Aussie Affair, Beta's Twilight

[Knavey]

Just want to say...

Thanks for an interesting read so far. Glad you guys are still going at it.

[Raverdave]

Thanks mate[;)]

Now that my Email problems are fixed, we are all just waiting for Luskan to get back (I think he is away with work) so that we can get stuck into it again.

[Luskan]

waiting for a turn!

[Raverdave]

Sent 7:45..................let me know if you don't get it by say 9 pm tonight.

[Luskan]

Thank God and his Holy Banana that finally our turns are getting through the tangled knot that is the cyberspace-superinformation-highway between sydney and melbourne (most of the knottiness is at the melb end I'm sure).

Finally some turns and some action.

Kongo and two other Bbs swept through akyab harbour this turn expecting to find yet more of Raver's transports there waiting to be sunk. To everyone's surprise, there weren't any, so Kongo and her group didn't even bombard, they just went home - refuelling on the way home got them bombed (although Raver's pilots still suck). Raver has massive numbers of troops in Akyab (massive for burma at least) and i'm expecting a very large army to come marching up that trail at Rangoon from one direction, and possibly a smaller one (maybe even a chinese one) coming up the road towards rangoon from inland.

My initial estimate of the jungle trails was, to put it mildly, optimistic. My mixed brigades that were moving in as wide attack prongs are moving very very slowly, while my armoured spearhead (I gathered about 5 arm regiments in the one place and sent them to Burma) were going to be unleashed up the railroad to meet their pincer, but it looks futile. By the time my mixed regiments actually get across the river and up into Mandalay and that sort of area Raver will have made the atomic bomb.

The reason for gathering an armoured spearhead was actually defensive - I have a couple of 100% divisions on the coast, with lots of arty and support units, building for a strike either up the coast or inland - but the armoured spearhead was formed to counter Raver's rather large british armoured division that will have arrived about a fortnight ago game time I think. We are on very variable reinforcement here so who knows. That is a palty UK armoured division by american/russian/german standards, but out here in the jungle it is a fast moving hard hitting force of about 80 light tanks and 120 medium tanks (IIRC - RAver can post the stats).

I had hoped, really truly hoped that Raver had stuck thme on a ship and sent them to akyab where I could sink them. more likely they're sailing down the railroad towards burma as we speak. I wanted my 5 regiments worth of tanks on hand to counter them if necessary. Of course, having 5 ARM units would be very useful in the event that I break through Raver's line (which I'm sure he's fortifying on the other side of the nearest River).

However the real threat is if I move inland, Raver flanks me from akyab.

In other theatres things are fairly quiet. Lots of R and R going on around the place. My new ops will begin in the next few turns.

[Luskan]

Here is the situation in Burma as my troops reported it after much recon a few days ago (can't post anything too high security). Have censored a little bit. Red arrows represent Raver's possible avenues of attack (although after his kick ass strategy of avoiding a fight in China I wouldn't be surprised if he just sat behind the irrawaddy until 44 and then let rip when I wasn't expecting. depends how patient he is). Note the large number of tanks at Akyab - But 1024 tanks . . . there are 3 indian arm units that could be in there as well. I'm hoping this means that this turn my babses have found the enemy armoured spearhead (and now I can watch it like a hawk. Soon as Raver moves forward down the trail, I'm gonna hve my own troops out of Rangoon and onto that vital intersection to meet him. only wish I could fortify it. A big battle on open ground - hence all my tank units.

Purple lines show you my possible advances, and you'll note Kongo, Haruna and Nagato doing some fishing at Akyab bay.

Speaking of akyab, I just remembered. Was so annoyed at kongo and her sisters just sailing past last night without firing a shot, I sent them back in. I actually wanted to detonate the AVG on the ground (they were there a few turns ago) but Raver moved them when he realised how close I was to hitting them. The results weren't too bad though

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 03/07/42

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 38 encounters mine field at Bataan (42,51)

Japanese Ships
MSW W.3
MSW W.4
MSW W.5
MSW W.6
AK Hokko Maru, Mine hits 1

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 32,55

Japanese Ships
TK Juko Maru
PC Sonan Maru #6
MSW Asahi Maru

Allied Ships
SS Snapper

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naval bombardment of Akyab, at 30,29

Japanese Ships
DD Mutsuki
DD Yugiri
DD Sagiri
DD Ariake
DD Yugure
DD Nenohi
DD Shigure
DD Natsushio
DD Amatsukaze
DD Hayashio
CL Yubari
CL Tatsuta
CL Tenryu
CL Oi
CL Kiso
CL Tama
CL Natori
CA Kumano
CA Suzuya
CA Chokai
CA Atago
CA Takao
BB Nagato
BB Haruna
BB Kongo


Allied ground losses:
1187 casualties reported
Guns lost 29
Vehicles lost 12

Airbase hits 3
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 18
Port hits 9
Port supply hits 8

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 47,103

Japanese Ships
SS I-160

Allied Ships
AK Antares, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Lanchow , at 45,25


