Aussie Affair, Beta's Twilight

[Raverdave]

ORIGINAL: Luskan

Well I'll note Raver hasn't officially responded beyond saying that now he knows where KB is.

Responded? Idiot! What do you want me to do? Send you a telegram? Smoke signals? Trust me, when it comes you will know it!

[Raverdave]

Well Luskan launched another attack at Singapore and the results were somewhat even........the loss of 2500 each, though he can afford such high losses and I can't. I am hoping that I can hold out until the end of the month. Things in the PI are different, with supplies now so deep in the red that it is burning a hole in the map. I am surprised the Luskan is yet to move against Clarke because if he did I would not have the strength of a kitten.

Something for me to puzzle over, have a look at the attached screenie and you will see TWO Tfs steaming west from Pearl. I have pretty much tagged the northern one but the TF to the south is a bit of a mystery to me as I have only spotted a single CA. I have no doubts that there are more ships in that TF and it is well known that a CV is often mistaken for a CV by my spotters, AND as I have only seen two CVs in the northern TF I have to assume that Luskan has split his CV force, which on the face of it makes little sence. I dare say that by the next turn I will have lost contact with both TFs but I hate beening in the dark like this. Nothing like the good old days of UV when you could spot a TF half way across the map and have a good idea of what was in it.

In other news the following three operations have been given the green light:-

Operation Lone Pine
Operation Wire Gully
Operation The Nek

Of these three operations, Lone Pine has been in the planning since the 8th of December and with the arrival of the final ship it can now swing into action.

Operation The Nek has also been in the planning for the last month but has been on hold until the bulk of Luskan's CVs could be found, now that he has kindly informed me of where they are the operation is go.

Operation Wire Gully is one that a Naval HQ dreamed up last week and has also now been given the green light, once again thanks to Luskan. This operation should produce results first with The Nek coming second and Lone ine coming third.
Hit'em high ! Hit'em low! Hit'em with the ol' PeeBo ![:D]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 01/24/42

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack at 35,46

Japanese Ships
MSW W.20
PG Myoken Maru
PG Kiso Maru
APD APD-32
APD APD-33
APD APD-34
APD APD-35
APD APD-36
APD APD-37
APD APD-38
APD APD-39

Allied Ships
SS Sargo, hits 1, on fire

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 50 encounters mine field at Rangoon (29,34)

Japanese Ships
DD Sanae
DD Oyashio
DD Oshio
DD Arashio

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 46,44

Japanese Ships
TK Kyokuyo Maru
MSW Shintohoku Maru
MSW Rokko Maru

Allied Ships
SS Salmon

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 49 encounters mine field at Rangoon (29,34)

Japanese Ships
DD Wakatake

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Day Air attack on 5th Division, at 23,50


Allied aircraft
Wirraway x 7


Allied aircraft losses
Wirraway: 2 damaged

Aircraft Attacking:
7 x Wirraway bombing at 2000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 46,44

Japanese Ships
TK Kyokuyo Maru
MSW Shintohoku Maru
MSW Rokko Maru

Allied Ships
SS Salmon


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Singapore

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 135219 troops, 1458 guns, 383 vehicles

Defending force 75067 troops, 621 guns, 27 vehicles

Japanese assault odds: 0 to 1 (fort level 7)


Japanese ground losses:
2590 casualties reported
Guns lost 104
Vehicles lost 2

Allied ground losses:
2491 casualties reported
Guns lost 49


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Singapore

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 46066 troops, 471 guns, 8 vehicles

Defending force 146508 troops, 1318 guns, 380 vehicles

[Luskan]

Knew I did that too early. You'll notice from their speed that they aren't carrying any damage.

As for Raver's plans, well I am fairly certain he plans to stay out of betty range, and also fairly certain he plans to hold his forces back as safe as possible. I'm betting his CV unit moves closer, but am unsure if he will actually use them or not.

I am fairly sure that every single inf unit in India is now either at Pagan, Akyab, or on their way there. Which is excellent as I'd much prefer to fight them in Burma than in india (although now I've got my paratroops back as well as the 35th brigade back in action at 100% I've got options there).

