Codename Sydney, Mogami(J) vs sveint(A)

[mogami]

Hi, He knows where my CAP is now. 108 Allied aircraft shot down in A2A last turn. Reinforcements and supply arrive at Kourmac. (38 Iron Dogs shot down)

[Arstavidios]

ORIGINAL: Mogami
Hi, He knows where my CAP is now. 108 Allied aircraft shot down in A2A last turn.

Oops. That's gonna make big gaps in his front line squadrons. What happened there?
What where the Japanese losses?

[mogami]

Hi, Japan lost 18 aircraft in A2A last turn. Both Allied and Japanese totals are for the entire war not just over Noumea.
Allied Naval strikes against my TF unloading met very strong CAP (a total of 5 Daitai were assigned CAP last turn over that hex)
It appears the enemy is also busy reinforcing/resupplying Noumea. There is a TF located there currently.
Luganville airfield should reach the proper size to operate bombers soon. (but unless I use Betty/Nell I have to fly extended range strikes and I don't like to use the IJN to attack land targets)

I may have to still bring in further forces to overcome the defense at Noumea. (But I have them)

[Arstavidios]

The problem with Noumea is that it is fairly isolated when the Japanese come from the North. The Japanese can set up a blockade and run circles around the island with their carriers while they build up for the attack. Ressupplying and reinforcing the island is going to be difficult now.

IMHO Nouméa is a more interesting target than India for the Japanese to attack. The allied player cannot afford to lose the base as the VP cost is really enormous and defense is difficult with troops aircraft and supplies having to be brought by sea accross the Pacific. There are no nearby airbases from which to carry air supply missions.

For their part the Japanese can bring the bulk of their fleet and Land based aircraft forcing the allies to fight at a disadvantage while they themselves make the most of their early war superiority.

[mogami]

Hi, I did not plan on fighting a battle here at this time. This entire game has been one of playing "on the fly" as my pre-war plan fell apart.
I'm fighting at Noumea because the enemy is there. I don't care about VP for base control. (it only counts while you have the base and the Allies will eventually have enough to take it back)
My goal is to kill land combat units, destroy aircraft, and sink ships while I have the means to do so.

[Arstavidios]

ORIGINAL: Mogami
This entire game has been one of playing "on the fly" as my pre-war plan fell apart.

Humm, isn't that what pre-war plans are made for [:D][:D][:D]

[sveint]

Stalingrad Mogami? You seem obsessed with taking Noumea.

The poor misguided Japanese landing there at the moment will never see their homes again...

[mogami]

Hi, If you could fly all those fellas at once I'd be worried but 100 at a time I can handle.

I have 12 Div and 6 Bde to employ not counting the IJN LCU.

[mogami]

Hi, Up to May 13 1942 Japan has lost

96 ships worth 1379 points avg ship value 14.36 points
(reported Allied Ship loss 135 ships 3390 points avg ship value 25.11
51 of the 96 ships lost are AP/AK types.
1 CV 2 CVL and 1 CVE lost
(4xUSN CV reported sunk)
1 BB lost
(4xUSN BB reported sunk)
0 CA lost
(9 Allied CA reported sunk)
5xCL lost
(9xAllied CL reported sunk)
11xDD lost
(31xAllied DD reported sunk)
4xSubmarines lost
(16xAllied submarines reported sunk)

1155xJapanese aircraft lost to all causes
(1958xAllied aircraft lost to all causes)

809xVP worth of Japanese troops lost.
(8122xVP worth of Allied troops lost)

Furthest Japanese advances to date
Burma Japanese hold Mandalay
SRA Japanese have all of PI, Borneo, Sulawesi still fighting in Sumatra/Java/Southern Islands(Timor
South Pacifc Japanese hold Luganville and Efate
Central Pacific Japanese hold Gilberts
China with the exception of Yenen Japan controls the RR from Yenen to Canton to Hanoi

[sveint]

Carriers spotted near Noumea (they are providing the fighter coverage that is downing so many of my planes). Of course valuable Japanese aces are killed too, further weakening his carrier resources.

[sveint]

The Japanese can set up a blockade and run circles around the island with their carriers while they build up for the attack.

You almost sound like Hirohito...

a) He's lost many carriers and some are in for repairs.
b) "Running circles"... was going to comment but let's just hope he tries.

Suffice to say I've had no trouble reinforcing the island. So far I've only brought in fighters and some extra supplies. I'm well stocked for a long time.

[Arstavidios]

ORIGINAL: sveint

You almost sound like Hirohito...

Oops, Is it really that bad[:(]
I don't mean to be disturbing. I understand it's far easier to make comments on what's happened with hindsight than making the real decisions.

a) He's lost many carriers and some are in for repairs.

Agreed, in the long run this will work in your favour and the Japanese carrier forces will be much reduced in 1943. You still have a few hard months ahead of you.

b) "Running circles"... was going to comment but let's just hope he tries.

Well, I guess you know your situation much better than I do[:D]. What I meant is that he can seriously threaten your lines of communications with air and sea power and bringing in new forces might be more difficult now.

Suffice to say I've had no trouble reinforcing the island. So far I've only brought in fighters and some extra supplies. I'm well stocked for a long time.

Anyway, I think it's gonna be a tough fight. I'm just waiting to see what's going to happen next. Thanks again for this AAR, it's very interesting.

