Aussie Affair, Beta's Twilight

[Luskan]

PNG? I was thinking about NZ or Canada . . .

Forgot to note sports-fans, that I pulled off a nice little hook manouvre in China - 4 divisions swung off the railway line, went for a leisurely stroll through the fields, picking flowers and bird watching etc., then took a totally undefended Ichang from the West (undefended).

This means at Ichang I have 4 divisions, on the hex to the east there is a road with a chinese division sitting on it (I use the term loosely here) and to the ehx east of that, another of my bases with another 4 divisions (this one is sort of central to the railway line so it is pretty major, has some arty, base force, engineers, paratroops even). I'm going to crush that little chinese unit into oblivion to remind my troops that killing Raver's soldiers is more fun than bayoneting civilians, birdwatching AND picking flowers all together.

I've got to say I've devoted SO much firepower to china that usually gets sent elsewhere. If I was the emporer and you were the Jap commander in Uncommon Valour, you'd hate me (love me because I'm the Emporer) but hate me because I'd send you basically nothing to fight in that theatre with.

Raver's subs are hunting for my CV Division 4, but they aren't having any luck. A couple of subs were near Kwajalein, and a couple of others are at Truk (hit the nautilus twice this turn but don't think I wrecked her) othesr snooping near Rabaul. They're all wrong.

[Raverdave]

Bugger ! Luskan's ASW is getting better.............took two hits on subs one which resulted in the loss of a sub. Time to start hunting his CVs with my CVs maybe ?

China is going to explode in Luskan's face soon.

[Luskan]

Couple of quiet turns with my stealing a few more south pacific bases, unloading lots of extra troops (my reinforcements come in waves), so every month or so I realise i've got 20+small infantry units sitting at Tokyo and want to clear them out. It is inefficient to have so many troops sitting in the home islands. There are lots of supplies generated at the front, and I would prefer they get used at the front and any shortfall made up with convoys from the home islands.

[Capt. Harlock]

So the Banananananananana says that Java is not the full extent of his empires boarder huh? Well looking at what I have in PNG he now has a long hard fight on his hands.

Maybe he wants a chunk of Alaska? It is Summer in the game now . . .

[Raverdave]

I don't think that Luskan is interested in Alaska, and can't say that I am much for that matter. Too far and too much trouble. I think that it looks like we are both content to let sleeping dogs snooze as far as the North Pacific is concerned.

Things have really slowed down a lot with the only action hapopening being Subs meeting jap ASW Tfs. I can't really see Luskan getting upto too much as his supply tail is still in a knot, and it will take a few weeks for him to get it sorted. Where as I am still desperate for Engineer units of any type. I have loads of aircraft and ships and infantry, but it is engineers or the lack of, that is slowing things down for me.
So I will simply contiune to build me rear areas and train my troops. Time is on my side.

[Raverdave]

Luskan contiunes to steal some bases with small units yet again showing his lack of operational flare and skill.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 07/18/42

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TF 51 troops unloading over beach at Hansa, 53,83


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ASW attack at 55,43

Japanese Ships
PC Ch 9
PC Ch 8
PC Shonan Maru #7
PC Shonan Maru #6
PC Sonan Maru #6
PG Chosa Maru
PG Hashidate
MSW Ranzan Maru
MSW Asahi Maru

Allied Ships
SS Wahoo

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 55,44

Japanese Ships
AK Tekkai Maru
MSW Misago Maru #11
MSW Kongo Maru #2

Allied Ships
SS Gudgeon

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Sub attack near Amami at 56,44

Japanese Ships
AK Taki Maru, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
MSW Misago Maru #11
MSW Kongo Maru #2

Allied Ships
SS Herring

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 14th Field Artillery Regiment, at 45,25


Allied aircraft
I-16c x 18
SB-2c x 9


Allied aircraft losses
I-16c: 2 destroyed, 1 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
12 casualties reported

Aircraft Attacking:
17 x I-16c bombing at 2000 feet
3 x SB-2c bombing at 6000 feet
6 x SB-2c bombing at 6000 feet

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at 48,30

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 22441 troops, 255 guns, 7 vehicles

Defending force 1401 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles

Japanese assault odds: 966 to 1


Japanese ground losses:
5 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Allied ground losses:
115 casualties reported


Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at 48,33

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 23811 troops, 268 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 1581 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles

Japanese assault odds: 227 to 1


Japanese ground losses:
39 casualties reported

Allied ground losses:
72 casualties reported


Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Sampit

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 498 troops, 5 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 0 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles

Japanese assault odds: 16 to 1 (fort level 2)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Sampit base !!!