Am unsure what Raver's so called operations are, but I think that with his reference to gallipoli he is planning an ampihb op of his own. Wake is probably the only viable target - I very much doubt he's got the strength to try Rabaul. Perhaps he means to take a base and then evac? I've been dilligent with my garrisoning so I'm not too concerned at this.

At Clark my troops are happy to watch yours starve. No need to rush things, as I said. I've already got the resources I need to support my operations there. Singapore also - just that there I'm not making much bombing headway, so I let my troops recover their fatigue and disruption (all the hqs I packed in) and then I attack once more. Repeat as necessary.

Happy with the extra resources Rangoon brought, which has made life much happier closer to the front line in the jungle. I've made an oversight and forgotten to send a base force into the jungle so I'll be fixing that rather fast (want the recon of Raver's movements in burma behind the river - where his defences are settling etc).

If I had to guess, I'd say the bastard is going to sit in china and do nothing, and try a quick strike at Rangoon or Moumein or maybe Rahieng (sp) from Pagan and those areas. I've got a few ideas for turning Burma into a blood bath for the allies but they will require a bit more force than I want to commit at the moment. And of course, they will also require severing the indian lifeline behind them. I KNOW raver doesn't have the troops to garrison all those bases first hand.

However, knowing Raver he's thinking long term - and taking Wake back, or attacking anything in Burma doesn't really serve that - even landnig 4 divisions at Rabaul wouldn't help him long term. More likely he is a: packing every engineer into PM to make it a fortress, b: going to steal a flyspeck island far enough away from my air cover , pack it full of said engineers and troops and supplies and use it to protect his US-OZ supply line from subs/raids etc. etc. If he's fast enough and not too close he'll be gone before I can welcome him I guess. Not sure.

Nice to see my production plans have settled in and are producing excellent results in all types of aircraft I want - as well as some good R and D going on as well. I've got far too many divisions and squadrons assigned to home defence force at the moment - spread out in a massive north south line along the home islands. Sort of useless to be honest, especially those squadrons that don't have the range to be of any worth in japan.

[Raverdave]

Idiot....the name of an operation has NO relationship to what it is actually about.[8|]

[Raverdave]

ORIGINAL: Luskan

I've got a few ideas for turning Burma into a blood bath for the allies but they will require a bit more force than I want to commit at the moment. And of course, they will also require severing the indian lifeline behind them. I KNOW raver doesn't have the troops to garrison all those bases first hand.

Well seeing as China is rather full at the moment, I am thinking about staging some Chinese troops in Burma[:)]

[Luskan]

Well, recently I posted that I didn't care if Raver knew where my cvs were because I'd been diligent with garrisoning. Earlier in the AAR I said that I had put CD units in place. Raver obviously thought I was lying.

Last game he sent in a bunch of dutch and british dds and cls to kendari and bombarded it - they got in close with an aggressive admiral and cost me a squadron of nells. They got away scott free. He tried it again last turn (one of his operations, not sure which one no doubt!). Only he ran into my 2 small CD units (no big guns, but then, he didn't send any big ships) and the results were fantastic. The allied admiral was aggressive - the right choice for a bombardment, but this guy tried about 4 times to bombard and FAILED to damage the airport one iota - and lost 8 dds in the process to my cd guns (well, 6 sunk and 2 damaged and sunk by nells from the base next turn 1 hex away). The exp level of my CD units just jumped up a kilometer and I'm going to have to promote the commanders there. 8 enemy dds destroyed for no damage.

Now I flattened Akyab a few turns ago and tried to apply the treatment to chandpur, but the CD unit there is better, and daamged 1 of my dds very badly (she'll make it, just) while Damaging a CL and another dd bad enough to send them home for repairs. I didn't do nearly as much damage as I wanted, because I split my forces into four groups, the cls and light dds to sweep the pt boats out the way, and three bombardment groups with bbs in each. Next time, I'll just send in 1 BIG BB group with the "sweeping" cls in a different tf. I damaged a few transports, killed a few troops and put a few holes in the runway, but wasn't the titanic flattening that I'd been hoping for. In other news, KB refuelled, resupplied and restocked this turn, and even did a bit of training although the quality of pilots is still quite good.

