Back and Better Than Ever Vettim 89(A) vs Greasylake(J)

[RangerJoe]

Just want to show the status of the RAN ships now disbanded at Milne Bay. Suspect the Nells will come on Port Attack next turn. Canberra is at 53 major Flotation Damage and Perth is at 19 major. Canberra is likely a loss but maybe Perth can get out

If you have naval support to fly in, that could be helpful.

[RangerJoe]

Not much going on elsewhere on the map. Japanese invade Manus. Larry likely reinforcing at Tarakan

So we had us a CV battle. I am both happy and displeased. I got off fairly light but didn't do much damage either. A lot of the Japanese attention was distracted to the AMPH TF at Milne Bay itself which probably played into my favor. So here it goes
Milne Bay.jpg

Morning Air attack on TF, near Milne Bay at 101,133

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid detected at 86 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 33 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 36
G3M2 Nell x 28

Allied aircraft
Kittyhawk IA x 11
F4F-3 Wildcat x 13
F4F-4 Wildcat x 28

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 11 destroyed
G3M2 Nell: 3 destroyed, 5 damaged
G3M2 Nell: 2 destroyed by flak

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-3 Wildcat: 1 destroyed

Allied Ships
CA Canberra, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
CL Perth
DD Evertsen

Morning Air attack on TF, near Milne Bay at 101,133

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid detected at 104 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 38 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 33
B5N2 Kate x 22
D3A1 Val x 22

Allied aircraft
Kittyhawk IA x 3
F4F-3 Wildcat x 4
F4F-4 Wildcat x 13

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed
B5N2 Kate: 4 destroyed, 4 damaged
B5N2 Kate: 1 destroyed by flak
D3A1 Val: 3 destroyed, 5 damaged
D3A1 Val: 1 destroyed by flak

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-3 Wildcat: 1 destroyed
F4F-4 Wildcat: 1 destroyed

Allied Ships
CL Perth, Bomb hits 4, on fire, heavy damage
DD Voyager
CA Canberra, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage

So my CV air made no AM attacks. Why???

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Milne Bay at 101,134

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 79 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 33 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 31
B5N2 Kate x 46

Allied aircraft
Kittyhawk IA x 8
F4F-3 Wildcat x 10
F4F-4 Wildcat x 21

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 5 destroyed
B5N2 Kate: 5 destroyed, 11 damaged
B5N2 Kate: 4 destroyed by flak

No Allied losses

Allied Ships
CV Lexington
CV Enterprise, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
CV Hornet

So my guys finally decide to go after the IJN in the PM. Wow, 51 SBDs = 3 hits

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Gasmata at 105,129

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid detected at 39 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 17 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 20

Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 9
SBD-3 Dauntless x 51

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-3 Wildcat: 2 destroyed
SBD-3 Dauntless: 6 destroyed, 10 damaged
SBD-3 Dauntless: 2 destroyed by flak

Japanese Ships
CV Soryu
CVL Shoho, Bomb hits 1
CS Mizuho
CV Kaga, Bomb hits 2, on fire

IJN still going after the Aussies

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Milne Bay at 101,133

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes

Japanese aircraft
D3A1 Val x 36

Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 3
F4F-4 Wildcat x 11

Japanese aircraft losses
D3A1 Val: 5 destroyed, 6 damaged

No Allied losses

Allied Ships
CL Perth, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Van Nes
CA Canberra, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
DD Evertsen

TBDs lacked the range to get to the IJN CVs. Some success

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Woodlark Island at 104,132

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 19 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 19
TBD-1 Devastator x 24

Allied aircraft losses
TBD-1 Devastator: 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
CL Isuzu, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
DD Uzuki

SBDs failed to coordinate.

