone who would look while there.) Got home in April 2014 and retired 29 Jul 2014. That was the earliest I could do it. Had to go through 3 months of testing (medical, psychological, etc.) before they would cut me loose.

Good thing you were not in a restricted command or you would still be there.

[Mike Solli]

How can you insinuate that Major Mike (actually Lt. Col IIRC) was an S4? Where would that come from?

I actually retired as a Major. On my last deployment (2013-14) they wanted to promote me to LTC, but I refused. It would have meant staying in 2 years beyond the deployment. It wasn't worth the extra $400 a month in the pension then and it still isn't worth it now. Don't need it. I ended up submitting for my retirement while deployed and got my retirement orders (post dated) while I was still in theater. (I showed them to everyone who would look while there.) Got home in April 2014 and retired 29 Jul 2014. That was the earliest I could do it. Had to go through 3 months of testing (medical, psychological, etc.) before they would cut me loose.

Good thing you were not in a restricted command or you would still be there.

I had planned on retiring in Dec 2012, but they nixed that and made me go on one more deployment. Sort of a parting gift.

[Skyros]

Nice to be wanted.

[PaxMondo]

I actually retired as a Major.

WAY cool! It IS Major Mike!!!
(sounds much better than LtC Mike ... that just doesn't roll off the tongue right ....)


Thank you for your service. Huge thanks for your AAR!!!!!

[Mike Solli]

I actually retired as a Major.

WAY cool! It IS Major Mike!!!
(sounds much better than LtC Mike ... that just doesn't roll off the tongue right ....)


Thank you for your service. Huge thanks for your AAR!!!!!

You're most welcome. It was my pleasure. It's interesting that I spent 11 years of my career as a logistician, but I never was an S-4. I did spend 3 years as a battalion S-3, which was a lot of fun.

Back to the war...

[Mike Solli]

13 Apr 42

Sub War

Nothing to report.

5 Fleet

Nothing to report.

4 Fleet

Nothing to report.

SE Fleet

Milne Bay is visited by Repulse, CAs Canberra, Australia and Pensacola and CLs Boise and Mauritius. They really don't do any appreciable damage to Milne Bay or the troops but get away without a trace. I can't figure out where they're based, but I think it's Townsville, with a level 5 port, the largest until you get to Brisbane, also level 5. I have a plan for that. More on that tomorrow...

SRA

Ambon is a pain. They have HUGE CD guns and in the end I'll lose a couple of ships invading. I see 150 and 180 mm CD gun shots headed my way.

My 2 NG units attacked and got only 1:1 odds but reduced the forts to 0. They did disable a lot of enemy infantry. I'll try again tomorrow.

Borneo

Still 3 enemy bases on the island. I'll get there...

Burma

The Chinese attacked my 2 tank regiments just west of Paoshan again, and again unsuccessfully. I didn't lose anything and they had a lot of infantry disabled. I have a third tank regiment reinforcing and will attack when they arrive. Of the 3 enemy Chinese Corps present, one has an AV of 202, one of 48 and the third is 0. There is one unit in Paoshan, the HQ unit.

China

I'm up to 44 engineers and 3 engineer vehicles in Chengting, where I have 14 Zeros waiting to ambush the Chinese Air Force over Lanchow. The airfield is up to 1.24 but there's only 580 supply at the base. 28k supplies are going to start offloading at Hong Kong. We'll see how long it takes to get some to Chengting. This is all very irritating. I'm not sure how much will go there, because there is not a lot of extra supply in China. Another 50k is within about a day of Hong Kong and another 35k is enroute to Shanghai. I'm going to divert the convoy to Hankow, which is just down the rail line from Chengting. That'll take several days to reach though.