This game has been odd compared to my others in that Raver's chiense are all mostly intact, and up until now he'd lost 5 bbs, but only 1 or 2 dds and a dozen transports and 3 AS and a few AVD ships. Now I've got 8 dds on the sunk ship list I'm feeling a bit better about the 24 or 25 of my subs his dds have sunk.

Enjoy. I know I did.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 01/27/42

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naval Gun Fire at Kendari (33,71) - Coastal Guns Fire Back!

120 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Allied Ships
DD Thanet
DD Scout, Shell hits 7, on fire, heavy damage
DD Piet Hein
DD Banckert, Shell hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
DD Kortenaer, Shell hits 13, on fire, heavy damage
DD Witte de With, Shell hits 25, on fire, heavy damage

Japanese ground losses:
43 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naval Gun Fire at Kendari (33,71) - Coastal Guns Fire Back!

132 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Allied Ships
DD Paul Jones, Shell hits 13, on fire, heavy damage
DD Stewart, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD John D. Ford
CL Tromp
DD Pope, Shell hits 6, on fire, heavy damage
DD Pillsbury, Shell hits 30, on fire, heavy damage
CL Java, Shell hits 9

Japanese ground losses:
67 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 37,60

Japanese Ships
AK Myoko Maru, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
DD Yukikaze
DD Tokitsukaze
DD Kawakaze
DD Suzukaze
MSW Toroshima Maru
DD Yamakaze
DD Umikaze
PC Showa Maru #5
PC Showa Maru #3
PC Nichi Maru #1
PC Gamitsu Maru #1
PG Saiko Maru
PG Edo Maru
MSW Takasago Maru
MSW Ataka Maru

Allied Ships
SS Sturgeon, hits 2, on fire

Japanese ground losses:
14 casualties reported

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack at 37,60

Japanese Ships
DD Yukikaze
DD Tokitsukaze
DD Kawakaze
DD Suzukaze
MSW Toroshima Maru
DD Yamakaze
DD Umikaze
PC Showa Maru #5
PC Showa Maru #3
PC Nichi Maru #1
PC Gamitsu Maru #1
PG Saiko Maru
PG Edo Maru
MSW Takasago Maru
MSW Ataka Maru

Allied Ships
SS Sturgeon

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Chandpur at 30,25

Japanese Ships
CL Yura, Shell hits 1
CL Kinu
CL Kitakami
DD Yugumo
DD Arashio
DD Minegumo

Allied Ships
PT PT-38, Shell hits 37, and is sunk
PT PT-40

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Chandpur at 30,25

Japanese Ships
CL Yura
CL Kinu
CL Kitakami
DD Yugumo
DD Arashio
DD Minegumo

Allied Ships
PT PT-40, Shell hits 3, and is sunk

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Naval bombardment of Chandpur, at 30,25 - Coastal Guns Fire Back!

42 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Japanese Ships
DD Kuroshio
DD Natsushio
DD Hatsukaze
DD Oyashio
CL Naka
CA Kinugasa, Shell hits 3
CA Suzuya
CA Atago
BB Nagato
BB Kongo

Allied Ships
AK Herstein, Shell hits 1
PG Auricula, Shell hits 1, on fire


Allied ground losses:
260 casualties reported
Guns lost 7
Vehicles lost 3

Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 7
Port hits 1

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naval bombardment of Chandpur, at 30,25 - Coastal Guns Fire Back!

16 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Japanese Ships
DD Sanae
DD Kuretake, Shell hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
DD Wakatake, Shell hits 1, on fire
CL Jintsu, Shell hits 8, on fire, heavy damage
BB Haruna
CA Chokai
CA Kumano
CA Kako

Allied Ships
AK Munlock, Shell hits 1
AK Empire Spray, Shell hits 1, on fire, heavy damage


Allied ground losses:
125 casualties reported
Guns lost 5

Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 3
Port hits 2
Port fuel hits 1
Port supply hits 2

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naval bombardment of Kendari, at 33,71 - Coastal Guns Fire Back!