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Gasmata at 105,129

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid detected at 11 NM, estimated altitude 18,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 12

Allied aircraft
SBD-3 Dauntless x 15

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
SBD-3 Dauntless: 4 destroyed, 2 damaged

Japanese Ships
CVL Shoho

This attack was the most successful of the day but only 500 lb bomb hits

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Gasmata at 105,129

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid detected at 23 NM, estimated altitude 17,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 5

Allied aircraft
SBD-2 Dauntless x 18

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
SBD-2 Dauntless: 2 destroyed, 4 damaged

Japanese Ships
CV Soryu
CVL Shoho, Bomb hits 1
BB Hiei, Bomb hits 1
CV Kaga, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage

Enterprise is fine with 20 Flotation Damage. I suspect Kaga is at least out of the war for a while. Shoho is not very sturdy, so perhaps two bomb hits will be enough. Air loss were decidedly in my favor. I check my groups and I lost very few pilots so that good. Everybody is withdrawing south now
al 5 14 42.jpg

You didn't have enough fighters for escorts on your carrier raids plus they did not form up. Also, the other enemy TF that was attacked may have been the closer TF which is why the escorted Devastators attacked there. At this stage of the war, it might be best to have each carrier in its own TF or maybe 2 per TF but no more than that as Allies. Also, consider dropping off the Devastators for training and having more fighters on board your carriers or have the Devastators fly ASW missions.

But the Kaga is probably a barbequed ship with Japanese damage control. Check for how many ground losses occur. In the actual war, James Best was the only pilot to hit the Akagi with his 2 wingman getting punishing near misses but the fires are what doomed that ship. They were the only 3 dive bombers attacking the Akagi. Think if it would have been the Akagi and Hiryu to strike back at the American carriers that afternoon/evening!

Also, vector in any submarines plus consider having low level night PBY naval attacks along with your night naval search.

[chaos45]

Kaga might be sunk by 4 bomb hits esp with the heavy fires....depends on if the Japanese Damage control does anything but watch it burn...and if he has a nearby port to quickly/easily put into.

The Shoho looks fine neither reported showed big fires/heavy damage....it might be out of action for abit but most likely not sunk.

[vettim89]

A Japanese ship definitely sunk this turn. Forgot to check the air loss screen. Hopefully it was Kaga

More Japanese show up at Tarakan. The Dutch are in no more welcoming of a mood.

Pre-Invasion action off Tarakan (67,91)
Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force

46 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Japanese Ships
xAP Horai Maru, Shell hits 4
DD Fuyo
DD Kamikaze
xAP Atsuta Maru, Shell hits 1
xAP Mizuho Maru, Shell hits 2
E Hatsukari
E Chidori
E Hashidate
E Shimushu
DMS W-8
DMS W-7
APD Tade
APD Fuji
APD Aoi
APD Nadakaze
APD Shimakaze

Japanese ground losses:
36 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

More please

Invasion Support action off Tarakan (67,91) - Coastal Guns Fire Back!
Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force

68 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Japanese Ships
DD Kamikaze
xAP Takatiho Maru, Shell hits 4
DD Fuyo
E Chidori
xAP Horai Maru, Shell hits 17, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAP Mizuho Maru, Shell hits 1
E Shimushu
DMS W-8
APD Tade
E Hashidate
E Hatsukari

Japanese ground losses:
107 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 8 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

B-25s get one

Morning Air attack on TF, near Tarakan at 67,91

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid spotted at 15 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes

Allied aircraft
B-25C Mitchell x 5

No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
xAP Horai Maru, heavy fires, heavy damage
APD Fuji, Bomb hits 1, on fire

Japanese ground losses:
468 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 20 destroyed, 28 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

I swept Rangoon with P-38Es. Three losses for both sides, but the squadron only has 8 operational planes now.

Loemadjang falls. Lot of AV tied up on Java

Ground combat at Loemadjang (56,106)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 20144 troops, 190 guns, 69 vehicles, Assault Value = 671

Defending force 6922 troops, 51 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 95

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 1

Japanese adjusted assault: 507

Allied adjusted defense: 52

Japanese assault odds: 9 to 1 (fort level 1)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Loemadjang !!!

Combat modifiers
Defender: preparation(-), experience(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
323 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 21 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 8 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Allied ground losses:
1789 casualties reported
Squads: 56 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 136 destroyed, 34 disabled
Engineers: 30 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 28 (28 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units retreated 8
Units destroyed 1

Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
9th Infantry Regiment
47th Infantry Regiment
5th Division

Defending units:
Artilleriecommando Coastal Gun Battalion
6th KNIL Regiment
MLD
Marinier Battalion
Loemafjang Base Force
Soerabaja Base Force
Commandement Marine
2 ML-KNIL Aviation
Malang Base Force

[RangerJoe]

Save your fighter pilots, only sweep when you are going to send in bombers.