Other Stuff

Reinforcements
13 Air Flotilla HQ - 3 Air Fleet (Restricted) - in Japan
26 Air Flotilla HQ - 11 Air Fleet - to Tinian
13 Mortar Battalion - 5 Army - Manchuoko Garrison
18, 85-89 Naval Guard Units - SE Fleet - garrisons, mainly in the SRA
I, II, III/19 Naval Guard - SE Fleet - Elite unit, in reserve right now, not sure whether I will combine it or not
3, 6 Independent Naval Guard Companies - SE Fleet - elite units, in reserve right now. I may use them to invade all the unoccupied bases still in enemy control in the SRA.
11, 12 Independent Heavy Artillery Battalions - Kwangtung Army

[RangerJoe]

I actually retired as a Major.

WAY cool! It IS Major Mike!!!
(sounds much better than LtC Mike ... that just doesn't roll off the tongue right ....)


Thank you for your service. Huge thanks for your AAR!!!!!

You're most welcome. It was my pleasure. It's interesting that I spent 11 years of my career as a logistician, but I never was an S-4. I did spend 3 years as a battalion S-3, which was a lot of fun.

Back to the war...

Did you ever visit that fantastic resort installation in California?

[Mike Solli]

14 Apr 42

Sub War

A couple DDs managed to put a DC into the Dutch KXVI damaging her. Hopefully, that will send her home.

Two hexes due south from Yokohama (the deep water hex), the Tambor, which has been hanging around here probably trying to spot something important, managed to put a torpedo into an xAK. She'll make it home, but that sub is an irritant. I have an SC that was a reinforcement a little while ago waiting for more to form an ASW TF, went out to prosecute the sub. She'll sit in that hex and hopefully get the Tambor. I have a LOT of TFs going in and out of Tokyo and Yokohama, and they usually use the 4 shallow hexes to come and go, but every now and then I forget to set a TF to use them, like today. Fortunately, this ship was returning from sending out reinforcements and had resources in her hold.

5 Fleet

Nothing to report.

4 Fleet

Nothing to report.

SE Fleet

KB (all 6 carriers this time) is leaving Truk to head south and try to pummel Townsville, where I think Repulse and her retinue are hiding, along with the 45 or so B-17Es. The intent is to damage/destroy those ships and bombers. The Fast Oiler TF will follow along if needed. KB has a total of 108 Zeros, 119 Vals and 143 Kates. The plan is to head SE and to around Tulagi, then come due west to Townsville cleaning up any ships at sea, then pummel the port and airfield. Then get out of Dodge. If this little operation works, it'll set back the Allies in this AO for a little while. The worst thing that can happen is that KB is spotted early.

SRA

Today, the 2 NG units shock attacked the Ambon garrison causing all of the units to surrender. Very nice. I now have another level 4 airfield in the area. AS is a couple of days out. A handful of obsolete Dutch aircraft were destroyed on the ground. By the way, between the two NG units, only one HMG squad was destroyed in the entire operation. They'll need a few days to rest and recover the disrupted squads.

Borneo

Nothing to report.

Burma

The naval invasion of the Burma/India coast is loading at Singapore. IG Division (Cox's Bazaar) and 18 Division (Akyab) are loading and will be escorted by a couple of CAs in their TFs. In addition, MKB and a surface TF of 4 BB (led by Tanaka!) will support them, with the slow oiler fleet in tow if needed. MKB has a total of 92 Zeros and 36 Kates. Also, Chitose will accompany MKB with 24 additional floatplanes to assist with naval search and ASW support.

Engineers and AS and some garrison troops will arrive in the second wave. This operation is using a huge percentage of my troop lift capacity. I am converting 16 Yusen N xAKs to their troop carrying mode to assist with the second wave.

I'm confident that this invasion will be wildly successful. Each target base has only one unit. Akyab is showing 1400 troops, 4 guns, 9 AFVs and Cox's Bazaar is showing 3820 troops, 28 guns and 1 AFV. The unit in Akyab is staying put while the unit in Cox's Bazaar is heading SE down the road to the hex between the bases. It is going to try and counter the 10 Tank Regiment, which is crawling through the jungle to that hex. Boy are they in for a surprise.