159 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Allied Ships
DD Thracian, Shell hits 2, on fire
DD Thanet, Shell hits 32, on fire, heavy damage
DD Piet Hein, Shell hits 2, on fire
CL Durban, Shell hits 3
CL Dragon
CL De Ruyter

Japanese ground losses:
98 casualties reported
Guns lost 3

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naval bombardment of Kendari, at 33,71 - Coastal Guns Fire Back!

37 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Allied Ships
DD Peary
DD Stewart, Shell hits 16, on fire, heavy damage
DD John D. Ford
CL Tromp
CL Marblehead, Shell hits 1
CL Java

Japanese ground losses:
112 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

Runway hits 2 ?? Not really very many . . .
Port hits 2

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Chandpur at 30,25


Allied aircraft
Hurricane II x 7
Blenheim I x 3


Allied aircraft losses
Blenheim I: 2 destroyed, 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
BB Kongo

Aircraft Attacking:
2 x Blenheim I bombing at 6000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Chandpur at 30,25


Allied aircraft
Hurricane II x 2
Blenheim I x 3


Allied aircraft losses
Blenheim I: 3 damaged

Japanese Ships
BB Hyuga

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x Blenheim I bombing at 6000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 34,72

Japanese aircraft
A5M4 Claude x 14
G3M Nell x 24

no losses

Allied Ships
DD Scout, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x G3M Nell launching torpedoes at 200 feet
1 x G3M Nell launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x G3M Nell launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x G3M Nell launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x G3M Nell launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x G3M Nell launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x G3M Nell launching torpedoes at 200 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 34,72

Japanese aircraft
G3M Nell x 3

no losses

Allied Ships
DD Stewart, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x G3M Nell launching torpedoes at 200 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 33,77

Japanese aircraft
G3M Nell x 16

Japanese aircraft losses
G3M Nell: 11 damaged

Allied Ships
CL Dragon
CL De Ruyter

Aircraft Attacking:
2 x G3M Nell launching torpedoes at 200 feet
2 x G3M Nell launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x G3M Nell launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x G3M Nell launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x G3M Nell launching torpedoes at 200 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naval bombardment of Chandpur, at 30,25


Allied aircraft


Allied aircraft losses
no losses

Japanese Ships
DD Hayashio
DD Oshio
DD Arashi
DD Hagikaze
CL Isuzu
CA Furutaka
CA Takao
BB Hyuga
BB Mutsu

Allied Ships
AK Munlock, Shell hits 3, on fire
AP Dardanus, Shell hits 3
AK Empire Spray, Shell hits 1, heavy damage
AK Herstein, Shell hits 1


Allied ground losses:
109 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

Airbase hits 3
Runway hits 10
Port hits 11
Port fuel hits 1
Port supply hits 4

[Raverdave]

Operation Wire Gully is now over, but as Luskan has already posted it was somewhat a failure.........cost me 7 DDs.....something of a shock ! There is going to have to be an inquiry into this as early recon didn't show such a large force of CD units at Kendari.
However dispite this set back a fourth operation has now been started called Operation Popes Hill and the confedence level of sucess is high.

In othe news I suspect that Luskan is look to land some troops in India most likely at Chandpur (see the screenie) as some AKs have been spotted heading north. This will cause him more grief than it will for me as the British 18th Divison is just about to enter the city. Now unlike the British troops that he has come up against so far, the 18th is at full strengh and have high experiance and moral and are well rested. The British fleet is also steaming towards the area and are going to give the bananananana boy a real bloody nose this time.

[Luskan]

This turn saw a few developments in the war but very ltitle combat. My troops engaged the defences at singapore once more, and came out a little way ahead. However the fort size has increased so until I really start culling the allies down a bit, singapore will hold. Probably longer than historically.

Now that KB has had a refit and a little rest, and a bit of training, I have ordered it split up into two cv divisions to provide security for a couple of smallish ops I'm running at the moment. My repair yards are hard at work fixing up a few damaged, dds, cls and 1 unfortunate CA that was damaged quite badly early on in the game. My initially damaged BBs are all going to become operational once more in the next few turns, although for the moment I think a slightly more defensive role would be best for them, especially if Raver has ops planned. As predicted, after the first month or two, (and once the US gets some cvs) the japs and the US can't really afford to keep their cvs all in the one place, because as soon as they're spotted, the rest of the line can get hammered. Now I've got lots of deadly level bombers that Raver's cvs can't compete with to protect my lines, but Raver has lots of distance to protect his. Thus, to get any cvs into the US-OZ supply line, I've got to split KB up.