[sveint]

Arstavidios,

Glad to have you here. Don't mind the "tough talk", it's how Mogami and I "psyche" each other ... [;)]

[Oliver Heindorf]

glad that we both dont have a AAR Svein, I could not stand this psycho war long [:D] ( and language barrier will take its toll anyway )

[sveint]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 05/14/42

Carriers approach Noumea - alot of aircraft are shot down. Apparently all the bombers missed... or not. I have no idea how the Shokaku sunk.



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 66,109

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 21

Allied aircraft
SBD Dauntless x 9
Kittyhawk I x 2
Beaufort V-IX x 6
B-25C Mitchell x 23

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 7 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
SBD Dauntless: 2 destroyed, 7 damaged
Kittyhawk I: 4 destroyed
Beaufort V-IX: 8 destroyed, 3 damaged
B-25C Mitchell: 12 destroyed, 10 damaged

Japanese Ships No hits reported
CV Hiryu
CV Shokaku
CV Junyo

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 66,109

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 15

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 8
SBD Dauntless x 10
Beaufort V-IX x 6
P-39D Airacobra x 11
A-20B Boston x 7
B-25C Mitchell x 7

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 2 destroyed, 3 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat: 2 destroyed, 2 damaged
SBD Dauntless: 4 destroyed, 4 damaged
Beaufort V-IX: 4 destroyed, 2 damaged
P-39D Airacobra: 6 destroyed, 2 damaged
A-20B Boston: 4 damaged
B-25C Mitchell: 4 damaged

Japanese Ships No hits reported
CV Hiryu
CV Junyo
CV Shokaku

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 66,109

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 11

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 4
Beaufort V-IX x 3
P-39D Airacobra x 8

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Beaufort V-IX: 2 destroyed, 1 damaged
P-39D Airacobra: 4 destroyed, 1 damaged

Japanese Ships No hits reported
CV Hiryu

[sveint]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 05/15/42

Mogami is still landing troops at New Caledonia! I was sure he'd be evacuating by now. That's going to be one big bag of prisoners.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 67,109

Japanese aircraft
A6M3 Zero x 10

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 9
SBD Dauntless x 12
Kittyhawk I x 3
Beaufort V-IX x 9
P-39D Airacobra x 9
A-20B Boston x 5
B-25C Mitchell x 34

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat: 8 destroyed
SBD Dauntless: 2 destroyed
Kittyhawk I: 2 destroyed
Beaufort V-IX: 2 destroyed, 1 damaged
P-39D Airacobra: 4 destroyed
B-25C Mitchell: 2 damaged

Japanese Ships
AP Sasago Maru, Torpedo hits 2, on fire
AP Ryujo Maru
AP Santos Maru, Bomb hits 2, on fire
MSW Tomozono Maru #3
PC Ch 5
AP Taihei Maru, Bomb hits 2, on fire
PG Kanko Maru
MSW Toshi Maru #2
PG Ikunta Maru
AP Ryoyo Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AP Ozan Maru, Bomb hits 2, on fire
MSW Rokko Maru, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Soerabaja

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 49823 troops, 395 guns, 160 vehicles

Defending force 15760 troops, 86 guns, 4 vehicles

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 6

Japanese assault odds: 0 to 1 (fort level 6)


Japanese ground losses:
762 casualties reported
Guns lost 16
Vehicles lost 1

Allied ground losses:
403 casualties reported
Guns lost 18

[mogami]

Hi, It is going to be a large bag of POW but I don't expect the Allies to surrender before mid July.

[Arstavidios]

Humm, looks like there's gonna be serious bloodbathing in New Caledonia. We'll see who's going to get the spanking.[:D]

How are things going in the DEI in the meantime?

[mogami]

Hi, In WWII the first sustained action between the Allies and Japan occured in the Solomons. The Japanese began by piecemeal commitment of resources and strained the Allies.
In this game I do not intend on allowing the enemy to pick where battles develop. I understand that the enemy has deployed considerable resource to defend Noumea and that is exactly why I am fighting there. While these forces may at this time be defending they would be the ones employed in Allied offensive when and where they decided.
If I can destroy them I protect my future. If I fail then I have lost nothing but material. I'll try to at least protract the battle into mid 1943.

If the enemy is forced into commiting all forces to hold Noumea they are not employed in other operations.

Japan will never be as strong compared to the Allies as in the first 6 months. If I cannot win this battle I lose nothing that would not be lost at another time or place.

The situation is not static. There are factors that will influence the outcome that have not yet came into play.
Japan has no air support currently other then what the CV have provided.
Luganville and Efate will someday soon base Japanese bombers.
Japanese airgroups will be deplyed directly to New Calodonia. What the effect of a size 3 airfield there will be remains to be seen. 2 such airfields should alter the balance.
The Allied air supremacy in regards to bombers is not denied but I hope to change it.

As far as ground combat units I think I can match the Allies to where their resources do not allow action elsewhere for quite some time. In the interm Japan is strengthing defense lines that did not exist in the actual war.

[Arstavidios]

I suppose the Japanese will also be able to bring their BB's an CA's to support land operations more easily than the allies

The Japanese can afford to lose the battle and they can withdraw if the price becomes too heavy while the allies must keep fighting and feeding the meatgrinder whatever the cost.

How's the Japanese economy doing? Does the lack of resources start hurting?