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Ground combat at Hansa

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 647 troops, 8 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 0 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles

Japanese assault odds: 46 to 1 (fort level 0)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Hansa base !!!

[Luskan]

Seem to have an excess of HQs sitting around - I'm tempted to concentrate my forces to make supporting them easier, but this would weaken my defences. Can't make up my mind.

[Raverdave]

I just sent Luskan a warning that things are really going to start heating up in 30 to 40 turns time.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 07/19/42

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ASW attack near Amami at 56,44

Japanese Ships
PC Showa Maru #5
PC Showa Maru #3
PC Gamitsu Maru #1
PG Zuiko Maru
PG Saiko Maru
PG Magan Maru
PG Koei Maru
PG Keijo Maru
PG Edo Maru
MSW Tama Maru #2
MSW Fukeui Maru #7
MSW Fuji Maru
MSW Atsu Maru
MSW Wa 2
MSW Wa 1

Allied Ships
SS Herring

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Sub attack near Amami at 56,44

Japanese Ships
AK Yamamiya Maru

Allied Ships
SS Herring

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Amami at 56,44

Japanese Ships
PC Showa Maru #5
PC Showa Maru #3
PC Gamitsu Maru #1
PG Zuiko Maru
PG Saiko Maru
PG Magan Maru
PG Koei Maru
PG Keijo Maru
PG Edo Maru
MSW Tama Maru #2
MSW Fukeui Maru #7
MSW Fuji Maru
MSW Atsu Maru
MSW Wa 2
MSW Wa 1

Allied Ships
SS Herring

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 51 troops unloading over beach at Madang, 54,84


Japanese ground losses:
146 casualties reported

[Luskan]

While Raver was talking, I took another little base in the south pacific, and landed troops at two others in the Indeonesian chain and Solomons, and sank one of his subs in the waters off KL.

After sinking the Thornton I'm fairly certain that Raver has not only covered PM fairly well, but has devoted some firepower to the solomons. Unfortunate that he got in there before me, but I sat on my ass prior to the Java invasion (expecting a big fight) for so long I was never going to get there in time. Not with any real force anyway.

But the good news is i've got 800 assault points at Rabaul, 800 at truk with a division on the way, and my crack squadrons of zeros and betties in the area. There are two CV divisions devoted to my solomons/PNG campaign, supported by 4 BBs and a host of other ships. I might not have got there first, but I think I've got the moxie on hand to clean shop. Raver's spent a lot of time shoring up Darwin, Midway, Johnson, and a shitload of effort on Burma and India (could be that he is going to try and operate all his heavies and level bombers on the continent as he has been doing - I would) but that isn't unexpected.

At a guess I'd say he plans to get in close somewhere in the solomons where his fighters and shorter range bombers etc. can have a go at me. Maybe even try for Wake. Time will tell - I have one or two things up my sleeve that I'm hoping will shock him enough to put him on the back foot.




AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 07/20/42

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TF 51 troops unloading over beach at Madang, 54,84


Japanese ground losses:
11 casualties reported

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TF 49 troops unloading over beach at Pamakasan, 24,66


Japanese ground losses:
56 casualties reported

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ASW attack at 22,48

Japanese Ships
DD Kuroshio
DD Oyashio
MSW W.12
DD Sanae
DD Wakatake
DD Nokaze
DD Tachikaze
DD Akikaze
DD Hakaze
DD Sawakaze
DD Hatakaze
DD Kamikaze

Allied Ships
SS Tarpon, hits 6, on fire, heavy damage

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Day Air attack on Mandalay , at 33,30


Allied aircraft
Wellington III x 26
P-40B Tomahawk x 68
B-25C Mitchell x 119
B-24D Liberator x 24


No Allied losses

Aircraft Attacking:
5 x Wellington III bombing at 6000 feet
7 x Wellington III bombing at 6000 feet
4 x Wellington III bombing at 6000 feet
42 x B-25C Mitchell bombing at 6000 feet
19 x B-25C Mitchell bombing at 6000 feet
20 x B-25C Mitchell bombing at 6000 feet
18 x B-24D Liberator bombing at 6000 feet
4 x Wellington III bombing at 6000 feet
3 x Wellington III bombing at 6000 feet
3 x Wellington III bombing at 6000 feet
5 x B-25C Mitchell bombing at 6000 feet
18 x B-25C Mitchell bombing at 6000 feet
9 x B-25C Mitchell bombing at 6000 feet
6 x B-25C Mitchell bombing at 6000 feet
6 x B-24D Liberator bombing at 6000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 57 troops unloading over beach at Lombok, 24,69


Japanese ground losses:
37 casualties reported


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Madang

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 617 troops, 7 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 0 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles

Japanese assault odds: 20 to 1 (fort level 0)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Madang base !!!