In Burma my assault troops at Raheing (in the jungle) have FINALLY got into positoin for their next move. I nearly ordered it forward, but if Raver is indeed bringing chinese troops from china, then I'll have to keep a careful eye on that front. Best if those two mixed brigades sit behind their fort for the moment until I have better recon.

In China my massive northern army has disbanded, and is being redistributed along the front - I have plans for Wuchow, but seeing as the fighting in the north was so hard I will not be attempting an assault until my troops are completely, totally and properly rested and prepared.

In the Phillipines, my combat brigades have landed at lingayen last turn and have begun a march to catch up with the rest of my forces (most of the way to clark but I halted them to have a rest a week or so ago). Once they arrive, the final assault on Clark, then manila and bataan, will begin.

At Rabaul I'm impressed with the development of the fort and airfield, and if Raver showed the slightest interest in the area I'd be moving in more betties. However he has stayed very quiet, and although I know there is a US division at Noumea now, I am forced to wonder what it would take to steal the place.

Raver is concerned about landings at Chandpur - only an idiot would land troops there. The british 18th division is 1 division, and there are at least 10 EMPTY bases along the indian coastline, either completely empty or with 1 single base force in them. There are so many options there that when the time comes to land I could be putting troops ashore in multiple landings. How long would it take the 18th division to get as far back as the coast near colombo? Too long

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 01/28/42

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Day Air attack on 5th Division, at 23,50


Allied aircraft
Wirraway x 5


Allied aircraft losses
Wirraway: 1 damaged

Aircraft Attacking:
5 x Wirraway bombing at 2000 feet

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Singapore

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 134245 troops, 1355 guns, 387 vehicles

Defending force 75171 troops, 612 guns, 28 vehicles

Japanese assault odds: 0 to 1 (fort level 8)


Japanese ground losses:
2134 casualties reported
Guns lost 52
Vehicles lost 3

Allied ground losses:
2642 casualties reported
Guns lost 47


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Singapore

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 46691 troops, 468 guns, 8 vehicles

Defending force 145604 troops, 1226 guns, 382 vehicles


Japanese ground losses:
11 casualties reported

[Raverdave]

Nope, I would have to disagree with any Jap strategy that called for landings anywhere else BUT Diamond head or Chandpur. These two citys have outstanding ports and airfields.........if the IJN player wanted to land further west, well there is not much there to interest anyone, and you then have the problem of distance from you closest point of supply. Sri Lanka (oops, wong name) Ceylon would be the logical choice IF you were to go west as it then cuts the SLOC from western India. BUT IT DOES NOT CUT THE LAND ROUTES. Very interesting strategic problems for both the IJN and the Allied player alike, as most of you are now starting to understand having the game yourselves.[:)]

Luskan hit Singapore again quite hard and caused large casulties....the RAPs and bases hospitols are now overflowing, but supplies are good, and he didn't reduce the fort level at all. I think that this is somewhat of a shock for our yellow skinned banananaana boy...and the fact that he is also now admitting that Singapore may indeed hold out beyond the Historic fall date. (Ha! to all those of you whom cried "Foul" and claimed the game was broken when in my last PBEM with Luskan Singers fell on Jan the 15th!, just goes to show![:'(])

[Raverdave]

Well operation Popes Hill is now over.....the shelling of Rabal was designed to try and catch aircraft and ships........little if any damage was done to the airfield but I did catch and badly wound one of those nasty MLs and scored hits on another. But the cost to me was another DD (HMAS Stuart), but the combat report shows a lot more hits than I actually recived. I am in a bit of a bind here because the DDs provide defence to the TF against subs yet they tend to get hammered by the CD units. So you either don't send in the DDs with the TF (calf them off one turn before the TF reaches it's target) or don't use the DDs in the TF at all. I am doing to have to refine this I think.