Allied aircraft
I-16c x 2
SB-2c x 7


Allied aircraft losses
SB-2c: 1 damaged

Aircraft Attacking:
4 x SB-2c bombing at 6000 feet
3 x SB-2c bombing at 6000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Time Surface Combat, near Namlea at 38,73

Japanese Ships
CA Myoko
CA Haguro
CL Nagara
DD Yukikaze
DD Tokitsukaze
DD Michishio
DD Shiratsuyu
DD Harusame
DD Yamakaze
DD Umikaze
DD Fubuki
DD Hato

Allied Ships
PT PT-32, Shell hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
PT PT-44, Shell hits 6, and is sunk
PT PT-46, Shell hits 4, and is sunk


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at 32,62

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 2667 troops, 16 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 1167 troops, 7 guns, 0 vehicles

Japanese assault odds: 45 to 1


Japanese ground losses:
12 casualties reported

Allied ground losses:
13 casualties reported


Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

[Raverdave]

Burma is the one area where I can hope to hold back the tied of Japanese conquests. I currently have three lines of defence, the first one consisting of Akyab-Pagan-Mandalay-Lashio. Manning this first line is 7 Regiments of Arty, 2 Tank Bdes, 9 inf Divisions and 8 Inf Bdes. If Luskan gets past the first line (and remember he has to take all four otherwise he leaves his LOC exposed)

The second line that he then hits is the Imphal-Kohima-Jorhat-Ledo line which has 3 Arty Regiments, 3 Inf Bdes and 2 class "A" British Inf Divisions (the 2nd and the 18th). As well as that I have the 5th Indian Divison due in the next 30 days as well as 3 Chindit Bdes and another Brit Inf Bde all due with in the next 90 days (Some earlier but loose lips sinks ships[;)]).

The third line that Luskan then hits is the Dacca-Dimapur line, and I dare say that his troops would be so buggered by then that they would not even have the strength left to fart !

[Raverdave]

Interesting ! Code breakers have just reported that the is a buildup happening in the Marshall Islands centered around Kwajalein. It is suspected that there is at least one BB and one CV. Seems unlikely that there would only be one CV and BB so I and guessing that there is a CV battle group of no less than 4 CVs. It has also been noticed that there is a marked increase in air movements to Kwajalein also, but the I have nothing within range of any JAP bombers flying from the Marshalls so I am tipping that this is a defensive move. Note the word.....DEFENSIVE. [:D]

[Raverdave]

I am keeping mum about my movements in Burma.[:)]

[Luskan]

Raver's intel wasn't bad. Recent turns have seena large increase in supply and troops and planes in places like Truk, Palau, Rabaul and Kwajalein, as well as a few other choice places (hopefully Raver will try something in an area he's not expecting my strength - lets hope his sigint keeps him in the dark for a while) as a reactionary measure to his little CV raid. I've got three cv divisions, one just arrived at kwajalein but has moved on since. I've spread out my coverage properly to ensure the next time this happens I'll be on hand with my elite pilots vs his crappy pilots (even if he outnumbers me).

My sigint was very helpful this turn. Confirmed that indeed american troops ARE using the radio at pearl harbour. sheesh.

Happy to report lots of repaired ships rejoining the battle lines, and the sinking of an enemy sub in the bay of bengal. Next few moves should be good.

[52nd Lowland]

Always expect the unexpected...or is that the Spanish Inquisition [:D]

[Raverdave]

Luskan ! Stop reading the forums and send me my turn ![:-]

[52nd Lowland]

He's just trying to figure out what sneaky turns to send to both of us...[:D]

[Raverdave]

Are you also playing Luskan ?

[52nd Lowland]

He wanted another victim for his field tests...so being Scottish i volunteered without thinking

[Raverdave]

Ah ha ! How far in are you guys? (btw I disagree with his house rule about China as the war over there was already underway).

[52nd Lowland]

Day 4 or 5 in the main campaign.Sneaky landings in the DEI as well as a teleported landing in Noumea.

[Raverdave]

Noumea [X(] Bloody hell ! Mate you are going to have to root them out of there as fast as possible, because if you don't he will hit NZ within the next month. Plus you are now going to have to route all of your convoys to Oz south of NZ.........and that will add at least a week and a half of steaming time onto the trip.

[52nd Lowland]

Dont worry Plans have been laid Im going to transfer Scottish kamikaze units in from the UK,im telling them there is a thousand cases of Whiskey at Noumea and they will be there tomorrow [:D]

[Luskan]

Actually that's been a real bloodbath that game so far. Noumea isn't that far from Truk or Kwajalein - so that invasion can be done. Of course, the trick is to pin the HQ there against the sea and crush the life out of them

It was a poor set piece start for me in the other game. sure, I got 5 bbs at pearl (2 days) and have sunk many many enemy warships and transports, I have also lost a few more than usual, and didn't catch many aircraft on the ground at all.