[Luskan]

Another turn another base I've stolen from Raver in PNG.
I did however discover some small allied troops (base forces) on a couple of isolated indonesian islands. My SNLF landing parties don't have the moxy to take them on their own, so I'll probably land the 35th brigade. They could use the exercise.

Also, this is about the 5th turn in a row I've hit one of Raver's subs. he is leaving them in shallow water, under plenty of my air cover and ASW patrols, which aren't hitting them with bombs but locating and IDing them for my ASW groups to kill. Good leader in your ASW groups is essential.

I picked some of my lower experience DDs, put thme under an admiral and sent them off Singapore and they sank the Tarpon last turn, and this turn they hit the Seawolf 3 times, crippling her. She was then reported sunk but hasn't appeared on the sunk ships list just yet so I'll hold my breath. Narrow, shallow waters. Enough said.

Not sure what the hell they were doing there anyway - Any resources and supplies and fuel I want transported between Rangoon and Singapore will be using the railway line, so there aren't any transports to bother. Maybe he's hoping for military targest moving to and from Rangoon? He's too late for all the troops, and there hasn't been any ship to ship action with any damage resulted up there for months so there aren't any cripples limping back - truth be told I was lucky with this ASW encounter because the sub manage to fire first and the torpedoes were duds.


AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 07/21/42

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TF 57 troops unloading over beach at Lombok, 24,69


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Sub attack at 21,47

Japanese Ships
DD Tachikaze
DD Kuroshio
DD Oyashio
MSW W.12
DD Sanae
DD Wakatake
DD Nokaze
DD Akikaze
DD Hakaze
DD Sawakaze
DD Hatakaze
DD Kamikaze
DD Mochizuki
DD Mikazuki
DD Kikuzuki
DD Isonami
DD Shirakumo
DD Hatsuharu
DD Natsushio

Allied Ships
SS Seawolf, hits 3, on fire

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 51 troops unloading over beach at Siador, 54,85


Japanese ground losses:
18 casualties reported

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 51 troops unloading over beach at Siador, 54,85


Japanese ground losses:
68 casualties reported

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 26th Division, at 45,25


Allied aircraft
I-16c x 20
SB-2c x 18


Allied aircraft losses
I-16c: 3 damaged
SB-2c: 3 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
13 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Aircraft Attacking:
20 x I-16c bombing at 2000 feet
9 x SB-2c bombing at 6000 feet
9 x SB-2c bombing at 6000 feet

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Pamakasan

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 723 troops, 6 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 1651 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles

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

Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 1


Japanese ground losses:
36 casualties reported

Allied ground losses:
13 casualties reported

[Raverdave]

Yes I have been reckless with my subs of late, but only in the attempt to start hitting targets...........shallow hexs and Jap ASW TF are not good for your subs health. I have lost and damged more subs this month than I have in the last 6. Time to switch tactics and steam for deeper waters.
Another big raid on Mandalay to ensure that the oil production is shut down....and it is. Troops are bound to clash soon in PNG and if Luskan is going to win some battles here he is going to have to get serious and stop pissing around with Battalion strength units and look at using Divisions....infact I am banking that he will.

[Luskan]

Psych ops suck. See, I wonder if Raver is saying I should bring divisions to PNG because he wants them there instead of smoewhere else, or should I really be bringing them????!? If I'd already decided I sometimes start to second guess myself . . .

[Raverdave]

I'm not using PsyOps.....I simply want you in a place that I can defeat you in detail.....and PNG is the place of my choosing..........so bring it on Banananana boy.