Everywhere else things are quite, operation Lone Pine and The Nek are still under way.

A Blenheim managed to get in a hit on the IJN CL Jintsu in the Bay of Bengal[:)], yet another jap ship to clog his repair yards[:)]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 01/29/42

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Naval Gun Fire at Rabaul (61,88) - Coastal Guns Fire Back!

160 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Allied Ships
DD Stuart, Shell hits 30, on fire, heavy damage
CL Hobart, Shell hits 2
CL Perth, Shell hits 17
DD Le Triomphant, Shell hits 14, on fire, heavy damage
CA Houston, Shell hits 4
CA Australia, Shell hits 23

Japanese ground losses:
186 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naval bombardment of Rabaul, at 61,88 - Coastal Guns Fire Back!

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 2 destroyed, 6 damaged

38 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Japanese Ships
ML Okinoshima, Shell hits 4, on fire
ML Tokiwa, Shell hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
DD Yunagi, Shell hits 1

Allied Ships
CL Hobart
CL Perth
CA Canberra
CA Houston
CA Australia
CL Adelaide, Shell hits 9

Japanese ground losses:
167 casualties reported
Guns lost 5

Airbase hits 2
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 3
Port hits 1
Port supply hits 1

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Singapore , at 23,50

Japanese aircraft
Ki-21 Sally x 151
Ki-48 Lily x 27
Ki-15 Babs x 7

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21 Sally: 26 destroyed, 42 damaged
Ki-48 Lily: 4 destroyed, 4 damaged
Ki-15 Babs: 2 destroyed


Allied ground losses:
140 casualties reported

Airbase hits 32
Airbase supply hits 11
Runway hits 114

Aircraft Attacking:
12 x Ki-48 Lily bombing at 7000 feet
9 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 7000 feet
18 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 7000 feet
14 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 7000 feet
8 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 7000 feet
9 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 7000 feet
4 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 7000 feet
5 x Ki-48 Lily bombing at 7000 feet
4 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 7000 feet
6 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 7000 feet
9 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 7000 feet
9 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 7000 feet
4 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 7000 feet
2 x Ki-48 Lily bombing at 7000 feet
3 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 7000 feet
8 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 7000 feet
3 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 7000 feet
3 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 7000 feet
2 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 7000 feet
3 x Ki-48 Lily bombing at 7000 feet
3 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 7000 feet
3 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 7000 feet
3 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 7000 feet
3 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 7000 feet
3 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 7000 feet
3 x Ki-48 Lily bombing at 7000 feet
3 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 7000 feet
3 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 7000 feet
2 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 7000 feet
3 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 7000 feet
3 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 7000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Imperial Guards Division, at 23,50


Allied aircraft
Wirraway x 5


no losses

Aircraft Attacking:
5 x Wirraway bombing at 2000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 28,30


Allied aircraft
Blenheim I x 2


no losses

Japanese Ships
CL Jintsu, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
2 x Blenheim I bombing at 6000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 58,91

Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 8

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 1 damaged

Allied Ships
CA Australia

Aircraft Attacking:
8 x G4M1 Betty bombing at 15000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 61,89

Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 4

no losses

Allied Ships
DD Stuart, on fire, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
4 x G4M1 Betty bombing at 15000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 28,30


Allied aircraft
Blenheim I x 2


no losses

Japanese Ships
CL Jintsu, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
2 x Blenheim I bombing at 6000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 58,91

Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 10

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 4 damaged

Allied Ships
CA Houston
CA Australia

Aircraft Attacking:
7 x G4M1 Betty bombing at 15000 feet
3 x G4M1 Betty bombing at 15000 feet

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Singapore

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 44943 troops, 468 guns, 4 vehicles

Defending force 146326 troops, 1233 guns, 386 vehicles


Japanese ground losses:
14 casualties reported

Allied ground losses:
1 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

[tanjman]

ORIGINAL: Raverdave

Well operation Popes Hill is now over.....the shelling of Rabal was designed to try and catch aircraft and ships........little if any damage was done to the airfield but I did catch and badly wound one of those nasty MLs and scored hits on another. But the cost to me was another DD (HMAS Stuart), but the combat report shows a lot more hits than I actually recived. I am in a bit of a bind here because the DDs provide defence to the TF against subs yet they tend to get hammered by the CD units. So you either don't send in the DDs with the TF (calf them off one turn before the TF reaches it's target) or don't use the DDs in the TF at all. I am doing to have to refine this I think.

snip...