Interestingly, Ted has 32k troops in Chittagong. Lots of armor too.

My intent is to use the BBs as a bombardment force at Chittagong before my ships withdraw if they're not needed for any surface action during the operation.

So, lots is going to happen in a little bit. I want the invasion to occur prior to the end of April, when the Japanese invasion bonus ends.

Burma.jpg (870.93 KiB) Viewed 82 times

China

Nothing to report.

Other Stuff

Reinforcements
5 Ku S-1 (9 Rufes) - 13 Air Flotilla, Japan - training
38 Sentai (27 Babs) - 1 Air Division, Japan - training, ASW or naval search, not sure which yet
94 Sentai (27 Lily) - 1 Air Division, Japan - training, ASW
203 Sentai (27 Nates) - 2 Air Division, Kwantung - training, it arrives in Japan and can only fly to a base in Manchuoko, interestingly. I'll fly it to Harbin, the fighter base in Manchuoko.
171 Cavalry Regiment, component of 71 Division - Kwangtung Army
71 Mountain Gun Regiment, component of 71 Division - Kwangtung Army
71 Engineer Battalion, component of 71 Division - Kwangtung Army
-The 3 above units will merry up with the 3 infantry regiments already on map and combine to form 71 Division. This unit is not at all elite. They'll remain a part of Kwangtung Army for the duration.
49 JNAF AF Unit (Southern Army) - headed to southern SRA

[Mike Solli]

WAY cool! It IS Major Mike!!!
(sounds much better than LtC Mike ... that just doesn't roll off the tongue right ....)


Thank you for your service. Huge thanks for your AAR!!!!!

You're most welcome. It was my pleasure. It's interesting that I spent 11 years of my career as a logistician, but I never was an S-4. I did spend 3 years as a battalion S-3, which was a lot of fun.

Back to the war...

Did you ever visit that fantastic resort installation in California?

No, never did. Never was sent to California or anywhere west of that. Went to Joint Base Lewis-McChord (Ft. Lewis) a few times. What a dismal place that was!

[Mike Solli]

15 Apr 42

Sub War

Nothing to report.

5 Fleet

Nothing to report.

4 Fleet

Nothing to report.

SE Fleet

So, I thought I'd be sneaky with KB and the fast oilers and have them head NE out of Truk then around to the east and south to their target. Of course, KB was spotted leaving Truk. The O19 spotted the 4 Kongos, 2 Tones, CL Abukuma and 2 DDs. That was most of the TF but not the carriers! Also, if Ted put 2 and 2 together, he may be thinking I'm heading north or east toward the Aleutians, Midway or Hawaii. That could work in my favor. KB is now 8 hexes SE of Truk and headed south, with the Fast Oiler TF trailing (and unspotted). Only time will tell...

SRA

Borneo

Nothing to report.

Burma

Tomorrow, the invasion fleets sail. I have some subs that will be in position tomorrow to serve as tripwires, just in case. I want everything to be ready.

The Chinese decided not to attack my tank regiments west of Paoshan today. Darn!

China

There are 52k supplies sitting in Hong Kong. Hopefully, they'll start to flow north toward Chengchow soon. Chengchow's supplies are increasing ever so slowly (601 now). The airfield is up to 1.42.

The Zeros will need to use drop tanks in order to pull off their little stunt. I'm not sure what needs to happen in order for drop tanks to be available. Level 2 airfield and a certain amount of supply in the hex? *Shrug* Need to look that up.

Other Stuff

Reinforcements
DD Makanami (Yugumo) - KB escort
AMc Kosan Maru - another coastal minesweeper. I'm spreading these little tuna boats all over, starting with the most critical bases and working my way down.

Something sank, and it wasn't one of mine. Maybe that Dutch sub that took a couple of DC hits a few days ago? *Shrug*