The following would have to rate as one of the smallest CRs that I have ever seen[X(]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 07/23/42

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Sub attack at 37,60

Japanese Ships
AK Gosyu Maru, Torpedo hits 2, on fire

Allied Ships
SS S-36

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 26th Division, at 45,25


Allied aircraft
I-16c x 3
SB-2c x 6


Allied aircraft losses
SB-2c: 3 damaged

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x SB-2c bombing at 6000 feet
3 x I-16c bombing at 2000 feet
3 x SB-2c bombing at 6000 feet

[Raverdave]

Today marks the opening of a new phase in my war against Luskan and his evil Bananananana empire!

Today over 220 bombers with some 70 fighters leveled the airfield at Rangoon destroying at least 51 aircraft on the ground, 47 of which were Zeros! This is a dark day for banana boy, and a victory to the Allied forces !

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 07/24/42

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TF 73 troops unloading over beach at Lombok, 24,69


Japanese ground losses:
204 casualties reported

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Day Air attack on Rangoon , at 29,34

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft
Wellington III x 40
P-40B Tomahawk x 68
B-25C Mitchell x 180

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-Ib Oscar: 14 destroyed, 19 damaged
A6M2 Zero: 47 destroyed, 26 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Wellington III: 2 damaged
B-25C Mitchell: 10 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
635 casualties reported
Guns lost 15

Airbase hits 35
Airbase supply hits 11
Runway hits 140

Aircraft Attacking:
4 x Wellington III bombing at 6000 feet
3 x Wellington III bombing at 6000 feet
3 x Wellington III bombing at 6000 feet
23 x B-25C Mitchell bombing at 6000 feet
26 x B-25C Mitchell bombing at 6000 feet
15 x B-25C Mitchell bombing at 6000 feet
6 x B-25C Mitchell bombing at 6000 feet
3 x Wellington III bombing at 6000 feet
3 x Wellington III bombing at 6000 feet
3 x Wellington III bombing at 6000 feet
9 x B-25C Mitchell bombing at 6000 feet
11 x B-25C Mitchell bombing at 6000 feet
7 x B-25C Mitchell bombing at 6000 feet
3 x B-25C Mitchell bombing at 6000 feet
3 x Wellington III bombing at 6000 feet
3 x Wellington III bombing at 6000 feet
3 x Wellington III bombing at 6000 feet
6 x B-25C Mitchell bombing at 6000 feet
7 x B-25C Mitchell bombing at 6000 feet
8 x B-25C Mitchell bombing at 6000 feet
3 x B-25C Mitchell bombing at 6000 feet
4 x B-25C Mitchell bombing at 6000 feet
3 x Wellington III bombing at 6000 feet
3 x Wellington III bombing at 6000 feet
3 x Wellington III bombing at 6000 feet
5 x B-25C Mitchell bombing at 6000 feet
6 x B-25C Mitchell bombing at 6000 feet
3 x B-25C Mitchell bombing at 6000 feet
3 x B-25C Mitchell bombing at 6000 feet
3 x Wellington III bombing at 6000 feet
3 x B-25C Mitchell bombing at 6000 feet
5 x B-25C Mitchell bombing at 6000 feet
3 x B-25C Mitchell bombing at 6000 feet
3 x B-25C Mitchell bombing at 6000 feet
3 x B-25C Mitchell bombing at 6000 feet
3 x B-25C Mitchell bombing at 6000 feet
3 x B-25C Mitchell bombing at 6000 feet
3 x B-25C Mitchell bombing at 6000 feet
3 x B-25C Mitchell bombing at 6000 feet
3 x B-25C Mitchell bombing at 6000 feet
3 x B-25C Mitchell bombing at 6000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Pagan , at 31,31


Allied aircraft
Spitfire Vb x 3


No Allied losses

[Luskan]

Good thing I've got hundreds of zeroes in the replacement pool.

Was a good hit, but better than watching my planes get blown apart in the air with the pilots aboard.

[Raverdave]

I could careless where they get wacked, in the air or on the ground, still counts for a kill.

[Onime No Kyo]

Sorta like using a flyswatter to kill a bear.

[Raverdave]

Well I DID have a bombardment TF trying to sneak up on Rabal, and I damnwell nearly got away with it! I was one turn away from rainning steel down upon banananana boys head when I was spotted. Needless to say I am now running like hell towards PM before he launches his Betties.

Otherwise things are somewhat slow.

[Luskan]

Apart from me invading the aleutians. Very quiet.

[Capt. Harlock]

So I guessed right about ops in the Alaska area, eh?