Raverdave,

Would using the DDs in an ASW TF set to follow the Bombardment TF work? From reading the various AARs DD vs CD seems to be a waste of DDs.

[Ron Saueracker]

ORIGINAL: tanjman

ORIGINAL: Raverdave

Well operation Popes Hill is now over.....the shelling of Rabal was designed to try and catch aircraft and ships........little if any damage was done to the airfield but I did catch and badly wound one of those nasty MLs and scored hits on another. But the cost to me was another DD (HMAS Stuart), but the combat report shows a lot more hits than I actually recived. I am in a bit of a bind here because the DDs provide defence to the TF against subs yet they tend to get hammered by the CD units. So you either don't send in the DDs with the TF (calf them off one turn before the TF reaches it's target) or don't use the DDs in the TF at all. I am doing to have to refine this I think.

snip...

Raverdave,

Would using the DDs in an ASW TF set to follow the Bombardment TF work? From reading the various AARs DD vs CD seems to be a waste of DDs.

Does anyone think that the game should be tweaked a bit for CD accuracy? I don't think the DDs should be getting wasted like this on a regular basis. The odd occasion but this is obviously excessive. Unless the CDs are permanent and director controlled, they should not be this accurate.

[Xargun]

ORIGINAL: Ron Saueracker

Does anyone think that the game should be tweaked a bit for CD accuracy? I don't think the DDs should be getting wasted like this on a regular basis. The odd occasion but this is obviously excessive. Unless the CDs are permanent and director controlled, they should not be this accurate.

I agree with you. Fort units should be highly accurate but the mobile CD units should be less so. Although 1 hit from 150mm gun should pretty much cripple a DD (or lighter craft) on a regular basis.

Xargun

[Luskan]

But the trade off is that the japs don't get to build any more permanent forts in the next 4 years (although historically they built big ones) with fire control etc.

[CJ Martin]

I don't think the problem is entirely with the CD units, rather, I think the Bombardment AI sound be looked at. It sounds like the Bombardment TF is sailing too close to the base it is attacking. DD's shouldn't be getting in those kind of duels with full up shore batteries, unless the entire task force is nothing but DD's. BB's/CA's/CL's can stand offshore out of range of all but the biggest batteries.

Then again, I was a brownshoe, so what do I know.

-CJ

[Raverdave]

ORIGINAL: CJ Martin

I don't think the problem is entirely with the CD units, rather, I think the Bombardment AI sound be looked at. It sounds like the Bombardment TF is sailing too close to the base it is attacking. DD's shouldn't be getting in those kind of duels with full up shore batteries, unless the entire task force is nothing but DD's. BB's/CA's/CL's can stand offshore out of range of all but the biggest batteries.

Then again, I was a brownshoe, so what do I know.

-CJ

Yeah I tend to agree with this...........DDs while accompaning CA, CL and BBs should NOT sail no closer than the larger ships. However in the meantime I think that I will simply break off any DDs from a bombardment TF and rejoin them the following turn.

[Raverdave]

ORIGINAL: Ron Saueracker

ORIGINAL: tanjman

ORIGINAL: Raverdave

Well operation Popes Hill is now over.....the shelling of Rabal was designed to try and catch aircraft and ships........little if any damage was done to the airfield but I did catch and badly wound one of those nasty MLs and scored hits on another. But the cost to me was another DD (HMAS Stuart), but the combat report shows a lot more hits than I actually recived. I am in a bit of a bind here because the DDs provide defence to the TF against subs yet they tend to get hammered by the CD units. So you either don't send in the DDs with the TF (calf them off one turn before the TF reaches it's target) or don't use the DDs in the TF at all. I am doing to have to refine this I think.

snip...