[vettim89]

Slow few turns.

Larry has reinforced at Tarakan but the Dutch are just not letting go here. I figure he has lost 4 or 5 xAP plus an xAK and and APD. He is going to love Ambon when he gets there.

Ground combat at Tarakan (67,91)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 7604 troops, 60 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 194

Defending force 1912 troops, 49 guns, 7 vehicles, Assault Value = 50

Japanese adjusted assault: 117

Allied adjusted defense: 52

Japanese assault odds: 2 to 1 (fort level 2)

Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 1

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), forts(+), fatigue(-), morale(-), experience(-)
Attacker: fatigue(-)

Japanese ground losses:
165 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 19 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Allied ground losses:
102 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 10 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled

Assaulting units:
1st Formosa Inf. Regiment
1st Indpt SNLF Coy
65th Brigade
42nd Naval Guard Unit
46th Naval Guard Unit

Defending units:
VII KNIL Battalion
Tarakan Coastal Gun Battalion
Tarakan Base Force

BBs hit Milne Bay again. There is 0 supply at the base now. Beginning to question the value of reinforcing here. Even if I could get the base built up, it is just too vulnerable to BB bombardments. I am beginning to contemplate building up Terapo instead. Need to build up the base on the NE coast of the Australian mainland first

Night Naval bombardment of Milne Bay at 101,133

Allied aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft losses
Kittyhawk IA: 24 damaged
Kittyhawk IA: 1 destroyed on ground

Japanese Ships
BB Hyuga
BB Ise
BB Fuso
CA Ashigara
CA Tone

Allied ground losses:
58 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 6 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled

Airbase hits 16
Airbase supply hits 15
Runway hits 52

An I-boat sinks a Tk near Addu Atoll. Have to rethink the fuel supply chain from Abadon to Oz also. Larry has been very effective in his interdiction of supply lines in this game

I have to wonder what his fuel situation is at this point. He has used his BBs a lot in far flung areas of the map. That 10 day trip by KB into the IO had to burn some fuel also. I still hold Tarakan (barely), Balikpapan, Batavia, and Palembang. I turned Miri into a pile of rubble before withdrawing my B-17s. He really seems to be focusing his game play on the tactical not strategic this time around. That was not the case in our previous games. Fully expect that we will see something bold in the coming months like an invasion of India or Australia

[RangerJoe]

He really needs to protect the oil fields when he captures them so he needs to push back from your potential airfields first. He is going slow . . .

As far as Milne Bay is concerned, try to get some PT Boats there during bad weather and low moonlit nights. Two or three PT Boats per TF is how they were used. Also, consider mining the approaches. If he travels through certain hexes, try mining those. Have S-boats in the deeper water with their working torpedoes. If you can have night naval search, that can happen as well as night torpedo attacks but the night naval searches can help any PT Boats and submarines in the area. It would be risky but if you can slow his bombardment TFs down, then they can be attacked in the morning from the air. Devastators dropping four 500 pound bombs each can do a lot of damage and I sunk a Japanese battleship with those one time - that battleship was burning nicely after 40 hits in 2 days!

[vettim89]

Definite lull in the action as both sides lick their wounds.

Only big news is that the Dutch are still holding at Tarakan. Next deliberate attack will do them in but their defense has been legendary

I decided to repair Enterprise in theatre. She is almost to Sydney now. Will keep my CVs in this AOE for the time being. Hornet and Lexington are at Auckland doing some repairs of their own

[CaptBeefheart]

Interesting stuff. Against Ironman Japan, I had to set up Abadan-Karachi (hoard fuel at Karachi), Karachi-Cape Town, Cape Town-Melbourne (or Adelaide or Albany or Perth) fuel convoys. When you lose a couple of eight-vessel tanker TFs near Christmas IO you learn quickly.

Anyway, good luck. Looks like not taking the DEI during the happy time is biting him in the posterior.

Cheers,
CB