Raverdave,

Would using the DDs in an ASW TF set to follow the Bombardment TF work? From reading the various AARs DD vs CD seems to be a waste of DDs.

Does anyone think that the game should be tweaked a bit for CD accuracy? I don't think the DDs should be getting wasted like this on a regular basis. The odd occasion but this is obviously excessive. Unless the CDs are permanent and director controlled, they should not be this accurate.

No I think that the problem is with the DDs within a bambardment TF having tio move closer inshore to bring their gauns into range to fire. I think that the bombardment rule needs to be modified so that any DDs within a bombardment TF that has BBs, CAs and CLs, do not fire. I am hapopy with the way CDs units are working, and any change will be to the cost of the IJN player and thus the balance of the game.
So untilsuch a fix is made then the allied player is just going to have to figure a way to not have his DDs placed into harms way be it not having DDs as part of the bombardment group or having the DDs break away from the bombardment TF one turn before and rejoining them later.

[Luskan]

Bad weather keeping things in the SRA very very quiet.

One of my subs reported Houston and Canberra passing through the gap in tha barrier reef headed this turn.

[Raverdave]

Operation The Nek and Lone Pine are still underway.........the CAs that Luskan's sub spotted are returning from Op-eration Popes Hill (the bombardment of Rabal). As I sit here watching the slooooooow 56K download of Luskan's turn I am toying with the idea of going onto the offensive in the ground war. The reasons for this are twofold. 1/ Luskan is tied up in Singapore-Burma-China and the PI. 2/ Whatever spare troops he has are now no doubt being earmarked for the attack on the DEI (which he MUST do). So that leaves him with little to counter-act me. Now I have the choice of strengthing the DEI or the South Pacific..........or taking back some Islands. I'll pass this onto the planning staff to seee what they think.

[Luskan]

I have a bigger surplus than you think - if you want to start the island war, go ahead. You'll loose.

However this turn my ego got crimped as I foolishly - FOOLISHLY set Adm Yamada's fighter squadrons (aboard my CV group int he Bay of Bengal) to escort to Colombo, where I was certain the british fleet was. Unfortunately, they were much much closer, at Trincomalee[:(], and my kates and float planes went off to war without an escort and ran into hurricanes. [:@][:@][:@][X(] I damaged the CA Cornwall quite badly, and sunk the dauntless, but is fairly immaterial as I got bitch slapped in the air. In the afternoon some of my zeros rectified the problem but it was too late - and although they shot down the offending hurricanes (and hopefully, killed all the aces that made ace that morning) it was way, way too late.

I actually lost more kates than the report shows - the float planes got away sort of ok - as they were much lower than the fighters (they were too busy shooting down torp bombers to care). As a result of this military disaster, Operation Banana-Kiss has been cancelled! The upcoming Invasion of Madras (supposedly empty) is not going to work, especially since I'm out of kates to sink the british fleet with.

Of course they're at trincomalee - the previous battle there where I bombarded the place and the CD unit took out 3 dds and a CL should have tipped me off to the fact that it was a great place to proect your shipping. [8|][:@][:@] I'm mad at myself for single handedly negating my own air power in the Bay of Bengal. it will be at least a week, if not two before I have returned to Rangoon, refuelled and replaced all those kates and done some basic training for the newbie pilots. And of course, to perfect matters, my massive surface fleet of BBs Cas and DDs just returned to SAIGON - where they were going to remove the 5-6 sys damage they had each. I have 2 CAs and 12 dds in the area, as well as a few cripples limping back along the coast until my heavies can return.

Raver won't attack Rangoon - although Im' sure he'd love to hit that oil and resource base to mess it up for me. I've got betties and zeros and long range search aircraft there I guess.

The transports on their way to Madras have been rerouted to strengthen my defences in Burma. I can't very well send them in without a CV group to cover them (and drive off the RN) to Madras (although a part of me wants to!) with the bloody Royal Sovvy, as well as a bunch of other british warships sitting at Trincomalee, for the moment at least - untouchable.

See screenshot for attendant agony. Oh - and Jintsu (hit by CD unit at Chandpur) went down at Rangoon at her moorings today.

$%&^! %$*! [:@][:@][:@][:@]